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HISTORY
OF
BERGEN COUNTY
NEW JERSEY
ILLUSTRATED
J. M. VAN VALEN
NEW JERSEY PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY
-NEW YORK- --
1900
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 666312 A ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R 1933 L
BOWERS PRINTING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 1900
PREFACE
The "History of Bergen County" is now submitted to the reader for his criticism. The book has been written by a number of persons, all of them being old residents of the county and abundantly able to write on the subjects assigned them. It is for this reason the publishers somewhat confidently send the volume forth, defective though it may be in some minor particulars.
The compilation of the work covers a period of more than two centuries. In securing facts recourse has been had to divers authorities, including histories and historical collections, implying almost an endless array of papers and documents, public, private, social and ecclesiastical. That so much matter could be gathered from so many original sources and then sifted and assimilated for the production of one volume, with- out incurring a modicum of errors and inaccuracies, would be too much to expect; but it is believed. nevertheless, the historical value of the work has not been impaired thereby. Much credit is due to Hon. J. M. Van Valen for his editorial review, his revision having been of incalculable benefit.
As to the biographical department, the work has been prepared somewhat in accordance with the idea entertained by England's greatest of historians, Macaulay, who said the history of a country is best told in the lives of the people. For this reason we have published personal sketches by the hundred, because of their historical worth, making that part of the work as exhaustive as possible.
As to the general history, due credit has been give in most cases for the borrowed matter. Particular mention, however, should be made of the following authorities: "Whitehead's Work on East Jersey," "Everts & Peck's History of Bergen and Passaic Counties." "Rutherford Illus- trated," "Things Old and New," "Hackensack Illustrated," "The Bergen County Democrat's History of Hackensack." "C. H. Dunn's Picturesque Ridgewood" and other works, among which might be mem- tioned those by Dr. Edward H. Dixon and Dr. Thomas Dunn English. on the history of Fort Lee, all of which have furnished valuable material. and the same, whenever needed, has been unsparingly utilized. Among those who have written for the work, and, in several instances. have done so somewhat extensively, may be enumerated by the following contributors and their contributions: Ridgewood, Cornelius Doremus; Upper and Lower Saddle River Boroughs, John G. Ester; Union Town- ship, W. H. Castles; Rutherford, Addison Ely and others: Reminiscences of Lodi, Henry Kipp; "In Ye Olden Time," and other sketches. J. J. Haring. M. D .; Ridgefield Park, John E. Hoey; Early Settlement of Kinderkamack, and other sketches, Hiram Lozier, Newburgh, N. Y .; Hasbrouck Heights. W. S. Laurence; Colonial Buildings, Ernst Bil-
4
PREFACE.
huber, Maywood; Revolutionary Reminiscences and other data on Fort Lee, James F. Tracey: Organization of the City Government of Engle- wood, Robert Jamieson; History of Borough Organizations. George Cook, Allendale; Bernard Koster, Wallington, Frederic L. Colver, Tenafly; and a number of borough and township clerks, whose valuable contributions of this kind have been graciously given and thankfully received; Church history of Hackensack, Rev. H. Vanderwart; Church history of Ruther- ford and vicinity. Rev. Edwin A. Bulkley, D. D., and this list should include the names of Revs. Allan McNeil, of Ridgefield Park; Rev. C. Mondorf, Carlstadt; Rev. Artemas Dean. D. D., Englewood Cliffs; Rev. Joseph Dally, Englewood; Rev. A. Van Neste, of Ridgewood, and J. J. Haring, M. D., Tenafly, each of whom wrote special articles on church history. Due credit is also accorded to Professor R. S. Maugham, of Tenafly, for sketches on the various societies and organizations of Tena- fly; to Dr. David St. John, for a well-written pen description of Hacken- sack, including its sanitary history, and to James E. Church, for the history of Hackensack Hospital.
In the illustration of certain chapters of the work, we are in- debted to Ernst Bilhuber, of Maywood; Superintendent John Terhune and to Dr. David St. John, both of Hackensack: and to Mr. W. O. Alli- son, of Englewood Cliffs, for cuts of different kinds; and to other parties all over the county, including the secular press, in particular, for the valuable assistanee rendered in the compilation of this work, the kindest thanks are extended by
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS
GENERAL HISTORY. PAGE
CHAPTER I.
