''- 0'
THE NEWS"
History of Passaic.
#
FROM THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT
TO THE PRESENT DAY.
EMBRACING A DESCRIPTIVE HISTORY OF ITS MUNICIPAL. RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL
INSTITUTIONS WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED.
COMPILED AND EDITED BY
WILLIAM J.'PAPE.
\VHH THE COLLABORATION OF
WILLIAM W. SCOTT.
I 899.
V
TWO UOi^lES ti
fi-OCA V t^^.
^i-.-ry of Ccngr9«%
Offlca 0 f thu
Jfl^' 101900
Register of Copyrlghtfc
51539
COPYRfGHTED, 1899
BY
THE NEWS PUBLISHING CO.,
PASSAIC, N. J.
Daily I|ctii:i.
Printers
l^.....c M.
SECOND COPY,
riintncmpliir Work, with few Kxceptions. hy
J. T. Sininis.
Bookbinding hy I. Kcksiein
KnsravinKshy
Tlie Hopkins Company, New York.
(/ .J
CONTENTS,
P"Ke. Page.
Iii.l.'x t,> IllusiiMtii.iis vi CHAl'TKli XV.
Fniiii Township in City 71 to .Sti
llltlolllUtOl'.V 1
ciiArrKi; xvi.
CIlAI'Ti:!; I. The Stur.v of the t'ity Ilnll IMi i,, 1»4
Its <ii'ohii.'i(:il Histiiry 3
CIIAI'TKI; XVII.
CllArri:!; II. '^''"' I>istrict S.huol t)7 i,j lo:^
New .Tei-sc\''s ColtMiial ( lovi'i'iiiiieiit .', (i
CUAl'TlilJ Will.
CHAl'TKU III. The I'lililic Schools of Passaic 103 to 111
'Jhe Kefs .M.Hi Uriirn niul Fall T lo 12
CIIArTKl! XIX.
CIIAl'THK IV. Keligious History of rassaic 112 to 134
The Coinia- of the White Man 13. 14
CHAl'TKU XX.
CH.\PTKK V. <'l]arities of Passaic 137 to 141.'
The Scttleiiieiit of .\((|iiackaiionk 1.") tu Jd
CII.VI'TKi; XXl.
CHAPTEIi VI. Passaic Public Library 14.")
The I'ateiitee Families 21 to 31
CIIAl'TFIt XXII.
CIl.M'TF.i; \'II. Financial Institutions 14(; to 150
Tl;e Life of the Settlers :!2 to 34
CHAPTEU XXIII.
('II.\i'Ti:i; \ni Social ami (Itlu-r Organizations 1.53 to ir>7
.\cc|iiackanoiik Lanilinjr 3r> to 30
CMAPTKH XXIV.
ClI.vrrKi; l.\. The Xewspapers of Pa.ssaic 158 to 1G5
Thi' Tavern and the St igo Coaih 41 to 43
CHAl'TKU XX\-.
,.. I ..,...,,... Y The Learned Professions liiiitoliiO
Keads and Bridges 44 to 411
CILVPTKi; .\X\ 1.
The Military Spirit in Passaic 170 to 174
ClI.M'TKi; XI.
Aciinackanonk in the Uevohition ~><i to ."i4 r'H \ l''l'|.'l' \'\'\II
Ijioirraphical Sketches 177 to 274
CHAl'TKU XII.
Washington's Night .it .V< iiua( kaiiniik ."iii to ii3 CII Vl'TKU XXXlll.
Kdiicatioiial In^tittitions 275 to 278
CHAl'TKU Xlll.
Karly Industrial History i!4 to liii CII.\.1'TKU XXIX.
Manufacturing and Cotiiiiicrcial Interests 270 to 31'.i
CHAl'TKU XIV.
Tl:e Coining of the U.iilroad 'u lu ~i> Iidcx to Portraits and Biographical Sketches. .. .Back of Book
GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS,
Page.
City Hall Krontispiece
Map Ml I'Mssaic 2
Stroot Scenes 4
Ancient Dnfch -Map iif New Jersey 5
Jlap of the (;,ptliani Division ]!•
The Van WaiieniT House 22
'Jlie (Janison House, Clifton -'o
Tonilistone of Stephen Bassett 2?,
Oil] IJefoimed Par^ona^e -5
David I. Anderson Honieste'id -'i
"Squire" Van Iliper Heuse --^
Ac(iuackaiionk in 1844 3'.t
I'art of Aequaclianonl; Map 40
Tlie White Horse Tavern (Century Housel 42
The ItyiTson Hotel 4".
Old Erie Arch and Street Scenes 4(i
Military Map (177!|l "'3
Map of Washington's Retreat (177(i) 55
Kuius of Washington's Headquarters 5(i
Washington's Headquarters 57
Aiinthcr ..I Wasliingtnn's :Maps I17S1 1 5!l
iHuidee Dam •>5
Krie Main Depot Ii7
Erie Railroad Bridge OS
The I'rospect Street Depot 00
The Harrison Street Depot 'iO
The First City Hall 7(i
Dundee Engine House Si!
A lert Truck House .S(!
SIcLean Engine House 87
Interior of Electric Light StatioJi 88
"Park Heights," as Contemplated IHI
The Cnlinished Caslle in IS'.KI '.i:;
The Present City Hall 'Xi
Tablet at City Hill !t4
The (lid 11. .we Academy Id'J
\"i.\\-. I.I School Buildings Ili5. Kiii
'Ihr -Old First" Church 117
The Old "Soceder" Church ll'.i
North Reformed Church iL'ii
First Methodist Episcopal Church I'Jl
First Pi"sliyterian Church IJl
Some I'assaic Scenery 125
Five Church Views l:ii;
Dundee Presbyterian Clnncli r_'7
St. Nicholas' Church IL'S
(Jieek Kite Catholic Ch.irch llis
St. Michael's I'olish Church I'Jii
First Baptist Church K'.ll
First Congregational Cliuicli
(Jerman Lutheran Church
The Y. M. C. A. Building
Tlie A.verigg Mansion and Interiors
The Hughes Building
1 he Old Hegeman House
The Holy Name Club House
St. JIary's Hospit.al
The Home and Orphan Asylum
The fJeneral Hespital
I'ldilic Librar.v Quarters
Dundee Brand) Library
Pt.ssaic National Bank Building
I'he Acc(uackanonk Cluli
That Jlighty Hunter. .lohn .1. Bowes. . . .
Captains Hall and Bowes
Passaic Club House
Old Gun Club Rooms
First Page of First Issue of The News.
Post Office Building
Residence of Oscar Dressier
Four Generations (Cadmusl
Residence of Mrs. William 1. Barry
Residence of Peter Keid
Residence of John Miltdii Murse
The Morrisse Building
Ri sidence of .lo.seph 11. Wri^'ht
Residence of James Hrycc
Residence of Dr. J. A. Hegeman
Residence of Gilbert D. Bogart
Residence of Dr. Charles A. Church....
Residence of Mrs. .1. I'arkcr I'ray
Rtsidence of S. M, Sohatzkin
Residence of (iustav W. Falstrom
Residence of Levi II. .Vlden
Residence of .Joseph Holdswnrth
Residence of the late Edi. Kip
Rfsidence of Willi.ini I'. (Jreenlie
Residence ..l I'r.ink lluglu's
The Pau'oda Hotel
Thi' .New Munii'ipal Budding
H..me ..f C..llcLriatc Schocd
I'assaic Business Cidlege
Dr. MacChesney's College. I'aterson
Two \'iews of liciil ,V Harry's Print Werks
The Passaic Print Wiuks
The Stand.ird Bleaeluu-y. Carltnu Hill. . . .
The l!..t;niy Worsted Mills
.\ndrew .McLoan iV C...'~ Mill
age.
131
ISI
133
135
130
138
13S
141
141
143
144
145
149
153
154
154
154
157
101
174
23!1
240
243
243
244
245
247
247
247
247
248
248
248
248
2(«
2(!3
203
2()3
204
270
274
275
276
278
282
283
284
285
287
GENERAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
VII
JTills (if till' (Jjii-ticld WodhMi Co
'I'lic Kiiiiiiicliiii' Wciiks
Tlio >l:nili:ill:Mi Kiililicr WiirUs
Two A'ii'ws .if I'niiMsoii l';ircluii('nt INiikt .Mill.
I'lic I'lUiilc-c ('!u'iiiii;il \V ii-k<
Til.' .Vlrxilll.liT D.vc- Wulks. I,,i,li
'J'ho rniilasotc Lcntlii'r .Mill
Kritzsche Brotlu-rs' Fiirtmy, ( JmiIii'IiI
Iiitcrior of I'istilliiiL' Koci.ii. Siiiiio
Interior of Ciu'iiiicMl Liilioratmy. Siiiiic
S( ii'iitilic Laliorat ir.v. Same
N. Y. Transit ('o."s Oil riiniiiiiiv: Station
I'aye.
2SS
i's;i
1".MI
■312
2'.y.',
J! 14
2'X,
li'.IT
•J! IS
:i!l!l
:v i( •
."il 12
Interior A'iews in Siinie
Ontiloor \'ie\vs aronnil same
.\i'ki'rnian l.iiiiilier Mill
I5o<'tt;;er Piece Dye Works. Lodi i.Xorlli Knd).
Another View of Same
.Martin's Wooil.Mi Slnll I'"a< tory
C Haiti- Oil Cloili .Mill, .Mlienia
I ...li Ch.Mni.-al W.nks
llaiiiincr'^elilaai.' .Mill, Carlield
•Ih,' Okonite .Mill
"Wlien Sli ;n\ iiei-ries .\re Kipe"
.-.o:',
.•!()4
305
307
308
309
310
313
314
31.-)
31(1
ERRATA.
I'av'e 42.— Tile '•Wliite Horse Tavern" or Centniy House is a Page 7.S.— .Maym- .Mowe is ili.' ei^litli .Mayoi-. , -011111111;; Dr.
mure appropriate iianie iiiider engraving than T.iuas" Hotel. Terhuue as the first.
Lucas ran it only a short time. Page !I3.— The photograph ol •■Panlison Castle" was made liy
Page .jlj.— Under engraving. Tin- ilate .if the destrn<-tion liy William It. Cloiigh. soii-in-law of .Mr. Saunders.
tire of the tavern is i-orrec-tly given elsewhere as l.STT.
INTRODUCTORY.
Natural Features and Material Attractions.
TlIK lily i>f Passaic- is situated :it the 1i.mi1 i>( tiilr water
111. tlie I'assnic Kiver. twelve miles iinrlliwest of New
\ iirk. ciirht miles north of Newark and four miles south
of I'aterson. Like another city, it is to its inhaliilaiits tlie chief
jewel and centre of the niiiverso, but seo^'iaidiienlly it is in
latitude 40 desirees ami .">! minutes north, lonjiitude 74 degrees
and 7 minutes west of (Jrceuwich. The altitude above the
sea level at the curner of Main avenue and Washington place
■ is 57 feet. The area of the city is '.i 4-5 square miles, or 2.450
acres. Its popnlatioii was 17.894 in 1895. and is now (1899)
22.500. This is, perhaps, an ultra-conservative estimate.
The topograidiy is so varied and pleasing as to gratify
every desire. From the commanding height of Tony's Nose,
named after General Anthony Wayne, and the undulating hills
and vales that lie to the west, to the almost perfect plain of
the eastern part of the city, extends a panorama of beautiful
variety, ditUcult to match in a city of its size. The place is con-
sidered remarkalile liy all intelligent visitors for its natural
beauties of location. These are enhanced by the stream, which,
b.v the help of science, will in a few years be made the most
beautiful and charming stream in many States. In its primi-
tive beauty it inspired no less a man than AVashington Irving
to write some of the most delicate and beautiful lines ever
dedicated to a feature of scenery.
Abounding, as it does, with beautiful, healthful and con-
venient homesites for rich and poor, it has on the west a prac-
tically unbounded territory to expand in. There is no exagger-
ation in saying that this section comiirises the finest and best
land, either for residences or business purposes, in the State:
and. as any one knows who is at all familiar v>-ith New Jersey,
this is saying a great deal. Its advantages have hardly been
appreciated by this generation. The growth has been along
the main arteries of travel, and the choicest part of the city
is awaiting settlement and transportation facilities.
The settled I'ortion of the city is traversed by three rail-
roads, the Erie main line, with four stations in the city limits
and sixt.v trains daily: a branch of the Siisi|iie!iaiiiia. and the
Hoiiiitiiii liraiiih of tlii' 1 )el.iw,ire, I.aiUawaiiiia ami Weslern.
There is navigation by water to New York, trolley communica-
tion with New York. I'aterson and Newark, and in the near
future probably with Ilackensack, while in every direction
stretch wide macadam roads, which form a network of most
beautiful drives.
The rarest beauty of the city is found in the handsome
streets lined with large, well-developed shade trees, which, in
many instances, form continuous arbors, extending for miles
and almost meeting across the width of the avenues.
The health of the city is in keeping with all the works of
nature in the locality. Statistics show that it is one of the
healthiest places of its size in New .Jersey.
Industrially, the city has a high rank in the iiianufacture
of woolvn goods, print cloths, plushes, cotton cloths and mos-
ipiito nettings, insulated wires and submarine cables, rubber
belting, hose and bicycle tires, while silks, chemicals and
handkerchiefs are produced, and enameline stove polish and
artificial parchment paper are products that are peculiar to it.
The factories, with two exceptions, are in a group in the <'astern
part of the city, on either side of a canal supplying power and
water.
Socially, the city is eiiuipiied with numerous churches,
schools, societies, clubs, hospitals, charitable organizations and
a librar.v. any or all of which would be <reditable to places of
much larger population. The i ivic and pulilii- buildings are
numerous and handsome, and the water, lighting and drain-
age .systems of the most tnodern type. Nothing sei-ms to be
too good for Passaic in these matters.
Passaic was a notable stamiiing gioinul fm- the Indians.
It was settled by thi- Dutch, became an Knglish colony, passed
through the early Indian wars, was cro.s.sed by armies during
the exciting times of the Revolution, witnessed the trans-
formation of the province of New .Jersey into Statehood, and
was in evidence in three of our country's wars. It is the coni-
lilete story of this beautiful and interesting city— the st<u-y as
gathered from musty reconls. and as it fell from the lips of
the custodians of tradition, that i> In be given In this book.
History of Passaic, N. J.
CHAPTER L
ITS GEOLOGICAL HISTORY.
How it Once Was Off the Continental Coast — The Glacial Lake Nearby During the Age of Ice The
Origin of the Red Sandstone Beds, the Gravel and the Boulders.
TII1*-KK ;irr twn \\ ;i\s ill wiiicii ;i frw w'onls nii.iilit Ik* saifl
n'^^■l^||ill^ the jrcnln^ry nl" tile ilistrict siirrniiiMliii^r I':iss;iic.
We iiiif-'lit set cult iiiiil ili'srrilic the kinds cif nx-k niul soil
fiiiiiMl hfivalMHits. ^iviiif,' their iiicchiiniciil nnrt chpiiiicjil stnic-
tii:'". ; lul the iTsiilt would lir pretty dry ri'iulin;;. Injisiiiiich j\s
this is ail historical work, we iiiifilit choose the second alter-
native, and treat of the jioology historically. 'I'lie latter is
lirolialdy the more interestinir.
For a startiiif.' point we will ^'o hack a lew million years, to
n time when man was lint a vasiiie promise — to a time known
,ts the Red !<aiidstoiie or Triassic Arc. The site of Passaic
was just off the coast, and was covered with vast shallows of
estuary waters, which fringed the coast from New Haven.
Conn., to beyond Xewark. N. .1. Then, as at the present day.
the whole district was slowly sinkinji. enablins vast miid-tlats
to be deposited from the sedimentary waters. These after-
ward harch'iied to form the sandstones and shales of the pres-
<'nt day. .Vlonj; the shores >.'rew forests of cycads. trees re-
lated to [lalms. and resembliiisr palmettos in appearance.
These were interspersed with jrionps of cone-beariuR trees
resenibliiii; our modem cypress. Ferns there were also in
jiiiniidance. both lar^e and small, together with clnb mosses.
In the marshes drew taiifrles of slender, liranchless trunks,
which we call calamites. They are allied to our modern horse-tail
rushes, but. while the latter are sli'iidcr. herbaceous plants, the
foiiner were' of the size of trees and had partially woody
trunks. Insects ue know existed, for they have lc>ft traces in
the mild. Tojtetlur with the markings of insects on the ex-
posed mud banks are fcuiiid many }.'i;;antic three, four and tive-
tc cd tracks of strantie-lookiii}: reptiles, which frei|iieiited the
niiid-tlats— some to prey on the tish that iiirkcd in the shallow
pools. otliiTs to cicip the- lank vef;etation that overhiin;; the
b.-niks. More modein-lookini; animals could be seen in the
shape of small, fox-like, ponched ca-eatiires. the precursors of
all of oiir modern four-footed friends. Birds there might have
1 II. Certainly there were llyiiis.' rc'ptiles. and others of the
reptile class that partocdc of tlu' nature of both birds .ind
reptiles, so that we scarcely know what to call them.
As time passed, tlie extensive layers of mud increased in
thickness, until they were several hundred feet thick, (iradually
hardeniuK and forniiiif; the sandstones and shales which under-
lie Passaic, and which are well exposed in different spots
around the town, (biod exposures may be observed on La-
fayette avenue, near the High School: also on the Boulevard,
near Bloomtield avenue: also near Bloonitield avenue, south
of the Ilcdawarc. Lackawanna and Western Kailroad. and at
various otlic^r points. It is this sanilstone thai provides Pas-
saic with its fine spring water and Its big ipiarrii'S.
Near the dose of the period of the formation of these beds
occurred a mighty u|dieaval. W'r clo not know the exact cause.
Si'tlUe it to say that vast ciuantitics of molten rock were forced
throiigh the beds of sandstone, folding, cracking and tilting
thcni.
riicsc' masses of molten rock .von see at the present da.v
ill 'he Palisades that skirt the New Jersey shore of the Hud-
son, and ill the trap ridges that fcu'iii \hf monutains west of
here, and that proirucle throiigii ilic' I Lickeiis.-ick Meadows,
forniing Snake llill.
From this period \vc> mn>t lake a long skip, during which
geological hisloiy was being made elsewhere on the continent,
and get down to almost modem times — the time of the mas-
todon and the vcioly rhinoceros, when perhajis iirimitive man
first aiipeared on Ihe scene, trreat glaciers, or fields cjf ice, ad-
vanced fic.m the north, killing .-iiicl driving before Ihi'iii the
aiiincals and plants, scratching and s I>iiig cuit the exposed
land surfaces, and carrying soiirhw.ircl lnnilclers and beds of
sand anci gravel.
This mantle of siiow .nid ice reached as far south as ( 'central
New .Tersey and covered all of the .Xorthern I'liited States, as
well as Europe and Asia. .Vfter a time the ice ficdds receded.
leaving lieiiind the sand and roi-ks wliic'h they carried. Now
occurred a long interval, during which the climate was warm.
followed ley aiioiher advance of ic-e.
InterestiiiL' in lliis ccninectioii is ilie large glacial laki' which
existed .iiisl north and wesi nl where Passaic now stands, and
whic'i gecdogists have naiiied "Lake Passaic." It was about
thirty n iles long by about ten wide, and lilli'd the- basin north-
west ol the Third Mountain. Its northern shore was formed
by vast lielcls of I.e. W'hethc'r its outlet was at Liberty Cor-
ner in Somerset County, or through the (Jreai Not<-h. or uuder-
iiealli the ii-e which blocked the gorge at Little Falls, is a
moot 'd ciiicsliciii :iiiiong geologists.
The lake was not of many years" duration, for the ice lields
soirn iic-edeo. to reliir more, leaving behind the present
siibsi.il and surface, boulders. From then until the present
time the topogra|ihy heri^abonts has siilTcnil no i-hanges ex-
cept those slow ones di|.. to the ai-ii.m ..I wind and w.itiT
during all 'he yc.trs.
.Many intciesting features of glacial action are to be found
in the vinnit.i of Passaic, such as the immense <iuantity of
boiildirs that strew the surface between here and Patersoii
along the Krie I!i,ilroacl. but there is no need for us to dwell
iii.ou lliein, MS iliey are .ill more, or less lec^hiiii-al in nature.
o
to O
o ?
z :£
5 °
n P
UI CO
5o
CHAPTER IL
NEW JERSEY'S COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
How It Passed Throug:h Various Hands — Charles II Gave the Province Away Before He Got It William
Penn One of the Twenty-four Proprietors — A Brief Sketch of the Colonial History
Inserted Here to Explain Succeeding Chapters.
S<)(IX :i(\tv llic (lisioviTv nl' \iii.'i-ii;i liy ( 'oluiiiliii^. lIcMiy
\1I Dl' Kiii.'l;i!ul (■(iiuiiiissiinii'il .lulin ami Scliastinu Calmt.
iw.p \'i'iicliaus ill his service, "to discover Ilie isles, regions
.iihl iiiMviiii r^ c.r tile heathen ami intiiK'Is. which had lieeii iiii-
UiiouM to all the nations of ('hrislemloni. in whatever part nl'
the jrlohe tlie.v iiiiu'ht he iihunl." The ('ahots liisi-overecl the
i>laiid of Newfonndlaml .liiiu' I'l. H!I7. and froiii there saileil
down Ilie coasi III the (Jnlf nf Mcxiio. 'Pliey in.ide landiiifls at
v.-irions places, and took possession in the name of the King
of Kiifiland. For nearly a centnry thereafter no advantage
of this discovery was taken hy the English. Queen Elizabeth.
in 1584. granted to Sir Walter Kahdgh. by patent, authority
to discover, occupy and govi^rn ■'reinole heathen and barbarous
countries not previously possessed by any Christian people or
prince." I'nder this comiiiission Kaleigh sent out two ships.
wliich landed at Roanoke, look possession of the country and
called it Virginia. Two unsuccessful attempts were made, in
15S.T and l.'iilO. to establish settlements.
The bounds of Virginia were considered as extending from
North Caroiina to Maine, including \ew .lersey. This country
was divided into North and South Virginia, The patent for
the North was. in 1(>(M>, granted by King .James to Thoni.i>
Hanham and his as^■o(■iates. who were called the riymoutU
Brethren. In this grant thv' previous palent to Kaleigh was
entirely ignored.
In 1009 Henry lludson. an Knglish maiiiur in the en.-
ploy of the Dutch East India Company, m attempting to find
the Northwest Passage, e.itered Delaware Bay, on August
•_'.s. in the ship "Half Moon." From there he sailed up the
coast and anchored within Sandy Hook, September 3, lOO'J.
Hudson made nearby explorations, sailing up the Hudson
to assure himself that it was not an arm of the sea leading
le India. On September II, he records, he iliscuvi-red ".i ii.ino"
river" to the west of the Narrows. This is considered the con-
fluence of the Passaic and Hackensack rivers. Hudson sailed
for lioine on Octola r 4. l(lll!l.
The Dutch did not sleep .>ii their discovery for an hundred
years. In 1010 the East India Company despatched more than
one vessel to trade with ihe Indians for riirs. A fort was
erected on Manhattan Isl.ind. and the settlement there became
New Amsterdam. The i-.anie of the entire colony, which in-
cluded New .lersey. was New Netherlands. The first settle-
ment in this State was made by the Dutch in lOlS. in the
present Jersey City, which they called Bergen.
England had never abandoned her sovereignty over North
,\merica, based on prior disi-overy. .lealous of the progress
made by the Dulch. Charles II in 10r,4 sent a small fleet to
r.iptiire llie New Ncllicrlands. which was surremlered to Eng-
land in Ihe latter part of that year. King Charles had al-
ready, on .March 211. 1004. made an extensive grant of his .vet-
nncaplurcd possi'ssion to his brother, the Duke of York, who
ANCIENT DUTCH MAP OF NEW JERSEY.
christened it New York. On .Tune 2,3, in the same year, the
Di'ke of York conveyed New ,Iersey to Lord Berkeley and
Sir (Jcorge Carteret. The consideralion was ten shillings and
THE NEWS HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
icii ajiiiiiiil rent of (iiic priiiiorciini. tn lie \r.\ul on llic fcjist of
tile nativity of St. .lohii tlie Haptist. if li'^-ally (U'liuiiidi'il.
'I'lie botindjiiii's of the land (.'fimtod wcic:
■'Hoiindi'd on the east part by the main sea and part by
Hn<lson's river, and hath by the west Delaware bay or river,
and e.xtendeth southward to the main oeean as far as ("ajie
May at month of Helaware Ha.v and northward as far
as the northernmost liraneh of saiil bay or river of Delaware,
which is in forl.v one decrees and fort.v iniuntes of latitude,
ami worketh over thence in a straight line to Hudson's river,
which said tract of land is to be called by the ii:iinc' i.r names
of Nova Caesarea or N(>w .Jersey."
Berkeley and Cartirct dicu \ip a consiiiulioii for the
colony, secnriuf; equal piivile^:es and liberty of eon.sciencG
to all, an<l appointed I'hilip Carteret Governor. He came over
in Kill."), lixed the scat of froverntnent .-it Elizabethtown and
purchased lamls of the Iiidi.nis. 'I'lie constitution of Berkeley
.-ind Cartcrcl ccitiiinucd until the cli\ ision of the colony in
KiTli.
(iovernor ('.nlcrcl from the first was in trouble with the
colcuiists. Some of the inhabitants, who had previously pur-
(Imscd lanils from the Indians. decline<l to pay lent In the
new proprietors. In liiTli an insurrection compellcil hini to liee
to Enslanil. His otiiccrs weri' imprisoucil .-uid their estates
confiscated. .lames Carteret, his son. was chosen governor
in his pl;ice by the people.
Ill lI'iT.'! New York and .\cw .lerscy were surriuidcred to
llic Diilcli. bill only for a year. Wln-ii New .lersey was re-
stored to Kiifrland. doubts were cNpresscd ;is to the Duke
of York's title, and lu' received .1 new charter. In lt'>74 (Jov-
ornor Kdmuiiil .\iidros n( .New Y'ork c'lainicil jurisdiction over
New .lersey also. In liiT.'i I'liibii Carteret returned as (Jov-
«'rnoi-. and ciiiitinued until IHSI. The luoviiici' was divided
on .Inly 1. ICTti. into K.isl and West .lersey. Sir (leor^re Car-
teret beeominfr the owner of lOast .lersey and l.ipi'd Berkeley
retaining the other half. He died in ItiT'.l. and his will ili-
recled that Kast .ler.sey be sold lo pay his debts. The sale
was ui.idc to William I'eiin. Itobert West. Tli.uiias IJudyard.
Samuel (Jrooiuc. Thomas Hart. Kichard .\Icw. Thomas Wil-
cox, of l.oud'iii iixnlilsmillii. .\mbrose KiL'L'. .lolm Il.iyw I.
i[ii;.'li Ilartshornc. Cli'iiient I'lumsted ami Tliom.is Cooper,
wli'i were called the twelve proprietors. 'I'licsc twelve diil
not Ion;; hold the province to themselves, but by scparati' deeiis
took each a partner, whose naini's were: .I.-uneF I Karl of I'd'tb'
.loliii Drumnioud. U.iherl Harcl.iy. Robert (iordon. .\areiit
Soiniians. (Jowcn I.awrii'. lOdw.inl Hylliii;;i'. .laiiies Braiai .
William (iibson. Thomas BarkiT, Koberl Tinner and Thomas
Waiee. These, u itli the other twelve, were called the twcnly-
four proprii tors. To ilu'in the Duke of York made a lew
i;raiil .March 14. UiSi.'.
Robert Barclay was the HrsI ^-overnor of Hast .lersey
under the new administration. But the twenty-four proprietors
were nnabli' to at't'ee. Kach promoted separate schemes for
his own interests. The contending fac'tions could not be recon-
ciled, and. weary of strust'linK with each other, and with
the people, they surrendered their rights to the crown, which
siirremler was accepted by Queen Anue. April 17. 17(12. Im-
mediatidy upon the surrender East and West .Jersey were re-
united in one province under Lord Corubur.r. who arrived in
.\ii;.'ust. 170:1. The commi.ssiou and instriietioiis issued tn the
new ),'overniu- by the tjiieen formed the constitution of the
province until the Declaration of Independence. The govern-
ment consisted of the governor and twelve councillors, ap-
pointed by the crown, and an assembly of twenty-four mem-
bers elected by the people.
I.oril Ccu-nbnry's commission was revoked in 17li.s. Lord
l,.ivebice was appointed his successor December 20, 1708. but
he died in .May. 17o!l. and was succeeded l.v Lieutenaiit-(iOV-
eriior ln::oldsliy. who served till (Jovernor Hunter arrived, in
17111, I'ollowing him. in 1720. came William Burnett, under
wlioiii began th<' paper currency in New .Jersey. .John Mont-
g<imerie was govermu' from 1727 to 1731. ami \\'illiam Cosby
from 17:i1 to 17.'{<'>. .\t his death the othce devolved upon .lohn
.Vudcrsoii. the president of the council, who lived only twi>
weeks to eii,io,A- the Imiior. .lohn Hamilton was acting governor
till 17.'1S. w lien a commissicui arrived for Lewis Morris, who
died in 171il, He was sui-ceeiled by I'resident Hamilton, who
soon died. ,inil .bdin Heailing, the next oldest councillor, exer-
lisril the functions until .Jonathan Belcher arriveil with his
lommissiiin. He died in 17."')7. and President .lohn Heading
again administered the otlice. till Francis Bernard was com-
missioned in 17."iS. Miuiias Boone succeeded him in 1700. only
to give place, in 1701. to .losiah Hardy, who was succeeded, ill
1711:!, by \\'illiam I'ranklin. the last of tiic royal govcrmu-s.
He was ilie son of Benjamin Fr.-inklin.
The last meeting id' the provincial legislature convened
.November HI. 1 77."i. and was pnu'ogned by (Jovernor Franklin
to .lanuaiy .".. 1770, It never reassembled. The provincial
c. ingress of .New .lersey met on .lune 10 at Burlington. At
the sanu' time tlie geiieial congress of the united lolonies was
in session .-it I'hiladi Ipliia. and on .Inly i. 177i;. ihc colonies
ileclared themselves independent of Croat Britain. On .Inly
IS the provincial congress assumed the title of the State Con-
vention of New .lersey.
The first legislature of llic inilcpi'iideiit Slate mi't .11
riiiiceioii oil ,\iigiisi 27. and on ilie .'list William Livingston
w:is chosen .governor on joiiil ballcii. He died in 17',(((.
(f^SSf*^
CHAPTER IIL
THE RED MAN'S REIGN AND FALL.
New Jersey Inhabited By the Warlike Delawares or Leni -Lcnappes — Their Characteristics and Customs-
How Their Land Was Peacefully and Honorably Acquired — Indian Remains In Passaic
THIO lii'st visit of Krii- nl' Iii-lnml In tlic- .\iMci-ii-;iii coiui-
iicnt. ill A. D. 980, fuuinl lln- Iiidiniis in possossioii.
II.iw or wluMi tlioy cniiic lirii' ilucs mil lom-orii us now
Till' AiiuTiciii liiiri:iiis ;in' lor (■onvouienci' jirniiped in
<'it;lit<'t'U ilivisioiis. The AlKomniin f:iiiiil.v mniil)ci'C(l t\ (luiii-tcr
nl a million souls, and occupied the ti'i-ritory from the Atlanlir
Oi'oan to the Kocl;y Mountains, and from Canada In Soiiiii
Carolina. Tlic country between tlie Delaware and Hiidsni]
rivers, most of wtiicli is I'ow included in New .lersey. was
called hy tliem ••S<-lipyiehl)i." The New .lersey tribe was the
Leui-LeiiaiMie. or Delaware tribe. The Mohicans, .\dirondacks
and Jlanliatlans of New York State and tlie Shawnees of
rennsylvaiiia all belouK^d to the same branch .>r llic .\l;.'oiiiiuiii
family (the KasternI as the Leni-I-enappes. Tlie Irilie was
ilivided into smaller tribes or elans, sueli .is ilic l'c>nii>loiis
aiid the Ilai-liensacky clans. The latter had ils heaihiuarters
at Hackensack. and Passaic was occupied by pari of this clan.
The I.eni-Lenapl'es wi'i-e a bold, liardy and iiiimcruiis Iribc.
of whom other tribes stood in ni.utal terror. Tlicy were re-
lentless in warfari'. thou^'li not easily pnvvoked lo strife. Holh
physically and mentally tliey were stronc and well devoloiied.
The men were of excellent physiijue. quilc' t.ill. and ;;cii
erally roliust. They had mafinificent chests. Their hands and
feet were small. The women were much sm.-iller than tlu'
Mien. Both sexes had small black eyes and black hair. The
eombiiiatii'ii of .1 lar^'e inoiilli and lliiii lips was the rule.
Their Icclli wen' wi^ll preserved, and tnolliai-lie was unbe.ir.l
of. The beards and eyebrows of llic iiii-n wi-rc Ueiil pulled
out. the process beiu;: both tedious and paiiitul. Tlic li.iir of
the women was allowed to ki-ow Ion);, and hiin:; in two braids
at the back. The customary dress of the men was a sirdle.
to which a breech-cloth was attached, ami from which de
peiided lefisiiifs. The women won' le^'^'iiit-'s. a short skirt and
a loose jacket. The average diuation ..f life was much less
than aiiioiii; the whites. Few readied sixty years of age.
In spile of his wonderful physicpie and natural mode of life,
the red man suffered ^'ri-atly from ihcuuiatrsm. which was
frequent and severe.
Childri'ii playi'd until the a^'e of .seven at cames familiar
to all yoiin;; .\nicricans. Then they began to prepare for their
life's work. The boys learned hunting, tishiug and the use
of the weapons of war. The girls prepared themselves fur ihc
manifold tasks of tlicir mothers. For. in addition to ordinary
household duties, the women cul the wood, built the huts
and the stationary lodges, made the portable ones, laniied and
dressed the skins. lilliMl the soil and kept everything in repair.
Marriage occurred usually at llie age of fourteen. When
a youth . ..iicbidi'd '.<< marry, lie pin on his di'crskin robe, cover-
ing Ills head, walked lo the abodi- of his lady lovi-. and sat
diiwn ill silence for a few miniiles. Then he departed, re-
turning till' third day. If the seat of honor was prepared
for him. he would sit down and iiiieover his face. IJi- hail
been accepted. The young lady woiilil then appear with her
father, whose consent was foriiiall.v asked for. and given.
.Vfler this brief eonrlship the lover would cjeparl to prepare
,1 least for his friends, and get their expressions of opininn
upon the imporlani subject. If these were favorable, the two
families would then agree upon the price to be paid for the
bride. T'pon payment the union followed witlmui further eere-
iiiony. rolygauiy was not prohibited.
The burial customs were highly eeremoiiial. When an
Indian died lamentations were heard until the day of burial.
Then the corpse was jilaeed in a silting posture in the grave,
facing sunrise. The dead man was surrounded by articles
he was supposed to need in his long death jouriie.v— his bow and
aiTo\\s. ^^'anlpllIll. kettle, pipe and tobacco, and a small quan-
tity of <orn. .\ wiHiden monument, pietorially inscribed with
his name, was placed at the grave. For a year the relatives
visited the gr.-ive. which was simply i-overed with logs and
blush. Tlic riirriiplinii wmild be cleaned olT. till nothing re-
mained but the skeleton, when the visits ceased.
The Indian lielieved in the immortality of the soul, both of
meu and of beasts: in spirits whom they called Master, but
never worshipped. They never lost patience or fell into a
rage; never revenged themselves on Ihose with whom the.v
well' not .It war. They punished murder with death.
They were great gamblers and keen sportsmen, some of
I heir siiorts being athletic. A favorite game of liall forineil a
part of stately ceremonials intended for the entertainment of
distinguished guests. It was also used as a stratagem of
war by which to lull the suspicions of the enemy and gain
access to his forts. The game is what is now known as la-
erossi'. Originally the ball was of wood, hut was later re-
placed by one made of deer skin, stuffed hard with deer's
hair. .Vnotln-r game, on which there was much betting, was
railed ■plallcr. " The necessary implements were a howl ami
a number of dice, shaped somewhat like apricot seeds and
ic.lored differently upon the upper and lower sides. The num-
ber of dice was originally six. Still another gambling game
was called ■"straw." and usually jdayed only in the cabins of
the chiefs. 1 1 was ha.sed uiMin arbitrary rules, and not upon
any cakuhuion of the laws of chance. It was an excuse for
I he indulgence in the passion for gambling, which everywhere
prevailed. The excitement which attended these games was
intense. The Indians would stake all they were worth, and
have been U11..W11 t.. continue until they lost the clothes they
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
wore anil all tlie movables in llieir huts. Some have been
known to stake their liberty for a stipnlated time.
KXTINGIISIIING THE I.NIHA.N TITLES.
The attitude of the Iiidian.s was of vital interest to the
lirst colonists. More than one settlement on the American
coast was wiped out by massacre or by famine brought about
by unfriendly relations with the natives. The first years of
Dutch occupation were peaceful, however, and hostilities did
not commence until long after the whites had become strmi}.'.
numerous and prosperous.
The thrifty and peaceful l)uti-h ui:Hle pence with them,
securin;; thi>ni both as allies and custonu'rs. They inuuediately
be^an business by trading; with the natives for furs and game
and purchasing' Iheir land. Of the extinguishment of the red
m;in"s tilli- I" the soil it is necessary to say little exceiit that
it was piMi itnl. The mode of acquiring their land was muih
the same in all of the <()louies. (Jenerally blankets, jugs of
rum, strings of wampum, guns and haiulfids of powder were
exchanged for treaties and deeds which conveyed great areas.
In New .Jersey the early settlers, before accjuiring legal titles
from Ilic Lords I'rcipriclnrs. were cibligc<l to satisfy the claims
of Ihi' natives.
.\s the purcli.-ises fruui the natives multiplied, they gave
rise to complications and ilisputes. The guileless red man
was forgetful or did imt keep land otlice records. Con.se-
Muently there were many cross-claims. In adilition. during tie'
French wars the agents of Louis XV intrigued with the In-
dians, causing mitbrraks in Pennsylvania and exciting for
ment in .N'urthern Xew .lersi'V. ( 'oniinissioners were appointed
by till' authorities to ascert.-iin and i-enidVe lUe causes of dis-
pute. A series of conferences followcil. extending from 17."><1
to 17.58, at Crosswicks. Uurlington anil Eastoii. The final
one was at Easton. when (Jovernor Hernard. the live com
inissioners and Lientenant-(!overnor Denny ol I'ennsyl-
vania met in i-onvention fivi' hundred and seven Indian ilrh-
gates from fourteen different tribes. This rcsnlled in coii-
veyauc-es being luade which, it was supposed, entirely freed
the province from all n.ative claims. In \S:\2. however, the
.New .lersey Legislature appropriated .$2.(11111 to pay t'oity
Indians, the last reinnanl of their tribe, for the hunting and
tishing rights, which, they claimed, had not been includeil in
the Eastoti transfer.
The cidonial history of New .lers<'y bears almndant testi-
tiLony to the eciuitable dealings of tlii' New .lersey Dutch with
tbo Indians. The Six .Nations, al .1 inreting bidd to confirm
till- aits of till' l-;nston lonri-rmie. limiori-il thr L'ovi-rnor ot the
province with the tillo Sagorigliweyoglista- tlir (Ireal .\ibitiT
<ir Doer of .lustice.
Those Passjiic people who are the ilescendants of its first
.settlers have always reflected with pride on the clean records
• if their anii'siors in .all Indi-iii Iransailions. They delight in
remenibering the words of one of the Slate's most gifted sons.
Samuel L. Southard, iitten-il before the Legislature on the
occasion <tf the purchase of the native hunting and fishing
rights referred to above:
"It is a proud fact in the history of .New .Jersey." said
the Senator, "that every foot of her soil has been obtained
from the Indians by fair and vohintary purchase .and transfer
—a tact of which no other Stale in the rnioti. not even the
land whii-h bears the nan ( I'eiiii. ran bo.-ist."
I'Kooi's (If iiii; ri;i;\Aii.iN(; i'Lace.
A picture of I ho peace that reigiu'il for many years is given
in the minutes ot a meeting of the Commanders and Council
of War. held al Uergen on September T. lUTo:
"The Sacheius and Chiefs of the Hackinsagh Indians, ae-
(imipanied by about twenty of their people, reqtu'sted an
audieiKe. and. being admitted, state that they have been
sent to the commanders b.v the rest of their Indians, to re-
quest that as the.v heretofore had lived in peace with the Dutch,
they may so continue in future: declaring that on their side
it was sincerel.v desired, in token whereof they presented af)out
twent.v deer skins, two or three laps of benvrr and one string
of wampum.
"\Vher<u|iiin they wer-' ;inswered. "That their pre.seiits
and proposals were acci'pted. and they shiuild be considered
by the giivernmeiit. as heretiifore. good friends': in confirmation
w lu'reof they were presented with ll^j ells of checkered linen,
12 pairs of woolen hose and five cartridges of powder: for
which they thanked the gentlemen and departed."
Further [iroof is given in "The Model of the (Jovernment
of the Province of East .Jersey." published by (Jeorge Scot at
Edinburgh in 1685. Scot had lived in East .Tcrsey for five
years, and his accimnts show that he was f:imiliar with the
Ilackensack River settlements.
"The Indians are so far from being formidable and in-
jurious to the |ilant(>rs and inhabitants," he sa.vs, "that they
are reall.v serviceable and advantageous to them, not only in
hunting and taking the deer and all other wild creatures, and
cali-hinu of fish .■mil fowl fit for find in flieii- seasons; but in
the killing and destroying of bears, wolve.s. foxes and other
vermin, whose skins and furs they bring the English and sell
!it less jirice than the value of the time people must spend
to take them." Me also says that no danger may be appre-
hended from the Indians, who were very peaceable. East
.lirsey was at this time under English ride, and the Proprie-
tors consideriil the publication of the book an advantage to
their property. They made a grant of 5()0 acres of land in
.Moninoiilh Cnunty on .Inly 28, 1(585. "in consideration of cer-
tain ails provocative to the advantage of tlie province."
.V writer in ItiTS. speaking of the Indians, says:
"Some are a\it to ask how we can propose safely to live
amongst such a heathen people as the Indians, whose iirinciples
.inil praitiies lead them to war and bloodshed, and onrs. on
llie contrary, to love our enemies'? I answer, we settled by
the Indians' consent and good liking, and bought the land of
them that we settle on. which they conveyed to us li.v deeds
under their own hands and seals, and also submitted to several
articli's lit agreement with us. not to do us any injury. But
if it should happen that any of their people at any time should
injure or do harm to any of us. then they have to make ns
satisfaction for the injury done: therefore if they break these
covenants ami agreements, then in ciinsei|uence of tlioni they
may be proceedeil against as other offendi'rs.
"Tile Indians have been ver.v serviceable to ns by selling
us vinisiiii. Indian corn, peas and beans, fish and fowl, buck-
skin, beaver, otter and other skins and furs. The men hunt.
fish .ind fowl, and the women plant the corn and carry bur-
Ilicns. There are many of them of good understanding, con-
sidering their education, and in their public meetings of busi-
ness flu'y liavo excellent order, one speaking afler anolher,
and while one is speaking all the rest keep silent, and do not
so miii-li as whisper one to the other."
.Vnotlirr writi-r s.-iys in .-i letti-r to a friend: "The Indians
are vory loving to ns. cMcpt here and there one. when they
havo gotten strong liquors in their heads, which they now
greatly love."
INDIAN PREVENTS A SLAVE FPIUSINC.
A story of local interest is relatnl to slio« that these
friendly feelings were of long duration, and were iii-ver ter-
minated while the tribes orcupied the State. .lust uiion the
southern rily limits, on the bank of the river, tliere was a dis-
tillery early in the last century. One stormy night an Indian
Iroin the camp, then situated in our present Dundee, was caught
in a driving gust of snow and sleet on his way home. To
protei-t himself from the storm, he iiept close to the side of
the distillery, and lay down to rest. While there be s.aw a
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
nmnhor of iickim sliivos a|>pi-i>acli and iMitcr the liiiiMiiin. Lis-
teiiiniir to thi'ir cDUversation liu Icanicil nf a pint to imirJer
all till- wliite settlers. He Imiiiediately left midiseovered, and
revealed his diseovery to l»irk Vi-eelaml and other white men.
A posse was soon collected, the ilistillciy was quietly sur-
rounded and the conspirators taUen captives hy surprise. They
were bound with ropes and taken to the county jail at New-
ark. In due time they were imliitecl Inr ( spiracy. and sen-
tenced to loll}; terms in prisim.
•riii: (iriiKK siiiK oi' riu; i'k Trui:.
This liariuonioiis state was. however. sulijiMt to interrup-
tions. In 1(!4;5 there had l)een maltreatment jiiid rei>risals on
lioth sides. The killiiifr of an inoffensive old man in Man-
hiittan anil of (Jarret Janseii \aii \'oist. near Hackensack.
caused Director-General Kieft of New Amsterdam ti> make
a secret league with the Mohawk Indians, who wrrr at war
with the Tappans, Haverstraws and Hackensack Indians. In
the dead of winter these tierce warriors swept down on their
enemies, killini; many and driving the remainder to Man-
hattan. They were kindly received, and did not suspect,
neither did many of the whites, that Kieft was in league with
their enemies. The Imlians .soon moved their temporary
camp to Pavonla. now .lersey City, and on February 2.5, 1G43,
Kieft's soldiers crossed the river at night and attackecl the
Indians while the.v slept. The slaui.'ht<'r of men. women ami
children was dreadful, and not till llie massacre was over did
the Ilaekensacks realize that the Mohawks were not their at-
tackers. The survivors wageil a relentless war of revenge
upon the whites, killing the men and dragging women and
cbildn-n into eaptiviiy. Inirning houses and barns, destroying
grain ami stacks and laying waste the plantations. From the
Hudson to the Delaware no white man was safe uiilil peace
was restored. August 20. I<j4ii. Orataney. the Indian leader,
signed the treat.v of peace on behalf of the '".Vekinkeshacky"
(Hackensacksl. of whom he was chief.
Xo further troubles occurred until lt!.>~i. when one Septem-
ber night Indians robbed the apple orchard of Henry Van
DycU on Manhattan Island. While defending his fruit. Van
Dyck accidentally shot an Indian girl. A murderous warfare
broke out again. Five hundred warriors landed on the islainl
at night to search for \'aii I>yck. The.v found him in a neigh-
bor's house and woundeil him. killing his friend. The garri-
son being aroused, the Indians were driven to their canoes.
The.v crossed the river, burned down I'avonia. and then
harried Stateii Island. One hundred whites were killed and
one hundred anil fifty taken prisoners. Tin- prisoners were
ransomed by (Jovernor Peter Stiiyvesant at the rate of sev-
enty-eight pounds of powder and forty staves of lead for
every twenty-eight [irisoners. A new treaty was made and
faithfully kept thereafter.
In northwestern New .lersey there were fiostilities as late
as t7,w, although the Poniptons and Minsies. having sold their
lands, moved to Pennsylvania in 1737. The outbreak was
caused by deceptions practiced on the Indians in buying lands
in Northampton and Pike louiities. The war was carried
across the Delaware, and from May, 17.">7. to ,Tiini'. 17.")S.
twenty-.seven white persons were murdered oy Indians in
Sussex County. The Easton treaty of 17."S init an end to
Indian raids in New .Terse.v forever.
In the Dutili skirmishes with the Indians the English
from hong Island, together with such as were settled among
the Dutch, joined them in frequent sallies to annoy the Indians.
In one of these expeditions up a ,Tersey river, lielieved to
have been the Passaic, one of the party, iiion- bold or curious
than the rest, went on .■ihe.-id. He walkcil into an Imliaii
cani|) before he knew it. .V nuinlier of savages were seated
togi-ther. They saw him and he saw thoni. Pulling n paper
from his pocket, he walked boldly into their council, saying
that he was the bearer of peace proposals from the govern-
ment at .New York. He read at random from the paper in
his hand, and by this stratagem got away unmolested. Later
he led a party against the village, which surrounded it and
set Hre to it on the windward. The dosety built wigwams,
made of bushes, covereil with bark, burneil with great vio-
lence, and the village was destroyed. Notwithstanding Iheli
surprise, the Indians fought with dexterity and courage, but
being ouliinmbered. many were killed.
I'KKll..^ OK .\N H.VIIl.V WOMAN .><KTT1.E|{.
.\ vivid iiicture of the perils to which some of the early
settlers were subject is found in the history of Penelope Stout.
born in .Amsterdam about liidL". Ili-r maiden mime was
I'inelo|ie Vaiiprinces. About the time of an Indian ii[irisiug
a ship coming from Amsterdam to .New York, then a Dutch
colony, was stranded on Sandy Hook. The ship's company
got ashore, among them being a young Dutchman and his
wife, who was Penelope, lit- had been ill during most of the
voyoge, and after landing was unable to travel. The other
passengers and crew were ufroid of the Indians, and insisted
on |)ushing on to New Y'ork. but promised to send back for
him. His wife would not leave him. They had not been long
gone when a party of Indians discovered the abandoned
couple, killed the man and left the woman for dead, stripiiing
the bodies of both. She was dreadfully cut and mangled, so
that her bowels protruded, and she was obliged to keep her
hand upon her wound. She had suflicient strength, however,
to crawl into a hollow log, where she stsiyed several days,
living on what she could pick up. The Indians had left a
fire on the l)each, which she maintained with frc'sh fuel, .so as
to keep herself warm. On the seventh day a deer passed
with some .arrows quivering in its Hanks. Soon after two
Indians apiieared in full chase. She showed herself, hoping
till y wi.iilil eml hir misiiy. The younger would have knockeil
her on the head, but his coinpaniou, who was much older,
prevented him. They had a long dispute. In which the elder
prevailed. He took her up and conveyed her to Jliddletown.
where her wounds were dressed ami she got well. Her skull
had been fractured and her left shoulder so Injured that she
was never able to use it like the other.
The Dutch at New Amsterdam, hearing of a white woman
a iig the Indians, and concluding it must be she, asked for
lier release. Her preserver gave her her choice to go or stay,
and she went to her countrymen. She was married to on
Englishman. Richard Stout. The records show that she was
then in her twenty-second .vear. while he was about forty.
The.v settled at Midilletown. where the old Indian who saved
her life frequentl.v visited her. On one occasion, observing
that he was unusually pensive, she questioned him, and
learned that the Indians would attack Middletown that night,
and then make a descent on New Amsterdam. She begged
him for means to escape, and ho agreed to provide a canoe
at an a|ipoiiited i>lace that evening. Sending to the fields for
her husband, she told him of her discovery. He was incredu-
lous, but she said that her Indian friend had never deceived
her, and that with her ihildren she would go. When she was
gone her husband took the matter more seriously. He and
five or six m'ighboi-s mounted guard, ami about midnight the
settlement was surrounded by Indians. The inhabitants ex-
postulated with them, and threatened to sell their lives very
dearly. Their arguments prevailed, and the Indians entered
into ,1 Iragiie. wliiili was kept inviolate for many years.
10
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
From till' woman tlnis iiiirarulciMsly savfil is ilrsfonih-il
a nmnerous posterity nf tlic luiim- nl' Stmit. at pri'si'iit in-
liahitiiiK Xew Jersey. Slie retained her scars through a long
life, had several children and lived to the age of one hundred
and ten. Before her death she saw her offspring multiplied
to five hundred and two, in about eighty-eiglit years. One
of her female descendants married a Mr. Weart. of Mercer
County, who.se son was named Spencer Stout Weart. His
son. James Manners Weart, born iu 1838, has the honorable
distinction of having been the first volunteer under Lincoln's
first call for troops, in April, ISIil. Another son, Jacob, was
for many years one of New Jersey's leading lawyers. .lacob
Weart married Catherine, the daughter of Walling Van
WinUle, whose homestead in Bergen County, just across the
County Bridge, is now known as Mar(m"s Hotel.
liELKJlorS WdKK A.MOXC. THE IXin.VXS.
It is pleasant to i)ass from this turbulent record to an ac-
count of the religious work among the Indians at this place
performed by the Rev. John Brainerd. He was afterward ap-
pointed by the Governor, on .March 22. 1702. Superintemlent
and Guardian of Indians at Brotherton, in this State. For a
few years he was in charge of the First Presbyterian Church
at Newark. He came here and preached to the Indians. Iu
his diary he thus speaks of his preaching:
"August S. 174-4 — In the afternoon I preached to the Indians;
their nundn'r was now ab:>ut sixty-five persons, men, women
and cbildrcTi. I discoursed from Luke xiv., lt!-2;i and was
favored with \incomni(Mi freedom. There was iniu-h concern
among them while I was discoursing publicly; but afterward,
when I spoke to one and another more particularly, whom I
lierceived under uncommon concern, the power of God seemed
to descend upon the assembly 'like a mighty, rushing wind.'
and with an astonishing energy liore down all before it. I
stood amazed at the iuHuence which seized the audience almost
universally, ami could compare it to nothing more aptly than
a mighty torrent, that bears down and swei'ps before it what
ever is in its way. .\lmost all persons of all ages were bowed
down together, and scarce one was able to withstand tbi> shock
of the surprising operation. Old men and women, who had
been drunken wretches for years, and some little chililren, not
more than six or seven years of age, apiieared in distress for
their soids, as well as persons of middle age.
"A principal man among them, who before thought Ins
slate good, because he knew more than the gener.-ility of the
Indians, and who with great confidence the day before' told
me that h.' had been .-i Christian for more than ten years, was
now brought under solemn concern for his soul and wept bitter-
ly. .Vuotlier man. considerable in years, who had been a
iiiurdirer. a iKiwwaw. and a notorious drunkard, was likewise
brought now to cry for mercy with many tears, and to com-
plain much that he could be no more coiicerneil. when h.^ s:mv
his danger so gre.at."
He goes on at great length speaking of their deep, sincere
mourning. On August !• he preached again, when many UKU-e
were converted, and says in closing:
"It was very affei'ling to see the iM)or Indians, who the
other day were yelling in their idolatrous feasts, now crying to
(Joil with such importunity lor an interi'st in His dear Son."
Illl-: rSK dl' \\A\1ITM AS MONHV.
For many years wampum. Ihi' Indian ninney. was the chief
currency of the country. Eight white wampum m- four black
passed as a stiver iHutch two cents or (UU' penny English
inoneyl. Twenty stivers made a guilder (aliout thirty-eight
i-enls. or one shilling and nine pencei. Tlw white' wampum
was wiu-ked out of the inside of the shell of the great conch
into the form of a beail. and perforated to string on leather.
The black, or purple, was worked out of the inside of a mussel
IU- clam shell. They were gathered in strings i-alled belts,
which were sometimes as broad as .iiie's hand and about two
feet long. They were commonly given at treaties as seals of
friendship. For a smaller matter a single string was given.
Every bead had a known value. In lU'li six white or four
black were made equal to a [lenny.
A SI .M.MAKV OF LAWS CONCERM.VG IXIU.V.NS.
It will lie ajiproiiriate lo closi- this ai-count of the dealings
of the early settlers with the natives b.v appending a list of
the early laws resiH-cting the Indians, the orrginal language
and spelling being preservi'd:
ll)C)S.— Xo purchases of cattle to In- made from them. Com-
mission aiipointed to treat with the Indians concerning the
ranging of cattle.
1('72.— Providing that the land be purchased from the In-
dians by the (Jovernor and Council in the name of the Lords
Proprietors.
T>7.">.— That a fortification should be built in every town for
.securing women and children, provision and ammunition, in
case of imminent danger of the Indians.
Inilians were not to be supplied in any way with anjEnuni-
tiou or gun.s. and all blacksiuiths, gunsmiths ami other per-
sons were forbidden repairing guns for Imlians.
Hi?!). — Xo foreigners to trade with the Indians.
Liipiors not to be sold to them.
Xo Indian drest skins to be transported.
Xov. 21! set aside as Thanksgiving Day for deliverance
frciui Indian troubles.
lliS2. — Providing punishiuents to all from whose house a
drunken Indian shall be seen to come.
.\o person to tre.at with the Imlians without license from
the (Jovernor.
l(i!)2. — Prohibiting sale of liepior to the Indians.
THE IXIUAX SETTLE.MKXr IX PASSAIC.
Passaic is rich in written and oral recoi-ds of the presence
of the Indians, ami, even if both were lacking, many visible
traces of their occupation have been found. The natural ad-
vantages of the site appealed to them, and they formed here
.1 settlement next in size to their headijuarter:. at Ilackensack.
where their councils were held. Their feasts and dances were
belli ni'ar thi' Kingslaiul paper mills, on the Yantacaw Creek,
at Iielawanna.
Their principal settlement was in the parr nf the city now
known as Dundee, and occupied what has always been
known as the Xeck or Point iStoffel's Point, see Chap. IV),
which incluiled the land lying east of about where Third street
miw is, ami bounded on three sides by the river. Kefereuce is
made to this village in a survey made for Christopher Hoag-
land in lfi7S. This site was at the head of tide waU'r. and
being almost surroundeil by the river, afforded gooil fishing.
Tile neighboring woods were full of gano'. The land between
the present Wall street ami the channel fnrming Dundei'
Island \\:is then high enough to proti'ct their homes from
freshets. The lodge of their chief was on this high ground,
upon which they erected their permanent houses. In later
times these are described as being substantially built. They
were circular in form, and could accommodate several families.
In liuilding thi^m the sod was carefully rennned and the ground
excavated fm- a foot or so. T'pright posts, ten feet high, were
rangi'il armmd the lircle. Later these were boarded on the
outside. Kafters were placed in position and thatched with
straw covered with sod. Then' were no windows, and the
light could enter oidy through the small door and the chimney
hole at the ajiex of the roof, .\ fireplace occupied the I'cntre
of the lodge, while wooden bunks were ranged arouml the
sides, two feet above the gremnd. These were stuffcl with
leaves. Plenty of deer and other skins covered the lloors and
beds.
Simpler lodges, shaped like ordinary round tents, were
siatteri'.l over the rest of the Point. These were construeted
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
U
iif imlfs. envonMl wiili skins. Tlic firi'iiliicc was in tlip ci-ntre
in these iiIsd. ami iinMiinl it were mats for sittinK and rocllniii);.
The iliii'f live.l ill a pernianont lodjte. iitui ailniinistereil
llie iifl'airs uf thf Irihe. assisted hy a eiinneii nf u ip|' liis
(^\^ 11 elloi<-e.
Neailiy was tlie principal liiiryini; crimiid id' Ilu' villa);e.
Il nestled under the pri)teetint' anus of lartfe elms, more re-
cent t'l-owtlis of which may still he seen on tlie spot. Sealtc^red
thiiiiit.'li this little cemelery were upright posts, which marked
the i:r.ivcs the Iii.liaiis lielil so sacred. They were marked
with iiisrri|iiiciiis ill pictiire-w riliuK, some elalxu-ately reconlin:;
I lie di'cds of a ;;reat chief or hold warrior.
There was another settlement aloiiR the hank of the river,
exteiidinc from the site of Speer's Chaleaii. northerly, to ilic
foot of Park place, and a little lieyond. Here were the winter
quarters for those who. ihniUKh age or inlirmity. could not
endure the in<'leinent weather at the more exposed situation on
the Toint. The Indians, while they reciuired old folks and
the woiiieu to do lahorious niaiiual work, were very considerate
of their comfort. ThorouKh arrausements were made at the
winter settlement for ihe care of the sick, the comfort of the
awed and the protecti(Ui of the weaker women and children.
This spot was sheltered from the hleak. north winds by a
bank, thirty feet hifrli. which nITorded ^'rratcr wnriiiih. hecause
its top was well wooded.
Here. also, was their hospital, or. as they culled it. their
'"sick-house." It was a dupiut in the hillside. The i.iic small
aperture answered as chimney, window, ventilator ami door.
It was open at all times tn the sick, intirm and .ajied. .V lire
was kept constantly lnuiiiii^'. and the patieut would stay and
sweat himself to his pleasure. lUieumatism heiuf; their most
common ailment, this Turkish hath was uiiuh resorted to. An
old resident lately stated to the writer that his father had seen
what was [loiuted out as the remains of this old •"sick-liouse."
The winter settlement was hesiile the tr.iil that passed
aloni; the river's edge. This path was in existence, and actu-
ally in use, as late as IStJO, when it was closed to the public.
It has now entirely disappeared.
Dundee Island, which lay adjacent to the main sett lenient,
and nearly the whole of Iluiidee west of Second street were
then thickly wooded, while a heav.v growth of timber friu>;ed
the river banks which bounded the "Neck." The cleared land
between these houmlaries was iriveti over to cultivation by the
Indians, who had their great corn Held on the ground now oc--
cupied by stores, tenements and mills. Corn thrived on the
sandy soil, and was raised in great iiuantitles. It was planted
in early spring, and hoed twice, the last time about the middle
of .lune, when the men would leave lUi a hunting trip. They
Would Hot return until early in September, when the corn
would be cut, husked, shelled anil stored for winter use.
THE ()I,I> l.Mll.VN IKSIi WKIU.
The river furnished sustenance, besides the Meld and the
forest. To a savage people, depending iirincipally on the un-
certainties of the chase for life, the question of food for use
iu llieir liiuiliiig or warlike expeditions was of the first conse-
quence. Our Indian predecessors made their tisheries pro-
ductive.
In the I'assaic Kiver, in the vicinity of tlu' extensiiui «(
President street, above and bi-lnw a suiall island lalled Weasel
Island, are the remains of what appear to hv small stone
dams, extending iu a semicircle from either bank to about the
<i>iitre n( the stream. Here there is an opening forming a
sluice. The enclosure thus formed caught great ipiantitii's
of fish, to be afti'rward sniokeil for the year's food. It is
well known that even iu receut years shad and bass in im-
inense hcIiooIk were in the habit of running iqi the river in
the spring. In the sluice was a wooden weir, which ciudd he
raiseil or lowered at will. When the lisli were running up
the river, the weir was lowered in Ihe liiwi-r sluice until enough
had gone upstream. Then one end was raised to the surface,
the othiT resting on the bed of the river. Onr- end of the upper
weir was also raiseil to within a loot or ,so of the snrfiici..
while till- other rested ,in the bottom.
The canoes were then paddled up stream for, pt-rliaps, a
mile, when Ihe fishermen would turn and <'oine slowly back.
Ihoroiighly beating the waters and driving the fish into the
enclosure, to he captured at leisure. The fish were corraled
at high water, and caught when the water had subsided.
The Dutch word for a sluice is "sloot," and il is for this reason
that they named the locality Slauler Dam iSlooier Dami.
THKii; i-i:.\sri.\(; iHtovi; ,\t di:i,.\w.\n.\.\.
The Imlians h(dd their feasts and ceremonial dances at
Delawanna. near Yantacaw pond. The fine groves, upland
ami meadow made it an ideal spot for their festivities. Once
a year they had their great gatherings— in the fall, at a time
corresponding to our Thanksgiving. They had harvested their
crops, dried and roasted their com, gathered and stored nuts.
Much of the winter's firewood had been collected in great
piles at their winter quarters, and all who were to stay at the
winter camp had left their summer homes. Then, too. just
at this lime the hunting season, extending from .lune to Oe-
tolier. was over, and Ihe game and fish had been smoked,
cured and stored. The hunters had brought home skins and
pelts, which had been prepared for garments and bed cover-
ings.
The attendance at these games was swelled to large num-
bers by the visits from the neighboring I'omiitons, liaritans,
Tappans and other clans of the Hackensack tribe. It was at
these feasts that the prowess of the wrestler, the skill of the
ar<her and the grace of the dancer were developed and ex-
hibited. Canoe races were paddled on the Passaic Uiver, at
the HI. .mil ..r Yantacaw Creek. Yantacaw was known far
and wide among the Indians for its games and sports. Un-
fortunately for our younger or athletic minded reailers, no
records are extant.
The name Yantacaw in Indian uomeiiclature was Kinte
Kay, signifying a ceremonial dance. In the Indian deed for
the Newark tract, "the bounds northerly up the Pesayak Kiver
reach to the third river above the town. The river is called
Yauutakah." The Yantacaw Creek is sometimes called Third
Kiver. The name was applied by the early white .settlers
of -Newark. .V small creek iu Newark itself is the First Kiver:
the stream at lielleville. by which the road runs up to Bloom-
field, is designated .Second Kiver, and the next, the Yantacaw,
the Third Kiver, Uelleville itself was known for over one
liiiiidred years as Second Kiver. while the region about Dela-
wanna was known as Y'antacaw, or Third Kiver, Yantacaw
is surely a prettier and more suggestive name than Delawanna,
which is not an Indian name, and, indeed, belongs mil to an.v
language. It is a freak word, compounded from Dela-ware
and I.acka-wanua, the railroad on which the village is situated,
by the residents, who allow the more appropriale name of Yan-
tacaw to be monopolized by an ice ciunpany.
Till-: INDI.VN I'.rKVINC iHiOlNDS.
The Indians seem to have had two burying gromnls within
the limits of I'assaic. One was on the heiglits overlooking the
river, at President street, where as late as l.S'50 the field
showed indentations and mounds indicating graves, Indians
12
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
were buried here less thau a century previous by those who,
although their fathers had migrated to distant parts, returned
to bury their dead elders in this ancient cemetery. This spot
was apparently reserved for the prominent men of the tribe.
Kelics which were usually interred in numbers with the dead
chiefs have been picked up on this spot, and are now at the
Smithsonian Institute in Wasliinstou.
The other cemetery was on the tract of land now bounded
by Fifth, Passaic and Seventh streets and the river. The
first reference to this is made in the return of a survey made
for Christopher Hoagland, on .Tuly 13. KiTS, by the Surveyor-
(Jenoral of East .Jersey. A copy of this do<-ument will be found
in a sncceedinc chapter. Mention of this burying ground is
also found in several ancient deeils anil records.
On several occasions, while excavating on this site, human
bones and skulls, pronounced those of Indians, have been ex-
humed. The first of these discoveries was made in 1SS.3. and
again in ilay, 1S9.3, more skulls were found.
.\ trail extended from this burying ground and the adjacent
village to the cemetery at President street, and frcun there
to the (Jreat Falls, following the river. This path was their
main liiglnvay leading to the village of the I'unipton Indians.
It is notable that the Indians chose to bury their dead along
their main trails, and, where possible, on the bank of a stream.
The places chosen hereabouts were then beautiful situations,
and the white man has unconsciously followed their custom.
The Delawares have long since lost their tribal relations.
Their traceable descendants now number less than one hun-
dred persons, and are located in Kansas or the Indian terri-
tory.
Ye say they all have passed away —
That noble race and brave!
That their light canoes have vanished
From off the glittering wave;
That, 'mid the forests where they roamed.
There rings no hunter's shout:
But their name is on your waters,
Ye may not wash it out.
Ye say their cone-like cabins.
That clustered in the vale.
Have disappeared, as wither'd leaves
Before the autumn gale:
Bit their memory liveth on your hills,
Their baptism on your shore;
Your everlasting rivers speak
Their dialect of yore.
i^^^=^^S^^
CHAPTER IV.
THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN.
The First Real Estate Deal was the Purchase of " The Point ", Which took the Name of Stoffel's Point,
Now Known as Dundee.
TUK tiisi white settlers of Passaic wore IIollaiKli'rs, the an-
cestors of the "Jersey Dutih." It is cenenilly presumed
that they settled here aliinil the year 1(JT9. w lieii they ob-
tained a ih'od from the Indians, lint it is altocother likely
that they familiarized themselves with the lorality some years
before. It is not fliaracterislie of their descendants to liny
anythinf: wiili whiili iln'y arc nnacijunintcd. \Vc ni;iy be
confidi'iit lliat llic anccs((irs were not less shrewd.
Till' aulliiirity foi' this belief that a settlement was made
at this earl.v date is Whitehead's '"East Jersey L'mler the
Proprietors." where we reail that "Persons are mentioned as
of AcquacUcnacU in 1(>-I0." Wintield's scholarly "History of
Hudson County" distinctly says that no settlement was made
north of Hoboken previous to 1C43, but there may have been
prospectors, or even actual settlers, here in 1040.
Tlie first recorded settlement iu the counties of E.sscx,
Hudson. Bergen or Passaic was at Commnnipaw, now part
of Jersey City. The first white settler was Jan Evertse Bout,
in Kl.'i-t. He was am-nt for Nicholas Pauw until he sold to
the Dutch West India Company, and .ibout l(io,S rented the
com|iany's farm.
At Ahasimu.-, lived the family of Cornelis Van Vorst. de-
ceased, whose widow married Jacob Stoftelson. Stoffelson is
the first white man known to have set foot iu Passaic. He
is an interestiuj; charailcr. Horn in Kidl. he came to this
<(iuntry from Zirickzee, the chief city of the island of S<howcn
and the oldest city of Zealand. In ll!;J8 he was commissary
and overseer of llic company's ncfrroes. He was chosen one
of the Twelve in Hill, one of the Eight iu 104.^ and in the
same year one of the Directors' Council, pro liac vice, to con-
sult on Indian affairs. In l(!.")i; he IcascMl the company's Bou-
werie at Ahasimns. wliirc lie livi'd nntil his death, in 1G77.
It was in 1(!;{!I tli.-it hi' married the widow Van Voi-st. In
lt!.">7. beiuK a widower, he married Tryntjc. widow of Jacob
Wallin;.'en Van Horn, by whom he had two children, Sloffel
an<l Jacobus. In the same year he received the ri^'hts of a
Small Bursher. "He was an uneducaled man. bin L-reatly
respected, and of considerable inlbiencc with llii' Indians."—
Winfield.
Such was the man who <ame, some time previous to lt!7S.
to purchase land for his friend Christopher Hoaclandt, a Hol-
land merchant in .\ew York. He was selected because he was
a man of commanding power in the colon.v of New .lersey
and lia.l inHncmc alike with llie Covernor and Connril and
wi!h the Indians.
l''or a number of years subsequent to lii-10 the rulers of
New York were the cause of niitold trouble to the inhabi-
tant.s, who were not even allowed religious freedom. Even
migration fr the city was forbidden. These and other
reasons in<luced Hoaglandt to seek a home in New Jersey,
where the Proprietors showed a jiulicious toleration, religious
and civil', and thiTc was op|iiirtunity for industry.
STOFFELSON'.^ DISCOVERY OF PASSAIC,
.Vewark's first settlers came up the Passaic Itiver In boats.
SlolTelson rode o\erland from Jersey City. I,et us picture
the mtin ami the jonrm y. that day more than two hundri'il and
twenty years ago.
He is robust but not very tall, speaking English with ease,
dressed in a large-buttoned gray coat, leathern vest, short,
baggy trousers, long blue stockings and leggings. On horse-
back, astride his saddle-bags, he rides from his home to
Bergen mow Jersey City) Heights. From the hill top he
surveys the country to the northwest. At the foot of the hill
lies a vast expanse of meadows, broken only liy Snake Hill,
known to him as "Slangen Bergh." northeast of which was
a small ridge called "Mount Pinhorne." Beyond flowed the
Hackensack. His objective point is our present (Jarfield.
near which, he has heard. Ii<>s a stretch of beautiful country.
From accounts given by the men from Aqueikneck it re-
sembles his native laml. He will look at it for his friend,
and perhaps make an investment for his company. What won-
der that, as he rides through the fresh air of a dewy morn-
ing, his face glows with contentment. Descending from the
heights he rides in .search of a ford across the Hackensack.
His road was an Indian trail, scarcely a path and barely
seen. I''inally, he reaches an Indian ferry, this side of the
present town of Hackensack. He is known to the red men
as their friend and is ferried over. Still following the trail,
he reaches Hackensai'k. where he visits the chief of the tribe.
He resumes his journey, going down the Pollilly road till a
little below the old Lodi railroad, where a trail passes through
Lodi. then due .south, then westward, crossing the Saddle
River about on the line of the avenue of that name. Still
heading west, he reins in his hoi-se on the banks of the Pas-
saic River, near the present Garlield bridge.
As he looks a curious feeling seizes him. Can it be his own
native land? There is that same shon- of low, sandy soil lying
at the foot of the familiar beech and birch trees, to the right
a lagoon and an island to the right of that, tufted with what
appears to be his familiar heather. And that cultivated field?
Perhaps there are brooks and fertile lands beyond!
At his signal an Indian from the village on our Wall
street pushes out a canoe ami ferries him ovi'r. .Vfter en-
J4
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
iiuiries from the chief of the village, he starts ou a tour of
inspection with the chief at his side. They «" Avestward,
crossing the Weasel hnuik. nuw ilie Icwer canal, and ascend
the hill until they reach tlu> present corner of Prospect
street and Park place, where they view the country north and
east. From there they walk due north, until about one hun-
dred and fifty feet west of Monroe street and Hamilton ave-
nue. They turn eastward along our Monroe street to the
Weasel brook, and. crossing it, go northeast to the bank of
the Passaic. \\lii<h they follow down to the Indian burying
ground, and llu-n t<i the Indian village from which they
started. Here tliey survi-y ilie "neck" or "point" witli its
cornfields.
This was ihc l.-ind lie wanted. Here lie and his friend
would live, and here they would die and be buried. He would
return and reiiort to his family and Hoaglandt of finding this
goodly land at Ai|iieckueck.
Tin: (;i{.\.\Ti.\(; of jiik -I'ltiNr iwth.nt."
Whether Hoaglandt madi- a preliminary visit is unknown,
but he determined to purclia.se. and applied for an otHcial sur-
vey. It bears date .luly Ki. lliTS. and is the lirst survey In
I'assaic. The fnllnwing is a copy:
"Laid Mill by the Surveyor (Jcii'l i\\.> tracts ot laml lying
jind beini: at I hKiniipienank. upon tin' I'assaic Illver. for Xtopli
Hoglaiit. imp. Ids acres of land.
"Heginning at a stake planted by a small creek" (being
the present nimilli of the lower Ilniidee canal at the river,
lietween Keid ami Barry's mill jind Campbell. Morrell & Co.'s
<;oal yardl. "thence running north as the creek run.s forty-two
chains to a swamp tree, marked on four sides, standing b.v
the creek" (where the present Miuiroe street crosses Weasel
Brook), "thence east, northeast, eighteen chains, to a stump
marked on four sides standing by a path" (on the bank of the
river about four hundred feet north of Monroe street), "from
thence rniiniiig south twenty-nine chains to a stake standing
by an Indian burying place" (about the corner of Sixth street,
north of I'assaic streetl. "Ihence i^ast thirty chains along the
river side b.v the Indian wigwams" (near Garlield bridge).
"thence south thirty-live cha.ns to the point of the Neck, and
tliince northwest and west forty chains to the stake where
it began. Bounded .south and east by Pasawerk Uiver, west
by a small creek, and north in part by land not yet surveyed
and in part by said river.
"Item, 12(1 acres, joining to the west side of the aforemen-
tioned small creek, beginning at a swamp tree, marked on
four sides, standing in a swamp." (MonriH' street where it
crosses Weasel brook), "thence west, southwest, thirty-four
chains to two while oak trees, marked on four sides" (on the
centre line id' Monroe street, about one luindred and lifty feet
west of Hamilton aviMiiie). "Ihence smith forty chains to a
black oak tree, marked on four sides, with four notches" (a
little to the west of the west side of Prospect street, about
one hundred feel sunlh of I'.-irk place), "thence east, north-
<'ast, thirty-l'onr chains nihin said small crei-k to a stake
i)lanted a-top of a small liiH" (at the lower Dundee canal,
about seventy-five feel li-nin ilir riven: "then, as the crwdi
runs, to the first nuMitioiied tree. Bounded north, south and
west by land not yet surveyed and east by a small brook. As
may more al l.irge appear by a draft of said land hereunto
annexed: the whole containing two hniulred and seventy-eight
acres, English measure.
"Dated .July 13, 1G7S.
"Robert Vaniiuellin,
"Surveyor."
For Hoaglandt to obtain a grant, it was necessary for
him lo homestead, grants being given to settlers only, to in-
crease the population of the State. Hence, it is certain that
Hoaglandt .settled here. While nearly all patents were made
b\ the Lords Proprietors, some were made by the Governor.
Thus we find that on .Inly l."i. UiTS, Philip Carteret, Gov-
ernor of New .Jersey, for his brother. Sir George, made a
grant, known as the I'oint I'ateut, to Hoaglandt. The deed
opens with the words: "L (Jeorge Carteret, Knight and
Baronet, have given and granted to (^'hristopher Hoogland two
tracts of land lying and being at Haiinickenock on the Pisa-
wack Kiver. In wit." 'I'lii^ description is from here on identi-
cal with that in N'aiMiMclliii's survey down to the word "ineas-
nre" in the last paragraph. Then the deed continues:
"Which two tracts of land h". the said Christopher Hoog-
land. shall have and hold to himself, his heirs and assigns
riirever. giving and paying ye.irly to the said proprietor, his
heirs ami assigns, on overy J.'itli day (.t March, aci-ording to
Fnglish reckoning, a lialf penny, lawful Knglish money, for
I'acli and every of the said acres, or the ei|uivalent thereof in
such cnrrent payment as the coir.itry gives as the mercantile
price for the value of Knglish money; the first payment of
which rent shall begin from the 2.")th day of March, which
sh.-ill be in the year of our Lord, l(iS().
"(Jiven under m.v hand and seal the l.'iili day of .Inly, in tht.
year of our Lord KiTS and in the ;!l)|h year of the Keign of
Charles the Second, King, etc."
"George Carteret."
Indorsed ihereon is: "Yearly rcni. 11 shillings. 7 pence.
Sterling."
Tradition has it that Ilna^'laiidl built a lioniestcad on (he
site of the present Worlhen iV: .VIdrich mill. He did not
nil u|iy it long, for on February 1(1. 1(;7!)-<S(1, he made an agree-
ment I'l convey his prujierty to Ilartnian Michiessc iMichael-
son 111- \'recla!idi. .\flrr a short st:iy lii'i-e lie probably removed
to .New York. wIiitc his death oi-riirreil previous to .May li-'i.
lSi;."i. as on that dali- Ills widow g.-ive a dii'd for the land lo
Michiesse,
The lines of the old Point Patent are still traceable. The
south line is the rear of all lots on Park place, between
I'rospect street and M.iiii aviime. From a iioiut on the north
side of Park place, aboui firt.\ fni east of Prospect street,
the line laid out in 1(i7S runs in a slraight line to Passaic
avenue, where it emerges botweeii the houses numbered 21
and 2.".. These aro llie oldest established lines in the county.
Dundee which included [lart of this patent, was known
for two centuries as Stoffel's Point. It may have been so
named after Stoffelson or after Hoaglandt. whose (Christian
name ill Dutch is writleii "Christolle." It seems probable
that the name was given in honur of ils tirsi discoverer, either
by himself or his friend Hoaglandt.
CHAPTER V.
THE SETTLEMENT OF ACQUACKANONK.
The Purchase of Dundee Island and the Acquackanonk Patent — The Interesting Michielson (Vreeland) Family
Who Were Earliest Settlers — Division of the Acquackanonk Patent and Setting Apart of Church Lands.
Wri'IlIN till' iii-\l lew v.Mi-s afti-r the t'lniitiliK nf the
I'ciiiit ratfiit llu' idwiship of Ac(iiiackanoiik was srt-
tK'il. and linos were established that were not ma-
terially cliaiiKi'il ill !t<'V()hitionary days. This eliaptir will de-
seribe the men \\ Im di'l this and Imw it was doni'.
In this coiineetioii it may be interestiiin to note the prin-
eipal provisions of the "CoiKessions and Asreeinents of the
I.oids I'roijrietors of the I'rovinee of Nova Caesarea, or New
Jersey, to and with all ind every thi' adveiitnters ami all sin-h
as shall settle or iilaiit there." This was the first iinistitiitiun
ol the State ti>ueiiinK grants of laiul.
It will |.e remembered that the 'Mli-s to all land were di-
rivi'<l from a Hoard of I'rc-prietoi-s. except a few patents made
by the Governor and Coiir.eil. The I'roprietors obtained title
by several mesne eonveyanees. the tirst of whieh was obtained
.\Iareh ]2. KHU, from Charles II. whose title was based on
prior discovery and e(m(inest. The "Concessions and -Xgree-
ments" were articles made by Berkeley and Carteret, who de-
rived their title frnin tin- Dnke of York, and who reserved the
riirht to i;overn the cidony and make its laws.
To enconrace jdantirs ever.v freeman who should iiiibarU
with the first (iovernor. or meet him on his arrival, provided
with "a seed nuisket. bore of twelve bnllets to the ponnd, with
bandaliers and match convenient, and with six months' inn
vision for hiiii^(df." was pronii.-ed 150 acres c)r laud and a like
niimbcr for every man si'rvant or slave, similarly eipiipped,
bn iif-'ht with him. To ti'iiiales over the age of fourteen, seven-
ty-fivi' aei-is of ;.'i-ciiiiid vM-i-c promised, .-ind a like niiniluT lo
every Christian servant at the expiration of his or her term of
.service. Tlio.se soiiift before .laiinary 1. Kili.Vti. were to re-
ceive 120 acres, if master, mistress, able-l>odie<l man servant
or slave, and weaker servants, male i>r female, sixty acres.
Those fi'nuf; dnriiiK the third year were to receive tliree-fnurlhs
and diiriii),' the fourth year, one-half ipf the iiuantities. Kvery
person tn whom land shonlil be. •nine due was to recejve a
warrant rioiu the (Juvenior lo the Surveyor-General to lay
ont I'.-ich tract .it lainl prcviuiis to a uraiit beins made. .\
yearly iinit-reiit of not less than one half-penny an acre was
ti. be paid, lint pajinents were not to commence until lliVd,
Liberty of eonscieuce was ;.'naraiiteed to all becominji snb-
jeels of KuKbind, swearin;; alle;;iauee to the Kin;; and faithful-
ness to the Lords I'roprietors.
The rules for land srants beiusr established, it is easy to
cniiipute ihi' size of Christopher IloaKlandt's household when
he settled here. Mis allotment beint' liniilcd acconnls fur the
peiuliar shape of his tra< t.
WIIKKK .\l.l. MOW .IKUSKY ITILKS .VKK I iKIM VHI i
I'KO.M.
.\ll lands in New .Ii-rsey, it must lie understood, were hon-
orably and peaceably pureha.s<'d from the Indinns, The legal
liile, however, comes from the Crown by letters jiatent dated
March 12, lti(^, in the sixli^eiitli vear of Ciiarles IL who
ileeded all of New .Jersey lo .lames. Duke of York, On .linie
12. in the .same year, by deed of lease and release, tlie Unke of
York conveyed it to .lohn. Lord Berkeley, and Sir George Car-
teret. These grants were altirmed after the treaty of peace
with the I ditch. The interest of Lord Berkeley became vested
in four individuals by various mesne c'onveyanees, and the
now live owners released to Sir (ieorge Carteret the whole
of Kast .Jersey on .Inly 1, HmC By his will, dated DeeemlK-r
."), 1(578, all his lands in .New .lersi-y were conveyed to his ex-
ecutors in trust to sell, and on February 1, 1(;S2, the widow
and executors conveyed them to the Twelve Proprietors spoken
of in Chapl(>r II, At different times in lliS2 they conveyed
shiires to twidve others, ami the Duke of York, on March 14,
lt'.S2, allirnied the jirior gr.ints. From time to time these
twenty-four, known as the Lords I'roprietors of Kasl .lersey,
niaile conveyances by litters patent to actual settlers. The
mainland of the city of Passaic endiraces all of the "Point
Patent" and part of a larger grant, known as the ".\equacka-
iionk Pat(>nt."
The "Pcpiiil Patent." as we have seen, is bcnincled iinrth by
Jlonroe stri-et. south by a line extending from I'rospecl stivet
IK arly <lue east to the river, east by the river and wi-st by a
line eonnecting the said north and south lines, and, on the
average, parallel with Prospect street. I'ntil recently it was
supposed, even by practiced surveyors, that the western limit
of the "Point Patent" was the old line uf Prospect street.
Hilt as that old road was not laid cut until ITiiT. and as there
was no Indian trail there, it is easy lo see that this could not
be so. The trail from Newark followed the river to South and
Fifth streets, where it cut across to the Indian village, from
w liicli point it followed the river lo Totowa,
To thos" not familiar with the land included in the Point
Patent it appears to he an island, and is so described by George
Scott in his book on Ea.st .Jersey. ^Vriting in 1(>8.S, he says: —
"Further up the water ithe Passaic River) is an island of
about 1,(MKI acres, belonging to Mr. Kicharil lloogland of New-
aik (sici: if it be not an island it is tycd by a very narrow strip
of land to the continent."
Tin: iiKST i'ri;cii.\si; nv ihmiki: island.
The iiun'hase of Dundee Island from the Indians Avas made
at about the same time as Stoffelson made the bargain for the
Point Patent, The Indian name for the island was "Mene-
henicke." It tirst appears in an Indian deed dated .Vpril 4.
U'~S. from Captahen Peters, an Indian sachem, to Ilartman
Michielson, I'onveying " a great Island lyeing in the river of
Pisaick near by .\i|iiickaiincke, by the Indians <'alled Mene-
lienicke." .Michielson perfected his title by procuring a patent
from the Proprietors of East ,Iersey, The |iatent bears date
of .lanuary ti. l(!8."i. Michielson bargained to pay annually the
lordly "chief or ipiit rent "f one fatt henii."
i;6
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
the AcquaikaiiiiiiU I'ateiit. At the session of the Goyernor
and Council of East Jersey, held at P-lizabethtown. May 30.
1(;S4, the following resolution was pa.sse<l. and the ijatiiit
Kvauted in conformity therewith: —
"The petiion of Hans Dedricke. Elias Mekellsou and Ad-
rian Tost, in behalf of themselves and other inhabitants of
Aquaiinanunck. setting forth they had imnhased by order of
the late G<ivernor Carteret. A tract of I>and containing .0.520
Acres, wch is to be Devided among.st fourteen ffanielys of them
there settled— pniy they may have a gen'll I'attent for the
same.
"It's ordtTcd that the Indian sale being recorde<l. Arrer-
ages of Rent paid, that a pattent bee made and granted them at
one halfe penny [M'r Acre .vearly Hent."**
The phrases "inhabitants of A(|naquanuncke" and "ffanie-
lys of them that there settled" indicate nothing else except that
the land had b"en occupied some time between the Indian sale
in ItiTit and the granting of the patent in H>.S4. The full text
of the patent will be given in an appropriate place later in
the chapter.
THE l.NTEKESTIXC
.\ll(lin;i.,'<()X i\ KKEI.AMU FAM-
ILY.
Michielsou was Stoffelson's friend and near neighbor, and
it is possible that he aeeonipauied him on his first trip. The
date of the Indian purchase. April 4 of the year in which
the Point Patent was surveyetl, bears out this assumption.
Just what purpose Jlichielsou had iu buying the island is not
determined. It is well to bear in mind that in 11)85 Michiel-
sou owned the island and Iloaglandt owned the I'oint Patent.
On February Hi. 1()7S)-S0. "Christotle Hooglauil" agreed to
sell the Point Patent to Hartman Michiesse iMichielson). Be-
fore a deed was made Hoogland died, and his widow and son
conveyed the land liy deed <late<l May 25, 1(>S5. to Hartman
Michielse or A'reeland.* Associated with Hartman in this pur-
chase were his three brothers. Elias, .Johannis and Cornelius.
Hartman dividid no the propert.v among them b.v deed, re-
serving his own share. Tlircc of the four brothers built houses
here, and froni them has descended the large Vreeland fam-
ily. But before speaking further of them and thi'ir disposition
of the land, it is well to mention the tiext real estate trans-
action, which followed close on these two.
PURCHASE OF THE ACQLACKANO.NK PATENT.
ITartni.in Michielsou, having purchased the island and the
Point I'ateiit, and considering them a good investment, was
enterprising euough to look for further settlements. He re-
P< rted the promising location to friends in Jersey City, and
.idvised them to buy more lainl with him at Acquackanonk
and make homes there.
It must be renielhbcrcd that when the f'oint Patent was
laid out it was "b.iundeil in part by lands not yet surveyed."
Xo i>ermaneut European scltlcnient at that time exi-sted in
Passaic County. .Nn part of its land had been pre-empted.
Hartman succeeded in interesting thirteen friends and rela-
tives, including his three brothers, and they set their hearts
on a generous allotment of tine land, extending from Yantacaw
or Third liivi'r to the i)r-,>sent site of Paterson, and running
trnni the river to the mountains. They must first secure a
deed from the Indians, and a meeting of the chiefs aud these
fourteen Dutchmen was held at the Indian village in Dundee.
A bargain was struck, and "for liud in consideration of a
certain parcel of coats, blauki'ls, kettles, powder and other
goods." the syndii-ate became the owner of a tract known by
the name of "Hacinetiiu'timick." The deed was dated March
28. 1070, six weeks after Iloaglandt agreed to sell the Point
Patent to Hartman Micliiclson. It was executed by the "Cap-
tahen, Indian sachem ami chief, in the presence and by the
approbation and consent of .Meiniseraen. Mindawns and Ghon-
najea, Indians and sachems of the said conntry." It was
made to Hans Dederick, (Jerret Gerritsen. Walling Jacidis
ami Ilendrick George ami company of Bergen.
It will occasion eternal regret that the exact number and
<liiantities of "cotits. bhinkels. kettles, powder ami other
goods." for which s"Veral thousaml acres of land on which
Passaic aud part of the city of Paterson were built, was
not preserved on history's page.
The tract conveyed was described as follows;
"Beginning from the iinrlhermost bound of llic town of
Newark, from the lowermost part thereof to the uppermost
as far as the sleep rocks or monntains. ami from thence to
run all along the Pisawick River to a white oak tree staml-
ing near the s.'iid river, on the north side of a small brook,
and from thence run up to the steep rocks or mountains, which
said tree was marked by the said Captahen in tlic presence of
Ea Prairie. Surv>\vor General, ami so along the said river
to the northermost bounds of Newark aforesaid."
It will be obser.((l that this includes both the I'oint
I'atent anil tlii' island. To perfect their title the .syndicate
secured from the East Jersey I'roprietors a patent known as
" It may be well here to note the various spellings of proper names mentioned in this work. Hoogland, Hooglandt and Hoagland ; Michael-
son, Machielson, Slekellson, llichielse and Michiesse, are varying forms obtained from original documents. The spelling of i>atronymies was
very loose. See remarks on names of MiohieUe or Vreeland later in this chaiJter. The spelling of gfOgrai>hii'al names was even more vague.
Pisawack, Pisawick and Pisaick were all accepted forms of Passaic, while the name of Aeiiiiackanonk nins through innumerable lorms. all pre-
serving the soimi! until the preaent spelling was adopted I'ntil recent years it was spelled .Veciiiackanonck
•• In quoting this and all other ancient documents the eccentricities of speUing and diction are, of course, preserved, except m cases where
they cloud the sense.
••■ Farm or county home-
The white settlers of Aquackanonk having eutered upon
their newly acquired lanils. it is in order to set forth what
manner of men they were. The interesting Michielsou or Vree-
land brothers should be particularly mentioned. Their father
was a unique (diaractcr of the name of Michall Jansen. and
more is known of him than of his sons. The statement that
his surname was Jansen is no mistake, the family name of
N'reelaud being adopted after his sons came to Passaic. The
first aud second generations were known indifferentl.v as Vree-
l.ind and Michielse. In his scholarly "History of Hudson
County" AViufield says of this name: —
"There was in Holland a place called Vreelandt. but
whether .-i hamlet, parish or manor has not been ascertaincil.
The family iu this county now bearing the name is di'scendcil
from Michael .lansen. who came fiom Broccdihuyscn. North
Prabant. He left Holland October 1. lt;:!0. in the ship Rens-
selaerwyck with his wife and two chililren. He settled at
what is now Greenbush, opposite Albany, as a boereknecht,
or farm servant. Nearly all of the early settlers here were
of the peasantry, who <-ame mit as farm servants or soldiers
in the service of the Dutch ^^'est India Company. This
class of settlers had no surname, for they liad not earned
(jue. The.i were known from each other of the same name
by using the father's Christian name as a surname for them-
selves. For example. Jan had a son nanieil Michael. He
would be known as .Michael lansen, i. e.. Michael the sou of
.Ian. If Michael had a son Elias, he would be known as Elias
Michielsou, i. c. Elias. son of Michael. But if the fathers bori>
the same Christian name, of course the sons would bear the
same surname, and. thus difficulties aud uncertainties were mnl-
tiplie<I. In smue eases it was not until the second generation
that family names were chosen. 'I hese. generally, were de-
rived from the business, occupation, place of emigration, or
some peculiar trait of the founder of the family."
It was not long before Jansen grew weary of agricultur.il
pursuits aud the narrow road thereby opened to wealth, and
engaged in the fur trade, in which he made his fortune in
two years. Such private spe<-iilalion. being forbidden by law.
soon brought him into ililliculty with the aiitliorilics. IIi'
thereupon abandoned his farm and came to Manhattan. The
date of this change is not known, but he was a resident in New
.\msterdam .November 4. 1044. on which date he empowered
Arent Van Curler to settle with Patroon Van Rensselaer all ac-
(•(Uints and differences. In 1040 he came over to Communi-
paw. and settled on the bouwerie**' owned by .Ian Evertscii
Bout, paying for it .S.IKIO florins. In the years ll'i47. l(!4!t and
10.50 he represented Pavonia iu the Council or the Nine and
joined his associates in their crusade against Governor Stuy-
vesant. It was at his house that the journal of Vaiider Dom-k
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
J7
wns soizcil. anil, il was suspected, on infiiriimti.ni fmnisliecl
liy hiinselr. lie was a signer of the mijilieation fur the
first innniiiiial government in New NellKTJanii. .Inly liii. ]ii4;i.
The lollowin« lei-onl of .Inne ].". Hi.">4. shows thai he liail
not yet overeoine his reluetanei- to fariniii),-:—
••Mii-hael .laiiseii, resiilint' at I'livonla, heloncint' to the
jiiiisilietii f New Ainstirilam, apiieai-ed iM'Tore th iirt of
15mj.'iiniasters ami .Sehepens* of this city aforesaiil. anil slateil
that he intended, for the aeeoniinoiiation of the inhaliitants
of the |ilai-e, to lirew some lieer. ami. as it was very iiK'on-
venii-nt to ;rive in the same every time ami to procure the ex-
cise eertilieale. wished, therefore, to make an agreement with
tlie Hnr^'omasters and Seheii^-ns aliont the excise, whii-h lieinj:
Kianled to him. Ilie Itnt^Minasters and S<-liepens have made an
a;.-ieenient with .Michael .lansen lor one year, that for all ihi'
heer he shall lirew and sell at the place al'oresaiil. he shall p.iy
.111 Kiiildcis. each half year thi' half, and it is hereliy allowed
biin to sell lieer l>y the small nicasiire als.i to persons coming
ovi'r to tli.it place."
Thus he has the hi>nor of lieint; the tirst licensed tapster
in the State of New .Tcrsey.
nurini: the ticnldes id' U;.V.. the Indians drove him from
his hou.se, wlu'ii. on September l.">. they made a raid on I'a-
vonia ami Uilhd every one there, except the family of .lansen.
I-'rom the dangers and uncertainties of border life at ■■(.iainoen-
epa" l("oiiimuuipiw]. he took refii;.'e at -Manhattan, where, be-
cause he was ■'an uld man with a lieavy family." and hail lost
his all. he was on .Nuvcmlur --. 1().V>. periuitted to keep u tap-
room. Like many iiiudcni t.ipstcis. he soon learned to keep
the letter (d" the law, while he violated the spirit. An ordinance
prohibited tapping after bell-ring, and on October 'S.i. Hi.'il!. the
Sellout (sheriff I [irosecuted Janseu for a violation. The de-
f( iidant confessed that two soldiers were playing at backgani-
111. in and three sailors waiting for their skipper: denied that
he had tapped after bell-ring: admitted ili.at his guests had
their cans hy Ihein and got chatting, but -shrewdly omitted to
state that he had filled theii" cans to last over the hour after
which he could not lawfully tap.
I'or the same reason that lu- was permitti'd to keep an
inn. he receiveil in February. lti."ili. as a free gift, a lot in the
city. On February lil. ll!.")T. he was appoinled one of the
Measurers of I.inic and (Jrain. On April K?. lli.")T. his name
was placeil nn llie roll i>r small burghers. He .soon grew weary
of tap-room life, and longid to return to his wheat-producing
bi.uwerie. During the war he had not parted with the title
to the farm. In lli.")8 he sold part of it to llariuau Smeeman.
On .lannary 22. l(i."),S, he asked for permission to return to
Pavonia .ind to be relieved from certain tithes. In September.
Kilil. he iiad again aciiuired a competence, and was living on
his bouwerie. He was oiu' of the first magistrates of the new
court at Bergen. In December, ll)(;2. he joined his neighbors
in asking the (iovernor for the appointment of a minister of
the (;osp:'l. for wllo^e support he pledged twenty-five fiorins.
He died in HIT'..
He married Fitje Hartman. who in 1<>79 was living at
"Ohnioonepaen." and had "many grandchildren, all of whom
were not unjust." She owned her homestead farm. In Oc-
tober, K;"!). two itinerant I.abadists dined with her. Au
old lady in Brooklyn told them Fitje had come fmni
fologne. They have left this (inaint record concerning her:
"Found her a little pious, after the maiuier of the oinntry,
and you could discover that there was something of the Lord
in her. but much covere*! up and defiletl." This is no light
testimony to the old lady's religious attainments, since it is
given by men who seiiu to have looked upon all mankind, ex-
•■ept their own puculiar sect, as destined fuel for everlasting
his property. With their consent it was divided aiiiong their
and died October IT. Hi'.l".
* Aldermen and Magistrates.
Fol It .Mil 1111:1. S(i.\s A.MuNK KAULY SKTTLEUS.
.Michael and I'itje .lansen had eight children, four of whom
Were among the eiirlii-sl settlers of Passaic. From them has
descended tile largi- Vreelanil family. Tliesi- four brothers
were:—
L Klias. who was 11 carpenter by trade. lie tiHik the oath
of allegiance to the King November Xi, W'Cf. was comiiiis-
siiiied Assnciate .Iiiilge of the f'ourt of Bergen in l(i73. H;74.
Hi77 and ItJSt); was a .Iiistioe of the I'eace in Kssex County
in HW2-3 and 17li:{-4, and was one of the .Iiistiees of the t'ourt
of Sessions in Kssex County in 17<Mt. He was ensign in Cap-
tain .lohii Berry's company at Bergen .Inly l.".. Hi7."i. He was
a repiTseiilative in the (ieneral .Vsseinbly in l<'i.s:i. liKI.'t, li;'.»."i.
HllKt and ITHS; was messenger of the House in Hi.'S.'!. HKM,
Hi!!."!. KKtS and H;!t!t, and in MVXi he was a|ipoint(il to raise
revenue for the war between Kngland and France. He was
an actual resident of "Haeiiuequennuck" in 1(W.'J.
2. Ilartman was boni in liril and was baiitizi-d on Oe-
tobtr 1 .if thai year. He married Maritje, daughter of Dirck
Clause Braecke in l(i72. Braecke, or, as he was generally
known, Dirck Claeseii, held a lease for Hobokeii; was a skip-
per of the sloop "L'liion." from which he was dismissed .\pril
20, HI.")*!, for disobedience of o.-ders, and was one of the com-
missioners to fortify Comniunipaw in KJfki. He died March
21!, li;!)3. His wife, Neesje .lacobs. dieil DiiTniber 23, ItitJS.
His three daughters married thrtv Michielson brothers — our
Hartman. .lohannis and Cornelius— and among them his prop-
erty was divided. Hartman was a wheelwriglit by trade. He
lived n.'arly all his life at Heclipokus. on part of his Avife's
inheritance. He lived for a while on the Point. In ll!!>3 he
was a receiver of taxes in Bergen. Hartman and .lohannis
-Micliielse were two of those who in 17(Xt. in a paper directed
to the King, remonstrated against the acts of the Proprietors
and asked for the apiMtintment of a competent (lovemor. IL-
died .lanuary IS. 17(17.
ii. Johannis was l>a[itized with his brother Hartman Oc-
tober 1. Ki.'iL at the church in Bergen. He married Claesje,
ilaiighter of I>irck Claase Braecke, on .May 14, ll>.S2. and
died .Iiine 2t!. 1713. It is supposed they ri-sided and died in
Passaic.
4. Cornelis was burn .luue 3. llliiti. His first wife was
Motje. daughter of Dirck Claase Braecke, whom he inarrieil
May 11. Hilll. His second wife was the widow, Lysbet
Jacobs, whom he married April 17, l''i'.l"2. He resided at Bay-
onne at his death In .M.iy. 1727. His second wife had died
August 17. 17"24.
Michael .lansen's daughter. Pryntje. married .Vndries Clae-
seii and left three sons, who became the progenitors of the
Andersons liiTca bouts.
Tin: iiisTiiKV OF Tin; i-uiNr i'atknt.
The Point Patent, aciiuired by Hartman Michielson, was.
as previously stated, divided by Hartman eijually among the
four brothers. They were, no doubt, considered rich men.
I'itje Hartman. their iiMther. «as a rich woman in her own
right when she married Michael .lansen. Both owneii con-
siderable property at CoiiimunipaH. At his death he left his
lands to her. She died October 17. 1(>'.)7. h-aving her estate
to her childr.-n. Klias. E'loch. .lohannis. Hartman, Cornelis.
Jannetje and Pryntje. Thri-e of the four sons with whom we
have to do had, as already shown, niarrietl daughters of L)irck
Claase Braei-ke. Braecke was a man of means, and upon his
death. -March 21!. It>il3. without a will, his daughters inherited
bis property. With their consent il was divided among their
husbands September 1, KUh;.
18
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
The brothers laid out four homest.'ad lots on the lii^li bank
of the river, near the site of the Maiiliattaii Print Worlds,
where they occupied a coiiimandi?i)X situation «illi a '.'lorious
and extensive view. HaiUnan had his honii' on the exact
site of the mill. About ten years after he sold out lo .lohannis
and moved to I'aterson, the early settlers of which place were
relatives and descendants of the Acquackanonk patentees.
Elias selected for his home the lot now lyinp in the Dundee
Canal at South and First streets. Between the two were
the allotiuents of .Tohaunis and Cornelis. but Cornells did mil
build on his. It is not known whether he ever left his pa-
ternal home at Conimunipaw. but it is presumed he did not.
He is supposeil lo have conveye<l liis interest to his three
brothers.
The history of the I'oint Patent can be traii'd continuously
down to the present day. Elias left his share lo liis sou .lacob.
who dieil in I"."), dividin;; his laiul betwci'ii his sons Elias and
.Tohn. Elias' son .lacob Elias. commonly call'-<l .lacob Yander-
reft. deeded his i)ro|ierty to his uiule. .Tohn .lacob. who by his
will of May 211. 17!«i, left it to his son. .Tacob .Tohn. from
«-honi the Dundee Water. Power and Land ('omi)any boufjiht.
.lohannis Michielsou left his iiroperty to his sou Eli.is. who
billed it to his son John Elias, who by deed of 1 iiiciulier 22.
1790. conveyed it to .T(dm .Jacob Vreeland. Conu^lis Alichiel-
son probably uave his share to his brothers. Hartman Michiel-
son's share descended to his .sons. Clans, Uirk. Enoch and
Jlichiel. They conveyed it August '22. 1724. to Enoch Vree-
land. whose son. .lohn Enoch \'rcelaiid. sold it to Abraham
.\i-kerman in LSlli.
In course of time the ,i.'r.-indson of Elias Micliiclson. .loliu
.laioli \'reeland. looked ar.iuuil foi- a liettiM' loi-ation. and in
r.Ti! puribased about six acres from I ho Kriornicd Dulih
Church of Aciuackanonk. The land lay south of Park iilace
and cast of Main avonue. running along the river. He
erected a jioiisi' oh the river bank, at the rear of llic present
J^peer's ('batcni. Tliis house stood until isr.d. i;iiocli .1.
Vreeland. llie grcMl-grandMUi ot Hartman. buili a Ik. use on
what is now llie south side of .M.nroe street, between Hope
and Parker avi-imes. His great-granddamrhti-r. Mrs. Louisa
Watson (born Vn-idamll. still resides in Passaic. She lives
on land owned by Adrian M. Post, an intimate friend of Enoch
A'reeland. whose daughter Mary married Jacob E. Vreelaml.
the son of lOlias. They erected a house at the southeast
fiu'ner of Le\iu'_'toii avi'niic and .Monroe stmt. .I.'irob I'.
Vreeland was a man of mmli in-opcrty. and before he died li.id
aciiuired. by iidii-riL-ine.' .md purcliase. the gre.-iter part of the
(dd Point Patent. He sidd the property now owned by the
estate of Edo Kiii to Elizabeth \'an Winkle, who 'ouilt a house
near the m-w Voutig Men's Christian Association bnililing.
The honsi'S liuilt by Jacob E. Vreeland. John Jaccdi Vree-
land and Elizalieth \'an Winkle wrv not iiiiliided in llic'
iiounds of tin. Point Patent, a'e'. are mentioned heri' inciden-
tally. Down to the Kevolntion, and fiir uian.x yi'ars IhiM-eafter.
the houses on the Point Patent prop<-r were oidy three in num-
ber—one on the site of the Maidialtan Prii^t Wiu-ks. one at the
corner of First and Soulli street.-- and oiu> on tin' soutli side of
Monroe street.
THE TEXT OF Till: .\( (jrACKA.Xo.N K I'.Vl'K.N T.
The liistory of the .Vcipiackanonk Patent now being in or-
tier. that d<M-niuent is here inserted in full; —
■'This imlenture made the X\'th of March. .\. D. liiM.
Iind in the XXXVIth jear of the reign of our Sovereigne Lord
King. Charles the Secoml, over England, eti-., Hetween the
Lords I'roprietors of the Province of East .\ew Jersey of
the one pari, and Hans Dieilerick. Garret Harretson. Walling
Jacobs. Elias Machielson. Harttnan Machielson. Johannis Ma-
cbiidson. Cornelius Machielson. Adrian Post. Urian Tomason.
Cornelius Kowlofson, Synnm .Jacobs. ,I<dui Hendrick Speare.
Cornelius I^ubers ami Abraham Bookey. of tht other part,
witiu'sseth that the said Lord Proprietors, as well for and in
consideration of the sum of tift.v pouiuls sterlitig money in
hand paid by the said Hans Diiderick. Garret Garretson,
W ailing .Jacobs, Elias Machielsim, Hartman Machiels(Ui. .Jo-
hai^nis JIaehielson, Cornelius Machielsim, Adrian Post, I'rian
'J'omason, Cornelius Uowl.-ifson. Symon .Jacobs, John Hen-
drick Speare. Cornelius Lubers and Alirahain Bookey, to the
(Jovernor of said Province, to ami for the use of the said
I'roprietors thereof, the sum being in full payment anil dis-
charge of .all arrears of iiuit-rents for the lands hereafter
granted, the receipt whereof the said (Jovernor dolh hereby
acknowledg;'. ami thereof and of every part and parcel thereof
doth acijuit and discharge them, ami every one of them, as also
for the rents and services hereinafler reserved, have aliened,
granted, bargained, and sold, and b.v these presents do alien,
grant, bargain, and sell unto the saiil Hans L>iederick, (Tarret
(Jarretson, Walling Jjicobs, Elias Machielson, Hartman
Machielson. .Johannes Machiidson. Coriudius Machielson. Adri-
an Post. I'rian Tomassen, Cornelius Kowlofson, Symon .Ja-
cobs. John Hendrick Speare. Cornelius Lubliers and Abraham
Booke.v. and Iheir heirs and assigns, a certain tract of land
situate, lying and being upon the Pissaie river, in the county
of Essex, and called and known by the name of Haqueque-
iiunck:
"Begiiming al the mirthermost bounds of the town of
Newark, ami so running from the lowest part to the uppermost
[■art thereof, as far as the steep rocks or mountains, ami from
the said lowermost part along Pisaick river to the Great Falls
thereof, and no along the steep rocks and mountains to the
u|i|)erim)st part of Newark bounds aforesaid, as it is more
plaiidy deim>nstrateil b.v a chart or draught thereof, made by
the late Surveyor General, together with all rivers, pomls,
creeks, isles and islands iHartman's Island, which particularly
belongs to Hartman Machielson oidy exceptedl and also all
iidets. bays, swamps, marshes, nu'adows. pasture-fields, fen-
ces (ll. woods, umlerw Is. fishings, hawkings. huntings, fowl-
iiigs. and all .ither apieirteuances whatsoever thereunio belong-
ing ami apiiertaining (half part of the gold and silver mines,
and the roy.ilties of the Lords Proprietors al.so excepted):
"To have and to hold the said tract of land and premises,
and every part and parcel of the same, to them the said Hans
Dieilerick. (i.-irret Garretson, Walling Jacobs, Elias .\Iachiel
son. Hartman Machielson, .Johannes JIaehielsou, Cornelius Ma-
chielson. Adrian Post. Urian Tomassen. Cornelius Kowlofson.
Symon .Tacobsou, John Hendrick Speare. Coriudius Lubbers
and Abrahaui Bookey. their heirs and assigns, and to the use of
them, their heirs ami assigns forever, to be holden in fee.
and common socage, of them the Lorils I'roprietors. their
heirs and assigns, as of the seignory of East (ireenwich yield
iiig and paying therefor yearly unto the said Lords I'roprielors,
their heirs and assigns, the cliiefe or quit-rent of fourleen
pounds of sterling money, or Ihe value Ihereot yearly for the
said tract of laml upon every five and twentieth day of March
forever hereafter in liiui and stead of the half-penny per acre
mentioned in the Concessions, ami in lieu ami stead of all
other services ami demands whatsoever: the first payment to
be made upon the 2."ith day of March, which shall be in the
year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-six.
"And the -;aiil Hans Dieilerick. Garret Garretscn. Walling
.lacobs. Elias Machielson. Hartman Maidiielson. .lohamu's .Ma-
ihielson. C nau'lius Machielson. Adrian Post, rrian Tomassen.
Ci melius Kowlofson. Symon Jaeob.s. .John Hemlrick Speare,
Cornelius Lubber, and Abraiiam Bookey. do lu-reby for them-
selves, their heirs and assigns, covenant, promise and agree to
ami with the said Lords Proprietors, their heirs ami as-
signs, that they, theii- heirs and assigns shall well ami
Irul.v jia.v or cause lo be paid unto the said Liuds Pro-
prietors, their heirs or assigns, the said yearly chiefe or quit-
rent of fourteen pounds sterling money or the value thereof
for the said tract of land, al or upon the five and twenlieth
da.v of March every year forever hereafter to ihe Keieiver
Gef.eral. which shall from time lo lime be appointed by the
Miiil Lords Proprietors, ihcir heirs or assigns, wilhoui fraud,
covine or delay: Provided, always. Ilial if the said yearly fief
or quil-rent shall be behiml ami nniiaid. in part or in all, at
any of the days or times uiio i which the same is to be jiaid as
aforesaid, that then, and so often, it -^hall and imiy be lawful
lo and for the Lords Proprietors and Iheir heirs, by Iheir. or
anv of Iheir. servants, agents, or assigns, leu days after such
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
19
111 elect Ml- li..ll-|iiivillclll of til.' siliil ilii.-f,. „r ,,i,i| |-,.,||. i,„,, ,|„.
iiliin'siiiil l.-iiids, with nil ilir Miipiirlciiiiiiccs. m- intii nii.v piirl
oi piin-cl llirr.-of. to ciitoi- :iii(l tlioiv cli'slraiii. anil ihc dlstross
or distresses tlieii liiUeii lo l,.,i,|. ,|i-ive. mviy a«ii.v. iiii|MMiiid.
and in tlieii- custody to ilelain until Ilii. said .vi^arly <-liiere .jr
quit-rent so lieiuK Ixdiind ami un|iaid. lo-etIi<T willi all cosis
and charv;i>s of suc-li ilistnss anil inipnundiii:.-. sluill l.e lawfidly
paid and contented lo ilu- said I... ids I'l-oprii-iors. Iheir heir's
and assi;,'ns.
•In wilncss wheri'of. the Itepniy (iovernnrof this I'mviiiee
and llir major part of his eoniieil for the time Ihmuc. t
part have suhscrilH-d iheir iianies and atlixed the coiiiniou seal
of the said I'l-ovinci-, and to the other pan hereof the said
Hans IMeilericU. Carret (Jarretsen. Wallni!.' .lacolis. Klias
Machielson. Ilarlman Machielson. Johannes .Machielson. Cor-
nelius .Machielson, Alrian I'osi. Irian Tuiiassen. Coriielins
Kowlofsoii. Simon .lacolis. John Hendrick Speare. Cornelius
Lnhher and Ahraham Hookey have iiiterchaiif.'ealdy set their
hands and seals, ihi- day tiid year first aliove vvriltcu.
(Sisnodi "(iawen Laurie. Thomas CudriuKliin. Isjiae Kinjis-
land. Henjamin I'rice. Ilerry I.yon. .lames Hniolt. l>rp.
Seel'y.
".Memoraiidnni— That it was mulnally aiireed hy and ho-
twreii all the said parties to tin- within-mentioned pali'iit. he-
fore the sij;nin^ and sealiufT of the same, thai a neck of l.-ilid
lyiiifi within the lioumls of this patent, containing' two hnndn'd
and seveuly-ei}.'ht acres, calleil and known liy the name of
Stoffers Point, formerly p:iteiited to one Christopher lloai;-
land. and since sold to the wilhin-nained Ilarlman .Machielson
and <-ompany, he also excepted oiil of this iiateiil or ^'r;inl: and
it is hcreliy accordiiiKl.v excepted."
This patent is recorded in the Secretary of Slate's olhce ai
Trenton in Book A of Heeds. pa;;e 1li4. The tract of land it
desoriht's iuchides Passaic iwilh the execplions noiedi, .ill of
Acqiiackanonk township and llie ;.'reater pari of Ihe cil.\" of
I'atcrson.
BEGINMN(;S dl" Till-; ACI.H' ACKANONK SKTl'I.K-
.MK.NT.
This was the real lie^rianint: of the selllenieni of Ihe vil-
lage of .Vciina'-kjuionlv, which aflcrwanls liccanie I'assaic He-
injr at the head of lide-watei' and the site of a lar^re Indian
village, it became the most iniporl.nil trading point in this part
of the State. It was the only nutlet by water for the country
for a long distancp to the north and west. It was the port
of entr.v. trading post and fishing place of all the inhabitants.
The lirst actual settlers started a surve.v of their new
lands, Willi iliciii came a surveyor. John \'an Kirk. Not be-
ing eiiti'.led lo a surnanie, his appellation was originally
simply .Tohii. but being employed mostly by churches on Long
Island and ai Bergen in the line of liis profession and as a
scrivener, he r.'ceived the naiiie .Inhii \'an Kirk iJohn of ihe
ihiirchi. His dutji' was to siir\c.\' Ihc ci^unlry and make a
liartition map for the patentees.
First the river frontage wis allotted into four divisions.
viz.: Acqnackanonk. Bnglit lor bend, now within the limits
of Paterson). Gotham and Weasel. I'assaic is carved out of
the first and third naiiied. Boght contained twenty-eight lots
and each of ilie others fourleeii.
-V plale of the map of "(ioilia:!!" is here given. It is iiho-
tegraphed from ihe supposed original, which is in a fair state
of preservation, despite its age. A niaii of the entire Aeiiuack-
ai.onk patent was made, but unfortunately has been lost.
The lower line is .Monroe slreel. The point of the gore
on the lower Icfthand corner is near the corner of Prospect
street and Park place. The line rnnning dnc north from this
point is still maintained by a fence in the rear of the lots
fronting on the east side of Prospect street. It exli'iuls to
Monroe street at a point l.'ill feet west of Hamilton avenue.
The west line is (Jrove street extended beyond the city limits.
The north line is about the present iiorllicrn limits of the
city.
MAP OF THE GOTHAM DIVISION.
.Ml the l.iiid lying between Vaiitacaw or Third River, on
Ihe south and a line running north IS degrees west from the
present No. 1 .M:iin avenue at the river. bacK te the mountains
on the north i which line is now part of Prospect and (Jrove
streetsi was then laid out in strips of about ten i-haiiis wiile.
These farms fronted on the river, and the plan seems to have
bien to consider them the homestead farn s. With each home-
stead were allotted froni 1(1(1 to l.)0 acres, depending upon situ-
ation and (lualily of soil. In the rear of the homestead hits.
and between the upper and lower boundaries, other "lots" of
fioin forty to fifty acres and of Kid acres were laid out. The
desirability of the land determined the size and location of
these lots. On contiguous farms they did not always adjoin
each other.
The land bei«een .Monroe strict and Palcr.son was also
l.iiil out in farms, but running in another direction from the
river. The course was south (>4 degre<?s west until the lines
iiutted against the Van Wagoner farm, the most northi-rly of
the first series. TIds row of farms was also divided among
the patentees. There were also itlier "lots" of forty and one
hundred acres, pasture and woodland, situali-'l soiiu' distance
f ri III the homesteads. The early fanners pastured cattle at long
distances from home. Those in this localiiy had their pastures
near the mountains.
The division of the land seems to have been made by draw-
ing lots. One man would secure ci.ntiguoiis tracts, while an-
other's would be widely separated. lOxchanges were made to
enable some patentees to secure compact farms, while in othi-r
cases the .same end was reachi-d b.\ purchase. In more than
one case a patentee secured adjoining and regularly laid out
home lots, containing together iiearl.v fivi- hundred acres.
cinKcii TiKinnir of fiiom thk fiust.
The mode of haying out two sets of farms running in two
different directions left a gore or triangle between, which was
dcdicatiil to Ihe Keforme<l Dutch Church of .\ci|uackanoiik.
The base of the triangle was on the river from the County
Bridge to the foot of Park pla<e. the southern line north 4S
20
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
(K'grees wost aud the iioitheni south 04 defirefs west. The
sides of the triangle in(>t at a grey rock located near the pres-
ent southwest corner of Prospect street and Park place.
Inside of this triangle was the church property, except
six acre.s (now the park around Speer's Chateau), previously
allotted to Elias Michielson. It was given "to aud for the
l.enetit of the Kirk Wardi-ns of the Low Dutch IJeforuied
longregation of Acciuackanonk. for the punmse of a parsonage
for the support of the gospel." .lust when this was done, and
whether by deed or other conveyance, is .".''t known; but it is
[iresumed that a de<>d mow lost) was given immediately after
the date of the Patent, for religion was part of the every-
day life of the Dutch. There is i.o donbl ttiat religious ser-
vices were held here as early as 1082. but until the patentees
arrived there was no permanent ehunh. They undoubtedly
set aside this property and built a church at once, for in 1080
their minister was Rev. I'ctrus Tassemaker. and in a lease
.ipril 10, 10!).'{. from Walling -lacobs to Ilernianus (ierrets,
reference is made to the "public churchyard." A parsonage
was erected at about the same time as the c'hurcli. and adjoin-
ing it on the southeast.
Eighty years afterward, the first conve.vance being lost, a
new deed for the church iiropert.v was obtained from the heirs
of the original patentees. It will not be out of place to insert
its substance here as bearing on the policy of tile tirst settlers
in sitting apart some ol iluir ihoicest land for the church.
The new deed was dat<>d April 8, 1770. three months be-
fore the Declaration of Independence. It ran: —
"We. the heirs of the Patentees of the Patent of Aciiuacka-
nonk. in the count.v of Esse.v. knowing that it was the full
intent an<l meaning of our .mcestors. the pacentees aforesaiil,
that all the l.'Uids lying between the land on which (Jarret Van
Wagoner now lives and the Point I'atent .except six acres)
should fori'ver lii' and remain for the sole use and benefit of
the Low Dutch IJeforn'.ed congregation of Acqnackanonk. as
' Supposed to be JI. N. Yereance.
a parsonage for the support of the gospel among them, and
the said patentees either did not. by deed of conveyance, in
writing, secure the same for rhe use aforesaid, or if they did.
said deed is not to be found at present.
"We. therefore, in order that the said land may. from time
to time, be transmitted to our posterity for the sole use and
benefit of the Low Dutch RefornuMl congregation as a parson-
age, for the support of the minister of the gosi)cl now being,
and them who shall from time to time have a regular vocation
anjong us. we do. for ourselves, our heirs, executors, adminis-
trators and every of them, forever hereafter, give, grant, con-
vey and confirm all the land aforesaid, for the use as afore-
said, unto our Kirk Wardens now being, and to every Kirk
Warden who in our congregation shall be i-egularly. from time
to lime, chosen and regularly confirnu'd in their respective of-
fices as Elders and Deacons of our Low Dutch Reformed
church, according to the rule for the said purpose established
at the (Jreat Synod of Dortli. A. D. ItilS and 10.
"Witness our hands and sells the day aud year above
written.
.Tohn A'reeland.
Cornelius A. Doremus,
Cornelius Aeltje.
Peter II. Petersee.
Hartman Vreeland.
*M. X. Y.
Tunis Speer.
Elias Vreeland.
llendrick (iarrettisee.
.\bram \'.in Kiper. His -|- mark,
.\lirani V.ui AX'inkle, His -|- mark."
The original patent of Acquacdcanonk — the old parchment
its(df — was in the i«>ssession of the late Henry P. Simmons
dnring his lifetime. I'pon his death his executors placed it for
safe keeping in the vaults of the Paterson Safe Deposit and
Trust Company, where it will remain until perhaps filed
with the Xew .Jersey Historical Society, or some similar in-
stitution. This should be done, as it is of priceless value as
a relic, aside from its value as a convevance.
"Garret \aii M'agenejge.
Ryner Van Houten,
Marselis Post,
Hamp Van Riper,
.lohannils Poise,
Dirk Vreeland,
Garret Van Reypan,
.lolin Thomasee,
.Tohaiinies Sip.
Cornls. C. Van Winkh.,
(T-^^^Sx^
CHAPTER VI.
THE PATENTEE FAMILIES.
Historical Record of The Settlers, Other Than the Michielsons, Already Treated Of, Who Bought the
Aquackanonk Lands.
TllK IiiikIs cif ilic Aciniackanoiik scttlii-s Iioiiis parooIltMl
out. I'iich man licgaii the eri'ctiiiii of a home. We kiiinv
what lliose liousms wore like, for their type iliil not vary.
In most cases they were suhstantially Imilt of stoiie. ohiaineil
(iiri'otly from the ticMs. where tlie I>iitih f.irniers fciiunl. to
their sorri>w. that it was ahiimlant.
'I'lie houses were generally Imilt .me ami a half stories
hit.'h. The main portion nsually measun-il twenty liy forty
feet, with a kitchen addition aliont half its size. A wide hall,
with a door at either end. blseeted the main portion, leaving a
large room on eitlu'r side. The honse was always set on a line
rnnning dne north ami south. This may be seen by .some
which are still standing, and are not parallel with the road
in fnml.
Tin- .irchitecliin' was by no means primitive, thongh the
design was simple. The down-stairs rooms were finished a.s
well as many modern hon.ses. The second floor, or garret, was
seldom linished off or partitiimod. It usually remained one
large room, n.sed in part as a storenwm for nuts, apples ami
l.otatoes and other vegetables. The garret over the kitchen
was the sle»'ping room for the slaves in the winter time. Here
men. women and children slept upon straw laid two feet deep
over the Hoor. The appn>ach to the loft was by a ladder and
scuttle. The great <himney leading from the roaring fire of
log.s in the kitchen below kept the slaves warm without i>ed-
ding. In warm weather the.v occupied the slaves' quarters, a
small building in tlie rear of the kitchen.
The reason our forefathers built their houses to one and
a half stories onl.v, was that in those days buildings were
taxed according to the number of stories. A hoii.se with a
Dutch roof had really two stories, but wa.s considered a one-
story building if the shingles came down to the top of the
first story.
I'urniture was not alone well ni;ide and ilnr.iblc. liul hand-
seme, as thi>se who are familiar with it can testify. The interior
wiwdwork was excellent, the doors, window frames and stair-
ea.ses lieing elaboratel.v paneled and carved, while the massive
hinges, locks and other hardware, all of wrought iron, were fine
e.vamples of the smith's skill. The furniture was massive, well
polished and of solid hardwood. The mantels, the cupboards,
with thi'ir prettily fashioned dooi-s, and the big cliH'ks. whose
faces gave glimpses of the sun, moon and stars, are copiinl
to this day. The large open fireplaces kept the houses so
warm and cheerful that stoves and steam-radiators would have
seemed unwelcome intruders. It is well to bear in mind, in
this connection, that the early settlers were men of means,
able to build substantial homes and furnish them comfortably,
if not profusely. They i-ainc to labi>r. ami labor they did. but
Ibcy wi-re :ible to live in good style.
While this work is not a family history, it is proper to
make mention of some of the patentee-!, as has already been
liens, all settled here. The two or three soon sold out their in-
terests. They were sober, honest, hardy, intelligent, fearless
anil (Jod-fearing. true Dutchmen, wh<>,se ancestors had suf-
fered the persecutions of the InquLsition. While religion was
the rule of their lives, they were neither Inlolerani nor |iuri-
doiK' of the Michielson family. With two or three e\cep-
tanical. In Boston, in ll'>,"ir.. Captain Kemble had bwn confined
for two hours in the public stin-ks for kissing his wife uiM)n
his iloorstep, on his return from a three years' voyage. There
were no such blue laws among the .Ier.sv*y Dutch, On the
other hand, they were almve frivolity, anrl firmness was the
keynote of their character.
THK (;ki;i:itsi:\ oi; \a.\ \\ai;(».\ki; ta.mii.y.
Upon th" map of Holland may be found the town ..f Wag-
eningen. It is in the province of Ouelderland. which is almost
a barren waste. One-third of its territory Is waste land, ami
ft has but (me acre of orchards, yet it supports at the present
time over half a million souls, Krom this place came Cerrit
Gerritsen, with his wife and chihi. landing at New York. I»e-
ceuiber 23, KHK), from the ship Faith, Captain .Ian Beste-
vaer. Others who arrived on the ship were .lan.sen Spiere.s,
with wife and two children: Ilendrich .laiisen and Wessel
Wesselson, whose desc-<-ndants became interested in I'a.ssaic
anil vicinity.
({errit.sen is believed to have been a descendant of the
famous scholar, Krasmiis, wh.ise real name was (Jerrit Ger-
ritz, and who was born in lt>47 in a honse still standing in
Rotterdam. In accordance with the custom of the learned
of his time, he latinized his name into Desiderius Erasmus.
The house is now used as a gin shop and is situated on the
Breede Kirk Straat, leading to the (Jreat Church. It bears a
small statue of the scholar, with the inscription "Haec est
parva domus, niagnns qua natus Erasmus," signifying that
the house is small, but that Erasmus was born great. Nearby,
on a wide bridge over a canal, whiih serves for a market
[dace, and is calleil the ■■GriH>te Markt," stands a bronze
statue of Erasmus,
Gerritsen's reputation is set forth in a certificate which
he brought with hiin from Holland, of which this is a tran.s-
lali'd coiiy: —
"We, burgomasters, schepens and counsellors, of the city
of Wagening. declare by these presents that there appeared
iK'fore us Ileiiilrick Elissen and ,Ioriliz Spiers, citizens of this
city, at the request of (Jerrit (Jerritsen and .Vnnetje Iler-
niansse, his wife.
22
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
"They have te.stilied and certified, i^^s they do by these
presents, that thor have j;o"d knowledge of the above-named
Gerrit Gerrit.sen and Annetje Hermansse. his wife, as to
their life and conversation, and that they have always been
considered and esteemed as i)ioiis and honest iH'ople. and that
r.o coniplaint of evil or (lisi>rilerly conihict has ever reached
their ears: on the contrary, tlu'.v have always led quiet, pious
and honest lives, as it becomes pious and honest persons.
They especially testif.v that they govern their family well
and bring up their children in the fear of (Jod. and in all
modest.v and respectabilit.v.
"As the above-named persons have resolved to lemove
and proceed to New Netherlands, in order to find greater con-
venien<e. they give this attestation, grounded on their know-
ledge of them, having known them intimately, and having been
in continual intercourse with them for many years, living in
the same neighborhood.
"In testimimy of the truth, we. the burgomasters of this
city, have caused the private seal of the <ity to be hereto
affi.\ed.
"Done at Wagening. "JTtli November. l(i(i(l.
■'.I. .\quelin."
(Jerrilsen seltle<l in .Ters>-y ('ily .mil aciiuired cousideralilc
jiroperty there and elsewhere in the province. He became
the progenitor of all the Gerritsens and Van Wagoners in
the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and I'assaic. The
name of Van AVagoner, adopted by some of his descendants
in the second generation, signified that their father came to
America from the town of Wagening. The name of (ierritsen
has been variously modified into (iarretson. (iarritson and
Garrison.
THE VAN WAGONER HOUSE, MAIN AND GREGORY AVENUES.
Gerritseu was one of the "Inhabitants of Hergcii. and in
the jurisdiction thertH)f. beginning 22 Novendier llKi.'i" to take
the oath of allegiance to King Charles IT. He attended
(he Reformed Dutch Church of New Vork. wh'rc on .March
10, 1GU2, his daughter .lannotje was baptizeil. In KIT.'! he
was one of five schepens of the town of Hergeii and its de-
pendencies, elected by the inhabitants. He dieil in ('omninni
paw October 4. 1709 IV). His wife had ilied September 7,
KiOtJ.
Gerritseu had si'Ven children. incUnling :i son (Jerrit. born
in Gtndderland in Iti.'W and only two years old nt tin' tiinc
of coming here. The other children werr' born at ('oiinnnnl-
p:iw. On Ma.v 11. HiSl, Gerrit the younger married Niesje
I'ierterse of Best. Guelderland. He was a judge of Bergen
County and lieutenant of militia. He died April li. 17ii;!. but
his wife lived until Octid)er II. 17.'i2. Anottier s<in. Ilermaitus.
was born in llil!7. He marrii'd a relativi'. .\nnetji' Van
Winkle, and left his father's home to conn' here, where he
si'ttled shortly after the date of the patent. He built the
original house, still known as the Nan Wagoner hcnise. part
of which stands at the jtinctinn ot liiver Drive and Greg<M'y
avenue. The \'an \\'agoner farm extended from the river
back to the numntain. and was bounded north and south by
(Jrove street and Paulison avenue.
The smaller ixirtiou is part of the origin.il house, built
prid>ably two hundred years ago. The larger portion was
commenced in 17i!8. but the Revolutionary war interrupted the
work, and it was not finished until about 17SS.
Hermanns adopted the name of Van Wagoner, while Gerrit
retained the name of Gerritseu. He had a son Gerrit. who
married Annetje Sip October 3. 1713. Gerrit \an Wagoner
was a deacon in the old church in 1721. He had. among
other children, a sou named Hermanns, born February 4.
1717. and married to (Jeertruy \an Houten De<-emlK>r 2'.».
'741. A daughter. Lena, married Arent Schuyler October
1. 1741. Schuyler, during the Kevcdntionary war. was ar-
rested by Major Hayes and confined in the Morristown jail
as a disaflected persim la Tory). On tsfking the required
oath, he was released. Schuyler's niece. Hester, married
William Colfax, .grandfather of Schuyler Colfax, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Cnite<l Slates nnder General Grant. William
Colfax died in December, 1806. His uncle. Peter Schuyler,
w.is .a colonel in the French and Indian wars, and served in
the army from 1740 to 1700. Uijon his return from Quebe<-.
in Novemlier. 1 7."i7. New Vork gave him a rousing reception
al the King's .Vims tavern. He was received at his home
I II the east li.iiik of th,' Passaic, opposite Belleville, with a
discharge of thirteen cannon. At Newark, where he went the
next night, camion were fired and bonfires lighted in his honor,
and at Princeton the people turnei' out en masse ami presented
him with an aniu'opriate jioetical adilress of welconu-.
The Hiruianiis \':\n Wagoner whose family conm-clions
have just been iles(-rib"d was i»roi,iinent In-reabnuts during the
Ki'viilutionary war. Hi' was kaow ii as ".Manus." and his
h.iuse was c.-illed the house of Manus \'an Wagoner on a map
of the region made at that time. His brother-in-law. Schuy-
ler, may have tried to sow the seeds of Toryism in vain, but
Manns took the jiosition that man.v of his neiiilibors deemed
wLsest in those critical days and remained neutral. .Vt his
lioiise both the British aii'l American .soldiers feasted royally,
..Mil his estates were safe from confiscation, whichever side
Won. Thus he passed safel.v through those troublous limes
ind lived to see the restoration of peace. He was an elder ami
lieacon in the .Vii'Uai kanonk ,'hiircli and one of its staunchest
supporters.
His estate was shared by two .sons. RiK'lof. or Ralph, born
jlarch 17. 17.">ll. and .lohannis. or .Tohn. born November l.").
17.''m. .Toh.innis had listem'd to his uncle. Arent Sihuyler,
ami. disdaining the struggle for liberty, allied himself with
tiie Uoyalists. He was an intimate friend of Robert Drum-
UiOinl. pro|iiieter of a st'ire opposite Van Wagoner's house,
who was also a liuyalist. .inil was guide for the British here-
abouts liming the winter of 1770. .lohn left home, and, it is
siipiiosed. went \\itli 1 >rummond to A'irginia. He was never
heard of attirwanl. It is pri'siuned that he followed Drum-
iiioiiil to Knglaml after the war.
The male liiu' of this Van Wagoiu'r family has become
extinct. The female line is represented by sonu' of the Sim-
mons, Hasbrouck, Ryerson, Northrop, Hayden iuid Shelp fam-
ilies here.
(Jerril (ierritson No. 2 had a son named (Jarrit. horn in
February. 10.^7. lie married Maritje Gerbrants. ami settled
in Clifton. He built a <oinim)dious stone house, about the
same tinu' as Hermanns did. on the west side of the Weasel
road, just north ot Clifton avenue. The house is still staiul-
ing, and is mcupieil by Town Committeennin Nichidas .Vlyea.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
23
Willi tlio ixiepti^m of the nupf, it is nliinit the sjiiiic
ri'iiiodi'liiiK. some years ago.
as ln'f.ui
THE GARRISON HOUSE, DUNDEE DRIVE, CLIFTON.
In this hiMisi' lie livi-il until his iloatli. on .I,iiiii:iry 1, ITi'.T.
lie was l.iiiiiMl ill the "ohl" ;:i'avi'.var<l iif tho Ac(iiiatkaiiiiiil;
church. 111' whidi hi" was iloacmi. His timilistono Is tho nhhst
ill tliat yaiil. li is a siiuill piece of red .saiulstone, twelve hy
three inrlies. ami trn inches hiirli. llei-e Is a view ef it: —
TOMBSTONE OF GERRET GARRISON.
The Inscriptiiiii is simply ".Taini.uy 1. 1T;',T, (i. <;.. I.i'yileii."
It is saiil til it "Leydeir' appears mi the toiiihsleiie lui'aiise
Cerritseii's irraiKlfather was a citizen of that place and because
the family was lietter known there than at Wa;;eiiiiif;. whence
he <'anie to this c-onntry. (".raiidfatln'r (lerritsen niiiiiliered
anions his relatives the s>"eat Dutch painter, lieinhrandt. who
ilied in Kit!;), iiliie .vears after (Jerritseu left Holland. The
name of Uenihrandt's father was Herman (Jerretz van Rhyn
(from the Khinel. while thjit of our siilije<l was (Jerret (Jerretz
van Wa^ieiiinceu. which is on the Kliine. They may have
lie<'U Ill-others. Ueiuliraiult was born at Xo. 3 Weddestei;. Ley-
den, on the raiuparl overlooking the Khine. His father was a
iniller. His lioiisi still stands, but the mill was destroyed by a
stcuiu. It is (piite likely that "G. G." wished his posterity
lo know that they came of the famous (Jprretz family of
I.i'ydeii. the name being comiuon among the Dutch .settlers.
Long-continued wars and civil troubles, aside from religious
IHTsecnIions. drove many of the Dutch over the seas from
IIClS to KiTO. In Leydeli hundreds of houses were deserted.
Iti'iiibrandt's lirothers were among those who lleil. and tliey
pndiably i-ame to this country.
tiiiiei <Mricis i\'an Wagoneri was appointed a .lusliiT of
the I'eai-e in Kssex Coniily on Kebriiiiry l.s, IT.'iH. and iigiiin
•July 11!. 1701.
Henry Giirretse was a memlH-r of the Assembly from Bwsex
• 'oiiiily in 17"-'. 1771. I77."i and 177.S. He l<K.k a prominent
part ill both Slate and Cliiin-h iifTairs. His will, drawn ubont
a century ago. bears witness to the pii-ty which was one of
Ids distinguishing chiirai'leristics. It opened as fidlows:—
"I. Henry Garret.se, of the tiwiiship of .Vcipiackanonk in
ihe county of Lssex and state of New .Jersey, having I iiiie
agi'd. bill in go<id state of body ami of perfect mind and iiieiii-
ery, thanks be given to (Jod Iheri-for, calling into iiiiiid the mor-
tiility of iiiv body and knowing that it is »p|H>iiited for all
men once to d>e, do iiiiike and ordain thi-s my liLst will aiul
testament that is to .say: I'rincipally and first of all I recom-
liieiid and give my soul unto the lianils of (Jod that gave it.
anil niy bixly I recimimend lo the earth to Ih- buried in a decent
il'.ristian burial at thi' discretion of my exe<utors. not doubt-
ing, but at the general icsurreition. I shall receive the same
again by the mighty power of God. And as loiichiiig siii'h
worlilly estat"- wherewith it hath plea.sinl (JimI to bless me
in this lifi'. I give, ih'inise (siel and dispose of the same in Ihe
following manner and form."
He devised the farm at Clifton lo his grnndsun, .John Oar-
rit.se, who, with others of his generation, adoptinl the name
of (Jarri.sou, by which their nnnierons descendants are known
to this ila.v.
,Iolin I. G.irrison, the grandson above named, was a prac-
ticing physician heicaboiits early in the im-sent ceiitiir>'. II--
is more fully mentioned under the subject of physicians.
Others of ".his Garretson family settled in i'aliTson and in
r.ergen County. One Gerret (ierritsen owned nearly all of
Saddle River township, including Garfield, Belmont and Rob-
ertsford. It was a frugal, industrious family, bent on good
farming, with an eye to real estate investments, trait-s which
cling to Ihe descendants. The male line is now extiiu-t. but
the female line is represented by the names of Kip. Vreeland.
.Merselis, Van Houten. Yereance and Alyea.
In the list of Revolutionary soldiers from hereabouts the
names of Van Wagoner and (Jarretsou do not appear.
TlIK iMUGIirV lA.MII.V (IF TOST.
Adrian I'ost was an agent of the Baron \:iii der ('aiiellen
and in charge of his colonies on Stateii Island when the settle-
iiienl was destroyed by the Indians in li!."i.>. In October of
that year he was appointed to treat with the Hackensack
Indians for the release of prisoners. He was ap|>ointed an
ensign in the Bergen militia on Septe-inbe-r 4. H>73. He was
keepi-r of the fii^t prison in Berge>n County — the house of
.lohn Berry. He died February US. 1(177, le^aving be-hind him
children, fiMiii whom the I'ost family he'rcabouts si>riiigs.
Consider.ible is known about hiiii. He liveil at ('(Unniuni-
paw. and there is extant an oath of alle-giance which he and
otlie>rs took •<> Charle-s H. There is also in existene-e a letter
written to him and another, addre-ssed to Captains I'ost and
Cornelius, interpreters, by Governor Philip Carteret, respect-
ing a trip to treat with the Indians. It reads as follows.
Governor Carteret's slips in orthography and punctuation be-
ing scrupulously pri-seired: —
Eliz. Town the L'f.lh Xlay IC.im;—
"Capt. I'ost anil Cornelius —
"This letter to aci-ompany Caiil. Treat and some i>f his
cempany they are going lo Haiken.sack to Oraton. therefore so
as you have beginin'd ij [iray you to ('ontiniie, and to go long
with tlii'in to saiil Oraton and to Interpret iiiy Letter that I
have written to liiiii likewise to helii the said Capt. Treat for
to bring the Bargain of the Land conci'rned to a period, the
same being ended yoii shall bring Oraton and the Owne-r or
at least the Owners of the said land with you: and to view
the said Land, and to put the Limitts — a<-cordii!g the use and
your best ,Iudgineiit not more at the present I do remain — "
24
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
On May is. 1071. he was one of a jiir.v of twelve to trr
William Haokett. master of a sloop, for violating the law
reeiilating the loading and unloading of vessels.
He had a son Adrian, who was one of ftie Ai<iiia<kanonk
patentees. His name is found among 280 other persons in
Kast Jersey who jireseuted to the King a remonstrance against
the acts of the Proprietors, and also asked for the appoint-
ment of a competent Governor.
Adrian selected ior his homestead a farm throngh which
Panlison and Lafayette avenues now extend. The house
erected li.v him was torn down years ago to make room for a
more mo<lern hiiilding, which still stands. It is the low stone
house on Kiver Drive, southwest of Lafa.vette avenue. He
was an elder in the church. An Adrian Post, horn May 13,
17(lf>, was married to Martje iMary) Thomas, "both living
in Esse.t County at Akquegnonk," on .Tanuary 9, 1730, by
the Rev. Henricus Coens. minister. The marriage license was
obtained November 2t;, 172"J.
The law coneer.iing marriages, it should be explained, was
somewhat curious. In an act passed May 30, 1088. it was
provided that "no person shall be married without the con-
sent of parents, masters or overseers, and the notice of their
intention thereof being three times published in and at some
public meeting and church, where the parties have their most
usual abode: or .set up in writing their purposes of marriage
on some public house, where they live, and there at least to
abide for the space of fourteen days (subsoiuently changed
to three weeksl before marriage, which shall be performed in
-some public place by an approv<><l minister or ,Iustice, always
jiriivided that the (Jovernor may grant a license to persons
111 be joined in matrimony without giving notice of their
intention,"
This .Vdrian P >st died -lanuary i. 17,S9, in his eighty-third
yi'ar. The inscription on his tombstone in the old church-
jard reads: —
"Behold and see as you pass by,
.\s yi>u arc now, so once was I.
As I am now. so you must be.
I'repare for death and follow me."
This .Adrian had a son. .\drian A., born Deccnilier '-. 1730.
died .Tanuary 11, 1808, Adrian M., his son, was born May
27. 17."ili, ajd died March 2.j, 1829. He had several sons
and daughters, from whom the farm passed to the Aycrigg
taniily. The youngest living descendant of the family is
Master Kichard Post, three .vears old. son of ,Tohn Post of 30,">
Hloomtield avenue,
Ipon the death of Adrian M. the Post farm and tlie Van
Winkle farm adjoining on the south, which he obtained by
purchase, were diviiled among his children. One of them.
John A, Post, built for himself the large house on Kiver
Drive now owned by the Passaic Home and Orphan Asyhim
Association, This was the Major Post who founded the
inniber business now carrie<l on by the Anderson Lumber Com-
pany, the firm being Post & Anderson, .\nother son. IJich-
ard. obtained the rear portion of the farm aii'l cstalilislnd a
busy sawmill at Athenia,
The Post family proved itself to be both religions and
patriotic, Adrian, Frans, Gerrit and other Posts were dea-
cons and elders in the church. In the list of Uevolutionary
soldiers ai"e found the names of Aaron, Abraham, Adrian,
Anse.v, Cornelius H.. David, Henry, James, John. John C„
,John H., John .I„ Merselus. Ualph and Thomas Post,
The patriot <'ause had no braver supiiorters than they, and
upon one of them, .Tohn H, Post, Washington relied onee for a
great service, and not in vain. He was the Captain Post
who clioppt-d down the bridge at Acquackanonk to cover the
retreat of the patriots.
The story of this exploit will l>e told in a later chapter.
Its hero was only twenty-six years of age at the time. After
the war he retnrne<l to his old home, and when he became too
old to make a living on the farm, which was a poor one at
best, he drove cattle for his neighbors to and from their pas-
turages. Later he and his wife lived for the rest of their
Uves with the parents of the late Judge Henry P, Simmons,
she as a domestic and he as a man-of-all-work.
John H. Post died at the age of niuety-.seven. A photo-
graph is here given of his tombstone in the old Keformed
Church graveyard. It bears the following inscription: —
"John H. Pwit, a Soldier of the Revolutionary war. who
departed this life on the 7th day of March, A. D., 1847, aged
1)7 years,
"That having all things done.
And all your conflicts past.
He ma.v Im-IioUI your victory won
And stand complete at last."
His wife. Elizabeth, outlived her husband ninrc than thir-
teen years. She died on May 27. isiio. at the great age of 10.">
years.
One relic of the Posts of Colonial times, which Passaic
w<iuld not willingly spare, is the house known as the old Re-
formed Church parsonage at 13.5 Lexington avenue. It passed
from the church to (Jeorge H. Engeman some ten years
ago, was the club house of the Passaic Athletic Club after he
ceased to live there, and is now owned by Dr. G, .T. Van
Schott, who has altered it somewhat, and says that it reminds
him of his ancestral home in Holland, It is situated on Lex-
ington avenue, and the property formerly extended along that
avenue for over 800 feet. In 1730 the property was owned
by Adrian Post. In that year he sold it to Peter Post, who
sold it to Casparus Schu.vler. who built a house and soon
after advertised it as follows in the "New York Gazette." re-
vived in the "Weekly Post Boy" of November 23. 1747: —
"TO BE SOLD.
"A new built stone-house well furnisluil. with two rooms
on a floor, a good cellar, kitchen and milk-room: also a new
barn and good bearing young orchard of loo apple trees, with
a lot of land containing 44 acre's large measure of giMxl up-
land and timber swamp, lying in the l'at<-nt of .Vquakanuck.
ii> the county of Essex. East .New .lerse.v. about a mile from
till church and Landing, now in the possession of Casparus
Scluiylcr: the title is indisputable.
"For conditions of sale, agree with said Casparus Schuy-
ler, on the premises."
By means of this advertisement. pri>sumably. Schuyler sold
the property to Adrian I. Post, who conveyed it to the church.
His deed to the church recites that the first named Adrian
obtained title "by easting of lot.s. mutual exchange, or other-
wise." The "timber swamp" referretl to was what was until
recently known as "Frogtown." The house erecteti by Schuy-
ler, as remodeled, is still in giMMl cimdition. Schu.vler was a
man of means, and erected an unusually well-built house, as
the present building ittests. The I'osts of that da.v were
large holders of real estate, obtained by punhase and mar-
riage.
THE JACOBSE (VAN WlNKI.Ei FAMILY.
From the city of Middleburgh. the capital of Zealand, on
the island of Walcheren. IIKI miles southwest of Wagening.
came the faniil.v of .lacoben or Jaeobse. When it settle<l at
Jersey City it consisted of father, mother, two girls and three
boys. The name Van Winkle was taken from the occupa-
26
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
lion of Ibeir .■iiiifstors, ibt- ?<iiriiiiiiif Wiiikolior siguifyiii;: a
(iliopkwiter.
Till- iiurliciihir .Ini-ulist'iis n-fi-rriMl to left llolhiml siiiiio-
wluTO bi-tni-*-!! llfc"(<i iiiiil llMfcJ. Ill ltr>7 on tin- ship .Inn Biii>-
Ihlf raiiic TlivK iMatlliiiisi .lacoliscn: in Hi.M) on tlie ship
I'ailli I which hroiiKht the Carrctscns) inuie IVtiT .Tatolis. .-jml
.Inn .larohscii, Kpki' .lacolis ami I.aiirt-n.s .lai'olis in Kolirii-
ary. uiiil in Dwi-iiihi-r. on thf siinif ship. .Vt-ltji- .lacohsen.
Ill KMJO. iu the funionH S|H>ttiHl Cow, IVter, C'ornolis anil .Ian
Jiii'oluuMi, while the Itilileil Otter, in the same year, liroii^ht
\\ illeiii .lai-olweii ami Ciinster .laeoli's wife anil ilanKhter.
In 1)><!I FraiiH Jai-ohsiMi ami tiiileoii .laeulis eanie in ilie
H< liver. In HJ-ht Aniietje .laeolis came in the St. .laculi,
while Beletji- .lacobs came in the same year in the Stetiii.
The Van Winkles of this neiehliorluHKl, it is ajiparent. have
u loiii; list of iMissihle ancestors to .select from. Their ilescent
eiiiiiiot Ik- traced directly to any ciie of these iminifiraiit.s.
The names of the .lacob.se chililren were .\iiiietje, (Jrietjc.
.Iiicoli, Symon ami Waliiit. .\nioii;: a iiiiiiilier of i-hiUlreii liap
tiznl in the Heforiiu'il Cliiirch of New York on October il.
liUin, was a Waliiiii; .lacobson. On October l(i. in the sann'
iliiiri-b there w.is baptizetl a Jacob Walint'se, son of .lacoli
Il may be possible that oni' of these two cliiblren was an
iiiiceKlor of onr Van Winkles. There were families of the
name near New York, ami the chiirch there was atlemled
by «elth-r« from the siirronmlini; coniitry.
WalliiiK ami Symon .lacubs wen.- the foiimlers of the Van
\\ inkle families in the present iiiiinties of Hi-rsen anil I'as-
siiic, ami Were the two ,Iacobs meiitioiii'il in tlic .Viiiiiaikaiioiik
■talent ami the Iinliaii deed.
Wallini; marri-il t'atliarine MIrliielse iVreiOand) on Manli
l.'i, K'lTl, in the I(i-foriiied Cliiirch in Bergen i.Iersey Cilyi.
lie was an eUler in the .Vcqiiackanonk church from ItHMi to
ITIII. The farm that fell to his choice in the ciislinp of lots
lay on the Biver Koad, betwivn I'assaic and Delawanna.
He seciipsl other lands, but intended this for bis homestead.
The silnatioii was excellent ,iiid coiiimamled an extensive
view, iiiclndiiiK the river. at««vi- wliii-h it was considi-rably
eli-vuled. .Vfler erectiiij; his house, part of which has since
liven iiicoriMirateil in a iinHlerii liuiise, he ileciiUd not to live
there. On the opposite iiank of the rivi-r was a larce trad
known as Unrbadoi-s .Veek. extending from .Newark to Lmli.
Part of it was owned by Sandford and KiiiKslaiul, whence
the name of the vilbiKe of KiiiKsland. On the north of llieir
pro|«Tly W.IS that owiieil by Caplaiii .luliii Berry of llackeii-
sai'k, who had obtained a patent for Iii.ikhi acres in liiG!).
Ill rry was a in. in of priimineiice. His name was a honse-
liiild Wold all over the Stale, and is si ill preserved in that
of Berry's Cn-ek, on the salt meadows. He was selling
Ills land, and Van Winkle pnrcha.seil a tract, the present
iMiiindiiries of which are, approximately, I'liioii avenue, Itnih-
erfonl, on the .soiiih, the run of water near the Wallint'lon
Town Hall on the iinrlli, llie river on the west and the Polilly
line on the east. It iiiiliiiles nearly all of Kast Uiiiherfiiiil.
I'arlloii Hill and WalliiiKlon.
The deed is iliiled .March lid, MiH~. in tlie third year .if
••Kinc .leaiiis the Second." The price paid was £H7 Is.
The Irnet was descriU-tl as "lyiiiB on the Peesayke river,"
iiml as coiitainini: •J.'ill iiiorKhans. Dutch ini asnre, or TiiMI aeri-s.
Il was subject to ilie payincnt on every i'ltli day of March
of Ml shillings and .'! iieiice. Twenty-ine years after, on
.March :il, 17 k*<, ami as the deed siiy.s, annoipie .sahitas, in
the seveiilh year of <ineeii .\nne, he purchased 13.S acres
more, lyiiiK to the north and exieiiiliiiL- to Terhnne avenue,
I.iiili. For this he paid £.'>7<l Ilis.
Soon after his last inirehase he Iniilt a snbstniillal, but
small, stone .house, a one-anil-a-half story building containing
but two rooin.s. It sIoimI at the corner of I'aterson PlaiiU
Koad and the Biver Bond, opjiosite the Anderson Lumber
('oinpany's yard. About twent.v years ago his great-gre.it-
graiidson. Michael Van Winkle, erectetl the fine three-story
l-'rench roof house which stands upon nearly the same
site. Here he died on September ,"), 1S88, aged nearly 88.
Until his death part of the tract of which Walling died seized
had been in the A'anWinkle family for over two hundnil years.
It is now owned by the .Vniler.son Lumber Coiiii>any.
Walling Van A\ inkle, one of the grandsons of Willing tlu-
first, eretted on his share of the estate the house, still stand-
h.g. and known to old residents as the David I. .\nderson
homestead. Mi. Anderson purchased it about the middle of
the ceutur.v. It stands at the Bergen County entrance to
the County Bridge, and is used as a hotel.
DAVID 1. ANDERSON HOMESTEAD. WALLINGTON.
Built by Waning Van Winkle who giive his num.' to Wallhigtmi.
\Vnlling. the grandson, wa.s a .Tiistice of the Peace for
Bergen County in 1700. A great-grandson. Walling, an oUicer
of the Aiii la-kano.ik church, died .lanuaiy 7, ]83:j, 78 years
old. The inscription on his headstone reads:—
"In early life he sought the Lord,
Became a convert to His Word,
And by example did exprtss
His love to God and holiness.
His -iflico made the church his care.
Her interests were his daily prayer.
.\s husband, father, neighbor, fiieml.
Beloved and faithful to the end."
Itichai-d Van Winkle, great-greal-great-giandson of Wal-
ling, is still living in the borough of Lodi, hale and hearty, at
I he age of ,83. His memory i.s excellent, and he is a walking
encyclopaedia concerning old "Qnacknick," as he calls it.
I'roin him come many of the things herein written, concerning
llie old familh-s particularly.
AVe have partially Iriinl the descent of llic Walling \:iii
Winkle family. His brotln r. Symon, married .Viinetje Sip
1.11 December l.'., 1C,7.-., at llie Befornnil Church in Bergen,
where they both lived. riiey selth'tl here soon after UiSo.
They were blessed with a fairly niiinerons family, as it woiihl
be considered in Ihos- days. There were iK.rn to them in
.VcipiackaiKUik five girls and seven boy.s. about half of whom
married and settled here. Synion's farm o.cupied the terri-
tory ihiMiigh which Aycrigg avenue and the Boulevard ex-
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
27
ti'i.il. His lic.iisr sIiHiil .,11 Kiv.T I>i-ivi'. ;i lillli- 111. rill 111'
A.vi-iintf .ivnnu-. TIutc :in. n.. ii-nccs i>r it ii.iw. Tli.- I'jini
WHS pu roll used I'l'.Mii liis ili'sc.-ncliuils in isrj l.y A.liiMii M.
INist. S.viii.iii liiiil Miiiitlu'i- fanu iit Wi'iisrl i('liri..iii. .'in. I
wiis wcaltli.v , M >i ..Illy in his own ri^lit. Iml tlir.niv'li liis wife.
Simon \'.iii Winlili'. son of Syin.m. was ilcai-.m in tlic
Itcl'ornu'il CIlMi-cli in 170!l. .laroli. anotliiT son. Iiail a larni on
III!' west side of ill.- W.-as,.] Koa.l. in (•|iil..ii. ..n iIm' 11..11I1
of the Garrctson laiin. II.' .lii.l .May L'. IT.'Hi. Hi- will ,li-
rooti'il his c-xocntoi-s to soil lli.' |.r.,|n'i'iy wiiliin Ilii'.'i' wi'.'ks
after his death. Accordinfjlv ii w.is advertised as follows;—
"To lie sold at pnlilie \'eiidne. on Thursday the 7tli of .Inn.'
next eiisuintr. at the l)\vellinf,'-Honse of the hile .laeoli \mii
Winkle at Weesel. in the I'reeinet of Aecnieehi'noii);. in lli.'
Connty of Essex.* I'>a.st-New-.lei'si y.
".V I>Helliii;;-n(iu.se and Hani, with rw.. .Vlhiiineiits of
Land ailjoiiiin^' to eaeh othei-. e.nilaininn alioiit 1!>4 Aeres.
with a ;;ood ( )i-eli.'ii'd. allowed to lie of the liest Lots in Ae-
(ineckenon;; Patent, and lyinjr upon the JIain Country Road,
from Newark to the Ili^'hlan.ls: the most Fart lieini: elear'il
and is e.xtraordinary j.'ood tillalile and pasture Land, well
watered; the Keniainder well wooded. sufHefent for the niain-
lainiuK Fenee. and support of Fire-Wood, and other uses of the
said farm; situate ver.v iileasaiit upon I'asayck Hiver and
aliotit two miles and half from AeiiueeheuoiiK Chureh. and a
L.'inilin^': Tliere is also three or four ( Jrist-Mills. and as many
Saw-mills, within aliout a mile and half of said Farm. The
Title for said Lands is trood and in.lisiiutalile. Also at the
said Time and I'laee, will lie sol.l .'it pulilii- \'enilue. Horses.
Cows. Sheeii .-md Hojis, and all sorts of Ctensils f.ir farining.
a Dm eh \V.i^'i;on, and Turner's Tools, and several sorts of
Household (JimhIs, etc. The Conditions of Sale ina.v be seen
at the Saiil Time and Plaee of \'eiHlue. Tli.' N'endue to bc-
t;in at 10 o'Cliiek aforeiiiinn. an. I conliinu' lli.' next Day. or
Days foll.iwin;^. unlil emi.'.l.
".\Luinus \'.iii Wiiikl.' aii.l
"Katharine \'.iii Winkle
Fxrs
"N. P>. All persons haviii;; auy Demands uiion the Estate
of the said .lacoli \'an Winkle, deeeased. .-ire desired to lirin^
in their Demands to the s.-iid Executors, in order to lie ad-
ji.sted. and paid as soon as [lossible; and all I'ersons that
are indebteil to tlie siiid Estate, .-ire desired to make Pay-
ment, and save Trouble."
This advertisement, with its engaging' tlunniiig postscript.
was printed in the New York (Jazette. revive<l in the Weekly
I'ost Boy. of ilay 14, 17.".(l l.\. .L Archives. Vol. 12. page
(1210. The house was suliseiineiitly torn down, and a frame
one now occupies the site.
Michael Van Winkle and Johannes Waliiigson served as
Chosen Freeholders of Bergen County. .1. V. S. Van Winkle.
son of Michael, was a Councilman in thi' borough of East
IJutherford. The \'an Winkles of this placi' nevi r entered poli-
iKs. They devoted themselves to farming and the acipiisitioii
of real estate, in which they excelled. The family ^s still nu-
merous in both counties.
In the list of Revolution iry soldiers Bergen County is
credited with only two ^'an Winkles— Henry and Luke — both
privates. Essex County funiishid four — Peter. Simeon. Simon
an.l Simson.
TllF. LlliUEUTSEN OK VAN P.LAKCO.M FA.MILV.
The progenitor .>f the Van P.lareom family was Lubliert
Lulibertseii. who came to this country in April, 1(!IJ2. on
the shiii HoiM'. 'I'he log of the ship gives a list of passengers,
including' —
"Lulilierl I.nlil.i'rl^i'ii, fr.nn M.'ppi'l. .Kgrii-nllurist. an.l
w if.' anil lour 'hildren.
"Willi'Mi Lubbi'i-tsen. Agriculturist, and wife and six chil-
dii'Ti."
Meppel was in tli." province iif Drenthe. which at that
lin.e contain. 'il .>nly live acres of arabh' land, but sU|)ported
lifly thousand souls. .Mepiiel is ;iear two larger towns. Heu-
larker and Westervoort.
The Lubbertsens. who weie evidently brothers, settled
at New Ct.'eeht. L. L In lliltT Willem puichaseil a farm there.
Ill s.ild it two years later. His childri n were .\brahnni, .\ll-
tie i.\delinei, Femmetje, .lohn and Willenitie, born before com-
ing to this country. An .Abraham I.,iibbertson lived in New
York, first on Pearl street, .ind later mi Broad street, in liMjO-
'7i>. In li;70 he was skipper .>f a North River sloop. .\ Ca-
l.iiil Liibberlsen settled at or near .New Brunswick, N. .1.
Lubliert Lilbbertsen's children were: Lubliert, Rollif
iR.ilplii. -Margrietie and Maritii- i.Maryl. born in Holland, .ind
C. .melius. .lohi I .Inn born on Long Island. Cornelius is
1 he .me in whnin we are interested. Me was one of the palenti-es.
Surnames wen' selected diirinj; the second generation.
Some of the family selected Westervelt, meaning in the Hol-
land toiigtu'. "a west field." It i.s supposeil by some, how-
1 ver. that the name w.is originally Westervoort, after the
town of that .laine near Meiipel. Others called themselves
Van Blerkura (event;ially Van HIari 11, jM-rhaps after Beu-
larker, the nearest important town to Meppel. A few retained
the (dd name. In the census of Kings tVunty, Long Island,
for lli98, is found the name of Tys Ltibbertz, which name is
still common on Long Island, and is found in this state.
Cornelius Lubbertsen or Van Blarcom was awarded the
farm upon which the Passaic Bridge station stands. He sold
it to .lohn Sip of .ler.sey City soon after, and never built a
house here. Instead of becoming a permanent settler, he
bought other land in this couu'y, and finally moved to Bergen
County, where he aciiuired more laii.l and tiecauie the father
of many Van Blarcoms. His progeuy and their cousins, the
^A'estervelts, spread all over Passaic and Bergen counties. One
of them, Adrian Van Blarcom. from the Notch, married a de-
sci ndent of an->lh 'r patentee family. Phoebe Shelp. who was a
\'an Wagoner. He became an honored citizen.
There were eight Westervelts from Bergen County in the
Revolutionary war. There were no Van Blarcoms from either
I'.uiit.v. but the.v nia.v be disguised as the tnree Van Blerigans
ep.t.'i'e.l .in the rostef.
A picture of domestic distress, not unkuowii to these days.
is divulged by a \aii Blarcom in the New Y'ork Oiazette (Week-
ly Post Boyi of August 18, I7.V1. It is contanieil in N. .1. .Vr-
cliives. Vol. 1. page .■i2(j, as follows: —
"NOTICE
"Whereas. Merity Van Blarikiiu. Wife of me, .lohanes Van
Hl.iriU.ini. in the County of Bergen. East New .lersey, hath
absconded herself fr.iui me. lu r Husband, this 2d day of .Inly
in the year 17.Vi.
"These are iheref.ire to f.uewarn all merchants and Trades-
men either in city or country, not to trus- her. the said .Merity.
on my aceniiit. for I will pay no debts contracted by her from
Ibis Date. By me
.Tohanes \'an Blarikoni."
THE TOMASSEN oK \ .\ N KIPKK lAMlLV.
The nanie \'an Riper comes from a town in Denmark.
Rypeii. on the River Gram in the |uovince of Ribe, in the
southwest pa.'t of North .Intland. It is very ancient, has an
old cathedral, ami its fine harbor once made It a great seaport,
but miw commerce flows in other channels.
The locality was a battle-ground between Denmark and
Swe.len from 1('i;!7 to l(i4.j. when the Swedes twik the city.
It was given back by treaty, but war soon broke out
again, and was not concluded till liU'.o. Then came a remark-
able revolution in domestic politics, and the lirst \'an Riper —
.luriaeii Tomassen— left Rypen on .\pril 2. Hir..'.. in the sliiii
• It should be remembered that it was not until 18.37 that Passaic County was erected out of parts of Essex and Bergen.
28
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
The S|H.ttid Cow. U.uiid f..r New York. Tliere were ninety
olher nameK ou the passenger list, hut he seems to have heeii
the i.nly one of his family. lie settli-d in Jersey City, ami
niarrii-.] I'ryulje Ilenuans on May 25. 16ii7. They had nin-
ihildren. Some of his rhildren took the name of .Inriansi-.
n>«- Yereanw. of whom there are many hereabouts. Other>
called then-i»'lves Keypen. after their father's liirthplai-e. It
iM-eame Van Uy|M-r. and then Van Kiper.
.Iiiriuen Tomassen was one of the patentees. His sou
llarman, born I>eivmler, (i. 1080, uiarrie<l first to Mary
l-rederiekH, June 2»l. 1709. aud. seeond. to .ludith Steiumets.
in )""J1. settK-d in Passaic Connty. near the present Kingslaml
I'aiK'r .Mills. He died iu 17.>l). He had thirteen eliildreu. in
■ hidiiik' .\lirahaui, born January '2Tt. ITltJ. who married Eli/.:i
lieth Bradbury. .V none their children was John .\.. bom
February 12. 17.V1. His name is in Sirykcr's list ot Jersey-
men in the Revolution. He hail eiRht children, includin:: .\l>ra-
linin. born September 15. 1782, a member of the .Vssi-mbly
in 1S48-'4"J, a Justice of the Peace and a Chosen Freeholder in
PasKaie County. His son, -Vbram W.. was the father of Dr.
Ci melius Van Ui|H-r. • f the best kmiwn iiliysicians of
the city.
(JoiuK ba-k to the oriKiniil Juriaen Tomassen. we tind that
his farm in the .Vcipiackauo ik pa'cnt was settled by his sou,
Thomas. It lay iH-tween Van Houten and Brook aveniu-s. e.N-
tcndini; toward tlie mountains. .VnioUK his ten children was
tJerrit, who inherited the greater part of tne farm within the
city limits. From him descendtnl Herrick or Richard Van
ICi|M>r, who was made a .-aptain in Colonel Thomas's ballaliim
of "Detached Militia" on July IfS. 177ti.
.V U'tter from Colonel Ridiinson of the British army to
Sir Henry Clinton, dated New Y'ork. February 2.S, 1781, says:—
"Christian I.i>w/.ier and Richard Van Riper say they live at
.Vci|nai|Ui-nnni'k. which place they left Monday last.
"It was rcpiirled that part "f \Vasliin>:ton's army were to
«ii to the sonlliw;ird. bcin-»' se-it fur. and they heard sonu- had
marchol to .Morristown fmni Pompliin. but that thc-y heanl
niithini; of troops arrivini; from the lli;:hl:nids lof the Ilmlsoni.
They know noiliin;: of \Vashiiii:l>>n liim<clf.
"P. .^. Tin- above two men are lome in. as it appears to
me. onl.v on the scheme of irailc; they alTcct to be very ig-
nornnt of public m.itters."
l'nsus|M'clin;: Colonel! Hail he bnl known llial one of
these stupid ountrymen was a captain in the patriot army
and that iMith were spies, they woulil not Iiave reported lo
Washington the information tln-y gathered while iu Ni-w York
on pn-teiice of busiui'ss.
None of the Van Ripers were Tories, and no family ldii;:hl
more valiantly for the Revolutionary cause. The ilariiij: trip
just related stamps Derrick Van Riper as a brave man and
an olllc«'r of no nn>an intellicenci-. He dietl May 2,'?. l.strj.
at the aue of li*i. His tombstone in the oli! chnrcliyanl has this
inscription:—
Derrick \an llipcr
Die<l .May 2:'.. Istl2
.\_-, il iM'i years. I! months. 211 ilays
tfo home, dear friends ami shed nit tears.
I must lie here till Christ appears.
.Vnil at his coniiiiK ho|x' to liav-
.\ joyful risimr from the tomb.
Cornelius (i. or "Sipiire"' Van Riper was of this family.
He s|H'nt his life at the ancestral home, still standing on
tin River road. It is the .sii'ond house sonth of Van Houten
lOinue. and is ni>w oei>npi<^l b\ bis uramblaughter aiul her
husbami, .Vndrcw Z. Terhune.
This is perlia|>s Mie oldest of any of the Dutch housed
in this lo<-ality that retnins its original appi^arann-. .\s it
appears liMlay. it was erecteil aboiii 17">i'. but part of it was
• SQUIRE" VAN RIPER HOUSE, RIVER ROAD
the original house. ei-e<leil about ICiltS. so that the homestead
has been in tin- family over 2(X> years.
"S<|uire" Van Riper was a man of no ordinary intelligence
and education. As the term implie.s. he was a Justice of the
I'eaiv. then an oHiie of ligiiity. He also acteil .is a convey-
ancer, drawing deeds, wills and other legal papers. He was
never admitted to the Bar. bnt was appointed a Master in
Chancery, which enabled him to take acknowledgincnts and
otherwise expedite legal business. He was one ol the lay
judgi-s of the Passaic Connty Court of Common Pleas and a
member of the .Vssembly. He was widely known throughout
this part of the state, ami the people hail conlideiice in his
sterling integrity and unerring judgment. He was administr.i-
tor. exi'cutor. guardian and trustee of many estates. Tin'
records show thit for various purposes, at one time or an-
other, a great deal of the real estate, not only within the city,
but throughout the county, was transferred to him.
He toidi a leading part in the councils of the Itel'ornied
Dutch Church until about 1825, the year of the great se-
iHssion In the denomination. .\t that time the Rev. Peter D.
FriH'ligh was the pastor. His father. Rev. Solomon Frodigh.
pastor of the church at Sehraalenburg. Bergen County, had left
the Reformed denomination in 1S22. The sou seceded from the
cl.nrch here in 182.". ami a large number of his warm friends
fcllowed him. Prominent among the set-eding members was
Cornelius ti. Van Riper. Services were ludil at lirst in Lud-
low's barn, now at the rear of the I'agoda Hotel at Passaic
Briilge. The seceders were stnmg. Some say tiiey included
two-thirds of the old congregation, and tiny i-ertaiidy had its
most promiiieiit memliers. They built a m>w chur<-h and
pri.siM'red until the pastor committeil suicide. This caused
many to return to the oM fold, and among them was Cor-
nelius t!. Van Riper. He luiaine more than ever attai-hed to
the mother church, and was elected su|K'ri:)tendent of the
Sumlay-school. iu which capacity he served tw-nt.v-eight years.
-Vfter his d.-ath a tablet to his memory was placed ou the
scl.iHd w.iU. It may still be <eeii m tile left of the pulpit plat-
form.
.V shaft eivettHl on the family plot in the churchyard, over
the resting place of him and his wife, is inscribed as follows: —
Cornelius I! Van IJipci.
Died February IS. ISliS.
.\getl 7,5 years, 5 montb.s and lit days.
"The uuMuory of the just is blessed."
Christianna Van Riper
wife of
Cornelius (i. Van Riper.
Died -March 27. 1874.
.\ged 7o years .ind 1"2 days.
"Death is swallowed up iu viitory."
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
29
TiiK \iMi;i;(>rs si'KKi; iamii v.
Oil ilir n.ll uT (lie iiassciiBors of tlic ship Fnilli. that
liroiiKlil tii'i'iit (ii'irilMui to Ni'W Ymk in I >c(fiiilirr. Ki.V.t. up-
ixais the lamo nf ■■IloiulriiU .Innst'ii Spiers and wife anil two
<l:i!(lri'ii." Hi- was the fonndci- of the nnnierons Spocr family
in tliis ami .idjoinin^ eonnlies, and more of his direet dcseend-
ants ill the male line of descmt are living hereabouts than of
any of ilie otliir paleiilees. Their name has lioen, or is. spelled
ill tile I'.illowiii); diflVient ways: Spier, Speare, Spcir, Spijr.
Speer, Spiiyr. and in oi e family Spiiling.
