USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02248 1888
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofmorrisc00pitn
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A HISTORY
OF MORRIS COUNTY,
NEW JERSEY
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EMBRACING UPWARDS OF
TWO CENTURIES
1710-1913
COUN
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RIS
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FLOR
LEX
SEAL
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VOLUME I.
ILLUSTRATED
PUBLISHERS LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING CO. NEW YORK CHICAGO 1914
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COPYRIGHT 1914 LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
1242287
FOREWORD
It had been frequently remarked in the past few years that a history of Morris county had not appeared during the last three decades, and the pres- ent seemed an opportune time to supply the deficiency. The result is seen in the volumes now placed in the hands of our patrons, without whose cordial support the work could not have been undertaken.
The publishers desire to express their grateful appreciation of the valu- able services of the gentlemen who have actively co-operated with them in laying down the scope of the work, and in the labors of authorship. Mr. Henry C. Pitney Jr., the supervising editor, has been indefatigable in enlist- ing the services of capable local writers, in careful revision of manuscripts, and in the work of his own pen. Of special interest are the following chapters : "The Bench and Bar," by Mr. Henry C. Pitney Jr. ; the "History of Medicine in Morris County," by Dr. Henry W. Kice: "Banks and Bank- ing," by Hon. Willard W. Cutler ; "Methodism in Morris County," by the distinguished divine and author, the Rev. James W. Buckley, who also con- tributes some notable facts with relation to Washington and his stay in Morristown; the "History of Chatham," by Prof. Charles A. Philhower ; and "History of Dover," by Prof. Charles D. Platt, the veteran teacher, author and antiquarian. Others who have afforded valuable assistance in advisory ways are Mr. Charles M. Lum, of the New Jersey State Historical Society ; Mr. Frederick G. Burnham, founder of the Berkshire Industrial Farm ; Mr. James H. Neighbour, a first authority on Morris county history ; Dr. Fred- erick Wooster Owen; and Mr. Edward Howell. The publishers are under obligations also to Mr. Philip H. Hoffman, of Morristown, Mr. Edward J. Cahill, of Boonton, and Messrs. Pierson & Surdam, proprie- tors of The Jerseyman, for the use of various illustrations.
The volume accompanying the History proper is a compendium of current biography, the value of which will prove more apparent in coming years, when those who are thus commemorated have passed away. The publishers have made every effort to attain entire accuracy in this feature of their work. In every instance the matter has been submitted to the person in interest, if living, or to his nearest representative if he were deceased, for revision as to matters of fact. Taken together, it is believed that the two volumes will meet with general commendation.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY -- GEOGRAPHICAL-FIRST SETTLEMENTS-ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
From the shores of Lake Hopatcong, 950 feet above tide water, to the lands of the Passaic Valley, Morris county presents a relatively small area attractive to the agriculturist. Yet there are many localities entirely given over to the farmer, the variety of production ranging widely. Dairy farm- ing is an important business in one locality, flower farming in another ; fruits are universally grown, and in many places the standard grains to a certain extent. But Nature, who ever compensates, filled the rugged hills of Morris county with a superior quality of iron ore, and then sent rapid streams cours- ing throughout her limits, that power in abundance might be had at the lowest cost, to drive the mills, factories, and various plants that would surely follow the opening of the iron mines. Many generations drew their livelihood and fortunes from the mines and allied interests, but the grouping of iron and steel interests in other places gradually sapped the position Morris county held for so long in the iron trade, until hardly a mine or rolling mill is in operation within its limits. But again the law of compensation is at work, and the material prosperity of the county is but little affected, other indus- tries coming in, and twentieth century necessities peopling the many beautiful localities of the county with a most desirable class of citizens. The vast cities lying eastward are daily sending from their crowded areas families that eagerly seize upon the available building sites of the various localities, so that where a few years ago silence reigned, now stand beautiful rural resi- dential communities. Morris county is becoming one vast summer play- ground, her lakes, streams, forests, and many scenes of sylvan beauty, attract- ing thousands of visitors, many of whom become permanent residents. Not only have the towns along the railroads gained in population and wealth, but the building of electric railroads and fine public roads has brought many new localities into being, as well as extending the borders of those already well established. Prosperity rules in the county, and while the death of the iron industry was a severe setback, it was but temporary, and a brighter future awaits Morris county, a community of schools, churches, and all the accom- paniments of twentieth century civilization. Nor must the many large private estates and homes of unbounded wealth be omitted from the record of county prosperity. No locality is more favored in this respect, and to enumerate these estates would be to write a volume. To sum up all the advantages the county offers is not a small task, but it may be said that glorious as is its past history in every way, it is not surpassed by the present, and fades away before the sure possibilities of the future.