8
Indian History.
CHAPTER II.
1
Discovery and Occupation of the New Netherlands.
CHAPTER III. 14
Early Settlement and Land Patents.
CHAPTER IV.
17
Land Patents in Bergen County.
CHAPTER V.
24
Old Bergen Town and Township.
CHAPTER VI
27
The Old Township of Hackensack.
CHAPTER VII.
32
" In Ye Olden Time.'
CHAPTER VIII.
38
Civil Organization of the County of Bergen.
CHAPTER IX.
41
Civil List of Bergen County.
CHAPTER X. 48 Courts and Court Houses.
CHAPTER XI.
56
Bergen County in Time of War.
CHAPTER XII.
76
Societies and Incorporated Companies.
CHAPTER XIII
83
Internal Improvements.
CHAPTER XIV. 89
Schools.
CITY, VILLAGE, TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH HISTORY.
CHAPTER XV. 92
New Barbadoes -- Hackensack.
CHAPTER XVI 162
Saddle River Township -- Borough of Garfield.
CHAPTER XVII.
178
Franklin Township-Oakland, Wyckoff, Wortendyke.
CHAPTER XVIII. 197
Hohokus-Ramseys, Mahwah.
CHAPTER XIX. 209 Orvil Township -- Hohokus, Waldwick, New Prospect.
CAAPFER XX
219
Boroughs - Allendale, Upper and Lower Saddle River.
CHAPTER XXI
Ridgewood Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park. 238
6
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER XXII 289
Washington Township -- Boroughs of Ridge Park, Montvale Wood- cliff, Westwood; the Township of Hillsdale, Pascack.
CHAPTER XXIII 318
Midland Township-Boroughs of Delford, Riverside and Maywood: Villages of Oradell, New Milford, Cherry Hill. and Spring Valley.
CHAPTER XXIV 354
Lodi Township- Boroughs of Lodi, Wallington. Carlstadt, Wood- ridge, Hasbrouck Heights, Little Ferry and the Township of Bergen.
CHAPTER XXV. 413
Union Township --- Kingsland, Lyndhurst. and the Borough of North Arlington.
CHAPTER XXVI. 429
Boroughs of Rutherford and East Rutherford
CHAPTER XXVII. 494
The Township of Ridgefield ---- Fort Lee. Ridgefield Park.
CHAPTER XXVIII. 532
Boroughs of Ridgefield ---- Leonai, Fairview, Undercliff, Palisades Park, and Bogota.
CHAPTER XXIX. 585
Englewood Township-City of Englewood and Englewood Cliffs.
CHAPTER XXX 639
Teaneck Township-The Villa Grange.
CHAPTER XXXI. 651
Palisades Township Boroughs of Tenafly. Cresskill, Dumont and Bergenfield.
CHAPTER XXXII. 680
Harrington Township-Northvale, Closter. Demarest, and Borough of Tappan.
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
PAGE
Ayers, Dr. M. S. 551
De Groot, Samuel E
539
Anson, Edward M 410
De Ronde, Abram 621
Atwood, George H 122
Darlington School 207
Ackerman, Abraham H.
217
Edsall. J. G. 556
Ackerman, Peter
255
Easton, Edward D 332
334
Allison, W. O.
538
Esler. John G
236
Allison, Residence of W. O. and Palisade Avenue.
638
Avenue, Maywood.
322
Batter, Jacob.
153
Glencourt. 109
400
Bechtel Hotel.
177
Bilhuber, Ernst.
330
Haring. Dr. J. J.
674
Bilhuber, Residence of Ernst.
331
Hackensack Hospital
106
Bogert. Andrew D.
629
East Rutherford School 475
239
Bogert. Isaac D
296
Hales, H. W
279
Bogert, John W.
218
Hales, Residence of H. W
271
Bennett, William W.
648
Home, Rethmore.
662
Bulkley, Edwin A.