I>ike many others of the patentees he setllid in Jersey
City, and aiiinired <-oiisideralile land there. His wife was
JIaileliiie llaiise. Ill- .lied leaving' three sons. .Ian l.Iohnl.
Iliiiis i.laiki ami Hareiil. His w id.iw married .Ian .Vertsen
\'.-ll'.lerhill en |)ee,'llll.er l( ». lliSl.
Tile Siieers liav.' hmiestly inherited their land-ciwiiiiii;
traits. Their aiuvstur was a heavy lauded proprietor. On
.Tune l.">, 1(!74, toir.'llier with .loost Vander T^inden and Hen-
driek de Haeker. he iietitinned the Rovernnient for some land
on Staten Island, at the nioiith of "Kill Van Koll." .Tohn Hen-
driek Speare was one of the ;;rantees in the Indian deed of
March 2.S. KIT!', and in the .Ve.piaekanonk [larent. which com-
pleted his title. His name .ilso appears as a srantee in a deed
for several thousand acres of land near the Ilackcnsack Itiver.
anil in a deed sriven in 1T(H i':t from Tepiinw aiul other In-
dians for a tra -t of lai:d in Esse.x County, "on the east side of
the I'aseek river to the hills." He was also one of several
purchasers of uiaiiy liiimlicl .icros at Belleville and Franklin.
It will lie noticed that the man first spoken of was Hendrick
.Tansen Spiers, while the patentee was .John Hendrick Speare.
They are one and the same, ami the hitter is the eorreet
name.
.lohn Hendrick Siieare received, anionjr other allotments
from the .^.cquackanonk patent, a farm fronting on the river.
licMvi-en Passaic and Delawanna, I>clawaiina avenue, known
alsii as the Varnish factory road, runs alioiit through its
cci trc. He Imilt a stone house, slill standing'.
This old house, small as it is, gives the best possible idea
of the size, shape and api)earance of the first hon.ses erected
by the patentees. This is perhaiis the only instance where
the orisinal building remains intact, without being enlarged as
the f.imily increasetl in numbers and wealth. It has seen
changes all about it, yet remains unchanged.
The Speer farm stretched from the river to the monntain.
and was first divided, years afterward, among three brothers,
descendants of John Hendrick Siiean- — Henry, .John and Gar-
ret. Henry received the part from the river to the Dwas Jjine
road. "Dwas" is Diitch for division. The Dwas lines hereabouts
are nnnierons, but the one wliiili is particularl.v known by that
name runs west of and parallel to Franklin avenue, in Ac-
i|Uackaiiouk township, and diviiled the Speer farm. The middle
portion of tJie farm, on the other side of th(> Dwas line, was
given to .Tohn. Garret got the extreme westerly third, wliidi
put him aw.iy back iiitu the countr.v. It is said that the land
l.xiiig between the river road and the river was to be held
ill common by the lliree br.ithers for shipping ami watering
purposes.
Henry Speer had nine i liildreii. the history of whose de-
scendants Ls so closely interwoven with the pa.st and present
l:fe of Passaic that they should be treated of here in extenso.
They were: —
1. James, who went to Cincinnati in 1.S21), made a for-
Inne at paper-making, and left a family who became [iromi-
neiil ill cit.v affaii's.
II. Nelly, who marriol nenjamiii Kiicslainl, ami died
without isslh'.
III. John, who went west, married an Indian girl, and had
a sou, John, who on the death of his parents came to Pas-
saic and was brought up by his aunt, Nelly, John, the young-
er marrieil Kilie, daughter of Israel Simpson, whose house at
Franklin is now ix-eiiiiied by ICalon Stone, the veteran circus
rider,
IV. Henry, married Rachel Van Einburgh, daughter of
Abrani Van Kmbnrgh, whose brother was a Itevoliilionary sol-
ilier. .Vbrain was a blaiksmith and fisherman living on the east
bank of the river, below Ihi- old Helleville b.-idge. Uacliel had a
twin sister, .Viin, wli> married one Betts, a stddier of the war of
1M"J. She is still living at the great age of !I7 yi-ars, and
is drawing a widow's pensioM. The twin sisters, ".\iint Ra-
chel S|)eer," as she was known, and Mrs. Ann Betts. kept
eacli other company through life to the age of 91, and
jnst before .Mrs. Speer's death were desi-ribed as tl blest
twins in the rnite<l Slates. Mrs. Betts is still living and a<-
ti\e, and makes freqiient visits to her nephew, Mr. .\lfred
Speer of this city. HiMiry li.iil these chililren:--
1. Alfred, born November 2, 1823; married Catlierine
Kliza Berry June (i, 1.S44, and by her had two children, Wil-
liam Henry and Alfred Wesley. Catherine Speer was the
first person in the State, if r.ot in the country, of whoiu a da-
guerreotype was taken. It was done by her husband about
fifty-five years ago, and the remarkable picture is now in the
hands of her son, William H. Her father was Abraham
Berry, a well-to-do man, who bad a grisi mill and house on the
shire of Yantacaw pond.
Alfred's .secoud wife was Polly .\nn Morgan, whom he
married Seiiteriiber 22, lS,"ili. Three cliihlreii, Irving, Morgan
and .Mlhci. an- living, as well as both parents, Alfred Speer,
whose descent has thus been traced out, needs no further in-
troduction here to those familiar with the cit.v with which
Ills life has been so cli>sely iilentified.
2. .loseph T., born May 22, l.S2.">. Died in infancy,
.",. ,Ioseph Theodore, born February 1!». 1,S2!). He mar-
ried Mary Fairbauk December 2."i, IS."):?, and they had two chil-
den, Theodore ,iiid Minnie F,, who married Warren S. Cole-
grove. His second wife was I'lllen Fisher. July .">. 1871. He
still lives in Passaic.
V. (Jertrmie married .loliii Itawlins. They went to Cin-
cinnati, where he formed a |iartnership with his brother-in-law.
James, in the paper-making business.
VI. .lacob, who went to Newark, married in the wealthy
Hedenbiirgli family, dying rich, and U-aving two boys and
four girls. Charles died a bachelor, while Edward is marriiHl
and has children. Of I he girls, one married a Woodruff and
ai. other a Palmer, who was one of Newark's prominent poli-
ticians, and h.id troubles, of which many have heard. Eliza
died recently, unmarrieil. and Louisa resides on Cedar street,
.Newark. She makes frecinent visits to her cousin. .Alfred.
\H. Hiiriieli married Bet.sy, daughter of David Snyder,
who keiit an hotel at Delawanna. It was a famous tavern
seventy years ago. The family was so numerous at Delawanna
that the place was called Siiyders. Francis Snyder still lives
ill the old Zachariah Snyder house {>n the north side of Yan-
tacaw pond. Burnett's sons, Edmund and Burnett, still live
here. David keeps a tavern at Sing Sii g, N, Y. The other
children are John, who died unmarried, and Clara.
VIII. Maria married John Devausney, a blacksmith,
with a house and shop between the road and the river at
the southern city limits. He died leaving his widow poor.
She moved to the \\'i<kwaie house, where she had a few
n cans. I'his is the house known years afterward as Kyerson's
30
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Hotel, Ktuiidiiig on Main avonue opiMwiti' tbe eoiiniy l>ricl):i'.
It liail a largf fenctnl-iu KanUfi in front at that tiim-. ami was
uiif of the fnu-st lioust-s in town. Here Mi>i. I>i-vaiisn<-y raised
luT lartrc faniilv liv dint <•( hard work and frnsjality. Her
childri-n workc-<l in the- IMawanna |iai»-r mill. Of iiiT thrif
Ki-us the only one livin;: is Charli's. a retired .New York i".
lieenian.
IX. .N'cUon. the yoiincest rhihi. went to Cineinnati. ( »..
ulwjut IX'M. and made u sans: fortmie in the hriek lMisine.s.s.
Mis four ehildren were .Vlfriil. Charles. Martha and Molly.
The tirsl thnn- still n-side there.
The S|hvr famil.v fni-iiished the first .iheriff of I'assaio
Connt.v, Rin-ar Saiiniel S|Mer. who liviij at Somerset. Tliis
idaee was loiiK known us Speertown, lieeaiiso so many of that
name residiMl there. No other menilK-r of the family has ln-en
liromiiienl in pnlilie affairs.
A remarkalile fuit ahont the family is that the name of
8|M.er is niissiui; in ndiKions wi>rk. All the other patentee fam-
ilies served til" old .Viiinaekniiouk fhnreli in some eapaeity.
In war. however, they took r.etive part. Lookinc over the
Kevolutionary roster, we find the names of Abraham Spear,
private in the roriipan.v of Cornelius Spi-er. who in 1777. was
captain in the Sei'ond ICe;;iment. Es-sex County. He also
served in Craiir's company of State troops as well as in the
Continental anny. Francis was a private iu the Es.sex com-
pany. Henr.v was a private in the Second Essex, in which
he iH-eume a captain, and also sei'>°ed in Craig's company.
William Spear scrv(.il with him under CraiK. In the War of
till KclH-llion .lidin K. S|H-ar. Edwaid .\. and .Icdin M.. all of
.\i'i|uai'kanonk. served with honor, wliili' Irvin;; anil Morpin
Spcer, sons of Alfred SiH.i.r. eulistol in the First Colorado Rej;-
inicnl. which nMidcri-il ilistinirnishe<i service in the I'hilippines
iu 1,S1W-!MI.
TIIK KOKI.OKSE iVAN IKM TENi FAMU.V.
The fiiiiiider of this family was KiH-li>f i Ralph) Cornelis,sen,
fri 111 Hoiiteii. Holland. Hoiiten merns "wihiJs." the |dai-c
liciiiK a small villas" in u wimk1i.<I district of the northeastern
liroviiiii'. He is siip|M>si.il to have left IIoll:i:id diiriii;; the
Thirty Years' War. in which thiHilnpy and politics wen so iiiuih
Ideiidi.)! that all Kuro|ie was emliroiled. In ll>47 he was
serviuK in the iJiitch troo|>; in New York. He married (ierritje
Van .Ness and had two chillrcn. Ilalmagh and Cornelius, the
latter horn in Il'kil and liaptized on Seiitemher 10 of that year.
They received the surname RiH'lofse from their father's Chris-
tian name, lint in maiihoiHl a;,'ri-eil i>ii the famil.v siirnaiiie of
Villi Hoiilen IfnMii Hoiilenl.
Cornelius, on • of the patentees, ilrew lot 14 on the iiia|>
of the tlothaiii divisimi printed iiliove. ll was a tiian^'le. which
was hounded aliout as follo.vs: Siiuthw(.st liy (Jiove street and
till same strei't extended, east li.v Prospect strtvt and Lexinj:-
ton avenue, north hy a line HlHl fwt north of Monrm- stn-et.
'I'his was his homestead farm, and his dweflini; was at the
.siiiithwcst niriicr of I'ros|H.ct stn-.-t and Howe avenue. The
entire pro|ierty i-eniainiil in the Van Hoiiteii family until .liiiie
r,), 17,'>1, when a Cornelius \'iin Hoiiteii deiihsl ii lo [.iicas
Wessels, who sold it to .lacoli E. Vu.elaiid in \S»tn, The house
was pnrcha.sed hy the late I»r. .lohn .\l. Ilowe, when he came
here in I.S.V1. It was torn down in 1^711, and the site is now
oicnpieU liy a steam laundry.
The family, thouKh not nniiieroiis now, has ln.eii prominent
hireahoiits for many years. Iliiriiii.' Ilr.- Revolution they cave
money and streiiicth to the .aiise of iiidi (HMideiicc. .Vlirahatn
and I'owles Van Houteii were lientenanl-colnnels in Fell's liat-
taliiiii of State troops. .Vilrian. Carinns. Carrel, tlendrick. .la-
cob and .lohn H. >'aii Houteu were privates in the war. The
name is found frciiuently iu the lists of judares and justices,
freeholders and i-omniissiouers. The family provided many
elders and deacons for the church as well.
llli; KESCENKANTS OF HANS I )l Kl HMCK.
This one of the pateatets seems to have been a notable
fi^rure in his day. He is first mentioned .is havip.};. on Novem-
ber '2'2. HiChi. with thirty-two other inhabitants of Bersen taken
the oath of allegiance to Charles II. In 1()71 he was a juror in
the case of the Crown against William Hackett, for violation
of the marine rules, aud later in the same year in a case in-
volving the pulling down of Richard Michell's fence. On March
'.I. Hi7."i. he was "appointed constable for the corporation of
Hi rgeii. to be sworn in by Capt. Berry."
At a meeting of the Council of New York, licbl .Inly .30.
Ii'kSO. the following peculiar resolution was passed: —
"Upon the returns from Berghen, upon being infcirnicd that
none of did mei'te. Resolved, that Cornelius Van der
Hnrgh & G?rrit CJi-rritji- be allowed. Hdyrek. Clark Braedy &
Elyas Miehaelye bee not allowed & Tonne meeting to
bee held also of a New Constable in the place of Capt. Hans
I>!derick his time of Cons'table being long since expired."
Whatever important facts are hidden in this minute, we
next find him apiniinted one of the .lusticis of the I'cace for
I'.crgen County in KiS^-'S.*?. He was one of the iietitiouers for
the Aciiu'ickauonk patent iu lti84. I.i the elei-tion of ICiSti Hans
Dedricke and Peter Hessels were elected Deputies from the
town of Bergen.
Together with Captain .lohn Berry. I^nwreuie Anilries
(later Van Buskirk). Enoch Vri-elaiul aud others, he was 011
the first ivmmission to lav out roads in the county of Bergen.
They were api>ointed by an act of the liCgislature and were
the first commissioners of highways in the Stale. He held this
iillicc from ItiTS until his death. He was appointed lieutenant
of the Bergen militia September 4, l(i7;{. This, i hough, may
have been due to his popularity as a tavern-keeper. He secured
his license February .'{. Hi71. to keep a tap-house in the town of
Bergen. It was the second in the nmiit.v. Man.v of the meet-
ii:gs of the commissioners of highways were held there, and his
tavern was the political headquarters of the town until his
death. September lilt. IfKLS.
Die<lrick's allotineiit.s includiil a farm on the west side of
I>-xington avenue from Sherman street to Summer stri-et and
running back to the Van Wagoner farm. There was no ap-
pioach to it until Lexington avenue was laid out to run through
it. While Diedrick evidently intendeil to live here and i-oni-
nienced to build a dwelling, he sold it still unfinished to Ilessel
Pcterse, who occu|>ied it. It was the best and largest of the
patentees' hous.-s, and stood at lx>xington avenue and Autumn
stii-et until torn down a few years ago. The present generation
kiiw it as the Peter E. Mersi-lLs honii>stead. Peter E. was
thf father of Henry ("Baas" -Marst-llus of Garfieldl and the
late .lohn C. who changed the fjimily name to the French
form. .Mar^elliis. a few years ago.
Hans Diedrick pnrcha.sed considerable land in .lersey City
in May. KifiS. and aci|iiireil some meadow lot-s as well. His
son. Wander, inheriteil th'e estate and inereisid it, so that
H|ioii his death. August la. 1732, he left a deal of property.
His heirs were Antje. wife of .lohn Vreeland: Abraiii. Cor-
nelius. David, CJa.-r-'t. .lohn aud Maigaret. widow of Garret
Van Ryiien.
There an> no Diedri. ks in Passaic but on .May Id. 173!), in
the .Vcijiiackanonk church .lohaniu-s Didericks, widower, born
mill living at Bergen itlie son of HansI, \\a.-> married to Hesther
\ leelaiiil. maiden, born .iiul living at We.sel. In tile record
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
31
n( h;iptisiMs wr liii'l tli;ii .IhIiiiiih's and his wife. < Iccrtriiiji \'iin
\\ iiiki'l, liiiil llu'ir si>ii, .liuMili, lioni Kebruiiiy V2, 112S, Impli/.i'd
on Miii-cli ic ■>!' Ill It .veiir. Otlicrwisc the iiniiip never figured in
this hxahty, and is now extinet. Persons of that name are
Innud in .Jersey ("ity and New York. In Uerjien and Ilmlson
eonntii's thi- family is represented in llie Van Winkle. Van
Ituskirk. Zahriskie and otlier families.
THKMISSI.Ni; WK.WKi:, AliUAH.VM BOOKEY.
Of all the fourteen i>atentees. least is known of Abraham
Itookey. His name a|>pears nowhere but in the patent, and is
otherwise unknown here. A note on paiJe "i" of Whitehead's
"Kast .Ier.s"y I'nder the I'r >iirietors." says of the patentees:
"These men were principally from Ber^ren. then a eliartered
township of eleven years" standin;:." From this it would ap-
pear that nol .ill of them i-anii' I'roiii Kerfien.
It is belii'Vi'd Bookey was a .v aver from New York and
that lie was indneed to ;ettli' here with the expectation of find-
in;, iileiity of business in the weaving; of linen and cotton goods
for ihe patentees and other expecteil settlers. Weaving was
dmie liy hand until 17ST. whin water power looms were built at
Beverly, Mass. It was not until 17!)4 that the hrst cotton mill
was built at ratersou, which speeilily became the cradle of
the industry.
BiM)key did not remain here loag with his hand loom and
never owned any land. He found the Mesdanies Van Hoiiten.
\'au Blarcoui. et al., too industrious and friigiil lo allow him to
do their weaving, and closed his shoji for lack of biisini'ss.
New York had iinny housewives who were Ix-couiiiis t«M> pros-
perous to spill and weave for their fiiniifies. and he moved
there, living near the Whitehall ferry till his death in 17IM.
His son, Abraham, did not follow hi.s trade, but kept a tavern
near the same place.
In the New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, of May 13,
IV.'l. apiiears this adv 'rtisement:—
■■Whereas, some Time in March last, n Pillow-t.'a.se with
sundry (Joods, was put on Board one of the .Vmboy Stage
Boats, without Directions: whoever owns the said Pillow-Case,
by applying -.o Aaron Edwards, who may be heard of at Mr.
Abrahaiii Booke's on the DiH-k at the Wliiti-llall Sli]). on de-
scribing the goods Mid iiaying the charges of advertising, may
have them again."
CHAPTER VIL
THE LIFE OF THE SETTLERS.
Hardy, Yet Lovers of Comfort and Good Cheer — Advantages and Beauties of Their Situation — Their
Religious and Social Characteristics — Their Slaves, and How They Treated Them,
HA\ IM; now |jlaiiti'il ilu- Hrst settlers iu tlii-ir lioiiii's, it
will III- iut'Tc-sliiiK ti> Jraw a pirtiiro of tLi- hauilct and
its lieaiitiriil siirrouiidiugs. Its cliii-f lioaiilies were the
pure, elear stream and the wouded, rolling eoiintry, inter-
.s|n'rsed with tillalile fields.
At any time tnward the eluse of the seveuteeiith eeiitiiry
iiii;.-ht lie seen on the Point the two houses of the Vreeland
lirothers, one on the site of the Manhattan I'rint Works, the
other where B.is h's mill now stands. On the river hank, iu
the rear of S|mmt's Chatean. was the honse of tlie third brother.
L< okin? luirlh from there eoiild be seon the Post honse, after-
ward the "Old First" |>arsoiia);e. ami beyond that the Peter.sc
and Van Winkle homesteads. Perhaps the Garritse house in
Clifton eonUI lie si-eii faintly in the distaiui. I.oidiiuK nearer
home, the eye mi(;ht rest on the Van llonten farmhouse at
the southwest <'oriier of llowe iivenni' ami I'rospeet street,
while farther to the west the Sip Iioiim' would appear as a
mere sperk. Looking' soutli aloim the river, the \'aii AVaisroner
house, opposite the County Hridge, was prominent. Next eauie
the Post Inuue, then the Sip house at I'assaie Bridge, while
just beyond Van Kiper ami another Vreeland had their homes.
Away to the south was the house of a lu'Wcomer among the
patentees, one Sleinuiets. Aeross the river the only house in
sight was tl ew om mi the Van Winkle farm. The i-hureh
was not yet built. Itoails lln-re were none. What appeari-d to
be a path followed the river mirth and south. Kill in the bai-k-
grouiiil with noble woods and lovi'ly glimpses of green nooks,
and lling ovi-r all a mdde e.\pause ol royally blue sky, be-
spattered with Heeey elouds, and wc have u glimpse of Ae-
iiuaekanonk on a spring day soon after the granting of llie
j'ateiit.
C(l.\l>ITIti.\S (l|- I. IKK IN TIIK I'itoVINCK.
t'.indilions .f life in the Slate are earefully described about
lliis time in a'l aecount given by Tlmnias Uudyard. the Deputy
(ioverinir, to the twelve proprietors. He speaks of the advaii-
tagi's of Kast .ler.sey over the neighboring luovim-es, in having
the salt uieadovvs, regardeil as very valuable in tontribntiug
.so iiim-h to the support of stwk iu winter. Two sawmills were
jilreaily at work, and tiv- or six others were being built, whieh
when eompleted would ri'duee the priee of boards one-half as
Avell as other buihling timber.
The people were generally sober, imiusirious and profess-
ing li. e., Chrisliansi, wise in their gem'ration. eourteous in
llu'ir behaviour, and res|H'<'tful to those iu ollleo,
"The (oniilry lalled Hergi'U," he says in a paragraph gleam-
ing with simple fun, "is almost entirely inhabiteil by Dutch-
men, and at a town called Ni-wark is made eid"r iu great tpian-
lities, e.\ejeding in ipiality that from ICIiode Island, New lOiig-
li i:d or l.,oug Islaml." .Newark wa;. at that time in Hergen,
the eoiinly of Mssex being formed in Ilisi'.
I'ork and b- -f were selling at two cents a pound, lish ami
fowl were plentiful. Wheat sold for four shilling-; ami luilian
wheat for two shillings and sixpence u bushel. "Cider, good
and plenty, for one penny a quart," we learn: "Good drink
made of water and molasses, about two shillings a barrel, as
wholesome as your eight shillings beer in England: gcxid
venison, plenty, at eighteen pence per quarter: eggs at three
pence a dozen: and all other necessaries of lite pknly. Vines.
walnuts, peaches. .<tr.iwberries and many other things plenty
in the woods. Here is a gallant, plentiful coiuin-y. and good
land."
At this time there was Imt one town iu tin entire prov-
ince that li;id a settled preacher, who followed no other em-
ploymeiii. .111(1 ill, It was Newark, although in every town
there w.is a meeting house, where public worship was held
once a week.
The richer farmers, such as were those who settled here,
kept from eight to ten servants each, both men and women.
They each boasted of from ton to thirty cows, a number of
oxen, ami some had so many horses that they did not them-
selves know the exact number, for they had them scattered
through the country. They kept no more in stables than were
riMjuired for work, the rest were let run wild in summer, and
were taken only when wanted for use. They had great herds
of swine ^n the woods and also boasted flocks of sheep, but
the.se w-re not alLnved to graze far from home for fear of
wolves. At this time there were few Indians in this i.art of
the country. The hiinliiig tribes had retired into the wilder
forests.
The Proprietors themselves, in publishing an account ot the
provim-e, set forth among many things that "the country is
plentifully supplied with springs, rivulets, rivers and creeks,
which abound with fish and water fowl. Oak. chestnut, wal-
nut, poplar, ash. fir and cedar timber abound. Soil, fertile.
Pivducing plentiful crops, also good flax and hemp, which is
spun and manufactured into linen cloth. The country is well
stocked with wild deer, conies (i. e., rabbits), and wild fowl of
several sorts, as turkies. pigeons, partridge, plover, .pniils.
swans, geese, ducks iu great plenty. It produces a variety of
good and delicious fruits, as grapes, plums, mulberries and
also apricots, peaches, pears, apples, (luinces and watornielous."
Speaking of the settlements in the province. Secretary
Ni<holls of Xeiv York .says: "On the north of Milford or
Newark Uiver. called Seeoiid Uivcr. was a large tract be-
longing to Kingslind and Sandford. Higher up the river, an-
other belonging to Capt. Berrie. who divided it: severel planta-
tions were soon settled upon it." These plantations are now
kiown as Carlton Hill, Wallington and I^idi. He continues:
"Still further up the river was an island whi.h belonged to
Christopher Ilooglatid ot Newark (sic)," This "island" is Dun-
dee proper, then and m)w part of the inainlami of the city.
The meanderings of the river give a careless observer the ini-
piession tint Dnmh'c is an island.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
33
(•().\ii(u;iAiii.i-: i,i\i:s ok i:aki.v skttlhus.
'I'lii li.iiivrs huili l.y 111,- I'Mi-ly sc!lli'i-s liavf tilri'iiily
Im-cii ilfsciiliiil. 'I'lii-y luiisl liiivr lici'ii i-iiiiiriii-talik' homes, par-
ticiihiily ill tlu' liuiK ('vi'iiin;.'s of wiiitci-. Tliu Uililioii was
the raiiiily nioiii. wlicri' tlir I'allici-. with his pipe ami iinif; of
ciiler. tii.i-iicil liis shins lirlcii'c Ihi' liaiiiliii: lujis in the great
tii'ciilaic. priliaps rcailiii;; ilic last issue, a week iir sii iilil. nC
till' Newarli Cnliiiel ct Fi-eeilmii. Staves, nf iiiiirse, were
iinliiiiiwii, lull tliey were nut niisseil.
It is fieiieiMlly lielieved tliat iiur foretatliers gained their
vigor ami hiiigevity hy a simple diet, hnt the early Diiteli
enjoyed the best in the land. 'I'hey did not ((11111110 theiii-
selves to their iiiiisli and iiiol.is^is, Imi looU their Hll of vege-
tables, e.six-eially polatoi's. hiicUwhiai and coin cakes, beef
and eggs, not forgetting their favorite diei nf pork and ham.
and big, fat meat pies, of which tliey were fond. They were
just as fond of pleasing their palate as anybody. Their f I
was aclii.illy riclier than is nsnal today, and their robust
liealtli was ilue more to ,'iliiindant rest and hardy habits of
exercise than to alisteinioiisness.
Their beds were well tilled with the softest of feathers,
laid upon straw mattresses. Their beds were well made, while
th.-it in the gnesi chamber was usually of an elegant pattern,
with tall posts and caaop.\ id' the tii.est texture. .\ll fiirnitnre
w.is hand-made. 'IMie logs were taken from the farm, dressed
at the sawmill and seas(nied until the visit of a traveling
cabinet maker. The tann-r. the shoemaker, the cooper and the
distiller went their rounds in the same way. The farmer
made his own lieadgear. usually a straw hat in smnincr ai^d
a c'»on skin cap in w iiitiu'. The women did their own weav-
ing, but most Id' the g.irmenls wen made by seamstresses,
who went from fainiK to family. Dyeing at home was an
aceomplishnieiit of the ",,|,„|i.|) housewife. White oak bark
gave her .a brownish .-ed. hickor.\' bark or peach leaves a good
yellow, maple bark a ricii. dark purple, the root of A\diite
wi.lnut one shade of luown .iiiil the bark and hulls of black
walntit a shade near to ilie modern seal-briM\n. <!reen wal-
nuts, mixed with siiniai li berries, furnished a good black, and
the sumach was culiivalcil largely for this purpose. The
local gas works were built in a ticld devoted to sumach
brshes- The good housewife w.is so industrious that besides
her womanly duties, she assisted her men fidks in the field.
When she went for an afternoon call she took her spinning
wheel with her. .No maiden was re(di(ii;ed fit for matrimony
who was behind her in industry or accomiilishments.
.V Vll.l.ACI-: SIT'KICIK.NT TO ITSKl.F
The h.imlel of A( iiiiacUaiioiik \\:.-~ sutHcieiit unto itself.
Flocks and herds provided meal; the ■skills were tanned in the
\illage. made into shoes and boots by the village shoemaker:
wool w.is spun anil w o\ .•11 into cloth by the li uiseAvives and
made into ganiicnts by the village lailcr; the caiuUes were
tallow dips made from the f.it of cattle slaughtered by the
village butcher; the grain was ground in the village grist mill:
the liiiiKi s \\e|c liuilt fnaii ^lonc^ and logs derived from the
I'ariii. while any swamp iirovidcd clay for mortar and evi'ii
for brick mil for culiiiar,\ vessels. These local imlnstrii's
survived for ,1 century .ind :i half, but vaiiisheil with the
athciit of the railroad
Till-: DITCII .\.s; cm KCIKioDKS .\NI) .VKICIIHOKS.
.\s to religious and siiial characteristics. Kev. Dr. Taylor
sj.ys of the .lersey Dutch:—
"They paid early attention to the public worship of Cod.
and when their nuinbers warrant mI they organized and estab-
lished churclH's idelleil on those of the f.illierhind. The
Calvinistie religion of lloilaiid wjs thus transferred to the
,\ew Netherhimis, The settlers soon sought the aid of the
Dutch West India ciuiipaiiy in procuring iiiiiiislers. Their
cause (Ui this behalf was furthered liy the reverend elerg.v of
the Classis of Ainsterdain. and ministers were sent forlli
l.y that judicature under advice from the Svnod of .North
Holland.
"They were reliiclant to form aciiiiaii. lance with strangers
lest they slnuild lie imposed n| Hut when such ae«in.iint-
aiice was fort I and appre iated. it was not easily lerminated.
AVliatever may have been iheir family broils, when any one
of the eoiiimiiiiity was wrongfully invidved in trouble, es-
peeially in litigation, they were as one man. When siieh oc-
casions oeeiirreil. it was no uneoninion thing fiu- almost all the
mill to resort to the county 'own. and support and encourage
their assailed neighlKuv"
Till-: si:iri.i:i;s .\s si..\\i-; o\\'\i:i;s.
If all other records had perished, the legislalimi of this
province, prior to the Uevolution, W(MiId price that slavery
once existed in New .ler.sey. It was not only tolerated, but
the master's claim d' property in his si ive. his power and
authority over him. to din ct and restrain, to sell and traiis-
ler him to .mother, have been, bv lepi'ated acts both of the
lolonial and state goverfiments. again and again re<-ognizeil,
protected, defined and regulated. In proof of this, reference
may be had to the grants and coneessiiuis in Lord Carteret's
time, as early as lli(i4: to the colonial act (d' 1('>.S2, recpiiring
masters to allow negro slaves sutlicienl aeeoininodatiou of
victuals and vlothing: to the act <d' about the same period, ini-
piising penalties upon persons trading with negro shives; to
the act of 1G!M, prohibiting slaves from <arrylng Kreariiis: to
the instruetiims to Lord Cornbury, in 1702; to the act of
171^!, regulating slaves, wherein, among other things, it is
enacted that no slave shall be manumitted without seeurit.v
frmn the master to eontriluite auiiually for his supiiort twenty
pminds during life; to tlie .let of I7.''il. to prevent landlords
selling liiiiior to slaves, .iiid to prohibit them from going out
at night, except to attend public wiirshi|i or funerals; to the
act of ITiilt. imposing penalties on slaves for .setting traps;
til the act .if 17l>S, presi rilling modes for trying slaves for cer-
tain offences, and to the act '<( 17' it. laying duties on imp(U'led
slaves. Such was slavery while we were yet a cohuiy of
Great Bri^iiii.
Till-; (iU.VDlAl, FUKEINt; Of SI.AVKS.
In 17!)S, after New .Jersey had beii.me a State, the Legis-
hiture declared that ever.v negro who was then a slave should
remain so for life, unless maiinmitted.
In ISill. however, llie Legislature ado|iteil a plan for the
gradual abolition of slavery, and passei^ :iii act declaring
"That every child born of .1 sl.ni>. after the -Itli of .Inly id"
that year, sli add lie frei-. but remain the servant of the
owner of the mother, until he or she arrived at. if a male, the
age (d' Iwenty-Mve. and if a female, until tlii' age of twenty-
one years." This act did not interfere with <iv disturb the
illation between master and slave, except so far as regarded
the right of thi' former to the future offspring of the latter.
This law w.is re-i-nacted in 1820. The State still re-
frained from interfering with the owner's right to the person
and services of sm li as were then held a.s slaves, bnt left that
relation, with all its rights and eorrespondent legal (diligations,
nntouilu'd. I'mler the operation id' these last mentioned laws
and the benign spirit of the age. which inclined masters to
mamimit their slaves, slavery well nigh had become extinct
in this State as early as IM.'i. and was destined to pass away
entirely.
Such, in fad. was the opinion in the ease of the Stale
against M.iiu- I'osl. id' the ■settlement i>( Aciinackaiimik. In
34
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
tLis ciisi- a writ uf lialioas coritus was sued out. By this writ
■a slavf wj!s lir(iii;;lit np, Imru previotis to .Tuly 4, 1804.
To this writ I'ost pleaded that he was the owner of the
ei'lored man. William. a;.'<Ml about sixty years, and also of a
eoloi-ed woman nameil Flora, ajied about forty-five year.s. wife
of William, whom he lielil as slaves by virtue of a bill of sale
liearin); date .luly 2S. l.s;5(!. The eourl held that slavery
then lin 1845) still existed in this State, and that t\u- .Major
owned William and Flora.
I'nder the laws of 18(M and 1820 mauy slaves were manu-
mitted, until the final abolition, in 1840, of slavery in this
State. Slaves were numerous here. All the old families had
dozens of them. A speeial house was provided fi>r them, on
each of the respeetive farms.
The Vreelands had their slaves' quarters in a building
near the eorner of Morris and Fourth streets. The I'osts had
theirs ou the rear of their farm, near the present corner of
I'aulison avenue and Oak street. The house still stands, re-
ino<leled. William and Flora, above referred to. oceuiiied a
small house at the eorner of Paulisou avenue and (irant
street. The house was .enioved to No. 440 Main avenue, and
is still oeenpieil by coUuvd pi-ople. Some of the farmers har-
bored their slaves in barns and buildings adjae<'nt to the
manor house: while otlurs were tlion;:luful i>Monj.'li \« allow
till m the use of the Uitihen.
O.NK l)F rilK I..\S1' S1,.\V1-: lUl.l.S OK SAI.K.
Hire is a <-iipy of a slave bill of >ali-. pioliably one of ili.-
last made in this eity: —
"Know all men by these presents that 1. .Mbert 1. .Vcker-
mau of the Township of .VeiiuaeUanonk and County of I'assaic
and State of New .lersey, for and in Consideraticui of Thirty
dollars to me in hand paid by .Vdrian Van Blareom of the
Township of .Vriiuackanuik and County of I'assair and State
of New .jersey, the reecipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, ilo
bargain and sell to the said Adrian Van Blareom and his
heirs and assigns, my servant, L>ina, a Coloured (Jirl and now
Slave to me. to have and hold the said Coloured (Jirl named
I>ina until the saiil Dina may go out free under the Law of
New Jersey entille<l an aet for the gradual abolition of Slav-
ery in New .Jersey, the said Kina was Fifteen years old the
first day of .lanuary last jiast. In witness whereof I have
hirennlo set my hand and seal this Sixteenth l>ay of Oiiober.
I'ighteen hundreil :ind thirty nine.
"Witness Present
"(Janet \'an Houleii.
■ .\lbert I. .Vekerman."
.lohn Banker .\yerigg, father of the first Maym- of this
eity, on .May i). 1,S20. by a doeiiinent executed in the presence
of two subsi'ribing witiu-sses. and duly recorded, set free his
"negro man .lack of the age of 28." Henry I. Kip likewise
manumitted his slave woman Sarah. .Tohii S. Van Winkle his
slave Kphriain and .lohn (Mit water his "negro wench Ma-
riah." These are only a few instances of tho.se wli.i lield
slaves.
.Vdvertisements of slaves for sale were very eoin-
nioii. The following are samph'S taken from a Newark paper
in 17'.l7:
"To be sold, a iiegra man and woman aged about thirty.
The man understands farming and the woman cookery anil
all kinds of household work. They will be sold separately or
together as may best suit the pui chaser. HMqiiirc ul' tlic
printers."
"To be sold, a negro man about 2.'i years idd brought up
to the farming business. He is strongly made: active: good
dis]iosition and cajiable of doing as much work perhaps as any
mail ill the stale. The price for him is only !f2.">0. Knquire
of the iirinlers."
While slaves were usually well trc.iied from motives of
poliiy. many masters were cruel, and their slaves became
runaways. When i-aiight they were usually cruelly |iunished
with rawhides. Here is a typical runaway slave advertise-
ment:—
"TEN HAKli noLLAUS KKWAKD
"Kan away last night trim the siilis.riber, a Negro man
iiMiied Frank, about 40 years of age. o feet 8 or 10 inches
high, slender made, has small legs, remarkably large feet.
stoops and hobbles very much in his walking: had on or took
with him a long brown broad cloth coat, a pair of blue plush
bre«>ches several cloth jackets some tow shirts and trowsers.
"Also ran away at same time a Negro Wench uame<l
I'hilioe (wife of said Negro maul about 40 years of age very
talkative active ami smart, had on or took with her a ilark
brown chintz gown a black calimanco quilt, some short gowns
and petty coats, besides several things she has stolen. She
also took with her her male child named Obadiah about 18
months old. but small of his age: he has a very large head
and crooked legs. Whoever secures th(> said Negroes that the
Subscriber ma.v have them again shall leceive the above re-
ward, ami reasonable charges if brought home paid by
".John Wilson
"Hackett's Town .Tuly 24 1781."
There were also white servants who were practically
slaves for a limited time. l}eing bound to work for a certain
period, and subject to forcible arrest and detention for break-
ing their service. Thomas 1 stick of Second River in Newark
advertised m The I'ennsylvani.i (gazette on .Tune 19. 173.1,
that his Irish servant man. named Owen Ward, had run away
fiom him, and after being taken up in Burlington had made
his escape. He offered forty shillings' reward for Owen, who,
it is to be hoped, was nev^r caught.
THR WHIPPINd POST .\T A('(jrA( KANONK.
The discipline of the negroes and of llic unruly element
generally was maintained by the v.-hippiug post. For petty
nijsdemeanors the law provided a iiinishnient of whipping on
the bare back in [lublic', usually at a tavern. These affairs
Usually brought a crowd, and made the tavern keeper several
dollars richer.
The Aoquackanonk whipping post was at the tavern ou
Main avenue, opjxisitc thi- church. The culprits were usually
negroes, condemned to he. ivy punishments for the most trivial
offences. The punishment was inflicted upon sentence of two
justices of the peace before whom the charge was heard.
The culiirit would be suspende<l by his thumlis while the pre-
scrilied number of lashes was .applied to his bare back. Most
of the wliii>pings were given to regular customers. .lohn
Soop, a slave owned by .lohn \'.iii Wagoner, was one of them.
He bore the lash like a iii.in, and never winced, except at
first. .\ricr .1 iiiiiiilicr of whippings he grew to despise the
h'sh, and would dame around. cxcl.Miiiiing: "Vou <an't kill
this nigger."
To make the pnuislimeiil more severe, the back of the
victim was often washed with rum after each ten lashes.
1'he usual number of lashes was from ten to fifty.
In Bergen County, however, punishments were often hor-
ribly severe, and as many as ."i(l(t laslie-i were inflicted. One
colored man. at least, is known to have died under the lash.
He was sentenced to ."lOO lashes lor alrocious assault with
intent to rob. His companion in the crime survived the TtOO
laches, but the former died after the 40(Uh. This was in 1700.
onl.v seven ,vears before the Kevolutioii. Cruel punishments for
negroes were in>t unusual in Bergen County. .V negro was
burned to death in M'.'.'i lor having threatened to kill his
leastcr. who struck him. The same punishinent was inflicted
in 1741 oil another slave who threatened his master's life and
attempted to poison a f< llow-slave, while in 1742 two negroes
vcre burned for a suspected eonsiiiracy to set seven barns on
fire. In each instance they were condemned by a hastily sum-
U'cned court of five justices and nine freeholders, a luajorit.v of
whom could convict. These ociurrences did not outlive the
Hcvolution, although the whipping post, pillory and .stocks were
not dispensed with until many years aflcrw.ird.
CHAPTER VIIL
ACQUACKANONK LANDING.
Early Commercial Supremacy and Trade With New York and West Indies — Litigation Over the
Landing — Some Early Merchants — The Ludlows' Treason and Drummond's Mistaken
Self-Sacrifice — Adrian Van Houten's Strange Visitor and His Half-Dollars.
"Beside a stream that never yet ran dry.
There stands a Town, not high advanced in fame;
The' few its buildings rais'd to please the eye.
Still this proud title it may fairly claim:
A tavern (its first requisite! is there,
A mill, a blacksmith shop, a place of prayer."
— Philip Freeman, a New Jersey poet (1768).
BEING at the head of tide-water and the threshhuld tu
hirjre regions of a wihl but rich coiuitr.v. Aciiuatkaiuiiik
was destined from its settlement to become an important
trading post. It ^^ as the port of entry for the oountiT for miles
around. Roads converged here from all directions, and the
village became the mart of this part of Northern New .lerse.v
as well as of Orange and Sullivan counties in New York State.
In the fall and spring navigation between here and New Yurk
was brisk.
The first church in this region was built here, and so was
the only school in a large territory. The Sunday-school was
perhaps the first in the State. People came here to take
passage liy water to New Y'ork and to purcliase the goods
of civilization at the stores. The stage coaches stopped here,
the mails were received and dispatched, the elections were
held here, and the whole countryside gathered here to dance
and make merry on holiday occasiuns.
Roads were first regularly laid out hereabouts in ITnT.
ard they soon extended in all directions. Over them were
hauled timber, hoop poles and barrel staves from the up-
country woods, iron ore from the mines of Morris County,
grain, hay and farm produce from Essex, Sussex and Orange,
furs from the woods of Sullivan, and later the manufactured
goods of Paterson — all bound for the fast-growing city of New
York. The oldest inhabitants of the last generation often
spoke of the time when long lines of wagons, luaded with their
wares, might be seen daily heading toward Ac(iua<kanonk
handing. To accommodate this great amount of freight, ex-
tensive docks and .storehouses were built. The fame of the
landing soon swallowed up that of the village, and for more
than a century the settlement was known in records and dt'eds
as Acqiiackanonk Landing. Then Patersou's manufacturing
growth laused it ti. lie sometimes called Paterson Landing.
This commercial supreuia<y ;.nd the landing disappeared with
the coming of the railroad, toward tlic end of ilie first h.ilr
of the century.
The land upcin which the iirin.ipal ducks were situated
was part of the property first conveyed by the patentees X"
the Reformed Church. It commenced at No. 1 Main avenue,
the entrance to the luunfy bridge, and ran I.i Kirch's lunibi>r
yard. It was at first laid rmt into "water-lots" of l(i^-2 feet
wide, ten in nimiber, in all about 1C5 feet. The land sloped
gtntly to the river, and, being easy of access, was intended
to be used by purchasers from the church for watering places
for cattle. Cattle were driven here to drink until the advent
of shipiiing. Then a new watering place was selected, south
of the present bridge, on the site of Emmons' Hotel and An-
derson's lumber yard. This change caused a long and hotly
ccntested lawsuit, which will be mentioned later.
Ailing the water-front of the old water-lots a dock was
built, which was often overfiowed. The approach was filled
in level with the dock, for its entire length, for a width of
twenty-five feet. Along the road, now Main avenue, was
erected a two-story and basement warehouse, at the north
end of which was a roadway. Subsequently this approach
was closed, and a new driveway was cut through the centre
of the building at the entrance of the bridge then spanning the
river. It is well to bear in mind that the bridge did not always
occupy its present site. The warehouse was 40x150 feet, but
could not begin to accommodate all the freight, so that the
dock itself was often piled high with inerch.andise. When
passenger traffic began, a waiting room was partitioned off
at the north end. Boats plied to and from this spot regulai-ly.
AN OI.KK.N VOVACK To PASSAIC,
The occjisional discomforts of the shoil journey are engag-
ingly described in an impersonal narrative written early in this
ccntur.v. It is more crowded with adventures than would be
thnughi possible. It reads, always in the third person: —
"Mrs, S.. with her mother, aunt, two brothers and sister,
tiMik passage on a schooner at .\ew York, at the dock near
Ciirtlandt street, for Acquackanonk I^anding. The captain
bad several other passengers. The captain started at l(l.4.j
a. m.. expecting to run up in half a day: but the wind was
trcacherons. and he was tliat day and night and the next day
and part of the night on the way. having been a half day
agriiuiicl in the mud. Meanwhile the whole party got out of
pnivisicms. and the last day there was nothing to eat.
"Mrs. S.'s sister, about Iwclvi'. and her two brothers, who
w<re growing children, sud'eri'd until the passengers broke
open a barrel of Uour. and made paste pudding and Hour cakes.
They landed finally at the dock at Acquackanonk Landing at
11 o'clock on a November night, when the tide was so high
that they had to wade a distance through the water over
tliiir shoes, having left their goods on the sch(K>ner: and as
there were no vacant accmnmodations at the landing place, and
being told it was only a 'short step' to Paterson. where they
were destined, the entire party, hungry, wet and miserable,
followed the ro;id up. through the fog and rain, the night being
.also very dark. They bail been seven weeks on the ocean,
but dill not know wli.il siifl'cring was until they ni.aile their
36
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
iiiluiicl joiiriioy. Tin- lu-xt ■) ■
wiiKon fruiii the Luiidiug."
iliiir z 1> «ilc lili>ll;;llt oil a
l.(t\<; I.ITICATION (i\ KK iiii; i.ankim;.
Tin- litUMtioLi ulliiilitl In iiliiivi- sliiiws bow tin- Imsiiicss nf
tliv l^iiiitliii): liiiil Krowii farly in iliis ii-iitury. Scvcriil nf tin-
|mt<-ntcos hail ilaiini-<l tliiit the Van Wagoner farm, wliii-h
extonil(Hl from the liriil«e to r»nlison avonne. did not rnn
di.wn to tho river, Init stopped at the road, and that the land
lielween the rond and the river was owned in eoniliioii liy
the patentees. Sunn- one. who had e.vaiiiined the \ an Wagoner
ileed, fnnnil that in the ileseriptinn of this farm the river
was not mentioned as a lioiindary. The heirs of the patentees
liMik aeiii.il possession of this strip and used it for watering
anil ilmking. The doek they erected endnred to the tinu" nf
Aliraham .Vrkernian, the greatest early merchant of this lo-
cality. With an eye to linsine.s.s. Aekermaii tried to purchase
the interests of those pretended owners in this strip. lie se-
cured two deed.s, paying two pounds to .John ,1. Vreelainl ami
Henry !■". Speer for one. and forty shillings to Halnnigh Sip
for the other.
.Vdrian Van Klariom and nilii'r heirs of .Inlin \ an W.igniier
lirnuglit suit against Walling Kip and Henry I. Kip. and the
case is extensively reported in 4 Zaiiriskie .S,">4 and 3 Dutcher
.".."1. The .iclion was limiight to reiover possession of the
wharf. The Van Blarcoms proved that -.ill of the other
original grants extended to the river. Anciently a road ran
aiross these farms ahiiig the margin of the river. As it ap-
proached the northern Imundary nf the Van Wagoner farm it
diverged from the river, leaving a narrow siriii of land, upon
which the wharf in question was liuilt. In l.^^lL'. owing, as
«as staled in evidence, to the fact that the old roail was sonie-
liines covered liy freshets, a new road was opened west of
the old one and farther from the river. The roads intersected
al.ove and lielnw. The plaintifTs claimed that the old road
was never vacated. The new road was laid out on land
foimerly enclosed li.v the Van HIarcoms. Hesnles the coinnum
wharf, the Van Klarioins hail on the river front a watering
place for catth- with a lane running to it. a bleaching ground.
and later a wharf lonuecl.-d with the farm. Almul isiiii
attempts were made l>y .Inhii 1!. I.udlow and Aliraham Acker-
man to acquire title to the wharf lot. Itelea.ses were taken
Irom various persons of their title to the laiul, snys the otiicial
reporter, hut, so far as appears, the grantors had no pretence
of title. The defendants, however, relied on adverse pos-
session hostile to that of Van Wagoner. They proved that
Ackermau liuill the wharf prior to IT',!*;, and used ami rented
it until his death in I.S2S. The Van HIarcoms, liowever, asserted
that .Vckciiuan liuilt the wharf with \"an Wagoner's consent,
ami that Van Wagom-r had the privilege of using it. and was
to receive one pound of tea a year as rent. Sulisequenlly. they
said, .Vckerman offered to hiiy the dock, hut Van Wagoner
refused.
The court, in deciding against the defendants, said:—
In Di'^-I a large tract, including the Van Wagoner farm,
was nuiveyed to a company of Ilollamlers. Kadi farm had a
front on the river. Van Wagoner had perinilted .Vckerman
and his tenants to erect a wharf on the river, and .Vckerman
and his tenants used not only the wharf, luil nearly the whole
ri\iT front of the Van WagniuT farm, including I'ost and .Vii-
dirson's duck, which 'vas pari of llii farm."
I'revioiis to this .Vlirahani Ai-kerinan. relying upon ihe
d<cds from Si|i and from \°reelanil and SpiiT to him, and
also oil the ground of adverse possession, lirnuglit an action for
trespass against Levi Slielp, second liilsli:iiid of Mrs. Van
Wagoner, for entering mi the land in dispute Ackeniinn at-
tempted to show that there had 1 ii fmin time inimemorial
••1 custom for iK-r-sniis taking huulier to AcquacUanoiik for mar-
ket to store it on the Van Wagoner frontage till ready for
shipment, and th.-it the land was also a public watering place
for cattle. Ackerman lost the case. The court held that the
right to store lumber <annot be claimed by custom, and that if
public cniiveiiience re(;uired roads to church, school, mill, mar-
ket or water, they were obtainable in a much more direct and
rational manner than by immemorial custom and usage. It was
detinitely stated that that part of the common law relating to
rights accruing by custom has not l)oen adopted in this State.
The tirst of these decisions sh.iws that several hundred feet
of docks along the river, below the county bridge, were re-
quired for shipping. There was considerable commerce carried
ou between Acqiiackanonk and the West Initios, in addition to
a general trade along the Atlantic seaboard. As many as
twent.v-Hve dilTereiit vessels were employed on the river daily
between here and New York ahuie.
TIIK l.riil.oWS AM> TUKU; TK1;a.><0.\A1!I.K TllAlii;. ,
Besides the main landing and the adjacent docks, there
were two other public landings. Due was at the foot
of Westcrvelt place and the other at the foot of the
Notch road, or Van Ilouten avenue. There was also in Gar-
Held a dock called Peck Hook Ijandiiig. which was occasionally
used by the farmers of Saddle River and I.odi townships.
The Westervelt jilace dock extended to Aycrigg avenue. A
large storehouse stood ou the line of Westervelt place. It was
used for storing freight brought from up country. This was
luiiicipally from the mines in Morris and Sussex counties.
The carting was done by Cornelius V. ('. and .lohn Ludlow,
two brothers, who lived in the house now used as the I'agoda
Hotel, 'niey carted iron, ran a line of freight lioats to New-
York and did a large general store Imsiness. besides oiierating
considerably in real estate.
One of their biggest customers for a while, in the war of
J812, was the British (Jovernment. which Ihi'ough them ob-
laiiied cannon made at IJingwood. above Pompton. They car-
ried on this business for quite a while, until the Government
learned of it. confiscated their boats and broke up their busi-
ness. The large number of mules employed by the Ludlows
in their various enterprises actually starved to death, because
Ihe owners could not sell them, and were too mean to feed
them. This might have been a story invented by the patriotic
villagers, who hated the LiuUows for their Toryism, were it
not for other anecdotes which have been handed down.
The point nf one ilepends on the fact that in those days no
licenses were required to dispense Hqiiors, which were ordin;iry
cmiimodities. Kvciy general store was also a dramshop, .-uid
IJichard Ludlow was the dispenser of tho rum. which was Ihe
lavorite drink. Spirits were then sold at three I'euts a glass.
It seems that Ludlow- had only one glass for his bibiihius cus-
tomers. This was small, and its stein was brnken, so that it
would not stand up, and had to be held when being tilled.
Liulow was always observed to hold his rather large thumb on
the inside of the glass when tilling it from the spigot. When he
handed it to his eiLstomer and removed ills tlMimb. the glass
would be only two-thirds full.
The Ludlows did not liiially prosper. They were sold out
by the Sheriff and became poor nun. Cornelius removed to
Long Island, where he died, liichard lived here until his death
ill ISliO. his wif". Klizabelh, surviving until IS'Jil.
The store business of the Ludlows w-as continued on a
nmch sinaUer scale by Adolph and Henry \V. Van Winkle,
brothers of Kdgar W. Van Winkle, a prominent lawyer in New-
York .seventy ye:irs ago. They kept store in the old Ludlow
wandiou.se on the dock. Henry was a jolly fellow, full of
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
37
ji-sls iinil slorics. niiil tii> I'oinl nl' pi-Mclirjil .inkcs fur i1h> (.'imxI
of his biisiiii'ss. Thi- brotluTs smin roiiiiil llint more ut tlu-ir
(■ii>ti>iiu'rs runic fur iiiiuiscmcnt than fiii' Irado. They put up
the shntti'is. .iiiil I'assaii- Hfitlj,'i''s cuiiinirriial hisiuiy :iliriipll.v
ci a sod.
In rally days the Van Uoiilcii avi'ime dock, which iicvoi-
luiaiiic piipuhif. was used l.y Anion A. Van Hoiitcn in con-
ncitioii with his stipi-c oil iho noiihwcst coiiicr of the River and
N'otcli roads. Van lloutci hoii;.'hl his store [n-operty from Cor-
neUus Sip. He lived opposite, in the honiestead built by .loliii
K. Lnillow. Van llonteii's store made money, his location
beilif; a u'ood oiu-. \'.:ii llonten avenue is the road which runs
to the Cnai Noich. and was for many years the main artery
of tr.'ivi'l from ilio l.aiidini; to the back country. Old residents
111 claro ilial lliey have seen doziMs of teams in line on this
road ou the way to tlie I>;iiidiug. ami that before their time
the business was much ;;reater. Willi the opeiiiniL; of other and
iiKU'e direct roads, howi'ver, the tratlic mvw irradually smaller,
until it (vased. and \'a:i Iloutcu retired from luisiucss. About
this lime ilic railroad was put in operation. !t tapped the up-
country lr:ole iif the I.aiidiuf; at its sources. The teams did not
arrive iu such uiiuibrrs. The vessels were not able to compete
with the sieam road, and after an attempt of a dozen years
were w illidnnvu fr mi the rivi r. 'IMie fault was not so much
>\ith river iiavi^'atiou as willi ilie slow and expensive haul
over the lonj; hijihways.
SOME or Tin: \ ii.i.aci; mkuciiaxts.
"Sprung from a race that long had tilled the soil.
And first disrobed it of its native trees.
He wished to heir iheir lands, but not their toil.
And thought the ploughman's life no life of ease."
Some of the early storekee|iers at the Lauding were iu-
terestiuf.' .-lui!. in some cases, romantic characters. The first of
tile line was .l.ilin Low. who came here from Belleville about
iT.'ll. pHirhased the iirupi'riy adjoinius the T^anding on the
iiorlli mow tile I'.iiili Lumber ('oiiipaiiy's y.irdl. and erected
a frame building. .\ small, one-story brick house, more recently
known as Kip's store, now stands on the site. The Imw building
stood fifteen feet back from Main avenue and fronted on the
driveway to the Lauding. It was the only store here for many
years, ami did a big business. Alioiii the time Low was reaily
lor business the liridge was built, .idjoiniug the store on the
north, and giving it a very ailvanlageoiis position.
i;i>r.i:iri i>i;r.\i mumi s koman ric iiisTOltY.
liobert l>riimmoiid succeeded .lohn Low in the business,
and was conducting it on the memorable night of November
21, 177(j. when Washington passed tlirongli tlic place and oc-
cupied a house just across the street.
I Iruiiinaiiiil was one of tlie most interesting of the lievolu-
lioiiary citiz mis of this place, and his life is romantic. He
was a grandson of Uobert Druinmoiid. who, iiy reason of per-
secution in Scotland iu the reign of .lames 11. came to New
York, where he was Sheriff in 171o-14. He afterward resided
in Elizabeth. His first wife was the daughter of .lames Evett
of St. Botoliih. Rishopsgate, London. She died iu 1712-13,
His second wife was Anne, widow of Hich.ud Hall of New-
York. Her stepfather was Richard Noel. It ibert the younger
was born here, in a house that stood in what is now Speer's
Park. Hrummoud was a storekeeper, a shipowner, and mined
iron ore in the I'oiupton, Ringwood and other mines. He had
an interest of some kind in nearly every inm mine iu New
.lersey and in some iu N.'W York and Pennsylvania.
When the Revolutionary war broke out he remained loyal
to the ("rown and became a decided Tory. He was iustru-
iiieul.al in recruiting llie Se< 1 Haltalion of New .Jersey
Loyalists, which fought for King (ieorge. and of w hieh he
was ma,ior. Saliiiii''s "History of the Loyalists of ihi. Itevo-
lution" says:-
"Roliert Drnminond. .Major in 2il Battalion of .New .ler.sey
Loyalists. Of this Battalion upwards of :;IM> men were his
neighbors enlisted under his intlueiice and persuasion. .V large
proportion of them fell viitiins to the climate oi South Caro-
lina, (ieorgia, etc.. or pciishe.l in battle."
New .Tersey Voliiiiti'ers iLoyalistsl, Stryker. sa.\s; -
"l''ew men did more to make (ieiieral Skinner's Brigade a
nnim*rical success than Rtdierl Druinmond. He spent most
of the Kail of 177l'> recruiting for thi' Volunteers, was very
suceessfni. and was made Major of tin- Third it.ittalion on No-
vember 211. 17711. and in 17.S2 and 17.s:j of tliL- Seioiid Bat-
talion. He was ill service during the whole war. A large
number of the men enlisted by him fell victims to fever ill the
southern campaign. He died in the Chelsea Hospital ilislrict of
London and was buried in St. Luke's churchyard February
.">. 17.*<!». Major Uriimneinil before the war lived at Acqnacka-
nonk Landing, now Passaic. Ni-w .Jersey, and was a merchant
and skiiiper. He married April 1. 17."i!t. .Jennie, daughter of
Klias \"rcelaiid. A i)ortr.iit of him is still extant, taken in Lon-
don in 17S4. which represents him in the uniform of a liritish
officer, scarlet coat, bine facings and bnfT vest,
""He was a member of the fJener.il Assembly of the Prov-
ince '>f -New .Jersey from 1770 to 1774. a deiuity to the Pro-
vincial Congress in .\Li.v, 177.". and again in October and iu
.Tanuar.v and .June. 177(>. On .July 2, ]77(>, he voted against
the adoption of the Constitution of the stale. Tn 177.'' his prop-
erty was all confiscated."
He owned the properly where lis store stoo<l. but seems
to have abandoned the business at the beginning of the war,
with his other possessions, and never returned to resume them.
Driininiond was at least sincere in his Toryism. He gave up
wealth and died poor.
He had five chiililren. born here and b.ijitized iu the
old church between 17(i') and I'ebrnary. 177."'>. Of these, two
died young and are buried in the old churchyard. Mary die<l
October II. 17(il. only five months old. Sarah ilied Octolier 2!).
1772. ageil I'lair years and nine months. Their mother, who
remained in Pass.aic. and iliid here about 171HI. was buried be-
side her children, hut has no tombstone. The family has be-
come exliucl, as the onl.v grandchildren who survived eliilil-
linoil died childless about twent.v years ago.
It is recorded that among his property confiscated in 177.S
was .1 farm of t;3 acres, near I'ompton. It is also on record that
in 17!l.''> the Surrogate of Essex Connt.v appointed Peti'r .\llen
guardian of Klias. only son of Robert Druinmond.
Another .John Low succeeded Krummond at the store near
111.' Landing. He was the sou of Cornelius Low- of Belleville,
ai.d seems to have purchased the Oruinmond property, and
conducted the store with jiidtit until 17.'<5. when he sold it to
Samuel Seeley of New York. Seelcy experimented with conn-
try trade unsuccessfully for five years, and then scdd out to
Abraham .Vckerman. who has already bee n .ilhided to as the
prince of mercli;inls in this localit.v.
■I'.UO.M' A(Ki:i;.\lA.\ AMI HIS SLCCESS,
•"Brom" Ackerman, as he was known, was born on the
Polifiy road, in Bergen County, in ]7."')2, in an old house which
stood on the east side at the foot of the hill, one hundreil yards
east of the present dwelling ot Abraham E. .\ckerman. With
little means, but in the prime of life and iH)S.sessed of an in-
d.omitable will, he came here, and by ir.diistry and frugality
became rich. His wealth was in those days considered enor-
mous. Like the early Astors in New Y'ork he saw that there
was money in land, and bought right and left. He bought for
investment rathi'r th.in speculation, ami died a great land-
owner. He lived at first in the nrummond house, in which he
had his store, but as soon as he began to prosper bought the
sione house which stood near the new Young Men's Christian
38
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Aiisiic-iatioii Imililiii!.'. It wiis li'? "liu iTertcd a lirick Imililiii^'
cm tin- Kitf of rlic old stiirc house. It siill stiiiuls.
His bu»iiui*s inori-asiiitr. and tlie looation of tlit- bridge
liaviug Iteen iiio»-e(l fiirtlier soiitii. he took iWSKCssioii of the
land lyiiiK alone the river, at alKiiit the eiitninee to the present
lirid«e. Here lie ereeti-d a dwellinB and Imildint:. in whii-li
he coudiietetl another store. For a few years John M. Kyer-
son was his |iarlner. and tinally he sol 1 out to him. .\t his
death .lohn Kil" [nirehased the tirst naniiil property and store.
.Vckernian had as a i->nipetilor Koliert Colfax, who soon moved
to Tuniptoa. where he prospered liettir than here. From his
family diiioendiMl Sehiiyler t'ldfa.x. Viee-rresideut of the United
States under Grant.
Aekerman Imllt e.Ktensive doeks to aeeoinmo»late his line
f.t hoats riiiiiiini: to New York. At one time or another he
owned nearly .ill the land lielween I'assaie and Madison
streets, the canal and (Jrove street. l«-sides il<K-k lots aloii;; the
river, land in I'atersoii and several farms. He loaneil a di-al of
money on iiiortKace. He was the leader of the faetioii that
seceded from the "Old First" riiiirch in ISi^i. and at his own
expense erected for them a building on his o»vn land. Besides
civiiiK them the deed, he contriliute<l generously until his
death, which occurred on Feliruary 28. l.SiS. ten days after
that of his friend and pastor. Rev. Peter I). FriK-ligh. who had
loinmilted stiii-iile.
Aekerman wis an unsiM-ialile man and had few friends.
I'erhaps because of ji aloiisy i.f his business success, he hail
itiaiiy enemies. He held his own with a high hand and died a
rich man.
AN oil' II-ME STOKE HH.I..
.VcUerniaii's foiiiier partner. K.versnn. took Aaron Van Hou-
Icii into the busim-ss. The following is a c-opy of an original
bill in the poss.-ssiou of Mr. W. W. Scott, which is interesting
as showing the high prices of dry giMnls in the early days of
manufacturing:
.Mr. Jeremiah Busklrk To kyerson a- Vim Ilnutea. Dr.
IS13 £■ S. D.
June 25 To H liush. lime 'a. Spirits 6d
July 14 " 1 soup diah as. Dog plates -Is. 6d.
" washbowl
Nov. 21' " 1 bush, salt lis. Spirits 6d.
r>ec. 1 " ■/% bush, salt
Dee. 24 " ~\ yds. calico ft 4s. 3d.
" s yds. black muslin at 6s, 6d.
" 4 skeins silk
" 2H lb. sugar
1814
Jan. 2 "3 yds. check <fi Ss.
Mch. 19 " freight. 3 loads House ft Ss.
June 8 " freight 1 barrel soap
June 25 " freight im Hunches straw
" I Side board Ss. Clock Ss.
" Looking glass 2s. 1 chest Is.
It will lie noticfd that spirits and furniture were cheap,
wliih- sugar was selliuc: at. nearly )il! cents a pound.
.lohn Kip was succeeded by his .sons. Nicholas and Walling,
who eontinueil the business until the death of Nicholas, some
tweiity-liv<- yc-ars ago. Uyerson and \'aii Houtcn sohl out to
I'eter .lackson.
.lackson had push and enterprise, but lackeil the saving trait.
His tirst purchase was ihe old Landing, upon which he c-recled
a row of frame buildings. .Vt oiic> end of thi> row. at the
entrance to the brhlge, he had his store. He ran boats to
N( w York. Not content with village proiverty. he iHiiight large
farms, which he cultivated. iM-sides dealing in lumber.
It was he who erec-led the large stcu.e hcuise known for
vears as Hv.tsoii's Hi>lel. siuilh of the ehnrc-li. In this house
7
6
9
1
11
6
3
C
0
1
11
0
2
12
V
4
0
3
12
0
1
4
0
1
4
(1
1
6
8
0
14
0
3
0
he livc-d in generous style. The frout. now occupied by Imrse
sheds, was laid out as a garden and lawn, which were his
pride and the -nvy of the neighborhood. A panic swept away
all he had. and he left Passaic a poor man, going to Newark
in 1830. where he died. Besides his Passaic possessions, he lost
a store and grist mill at Ponipton.
A son of Peter .lackson was .Tohn P. Jackson, born here.
He became president of the I'nited Kailways of New .Icrsey
(the Pennsylvania I and the c-levere.st railroad man in the
eountr.v. He began life in his father's store. studiiMl law with
Theodore Freylinghuysc-n of Newark (who ran for Vic-e-Presi-
dent with Henry Clay); was an Assemblyman from ICssex
County and City Clerk of Newark.
Among Peter's distinguished grandchildren were F. Wol-
cott Jackson, superintendent of the United IJailways of New
Jersey: (Jeni»ral Jciseph Jac-ksoii and SiluiylcT B. .Taiksiin.
Speaker of the New Jersey Assenilily.
Peter .lackson was the Hrst rc'gularly appointed postmaster
for Acquackanonk, receiving his c-oininission in 1814.
Andrew Parsons purc-hased his property here at sheriff's
sale, in 1830, and did business until he sold out. in 1840, to
Kic-hard Mcjrrell and .lolin .\. l*i>st. who were succecHled by
Post and David I. AndcTson. I'liey soon abandoned store-
keeping, and started the Inniber liusiness, s^ill carried on by
the Ander.son Lumber Conipauy. The partiu'rs prospered and
died rich men. Ric-hard Morrc'll's son, of the same name,
founded years afterward Canipbcll. .Morrell it Co.. of wliicb
c-orporation he is iiresident.
Adolph Van Winkle and J;uiies Brinkcrhoff also bail a
store at the bridge.
Abraham Zabriskie. who lived on the site of (iarfnlil. kept
store on lower Main avenue, had a grist mill on Ihe Saddle
Itiver. where the (Jarlield Woolen Company's mill now stands,
and ran a line of boats to New Y'ork. He was snccessful until
he tried, unaided, to improve the navigation of the rivc^r. The
chief ob.stade to free navigation then, ami now, is a reef at
Uelawanna, Zabriskie spent forty thousand dollars in trying
to remove this, all to no puri)ose. This ruined him.
The memory of .Vdriau Van Ilouten is embalmed in an
ipleresting story. Van Ilouten kept a store that stood in the
certre of Main avenue as at present laid out, at the corner of
Prospect street. This vicinity was known as Slarket Sciuare.
Van Houten lived in a stone house next to his store. One
day a white man bongln some crackers and cheese for lunch,
and while (-.■iting displayed enough 50-eent silver pieces to
c^vver the counter. He droi>|)ed one. An old woman picked one
up. and was told she might keep it. The stranger left and
went to Ihe tavern, a short distance below, where he promptly
got drunk. After Van Honteu's store was closed, he came to
the storekeeper's house and asked for a night's lodgings, for
whic-h he offered to pa.v well. It was a c'old and stormy night
in midwinter, and he begged so pitcx)tisl.v that he was taken
in. Toward morning Van Houten was aroused by loud knock-
ing at the door. It provt^l to be the Sheriff of Susse.x County
looking for the man that robbed the Newton bank, who was
in the honse. He was let in and went to the stranger's room,
but found it empty. The- occupani had left hastily.
Mcdauclhon S. Wic-kwaiv. schoolmaster of the district, was
another storekeeper and lumber dealer, outside of his school
heurs. In spite of this combinatiiui of oceupaticuis, he did not
prosiier. He is buried in the old churchyard. Cornelius Vree-
hiiid was another unsuccessful mi<rchaut with a store, just
north of the Revolutionary bridge.
Isaac I. Vauderbec-k and William L. Andruss did business
upon the site of Speer's wine warehouse cm Main avenue. The
business dici not pay enough for both, so .Andruss withdrew to
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
39
iilu'ii ;i l.uiiii. \':nhli'ilprik rinii luiiril il iinlil In' was dci-tcil
slii'iirt'. ill 1S4S. I'liiiii'l 10(U:ill liiicl a slmc I'iirlluT up llic
siri'ct iiiiil D.-ivid ('.iiiiiiIh'II liiiil kiic on Miirkct S(iiiair.
Aiioilii T 111 lli(> I'jirly stoi-i'ki-'iH'i-s was .lames Sta^K. >il tl'f
iiiii^i- of Uiiwc avrimc a;ul I'rijspi'ct stl'ci-t. All iiltl resilient
has said thai he has I'leinieiitly seen "C'css," as he was ealleil,
selling smifl 1i> the Tieyni weiiehes. who nseil large unaiitities
of it upon tlii'ir teelh. ■.vhile some of them ale it. "(.'oss" woiilil
pill a pi'iiny mi one seale ami the siiiifT mi the other. ;;ivin):
tluiii ihe weivhl of llie liin eoppi r eoin as a pennyworth.
Half a eeimiry ai;o I'rospeet street wa^ tiuown as "the
'laek lane." in conirailisiinetion to "the front lane." Main ave-
nue. 1 1 was iisiil piineipally liy the f.iniiers. Init was a jiri'al
linsine>> s'reci. imi. A seleei si-liool stucil just north of I'arl;
plai-e. Saninel \ an Sana liail a I'aliniel maker's shop a liltle
helow. while neail>' oppo<ii( il. W . ( 'mienhovi'ii. the seximi.
Iiail liis tailor's ~hop. .lolin Nntlev had a liakery mi the e.isl
side, wlime I'diiiiii^rlon avi'imc now is. .Vt the eorner of the
raili'o.ad. on ilu' easi. was ilic Imielier sho|i of William I.
Spe.ir. who r.Mii proli.ilily the lirst ilcdivry wa;.'oiis in town to
-npply his eminlry iiistmners. 'I'hen eanie the Van Honteii
and Cainpliell stores at .Market Sipiare. .V wheelwright shop
stf" d for years at the foot of rrosp.eet street, lietween M.iiii
avenue and the river, adjoiiiir.ii: a croup of three or four houses
wliieh aeipiireil the iiinne of SeliastoiMil during; the C'rimenii
war. .[list lielow was an idd lilneksinith shop. .Vliaehed to the
house next to the ohi school was the shop of .John I. Spear, the
lohlder, of whom the iirehins were in sneh inorlnl dread that
the sehoolmaster would send nnriily scholars to him for a
scidilim;.
Olil nieinoraiida have preserved the names of somi' of the
iraft run liy .Veijiiaekanonk merchants on the river. Spi'cimeiis
of the owners' tastes are as follows: Olive nraneli. Wadswortli,
Kxiierinieiit. I'roprietor. (Jilpiii, Belleville, (,'ontideiici-, IliKh-
l.ind Cliii'f. I.ocli. !lMi.'h Koltoii and I/aiira Keen.
.\ Kill tor .ci.il, dated May .'!. 1.S4-J. shows that I^ackawaniia
lump coal was then lieiiit; sold hy the Ilelaware and Hudson
t'oal (,'oinpany for $.'{.7.") a Ion.
Eastern View of Acquachanonck.
Jiarhcr vV lIuwe-lMt).
CHAPTER IX.
THE TAVERN AND THE STAGE COACH.
Two Features of Colonial Life Which Vanished with the Coming: of the Railroad — First Tavern Was on
Property Owned by the Church — The Stage Lines Running
To and Through Acquackanonk.
Is this Ihe place where Chloi^ slept
In downy beds of blue and green?
Dame Nature here no vigils Itept,
Xo cold unfeoliiiK guards were seen,
The landlord, goug'd in either eye.
Here drains his bottle to the dregs.
Or borrows Susan's pipe while she
Prepares the bacon and the eggs.
THE coinlitioiis of travt'l in the early days of AcqiiacUa-
iiDiik iii.'Kle a tiivern sc necessary that the first tavern
w.is kept ',n property lieloneiiiR to the ehuri-h. It was
located west of Main avenue, on tlie hillside overlookin;; the
Kevolutionar.v liridu'e. and was under Ihe very shadow of Ihe
church.
Origin.nll.v it was desis;ned as a resliiiL' place, where wor-
shippers ndio came a Ions distance to church could warm them-
sdves and replenish their foot-stoves with live emhers from a
wood tire kept burning for tiiat pnrpnse. 'J'he place was at
first called the Noon-Honse.
The country being thinly settled and Ihe roads poor, it
took hours of travel for some of the members to set to church.
Hence, in the earliest days, services were held morning and
afternoon, with au hour's intermission for lunch. Those from
a long distance and without close friends in the village re-
paired to the Noon-House to eat lunch, read from their Bibles
and discuss religious and pridiably other topics. The church
was not heateil, si> that it became neccsary to resort here to
narm up. It was the duty of the stxton oc the minister's
hired man to keep a good fire all day Surday. He started it
early in the morning, so as to have the place heated as early
as 7 o'clock in the morning, because the service usually com-
menced at S or 0. lasting till noon. The luen were not pio-
hibited from warming themselves at the Noon-Honse with
fluids stronger than tea or coffee. When the church was first
heated, the Noon-House became a public tavern.
.lust who was the first tavernkeeper is unknown. Alioiit
the middle of the last century it is recorded that the Free-
holders met at the house of Mr. Blanchard. which is presumed
to have been this place. The next landlord we find mention
of is Mr. \'an Winkle, who was well known throughout the
country. Under him the pla<e became famous for balls and
public gatherings. It was the only tavern for luiles around.
It was headquarters fnr I.urd Stirling duiii g the Revolutionary
war, and ^S■ashington undoubtedly was a guest there on his
visit to Acquackanonk.
The slaves were frequent visitors, nnd, having no money, as
a rule, they paid for their drinks in farm produce. One day.
so the story goes, during a violent thunderstorm the root of
the tavern was blown off. exposing the great stores of grain
and vegetables in the garret. This time the darkies got nil
the rum they wanted, as it was their labor that replaced the
roof.
V'nn Winkle finally tired of the busim ss, and advertised the
property for sale as follows: —
"FOU SALE. The house and store adjoining where the
subscriber lives, bemg pleasantly situated near the church at
AcquackanonI;, a most excellent stand for a trader, mechanic
or tavern-keeper, lying near the head of navigation of the Pas-
saic, and on the much frequented road from Newark to I'ater-
sou. Marinus Van Winkle."
This advertisement appeared in the New .Tersey and New
York papers in 1791!. At that time Van Winkle did not own
the lu'operty, but had a lease of it from the church. He did
not get a purchaser, and, being obliged to remain there, he
closed up the store he had been running, and devoted himself
to his tavern untU he sold out, in the spring of 171(8. He was
well on in years then, for he was a private in Major Mc-
Konald's company in the French war of 1701. He died April
'28, 18(12, aged SB years. Tlie purchaser of the tavern was a
relative. Cornelius Van Winkle, who, on May 1 of that year,
obtained a deed for the tavern, the old parsonage ad-
joining, known as Washington's headquarters, and the Land-
ing itself, which up to this time had been owned by the church.
He paid £.")!» for the entire properly, and on May 1. 1813, sold
it to Peter .lackson for ."Sli..")!"), whi.h would be the ei|uivalent
of about i:i.:!.'i(l.
The house spoken of as Washington's headquarters adjoined
the tavern on the south, to which it was an annex, and the
two were connected by a gallery on the second floor. It was
originally the church ))arsonage, and was used as such from
1i;'.i;', 1.1 17:'..-i. when thi> church erected a new parsonage near
.Market Square, and subsecinently purchased the house at the
northwest corner of I^exington avenue anil .lackson street, now
Dr. (i. .1. Van Schott's home. The original parsonage and the
tavern were destroyed by fire in 1.S77. much to the regret of all.
For years the tavein was kept by one Bant.t. and by his
iiiiue was familiarly known. Its favorite title, however, was
always "The Tap-House on the Hill." Among the landlords
of its palmy latter days were Colonel Winans, whose son was
a i-onstable here; Cornelius Iluyler. Samuel and Elijah Britton
and Uriah Van Riper. Van Riper had kept the old White
Horse tavern, below the hill aiul farther up the main street.
He sold out to William L. Audruss at a good round sum, and
immediately removed to the Tai)-House, boasting that he would
take his old customers with him. In this he was mistaken,
however, and his new venture proved disastrous. He was suc-
ceeded by his son-in-law, John Hedden. who also failed, and
the old tavern was closed forever, after being used for lliat
purpose for l.iO years.
42
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
TliiTvafHT the liarr.x>iii was used for relifrioiisi purposes
Riucessively by the Millerites and the Methodist. Baptist and
Presbyterian eontTCKations. which date their inception from
this old liarrooni.
Another tavern, almost equally famous, was the White
Horse tavern, latterly known as the Eutaw House. This
place, which i.s still used as a tavern, though not regularly
t) ranted of late, was o|)ened prior to the Revolution. It was
the better patronized of the two, and was the re;.'ular stopping
pinee for the stage coach. Being near the stores and docks, it
was well favored. It is told that the original founder, name
not presen-ed, went to the battle of Monmouth with four bottles
of aiiplejack in his |K'cket. One of them was so sipiarely
struck by a ball that glass and liiiuor were scattered through-
out his system, and he died literally full of good spirits. His
son took the business, made money, and extended it so as to
have the large, low. rambling wooden buililiiig now standing.
He caught mu<-h of the river trade, being near the boat land-
ing. A Newark man. the ne.xt owner, christened it The Last
Century, the present ono then being unknown. It was well
ki:own in the coaching trade, for he made a bid for the custom.
Siiin it became known siniiily as The Century Hou.se. a name
which slill survives. -V little later it became miLmmI up in a
LUCAS' MANSION HOUSE.
scandal. A pillar of a Presbyterian church was charge<l with
having been .seen by his minister emerging from its iloors
iifler '.I o'clork at night in company with two tidillers. most
ungodly men. the thriH" stirring the peaei'ful n:r with most un-
seemly song. The records of the sub.sequont trial are still
preserved by a Palerson family. No first-elass ancient tavern
should be without a ghost. The old place had one. but the
« l;y and wherefore are vagtn' Henj.'imin Kor.-e and Criali Van
Itipt'r. spoken of above, were tavern ke<'pers here.
Here it was that fur many yc-irs William I.. Andruss en-
ttrtained the public. Kvery afterniHin in pleasant weather he
had as lallers Charlies Danforlli. of locomotive fame: .lohn
Colt, the inventor of the revolver; the In'e .Tudge .Tidm Hopper,
Chief .Tustiee Hornblower, former fiovernor William S. Pen-
nington and other prominent uumi from Palerson. who rode
ilown almost daily on hor.udinck.
One ilay. .ifler taking his usual nip. tiovernor Pennington
asked Mr. Andrus.s where he got that good whiskey, as it
was the bi'st he had evi r tasti'd. Mr. .Vndruss lold him.
"What!" Slid the tlovernor. "ilo you mean to say you paj"
them their prices? How do you afford to keep it?"
".Inst to catch such men as you and the Chief .Justice,"
replied Mr. Andruss.
-Vfterwiril the place passed through luany hands. A man
named Francis, then old Colonel Simmons, the Widow Smith
and .lames Oibbons of Palerson. brother of .\ustin tiibbons.
once a noted pugilist, all had il. .\ young man named Shanley
g:;ve concerts there, at which young women sang, and the
Kxcise Board took away his license. Others have tried busi-
ness there since, but it has been vacant some time now. It
is the oldest tavern in th ■ county, but it seems donbtful if it
will be opaued again.
During the revolution a hotel was kept in the house later
o<cupied by Dr. Scudder at the Bridge. It was owjied by the
Widow .McNeil, whose husband, Daniel, had been killed early
in the w:'.r. In 1773 McNeil had given a mortgage upon the
piop.Tly. including the hotel, to Nicholas .T. Itoosevelt, the
grealgrandfalher of the present (Jovemor of New York. The
loMise is indicated on a map of the region made at that time.
It was never )>rominent or successful, and Koosevelt foreclosed
on his mortgage.
A tavern which e>isted but for a few years was estab-
lished by Thomas Linford on Bloomfield avenue, in what is
now known as the Kastell house. It did not pay, and he went
Wl'St.
.\boul the lime the Erie Uailroad commenced business the
raib-.Kiil di-pol stood immediately in front of the Peoples Bank
loiilding .111 .Main avenue, between Passaic street and Park
pl.ice. Ill this Imilding Corneli.is Huyler opened a saloon
ai.d luiuh room, but busiaess was poor, and he became ticket
agent. The station was at one time known as Huyler's be-
cause of this.
There were no other taverns until mole recent days, when
I hey became nunu'ro'is enough.
It is astonishing to tii;d in reading old records and docii-
iiieiits what large (luantities of li(iiior were used, and upon all
occasions, too, eve.i religious. Some will be more particularly
r'lentioned hereafter.
Froui an jld book of tavern ac counts kept early iu the
las' century in this State we find that cider .sold for a shilling
a pint, beer for six cents a mug and a gill of sjiirits for three
cents.
On Marili 2!). 1781. the follo.ving rates were established
by the Conn of t^uarter Sessions for regulating taveruUeeper.s'
charges: —
A dinner extraordinary
Coinnion do
Breakfast
Supper extraordinary
Common <lo
1 (Jill of good West India Ituin
Quart (JimmI Cider
t^uart (Jood Beer
Night's lodging
Good fresh hay for horse i)er night
Common salt hay for horse per night
Good pasture for horse per night
I Quart Oats and other .irain in proportion.
£. s. d.
. 2 (i
tl
0
9
0
G
<5
2t4
TIIK STAGK COACH Tll.\ r WKNT WITH I UK TAV-
ki;n.
'I'liei-e passed out of sight, witli the old village taverns the
stage i'o:icli,',s. which in antc-v.ulroad days kept up communica-
tion with neighboring towns. Their fate is intimately con-
nected, because the taverns were the starting .ind stopping
jdaces for the stages.
Travel to and from New York by road, before the open-
ing of the Paterson and New York Plank Uoad lour Main
avenuel. in l.Slo. was by way of Newark. More than one line
of stages ran from t'ater.son through Acquackanonk to New-
aik. One line rau direct to Paulus Hook by way of Belle-
ville, where the river was crossed by a ferry, and thence over
the meailow road, .\nollier line went onl.v to Newark, where
pi'sseugers were transferred at the old city tavern to the
UMuy slajres running to Powles (Paulus) Hoid; ami other points.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
43
Iji 177 1 AliiMiM (Jiiilwiu luvL'MU 111 rua .-i slii;.'c Iwicc a wrrk
Iroiii I'al 'rsoii to I'aiiliis IIouU. wliiili was aiiimiUKi'iI as
I'olluwri: —
"This is to ariiuaint tlic ii'ilili.- ilial llirrc is a slajio
watifioii fivii..Hl to go from the liousi- of Aliialiaiii (JiHhviii,
mar ilic CJroat Falls, to I'owU's Hook, tliiotigli SclmykT's
Swamp, Iwiio a woek — ou iliimlays ami Thmsilavs; to set
out oil t'vi'i-y Momlaj", at S o'llock in I In' inoriiiiig. ami return
thu iR'Xt ilay at Ion o'clock in tlio morning from I'owlcs Ilook
lo said (iiilwin's ami likewise on Saturdays & I'Vidays at the
aforesaid hours. The [rice of the stage is two shillings and
ninepence up or down. Uy this road the nistance from the
l'"alls to I'owU'S Hook is only ]".! miles."
(ioihvin rail this stage in my years.
Noah Sexton was the iie.\t man to estalilish a line, which
ran twice a week to Hoboken ferry over the old route. I'pon
the opening of the I'lauk Itoad he adopted that ruiile. wliirli
was three miles shorter, and eiialiled him lo make the riuiiid
trip in one day. The I'lank Koad liecame the route for New
Verk travel, and I'oter Sloat ami Samuel I'ope of I'.-iterson
ran stages to Hoboken daily. The coming of tlie railroad
crippled business ou the Plank Itoad. .■iiid it was imt long bc-
fisro passengers deserted it entirely for the railroad. The
fi eight and express business was carried on. however, until
till- last of the old lilies, Biiiila's Passaic and New York Ex-
press, gave up the gliust, in 1SC>4.
A stage line between AcqiUK'kaiioiik and .Newark continued
its trills for several years after the railroail was opened.
The old stage coaches hereabouts were ordinary box wagons
without springs. In fair weather they were uncovered, nud
for storms a teuiiiorary top was made of tanvas, supported
by hoop pedes. The dropping of a linchpin and the breaking
of a woollen axle were freiiueut occurrences. A mud bath
was something to be expected. The roads at the best were
dusty and rough, full of holes and deep ruts, while in the
spring tlii-y were so dee|) with mud as to be all but im-
passable. The men travelers were expected to walk and help
the team through the hard places, while the women sat as
still as the jolting would permit.
The following is a copy of an old stage notice: —
■'.Newark and Paterson Stage
new -Vrrangements
'.\ ciiacli will hereafter leave Paterson Landing every
da,\ .11 half iiast .S o'clock or as soon as the stage and cars
arrive friiii Paterson. Fare •i~l/i cents.
",Toliii Fine, Prop."
This stage ran between R.verson's hotel and Newark. It
was contemporaneous with another line of stages run to New
Virk. and was iiiaiiaged b.v Patrick Coughlin.
THE RYEHSDN HOTEL.
CHAPTER X.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The Highway Known as Main Avenue, Prospect Street and Lexington Avenue, the First Regularly Sur-
veyed Road— The First Bridge and the Bridge That Took Eleven Years to Build.
PI!i;\'l«trs to 170" there wi'tv no regularly laid out roads
ill tills vieiiiily, tlieii the northern end of E^sex Connty.
There vus a road to Newark, hut it was merely an
ainiilitiiHl Indian path, rarely used by a vehiele. The white
man needed roads, and the road now variously known as
Itiver Drive, lower Main avenue, Prospcet street, Lexington
avenue, Dundee Drive and Weasel road, was laid out to con-
nect Aequaekanonk with Newark. I'atcrson and rompton.
The manner of its laying out is rei-orded in the return of the
St rveyors of Highways tiled in the Essex County Clerk's
olHee.
From "I'rovince of East .lersiy: —
Book A of Koad Records."
I'age 11. in Pissex County Clerk's Otlice.
"Highways laid out hy the lonimissioners in .Ni-wark 1 17071
"Iteginiiiiig at the iioith eml of Newark and running to
Uiickiiiiackanong as the path now runs, thence, along by the
north end of IIocki|iiackanong Meeting House near .Mannasses
land to the southwest corner of .lohn Markelson's,* thence
np to the .-ear of Jacob and .Tohn Mackelscns land on the north
side of Ma<k:-lsons. to a white oak standing by a fence, thence
liy a ro« oi marked trii's as the path runs to rompton.
"And whereas Mr. .John Hradbury of Ilockiiuackanong,
was at a <-onsiderab!e charge in making of a bridge on the
Highways near his house, before the ways were laid out
and chared. !ie therefore desires that the making anil re-
pairing >f the ilplier works of saiil briilgi' bi' a <learaine for
liiiii fioni any working of said Highway.
"We iheivfoi-e thinking that the repairing i:f siiiil bridge
will Ik- a sni'lcient proportion for him to do in the ways
aforc-aiil he engaging !o iK'rfonn the .same. We therefore
(this to be put upon ri-cordt having set our lianils to the order-
ing of the same
"ihis L'lith clay ..f M.inli. 17<l7
"Theophilus Pierson
".Foseph Craine
"Thomas Davis.''
Part of this ro'iil was afti'rwards vacated because it was
so close to the river. The proceeiling is thus recorded;
"We. the subsrribers. Surveyors of the Highways of the
liiwnships 111' .Vcipiackaniink, <)ra!ii;e and Newark, having cin-
veiieil at the hoiisi' of Francis Van Winkle at .Vri|iiackaiiiink on
.Mmiilav the tenth day .if February, i.ne thousand and eight
hundred and lAilve. agieoable to an order of ihc Inferior
Court of Comnioii Picas in and for tl'i- cmint.v of Essex in the
lirni of .lanuary ISl'J. ;!iiil having viewed the premises, do
take up and v.-icate tin* old roail:
"BeginniiiL' south sixty seven degrees and fifty minutes
• list tifly eight links from the south east corner of ICichanI
Ludlow's dwe'ling house, frolii theme up the river to the
l,iiie of Adrian M. I'ost;
".\nil laid a road as follows:
"of three riMls wide
"Keglnniiig from the south east eorner of Uichard Lud-
hiw's dwelling house, smilh sixty-seven d.'grees and fifty niiii-
iites east Kfty eight links to a willow tree and from thence
• flere wo meet our old friends the Michnclsons.
north seven degrees and fifteen minutes east eleven chains and
I iglil links; thence north twelve degrees and forty inimites
east seven chains and twenty one links: llieuce north seven-
teen degrees and thirty minutes east, tweuly-tive chains and
thirty-six links; thence north ten degrees west one chain and
l.fty links to the Palersou and Hamburgh Turnpike road near
;he abutment of the ActiuaekauouU Bridge. Which courses
luid distances are marked out on the west side of said road,
crossing the lands of Itichard Ludlow, two chains and twenty
links, the lands of Catharine Vreeland one chain and seven
links, the land of Henjaniin K. Sciidder six chains and eighty
one links, the lands of Francis Van AViiikle eight chains and
twenty one links, the lands of .Jacob Van Winkle Jr. three
chains am! twenty one links, the lands of Adrian M. I'ost,
ten chains and eighty six links, the lands of Kalph Van AA'ag-
oiier. twelve chains and seventy 3iine links.
"And we do order the aforesaid road to be opened on the
twentieth day of April next.
"In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this
tenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and twelve.
"1 >aiiiel K. Paxtou
"Edo Van Winkle
"John Ball and
"Stephen Tiihenor"
'i~li:s jiapcr was tiled ^Liy V2. 1*^1L'. .iiid reroidcd .\l.iy
21. 1812.
The closing of the road liecame one of the points at issue
in. the litigation over the Landing, and is referred to in the
oflicial report in 1855. Kip vs. Van Blarcom I\" Zab.. 854, as
follows:—
"The Van Wagoner farm was situate on tlie west bank of
the Passaic river, and. along the margin of the river in front of
the farm, there was a public road, which h.id been there as
far back as memory or tradition could trace it and over one
hundred and fifty years. The \'an Wagoner farm had always
been seperated from this road b.v a fence along the west side
of the road.
"No acts 111' ownership, east of this rond. except using
a watering filace and landing place on the river bank opposite
hi comnioii with the other inhabitants of the vicinit.v. where
shown. In 181-1 I'.'i that part of this public road which ran
along the river south of the Van Wagoner farm, was vacated
and a new road laid out in place of it at the distance of ji few
rods from tic river running across the Van Wagoner farm.
P.ilt so iinicli of the .■incieiit road, along the waters edge as was
ill front of the Van Wagoner farm, was not vacated, and was
permitted to remain o|ien to the public until within a few
years."
We do not find any proceedings vacating that part of the
old river road which runs from the present County Bridge
siiiilh to the road vacated in 1S12. as set forth above. It
w.'is closed, however, by Morrell and Post when tlie.v opened
a lumber yard on jinrt of it.
The iiortioii of the old road of 17ii7 lying suiith of the
lOrie Itailroad bridge was relaid In 18ii3 as it now exists.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
45
On Mny Jf,, IS.'.'.I. llial pari of tlic ri>;iil lyiii;; liclwccii llu-
i-;iilri>ail mi llic sumlicnsl anil (Jrovo street mi tlic luirthwest
was cliaiiKfd slifililly. 'riic railroail was l)uill about 1840 and
the old stone afeli was ronstnieted over the road, whieh went
under the railroiid at rit;ht aiiKlcx- The road was stralKhteiu^l
in lSr>!> from the arch to Lafayette aveniu', but as the areh
eould not be swuuK arovind to suit the new loeatiou of thi'
road, two turns were always iiwessary in entering and li-av-
in>r the arch. The areh itself was pieturesciue and well eou-
struete<l. but exeeedinuly dangerous as trattie grew. It was
only ten feet wide and twelve high. Old .lohn A leelaml used
to say that it was built just big enough to allow John I.
AeUernian to squeeze through with his loads of hay ouee a
year on the way from the Newark uu'adows to Aekerinan's
larm. which comprised marly all nl' Dundee. As Aekermnn
fiiiuled the biggest load of any farmer around here, the arch
was considered big enough for all time to come.
In issi> tlie Ki-ii> was indicti^d by the Passaic County Grand
.hirv tor maintaining a public unis.mce, but the State could not
prove that the arch had not been i)roperly placed on the lines of
the highway as it existed when the arch was built. The iu-
dittmeiit was riuashcd. Finally, The Daily News look up the
matter, and in IS'.l.'i the Krie agreed to erect a new steel
bridge the full width nf the road, the city and county each
agreeing to pay one-third of the cost, which was estimated
at .$12,000. The project lagged for a long tinie. but in the
summer of 1890 work was commeueod.
A fact not generally known is that (Jeneral Phil Kearney,
the cavalry leader of the Civil War. was roared iu a house
st.inding on the River road, between the County Bridge and
the arch. He learned his a. Ii. c"s in the old school which was
torn down in ISTo.
This being the oldest ru.id in the city, it has naturally
been knowa by various nami's. From Gregory avenue south
to the city limits it was dubbed the Kiver road. The Council
in 1888 passed an ordinance changing the name to River Drive.
i'"rom Gregory avenue to Market Square (corner of I'rospect
street and Main avenue), it was called the Main road, and
later Main avenue. The course of the old 1707 road is then
continued as far as the Jefferson street crossing of the Erie
by I'rospect street. It used to be called "the Back road."
The fact that Lexington avenue was a continuation of Prospect
street was visible until the changes made by the Erie in
18!»8, when the Lexington avenue crossing was abolished.
The road ran on up to Clifton aiul Paterson. It was called
the Weasel road until recent years, when the name of Lexing-
ton avenue was applied to it as far up as Harrison street,
beyond which it was known as Dundee Drive, By the ordi-
nance of JIarch 3, 1888. the Dundee Drive portion was chris-
tened Lexington avenue. The older names of Dundee Drive
and Weasel road still cling to the road in Acquackanouk town-
ship.
The urigiiial Indian nail followed its cotirse for the most
part, skirting the bank at the water's edge from Newark
to tlie corner of South and Fifth streets, where it turned due
north until it again rc.irluil the river bank, which it followed
to Paterson and beyond.
The next earliest laid roads in this vicinity, although not
in the limits of the city, were materia! to old Acquackanouk.
'Ihey were two roads in Berg.'U County, which converged at
an old dock, still standing, on the Bergen County shore, op-
I osite the Anderson Limber Comiiaiiy"s otlice. One ran south-
erly through Carlton Hill, and was laid out November 9, 1717,
and the other through Lodi to Hackensacl., being laid Novem-
ber 20, 1717. In 1840 part of the last mentioned road was
vacated, and there was laid that part which extends from the
present County Bridge to Wallingloii Town Hall.
The Notch luail. <u \'aii llouteii avenue, was laid out
.November 17, 1724. Previous to this there was a path leading
from the Passaic River to and through the Notch and a<-ross
the State to the Delaware River, about on the lines of the
present Van Ilouten avenue. This path is referred to in the
history of Morris County as early as lliO.'i.
What is now known as Blooinlield avenue was laid in two
portions. That portion l.ving southwest of Van Ilouten avenue
was laid out February 1, 18(i:5, as a road to Bloonitield. That
portion extending northeasterly from Van Houten avenue to
the present corner of Bloonifield avenue and Grove street, and
then southeasterly over the present Grove street to Prospei-t
Gtreet was laid May 2C, 18(l."».
Park plaie. or River street, was laid out mi July ."to, IMM.
It ran from I'rospect street I'asterly to Seciunl street, where
it stopped, because the old Indian path, above mentioned, from
tliat point was a continuation of llii' same.
On May 2. 1S2I>. this Indian path w.-is vacated, and
on October 10, lSii3, all of the road from the present terminus
of I'ark place was vacated. On the same day Passaic street
was laid out as it now exists from Main avenue to First street.
From First street, easterly to the river, the street was laid
out by the Dundee Manufacturing company according to its
map.
I'revious to the laying out of Passaic street there existed
a lane, on about the same line, between State street and the
canal, which bore the name of Pleasant Valley. A consider-
able portion of that part of River street which was vacated
ran close to the river, and in times of heavy rains or floods
was overflowed, making it impassable. At such times travel
was over the less used road to a ford over the Weasel brook.
It would certainl.v merit its name in flood-time.
The road at the entrance to the ("oiinty Bridge was laid
out May 11, 1835, while I'each Orchard road dates back to
March 10, 1845.
The centre of Monroe street, from I-e.xington avenue to
First street, is the old boundary line of the Point Patent.
There was a path running down it, which, when a grist mill
was erected at Vreeland's I'ond, was widened into a road
thirty-three fett wide. On January 5, 18.54, this road was
vacated, and Madison street was laid out in its stead from Lex-
ington avenue to the ccnlie nf Culiimbia avenue. Later Monroe
street was reopened.
Main avenue, from .Market Sc|iiare, corner of I'rospect
street, north to the city iiinits, was the old Paterson and
Hamburgh turnpike, the company owning which was incor-
porated by the Legislature iu 18tit!. In the act the nearby
portion of it is described as "Beginning at or near the bridge
at Acquackanouk. and running in a.-; straight a direction as the
nature of the ground will permit, to and through the town of
Paterson." The road, although immediately surveyed and laid
out, was not actually made until 1809. A fact worthy of note
is that originally it ran in a perfectly straight line from Market
Scjuare to the city limits, but by unauthorized encroachments
the lines have boon changed, until they are anything but
straight. It is. however, within the power of the city to
restore the original lines, for under decisions of our courts
it is held that not any number of years of i)Ossession will give
a person title iu any road or street, but that a road on its
original lines remains a public road until vacated in the
manner required by law.
In 181.5 a law was passed ii:corporating a company to ex-
tend the I'aterson and Hamburgh turnpike to the Hudson
River from the east end of .\<(iuackauouk Bridge, in Bergen
County, to the Hackeusack River, and provided for a meeting
of the stockholders at Paterson Landing upon four weeks'
I'otice in the Paterson Bee. This was the Paterson Plank
Bi
UJ >
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
47
niMd, V liiili iiMiiu' i-:iiMc til be :i|iplii'il tn tlif entire I'uinl
helwi'eii I'jitersiiii Mini Hiilidkeii, iiirhiclin;; the I'ntefsijii niiil
lliiliilnii-j,'li tiiiiipiUe.
n
BRIDGES.
'I'll'' lir^i liriilL'e :il AeiiiiiiiliMiiiPi.U en.s-ieil the fiver nlmut
:iri() feet ipirth i>r the pfeseiit Ciiiiiit.v Hriil^e. ;it the fnot i)f
(ireKory .•iveiiin'. Its eiMi'^iue nil this siile nf tile river xv.-is
ilirei'tly eppipslte the elil Tap Iluiise mi the Hill.
Treviims to its erection there was a ferry further duwii
the river, about on a liiu? with I'aiilisou avenue. The Uiver
road llieii skirled the river liank. passinj; close to the ferry.
This brid^'c was built pievi.>iis In 1711. Tnjer a general law
• ■.■iceriiin^' bridges one half of its cost must have been met
bv the inhabilant.s of the precinct of Aciiiiackanonk and the
.>tl.er half by the county. This seemed an injustice to them,
and I hey sought to have the expense of bridge-buihliug more
generally distributi'd. Thi'y succeeded in having the fidlnwing
act passetl for their relief in 1741: —
".\n act for building and lelmilding and repairing Bridges
in the Co. ot Essex.
"Whereas the I'recinct or District nt Aci|i;aekanonk in
the • 'o. of Essex Is for a eousideralile spa<-i> In length bounded
on the river I'assaic which dividi's the said Co. of Essex
from Morris & Bergen Cos. over which river I'issaiek several
very large bridges are already built and more bridges over the
same river may hereafter be thought lu'cessary to lie liuilt.
Ihi' one half of the expense and charge whereof the inhabitants
of the said Precinct or District of Aeiiuackanonk are by the
general laws of this I'rovince liable to (whose situation being
\ery particular) the trxes lui the said Inhabitants to the Pur-
poses aforesaid are thereby much greater than those to which
the inhabitants of the other townships in the said County of
Esse.x are subjected for whose ei|ual use. convenience and ad-
vantage the said bridgi's are and may be built and maintained.
"Whereby the inhabitants of saiil Precinct of Acquacka-
tiiink have prayed for ridief."
The act goes on to prnvide llial one half nf the expense
of all bridges built over said ri\er shall be paid by the County
of Essex, and not alone by .Vcipiaekanonk.
Tradition says that the original bridge was for foot pas-
singers only. It was a crude. ]ioiitoon llridg^ and was used
iietil a better bridge was built. The subject seems to have
been an important one, for on .Tune 2S, ITtiti, the Legislature
passed an act entitled: —
"An act to emjiower the .lustiies and Freeholders of the
ciiuuties of Essex md Bergen to build a bridge over Passaic
river near the Dutch church at .Vcquackanmik."
There seems to be no existing record of what the bridge
ciisl. the proceedings of the Essex County Board of .lustices
and Freeholders not being extant. By the minutes of the
Bi rgen County Board of May 11. ITliS. we learn that "It is
ordered that the sum nf six pninids .ind eight pence be iiaid to
Captain Wallen \"aii Winkle for iron work done to the bridge
across the Passaic river." and that on May 10. 177.">. it was
"(Irdered, that the cniiiily i nllniini- ]My uiitn Nicaiise Terliiiiie
till sum of nine shillings .iiid six pi nee for wnrk done by
him nil the Achtiachenarli* I'.iiilge.
.\t a meeting of tin- Hn.iid. held .May l.'i. 177li. as if to
make it ready fnr the army In cross, it was "Ordered, that
.lohn Uichards. in conjunction with Michael Vneland fur the
i-nunty of Essex, cjinse and order the bridge at Achuachenunk**
be repaired in a thorough manner: and the said .John Rich-
a:i!s' order on the county collector for half of the whole ex-
pense for rep.-iiriiig the said bridge shall be paid by the said
enmity collector."
Little did the Board know tor what good purposes they had
the bridge repaired. The bridge was partially destroyed by
American soldiers and |iatriotic neighbors, under the leader-
ship nf .Inliii 11. I'list of .\i'i|iiai kanonk. to prexeMi the ilritish
Horn crossing it in pursuit of Washington and his army, who
had just crossed it. Tlii.s was on November 21, 1770. It was
subseiineiitly reiiaired, and continued in use until destroyed by
ice about 17S1-'.S2. This led to the passage of a special act,
which provided that a new bridge should be built on the site
of the old ferry.
"An ai-t to empower the .lustices ami Freeholders of the
( imnties of Bergen and Essex to erect a Bridge over the Kiver
Passaick, near the church at Ac(|iiaekannnck.
"I'assed .lime l.S, 1782.
"Whereas, sninlry inhabitants of the Counties of Es,sex
and Bergen have, by their petition presented to thi- Ix'gisla-
tiire. prayed that a law may be passed to empower the Jus-
tices and Freeholders of the said counties to erect a'** Bridge
on Kiver Passaick, from the plac(. where the highway leading
from .New Barbadoes li. e. Ilackeiisack) in the county of Ber-
gen strikes the said Hiver. In the fast land m the county of
Essex.
"Seel ion 1. Be it therefore eiiacteil b.v the Conm-il and
(Mineral .Vsse'nbly of this state, and it is hereby enacted by
thi authority of the same,
"That it shall and may be lawful for the .lustices and
Freeholders of the said loiinlies of E.ssex and Bergen, to
en (t and build a draw bridge over the Uiver Passaick directly
at the place where the highway leading from New Barbadoes
in the county of Bergen strikes the said river and a little to
the sniithward of the dwelling house of the widow .lannetje
Van Winkle, and so across said river in the shortest and most
(onveiiient manner to the fast land in the county of Essex."
AN ELEVEN VEAK FICIIT ()\E1; THE BHIDC.E.
It seemed to be the general opinion that the site of the
Revolutionary bridge was a poor one, and that no bridge there
could withstand great freshets. The river at that place and
time was narrower than now. .Tust above is a bend in the
si ream wliiili I'nrniiil an eddy. It was urged thai the bridge
be iilaced further down-streani at the lilace designated in the
act. But the local interests desired the bridge rebuilt on its old
site, at the Landing.
The result was a cnntrnversy that lasted nearly eleven
.M'ais. .'iiiil resiiliril ill the new bridge being erected at the
Landing. The m itter was agitated to a great extent, and
nijuiy meetings were held by the .lustices and Freeholders.
seme at Walling Van Winkle's house and some at the old Tap
Hi. use. .\t one of the meetings the question was raised as to
whether the Boards had iiower under the act to erect a
bridge at any other spit but the one prescribed.
.\fter a long and solemn deliberation the Boards concluiled
that the act meant just what it said, but they adjourneil wilh-
niit doing anything toward building the bridge. Meantime the
merchants of Acquackanonk I.,anding were stirring themselves
to kec]) the bridge in their neighborhood. .Tolin Low the second,
Ciiriii lilts Vreeland .nid .Inlin M. Ryerson had large stores at
the Landing, while twn tavenis stood ready to welcome the
traveler. Besides tli 'se were seattereil along lower Main ave-
nue wheidwright. blacksmith and hooi>-pole splitting shops,
storehouses and stabiles. The proprietors of all of these insti-
tutions were convinced that the proper location for the bridge
was at thn I. .Hiding. Finally, after four months' wrangling,
they carried their point, and the Bergen Board resolved to
build the bridge imi at llie place designated in the act. but
further up the river.
This is shown b.v the proceedings of the Bergen Board at a
UKetiiig held at t!ie house of the Widow \.\t\ Winkle. April S.
17S3. It is recorded that "the Board considered the petition
from sundry of the inhabitants to rebuild the old bridge and
also a subscription list of the inhabitants by which said in-
habitants agree to find sundry materials and furnish services
toward rebuilding the bridge." The Board agreed to have
the bridge rebuilt "as it fnrinerly was," and appointed Arent
■of this gem of orthograiihy. This spelling stands out unique and un-
• It is to be regretted that we cannot give the name of the author i
paralleled from among a score of other forms.
•• Evidently a ba.se imitntiou of the preceding form. . ,. , , , ,. , , , , », •
•"(Endorsement) There was a draw brid ge formerly near the place where this bridge is directed to be erected, which was destroyed by the ice.
48
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
(•.H,|Mr I Ill- ru.iii.it. 1 ..i... i-. i-iuiili>.v iiKMi liy llu- <l:iy in
rebuilding the hriJgc.
At Ilii- siiiiK- liiii.- lliis -iiiim- Biiiiril iii.-l ili«- Kss«-x
County Biiiiril. and at a joint niefrlin« airreed to build the
^anl<• liri'ltT'- at anotlicr pliii-e, namely, "iirros's tiio river where
the road leading from New Bnrbailoes strikes tbe river." This
WOK the idaci' siHS-itiwl in the act. "The bridge to In- built of
wiK-d," was one of the slipulatious. A iinnuiittee of tive was
upiMjinteil "to draw a pbiu aid agree with Artificers to build
the said bridire in the best and cheapest n-anner."
At a ineetinK held at the house of Halniah Van Winkle,
near the Ai'h(|uacn u-k bridge. November !!». 1784. it was re-
.solved to pay 2."i poumls toward rebuildinc the bridge "where
part of the forim-r drawbridge now stands, otherwise to tn'ar
«ur Miual pro|iortiou with Esse.x County to build it across tlie
Passaic at the plac-e where '>m- Mr. Blanchard now lives where
thi8 bourrl judges there can stand a bridge with less danger
of ii-e and freshets than Avhere part of it row stands." The
drawbridge means the place provide*] by the net. Blauchard's
house was at the I..anding. so that the arguments of the op-
position were reversed. Mr. Bl.indiard being the tavern-keeper,
it will be se^-u that the liiimir interests were not the least
of those that wished the bridgi- kept at the Landing.
At the meeting of May 10. ITS."), the board resolved that no
repairs should be done to the old drawbridge, and were of
the opinion that no bridge could be kept there, but they were
willing to liear their (iiual proportion with Essex County to
build one over the I'assaic. opposite Mr. Blanchanrs.
On a vole taken al a met'ting, December .">. IT'.fJ, a
niiition III build a new bridge was lust. .\t a niei-ting of
the boards of Bergen i'ud Esse.\ counties held "at the place
where formerly a bridge sIimhI on Passaic Itiver, the members
present after having e.\aniined the law and viewing the Com-
iiiissioners isie!) for a new bridge at and above the place
where the old one stood," adjiniriieil witlunt acting, it appear-
ing that "two Freeholders of the Bergen Board were absent
and were not h-gally summoned."
Nothing .seems to have been done until May 14. ITil.'J. when
n joint meeting was held at the house of Cornelius Stagg, who
was a successor of Blanchard at tavern-keeping. The record
says that: —
"The vote l>eing then taken on a bridge or no bridge there
apiM'ared to be a majority of the Freeholders of ea<'h of the
.said Connlies for a bridge thereupon it was ordered that a new
bridge 1h- built and i-rected over the said Passaic river op|Hisite
the house now occupieil by Cornelius Stagg at or as near as
niny l>e on either of the sides where the first bridge stood."
It was also ordert-d that "Ihe said bridge be built with wooden
bints and stone boxes: the plank to be Di ft. long which is to
be the width of the bridge." A committee was also appointed
to su|iervi<e the building of Ihe bridge and "to sell at auction
the building of the bridge on the first Monday in .lune. ITOo.
to the lowest biilder." This was the nielhisl of advertising for
proposals. The auction was held on this date, and Fldridge
Yiirks got th itract for £4U'!. tin- |.||uivalenl of about ?2.(Mm,
not a Very high price even for an eighteenth century bridge.
We learn friuii the records that the Bergen Board met at
Slagg's on .lune .'{, lT!Ki, and deci.led upon sounding the depth
and measuring the width of the river al low water murk,
"that the said bridge be built a few yards below where the
first bridge stood and where the roiie is now fixed and drawn
across the river and that the said bridge I'nusists of eight
bints and Ihe timber and diuu'iisioiis |o each of said bints to Ih-
as follows:" (Here follows a minute description of the ma-
terial to be used in Ihe bridge.) The site just mentioned was
about thirty fi-i-t mirlli of tin- present I'lmnly Bridge.
Whether the bridge was iK)orly constructed, or whether
an accident happened to it, is not stated. However, at a meet-
ing of the Bergen Board, held August 26, 1705, £300 was
appropriated to repair the bridge. The new bridge seems to
h.-ive been doomed to ill- fortune, for about sixteen years after
the last appropriation for repairs, it was almost entirely swept
away by the ice, in .laiiuarj-, l.Sll. A special meeting of the
Fiieholders of both counties wis iield at the tavern of .Vbraham
Codwin of Paterson, on January 7 of this year, when the sub-
ject of rebuilding the bridge at Aequackauonk Lauding was
iliscussed, but dismissed tecause the law did not authorize
Boards of Chosen Freeholders to erec-t bridges across nav-
igable waters. The bridge, with many changes and alterations,
remained till 18."?.">. when a new bridge was built by virtue
of i spe<-ial act passed by the Legislature that year.
The act of 18:{."> empowered the Freeholders of the two
counties "to build a bridge over the Passaic river at .Vi-
quaekancmk at any place between the present bridge and a iiuim
opi)osite the road that leads from Hackensack to Aequacka-
uonk, where it strikes the river, a short distance south of the
dwelling house of Michael Van Winkle, with a draw therein at
least twenly-eight feet wide, and to be fixed in that part of
said briilge, where the vessels and boats may pass through
with the greatest convenience." This bridge was replaced in
lM!.j with a new one, known as the White Bridge, and that
gave wa.v about 1800 to the present structure, generally called
the County Bridge.
ONE Bi;ii)(;i-: that w.vs nkvei: biilt.
In anticipation of the vacating of River street and the
laying out of Passaic street as it now exists, a toll bridge
was projected on the site of the present Garfield Bridge, but
was never built. Robert Rennie. a prosiierons Lodi mill-
owner; Daniel Romaine. .Tohn Banla. .\ndrew C. Cadmus and
Christian C. Zabri.-skie of Bergen County, and William L. An-
ilruss. .John .1. K. Vreeland and Benjamin N. Cleveland of
Passaic County, on March S, lS.jt), secured the passage by the
Ix-gislature of "an act to incori>orate the Passaic Bridge Co."
It has many features so curious as to be well worth <iuoting.
The capital stock was fixed at $10,000, to be divided into
shares of $2.") each, none to he issued until at least 200 shares
had been taken, and each subscriber being required to deimsit
$1 for each share taken. The company was empowered to
build the bridge "at some point between Zabriskie's Landing
and the Dundee dam: the said bridge to be at least Iti ft. in
width, except the draw, which may be 12 feet with good and
sufficient side rails for the safety of travelers:. and if built
below the head of navigation to construct a c-onvenient draw,
or swing therein, of at lea.st thirty feet, oiiening to be placed
ill Ihe most convenient place for Ihe navigation of said river."
The comp-iny was reiiuired to keep the bridge in good repair
and to rebuild the bridge in case of its being carried away.
If the iiinipany refused to repair the bridge the Freeholders
might take possession and prevent it from taking tolls. The
act provided for the following tolls: —
Person on foot Ic
W.igou, cart, sleigh 4c
1-horse carriage tic
2-horse carriage 10c
2-horse drays 8c
4-liorse vehicles 10c
Horned cattle and horses 2c
Hogs, calves, sheep le
.Ml other things in proportion.
In case any person is on foot, attending a funeriil or di-
vine service, he shall not be required to pay toll.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
49
Any ptTsim in rttiuniMn.l of any vessel jDissin;: lliruii^li
llic ilr.'iw, who slioiilil ki'i'ii llii' saiil draw open nioio than liflcin
niinnli-s. shiniM ho liahlc lo a ponalty of Sf'-'> for each ofrciico.
This hriilse was to cross tho rivt-r near tlic foot of tlir
pri'si'iit Wall stroi't ami have its landing on Zahriskii'"s dock,
but nothing was ever done, aside from havlnu the act passed.
The net became void unless the necessary nnnihcr of shares
were siibscribeil for in three years.
-Vbont lS<i.S th>> two Bi'ards of Freeholders erei-teil an
iron bridge on the site of the present strncture. On the inorniim
of Monday. Septemlicr 11, 1S71. one of the three spans of this
liridfie fell into tin- river while a team lieloiieinK to Robert
Iteiinie was passing: over it. The ilriver was lost. The span
whiih fell was the one nearest the Herci-ii shi)re. This bridge
had been built on the Mosley patent, anil the Mosley Company
agreed to replace the span for .$l,3fK), which was considered too
nmch for repairs. The Kreeholders finally erecte<l a new
brid;:e, whii'h was torn down in ISitM to make way for the
liri'sent one.
The fnion .\ve.iue Uridce, conncH-tinc the I'assaie Bridce
section with Unlherford, was en-eted in 1S!J7, and tilled a Ions-
felt want for that neicliljorhood.
■C^^?e;?^%^^^^>5*=:^^!?
CHAPTER XL
ACQUACKANONK IN THE REVOLUTION.
Robert Drummond's Stand for Toryism-Recruits to the Patriot Army— Washington's Retreat From the
Hudson to the Delaware— A Pause to Prove That His Route Led Through Acquackanonk.
TllK coiiilitiim of affairs iit tin- uiitlirciik of tlio Kevohi-
tioiiiiry War was aii.vtiiiiiji; luit anspUioiis to the busy
iiilialiitaiils of the Lniiiliiif;. For many years tlic plaee
IukI I'lijoytil i>r'>s|)crity. liiit for a year ur two iircvioiis to ae-
liial liostililii-s biisiui-ss had bwu on the wane. The uiis«'ttle<l
political ••oiiditioiis, the niiiion< or ivniint; war ami the deprcfi-
atini; riirreney were uinkiiig their effects felt. The war put
trade praetieally to an end, and the men engaKed in it were
required for war. It i.s prolialile that most of the storekeepers
anil eli-rks. ti-amsters i.nd lalH>rers enca^eil in the river ami
up-eountry business drifted into the strn^inle on one side or the
other. We have many evidences of this. They were as much,
if not more, incline<l to be Tories as patriots. This is shown
by the fai-t that Kobert Drummond. the wealthy storekeeper.
who ln-eame a British major, raised a strong company in this
neiifhlMjrhood. On the other hand, tJiere is a goiKlly list of
.\i'i|uackanonk soldiers on the roll of the patriot armies.
Then' was another class of inhabitants— the farmers—
whose |M>sitioii toward the patriot cause has been severely
criticised. As a rule, while not openly Loyalists or Tories,
llicy were indifferent to the success of the American cause, and
showed little sympathy for it. With the exception of some
of the adventurous ymuK men who served with the patriot
armies, they did not seem to care which side won. By reiider-
im: no aid to the Britisli they saved their estates frcmi beinn
contiscaled. which was the punishment of uuiuy Bertren Count}'
Torii>s at the cU>se of the war. On the other hand, they
shoiveil little favor to their Aiiieri<an brethren. The business
nun and artis-ins foni.'hl in the war and suffered materially
from its i-ffects. but the f.irmers did not feel its full rigors.
'lliey saw iheir veaetables and crain rei|uisiliiuied by foracin;;
parties, and their ivt'-stock and poultry were rai<led by ener-
getic pilluKcrs. But j;reater burdens fell on the villaiiers. with
whom everythiuK but 'var was at a staiulstill. Their lot was
ii.deed hard. The men were with the armies anil the women
spun, wovi- and sewed all the clothing worn by the .soldiers, in
addition to providinc for their families. KixMlstuffs ailvanced
in price, the luxuries of coffi'e and suj;ar were ilispensed with
and the use of salt w.is ci'ntined to the well-to-ilo. Luckily,
active niilitiiry operations were not carried on in the ilead of
winter, when m.iny of the sidd'ers went home i>n lea\e of nb-
M-nce to help and che<-r the loiliiiK wonu-n.
.\h the war progressed, the steady depn-ciatioii of the Con-
tinental currency added to the ^rem-nil embarra.ssnnMit. The
dillii iilty of coliducling war without resources ai;aiiisl h wealthy
ami powerful enemy <-omiH-lleil CouKri-ss to IIinmI the i-ounlry
«ilh paper inom-y. The is.snes in live years, from 177."i to
ITS", reaclii-d the immi-nse at;):reKate ..f ?'_Ml.."il>ll.(1(KI. Com-
pared with ;he relatively small populalii>ii. this is stu|iendons.
The result was that in .March, ITSl, it had depreciated, until
$111(1 in k'old was worth $T.ri(Nl in Continontal unmey. In the
<(inrse of the rapid depreciation which followed, it was possible
to hear one huudred dollars of it asked for a yard of silk, and
common to see a chilld give a dollar for a few cakes. Finally,
three hundred doll.irs of Continental notes were exchaniied for
one dollar in silver. There was at least one uu'rchant in I'as-
saic who ;;ot rich by it, however, using it to buy real estate at
l)anic prices, giving in abundance that which was well nis;h
v.orthless. the seller hoping for au appreciation of the cur-
rency, which never came.
HIM MMdXKS STAND FOU TORYISM.
From the lime of the closing of the port of Boston, in the
spring of 1774. New .ler.sey was in a state of unrest, if not of
uproar, over the aggressions of the (!'rown. I'ublic reconls
of that period are few and meagre, and nothing is known of
local affairs. In Bergen County. Imwever, there was a long
piriod of passing of resolnticns at town and ii'uiity meetings
ami the appointment of coniniitte.s of safety v.uA i-orre.spim-
dence. On June 2.''>. 1774. resolutions were adopted, at a nu'et-
iiig at Ilackensack. dedariiig it the greatest happiness of the
It'ople to live under the government of the illustriius House of
Hanover, but resisting the right of Parlianient to impose in
ternnl taxes on the Colonies. Delegates were appointed to
elect representatives for the province to the Continental Con-
gre.-:s. and the resolutions wer3 signed by 328 citizens of Ber-
gen.
Someihin'j of the same sort w.is occurring oic liiis siile
of the river, but unfortunately the records of what is now
Passaic, and was vh 'u p;'rt of Essex County, have not been
preserv.'d. It is re<-orded that in 177.i a meeting was held
:il Acquackanonk to take measures with Newark ami other
towns to resist British aggression, but there were leading men
who di.sci>uraged any such movement. The head of the op-
positicm was uniloiditi-dly Kobert Drummoml. tlo' iirincipal
storekeepiT at the Landing, who use<l his influi'uce to prevent
the outbreak of hostilities. He comes into prominen<'<' in the
councils of the State. It was not a sndden li'ap. for he had
been a member of the General Assembly fnmi Essex County
from 1771) to 1774, a great compliuu-nt to his worth, when
We l^)nsider how small a part of the comity Aciiuackauonk
Landing was. When the Provisional Congress was formed
to cope with the stirring situation, he was elected as a deli--
gatc in May and October. 1775. and iu .Tanuary and June.
177(!. His iNilitics, like those of many other good men. must
have been in a terrible turmoil at this time. Lord Siirling
hail been organizing |)atriot regiments and fortifying I'aulus
Hook and Bc-rgen Neck, in Bergen County, since early in that
year. (General Lord Howe, the British commander, sailing
from Boston, had landed on Stnten Island on .lune -U. ami the
struggle was now iiu'vitable. Drnmmond. who luol I'oiir limes
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
51
ri'lircsciiti'd liis iii'i;;liliiii'liiiiiil in ilic riuvisimi.il ( 'Dimrcss. was
evidently of Loynlist temleiicios, for on July 2, 177(i, two dnys
hcfiiro the siciiiiiK of tlu' Dfcliiration of liulcin'iulcncc, he hail
voted against the adoption of tin- first Constitution of tlio State
of New .(ersey. Neverllu'less, he did not forfeit the esteem of tlu-
piltriots of the Congress. On .Inly 17 the conmiittei- iif Newark
petitioned that the Congress wonld proenr>\ or eanse to lie luiilt.
four ;;ond'ilas or row-(;al!eys, mounted with cannon, to ply
between lie in^nitlis of the I'nssaie and Haekensaek rivers and
I'erth Anilioy. They were desiKned to protect Newark aj;ainst
Lord Howe's forces. A committee was aiipointed to consider
the propriety of urintio); the petition, and Koliert I>rumniond
was the tirst man named. The other memliers were Lewis
Ogden of Essex. Jacob Quaikenbush and Daniel I. Hrown of
llersen and I>r. Moses Blo<inilield of >Iiildlese.\. The matter
was referred to the ContiiuMital Congress, but before it was
attcd upon its futility was apparent. Like many other war
measures propounded by amateurs, it jrrew out nf tin- fears of
its sponsors rather than out of sound reflection. Liml Howe's
lleet consisted <>( Kid men-of-war and lran«]p(irls. .ind f.mr
"row-salleys" would have been soon captured.
When active hostilities eouiiuenced, I>rumnnjnd i:ist in his
lot with the Kin?:, and recruited the Second Hattalion of New
Jersey Loyalists, of which he was nade major cm November 2(1.
177t). Till re .ire said to have been 200 of his friends and neijxli-
hors in the battalion, but this is tlumjiht by some to be an
exacgeratian. Most of his battalion fell by disease or battle
in the Southern States. Drummond died in Chelsea, Enitrlaud,
ir. 1789. The British Government gave him a farm in Nova
Scotia and a pension after the war. he beinj; reeojniized as
one of the most (-aruest and powerful British sympathizers in
the State. His brother, David, who was a brave soldier in the
American army, was rewarded with a grant of land in New
York State. This is only one instance of the sundering of
family ties by the war. Robert Drummond's proiierty was
confiscated by the State after the war. It included a farm of
63 acres in Franklin township. Bergen County, which was sold
on July Iti, 1784. to Peter Ward for f7t)."> lawful money of
New .Jersey. There were also his store and business at the
Landing, his iron mines at Ilingwood and elsewhere, and his
frims all over Essex County, spoken of in the account of his
life in Chapter VIII. Drumnimul suffered in his ill-chosen
cause.
WAS ACQl'ACKANONK A TOKY HOTBED?
It was a favorite assertion of the late .ludge Henry P. Sim-
mons that Aoquackanonk Landing and neighborhood was a
hftbed of Toryism. It is true the farmers were indifferent
to the patriot couse, and that Drummond influenced many
against it. but there was plenty of sturdy patriotism in the
neighborhood. In the rostT of New Jersey soldiers on the
American side are found the names of many from Acquacka-
nouk. Among them are those of Daniel. Dirk. Henilrick. John.
Peter. Samuel and Weirt Banta. Ilenrj- Berdan, Abraham,
Auron, Adrian, Cornelius, Henry, ,Iames, John, John C John
IL. .lohn J.. Mersehis. Ralph .nid Thomas Post, .\nthony.
Henry and Martin Van Blarcom. (Jarret and Philip Van Bus-
sum, Hendrick. .lacob, John, Paul, Ralph and Roelif Van
Houten, Caleb, Cornelius, Garret, John and Thomas Van Riper,
Ellas, Henry, Luke, Peter, Sinie<m, Simon, Simpson, Abraham,
Cornelius, Daniel, tJarret, Michael and Peter Van Winkle, Jnhii
Waggoner. Abraham and John Speer. This list <'omprises
fifty in all. making a good-sized Aciiuackanimk company, to
which should be added the names of many serving in scattered
oiganizations. .^ number of these nam' s will be fc und in Chapter
VI.. under the histories of the various families of the original
settlers. Reckoning all in. and allowing for stragglers, the
patriot roll of Aei|ua.'kanonk men may well be niatehed in
numbers against Major Drummond's two hundre<l recniils.
e\en if this number di<l not include many of his friends from
other parts of the county.
In quality, if not in numbi-r. the .Vequackanonk patriots
surpassed the Loyalists. The New Jersey militiamen stand as
distinct figures on the Revoliitionar.v canvas. It must be
<oiifessed that for a short time, at the close of the year 177ti.
they faltered, discouraged by the fearful adversities of ilii-
hour. Miny were incliiu'd to abandon the cause, but it was
only a teiiipor.nv disaffection. Tlie ilislianded regiments re-
united, .inil thenceforth the militia of the .lerseys was Wash-
it gton's mainstay, supporting the cause and concealing its
nakedness duri.ig a trying period, in whii-h a second army
was disbanded anil a third one levied under the eyes of a
British commander.
Washington, in a letter of October. 1777. to the Pennsylvania
I-tgislature writes that "the eueniy ha<l been kept out of her
limits, except now and then a hasty descent, without a Con-
tinental regiment." solely by the arms of the New Jersey
militia.
TIIK KAIM.V OI'KKA TIOXS AUOIXD XKW VoKK.
Before dwelling in detail upon the oiK-rations at Acquacka-
iionk during the war. it will be well to glance backward a
few months. The battle of Long Island was fought on
August 27. 177ii. The British army, supposed to amount to
2-l.OIHI. landed on the island, under rover of their shipping.
The Continental army numbered ]0..")(H). Against these o<Ids
it is not to be wondered at that the Contiiu-ntals were de-
feated and lost about 1.200 men. Washington retreate<l to
New Y'ork. crossing the East River in a fog on the night of
August 2Vt. Being utiable to hold the island, he removed his
army to Washington Heights. Elated at his successes. Lord
Hone despatched a message to Congress, proposing that the
colonies should return to their allegiance to King Gc-orge.
Congress refused to entertain the proixjsal. The British Com-
missioners then published a proclamation commanding all jx^r-
seiis assemlili'il in arms against His Majesty's government, to
disband and return to their hoiiu-s. and all civil otiicers to
d< sist from their treasonable practices, and to relinquish their
usuriied authority. A full pardon was offered to all who. within
sixty days, woidd appear before an ollicer of the Crown,
claim the benefit of the proclamation and subscrilK- to a declara-
tion of submi.ssion to royal authority. A few of the richest
ii'iii in this vicinity i. vailed themselves of this opportunity.
but the middle cla.sses remained faithful to the cause.
washix(;tox crossks tiik iudson.
On November 12 Washington inssnl the Hud.son at
I'eekskill. lamling on the .Tersey shore in Bergen County, below
Stony Point. He took up his quarters with General Greene
at Fort lyee. where he remained until the l.~>th. On that day
he rode to Haekensaek. but was summoned back by (Jeneral
(Jreene on the re.-eipt of tidings that Fort Washington was
ill danger of capture. The next da.v the fort, which was one
of the strongholds of New York, was surrendered by Colonel
Magaw with 2.818 men. 43 guns and a large quantity of
military stores. The Americans lost 147 men and infiicted
.1 lo.;s of 4.')8 nu'ii >n the British in the three hours' spirited
tigliting before the fort was laken. Its loss was diU' to the first
traitor in the Revcdutionary army. William Demont. an adju-
tant of the commandant, who a week before the assault de-
serted. He carried with him into the British camp to Lord
Percy, the British commander, the plans of Fort Washington
and full information as to its works and garrison.
52
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Many who liavi' rt-ad t>f Moll I'ltilii-rs l.iavi-iy at tbe
hallli' of rrinwtori may l>f surprised to know that Moll is
prol.ably a myth. Then- was a Moll Titiher. though, in the
Hi,'ht at Fort Washington. H'.-r real name was Margaret
Corhin. Her hnsbund was a eaptain of a gnn in a Imtlery
which was often mil fiercely cherged liy the Hessians before
the position was carried. His wife was watching the fight, and
when he fell dead, -ctruck l>y a ball, she stepi>ed into his place
and worke.l the gun until grape shot pierced her shoulder. She
was sent to fSeueral CJreeue under a flag of tnu-e. and, thougli
terribly wounded, she recovered. She was crippleil for life, how-
ever, and by an act of Congress of .Tuly tj. 177'J, was allowed a
soldier's half-pay and the value of a suit of clothes annually.
The Council of Pennsylvania, which urged her claim on Con-
gress, had ain-ldy given her #:i<l to relieve her pressing ne-
cessities.
iiir i;i:tki:at to thk i.i:i.a\vai:i;.
.Vfter the fall "! Fort Washington Coruwallis. xvilli li.'lim
of the enemy, crossed the Hudson and landed at ("losler dock.
six miles above Fort Le<>. rui the i ight of November V.>. 1771!.
Washington was at Hackensack when the news came, but soon
arrived at I'orl Lee. where he learned that Greene w:is advanc-
ing to ini I't Cornwallis. \\'ashin!:lon saw that his situation was
loo precarious for him to risk a battle. The enemy in superior
fi rce was in front, and <oull hem him in on a peninsula, be-
tween two rivers, the Hudson and the Hackensack. with w<
line of retreat except in the ilip'.-iion of .New York, where
Howe was statioiie<l. .Accordingly he recalled (iri-ene. and he
ordered the evacuation of Fort Lee and a retreat to the Dela-
wari'. The wisdom and nec«'ssity of the movement were strong-
ly combated at the time. (Jeneral Lee. one of his most intimate
fi lends, condemned it as a sign of weakness in the man. and
wrote to Ceneral U-cd: ".Vccident may put a dei-isive blunder
in thi- rii-'ht. but eternal ilefeat aiul misi-arriagi' must attend
the man of the best parts, if <-urse(l with indecision." AVash-
ington knew of this inxdiordinate outbreak, but forgave Lee
for it. Not many days after fjovernor Livingston ••( New .ler-
sey in a letter to Washington says:
"I can easily form some idea of the ditlicultii's under which
you labor, partiiularly of those for which the public i-an make
no allo«;iiiii>. because your prudence and fidelity to tin- i-anse
will not snITer you to reveal it to the pulilii-: an instance of
niagnaniniity superior, perhaps, to any that can be shown in
battle" irefen-ing to Washington"s forgiveness of Le<'). "But
depenil upon it. my dear sir. the im|iartial world will do you
aniple justice bi'fore long. AL'iy Ood support you under the
fatigue both of biMly anil mind, to which you must be con-
stantly exposed."
Washingtoirs juilgnient. in ordering the retreat, is ably
rlifended by Thomas Paine in "The .\merican Crisis." He
snys:—
"Our situation at I'orl I was exieedingly crampi'i). thi'
place being on a narrow neck of land. Our force was incon-
siderable, being not one-fourth as great as Howe could bring
against us. We had r.o army at lian-l to have relieved the
garrison hail we shut onr-elves up and stood on the ilefence.
Our amnmnition. light artillery and the best part of our sti>res
hail bi'<'M removed on the apprehensiim that Howe would en-
deavor to penetrate the .lerseys. in which ease Fort Lee loiilil
b" of no u.se to us. for it must occur to every thinking man
whether In the army or not. that these kinds of temporary field
forts are only for temporar>' imrposes. and last in use no longer
than the enemy directs his force against the particular object
which forts are raised to ilefeinl. • • • We brought off as much
baggage as the wag uis could i-oiitain: tlie rest was lost. The
simple objeet was to bring off the garrison and to inarch them
on until they i-ould be streiigtlieni'il by the I'eiinsylvania or
.lersey militia, so as to be enabled to make a stand. \\'e stayed
four days at Newark, i-ollerted In our ont|Mists. with some of
the .Jersey militia, ami marched out twiiv to meet the enemy.
on information of their being advancing, tliough our miiiibeis
were greatly inferior to theirs."
The retreat from the Hudson to the Delaware has no lack of
defenders. Irvlng's "Life of Wa.shiugtou " speaking of the ne-
cessity of swift movement, says: —
"Nothing would save him but a primipt retreat to secure the
bridge over the Hackensack. No time was to be lost. The
tioops sent out to check the enemy were recalled. The retreat
<-ominenced ill all haste. There was a want of horses and
wagons: a great iiuantity of baggage, stores and provisions,
thi-refore. >vas abandoned. So was all the artillery, excepting
two twelve-pounders. Even the ter.ts were left standing and
camp ki'tth's im the fire. With all their spee<l. they did not
rri;ch the Hackensack Uiver before the vanguard of the
ei einy was U]ioii them. Excepting a brush, the greater part
hurried over the bridge, others crossed at the ferry, and some
higher up. The i-nemy. however, did not dispute the passage
of the river: but Cornwallis stated in his despatches that, liad
not the .\meri<ans been appri.sed of his approach, lie would have
surrounded them at the fort."
At Hackensack Washington's army did not exceed 3.000
dispirited men. His army was melting away, the terms of ser-
vice of many having expired. Many others had only a short
time to serve. So many had refused to re-eulisl that tliere was
no hope of retaining the others, once their terms expiriil. The
ainiy had lost the greater part of its baggage and stores, was
being closely pressed by a larger and well-equipped enemy, it
was in i level countr.v and without entrenching tools, and was
exjiosed without tents to the inclemency of an early winter.
The people were none too well disposed to the American cause,
ami Washington could not expect much aid or information
from them in the face of the advancing enemy. To crown
all, Washington still had a riv-^r at his back and one in front,
with the enemy in possession of the oijen countr.\- to the
north, ready to drive him backward into the Passaic Kiver or
down to Newark B.iy.
cKossiNi; rill-; i'\ssaic a'I' Aci^r.vcK.woNK.
t'nilrrllu'se i-ln-uinstances he resolved imt to in.-ikc a stand
at Hackensack. Leaving three regiments to cover the retreat,
he took up his inarch, taking with him what few stores he
c( nld save. Willi Beal's, Heard's and part of Irvlng's brigade
he marched to Aciiuackanonk, crossing the P:.ssaic River at
the bridge here and camping in the village for the night.
'1 he demoralization of his forces is shown by the flight of the
three regiments left to defend the bridge at Hackensack. who
hastily broke down the bridge, and retired before the British
under i/ajor-lieiier il Vaughan.
W.ishiiigton had already prepared for his retreat to Newark
Ihrongli .\ci|iiackaiionk. His engineers had shown it on their
military iiiai>. upon which it was |>rominent by rea.son of its
bridge and the inanv roads converging here. He conceived the
idea that the British might intercept his retreat by taking the
place, for in .i lett.-r to Major-General Greene, who was at
Fort Ia'i; daliil November 8. 17711. he says; ■The liest ac-
ci lints obtained from the eiiein.v assure us • * * tlie.v must
design a penetrati in into New .lersey. * * * You will, there-
lore, immediately have all the stores removed." etc. In
(■reein''s reply, on the same date, Washington's apprehensions
as to this iioint were definitely expressed. Greene says: "I
shall follow your Excellency's advice. * * * I shall order
Gineral Stephen on as far as .\c(iiiackanonk at least. That is
an important pass. I am fortifying it as fast as possible."
Stephen arrived here on November 10. and proceeded to
strengthen the place, jiartly in accordance with a plan of
Washingtoa's. expres.sed ."n a letter to Governor Livingston
at the time. He planted cannon on the hill In front of the
Tap House to .-over the bridge, and other pieces in the win-
dows of the lower story, so as to sweep the opposite bank.
The walls of the lower story were two feet thick, so that the
54
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
tuvern was woll titteil to ri'sist luuskciry liri-. Tin- sti.ii-s ami
luttli- rt'Uiovcil from Fort Lee iu aiitii-iiiatiuii of Howe's ad-
viiiic-e were stationed souie distance liaek of this, on tile [Kir-
tion of the hill now bouudi-d by Hich and Prospei-t streets
and I'aulisou and Penninirton avenues. A rampart and trench
were thr-)wn H|> in anticiinition of au approacli by the enemy
from the bridge. It ran from I'aulisou to Gregory avenue, a
little sDUtheast of High street. As soon as General Stephen
heard of the evacuation of Kort Ia* he moved his stores across
the tields until he 'truck the Ni>tch road (Van Houten ave-
nue), about where Bloonilield aveu'ie now crosses it. and sent
them forward to Morristown. He himself remained with his
regiment to fuard the bridge until the arrival of the main
army.
I'KlMil" TIl.VT WASlllNC li)N DIH CUdSS IIKUK.
It is appr.>|iriate at this point to break the contiuiiily of
the narrative to notio- the i-xplcnled idea that Washington
never passed through Ac(|uaikanonk. If history were silent as
to the exact jMiint at which he crosstnl the river, it is obvious
that, chmel.v pressed as he was. lie would select the shortest
route from llackensack to .Newark, and come through Ac-
<|uackanonk. instead of, as is claimed by some, niakini,' a
detour and cr'wsinc the river above the Great Falls. All
historians uirrw that he went from Hackensack to Newark,
and that he gut there in two or. at the most. thr(K> days.
A number of them state explicitly that he crosswl at Ac-
<|uackanonk Mridce. The map shows that this was the shortest
lei sible route, and to forif conviction, we shall quote in the
.sutceiiliii); ihapter a dispatch of his dated from Accpiacka-
nonk. However, as it belonjrs pro[K-rly to e\ents yet lo be
rdatiil. We shall content ourselves here with the evidence
gathered from numerous histjries as to the urnjency of his
Kiluation, the route he look after leaving Hackensack and the
time spent on the journey.
From Irvine's Life of \VashinK<"n. \'ol. ;;. p. 4:j4.
"Leaving' three "e;timents. therefore, to ^uard the |>iisses
of the Hackensack and serve as covering parties, he I \Vash-
iliKloiil attain di'camiH><l, aiiil lliri-w liiinsrlt' on (be west bank
of the Passaic."
From Marshall's Life of \V)isliin).'ti n. \ol. 1. p. IJcr.
■"Nov. ,L\, 177ti. — Not inlenilini: to maintain his position
un the llai'keiisack. (Jeiieral \Vashin>.'ton had i)laced some
n uinieiils alon;; the Hackensack to affonl the semblance of
<h fcMidiii;; its passage until bis stori-s could be reniovtil. ami
with llii- residue of his tiiHips irossed Ihe Passai<- ami IikiU
1M.>| to .Newark. Sihui after he hail m.-ircbed .Major-Geiieial
ViiiiKlian appeareil befon- the \irw briiljie ovei tin- llackeii-
.sack. The .Vmerican detai hnii'iit which had Ih'cu left in
till' rear, beinir unable to <lef(>nd it, broke it down, and re-
tired before him over the Passaic. Having entered the o|)eii
<'ouiilry. Washington delerniimil to hall a few ilays on the
•south si le of this riv,-r, make some show of resistance, and
vmleavor lo colle<-t such force as wi.uld keefi up the s<-niblaiice
of an army. i-tc.
"Nov. lis. 177II. .\s Ihe Itritish army crossed the Passaic
Wasliin;.'loii abainlonetl his position iHhind that river, anil the
day I.K>rd C'ornwallis entered Newark relreal"il in New Hrnns-
wick."
From HiaiUey's Life of Wasliinu'lmi ilS'iSi. Vol. 1. \>. \'X'..
"Kriveii friiiii Ihe Hackensack. Washiiiclon tiMik post be-
liind .Vi|ul:aniiunk. Pressed holly by this position of C'orn-
V allis. he was loiiipelled to abandon this also, ami retired to
New Brunswick."
Fioni Battles of American Kevolution. Vol. 1, p. 250.
"The American army. comi)elled to abandon the space be-
tween the Hackensack and Pas)>:iic. crossed the latter river
at Acquackanonk on November 21, 1771;, burueil the bridjie
after a brief skii-Miisli. and followed the right bank of the
Passaic Kiver to Newark, reaching that city on the 2od. anil
New Brunswick on the 29th."
History of America by Winsor ilSMIi. Vol. U. p. :{lj)S.
"On the 21st (Nov. 177IJI he iWasbinjnoni was at Aquack-
iioc Bridge, on the Passaic, and by the 2'M was at New-
ark."
Kaum's History of New .Jersey. Vol. 1. i>. 4:!4.
"(Jeneral Washington, with Beal's, Hcanl's ami pan ol
Irvim^'s brigades, cr,>ssed at Acquackanonk Bridge, ami itosteil
themselves at Newark on the .south side of the Passaic river."
(Ji.rdon's History of New .Jersey, pp. 221. 222.
"Fuller these circumstauccs no serious desigu i oulil be
entertained of defemling the Hackensack. A sliow of re-
sistance was momentarily preserved, with a view of covering
the few stores wlijcli could be removed. General Washington
with lieal's. HiMrd's and part of Iiviue's brigades, crossed
Ihe Acquackanonk bridge and took [xist at Newark on the
south side of the Passaic."
J^i.ssing's Field Book of the Itevoluticn.
"When Washington Med toward the Delaware, in Noveni-
l>er. 177i'>. his army (thr.^e thousand in nun lieri encamped at
Newark from the 22il to the 2Sth. On lliiil il.iy Cornwallis
entered ihi' town with a pursuing fiirie."
Carringlon. in "Battles of the Kevolution. ""
"The American army, co!ni)elleil to abandon the space
between the Hackensack and the I'assaic, crossinl the latter
river at .Vcquackanonk on the 21sl day ol November, burned
the bridge after a briel' skirmish, and folluweil the right kmU
of the Passaic river lo .Newark, reaching that city on the 2oil."
The arrival of the fugitive army iu the evening or night
of the 22d easily accounts for the di£ferenc-e of the dates given
by I,o.s.sing and Carrington and others.
In the "Historical Collections" iliarlionr ami llowii we
iLail: "On the 22d of November. 177ll. (Jeneral Washington
el teri^l Newark on his retreat through New .Jersey, having
crossed the I'assaic by the Acquackanonk bridge with a force
of S.-VMl. Here the troops remained encamped until the morn-
ing of the 28th. «hen Lord Cornwallis euteieil the town from
New York."
Whitehead, in his "Contributions to East .lersey Hislmy."
says: "Washington's headquarters were at .\ci|nackanonk No-
vember 21, 177(1, and Newark from ihe 23d to the 27lli."
Sypher's History of New .Jersey, p. 127. says; "With
the brigaib^ commanded by Beal. Heard and Erwin. A\:isb-
ir.glon crossed the bridge at Aciiu.ickanonk ami look post at
Newark."
This is surely a snilicieni quantity of incli^initabli' rviilriii-i>
to settle the controversy once for all.
. X-i. «^
- *V* 1t* *i* «^t**v*^ *♦ iff* 1
"^***'* 'i'^' •ViJ**"» ^.TV i*>^^>X.Uci
REVOLUTIONARY MAP '1776) SHOWING WASHINGTON'S RETREAT.
CHAPTER XIL
WASHINGTON'S NIGHT AT ACQUACKANONK.
He Was in Full Retreat Before the British— Chopping Down the Bridge Gave Him Breathing Space, and
the Enemy's Foraging Gave Him Ample Time to Get Away— John H. Post, the
Bridge Chopper — A Skirmish at Passaic Bridge.
WASlllMnON cP'ssimI ihc liii<lj:i- in the iifti'incioii uf
Tliursilay. Novfiiilicr "Jl. l"7t;, ami wa.s greoti-d liy the
iiilialiitaiits. win- liail assfiiibleil al the lu-ws of his n--
ticat. The a|iiiraraiii-t' of his aniiy was previ'iiti-d from l«'in;r
n surprise by the proimratioiis whieb Wastiiiijrton hail iiiailc
to ilwtroy the liridce to balk the pmsiiiii« British.
Before Haekeiisiiek was reaehed he had ordered Caplaiii
\\illlaiii Ccdfax. of the re«iiiieiit of Life (Jiiards. his body-
Ki'aril. to seleet a bold ami trusty iiinii who eould (rather the
rtsideiits at Ae<|tiaekaiioiik. ami make all preparations for
dolroyins the Ivrldge as soon as the army had crossed. Colfax.
being a I' pton man. knew the leanings of all the patriot and
Tory families of this section. He seleited .lidin II. Post, whom
he had met on his visits to Acqiiaekanonk, when engaged in
the pleasant pastime of enirting. Post's home was at Lake-
view. It has long since disapiK'ared, bnt the site is at the
southeast corner of Cnxiks avenue and the Erie Uailroad.
He had joine<l the patriot army at Old Briilge. three mili-s
above Haekensaek. a short time before, enlisting as a private.
Post, on getting his orders, had hastened from Haekensaek
to his home, where he got his father, and collected axes and
saws, the lack of which tools would have previnted the sol-
diers from cutting down the bridge. They must also have
collected fagots and kindling wood, because several accounts
agree that the bridge was partly burned. They got their
neighbors iiiteri'st -d. with the rt>sult that when Washington
arrived there was a strong and fully ei|uippeil force waiting
to destroy the bridge al his orders.
The lirst thought of the commander on arriving here seems
to have been to ailvis" (Jovernor Livingston of New .Tersey of
his retreat fr-iiu the Hudson, for the following perfectly au-
thenliialeil h'tter is on recoid:—
".Vci|uack:inonk Bridge.
"'J\ Novemher. 177'!.
"Sir: — ! have litis moment arrived at this place with tien-
«>ral Beal's ami Ceneral lleard"s brigades from Marylaml anri
.lersey and jiart of tJeneral Kwing's from PeiinsylvaniM.
Tliri-*- other regiments, left to guaril the passes upon Haekeii
s;iik river, and |o serve as n vering parlies, are I'xpected thi~
<-vening. Afler the unfortunate loss of I'ori Washington il w:i~
dct-'rmined to evacuate Fort Lee in a great im-asiire, as it
was in a manner useless in obstrudlng the passagi- of tli'
Ninth Itiver without the assistance of Fori Washington. Tli'
aminiinilion and siane other stories were accordingly removed,
but. before We could eflfei'l our purpose, the oneui.v landed yes-
lerday inoi-ning in very considerable ninnbers about si.x miles
above the fori. Their intent evidenlly was |o fiu-ni a line
acri>ss from the plai-e of Iheir landing to Haekensaek bridgr
jind thereby hem in the whole garrisoi. betwii-n the .Vorlh and
Haekensaek rivers, and tinding the country from levelni-ss and
o| eiiness unlit for making a stand, it was deteimiued to draw
•he whide of onr for-e to this side of the river, where we
<an watch the operations of the eni-my wniiont danger of their
surrounding us or making a lodgment in our rear. But as
imr numbers arc .still very iiiadeq lale to that of the euem.v.
1 imagine I shall be obliged to fall down towards Brnnswiik
and form a junction with the troops already in lliat nuarter
ui.der the command of Lord Stirling. * * *
"I have the honor to be, etc.,
"Your oheilieut scrvent
"George Wasliinglon."
The rear-guard of three regiments arrived at niidnight and
ciossed the bridge, which was theu destroyed by .lohn Post
and his men. The British were close after the American.s.
and a few shots were exchanged, but the pursuers did not
attempt to force a passage in the darkness. Being safe frcuji
iuMnediate pursuit, the army encamped, and Washington slept
that night in the old tavern under the shadow of the church.
.\ room facing the river, in the southeast corner, used to
be pointed out as his r(M)Ui. Another local tradition is that
Dirck Vre^dand and other most prominent and respected vil-
lagers called that nigiit to pay their resjiects to the Com-
mander-in-Chief, lie conversed with them about llie progress
of the war and the selection of spies, and on their recom-
mendation several Aciiuackanonk nu>n were eurolleil among
the "eyes of the army." As will be seen later, they gathered
some reliable information. It was nearly 3 o'clock when \\':ish-
ington retired.
It has never ln'cn selllcil wlicUier Washington remaineil
here more than one day. Some authorities say that he did
not reach Newark until the 2:iil. in which case it is probable
that lie \\:is in .Vc(|uackanouk from the afternoon of the lilsi
until the morning of the 2;id. Others say that he arrived
at Newark (Ui the '2'M. The discrepancy may be due to his
ai riving there during the night.
Of his old headquarters here iicitliiiig lemains luit ihe
ruins, which may still be seen on ihc hillsiilc-, a s!ioi-t ilistauee
RUINS OF WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS
On Main .Wpnuc. near '• Old First" Churih-Burneil Down In 1S70.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
57
solllliiMst n( <]><■ "(IM l-'irsl" {'Inii-.h. 'I'li,. ln.iisi- wiis ili-
stniycil \i\ lirr in ISTil. Tli,- ini inihi- |i> iln' Krviilutii)iiar.v
liridjic is ricp\\ iir.'i|iii'il li,\ ;iii iiinisnl ilrivi'«;iy n|icniii}; intn
Inwrr .M:iiii .ivi-mif. .-iliciiil tliii'ty I'ci't s.Jiilli nf ilir ullin- .il'
the S. M. Hirili l.iiiiilpcr ( 'oiii|>Miiy. Tlh- lii-iil;:i' was rclmil!
"Tli.'it liuviiiK iill lliiii^^s iliinc
And ;ill ymir coiilliHs i)ii.>tt.
Ye may IjuIkiIiI your victory won
And stund conipli'to at last."
His wil''. Kliz.ilictli, outlived In r liushand over tliirleen
\v.\siii\(;'i<».\s i;!:'1m;i:at MOisruKi.v lire i>is-
iihakti<;mn(!.
in 1777. .iMil iisiil I'ui- :i lew yiais iiiiiil :i mw oiie was erected. years. ilyiii« on May '27. l.Sdd, at tile Kreat a>;e of l(l."> years.
Hotli its site anil tlie rnins of the olil tavern slioiild properly
lie marked by t.llilets or monuments for the lienetit of fntnre
f.-enerations. '\'\\v further history of liolh the hriiU'e and lli.'
tavc'rii will he foinid in tln' apiiropriate chapters. WashinL'tun's retr"at to the llelaware was very leisurely.
.\s to .Iihn II. I'ust. il )y a hical iraditiiin that he received He stayed at .Newark for several days, and Thomas Paine, the
a caiitaiti's ( niiiiiiissi.in f,ir chuppin;.' il,,wn the bridge. His noti'd inliilel. records that he .•idvan<-ed several tiinps to meet
name .lues nut appear >>n llie roll uf Iti'volntionary captains, the fue on infunnatiun tli.tl tie- Hritlsh were approaching.
the only I'ust of this rank bein;; Francis I'ost of Essex County. The retreat of '.III miles betwi-en the two rivers occupied nine-
nppuinted captain of ColoinO Thomas' battalion of •'Detached tei'ii days— less than live miles in 24 hours. The retreat, how-
Militia" on .Inly IS. 177r,. .l,.|in II. Post is officially men- ever, was very discotira^iiiK. (Jordoii's History of New
tieiied unly as .i priv.ilc, Imi pnbli.- -untiment promoteil hini. .Tersey says that, "iin.ibli' to m.-ike I'frective resistance ns the
THE TAP HOUSE
W'lisliillKInn's Tli'iidnnarters wliile in Pas.-^aic. i
and after the war lie was knu\\ n as t'aptain I'ust. when he
was not called "Pot-Bellied" Post, on account of his figure,
which hecame rotund lati' in life. He was only twenty-six
years of age when he <-hopped down the bridge. He served
through the war, and never earned any respite from hard work.
.\l! his life he plo.ved .-ind sowed un utlicr men's laud until
he grew tuo old fiu' such l.abor. when he ilruve the farmers'
lattlc- to and from pasture at the Notch. In his last ye.-irs
hi' ami his wife made their home with the faniily of the late
,Iuilge Henry 1". Simmons on .Main avenue, opposite the Eric
dipot. They did small chores, and enjoyed a sort of honorable
dependence. Their remains rest in the "OhI First" church-
yaid. Post's tombstone be.irs the following inscnption: —
In
.Mi'iiiury of
.Tohn H. Post
A Soldier of the
Revolutionary Army
Who Departed this
Life
On thi> 7th March
.\. I). 1S17.
.\gra '.i7 years.
ON THE HILL.
From i)liU(' in llic possfRsion of .\lfred Speer).
Rritish crossetl the P.assaic. W'ashingtuu abainluutMl his posi-
tion behind it. ami on the 2Sth of November, as Lord Corn-
wallis entered .Newark, he retreated thence to New Bruns-
wick. .\nil h.T''. tu ihe L'feat mortificaticui of the commander-
in-chief, he liecamc still more enfeebled by the abandonment of
his troops almost in sight of an advancing enemy." Another
authority says that. "Sc.ircely a man joined his army in this
march, while numbers wur,. ilaily llueking lu the ruyal army
to acce()l of the proffered mercy ami protii-tion." It was at
this time that Drummoinrs battalion was mustered into the
royal service. There was at least one unwilling recruit, though,
in the iierson of Edo Mersidis. of Preakness. a hoy of si.Meeii.
wild was driving through Ac(iuackaiionk with a load of wooil
for market. His hor.st-s were reipiisitioned by the American
soldiers sind hitcheil to a cais-son. The boy was counxdled
to ilrivi' with the load to New Brunswick, from which place
he was .ill.>wid lu return home with his team, much to his
delight and the relii'f of his parents.
Speaking of Washington's retreat. Dippencott's History,
page 16,3, says: "Depressed by a succession of disasters, the
little arm.v of .\mericans iuovimI wearily on, illy clad, without
tents, scarcely a bl.Luket. .ind no shcK'S to protect them from
the rigor of the season. "
58
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
With \Viisliiii;:ii>ii in lliis i>lif.-lit. iMi.niii: pursuit by tht-
British iiiiirht liavi- turui-d liis retreat Into a rout. The enemy
>liil not follow up his ailvanta^e. The writer of a pamphlet
l'i;l>lisheil in 177'» tries to account for this in a curious way.
lie siiys: "It was the |.us-oni of (Jeneral Howe to give the
enemy five days' march after their defeat, as for iustance the
battle of the Braudywine" (and eight others which he men-
tions*. "In Washington's retreat from Hackensack the cu.s-
tiinary live ilays were allowed him to escai)e. Lord Corn-
wallis might just us well as not have followed Washington in
close pursuit, captured him, and so put an end to the war.
But he was merciful."
If these were Howe's orders. I'ornwallis did not oliev
them at first. His for<-es were in two columns, one of which
f<dlowed the I'olitly road from Hackensack to Carlstadt and
Uutherford. then took the meadow road for a mile to Kings-
land, where it cri>ssed the river by the ford at Kelawanua reef.
Here it expected to join tlie c-olumn which was supposed to he
at Washington's heels, but it was compelled to wait several
ilays.
Tlie rest of Cornwallis' army followed Wasliington through
I.odi and Walliugton to the Aciiuackanonk bridge. They
leiiiid it destroyed, with three thousand men on the opposite
bank ready to dispute the passage of the river. Wheeling
about, they retraced their steps a short distance, and took
the road upstream until about ti(X) feet north of the present
bridge at Outwater's I..ane, in Uobertsford. Here they eii-
camiied in the dark at the Banta house.
riu'onscious of their approach. Banta and his family had
retired, for it was long after nddnight. They were aroused
by a British ■dlic-er. who wanti-d Banta to show him the ford.
Bantu arose, iiinl with a lanti-rn in his hand pointed out the
place. But it was hardly to be exi)ec-ttHl that tired men
would cross a .strange river at two o'clock in the morning,
anil the troops did not pass over. They luaile use of the hos-
pitalities of the Btintu place to their utmost. The slaves
were turne<l out of their slei-ping (|Uarters over the kitchen,
and the ollicers laid down i>n the straw which was placed there
tor beilding. Cornwallis an<l his staff occuiiied the main part
of the house. The men look possessi(m of the barns and out-
buildings or campi-d out. The smoke-house and bake-ovcu
were brought into \ise in preparing a midnight supper.
THK BurrisH ri Ksirr si.ArKi:.\Ei>.
At this point the pursuit se<:ius to have slackened. Wash-
ington moved his army leis\irely to Newnik on the ■22nd without
being opposed by tin- deta'-hiu<>nl whidi crossed at Uelawauna
or hi.H rear-giiurd being har.issed by Cornwallis. His spies
biought in reports of the i-m-iny's novements, nr lack of move-
ihents, whic.h jiistifieil liiin in resting at Ni'wark for three days.
The British leaders were ttnshe<l with their successes, and
did not c<iiisider it necessary to pursiU' closel.v a dis|>iriteil
enemy. They im igineil that the ri-voliition hud exhausted
itself. Cornwallis lingered a week lH-tW(.en here and New-
ark, and his men lived on the fat of the land. The harvests
had all been gathered, ami the richness of the farms at Sluu-
leiilnm, Weasel and Aciiuni'kainuik was proverbial in com-
paratively recent years. The temptation was too strong to be
rtsisted. Banta always said thnt the siddiers ilid not harm his
fiiiuily or properly, but on the Cailmus farm at Slauierdani
everything was theirs, for llie.v took it.
In due tiini- the British, having wrought terrible havoc
.'imong lhi> good things which they leunil in abunilaiice on
the Bergen County side, crossed the ford, which was just
north of where Dundee I>atii now stands. The river was
shallow here, am) its width was partly a<'connted for by a
small island. ISO fi-et wide, whiih lay in iiidstream. The
iuvaders doubtless rejoiced to tind that living was just as
good at Weasel and .\ci|ii:ukanniiU as across the river. The
farmers in all of these places were mostly descendants of the
original proprietors, who were wealthy men in the seventeenth
century. One hundred years of peace and frugality had made
their descendants the richest body of men in the two counties.
While they did not risk their lands and lives by fighting for
freedom, their well-tilled storehouses did the American Uevo-
lution a better service by hindering Cornwallis in his march.
And. indeed, it took foresight as widl as courage to embrace
the cause when Wasliington was ai-tu:illy in Higlit hefure the
royal army.
Itr. .Iidin (Jarretsoii oci-U|iied a house on the Kssex mow
rassaicl County bank, on the Wea.sel road, not far from the
river. His office was in a small extension at one end of the
house. I'pim the approach of the British he removed his
piecious stock of medicini's to the cellar, where, for safety, he
set some of his slaves at their customary household duties.
One old •■mammy" w.is lui.sy churning when a ball fired by
till' British at landHin or by accident pierced the door, and,
speeding close to In r In :id. H.ittened itself on the furthest wall.
This so enraged lii-r that she rushed forth, dasher in hand,
and. waving it above her head, bid defiance to the whole
British army. The (iarretsons were patriots, but the doctor
and his family were not molesleil. It is related that at the
close of the war .some neighbors, who wire British informers,
were rewarded with allotments of bnid in Xova Sc-otia. They
v.ent to their new possessions: but. finding the countr.v wild
and inhospitable, soon returned to the neighborhood of Weasel.
rpon their return they calknl on Mrs. (Jarretson. saying
they were glad to meet her again. Mrs. fJarretson, b.v way of
reply, picked up a pair of tongs and chased them from the
house. The good dame was a hot-tempered patriot. One
d: y. iluriiiL' llie w.iv. n peililler i-:iileil. In siiite of his pack,
sli|. suspei-teil tlial he was a spy. .-11111. rushing upon him.
pr.slieil liiiii lienillirst over the lower part of the door, the
upper half of which usually stood open in pleasant weather.
The first stop made b.v the British was at the home of
I'aul I'owlisson. on the Weasel road. The site of the Kevo-
lulinnaiy house is now occupied by the lately erected himie of
his great-grandson, lliclianl I'. Kip of Clifton. The old
Iduse weathered the storms for 1.S4 years. It was built by
the first Paul Powlisson in 1713. and its niemor.v is iinserved
in a stone inscribed with his initials and the liate. thus. ■I*.
I'. 171.">." I'o-.vlisson awaited the arrival of the tidi>ps on his
froet stooji. His wife had taken her ^on Richard, tWen not
five years of age. and hidden in the garret in mortal terror.
.\s the soldiers swaggered up the road, an officer approached
and imiuired if an.v rebels were hidden in the cellar. I'owlisson
said there were none. The officer insisted on searching, and
his soldiers emerged from the cellar laden with eatables, raw
and cooked. Powlisson's expostulations were unheeded; but
he was no worse off than his neighbors, for the soldiers storiued
and looted every cellar and pantry oil the line of inarch with
the greatest gallantry. Uesistaiici. would have been useless.
and none was offered.
I.IVINC oil' llli; KMlMV.s; COl-NIKV.
The British eiiiaiiiped on the ;;djoiiiiiig faiiii. wliirli was
owned by .\liram Vrit-land. a Tory, and remained there several
d;ys. living off the farmers. Then they marched to the s1oim»
now oicnpied by the City Hull and Park, which has been
called ■•Tony's Xo.se" ever since, after Sir Anthony Howe.
They remained here long enough for some of the soldiers to
make excursions as far as .lohn .liu-idi Vreelaud's farm on the
■■Point." This old gentleman always said that he received
fairly good treatment at their hands. They eanie for things
n ^lui'it Mfi'i.
^"^^t^iliia^ ^**-Kf <«' J^tfw^ivt^rf*^
1751.
ANOTHER OF WASHINGTON'S MAPS.
60
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
to eat, and. althoufrli lie was eoiisuleriMl pemiricus. he always
fed thorn to their satisfaction. .lust before their departure,
h.wever. he missed the silver buckles which adorued his best
pair of kiiickerljockers. Suspicion fell on a private soldier, who
denied the theft. Vreelaud was a man of lar«e conraiu'e. strong
e. nvictions and bip muscle. He captured the fellow, searched
him unaidtHl. and was rewarded by lindin^' the buckles. Then
he ordered all the soldiers off the place. .Vs they went he
watche<l them, feeling that they mighl yet steal something
before they left. They did seize a young heifer, which was
feeding with the rest of the herd in a field near the road.
VriH-land ran after them and oimix'Ued them to surrender
their prize.
Cornwallis took the Kivcr n.ad to .Newark, joining the other
p, rti >f his force, which was waiting for him at Dela-
wanna. lyiviug at this place was Coriu-lius Knnis. a ferryman,
who tr.insiMirted passengers across the river. Me was seized
and hangetl i>n a tree on the Uiver road. His body was left
suspended, and niion the departure of the aiiuy was cut down
by his friends and buried in a small graveyard mi iln' bank
of the Yantacaw jMuid nearby. It has long bei ii a mystery
why and by whom he was e.\e<'nted, but an a<-count of the
liiiUging was recently unearthed in an old magazine. Knnis
passed as a Tory, and was entrusted with information as to
the intentions of the British while they wi're c-ncamped at
Delawaima. It was discovered that his .sympathies were with
the patriots, ami he was hanged ont of precaution.
From Delawanna Cornwallis followed Washington's route
to Newark, where we will leave him. He was afterward heard
.if at Vorklown. when- the surrender of his army ro W,-ishing-
toii terminated the war.
Revolutionary History and Traditions of Ac-
quackanonk and Vicinity.
The Kevolnlionary history ami Iraditii iis of .Vci|uaiUaiionk
flo not end with Washiiigtoirs brii-f visit liere. The neighbor-
hcod is rich with historic lure, and tliough it was never the
scene of a great battle, shots were fired in anger more than
oi.ee. Washington is freipu'iitly heard of as being in th>' vi-
cinity of .Xciinackancink under ciicunistances which iiei'essi-
liiled his passing '.hrongh the place. .\ number of incidents of
the war hereabouts are related below. The material has been
gathered from so many sources that it would be tiresome to
i|iiole authorities.
After the battle of White I'lains Krigailier-tieiieral I'hili|>
Van C'ortlaudt. one of the noted commanders of the war. with
his servant and his frieml. Mr. Seabury. passed through .^c-
i|iiackanonk on his way across the State. He records thai they
"were near bi'ing captured by the enemy."
One of llie most <i'lebr:ited organizations of llic war. .\r-
iiidil's Light Horse. comiKised of Morris County troo|)s. was
here soon after Washington cros.sed the bridge. One of tlu'
soliliers writes in his diary: "Blowers and a part, at least, of
the troop si-rved at KlizalH-thtowu. often at Newark and
.\i|uacknunk." The troop was <livided in sm.iil scouting par-
lies, anil was useful for carrying dispalchi's. .\ iiuiiibiT of
llie men escaped capture and cinlinenient in Ihe Hritish fort
oil the PiiliHy road, a mile below llaikeiisack. by inistiiig to
the lleetness of their horses.
In Ihe summer of ITTi!. the blast fnrnace at Hibernia.
Morris Couiily, was put in order for casting ,'t-ponnders and
bulls. I'nder date of November 14. 177t!. Siiperintendont Huff
wrote to Colonel Knox, chief of Washington's artillery, that
he had cast over :$."> tons of shot, but that "it is altogelher out
of my power to get it carted." Teams were at a premium, but
finally .irra'igemenls weie made with (ieorge Van Iderstine
and Cornelius Lmllow of Aciiuackauouk to cart the stuff to
the Landing. « here it was sliipped by boat to different points.
On September 14. 1777. a colunm of Sir Henry Clinton's
firces. under Major Robert Druumioud. made a foraging raid
into Acquackanonk. carrying off many cattle, sheep and horses,
taken that night from the farmers.
A si\ii;.\iisir .vT rASS.\ic brid(;e.
.\fter the battle of Monmouth, in 1778. the British re-
treated through New .Jersey to the Hudson, and one detach-
ment was pursnetl as far as Aciiuaekanonk. a fitting reversal
of pri'vions -onditions. The Americans attacked the British
in camp on the night of .lune 30. 1778. ju.st north of the Erie
Kailroad bridge. A lively skirmish ensued, and a number were
wounded on both sides. In the d irkuess. however, the British
retreated to the bridge, which they crossed, and were soon lost
ill till' darkness on tile Bergen side.
A I'KU.MA.NKN T (ilAKH AT ACUl'ACK.V.NUNK.
The strategic importance of the .Vcquackauouk bridge was
soon re<-ogiiizeil by Washington. It was on the main highway
lietweeii Newark. Ilaekensack. Paramus. Morristown. Totowa
and many other points, and troops were constantly passing
tlii-iiugh the village. Many roads centred here, and the bridge
was the only one on the river from Newark up. Washington
decided to station a force here sutJicient to hold it unless the
enemy came in great force. He also desired to prevent the
iMieiny from foraging in the rich farming country roundabout.
Everything necessary for the suiiport of an army, from a horse
to a wisp of hay. had become very scarce and dear. In a letter
of O<tober 4. 177.S, Washington says: "A rat. in the shape of a
lierse. is not to be liought at this time for less than i'2i»): nor
a saddle under 30 or 411: boots twenty and shoes and other ar-
ticles in proportion."
Major (Jeiieril Lord Stirling was the titst American otticer
to be stationed here, but only for a short time. He had .scarcely
arriveil liei-e when lie reeeiveil tlu> following letter: —
"Hiadiinarters. Kislikill.
"October (i. 177S.
• -My Lord:—
"I had jnsi now the honor of .\onr letters of the 4th and
.">lh iiist. .\s we are often obliged to reason on the designs of
the eiiem.v from the appL^arances which come under our ob-
servation: or are drawn from our spies, we cannot be too at-
tentive to those things which may afford us new light. Ever.v
minutiae should have a place in our collection: for things of a
stdiiiugly trilling nature when <oiijoined with others of a more
serious cast, may lead to very valuable conclusions. The par-
ticular kind of forage, etc.. which the enemy are now amassing
in New .lerse.v ma.v have a teiideiiey this way — whether it is
ling or short— such as is usu.ally stored in their magazines for
the winter, or provided :is subsistence in sea voyages.
"You will endeavor, my Lord, with as much expedition as
possible ti> ascertain these matters of information, as well as
to collect such other circumstances and facts as ma.v be useful
In iiilorni onr judgment as to their design or destination.
"I am. my Lord, your Lordshiii's most ob't Serv't.
"G. Washington
"I*. S. Vcpii will lie pleas(>d to forward the enclosed to Dr.
Critlith."
This letter, still In existence, is ill Washington's own hand-
writing. It is folded so as to be its own envelope, sealed and
addressed li.v the writer: —
"Honorable .Major
"I'nblie Service."
(ieiieral Lord Stirliii;
".Kt .\iiuakoniick"
Lonl Stirling left .VciinackaiionU on October 1."). 177S.
take eominand of the troops at Elizabethtown. where he
inained until the army went into winti'r heaihiuarlers. In 1
to
re-
r7!)
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
61
he \V!is sliilioni'd mi I'imiiiiIchi. I'miii whirli iiciiit lie cuvci'ccl all
till' ciiiiiili'.v MS iMi- cast as llacUciisarU. The ;;naril was slill
inaiiilaiiiril al lln' liriilur.
s(ii.iiii:i;s i.\ii'i;kss1(i.\s oi' aci.uac kanonk.
Ill I 'I'li'inliiT. 1T7.S, a ilivisicm nl ilic ( 'cmtliiriital army, iiii-
(li'T (Ji'iicral rmiiaiii. iiiai'iliiMl tlirniiKli I'aianiiis ami Aiqiiack-
iii'oiik. Siii'fiiMm 'rhachi'i'. who was altaclu'il tn tlic ilivisinn.
rciiirils Ills pleasant iiiipn ssimis i>f lM>tli places as follows, in
liis diary of all ("vciits coniin;; luulcr his oliscrvatioii tiom 1775
to 17S:{:—
■■I)cccnil)i'r 1st iiml 2d. passi'd ihniinrli I'aranins ami Ac-
(|i!ackaiionk. twciity-six miles. These towns are inhaliited
chieHy liy Duleh peopli': their ehurihes and dwellin;; hiinses
are liiiilt mostly of roiifjh stone, one story hi^'h. There is a
peculiar neatness in the appcar.-ince of their dwellinjrs. hayinj;
an airy piazza supported hy pillars in front, and tlu'ir kitchens
CI i:nectcd at the ends in the form of winjis. The land is re-
reniarkalily Icyid. .-ind the soil fertile: ami liein;; f;euerally ad-
vanlaKcoi sly ciiiiivatcd. the iieople appear to enjoy ease and
liJUipy comjietency. The fnrniture in their honses is of the
most ordinary kind, and such as might he supposed to accord
with the fashion of (lie days of Queen Anne. They despise
the siipi rlieities of life, and are aniliitit.us to appear always
neat .-ind ihanh- .iiid never to complain of ;in empty purse."