GEOGRAPHY
Morris county is located in what is known as the Highlands of New Jersey, and is very irregular in surface, rising from an altitude of 175 feet above sea level in the southern part, to over 1200 feet in the northern. The chief mountain ranges in point of size are Schooley's and Green Pond, but, from an economic point of view, the most important is the range of hills that lie next to and to the southeast of the Green Pond mountain range. This belt bears nearly all the iron deposits of the county, although west of 'Green Pond range some deposits have been worked, the Hurd and Ford
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NEW JERSEY
mines being the most important. While these vast mineral deposits were the great source of the county's former wealth, the changes of time and new industrial systems of manufacture have taken away their value.
The county is well watered, three of the largest streams in the State finding their sources within its borders-the Musconetcong, the Raritan and the Passaic. The Musconetcong rises near the Ford mine, in Jefferson town- ship, there being known as Weldon Brook. It flows into Lake Hopatcong, thence flows to the southwest, receiving the drainage of the west slope of Brookland and Schooley's mountains, and empties into the Delaware. The Raritan in Morris county has three branches-the South Branch, Black, or Lamington river ; and the North Branch, all flowing through separate valleys and not uniting until after leaving the county. The third system, the Passaic river, rises near Mendham borough, and flows about two miles south to the county line, which it forms for a distance of over forty miles, receiving all the drainage south of Morristown and as far east as Madison. The Whip- pany, Rockaway and Pequannock rivers form part of the Passaic river sys- tem, and from their watersheds comes the water supply of the great cities of Newark and Jersey City and other communities. The country north and east of Morristown forms the watershed of the Whippany, which, rising near Mount Freedom, flows through Morristown and Whippany, drains the Troy meadows, and empties into the Rockaway river at Hanover Neck. The Rockaway rises in Sussex county, enters Morris near Hopewell, flows south- west through Longwood and Berkshire valleys, folowing the west base to Green Pond Mountain, flows through Dover, Rockaway, Powerville and Boonton, finally emptying into the Passaic at Hanover Neck, just after receiving the waters of the Whippany. On its course the Rockaway fur- nishes valuable water power, and is a stream of great beauty at many points. The Pequannock river rises in the Waywayanda Mountains in Sussex county, and does not enter Morris county, but forms its boundary line until meeting the Passaic at Two Bridges, a distance of nearly thirty miles. This river receives the drainage of all the northeastern part of the county, and its water power attracted the early mills and factories at Butler, Bloomingdale and Pompton. It courses through many miles of rural beauty, its rugged rocks, shady retreats and ceaseless murmuring attracting thousands, where formerly its value as a wealth producing power was known but to the beneficiaries.
EARLY HISTORY
Prior to the year 1700, the territory known as Morris county was in- habited only by the Indians and the wild things of forest and stream. The Indians were peaceable, there being no record of battle or massacre to blot the early pages of the county history, nor does it appear that the settlers were in any way molested. The Indians principally inhabiting Northern New Jersey were the Lenni Lenape, or Delaware tribe, but were called by the whites after the Indian name of the river by which they dwelt; hence the Whippanongs, the Pomptons, the Rockawacks, the Parsippanongs, the Min- isinks, and the Musconetcongs. A favored hunting, fishing and camping ground with the Indians was the region of the Great Pond, now known as Lake Hopatcong. These original owners lingered until about 1750, when they disappeared entirely from Morris county, but not from the State. As late as 1832 an act was passed by the legislature authorizing the purchase from the Delaware Indians, who had removed to Michigan, of all their rights. in all the territory of New Jersey. The Indian paths from one lake to an-
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MORRIS COUNTY
other, and from the seashore westward, were the first roads of the county, and are often referred to in old deeds and land titles.