451
Hudson River and Palisades 637 277
Bell, John M ..
449
Hutton. Isaac E
Banta, William S ..
118
Hotel, Overpeck.
531
Brinkman, Dr. Max. R.
160
Hose Company. Maywood. 326
Bridgman, R. M 281
Haas, Nelson. 150
454
Bush. David
193
Iviswold
453
Blake. J. J
456
Jaeger. Gustav L.
328
Castles. W. H.
226
Jaeger. Residence of Gustav L. . 329
Cass, Alexander. 618
Jacobus, Nicholas 543
Carrigan. Residence of J. F 284
Johnson, W. M. 121
Cook, George. 224
Jones, J. Wyman 605
Church, Union
518
Kohbertz, Mansion of F.
397
Crouter. C. P
268
Kohbertz, Residence of F 401
Cumming, Thomas H
142
Koch, Lonis. 424
Cane, F. W.
581
Lydecker, Garret A
609
Christie, Corneliu:
521
Lydecker, Thomas W.
613
Christie, Residence of Cornelius
525
Lydecker, Residence of Thos. W 615
Christie Homestead.
523
Laurence. William S
Colver. F. L.
677
Christie, Cornelius [ Leonia]
563
Lozier, Residence of John B.
Demarest. Garret Z.
687
Lozier, John B., Dining Room ..
341
Demarest. Daniel I
346
Lozier. John B .. Winter Onarters 342
Demarest, C. V. B.
174
Demarest, Clayton
144
Lozier, Hiram.
Demarest School.
683
Dupuy, J. J.
+81
La Fetra. Residence of Daniel W 26.3
Doremus, Cornelius
265
Library Hall. 1,50
Doremus, Residence of Cornelius 266
Marsellus, Henry
369
Feitner, Residence of John F. 370
Garrison. Aaron G 191
Bechtel, Herman
176
Gramlich, Alfred
Gramlich. Residence of Alfred 401
Bogert, Residence of Andrew D.
632
High School. Ridgewood
Barrett. David L
636
Ivison, David B
Lozier, John B3 338 340
Lozier, John B. Stock Barns. 343 344
La Fetra, Daniel W. 201
Ackerman, Residence of Peter . 257
Easton, Residence of Edward D
Feitner. John F
8
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
PAGE
McMains, William 460
Romeyn, James A 133
Molinari, Anton. 398
Rutherford School 433
Molinari, Residence of Anton .. 402
Rouclere House 282
Moench, A.
376
Ridgewood High School. 239
Ridgewood Reformed Church. 249
Richter, Paul. 668
Mowerson, J. E.
195
Richter, Dr. August. 372
Mercer, George C.
384
Springer, Moses E 625
Snyder, A. V. D. 285
Mckenzie, William. 477
St. John, Dr. David.
124
Mountain House, Ruins of. 590
Moore, J. Vreeland.
571
Moore, Stephen H. V.
275
Moore, Residence of J. V. and S. V. H.
567
Maywood Avenne .. .
322
Maywood School House.
325
Maywood Art Tile Works.
324
Maywood Hose Company
327
Van Bussum, John 408
Van Buskirk, Jacob. 336
Ockford, George M.
273
View of Hackensack. 96
Phelps, William Walter. 641
Von Hartz, Carl
458
Paramus Church.
251
Palisades and Hudson River,
Vogel, Charles
509
View of.
652
. Van Dien, John B
259
Wheeler, George W
146
Quackenbush, John
208
Wallington School
386
Roehrs, Julius 389
Wenger, Chas. L. A.
671
Westervelt, Jasper 645
Winton, Henry D 140
Zabriskie, David D 275
Ridgefield School 533
Ravekes, Albert. 527
Romeyn, Rev. James Campen .. .