There arc on MIc in ilie I'cniisvh aiii,-i Stale archives, iiub-
lishcd ill \cd. .\I.. Sc, olid Scries ihc division orders of Briga-
dier lleneral Aiillioiiy W.iyiic, coniinandiii}; the troops of that
State, showim.' the p.irolc. i onntersign and details for guard
at Ac"inackanonk liridge on DiMcmbcr Id and 11. 1778. The
divi-^ion left I'aranins on Dccendcr .">. being live days on the
v .ly.
On .November '.'M 177!t, <Jii.'irlciniasler-( Jcneral Greene
wrolc from Mnrrisiuw n to .i .New .Jersey olhcer that "we are
.vet like t''c wand.cring .lews in search of a .lernsalem. not
having fixt on a |iosition tor hutling the army." He adds that
he has described two favoraldc positions for winter (piartcrs
!'■ the Cominauder-in-Chii'r. "Ilic mic at Kiptacanock." tlie
other f^mr inilcs from Morristow n.
WASlllXCTo.V K.NCA.MI'KIl AT POMl'TOX.
I Ml (ict.ibcr 7. 17S(i. I.oril Stirling, who had lieeii at I'ara-
miis a short time, was ordered to Totowa to join the main
army under Washington, who had marched there from New-
bnrgh. The army remained in (amp at the foot of I'reakness
Mountain for six weeks. Colonel Mayland's cavalry was sta-
ti.ined near Litth' Falls, while Major Parr's rifle corps occupied
a ravine near the (ireat Notch, They were ttie advance guard
to w.itch all the roads to A<i|uackanonk and Newark and
guard against surprises. The .Notch road iVan Houten ave-
iiiiei was patrollc.i from the .Notch to the river night and day.
On O.tobcr in Ciptaiiis Monde. Parr and .McKinncy made a
rcconnoissaiice as tar as .\c(inackaiioiik. On the "_'od Maryland
and Parr were reinforced by the light infantry. The hill on the
east side of the gap known as the Notch was a lookout station
from which Washington freiiueutly viewed the country. La-
fayette and his French troops were encamped along tin' river,
near the present W'agaraw bridge.
Tlicfi' was so iiiiiih straggling while the army w,is at To-
towa that Wa,-li!iigtnii issueil general ordi^rs. s.iying that in a
I'idc hi' had recently t.akcn he roiiiiil his men as far down as
-Vcipiackaihmk bridge on both sides of the ri\'er. and as far as
lie had ever gone around the environs of the camii. the roads
and farmhouses were full of them. Some of these stragglers
were soon after chased by redcoats as far as the present Main
street bridge in Paterson, The Americans got across and partly
(Ii stro.vert the bridge. The British took to the water, the ofli-
cirs mounted on the sh piildi-rs of ilicir men, but could not
force a passage in the face of ;i hut tire.
Straggling was not the only ditliciilly with tin- troops.
There was mutiny as w.ll. Camp was broken on .NovemhiT
2'. when part of the army went to the Ilinlson and llu- .lersey
and Pennsylvania troops went into winter (inarlers at Pomp-
ton on the ;{nth, A part of the troops, unjustly retaiiie<l hoyoiid
the terms of their servi<-e. at a time when bounties were be-
ing paid for new eiilislnients, mutinieil. Two of tile ringleaders
were shot, and a snnill heap of stones in the hills is still
pointed out as iheir only monument,
Washington had his lieiidi|uarlers for tlirei. weeks in 17MI
at the Dey liou.se in Pri-akness, One huudreil years later the
owner traded it for the house at .">(i Howe avenue, in this city.
In the slimmer .if 17S() the Second New .lersoy Regiment.
Contiiicnial I, inc. had skirmishes with the British here. It
w.-is ipiarleiiMl at the bridge Inu-e during part of that summer.
The guard stationed later in the year had a skirmish on tlii>
evening of .November L'l, I'M', four years to a d;iy .iftir
\\'ashiiigton crossed. It was relieved by another detachment,
and while on its way to join the main army at Totowa was
surprised by a reconnoitring party of the enemy from Bergen
County, The British forded the river at Dundee Dam, prob-
ably being familiar with the ford because of Cornwallis" ex-
p< ri(>nee four years before. It seems the .Vmerieans had passed
the ford a few minutes before. The British gave chase and
overtot>k their <iuarry as they were crossing the bridge at Pater-
son. But the Ameri<'ans held the bridge, and. after an unsue-
cessful attemiit to w.ide the shallow river, the enemy was
driven back.
The First Pennsylvania passed through Aciiuackanonk on
,Iiily LM, 17.SII, on their way to the Hudson, opposite Spuyten
Dtiyvil, During the same year detachments from the same
regiinent were sent from Totowa, through Ac(iuaekau<>nk, to
.Newark and .leisey City, and in one instance to Staten IslamI,
It is probable that at least a part of the Second New York
regiment pas.sed through here in December. 17S(), Later on. re-
titrning from Fredericksburg, Va„ they encamiied at Ponipton
tor the severe winter of 17.S1-1782. They suffered much from
the colli, and were in bad spirits and an.xious for their dis-
charge. One Sunday their chaplain. I)r, .lolin Oauo, said in his
sermon; "I eau aver of a truth that our Lord and Sa\iour ap-
proved if all thi se who had engaged in Ills servi<-e for the
whole warfare, .No six or nine months' men in his servicel"
This bold remark hail an encouraging effect.
Oil .Tune 2li, 1781, Martha W.ishington is said to have
passed through .\c(;tnickanonk on her way to Mount Vernon,
escorted bv a gn.ird of honor from (ieneral Heath's division.
On .Inly 1. 1 7M the Coiincciicni State troops, 4tK) strong,
under (iemral Watcrbiiry. crossed the bridge on their wa,v to
Little Falls, by way of the Notch toad,
[•"or some time |ii-evious to August 11, 17N1, it was Wash-
ii.gton's iiilciition to attai'k Clinton in .New York. On that day,
however, he changed his idan, and determined to move the
French troops under Lafayette and several eomiuands of the
Aiuerican troops from King's Ferry, on the Hudson, to Vir-
ginia to capture Cornwallis. who surrendered two months later,
Geuernl I-inci In, with the Light Infantry and the First New
York Itegiment, passed through Acciuaekanonk on August '27t
on their way to A'irginia, This was the last time that troops
are known to have passed through the place during the war.
The French division marched during the same nuinth to
Philadelphia by way of Suffern and Pompton, At Suflferu
Washington joined them, and on the 27th left with his corps,
iulending to surprise Sir Henr.v Clinton in New York, He was
bound for Paulus Hook, and it is said that he took a round-
about way through .\c<|uaekan<uik to throw t\\r British off
their guard. The atta<-k was abandoned.
In the early stunmer of 1782 fJeneral and Mrs, Washing-
ton visited the troops at Pompton weekly, from Saturday even-
62
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
iiiK III Mumlay iiKiriiiiit;. Tlicy .staycil iii tliu Srlmyler llmisc.
Out' of the Srliiiylors wan iiiarrifd t" ti Vuii W'jiiioucr of iliis
plate.
A loeal li'iiilitioii Iiun it tliul diiriiiK one of these trips ilown
thi- Weasel road. Wasliinirtoii stoppcil al the house of Henry
(•arretson aiul ilaiidleil the little claiif;hter of the house on
Ills knee. He left with a promise lo semi her "a fine di>ll with
I'ic Idaek eyes, just like her own." He was a very methodical
man. so ihal it is surprising: ihut the promise was never made
t;oiid.
r.it.vvi: sriKs. • tiik kvks ov thk ai;.mv."
WashiUKIon's canipaicus were always faiilitated liy the
i-mployment of liidil and nuuu'rons spies, who were enabled.
Iiy the division of the .\nierieans into Tories and patriots, to
pass ill ami out of the Kritish ranks on prete.xls of l>nsiii(>ss
uilhont tronlde. One of the liesi of these was .lacid) A. Van
Itipi'r. of Aei|iniekaiionk. On the nii;ht of his stay here Wash-
iiiKlon. who was then orKanininf; a spy system to watch the
Hrilish in and near New York, selwted Van Uiper on the
recoinmeiiilation of Oi'rrick Vreelaiid, as om* who was ai--
■ lUainlcd with every foot of countr.v for miles aronml.
How well WashiuKlon was aide to inform himsidf of the
enemy's movements is shown liy a letter of Ancnst. 2."). 177S.
He illustrates the iM'rfect iu';:ani/atioii of the .system liy saying
that he was "an.\ions to ohiain a true account of what is pass-
uiir in .New York, ami am endeavoiinK to send in a variety
of persons from difTerent cpiarlers who have uo eoiumunication
or coiiiu-ction with each other. By comparing their aecounts
I shall he alile to form a prett.v ?o<m1 judfrment."
These men were truly "the eyes of the army." They were
of more thati ordinary intelliceiice. and Hale and Tallmadce,
and nota'dy the Cnlpers. father and son. were of very frreal as-
sistance hcrealioiils. They wrote their communications to
Washin^'ton in invisilile ink. which was madc> readalde when
the paiicr was welled «ilh a secret solutiim. Tln' Hrilish were
willing to pay them well to turn traitors.
A story is told of Colonel Hainillon ilniiiiiK the enemy liy
imans of a spy suspected of having solil himself lo the British.
Hamilton prepared what imrporleil to Ik' a detailed statement
of the effcclive strcnifth of the army, irreally exaKfieralinc the
niimlH'rs of men and arms, ami h'ft it on his writing taldi'.
On his return the snpixised spy and the docuin<>nt were holh
missim;. The stiata^'cm detiTrcd lhi> British from attacking'
in force.
The reports .if British ollici-rs tn their commanders oi-
casiomiliy show how successfully the .\iuoriean .soldier-spies
ih-ifivi-d their Iih'. On Kidiruary JS. I7M. ('ol<uiel Kohinsoii
re|M>rteil to Sir Henry t'liiilon at .\i>w Voik as follows:—
"Christian l.owzier and Kichard \'an Itiper say they live at
AciiuaiineiiuPHk. wliiih place tliey left Monday last. It was
lepcirlcd that p.irt of \\'asliin;:tiiirs army were to ;ro in the
sonthward." i^lc.
"1". S. The aliove two uu'ii are cmnc in. as ii seems to me.
inly on the scheUH' of Iraile. they appear to he i;;noranl of
piililic matters.
"Ciil. Koliinson."
The Kicharil Van Uiper. whose .lersey Putdi stolidity en-
alilcd him to ply Colonel Koliinson with trivial misinformation,
ami who impressed him as lieiiiK itrnorani of public affairs,
was. in fad, a captain in (Vdoiiel Thomas' liattalion of De-
tached .Militia. He was an Aci|iiackaiionk man, and lived on
the ICiver Drive, near \'aii Honten avenue. 'Hiv "laiwzier"
was Peter l.oziiT. of !,<)di. a lieutenatn in Cohuiel Fell's hat-
lalioli of Stale troops.
On March 1,S. I7SI, Danii'l .Martin, of Paramns. ripnrted
al lieadipi.irters in .\cw York that "LMKI nn-n lami' fr West
I'nint to Tappan yesterday." He was uiidoiihtedly idenlical
with the Daniel Martin of the same place who was in the
company of Hugh Stewart McLellan. which left Albany on
February l.'i. and. as he says in his diar.v, "came by Ac-
iinackaiionk."
BRITISH SPIES. THEll: CrNMM; AND i:S( APES.
The British spies were .scarcely less cunning than the
American. Two of them, who became so well known as to be
in lonstant danger of capture, were Ensign Moody and .lames
O'Hara. Their activity aroused the ire of Governor Livingston,
of New .Jersey, who on August 3. 1781, offered "$2(X) of the
bills of this state for the arre.st of Ensign Moody ami his
I'lrty," Moody i.ssued an aiunsiug counter-proelamaticni. uf-
fering "^tMl guineas true money for Livingston's ilelivery alive
to the Provost of New York, or half that sum for his ears and
nose, which are too well known and ton remarkable to be mis-
taken."
O'Hara was at Aciiuackauonk March 1. 17S1, and returned
to New Y'ork with a report that there was only a small guard
of a dozen men in this vicinity — at Second Kiver or Belleville —
that thirty men guardeil the stores at Poiiiptoii and that
"Washington came down with the trooi>s."
Clintim's spy. (Jould. reported to him on .lannar.v 2(1. 17.S1.
the mutiny of the .Jersey Brigade at Pompton. and that he
had returned to .New York throngh .\ciiuaikaiionk to pick up
all the news he could. .loseph Clarke, anolhi'r Clinton spy.
passed through here in .liily, 17^1, On liis w:iy \>i P.iramus
he met the Jersey Brigade, but qnitted the road and lay down
in the woods while it passed. Abouf the same time Peter
Btattie and Michael Campbell trav.'led tbroiigli here from
Newark to IlackensacU. They were arrested .as spies and
marched from .Newbriilge to Sneading's. but escaped during
a halt.
THE SYSTEM OI' HH.VCON I.ICIl'l'S.
A system of beacon lights was in u.se to send al.inns across
the State. One was on the high bliiff at the Nolih. in charge
of Major Parr: (me at Denville. on tl minem-e called Fort
Hill, in charge of Captain .Tosiah Hall, and another at Short
Hills, near Madison, which was called "the watch tower of
friedom." At each of these points an IS-pounder cannon,
called b.v the soldiers the "old sow." was kepi. Beacons were
built of dry woikI piled around high poles. When the sinlinels
discovered an.v threatening moveinents of the enemy, the i .in-
noii were fired .-nid the beacons lighted in bid ilie patriots be .m
their guard.
.MA.lOIt HOWE. THE MA^OKS <;i{ANDI'A rilKIJ,
In dosing the account of Aciiuackanonk in th<' Kevolulion.
it is with pleasure that reference is made to the services of
Major Bezalc"! Howe, grandfather of our present Mayor. Dr.
Charles .M. Howe. Major Howe served in the New Hampshire
line of the Continental .\riny except for six months, when he
w.is .\u.\iliary I.ienlenanl in (ieiieral Washington's Life
Ouards. He enlisted at the very coiniiiencenicnt of the war.
.ind served thioiighoiit. He was a mere youth, standing im the
village green in his native town, when a company of soldiers
was leaving for the f:'ont. His heart was touched when he saw
a we<-ping wife and daughters embrace an elderly man. and.
stepping forward, he offered himself as a substitute. He was
aceepli'd. and did not even visit his honu> again until llie war
was over. He was successively commissioned Lieutenant. Caii-
taiii ami Major. After the war he served three years, under
Oem-ral Wayne, against the Indians. After that he reinaineii
six years more in the army, making sixteen in all.
Al the battle of lyong Island he tindv command of his <-oin-
pany after the captain ran away. He served in Colonel Alex-
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
63
iiiiili'i- lliiiuill. Ill's rr(.'iiiiciii. mill WHS mil' ni' his sh;ir|isli(HitiTS.
Ill' uMs Willi W^isliiiiL'liiii ill Ills i-i'In-iit llin>iij.'li AiciikuUh-
iiniiU.
Amichi^' IIh' ii.-i|icis nl' Mii.Mii- Howe is un urijiinal painT
Iii'ikU'iI: — "All iic<oiiiil nf iiioiirys cxiii'IkIciI t'oi' His rOxccllriicy
llie ('omniiinilcr-iii-Oiicr's Kmnily liy ('apt. ISa/'l Iluwr Inr x\n_-
iiiontli of (Ittolicr. its;!." Hero follows an iteinizeil aeeonnt of
Hour, e^'irs. niiline;:s, oystei's, potatoes, beer, butter, ehiekeiis,
ete., with tlieir piices.
,Ioh.ii Havis. of I.oiuhiii. wlio Iraveleil in Aiiiei-ira frmii
ITi'S to ISO.'!, anil reeonled his impressions of men anil plaies,
arriveil in New York on March !!•. 17HS. "My frieinl, a pliy-
sieian." ho writes, "renleil a nniliriiKil simp uf a Major Howe,
who was agreeably sitnaleil in Cherry street. As the Major
took liiiarib'rs I ari-ompaiiieil llii- l>r. 1" his house to eat. ilriiik
anil be merry. Wiili suiiie of the well-stamped coin. I pnr-
ehaseil .i few iluzrii uf .Maileira. ami when the noontide heat
iiad ahali'il. I qiialTi'il I he il.'lieious liipior with the .Major and
Dr. under the trees in his ;,'arden. Major Howi'. after enrry-
in>; arms thron^di thi' lievoliitionary war, instead of reposiuR
upon laurels In- had aeipiired, was eonipelled to oihmi a hotel
In New York for the maintenance of himself, his wife and
children. He was n inoniber of the Cincinnati, and not n littlo
proud of his eaKle."
.Major Howe was aftcrwarcl Collector of the I'orl of .Ni'W
York, and his books, all in his own hundwritiiiK, ari' in his
jirandson's possession. 'I'he.v show the name and port of each
ve.ssel arrivinjr, the kind of carRo and amount of duty. Many
of the books ami manuscripts of this worthy man are now in
the rooms of the .\i'W .lersey Historical Soiiely at Newark.
These are w iriliy nl' a place besiile them. Thi-y have recently
come to li;.'lit. liaviii;; liecii I'oiiiiil in a iiarret, where they had
been iilaceil by the .Mayor's father, llie l.ile Dr. .lolin .M. Howe.
CHAPTER XIIL
EARLY INDUSTRIAL HISTORY.
First Factory was a Tannery and Fur Dressing Shop, Erected in J 735— The Begfinningfs of Cotton Bleaching
in New Jersey— The Dundee Canal Built in 1859, From Which Time
Manufacturing Development Really Dates.
Al'.iPl l' 17.;n Sliiiliiii I?;issi-tt laiiii' In .Vc.|ii:i<l;:iiiiink. lli'
liail a lamu'ry at iM-rry ami I'l'arl slicrls. New York
City. He fomiil that Uo coiiUl ucl skins in i)lcnty fin-
laniiini; and ilri'ssinj; from tlic Indians licrc. ami trailed with
them for a whiK-. Then he drridfil to ilispos,. of his Imsincss
in Xi'w York and move hero.
It is thi>u;:ht he si-tflrd lu'rc |icvmancnlly i" l"-!''- ;"'<' I'stab-
lishrd tho first mannrai-tnrint; industry in thi- county, if not
in the St;iti-. Hi- crcctc-d a small factory where Welsh's Hotel
MOW stands, at Central iml Leximrton avenni's. lie <liosi>
this si>ot lieeunse a lirook ran thron^h it, sn|>|ilyin^' him with
the water he needed. The Weasel road, as I,e.\in«ton avenue
was then known, had lieen opened in 170". Hassett tanneil
hides and dressed skins in srreat iinantities. shipiiinj; them to
New York. The Indians supplied liim with di>er hides, wolf,
hear and fo.x skins and the pelts of the raeeooii. inuskrat. opos-
sum and skunk. lias.sett pnspered until his di-ath. iu 17(>:i. at
the a^e of .'jli. He was hnried in the "Old First" Cemi'tery.
then a plot perhaps "JIMI yards scpiare.
Bassett was an ancestor of the late .lud;,'e lli'iiry 1'. Sim-
mons, who aliout twenty years ajio removed the stone to his
own plot. He dutf for the hones, liut found nom-. They had
liecome part of thi- soil !:rter the lapse of 12,"> yi'ars. The
oriuMUal Hasselt srave «as by the side of William Simmons"
at the spot' above referred to, where still may lie seen the
heailstmie of Bassott's daiiehter, an old red stone, small in
size, but upon which one may read in very legible letters:
"Kleanor Bassett. dau'.;hler of Stephen anil Ann Bassett,
l>ied Kelirnary 211, 1742. aceil 14 years, lo months. ."> ilays."
.lust why the sirl was left is not known, except thai she
was allowed to rest beside her mother, who never had a stone,
as she died the last of the family anil none were left to erect
II nioniiment to her ineniory.
The Iniinery was turned into a brewery after Bassett's ileath
by a innn known as Abrain Brower. It is a time-honored tra-
dition Ihal when he beu'an brewing he had a Christian name
only, and that he was lii-st called Abrain de Brewer ami then
.\braiu Brower. It is a thankless task for history to spoil this
■ inaint supposition by pointiiij: out that Brower was the nauu'
of a raml'iv founded by .\dam Blower Beickhoveii. who came
from Cidotfiie to New York in lii4"J. His son .lacoli .ami .Vniiie
Bouanliis were presumably the parents of .\braiii. Abram's
son Theophilns eoulinned the brewing business for only a short
lime after his father's death, and then went to Now Y'ork.
Bassett's tannin;; business was coiitinned by Lucas Wes-
.sels. whose stone Imuse stood wlieri" 111- Hrie inaiii dejiot now
is. Wessels was surveyor, clerk of the clinrch. scrivener and
mineral adviser for his generation. He ilrew most of the deeds
and le);al papers, and his name is freipieutly met with in real
estate records ami maps. His private watermark may be si-en
oil ll.e paper oil wiiuli niiiiiy .f Iheii! are written. He iii.-iimlar-
nired this paper himself.
With the exception of a saw and srist mill, these were
llie only industries established in the first century after the
settli'iiient of Accpiackanonk. One institution that is intei-est-
iiiL', it not imporlant. is the only exception. Dirk Vrceland.
one of the leading li;rhts of Revohitiouary Ac<iiiackaiionk. had a
brewery, distillery and cider mill combineil on the Brewery
broid;. on the south side of Brook aveniii , near the lliver
ro:\d. There was a sniall ponil at the rear of the building. The
bri wery was a sort ol joint-stock affair, owned in common by
iwilve farmers. Before the days of internal revenue taxes
farmers madi- their own malt liiium-s and spirits, an hereditary
ri^lit still claimed by the mountaineers of Kentucky and Ten-
nessee. (Jreat (piantities of cider were pressed in the fall, and
most of this became applejack. The farmers took their turns
at iisin'T the vats and stills. A farmer woiihl uci witli liis sons
.111(1 hired men and spend several days tlure. ll was the
yoiiiif; men's pleasure to stay there al iilKhl, atteiidiim to the
work, and danciiif; with the ^irls who would visit them there.
Beer and lii|iior were plentiful and siood in those days. Debts
were paid in them, and Dirk Vreeland received one-tenth of
the product for the use of his building:. With the befiinnint: of
internal revenue stamps the brewery went to ruin.
Vreel.-ind's pond and the grist mill first luiilt there were
named after Knoih .1.. sou of .lacoli K. Vreeland. who formed
the pond alioiil IS'J'J. I'revious to that time the ^Veasel Brook
ran ihrouch a little valley there. When the jMiud is drained
llie course of the brook can still be seen. Enoch, who was of
a mechanical turn of mind, erected a dam nearly o(X) feet .south
of the jireseiit one. and built his grist mill near his house, west
of the d:iin and near the present line of Monroe street. The
11.111 was run by ;in overshot wheel. The lane leading to the mill
froin the Weasel road ran where Monroe street now is. Enoch
curried on the business until 18,'i'2. when he deeded the property
tf, his father, who iinmtdiately conveyed Jt to bis other son,
,1. .1. v.. Vrei'laiid. The new owner continued llie business
until ISt.l. when the ilani was washed away. The mill went
down in the disaster and was not rebuilt. It had never been
a mom^y-maker.
THE BECINNTNGS OF COTTON BI.EACHINfS.
The first cotton bleachery in the State was establisheil
in l.Si;{ by .lames Shepherd, who built a bleachery on a spot
on the Weasel Brook where it crosses Highland avenue. Tlie
secret of siicci .ssfiil bleaching lies in pure water, and in this
respect the brook was well adapted. After a few years Shep-
hard sold out to .Tames Uennie, under whom the business
gii'w so large thai the brook did not furnish enough water,
l.ioking around fiu' a larger streatn. he settled on the Saddle
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
65
liivi-i-, :il I..Mli. ill ]s:\\. mill liiiili till. Ili'iiiiii' HlniclnM-.v there.
wlii( li, ii: llu' Iwiiiils nl' liis lirutlier, It.ilierl liecmni' fainims nil
over (lie ciiiiiitry, 'I'lie mill iiinilr L.uli u binKer pliice than
AcquiK'UaiiimU. Itel'eri' llir \v;ir Aiiiitacknnonk people used
to resort to I^odi for their h.iliiliiy e"leliratioiis. et(.
James N'is;htiii!;Mle since-iliil Ueiiiiie mi the Weasel Brook.
He sold the mill and « ater ii;;lits to a I't'eiuhinati, whoso en-
terprise should have preserved his name. Me made opi-ra
prlassos. and tinall.v Inrned to tlf matinfaeture of lioopskirts.
All of tlietii proving failures, he st.-irted to distill lii|itors. .\
liionol>olistie fioverninent seized and destro.vid ilie plant lie-
<'iinsi' he iieirleeted to lake out a distiller's license and pa.v the
internal reveiine tax. Uitilaril escaped arrest ami tied the ooiiii-
tr.v. .Mir.iham \'aii Uipcr. who jrave the revenue otlieers in-
teiiiiation of the plant, received mic-h.-iir of tlic \.iliic of (Jiiil-
ard's properl.v. which was i-niiliscated. The mill was destroyed
ami the dam removed in the earl.v seventies, draininpr ont the
small niillpond. I'art "f the dam was visilile fur over twenty
.ve.'irs. lint all traces are mwy lost.
Tile pure waters .il' the Weasel I'.ronk ne.xt attracted the
alteiitinii iif Fi-nloii iV Kiley, bleachers and printers of cotton
and linen, who came here lookina; for a mill site. On the site
of Watson's Bleaehery were several springs which suited them.
The result was that .lolin .1, K. \'reelaiid asreod to build them
a tiiill and snppl.v water power b.v bnildin;; a new dam and
fcrmiiifr a new pond. The mill was a three-stor.v bnildiiiL'.
alxnit HCx"."!. The wheel of the old urist mill was set np iu it.
After a few .years Feiiton iV Uiley were sneeeeded by M. Gott-
tiird. a Frenchman, who Ideached and dyed silks. His Inisi-
m'SS was stopped by the dam a^jain i;ivini; way. and he aban-
doned it. Iti 1S.")(; the dam was atrain ridmill for Charles and
George Baldwin, who <'anie here fiimi Maiden. Mass.. to estab-
lish a bleaehery. The.v obtained the privilege er increasing the
hei.Kht of the dam whenever they lu'eded tnore water, thus (iro-
vidiniLC for elilargin.!; the poiul. They did not remain here Ions,
however. The accidental death ef a son id one i.l' the lir.illieis
preyed upon llis mind so ninch that Ihcy Ictl tlic tewii.
The mill was iinteiiaiiteil iiiilil ISii:;, when .bdin Wat-oii
oi>ened it and repaired the .lain. In ist'.s ln' purchased the
property. In ISTd the Aei]naekanonk \\'atcr Company, jnst
organized by Charles .M. K. ranlisoii, demolished the idd dam
and constructed a larser eiic. .\ long lawsuit ensued because
the water works spoiled the waters of the brook below the
dam for dyeing ptirposes. Watson Avon the suit, but the eom-
pan.v eotitinued to supply water from the puiid for nearly
kfti'eii .years. The pond has been a source of freiineiit litiga-
tion ever since, one hotly contested suit being between the
W.atsons and the Saddle River Ice Company over the right to
cnt ice. It is o« iii'd by tlie \'rci-land estate, nf which William
I'ennington is trustee. It is all that is left of the ancestral
Vreeland aere.s, most nf wliicli p.tssed into the hands of the
late .Indge Henry P. Simmons. The Watson Bleaehery burned
down in IST'J and w;is rebuilt, .\fter the death of .lohti Wat-
son it was lain by his sons, until business reverses cmnpclled
them to close in ISSlt.
The fir.st iron foundry in .\cipiackanonk \\as that of Hirani
Bliinchard, who started a plant fur making stoves and small
machine eastings in l.S:{'.l. near the Krie Railroad bridge. lie
brought a score of families to the city with him. He gave up
business about ISoti. I>r. Benjamin .\yciigg. who had .inst
built the .Vycrigg mansion, bought thi' foundry ami deniolishcd
it. The site was turned into a pasture.
DKVELOr.MK.NT OF i;l\ FR WATKK I'OWFR.
The water power uf the I'assaic attracted attention as
early as 1.S2S. when .lidiii S. \'an Winkle and Brant Van Blar-
coni were empnwercd by the l-egislature to eoustruct a dam
eight feet high acmss the river ami dig a catial to furnish power.
Tlie,\ lacked eapital. and .all lliey were able to do was lo eiun-
meiice the canal atnl erect a wooden crib across the river and
bnihl a small mill in Bergen (.'oiinty. In ISSti the Pn-ssuie
Navigation Coniiiaiiy wa.s iiieorporiileil by a siieeial act. It
w.as empowered lo improve navigati<in by constrneting a canal
between Aci|nackainink ami Paterson. The canni was to be
at least .seventy-live feet wiile and fiuir feet deep. It wnK
also iiuthorizeil to ilani the river. The 4'ompany only went us
f;tr jis to prepare a in;ip. showing the proposeil route of their
canal, which was to start at Knndee Ham atid run in a straight
line t.i a puiiit alMiut :i(l() fei't west of the fnot of I'ark place.
where the Icick was to be situated.
The Oiii'die Water. Power and I, ami Company, which pin-
chased the .Vekerman and Vic<'laiid farms, built the i-anal. and
commenced the development of the manufacturing section
kiiown as Unndee, was organized nndia' the name of the Dun-
dee .Manufacturing Compatiy by an .act of the Legislature
passed -March !.">. IS.'I'J. Tlu' original im-orporators were not
.Xeiiuackjtnonk men at :ill. lnit were enterprising ;ind well-to-do
business niiMi living .it Pmnpton. then in Bergen Count.v. Their
natues were .lacob .M. Ryersoti. Peter M. Uyerson, Uussell
Siebbitis. .\. R. Thiimson and William Chase. They were
authorized to raise a caiiilal of .');.">( >.<M 10 in .^."O shares, by
■ ■I eiiing subscription books at Pomiiton.
DUNDEE DAM. PASSAIC RIVER.
One Mile AtH)ve I'a-'^saic.
The company was authorized to "inanitfa<ture iron, cotton,
wool and othiT articles, to buy. rent and hold such lands and
water power in Bergen Contity. kv otherwise, to become pos-
sessed of. hold (U' ciuivey any real or personal estate as may
111' necessary for the purposes aforesaid, and the same to sell,
let or dispose of as they may deem proper." By an act passed
I'ebrnaiy is. IS.".."., the .-.■nipany was authorized to purchase
land and water puwer in the County of Esse.\. Passaic County
not having then been fcirmed.
On February TJ. lS."iS. the eompan.v was authorizeil to
■■imiu'evc the navigation nf the I'assaic Kivcr. lietwccn the
month of Weasel Bi k and some convenient point between the
limits of Pati'rson. and to make and construct one or more
canal or c.inals. dam or dams, as might be necessary to effect
the iinprovenient of the navigation of the Passaic river, said
canal te be at least scvi-iity-live feet wide at the water line
and iiiit III e.\cecd mic hundred and fifty feet in width, iuoluding
till' b:inks. ;niil tlie water to be at le.ast four feet deep." The
cempany were also authorized "to construet towing paths and
all the locks and works, devices, wharves, toll-houses and of-
fices lu'cessary or proper for the use of said canal nr dam."
It was iM-ovided that "the said canal and river should be es-
teemed a public highway for the transportation of passengers
and freight" on payment of c<'rtain t(dls, which were tixed by
the act at not tnore tliati five cents a mile for each pa.ssenger
and four cuts a ton for freight. The farmers residing along
66
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
till- lino of saiil iiii|>roVfiiu-iits wc-rf tu In- rl>:irj;i-<l only one-half
of the rate« of toll for trausiH>rtinK liiui- or other fertilizing
niiiliM'iulK. 'Die company was also re<iiiire<i to t-onstrnct <nnl
k4-i'|p in re|iiiir ^imkI luid snHicifnt liridses over their ennal.
Tin; icKAi. ni:i;iNMN<; ok MAMFA<"rriUN(;.
K'lr many years after olitainin); its tirst rharter the l)nn-
(lee Mannfaetnrini: Coiniiany did nothing. In 1858, however.
tlie Dundee dam was pre<'ted and the canal c-onstructed. It
was the iinr|>ose of the company to maintain navigation, a
li>ck hcinE hnilt at the dam hy Joseph Scott, father of Lawyer
W. W. S<-..tI. Ill l.Stn the company sold $l(Ml.(KKi of lionds.
The lioiKlhuldcrs foreclosed their niortgace in ISChi. and the
proiHTly was sold to I-^hvard .T. ('. Atterlinry. The company
was n-or;.Miii7.ed and the properly conveyed to the stockholders
airain. A siH-cial enaliliiiK act was passed on March IS. lSi!4,
to accomplish this. By an act of 1S"<» the c pany was au-
thorized to issue IhhuIs to the amount of $2riO,(KMl. In 1S71
thi' authorizeil stock issue was increased liy J."itM).(K»t). and in
l**?!; the name of the company was chanciil to "The Dundee
Water. Power and Land ('onipany."
The real ilevelopineiit of the Dniidw section, which t'ives
I'lissaic imiHirtance as a nianufacturiii); lity. liejtan when
the nuvitratioii projeit was aliandoiied. and the company de-
voted its canal to supplyini; water power. To make this jirulit-
alile. it was iie<-essary to own the land on the Point, which
was in possession of the Ackermans and Vreelands. The far-
mers held their luciperty at prices wlii<'h were high for farm
lands, and negotiations went on for .vears. lint in ISlil the
company tinally solil the property for $14.IKKI.
It has heeii .solil for mill and home sites, and is iii>w worth
millions. The mill-sites iisuall.v carry with them a s|iecilieil
water power, which was once tin- ino.st valiialile asset, liiit
since all the factories now lely princlpall.v iiii llicir sicaiii
plants it is hecoming less vahialile.
The Krsi factor.v t rectcil upon the Dundee Coinpany's lanil
to use the water power of the canal was the Star Foundry and
■Machine Coiiipany, which was incor]Hirated March IS. l.S.")!(,
lo make anvils. The mill was a small hrick Imildiiig. one story
high, anil K. .1. <". .Vtterliiiiy. presiilcnt of the IMinilee ("oni-
pany. was the principal owicr. It slnod at Passaic street and
the canal. The N'l-w York Helling and Packing t'onipany now
own-' the site. The liiisiness was not successful, and aliout
ISiM! the company went out of business. The New York Steam
Kngiiie \Vorks was next erected. It made large eastings and
tiirni-d out tiwds for various trades in large ipiaiitities. At one
time it employed ."MHl skilled and highly paid wurkineii. and was
the iirincipal industry in tlir town. It met with levcrses. how-
ever. !U thi> jiaiiii- of 1S73 and closed down iiermanently. One
of the few of its employees who remained in Passaic is Daniel
De Vries, the Dundee machinist. Another early industry, since
defunct, was the paiier mill erected by one Coudit and others
of Jersey City, where the Waterhouse mill now stands. The
building was purchased by the Dundt>e Company, which sol.l
it to the Waterhouse Brothers in ISilT. It was biinit down in
18»il).
The history of e.\isting nianul'acturing establishments will
lie found under a separate heading, and an account of the
Dundee (^"onipany 's railroad scheme will be given in the chap-
ter on ■'Itailroads." iinniediately following this.
THE WKASKl. HKOOK.
It will be Well to preserve all that is known respecting the
brook that turned the wheels of .some of the first mills in Ac-
(inackanonk, and is now disappearing before the march of
iniproveineuts. It rises in a spring in the Weasel Mountain, on
the farm formerly of Ricard Compton, and flows eastward to
the Morri.s Canal, which crosses it near Richtield. The canal is
fed in part by Deep Brook, which before its coming fe<l the
Wi-asel Brook. The overflow from the canal is received from
a waste weir into NA'easel Brook, which also receives a part of
the waters of Deep Brook below the canal. A number of
springs, some of considerable voluiiu'. on the Quimby. I'ost,
AVestervelt and (iarrison farms in Ac-quackanonk township,
prevent it from running dry after leaving the canal. It passes
under the Newark branch of the Erie and the B(M)ntou branch
of the Lackawanna Railroad to Post's and Westervelt's mill-
ponds, which it forms, then under the I'aterson Plank road,
past Pitkin iV Holdsworth's mill, where its waters are used
for wool-scouring, under the Erie main line. Central and I.ex-
iiigton avenues, then southeast under Highland. Van Winkle
anil Parker avenues, until it empties into Vreeland's pond.
The pond dr lins into the Passaic River by the tail-race, which
is practically the fonniT bed of the brook. The brook ran in a
more crooked course, but reached the rive^ at the same point.
I'lilil a few years ago first the brook and then the tailrace
were fed .It Monroe street by the Simmons Brook, which rises
in the hills west of the city. It was diverted into the Main
avenue storm water sewer, and a considerable portion of its
dry water course was built over.
The Weasel Bi k was ihristened two hundred years ago.
I'he name of Weasel was applied to the broiik. to the I>uiidee
Drive, still known by that name in Clifton, and tu the patent
of land lying between Clifton and Lakeview fnim the river
te the mountain. The brook marked the bomidary of the two
plots of land containi'd in the Point P.Ueni of 1i;n4.
v^fe5<S^^ «^^^;s==^2^
CHAPTER XIV.
THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD.
The Erie Was for Two Years Only a Horse Car Line- Then Locomotives Ran Till 1836— The D. L. &
W. Arrives — First Trolley Line in the State.
MA ^ L'S. ls;',-J. w;ls a i-iMl-lcttci- ilny for A(iiiia<U:uiniiU .n-
I'ati-i-suii I,ancliii(r. as it was tlu-ii freiinciitly lalli-il.
< )ii that (lay arrived by hoat from Newaik two passt-ii-
ger cars that were to lio used on the raih-oad that had just boeii
constructed lietwoon tlie I.aiidiii}; and I'atcrson. tlien a grow-
in;; manufacturing city of 9,01X1 inhabitants. The Paterson and
Hudson River Kailroad Company, the progenitor of the Krie.
was organized liy an act of the Ix-gislature. in 18.31. to conncc i
Paterson with the markets of New York. The portion of the
road between Ac<iiiackanonk and Paterson was finished May
1. 1S.SL'.
Kaihviads were as much of a curiosit.v tlien as air-ships
are now. and iXH)i)le came from man.v miles around to see the
ui.vsterious something which was expected to work such won-
der.s. The cars had been constructed l)y J. L. Young & Co.
of Newark. They arrived here about 2 o'clock in the after-
noon, were U>adi>d on trucks and taken to a l)arn which stood
where Speer's market now is. at the northwest corner of Main
avenue and Pros|)ect street. The corner was then occupied by
Patrick Hogan's boarding house, which had been a teuipcrancc
hotel for several .vears previous, and was then lodging tlie
mechanics and laborers engaged in building the railroad. Tlic
cars were put in Hogan"s barn to be admired b.v liuiulnMls.
Tlii'v were almost as large as the cars of the present day. but
the .seats ran back to back through the centre, so that the
passengers sat gazing out on either side. The coaches were
p:iintcd reel.
THE ERIE MAIN DEPOT.
DII.WVN KV -FI-EKT .\.\Ii tiKNTI.K llOUSKS."
Only one section of the raili-o.id — from Passaic to Paterson
-had been built, but trains began to niii regularly early in
.luue. with horses as the loioinotive power. I'or two years it
was merely a horse-car line. Yet it was a great curiosity.
The first trip was witnessed by great crowds of people, who hail
come from as far away as Sussex County to witness the scene.
Not only were the cars crowded inside and out, platforms and
steps, but the roofs were covered with boys and men. A con-
temporary account says that "eight fleet and gentle horses
with their careful drivers" pulled each car. The trip was a
success. The enterprise was laum-hed under favorable auspices,
and from that .lay to this cars have never cease<l to run over
this section of the Erie, iluring the blizzard of 1.S.SX excepteil.
Uailroad riding was at first a pleasure and a luxury. It
bad nunv than the novelty of an automobile trip today. Some
euterprising Newark men did a profitable business in conveying
parties by boat over the Morris Canal to Paterson, in order to
take the railroad trip. Much of the early patronage must have
come from .\ewark in this way.
The Newark Daily Advertiser of .Iiine ],S, l,s;!2, contains
this advertisement: —
PATEKSON.
"The canal packet boat. .Maria (loldeii. Capt. Hrien, will
leave for Paterson every day except Sunday 'till further no-
tice. All those who wish to avail themselves of a trip on thi'
railroad, now in operation between Paterson and .Vciiiuicka-
nonk. will find this a good opportunity, as the boat will re-
main at i'atersoti long enough for that pur|M>se and retnrn the
same eveninir."
The same newspaper, on .luiic L'l. printed the following: —
""By .111 ailvcrtisemeni in the Paterson liiti-Uigencer we
Itririi that the Co. now have three cars ruiiniiig on the rail-
road, between Paterson and Aciinackanonk. leaving eaih place
si-\ times a day. the fare is but IN ^-ents c;ich \\a.v. and llu^se
who feel anxious to try this mode of traveling, have now an
easy and cheap opportiinit.v of gratifying their curiosity.
■"If all the cars are as well adapted for the ease and i-om-
fort of the occupants, as the one which we saw a day or tw"<i
since, from the manufactory of .1. ]•". Young & Co. of this town,
intended for this roa<l. tlie.v have at least one reipiisite for a
llcasaiit and agreeable ride'"
-V later form of the ailverlisemcni referred lo by the Ad-
vcitiser appeared in the Intelligencer as follows; —
A U.\1I.1{()A1>.
"In pi"a<'tical operation within HI miles of the lity of N.>w
York.
""The Paterson and Hudson Kiver ICailroail is t"orine<l from
the town of Patersi>n to the village of Acqiiackanonk. a dis-
tance of 4^4 miles, and is now in actual and successful opera-
tion. The <-ompaiiy have placed upon the roail thn^e splendid
and commodious cars, each of which will ai'comiiUKlate at least
o'l passengers, and have supplied thiMnsidvcs with fleet and
g< ntle horses. :ind careful ilriveis. With a view to suit the con-
venience of those iM'rsons who may wis(i to avail them.sclves
68
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
of Iliiis rapiil iimi ili-ligbtfiil iiumIi- nl iiiiv.-liii;:. tilt- folluwiii};
hijiirs li;ivi' lii-cn fixtil for leaving those plaees: —
I'atersoii at
7
10
12
:i
4
5:4."!
(>.
7.:5(»
Smiilay>
1)
12.
.Veiniaekaiioiik at
8
1(»:30
12:45
3:.3()
5
0:30
S.30
!».30
1.30
i;.
7.:;(i
0.30
"Fare re<liue<l to 1.">|., cents. Cliililieii iiiuler 12 years liall"
priee. As tlio road is nitliin lo miles of Ilohoken ami .Jersey
City anil it. of the to\vn of Newark, it will afforil an easy and
elieap opportunity i>f witnessing its advauei'inent ami will fa-
eililate the eoinninnieation lietween llu' town of I'aterson and
the city of New York. The pr<jpriotors of stages have taken the
railroad into their line. It is the wish of the eoinpany to lie
pniietnal in leaving the respei'tive plaees at the honrs afore-
said, ami the proprietors of stages are requested to eo-operato
with Ihein in this respeel.
"Hated .June 22. l.s:}2."
ERIE RAILROAD BRIDGE, LOOKING EAST.
.Vt this time the road was eoiiiplete from the lorm-r of
Market ami (!raml streets. PalersTHi. to Vranklin's crossing
(Main ami I'eniiington aveniiesl. in this city. This crossing, by
the way. was named after William Franklin, who was gate-
tender thi-re for lifty years, until his death in 1S!M. Work was
rapidly pushed toward the completion of the road from this
point to .lersey fity. Thi'i-e was no tunnel through Hergen
Hill. The tracks turned to the right, at the point where the
Snsi|iiehaiiiia road now crosses the Krie. and eoiitinned sonth-
wesierly to the Pennsylvania Itailroad. vhieli was then lieing
cohstrni-ted. Its tracks were used liy the Krie tu the ferry.
This work was tinishcd in \SX\.
Horses eontinned to lie the traction power until ]s:\4. when
the lirsl steam engine made its appearance on the road. It
had lieeii impor.iil from ICnglaml. was i:amed "McNeil" and.
of loiirse. was an even greater marvel.
It was more wondered at than eonlided in, for, according
lo the lime talde, a pas.senger had his choice of Iniveling
liy horses or by steam until \S:Mi, when horse power was dis-
continued entirely. The fullowiug old time tables -will be in-
teresting:—
i'.\Ti:i;s()N m:\\ V(ii;k i;.ui.i;nAi) link.
Summer Arrangement fur ISo.j.
Passengers will leave PatiTson at
(Ji/J o'clock A. M. by Steam
10^ o'clock A. M. by Steam
2"4 o'clock P. il. by Horses
')'/2 o'clock 1'. M. by Steam
liiX o'clock P. >I. liy Horses
New York by .Jersey City ferry at
.■);/ o'clock A. M. by Horses
S" o'clock .\. -M. by Si. am
11^ o'clock A. M. by Steam
3 o'clock P. il. by Horses
(jJ4 o'eloek P. M. by Steam
On Sundays
I'aterson at
New York
ay, o'clock A. -M. by Steam
Sy^ o'clock p. il. by Horses
.■) o'clock p. M. by Steam
.s o'clock A. M. by Steam
i)i/^ o'clock A. M. by Horses
Ot4 o'clock P. M. by Steam
Oltice in Paterson corner of Congress ami JIain streets
opposite "Congress House."
Otlice in New York No. 7.") Cortland street
Passengeis with tickets will have a preference in seats.
Fare from .Jersey city .~iO cents
Transportation cars will also ply three times a day each
way
.\s the Ferry-boats do not leave New Y'ork precisely at the
above times it is recommemled to passengers to procure their
tickets and to be at the Ferry a few minutes before the staleil
hour of departure.
Patrick Coughlin
.\geiit in New York
I'aliTs.iii .lune IS, IS.'i.'i
I'aterson and New York Itailroad Line
A\'inter Arrangement 1836
Ilour.s from New York
At 8iX o'clock A. -M.
11 o'clock .\. .M.
1% o'cliuk I'. M.
4 o'clock P. M.
Hours from Paterson
-Vt 7^4 o'clock A. M.
101,4 o'clock A. M.
1 o'clock P. M.
314 o'clock P. M.
Ticket otHce 7.") Courtlandt street
Tickets for car .V. with three apartments limited to S per-
son in each apartment six shillings For other cars five sliilliugs
Ollice in Paterson opposite Yan -Vntwerp hotel
.\11 passengers from New Y'ork or Paterson will be re-
iiuired to jirocure tickets and to occupy seats in the cars ac-
i( I'ding to the directions of their tickets and it is recommended
to passengers in New York to jiinchase their tickets ami to be
at the Ferry at li'ast ."> minutes before the stated hour of de-
parture.
I'atriik Coughlin .Vgt in New Y(nk.
Tin- names of the stations between Paterson and .li'i'sey
City were !is follows: Ackerman's Line (now Clifton). .Vcipiack-
anonk (no'.v I'assaic). Boiling Springs (now Carlton Ililli. and
Secaucns. For- over thirty years the Erie Itailrn.-nl enjoyed
the monopoly of all the railroad business to and from Pa.s-
saie. There was no competition. Even the river ceased to be
nseil for freight, except in a small way. Before the railroad
was built various men bad .duceiveil the idea of construct-
ing our pres.Mit Dundee Canal, with locks, thereby making the
river navigable to I'aterson. But the coming of the railroad
kilU'd luivigation, and the enterprise did not materialize until
IS."!!*. It was never a beiu'tit to navigation, but thi-re are still
dreams in I'aterson of a ilay when the cimnty seat shall be
a bristling seaport and transatlantic steamers shall anchor off
the West street bridge. In 18tfcS-70 the Delaware. Lackawanna
and Western Railroad constructed its Boonton branch through
Pa.ssaie. Because of the lack of freipient passenger trains it
has bci-n a failure in respect to passenger trallic. and more
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
69
III' ;i hiiiili'iuici' llwiii a liciu'lil: I'lir, li.nl iiii,\ oih. r iimiI mciipicd
ihi' Mi'M. it iiiifrlil liavc ciiti'n'd in tli.ii liraiirh .ii llic Imsiiii'ss,
tlu'l'i'b.v liuililiiiK U|( the si'dimi tlii'ciiiKli vvliirli till' yit-.ul runs.
Then- nrc liopcs that tins will yi't lir rcmcilicd. Tlio i-oinimiiy
liJls cnjoycil :l l';ii|- sll:in' nl' llii' liM'i;.'lll Ipllsilii'ss. Iliiwl'VIT.
which hiis iniplialily iiiciri' iIl.lil paiil iliciii (nv \\\v luss iif pas-
scMKi'r trallii-. ll lias I'uriiislicd fac-ililics fiii' several lar^'e
fai-ti>ries in that si'i-lifii.
'Pile r.i^siii- .mil New Viirk Kailruail, exteniliiiir rroiii llie
ciirner nl' Kssex and First streets. I>nndee. ti> the main line
of the Siisipiehanna and Western Uailriiad In Bi-r^en Cunnty.
WHS eonstrneti'd in LSSCi. The linsinoss of this little road.
sciirecl.v two miles lontr. is exelnsively in eiial and lrei}.'ht. The
p.MssenKer Imsiness iieM r .■niiiinnied to iiiiuli, and when the
Krie ahsorlieil the Siisnueli;iiiii;i, in l.SDS. it diseontinned 1 he
passenger serviee.
The P.eri;eii and Dundee K.iilroad is simply a liraneh of
till lOrie's Heiu'eii ('oiiiily lii-.inrli. and extends fioni the mills
in Dundee to (iarlield, alioni one mile. Only frei;;ht ami eoal
for the mills are earided over it. No p.issennpr bnsiness what-
o\er is done.
For many years previous to the eonstrnetion of these two
last roads, it was the iiiti'iilion of the Diiiidee Mannfaeturiiii;
Company to eonstriiet .-i spin* from the main line of the Erie.
« lure the present m.iiii depot is. to near the lorner of Monroe
street and l.exiiifiton avenue, aloiif; Jlonroe street to Colnin-
liia aveiine, tlienee enrving to the ri^ht to the sonth side of
Wjilson's Bleaehery ami tlienee to the eanal hank. The eoin-
paiiy even went so far as to Imy all the necessary land he-
tweeii the Krie Itailroad and Lexington avenne. sonth of the
property of .Iudi.'e lleiiry I'. Sinimons. and had made ap|iliea
tion to the court to have eoniniissioners aii|iointeil to award
liiiii il.-iiii,-i(.'es for the land it desired to t.ake from him.
The .liid^'e olijeiled oil m'lieral pi-iiiciples, .111(1. liliiii; his
protest with the eonrt. pre|iai-ed for a legal battle. The com-
pany continued to tr.\ in every way to get his consent, but
was nusucce.ssful, and i-allicr th.aii spend money in litigation
for an iniiirovenient which would have been of little, if any.
benefit to it, abandoned the projeit. although it had secured
the right of way for at Ic.ist three-fourths of the rest of the
route, over which the company had begiin to build. For iii-
slance. on the Vreeland farm, owned then by Samuel W. Tor-
rev iwlio. by the w.iy. was the sccrctaix (if the comiianyl. the
roadbed was constructed on an embanUmeiit. hlled in to a
licight of ,it least ten feet for a long distance over the Held
company would bnihi a freight pliitrnrni anil deliver liiiii hi.s
freight at a reduci'd price. lOvideiices of llie contemplated road
are still in ■■xislence along its ronie.
THE PROSPECT STREET DEPOT.
east of f'oltiiiibi.i avenue and south of .Monroe street. The
eemptiny had made an arrangeiiient with .Tohn Watson to the
(dTcct that, in consiileratioii of his grantiie-' .i right of way. the
THE HARRISON STREET DEl-uT.
K.\i;i,V STltKF.T CAR LINKS FIK MF.CTKD.
In l.sc.r, -Hid ].S(i7 acts were passed incorporating the Saddle
Uiver Iloise Car Kailroad Company, authorized to build .i
r.iilroad along the Uiver road in Kergen County, from the
present (iartield to I'aterson. The line was never built.
In ISd!) the Passaic Horse Car Kailroad Coinjtany secured
legislative authority to <(instruct a street railwa.v to Pater-
son. The Lodi Horse Car Company was incor|«irated in 1H70
and 1873 to eon.struct a line from Passaic to Lodi. Neither
of these were ever built.
FIKST TItULI.FV I. INF IN TUF STATF.
Passaic's first .street-car line, which was also its first trolley
line, and. li,v a few weeks, the first trolley line in the State, was
started in 1SS7 and completed in ISSS. Clnirles U. Newman.
sii|ieriiitendent of the lire .ilariii. was the first man to start the
power in a trolley car in .New .lerse.v. The crew of the first
car that made a regular trip consisted of former Council-
man Kdward Ilogan. inotoianan, and Policeman .John N.
Meade, conductor. I-'ormer Mayor AA'alston Ii. Hrown was the
moviug spirit in the enteriirise, which had been incorporated
as the Passaic, Cliftiui and (Jarliidd Electric IJailway Com-
pany. It ran cars from the (Jartiehl Bridge to the city limits
at Clifton, where it was stu<'k for a year, because unable to
get Judge Seba Bogort's consent to let it i>ass by his property.
Finally it was extended to the hotel at LaUeview, then kept
by ■■(bivernor" Phil Mace. Here it met the Paterson horse
car tracks, then just accniired by Oarret A. Iloliert and others.
They are said lo have paid .fl.lKMi.lHMl for the old horse car
lines of Paterson. In a year or two they transformed them all
to trolley lines at great expense, and absorbed the I'assaic,
Garfield and Clifton line. The consolidated road was chris-
ti'ued the Paterson Itaihvay Company. The old cars on both
roails had been p.iiiitcd yellow. The new ones were all painted
a more durable dark red. and Passaic people called it the "Ued
Line" on this account. This was due to the fact that the
Passaic, Paterson and Unllierford line had been built early in
the niueties, and it had whiti' and "Team colored ears, which
caused it to be dubbed the "While Line" for the sake of easy
distinction. To prove the power of popular impulse in this di-
rection, the Wliite I,ine Traction Comiiaiiy was adopted in
the summer of ISilS as the legal name of the latter system,
which was reoriranized then.
TIIF CO.MlNi; Ol' OI'IIFI; TUOLLFY LINES,
What is now the White Line was put through Passaic only
afler bitter opposition, which was overcome liy various nietli-
oils. It secured a franchise through Monroe and Second streets,
70
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
jiImi. intcmliii): lliis spur t" ia|> Iliiiiilcc iiikI tlic Bntiiiiy ilis-
tKct. cross ilic rivor aiul cimiiert with tlif iiiaiii line in Wnl-
lliiKtiMi. TIk- trucks were Itiiil simip years after, liiit tlii- Wnl-
liiictiiti |M'i>|ilf n-fiisi- lo jrivc an aililitiunal frani-liisc witlmiit
Im int' well imiil fur il. Tlic Wliitc Liiii- was liiiaiiccU in the
ways traili'ional to eleitrie railrnails. The Patt rsmi In Kiith-
erf'M'iI iHirtinii was I'onsiiliil.iteil with llie Kiitlierfuril. .leisey
City anil lInlHiken Line as the New Jersey Khitrie IJailway
4'iini|iuMy. Tlieri. in 1.S!I7. il went iiil" ihe hands of a receiver,
liciiic nnalih' to pay interest on its heavy ImiiiiI issncs. The
KUiall stockholihTs anil one set of l>onilliolilers were frozen
<Mit. unit ill INiKI the mail was sulil to the syiiilicate which for
live years hail I n coiiiliiiiin;: all the principal trolley roads
in Norllierii Jersey into the North Jersey Traction Company.
The Passaic and Newark Trolley Coinpany started in
IS'.M to Bet a riKlit of way from Main and Passaic avenues, in
this city, to connect with the I'onsolidated Traction Company's
lilies in Newark. It had Utile rroiilde in Pass-iic or .Vcqiiacka-
iionk township, lint to gel thron;;h KianUliii. Niitley and Hclh'-
ville was the work of over two years. Then, to tlieir dissust.
the stockholders were coihih-IIimI to sell out ,it par. with 5 per
<-ei:t. interest, to the Consolidated Coinpany. The new owners
aeiinired the road for !f 21 « l.l " H ) and liondcd ii n.r marly a
million. It is part of the Nortli Jersey sysleiii now, rind so
jire the Ked and White lines.
From tinn' to time, ever since 181)2. there has liccn talk of"
a trolley lino starting from the corner of .Main and Hloomtield
avenues and rnnnin;; to HloomKeld and .Montclair. Konic cmi.
serts were actually obtained at one time, lint notliini; tiutlicr
was done. When the trolley niajrnatcs. t,i w1i.mii tlu- propi.si d
franchise was sulanittiNl. looked over the ^rroimd tin y loiirlinliil
not to Iniild. Vice-President Holiart is reported to have said
in this connection: "To make a trolle.v road protitalile. you need
a house every twenty-five leet." It was an exaji'reration for the
inirpose of emphasizing: the idea that they thrive only in wfll
settled territory.
CHAPTER XV,
FROM TOWNSHIP TO CITY.
History of the Municipality, Its Police, Fire and Other Departments, Its Gas, Electric, Water and Sewer
Systems, Etc. — Some Exciting Political Contests — List of City and County Officials.
TllK I'lirlicst iiicntiiiii nf the wonl coiuity in this State is
iiiiuli- ill a law ••( Xcivciiilii'i- 1:5. H!7.S. which, ainoiij:
other things. iiio\ iiled ihal '■iwu courts be kept in a
\K-.\v in v-aeh i-espi'clive loiiiilv. MlizalM'thtmvn and Newark."
The luinndaries ai'e nm nienliuiieil, ami tln' woril seems to
appl.v to the localities ^'enerally.
Essex Cimnt.v. of which Passaic was ori.L'iniill.v a part, was
formed in ll>.S-_'. It contained all the settlements "hetween the
west side of llackensack Itiver .ami the partition line hetween
WoodhridKc and Elizalietlitown. and extended westward ami
northward to the lltIn(^st honnd of the province." The lines
were chauficd in 17(i!l-171ii "to hcfrin at the Rahwa.v River
where it falls into the Souml. .■iiid rnitnins thence up said river
to Robinson's branch: thence west to the division line between
the eastern and western divisions, ami so follow said division
line to I'eiinannock River, where it meets the Passaic River;
thence down the Passaic River to the bay ami Sonnd: thence
where it bejian." Acipiackanoid< cut a very small figure in
Essex Cnniitv .ami .-ill of its residents who nlilained any politi-
cal prominemc have been mentioned.
The township of Aequaekanonk was createil in l(ii)8. It
"iiu-liided all the land on Pissaick river above the Third river
ami from the month of the said 'Hiird River northwest to the
partition line of the Province, inclndiMK also all the land in
New Barbados Neck; betwixt Hackensack and Pissaick river:
and theni-e to the partition line of the I'rovince." From the
original township have been taken part of the city of Pater-
son as far south as Crooks avenue, the township of Little Falls
and the <-ity of T'assaic. Its present area is about twelve square
miles.
I'assaii' ('i>iinty was formed on l'"cbruary 7, l.S;{7, from
parts of the counties of Essex ami Kcrgen. .\c(iuackauonk
town and township and parts of Patersoii. which had been cut
off from .Vci|uackanonk in 1831 under the name of Paterson
township, were Essex County's coutributi(m to the new town-
ship. The population of the county at that time was oidy
20.()(M). Paterson. with scant lll.lHM* people, became the county
seat. The census of 1!Hiil will prrdiably show that the county
has IT.'i.iMKi population. With the affairs of the county this
history will not deal, cxi-ept to give ;i list of Passaic represen-
tatives in the county government. It is curious to note that
when till iinty was organized, and until the Slate Consti-
tution of 1.S44 was adopted, only freeholders could vote. The
old Constitution provided that each voti'r should be "of full
age and worth hfty pounds proclamation money, clear estate
ill the same, .ind have resided in the county twelve months
prei-eding the eleitiou." .\t that time .Justices of the Peace
ami .Judges and Clerks of the Courts of Common Pleas were
chosen in joint li-gislative session. The act organizing the
county went into effect April 11. l.S.'J7.
Passaic got along iiiidiT the old towr.sliiii governineiit for
more tlnin a century and a lialf. The population of the town-
ship was still siiiiill. less rhan 4.<KK», and Aciinackanonk Land-
ing was a village of only a few hundred people in the fifties,
when the first signs of change came. It is recorded that Alfred
Speer had returned home from his travels and started to estab-
lish his vineyards, idanted with vines obtained from Portugal.
Aware that Acijuackanonk Landing was so cumbersome a
name as to .sinind uncouth to the ear and look ungainly in
print, he called a town meeting in the Eutaw House, and pro-
posed that it be changed to Passaic. Mr. Sjieer instantly found
himself the most nr.popular man in town, most of the patri-
archs of the place preferring to stick to the name which had
been good enough for their forefathers. The meeting broke up
in a row, but Mr. Speer induced all the townspeople who were
favorable to the change of name to sign a iietition to the Post-
master (Jeneral at Washington. Pcstniaster William L. An-
druss, who is still living, though in the eighties, was intensely
surprised soon afterward when notice reached him of the
change in name. To complete the transformation, Mr. Speer
and a few bold siiirits had a sign jiainted with the word
•Passaic." and one dark night nailed it on the Pater.son and
Hudson Uivcr Kailroad depot, previously known as Huyler's,
which st I on Main avenue, near Park idace. When the
railroad and the postal autlnu-ities seemed to be acting in con-
cert, it was useless to object longer, so Passaic it became. It
does not appear that the railroad company made any [trotesi.
Charles M. K. Paulison. whose energy and foresight did
much to start Passaic on the upward path, came to Passaic in
1,S.").">, and rented the only vacant house from Dr. .1. M. Howe,
where the llowi' block now stands. In l.StH-tS he bought a
large iiortion oi ilic \'aii Wagoner farm, extending from Pros-
pect stnit to Paulison avenue, and from ISIoomfield avenue
south to till' I'.rie Railroad. He iuiproveil it right away. The
first strei'l he laid out was (iregory avenue, named after Dud-
ley S. (Jregory. It ran through corn and potato fields. Next
came Pennington and Passaic avenues and Kiver street, non-
Park place. He built houses and brought settlers here, agi-
tated Icir liett.'r scluKjls. which did not come until 1870: or-
ganized the Aciinackanonk Water Company, and started an
era of improvements generall.v.
The Passaic (ias Light Company was already in existence.
It had been organized as early as l.Sl!4 with a capital of
.'<.">l».iiu(l. The first otficers. who were also the principal stock-
holders, were: Abel Horton, president: Captain K. B. Tindall,
seirelary: Robert Foitlds, (Jeorge W. I>einarest. George B.
Walerhouse and 1. S. \'an Keiisen. I'"or the first five years
the plant was lease«I to the late George Denhohn, who op-
erated it. The priie of gas was .$4 a thousand feet. In 1874
Edo Kip and .loliii .V. Willett acquired a great deal of the
72
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
sloik, and iiicr.-iiscJ tUcir lujldiiife's stiM'lily. Tlu- caiiital was
iiK-n-ust-d t.i $1(M|.(MH|. and in 1SK4 an i-ntin-ly new plant for
tile niiinnfai-tiirc »t wntoi-gas was installed.
BK<;iNNIN<;S OF THK VILLACK GOVICK.S.MKNT.
The same iieiiple wliit iippesod a new uaine luoked askance
at these Kteps. They eoiiM neit be dissuaded from staiidiiiB
as niiieh .'IS piissilile in the path of |ir»jrress, and under the
t4iwnship ;;overnnient there was no way of couipellinB them
to make imprcivenients. Mr. I'aulison. who at that time was
prominent in Stale politii-s. had a law passeil on Mareh 27,
]8«>i;. (rlviuK the inhabitants of the village of I'assaie authority
to lay siilewalks. The lioundaries of the villase were set off
as follows: ComineneiiiK at the river at Passaie Bridu'e, alony
the Krie Railroad to Lafayette avenue, theneo to Bloointield
avenue, thenee to a point on Main avenue IfK) feet north of the
Simmons li estead. thence easterly and throu«h Madison
street to the river. This conslituti'S only a small portion of the
present city.
The villaKe was just lie;:innin^ to see its future. The ef-
fect of the Dundee (Vmpany's canal enterprise was liecinniii^
to he felt. Alfred Speer had erected the first brick building'
in the i-ity, his wine warehouse on Main avenue. Mr. I'auli-
son had written a pamphlet showinj; the advantages of I'as-
saie as a place of residence, and circulated it extensively
aniiHii; his friends in New York, and the tirst of the new
Keneralion of si-ttlers were arriving.
A local writer in the l'ati>rson (.Juardian at this time thus
<lescribes the progress of ihe place: —
■■'nie wiili-awake little village of I'assaie has entered upon
a earwr of pri>gress. which, if continued for a few years, will
mak4> it one of the most important towns in the Stale. The
4.xtensive l)undi-e works, wlien fully deviOoped, will be siif-
Hi'ienl to secure a permanent advancement of the material in-
terests of the place: but, aside from these, there is a spirit
among the people akin to that of sonn- of those Western towns
that have sprung into e.visti'iice.
" '.Vs friHn the stroke of an <'nchanter"s waml."
"In harmony with this progressive spirit, a movement to
sei'ure the incorporation of the town by the Legislature has
been recently inaiignratol, and a public meeting of the citi-
zi-ns is to be held this week, when, it is presumeil. detinile •
action will be taken to iiriH-ure the reiiuisile legal organization
lo elect a board of supervisors or borough ollicers. Nearly all
tile pro|»'rt.'-owncrs .ire in favor of the eslalilishmeiit of some
irganizaliiiM o| this charadi'r, ami ver.v little, if any, opposition
to the project is anticijiated."
The article then says that several new houses are Ix-ing
eriM-ted on the I'auliMiu trad and that "it is stated that fifteen
more buildings are to be begun iluring the coming spring."
It is princi|>ally ilevoted. however, to a descriptimi of "a new
hotel, now in course of conslrilction by Mr. .\lfred Speer. wliii-h
will iMM^onii a material ornament to Ihe town." This is the
Spei'r wine warehouse, above alluded to. The citizens of the
village, feeling that -Mr. Sj r had performeil a highly credit-
able work, hail presented him with a large Mag cm the preced-
ing Saturday evening, 'llie Hag was procured by Aaron Van
Iderstiin", who suggesteil the presentation, and presented by
Ihe late ,ludge .lann-s .V. Norton, pr>-sidenl i>f the Literary So-
cii-ly. in a sp(.ei-h describeil as highly patriotic. .Mr. Sped- m.idc
an appropriate response, in whiidi he said; —
"I have always ihoiight that I'assaie shoulil not only be
the resurt for ciiy nHichanls and bankers, ihc depot for l"at-
erson lumber, but that it should also be the principal ile|iot for
other merchandise and the great manufaituring centre of tin-
Slate. It depenils no| so much upon capital as u|M>n the
iminstry. eiuTgy ami peiseverame of its inhabitants. These
ar<' sure to bring suicess. We may have g I buildings, good
sidewalks, stnvl lights, police ami all the regulalions of a
tirsl-class town."
Mr. Spi'er was in Ihe front rank of the progressive party.
lie was elei'leil the lirsi Superinlendeni of Slrii-ls. and three
landowners, Hr. li. .\. Terhuiu'. Williani S. Aiulersuu and
.Ii'hii T. Van Iderstine. were elected Commissioners under tlu'
act of LSiiC. These four men gr.ided streets and laid live miles
of sidewalks at their own expense, trusting to the taxpayers
to subsequently reimburse tuein, the act not being thoroughly
effective. Tlio law was amended on March ". 1807. while on
April 2, 18G8, another act was passed, by which five free-
li(dders were to be elected, to be known as the "Board i>r
Coininissioners of Passaic. ' These laws, however, did not
answer the required purposes, so the newcomers secured, mi
-March 10, ISljO, the passage of an act entitled "An act
to incorporate the village of Passaic."
THE I'IKST \ ll.I.AliK (Jt (VKItNMKNT.
The first village election was held .\pril 12. IMl'.t. and O.
1). Baldwin was elected President. The (Vniucil consisted of
Daniel Demarest and Benjamin S. AA'atson for the First Dis-
trict, or Ward. George W. Conkling and Hiram M. Herrick.
Second District, and B. B. Ayerigg and George McLean. Third
District. Mr. Baldwin, then one of the leading villagers. si«.n
after left Passaic. He was successively president of the Fourtli
National Bank of New York and vice-president of the Mutual
Reserve Fund Life Association.
The Council met to organize on .\pril 24 in Henry Mar-
sellus" real estate office, on Washington place. This was the
historic "Eel-pot." first of the name. Mr. Mai-sellus. the
"Boss"' Marsellus of Garfield, was the "Boss Eel," and his
ollico was the centre of political and business activity, the
exchange for real estate, horses, news and jokes, and a social
I lub as well as a mart. The village scheme had been boru
there, and naturally the new governmeut met there at first.
The Council soon rented rooms in Slieer's Hall, at Market
Si;uare. over Dr. Raiid<d"s drug store.
IMcsideut Baldwin nominated Thomas Newell for (derk.
W. II. Tioe, Halmagh JI. Post and .John .1. Feaster for Com-
missioners of Assessments. A. Zabriskie Van Houten for Treas-
urer, Dr. Charles J. Kenworthy for Street Superintendent and
Aaron Kiuter for Surveyor. ,Iohii T. Van Iderstine had been
elected Assessor.
I'p to this time Passaic had not been a polling district of
itself, and voting had been done at Great Notch. The voters
got there in carriages, not furnished by the candidates. City
Clerk Tiiidall relates how he once drove over to the Notch
in company with three Democrats, one of them .ludge Sim-
mons, who amused themselves by threatening to make him
walk home unless he voted their ticket. Another of Mr. Tin-
ilalKs early exi>eriences in Passiiic relates to his taking part
in the first, or one of the first, Republicau primaries held in
Passaic. The Democrats undertook to break it up. The.v
rushed in. knocked over the lights, and the Republicans jumped
out of the windows.
Dr. R. A. Terhuiie was tin- second President of the village,
being elected in 1S7(I. .loliii T. \'an Iderstine. Samuel B. Frills
and I»r. Kenworthy succeeded Messrs. Watson, (\mkling and
Herrick. the other Councilmen being re-elected. Dr. Keii-
worth.v was a retiii'd physician, who had served a year as
Street Superinlendeni. He practici'd occasionally, and had a
reputalion for either killing or curing his patients. He estab-
lished Ihe greeiihou.ses on the Plank road in Bergen County.
>lill conducted by .lulius Roehrs of East Rutherford. He also
built the so-called Van Deiisen house in tJregory avenue, now
owned by Henry Meyers. This, with its beautiful grounds,
crowded with rare Howers, was one of Ihe show places of the
town.
His love lor Howers was one of thi' inconsisleniies of a
r« ugh-and-ready character. Dr. Kenworthy was hard-swear-
ing. fiery-lemiM'red, and expressed himself in terms too vig-
DR. R. A. TERHUNE.
Last Villuete President an. I First Mayor.
OR. BENJAMIN B. AYCRIGG.
Second Mayur Mfllit^ciiv
THE NEWS- HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
75
iiruii> t.i 111' i|nni4'cl |.n'iis<-ly Ihtc. On mic occasiuii. al ii I'miii-
i-il iiicctiiiK. simif rciiiiirk fn>iii :i Iprothcr ii ihci- liimiulit liiiii
to his feet in a towiTinc ratri'.
"Ky (i 1" he shouted, shnkiii); his list at the ofrrinli-i-,
"I ivish thci-o was no hiw in New .(erscy. I wisli that wln^n a
man insnits nii' I roulil lianinni' the life out iif liini."
'I'Ih' otticlal Miiniiles of ihe proiii'ilinKs of the ("onmil of
\\ liiili Ur. Kenwortliy was a uienilier I'ail to recoiil really iii-
tefeslin;; oeeiiiienees lil<e this. I'leetinR hnnian memory lias
preserveil enoiijrh of them to assnre lis that tin- sessions weri'
marked liy j;r'"it inti-nsity until the I )oetor rosiKiu'd. l)eeeinlii-r
.">. l.STll. He was succeeded by S. F. Hocart. lie is prolialdy
now in Florida, if liviiif;.
Mr. Newell continued in lie \illaj;e Clerk. Caplain William
Chirk was 'IVcasurer, "Mayor" (iilliert I). Bo);art Street Su-
perintendent and .lames I^. Smith Surveyor. A Cidlector of As-
sessments was appointeil in ilie person nf H. M. Ilerrick.
Ta.ves continuiHl to l)e paid to the Township Treasurer, who at
this time was .1. ('. Marsellus of I'assaie. Mr. Van Houten.
ami Captain Clark at first, drew no salary as Village 'I>easnrer.
hut finally .1 small salary was paid, because Mr. Clark was
compelled to make ;; 1 small expenses from his own pocket.
'I'he Clerk and Street Superintendent received .$:!IMI a year each.
There is no mention of a Corporation Counsel at first. .Tudfie
Torrnni'e was occasionally consulted for a while.
The ]iiiii- line's of the Council .'it this time are ni;iiidy ile-
voteil to street improvements and wranclinj; over special otli-
eers or policemen. 'I'hese were put on and off. nominafeil and
rtjecteil, their pay and duties fixed and altered with fireat
regularity.
The vill.age charter was still unsatisfactory, and on March
21. I.STI. the I.e^rislature amended it, enlarged the limits to
the present dimensions, and set it off from the township. The
number of Councilnien was iiKieased from six to nine. .\1
this time the population of tlie village was about :?..S(MI. The
etnsus of l.S7(f does not give tin' population of Passaic sep-
al ately. bnl states the population of Acquackanonk township
at 4.."(!S. In the State census of 187."i I'assaie liad 4..SS:i peo-
ple and the township l.li."!! people, while in ISSO the city had
(i..>jL' and thi' township 1.7S2 peop'.e. IMainly. then, the popu-
lation of Aci|uackanonk township, outside of Passaic, must
have liien nearly stationary for many years. A fair estimate of
its population in 1.S70 would be 1..500. which number taken
from 4.y(J.S. the figures for the entire township, would leave
U.StiS for Passaic. The census »f 18!M) gave I'assaie IS.lfJS
IH'ople. the State census of 180.J 17.S!)S, while it is estimatid
that in liMKt the figures will be about •_'.").(I(MI.
Dr. Terhnue was elected President in 1S71. The new
Council consisted of Messrs. Fritts. McLean and Dr. Aycrigg.
re-eh'cted. and Thomas K. Watson. Adrian Hopper, .lonathan
B. Thurston, George \V. Demanst. .l.ilin T. Van Iderstine and
W. S. Cuiterrez. Mr. Watson heri' appears for the first time
in the village government, so that his public service already
covers a perio.l of twenty-eight years. The election had lu-en
held at the .lohii A'. Kyerson Hotel, and Captain W. .1. Fidger,
the proprietor, sent in a bill for .$:{ll for the use of the Inmse
and "also dinners." .loseph B. Knight was made Sirei't
Superintendent, and in less than a month .Mr. Watson pre-
ferred charges of neglect of duly against him. and he was re-
moved from office without a hearing. It seems to have been
a political move. f(n- Treasurer Clark. Surveyor Smith ami
Legal Adviser Albert Cotnstock .ost their official heads, too.
Conncihuan Van Merstine had previously indulged in some
charges of i-orruption against the last Coiimil and village of-
ficials, and alleged that non-members controlled all proceedings.
This seems to have bwn aimed against Messrs. Clark anil
Comstock. A motion for an investigation was lost. President
Terlinm- subinitled a lew li>i i.f i.llicials. all of whom were
voteil ilown, and tinally W. H. Tice was iiiadi- Street Snperin-
leiident and Messrs. Smilli and Chirk were re-elected Surveyor
and Treasurer by th<' Council which voted iheiii down. There
seems to have been siii-h a tiling as wire-pulling in the lively
politics of the dn.v.
The village made an aKi-eement early in l.''7"J to buy the
old Mellnxlist Church for .$.S.(HI(» for ii City Hall. .V lonlract
to enlarge and remodel it at :i cost of .Sl!.L''J"i was givi'ii out
on .\pril liil.
Dr. Terhiine was re-eleiled Presidenl for the third and
last time in IS'H. Henry Frain. B. F. Popple, .1. Morgan
Howe. (Jilbert I). Bogart and .lohn S. Coiikling were the new
members, while Watson, Van Iderstine, Demarest and Aycrigg
were the old meiiibers re-elooted. A I..icense Commission, con-
sisting of I'eter Malloy, Demarest IIopiH'r and Kli W. Voii-
dersmith. appears for the first time. It was electeil under u
newly adopted law. Mr. M.illoy did not agree with his
cidleagnes and resigned. .1. H. Knighl was elected Collector,
.T. C. Marsidlus and D. .1. Fox C<iinmissiom'rs of Ajipeals and
.lohn Hall Overseer. Oeorge W. Conkling became Street Su-
perintendent and M. A. Sntherhind, Surveyor. Captain Clark
was nominated for Treasurer and rejected. On April 2!t the
Council investigated charges that he had not ailministereil
the village finances proi>erly. and at the conclusion a resolution
holding him blameless was inlrodiiced by Councilman Howe.
Jlr. Clark's opponents refused to pass it. laying it over in-
definitely by a vote of '> to 4.
During this year the village contracted for 3.'{ lire hydrants
al .$.'>0 a year and ."iU gas lamps at .$411 a year, the lamps to be
lit iiiily nil a moonlight schedule. The meeting room was moved
to S<hool No. 1 for the year. Mr. Newell resigned as Village
Clerk, and Michael Bierue succeeded him. Most of the min-
utes of the year were written by the late ex-Mayor Aycrigg.
The village had been without a lawyer for some time when
Thomas M. Moore came here fnuii Sussex Comity. Within
a month the village iHUinced ii|«;in him. and invested liiiii with
the ofiice of Corporation Counsel. He served from May V-i to
.lune 10. when he resigned and went to Newark, legal practice
being unprofitable here then. George B. Clement and Hobert
S. Durling were nominated and rejected, and Mr. Moore con-
tinned to direct the legal affairs of the village from Newark.
THE TIKNINC ON Ol' ill V W .\ TKU.
It was iimler the village government thai Passaic got its
first water suiiply. Charles M. K. Paulison obtained a charter
for the Ac(|uackanonk Water Company on April !t. I,sii7. His
associates were Dr. U. A. Terhune. II. B. Crosby. Benjamin N.
Cleveland and David B. Sickels. The capital stock was $.'^1(1.-
I«H». On March 9, 1871, a supplement to the charter was ob-
tained, by which the capital stock was increased to :J2tKt,tHKi.
The company organized by electing Mr. I'aulison president; Dr.
Terhune. vice-|)resideiit: Washington I'aiilison. secretary; K.
T. Bell, treasurer; Thomas D. Hoxsey. siiperlnleiidenl : ex-
ecutive committee. C. M. K. Paulison. T. D. Hoxsey and .1.
.T. Brown. .Most of the stiKkholders ami officers were Pater-
scm men. Mains were rapidly laid, and on August 2. 1.S72.
water was first supplied to the village from the Dundee Canal,
wliiih then furnished clean water. It was pumped into the
storage reservoir in Mr. Pauli.son's grounds, where he was
building the magnificent mansion that is now our City Hall.
The cost c)f the entire plant was over SKHI.IMAI. The turning
on of water was the occasion of a great celebration, in which
all the citizens turned out to watch a civic and fircmanic pa-
rade. The company is still known as the Accpiaikanoiik Wa-
ter Company, though it was afterward absorbed by the Pas-
76
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
saif WntiT Cuiiipauy of P:it«Tson. ami l«..tli were swallowcil
lip liy the East Jersey Water C'oiniiaiiy.
Incorporation as a City.
Two years of village goveriiiiieiit prepared Passair for beiiiii
iiicorporaleil into a city, wbieli was a<-er>iiiplislie<l liy an act
of I lie Lenlslrttiire on April 2. 1873. This, as aniendeil l>y the
arts of Maieh 24. 1S74. ami April !•. 187.">. coiistitntes the eity
eharler. It has been affeeteil liy iiiaiiy other snlisiMpient lecis-
lative measures. siH-eial and geiuTal, Imt. in the main, its pro-
visions still apply. Dr. R. A. Terhiine is nsnally eonsidered
the first Mayor of the eity. He was President of the Villas-'e
(iMimil when the charter was granted and ser\-ed as Mayor
until Hr. Benjamin B. Aycrigp was elected.
At till- first charter election Ur. Ayerigg was chosen
Mayor, and the followiii); C'oiincilmen were elected: John S.
Coiiklin. Henry Frain. .1. Morgan Howe. Ceorge McLean. Pe-
ter Malloy. Benjamin F. Popple. U. Bnrnelt Smith. Levi B.
Si'amaii ami Thomas It. Watson, nine in all. The following
city ollicials witc nominated at the organization meeting of
the C'omicil, on .\iiril 21. 1.S73. and conlirmeil later: .Inliii I •in
fiis. City rierk; (Jeorge W. Coiikling. Snperiiitiinlciil of
Sireels; Thomas M. Mooie. City Connsel; .\I. .\. SntlicrlMiid.
City Surveyor: E. A. Halsted. City Treasnrer: A. K. Miller.
Poiinilmaster. Tliere was no City Physician at tirst, but Dr.
It. .\. Terhiiiie eared for the city's sick ixMir. Credentials were
priseiili'd liy the following olhcers chosen at the charter elec-
tion: John T. Van Iderstlne. .\ssessor: Daniel DcmaresI ami
Joseph Adams. Chosen Fleehidders: Joseph B. Knight, Col-
liM tor of Taxes: Edo Kip and J. C. Marselhis. Commissioners
nf Appeals: Edward Morrell. Washington H. Harris ami
Jidiii H. Conenhoven. Jndges of Election: John Wynne. \V.
W. Kose and Angnst White. Constaliles: Fiivleriik Oi'ilislciii.
( Iverseer of till- Poor.
At the fii'st nieetiiig W. S. (initerri'Z sent a prolc^i
against the seating of (Jeorge W. Coiikling as Councilniaii.
Mr. (Jnitcrrez claiming that he was I'lititled to (he seat.
The lily was then divided into three wards, the First, in
elmliiig what is now the Fourth, and the Second and Third
lii-ing as at present. Three Coniicilmen from each ward, elect-
ed for terms of one .vear each, constituted the City Council.
In l."<.s:{ the term was made three years. The old Methodist
Cl.ureli. stamling at Prospect street and Howe avenue, which
hail 1 n luirchased liy the \'illage Trustees. Iiecame the City
Hall. It was also lire headi|narters. and an addition was liiiill
to accommoilate llie police and the City Cli-rk. The hiiilding
was used as a City Hall until the present structure was ready
for occupancy, in 1S!I2. It was then reserved for cakewalks
and primaries. e.\eepl on Sundays, when ;i Holland congre-
gation wiirsliippcd thi-re. until 1S!I7. wluii ii was imii down
to make room for the new Municipal ISnildiiig. The nnlv pic-
lure of il in existence is given hero.
i:ai;i.v hoimjs m- riii: i n v lAiiiints.
.Many inlcrcsiing lads have I n gh'aiicd fioni the minutes
fin- till- first year, (die of the- Hrst acts of the new Conni-il was
to offer a standing reward of Join) for the eonvietion of iii-
cemliaries. The total valuations were ie|>orted by Assessor
\'aii Id.Tsiim- as W.l.si.lini) on August 111. .Mr. Van Merstine
cKiiiplained lliat the County Board li.id raised the total to
.'<4.:!ilil.illMi, in wliiih he refused to concur. On .Viigust 2."!
the Council added .■>7 fin- hydrants to the .'HI already in-
slalled. On September 22 the t:ix rale was fixed. It was
only tlir.'e-fonrths of 1 per cent. John DufTiis resigned as
City Clerk on Oclidier 2". and a wi>ck later .Mii-liael Bienie
was appointed to sueceeil him. On the 2ll|li, also, the first bond
issue was made. It consisted of $25.0(10 of 10-year improve-
iKciit bonds, bearing 7 per cent, interest. The city, sad to say.
had difficulty in disposing of them at first. On January 12.
1874. the Finance Committee reported that no bids had been
receiveil for them, hut later they were disposed of.
The minutes show that on October 20. 1873. a street clean-
ing force of two men. one horse and one cart was at work.
On Decenibei- in sixty street lights weri' contrmtcd for. al
an .•inniial expense of $3.0(Ht. (Dii Jaini.ny I'.l a committee
was instructed to purchase a Bible .iml .i Nixon's Digest for
the use of the Cit^■ Fathers.
(hi I>e<-einber a. 1.S73. a s|iecial meeting was held to take
aclion on the death of (I'ouncilman McLean, who had been
killed the day before by the blowing down of part of Speer's
building at Main avenue and Washington place. The building
was then in course' of erectioii, and the corner tower and
cupola had bwii put up. Before the work was ((mipleted the
wind tore it loose, ami it fell on the sidewalk, crushing Mr.
McLean and killing him instantly. Jidin Tyler Vn-eland. .i
.-.•irpeiiter. who was working on top of tlie ciiiiol.i. held on
diii'ing his Hight through the air, and r.imi' ilewii nnliurt.
^A' iUmH^^I
iMflKiJIrd
Cs^JiBtEiuj^liyflj
■W««""i«
"■^
THE FIRST CITY HALL . 1 ts:^- ! a.'J.
Torn down in 1S97.
'I'lie CoMiicil made arrangements to attend the funeral, which
«as a large one. John F. Barclay was elected to till the
vacancy on December 23.
MAVui; AVciMuirs iicirr im; ui: f.i.kc'I'ion.
The city made many improvements under Mayor Aycrigg.
One of tin St notable was the opening and grading of La-
fayette avenue in lS7.'!-74 at a cost of iie.-irly .fl.S.IMMi. Ii
was over a mili> long. and. rnnning ihrnn^'li many deep ciils.
was the larg 'St imdcM-taking of the sort the city h.-id .ittempled
up to th.-il time. A\ the end of his Hrst lenn May.n- .\y. rigg
was opposed for re-election by Charles M. K. I'aiilis.ni. The
Kepiiblican primary was held in School .No. 1, on Passaic
street. John F. KiKiour. then rising to weaith and fame as
"the bluest. uie king." presided at the primary. He was al the
height of his vigir. and was a resolute Paulison partisiin. .\y-
irigg's siipiiiu-ters were unable to mnninate their man. be<ause.
they claimed. .Mr. KiUJour did not rule fairly. They witlulrew.
and .Mr. Paulison got the regular noinination. while Dr. .Vy-
crigg was nominated as an independent Uepnbiic.in, in Het-
tiiger's Hall. In those ilays camliilates couhl be nominateil
oM>riiight. and cm election day T. B. Stewart was in the tiidil
as a Citizens' i-andidate. Dr. Aycrigg ilefeated both, ami at the
end of his second term was elected .1 third time, making six
years in all.
^
JOHN A. WILLETT.
Fiiurtli Mayor of the City.
DR. CHARLES M, HOWE.
Fifth and SeventhMayor of ihe City.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
79
(;i:m:i;.\i. si'kxckks iiikki-: tkums as mavui:.
(Jiiiif.il IlinI \V. Spt'iK'or was I'lci-ted Mnjor hi IST'.l. :iii<l
in his ilinc .uliiniiistriitiinis tlio city iirnsiicii'il Kiviitly. Winn
lif ciiiiu' M|i Ic.r n-i'lc(tii«n in IHSl, tlu. lntr Ccorj;!' Ilcnhnlni
w;is niinilMMlcil :i;.';iinst him. There was nn exeltin); enntest,
whii-h rosulteil in .Mr. Ki^nhcilnrs defeat under eireiinistaneos
which ni.idc him fi'cl it keenly. Hy an amendment to the State
ConslitntiiiM. pnimiil;.':ilcd cm September 2S, ]S7."i. the I.ejris-
hilnre was prnhiliiicil liuin piissins any private, local or special
law reirnlatin;; ilic inlciiial alT.iiis of towns .ind counties. Pre-
vious lo this, "special Icjiislatioii" had liccn ihc I'lde, petty, joli-
liinK measures liein;; piil throUKli the law-mill i>n tritlin).' prc>-
te.Ms. This was stopped with koimI results. allhoiiKh much de-
siralde le{;islalion was barred ont, because every proposed law
was general in its efTccts. Accorilinnjly. by act of March 24.
J.^Sli. <ities Were classified lor piiriM)ses of legislation, and those
liavin;; popidations of not less than lH.tHMt and more than
Iiiii.iHin wrir desisnated second-class cities. Cities with more
than liHi.iKiii people wi-re in the tirst class and with less than
IL'.iiiMi in Ihc third il.iss. Passaic was in the third class
until the Tniicil States c.-iisus of 1890 declared it to have
a popul.-iiion ..r i:',.(ijs. This occurred in IS'.ll. Ninety
ili.ys after tlw pronuil!,':ilion of the census, or on .luly Hi,
l.S'.ll, it bei'ame a sei'oinl-i-lass i-ity. Mayor Spencer almost
fell a victim to overconfideiice in l.S,S.'!. when lln' democrats pnl
up (Jershoni Kusling ajiainst him. .Mr. Kusliiiu' was a traveling'
man. Has mtminated duriiif; a prolonged absence from the
lity. and vcmrned a day or two before elcctinn lo find himself
a nia.\orall >■ iMtssibilit.v. Hi' wns ;i clean and popular candi-
date, ami with incredible energy he put life into a perfunctory
and lagging contest. Before the Spencer supiiorters realized
il. he was pushing their candidate close for tirst place. When
the ilnsi cleared away on idection night. Mayor Siiemer was
still in till' saddle, but he had w m by onl.v 23 votes. (Teneral
Spencer went into the t'ouucil shortly after the end of his
1(1 ni. anil represented the Third Ward ably from 1885 to 1804.
« hen he retired and was apiKiinted an K.\cise Commissioner.
remaining one until ihe Board was abolished, in ISD.S. He
had been connected with the cit.v government, in one cap.-icily
or another, for considerably over twenty years.
.M.WIti: Wll.l.KTTS AK.MI.MSTKA TKI.N.
i'romineiit men in both parties looked ai'iuml for a suitabli>
successor for Mayor Spencer, and a non-partisan c.indidate was
selected in .lolm A. Willett, a sterling Democrat, who was
elected in ISS.'i on the Ueptiblicaii ticket over thi' late Major
.1. 1'.. Ilolfnian. .Mr. Willett si-rved oidy term as Mayor.
but on retiring was appointi'd a Trustee of the newl.v or-
ganizc<l Free Public Library, to which he has devoted a great
deal ot his ('iM'rgies ever siin-i'.
M.Wdi; IIOWKS I'IKST .\I).M1.MSTI;A'I"I(IN.
i)r. Charles .M. Hc^we was elected .Mayor for the tirst tinn-
in 1.S87, One of the tirst sid>jects proposed for his consideration
was the renewal of the city water contract. The supply from
the canal was deficient both in cpialit.v and pressure. A change
to Vreeland's poii.l liad improved Ihe f(M-mer. but not the lat-
ter. IJesidents of tlu- liighcr portions of the city complained
bitterly of the lack of water. The citizens agitated for a new
water sujiply, and a 211-year contr.act was lin:dly executed with
the Aciiu:u-kanonk Water Ccanpauy. The company agreed to
furnish water from the I'assaie River, above the Creat Falls,
nt a satisfa<-tory pressure. It was to be paid f(u- hre hydrants
(Ui a sliiling scale running from $4.'* to .$4(1 annually. It agrecil
to furnish free all waer for street sprinkling .nml sewer-fiush-
ing, and to charge no higher rates to private <onsumers than
are ch.irgi-d in Paterson. The ccunpany became identified with
the Passaic Wali'r Company of Palerson about this tinn\ and
later the Kasi .Jersey Water Company absorbed both, and
linally accpiired the rights of the Dundee Water, Power and
Land Company also. .Vt present the water supply comes from
llie Creat Falls, but is shortly to !«• taken from the Kast
.lersey Company's reservoir at (Jreat .N'otcli. now being con-
structi'd.
The need ot ,in adeipiale sewer system was fi ll during llic
Willett ailiidnislralion, wliiai the Citizens' Improvement .\s-
sociation began lo agitate the matter. The late Coliuiel (Jeorge
L Waring was employeil as consulting engiiu-er. He had al-
reaily deviserl a new sewerage plant for Memphis, Tenn., the
disiingnishing fi'atnre of which was the construction of small
conduits of vitritieil pipe for sanitary puri'oses, and larger
sewers of pipe oi- brick for <'arryiiig off storm water. .\11 older
s.vstems are single in operation, the same ciui<luit carrying awa.v
house sewage and storm water. The Waring system is not
luily more economical in ccuistructiiui, but has an advantage
which has become strongly evident since the ni-ed for sewage
disposal has arisen. If Passaic ever desires to construct a
disposal phint, it can treat the collections of the saidtary
SI wers at com|iaratively slight expense. In Pater-son, on the
other hand, a ni'W system of sanitary sewers must he con-
structed to separate the .sewage from the storm water, which
latter makes the whole too bidky to be iH-onomically treated.
(olcuiel Waring drew up plans for enough sewers to answer
the needs of the city for years to come. The sewers are being
built as needed, and the system is harmonious and satisfactory.
Till-: sLWKi; 1.11 KJATio.v WITH .m;\\ ai;k.
The tirst sewers were built in .Mayor Howe's adminislra-
lion, but not until after a legal bjittle with .Newark and .lersey
City. Both of these conimunities then drew their drinking wa-
ter f] 1 the Passaic Kiver at Belleville. The river was then
pcdluted by the sewage of Newark anil Pater.son and the mill
refuse of Paterson ,nid Passaic .Newark, however, fought
against further pollution of the river by Passaic's sewage, and
to save her water supplv applied in Chancer.v for an injunc-
tion. .Tersey City joined in the petition, but Paterson refused
to aid in Passaic's defence. Many hearings were heard and
much testimony was taken, all going to show that the river
was becoming dangerously polluted. I'assaic's position was
however, lliai Ihe river was already unfitted for a water sup-
ply, and that a little e.xtra pollution was not harmful to New-
ark and .lersey City. Newark [iractically admitted this by
bargaiinng with the East .Jersey Water Company for her
present magnificent water system. Her suit was abandoiKHl.
Her new suppl.v came from the Peiiuannock Uiver, a tributary
of the Passaic, and the ."ill.(HH(.lllH) gallons she consumes daily,
together with a like amount whi<'h gm-s to .Jersey City, have
so decreased the flow of the river that its pollution has become
ail unbearable nuisance. For five years the State has been
wrestling with the problem of purif.ving the river once more,
bill I'aicisou has lieen the stumbling-bliK-k. Tliere arc signs,
however, that her opjiosition will be abandoned so<m.
The population of the First Ward grew so rapidly that in
1.SS7 the ward was divided. The ward originally included .ill
,hat section east of Main avenue. Passaic street and the Dun-
dee Canal were made the new boundaries of the First Ward,
and west of the caual and north of Passaic street became the
I'liiuih Ward.
.Mayor Howe was ojjposed for renomiuation in l.S,S!l by
.John F. KiliJoiir. who made a threatening canvass, but was
overwhelmingly lieaten at the Republican city primary held in
Rettiiiger's Hall. Mr. KiltJonr made a manly sia-ech, ac-
knowledging a fair defeat, and his successful opponent was
unopiiosed at the polls. In Mayor Howe's second term the
80
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
|H>|'iil:ili<iii anil tin- |)ros|MTity <>t tin- city were ^-riMtiy in-
<n':is<-(l liy tlii- <-<>iiiiiic to t<i«ii of tin- Hutiiny Wnrstcil Mill.
.MAViiK I'.UOW.N (^IIKTI.V KI.Ki TKl >.
AKiiiii, in 1891, a uon-|>iirtii>iiu nioveint-ut lesnltwl in tlu-
c'lii.ifi- i>r a May.ir. Walston R. Bmwn was put in nnniinatinn
by a pnlilir |ii-titiiin siencil hy linixlri-ils of voters of hotb
paiti<-s. iinil was clci-tiil as a Iti-pnlilii-in. unopposed, ruder
.Mayor Brown tlie work of sewering the streets was eoutiuued.
.mil the work of nuU'Uiianii/.inu the streets was hecuii on a
larce seale. Only a few of the twenty-seven miles of nia-
eailain roails were hiiil inevions to his ailuiiuisiratiou. The
county laid some eicht miles of mai-ailam. some of it of a very
|Mior sort. The eity maeadam was hetter stiifT, This was
larcely due to a protraeted and heated eoutesi over the
respertive merit.s as road material of trap roi-k from the hills
of I'assair County and of limestone from I^msr Island. Both
materials had their eliampioiis in the Coiineil and auion;; the
eiti/.eiis, and eaeh side tried to show in praeliie the superiority
of its ehoseii material. The result was lienetieial. The maead-
amiziuK of streets stre! heil over into Mayor MeI.ean's lerui.
when the diseiission was frequently renewed. To pay the
eily's pri>|M>rlioii of sewer and street improvements, authority
was olitaiued from the Lejrislature for the issue of $1.">I).II(II)
IkuiiIs. It was followed later l>y an issue of ^KMI.IHMI. These
issues eonstitute the priniipal porlion of the eity's delit. By the
eharter the delit is limited to S I ■'<■'<.• x "'. whieh was expended
for various |>iirposes early in the eity's history.
In .Mayor Brown's lirsi administration the new City Hall
was ari|iiiri'il. Its slory is told in a suliseipieil iliapter.
'I'liK K.xcnivi; i;i;ii\\ \ si.A!i:i; rA.\ii'Aii;.N.
One ait of -Mayor Browns e.MellenI ailuiinistr.iliou sowed
the seed of the hottest oolitieal lontest tile nty has known.
The term of .lohn .1. Slater as City Treasurer expired in ISllli.
anil Harry .Meyers was appointed lo sueiied him. .Mr. .*<later
hail lieen illliieut. and his displaeeuU'Ut was laid to the fart
thai he was identitied with the I'assaie National Bank, while
Mr. Meyers was eonueeted with the People's Bank and Trust
Company. The iiamiut: of the depository hank for eity funds
was involved, and as niosi of (he prominent men in the eity
were conm-eted in some fashion with one institution or the
oilier, they took sides ai'i'ordiii;.'ly in the next mayoralty eaiu-
pnicn. In ISil.'t .Mayor Brown was opposed in the Kepuliliraii
primaries for renominalioii hy Mr. Slater. The tiylit Ipesan
months in advance. Mr. Slater's friends iiitide vit:orous at-
lui'ks on Ihe admiiiistralion, and Imi^ before Ihe end of the
<'ainpiiii:n the eiilire eity had entered into the slrujrple. The
bank issue and Ihe removal of Mr. Slati'r were lost sijiht of
under the pressure of greater considerations. The lijiht was
.so Keneral that Ihe Democrals iieKleiled au opportunity to
elect a .Mayor through lakiii;; part in ihe Kepulilican contest.
Through overcoutideiiie on ihe pari of his friends. Mr.
Brown lost his own ward, Ihe Third, lull carried the populous
Koiirlh. The S ml went lo .Mr. Slati r. and. with the Third.
he had exaclly half of the deh-j:ales |o the city conveiilion.
The First Ward primary was held in the Kast Side Kopublicaii
Club riHiins, on Ihe second floor of the buildiii): al Passaic and
McLean sircel.s. The hall was packed until the lloor beams
Ireiubleil. The primary resulted in a riot, both sides electing;
delegates and seiidiliK coiilestiiiK claimants to ihe city con-
veiilion. The Slater faelion lacked but one of a majority, and
organized the conveiilion by electiiif Krccholiler .\lberl Totteu
chairiiiaii. The Slater coiitestalils from the I'irsI Ward were
sealed, ami .Mr, Slater was niiminated. If the Brown dele-
Kates had been .seated the opiHisini; sides would have been equal
in slrenirtli, and the eonvention would have bei'ii deadlocked.
Mr. Blown was iiotiiiuateil independently, and took a
Diinoeratic endorsement as well, .\fter a canvass which may
be littiiiiil.v described as furious, he was elected by 151 lua-
jority. carrying the Kirst Ward by a majority of 430, whieh
more than offset the Slater majorities in the Secoml .iiiil Tliinl.
The Fourth Ward split almost even.
.M.VVOK .Ml.KA.NS Al i.MlM STKATK l.\.
Andrew .McLean was the next Mayor. He was opposed
in the Ije|publicaii primaries, in IS!)."), by Frederick C. Streck-
fuss, former Coiinciiiuaii from the Fourth Ward. Again there
was a disputed primary in the First Ward, and Mr. Streck-
fuss at first lu-oposed to carry the fight to the polls, but finally
concluded not to. lu Mayor ileLean's first term Ihe Council
was deadlocked for a long time over the election of a presid-
ing ofticer. Finally the problem was solved by the election, in
l.StlO. of a CoHUcilnian-al-Large under an act designed to settle
a similar dilticult.v in New Brunswick. CJeueral Spencer made a
belated canvass. His friends carried the Third Ward for him,
but Mr. Slater was nominated and elected. The Conncilman-at-
I.arge is also President of the Council, and appoints all com-
mittees, subject to approval by the Council. The District Court
was another creation of Mayor McLean's administration. A
law was prepared, and, after it had been modified to suit the
idias of several other cities, was passed in 1800. Governor
(Jriggs a|>|iiiintcd William W. Watson .Judge of the court,
.ludge Watson selected S. .\. Cl.nk as clerk ami S.nmnl Wein-
berger as sergeant-at-arms. The court depriveil liic .liistices
of the Peace of their jurisdiction in civil cases, ami in ISilil,
I iicoiiraged by the upsetting of the Atlantic City Uistrict Court
law as uiicoiistitiitional. tlie.v attacked the Passaic court. The
Supreme Court .Insticc who granted the writ of certiorari was
.lustice .loiKilliaii IUxoii, He decided that the writ did not act
as a stay, but .ludge Watson cIosimI ihe coiul. and announced
that he would neither sit nor draw his salary until a decision
had been reached. The proceeding is still pending.
Mayor M<I.ean was re-elected without opposition in 1S97.
and it seemed that he might be again a candidate in lfS!t!», The
lines wen- ditTireiitly dr.-iwn. however,
UK. iiowi-: Kirn !;\s to tiii; m a'i dk.vi.tv.
I 'r. Charles .\l. llowe was iiiiliuid to run for .M.ayor a
third time on a platform of economy. The movement which
rcsulled in his being a candidate began some months before,
when the Council voted for an ordinance to buy an IS-acrc park,
III cost .'STO.IKUt, in the Fourth Ward. .V public meeting was
held to iirofest against it. Another ordinance was then intro-
duced for Ihe purchase of au eight-acre park, to cost .$37,000.
The citizens again opposed the purchase. In the heated dis-
cussions over the park projects a bitter political contest was
born. Dr. Howe was opposed at the primaries by Conncilman-
al-I.arge Kdward W. (Jardner. The Uepublican primaries
\\Lre thrown open to voters of all iiarlies, and Dr. Howe won
a sweeping victory, carrying all the wards in the city and ob-
raining l.liliO of the 2,.">2.') votes cast, ll.i,- nic c ivil .mil iinliii-
cal hislory of the city may be closi-d.
A I.IS'I OF TllF CITY ( UFK 1 .\ I.S.
A list of Ihe village otiicials has already been given in the
aecoiint of the village government. To do this, and to ascertain
the olticials of the city in the early days, it was uei'cssary to
examine several thousand pages of oflicial minutes, mostly nu-
indexed. By means of these and the register of officers, which
has been kept since 1880, the following list of Councilmen and
lirincipal city olticials, the first of its kind, has been compiled:—
Mayors— Dr. Benjamin B. .\ycrigg. l.S73-7!t: tieneral Bird
W. Silencer, IST'l-S.-,: .J,,lni A. WiMett. IS.S.-,-87: Dr. Charles .M.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
8t
lluwr, ISSTIU; \V:iM..ii K. Kiuwii. IS'.ll '.I.".; AimIicu .Mrl.,-nii.
lM',)r.-!«l: Dr. Cliiiilcs M. IIowi'. ISlHt
(.'li-rks— Thoiims Newell (\illjiKe Clerki, l.S7:i-7:!; John Diif-
fns, 187.S: Jllehael Hienic, 187;{-80: .Tniiies A. Norti.ii. WSO-8:};
■Walter Kiii.li, Iss.-.-S.-; rnuiiis C. Cu^'ai., IKS.-'tl : Kielianl K.
Tiiiilall. ISiil
Ciilleeliirs •>( Taxes -.Iiisejili 15. Kuit'lii: 1 >aviil ('ami>liell,
.li-.. 1.1 LSSil; Leoiiaid L. (Jre.u'. 1 SSi ;-'. Ci ; Albert T. Zal.ris-
Uie, IS'Jo-
Cimiisels- T. M. .Mome. lS7:!-4-ri. 1.S77; .lames H. Stimteii-
Imrt'li. 1.S7IJ-7 and 1,S7.S-S7: <;e.ii^'e 1'. Itiist. I.s.s7-'.t4: .\.
Sl.'.iins KiKiour. IS'M: Waltir Kip, IS'l.--!!!): A. I>. Sullivan.
l.S!)!)—
Tn-asnrers— !■:. K. llaUi.-.l. 1s7:;-7.'.; Uirniu <;. lleiri.k.
187r(-77: Jolin H. I'll. In. 'V. ls77Mi; Ki.hai-.l Oiitwater. l,S.SO-83;
Henjaniiii E. Mitli-w. ISSIl S!i; .l,,lii, .1. Shiler. 188!)-!>2: Harry
Meyers. 18!>2-!):!: Clnnl.s .\1. \Vil.-..\. l.S!(:{-!)(i; William Mal-
ciilni. l.SiMi—
()vers<.ers iiT r.i.u li.ini. I 1 ',■ \ ri.'s. 1SS(I-S1 ; William U.
['..well. t881-8li: ('. I'. Strayer. ISSLMMI; Iticliard V. Crawlinek,
18!«)-!lli: Francis ('. C.i^'an. IS'JL'-!!.-.; Daniel Fiigarty, 1895—
SnperinleiuliMits .if Streets — (ieurjre W. ('. inkling. 187:i-7.''i:
.leliu I. AekerniJin. 187.''>-78: .Iiilin T. Van l.lerstine. lS7S-7!t;
.I.ihn Van Blare.mi. 1S7!I.S0: H. M. l',,st. ls,S(>-,S2: (•.)rnelius
Hastii-.nwk, 188:J-S:1; .l.isepli Adams. 188:j-84: I'atriek Metiiiire,
18S4-8.".: I'hineas X. .U'wett. ls,s5-8!(: Frank Kastell. 1889-f»3;
Thomas Gibliu, 18!>3—
The office of Police .Insticc was not ereate.l nntil 1884,
when the late.Iame.s A. Norton was appointed. He received the
same fees as had the .Tustices before whom jjrisouers had pre-
vionsly been arraigned. He served four years, and was suc-
ii'cded by ,Tohii B. Fudney, a kindly old fientlemau, who made
the nmst irascible of majiistrates. He was succeeded in ISilO
by Kichard Morrell. tlu^n a y.ninf; man. anxious to stmly hu-
iiKin naini-e as .'xliiliit.'.l in a p.ili.-c .-.lurl. II.' a.lmits that he
learned siimetlilM^. In IMlLi ill.' hit.' l-Mwanl ('. Moore was
appointed for two years, ami in IS'.it .lnlm 11. li.iwker. the
I'fesent incumbent, was commissioned. He has made a model
Folice ,Iustice, and, for a man untrained in the law, he has
a j;ooil ;,'rasp .if its principles, li.'si.lcs being a go. id ju.lge of
human nature.
M. A. Sutherland was tile tiist City Surveyor. He served
from 187.'! to ]87.'j. when Stuart I.indsley took his place for two
years, to be succeeded by Waller I.. Finch. The next of the
early Cit.v Surveyors was Henry Fult.in, who served from 187!)
to 1881. He was a crack ritle-shot, and was a member of the
victorious American team in several international contests,
.lohn Hemion was Survey. ir from 1881 to 1884, and Dr. Rich-
.•ir.l A. Terhune from 1.SS4 until 18.S!I. Their acceptance of the
.illi.i' .li.l not signifj" any belief that tlu'v were iiualilied t.i
Hll ii. but rattier thi'ir fri.'U.lship for tln' late .lohn Salter
Sli-anj.'.'. w lio was 111.- .1.' fa.-t.i City Surveyor. He was an
Englishman, who i.iul.l n..| bring himself to be naturalized.
He was the onl.\' sur\".'y.if in P.assaic for most of his time, and
to comply with thi' law. w hi.li .Iocs n.it permit of aliens hoi. ling
ollice. his work was .lone nominally as an empl.i.vee .if the
.lummy surveyors. When ih.' s.wer s.vstem was being eon
structe.l, there was need of a city engineer who had made a
stud.v of sewerage iiroblems. ami in 1889 Colin K. Wise was
appointi'd. He has held the oltici' .•.intinuously ever since.
<'ily physicians, as abii\-.' slated, w.-re not in-ovided f.>r in
the charter. The tirst one regularly appointed was Dr. F. H.
Uice, who served from 18S;{ to 189;!, when he was succeeded
for a short time by Dr. W. H. Carr.dl. and then by Dr. Percy
H. Terhune. who served until 1897. when I>r. A. Ward Van
Itip.i- was app. tinted.
ME.MBEltS ()!■ Till: I TIV COUNCII..
The recor.ls tnun 1S7;; t,i Issii .1., not always stati' the
liorli.m .if th.' i-ily from wlii.li C.iiimilmi'U were elect<'.l. an. I
(.1 .iMiid .'rr.irs it lias bein llmuglit best to give a separate
list .if ill.' niembei^ for that period. altlion$;ti in most ea.ses it
is known what wards they represented.
Council of 1.S73— .John S. Conklliig. H.-nry Frain. .1. M.u-
gaii Howe, tie.irge .Mcl^-an. Henjamiii F. Popple. Peter Malloy.
It. Hurnelt Smith, Levi H. Seaman. Th.imas U. Watson. .Tohn
F. Barkley.
Council ..r 1874— Frnin. MalL.y. Wats..ii, Barkl.y, H. M.
-Mkiiison. Clarkson S. Coon, William H. .Ia<-kson, T. B. Stew-
art. E.lninnd Speer.
Council of 187.">— Speer. .\. .\. A.k.rman. W. II. Harris,
Carret Van Iderstlne, Iloberl F.iiil.ls. .\li.l H..iii.n. II. I'. Sim-
mons, Levi H. .\ld.ius, .lolin Keiiindl.
Council .if 1871;— Foulils. Horlon, Harris, Kennell. Speer.
G. D. Hogart. U. Oiitwater. Bir.l W. Spencer, .lames Wright.
Council .if 1877 — Bogart, Kennell. Spencer. Si«'er. Popple,
.Tacob Bakelaar, I.eroy W. Filkins, ,1. .V. Willetl.
Coiiniil of 1.S7S— Poiiple, Spencer, Speer, Will.ll, .\l.lous.
Frain, Henry Biegel, Patrick S. Galviii. L. E. Uoiik.
Council of 187!>— Galvin. Horton, (ierslioiii Kiisliiig. S. .1.
Post, Andrew Fonlds, Charles M. H.iwe. B. B. .Vy.rigg. W.
H. Beam, .lohn M. .Morse.
A list of members by wards since 18S(l is given iielow.
Some names will be found in the same year as representing
br.th the First anil Fourth warils. This is due to the partition
of the First Ward in 18.S7. The roster for the last twenty years
is as follows:—
Couueilmen-at-Large— ,Tohn .T. Slater. 189(;-98: E.lwanl W.
Gardner. 1898—
First Ward— Patrick S, Galvin, 1879-81: S, .1, Post, 1.S79-
81: Washington X. Harris, 1.S80-82; (Jeorge Hettinger. 18S1,
188(5-89; Martin Cost(dlo. 1,881. 1891-9:!: William Burgoyne,
1882-87; George H. .\ckeriiiaii. 18.S2-.S4: Thomas C.igan, 1.8,82-
89; Christian Van Heest, lS,s:!-,S4: William Kuslimer, I.8.8.")-
88; Edward Hogau, 1888-91; .lohn A. Lynch, 1887-89: Timothy
Haggerty. 1889-95; Francis McGuire. 1891-94; .Tohn .1. Welsh,
1892, — ; Uobert ,1. Wall, 1894-97: .Tohn .1, Hogan, 1895-98;
Owen .T, Punell. 1897-99: Carl H. A. Rice, 1897. — : .I.ilin
King. 1899.
Secon.l Waril— Ch.ul.s .\I. Il.iwe. 1.S79-.S2: l-"lorence Jla-
Imney, 1880-82; Clarkson S. Coon, 1880-8:^; Walter H. Finch.
1881-83: Jloses E. W.irthen 1883-87: Cornelius Van Riper.
188.3-,S5; Thomas I!. Watson, 1885-91: 1899, — : Walston R.
Brown, 18SU-89; Nel.soii Stoddard, 1887-90. 1.894-97: George F.
Swain. 1889-95: .lames H. Roscoe, 1890-93; William W. S.-ott.
1891-94: Ttichard D. (Jatter, 189:!-9t!; Wats.m A. Bogart. 1895-
98; Hamilton K. Beatty. 1S9(;-99: Kobert M. Off.ir.l. 1897. — :
.b.hn II. Dore!iius, 1.898. -
'I'liird Ward -.lohn M. .M.irs.-. Is7;i-S2: William S. Guiter-
ri'i!, l.S.S(): Frank T. Newell. l,S.Sll-81: .Viidrew Z. Terlnine, 1.S81-
83: .Tames K. Kimwlden. 1881-80; Edmond Speer, 1882-85:
Wickham T. -McCrea. 1883-88; Frank Ivastell, 18.84-87: Bird
W. Spencer. 1880-95; I>yinan S. Andrews. 1887-IM); Dr. .John A.
Hegeman, 1888-94: William L. Clark, 1.890-93; Cornelius Ke-
vitt, 1,893-99; .Tohn A. Parker. 1,S94, — : Edward W. Gardner.
1895-98: Davi.l Greeiilie, 1898. — ; .Matthew (ieene. 1,899. —
Fourth AVard— Frederick S. Dates, 1.S87-90: George Ret-
tinger, 1.887-89: William Riishiner. 1.887-92: Christian Huber,
18.S8-97; William H. Lord. 1,890-93: E<lward .1. .Vtkiiis. 1,892-
93; Frederick C. Stieckfuss. 1892-95; .John Hamilton. 1.893-99;
Aaron Kevitt. 1895-98; M'illiam H. Hornbeck. 1897. — ; .lohn
OT-eary. 189.8. — ; Harry F. Sclileich. 18<«», —
The Health and Excise Boards.
The first B.iaiil of Health was constituted in 18,84. It con-
sist.-.1 ..f I>i. K. .\ T.'rhiiiii'. Dr. F. H. Ui.e. .T.ilin .V. Willett.
82
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Il.iuy W. Alkiiisiiii iiinl .I;iiin's A. Nnrtiiii. In ISMT .I.isi'|ih
Ailiiuis. l)iiiii.-l Ilcimiri-st siiiil .Mirliai-I Kiiijr t<K>k tlii' pla<-i's »t
till- last lliri'i'. TliiTi- liavi- hfcii ii-iii-atf<l cliaiiBi-s siucc. wiiirli
»rv harilly uf oikiiii;!) iiiti-n-st to fullow. At pivsfiii tin- B.iaiil
>'(iiiHiKt« of live iiifiiilifrs: Fri'd K. Uiwi-. pri-sult-iit: Cliarlj-s K.
Ilciilioliii. siMT-tar.v;\Villimii V. t!astt>ii. trfasiin-r: (JilliiTt I>.
Hiifarl. Tali-ii-k II. I>i-laiii\v anil l>r. Daviil K. Criiiinsc. Tlif
• •tliir Krllrcrs arc: AIIhti H. Smith. Hi-alth lusin'ctor: William
H. liaviils.iii. IMiimhiiiK liispcilnr: I>r. .1. I'ayiir I.owi'. V<-t-
4'1'iiiarlaii.
Till' City Coiimil rrralnl llii' otliii- of Kiiil.liii;.' InsiM-rtur in
1S'.I.S. Altlioii^rli not iiiiiliT till- iliriMticiii of tin- Ili-altli Bnanl.
till- liispi'ctiir winks in i-iiiijiini-li>iii with tin- I'liiiiiliiu;; Inspi'c-
liir. anil llu-ir olllri-n arc tosi'llii-r. The pii'scMt imiiinlii-iil is
I'alrii-k S. MrMalimi. a vi-tcran linilili-r.
'llii' liistur>' I'f •'"' lii'i'usin); power fur tln' last liftciMi years
is varii'il. I'lcviuiis In that lime it liail ticfii in tin- haiiils
THOMAS GIBLIN.
Su[\'l ol SIn-i'ts.
ALBERT H. SMITH.
Ilcnlth tiiMpt'i'ior.
WM. B. DAVIDSON,
I'liiiuhiiii.' Inspector.
PATRICK McMAHON,
IfnildInK tii!«[ii>ru>r.
iif till' ('•iiinril. T'liiler an art ••( lS.S."i a rnniinissinn i>r live was
eleeleil. eiiiisistiiik; iif S. .1. I'nst. .Inlin .1. Slater. Irving .Vn;;ell.
ritlriik S. (Jalvin ami ('. Van Ueesl. Mi-. .ViiKi'll was a tem-
pi laiiii- Ki-pillilieaii. whn voteil airainst every lieelise. I'nst
anil Slater stimil fur i-arefiil ivstrietioiis ami (Jalviii ami \aii
Hei-.st for plenty iif saliions. .\o siile haviiiK a niajnrity. mn-
tiiMial i-iiiiipriimisi-s were neiessary to iln any liiisiness al all.
Tin- iinseltli-il pnliey was very iinsatisraetnry. The lininir-
li-eii liiiik ailvantaice nf these eleinoiils of ilissatisfai'tiiin. ami
eleeleil .Iiiliii II. Keiiiiu ami Henry .1. Karle in plan- of IVist
ami Kalvin. while Henry K. Keiik ti«>k the plai-e of .Viifell.
IteiniL'. Karle ami \'aii lli-<'st issni-il lii-eiises mi a wiile-npen
piiliiy. Slater ami Knnk lieiiii; in the mimirity. Salnniis in-
i-ri aseil sii rnpiiUy in niimliers. that in 1S!)'J an issue of fewer
saloiiiis was miiile, anil .lolin .1. Mowes, .lames N. Fuller ami
(J. \V. l-'alslroin wen- elerteil on that platforni. the other mi-m-
liers liiiii;.' William L. Kane ami Henry .T. Earle. who favored
liberality in >riantiiifr lirenses. The license fee then was .$2.")ll.
aiul hif.'h li'cnse was not one of the issues in the canipais;ii.
The majority in the Boanl saw tit. however, to raise the fee to
.•i.'iOil. with the result that the Boanl was put out of business.
The liiiuoriuen took ailvaiitage of a law passed under Governor
Abbett's admiiiisii-atioii. and potitioneil for a County Excise
Board, ciiinposcd of Patersou men. whi<-h granted new and old
licenses rijiht and left at .$2.50. The result was deplorable, sa-
loons bcins; planted everywhere. Next year, however there was
.'III antidote, and the County Board was succeeded by a body
alipointfd by the .ludKc of the Court of Common I'k-as. .Iiistice
.lohii Hopper. On .Tune 2S. ].S!»S, Henry l-'rain. .lames K.
Knowldcn and Bird W. Spencer took charge of the issniufr .if
liieuses. and a moderate jKilii-y once more prevailed. Mr.
Knowlden was succeeded by Edward Morrell in IS'.lo. Thomas
K. Watson went on the Board in .Tune. ISttS. and a few days
.•ifterward ordinances lefrislatiufT the Board out of existence
were introduced in the City Council. On account of public pro-
tests, they were droiiped until November, when they were
I assed. with the idea that legislation allowiiiir the Mayor to
.'iiipoint an Excise Commission could be siiuivil. Such a law-
failed to pass the lA-gislatinc ol INiiJt. ami tin- liccnsiufr power
remains in the Council's hands.
Creation of the Board of Assessors.
All valuations for taxation purposes were for many years
made by assessors elected annually for their several wards.
.Vssessmeiit awards for benelits or damages arising from im-
lirovements were made by Coiniuissioners spei-iall.v appointed
liy the Council. Assemblyman King, in 1801. secured the
pa.ssage of the bill known by his name. It provided for the elec-
tion of one .\ssessor-at-I.arge by the voters and the appoint-
ment of one assessor fiom each ward liy the Mayor. These
live constitute a permanent board, having as its duties the
l;.\ing of assessed valuations and the assessments of benelits
from improvements. The system is vastly better than the old
one. because the assessors are picked men. and the make-up of
the hoard seldom changes. Ill 18'.ll it consisted of Uilcs S. Or-
ciil, at-large: Thomas McMahon. First Ward: William Mal-
colm. Second Ward: .Tames T. Boyle. Third Ward, ami Fran-
cis C. Cogan. Fiiurth Ward. In 180!l -Mcs.srs. Orcutt. -McMa-
hon and Boyle are still members. Mr. Malcolm and Mr. Co-
gan Would probably be on the hoard yet. if they had not re-
signed, the first to become City Treasurer and the second to
accept the otiice of Deputy Collector of Internal Kevenue.
William II. Speer now represents the Second Ward and .Varon
Wii!e the Fourth. Mr. Orcutt is president and Mr. McMa-
hon secretary of the lio;inl.
The History of the Police Force.
ruder tile old township goveriimeiit the elected constables
were the only peace preservers. The village goveriiineiit in
1S71 appointed several siieeial olHcers. among whom seem to
have been (Janet Oldis, W. W. Uose and A. E. Miller. At
the organization of the first City Council, in .Viiril. 1873.
Oldis was appointed the first regular police oHicer. and shortl.v
afterward .Tohii .1. Wynne was added to the day force at .$75
a month. .Niiim rmis applications for appoiutment were re-
ceived, and CoiKicilmen Wat.son, Howe and JlcI.ean were ap-
pointed a Police Committee. They reiMirted on May T2 that
the force should not be increased.
The first iHilice .station was the old ■■Sentinel" olHce. leased
for ifJHI a year from Dr. .lohn Howe. It was used until a
brick biiililing was ei-wted at the rear of the City Hall for a
imlice sialiiin. This i-onsisted of three n-lls ami a police court.
WM. H. SPEER, 2^o WARD.
AARON WITTE, 4th WARD.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
GILES S. ORCUTT. AT-LARGE.
THOMAS McMAHON, 1st WARD.
JAMES T. BOYLE, 3rd WARD.
A. T. ZABRISKIE,
Tiix tolliTUir.
WM. MALCOLM,
riiy TrtiLMirtT
RICHARD B. TINDALL,
<lty Clprk.
COLIN REED WISE,
City Surveyor.
ADRIAN D. SULLIVAN,
City .Attorney.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
85
Al tlir rr:\v \;\s ;i tr:iinps' liMl;:iii^' liii\isi>. 'Tlu' Ccniiicil vnti'il
ill Oiiiiliir III iiMiiisli it Willi "h stove, ccml. |]iiii]>s ami run-
ilciziii Miiiiy lihiiiUils liir ilif wiiiulcriiiK i«n>r." All iipplioaiits to
til.' iHiliif fur lii(l;riiii;s wi'ii- for uiiiiiy years allowed to sleep
lure, liiit tiiiiilly tile lity ilec-iileil tluit it was eiiionraciii;: va-
grants ami l'iiiiiii.'alecl ami elose<I tin lcMl).'iii).'-liiiiise.
Tile eity ImiiikIiI n iloziii tiailires anil <lnlis for the police-
iiiell, and ("oiiiiiilmaii I'eUr Malloy iiiiule the imrrliase. On
Sipteiiilier S il is ri'eorded that he tiirneil in $'J.ri(l, returned
to him liy I lie dealer as eiiimiiission on tin' piirehase ol' the
eliilis.
On I leeeiiilirr -- llie iiiiliee fnri-e \\as ret»r;^aiiized. \\ilh
h'icliMrd Oaks. ( 'mnelins Ariiesnian and Michaid Qniiiii as pa-
tridineii under the orders <i( (lanet ( lldis .-is ehief. (^iiiiiii was
l>y rescdntion directed to piilnd the I'irst Ward and .Vines-
man was assi;;ned to "Kro>.'lo\vn." while Oaks was to eover the
rest of the Second Ward, the Third War<l lieiiic unKUarded.
Later these instructions were rescinded. Chief Oldis arrans;ed
the beats, and the men were ordered to report to him at the
police statiiiii .it N p. lu. and li a. in. .\ resolution was passed
requiriii}; that an nilircr ■■should not ali.sent himself from his
post except in c.isi> of death or sickness." On Ueeemher 2",(
Michael Coeii was .-idded to tin' force. .\t (his time, ai-cording
to the ( 'ouiicil iniiinlcs. the Cliicfs snlaiy was $T."i a incmtli.
The men received at first $2 a iii;;ht. Chief Oldis served until
his death, in 1,SS4. when William Hendry liecaiiie Chief. In
l.SiKi .Matthew Kidly was made police sergeant.
The force now consists of one Chief, olllcially styled Cap-
tain of rolice; line seriieaiit and elevi n patrolineii. as follows; —
NAME.
William Ileiidr.i
Matthew Kelly
Mich.icl Colli
.lohn .1. Wynne
RANK.
Captain
Sergeant
Patrolman
Patrolman
James I>. IxickwwKl Patrolman
Cnstav Schmidt Patrolman
.John Van Wajieninge Patrolman
William J. Plynu Patrolman
Henry Crawliuck I'atrolinan
.lacidi Voiik Patrolman
.lohn .N. Mi'ade Patrolman
.lames (ireen Patrolman
.lohn .1. I'arcells Patrolman
r).\TE OF JOINING
FORCE.
.May 7. ISTU
Oct. S. 1880
May 7, 187(i
.hine T_', 1882
Sept. 9, 1886
Sept. 10, 1888
.Inly 28, 1890
.\ug. 17, 1891
.Ian. 16, 1893
April 17. 1893
April 17. 1893
.March 2. 1896
.March 2. 1S90
SOME OF CHIEF HENDItVS KF.MINISCENCES.
Chief of P(dice Heudry is the oldest iiiembcr of the force
ill point of continuous service. Polic-cniin Cocii ami Wyiiiu'
were lioili policemou before him, but both have been off and
on the force from time to time. In 1873, Chief Heudry says,
there were 4,0(MI i pie. There were six policemeu. four on the
night force and two .m the day force, .something which is not
made plain by the ollicial records. The day men receivetl .$7.j
a mouth each and the others .f2 a night. The number of
nights they served depended largely on the favor in which
they stood with the Couiicilnn'ii. All the men were remov-
able at pleasure, and changes wire frequently made for po-
litical reasons. \\'heii Chief llcadry was appointed, he sug-
gested to some of his friends in ilir Council that a police-
mau should serve during good behaviour, and an ordinance to
this effect was passed.
"At that time." says the Chief, "we had no uniforms. We
Wore citizens' (lollies and carried clubs and badges. I had
oceasiou to press coinplaints against two or three men for
resisting an olticei. and they got off one after another ou the
plea that they did not know I was an otlicer on account of
my wearing citizen's clothes. This set me thinking, and the
men on the force got their heads logciher and ih'cided to buy
nniforms. These wi-re an exact <-opy of the uniforms of the
Xew York iioliee at that time. There liavi' been few changes
since. The cit.v has never olliciall.v adojited any uniform for
the force at all."
The criminal reconls of the Pass.ii<' iiolicc deparliiK'nt are
rather lame, because there have never been any notable crimes
committed here. There lias never been an oiilrigiit murder
commitled in the city. Several pi-rsons have U'en puiiisheil
for maiislaiigliter. No bank robbery has been attempted.
'I'hi're arc only two cases mi record of safes being blown open.
.Iiwclcr Charles (Jrccme's safe was fonnd blown oiK-n and
rlHed i>( .f-'idO of watches and tings one morning, seven years
ago. The robbers were never dis<'overed, although there were
various suspi<i<>ns. firocer F. M. Swan's safe was robbeil of
.$100 once. The largest r(d)bery on n-cord ficcurred fifteen years
ago. when thieves entered the clothing store of Marks iV; Ix'Win,
the predecessors of M. .1. Hoke, at Passaii- and MiLejiii streets.
They had a truck and <-arted away the entire stock, but were
afterward arrested and sent to state prison. The only notable
highwa.v robbery that ever occurred in the eity was in 1898.
Mrs. E. M. (Jill of (Jrcgory avenue was decoyed to Van Hou-
Icn .iviiiiic by a young man. under pretence of conducting her
lioiiic. She had lost her way, being new to the city. He
knocked her down and took her jewelry, valueil at .$1,200. His
identity was discovered, he was arrested, sent to prison and
all the jewels were recovered.
AX EXCITING BIT OF POLICE HISTOKY.
There is one exciting episode in the criminal hist<iry of the
city that almost had a tragic ending. Chief Hendry, who tells
the story, had the narrowest escape of his life, narrower than
any of his Civil War exi>eriences. In 1879 the jewelry store of
Marks Brothers, in Troy, X. Y.. was robbed of $14,0(K) in
jewelry. Tile burglars were ■■Billy" Porter and "Jack" Ir-
ving, two iiiembers of the notorious gang jiresided over b.v
Mi<liael Kurtz, alias "Slie'uy Mike," and "Mother" Mandle-
li.imii. Kurtz was the brains of the gang, and with "Red
.liiiimy" Hope, of .Manhattan Bank fame, ranked as one of the
two most resonriefnl ami (hingi'rons criminals in the United
States. "Mother" Maiidlebanm was the receiver of hundreds
of tliousands of dollars' worth of stolen giHids. which she dis-
jHised of for the profit of the concern.
The 'Vvoy lobbciy had bi en traced to Porti-r and Irving
and the jewelry had been traced to Xew York. The Xew
York police were watching Kurtz and Mrs. Mandlebaum. Por-
ter and Irving wire known to be near Xew York and to be in
commnnication with their leaders. As a matter of fact, they
were registered under assumed names at lletliiiger's Hotel, on
Passaic street, and passed as honest and peaceable mechanics.
( )ii .Inly 23, 1879, detectives followed Kurtz and "Mother"
.Maiidlebanm out to Passaic, where they took a hack at the
I'lrie ni.'iiii depot. They went on a roiindalHiut drive for sev-
I'ral miles, but were followed to the hotel. Arrangements were
made to trap the thieves in their council riHmi. but they took
warning just as the poli<e and the detectives were surrounding
the hotel. Porter and Irving dashed out of the back d<x>r. fol-
lowed clos(dy by Patrolman Hendry. He was within six feet
of them when Porter turned around, and. drawing a revolver,
tired at him. Hendry threw his head to one side and the
bullet missed him. but he received part of the charge of
powder in his face. It stunned .ind half-blinded him, and
Porter and Irving, vaulting a fence that stood at the rear of
the building in which Mrs. M. A. McCarthy's shoe store
is situated, made their escape. They were never arrested for
the Troy robbery, and their whereabouts is not known.
".Mother" Mandelbaum died a few years ago in exile at Mon-
treal, an aged woman.
8&
THE NEWS* HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
The Story of our Volunteer Firemen.
Tin- liisiKiy i>( ilic vi.liiiitiTr tiri- ili'iKirtiiiciii wiis su I'ailli-
fiilly rfriiidcil in a li<K>kli>t issiu-d li.v The News in <i)ni-
iitrnioriiiiiin of llic 2.">lli iimiivcrsiiry <>f its organization, in
1><'.U. tlial a liMi:rltiv aii-..mit lii-n- Httiilil lie sti|>crtinoiis.
DUNDEE ENGINE CO. NO. 2.
It rt'iilly iliili's liaik to UctolxT 2(>. ISIiS. wlien a nicetin;:
was liflil nt tile olllce of tin- lati- ('a]>li><" S. K. Frits, with
Washin>:lon .V. Harris in the iliair. It was ch't-idctl to orfran-
i/.i- a tire association anil a liook anil hiihU-r ronipany. Oscar I).
Ilalilwiii. ilic first [ircsiilcnt of tlic vlllacc ami aflcrwaril vicc-
|ircsiili-nt of the Mnliial Ifcscrve Life Insurance Coiniiany. was
chosen presi.lfnt: ('a|itaiii Krits, vice-|>ri'siileiit: ex-l'ostniaster
William .\. Willanl. sei-ietaiy. ami .\liel llorton. Ircasnrer. ami
c illci's wi'H' M|i|Hiinti'cl. .Messrs. Willanl ami Morton arc
the only original meniliers livinc in I'assaic The object of the
Kire .Vssocialioii was to i-nlist citizens in the lire service, not
necessiirily as active tireineii. lint also as contrilmlors to the
fnnil. It imrchascil all the i-arly apparatus. .\ hand engine
was IioiikIh in Heeenilier. ISIi'.l. for I'assaic ICuKine Company
No. One. which was oriianizeil on .Novemlier 1 of that year.
The company had its onciue. Init was wilhonl hose, when
Walerhouse's woolen mill was Imrncil down on Hecemlier l.">.
isti'.l. Th.-y foiiv'lil the liri' with liiickets only. On Septenilier
II of llie rollc.wiiiK year tin- tirst tireniaii was killed in the
|ii rformance of his duly. .lames ('(dlier's hotel, on lower
Main iiveinie. the ".Seliasiopol." so iianieil ilurinn the Crimean
war. was liurncd down. Cornelius .\oriiian. a lirother of llw
fi.riiier iMistmasler. was crushed lietween the ontrit'trer of the
hiind eiifine and tin- lirii-k Imildint' now occupied liy .Mrs.
Miilvihill's hotel. The lireiiien were tniiiinK the eniiine down
the sti-ep river hank to i:rt suction and lost eontnd.
In 1.S71 dissensions in the euKim' company caused the for-
mation of Kescue Hook and I^idder Company, for which the
Fire As-sociiilion purchased a truck ami luickel outlit. Tin-
oi'i^'inal memliers were It. B. Timlall. .Joseph A. Rhodes, and
live others who resigned from Kngine Company Xo. One. Adri-
an Norman, Thomas Cogau and others. On .\ugust 2. 1872.
the two companies participated in the celebration of the turn-
ing on of cit.v water, already alluded to.
When the cit.v government was formed, in 187.'!. the City
Council pnrchased the Fire .Vssixiation's einiiiimenl. after
much bargaining, for .$I,S(KI. The association did not go out of
existence, however, until 1882. On .Inly A the lirst steam
lire engine purchased by the city arrivcil lor tlu' engine ciun-
pany. The city purchased the ilethodist CluMcli in IS":!, and.
raising it one story, bnilt quarters f<n- the ilci)artmenl on the
lirsi lloiu-. while the second story became the City Hall.
On .lum' 2!. 1S7:{. the old .\c<|uackanonk Hotel, on Wash-
ington place, was burned down with adjoining stores and
Iriiildings. The total loss was estimated in the "Item" at the
lime as .$tj( l,( I0( I. A good portion of the business section was
destroyed and two men were burned to death. Dundee Biigine
CiMniiany was lU'ganized on .lauuary 24. 1874. and in lS7i; got a
•SKI.IKHI brick engine house. McLean Engine Couipany was
organized ab int the same tinn- as a hose company, ll was
n.inied after Councilman (Jeorge McLean, who was killed
on December 4. 187;!, by the collapse of Speer's building. He
w.is then forming the new compan.v. which after his ileatli
was named in his honor. Later it Avas emisididated with
I'amil.v Kngiiie Couipany No. Three, and became an engine
compan.v.
In 1874 and 187.3 there were a luimber of small incendiary
liies. one of which was at the old Koman Catholic Church,
where the I'assaic Club now stands. It was destroyed ou
December 21, I87.">. One week later, while lighting a fire in
a Harrison street liousi'. Thomas Uarnaclo was crippled for
ALERT TRUCK HOUSE.
life by a falling chimney. Finally the incendiaries were caught,
and proved to lie firemen, who, anxious to make a good show-
ing for Ihcir co,u|iany in resiH.nding to .•ilarms. started small
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
87
lii-cs Ihi'iMsi'lvcs. Hl'icii «ii|[ scriiiMs ri'siills. Tlicy wen' nm-
viiti'il :iii(l piiiiislii'il. ■,]]]'] I 111' I'liiili'iiili' ul' lii'i'S <'(';is<'il.
Alcrl 'I'nick t 'iiiiiinni.v « ms iii';.Miiiznl in lS.S."i .miiiI I.iiiilrii
IIiMio Ci)tnimriv in 1.SS7.
On I-'i'liiMiiiiy ;!. ISS.s. .liisi'pli McVrtlmi's lninsc> iil I'iissnir
Hriilsc was Imi-nnl. .11 .1 liitli-i- riild ni^lit. Miiliiicl Clark, a
iiirnilii'i' (if DiiniU'i' Thus, cinitiacti-d an illness wliiili icsnllnl
in his ilc.itli a .voar latcT. Thi' First Baplisl Clniiili was ili-
stro.vod iMi Ucri'niluT 7, IS',111. Owinw I" n lai 1; .>! Wiilrr
lirrssiii'i'. llic lirrnirii \\ fir cuniiii'lli'cl to wiilcli ii liiirii. On
1 >i'ii'iiiliir :'il K. K. Hciil,in's lurnilui-c storo candlit lire, ami
Ihi' iiiii'.s|ni\ iiiniic liiiilcliiiLrs mi I'Mssair slriM't ciinlainint: it
.mil 'Paylni's ilniliiii'.' slm-i' wrn' ili'sti'oyi-il.
'Till' l)i;r;r''sr riri' in I In- iiistm-y of l*;issaif circurri'il on
(liliil.iT lid, ISlll, wlirii S|i('i'i-'s will!' w.-iri'liunse iiu lnwi'r
ilain avenue was partially ilesli-oyed. The liiss In the liiiildint:
niul till' laiiie sloek iit" wine was .'JSIIKI.IKMI. nnd the iiisnraiiee
wns enly •*L'.",(H«t. Sparks fell in showers sever:il times ih.il
iciv'hl on llie rool' nf the "Old l'"irsl" Chiinli, wlii. Ii is over ;i
eelltury old. .lliil il w.ls leMreil il would lie destroyed. On New
Year's lljy, ISIM, the .\lusie ll.-|ll liloek, owned liy I'Mo Kip,
on Mniii .-ivenne, iienr the lOrie m.iin depot. w;is liuiiied. The
loss was .'f(i(l,(MP(P. Handllon Hose ('omp,-ni\ No. Two was or
gaiiized in Novemlier. l.SiM,
The "J.'ilh MnniversMiy ot ihe llr^^'llIizalion of the lire de
li.'irtim'iil \\ as eelelti*;iteil on .Novemhi-r 1 of thai ,ve:ir.
On Septenilier (1, IS'.U. oc nirred what is known as the
•"moonshiin' lire." Tliom;is K. Watson, l>e|iiily ('oheetor of
Ih1ern;il IIe\'eniie in this district, liiid r.-iided .-111 illicit still in
tile old Terhnne mnnsiini in I.odi in l.Sl):!. 1 1 w ,is operateil h,v
several Alsatians fnnn llolmken. Several hnndred f;allons of
crude whiskey and a eomplet<' distilling plaiii were cnptiired
and stored in the old W;itson Hlctehery. wlieri' they were de-
stroyed liy tire a year later. On .Taniiary Ii."), l.Sll."). the lire-
men were c.illcd to Clirion to lijrht a tire wdiich de-
stroyed Henry Hohenstein's old ('lirinn Hotel, with a
loss of .'<lL;,n(lil, Two ceiiipaides responded, September -'.i
was marked liy :l lii^ lire in Second street, near Essex, Three
store liuildinus owiu'il li\ ex-Cnitncihiiaii Timothy Ilasserty
were destroyed, Knf;ine ('ompauies Nos. ( Ine and Two re-
simmled on Oeeemlier N to a call for help from Itmhi'rford,
Me.Main's Imildlnir on I >epot Square ,'ind some adjacent struc-
tures were destroyed. On M,iy II, I.SDO. two big fires broke
out simult.ii usiy in raterson, and the same companies were
dispatch. 'd to render assistame. .No. One worked at the lire
which destroyed the ImildiirL: of the .M.iehiiusts' .\ssoi i,-ition
;inil .No, Two ,it the llindiliffe malt-honse. On Scptcndier
■J."> the store of (Jeorire Kidih.-irt, in Clifton, was Inir I down,
the Passaic tiremen lieiii;; ajrain called upon.
The >c,ir I.SU7 w.as marked by two laii.'e tires, the first
uiilew oilliy ones in two years. 'I'lic ra;:oda Hotel al I'assaie
Hrid^'e w.as burned on .July :\. the loss bein;.- .$L'I1.(III(I and the
insitrance only ."Pl'K.'idtl, On Sepleiidier :;i, the dry j;oods store
of 11. .Meyers vW Son was bnr I out with .1 loss of ,«:i."i.llllll.
The year IS',IS was uneventful, bill IS',i',l \\ .is ushered in
by two distiessiuf; fatalities. On ,laiiu.ny -] the bnildiiiK i>c-
citiiied by Charles Uumpler as a bakery was ^'utti'd by ;i
lire started by ;;asoliui- in a woodshed at the rear. .\fter
the lire the body of .Miss Kmina Uumpler. a be.iutiful yotiu;.'
woman, was fmiinl in her father's apartments on the second
Hour, ,\fter reaehiu^' the sidewalk in safety, she returned to
dress herself more fully, and was sulTocatc'd. 'Pwo days after-
ward :in oil stove upset ill .1 lolibler's shop al .No. SL' Main
avenue, ,'iiid ill live miniiles Mrs, .loseph I.aponi had been
burned 111 dc.itli. The .National Hank buildiuj.' was gutted on
l-'ebru.ary l."i, the Mist .inniversary of the destruetioii of the
Maiiii', The loss was .117, IKH), The hmis ' \V, H. Augleniau.
on Brook .iveiiue. was deslroycd mi March S. loss .^In.l
and Sliuit's drug store was burned out on Septenilier !t, loss
.•ST.illlK.
On September ."{ there was a fire in Ililfniiin's wholesnlc
Iil, nor store iiii l';iss«ie street. Itiiiiilee, \V. It. Sinilli. n nieiil-
lier of .\lert Triii-k Coiiiiniiiy. stepped 011 a rusty iiiiil, wliieli
caused his deiilh fi'oiu blood poisonini; on Septenilier ,S. On
Oiiober 1. .Mrs. Wall, the mother of the late Couiicihnan Wall.
fell a victim to (ire. Her apron eainrlit lire from the kitchen
stove, and the llaines spi-ead to her elotliiii^. She run to llie
stairway, fell down a (light of .stairs and was dead when
picked nil.
The departiiieiit now ennsists of [ilX men. There are three
steam fire engini's. two trucks, one eheiniciil engine, five hose
carriages, one hose wagon iind 4,:!IH| feet of hose. During
I.S'.I.S Ihe department answeivd li.'i alarms of fire, at which the
damage was only .Sli.^.'iO. There are 'JM fire hydrants. It. H.
Howker. the chief engineer, is oih' of (he best who has ever
held Ihe iiosition. He has occupied il for three years, .•mil
Mc LEAN ENGINE CO. NO, 3.
has brought the depjiitnieiil up to a high plain' of etlieieiiey.
l-'reipieut drills are held under his direction, wliiih attract a
great deal of public attention. 1'. N'an Uipi'r Tost is assistant
chief ami liis able second.
The Advent of Electricity.
.\ii account has been given ill another chapter of the build-
iug of the electric street railway, the first in New .lerse.v. The
rassaie Electric I.,ight. Heat anil I'ower Company, which
fi'.inished the power, was iiicoriiorated .laiiuary 12. I.'^.S.S. It
beg.'in business on October 1. 1.S.S,S. with 2(M> lights, and in
eighteen months had increased its business nntil it furnished
1.12(10 inea!idescent and 4') ar< lights. Mayor Brown, tJeu-
eral Spencer. Kiehard Morrell and Mayor Bogart were ninong:
the principal stockholders at first. The gas and electric eoni-
paiiies consolidated in ISfCi under the name of the Passaie
Lighting C pany. The old electric light pl.-iiit on Harrison
88
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Mi-wt W!is al>audoni-il. and a magnificent new i-lfetrit- lij-'lit and
|Miw«T plant was l>uilt next to the t.'as works at Passaic street
and Colnmliia avenue. The electric niachini ry alone cost
S;S."..(l(NI. It furnished all the power for the Newark trolley line.
•J"lie conil.iiiiHl plant was .sold in l.SOlt to the I'nited Gas Im-
provement Company of Philadelphia, which orpuiized the Pat-
ersou and Pas.saic (Jas and Electric Company, iousolidatin}.'
the syKlems of the two cities.
'Hie (Jamewell fire alarm system was installed in IS'.MI at
a i-ost of !i!4.tKKl, but uumerons improvements and extensions
have lHi>n made since that time. It now includes 15 miles
of wire and :!<l street ho.xes. with auxiliary systems in several
of the hnn-r mills. Albert T. Zabriskie was the first superiii
t< ndent. and was succeeded in 18!l."i by Charles U. Newman.
All of the fire-himses are equipped with telephones, in ad-
dition.
Passaic has all the conveniences of a modern cily. in-
eluding Western Union and Postal TeU'irraph otfices and Iw..
telephone companies. The Bell system is represented liy tlii>
New York and New .Jersey Telephone Company, which has
Imcu doing business in Pa.ssaic for twelve years. It has 7<M)
instruments conni-cted with the Passaic exchange. In l.S!)S it
INTERIOR VIEW OF ELECTRIC LIGHT STATION.
e<>mmeiici'd the construction of a system of subways and in
ISit'.l the erection of a three-story office building in Prospect
sirei-t. to cost .*2ri.tKI(l. The Paterson. Passaic and Suburban
Telephone Company cditained a franchise in IS'.KS, and in l.S'.KI
began the co:islriiction of its Passaic system, which, it is
piiiniised. will be a lively coiniietitor of its older rival.
.MlMCll'AI. I'.l 11.1>1M; AM> 1 ITV IKi.Mi;.
The removal i>( I lie old City Hall to make way for tile new
Municipal Kiiilding. or the new Pile anil Police IIeadi|uarters.
as il is ollliially known, has already Immmi alluiled to. The
building, begun in l.S'.Mi. was coinpli-ti'il in ISllil after many
delays. Its total cost will he about .'f.'iH.IHHl. It will house the
iwo oldest fire companies — Engine No. One and Truck No.
Oiii' — the iMilice station and court and various city depart-
ments, sui'li as the IHstrict Court, if reiiislitnled: the ollices
of Ihi' Hoard of Health, .Street Su|K'riiitendent and Riiililing
Inspector. The Hii' houses have been proviilcd with social
parlors, which can be used for tlorinitories when a paiil tire
ilvnarlment <omes. The police statiiui h.'is a cell-room contain-
ing twelvi- modern steel cells, which ought lo meet require-
menls f(U' half a century, unless Passaic becomes a much
more turbulent cily than il is at present.
The city owns a small farm of a dozen acres in Acquacka-
nonk township, purchased in 1.8iK). on which stands a modern
building. hiMled by steam, erected as an almshouse. Nearby
is a cottage for Supeiinteudeut Thomas Matin r. Tin- build-
ings are supplied with water from an artesian well by an
engine, pump, and storage tank. The farm raises all the vege-
t.ibles. corn and fodder needed for the house and stables, and
the few aged inmates of the city home are well cared for.
Kemoved from the demoralizing iutiuence of llic cinwdcd
streets, where the city used to keep them, thi-y arc healthier
and better nu n and Avomen.
The city has at present one hundred miles of sidewalked
streets, thirty miles of sewers, twenly-seveu miles of macadam-
ized streets and thirty ti^ fifty miles each of gas and water
mains.
Passaic in the County and State Government.
Paterson is the largest city in Passaic Counly, ami natn-
rally has the control of the county government. Owing to
her chronic reluctance to .lUowiug any office of honor or profit
to go out of her own borders. Paterson has prevented Passaic
citizens from sharing in the managenuMit of county affairs to
the extent lo which they are entitled by their numbers and
intelligence.
.\o resident of Passaic or Ac(iuackanonU Landing has ever
lieeii State Senator, although many good men were available.
.M..>I of llie lime the city has not been represented in the
II. .use i.r .\ssenil)ly. although her population for many years
past has entitled her to an Assemblyman. The hist man Pas-
saic ever sent to the Assembly was Henry McDanolds. who
u:is there in 1872 and 1873. The next was ex-Postmaster
.lolm Keiiiull. who was elected in 187S on the Democratic
ticket. He was defeated in 1879 by his closest friend, the
late (Jeorge W. Conkling. who took the Republican nomination.
TliMi tills rivalry did not sunder them is demonstrated by tlie
fact that llu'.v were roommates at Trenton in the winters of
IST',1 and 18.SI). when Mr. Conkling was in the Assembly and
-Mr. Kennell was also attending its sessions. William F. (Jas-
ton was elected to the Assembly in 1SS2 and 188:!. and took a
pri'inineiit part in its business. ,Tolin King holds the banner
record. He was elected in 1.S90. 18!ll. IS'X,. 18<Jli, 18!IS and
again in is'.'li. lie li;is secured nineli valuable legislation for
the city.
Passaic has never had a Sheriff, altlmugn the first SlierilT
of Pass.iic County was Uynier S. Speer. who was an Acquacka-
noiik township man and a member of the well-known I'assai<-
family. He served from 1S:57 to 18,'5'J, Ex-Postmaster William
I.. .Vndrnss received the Kepublicau nomination in IS.'il. anil
was beaten bv William S. Hogeucamp, Democrat. In 18'.I7
.lacob ,1. \aii Noordt was nominated by the Republicans, and
through a split in the party was beaten by Peter Hopper, Dem-
ocrat, No Passaic man has ever been chosen for any im-
pc.rtant county office except Henry McDanolds. who was Siir
legate for one term.
Three Passaic men have been chosen director of the Iloaid
of Preeholders. They were Daniel Demarest. 187ii and 1878;
.lacob .7. A'aii Noordt, 1894. 189.") and 189(i. and Edward N.
Kevitt, 1897 and 1898.
The Passaic members of the Board have bi'eii; .loscph
Adams, Third AA'ard, 1873-7."); Benjamin Aycrigg, Acquacka-
noiik township. ISli-j; .lames S, Biddell, Second AVard, l,89(t-
92: Oeorge W. Conkling, Second Ward, 187S-.S:^; Daniel Dem-
arest, First Ward. 1873-79: M. .!. Dillon. First Ward. 1899, — ;
.John I., Fitzgerahl, Fourth Ward. 18!l.-)-".l7: Patrick S. Calvin.
First Ward, 1.S81-,S7: Thomas Giblin, First Ward, 1887-93:
Leonard L. tJrear. Third ward. l,S8.")-87; ,Tohn Hemioii, First
Ward, 1879-81; Christian Hiiber, Fourth Ward, 1897-99: .lohii
Kennell, Second Ward, 18,S;i-.S4; Edward N, Kevitt, Second
Ward. 1894-99; Edward Morrell, Third Ward, 1877-8.5; Sam-
uel Newell, .Vcijuackanonk township. 1874-78; Sylvester .1.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
89
I'list. Fniirlli Wiiiil. ISST-'.C!: ( icni-fif Ui-tiiiiKiT, l-'.Mirtli WmiiI,
],Sil4-!t."i; .liiliii \'. IJycrsdM. Aiiniarkaiionk ti)wnslii|i. ISTn; Al-
boi-t Tottiii. Tliinl Ward. ISST-iCS; .huoli .T. Van Ndonlt.
Kimith Assi'iiilily District and afloiward Third Ward. IS'.rj-
!l!l; Kli W. Vond..rsuiilh, Tliird Wanl. 1.S7.'.-77: Conirlins War-
ner. Si'iMinil Ward. 1.SS4-!K): .lanii's WaliMliii\isi', I'assaic vil-
las:.'. 1.S71-7;!. Sccund Ward. 1S74 7S; .l,,l,n .1. Widsli. Kir.st
Ward. l,S9-»-!KS.
It was while Geor),'e W. Cunklinf; represented the Second
Wiird in the Board lli.il lir lost his life aecidentall.v. on Au-
gust 1. 1S.S3. Two UHii went down to clean a cessiMol and
were prostrated l),v sewer gas. He went down to rescue them
and was asph.vxiated. The minutes of the Board for Au-
gust. 1.S.S3. give splendid testinum.v to the gini'ral esteem in
which he was held.
The longest term of service in the Board of Freeholders
since 1873 has hccn llial of (Jenrgc V. DeMott, who represented
Ac(iuackanonl; tMuiisliip fur tourteen .years consecutivel.v.
from 1S78 to ISiKJ, .ind uw yrar thereafter, in 1895. Though
not exactly a I'ass.-iir iii.ni. Mi-. lleMott lives so near the city
line in Clifton that il is appropi-iale to mention him.
Before closing this chapter on the civd government of
Passaic, it will he interesting to tell the life story of Daniel
Holsman. who was practicall.v an Aii|uackauonk man. It is
a tragedy, and hut for the fact that the family has almost
died out. and that noiu' of his relatives are in or near Pas-
saic, it would not be related here.
On the Bergen County side of the river, opposite Passaic
Bridge, is a tine old white mansion, built of wood and co-
lonial in style. It is fast going to decay, and the grounds are
unkempt. Most Passaic people know it as a deserted boarding
school, although some of the older ones speak of the southern
portion of the property as Santiago Park, the name bestowed
on it by a syndicate of wealthy Cubans that once owned it.
Rarel.v is its name connected with that of the Holsmans.
No famil.v was more prominent or inlluential in Passaic
or Bergen counties forty years ago. Mrs. Catherine Holsman
was one of the organizers of the First Methodist Episcopal
Cliurcli of this city. Her son. Daniel, was a vestryman at one
lime in St. .lohn's Hpiscopal Church. They had wealth ami
position. The son had education and brains. He graduated
with honors at Princeton. In Mi')~ and 1.s."iS he reiireseiKed
Itcrgen County m the .Vssembly. and in the hitler year he was
Speaker of the House, at the age of twent.v-four. Si.\ years
later, in IMli;}, he was elected State Senator from Bergen.
He had not quite attaineil the ccmstitutional age of thirt.v years,
and a false record of his age was introduced to enable bini
to (inalify. In that year he presided over the Senate of the
Slate of New .Tersey when it was debating a residution deny-
ing the wisdom anil right of carrying on the War of the Re-
bellion. He was re-elected Senator in I.SCi.". and although so
young a man was so well esteemed that he beeaiiie the most
prominent camlidate for the Deniocratii- noniinallou for Gov-
ernor. There were other candidates, but the nomination and
the couseqiient election were all but e.incedeil to him.
The day of the eciii\ eiii i.m eaine. the nominations were
made, and it was .seen that the inclination of the convention
was toward Holsman. The secretary was just about to coni-
meiue calling the roll on the first ballot when a man stag-
gered upon the platform hopelessly drunk. It was Dauiol
Holsman, whom the convention was just about to nominate for
Governor of the State of New Jersey. He attempted to ad-
dress the convention, Imt before he could speak his friends
hustled him out of sight. He had irretrievably ruined him-
self, however. Beyond a few scattering votes from his neigh-
bors, his name was not heard in the balloting. He dropped out
of public life. Instead of a brilliant career, that might have
been a record of long and honorable service to his State and
nation, Daniel Holsman's biography is a story of a blasted life.
His ambitions destroyed, he gave himself over to his besetting
sin. His mother died brokenhearted. Her fortune, wasted by
his extravagances, soon slipped through his hands, and in a
few .vears he was begging old ac(tnaintan<-es for ten cents for
whiske.v. He died in the gutter in New York. This might be
taken for a temperance tract, but it is a piece of heart-reniling
political history, and. the worst of it is. it is all true.
CHAPTER XVL
THE STORY OF THE CITY HALL.
C. M. K. Paulison's Unfinished Castle, Long Known as "Paulison's Folly," Becomes a Public Building:-
The City Hall, the Parks and Our Splendid Shade Trees.
0\ iIk' liniw 111' ilif liill kihiwii as Tcuiy's Nnsc. wliiili iiaiiu'
II lias lionie since llii- lit-viiliiiidii. staiiils the City Hall,
as siilistaiitiiil ami haiiilsiiiiic as any i" Now Jersey. Its
loeiitiou is iilisiiliilel.v unrivaled, standing;. :is it does, (in a hill-
side. uvei-liMikiiii: h.ilf i>r the lower I'assaie Valley and lieinj; a
liiiidiiiark for miles aroiiml. The iiolile liiiildiiif; has a lieniitifnl
seliiii):. It stands in a iiark which covers two jjood-sized cit.v
Idocks. and which is cared for like a garden. The I'ity Hall
and Park are not all thai Passaic lias lo lioast of. lint they are
aii'iin;.' the liest si;:lils il li.as to offi'r. On a slimmer da.v. with
the roliiiis dancinir over the ;;rassy terraces, the trees waving in
llie lireexe. the fountain spray falling in the sunlight, it jire-
sints a imrliinlarly charming asjiect.
("harh's M. K. Paiilison and .\. Swan Hrowii Imiines that
stand in I'assaie for inlelli^'ent .iiiil iinselhsli eiieiKyl are the
men who are responsilile for oiir City Hall. The first commenc-
eil it. the second saw that it was completed.
Much has lii'en saiil alioiil .Mr. Paulison's work in develop-
in;.' the city. Inn little alioiit the loan himself. He was a
iiolily useful man. whose career had an nnl'ortnnate ending
Iiecause of one moiinmeiilal mistake. .\ mistake it proved to
he. not Iiecause of miscaleiilalion. lnit from lack of the gift of
in'ophecy: a pardonalde mistake. Iiecause it represents to the
layl the generous, free-handed spirit anil life of its maker. If
Charles M. K. Paiilison had not mined liimsidf liy Imilding
Paulison's "Polly." il would have liien beean.se he was no
longer Ch.irlcs .M. K. Paiilison.
Born at Hackeiisaek in 1.S24. of old Dutch stock. .Mr. Pau-
lisoii made his start in mercantile life in New York and ae-
i|iiired some pr iperly. (iold was discovered in California, and
111' went to San Krancisco and engaged in Imsiness. He helped
to roriii the city government and free Ihe cily from the rule
of liiilliis. lie was f the lirsl .Mdermeii of the city. Iieiiig
chosen over a desperado, who sniiseiiiiently iH-eame famous as
Walker Ihe Kililiiister. Having "made his pile." he longed for
I he Kast ag.iin. and changed from the stormy scenes of the
fifties in California to the liiisy Inn peaceful and pleasant life
of a well-lo-ilo New Yorker. He hecame piesiilent of the Ninth
Ward Kank in .New York. A man of discriiniiiation and rc-
lineiiieiil. he was passionately fond of music, .-iiid was lor a
lime presideni of the New York Philharmonic Society. He
was III f tile great forty men who met al the .\stor House
ill .New York, in LS-'iIt. and organixcd the ICepiililican parly
on the plat form of "free speech, free soil, free men and Kre-
n I." riiese are a few striws that show that in him a hold
and fertile mind was mated with an exi|iiisite arlislic taste, and
Ihal if he ev<'r liiiill a home after his own hcirl. il would lie
planned and ciiiisiructed on a lordly scale.
Mr. Paiilison had heen operaliiig in Passaic real estate for
eight years in 1.S72. Things had gone well with him. and as
Passnie was growing ipace. lie comuienced to Iniild Ihe man-
sion which he iiileiiiled In i-all "Park Iliighls." lie employed
landscape gardeners, who laid out a lieautifnl park, plaiilcd " ith
evergreens, the grass lieing kept like velvet. Flowers were one
of his delights, and he Iniilt the finest conservatories in Now
.Tersey. which he stocked with the rarest and most exquisite
blooms, one greenhouse being filled with eamolias in bloom.
Cages were hung from the ceilings, in which canaries and other
songsters of the best strains were kept. The water reservoir
on the hill was provided with an alabaster fountain. All this
was done while the foundations of the buildings were hardly
l:;id. because it was the desire of the owner that all I'assaie
should enjoy the beautiful sounds and sights. The grounds
were open to the public at all times, and people came and
went ill crowds.
-Mone.v was lavishl.v siieiit on the place. A lodge for the
gatekeeiier cost .$1'J.0(M). a stible !f1J.(M)0. the greenhouses .$27,-
I'liO. ;i massive wroiiglit-iron fence and imposing gate posts of
carved stone, .$12,11110. AVlien the city purchased the property
in l.Sin a lion's head of browiistone was needed to coiuiilete a
gate-i)ost on the (Jiegor.v avenue side. Il cost .$;'i."iO. The gate-
pr-sts are said lo have cost ifl,2IMi c-:icli. Tlu-y .ire still stand-
ing, but the <-ostly fence was taken down and sold by the
city for a song.
The mansion was of imposing diiiiensions ,ind built, like a
fortress, to last for ages. It was of cut browiisione, the ma-
terial coming from Mr, I'aulison's quarry in North I'assaie.
Being Moorish ill design, the materials were cunningly varie-
gated in certain parts after a curious design. The first floor
was expected to be large enough to seat ."ilMl persons at
dinner, if occasion reiiiiired. The tour small corner towers
wore each to be surinouiited by a glazed minaret, while a
larger luie was to crown the building. From these huge glass
iloiiies the lights were to stream out on feslal nighls lo sliciw
PARK HEIGHTS" AS CONTEMPLATED.
the surrounding country that Charles .M. K. Paiilison wi
cntcrlaining his friends.
CHARLES M. K. PAULISON.
A. SWAN BROWN.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
93
Wlini Mr. I'Miilisiiii Iki.I .■\|i.-ii.1c>cI .VJi ii i.ik II i iip.iii tliis |iiiliic<'
:iiiil |i:iiU. IM.'i liiiiir, niiil Willi it llir iT.i'^li. Aliiiic willi
tlimisaiids of otluTs. Mr. Pnillis.ni \v:is niiiii'd. He cinild linvr
THE UNFINISHED "CASTLE" IN 1H90.
.siisiicniliil wiiiU nil Ills iiiaiisiiiii nml riirrinl liis rcnl cslnli'
tlii'oush tho luiiiic. if 111' hail mil liail tliinisaiitls of dullais iii-
VfStcil in bonds of Soiitlicrn Slates, wliicli wori' rciiudiatcd.
Ill' liail to abandon alniust I'vci-ytliiiiL'. A (rw yrais later lie
invested heavil.v in walnnt tinibei- in E;ist Tennessee, and h lien
it .seemed that he might be ou his feet once iiioie. w.ilnnt fni-
nitnre began to go out of fashion. Then he went as Hegister
of tile Land OtHce to Arizona, wiiei-e he joiiieil his old frii'iid.
(Jeneral Fremont. He never lost conrage or gave up the idea
of ri'tniiiiuf; to complete his mansion. He was livins at Tuc-
son, Arizona, with ever.v prospect that he miglit be able to
.satisfy this long-cherished desire, when di'ath came to ilis-
appoinl him once more, lie died of hemorrhage on October 112,
l.S,Sl. His remains were bronght to this city, and his funeral
was helil at the Methodist Episcopal ("hurch.
The' mill of Mr. Paulison's fortunes gave hindsight to
his Clitics. Sciiiieli.idy ehristened his unfinished palace "Pauli-
suiTs I'olly." a name which stuck to it for years. When work
was abandoiK'il the walls were <Mimpleti'd. but the building
was not yet enclosed. Nobody could be found courageous
enough to complete it for a residence, because of the cost of
maintaining it. The life insuiance eonipany. wliicli aiiiiiired it
b\ foreclosure, tried te sell it to ni.-uiagers of private schools
and I'haritalile instiliilions. who came and looked at it. and
Went away again. Finally. ctTorls to sell it were abandoned,
and, with its windows and doors boarded in, it was left to
the care of the elements. It was a favorite resort for sight-
.seers, and ten years ago a favia-ite feat of the schoolboys
w.is to climb among its untinished rafters and mount the
walls. liii]Mi>iiig even in its desolation, it never looked dis-
reputable, and there was a siitisfaction in pointing out "Pau-
lison's Folly" to the stranger. An accurate idea of its appear-
ance in this stale is given liy the accompanying picture, repro-
duced from what is said to be the only negative of the olil
castle in existeine. It was made by Mr. Saunders of Clifton.
.\. SWAN r.KdW.N Fl.VKS .\ ISF Vnil IT.
The evergreens with which .\ir. Paiilisc.ii hacl aiic»riiecl
the park had grown into statel.v trees, which almost screened
it. in the seventeen years, when in lS",)(t the owners decided
to cut the property inlcp liiiilcliiig lots and te.ir dciun llic'
castle. Then it was that A. Swan Hrowii heard of it ami
fcirnied a plan. He called on Pet<'r Iteid and Moses E. AVor-
tlien and asked them to imrchase the property to save it from
being built upon. He explained that his idea w :is to induce the
city to take the building and c iplele it for a City Hall.
Messrs. Uidd and Worthen advanced .<:!;!. (MKI and took the
prepi'iiy. witlioiil any guaranlei' that tlo' city would redeem
il. ami pulling <-onlidi>nce scdidy in .Mr. Brown's giHid judg-
ineiii.
When it was announced that Messrs. Keld and Worthen
were holding the proiierly iinlil Ihe city made up its mind
whi'iher to take the white elephant off their hands, there was
a decided variety of opinions. Many thought it was absurd
to purchase such a big, unfinished building, nnd predicted that
it wmild take a fortune to complete it. Others said that the
silitalion w.is not suitable, and starti'd a counter-agitation to
remodel Scliool No. 1, on Passaic street, and have a new Cit.v
Hall in tin- centre of the business .section. The building was
<U si-ribed as a ruin by some, but an examination of the walls
sl'.owed that they were perfectly sound. It was estitnated that
till' structure could be compleled for less than thirty thousand
dcillars. ami then the opposition abated. Mr. Brown (diiichcd
tlic> iiiatler by raising over $1(),IH)(», which was offered to the
city for a partial building fun<l. Of this amount Mr. UeiU
gave .f.-i.OOO, Mr. Worthen lf2,(HM) and Mr. Brown $1,IMM).
Finally, in 18')1. the city purchased the property, paying just
what Messrs. IJeid and Worthen had advanced.
It was decided not to finish the building after Mr. Pauli-
son's ideas. Louis H. (Jiele of .lersey Cily drew Ihe plans
for ipleting it. David Henry of Paterson took the con-
tract, and it was completed for $27,.500. Added to the .$33,000
piir(diase money, the building represented an outlay of $.5O,.10O,
iif which .$Ut.n<X) was met by public subscriptions. The cost
cif furnishing it and laying out the grounds was considerable,
of course, but the City Hall and Park could not be duplicated
for .$1(10.(1(1(1 more than they cost Ihe city. The work was fin-
islii'd in the spring of ISilLI. .nid on .\pril ."ill of that year the
building was dc'dicated.
THE DKDICATIO.N ( HLKHKATK »N.
The event was made the oc<-asion of the greatest celebration
in the history of the cil.v. (iovernor Ix-on .Mdiett. in.iny mem-
bi IS of the Legislature, county and State oHicials and Mayors
and officials from neighboring cities were invited guests. The
dedii-ation e.xercises were helil in the morning in the Armory,
01! the third Hoor. General Bird W. S|M'ncer. chairman of the
Kimmittee of Councilmen which had charge of the work, was
the' orator of the day. and turned the building over to Mayor
Kiciw n. who accepted it in the city's name. In the afternoon
thcTc was a militar.v and civi(; parade, which was reviewed
by (iovernor .^bbett from a reviewing stand on the Gregory
avenue front of the .park. The entire First Battalion and
Fourth Uegiinent of the N.ition.il (Juard were among the
paraders, as were also the school children of the city. The
THE PRESENT CITY HALL.
line of inarch I'm- many miles was crowded with spectators, of
whom there were fifteen or twenty thousand. In the evening
.1 pulili<- bnmiuet was tendered in the Opera Hmise to Gov-
94
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
i-iiiiir Ahlictt mill (111- iuvittMl iL'iii-sts, while tlKUisaiuls of pco-
|ili- H-itiicsscil II fine disiilay of tin-works at tlir fity Hall.
Tlic Ki-iiiMoslty and fori-siplit of Messrs. Keid. Wortlieii
anil Hrowii anil of the iloiiors to the Knliserl|ition finul is loni-
norated l>y a hras.s taldet set in the wall of tin- eiitraiue
to the iinildiiiu-. of \vhieh a view is here piven.—
BRASS TABLET AT ENTRANCE TO THE CITY HALL.
Tin; .maki.m; uk tmh hi:iim;i: i'.\i;k.
(•i f the arguments that earried the ilay in Mr. Hrown's
licht for til" new City Hall was that it would turn a seene of
ill solation into what Colonel Carter of Cartevsville (•■•ills a
uarilen spot. The enter|>rise stood for a puhlie lovi' ni' licaiity
as well as imlilie spirit. This aesthetie sense has always liceii
liiKhly ilivelo|ied in I'assaie. it was manifested when the
I'assaie Cliili house was Imill. partly in order to make the
snrroiindin;.'s i>f the l'ros|H'ii street lU'pot more attractive. It
is shown liy the eare taken to make the mill yards oi ilie
I'assaie I'rint Works. Manhattan Print Works and otlur lai-
lories almost parklike.
This was (he spirit in which the I'assaie Hrid^'e I'ark was
hiiil out. The property lietween the Krie Itailroad and Wester-
velt place had lieen a vacant haseli.ill i:round for many years.
It lielon;;eil to the late .luilse .lolin Hopper of the Connly
<°iinrt, who had never attemjited to improve it. ami allowed
taxes and assessments to acciimnlate to almost the value of the
property. Finally. I.eon.ird I.. (Jrcar. then Collector of Ta.xes.
ImoikIiI it from him. At this time there was no idea of makin;:
ji park of it. Mr. drear was harshly and nnjnstly criticised
afterward for Imyint: it from .ludce Hop|H'r and sellinj; it to
the eity at a protit, beiii); a eit.v otiteial at the time. Mr. (!rear,
however, never even sii)ri;ested the purchase, and was never
accused of Laving received nnire than a fair price.