The first actual settlement by the white race in Morris county is be- lieved to have been near Pompton Plains, and the first settlers to have been Dutch. On June 6, 1695, Arent Schuyler and his associates, Major Anthony Brockholst, Samuel Byard, George Ryerson, John Mead, Samuel Berrie, David Mandeville, and Hendrick Mandeville, purchased from the Indians all the territory lying between the Passaic on the south, the Pompton on the north, and between the foot of the hills on the east and on the west. In November of the same year, the same parties bought of the Proprietors of East New Jersey 5500 acres lying east of the Pequannock river. In 1696, Schuyler, Brockholst and Byard purchased a tract of about 1500 acres and other lands on the west side of the river, including the present Pompton Plains. While it seems that the first settlement was on the east side of the river, it is believed that in 1700 settlers located on the Morris county pur- chase of 1696. Closely following these Dutch settlers of Pompton Plains came the New England men, who entered the county by way of Caldwell and Livingston, passing Troy Meadows to the high lands of Hanover and Whippany, a few families settling in 1710. This settlement at Hanover is believed to have given name to the whole region, and that the whole of now Morris county (then Hunterdon) was comprised in one township known in Hunterdon county records as Hanover. From Hanover, where these early settlers erected a house for the public worship of God, they moved westward to Morristown, called at first New Hanover.
The southwestern part of the county was first settled by Germans who sailed from Holland in 1707, expecting to join the Dutch colony in New York. Adverse winds carried their ship south, and, instead of the Hudson, they entered the Delaware river, and landed at Philadelphia. Adhering to their original intention, they crossed the Delaware at Lambertville, and be- gan their journey across New Jersey to join the Dutch in New York. They, however, tarried in what is now German Valley, Washington township, Morris county, induced by the character of the soil and the beauty of the hills surrounding the valley, to settle there.
In 1713 James Wills, an Englishman, bought of the East Jersey Pro- prietors a large tract west of Mendham, later called Ralstonville, the actual settlement of the Mendham region soon following. In the same year it is stated that the village of Chester was laid out in lots.
Thus, from opposite sides, men of different nationalities began the work of subduing the forest and creating the new community we now know as Morris county. Their energy, perseverance and sacrificing lives soon brought forth fruitful results-the soil was compelled to produce, the forest giving: way to the fields, and by 1725 the pioneers, pressing forward from their points of entry, met in the center of the county. Their houses were of logs, their roads little more than bridle paths, but their wants were few, and the richly stocked streams, with the abundance of wild game, added to the crops they gathered, met all their needs.
From 1710 to 1715 the Proprietors of West Jersey, attracted by the richness of this new section, began to allot themselves large tracts of its land. William Penn, John Reading, William Biddle, John Kay, and others, took up tracts of 1200 acres and more as far east as Morristown. The first settlements were along the streams, the meadows and smooth lands attracting the actual small settler rather than the wooded hills, whose mineral wealth
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NEW JERSEY
none then suspected. Indeed, it was not until after the Revolution that the hills were considered worth purchasing for the timber upon them.
The "Nevil tract," extending from Berkshire Valley to Longwood, was located in 1745, the first in that neighborhood, and in 1750 the first location in the northern part of Jefferson and Rockaway townships was made by John Davenport.
It was not until 1722 that the Morris county settlements were asked to bear a part of the burden and cost of government. The minutes of the Hunterdon county court contains this order of the court, under date of June 5, 1722: "Whereas there is no assessor returned to this court to serve for the inhabitants of the township, it is therefore ordered by the court that Elisha Bird serve assessor for the said township of Hanover for the ensuing year, to assess the tax to be levied upon the said inhabitants towards the support of his Majestie's government ; and it is hereby ordered accordingly."
In 1723, township officers were appointed by the Hunterdon county court, the different settled sections of the county being represented. John Hayward and Samuel Vanderbook were to serve as "Commishoners of the Highways ;" Benjamin Hathaway and Morris Morrison were appointed con- stables ; James Hayward, Abraham Vandine and Benjamin Beach were to be overseers of the highways; and John Bigelow was to be collector for the township of Hanover. At this same court, the first public road in the county was officially designated, the court ordering the commissioners of Amwell and Hopewell to meet those of Hanover, "in order to lay out a road from Amwell to Hanover through the Western Division betwict this and the next court, and to meet at Mr. John Reading's the first day of Oct. next, for that purpose."