127
Zabriskie, Peter G. 348
Romeyn, Rev. Theodore Bayard 131
Romeyn, Rev. James
129
Shuart, James 204
Stagg, Peter 135
Shafer, Luther
447
Sullivan, A. D. 395
St. John, Residence of Dr. D. 97
Tallman, Abram 634
Terhune, John 148
Tracey, James F 512
Osborne, John H., Residence of .. 234
Volger, Theodore G .. 306
Post, Peter J. 482
Roehrs, Residence and Flower Houses of. 389
Residence, Colonial 327
Zabriskie, Andrew C. 158
Zabriskie, Peter L 279
Zimmermann, George 367
Mittag, Frank O 303
Mittag & Volger, Offices of. 305
Mondorf, Rev. 374
K-SCHEDKER. EMT. NE
PALISADES AND HUT SON RIVER -RESIDENCE OF W. O. ALLISON
History of Bergen County
CHAPTER I INDIAN HISTORY
Without the history of the Indians who inhabited this section of the State the history of Bergen County would be incomplete. But neither history nor tradition can tell from whence these savage tribes came, nor how long they had dwelt on these shores. A few statements, however. relative to them may not be without interest.
It does not appear that the Indians inhabiting New Jersey were very numerous. An old publication, entitled "A Description of New Albion " and dated A. D. 1648, states that the Indians inhabiting New Jersey were governed by about twenty kings, but the insignificance of the power of these kings may be inferred from the fact that only twelve hundred of these people were under the two Raritan kings on the north side next to the Hudson River. Whitehead, in his "East Jersey Under the Proprietary Government," says there were not more than two thousand Indians within the province while it was under the Dutch. The Indians inhab- iting the Lower Hudson and East Jersey country as far south as the Raritan are considered by most writers as belonging to the Delaware or Lenni-Lenape nation. Lenni-Lenape in the Indian tongue signifies "Original People." The tribes who occupied this section of New Jersey were called Raritans, Hackensacks, Pomptons and Tappeans.
That "Wicked Nation," as DeLaet calls the Manhattans, dwelt on the island of Manhattan. Before the white man took up his residence in this country the Lenape nation was subjugated by the powerful Iroquois. The conquered nations, however, were permitted to remain on their former hunting grounds by the payments of tribute, which as an acknow- ledgment of their vassalage was exacted of them annually.
During the year 1630 the first hostility of the Indians against the Dutch was directed against their plantation on the Delaware, which was totally destroyed and thirty-two men killed. In 1641 an expedition was fitted ont against the Indians on the Raritan, they having been accused, though wrongfully, of trespassing and committing theft. Various causes led to the outbreak of 1643. One cause was the exacting of a tribute from the Indians by Kieft, the Director-General, in 1639; another was the killing of a white man by an Indian in 1641 in retaliation for the robbery and murder of one of his tribe many years before.
In 1655 trouble again arose among the Indians during the absence of Governor Stuyvesant at which time they sought safety by flight to the West side of the river and at which time Staten Island was laid waste and Pavonia was burned. The Pomptons and Minsies removed
10
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
from New Jersey about 1730 and in the treaty of 1758 the entire remain- ing claim of the Delawares to lands in New Jersey. was relinquished except that there was reserved the right to fish in all the rivers and bays south of the Raritan and to hunt in all uninclosed lands A tract of three thousand acres of land was also purchased at Edge Pillock, in Burlington County. New Jersey, and on this the remaining Delawares of New Jersey. about sixty in number, were collected and settled. They remained there until the year 1802 when they removed to New Stock- bridge near Oneida Lake. New York. becoming there the Stockbridge tribe. In 1832 there remained about forty of the Delawares. among whom was still kept alive the tradition that they were the owners of the hunt- ing and fishing privileges of New Jersey. They resolved to lay their claims before the Legislature of this State and request that a moderate sum of ($2.000) might be paid them for its relinquishment. The person selected to act for them in presenting the matter before the Legislature was one of their own number whom they called Shawuskukhkung. mean- ing "Wilted Grass". but who was known among the white people as Bartholomew S. Calvin. He was born in 1756 and was educated at the expense of the Scotch Missionary Society. At the breaking out of the Revolution he left his studies to join the patriotic army under Wash- ington. serving with credit during that struggle At the time he placed this matter before the Legislature he was seventy-six years old. and when the Legislature granted the request Mr. Calvin addressed to that distinguished body a letter of thanks which was read before both houses in joint session and was received with repeated rounds of enthusiastic applause
History of Bergen County
CHAPTER II DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF NEW NETHERLANDS
The harbor or bay of New York was discovered by Estevan Gomez in 1625. Gomez was sent out by the Emperor Charles V. of Spain, who had fitted out the expedition for the purpose of discovering a shorter passage to the East through the continent of North America. From Winfield's History we find that all the country extending from New Jersey to Rhode Island was named "Estevan Gomez" at that time. It was from Gomez the natives obtained the maize, or Spanish wheat.