The consideration that moved the people at the Hriil;;e to
ask the city to purchase it was the fear thai it mi«hl lie turned
to liusiiiess uses. How would it look, they ar;.'ueil, to have a
cniil yard and piles of lumber at the most important ^'ateway
to the cilyV Why not iin|>rove an already lieaiitiful spot liy
niakini; a park? After two years of consideratinn. the park
was finally purchased, iu IfSm. for SI'J.IMIO. the residents of the
Hrid;:e snliscrlliiui: nearly one-fourth of this :imouiit. 'Hie
city eniliellished it at a cost of .<;2.:!llll. .\ fii\nii:iin w.is .idded
ill IWttt.
TllK M;W .shade TKKH CO.M.MISSION.
It is oiteii remarked that the greater part uf the city. |i.u-
ticularly the Hill section, is already a park. Tlurc is
no exa;.'t,'eratioii in this. l-'or mile after mile one niav pass
under rows of stately shade trees, with jrrassy terraces or
level lawns, beautifully kept, on either side. The apiiearance
of private irrouiids. of cour.se, is a credit to their owners, but
the shaiU' trees have always lieeii the city's pride. Wh.itever
the shortcomiufrs of the late Judge Siinmuiis in ntlier n-
si)ects. he certainly did appreciate beantifnl trees. Wlicii
Charles M. K. Paidison laiiie lure, he found .lodge Sim-
mons planting shade trees on streets which have lieeu with-
held from the market until the present day. Mr. I'aulison
followed a good example. When nc bought the Van W.igouer
farm and laid lUit (Jregory avenue, he planted the magiticeni
.Inis lliMi now lim- both sides of that beautiful street. I'ri.vi-
.sion for shade-tree planting was made iu the city charti-r ami
tic-os were pl.inted for years almost a.s fast as streets weri' laid
out. Not always as fast, nnfortnnately. for the charter pro
vides thai mo trees shall be planted between N.iveniluT and
May. and streets iniiu-oved late iu the season went without
shade trees. When the Citizens' Improvement Associatiim
was formed, iu ISS.'j. it devoted considerable attention to trees,
their care and their perils. The Board of Tradi'. of which it
was the parent. I'oUowi'd up the subject, and otien urged the
Council to trim the trees or to spray llieni as a protection
against insect ravages. Old residents will remember the con-
sternation when the elm-leaf beetle appeareil. ten yeais ago.
and marked the elms for its i.wn. There was as innch pnblii'
iiiuceru as though homes, insteail of tri'cs. were threatened.
:ind the Council appropriated .fSIKI with which to light the pest.
'I'he beetle linally moved on.
In l.SiHI the Board of Trade niiearlliecl a forgotien stalnlc.
which, .-ilthough of ( xcelleut i)Urpose aiul tifteen years cm the
bofdis. had escaped the attention of the muuicipalities. I'ncler
it the Council creaiecl a permanent Shade Tree Coinniissicm
of three uu'iubers. It has the care and control of all shade
trees in the city and power to plant trees (Ui all unshaded
streets, assessing the cost upon the property beneliied. The
City Council has authority to approiiriate annually not e\
ceediiig one tenth of one mill on the dollar of assessed valua-
tions, which at lueseiit is about .'iSdli a year, for the use of
the Commission. The members serve without salary.
Mayor Howe appointed George P. Rust for five years. Wil-
liam S. Benson for fmir years, and John E. Ackerinan (•<>■ three
years in August, ISllil. The Council had already ajiproiiriated
.f.MIt) for their use. Tiny organized in September b.v electing
Mr. Benson chairman and Mr. Ackerman secretary and treas-
urer. The Coinmissiou decided to expend its approiiriatiiui in
trimming trees and to order a general tree planting in the fall
of "SKI. Four thousand shade trees of ten varieties, niosily
.Norway maples ami American lindens, ,ire being started cm a
useful career in our streets,
A surprising and gratifying efi'ect of the appoint inent cd
the Commission was the widespread comment it created.
E^'ery prominent newspaper in New .lersey siioke of it eom-
luendingly, and it is probable that next year many other
municipalities will follow suit. The news traveled far and
wide outside of the State, and .several metropolitan m-wspapers
greeted the step with dignitied editorial mention. As a piece
of advertising alone, it was one of the best things the city
ever did.
PETER REID
MOSES E. WORTHEN.
CHAPTER XVIL
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL.
Its History and Its Teachers From 1693 Until the Graded Schools Were Inaugurated in J 870— The
Strugfgfles for Better Schools— Old Private Institutions.
TIIK licKiiiiiiiiKs of .sihiiuls in AciiiKiiUanoiiU were coiitom-
poraiieoiis with the bcfiiiiiiiiigs nl' tin' vill.-i!.'i>. Both ihite
back to thi> earliest days of sottlenu'iit. for the lirst Diit<-h
settlers were lari'fiil seekers of hotli relifrioiis and seciihir
iiistriictlnii. It was the eustom for the minister to act as
schoolmaster. Iioth preachers and teachers liein^ few. Some
connrefrations were able to emplo.v an assistant to the min-
ister or a snbstitute for him, who was known as the "voor-
liser." or reader. His dnties were on Sunda.vs to lead the
sinjiins. read the Scriptures and catechise the children.
The tirst si'ttled minister here was Gnillaume Bertholf.
who was at tirst voorliser in the churches of Hackensack and
Aciiiiackauciidi. in which capacit.v he ser\ed until lliStt. when
he was ordained "iireacher. Shepherd and Teacher over Ac-
iiuififienock and Ackiusack." which duties he followed faith-
full.v until his death in 1724. This man was the first school
teacher at Aciiuackanonk. lie resided here, as is shown by a
paper dated .\pril Id. l(ili;i. in which lie describes himself as
"schoolmast^'r and scriln' al the vilhi,;,'e of .\ciiuif;geuouk."
The schoolhouse was [irolialil.v the liist rude church building
ere<teil by the Patentees.
The ehurcli seems to have had cluu;;e of the education of
the youMff until 1(1'.).'!. when the tirst public school law was
enndled amouj: the statutes of the I'rovince. This act was as
follows:—
"An act for establishinj; Schoolmasters within this I'rov-
ince.
"Whereas, the cultivatin;; of learniiij; and jxwn\ manners
lends Kreatl.v to the >;ood ami benefit of mankind, which hath
hi'herto been much neglected within this I'ldvince:
"Be it therefore enacted by the (iovenior. council ami Depu-
ties in General Assembly now met and assembled, and by
lhi> authority of the same, that the inhabitants of any town
within this I'rovince. shall and may. by warrant from a jus-
tiee of the iieace of that county, when they think tit and con-
\cident meet together and make choice of three more men
of said town, to make a rate for the salary and maintaining of
a schoidmaster within the said towu, for so long time as they
Ihiid; lit: and the consent ai.d agreeiuent of the major part
of the iidiabitants of the said town shall bin<l and olilige the re-
maii]ii]g part of the inhabit:ints of the said town, to satisf.v and
p;iy their share and |iroportion of the said rate: ami in case
of refusal or non-payment distress to be made upon the goods
and I'hattels of such person or persons so refusing or not pay-
ing by the constable, of sai<l town, by virtue of a warrant
fiom a justice of the peace of that county: and the distress
.-o taken to Ik- sold at publick vemlue, and the overplus, if
any be, after pa.vment of the said rate and charges, to be re-
turned to the owner."
By this law the tirst system of public sclpml ia.\ was
inaugurated. After its passage, the school was removed from
the control of the church and began to be on a piirel.v secular
basis. But, as Dominie Bertholf had been the schoolmaster,
it was natural that he should be selected as the first teacher
in the public school. He taught, of course, in Dutch. The
school year probably Listed from November to .\|iril. The
school di-itrict is thought to have incluiled the i-ountry within
a radius .if live miles, including a pari of Bergen ('<iunty.
The first school building was erected on hind owned by the
church and l.'ill feet northerl.v therefrom. It was devoted
to the same use until the last of the series of small one-room
schools was torn down, in 1S71.
It .seems the law of HVSA did not give the trustees (xiwer to
appoint schoolmasters or t > select tile place for a school. Their
powers extended simply to iiroviding the money. To remedy
this, the following law was passed in KHCi: —
"An .\ct fiu- regulating of schools.
"Whep'as. there was an act made Anno Domini. Kilt.'!, for
the establishing of schools in each respe<'tive towu iu the I'rov-
iiK'e, and by e.\|>erience it is found inconvenient, liy reason <>f
the distance of the neighborhood, the said act directing no
suitable way whereby all the inhabitants may Inive the benefit
thereof.
"lie it thirefore enacted by the (Jovernor. Council and Keji-
rcsciitativi's in (Jeneral Assembly now met and assc'inbleil. and
by the ■•uuhority of the sam<'. that thri-e men be chosen yi'arly
and every year, in each respective town in this Province, to
aiipoint and agree with a schoolmaster, and the three men
so chosen shall have power to nominate and appoint the most
convenient [dace or places where the school shall lie kept from
time to time that as near as may be, the wlnde inhabitants
ma.v have the benefit thereof."
The words "place or places" are explaiiu'd liy the fact
that all districts did not have school buildings and that the
school migrateil from house to h<uise. as the trustees might
direct.
The Aciiiia<kanoiik school became an educational ciMitre
for miles around. The teachers taught the higher branches
to a few willing schidars. and the schoid acquired the title of
Academy. .\i one time an attempt was made to establish
oflier scliocds for younger scholars and make this one truly
an academy, but after meeting with some success for a few
vears. the attemiit was abandoned.
Of such an academy, a .New .lersey poet wrote in lT'.t4:—
Subjected lo despotic sway.
Compelled all mandates to obey.
Once in this room I humbly bowed
A member of tlie murmuring crowd
Where Pedro Blanro held his reign.—
The tyrant of a small domain.
By him a numerous herd controlled.
The smart, the stupid and the bold.
Essay'd some little share lo gain
Of the vast treasures of his brain.
Some learned the La.in, some the Greek.
And some In flowery style to spealt.
Some writ their themes, while others read.
And some with Euclid stulTed the head.
Some toiled in verse and some in prose.
And some In logic sought repose.
Some learned to cypher, some to draw.
And some began to study law.
The course of stud.v outlined b.v the poet is not overstated.
l'"V altcmlalice at schooK w.is al first confii'ieil In the ihililren
98
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
of \vcll-l"-<lii fiiriiiiTs. mill ill iIu-m' schools of oiii- rouui, pri-
sidwl ov.T liy one teacbor. a smattiTing of ovciythint: a youth
waiilcil to h-iirii was taught.
Bcyoiiil till- li.-lU'f that l^oiiiiiiio Berlholf lauiilit ll»' viMage
school iiiilil his death, anil that siicccodinB ministers acted us
schoolniasicrs for a while, we have no knowU-dge of the school-
niusterx until B. X. Sheridan taught here, from ISO.", to ISln.
He .seems to have Ui-n a thorough scholar and an excelleiil
teacher. Two of the hoys he prepared for college were .lohii
and ttahriel Lndlow. who lived in what is now the I'agoda
Hotel at I'assaic Bridge, on the Uiver road, near the Erie
Kailroad arch. Calirid liccame a pious and successful preach-
er of the Dutch Iteformed Chuich. and was remarkable for
remaining tifty-seven years over one church, that at Neshanic,
Long Island. .John Lndlow became the most prominent minis-
ter of his time in the Dutch Iteformed Church of America.
He was born at Acquackanonk. December VA. 17!«. studied
at the Academy until 18()!». entered I'niou College the next
year, and was graduated in 1814: studied at the .New Bruns-
wick Thi-ologiciil Seminary, was liwnsed to preach in 1S17.
and in 1.S1.S became pastor of the First Uefornied Dutch
I'hiirch of -New Brunswick. In l.Slit he became a profes.sor
in the New Brunswick Seminary, and loiitiniied there until
his removal to Albany, in 1.S22. In 1S:{4 he became provost of
the rnivcrsity of I'l nnsylvaiiia. where he remained until 1S."2.
when he was chosen Professor of lOcclesiastical History,
Church (iovernment and I'a.storal Theology, which chairs he
tilled with distinguished ability until his death, September 8,
ISTi". This is a shining example of old .\<quackanonk scholar-
.sliip under Sheridan's teaching.
Sheriilan left .\cipiacka k ill 181(1 to g.i lo the Weasel
schixd, where he taught until his death. The Ni warU Seiiliiiel
of .lime :!ll. ISll. thus speaks of his school:—
■nil Sal unlay last a school exhibition was held in Mr.
It. N. Slicriilan's school in the neighborhood of Wea/.ol. near
I'atersoii: and it is but due justice to .Mr. Sheridan (consider-
ing the short period of tuition) to say that his pupils exceeded
the most sanguine expeciations of their iiarents as well as
of the numerous audience who had the pleasure of being pres-
ent at the exhibition."
Sheridan was buried within ten feet of the .>ld school at
Ac(|Uiickaiioiik. in compliance with his ni|iiest to be laid beside
his "first love." No teacher of his time was more honored.
(.> f his old scholars, saiil to be .lohii Lmllow. fiiniislicd liis
epitaph, whiili reads:-
"llere lies an lioiHst man at rest,
.Vs ever (IinI to His image blest:
A friend of man, a friend of iriilli,
.V friend of age. a guide of youth.
If thi're's another worlil. he lives in bliss.
I (■ (here is none, lie iii.ade tlu' best of this."
Kroiii I.SKI III IMoti Abel .MerclianI taught the school. He
was a bai'helor and boarded on Main avenue, in a house slill
standing near the church, the lower half nf which is now, and
has been for fifty years, used as a blacksmiih shop. Merchant
ilid good wiirk. but. like ills preih ssiir. lie went to the
Weasel school, where death sikiii ended his labors, .lohn .Nichols
came here from the .Notch about 1Si:i. bought the house at
8(1 Main avenue, and entered the store of "Broin" Ackerman.
He had been teacher of the .Notch sclioid for several years
previous to comiug here, and, after three years of clerking, he
resinned his profession. He o|HUied a school in the Dr. Miller
house on the east side of the Uiver road, soiitli of Brook
avenue, where he taught four years. His wife kept a notion
store ill their house, which is still standing, on Main avenue.
.Nichols had been a sailor in his youth, but was at this time a
cripple, and as he was ton poor to own a horse. w:is obliged to
hobble daily on his crutches to school. This made hiiii an idi-
ject of sympathy, and his cheerful spirit h..ii liiiii many frieuds.
His private school did not pay. however, ami in 182(1 he took
charge of the Aciiuackanonk school, which he taught until
1.S2-I.
Dr. Lambert J. M. Sythoff was teacher for about one
year. Previous to this he had a jirivatc school at his home,
which stood on Main avenue where Penningtiui avenue now
joins it. He was a practicing physician as well. Neither field
was profitable, and in 1.82li he moved to Paterson, which
place he left in 1828 for Pompton. He taught school and prac-
ticed medicine in both places until lie married Mary, the
widow of Major Post. His wife's property enabled him to
give lip teaching and devote his time to the practice of medi-
cine exclusively. When he died, November 1.3, 18-45, the people
of I'ompton, by whom he was greatly beloved, erected over bis
grave a large monument with this inscription: —
"A grateful community, iii tokeu of affectionate esteem,
have caused this monument to be erected in appreciation of
his many virtues."
Probably the next liMilier in order was Dr. William Col-
fax of Pomjiton. a son of the commandant of Wasliington's
Life (Juards. who has alread.v been mentioned in the chapters
on the Uevolntion. His nephew. Schuyler Colfax, was Vice-
President of the I'nited States under (Jranr. Dr. Colfax
laugbl here from 182t« to 1831, when he returned to Pompton.
Like Dr. Sythoff. he practiced medicine and taught school at
the same time, and lioili are remembered better as physicians
than as pedagogues. Following these came .Tames Doremus,
Sannnd F. Colt and Isaac Serveu. Serveu. who had married
Dr. Scmlder';- daughter, lived at the present Main street ami
Cri.i ks avenue. Paterson. Freiiiiently he would walk home for
his noon meal, lo the delight of the scholars, who counted on
an extra hour's recess. Previous to coming here. Serveu
taught school in the basement of the Uet'oniied Church of
Paterson.
William Thoiii|isoii. who taught soiiieliiiie in tlie tliirlies,
kept a whiskey bottle beside him on his desk, and it was a fa-
vorite sport of the Iniys to hide it when he was half-seas over.
Sometimes he became unable to teach, and William Brown
was called in from his private school, ni^arly oppo-site. Brown
linally became the regular teacher, bui for a short time only.
Two teachers named WoodrutT and .lohiison tilli'il in the time
until IS-KI. .lohnsoii left in disgust, bei-ause he was not ath-
letic enough to ailmiuister the corporal punishiueiit. which was
part of the curriculum. The boys tormented him with tricks,
the last of which was to spread a thin layer of cobblers' wax
over his seat. It was on a Friday afternoiui. and the teacher
was ilressed in his best, as he was going aw;iy over Sunday.
Being nearsighted, he did not detect the wax, and au important
part of his trousers was ruined.
In the person of Charles O. Crane, his successor, the
tricksters found their iiiatcli. lie sy>ieiiKUicallv iliraslieil all
their tricks out of them, niucli to the gratilication of the trus-
tees. Altogether a diflerent man was (Jeorge D. Moore, who
followed Crane. He was a graduate of I'niou College, prepar-
ing for the ministry, and without the use of a switch controlled
the school, and was a favorite witli the scholars during the two
years be taught here. .lames C. .lohnson. who was also choris-
ter, ruled with a firm hand until he went to New York, where
he was engaged in the real estate business until his death.
He was succeeded by .lames Treadwell. a young .New Yorker.
who came here for one year.
One of the most interesting •<( the line was Melancthon S.
Wickware. who eked out the teacher's salary by keeping a
store and dealing in cord-wood and lumber. In summer time
he spent bis spare time raising miions on his truck farm, whiili
was the large field on the Uiver road, opposite the Orphan
ANDREW WANNAMAKER A. HENNION.
o
DR. JOHN M. HOWE.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
JOl
Asylmii. Willi sn iiiiuli iiHluslry lif (U'scivcd to pi-DsiiiT. Imt
rvcry iiiccc of ^'old hi- toiiclicil niriii-d fci a stdiic. Kiiilinu to
<!o wi'll lii'ii\ lie went to N'l'w York, whore In- laii a jtom-ral
store at ITi'i West street. Iieeame a liaiikriipt. and dieil a |«ior
man. Wiikwaie was a ;;oo<l ti'aclu'r and well liked, Init lie liail
I lie usual roujili and tuiiilile tights with his sehidars. The lati'
Manning' .\I. Cleveland told a story of a haiiiH-niiiK while he
was one oC Wirkware"s impils. It was Wiekware's enstoni in
I he afliTiioons to select a sehol.ir as nionilnr while he took a
short nap. One afternoon Cli'veland was selected to watch
the scholars study, lie refnsi'd. tcJliiif; the teacher that his
father had forliiddeii him to do so. WickwMie was just
alioiit to pniiisli him for his refusal. wIumi a nuinlier of ihi'
larger hoys set uimui liini. They threw the teacher to tile
Hoor. and while they held him there, a larf;e lioltle of ink was
poured over his head. Then they lied from school. The tijiht
sot to thi' e.irs of the trustees, who censured Wickwarc. thus
lausiuf: liiiii to leave in disjjust.
When the next teacher. (4eoij;i' I'. Batclu'lder. applied tor
the |>ositiou. the trustees liehcld him. small, thin and weakly,
and frankly told hiin that \u- would not clo. The farmers"
sous were tonsil iind stron;;. iiml their favorite exerci.se was
to thrash the teacher. MeeUly. Hatclielder asked for a trial,
which was asi'ced to. On the tiist day tlu> oliler hoys were
clincklins: over the diminutive pliysiciue and mild appearance
of their new teacher. whi'U li" undertoidi to thrash one of them.
Forthwith four of them rushed to the rescue. Hatchelder
knocked two of them down, kicked the third ns he started to
retreat, and wreslliuf; with the fourth, threw him to the Hoor.
Then he finished correclinj; the boy who caused the trouble.
The trustees engiiiit'd him permanently. He stayed several
.vears. boarding at William I-. .Viidruss' hotel, opposite the
school. In 1S.")4 he published a map of I'assaic'. made from
actual surve.vs. It was thorough and acciiratt', ami sold so well
that he was obliged to print a second edition of KXI copies.
Immediately .ifter this he went to l.iadville, Colorado, where
he remained sevi^ral years. Ilis olil scholars will'be pleased to
know that he is still livins;. hale and hearty, in Denver. .\
teacher named I'almer came next, ami then came (Jeorge
Williams, whose brother was afterward State S( nalor of this
coniit,\ . He was an excellent teacher and a strict disciplinarian.
The last of the old school was .\ndrew Waunam.iker .\,
Hennion. whose reii:n lasted from IStil to 1S7(I. .Mr. Ileiiniou.
who is still living, an old and honored citizen, was burn at
Uamsoys. Bergen County. I'ebni.iry -). IS'JL'. Hi' is a de-
scendant of Uichard Waiiamakei-. who came from Holland
about the time of the battle of the Boyne and sett'icd at Mah-
wah. where hi' purchased a s(|uare mile of laml. His danghier.
Margaret, married Andrew Hennion. whose smi. William, mar-
ried Klizabeth \'alentine They were the parents of the vet-
eran teacher. Young HcMiuion attended David McCullongh's
school at Uaniapo Valley after leceiving his early education
from his father, wb.' t.night the JIahwah schcnd. .\t the
age of fouitceu he went to work in Depne's grwer.v store, at
Sixth avenue and Minetta street. New Y'ork. In ten months
the business was sold out. and he worked for Depne as a
wheelwright's apprentice at !f(> a mouth ami his board. The
shop stood on Washington street, near Christopher street.
After fourteen months more he returned to the Uaniapo school
and studied the higher branches and surveying until he was
eighteen years of age. One day the trustees from Ram.seys
c.illed at the school. .\fter talking with the teacher, they
<alli'il up young Henuion, and surprised him b.v asking him
to teach at Uamseys. He taught there one year, when he
again returned to JlcCullougirs school for two years.
On lompleting his education, at the age of twenty-one. he
was appoinicil tiacher of the school at Campgaw. While there
he married Hannah r,io|i Stinson. d.inghter of .lacoli Stiuson.
Ue taught there three years, and then went to Syeonac. near
Wyckoff. Afterward he tauglii at (iollli Hill, at the Van
Hcniten street scho.d in l'ater.s<iii. where he was taken ill with
smallpox, anil at Tasi-ack. Bergen County, where he taught
until 18."i0. with the exci'ption of one year at Mawlhorne. Of
the succeeding eleven years, two were sp«Mit at the famous old
Weasel school and six in the Sisters' Hospital .schiM>l in rater-
son.
While llu'ri' he was waiteil upon by .\ndrcw Doremiis from
Bergen County, who said that the teacher of the Slauterdam
school lia<l let the hoys get beyond <-ontrol. Mr. Dorenius
wanted to engage Mr. Hennion. who was n note<l iliseiplinarinn.
Hi- curbed the unruly spirits at Slauterdam for six nionth.s,
when he resigned to come to Aciiuackanonk, where a similar
task awaited him. He kept an orderly school here. also, and
the boys soon learneil his great striMigtIi. He had many
battles with three strong ami saucy brotln-rs. who were very
loyal to each other, runishiiig one entailed a liattli- with all. and
nil one occasion the tlire,- boys and Mr. Hennion were tumbling
over the floor for several minutes. He linally mastered them
and punished all three with his strap. Mr, Hennion remained
in Passaic until the advent of the graded school system in 1S7<I,
He could have had the iiositifm of vice-|irincii>al in the new
school, but refused to accept, be<-ause he was offered i>nly ^(Mm
a .vear. Mr. Hennion has the distinction of teaihiiig more young
men who became prominent in the affairs of Passaic and Ber-
gen counties than ,iny other teac-lier. To name his pupils is
but to mention nearly all the well-known m< f middle age in
the two counties.
Tile schoolhouse in which these teacluTs ruled stood on a
Icit ailjoining the church as long as human memory ran back.
In the earliest days of the village there was a school there
on land granted by the church consistory, and when the
building ceased to be u.sed foi- a schiMd it was torn down, and
the site reverted to the owners. The biiililing contained one
room, and in 18.13. when Dr. .l<din M. Howe moved to Aopiaek-
anonk from New York, it was going to decay and was too small
for the village rtMiuirements. He was a man of wealth and
influence and became ,i large landowner and public benefactor.
In l.S.'ii; he was elected president of the Board of Trustees
and superii'teiident of the school. Being dissatisfied with the
small and dilapidated building, he agitated the nuestion of a
new .schocdhouse. He had a district meeting called, at which
."f.").(l(l(l was voted lo build it. The minority objected strongly,
and threatened to resort to the courts, so that Dr. Howe built
a private academy, primarily for the benefit of his own children.
It will be more fully described later. Dr. Howe was promiueut
in the movement which established free public schools in this
St.ile. and was afterward a member of the State Board of
Education. The demand for a better schcH>l grew in strength
as the intinx of newcomers continued. Man.v bitter fights over
proposed improvements took place in the cdd schocdhoiise. usu-
ally with .ludge Simmons leading the conservatives and C. M.
K. Paulison at the head of the pr<)gressives. Oii one oc-
casion the night was stormy. The two opposing parties were
compelled to huddle in opposite corners on account of a ver.v
leak.v roof, while .Inclge Siinmcuis stood in the centre of the
room, with the rain dripping upon him. declaring that the
.schoolhou.se was staunch and sound, that it had lieen gcMid
enough for his parents, that it had been good enough for him,
and that it was good enough for his children. Somebody was
unkind enough to reply that, at that ver.v time, two of the
.Judge's daughters were attending a private school in Philadel-
phia. The conservatives carried their pcjint for the time be-
ing, but in ISti!) the iirogressives pievailed. and Public Schocd
No, 1, now known as the ,Ieffersoii School, was erec-ted on
Passaic- street at a cost of $2.j,0(l(>.
102
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Till- olil siliiiiil was closcil frirovi'r in July. ISTo. iiml the
last pnlilic inert iiic then-— for thf ck'ctioii of a trustee — was
lii-ld Moiiilay eveiiiii;;. Sep'euilier 't. 18VII. The iiieetiiitf "as
Hell atteinled. ami one <>f the most spirited of Its kiml, al-
though many of the old fogies stayed away, dissnisted lieeaiise
the iiewl.v iiieoriiorated rillaue was wasting its money on a
lirick .seliool. A trustee was to he chosen to sueeeed .ludgc
Siiiiiiions, whose term had expired. Edo Kip was made iliaii-
iiiaii and .\. AV. .\. Heiiniou se<retaiy. Dr. B. B. .\yerisig and
(Jeorge W. Deniarest were phued in noiiiiiiatioii. Seventy-nine
votes were easl. of which I>eiiiarest received tift.v-seveii and
Aycrigg Iwenty-lwo. The miiiiiles of that old meeting say: —
"A motion was made to retain the idd schoid huilding for
the use of the colored children of the District: After some re-
marks to the cfTei-l that such a scheme was impracticable and
that the cidoreil children li::d as good right to occupy the new
piildic school as any children in the I>istrict. the motion was
tabled iind the meeting .idjonrned."
The new sclioid was dedic.'iled liy special services lii'lil
thcK in on Friday evening. Sepleiiilier ;jll. \S~I). The program
has heeii presi-rved. An oprliing pra.ver "W.ns made li.v the
Kev. .1. I'ascal Strong, llieii pastor of the North Ui'formi'd
4'liiircli. The report of the trustees was read hy the secretary.
Kdo Kip. Short addro.s.se.s were made by Professor Samuel
W. Kice. the new principal, and the Kev. Mr. .Iidinson of the
]{aplist Church, the Kev. Mr. Leavens of tln' I'resbyteriaii
<'hiirch and the liev. Mr. Monroe. The school was opened for
instriiition Oitidicr .'{H. INTO, and has been I'ontiiiuousl.v in use
ever since.
l'i;i\ ATK ACADK.MIHS.
In aildition to the old district school, the li.iiiilet ol .\i-
i|uackaiiiiiik had for many years the .Vcipiackanonk Aiademy.
It was regularly incor|io|-ated. as appears bj the following cer-
tilicate:—
"To .'ill to wliiim ijiese pri'si'iits may come.
"This is to ci-rlify that at a meeting of the mi-iiibers of the
As.-oci;iiioii for the rriimotion of Vseful Literalme. holden at
the house of Kichard Van IIoiili'ii in the township of AciinacUa-
iionk. oil the tifteenih ilay of Di-cenilier. 1S(I2. pnl.lii- noiice hav-
ing 1 n given ten days previous to said meeting by written
notiie bi'ing set up in three of the most public places in the
vi. iiiity declaring the object of iln- meeting, viz: —
"To choo.se live trustees to be invested with power to rep-
resent said .Association in all cases when their interest may be
coi'ccrned. .ind instructed to pursue the legal measures to be-
come a (cirporate body.
"Now be it known that wi'. the subscTibers. have been
diil.v electeil Trustees of the AciiuacUauoiik Academy, and have
taken to ourselves the name of The Trustees of the Acquacka-
iioiik .V( adeiiiv.
"Dated .May 1. ISIMi i V|
"Hi'iiry Sihoonmaker. President.
"Haliuagh \aii Winkle.
"Adrian M. Post.
"(Jarret \';lii Kiper
".lohn K. I.uillow"
The Irusti'cs pun-liased a plot of land mow Nos. Tfl-Nl
Prospi'ct street! anil erected a building, where tor nearly three-
ipiarters of a century school was held, it was abandoned as
a scliool in ISTti, after having been for a score of years a
school for girls. When C. M. K. Paulison juirchased the
propert.v, in the si.xties. he was [iiit to great trouble and ex-
I ciise to secure a good title. It seems that the original trus-
tees iiii.k title nut in the name of the association, but iu-
dividiially. it was iiecessar.v to obtiiin deeds from all of their
descendants. 'Jlie building was removed a lew years ago
to 17 Academy stieet. where it was reiiiodeled. and is now a
dwelling house.
Dr. Howe's academy, erected in lS."i!t by the late Dr. .John
M. Howe, after his fruitless efforts to secure proiM'r school
acconimoilations from the village, was intended primarily fop
the education of his own children. Dr. Howe engaged a
teacher, and at the leiiuest of his friends and neighbors fixed
a fee, on payment of which their children were admitted to
an excellent institution. In ISTO, when the public school sys-
tem was reorganized, it was abandmied. The ijuaint old cement
building stain's at the comer of Prospect and Acadeuiy streets,
giving the latter street its name. For several years it was used
for various purposes, secular and religious, and is now a dwell-
ing. The Presbyterians worshiped there for a while.
In addition to the above, there have iieen several excellent
private schools of more recent date. It was also a common
thing for ministers to give private insi ruction to one or more
pupils in the high branches. Boys were usually prejiared for
collegi' in Latin .ind (!nek in this niaiiner.
THE OLD HOWE ACADEMY.
CHAPTER XVIIL
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PASSAIC.
Their Growth and Development from 1870 to the Present Time — The Corps of Teachers — Board of Ex-
aminers and Members of the Board of Education.
By REV. PHILO F. LEAVENS, D. D.
THK story i>f sriinols i[i livixmu' Ai-iii!:irk;ini>iiU has ljet*!i ri'-
1:i1>m1 cIscw liiTc. The aiu-U'iit i-ff.'iiiic c-aiiu' lo a i-lose thirty
yrars aun. The hist in the lino of thi' ohl-tiinc i><Mla;,'<>f;iics
was Mr .\. W. A. Honniim. He tnok thi' school at Aciniaika-
HoiiU in 1S(;l Thi'i-c \vt'i-o tlicii sixty or seventy pupils wont
I'l i-esiii to the sehooUioiise in ihe i-ornei- of the eemetery
groiiiuls. hai'iT li.\ Ihe "Old I'"irsl' Clnirrh. The Imiklinic: is <le-
scribeil npcni a lorniei- ii.me. 'I'lie ti-aeher's salary was at
first .f-lOII per annnni. ll was increased from time to time
during the A\';ii ; hnl it ni'ver exeeeiled .$!IOII. and that sum
was expected to compensate hoth Mr. Henuion and his daugh-
ter, who assisted him when the school jriew lai'ser. The sup-
port was derived from funds out of the State treasury, sup-
plemented sometimes by tnition fees collected from the pupils.
There was no laxalion for school purposes. The district then
inclnrted sections aiross the river on both sides of the "Plank
road." that is lo say. a corner ot I'liion township and a cor-
ner ot Lodi lownsliip. 'I'lic nianatiement was in the hands of
three trustees, clciiiil :il an aiinu:il school meeting in Seji-
tember.
Mr. Ilnnion was a lailhtiil Icachcr uf the type to which
hr bejel ged. The range of inslrm-lion was narrowly limited,
but ii was plain and fcjnible. A hi>st of men and women
have grateful recollections of his drilling in the rudiments of
education It is a pleasant thing that he survives to this day.
a landmark among the veteran citizens of Passaic.
When a new onler of things beg.m to be deniandeil. it was
n"t an easy matter to bring it alxuit. ll was ne<'essar.v to
get control cf the Hoard of Trustees. M the school meeting
in Sciteirbcr. 1S(!,S. ihe "newcomers" rallied and elected Mr.
Ed) Kip in jilacc of Ihc iucnnibcnl wlm^i' term then i'Xi>ircd.
Mr. Kip was in favor iif pr.igrcss. There \va> no way then but
to wait a whole yiar. In Scplcnibci. lSt;".l, the '"newcomers"
rallied again, ainl i-li-i ii-d Mr, T. IV Sicwarl. The party of
prcgress then had two oul of Ihrcc and imil r.illcil the Hoard.
Authority was obt.-iined to issue bonds for .$2.j,IXH) to get
money for a new s( hcxd. The bonds were sold for less than
par. and iirod'.io'd barcdy enouL'h to build and eipiip School
-No. 1. on Passaic strei't. In September. ISTll. Mr. George W.
Di'lnarest w.-is cicclcd irnslcc. .and ihns ihcre was a full Board
c'lUimitteil to till' fcirward policx. The new schiKd was opened
October, 1.S7II. nmler Ihc primipalship of Mr. Saniml \V. Kice,
vith less than 2(10 scholars, cared for by fonr teachers. A
coiuse of stud.v was laid out anil distribnteil as "Primary."
"Grammar" and "High Scho<pl." The ground covered was re-
stricted, indeed, in comparison with the courses indicated by
thosi terms at the present day.
The old schoolhonse was sold for .fluii: The parts of the
district in Kergen Conniy were di'tachcil. the agreement tak-
ing eflfecl Septembei- I. ISTI. and the village of Passaic be-
loming responsible for onlslanding bonds. At the annual
mci'ting. April. 1.ST1. the village voted to raise .'i;i(l,lK^MI for the
support of sclio<ds ilm ensuing year. The census showe<l SW
children of s<-hool age, an increase of 104 over the previous
enniner.itioii. .\t the end of the year there apfieared to have
been an enrollment of ii70. an average attendance of aliout
411(1, and nine teachers had been recpiired.
In September, 1872. the trustees recvived a coinniunication
fiom the Dundee Water. Power and Land Company, proposing
to donate eight lots at the <-orner of Bergen and Second
streets, if a sch(K>l building (the plans to be approved by the
company) should be erected at a cost of not less than !fl.'),(XK»,
A nuH'ting of the village in 0<'tober authorized the acceptance
of the pro|Mjsition, and rcniuested the trustees to apply to the
lycgislature fi>r authority to issue bonds to the amount of
:^l(!,(l(l(). The building was erected in 1873. That year the
village rcsiilvcd to raise .$10,.500 for school purposes. The en-
rollment had risen to 74(1; there were eleven teachers, and eight
inipils had completed Ihe conrse of stndy. In September, 1.S73,
the Uev. .Marshall B. Smith was selected trustee in place of Mr.
George W. Demaresl.
Passaic became an incorporated cit.v, and therewith was
provision for a Board of Education. It was to be composed of
three members from each of the three wards, and all to be
elected annually. It was also provided that the district trus-
tees in ottiiH- should be members of the Board as long as their
respective terms lasted. The Boaril was organized April 21,
1874. with the Uev, Marshall H. Smith, president, and An-
drew Foulds, secretar.v. For that year the estimate called for
.'<12,i!ii4. School Xo. :'■ was opened in a rented room. Mr.
i;do Kip Icii the Board by the expiration of his term, and
special note was imule of his very valuable services during a
lieriod of six years.
In 1S7.") the charter of the city was amended, and the
powcis ot tlu' Board of Education were more amply defined.
The priniipal of the schoids was made ahso City Superinten-
dent, althtmgh the authority for so doing was afterward [u-o-
nounced imperfect. .\ Board of Examiners was elected to act
with the Cit.v Superintendent in licensing teachers, and it
became the cnstoni to recruit the corps of teachers from those
who liad simply completed the cour.se in our own schools,
TTie estimates for 1871! were !flO.!)r).">. In the year 1877
School Xo. 4 was built at a cost of $3,(KKJ, It was a structure
of wood and sin)i>lied only two nioins. The estimates for 1878
were $12,280. This was the period of low depression following
the financial crisis of 1873, and no i)iiblic enterpri.ses were do-
ing more than hold Iheir own. In the years 18711 and 18.80
these <|uestions were mooted and warmly discussed: Should
nol the grade of the schools be elevated throughout? Should
not the so-called High School be made worthy of its name''
104
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
.Slioiilil not toiu-liiTs III' rfi|iiii'eil to havf imiiiiiil tniiiiin;.' iiinl
pass a severer test of exaiuinatiou? Some iiuiintained that the
rank now i-eacbwl was unite snilitient: otiiers helil that the
intellidenee of the eoniinnnity ileniainh-il a far higher eilma-
tional stanilaril.
The depression of llie town al last reailieil its lowest
el)l). and the tiih- l)eiraii to tnrn. alllioiicli al tiist insensihiy.
I'erhaps there was some foresicht or intnition of the reniarl<-
al)le prosperity whieh the eity was tlestineil to enjoy: at any
rate, the eall for new progress was insistent, and was too
stronc to he resisted.
In 1881 there were ehances in the eorjis of instnictors.
'Jlie connection of Mr. Kice with the schools terminaied. Ili-
hail served eleven years anil aicomplislied excellent work for
its time. His death shortly afterward called forth expres-
sions of deepest aflfiition. His memory is fondly and justly
cherished hy hundreds who. first and last, were his pupils.
.Mr. (ieorire \V. Calkins heiame prinii|)al in 1881. He was
a !;railuate of Brown I'niversity an<l a teacher of diversified
experience. In that year Schind Xo. 4 was raised, so as to
provide two additiomil rooms. The total enroilnient had now
reached 1.IHI!»: the average was tjSli. The estimates in 1882
were $17.8(7: the schmd census was "2,072: there were M'<
Biadiialcs ihat year. School Xo. 3 was then built at a cost of
S4.8(l(i. not including the hind. Unriiit' the years of Mr. Cal-
kins' iiicuniliency, there was an attempt liy the Board of ICdu-
cation. coiinselliil hy the Hoard of Kxaniiners (the otlicc •>!'
City Sii|h-rintendent had lieeii invalidated I. to develop the
course of study on lines parallel to the course in the schools
of the city of Xew Vork. .V jLjood deal of injrenuily was ex-
pended in this direction, whether or not it left imuli icsmU
in the final sha|>iii); of the schools.
The pernicious rule of electiii;; the iiilirc Hoard of Kiluia-
tion every year came to an end in 188:{. when the law rcquireil
that meiiiliMrs should he dassiHed. so that Init one of the three
in a ward slmulil i.'o out of ottice each year. .Mr. Calkins was
not reenca^'ed in 1884. He was an amialile jrentleman of
scholarly i|iiiilificatii>ns. Imperfect health and bereavements
ristrainiHl him perhaps from the hi^'liest nsefiilness, ami es-
pecially deprived him of that force and eiiert'v wliieh were
requisite in the future of the position. The city was firowiiijr
decidedly; the schoolrooms were not only crowded, but cram-
med: slrouK men were elected into the Board of Kiliicalion:
there was no road but the road boldly forward.
Through a pcriml from about 188:! to 18Si; the pressins:
iiueslion was how to accommodate in any way the increasing
IhroiiK of scholars, it was suftgested that School Xo. 1 be
enlarged. It was snccesled to do away with the High School:
There was talk of a new school that >liiiiild cost. perlia|is.
ten Ihousaiid dollars. Meanwhile, rooms were overcrowded,
and temporary quarters were rented here and there. But the
saner and lH>!iler thonghl made headway.
Attention had been altracled to a site at the corner of
Blooiiifield and Lafaycilc avenues, where a plot of about
twenty lots could be bought for $.">.lilll). It was elevated, geo-
graphically central and aeci-ssible from all directions. It
was thought to be an eligilde location for a school to which
eoiihl be drawn all the more advanced deparlments. .\t .i
ineetlug of the Hoard of Kdncation. .\ugust 28, 1884. it was
resolved to recommend lo the City Council the immediate
purchase of this pro|M'ily. The next nionieiit afti'r this leso-
iulioli was declared adopted, llie newly selected iirincipal was
introdilceil to the Hoard. I,et us add le-re Ihat .at a meeting
shortly afterward the board resolved that "in future no new
teachers be permanently engaged unless they are graduates of
some norinal school."
The new principal. Henry H. Hntton. came froni Waverly.
New York. He was a man of Scoich descent, though born in
the province of Ontario. lie had l>eeii gradn.-ited with the de-
gree of A. B. at Genesee College, imw Syracuse I'niversity.
He had made teaching his profession, and came to Passaic
imbued with the ideas of higher education which were vital in
the school system of the State of Xew York. He was in the
fullness of his strength, overflowing with eiithusiasiii. and
endowed with the courage of his opinions, rrofcssor Huttou
found the schoolrooms cluttered and poorly equipped. The
liiiildings. at the best, were but inferior. Tlie coui-se of study
was still chaotic: but he found a Board of Education composed
of intelligent nieii. K.icli was secure in his office for a teriii
of three years, so that there could not be a violent change of
policy. The board "as well disposed to sustain a leader in
plans whi'.-h he might outline and recommend.
The projected school building was debated on every side
of the question. How large? What i-ostV \Yhat deiiartnients
to accommodate? The architectm-e. the light, the ventilation,
the heat, were discussed. Professor Hutton sketched the
rooms required according to iiis judgment, and the architect
was directed to meet his wishes. There were visits to inspe<-t
edifices in other cities. There were conferences with the City
Council about resources. .\t last it was settled at a figure
of .?:{2.."i72. and. .laniiary 28, 1,S.S(;. the Building Coinniittec
"reported the contract for the new school building signed and
the required securities given, and that the work had been
liegini." The event marked a golden milestone in the history
of education in Passaic. It insured tlie elevation id' the
High School, and, with its uplifting, all nlliei- grades luu.st
rise in cM-iler to reach it. It fixed a goal liehiiid wliieli the city
would iievei- have the desire to recede. Cniler the fresh ad-
luinistration a course for the High School was requii'i'il as it
none had been attenqited. The classes were kept at work, but
no gr:idu.itions were perndtted in 18815 or 188(i, Xot until the
latter year did the course outlined by Professor Hutton pass
ti.e ordi.il of the Board of Education. And not until 1887.
the first year in the spacious High School building, was a
class disiuissed with hi)iu>rs. Meanwhile, the llraiuuiar and
Piimary grades had been adjn.sted to the new conditions. In
the year ISSC, the Xight School was inaugurated.
Tile eeiirse aiiproved in 18Si; was a iil.iiii and substantial
curriculum in English, extending only to the most obvious
subjects. It was a matter of eight or nine years before it was
fully developed from these beginnings under the advice of
Professor Hutton. There was a demand to be excited in the
minds of classes: there was a Board jealously guarding ex-
penses to be satisfied, and there was a watchful pnlilic, whose
iqiinions should not he antagonized.
Professor Hutton set an exanqde to students by pursuing
a post-.graduate course in .New York I iiiversily and receiving
the degree of Ph. I), upon examination, in the year ISitl),
The subject of Manual Training was lumight forwaid in
1811(1, but gained favor very slowly. The Classical-.Xcidemic
course was shaped in 18!ll. I'p to this date Dr. Huttou had
been princi|)al ami actividy engaged in (he woik of iustriulioii.
In March, 18111, he was made City Superiuteudeiit, ami .Mr.
Kutgers B. .lewett was appoiiiled iirimipal of the High School.
-Vs might have been anticipated, the influence of a scholarly
young inaii, direct from college, wholly devoted to leaching,
was highly stimulating. The opportunity to proceed mion a
course that might lead to co.h'ge w.-is seized with avidity.
.\l the oiiposite extremity, kindergarten was introduced in
ISIH. \'ocal music foumi place in 1S1I4. .\l;in\ial training
gradually advanced until the hap|iy thought occurred to ulilize
the old building of School Xo. 4 in 18'.l."i, t'uiler that riKif
Manual Training and School Kitchen have flourished,
.Mr. .Sedgwick Mather became instructor in Latin in I.sii,"i.
The duration of study in the High School was extended tinm
three years to fciiir in ISfCi. The compli te course of iustnu-liou
1 :..'S
1 ) ^4 ^^^1
^^M.
:w .,
■.T-'4" H
flUBuHlfl
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC. 107
till- all L'lMili-; Mil. I ili-|i:iriiii.'iits. lis ,|..v.-l..|M',l iiri,l,'i- I >r. Iliil- sc\cii .1. |i;iiliiiriils: Knt'lisli. Ami.-iil I.aiii.'Mii;.'.'.s. Mclrrri r.aii-
tiiii. wiis llh'ii .i.l.ii.i,.,! .111.1 piiiilcd ill thr iiiaiiiuil oi 111.. Hoanl KHaKi-s, .Matlic-iiiatirs. Ilislm-.v and 10i-iin..iiiics. S.-ic-ii.'i- and
I.I l':.lii.ali..ii. Ill n-. ..iiiinrii.liiif,- il L.i- liiial a|.|ii-..l.Ml i..ii, Mr. Cniiniicn'ial liraiirlics. It is |iri-|iHi'i'il to civc a (.'.i.iil prrpara-
Carr, s|....ikin).- f..i' llic spi'clal .■.iiiiiiiilt..', sai.l: -W".' liclicvi' ii..ii r,,i- l.iisiii.-ss. a th..ri)ii;;li. all-iin.mul i-.lii.atioii. or. Hilliiii
il II. !..• the si'iniiiicnl i.f Piissair Ilial ..iir Ili^-li S.-l I pi-..- icasi.iialilc limits, to tit pupils for aii.v .-..ll.'i.'c or scii'iititic
\UW as {.'III..! la. ililii-s as an' air..!.!..! I.y aiiv iii-i;.'lil.i.iiiii.- I..wii school." It is a splcii.li.l tcstiii y I., ilu- cllii-iciiry ..f iji.-
"'■ '''*J'- cilmatioiial iiiarliiiicry wlicn tin- Siipi'riiitciiili'iit iiiii a.lil that
.M";iii\vliil,-, llw ilriiiaiiii l.ii- M 111.., 111... Ills r..r all urailrs ti.iu- of |li,. class (rnKliiatcil in l.S'.IS \v,-\r ailiiiiitcd without
hail l.c.'ii pcrsislciitly lux'.'iil. S.lioi.l X... 7,. i.ii I laiiisoii slicci. i uiiditii.ii t.. Wcllcslcy. .\c\v Yi.rl; rnivcrsily and (".diiinliiii.
was l.iiil! ill I.S.S.S, pn.vi.lii.;: si\ i....iiis. .\,.\v .N... 4. al llowc .\iii| slill lli.-ic iiiiist In- i\paiisi..ii of scho.d prcmisi.s. In
and I'aiilis.m a v. Mines, w us it.tI.iI in I.SIPI. ami snpplicl icn 1,S!I.S .iml I.S'.i;) ScIiimiI .\o. 2 is iindcrpiinK n-conslnicti..ii so
'■ "^- '''l"ii '^"- ''• "II Haniilli.ii avi- , .iii.sc in l,S!17 and as 1.. .iffi.r.l I wcnly-two rooms upon the srr..nml which formerly
..pined sixteen rooms. npliiiii l.m ,.i-ht. An.l already the fonndatioiis are laid for
.Mr. .Mather sueceedeil .\lr. .lewelt as principal ..i llie lli-li \,,. 7, ,,ii Slimmer sln-t. wheie eiyht rooms are to lie pro-
School in l.S'l.-). and ii.nliiiii..l iw.. y.'ars. 1 >r. II111I..11 reliii vi,l,.,|. That the piililic s.-hi.<ds thns viu'iiroiisly Hdministereil
iinished the iiositimi ul Cily Siipiiinlendeiil in I.SI17, .iiid held ii.ininand approl.;itiiin and even ap|ihins.. is evinced I.y thi-
th.' principalship ..r ihe lli-li S, li...,l ..n.- y.^ni. » li.n li.- was .-ipproiiriatioii of the mniiiticent sum ..r .>;i II.Ji;.'. f..r S.I1...1I pur-
sncceeiled in thai i.lliie liy .Mr. .\l. II. Small, and his ciiiiiim- p.,ses in the tiscal year 1S!I!I lo liKMI.
ti..ii with !hi' schools ,l..s.'il in l.S'.IS. 1 1 is r,.,ni-.l ..f f.. nil. •.■11 Tli,. pr..-ress diirim; a recent perio.l may he i.hsc-rve.l al a
.M'lirs is inetraci..-il.le. Slarlini: with eh valid ideals, he had |.a^ ;;laii.-i' in the ri.lli.wint': —
ti.nilly wail.'.l lur ..hsia.h's h. !..■ i-eni..\ .mI ..iie l.\ ..iie. II.'
had pressed llie advance i:s rapidly as il was prn.leiil. II.. t 'OM l'.\ i;.\TI \" K F.XIIll'.rr KOI! Till-; l..\ST K I . K V K N
had retai I lli.' l..\.il siipp..ii ..1 shrewd and stalwart men ^'IC.MtS.
in Ihe ever ihansrinf; Board of Kdncation. He had riimiiled ^
iiiiiiii.\ .il.ly I 111' solid striictnre of pnlilic inslrnclii.n for the ^ p . »' 1
60 t i^ - s ^ -*
.il,\. His la'.isl nlti'iaiices. piil.li^li.'d in lli.' .\iiiiiial Kepi.rl .= r i . = i a ?
of the Stale Siiperinlenileiit. sln.w thai h" was fully ni. lo i - '= 1 » S = ^
th.' hour in rcspi el to the newer topics ol sliid.v anil training:. CrC^^ - i ~
••iiiil particnlarly alcrl iipuii llie now ininiinenl snhjects of ? Z y_ ^ c 9 g z |
Irii.incy and coiiipnlsioii.
Il is to hi' ailinilleil ijcii eilmal ii.ii is iiii.re sensitive to the
spirit of t!ie l.atesl nii.iiieiii iliau aii.\ ..llier linnian activity.
.\ot llial it is .lesliliUe of a lialhisl .if con.servatism. Rnt the
childr.'ii are th.' lat.'st hnrii aiid hasten toward the fntiir.'.
'I'lie hi'st the pr.'si'iit has is Ih.'ir due. 'riie yoiillifnl teacher
has an .idvanlanc in his yoiithf illness. 'Tlie man lately fn.in the
nnix'crsitics. licarini;- alii.nt his person llie anh.r of eollcjic
halls, may displace the veteran educator without .liscrcdit to him
who lays off the harness and withont iiresniniition to himself
in uirdiiii; il mi. Thns was Dr. Frank K. Sii.-inlilint; welconied
to the oHi. .' .if City Sniierintenilenf in 1.S!I7. Bavins taken the
'l''-i' I' -^^ I''- •" .^mliersl and I'll. 11. at l.eipzif: I"iii- ,^,,,,|. .,11 i,.,^ ,„.,.,, ,|,„„. ,|„. ,|„.|ii,v ,,f ., seh.M.I must de-
vi'is;iy. haviiiL' ill viili'i! special atlentiiiii to preparation for the , ^^^^^^^^ j,^^. ipialiticat imis „( teachers. The tahle here given
sllperilitellilelll 's callill:;. ailil ll.nini; iieell lesteii therein, lie
w.-is ailiniralily iiilalilidl lo lalo' lii.l.l ..f lie scln.ols ..f I'assaic
with a tirni hand, lie liiinux tu llieni Ihe latesl lliiin;;ht and
the IresllesI el it linsiasni iif his prolessioll. ,\ii w.in.ler if he
sliiiulil dis.crii .-111 opporlnnil \ lo niiif\ anil emhellish the
scho.d system. Ills work is in.i yet in the realm of history. Xovemher 1SSI9.
He shall dctiiie il in his nw 11 words, after ef^'hteen months
in oftiie. lie says: "The course of study has li.'cu thiiront;hly NAME. OHADE.
r.'visi'.l. from the lowest primary t;ia.l.' llir..in;li llii' Ilit.'li Maurice II. Small Principal.
School. This was iii.l dene for 111.' sake of eliniinaliiif: aii.\ Fiech'fic Beinent \ssistant.
snl'jccts pri'\ ioiisly pnrsii.'.l, ii..r ..f .Lldiii^ v.'iv many 11. 'W .\. <;. H.ddin.i.' .X.ssistaiit.
snhjects. l.ul diietly I., .'iirieli llie ol.l ..ii.'s an.l heller to adai.l William Billiniis Assistant.
'.hem to the cap.icities and inlcresls of the [.iipils at ail points." .\. I.. Brainar.l V.ssistaiit.
lieferrinj; to the Iliiih School, he notes -the addition of a Mary ('. Tracy .Vssistalit.
compii'te coniiiierci.il .lepartmeiit. the e.Meiision of the science I-'aiiliie F. Wi'Ich \ssistant.
courses and the introilncti'.n into ih.'iii of the exiieriiiiental Lizzie E. Dnff.ird \ssistant.
method in plac of pure i.'xtd.o.ik w.irk. tin' l.r.iadeniir;.' an.l Kathi'riiie (i. I'ike .\ssistant.
I'lirichini; ul the n.iirs. s ..f lii>l..ry an.l Kn>:lish. and the ad- Anna I,. Cray \ssistatit.
dilioii III cnrrciil events and hi;.'l..'r ni.ilheniatics."
.\iiil here is the siiinmar.A'. which miisl c.Kcile the a.lmira-
li.iii ..f .'Very .■iliz.'ii of I'assaic. to w il ; "Il is now i|iiite safe NAMK. (iHAPK.
t.. say that no Ili^h Sch.i..l in tic Stale has a in. in- th..r..iit'li. .Marjiaret ('. Kerkai \II ■\.
adaptahle and extensive c..nrse of study, and few possess Let Lena H. (Jarrison \II B-
ter practical facilities for carrying on their work snccessfiilly. Annette Y. Bonnard \I -\.
Our school offers four years' continuous work in each of Alniji L. Smith \I Band \ .V.
> y. > y. '^ s. o - H
l.S.S.S-.Sll ."1 .l;,Sl),(Hi(» .TJ l.SKJ 3.()71 .$:^(i.7S(> .•>;-. ITli .'S2.*<.!l7'>
l.SSll-ilO 1; S!).(KHI :!4 2.0.^(3 .3.(K)2 27.(134 12.1111 .•{!t.74.">
iMtd-iil I! ,s!i.i)(i(i .',11 2.iir.:', :',.:',:::', :«.!i!Ci 2.712 aii.74.'s
i.siiMu c, .sii.iiiKi :;'.! 2.01.". ::.-_'77 :'.2.'.ius l..">2'.i 34.497
i.s'.)2-!i:; 11 ,s!i.(Hiii 4.". 2.ii.''is :!.74:i ;!s.:{42 2.:'..s.". 4i>.72s
1,S!)3-!I4 II .sii.iHKi 17 2.S1'.I 4. ."IIS 42.4.">i; 1:1.7.').". .")(;.211
lS!l4-'J.'i 7 r_'."i.llllO .-.C 2.!i:5S 4.I!.S!» 4'.t.2(ll '.l.'.ISo ."iil.24S
l,'-i).")-!Hi 7 12."i. ill :!.27i; .".US .".l.:i7S 41.:!oi; !I2.7:54
l,sin;-;i7 s 171.IHIII r,s .■!..'iH.". ."i.2si .Vi.17:'. ii.7o."> iil.,'<7.s
is!)7-!is s 171.111111 71; ."..oitt ."i.!is!i ii7.2".ii 2. :'.:'>!• (;!i.."ii;ii
l.'-iiis-iili s 17t;.iiiiii ,sl :',.7i;:'. r..4i'.7 7."i.s:!4 24.7ri7 luii.r.nl
CI mains Ihe n.iiiics of th.' |. resent corps of Instructors :-
The Corps of Teachers.
HIGH SCHOOL.
CKA.M.M.M; hKl'AKT.Ml-.XT.
108
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
SCHOOL NO. I.
NAME. ciRADE.
Kllii" <'iim'iiln»vpii. IV H-
M:iry MiGiiin- Ill A.
I.iilii <"iise Ill H.
Miiiaiii Krirtitli H A nii.l B.
( MTlriido K. Wjitl 1 A.
I.,U11 KI1SS.-II I I<
.Ii-ssic V. S|MMT KiinliTiraiti'n.
Klsic Dati'siiiaii KimlcTKarti'ii.
tADE.
. I'riiiripal
.IV A.
It.
A.
A.
v..
It
A.
A.
A.
W
.III
III
III
III
II
II
.11
U ».
II r>.
UK.
I A.
I A.
. I A.
1 B.
I B.
. I B.
. 1 B.
. KiiidiTt
Kindt rf
. KIiiiUt;
Kiiiili'iv
aitoii.
artcn.
aiti'ii.
artiMi.
SCHOOL NO. 2.
NAME.
I'.vii T. Si-alirucik
.\iiiia <■ Callaahaii
Mar.v ('. Crabaii
Caiulliii' Birilsall
.Marcarcl I >. Staal.-i
.Mart-'ilrrilf .Mills
.M.vitl.- .M. Vi.u;.'li
lOliKalicili U. CoiioviT
Kliz-abftli Biiiiiiard
Bi-itha C. Wood
Mary K. iMiisii
Harriet d. St-linx-di-r
.\Iar«jiri-t Wi-lllii!:
Mary K. Bu.klo
Kdiia B. Stri-miiir
Mayiiic K. Sjindford
M. .K'liiiii- Siiiitli
Grace Itt-yiiolds
Lottie K. Story
.Mar;.'.ir<-t (Jray
< li'raliliiic B. Dcuiarcst
(Jcrtriiili' H. Hupkins
Klhi 1'. Biir;;li.r
Sarah I. I >avisciii
SCHOOL NO. 3.
.NAME.
.Miiiiiif -V. l.iTS
Kiiiiiia L. <!ifrord
Mattii- S. (irrciilif
Helen I.. Speer
Kninia ('. Spencer Kinder^'arlcn.
SCHOOL NO. 4.
NAME. URADE.
.M. K. B.-rkan I'rimipal.
Olive l». .Iew..tl V Band IV A.
i:. \V. Van Alia IV B.
Brownie .1. Kicc Ill A.
Carrie I". Oliver Ill H.
Cliarlotle H. Terliune II A.
.Madeleine Berkan II A.
\ iola -V. (Sortoii II It.
M. M. .\. Straclian I A.
Bessie AIIhtI I It.
(ierlrnde .\. Horton Kiniler;;.irl"n.
.\liiT Hascy Kindcrfiarten.
SCHOOL NO. 5.
NA.ME. (iRADE.
l.i/./.ic B. Sie|dien.s II .\. Principal.
.loscpliine K. Biireiow II B.
J.illian .Matthews I .\.
lOdith .M. W I I It.
Martha K. I'inirer I B.
Lillian .\. Itnslini: Kinder^artPn.
(iKADE.
IV A and H, V A.
. . IV B and III A.
. . Ill B and IT A.
. . 1 1 B. I A .nnd B.
SCHOOL NO. 6.
NAME. liRADE.
Mayte Sullivan Principal.
Elizalx'th Thorpe VII B.
Marparet Bryee M A.
.^nna M. Xolau \' I B.
firace Knai)p ^ A.
.M. L. Van Nostrand \' .V ami B.
.Vnuie B. Noltenn-yer \' B.
.hilia Aldoiis IV A.
Klsie (J. Smith I \' B.
Sarah Considine IV It.
Helen \V. Bryc-e Ml A.
Cora \. Vitggau HI A .
Clara .McFaddin Ill B.
Susan B. Mason HI B.
Louise P. HijiKins H A.
Lucy C. Phillips II B
(Jertrudc Clement I A and B.
Katherine K. McKay I B.
ilarion L. .Newell Kinclcrnartin.
E. U. .larvis Kinilerfrarteu.
SPEOAL TEACHERS.
GRADE.
. Manual Trninintr.
. Pi.mestic Science
. Scwinj;.
. ] h-.-nvin;:.
NAME.
.Ml-. W. A. K.ililiins
Miss Florence Newell
iliss Theo Burghardt
Miss Marsaret W. Lanfistrotli
Miss Lillian .1. Cox .Mnsii-.
Miss Catherini' T. Bryee Supervisor,
EVENING HIGH SCHOOL.
NAME. ORADE.
.\l ! . Willi.iui Billings Principal.
.Mis. William Billiuss V-^^istant.
REGULAR EVENING SCHOOL.
SAME.
Mr. A. <). .Miller
Miss ilac .M. Ilatmaker. .
.Miss L. B. Brooniall
.Miss Arabella M. Brijihl.
.Mr. L. C. H-pl. install
.Miss Lucy .M. Brown
.Miss .lulia .\. Si)eiicer. . . .
i.UAUE.
Principal.
.Assistant.
.\ssistant.
.Vssistant.
Assistant.
-Assistant.
.. Vssistant.
The Board of K.xaiuiners. to pass up(«i the attainments of
candidates for appointment as teachers, is an important instru-
ment in the school system. The .service of professional men
in Passaic has been bestowed generously in this <'apacity. as
will appear from the foUowiuf; ri'cord; —
Board of Examiners.
Samuel W. liici\ 1S7.">-T!I. i Principal and SuiM'rintendeut.1
Colonel Benjamin .\ycrisp. lS7.'i-7S. (Columbia; .\. B. 1S24;
Pennsylvania: Ph. D.I
Itev. Charles !>. K.'lloSf;. ISTH-TH. i Princeton: .V. B. and .\. .M.I
Kcv. Pliilii F. Leavens. ISTHSl. i I'niversit.v of Vermont:
A. B. and 1). I).»
.lames K. Stontenburc. IST'.IMI. iWilii.ims: .\. B.I
Kev. Asber Anderson. l.SSl-,S.-i. iHuts-'ers: .\. B.l
Professor Byron 1>. llalstea.l. 1 .s.S-_'-S.">. (Harvard: Sc. 1>.I
I>r. (Jeorjie H. .M<-yers. 18.S:{-.S7. iCohimbi.i: Collr-c of Phy-
sit'ians and Snrjreons: M. l>.i
Kev. Williams Howland. lSS.->-!il. i Ivpis, ,,pal 'Phcolo^'iial
Sclioid. Cambridge. Slass.: B. I>.i
Frank E. Pellett. lS»7-9(». (Lafayette: A. B.i
l>r. Samuel E. .\rinstront'. 1SS7-S.<<. i.Ml.any .Medical col-
lege: M. II. I
MAURICE H. SMALL, A. M.
I Principal of Hiali Scliool.i
H. H. HUT T'.'-,, F ., D.
l-'oniHT city 8u[H>rinU>ndent of i^^bool.s.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC. Uf
llriiry II. Iliitl.iii, IS'.il ;iT. iSyniiiiso I'liiviisii.v: A. 11.; Kiv. 1". 1'. I .ctivfiis. 1.S.X1 -.VJ; Si-iiIciiiIht, IS'.PJ-lll.
.N.w V..il< Iiiivir-ily: I'll. K.i Siiiimi'l M. ("o.ik. ],SM1 |„ .Iiinc 1KS3.
I.i.iiis H. Cmr. ISSN-'Jl. lUaivanl: A. H.i I»r. ("hnrli's A. Cliiinli, l.'^Sl m I ).-,(.iiil,or, ISS2.
Allici-t <>. .Miller. ISill. — . (Ci.lMiiiliiii : A. It. niu\ I.I,. M.I Nicholas .\ly.-!i. 1.S.S2-S.S.
.I..I111 1;. .\iUiiiiuui. lS!i:i. - . iKiit^'iMs: .\. H.I Uiili;iiil Muncll. 1S,S:; Sd.
\li\. \\illi:iiii I. Swoi-t. ISiri-n.S. (riiiiiii Ccillc;.'!': .\iiliiini Tlu'- Uriiiy I-'niiii. l.S.S:!-,S4.
.ilu-i.-il SciiiiiiMiy: ]\. l>.i .FaiiU'S \. Spniiill. 1S,V3-SS.
I'liiiik i:. Spanlilinj;. I.S'.IT, . i.ViiiluisI : .\. H.; L.-ipzi;; Tiii- ■I'lininas .M. .M.hh-c. 1HH;{-S.S.
v.iviiy: I'll. D.I .I,,|,ii .M. .Morse. 1.S.sa-S7.
Thr lily <li.iiilil Hill lie liir.i.'ri till nl ihe ;.'rM 1 nil i ills Itilior lie-
.sluwril iiy llel" eili/i'lis wilii ilri-elil iillii-e iin tile HoMnl of
lOiliii Ml inn. ll is r.ir ri-iiui a sinecure m- . -in eniiit.\ Iniiinr. Sniiic
111' llie eliiiiriiciiisliips lit ciiinniiuc's invnlve all aniuiiiu of care
lliat liears no sm.-iU r.ilin In the care uf .-i man in iiiana;j:iiiiL;
his iiw n liiisiness. The folhiwinjr talile will show that our law-
yiMs. |iliysiiMaiis. clersrymeii. New YorU Inisiiiess iiu-ii anil local
liiisiiiess iiieu have cmil rilnueil freely to Ihe vuliinic nl' lull Ihal
has lillilt ll|i Ihe iil.\'< excellent ~.\^teni nl' scl N:
Heiijainiii .Vycritrc. .Ir.. lS.S:i lo .lime. '.ST.
.losej.h P.. Kiiitfhl. l.S.S^-S7.
(icortro P. Unst. l.S,Si; lo Seplemlier. IS,S7.
ClarUsoii S. (' 1S.S(;-.S!».
Kiitoii N. I'"risl,i... IMSC-illi.
Keiinis W. .Mahoiiy. l.SST-IIO.
lleiir> Hei-ccr, 1KS7-!tl; IH'.t:;-!!.-..
Washiii-lon Paiilison. 1K.S7'.i:!.
Charles (1. llanUs. l.S,S7 In .Iiiiic l.saS; 1880-92.
William .\liliott. l.S,S7 Scptcmlicr. I.. .Inly. l.'^flO.
Members of the Board of Education. ■';•"" »• l'"'"-;-^- i'^';-;;--'';
lliilicrt Uriu'iiilyke. 1S.S.S-'.)1.
The four tirsi ii iiiicil wer • iiiislees nl the school ilistrict .lnhn F Wvnne ].S.S!M»L'
prior 1.1 the charier ol' tin city. Mini hclil over 1. i their Icrius .\ithiir .1. Prall. 1S!HI to (),-lol,cr. LSI);
ill tile lliiaill III lOllllctltiiill.
\V .liter N. Kip, LSSil to Seplemlier. ].S;i2.
Charles A. Crane. 18'jl to August, 1806.
Arthur F. Kice. l.S'.H-l)2: 1H!)4-!I7.
J)r. .lohn Sullivan. 1S91-97.
Irviiii; C. .Matthews. l.SU2-n.'i.
Dr. <:eori;e T. Welch. 1S1I2 lo .Inly. l.S'.li;.
William T. .Ma-ee, 1892, -.
Louis H. Carr. 1893, — .
lames S P.i.hlell, 1874-78: 1879,^0. , „ iv..-} » i i
.lames Kyan. 189.^ to .Inly.
10. K. Ilalsteail. 1874-7.">. ., . . i i> » ninoi.e
Sylvester .1. lust. 189.! 91 1.
Dr. ("onu'Iius \aii Itiper, 1874-78. ,, ,, , , », „ n.,,, i , i i ic<>-
Dr. Edward De Baiui. IV.M .lannary. to .Inly. 189.j.
Kiln Kip. ISr.S In Septellllier. 1 S7 I ; also ISSII-Sl.
T. P.. Stewart. 18C.9 to Septemlier. 1S7."'i
<i(or4;e W. Demarest, 1870-7:!: also 1874-7.S.
Itev. .Marshall B. Smith. 1S7:; In Septcinlier. lS7i;; also 1877
78 .■iiiil 1879-80.
.laiiics Wrij;lit. 1S74-7I1.
Andrew Foulils. 1S74-79: 1S83,
Dr. E. W. \niiilersiiiith, 1874-7.'.
Daniel A. Smith, 1874-7r.: 1.87i>-77: is.s2-8:i
Colonel Peiijamiii .\yerigf;, 1874-7."i.
.losephus Hill. l,s7:>-78.
.lohn Demarest. 187.")-7(;.
.lnhn W. Clcnions, 187,V78; 1S79-,81.
.1. Spciiic .\iiilcrsiin. 1875-7(1: 18.S,S-94.
Dr. .lohn C. UerricU. 1.S7I1-77.
.1. .M.inlcy .\ek. rmaii. 1S7i;-79.
William .1. Cnnper. 1 S77 79.
ThniiiMs llayilen. 1.S7.S-79.
!■■. Wallace .><niile, 1S7.S-79.
William liimam, 1S78-T',): 1,S87-S9.
Saimicl .M. P.irch, 1878-79.
-Milton II. Put lis. 1S7.S-.S3.
Wiiliani S. (Juiterrez. liS7.S-,S0.
.loseph II. WriL'ht. 1879-SO. '
tJeor.L'c W. I'incli. 1S79-.S3. (In ail.iiiiniiiL' pat'es will he louud reproductions of i:i;,'lil.
l-'loreiice .Mahniicy. 1879-80. photographs of Passaic schools, inchnlin- that of St. .\iehnlas'
.loseiih II. Hawkins. 1,S7!)-S3: lSS7-9o. parochial schnnl. wliiih is Ireateil of at length ill conuoetiou
Thomas I'. Titns. ISSo-Sl. „ itii the history of St. Nicholas' Roman ('iitliolie Church. Th(\v
.lnhn W. Hiitterworth, 1880-81. make a very handsomo gnuip of school buildings. Two iiioiv
Diuiii C Cowdrey. 18.S() to DedMiilier, 1881: 1895-98. suhstantial school Iniildings— Washington I.Vo. 2l Dundee, and
N.iiah W. Sylvester. lS8U-8(). Craiit iNo. 7l. in Harrison street, arc not yet out of tho hands
.lames W. Collins, 1880-81. of Ihe liuihlers. The only representations of them ^vllieh eoulit
Uiehard O. Haslironck. l.SSl-.Sd. he had in time fortius history were architect's drawings, wliioh
O. Henry Wilson. 1881 to .lime. were not satisfiutory.
"William W. Scott, 1894-97.
Dr. Ce.irgc I.. Kiindle. 189."), to .Inly, l.S!";,
Thomas \\ Connell. 1.S9.-I to. Inly. 1S!i7.
William P. Ryan. 1.S!I(1-!I9.
William .1. Pnrcell. 189i; to .Inly. 1897.
.lohn De Keyser. 1897 to .lannary. !,S9.S.
lOrnest K^'miL^ 1897. — .
.lohn T. Van Riper, 18117, — .
Ceorge K. Wilson. l.S!»7. -.
Rev. William W. Pratt, 1.S97, — .
Cornelius P. Straycr. 1S!I7 to .Inly. 1.S1I.S.
.loseph .1. Mara. IS'l.s. -.
William P. Hammond, 1898. — .
C.nl W, .\. Pleil. 1S98, — .
.lnhn .1. l.alinnli. 1899. — .
Ceorge II. Dalrymple. 1S99. .
CHAPTER XIX.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
It Commenced When the Patentees Founded Their Dutch Reformed Church About 1685 The Story of
Many of the Younger Churches.
TIIK icliKiims liisti.ry of Pjissjiii- lii-;.'iii.s nitli the i-arlU-st
(lays iif A<i|iiaikaiioMk. ami is slill liriii;: iiiailc. Witli
ii|iwar<l of thirty on-Miiizatioiis liavin^ thotisamls of
iiMiiilitTs. many of tluMii liaviufr handsoiiu- ami ilisiiiticil luiilil-
iiiljs. ami all of tlii'Ui liecoiiiiiicly hoiisi'il. the <-ily is blessed
Willi religious aillvity of many types. The various Kefornied
ehiiri-hes leail in age anil nuinlier of organizations, there be-
ing two Knglish Kefornied ehurelies and four Dnttli Kefcu-med
eongregations of dift"eient alliliatioiis. Ne.xt in iMiint of di-
versity of organizations eonie the ("atholies. who outnumber
any of the other divisions. The English-speaking |iortioii of
the iiarish eonstitntes by far the largest eoiigregatiim in tlie
i-ity. There are four other Catholic ehurehes— Polish. Sla-
vonian, Creek Kite and Italian. The riesbyterian have two
lOnglish chiirrhes and one Cerinan one. There are three .tew-
isli synagogues. Tin- P.aptists have two <-hurehes and a mis-
sion, the Metliixlists two (•ongregations. tlu' I.ulherans two
• liurehes. the Kpiscoiialiaiis. I'nitarians. Coiigregation.ilists.
one eaeh. The Young Men's riiristian .Vssoeiation. the Voiiiig
W'onii-irs Christian Assoeiation. the Women's Chrislian Tem-
peranee I'nioii. the Passaie Bridge Sunday-School, the Plyiii-
oulli Hrethreii and two colored Methodist roiigreg.itioiis bring
up the total lo the nuuilier stated.
I'artly. and in some eases almost whidly. tliiongli the ef-
forts of resiilenls of Passaie. there have been established dur-
ing the last di'eade a Iteforineil and a Presbyterian eliunh ill
tiartield. a Kefornied and an ICpiseopal eliureh in Cliflon. a
Presbyterian ehuivh anil a Baptist mission in Wallinglon and
a Baptist church in Bmididale, a Koniaii Catholic cliinch in
llasbroiick Heights and a Methodist mission for Wallington
and Carlton Hill. This should be siitlicieni to show ilie dc-
volion of Passaic people lo i-'digion.
The "Old First" Reformed Church.
The tiisl of all Ihcse churches, and the ni.illicr of many of
them, has a history covering more than I wo ccniuries. From
what is known ipf the Aiiiuaekanonk Patentees, it is believed
that tliey gathered for worship regularlv fnnn the earliest date
of setlleineiil. and it is certain that when they allotted the
lands of the Patent they reserved for the I..0W Dutch Ki'formed
Church of Acquackanonk the triangle described in old pajiers as
"the public ihnnhyard." The Krst of these is a U-ase from
Walling .la<'olis to his son-in law, Hcrmanus (!errets. ilaleil
April lit. lliiK!.
'Hie existence of the church orgaidzation at this tiim' is so
far eslablisheil beyond iloubt thai it is strange lo lind it ig-
ored by a writer in I7IHI. Yet in that year 1.^'wis Morris,
afterward (Jovernor, addresseil the following meinorial to the
Bishop of London on the stale of religion in the provijiee: —
"The Province of ICast .lerse.v has in it Tell Isic.l Towns
viz. .Middletown. Freehold, Ainboy, Piscataway. and Wood-
bridge. Klizabeth Town, Newark, Aiiueckeiionck and Bergen,
and I judge in Ihe « hole Province there may be about Eight
tliousand souls. These Towns are not like the Towns in Eng-
land, the houses built close together, on a small spot of ground,
hut they inclmle large portions of the Country of 4, ."), S, II),
\2. l.'i miles in leugtli. and as much iu breadth, and all the
Settlemi'iits within such state and ijouuds is said to lii' within
such a Township, but in most of those Townships there is
some place where a part of the Inhabitants sat down nearer
together than the rest, and coutiued themselves to smaller por-
tions of ground, and the town is more peculiarly designed by
that Settlcnieiit. Those towns and the wh(de province was
pcopli'd mostly from the adjacent colonies of New York and
New England, ami generally by Sons of very narrow fortunes,
and such as <ould not well subsist in the places they left.
.\nd if such people could bring any religion with them it was
that of the couhliy they came from, and the State of them
is as follows: Bergen and the out I'lantations are most Dutch,
and were settled from New York and the United Provinces;
they are pretty eciually divided into Calvinist and Lutheran:
they have one pretty little church and are a sober people; there
are a few English Dissenters nii.vt among them.
"Aipleikeiionck was peopled from New York also: they are
Dutch mostly and generally Calvinist."
He goes on to describe each town and to state whether it
has a church. At that time, according to his reiiort. there
was no church here.
However, the other resources of this history are so unani-
mous and convincing on this point, that Cohuiel Morris' state-
ment is here inserted only as evidence of a curious oversight.
In li'.7!t-Sll the two Labadist missionaries from Friesland.
Iicfore imideiitally alluded to. visited Acquackanonk and the
(ileal Falls. While in New York they met Pelrus Tasse-
maker, a student from I'trecht. and learned tliat he was to be
ordained in a few days. Afterward they heard hint preach,
and. with the fierce intolerance of their sect, they set him down
ill their journal as a "perfect worldling," sa.viug that they
never heard worse preaching. I>oiiiinus Petrus Tassemaker
was at Schenectady, N. Y., in lliSli, and from there visited
llaiki'iis.uk and Acipiaekanonk several times. He is lidicvcil
to have pre.iched here then. In ItiSli, when the records of the
Ilackensack church commence, he sets it down that dc.icoiis
and elders were chosen separately "over the east" ami "over
the west," the latter referring to this place. Diuninus, <u' Dom-
inie, Tassi-maker fell a martyr in Ihe French and Indian nias-
.sacre at Schenectady in llilH), he and his wife being butchered
;it miilnighl. His head was carried mi a pole into Caii.id.i, and
his body was burned.
There was some such union between the Haekeusaek and
Aci|uackaiioiik congregations as is indicated, probably earlier
than KiMi, when Dominie Tasseiuaker commeuced the Haekeu-
saek reou'ds. There is nothing in the Acquackanimk church
records earlier than a small volume giving the receipts at
collections for a i)eriod of thirt.v .vi*ars, conimencing ,lnne lii,
lll!l,'i. On this dati- the collection amounted to eighteen
stivers, or .$1.80.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC. 113
Kiii-licr ii'iiiicl- iliiTi' wrii'. ■>!' riiiirsi', lull lluy iirc iiiissiiiu. UllK!, ,'ui<l lir j|i|>i':ii'('i| licl'mc the Cliissis iif I'Miisliiiii; mi Si'p-
Wo know \\ li.\ . riiii! (iiiiip.iniliN cly rci'i-iit tiint'S iniiiiy iliiinli iiiiiticr 'J. wlicii it is I'ocurilcd : —
pnpcrs, siiMii' iiii|MiilMMl. soiin' IrilliTii:. wore kept in liiinilli's "Artiric !». ( inillaiiiiii' KiTllnilf. iit pivsciit ViKirli-siT in
ill \,iriniis pliicc's ill ilir li s of loiiiii-r .liiiii li .,tli<|.|v<. ;.'i'ii- ''"' i""iKi;"«:ilii'iis nl' tw.i t.iwns in Nch- NciIhtIiiihIs. pn-scnu-il
ally ill :i ciiiiirr iif a j.':iii('t. 'I'lir <liiii(li rrcisIiT lir^.'iniiint;
a nH'iiiiirial sit'iii'il liy many nii-niliiTs nf ilu' iM>ii;:i'ct.'alii>n. ri-
iinrstinu that tlii-y iniirlit prcscrvo lilni as llicir unliiiarv niiiiis-
111 li2(i was well lak.Mi ,ai<> ,,f. Init many iiiis<-..ilaii. ons papers ,,.i. .|,„i |,„si,,i-. n „as rc-solvc.l that this snhjcct shniil.l ),.■
wci'i' I'lilrnsti'il to llu' sal'c-ki'i'pinf; of one or anotlicr. until aotcd on tomorrow."
soiiu- of tlic most valiialili- have lu'cn lost, prolialily forcvi-r. Tho Classis sat the iirxt ilay ami actiMl, ns shown in thr
It is harilly salV to assert this. thmiKli. after heariiij.' a story followiii!: niinnte:—
fiom the lips of the Ki'V. .lohn (Jaston. I>. T).. pastor emeritns "I" Session. Sept. ::. Hiii:!— Article .~i.— (inillai Hertholf.
of llii> cliiinli nieiitioned nmler .\rtii-le !t in yesterday's si'ssi<in. appeareil and
,, . . , , , presented his petition in the name of the eliiireh and i-unirreira-
S.M.i, alter lie r.iiiie lo I'assai.-. Ill IM.l). he was greatly ,;„„ i„ v;,.„. .N,,,i„.,.i„„.|s. Tile Classis. taking into eonsidera-
dislrevM-,1 t,, 1, aiii 11 1 Phoiiias .M. .Mooii-. then a yoiiiij.' law- tion the anxious desire of the ehiirch there for the stated miii-
yer ill till- villajie. thai the i liiireh eoiilil not give a perfect i'"T "f 'li>' "'ird and ordinances, and their peculiar attachment
Ijtle lo a .crlain i.iece of propertv li.M-anse there was no record *" ""■.l"'''*"" of .Mr. Herlliolf. 1 hcin;; iinwillinj; to interpose
any liimlrance. deem ii propi>r to admii him to a proof of his
.'ifls and (inalitications. the examination lo hi- eoiidlietod liv the
if a deed from llic I'aleiilces to ihc .liiircli. 'riiat the transfer
had liecn I'ornially made was a mallei- of tiiiic-lioiiored tra- president, ami lo he held fonrleeii clays heiie
ditioii. ami the title scenic, 1 assured l.y Iwo Iniiidred years of ( )„ ScpiciulMi- IT, Hertholf appeareil liefore the Classis.
iimlispiilcd possession. Inn w> ilccd was on record. >Ir. Moore ;,||,1. pinviii;.' his lilnesss. was ordained. Doiiirnie Hertholf then
siarclicil ihc I'assaii Coiiniy records in vain lor a transcript. icinrned to .Viiierica. heiiig the tirsi rcvnlarly installed pastor
lie lin|.c'd lo liiiil a copy ill the orijriiial al Newark, lint failed ,,f his denomination in New .Ii-rsey. lie was not the first inin-
aii.l ilicic was iioiliiiiu' "II rc.iird al TrciilMii. Hoiiiinie (las- isier in the State, that distinction lieinc enjoyi'd l>y the Rev.
toll, we use the title advisciUy as one of ancient reverence. .Vliraham rierson. who went io Newark ill KitJIi, and next year
ii'iinired aroniid the villa};' from likely persons, who unearthed oi-jranizcil a I'resliyterian elinrch here. He recordeil his ar-
froiii various places doeiimcnts that had heeii ill their families rival home in the Kirkbocek. or church record, at Ilackeii-
for generations. JIaiiy weri' curious and iiiterestin^r. liut none sack, as follows: —
satislicd llic iiliject of his search. .\1 las! lie rude ,ivcr to ilic ".Viiiio l(i!l4. on the li4th of Felirnary. tJilihlon Bertholf
home of .Mr. Ki.hard Terhiiiie in l.odi and explained the ditti- arrived froni Zeelandt. with a lefial Classical Heense to serve
ciillv to him. -Mr. Terliiiiie icmcmliere.l a Imndlo of old doc,,- ^''^ l:i-''i-""''-. Shepherd and Teacher oyer .\.-.piip ek and
.\<kins.i( k. and was reei'ived tiy the chnreli with great afTee-
iiieiits. which lie liail never iiis|iccled, in Ins garret. He tion."'
produced it fill- Ihc |),iii,ii,i,-s 1,,-iicliI. ll was a .histy mass of Honiinic Merllinlf was of seliohistic hal.its and. jmlging liy
ohl iiianns.-ripts. strung tightly together on a cord nearly two |,i^ ,-ecords of ihe Ilackensack chnrcli. a methodical recorder of
feel long. .Mr. (Jastoii ent the string and the Imndle fell apail. events. II is inipossilile Ihal he should not have set down the
The first paper lie |.icUcd up was an account of the ex- |,|.i,„.ii,a: lin|ii.eiiiiigs in Ihc A.uua.kaiionk congregatiim with
pciidituiv ..f a few iiciicc for some liro.mis for use in the j,,..,, ,,.., „|,„.|, ,,,,,.|j| ,{„, ,,„. |„.i,.,.i,.^^ ,.,.,.,„.,, ;_., i,,^^ ,„„| „.,.
cliiiich. .Musi uf the uthci- duciuiiciiis were eipially nniipte. hilt ;„.,. „lilige,l to turn to the Haekensaek Kirkboeek for an acconni
iiig the liiiiiilc was I lie deed gi\cii ill ITTt) by the descelul-
of the next important happening: —
aiits of the r.iteiitccs. and copied on page 20 of this work. "On the ISili .March Ihc male members from Aekinsai-k
This completed the title, ami .Mr. Ciston's search was and .\ciniiggenonck assiMiibli'il at .Vc<iuiggenonck in the name
ended. .Mr, (Jastoii foniid ilie iccuid uf ,ollcctions spoken of ",'"' *'';"" "'' *''"'' '"'"' '''"'"- '"^"'^'"l ""' '-'"■''■* ''"l.^' "='""••
„„,,., , , . ., , n '"*'.'■ "liose as ciders over the said place our brethren. Hen-
above in .Mr. lerhiim.s house, and the papers m the bundle ,,,.j,.,. ,,„.^^,. „^.,.,. .^^.k),,^,,,.,, ,,„j K,,.ij,,s Vrehindt over A.-
furnished llic data almost iimiplcti- for the history of the .)iiiggeiioiiek. And as deacons. Hendriek Epke and .liirrian
church. .Musi uf them being in I)iilcli. he turned them over Westerveldt for -Vckiiisack: and Bastiaen van (Jijsse ami Hi's-
for translation to Mr. William Nelson of I'aterson. in whose ■•^'''. I*i';"'"''<i' f-"' Ae,,ni.ggenoiiek. who were invested with their
. ,, , , , ... othce three Sundays later by their minister. C. Hertholf. for the
posse.s.sion they : till reiiiaiu. .Mr. (xasloii used the material in a .-hurcli -it Vckiiisack "
series of five scriiiuus uii I lie history uf tlic church, HU'ijas Vrelandt. the hrst elder, was the Klias .Miehielsim
\^'li:i' I'oe e uf tile uiigiiial deed fruiii llie Patentees or Vreelaml. one of the .Vcciuackanonk Patentees. The names
has m-ver been Icar 1. Wlicthi'r some honest but illiterate old „f y,,,, (Jijsse .ind Pictersi- are not those of Patentee families.
Dutclinian used it fur .i pipeliglit will remain fiuever a niys- This may indicate that in the niiu' years that had elapsed
tery. unless sonic time ill the future one of us shall discover since the granting of llic Patent, .\eipiackanoiik had grown
it. as Dr. (Jaston discovered the other records. The reason jm,, ,|uitc a hamlet, and Ihal some of the later coiners had
why no ii'.unl w.is fuiiinl .it New.iik ur Trciiiuii is iiuw gi-.iwii |ii-,iiiiiiieii( enough lu 1,,- diuscn lu liuiiurablc ollici. in
known. The ir.iiisfci- was iceurdcd at Kli/.alichtuw ii. then the the church. The liiuils uf » lial may be considered the parish
i.ipil.il of Ihe rroviiiic. exteiulei!. however, as far south as Helli'ville and north to
We have seen thai llicrc w;is .-i union liclwccn the pious Puinptoli. Indeed, during the thirty years of Dominie Hi'r-
liiilch uf Ilackensack .ind .Vciiuackaiiuiik. Fur suiiic lime ihulfs .service his duties were bounded only by his aliility to
previous to the spring of l('.!l.'i, perhaps from shortly after labor. He seems to have been traveling almost c.mtiniially
Dominie Tasseniakcr's tragic death, the services at both places from Belleville to Tapiuiii. N. Y.. and from Poinptoii to the
were i-ondncteil by (Jiiillaem iWilliami Bertholf. He acted as Hudson. He mganized the Tarrytowii cliiir<h in Ki'.IT. and
a Voorlcser Ifore-reaih'rl or lay reader, leading the devotions installed deacons and elders in the i-hiirch at Uaritan ill .March,
and reading the Scriptures. He lived at .Vciiiiai kanonk. as is IC.'tif. and preached twice a ypar there f<ir many years there-
shown by a jiaper dated .\pril 1(1. IC.ii:!. in which he describes after. For fifteen years he wa.s the only settled Dutch miiiis-
himself as schoolmaster and scribe idiiierc schrijverl at the ter in .New .Tersey. Then, ill IHK). the .Monmouth County
village uf ■■.\ciiuiggeiionk." churches engaged the Kev. .loseph Morgan. There was a
He olii.iiiied such favor lor pieiy .ind learning thai both chronic scarcity of ministers in those ilays. From 17ll"2 to
congregations presented him with (lociimcnts asking the mother 170."i there was only one Dutch minister in New York and
church in Holland to ordain him as their minister. They dis- I><ing Island. It was not so long before Dominie Bertholf
palihcd him. al llicir expense. lu Kiiropc in llic siiiunicr of settled here lh.it Whilchcad in his curiuns buok on FasI New
1(4
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Ji'i-se.v, ili-sorilicd tlif iiruvincc as "wcnlliy tlie naiiio of I'ara-
iliso. lii'i-aiisc. in n<Mitii>ii to its iintiiral advaiitaKOs. it lias no
lawyers, |iliysi<'laiis or parsons."
Altlioiiifli Bcrtliolf was for tifti-t-n yc-ars tin- only si'ltled
lucachpr in tlit- State, and labored at Kuritan. Tappan. Tarry-
town anil on Staten Islanil. as well as near home, little is
known aliont liiin. He probably ninio liere from Bergen (.ler-
si-y Cityl witli tlie Patentees. He married Maretientje Hen-
dricks. In the i-M'ords of the ehnreli there an entry is inaile
of the baptism of one of his ehildren. Hendrick. April li. KiSO.
However, as another. Oeniima. was baptized in New Vork May
Hi. HISS, this is not ronrlnsive. His rharge here included
Hclli'vilh' as well as Aciimii-kanonk. and besides the mission-
ary work spoken r>f. from whieli grew i-lunches at many places.
he organized a ehnrch at IVnds (Pompton Lakes) in 17KI. which
was the lir.st north of the Pnssaie Itiver. He is described as
being "in possession of a mild anil placid eloqiK>nee. which pur-
snadcd by its gentlene.ss and attracted by the sweetness which
it ilistilled and the holy savor of piety which it diffused
aroniid." The records being missing, the number in his Hock
at his death is not known, but two years later there were one
hundred and niiu-ty-six active mcMibers in the Aci|uackaiioiik
and Ponds churches. He received into the Hackeiisack church
two hundred and sixty-eight, and in all his travels prol>ably
added one thousand souls to the told.
Kach of his churches promiseil to pay Dominie Hertholf
one thousand guilders, or .$12."i, annually. The payments were
presumed to be made half-yearly, tirst from the Aciiuackanonk
and then from the Hackensack church. Kven this moderate
stipend was usually in arrears. From time to time Dominie
Hcrthidf seems to have donated the arrears to the •"poor-
chest," i>r churi'h treasury. About half of his nominal salary
was returned in this manner. One would suppose that when
after thirty years of faithful service he bocaino too feeble to
olMciale. some secure provision wiudd have been made for
him. In \~24 he was obliged to retire, which he could ill afford
til do. being a | r man. In an idil document, dated March
-'•', ITi;4. it is agriH'd between the church and the Dominie
that a young preacher from Holland was lu'cessary. It was
agreed that a subscription paper should be circidated among
the congregation "with all friendly importunity whatever they
are willing to sidiscribe cheerfully in order to make up a yearly
sum as long as it may please- tiod to prolong the life of the
I )ominie." The | r ohl man assented to this free-will offering
and signed a release for all arrears of salary to dale. The mu-
niticent total of 21.' shillings (.f^.ti^l was subscribed.. Completely
worn out, the Donnnie retired to his little farm near Lodi,
where he gently breathed his last November 20, 1724. He is
supiMised to have been buried under the pulpit of the old Hack-
ensack I'hurch. His ilealh ended the conneilion between the
two churches.
Keligio\is services in .Vci|Uiiekaiioiik were at Hrst held in
private houses. The old \'an WagoinT hoiisi- at Itiver Drive
and (Jregory avenue was the tirst meeting place. The ne.xt was
a rude shed standing where the present ruins of the idd
parsonage are. on the hillside, east jf the cnurch. This eon-
tinned until about 17ll."i-i;. .Meantime, fluids were being raised
for the erection of a churcli building. The reconls slmw that
101 .lime i:t. 17<I2, there was $."i2(l to the credit of this accnuiil.
'l"he tirst reference to the building is that of September ."i, 17(m;,
when .'f,S.2ll was taken out of the iiour-chest to pay on aceount
of the building. I hi September 2r> .S22 due Dominie Hertlndf
fin- arrears of salary was civditi'd to the ruiul. On December
i: .'p:!.S.,"ill was paid on the chiiich debt. Again, mi December
2(1, $27. ."ill was added to the fiinil. The building was of logs.
lined with clay and thatched willi straw. The material and
labor were largely contributed by the people. In aiblilioii. a
ciitributioii was taken on the spot with which to purchase
the liiiuor. the liberal use of wliicli was indispensable in build-
ing operations of all kinds.
The building was about 20x3li feci, had a steep ronf and
a high cupola, but no bell. Tbdc was no gallery in the
interior.
The church was not he:ited in winti-r. The women carried
with them foot-stoves tiUed with live coals at home and re-
pli iiished at the N'oon House, the shed which afterward became
the parsonage and then the village tavern. It was the build-
ing to which the worshippers from a distam-e repaired to eat
lliiir lunch, and sometimes, in bitter weallier. was used as
a shelter for the horses. In tlmse days the tirst service be-
gan at 8 or '.t in the morning and lasted until noon, when
came a recess. The afternoon service began .-it hall'-p.ast
."> and ended in time to permit those from a distance to till
their foot-stoves and make the long, colil drive home before
dark.
While the Iiidi.ans never molested llic Dulcli or interreri'd
with church .services here, there was a time when .in attack
was constantly guarded against. For a generation alter the
ma.ssacre of the Indians at Bergen, the red nun were sus-
pected of seeking revenge. So men cairicd tlicii- ninskets to
church, a guard of armed men sat ne.ir the dom-. while others
did sentry duty outside, lest the Indians should make the as-
sembling of the community for worship the oc<-asion of a sur-
prise that would mean a wholesale ii'assacre. For the same
reason the men sat near the aisles and preceded the women
and childrini to the door al the close of service.
The people usually w.iilrd fir the minister to arrive be-
fore taking their seats, spending the interval in gossip. In
iliurch they were very decorous and devout, and attentive
li>leners to sei-inons twn nv three hniirs lung and pi'ayers
which seldom lasted less than an hour. With no docks and
few watches, the hour-glass kept the time and was turned b.v
the X'oorleser. His duty it was also to mark who were ab-
sent and for what reason, to collect and raKe charge of the
e( ntributions. The.se were of stated amount. The one-half of
Doniinie Bertholf's salary met originall.v by Aciiuackanonk
was divided in thirds among the llocks at Acquackanonk, lielle-
ville and the Ponds. In addition, there weri- other collections
to be nuuU'. It was tin- rnlr in nmsl clmrclies that all who
participated in the building of a church should lie entitled to
seats as long as they jiaid their proportion of the minister's
salary. N'eglect tu do iliis fiir unr year and six weeks meant
a forfeiture of the seal. The piirrhase price of a seat for
man and wife living in llie vicinity. Iml wliu liad not con-
trilinted to the building, was tixed al Ml guilders* or .fit),
tifly for the man, thirty for the wife. Seats for children were
secured al 2.S guilders for boys and Hi for girls. Xon-residents
and newcomers were charged 120 guilders for man and wife.
All these charges cariied with Ihciii the condition of con-
tributing a share of the ministerial salary. On payment of
from i; to 12 guilders annually, the seats became the abso-
lute property of the holder. Burials were charged for by
schedule: Heads of families, buried in llic ilninli. I.S
guilders: all unniarried per.sons between 12 ami 2."i years. Ill
guilders: children under 12 years. 5 guilders; lor ringing the
bell at funerals, one guilder to the church and two to the
liellringir: for nsi' of the mortuary cloth, two guilders in the
ihiirch and one to the \'oorleser. The Voorleser was paid six
gulden or pennies al least for recording a baptism. His annual
salary was about live pounds sterling, ("oiitribiitions for the
poor were held by the senior deacons, the newly elected dea-
cons h.iving simply the oversight nf the same. The deacons
were priihibited from investing this fund willinui tlu' consent
of llu> Consistory. All disbursennints were to be paid at the
exchange rate of "eight shillings to the ounce."
V"r 'l*"! 9,';.»'''l''i'?"- ^'o"*" "''1 residents, not of Dutch blood, ure iccustomed to reckon in "BhillinBs." which are not the eouivaleiit of
n oM?iboroi"te ,"„' K.SnS Z^'i. iTh"^'*„^" l*",""!'.'"'' K-ilHer of law cents, eight of which mav be reckoned an eun?vale,u to he do bu-
n ol.l laborer, liorn in hngland, who did not come to I'assaic until 1S66, was accustomed to reckon his wages as IS shillings or it. 50 a day.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
J 15
Fui- .■! yi'.'ir i.r l\\.. .■iIIit iU,- dciilli ..r 1 i.iiiiinu. HiTllioll"
llu' <-liili-cli ^^:ls wiili.Mii ;i |ia-.|ur, an the '■yinmt: |iivhc1iim- I'l
Ilolliiiiil" liad Mill 1j<-(Ii (iilUil. Till' colelmili'd Now Ymk iiiiii-
i>lir. I ho Kcv. Gualtaeriiis Dubois, hiid tlio nvcrsijjtht of tin-
iliiiirli. Mltlioiigh tlic Ucv. ("(irmdiiis Vnii Smitviicu'd of Slalcii
Isliind pivaclii'd Iumt as a caiididiitc. Oil olio oocasion. in 1724,
tlio foiiiior locoivod •'live jHooos of oi(;lit." a S|>aiiisli ooill
wliioli [lassi'd cuiroiil, and on anotlioi' forry sliilliii^-s. "Six
piicos of olnlit" wrri- paid lo Doiiiiiiio Saiitfoit (Santvoordl.
Doniinio Hiiliois oidainiMl llio lirst olilois ami diaoons oloctod
aflcr till' so|paralion ficui llio llaokonsai-k cliiircli. I)iiriin;
lliis |ioriod siilisi ri|ilioii |i.i|.ris ufn> lii-iiii: oirciilatod iu Ac--
qiiaiUaiiniik. !{.'llo\ illi- a)id .\ci..idrii itlu- Xni-tlii m- I'mids.
plod^'ill^' iiionoy for tlio snppori nf tlio now ininisloi-. As tlio
pi'opof pfoportion for oaoh noi>,'liliorliooil and family and llio
sorvi<'os wliicli woro to lie rondorod tlioiofcir woro to ho do-
olilod nil prcoisol.v before a call was niado. and tlioii tlio call
was soul to Holland in soaroh of a ininistor who would ai-
(1 pi its oiiiiditlons anil oinoliiinonts, it is not surprising that
marly a yi'ar was s|>oiii in ihoso preliminaries.
Till' call ri'ipiiri'd that I ho ininistor was to proai-h ;it "Ao-
qi'oirnonk. Soikonriforos iSoooml ItiviT or Bollovilloi and Xnor-
diii: ill all tliroo parts or places alfornatoly." He was to liegiii
proaoliinj; at the latter plaoo '"whou their church is built."
.Ari'anwiiile. he was to preach in Aoquackanonk two Sundays
and the third at Belleville. The Lord's Supper was to be ad-
ministeri'd four times every year hero and twice at Belleville.
The people from Noordeii were allowed to partake of it twice
each year hero, ami twice at homo. ' wlioii their church is
built." He was to make houso-lo-honse calls previous to the
Sacranionv anionj; the inoinliers residiuK in the neighborhood
in which it was to bo observed. He was to preach with vigor
and persuasion twice each Sunday, exeev>t the eight weeks of
the year when the ilays were shortest. Whenever he preacliod
during the week at Xoordoii. or Second lUvcr, it was to be
only oil the Friday preceding llio Lord's Sujiper aud also on
fast d.iys aud on Thanksgiving Day. tbi I'asch lEaster), Pfing-
sler and Ascension days ho was to "preach iu ecclesiastical
style, the first and second days but onoo." He was also to
catechize his people. Ho was to bo noi imu-e than thirt.v-five
.\ears of age. either married or nninarriod, and was to lire
near the church at Aciiiiackanonk. It will be seen that the
churches were accustomed to make ironclad contracts with
tl'.eir ministers. In ri-turn. they agreed to pay a salary of
eighty pounds. .Now York nioiioy. to be paid half-yearly, be-
ginning when ho shoiiM sail from .Vinstordam. He was to have
till' froo use of iho parsonage and free firewood from a lot
.■ittaclied to the house. He was to be conveyed to and from
liellevillo and the Ponds when ho went there to preach.
The ("lassis of Amsterdam found an acceptable man who
Would accojit the call in the Uev. Henricus Coens, a young
li.icliclor. Ho sot sail from Holland October 7, 172.5. The
liisi entry made by liiin in llic parish records the names of
tl'oso ■■foniid hero as inonibois on my first visitation. March,
17'_'ll." Ho coinnicncod llio "N'ow Kogisti'r of the Consistory.
\\ ho after "o hail iiivcdo'.l i ho awful naiiio of .lclii>vali. were \iy
their associates and witnesses chosen to servo the church for
a time, and wore (U-dained over the church at Aciiuackanonk
and .Noordon: that is. taking the beginning with the year 172li
after Christ's birth." The first marriage registered liy him
is daio<l .laiinary 4. 17"Jil. so that he must have at least visited
hole about that liiiio. His oldest ro<-eipt, still in existence,
reads: —
"The undorsignod acknowlodgos to have received of the
Kldi'rs and Deacons of .\kc|iiognoiik. Second Itiver and I.'Noor-
dcii. the sum of forty pounds, oightoon shillings and six pence
in pa.\ iiioiil of lialf a year's salary up to .Vpril ."i. 17'2(!.
"Henricus Coens."
.V parsonage was erecleil for Doniinio Coens at about Xos.
T.'i lo ,S,"i Main avenue. The building was 4lt by 4<i foot. As
SI ciirily for llio money contrilmtc'd toward the parsonnce
by I hi' coiigrogntion at Second Uiver, llie Aitiuackaiioiik Inis-
toes executed a bonil iigrei'ing to repay the contribiilion of fifty
IMJUnds wiienever the churches should soiiarato. The bonil is
dated .Manh 2'), 1721!. The harmonioiis relations betwwn the
two (4iur<lii-s dill not long continue. Doininie CiK-ns was
treated sliamofiilly b.v the Seconil Itiver pcfiple, who dismissed
him and forbado his coining unions: tlieni, nailed up the door
of the church, compelling hini to preach out of doors, and sent
a constable with a deiiiniid from a justice to give up the chiireli
books. .\t a meeting of the (Jreat Consistory of the A<'(|nacka-
nonk church, held .Tnii" !l, 172!(, those actions of the Second
Kiver congregation were ilenounced. and the ri-lations of the
two churches were s;'vere<l. The cliiinh hero and that at
Ponds were still considered as one body, and Dominie Coens
ooiitinned to servo boih. In addition, his services and counsel
wore sought on every side, and he became widely known as
an energetic, gonial minister of excellent executive ability.
On September 1, 1721!. he married Belinda Prevoost. The
marriage knot was tied by the Hev. Ueinhart Krrioksoii, who
succeeded Dominie Bertholf at the Hackonsack chiirih. This
was a return of a similar favor on May 22. when Dominie
Coens solemnized the marriage of Dominie Krrickson lo Mari.i
Provoo.st. The two brides were sisters. Dominie and .Mrs.
Coens had one ihild. Helena, born ,Iuiio 21. 17'27. "The Mas-
ter Head, Cix-ns, late ordained preacher and minister in the
Aghquecknonk Church, f(41 asleep in the I.K)rd February 14, in
the .year 17.3.5, and was buried here in our cdjuri'h." so says the
re<'ord. Thi.s was in keeping with the custom of interring de-
coasoil pastors beneath their pulpits.
.Vfti'r his death the ministry remained vacant for seven
uioiilhs. wilh the exception of occasional services by the Kov.
A. Morsoliis of Tappan. On September 10, 173.5, a call was
extended to .lohannes Van Drissen, a fine scholar, who had
been educated in Belgium. He had come here from Holland
without a license from the Classis. which up to his time had
granted licenses to all Dutch ministers in .\iiiorica. Van Dris-
sen made a radical departure.
With a letter from Patrooii Van Konssaeler he went to
Yale College and was licensed and mdained by the Congre-
gationalists in 1727. He was aided in this by his father, the
Rev. Petrns Van Drissen of Albany, contrary to the oniphatii-
protests of the ministers of Xew Y'ork and Kingston. When
the Classis of Amsterdam heard of it. it declared that he was
not a legal ininistor of the Uefornied Diiloh Church and pub-
lished charges nf forgery against him. The accusaticm was that
on Septombor 4. 171!>, he appeared before the Classis with
a certificate purporting to have been signed by the faculty of
the I'niversity of (Jroningen. A fraud was detected, and ho
loiifes.sed lo it, being dismissed and warned to drop the stuily
of theology. He was accused of a similar but successful
forgi'iy when he came to America. His dubious ordinalion and
the more serious irregularities were frowned uiioii by most
of the ministers of his denomination, and Doininie \'aii Dris-
sen suffered severely from the i-onsoiinont oslracisiii. Yet for
twenty-one years he managed to find churches, anil served at
Livingston Manor, Uenssalaerwyck. Kinderhook and Xew
Paltz. His daily life showed an excellent spirit, his Christian
work was crowned with success, and his energy and fearless-
ness won respect.
The dilHculty over Dominie Van Dris-sen's ordination was
part of the discussion in the American Church over the pro-
priety of separation from the Classis of Amsterdam. It was
carried on under Ihe parly names of "Coeliis" and "Confereii-
tie" for thirty years, and churches were dividwl, church doors
I).v the Kev. Messrs. Hiisliomt. I)\ilH>is. Vaiidt'i'linde and Fre-
lii t'lmysen. Diiriufr this time :ni iffuit \v;is madp by tlu'
Ciictus to h:ivo this chiin'h uuitf witli tli.it cif SihchhI Kivrr
116 THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
H.-ri- liM-kcd bv one part of the eon^Tegntion agiiiiist the other. For su^ar, rum. wine ami luitter £2. l.")s. 4d.
preaehers were assaulted in the pnlpit. and puhlie worship was ]\"'r l>"l<i"K for the obsequies 8s.
' ... ,...,- T> • 1' or liarrel beer il>s.
• iisturbeil nr terminated b.v violence. Dominie \ an Drisseu . ^, , . . , , , ., . ,
. . II- ,i.- ,,„.,.,- After Dominie \ an Drissen s departure the pulpit remained
was the hrst Diiti-h iiiinister to be ordained in this eniintry. ,.'.,. ,. ,
, , , .... , .■ •• 1 1 :.. 1 vaeant for nearly two years, duriiifr whuh time it was supplied
aiid it was but naliiial that the "( onfereiitie. who desired the . , „ ,, ,t ^.._ .. t>..i :. i- ...j....i:.,,i„ _„,i i.'..,,
lelatioiis with Amsterdam to exist, shimld assail him bitterly,
(hi the other hand, the •■('cM-tiis" party desired a separate
elassieal i>r«aiiizatioii. so that It should no longer Im- necessary
,,,.., , ,, ,, ,,... „. .„. in the support of Dominie Hashoort. minister at that place.
that every minister should either come from Holland or fio ■ ui i '
there for" ordination. Tliev probably regarded Dominie Van 1' f""'"! "" "'•'""•" "^ ">^"- l'"'^'"'"' troubles, as appears by
Drisseu as .i martyr tn the cause and the charges of forgery » comniunieation dated September. 17.50. from the Coetus to
as the inventions '..( his enemies. This may have been the H'^" (''^''^sis of Amsterdam. The .Inirch heard of David Ma-
basis of the .^teem in wlii.li he was held by many, in spite of >i"'is. a theological student of P sylvani.-i. who is hrst inen-
tl.e scorn that was heaped upon him. The progressive ■Toetus" tioned in the journal of the Coeti.s. At a nueli.ig of that
partv held a meeting of ministers in .New York ill 1787. at >""'>. held in New York, September 1!.. IT.-.l.'. -the President
which a I.Ian of a C.H-tus or Assemblv. to be subordinate to >'■■■'<" "' 'l'*- ='--embly a letter from I'hilad.-lplna. laid upon
Amsterdam, was matured ami presented to the different the table by Dom. Uitzeri.a of New York, win, I, lia.l In-eu
cluir-IU'S. Another meeting was held April 27. HHS. at whi.li " ritteii by Dom. Schlatt.r. in the name of the Coetus of Peiin-
Ihe plan was ratified. It was then sent to the Classis of Am- sylvania. as to the way in which they should act since Ma-
slerdani. which wait.-.! nine years before it returned a favorable 'iinis belonged under our Coetus. After delilKratimi the (lues-
aiiswer. ill 1747. Tile Coetus was then formed, and in 17.-.4 tion was found to be whether Marinus should be (xaiiiiiied
it arouse.l the dormant oppositi.ai by proposing ,i separate or- ''.v the Coetus of Xew York or PeunV This qiusti..,, was le-
gani/.alioii as a Classis. I<rred. The same afternoon "Garret \"aii Wagoner. Elder
.Vol only hail Dominie \'aii I irisscn to <-oiiiljal lliis feeling. fioiii Ac(|uackaiionk church, appeared liilore the meeting to
but at the time he entered upon his ministry here he was in n present the church who no doubt desired to secure" Ma-
serious trouble with many of the pidiiiinent ministers of the riiius." The next day .Marinus presented "two letters from
ilpiioiiiiiialion. In the voluminous entries by him in the church Dom. Schl.-itler touching iiis examination: which, being closely
records, ho sets himself right with his successors by giving oaniiucd by the Coetus. continued them in their view—that
testimonials in vindication of his personal and ministerial char- the aforesaid student, being under ilie Coetus of Xew York.
iicter from prominent men in this i-onntry and Holland, as should be examined by them. .\ihI they so decide."
well as from llu- churches tormerl.v uiuler his charge. One of Jlarinus was accordingly siibjeded to a rigid exaiuina-
tliese. miller ilati> of September 27. 17.'!ri. was from the .Mayor tiim in Hibri'W. (Jieek and Divinity, and passed so siiccess-
of .Mbany. liilly that lie was adieitted to the ministry. All of which
111 the call extended to him from this church nieiitioii is „ as done to please the church at .Vci|iiackanonk and Poliiptoii,
made of the sudden death of Dominie Coeiis, "who was iiiiex- which seemed to have held a high regard for this blight
pectedly snatched away by death, by .lehovah, (Jod * * • and yuiiiiL' man. The call ran as follows: —
that we have lived lonely for a loiisiderable time, as erring •■[,, ^l^^. njime of t!od
sheep without an ordinary pastor: and .vet, not as if the Lord "\Ve call to David Marinus, theological student, as pastor
in his goodness had not somewhat softened the piiiiil'ul and deep and teacher in the Ni'theiland Dutch Ketornied church of
woiuiil of onr wounded members * * • and that it had again ■\c.|na.kan..iik and I'oniptoii , , , , , „ ,
, , , , , , . "Seeing that we. the Nelherland Dm. li lietnniied ( liiireli
plea.sed the I>.rd to supply this our greatest want, re-estab- ,„. .\,.,,„.„.u., ,,, and Pompion aiv entirely bereaved of a
lishing us ill our former state, under such rich im s of glare p.istor, and having heard with much joy, from aside, your
in these blessed (iospi-1 days, of the .New Testament, and has ability in preaihing, and ,iie sutlicieiitly satisfied about y.iur
sent forth in his spiritual harvest or clinrch a man of good 1''""'' condiicl,
.11 r 1 • . 1 ■ /•!■.■ • o 1 "We. Ilie nndersi;.'ned KIders and Deaions of the .Nether-
report by all peaceful virliie-loviiig ( hristians, especiallv bv i . i, , .. .. , , i . , , , , .>
land DiiKh lietoinieil cliineli ot .Vcipiaek.anonk and 1 omptoii.
I hose of Ins former ehiirch." The call was made withoiii a have in the name of ourselves, consulted Dom. Antoiiins Cur-
ilisseiiliiig voice, "with the understanding tli.it he preach twice leiiius, and. after calling upon the holy name of (ioil. we have
oi, the Sabbath, the word of (iod piirelv. besides that he cale- "hoseii and called you KevM David .Marinus. tlieoiogic;il stu-
.hize ea.-h Lord-s Day the youth according to Ileidelbergh ''''"'.• "" ","'' "'-"""'•V I''"*'"'' ami Teacher, as soon as y„i,
,. , ■ . , ..... receive a lawlul message to preaili the \\ ord ot (Jod. imb-
catecliism. and once during the week. His salary was lixed ii,.|v: ..s w. this, with our written assurance solemnly declare
at eighty |iouiids a year, payable half-yearly, besides a dwelling to each and all whom it may concern that we I'all your IJev—
w iih the groumls around and firi'wi.od. "Pir.«t, .\s a lawful settled pastor of the .Netherland Dutch
It was about the lime that Dominie Van Driss,.n came iliat 'hiireli of .Jesus Christ, at Ac(|uackanonk and Poniptoi. in the
,1 • , , , , , ., I ,, , Province of New .lerscy. to preach the word of (!od. and to
the connection between the church here and that al t ii' Ponds i, .i , ,i, ., i. »■ i ■ . i • • , .i n i w-
uolil the cate'lietiial exercises: to administer the Holv Sacra-
seems to have been severed for a time, Ou April (i, 17:!li, the leeiit, according to the institution of Christ: to exercise eliiiich
chiireh building, near llu' pri-seiit Poiiiploii Steel Works, was discipline with your Itev'd KIders. And further to do all which
consecrated. Mr. Van Drisseu ppMching the sermon and or- "'' ''''il'iiied by the ottice of a faithful and zealous serv.int of
•'-■""« •"•• •'"- •" "- ♦•-istory. While he occasionally i;!'::!-;^!^^;- f l^"'i ^M S^l': '" ""' '""""• ' '"'" '" '""
<,.lidllcte.l .servi.e a, the Ponds, he .seems to have principally ' -Sei-ond, li'i particular your Uev. to preach in the summer
.onliiie.l liimsidf to the church here, and styled him.self "Pas- seasmi six months— each Sabbath twice. In the forenoon you
tor at Aci|iiackaiioiik and extraordinary al Pompton." In his "'" explain ,i free text, ami in the afternoon you will preach
wcu-k here he was not as successful as his two predecessors ''"m tlu' lleldelburgh catc.hism. You will prcich but once, on
ir.. i..r. ■„. ,\ ;.. , •• i-iw -ci 1 11. , 1 • . . ''"' '"''' ''lid si'cond Chrislmas days: the second dav of I'aas:
He lef Ml the s riiig of 1 ,4S. I he plaee ami date of his death Ascension day and the second dav of Pinkster. Kverv week
are iinkiiown. He had iiiarii..d .Margar.M (iolliam. October 22. .vour Uev. will catechise tmce: the time and place y.ai may
17;!(>. She died ami was buried in the churchyard here at the agree about with your Consistory. Three times your Itev. will
expense i.f Ihe i-linrch. .Iiiiie 1. 17."«1, lliree ve:irs after the de- ■"'"■••"cli at Ac.piai-kanoiik and the fourth time at Pompton.
par.ure of her husband. A l- .he Items „l evpeii.ses are- , , "■}"'^ " I"" .vonr Key. is sick or absent you will have to
,, , . , ' preach where the service the previous Siindav was tii take
r or burial I.'is. idace.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
U7
■■I'iiur liiiH-; :i vcni- .vniir Iirv. shall luliiiiiiistcr the Kunls
siipiM T Ml Ai i|M.i(kanciiik ami (mw tiiiu's a year at I'limidnii.
ami. oil uliMl ila.v hi-fmo the liunl's SuiiptT yuii will prcarh
the I'lcparat'i'.-.v (lisi-imrsi', you may asrrcc alicuit \vith Imtli nf
yiiiir Coiislstorii's. Twice a year yim will have family visitatimi
at Aeiinaekamink ami twii'e a year at IViinploii.
■'So we pv iiiiise yimr Kev. for your srnlees auioui; us,
yearly eighty pnumls. Jersey niouies."
Ho is also promised the use of the parsonage, a little liaru
for hcu's^-s ami e.attle. a well ami ganleii aud six aeres of
himl.
"We will kei'P all this iu repair. We will take tire wood
to the Dom's house. I'oinplou will tind you fret' provender
for your hcu-se I'ver.v year. And some of the Aequac'kanouk
peoph' will. .ilso. brinj; .vcui something tVn- your horse, hut will
not lie ohlijreil to do so. All this you will enjoy as loutf as
yi iir Kev. ■nntinues to lie our I'astor. Tills we promise you
in this way: K.uh meniher will give you a free-will offering
towards it. to the KIders and Deacons. They will promptly
eolle<-t these moiK'ys and will pa.v at the stipulated tinu's.
"We bind ourselves ami our successors to the fultilhnenl of
this contract: each successor in the Consistor.v to sign his name
to this contract, liefore ordination, as it is also the custom
in neiglilioriiig churches. We wish that before calling you we
ei;ulil have heard you pre.'icli. but we have no doubt that if
your ]iri'aching gives satisfaction, your salary will not be less
but more. Hoping for a great blessing upon your labors we
express our gre;il desire that you may accept this call, prom-
ising you .ill love and kindness for ourselves and our church.
"(Jiveii at Aciiuackauoiik. .Xovember 12. 1750."
After receiving this call, Marinus pre.iched from time in
lime for nearly two yiars. until he rcci'ivcil his license on
Septi'inber 12, 17."J2, and was ordained on October S. nominie
.Mariuus did not long ixcupy the parsonage prepared for
him. The si.\ acres reserved for him wore bounded by Main
avenue. I'ark place and the river, and imiuded Siieer's Park.
The l>ominie vas loo niuch of a farmer lo bo contented with
so .small a patch, and, besides, saw the need of a ihurcli
near whai is now Patersou. On July 20, 1754, ho purchased
a farm of ](K) acres near the Great Palis, at Totowa. as it was
called. Hero presently was organized a church. Thi' peiiple
of Totowa applied on November 12, 1700. for a portion of
Mr. Marinus' sirviic. On April 2;i. 17.'il!. a unitpie agreement
was made, by which Dominie Mariuiis was to receive £l]lj
11 year, of whiih Accpiai kaiionk paid i~<S and got onedialt of his
tiiue. and Poniiitoii and T.ilowa paid £2!( eai-li .-lud heard liiiii
preach every fourth Sunda.i . The Totowa rliurch was built
mar the Domiine's house, in which he resideil until 17ii(l. when
lie exchanged his farm for one in Saddle Iliver township, near
the present Dnudei- Dam. While at Totow.i he published sev-
eral strong iiamphlets on religious subjects. He was dismissed
from the three churches August 2. 177o. aud went to Kakiat.
He continued to preach there .ind ihroughoiit the i-ountry until
d'-jiosed from the ministry by the Synod for intemiierance and
I'vil <-oiirscs. which iiia\ lia\"c been the cause of his dismissal
from .\ci|iiackaiioiik. ll was .i sad close lo a lirilliaut career,
but not iiiiaccouiilabli'. because in lliosc ilays it was no uncom-
mon thing for a minister to visit ihe tavern with liis Consislory
and take a drink before preaching a sermon.
It was during the pastiuate of Dominii' Marinus that
the church saw the need of :i farm for the minister, and
pnrchaseil a Ir.oi i,r It acres <>ii .May .s. 17.'i.S. This was the
P«>st farm and lionicslcatl. alludcil to in a previous chai>ter.
where a picture of the parsonage as it appeared iu 18'J2 will
bi' found. The greater portion of the house was built in 1747.
'I'he house rem.-iined in tlu- iiossession of the church for over
1411 years.
The lirsl church building, ereili'd in 1702. was taken down
about 17'ilMi2 to make way for a new edifice. This portiou of
the building still stands, luit the churih was enlarged in l.S."i!t
to nearly double its length. The le<ture or Sunday school
building was not erected until IMKI. Part of the money for the
biiililing •>( 17'lii was raised by a hillcr.v. The following is ii
copy of one of ihc tickets: —
".Vchi|Uakniiuck I.oiicry lor re-
pairing Ihe I.ow Keformed Dutch
church in Achi|uakniinck
17<M»— .Vuiiib. 27:!2
"The bearer of this ticket is
elitit'iled to such prize as may lie
drawn against its number, sub-
ject to no deduction.
"2H "Kobert DruiiiinomI"
Again, the records contain this entry:
"Prom Ihe Managers of the Aelnpiechnoiik Lottery, given
for the buililiiig of a Dutch eliiircli at .\i'h<|Uechnonk.
"•-'nil Ti.kets.
"Hi'ginning .it N... .s.-.l-lmiii.
Idem. :!ll:!4ii.
"The 2S Pell. 17iil.'
Till' Uiv. llenricus S<'hooumaker succeeded Doiiiiiiic Ma-
rinus. lie was c.illcd November 1. 177.''>. and the call took ef-
Icci .Miy I. 1774. lie was the minister during the trying
THE OLD FIRST" CHURCH.
da.vs of the Kevolulion. and wiin back the conliilenee alinosr
forfeited by the ungodly conduct of his |)redeeessor. He was
the first [lastor of the <hurch to be granteil a vacation. Dur-
ing his pastorate the churches of Poinpton and Totowa were
not associated with Acipi.ickaiiouk. but were united with
p.iirfield under the IJev. D. Meyer. After his death, October
27. 1791, the Totowa church shiired the instructions of Doiiiiuie
Schoonniaker as long as he retiiaiiiod hero. Ilis total salar.v
was £12li a .vear. of which Ac<|uaekaiioiik iiaid iS'.\ ami To-
towa £43.
Dominie Schoonmaker served hi'ie for the remarkatdy long
period of nearly forty-two years, from May 1, 1774, to Pebrii-
ary V.i, ISIIi. During this time he solemnized nearly !KRI mar-
riages and over 2.3tKl bajitisms ami received 2.S(l persons into
membership. He had a iieculiar custom, when going into the
pulpit, of kneeli'ig on the stejis with his hat before his fiu<'.
and praying silently. -\ deformed hand compelled him to
118
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
wear upon it a black iiiittrii. al«:i.vs wnipin'ij in a iim] ker-
c-liiff. When age and intirniity conipcllcil him to resign, the
chnri-h agrccil to allow liini free us<? of the parsonage and fire-
wood to May 1 following and a salary of !f20o for the rest
of his life. He also had the exclusive privilege of perform-
ing marriage <-eremonles nntil May 1. The minutes say that
"the consistoiy affectionately remenil«ring the faithful ser-
vices of their aged and infirm niinLster, and sympathising
with him in his afflictions, agree faithfully to comply with the
al.ove conditions." In the summer of ISHj Mr. Schoonmaker
nmved to .Tamaica, I>ong Island, to reside with his' sou, Jacob,
who was a Dutch Itcfornu-d minister there. He died Janu-
aiy ]!•. 1S20. in his Slst year, and his body was brought here
to be buricil. The whole congregation attended the funeral
.sermon, which his successor. Dominie Frm-ligh. preached from
the text. "Your fathers, where are they, and the prophets, do
they live forever?" The body was deposited in the church
vault, where it remains, unmarked by a monument.
The Kev. Peter FriK-ligh succeeded Dominie S<-hoonmaker
March !>. 1817. His father, Solomon V., was pastor of the
Hackensack church, and before the establishment of the sem-
inary at New Brunswick educated many men for the ministry.
He expelled to be made pri'sident of the seminary, but was
passed over for Dr. Livingston. This was not the cause of
what is known in the history of the denomination as The
< Si eat Secession, but il was one of the petty, personal dilfl-
cullies on which were engrafted doctrinal disputes, whiih
rent the church asunder and caused the organization of the
■Icnomination known as The True Keformed Dutch Church.
Solomon cnrrieil lUi a doctrinal warfare, which resulted in
the secession, in 1S22, of himself and part of his congregation
and many other ministers and communicants in this and other
Stales. The son was in sympathy with the father, and in
l.S'J.'i raised the iiuestii f infant baptism, which caused the
secession. The custom hail prevaih-il of baptizing all chil-
dren, whether their parents were communicants or not, from
lime immemorial. On the 2."ith of .March in this year Dominie
Fioeligh informed his consistory that he "could not conscien-
tiously administer the sa-red ordinance of baptism to in-
fants unle.ss one of the parents was a professor of religion."
.V meeting of the church was called, at which twenty-two
votes were cast in favor of his position and only one. Garret
.1. SiH'cr. against, while nine refused to vote. When this
action came to lie seriously i-onsidered, the large body of
members who had not allcnded insisted that they had not
had proper notice of the meeting. This caused a controversy,
which was referred to the Classis of raramus. The Classis
dissolved the relations between church and pastor on April
J'.l. and Dominie Kroeligh immediately organized the True
Keformed Dutch Church of .\ci|uackanonk, taking with him
the greater number of members and many of the most in-
Hueiilial. In less than three years Mr. KriK-ligh committed
suicide, while si ill ministering to his new church. The step
he had taken preyed upon his mind and remorse killed him.
He was the last pastor of the old church to preach in Dutch
all his life.
The Kev. Benjamin C. Taylor, pastor at (Jreenbiish and
BliHiming (Jrove, was on a visit to his father-in-law. the Ilev.
.lames Itomeyn of Hackensack. at the time of the trial la^fore
the Classis. He was asked to preach on the following Sun-
d;iy. and ideased the church so well that he was called and
installed as pastor on September U.'i, l.so.",. His stay. Iiow-
.■vir, was short, as on ,Iune 1'.». 1.S2.S, hi> n'signed to go to the
i'.ergen Dutch Keforineil Church. He is best remembered by
his work, entitled ".Vnnals of Classis of Bergen and Hacken-
sack." which is -in authority on the affairs of that (.'lassis.
The Hev. Christian Zabriskie I'aulison was the next pastor.
He was of the well-known Hackensack family of that name.
and was Ijorn in IMCi. graduating from the seminary at Xew
Brunswick in lS2t;. and serving nearly three years at Marble-
town before being installed here. Having been reared in
Hackensack. the home of the secession, Mr. Paulison symi)a-
thized with the tenets of the True Reformed denomination,
and in 18^}! seceded also. In 1S:{1 he went to Hackensack and
became minister of the True Keformed church there, where
his congregation built a new church for him. In 1832 he was
deposed for failing to agree with all the doctrines of the se-
cession, and organized The Keformed Church, an indejien-
dent body, having churches at Hackensack and Paterson. His
change of convictions is illustrated by his literary work. In
1831 he |)Ublished a pamphlet entitled "Development of Facts
.Justifying a I'nion with The True Reformed I>utih Church."
The year following he again seceiled. and pnlilishod "An
Address to the Friends of True (Jodliness Yet in Connection
with The True Reformed Dutch Church." He was minister
of his independent church until 184(1. anil died in 18.")0.
During the i>astorate of Dominies Taylor and Paulison the
secessionists in Acquackanonk had outnumbered the parent
church, and their building was larger than that of the older
body. But in the person of the Rev. \Villiam Bogardus, the
next minister, it saw better days, spiritual and temporal.
Dominie Hogardus was a remarkable man. Dr. Sprague, one
of the foremost of church historians, says of him: —
"Few servants of Christ in the American Church have been
more almnilanl in lalicrs and in substantial results. » * *
There was an unction, too, in his delivery, a silvery clearness
in his tones of utterance, that caught the ear of the listless
/learer and went thrilling home to the awakened conscience
and the believing heart. * * * There was a spiritual power in
his [lastoral administrations, which, in connection with his
labors in the pulpit, must account for the uiinsually large nnin-
ber of souls brought into the kingdom by his ministry."
Donunie Bogardus was a gooil tcmiierance worker and
fought against the abuse of liquor at "house-raisings." These
festive occasions frequently had Ijeen the cause of injury and
even death. His period of service here was twenty-five years —
from .Tune 22. 1831. to .lanuary 3. 18.3(j — when the church reluc-
tautl.v accepted his resignation, which had become imperative
on account of ill-health. From here he removed to Paterson,
where his wife. Charlotte \\'illsie, died at the age of 72. on
Febrnary .".. ISCil. Dominic Bogardus died in Kinderhook the
next year. He and liis wife, together willi liis daughter.
Mary, the wife of the Rev. .James Romeyn, 1). 1>.. of Hacken-
sack, and son, Stephen, who died at St. Croix. West Indies,
were buried in the churchyard. The inscription on Dmninie
Bogardus" stone reads:—
Rev. William R. Bogardus,
Died February 12. 18(i2
Aged 72 year.s. 11 months. V.I days.
Fifteen years pastor P. D, Church of New Paltz. N. Y.
and twenty live years of R. D. church of .Vcquackanonk, N. .1.
"For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost."
His daughter, Julia, married Peter Merselis. They were
the parents of .John "Hen" Merselis and brothers, of Clifton.
The Rev. ,J. P.iscal Strong came here from the Third
Reformeil Church of Jersey City to be the next pastor. He
was installed December 21, 18,">l). He endeared himself to his
people and to every inhabitant of the village, and interested
himself in many gootl works outside of his denomination and
church. He was an earnest and eloquent preacher. On
June 18, 18'!!(. he resigned after a successful pastor;Ue of
thirteen years. The North Reformed Church had been or-
ganized through his instrumentality, and he wished to build it
up. Mr. Strong died a few years ago preaching in the pulpit
of his church in Xew York State. He had Just utteri>d the
words, ".\ man may die as easily as a star falls from heaven."
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
JJ9
wlioii he (liMiipcd ilrjiil. His wicliiw :iiiil smi nl iii mil |<> Pas-
saic to livi' a few joars njio.
Kortuiiati'ly fm- tlio olil clninli. Dr. Slroii^ was succi-edud
l^y a i;<mmI iii.iii nf sl.'iliiii: iliMr.i.lii-. On O.-tndrr 1(1. ISlH).
REV. JOHN GASTON, D. D.
tin- IIcv. .Iciliu (iastoii was iiistallt'd tlii' cli'Vi'iith [lastni' of
111.' rliiirrh. He w:is liiirii at Siiiiii'i-villc. N. .1.. November 12.
lS2r>. His [lariiils wire William B. (iastoii and Elizabeth,
sister of the late Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, D. D.. of Uingoes.
X. J. He was received into the Keforuied Dutch Church at
ISaritaii in l.S4<l. and is a srraduate of the New Brunswick Seni-
inar.v in the class of lS.j2. He was ordained in the same .vear
and entered u|ion his work in the ministr.v at Pompton. where
he remained ten .rears. Then he was called to Sangerties. X.
Y.. an<l remained there until he came to Accin.TCkanonk. Twen-
t.v-six .vears of earnest and enlijihtened .service endeared him fn
his consresiition here, and he had enjo.ved anrt merited a larger
share of the confidence and respect of his rdlow-lownsmen
luitside of the congregation than any other man in the city.
In lf<'.>4 .Mr. (Jaston desired to resign his charge, but his con-
gregation persnaded him to accej)! an assistant in the person
of the Rev. Frank E. Spaulding. In liSila his advancing years
ciimi)elled him to relinciuish his work, bill lie was chosen
jiastor emeritus. A more e.\teiided aiciniiit uf liis life is given
elsewhere in this work.
The Kev. Anie \'eiine:ua. the twelfth ami present pastor.
came here from Port Jervis in ISS)."!. and succeeded to the
full conlideiii-e ami esteem of his people. It is owing to his
energy lliat tin- < liiinli Ikis ilciiileil in creel a new i-dilice.
soon to be I'oinnu'nced. at the corner of Passaic and Paulismi
avenues. This is a step that was contemplated during I'r.
(Jastoii's pastorate, when .'fl!,(KHI was spent in imiuoving the
present building. The new chiircli will be one of the most
biaiitifiil in the city, and it is expected that it will be com-
pleted without disturbing the endownieiits of the church, the
uccuniulutions of a hundred years and llu' proceeds of hinds
which have grown valuable during the last generation. Mr.
N'enneiiia has inieii'steil himself in tin' liistm-y i>r his church,
and a volume wmlliy of the sub.ieit may be e.\pecleil from
his pen some day.
The church was migiiially incorporated Manh 2.'!. IT'.I.I.
by the naiiU' of "The Trustees of the Protestant Keforuu-d
Hutch Cliundi of AclKiueghinonk." f)n Augnsl 2-1, 1874, the
ollicial title was changed to •The Protestant Keformed Hutch
Cliiiri-li of .\c(piackaihiiik." ll is iisiially known as the First
Ki fiirmeil t'li'irch, or the ■((Id First."
In till' aulumn of l.HL'."> the Rev. Heiijamin C. Taylor
orgiinized the Sunday-school eonm-cted with the eliiiri'h. The
lirst superintendent was tiarnibraiit Van Houten. The ses-
sions were held in the church galleries. A number of the
scholars were colored and sessions were suspended during the
winter. This was the ease for many years. The school did not
Income a large one until I>r. Strong canu- here, when In-
arranged for sessions all the year riniiid. It is now as large as
any in the city.
The True Reformed Dutch Church.
This cliunli was .11 r llii.M- rnai.-.i .iniin- ih.' (ir.'at
Secession, after a bitter doctrinal fight, which has already
been described. In the "History of Passaic and Bergen I'oiui-
ties," Dominie .lohn Berdan, then pastor of the church, states
that it originated "in the controversy of l.S22-2.">, in which ex-
ceptions were taken by iiart of the Reformed Dutch Church and
ministry to the mollified Calvinism promulgated by Dr. Hop-
kins. Those objecting to the Hopkinsonian doctrines of atone-
ment and natural ability, ami adhering to the old confession
of the Synod of Dordrecht, styled themselves the True Re-
formed Protestant Dutch Cliiuili. .iml li.ivc since iiiaintaiiicil
a separate organization."
The Ai'ipiackanonk chnri'h was organized in April, lS2.j,
with fifly-si.x members. The first consistory was composed as
follows: Elders— Walling ,1. Van Winkle, (Jarret Bush, Abra-
ham I.inford. .lohu (J. Van Riper. Deacon.s— Henry Schoon-
maker. (!arr<-t Cadnuis, Henry Kirk and .\iidrew B. Van
Biissuin. The Rev. Peter I). Froeligh was the first pastor,
and remained sii<-h until his tragii- death on February Id. is:;.s.
Then for over fifty years thc-re was one pastor, the Rev.
.lohn Berdan, reared as a farmer, mit possessing a college
education, but a self-taught siholar, who was so thorough
a stinlciil ili.ii 111- wa'^ .■NMiiiiiivd by liis flassis in Hebrew,
THE OLD 'SECEDER " CHURCH.
Latin, Greek ami divinity, and receiveti the high compliment
of ordination, the usual requisite of a college diploma being
waived. Dominie Berilan dii'il in LSS."!. . l>ominie Bi'rdan
preached in Diil.h and English until the day of his death. For
120
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
si-vcral y.sirs the pulpit w.is filled liy supply, until IS'.*"'. wlii'U
till- lU-v. .liiiiics F. Vail Hoiitcii lii-iiiiuo pastuf. The mcm-
liers of the < sistiiry nre: K. A. Van Home. .laeoli Hakelaar.
Conieliiis Kevitt .•mil Orie Taiiis.
The ehm-eli worshipped for sevi'iity years in a stone Imild-
iiig erected in l.S^.'i on a lot fiiven for a cliureh and buryinjj
;.'roiiiid liy "Bioin" Aikermaii. tlie leading village uicrehant.
It was torn down to make way for a luisiness block erected
l.y .1. V. Morrissi- and C. W. Falstnan. who l.on«ht the Main
avenue frontage of t!ie properly. The cliiinh worshipped for
a time on the ii|iper Hoor of a frame dwelling Imilt on the
I'rospect street side, but in ISilil a [iretty little ehureh c<lifi<e
was ereeteil. To do this it was necessary to occupy the
greater part of the graveyard, and the remains of the oc< ii-
paiits of the graves were removed, some to other places of
burial and some to the rear of llie lot.
The North Reformed Church.
This edifiie. whose liandso spire is a lanilinark for miles
around, is pure Colhic in style. It has a seating capacity of
NORTH REFORMED CHURCH.
Velweeii si.\ and seven hundreil. It has wiile aisles and broad,
romfortable pews. The pulpit, platform, organ loft anil wains-
loliiig are all of oak. the pews of syi'ainore and the rest of
the trimmings while pine. The walls are biiill of whiti' .Vvon-
<lale llVnnn.l granite with limestone Iriminiiigs. The grace-
ful spire is the completion of a truly beaulifiil building, both
the e.xti'rior and interior of which delight the eye. The build-
ing lost alKiiit $4(1.1101), and was dedicated in .\pril. \S'.)^.
The church was organiiceil in Dei ember. l.St>.S, and was
an ofTshoot of the I'"i|-st Ueformed Cliiirch of Passaic, better
known in church records as Ihe Church of .\cipiaci|anonk. Its
first iiastor was the Itev. .1. Pascal Strong, who gave to the
ciiii.se three years of earnest, devoted and snecessfiil labor.
He was loliowed by the Uev. Charles D. Kellogg, under whose
leadership a debt of .$10.(KMI wa.s raised in a single year. In
1880. the Kev. Asher Anderson l«'came pastor. During his
pastorate he was the means, under God. of awakening a re-
vival of religious interest, the result of which was large ac-
cessions to the membership of all the churches in the city.
In 1885 he went to Miistnl. Conn., on a<-count of ill-health.
In the following year the present pastor, the Rev. J. H.
Whitehead, was installed. Mr. Whitehead soon recognized the
necessity for a more commodious church building, but found
a church deiit. which he readily saw was a barrier to any effort
for church enlaigeineut. and at once devoted himself assidu-
ously to its e.vtingnislnnent. This was accomplished, and in
due time a movement for the new structure was begun, but
not a sod was turned until $2.'i.liOli was pledged by the congre-
gation, certainly nui .-i lidi one. but in .ill its history a most
liberal one. .\ special feature of the building is found in its
menu)ria! windows and in the furnishings, which in many in-
stances were the gifts of interested friends. The dedication
of the structure, on .\pril 2tj. 1801. was a noteworthy event
in the religious history of I'assaic. The church has a memlier-
ship of .'Jol). Its contributions to benevolent purposes are
much above the average. It abounds in good works, and
there e.\ists a delightful social atmosphere among its mem-
bei's, which its genial and beloved pastor constantly enccnirages.
The church editice, the commodious chapel and the par-
sonage are situated on the corner of Hamilton aveune and
.IiffiTsoii sircet. nil an aiii|ilc UMrt .if i.-nnl. il.ii.iu-.i r..i- the
inirposc liy ilie late Kilo Kip. A bequest of live thousand dol-
lars by Mr. Kip is being used as a lever for lifting the moderate
niorlgage still existing on the church jiropert.v. an effort that
promises to be successful. Thus in the near future the whole
of the valuable property will be entirely free from encmn-
br.ince of any kind. The death of Mr. Kip. on February Hi.
]S!l!), was a serious loss to the congregatlnn. who had from
ihe tirst enjoyed the benefits of his deeply spiritual coiin-
.sels and example of his abounding liberaliiy. He was a
model Killer and highly esteemed for his wirk and his worth's
sake.
Two churches, the Ueformed Church of (iartiilil and the
Ki'formed Church of Clifton, were organized in l.S!ll and l.s!t2.
respeiiivel.v. but almost exclusively from members of the
North Church. Notwithstanding these large exoduses and the
dismissal of nii'iiilicrs to New York and other places, the iiieiii-
bership has not only held its own. lint has manifested steady
growth. This gmwih in nnnibers has been aci'ompanied b.v
growth in usefulness. The organizaiions of the church iii-
iliiile a large and nourishing Sabbath-school, of which Mr.
T. IJ. Goodlatte is the progressive superintendent: the Ladies'
.Missionary Society, the Ladies' .\iil Society, the AVilling
\\ orkers' Circle of King's Daughters, the Senior and .lunior
Clirisliaii Kndeavor Soiielies and the Conklin Mission Band.
The rollciwing are Ihe olttceis of the i-liurcli:—
Minister— Uev. .1. H. Whiteheail.
Klders— Thomas M. .Moore. A. Z. \'.in Honieii. DeWitt C.
Cowdrey. T. R. Goodlatle. Frank Hughes.
Deacons— .\. C. Wortendyke. U. C. Wiuship. Charles K.
Coleman. .lohn Wonlley. .lolin T. \aii Itipi-r.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church.
Previous to ],S4;;, religion in .\ii|iiackanonk was represented
by the Reformed Dutch Church and its offshoot, the True Re-
foriiK'd Church. In that year the tirst meetings nf the Metho-
dist denomination were held in the ballroom of the ol.I Tavern.
t>ut of these mee'iiigs grew the first church of any de-
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
(21
iii>i]ilii;illiiii nllifi- lli.'in ilii' Ui'l'iinjii'il. It is iiiiw kiiiixvii iis llic
l'"irst Jlcthiiilisi Kpiscopiil Cliniili. Tlic Krv. I,. ('. Miillei- is
llio i>n-si'iit piistor. iiiid its nllici'i's :in- as I'lillnws: —
Otticiiil Bimnl- I'rcsiiU'iit, Hev. I.. ( '. MiiIUt: Ticasuivi-.
I )r. II. !•'. I'ntcsniaii: Si'cictiiiy, (Ji'di-^'c A. Woodruff; Fiiiaii-
ci.il Sccri'tiii-.v. Oliu S. Twist: Cluifcli llisloriiin. ('. K. Atkins:
'ricasuii'i- of lii'iicvolnit ('olliMtioiis. Itf. C. A. Kiic: (ionlon
Diiiui, I>r. C. M. Howe. Kihviii Flower. I.. W. I.aUo. .1. K.
Iliiirlh's. .\I. V. Ko.ilittlo. .loliii Adniiis. A. I'. ( ..ii.ujl. 1-:. C.
Cole. II. K. Uonl<. I>. Cailislr. W. II. Ciiivy. Ini Atkinson.
Dr. K. W". Ili.kni.iii. K. Twist. \V. II. .la.kson. T. ('. Lucas.
S. II. Willia-ns. (ivxvui- S. Al.lons.
Isliii-s— T. C. I-iicas. .M. I". l><Mi!ittl.'. P. Kimplo. A. Hol-
loii. .lanics I.ocko. CliaiU's A. Kico. Cliaili's Kixtoii. Chailos
r. Havilan.l.
TnistcM's— (Jof.loii Iiunii. I )r. ( ■li.ifl.s M. II'iwo. Ir.i .\t-
kiiisoii. I.. W. I..iko. In-. II. V. I>ati'snian. S. .M, Hii-cli. U.
Carlisli'.
Tile followiiifr account consists of extracts from a i>apcr
rciiil h\ Cliarli's It. Atkins, liistoriaii of tlic church, at the
ceiehratinii. on .Novcnilicr Jll. IS'.IS. .if ilie t wcnt.v-titth aniii-
vcrsar.v of tlic orcupaiicy of tin' prcsi'ui Imililin^: —
.MclhiMlisin in I'assaic d.itcs liai-k to lS4o. when a Sundav-
school was orirani/.ed hy sonic workmen c-onni'cted with a
foundry at I'assaic Hridirc Ili'rc a yc.ir later. ,i church was
Iiuill, and, in due murse. dedicated liy the Uev. I). I'. Kidder.
The lot upon which the church si I had lu'cn doinitcd by a
.Mr. Frazier. and was situated on the west side of the Itivcr
road, aliout 2(11) feet ncu'th id' the Krie Itailroad liridsc and
may still be identified by a uroup of trees in a lot adjoining the
liiopoi'ty recently irccuiiied as an Knicrj;ency Hospital. Here
the work of the Lord flourished and the society increased, and
was in a prosiierous condition until the destruction of the
foundry by fire, causiiif; the removal of nearl.v all the foundry
and mill hands.
As years rolled on tlu' centre of populaliiui moved toward
the vilhifre. the attendance <lecreas"d. and it was deemed neces-
sary to follow the people and move uptown. In ]8(!o the land
on wliicli the church stoml w.is sold to 1 >r. Aycrigg. the build-
ing being taken down and rebuilt on a lot given b.v Dr. .1. >I.
Howe, and situated at Prosiiect stri^et ami Howe avenue.
The last sermon was preached in the old church at the Bridge
b.v Dr. .1. M. Howe on Siind.iy morning, .Inly -. bSli"), to be-
tween thirl.v and forty persons. Services were held in thi'
Aiademy building until the re-erected building was ojiencd
ami dedicated by Bishop .lames, later in the same year,
l>uring the next few years the cluir>-h gained steadily in
membership and iiitcnst. The lity was growing, and the
chtn'ih must kci'p pace with it. and a new church was ilc-
niamled. It was not. h.iw..ver. until l.'^Tn-Tl that real work
was done in this direction. Dr. .1. .M. Howe had luoiniscd that
when the church should be readv to build, he would diuiate
a suitable buihling lot. .Now tln.t tlnw were reaily to move
forward, he deeded to iliem. in fulfillment of his promise, the
lot (Ui tin- .oilier of Hloomlielil ami Cregor.v avenues, and
there was built the church of tod.iy. The old building had. in
the im-.inlimc, been sold to the city, and was for many years
used as a City Hall, services being held in tlu' meantime in
School N.i. 1.
The cornerstone of the new ihurch was laid September 11.
I.STI. by Dr. Brice. Dr. .1. F. Ilnrst and Dr. Dashi.-U. I'arl
of the building was occupied by the Sunday-school before it
was eutirel.v comideted and was finally ilcdicated as St.
Ceorge's .Methodist Episcopal Church of I'assaic. X. .1.. by
Bishop Wiley. Dr. mow Bishopi .1. H. Vincent and Dr. Dashiell
assisting.
The life of tlu- church under that name was short. The
h.ird times .if IST.". and following years were more than a
matih for the financiering of the ollicials of the church, and in
spite of all the <rash came, both ihurcli and parsonage being
sold under fcu-eclosiire proceedings, the church being purchased
by .Mr. I'ldler id' .New York City, and the parsonage was sacri-
ficed, .\t ,1 mceling held .\iigusi 17. l.S"(;. a new .society was
organized by I'residing ICIder W. Tuiiison. under the name
of the First Methodist Kpisciipal Chiircli of I'a.ssaic. N. .1. Tin'
following gentlemen coiistiliiteil -ts first Board of Trustees:- -
(Jeorgi- l{. Howe, K. .M. Mi-Coiinell. .loscjih .\dams. H.
B. Cav.'Hy. William Dncdittle. S. W. iti.e and C. A. Church.
.\rrangements had. in the meantime. I ii made witii .Mr.
Fulli'r fiU' the [lurehase from him of th<' cliiu'i'li properly, and
a deed was given, liati'd September 7. lN7(i. the <hurch as-
suming mortgages amounting to .^'J.').."!! I( l. This indebtedness
has been gradually reduced, until today it is but .f i:!..'!.")ll.
From the time of llie sale of the cliur<-li iirojierty down
to 1.SH4 the church had renteil a house for use as a parsonage.
The i|Ucstion of building hail been discussed friim time to lime,
initil in February. 1.SS4. Dr. .1. .M. Howe wrote to the Boanl
of Trustees, offering, condilionally, to give $."iO as part of .$1.IIIM1
to be raised by the Board for the building of a parsonage, and
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
would also give a lot upon which to build. This geui'rous
offer was accepted, the conditions met. thi' parsomige built ami
ill .liiiii' of the same year the Boanl of Trustees executed a
bond and mortgage to C. M. Soule for .fl ..">(«), It is this mort-
gage which is to be liiu'iieil tmiight.
During the twenty-five years of the preseiil church, we have
had eleven pastors, four of whom. W. Day. S. Van Benschoten,
,1. (•. Winner ami J. Crawford, have gone to their reward. The
nil II sent us. both for the old and present church, have been
nu'U of culture ami learning, and fearless preachers of the
tmth. as it is in Christ .lesus. .VII of them have stood high in
the affairs of the ccmfereiice. the Kevs. Hilliard. Hurst. Craig.
Van Benschoten and Bryan having been sent as representatives
to the (ieiieral Conference, and the Kevs. MeCarroll. Hilliard.
Craig. Benschoten and Uyman have Iuhmi honored by ap|ioint-
ment as presiding Elders, and one has had conferred upon him
the highest hoieir in the gift of the Church. .1. F. Hurst, who
served I'assaic in l.S,1!l-(lll. having, in l.SSd. been electe<l a
Bishop.
122
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Till' tii-sl pnstor of this chiii-ch was I>r. G. H. Whitney,
who siTvod three years, he being suceecdeil hy the Rev. Wil-
liam Day. who bore heavy l)iirdens for two years. In the
sprinc of ISTti the chiin-h. not lieiiig able to support a regular
pastor, we were left to he supplied. Distinguished ministers
hlled the pulpit from time to time. In the fall of that year
Miss Anna Oliver was engaged as stated supply, and remained
until iiuiference. wln-n the Kev. .T. K. Bryan was sent to
us. during whose pastorate a revival was experieneed, resulting
in over ,one hundred eimverts. The eonferenee of 1870 ap-
pointed the Ilcv. J. W. Marshall, to whose ministrations and
ninnagenient of affairs generally the ehureh owes mueh of
its later sueee.ss: eiirrent expenses were met; eaeh year saw
.Sl.(MK»of the indebtedness paid off. Mr. Marshall was sueceed-
eil in 1S.K2 by Dr. S. Van Bensehoten. who still further earried
on the good work, and during the two years of his pastorate
addeil mueh to the .spiritual growth of the <-hurch. and also
reduee<l its liebt to the extent of .$2,000. The Kev. .1. O. Winner
next served us for one year: forty-five nuMnbers were added to
the ehureh by revival serviees. In l.S8."> Dr. ('. S. Ityman eame
to us, and for three years did noble work for the eause of
Christ, heaving the ehmeli stronger by lifty nu'inbers and a
reduetiiui of .54.000 of the ilebt. Following Dr. Kynian came
the Hev. .T. B. Brady, who also served us three .vears. during
wliii-h tinn- revival services added over one hundred to tin'
rlinreh. The Kev. .lohn Crawford next ministered to us for
Ihice yi'ars, and was helpfid to us in matters both temporal
and spiritual. -Mueh lU'eded ehauges in church ventilation were
effected ami $1,0(M> paid on the indelitedness. Brother Crnw-
foril was succeeded, in l.S!t4, by the Kev. W. 1,. Hoagl.-inil. to
whose earnest efforts we owe the present clieertiil aMdilnrium'.
the entire room being redecorated and refurnished at a cost
of over .f.'i.Odd, that amount being raised by his personal so-
licitalions, excepting the renewing of the cushions, the cost
of vvhicli — about .$."iOt» — was raised by the Ladies" Aid Society.
I>uring tlu' l;ist year of Dr. Iloaglan<rs administration .fCiOO
was paiil on the debt, the plate collections Iieing devoted to
tliat iiurpose. In 18117 conference sent us ihc Kev. 1,. (".
.Muller. who is now making histiu'v to be read on some future
occasion. W'c will nicnlioii only lun iiiMiis in his term the
si'curing of a chapel al Carlion Hill, the adoplinn of tlw
school at Wallington.
In adilition to the regular pastors, we have had with us for
many years two (dd soldiers <if the Cross, who hiive spent their
del-lining days among us. ami who have at all times lovingly
rendered such .service as they could. I refer to Brother Hitch-
ins, who went to his rest about three years ago, and Brother
Dstrander. whom we all hoimr ami esteem, ami whom we are
glad to see with us on this occasion.
The religious growth of the church has been gratifying—
the mendiership having in l.S7:{ been but 182, while today it
is ."•."lO. Our Sunday-school department has grown from one
school and 200 scholars in. 187:!. to four schools ami about
I.IIHI scholars at the present tinu'. Oiw schools at Lexington
Cha|H'l. Carlton Hill and Wallington are doing a grand work
in their respective localities, while from our iiome school there
are constantly Iieing brought into the church those who are
to be the leaders and burden-bearers of the future.
The Kpworth League has. during the ten years of its ex-
istence, proven itself a valuable auxiliary to the geiu'ral work
of the church and a great help lo our pastm-. while many a
sick room has been brightem'd by the .Mercy and Help de-
partment.
In affairs linamial the early years oi' the prescnl organi/.a-
lion were one long struggle, and reipiired all the skill and
ability of the olMcial boanl to prevent disaster. The tide
turned .'it last, ami in ISSd the church was once more upon
n firm financial basis, all the ex|ienses being nu>t ami rl>.' i.-l-h-
lar contributions given for the benevolences of the church. In
his report to the conference in 1.S80 Presiding Elder Coit says:
"The church of Passaic, maintained on its present basis, is a
model of financial skill and self-sacrificing effort." Again, in
1884. he says: "Th(> church at Passaic still maintains her
heroic struggle and continues each year lu nicri all expenses
and iia.v off .$1,011(1 of her indebtediu'ss: surely, such real sjs-
tematic labor ought to receive a vote of thanks from the con-
ference." In 1888 the present financial plan was adopted, and
each spring there is pledged a sum estimated b.v the oiticial
board to cover all exiien.ses for the ensuing year, and tlic end
of the year shows that the pledges have been paid and the
balance is on the right side of the ledger. Vnder this jplan
all regiUar contributors to the running expenses of the cliurch
are assigned a seat or sittings, as the case may be. which they
may call their own for that year. During the twenty-five years
that have [lasseil the church has contriliuted to the various
expenses and beuevidences as follows: —
Salaries of pastors, presiding elilcrs .uid bisliops. . . . $47,01)1)
Itnnning expenses .".I.immi
Improvement to church propcrt.v ;ind |iuri-li;isc of ]n-op-
erty at Lexington Chapel and ('.uilnn Hill l.'i.DOO
Paid on indcliredness 12.000
Benevolences l.").IKX)
T.ilal $120.(H:m)
The Ladies -Vid Society has done noble work in many ways,
being always ready, when called upon, lo do whatever has
been riMpiired of them, and iiol always waiting In lie riillcd
ni:on. Of their many works. I will refer especially in ihe new
I ushions. iiiMvided at a cost of about $.oOO. and llieir efforts
in liidialf of our debt. On a previous occasion they li.id raised
aliont $."iOO. and I think 1 .-ini right .and tail- in s.-iyin^' ih.il. to
a great extent, they are icspniisililc (m- ihc Ipiuiiiiig nt the
mortgage tonight.
St. John's Episcopal Church.
This parish was est.-ihlishcd by the labors of the Kev.
Henry Beers Sherman, .\. M.. redor ot Christ Church. Belle-
ville, who hidd servii'cs here occasionally, making il a niissinn-
ary station in connection with his own charge. The first entry
in the minute book of the vestry records is that mi Odolicr :!l.
18."!). at the house of David 1, .\ndersoii. Colmicl Hcii,iaiiiin
Aycrigg was chairman and (iilead .\. Smith was secretary of
a meeting called to organize the parish. The following were
noininated as suitable members of the vestry, and it was de-
cided to give ten days" public notice of the nominations, ac-
cording i.r l.iu: I'.ciiJMiiiiii .\yrrigg. F. W. Tonikins. D. I. Xn-
dersoii. K. .\. Tcrlnuir. W. S. .\ndcison. P. C. Cothn. (iileail
.V. Sniitli. .\ coininittei' was .ippciinlcd In s|,lcci a place of
worship. Il leased S|ieer"s H.ill al .$100 per aniiniii. .\ meel-
ing was held in lli.' hall on November ;;i). :il which the vc'sliy-
men nominaU'd were elected. .Messrs. .\ycrigg and Tiuiikins
being chosen as wardens.
-Mr. Shernian ollicialeil as minister until December 2"2. 1S."J0,
when the vestry passed resolutions thanking him fiu' his ser-
vices, and accepting the appoiutmeni by the Bishop of the
Kev. Samuel Clements as a luissicMiary lo the parish. Thi>
parish then consisted of eight families and twelve communi-
cants, with thirteen scholars in the Sunday-school. It agreed
lo pay .\Ir. Clements a salary of .$."iOO a year. It also purchased
an organ, costing .$4li2. Mr. Clements was a graduate of the
Cniversity of Pennsylvania and the Theological Seminary of
X'irginia. He had been rector for se\eral years of St. Mi-
chaeTs, Trenton, but had been compelled by ill-health to resign
that large and iinpiu-tant parish, and. after siieuding some time
in Kiirope. settled in Passaie. On .\pril 2:i. l.StiO. he resigned to
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
J23
takt' tht' cli.'iiilMiiiry nf Kcrixon Collci;!'. Tln' tirst visit fritni
the Bishop looU iihur l'rliru:iry 7<. ISCil.
On Aiu'ii li:>. ;ilso, n coiniiiittt'o was apiiointod to st_'loct
a suitatilc luiiiilin;; silc>. It at'tci'uard luaile a bar)?ain with C.
M. K. I'auhsdn ti>r a plot to cost $!1(H(. On AuKUSt 20 a call
as "rcctoi'-c'lci't'" was cxtcndcil to tin' U<'v. Marshall B. Smith.
\. M.. lali'l.v n-i|..i- of CiirisI Clinr.-li al Kuvor, Del. His
salnrv was lixcil at .'J^StHt a voar. of whioh .$;i(Hj was providi'd
by the Church Missionary Society of the State, in order that
the strtiKKliiiR con^n'jration niiixlit ilcvot<' its means to the erec-
tion oi" a building'. 'I'lic lirsi >ic|is Id this end were taken
on ()iiobcr 211. ISIJI). '("he tirst conlirmation in the parisli
uas held by Bisho|i I )d(']dM'imeii on .\pril 11, ISIH, wlu>n five
persons wore coidirnn'd.
It bad been iiitciidid i.i bnilil a stum- ilnirch, but this
was abandiOH'd as ioiprait icabli-. and new plans were adopted.
I'allinu I'or a wucidcii sltiiilnrc. '['lie cnrncrstone was laid by
the rector .in Sepicniber In. IMll. 'I'lic building cost !?4..")0(l.
of which .'«L',(l(l(l rcinaiiU'd nn iii.irI.::aL'c. With the lot ami
orcan it cost .fT.dlKI. Mr. Smith was insialled as rector and
the chnrch was dedicated on .\pril Hi. lS(i2. .Mrs. .1. Edf;ar
Thomson of I'hihnhdphia ;;ave the mellow-toned bell which
hung in the steeple In bSlB the church was entered by ndi-
bers. who stole the rector's vestments, the vestry carpet and
|iart of the c-hurcdi I'arpel. .\ reward of .$JOn was offered, but
the thii'\i's were nex'cr discoA ereci.
On .VnyusI il. bSllo. a rnioii Tlianksi;ivin;.' service was Indd
witll the Keformed Dutch Church at that church. This was
an echo of the T'nion victory at (Jettysbiirj.'. At the fourth
annivers.ary of the foiimling of the parish, the Kev. Marshall
H. Smith lu-e.ichi'cl a serimm from which it a]ipears that th<'
partsli had i;i-o\An to t\vent.\'-se\ cu I'.imilies and thirly-one com-
nmnic.anls. It is rec-orded in llu' chni-cli minutes that the
tre.-isnrer of the pai-isli. Hclward .Meanarcl Poll, A. B., was
drowned ai 4. Mil p. m. on t'lii-istmas Day, 18(i;:i, while skating
on Dundee L.ikc. llc> li.id attended service in the morning.
When the Civil War ended tlie vestry invited the Reformed
Dutch congregation to join in a Thanksgiving service in St.
.lohn's on the clay designated for victory. This minute is dated
.\pril 12. 1Sii.">. The next entry, three days later, reads: —
"ISi;."). April 15th.— .Vbraham Lincoln, President of the
Pnited States of America, died this day b.v the hand of an
a.ssnssiii in the emplo.v of the Uebel Confederacy."
The church was draped in mournin.g ou account of the death
of the President.
The congregation bomrht the house and lot in the rear
of the church in LSd.") for a ii'ctor.v, paying for it .$ti.2.">ll. Mr.
Smith resigned on March '.'A. I.SdS and preached his fare-
well sernn)n .Iiine 7. .\l the- close of the .service he was pre-
.seiited with :i letter, signed liy all the c-lergy of Passaic, ex-
pri ssing their conficlem-e in him and approval of his catholic
p.clicy toward cUlier churches.
On April 1.". the .inun.al p.irish meeting passed resolutions
denying the cloirmn that ■■Tlieic is no church without a Bishop"
and holding ■'that the I'rotest.ant Eiiiscoiial and other denomi-
itations in this village and elsewhere— who maintain substan-
tially the same grand principles cd" Christianity — are only
braiKhes of the same Catholic Church under different forms
of cu-ganization." The resolutions cimtinued: "Resolved that
this iiaper be imiuded in the call to any clergyman that we
may elect as our Kecic.r; and that his acceptance of the same
shall signify that hi' agrees with the above, and will resign in
case he shall (diange his views on these points."
The Rev. Samnid Clements of Ohio tleclined a call to the
rectorship, ami the Rev. Henry .Vdams of Iowa, an alumnus
of Andierst ami .\ndover S 'miliary, was called. The record
says th;it he "fully endorsed the above inserted paper." refer-
ring lo the resolutions Just cpioted. Ill' entered upon h's duties
Si|itiiid.ir ti and left the parish .November 2.S. l.Stl'.l. The Kev.
IIcur.\ Webbe a 'pl''!' a call as rector on Ib-ceinber ti.
I.S7II, and resigned mi September ."id, 1S71. Tin- Rev. W. H.
Carter aciepted ;i call on .March 21, 1.S72, and resigned on
February 24, 1.S77. In the meantime, the rectory property
fronting on <!regory avenue hail been sold for .$1tl,7."lt, and a
new rectory bidlt on Prospect street.
The next iiicciinbi'iit made the following entry in the vestry
book: — •
".Inly !t. 1S77. On entering on my Rectorship of the Parish
of St. .lohn's Church. I'assaic. 1 desire to slate distinctly that
I do not inilorsi' the above inserted jiaper. I object to it lirst.
on the giounil of the iinscriptnral spirit ot party, of which it
seems to be the expression: and seiondly because as a Presbyter
of the Church I am bound b.v the vows which she recpiired
of me at my ordination: and I recognize no right whatever in
any vestry to impose special obligations, or .\rticles of Faith
and prjictice, beside those whiih the general body of the Church
in this country rightly imposes on her clergy.
•A. S. Deai.'y."
.Mr. Dcaley records in (>ctober. 1S7S, the improvements
that were made in the property attc-r his coming, inchiding the
cleaning .ind reiarpeting of the chancel, "the carpet not having
been up before in liftei'ii .\ears." He records that there was a
debt of .$1.1IM| on the church properly in I'rospi'ct street.
"which is all that is left of the valuable property which it once
owned." Then Ihere is a break in the records until the Rev.
Williams llowl.ind lei-ords that April 14. 1.SS4. was the date of
the lirst parish meeting at wliich he |iresided, and that he had
assumed the place a few weeks previoiisl.v. From 1S7.S to 1S.S4
the rectors had been Mr. Dealey and the Rev. Mr. Moinbert.
while the Rev. Delancey Thompsim. then rector of All Souls'
Church. .New York, was in charge of the parisli while complet-
ing his seminary course. During .Mr. Ilowland's rectorship
a Hci.'iting debt which he found when he came here was funded
and p.irlly paid olT. the grounds were improved, the old horse-
sheds, wliicli in e.nly d.iys \vere appendages of all churches.
were removed. ( )u ()clolier IS, 1,S,S!). the pew-reut system was
abolished, voluntary pledges being substituted, with the re-
sult: Id' increasing tli" receiiits about one-third. Mr. llowland
offered his resignaticin on November 'S.i. 1S!)1. to take effect
the following Faster. The Rev. R. W. Kenyon of Xew York
ami the Rev. .Vlexamler .Vllen declined calls, and on May
■ W. \S'.r2. the Rev. George II. Yarnall was chosen rector.
The first movement for the present oUiireh building was
taken .laniiary 2.">. IX'Xi. \ Building Committee, consisting of
Jlessrs. Hanks, (Jranger, Jlaclagan. Chase anil King, was ai>-
pointeil. It adopted the plans of William Ilalsey Wood ot
Newark Idr a slime church. It was impossible to purchase
certain proiierty on Prospei-t street needed for the site, so a
plot l(i."ixl.S2i_, reel, at I'assaic and Lafayette avenues, was
bought fiu- .$lll..'ii II I. Ou .November 21) contracts were awarded
for .1;2'1,722. covering all the construction work on the church.
Pews cost .$2,200 extra. About .Sld.iHio of this amount was
contributed by the parishioners.
The Rev. (Jiorge Yarnall's resigmilion was accepted on
December S. and on .lanuary IS. 1S'.I4. the Rev. George C.
Betts was elected rectiu-. He eiiteri d upon his duties March
21 ;. IS! 14.
The cornerstone of the new church wis laid Saturday.
Mtiy I'.l. IS'.tl. It w.is occU|iied in the same .vear. Mr. Betts
resigned April 'J.".. 1S;C..
The Ri'V. I.. W. S. Siryki'r. the present rector, began his
rectorship .lune 2. l.s'.l."i.
The First Presbyterian Church.
The First Presbyterian Church of I'assaic is tin ollshoot of
that historic plant whose root was let in tne founding ot a
church :it Newark .-is early .as the ye.-ir l':i'.7. Two hundreil
124
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
ycjirs aftc-r that lii-siiiiiiii!;. that is t.. say. .Manh li. IMlT. ili.-
rri'shyti-ry (.r Ni-wark ..icaiiizi-.l th,- ■Ininh in I'assaii-. The
l,r.-liiiiiiiaiy steps had U-fii talieii in the f.nir months iiiim- r«
that dati'. ThtTi" were twenty-tw" e.inimnnieant nienilieis to
••.institute the new oipinii'.ati..n. <;eor;:e Iteiibolni an.l I.iwis
\V. Barth-tt were then ..nlaine.l elders: ■\Villiani HIair and
(Jeiirce M.-<;ildion were ordained deaeons. Philo 1". I,<-aveiis.
a lireiitiate for the ministry, was eiifia^red as "stated supply."
In .lanuary. IStW. he was ordaine.l ami installed as pastor. In
the recinstruetion whieli followe.l tlu' reunion of the Old School
and -New Sihool luanehes of the Presbyterian Clinrrli in 1.S70.
Passaie passed from the Presbytery of Newark to the newly
formed Presbytery of .Jersey City.
Tlie ehureh worshipped in the upper room of "Ilowe's Acad-
emy." eorner of Prospeet and Aeademy streets, from the
beginiiin): till May. 18«!l. It removed to a school hall then
standing at the corner of State and Kiver streets, and con-
(iuue<l there till .Inly. 1S71. At this date the ci>n;.'re).'ation was
able to enter the edifice which, with tfreat e.\crlion. il had
erected on Kiver street (now I'ark placel. near Main avenue.
There it worshippe.l fifteen anil a half years, until December
."I. ISXli. The property, which in ISVO had cost mm-e than
.•<1.">.0(KI. was s(dd for ^(>..">(l(i. ami with the prcxeeds the con-
Kre«ation purchased the eligible site on Passaic avenue, at the
corner of <Jrove street.
I'nder the energetic niaiiajieincut of a Hoaril of Trustees.
Iiil by the enthusiasm and aidi'd by thi> ;.'enerons hand -if the
late .Mr. William 1. Harry, the HiU' edifice of brownstone was
eieete.l and furinshcd at a cost of about .Wll.<"H>. ami was
ready for occupamj lUi the first Sabbath of .lanuary. ISST.
In the year ISiK! the house ami plot ailjaceni wi-re purchased
at an expense of $!MMlli. In tlu- year ISilT a lai«e Sim<lay-
si-hool hall was erected at a cost id' fl^PJ.IMHI. The church itself
was then renovated and rtilecorated. and steam hi'at was iu-
Trodmed throU):houl. involvin;; an expemlituri' of aliotil .S4.IHIII.
Tin- coiicrecation has now a cmnplete luitfit of buildiii-.rs
upon a site which is uinpU'siiouably tlii' most desirable ill the
city.
In I.SJKI .Mrs. William I. Barry hamled in a -ifl of .$l().OIHi.
in the name of her late husband, to <-aiicel a mort>;a);e of that
iMni>unt. Stimulated by this jrreat jienerosity. the people are
matnriu!; pl.iiis to i'.\tiii;;uish all the remainini; indebtedness,
and they expect soon to possi'ss Ihi'ir propert.v. v.ilueil at
.sriO.lNHi. free from all imaimbrame.
(irowth in the early ilays was very slow. In tlii' Uiver
street buildin;; progress was moderate. Sim-e oc<aipyiiif; the
piesent location, tin- church has advaneeil in numbers, been
■ liiickcned in Keiierosity. and has greatly wideneil its iidliii'iice.
In the early days, jirior !c> \S~:\. the church look a lively
interest in the Dundee iliapcl. Tin- depressiiui during the later
.sevi-ntii's carrii'd that work down. On I'Uleriiit' the Passaic
a\enue edifice activity in "Itumli'c" was resumed. I'nder the
leailcrshi|i of the late .Mr. CharU's M. Wih-ox the "niission"
was prosei'Uted with loma^re and vipu': the result has bi'cn
the Dundee Presbyterian Church.
The Pirst Presbyterian Church of I'assaic contributed a
numlH-r of nienda'rs. and extemled cmouraKenn'UI. to the I'li-
Icrprisin;: Presliyierian Church foumled in <!arfic!il.
In later years, thriui;:h the zeal and ililiKcncc nf certain
of its I pie. it has lent a liami to the cri'ctioii of the eilifice
in Wallin^rtiui. wln-re the sa<'raiuenls are regularly admiiustereil
anil where a eom|dete organization nmy be one day ex|iecteil.
The basement of the church on Kiver street was the lirst
assembly room of the Hollanders when they bewail worship in
Iheir lanuuaKe. in 1S71. It was so iK'cupied two winter .sea-
.siins. mitil the First Holland Kefornu'd Church, now located
on <iuiniy street, was iii'irani'/.ed. in the aiiliimn of 1S7:!.
It was al.so the first assembly room of the Ocrmaiis. when
they besan worship about 1S72: and there the Oermau Pres-
byterian Church mow periuanently settled on Madison streetl
was orsranized by the Presbytery of Jersey City iu 1873.
It was also the first place of religious assembly by the
Slavs and Hungarians. An earucst attempt was put foitli
to interest them in religious services as louir asro as 1.HN4. To
be sure, it transpired that the prepouderaut majority of them
win- IloiiiaiJ C:itliolics. ami. upon the above iiiili.itivc llicy
began to be attended by priests of their own faith, and yet
through m.-iiiy years tie- Lutheran Slavs have uiaintained wor-
ship ill the Dundee church and the Kcfornied Hiiugariaiis in
the Ccrniaii Presbyterian Church.