In 1724, Samuel Potter, William Shores and Abraham Vandine are named as town officers. On March 14, 1725, there were appointed for Hanover as freeholders, Jonathan Gilbert and Abraham Vandine; as com- missioners, John Cortland and Thomas Huntingdon; as overseers of high- ways, Joseph Lindly and Daniel Goble; and as assessor, Jonathan Gilbert- these men constituting the first office holders of the new settlement.
The first record of a town meeting is that of March 14, 1726-7, as follows: "It being the General Town Meeting appointed by Law for Elect- ing their Town Officers and the inhabitants of our Said County being met on that act, proceeded to chose as follows: John Morehouse assessor for ye Govener Tax, Joseph Lindsley, Collector, Morris Morrison and Joseph Coe, freeholders, Abraham Vandine and Jonathan Stiles, commissioners for laying out roads, Benjamin Beach and Matthew Van Dine, Thomas Huntington, Nathaniel Cogswell and John Courter overseers of ye High- way, John Morehouse Town clerk."
Three years later, Ephraim Rue, Stephen Tuthill and Paulus Berry were appointed constables. In October, 1737, among the associate judges of Hunterdon county appears the name of Abraham Kitchell, grandfather of Aaron and Abraham Kitchell, afterward so prominent in Morris county history.
Hunterdon county, with its county seat at Trenton, had at this time a population of 5288 whites and 219 slaves, probably one-third of this num- ber being within the boundaries of the northern section, then constituting what is now the counties of Morris, Sussex and Warren. The settlers in this section, hardly averaging two persons to a square mile, had become dis- satisfied with the long journeyings to the court and county seat, and began the agitation for a separate county organization. Their efforts were crowned
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MORRIS COUNTY
with success, the results being the new county of Morris, created by act of the legislature, passed March 15, 1738-9, the name being given in honor of Colonel Lewis Morris, at that time governor, the first to fill that office after the separation from New York.
CHAPTER II
ORGANIZATION OF MORRIS COUNTY - SUBDIVISION OF TOWNSHIPS - EARLY TURNPIKE ROADS-THE MORRIS CANAL-MORRIS AND ESSEX RAILROAD- MODERN TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
Morris as a Separate County-The territory included in the Act of March 15, 1738-9, creating the new county of Morris, included what is now Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. It comprised about 870,000 acres, and was considered a part of West Jersey, although at least two-thirds of it was east of Lawrence's line of 1743. The act described the boundaries of the new county and included the three counties as now laid off. Although Gov- ernor Morris, in a letter to the Duke of Newcastle, under date of March 26, 1739, recommended that the new county be allowed two representatives in the Assembly, and in the minutes of the Assembly it is shown that several petitions were presented to the house, signed by 190 men, praying that they be allowed the privileges granted other counties, it was not till the last colonial legislature, which met in 1772, that representatives were received from Morris county. These representatives were Jacob Ford and William Winds, both of whom later served as officers in the Revolutionary army.
On March 25, 1740, the first Morris county court met at Morristown, the judges present on the second day of court being John Budd, Jacob Ford, Abraham Kitchell, John Lindley Jr., Timothy Tuttle and Samuel Swezy. The first business of the court was to divide the county into three town- ships-Morris, Pequannock and Hanover, and to establish their bounds (see Morris township). The first township officers were appointed by the court, and were as follows :
For Morris township-Zechariah Fairchild, "town clerk and town book- keeper ;" Matthew Lum, assessor ; Jacob Ford, collector; Abraham Hatha- way and Joseph Coe Jr., freeholders; Benjamin Hathaway and Jona. Os- borne, overseers of the poor; Joseph Briddin and Daniel Lindsley, over- seers of the highways; Isaac Whitehead, Alexander Ackerman and William Dayless, constables.
For Pequannock township-Robert Gold, "town clark and town book- keeper ;" Garret Debough, assessor ; Isaac Vandine, Esq., collector ; Robert Gold and Frederick Temont, freeholders; Matthew Vandine and Nicholas Hiler, overseers of the poor; Hendrick Morrison and Giles Manderfield, overseers of the highways; John Davenport, constable.
For Hanover township-Timothy Tuttle, Esq., town clerk and town bookkeeper ; David Wheeler, assessor; Caleb Ball, collector; Joseph Tuttle and Caleb Ball, freeholders ; John Kinney and Jonathan Stiles, overseers of the poor ; John Kinney and Samuel Ford, surveyors of the highways; Paul Leonard, Robert Young, Benjamin Shipman and Edward Crane, overseers of the highways ; Joseph Herriman and Stephen Ward, constables.