It is possible that Verrazzano in his voyage from the Cape of the Breton Southwest to Florida sailed into the harbor of New York in 1524. as the charter of Henry IV of France was granted to De Monts, in 1603 by virtue of that claim. The Charter of Acadia embraced all that por- tion of the country lying between the fortieth and forty-sixth degrees north latitude and consequently included the greater part of New Jersey. The grant of the French King, however, was ignored by the English. and in 1607 Henry Hudson was sent out by the East India merchants in pursuit of northwest passage to East India. but he was unsuccessful in his search. The Dutch East India Company with unshaken faith in the "bold Englishman". as they termed Hudson. put him in command of a vacht or Vlie boat of thirty tons burden called De Halve Mann. Half Moon ). to make search for that much sought after northwest passage to India. Hudson left port on April 6, 1609 for New Foundland, his boat being manned by a crew of twenty. partly English and partly Dutch.
* " By his agreement with the Company. dated January S. 1609. he was to sail about the first of April in search of a passage to the north of Nova Zembla. and to continue along that parallel until he was able to sail south to the latitude of sixty degrees, and then hasten back to report to his employers. For this service he was to receive eight hundred guil- ders, and, in case he did not come back within a year. they were to give his wife two hundred guilders more. In case he found the passage. the Company were to reward him for his dangers, troubles and knowledge. in their discretion."
+ " Hudson's anxiety to discover his favorite passage led him to dis- regard his orders, and he coasted southward as far as Chesapeake Bay. and. returning. cast anchor inside of Sandy Hook on the 3d of Sep- tember. The scenery around delighted him, and he pronounced it . a very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land to see.'
*Juet's Journal of Hudson's Voyage. tHistory of Bergen and Passaic Counties.
12
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
" Here Hudson met the natives for the first time. The journal says. · The people of the country came aboard of us, seeming very glad of our coming, and brought green tobacco and gave us of it for knives and beads. They go in deer-skins loose, well dressed. They have yellow copper. They desire clothes, and are very civil.' On the 6th of Sep- tember. John Coleman, an Englishman of the crew, with four men, was sent to sound the river opening to the north, -the Narrows. They sailed through and found 'a very good riding for ships.' They found also 'a narrow river to the westward between two islands,' --- the Kill Van Kull. Passing through these two leagues they came to an open sea, --- Newark Bay. The Dutch called it Achter Cull-that is, the after bay, because it lay behind the Bay of New York. It was called by the English After Coll, and sometimes, corrupting the word, they called it Arthur Cull. It is sometimes applied to the territory bordering on the bay, as well as to the bay itself. On their return they were attacked by a hostile party of twenty-six Indians in two canoes : Coleman was killed by an arrow which struck him in the throat, and two more were wounded. It is thought that these Indians came from Staten Island, as the Jersey Indians visited the ship the next day and were ignorant of what occurred. The next day the body of Coleman was buried on Sandy Hook, and the place where it was interred still bears the name of Cole- man's Point."
Returning again through the Narrows, Hudson cast anchor on the 11th of September in the Harbor of New York, "and saw that it was a very good harbor for all winds."
The report of Hudson's discovery caused a new field of trade to be opened which the East India Company, becoming eager to monopolize, sent out another ship in 1610 for the purpose of trading in furs. Five years afterwards a company of merchants who had procured from the States-General of Holland a patent for the exclusive trade on the Huid- son River, had built forts and established trading posts at New Amster- dam (New York ), Albany and the mouth of the Rondout Kill. The fort at New York on account of the " fierce Manhattans" was erected on what is now the Battery.