Since its organization the First Presbyterian Church of
Pa.ssaic has placed upon its rolls the names of SllS coniniiinicant
members. Death has claimed a copious harvest from these, and
ni.iny have had occasion to remove their residence. The
enrolled meiiiln-rsliip .-it the latest report was 'MS. not iii-
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
eluding "J.-i enrolled separately at Wallingtou. and not in-
cluding a list of "reserved" on account of prolonged absence.
Tile Sunday-school, wlibli was ofgaiiizeit a inonili before
till- church itself, has changed its iiuarters seven times, but
always to advantage. While it has lent material freely. \)oth
of teai-hers and schol.irs. to found mission schools, it has
maintained its growing strength and fruitfulness.
The young peoide's .societies were a memorable factor in the
Kiver street days. Christian Endeavor was organized in 1.S.S7
iu the new church on the avenue. It was the pioneer society
in the city, and antedated all those now included in the local
niiiou of Passaic and vicinity.
The ladies of the church had been in i lie habit of hel|i-
ii:g on its work from the outset in L'^lw. The orgaiiizatimi of a
Ladies' .\id Society was effected in the spring of 1S7II.
.\t the end of ^S~2 it gave way to the Ladies' .\id .iinl .Mis-
sionary Society. The missionary interests were luukecl .ifter
> o
o J"
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
127
liv :i i-.iiimiitlcc, :unl inir-lliii'd uf llic iiiniiiio went in thai ili
iccliiiii. The Into Mrs. Mnry Leo Deniiii'ost loil mid iiis|)ii'eil
I his i-oiiimittoc in Ihnt diroctinn. At tlio end of 1S77 tbe Wo-
iiu'ii's FiU'ciKii MissiDiiiir.v Soiioly wiis foiiiii'd spparatoly. Tho
Mission Hnml n( Cii-ls was (Minslitiili'd in 1S7!>. In 18!)!> tho
siopo of wciMian's uDik was I'liiniili'lod hy tho s<)oioty"s takin;:
tho tith' 111' Homo anil l''i>fi>is.'n Missionary So<-ioty.
Moaiiwhilo. tho "I.adios' Aid" had ronowod its vipir. and
has a<Toni|>lishod ^roat sorvirc in tho prosont hioality.
Thi' Passaic Chiirrh has niaintainod a oroditablo standing'
in I'roshytory fur zoal in ImpiIi homo and Inroign missions. It
I i.ntrilintcs ri'^'iilarly and u'l'iioi-cmsly In all hoards of bonovo-
Iriicr. At 111.- sanir I uiii-. ihv nivn n( iln> lontfrosation tako an
nitivo part in ilio alTairs ami inslitntioiis of tho city. Tho wo-
nnMi. alsii. arc fvv ready for service in the charitable and social
life of tho cDinmnnity.
Thi' pastor of the chin-.h has tn'cn the Ucv. I'liilci I". I,i-av
I'l.s. It. I)., fruni the lii'L-'innin^' lhripu;:liunl.
The snccessiiMi nl' l'',lders and their sorviie inchidos: —
(Jeorso Koidiolm. 'S) years. .Inhn B. Piidnoy. 11 years.
Lewis W. liartlett, 1.") years. Cecnco .Metiibbon. ij years.
.Inhn M. Morse. 11 years. .lames S. Biddell. 12 years.
>\'iiliani M. Harr. 1 ye.ir. Uebert I). Kent. 11 years.
William Blair, ."i years. Henry II. Hnlton. 10 years.
Wi.kham T. .McCre.i. i> years. Charles .\. rndiicy. (> years.
William A. Willar.l. 1 yo.ir.
The snc-ecssiiin nf Heacons includes: —
\Villiam Blair. 7 years. William A. Willard, 21 years.
(;c(M-;;e .MitJihl 11 years. .loseph H. Ilillen, 7 years.
Silas F. Ilavi-ns. :i years. .lohn A. I'owler, 9 years.
Cliarlos A. I'lidm^y. IS years. Knos Vreeland. "> years.
.1. .Maidey .\ckerman. :! years. William A. Dixon. 0 years.
William W. Scott, (i years. Harold -M. Swan. 2 .years.
Henry W. Thom.as. (i years. Leonard W. JIanchec, 2 years.
Warren V. Bell. :'. year>. William .1. Fish. 1 year,
Iln.u'h .M.t^iccn, 1 .\ear.
The sm-ecssiiiii nf SupeniLtcndeiLts nf the Sninlay-schocd
in<'liides: —
William .\. Kenlmlm. 4 velars, .luhii B. I'ndne,\. ."> years.
.Inhn .M. .Mnise. ."i years. Charles M. Wilco.x, 1 year.
William .\. Will.ard, :! years. K. Kclln>:j,' Hose. 3 years.
.Inhn Cnnpi r. 2 years. Itnliert 1 >. Kent, .S years.
lOnns \'reel,anil. 7 years.
The I'residenls nt the Ladies' .\id Sneiety h.ive hoeu:—
Mrs. M.-ny .1. I lenhnlm. M's. .Nellie I.. Herrh-k.
.Mrs. .Maria S. Biddell. .Mrs. i:ii/.,abeth II. I )eidinlni.
-Mrs. Lizzie B. Barry.
The Presidents nf the Women's .Missinnary Society have
lieen:-
.Mrs. .Nidlie L. H.rri.k. .Mrs. riincl.e S. I'mden.
.Mrs. Hidcn .1. Lcav.'ns.
The siiecessinn nf Trustees embracs the followini; names
(those marked with .asterisks have been Troasnrors): —
Thomas (). Stewart.
William F. Walker.
William .\. Willard.
'William .\ Hi-nhnhii
.lames S. Biddell.
William H. (Jillen.
iJooifie Denholm.
.lohn Kershaw.
Lewi-; W. Bartlott.
'William Blair.
William .1. Biddell.
'.Iidin A. Willett.
"Ciles S. Orciitt.
Sil.i< 1'. Havens.
.Inhn i;. I'adiiey.
'William W. Seott.
William 1. Barry,
.loseidi II. Wriuht.
William Abbott.
K. Ki'lloss; Roso.
William L. Clark.
.Tames K. Knnwiiicn.
William Kent.
.Vn^'Ustns T. Cnddebai-k.
Henry .Mel taimUIs. Leonard W. .MandiiM.
•.lohn C. Ilorrick. V. Fiske Wil.n.v.
William C. Kimball.
The Treasurers oleetpd by tho ooiiRrountion, since l.SiK),
have been: —
V. Fiske Wilcox. .Jeorao M. Mather.
William .1. I"ish. William .\. Kixoii.
The Duntdee Presbyterian Church.
This is an nflsh ml nf the First I'resbyloriaii Chiiridi, and
;rrew nnt of the Dundee .Mission, which was for many years
the nnly rolii;ioiis organization in that section of the city.
.\ bnililin$; was erected at Mrmroo and Sei-oiid streets in
ISli:".. .and the Ucv. I'raid; F. Taylnr w.is installed as pastor.
DUNDEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The chiireh tlnurished under his ministry for several ye.ars.
but tn the riv'ret of his iiMif;rej;ation he resigned in ISOO, and
the Kev. H. F. Brnndage was called to succeed him.
The Catholic Church in Passaic.
The Catholic Church in Passaic numbers one-half of the
tnial ehnrch momborship. and includes the largest single con-
gregatimi in the city. Besides the parish chur<-h. St. Nicholas",
there are congrogatiims of Greek Rite. Slavonian. Pidish and
Italian Catholiis. each having its own priest and worshipping
in its own Imililing.
Previous to tho slimmer of 1S.->!I. the few Cathi>lics in
Passaic either worshi|)ped at St. .lolin's in Paterson. ur. after
the organization of St. Francis do Sales Chnrih. in 1S.">.">. at
Lodi. Beginning in IS.l!). various priests visitoil Passaic, inter-
mittently at first, and then regularly o.-nh Snnday. to say mass.
The lirst building in which Catholic worship was conducted
ill Passaic was Thomas Meade's house, afterward the hotel
kiiown as "Sobastopol." on lower Main avi'nno. Mass was also
said ill the house of William Ryan, at 27 McLean street.
and in oilier private houses until the fall of l,sr,i;. when the old
"tlax mill." as it was then known, was used as a church
luilding for over a year. This is the building at Canal and
Passaio streets, at present ooMipied by the .\loxaiidor Silk
.Mill.
In tho s|iring of 1S(!S the first church odiHce was erected.
nil tile site now occupied by the Passaic Club at Prospect
and Erie streets. Father Sehandel beeame the first resident
pastor. The church was small and of wood. A parochial school
was started on tho upper floor, where the priest lived. There
were three Sisters of Charity leaching in the school, which
numbered 150 to 2(KI pupils. Father Sehandel romained here
two years, or until .\ngiist. 1S72. when the Rev. Louis Schnei-
der took his place.
128
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
Till- ii;iii-ii .>.i~ iM-.ii^ M.iiiiiTioally iiml tiii:iiii-iiilly. iiiiil
it wiis ji Kri-at liliiw when I hi' Imililiii;: was lU'stroyeil by firp
]li ri-iiilicr lil. IST.'i. The fire was aftiTwaril fniiii(l ti> bavr ln-cii
laiisfil liy iiiri-iiiliiirii-s. Tlif roiitfi-crratinii wnrsbifipfil al liis
luMi.-i- nil raiilisDii avenue tile followiii;; Siiinlay. Iiilt KatliiT
Siliiii-iiliT ;.'iil ri^'lil tn work, ami Imiiu'ht fnnii I>r. .Tnliii M.
ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH,
III
Acaileiiiy
wi- tile liiiiliiiiiK <>>>
liai'iii'lilal si'liniil.
Iieeaiisi
Iliiwe aveime. for many years used as
It was then kiiiiwn as Ilr. Speiieef's
that worthy iiail taii^lil a private sehoiil
there for a while. The iieiiple wurshippeil there until the
■ hiireh was reliiiilt on its olil site. Kathir Schneider was a
kindly old elerie, who.se meinury is still Inved. lie was not a
U I liiisiness man. however, :ind the (larisli did not llmirisli
tinaiieially. lie dieil while here, and the Itiv. .lulin .\. Sin p-
pard was sent to sinieed liiin in l.S*<4.
I'lider I'ather Slieppard's liriii ham! the parish took its
first deeided strides tii its |ireseiit envialile position. He found
il with a delit of nearly .f '-I •.' II " ' and pr.iperly worth less than
thai, while the parish had piirihased a liiiildiuK lot mi whieh
i! owed .f.S(l(l. There were 2:i(l families in the iiarisli and
lliree Sisters tcuehiii!: 2-III ellildren in the selirkd. So far as
its real estate Weill, the parish was a little worse off than if
il had iiolliiiiK, for after payiiii: interest for several years,
Kallier She]iparil linally sold lioth the ehiireli and seliool
|iri>|H-rty. one to an athletit eluli, the other to a Holland ehureli,
for iniieli less than the face value of the iiiiirl|.'a!.;es. .\ man
of tile world would have aliiiiidiuied the property to the inort-
Ka;;ees, liiit the eliunh ronlil lint do this. Such was the aliiiost
hopeless eondition of lliini:s wliiih iiuirroiiled Father Shep-
liard.
Ill live years the parish propeiiy wii- worlli .<liin.iiii(i. ^mil
the entire delil was not more than .<.'!( l.l H ii i. In the iiieantinie.
the parish had ereeted the lieautifill stone ehureli. (he largest
in the eily, al a eost of $r>ll,INKI for llie luiildint; alone, and a
handsome rertory, [''allier Sheppard had instilled into his
tliii'k his own energy and enthiisiasiu. and If their tinaiuial
l.iirdens were al lirst heavy, they were liorue cheerfully. The
church was erected in 1887 and the rectory iu 188!». Four
.vears later frrounil was liroken for a new lirick schoolhouse,
opposite the church. With the lot and furnishings it represented
nearly .'S:ilMllKl more. A house on Washinjrton place was next
puiihased a home for the Sisters for .$12.(1011. and the eqnip-
iinnt of the parish was completed when an additional purchase
of land W!is made at the rear of the church and rectory, and
till II was erected a handsome little dnli house, costiiif; .$4,."i(IO.
In fourteen .vears. under Father Slieppard's reitorship. tie'
parish acciiniiilated pmiierty worth nearly one hundred and
tifiy thousand dollars, on which the entire debt was less than
si.xty thousand dollars. Father Sheiipard left Passaic at Ea.ster,
1W)8, to become rector of St. Michael's Church. .lerse.v City,
where he is pursniiiK a similar work successfully. The Rev.
.lohii M. McHale. the Uev. William O'tJoriiian and the Itev.
Henry Connery were anions: his assistants during his career
111 l-c.
The Hev. Thonias .1. Kcriiaii caiiic luTc troni Kearny
to lake cliarse of St, Nicholas'. In a little over a year lie
lias still further stren^itheued the parish, luimericall.v and
Hnancially, and has won the hearts of his people. A purcha.se
!ias lieeii made of the property adjoinin<; the schoolhouse, at
ilie nar. and rniinin>r throUi2:h to .leflferson street, at a eost
ol' .'!;4.(lli<i. It will be necessary befnre lon'r to inlarge the
sdiool building. The healthy tone of the parish under Father
Kernan's rectorship is shown by increased attendance as well
as larger contributions to the church. Father Kenian has
been reni.irkably siiccessfnl in inducing the men of the parish
to perform their religious duties, over <>0I> of tliein receiv-
ing- the S.icrauieiit at one mass on a recent Sunday. The
GREEK RITE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
latest census shows that there are Sllll families.
over 4,IHHI souls, in the i>arish.
The church societies are nuinerons and si run}:
a iiowertiil inlluence for (rood in the life of the
Youii^ Ladies' Sodality and Cliildren of St. Mary S
[losed of yount' women, has about l.'iH iii'iiibers.
iiniiilierin;;
. and exeil
city. The
ociety, coni-
The Holy
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
J 29
Nniiic S(i( ici.v li:is l.'r>ll incii nil its i-nlls. :imiI llii'i-c :irc T)!! vomik;
men in the junior sncii't.v. The Unsnry Smii'ly. fur niatrnns
iif till" imrisli, has .'{IKI nu'Uihi'rs. wliili' tlic Iwn Sacrcil Hi'iirt
SiM'if'lics fi>r lioys mid nirls. rt'spcclivi'ly, lijivc KHI nicnilii-rs
cacli. Knii'nilc! ('oiiiicil. Callnplic Bi'nrvcilcnt LcKJnn. is a
tliinrishinj; fratrrn.-il iniljri' undfr llic patronani- i>f tlif cliurcli,
luid tliore is a IndKi" "f tlii> {"atliolic WnnicnV Benevolent Le-
(rii>n also. IVrez Conncil, Kni^l'ts of Colninlms. is a social
order, not identified with llie cluiri-li. lint iimsistins; nf Calli-
nlics only. It has \~'t members.
'I"hi> jiaroihial sc-hool li:is (ilM( scholars ami ten teachers,
all Sisters. The sihool has nvertlowed into the club house,
which is now devoted to the education of the youiis. thus frns-
natiu); the rector's plan of est.iblisliin;; a parish library .muiI
readin« ri>oin there. Thontrh tin- more ornamental hi^'lier
branches are not i.-niuhl, ih" work of tlu' primary and ;;ramm:ir
>;r:id<'s is as thorou;:li .-nid sal israi-lory as in the pulilic sclionls.
Till' in lor ami Ills assislaiil. l''alhcr William F. Crady. ac-
tively supci\isc all these enterprises.
The Catholics of I'assaic live side 1p\ side with their m-i'_'li-
bors of all shailes of bi'lief in peace and harmony, and with
mutual foriiearance ami respect. The sood feelinjj: is shown in
many ways. They patronize each other's entertainments and
make contributions to each other's enterprises. Father Ker-
n.ni has been more tbaiL once called on to speak imlilidy.
There are foui
with a home of its
citlur ("athidic churches in I'assaic. each
wn. The iddest is the (Jreek Rite Church,
consisting of Sl.ivonian Catholics, whose parent church in
Hunfrary transferred its allegiance frmn Constantinople in the
last century. The priests of this portion of the Catholic
Church are allowed to marry before they are ordained deacons,
but not afKM- that time. Ctdd)acy is the rule of pristly life in
all other branches of the Church. The (ireet Kite Cathcdics
liouglil th<> Dumlee Chapel, erecteil on First street by the
I'resbyteriaiis as an ev.'iniiclical mission, ten .vears ago. It h:is
been euiarged, ami is now known :is the Church of St. Mi<-hael
the .\chai.gel. The Kev. Fufiene Satiella is the rector, ami
lives in the rectory, next to the chun-h. There is another
Slavonian Catholic congregaticm, which owns the Church of
St. Jinry of the Assumption on Monroe street, between First
and Second streets. Each congregation numbers 300 families
ami 000 to 700 adults.
.\ younger organization is St. .Michael's I'olish Catholic
Church on Parker avenue, near \'reeland's poml, of which a
view is jiresented elsewhere. The newest of all is the Church
of l)ur Lady of Mcaint Carmel, the Italian Catholic church,
which is situateil in ,\i-.|n.H k.iunnk iciunship. just north of
. ^^TV-
■i'MMmmtm^f^ mm
&'■ ^ :>^
\ 1 hk^'JI 'III iiiiiiiiii» u^^'^ ^
^•^
■ - • "
-,T MICHAEL'S POLISH CATHOLIC i;hURCH.
the city line, overlooking the rivci-. The Rev, Father Sandri
is the rector. The congregation is small and struggling. The
church was built mostly by the voluntary work of the members
of the Mock, wlio also decorated the interior in n striking but
,irtislic fashion, and with their own hands east a sweet-toned
bell, which hangs in a Ipi'II tower near the church. The hell
was cast and the church was dedicated in 1S!»S, the Kt, Rev,
Winand M, Wigger. Hisho|i of the diocese of Newark, honoring
the occasion with his presence.
The First Baptist Church.
This church grew out of a iineting hidd on .May JV, IMH,
at the honn- of William .1. Hoggs, the riNnIt of a conversation
with the Rev, Sannnd .1, Knapp of tile First Baptist Church
of I'aterson, in which .Mr. Knapp suggested the propriety of
the Baptists i>f the village forming a chnrcdi. Mr. Knapp was
present at tlii' meeting, ami proniisei) to preach to the con-
gregation gratuitously every Siimlay afternoon. It is recorded
of him "that his coming to lis during the prevalence of the
severest storms of winter ami the burning heat of siiiiiiner
must make us regard hiiii with profoundly grati-fnl riMiiem-
brance,"
.Vlfred Spe.-r ..flcicd his hall fi and Charles .M. K.
I'anlison consented to organize a choir and take charge of the
music. He also fnrnisheil an organ. The first service was held
on .Tune .5. On November Ki the organizaiion was perfected
with twenty-two members, as foHows: William .T. Boggs. Cath-
erine A. Boggs. Kmina H. Boggs. .Joseph I". Boggs. Theodore I'.
Boggs. Mary I'aulismi. Charl.itte A. I'ost. Davhl B. Sickels.
Mary K. Sickels. Barney Banta. Margaret Baiita. .Maria Van
Riper. .Tohn Dnrkin, Sarah Uurkiii, Riihard Shiigg. .Maria
.V, Shiigg, Ileldia D, Smith, the Rev. .1. K. .Ambrose. Sarah T.
.Vmbrose. Washington ranlison, Francis \. Wanl. Klizabeth
Lewis, William ,1, Boggs and .lohu Kurkin were chosen dea-
cims and .loseph I'. Boggs church clerk. On December "28,
1804, trustees were elected as follows: C, .M, K, Pautison,
William .1, Boggs. C. C. Shepherd. Iticliard Shugg. David B.
Sickels, .Alfred Speer, .1, E. Ambrose, .Mr. Paulison was chosen
liresident and Mr. Shepherd treasurer.
On .Viuil 10. ISlio. eight persons were baptized by Mr.
Knapp by immersion in the I'assaic River, in the presence of
3,fHI0 iiersons. The church hail grown cimsiderably during the
winter, Mr, Knapp resigned his i'aterson pulpit to go to
New York in May. 180(5, being thus comindled to ubainlon
his [ireaching in I'a.ssaic. The church, which consisted of
only '>0 members, called the Rev, Franklin .Johnson as pastor
on .lune 13. ISiiti. ai-'reeing to pay him a salary of $1,300. He
entered upon his duties on .\ugust 20. It was not until the first
Sunday in .Inly. ISC.li. that the Sumlay-sehool was organized,
with William .\. Deiiholm as superintemlent. There were
fifteen teachers, but only thirty scholars.
On .Tune 13, ISO", a council of delegates from twenty-two
Baptist churches was called, si'venteen being represented. The
Rev, .loseph Barnard presided. The Passaic church was then ad-
mitted .-IS a sister church. On .lune 2. IMW, the church was
received into the Fast New .lersey Baptist .Vssociatimi. meet-
ing that year at Rahway. The association was afterward di-
vided, and the I'assaic church is ideiitilied with the .North
New .Tersey Association.
Mr. Paulison gave the church a biiiUling site mi I'anlison
avenue in 1807, It was proposed to put up u stone church, cost-
ing ^2.").000. but this was objected to. and the proposition was
dropped. The following winter plans were sulunitted and :\l>-
proved on .\pril 14. l.SOlt, it being decideil to sell the plot given
by Mr, Paulison and to purchase the present site of the church
from .lohn Fcmlds, The lot measures !I3,\102 and cost $3..">00.
The new plans called for a neat frame building, costing $Hi.(HHI
,vith furnishings.
About this time Mr. .lohnson sailed for Europe, intending
to .spend a year abroad. He had .sent in hi.s resignation, whbh
was refused, nie church engaged the Rev, .Tohn .\. .MiKean
130
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
to KII the vacaiity during liis atisoiicf. The ciiriierstuiie of the
rhiinh was hiiil on Ttu'silay. June 15. liy the Kcv. nionias
Amlerson, D. I)., of Newark. The first meeting' in the chiin-h
was a prayer and praise meeting. "U .laiiiiary lli. 1.S70. The
liiiililine was formally ileilli-ateil on Febrnary 1. the sermon
heim; pri-aehed liy the Kev. (Ji-orce I'". Tenteeosl. of Brooklyn.
In the sMiiimer of 1S7(> the Kev. Ilr. Johnson returned from
Knrope. anil eontiniied as pastor until .\pril :i. 1S7'_'. On May
ir>. 1H72, William J. Bo^'is. one of the founders of the chnreh.
passed to his reward. The Kev. K. B. Kelsey was ealled from
the Tahernaole Baptist Church of .Vlhany on Oi-tidier 1(>. 1.S72.
I nteriuK upon his duties on .Novemlier S. In less than two
years over one hundred niembers were added to the ehnreh
liy his labors, sixt.v-si.v of them lieinc baptized on confession
of faith. After a pastorate of three years Mr. Kelsey resigned
to aecept a eall from the Si.xth Avenue Baptist Chnreh «f
Brooklyn. The Kev. O. C. Kirkham followeil as pastor on
.May 1. l.S7li, but remained here only one year. Dnrin): this
y:ar. to relieve in a nn-asnre tin' trustees from cnrryin!.- sn<-h
a burden of tloatin;: d.-bt. a mortgase of $2.."i(MI was placed upon
the property. This, however. di<l not increase the total debt.
The Kev. (ieorjie E. Horr. Jr.. followed as supply for a lew
months. His aide discourses caused an effort lo }»• niailc lo
retain him. but he left to take a cnmse in Tlieolii;,'y at Cani-
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
bridge, and afterward became pastor of the Charlestown Baii-
tist Church, in Boston. The Kev. James Waters, then the
aiieut of the Baptist Publication Society, took ihart;e of ihc
church. cominenciuK Novemlur 1. 1S77.
These were tiuu-s of >;reat tinancial dcpressiun. .mil llic
annouucennMil was received with joy dial the four trustees
liiddinK miles representiiit: the Hoatinj; iiiilebledness of the
ihurili had caneelleil them, tlijs releasing' the church from
a ilebl of .f;!.."illO. These men were Samuel (!i lock. (ieorjje
W. Heinarest. Koberl Foulds and C. I). Spencer. They made
only one condition — that a sinkini; fund should be started and
maintained until the entire debt should be eaiieelled. 'I'lic
iM)|ietus thus (liveii resulted in the debt bein>; caneelleil. a
sinkiii),' fund beinc established, with Clarkson S. Coon as
treasurer.
Mr. Waters resi^ued his pastorate .\pril :!il. IS"'.'. In ac-
cept the pastorale of the l'M;.'etield Baptist Church at Nash-
ville, Tenn.. that city beiiu: his old home before ihe Civil War.
.Vfler siipplyinu the |iulpil for a lime. Ihe Kev. K. I". Mc-
.Michall was called, but resiKiied June 1, 1S.S1. Tln' Kev. S. (i.
Smith succeeded him oil November 27. In 1S.S2 the system of
renting |>ews was abolished, and Ihe weekl.v envelope system
substituted. A movement was also started to pay off part of
Ihe debt. Subscriptions lo ihe amount of $;'i.li;iS were made
.•Hid the secoml moitj;af;e of .'i;2..")nn was cancelled. In June
of this year Deacon (Jeorjre W. I>euiarest died. He was always
a generous supporter of and hard worker for the church. In
ISS:} the Youiii; Peo|ilc's Society frave the <-linrch a tine orj;aii
at a cost of .'>l..Sllii, .iiicl till- I. allies' .\i.l Society raised .f'iMI
for interior adoriumiil and decuration. In 1.SS4 the same
society raised .$000. which enabled the inisteis to lediiie the
tirst mort^'ase from l.'i.OOO to .$4.(IU0. Owiiij; to physical iiitir-
inities. .Mr. Smith resigned at the end of his third yeiu". and
the Kev. Arthur S. Burrows succeeded him Auf-'ust 2. 1887).
On October :$. 18Sli. Deacon Tinisley died. His name appeared
on the first bond of the church as president of the Board of
Trnslees. In April. ISSS. another .«].(IO0 of debt was extin-
lint-'uished. and in the fall the renuuiuler was paid off. leaving'
the church property free and clear.
On November 17. 1881). ilie iweiity-tiflli ainiivers.-uy ut
the church was celebrated, and an historical address was read
by Deacon (ieorjie \Y. Finch, from which the above particulars
were taken. Mr. Finch stated that there had been in twenty-
tive years 447 im-iiibers on the chunh roll, the present member-
slii|i beillK 1!<I1I: lli:it in tlie iin.-irtei- of a century $(lS.4(l8.ri8
had been raised lor niiininj.' expenses. .$7.:):5(1.41 w.-ls Uiinwii to
h:ive been f;iven for missions and charity, wliile subscriptions
I'or buililiiiir. imiirovemeiits and liiiuidalin^- tlie ilrl't brought
lip llie recorded total of money raised to .'illHMii:!.r,li. Mr.
Finch, who had so jireat a part in siistaiiiiiifr tin- iliiinli diir-
injr these years died .Vuirust 24. 18'i7.
On Sunday. Direiiiler 7. ISUii. ilie i-liun-h liuildin.u' was
destroyed liy lire. Old nicnibers of the church wept as they
stood aiiiuiiil Ilie mills. The buildiuj; was insured for .flll.lioO.
or less than h.ilf its co-it. With this fund the church befian the
conslruction of the present buildin;;, whirli stands on the
same sile. The Sunday services were held in the Passaic
Club House, while the Sunday-school, throujrh the kindness of
Ihe Firsl Presbyterian Church, met in their lecture room, and
prayer meeiiiifrs were held in W. C. T. X'. Hall. On July o.
IS'.ll. the Kev. A. S. Burrows re-siu'iied. to take effect Septeni-
iier .".n lollowiu^'. On October 2<i. ISill. the Kev. Williaiu
W. I'ralt w.-ls inviliil In prcicb. This resulted in calling' liiiii
■IS stated suiiply unlil .Manli 1. 18112. when lie accepted a
I'onnal call and entered iipmi a successful pastorale, which
still continues.
The cornerslone <>( tin- in« edjtiic was laid with appropriate
ceremonies October 28. l.s'.M. The Ki v. Thomas 1 1. Anderson.
D. D.. of I'rovideiue. K. I., delivered the address. The uiem-
liership had been somewhat scattered after the tire, and at this
lime was reduced to 133 resident and .")7 non-resident members,
who were called upon to add thousands of dollars lo the insur-
ance fund to complete the pre.sent edifice. The new liuildiiia
cost when finished ifSo.Ollil. It was dedicated on Deceiiiher 7.
IN'.I2. Since lliat time the membership has frrowii steadily,
llie ciiridlmeiit now beiuj; ;58tJ. There are 2.')(l scholars and 27
teachers and otiicers in the Suuday-school. The Christian
(Cndeavor Society has 'JO members and the Ladies' Hnnie and
i"i>reii.'n .Mission Society is doiiiK ,!:ood work. The i liunli
has raised for all pnriioses during the last decade upward of
.'>7l'.llilO. niakinc a grand total of .$170,000 recorded for the
iliirty-five years of church history. The ehuridi. in member-
ship, ranks amonj; the first fifteen out of the 270 Baptist
churches in New .Jersey, and has one of the most commodious
edifices in the Stati>. The Oerman Baptist Church and the Bai)-
tist Church of Brookdale have both sprnng from this church.
The record shows a lolal membership in thirty-five years of
nearly IMHI. Only three of the original niembers remain. They
are Mrs. Catherine A. Hoggs. Joseph P. Boggs and Washington
Paiilison.
THE NEWS* HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
131
The First Congregational Church.
'I'll*' i-'iist ( tnmri';;aiii»n;il rimrrli ..[ I'nssaic was ni*;;a)ii/r<l
ill lNS."i. anil WHS tlu' i>iili;riin I li ..r iiiiinii scrvici's wliidi liail
liccll lll'ld lii ll . . h;i|Ml ir lli> ip rjil ..|I I |.,, ,, iiiiliil..T ..I'
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
yours. The Rov. G. Nash Mciiton, a Pivsli.vtcriaii ik'i;rynian.
was at that tiiiu" coiiiliutin^ a schocil in the vicinity, and hail
cliai';.'!' lit till' iiniciii sci-virrs iliiriiiK thr tall .-iiiil winter ut
ISS-I, at which tinu' slr|is wcr',- takiMi to iir^'aiiizc a church.
Sovoriil (UMioiiiinations were rci)roscntO(l, au<l. although Con-
)rri'iiatii>nalists w;'n' in the minority, all felt thes could unite
under the Innad relliiwshi\i nt CoiiaresHtionalisni. Accorilinsly.
n nieeliiif; was called .March TJ. IS.S.". and held in Tnion Chapel.
The Itev. (". X. .Morton was chosen Moderator, and at that
meetint; the First CoiiKrejrational Church of I'assaic was or-
ganized with the followin.L' meinliers: Lyman S. .\ndrews. Ma-
rie K. Andrews. Alheii ■Puiii. r. Sarah K. Turner. W. W. Xeill.
Ida C. Neill. .losepli K. Hawkins, Mercy C. Nickerson and
Mary .\. .\rmstroni;. ilrs. Nickerson being the only one
iirinj:inf; a letter from a Consresational church, .\lliert Tur-
ner and .Toseph H. Hawkins were chosen deacons ,ind Lyman
S. .Vndrews clerk.
The lirst public service of ibe new church was helil in
the chapel. March L">. .\ CoUf;ref.'ational council was called ami
met .lune 1."), l>i.'^.". which ori.'anized the church.
\[v. .Morton s.'ivcil ihc' diiiich as acting pastor until Ihi'
spriiif; of l!S!S(i. when llu- Kev. S. Fielder Faliner was called.
He was installed .lune l,"i, issil. S.nm atli't a loi was purchased
en the coriUM' of Franklin and \'aii Hoiilen .avenues and a
poriablc buildm;.' creeled, w hie li was di'dic.ated November 7,
l.SMi. Mr. I'almer remained in cliar;;e of I he church until
Deci'Uiber. 1.SS7. The Uev. Wallaci .Xultiu^'. then a student
ill Fnion Theological Seminary, tilled the pulpit dnrins the
winter of 1.SS7, and in .\Liy, bSSM. the Kev. F. G. Webster was
called. lie was followed by the Uev. IL T. Wiildeiner in
May. 1 sill I. Mv. Wiildemer's powerful preachinj; produced a
widespread impression, .ind ,i lot was purchased at High and
Hanilolph streets, on which a tent was erected to accommodate
the crowd of worshippers. It was at'lerward cncloseil and was
known as the Taliernacle. This was remodeled and built over
ill bS!l4 into tlie present structure, a pleasant and coiiimodious
cdiMcc. with Sumla.v-school rotmis, eli'.
-Mr. Widdemer resigned .\Lirch 2:!, lS',rJ. and a call was
eMeliiled to the Itev. \V. I. Sweet, who tilled the pulpit for
five years. 'I'lie present pastor, the Kev. .\lbert H. Hall. 1>. I)..
WHS installed in tlii' spring of IMIS. I Ir. Itall is .-in larnest.
eloi]Uc.it preacher. :iiiil the ciinr<h has a bright outhiok.
Th,' present otliceis ail'; I 'c.icons — .\lbert Turner. .lames
Kingsbury, C. V. Bogia, Fr.iiik Grubb. Clerk- W. W. Neill.
•Superintendent Siiiiday-scliool — K. H. Kingsbury. Tri^asiirer.
.Vliiert Turner. Hislnriiiii— Miss .L V. Fielding. Hoanl of
Trustees — George Krouse, president: K, S. Nickerson, treas-
urer; Fdwiu Cliirk, secretary; Cliarles K. Bales. X. K. .Mitchell.
S. I.. Nickers,.!., ,1. N. Veghti.
The Unitarian Church.
.\ hanilfiil of earnest people organized a riillariaii con-
gregation in .November. l.S!t2. For a long lime they worshipped
in the hall of the Passaic Clul>. coiidueliiiK wrviccs on Snniliiy
evening only. Tin- pulpit was siijiplied toiniKirurily b.v various
clergymen from New Yoik ami Brooklyn, the late Uev. SH'pheii
H. Camp of Mrooklyii being the first regular minister. He
pre: clieil for eighteen months. In the winter of 1.S'.i,"i-!m; it was
decided to engage a resiibiit minister, and the Kev, Frank S.
C. V icks was call. d. IL- left after two years to go to a
laigei" field in Boston. lie was succeeded by the Kev. Wilbird
Ki'cd. an earnest ami scholarly |ireaclier, who, after a service
of 11 little ..ver a year, oceasioiied widespread regret in 1S!I!» by
expressing the conviction that Ic was iinsuited for the iiiiii-
istr.v, and resigning to .nt.r ili.' profession of teaching. His
successor, the Kev. Thomas Kobjeiit. has just t.ei>n installed, in
November, 1S',l!l.
■ The church has for three years had its home in a oosey
little structure on Prospi.ct strei't. Thi' cost of the liuililiug.
willi lot. was .'<lil..".llll. Till' im-mbeiship is l-'.H.
The German Lutheran Church.
St. .lohanni's German Kvangelic.il Lutheran Church was
organized by a iiumb.r of ottb-ers and lieail employees of llie
Botany Worsted Mill. wli.. lor a iiuinber or years after coin-
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
ing lu'rc. in I Sill), fell the loss of the chiirch associations Ihey
liad been endeared to in Germany, Tlie congregation is small
but geniii lis, and it has erected one of the most ornate and
132
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
hcaiitiful ihiirth biiil.lin^'s in tin- <ity. Tluuiuli its tli«ii- spate
is Miiiill. tlR- ruiiiiliiis suars above its smroiiiiiliiics like an
Ol.l Wi.rlil catlieilial. It is i-xi|uisiti'ly int>ili-li'.l. 'Hu' ti-na
c.tta aicliitcitiiral dcsifrus and s.<il|.tnial piwcs are works of
art. notalily tlii- larm- one over the main dixirway. The main
il.'ors are l.oiiml with massive wrought-iron work. Tlie spin-
is a heautifnl example of the aneient art of the eoppersniitli
anil the windows are amonp the best instances of modern
stained Khiss. Inside and ont it is a Bem. In the bell tower
hancs a ehime of beantifnily toned bells. Tin- Kev. Kndolpli
llaessner is the pasior of the ehnreh.
The German Baptist Church.
Ill till- miinth of UeeendK'r. l.Sill. by a nnitiial understand
in;;, thirteen (ierman members withdrew from the Kirst Bap-
tist ("hnrch of this eity and organized into a recnlar (Jernian
Haptist ehnreh upon the same doctrine of faith as their mother-
ehnreh. The Kev. S. Kornmeier of Brooklyn. N. Y.. jireachcd
I he (iospel to them for a time, fidlowed by the Itev. (!. Brnn-
ner. On .Inly 1. 18K2. their present pastor, the Kev. C. II.
Schmiilt. <-onimeuced his labor amonj: them. The services were
held paiilv in the \V. C. T. IT. Hall, on Bloomtield avenne. and
at Keisel's Hall. 20 Second street. In the year WXi the chiin h
Iji.nchI ;;ronnd al Hope avenne and Madison street to bnild a
snitable chapel, lint on account of the hard tinu's tlu' bnihlin;;
project had to be p(,st|:oned. I,ast year, however, the work
was be;;un, and a sn.all bnt snitalde ehnreh erected, at a cost
of .y.'.T'JO. On i-'iptcnber 4. 18'.).S, it was dedicated for divine
service. The church has grown in mendiership. thon;:h slowly,
nnniberinf; at pnsmt .">(! members. It has a Snnday-school of
."ill members, a Women's Missionary Circle and a Yonn;r Peo-
ple's Society.
The First German Presbyterian Church.
This is the oldest (ierman congregation in llic cily. A
preliminary organization of it was efl"ectcfl nn .May I'J. I.ST'J.
after a service comlncted by the Kev. .Mr. Ki-ni »( Carlsladt
at the First Presbyterian Church, then cm Ki\er street, now
Park jilaci- The following were the charter nu'Uibers: Henry
Biegi'l. I.uilwig Plath, Christian Hulier. Hermann Scliioedir,
(i. .Machnow. .1. .1. (iempp. Henry Mutli. Kred. Oeclisli'in, C.
H. Schenik. Caspar Muth. Loins Bernard. Kalh. Hartkorn.
I,< nis Mueller, Marg. Oechslein. Pred Dorsch. Cnstav Schutz.
Henry I.eive. John Biegel. William .\lbre<lit, W. Cayan. Peter
ttrthwein. .Vug. Wedrich. Act. Uo.ss. Christian (Jebliardt. Wni.
Brnnken. Carl Kuehne. (Jeorge Knehne. Mrs. Schleieh. Mrs.
I'riederich. Mrs. Zimmerinann. Otto (Jebel, (Jeorge Orthwine.
Henry Orthwine. Mrs. Hikart. Mrs. Khinann. Mrs. Mangold.
.\iig. .\lbrechl. .1. Wilson.
.\l a meeting on .Marcli -i. 1ST:;. Ilie congregation was
iignlarly organized and receivi'il into the Presbytery of .lersey
City. .\t this meeting the first iddi'rs of the congregation were
also prop! riy elected and ordaiiieil. Tlirir iiaiiics are: 11.
Biegel. H. .Muth, C. H. Sehenck. .\11 Ihiec have already
passed away. Besides these three, the following are mentioned
as those who subse<|uently held the olllee of clerk of the
I hnrch for a longer or shorter perioil: (leorge M;irx. Kirshncr.
!•;. .Vieolai. Caspar Schmidt. Ch. Klotzbach. Val. Keisel. .\ng.
Kan. Aug. Pohl. Clans Michids, Ch. Haag. Kleinsehinidt.
.Vrl.sihun. K. (J. I.nlhvilz. I.. Koeilel. The lirst trustees were:
11. I^-ive. O. Cebel. Ch. Hidier. H. tiebhardt. .1. .1. Cc-mpp.
Kred. Oechslein. Caspar .Muth. In the ri'corils of the year
following the nanu's of these nn-n are found as trustees of the
church: .1. Bii'gel. H. Si.hroeder. I.. Plalh. Viet. Biegel. Chris-
tian (iebhardt. .1. (i. Kivnhardl. H. Harliloefer. ii. Marx, H.
Biegel. .1. Meier. I,, tjnitshow. Vaiipel. .1. I.necke. K. Nieolai.
S. X'oelker. Cli. Kl.ilzbaeli. IIofTiiiaiin. II. Muth. Caspar
S<.l:niiilt.
Barthold.
Haag. (i.
I>. Kopp.
V. Keisi-1, .1. Priederich. H. Gerlach. (i. Prey. I,.
A. Pohl. A. Keuther. Wm. Frank. Wm. DetHer. Ch.
.lahn. M. Klemni. A. Werling. A. Tnlhvitz. G. Otto.
L. Koi'del. Wm. Kiid.
I'"rom the l»vnnning to March. 1888. the (.ougregation was
in charge of the ministers of the Carlstadt German Presby-
terian church. The nanu-s and time of service of these min-
isti'rs are as follows: The Kev. Mr. Kern, from May. 1872. to
the olcse of 1875: the Kev. .\. Baumgaitner. from .lanu.iry
1,1 .lune. 1870; the Rev. F. O. Zesch. from .Inly. 187ti. to Oc-
icbcr, 1S,S;5: the Rev. K. Bering, from October. 188.3. to .\pril.
18X8. From .\pril to .Xovember. 1888. the Kev. C. II. Wedel
of the German Theological Seminary of Bloomtield. N. .1..
supplied the pulpit. During the pastorate of these ministers
c.nly one ser\ ice <'ouId be held ou Sunday, namely, at 4 p. in.
Whi-ii. liiiwever. in October. 1888. the congregation decided
1,1 have a minister who could devote his whole time to their
interests. Sunday morning and evening services wire intr,,-
ilticed Since 18SS the following have administereil pastoral
servic,. 1,, the <liiir,h: tli,- Kcv. F. IS. Hanle. from November.
1.S8.S. to April. IH'M: the Kev. .1. Kamm. till November. 1894;
the Kev. Charles Schlegel. till .luue. 189.'j. The latter was fol-
owed by the Kev. .1. Sihmitt, the present minister of the church.
The membership of the church has been a varied one
, luring the twenty-seven years of its existence. Probably by
far llic greater part of the older German settlers of this town
are ,iM its list of menihers. At present the congregation seems to
In- ,111, ring upon a new period of good growth and developnu^nt.
I",.r a l.iiig liui,', nearly fourteen years, the congregation wor-
shipped in the Sunday-school room of the First Presbyterian
Church, on Kiver street. But when the building on River street
was s,,l,l to the Hollanders the Germans had to look for new
■ luartcis. Ill the autumn of 18,S.') they bought from the Com-
missi,>ii, 'is of the Sinking Fund the building on Washington
pl.i,.,. Ilii'ii ,-..|11im1 Washington Hall. After this bull, ling had
l„.,'ii lli,,r.iiiglil.\ ri'iiiivat,',!. it was dedicatcl. ',11 -May 2. 188(5.
liiiiuedialcly before entering tli,>ir ,iwn ,-luii-,li tli,' ,-oiigrega-
li,,ii held their services at the ..1,1 ('il.\ ll.ill. ,-,ini,T ,.1' I'l-.ispect
,-tiei't and Howe avenue. f,H- a perioil of about three months.
Tile surroundings of the old church building on Washington
place were becoming more and more disagreeable, so that it
was necessary to look for a more suitable site if the cougrega-
lioii wislicl t,. d,, more effective work in the fntiir,'. The prcs-
I m well localeil church property on Madison slrcl. between
llaniili,.ii and Columbia avenues, was bought in Sepiiiuber.
ISilS. from -Mrs. Lizzie B. .Taivis and Miss Lillie .\. Kiisliiig.
W,irk on a new church biiililing was commenced N,.v,.iiib,r.
1Siis. li is a iiretty frame structure of Gothic design, built in
111,. ..Id cruciform style ami designed by Architei.f K. K. Twist
,.l this city. The cost of the building was a little over .$(j.(MM),
including the interior furnishings. The real value of it. how-
ever, is much higher. The luiihliiig was dedicated on .Inly lii,
l.'^illl, in the presence of a large gathering, as well as a nunil.er
iif clergymen of Passaic and vicinity and of the Hon. C. M.
Il.iwe. the present Mayor. The organizations and societies of
ilie diiuTli ar,': Tlii. Sunday-school, the Ladies" Aid So-
ciety, the Sewing Circle of Happy Workers and the Young
Peop.le's Society of Christian Endeavor. The Sunday-school
is the oldest of these organizations. It was organized in 1X72.
The Ladies" Aid Society dates from October Id. lS7.''i. The
Sewing Circa' of Happ.v Workers is a society of girls from six
to sixteen years of age. and was founded September 22. 1.S!I4.
The ("lirislian Kudeavor Society was organized Marili 4. 1.S'.I7.
Holland Reformed Churches.
Th,' -\i',li'ilaii,l 1!, •formed Cliunli was ,irganizeil. aii,l iii-
corpiu'ated under tlu' laws ,ir New .Tersey. Si'iiteiiiber 211. 1 SS.",.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
133
llii-.iii;;li llic \l<s. \\ . C. Wiist. ip:isIiii- .iT tin' cluinli .il Luili.
nilli iliirl.v-tliri'f imcihIhts anil sixly-niiic <-liilili'fii. 'Pin- tivst
(•lili'i-; wni' (iiTiil Hiiliirs ami It.vii ilc Vrii's. niiil llii- ilcnidiis
r<'IITLis ( '. Kii'Vil :lllil ( 'orili'lills \':lllilil|.loii;.'. SlTvioCS WITC
lii'l.l ill Diiiiclfi' ('lia|i<-l. Ill issl lliM Kiv, 11. Mi'lji-riiik was
calli-d I'niMi (iraiul Haiiiils, Miili.. ami was inslalli'd iis pastoi'
nil AuL'iisl .'i. 1)^84. In Ncivi'iiilM'r. INS."), tlic iMinKronalion IioukIh
I 111' "III ricsb.vtorian cliuirli in I'ark place, on conilitinn that
tlu' I'ri'sli.vtt'i'ians iwc ilir ni.iiii i-liiirrli .iinl tlio Xcili'rlamli'fs
the liasi'incnt until llir liim- iif iniiipli'tiun iif the new Prcsliy-
lirian rliiinli. li; 1SS7 l>iiiiiinic .Mi'iji'iiiik hail a rail to tin'
.\r\v Amsii rilaiii .NiMlcrlaml ('luirrh ami left ra>saii'. 'I'lir
lonjirrKatiiin then ciiinnioncotl oorrcsiiiimli'in r willi .1. A. I'liii^
fi-imi Si'liii'ilani. llnliaml. He .ari'lvi'il nu Ma.v 1-. ISNS. ami
upiiii cxaniinati .11 li.v llir Ui'V. ('. Vui'st \v;is iiislallril as rctfil-
lar pastiir on .Inl.v .'I. ISSS. Hi- scrvi's tin- conjinKalion still.
The churi'h socittics consist of a Sunday-school wiili .VJ
.scholars, .lolin Rose, .stipcrintcndcnl. :ind foui- teachers, and .i
sln;;in.i; society with :!ll nicniliers. .Mrs. .Tohannis de I.eiiiw
and I'etci- .\. ll.acens, instrnctors.
The pirsi'iil ollicers are: EliU'rs — Arie v.aii \'liel. reter Kra-
nentinr;;h, .lohn Itnse. .Idle Wiarda. Deacons — .John Haseiis.
Cs. Wai'ner, lleiulriU Drost, Jakob A. Tvoost. Trustees — John
Kose. presidont; John Hageu.s, secretary: Cs. Warner, treasu-
rer: Tennis Kii'vit. .Inkoli .\. Troost.
Tile I'irsI Holland Keriunieil Cliiirih was lonj; known as
llie .\Iiinriie Street Holland Cliiiiih while il worshipped for
for many years in the old white Imildinf; on Monroe street.
This has now ln'cn abandoned for a substantial-looking build-
infr. costinfr .$17,110(1, at Hamilton aveiuie and .lackson street,
completed and dedicated in I.Silll. The Itev, .Martin Klipse
has 1 n the pastor since IS'.M',. Tlie cliiin-li was or^'aiiized
December S. 1ST:!.
The Christi.-in llnllaiid Uelorini d ('liiinli owns a liandsonii'
bnilding and parsona;;e on Hope avenue, iie.ar M.-idismi sireel,
and is a Honrishinu and ititlnential coinire^ation. The Itcv.
r. Kiislen is the pastor.
Passaic Bridge Union Chapel.
The Passaic Ilriduc ( Miris1i;iii I'nioii was ori;anized in
l'''ebrinir.v. 1877; was incin'porated in September. 1S7S. ;iiid
derives its ^!nancial snp])ort from volnntary olTcrinsts. li built
a T'nion ("hapel for that sccliini. which was then without a
clinrch. The intent nt llir I'nioii was sot fortli in the b.v-laws,
which <a.\ (hat: "In older to .-ivoid controversy, llie disenssion
cif ,iiiy imiiit at issue between evanj;elical denominations shall
mil be ti)|i'r:ited at any iiiectinL.'." and ".No drbl shall lie in-
curred by this association."
Thus coiistitnteil. this association iias iii;iiiil aii.ed Sabballi
evenin.!.' services, in which all M ho desire to worship (Jod may
join ecpially. The Sunday-school holds its sessions in the chapid.
The chapel has liccn a ijreat blessisiK to Passaic Bridfre. bnt
since the establishment of the ('on;;re}.Mtional Church, followed
by the iliirress ol li.e Newark trolley line, wliiih iiiakis it easy
to reach the uptown cli'inlirs. llie .il lendance at the services
has been falliin; off. Tin rnioii is to be dissolved, and the
bllildili.u' will lie maiiil.iineil ti>r Sniiday-sclionl purposes only.
The Itev. K. II. Ilei-nm was ilie last niinister in ili.irL.'e.
Other Organizations.
Wiimen's Clirlsliaii Assodalion ami the Swedish Lnlheraii
< 'liiirch.
ThiTe arc two Hebrew synacognes in I'nssnic. The Con-
gregation IViiai Jacob, at Wasliinglon place mid Columbia ave-
nue, is the oldest. 11 dates ba(k twelve years, and has owned
its present propert.v for four years, having purchased il from
the Christian Uefornied Chiii-.b. Itablii M. Iiippinaii and Pres-
ident Louis (ioodniau are the principal ollicers. The Ciiiigrc-
gatioii Kikar Cholini, organised in 18!).'i, has a synagogue on
Second street, and niaiiilaiiis a Hebrew school, in which chil-
dren are taught the history and literature of their race after
their daily studies in (he public schools.
The .\frican I'nioii .Mctliodisl ProlestanI Church (coloreiK
was organized in 187."> by Uobert Sheppardson. Heiijainin Wil-
liams, S. .lohnson and others. It was without a regular pastor
for ten ye:irs, when the Uev. .Toseph King was' sent here.
The congregation then reinoveil from Speer's Hall to a little
biiiliiing on Oak street, near Main avenue, now used as a
chill lioiise. In 18!)4 another building was erected on Oak
street, near .Myrtle avenue, which was completed b.v the Uev.
Thomas H. Scott, who succeeded -Mr. King. In .November.
ISUo. the Itev. J. II. Washington was called, to be succeeded
ill ISiill by ih,. i;e\. W. Uobeiison, 'Hie Bethel A. M. E.
Clinrch (colored) is :i more recent ergaiiization. The Itev. T.
.1. .lackson is jiastor.
Young Men's Christian Association.
llvii- liair a leiiiiiry ago tieorgc Williams and a few friends
gathered in an niipcr room in London and formed the first
Young Men's Christian .Vssociation. It was eminently fitting
ili.'it the lirsl step toward rorming sm h an organization in
This docs 111.1 cNliausl the list of religions m-ganizalions.
some of which, though doing a noble work, <.an hardly be said
to have a history, .\inoiig these are the I^'xington Chaiiel. a
branih of the First Jlethodist Episcopal Chnrch: the Women's
Christian Temperance I'liion and the newly organized Young
THE. T. M. C. A. BUILDING.
Passaic should bo taken in an upper room, when, on the Ptli
day of December, l.SOl. twelve young men met together at the
boarding place of one of their number, and considered the ad-
134
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
viKiiliility of estiililisbiii;: iin association in onr city. Witli ;i
strun;; faitli in tlie power of prayer, tlic-'c youn« ini-n met on
Snnday. Decenilicr 20. l.sjtl. in their lirst devotional service
in till- parlor of the Methoilist C'hnrcli. The next step was the
permanent ori.'anizatii>ii of tlie Passan- Yonn;; Men's Chris-
tian .Vssociation. on March IT. M^'.Ki.
.\t this nieetini: a cnnstitntioli was ailnpteil anil a Hoard
of Kirectors electetl. coni|M>s«Hi ^if fifteen linsiness men. .\t
the lirst ineetini: of this Board Dr. (,'. M. Howe was iinaiiinn>iis-
ly electi'd pnsident.
On .Inue 1 of that year C. H. Kin;.'sl)Hry of IJhixle Island
was called to the positiun of fJeni-ral Secretary, and in the
same inonih lieailipnirters were secured in the Willett huilil-
inir. at 2."^; Main aveniu-. where parlors, reartin;: and social
rooms were openeil. with musical instruments, all current
periixlicals and sanies for the ii.si- of nn-mliers. In l.S!):5 David
f'arlisle was elected president, which p'lsitinn he lias hclil
continuously since that time.
In this lirst year of its existence the .\ssociation was nut
idli'. .V clanie at the newspaper liles of that year reveal a
continual record of socials, receptions, athletic events and rc-
liuious services. I'mler tie' guidance of (Jeneral Secretary
Kiii!;sl>nry its crowih had heen a steady, healthy one. and it
was with keenest regret that his resignation, which was pre-
senteil in April. 1)S!)4. owinj; to ill-health, was acceiitetl by the
Hiiaril of Directors. Two months later K. T. Kleniin^-. who
had been very successful as secretary at Cuinlierland. -Md..
was called to succeed Jlr. KiiiKsluiry. After a service of nearly
two years he resipneil. and was succeeded by the present
tiein-ral Secretar.v. William K. Daum.
The association, with a work that wa.s jn'owinc in all its
deparlnn-nts. now liecan to feel the neeil r>f a permanent or-
)::niixation. Aecordin>:ly. on .November :i(l. IS'.Mi. it was in-
I'orpiirated and a Bo:ird of Trustees idected. coni|«pscd of nine
well-kimwn citizens. Thus the first detinite step was taken In
secure a home for the A.ssociation. In .January. l.S!t7. the
Board was very fortunate in securing a cntrally located lot.
a sift of the late Kdo Kip. .\u enthusiastic canvass for funds
with which to erect a buildin;: was immediately bejinn. I'lans
were secured, and in Aujiust. 1S98. ground «as broken for the
m-w building. On October 2!l. l.SttS. the cornerstone was laid
with inijjressive ceremonies.
Thi- building is now complete, and the handsome edifice
on Lexington avenue stands as a monument to the generosit.v
of the jiublic-spirited resnlehts of this city and to the untiring
.ind faithful efforts of the Board of Directors. Secretar.v Daum
and the members of the Association.
With the excei>tion of the two stores on the first floor,
the entire buililing. from roof to basement, is devoted to the
u.se of the association. In the basement, which is well lighted
and ventilated, are found the bathrooms, containing shower
and needle baths, sufiidied with hot and cold water; a large,
well-appointed plunge bath, dressing rooms with individual
lockers for members, howling alleys and a bicycle storage room.
In the rear on the first floor is the gymnasium annex, with a
Moor space 4.Sx.")(i fett. thoroughly eriuippcd for the work of the
Physical Department. This room is also used as an auditorium
with a seating capacity of .itK). On the second floor are fouml
a spaiions reception hall, with .secretaries' otiices. reading room
and librar.v. recreation room, directors' parlor and a handsome
double parlor. The third floor is devoted to the use of the edu-
cational and boys' defpartmeuts. and the fourth floor is fur-
nished as a men's dormitory.
The governing fiower of the Association is the Board of
I >irectors. which is elected for a term of three years by the
active members of the association. The present Board and its
officers are as follo«s: David Carlisle. President: C. (J. Hanks.
l''irst Vice-President; F. W. Soule. Second Vice-President; K.
D. Kent. Treasurer; .1. E. Ackerman. Recording Secretary;
Dr. C. -M. Howe. A. Swan Brown ideceased), C. E. White. !■'.
(Jruiib. T. .\. It. Goodlatte. A. Z. Van Houten. DeW. C.
Cowdrey. T. .M. Moore. E. Flower. (J. W. Brown.
The Hoard of Trustees holds in trust all projjerty owned by
lln' association, and its members are as follows: Edward I'hil-
lifis. President: 1,. 1". Spencer. Secretary: .1. A. Willett. Frank
Hughes. .T..s,pli H. Wright. F. A. Soule. Dr. C. .\. Church.
Cordon iHiiiii. Daviil ('.-irlisle.
THE HUGHES BUILDING.
Kri'CtKl oil I III' site of thi' nil) ■FlHl Iron.'
CHAPTER XX.
CHARITIES OF PASSAIC.
Two Complete Modern Hospitals An Orphan Asylum — A Bureau of Charities — A Union Benevolent
Society — A Day Nursery and a Rescue Mission.
Tl 1 !■; liiispitiils of I'lissMU- tr.uc llu'ir ili'S<(Mit from ,i fire
(lisin'iisiiiy opi'iird niul iniiintMiiiod by llii- nu'inliris nf ibr
I'lis-Jiiie City Mciliciil SDcicty. in ISltl, iit 277 I'assuic
stn-et, in tlio Imililiiif; n.iw iKciipiiMl liy llic I'Msssiic Street Mis-
siim. Some yi'.irs previims to tliiit tliere had liei'ii efforts to touiul
a hospital. 'I'lie tirst was in 1SS4. ulien It was proposcil to start
one in lonneetiun w illi ihe llonic^ ;niil ( Irplinn Asylnni. ami
the seeond a year ei' so later, x\ hen an enlhnsiastie meetiiif;
to discuss tlie sulijei-t was held at ihe Innni' of I >r. Cornelius
Van Uiper. 'J'lie meetin;; adjourned at the call of the ehair,
and it was imi>ossilde ever to i-'et a snttieient limnber toj;ellier
a.L'ain.
The Medieal Society, when it opened Ihe ilispeiisary. pro-
vided one or two eots for aeeident eases, where patients could
lie broufiht wlnle arrangements were ma<le to semi them to cme
i>( lhi' i'aleisen hospitals. 'Plu'se facilities \ver<' soon iiver
iaxt'd. '1 lie ujiper floor \\';is renteil. and the place became
the Emeii;eniy Hosoit:il. ii 1 women interested themselves,
and evenliially formed the 1. allies' .VnNili.iry. relieving; the
physicians of many c ares.
On Juiu' 17. IS'.IL!. the doctois incorporated as the I'assaic
Hospital .\ssociation. with the followiii!; charter inendiers:
I>rs. K. A. 'I'lMlinne. .1. .\. llei;einan. Cornelius \'an Kiper.
F. 11. Kice. \V. II, C.irroll. (!. .1. Van Schott. John J. Sullivan.
V. 11. Terhnne. C. 1,. Kniidle. F. V. C. Uemarest, .1, V. llad-
ley and ( leorne T. \\'elch. .V meeting; of the incorporators was
held on Keci'iubcr 'Jl at the I'assaic street iinarters. Soon
afti'rward Ihe Knn>r,i;eney Hospital was moved to I'arl^ place
by the Ladies" Ati.\iliary, which had taken ehiirge of it.
It was in June, l.SitJ, also, that part of the present property
was jriven as a hospital site by the late Mrs. Susan J. Palmer,
and it was this gift that led to the incoriioration, Mrs, Joseph
Hegeman, who had treasured a hiispit,al iiroject in her ndml
ever since 1880, had at first intended lo present the land, and
a cominittee of physicians ui-nt o\cr the AycriKg pro|ierty to
select the site. They chose the coniiuanding bluff on which the
hospital stands. On examining the maps, it was found th.it,
while Mrs. Hegeinan owned the grouml at the fool of the
hill, the hill itself belonged to her sister, Mrs. Susan .1. I'ahncr.
This made no difference. .Mrs, rainier generously gave lainl
worth .$4,<HI(l, It fronted on Lafayette avenue and ran to the
centre of ihe block. It was iiro|iiised to ch.'ingi' the iianic of
the prospective institution to the Ayerigg Hospital, out of
compliment to the f.imily of .Mrs, I'almer and Mrs, Ilegi-
uum, but .Mrs, rainier vetoed this.
There was for a time some difTerence of opinion among
the hospital -Yorkers as to the proper policy to imrsni'. The
wonu'ii weri' anxious to see their Hmergency Hospital grow,
aiul advised against a more ambitiotis project. The doctors
were reluctant to let Mrs. Palim-r's gift lie idle. Much tiini'
was spent in debate, ami wlieu Mrs. I'almer ileedi'd the prop-
erty the conveyaiu'c contained the significant provision thai
there shoidd lU'Vi^r he an.v women on the Imspiial Hoaril of
Directors. I'lans were at lirst drawn for a building to cost
.S2."i.illM>, and subscriptions were taken. Then, partly by gift
and partly by iptirchase. twenty-three inlditional lots were oli-
fained in 18!M; from the heirs of Mrs. I'almer at a cost of
.$::.ll()0. This extemleil Ihe property to the Boulevard. It has
sim'i' been enlargeil by the gift fnun Mrs. Hegeman of the
land at the foot of the hill, reaching as far as Maple street.
Some day this will become a heautifid little park.
It was originally intended to liavi' the building front on
Lafayette avenue, but a larger structure was planned to face
southeast. On Seiitember 14, l.SiMi, the plans of Fred W.
Weiitworth were adopted for a brick building, <;o;hi<' in style
and pleasing in design. On December 7 a contract was signed
with John W, Ferguson to coiniilete the work for l<4ll,lilHi,
<;:oniid was broken five days later. On .March 11. l.S!t7, the
cornerstone was laid, and on Xovendier 1 the biiililing was
opened. The Kmergency Hospital, which at this time was
in the ol.l liegeman mansion, on Itiver Drive, was then dis-
coiitiniied. The General Hospital, as it has come to be called,
has Ihns been open slightly over two years, and up to .Novem-
ber 1. l.S!«t. it had cared for S:54 patients.
Its departu'ents are nu'dieal. surgical, gyiu'cological ami
eye and ear. It has a complete modern ei|iupment in every
respecf. It h.is a splernlid oiierating room and two adult
w.irds of ten beds each, children's ward of tell beds. tW"
wards of two beds e.ieh ami nine private rooms, making
a total of forty-three beds. The nursing is the work of gradii-
ati' nurses, assisted 1),\ ihe members of a training school.
-Miss (iertrude M. llealy. a graduate of the I'atersou (Jeneral
Hospit.-il. with experieiicL' in the Boston City Hospital, had
charge of the schocd from its inception unlil the summer of
l.s'.lli. She was assisted by Miss Rosiiia Vreelaml. Miss Dai.sy
Duighr, a graduate of the New York Hospital, and fiirmer
assistant at Ihe Smith Infirmary of Stateii Island, is the pres-
ent superintendent.
Dr. .\. L, Childs was the first house physician of the insti-
1 111 ion. He was followed by Dr. Frank M. Stagg, who was
succeeded in ISIHl by Dr. W. H. Lawremi'. Jr.
The present officers and directiU's of the I'assaic (ielieral
Hospital Assoei.-ition are: I'resideiit, Joseph Iloldsworth: Vice-
President. Dr. .1. A. Hegeman; Treasurer. Uichard Morrell:
Secretary, E. B. Maynard: ,Iaines B. Ackersoii. <i. D. Bogart.
Oscar Dressh-r. Frank Hughes, .\nilrew McLe.-m. Peter Ueiil,
Dr. George L. Itnndle, Dr, (;, .1. \:in Sdiott, ,1, A. Willett.
(J, \V, Blauchard, F, C, Streekfiiss. H. L. Bascli. Dr. Edwin
Dc Haun, James .\. Fuller. Thomas M. Moore. C. W. A. Pfeil.
Dr. I". H. Kice, General Bird W. Spencer. Dr. Cornelius Van
Kiper. J. J. Van Noordt. .M. Lnjanovits. Charles Burrows, of
lintherford: William .MiKenzie, of East Uutherford: (Jeorge
C. Mercer, of Lodi: U. \V. Booth, of Xutley: Dr. P. A. Harris.
of Paterson.
138
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Till- lalf -Misi's !•;. \Vi>itlii-ii WHS pn'sidi-ut of the associ-
iitiiiii from 1S!W until liis ik-ulli on I>Ofi»nili<>i- 'Jii. l.Sil". His
loss was ili'<-|ily fflt. as oiiiTg}' »"« *''? ilouiiiiaiit iiott- of his
THE OLD HEGEMAN HOUSE.
I Kornierly ijie EnierKOury JlospUal l
»*liiira«'I<'i*. anil sonn- nf Iiis Iit'st w«>rk was ;;ivt'n to tlu* i-ansc.
Tin- I.ailirs' Auxiliary has llic followlnj; ortui-rs: I'rcsi-
<h-nt. Mrs. .1. N. I'nIl.T: Vic<--ricsiilciits. Mi-s. ('. I!. Wise. Mrs.
(Ji'orcc \\'- Itl.inkniaii: SfcrHary, Mrs. II. B. Timl.ill; Trcasii-
i-iT. Mrs. Maria Mivcn. Tlic An.\iliary earns its n.-mic in many
way.s, ]iarti<-nlarly liy its enthusiastic work on vmions iiilcr
lainnients in the Inisiiital lielialf.
St. Mary's Hospital.
Si. .M.iry's Ilusiiilal .\ssocialioii was iliarlcnMl .ViiunsI 111,
l^iiri. till- iiirorporators lieiii); Hisliop W. .M. Wi'ijier. of the
iliecese of Newark: the Very Kev. .1. .[. O'Cnnnor. ('h.-imellor
of the ilio(esi>: the Kev. .loliii A. She|i|iaril. rei'tor of St. Nieh-
olas' Koiiiaii Catliolii' Chiinli: the Itev. ('. Monilorf. of Carl-
stadf, the Itev. .1. E. I.ainhert. the lU'V. .1. .1. Cmineely and
Ilrs. (!eor;:e T. Welili. Frederick K. ('. Ileniarost. John .1.
Sullivan and W'illi.ini II. Carndl. The four doctors naineil hail
withdrawn froiii the I'assaic lliis|iital Assoiiation some time
inevioiisly liecanse of dilTereiiees of oliiiiion with the majority
iilioiit the |irii|ier iiiaiia;;eiiienl of the Kmer^'incy Hospital.
The chill house near the Catholic church was converted
into a neat and satisfactory hospital with a dozen lieds. ll
was opened on .Vncnst l.">. I.S'.l.'i. A lniildlnj; site at Mich slicel
and AycriKK :iveniie was purchased hy Father Sheppard in
that year. The neiifliliorin^' property-owners did not ^reel
the pi-os|iect of a hospital with enlhiisiasm. and an effort was
made to repnrcliiise the property. Iml it failed. I'l.-ins for a
I'llildin.; v.itli a fioiita^'eof lill feel, a depth of 111(1 feet .iinl four
stories lii'ili. with a liaseinenl and a rear snli-cellar. were pre-
liareil liy Schickle iV Hitinars. The eontnict was awarded to
Smith Hrothcrs for .$:!S.IKI(I. The cornerstone laying w.is the
occi'sii II III a «ieal celelnation, the orators liein;: (loveriior .lohii
W. tJriiiKs and Hislmp .Mctjnaid of Kochester. The Iniildin^' was
delayed ciiiisiileralily by the conlractors sliip]iiiii: work and the
liliiiK of iniiiiy liens. It was Kiiislied hy the liondsiiian. and the
portion of the contract jirice iine.xiiended was paid into Chan-
cciy to he divided iiiiioii): the creditors. The linildiin; was
oceil]>ieil on .NoviMiilier S. LS'IM.
The hospital, fnrnisliiiiKs and ciinipmeni arc v:iliied ai
¥."i;,(ltM), The linildiliK is of lirick. stone and iron, very siili-
sl,iiitial, rcslint' on the solid rock, soniid-proof where necessary
and of the most approvi'd liospit.il constrnctinn. Tlicie are
two snrj-'ical and two medical wards with eijrlit beds cadi, a
children's ward cdntainiiiK four lieds and li'ii private romns.
niakiii;^ fort.v-six IxhIs in all. The hospital is non-scct:irian.
and its doors are open to the sick of every race and creed: bill,
beiii;; ninler ('.■itliolic .•nispices. the institntiMii is maiiajrcil by
the Sisters of the Order of St. Klizab<>tli. whose headiiuaiters
.■ire at Madison, .\. .1. Sister Mechlilde was supervising nurse
from Aii;,'iisl l."i. l.Sil.'i. until Noveinlier 24. lN!t!). when she
was transferred to .Vewark and sncceoded by Sister Uose \'iii-
ceiit.
l-'or four \ears there was only one chMii;:e in the medical
staff. Ill December. 1.S!h;. Dr. .I.din .1. Sullivan resimied In
siieiid two years in profcssiniKil study in Kiiropc. lie was
siieceedeil by Dr. I'eicy II. ■rcrliiiuf. In ( >ci..l.ci-. ISIHI. the
Mother Superior of the Order announced to the staff her con-
viction that a ehaiifie was desirable, and thanked tlieiii for
their faithful labors, ll devidoped that the iiiteiitimi was to
make the hos|iital .-i homocnpathii' iustilutiou. and the follow-
ing' st.-iff was appoiulcd by I hi' Koanl i>{ Trustees at Madi-
si u: —
Chief of Staff- Dr. Ch.nles .V. Church, of this city.
\isitin;jr I'liysiiiaiis — Drs. Kdwin Dc Kami ami .\. C. Iti-
c.ndo, Tassaic: Dr. I'orter S. Kinue. I'aterson: lb 11. II.
Ilollister, Itullicrf.inl: Drs. .1. K. Miillmlhind ;iim1 W. S. Haker.
.\ewark.
Ccuisiiltiu;: I'hysieiaiis— Dr. F. li. .Mandeville. .Newark^ Dr.
.1. I,. Seward. Orange: Dr. T. V. Kinne. raterson: Dr. IC. .1.
Howe, Newark.
Visiting .Siir^'ci'iis ..ml < iyuecolo.iiisls— Dr. C. ll.rlicit
Clmicli, .Nuilcy; Dr. I". I ). N'reolaud, Paterson: Dr. I'. C.
Bunn, Oram,-!': Dr. S. Wi'lliuaii Clark. Jersey City; Dr. II. II.
K. Sleght. New.irk: Dr. F. .\. MandeviUe. Newark.
Coiisullinir Surgeiuis and ( Jynaecolotrists— I )rs. (Jeoijic W.
i;.. belts. S. F. Wilcox, H, 11. Tuttle. William Tod llclmulh.
.ir.. and .lohn 11. Thoiup.snn. all of New York Cily.
Specialists — Kye, ear. nose and throat. Dr. 10. II. K.ilduin,
.Newark: stomach diseases, Dr. S. Wellmau Clark. Jersey City.
Ccuisultiiu; Surgeons and ( ;.\ uccolojiists Drs. (Jeor.L'e W.
frich. New York: nose and throat. Dr. C. 10. 'icets. New York.
Cimsullinj; Dermalolo^'ist- Dr. II. .\1. De:irborii. .New York.
Other apiioiulmenis are to bi' made. The uperatiilK room,
which is a fit'm, is to be e.iuipped with a I'c.uiplete sterilizing
outfit, male atlendaiits will be cngafied. and the hospital will
appe,-il to the ver,\ large l">d.\ III physicians of the hoiuoeu-
THE HOLY NAME CLUB HOUSE.
< I'ormerly St. Mnry's Hospital >■
pailiic school in Northern New Jersey, who at present have
no hospital at a convenient distance for their patients. This
will be a benefit to the cotnmunity, u.s it will lighten the bur-
DR. JOHN A. HEGEMAN.
DR. CHARLES A. CHURCH.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
14)
llc'll III' SMllllHllilm IWcl lliispilals. wlliill ll;l>. Ilillji'I'hi lllTll cllclT-
lllllv sll:ircil liv Mil .-Imssi-s.
ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.
Kiicli hcispit.-il rc'ccivi'S rrniii llic i-diiiily 81.111111 ;iiiiiiiallv.
'i'lw city iiiiilii's III! siMtcil priivisioii. Iiiit |i:iys :\ wrcUly slipciHl
Icir I'lirli iiMliciit iinliTid Ihcir liy tile ;iiitlicii-i( ii's.
The Home and Orphan Asylum.
Tlir l';issair Hiniii' niicl ()r|ili;ui Asyhini Assdciatiuu \v:is
iir^.'iuizi'd Nuvi'iiiluT ■_"J. ls,s-j, .ni.! iiicdriiui-iilcil Dcoembor 17.
1.SS4. It lii'^MM hy iriiiiii"; ilii' Marsh hoim'slcail. in T/Pxiiif;-
toii avi'iinc. w liirli \\as (ncniiii'd until 18.S7, when tlic picsi'iil
roniniiiiliiins Imnir at Kivcr Driyc and (Iri'iimy avrnui' was
mtui'imI. .\ iiayini lit of a few lliimsand dullars was ui.ado
•a! .pni'i-. In .May, 1!S.S.S. JIi-s. I'ctci- Uciil uiwf .$i;.r)(l(l. .Mrs.
lliairy .\. I'.ariy .?1,000. and these fiifls. wiili lesser oues. wiped
uiir the nuirt^ase delit. Noxy the asscii'iation owns a coni-
fiii'talile hcmie, stamliii;; in spacimis jininnds. the entire prop-
erty beinjr worth nearly .$lill.(Hi(). The ^v()rk of the association
Avas generously sniiporteil nnlil the pressing claims of yoniiger
cliarities cansed sonic of its ac<aistonied reyeniie In Itc tem-
porarily diverti'd. a cmdition \yhich sliniilcl not be allowi'il to
coiitinnc l.iiiu:. "Tlic Home" lias done imlilc wmk. \\ the
present time Iweiiiy lonr oipliaiis and a;;cd persons, who are
need.y and iiilirm, .-iie its inmates, 'i'lic a\ei-;me iinmlicr jiro-
yidcd for is hetween thirt.y-tive and forty.
'I'lie otlicers are as follows: I'resideiit. .Mrs. Irvinj; .Vnuell:
First Viee-rresi<leiit. Mrs. T. M. Mocn-e: Second Vice-I'resi-
dent. Mrs. Titter Keid: 'Preasnrcr. .Mrs. .lolni <). Tolten; Uc-
iili^^W^ '-jf^affi- '^^ffi;i
^^
l^
:^^r^^B? -' r'
THE HOME AND ORPHAN ASYLUM.
cordin;.' Sci-retary (vacancy); Corresponding' Se<'retary. Mrs.
It. D. Kent.
Other Benevolent Institutions.
The oiliest organized charity in the lily is ihi' I'liioii
Hciievoleni Society, formed lute In iSKi iiy Mrs. 10. B. Il.iwe,
mother of our present Mayor, and other liulies for working
in conjunction with the Iniied States Siiiiitiiry Comiuissioii.
the parent of lli,. nolde K.d Cioss Society. Tlii-y I'ollected and
i.inde car nts for wounded ami sick soldiers and shipped
them to the fi-ont.
When Ihi' war was over the ladies formed a pi'rmanint
or;:anizalion. and liej;aii caring for the poor. .Mrs. Howe was
I'lccli'd presidi'iit year after year until IHSl. ami .Mrs. T. M.
M<'ore has ix'cupied that otiice ever since — a period of eighteen
yens. The other olllcers are as follows: first Viee-rresideiit,
.Mrs. Calharine A. Bokks; S.-coimI Vlee-Pre»i«lent, .Mrs. E. B.
lloMc; Treasurer. .Mr. <). S. I'"reemau: KecordiiiK Secielary.
-Miss l.olti; Piidney.
Tin- society aims to reach the unfortunate ami deserving
privatcdy ami in th<> h , offers temporary help to tide them
over sea.soiis of illiu'ss or distress, and preserves their indo-
pcmleuee and si-lf-respect liy scrupulous care ami delicacy.
It furnishes food, medicine and clothing, lint selilom mom'y
and never pays rent. Its otlicers hidieve thai in this way il
.IV. .ids spreading tlu' curse of chronic dependeucy. The so-
ciety has distriliiited :is many as S.tMMI garments in a year,
m.Miy of them entirely new ami f.-ishioned at the .sewing ineet-
iofis hidd at tin' homi's of its memliers. The exiieiulitures for
food and medicine have reached as high as .ftKHl during a few
months in the winter. .\n annual rejiort of the wi.rk is made
at the I'nion Thanksgiving servi<'e of the evangelical ihnrches,
at which time a coUeeticni is taken for the society.
l'"or the last three years the society has heeu working in
iKiinioiiy will, the linrean of Charities, which collects aud
(lassilies rc'e jrds of applicants for charities to ascertain who
are wurthy ami to prevent the unworthy from obtaining lu'lp
simiiltani'onsly from many different sources. It was found
that ceiiain persons were in the habit of making the rounds
from om' society to amilher. soliciting aiil. and thus living on
charity almost continually. By means of this bureau the
Circles of King's Daughters and othi'r church societies are
able to ascert:iin (jnickly and definitely who are the worthy
.11 |ilicants.
The I'assaic Day Nursery was established in 1S!»1 to take
care of the little children of working mothers during the day-
time. It is m)t e.xactly a charity, as it insists on the payment
of five cents .-i day for each child. f<u' which sum it furnishes
ihrec iioinislpm.' meals. During tin' l;ist fiscal year 2.422
eliildrcn were careil for at an expeii.se of .Sl.l.'il. .\ matron
lindis after their comfort, ami books ami toys are provided for
their aninsement. The Nursery was started in a small house
oil .lefl'erson street, but afterward purchased larger iiuarters
at .Tefferson street and Colniubia avenue. The [iroperty is
valnetl at .'j;.")..')IHI and the debt is only .$l.(Km.
The present otlicers are: President, Mrs. William I. Barry:
\iee-l'n-sident. Mrs. AVilliam S. Benson; Treasurer, Mrs. Wil-
liam C. Kimball; Corresponding Secretary, Jlrs. C. II. .Sonic;
.Vr.ditor. -Mrs. Henry .\. Harry.
The Needlework (!uild of .\merica. which has a branch in
Ibis city, devotes itself to making garments fiu- distribution
lo < harities and pom- |)eople.
The I'assaic branch was lUganizeil in ISiCi and .Mrs. C.
11. (inthrie is president. Mrs. .V. C. Seiiey is secretary, and
other women interested in the work as otlicers or directors are
.\lis. ( . K. Wise, .Mrs. C. ii. Hanks, Mrs T. M. Moore and
.Mrs. .1. II. Whitehead. Kach ottieer and director forms a class
of ten or more, w hiili ni.ikes clothing during the year. Each
member is required to turn in a spe<-itied number of articles.
Hi
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Till- ;irli<li-s are ilislrilnitcil at tlic licKiiining of each winter.
The iiiiiiiher of Kaniieiits ;riven out at one time has been as
hiirh as one thniisanil.
Tlie I'assaic Street .Mission is Imth a rharity and a ehurch.
It is a eharity in the liroailest sense. iH-caiise it reaelies down
anions the hopelessly poor and vii-ions. raises them to a con-
dition of .selr-res|M-ct. starts the nt on belter |iaths. Iak<'s
Iheir cliildren and ^'ives them l)etter training, and pi-caclies the
(ios|H>l til all whii will hear. This has been the work of .lames
K. Jlorris for the last eisrht .Tears. When he started his Rescue
Mission he was aliuust withont friends or siipixirt. but since
then he has been liberally aided in the conduct of a Christian
charity that can never become self-supporting. Mr. Morris
was ordained to the ministry in ISOiP.
» r"*.
.i.-V
J BBaH J aiaa U
A,
■)
- \
CHAPTER XXL
PASSAIC PUBLIC LIBRARY.
With Over 7,000 Volumes, 46.000 Annual Circulation and 66,000 Visitors to Its Two Reading Rooms, It
is Doing a Splendid Work.
PASSAIC is mil' of the few lilios of the St;Uf. ami anions
t!i.' liisl, uliicli toi>k ailvautatri' of llu' law i-naliliiis; a
MHMiiri|ialilv to taki' a popular vuto nil tlie cstablisliiiii'iil
<il' a piililic lilirai-y. and I" raiso an animal tax of one-tenth of
oi.c pel- ,iiit. oil the lataliles fi)i- its supiioi-t. When the qiies-
lion was sulmiitleil to the people in 1SS7. only thirty votes
win- cast ajiainst it. less than one per eent.
.Mayor Howe a|)poiiite(l as the first Boanl of Tni.stees for-
nur .Mayi>r .lohii -V. Willelt. I he Kev. .1. A. Spencer, D. D..
l»r. .1. ('. Herrick. .V. Swan Brown and Dr. B. B. Aycrij;;;.
-Vndri'W Foulds. President of the Board of Education, and the
Mayor himself were ex-olHcio iiiembers. .\s no money was due
from the i-ity until .luiie. l.SSM, a subscription iiaiier was circu-
lated, and .$2,0(1(1 was raised with ^vllicll to furnish rooms and
purchase books. The institution was opened iu the Campbell.
M<urell & Co. building ou February 13, 1S88.
The foUowiiis tiatteriiifr account of the institution, with the
acconipauyiug pliotoKnip'"'. "'^''^ iniiitcd on Aii.i;ust ti. LSil!}, by
I lie .New York Times: —
"One of the most beautiful and useful institutions of its
kind is the I'liblic Library at I'assaic. .N. .1. While the State
has larger and wisilthier libraries, in very few communities
iloes the publii- library oc<-iipy a mole prominent place or
take a more active p;ut in cilucational life than in the city
of I'assaic.
"The City Ilall. iu which the library rooms are loeateil.
is one of the most attractive public buildings iu Northern
New .Jersey, being situated on the highest ground iu the city,
known as Tony's Nose. The building, originally of an artistic
.Moorish design, and the beautiful park surrounding it AVeie
planned for the residence of the late C. -M. K. I'aulisou.
"The library has occupied these ipiartcrs since 1S'.I2. when
it was reclassified and recatalogued according lo the Dewey
decimal classification system, under the direction of Miss
Tliiii'sa llitchler of the .New York Free Circulating Library.
It has been in existence, howevi'r. since November. 1.S87. The
ai-proprl.irioii from the city, made for the general support of
public libraries, amounts to about .$.S.(l(Hl annually, which is
expended for the general mainti'iiaiice .if the library ami the
piirclias). of new books and jH'riodicals.
"The rooms h.-ive beiMi made attractive by gifts of iiictnres
ami plants from pnblic-spiriled citizens, and it would be hanl
to find a more i-omforlable and cosy spiit in wliiili to spend
a i|iiiel hour among books.
".\t the present time Ihe library coiit.iiiis 7.(I"JS volumes.
Tliesi! have been pnrcliasi'd with money received from the city,
from a beipiest of .'ji.'ioo from the late Mosi's K. Worthen. and
a large number from the profits of a series of entertainments,
consisting of leitnres. i-omi>rts. eti'.. under the auspices of the
Passaic Librar.v Association.
"The annual re|Mirt for IS'.LS shows a circulation of 4(i..">l.'^
volumes, each book in the library having been circulated alioni
six times. The reading rooms weri' used Iiy l!ll."_'7."i persons,
which shows an average <if three visits from t-acli citizen of
I'assaic.
".V bramli libr.iry w.is opened ill lS!l."i in the manufai-
tiiriiig dislrict of llie city, known as Dundee Branch, where
books are eiri'ulated. and where the reading rooms, whicli are
well supplied with the bi'st periodicals, are liberally i>alron-
ized. There is a special room and separate juvenile library
luMc for children. The open-shelf system has here hceu very
successful, as well as at the main library, where the children
are ;illowcd t(^ selef-t their own books.
"It has been the pnriiose of the library inaiiageineiit to
make the connection between the library and the public schools
a ehise one. Books are sent to the class rooms for the use of
the teachers and pupils. Teachers' meetings are held in the
library rooms, and a reference library on educational subjects
has been purchased for their use. Kverythiiig calculated to
promote the interest of the ])eople in ediK-ation. and in making
the library a centre of culture in the city, is encouraged.
"Literary societies are invited to hold their meetings in
the library rooms and to make the reference room their work-
ing centre.
"The library and the branch are under the direction of
Miss Ocelia C. Lambert, librarian, and Messrs. .f. .\. Willett.
Irving Angoll. W. C. Kimball. U. I). Benson and (;. W. Blan-
cliard. Trustees. Mayor Howe and Dr. Frank K. Spanliling.
City Superintendent of Schtwils. are members ex-oHieio."
Besides the gifts above mentioned. .S2.IKM) was given in
IWf!) by an anonymous donor to keep tin- Dniidee Bram-h
open at a time when it was feared it would have to be closed
for lack of funds. Tlie law will probably be amended this
winter, .so that the eity can increase the annual appropriation
to meet the city's growing needs. The Dundee Branch was
made po.ssible in the first plr.ee by a public subscription of
.■j^L.-iCO, taken up without any great effort. Throughout its
histoi'.v. the institution has been managed in an intelligent
sl'.irit and aide<l by public irenerosity. It is at present li.iin-
DUNDEE BRANCH LIBRARY.
percd by Ilii' fact lli.it llie city appropriation snIHces to sup-
port it. but does not leave a margin for new Itooks. Tlie growth
of till' institution deiMMids on the receipt of private funds.
CHAPTER XXIL
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
Three
Strong and Prosperous Banks and Six Well-Managed Building and Loan Associations — Figures
Showing Their Prosperity.
U\ TIL IKSi; I'lissiiii- was without a baiikiiii; oi'Kanixation
ami its ri'sitli-iits tr:iiisai-ti'(l tlicir liiisiiH'ss in Patcrsoii
ami New York ami i-vi'ii IlackiMisack. Many farmers ami
luliori'i-s in this si'ction ilc|Misilril thi-ir savings with the Amlci-
soii I<nnilMT Cciinpany. as it is miw known, the hnsiness havin;;
iiijoyeil their eonliileme to tliis extent for forty years.
The growth of the eity made banking facilities necessary,
ami the Passaic National Bank was orKanizod on Septeiiilier
Itl, l.SS<;. with a capital of ^KHI.fMHI. Bnsincs;, was commenceil
un October lil', 1.S.S(;. The otlicers ami directors were: Presi-
dent. Kdo Kip: Cashier, Kolurt D. Kent: Directors, Moses
K. Wortlieii. Thomas M. Moore, .lolni A. Willelt. Frank M.
Swan. Dr. Charles M. Howe, V. \\. SonU'. Edo Kip, Uidiert
D. Kent. In .lanmiry. l.SSit. .Mr. Willelt was elected Vice-
President. Snbseiinently he became President, on the resigna-
tion of .\lr. Kip. and was afterward succeeded by David Car-
lisle.
The b.'iuk ^Miw in jiidilic contiilence rapidly. On .lannary
1. \SS7, the dejiosits amounted to ."?1ll4.'.t.SS. Three years after-
ward tln-y had jirown to .^".(iCi.lCiii. and at the present time,
with deposits of ovi'r .SoOtl.dMII. a sniplns of .1;.")1 >.(!( I( I and total
resonries of over ^T.M'.iMio, the inslitnlion is in a sound ami
prosperous conrlition anil elijoyin;; the hijihest coiitidenre of the
conimiiiiit.v. This has been ilne to the stamliiii: of the ilirec-
tor.s, their safe management and the safetfiiards imposed by the
.\ati(in;il Kankiii^ Law. The directors purchased the lot at
(he siMithwe.st corner of .Main and Bloomlield avennes in March.
IMSS, and erected a handsome bnildin;; of Indiana linu'stone in
the winliT of ISS'.MMI. It measures :!.■) by (iH feet and is threi-
stories hijili. with a basenu'iit.
There have been few clian»,'es in tlu' mana;.'enient of the
l<aid». The present diiectors are DiLvid Carli>:le. who sncceeiled
-Mr. Sonic in ISST; Charles .M. Howe. IJidiert D. Kent. Thomas
-M. .Moore. (.Jeorjie H. Waterhonse, .lohn .\. \\ illeit, Peter Uiid.
1'. C. Sireckfuss an<l F. A. Sonic.
Dr. Howi- is vice-presiilent .mil niami;,'inv' director. He
assiinu-d the ai-tive supervision of the bank in November. l.S',)!t.
V hen Kobcrt D. Kent resigned as cashier to orsranizc the
Domesiic Kxchaiiv'e .National Hank of .New York, with .S:!im.(l(iii
capital. Ira A. Cadinns was then promoted from iiayinj.' tellci-
to cashier and Fi'mst IJ. .Moody w;is made assistant cashier.
The Untherford and ltid;.'ew I National banks have been or-
);an:zeil with the aid of the stockholders of the inslitution.
The Passaic 'J'rnst and Safe Deimsit Company was or-
Kanizod October 1, 1S.ST. with a capital of $1IMI,INI|I. Its man-
av'cmeiil and policy are on the same liiu's as the Passaic
National Itank, and the same men lu'e largely interested as
sli'cKholders and iliiectors. It organized under the New .Icrsey
U.inkini; l^iw. The board of ollbers and directors was at lirst
as folhiws: Piesideiil. Charles M. Howe: Vice-PlesidenI, Uoli-
ert I>. Kent: Seirei.iry and Treasurer, .lohn .1. Slater; .Attor-
ney. nionia>- M. .Moor,.; .lohn .\. Wdlett. Kdo Kip. .Moses K.
Woitheii, David Ca"lisle. F A. Sonle, .Tohn J. Bowes. George
K. Waterhonse, F. W. .Sonle. IVter Keid. Frank M. Swan.
-V. N Ackerman. A. Z. Van Houten. The chauKOs have been
few. .Ian.es C. Shearman has become secretary and treasurer
in place of Mr. Slater, who is still a director. William F. (Sas-
ton was elected to succeed the late Moses E. Wortheu, and
the vacanc.v caused b.v the death of -Mr. Kiji has not yet been
tilled.
The coiniiany rinniiieiii-eil Imsiness at .'lllli Main a\'i'mu'. in
tile -Music Hall block, since destroyed by fire. When the Na-
fior.al Bank liuildinvr was completed, in 1891), it occupied the
first Hoor, and added the renting of safe-deposit boxes to its
sjivings bank business. Its deposits then ainoniited to .$!Mt.00O.
It is empowered to act as receiver, guardian, execnlor .luil ad-
ministrator and to ailmiuister all trusts authorized by law.
Deposits are received from one dollar u]i. ami interest of -i
per rent, is p.iid si'iiii annually.
ROBERT. D. KENT.
ForiiuTly Viushier Pa.s.s«lr Nattoiml Bunk
.\n exainination of the last statement to the State Bank-
ing Department shows that the capital stock paid in is .filll.OIK)
DAVID CARLISLE.
s. I'nssaic Nutiuiiitt Kiiiik.
HON. ANDREW McLEAN.
rurnuT Mayor uf the City,
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
J 49
:iih1 llir iiiicli\ iilicl iiriilits. (ir siii'|ihis. iiiiKiiiiil to .fl'.t.TH. 'I'ln'
savings ili'iicisils. (Innviii;; I! per ci'iil. interest, aiiiiiuiit I'l
.f:7l.".l..".1!t. lint iiiiliKliiii; $•_':; I. sril.C." of trust fiinils. wliieli .■in-
II ll IS esllll'lislieil A lil.'llli'll ill llie llirivill^' l>nrull;:ll <i|' Ullllll'l--
loiil. where Cliiirli's Huriows is in iliarce as lasliier.
'I'lie institution lias lliriveil reniarkalily. Its eii|>itiil stoek
is at iiresent .<1(MI,IHKi, anil il has a siirphis of $4il.lHHI. Its
total resources are S'.MIII.IMMI anil its ilejiosils exeeeil .S7r.ll,IHMI.
In 1898 the hank pnrehaseil for ijSJtMHHl a plot of t'loiiml
on Main avenue, niiinint.' tliroii);h to the new street known
as Kxehanse I'laee. anil in l.S!)!l eonstriietcci ii six-story modern
offlee hnildinK. superior to anything of the kiiiil in the eily.
Tlie material is (iartiehl liriek with carved lirowiistone trim-
iiiiiiL's. The ImililiiiK cost npwanl of $."i.<KKl. At the rear of
the liiiihlini;. ami eoiiiiiiiiiiieatiii'.; with the stri-et liy a wide
liall. is a spleniliil liankiii^' room, descrihed as the tiiiesl in the
Slate. The eeilinj; is li.'i feet liij.-h and roofed in with a doiihle
.|i me of stained glass. The furniture and woodwork are solid
mal'o;;any. the remainder of the liuildinj; lieiiin linished in
oak. In the basement are .separate vaults for the liankiiiK
and safe deposit business. The new ipiarlers wen •iipieil
ill Uecemlier. IS'.I'J.
The present otiicers are: I'resideiit, Hird \V. Spencer: Vice-
rrcsideiit. Conielius Van Kiper; Cashier. II. II. Thompson;
.Assistant Cashier, Frank Teihiine; l)ire<-tors. Bird \V. Spen-
cer. Oscar Ilressler. .lohn .\. Ilesieman. Andrew Mcl/ean.
<:. I). H(i}.-art. fieorge ('. Mercer. Cornelius Van Kiper, Charles
I'.iiirows. Kicb.irr] Moircll, fj. \V. l-"alstrom.
PASSAIC NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.
on deposit al special rates of iuten^st. 'I'lie resources are
placed at .$S47.SO.'<.li."i. while the total assets and trust funds
rea<h the imposing sum of .$l.ll,SL!.i!i;().:}(X The investments
are mostly in bonds and mortga.ses on improved real estate in
Passaie and Bergen counties, r.nd railroad and government
bonds. All investments are carefully scrutinized, and no risks
are taken. Altliough both banks are housed in the same build-
ing, each has an entirely separate management and staff of
clerks, its own vaults nf the very best cnustructinn and its own
watchmen, day .iihI uiulil.
Considering the two as one institution, their cuinliiued re-
sources aiuount to nearly two millions of dollars.
The Peoples Bank and Trust Company.
This institution, w liidi lias had a woudcrl'iilly rapid growth.
was organized in the fall of 1,S,S!) as the State Trust and Safe
Deposit Company, ll ciiiiinienoMl a general lianking busine.ss
in Van IJiper's bloik on .lanuary 2. I.SiKI, and soon dispelled
doubts as to the ability of the city to support two banks. In
three iiioiiilis" lime il had aciiiiircd two hundred depositors and
npwanl I'f .Slilii.(Hil) nf deposits. Its tirst statement, on May
1. isim. shc.wcl deposits of .^llS.tHIO and resources of ?173,50.3.
The p.-ii.l-iii r.ipital was at tirst .floO.illMl. but this was doubled.
Tile lirsl olhcers were:—
I'residcnt. Bird \V. Spencer; Viee-l'resident. Conielius Van
IJiper; Secretary and Treasurer, Henry II. Thompson: Counsel.
<;arret -V. Ilobart and (ieorge 1'. Kust.
Kxecutive Committee — .lohn A. liegeman. Kiili.inl ^Moirell.
Uiehard Oiitwater, Bird W. Spemcr. Cornelius \'aii Itiper.
Wolstau It. Brown. William >Ialcolni.
Direi-tors — Bird W. Spencer. Oscar Dressier, liieliard Mor-
rell, Oilbert I). Bogarl. Kobert .\I. Offord. Wolstau R. Brown.
Uiehard Outwater, William S. Stryker. Cornidius Van Kiper.
Alfred Speer. lleiny .Meyers. William Mahcdiii. Conielius
.1. Cadmus. .lolm .V. Ile^'ciiiaii. Ijc.prge 1'. Knsl. .Viidri'W .Mi'
Lean.
Till' b.'uk n moved to llie newly ererlcd News building
in the tall of IMiii and changed its name to the People's Bank
and Trust Company. Besides its general banking business, it
receives savings, on which it pays 4 per cent, interest; executes
trusts and is a dejui-iii. ly for State, county and city funds.
GEN. BIRD W. SPENCER.
I^resiaent of Pcnples nank.
Our Building and Loan Associations.
The building and loan idea took root in I'assaic in l.'^S'J,
when the Mutual Building and Loan Association was formed.
It is the "Old Keliablo" association, and is now bigger than
many a bank in cities of the size of I'assaic. It was organized
by William Malcolm, (Jeorge S. Hughes, Adrian Norman and
others, and for the first year had only a few stockholders, be-
r.nisi' building associations were m-w. The tirst annual state-
ment showed such profits that there was a rush of applicants
for shares, ami in seven years the total loans exceeded ,$2,"i(I.IMHI,
llii' meiiibership was 7.">l' and the uMiiiber of shares outstanding
w lis nearly IJ.tHMl.
This has been almost the maxiinuni growth of the associa-
tion, lint it has been steadily maintained, in good times and
J50
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
I'liil. lor 11-11 v.'iiis. Tlio iiiciiiliiTsliip is now 78li. tliiTf hit li.lKiil
sliiiivs oiitst:iii:liiik' anil tlic lotiil invcstnicnts of the iissm-ia-
tioii 11 ro SJIXJ.OOO.
II is hard to believe that in seventeen years the amount
of uey haiiillei] has reached the siiriirisin;; total of *2.:{4r>.( 100.
yet these are llie olDeial figures. The niiinlter of loans made
lias lieen -irKI. and the ii!;i;re).Mte aiiioiint involved has lieen
.^l.OIHt.lNMI. Not a dollar has liecii lost or si|iiandereil. and it
has l.eeii iieeessary to niaki' only thirteen foreilosiires. some
of whieh were friendly proi-.-edin^-s. The career of the Mu-
tual is a woiiderfnl testimonial to the worth of the loan as-
soeiatioii [ilaii and the wisdom of its ollieers anil diiei tors.
The oltieers are at present: Presiilenl. Kavid II. Sliiiserland:
Vice-President. K. ('. Streekfnss: Secretary. William Malioliii:
Triasmer. William II. HornbecU: Sidicilor. Willi:iMi I". <ias-
loh.
III Scpioniliir. 1ST7. some bold spirits orj;aiiiziil tlic I'lu-
ples" BnildiiiK and Loan As.-.ociatioii. It aimed lo improve
sli^rhtly on the Mutual plan, but it was thoujilit that. In view
of the conceded success of the latter, it would have hard work
in k'ettiii); established. On the conlrary. they Hoiirished side
by side, and the Peoples" certainly earned reiiiarUable profits
for a Ion;; time. It is now over twelve years old and has 740
members. holdiiiK Ti.SUS shares. The number of shares s>il>-
scribed for in the last series was 1.1:21. The Peoples' has
^SiS.JSl in oiitstandinfc investinents. and its receipts for last
year were .'i!l.")-J.S7li. On the stren^'th of these ti;.'ures. it claims
lii-st place aiiioii« local bnildin;.' and loan enterprises, and the
State reports show that there are only niiieteeii laifrer associa-
tions anion;.' the XiS in New .lersey. There have been ilian;;es
ill the inaiiiiL;enient. but they have been lew considerin;; that
the associution is twelve years old. .Vssiinlilyman .Inlin Kin;;
has been president from first to last. William II. Specr has been
the only secretary and (JeorKc I". Itiist i;i ly solicitor.
Criiiiis I'.iril is treasurer.
The iie.Kt association to be orv'anized w.is lb.- I iiioii l.ciaii
and Kiiildin^' .Association, wliiih was lurniid in 1X88 by Ncl-
.soii Stoddard. .Vdrian .Norman, .bdiii lleiiiion. .1. Theodore
Speer and others with experience in the .Mutual. They adopted
the |ilaii of reiinirin;; preiiiiiiins to be paid in iiistMllmeiits. as
nil. re ei|uitable than deducting; them from loans in liinip siiins.
and when their plan was criticized made the claim that it was
tavoiable to both borrower and investor, because it would
mature the shares in a shorter time. In March. 1890. Presi-
dent Stoddard had the pleasure of announcing that the first
.series of the riiion had matured in 12!) months, as against
i:{:{ months for the Peoples' and i;i5 months for the Mutual.
The association on that cK-casiou paid out .$2C.(XH) to the holders
of maturing shares. The officers had accumulateil money to
pay off the first series at once, and had avoided borrowing
money, as is fre<|iiently necessary for this purpose. They claim
that their iKilicy has always been to secifre the best results
rather than rapid growth, and while they are classed as tiv)
11 iiservative. tliey think iheir record justifies their policy. The
present oHiiers are: Piesident. Dr. H. F. Datesman; Vice-Pres-
ident. l>r. William II. Carroll; Secretary, Olin S. Twist: Treas-
urer, .lolm S. Cadmus; Recorder, Adrian Xorman; Solicitor,
Walter Kip. There are 2,803 shares in force, with a cash
value of $l'.lli.<i,S(). The existing loans amount to .$l.S;',.:!2ll and
the total assets to .$ I!)7.li00.73.
Tiic llniiie Building and Loan Association was organized
ill ISii.",. h li.is 2lil) shareholders, holding nearly 2.001 shares.
The outstanding loans are .$."')4.i)10. Pnring the last year a
dividend of 8(i cents a share, in addition to (J per cent, interest
III! stock, was paid. The iiUicers are: President, .John .1. Bowes;
\ ice-President. Hamilton M. Itoss: Sceictary. William B. Da-
vidson: Treasurer, Harry Meyers: Solicitor, .Tames A. Sulli-
van. The assets of the association amount to .'i;.")(!..">00.
Tile Passaic Building and Loan Association was the fifth
in the field. It began business in 1S07. and 9S() shares are now
outstanding. The officers are: Piesident, Harry Meyers: Vice-
President. Dr. Cornelins Van Riper; Ti-easurer. John Srluuiili:
Secretary. (I. S. Orcutt: Solicitor, A. O. Miller, .Tr.
The baby assiieiatioli is the Colonial, organized .Vngiist 18.
isiis. ,,ii what is kiiuwii as •'tlie l),-iyton plan." This is a plan
.Irveliipeil i;i D.iytoii. Ohio, where a dozen associations have
thrived under it. The Colonial is so young that it has yet
to in.ike .1 record for itself. The officers are: President, AVil-
liaiii W. W.ils.iii; \iie riesideiit, Fred W. Harding; Treasurer,
M. P. Ilay\\:iid: Seirelain. S. .\. Clarke.
RICHARD WORRELL.
Founder of Campbell, Morrell (t ("o.
HON. WALSTON R. BROWN.
FoniuT Mayor of the C'ily
CHAPTER XXIII.
SOCIAL AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
The Board of Trade — The History of Passaic's Social, Whist, Literary and Athletic Clubs Fraternal
Orders and Trades Unions.
TIllClIK air SI) many cxrilUnl clulis. linl«i's ainl ntlicr i>r-
uaiiizntioiis in wlihli tlii' iiumi aiiil vciiiu'ii of I'lissaic
iiu'ot fur mutual ac(iiiaintaiicc and iiniu'ovi'monl. that it
is ililtirnlt ti) soli'rt oni' to stait w itii. But. ]K'rtia|is. tlio clioin'
will Ih' i-niliM'scd Ity tin* inajtu'ily it" we s'-Irct as the one
which ^vi^'llls the jircalest iiitlin'iuc in sliaiiini.' llic lil'r of the
ciimniuuity— the Board of Trade. That name ami tin- title
of the Citizens' Ininrovoniciil .Association have ;;onerall.v stood,
durinjr the l.asi liiteeti xcars. foi-i'niost anion;; those whi)
work for the city's ;;ood. The Hoard was or^ianized. originally
as the Citizens' Association, in the spring of IKS."), its lirst
otMcers being A. Swan Brown, (iresident; Edo Kip. vice-presi-
dent: Walston TJ. Brown, secretary: F. A. Sonlo. treasurer.
.\mong its most active supporters at the lieginning were ex-
.Mayors Willett and Spencer. William II. Gillen, Afred Speer.
.1. T. Granger anil .1. .1. Bowes. One of its lirst nets was to
issne an illustrated hook on I'assaic, showing its advantages
as a plai I residence, and as offering great advantages to
manufacturers. This 1 k w.is given a wide circulation over
the eoniitr.v, especially in New York, ami has heeii the means
of liringing more | pie .ind imsiness to I'ass.-iic than any othi'r
single effort.
The most notalile event of the tirst jear was the rele-
liratiun, on .Inne 111. l.S8('i. of the Bi-Centennial of the settling
of Passaic. Tln' celebration consisted of a meeting iu the
afternoon, held at the First Reformed Church, where a his-
tory of the town was delivered by .Judge Henry I'. Simmons,
which was followed by a military anil civic parade. The cere-
monies were brought to a close l.y ji grand baiiipiet in the
evening at the Music Hall, which was presided over by Presi-
dent A. Swan Brown. Among the distinguished gtiests were
(Jovernor Leon .\bbett and staff. Congressman William AV .al-
ter Phelps. .Vtt irney-tjeneral <!riggs, then Senator, ami .Mayors
Cleveland of .lersey City. Ilaynes of Newark, (iilinore of
Paterson.
The successive presidents of the association were W. 11.
Cillen. T. A. 1!, Coodlatte. .Moses K. Worlhen and W. t '.
Kindi.'ill. The association took a deep interest in :lic lelcbr.i
tion of Arbor Day and the planting of trees generally. .Sewer
age and water snppl.v and railway facilities received attention
The Free Public Library had its birth in the councils of this
organizatioii. ami manual tiainiiig in the ptddic schools w.is
possible .-iflcr the association took il np.
In ly.MI the name of Board of Tr.ide was ndopicd. ,ind sin. ,■
linn the pre.sidei\ts have been Mr. Kiniliall. .1. T. (Ir.inger.
I'laiik Hughes, General B. W. .Spencer, i). W. -Mahony and
I'. M. Berry. The Board has not alwa.vs been active, although
during that time it has ventil.ited a great many ve.xing ipies-
tioiis and advocated in.iiiy )>nblii' lienetits. Among them have
b< en the preservation of onr shade trees, river navigation and
puritication. the appointment of a Shaih' I'lee Cominission.
negoti.'itions with the Kric Kailroad for iniprovemenis at the
main depot, along Main avenue and at Passaic Bridge. The
late Colinud (Jeoige I. Waring .iddressed llie Board on sewage
disposal in l.s'.)."i.
Tlu' present presidenl. Perliy .M. P.erry. Ii.is revived the
am'ieni ghiries of the organization. .\n instance of the eiierg.v
of his regime was the holding of a dcdiate upon tlie iiiiestion
of municipal owuersiiip. then being discussed. The Opera
House w.is engaged on November '_*. Professor K. W. Beniis
of .M.iiinl XcTiion and the II. .ii. T.mi L. .Inluison talked for
mrnicipal ownership and .\L .1. Fi:incisco of Kutland. \'t.. and
K. K. Clixk of P.issaic against it. imiking the evening very
instructive. The whole subject of cheaper water ami light
is ,it present under the consideration of the Board. It has one
himdred and tweiity-tive members. The following are its
otiicers: President. P. -M. Berry: Viie-President. Dr. C. A.
Chinch: Secretary. K. B. Maynard: Treasurer. William Mal-
colm. Directors— First Wanl— Alfri'd .Speer. .Mendel Pres-
berger: Second Ward— Frank Hughes. IJ. -M. Oflford: Third
Ward-Uichard Jlorrell. K. D. Kent: Fonnh W.ird Oscar
Dressier. T. A. U. (Joodlatte.
The Acquackanonk Club.
This is a consolidalion of two social clubs, a church and
a parsonage. The Washington Club was organized in l.S!>7
with tifty members. It purchased the old Kpiseopal Church
jiroperty on Prospect street, took tlu' iiarsonage for a c'nb house
and moved the disused church to the rear of the rectory. Then
the carpenters, painters and oilnr worknien consoliilaled the
two buildings so cunningly that the chance visitor iiears the
history of the construction of the club house, lirst with as-
tonishment .-iMd ih.'ii with amusemenl.
THE ACQUACKANO.NK CLUB.
Tile \\'ashingtou Club to a cert.aiu e.vtent compet(*d with
till' Passaic City (inn Club, an organization which was started
in l.><,S(i to furnish sport at the traps for clay-pigeon shooters.
Tile tiiin Cbib h.'id gradually grown to be a |irosperous and
154
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
|.ow.ifiil -i."-!:!! rliili. with till- sliontin^' (livisii.ii iis .mlv ..iif .M
il> r.;iuiivs. Tlii-if «:is a ran' ;:.HHlfrllci«sli.-i. aiiiMii^' th in-
.■ ,.. I . HUNTER, JOHN J. BOWE^.
l.n-s. 'I'lic ■•lull iiwiiril a li'W arrcs (if frniiinil. vaiiiril ai
:f-l.(MIO, nil Van Iluilti-n avcniif. wlii-ic tin- sIkkiIs hiti' held.
ami i.c.Mi|ii<'<l till- tup llipcir of tin- r.>sti>miT Iniililin^'. Tli.M-c
ivcri- a lUiinlKT of men who liclontfril to liotli iliil>s. ami. after
some iieKoiiations, the two voteil. in May. IS'.l'.t. to eonsoliilate
under the name of the Aeiinaekanonk Chili. The Ciiii Club
moved its l>eloii>riilKs to the eonscdiclatiMl eliili house, where
the eoiisnlidilted eliili is niiiniii^' nierril.v nloii;;. Ueailins i-ooiiis.
» rifle raliu'e. i 1. liilliards and sliiitHelioanl. the loyal -aiiie of
'■s|iiiiiier." and a iiieiiilieishi|> of 17."i of the iiiu>t iii-..iiiiii.iil
men in the city and county are iiiakiiif,' it a sm >ess. .Meals
and liinehes are served to ineinlieis. and this wilh the well-
eundiieled rafe. makes it .1 |daie where strangers ran lie en
lertaiiied iiroperly. lull without fonnalil.i or inconveliieme.
Tin- eliili ino.ierty is v.iliiccl al S-J.-.IIIHI. ■,„u\ the iiidelile.lness
is held liy nieinliers only.
The oMie-i-s ami direetors are as follows: riesident. Osrar
Dressier: Viee-rresidenls. .loliii .1. Howes, (iemral Mini W.
Speiieer. William V. Caslon: Treasurer. II. K. Keall.v; Ki-
eonliii;; Seeretaiy. .\. W. Shaw: I'inamial Secielaiy. It. l'>.
Tinilall: Captain or ShoMiin;: Division, .laioii .1. \'aii .\dordl:
Direetors. Joseph Ilohlsworlli. C. D. Ho;;art. Charles Kelly,
.lohn .f. Slater. .lohii .lelleiiie. .1. V. Morrisse. Anilrew MeI.ean,
Kiehard Morrell. Captain .1. H. Hall.
The lailpiei-e to Ihis chapti'-. taken in llie (Jiiii Chili
rooms just previons to the lonsoliilalinn. will serve .is a
souvenir to the ineiiiliers of thai lioily of the inanv happy
ilays llii'y spent in their ohl ipiarters.
r I \^ki
of Captain .1. Howes, who has killed tlie ItoiUy .Mininlaiii
^-rizzly. vaminished the .Vfricaii lion, hippotainns and elephant,
has met and defeated the royal Bengal titfer and the eairles
of Oreaii I'arkV Here he is. siirrouiiiled liy the lia^r mi one of
l.is hunting trips. Here also we reproduee a picture of Captains
Hall and Howes, laden with venison, after an .Vdiroudack trip.
Ill Ihe laiiKuase of the poets, there ale otiier great hunters.
■ ■Ml. liin space will not permit of dwelling on their exploits also.
.\fter the coiisolidali f the two. a score or so of (Jim
Chill men. who remeniliered its early iLiys. iirganizi'd an otT-
shoot. known as the I'assaic City I^mI ami (Inn Cliili. It has
r^Kinis at 17 Blooiiitiidil ave:ine. in what were the tirst (piar-
lers of the original Ciin Cliih. Its offlceis. idected in .Inly,
were: Tresideiit. \V. T. .Magee: Vice-rresidenl. .loliii Heniioii:
Secretary. .lohn S. Cailmns: Treasurer. .1. It. lliniiiiii: Field
captain. C. F. I.ii : 'I'riisiees. .\. W. Sliaw. -M .1. Cinaii.
Ci'orge Krouse. S. II. rainier. K. .\. Kevilt.
The Passaic Club.
What is now the I'assaic Club was organized on .lanuary
IV. \S.S~. by the luenibers of the I'assaic County Wlieelnieli
and .1 nuinber of public-spirited citizens. The wlieelmen gavi'
up Iheir naiiie and joined the new orgauizalioii in a body.
CAPT. J. H. MALL AND CAPI. BUWtb.
.Mllioimh Ihe .Vci|iinckiiiioiik Club is so largely social, the
Niiiil'oils. the mighty hiiiiters. still flourish. Who has not heard
PASSAIC CLUB HOUSE.
The leailiug sjiirils in the enterprise at the tiiiu' were F. II.
WelHuglon. .\. Sw.iii Hrowu. .1. T. Clanger. IJichard Morrell.
I'red Shnil. .M. I'. Slade. W. C. Kimball. .V. E. Seligslack.
William I.. Clark and .1. ^\'. Cliiilon. The organization was
ki'owii as (he I'assaic Cily Wheeling ami .Vlhlclic .\ssociatioii.
.•ind its otiicers were: I'risidenl. .1. T. Cr.inger: Trensiii-cr. Wil-
liam I,. Clark: Secretary. II. .1. (iutliric.
The club held bicycle race meets and allilelic gaiiiis .il
Clifton race track in 1S.S7. 1S,S,S and 1SS!>. and was very .illi-
Iclic imleed. Previous to that time llie only athletic org.iniza-
lions in I'assaic were llie aiualeiir baseball nines, of which
there were iii.-iiiy good ones. The .Men Club of I'assaic Hridge
was the best uf ihese. and Ihe interest in sports was so great
llial il olTercil prizes lor foot rai-es in open conipelitioii. The
races were liidd on Ihe Itiver Drive and I'assaic aviMiiie in
I.KSS and IS.S'.l. .ind llie allemlance reached the thousands.
.\ll inli'i-esls combined to make the new .itlileiic rliib a
CI inprehensive iiistitntion.aiid the moneycil men oi llie l'i«ii
lioughl the old Catholic church on Prospect slieel, Ime il
ill wii and put lip the handsome building ever since known
as "The Club House." The hall. 4t> by CI" feel, on ilie sicoiid
Moor was primarily a gymnasiuin. Dissensions as to wlnllicr
till' mi'inbers or slockliolders sliould govern the orgauizalioii
if \
^■^■■■l
s
S|F -"' ^ ^^^1
1-
Ixi a
^^^^.
GILBERT D. BOGART.
It..ii<mir.v MiivoiorfiiiificM
JOSEPH H. WRIGHT.
Ill li.-l.l ,t llnny C...
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
157
nsiilti-il in \hf si'icssimi of iiMiiy hF ilir .viiiiii;;it ami iimrc> nlli-
li'tic lui'iiiliLMs. Tlu-j- foriiUMl tlir I'nssiiic Atlilctii- Cliili aii<l
liii-cii rooms ou AViisliin;:t.iii plnci'. They took up the i:n\>
iiijiiU- liy tho (iisbnndins of the Alert if.uii. nn.l iniido money
III! baseliall siimos. The old rliili tried In keep up with its
youiiKer rival, hut the I'assjiie Atlileti«- Club diseoiiiited all
rivalry in athletics. It leased tlu' <dd lleformed parsiinajro
iTiini (;e<irs.'e H. Knireinan. hiiilt a running; and hieyrle traek
.111 .111 ,-ii,lose(l field, held race meets, enlisted many eraek alh-
litis ill ii< ranks, anil carried uff prizi-s at all enntests in and
mar .New York. The elnb ont>;re\v its pueketl k. Imwever.
and ill l.S!t2 it went to pieces in financial breakers.
The older orsanizatioii sunn rliaii}.'ed its name ti. "The
I'assair Club" and became almost e.xclnsively a soeial nr-
Kanizatiiin. Its elub hotise has for years been the place fm-
nearly all exclusive eiitortainments and dances, and a fair
share of the amusements and ontertainmenls maintained by
the elnb cater to the fair sex as well as tii the members, su
that it has become the chief social centre of the city. .Inst
a tiiiich iif the nld Bohemian days is retained, however, in the
"•smokers." with which the winter's program of dances, card
partii's :ind entertainments is interspersed. There arc billiard,
pool and bowling tournaments every winter. The whist di-
vision plays Aveekly. at liunn. .md al.i-o.id. except during the
siimmi-r. The drani.-itic divisi.m. .Ji- I'laycrv' Cliili. uivcs one
or two (>iitcrtaiiinients aiiiiiially.
The dub property is valued at .^Jil.-'idO. and there are 1.S.S
members. The otiicers are: rresident. T. AV. .McMulloii: Vice-
rresidciit. CcMi-c Kyall: Secretary and Treasurer. H. 8. .Vshby.
Other Organizations.
The litcr.iry organizations of Passaic .-ire numerous and
active. Several of them — the Kenilworth. the .Nineteenth Cen-
tury and the Travelers' Chib— are private in their character.
:ind it is not the desire of their members to have the proceed-
ings made public. The first two are old orsaniz.Uions. The
Monday Afternoon Club, a woman's organt/.ation. is leagued
with the State Federation of Women's Clulis. and sends deU>-
gates to the conventions. It holds monthly mi ctiugs at the
homes of its members. The olHcers are: Tiesideiit. Mrs. .1. B.
Humplir.xs: \'i.e-Presideuts. Mrs. (ieorge T. Welch. Mrs. C.
A. Church; Kccrding Secretary. .Mrs. K. I). Kent: Correspond-
ing Secretary. .Mr-. W. W. W Ic.„k: Treasurer. .Mrs. Samuel
lirooco.k. The club is ten yiars oM. The I'nity Club, which
mei'ts at the Iiiitarian Church, is thrive years old.
The I'assaic Whist Club and the whist divisions of the
I'assaie and .Vc<|iiaekaiionk clubs keep up scientific interest
in tiiat abstruse game. The marked ititerest in whist is three
.vears old. and promises lo be long-lived. The Passaic chibs
play with each other ami enter teams in the New .Jersey Whist
Associ.ation and other contests, freq itly making very high
scores.
The Yuuntakah Country Club, organized in IS'.l'.i for golfing
pirpi>ses. purchased the old Kingsland .Manor House in I»ehi-
wauna. laid out a golf links and organized with nearly :i(M»
members, of whom one-third are Passaic pt'ople. and the others
from .Nutley and liiitherford. It seems to be meeting with
great succ'css. The growth of golf into public favor has been
the death blow to lawn teiiids and the Passaic I.awn Tennis
Clnb. This elub is prai-lically dead now, although ten to
fifteen years ago its loiirnanients were social functions, and
its players competed tor the Slate championship.
If all the fraternal, insurance, secret and social organiza-
tions were even mentio:ied, the chapter would read like a
page from a citj- directory. A few of the oldest secret and
frateriia! so<-ieties can be mentioned: Passaic Lodge, No. C,~,
I'rce and .Vccepted JIasons. convened under a dispensation
.lime ;!(l. l.S(;4. and was constituted February 7. IStVi. The
founders of the lodge were the IJev. Marshall B. Smith. W.
M.: I>r. i;. A. Terhune. S. W.: .John E. Bolton, .1. W.: It. I{.
Hlake. Treasurer: T. I,. Snelling. Secretary; W. I,. Alden,
S. I)., .iiid .1. B. Knight. .1. I). AVilliam S. Anderson was the
only charter member not bedding olHce. The lodge at first
met in Speer's llall. Solar Lodge. No. 171, Improved Order of
Odd Fellows, was orgainzed March 12. 1S73. with fifteen
members. The first meeting place was the Kip building, at
liiver street and Main avenue. The first officers were: E.
L. Warren. N. G.; William Hendry, V. G.; E. Boden. Secre-
tary; .1. Kosenberg. Treasurer. Benevolent Lodge. No. 48,
Knights of I'ythias, was organized May 11, 1.S70. with twenty-
eight members. There are fifty other loitgos and societies.
mostly of recent organization.
The trades unions in Pa.ssaic are now numerous, but. with
/iiic or two exi-eptions. tln-y have been organized within the
jiasl year i»r two.
OLE GUN CLUB ROOMS.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF PASSAIC.
Alfred Speer's Item Was the First Weekly, The Daily News the First Daily— Some of the Enterprises
That Reached the Newspaper Graveyard.
Ni:\\'SrAI'Ki; lilstoo in I';iss:ii<- bi-yiiis willi llic liist issue
of iIk' Iti-iii liy All red SpoiT. July '.I. INTO. H.-f.ui. tluU tiuic
llic rntiTsiiu clailii'S, the fiiinnliiin nliil I'less. covered the
loeiil field lis fully as was iieiessary. The formation <•( :t vill;if.'e
;;overMiui'iit and the advi'iit of new settlers brousrhl the ni>ed
anil o|)|iiiri unity for a wi'ekly newspaper. The paper soon lie-
eanie popular and aeijuireil a hujie eireidatioii at $2 a year.
The papi-r was newsy, anil. althou;:li .Mr. Speer had no previous
experieiiee in the liusiness. it prospered until the advent of daily
newspaper.s. whieh gradually i-rowded it aside. It is still puli-
lislied and has never uiisseil an issue. allhoM;.'h fiu- many years
it was prinleil for private eireiilation, prineipally to keep up
the name. It is Kepuldiean in polities.
In 1.ST2 Orrin Vauderhoveu .-ippeared upon the horizon
lis a Passaic newspaper man. lli' had heen a Passaic Ciuinty
eililor since l.S.'»4. when he hoiiKht llu' Paterson (Juardian for
.$2..Stl(l. Mud instilled his erratic genius into every column.
l'"roni wi-ek to week Ihe (Juardian was a series of lirilliant sur-
prises, lint it was a suciess. aiul hecame a Iri-wei-kly. In
ALFRED SPEER.
l.s.'iii "Van" hoisled the Kuehanan ticket at the head of his
cdiiorial column. Iiefore he was nominated, and advocated his
ehction unlil Oitolier lH, two uci-ks licl'ore election d.-iy.
Then Btichaiian c.-iuk- out for the extension of slavery to free
territory, and the (Juardian linked the Democratic ticket
and supported Frenmnt. The old Deniocralic siiliscriliwrs of
the paper were furious, and hired the town crier to ;ro aroiiml
the streets. rinfiiUK his hell, and slenitiii^' •'N'aii lias iiii'iicd his
coat." After the caniiiai;;n of l!S.">il the ( lu.-irdiaii lelunicd to
lis mooriii^'s. and |ieace reijrned once mure. Mr. V.nulerlioven
made the (Juardian a daily after the ele<-tion. and h.iil various
Iiartners ami Iroidiles. His partner in ISii:! was a Scotchman.
Lawri-nce Holms. They did not ajiree. and jrot into a lonir
Chancery suit. The lawyers of each man advised him that
possession was nim> points of the law in a partnership lijiht.
and while Holms w.as arranj.'ins to take possession of the of-
lice. \':imlerlioven intremlieil himself there, and did iiol leave
the liuildiiLi; for several weeks. He lived and slept there.
I'liiiliiii; the cdiiinn on colored and wrapiiiiiK paper when the
while paper ^ave out. He linally won his suit. Init the Imsi-
mss had Kline to ruin. He took a good partner in lSi;."i. how-
ever, in .\lvin H. Welili. aftc^rward Clifton"s Postmaster, lii-
der -Mr. \Velili"s manajjement tl'.e newspaper hecame very pros-
perous, .iiid in 1S72 the Herrick Itrothers. of the New York
.\Uas. lioii^'ht the Onardian for .S.'ill.i""!.
Keal estate w.is then I nin;; everywhere. Property .1
mile or two aw.-iy from the centre of Passaic was selling' for
three or loin- limes uhat it is wirtli today. Mr. \:nider
hoven canic lo Passaic, invested his money in Passaic and
Lakeview lni>. and started the Passaic City Herald, a weekly,
to amuse himself whih' the advance in real estate made him
ri<-h. The next year was the panic year, when men l.iy
down to sleep at ni^'ht. woiiderinj: whether they would he
peindless Ihe next ila.\ . •• Van's" lots liec.-ime worthless, and In-
lost all his real estate except a two-slor\ ImildiiiL' on .Main
avi'niii'.
He still had his weekly p.-Lper lo make his livin;: with. He
medeil very little provoealion to have a disat-'reemen! with the
rival editor, .\lfred Speer. Soon he took a violent dislike to the
wim- merchant, whom he lampooned as "(lid Klderherry .Inice."
For two years he iioiireil out the vials of his wrath. .Mr.
Speer remained ipiiet for a Ion;; w hili\ hut Hnally smd for
lihel. and ihen it was fonnd- that lie h.id methodically pr<'-
served cv.'i-y allack that "Van" had made ii|ioii him. .\ ver-
dict for Speer was n foretfoiU' comlnsion. His enemy li.id
never given him a week's rest, ami had even gone to the length
of announcing at one time that Mr. Speer "had a clean collar
on yesterday." The verdict was .$1(1.(1(1(1. more than "\'.ni "
could pay. lie i-ompromised liy handing the Herald liuilding
over to Spei'r. .loseph K. Crowell. then of the (Juardian. liul
now editor of Ihe Paterson I'all. was Mr. Vauderhoveirs iiarl-
ner in IS7li-77. In 1S,S1 .li>.seph F. Morris was in p.irtmrship
with Mr. X'anderhoveu. and ill 1.S.S2 he was followed for a while
hy .\lvin H. Welih. The tirin remained N'anderhoveii \- W cldi
WILLIAM L. AMDRUSS.
THE LATE JOHN WATSON.
FoiiDder of Wmwin's Hlcaoherj".
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
161
iiiilil Ml'. W.'l'li ii'liiril :iiiil ••\':ui" liin his pain'r iiloiii' I'm-
iiiuny years.
Tlu' tliird iicwsimipri- I'siiiMisliid Wiis 'I'lir (lazi'llr. wliirli
was first issui'il Nov('iiil»r -<K ISTJ. liv .loliii Kiui.x. iiii i'.\-
rdinmamli'r of MiNuU' l'i«sl. (1. .\. U. ll xviis imhlislii-il iiiniillily
at 5(1 cents a year. It lived uiily a lew iillis.
There liail lieeii iiniili talk .M' tile iiipssiliility of a daily
iipwspaiier in I'assaie. Imi when Frost iS: Sawyer started to
fill th<' aehiin; void liy issuing The I'assaie Daily News, there
was innili iiierednlily. The enterprise of the firm so surprised
the eonnnunity that many refused to helieve that the pro-
prii'tors were not jidiing. and a iiirions erowil of peoi)le stared
in at the windows of the old ollUi'. in the Howe liloek, wateli-
in;; the prodnetion of the first daily newspaiier ever printed in
I'assaie. Copies of the first issue wore boupht up eagerly as
Kouvoiiirs. and ari> still preserved by old residi'iits. .lohii V.
Frost, who was an aieuniplisliiMl writer, penned ihi' salntaloiy
of The Daily News. \{ tirst the size was four pa^es. eaeh
llxlli inehes. Mr. Frost retired from the firm in Oetoher of
the same year, and Mr. Sawyer lieeanie editor as well as
pnhlisher. ^^le paper sprang into favor right away.
The I'assaie Daily, a Demoeratie paper, was issued fri>ni
the Herald offlee on .July 1."). l.SSl. It was changed on April
14, 1882, into the I'assaie l»aily Times, which after passed
through many hamls, ami led a precarious existence until 188!t.
J. F. .Morris w.is its owner for a while Then it got into the
hands of Lawyer Thomas M. Moore, who gathered valualile
experience while running it. Mr. Moore has in his office a
Passaic City Daily News.
\1 A^TKItMWN, AIIH-ST 1. H7
PJtHK. IJXK fENT
jiiHN Rosz, Jisjaif (iiq t»iU %tKi:.)^TZXZZ'1uJ^Z''*
A I L () li * ir - .a .,;,^.,^^^.„,.,^^^_„,.„.,
r.KANDl'AMILVEXClRS10s| JOSEPH POUJI*.\-, | . -- "[^1'" ^ ' '. w ,r,".:;X " "J"^.,."
r-™*.-,4-,-ii-a. g^ ClIHllir ttJld SbarlD^
iiENttrr OF SALOON,
K. or p.
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wlftlL
'""";_"°".'
1 BUILOIHC
.—
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Ml'li iTHMMltD UY
Mr>4wiM4'>i Cornel BumL
^ MM TioKMa. On* Oaiiar.
Cl'BAS IIQ&B STORE,
£1.' .Vu-* .lor-w.
Ut». W. ConUInK, ir,
.VrCTIOXEER,
\tIiNE»l»AV. Alii
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dulj f*o>fiil of T— Pg rvL^U ii« th
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JOHN P. KOUBLHOER,
>* pBprT ]n IKU, u^ MIhT
liui-irtwii l>om»*lc*1i»r. Wlwlwalp Uouor Dealer*,]— «* «-<"i •• .-n-.
PASSAIC STItKET.
J. T. Vu; IderKUne
— "in::-*"'
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M. D. JVTEBS & CO.
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g a ps «ii)7 Tl-i**" <Ti>i,|,^|He-'.,^l.>-«rl«v^niNclt'4
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ST VT I U \ E R V , :S^3HrM,:.':.c:
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laU hi nl-OH-l 11
DAILY wtEKLv A.sD*™;;;^'.;;™,^^.^^!;:!;".^'::.;^^™;",'^!
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AAd ftU rcrI<Mll.-aj>. at 5ew|
-r«wi«a<jl«ij,*
FIRST PAGE OF FIRST ISSUE UN FACSIMILE).
v( ncrahle dictionary, which was used in the Times office. He
says it cost him .f^.tMlO. and he regards it as a very valuable
di. lie sold oMi to \'.i:;t Upithers. who now own a suc-
■sful ni'ws|iaper in .\loni>tow n. They sold o<il In turn to
ARTHUR SAWYER.
Founder ol The Dally News,
.1 man who left for Ohio the following week. The plant was
then sold out.
On April 7. 1.8.S:i. the city was Idessol with two pnldiea-
tions. issued for the first time on that day. Tliey were The
Itamliler. a weekly, at !(!l.."jO a year, which was pulilisheil for
a few months tiy Vreeland. Malcolm and Morris, and the I'as-
saie Bridge Advance, a hi-monthly. at .")ll cents a year, which
lasted (Uily a short time.
The Kcho. a temi>erance inildicalion. was started April .S.
18.St;. hy tlw lat|. Harry U. AVells. Mr. Wells was a lapalde
writer, and c4>nducted an excellent paper for a while. He
had good financial hackiiiL' and many contriliutors at first, hut
inti'iest soon died out.
Lawyer Moore, who had lost his interest in newspapers,
hut retaiiu'd a lively belief in temperance, paid its li>sses for
.1 while, until he decided to strain his purse no longer.
The Cencral Ailvertlser. a weekly, was first issued Deceiii-
l.er 1. 1.SS7, liy .1. F. Morris & Co.. at $1 a year. It has lieen
handed round from one printing otliie to another, and is now-
printed liy Ksty & Esty.
.1. F. Morris & Co. replaced the defunct Times with the
D.iily Messenger on February 4. 18S!I. It was followed soiui
after by the Star, an enterprise of U. M. Offord. The two
were consolidated on September 3 under the name of the Star.
In the meantime Mr. Sawyer had been slowly but surely
linildiug up The Daily News in public favor, working hard.
offending nobody and making friends all the time. By suc-
cessive enlargements it had reached the size of four pages.
15x22, and in 18.S4 the proi>rietor abamlonert the old Wash-
ington hand-press, on which it had been printed since 1877.
and pnrchaseil a steam engine and a cylinder press. Kvery
improvement was paid for in cash when it was made, and
thus, with scarcely any i-apital originally, Mr. Sawyer built
up a valuable newspaiK-r proiM-rty and an enviable reputation
for himself. .lust as the establishment was aliout to yield
larger returns for his labor, he was taken ill with Bright's
disease, and died .Tune 2!», l.S,St;.
Mr. Sawyer was Imm-u in 'Ainbridge \Vells. lOiigland. in
1,S4(). His father emigrated in 18.'>4 to New Zealand, where
Arthur learned the trades of a lompositor and bookbinder.
He became foreman in a large i>tlice. but, his health failing, his
employers gave him a two years' leave of absence. He a<-cepted
t62
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
lliis ('iiiiilitii>iiiillv. iiic-uiiiiif.' :it tile time ti> ii'tmii. Imt nut
ki.owiii;: wliiit iitlu'i- oiiiMirtiiiiitii'S ini;;lit :irisi-. In ISIi'.t \w
vivili'il Kn^'l.-iiid. ;in(l llii-n iii;iil|. :i Irip In (';in:i(l:i, wliiTf the
ncwspnpcr
D. W. MAHOMY.
Iir.icin;; .liiiuiti' ri'sliiii'il liini In liciillli. He ilcihli-il not to rc-
liiin to New /ciiliind. workc-d in Cliic-iijro nntil tli.' -ic.it liir
wiped mil tin. city, .-md lln-ii stinted for New VmU. On lln-
\>;i.v tli.Te lie .xiiw nil .•idvei-tiseiiienl tm- :i foieiiinii in llie
Ileiii olHee. iiiiswered it mid entered Mr. Speei's einplcv. lie
rein.iined tliere until lie started The News.
Few liewspiiperiiieii liiive won siieli ^'eiier.il eomiiieiidMl ion
:is lie. lie Wiis tlie son! of Innnn- and Until, devoid o! pill.v
prejniliees. .iinl wroii;.'eil no ni.in. •If initiiinf: (rood eau lie
said i.r a man. sa.v iiolliiii;.' Iiad of liiin." was his
p,,li,y.
.Mr. Sawyi'i- li^n a widow, lint no eliildren. .Mrs. Sawyer
iii.MliaKed Ilie iiewsp.iprr iiiilil 1.S.S7. when the Hail.v .News
riililishiiii.' Conipany was loriiii-d. It consisted principally ol
Mrs. Sawyer. Walslcni U. IJiown. Ceoi-fie I'. Uiist and I). \V.
.Malioiiy. .Mr. .Mahoiiy had entered the l:ile proprietor's I'lii-
ploy as a ri-p.n-|er in 1.S.S4. and on his death lieeaine editor.
'I'lie Inisiness iiiiiiianer al tliis lime was (). S. Freeman. .Mr.
Freeman hail made his tirsi entry into jonvnalisin in Novemlicr.
1.S77. at I he ace of fifteen, when he issued the tii-st niimlier of
Freeman's .Magazine, a home anil literary monthly. It was
ii.nsidered siieli a marveloiis eiilerpiise for .1 mere yoiitli
I hat it liecame the siiliji'ct of literary comiiient on liotli sides
ol ll can. .Mr. Freeman went into the printing business.
and WHS roremiin of the eoiiipusii k i 1 of the .New York Oli-
.server liefore he liecame loniieeted with Tile Haily .News.
lie coiiliiiiied to puldish his maca/.ine occasion.illy.
On May "Jl. I.SIMI. there w.as a lii« ihiin;;e in Passaic iiews-
paperdom. .Mr. Freeman lefl The News and eoiiimeiiced to
I iildish the I'assnie City Keeord. a clean, family, weekly news-
paper, which he still edits. The Star- .Messenger loinliiiialion
sank its identity in that of The .News, and Mi-ssrs. OfTord and
.Morris hecaiiie stockholders. Mr. Morris heiii;.' iiiaiiacer. Tliere-
.•Hler the newsp.iper hisi.iry of I'assnie is iirincipally that of
The News. During' that year the newspaper piililislied ilic
liook known as "I'assaic Illustrated." devoted to iMioniiiis; the
town, and a ver.v successful liooiuer it was. It contiibuted
laijrol.v to the snliseiiuent irrowth nt I'ass.iie. KI.IKMI copies lie-
iiig printed and circulated liroadcast. mostly outside of Pas-
saic. The property of Dr. Ch.-irles A. Cliiirili. at Main ave-
nue and .\c.iileiiiy street, was purchased, and Tlie News liiiild-
iiiK. then the lar;;cst and tinest otlicc structure in the city.
was raised there. It w:is occupied in .Noveiulier. IS'.H. I'p
to this time the newsp.iper had consisted of f.uir paL.'es. It
was chaniied to eijilit and new maeliinery liou-,'ht.
I'assaic already liad the reputation of lieiiif; a newsiiapcr
graveyard, hut two daily newspapers came into existence
within the next few years, ipiie of whicli still lives. In l,S!t3
racing was lieiiig coiidiicted at Cliftiui. and Mr. Xaiiderluiveu.
takinsr in (Jeorfie H. Eiifteman as partner, coinniencod to
liiildisli ail ■■evening' editiiin" of tlic old weekly Herald. It
was an uiiheard-of iiudertakiiif; for a man of nearly sevent.v
.\cars. On Noveiulier 11. LS!!.'.. .1. F. .Morris left The News
anil fiiiindeil the Pass.iic llaily .lournal. so that for nearly a
yiar there were three ilail.v papers ill I'assaic. Then the
.lournal suspended publication. The veteran "Van" coutinned
the Herald until I.S'.t.S. when at the aue of seventy-three, he took
.■I ;riiod oppor:iinit.\' to retire liotn acti^'c newsp.aper work ami
sold out to I). W. .Mahouy for .l;:',..-ill(l. He still publishes the
I'aterson ("elisor, devoted to transcripts of the ollicial records
of Passaic and Ber;;eii counties. Mr. ilahony had left The
News, of whi<-li he had been editor for eleven years, in Oc-
lobcr. is;i7. to beioiiic Postmaster. He still had the iti-h for
I'l w spa]ier work, ami in May. IJS'J.S. purchased the Dail.v
Herald, and. with I'lcil ('. (?lough as business mana.Kcr and
|i. liner. or;;aiii/.eil the Herald Publishing.' Coinpany. Mr.
WILLIAM J. RAPE.
KJiliir of I hi' llaily Ni\
• 'louch did not remain Ion:.' in the 11
disposed of his interest in the spring;
cecded by .1. F. Morris.
•w spaper
of LSI 111.
business. He
and was sue-
REV PHILO F. LEAVENS, D. D.
REV J H. WHITEHEAD.
DR. PERCY H, TE^HU^E.
NELSON STODDARD.
HON. GEORGE C. MERCER.
M^.v..ror I.'.'ll.
FREDERICK C. STRECKFUSS.
EDWIN B. MAYNARD
HON. JOHN KING.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
165
Till' Niws li.is iiiiule liipid stiiilcs siiici' IS'.iri. In ih.ii
yi'iu- ill!' i.l.iiit \v:is eiilarscd by the punhasr of n Scott
vol) luil'.cliiij.' pivss, wliic-li prints, cuts ami folds lL',(MtO ,S-pngc
papers an hour. Mr. Morris was succeeded as business man-
ager, in .Tul.v, 1805, by William J. Pajie, the present editor.
In IS'.Ml The News installed two .Merjientlialer l.iiioiypes. or
t.\l)e-settiuK machines, the tirst in I'assaic <'ounty. A third
was added in l.St»T. The intluence of the newspaper, which
had always been larjie in Carlield, I.odi, Wallinctiui and L'lif-
ton, was e.Mendi'd in l.SitT to llie Kiitherfords, Carlslailt and
Delawanna. in whiih places it lias a tirm footin;:.
On Mr. Mahouy"s retirement, in 18!>7. Jlr. Tape became
editor and Edward W. Horry bn.siness manager. The out-
break (if the Spanish-American war in l.S!»,S imposed a re-
sponsibility upon The News which it «as not slow to accept.
It leased a special wire from the I'ublislicrs" I'rcss and gave
Passaic the latest news of the war hourly by moans of its
bulletins and extras. It consistently "beat" the great New
York dailies . n the news. The success of newspapers depends
both on thoroughly reporting the news and on getting it first.
The News has a record of a number of notable "scoops" on
its contemporaries, not only in the city and lonnty, bnt in
Xi w York and all over New .Tersey.
One of those deserves especial nicnlion. Tii .lune, 1899.
the country was wild over the kidnapping of little Marion
Clark b.v her nurse in New York. She was missing until June
3S, 189!l. when The Daily News sent out over its special
wire a bulletin that she had been found in th<' Ramapo Moun-
tain.s, between Sloatsburg and Ilaverstraw. \. V. Tlie infor-
mation was received from over forty miles away by private
.sources, and was first printed in Passaic. The "tickers" in
New Y'ork and Imndreds of afternoon newspapers all over the
country announced that day that "A message has been re-
ceived by The Passaic Daily News" saying that Marion Clark
had been found. Any one of half a dozen New York dailies
would have given thousands for the pleasure of making ilic
first announcement.
In 1899 The News conducted a protracted campaign for
cheaper and better water and gas. Mayor Howe had recom-
mended a municipal lighting plant unless lower rates for street
lamps were forthcoming. The News came out for municipal
ownership of a lighting plant, and forced the issue of an im-
provement in water suppl.v and a reduction of water rents.
The lighting eompan.v <ancelled its cit.v contract and offered
nuK'h belter terms, which in five years wilt save the cit.v and
the public at least $75.(MXt. Dollar gas in ]9(K! is one of the
promised .'idvantages. The value of The News' part in the tight
was acknowledged by ilayor Howe in these words:—
"It would have been impossible to do this willmui ilic aid
of The News."
The water question is not yet settled, but I be company
has offered lower rates, which are likely to be still further re-
duced in the pending negotiations.
The News has a «ell-equipped printing department, in
whiih all the mechanical work of this publication was exe-
cUlcil.
Among the newspaper failures of the last few years have
been Passaic Opinion, an e.teellcnt weekly from a literary
standiMjint, with an amusing way of treating men and mat-
ters by word and picture. It wa.s started on .lanuary 2.3, 1891,
by S. Fielder Palmer. The Itev. It. M. Offord assumed the
editorship on December IS. It lasted only until .lanuary 8,
1892. Besides his connection with this and previously men-
tioned newsjiapers, .Mr. Offord eiliteil the Adverti.ser for a
while and was city editor of the Ileralil for a few months, so
that he has had an extensive exixrience in Pnssaie newspaper-
dom. Mr. Offord was for many years managing editor of the
-New York Observer, and is now on the staff of the Christian
Herald.
EDWARD W. BERHY.
Kiisines.s :\ranaKer ot The Dally 2Cew ".
.Vs I'assaic had no purel.v religions organ. Arthur C. .Meade
supplied the need b.v issuing the Passaic Ob.server, October 17,
1894. It died in a few mouths for lack of support.
Thinking that Passaic needed a Sunday newspaper, .John
I'". Wynne and Fred Geisert issued the Sunda.v Transcript
on May 31. ISOfl. Mr. Wynne was editor and Mr. Geisert
manager. Tlie.v saw their mistake almost as soon as the first
issui' left the press.
«^SSS==^^iJ t£^^:S«S^^
CHAPTER XXV,
THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
The Skilful Early Physicians of Acquackanonk and Some of Their Characteristics — Dearth of Lawyers
as Late as 1875.
I
T is iiTosistilile priiof nl" tlir skill <i( l!ii' cMi-lii'sI physicians li>;!i. "'' tlic SciviIim- Cliiu-ili. 1 >r. Si uildci's ti>iiilis1oiic in tlic
hero tlijit fur one hiindii'd and liftv years one conu'tiTy was old iliiiriliyaiil Ihmis this veise: —
('ii<ui);!i for A<'<|iiackaiionk, while for another (leneriition
the villaiie was destitute of all undertaker. For a place settled
"When on this earth I did remain.
\V:is tilli'il with sorrow, grief and pain.
over two hundred years ago, I'assaie has very few old tomb- AdiiMiI mv friends! Mav vou he wise!
.stones, and these arc mostly in the "Old First" yard, for the We'll meet again bovon.l ilie skies."
Seeeder ehurcli dates back only seventy years. The number
of deaths se..ms to have been surprisingly low. Between th.. •\"''- ""•• S^'''"!'!'"'-''' <I<""1' ^> I"' Hearsley of Trenton p,a,-
^ears 17X7 an.l 17!l.-. unlv two funerals a vear were recorded, "'''' '"•''' '"'■ '^ >*1^"''' 'i""*^-
and durins,' the ne.xt thirty years the average was only six. l"'- lil'^ue^or Bla.hly was a Patersou phy.sieiau. whose
The vear l.S2'.» was a harvest time for the sexton of the chnreh. ■'^•""' i'' ^'"^"^ "'*!» «" Acquackanonk episode. He also was
who was the villag.. undertaker. He had nineteen funerals '"' ■' """''1 ■'^■'^"- •'*'»•*''>• family. His father was a doctor in
that V ■ an.l fifteen a vear between 1S.S0 and IS.",.-,. It may N''«ark ami one of the founders of the New .Teisey Medical
.seem gh..ulish to dig up such statistics, but what betfr praise •^'"i-'J- in l^tiO. It is related of the elder Dr. Blachly that
can be bestowed upon the old Acquackanonk doctors? "" =' "'i*'"" '>t'^'=isiou he obtained by exhumation the body of
The first of the line .seems to have l.,.eii Dr. John De Vance » •■•'""■"•l "ho was hangMl at Morristown and conveyed it on
(also written Devausn.-y). who married Hester Vreeland. May l'<-rseba.k h, .Mc.dham. about six miles ofif. for the purpose of
•2il. 1744. and lived in a house betwe.-n the Kiver road and the 'l''^''"'' • 'l'"" ""-''ting any one in the darkness of his lonely
river, near the southern city limits. He practiced until bis '''''• '"■ »""!'' ••'•k "> the subject, as to a drunken man. telling
death, when h.- was siicceed.Ml. in 17<;(;. by Dr. .\biallm .Miller. '''"' '" '^i' m-right and behave himself like a man. and thus
who lived at the same place, and was pracli.ing lier.^ during r.a.hed home with it und.-tected. This story was relate<l by
.ii.d after the Itevohitionary war. '''^ sonin-law, 1>.-. Il.zckiah S. Woodruff. Dr. Ebenezer
Dr. .lohn Garritse, already alluded to as living in 1h.' Carri- Hlachly was born in 17(1(1 and entered the American service,
son house at riiftoii when the British passed through in pnr- ''^'''l'' •>'"''•>■ ='«''• "'^ " surgeon's assistant in a North Carolina
suit of Washington was probably the most popular doctor regiment. He was at the battles of White Tlains and Mon-
during the latter pari of the last century and the first lew """"l' ■""" wintered at X'.illey Forge. After the wmi- he niac-
yeais id till- present one. He came of a rich and influential '''*^' ■""' settled in Paterson.
family, aed liad the best practice of his da> . Here is a copy Having .i high i.rofessional repiitaiion, he doctored some
of one of his biils: "' Acipiackanonks wealthiest familit's. among them the Sips.
While Halmagh Sip was his patient the Doctor learned of a
medicinal mineral spring located in Sip's woods, near where the
.laiiib .111. Vreidaud.
To L»oet. .John (Jarritse, Dr.
To the amoiiiit of \r account ''"■'' ''mi's and Bloomfield avenue intersect. Dr. Blachl.v an-
jip To the fStli of November, IStCJ £2 — l*.)--li alyzed the water and found it an ,>tfleacious remedy for diges-
since the above was drawn d o 0 (iy,. .,,„i ,„inary troubles and malaria. It was agreeable to the
lOrn.is exiepleil :{ 2
taste and a refreshing beverage. It was about this time that the
Saratoga springs were being heralded over the United States
('iinti'mporaneoiis with I ir. (iarrilse was a Dr. Koihc. of as more healing ilian (he Enroiiean springs, and Saratoga
whom little is known, except that he married into the Vree- was becoming a health resort. Dr. Blachly dreamed of est.ib-
laiid family and lived on the Weasel road. Dr. Thomas Steele lishing a resort that would rival Saratoga.
of Bidleville, a noteii physician of that generation, was fre- Dr. Blachly and Sip agreed to exploit the Spaw. as it had
qmllll.^ culled to Aci|uackaiioiik for consultation. Dr. Cora been christened by the Indians, who used its waters medi-
Oslmrn. who, di spile his fi'iuiniiie name, was not of the gentle cinally. Sip was lo have a public road laid out to it. and
.■~ix. iiracliced here from 1.S14 to l.SI'.l. living at the Bridge. the two wen- to build a large inn. to cover two acres of
The nios' noted of the profession, however, was Dr. Ben- ground, in which visitors could be housed while drinking the
jamin K. Scuddcr, who came here about 171H1 and lived near waters. In the nieantiine. the old stime house, standing nearby
« here the Passaic Bridge depot now stands. He eaine of a dis- and built by Sip's grandfather, was to be repaired and use<I
liiiguished .New .lersey family that provided the State with a as an inn. The road was laid out on February 1. 1)S08. It
Chief .lusiice imd a Congressiii:in. man., gallant soldiers, able is now known as Bloomfield avi'iiue. The house was enlarged
lawyers, several mi.ssionaires ami tiromineiit ministers. Dr. bj a frame addition, the spring was enclosed, and Dr. Blachly
Sciidder .sei-nis to have been lecognizeil as one of the best advertised its virtues extensively, but it was never a success,
physicians of his i\»\ . He was only fifty-six years old when and did not rival the Congress Spring at Saratoga. Mr. Sip
he died, in ISlit. His daughter. Susan, married Dominie Froe- d.iilid oiu'-half interest in five acres of land, inchiding the
HON. WILLIAM McKENZIE.
Miivor of KnsX UutlHTfi.nl
THOMAS M. MOORE.
The Legal Profession.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC. 169
sipi-iiij.'. mi OitiiliiM- 111. ISdli. Mr. Sii> jilwj.vs ihiiimil lliiil llic willi llicir riiiini's. 1 »r. U. .\. TitIhiiic ji.iiiril tlic smict.v in
siriii;,' w.ilir iiirv.l him ..I .in illiu-ss. Iiui ..ilirr- litivo usfit it IM-'id. anil w:is si'd-clnry in 1.S.VJ mid l.S.">4. His fiirluT was its
witliciiit .ui.v licM(liii;il ri'siills. Wick's llisloiy of Mi'(li<iiic first |ircsiili-ut.
sii.vs tli;it I>i-. Itlnilil.v was attai-kod with liaciiioiit.vsis afti-i- The I'assaii- t'il.v Mc.lical S.xi.-t.v, i.> wliicli is dnr tlic lioinii-
tlic fatiKUi's of a tr.viiitf i>l)sl>-ti-ii-al casr. siion lii'<aiiic iMuisiiiiip- i.|' inaii^-ni ntiiit' tlic linspitals of I'assaic, was forinc-il in ISXIi.
tivr. ami left this world in ihw-p Iniinilit.v of hrart and l)li'ss<-d- lis prrsi'iii olllii-rs arc Dr. (Jilliort Van Vraiiki-n, r>r<-siil<'nt :
nrss of spirit. Hr. \V. 10. Cliasc. sccri-tar.v: Dr. K. K. C. Doinarest. trc-asii-
Dr. I.anilMTl S.vllh.ilT. wli.. s.itl.d liiic in ISL'ii. lias al- \fv. 'Phi- ni.-tnliiTship roll is as follows:—
nail.v Irccn spoki-n of as .■..inUictinc a private ilassical school 1'. II, Ki,,-. .\. II. \;in Kipcr. rorni-liiis Van UipcT. !•'. ]•".(,'.
.nid as a tiiihcr in the ol.l ilisiriil school. iSic Chaiitcr XVII. i Dcinarcst, (i. I.. UmiicIIc. William II. Carroll. K. A. Tcrlinnc.
Dr. Willinni .M. C.Ii.in. uh.. < ami' Inrc in IS'Jl. and was also D. U. C'ronnsc. <;. H. I'hilhowcr. (i. S. Davenport. Iliraiii Wil-
t< aclii'r as well .is ph.vsiiian. is spoken of in the same coiiiiec- Hams. A. II. Temple. V. M. Slat';!. I'. .\. Harris. W. H. Sleni-
tion. His wife and infant ( hild dieil here .lul.v 2:\. 1.S23. and merman. A. Wanl Van Uiper. .lolni .\. Heneman. C. .1. Van
soon aftiTward he retiir 1 to tlii' Colfax ancestral home, in Seholt. .loliii .1. Siillivan. I'erc.v H. 'IVrhiine. C. Van Vrankon.
I'oinpton. l>r. Samuel W. I'ralt siic<-eeded Dr. Colfax in 1S24. Ilii::o Dn-ws. (J. T. Welch. Soma Bamii. Daniel W. Sullivan,
piirchasiiis from him the house, now No. liS'J .Main .■ivenne, W. K. Ch.-isi'.
which then stood where r.-issaic avenne now t.s thai road. IL
He remained here several .vears. and .-Hcinirrd a j.'ood practice.
l>r. Z,-iliriskie i-.inie hi'ie in ls:',il. in which vear his brother.
.\. (). Z.ilnisUii'. aflerw.inl ( 'liamelh.r of .New .li'rse.v. settled
ill Hackensack. He occupied the second Hoor of the old Cleve- The first law.ver lo opi'ii an ottico ill Acc|iiackaiionk was
land house, iie.ir I'enninjrton avenue. He was not snccessful. I'lter P. Kroeli}.'li. son of Dominie Peter D. FroeliKli. who hail
and after two .vears went to New York, where his wife and studied law with .Vsa Whitehead, a famous Newark law.ver.
<hildreii died during tlii> cholera epidemic of 1S.T2. He after- and was admitted to the Bar in 1H4(I. when alioilt twent.v-two
ward became a noted .lersi'.v Cit.v ph.vsician. .ve;us of aj;e. His mother still lived in llie parsonage, lit tile
Dr. (Jarrit Terhnne sncceciled to Dr. I'ralt's practice in pri'siMit SHUthwest corner of r'rospect street and Blouintiehl
'\H2U. He was licirii in Hackensack in ISiil. and. after having; avenue, and after obtaiiiiiiR his license Kroeligh came here to
studied with Dr. .SytlhofT. above spoken of, was graduated from piaclic". His oHb-e was on the second story of No. 1 Main
I!ut.i,'eis Medical Collesi' in INUT. He practiced at Hackensack .iveiiiie. I'loelish was liri;:ht and studious as a yonnK man.
for two years before coininu to I'assaic. and continued his but he associated later with defjeiierate colored peopli-. tfxik
professional work until his death. .luly L'. 1S.S(;. His son. Dr. to drinkins. had no ]iractiee. and ilied within a few years. Be-
Ri<liard A. Terhune. the oldest physician in Passaic, is the sides a widow, he left a daughter. Susan, and a sim. also named
last survivor of the ohl-time doctors. He was born at Hack- Peter D. Kroelich. who is still liviiif: in New York,
ensack in l.S2!l. and on being gradii.ited frimi the New York .Vfter J,.iwyer Kroeligirs death "Siiuire" Van Hiper
("olleste of Physicians and Snr>reons. in LS.'itJ, joined his father acted as loiive.vancer and drew many deeds and wills. He
in practice. His son, Dr. Percy H. Terhune. third in the line, rlie<l in ISttS, when ".Tmljie" Torrance, a regular attorney,
was graduated from the "P. and S." in 1.S.S!), and has been settled here. He was the first legal adviser of the village,
piacticing with Ids father, so iliat ilir laniily has healed the When he left, in 1872. Lawyer Thomas M. .Moore settled here
sick ill Passaic for just seventy years. and bei'aine the legal adviser to the village on May V.i. one
"Dr. Diik," as he is lovingly called, is the best loved of niontli afti^r his .arrival. Mr. Moore resigned on .Inly 22 lo go
our physicians. His presence in a sick room is like a ray of to Newark, but soon returiii'd. ami was then made City Coiiii-
siiiishine. He would be a rich man if ho had collected one- sel by JIayor .Vycrigg. in ISl'i. In the interim Robert S.
half of the fees he Ik's eaiiied in Passaic since ISiiO. but he Hurling, who committeil siiiciile in IWtT. settled in the villjige
lias cared more to do gooil than to amass wealth. He has at- and was noininati-d for legal adviser, but rejected. He. too.
tended the rich and poor, ccdiecting wli.-it he conid from the soon moved away, and .Mr. Moore was the onl.v law.ver in
rich .Hid dividing some of it with the poor instead of charging town until the late .lames K. Stontenburph came here, in
Ibein. ( )ne of his favorite remedies has been lo order a ton IST.'i. Tiny look iiirns in being legal adviser for a few years.
of coal or a barrel of Hour sent to every patient he found in The cily soon had more lawyers. WlUiaiii !•". (Jaston. H. K.
want. It is related of him that, after having attended a certain Coddington. William W. Scott and George P. Itiist opening
wealthy but penurious native of the soil during an attack of ollices in the order nanieil.
pneiinionia. at his patient's request he sent in his bill. The .Inst why it should have been hard for the village to siip-
ai ml was three or lour limes larger than ii^u.il. .iiid tlie purl an attorney is not (inile <'lear. f(u' there seems to have
palicni was astonished. Iml as he owi'd his life lo ilie dniim'^ I n considerable litigation for a time. The iinprovement of
skill, he did not li.ive the i-onrage to do more than .isk for .in fJregory aviiiue b.v the village was taken to the Supreme Court
explanatiiin. "Dr. Dick" I'xplained ilu-eifiilly thai times were 'in a writ ol i-ertiorari. .ludge Simmons sued Collector .1. B.
hard; that half his patients lould scarcely live, mil to say pay Knighl in a lax squabble and brought a suit against Pound-
doctor's bills: that he had attended at least a dozen families. ii:aster .\. K. Miller for unlawfully iuipouudiug his cattle and
fioiii whom ho coulil not ask a penny, during the same time he refusing to release theiii unless the lawful charges were paid,
was atti-nding tiie rich patient: that somidiody had to pay him all of which suits the village defemleil. Mr. Moore's bills for
for at least a small part of his trouble, and that he knew of a few months in 1S72 for di'fending these suits amounted I"
no one who could atTord il beller than the one he l.ixed. Then" S.")'Jll. It w.is not long U^fore Chancellor Uuiiyon declared to a
w.is some muttering, biil the liill w.is paid. young I'assaic lawyer that, for its size, Passaic was the most
Dr. <;.ii-rit Terhune was one of the organizers of the Dis- litigious place in the .State. This was about 1.><SII. and the
Hill .Medical Society of the County of Passaic on .lanuary standard has been maintained ever since.
]i;. 1S44. The fHher charter nienibers were Drs. Klias .1. The Passaic lawyers now number more than a score. There
.Marsh, Donation Binse. Lemuel Burr and .letur U. Uiggs. is not. and never has Ik-oii, a local Bar .-\ssix-iation. A County
Messrs. Burr and Uiggs were surgeons, and do not seem to Bar Assix-iation was forineil in 1898, but its membership is
have helrl <lie degree ot .\I. D.. wbid; is omitted in connection small, and does not inclnde any of the Passaic practitioners.
CHAPTER XXVL
THE MILITARY SPIRIT IN PASSAIC.
A "Ffoot Company" as Early as 1686— Passaic in the Civil and Spanish Wars— The Old Light Guards
and Company D, Which Was of Better Stuff.
T1II;1;K sci-ms |i. luivc Ih-1-11 some coiiiiri-l inn. imt iiri'viiiusl.v llin\i}.-lit til li. :ici|ii;iiMl y.iii li.iw lii' li;is Invjulcil ,iiii- lijriils Mii.l
si)..kcii of. bctwoiMi AciiUiickiiiiDiik ami New B!irli:iil(ics I'livilcKcs. .... , , , , , .
' 11- J lit'sc lie lliiiit.'s li-iciiiis mid in'i^'hlmrs we ihMii;,'lit til Ici
(Ha.kfiisa.-kl, as tli.ms.'li in the oarlii'.«t ila.vs tlic anllicin- ^^.,.;,^, ,,,^,^^ .^.,,,, n„,,j„„ vuiilr .I...vih- « itl, iis in llin.l.Miii;: Ihr
lirs iiii'liiili'il tlic'in in tlii> sami" township. TAVi<(? this is seen cxi'iutinn (if so nnrcas<inalili' an act. ami tn lonionstrati- onr
in rnti-ics rWating to military cxi-rcisi's. as tlioii(.'h tlic two ( Iiii'V.-iiici's.
si-ltlcnu-nts unitfil for .-onimon ili-fmic agaiiisl the Indians. "XA c arc vonr ffnonds.
'Ihns. on I)o.-,.nil,(.r .1. I'.V!. ,t is .mI.t.mI on th.- nnnutrs of ..^j,,.;,, .^.^. o, . ,,„„„ „;,;,, ,^5^., x-ithaniol Ward. ,l,.rk.
thf fJovi-rnir and Conniil that Major William Sandford ot New ••.\iirili. yo 21: llj'.lfl. Signed By order of Eliza: Ti.wiic-.
Hailiadoes Neck was ordereil to "a|i|ioint an otHcer to exercise Sam'l Wliitelicad. ilcrke.
Il.c inhabitants of Ae.inanino.-ke." wliile on the same day the ^_ "V^'"'", -■'"'.', ^'''■'"- ^'-'"■'1 ''>" "'■'''■'■ "f ''•■'''' Ainlmv. .I,,l
■•inlialiitants of Accinaninocke" an' aiilliorized to join with
those of "New Barhadoes Neck" in the "elioyie of .1 Con-
slalde." Afrain. ou April l>. HWti. the Council issued a com-
missiiin "to Mr. Isaai- Kin^slaiiil for Cap"! of a ffoot company
... ...Ill- .1 1 IX- 0..1 .!„, " dispntin;;. and threats of four wcie made on Imth side
consisting of the inhalpitants .Vipiickanne ami New Barhadoes.
The act of Vi'X', dividinj.' KasI .Ii'rsey into townships crealeil
... 1 . , , 11 IX- u 1 1 •• 1 .1. colonists carried tlicir pciim. and it was unnecessar.v for the
tile township ot Aciinickannk and New Barliailoes both
-VciliiackanoiiU "ffiint <-cin)|iaii,\ " to tiirlil the I'l-opi-ietors or to
Barclay, clerk."
This was diuins: ihi- last years of the ^ovcrnlncnt ni the
I.ofils I'roprietors. the province lieiiif; relimiuislieil to the Crown
in 17112. The colonists and the I'lopiietors were continually
dispntin;;. and threats of force wcie made on Imth sides, so
that the drilling of militia went on merrily. However, the
settlements apparently within the same townshi|i — lint this in
iliisioii does not seem to have left its impi-ess perniancntly.
rtsist 1I1C cncroachincnts of .\cw York. 'j'lir possession of
, , ,, ... .1 11 1 1- Slateii Island, wliii-li was one of the snlijects in disiinte. was
lor oil the erection of Ks.m'.x ( oiiiity the n.iliiral iMinmlary line
. , ,, -I,. 1 1 1- - 1- 1- 1 . f settled peacenlily later, when each State apiiointiMl a coiifereiii-e
ol the I'assaie Isiver lieiame the dividm;: line liel ween I'.ssex ...
and Bersen counties. ^ it tin- <-iintiajy was ilie <asc lor a
lime, .-inil we read tli;il on .\pril >'•. ll!*>ii. ;lu- Council sittinj;
;il I'ertli .\mhoy. Kic. Berry was rrtnnieil liy the SlieritT of
r.ir;,'cn as elected to the .\sscmlily riom New B.-irliadoes and
.VipiickaiiUc. It proltalily ;rrew out of military rather than civil
• •'HiveiiieM4-e. ;ind when conditions liecaiiie more settled. .\v-
i|iiackaiionk was attached to lOssex. where it properly lielon-jed.
mmission. The arliitrators met on Long Island, where,
stead of their accustomed cisler and apple whiskey, the .lersey-
iiK-ii wen- treated In .New York r.xe. Beinj; unfamiliar with its
use. they were iinaiile lo resist its efi'ects ami si'.'iieil away
Staleii Islanil. which hy riirlit helonsod to New .lersey. Such,
al least, is the qnainl expl.-ination why the island, wliiili is
>ep,-iralcil rroni I lie .New .lci-se_\- mainland liy onl\ .-1 lew rods
The lirst need of militarv "exercises" was for Ihe Irainim.' '" "^'" '''"''■ '^ "•■"""'•■'ll-' ■' I''"' "f ^i'"' V.-rk State.
of the settlers to resist ian allaeks. l.nt th.-re was a time " ""' ' ■■"i''""^'' ^P>'" '" ""• ■■^'•^^- •''•'■■'''.v <<>lonists .slum-
when it seemed as if the New York ai-l New .lersey c sts '"•''••' "'"*' ""' "•■v<il>Hioi,. when the State armed for the fniy.
iniuhl clash. The dispiu.. arose over what New .lersev consid- ''''"' "="• ""^ '" •'"'••'•ted Acqua.-kam.uk. has been treate.l ex-
ered the territorial awre.ssi.ms of New York, I > piovimcs ''•'"■■^'ively in Chapters Nl and XII. In 17!1!. the inhabitants
laying .-laiiii to Staten Island. The Council impos.-,l a lax of "' "'''' '''="'' J"''"''' '" •' vigorous remonstrance to Congress
1117.-. to pay and e.|ni|. forces lo resist the en. roachn.ents of ='«=''""< "'«' ^^'''lition ami .\lien acts, which at one time sccmeil
e<|lil|i
.New York, and this Iransferred the anger of the (-olonists from
likely lo cause serious disl iirliam-i-s. There is r.otliing exlaiil
Iheir o| ills to their rider.s. as appears by the folhiwing '" '^'"■" '''■" ''"' ^''''i-'^ "''^ repiesented to any eMciil in the
leii.-r s.-ni fi the town of Newark:- "'■"' "'' ^^'-- ""' M'^-^iean w.ir or any of the early Indian
tigliting. There may liavi- lieen isolated soldiers from here.
"To ye Townes of I'erth .Viiiboy. KlizarM-llitown. Wood- Indeed, one respected citizen, the late Major .1. B. Iloiriuau.
'"•'■'-''• /''■'■"■•;'' • l^""-'-"- ^'"•'•"■sbnry. .Middlelown. I'isca- ,„,„,„, ,„,,,. ,„.,^.,. „.i„„i , ,,;, ,,,,„|, ;„ „„. ,^,^„.,, ,,,,„.,, ,,^,,
laipia. .\i|iie<-Kciionck, etc.
•■lieiitlcmeii:— ""'• ;lh''ongh Acipiaekanonk w,-is .1 village of less than one
'•The imi'tings of oiir low'ie have coiisidi'icd an .\ct en- ihoiisaml souls, it was inevitable that m,-iiiy of her sons should
litleil an a<t for redressing .1 force of neighbour Province: ami go to light for the Ciiion in l.Slll. No alt pi has c'Ver ln'cii
we hnd yl ye money ordered to be raised by thai act is put ,„,„,,, ,„ ,.„„,,,,, „„. ^.^,.■,^ ^y.,,. ,,.,.,„,,,^ .„. „„, ,^^ ^„„, .,^,
into such liamK as we have 110 reason lo trust, nor are we aiiv • 1 , ■
wai.-s .secured yl ye money will noi be applyed for ye eon- '"'"''"••>"ts of 1 assaic. though it would be an interesting and
irary which has iiiaile lis resolve not to pay it. lint to resist creditable compilation, and lack of space and time has lue-
all force thai shall be used for ye gathiring of it. and because vented its aecoinplishllient for the purposes of this work. -Vll
ihc taking awa.v of y,- Ship Ilesfr has been ma.le ye only „,,„ ,.„„|,, |„, ,,„,„, ,.,„. „„, ,„„.,,„^,.., „, ,,,i^ historv was lo ex-
preti-nee for raising ye iiiniu'v mentioned in that ai-t, we have . , ,- , . .
fiought HI to let ve Proprietors know yl y. nntry was ready """'"' ""' '••"^"■'•'' "^ •^'■" •''"'■^''J "rKanizations for the names
inoiii:h to have deffi'iided her .ind yl we are owing only to the ot soldiers who enlisted from .Vcpiackanonk and vicinity, witli-
rio\ .ndii I- of \i- Coviriior for her Loss, ami we have also out regard to the bn-.-e nnnibcr of veti'rans who came to Pas-
SECOND LIEUT. JOHN H. DOREMUS.
.«^»'
FRANK HUGHES.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
173
siiii- fi'iun iilliiM- \\ny\-i uf ilir Sl:itr 111' I'lvuiilry aftiT llic wiir.
Tlic I'rfriiiuiil ill w liiili ilic Imi'u— .1 Miiiiilii'i' (if Ai'i|iiiii'k!iiii>iik
siiMiiTs si'ivcil w.is till' 'rwciitj'-liltli New Jersey, <iiiiiiiiiMiileil
ly Ciiliinel Anilrcw I >ei'i'()m iif I'litersoii. 1' ive eonipanies were
raised ill I'lissiiie Cimiity iiiul iiiiistereil in Se|ileiiitier 1. ISti'J.
Tile reKiiiieiil wiis in the Kirst Urijiiiile, Tliinl IMvisimi. Niiilli
<'(H'ps. wlieii l-dirn.-'iile nssiiiilteil l''reilei'iekslnir;r in Oetolier.
I.Sti2. It Imsi ei'ilily-tive iin-ii in iiii iittaek on tin- I'lieiny's i-n-
treiK'linii'iits on the Tele(;ra|ih roiid. The re^'iineiit aiileil in
the repulse ..r LipiiL-slreet at Siiffiilk. \':i.. in March. ISC:!, .in, I
wa-^ iiiiisieri'il niii ill .lime .i|' iliat .vear. Cuniiian.v K. whieii
Willi lint iiinler the eiininiaiiil uf ('a|itaiii .1. Kiimh Ayres nt
ratersiin. ei>iii|ii'iseil lit'ty-nine ntlieeis anil IIK'H ereilitecl In
Aiiinaekaiieiik. must of them rroiii the I.aiiilin.!;. I''ii'st l.ieii-
tiiiaiit Hilwaiil K. Spear lieeaiiie eapl.iin i>n Septeinlier 24.
IsiJJ. when Captain Ayres was niaile Lienleiiant-Culuiiel.
('Iiarle-i Denlicilin. still liviiij; in this eily. was one iif the eur-
porals. I'rivale ('li.nles 'riiickett \va> pruiii'iteii le ser;;i'aiit-
m.-ijur. 'The .\ii|iia<kaiionl; ii;eii in ilie iiniipaiiy were as I'ul-
li ws:^
David .Vekeiiii.in. ItiehanI I'. Alyea. .lames Hasaiial. .Inliii
r.c ichin. Si.'phen Heaeh. William Bn^iert, IVter Biiwni.in.
Alirahani Hi ks. (Jecn"_'e W. Hi-nwer, Bryan Cnrroll, Thmnas
A. Ciseii. Heiir.v Clark, .l^hii ('cilili. I.awrenei' Ciinier. I'liarles
Deiiholm. eiirpiiral: .liihii Deelhs. Hi'iiry Dieleli. Anizi Ihiilil.
