USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 25
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For over a century Schooley's Mountain flourished as a health and summer resort, the medicinal springs first attracting visitors. The turnpike connecting Morristown and Easton was chartered in 1806 and finished about
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1810. With the opening of the turnpike the mineral springs situated on the mountain began to draw visitors; Conover Bowne, about 1810, kept the first hotel, his house being a small one near the mineral spring. The fame of Schooley's mountain later spread and the section became famous as a summer and health resort. Germans figured largely in the early settlement of parts of the township, there being several stones in the old graveyard at German Valley on which the inscriptions are cut in German, dating back to 1726. A stone in the old graveyard at Pleasant Grove is inscribed "To the memory of William and Elsie Hann, emigrants from Germany who died in 1794 aged 90 years each." They were a sturdy hardy race, those first settlers, and laid broad and deep the foundations of prosperity. In 1810 there were 1793 people living in the township, in 1880 the number had grown to 2681, distributed as follows: German Valley, 130; Middle Valley, 60; Unionville, 57; Naughrightville, 81 ; the balance in townships outside of the villages. In 1890 the population was 2367; in 1900, 2220, and in 1910, 1900, the vil- lages contributing: German Valley, 580; Middle Valley, 200; Pleasant Grove, (no figures) ; Stephensburg, 180; Schooley's Mountain, 180; Flock- town, (no figures) ; Naughright, 220; Parker, (no figures) ; Philhower, (no figures). In 1880 the assessed valuation of real estate was $1, 101,432; per- sonal property, $481,138. This loss in population and value may be attrib- uted to the working out of the iron mines that for so many years were a large contributing factor to the township's wealth. Judge Ephraim Marsh was the first mine operator in the township. The vein of the Mine Hill farm was worked from about 1800 and was the principal mine in the township until 1857. The operations were then not extensive, the ore being carted to neighboring forges to be worked up into blooms. At a later day the Fisher mine became prominent. In 1880 the mines producing magnetic iron ore were the Hann Hunt Farm, Stoutenburg, Fisher, Marsh, Dickerson, Hunt, Lake, Naughright, Sharp, Rarick, Hoppler and Poole; the Neighbor and Dufford mines near German Valley were worked on hematite veins. The mines of the township were valuable and are yet producing but not in the same quantities as heretofore.
The rise and decline of Schooley's Mountain as a summer resort is an interesting chapter in Washington's history. The mountain owes its fame and success largely to Judge Ephraim Marsh, born at Mendham in 1796, who came to Schooley's Mountain in 1816 and for nearly half a century was one of the leading men of Morris county. He was active in politics, served many terms in the legislature, and for some time was president of the senate. He was judge of the court of common pleas, many years ; a member of the constitutional convention of 1844; was a prominent candidate for governor, and in 1856 presided over the national convention in Philadelphia that nom- inated Millard Fillmore for president of the United States. He was long connected with the management of the Morris Canal Company, taking the presidency of that company at a time when it had become worthless as a public work, and for sixteen years devoted himself to its upbuilding. He lived to see it become, under his management, not only a great business success but one of the best investments. He died in 1864 while on a visit to his then only surviving son, William Wallace Marsh, on Schooley's Moun- tain. As a summer resort Schooley's Mountain dates from about 1820, the old registers of the hotels showing long lists of distinguished guests from near and far. David Sargent of Philadelphia was an annual visitor for forty years, and Professor Ruggles of Washington, D. C., for thirty-nine years. But the fame of this resort has now departed, although for many a
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day Schooley's Mountain attracted a high class of patrons in large numbers. The mineral spring, with its wonderful curative powers, the wonderfully beautiful views, walks and drives, with the pure mountain air, formed a combination of attractions that brought fame to the section and wealth to the proprietors.