May 11th, 1647 Petrus Stuyvesant succeeded the reckless Kieft as Director General, under whose ordinances villages and communities on the west side of the Hudson began to spring into existence.
Lords and Patrons of New Netherlands now supplied the Schouts and Schepens for Bergen County and until the surrender of the Dutch to the English in 1664 this change of government was followed by a grant or charter from Charles II to his brother James, Duke of York, of the territory from the western side of the Connecticut River to the Eastern side of the Delaware River including New York and New Jersey. In the same year James, Duke of York by indenture of lease and release, granted and sold to John, Lord Berkely, Baron of Stratton, and Sir George Carteret, of Saltrum, the territory of Nova Cæsarea, of New Jer-
13
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
sey. Under their charter from the Duke of York, Berkeley and Carteret proceeded to establish civil government in New Jersey. For this pur- pose they had a constitution drawn up in England, entitled "The Con- cessions and Agreement of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of New Cesarea or New Jersey to and with all and every the Adventurers, and all such as shall settle or plant there." This instrument was en- grossed on parchment, and signed by them on the 10th of February, 1664. Philip Carteret was appointed Governor of the province, but did not arrive thither till August, 1665. In the mean time New Jersey was placed under the jurisdiction of Col. Richard Nicoll, Governor of New York. During the interval a legislative council or assembly convened at Elizabethtown on the 10th of April, 1664. Bergen was represented in this Assembly-the first ever held in the province-by Engelbert Steenhuysen and Herman Smeeman. This government was continued over the Province of New Jersey until the establishment of the separate Proprietary governments after the division into East and West Jersey.
On the 1st of July, 1676, partition was made of New Jersey by deed. so that the eastern part, known as East Jersey, was allotted to Sir George Carteret. Sir George, by his last will and testament, dated De- cember 5, 1678, devised the same to John, Earl of Bath, and others, as trustees, to sell the same, and appointed Elizabeth Carteret sole execu- trix, and she, with other trustees, by deed of lease and release, dated 1st and 2d of February, 1680, sold and conveyed all East Jersey to William Penn and eleven others, which twelve persons were known by the name of the "Twelve Proprietors of East Jersey." These twelve proprietors, by twelve separate deeds, in 1682, conveyed each one-half of their re- spective interests in East Jersey to James, Earl of Perth, and eleven others. whereby East Jersey became held by twenty-four General Pro- prietors, each holding in fee one-twenty-fourth part or propriety of the same. Thus from these proprietors have issued from time to time their deeds for the portions of territory sold by them in East Jersey, their office being at Perth Amboy, where all such conveyances and other records have been kept.
·
History of Bergen County
CHAPTER III EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND LAND PATENTS
Aert Tunissen Van Putten was the first white resident in Hoboken. Winfield says, that "On February 15, 1640, Van Putten leased a farm at this place on which was a farm-house and a brew-house, but no set- tlement as yet had been made north of Hoboken." Jan Evertse Bout had settled at Cummunipaw in 1634, which was one of the first settle- ments on the west banks of the Hudson. The first ferry across the Hudson connecting the Jersey shore with Manhattan Island was estab- lished at this point in 1661 and William Jansen was the legalized ferry- man. In 1680, Cummunipaw was a village of twenty families.
The peninsular of Paulus Hook on which Jersey City is now situ- ated belonged from a very remote period to the Van Vorst family. Jer- sey City was a township in Bergen County from 1838 to 1840. On the 28th of July 1685, five hundred acres of land in Monmouth County, N. J., was granted to George Scott, by the East Jersey proprietors. Scott wrote a book in which he gives a general view of the plantations and settlements in East Jersey in part as follows :
" There are other plantations upon Hackensack River, which goes a great way up the country, almost northwest ; others, also, on the east side of another creek or river at Hackensack River.
"A large neck or tract of land for which one Mrs. Sarah Kirstead, of New York, had a patent given by an old Indian sachem in recompense for interpreting the Indian language into Dutch. as there was occasion ; there are some little families thereon.
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