Jesse K. Klstiin. priuiiiiteil tii first seriieaiit ami later te seeuiul
lii'iitenanl : .Vlirahain Kniiis. L<'f>iianl Faulkner. (larret (i.irr.i-
lirant. .Varmi Ilainin. l/ntiis llamiii. .lereiniah Ilann. Hernanl
Ilauke, Jiihn H. .laenlnis. Joseph Killiy. (ieer^'e AV. I-ee. .Inhii
II. Maliy. Fkiyil Maynanl. (Janet .Miller. Charles Miller. John
Mowry. John Nix. Kieharil O.ikes. (ieor);e I'ersonnett. I.,oiiis A.
I'iaKi't, iiroinoteil to seeoinl ami later to first lieutenant; (ieortre
M. I'ost. Thomas (^iieinan. William Ityaii. John It. Spear, Ed-
w:iril I{. Spe.'ir. first lieutenant and later eaplain of the eoiii-
p.'iiiy; Josiali .M. Spear. Christopher Siiidle. corporal; Uenjaiiiiii
Severn. Ileiirx Sii.Mler. .Ii.liii Snyder. Leonard Stoekard. An-
drew Sir.iut .losepli I'', 'I'lieis. .lohii 'I'liers. Jr., George Van
i;iper. Philip II. Win Itiper, (l.inei \i erlainl. Garret I. Vree-
l..nd. I'.iti'ick Willi.ims. pronioied 1" lorpm-al; Willi.-iin W.
W.iid, Charles Thieketl.
In Cimipauy K of the same retiimeiit the t'ollowiiii; men are
eiediled to .Viipiaekanonk; .loliii Harnard. (iooi'se I >. Hush.
Ilerman .M.Mliii, Thomas .'<eoli. Is.i.ie F. Teiiipleton.
The I'ii-^t Ke;:i in of the .New .lersey lirisrade. cone
mandi'd li.\ Hri^^.idier-C leiieral Theodore Kiinyon. was a I'as-
saie County reuimeiii. Inil the .\(i|ii.iekaiioiik men raniiot he
delinitely reio^rnized. C.nnpaii.v (i of the I'"iftli and Ccunpany C
of the Seventh of the Seeonil Hri^'ade Here I'assaie County
('i.iii|i.'iiiies. also. .\t Williaiiisliiu'i: the luo hrifiades lost Tllll
nun, hi .Siekles' K.xeelsior Hri;:adi' there were two eompaiiies
reiiniieil in I'aterson. in wliieli were .i few .^eiiuaekanonk men.
They were Companies 1( and 1. l'"irst IJe^'iment. At Williams-
liiir.L' llie leirinieiil Weill into .leiion with (i.'ll men and lost
:;."!. C..iiip.nj\ II lost U out of IJli. The le^'iineiit Liter served
at l''air (laU^. ( iei tyslpiir;.' .iiid ( 'h.iiicelloisville. William Hur-
;;oyne of .\ ci|uark:i iioiik \\.is .-I priv.ite ill Comiiaiiy <!.
The T\\ enly-seroiid l!"i;imeiit i Herfieu Coniily re^'inienli
had a I.odi lowuship .■ouipany Coinpany K. Chief of I'oliee
Ili'ndr.\". IIeiii'.\* I>orin;r. Patriek MeCahe. .laeoli Noi_inlK'r;rh.
Andrew Yereame. Stephen Terliiine. Cornelius Vreelaiid. Ahra-
liaiii X'reeland, and others now or reieiitly livinj; in or near
I'assaie. served in the eompany. while ".Mayor" (Jilhert I •.
HoK'irt. who enlisted in Coiiip,iii.\ II as a private, eaiiie home
a first lii'iitenanl. In the Seeoiid Hecimeiit Sylvester J. I'ost
was .1 private in Company F. and on the e.xpiratiou of his eu-
listment was tr.iasfeiied lo the X'eleran Iteservp Corps, sorv-
iii;.' until .liiiie -"i, ISill, .lohn .1. Slater was in Compan.v I
ol the same ri'L'i iil. Company I had for its nueleiis the
I'ateison Ciiy Tillies, a eraek iiiilitiii iirKiiliiziilKiii. I<> wliieli
.Mr, Slater lieli>iij;e<l. Mr. I'usl'.s eoiiipiiiiy wiis mostly imiile
ii|i of iiiemliers of llie Helleville Company of ralerson, to wliieli
he lieliinceil.
At thai lime there was no Niilioiiiii liiiiird, Inil the Sliito
WHS ilotted with iiiilitiii eiiiiipanies, eoiii|Hiseil iiiiislly of yoiin;;
nil II of some siM-ial stiindinu. 'Hie eoinpnnies followi'il tlii>ir
own ideas ns to ort.Miii/.atioii. iiniforiii iiiid ei|iiipiiieiil. The
two I'alersiiii eoiiip lilies nieiitioiiol liiiil showy iiiiirnriiis, the
l,i;;lit Giianls of I'lissiiie Iniil lieiiiitiriil IIkIiI hliic eoiits, while
the ('oiitiiieiiliils of lliiekelisaek wore ii ('iilitilieiitiil iiiiiforiii.
It is iiiiieli to Im- ri'irrelteil that for the iiiiisl pari the iiiililia
eompaiiies did not pi to the ri'oiit. The Coiilineiitals and llie
l.ii:hl liiiards hastily dislianded at the onset of the war.
The I'assaie eompany had paraded with jrreiit eelal ill Ihe
dedieation of Hiindee Ilii'ii. and Kreat things were expelled of
il. When the first eall for troops eame, Ciijitaiii Folder drew
lip his men in line, and ealled on all who were willing to volun-
teer in the national servieo to step llirep pai-es forward. Oiio
111.111 responded. His iiniiie whs "Boli" While. Ho went to
llie war and eame home with a lieiitelimit's shoiililor simps.
The eoniiiaiiy never drilled ajraiii. Its iiiiiforiiis and eipiip-
nieiits were hidden away. When I»r. Terhuiie's liiirii was
linriied. ten years later, the firemen reseiied a iiiniilier of the
old uniforms, wliieh were hidden away in the loft. They were
used lor m.isi|iierade eostnmes for iiiaiiy years. A yi-iir or
two a;.'o a beautiful silk Ameriean Ha;;, presented lo the
liUai'iN Ii.v t!ie ladies of .Veijuaekaiioiik, was ilisi-overed ill an-
other liarii. while the rest of the ei|iiipineiit is said to l>e
sti nil in some of the Anderson I„uiiilier Company's liiiildinKS.
Wlieii the Spaiiisli-Aiiicrieaii war broke out, in l.SilS, CJov-
eiiioi- \oorhees named the Seeoiid I{e;;iiiieiit of the National
GiiMid as part of New Jersey's quota of voliiiileers eaUed for
li.\ Ilic I'niled States ( iovernment. This was on .Vpril 27,
IS'.i.s, On .\pril 2!>. l.SilS. Company I) of this i-ily was ordered
to the aniiory. formed in line, and when volunteers were ealled
for. it seemed as tlioinrh the entire eompany slep|ied out at
oliee.
The eompany left I'assaie for Sea Girl with the Seeoiid
l!e;;iiiient on May 2, niiiid the eheers of thousands of inniple.
The re^xinieiit wis iniistpred into the t'liitod States service on
May l:! and left Sea (Jirt for Chiekaiiiau);n, Ga.. on Juno 1.
I'lioii arriving; at IlarrisbiirK, I'a.. the re;;iiueiit Avas ordered lo
.laeksonville. Fhi.. instead. It arrived there .Iillie '.'•. and was
assigned to the First Hriyade. Seeoiid l>ivision. Seventh Ariii.v
Corps. Jlajor-Geiieral Fitxhu;:h I.ee, eoiniiiaiidin;:. General
I.ee's eorps was intended for the eaptiire of Havana, if a
seeoiid invasion had iM'eii iieeessary. but the surrender of San-
ti.-ipi ended the .iiiiial hostilities. The eoiiipaiiy remainod at
(amp Ciili.i l.iliie. .laeksonville. until Septeinlier 2. when lb--'
ie;;inieiil was oideied !■■ I'ablo H h. Fla.. for ieeU|K'ration.
It was ordered home to he mustered out, hit I'ablo Heaeli
September 22 and was mustered out NovemlK'r 17.
Corporal .lohn .Morrissey, I'rivale .losepli W. Gaiio ami Pri-
vate Conrad llliaii died of typhoid fever while in Florida.
Private Henry Flyiiii was diseliar;:ed for disability and died
after leturiiin;: home. Seeond lyieiiteiianl John II. Horemiis
eer.traeted an illness wliieli eoinpelled his resi;:iialioii. .iiid has
sinee alinost destroyed his eyesi;:ht.
Roster of Company D,
Second Regiment New Jersey National Guard, Volunteer
Infantry, Spanish-American War, 1898.
Ca|itaiii Ilaniilton .M. Koss. Jr..
First Lieut. James T. Barker.
Seeond I.ieiil, .lohn H. Doremiis,
(ResiKned Julys. IDSd).
Seeond l.ieiit. .Vil.ini II, lliilisehmidl. '
J74
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
First Si'ifit. •! >liii H. \Virkw:iri>.
1}. M. Serjtt. Williiiiu W. .lohnstoii.
SiTKt. Daviil Wilsiin. Jr..
Serjrt. I-'ri'iUThk K. Kulirljavh.
Sirst. William H. ('.irpciitor.
Sirirt. Frrilrrick K. Stiti-s.
('i>r|i. 1 1 lull .M. Aiken.
Ciirp. Jiiliii Wi'rliiif;,
<"iir|i. .\. Mi-I.. Clarksoii.
< 'iirp. Frank FiMcro.
<'iir|i. ('Iiin'iirc Sliiiit.
**(ir|». S.viliif.v S. Spcrr.
.Miisii'iiiii Bi'riianl .Mi<!ariy.
.VrtihciM- Williaiii Oliaiis.
I'riv. Ailaiiis. (Irnr;.'!'
Vrw. Mr.i-ii. Ilarr.v .1.
I'riv. Hlr.ikrii. (ii-urcr W.
I'riv. Hr.nki-ii. .loliii.
I'riv. KiiM.ks. Kaviil
I'riv. Hn-.'C". Frank W.
I'riv. B...vli-. Miiliacl .1.
I'riv. Boiilt.v, Tliiiinas K.
I'riv. Hiiiiulajri'. .Marsilmi I"
I'riv. Hii.kliy. I.oiiis W.
I'riv. Barr.ni. Waltrr K.
I'riv. Biirni'tt. Kilwanl
I'riv. Croinniclin. William
I'riv. ('Iiirksiin. KiitKcrs, .fr.
I'riv. Ciinkliiif,'. Allien
I'riv. Clnck. Ilarr.v B.
I'riv. I>i' Vrii-s. Itaiiifl A.
I'riv. Iloiti'rwirli. .Iiilm II.
I'liv. Kiiiiii'<iis, 1,1'slir 11.
I'riv. Flviin. Hcni-.v
I'riv. Fowler. William < '.
I'riv. IJeliell. Ce.ir;.'!'
I'riv. (Jeliell. I.oiiis
I'riv. liiiMii. .liKsejili W.. .Ir.
I'riv. Iliive.v, .liilin I'.
I'riv. Ilenkel. Otto
I'riv. HiillMiriiw. .Inliii .M.
I'riv. IIiiKlie.-;, William W.
I'riv. IliiU'liinsoii, Liiiitini
I'riv. IIiili'liiii;:s. lOilvv.inl
I'riv. lliy, A Hurt S.
I'riv. Illi.'in. Ciinrail
('or|i. Charles Itemiek.
Corp. .loliii Morri.s.se.
Corp. Henr.v I). Uii-liardson.
Corp. Frank Mntli.
Corp. .lolin V. Brownlee.
Corp. Clarence E. Tyler.
Jhisiiiaii William Bowman.
Wa;:oner Filiiioiid C. Uotli.
I'riv, In;:rani. Samson
I'riv. .I.uittstetter, Louis F.
I'riv. Keeves. (;oor;;e C.
I'riv. Keys. William
I'riv. Letter. .lacoli. .Ir.
I'riv. I.evsoii. Freil. I'.
I'ri\'. Loehei". .Vehilles .1.
I'riv. Lowentlial. Henry
I'riv. Lake. Oscar (i.
I'riv. Lake. William
I'riv. Mitchell. Amlicw .1.
I'riv. MrCoriniek. Frank I'
I'riv. McCluskey. John
I'riv. Melnott. Joseph II.
I'riv. Morton. Robert II.
I'riv. I'arkhill. Uoliert
I'riv. I'roiiilman. James
I'riv. I'rins. .lolin
I'l iv. (}uiiin. Williain J.
I'riv. Koth. Frc.lerick W.
I'riv. Koyer^. J. .In,
I'riv. ScoM. .losi'ph
I'riv. Snyder, Charles II.
I'riv. Snyder. Henry 10.
I'riv. Sheehan. 'I'homas
I'riv. Stellin^'. William A.
I'riv. Stoll. F. J. (;.
I'riv. Sleinlireniier. Freil .1.
I'riv. Startup. Harry M.
I'riv. Saiiford, r>enj.'uiiin I'.
I'riv. Sehahill, James
I'riv. Schomlier, I'hiliii C.
I'riv. Schroff. Charles T.
I'riv. Sweeney. Kdward A.
I'liv. Smith. (Joorjre
I'riv. Smith. William II.
l'ri^'. Swil'l. .lames
I'riv. Turner. Benjamin I'.
I'riv. Torniivist, .\d.uii K.
I'riv. Tinjiley. .Toliii K.
I'riv. Taylor. (leorjre. .Ir.
I'riv. Weissert. Heiny '/..
Priv. Waeehter. William
I'riv. Walters. Vincent I'.
I'rir. 'fl'alnisloy. Geor>:e F.
I'riv. Walinsley. William
I'riv. Wentink. I';, ill. .Tr.
I'riv. Willis. John
I'riv. Welj'-r. Herman F.
I'riv. \A'.ilker. Georpe 1".
I'riv. \'an Benthiiyseii. Williaiiil'riv. Yoniif.'. Marvin
I'riv. \'reel;iiid. .loliM !•;. \\". I'liw Zientarskie. Fr.-ink
.\mon;.' other I'assaic men who went to the front were
I.oiiis It. Cowdre.v. Iiattalion sergeant-major of the Second Ue^'-
iment: lOdward Slev /ns. V. S. i^iinlmat Castine: Joseph Lntz.
en the liattleship Maine diirins the e.vplosion at Havana, later
on the cruiser .\ew York off Sanliaso. voluuteere<l under Lien-
leiianl Ilolison and was selected as one of the crew of the
.\Ic-rriiM:n-. Imt was later returned to hi.s ship.
Howard .lelleme and T. B. Rsty served in the .\s1i>l- I'.al-
tei-y in the I'hilipiiines.
I.ieiit. .Milton L. Me(irew. Si.\teenth T". S. Infantry, a ^ladii-
Mtc ..r West I'oint. is at present with his re^inu-nt in the
I'hilippiiics. .\ nnmlior of other I'assaic men c'lilisti'd in the
reirnlar ainiy. amons; them lieius CoriKiral C. M. Shiiit. Sev-
enth C.-ivalry. now in Cuba: Privates Grant Francis and Frank
I'ercro. who saw .service in Cuba in the Si;,'iial Corjis. and
I'liv.ite I.oiiis (lelpcll. Tweiity-hrst r. S. Infantry. .\iiion
l.utz. a brother of .loseph. elilisleil in the marines.
Serviiic in the Twenty-eighth I'. S. N'oliinteers in the
I'hilippines are .lames Bracken. Edward .1. Hart. Martin Nel-
son and Joliii Sanchok, Uobert Parkhill of Carlton Hill. Robert
.1. Allen and Frank Coid< of Walliii^'toii and Michael Dwyer
of Helawanna. Clarence Tompkins, who also enlisted, died at
(■.•imp .Meadi'. near Middletown. Pa., in October. ISlt'.l.
Company 1). which volunteered in 1S!(S, was oriraiii/ed a-
Company li. p'oinlli li'v^'inieiil of .lersey City. Decciiiher 11.
LST!». with I', li. Lawrence as captain. U. B. Tindall. tirst lieu-
tenant, and Kicliard .Mnrrell. seconil lieutenant. The reiu-j^aniz-
ation of the .Natiniial Gnanl in l.SIIJ iiiaile it Company I). Sec-
ond Ue^imenl. heailiinarters .it I'aterson. and in the renr-
^'anization of l.S!)!l it beianie Company A. First Ui'piment.
Iieadiiiiarters at Newark. The coinniandiiiK otticers since the
lirst organization in ISTlt have bei-n I'. K. Lawiiint'. C. .\.
Stellini:. l-"red Wrijrlit. James I!eid. .\iidiiw Derroin and II.
.\1. Uoss. Jr.
GcorL'e (i. .Meade rci>i, (',. .\. U.. was orjranized .lime 27.
ISTo. John Kno\ was the liisi commander.
THE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
EDWARD WATERMAN GARDNER.
J'l-I".. i'ity ( uiiin-N.
COLONEL JOHN A. PARKER.
CAPT. JOHN J. 80WES.
- ■,^^•(:■•«j»>;?*«^^ It
FRANCIS J. MARLEY.
HENRY McDANOLDS.
^i
COLONEL BENJAMIN AYCRIGG.
CHARLES AYCRIGG.
CHAPTER XXVIL
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
The Personal History of Many of the Men and Women Who Have Been or Are Prominent in the
Life of Passaic
ItlCUAKH Al.r.KlM IIMMUM:. M. D.. was boi-ii at
Ilackoiisack. r.ri-;:i'ii (oiiiily. NfW .Iciscv. .laniiar.v !)tli. l.S'J'.t.
Ho roci'ivi'il Ills tMliic:ii;oii in tlu' iiulilir siluiol iif Passaii'. and,
tlip liislii'i" liiiiiiilics. ill liis r.iiliii's 1 ic. who was an al)li'
Latin ami (Jr-i-k scimlai- ami an cniiEiiMit physician. Followin'4
till' liiiii .•!■ Ins iiwii iiu'iiiialidns. anil, iloulitless. nineh intln-
rnrcil li.v h.ls fatlu'i's fjrcat siRccss. he chose for his life work
the medical iirofcssion, and in lS4(i conimenced a resnlar pre-
liininar.v course of professional stnd.v under his father's direc-
tion. Finishing; this course in due or<ler of time, he entered the
College of IMiysicians and Surseons, New York City, njradn-
ating from the same in 1850. He commenced practice in I'as-
saie, in association with his father. At the time of this writ-
ing he still may be scon making his daily professional calls.
It should be said that for eleven years he continued to prac-
tice in connection with his father. His independent practice
began in l.Sdl. His professional knowledge won for him
speedil.v the confidence of the conmuinity. He found, by his
skill, his zeal, his energy in the pei I'orniaiice of his duties, a
large and lucrative patronage soon at his command. The Doc-
tor has been a resident of this city seventy years. He has
all along been an active and public-spirited citizen, taking an
interest in all enterprises looking to improvement and the bet-
terment of the condition of the community. He has been Presi-
dent of the Water Company ami President of the Board of
Council of the city of Passaic lor three years, and he be-
came Mayor of the city when it was incorporated, in 18(jl.
The Doctor is a Ueimblican. always. He was married, June
ISth, ISGl, to Mrs. Emily L. Morrell. nee Emily I-. Kandol. of
Newbnrgh. N. Y. Three <'hildrcii were born to them.
KEX.rAMIN HOCEKT .\ V( KK ii ;. .M. D.. who for forty
years was a lu-oniinent tigure in this city, was boru in New-
York City, September 21, 1S24. He graduated from New-
York I"iiivcisity. .\iis Department, in 1884, and from the
Medical De[iartimiii in 1.S4T. Dr. Aycrigg was a member of
the Keformed Diilih Clnurli. In politics, a Uepublican. He
was flu- first Mayor of tlie cily of Passaic. He was a member
oi ilie Cniineil of New York I'niversity. An enthusiastic mem-
ber of the Masonic fraternity, he became W. M. of his lodge:
n-ember of chapter in York Kite; also, of the Council and Com-
mandery. In Scottish IJite he be<ame member of the Ixidge.
Council. Chapter and Consistory, taking his 33d degree — the
highest in Masonry. Dr. Aycrigg was married, .lanuary Hi.
18.")1, to Catharine E. Anderson, daughter of David 1. Ander-
son, of Bergen County, N, J, There were born to them niiii'
children, six of whom survive him,
.JOHN ALLEN \YILLETT was born at Argyle, Washing-
ton County, N. Y., ,Ianuary 17th, 1824. He received his edu-
cation in the public schools and at Cary Seminary, (Jeuesee
County, X, Y, He came to New York City in 18(W and in 1808
to Passaic. Mr. Willett is rtie of New York's successful com-
mission nil nliants. and. at the same lime, he is one of I'ns-
saic's most respected <-iiizens. He was its .Mayor from l.S.S,"i
to l.S*<7. He has been a Director of the Passaic National Bank
from its organization, and. for a time, its President, Also, he
M-.is President of the Passaic (Jas I'onipany fur some years.
Ill politics he is an Indepenilent: he votes for the best men.
Ex-Mayor Willett was married, in .Novemlier, 18.">2, to Ann
T<nry, of Bethany, (ienesee County. N. Y. Four children have
iuen born to them: ()liv.> .\.. now .Mrs. William H. Beam:
.losephiiie A., now .Mrs. Richard Morrell: two children died in
infancy. Ex-.Mayor Willetfs grandfather was in Washing-
ton's Army when he crossed the Passaic Kiver at this poinr
and encaiii|ied on City Hall Hill. He is of English ancestry,
while Mrs. Willeii's : estors came from New England.
CHAKLES M. IloWE, D. D. S.. was born in New
York city May 1, I8.")l. His father, the late Dr. ,Tohn M,
Howe (also a native of Now Y'ork.) was the son of Major
Bdialool Howe, who served on (Jeneral Washingtmrs stalT.
From his mother, Emmelinc B. -lenkins, the family reconl
goes back in a direct line to the MayHower. The Howe fam-
ily moved to Passaic in 18."i:{, so that Charles .M. Howe may
almost be looked upon as a native .lerseyman. He obtained
his rndinicntary education in the local schools of Passaic, after
which he went to Massachusetts for about three years to
prepare for college. After completing his studies there, he
entered the Dental College of the City of New York, and in
1873 graduated therefrom with high honors, and was the va.e-
dii-torian of his class. After receiving his diploma he iiii-
mediatel.v opened an office in Passaic for the practice of his
piofession. in which he has held a high rank. On Octolier 12,
ls7i>. Dr. Howe was marrieil at Bath. Steuben County. N.
Y., to M. Ida Canfield. They have two children — one a daugh-
ter. Miss Edith, and a son, ,lolin Canfield. Dr. Howe has
always been a prominent member of the Ke|)\iblican party. In
1S7!I he was elected a member of the City Council from the Se<-
ond Ward, and was re-elected in 1.S80, after which he served as
president of that body. In 1887 he was elected as Mayor of
Passaic, and served two terms (four years), being the first
iiuiii ever elected without opposition. In his official capacity
he used the vety power iinite freely, but always in the interest
of the city, and never from personal or partisan motives. It
\ias under his :idministration that the Passaic Free Public
Lit rary was inaugirated and so successfully i-stablished. It
was also one of his official ads to approve the purchase by
the City Council of the old Paulison property, on which has
since been completed the present City Hall and surrounding
park. This last spring (April. ISltili upon the earnest solicita-
tion of over 500 citizens, who desired .1 change in municipal
alfairs, he again consented to stand as the Uepublican candi-
date for Mayor, and at the primaries carried every ward in
the city by large aud unprecedented majorities. The Demo-
m
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
i-ratic party tliPTi .'iiilorxcd his iioriiitiiitioii, iind lip was agaiu
elpftcil witlionl o|)|)0«itio:i. and is now serviug his third term
as Mayiir. Like- his father. Dr. ('. M. Howe has always been
frireniiist aniung ilu- many enterprises of Passaic, lie is presi-
dent of the I'assaie Trust and Safe l)e|Mjsit Company and vice-
president of the Passaic National Bank. He holds considerable
real estate in varions parts of the city, all of which is being
rai)idly dovcloiied and improved, thns adding to the genera!
welfare of the city. lie is an e.Kecntor of his father's estate,
a task alone that occnpies a large share of Lis valnable time.
Dr. Howe is also n inenilier anil trustee of the Methndist
Clnireli. He is lilu'ral and broad mimled, always extemling
his support to everything that might be beneficial to Passaic.
CHAKl-KS .McKNHJIll' I'A I' I.I.'^C >N. the .■uiiiable and
ambitions buililer of "Panlison Castle," the founiler of the
city of Passaic, was born. October 2(>tli. 1S24. at Ilackensack.
N. .1. After acipiiring a common school edncation. he studied
l.MW fo;- a timi>: but not Kndinu it congenial to his nature, he
left off that and engaged in business. Mr. I'aulison was a
resident of Passaic 20 years. He became a member of the
Baptist Church, on profession of religion, at the age of 20.
joining what was at that time known as the Leight Street
Baptist Chur<-h, New York City. His membership always re-
mained there. It is worth noticing that he was passionately
fonil of music, though not a musician. He was a member of
I he Philharmonic Society of New York City. A Uepublicau.
but no tiuu- for piditiisl He was married in his 21st year to
Anna Shepherd, or .New York. Th<'re were two children:
Washington and Cliarli'S (detva.sed). Mr. I'aulison was a
gentleman of amiable disiHisition, cheerful countenance :niil
winning address. His abilities were extraordinary on certain
lim-s. ami his success was phemunenal. He passi(uiately ad-
mired the beautiful in nature and in art. and endeavored to
give expression to this by his landscajie gardening and his
palatial mansion on the "Hill." Mr. I'aulison was an instance
of a man's bei-oming rich and influential several times. It is
.said of him that he was the maker and loser of fortunes.
Prom '4!) to Ti',) he made the lln-n considered handsome sum
of $40,110(1 in California, ami coming back to New York lost it
all in a business venture! But to him that was nothing. His
hopeful nature and his keen speculative ability enabled him
soon to triumph ovi'r that. In a short while he was on his
feet again. Had his life bei^n sjiared, no doubt he would have
recovered friun the disasters of '[fil'.i. when he had to abandon
the work on the "Castle" and go West to Arizona to recoup
his fortunes; and his success would materially have changi'd
till' history of this city. Indeed, he tO(di great interest in the
public affairs of Passaic. The beautiful shade trees of a
nundier of the avenues are his living monument. He was
founder of the Aci|uackanonk AVater Works and of the Fire
I>i-|>artnient. The churches, too, thrived by his timely aid.
Though a Baptist, ami the largest contributor to that chur<-h.
he diuuited a Ihousaml dollars' worth of brownstone toward
(he erection of the Methmlist Kpiscopal Church. He evinced
the broadness of his mind and his catholicity by giving sup-
port to all churches. On the hifl of cheerful reports of his
success in his adventures in Arizona came word of his death,
filling the hearts of his many friends here with sadness.
Ar.i:i, S\\ AN I'.KoWN was liorn .Inly ?,. 184.5, at Hub-
b;irlown, WirccsliT County, .Mass. His father was a pioneer
in the anti-slavery 'uovement. Through injuries received at the
breaking up of a meeting in the southwest by a mob of his
opposer.s, he died in ].S-1,">, two months prior to the birth of
the subjei't of this sket<-h. Mr. Brown's mother, now 87 years
of age, still liv's. ,\t ten years of age Mr. Brown was left
by his mother with his grandparents, she having marrieil for
ber second husbai:d the Itev. Charles SiH'er, of Bostou, Mass.
At the age of sixteen he went to Worcester, where he had
r<'latives. after whom he was named in part. His uncle, Mr.
Kcuben Swan, of that city, took an interest in him. and. in the
(ourse of three years, brought about an engagement for him
in New York City as salesman for the firm of Lathrop &
I-uildingt'in. This firm, failing shortly afterward, Mr. Brown
secured a very desirable position with the noted firm of H.
B. Claflin & Co.. New York. For eleven years he faithfully
served this firm. Then his genius for organization was to
have an opportunity to display itself. His minute knowledge
of the dry goods business, in all its details, made every step
he took a sure one. And he opened out his scheme to men
who, from their own experience, readily understood him. They,
.■ilso. wi're experts. The result was the founding of the "Syn-
ilicate Trading (N>mpany," Mr. Brown becoming its first presi-
dent. Its liead(iuarters were to be in New Y'ork City, with
branch olUces in Manchester, England; Paris, France; Chem-
nitz, Germany, and St. Gall, Switzerland. The company at first
comprised six houses: Adam, Meldrum & Anderson, of Buf-
falo. N. Y.; Callender, McAustiu & Troup, Providence, R. I.;
Brown. Thompson, Hartford, Ct.; Forbes & Wallace, Spring-
fielil. ilass.; Sibley, lyindsay & Curr. Rochester, N. Y.; Taylor,
Kilpatrick, Cleveland, Ohio. This syndicate proved to be the
crowning achievement of Mr. Brown's business career. The
cnmpan.v has grown to be an association of a dozen of the
largest wholesale and retail dry goods houses and department
stores outside of New Y'ork City. Mr. Brown, as executive
otficer, was reputed to be the largest buyer in America, his
purchases running intr^ tlie uiillinns. The Denholm & Mc-
Kay Compan.v of Worcester, Mass., was founded in 1870 b.v
\\'. A. Denholm and W. C. McKay. It soon joined the Syn-
ilicate Trading Company, and. upon the death of Mr. Den-
holm, some years ago, Mr. Brown bought a contndling interest
in the business and became president of the firm. At the
time of his death, September 0, 1899, Mr. Brown was also
president of the Pettis Dry Goods Company. Indianapolis;
vic(^])resideut of the Doggett Compan.v, Kansas City. Mo..
Miiil was largely interested in other houses. His Imsiness
drew him constantly from home. Indeed, it had led him to
have two homes, lie was coming to be as much at home in
Worcester as at Passaic. In recent years he made a pur-
chase of a large tract of mountain land, about three miles
out of the city of Worcester and overlooking that city. It
was there he built his unique and delightful summer home,
which he called the "Hermitage." There he kept open house
in summer time. His Saturdays and Sundays were spent
tl'.cre. And many were the invited guests he had to dine
with him and to ride with him over the park, through which
had been constructed extensive and delightful driveways. Mr.
Brown's Passaic home, corner of Panlison and Pennington
avenues, was purchased on his coming here in 1880. Ex-
tensive improvements were made in recent years. Mr. Brown's
public spirit made him prominent. He became a charter
immber of Passaic's oldest literary societ.v, the Kenilworth,
and was its president for one year. He was one of the or-
ganizers and the first president of the Citizens' Improvement
Association, which afterward became the Board of Trade.
He took an interest in everything that went for the up-
building and beautifying of the city — in its public buildings,
its schools, its Public Library and its shade trees. He never
speculated in real estate here. He helped to build up the
city puridy for his love of it and his pride in it. It is to Mr.
Brown that our citizens owe their unique City Hall and
grounds, furnishing elegant rooms for the city officers and for
the Public Library. "Panlison Castle"— so called— had for long
years been in the hands of an insurance couqiany, and was
about to be sold: the property was to be cut up into building
lots and the unfinished building was to be torn down. The
''W*
it
HENRY A. BARRY.
WILLIAM COGGIN KIMBALL.
JOHN TILESTON GRANGER.
ROE MARSELLUS.
CHARLES R. CUSHMAN.
fBENEZCR KEILQGO ROSE,
FREDERIOK SHERWOOD DATES.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
>8»
entile prnporty— ImiklitiK nnd RrnuiKls— was worth .fllHl.ooii.
Mr. Hniwn pri'Viiiliil ii|>nii Mr. I'cti'r Held iiiiil tlir hite Mr.
Moses 10. Worlliin In :idv:iiiii' lln' sum lU'Oiloil to siivc tilt"
]iropi.rt.v. on the ( Ikiiic ( liiinj; ri'lnilmrsfd by the i-i(y.
'I'lirn liy .1 sMlisiiipl ion list lir r:iisf(l iihoilt .$1,S,(MMI in pleilKcs
li wnnl J Innil Ini- riinoilclint; llic linildinK. fonvortlnj; it into a
City IImII. ir ilir lily slionlil <iinsi'iit to relieve Messrs. Iteid
!ind \\'ortheii of tlieir pnrrliasc. The lity lionclit the propiMly.
piiyiii;; llii'refor .«:!:!.(MI(I nnd remodeled :inil linishi'd the linild-
inc Tlius W!is olit.'iined ;in elesiant strnetnre. with Ininilsome
uronnds ndjoinin;;. jit a pri<<' llnit was re^rarded by all citizens
ns nurely nominal. In polities Mr. Hrown was u Repnbliean.
He followed keenly the trend of pnblic affairs in the conntry,
bnt t'oniid no lime In lake a hand ill shaping them. He took
a deep iiileresi in l)cMieMilrnl eiilerprises. eiintrilmtinK gener-
ously lo llieir siipporl We name, especially. Ilie (leneral IIos-
pil.'il ami llie Yoiinj; Men's Christian Assoi-ialion. Of the
hilli'i- he was a ilireetor from its start in I'assaie till his death.
He was earnest and energetic in pnshing forward the con-
struction of the new building lor its headiinarters. His sudden
death a few d.ivs before iis dedii-alion was a great shock to
his friends. Varions clubs .ippcaled snccessfnlly to his social
nature. He was a member nf the Passaic Club — was one of its
foiindi'rs. substantially aiding it in many ways; the Worcester
Club and Country CInb. of Worcester. Mass.; the Union
League, the Merchants' Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the
Wool Club and the New Kngland Society of the Sons of the
Uevolntion. New York City. This sketch would not be complete
w(re we to omit from the record his church relations and his
church work. During his young niaiihcHi<l he united with the
First Baptist Church of Brooklyn. N. V. In a "History of the
Vcmng PeopU^'s Baptist Union," of that city, we find it stated
that the "seed-thought" of that Union originated with Mr.
.v. Swan Brown. He became its first president. At the end of
the first year there were sixteen churches represented in the
■'Union." We extract one sentence from Mr. Brown's report on
retiring from the presidency: "Organized with the intent and
purpose of doing good, and looking to the Great Head of the
Church fcu' guidance and wisdom, we embark upon our second
year, full of hope, trusting we may accomplish some good work
ill oiir Master's vineyard, and, at least, cast no discredit upon
the denomination of which we are members." Mr. and Mrs.
Brown retained their membership in the First Baptist Church
of Brooklyn until about seven years ago, when they obtained
letters to the First Baptist Church of Passaic. Here he occu-
pied at different times the otiices of trustee and chairman of
Music Committee, and always interested himself in the welfare
of the church. In .Tune, 18(!i), Mr. Brown was married to Char-
lotte Connah. of Brooklyn. N. Y. There were born to them two
sons: Irving Swan and I,iith<>r Coniiiih. Tlie foinier. at this
writing, is manager of the "Boston Slore," Worcester. Mass.
Mr. I.nthi'r Connah Brown is engageil at the main ottice of the
Syndic.'ite Trading Company, No. 2 Walker street. New Y'ork
City. Both have reached their majority, and are married. -Mr.
Brown's iioine was an iileal i Il was cmpli:i:i 'ally a religious
home. The supremacy and guiilance of the blaster were con-
stantly recognized. Music added to its charms. Father. nn)ther
and both the sons loved music, and all were able to gratify their
taste by [(laying on some' instrument. Piano, violins ami
" 'c(dlo" were ofti'U snmmoiuMl to furnish cheering harmony.
On the occasion of Mr. Brown's death the Passai<- Club, the
trustees of the Public Library, the Y. M. C. \.. the Boar<l of
Trade and the City Council offered resolutions expressive of
their sense of the severe loss sustained by our community liy
the decease of so distinguished and useful a citiziMi. The City
Council placed on record the following: "In his private life,
in his busiiu'ss career, and in the ac-tive interest taken by
him in pnblic affairs, he has left a nolewortliy (xaniple. and
one that refle<-ls credit upon himself nnd lustre upon tlie com-
n;unlty in which he took such pride. He was exemplnry in his
private life and iharaeler. a iiiaii of libiTal disposition, nlmii-
dant ill his benevolences, which were always bestowed with
jndgiiient and without ostentalicui. We rei-ord with satisfaction
the fact that his name had become widely known and highly
esteenied. far beyond the city in which he lived, ns a linsiness
man of sterling character and unusual ability and capacity.
On the foniidation of striit integrity anil sound business prin-
ciples he bnilt up a large conniienial strnetnre. the upreiiring
ami conduct of which called for the shrewilesi biisiin-ss iii-
slincl and --agacily. the most practical coininon sense, and
unwearying personal energy and industry."
MI!. PIOTRIt RETD was born at Govaii. Scotland. October
S. IS"'.i. .\fler receiving a common school education, lie eii-
gagi'il ill his uncle's dyeing works at (Jovaii until he lanie
to .Vinerica, in 1S4:i. In 18,"i1 he beiaine counei-ted with the
Sonierville I.Mass.l Dyeing and Bleaching Company, as Gen-
eral Mainiger. remaining with the company eighteen years.
Coming to Passaic in 1Si;'.l, he engaged in the saini- business, in
partnership with the late Henry A. Barry. Mr. Ueid is a
member of the Union I^eague and the Merchants' Cluli, New
York: th<> Blooming Grove Park Association, Penn. He is a
Knight Teiii|ilar of the Masonic Fraternity. He was married,
October !t. IS-""'-', to ,Iane Wat.son, daughter of the late .Tidin
Watson. Sotnirville. Mass. No children were born to this
union. Mr. Iteid is the happy instan<-e of a sne<-essfnl busi-
ness man. as the outcome of straightforward Imsiness methods.
Earnest, thrifty, constant and strictly honest, he has won
his way to affluence. He is generous, having an open hand
for worthy objects. He is retiring and modest, and wants no
praise. The city has good reason to cherish him as one of its
first citizens. He has not cared for any of the city offices, but
is always a Uepnblieaii when .ailed to cast his ballot.
MOSF.S lODSO.N WOItTHF,.N was one of those men whose
death was as great a loss to the cominuiiit.v nt large as to his
closest associates. During the twenty-tive years of his life
spmt in Passaic he was engaged in constant, practical work
for the public good, socially, materially and politically. His
diath. on December 2(!, 181)7, from an attack of typhoid fever,
contracted under circumtances which were distressing, be-
cause they apparently might have been avoidcMl. was a gc'iinine
public calamity. .Mr. Worthen was born in Charlestown. .Mass..
on November 2, l.S;!7. of energetic and fairly |)rospi-roiis .New
England stock. Uv attendeil the Warrc^ii (Jrammar School and
later the Charlestown High School until fourteen years ccf
age, when poor hc-altli c-cuiipelled him to leave school for a
more active. oiitdiMir life. He acceptiMl a position with an
uncle, who w;is a groc-er in Lowell, Mass. Later he rc-tumed lo
his native town, and IcNirncMl the carpenter's trade at the
Charlestown Navy Y'arcl. where he bei-ame imbiicMl with a
taste fen- mechanics, which became valuable to him in after-
life. He did not follow his trade long, but entered the em-
ploy of the Loinbard-Stc-vc>ns Investment Company of Boston,
which developed property and loaned money all over the East.
At twenty he was one of their traveling men. and. while in-
vestigating some New .Jersey property, rode through Passaic,
then the village of .\c<iuackanonk, in l.S.'i7. sto|>l>ing here ovct
night. He next went into the woolen business in Boston, and
rc'niained ill that for many years. William II. I.rfx-ke was then
owner of a print works at Cambridge. Mass. Forming a high
opinion of Mr. Worthen's abilitii s. he offered him a resi«insible
IK.sition. The plant wis later moved to New York City, and
in 187.3 to Passaic, Mr. Wo.-then c-oming here as manager.
It is now the Passaic Print Works, still known to many as
Locke's. In 1875 Mr. Locke failed and the mill was closed.
182
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
It was at this time that Mr. Worthi-n fiirtiii'il a imrtiuTship
with Mr. William I'. Alilrich. thi-ii a liiiokkci-pcr in Lcukc's.
'1 hey coiitiiiiicd in the (-aiiie rehitioii until Mr. WurthiMiV
death. They manufactured eotton goods, printed to imitate
wdoleus, and known as satinets. They were ver.v successful.
They luiilt the Manhattan I'rint Work.-- and the Kmpire Print
Works in New York. ..nd moved the former plant to Passaic
in 1HS7. The Empire .Mill was di-itroycd t.y lire in ISS'.t. with
a loss of several hundred thousand dollars. They rebuilt it.
liut moved the plant to Soho. near Hloomlield. in IS!):?. The
passage of the Wilson hill niaile pure woolens so clieap that
lliere was no market for satiiiets. The luisiness of Worthen
& Aldrich was destroyed. With characteristic energy they
liirned lioth mills into plants for making corduroy jdushes for
upholstering. In 18!)4, which was almost a panic year, the.v
liought a mill site and water lights at Dela wanna, and erect(><l
the Waldrich Bleachery for cotton goods. It was an un-
paralleled undertaking, cansidering the state of business, hut
was proving a success at the time of Mr. \\'orlheirs death.
He was. besides, interested in the Pas.saic Print Works, the
Pantasote I.'.ither Comiiany anil was president of the Dundee
\\ Olden Company (Waterhouse"s). He was a director of the
I'a.ssaic National Bank when organized ami until his dialli
and vice-president for the last few years. He was also a ili-
rei-tor in the Passaic Trust and Safe l)e|<osit Company. .Mr.
Worthen was twice mairied. the first time, in l,S(i1. to Hessie
S. Newcomli of Charlestown. Alass. She died .Iiily L'.S. 1.S.S!).
'I'he surviving chil Iron of that marriage are Irene C. and Harry
Kdson Worthen. Another daughter. Bessie S.. wife of Frank
W. Popple, died in Denver. Colorado, in 1S!)3. On May 1',
1V.U, Mr. Worthen was married to Miss Nettie M. Blizard of
Passaic, who survives him. Mr. Worthen entered active poli-
tics once, and was elected to the City Council from the Second
Ward. He served four years. T'nder the subject of the City
Hall will be found some account of one ol" the tuany cITorts
he made to beautify Passaic.
.MK. .\ l.l'KKl I Sl'i;i:i;. Passaic's enterprising wine prn-
iliicer, and the first man to find a solution nl the pniblcni
of rapid transit for New York City, was born in .Viipiaika-
iionk. N. .]., November 2nd. 182.3. His ancestors came fnini
Holland. He traces his lineage back, through ten geiieratinns,
to Hendrick .lolin Spier, who emigrated from Hidl.md. in ICiK;.
on the ship Faith. The pas.sengers on this ship were the
first white settlers in New .ler.sey. On arriving in this <-ountry
they landiil at Communiiiaw. N. .1. They started a settlement
in Bergen .-ind built the first church in the State. Mr. Siieer
received oidy a common school educatiini. Itut he always bad
a literary turn of mind. In early life he made an attempt to
secure advanceil nlucation by working part of the time and stud-
ying part of the time. But he found the scheme impracticable.
He had thoughts in tho.se early days of entering the law or the
ministry. He made it a rule to rise at 4 o'clock every morning.
winter and sui er. to read and study till (!. when he had to
do chores. .\nd then, after breakfast, •■turn to" in the shop
and work until C p. m. This was during the time of his aj)-
pienliceshii) <" ll'e Messrs. «'raiie. of Newark, furniture cab-
inet makers— a period of si.\ years. There were twenty ap-
prentices in this establishment. -Vfler quitting work, until !)
o'clock, they were permitted to do as they pleased. While
others played, Mr. Speer repaired to his studies. Piety was
instilled into his mind by a devoted. Christian mother. She
gave him a Bible, and he is said to hav.' read it through twice
between the hours of 4 and ."> o'clwk in the mornings. There
is evidence here of very great will power. He has never cea.sed
to bo a student. His has bi-en a life of immen.se activity,
both of body and brain. He spent his hours of re'ease frnni
business during l.l years. inlliMting and nwlh.Mlically ;irranging
a history of the Speer and Kingsland families in this country-
This would have been published in valuable vulumes, had not
a tire in his building, in 1891. destroyed nearly all his manu-
scrijit. Mr. Speer gave his mind to inventions, also. He
built, in 18.52. a cylindrical piano, which he exhibited at I lie
American Institute Fair, in Castle Garden, described as a
remarkable piece of mechanism. It was burnt up with his hcoise
in 1877. He invented a window fastener and weather strip,
conibined, ami spent years on the road selling it. making a tour
of the South, exhibiting his patent at State fairs. .\s we
have saiil. he first siilved the problem of rapid transit in
New York City. So thuroughly was the Ijegislature of New
York State convinced of the feasibility and desirability of his
scheme, th.it the two successive sessions of 1873 and 1874
passed an act empiwering the corporation of the City of New-
York tci cdii-tniit, or permit to be constructed, an endless
train on Speer's plan. For some technical reason, each year,
(Joverinu' Dix vetoed the measure! Speer's plan was. shortly
told, as follows: — (1) "An -endless train for rapid through
transit of passengers, without stop. |2) Rapid local accommo-
dation comliincd <ili oih' tiain." It was described by current
iii'wsp.-ipers as the "l^uickcst and cheaiM'st system of trans-
pditalioii ever presented — an entirely new plan." The New
Yiirk Legislature adoiited it because of (ll its cheapness of
first lo^t— .f:!.722,4ll(l. It was to be a single tra<-k road, nn .i
single row of columns: |21 its economy of operation; (."!) its
rapid and uniform rate of speed. There were to be stations
for taking and leaving the train every one-eighth of a mile.
Hut to gi.t a full and clear idea of that remarkable scheme, one
mi'st read a carefidly prepared statement, with minute maps
and elev.itions, prepared and published by Mr. Speer in 187.5.
The perusal will repay one, and it will be seen that a stroke
of (bivcriiipr Dix's pen would have brought Mr. Speer's name
iiilci great pr,>mineiice. Think of an endless train, ten miles in
length, propelled by engines situated beneath it at suitable dis-
tances, moving at the rate of twelve to fifteen miles an hour,
and people getting on and off by an ingenious device at con-
venient iiointsi Mr, Sjieer had a working model at .Vlbany.
.Ml iciiild src just hiiw it rould perfiirm the wurk pniposed.
"It iniglil li.ivi' bicn." Hitter was Mr. Speer's defi'at. He
ralliiil liiim it. and turned his fertile mind more to his vine-
yaiils and to the luoduction of American wines. Mr. Speer had
already over 40 acres of vineyard, of grapevines originally im-
ported from Portugal in l.Stltl. of the original port wine grape.
His wines ,ire widely known and apiireciated for their ex-
cellence. For many years Mr. S|X"er has invited eminent phy-
sicians to dine with him after the gathering of the season's
vintage, that they might samjile his choice medicinal wines.
Speci.illy, since the i-ompleticm of his unii|ue and elegant cha-
teau, where many guests (-.■in be royally entertained — the ideal
111' his l.iti'r years — these events have become marked. In
ISTi) .Mr. Speer issued the first newspaper — "The Itiiii'
ever published in this city. He has continued to publish it
weekly to the present time. Mr. Speer is a Ilepublican in
liolitics. He held ottice when this city was passing through
its village stage and was working for progress. During
his term as Street Commissioner he placed himself out of touch
with the town by insisting on having sidewalks. He organized
the first temperance society, called the Kechabites. He pro-
vided the first public hall by converting the ballroom of the
old tavern into a hall. ilr. Speer was also a School 'IVustee
under the old regime. Mr. Speer was married to his first
wife. Catherine Eliza Berry, of Aci|uackanonk. .lune (ith. 1844.
To this marriage were born two thiidren: Widiain II. and
.Vlfred W. Mr. Speer was married a second time In Pnlly
.Villi .Miirgan. of Cape (Jirardeau. .Mo.. September 22nd, 18,")i;.
Til this marriage were born: Klla M. ideceasedl. Sidney S.,
Althea. .Major 1. and I'oliinel .\1. These last two sons, uf mar
CORNELIUS VAN RIPER, M. D.
ARTHUR WARD VAN RIPER, M, D.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
i&5
tiiil iiiiiiii-s. went l;isl .veal- as vnlimli-i-is in tin- riiiliiijiiiir Hai-.
At the end iif their term of si'rvi<-e they were h nihly ilis-
< hiirjjed, and tliey are. at this writinK. on their way home. Mr.
.Vlt'reil Speer will he kindly renienihered liy the |uior "f this
<ily. He is the Uiiid of tnan that renieniliers Ihi' ehililren nf
llu' 1 y ThanksKivinj; Days, elieerln^ them with roast tnrke.\
and iranherry sauce, or loadinn iIhmu upon a train and carry-
ing Iheni to .lersey City and to Slaten Island, and to HulTalo
Hill's Wild West Show, all at his own expen.se. ••Luck." Mr.
S|.cer thinks, ■•cuts no «reat hj;iiri> in life. Success awaits all
who liavi' llie lirains ami the .-imhilinn." .Mr. Spccr m^vcr
waited Ini ..|ipiirlMiiilics: he made them.
W ll.l.l.\.\l 1.. .\.\liKI SS. letired merchant, was horn ai
New Windsor. (Iran^'c Connly. N. Y.. .March 11. l.Sll. His
l'atln>r. Ira Andruss. was a native (.t Hartford. Conn. His
mother. Sarah l.o^'an. was a daughter of .Major I,oKan of
Kevolutioiiary fame, and who fonirlit nmicr \\'asliin;.'lon.
She was a n.itive oi .New York Slate. William
I.. Andruss. t!ie f iihjecl of iliis sketch, received a com-
mon school edmalio'i. .ind .il llic a^-e of fifteen went to New
York city, where lie olit.-iincd ciM|>loyi]]cnt in a ;.'ro<cry store.
After servin;; an .iiiprcniicesliip of six years he pnrchaseil the
I'vlaldishment which he condnded until IS.'!;''., at which time
he lo<'aled in Passaic, and where he has resided continiiousl.v
c\er since. After settliufr in I'assaic he imincdiatel.v enjiaged
ill the same business with his hrolher-in-law. Isaac I. Vandi'r-
beck Iwho serveil Iwo terms as Sheriff of I'assaic County).
After coulinuinu' the p.irtnirship for three years. Mr. Andruss
disposed of his inleri'st in the slore to ensase in the hotel bnsi-
lU'ss. he having; puri-hased the old Merchants' Hotel, which is
still standing on tin- banks of the I'assaii- IJivi'r. He 0)1-
erated that hostelry from IS;?!! to 1.S4!). after which he dis-
Ijosed of Ibe business ti> a;rain en;;a;re in the inerchanilise
trade, in which hi' continued until his retirement in 187S.
Mr. Andruss is one of the (ddest living citizens in Passaic.
Fin- twenty ye.irs h" serveil .is postmaster of the place, he
liaviii;^ been .ippoinleil lo his tirsi term b.\ President Taylor,
strving coniinnonsly thereafter for the above number of years.
He has resided in his present residence. No. I!*") Main avenue,
since 1S4!>. >Ir. Andruss has been twice married, his first wife
liein;; Il.icha.'l Olilis. whom he married in lS:5:i. Five children
were born lo Ibis marriase. all of whom arc deceased. His
second marriage occurred in 1.S4S. al which lime h" married
Miss .\nii Zabriskie. who was Ijorii near I lad ciisack. She
died on March 1!. IS'.III. Mr. .\ndruss is a man of unusual
preservation. He is a ^'ciillcman of the pleasiiiK old-school
type. He is a man of stroni.' character, public spirited, cor-
dial and kind in manner. His iihysical and menial activity
impress the observer as bcloiiu'im.' to one many years .vouUKcr.
Ml;. .ItillN \\A rsoN. r.ilb. r .if our slirrin;: Councilm.in.
Thomas K. Watson and Jlrs. I'eler Iteid. who died February
lO.lSM. was born al Lunciily. Scotl.inil. February 7. 1S(I7.
He received a common school education, whin he entered
upon his life work, that of .1 olcnher. .\lr. Watson came
to Americ.i in l.S.TJ. He was. Ihercfore. a resident of this
city 25 .vears. He fcnndcd the Pdeachery situated on .leffersen
street, earryiu^' on the business there under the firm name
of ••.John Watsiui iV; Sous." .\fter his death these sons. Beu-
janiiii. Thi.m.-is and .Taie.es. carried il on. A man of remark-
able energy and business tact, with broad views of the rights
of his fellow-men. abhorring pretence and sham, he readily
won his way to siucess. He hewed to the line of the (Jolden
){iile, nay, more, he was generous almost to a fault. He could
not bear to know that any within his reach were suffering.
His employees deeply moiirin il his departure. -Villi lie was a
man. lo.. of great iH-rsoiial rorliliide. It is ridaled of him that
about two years liefore his ilealh. IiIk physician iiilviKed him
to submit to nil o|M'ratioii to preserve his sight. He proceedeil
lo the .New York Kye Intirmary. al and endnri-d the pniii-
fiil operation, refusing to take aiiaesiln-tics of any kind, Mr,
Watson was a sti g Uepnblican, bill his business forbade his
holding ollbe. He was a iiiber i.r the I'resbyleriaii Church.
He was married, April, I.S.'IJ, to ,laiie Peacock, of Perth. Scot-
land. There were ten children, eight sons and two daughter^,
of whom tivi are li.-.ng: .lohii C. Thomas K., ,laines, I'eler K,
.mil ,Mrs. Pciir Iteid. .\Ir. Walsoii was of » sniiiiy leiiiiieru-
I '■ When lie liirned rroiii the cares of iiUKinesN lo his
' and r.imily he w.is genial and loving-lhe ideal home
man.
THK UI-;\. Pllll.o FUKNCIl I.KAVKNS. 1>. !».. whose
kindly face is represeiiled en ji.ige Mui. has 1 ii a sturdy
w.irker for over thr lecades as pastor of the First Presliy-
lerian Church of this city. He has been the first and onlj
pastor of this church. A young ninn, he .ame earnest and
hopeful: today finds him vigi runs and successful, A record
like his is not enjoyed by niany. From a h.-indful of menilHTs,
his church has grown to be largi' .-iiiil iiiHueniial. Fr a tein-
porary lioiiie in rented preini.ses. the place of worship lias
come to be a iiaiidsome and well-appointed stone edifice, on 11
most eligible site, at the corner of I'assaic aveinie and (irovi-
Terrace, On the same grounds, in close proximity to the church
edifice is a .Siimlay-school hall every way suited to its purposes,
solid in stnietiire, and in architecture in harmony with the
church: in interior finish complete and ornate. So that the
ciliiipmeiit here for religious, educalioiial and benevolent work
is complete. Through slowly developing i-ivic afTairs, through
limes of stringency in fiuaini.. through apathy often, and.
ag.iin. through religious fervor. Dr. Leavens nn.s led his people
to forehandeduess, to strength, to power, to great u.sefulness
for the Master. He possessi-s largely the missionary .spirit— no
doubt the secret of his power and success. lie cares for his
own: but he is earnest for the spread of the <;os|iel far and
wide. The rising churches in Dundee. Cartield and Walling-
lon will testif.v to the breadth of his mind and the goodness
of bis heart. He lo'igs for the universal spread of the tJosiH;!.
and labors to bring about that result. Dr. Leavens is recog-
nized by church otficials as being thoroughly conversant with
both home and foreign missionary literature, and his historic
studies in niiir.y lines of human activity have made him far-set.-
iiig and very useful as an advisor in secular affairs. In linn's of
doubt and liesitanc.v among citizens his opinions are eagerly
sought. During his long residence in Passaic Dr. Leavens
has been .issociated with most enterprises to |ironii>le the pub-
lic welfare. He bebinged to the old-style temperance six'ieties.
He was among the founders of the Conut.v Snnday-SehiHil As-
.so'-iation. He took a leading part in the establishment of the
Home and Orphan As.vlum, the pioneer of the charitable insti-
tutions of the city, and li.is bun chairman of its Advisory
Council throughout its history. He. also, manifested an iii-
tirest in education, before our present school .system was even
inaugurated, and, at a critical period of its developiiient. was
president of the Koaril of Kdiicalion. Dr, Lciveiis is kindly
and uiiobtr isive in :nanner, is especially beh>ved by his iK-ople.
and is held in very high esteem by hi.s brother ininislers of the
various chun-hes of this city. Dr. Leavens is a member of a
widespread New Kngland family. He was born, November
lit, l,Si{.s, in Berkshire, Franklin County, Vermont. He was
educated at the I'niversity of Vermont, receiving his B. A.
degree ill ISlil and his degree of D. D. in l.S.S,S. He was gradii-
.iled from I'liion Theological Seminary in ISliii. In the same
year he was licensed by the Congregational Association of
New York .mil Brooklyn, On un.lertaking his work in Passaic
186
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
he hecanu- a nit'iiilx'i- of tin- I'li-sliytcry of Newark. By the re-
.rmstrm-tion of the Church iii 1S7(I his menihership fell into
Iho I'resliytery of Jersey City, where it has since remained.
lie has served on its more iniiKirtant lomniittees. and been for
a nnnitxT of years chairman of Home Missions, the commit-
tee having oversight of incipient and growing churches. Of
all the |)astors in the Presbytery at its organization, in ISTO.
Dr. Le.ivens is the only one now remaining in .-ictive service.
and there are few clergymen in the State of New .Jersey whose
term eijuals his pastorate in Passaic. In the pursuance of
studies for his own improvenu'ut. Dr. lyeavens has been a
memlier of the American Sov-iety of Church History, and, with
a view to keep the run of economic discussions, maintains a
membership in the American .\cademy of Political and Social
S<ience. He is familiar with the important libaries of New
York, and he has enjoyed the advantage of extensive travels
in Europe, where he has spent the leisure of three different
summers. Spruiig from an ancestry whose seven generations
prior to his own have furnislii^l participants in most of
thi' wars and debates that have shaped the Anu-rican nation;
born and bred in an atmosphere palpitating with political dis-
ciission. and arrived at manhood in the eventful lioui- w lien
the Civil War broke out, this <'lergyman tonfesses a degree
of irritation .it the restraint that keeps him out of the stir
and battle of politics. It is understood that his silent vnte
falls with unfailing regularity for the candidate of the Ki-
publican party, to which he has acknowledgeil allegiance since,
as a boy, he shoulod for Fremont and cast his first suffrage
for .\braham Lincoln. Dr. I.eavens was married December
11. 1H7.3. to Miss Helen .Tosephine Barry of Passaic — fonuerly
of Boston, Mass. Four children have been born to them —
one dying in ;nfan<-y. Tlie surviving children are .\nnie Bowen.
who graduated from the I'niviTsity of Vermont in l.SiMi. now
married to >Ir. Wilfreil .V. Manchee. of Newark: William
Barry, who gra<lual(il from the T'niversity of Vermont in
]>!)8, now in business: .Mice French, a student.
THK Kiev. .lOSKPIl II. WIIITKIIFAD Ins been pastor
of the .North Ui-fornied Church sin<e .I:jnuary 1. ISSCi. T.i this
large and imporlani ticM he gives his devoted ami unceasing
laljors. He is now in tin- prinu- of life, and to his notable admin-
istrative ability, cnuibined with his effective pulpit work ami
pastoral tact, is largely due the prominent standing held by the
church in the c(unmunity. He is not simply the pleader or the
pastor, but the warm-hearted, genial, sympathetic friend of
his people, between whiuu and himself exist the uuist cordial
.-.ml happy relations. He lakes a warm interest in all public,
religious and benevolent work, and, as occasicm ri>(iuires. speaks
tiiii! hi-; pulpit with no uncertain sirunil on matters affecting
the highest pnblii welfare. Mr. Whitehead was born in New
York City in IS-4T. to which city his father, a promiiu'iit ami
successful business man, removi-il frcun his birthplaci'. Kliza-
beth. N. .1.. at the nge of seventeen. Mr. Whitehead, Sr.. wa<
a man of more than ordinary taU-nt, .■mil his (|ualiP.cations ap
pear to have bieri largely inherited by the sub.ie<-t of this
sketch. -Uter a course in the lUlblic si-hools. Mr. Whitehead
went to Willi inis Cidlege. .Mass.. ficuu which he was grailii-
aled in the class of ISli',1. He then I'lilered T'nion 'I'lieologiial
Seminary, New York, fnun which institution he was grailualed
in 1.*<72. Mis services as a minister were in prompt demanil.
••ind lui .liine 1 of that .vcar he became pastor of the Iteformed
Chin-ch at Poinplmi Plains, N. .1., to wliii'h he ministered with
marked suci-i'ss for twelve years. He was called in .Tuiu'. 1,SS4.
to the pastiuati' of the First Presbyterian Chunh of Fast
Orange, N. ,1.. where he rem.iined imtil indlli'ed to accept the
call of his present Hock. lie has been for ten years chair-
man of the Chnri'h Fxteiision Cianmiltee of the Cla.ssis of
I'aramus. :ind has leil the Classis in inu<-h cfTective work in
that direiticm. notably at Hawtliiune and North Pati-r-
s(Ui He is a mendx'r of the Executive Committi'e of
the Kef irmed Church Board of Foreign Missions, and
devotes much time and ability to this important i-ause.
Mr. Whlt«'head married, on .Iiine I'll. 1.S72. Miss Helena
.\. Haight, of New Y'ork, \\ lio ilii-.l in 1SS4. In December.
]S.Sr>. he married Miss Elizabeth .M. Wallis. .laughter of tin- late
-Vlexander H. Wallis. a prominent .\ew York lawyer, and for
many years pi-esidei't of the First .National Bank of .Icrsey
t'ity. Mr. Whitehead has five children, his two sons. Edwin
H. and II<'my C.. being graduates of ^^'illiams College in the
c-lass of l.SlHt. Surroumled by a charming famil.v. his holm'
is the constant reudezvims of the members of his congregation.
.Mr. Whitehead's many (inalilications for pulpit, pastoral, public
iml denominational labors have ensured him wide esteem, but
those who know him amid the environment of his home ac-
Uiiowledge an evn stronger attraction in the suMle and win-
liing ch.-irm that makes all Milh whom lie comes in cont.ict
his wa"ni and .ibiding friends.
PEKCV II.V.MII. r«iN •IKKlirNE. M. D.. tie- subjeit of
this sketch, occupies, professionally, :i positiim rather nnique
in this locality, he being the third in line of the Terhune family
that has pra<tiied mediiine anil surgery in Passaic and the
stirrounding district. His grandfather. Dr. Oarrit Terhune.
hegan his professional life in the year ISL'7. He was one of
the organizers of the P.-issaic County Distrii-t Medical So-
ciety, aiul the first President. He was a most successful phy-
j-iiian. of iinnh learning and a jieer of his profession during
the priiiie ol his life, ill .NorfluTii New .lersey. The father
of the subjeit of this sketch. Dr. Ivichard A. Tei-htine is still
living and practicing. A sketch of his life may be found in this
volume. Dr. Percy H. Terhune was born in Passaic. Febru-
:ii\ L'lltli. I^-i'm. He comes of good old Dutch stock on his
tatliei's side, and English, on his mother's. His mother's
name was I-aiiily I.. Uanilol. The Doctor's e.irly educ.ition was
ol.tai 1 ill private and imlilic school.s. folloA\ c.l with a busi-
ness course at Packard's Business College. In the fall of
1S,S."> he entered the .Medical Department of Columbia T'niver-
sity— the College of I'hysicians and Surgeons— ami after pur-
suing a four years' course was graduated, .lune Kith, lS8!t.
He, however, still d'Voted himself to clinical work, operative
surgery, etc., of the .New York Polyclinic and Hosiiital, the
\'.inderbilt Clinic and .N. .\I. Disjiensary. lie began the ac-
tive iiractice of medicine in Passaic, .January Isl. I.HfH). The
winter of 1.S'.)7-!IS he siient in Europe, particularly, at Vienna
and Berlin, devoting himself to clinical work in the hospitals
and to ipnative surgery M.d gynecology. The clinical advan
l.-iges of Vienna are nnsurpassi-d, jis it possesses the largest
hospital in the world, accoinmodating 3.(KMI patients, all of
whom, the hospital being under Government control, inav be
utilii-ed for the advancement of the science of inedicin,-. Dr.
rrrliune's professional success has been marked, ami he is to-
day one of Passaic's busiest physicians. For si.\ years — 1891-
'.17 Dr. Terhum> was President of the Board of Health iind
City Ph.vsici.in. He was a visiting physician to St. Mary's Hos-
pital, and was oiu' of the organizers and hardest workers of
the I'assaic Hospital .Vssoiiation. from which he resigned for
ln'rsiinal reasons. Dr. Terhune is :; member of the follow-
ing organizations, clubs and societies: Passaic District .Medi-
cal Society. Passaic City .Medical Society, .\lmuni Association
of Celumbia rnivcrsiiy and the Yountakah Club. On .Inly
lllth, 181)4, Dr. Terhune was nmrried to .Mice Ethelyn Tucker,
of .Monsou, Mass,, who soon became one of Passaic's most
charming ladies. Two children weri born to them, and were
named, respect ivel.v, Doris 'dicker ;tnd -Vlice Ethelyn. Dr.
'I'erhune's happy married life was of short duration, death
claiming his wife iu the year 18!H>. A further sad bereavemenl
JOHN TERHUNE VAN RIPER.
GUSTAV W. FALSTROM.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
189
M.ls lliM.-il li.\ 111,' ^Ihlilrll ■l.-.llll 1. 1 l»j||l Ills .■llililriMI. williili trn
il.-i.vs ol iMi'li ■lliri-, iioiii siiiili'i i'c\ci-. iliiriiii: liis :il>si'iii'i' in
lOnnipi'. in llic spiin;; ul ISKS.
NELSON ST(tIil>.\i;ii was l.oin ..n :i raini n.TU- IK-cki-r-
tnwii, Sussex ('oiinty. N. .1.. nn M ly II. ls;!.s. His Knclish un-
ci stors wore aiiKins Nc>\v ICnclanil's early settlers. Ills crnml-
latlior removed with his family I'rciMi New l.c.h<li>n Cciiiiity.
Ccinn.. tu .Minisink. Oraufie Coniily. .N. V., in IT'.IT. lie
was priiminent in Granule ('miiily alTairs. His father. Increase
SiDihlanl. niarrieil Maria Carr in 1S24. and moved to Sussex
Connty in ls;!l. lie honiilu a farm luar 1 )eckert()\vii. where
they reared a famil.v of ten chihlren. of w iioni Nelson was sev
enlli. InriM-ase SlcMld;ird w;is :i siieressfnl larnn-r. :ind Ihr Inane-
stead favm o!i which In- hicaled ami died is still in llie posses-
sion of his Siiii. After ;^oin;; to a ilistrict school np lo the a;ie
of twelve, oni' subject attended the .\e\v .Ii'rse.v Ctnifereiici'
Seminary at I'eiuiiLi^'ton. N. .1.. .iinl later tlii' New York Coii-
fi'feiici' Seniinar.\ .-il ( 'harlotti'svillc. .N. V. His lirst business
venture on his own ac'' .unt \\as k* epiim" a L.'eiier,'il store at
Deckertown. in ISdl. When I'resiilcnl l.imolti called in the
summer of l.Stii; for volnuteers lo servi' for nine nnndlis. he
sidd out his interest lo his partner, aiul enlisted in Company
H, Twenty-seventh New .liMsey \'olunleers, in which he was
made lirst serceant. He w.is never absent for a d;iy from
his company and ri'siimenl. which participated in the liattlc of
I-"rederi<ksburj; Keeember 1.'!. 1S(i2, and h(dp<d to drive the
I 'cnifcderatcs •ail of Kciitncky in ihc spiin;; of ISli:'.. Diirin;;
I 's invasion of I'eiinsylvania. in ISli;!, the Twenly-sevenlh.
then on its wav home from Kcnlm-ky to be mustered out. vid-
unteered for the dcdeiHc of Ihal Slate during the enicr!;ency.
aral was at I l.iiiislniii; when il was threatein il by ihi' rebels
undi'r Cein'i-al lOarly, jnst before the battle at (JettysbnrK-
When mustered out. early in July, after a monlirs extra duly,
the reftiment receive! the Ihanks of llie I'lcsidi'id ihroiiL'h
Secretary nf War Stanloii. .Major-< ieiieral Ilurnside, command
iUK the |)i>p.-irt iii-nt of the Ohio, had i>reviously issued uema-al
orders expressing.' the hope that the rejiiiuent niiirhl be part i>f
his eominand again. Heiiif.'. by re.-ison of imiiaircd he.ilth, nn-
Htled for further .service. .Mr. Stoddard enir:i;;ed in various
uiereaiitile pursuits until 1S7.3. He was a skillid aeconntanl.
and enteri'd the accountin;; department of tfie Krie. with which
railroad he ri'inained until 18Sb, when poor health cotn|ielli'd
him to resign. He became a resilient of I'ass.nc in 1S74. He
married on .November :W. 1,S.S(I. Mrs. .\lice .1. ■rcrhunc daughter
of C.-iptain Williani Clark, form -rly City 'rreasurer. and a
promiiu'iil citixcn in I'assaio's early days. They havi' one
son living. In 1SS7 .Mr. Stoddard was elected to the City
Council from the Second Ward, and served three yi'ars. He
was again eU'cted in \S'.\4 for a second term of three years, and
was presiileut of the body in bsii.",. He was Assistant I'ost-
master tinder rresidcnt Harrison, from 18.S!) to 1803, since
which time lie has iioi been actively engaged in business. He
has always iieen Ue.inblic:iu in politics. He attends the First
I'resbyterian Church, is a member of Passaic Lodge. No. <m,
V. and A. .\l.. ,ind is viee-i)resideiit of the Veteran Association
of the Twnly-si vcnih .New .Tersey Vidunteers. He lias boon
president of the rniou Loan and Huilding Asso<-iati<ui since
its organization in 1S,S,S. It has bei n uuiismilly successful.
(H';( U;!;!-; C .\li;i;Ch:i; is a native ot Scotlan.l. He was
born Maiili IT. ISoli, .it Karlston. the l-.oiue of Thomas the
Khymcr. lie ruins if whose castle arc visited by tourists
from all p.-ir1s of the i i\ ilizeci world, l-'.arlstoii lies near .\b-
liotsford, the homi' of Sir Walter Scott, and slands niion the
Leader, a pict uresqin- stre.im which flows into the renowned"
Twe«Ml. two miles below the town. Mr. .Mercer caun^ to
America in O.l.ibcr, IM:;. and took np his residenc,. with
-ol r his ki'isfoll.. then scltli'd in l.oill. H.- soon nssoei-
aled himself with the .New .lersey ami New York Uailrond. ami
beiaiue m.inager of the Lodi liraiieh. Sul>se(|neiitly lie w a.s
associated with the large woolen goods I'Dinnilssion house of
H. .1. Liidiy iS: Co.. .New York. Later ho lioeanio a niemltor
of the lirm of IJyrne Brothers iV: Co.. whoso exipnsivo rotton
goods (iiiishing mill was destroyed liy tire after seven .vonrs of
nolahlo business prosiiorily. The lirni decided mn to ro-
liulld. .and was dissidv<'il by mutual eonseni. Tlii'U .Mr. Mercer
gave .iltention to the wo< leii, sliodd.v and extract Imslness. ami
organi/.eil llw (i irliidd Woiden Company, of wliiili hi' became,
as he still is. I lie iiresiileni and treasurer. His execiillve ability
:iiid untiring and wi-11-directed indiislrv have done iiiilcli lo
ensure the enviable success of thi.s orgaiii/.;ition. In addition
lo his many business duties. .Mr. .Morcor was fur ninny .vonrs
poslmasler of Lodi. Il was tlirongli his iiifliieiico and ener-
getic work ili.'il l.oili liocaine a iioroiigli. and at its seeiiml iiiii-
niiipal eloclion. in 1.S!>7, he was eloeteil Mayor wilhoiil oppo-
sition, ill token of llio iiopular appreciation of his work. He
still holds that oltice. and has pushed the nioasiiros llial liavo
ensured to Lodi as line a system of roails as can be foiiml in
tin country or the Stale. He has also iiitrodiieod a satisfai-
lory water sysleni and other Imiirovoiiients. He is the presi-
dcnt of ihe Lodi Buihling and Loan .Vssoeiation. which stninls
.iniong the very lirst associations of the State for its eoiisorvn-
livc manag-inent and sound and prolitalile career. The Alox-
■ inder liyc Works, oi f the largest silk d.vi-ing and tiiiisliing
liiilis in the world, is located at Lodi. broiighl here by Mr.
Mercer's iiilluenee and failhfiil and otiieieiil reprosonlalions of
ihe many adv.int.iges it offers to inanufaclurers, .Mr. Mercer
is a dirccior of the reople's Bank and Trust romiiany, a gov-
ernor of ihe I'.issaie (Jeiieral Hospital, a inembor ot the
Washiiiglon and Orean I'ark clubs of Passnie nnd or the
St. .Vndnw's Society of New York and a Tree Mnsoii of high
di i;rce. He is a nieinbcr of ihe Second Ueforniod Churcli of
l.oili. and was its treasurer for twenty years. In polities he
is .1 IJepubliean and :i rroteelioiiist of the strongest kinil.
He has a wide circle of friends, and ill |irivate ami public life
alike has won the highest esteem of all who know him. Two
years ago he married Miss Isabella X'air Cockburii, a daiigiiti'r
of Mr, Ocorge Cookburn of Ludingtcui, Mich,, and .-i L-raduale
ni the I'. 1st on Conservatory of .Music.
FKKItlCUICK CHAKLHS STUKCKFl'SS. eapitalisl.
was born in Wurtcmbnii:. Ib-rmaiiy. Novonilier ."i, I.SoL For
lln' past twenty six years .Mr, Stroekfuss has boon a rosldoni
of I'assaic, being ideiilitied witli several financial iiistilulioiis,
besides being largely inlerested in real estate and other af-
fairs. He was for three yi-ars a mombor of the Board of Coiin-
cilnieii, ,Mr, Sti-.'ckfuss is a prominent iiieniber of the .Masiuis
,111(1 the .Veciuackamuik Club, He has twice been married, his
Mist niarriagi' to .Miss .Mice M. Colwcdl of New Y'ork having
occurred November 11. 1S7:'.. His second wife was Miss Minnie
Shuunin of Calaeoon, .New Y'ork. their marriage having oc-
I nrred .Iniic 7, I.S.S7. Seven cllildren in all have been born.
four of whom are living. The living eliildron an- llotiora M,.
Frederick C„ .fr,. .Mice .Mary and .losi|d!iiie.
,roHN KINO w,is born in Hnblin. Ireland, I'ebruary 1".
l.'^.'iM. He received his eduiation in llm lelebralid schools of
that city. Ho has been engaged in a number of linsiness ven-
tures. When a young man he emigrated lo .Vnstrnlin. nnd
si out several years in tin- gold fields. Ho lioennie interested
ill the late .lohn .1. Breslin and several others of his eountry-
iiien. who were p<ditieal pri.som-rs in iho iieiial iidony of Free-
mantle. Those, being banished for only advocaliiig Irish lib-
erty, Mr. King ilid not liositnto lo aid in elTecling tlioir os-
c.ipc. He. with them, reached .VuH'rica on the whaling shiii
190
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
('i:tiil|iii. iiHiiiiiJiinlcd l).v (■.iptiiiii Alitlic.iiy. :i MassacUilsftts
Yiiiikcc. ill ]87<i. Ill 1.SV7 Mr. Kins •■aim- to Passaic and en-
Kaei-il as clerk willi Frank M. Swan. Soon afterward he en-
tered into iiartiiersliip with Mr. Swan in the store on Main
avenue, near the corner of Passaic street, and. later on still,
lie piircliased Mr. Swan's interest and became sole owner. In
jioliiics Mr. Kins is a Ri-piil>licaii. He has not sought otfice.
I'lil he has always taken a lively interest in iHilitics. In
I.SiKl he was elected uienilier of the Assenihly from the Fourth
l>islri<-t of Passaii- County, and. afiain, from the same district
ill ISttl, and from the county at large in IS!!."). In I.SIH! ho was
re-elected to the .Vs.seuildy by a plurality of ."i.tKKi votes. He
was the choice of his townsmen in 18!t7. but was defeated in
the convention through |«arty dissensions. He was elected to
the Assembly in tSitS, and was again elected, November. ISOtl.
for the Assembly of 19'M). During bis long career in the -Vs-
.■reiiilily he has been identilied with the most important nieas
ures, and has se! ved as member and <haini)an of tiie most
proiuineiit committees. Many of the bills which he has in-
tfodiued. or caused to be introduced, in tlie Assembly have
had special bearing oi- the welf.ire of Pissaic city. Some of
the measures were of great importance — about twenty in
all. The following may lie mentioned as ilie nioi-e important:
■•.\ii act providing for the ta.vation of property in cities, vil-
lages, Icroughs. townships or other municipal c-orporalions i:i
tiiis State, in cases ivliere the assessor or assessors of the same
have omitted, or may omit, or neglect to assess the same for
tjiyes; or have, oi ma.v assess such property at too low a valu-
ation, and the <.'omniissi<mers of .Vp;.-eals in Cases of Ta.\ation
have met and adjourned. This valiiaiih mid interesting meas-
ure was ai)proved by the Governor. March 1.'4. ISJHI. On
M.iy 12 :>f the same year, another ail introduced by Mr.
King became law, which will for all time be a monument of
his legislative genius. It met with great opposition. It was
entitled ".\n act providing for the creation of a Hoard of .\s-
sessors in cities of the third class." I'nder this act oiir
present Board .>f .\ssessors was I'l'iatcil. and out of the former
ihaotic system there has ln>en produced a very sntisfailory
method of making assessments and levying ta.\es for imblic
improvements. Again. Mr. King's "Classification Act" should
be nientioned. It provides that cities should not pass from one
class into another, by reason of their nopiilatioii. until ninety
days after the olticial proiiiulgaTion of the census. It is found
among the laws of ISOl. The law allowing City Councils to
prescribe the niethod in which county ta.xes should be paid by
the Colh"-tor was another most important iiieasiire introduced
by .Mr. King. This law. and the oiilinani-e siibseiiuently
passed by the City Council, i-hanged completely the financial
s.\stem of llie city, rendering it intelligible and exact. It is
found among the laws of 1895. In 18!tii Mr. King intro<luced
iind secured the passage of a law which enables cities to open
streets whenever the City Council shall de<'m it necessary for
the imblic giKHl. .Many ini|H>rtaiit thoroughfares in cities, such
as (lardeii street in our own, awaited the pa.ssage of this law.
.Mr. King introduced, and caused to Im- jias.sed, the imiHirtant
law under which our District Court has been constituted. He
liiis iiilrodiiccd and carried to tlii' passage numerous laws in
relation In the issuing of iHiiids by cities for various pur|ios<'s.
When a man is sent to the Legislature and furnishes brains
for the enactment of such wholesome measures, his intelli-
gent constituents endeavor to keep him there. Assemblyman
King easily maintains his enviable position. He is a geiitle-
iiiaii, reserved ill luanner. conslanl in his friendships, of keen
foresight, and social withal. He is a meinber of th(> .\c-
i|uackanonk Club, of the Klks. and of the Sarsfield .\.ssocia-
lion. In 1.S.SO he was married to Lizzie Hughes, of .New York
City. Two children have I n born lo iliciii: .Tciliii .iml Hcniv
ideceasedv
Wir.l.IAAl M. KKNZIE wa^ born ..n AngnsI 21. 1S41. in
/ilasgow. Scotland, where he was educated, and came to this
country when a young man. Gaining a thorough knowledge
of the bleaching business, he acted as superintendent for a
large concern in the East. and. coming to Cirlton Hill about
thirteen years ago, enlisted a partner, ici.k li.iM nl tlic inori-
liund Standard Bleacher.v, and, after years of i)atii'iit en-
deavor, built up the splendid business owned toila.v by the
Standard Bleachery Company, of which he is president. They
employ about fjIMI hands at Carlton Hill. The engrossing cares
of business for many y(>ars took every moment of Mr. Mc-
Kenzie's time, and it was some years after first becoming a
resident of Carlton Hill that he consented to serve as a mem-
ber and chairman of the Boiling Springs Township Commit-
tee. His grasp of township matters and his executive ability
took him to the front at once. AVlien the proiiosition to form
the Borough of Fast Itiitherford was broached. Mr. McKen-
zie. seeing in the bnnnigh niovemcnl a prospect of large
improvement for the town, cnicred heartily into the plan.
.•ii.il was instrumental in liaviiig the borough roriiicil. was
chosen Mayor, and is now serving his third ti'riii. .\hvays
an earnest liepnblicau, Mr. McKenzie was iiidiKcil to run
for Assemblyman in 1.S!)2, and, in spite of the Democratic
tidal wave, was defeated by less than 20(1 votes in Ihe then
rock-ribbed Demi>cratic County of Beigcii. While always
declining noininalioiis for office in the county, his defeat
setMlled to put .nliU'il deleriiiiiiation into him to work for tin'
party in Bergen County. For many years he has served
as a menibcr of the Bergen County Rcpuulican Executive
( omniittee. was its chairman in ]8',I.S. and dei'lined a re-
election for 18!)!). He was an alternate to the Kcpubli<-an
National Convention in St. l.oiiis in 1S9G, and enjoys the
friendship of every Republican leader in Bergen Coniity. His
.sound jiidgineiit :ind tact are fre<iueiitly called into re<iuisi-
tion by his fellow members of the part.v, and he has phiye<l a
ii.nspicuous p,irt in the battle which has l;iiided Bergen County
in the IJepublican coliiniii. In i-oninion with his interest in
politi<-aI affairs. .Mr. McKenzie has become Identified with
several institutiiuis for the benefit of his town and its neigli-
I'orhocKl. He was one of the iucorpor.ilors of the Kiither-
ford and East Uutherford Board of Trade, was "Its first presi-
dent, and continues in that office. He assisted in founding the
Uutherford Free Library, is vice-president of the Library As-
sociation, and has been an active friend and liberal contribu-
tor to the Library. He heliied to organize the East Ruther-
foid Savings. Loan Mod Building .Vssociation, and became its
first president, au olHce whiih he still holds. He was one of
the founders of the IJiitlierford National Bank, and has been
a director of the bank from its beginning. He is a Governor
of the Passaic Hospital, and has active interests in several
iudiistrial enterprises. He is also a member of the I'iuoil
Club i,r Riitherfiu-d. the Royal Arcanum, Scottish Clans and
some piditical as.sociatioiis. Mr. McKenzie occupies a unii|ue
place in East Rutherford and its neighborhood. A man o(
strong personality, fine mind and great business ability, he
has given freely id' these talents to his neighljors and his fel-
low-townsmen. To him goes every promoter of a worthy
enterprise caleulati'd to do go<Ml to the whole town— and
never in vain. Bui he who practii-es deceit and fniud finds
Ih.il .Mr. .McKenzie cm bi- stern, as well as cordial, and his
judgiiieiil of men is governed by a rare sagacity whiili amounts
to intuition. The warmest and kindest of frieinls. .Mr. Mc-
Kiiizie <-aii be a foe to be feared and respected. While not
identified with any church. Mr. .McKenzie has .i li'arly n-v-
eience for religion, and is a warm friend of the Iwal churches.
He is a lover of good literature and the drama, and is fond
HERMAN SCHULTING.
JAMES BRYCE.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
J93
..r Kiii'MHMii li;i\rl. Mr. .\1. l\L-iizif is aiurrifil nil. I lins fniir
Sims and a (hmsliliT. IU> lives in a liaiulsoiur ifsiilciHr at
llic liik-'ii s| point ill Cai'ltiiii Mill.
IIKIMAS .\l. MOOUK. son of K<l\vanl ('. Mooie an.l
Jane .Mail in .Mooiv, was born in Newton. N. J.. .Inno 21, 184.">.
His «raii(ll'allifr. .Toliii Moore, was a .TndRe of the Court of
I'oMinion IMi'as of Warren Ci imty for twenty-five years; his
lather. Kihvaril C, was a merchant at Newton, and was
eleeted State Senator for Sussex Ck)unty in 18.58. Thomas .M.
Moore was admitted as altorney in .Inn.'. ISCill, and eoniisellor
in .?iiiie. 1872. He studied law with Thomas N. McCarler. He
liesian praetire in I'assaic- in 1872. He iirepared the ori;rinal
iliarler of the eily in IS'.'i. He sorv(Hi several terms as City
All'ii-iiey. .Mild lias IxTii ;i liitii 1 of tile Huanl of Kdiicalioii.
lijl. .lOll.N -M. HOWK was a iiioneer eommuler on the
iOiii' Uailroad and one of llie foremost citizens of the I'assaic
village. Iheii known as .\ci|uackanonk. He was lioru in llic
lily of New VorU mi .laiinary 2.S. I.SIHI, lieiii;: tile second son
in a family of eiv'lit diildien liorii to Bezaleel Howe and Cath-
eiiiii' .MolTal. His father was a soldier in the IJevohitionary
War, enl.'riiiK llu' army .is a private in ilir Continental army
ficm New Hampshire, and was present at the first battle of
Hunker Hill. He served with ^reat faithfulness and credit
durinj; the entire wir, ami at its close? held the commission of
m.-i.ior. and was a member of General Washington's guard.
1 ir. .lolin .\l. Howe settled in Passaic in 18.");?. and purchased
what was at that time known as the Kins farm. He was
amoii.u' the first to identify himself with the Uepiililii:in party,
and was one of the few suiiporters of .lolm C. Frenioiil in
this section of New .Jersey. He was one of the most public-
spirited men during the village days of I'assaic, and to him
is due the iredit of erecting and supporting tJvp first private
school. This he did not onl.v for the benefit of his own famil.v,
but also fixed terms of admission for others who were dis-
posed to send their sons and daughters there to receive its
benefits. Thus Dr Howe's .\cidemy, as It was called, be-
came a Holed inslitutioii and lloiirislicd for many years, ll
was kept in successful operation until the necessity for it
was superseded by the establishment of the present public
•school systeui in Passaic. Dr. Howe was an earnest worker
in bringing about this change and in inaugurating the fre<'
public s<-hool system of the state. In March. 18li.">. he was ap-
pointed by Governor Marcus L. Ward as one of the trustees
of till- State Normal SehiK>l, and was reappointed by the suc-
ceeding Governors, holding the position for a period of about
twenty years. Dr. Howe was one of the first to foresee and
predict ihe future growth and development of Passaic into a
laige and Hourishing city, owing to its delightful situation and
nearness to New York City. He therefore opened broad streets
Ihrough liis property, graded them and set out a large num-
ber of shade trees, which at present are a source of beauty
and attractiveness to the i-ity. While Passaic w"as still a
village he erected tin' first large brick business block in the
town. He evidently had greater faith in the future growth of
the city than many of his fidlow-town.smen, as time has proved
his judgment sound, and the "Howe blo<k," as it is popu-
larly known, has been the nucleus around which have been
erected many of the finest and most substantial business
houses in Passaic. Dr. .lohn M. Howe was one of the first
to establish and maintain Methodism in Passaic, remaining a
stanch supporter nf ih.it church up to the day of his death.
He obtained his .M. I >. from the Medical College at Caselton.
Vt., but the greater part of his business life he siu'ut in Ihe
practice of dentistry in New York City. His death occurred
en l-'ebruai-y 8, 188.->, at his residence. .84 Howe avenue. Pas-
saic. He left a family eonsi-sting of his wife, Emeline 15.
.lenkins, and eight children- Frances U. -Munroe. ,1. .Morgan
Howe, George U. Howe. Kdwin .1. Howe, Charles M. Howe,
Klla I,. Ma\iin. Kineline .1. Carlisle, Snsnn K. Halsled.
1>1{. llKMtV II. IMTTUN Avas born May »l, 1.h:1I, at
Krainpton, in Ihe provinr-<- of Ontario. He sprang from sturdy
Scotch ancestry; was one of a large family of .s<»ns. and was
inurwl to habits of thrift, industry and economy from child-
hood. .V thirst for •■diication inul .in iimbitiiin for a life of
usefulness led him to prepare for i-ol|ege, ami he look the
degrei- of .\. H. from Syracuse riiiversily in l.S."i7. The de-
gree of .\. M. followed three years later. Many years siiIikc-
<im>nlly he pursued a post-graduate course In the I'niversily
of New Yi>rk. and received the degree of Ph. 1>. upon siK'ifss-
ful examinatirui. Mr. Hiitlon devoted hinis<>lf to teaching, and
from the day when lie left college was never for an hour
without an engagement during the forty-one yi^ars until his
connection with the schiMds of Passaic ceased. He came to
this eily from Waverly. N. Y.. and took charge of public <..lii-
(atioii in the. year 1.H.S4. He was prim ip.il of the High School,
with supervision of all ihe schools, until l.Slil. He was City
Siiperintemlent from that date until IS!l7. Then he was Prin-
cipal again for one year, when his service ended. During the
fourteen years tlie course of study was developed from the
lowest grade to the highest. The High SchiHil was expanded
into an institution of the first rank. Four large schofd buihl-
mgs were erected and e<|uipiied. The corps of teachers in-
creased from twenty-three to sixty in uuiiiIht. I'poii the
retirement of Dr. Hutton, one of the patrons of the public
schools, a gentleman of seh.jlarly attainments, wrote: "It was
largely due to his efforts that the system of Manual Training
was introduced here, in spite of great public apathy on the
subject: ami it was also due to him that the High School
w-.s developed in the direction of fitting its pnpils either for
college or for business." Another wrote: "Whoever may have
Tiiepared il'.e way beforehand, and whoever ma.v add finishing
touches hereafter, no one, we believe, can ever rob Dr. Hutton
of the honor of having erected firmly and eiidiiringl.v the frame-
work of High School education in the city of Passaic" Dr.
Ilntton became an American citizen by naturalization in 1874,
and his influence has been cast with the Republican party in
politics. Though but lightly restrained by denominational pre-
dilections, he has been a steadta.st member of the Presby-
lerian Church during his residence in Passaic, and has long
held the olfice of elder therein. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity. Dr. Hutton was married. February 2.'<.
18.")M, to Miss Helen F,. Whitii.g of Kostmi. Their ihildreii are
Henrv Cumniings, a lawyer in Ludington. Mich.; Gertrude
Elizabeth, graduate of the New England Conservatory of ilu-
sie, and preceptress of vocal music in the Centenary Collegiate
Ii stitute, Hackettstown. N. .1.. and Uobert Jlorton, graduate
of the Slate Normal School and a teacher.
.TOH.N AYCKIGG HEiaOMAN. physician, was born at
Brooklyn, N. Y., May 10, 1852. He received an exiidlent
schooling at Brooklyn Collegiate and Polyte<-hnic Institute and
Princeton I'niversity. graduating from the latter with the
class of l,S7(i. Ui>on the completion of his course at Princelon
he entertHi the College of Physicians and Surgetms in New
York Cit.v. graduatii>g lIierefriHn in 1.S7!I. receiving his ilegn-e
of M. D. He immediately began the praetii-e of his profession
in New York, which was continued until the aiilnmn of 1.884.
For three years of this ihtIwI he was business manager of
the New York Post-Gradnate Medical School. Owing to ill-
ness, he retired from his chosen profession, associating hiniselT
with his brother Adrian in the real estate biLsiness under
the firm name of Adrian G. Hegeman & Co. In the fall of
18,84 Dr. liegeman removed from Ni-w York City to Passaic,
J94
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
so that he iiiijrht develop jiiid place upon the market the leal
estate held by his family in the latter city. Dr. Hejiemaii is
a Repuldican in his ixjlilics. and has twice represented the
U'liird Ward of Passaic a'-, a member of the Board of Council-
men. In all matters, public and charitable, he has been an
unceasing worker. The I'assaic General Hospital is one of
the local institutions, the existence of which is largely due to
the efforts of our subject and his family. He was ti-easurer
of the association from its inception in IS!!-! until .lanuary 1.
IS9S, and one of the Boanl of (iovernors. besides being chair-
iniui of the Kxecutive and Building committees connected
I herewith. Dr. Hegeman is a member of the Ueforniwl
Church, the T'niversity and I'rinceton Clubs of New York
Cit.v, Sons of the Revolution and the I'assaic City Me<lical
Society. In 1K7!t he married Miss Fllizabetli Conrad Moyer of
Trenton. N. .1. Two daughters have been born to the union,
both of whom are living. Dr. Hegeman resides at No. 200
Pennington avenue, Passaic. His family are prominent, so-
cially and otherwise, bulb in I'assaic and New York City.
CHAKI.KS .V. ClllKClI. M. D.. is among the well-known
and infiu"ntial citizens of Passaic. He was born in .Norwich.
Chenango County, N. Y., December 1. 18.30, and lived tlierr
until he came to I'assaic, about twenty-five years ago. He
received elementary eilncation in the public schools, classical
(•(bu'ation in the Norwich ,Vcailem.v. and professional educa-
tion in the Hahnemann Medical College. Philadelphia, anil the
New York Hom<K-opathic Medical College and Hospital. .\i'W
Y'ork Clly. lie has been a iniblic-spiriled mimm: he is nin' of
the otticers of the Board of Trade, .and has bei'n active lur llie
widfare of tin- cominunit.v. He has at times taken intiMist
in political conlest.s, and was once laiididate for Congress on
a reform ticket, and. although not elected, polled a ver.v com-
plimentary viiic. Ho united with the .Methodist lOpisi'opal
Church a1 an eai'l\' age. has .always been an active inendn'r.
and is now an ollii-cr of ili.ii clnu-cli in this city and a lay
minister. He is one ot thi' Irn>lecs ut the Y. .M. C. .\. I >r.
Church was married, in ISIJh, to Hatlie I'.. Heady, of .Norwich.
N. \. One son. Dr. C. Herbert CImucIi. imw inacl icing his
profession in .Nutley. N. .1.. was burn u( iliis m.nri.igc. lie-
reaved of his wife in 1.S1I2. Dr. Chinch was niarrieil again, in
1.'-!I4. to .\niui Walker, of New York City, who now presides
over his home. Dr. Church in physi(|ne is rather sli-mlcr ami
tall." and is relined anrl phrasing in .ippearanc e. While n.it
wanting in liri]iness. he is kind, symi'alliclii- anil genlli' in
n:annei'. He impressi>s people as the kind ot ni.Mi " !io will
be careful .-md cautious, yet be courageous, if the exigency
demands it. lie seems the kind of man one might safely con-
lide ill .iiid rely mi. Ili> is a >! ndions. painstaking, faithful
practitioner of medicine. His pleasant manners render him
agreeable in the sickroom. His optimism inspires hopi'. and his
al ilit.v anil resourcefulness command contidence. He is pre-
eminently a physician. His |U'efereiice is for medical work,
but he has been so skilful in surgery that, in conneclicpii with
it. he has .achieved his greatest \ ictories. He has pciforined
n.any very delicate and ililliciilt operations in this city and el.se-
where. his clienti'le including persons fnun almost evi-ry State
ill the I'liion. Slime surgical operalions recently pert'ormed
b.N him have been described in medical journals as remark-
able, and have given him worldwid>' reputation. His profes-
sional brethren have recogni/.i'd his rank by making him. in
the pasl. presiilcnl of Ihc .New .lerse.v Medical Club, president
of the .New .lersi'y State Homoeopathic Medical Socii'ly. presi-
dent of the .Mumni .Association of the New York Homoi'opathic
Midical College and Hospital, president of the .\meriean As-
socialion of Orilicial Surgeons and a "Senior" of iln' .\nierican
Institute of Homoeopathy. He is oiu' of the staff of the I'as-
saic li'eiicral Hospital, and recently, al the niincsl ot llic
tmstci's of St. -Mary's Hospital, has organized a staff of
homoeopathic physicians for that institntiim and has been
elected "Chief of Staff." While Dr. Church is of the Homoe-
opathic School, he has no little independence in prescribing,
and. while he is conservative enough to cling to old things
that are g<iod. he is progressive enough to read the latest
medical magazim's and treatises, to attend the medical eou-
vcnlions. where pioncirs of science ventilate the most ad-
vanced ideas, and to use new methods and remedies. For
several years the Doctor has used a part of his large house.
No. 12,S Prospect streel. as a private hospital. This has be-
come really one of the institutions of the city. Here some of
his most successful iirol'essional work has be<'n done in con-
nei'tion with several liniidred cases, many of tliein obstinate
and serious.
Ki)l!i:i;r linW.XlI-; KI:NT was born at Wilniingtun.
D(d.. October L! 1. IS.V). He receiveil his education in the public
schools of Philaileliihia. I'a. Leaving school at about fourteen
years of :,;.'c. he i-nti red a rc.-il estate iittice. where he remained
lonr vears. Then, tor one year, he was in tile service of the
.National Life Insurance Company, at its home office in Phila-
delphia. The tinanclal panic of LSTH causing that company to
rciiuive their ni.'iin oftice from Philadelphia and to discharge all
their junior clerks. Jlr. Kent went at once into the service
of the .Mechanic-!' National Bank of Philadelphia. Here he re-
mained si.\ years, receiving an all-round e.Nperience — indeed, a
comprehensive idea of the banking business. Becoming aware
of the growth of Atlantic City, and of its needs of liankiiig
fiM-iiities. he 11 si'.'ucil his iiosition in I'hiladclphia. .and com-
nieiiei d laiivassiTiL' in .\tlaiilie City for a suflicient amount of
slock to oigani;'.e .i b.mk under the National Banking Law.
He secured the siock. eflected the organization and became the
cashier of ilie .Mlaelic City Naiional Bank, opening in May.
ISSl, 'I'lic enterprise proveil a marked success, and he re-
niaiiieil ilieie till the spring of ISSIJ. Now a desire seizes him
to nd neater tile great inetrolJolis. and he casts his eye upon
the rapidly growing suburban city of I'assaic. tinding it in
jiisl the situation in which he had found .Mlaiitie City. He
readil.v enlisted a enrporalion ot leading citizens, ami sueeecded
in elTecting the organization of the I'assaic National Bank. In-
becoming one of iis directors and its cashier. The venture has
been eminently succi'ssful. The stock of this bank immediately
advaiic<'d lo a ]ireininm; today it is selling at KiO per cent.
.Mr. Kent retained his position as cashier until November. 1,Sn',).
when he lesinned to organize the Domestic Hxchange National
Bank of .New York, eapil.il .s;ioii.inmi. It will make a si)ecialty
of i-ollceting onl-iiriiiwii cheeks. Some two years after the or
ganiz.atioii of the I'ass.iic N.itional Hank. .Mr. Kent assisted
in till' organiz.'iiioh ot the I'assaii' Trust and Safe Deposit
Company, and became its vice-president, which position he
retains at the presi'iit tiini'. The citizi'iis of IJiitherford. de-
siring to organize a bank there, reiinested Mr. Kent's assist-
ance, which was readily giaiiied. .nid tln' Uutherford .National
Bank was orgjinized. Mr. Kent becoming its vice-president.
It will be seen from these sl.ilenieiits lh.it .Mr. Kent is re<'og-
nized as an able and sncei'ssfiil banker. He has come, indeed,
to be a specialist in this line of business. It will. also, apiiear
thai Mr. Ki'iit has resided in this cit.v about thirteen years.
.\s a < itizeii he is much esteemed. Business does not hindi'r
him from taking part in innnici]ial affairs. He has always
been reaily to co-operate in an.v gener.al movement for the pub-
lic good. For several years he was treasurer of the Board of
Trade. In piditics he is a llep'iblican; in church matters, a
I'resbyterian. Mr. Kent is an acting elder in the First Presby-
terian Chiirih of I'assaic. and for a period of two years was its
Sunday-school Superintendent. His social proclivities have led
him into meinlM'rship of "Kcnilworih." the oldest literary so-
"^^^^^^cvxik '^^^\^-<^^a^
JOSEPH V. MORRISSE.
THE NEVS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
197
< illy (if lliis city: ;ilsi>. he is a iiii'iiilii'r of the I'lissiiic Cliili.
lie «!!-( iircsiih'iit 111' Kciiihvonli niic year. Mr. Ki-iit was
iiianicd. O.li.hiT 23. 1«7!). to Ella R. Kinp, of IMiiladclplim,
I'a. OiU' daiiprhtcr. .Tanet Scott, was liorii to tliis miioii. In
a si-('oii(l marriage Mr. Kent was uiiiti'd to ("aroline Karl
Kiddle. nT I'ldladididiia, I'a., nccciiihcr 11, l.S"!!. (hie son,
Willi.UM Uiddlc, lias lici-n the fruit of this niarriairr. .Mr. Kent
is iif Scolcli ori^'iii. Iiis fallicr :iiid nnnlicv ■■oniiii;: Irnni SiMiilaiid
about 1H-I."i.
|)A\ 111 CAKI.ISl.K was Ihini niar r.clrast, licdand, .May
•J4, 1.S44. Ho was the only son of the IJi-v. .lohn Carlisle,
who was a niiiiistor of the Methodist C'lnircli for lifty years.
.\rter all.iidin^' private sehools in different towns in the
North >i( Ireland, he iMitered a liankins institution in Belfast,
:;iid icinaiiLeil llicr.' tr..iii ISill to 18(!t». .\\ Iliat linie he was
sent to .New Y(M-k l).\ .i linen nianufaelurer to altenil to ihi-
hooks and tinanees of his liraneh house. Mr. Carlisle has iieen
in the lini'n business in different eapacities ever since, and
went into his present quardu's, lO.'i Franklin street. New York,
in ISlll. It so transpires that he eri>sses the Atlantic once
every year — sometimes alone, sometimis with the members of
Ids family, in prosecntion of his business. .Mr. Carlisle came
to I'assaic ill I.ST), with his fricml and lelalive. William
litH'Sess. loM^' a resident of Summer street, in this cit.v, and
lived with him till his iiiarria;;e, in ISTll. in .Miss Kmeline
.lenkins Ibiwe. <<( I'assaii-. '1 here have been horn to them four
children: Kmeline Howe, who jiradiiati'd from Passaic Ilinh
School ill 1.S!I4: then entered La Salle Seminary, at .-Vuburu-
dale, Mass., and jiraduated from the same in ISllT: .Vnne
Scott, who ^'radnated from I'assaii- llifrh Si 1 1 in IS'.'.S; then
entered Wellesley Ci)lle.;.'e. where she iinw is in her Sopho-
more year: Marion llarpiir and .Iidiii Howe, both at the pub-
lic school. Mr. C.-irlisle is a iiieiiilier of the .Methodist Kpis-
copal Church. I"or many years he was treasurer of the
ISoard of Trustees .iiiil Superintendent of the Siniday-sehool.
He has been deeply interested in the Younj.' Men's Christian
Association of this city; a director since it was orfrani/.ed.
and, for .seven years, its president. Jt has been diirins this
period, and owiii^ largely to his earnest elforts. that the new
^'. ^I. ( '. .V. buiMiiiL; has been >eri!red. \\ liirli \\ as dedic.-ited
Siptember, IMI'.I. It is an .■idmirable buildiii;;. well adapted
to its I'.iii iiese. .Mr. Carlisle lias lieeii a dirntor of I lie Kirs.
Nationsl IJauU of this city from the time it was founded, and
WIS electtu its i lesideii' .li.nuary. 18t»!). In politics -Mr. Car-
lisle is an Independent. He votes tor the canilidatp in whom
he has most contideiice. He is a club man to some extent.
He is a iiieiiiber of tin- ■•Keiiilw oiih." the cddesi literary so-
ciet.> in i'ass.-iir. and was ils tir^i pi-esideiil . lie is a member
of the Itcforni Club .iiid ilie .Menli.nits' Club in .New ^'orU
( ity.
ANDKKW .Mcl.lOAN. the subject of this sketch, was born.
May 12, ISIil, at 'I'roy, .N. Y. He is of Scotch ilescent on the
father's side, but on the niother's. Holland-.Vinerican. .\iid
in this loiinectioii it is stated that his lineage has been traced
to the til si while iiiale child known to have been born in
America. .Mr. .\li l.i.in w .is idmated in the public sehools of
.Tersey City. He has resided in r.is^.iir nine years: duriuK
which time he lias held Ihe nlliie of -Mayor two terms. In
politics he is a Uepubliiaii. K.xMajor McLean is a member
of the \Vashiiii,-liiii Club, of this city, and he is e.\-president of
our Board of Trade. .\.lso, ho is a member of the Larchmont
Yacht Club and the Jlerchants' Club, New Y'ork City, The
nianufaetiire of cotton jioods was inherited from his father,
:md, indeed, from his ^raiiilfalhcr; for his !;randfather. An-
drew McLean, two years after landinj.' in New Y'ork, 1824,
Iroiii t;iasi;ow. Scotland cima^'ed in this business at (ireen-
wich Village, in.w a imrtion »\ llie KiKlith Wnnl. New York.
Al his death .Mr. Mel.rf-airs fiiiber iiKKiuiied control. And in
1N,SN, at the death of liis father, our ex-Major took I'harise
of the business, K.N-Mayor Mcl^-ini takes pride in ilie f»<'t
that the businesK has Ikm-m so well managed as to Ih- hmi:
conducted by the family, jiassint twice from Ihe father to the
s and, also, in the additional circiiinslance that he is Ilie
fourth ill Ihe line of Andrew Mcl^eans. And lie lias a Uiy of
live years, who ninkes the lifth of thai luiiiie. His iinceNlors,
on his mother's side, were snldiers in the Revolnliiinary war,
eiilistin;,' from Dutchess County, N. Y. llis iiiolher, Virciiiia
.McLean, is still liviuK. Mr. Melx-un wuh inarrie<l. f)et«lK'r St,
lM,S!t, to Sarah Belle CridBe, of Troy, X. Y. There have U-en
born to theiii two sons: The elder, .Vndrew; the yoniiKer,
(ieorKe Kdmuiid. both living.
UICHAKK .NHtUKKLL was lairn it. .Tersey City on .Innn-
ary 27. l.s.'ill. His father was a friend and ImsiiiesH assoi-i-
ate of Commodore Cornelius VandiTbilt and his mother a
sister of Colonel A. M. Bandol of the reKular army. It may
veil be assumed that the business sagacity and rare aptitude
which have enabled the subject of this sketch to lake rank
nmon^' the foremost linsine.ss men of New .lersey, are in
jiart, at least, due to the law of heredity, Mr. Morrell's
father, from whom he takes his entire name, was as eon-
spicuous a Hfiure in these pails in the thirties, forties and
lifties as the son has been in the eighties and nineties. The
elder Morrell came here from New Y'ork about 1S.".4. He had
111 tinu life as a clerk in the retail crwery house of Uiehard
Williams, in New Y'ork City, Init his health jrave way, and
he was forced to seek a less confining oi'ciipalion and more of
the fresh air of the loiintry. I'assaie (then Accinaekanonk)
was at this time the shiiiiiing port of I'atersoii, ami of all
.Northern New .lersey, in fact. Mr. Morrell and the late .Major
I'ost, under the firm name of Morrell iV- I'ost, est.-iblisheil them-
selves in the sami' lumber business which afterward passed
into the hands of AVillia!n S. Anderson, deceased, and was
finally organized as the present .\nderson LunilH-r Company.
.Mr. .Morrell's health improved, and lie very .soon expanded
the business to an eiiormons extent, and heiiime a prime fac-
tor in the life of the community. Sueh men as William L.
.\i:drn.ss and Dr. U. A. Terhune hear testimony, not only t«
his energy and intelligence as a business man, lint to his kind-
111 ss of heart and marked disposition to help bis friends.
.Vinong the friends he made soon iifter his arrival was the
late Isaac Vanderbeck, who then kept a grm'ery store here.
With the aid of Mr. .\ndiuss and others, .Mr. .Morrell sne-
ceeded in having Mr. Vanderbeck electeil Sheriff of I'assaie
County in l,s;!.S I'/l and in re-elei'ting him two years later.
This gave Jlr. Vanderbeck a start in life, and leil to the
formation of a partnership between himself and .Mr. Morrell.
The latter withdrew from 'hi' firm of Morrell iV Post, and
the new firm of Morrell & Vanderbeck engaged in the hinilH-r
business in .lersey (Mty. There they laid the foundations
of Ihe most extensive lumlM'r yards and docks in the Stale.
lOveii to this day Vanderbe<-k & Sons are known wherever
lumber is bought or sold in this part of Ihe iimntry. .Mr.
.Morrell's interest was bought out by llis parlner shortly after
his death. Another instance of the elder .Morrell's desire to
help others was brought out in Lawyer W. Scott's recent
sketch of the I'ostmasters of Passaic. iSee Scott). One of Ihe
elder Morrell's most notable bnsiuess veuliires forms an iii-
ti resting incidenl of the gold fever of 1848-r)0. .\ii unsolv-
able problem of the gold fields was means of transiiortation
inland from San Krancist-o. Railroads were niibeard of Ihcu
in siK-h a country, so remote and inaccessible. Mr. Jlorrell's
lertile brain solvi-il the problem. He suggested to his friends,
(/omniodore Vanderbilt and a rich bauk<,-r of the day. named
J98
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PA5SAIC.
E. Miiitiirii. that they build a specially ailaptiil steaiiicr and
si'iid it ai-mind Cape Horn. It was Imilt and sent, and the sjiec-
nlatirin added materially to Mr. Morrell's fortune. Aceording
to a reliable antliority. it netted liini $1(K|.()(MI the tirst year
on an investment of ?13,(Ht(l. The ship was called the "Sen-
ator." and is said to have iK-en the tirst steam vessel that
ventnred around the Horn. It's bnsiness in the ;;old lields
was to carry freicht and passengers np and down the Saira-
mento Uiver. Among his other bnsiness connections, the elder
Morrell had large interests in the iron ore mines and iron foun-
dries of Cooper & Hewitt. The firm of Cooimh- & Hewitt
was composed of Peter Cooper. New York's greatest philan-
thropist, and Abram S. Hewitt. ex-Mayor of tin- city. e.\-Con-
gressman and a statesman of high oriler. now retired on account
of old age. So much for Kichard Morrell's father. The story
of the youngcT Morrell's life is made up largc-ly of the same
kind of material. After his father's death his mother, who had
no r)tlier children, married I»r. Kiih.-ird A. Terlinne. still an
honoreil citizen of Passaii-. Yonng Morrell was educated at
the Mount Pleasant Military Academy in Sing Sing ami in
the Passaic Classical Institute, owned and managed by the
late Dr. Charles S|>encer. an uncle of General B. W. Spen-
cer. At his own request, the yonng man. still in his "teens,"
began active life as a clerk in a Wall street banking house.
Even as a boy he displayed shrewdness and practical ability,
rather than the taste for romance ami the love of books, which
distingiushes the embryonic business man from the student and
scholar. In 1.S.S1 Mr. Jlorrell quit Wall street and went into
j)artnership with the late Tax Colle<-tor David Campbell, then
an hiunble feed dealer on Passaic street. From a modest feed
store to an extensive wholesale coal, hay, grain, feed, flour and
building material plant, marks the extent of Mr. Morrell's
ci:;erprise during the live years between IS^Sl and ISSli. In
the lalti'r year the tirm of Campbell iS: Morrell lie<!inie Camp-
bell. Morrell it Conn>any. a coriwration. Soon afterward Mr.
Morrell ami his friends bought out Mr. Campbell's interest.
Mr. Mi>rrell ma<le a master-stroke at twent.v-five jeai-s of age
whi'U he secured the Eastern agem-y for the sale of the Erie
Kailroad's anthracite coal. He held this position for a num-
bei of years, and gained an acquaintance among coal operators
anil an insight into the business that have caused him to be
considered one of the most e.vpert men in tne trade. Camp-
bill. Morrell & Compan.v supply all the large mills in Pas-
.«aic and vicinity with coal, and practically control the trade
of the neighborhood. Thi>y sell brii'k and masons' materials
all over the State. Iiamllc grain on a large scale, own their
own grain elevators, coal pockets ami switches and extensive
dock facilities on the Passaic Kiver. The eoni'ern is wholly the
creation of Mr. Morrell. but it does not absorb all his energies.
He is a director in the Pe(iple's Bank and Ti'ust Ccmqiany. the
Naricnnil Brick and Terra Cotta Company, the Passaic and
New Ycu-k Kailroad, treasurer of the (Jeneral Hospital AssimI-
ation. a dire<-lor of the Biiard of Tra<le. ami a useful man in
all civic and social affairs. In IHMl, when only twenty-two.
the voters of the Second Ward, ilissatistied with the regular
pai't.v nominees for School Conniiissioner. i-U-cted him as an
imlependent canilidate. He has the honor of being the .voungest
U'lan ever elected ti> the Bojird of Educarion. He was re-
ehcted without opposition from either party at the end of
his term. in 1.SS7 Mayor ("harles M. Howe appointed him
to the iM)sition of Police .Justice, which he held for three .vears.
In an interview publislml at the lime, he said he took the
otilci-, not for any honor or emohnnent it might bring, but to
study human nature in the scIi<h>1 of expcrienci'. He made a
nioih-l magistrate, free from all |>rejudice, fearless in the sup-
pression of vice and crime, but just and merciful to all. In
]S7!I Mr. Miu-rell was one of the organizers of Company B,
Eourth Kegimenl. N. (J. N. .1. (Passaic Ouardl. the tii-st com-
pany of State Militia in Passaic. He retired with a First
Lieutenant's commission in 188.5. On .luly 29. 188.5. he married
.losephine A. Willett. daughter of ex-Mayor .John A. Willett.
president of the Passaic National Bank. They have two chil-
(b'en — Louise W.. aged twelve, and Itichanl Willett, now three
years of age.
EDO KlI'. of ihi' twelfth geni'ration from his ancestor,
Ilcndrick Kype. who emigrated from Holland in 1('>.'?.5. was
born at Kutherlord .Inly .'?(), 181.5. Keceiving such a common
school education as was obtainable at that time. Mr. Kip pur-
sMi-d a farmer's life tintil coming to Passaic, in 18lj!>. Here he
I'lilt ilie ri'sidcme. No, 20 Lexington avenue, where he lived
until his death, which occurred February !(!, 1S!)9. His farm,
on whi<h he spent his early married life, was about a mile
anil a half from Pater.son, ou the direct road to Hackensa<k.
Long before settling in Passaic. Mr. Kip had united with the
I'irst Keformed Church of this iilace. In due course he be-
came ileacon and elder of the sanu'. and superintendent of the
.■^umlay-school. lie was largely instrumental in forming the
.N'orth IJefornied Clinrcli of this city, donating the plot upon
which the church, cli.ipel and jiarscmage now stand, and per-
sonall.v superintending the erection of the chapel and par-
.sonage. In connection with this chur<ll he was elected superin-
tendent of the Sunilay-scliool. was an elder in the tirst Con-
sistory, and served as elder, continuously, until the time of his
death. Mr. Kip was a Uepublican. but never held otfice.
His inclinations did not tend that way. But he never neglected
his diit.v at tlic pulls. He was for years a director of the Pas-
saic <Jas Light Coujpan.\ ; was one of the organizers, and the
first president of the Passaic National Bank: also, a director
(•f the I'assaic Trust and Safe Deposit Company, Soon after
I oniing to Passaic Mr. Kip was elected trustee and clerk of
the School Board, in which <apacit.v he superintended the erec-
tion of the tirst public school building in the cit.v, and inaugu-
r,:ted the wise policy which has since been pursued. On his
retirement from the Board, in 1874, the Board spread upon its
records the following resolution: "That the Board of Eilucation
hereby rec<u-ds its high .ippreciation of the services of Edo
Kil), Esi]., lately a nuMuber of this Board, ami for man.v .vears
previously a trustee and clerk of the school district now em-
biaced within the contrcd of this Board: and we desire to ex-
press (lur convi<'Ii(Ui tliai ilie cause of education in this dis-
trict is largely indebted to .Mi. Kip. for the zeal, lidelity and
liberality with which he so long administered the trust con-
ferred upon him by his fellow-citizens." On December 211. 183li.
Mr. Kip married Maria .Merselis. of Paterson, Avhose death
(K-curred within a few years. Thi'ir children were .lane Eliza-
beth ideceasedi and .lohn. who is now living at Fairlawn.
Hcrgiii ('■iniily. In lS4o he married Ann. daughter of .Tohn I.
Sip, wliii w as a lielpnu'ct. indeed, for nearly forty years, aiding
him with her excellent jmlgment and untiring energy in all
ni.-itters iiert.-iining to business, looking well to his household,
tr.-iining his chililren in the fear of the I-ord and love for His
service, and eniouraging him to the many gi'uerous gifts and
earnest Christian service with which the lives of l)oth were
tilled. The children of this marriage were Arrianna. who is
now the wife of Jlr. A. Zabriskie Van liouten: Peter, who is
now the Kev. Peter E. Kip, pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of San Diego, Cal,: Clara .lane (deceased), and Ellen,
who married Mr. Thomas .V. It. Ooodlatte. of this city. Mr.
Kill was a gentleman upright in life and active in every gootl
c.iuse: hence he won the confidence and esteem of his fellow-
citizens. He was devotetl and loyal to the church. He was
unriitlled in temper, gentle in niamu'rs, constant in his friend-
ships ami generous and kin<l to all. inspiring the thoughi
that. "A good name is rather to be chosen than riches."
Among the last acts of his marked benevolence was the dona-
REV. JACOB SCHMITT.
■^
DR. J. PARKER PRAY.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
201
tioii lit oiic-lialf tlio plot (if t'loiinil nimii wliiili tin- new V.
M. ('. A. ImiUliiiiJ: stniuls; his last piitilir act. ttir layiiij: uf tin-
cornerstone of the same.
COLONEL BEN.IA.MI.N A V(l;l(;(;-Tlic life of Colonel
Aycrif,'); almost sp.inncd a century; born in the city of Now
York Si'iite-Jibor 28, 1S(M, he ilieil at LakewcHxl, N. .1., Kelirii-
ury 2, 1895. His grauiifather, John Ilurst Aycri);;;, n sur-
geon, cniigrateii from I'pton-upou-Severn, in England. His
father, Benjamin Aycrigg, was a New York merchant, who
in l.SO,S causi^l the liones of tlie lU volntionary victims of the
prison shii) .lersey to be gathereil anil dceenlly buried under
his sniM-rvision. His (fraiidmother was Unchel Lydecker of
Birpen County. His mother was Susan, daughter of Captain
John Hancker of the Ucvolutionary army, whose brother Ed-
ward was at one time Treasurer of the State of New York,
also a director of the New York branch of the United States
Bank. Among his ancestors were Bensous, Van Densens, Mes-
niirds. Viuoeuts and I)e I'uysters. A sister became the wife
of John Bogartl'ell; a brother, Dr. John Bancker .Vycrigg,
was prominent in NeNV Jersey politics. A graduate from Co-
lumbia College in the class of 1S24, Colonel Aycrigg a(b)ptod
the profession of civil engineer. He assisted in the construc-
tion of public works in the State of Pennsylvania, and was
one of the principal engineers in charge of those works from
1830 to 1840. One of his associate engineers was Edgar
Tliompson, late president of the Pennsylvania Central Itailway
Company. About this time he was appointed as aid uihmi
(iovernor Rittiier's staff of Pennsylvania, ami so obtained the
military title of Colonel. In or about 1842 he aided his broth-
er, then a Representative in Congress, to investigate the United
States Coast Survey. From 1848 to 1861 he actively par-
ticipated in the management of the American Institute of
New York. In 1869 he received the degree of Ph. D. from
Pennsylvania College. In 1878 and 1880 he was connected with
the geological survey of New Jersey. After retirement from
the active pursuit of his profession, he selected the city of
Passaic as his residence, and until his death occupied a com-
fortable mansion on the River Drive in this place. He was a
fine mathematician, a man of vaiied scientific attainments, and
always interested in all that concerned his town and country
and mankind. He was veised in astronomy, and after observ-
ing from New .\lbany, August 7, 18G9, the total e<'lipse of the
sun. suggested that the corona might bo attributable to the
eUctrical and magnetic forces generated from the earth's at-
mosphere. He was fond of the study of ancient calendars, and
ei'deavored to ascertain the true date of Easter by reference
to Jewish and Egyptian chronology. The general results of
these researches appear in the "Report on the Gregorian Cal-
endar," published in 1874, and in a more general work en-
titled "Calendars," published in 1886. Earnestness and love
of truth at all times animated Colonel Aycrigg. and took firm
hold of his religious faith. He was unable conscientiously to
acquiesce in the hierarchical claims of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and withdrew from that communion, in order to assist
in organizing the Reformed Episcopal Church, in 1873, and
became one of its staunchest upholders. He published, in
IS.'-O, "The Memoirs of the Reformed Episcopal Church and
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, with Contemporary Re-
ports Respecting These and the Church of England," of which
several editions were issued. Colonel Aycrigg's long life was
unstained, unclouded, by a doubt of the purity and integrity
of his motives. He was always generous, always unselfish,
attentive to duty, public and private, modest and unassuming,
<-ourteous to all, poor man as well— all found in him a sincere
friend,
IIK.NUV Ml DA.NUI.HS. the subject of this xketch, was
burn, July 17. ISU.s. at Dingman's Kerry, N. J. He was edu
inted in the publir^ schools of Brancliville. .\. J., where hiw
parents lived from the lime when he was about a year old.
.\lso. he alleiideil school at Mt. Retirement Seminary, near
Deekertown, .N. J On attaining his nnijority. he wan up-
pointed Postnnisler at Brancliville. He took an interest in
the mercantile business carried on by his father, anri sf»on
piiH'hased a Hour mill and carried on the tiiilling business.
But ill-health made him resth'ss. and. in lHtl4, he reniove<l his
family io Jersey City and engaged in the eonimissioii business
on Reaile street. New Y'ork City, in partiuTship with (Jeorge
Mill's, who, also, was of Sussex County. .\. J. The firm simhi
ch^inged. however, Io Stout & MiDanolils. It was a success-
ful firm, but Mr. McDanolds, having beioine iiileresleil in
real estate in the village of Passaic, and foreseeing n fine
future for the place, came here to live in the spring of IStW.
and 'ere long gave np the commission luisiness to devote him-
self wholly to his affairs here. Mr. McDanohls was a loyal
supporter and meinb"r of the Presbyterian Church. Hi' was a
stjinch Iteiinblican, and represented Pa.ssaic County in the I><'g-
isliilnre two terms, in the earl.v seventies, as .Vssembiynnin.
He was for a period Internal Revenue Collector, and, finally,
strveil as Surrogate five ye:irs, when he withdrew from public
life. Mr. McI>anolds was married. November 24. l.S."i:!. to
Martha M. Armstrong, of Papakating, Sussex County, N. J.
Kive children s!irvived him at his death, August 11, 1891, viz.:
Catherine L., who married the late William E. Wright; Helen
L. (deceased), who married Dr. George L. Rnndle; Charlotte,
nlio m.irried Mr. William I. Drake, Westtown, Orange County,
N. Y'.; tJeorge \. ami Anna Jane. Mr. McDanolds was of
Scotch extraction, but just when his ancestors came to .Vnieri-
ca is not easily determined. His face, certainly, was of the
Scotch tyiie, and certain it is that in character and business
habits he became a typical American. "A retrospect." says
( ue wh.> knew Mr. McDanolds in all his career in this cily,
"brings to our sight a stable and energetic citizen, reminding
us how great our loss in his departure." Referring to the
financial crash of 1873, this same writer says: "1 think no
one will begrudge the dead this meed of prai.se, if I say that
Henry McDauidds brought his bark over that troubled sea
with head always to port and honor always at the helm."
Aid th MO was a kindness in Mr. McDanolds that reached far
out. and many a family lifted up their voices in regret at
the time of his depaiture. Men who came to him in perplexity
received counsel worth gold to tUem, and those who came
seeling aid were never rudely denied. He was a loyal hus-
band and father, and ever fondly turned his steps to bis
home. In his last sickness, he Quaintly said: "If a man must
be sick, he ought to have a wife, four daughters and a son
to take care of him."
EDW.VRD WATERMAN CVRDNER was l«>rn at Nan-
tucket. Mass.. March 16. 1S.">7. His etlucation was comniencod
in the iiublic schools of .Massachusetts; later, graduating from
the public schools of Brooklyn, N. Y'., he entered the Sopho-
more class of New Y'ork University; theie he remained three
years, graduating in 1877. Leaving the university, he i-on-
nccted himself with a wholesale dry goods house in New York,
where he remained eight years. Leaving this business, he
pai^sed two years in the service of the Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance Company. For the past ten years .Mr. Gard-
ner has been managing agent of the Mutual Life Insurance
Company, of New Y'ork, at its home oflice in New Y'ork City.
-Mr. Gardner is a member of Zeta Psi ttJreek Societyl. He is
a member of the Passaic Club, the Acquackanonk Club and
of an insurance club. Always a Republican, he was elected
to the City Council, in 1800, from the Third Ward for a term
202
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
of three years. In 1S!)S he was eleeteil CimiKilman-at-Laifro
and I'li'sident of the City Counoil. Mr. (ianliier was niarriod,
Jamiaiy 24, 1SS9. to Mary M. Tice. of Brooklyn, X. Y.. former-
ly of Passaie Two ehililren— (laii^hter.s— have ble.ssed their un-
ion: Florence M. and Ile'.en E. Mr. (Gardner's ancestors were
Plynionlh IJock settlers and were closely iilentitied with the
early history of Massaclinsetts.
WILLIAM ISAAC BAURY. the subject of this skeldi.
was born December 12. 1850, in Boston, Mass. He was edu-
cated in the public schools of that city. Mr. Barry came to
Passaic in 1S7(), and became connected, as an emtiloyee, with
(he lirm of Keid & Barry. The Barry famiry is of I'liiit.iii
descent, distinsruished for inlelliirence ami strong religious
zeal. Many of Mr. Barry's ancestors wei-e clergymen. An
uncle, graduating from Harvard and Andover, settled in Chi-
cago and became the founder of the "Chicago Historical So-
ciety." Another uncle. .lolin Stetson Barry, wrote a valiiiilile
history of the State of Ma.ssa( husetts. Mr. Barry was a mem-
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and at the time of his death
was one of the directors of the Y. >r. C. A., greatly interesting
himself in its affairs, l(H>king In tlir purchase of a permanent
home for the society. He was a member of the I'assaie Club
and. al.so, a member of "Kenihvorth." In politics ho was a
Uepublican. Mr. Barry was married. October 20, bSSl, to
Lizzie \. Bartlett, of I'assaie. There were b<u-n to them two
children: Marion Barlletl and Henry .Vdams. both living. In
1888. after serving the lirm of Ueid & Barry eighteen years.
Mr. Barry became a partner with Mr. Peter Iteid, in place of
his elder brother, Mr. Henry .\. Barry, who retired. While all
till' details of the business <ir IhnI liiiii were r.iiiiiliar In liiiii,
the change in his relations to it, the burdens involvi'd, liroiight
a great strain upon him. Of a somewhat deli<ale frame and
markedly sensitive, his heallli partly gave way .-il lli.ii lime.
and, under llw advice of his iihysi.aan, he traveled iiinili nvir
liie .Xmeriran tuutinent and in lOurope. His iiapers. reail in
llii' "Kenihviirlir' afli'r siuli trips, were exceedingly iiileri'st-
iiig, proving him to be a close observer. These journeys re-
sulted in restoring his heallli in a great nuNisure, so that he
was enabled to grainile willi I lie londncl ot the affairs ul' Ills
notably prosperous lirm, and, meeting all oblig.itions. realized
in a very few years large iKissessions. He erected a de-
lightful home on I'assaie avenue, t<i and from which he was
wont lo go at stated hours in the disi-liarge of his daily roll-
line. His neighbors n^joiced in ills prosperity and his hapidiu'ss,
lor lliey knew how long .-ind how faithfully he had toiled
fur il. .\n(l. llicii. Ills known greatness of heart, his benevo-
lences, his lojal MipjMiM III church and Y. M. C. .V.. gave him
the warmest phue in ilie pnlilii Inarl. .\nil so it was ilial
when, on May 2,"), ISlCi, Ihe annonncenient of his death w.is
made, a feeling of gloom and sadness fell upon thi' people.
HIO.NKV A. BAKKV, llie snbjiict of lliis sk.lih. was lunn,
December 2ll, l.S;i'.t, in Boston, Mass. He was carefully eilii
cated in the [iiiblic schools of Boston. He began business, when
si III viiniig. In Soiiieiville. .Mass., where he met his life friend,
.Mr. Peter Keid, of this ( ily. With small resources, but making
up for this with experience and pluck, these two came to Pas-
saic in ISliil, and as partners entered into Ihe business of bleach-
ing and dyeing. For some time their building was unpreten-
tious, but they prospere<l. Thi'y made money and built addi-
tions, gradually climbing up, step by step, until all the land
they purchased was covered with buildings. Their sncci'ss was
as rapid and remarkable as the growth of a Western town.
It is recalled with interest that during the panic of 1873, when
almost every other industry in this city was paralyzed. Ueid iV
Barry kept right on. They always dealt liberally with their
help, many of their first emiiloycts being still with them; some
of them old and not able to do much, but they are kept around
in consideration of past services. Mr. Barry was married, Sep-
tember 11, 1873, to Sarah J. Dearborn, of Lowell, Ma.ss. Three
children were born to them: Harry Reid, the eldest: Edwin
Wyeth and Florence Dearborn. In .Tanuary, 1888. he with-
drew from the firm of Reid A: Barry. At his death, in April
of the same year, he was regarded as the wealthiest man in
I'assaie. His business had enabled him to make investments
v.liich yielded him large profits. He was .no politician, but he
was a Republican, always. Mr. Barry was a man of strong
family affections and of a very generous disposition toward his
kindled. He was of the strictest integrity — the very soul of
liiiiiiir. He was methodical in all bis affairs and strict as to
details. Ho was benevolent, contributing to worthy objects.
The city deeply mourned his too early ri'inoval from our midst.
All fell llial a valuable citizen had passed away.
W ILLIAM COGGIN KIMBALL, silk manufacturer, was
boru at Boxford. E.s.sex County, Mass., February 11, 1847. He
was educated at the Putnam Academy, Newburyport, Mass.
TTntil liSiSCi Mr. Kimball was engaged in the manufacture of
jewelry in Boston and New York City. In that year he
became ideniilied with the firm of M( ssrs. Strange iV: Brother,
an old-established and leading house in the manufacture and
imporlatlon of silks and ribbons. In 1887, uiion the organization
of till' William Strange Company, of I'aterson, N. .!., Mr.
Kimball was ilei ted vice-president of the company, a position
lie at iniseiit Imlils. He has. for some years, resided in Pas-
saic. \. .1., and has held several positions of prominence. He
was tile tirst president of the Board of Trade, and served two
yi.irs as president of the Passaic Club. He has devoted much
of his time to the development of the Passaic Free Public Li-
brary, and to him this institution owes much for its [iresent
lliiiirishing condition. He is also a member of the New Eiig-
liiiil Sociely .•iiiil several clubs. Mr. Kimball married Miss
Bl.im he Ki ail, a daughter of the late .Tehial Read, of New
York.
COR.NELIUS VAN RIPER, M. D.— The name of Van
Rilier, with its multitudinous orthography (it is spelled Van
Reiper, Van Reyper, Van Ryi>er, Van Ripen, Van lleypen
ami Van Reipen), is derived frou the latin word Ripa, whence
originated Ihe name of a city on the north bank of the
River Xibbs in Jutland, Denmark. .lutland was divided into
I'liiir iliiuescs, the most southerly of which lying along the
German Ocean, was called Ripen. This diocese was 142
ndles long and 57 miles wide, and was part of the
Ciniliria ( 'liersoiiesiis of llie ancients, where dwelt the war-
like Cimliri. who at one time invaded the Roman Empire.
The city of Ripen is situated in latitude 55 degrees 3(> niin-
iiies north and longitude 9 degrees 19 minutes east, and, next
III \\'ibiiiirg, is the most ancient city of Jutland. From this
port in .\pril, l(i(!3, a vessel named T Bonta Koe (which
iiieans The Spotted Cow) saili'd for the New Netherlands with
eighty-nine passengers, among whom was Juriaen Touiassen,
who. with thirteen others, on March It?, 1(!.S4, received a
paleiit for what was llien called '"Haquequenunck," a name
which is still substantially preserved in the title of the pres-
ent township of Acqnackaiionk, This patent extended from
the Third River up the Passaic to the Falls, thence to Garret
Rock, and along the face of the steep rocks .southwesterly to
the present county line, thence to the mouth of the Third
River. This young man was a native of the city of Ripen,
;;nd four years after his arrival married Pryntje Hermans.
His death having occurred September 12, 1*J95, some of his
descendants assumed the name of Juriance, now Yeriance and
Auryuuseu; while others took the name of the ancestral town
WILLIAM W. SCOTT.
FRANK CAZENOVE JONES,
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
205
find becnme Vnn Ripens, Van Ripers. otc. Toninsspn received
of (iiiort Coprton liy his will, dated Feliruary 5, 1071, n par-
rel of land Ijirg in and abont the town of BerRon, which Coer-
ten had pnnliascd of Philip Carteret Ma.v 12, 100.S. Mere he
lived and iliiil. .Iiiriaen Toniassen had ehildren— Thomas, C!er-
r;t Aeltje, Cli.vslyntje, Marietjp, Ilariniui, who died in in-
fancy, .Tan. Ilarnian (2» and Oricljc. Or this nunilier Ilarnian
was horn Di'ceniber •!, 1<!.S<;, and niariicd, first, JIarilji' FrediT-
icUs in 17<l!>. and, later, .Indith Stcinnients, in 1721. He n-
niuvicl III .\ii|nacUanonk, and was the parent of lliirtcin cliil-
dren. the third sou of whom was Aliraham, liorn .lannary 2."i,
171(>, and who married Elizabeth Uradbnry. Thi>y were the
[larents of three children— .Tohn A., Philip and Mollic Of this
nnuiber John A, was horn Felirnary 12, 17.";i. and married
Leah, daufrhter of Abraham and Anne Wiiuu', in 177li.
He was a soldier in the war of Ihr lirvidntion, and resided
at North Uelleville, Essex County, N. .1. Their children were
elKht in number, one of whom was Abraham, whose liirth
occurred September 15, 1782, and who iuarrie<l Maria Spear,
daufihter of John and Margaret Spear, in 1804. lie repre-
sented his district in the Assembly durin;; 184.'«! and 1849, and
for many years served as Frix-holder and .Justice of the
Peace. His death occurred in March, 18(>li. His live children
were John A.. Abram Winne, Sarah, Eliza and Margaret.
Of this number Abram Winne, father of the subject of this
sketch, was born June 3, 1815, and on the 27th of October,
183tt, married Clarissa, daughter of John and .Tane Kip, The
Kip family (formerly spelled Kype) are of Holland extraction,
Hcndrick, the progenitor, having left Amsterdam in l(i3.^. He
had three .sons — Hendrick, .lacobus and Isaac — who held mu-
nicipal offices under Governor Stuyvesant, the se<-ond of whom
received an extensive grant of land, now embraced in the
city of New York. One of these sons is the progenitor of
John Kii), above named, who was a man of much business
enterprise, and largely engaged with his suns in the grocery
and lumber trade. Mr. and Mrs. Abram W. Van Kiper h.id
three children — Jane, who died in infancy: Cornelius and
Abram Harvey, both the sons being practicing iihysicians.
Cornelius Van Riper was born September (i, 1840. at North
Rcdieville, N. .1., where were spent the years of his biiyliiiiu!.
He later devoted himself to a thorough course of study at
Pdoomfield, N. J., which enabled him to enter the University
• of the city of New York (now New Y'ork Fniversityt, from
which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1.8(;.'!, and in
18<)0 he received the degree of A. M. from the same institu-
tion. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and
the Phi Chapter of the Zeta Psi fraternity. Having decided
upon a professional career, he chose that of medicine, and
soon after entered the office of Dr. Arthur AA'ard of Belleville.
In 1863 he became a student at the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of New- York Inow the Medical Department of Co-
lumbia University), and received his diploma from that in-
stitution as a practicing physician and surgeon in 181)0. He
then established himself in practice at Passaic, where he has
since resided. He has been for a long i)eriod a member of
the Passaic County Medical Society, and has been elected at
sundry times to the offices of president, vic-e-i)resident and
secretary of that society. The doctor on the li)th day of Sep-
tember, 1800, was united in marriage to Miss Adriamia Ter-
hune (died Hinvmlier II, 1803), a daughter of the late Hon.
John N. and So|ihia Terhune. and the granddaughter of Nicho-
las and Adrianna Terhune. They have had live children,
Carrie and Aimee, l)oth deceased; Arthur Ward, now a prac-
ticing physician; John Tcrlnine, now a practicing lawyer, and
Cornelia Zabriskie. I>r. Van RiiH?r was one of the founders
of the North Reformed Church of Pa.ssaic, of which he is a
member, and was one of its first deacons. He has ever mani-
fested n deep Interest In ednrntional projects, and was for
several years a member of the Board of fiilucntlon of the
i-ity of his residence. He is iu his political prefercncfs a Re-
publican, and has always taken a ilcep interest in local and
national (lolitics. When the Stale Trust and Safe I>e|H>Nit
Company mow People's Bank and Trust Companyl was or-
ganizi-d, in 1S8S, Hr. \'an Riper was chosen as its first vi<v
piesideiit, which office lie has held ever suice. He lias been
piesident of the Pa.ssaic City Meilical So<-iety, and has lieen
a member of the Board of Governors of the Passaic Hos-
liilal Association since its organization. He is also a niendier
of the visiting staff of the Passaic (ieneral Hospital and
one of the Board of I)ire<-lors of lie- Wa.shinglon Club of the
city of Passaic, a member of the Hollaml .Society of .New
York city and a director in the .Nurth Jersey Title Guarantee
( ompany.
ARTIIIK WAKK VAN RIPKR, M. I)., was born on
August 1!), 1872, in the city of Passaic, where he has resided
since birth. He began his education in the Passaic puldio
schools, and in 1884 began his preparatory course at Dr. Mac-
Chesney's Paterson Classical Institute. In June, 1S.8.S. he en-
tered the University of the City of New York mow New York
T'liiversity), and after I'ompleting a four years' course re-
ceived the degree of A. B. from that institution in 18!fJ. Hav-
ing decided upon a medical carin-r. he entennl the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of New York (now the Mediial Pe-
paitmenl of Columbia College) in October, 18i)'2, from whiili
institution he received the degree of M, D. in IS'.Ct. In the
same year he was licensed by the Board of Me<ilcal Examiners
of the State of New Jersey, and chose his native city for
his life work. In 1.8!)7 he was apiiointi-d City Physician of
the city of Passaic for one year, at the expiration of which ap-
pointment he was, in 18!).8, reappointed for a term of three
years. In 1S!>7 he was also appointeil a member of the Board of
Health of the city of Passaic, and upon its organization was
unanimously chosen i)resident, which office he continues to fill.
On the eighth day of .\pril, 1807, he married Eva E., daughter
(if Benjamin F. and Kmily Popple of the city of I'assaic.
He is a member of the Passaic City Medical Society, the Pas-
saic Hospital staff. Ancient Order of United Workmen, Nation-
al Union, the North Kefornu'd Church, the Zeta Psi fraternity,
Theta Nu Epsilon Society, and in politics is a Republican.
\\liile at college he was a member of the coiiegi- football
ell ven and the baseball team for three years, and held nu-
nu rous offices, among which are the following: Prt-sident, vice-
pri sident and .secretary of his class, president of the College
.\lhletic As.sociation, president of the Eucleian Literary So-
ciety, director of the Zeta Psi Banjo and Mandolin Club. He
is the son jf Dr. Cornelius Van Riper and .Vdrianna Terhune
\ an Riper. The wife of the subject of this sketch died March
.'ill, is'.llt, after a brief illness of four days. For family history
sec sketch "t lite uf Dr. C. \an Riper.
JOHN TEKHUNE VAX RIPER, the subje<t of this
sketch, is the son of Dr. Cnriu-lius Van RiiM'r and .Vdriaiina
Terhune Van Riper (dieil December U, 18031, ami a grandson
of the late ex-Judge John N. Terhune, and was born on the
20th day of April, 1872, in the city of Passaic, where he has
resided since his birth. He received his early education in
the I'assiuc public schools, but in 1880 entered Dr. MacChes-
ney's Pater.son Classical Institute, and began a course of
classical study preparatory to entering college. In September,
l.«90, he entered the class of "04 at Yale University, but .short-
ly after the beginning of the term was compelled to return
home ou account of sickness, and iu October of the same
year entered the University of the City of ^ew York (now-
New York University), and after pursuing a four years'
206
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
course received the degree of A. B. from that institution in
June, 1894. By comlilning the last year's work of the collegi-
ate course with the first year's work of the New York Uni-
versity Law School course, he received the degree of I^L. B.
in June, 1895, from the Xew I'ork University Law School.
While at college he held the oflices of president and vice-
president of the New York University Atliletic Associaliim,
class vice-president (two years), class treasurer and secretary
of the "University Quarterly." He is a nieniher of the Zeta
I'si fraternity, Theta Nu Epsiloo Society. Passaic Cluli and
Young Men's Christian Association of I'assaic lii April.
1.S97. ho was elected for three years as School Couiuiissicmer
of the Second Ward of the city of Passaic. In June, 1897,
he entere«l the law office of Thoni,a.s II. Moore, Esij., of I'as-
saic, and in June, 1,897, was admitted to the Bar of the
S(ate of New Jersey as an Attorney-at-Law and a Sulicilm- in
Chancery. In his political preferences he is a Uepublicau.
He is also a member of the North Refornu'd Church of Pas-
saic. On June 0. 1899. he was married to Edith Hope Hart,
daughter of Colonel Benjamin F. and Emeline A. McDowell
Hart. .)f IIoliid<en. For family history see sketch of life of
I >r. ('. \'an Itiper.
CrSTAX' W. IWLSTROM. manufacturer, was born at
.Vrliiiga. !<\vi(lcii. September 29, 1.845. He received a fair edu-
<i:tiiin in the s<ho(>ls of liis native place, after which he was
apiirenliced as a metal' w<>rker, serving for seven years. In
l.S(j9. after spending two years in Stockholm, he decided to
loiate in America. It was in that year he came to Passaic,
where he has since resided. During the first five years of his
risidence here he was ( n gaged in the metal working business
alone. In 1874 Mr. Levi Aldous became associated with him
as a partner, the partnership continuing for one year, Mr.
.Mdous disposing of his interest to Mr. Peter ToriHivist. Mr.
I'alstrom <'ontinneil the latter (S)nnection until lS9(j. when
.Mr. Torni|vist -elired, and the establislimeiit was incorporated
under the name of the Falstrom & Torncivist Company, of
whiih Mr. Kalstrom is now presidi nt. Tln' concern is one
or the largest of its kind in New Jersey, and <loes business in
all [i.-irls of the country. To Mr. Falstrom Passaic owes
iiMich for the develoiimi iit of the liusiness portion of the city.
He has erected .i 'iiiniher of the best business structures in
llie city, among wliicli are the Falstrom building. located at
■JK! Main avenue, several blocks on Passaic street and dwell-
ings in various parts of the city. Mr. Falstrom hims<>lf re-
sides ill one of tlie hand.soinest houses that I'assaic can boast
of. locatetl at No. 270 Pennington avenue. Jlr. Falstrom has
for several years been on the Board of Directors of the Mu-
tual Loan and Building Association. He is also a director
of the People's Bank and of the newly organized North .\ew
.lersey Title and Guarantee Comjiany. In the exciting elec-
tions of 1S92 he was one of four candidates elected as Excise
Ciiiiiiiissicuier, and served until the County Board got the
CI nlrol of granting li<iMises. Ever since its organization Mr.
I'alslrom has bi'cn one of the trustt>es of the Baptist Cluir<h
(Mr. Pratt's). When the new edifice was erected he was one
of the active workers and a liberal contributor to tlie building
lend. .\rier the <lestruclion of the old church by fire and
the erecli 111 of the new church was begun, the entire detail
ill connection with its construction was placed in Mr. Fal-
strom's hands. Mr. Falstrom is a self-made man, who lias
g.'iined iiis present state of alHueiice i-ntirely thron;:li his own
efforts. He is pullic : piritecl and charil.nble to a degree, but
at the same lime he is a <|iiiel dislruliiilor of more gifts to
worthy objects than the averi;;e man if twice his wealth; and.
while he prefers to keep his benevolence secret, it is well known
that no worthy cause is ever presented to him with a reiiuest
'or help that does not receive a |>rompt and liberal response.
Mr. Falstrom is unmarriei, and is popular soiially and other-
wise. Although Mr. Falstrom was the first of his immediate
family to set foot on American soil, he was by no means the
first of that line, as .Jacob Falstrom, an uncle to Mr. Fal-
strom's father, settled in Minnesota, near Fort Snelling, in
1.S25. He is supjiosed to have been the first Swede to settle
in that State. His motive for so doing may be related in the
following account: When but a young lad, like many other
Milvintnrous youths. .Tacob longed to go to .«ea. At last,
llirouf;li his many entreaties, he obtained permission to make
n voyage with his uncle, a sea captain, who was goins to sail
across the Atlantic to Hudson Bay. At one of the places
where they stopped, FalstroJi wandered away into the w-oods
and was lost. After nine days' search, however, he was found,
but so exhausted that his uncle deemed it best to leave him
behind, as a long sea voyage in his precarious condition would
do him more harm than good. .Vnd so, without frienil or rela-
tive, he took up his abode with a trusted family in Canada.
While there his eagerness for languages wf.s soon apparent, as
he (juickly mastered English and French, besides the lan-
guages of several Indian tribes, viz.. Iroquois. Chippewa and
Sionx. .Vfter his recovery Jacub likeil th" new and wild
country so much that he put away all thouRhts of returning
to his fath'"'land. He afterward becan e connected with the
American Fur Company, then doing some tradins with the
Chippewa Indians at the north of Lake Superior. On Vugust
IG, 1837. we find his name, among others, affixed to a petition
s?nt to Pn-sident Van Buren, asking him to grant them, the
settlers, certain privileges about Fort Snelling. Falstrom is
s.'iid to have had great infliienee with the Chippewa Indians
and to have checked many threatening outbreaks, one well-
ki-own inst.ance being when a band of 400 Chippewa Indians
sailed up the St. Croix Kiver on a fif:hting expedition. On
the way up they met Falstrom in a small caniM-. He per-
suaded them to return, and thus averted what woubl have been
a dangerous outbreak. In 1841 Falstroiu moved to Washing-
ton County, and cultivated some land where now stands
.\fton (Swedish), the English interpretation meaning Evening.
He also had a claim of eighty acres where St. Paul is now
built. But the poor value of the land for agricultural purposes
induced him to relinquish it. It was partly his desire for
such .a life as the foregoing, and partly his desire for the
sea. which led Mr. I'alstrom to come to America in 1809.
In August, 1.S99, the Falstrom & Torncivist Company removed
from their old quartiis. in Ann street, to their new [ilace of
business, corner of Elm and Monroe streets.
I;EI?MAX SCHULTING, deceased, was born near Hano-
ver, fkrmany. in 181 0. His father was a farmer by occupa-
tion. o\M'ing his own land: he was also a blacksmith by trade,
which he fidloweil at irre^xnlar intervals, doing the smithy
business in his immediate neighborhood. Xt the age of thirteen
the subject of this sketch left his own himie and started out
t'> earn bis own living, at that early agi> imbued witn that
indciieudence which was a peculiarity throughout his life. He
went to Holland, where he secured a position as a clerk in a
doth house, where he remained for some time. Hav'ug de
ciilcd to emigrate to America, he resigned his position, and
retiirr.ed to his home for a short iK>riod. He had by economy
.'uid hard wi.rk smvimI enough froiu his earnings each week to
b.iri'ly I'.efi'ay liis expenses to the United States. He left
II;ivre. Iraiice, in a sailing vessel, and, after a long and te-
dious voya;re. landed in New York with lUily ten dollars in his
pocket. He was about twenty-five years of age at that time,
ami. with only a recommendation from his former employer,
vouching for iiis honesty and reliability, ami his thorough
knowledge of the cloth business, he at once sought a position.
He went to an old cloth firm— Upson & Piersou — who imniedi-
WILLIAM MALCOLM.
bOLOMON M. SCHATZKIN.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
209
jitoly onpiisi'il liiiii. ami witli wlioni he reuiiiiiicil uiilil Mr.
Pierson save him credit to purchase goods on his own account,
I)eoause of his superior judgment and trnstworlliiness. His
i:ext venture was that ot selling goods on -•oniiiiission, after
which ho leased a basement storeroom at Xo. 157 William
street, New York City. So rapidly did his business increase
that he found it necessary to enlarge his premises. He leased
the entire building, and subsequently the one adjoining. In
a short space of time he leased two additional stores, ami
Iiurchased 'he original buiMing (No. l.">7l. wh-re his family re-
sided in the upper apartments foi- twenty years. Mr. Schnlt-
ing was always known ami .-.pukMi of :is ■■|lic I'.-illior of the
cloth trade" in this country. He died April 7, 1.S82. At the
time of his funeral, April 10, more than twenty-five cloth tirms
were represented at his funeral, ani all the cloth houses in
New York dosed iln'ir cslahlislimcnls during the obsequies.
Mr. Schulting possessed a wonderful memory. He did an
Jinnual business of .f;.3.rMX),0(»0. He has si>ld .-is much as .$.S,000
worth of goods in a single day at retail, and has kept the
receipts in his head so ac-urately that when the cash book
was footed ip at the end of the day he >Aonld be correct to a
cent. The accuracy of his head work was the general and not
the exceptional case. Jl.iny young men now engaged in tlie
cloth trade owe their start to Mr. Schulting. He never forgot an
honest clerk, and as a rule he always furnished the capital with
which they were eiialded to embark in business on their own
account. In August. ISCS, Mr. Schulting selected Passaic
as a permanent home. Ili' resided continuously here uniil
the time of his death. He was an c.\tensi\(' real estate owner
and did mucii toward improving the city. In March. 1,S.">(1.
Mr. Schulting married Miss Ruth A. Bennett of Hellevali',
Orange County, N. Y., to whom seven cbildre:i were l)orn. two
of whom are deceased, both of whom bore the nanu' of (iene-
vieve. The living children are Enana, Bertha (now Jlrs. Mar-
elis of m.S Sherman .street), Herman. Louis and Edna. On
September 14. 1.S1I7, Mrs. Schulting, the widow of our sub-
ject, pa.ssed away. Th,' remaining members of the family .still
reside at tlie olil homestead. No. 284 Bicomlield avenue. The
life of Hi'rm.'in Schulting is an c.\iimple of what can lie ac-
complished by any young m.-in who endeavors to m.ike bis
wa.v in the worlil. always keeping uppermost in his thoughts
honesty and truthfulness, two traits cardinal in the life of
Mr. Schulting. It is said that he was never known to tell
a falsehood, and any misrepresentation on the part of an
employee meant immediate ilismissal. .Mr. Siliulting was
purely a self-made man. At the time of his death the family
was the recipient of a handsome set of engrossed resolutions
julopted at a meting of the cloth houses in New York.
.!.\.Mi:S BllYt'K was born at (JIasgow, Scotland, I)ei-em-
1 ir -. 1S()2. In 1.S73 he came with his parents to America.
In ]87."> they settled in Passaic. He secure<l his education in
the public schools of this city, graduating from the High School
in 1878. His first and only jilace of employnu^nt has been the
Ileid iK; Barry Print Works. I'rom 187".l to the present time he
has been their intelligent, faithful and trustiMl employee, as is
■■vinced by his appointment as resident manager of the ISeid
.V Barry brancli of the L'nited States Finishing Company, this
city. .\lr. r.r.v ic is a nu'ndier of the Presbyterian Church;
also, lie is a nieniuer of the Passaic Club. In politics he is a
Itepublican. Uoes not seek office. He bends his mind to
(un> thing -business. He is a man of genial temperament and
• luiel ways. Mr. Bryco was m.irried. April 11, 1.S9:!, to -Ma-
tilda Louise IJosz, of this city.
FRANK CAZENOVE JONES, Manufacturer, was born
in Washington, D. C, June 14, 1857, son of Edward Stanis-
laus and Eliza Gardner tllenderson) Jones, and grandson of
Commodore Jacob Jones. Edward S. Jones was a first lieu-
tenant in the Pnited States Marine Corps, tut rosigned about
the age of thirty, after his marriage, and spent the rest of
his life on a plantation on the eastern shore of Maryland.
He wa.s with Commo<Iori> Perry when that officer visite<l Japan
with the T'nited States fleet, and by his diplomacy oiK>ned
the forts of that kingdom to rr)reign connnerce. Commodore
Jacob .Tones, one of the herws of the war of 1.S12. commanded
iIk' Wasp, and by his coolness an<l i>ravery won his victory
over the British frigate Frolic in 43 niinnfe.s. by ordering his
men to fire only when the Wn.sp was on the crest of the
wave, and thus conquered his mmli more powerful fo.-. Later
ho connnanded the Mcliterranean squadron that hund.led the
Hey of Algiers: served his country fifty-three years. an<l at
the time of his death was senior oflicer of the United Slates
Navy. He was brought up by his sfep-motl.^r, Penelope Holt
Jones, a gran.Idaughfer of Chief Justi.'O Holt, who was one
of the greatest Chief JiLsiices England has ever had. Commo-
dore Jacob Jones considered all he ever accomplished was due
lo his step-mother's training. Frank Cazenove Jones' nm-
lernal grandfather was General Archibald Hen.lcrson, whose
title was won by his valor during the Florida war, for which
he volunteered his services and that of the .Marine Corps.
He also commamled the marines or. board the Ciiited States
frigate Constitution when she captured the nnire |(owerfnl Brit-
ish frigate Guerriere. and for forty years was Commandant
of the l'nited States Marine Corps in Washington. .Mr.
.loiu's' first relative of Henderson fame in the Unitcil Slates
was Alexander Henderson, a man of large wealth, member
"I the H.iuse of Burgesses before the Revolution, chjiirman
el I he (lumber of Commerce in 1787, verj- intimate friend of
(Jeneral Washington and associated with him in determining
the boundary line between Virginia and .M.-iryland. He is also
iciated to Alexaniler Henderson, one of the greatest men in
the history of Scotland, and, next to Knox, certainly the most
famons of Sci>ttish ecclesiastics. By iieans of the "Solemn
League and Covenant" Henderson has also had an extraor-
dinary influence on the history of Great Britain. (Sec Emy-
clopaedia Brit.-innica, Ninth lOdition. American reprint, Vol-
mne XI.) Mr. Jones' great-grandfather, Anthony Charles de
Cazenove, was a financier, and one of the directors of the
l'nited States Bank, and with his friend, Mr. Albert Gallatin.
w.is the first to ciirry a millstone across the Alleghanics. He
I'siablished glass works in Union Town, Penn., and through
him -Mr. Jones is descended from the oldest French nobility,
dating back further than the time of St. Ix>uis, King of
••'ranee-: also from the French Huguenots: from a number ot
the most distinguished statesmen and rulers ot Geneva,
Switzerland, 'vho during the middle ages kept that city from
the power of Savoy, .\mongst them was the brother ot Ad-
miral Le F'ort, who lielped Peter the Great to build his navy,
reorganize the army, and was the most influential man at the
Court of Russia. The Czar thought so n.nch of Admiral Le
Fort he had him borne oa a chariot in the shape of a marine
shell and walked behind him during the triumphal entr.v into
the town of Azof. (See the American Cyclopaedia, editeil by
George Ripley & C. A. Dane, D. Appleton & Co., Volume X.)
Mr. .Toites is also related to Theophilns de Cazenove, founder
of Cazeuovia and Geneva, N. Y. Mr. .lones passed his boyhood
on a plantation, where he had the advantages ot an outdoor
life, which always broadens a child's mind. He was ever fond
of shooting and hunting, and these exercises gave him a strong
<■< nstitution and (piickened his perception, so that what ap-
peared to be pastimes merely were, in tnith, a preparation
for the duties ot after years. Through his father there came
to him a combination ot Welsh and English blood, and through
his mother of Scotch, French, Hngnenot and Swiss blood, re-
sidting in the possession by him ot enduring perseverance: a
210 THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
.l.l.-iiniiiation iicvpr to jrivp up iifti-r uiidi-rtiiliiiif,' iiiiythiii!;. "o siin-i-ior. lU- lias :ihv:iys iound this i.ulic.v thr ln-st imv.
ii::ittcr how niifavi>i-!il)li' the circmnstaines wero. He was eare- vhctlu'i- In- was hamllins a gaiijr of rough foreiguors in <mi-
fully Iraiiiol by a ilevotoii iiiotlicr and a father who was a j;iiie<'nim work, or carrying mi l:ii^'o tiiiamial nesotiatioiis
lyi.iial olil-tiiiie. coiiiilry t'entlemaii: Init as soon as he was with liaiikers. Mr. Jon -s is ;i nn'inlur ..f tlic Di'lta Kappa
..111 enough to l(e;.-iii stiidyin:: h«> had a private tutor. I.ater Kpslloii fra'eruity. Chapter of the liiivi rsity of Virginia: of
on hi- .>pent two .years in llie Kpis<-opal High School near tlie Colonial. New Yi>rk Athletic, Engineers" and I.awyers"
-Vle.xandvia. V:i.. one of the hest boarding schools in the clubs, nil of New York city, and of the American Society of
Sl:ite. and next look a collegiate course at the T'niversity of llechaiiical Engineers. He was married at Wellcsley. Mass..
Virginia, il Charlottsville. Having always been fond of .hue 14. ISS:!. t.i his cousin, ll.nrici Cnxiiiov.. l.aiiKir.
nialheinatics and scientiti<- studies, he |>ursued them diligently ib lighter of ("iiz:iway Hugg I.-iniar :ind Harriet Ca/.eiiove La-
al s<-liool .'iinl college anil during his engnu-ering career, and mar. C H. I.aniar. a native of Ceorgia. was of Spanisli.
has found iheni of great assistance in his businews career. French. Huguenot. No.-iuan. Welsh and English descent. He
• 'oinpleting his academic course tit the university, he entered w:is a cousin of Miral«'an H. Lamar, second I'lesident of Texas.
Ih< Stevens Institute at Ilobidieii. N. .1. There he took a and of .Instice T,. tj. C. I.aniar. of the United States Supreme
course in mechanical engineering, and in ISTS he was gradu- t'ourt. and grandfather of Henry Cumming Lamar, the athlete
aled with the ilegreo of M. K. He iuunedintely iiitired the of Princeton College. .Mr. (!. K. Lamar was a descendant of
Halilwin Locomotive Works in I'hiladelpliia. I'l ini., working Captain Sherwood Bugg and Edmund Bugg of Georgia, who
in Ihi' m.ichine shops at first for ,i dollar a day. and becoming fought in the .\merican Uevolution (see White's "History of
e." pert as a draughtsmau as well as a ni,icliinist. Einding (Jeorgia"!. and of ihe brilliant and eloqniut colonial leader,
the chances of promotion slow, he left, and aciepled a imsition Nathaniel Hacoii. "ho was tli" tiist man in .Vmerica to
as assistant engineer in the Delawaiv Bridge Company, and raise his sword for lilicity, and that in HiTli, a hundred years
was some time in Kansas, overseeing the erection of bridges before Washinglon. -Mr. Lamar, after, residing in .\ugusta
along the route of llie St. Louis and San Francisco Kailroad. .and Sav.inii.ili. rmiovi'il lo New York city, and was one d'
He then returned to the Kasl, .and tiwdi chaige of the com- the ronmh-is of Ihc .National Bank nl the Kcpnblic and its
paiiy's oHices at the works of the New .liM-sey Steel .and lirsl pr.'sideiir. .\lthongh lie was opposed to secession, he
Iron Company. Trenton. N. .1.. but about two years later ai- ri turned to the South soon .afler the outbreak of the Civil
cepteil a pusiliou with Ihe New York Belting and Packing War, believing it |o lie his duty to follow his luitive State.
Company. He remained with this company for more tli.an Before leaving, howevir, and while acting as president pro
leii years, and during that ]>erioil aided in the negotiations tem. of the bank, ho was inslrument.al in saving the credit of
of capitalizing il as an English company, visiting Lonilon for tlic rnited States ( b.vernment. Some Co^ erniucnl bonds.
ll':it pnriios,'. He also had charge of all three of the fjii- l,,-!,! niosily in Europe, were due on a .Monilay. and I here were
lories: built one at Newtown. Conn.. ei|uip,iei1 with machinery no funds to pay them with. L.ale th • Saliiiday afternoon pre-
Ihe factory at Passaic, and gained a ihoiough knowledge of \ii ns Mr. ,Iohu Cisco, .\ssisl.aii1 Seirnaiy of tin- Treasury,
the mechanical rubber business. He also built and ei|uipped kiiil the ni.aner before .Mr. Lini.ai'. and urged liiui in obi.iin the
,1 Lirge factory lor the maiinfacture of insulated wire for u'oru.v . .\li. Lamar wcuked hard lo get together ,i meeting
ihe Okonite Company, one of :he leading producers of lh.it ,,i il,,' liaiik presidents, and succeeded in raising that same
slajde in this country, .iiul again visited England to aid in iveiiing ihe necessary funds to sustain the financial credit of
capitalizing il as an English company. In IS',!.", he resigned i|„, (Jovornmenf, although it would li,ive been greatly to his
his position, and organized the .M;inli,alt.aM Kuld.er .\lauufac- |i,.rsonal interests to li.ave liad tlie crcdi; of the I'niied Stales
tnriug Comp:iny. breaking ground for their factory in Sep- ( J.vorniuenI injured .iust .al the bigiiniing of hostilities be-
leinber. IS'.I.".. in the midst of a panic so severe Ih.il a Phila- iwceu the .North and South. .Mr. and .Mrs. .loues h.ave one
di Iphia bank draft was no good in .New Yoi k. He is the son and iw.i daiiuhlers.
jiiisident and general manager of lliis company, and from llie
start il has been highly successful, in<-rease of linsiiu'ss ne SOLO.MON .M. SCII.\T/.KIN was b.un. in \Sr,r,. in the
cessitating the enlargement of the factory several times. In Province ,if .Minsk. Uiissia. He re. eive.l a pretty g 1 edii-
the summer of bSilo .Mr. .lones joined in establishing the New ration, partly in the public sihools ,,l liis native town, and
Yi rk Lnbric.aling Oil Comp:iny. for the maiinfacture and sale p.artly fioui private intius. The xoulh of Mr. Srhalzkin fell
of liiliric.aling oils, with olliccs .and w,irerooms in .New York, in a period when the ami Semitir fee ings and tlie pi-rsn ution<
Mid of this also he is president. In the winter of LS'.lT .Mr. of .lows ran highest ir ih- domains of the Czar, .and Mr.
,loiu's visited London. Paris ami ll.imbiug. (iermany, and Sclnitzkin w ;is one of the legion of men who rebclleil ag,iinsl
arranged for doing a large business in rubber and oil prodiiels, the intoleijible yoke of political pi rsei ution and social tyranny,
both in Europe and South .\fric.i. In addition, he has been Shaking off his fi'et the dust of what \\-' calls a "stepmotlierly
called ill to help with advice in Mnancial .and mannf,icluring land," he embarked for the hospitable shores of this country, in
natters for various companies, ,ind is chairman of the Execu- scirch of liberty and social eipialiiy. He arrived in New York
livi' Committee of the Iron Clad .Manufacturing Company. He s.ime fifteen years ago. linding himself in .a new and piculiai-
is also engaged in a general exporl business to the island of eevironmcMI. ignorant oT the i.inguage. lusloms and usages of
Clilia. being one of ihree to establish the fiini, which began the connny of his adopiion: with no friends or acquaintances
business i;i .\ugiisl. 1,S'.I,S. .Mr. .lones attributes his success in lo guide m- .assist him in the m>w life opened to him. de-
life to ihoioiigh preparation, hard work and perseverance, and void of ,all resources, except those of his energy and natural
perh.ips not less lo atlenlion to what he lernis the "per- .abilities. He st.ates lh.it he engaged in the struggle for ex-
s il ei|n:ilion" in business: thai is, the study of Ihe eliarai- istence with ji fi.'rei'iiess and intensity .is only those who have
(eristics of c-very one with whom he comes in contact in biisi- bieii in a ■^imil.ir position could appreciate. He led a life of
ness and the eiuploymein of an hoiior:ible diploiioicy in deal- h.ard work, misery I privation for several years, during
ing with men. In chiidh I he was Iraiue.t to beli'-ve that which time he spared no pains to study the language and tho
ll.c- propc'r deliiiition of the word "gentleman" is obtained by spirit of the country which henceforth wis to be his father-
ilividing the word, and reading It "gentle-man." and that one land. His dogged persevi'iance and iuielligeiii elToris at last
should tre.at an inferior with Ihe same court. 'sy shown to a g.iiiieij Iho d.iy. .^Lining with the very humble and little
^
CHARLES RIXTON.
ANDREW FOULDS, JB.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
213
i« iiiiiiui:i'iv<> liiisiiR'SS of rotailinj; coal to the ratlHT poor coii-
smiUTs on the cast side of Now YorU City, he soon sncioedcil
in devflopin;; his business into the magnitude of a eonimereinl
■ •Mtcriu-ise. lie nnifoi-nily aeiinired the eonfidon<'e of all with
whom his dealinjrs broMirlit liini into eontaet. But Mr. Sehatz-
kin's real sncoess dates from the time when he .'ibandoned
his eoal business for the more congenial occnpation of dealinj;
in real estate. Ilavinj; made a specialty of subnrban property,
he was brought, in the coiu'se of events, to localities near to the
city of Passaic. First, as the manager for tne New York
and New .Terse.\ Real Estate Improvement Company, and,
later on, on his own account, he commenced his enerRetic work
oi' (Icvelopini; and improvins the unimproved portions of the
boroushs of (Jarfield and Lodi. The growth and development
of ihese localities, under his skilful and enlcrprisinj; manage-
ment, are still a subject of admiration and wonder to all who
have watelieJ them. Nor does he stop there. He has in-
terests elsewhere. He is a director in the North .lersey Title
Guarantee Company. It is now about a year since Mr. Schatz-
kin removed from his beautiful home in Garfield and settled
in this city. He has greatly beaut itiert his residence, on the
corner of Bloomlield avenue and the Boulevard, b.v enlarging
and properly grading the? grounds. Mr. Schatzkin has already
become a f.amiliar figure in the rily. and his vigorous articles
in the daily papers on vital and up-to-ijate subjects reveal a
power to grasp the salient points of municipal affairs possessed
01. ly by the few. In politics he is not a strict partisan, hence
he is ou friendly terms with the leading spirits of both parties.
He is a member of the Acquackanonk Clnl>, the Vountakah
Club, the Board cf Trade and of the General Hospital -Vssocia-
tiou of the city of I'.'issaic: also, he is a member of the Aok-
wright Club of the city of New York. He is a mend)er of the
Hebrew Synagogue and is responsive to tlie calls of charity.
The following, copied from handsomely engrossed resolutions
received by him from the Board of Governors of our General
Hospital shouVl have a record here: —
"Resolved, That the profound thanks of this Board of
Governors, on behalf of the Passaic Hospital Association, be
tendered to Mr. Schatzkin for his very practical and most ac-
ceptable gift, viz., a "Sun-Parlor," titled up at the General
Hospital, and that a tablet, suitably inscribed, in commemora-
tion of the same, be placed upon it, and that an engrossed
co|)y of these resolutions be presented to the donor, Solomon
JI. Schatzkin, Esq.
"Joseph lloldsworth,
"President.
"E. B. Maynard, Secretary.
"Passaic. N. .1.. September 11, IS'.l'.l. "
Mr. Scliat/.kin is a gentleman of pleasing address; he is
landid and earnest in manner, and a good listener. He is easy
of approach and democratic in spirit. A good citizen. Russia's
less is our gain. Mr. Schatzkin was married early in life.
He is the happy father of three children: Abraham Henry,
Hynian and William.
CdU.NELIUS J. C.\1>.\H S, nlired. was horn at Passaic,
.N. .1.. April IG, 18J1I, where he atteridcd the public schools.
1- rum his boyhood he followed agricultural pursuits. He is
descended ou the paternal side from old Holland stock, while
on the maternal side from French. Some of his ancestors
served their country in the Revolutionary War. his great-grand-
father having been an officer and taken prisoner by the
English and co.ifined in a military prison in New York City.
A monument was subsequently erected in that city in memory
of the loyal prisoners. Mr. Cadmus has resided in Passaic and
vicinity his entire life. He has been very active in many public
enterprises, and has assisted in the organization of a number
"f the financial institutions, promment among which are the
Passaic National Bank, the People's Bank of Passaic, in which
he was a dir-x-tor for some time, and the Hackensack Bank, of
which he is at present one of the directors. Mr. Cadtnus was
marrii-<l, Ocloiier '2't. 1S.">, to Miss Uachael K. Ackermnn of
Hochelle Park. N. .1. Thre<> diildren have been born to Ihem—
one son and two daughters— all of whom are living. Politieally,
Mr. Cadmus is a stanch Republican. He has never held or
desiretl to hold any political |M>sitioi!, preferrmg the quiet of
his home life to the glamor of politics and the excitement con-
nectwi therewith. He is the owner of considerable real es-
tate and is considered ore of I'assaic's substantial citizens, and
is universally respected.
GILBERT I>. B()G.\KT. a jirime promoter of Passaic's
progress, and the founder of (Jarfield, was born in New York
City, M.irch 19, 1S40. Few men are better or more favorably
known in Passaic County. His indomitable will, his wonderful
business ability, his genius for trade in real estate, his sturdy
honesty, his willingness to lend a helping hand to the struggling
and the unfortunate, and his pleasant smile and cheering words
for all who chance to meet him, have secured to him abundant
.idmiration and good will, .\fter receiving a common sehoid
education, he gra|)pled with the problem of si-curiug a liveli
hood. He attempted farming and the liver.v bnsines.s, but
after having served his (•ountry by enlisting twice as a soldier
in the Civil War, he found himself associated with the late
C. McK. Paidison. as his foreman in the real estate business.
S( ou he took up this business on his own account, and when
the panic of 1873 caa-e, it was found that Mr. Bogart had
imilt more horses and stores and had sold more real estat--
than had the founder of Pas.saic himself. The panic above re-
ferred to nipped in the bud a most promising scheme, he ami
some others had wrought out, for the exploiting of the now
ambitious borough of Garfield. Eighty-seven acres of lanil had
been purchased and laid out in city hits; they had begun to
b'.:il(l and ^ell houses, when the closing of banks and the
shrinkage of securities ail over the land brought business to a
standstill, and the Garfield company was compelled to go
into bankruptcy. But seven years later on, after an experi-
ence in f.arming in Middlesex County, convincing himself that
he never could reach the goal of his ambition in that pursuit,
Mr. Bogart returned to the Garfield property, and repurchased
it, and to<dv up again the more profitable business of founding
a city. He built and sold over 2ij(» houses, and today Garfield
is a stirring borough of over 2..50O inhabitants, and Mr. Bogart
finds himself to be a nan of wealth. During all these years
of si)ecUiation in Garfield, he nmde his home there, and was
familiarly styled the "Mayor of Garfield." But totlay finds
him back again in Passaic, where be has built a palatial resi-
dence, on Lafayette avenue, near Pennington, greatly to the
delight of all his friends. In iH>litics -Mr. Bogart is a Repub-
lican, and was. in his early residence here, three times elected
to the City Council. When the Hon. William Walter Phelps
ri(ir<>d from Congress. Mr. Bogart was urged to accept the
ncminalion to succeed him: but he declined the honor. Mr.