The earliest hotel in the township was located in German Valley, it existing during the Revolution and perhaps earlier. Another old inn was at Pleasant Grove, bearing the suggestive name "The Jug Tavern." Other old hotels were at Springtown, Middle Valley, and "Mud Street." Prior to the Revolution there was at Middle Valley a grist mill said to have been the first one erected in the township. Nicholas Neighbour was also an old miller and mill owner of Middle Valley. Caspar Wick had a fulling mill and an oil mill at German Valley, and was also pastor of the church there. The only two stores in the Valley prior to 1880 was one at German Valley kept by Jacob Neitson and one at Middle Valley kept by David Miller. The store at Pleasant Grove was established about 1820 and was first kept by Thomas Smith. The store at Springtown, about half way between German Valley and Belmont Hall was opened about 1812 by Welsh and Dellicker, later passing to the ownership of Neighbour and Dellicker.
There were several blacksmith shops in the township at the beginning of the nineteenth century; one at German Valley, owned by William Willet, one at Middle Valley, owned by Isaac Willet, and one at Pleasant Grove owned by Asher Jones, who in 1809 moved his shop to Springtown.
An apple distillery was in operation near Middle Valley between 1800 and 1810, owned by one Roelofson. Leonard Neighbour operated a similar plant near German Valley at a somewhat earlier date. Just previous to 1832 he divided his property among his children, the distillery falling to his son, Jacob. Soon after the division Leonard and his wife listened to a tem- perance sermon that so impressed him that he destroyed the distillery, giving Jacob its value in other property.
The first postoffices were established in the township between 1810 and 1820, the first mail route being by way of Chester and over the mountain at Pleasant Grove. At this time there were offices at Springtown, Pleasant Grove, German Valley and Middle Valley, the latter probably the oldest, the postmaster being David Miller. The office at Springtown was the one used by the hotels at the "Springs," William Dellicker being the first postmaster. Charles Watson was the first postmaster at Pleasant Grove and was suc- ceeded by Jonathan Wilson. There was no resident physician in the town- ship prior to 1800. Dr. Eliphalet Kopp was the first remembered, who came from New England. Dr. Ebenezer K. Sherwood settled at Middle Valley about 1813 or 1814. Dr. Samuel Willet located in German Valley prior to 1820. And for many years the only lawyer who made his home in the town- ship was Holloway W. Hunt.
In 1798 there were six schools in Washington township, situated in what are yet known as the school districts of Pleasant Grove, Flocktown, Middle Valley, German Valley, Schooley's Mountain, and Naughrightville. The buildings were of logs except the last named, which was a framed building. These six buildings were replaced by stone structures during the first thirty years of the century, the one at Naughrightville being built in 1830. These were small and cheaply built, all having been replaced by modern frame buildings. Other districts have been added; one at Stephensburg in 1835; another in the Fairmount district, now known as Philhower school, a Mr. Philhower donating the original lot for the school grounds. A school in the
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Unionville district was erected in 1830, this school now being known as the Parker School. In 1840 there were fifteen schools with an attendance of seven hundred and fifty-three pupils. In 1880 there were nine public schools with an enrollment of five hundred and eighty-seven pupils. Many private schools have also existed in the township, including those of Rev. Mr. Taylor, Mr. Hunt and Rev. Luke I. Stoutenburgh's at Schooley's Mountain.
German Valley now has high, grammar, intermediate and primary schools. Middle Valley has grammar and primary; with other schools, as follows, all under the direction of a supervising principal: Supervising Principal, John A. Parker; German Valley-High School, H. A. Coursen, E. S. Mills; Grammar, Huldah Gethman ; Intermediate, Olive Neighbour ; Primary, Carrie A. Wiley; Middle Valley-Grammar, Grace Cregar ; Primary, Anna E. Johnson; Pleasant Grove, Minnie H. Sargent; Stephens- burg, Rachel Kinneyman ; Schooley's Mountain, M. Edna Winn; Flocktown, George H. Sliker; Naughright, Loretta Grimm; Parker, Geraldine Hetler ; Philhower, Laura Dufford. The total number of pupils enrolled during the year ending June, 1913, was 420, and the operating expenses of the schools $11,881.79.