To the townships first created was added Roxbury, formed from Morris township, December 24, 1740, and including all the present townships of Washington, Mount Olive and Chester, and part of Mendham, Randolph and Roxbury. Wallpack township was erected March 23, 1741-2, from what is now Sussex county. Mendham township was erected March 29, 1749, and included not only the present township, but all of Randolph and nearly all of Chester.
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MORRIS COUNTY
June 8, 1753, an act of legislature was passed that took from Morris all that portion of her territory lying west of the Musconetcong river, Lake Hopatcong, and a line drawn northwest from the head of the "Great Pond" (Lake Hopatcong). This territory was formed into the county of Sussex, and from that time no changes have been made in Morris county, its present lines being formed by the Pequannock and Passaic rivers, Somerset county, the Musconetcong river, Lake Hopatcong, and Sussex county.
The five townships-Morris, Pequannock, Hanover, Roxbury and Mend- ham-remained intact for forty-five years, then at intervals they were divided into fifteen political divisions. Washington township was formed February 12, 1798; Chester, January 29, 1799; Jefferson, February 11, 1804; Ran- dolph, November 13, 1805; Chatham, February 12, 1806; Rockaway, March 5, 1844; Passaic, March 23, 1866; Boonton, April 1I, 1867; Montville, April II, 1867; and Mount Olive, March 22, 1873. Denville township was erected from the lower part of Rockaway, April 14, 1913, making the six- teenth township. Some changes have been made in the boundaries of these townships from time to time, their present lines being given in the detailed township history.
After becoming an independent political division, Morris county rapidly rose in wealth and population. In 1745 the population was 4436, and in 1765 the first historian of the State, Samuel Smith, described the county as one populous for "a late settled county." Furthermore, he said: "They raise grain and cattle chiefly for New York market, and cut large quantities of timber of various sorts for exportation. In this county resides Peter Kemble, Esq., president of the council. The places for worship in this county are : Presbyterians, nine ; Lutherans, one ; Anabaptists, one ; Quakers, one; Separatists, one ; Rogerines, one."
In the years from 1740 to 1775, the face of the county greatly changed. The original villages at Pompton, Whippany, Morristown, German Valley, Chester, Dover and Rockaway, had been supplemented by many others, and the entire county opened up by actual settlers. Furnaces and a slitting mill had been built ; forges, grist mills and saw mills were on all the streams ; and every considerable fall of water turned wheels that operated a mill of some kind. No census is preserved for the years preceding the war of the Revolu- tion, or until 1790, but 10,000 must have been the least number prior to that war. They were an independent, self-sustaining people, raising their own grain, cutting their own timber, making their own iron from their own ore, and manufacturing all their needs required. No county was better pre- pared to be thrown on its own resources, and it was owing quite as much to the character of the people, as to the situation and natural defenses of the county that, during the eight years' struggle with Great Britain, no force of the enemy entered Morris county, save as prisoners of war.
The 4436 inhabitants of 1745 had grown to 16,216 when the first federal census was taken in 1790, and increased each decade until there was reported to the enumerators of the thirteenth census in 1910, a population of 74,704, a gain over the twelfth census of 9548. (The details of this population are given in township and borough history.) The value of real estate and per- sonal property in 1912, as reported for taxation, was in excess of $50,000,- 000, nearly $43,000,000 of this being real estate.
Travel and Transportation-The first turnpike company in the county was the Morris Turnpike Company, chartered March 9, 1801. The incor- porators-Gabriel H. Ford, David Ford and Israel Canfield-declared their
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NEW JERSEY
object to be the erecting and maintaining of a good road from Elizabeth- town through Morristown, thence into the county of Sussex. This road was built, entering the county at Chatham, passing through Madison, and ran through Morristown, Walnut Grove, Succasunna Plains, Drakesville, Stan- hope, and on to Newton.
The Union Turnpike Company was incorporated February 23, 1804, by Elias Ogden, Joseph Hurd and John De Camp, its object being to build a road from Morristown through Dover, Mt. Pleasant, Berkshire Valley, Hurdtown and Woodport, to Sparta, in Sussex county, and was so built.
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