Bogart was married. August 14. 18(12. to Agnes W. .Terolemon.
of Belleville (Rutherfordl. .\. .1. Six children were born to
them: Cornelius .1. (deceased). Agnes W. (deceased). Blanche
(deceased). Willard. (Jraie, who married Mr. George H. Blake-
ly of Paterson. N. .1.. and Bessie. Mrs. Bogart died February
.J. 1884. and Mr. Bogart subsequently married I>ella W..
daughter of Ralph Westervelt, of Newark, N. J., widow of
the late Garret Oldis of Passaic. Mr. Bogart's recognized
.ibility for managing important affairs has led to his election
as director in many i-ompanies, as follows: People's Bank and
Trust Company, Paterson Railway, and Orange and Passaic
\ alley Railway Companies, Saddle River Traction, National
214 THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Brick ami 'IVna Cutta luliiliaiiii'.s. Hiij.'ail Ili'l^lils Land Cniii- 1I<' ilicil at I'l'iisarola. Fli.riila. in lN4i;. llis si.ii U niiw
I.Hiiy. Mount Pleasaiit I^aiid Company. .Ni-w Ynik and .\i'\v .\>:sisla!it Diivctur (icncral in ilii' Mr.li.al I )(iiailniint at
.TiTscy Real Estate Iiiiprovcmcnt Company. .Mntnal I-oaii and Wasliin;;lon. D. C. .My fatlnr had .luoilici- lnDilnr. wIki was
Bnililin^' Assnciation. Camplx-ll and Moricll Company. .Vckcr- a physician, lie died in ISIS. ;ind aindliir. win. ua< a I'lcslpy-
n:an Woodwrnkins; Conijiany. New .lerscy 'Hllc (Jnarantcc tirian cjcriiyman. who died in l.S,S."i. I have socn my mother
Comjiaiiy. the (Jarlield Liiml Company, ami. hy a|ipointiniMit hitcheliiiK flax and spinnin;; flax and wind, and weaving cloth
li;. Ilie tJovcrimi-. one of the Boaril ol Manajjeis ami 'IVeasuivr for the family use. I havi' put hot water in the leach-tnh
of the New .I'Tsey Home for Disaldecl Soldiers. Sailors or Ma- when she used to make soap for washinjr clothes and for the
rim-s ami their wives, at \'inidand. Of the following! imnpanies family to wash their hamis ami faces with. .^Iso. 1 liave liiniietl
he is nre.siilent: Thc> Saddle Uiver Traction (,'ompany. the .\a- ci rn-cidis fur tin- piirpcise of makinj.' saleratns. 1 havi' helped
tirii.-il Brick and Terra Cotta Company, the Bojiart Ileijrhts my mollnj !•< dip candles— ten nn ,i rc.d-f.ir winter nse. Sin-
and Mount I'lea.sanl I.aml Companies. .VIso. he is oih> of the mnkIo a Inli of apple sance and two liarrels of soap; and my
p.vernors of I'ass.iie (Jeneral Hospital. father piil duwn a harnd nf purU and a liarnd of ln'cf in the
fall fiM' winter nse. M\" fathei" nsi-d tu p) to work in the
l,i;\'l II. .VI.I'IO.V was lidiii on .lann.irx 1. 1S2."> ilhi' sliop al •"> ci'ilock in the morninj;. and work until 'J o'clock in
Minn^'i'st of three sons; no daii>,'hlers in the familyl. at ilie evening; during the week. He made all his horseshoe
Wimlh.'im. (ireeno County. N. Y. His father. I^evi H. .\lden. nails and all his hmseshoes, splittinjr a liar of iron to make
Sr.. was horn at Wareham. .Mass.. .\n}.'nst 2.S. 17!l."!. and was the same. The toe-corks he made from a larfie har of Knslish
of the sixth feneration from .lohn .Mden. who was Imrn in Idister steed. The price for a new shoe was 2.") (ents: for cork-
Kn;;hind in l.V.lT. ami landed fmni the .M.i vtlowiT :ii I'lviniiHlli in;.' and selling'. '■> cents; f.ir setting', li'j cents. An cild maid
Uock. .Mass.. in lii'id. Nearly ail of tlie rianie at .\lden in in the nei^'hlimli 1 nieasnred lis and cut our clothes; mother
.\merica ari' descendeil from .lohn .\lden of thi' .Maytlower. made Iheni up. Wlieii old eiioiitdi. 1 was sent to the ilistrici
The father of the sniiject of this narrative was a lilacksniith. school. Hacli pareiil laiil for the nnmlier of days his <hil-
and his jjramlfather. Kliah .\lden, was a soldier in the Uevo- drcn att-.-nded. and iiiiiiisheii liis share of fuel. The teacher
liitionary war thrive years, and for these three years' service hoarded around. The S(lioolroom was heateil hy means of a
lie was paid, in Continental money, a sum which. I am tidd. he stove thai >voiild ludd. or take in. four-foot wood. The small
paiil for a stoidi. such as they wore ahout the ne<k in those children sat on lunches around the stove. The seats had no
days, of so little value was that currency at that timel Not hacks. There would he a male teacher in the winter and a
miodi was done in meiai-castin^' in my f.ither's day. -Ml lem.ale teac'e'r in the suinniei-. Sonutiines the teacher and
plowshares, chains and axes were made hy tile hl.acksmit h. I he ohlcr hoys wouhl liave a Htiht! The stove .-iiiil hciuhes
.Not always having' work in his slnip. for llie inliahilants were woulil l>e lunied over! But. if 1 L'ot .i whipping' at si IhmiI. .ind
few. my father inaile l«rii-ks. IcMiiperint' the clay in a pit. with ley father fouml it out, he '_'ave me a ^oiid whippin;.'. which
a yoke of cattle, and putlini; the (Lay in the nndds hy liaiid. ilid lue iio harm. W'c liad Iwo days' company drilliiiL' in each
a man carryiiif; each mold ami diinipin^ it on the yard. Not t( wn or lownsliip eacdi year ami a general trainiuj;. at wliii-li
only did he make liricks. hut he also did mason work. The all soldiers in all the townships ill the county iiathereil. This
year 1 was horn he luiilt a two-story hriek lionsi'. .\ small was a m-neral holiday for all the people in the connt.v. I'eddlers
miirlde sl.ali set in the front showed th:> date to he Octohcr fioni diflereiit states attended and sidd their wares. On siudi
.S. 1,S"_'.">. My Ki'eat-^'randfalhi'r on my niorher's siile cul a a d:iy my father would ,i.'ive me -'< cents to spi'ud. That was
road from Calskill lo \\'indhaiii. a distance of L'S miles from as much lo me then as a tlioiisand dollars would he to
Ihi- .North Itiver. and there Imill a lo;; house. Hi' was in the me loda,\. I w.mlil purchase a card of ;.'in;.'erhn'ad. .-i plate of
Krencli and Indian war, also in tln' Kevoliitionary war. Four pickled ilaius, a vial of winteijireen essence, a lead pencil, a
of his hoys were with hiiii in this work. This done, he re p;iir of w.iodeii pocket conilis. etc. 'nn-re would lie sweat-
turned to Cimnectieiit for his family, lie vid them in a hoards with six tif.'iires. ou which you cmihl put your money, if
liimher waj,'on. with a yoke i>f cattle, Imt hy ihe time hi' yon wished to try your luck at a ;;ame id' cliauce. The man-
got back to Windham the Indians had lorn down his loy a;;er would throw the dice into a eilii. and if the iiumher came
lieusel So he had to put up another. I rememlier seein;; hiiii up the same as that upon which your money was placed, you
when I was .a hoy. His son. iny jirandfalher, had a farm and w dji. .\t our L'eiierai training; a mail had a loulelte lalde. the
store; he made potash, kept a tavern and hail a hlacksniiih fust 1 ever saw. I had two pennies left, so I put mi a penny
.sl.op; also, he was a (Jeiieral in the War of ISIL'. Three of his ;ind won .".O pence. The next tiling' 1 knew I had losi .ill 1 had!
Ill others kept taverns. .\!l had farms, kept stores and made 'i'hat was the last and only time I ever gauihled. except throw-
in lash. Two of Ihein had ilislilleries. For a liiishel of ashes ing pennies into a hat for chiikens and turkeys. The year
tlcy paid lli;/. cents. All the people had lar«e tireidaces. hum- 1>'4(I-41 my fathi'r sent me to an academy in Delhi, in the ail-
ing cord-Wood. Of this there was aliundaiice. They were glad joiniii!; county. Nearly every county liililt a log cahin the
to gel rid of it. In clearing their land all the wood had to ye;ir General William Henry Harrison was elected I'resideul.
he hurued off. -My father, aftir learning his trade, went to .\t the close of my lirst term at Hellii .Vcademy I returned
\\ imlhain and hired out lo work for (Jeneral (Jehiel Tiillle. hiiiie for ihe vacation. Coaches-aud-foiir ran, .it llial lime.
and afterward married llis eldest daughter, while working for tioni Calskill lo liliac-i. through Delhi, laiiying the mail,
him. He was drafted in the War of IMJ; he look his Idaiiket They h.ft Delhi at midnight. .\s il made me sick to ride in-
and sl.-iited for Long Island, whither he had heeii ordered to side. I got on with the driver. There were three passengers
reporl, al .i point near the .Navy Yard. lie was made an inside. Bef.ire we got out of I leliii ihe driver fell asleep and
Knsigii. ill ISUt. by Daniel D. Tomkiiis. (ioveriior. 1 possess droiiped the lines! He had heeii out with a liiinordealer the
the epaulets he wore. His father ii.sed to keep a store in day before. I picked up the lines and drove, seven miles, to
.Massaehnsells. and he built vessels. 1 possess an account book the next iM>.stoMice. Here the driver woke up and drove to
of his. of the dale of 17(MI. where I lind he sold more gill the next stage house. .\fler leaving Delhi my father hiri'il
than ealieo. He came to Cairo, (ireeiie Cnuiiiy. N. Y.. and m.. out l le Hardenbiirg. a general nienhaiit al Calskill.
purchased a farm. .My father's brother. Charles, went as a the coiuity seat of (Jreeiie County at that time. -V railroad
dniiiiiner boy in the War of 1-S12. He afterward becanw :in had been built from Schenectady to Catskill, where, for the
Kpisi opal clergyman, and was apiioiuted chaplain in the Navy. tiisl time. I saw a loeomolive. It was soon thrown aside, how-
ELIEZER COBB TAYLOR.
/
MARY MATILDA TAYLOR.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
217
('\pr. illid Ileuses were used. 1 wiis to miiiiiii lliiur yuiiis Willi
tliis miTcliiiiit. The hrst yriu- I was to iiMoivc !f2r> anil hcianl:
tlio next. $."i(l ami Imaiil: tlic third, .year. .$7."i ami lioard. Ili'
(■l!iiiii(.>d to lif a Cliiistiaii and liad stock in llic liaiik iIuti . and
was a inriidii'r of tlit' Diitili Ki'foiincd Cluifrli. Mr ilid very
littlo Imsim-ss in the stoii'. and wonid swonr liki- a |>irat<',
so I oiil.v stijcd with him two wwks. My hrothcr, .Iiilins. was
a drover, and came (o Catskill to draw money from tlie hank
to purchase eattlc. I went hiiine with him. A[ that time al!
the cattle and sheep were driven from the West to the North
River, then shipped in lioats for New York City. In the
same way lai^e Hocks of turkeys were hrotmht on from tlic
West. When lironght to New York, the sheep were ki'iit at the
foot of what is now Park Kow, and the cattle at the upper
end of the Kowiiy. rnadiilteiated whiskey was sold for 2.S
cents a gallon. No hcer in this country at that time. My
fi'.ther had sold the tools in the shop to Daniel Tiittle. who had
workeil for him many years, and whose seeend son l.ccainc
an Kpiscoiial Bishop. My fallnr had purchased a farm, so
I lemained home and helped him, tending a saw mill he hail
rtnted in the winter. \l thai time hemlock lumher sold
in (""atskill for iSS per M.. and it took two days to go there
and hack. One winter my father made sawn hemlock shini^les.
I I'Uiicheil them al ni;;hts. .\iiolher winter he made matches, in
cards. I used to help pack them after school. \t first they
sold for I'tl shilliiifis (.'i!2.,jO) a gross, nie price fell to ."> shillings.
Then he ipiit mak'iig them. He often made more money in
the wiiili r lliaii he did in the summer on the farm, and ii
was lieltci fill- his liuys to lie keiit liusy. .My father's next
neighhor w:is a tavern; hut it was no place for him. He was
Justice of the Peace for 25 .vears and kept the iinlilic school
library. This library was quite an extensive .ifl'air. It was
afterward sold. I have some of the hooks now in my pos-
session. Father took a weekly paper, published in Alli.iny: he
also took Ilariier's Masaziiie, when first priniiil. He was after-
ward appointed one of the .ludses in the ('uiinly ('iiiin by
Govern. ir William H. Seward. I have thi' commission he re-
el ived. It is dated February 7, lS4(i. These were some of
our advantages. 1 have boiled maple sap all night in the
woods. My father again hired me out: this time to a linn in
Prattsville, for my board. I slept in the store ami made my
own bed. The postotlice was in the store. I boarded with
(Pile of the tiriii. Twii iif the linn owned the largest tannery
in the I'liiteil States, The store supplied all the goods for
the ciMpliyces. 1 measured the bark that came in by teams,
-Vll the beef and pork came in from the West, It was cut up
and packed dowii in the store. Most of the Irish in the coun-
try worked in tanneries. There were no Uoman Catholic
churches in the country. Their children attended the coiumon
schools, and liecame some of our best citizens. Some, who
drank too much, would rap on my window where I slept Sun-
day inuniings, and wmild want to borrow two shillings. They
always paid it back. 1 drew up a temin-rance pledge that
winter, and most of the Irish signed it. 1 headed the list, and
it was the only one 1 ever signed. That winter there was a
dancing school in the public house, which stood next to the
store. The store firm gave me the income from the hay scales:
this paid my tuition in the dancing school. We took turns
going after girls and taking them home. We paiil two dollars
a night for a team and long sleigh. I never got drunk and 1
never used profane language in my life— a common thing in
those days, a habit, like all other bad habits. 1 stayed at
Prattsville but six months, nie partner wiih «h..iii I l.oanlid
had a nei)hew, who wanted my place. I had pun based the
cloth for an overcoat and tiie trimmings, all amounting to $i:!.
They gave me that. One partner was a County ,Iudge. So.
afterward, wh"n he would have to go to court, he would send
for me to coinc and lulii in the store, .\fter heliiing my father
in the haying lime and the full coming on. I commenced plan-
ing haml-bellows boards fur a man by the name of MnttheWK.
I reci'ive.l a certain sum imt doz<'ii. M> predei^esKor earned 7."
eel IS a dav. I worked harder and made a dollar a day. Then
my employer cut i lown per dozen, so that I conM oidy
make 'Tt cents per day. I worked hiirdi-r and longer and got
up to a dollar i day again. .Vgaiii he cut the prin* |ht ilozeii!
Then I i|uit. In the winti-r my brother Julius and n man of
I'le nime of Sopi'r, who maile lather Inixes in the same shop
in which my father maile shinL'le> and matches: also, where
.Matthews had made hand-bellows boards ami button molds,
went into partiierslii|i, W<' hired a saw mill and a man to cnl
hard maple logs, Julius tended the saw mill, Soiht cut out
the boxes in the roui:li. I. with hired Ihivs, Turned and finished
them up. 1 have iiirned unt :>■'> dozen in a day by working
till 10 o'clock p. in. We lost two klll-drycrs fidl of hard maple
b.\ lire. The building we put n|i was a cheap one, and we
had but ,111 old sh'-'et-iron pipe in which to build a fire. We
sold 2(MI dozen lallier boxes for l.S cents a ilozeii. They were
varnished, and loiiking-glass<-s were put in them. We had to
cut these glasses out of large looking-ghisses, such as are
found in furniture stores. We also made iidincco boxes. My
brother and niysidf, each, cleared fl-'iO ill six iiionths. Kiit
father boarded us free of charge. These lather boxes sold ut
2t"> cents apiece, retail. I have now a lather box and a loliai
box which we made. In l.SJ,"! I went to live with and work
for U. (!, Morss, who lived at Kead Falls, nine miles wont
of my lather's, on the same turnpike. lie had a lanuery. grist
iiiill, store, foundry and saw mill. If 1 slayeil only si.\ monllis.
I was to have .$24 and iiiy board; if a year, I was to have SVI.
I stayed one year, I tended store, measured all the tan bark
in the woods and took care of a span of horses. 1 boardeil with
Mr. Miu-ss, .\lso, I ran liipior in the tannery when the fore-
man was away, tended the grist mill three weeks when the
miller lett until he got another, papered and painteil in the
lu w house he built. While there I hcliH-d also the car-
penters: and 1 took a span of horses and a liimlier wagon and
drove n ith three Irishmen, a mason and an uncle of Mr.
.\Iorss to Carbondale, Pa. He was partner with a half-brother
ill a tannery there. I took ."P.jlKJ to this haif-brother, who had
n arried an aunt, on my mother's side. 1 slept with another
half-brother of my eniphiycr while with him. I went down
the east branch of the Helaware Kiver, and returneil tlii-oiigh
Walton and Delhi, on the west br.inch. While in CarlMiii-
dale I went down to Wilkesbarre to see the monument built
there ir. memory of the inhabitants that were massacreil by
the Knglish and Indians in the Uevolulionary war. It was
sixty miles from Carbondale. I hired a horse and top-wagon
for ."|!2 a day, and stopped each way at Slocum Hollow for
diniu'r. There was only one house, a tavern: it was where
the lily of ScranI low stands. .Viiotlier day 1 went to
Houcsdale, on the (Jravity Coal IJailway. They put horses
in the cars to draw them part of the way. From that plan-
they conveyed by canal to the Hudson Kiver: the iM.als each
held about 8tt Ions. I brought back a load of coal to (Jnconta.
1 was to sell it there at a foundry, but tin'y had just got a
load. So 1 left it at the side of the road. I bi ght back an
Irishman with me. a "bean-hand." At .Moresville I put on a
load of pine lumber and took it to Uead Falls, 1 hail many
narrow escapes from te.iins running away while living with
P.. C, .Morss. I drove his team all night in going to .New
York City. I made two trips in one wwk. I iiime up the
HuiL-'oii Kiver th-' night the Swallow ran on the rocks, op-
posite Athens. .Many passengers were drowned. I went on
h( rseback collecting bills and subpoenaing witnes.scs np in the
P.ig Indian and Andes, where but few iieople lived. I was
caught out in the winter in snowdrifts in Chiseatom. where
living located Kill Van Winkle. Kefore my year was up I
218 THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
.■i!.ki-i] C B. Miivss if he wiiiiid gel iiic a iilacc in New i'mk lu.at was at Cincinnati when I Ktt llnir. \Vc Iniil nu\\ l.>
City. He aski^il iiir if I ilid not want to stay with him. I ji uincy 31)0 miles to Little Itock. the capital nf llic Si.iti'.
said yes. if he wanted me. I wa.s not L'l years old: so went There were hut five iulialiitants. Wood was nscil f.n- fuel ..n
home, and my father and I lliuUKht I oii^ht to have Sl.->ll for the hoat. At one iila<'e the slaves owned the w.«pd and .sold
.•inether year. I went hack and tolil hin:. lie talked lor hours. it to the captain. On the .Mississippi slaves, fniods and pas-
si'yinc ho.v i'heap he used lo work, and he said I was learnins; sensers \\eri> theii- ( iryo. H,i<c n was taUi'n (hiwn iIk riv. i-
much with him. I said I had. hut did not i>.\peit to learn so to feed the slaves. I''ive of these slaves wiinid nel il.. llie
much tin- ne.\t year. While ndlectinf; for him I slept in a loj; w<m k one Irishnmn wunld dn at (he Ncrth. When I arrivi il
house, with only one room hut two heils. The man .iml his at Little l!o( k I liouu'lil an In'll.iii pony for .<2il; traded my
wife slept in one Jind I in the other. .VIs.i. I wiiil 1.. every s.ilihel for a paii' .'f s.iddle-lia^'s with a Stale Sinat.ir. I
h<!Use in the school ilistrict to sell Hiidi's. Where Ihey hail have tile S!nlille-haKs yet. The Senalm- had twe tine-looking
II. ne. and would nol purchase. 1 jiavi' Ihem one. While there Crenle Kirls. I started tHr Hatesville liy a liridle-path; thei-e
1 learned a jireal deal. Leaving' there. I went to I'orlland- wi-re no roads. BalesviMe was 1(10 miles from Little Uock.
ville. Otscfio County. <in \Ur Susiimhanna Kiver. and tiiok The first niirht out I slept with a traveler in a le^ hnuse.
charpe of a woiden factory. I stayed six months: learned all where there was lint cine r c. M.ie .in<l his wife, nmther
parts e.vcepl dyeinj; while there. Saw tln> first and only c.isi' and childreii. .all in ene runni. The next d.iy saw Ihnks of
of delirium tremens. If Ihey were nnikinjr inone.v, my lather turkeys. Stotijied ov m- riifrlu at .a hi;; Imuse which Innl a mem
was jroiuK to purchase an interest fur me. I'oiind they were nverheail. whiili wi' reached liy mi'.ins nf a ladiler. .\ eandi-
iiot: .so they paid me .$12 pi'r month and hoard. Tlieu 1 liirnl dale foi- (iovenior sh'pt in the same lomu. 1 mi't his oppont'lit
out to my hriither .liilius to drive cattle for him. He was ai Italesville. Se|itemlier ■J4. .\t all the places where I stojiped
lo pay me .fli'l pi'r month and my hoard. I was to furnish some niemhers id" the family hail fever ami a^'ue. My farm
n.y own house. 1 paiil •$S."> for the house: the first one I ever of Hill .acres w.is >eveii miles from Hatesville. (Jot there
owned. I drove in five droves ot cattle to Catskill and one to l,cfore dark; found Ihiee acres cleared ami two lo« houses
.Newhur^lh: this one he purchased at (ieiieseo. 1 was 'S.< days nn it. In most pl.accs llie trees were irirdled and icnii iil.anti'd
on the road: the others lie purchased in Cheiian;;o. Sleuhen lietween them. The old ^.-enllcinan who had hid it in for
and Cortland connlies. .N. V. Sometimes I i-arricd as niiicli as taxes lived in one of the houses. He h.id heen once well
.■s-.'.iKHI in my pocket to him. sleeping' in laru'e hallrooms. which ,,|T; |,iit now wa< jiooi-. The wonn-n folks spun and made all
.all laverns had, .and in which theie would lie .a nnmher id' i heir clot lies, and the n's clotlu^s. from cotton. They never
hills. I used t et his partner .-it Catskill and deaver tie- cleared oft' the tahle till il was time for another meal. Thi'y
cattle io him. He would ;.'ive me checks to ;;et inone.v at lived on corn lucid and pork Their ho.irs r,iii wild in the
Ihe Pratlsville hank to lake to .Inlius. On the fourth drove woods. I remained there one week. Then a nephew of his
he pave me checks which t!:e li.ank would not cash. So my came, whose father lived in Missonri. The yoniiL' man had
r:ither endoi-sed the checks. I took the moiii> to .Inlius and enlisted in the .Mexic .in war for three moiitlw. Hi> lime w.is
lolil him I should not come .ipain. .My u'rainlrather. cm my up :inil he was on his way home; so 1 took his horse and left
father's side, received KMI acre, of land, in the Slale of .\r- him mine. They p.ave me .SKI, in silver— .Mexican half-dollars
ki.usas. from Ihe Covernment. lor his serviics in the Uevo- ^,„\ ,„„. week's hoard and I L'ave him a died of the Hill acres
liilionary war. He sold il to m.< r.ither. He li.id alie.uly paid ,,|- i;,,,,]. The land was Kood. Inn ic.vered with ;.'iini trees. ,\t
*.S0 for lax.'s. .My father pave me a deed of it. and I went out U.-Ucsville there were two merchants from .Massachusetts. 1
there lo sell it. .VI .Mhaiiy I houpht fiv<- tickil> to Itntlalo. I ,., ,ild tell a .Northerner as soon as I saw him. I honpht a
was two days ami iim- iiipht imikinp the trip to UnlTalo. The j-irge phip of tohacco at their store. They wanled to know
rails on Ihe road were strap-rails. Then I took a lioal on L,ike when 1 was poiiip to start for .Memphis, which was -Jdil miles
Krie to Sandusky, Ohio. .\t th.il time Cleveland had only ,•,.,,,,, i|„.re, the .ionrne.\ liavinp to l.c' uiade tlncnuh ihree
a few houses on the lake shore. At S Insky ihere were hnt sw.amps. Cass. L.inpe and ,Mississippi. .\ I hiph-water the
two houses; these were liiiilt on slumps of irees. They had i,,.- rks on the trec-s showed the surface to he l.s feet hiplier
liepnn l.nildinp a r,ailway to Cinci ti. 1 went on as tar as |han at that time. I said I was i.. start the next morninp,
It.dlefomitain; then took stape to Sprin^dield ; tleii lo lailwa.v 'ihc.y said a yoiinp ni.iii of the iiaiiie of Uudolph Ic^fl there
lo Cincinnali, (oil there ahoul 2 o'clock p. ni.. Seplemlier S. ,1,,,, |,|,„.|,i„j;, and was poiup to stay that iiipht at one of the
IN4T. Took ouinil.ns to a lio:il ihat was to Ic.ive at .'. |i. m. .Mapnis's on the White Kiver. .-iiid nrped Mw to po thai day. as
•| hey lijid sle.im lip. They charped the same pric.' lo the moulh i wamld m^ver pel thronph alone. They had so much lo say
of the Ohio as to Si. Louis, where ihe ln.at was poiiip: ."i o'clock ,|,.,, [ starleil after dinner and fc.niid him, .Vnil I lldnk if I
p m. came, and Ihey let the steam po down. They did not h,ic| not. I wciild have heen w.iyl.iicl ludore I pot thronph. Oe-
li ave for Ihrei- days: .Vfler slarlinp at ."i p. m.. I he ihird da.x . |,,|„.,. o m, ]u,v^,- -ot scared amoiip the cone hreakers and
ihe diniiii.- tahle heinp cleared, cards were l.ronphl out l.y the |„cU,. i|„. hiidle. Kndolpli :rot a cpiart lioltle of peach lirandy:
l.arleiider. .New p.aiks of cards were hronu-hl on at each i i,,<-nded the liridle with pap,i hark. Ilis father came to
panic. l..n-.'e •^iims were het. There w.is plent.v of liquor on ,M,.mphis from riiiladelphia, and he set up .a slon. in .Mem-
'"""'• ' -■■" "I' '" ^''"' •'"■'" ''" - "■eh.ck a. 111. When wc |,|,j^ Vounp Uudolph started out pcldlinp. He went to Van
•••'■'■''■'■'' '" ''"■ '"'' '■'■ '"''" ""■'■'■ "■'■'■'' uihlinps i..„,,.„. „, that time in the ImLan Territorv: made several trips:
there. We had lo slay he wharf hoal. We took auoth..r ,,,,,,„, ^, ,,|^„,„.,,-, ,p,„;..|,ier. and had a store at Van I'.nren.
Ileal to po down the .Mississippi. While wailinp. saw .a man ,, ,. ,. .• . ..•
lie was now on his wa\ to .Meiiiphis lor ■_'ood<. \\ c were tour
who had a hoal in whii-li he sohl poods. He had lanphl iwci . , , , , , , ,
,. , . ,. ,_ , clavs L'oini; 1 hi iiiii;li. 1 Inel a had hcidailic the lourtli niorn-
calhsh, one weiphmp l.ill pounds, Ihe -Mississippi was verv
I I 1- . 1 1 II I I I I , . il'-. am! I persuaded him to po on. as lu' 'ould pet to .Meiu-
l.w. 111 Kentucky I walked seven miles ahead ot the hoat
when sh.. ran aproiind. We landed at Indiamipidis, the ml, '''''^ "''■" ''"'' ^ '""'"" '"" -" ""' "'' =' "''"' "" ="'''-""" "'' "'J'
ol the .\rkansas Itiver. Sl.iyc.l there over Sunday. .Mtended '" '"' •""' ''••"'^ ="'"■ '""■ '•"■'H.^- ' '•'""■ '■' •' !''■" ■' '•'I''''! "''l-
.Milhiidis! nieelinp in the Court Ilous<-. .\ hiinl.'r canu> and '''•''• ''"'nre w.is a loir i,iv.rii and a small Iol- store. Tiny led my
stood ill the door with panic he had killed with his pun. <ui his horse with corn in the ear. There wen- Iwn heds in ihe han iii.
shoiilih'r. !o lu'ar Ihe sermon. Was w.iked up in the iiiplii c:nds. I did iioi like Ilieir appearance, so I started on apaiii;
to take a si •ain-wheel hoat poiiip In Lillle Kock. This same nut *oon had to walk, as il pained me so to ride. 1 came to a
LEVI H. ALDEN.
FREDERIC SCHMIDT.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
221
liii; liinisc. A wcMiNiii \v:is ouiviilc. I :islic.l Ik r if slii' hail any
iiinst.ird. Sli" -iriiii yos. Slic asknl iiio if I hail luiiie from
X;'W Oi-ioaiis. as they had yollow fovor tliorc. I drank sninr
water ami imistaiil: this made mo VDmit. 1 stayed iliere
overi'islit When I jrnt to the Mississippi IJiver I found
lindolph roniinj; to linil me. Sold my horse at niietion for $42;
liaid the aiietioneer $2: exehan^ed the bills I got for money
I eotild use in New York State, at a cost of $5. There was
n store ilealer there who had KUt slaves. He was afraid to
take tliiMi to Xcw Orleans on iieeount of the yellow fever.
I paid my fare to rittsliur!;. I'a. It was .fl:) for 1,:!0(1 miles.
This inrliided passage, stateroom and hoard. Felt unwell go-
ing up the Ohio. Took an emetie and pliysir. hut it did mo
r.o good. I.ost my appetite at I'ittsliurg. Bought a tioket to
riiiladelphia: Iml when I got to Brownsville, the end of slaok-
water navigation. 1 had to stop. Gave two silver wali-lies .-inil
nil the money 1 had to the landlord, a Mr. Harding. Ho put
nie in a room cm tho sorond floor and simiI for a ilortor. I
had typhiiiil fovor. I lay in a lioil four wooks. Then I rould
not raise my head. I told tho dootor. who wjis a (Quaker, and
v,ho had a .voung man for a partner, to write to my father. .\
week from that time I received a letter from my father. In
the afternoon of the day I reoeivod the letter my oldc'st
iTothor. who was ,•! physirian in New York Cit.v. lamo in. He
riuiainod with mo three weeks. Ho left, taking tho land-
hird's will' with him. She went on a visit to her parents, who
residod in ( 'onnoofiout. Ho took my tioket to I'hiladolphia. 1
remaiiinl twn xvi'oUs longer. Tho l:uiilloi'd slopt in my room.
This was a stage house, .and 21) ooaohes ran over the Alle-
ghen.v Mountains to ("umliorland. two eoaohes oarryiiig tho
mail. It was Dcoomlier 10, 1847, whin I loft there. They
let mo rido in a mail oo:u'h, ;is there w;is not mueii mail. On
the monnt:iin tho snow was two feet deep. Tho distani'e was
74 niilos. .Vt S a, ni. took oars to HariM'r's Ferry — UK) miles:
airiv'd at noon, and 1 roaohed Baltimore at S p. ni.. IMiiladol-
pl'ia at 1(1 p. ni. Xoxr morning left at •"> o'olock for South
-Vmliuy: took Imi.ii to .Vow Vork ("ity, arriving at 11 a. in.:
saw my lirothor. Took lioat for Catskill at ."> p. m. .Vrrivod
at Catskill at '.'> a. m. ne.xt day. Took stage to Wiudhani and
arrived home Deoemlior '2?>. 1S47. .\ lioy glad to see his
n;othor! .Vt that time if a person laughed when they talked
they wore s.aid to bo foolish. But now it is the fashion. It
was a long time b-foro I was ablo to do any work. The no.\t
fall I <a\\od and split livo oords of four-foot wood. My father
li.id pilod it in tho y.ird. 1 piled it up in the woodshed. Later
si.ino of tlio yuuinr | pio wont lo Now York. Ono li.id a oap
wl'.ioli rould be lurnod inside luit. showing oloth on lUie side
and oil silk on tho other. 1 thought there was money in it.
Oidy laps and stiflf iiats were worn then. So my father lent
me .$"J(Mi. and I wont to New York and bought eloth and trim-
ndugs for caps; hired girls in the neighborhood to make tlioiu
in a tenant house jiiy father owned, then idle. Sold some, ami
in the winter, having yot many on li.ind. I startod out pi'd-
dling. taking laiis. tobai'-o bo.ves. woodon louibs and satohels,
whioli w oro niailo bv .Matthews and Ilnnl. Went through
Otsego, Helawaro, Chonango and (iroono ooiiuties with a
sleigh and one horse. Sold the largest bill in Cooporstown.
One idght at a publii- house found two inohos of snow on my
bed in the m.iriiing. Cimo out about oven in my o.-ip adven-
ture-and gained some experience. In lS4!t came the C'ali-
fc rnia fovor. ami my father was going to lot mo have $."iil(l
to go; but ni.v mother would not consent. So in May, 1S4!I,
my father and I with a lior.se and wagon, driving on the rail-
road track through tho summit— Krie Uailroad had only got
as far as Susipiolianna - wont down into I'ennsylvania: and,
after traveling through diflforont places. Hnally purchased Ho]/,
acres of land, in Wayne County, I'a.. for a tannery. Paid
.«;o.'J(M). This was on May 2i). 1S4',I. On our way home /,.
I'ratt and H. O. .Morss. with boih of whom | had lived, of-
fired to go ill i puny with my father. He ihosc B. I'rnlt.
'S'hey estal.lishi.d the lirm of rnitt & .VIdon, emh |>iitliiic in
•W.IMH). So we went back by tho wny of I'ionnoni: nnd father
l"ft mo there to clear od the land and run u saw mill on
the luoporty. 'Ihis was in ,)iine, l.slil. In .Inly my hroilier
.Iilliiis came down with a span of horses, n oariwHter and
l.clp. We Avent on :iiiil put u|> 1.">(» feet of ilie tannery boanl-
ing house, in which w ,• bonrdod, and n store, rut hides in Ihi-
pit, .lanuary. l.s.-i(i. .luliiis and I to have JltHi n year nnd one-
third inloresl in the store. The store was condiu ted under
the firm name of L. H. Alden iV: Sons. Father broiighl my
mother down to Ci.rbond.'ile. twolvi miles off. to visit her sister.
Wo had heavy storms in .luiie and July, which filU-d a dam Ik--
I ■iiging to the 1). and H. Canal Company, covering IKtO nercs
of laud, on the V 1 ilo Oak, so that it ran over. It wns only
one luiU' above the laiiM ly. .\ly father and I worked there
till aft. r niiilniglit. pnlling up planks nnd dirt ngninst them.
He took <ii!d. lelr.iiied to ''arboudalo and look to his ImmI.
On Snliu-dny p. m. they sent a n.an to Aldeiiville for .Iiiliiis
and iii.iself. I went ba<-k with the man. Julius weiil lo
Honosdale for a l>r. Sanger. He got there about "J a. m.
Father's feet wore cold. He died at 11 ji. iii. Sunday. The
hoiuooopathio doctor had killed him! lie had taken up the
pri'ttice of modicine, as others did at that lime, witliont sliiily-
iiig or attending lectures. Homoeopathic physicians nre very
difTiiont now. Wi- had a cherry eoinn. The undertaker came
.1 mill' and :i half to lay him out. and tiHik the corpse
twidve uiih's with a hearse and a span of horses lo
Aldeiivilli. — the postoHii'o naiiied after my fnlhei — for $15.
This was on August 7. IfCiO. My brother James. .M. Ii.. did
not get there until after our father was buried. We
purchased his and our mother's interest; then Julius T.. T.
Zadcock I'ratt and myself formed a eo-pnrtnership for five
yo.-irs. under the name of I'ratt & Alden; I'rnlt owning
oi>e-!ialf and we eacli one-fourth. All the money we used we
paid 7 per cent, for every three months at the I'rallsville
b::nk. We purchased more wihl land, for the bark that was on
it. .My first visit to Niagara Falls was when (leneral Win-
tiolil Sci It w.is pollinated for President. They had i lelebru-
tion at Lundy's Lane. There wore so few hou.sos at the Fails
that we had to go to Buffalo to stay, nights. There was then
but one carriage bridge across llio river at the Falls. There
V ere so few cms that people rode on top, their feet hanging
down the sides, of course. On October 18, IS.'i;;, Julius T.
.VIdoii m.irried ISoxy A. KiLinoiis. of Oneontn. N. Y. The
tai'iiery iuisiness was poor. We got in debt J.'iO.OlMl for build-
ings and laud imrchasod. Our mother died March 7. 1!C>4.
We did not know her worth till she was gone! We biirieil
her iM'sido our father. Put her iiaine on the tombstone we
h.id put up for oiir father. Put an iron fence around their
graves and a hemhick hedge outside of that. Jlay, 1H."i4,
sold my half-interest in store to I>. W. Kminons, J. T. Al-
ilon's wife's brother, and built a grist mill below the tannery,
and added to tannery down the stream, nnd purchnsod .'Pli».(M«i
of Stock in Ilonesdale Bank. August r>. l.S.">.">, gave Z. I'ralt
.S^O.IKMt. to give us o'liial thirds' interest in the business. April
■J. 1S.5(;. gave Julia P. Inger.-oll S.'itl.lNKI for her half-interest
in the tannery. .May 27. 1H-"i7. I married Ixiis M. Strong, of
Woodbourn. N. Y. Took her sister. Hatlio. with lis to Ningnra
I.ills. Had a sail on the ".Maid of the Mist." a sniull sleaiuer
plying oil ihe river below the Falls. Having se<'n all the
sights there, we crossed over the Niagarn Suspension Bridge
by carriages, and took railroad enrs to l^ewislon. Tliere we
took boat nnd proceeded down the river to Lnke Onlario;
ill wn the hike and the St. Lnwreiiee Uiver to Montreal; no
brid'-'c there then. The streets were narrow nnd the French
lang'.iage was in use. Thence we proceeded to Lake Chnni-
222
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
ricin. Siir:itii;r;i Sjiriiurs. Ti<iy, Alliaiiy: down tlic HiiiImhi ;iiii1
out til WiiDillinurii. Tin- laniicry (inn was oondnrtiMl nndi-i-
llic style nf .1. T. iV I.. II. Alili-ii. That year I connncnccd
liiiiMin;.' a Iumim- for myself and wife. Wi-nt to New I^milou.
('t. On my way liaek sto|>|ii d at New York. It was dnrinj;
tl.c iianii- week of l.STi". I imivliascd a piano and fnrniluri-
for my lionse. at aliont halt price. April Hi. IS.'iS. I paiil .1.
T. Ahlon .IJCO.dOO for his interest in the Aldenville tann.>ry
and the rnimidale tannery, which wo had just pnrehaseil. one-
tiflh eaih. The .Vldenville tannery was then 413 feet long,
-III feet wide, liesides the leaehos. and two and one-half stories
hi::h. One :.fleri;ooii the liark mill broke ilown. It was some-
thin;; the earpc-nters and lil.ieksniiths eonid not I'x. So I went
to Carliondale. twel-e mi'.es off. anil irot tlie foreman in the
foniidry up out of I'ed. He fixed it. and I got liaek to the
t.innery the iiexl morning.'. We stojiped the liark mill at 12
I 'eloek Saturday nights and start.Ml at'ain at 12 o'clock Sunday
iii^'hts. We ;:i-oiind 7.(HK) cords of tan liark one year at the
Aidenville tannery. Krie Kailroad ehariLred 7 cents per hide
or side to N'arr >wsliurBh. I'latt ainl Alden had 20.(KK) hides
at Nariowslinr;r!i at one time. Kroni ("atskill. l>y lioat, they
clnnjied one-hair i-ent per hide. The dislanie to New York
was aliont the sanu' as from .\arrowslnn;;h. August 2."), IS.'iS.
I ;;ot a ;>iece of the first ocan calile from on hoard the "Ni-
a;:ai'a." in Vew York llarhor. .ifter her retnrn. I have a piece
al my house now. .May '2't. IS.'i.S. I \v:is appointed rostmaster
ar .Vlilen'iJIc. The same year look my wife lo New York;
I'len to C-itskiM: hired horse and wairon and went to (.'.liru.
Saw my Grandinollnr .\lil"i; at Iiiele "Liali's." She was
then !K: years of a^"'. Took her some strawberries: then drove
to the "Mountain House." This was the .second time I had
visilei! tiiat noted place. Then to the Falls and ihiwn the
t'love to ("atsUill. Took the steaml.oal South .Vuu'rica to New
York. Then my wife and I wi-nt to Woodlionrn. .lanuary
2.">. TSliii. I purihased one-third of Way rl tannery. In
1Sli2 went to Koston. Iirin;:in'.' hack .">(• liales of IlulTalo liides.
lielongiliK to S. S. .\rnold. to tan. 1 arranged to tan lor liiin
thereafter llt.llllll to 1 ."il I.I II II I hides a year. Wliile In Mosl.in
visited Btinker Hill moiinment .inil I'anenil llall. Ilii Sumlay
1 attended services at the Olil South Chunli. W'liii fl.iwii lo
I.ornlon Ilock. whei" the tea was thrown overho.ird lieforc
the Kevolutionary war; visited the State House anil the Com-
mon. We were in the midst of the Civil War. On returning;
to New York. I found dealers all disconrased: Iiusiness was at
a standstill, .\pril 2ii. purchased floods at Stone and Hi.Kon
House. .May 2:!. left New York with my wife for Woodlionrn.
.\. Y: llieii hy lioal lo .\lli.iiiy and liy cars to Little Falls.
.liMie .'J. .1. T. and wife and myself and wife went to Fm-
leonslini'^h. Herkimer County. .N. Y.. and caujrlit a larue uum-
lici of small Irout. .\u'_'usi 11. ;:ave .SHKI for volunleers
In Ihe war. .\u;rust Hi, ^ave .f.'llll toward volunteers. Huill
;.'ri cnliouse .ind lias works for house and store. On the l.'ltli
of Sepleiulier sold one-half the store at .Vldenville lo H. .1.
Allien, a cousin. Oitolii i 17. purchased hides in New York.
Noveiiilier 12. issued 2.IIIIII shinplasters of the denominalions
."i. 111. 2.'i and .'ill cents, lespc-ctively : these I.. H. Alden and
11. .1. .\lden sifined. and used for change. Silver had disap-
peareil and change was scarce, .lanuary 2li. ISIH. purchased
;">(! acres of coal land for the liark that was on it. in Carlion-
dale. for the Waymart tanm-ry. and on the 27th a car of gr.ite
coal at Wayinarl for $!•: there wi^re S,2IIII pounds. Al this
time, also, paid .$.SIKI for a siilistitute for the war. Everytliiii;;
was low. It was a hard time I'm' those families whose hus-
lianils had lieen drafted. Feliruary 111, !,'ot hides in New York
lo i.'in for .s cents, "joint." In 1SI12 we could not got .IJX
ci Ills. Fi'lirnary 17. purchased :!.2(H) ounces of quinine, on
speculation, of VVilliii'ii Harkh-y, in New York. He was killed
in Passaic, al ihe lime Speer's liiiildiiig was Idowii down in
Wasliin;;loii placi'. .March 1. >ol.l Uciny .1. .\ldeii oue-iiuarler
interest in Aldenville tannery— style. I.. H. .Udcii iV < 'o. .Mavrli
12. Honesdale i.'as hou.se lilew up. 1 held .$2.;;7."i of llie stmk. Il
list me ^!l!t7. May '■'. I srdd llie iiuinine together, clearing
.•fl.ililii. I got half. Oil the 27tli i left for Woodbonrne. t.\k-
iiig my wife am! children: also, my cousin and hired girl and
I wo span of horses and carriages. Out to WiMidlionriic iicxl
day. .Tunc 2. left for Kingston with wife. Fannie .\ldcn ami
Lizzie A. .VIden. Took boat to .\lbany: ilnii cars in I.itilc
Falls, then by cars to Loikporl : lliiri back lo Lillle
Falls, where we took carriage up lo Kninionsluirgb to a laiinrry
in Herkimer Count.v: went a-tishing and cauglit 2IMI troul.
.Iiinc 14. took a thousand hides from New York to tan. at HI
cents per pound. Left for Albany, took bo.it for Catskill and
carriage up to Cairo: then to Freehold: then to Wiudhani.
where I was horn. S.iw H. O. Morss and Zadock I'ratt. and
called on other old neighbors. Found it very dift'erent from
what it used lo be. when I left. September. ^S■^i\. Prove back
to Saugerties. then lo Woodbourn. Gold was now selling for
!i;285. Some months I paid !p3.<lllll revenue tax on store, lari-
ni ry and irrist mill. Bought large iiuantilies of wool, on spec-
nkition: also, large i|uaiilities of wheat, lorii .ind oais; ground
them in grist mill. .Inly 2^!. purchased stock in Lockport Bank
and property in Loikporl. In Honesdale persons who had
111 en drafted paid .$1.2llll for snlistitllles. .Viigust 22. went to
New York and to Lillle Falls. Bought .SI.IHKI 7 :!-lll V. S.
Honil: nun based Hill Flic sli.-ircs at 1II.S.V4. Men ran away
from the ilrafi: I'oicniau in llic lamiery. among others. Ki-
piiblicans. al liisl. did nol fear being drallcd. Km. al last,
they had to come in. -Many "jumped the bounty." lliiough the
dislioiiesly of ihe I'rovost Maishals. .\ll seemed lo become dis-
lioiiest. Kecember 2. purchased $2.111111 worth of Kissicating
slock. It was burned up soon after. Got only $.S7 out of il.
In l.Si;."i took one-third inlerest in the leather business in New
York — style. ".VIden A: Cuinmings"— for live years. .lanuary 27.
1m;i!. tivc people died of spoiled Icvc-r in .Mdnivillc .Ml were
alarmed. Bo.ikkceepcr and vvile Icli. Took ouc-lliird iii-
Ici-csl in iiiaimfactnriiig paper iwine in .New York City. I'ur-
chased a Ibonsaiid dollais in silver mines in .Vev.ida: losi it all.
Took slock in oil wells: lost all I pul in. Ma.\ I.'), slailed for
Washington. B:iltiniore ••ind Iticlimond. .Vfler Lee's surrender
I could nol believe .ill I had heard about Ihe war. But I found
it worse. Troo|is were coining to Washington. There
was a circus al City I'oiiit. Plenty of iiioney. and
luople were reckless. I went all through the lines at Peters-
burgh. Saw men between the lines that had lain there six
ir.onths. unburied. We slept in one house :ind took meals in
anolher. IJode on freigiil cars. Saw Lee. Grant. Sherman.
Ixilpatriik and other generals. .\ll seemed to be denioralized.
Went to Liliby Prison and Caslle Thunder. Purchased .TSliii
in Confederate nioiiey for one-half per cent. Bronghl home
$4011. Gave it to my wife. Some hired girl stole it! .\liout
.'ill acres were burned over in Kichmond. It was terrible: but
such is war. Left Aldenville with carriage and horses and wag-
on: went through Woodbourn. Wentsborougli. Middletowii, Go-
shen. Chester, down along Greenwood Lake, through Pomp-
ton and Pnterson to Passaic. September 20, 181!,"), had been
to Orange, Long Island, EnglewiMid, Haekensack and New
ark, to look at houses: but, tinally. I jiurchaseil at Passaic.
Mr. C. Mclx. Paulisoii had that year built four houses on
Gregory avenue, and Prospect street had houses on il. Dun-
dee had only one mill, and that was not running. W\ the
rest was farm land. In ISi'iii I was conlirmed in ilie Hpis-
cepal Church by Bishop William H. Odeiiheimer. .Inly. 1Sli7.
wife, children and myself left for .Vlliany and Little Falls.
N. Y.: then u|i lo lOimnonsbnrgh: then to Williamstown and
Camden. N. .1.; then lo Allegany: left children there: then
lo Ole.in .uiil Parkville. Visited ilifTercnl laniuries. .1. T.
flu Ife.
il
JOHN HEMION.
AARON MILLINGTON HEMION.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
225
Aldon :iiiil ni(>- .iiid myself ami wife left for Clcvelniul. todk
steamer Keweenaw for SuiH-rior City; stopped at Detroit and
wmt across the river to Windsor. Canada: then tlironsli Lake
St. Clair and River St. Clair: stopped at outlet of Lake Ilnron:
then up throii;;h Ljike ITurt>n to Sault St. Marie: went throusli
the Sault to I..ake Superior. Steamer stoppeil at Pietnre
IJoiks and Afrate Island. Then lo .Maniuotte, the Iron Mines:
then to Ilonirhton. t\w copper mines: stopiK>d at I'ortane Lake.
Copper Ilarlior. Kafrli' Harbor: irot specimens of cojiper. We
leil Cli'vcl.iiid. Ohio. thc> H;ili ..f .luly. and arriveil at Su-
l)erior City .Inly 'S.\. Found plenty of Indians and half-breeds
there. Took :in liulian laiuie anil rowed five miles to where
Kululh now is. I'leiity of :nosi|\iitoes and lar^e flies. There
Were loiii; plank walks out to the cemetery, four miles away.
.Vbout five !,'ood houses amonj; the 2(H). Kverythins dead.
No business: but i>nce was. They had a bank in which I
lost some .*1.."ilHl. (iot mosi|iiito nets for our heads. Left for
St. Paul, .Minn., in .n lumber wagon. There were seven pas-
st ngers. Sta.ved one night at Moose Lake; slept in log house:
next day driver got drunk; team got stuck in the mud; we
« alked si.x miles to Deer Creek; stayed overnight in log house:
had plenty of venison and fish: luet Indians: hired a wagon
and team the next ir.orniiig: took dinner at Cross Lake. Saw
Indians in their native state: stayed all night in log house.
Left next morning in foiir-horse hack, at B o'clock. All woods.
Took dirtier at Ceulerville, which was laid out for a large
city. Arrived at St. I'anl at 7 o'clock, p. lu. Had traveled 33
miles, anil «•■ were tired. Next d.-iy left by cars for Minne-
apolis. St i|.ped for diniu v at Minnehaha Falls. Saw the
Fall of St. Anthony. Oidy lumber manufactured there. At
that time Minneapolis had been settled sixteen yeais. There
were l>m few houses: but some were of brick and good. Saw-
ox teams and a long string of Indian carts. Went back by
cars to St. Paul: then took steamboat down the Mississippi
to Kenknck: passed through Laki I'ippen; large and thriving
towns each side of river -Clinto;i, Pavenport and Uoi-k Ish.ud.
We stoj.ped at CalciKi ni Sunday. Cords of lead wore taken
on beard as freight. Then was a band of inusi<' .iboard.
Young people in the town came aboard and had a dance. We
were three days on the river, (grossed the river to Illinois;
got a quantity of goods. One day wife and self took ears to
Xauvoo. Saw .Toseph Smith's widow. The temple was almost
demolished. There were a quantity of brick buildings, partly
built. Got a bottle of wine from the widow. Left by railroad
the 8th of August for Allegheny. Stoppeil and got the chil-
dien, I,i-'.7.:e atid .Tr.mts, and came home by railroad, and \ cry
tired. May, 1808, left for Rochester and Loekporl, N. Y.;
thence for Littl? Falls and Albany, and New York City. .Iuiu».
paid $;{8.li(MI for fiO acies of land in Bergen County, N. .i.
Siptembir "JS, Sister Ilallii. wife and .self went to Bristol by
steanier; theme to I'rovidence and Boston. There .loseph and
Carolii^e Alden ji ined ns; we went to Plymouth Rock. tJot a
piece of the rock; went through I'lymonth Hall; saw the Bible
.lohn Allien bro.ight over from lOngland; saw the gun King
I hilip, the Iiulian chief, was shot with; looked over the old
rcttrds; s:'W the original burying ground, where the.\ buried
thoir dead after the Mayflower returned to England. Then
we returned to Boston and visited all places of interest there.
Took s'.eamer for Portland; hired a carriage and drove aroimd
town. It was just after the great fire. Saw Neal Dow's tan-
nery The tide here rises l(j feet. Took steamer for St. .lohn's;
stipi ed at Fast I'ort: a gieat place for herring. Saw the long
dray> a' East Port. Had to go down a ladder to get off
boat at .St. John's The tide here rises u" feet. Went t >
Catholic Cathedral and Preslyterian Church on SuiiiJay. Took
steamer above the Falls for Fredericktou, the capital of New
Brunswick. The steamer burned wood; all freight and pas-
sengers came aboard in small boat. Visited the Episcopal
C.ithedral: lor>ked around: then back to St. .Tohn's. Fulls ill
nioiilh of St. .Tolin's River, :M> feet high. Took steamer to
\Vind.sor; tiile (M) feet there. TiMik cars for Iliilirax: ex-
cliamred .$2iKI in greeiiback-i for EngliNli gold, at the rate of
~2 cents on the dollar. Visited the Cathedriil in centre of the
tow Ill other phic.'s of interest; had idk incut. Took cars
for Pielon; then steamer for Prince I'^lwiird's Island. Called
on I'nited Stales Consul: looked around the island: hail to
stay there five days; then biii'k to Pieloii, where we tiMik
sicaiiier to gnebec. .Stopped ill principal places on the Si.
Lawrence Bay. On the fifth day arrived at (Quebec. Heavy
storm and I sick most of the way! IJiielMs- hud tli<-ii five
gates by which it was entered: visited llie Calhedral. the poor-
li( use and jail. Drove over to the Falls of Mmit reney.
till' Heights of Abrahaiii and to the |iarade grounds of the
English soldiers. Kxchaiiged SlTiO in greenbacks for gold and
silver at 72 and 7."> cents for a dollar. Timk steamer up the
St. Lawrence River to Montreal: visited the diflerent nun-
neries; drove around the mountiiiii and to Notre Dame Cn-
thi'dral: saw the Cathedral bell: it weighs 24.S70 pounds.
There were two towers- -a set of chimes in one. Took ears
for Plattshurgh; steamer to Whitehall: then ears to Sam-
toga: visited the different springs: saw Crown Point. Then
took cars to .Vlbany and steanier to New York. Clad to gel
to Passaic. November, ISdS. purchased half of Moiinl Pleas-
ant tannery, $]il,(l(MI. Deii-mber 27. my brother, .luliiis T.
Allien, died at Little Falls, N, Y. He was buried there. So
I am the only cue left of my father's children. I think
father, mother and my two brothers have gone to heaven,
wh'-re I intend to meet them. February 1, 1.876, myself and
wife, Louis Ma.v, wife's mother and Sister Hallie h-ft for
Floridtj, by way of Philadeliihia. Stayed overnight in Balti-
more. Saw ai! the sights in that place. 'Hieii to Washington:
s] ( nt a da.v looking round. Then to Richmond; saw all places
of i!iteii"-t there. Then to Wiliiiington; stayed overnight there.
Then to Chaileston- saw all the sights there. Thence lo Sa-
vannah; lookeil aroitnd there. Thence to .laeksonville: looked
around there. Took boat up the river to Tocoi; thence bj" rail
to St. Augustine; saw deer in the woods: saw all that was lo
be seen there: then back to Toi-oi: thence up river to Pulaski:
hioked arimtid theie: then boat to Lake Monroe; saw large alli-
gators; stopped at Enterprise: went five miles to orange and
lemon groves. Took Louis May with me. .She iiicked oranges
Ir.im the trees. Thin back by boat to .laeksonville. Left
n'..i||ier-in-!aw and Hattie at Pulaski. Took ears for Sa-
vannal!; looked arouml there. Then to Cobiiiibia. South Caro-
lina, Charlotte, Salisbury, Lynciiburgh. ^Limissu. Saw the
house Stonewall Jackson was taken to after he was shot; Alex-
andria. Washington to Baltimore. Had to slay there over
Sunday. Then home to I'as.saie, the 21st of February. On
the 18th of September following, my wife, !..izzie A., wife's
..ister. Hattie, and her cousin, Anna Morss, went to Philadid-
pliia ■■Centennial Fair." Stayed fifteen days. October !t. l>M)k
.lames S. to the Fair; stayed fifteen days and alleiided some
of the theatres in Philadelphia. Took Lizzie A. and J.imes S.
to Carbondale: went into the mines; also, lo (.Seneva, N. Y.:
Watkin's tJlen, Syracuse: saw the s;ilt wirks; then to l>ick-
port, Niagara Falls; saw all the .sights there. To Lake Cham-
plain. Saratoga. Troy; then down North River in day bout lo
.New York: then home to Passaic: afterwanl took I.«>uis May
and .Mabel Blanche lo Oleau, Loekporl and Tonawaiida: saw
the big saw mills there. Then to Niagara Falls: saw all the
sights there: look cars and boat to Tonmlo; visited the islainl
opposite the city; visited the barracks. Then, by l>oal, down
Ontario Lake and the River St. I..awrenee. llirniigli the Uai.ids
to .Montreal: saw all the sights there. Then, by cars, to
Lake Cl.amplain and I-jike (Jeorge: then lo Saratoga: .saw all
the springs and sights there. Then, by eats, to Albany: saw
226
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
all tin- piiiK-ipiil iiliiiTs: visitcil the ww (jipitnl. Took hont
to Troy and liaik: tlii'U down Xoi-tli Kivi-i- in day Imat to New
York: tlu-ii Ininic. In l.S!i:{ had two liunco men call: one. to sell
sliani jrold liricks: one, to liny a farm. Did not ^et <au;.'ht by
either of them. l.S'.tT— Was taken with grip and rontined I"
my IhmI three nionth.><: siiue then memory not Kood: I do not
;.'o tar I'roni homo. 188!)— Took I^otiis May and Maliel Blanche
to Carl dale. Seranton. ]8!M»— I tixik them to Buffalo and
Cleveland. 1 was looking up liriek niaehinery. Have lieen
on the (irand .Jury in Ilonesdale: also, in Talersun: lint the
politicians did not want me the second time, roliticians. sa-
loons and corporations fxo hand in hand. I'oliticians are the
cause of war. in most cases, in all countries. As a j;encral
thin;:, tin-y inllnence the drawinj; of jurymen. The saloons
make the lomnion soldiers ami some of the officers. I'.-issaic
h.'id two road houses in 18(;ri. Now there are Hill saloons, or
f;in-mii:s. In truth, we ilo not need more than two l'ooiI
pidilic houses. Nearly .f:-!.(l(Ki a day is spi i;t f.ir Kcer and
ci;;ars in this city. On account of which wives ami cliililren
suffer. The income from licenses would not pay oiu'-lentli of
the cost to the county .and (owns. I have seen naturalization
l)apers >dlcd oil liy Irishmen, stanipeii wilh a ."i(i-cent piece.
If .McClidlau h.-'d hecn ^'ivn, ilie nii'ii lie was promised, the
«:ir would have closi^l al "Si'ven I'iTM'S,'" and one liundri'il
Ihous 1 lives would have been s.-ivecl. One jiarty is .just
as corrupt as the other, ••.\loiu-y makes the ni:ire iio." The
wi'althy and unscrupulous pei>ple :iri' llie cause of llie dese-
irati it the Saldiath l>ay. The middle cl.-iss, to keep up ap-
luaram-e, clo the sami' tiling. This stipports the saloons.
If a law cinild lie passed tli:il no manufacl luer or seller of
ard-.'iit spirits would lie cliL'ilde to ollice in llie ^rifl ot ilie
lieople, il would stop iiiiu-li . m riiiitioii. It llie s.-ime were
carried oiil in I'assaic. it would be niioh belier. I'cdil iciaiis
will do aiiylliiii'/ to tret nioiie.\ . Tliey will sncrilice Ihe lives
of those who li^'ht for their eoiiiiU\. .\\iA then i all llieiii
p;itriolic. But so it ;.-oes. .\nd so il alwa.xs will ,l;o where
wealth predominates. Teiiiper.'ini e lueii. it hoin-st. ;.'i'l iheir
rcw.ird hiM-cafler.'
.lilSi;i'll .\|i.\MS. deeeasid. w.is born ill Leeds. Iah:
land, .M;irch l.Slh. 1.S41. He came lo the I nited Stales when
a mere stripliniu; and swured einployinent with the KoKors
liocomotive Works in ratiuson. His niariia;.'e lo .Miss .Mar-
^':.ret ScoUon. who still survives him. on nn-ed .May bstii. bsc;'.,
and the result of this union was ei^rht children, seven of w lioai
are still living'. He moved to I'assaic in ISIi'.l and en;.'a^'ri| in
till' business of a f;eneivil contraclor. al w lii.li he made money
rapidly ami bon^'hi a farm in Oranire Coiinly. N. V., to wlii-li
he moved in l.S7.">. He returned to I'assaii- one yi'ai- later,
havinj; lost very heavily in his afiricnitural venture, :ind re
sumed his c(umviclinn business to which in l.SSli he adiled a
coal business, which blanch is still continueil by his sons. In
l>olitii-s he was always a Itepiililican. and Indd the ortices of
Secretary of the Board of Health .iiel Keuislrar of \'ita!
Statistics during Mayor Howie's lirsl term. lie w.is closelv
idiiitihed with Ihe First .Methodist Chun li. .nid al Ihe time of
his lUvilh was a steward .iiiil class h-ader. Mr. Adams died
Mar<'h liTth. IS'.III, a;.'ed 4',t, a robust .■mil conipiralively ynnic,'
man, his death the ri'sull of a live days' illness caused by a
stroke of paralysis.
i;i.li;Zi;i; cur.r. r.\t>i|; was bom al Orleans. C-ipe
Cod. March !lth. 1S1.'!. His father was a sea captain .and
was lost al sea, his shi|i inner having been heard from, Noth-
iiiL' ilaiiiileil .Mr. Taylor, the subject of this sketch took to the
sea and ln>c,iine an able captain. His early voyages wore t i
South .\iin'riea ami .\ustralia. He was a man of great cooi-
iiess and liriivery: diligent ami alerl in all in.'illers of busi-
ness. He hail a varied e.viierience. .and in his voyaging over the
seas was freiuiently entrusted by his etniiloyers with ini|)Oit-
aut affairs. He w.as married in 1859 to Mary M. Burr, or
.New York City, Four children were l'(>rii to this union: Maiy
I ranees, deceased: l.iz/.ie Anna, now Mrs, .lames .\ilhur
Swan; lOleanor M.. now Mrs. Leonard W. .Mancliei\ and Lillie
AiiK'lia, deeeastnl. On coiniug to P.assaic in 1m1!i he had about
decided to retire from business. But In made several voy-
ages before In' linally gave up traveling in the watery ways-
Ilis familiar form and feiitures were known here on our street-
tor twenty years. He was unpretentious. Kind, ,aiid geiierons.
Always ready to "lend a hand." He took :\ deep interest m
he ileV(dopment of this city.
.\li;S. .M.\KV .M.Vril.jiA r.Wl.OK. i-,.iict ..r the la:,-
Ccptain Eliezer C. Ta.vlor. was born in New York Cit.v. August
l."th, 1S:!1. She has been a resident of Passaic 30 years, H T
name is known in iiKiiiy of mir homes. For besides being an
.active inember of the Baptist Cliiirch. she has long held
membersihip and ottiee in the Home and Orplian .Vsylnm. 'Pile
I'nion Benevolent Sooiety and the .Mombiy .Vfleniomi Club.
Ami lalel.v she has fnrnislied a iirivate room al llie (Jenerai
Hiisjiiial. .Mrs. T.-iylor was forinerly niarrieil to .Mr. .lames
T. Burr, of New York City, a member of the tirni of Burr iV
li.-indall. ol Ccibinibns. Ohio. One child w.is |,,,i-ii to this
union: .l.-inies M. Burr. i>f Orauire. N. .!.. a meiuber of the linn
of Burr >V 1 lard wick. New York City, lace importers.
i;i(ll.U;i> .\. WLS ri:i;VKLT. deceased, was born at
the old A\'estervclt 1 lestead in Clifton. N. .1.. .\ngiist 12.
M-:\4. His entire life w .-is spent .at the old place, when- lie
si:(-cessfully conducted extensive Hour ami feed mills, and
tnin IS.")! niilil 1S74. when there weri' many l.-irge woods in
Ihe surrounding seclion of coiuitr.v. a saw mill was alsti an
impnrt.ant branch of his business. He was the son of Davnl
A. .ind Soplii.i ll'osll Westervelt. botili natives of New .lersi-y.
His f.ither was born al Tc^aneck, Bergen Co,. Oct, f>, IT'.IT, and
his n.olher was born Sept. I'll. 1807. near the old Zabriskie
.Mill on the I'.-issaie l!i\er. where Oarlield is now located.
They were inarrleil Now (I, l.Sj;!. and moved lo Cl.-iverack
.Vciinack.inonk Township. I'assaic Coiinly. now called Clifton,
where the father starteil lh<' business that has since been con-
ducted b.v him. his son. and his grandchildren. Mr. Wester-
velt married Miss M.-iria -\ckerman. a daughter of ,Iohn H.
and I.i<'litia iKeir.vi .V.Ueini.iii. of Ilacke.usack. .N. .1. '1 liree
children were llic fruil of ilndr marriage, .bdiii A., who died
al Ihe age of four ,\ears. Daviil U. and L.-iiir.-i. now the wife
o'" <_i*corge T. Kenter, lOsi],. who holds a responsible position
w irh the I'assaic Natioinil Bank. Jlr. Westervelt was a Ite-
ptildican but never sougiM, or desired, lo hold .nn.v public oltice.
He was, however, for inaii,v jears ;i inembef of the Ac(|iia(ka
nouk Township Committee. From early in life Mr. Westi'r-
At-lt's carei'i* was marked by energ.\ . perse\'eranee. cool jndg-
inent and unerring sagacity. He wvis not afraid to assume ve-
sponsibilily w lien he felt he was in the riulii. and once havin ,'
sbaiied his eonrse. he never f.-iltered in ll Mention of his
pir.ns. Honesty was the law of his life, and lie scorned all in-
dueeineiits to benetit himselt by nielliods whi<-h endangi'r -d
liiose universal primiples of action that ar- ihe found. itioiis o"'
a strong ami efl'ective life, whose cliii-f end is not llie nn-re
getting of nioiiey. I)iiri-i_' the lite time ot .Mr. AYestervelt he
was a incinbir of Dr. (la-lon's Church in I'assaic, in wliieli
h( was for several years .i deai-<in. He was always a libera;
conlributor to charitable ami religious causes, bestowing snoli
gifls in a ipiiet. unassuming manner, a trail which was al-
wa.>s ch.aracteristic thronghoul his life, Mr, Westervelt died
0<-t, (i, 1807, Ihe one-hundredlh anniversary of his father's
birth.
riiis sketch of the life of I.pvi H. .\lden, of I'assaic lindcc, is an antobiotraidiy. penned by his own hand anil ineptim; with his ideas
as to leiiitth and contents. In accordance with the rule not to iilace any limits on the space taken bv anv biograpliv, it is inserted in full.
J he imblishers disclaim nil responsibility for the sentiments enunciated therein.
RICHARD A. WESTERVELT.
Cj. EDWIN BROWN. M. 0.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
229
CllAUI-KS UIXTON was l.crii July 2lith. 18t!!). nt Bar-
ryville, Sullivan County. N. Y. After i-oeoiving a cuinmon
school oducatioii, he left liome, bciug 15 years of age, and en-
Icrod tlio tolegrapli service of tlie Erie Kailrond. Ho soon
lie<-;inie. prolirient in this serviee, but his ilosire was to conduct
some reprcsenlativi! business in a prosiicmus town. He, there-
fore, connectol himself witli a large jewelry lion.se in .\e\v Vnk
City, finding, at the sauu- tijne, a boarding place in I'assiiic
Soon it waa coined in his mind that he woidil show i'a»-;aic
people wluit a first class jeweli-j- store could do. The Spring
of ISIIS, after years of perseverance, found him ready to ao
ahead and make a l)old dash for the realization of his long-
ilierished ideal. In Ma.v of that yciar he opened what can be
safely said to be the first store of its kind in Passaic, or. in
deed, in any nearby town; a store eiinal to 'nany in fa.-hionable
•inarters in New York Cit.v. But this did not, Jis yet, reach
hs idea: fur. as the holiday season approached impruvements
were in sight, and when all was finished lie found himself in
his present Y. M. C A. Building <iHarters. ready for his first
holiday season in the business, in charge of .a store and stock
secoi. 1 to iioiio anywhere. The fixtures were of the finest, and,
generall.v siwakiiig, there was added to Pivssaic's business in-
terests a jewelry store worthy of praise an<I patronji^i-. Mi
Uixtoii realized from the first day of his opening that success-
was his, and to-day after a little over a ye.ir. we find him doing
a trjide with i>eople who heretofore found it necessary to go
elsewhere. His genial ways, his willingness to please, and his
first class .stock have brought him large jiatronage and led
him to feel that he lid not misjudge the good people of th-.v
cit.v. fiven now he is merrily saying. "Next holidays will timl
me far in advance of the last." Thus it always is: "lie laughs
who wins." He assuri's his customers b.v giving an absoiiite
guarantee with every piir(?haso. yii: Kixton said: "Dia-
monds are worn in I'assaic." And to show people that th-y
coiUd be purcliaseil here, he said: '"I will pl.nce a special de-
pMrtnient in my store for this line of goods, and he did iiiaki
a si>ecial display of diamonds, which it was a pleasure to look
at. And he realized liaiulsoniely from this br.anch of his en-
terprise. His assurance to purchasers of diamonds was free
and above board. And the confidenee he has secured in that
line of sales is very gratifying. In addition to lis jewelry
store. Mr. Rixtou has opened private Optical Parlors, and sc-
cure<l .US optician an expert from Parson's Horological Insti-
tute, I>epartmeiit of Optics, Peoria, 111. Very delicate appar-
ates has been placed at his service, so that persons .seeking re-
lief for ailments of the eye can find here every assistjince known
lo science. The hiiiidre<ls who have received advice and .aid
during the past mouths have only praise for the careful exam-
luations and skill of the optician. It is surely not too much to
s.ay that for this tJiriviiig city the days are past for the no-
madic optician. Nor should we fail to bring to notice Mr.
Uixton's watch ai>! jewelry repairing department. Here, also.
he has given speci.il attention. Ke|vii's to high grade and
lomplicated watches are made a specially. The work is done
in the building; no second party takes part here; he is enabled,
till refme. to give a [losilive gnarautee for one ytar for all his
work. Mr. Rixton is a member of the Methodist Episcop.il
Church, and a stanch Republican. He was married .lanuary
24th, I,S94, to A'erina M. Hardifer. of this city. They have
one lUuighter. Kiuli C. now living. .Mr. Kixtcm eimies of good
stock, is of thrifty habits and sterling principles, the elements
of a sturdy ("li.ir.icter and a A'aluable citizen.
.luU.N U. IKIKK.MIS. nierelianl. was burn at I'alcrsou.
X. .T., August 11, 1866, being the son of .(ohn and Amelia
(Bariiettl Poremns, natives of Paterson. .Mr. Uorcmus at-
lendi-d the public schools of his native <ity. In ISS.') he lo
K-ated .at I'assaie where lie accepted a position as clerk in
Peter Van Winkle's hardware store, ami with whom ho r. -
inained for seven years, resigning to accept a position with
Cornelius Kevilf, with whom he remained throe years. Mr.
Iloremiis then ilecided to engage in biLsiness on his own nc-
couiil. He establisheil his pn-sent business, that of iiLiiiiifuc-
tiirer mid di-aler in mantles, tiling and fire place fnniishings.
His liiisiiuss is derived from i>ll over Xe-.v Jersey and some
of the neighboriiig slates. Mr. Uoreuins has always been a
liepiibliciin. He lias for three yeara »or%M>il as n member of
the Passaic (jiiy Council, representing the Second Wnnl. He
is a member of Ancient Onler Cniteil Workmen, XnlionnI
I'liiiin, is Sei-oiiil Lieutenant of Co. A, l''irsl Keginient, -N'n-
lional (Jnard of Xew Jersey. He is al.s(» a proiiijnent ineiiibor
of the Baptist Church. Mr. Doremiis marni'<l Miss .Vgni-s S.
.\L-irshall. of Paterson. Novemlier 3, 1HH>'>. They bave fo ir
children, viz. .\lfred, Alexander -M., Agnes M., and Amelia 1j.
I'ltKOKKlC SCHMIDT, de^-eased, was born at Basic
Switzerland, ,Taiiiiary 251, 1812. He early showed his love fo'
arcliitec'tural work, as drawings of some of the old cathedrals
of Europe, done when he was only thirteen years of age, will
show. He was educated at Heidelberg and at I'aris. !ii
IS.^.S he came to this country and openeil an olllce in Wall
stre«>t. Xew York. Mr. Schmidt was an iiiioslentations citizen
of quiet manner, a deep thinker, and op|)<>se<I lo show or
pomp. He was free-hearted and liberal. He took an interesl
in public affairs but never could \)c induced to accept a public
olliee. His arc'hitectural work attracte<I considerable atten-
tion. Among his patrons were ex-Governor .Morgan of Xew
Yfrk. Lispenard Stewart, Governor Slorris and many others.
Assisted by Mr. Roeers, Mr. Schmidt ilrew the plans for the
famous .Vstor House on Broadway, Xew York. Por iiiaii.v
years lie was the chief architect for the late Alexander T.
Stewart, and the iilans for such buildings as tin- Woiiian's
Hotel, now the Park Avenue, Xiblo's Theatre, Mr. Stewart's
Garden Cit.v houses. Tiffany's building at Sixteenth btrcct
and Broadway, and others of equal prominence were the work
of his pencil. He reconslructed llie bniliiing at Broadway
and Ninth Street. Mr. Schmidt resided in New York for
thirty years. In 1875 he purchased the proiK-rty at liOxington
avenue and Highland avenue and erected a home. Ho re-
moved here the same year and eonlinued his resideme in this
city until the lime of his death. He retired from business in
1S80. His death occurred October .i, 1803. He left a wife an I
iliree chiidroD, two sons and one daughter. He was eonnctf i
with the St. John's Episcopal Church while occnp.ving the old
liiiilding on Prospeit Street, and was a vestryman for year.".
Mr. Schmidt cared for but f>'W friends, but to Unvse he was
staunch and true. .Vt his death he left considerable proi>erty,
including the Passaic home, land in Colorado and N'-h'-aska,
r.M\ interests in a large estate in Ilaviv. I'rnnce.
lyEO.NWKl ) 1.. (;i!i;.\i;. real estate broker anil iiisiiraiice
egent. one of Passaic's most highly res|H'Cted citizens, was
born in New York, .luly 27. 1841. He removed lo Passaic in
early youth. His was a coiiimon school education, such as
this city afforded at the lime. .Vt alwiut eleven years of age he
went to sea. and followed a seafaring life seven years. He
then learned the engino-turiiiiig and jewelry business. Hav-
ing served four years at this business, he succ-eeded his pn-
.eptor in the same in .New York City, and iliniieil there
for about twenty year.-:, when he laid it aside, and iH-came
( 'ollector of Taxes in this city, holding office nine years. Since
IS95 he has been engaged in his pi-esent occupation. He has
been a resident of Passaic forty-six years. He is a member
of the First Reformed Church. He is a sturdy Republican,
and has been two terms Juslioo of the Peace. He has servi-d
230
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
line tiTiii ;is Frceliolder. Mr. Givar is ;:ii eiitliusiastic worker
ir. thi! Maso.iic FralernitU's. He is I'ast Ma.ster of Passaic
I.odpc. F. and A. M., and Past Di.itriet Depiity of the Grand
I.,.Mli.'<' of Now Jersey. Also, in the bodies of Royal Arch
Masons he is a Past High I'riest. Past Grand High Priest
and a inTnianent member of the General Giand Chapter of the
Inited Slates. Also, in the Coniicil of the Uoyal and Select
Masters he is a p.nst thrice Illustrious Master and i'ast Grand
in.isler of the State. In the Comrnandery of Kniirlits Teni
plars ho is a Past Cimmaiidor and a I'ast fJraiid Coniniander
of the State, and a permanent member of the (Jrand Encanip-
nient of the I'nited States. Ho is, also, a member of Mecca
Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Also, he is a member of
all tiie Scottish Itiie !iodies. includinjr the 32(1 degree. Mr.
Grear wr.s married. Jlay 17, 1809. to Margaret I£. Wilber, ui
Passaic. 'I heir cliiklren are: Until .lane. Frances Amanda,
AcVie Grace, AIr.i:;an Wilbor, Vernon Uoylc, Viola Demarest —
ail l.-ving.
WlI.I.l.VM .1. I'APK. editor of The Daily .Vows, was
Ixjrn. December 1. IS"."!, in Liverpool. England, his parents
being natives of Wliitehaveii, Cunilicrland. He came "I a
.siafaring family on both sides of the house. His fatlui-.
llobert I'ape, was a captain iu the merchant service, ami
ii.mmaiideil llic ship "Maitland." engaged in the China and
.lapan trade, llis wife and two chililrcn. one •<( wlioMi was
the subject ol onr sketch, accompanied him on one of liis
voyages, which terminated in the death of Captain Pape of
fever, on .lul.v :>, ]S77, in Yokohama, .lapan, where he was
buried in the English cemetery. The family returned to Eng-
h I d, where the only sou, William, was adopted by Mr. and
.Mrs. .James A. Hillingo. They brouglil him to the Tuited
Slates in April, l.S,S7, anil settled in I'assaie, having spent
.several years here just after the Civil War. After a year
spent surveying with the laic .Inlni S. Strange. Mr. I'apc
<'Utered the High School, ami Ciime out vale(li<torian of his
class ill ISIKI. He became cimnected with The Daily News in
.laniiary. ISOl, as reiiorter: ro.se to business manager in Jul.v.
l.S!l."i, and became its editor on Octolx^r 1, i8!)7. He was mar-
riid. on September l.">, l.S'.>.S, to .Tulia E. F.. second daughter of
Henry Holtoii of this city They have one child. William Uol-
tt.n. born .July 21. IS!!'.). Mr. Pape is a n;ember of the Passaic
and Aciiuackanonk Clubs, Board of Traile an<l Passaic Council.
.N'ational I'nion. lie has always been Ucpublicaii in politics.
W.\ I.Sl't IN K I'.Ki >\\N. tiiKin.icr and Iciniu-r Mayor uf
Passaii', was Ijorn in HiiHiklyn, on October (i. LWll. He received
his I'diuMtion in the piiblii- schools of Passaic, and then entered
llic b.inUiiig house of Walstoii It. Brown A: Brothers in New
Vi rk. and rapidly rose lo distinction in his business career.
In l.S'.ll he «as i Iccted president of the Eighth Avenue Na-
tional Bank of New York, and in 1S!C> vice-president of the
Stamlaril National Bank. In 1S!)!> the latter institution was
cinsolidatod with the Prodiue Exchange Trust Company, and
.Mr. Brown has since been the head of a large brokerage con-
lern, with headiinarters at liO Broadway. In lS,Sti he was
elected a iiiembcr of our Cit.v Council, and in 1S!I1 was chosen
.Mayor of the •■ily without opposition, lie was re-elected Mayor
ill l.SJK!. During his incumbi'iKV tin- city administration was
o'' the most honest characti-r. In 1SS."i. Mr. Brown was mar-
ried to .lennie I,. Crocker, of UocUland. Mc. Mr. Brown's
kilidl.v and uiiassuming character has tnailc many warm friends
for him.
EDW.VKD W. 1;K1;UV. business manager of Tin- Daily
News, is a young man to hidd such a position, lie was born
at Newark, Fi'briiary 10, 187."), graduated at the Passaic High
School in ISIKI. and went into business in the otlb-e of Denny.
I'l.iu' & Co.. iliv g.Kids commission merchants in New Viu'k.
He remailii'd with tliem for sevi^ral years, representing them
in the South, until he became loiniected with The News as
iiianager in the fall of 18!)7. He was married, on April 12.
lS!t.S. to Mary, daughter of ex-I'ostmaster William A. Willard.
He is scientific in his tastes, and is a member of the Torrey Bo-
tanical Club, the New York -Vcademy of Sciences and the
I.innaean Societ.v of New Y'ork. He is a member of the Pas-
saic Club, .ind attends the First Presbyterian Church.
.\XDi;i:W I'ntl.DS. .11!., lawyer, was burn at Passaic.
.\. .1.. in 1S72. He reci'ived iiis preliminar.v eiliication at the
local pnlilic sihoids. graduating from the High School in
l.SXI. He then entered the I'niversity of the City of New I'ork.
(•empleting the law course in l.S'.ll, receiving the ilegree of
Bachelor of Laws. This was supplementeil liy a i-.ouse .it the
New Y'ork Law Scliocd, as he was at thai time too young to
take the Bar e-xamination. Mr. Foitlds entered the law ottiee
of Hon. Francis Forbes at New York City, ami iipmi attain-
ing his majority, in l.S'.C was .(dniilled In the It.ir in llie
State of New York .is an attorney and counselor at law. He
was afterwaril admitted to the New .Jersey Bai'. Mr. Fouhls
lias devoted i-<insidcrable time to tlie study of the intri<-acies of
llie patent and trade-mark law. and. while lie makes a spwialt.v
• if no p,uli<iil.ir hr.iiirh ui tlie law. has aciinired a large and
|ii(ititabli' pali'iil piaetiei-. Mr. Foiilds has a decided literary
t( i.deiiiy. liaviiiL' ecuitriliiited .1 number of articles to legal pub-
licatioiw. lie li.i> .il'vavs i.ikeii an active interest in political
matters, ardeiiliy siippiut iiiu llie dcietriiies and laiidiclales of the
Republican partj". but has never been a noniini e for any
iilHce. uithough repeatedly urged to do so. He is president of
the Passaic County IJepiiblican Ij'ague and a member of the
Exeiiitive Committee of the State org;tiii/,atioii: he is also a
niemher nf the Ac(|iiackanonk Club and many of the smial
oiganizations of Passaic He takes an active interest in the
Passaic Board of Trade and the HospitaV Association. His
murriago to Miss Mabel W. Kip in the I'irst Reformed Cliiircb.
in 1807. was one of the social iveiii< .if the seascm. The
church. Avhich was haiidsomeiy decorated, was crowded to its
utmost capacity. Mr. Foulds has abilit.v. energ.v and deter-
11. illation, and the future li.dds fur liiiii a brilliant and success-
ful earei r.
lUlAULES AVCUK;!;. .\1. a., was born in .New York
City, June 2.o. 182(1. He graduated from New York I'niversity.
Mr. .Vycrigg took uii his residence in Passaic in the year 1,S.").">.
and lived here until his death, in .Inl.v. 1S!I4 — a period of thirty-
nine years. He was a strong Reimblican. and became very
adivc in the "Lo.val I^eagtie." lie was married. Septemlier 2(1.
l>-rA. to Miss .lulia E. Ellsworth, of New York City. Four
ihildreii were born to them: Hi'leii Ellsworth. Benjamin.
Charles and Susan: all ileceased. Charles -Vycrigg. the sub-
ject of this sketch, was a cousin of the late I>r. Benjamin B.
Aycrigg, ami a nephew of Colonel Benjamin A.vcrigg. Ben-
jamin, his son. who ilicil in 18!t.'{. was for three years a mem-
ber of the Board of Edneatii>n. \l the linie of his death In-
was a pniiiiiiieiit lawyer in Patt-rson.
.MAFRICE II. S.MALL, the subject of this sketch, was
born at Milton, Me.. March 18. l.SlKt. He was educated in
the public schools of that place: also, at Colby I'liiversity.
where he received his degre«" of A. B., after which lie tiMd;
a three years' postgraduate course iu Clark I'niversity, Worces-
ter. Mass. Professor Small has chosen the profession of teadi-
ii'g, and is devoting all his energies to excel in that inspiring
«(.rk. He became Principal of the High School of this city
September 1, 181)8. and. at this writing, lias entered uimju his
SCI ond year. He is a gentleman of pleasing address and win-
ning w.iys. and finds pleasure ill a.ssociating with the follow-
ing clubs and fraternities: The ■■Yount.ikah Club," '"Delia K.ip-
^
>.
WILLIAM B. E. MILLER, D. V. S.
CORNELIUS VAN RYENDAM.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
233
|i:i i:p-.il..ii l"iMti'iinIy. ' ilic '■ N :ii ifnial l-'i'iliTiil ion i.f ( iniiluiili-
Si ii.liiiis. " till' Siiili' Kihii-;ili(in;il AssiM-iatimis ni' Mnin nl
Ni u liisiv. Till' I'rot'i'ssiu' is n Kcpiililiraii iiml m iiiciiiIk'I'
111' (lie < '.iiif;r<';.Mtiiiiial Clnin'li,
1>U. .lOSKl'H I'AKKKi: I'lt.VV. was Imhu .\lar.li lilli,
1)S44. ajt Kast \Vc.\ iiiniilli, Mass. He rec'i-ivt'd liis ciliKiiliim ui
AniliiVfr, Mass, Allci- uliicli, al tin' a^'r iil' IS. Iii> I'lilisli'il as a
pi'ivjitc ill Coiiipaii.v ('. of rlif ."ijiiil Kogiiiii'iil of Voliiiili'iTs,
Nortliaiii|ilnii. .Mass. This was in l.St;2, tUo, sfimul year of tlir
Civil War. ills rt'^iiiu'iu uiidcr the gallant C'uhmi-l II.-iIIhtI
Sli'viiis ( Irci'iilcal'. was iuoorporateil with tho Niiu-lw.iitli .Vrmy
('(iips. iiiiiliT (;cii. I5.uil<s. Dr. I'ray saw st-vi-i-e scniix', all
tlnoMftli till- si(>.i;c iil' IVirt ilud.sou, on the .Mississippi. (Jreat
were the lianlsliii)s of the soMix.'a's at that point. l)i: l'r.uy's
eiiMipaiiy. iimiilieriii.i; ninety men, eame olT with Init twenty-
si'Veii. I'r. ri-a.\ liiiil enlisted for iiine nionilis. Inn he MiTved
one ye. II'. llo <Iiiiil; Io his resinu'iil till I'orl lliidsim went
down, and reeeived an honorable, discharge. Keluriiiiig to civil
life he took a eonrse in medicine at tho .MKiny .Medjeal Col-
lege, Albany, X. Y. IHiit he heeame. hy profiiisiou. a Dermatol-
ogist and Surgeon Chiropodist. He lieeame the originator of
manicure art. and the inventor of manienre prepaivitions and
instruineints in Ameriea. His system is kiniwn tho worlil over,
as tho "I'ray I'lan." He pnlilished a work iu 1.S77, laind
"Modern Classitieations of the Diseases of the Feet." It was
publisheil in all languages, and sent to an parts of the world.
His sucociss was attribtitcd to his knowledge of mediicine, sur-
gery, chemistry and pliarmaey; .also, perfumery, aixl 'hi- cos-
metic art. Dr. I'ray « as e.vieedingl.v courteous and alTable in
his matiiier of doing business and. heuco. hej-aiuo very iM>pnlar.
His parlors ai .iti \\'ost Tweiity-thirtl St., .\ew Yon;, were
visited by many piifple. Needless to say he was eniinently
suecessful. He w:is a niemlier and trnstrf of the I»;iptist
Church of this city, .-iiid an earnest worki-.r Iherein. The Die-
tor was a member of .the Hoard of ^frade of this eily. ainl of
the I'edic Society. New York City. He was a Republican— pub-
lic spirited, taking a hearty interest ill the improvements iu
Passaic. Dr. Cray A\as married to his second wife. Mi.ss BlU
Coleman, of Hi klyii. N. Y.. .Iiine .:Uth. ISSil. One child, a
il.ini;lit"r. (Jladys. was born to them, now livin.u. Dr. Pray
Jmd but just begun to live m his new, pileiganit home, on Ay-
criug .■iveiiiie, when he "vas suddenly called to his heavenly
home. His ilemise was a groiit shociv to tue comnuuiity. He
had watilied .mil directed the oroction of his residence, an en-
graving of wliiih is here giveji, with the greatest care, for a
long time,
UKOIUJK DKNIKH.M. for thirty-six years one of the
most public-spirited and respei'ted citizens of Passaic, was
born at Dunbar. Scotland, on .Inly ]L', 1S,"?0, and was within
ih.ree days of his sixty-eighth birthday when he died, on .Inly
11, 1898. After finishing school he followed the sea for ten
years, being .ipprentieed at the age of fifteen years in the
English navy, lie inheiiteil liis love of the sea from his father,
who had been engag mI in the English service with the rank
of captain for many years, and after his retirement was har-
bor master of Dunbar until he eame to this country, locatiiii:
jit Flushing. J^. 1. During the ten yerrs that Mr. Deiiholm
followed the sea he was stationed for two years on the west
cea.st of .\frica, at times going into the interior for tho sup-
pression of the slave trade, the Hritish ( lovei iiineiit then earn-
estly endeavoring to stamp it out. Ho crossed the .Vtlantie
over two dozen times in sailing vessels, and had twx> or three
narrow escapes from shipwreck. During the last few years of
his seafaring life he was engaged in eominercial tratlii' between
New Y'ork and South .Vmeriea. Leaving the sea. he settled in
I'lushing. I>. 1., in 1S.">C>. where his family had previously
K and aimut IStiJ eame to I'aHsiijc to lake up the pliimliiiiK
business which his brother i'harles <|iiil in order to enliHt
ill the army. When the brolher retiirneil Ihey furniiil a ri>-
parliiership. which lusted !lilrly-Hix years. .Mr. Denliohn wax
one of the org ini/.ers of the First PreHbyleriaii Church thirty-
two years ago. and beeaiiie one of its first elders, nil olllii-
wlii<-h he 111 Id until his dentil. There are only n hnndfiil of
survivors of the original coiigregaiion in ihis iieigliborhoiHl now.
.•iiiiong llieiii being \V. .\. Wilhirtl, .Iuiiii-m S. Itiddi-ll and
(Jiorge .Mctiiblioii. Ili' was one of the original ineinberK of
the old Fire Assoeiation, am'. f>,r a long lime its si iretary.
He was a former menilier of ICescne Truck Coiiipiiny niiii a
ineinlier of the l'>x<'iiipt Fir»iiieii*.< .Vs,so<iiitioii. He was n
l'"reemasi.ii of many years' Ntiiii-liiig, Ixdonging m I'asmiic
Ixidge. No. (IT. P. and .V. .M., and one or two kinilnd .Masonic
orders. .Mr. Deiiholni was a slaillieh l(e|iiiblican in poliliis
and the advocate .of good ■■undiict of all public alTairH. lie
took part in the agitation against race track legishition of I.HIK!,
spoke at the public ineeting. under thi" auspices ol the Citizen's
League, in llie Opera House, and was one of the delegation
tliat represented Passaic at Trenton on the occasion of the
ileinonstration against the proposi,<l legislation. He look an
active |>art in the "ampaign of I.SiCi, which resiiltinl in Ihe
ehclion of (Jarfiidd. being presiilent of a caiiipaign club at that
time. Mr. Denh'ihii ran for Mayor on the Inde|iendeiil ticket
in 1870, against (Jeneral Biril W. Spem-er. Iti'imldican. who
was elected for his first term in that vear by a nitijorily of 1"
votes. He married in Flushing Miss yi-.iry .1. Haciin. by whom
he had two children: Mary Fliiiabeth. now .Mrs. Knos Vrechiiid.
born in l'"lnshing. and Charles K. Deiilndiii. who is a unlive of
I'a.ssaic. Hoth reside in this city. In 1.S.S7 he married Miss
Kliz.ibeth H. Kose. who siinives him and still resiiles here.
IIKK.M.W l40-\ir/,. iiiaiiufaeliirer. was born in Saxony,
tJirmany, in 1.S42, whiTc he received a iiood education in a
well-known bulness college of his iialive place. After leaving
school he engaged as an apiirentice to, and aciiuired a thorough
ki.owledge of, the woolen trade, thereby filling himself for a
future, .so that he would be enabled to su|H-ri!iti lid and iiiider-
stand all the details conneited with the niannfacture of wihiIcii
goods. Ill 181)3 Mr. Ml nitz came to America, and for many
yiars was engaged in the niannfactme of eanl clothing, with
laetories located at \Vorcesler. Mass.. and Philadelphia. In
1S!):J he selected Passaic as a place of residence, having pur-
chased niannfacturiiig property at Ijidi. .N. .1.. where he now
operates an extensive plant ,levi>ted to the maniifaiture of
woolen goo<]s. In I.Slii". Mr. Koiiilz married Mi.ss Frederickn
Dcwein, a daughter of a wellkmxvn and highl.N respecliil citi-
zen of Hiirliiigton. Iowa. Seven ■•hildrcn have been born to
their marriage, all of whom are now living. .Vllhoiigh Inkiiig
no active part in politi'-s. Mr. Honitz is a stanch Kepiiblicnn.
He is a liberal and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Bonilz is n
self-made man and possesses goinl judg it, rare exectitive
ability and business sair.uitv. and is of nniniiM-acliablc integ-
rity
CKi ii;i;i; ril l l,l l' IMST. one of Ihe hardest workers and
loost siccessrnl legal practitioners ill the city, was born in
HriMiklyn. .March !•. 18i;i. and moved to Pns.saic with his pnreiils
when twelve years of age. His father. Andrew C. Rust, was
of Holland birth, while his mollier. Henrietta C. C,erl>er, was
a native of Cermany. They were po<ir. but reariil a large
family of children, and .•ndowed ihein with physical henllh
and mental vigor. (Jeorge was an ajit sindciit and graduated
ill the public schiHds in 187l>. He entered the law olBce of H.
K. Coddington. and was ndniitteil as an attorney in 1.S.S-J.
iminediately on coining of age. His rise in his pn>fessioii
was stcaily and rapid. He became Coiiiisellhr-al-r.jiw in I.S.S."..
234
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
iiiid !)}• tliai tiiii<> he was comisel for a miiulier at iDiiimatiuus.
Hi' was flffted a iiumhIjit of the Board of Education in
issi;. when only twenty-five years of age. and in 1887 Mayor
Howe apiK)inte<l him City Counsel. He held the oflice until
1S'.I2. The legal business of the city was well conducted while
ill his hands. He successfully defeniled the suit brought by
Newark to prevent I'assaic from sewering into the river, in
which he. with John W. Griggs, was arrayed against some
of the best legal talent of the State. He also drafted the
King law. under which a permanent Board of Assessors was
'M-eateil. Sonx' local property-owners took the law to the courts,
where it was strongly criticized by Judge Hi.xon. but in the
higher courts was helil to be constitutional. So perfectly did
it tit the needs of the city, that it has been found necessary
lo make only one trivial .•imendnient. allowing a temporary
apjiointment when a member of the Board is interested in
any property affected by an improvement. This was a con-
tingency which did not arise for nine years. Mr. Kiist is a
b.-ichelor. He attends the First Presbyterian Church. He is a
Kepublican in politics. He is a member of the I'assaic Club,
the Yountaknh ('.■iiiitry Club :iiid the Exeiiiiit Firemen's As-
socialion.
.I.VCOH .1. V.VN N()OKl)T. general ciiiitractnr. and one of
the foremost men of public affairs of I'assaic County, was born
at Wallington. Bergen County. X. J.. March •-'•_'. ISli.'i. He
was educated at the public schools of Passaic, and began his
business career at the early age of twelve years. For several
years he was employed as a weaver in the I'assaic AVoolen
Mills, and at the age of eighteen he began the trade of a
bricklayer. I'pon finishing his apprenticeship, he engaged in
business for himself as a c(mtract(U-. and thus entered upon
a career which has proved successful. He organized and was
the fir.st secretary of llie Bricklayi'rs and Masons' Union. No.
i'2. of Passaic. Mr. Van Noordt has long taken an active and
prominent part in municipal and county affairs, and has inter-
ested himself in every measure that affects the commonwealth.
He was elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Passaic
County. 1S!)2, from the Fourth Assembly District, and served
as presiding officer of that bod.v for four consecutive Itiiiis. an
hi nor which has never before been accorded a niemlier of the
Board. Mr. Van Noordt is a member of the Passaic City Rod
and (inn Club, .\iipiackaiionk Club. Charit.v liodgi'. Knights of
Pythias; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No.
:'>S7. Nation.il I'liion. and .\ncient Ordi'r of S. .ind E. Mr. Van
Noordt married Miss Agnes l>rukker of (Jrand IJapids. Michi-
gan, February '2:i, 188'J. They have one child, a son aged eight
years. In ISilT Mr. Van Noordt was the Itepublican nominee
for Sln-riff of I'assaic County. lie was defeated only by a
small majority. He was the first an<l mdy Passaic citizen who
ever leceivi'd the inunination for that iillice.
CIIKM'.l.irS I'. S TKA Vl';i;, ncrrdiant. w.-is born at
Kerhonkson. lister County. .N. V., .laiiuary Til. l.S4!t. being the
son of Peter and Magdalene i\'andeverel Strayer. now resi-
dents of Passaic, but both of whom are natives of Hollainl,
thi y having come to America with their parents at the same
tjiiic. when Ihe.v were sixteen and nineteen .vears of age. re-
s|iectively. They were married in 1848, and in May, 18!>8,
they celebrated their golden wedding. The father of our
subject is still activel.v engaged in public affair.s. he being
the present assistant superintendent of streets in Passaic. The
subject of this sketch attended the common schools at the
village of Port Benjamin. N. Y., and iluring his summer va-
lations he fouml employment on the Delaware and Hudson Ca-
nal, where he was captain of various canal boats for a period
of about five years. On September 11. 1S72. when he was
twenty-four years of age. he married Miss .\una E. Brmlhed
of Allgersville, Ulster County, N. Y. Four children have beeir
born to their union, two of whom are deceased, viz., Mag-
da line and James, both having died in infancy. The living
children are Fanny B. and Abram X. A. In 1S74 Mr. Strayer
located in Passaic, where he has continue<l to reside ever
since. In 1887 he engaged in his pre.sent business, that of
shco merchant. Since coming to Passaic he has been promi-
nent in public affairs. He was for eight years Overseer of
the Poor. In 1897 he was appointed to the position of school
trustee, to fill an unexpired term which closed in April, 1S9S.
He is at present one of the Commissioners of Appeals, having
Ixen appointed in August of tlu' present year. He is also a
member of the Republican County Committee and also of the
Rt])ublican Committee of the First Ward in Passaic. .Mr.
Stiayer has always bi-en a .- launch Republican, and has for
many years filled positions of importaiu-e. and has always
stood high in the councils of his party. He is a member of
the Netherlands Society in Passaic, and was for three years
prisident of that organization, and is at present its vice-presi-
dent. He is a director in the Home Building and Eoan As-
sociation. In religious circles Mr. Strayer is a member of
the First Reforme<l Church, with which he has bwn identi-
fied for man.v years.
PETEI! TOR.NQVIST. son of John and Catherine (Jo-
cobson) Tornqvist, was born at I-indkoping, Sweden, De-
cember ?: 1810. where he received his education in the public
schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of a metal
iion worker, which he followed up to the time he came
to this coniitiy, which was in 1.SI17. locating in Xew Y'ork City.
.\rtcr arriving in New York. Mr. Torniivist was engaged by
Mr. Geiirge II:iyes. an English inxeutor, who invented metal
icrnices and sky lights, ami who w.is the first to introduce
them in America. Mr. Tormivist made some thirty models
for Mr. Hayes, which were used to obtain patents upon, and
sent to Washington. Mr. Tcn-niivist is practically the father
of the galvanized iron cornice in America. When he first
arrived in Xew Y'ork that style of cornice was uid<nown.
v.ood being used entirely until tlu- fire insurance companies
forbade its use. In 1871 Mr. 'rnrmivist's eyesight began to
l:iil. .Hid in that ycai- In- dnidcil in leave Xew York, .-ind
located ill P;issaic. where he purchased the interest of Levi
H. Aldoiis in the firm of Falstrom & .VIdous. During the
Cetiteunial at Philadelphia, in l.'^7(i. he had a display of various
styles of ci^riiices. which afterward bn-ught him orilers from
ililTcreiit pails (if tlie I'nited States. He continued in that
<-c.niiectioii until ISDU. at which time the firm was iiiror
pirated umlcr the ikiiih' nf ihi' l-'alsticuii iV: Tonc|vi-^l Coni-
faiiy, both he and Mr. Falstrom retiring, and also agreeing
not to engage in the same business for a period of fhri'e years
fioin that date. Since then .\lr. Toniqvisi li.is been living
a retired life in his comfortable home at No. 'JSl I'aiilison
;-Mniie. During his residence in Passaic .Mr. 'rmiuivist has
shown his public spirit in making a number of real estate
investments, and has done much toward improving them. He
is the owner of several of the most valuable business proi»-
erties in the city, and is considered one of the foremost <'iti-
zens. In October. ISTii. .Mr Tormivist married Miss Eva A.
(Jvist of New York. Six children have been born to the
union— three sons and three daughters— of whom one sim and
two daughters are still living. Mr. Tornqvist may be justly
classed a self-made man. He is endowed witJi a high sense
of honor, and has never been known to violate his word. His
siK'cess in life may be attributed to his relf-reliance and un-
erring judgment in men and things, as well as to his u|iriglit
londiiit tliroughouf life.
m.M^
MRS. DR. ALICE H. BURDICK.
DR. EDWIN DeBAUN.
/^'Tt,-..^
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
237
W. hi; \l>F(li;i> I'UOIKi;. jcwi-lcr, WHS lii.iii in New
York City .Iniu' lil, IsTti. On tin- patcrniil siilf lie is ilrscciiili'il
rripin ohl Kii^'lisli sloik. anil his is llie only family nf tin-
iinnic in Anicriia. Hi' is rclatiMl to .lames Anthony I'mnilr. a
notoil Kn;;llsh liislorian anil li'ctnrer. who was burn at Tot-
iios,-lin I)>'v.>.ishin', KnKloml. in the year ISIS. an<l who was
the author of a niimhcr of oelchratcd works. ainonK whii-h
were "Tlio Shadows of the Clouds." "The Xomcsis of FailU,"
"History of Kiij;hiii<l from the Fall of Wolscy to the Defeat
of the S|>,inish Armada." el>-., etr. On the maternal side
Jlr. Kroii(U> is related to the old Van Xess family, who for
many ^jenerations formed an imi>ortant part of tlie history of
I'assaie County: the old honse and slave hcadi|iiarlers lic-
li nj;in;r to the family are still extant near I'ine Urook. N. .1.
.Mr. Kroiide received a earefnl imImc ation in the |mhlie schools in
Now York city and at Collon's private boardinj: school. In l.S'.)1
he accepted a position as trav<diiig representative with a promi-
nent jewelry firm in Maiden I.ane. New Y'ork. witli whom he
ri'inaiiied until ^S'.C<. at which time he established his present
W. BRADFORD FROUDE.
business at No. IT'J M.-iin avenue (Passaic), and which has be-
come one of the le.'din;; houses of the <'ity. Mr. Froiidi- is a
tlioi(iMi;li rxnert in the matter of di.inionds and oIIht |irecious
stones. It has .ilways lieeu his aim to carry a line of as fine
jewelry, as would Im- found in the representative jewelry stores
in New York Ills efforts have been rewarded by his bein;r
iildi" to draw a <lass of trade which is b.v no means local ill
its class or clKuai-lei-. Mr. I'roude is well known socially and
otherwise. He is a iharter memlM'r of Passaic I.odpre, No.
oS7. B. P. ( ». !•;.. and is .also a men.lier of Passaic Lodge.
I. (). (). I". .\llhou(,'h a younjr man. Mr. Fronde is one of
Passaic's most eiiierprisinu' and profircssive merchants, and is
demonstratinj; his confidence in the city's future by makin;:
real estate in .estmv'iits.
CII.MM.KS (JUHNKI.I.F II.WKS was born at Troy. .\.
Y.. .Manli L'T. 1SI4. Win n .iboiii iw.i years of am' his parents
removed with liim to New York City, where he ree«'ive<l hix
education in the pulilie schools, enilini: with n two yenrH*
course in the New York Cily Collese. On leaving scIkmiI Mr.
Hanks entered the olllce of Crenelle A: Itil.by, Custom HoUkc
liroki'i-s. a lonK-eslablished ami well-kiiown lirm. Here he re-
mained six years, when tin- senior partm-r retired. The intelli-
::enee, diliKenee anil faithfulness of Mr. Hanks h-d to liio
l.i'iui; invited by .Mr. ICdward A. Hildiy to form »ith liiiii a
new partnersip. In .Inly. l.ST'.l. Mr. Kibby died. U'aviiie Mr.
Hanks to carry on the business for a liuie alone. Kul, takiiii:
in a younger jiartner. he has eontinm-d in the same buKiiicHit
to this ilay. .V ^ood measure of success has nttendtnl him.
He possesses the power of < i>iieenlratiiii; his iiiliiil on the one
pursuit, beifnii in .voiiiik inanhiKHl. He has lu-i-n able to over-
ride diseoiirauemeiits, iiicideiil to such a business. And he hnK
been content with the average of success. .Mr. Ilaiiks tintl
eaiiie to Passaic to reside in I.SCiS. With the exception of alKiul
seven years, spent in Nnlley and HriMiklyn. he has Ihhmi a resi-
dent here ever since. Here the air has sih-iiii-<I nnmt snliibrioiis,
the scenery iii.ist |deasins.', anil friends most eoiiKenial. Here.
Ml leniL.'th. he established his |H'riiiaiient home, takint: always
a deep interest in our public affairs. It may be said that, after
his family, neaix'.st to his heart lies the ehuicli— St. .lohn's
Kpiscopal Church, of which he has been a vestryman from the
first and warden several years: next, the public schonls. With
njuch etliciency he has served on the Board of I'Miieation five
.Mars. He became the cliairman of the first coiiiniillee ap-
pointed on m.iniial training. He visited .schools where manual
ivainin:; had been already incorporated in the sehiM>l work, and
made the first report to the Board on that subject. Lastly,
civic affairs. He was an active promoter of the scheme ex-
ploited by the late A. Swan Brown for piin-hasini; the Paiili-
siui property and transformint: the "Castle" into the present
elegant City Hall, eontribiitin): liberally to the fund for the
accoiiiplisliinent of the same. He is a prunuiinced ICepublicaii,
lull does not seek otfice. He rcjiards it as one of the foremost
duties of the public schools to teach .Vinerican history and to
instil loyalty. He was the first to offer a resolution to the
Board of Kiiucation to cause fiaiistaffs to Ik- placed on all the
school buildings, and flags to lie pnrchaseil :inil kept hoisted
during school hours. Mr. Hanks is a iiieiiiber of the .National
-Vrts Club, .'{7 \Vest :{4lli street. New York, an iiislitiilion
established by artistic and literary men for the purpose of
promoting industrial art. In this field .Mr. Hanks is a recog-
nized connoisseur. He has prepared many valuable pa|HTs on
industrial art. On the solicitation of the nienibers of the Kenil-
wortli Society, of this city. .Mr. Hanks has read these papers,
much to Iheir eilification and delight. .\s may be inferreil. he
is a member of this societ.v, and was for one year its pr»-sideiit.
-Mr. Hanks was a contributor to the fund for the purchase of
the grounds and the erection of the Passaic Club House, uud.
afterward, became a member of the club. He is, also, a nieiii-
ber and one of the Board of I li rectors of the Y. M. C. A. .Mr.
Hanks w is married to Itose Colvin .lami-s, of .New York. .Vpril
14. l.SliS. Four eliildren have been lH>rn to them: Uoseniary
.\lling. now .Mrs. C. Trowbriilge Hollister. of Uiitherford: llo-
bart tireiiclle ideeeasedl. .Matilda Karl iileeea.s<-<h. and Klliel
.Viigela (Jrenclle. Mr. Hanks traces his an«v.stry through New
Kiigland to Old Kngland. The Hanks family stands connecteil
with that of .Mirahain I.ini-oln, whose mother was Nauey
Hanks. .\s to personal traits, Mr. Hanks is oiit.siHikeii, yet
gentlemanly: a staunch churchman, yet tolerant of all who art-
loyal to the Master: he is a genial eoui|>aniuu and a valuable
friend. His conversation and written artieh-s show careful
11 .ailing and thoughtfiilness. On many subjects he cuu always
be relied upon to say something instructive, entertaining and
helpful.
238
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
EBEXKZTOU KHLI,()(;G KOSK. deieascd. was lioni at
South Covciitry, ('oiiuccticut, September 13. 1835. His an-
ffstors eiiiisrateil from Kiigland to Massachusetts in 1(>37. His
;;rcat-Kran(lfather. a UeVDliitiouary .soldier, married Elizalietli
Hale, a sister of Nathan Hale. His father was a wealthy
iiianiifaetnrer and a prominent man of that section,. The
snlijeit of this sketeh was named for an ni;cle, Elienezer
KelloKX. who was a well-known professor of ^\'illianls Col-
le;re. When a boy Mr. Kose received a careful education,
althiiujrh he never attended college. After leavinjr school, and
while still a youn<r man, he eusaged in the silk business in
New York City, but he resided in Paterson, X. .T, In ISSl
lie liM.ilic! .n I'a.s.saic. taking up his residence in what
was known as the Kilgour mansion, after which he removed
to No, 131 Gregory avenue. In 189G he purchasiKl property
and erected the present handsome house at No. Hi? Penning-
ton avenue, now occupied by his wiili.w. During his lifetime
Mr. I{o>e was an active member of the First I'resli.vterian
Church of I'assaic, and was also cue of the trustees. During
the construction of that edifice he was a liberal <-ontrilintor
to the building fund, besides being a memlier of the commit-
tee having charge of its construction. On ,Tune 12. lS(i2, Mr.
l{(.se was united in irarriage to Miss .Julia Haven Kings-
bury of Dedham, Massachusetts. Their married life was al-
v.ays a happ.v oni'. The children born lo the union were seven
ir. number, viz.: Carrie I..inda (Mrs. F. A. SchettUr), (leorge
K'-lIogg, F.iniiy Whitney iMrs. W. ,T. Fishl. deceased: Lewis
IJussell, Fre<lerick I'reston, Edward Lewis, deceasitl. and
.\bbie Kuiiice. On September 27, l>SiK!. after a short illness,
of only two hours, Mr. IJose passed from earth. On the
nierning of the day of his death his health was good: about
2 o'l-lock in the afternoon he complaiuH<l of feeling ill. .■uid two
hi urs Ijiter he died of heart failure. His runer:il oiiiiried
Siiitemb.r 2S. ISilC, llir IIcv. Dr. Leavens ..llici.-il iiig.
.TOH.N .MILTON MOUSE was born in Kendall, Orleans
Ci^unty. .\. v.. .November 2."i, 18.30, His parents, Benjamin
Morse and Elizabeth Tlionias. were pioneers in that township,
moving thither in 1814 from Northern New Hampshire, They
cleared the laud, built a li^g dwelling and rearwl a family of
seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
youngi-st. His grandpa rent.s. Captain Daniel Mmsc and .lacob
Thomas, both served in the war of the Kevolution. .Mr. Morse
was educated in the Kendall I'nion School, Itrockporl .\cad-
emy and (Jenesee Wesle.van Seminar.v, Lima. N. Y. Like so
many others of that day, Mr. Jlorse engaged in teaching dur-
ing the winters. Five years were passed in this way. At
.schoid in spring and fall, teaching in the winter. In 18.58
he found his way to New Y(u-k City, and was employed as
bookkeeper and cashier in mercantile houses for about ten
years. In .lanuary, 18U8, he became cashier and private bciiik-
keeper for Samuel Hawk of the St, Nicholas Hotel. New
Yiirk. In 1878 he followi-d .Mr. Hawk to the Windsor Hotel,
I'ifth .\venue. New York. In May. ISiMI. with the i)roprie-
tors. .Messrs. Hawk and Wetherbee, he left the Windsor Ho-
tel for the Hotel Manhattan, which was bring erected on the-
corner of Madison avenue and Forty-second street. New Y'ork,
At this writing Mr. Morse is secretary of the Hawk and Weth-
erbee Corporation: also jirivate bookkeeper and cashier of the
Hotel .M.Luliall:!!!. .Mr. Morse became a resident of I'assaic
in the sijring ol J87(>, building hi.s home, corner of .Vscension
and High streets, in 187.5, Mr. Morse is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the Lodge,
<'hapter and Conimamlery, He was a member of the City
Council of I'a.ssaic for seven years and of the Hoard of Eilu-
eation for six years. In each of these IiimHcs he proved him-
self an al)le and conscientious workir. He also served in
Ihe fire department of this city the alloted term of seven
years and received an ln^Mur.iblc ilischargi'. Mr. Morse is a
memb<>r and .in elder of the First Presbyterian Church of
this city. For a number of years he was the enthusiastic and
efficient superintendent of its Sunday-school. His successful
work in that fruitful field is held by many in grateful re-
nKuibraiuv. Mr. Morse was married. .Vpiil r,. 18.54, to Sylvia
A. Fletcher of Madison, Wis, They have one daughter, Mabel
Fletcher, who is a graduate of Darlington Seminar.v. West
Chester, Pa. They have an attractive residence and grounds,
as shown elsewhere, where friends are always made welcome.
Mr. Morse, like many others, aimed in early life, to .secure a
college education and to enter one of the professions; but un-
foreseen circumstances placed these things beyond his reach.
He did not, however, wholly lay aside his studies, and recently
he surprised his friends by publishing a neat volume, entitled
"Memories of Childhood and Other I'oems." A glance at these
sunny lyrics and pastorals enables one to estimate the quality
of both the heart and the mind of their aiitlior. He was full
of his song, as the robin of which he sings:
"From a tree that was near came an echoing voice.
For another glad robin awoke to rejoice:
Oh. so grateful was he — he was full of his song —
He would sing it, at intervals, all the day long."
\. Memories of Childhood i:'. iMiems.
2. Drives Arouml Passaic ,5 poems
.''.. Keligioiis 22 poems.
4. Patriotic (! poems.
■5. Miscellaneous :!4 poems.
In this brief sketch we have mdy spnce for a few speci-
mens culled here and there from his bonk.
Fr<iin "Memories of Childhood": —
But of all things that gladdened our childhood.
There was nothing to us half so dear
As our mother, so true and so loving.
Ever ready to counsel and cheer.
War there trouble to darken our iialhway?
Were we tempted to anger and strife?
Mother's counsel of pradence and wisdom
Call43d us back to a more noble life.
I"njiii "The Uiver Drive"; —
"Glide ohj O River! to the ocean wide;
But let thy lessons in our hearts abide.
Glide on and leave thy source far. far behind:
Complete thy course: thy way is unconfiricd!
As naught [ir^n-cnti- thy imion at the last
W'ith all the waters of the ocean vast.
May naught prevent our onward, upward course
To God— at once our final end and so-lrce!
The River Drive presents so much to please.
So much of loveliness one hears and sees:
?ueh glad surprise in river, laud, and sky.
Is in reserve for watchful passers by.
Such food for thought is in that flowing st ream.
Such proof that life is not an idle dream.;
"Tis nothing strange we often drive that way
For restful scenes to close a busy day."
From "'l"lu- Orange Mountain Drive"; —
"And there, on 'Eagle Rock." with glass we'd view
Those scenes so old, and yet, to us so new."
The Oranges. Montclair and Blnomfield rest
Like sparkling gems beneath that lofty crest;
And far to northward. Ihcr*-'. in calm repose
Is seen in outline dim old ' 'Tony's Nose.'
Some years ago, a quaint old village stood
Quite near its base, along the river road.
Acquackanonk,' 'twas called. 'Quack-Neck' tor short:
So did some country folk the name distort.
All this is changed — Passaic now is there.
A city larger grown, more bright and fair.
Us schools and chirches tell of strength and grace;
In all this favored land each has its place.
And other villages and cities grand.
Sonic far away, and some quite near at hand.
Come clearly into view from that high crest
Where, years before, the eagles built their nest. "
From the "Dundee Drive — Cedar Lawn"':—
"The silent city. In the distance se3n.
Adorned with trees and shrubs and plats of green.
With slabs and monuments on either hand;
Some very plain and others very grand,
Invitts within its gates — wo look around!
And see. on every side, 'tis hallow c'd ground!
So beantii'ul. one has no thought of dread.—
A lovely spot— that city of the dead.
FOUR GENERATIONS.
C. J. CADMUS, MOTHER, SON, AND GRANDSON.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
241
Frinn Ui'lk'i'ius Poems: —
CllKIST OUR RANSOM.
Thou, our ransom! thou, our friend!
In us let thy graces blond.
Help us more and more to see
What a Christians life should be.
Ojt nf dar]<ness into day.
Liinil; of (Jod, lead thou ilu- way.
KEEP STEADY.
Don't falter, young man. don't falter;
But trust in the arm of the Lord.
No infidel scoffs can alter
Tile glorious truths of His Word.
The (iod of your falhtrs defends you;
The Spirit, most holy, befriends you;
The Saviour from Heaven c-ame down
To give yoi a robe and a crown!
Keep steady, young man. keep steady.
Whatever vain worldlings may say.
For labors of lo\e be ready;
Tile calls of the Master obey.
L'nworthiness freely confessing;
Stand fast on God's proinis- of blessing.
The world with its favor or frown
Is naught to the robe and th_^ crown.
I'"i'(>iii I'niriotii- rcieiiis: —
nrit Fi.Ac.
O, flag of our country, thou Red. White and Blue!
Float proidly aloft, o'er the valiant and true.
Though flags of the nations for lioiiors may vie.
Thou glorious banner, we lift thee on high!
Let traitors beware how they scoff at thy power!
True hearts shall arise for the day and the hour.
Thy stars and thy stripes will to victory guide;
In peace, or in war — still our glory and pride.
Ill his miscellauouus imiMiis :\vl- hkiii.v trcius. We naiiie the
lollowiiifr: "Doii't Be Queer.'" "X;!!!! Aim Kli/.a." "My Treas-
ure" ami "Don't You Sec'.'" Hut Mr. Morso dot's not stop
with the inihhshfil vohniie. The followiii;; is taken t'l'niii his
uiipuhlishcd iMicius: —
LIFE'S CONFLICT.
A.vake. O Sleeper! 'Wake!
The night is gone, and hours begin
When thoJ must work if thou would'st win;
For foes without and foes within
A wreck of life would make.
There's much to do. and moiuents fly;
The sun will soon be climbing high!
On coich of ease no longer lie;
Thy drowsy slumbers break!
Heed thou the call. Arise!
Fierce enemies are just before,
"liink not they're on a foreign shore:
The conflict meets thee at thy door.
Guard well against surprise.
Thy to;S would strike thee unawares!
Be thou alert!— for deadly snares
Are oft concealed in worldly cares.
Which prove their best disguise.
Tbough fierce the strife, stand fast!
When passions boldly thee assail.
Let not their dread assaults prevail.
Stand! Firmly stand! thou need'st not fail;
A mighty friend thou hast.
Stand ever on the side of right.
Defending truth with all thy might—
Thy greatest foes shall take th?ir flight.
And thou shalt win at last.
Stand fast in God alone!
When appetite would gain control.
And. like a mighty billow roll
To erish the bulwarks of thy soul.
Look thou to God alone.
To God. who hath all power to save!
He giveth strength, he maketh brave!
He curbs the passions— stills the wave!
Trust thou in God alone!
Kev. 1". 1". I>cnv(Mis D. 1).. pastor of tho Kirst Presliytcriaii
Cliurcli of rassaif. X. .T.. in a notice of Mr. Morse's works,
says: "The thou?;hts and fancies of Mr. Moi-so run in metre
and i-liyme with easy Hucmy. and he lias hoih thoushts and
fancitss to express. The author could by no means jjive frin-
range to his mind without dwelling largely upon the religious
and patriotic. In this department his sentiment is pure an<l
elevating. The hit of pr ise in dedication of the work to the
beloved wife of the :iutlior is by no means the least admiriJile
page between the lids."
I'alher John \. .Sheppnrd. hite of Si. Nicholas" parlnh. thiH
cily. says: "I have just b spending a <leligliiriil hour rend-
ing '.Memories of Chilill I and Other Poems,' I have been
charmed with Ihe beautiful ilietioii. siiblimiiy of ihouglit and
deep religious lone of the work. The illuslrations of familiar
scenes and descriptions of pleas;inl drives ought to end<-ar the
book ami the writer to the piniple of Pas«ai<'. while its patriotic
senlimenis sh(uild gain for him a reputation wherever the
glorious standard of our ••ouiilry Is iinfurU'd."
.\.\liUi;\V \V.\.\.\.\M.\KI;K .v. IIKN.NIkN was born
near U.iinseys, Bergen Coiinty. X. .1,, the fonrlli day of Keb-
riary, ^STJt. His greal-grandfathers. Hcnnion and Wanna-
maker, came from Holland more than one hiimlrerl and tifly
years ago. His grandfather, .\iidrew lleiinion. was a iiiill-
wriglit by trade, a very lucrative lalling at that time, as the
comitr.v was wi-ll wooiied, and saw mills and giist mills were
erected on every availabU' stream. lie married .Margai<-l.
daughter of Uiiliard Waiiiiamaker, who had |iurcliascd from
the Quaker Proprietors si.\ hundred and lifly acn-s of land, at
what is now known as M.ihwah. Bergen C'oiinly, William W.
Iliiinion. the father of Ihe subject of this sketch, received a
liberal education, and selected school teaching fur his life-
work, Ilis son, Andrew, under his tuition. nei|Ulred a common
school education up to his liftcenlh vear, when he went to
X<w York and eiilered Ihe employ of .Vbraham IIcih-w. a
brother of the late .State Senator, Itaniel I)e|M-w, with whom
he remained for two .vears, .VIhiiiI this time, through the ef-
f< rts of a number of proiiiinent Xew York families, who had
located at what is now known as Harlingtoii, together with
the iiion' enterprising pe<iple of the iieighborhooil, the Kaiiia|Mi
\'.illi'y .Vcadomy was instituted, under the professorship of
David D. MacCullough, A. M. When seveiileen years tif
age, Mr. Hennion entered this acadi'iiiy for a three years'
cottise, and in:ide rapid progress in the study of civil en-
gineering and the higher branches of mathemalics. When he
had been here about two years a delegation of school irustet-s
fiom Uamseys called on Pi-ofessor MacCnllongh for him to
i« commend a teacher, .\fter a short consiillalion. he selected
young Mr. Hennion as most suitable for the iM>siiion. .\t the
expiration of his engagement he rettirneil to the academy,
completed his cour.se and graduateil with honor. He then
started his life-wmk of teaching at t'ampgaw, Bergen County,
and remained here till married, on March o, 1S47. to Hanmih ('.
Stinson. danghti'r of the late .lohn Stinsoii, 4iiie of the pioneer
iiienhaiits of Pater.soii. He has spent over forty years in
tt a<hing in Passaic and Bergen coitnlies, and iliiring that
I'.me w.is twice elected to serve as School Superintemleiit for
Manchester Township, Some of his pupils have become pmini-
iMUt in professiimal and busine.ss circles, and refer with pleas-
ure to their early instructor as laying Ihe foiindalioti for their
subse<iitent success. In l.Slil he was engaged as principal of
the I'liion District School in Passaic, which at that time
embra<-ed a part of .Vciiuackanmik. I'liion and I-odi townships.
He remained here until 1871, when he resigned, and was
succeeded by Professor Itii-e. He was offereil a iM-tter jb.-
sition as principal of the WashingtiUi graded scIumiI at Mmit-
chiir. where he remained for seveial years. He then moved to
Paterson, where he continuMi teaching till l.*vSi;. when he ri>-
tired on the laurels of a well-spent life. After having s|K'nt
so nuiny j-ears in active work, retirement became inoniitonous,
and to relieve the tedium he secureil the appointment of ticket
agent at the Prospect street station of Ihe Erie Kailroiid, where
he remaini'd a number of years, until his failing eyesight com-
pelled hiin to resign, .Mr. Hennion has Ix-eii identitiiMl with
Passaic as property owner and resident for over thirty-eight
\cars. He is a member of the First Baptist Church, and is a
Past Chancellor -.f Fal-iola l-odge. Knights of Pythias, ..f Pat
242
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
t'l.son. Hi- is a Ui'iiiililiian in priiiciiiU-s. Imt not :i |i:U'tis:iii. and
I'clii'Vi's tlicrc arc u'urjil and limii'sl nii'ii in all paitii's. He
has had four children — all daujthli'rs— three of whom air livin;:
in Fassaif and one in Ilartforil, Conneitieiit.
DR. CHAULKS K. ALDOIS is a native of Tassaie. liav-
iu}.' been Ixirn in this city .laniiary 7. 1H72. Hi' received liis
idi'cation in jiart in the pnldic schools of Passaii-. having been
^-raduatcd from tin- HIkIi School in the class of ■!»((. He then
entered the New York Colli'tfe of Dentistry, from \vlii<li he
was ^rradii.'ili'd in 'i>2. with the rcimtation of liein^ one of llie
most skilfiill. as well as the youngest of his class. He was
registered as a dentist of New Jersey, aftc"- passing; an excel-
lent examination befoie the New Jersey State Hoard of Dental
K.vaniiners. and opened an otiice in the Hemion iMiildiiiK, in
the fall ol ISlKi. Hotli before and durin;.' his attenilaiice at
collej-'e Dr. Aldous was associated with Dr. Howe. In lS!l."i
Dr. Alilous nupved his oltice to the roslollice building, and
in l.S'.lil he succeeded Dr. Howe ill his iir.ictice. and has re-
hicved to Dr. Howe's ollicis. corner of Main and Hloonilielil
avenues. These rooiiis have been decorated and refurnished
for him. and are einiiK'nlly pleasant and convi'iiient for tlu'ir
purpose. (Iwin;; to his tliiu'oii^h training ami caiernl aii.l iii-
telliRent work, Dr. AlJloiis has attained an eiivialde reiiuta-
tii.n and a large and desirable practice ill his chosen profes-
si( n. Dr. Aldous w.is married, im December MO. \S'.Ck lo .Miss
KU aiior Louise (Jordon, daughter of the late Dr. Lewis 1.
(Jordon. of Kreeholil. MoiiMionlh County. N. J. Dr. .\ldoMs is
a .nc-mber of the I'assaic Chili, ihi' Yountakali Cliili. Ilie I'.-is-
.-aie \\'hisr CInb ami scxeral oihei- orir.-mizalioiis in Passaic
MV.\. .I.VrOH SCII.MIT'I". paslor of the First (ieniiali
I'resbyteriaii Church of this lily. was born in lOr/.ingcn. Kin^'-
doni of Wiierttenberg. (ierniany. lie was educated at Wuerl-
<enberff. at UhHUiilield Aeailemy. :nid at the German Theo-
logical Seniiuarv of Khiomtielil. N. J. .Mr. Schiiiilt h.is r.'
sided in This citv four years.
I-:D\\IN dp: B.\r.\. physielaM and surgeon, was born al
I'aterson. N. J., lune 22. bSCO. He is the s, ( Hoiismaii
and Alice (Hartley) De Baiin. both having been natives of .New
Jerso.v, tlio former having been born at Hackensack .iml the
latter at I'aterson. Kor .some years the father of our subject has
been deceasiil. His mother snbseipiently remarried, and is now
Dr. Alice H. HnrdicU. D,-, De Hani' was educ.-iteil in the
Coll.-ge of tin- City ot \eu ^..ik. In l.S,S2 he began his life
work by entering the Ni'W York Honiowipathic Colli'ge. :iim1
was gr.iiliiatiMl in bS,S."i at the early age of twenty live. l'"or
the past twelve yearv he has residi-il in I'a.ssaic. Dr. De Haiin
i:- a member of the .New Jirsey Homoeojiathic .Mediial So-
city, tin- .\merican Inslitnle, ;hi' .American Obstetrical So-
liety. till- National Socii'ty of KIciirc.iherapeutists, the Hahne-
mann Associatio 1. the American I'ostal Mii'ros<'opical Club,
the National Association cd' ILunoeopathic Meilical Kxaminers
of the I'liiteil Slates. State -Mediiil Kxamiiiing and I.ici'using
I'.oards of Mediial lOxaminers. id' which he was the first treas-
urer, and later president: the .New Jersi-y State Hoard of
Medical Kxaminers: is visiting physician to the I'assaic (Jeii-
cral Hospital .-mil the I'assaic Day Nursery. He is also a mem-
ber of tlu' ftdlowing benevolent ortlers: Kiiighls td' I'.vthi.as.
Indepemleiil Order id' Odd Fellows, the Kniglits of tin- (ioldeii
Kagle. Ind'-p'-ndeiit ordi-r id' Red .Men. Ancient Order of For-
esters and the Sons of St. (leorge. I'olitiially. Dr. De Haun
is a Republican, while he takes no aitivc part in politics or
even seeks olliie. lb- was ir bsiid a nit iiihor of the I*as.saic
School Ho.'ird. Dr. De Ibiini married Miss .lennie C. For-
.syth of New Yoi k cil\. She iliel .lune 21. ISIH,.
.lACOH .\. TKOASr. iMiilder. was born. .May II. bSC,9
al l.oil'. IterL'cn Couiilv. .\, .1.. where he attend -d llie publie
schools, .\ttcr h-aving school, he learned the trade of a mason
ai d builder, in wliiih he has contiimed ever since. For the
p: St eleven years Mr. Troast has been a resident of Garfield,
where he is well and favorably known. He is a iin niliir of
the Ni-therlaijil Reformi-d Church of I'assaic. in which he
has served four years .is a trustee. .Mr Tioast is a Itepub-
lici.n. and has served one year as School Trustee and also for
a similar term as a Mieniber of tin- Hoard of Coumilmeii in
(ri-.rtield. On .Inly S. bS'.ll. he married Miss Kittle Lyman, of
I'.'ss.iic. N. .1. Tlirei- sons have lieen born to the union: Aaron
J., Paul L. and Lester. Mr. Troast is a man of sterling honor
and integrity, commanding the conlidciice and re.sp -ct of this
ci mniiiuity in the fullest mi*:isnre.
DKNMS W. -M.MIONY ».i^ born in Inland in ISlil. His
prii-eiits died before lie was old enough to know them. .Vn
ai.nt bronghl him to the t'Niled States al the .age of ten. and
left him to work out his own salvation. He worked in a cotton
mill two years for 27 cents a day. Then h<- received 4.') cents a
day for another year. Siibseiiuenlly he worked in papi-r niiils.
woolen mills, rubber mills, cotton bleaching mills and other
iidustrial establishments, with an odd turn at shoveling ccial.
carrying the hod and striking for blacksmiths. He was unable
to read or write at tifteen. bin :ifli'rw:ird managed to secure
.111 educ.ition at night schools ami by private study. In 1S,SS
he came to I'assaic, worked in the mills here, and wrote oc-
casionally for thi- I'a.ssaic Daily Tiin.-s. On October 15. 1.SS4.
the late -Vrthnr Sawyer, foniider of The Daily News, eni-
plnyed .Mr. Mahoiiy as .i reporter. .Mr. Sawyer died in June.
lS.*<li. .-ind Mr. Maliouy succeeded him as editor, and held the
position until October 1. 1S!)7. when lie resigned to becoine
Pi stm.-ister of P.issaic. He then rmplo.Mil his spare lime study-
ing law with .Mr. Thomas .M. Moore, intending to secure admis-
sion to the H.-ir and lo devole himself to the legal profession.
Hut ill his case, as in many oihers. the old s.iying. ■■once a
111 wspaper man. jilways a newspaper man." remains true. He
bi light the Passaic Daily Herald in .lune. ISilS. and has been
its responsible head ever since. In bSS7. .it the age of twenty-
six. .Mr. JLihony was elected as a Itepublican to the Hoard
of Kdiication from the First Ward. He was re-elected for three
.Mars in ISSS. and chosen by llie Hoard as its secretary the
same year, holding lliis olMce till llie end of his term. Mr.
.M.ihoiiy was married in P.rooklyii. on February 7. lS.Si;, to
l.ililia I-;. I'iiiii. The loiiple have li.nl six children, live of
whom :',ri- living as follows: Sarah Curraii. born January 11.
l.*-S.S: Itayiuond Leonard, bom .laniiary 24. t.s'.Ml: Arthur Saw-
.\ei. born Oi tobi-r .S. ISlll ; .\braliaiii Lincoln, born February 12.
1S!'4. .iiid Fleauor Lctiti.i. born August 1."'.. bSil.-..
I'KANK .\ir.\SO\ ,-;r.U;(;. .\1. \>.. w.is bom a- Pater.sou.
.\. .1.. Decenilier S. bS7l. He received his preparatorv education
ill ihe Paterson public schools and l.atiiiier's Hnsiness Col-
lege, and his medical training .it llie C.dlege of Physicians and
Surgeons. New York. Dr. Stagg has resided ill I'assaic since
-Viigusl 1, l.S'.IS. during which time he has tilled the position of
House Physician at the Passaic Oeneral Hosidtal. His aii-
icftors were among the early settlers of .New York City. One
of them was an aide lo (b-ueral \Yasliiiigton at \'al!ey Forge.
He is a son of .Mr. .lolin .M. Stagg. a well-kiiown and highly
ri>pecteil resident of Paterson. Besides having graduated from
a regular course in niedicine. the Doctor is a practical phar-
macist, a valuable aci|uisi(ioii for a physici.in. On .November 1.
l.MI!». his term as House Physician expired at the hospital, .ind
he has coinmeiiced the practice of mei'icine in this city. < hi
leaving the hospital the Hoard of Oovernois .iii.l M.di.al Stall"
h.'iiided him the following diploma: —
"The Ho.ird of (iovernors and Medical Stall' of the P.iss.iic
• bneral Hospital certify tli.il I'r.ink Miiiison Stagg. .M. D.. has
RESIDENCE OF MRS WM. I. BaRRV.
rUl
RESIDENCE OF PETER REID.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN MILTON MORSE.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
245
SI 1 vi'il cuccpliililj .IS lliiiisc I'liysiriiiii cif iliis lii>s|iitnl for a full
tiiin cif sixtiiii niiMillis, :inil in Icsliiiiniiy ihiTcof, Kmnt liiiii
Hiis I)i|iliiniM.
"Itatod ill I'Mssaii- this lliiitcciilli .lay of OctolKT, ISlfJ.
•■Simu'il;—
•l'. II. llui\ M. 1).. l'icsi<IiMil: I'ui-iK'lius Van Uip.T. M. It..
(J. .1. Van V. S.hott. M. 1).. riiilan.lcr A. Harris. .\I. U.
(Minrlos A. Cliur.h. M. It.. <;. \,. Kun.lli'. .M. I).. C S.
Dav.Tipurt. M. I >.. \V. S. Cliasr. M. ])., .1. .1. Sullivan,
.M. 1>.. i;. \'aii NrankiM. .M. 1>., Kchvin lU- Haiin, M. 1)..
A. \V. Van Kip.r. M. It.
"Siiincil lur llii' Huanl nf (iovcrnnrs:—
■■.l()soph Ilulilswcirili, rrisiilcnl : K<hvin H. Mayiianl. Soon'-
lary."
.I()Si:ril \l( Tdi; MoKKISSK was tuirn at I'atcrsDn.
N. .1.. July l^i. IHii'.t. Hi- \vas proparpd tor collo};i' at St. .lolin's
rrrparatiiry Siluinl. Fordhani, N. V.. ami srrailiialiil, in diic
THE MORRISSE BUILDJNG.
11 ursi'. from St. .Tcilin's ColU'so, rwciviiiK his It. .\. degree
in ISSD. It sliDulil be noted that Mr. Morrisse interrupted
his studies at eollege during five months of his junior year, to
take a Coniiiiereial Course at Eastman's Business College.
I'cughkeepsie. N. V.: that he graduated from this insiitiitioii
at the end of the lime above mentioned, ami. resuming his
studies at Si. .lohn's, passed with his elass in .Ir.ne. 1S.SS. his
examination for the entire year. This was a bold and sue-
(•essful move, evincing his ready grasp of siibjeets. and groat
er.ergy and lowers of <()Ueentralioii. anil gave promise of future
ability to grasp the multifarious demands and far-reaehing
details of business. I-i'aving eollege. he at onee entered upon
his ehosen oeeiipation. that of a real estate and insuranee
bioker. He quiekly pereeived the advantages afforded, in hi.s
besiness, by this rapidly growing eity. Here, therefore, we
tUA him. lu a short period he is effeetiug large transfers of
rial estate. Six years of close attention to business lifted hiin
ficiii a hired basement to an elegant .mil ample suite of ottiees
in l-.is own olllee liiiltdiiig, ot terra enlla ami grnnile nml pnioioil
briek— the best arranged and niiml eoNily biiililiiiK of the kiinl
ill the eity: iiideeil. his otlleeH are n-ganleil an the filietit reol
estate ollleiti in .New .lerxey. and few. if any, are i-<|iinl lo llieni
ill New York. This luiililing in repreM-iiled in an eiiimivinK
herewith given. It U sitnateil al Niw. lH.'i and IMT .Main avi-
iiiie, ami is known as the Morrisse Hiiildiiig. Mr. Morriwu'
eanie to Passaie in IStM). His pleasing aildress niid bnsinitiii
taet soon won for liiiii the good will anil I'lintideliee of all eili-
/.ins. With tile groVilh of his business his oIHit eini>loye«it
have eonie to be more llian double llie nninber eiiiplnyiil in
any other real estate olllii' in the lity. and iiiore than are
ergageil in any other real estate olllee in the eoniily. He lia«
efTeeleil during the last three years more sah-s than any ollliv
in the eity, ami over four hiiiiilred lenantN are in hi» ehnrge.
In 1.S!).S this olllee traiisaeleil a larger anmnnt of bnsinesN for
the Continental Insuranee Company than any oilier in the
State. The iipbiiililing of a eity greatly ile|ieiiils iiihui the
ability, thrift and sueeesses of men engaged in the transfer
of real estate. We look to them lo bring lo ns desirable eili-
zi lis. and to be foremost in exploiting sehenii-s for our lietter-
leeiit and growth. .Mr. Morrisse ably fiillills Ihesi' fiinetioiis.
'1 he eity owes mueh of its phenomenal growth lo liis enterprise.
His soeial pro;divitiet have U-iI liim into iiiany eliibs. He is
a member of the Aeiiuaekanonk. the Hlks. the Knights of
Columbus, the Yountakah. the \Vhist Club, nnil ihe Xorlh Jer-
sey Country Club. Mr. Morrisse is viee-presiilent of Ihe North
Jersey Title (iiiarantee Company, vie<>-presi<lent of St. John's
College Alumni and a member of the College Athletie Coiniiiil-
ri e. Ill polities he is a Uepnbliean: but. his business absorbing
his attention, he does not seek olllee. He is of Irish-Ainerieaii
eslry. his father having been born in Kiiblin. and his
111. tiler in .\neMiia, of Kuglish parents.
i;|i\\IX l'.i;\ANr M.\^ .\.\i;i>. "Seeretary Maynard." as
he is best known in this lommiinity, is an P^isiern iniin by
birth and eduiation. Of riymouth Colony aneeslry. lie was
inrn in Boston, Mass. I luring his eliildh I and youth he
.iltended the piiblie seliools of his native eily. and of Worees-
ttr. Mass.. where he entered eomniereial life with a large
envelope maiiufaeluring eoneern. After a few years, desiring
a wider field, he eanie to New^ York City, and for twelve years
was eonneeled with several of the iK-st known luuises in Ihe
line stationery trade, in exeeutive and traveling eapaeities.
Having beionie a resident of Mount Vernon, N. Y.. and in-
ii rested in newsjiaper work, he organized a eoinpany. whieh.
in ISIMt, purehased the Mount Vernon Uerord. a Kepubliiaii
v.iekly. and of whieh he was managing islilor for several years.
Itiiriug this iMM-ioil he look an aitive part in loial |"plities, Im-
ing seeretary of Ihe Uepnbliean City Coiiiinille«\ and served
the interests of the eily in other eapaeities, never holding ollbe,
however. Mr. Maynard inanifesteil, aUo. a lively inten-st in
piiblie iifTairs, by serving as seeretary of the Mount Verinui
Hoard of Trade for five years, resigning when he removeil lo
I'.issaie. Hisposing of his newspaper inlen>sts. he eanie to
I'assaie. Marih. l.S!l,S. to enter r.iMin siMi-ial work for the
Hospital Assoeiation. Siieeess in this line deinonstraling the
value of its permaneiiey and enlargement, and his known .siie-
iissful experienie in Board of Trade work, brought alHiUl an
airangenieiit by whieh he now serves in a dual eapaeily as
salaried sei-relary. jointly, of the two iiislilnlions, thus making
pi ssible such a riHU-ganizalion of llie I'assaie Board of Trade
as enabled it to enter nimn its present vigorous cart-er. Secre-
tary Maynard is fond of social life, has strong domestic tastes.
is liberal in his religions and iHililieal views, and takes a dwp
interest in Ihe duties of good lilizeiiship. He was for many
\ears a ineinlH-r of the New York Athletic and Mount Vernon
Clubs. He is now a member of the Ki.yal .Vnannin, National
246
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
li.iiiii. V. .M. ('. A.. SiMi.'li- T;ix .unl Iniry Chilis, jiinl is a
GiivcTiiiir iif tlu" <;uiifriil Hospital. Ou .lul.v IJ. 1S'.I2. lie
ir.arrii'il Cariiliiif Ivt-wis Ha.\t(;r. of Mainaionci k. X. Y. This
iiiiiiiii lias hciMi l)K'sseil with throe chihlreii: Keiiyon Cushing,
Carol Ilutihiiitfs and Jo.vce Closo Ma.viiarcl. Tlu' faiiiil.v rpsidos
at Xo. :i03 I.afa.vi-tte avcimc.
.M.FHED C. rEDKlCK. iih.v.siiiau. was hoiii Apiil J'.l.
IS.'iT. l]<'iiig a native of (Jh)uee.sier Count.v. X. Y. He is the
son of Alfreil C. and Rcbeeea (Down) redrick. the latter beins
n danchter of Kenjaniin C. l>own. who .served in the Mexienu
war with the rank of Captain, anil who for nian.v years was
one of the most prominent surveyors in Sr.utliern Xew Jersey.
Tl'.e siihjeet of (Ids sketeh re.eived a eollejriate education at
I-Iiilailelphi;i. In ISS!) he e-itered nMluiPiiiMini 1 Ionic.. |.all]ic
DR. ALFRED C. PEDRICK.
Mrdi<Ml Ci.lle;:e. frra.lnatini; llieri-t'inni in \S<.rJ, reii'ivin;; 'Ik
••'■•Kree of \l. I). I'ri.ir |.. Iiis n'n..i\Ml to r;:ss:il<\ seven years
ajio, iM. I'e.lri.k was ..lie of tli.' ..wimts ..f the I'hila.lelphia
Evening Xews. Mr. I'.'.lri.k is a nuMiil.ci- ..r tli.' I'assai.- Chil..
the Xew Jersey State Home .i-athie Mi-.lical Soriety and of the
Episcopal Chnreh. In 1.SS1 he was nidted in in:irria^.> to
Miss Alida C. Mengi 1 of liiidgtlon. X. J. Two ehildren liaM'
leen liorn to tluni: Ilarr.v (deceaseil) and Eth(d. Dr. I'l'.liick
enjoys a laige and. locralive |i;:i< liie in I'assaii-.
HITBERT mSII. mason ami builder, was born in Hol-
land. .November 1". 1S(VJ. In ISI!!) Ids parents eaili;' to Anieri-
ea. liM-ating in I'assaie. where Mi. Hush attended tJie public
feehools. He has continued to riside in I'assjiic ever since.
He is a proinineid member of the I'assaie City (Inn .nnd Rod
Club and several other organiaztions. .Mr. Bush married
Miss Jennie Oeene. .\pril !.'(>. l.S!i;!. 'I'hree ehildren. Sndie
.Mice. .(.>hn Herbert ami Ji'ssie have bei'ii b.>rn tn their iiiar-
nage, all of whom .ari' living.
AMH;i:\\ /.. IKKIIINi;. retir.Ml. sou of Dr. Carrit and
Kli/.ab-tli iZ.ibriski.o T.rlniiic. w .is l...ni at I'assaie, Oetidier
1I!». b^ol. He attended sch..ol until he \\"as sixteen years of
age. He tlu'n began the stuil.v of medicine, and clerked in an
fipothecar.v's store at .Jersey City. On account of ill-health, he
abandoned his medical studies and accepted a clerkship in the
.\merican Exchange Baidc. Xfw Y'ork. This position and
similar ones he filled for li'ii visirs. In ]Sr>l) he j.iine.l his
brotlu'r in the hardware and house furiiisiiing business at
Jersey City uinler the firm name of Terhune Brothers, ami
centinued in that connection until ISTl. when, for the second
time, (hi' stcu'e was destroyed b.v tire. In that year he retired
friin mercantile business, and has taken n.. i.r.aninent part in
commercial affairs since that time. He married, in lS(i2,
.Viss Christiana Ryersmi, the granddaughter of .ludge Cor-
nelius (!. Van Riper of I'assaie Bridge. They have three sons:
I'l'ank C.. Ho\\*ii'.I an. I Coi-nelins ,\,
HENRY BERfiKI!. nnr. hant. was b..rji at Cdogne, Ger-
many, Xoveniber 21. 1!S4;>. where he ri'ii'lved a limited edu-
cation, having been compelled 1.. l.'.iv.' s.h.,,,! .it the early
age of twelve. He was first aiiprenticed to the engraver's
trade, at which he worked for one year. Xot finding the
future conducive to his continuing at that, he became a tailor's
apprentice, serving for five years. He later worked at his
trad.', and was for man.v .vears the support .if his parents.
In l.Vi;.; Ill' n-.Mil t'l Paris, r.'maii.iin.' in that city iiiilil the
beginning ot th.^ lievolntion, in 1.S71. On .•i.-.-..nnt of the
war between (Terinany and France he took up his residence
in T-ondon. where ho remained initil 1<S7"J, at which time he
decided to come to Ameriia. .\fter landing in Xew Y'ork he
ri inainod there for about ten days: ho then located in I'as-
saie, where he has continued to reside ever since. .Vfter follow-
ing his trade for several years Mr. Bergor engaged in business
for himself, which he successfully eouducied, and has since
that time bcome one of Passaic's substantial citizens. Mr.
P.. rir.r was never actively engaged in polities, but at the solici-
tation of friends has permitted his name to be u.sed for office.
Ill' was for eii;ht .vears a member of the School Board, repre-
sintinir the Eitst Ward of Passaic. During his tenure of
otHie lie served with distinction to himself and his constitu-
ents, and intid.ln. i.l many measures that were of valuable as-
sistance to oiliicaii.inal ni.itters. Mr. Berger has twice been
married. His tiist wit.', wli.in li.^ met during his residence
in Paris, was Miss -Mary Smith, a native of Maj'ence. Ger-
many. She died Xoveniber 13. 1803. Two children were the
issue of that marriage, one. Josephine, being the wife of Mr.
Krederiek Ileiidy. who is connected with the Okonite coin|iany:
the other being -Miss Iledwig E. Mr. Berger's present wife
was Miss Mari<' I.. Venianl of East Rutherford, to whom two
children have been born — Henry. Jr.. and Margaret. Mr.
Her.iier is a self-made man. and his cnrier is an example of
wlial .an be acceniplishe.l Ii,\ :i niaii \\li.t possesses push,
energy and pluck. B.v those who know hiiu best, it is said
that he was never known to violate his word. He has always
been a man of large ptiblie spirit, and has assisted with both
time and moiu-y in every cause that has had a tendency to
I'lomote the welfare of Passaic. Mr. Berger is an active
member of St. Xicholas' Catholi.' church, to which he has
always been a liberal contributor. He has been an extensive
traveler, having visited all the principal cities of .\merica
and I^uvope. Mr. Berger was for many years an active member
•if many of the local siuicties. He organized the lirst (Jerman
Singing society in Passaic am! w.is a prominent member of St.
Xieholas Church choir. \l present he is a member of the Eia-
leriial Loague am! .Vncient Order of I'nited Workmen. He
was one of the organizers of the I'eople's Building and Loan
■Vssoeiatioa, t nd has served as a director and vice-president
from tile begil.ning. He is also prominently connected with a
nu'.nb.'r of similar organizalions.
THt NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAlC.
249
bAVlb CA.Ml'r.KI.I,, Mi., was born in Passnie. May 20,
1838. Ho attoniU'd the old siliool, near the First Rcformcil
Churcli. SiibsiMiuciitly he pni'sue-l his stndies under [trivuto
tutors, .lust before the ("ivil War lie went to California by
steamer, doiibliii); Cape Horn. Hill, after siieiidint: five years
ill tile i;old lic'jds. he returned without realizing his ilreiim of
\\ealtli that lured him from his houn'. He aeeepted a position
ill the Hrooklyn Savings Hank. After lioldin;; this plaee of
trust for several years, he resigned it, and eaiiie to the relief
of his father in eonductiiig his business. As the oity grew
and business began to move up toward Passaic street, he
bought the lot opposite MeLean street and built a store. Here
he made money. Early in the seventies, however, he eon-
ceived the idea of beeomiug a farmer, and after selling out
his business in Passaic, he moved to Two ISridges, N. .1. A
few years' exix'rience satistied him that farming was not
prolitable. He reliiriied to I'assiiic, purchased back his old
business, and <oiiliiuied in it until 1881, when he went into
inrtnership with lUchard Morrell, forming the firm of Camp-
bell & Morrell. This firm was very prosperous. It was able
to secure control of the Erie output of coal, ami held it for
DAVID CAMPBELL Jr.
several years. The firm branched out until it became one of
the foremost business houses in the State. After a ten years'
partnership with Mr. Morrell, Mr. Campbell solil out his in-
terest and engaged in real estate business. Mr. Campbell was
a Kepulilicau of decided convictions. He held the ollicc of
Collector of Taxes in the township before Passaic was set
off, and in 1870 the city of Passaic clcitcd liiin lo the same
office. He was re-elected seven times. Mr. Campbell was
married, August 23, 1870, to Sarah Ann Post, of Two Bridges.
Five chililreii were born to them: Anna .1., Lewis .Toy (de-
ceased), David (deceased), .Tames and Augustus. Mr. Camp-
bell was removed by an accidental death fnaii the midst of
his activities March l.">. 1803. He was highly esteemed by his
fellow-townsmen. He was upright in Imsiiicss. faitliliil in the
discbarge of an important trust; of genial disposition and pleas-
ing manners; a man of good heart, never turning the (MMir
away. The city deeply nioiiriKMl liis nntiiiiely death.
CLE.MK.NS OSCAIt KI.KHEK, Ph.ll.. whh horn IWl'J. in
(he Kingdom of Sixony, Cermany. E<lilcaled IHTJ-'s:;, al the
Keal (iyiiinasinm of l''ri'iberg. Saxony, the fnnioUH uiining
place; stuilied natural scieiiceK, I'siH-i-iall.- clioniiHlry nnil
physii'x, nuithematics, nnil philoHophy, etc.; lleiilellM-rg, IKSU-
'Ki, witli KiiiiN<-ii, the fainou.s founder of H|>pclrnl .qnd giui nnn-
lysts; Herlin, ]8.s;!-',V). witli A. W. von Uofinunn, the origina-
tor of IIki I'heiiiistry and niiHlern d.ve-.stntTs, etc.; with i..ieli<'r-
niaiin. the inventor of ali/.ariiig. ami with llelinlioltz. the iiuwt
eminent physicist of the century, anil with UaiiiiiiclNlM'rg, the
mineralogisi, etc.; Leipzig, Willi ,1. \\ islieeiiiiti, tlui fniiuMiH
stereo chemist: <)stwi-ld, the originator of physical cheiiiiHtry;
Wiiiidt. the physiologist; Wiediiiaiiii. physieiHl, etc. In LSSi; he
was promoted to v lJi>ctor of PhiloHopny ami Nnlnrnl S<^onot«.
LSSfi-'id was ass-istiaut of I'rof. F. Sloliniunn, the author of
STuspratt's famous Clu'iiiical Technology; iiuikiiig researches
in theriiKi-iheiiiistry during this time, published in various
journals. In l.S'.rj-'li;!. chcllli^t in the Ess<!nti«l Oil Works of
ScliiiiiiiMiil iS: Co.. Leipzig, that firm wliici, according to the le«-
linii.iiy of eminent chi mists, has diau- more for the dcvelopiiieiit
of this special branch of <'heinistry than all other workers to-
gelh<-r. In March. 1.S1I3. Dr. Kleber became cheniiNi ii> Fritz-
sche Hrothers" Laboratories at (iarlield, .\. .1., the .^iiieriiaii
blanch of the a)>ove named firm. Ami sinci- April. I.S'.Ni, lie
has been dire<'tor. He n-sides at Clifton, N. ,1. He holds
iiiciiibership in various s<'ientific s'jcieties.
.IllllN lli;.\IION was born in the la-aiitiful valley of the
U.iiMaiKi. .\. .)., .Inly 14th, l.S;i7. He reivived his ivincnt on,
partly in the public .schools, aiid partly in the private scIukiIs.
He livcsl on a fann until he became 20 years of age. l<<-aving
the farm, he "'iigagcd for a perioil of seven years in I'lir con-
struction, at Piermoiit. on the Hinlson. During the next twelve
years Mr. Heniioii folli>weil iiiillwrigliitiiig, :ind the biisncst of
a contractor. On .Tiily 1st. 1,S74. he engagiil in the coal, real
estate and insurance business in this city. In this business we
tiiicl liini today. Through all t'he elmiiges of the years he has
steadily pro-spered. He has lived in this eity. at No. 17!l ,1 ffer-
s<Mi .street. sincH Xov. l.'ith, 1870. In iH>litics Mr. Ilcinion is
.1 Uepublican. His first iiresidential vote was cast in l.SCiO. f r
.Miiviliam Lincoln. He has held a iiiimln'r of oillces. smh as
SiipMrvisiii . County Commitlcemaii and City Siirvcynr. Mr.
Ilcinion is a iiicjiiber of the North Kefoniied Church: a member
111' the City (inn Club, fnuii its organization; also, he is a mem-
III' oi the Masonic Fraternity. He is fond of liiinting. ami
most every year has mnde a tiHp to the .North wimmIs to pass
some weeks in that sport. His ancestors i-ame to this country
in the seventeenth century; those on his father's side from IIol-
hand and (Jcrmany; on his nioltier's side from North IreLind
and Frani-<\ He was marricil in .\pril. l.SUS. to Ann .Milton
Millington. of Passaic. Si'veii children have Is-en born to them.
all living at this writing: I/conard. .John Itoyal, Aaron .M..
.\iisliii. I'laudia I.,ouise, Charles and Diiraiid
.TFLIKT POTTET{ VAN EVP:i!A. .M. D.. was born in
Herkimer County. N. Y . .Inly 17. l.s;{(i. Her father, an in-
dependent farmer, believed a common sclnwd education woiihl
suffice for her. She was, however, desinuis for a more lil«-ral
education and ilevisid means for earning money, so that she
could prepare herself for the higher branches reipiisite for
teaching school. In the spring of l.S.">2 she obtained a position
as n teacher, devoting her time to the summer school terms.
Her earnings thus obtained were used in the fall and winter
for a still better edii.ati.n. In ISCO Mrs. Van Evera was mar-
ried to W. H. Tiffany, a promising young lawyer in Ohio,
"here, in ISi'.il, she was left a widow with two sons. Emmet
and Earl Tiffany, During the same year she received a call
256
*rHE fJEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
to do missionary work in N( w York City. Entering upon her
new duties, she opentd Ji school at No. 3:27 Uivintrton street for
the Children's Aid Society. While engajJieil in this work, she
JULIET POTTER VAN EVERA, M. D.
discovered the j^reiit need of more women physicians. It was at
(hat time she determined to take a tlioroufrh course in medi-
cine. She entered the New York Mcdir.il Cdllego and Hospital
for Women, !;raduating therefrom in 1ST2. Slic afterward lic-
canie a member of the Alumni Assoiialiou and of the New York
County Medical S'iciety. the latter lieinj: the most important, as
well as the largest, of its kind in the I'nited States. I>r. V.in
Kvera entt'red upou her piofessional duties, ami for ni.iny
years had a lucrative practice in New York Citj. On accoual
of her failinji eyesight, she was compelled to retire. Simc
:81)2 she has been a permanent resiih^nt of rassai<-.
She is a member of the Society for Pnmioting the Welfare of
the Insane. In 1.S74 she was appointed a Commissioner of Lu-
nacy. In l!S7ri her marriage to R. N. A'an I'^vera. of New
York, occurred. One sou. Potter Van Kvera, was born to this
union in 1S77. In 1(S.S2 Dr. A'au Kvera was elected Trofessor
of Paedoli'gy of the New York ileilical College anil Women's
Hospital. For nine consecutive years she delivered lectures .it
that institution. She also served as a stall doctor in the same
place for eleven years Emmet 'l"in';inv. son of l>r. \':in
Evera by her first marriage, followed the profession of liis
tallic r. Ill' iliiil in 1S!)7, leaving an infant daughter. Harriet
l';arl. her seionil son. was drowned in ISCiS.
I'UANCIS .1. MAULEY, of Little Falls. N. .1., was born
in Ni'W York City. March 14th. 1)^AU. He received his eilnc.i-
tion in the common schools of Essex County, N. J. Hii has
been n rt>siilenl in Tassaii^ County twenty-three yeairs. He has
made hard road build ng a specialty in business, with marked
success. He is a member of the A<(iuackanoiik Club, .:i Mason,
Iv. of P., B. O. E. and a member of the Koynl Arcanum. In
politics a Democrat. He was the Diimocratic nominee for (Jon-
gress in tJie fall of 189.8. Mr. Marley married, Sept. l!()th.
1877, Louisa Cook, of Little Falls Three children have hewi
born to ithem; two sons and a daughter. Mr. Marley's anees-
tors came from County Armagh, Ireland, town of Portadown.
A cousin of his, a maiden lady, now owns one-half of the.
town of Portadown.
■WILLIAM DOOLITTLE was born. .lunc 11. lS3tJ, in a
rural district of Chemung County, N. Y. The homestead was
situated about twelve miles east of the city of Elmira. He
was the fourth son of a family of eight children — six sons and
two daughters. He «as fortunate in being the child of Chris-
tian parents, who trained him in the fear of the I/ord and to
observe the Christian Sabbath and to store his mind with the
saving knowledge of the Word. In 1871 Mr. Doolittle moved
to I'assaic. He Iniill a dwelling on the corner of Grove street
and Howe avenue, where he now resides. He has lived to see
many improvements in this city. At that time his house might
be said to be located in a tield. Now he is in the midst of
closely built houses, and the streets are macadamized on either
side of him. Mr. Doolittle is ( commission merchant in New
York City. He may be said to be a man diligent in business,
liiviil in spirit, serving the I.<ord; a good husband, a good
l::llirr. linking well to the Christian training and education of
his rhildren; a good citizen, having an eye to the character
ol the men who are chosen to discharge the duties of law-
iiKiking .inil goveriiinent. local and national.
C.VTIIEIUNE ANN BOGtJS, the, suljject of this sketch,
was born at Ilackeiisack, New .lersey, April 24th, ISltJ. On
Oct. 12th, 1835 she was nuirried to William .lames Hoggs, of
New York City. She has lived in Passaic since 1858. Mrs.
Boggs lias been a conspicuous figure in this oity for many
years, borti on account of her own persoJlality and of being
the sister of the late C. M. K. Paulison, who figured in the
early '70's so Largely and so efficiently in exploiting the found-
ing of this city. Mrs. Boggs has long been a very active
meinlier in the Bapti.st Church. She is a member of the W.
('. T. I'., of the L.iilie.s' Auxiliary to the General Hospital.
CATHERINE ANN BOGGS.
once a Governor of th<' Orphans' Home. Vice-President of
I'nion Benevoh'Ut Society. Being eaigaged in many good
works, her iwime is very familiar in tlie homes of the city.
^0k
JOSEPH ADAMS
WILLIAM DOOLITTLE
f »
»
GEORGE DENHOLM
J ACOB J. VAN NOORDT
HENRY K. RONK
PETER TORNQVIST
CHARLES AUGUST STELLING
HERMAN BONITZ
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
25^
WILT
was born
in the im
JAM .TA
at Troy,
blic sclio<
MKS HOCfJS. th.. subject of this sketch, LEWIS A. ALLEN, a rising barrister of thi. cilv. w„
N. \.. April (th. 181.3. H,. was ..(lucalea born at Liberty Corners. N. .T.. May 7. 1S70. He r«><-eiv.Hl n
i.ls of that city. Ue bi'canK- a rcsi.lent of c..ii.ni..n school e.lnc.ilion in the public .schools of Somervilk.
and riainliolil, and then, at the nite of seventeen, bccan busi-
n( s.s as a clerk in his brother's crockery store, nt Tlninlielil.
N. J. At the ace of twenty he took charee of n branch
crockery st.:re on Main avenue, this city. This he comlnclcl
for a pcricKl of three years, when he accepted a position as
traveling salesman. While so encaired. he borrowed law iHHiks
of his briithcr, William li. Allen, a lawyer of New York
City, and bo^aii the study of law. lie was admitted to the
Bar February 21, l.SlkS. and is conductini: a successful prnctico
in this city. Mr. Allen was married, l-'i-brunry "JL lSil!>, to
Alice Dickson, of .Jersey City. N. .1. Mr. Allen is of New Enir-
lai;d ancestry on his father's siile. iK-inc a dcscenilaut of Klhan
Allen of Revolutionary fame. He is of Scotch amvstry on
his mother's side, whose family were first represi-ntol in this
country by the Rev. .Tidin Cross, who was Isirn in S<t>lland
in KkS'.l anil died at HaskiriK Riildc. N. .1.. in 17<i<'.. It ap|s-nrs
from the record that the subject of this sketch is of excellent
stock, and. as the years pi on, lie will no doubl uive a ko<hI
account of himself.
DAVID CAMI'ItELL. SR.. was born nt Ilackensack. N.
.1.. September IIJ. ISO'.). Having received a common schisil <slu-
eation, such as was afforded at the time, he applitsi himself
to learning the eooiier's trade. Coming to I'ns.saic at alsiut
the age of eighteen, he engaged in this busines.s. But he soon
laid aside the craft and opened a country store, on the corner
of Prospect street and Main avenue. Here he maintnintsi him-
self and family for over forty-five years, and by dint of thrift
amassed a handsome fortune. He was a man of strict integrity,
and illustrated the old adage that. "It is not what one makes,
but what iiiu> saves." lIc' liviil tn the renin rk.iMi- .\ : ■ ..f ninety
WILLIAM JAMES BOGGS.
Passaic in IS.jS, and lived hero tiil the time of his death,
ilay. 1872. He did business, however, in the City of New
'York, which was that of fire iusnrance. a business to Whici)
he was admirably adapted, and in wliich he achieved a marked
success, tilling successively the offices of Secretary and Presi-
dent of the company with which lie was connected. Mr.
Boggs was a member of the Baptist Church. Indee3. it is
said that lit was at a meeting held in his own house that the
Society (Church) was organized iu this city. He w.as a Re-
publican, but to<ik no jiart in politics here. Mr. Boggs was
married Oct. 12th. 1S.3."), to Catherine Ann I'aulison. of New
Y'ork City. Seven children were born to them, two of whom,
only, survive: William Dorian, deceasinl; Mary Elizabeth,
deceased; Emma H., who iivuTied Mr. Giles S. Orcutt. .losepli
P., deceased. George Henry. Theodore P., decea.sed, and A\'al-
ter .Tames, deceased.
.T.VMES VAN BX'SSUJI. farmer, was Imrn at Lodi. N. .1 .
September 29. 18.32. His father. David D. Van Bussura, wa^
«>lccted a member of the New .Jersey Assembly in 18.37. serv
ing for two .ve.ars. In 184.3 he filled the position of .Tudge i'l
Bergen county. Mr. A'an Biissnm has always followed tli"
hvocntion of a farmer. He has always been a stanch Denm
crnt and is .at present fillinir the position of Mavor of Walliii?
ton. he hnvinff been elected in the spring of 1.*<!>n. For fortv
.rears he has been a member of the town committee of Ij^-'"
township. Mr. Van Bnssum married Miss BHz^t A. Voorh's.
l>f TTnckenJack. N. .T.. December "24. 1S.')7. They have tw .
sons. Peter and George.
.TOHN THOAfAS SIMMS was Iwrn in Paris. Kentuckv
F( bru.nrv lOth. 18<;1 He was cdncated in the public sehools i-'
Hotioken. N. .T. He has lived eieht years in Pnssnic. wher-
he h.ns nnrsued the bo'^iness of n photosrrapher. He is n mem-
ber of the Passaic Club, the Hosn'tnl .\«sociation. nml tb"
Board of Trade. Mr. Simms was married .func 1st. 1.S.87. (•'
Blanche Gnillond. of New York City. R!<rl>» children hav ■
been Ion. to them of n-h.-.m fire are livinT. Tlie nhofriTrapb" ■
views and portraits, with a few exceptions, appearing in this
work. wc>re nindo by Mr. Simms.
DAVIO CAMPBELL Sx.
years, being at his death the oldest inhabitant of the city. Mr.
Ci.nipbell was a member, ileai-on ami elder of the First Re-
formed Church. He was married, in isai. to Hannah A. Cook.
264
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
of BerKi-n. Thore \\\'rc born lo tlu-iii u family of fight cbil-
dicn: Maria, who married for her second husl)and the late
General Alexander S. Diveu of Elmira. X. Y.: Daniel L. ide-
ceased), Sarah Jane, who married Mr. Caleli A. Williams, of
Orange; David ideeeasedl. William A., Eliza (deceasedl. Morris
(deceased) and Helena Lowdeu (deceasedl.
WILLIAM ANDRE CAMPBELL, M. D. S.. was luirn in
Passnic. X. ,T.. December .•'.(I. 1S44. line lie received his pre-
WILLIAM ANDRE CAMPBELL, M. D. S.
piiratory ediualiun. and remained :i resident sixteen years,
when he remuved to Brooklyn. N. Y., I,, stn.ly denlistry with
the late Dr. 11. .\. Stratlon, at the lime the most prominent
(Untist of Brooklyn. Hi- f.'r:idiiatcd at Albany. N. Y., in 1877,
receivinK the ilegree of Master of Dental Siir^'ery. At this
writiiif;, ISiK). Dr. Campbell is a snceessfnl pra<-ticing dentist
in (hi' city of Brooklyn. He is a member of the Odoiitologieal
Seeiety of Xew York City, of the Brooklyn Dental Society
and the State Dental Society; also, lie is a number of the
T^nion League, Xew York. He has held .several ollieis in the
above named societies. In politics the Doctor is ;in In.le-
IH-ndent. On September 28, 187.">, he was married to Martha A.
Benedict, of Dtmlniry. Ct. Five children have been born to
(him: Amy Bem'dict, Myra (deceased), David Kenneth, .Marion
1 liven and Helen (deceased).
KItKDEKICK SIIEIUVOOD DATES, importer, was born
on his father's farm near Fishkill-on-the-IIndson, Dutchess
County, Xew York, October !), 1,S48. He is ilescemled from
Itevolntionary stock, his ancestors having fought in the war for
inilepeiidence. II is family was among the first settlers of
Dutchess County, and was prominent in that section. When
n boy the subject of this sketch attended the public seluwls
of P'ishkill until he was fifteen years old, at which time he
yrent to Xew York City, where he accepted a iiosition in the
imiiortlng house of Frost & Davenport, with whom he remained
until the lirm retired from business. During his counection with
that concern Mr. Dates still pursued his studies at an evening
scLool. His next iiosition was with the firm of Haight, Halsey
& Company, with whom he remained until they also retired
from business. About that time Mr. Dates received a tlat-
tering offer from the extensive importing house of Heury Tilge
& Company, of Philadelphia, to assume the management of
their Xew Y'ork branch, known under the tirm name of George
E. Tilge & Company, importers of hats, furs and trimmings.
The concern is now lo<-ated at X'o. 13 Washington Place, Xew
York, Mr. Dates being a member of the firm. Mr. Dates has
been a resident of Passaic for twenty-two years. Being some-
what domestic in his tastes, he is not a member of any club
or society. He is a member of the Xorth Reformed Church.
Politically, he is an ardent Republican, and has done excellent
service as a member of the Board of City Councilmen, to
which bo.iy he was elected in 1887, serving for three years, not
only with credit to himself luit to his constituency as well.
Many improvements in Passaic, especially in Mr. Dates' own
ward, owe their existence to the diligent work done by him while
a member. While not being active in an official capaeit.v at
present. Mr. Dates still iakes much interest in politics in Pas-
siiic. and is always to be found arrayed upon the side of good
government. He resides at Xo. 211 Lexingt<m avenue, his
hi'me being one of the hand.somest in that section of Passaic.
MAITHEW .T. VAX LEEPWEX, real estate and insur
ance broker, was born on the 27th day of .Tanuar.v, 1870, in the
village of Watergraafmeer. near Amsterdam, Holland, which
lilace is famous in Europe for its Botanical School, "Line-
ous," and where at the time his father, Adrianus Van I.,«"eu-
v.en, was one of the jiractical instructors in botany at the
above named school. Mr. Van Ix"euwen received his education
at Rotterdam, under the instruction of Professors Moleiduook
and .Tohnson. and attended a three-year course at the Academy
of Art and Technii'al Knowledge, at the eiul of which he
acceirted a position as assistant school teacher in one of the
public schools at Rotterdam. He came first to Passaic in
March, 188.8. and devoted a number of years to the floral
business, until the spring of 18!l.5, when he entered in the
bi;siness of real estate ami insurance broker, and was largely
instrumental in the development of the eastern part of Pas-
saic. By Ills business enterprise and conservative methods, he
has built up a reputation for him.self and the companies which
he represents as a successful real estate oiH'rator, having car-
ried through a luimber of large transactions in that line. While
attending a course in the Xew York I'niversity Law Scbnol, in
18!(('i. Mr. Van Lceuwen made the acquaintance of Jliss .\niia
.M. Downs, of Xew York City, and was married on March
20. 18'.)7. and both were made happy by the arrival of their
son. (ierard William, who was born Ma.v 22, 18!I8. In politics
.Mr. Van Lceuwen is a professed Democrat, and has often taken
an active interest in the election of his favored caiididates. es-
piciall.v in the Presidential campaign in l,8",)(i.
.KllIN \V. Ll.NDlKH.M. reliant, was born at Arbo-a,
Sweden, August 21, 18.V2. His father followed the sea, he
having been a captain of a sailing vessel engaged in traffic
on the Baltic Sea ami the lakes. The subject of this sketch at-
tfiuled the schools of his native town until he was sixteen
.vears of age. He then entered a machine shop, with the in-
tention of later becoming a mechanical engineer. After work-
ing in this connection for about two years, in 1870 Mr. land-
holm decided to leave his native place to seek new fields of
labor in America. Arriving in Xew York, he decided to enter
commercial life. He foumi employment with the firm of
B. G. Arnold & Co., at that time one of the largest importing
and jobbing tea and loffee houses in that city. By strict
attention to his duties, it was but a short time before he
received advaneement over older employees in the service of
£
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LEWIS A. ALLEN
HYMEN ROSENSOHN
FRANK MUNSON STAGG, M. D.