Churches-The Evangelical Lutheran Church of German Valley is be- lieved to be the oldest church organization in the township. The Lutheran church in the valley for many years formed a part of the Zion Church at Germantown in Hunterdon county, eight miles distant, the pastors living there and preaching in the valley every third or fourth Sunday. There is a tradition that the first church building was of logs and that it stood on or near the site of the old stone church whose walls may yet be seen. The log church was built by the Lutherans and German Reformed congregation as early as 1747. The stone church was built by the same congregation as a union church in 1774. This old church was peculiarly built, it had no gable end nor steeple, the roof sloping down to the walls on four sides. Inside there were galleries on three sides, the little pulpit box standing on one leg under an immense sounding board. First among the Lutheran preachers in the valley was Rev. Heny Melchior Muhlenberg, D.D., known as the "Father of American Lutheranism" (remembered by Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania), a man of great learning and deep piety. He spoke eight languages and was able to conduct his work among the different nationalities most successfully. He organized the scattered Lutherans throughout the country and afterward saw that they were provided with pastors. Two sons of Dr. Muhlenberg were later pastors of the German Valley church, it being under the pastorate of Rev. Henry Ernst Muhlen- berg that the stone church was built. The church has been a power for good in the valley and has been presided over by ministers of high reputation.
Rev. Michael Schlatter was sent to America by the synods of North and South Holland, arriving in Boston, in August, 1746. His mission was "to visit the various German settlements, organize churches, preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, prepare the way for the settlement of ministers who might be sent from the old country and take the general oversight of the churches." From his journal we learn: "When I arrived safely at home on the 3rd (July, 1747), I found a very earnest and moving letter, written by several congregations in the province of New Jersey, namely at Rockaway (now Lebanon), German Valley, Fox Hill and Amwell in the region of the Raritan district, about seventy miles from Philadelphia. They urge me with the strongest motives, yea, they pray me for God's sake to pay them a visit,
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that I may administer to them the Lord's Supper and by baptism incor- porate their children into the church who have already during three or more years remained without baptism." The good man took the journey during the summer of 1747, arriving at Rockaway, July 14. "Here I received 20 young persons into the church, preached a preparatory sermon on the 15th and on the following day administered the Holy Supper in a small church to an attentive and reverend assembly. In the afternoon I went to Fox Hill where I preached a preparatory sermon, and on the following day administered the Holy Supper to 40 persons * * * I cannot refrain from referring briefly to the fact that those three congregations from gratitude for the services I had rendered them handed me a pecuniary reward, the first money which since my arrival in America, up to this time I have received for my labor and my pains."
Three years later the two churches at German Valley and Rockaway obtained their first pastor, John Conrad Wirts, of Zurich, Switzerland, who although not ordained had preached for several years at Easton, Pennsyl- vania. Frederick Dalliker in 1768 became the next regular pastor, his district embracing the churches of Rockaway, German Valley and Fox Hill, at which latter place a separate church was started at about this time. In 1776 the union church was built, the congregations uniting being the Lutherans and the Reformed sects. The original paper containing the articles of agreement was written in German and signed by representatives of the two churches. This paper was translated by Rev. Caspar Wack, in 1817, a true copy following :
Whereas we the members of the Evangelical Reformed Congregation and we the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, who by reason of the preachen, which we have with Germantown, by reason of the money ex- pended for the church and parsonage house are members of Zion's church, living in the Dutch Valley, Roxbury township, Morris county, are willing to build a meeting house jointly:
Be it hereby known to all men that the following conditions were agreed to by the subscribers, representing both congregations, viz:
I. Both parties have agreed to build the meeting house at their united ex- penses, so that none of the parties may throw up anything to the other.
II. As the church is built jointly so it shall be kept by our posterity jointly, the friendship of both congregations giving us hope that in case of the necessary repairs of the meeting house the weaker party will be supported by the stronger.
III. Both parties with respect to public worship, shall have an equal right; in case both preachers should meet together, then alternately the one must wait till twelve o'clock on the service of the other.
IV. For the good of both congregations none shall be permitted to preach but such as are under a regular church government.
V. Whereas we do not only concern ourselves for ourselves but for our posterity also it is our will and opinion that none of the parties shall or can sell their rights in any way or manner.