DR. CHARLES E. ALGOUS
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HENRY BERGER
GEORGE RETTINGER
JAMES MAYBURY
JOHN JELLEME
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
257
till' firm. Ml-. I-iiicllKilm rciniiim-d with this linn iiiilil lS.S."i. m
which tiiiu- hi- liail jiiiiuiri'il ii thiiroiigh kuowh'iliii' nf tlic htisi-
ii< ss. After spvcriiig his ciiniifction with Mi'ssi-s. Ariiohl iV
Comiinny. Mr. I.iiidholiii iMiiharkcil in tlif irrnccry business in
rjtssiiii-. Willi his thi>roii);h UnnwlcilKc nf tens ami I'lilTccs.
hi" has niaile tlmsc lines a speeial feainie (if his business, siip-
pl.viii;; (inly tlie best Unowii pnidncts (if the wiirlil. Mr. I.iml-
hdlni lias been a resident nf I'ass.iic since IST'.t. On Ndvem-
lier i:> (if that year he married .Miss Kdia .M. Falstrnni, a sister
of (Jnstave I''alstriiin, Es(i.. a well-liiinwn and prdsperons citi-
zi n. Their ni.irriaire lias been blessed with live children, fiinr
.if uliMiii arc livin;;. viz.: Clirinnl F.. ()lt;a \V.. .\lbert \V. and
IMhi .\1. .Mab(d. who was a bris;ht child, died at the ajie
(if nvclve years. .\lr. l.iiidhciliii is a nicnibcr of the Baptist
( Inn h of r.issaic and of the .National liiion. He is a ICepiib-
licaii, Imi nut a partisan. He has never held or soiisht otilce.
Iireferriii;.' to devote his time to the riMiiiirenients of his liiisi-
lu ss and family. He resides at 2T<> l'enniiii,'toii avenue. .\s
a merchant. Mr. Liiidholiii represents the more iiiiportaiil in
tin v:rocery line in I'assaic.
II. Will II. IIUW II was born at New Haven. ( 't.. .lannary
11. l.S.'i'i. He received his eihication in that cit.v of leariiin;:.
AA hile he. at present, resides in I'aterson, X. .7.. he is a popn-
lai- pliotojirapher ill this city, with a studio at No. L'Tll Main
avcinie. Mr. Hiiwd removed from New Haven to I'aterson
in IST'.I. and started in business in that city (Pntersoii) in
ISSl. first ,it 12!) Main street, and aflerwjird opening a spacious
studio .11 '.H liroadway: in all. spcuding fifteen years at that
business in I'aterson. when he sold out, and after a rest of
three years, eii'.'afjed in his present business in Passaic. Many
sinnils hiitliT than l>r. Arthur Ilonry Temple, who wan born
at Hor.nion. N. .1.. Dciniber 10, 1,S73. Uv In the »on of
DAVID H HOWD.
of the plates appearing in this book were prepared from
ph(>tosraplis made by him. Mr. Howd was married. .lannary
111. 1SS2. to S.ira Van \'alUciibiir^'li. of I'aterson.
AUTHIH HENKY TEMI'I.E. physician. AmonB the
jounjier members of the medical profession in Passaic none
ARTHUR H. TEMPLE. M. D
Charles H. and Elizabeth (Zabriskiel Temple, old niid liiuhly
respected I'csidenl.s of Booiituii. Dr. Temple received but ru-
dimentary education in the public schools of his native town,
Kradnatins therefrom in l.Slll. In 1S02 lie entered KntKers
Ciillese. where he remained during the freshman year. In
1S!).'{ Dr. Temple decided to prepare himself for the nuilienl
profession. In the fall of that year he enlercl the medical
ilciiartmcMt of Columbia rniversity. iColleKe of Physicians
and Snrj;<-<>iisb in New York city, Kradiiatini; from that insti-
tution in ISOti, i-eceiving the degree of M. I>. For one year
thereafter ho was hon.so physician and surgeon at St. .losoph's
ll'.spital 'n Patersoii. N. .1. In February. I.SOT, he located in
Passaic, where he has remained < ver since. IIi- has been nn-
usually suceessfnl. and !ias established a lucrative and rap-
idly increasing practice. He is assistant visiting physician to
St. S'ary's Hospital, and is also leclnrer on anatomy al St.
.loseph's tPatersonI Training School for Nurses. He miiin-
tains his otlice at .No. 'JliS Main avenue.
.lOIIN HKNliV Ki:il()E. a well-known citizen of Pas
saic, was horn al .Newark. .N. .!.. April 17. l.Sli'J, where he
received an education in the juiblic schools. In 1SS1 he r.'-
nioved from Newark to I'assaic. where he has since ri-sided.
.Mr. Kehoe is engaged in the livery bnsines.s, his establishment
being the most prominent in the city. He is a Il<<pnldican.
I. lit has never sought or desired to hold olllce. He married
.Miss Mary Dougherty, of Boontoii. N. .1.. .lune 2.">. lSft2. They
have three children— Edith. Susan and .Marjory.
.JOHN .lEI.T.EME. contract(U- and builder, was iHirn at
Little Falls. N. .1.. November 2T\ 1M7. When he was one
.vear old his parents (who are still liviiigl removed to Pas.saic,
where the subject of this sketch received his seho(ding. .\fter
having school. Mr. .Tellenie learned the trade of builder, which
for many years he has successfully followed. When he first
nirived in Passaic the place was sparsely settled, containing
but one store and a few houses*. Mr. .lelleme is a member of
the First Reformed Church of Passaic and also of the Knights
of Pythias. He has always been an ardent Kepnbliean. and
was for three years Ta.\ .\sses.sor. a ((osition he ably filM.
His marriage to Miss Sara Sharot. of New Y'ork City, oc-
curred .lannary '_'"_'. 1S74. Five children have been born to
258
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
llicin — three sons ai.J two djiughtors — Hcnviinl Sliarot. who
was a .soldier in the late Spanish-Aniericaii war anil a member
of the Astor Battery, doing service in the Philippine Islands;
Alfred Edward, .John, Jr., Mabel and I-'loreiu-e (deceased).
Mr. .lelJeme has always been a progressive citizen, and has
dene nr.icli toward the development of I'assaic.
COUNT GUY l)lSOAKl)-VA.\VE.\AU(iUES. B. S.,
was burn in Aix. Provence, France. .lannary (!th, 1.S41 He
was educated in Paris, tintil admitted to the High School of
Saint Cyr. a school corresponding to our Jlilitary Academy at
'\^'est Point. Graduating from this he became an officer in the
I''rencli cavalry, and rose in the course of a five years' service
to the office of cnptain. After being out of service four years,
hi; again joined the army, to t;ike part in the (Jerman war. This
of Muntfaucon, Mens
to tlicni.
France. No childi-en have been bi
COUNT GUY D'ISOARD-VANVENARGUES. B. S,
UV1M-. Ill- was retired .is Chi-f d'Ksiailn.n. Ueiiiiii- t,, bis i-siati-
near Aix, he engagiil in its oversight for a period of abuiit tw.,
years, when his spirit of unrest and adventure led nim to em
igrate to this country. In ^S7'> he landed at New York and
• eiinecied himself witli a French plate glass company dninu
business in Howard street, .is superintendent of the manuf.ict-
uring shojw. AVhen this business wascloseii in ISST, M. d'ls-
oard conducted glass manufacturing at .■U-:JS Vestry street.
New Y'ork. on his own account. Ill health compelled him to
retire from tliLs business in I.StKl It was in INST tli.it M.
d'Isoard built his present resilience at Nn. LSI Munrcie street,
this city, where he has resided since that time. .M. d'lsoard's
family is one of the oldest of the French nobility. The name
Vanveuargues ap]K\nrs in tue history of D.-iiiphine so early as
the 11th century. His family is ivlateil lo that of Laf.ayette.
.\l. il'IsoiMirs father was an Ambassador of France, at Kuiiie.
near the Pope. Pius IN. M. il'Isoard was engageil in the bat-
lies of Orleans, and Patay. He wvis altacried lo the army of
•.he Loire, during the seige of I'aris, in 1M70; hence was not a
witness of the siege. JI. iVIsiiard is a member of Si. Nicholas'
IJoinan Catholic Church, this city. He be<'aine a naturalized citi-
zen in Nov.. l,sn.3. Ill politics he is a Kepiiblican. M. d'Is-
oard was married in New York. May. DSSti to Leonie Lionel,
ADOLl'll MAliTIN was born in Tanberbishofsheim,
Baden. Gerniiiny, November 10. 1S48. He is the sou of Frank
and Barbara Martin. His boyhood was spent with his pa-
rents, in a grist mill and in millwrighting. He was educated
at Tanberbishiifsheim. graduating from the High SchiMil of
that city in ISIU. He then traveled through Germany for a
CI uiile of years. In l.SlhS Mr. Martin was drafted as a sol-
dier, when, instead of entering the army, he left for America,
.ifter landing at New York he accepted a position with Chad-
wick Brothers. Boiling Springs Bleachery, Carlton Hill. N. .1..
wliere ho remained eight years as a master mechanii. This
til 111 removing its business to Newburgh. N. Y.. Mr. Martin
fiillowed them in the same capacity, and remained wiili them
1:11 111" lomniemed business for himself in Passaic, in 1.SS2.
1 his liiisiness was the manufacture of wooden shells and
niiihvrigliTing. These shells are used by iirinting. dyeing, paper
.•11.(1 silk mills. They are made by a peculiar patented process.
.111.1 have snpersedeil all those made by baud: 4lHl.tXK) of
I belli are already in use. Mr. Martin fills orders for them, not
only ill this <-ounlry. but in Germany ami Holland. This busi-
III ss has grown up here under the experienced eye nf Mr.
-Martin. His success has been continuous and highly gralif.v
iiig. He has enlarged his plant from time to time, as occasion
reiiuireil. It is a business that will be enduring, the product
being always in demand: therefore, a source of constant
revenue to himself and family and a Inndmark for the city.
Ml. Miilin is a iiieiiilpey of Si. Niclicdas" Catholic Church.
He has always been a liberal contributor to public charities,
ci nsistent with his means. He is a Democrat, but not an offlce-
.seeker. Mr. Martin married Miss .\bby Danenhauer. of Pa.s-
saic, February 111. 1.S74. the daughter of .loseidi and Katlierine
Danenhauer. who were for fifty-two .vears residents .if Pas-
saic. Their silver .iiiniversary occurred February in ot llie
picseiil ye:ir. .iiiil Was attended by a large circle of friends.
will were the iloiiors of many beantifnl and costly scnivenirs.
b:iglil "hildreii have blessed the marriage of Mr. ami -Mrs.
.Marlin, all of whom are living and iiiimarried: Adolphns .loliii.
.Vmolia May, Katherine Elviua. Abby Sabiua. Frances Carrie.
Lister Thomas. .loliii Fdwanl and Itiith Marie.
CIl.MtLKS i;. CISII.M.W. siiperintendent. was born at
Havana. Ohio, in l*-.",!. I'lim lo his removal to Passaic, in
IMH'i. he was loealed at Chicago. Illinois, ilr. Cnshmau occu-
pies ilie responsible position of siiiierintendent of the New
York Belting .ind Packing Company's factories located at Pas-
saic and Sandy llook. Conn. He is a member of the Passaic
Chill and the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ciishman's
family consists of bis wite and three interesting children.
UO'O -MAliSKI.l.rS. liioker. was born at the olil Mar-
se'lns homestead on liiimlee Drive iiesr Passaic, being a son
of lohn Cornelison and I'aiiuii iltoel Marse.liis. He received
bis preliiniiiary ediicatioti at the piiblii- schools in Passaic, after
V, liich he compleled his studies in Boston. Mr. Marselliis is a
number of the Passaic. Yoniitakah Country and Ilackeusack
Clubs ami of the Noiili Itelornied Chun li. lie is prominent
SI ciallv and otherwise in Passaic.
CdK.NKI.lIS \A.\ KVK.NDA.M. deceased, was born at
Haarlem. Holl.ind. .lime :;. l.si'li. He was for many years
prior to his death engaged i'l the coal and real estate business
in Passilc. He was a large property owner and did iiiiiih
ti.ward the development of Passaic. Ou .Vpril llii. l.S.">!l. Mr.
Van Kyendain married Miss .lohanna Oilell. a native of Hol-
Irnd. Seven children were born to them, all of wliinii are
deceased, except one daughter. Miss Maggie. His widow
still survives lijm. .iiul icsjiles ,it No. "J.")! Oak street.
CLEMENS OSCAR KLEBER, Ph.D.
DAVID DWYER
JOHN HENRY HEMIC.
JOHN W. LINOHOLM.
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ADOLPH MARTIN.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC-
261
WIl.I.IA.M i:. i:. .\lll.l.i;i;. n. \-. S.. wjisliom near AII.mi-
li.wii. .Miiiiii.nilh Comely. N. .1., Dit.-iiiIici- 2l). 1,Si;!l. ||,. js \Ur
oliUst vi'tcrinm-.v suri;.'iiii in New .Icrscy, in iinicli<i' niiil agi:
His fatliiM-, UoluTt \V., .iiiil his incillu-i-, Dflioriili iFlock)
MilliT Wfit' niilives of Ni>\v Jersey. Dr. MilliT wiis imrii mi
the old farm. He iitteiided tile eoininiiii scliool, anil, afti-r-
wiird. reniiiii;j:toii Seminary. KniiliintiiiK in ISrilj. He. at lirst.
CI iiased ill farmiii}: ami in praetii-ins veti'rinary s»r(ji>ry: Iml.
in 1S(!2. lie enlisted in the Twenty-tliird Ke»;iineiit. New .lersey
Viilnnleeis. In I.SCS lie was diseliarced. on aeeiinnl <if Im I
liealtli. He took a trip West, and re-enlisted, in tlie H:!d
Illinois Volunteers, as lirst lieutemint. He was eiiyajsed in
detached serviee on the staff of (Jeiieral Uiiekland. Sixleeiitli
.\rmy Corps, stationed at Memphis. Tenn. His health cave
out afraiii. and he (piit serviee. He retnrni'd to Illinois, lint
shortly eame liaek home to the old farm in New .lersey. Five
years later he married Miss Adelaide Y. Korsythe, and lo-
cated at lti;;hlst()Wii. Mercer County. N. .!., and resumed
the practice of veterinary surgery and medieine. Seven chil-
dren were born to th.Mu. luit of these onl.v one .survives — Miss
Rachel— who, at this writiiij;. is a bright pupil in t!ie Passaic
Hij.'li School. In ISTi; Dr. Miller eiit<>reil the American Vet-
erinary Colle.trc. New York City, gradnatiii!; in 187!t. He was
immediately placed upon the staff of (Jeiieral William H. Ster-
ling, who was commissioned hy <!nvcriior MeClellan to inves-
tigate the extent and prevalence cpf contagious pleiiro-imeii-
iiionia. The law authorizing this i imissioii was afterward
rejiealed. and the work passed into the hands of the Stale
Beard of Health, whit h Board empowered its secretary. Dr.
E. M. Hunt, of Metnchen, N. .1., to continue said work and
desiro.v infected animals, in accordance with the law. Dr.
Miller was appointed State Veterinarian by Dr. Hunt, and for
sclera! years he acted in that capacity. In the meantime the
Department of Agriculture at Washington established a Bu-
reau of Animal Industr.v. which, by nintnal agieeinenl. acli'd
with the several States, having laws governing that matter, in
the investigation and exteniiiuation of that disease. New-
Jersey was at that time one of the principal States badly in-
fected, and the (Jovernment also appointed Dr. Miller one
of its inspectors. He has practically been in the employ of
the (joverument ever since, if we except the interruption oc-
tasioncd by political changes. During the time he was in-
vestigating pleuro-pneumonia he was recognized and admitted
to be one of the best diagnosticians of that disease in tliis
country, and he has probably examined ami condemned to
de.ith as iiian.v, if not more animals than any other vet-
erii.arian. If animals were slaughtered, his diagnosis was in-
variably found to be correct. He has always been recognized
as an expert everywhere. In the fall of 1,S70 he was sent by
the Slate to take charge of the transit of cattle over the
ferries between Philadelphia and Camden, and establish a
Kual quarantine along the entire border of the two States,
with headquarters at Camden, to prevent diseased cattle from
passing from Pennsylvania into New Jersey. The doctor then
removed his family to Camden, and made it his permanent
residence until his apiioiutment to lake charge of the I'uited
States Quarantine Station at (iarheld. N. J.. July. IS'lT. Dur-
ing his residence at Camden he built up an extensive private
practice, particularly in the line of veterinary surgery, in one
branch of which he is. probably, the best known operator in the
ei untry. During his life he has be*m an active uieiuber and
olHcer of nearly all the best known secret societies. In the
Order of Odd Fellows he was for years very prominent. He
is a Past (Jrand I'atriarch of the (Jrand Kncampment of that
Order. He. also, commanded at that time the Patriarchs Mili-
tant of New Jersey. He is very prominent in the C. A. K..
btiii" a member of William B. Hatch Post of Camden. In
l.S,»<!» he was electe<l Depiirtment Cnniinander of the Slate,
siiviiig a full term, and he is now one of ito PoMt Depnrlinent
Coiiiinnnderx, thereby beconiini; n life member of the .Vnlionnl
ICfeaiiiiniieiit. He lias fur yeiira lM-<'n nii netive ineiiilier of
the Order of KPjs, being a charter menilMT of Caiiideii l.<Mlge
.\'o. L".»:t and tlli' second Past Kxalteil Kiiler of llinl lodge. In
iiiatters iiertniniiig to his profession. ■•s|>e<'inlly in the exaiiiinn-
lion of animals for sonmlness. whi-ii lawsuits have r<i<iilted. he
has freiiu-nlly been called ii|ioii by the courts to testify ns an
expert, iiiid his opinion has nearly always Imi'U upheld, and the
liii'rits of the case have Ihi-ii di'ciiliil in accordance Ihi-rewilh.
Perhaps there is no veieriiiariaii in the country that In U-tter
known, or whose opinions are more highly regnrdt-d. Dr.
Miller has, in the mntter of liter.ry publications, given but
very little time and attention. He is, however, the author of
a Work elilitleil, "The Diseases ol Live Stock." which was
l>iil>lisli<'d in lS.S,"i, and had an extensive circulation. Dr. .Miller
is all active Kepiiblican, and during his residence at Caiinlen
he was fiuir times, siici'essively. eleited Conncilmnn-atl.arge
of that city. He was twice electe<l Presiilent of that iMxly. anil
was always jilaced upon the most iinportunt eoniuiiltees. The
present system of art«-sian water supply, and the rimmI Htrf>ct!>
that the citizens of that city are now enjoying are. in a large
measure, due to the efTorts of Dr. .Miller in agitating the mat-
ter long before ordinances wee finally passed. Iiiileed. he
was always one of the recognized leaders of the iMiily. Dr.
Miller is a meiuber of the .\ew Jersey Veterinary Medicnl As-
sociation: of the Pennsylvania State Medical .Vsso<'iation, of
the Keystone Veterim;r.v Ass<M-iation, and he was for two
years President of the United States Veterinary and Medical
Association.
THOM.VS l"0.\II.\LI,. designer, was born at Manchester,
Eiigl.ind. May 17, ].S,"(!I. He received his ediK-afion at Chor-
ley Lancashire lEnglandl. After leaving school he learned the
trade of a designer and sketch maker. In l.Sil" Mr. Foxhull
launched the business in Passaic, now known under the name
of the Passaic P^ngraving Compaii.v. au iiniiistry devoted to
ei. graving on copjier rollers for the iirinting of silks, cali-
coes, plii.shi's and other textile fabrics. He leased the building
on the north side of Cottage [dace and Grant street, which had
formerly been known as the "Whip Factory." The plact" had
picvionsly a checkered career, but since it has come into the
possession of its present owner, the whole aspect bag ehniige<l,
there now being an air of prosperity surrounding the establi.sh-
n:eut. Mr. Foxhall has built additions, and has recently plaivd
new machinery, engines and boilers in the liuilding. It is now
rigardiMl as one of the permanent manufacturing institutions
Ol Passaic. Before entering u|Hin his present enterprise. Mr.
Foxhall was filling the isisition of chief enginitT of the Passaic
Fire Departniont, a duty he iM-rforiiied with great credit to
himself as well as to the city. He devoted his entire time to
that calling, althiuigh he was in a |Misition to earn a large
salary in other channels. For eight years he was engaged as
a designer in the New York olP.ce of one of the largest print
works in the United States: previous to that he had IiIIihI
siirilar positions with various concerns throughout New Kng-
lanil. Mr. FoxhalTs present success is due to the fact that
he is thoroughly familiar with his business in all its brniU'lies.
Politically, Mr. Foxhall is a IScpiibliciiii. He is a memlH-r of
the County Board of Registration, and was recently appointed
by .Mayor Howe as one of the tax as-sessors. He is a nieinlH-r
of the Acquaikanonk Club ami of the B. P. O. Elks. He has
resided in Passaic for ten years, and is well and favorably
known. Mr. Foxhall is a widower. He has two children,
111. Ill of wlioiii are living.
262
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
IIVMKN UOSKNSOUN. arihitcii. was liorn iii Geriiv.niy
July 12. \S7y,. AVlioii a s^iiiall boy his i)arents caim- to Amer-
ica, locatiiis ill Ni'W York wliiTf thf subject of this sketch re-
ccivcj his picliminjiry i-ibi' :iIioii in tlic imblic schixils. (Jrail
ualiii« tlicrefroiu he eiilercil the t'oUege of the City of New
York, anil later nhe Hebrew Technical Institute and School of
Mines of Columbia C"llej;e. After coni|)letinijr his studies .Mr.
Itosensolin eiigafieil in business as an architect. Four years
ago he locateil at I'assaie where he now ranks as one of th"
foremost in his jjrofession. ilr. Kosensohu has practically ile-
signeil f(Mir-fifths of the liuihUngs in the Dundee sec-tion of
Passaic. He has made it possible for i)eoiile avIki possessed no
means to become property owners. He was the originator of
the imiu-ovi'd style of flats in I'assaie. and designed many of thp
better class of structures in Passaic proper. Notable among
sonur of the recent structMres are the Hebrew Synagogue.
SlaffV Opera House. Ilartkorn"- Business Ccdiege and a
Cittholic parsonage. Mr. K.isenscdm's father died at New-
York- ill 1MS.S.
.lOll.V IIEMtV KK.MK;. deceased, was born in Bavaria.
.\ugust 22, 1.848. When a young man he learned the trades of
machinist and plnnd)er. Fur many years, and up to the time
of his dcalh. he was actively engaged in the hardware and
phunbing business on Passaii- street, in this city. The business
is now- being comlucted by his heirs, of whom Mr. Ernest H.
liemig (a son) is the representative. Mr. Renn'g was a mcnj-
Iier of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias. Passaii-
City Cun Club, anil of the Elks. He was always a staunch
Republican. On Ma.v li. bS72, he married Miss JIargaret I.
I>uncan, of Paterson. N. .1. Ten children were the fniil of
their union — seven now llviii',' ami three deceased.
(;K0U(;E I{KTT1.\(;EK, hotil proprietor, is a native of
Darmstadt, Germany, where he was burn. February 14, 1S2T.
After receiving his education in the local schools of his native
place, he becanu' an ap|irentice in the bakery and confec-
tioner.v business. He has resided in Passaic fur twenty-six
years. where he has been engaged in the hotel business as
pioprietor of Hettinger's Hotel. Politically. Mr. Kettinger has
always been a staunch Republican. He has tilled the office
of Coun-zilman. as well as that of Freeholder, In both of these
official positions honest.v and integrity characterized all his
a<ts. Air. Hettinger is a mendicr of the Lutheran Singing
Society, the Maennerchor Soiietv and the Botan.v Gesang Ve-
rein. In 18,")2 Mr. Rettinger married Miss Christina Ileidiel.
a native -of Darmstadt. Five cliililien li.-ive licen burn tu
them, two of whom are living.
.mi;. Iinni .Mri.lluI.I,.\M) w.-is bum in N,-w York
<'ily. .Xivemlii'i- L'l. ISi'.!. wli.'nce his parents muveil lu P.-is-
saic, N. .1,, when he was only two .vears old. and in .\ugust.
1809, he embarked in the fire insurance business, which he
has carried on successfully and conservatively since that date,
exceiit that he has added lu his business by taking up a
.sn;all, but lucrative, real estate and money loaning business.
He is at preseni doing business at No. lili Third street, Passaic
N. .r. Mr. Jliilholland is a descendant of North of Ireland
p;. rents, who came In this country in 18l!',» and moved to Pas-
saic in bST.-j, where they have lived or in Wallington ever since,
Mr, .Mulliolland ha.s served a teriii in the Borough Council at
\Vallington, and i.s very popular throughout Passaic and ad-
jacent counties. He is a graduate of Culundiia Business Col-
lege at Paterson, a mendier of Wallington Council Xo, 2ti.''),
.Ir, O, U, A. M., at Wallington and a member of Court .Vc-
i|nackanoid<, Nu. 22. Foresters of America,
.11 111 \ l\\i;l.. a well-known business man of Garlield,
N, .1.. WIS burii at I'assaie, February 7. 1^71, wlirre he at
tei del! the public sciioids, and win le he lesidcd until 1894.
Alter leaving school he enteied the employ of Messrs, Den-
holni Brothers, with whom he remained for six years. He is
now engaged in the plumbing business on his own account,
being located in Gariield. Mr. Karl is Chief of Garfield Fire
Company. No. One: a member of the .Tunior Order United
Ain< rican Mechanics, Knights of I'ythias and of the Daugh-
ters of Liberty, Mr. Karl was recently awarded two im-
purtant plumbing contracts at Passaic — that of the new Mu-
nicipal building and that of the Y. M, C, A. building, both of
which he completed in a most satisfactory manner. He is the
only une in his line duing business at Garfield.
.lA-MES M.VYHIRV was burn in 1S:!1 at Killarney, Ire-
land, near the renowned Killarney Lakes, and was of Scotch
parentage. Owing to his surroundings, he decided early in life
to follow- a pursuit which would give him an out of door life,
and was consequently educated with a view- of pursuing horti-
cultural work. This line of work he followed, being overseer
oi" the largo Muckross domain at the Killarney Lakes. From
there he went to Edinburgh to further his eilucation, taking
up the iliflei-i'iit branches of horiiiuhure. While yet a young
man he came to America and settled for a lime in Montreal.
Canada. Leaving Canada for the United States, he loi-ateil
in New York, and after a residence there of thirteen years
came to New- .lersey, settling in Paterson, then in Clifton.
Mr. .Maybur.v is now engaged in contr.-icting work, having had
many years' experience in road making, constructing sewers
ai.il other contracting wurk. He was elected Justice of the
Peace for Acquackanonk Township for the term of five years,
Man,v cases have come before him lor adjudication, with
which he has dealt as fairly as circumstances would allow-,
keeping in mind always the carrying out of the spirit as well
as the letter of the law. Many of Passaic's lawyers were
always willing to have their clients come In-fore .Tndge May-
biiry, knowing that justice would be meted out in a spirit of
fairness an I equalit.v to all concerned. Ver,v few of .Tudge
Maybiiry's cases have been taken to the higher courts on ap-
peal, and. in' those which have, his decision in most instances
was affirmed. Since the expiration of ,Tudge Maybury's term
of office, he has been devoted entirel.v to contracting work,
together with his son, who is his partner. One of his uinler-
takiugs was the reiuov il of one of Passaic's old landmarks on
the main street, the old Reformed Church building, which was
siluated where the iIorri,sse building now stands. The old
wooden beams taken from this building, so well seasoned with
age. being over 10(1 .vears ulil. were i>urehased by violin mak-
ers, who pronounced the wood the lies! of its kind for making
violins. Several of the large sewers built on the principal
streets during recent years have been constructed by Mr.
Maybury, under whose personal supervision the work was
carried on. Mr. Maybury is a nu'inber of a local Scottish
Clan and is interested in the formation of Scottish societies,
he having been instrumental in the formation of Clan McLean
of this city.
CH,\HLES S.\.\IiEi;S, mason and builder, was born at
Kinross, Coiuily uf Kinrusshire, Scotland, February 2, 18,"):!.
His father was a mason and builder of that place, after which
he was located in Kdinbmgh, where the subject of this sketch
liarned his trade. In 1S.SI Mr. Sanders decided to come to
-Vnierica. Leaving Edinburgh, he went direct to New York
Cly, where In' resided for ten years. For the past five years
he has resided at Wallington and East Rutherford, N, J„ now-
biing a resident of the latter plair, where he is well and
favorably known, Mr. Sanders was married, November 2(1,
I87,''>, to Miss Eli/.abeth Roy. Eleven children have been born.
thri'C of whuin arc alive.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
265
.lOSKI'lI II. W IIICllT. Cciunil M^inajjoi- u{ the United
Stiiti's l'"iiiisliiiif.' CiiupiMiy. was liiirii at ratcrson. N. J.. A|iril
1(i, IS."):!. 1 Ir ii,ii\ 111 his cdiicatioii in tlic ;)iil)nc schools of that
tit.v. Oil linisliiiij; his school days, ho licsaii his Imsinoss career
as othce hoy in tlie l>Mnilee Dye and Print Works, then jnst
I'slalilishi'd liy I'l'ter IJcid and Henry A. Harry. Thronsh
iiidnslry. conjiled with natural aliility. ilr. Wrichl rosi' in the
I'onrsi- ol' time to tlie [xisition ol' chief clerk, anil npoii the death
of William I. Kan\, in 1S!l."i. heianiu General Snperinlendent.
wliicli iiiliic lie held uiiiil the concern was merged, together
with ilic iillicr nil. si iiiiiiiirtant concerns in the same line.
into llir I'nitiil Sl.itis Finishing Company. The consolida-
tion of these corporations and the organization of the Uniteil
States Finishing Company were acccmiplisheil largely throngh
his efl'orls, .mil he is now til-.' active head ot the con-
cern. Mr. Wright is pre-eminently a self-made man. his Imsi-
ni-ss career being withoiil parallel in I'assaic tor uniform,
steady, unvarying sncce.<s. .liie In his energy of character.
enterprise and uiilliiiihiii^- vyanl for correct and honorable
business priiiiiplcs, iniiplcil with a genius for hard work. Mr.
Wright has bccii .-i lesiilenl of I'assaic for twenty-five years.
He has always lieeii an active sup|)ortcr of the Itepnblican
ticket, and was strongly urged to be a candidate for JIayor
at the last election, which honor he declined for business rea-
sc lis. He was at one time a member of the Board of Ednca-
licH. serving as secretary for tnree years. He is a member
of I lie I'assaic Club of this city and of the Arkwright and
Colonial Clubs of New York City. Jlr. Wright was married,
on .laiuiary IS. ISSl. to Emily Peltoii. of Warwick, N. Y.
They have two children: Willi. ui'. 1". and Jlaiie L.. both living.
For many years Mr. Wright was associated with the late
William I. Barry as a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church.
In l.S!t2 he bnilt his present tine residence on Pennington ave-
iine. corner of the Boulevard,.
I'K.V.XK UL'tiUICS is cminenlly a self-niado man. As one
of the most prominent citizens of Passaic, whose vigorous ac-
tivities and bi-oail sympathies have had much to do with the
steady Mild hiallh.i m-owtli of ilic commnnity during the past
fift.'cn years, his career furnishes profitable study as that of
a notably successful business nuiii. Although limited by a
delicate physical organization, and having been deprived of
many school advantages, by family rever.ses. in his lioyhood.
\ct, by a rare combiiiation of natural mental endowment,
sheer foire of will and a high ambition toward the best ideals,
he has wrought his own advancement against what -would
have iiroved. in many lives, insuperable obstacles. He has
f( light his way to a position of acknowledged leadership in
local affairs. In real estate, his prompt, almost inlnitive, .iudg-
nieiit of property values and his pecniiar faculty for handling
iijvestnieuts have made him an accepted authority, while,
biyoiid the limits of his own immediate business, his wisdom
is invariably sought on imiiortant municipal problems, and
every legitimate enterprise finds in him a cordial and able
champion. Indeed, it is a well-known fai-t that of all the
important mannfactnring industries locati'd in I'assaic during
his residence here, the great majority have been the direct
result of his effcu-ts. his latest achievement in that line being
the locating of the (!era Jlills. one of the largest concerns in
Cermauy. in November last. Frank Hughes is a native of
Maryland. He was born in Baltimore, November 28, IStjO.
His mother wis Mary A. T>awson. a daughter of Robert Daw-
.son and Mary Hopkins. She was a cousin of .Johns Hopkins,
the Baltimore philanthropist and founder of the university
there, and a grand-niece of (ieneral .lames Sewall, a famous
soldier and politician, who was in command of Fort McHenry
di ring the war of 1812, and was in the fort when '"The Star
Spangled Banner" was written. He was a candidate for Gov-
ernor of Maryland, niid his country sent, Holly ITnll. Ih mill
in a good stale of preservation, anil is one of tin- |H>inU of
historic interest in Cecil County. His fath.T. .I.din Hughe.,
was liorn at Binibrhlge. a suluirl. of Belfast. Ireland, of n
well-known family, and came to this coiinlry with Ilia parent!)
In lS.->4, seiiling at North I'.asI, Cecil County. Md. Seriiring
a position with the wholisiile lionso of Liiini«ieii & Company,
in Ballimore, he was taken into partnership within two yenm.
At tlie beginning of the Itebcdlion. when Hiitler look imswhKi.ui
of the I'ity. h<' was one of its leailing nierchniitx, controlling tin-
salt and provision inarkets, and having eiuitracts with the
British (ioverniiienl for supplying its army and inivy. On
accoiml of his Southern tendencies, he was oldigiKl to h-iive
Baltimore, and ca to New York, when- he heciiiiie n promi-
nent shipper ami one of the leading s|H>culalorH on the PriHiiice
Exchange. Having I i trained to the linen linsinesH In Hel-
f.ist, he and his brother started the lirm of George Hughes
& Company, in 1S(!2, afterward located at V.I8 and 2<Ml Church
street, New York, ninl rated as the largest house in that trade
in this country. But the war broke up this biiHiiiess. The
Alabama destroyed several of its vessels, the insuring companies
failed, and the brothers were compelled by fiirlher coniplicn-
lions to assign their claiins against the riiited Slates Govern-
ment on the Geneva award. Mr. Hughes, Sr.. ri-lin<iuislied
mercantile business in l.SliX, and, after a few years' residence
in Plaiiitield, N. .1., where he ih'all <|uite largely in real estate,
he was led to purchase a large tract of land at Atheiiin, two
miles from Passaic, and impnived it at an expense of $2<Ni,iNili.
This venture, coupled with ^12.">,f)lKl of endorsements on his
brother's paper, was followed by the panic of l.S7;{. in which
all was wrecked. The family, ill r-onseuuence of tln-se re-
verses, returned to the farm on Chesapeake Ba.v, formerly used
as their suiu'iier home, in lS7t!. To the son. Frank, then a
youth of sixtecM. the i|niel routine of farm life becgiine irksome,
ai.d he determined to leave thu^farm and strike out for liiiii-
stlf. He became interested in the block system of telegraphy,
then in use on the Pennsylvania Railroad ninniiig throngh
the farm, and resolved to study telegraphy. He left home
in 18S2. and after a brief course in u Philadelphia technical
scliool secured a position as ojieralor at the Clifton station
on the Delaware. Lackawanna and Western Railroail. Here.
amid the scenes of his father's losses, his ambition for real
estate was kindled, and. having be<'n successful in a single
important deal, locating the Clifton Rubber Company at that
[•lace, he decided to enter the real estate busines.s, and came
to Passaic early in l.S.S(; and opened a small olllce on Blooni-
lield avenue. His first business announcement apiK-ared in
'J'he Daily News about March 1 of that year. The ranks
among dealers in local real estate were well tilliMl at that lime.
and to one of less resolute nature there would have sei-med
to !»■ little chance for a newcomer. Yet. without means, or
even aciinaintances. and in the face of slnuig prejnilice, .Mr.
Hughes has fought his way. step by step, nnlil he has phiceil
himself at the head of this line of business in the eouiily, if
not in the State. Muidi of his business, also, is Iransai-ted in
New York City, where he ranks iiinoug the leading brokers.
In 188!) and 18!M> he was employe*! by the Boards of Trade
in several large towns in the Indiana natural gas tield. and
si-ciit simie time aiding the development of that section, and
.some of his Iran.sactUuis have reacheil us far west as Cali-
fornia. His first sale of [iroperty in Passaic was made for
the late Elo Kip. Rsii.. in .Iniie. ISSC. The first large deal in
realty in the city effected by Mr. Hughes was the sale of
the former parsonage tract of the First UefonniHl Church, on
Lexington avenue. Since then, with one exception, he lias
III en the agency in selling and improving every large trait of
hiid in ami around the city, and he has bnilt himself, or Imi-u
266
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
instrnnic:it:i! in havinj; liuilt. over 5(10 lnniscs witliiu the city
limits To acc-omplisli this, it was m-ci'ssar.v to bring about
ccmbinations of outside capital to handle these properties,
n.any of which were too large for individuals to develop prop-
erly and profitably, and since 1880 he lias organized the follow-
ing companies, he being secretary of all lint two. manager of
all but one, and either president or treasurer of the others: —
The Passaic Park Company, Passaic Bridge Land Company,
Hillside Land Company. Main Avenue Improvement Company.
Minerva Land Company. Passaic Cit.v Land Compan.v. Pas-
saic Homestead Coaipauy, .T. li. Hiitchii son Land Company.
Ccoley Land Company. Crescent Real Estate Company. Ln-
janovits Land, Heiile Land and the Park Heights Land and
AVater Companies. Mr. Hughes was also the organizer of
the People's Building and Loan Association, now the leading
oi:e of the city, and one of the most prominent in the forma-
tion of the Hobart Trust Company. Passaic's new and latest
bank. He is also a stockholder in the P.issaic NatJMiial Hank
and the Passaic Trust and Sale Dipdsil ('nin]iany. In unlei-
to help him ill securing a foothold in the <-ity, and as an aid
to the real estate part of his business. Mr. Hughes tnuk the
agenc.v of the Liveriiool and I^ondon and (ilobe Insurance
Company in 1880. and has continued his interest iu that Mne
to the present time, icpiescnting as liesident Agi'iit. in addition
to the Liverpool and London .-ind (ilobe. the Nurth Riilish
and Mercantile. Queen. German .Vniciican. Xrw York Under-
writers. Xetherlands. Frankfort American. Pennsylvania.
American. Northwestern National. Travelers and Fidelil.\- and
Ci.sualt.v Insurance Companies. Mr. Hughes has never been
active in local iiolilics. e.\<-ept as he has always been iiiter-
eirted in all that tends to the development and improvement
of the community. He has been president of the Board of
Tr.-ide. and is a nienibcr of ibr Passaic Club, Tennis Club.
North .lersey Country Club. Vdiiiilakali Couiilry Club of New
Jersey and Commercial Cluli .-nid ihe .Maiylaii.l Smicty of
New York. He is, also, a member of the I'.nniil .pf Gov-
ernors of the Passaic (Jeneral Hospital .iiicl a trustee
Of the young Men's (.'liristian .Vssucialinn. 'riicre are
very few who are f.-iniiliar «illi the facts <ir liis life
during the years immediately following bis settlement in
Passaic, nor would their publication bo in accord with his
wi.shes; but. if they could be known, lliry would an'ord a
conspicuous example of resiilule. paticni. Iii-niic enile.ivnr in
the battle of life. With foresight tn providi- fm- the needs <•(
his growing business. Mr Hughes purchased, in 18!i:{. tin- tri-
al gular plot of land facing on Howe and Main .avenues and
Prospect street, immediately opposite the site of the new Mu-
nicipal Building. Only those who rememlier the dingy, une-
story roidcery, known as thi> "Fl.it Inui." the abode .if a saloon,
on this bit of land can realize what a transformation has been
wrought by the election, in its pl.iee. Ihiee years ago. of Mr.
Hughes' new ollice building. It is a handsome, three-story
ai.d basement structure of Indiana limestone and Koman brick.
The tirst floor is used by Mr. Hughes as a general real estate
and insurani'c oflice. and is fitted up with every convenience
for carrying on the various details of his business. The base-
ment is elaliorately furnished, and oi. tains .Mr. lluglies' pri-
vate ollice and a general meeting, or ilirectors'. room for the
unmerous <onipanies represented in his ollice. Opening from
this room are two large fireproof vaults, one of which is fitted
ui) specially for the use of customers, and where their papers
will be kept, if they wish, free of ch.arge. Tlie •(; I ]\,mk"
assures us that "whoso findeth a wife findeth a good
tiling," and a iiiaii is surely faviu'ed who is guided in the se-
lection of one peculiarly fitted to her position. It was, there-
fore, no mere incident in Mr. Hughes' career that, in May,
18S1», he was happily married to Miss Inez .M. Thurston, of this
cMy. With their charniing family of children, Misses Gladys
and (Jrace and Master Frank, Jr.. they reside in their beauti-
ful home on the corner of Passaic and Gregory avenues, pur-
chased by Mr. Hughes soon ."fter their marriage. Mr. Hughes'
mother and his sisters, with his brother Arthur, since the
father's <leath. have also become residents of Passaic. His
bioiiiiT Thomas is now a resident of Rockaway. N. J., where
hi holds a responsible position in the office of the Liondale
Print Works. Very soon after settling in Passaic Mr. Hughes
urited with the North Reformed Church, being the first mem-
ber received ujton confession of faith during the ministry of
Mr. Whitehead. His faithful, stalwart religious life led to his
election as a Deacon, and afterward as an Elder, in that
church, a jiosition he still occupies. Mr. Hughes is one of the
\er.v busy men who not only carry their princiiiles into their
every-da.v affairs, but wlio i-.-iii be most safel.v relied upon to
undertake' willinu^l.w and carr.\' out effectivel.v. any proper be-
iievoleiil or iiliibnitliropic scheme. He has devoted himself un-
sparingly to the ilevelopment and building up of Passaic, and
has never hesitated to give his time, energies or money to any
|iioii-et looking toward its advancement, and to liiui. nnu'e
than to all otlu^rs, is due the remarkable growth of the city
during the last twelve years. Beginning January 1. l!li"i. Mr.
Hughes' business will be incoriiorated and known as "The
Frank Hughes Comiiany." with .Mr. Hughes as President and
Treasurer, his brother. Mr. Arthur S. Hughes. A'ice-Presidcnt,
am! .\lr. (Jeorge F. Allen, as Secretary.
JOHN TILESTON GRANGER, the sub.iect of this
sketih. was born. March 4, 184T, at New Lexington. I'erry
County. Ohio. He was educated iu the public schools of Zanes-
\ille. Ohio. As to [udfession or business. Mr Granger has
been eiigageil in many enterprises, viz.. official reporter, stock
brokerage, railroad building, cattle and horse ranching in Ne-
braska and Te.xas: also, owner of and speculator in real es-
tate. He is now the largest individual owner of Garfield. N. J..
piopert.v. Indeeil. he has done much to develop that section,
aial continues to devote much time and attention to it. Mr.
Granger is a Republican in politics, and keeul.v watches the
trend of the alf.iiis of tlie lonntr.v. He has never held public
otfiee. and has no inclination to do so. He was married. March
21. LSTf), to Carra S. HotTiiiaii. of .Terse.v Cit.v. She was a
lianiihter of the late Major John B. Hoffman of Passaic, who
\v;is at that time New York freight agent of the Erie Rail-
n .111 at .lerscy City. There were born to them two children:
Louise K.. deceased, and Eleanor, now aged twelve years.
Mr. (Jranger has had a greatly varied life. In addition to
the .above menti(Uieil lines of business in which he has been
ei.'ga;.'ecl. he was. when a young man, a stenographer in the
Fnited States Senate. Afterward he became associated with
(Jemral tJreiiville M. Dodge in the construction of railways,
notably, the Te.xas and Pacific, the Missouri. Kansas and
Texas, ami the Fort Worth and Denver Railroads. In 1884
Jlr. (iranger became a member of the Ni'w York Stock Ex-
change firm of Tilghman, Rowland iV; L'o.. No. 'A Exchange
i'lace. .New York City, and he has ever since been identified
with Wall Stii'el interests. Mr. Granger has a winter home at
Wasliin'_'ton. D. ('.. and a smiinier lion i (Jreat South Bay,
L. I. .Mr. Granger siiciids a great part of his time in Texas
and .Nebr.iska, where he has large horse and cattle ranches.
-Mr. (Jranger was the first president of the I'assaic Club, and
during his term of ollii'e raisi'd the funds to build the liaii<l-
seine club house now oecupieil b.v the club. He was at one
time president of the Board of Tr.ide. and is a member of the
Passaic Library Association. He has always been, and still
is. active and earnest in his endeavors to advance the social
and financial welfare of Passaic. He owns some fine driving
hirses.and is enthusiastically fond of driving, fishing, hunting
and other outdoor sports. Take him altogi'ther. he is an
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
267
mlrniralilc :;riitlc)ii,-iii. ^.'ciihil. In'iirly. ciisy <if iipiiniiu-li, a ,-iiii-
si(U'i:iti', kinil ami rhiirininir coinpaiiiDn. ami a valiialilr fiii'iid.
The pooplo lit' I'assait- regret his loss as a iieniiamnl n^s'i-
deiit.
.I(ill\ A. I'A1;|-;1';K. the sul.je.l nr this sU|.t<-h. was liurii
111 (ieiieva. N. Y.. Febniaiy i;4. 1S4!). He was eiliieateil at the
Collefre of the City iif New Yoi-k, and is today iiiaiiacer and
and treasui-ei- of the Aekorniaii hunitier and Wood Woikiii);
("onipany. A resident of Passaic eijilit years. In ISCS he en-
listed in the Fourth New Jersey Kitle Corps, was promoted
thron;;!i the several oHiees and appointed Assistant Adjlitant-
(ieneral. First Brigade, April 2.'j, 1S85. In that oHiee ho has
eontinued to the present time. Colonel I'arker is a Kepnlili-
ean, having a keen eye to pnhlie alTairs. In .Jersey City lii>
was a inombei- nf tlie Hoard of FiUu-ntion. from ISTt! to ISTS.
In this city he has lieen Connrilnian since lSO-1. In ISIKS hi'
was atipointed Conrt House Commissioner, viie Moses ii.
Worthen. deceased. Colonel I'.trker w'as married, March 5.
ISilT. to Mary A. Iloagland, of ,Iersey City. There was born
to thini one son, Fred A., now living. His mother was Eng-
lish-honi: his father's family, on Imih sides — I'arker and Tyler
— have resided in this country since early in the seventeenth
century. Both families %vere represented in the Revolutionary
war. Colonel I'arker has a musket carrieil liy one of them
through that war. Colonel I'arker is a hale, hearty style of
man, loving good fello«shii), and is sturdily heliiing to make
history in the municii)al affairs of this city. lie is a member
of the Baptist Church, of the llaniillou Club, Paterson, N. .1.:
Aciiuackanonk Club, Passaic, N. .1.; Lodge of the Temple. F.
aiul A. M.. .Jersey City; Knterpriso Chapter, !■'. and .\. M..
Jersey City; W.irren Council, F. and A. M., Jersey City; Hugh
de Payens Comniandery, F. and A. M.. .lersey City: Scottish
Kite Bodies. F. .ind .\. .M.. Jersey City; Mecca Temple, Mystic
Shrine. F. ami A. M.. New York City; Lincoln Lodge, I. O.
(). F., Jersey City; H ainony ICncampment, I. (). O. 1".. Jersey
City; Faithful Council, U. A., Passaic.
AVILLIAJI .MALCOLM, merchant, was born at Manches-
ter, England, February !(!, 1S4(>, where he received a careful
education in the schools of that place. In 1877 Mr. Malcolm
located in Passaic, where he established himself as a book-
seller and manufacturing stationi'r. a Imsiness which since then
has grown to huge propoitions. .Mr. .Malcolm is a lu-oniinent
m.Muln'r of a number of .social and benevolent organizations,
among which are Pas.saic Lodge. .N... Ii7. !•'. and .\. M.; Cen-
tennial Chapter, No. 34, R. A. .\I.; .Melit.i Comniandery No.
13, K, T,; New Y'ork Consistoiv Sr.,tti>h IJite, 31!d degree,
and Jlecca Temple, \. A, I). N. M. S.; United \Vorkmeii,
Scottish Clans, Passaic Ledge, B. P. O. E. No. 387, and the
First Presbyterian Church, I'olitically Mr. Malcolm is a Ke-
publican. and is at present Treasurer of the city of Passaic,
a position he h.is tilled satisfactorily for several years, Mr.
Malcolm iiianied .Miss Mary Cheshire, of Manchester. Eng-
land. October lit;, 181)7. Thi y have one child, a son, who is
in partnership with him. He is prominently identitied with many
business interests of the city, lieiiig one of the founders, and
for seventeen years the secretary, .if the Mutual Loan and
Building Association; treasurer and secretary of the National
Brick and Terra Cotta Company; treasurer of the Board of
Trade, treasurer of the Uasbrouck Heights Company, secre-
tary of the Bogart Heights C<mipany, etc., etc.
JOHN .1. BOWES, eighteen years a resident of Passaic,
is one of our most substantial citizens. Whih- he is engaged in
the iron business in New Y'ork City, he is here a large real es-
tate owner, .iiid has ably assisted in forwarding the interests of
this city. He was one of the fonmlers of the PnnKnie Xntioiial
Bank am) of Ihe Passaic Trust niid Safe Ih-|Kii<it ('••ni|mn>'.
and lie is still a director in these institutions. He wnM one of
Ihe organizers of Pussiiie Cenernl Hospitnl, ami for n tiini-
was one of its (iovernors. He Ih a meinber of the B.iiird of
Trade and president of the Home Building and I^>iin .\K»ocin-
liiiii— from its organization. Mr, Bowew i* a memlHT of llw
Ai'i|uackarionk Club. He has lieeii idontilied with inoKt nil
of the eliaritiible and social iiistitnlions nf our city. He
is a genlleiiian having many friendx, easy of approach and
pleasing in manner; a great hunter— the Niinrod of the city:
ni d, also, an enthnsiastic disciple of Izaak Walton, HiK col-
lection of natural histcry— the reHult of his liunting expedi-
tions and his skill in taxidermy— is seiond to noiii- in the
Slate.
i;i< II Al;l> oriW .\TEK, a veteran nierelinnt of thin
cily, was born at Sadille Uiver, Bergen County. X. J., May
1.">, 1.S40. After re<-eiving a common sc-hool eilui-alion. he wl
(Uit at tiie age of lifteeii to li-arn piano-making. Bill he ilid
not long continue at this. He chose lather (he business of the
II I nliant .-ind went into the i-niploy of Hobert Iteniiie, at
RICHARD OUTWATER.
Lodi. N. J. In 18|kS Mr. Outwater openeil a griM-ery store
in this city, where he continued to trade and prosper until the
spring of the present year |1S!«»|. But all these years Mr.
Outwater has not confined his business within the four walls
of his store. Scarcely has there been a time when he was not
actively engaged in exploiting some far-reaching i-nterprise,
such as lairchasing a large tract in Houdiirns. Ihe village of
Ilion. N. Y'., or a ranch in California. Whatever schenu-s
he associated with, when carried into e\eenlioii. grew in iiniwr-
taiice and yieldeil irratifying returns. .Mr. Outwater is pronii-
lui'tly connected today with a iiiiiiiber of corporations and finan-
cial institutions: The Dundee Woolen Mills, aiuitable Land
Company. Elmira Muiiieip:il liiiproveineni Company, and the
People's Bank. Of each of tin' above he was one of the imtir-
porators. The Eliiiirn .Municipal IinproveiiuMit Couipnny was n
scl eme havin;: its origin in the fertile brain of Dr. tJinirge
268
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
N. Moitoii, of New York City. Mr. Outwater took a leading
|iiiit in carrying its affairs to success. The gas and electric
plants of that ctiy were bought up: also, the water works,
street railway and Inter-State Fair Grounds: all these were
consolidated into one corporation in the year 1891-92. The
panic or 189.^> disconcerted their plans, however, and the com-
pany was thrown into the hands of a receiver, owing, largely,
it is said, to the hostile attitude of the Mutual I.ife Insurance
Company of New York. It must be remembered that it was a
N( w .lersey incorporation, capitalized for .$1.1HK 1.(100, and
bended for .fl^SOO.OOO. Tlie attorney for the stockholders was
\cry solicitous of getting the business out of the receiver's
hands. It was through the skilful management of Mr. Out-
water that this was speedily accomplished. Whereupon he
was elected president of the company. A reorganization is at
piesent in progress. It will be seen, therefore, that Mr. Out-
water has, really, not retired from business. He has left the
pent-up store life to give wider play to his well-recoguized busi-
niss talents. Mr. Outwater was married. April 24, 1872. to
Christiana Zabriskie, of Hergcu County. Two sons have lieen
born to this union: Anderson Z.ibriskie and Richard Irving.
.Mr. Outwater is of Huguenot origin. He traces his ancestors
b;:cU to the Von Otitwaters of Holland, some of whom were
gieat masters in art. Captain .lohu Outwater was one of the
Minute Men in the Kevolution, and was afterward appoiuteil
.Judge by the Governor of New .Tersey. Mr. Outwater is in-
tensely a Uepublicau. He has been Councilman one term and
Cilj" Treasurer two or three terms. He is a member of the
First Reformed Church: with this church himself and his
father's family, on both sides of the house, have always been
i(l( utitied.
ALICE HARTLEY lURDK K, M. I)., daughter uf the
late Rernard Hartley, of I'atersou. .\. ,1 . was born. .May 7.
1835. She received her preparatcu-y education at Professor
R^:nkin's school, at Deckertowu. N. .!., and, at the age of
eighteen, married Houseman I)e Haun. of I'atersou, X. .1.,
to whom she bore three children: Charles, who has been an
inv.'ilid from birth; Edwin, a leading ph.vsician of this city,
and \Villiam, who died in infancy. I'pon the death of her
father Jlr. Do Haun wis appointed executor of his estate and,
also, guardian of his two brother.s-in-law, William G. Hart-
ley, M. D., now of New York City, and Major .Tolni E. Hart-
ley (deceased). At the age of twenty-one, the subject of this
sketch, believing there should not be two purses between hus-
band and wife, signed away all her right and title in the estate
of her father: but several years afterward, in her hnsbaiul'.s
reverses, everything was lost! Then it was that Mrs. De
Bann, now I>r. .\lici' H.irtley Hurdick, seeing that llu'
piotection and the education of lu'r children would de-
volve upon her. resolved to take up the stuily of meili-
ciiie. It may be said that she was to the manor born,
fiu- the Hartley family has not been without a physician for
two hundred ye.irs. It was Dr. David Hartley, one of her an-
cestors, who in the last century, was described as a studious
physician, ami who wrote learned works on p.sychology and
the gray matter of the brain. In this new venture Dr. Rur-
dick was greatl.v assisted and encouraged by Dr. S. Clemence
Ltsier, founder of the Homoeopathic College f(U' Women in
New York City. She entered this college niul remained two
years. She would have tinished her stinlies here, but a change
of professors occurred, and she, with several other students,
withdrew and entered the Eclectic College, from which she
graduated with the highest honors. Dr. Alice Hartley Runliik
has practiced medicine, suci-essfnily, for a period of thirty
yiar.s, making a specialty of the diseases of women, gynecology.
She greatly delights in her work, ami hopes "to die in har-
ness." On ,Iune 4, 1873, she married S. Towel Burdick. M. D..
of I'ater.sou N. J.. Professor of Obstetrics in the Homoeo-
pathic Medical College of New York City. One child, a daugh-
ter (deceased), was born to this marriage. Dr. Alice Hartley
Burdick is a member of the Episcopal Church and. also, of the
Monday Afternoon Club, of this city.
(J. EDWIN BROWN. M. D.. one of the physicians of
Pa.ssaic, was born near Sufferu. N. Y., and is one of a family
of two brothers. His brother, Irving, is a lawyer practicing
in Itockland County, N. Y., and for the past two years has
been a member of the New York State Assembly from Rocklan<l
County. Dr. Brown received his academic education at the
Spring Valle.v Academy, New York State, in which institution
he afterward became a teacher of mathematics and languages.
After teaching a short time he took up the study of medicine,
graduating at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New
York City, which is the Medical Department of Columbia Uni-
versity, and ranks first among the medical institutions of this
country. Subseciuently, on a competitive examination, he re-
ceived the appointment of Resident Physician and Surgeon in
the Brooklyn City Hospital of the city of Brooklyn. N. Y., in
which institution he served six mouths in the Medical Depart-
ii.( ut and one year in the Surgical Department. At the ex-
piration of his hospital service he began private practice at
Hackensack, N. .1., where he successfully practiced medicine
for a number of years, during which time he succeeded in
a(<iuiring some property, including one of the hand.somest resi-
dences in the town. During the term of his practice at Hack-
ensack he was a member of the Bergen County Medical So-
ciety, and occupied at different times the positions of physician
to the County Penal Institution and that of Health Physician
of the town of Hackensack. Later, shortly after its organiza-
tion, he received an appointment on the staff of the Hacken-
sack Hospital as one of the visiting physicians and surgeons
to that institution. Tiring of the semi-country and town prat-
lice, and desiring a more exclusively city practice, which, in
his opinion, Passaic is destined to furnish, Dr. Brown removed
to Passaic a few years ago, and in a surprisingly short time
succeeded in acquiring a remunerative practice. Dr. Brown
is married, and has one daughter. Harriet Edwina. His ma-
ternal ancestors, whose family name is Co()per, number among
the mi'inbers of that family a fornu'r Colonel In the war of IS]2
and a former .Imlgc of Rockland Comity. N. Y.
IIEMtV K. KONK, retired, was born at New Hurley,
Ulster County. N. Y., .lanuary 5, 1S32. He is the son of
George D. and Margaret (Van Demark) Rouk, also natives of
New York, Mr. Ronk was for many years engaged in the
ccunmission business in New York Cit.v. When a boy his
parents removed to Ohio, where the subject of this sketch re-
sided for some time, afterward returning to New York, where
lie lived for tell yeais. He then rtiuoved to Passaic, where
for the iiast twenty-six years, he has continued to reside. 0:i
August 11, 18,")9. Mr. Ronk married Miss Eleanor G. Furlong
of Clarksfield, Ohio. They reside at No. 72 Bloomtield ave-
nue, and arc well known socially and otherwise. Mr. Ronk
is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, and has tilled
evi>ry otticial position connected with the orgaiii/.atlon.
DA\'ID DWYER. manufacturer, was born at Hinsdale.
Massachusetts, in 18,')4. He received a common school educa-
tion in the public schools of his native town. In 1884 Mr.
Dwyer located at Passaic, and later removed to Garlielil. N. .1..
^^ Inue he now resides, b( ing the secretary and general super-
iuteiulent of the Garfield Woolen Company, in which he is
largely interested. On September 14, 187(!, Mr. Dwyer married
Miss H. A. Walsh of Hinsdale. They have nine children, all
of whom are living. Mr. Dwyer is a member of St. Nicholas'
Roman Catholic (^liiirch and of a number nf church societies.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
269
AI.KXAMU'.l; KINISI.K 11 M . I)., was liurii, Febru-
:ny 14. 1S44. in ll.ilicin, Austria. Ili' was rdiKati'd ill the
stiiuuls <il' (iaiicia. Ij.v tlii' Iiiipcrial Mcilical Kaculty of Leiii-
bfi'g, Austria, ISOS). and in tlio Iiuliarin Collcpo of Medicine and
Midwifcr.v, Indianapolis, Ind. He practleed medicine in Kn-
rcpc, in New York t'it.v and Newark, N. .1. Now lie is practic-
in;; in Passaic. The Doctor came to AnnMua in 1SS4. In pidi-
tics he is a National Kepiililicau. He is a niemtier of I. (). of
Hritli .\hrahani. of 1. (). of S(.ns of Benjamin: also, of the Or-
der of Hritli Abraham. I, O, of Anu'rican Israelites. Dr.
Knntslich was married, November IS, lS(i."), to Amelia Spath.
of Tarn.'in, iialicia. Anstria. The.v have three children livini^
and ihrcc deceased. The medical profession runs in his fani-
il.v. His f.itlicr was a surgeon in the Austrian army, taking
li:;it in ilic subduing of Hungary and in the complications with
Italy. His mother was a midwife in Galicia. The subject of
this sketch was the fifth in a fan\ily of nine children, seven of
whom arc now living all liln'rally I'ducatcd,
D.W'ID Kr.Vl'Sl.lCll. M. 1>.. was b..rn .Tuly ITth. IStiS,
in (iaiicia, Austria. After atlcuding the lower schools in G-al-
icia, he entered the Seminarium in Uezoszow, Galicia, remain-
York Law School, ami graibiaied ihcri-froni, receiving the do-
groo of LL, K, Mr. Kuntslich has reiidi d in lliiM city two
years. He is a member of the Alumni of the New York Law
School, of Newark High School mid the Newark f'liiBHlcnl
Clnb, Aglssiz-Dana Si-etion. In iKdities he is n National Ue|iuh-
lican. In munii-ipal affairs, however, he voten for the lictit
man.
A\1!(»N .MIM.INCTON HK.MION. real etitnle nnd in-
surance btokcr, was bi.rn at I'aterson. N, .1,. NovoiuImt 5,
1S72. He is the son of ,I(din and Anna iMillingtonl tleiniun,
both being natives of New .lersey. .Mr. Ilemion was n pupil
at the jiiiblic schools in Tas-saic. After Icnving schu<il he en-
gaged in his present business, that of real estate, insurnnrc
and loans. He conducts his biiMiiess in the Ilemion building,
eciiicr of W.ishinu'loii place aiid Main avenue.
COUNKI,irS Ki:\lTT. manager of the Passaic f'ity
Brownstone Company, is a mi-mber of a family that d<M.« n
great deal toward building np Passaic, nnd is n<«t beliiml any of
his relatives in this respe<-t. The i-oinpnny has ai'<iuire<l the
old Paiilison (piarries, out of which came the stone for the
present City Hall, and has invi-stiHl <onsidernlde capital in
DR. D. KUNSTLICH.
iug tbrce years. He came to America in 1884. goiu
l'hila<lelphia, then to Chicago, then to San Fnant-isco, Cal.,
where he began the study of medicine, graduating in 18'J4.
Having practiced medicine in that city two years, he went to
Cripple Creek, Col. Soon, however, he made his way iKick to
the East, to his "home. He passes! his medical examination,
first, in New York, tlicn in New Jersey, receiving his certifi-
cates of (lualificati.m from both Boards. He is now practicing
his profession in this .-ity. Dr. Kuntslich was married Aug.
Till, 1s;iS to Pu-ichel (\dien, of I'assaic. They have one child.
Samuel Saul. The Do<-tor is a Natiimal Uep"'ilican. But m
municipal affairs he is an Independent, voting for the best man.
He is a member of the New .Jersey State Homeopathic Medi-
cal Society; of the Ancient Order rnite<l Druids: of the Inde-
pendent Order Brith Al)rahani: of the Passaic Hebrew Benevo-
lent Society; and of the Society of Children of .Tacob. He is
Associate Physician t.) tlic medical staff of St. Mary's Hospi-
tal.
SAMUEL HENKY KINTSLICH, LL. B., was born.
October IS, ISTS, in Oalicia, Austria. He came to this country
with his parents in 18S4. He received his preparatory education
in the public schools of Newark. N. .1., graduating from the
iML'h School. He then entered New York University, where
he took one cour.>e in law. Fmm there he went to the New
DR. A. KUNSTUICH. S. H. KUNSTLICH, L.L.B.
first, to modern macliiiicry. Mr. Kevitt has iieeii a builder on n large
scale, has represented the Thiril \Vard in the City Council, and
is noted as an indefatigable worker. He Mvcs at Paiilison
avenue and Grant street.
CHAULES AUtJUST S'llM.l.lM ; is a native of thtcrn-
dorf, Germany, having been born Uebni.iry >',. lS"il. In 1S7.'{
he located in Passaii . where he eii,;aged in the jewelry trade,
and is at present one of the rddest merchants in that line in
the city. Mr. Stelling has for several years lieeii assistant
superintendent of the Paterson and Pa.ssaic Gas and Electric
Company, for which he is pecnliarly fitted. lie is a mem-
ber of the E.xempt Firemen's .V.sswiation, Koynl Arc,Tnum
and of a number of Masonic societies. He is n Repnidicnn, but
Lot an oince-i^eeker, ttn February 1, ISTii, Mr. Stelling mar-
ried -Miss Lottie E. .lelleme >f Passaic. Th.-y have two chil-
dren—William .\, and Edna M. Mr. Stelling was one of the
first memliers of old Ciunpany B. Fi>iirth Kegiment, and retired
with the rank of captain, after having In-en in commnnd of
the coniiiany for soino years. He is one of the memliers of
Company B, Fourth Regiment. Veteran .Vssociation. which
meets annually for a dinner and theatre party in New York
to renew old friendships, and talk over the merry days in
the early history of the loiiipany.
270
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
I'KAXK II. WILLIAMS. iUDpn.-tor of tli.' Tagnda Ho-
tel, was lioni at rrovidencf, K. I., in 1848. He conies of stood
olil New England stock, being directl.v descended from Rojier
A^'ilIianl.s, the founder of Ithode Island. His education was
begun in the public schools of Providence, and completed b.v
a twelve months' course at a business college. At the age of
fifteen he enlisted in the Tenth Uhode Island VoIunte<'rs, it
being one of the regiments raised un<Ier the call for 7.">.(I'M1
troops made by President I.,incoln in May. l,S(i2. when the city
of Washington was supposed to be in danger. At the ex-
piration of his three months' term of service, young Williams
re-enlisted for nine months in the Eleventh Khode Isl.uid \dl-
i.nteers, in which he served his full term, seeing service, large-
b confined to North Carolina and Virginia. Vpon returning from
the war, he determined to devote his attention to photographic
v.ork. He liecimo an apprentice in the employ of L. AVright,
a prominent photographer of Providence. The following year,
at the age of eighte;>o. .Mi-. Williaiiis cngagecl in tlu' Inisiiu'ss
induced to invest ten thousand (Inll.-irs in the stncU of the
Haden Natural Gas Company of Western Pennsylvania. The
venture proved so disastrous that he never received back one
IK-nny of the money invested, as the company failed before
their plant was completed. At about the same time he was also
investing thousands of dollars in Brooklyn real estate, again
sf.staining heavy losses; and, again, to add to his financial
troubles, he became an indorser of notes for friend.s, subse-
(luently losing heavily. In 1890 he purchased what was known
as the "Chinese House" property at Passaic Bridge, believing
that a fair luotit could be quickly realized: but again disap-
I>ointinent seemed to be his fate. He found the property uu-
salabli' ( ven at the price he had paid for it. and to keep it from
going to ruin he was compelled to occupy it himself. It was
suggested that it would be a splendid place for a hotel or
club house, and Mr. \\'illiams. believing a fir.st-dass business
of that sort was needed in that locality, applied for and re-
vived a license to coiidmt a house of thar kind. On May
THE PAGO
oil his own ai-cciiiiil in the village of K;ist (ireemvich. K. I..
wluM'e he rem. lined for more than live years. In ISTd he
removed to the larger town of Central Falls, U, I., and during
the foll,)wing year he purchased a photographic studio in the
adjoining city of Pawtucket, where he remained until 1878,
Believing there was a better fielil for his business in Eu-
rope, Mr. Williams went to England, locating at Birming-
ham. Kinding he had made a mistake, he returned to this
<•( untry the following year, and located at 08.5 Broadway, New
Yf.rk City, where he remained for si.xteen years. For several
years the business was successful, so much so. that Mr. Wil-
liams estim.ited his profits at from ten to fifteen thousand
dollars per year. I^ater. owing to so much competition, the
business dwindliMl to harilly a paying basis, and he was
compelled to seek something more remunerative. Possessing
a good surplus of read.v cash, Mr. Williams began to look
around for profitable investments. To illustrate how ill-luck
sonx'tinies pursues the most careful business man. he was
DA HOTEL-
i;4. IS'.i:!. imiK-r tlie name of the Pagod.-i Hotel, tlie place
was opened to the public. From the beginning the venture
was a great success. It liecame the favorite hosti'lry with the
iKtter class of pleasure-seekers through the whole of Northern
New .lersey. as well as being popular with iM'ople residing in
New York City and Brooklyn. The building was of unique
architecture, to which no doubt part of its success was due.
People from all sections have visited the locality out of curi-
osity to see the peculiar-looking house that had always been
clcrsed to the general puMie. Its spacious halls and parlors
and the plan of the rooms in general were peculiarly adapted
to its lien- use. After a successful period covering several
yi ars, Mr. Williams again suffered a misfortune. On the
nuirning of .Inly :i. IS',17, the "Pagoda" was completely de-
stroyed by fire, the occupants barely having time to make their
escajH'. On account of the excessive rates, Mr. Williams
carried but little insuronco, and what was realized was paid
over to the nioitgai-'ee. Being possessed of more than ordinary
JOHN SWr.NSON.
LARS SWENSON.
JOHN KARL.
I'hiet ot (JurdeUI Fire Dept.
CHARLES SANDERS.
JOHN THOMAS SIMMS.
HUGH MULHOLLAND.
JACOB A. TROAST.
MATTHEW J. VAN Lf.EUWEN.
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
273
plurk, Mr. Williams w.is nut to lie ilisci.uniKcil. 'Witlun ii tew
hours, lie li;i<l ;i I'lircc i)l' lafiu'iitcrs at woi-k orcctiii!; ti-ni-
porary (niartors, and duriiiv: tlu> same <la.v hiisiiiess was re-
sumed with a new stoek of provisions and other goods. Two
weeks later he leased his present promises, where he made
e.>tensive alterations, and on .\ngnst 1, 1S!17, the "New Pa-
jiod.i" was opened. The popnlarit.v of the new house has ever
since been on the increase. Mr. Williams determined lo retain
the old name. "I'afioda," for two reasons: First, to better in-
icrm the nlil patrons of the new location, and, second, it is not
improb.ible that at some future tinu' a new hotel of the same
st.vie as the burned structure ina.v be built on the old site. The
present Pajroda Hotel is inust ccuiveniently located, being but
a moment's walk from the Erie station at Passaic Hridge, and
is also in close proximity to the Newark and Palerson trolley
system. So iJuiHilar li.is the establishment liecome, that it is
now (luitc llie lliiuf.' for parlies to telephone an honr in ad-
v;'nce of their arrival, orilcrini; a line collation served in Mr.
AA'illiams" famous style. The inenti and wine list are
marvi'l, of completeness for a hotel outside of a great city.
Alniest everything coiulncivi' In the must critical epicure's
njipetite can be obtaiiu'd at a inomeut's notice. Oysters, clams
and ^anie .are always to be had in their season; meats and vege-
tables are of the l)est the markets supply. When planning
an cxtursion or theatre party, and you desire an excellent re-
past, the "Pagoda" is the only place that oEfers what you want.
By calling Telephone No. IS'l H. I'assaic, you can order what-
ever you ilcsirc. thus insuring a iinick service upon your ar-
rival.
IIl^■I^•G C. M.VTTIIE\A'S, auctioneer, was born, .Tune 30,
l.l,")!. in Schoharie Coiinty. N. Y. In 1S.S."> he removed to Pas-
saic, where he has
since resided. Mr.
.M.atthews is a
member of the
Masonic Order, of
Knights of Pythi-
as. Ancient Order
liiileil Workmen,
Kxcnipt Firemen
and the .\.e(inacka-
lionU. frirmerly the
Washington Club,
lie has always
lira a llepublican,
and was for one
lirm Sihool Com-
missioner, which
position he tilled
very satisfactorily.
May. 22. 1.S77. Mr.
Matthews married
Miss Klla F. Die-
fendorf, of Cobles-
kill, N, Y. They
IRVING C. MATTHEWS. ^^,,.,^ ,„.„ i,,,^,.^.,^.
ing children: Lillie and Una. Mr. Matthews does an extensive
bi:siness in his special line, and has conducted the sales of
many of the leading real estate transactions in Passaic and the
vicinity. He is also the head of the Eureka Storage and Auc-
tion Company, organized in l.SiM!. It is the most extensive es-
tal'lishment of its kind in Passaic. Another important branch
of Mr. JIatthews' business is the buying and selling of furni-
ture of every description. Many unique and antique pieces in
the latter line find, their way into Mr. Matthews' possession.
WILLIAM O. BUSH
WII.I.I.WI II. m.SH, nierehnnt, wqh burn nl I/o<li, X, J„
Miir<h lit;, I.SIli. He Ih descended from old New Jeniey Htnck.
his parents both
having been born
in what is now the
borough ot Ciiir-
Held. His grand-
father. Capl. Hush,
was masli-r r)f a
schooner that plied
between I'assaie
anil .New Y'ork 70
years ago. His
mother (who is still
living and aged .S2
years) was a Van
Vorst; her father.
Walling Van Vorst.
was a carpenter
anil f.iriner, owning
a small farm in
(iarfield and what
is now known as
the Fulton proper-
ty. The old home-
stead is still ill ex-
istence. The father of our subject died in l.H,"i(i. When a boy
Mr. Bush attended the local schoids of his native town, niid
later was a pupil of Williams' School at Ilackensack. .\fter
completing bis studies he clerked in a store at Ixtdi, and in ISfjSt
he engaged in the meat business at the .same place. In 1.SS3
Mr. Bush removed to Garfield, where he embarked in the
giocery trade, a business he is still engaged in. IVdilically he
is a Democrat, and was for twelve years Postmaster at <Jar-
lield, and was the first Mayor of that borough. On NovenilnT
22, 1871, Mr. Bu.sh married Mi.ss Mary E. Kelso, of Provi-
dence. R. I. Six children have been born, five of whom are
living.
CHUISTI.VN IIFBEK. Freidiolder. was born in Cennany,
March A. ls-17. He c.iiiie to .Viiieriea with his parents when
a small boy. and has re-
siiied in I'assaie thirty-two
years. Before engaging in
his present business he fol-
liiwed the trade of a mill-
wright. Mr. H liber has been
,1 iiroinineiil figure in [nditi-
cal affairs in Passaic Coun-
ty. He is now serving in
his third term as a uieuiber
of the Board of Chosen
Freelioldei-s; he also served,
fr.iiii 1.'<.*<S to 18SJ7. as a
member of the Pas-snic City
Council, representing the
Fourth Ward. He is also
a member of Engine Com-
CHRISTIAN HUBER.
peny No. One. the E.xempt Firemen's A.sswiation and the .\a-
tienal State Engineers' Association. He was for three years
Chief of the Passaic Fire Kepartinent. Mr. HuImt is a member
of the Kod and Uun Club.
l..Vl;S SWFNSON, coutraclor and builder, was l.orn in
Sweden, May 21, IStMi, attending the piiMic schools of his
nativi- town. He has resided in Pa.ssaic for thirteen years.
274
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
where lie h;is l)e;(mie iiiie dI' llie must prusiitrims ;iM(1 intliu'ii-
lial men in liis line uf I'Usiness. ilr. Swenson is a prominent
member of tlie Swedish Luthenin Clnircli. to whieli lie has
always been a ooiitribntor when necessary, lu .lannary, 1889,
he married Miss Marthelda (Jreniberjj. a native of Sweden.
They have five children — f(mr sons and one daughter. Mr.
Swenson is associated in bnsiness with his yoiintrer loollier.
.John, nnder the firm name of Swenson Brothers.
.lOll.N SWKNSOX. .(.ntrac-toi- ami luiil.lcr. ami a iiiemhi-r
of the lirni of Swens<in Brothers, was born in Sweden. Kcli-
ri'.ary -',). 1870. He came to America in 188'J. locatin); in
I'assaic, where he has continned to reside ever since. As a
bnilder he has been snccessfnl, havinsr accjnired a considerable
I'ompetency. He is a member of the Dundee Presbyterian
Church, besides several societies. His niarriav:e to Miss Mary
Tober occurred In ls!il. They have iliree ehilclreii two sons
and a daughter.
'rici-: ('. Ki;\ri"r. nurseryman, was born mi I'assaic,
Ai'iil '.I. isilii. His parents, who were natives of Holland,
settled lure more than sixty years ago. Mr. Kevin Is one of
the widest kiuiwn men In his business
in New .Jersey. He has extensive
nurseries in Atlu-nia. near Passaic,
whi'i-e almost every variety of fruit
known to this climate is propagated,
str.-iwln'riies belnz one <if his spe-
ilaltlcs. A view of his nurseries ap-
pears hi this volume, whii-li only
gives the read<'r a small idea of his
placi". Mr. Kevitt is Inspector of the
Stale Board of Agriculture, a iiuml-
ber of the I'assaic Uod and (inn CIuli and of the Clifton Club.
He is a ni;in of push. I'U'rgy. ami Integrity, ami is highly re-
spicled in this community.
TICE C. KEVITT.
li tff ! iriiHrl
THE NEW IMUNICIPAL BUILDING
CHA.PTER XXVIII.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The Collegiate School, the Passaic Business College and MacChesncy's College, All Excellently Managed
by Private Auspices.
THE I'ASSAIC l()l.l.i;(;iAXi; school was opened ill
September, 18".l."). in two i-ooiiis ot a private house, willi twe
t< lU-liors and seven pupils. Tliroo patrons ot" the school— K<1-
ward I'hillips. Alliert K. .Mitchell ,ind Francis K. Filch— as-
sumed its tinancial responsibility. In the spring a house was
.secured and a KinderKart.'n upened. The first year closed with
twenty-four pupils in attendanie. The scnerons appreciation
ot work acciinnilished durinu the lir.st year influenced the
Bo;ird til iiici -ise the oducalional facilities still furlher by
the addiliMii .,1 ilii.-.- ti.,-i.lu-is. :\[iss I'.iTflm vno M.isi-li/iskiT
jirices sixty-four pupils have iii-on enndleil iliiriiiK the pn«f
year In February. LSJlJI. the Hoard h-arnecl. with reKfct.
that Mr. I'liillips would willidraw from iH'tive liilercxt in the
scho(d al the ilose of the year. If was then ih-ctded to invite nil
of the patrons to form a new financial coinniiltei>, which slionhl
s.-ek fi'r better aicoinniodalions for the school ami put furtli
enorts Im I'idar.'i' its influence .Such .1 eoininittii' wnx formed,
the -Vycrii.';.' hoini-slead Icasi'd. and on the first of Slay the
school took fiu'inal possession of the biiihiin;;. Tills stately olil
ii:!ii-i..n, l.iiill l.v ih.. Imi.. .I..Ii-. It.-iiiL.T Vv.r,,.,. \l l>., ju
HOME OF COLLEGIATE SCHOOL.
■was niridc princip.'il nt ihe sili.».l. wliicli oii.-ncd in the fall
v.itli forty pupils. I'mspects l'(U- the ruliire seenieil nmst flat-
terins: in the early spring, however, the hearts of i)arents.
teachers ami pupils were saddened by the sudden death of
Jfiss Von .M..s<lizisker. Her [dace was temporarily filled, and
1,. llu' loyal devotion of the other teachers is due the fact
lli.Ll th" year was completed without serious injury to Ihe
work. Miss .\. Louise Buckland. of Boston rniversity. w.is
selected to till this vacancy. The third year <losed with fifty-
five pupils in attemlance. In consideration of increased ex-
pen.ses and the limited seating cajiacity of the schoolrooms.
ihe rat,>s of tuition were raised. I'lider Ihe new schedule of
l.'^-HI. seems iire-emineiitly suited for this purpose. The luiild-
iiig is r>tl\S(l fi-et. with ceilings IS fi'et high on the first, and H
liet on the second floor. A hall. I'lt feet wide, divides the
house. The drawing-room. .")<tx'_'.">. with sniitlierii e.\|Mi.inre. is
devoted to the kindergarleii. Two rooms, (lireetly over this,
L.'x'Jo feet, are occupied liy the senior and juiuor deparfmonls.
The primary cleparlinent has appropriated the library, on the
first floor, a room •27,\\S fei-t. There is ample space for n-ci-
t:.tioii rooms, gynnasiiim and lunch riMini. aUo for the «• •
commod itioii of II niimher of resident pupils. The liM'ation is
most healthful, ami is 1 venieiit. especially for pnpils n-siding
ill adjacent towns. The object which the .Bonn) of DireetorM
276
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
have in mind is to provide for those wlio prefer a private school
one in which pupils from kinderfiarten to college entrance may
lie given the advantages of the best methods or education, ap-
l)li('(l by well-trained and experienced teachers. To secure this
object and maintain the general policy of this school, about
.$4.0(10 in excess of its income has been expended during the
past four years. The aim of the board is to enlarge and ini-
piovc the school, so that in method of work and standard of
scholarship it shall be second to none; thereby to attract to
I'assaic people of education and means, who would, in the ab-
stnce of such a private school, choose other suburban towns
a.- a place of residence. Those interested in this work are
neither in competition with, nor antagonistic to, the public
schools, but rather seek to give symiiathy and encouragement
to the earnest efforts which are being made to give Passaic as
coini)lete a system of public education as possible. The school
has the privilege of entering pupils without examination at
Wellesley, Smith and Ml. Holyoke colleges. Last .Tune candi-
d;;tes were i)resented for examination at Mt. Holyoke and
Vassar, and students are preparing for various other colleges.
Beys are received in all departments below the senior. Tlie
members of the ne.v Financial Committee are: Mrs. William
I. Karry, IJobert I). Benson, H. (Jregory Corona, Oscar Dress-
ier, Francis K. Fitch, Harry W. Hedge, George Maclagan.
Albert E. .Mitchell, .Julius Koehrs. .Joseph II. Wright.
THE rASS.\IC P.rsi.NKSS COI.I.KCI-; .\.M) SCIlonl.
OF MUSIC AND I-.V-NCU'-itJES, now located in the new and
handsome Imildini: on Lexington avenue. Nos. ll!7 to 17'J.
corner of Sherman street, was established .Inly 7, 1800, in the
Morrisse Building, Main avenue, by Professor .V. Hartkorn.
Three students to attend the day sessions and one llu' eviiiing
class were enrolleil. It persevered in the face of tins poor
encouragement, doing splendid work, showing good results, and
has in the course of three years educated hundreds of young
men and women, not only of this city, but from .lersey City,
lloboken. New York, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia and
uumbers from the surrounding towns and vicinity. Its gradu-
ates from the Conunereial and Stenographic Departments hold
responsible positions in some of the largest Banks, Ileal Estate
Agencies, Insurance Companies. Wholesale Houses. Law
Firms, Stock Exchange, MilLs, Produce Exchange, Etc., lOte.
Dr. Charles M. Howe, JIayor of the City of Passaic, in his
Address at the Graduating Exercises held in the College .\u-
ditorium on iluue 30, 18',)0, said: "Our city is proud of this
Institntiou. and great credit is due its Principal. Professor
and have them prepared for a practical Independent life, and it
gees to show that this has been appreciated by these graduates
who have drawn this large and appreciative audience here to-
PASSAIC BUSINESS COLLEGE.
Hartkorn, for erecting such a magniti<ent building, especially
designed for training young men and women for business, and
parents could do nothing that would benefit their sons and
daughters more than to send lliein to this worthy Institution,
PROF. 4. HARTKORN.
night, to witness these exercises," etc. The Departments of
the Ci. liege .-ire classified as follows: Commercial Department,
in which the following subjects are taught: Bookkeeping, Bank-
ing, "The Budget Systv'm," not theoretically but practically, as
it is done in every well regulated ollice. A Banking Depart-
ment is fitted up, and the business transacted covers every-
thing that the business man experiences in his every day
business routine; Correspondence. Commercial Law, Plain
Rapid Business Penmanship. Spelling. Commercial .\rithmetic,
K;,pi<l Calculations, Etc., Etc. Stenographic Department:
Sh'>rthand — all the leading systems Typewriting. Spelling,
Commercial I..aw. -Vrithmetic, Rapid Calculations, Correspond-
ence, Mauif ikliug, Otti<c Dictation, Etc. English Department:
Common and Higher Branches. Music Department: Vo-
cal and Instrumental, all instruments; languages. There are
handsomely furnished rooms in the building to accommodate
students from a distance; these are well lighted by gas and
electricity and heated by steam, and all conveniences, at rates
as low as it is po.ssible, to enable any student to live as com-
fortably as at home at a small expense. Professor Hartkorn,
the Principal, ranks among the first in the country as an
.\rtist Penman and Expert Examiner of Forged and Disputed
Handwriting, and is also an Expert Accountant. The entire
first story of this well-e<inipped College is devotinl to Business
Studies: four systems of Shorthand are daily taught in the
Stenographic Department; three hours' instruction are given
daily in the T.vpewriting DepartnuMit. which is furnished with
all the leailing 'i'j-pewriting Machines: tbe Banking Depart-
Mient is well e<iuippcd as a modern Banking House, and is
managed by the advanced Stuilents under the careful guidance
nf the Inslriictors; the Commercial Department and the Lec-
Uire Hall run the entire length of the building, parallel with
the street; the Principal's and Secretary's Offices are right
.ind left of the main entrance: the Reception Hall and Grand
Stairway leading to the Music Hall, or Art Gallery and De-
partment of Laiignages are in the centre. The Instructors are
all specialists who have had wide exix-rier.ce. The College is
open for instruction every day in the year except Saturdays
and U'gal ludidays. Thr .\nniial Grndnalicoi Exerrises an' licld
in .Tune.
MaH'HKSNKVS COF-LKCi;. I'ntersoii. N. .1..
■oiif,'h. projii-fssivc srliool for joiiiig ineji niiil woiiifii.
This schcMil for yiniiin nii'ii iiiiil woiiici: is mic of tin- most
thoronK:li iiinl imutioul private iiistiliitiinis in tlif coiiiitry.
Till' writer called at the eollej-e ami linil an interview
« itii its principal. Dr. C. Enftene Mai'Clii'sne.v. lie is the
proud [Missessor of the ili-cree of Bachelor of Arts, Master of
Arts. Itachelor of Laws, Master of Laws ami Doi-tor of I'hi-
losophy. llie ilejrree most coveted in the world of letters. .\
diploma of llm Supreme Cnuri of the Stale of Ni'w York
entitles him to practice law in all the New York courts.
He has travelled extensively through the Unittnl Stiiles and
the Old World. His first I'-ip to I'lmrlaml, Scotland and Indaiid
iNi.'iidcd to the Coutinenl. win re he visited all the points of In-
ti rest, ineludins Naples and i'omiw^ii. His last trip made him
familiar with the life and customs of Egypt, Asia Minor, Tur-
key, Servia. Uiuimauia and Austria. He is thus able to give
his students the lienetit of his ejcperionco in tr.-nellins; up the
Xile, asceiiiliu^' llie Pyramids and exploring the ruins of the
Parthenon. His visit to King George the III, of Greece, and
his deseriptiou of the elaborate ceremony attending the weekly
prayers of the Sultan, and the brilliant spectacle of the annual
review of the army by the (Jerman Emperor, serve to make
him an interesting instructor. Th.at he is a keen observer may
be juilgeil by the vivid way in which he describes the variou;;
places he visiteil. the interesting sights he witnessed, also the
prominent people he mot. Tluit he, received the honor of a
place in the -National Encyclopaedia of American Biography (a
standard work) as a scholar and traveler proves that he is em-
inently fitted for and capable of teaching our youth all the ele-
ments uecessary to prepare them for college or for business.
Dr. MaoChesney, .although a young man, is a recognized
authority on educational topi<-s. He took the degree of I'h. D.
at the University of New York. Hi? completed the four years'
course in two, and was graduated the youngest man to com-
plete the full pedagogical covirse. As a mere pastime Dr.
MacOliesney was able in eighteen months' study to obtain ad-
mission to the Bar of New York. His fondness for the law,
coupled with a natural d(sin> for scholastic attainment, inaicle
this an easy task for him. Had he not been a successful i>eda-
gogue, it is safe to predict that lie would have become an able
jurist, \\hile attending college at the University of Vermont,
he eujo.ved the social life anil cultivating inlluence of such
families as those of Senator (-.eo. F. Edmunds, of Edward T.
I'helixs, e.\-Minisier to the Court of St. .kimtts, of I'resiilent
Bucliham, and of the members of the faculty. Being fond of
oratory and public si>eaking, before entering upon liis lifeiwork
of teaching, he became a member of t'he Nation.-U School of
Oratory at I'hilailelphia. Here he obtaincdl the careful drill
that, added to natural gifts, made him a talented and magnet-
ic s|>eaker. He carefnlly preiviriil himself to become a thor-
oughly practitvil instructor in his profession. Invited by in-
fluential citizens of the city of Paterson. .N. .!.. he founded a
college preparatory school, that from a small institution has
grown to be a flourishing sc4iool, ranking witli the best in tlie
State. The students from this school are, or have been, in
^■.■llc. ll.irvard. Princeton, Untgors, I>afayette, Univi>irsity of
New York and the AVoman's College of Baltimore, The suc-
ciss attained by Dr. MacChesne.v is in evidence daily, judging
by the number of students attending his school, a most fitting
reward fnv his fourtetni ye.ars of endetivor to bring to perfec-
tion a scTiool whose graduates are received into twenty-one of
the leading Collegi>s and Universities without a preliminary
examination. No higher commendation oan be given to au.v
scluK)l. Univer.sit!es grant this privilege to those preparatory
schools onlj" whose work is of exceptioral character.
The students wishing to enter business are thoroughl.v
iijuipped here to attain this end. All things are tinder the
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
thor
277
guidance ami supervixion of the principal iiml pn)|.rl..|iir, Mr
.MacChi'sney feels assuri'd ilnit. with the iiicrcn>i<Hi
his new liiiiMing, he cmi inon- advnnlnL'-oii-ly i.
creasing re.|uirenieuU ci.iisliintly presenting ilieniM-lvcN in
schohistii work. The new liiiilding. nl No. XI Chiirdi Nlnt-f,
is three stories high, oil by IL'i) fini. It hiiH iM-en prepnr.'.l for
the use of Die slndenlK at nn exiwnse „t ?-J.'.lJ«»«l. T|,i« h|i«wh
that no cost lins bin-n Kpured to advance the nIuiIimiIii in llielr
Work. The ro<inis are high, light niid nirj-, nnil the Hniiitnn- nr-
iiingements are perfect. It is sitiiateil in a iiiohI cluirniiiiK H|Kit
ill the ini.lKt of the city. It \h |,nt n short ilixtniii^- from the
Erie and Siisiiuehannn .le|x.ts, and I ar the I'lil.iii- Li-
brary, which contains 2!i,iHKi vidnim-s: the rify Hiill. thi-
banks ami the Y. .\1, C. A. The approved method* i>r lenchiiig
invented anil adopted by Dr. .MacCliexney conclusively pn.vo
ll.at Dr. .Maifhesney's iiiotto is vorifnil— thorough, progrcK-
sivi^lhorough teaching, progressive idean. In one we«'k. re-
cently, he had i-ight calls for stiidentM, and during the last Kcho-
lastic ,vear he has filled one hundred and eight} -two |HisiiionH.
Students attend this college from witliiii a radius of fifty niilm.
The rates of tuition are very rea.soinilile. The n-guliir nite is
.$"2r> a ipiarler and the studicsi «r«' optional with n sliulenl.
classical, scientific and business, or all. at no extra priiv, Ur.
MacOhesney is endorsed by the pnisidents of more than twen-
ty-one colleges in the country. This slionhl Ik- a guarantee to
the parents of the advisability of sending their sons .-ind
daughters where the advantages are legion. KiirtlitT partico-
'iir^ can 1 btained by writing to the college for illustrntiil
catalog lie.
r. K. I^'avens, D. D.:— I wish to take this opportunity to
say how greatly pleased I am at the interest my boy has shown
in his studies this jear, and at the progre-s he has made.
I thank you for your interest in him am! your earffuluess in
his liainiiig.
Cornelius Van Riper, M, D.:— It afTords me the greatest
pleasure to testify to the e\i>e|lenl work done by niy two
sons while under your care for the last five ytars. I want
to thank you for their thorough preparation. Yoii uiidoiibleilly
understand the true system of education, which, to my mind,
is to teach scholars the facts they should learn, and to inspire
them with that love of knowK-ilge which neressarily lends to
studious habits, and must result in intellectual growth.
Dr. Sullivan. ex-I'rcsident of Board of Kdm-atioii:— I have
been aciiuainted with Dr. MacChesney for fiftii-n years, and
from my knowledge of him I feel justified in saying that he
possesses rare abilit.v for his work. I can nio«t elie<-rfiilly
lecommeiid his school to parents who have children t,, i.ln-
late. His privileges are rare for priivs charged.
The I'aterson "Morning Call":— MncChesney's i-oll.ge of-
fers more facilities than any other school in t'aterson. Besidex
the usual courses, the Commercial Department incluiles sleii-
ograpliy, typewriting and lleiiuan,
I'oslmaster D. W. .Malmny :— What I particularly admin' is
the honesty of the work done in ytuir institution. Pupils that
go to your school thinking that it is an easy place to put ill
time will soon learn thit they have sootl solid work to <lo.
I feel tliat I cannot commend your <-ollege more highly than it
deserves.
Passaic Daily News:— PMgar W. Daniier. son of Kev. .1. I,.
Danner, is another Patersoiiian who comes home with high
collegiate honors. Mr. Danner w.is graduated froiii Y'ah' last
week and secured the Seliniaii fellowship, and al.so two prizi-s
in sciences. Harry, the younger .son, has just graduated from
Uiitgers. He did his four years' work in three. Both of these
young men were iiri'pared for i-ollege by Dr. MacChesney. No
greater honor can he given a school tban to send out hucIi
gradiiat.'S. Dr. MacChesney lias a strong and o very |Mipular
school.
CHAPTER XXIX.
MANUFACTURING AND COMIVIERCIAL INTERESTS.
The Factories and Shops of Passaic and Its Suburbs Employ Fully Ten Thousand People,
Largely Skilled Labor.
PASSAIC liMs iliiriy liirui' iiKniMraiiiii'iii;.' :uiil <'<>iiiMii'ri'i:il
iii.lnslrii's, licsiiK's iiiaiiy which, tiimi^'h siimllcr', arc nt
cDiisiilcralilc size ami iiniiiiisc. >[aiiy i>f Ihciii liuve Ihm'ii
ff-'talilislici! hi'ir fur iliii-tv vi'.irs. ami havi' ^rrowii steailily.
Most iif thiMii shuw llicir siiiicss liy con.stainly ciihirjiinK timii-
plants, ami all ciiioy snlistanl iai prosiicrily. They rarely shm
iliiwii. Kvrii ill ihe (lark iliys nf 1S!K! some of them ran on
lull tiiiii'. W'hilr nilirrs clnsi'il liif a li'W \yeel<s, most of tliem
rai oa slicirt tinu- lur a while. Siieh strikes as there have
liirii were iisnally of brief ihii'alion. and were not proiliietive
of violeiHe or nf ;.;ivat snfferini;. so that the iinliistrial eonili-
tions in the lily are ;;ooil. In the afisre^rate. 1(1.0(1(1 people are
i-mploWMl ip llir maiiiifactiire nf woolen ami worsted jiooils.
ciiltdii priiils. rulilier i: is. hisnlali'd wire, liandkerehiefs. stove
polish. veL'elahle |i.i 1 ilinieiii paper, "pantasote" lan artilieial
leathiMi. eheniicals. mos(|iiito nettinj;. paekinj; lioxes and arehi-
t(itiiral woodwork, tijrnred plushes, silk vestin^s. and many
other articles. The towns of (Jarlield. Lodi. Wallinclon. Kast
liiithcrford. I>el.iwanna and Alhenia. all within siirht of the
eit.\'. and trihiitary to I'assaii'. have factories devoti'd to the
(lyi'iii;.' ami tinishiim of silks ami the nnuinfactiice of woiden
f.oods. waxcil paiici-. vlii'iiiicals. essential oils, printed cnllun
cloths, nihloih. w Iwc:rk. boilers I'tc.. in which 4.(1(1(1 people
arc daily eiiiplnycd. These concei-ns eniplny niaii.\' of onr citi-
z< lis ami do their baiikim.' in I'assaic. and .ii-c naliiially in-
cluded in this .irticle.
The industries of I'assaic ami vicinity lieiiiii so nnnsnally
diversified, it is impossible for the prospi^rity of the city to
lie cluM-ked by deincssioii in .-my oni' industry. Herein I'assaic
is more fortunate than the neif;hboriii!; niaiiufactnriiiK city of
PattM-sou. where silk and inai are practically the only iiiilustries.
and wlicri' eillier one or the other tmsiness is almost always
depressed. Ill I'assaic .iml its immediate snlnirbs the largest
number of mills prodncinir ^oods of exactly the same kind and
fjrade is three, unless woolens and W(U-steils are reckoned as
( He industry.
Cotton Printing an<d Bleaching.
i:i:ili ^ r..\l!i:VS rniNT WOUKS.-The oldest larce
m.'ii.ifactiiriny establishment ill rassai<- is the Ueiil &
Kany Coinpaiiy's Print Works, which was e.stalilisheil in
ISC'.I l>y Peter Ijeid and Ili'iiiy A. Barry. It has become
<ne nf the institutions of tin- lity. by reason of having paid out
more money in wa^es than any other sin^'le factory. Yet the
business was small in its inception. Mr. Ueid had been the
superintendent and Mr. Harry the sellins aKcnt for the Middle-
sex l).\eiiiu' and HleacliinvT Company of Somerville. Ma.ss.
'I heii- Mist biiililinj.' here w:is a very modest affair, but in kepp-
iiiL.' with their capital. They catered to cimimission honsos,
which sint them i:iay .Inili to be biciu-hed .niid printed. They
dealt niily with l.ir-<- ciisinmers. and as others sold the «oods
they wcie exempted from many ordinary eommerciiil rl!.k«.
'J"hey b-'^'an by doiiiK superior work, and tuHin attriii-(e<l iit-
td.tioii in the nnirket. Thi-ir liiisiiiess Kfew with woiidiTrii!
r.-.pidity. anil their work was of silcli ii liich onliT lliiii thi-
panic of 1S72-:{, which wi keil so niiiny titliers, did them bni
little injury. Tlu'ir mill riiii eiiiiliniionsly, inid wu.h ii Imhhi Io
the Willie-earners iiiiij business men of Pi.ssaic. Tliey liiive
In en rushed ever since Io such nil exieiil that the works iiro
k( pi i.'oin;; iiiKlit and day diiriii); a i;reater piirt of tlic year.
This was a«aiii tin- ease in the piiiiic year of lS!i:{. 'Die mill
has been reiH'ateilly eiilarired. yi't it is nsiiiilly tiirnim: iiwiiy
Work, and an iinnieiise storelioiise has been eoiislnicted ill
I'.issaic and l-'irst streets, eoverinj: an cn'iri' block. Th«'
linn rem.'iiiied iiiiehanKed until IS,S.S. when William I. Harry,
a brother of Henry A. Barry, was taken into pariiiershi|i.
Henry A. Barry lUed in l.S,S.S. leavini: .1 larL-e fnrliiiie and n
wide cinde of sorrowins; friends. William I. Barry ilieil in
l.SiCi. The active inanKeineiit then devolved on .losepli H.
Wri;:ht. who entered the eiiiph>yiiieiit of the linn as a \my.
.lami's Bryce is the present snperiiiteinlent. DnriiiK the yeiir
ISllil the linn i-onsididated with two other iniieeriis as tlio
luitcd Slates KlnishiiiK ('oiiipniiy.
Till", PASSAIC PUINI' WOKKS was ortaniziil by llic
present ciaiipany in I.s7(i. and has Ih-cii in coiitiiiinnis and siie-
iissfnl operation since that time. It silci'Oedi-<l tin- lati- Wil-
liam II. Locke, who ciilidneted business on a larK<' scale, but
w< lit under in the paiiii- of 1.*<7:t. Oriirinally built to imiki-
n cheaper class of calicoes ami satiliet.s. the mill has Im^i-u
rebuilt ami much enlar;:ed. and is now iMjiiipiMMl with the
most approved maihinery for proiiiiein^' 11 higher i;rade of print-
ed fabrics, iiicbnliii;: satiiii's. challies ami |HTcales. Six liiiii-
dred hands are employed. Peter Keid is one of the liiruest
stoekhohlers. The selliiu: aceiils for imiliy .vears were Denny
Poor iV: Co.. of New York, but that linn dissidved ill l.SilH.
and was succeeded by the linn of Poor Brother>. which has
a lart'e interest in thi- mill. 10. K. Poor is tn-asiirer for the
I'ompany and active maiiavrer, and Charles B. Keiidiill is
.superintendent. The Print Works has an iiiiiiiense chiinner.
It rears itself l!l(l feet above the river at its base, nild in
till' second hijihi'st chimney in the Slate, tliat nf the Chirk
Tliiead Works, in KasI .\ewark. alone takilii: pri-oilence.
Illi; .M.\MI.\TTA.\ PlilNT WuKKS wiis ereettil in
l.>^s-l by Wiathcn iV .\ldriili. and is a iiio.lel for liuililers of
mills. The grounds are beantifnily kept, and tin- interior ii|i-
]iointiiieiits are uiiiisu.illy cood. Kacli workman has a privnte
locker: lar^e sinks are provided with hot and ifdil water for
w:ishiii«: the latest veiitilaliii;; inveiilions are in nsi', and
everything else conducive to the health and comfort of the
employees has been proviiled. The iiiiM was originally built
for the priiiliiii: i>f sarincis and nther lottoii ir.iods. but when
280
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
«(>()1 was put (III till' free list, the niaiket was at ouco de-
stroyed, and the large and valuable property lay idle. After
much e.'cperimenting. the firm tommenced to niaiuifaeture
printed upholstering fabrics, which slowly found a marUet.
The mill is still running on these and other goods. Charles
Isbell is superintende:it. AVith their business gone, Worthen
& Aldrich started, with characteristii- energy to make an
opening for their ability and <-apital in the bleaching of cotton
goods. They Iwught the Yantacaw pond and water rights, and
right in the midst of great business depression, they erected
in ISiKJ, the Waldrich Bleacher.\ at Delawauna. The name
of the mill was made by combining the names of the part-
ners. The mill now turns out large quantities of goods. The
Worthen & Aldrich Company formerly owned two other mills,
one at Soho, near Bloonifield, and the Empire Jlill, on .Tauo
street. New York City, The latter was destro.ved by fire in
If'M. and the site has recently been sold to the city for
(lock purposes.
THE STA.NDAKI) BT.EACIIEUY COMrANY.-I'or
nearly forty years a bleaching establishment has e.\isted at
Carlton Hill. During half that time the fortunes of the con-
cern tluctuatcd between moderate success and ab.solute fail-
uie. In 18S.5, when the bleachery, then known as the Boil-
ing Springs Bleachery, had been closed down for some years,
the plant was leased by William MoKenzie and .Tohn Ward,
and the place was rechristened the Standard Bleachery. Mr.
.McKenzie was a practical bleacher of extended experience in
large Now England mills. Mr. Ward was a manufacturer of
gold watch cases in Xi w York. When McKenzie (.>»: Ward as-
sumed control, the Standard Bleachery consisted of four build-
ings, the largest of which dated from 18G2, and the total area
of the floor spac.> of tlie buildings was 37,750 square feet.
Improvements df the buildings and the equipment were be-
gun at once. Mr, .McKenzie took personal charge of the in
side work of the bleachery, and, b> untiring energy, began
to build the business up. Skilled men— the b'.'st in their call-
ing—were employed wherever they could be obtained. Al-
though by the end of a year the bleachery only employed
some fifty hands, yet the character of its work was already
causing comuient. and it was preparing to take its place
among the best bleacherios in the land. Today the Standard
bleachery has a reputation unsurpassed by any establishment
in their line in the United States. There are now fourteen
buildings, the tioor space of which aggregates lt)S,2,")(l square
feet. Six hundred peol)le are employed there, and. with this
large force, there is conlinmil need of overtime to turn out
the work, which conies to Carlton Hill from all over the coun-
try. There have been as many as Ii7."> hands at one lime on
the roll of the Standard Bleacliery when pay day came arouml.
The mill buildings are models of their kind: liuilt mainly of
brick, well heated and ventilated, ai;d i)rotected by a fire sys-
tem which seems to put a big coiiHagration there out of the
(luestion. A large proportion of the people who W(Uk in the
bleachery have their homes in Passaic, but many live at Carl-
ton Hill and in adjoining Bergen County towns. In IS'.H) the
properly was purchased by McKenzie (.V \A'ard from .lames
F. Hinds, and in 18".ll! the liriii became a corporatidii, uuilir
the tftle of the Standard Uleacher,v Company, with a capital
of .•«!4lHI,(HK». The olHcers are: I'resident, William .V. McKenzie;
Secretary, .lames .1. McKenzie: Treasurer. .lohn Ward: Assist-
ant Treasurer, Benjamin I. Ward. .lames .1. JIcKenzie, the
eldest s(ui of William .McKenzie. now largely shares the ac-
tive- management of the Bleachery with his father. Mr. .lohu
Ward has charge of the Xew York olHce, and his son, Ben-
j: mill I. Ward, is his active assistant. The company is
praclii ally a close corporation.
Woolens and Worsteds.
THE I'ASSAIC WOOLEN COMPANY.— In l.'Sta the first
woolen mill in Passaic was erected by Basch (.V: Oddy, who
coiuiiienced to manufacture flock and shoddy in one of the
buildings of the present mill. It was a small concern, but it
grew rapidly. In IStM! .lacob Basch purchased the interest of
Mr. Oddy, and admitted his son, Henry L, Basch, as a member
of the firm of Jacob Basch & Co. In 187G they purchased
from the Dundee Company the old wire mill, a frame building,
which they tore down. A fine new brick mill, four stories high,
was erected on its site, with the necessary smaller buildings.
The firm began to make fancy cassimeres, and was reorgan-
ized later as the Passaic Woolen Comi)any. On the death of
.Jacob Basch, his sons. Henry and Isaac, assumed the man-
agement of the different branches of the business. Tlie
mill employs 2."itl hands.
THE DUNDEE WOOLEN COMPANY is next to the
oldest w(K)leii mill in the industry in P.assaic. The business
was established in ISOo by James Waterhouse who soon after
associjite<l witli him his brother, (Jeorge B. WaJterhouse. They
purcli!ise<l the old paper mill in 18()7. It was burned down m
186!) and in 1870 they erected a brick building 70 by 133 feet
and four stories high with an extension 70 by 100 feet. In
187.") they erected the mill until recently occupied b.v Acheson
Harden & Co. They manufactured fine ca.ssimeres, flock and
chemical extract for destroying cotton in woolen rags and em-
ployed 1.50 hands. .James Waterhouse, who was for seven
years a nM?|inber of tlie loard of freeholders and was one of
the first members of the North Reformed Church, died in this
city on October 16, 1881, His brother continued the business
under the name of Waterhouse Bros,, until financial reverses
caused .a re-organization of the business under the name of the
Dundee AA'oolen Co., with the following officers: Moses E.
Wont hen. president: (Jeorge B. Waterhouse, treasurer and gen-
eral manager; Fred Low, Jr,, secretary. It has had a success-
ful career. The mill has been enlarged and three hundred
hands are emplo.ved.
'IIIK .M.CKM.it IN (D.Ml'.WY is the successor of the
Kitleiili.iiise .Maiiufaetiiriiig Ceieiiaiiy. foiiiiile(l by Edward H.
Ammidown in 1876. Mr. Amniidown was a prominent wool-
en manufacturer ..and president of the American Protective
'J'arifl! League for many years. The uxtiin building ad-
joining Keid & Barry's was 00x260 feet and threie stories
high, with anotber large structure on I'assaic street. i(. em-
plo.ved 4.50 hands and produced annually nearly a million dol-
lars" worth of goods a year. It was a serious blow to Passaic
when the comiviny failed in 1890. The Algonquin Comjiaiiy
had started in May, 188!), in a small mill erected by the com-
pany bdhind the Okfmite mill. When the Kittenhouse failure
occured, the Algonquin Company purchased its machinery
and the Dundee Water Power and Land Compan.v purchased
the buildings. The Algonquin Company occupies the former
Itittenihouse buildings and has added materially to the plant.
It has 122 looms, 8 sets of cards and its annual production is
worth .$000,0(X). The numbor of employees is 200. The capi-
tal stock is .$00,000 and the present stockholders are Col. Wil-
liam Barbour. E. Ih'B. (Jardiner. Marshall P. Slade, Wiiithrop
Cowdiii and Peter Iteid. Mr. Barbour is president. Mr. (Jar-
diner is vice-preslileiit. Mr. Slade secretary ami Mr. Cowdiii
treasurer.
Illi: r.iiT.VNV WdKSTKIi .Mil. I. is the largest and
most important of our mamiraeturiiig coiuvrns. I'assaic owes
its iireseuee here to a rilling made by the 1>easury Depart-
ment during the administration of I'resident Harrison when it
was decided that worstetl was wool. Previous to that time the
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
281
firm had iiii|MirtiMl worstcil );<m)i1s in iiiinu-iisc i|iiiiiititit>.s from
lour Meiisic-, (;<-nniiii.v, hut the ili-dKioii aililt'd so imn-li l» Um
tariff that it was dcoiiiiMl wise to start a mill in this ciniiitry.
•\ftor a care^ful search I'assaic was lU'cidcd on as the best
plaee .and a site was purchased (nr .'^•_'!l.(KKi in ISIMI. The com-
paiiy was incori>i)rated in New Jersey with a capital of
!f],l(Hl,lUl() and the I'ollowin;.' olllcers were elecleil: William
Merlens, prcsiilcnl; Antonio Kna\ith, vice-president; Oscar
Dressier, treasurer: Kdward Stochr. vice-it re.'isnrcr: hmlwi^-
Kick. su:)erintendent: Carl W. A. I'feil, secretary. The enter,
prise was st.!irte<l on a eranil scale, the oriKmal investment be-
inig nearly half a million and the plant has bcien srowinK ever
since. Over one and a half millions of dollars have been piid
for woodwork, bricks and inori.ir to the construction company
which does the building for ihr mill. The number id' its employ-
ees is now about l.tidO, jind within the past year a further
purchase of land has been made north of thi> mill on which au-
otluM- immense buildin;: is bcin;; erected which will employ sev-
eral hundred more. The oltici-rs of the mill are liberal trivers to
charity and have adapted llienisi.hes easily to Aiuerican lite
anil customs.
TlIK riTKIX A: IIOI.n.SWOUTIl CO.Ml'ANY first <lid
bi:Sinos; in part of the Kittenhousu mill where it employed 2i)l
hniuls. In IS'.K! a site wvns purchased on thei Weasel brook
near Main and Ilishland avenues, just out.side of the city lim-
its, where a uiodern brick mill was erected.
THH (;i;iFrOX CO.MI'A.NY manufactures fancy dre.ss
goods in the frame factory building built by the I'assaic .M.i-
chine Works north of the i:jrie l)eiH>t. It has been three years
in o|ii'ralii>M. and lias T.'i In Km I'luiiloyccs on its pay roll.
THK (JKIt.V MILI.,. now bniliiinjr, promises to be an im-
portant addition to thei industries of rass.'iic. It derives its
name from the busy manufacturing city of Gera. Gernmny.
where the parent concern manufactures worsted g<Hnls. It
will be in many respects similar to the Botany mill. m.nking
similar goods but spinning its own yarn, while the Botany buys
its yarn from the parent hou.sti in Germany. 'I'he mill was
brought to Passaie by the energy of Frank Hughes, who also
brought the Botany mill here. At the last nu)meiiit, on account
of a difference of .f.'^OOO on the price of a mill-site on the Iliin-
dee company's tract. Mr. Hughes and nine others |)ledged them-
selves to pay that amount to the Dundee company to si'cure
the mill for Passaic. The individuals and lirnis that paid >^T>(M\
each for this puriiose were Mr. Huglu's, Uichard Morrell.
Harry Meyers, William Malcolm, .lames laylor. Dr. Charles
M. Howe, Thomas M. Moore, the Passaic N'.ational Bank, the
Peoples Bank and the Pas.saic Daily News. The firm is erect-
ing buildings and installing machinery which with the .f4.''>.iHin
paid for the twenty acres of land it owns, will bring the first
investment up to .$:!iMl.tl(K). The aiuiounceiueut of the coming
of the mill was the occasion of a surjirising boom in Dundee
real est.ile. in the expi^ctation. which will probably be fullilled,
thai tlie land in the neighborhood of the mill, at present not
built up. will increase' in value as rapidly as the property in the
Botany district. The fever spread to I'assaic street ami Sec-
ond street property, which advanced in value thousands of dol-
lars at a bound.
I
THE GAUI'IIM.D \\'(><)I-i;.N COMr.WY o<-cupies n site
of about twenty acres on the west bank of the Passaic River
at the junction of the Saddle Iliver. The company was formiil
in the early ;)art of 18!»4, the principal incorporators being
Messrs. George C. .Mercer. David Dwyer and Ellis Hey.
Mr. Mercer was for years a partiuT in the firm of Byrne
Brothers and Coiupany, dyeis and tinishers nf cotton goods,
whose i'.\tensive works at Lodi were destroyed by lire in 1893.
He had previously had n Ioiib iiii'I vnriwl ImNinraii pxiK-rionro
IM'cnliarly lilting him for the nelivi- pr.-
lompaiiy. .\lr. Dwyer w«« born in lllii>..! ;
.\rier receiving a common hcIumiI i->luitili<>ii, lie n( onei- fmind
iinploynnnt with Me»«r». Hin>idMl<- Bnitlietn. nnd HtilMMNiUPnllr
wilh a imniber of other win.len mnnufnclnnTn. He rneiie lo
Passaic under an i-ngaKemenl with the Kilteiihoiiw Mnnufne-
luring Company. When that eiinceni «i-nt out of bintinemi he
started in the wool. sh.Hldy nnd exirntt l>iiiiin(>t<K wiili Mr.
Herman Boiiiti! at I,.Mli. It wnii while there thiil he iMtniiie
ac<|iiaiiite<l with his present bUNJni-Ns asxiM-iateii. He U mn-
sidered one of the best nn-n ill liix particiihir line of liiii.in<-<oi
i-i the riiiled States. He oeeiipieM as hix rexidem-t- iIip fim-
property formerly owiii-d and iH-eiipie<| by Mr. GilU-rt l>. Bo-
garl, now of Passaic. Mr. Hey was Ixini in Dewxlitiry, Kne-
land, anil is now only about i!iirty-li\e yean* of age. He chiik-
to this country while young, was iiliiealiil in Philadelphia, and
vent into business with his father as n meiulK-r of the wnulen
manufacturing linn of Uichard Hey & Sons of .MaiiayiiDlc.
He afterward engaged in linsineHM for hiinself uh n wmil broker,
and was siibsei|iieiitly loealeil at I.<>di. Mr. Hey repreiteiilit the
Garlield WtK>len Company in the sale of its pr<Hliict. nnd
has as enviable a n-pulalioii as a woolen goods salesinnu ns Mr.
Dwyer has as a maniifactnier. Mr. Mercer, upon wUoui rests the
general inanageiiieMi of the i-ompany, is refcrreil to at length
ii|ion anolher page of this volume. The company's facilili(>ti for
business are not excelled by any other t-oni-«Tii. In addition
to the (leculiarly high re[iiilatioii enjoyed by the inanaKenicDt,
the company's machinery is of the latest nnd most effei-tlve
make, while the character of its priMluct is prnetjeally iin-
I iiiialled in the market. Tlie production amounts to tire niilliou
lioiinds a year, an cnlput only •'Xielliil by two or throe uiilU
ill the rniti-d States. lis iride is carrie<l on with the liest
woolen mills in the country, and its business relations arc of
the most [ileasnnt and agri-t'able raliire. The harmony nnd
friendship existing between the nianageiiioni from the tirst
has been a helpful factor in the progress of the coinpauy. It is
worthy of note that when during the stringent tinier in the
manufacturing world, of a few .viiirs since, other mills were
clo.sed down or working upon half-time, the (Jarfield Comiuiny
kept its force working day and night to till its extensive orders.
H1:|;M.\N r.uMTZ employs sixty hands at lA>ili, in the
manufacture of Hoik and other adjuncts of the woolen bus-
iness.
I'llH UOBKRTSl'OKD Uunl.DN Mll.l,, founded by
.I..Tnies UolK'j-ts in l.SJM), has been praeiiealiy closed for some
time owing to Ihc death of the proprietor, but arrangements
arc now being made to put it in ojieration again.
Rubber and Insulated Wire.
THK .M;\V V(»UK r.l.l/ll.Ni; A.M> CACKI.NG CO.,
Ltd.. has a name that is known all the werld over. lt.« goods
are found everywhere. It is the oldest and most important
coiicern in the rubber industry in the I'lii'ed Slates. It start-
e<I to maiiufailure rubber hose and belthig nearly fifty years
ago. soon after Charles Gooiiycvir inventitl Ihe pro<-ess of vul-
canizing riiblM-r. in a little factory at Xewton. Cmin., and en-
largiHl its facilities until tlie f.'ictory employol ti<lll hands.
In 1882 it eslnblisheil what was inlendeil lo l>e a small
aiMiex in Passnic, but it has since grown so rapidly that it over-
shadows the parent factory. The omipnny now has ihr«H-
large factorii>s and is the nuwt iiiiiMirtnnt nioml>er of tlie Mech-
anical Biibber Company. Its New York ollliv Is nt 2.'» I'ark
Place. It manufactures in its difTerenl mills alnnwt evor>-
kind of goods made out of rublM'r. As one writer says: "If
tlie reader rides a bicycle, ten <-liniiees to one the tire was
n 1
TWO VIEWS OF REID i BARRY'S PRINT WORKS.
286
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
Inade l).v llio N. Y. K. and 1'. Co.; if he driuks beer tlie nib-
bor cork ho removes finii) the botth's arc almost surely made
in Passaic and the rubt)er stair m.ats that he treads on goins
up and downstairs or in the main liallwa.v of liis dwelling or
oifleo are likewise the iiroduet of well-paid Passaic labor. The
comiiany is appreciated so highly at home that we fight fire
with their hose, sharpen our edged tools and do our polishiug
on their emery wheels and allow our children to clean thei:-
shoes on their matting before they enter the i)ublic .schools
e\er.v da.v. Their stair mats have i(mg been used by the 'I,'
roads of Brooklyn and New Toi-k, and on the Brooklyn
Bridge." The staple articles made at Factory No. ."'i. as tlie
Pa.ssaic mill is known, are ho.se for garden and tire purposes,
piacking for steam and water pipes. do<jr and office mats and
emery wheels, and interlocking rubber tiling used in batli-
rooms, large waiting rooms and for carixning the corridors on
ocean passenger steamers. The Passaic factory is the best
equipped of the three. The buildings are of brick, the larger
being 300x00 feet. As one steps from the office into the main
building, the whole process of manufacture is in sight. At th •
farther end, nearly 4t10 feet away, is tlie compounding room,
wheire the rubber and ingreili('nts added to it are weighed.
Xearb.v are tJie mi.xers. still nearer the callenders. close m
hand the presses and then come ttie tables for the finishers and
then the shipping room. lnterspers(>d between the mach lies
mentioned .are varied mechanisms for the saving of labor.
and more are being added every day. A pneunialic di'vice for
:.lipping jar rings off from a mandrel and r<Mcing anotlier tulie
on at the same time; a curious cage that is tilled with cords
of rubber in which revolves a knife cutting tJiem into conven-
ient bits for mould filling, — these and a score of others, new,
automatic, ami effective. The floors above are devoted to the
making up of various goods and the sitoring of supplies, while
the topmost story is .a vast dry-room where hang thousands of
dollars' worth of Para rubber going through the e-xpensive
but' most satisfactory process known as "air drying." The sec-
ond main building Is 25nxr)0 feet and most substantially built.
A part of the lower floor is used for a shipping room, and an-
other portion for a mixing and callendering room. The floor
above is devoted to the manufacture of pneumi-tic tires, and i<
one of the most complete and conveniently arr.uuged depart-
n-cnts possible. The floor above this is the hose room, where .i
few men turn out 2.'i.(l(lil feet of hose a day Cotton hose, rulilic r
lined, of all sizes. Is also made. A department of special inter-
est is the emery wheel section. All sizes of wheels .are made,
ranging from a ehee.se box to a lozenge and using emery grains
as coarse as rice or as fine as an almost impalpable powder.
The comp.iny is the original m;iUer of Iln' Vuh-anite Kmery
Wheels which have an enviable reputation both for safety an:l
service. Tim factory is run by water power, but is also fitted
with engines for use in case of a scarcity of w.ater. The aggre-
gate power is put at about ISfK) hoi-se. Klectric lights are
in u.se all over the factory and a new system of sh.afting and
gearing is being installed.
THE MAXHATTA.N UrHBlOK MANTT'ACTrKI\( ;
('*).. which has its New York olflce at ].S Vesey street, was
established by Frank Cazenove Jones, formerly general super-
intendent of the factories of the New Y'ork Belting and Pack-
ing Co. A clwnge in management caused him to resign and
he undertook the herculean task of building a mill and launch-
ing into business seven years ago, at a time when manufactur-
ers generally were reefing their sails because of hard times.
,IIow well the venture succeeded is shown by tile splendid
plant known as the Manhattan HubU'r AVorks. George Wof-
fQudi'ii, who had been his assistant in sui>erintending the old
Rubber 'Work.s, went with him to the Sxanhattan and helped
to org^inize the factory while Mr. .Tones assumed the active
liusiuess management. .Mr. WnlTeiiden resigned as suiieriuteu-
dent in November, 1899, on account of advancing years. He
was succeeded by Alexander Henderson, nie, mill is situated
on the Lackawanaa railroad which gives it ample coal and
shipping facilities. It employs 450 men and boys and is con-
stantly kept busy on mechanical ruljber fittings and appliances,
rubber bejting. cotton and rubber fire hose, pneum.atic tires and
iiian.v other indispensable articles. It uses 7.")ll horse-power.
:;i.d the main shaft of the factory is 250 feet long, so that it
will be seen that we are dealing with a young, but by no
means puny concern. The plant is comparatively new, and no
expense has been spared to make it mechanically the most
perfect and complete factory of its kind in the country. One
of the hydraulic presses used for vulcanizing the molded
goods, such as belting and packing, is 25 feet long and 50
inches wide, weighing about 40 tons. It exerts a maximum
pressure at 2.000 pounds to the square in<-h. the power being
api)lied b.v hydraulic rams. The company recently made two
rubber Ijelts for transmitting power, which are among the
largest in the world. Each made a roll fifty inches wide and
tu. feet high. Another recent production was a piece of suc-
lidii hose, 24 inches in diameter, and wound spirally with iron.
T'wo men crawled inside the hose and were photographed
v.ith their heads and shoulders protruding. Still another of the
interesting siiecialties recentl.v made at the mill were a num-
ber of what are probably the largest rubber dredging sleeves
ever manufactured, being S.3 inches in diameter and seven
iti'l in length. The sleeves are used as flexible connections
liel ween the pontoons that support the pipe through which the
dredged material is discharged. For tire protection the mill
is provided with two oOO-gallon Worthington underwriter fire-
pumps, located in a liuilding siiecially set apart for them,
'These draw their supply from a 100,000-galloii tank and pump
into an 8-inch main, which connects Avith the different hy-
drants located about the .vard. Besides these, the entire plant
is equipped with automatic sprinklers and fire hose through-
out the mill, so that chance of tire getting any material head-
way is small. The sprinklers are supplied by a 10,000-gaIlon
trnk, situated on top of a tower.
THE ttKONlTE CO.MI'ANY is eng.iged in a business
ilesely related to the rubber industry, namel.v, the manufac-
inre of the finest insulated wire and submarine cables in the
vdild. The coinpan.\ has a factory in Manchester, England,
as well as in Passaic, and is ofiicereil as follows: Willard L.
Candee and H. Durant (.'lieever, managers: George T. Man-
son, general superintendent: William H. llodgins, secretary.
Major Frederick I... Holmes has (barge of the Passaic factor.v,
which has 200 employees. The compan.v's wires, cables and
tapes took medals of honor at the Paris Exi>osition in 1889
and at the AA'orld's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
Enameline Stove Polish.
.1. L. I'ltESCOTT it CO., whose "Enameline" and "Black-
ei:e" stove p(dishes are sent to all parts of the world by the
lioatloail, was a big firm wluii it came to Passaic, in 1896.
Yet the business was ;/larted in a ver.v small wa.v, in the
spring of 1870, in a small village in Maine, by J. I/. Prescott.
.V one-stor.v shed, al)out II' by IS feet in size, constituted the
whole plant, and the oulpul nf .iboul livi> gross per day was
carried to the railro.id station in a whindbarrow. Y'ear by
year, the sales increased, until, in ISSS, they reached about
18,000 gro.ss, when A. ly. I'rescott and C. (). I.ittlefield, under
the firm name of .1. L. Prescott iV Company, succeeded to the
business. Ilie.v smm prenareil and put on the market the
first paste Stove Polish which ever proAed a success, christen-
ing the new product "Enameline. the Modern Stove Polish."
( cMitid<'iit that they now had what th.' world wanted, thev
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
Ml
l'o;;aii to iii.ik<. it kn.iwii hy extensive Kilvertising. Tlie ex-
lieuditui-e for the first >rar was cqiinl to twice tlie iiiiinuiit i.f
their enpital at the leKiniiiiiK ..r the year. They helieve.l in
Knaiiieliiie. and were not disappointed, as tlie demand r..r
their goods soon made it necessary to rnn their plant nitrht
and day. and caHed londly for larger facililies. Year liy year
the appropriations for advertising were larger ami larger, un-
til now the figures reach hnmlreds of thousands of dollars
annually. Increased factory facilities were yearly provided
to han<!le the rapidly increasing volume of hiisiness. It soon
hecame evident that Knanieline was to be the world's Stove
I'olisli. the il.'iiKiiid even then reaching lieyond the American
JAMES L. PRESCOTT.
market, and that a new location must be sclectcil. near one of
the great centres of <'oninitrce. whcn^ ade(|nate facilities for
mani'.facturing and shipping could be provided. The very logic
of the situation led to the selection of New York City for the
new headqu.-u'ters. and in the spring of ISOti an extensive
factory, constructed after modern plans, was put in operation
at I'assaic. The five gross per day of 1870 had then grown to
between three and four carloads daily, and the product was
being distributed to every English-speaking country on the
globe, also to Germany and Scandinavia. The year 18011
witnesst'd the largest growth of any iu the history of Enaiue-
line. Two additions to the main factor.v and three separate
buildings were erected at Passaic. The combined length of
these ni'W buildings is iiearl\ 400 feet, and Avhen completed
will practicall.v double the present capacity of the works.
Meantime, the original small factory at North Berwick, Me.,
has been succeeiled l.j" a large and handsome pile of brick.
The reader can better appreciate the phenomenal growth and
magnitude of this business from the following facts: Nearly
"..(HK),(HI0 feet of pine lumber are now used annually for ship-
ping cases. About five tons of tin plate are used each day
in making the tin boxes in which Knanieline is packed. This
amount of tin plate, when spread out, would cover nine acres
daily. Paper labels are put upon each of these tin bo.\es.
These labels are now bought in one hundred million lot.s.
About fifty gallons of paste are used each day in putting the
labels onoM the I.iixcs. The packages, placed one above an-
other would inak.- a .olunin 1 1'J nilli". hlirJi, or laid Hal, in n
straight line, would ext.iid .Xti'JS nille«. .,r from New York
to San Krancisco, ami ,{7i; miles out into the Pnclfie Oepan.
The output r.,r a year pnd.ably exeoo<l» one-linlf the rtovo
> "'' •"■"«"''<<l ill the entire wor nrine the year, and ii,
say, three litni's the amount made by any other Kineic manu-
facturer. All whol.^ale and llT |M.r .-.■nt. of the retail gr—er..
also nearly all IIoiiKe Ki.rniHhing, Sf.ve and llar-lwnr,- deal-
ers of the railed Slates sell Knameliiie. 'n.e wholcHnle irnde
IS supplied from distributing .|e|».ts at New Y-rk, fhi.iigo.
St. I,ouis, San Kranci-co, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Cin.innali.
Montreal, Ix.ndon, I,iverp..nl. (ilasgi.w, Cai>e Town, .Mel-
bourne, llaiid>urg. Paris. AnHv.-rp, IClierdani and Co|H>nha-
gen. Black-ne is a benzine paste stove iwliHh, which is to lbi>
St. ve deah-r what Kininieline U to the hoiiHi-k.-.-iKT. It is en-
pecially a<lapt.-d for use on new stoves and for general shop
use, either on cast or shwt iron. .Mr. Amos I,. Pr.-s.-..it is
an esteemed resilient of this city, and Perley .M. H.rry. who
supcrinti-nds the selling <.f Knanieline, is the hustling pn-si-
dent of the Hoard ..f Traib'
Mosquito Netting:, etc.
-VMiUKW .M,|.i;.v.\ .V, ( (). ,, il,,. laie ,,, ,, |,„Hii,„,,.
which, though it has a history of only ten years in Passab-,
has reachiil ,i v.-nerable old age in coiiiiiarison with most of
our industries. It was first i-stablished, in 1821!, by the grand-
father of fnr r Ma.vnr Andrew M.|.,an, who a few years
before came to this country from S...iland, and was the first
to start in this ii.uiitry the inanufaclnre of mnsi|iiil.> m-ttings.
crinoline linings and buckrams. He continiietl in this business
until his death, in 18.->4, when ex-Mayia- Melx-an's father siio-
<ceded him and carried it on in Patersiui and New York until
1>-5S. Then the Paterson plant was reinoviil ti. Troy. N. Y.,
where it was destroyed by fire, in l.SlJtl. Mr. .McLean's father
aid not fully resume again, on account i«f the war times, until
ISOfi, when he f<irmiil partnership with his brother, iSeorge,
under the firm name of .V. A: C. McLean. The spinning and
weaving were again starteil at Patei-.-..n, in the Franklin
Mills, with .Vlexander MiDonald as superintendent. Mr. Mi--
Ponald died in this city three years ago. having U>en in tin-
emphiy of three generations of .McLeans, for fifty years, a
n markable record. Previous to ISWJ. haml-looni weaving and
all the dyeing and fini.sbing were carried on in New York,
but thi.s portion of the plant was reniove<l to Paterxui. In
1871, fire again destroyed the entire plant at Paters<iii, and
the firm at once se<-ured new premises, where weaving only
was done, they buying all their yarn fmni Kaslern ninnn-
facturers. The firm dissolved partnership in lS7i and .Vinlrew
purchased his bnilher's interest and carried on tin- business
alone. The panic of l.S7,'{, owing to previous losses by fin-,
proved a very severe time. .V few years Inter he iH-gan to
rapidly expand the business; liesides the factories in Paterson
and New Y'ork, a third one was stnrtiHl in Brooklyn. In
1.S82 he purchased the proiM-rty. Nos. ■!»!, 4.S and .'><> \Voosler
stieet. New Y'ork, where the present firm now has its ofllce
and storerooms, anil the BriM)klyu factory was ciuisidiilated
with the one in New Yurk. Thus was the growing busines-s
carried on until his death, in Kebrunry, 18,S,S. prom then,
ui.til September, lS8it, his son, the only .\ndrew Mcl.<-an
known to Pas-iaie, I'arried it on alone. nieii his brother.
George, liecaine of age, and the present partnership of .Vndn>w
Mcl^ean & Co. was fonnetl. .\t oneo the new finn startol out
to consolidate and largely increase its facilities. \Vilh that
end iu view, several acres of land were purchase*! in lliis
city. By .laiiuary, ISJMI. the new mill was ctmipU-le<l, and.
with more than dmible the fiiH.r .space and machinery, the
pioduction was not c<i:ial to the demand. I'urther eMensions
and more machinery iK'canie nec.-ssury. Iii ISSrj the fourth
'
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TWO VIEWS OF PATERSON PARCHMENT PAPER CO.'S MILL.
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296
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC
l>iiil(liiig was erected and fully eqiiipiicd with the latest and
most improved machinery. At present there are over two
acres of floor space, and everytliinj; in connection with the
plant is of the modern mill <i>nstructiuu, and supplied with
fire-e.\tinKuishinK appliances. Since starting at I'assaic new
lines of goods in specialties for manufactiirint; purposes and
ab.sorlient gauze for hospital use have been largely intro-
duced, which liave merited the favorable consideration of the
trade. At i)reseut a large variety of cotton goods is manu-
f;:ctured. the principal lines being niosiiuito nettings, dress
lii.ings, crinolines, canvases, buckrams and shade cloths.
Vegetable Parchment — A Specialty.
THK PATEUSON rAKCII.MEXT I'Al'ER COMTAXY.
— Tliis itidiislry was started b.v Theodor Leonhard, in the
old (Jun Mill at I'aterson. in May. l.SS."). In a short time it
was found neeessar.v to look .ibout for a more advantageous
location, and after considerable investigation, it was decided
to locate next lo the Dundee Chemical Works, in this city,
where better freight and other facilities were offered. This
move was made in IS'.HI. In iSitl the business was incor-
porated, with Tlieodor Leoi.iiard as president. The present
otlicers are (J. Theodfu- I,eonhard. president and general ni.in-
ager; William !•". Brunner. vice-president, and Albert !•'. Leon-
hard, secretary and trejisurer. Th's <-ompai)y makes what is
ci'.nnierciall.v known as vegetable parchment paper. It is pro-
<liiceil by treating a paper made of cotton stock in sulphuric
acid. The acid is then thoroughly washed off and the ii.iper
dried and calendered. This paper closely resembles animal
p; rchment. and hence the name. It is impervious to water,
oil or grease. It is jutuall.v stronger when wet; therefore,
makes an ideal wrapper for goods which .ire wet or become
e.Kposed to moisture. The u.ses t() whiih this paper may be
put are many, but the chief uses are for wrapping butter,
cheese, lard, hams, bacon, fish and food products generally.
'J he demand for this paper had to be created at first, as this
company was the pioneer in thi- business, and it was ditficult
to convince the people of the great merit of the goods. But.
once introduced, the demand has steadily increased, until now
the company can produce ti'U tons of finished paper every
twenty-four liours. In addition to the ni.nnifaeture of paper.
there is also a printing plant on the premises capable of
I'riuting three to four thousand pounds of pajier daily. Parch-
ment sheets only, for butter, ham. lard, bacon and other
wrappers, are printed here.
Pantasote (Artificial Leather).
Tin: I'A.NTASOTE LEATIIEIt COMrANV was incor-
porated on ihe 7th day of .lanuary. ISill. The incorporators
were ilr. Peter Ueid, of Passaic, and Messrs. Clarence Whit-
man and E. H. Outerliridge. of Xew York. The company was
organized for the purpose of m!inufa<'turing and selling gum.s.
natural and arliticial. suitable for combinatiiui with cloth and
other textile fabrics, and for waterpro<jting and insulating
purposes, and manufacturing and selling such articles in com-
bination with or involving the use of such gums. The special
development which has been exploited by the company has
been a leather substitute, which is made in a variety of
grades and colors, corresponding 'n the main with those used
by furniture dealers and upholsterers. Pantasote is also
very largely used in the carriage trade, and by steam and sur-
face railroads, for the seats and curtains of cars. l''or ear
curtains the article is made with an exterior waterproof sur-
face, with an ornamental fancy pattern on the reverse side,
the backing varying in (pnility from a printed cloth to an elab-
oratel.v woven silk. Another branch of the business is the
waterproofing of cl>ths in a manner analogous to that of the
mackintosh tra<le. but of higher standard, by which goods are
producf(l for such articles as sporting coats, leggings, golf
bags and kindred purposes in great variety. Other adapta-
tions of its gum product are in process of development by the
comp.-iny. The real estate owned liy the Pantasote Company
consists of a large tract of land on .Jefferson street and the
Hundee Canal in I'assaic, \ipon which there are several build-
ings. The main building is a three-story brick structure, about
.300 feet in length, which contains all the machinery for the
manufactuve of the goods, the other buildings being used for
the preparation of the raw material, storage and similar pur-
poses. The company also operates a plant in the State of
Massachusetts. Both plants are fully equipped with the
latest and best :nachii:ery. electric light and sprinkler sys-
tems, etc., much of which is of special design and construc-
tion. Pantasote leather has become one of the staples of this
country and Canada, and trade has been established with the
various countries of Europe, India. Australia. China. ,Iapan.
Southern Africa and South America. The company holds a
medal of the World's Fair. Chicago, and also the Edward
Longstreth Medal of Merit. aAvarded by the Committee of
Science and the \.rts of the Franklin Instil ut<' c.f Philadi-I-
phia. for the best leather >.\ibstituti'.
Chemicals.
HrXOKK CIIFMICAl. WORKS. The i,r.).lu(ts of this
ci niiiany are sulphuric, muriatic and nitric acids, aqua fortis.
CI pperas and nitrate of iron, sulphate of soda, silicate of soda.
tin crystals, muriate of tin. mixe<l acid for nitro-glycerine
and many other minor chemicals. The original factory was
built in 187!l. iuit its dimensions were rery modest in com-
parison to tlu' extensive i>lant since constructed and now in
operation. Additions have been made Ironi lime to time, until
the works of the compan.v cover a large part of its tract of
ten acres on the Passaic River. This, from its inception, has
been a ver.v successful enterprise, ami lias fouiul a profitable
market for its output in the various factories of Passaic and
Paterson and other neighboring towns, and has a large busi-
ness throughout the Middle States. J. B. Ackerscui has been
the superintendent for the last nine .vears. and. by his energy
and ability, has succeeded in establishing a very large and
s:!tisfactory business. Mr. Ackerscm ranks among the best
and most capable of acid manufacturers in the Cnited States.
The product of this company has an enviable reputation, re-
sulting from the care and skill with which the processes of
luanufacture are conducted. The work gives employment to
about eighty men, many of whom have been with the eoni-
p.-^n.v almost since its origin. The company and the I.odi
Chemical \\'cirks have recently been absorlu'd liy llie (Jeneral
Chemicnl Coinpaiiy.
THE I.Oltl CIIE.MICAL COMPAXY'S WORKS are
situated in the centre of the borough of Lodi. in Bergen Coun-
ty, .X. I., ihe terminus of Ihe I.odi branch of the X. Y.. S.
and W. K. 1!.. lo-.-ated aboiil Iwo miles northeast of the city
of Passaic, about Ihe same distance southwest of Haeken-
sack. Lodi is generally regarded as a rather quaint and old-
fashioned village, isolated and inactive, and those who visited
it ten or fifteen years ago. and carry with them only the recol-
liclion of ils appearance at that time, cannot be blamed for
having allowed this impression to fiu-ni in Iheir minds: bin.
viewed from 'ts present condition, this is ipiiti' a mistake. Dur-
ing recent years it has made great progress through the energy
and enterprise of its citizens. Highways have been improved,
waterworks established, houses, stores and other buildings erect-
ed, and many attractive homes are now taking the placi' of whal
not h)ng ago was a large area of farm land. The borough
is cosily nestled in a beautiful valley, through which lourses
the Saddle River, with its clear, pure water, and which, with
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THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
301
llw surroiuidiiif; liills. ;ilT)nls ;i iiuliinsi|iic liindsi-niit' si-i'Ii.t.v
tl.iit is not easily sui-passi'd. The Sailillo Itiv.T, hrnvcvcr, is of
iiMU-h jrrcator aclvaiitajrc tlian nu-icly as an attraction to tlit."
I.ivcrs of tlio ijicturesinK" in Natnrc; it is an essential lo nianii-
lactuiin!; interests, and is tile leatnre of the liorouKli '•( I.odi
ilial has attracted so nii ny factories to its midst, and to which
is line its advancement and general iirosiierity. One of the
chief of these factories ls that of the Lodi Chemical t'om-
pany. on tlie lianUs of th(> Saddle Uiver. which fnrnishes a
liuuntitnl snpply i.r |>nr.' water, so necessary in the niann-
facture of (lu-niicals. 'I'lie location of these works is also
a most I'avorahle one lor n-ceiviiiK and shipjiin^' crnde ma-
terials and niannfactnred prixlucts, becanse the tracks of the
X. Y.. S. ami W. U. H. Company pass directly throngh the
.\.-.nl. uirh necessary sidings for loading and nnloading cars.
Tile l.iidi Chemical A\'orks wc>re originally Imilt in the year
lMi;». Init iirter a snecessliil hiisiness career of fonrtoen years
they were destroyed l>y lire, in the snmmer of 1.SS3. It was
not until two years later, in lSS."i. that the present works
were erected on the site of the olil factory. The work was
done nnder the direction and supervision of Mr. .losejih lattle.
a chemist of wide experience and with thoroughly praitical
ideas, and the company is fortunate in having retained his
services since as chemist and superintendent. He is a native
of England, where he oliiained his education in chemistry, and,
after graduating with honors, he tilled sever.il positions in
various chemical factories there, with credit to himself and
to the advantage of his emi)loyers. It was, therefore, with the
regret of the latter that Jlr. Little determined to seek the
more extensive field for skill and enterprise .ifl'orded by the
rapid growth and ilevelopment of Amerii-.i. His career in
this countr.v hefore he accepted his prtscut position was an
lionoralile ami sii^eessful one. .nicl since he has been con-
nected with the Liidi Cliemie.il Compan.v he has done much
lo advance and improve tin business. His name is in itself
a guarantee of the highest grade of manufactured products
and of rigid honest.v in business nu'thods. ami it is largely due
to his connection with the com[)any that it has attained the
excellent reiiutation it now enjoys for the high standard of its
cl'.emicals. The I.odi Chemical Coni|iany's .specialties are bi-
chloride of tin. which is made by a new and special process
of its own. and copperas nitrate of iron, both of which are
used largely in the silk dyeing industry. The business done
in ihese chemicals has grown to large proportions: but. iu
addition, many humlriKls of tons of sulphuric, nniriatic and
nitric acids are turned out annually, brimstone alone being used
in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, as the company never
descemled to the cheaper process of lurking it from pyrites.
ecunmonly used, but which i)roduces an inferior grade of acid.
Tin crystals, tin. copper, zinc ami antinn>ny solutions, acpni
ammonia, acetic acid ami a variety of other chemicals are
also manufactured in large iiuantities at the I.oili Chemical
Company's works, special attention being given to the qnality
in every instance. .Mr. Henry S. Deshon is the president
and general manager of the i-ompany, and the business is
curried on under his direction from the New York otUce. No.
3S I'latt street. He is a pione<'r in the chi'mical business, hav-
ing started in it many yi-ars ago. and lo him much iredit is ilne
for the progress made in the past, iu spite i>f adv<'rse circnm-
stances. and the excellent condition of tlu' I.odi Chemical
Company and its works at the i>resrnt time.
Essential Oils.
THE AMKUir.VN IIOI SK OF KKIT/.SCIIK HKOTIl-
i;i;s. manufacturers of essential oils and chemii-al prepara-
tions, was established in Hoboken. N. J., August 31, 1871, as
a branch of the firm of Schimmel \- Co. (the latter owned by
ih.- brothers Kritzschi-), wliow iiinin eNlnl>liNhiiu-iit in located
in I.eipsic, with a braiicli ut .MiltltK, lieniiuiiy. At the Inner
place are lo<ale<] the fMinouM Gt-iviaii r<»iw plnnlatiuiiM nnj
distilleries for the production of otio of rows nnil oIIn froiij
many other planls wliicli an- cnltirateil by the firm. Tliey
also have an extensiV4- eHtahliHhnieiit iit Kixlenhncli, Huheniia,
(•reeled after their fjictory was destroyed in I'riigne ilnrinis the
last Czechish riots. I'ntil his death, wliiil. iH-eurnsl in IfWIi,
the Amerii-aa br h was comliii'leil by .\lr. I'aiil KriliiM-ho.
Ill l.S!»:{ Mr. Carl itrncker la brotlieriii-law to the owneri),
Messrs. Ili-rman id Kriist Krilxsi'liei t<uik chark'i- of the
.\inerican branch as a partner in the firm, and nnder hi» able
nianagenient the business of the eKtablishnienl Im* lind an
enormous increase. At the time when .Mr. Knicker took
charge of the hiisineKs, the factory was in ehnrKe of rrofi-wwir
Dr. Krederick Power, formerly I'rofessor of rhnnnaey nt the
Iniversity of Wi.s<'onsin. In IS'H! ProfesHor IVwer lu<-ate<l
at IaiiiiIoii. Kngland. and since that time his place has Ihnmi
ably tilled by l»r. Clemens KIcIht, a chemist, who for some
years was engaged at his pr •fi'ssiun in I^-ipzii; nnd other
lOnropean universities. The tiirtury, as it Is now at fSnr-
tield, is one of the most complete of its kind in the eoiuilry.
I Miring its eonstrni'tion, in iSiKl, it was under the immediate
supervision of Dr. .1. Kertrani. the chief clieniiKt of the
(ierman hou.se. The buildings are of brick, nnil ore firc-
|iieof. The main building is J-I.'i by TO feel, with a centroi
section three stories in height. In the south end i» located
the ollice, which contains a very eomph-le odieeiiun of chemi-
cal and technical literature, apparatus for idiysieul invi-stign-
tion. delicate scales that wi'igli to l-1<M)iN>th of a grain, sctileH
for determining specific gr.ivity, polaristopes. siM-etroiu-oiH'H,
rtfractometres for deterniiinng the optical refraction ami dis-
persion, and unny other applian<vs for testing the purity of
oils. etc. .Vdjoining is the chemical hiborntory, eoiilaiuini;
shelves with re-agi-nts, all kinds of a|i|iaralus fur fnietioual
distillation. eliMUentary analysis, eli'. Here careful tests are
made of all the products of the factory bi-fore rielivery: alito
samples of all oils intendeil for purcha.se, <iiiitributions to
scientific literature referring lo <>s.senlial oils, etc., nn- etire-
fiilly prepared after their own investigations. On the sisi.nd
lloor over the laboratorv are a large nnmlM-r of ap|Mirntus,
which are used for spei'ial |iuri"ises. but not in use nt nil
limes. The otBce is connected by a corridor with the cheuiii-al
departnuMit, where are .seven elegant reetifiere with vuriou*
attachments, for rectifying crude oils and bringing them to
the highest standard of perfection by siM'cial methods: large
tanks (several of a 1.0<M>-|M>und c.ipacilyl fi>r heating. <-rH>ling
and uniting, .is reipiirc^d by siM'<-iaI cheiuical processes; slenni
tables for healing kettli-s, etc.: hydraulic jip-s-ses exerting a
force of ."i.lM¥l pounds to the sipiare inch. In a large hall in
the centre of the biiildii:g an' iminens<- i-hesls heati'<l by steam
for drying solid chemicals. Kastwanl from the hall, the
i-ngine room is locattnl. where a ".VIiorse-|K>wer engine ilrives
the machinery, consisting of grinders, cutlers, slirri'rs. two
elevators and two ,iumps for drawing water from two very
deep wells (each pump having a capacity of otM*"" gnllon«
per dayl. iisi-d for supplying the batter}- of three l>oilers. .-on-
densers. etc. Thi se boilers are am,de to furnish all the sliiini
used for pow?r and supplying the stills, etc. Tlie two iipiH-r
stories in the central .section of the fni-tory an- nse<l lo store
crude materials for dislilling purposes, such as dovi-s paeke<l
in bags eontaining loll iMiunils each la st<H-k of which the
tiriu .sometimes carries amounting to In-twivn 3<K),IHMt and -IIIO,-
iHMi poumlsi: bay leaves pack<d in ball's of TitX) pounds each
(Slock often reaching lINl.Killl iHuimlsl: cedar W(si.I. i-lc. .•Ic,
in stivks varying ac-cording to sen.son. Northward, nnd ndjoio-
ing lo the <-(>utral section of the faclor.v., is the distilling riKmi,
5 ^
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Is
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306
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
containing large copper stills, each of which often contains
at one time as much as from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of drugs,
from which the oil is distilled by steam. At the extreme north
end is a separate room for hydraulic presses, each exerting a
force of 1,000 pounds to the square inch, and used for the
extraction of fatty oils. At the northeast is a building, two
stories high with a cellar, which is used to store the finished
products prior to thedr shipment to New York. These goods
are kept in large copp>r tanks, iron drums, patent cans, glass
bottles, barrels, etc., according to the requirements of the trade.
In this same department the clearing, filtering and packing
are conducted. In the various side buildings are apparatus
for extracting the delicate odor of floral perfumes; numerous
centrifugal machines for separating all kinds of crystals from
their mother liquids; autodares for effecting chemical processes
at high temperatures under high pressure. The firm also main-
tain their own workshop, where they manufacture many of
the apparatus used in the factory. The main or general busi-
ness otfices of the firm in America are located at Xo. 34
Harclay street. New York City, where they occupy the entire
building, containing five tioois and a basement. They make
a specialty of oil of cloves, bay, cedar wood, artificial oil of
wintergreen, the finest brands of oil of peppermint, numerous
fruit ethers, heliotropin, cumarin (the aromatic principle of
ttnka bean). Fritzsche Brothers are the sole agents in the
Unitetl States for the German firm of Haarman & Reimer.
manufacturers of vanillin and ionone. the latter being the ar-
tificial perfume of fresh violets. The i)roducts of Messrs.
Kritzs<'he Brothers reach the markets of the entire civilized
world, anil to give a complete hLstory of the firm would in-
volve a pretty full account of the origin and development of
the manufacture of es.sential oils, hence the salient points have
only been touched up'> i in the foregoing sketch.
Silk Dyeing.
THE AIvEXANDHK llYK WORKS .,1 Lcdi. ,,» 1 by
Blum Brothers, is another marvelous example of rapid growth.
Starting in 18U0 with a small plant and a process of dyeing
si'k.s in the piece, which was absolutely new. the firm has
been inc.'ssantly extending its plant, until it is now the largest
of its kind in the world. It keeps i;("l iiiiployees busy, runs
ptactically all night and day, and represents an investment
of half a million dollars. The process is identical with that
discovered by Boettger & Hintze, as told in the succeeding
l):.ragraph. consisting, as it does, of dyeing silk in the iiiece
instead of dyeing it in the thread and weaving it into patterns.
It has been brought to such perfection that to ilye a piece of
g< ods in different colors on either side is an everyday won-
iler. The colors imparted to the fabric liy the expert dyers
■ ire novel and bcantifid.
Till-: IlOKT'lCKi; I'IKCK DYK WoUKS.— This busi-
ness w.is first eslablished in New York, in 1801, by Messrs.
Bcettger and llinze on a small scale, and tentative, for it was
yet to be ilevelo|)ed, and processes were yet to be discovered
that were to bring it leputalion. The plant was at East One
lhindre<l and Forty-ninth street. Twenty employees couhl do
all the W'irk. But soon larger quarters were necessary, and
pioperty at Lodi was purchased, and buildings, as herein rep-
resented, were erected, 2."i() feet by ;!.">(( feet in dimension.
Here, at this writing, a force of 200 hands is on duty day ami
night. The company contemplates putting up still another
building. The company is incorporated under the laws of
New Jersey, with a capital of .flOO,^)!!. all paid in: but more
tliau double that amount has been expeniled in erecting ami
equipping the mills. An entirely new branch in textile in-
dustry has here been developed. At the outset the company
depended npo!i importeil goods, made of raw material. .Now
thousands of looms are at work in the United States, weav-
ing the silk or the cotton and silk, as required, ready for the
peculiar and ingenious coloring the dye-workers of this firm
can give. There is a prospect that many more thousands will
be similarly employed in the near future. As intimated above,
the old prix'ess required the coloring dyed before the weaving,
niis resulted in great loss; for soon the market called for
other colors, and goods on hand were at a discount. Now, by
the Boettger and Hiuze process, the raw material passes first
through the loom, and then to the dye-works to receive the
popular colors. The officers of the company are: Henr.v W.
Boettger. president: liobert Boettger. vice-president: Theodore
M. Boettger. treasurer, and Theodore Boettger. .Jr., secretary.
Of the New Y'ork house. One Hundied and Fort.v-uinth street,
established in l.Sli.S. Mr. H. W. Boettger is sole proprietor.
Mr. Hiuze retired in 189."). It is the most complete finishing
plant in the city. Indeed, it is the largest and most complete
in all its appointments in this country. A specialty is made
of finishing broad silks and satins. Watering and embossing
silks have special attention. All ordi-rs are promptly executed,
and all gcxxls sent to these establishments are fully insured
against tire. The inilividual mendiers of this firm are held in
(he highest esteem in commercial circles for their stri<t in-
Iigrity and honorable busiiu'ss methods.
Other Manufacturing Interests.
THE (;o()IiI,.'iTTE oil. CLOTH CO.Ml'ANY'. in which
T. K. (joodlatte of this city is principal owner, has a good-
sized mill at Athenia, in which it makes all sorts of oil cloth.
Many of the commonest patterns in daily u.se in Passaic house-
holds are ihe product of this mill. Tlie business was estab-
lished in 1S,S8, when the capacity was only 1.200 yards daily.
Now it is IS.Ono yards daily.
ACHESON. HAItUE.N & CO. are handkerchief makers.
a branch of a large Belfast house. The company starteil in
on a small scale in one of the Waterhouse mill buildings, in
18!>1. and has expanded its business until its daily output is
reckoned in tens of thousands of dozens, while it employs two
to three hundred wonien and girls on sowing machines and in
foldini; and packing liandkerchiefs. Most of the goods are
linen. The iiin]p:uiy has erei'ted, during 18!)9. a fine new mill.
iKai- I'assaic ,\'id Ninth streets, at a cost of $100,000,
riii-; .\.mi:kican handkeuchief co.mpany
rented part of the Uittcnliouse mill in 1800 and commenced
to mannfaiture handkercliiefs with about 1(H) machines. The
conip.iny was newl.v oiganized. In November it leased larger
quarti'rs in the abandoned Continental Match factory. Tlie
match f.ict<uy was established in I'assaic Ihrough the efforts
iif W. F. .and AV. B. Hutchinson, who patented a machine for
making match splints in 18'.i;!. ami inti nst. il Edwin CJould
of New York. The ("ontineutal Match Company was formed
with factories at Passaic, Ogdensburg and Detroit, to fight
the Diamond Match Conqiany. It did so, with more or less
success, imtil 1S!I!), when ilii' trust >wallowed it up and closed
Ihe factory.
THE H.\.MMEKSCHLAA(; .M.\NrFACTIi;iN(; COM-
l'.\.\Y makes waxed paper for wrapping and other puriMiscs.
and employs I'ld men at its mill in (lartield.
rilE .\1.EX.\NDEK SII.K .MILLS is the only branch i>f
tlie silknuiking industry in Passaii-. The owner is .Tohu .1.
Uuegg. who has sixty employees ami makes silk vestings and
silk and wool cloths for shoe-tops ami other purposes.
rilE NATIONAL BUICK .\NI) TEUUA COl^A
COMI'.'v.N'A purchased a tract of l.ind in Carfi'ld five years
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
311
iitro ill Ilic luliil' ihat fii.c tcna <(.lln iliiy was iili'iitifiil llirr.-.
This piuvcd to ln> a inistnkc, Imt a very fiiiiicrior rlny fur coin,
moil l)ii<"k was foiiml, from wliicli a very lianl anii-lf. known
as Garliclil brick, is lioinj; maniifacliirc.l. Mayor HoKart.
General Spencer, Ri<liaril Morrell. William .Maliolin. .luscpli
II. Wright and olher.s are interested in the concern. The
yard is equipped with n brick-making mnchiue. with a ca-
pacity or lO.OOO a day, a steaiii-ilrvinir plant, and periiiaiieiit
kilns built of lirick, in which the bricks are burned. .Viiothcr
brick-makiii!; machine of e<iuat capacity is to be inslalleil,
but the capacity of the rest of the plant is not to be doubled
.It present. St. Mary's Hospital ami tlu' l'eo|ile's Bank biiihl-
iiic were constructed of Garlield biicU.
TIIK II.XZLETON BOII.KU WOltKS, now bcin^' .-on-
sliiirtcd at ('nrlloii Hill, will (■iiiploy l',-|(| skilled and well-paid
MUM-liaiii'-s, \\ licii cnmplcleil.
.MAKTI.NS SHKLL F.U'TOKY makes, by a patented
I'locess, the hollow wooden rollers used extensively in print
works. The rolls have a sci'iare iioie, and the process con-
sists in turnin.ir them out in this shape in one piece. I'revicnis
to this iiiueiiioii^ process, it was necessary to iisi- two-piece
rollers.
THK i'.VSSAR' E.N(;i:.\.\ l.\(; CO.Mr.V.NV, of which
Thomas Fcxhall is president, employs twenty-five skilled en-
gravers, men and women, in etching the copjier rollers used in
cotton-printiii;;. It docs work fo!' print works in I'assaic anil
in New Kii;;lnnd.
Woodworking Mills.
THK .\(KKU.M.\.N I.IAIIUJK .V.ND \VOUll\\t»i;Kl.N(!
COMPANY was incorporated April 1, 1.S9."). The otlleers arc:
.Vndrew McLean, president; .lolui A. Parker, vice-pi-esident
and treasurer: Fred A. Parker, secretary. This company is
full.v equipped with up-to-date machincr.v for the maiinfactnre
of all kinds of woodwork that enters into the constriictiiai
of a house — sashes, blinds, doors, inouliliiifis, trim and tin-ncd
work. Its machinery being of the most recent mamifaeture,
its plant large, and having made a study of s.vslem in its
U'ill, it find* no diilieulty in supplying the trade promptly.
Being located upon the bank of the Passaic River, its lumber
is brought direct fn.iii the West by boat, and it is thus en-
abled to carry a large stock of lumber at a low cost. Its
dry-kiln was erected by the Stiirtevant ("onipany, whose repu-
tation in that line is national. It has associated with it as
supi'rintcndent. Mr. William .leiiiiings. who was for many
years the superintendent of the Hall & Munsoii Company, of
Bay Mills, Michigan, one of the largest woodworking factories
in the I'liited States. He came to them ripe in e.vpericnee,
ancl his whole time is devoted to the interests of the trade.
Its ottice, ai the foot of Park place, is open, not only during
the \\o. king hours of the day, but, also, every evening, except
S.itiudaj evening thus affording oppculnnity to its customers
to call alter business hours and arrange llieir work for the
fuliowing day. Colonel Parker, the manager, has been in-
icrested in noodworking comiianies for the jiast twenty years.
.iiicl his knowledge ef the business has enabled him to build
lip .111 inviable trade.
THK A.NUEUSO.N LLMBEK CU.MPA.W. which is
..spoken of more extensively below, has a large plant, in Wal-
sl
liiigton, devoted to a general planing mil
iiianufactiire of iiacking boxes.
business and Ihc
ITIi: I'ASSAIC I.r.MBKU A.\I» WOODWOKKING
COMPANY has a mill in Wallington. erected in ISJW. It is
devoted to the maiiufacture of large <juantilies of packing
1...X..S for the Slundnrd Blendiery nnd Held It Darrx'ti milli.
Ihc principal Htoelchohler* Im-Iiik William MeKeuili- and Jom-nh
II. Wriiiht.
Coal, Grain and GDnstruction Supplies.
C.\MPl:i:i.l.. .\lul{Ui:i.l, .v « .. .s ,„ii.,. ■,.. bn^m-.. was
liiiiiidcd in IHT.'t, and the company waH lni-<in">rnl<-<l hi IKHB,
with ICiilianl .Morrell on preoidenl ami ilireclor of lu for-
I lines. It lias grown too Mk I<i Im? eonAneil lr> PamMilr. It
has become one of the largcul 4-nlen>rliMi« in the iMiiilierii •<•.••
lion of New Jersey. It n Imth uniunc il» riiKtonien. >.ini<-
of the most prominent coiilraclom and iiiikmhix in ihi« anil
adjoining Slates. Over ?l.-^l.lNlo ,u»h in inv..«ti-,l in the l.iiiil.
iicss, which places the itino-rii in a iHmition In Imy nioal
iidvanlageously. and enables il not only to chnllenee, Inii lu
defy, coiiiiH'tition. .\side from rcprcHcnling w.m. of Ihi- InrKesI
ii:Miiira:'tiirerK in tl onnlry from which pluiilN it makiii di-
re, t shipments, it carries in s( ick, at all liiiira, at iU well-
e.iuipii.d yard and warehouses on the PaMaie Uiver, i-cirrrinK
nearly tifty i-ily lots, i en»e i|iiantilini of niaMins' ma-
terials and construction supplies. Tliis yard i» liea<li|iiarteni
for Passaic and the snrrouiidiiig itninlry for the dislril>nli<in
of everylhing in these lines. The eonipiiny huf.. nl gn-ol ex-
pi use. I recteil ail elevator and |M>cketM ii|nip|M d willi (lie iikmI
modern coalhandling machinery, for Ktoriug l^-hicli coal.
Hard and durable "I.ehigir" is nii-ived din-et from llie iniiipii
by watjr. and conveyed to the |H>ckets by steniii iMiwer. from
which the coal may lie loade<l into a wagon in two ininules.
without any labor. The company niaki>s a H|H>fialty of siipply-
iiig retail dealers unil the farmers in the adjai-i'iit territory,
who give its coal the preference, as it is all thoroughly s4T<'<-np<l
by passing over .screens four fwt long U-fore ri-achiiig the
wagon. .Vdditioual storage for ^..VNI tons has 1k-«-u provided
this year, nie coiiipa:iy is also u dirwt tecfiver of W.-Blern
giain. Hour, hay. salt, produce, etc.. and has u capncioiitt eh--
vator and iiiill on the Snsipichaiina and Krie railroads, on Finit
street. It transacts this branch of the business as a M'porato
ilcpaitinent. iiinb r the supervision of a coiii|M'lent grain man.
Kichard Morrell, the sn|H-rintendent of the eorporatiim, who
was formerly sales agent for the Erie RailrMad's i-.(al, has di-
rect charge of the coal and masons' nialeriuls' department,
.lames W. Clinton, the secretary and treasurer, hns chorgc
of the tinances and clerical work f>f the eor|uiratioii in the
spacious olllces in Cauipbell, Morrell & Co's tine structure on
Main and Passaic avenues. The company can iKiint with pride
to the fact that it is sole owner of all its ilifTereiit pro|M'rlieti,
and, therefore, has numerous advantages over eumpetitoro.
THE .VNHEUSON 1,1'MBEIt CO.MPANY owns a larjfe
and prosperous biisincsN. that dales back to the first IuiiiIht
operations of "Broin" .\ckernian, ulwut 1812, nnd h»<< ln-<-n
carried on continuously, on the same .h|ni(, for eighly-M'Veii
years. .Vckeriiian was sucewdwl by Peter .Tacksoii. In 1832
the business was taken lip by Post A: .Vuderson, who wer«
dealers in lumber and building materials generally. Tboy
III ought the first eunsignnient of eual to .Vo|Uackanonk, a
s< hooner loud uf Pennsylvania black diamond*. They wpr«
llie first bankers in the village, reviving the savings uf fannera
and laborers and ki'cping lliem safely, u practice which histeil
forty years, until the establishnieiK of the Passaic National
Bank. In 1St!."i they were succeeiletl by the se<-ond generation,
who did business under the name of Aiidenoa Brothers. Wil-
liam S. and .lohii I>. .\ndersou onistituteil the finii. In l.HTtl
the firm was followed by W. S. Anderson fc Co., Simeon T.
iCabriskie, W. S. .Vudersou's second cousin, ln-eomiug hw part-
ner. On Mr. Anderson's death, in 18S7, the Anderson LuinU-r
G<.inpnny was forme<l. It cojsi.sled principally of Mr. Za-
briskie and Edward Philli|>s, a luinl>er merchant, who came
312
THE NEWS' HISTORY OF PASSAIC.
lu IV rni!ii Albany, N. Y. Mr. I'liillips rctii-cil Iroui the ccnii-
piiii.v in 1899. At present Jlr. Zabriskic is president and Jnhn
D. Suffern. seeretar.v and treasurer. The eompany transact-^
a business in lumber, nia.sons' materials and lA'hij.'h coal .ill
nver I'assaic and IJerfjen counties. Its Walliufttou planing mill.
established in ISS.'i, is always busy, and turns out large quan-
tities of architectural woodwork and cabinet-work. The icmi-
pany has 2,000 feet of dock frontage on both sides uf (lie
river anil 000 feet of switch on the Eric Railroad. Most of its
business is done b.v the river, on which it receives annnall.v
over one hnndred boat-loads of material of all kinds, the lotnl
receipts beiiijj; between 20.000 and 2.">,0(M) tons annuallv. Its
name stands vcr.v high, as it nas .-in iinbniUcii i-cpntatimi I'nr
honesty and reliability.
THK S. M. BIIU'H HMKKI! CO.Mi'ANY is engaged in
thi' lumber business on the site of tin- olil Landing. Mr
ISirch, the |>rincipal stockholder, was furincrly it] the tinii of
Birch iV: Bender at the same iil:ii-c.
THE HEMION COAl. AMi CK.UX (d.Mr.VXV. in wlii, h
.lohn Heinion and his sons are engaged, has large yards and
ccal pofUets at Main avenue, the Erie Railroad and Monroe
street, and an otlice in the llemion building. Main avenue
and Washington |ilai-e.
Other Large Interests.
I'assaic lias two largi' wholesale provision (le.ilers. The I'as-
si-ic Beef Company, a branch of the H;iinniond ('omi)any.
lias a large refrigerator at Central aveune. Jlonroe street
!ii'(l the Erie Railroad. It receives many carloads daily of
beef, other fresh meats and poultry, which are distributed to
the retail trade for miles aroimd. The pork-packing house of
the Uenry JIuhs Company is situated on I'assaic street, and
it does an iiumense business, the receipts of the slaughtered
hogs from the main house in Paterson freiiuently amounting to
several hundreds daily.
TUK SPEER .\. ,1. WINE COMPANY, manufacturers of
iKilive uines, has .")0 acres of vine.vards on Panlison and Van
llonten avenues, an .^S0,000 brick warehouse on lower Main
avenue and other warehouses in dilTerent parts of Passaic. A
slock of l.jO.OOO gallons of wine is carried. Speer's unfer-
uienled grape juice is widely used for medicinal and Com-
n'tinion purposes, his port wine is a household friend, his Cli-
nia.x brand.v, Pedro slierr.v, Socialite claret and ('bateau Speer
bvrgnndy are the finest of native wines, and are reckoned su-
perior to the imported b.v many i onnoisseurs.
THE riMl'ING STATKl.N OK THE M:\V VoKK
TRANSIT COMPANY, although located .iust (.utside of the
Passaic city limits, is one el the large industries of the locality,
having been established there lor ne.ir'.v twenty years. This
pumping station is one of ten similar stations located on the
Transit Company's line, extending from Ole.iii. Callaraiigns
County, .New York, to the seaboard. The line i> used for
the transportation of crude petrideuni from the oil regions,
starting at Olean at an elevation of about fourteen luiiulred
feet above the sea-level, and passing over elevations on its r.>iiie
of over twenty-five hnndred feet above the sea-level, the oil
being forced through the line from station to station by large
pumps, which ari> located about thirty miles apart. Through
these lilies large (luantities of oil are passing from the oil
fields, the pumps at the stations being kept running night and
day, and discharging a constant stream of crude oil at llie
refineries at the seaboard, the oil passing every twenty Imir
ht'Urs through these lines amounting to over three hundred c.ir
loads. This Pinuping Station gives employment to ijuite a
large number of men, who receive liberal compensation for
their services, as the business reiniires men of a high order of
ability, and the faithfulness with which they have performed
their duties is shown by the fact that most of them have been
employed by the company ever since the station was estab-
lished.
The Paterson, Passaic and Suburban Tele-
phone Company.
The progress of the independent telephcme business through-
out the country is a revelation to those who observed its be-
ginning .-i few years ago. It is now estimated that over sixty
millions of dollars are invested in the independent companies.
.\liiiost every city has one now in operation or under way.
The wide scoiie of free service allowed by all of them has
hastened their rise, and the extension to the sm.iller tiavns has
added greatly to their convenience and use.
The State of New .Jersey is a leader in the muvenieiil. and
\iry soon all its towns and business centres will be connected
by a system ul' nnidi'rii imistruction. placed for use at what.
till now. were reg.-irded as incredibly low jirices.
The Paterson. Passaic and Suburban Telei)hoiie Coinpaiiy
h.as completed improvements to its building and plant which
have been underway for some time. The ottices at No. i:^ll
Market street. I'aterson. now pre.sent a neat and tasteful ap-
penraiic;'. and are fitted with ever.v convenience for handling
its large and increasing business. Among these is a new switch-
board for .■iccomuiodating I.OOO subscribers. This was found
necessary, as the stations now connected nniniier over "IHI. with
111 w additions being made dail.v.
The company's ortice at Passaic is also open day and night.
c(.i nectiiig with Paterson. thus increasing office work here.
The extension of the service to Ridgewood. Little Falls, Ruth-
erforil and intervening points is full.v provided for. The fran-
chises at these places have recently been obtained, and the lines
are being built, t'nder the system of this company all these
points will have a free and nnlimiteil service to and from Pater-
son. thus abolishing the whole scheiluli' of tolls to subscribers
lor these points. Mileage charges have also been discarded
throughout the city. This offers to iiarties located in the outer
sections the same rates of rental as those dose to the Central
office.
Tile plan lor teli'phones. as installed by this ediiipany. re-
sembles the trolley .system in its extent of use without ad-
ditional charge. As one can ride for one fare from any part
of Paterson or Passaic to any other part of either, so with this
company an unlimited number of messages may be sent to or
from any point in cither city and llirniighout Passaic County,
without extra ccist.
The rental cliargi' is less than half those in vogue until
recently. Thus, a direct line for business use is furnished at
liiiir dcdlars per moiilli and at three dollars per month for resi-
ilenees. The party line rale for business places is two dollars
.■ind fifty cents per iiionth. and for residences one dollar and
twenty-five cents per month.
The use under all these contracts is unlimited to and from
any other station in the county. With improved construction
of lines and instruments, the installation of a station is much
reduced in cost, thus allowing a wide and free use of service.
This explains wh.v so many of our people are discarding the
old s.vstem of paying for each message sent, and adoiiting tln'
plan an I service of the new company.
It is little miu'e th.an a year siiue the firs! inslriiments
wore placed, .and already all parts of Paterson and Passaic
:ire reaehcil. ami the stations nnniber more than the work of
txdiity years by fi>rmer methods. .\ gi'iii-ral reduction uf toll
rates to .New York. Trenton and other cities will somi show
a parallel to local charges. The telephone will then show its
real position in business tind private lifi'. Many thousands of
dollars will be saved to usi^rs. with I'lilarged conveniences and
privileges.
The company has its Paterson ellici' and excli.ange at )'.'•>>
Market street and its I'assaic oUice and I'.xchange :it Id Pas
saic avenue. The officers are: President. .Toseph Bamford. Sr.:
First Vic.'-President, William P. Craig: Second Vice-l'residint,
George A. Me.vers: Treasurer. II. 1'.. Parke: Seeretar.v. .1. W.
Lindsay; (ieneral Manager. Allied (lartner: Directors. .L H.
Burke. Waller Bamford. Richard Morrell. of Passaic; Charles
H. Melntire. (leirge A. Post. .Tnseidi Bamford. .Ir.
XI 2
*i*