Acted the 4th day of February, 1784, which is testified to by Frederick Dal- liker, V. D. M., Henry Muhlenberg, Jr., deputy rector of Zion's Corporation; Wilhelm Welsch, Diedric Strubel, Conrad Rorick, Caspar Eick, Anthon Waldorf, Adam Lorenz, Philip Weise, Christopher Karn, Leonard Neighbor, Roulof Roul- ofson, John Schwackhammer, Andrew Flucky.
The church was built, all turning in and helping on the old-fashioned "bee" plan. In 1782, Rev. Caspar Wack was called to the church, he being the first young man born in this county to enter the ministry of the German Reformed church. He also conducted a farm, taught a singing school, attended the operation of an oil mill, conducted a fulling mill, taught day school, baptized infants, married the young, buried the aged, and on Sundays
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preached alternately to the congregations of German Valley, Fox Hill, Rock- away, Stillwater, Knowlton and Sussex Court House. Rev. Mr. Wack re- mained in charge twenty-seven years, during which time ninety-eight persons were confirmed and added to the church. He left the valley in 1809. The church has prospered under many ministers, has ever been noted for its Christian unity, its large handed support of its ministry, and has been a power for good in the Valley.
The Stone Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Grove was built between 1803 and 1807, tradition says on the site of the first log church. The con- gregation was organized under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, the first pastor being Rev. Dr. Joseph Campbell, who surrendered the prin- cipalship of the preparatory school at Princeton to become pastor of the Pleasant Grove church in 1809, continuing his ministry there until 1830. In 1833 Rev. H. Whitefield Hunt Jr, was installed as pastor. He was a grad- uate of Princeton in 1820, was ordained in 1826, and besides his ministerial work maintained a classical school at Schooley's Mountain, five years, 1826- 31. A handsome and commodious church edifice was erected in 1857 and the congregation has ever been prosperous and contented. In the graveyard, al- though there are no stones of great antiquity, there are many graves of people who attained great age, perhaps a third of those buried therein being over seventy years at death, several over ninety, and one over one hundred. One monument in the graveyard was remarkable for a daguerreotype fixed upon it. This is the monument of Mrs. Hannah Louisa Dorland, wife of Rev. Jacob S. Harden, who was poisoned by him in a most cruel and de- liberate manner. The crime which was committed in another county in 1850 created intense excitement throughout this portion of the state. Harden was hanged at Belvidere, New Jersey, in 1860.
The Methodist Episcopal church is located at Drakestown, near the Mount Olive line, although for many years meetings were held in the stone school house on the main road leading from Flanders to Hackettstown. The first pastor was Rev. David Bartine Sr.
The Presbyterian church at Schooley's Mountain: Meetings had been held at this point by visitors at the hotels for many years and a stone church erected in 1825, but there was no distinct church organization until May 17, 1875, when the Presbytery of Morris and Orange counties constituted this the "Presbyterian Church of Schooley's Mountain." This action was the result of a wonderful revival under Rev. Samuel Sawyer, then pastor of the Presbyterian church of Pleasant Grove, who began extra services there late in 1874. Seventy persons were converted and with twenty-four members from other churches formed the first congregation.
There are no civil records previous to 1841, they having been in some way lost. The present officers of the township are: Freeholder, William Coleman ; clerk, Charles Anthony; assessor, George H. Sliker; collector, Lyman Kice; treasurer, C. A. S. Gulick; township committee-C. A. S. Gulick, John D. Bunn, James Anthony ; constables-Philip S. Dufford, Wil- liam A. Searles, George A. Apgar ; overseer of the poor, Philip S. Dufford ; justice of the peace, John H. Moore; commissioners of deeds-Jacob W. Welsh, Amos S. Cronce, Philip S. Dufford, J. E. D. Naughright ; president of the board of education, S. N. Dilts.
The High Bridge branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey crosses the township from northeast to southwest, Naughright, Schooley's Moun- tain, German Valley, Middle Valley and Crestmoor being stations thereon.
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CHESTER TOWNSHIP
One of the southern tier of townships, Chester is bounded on the north by Mount Olive and Roxbury, east by Randolph and Mendham, south by Somerset county, and west by Washington township. The Chester branch of the M. & E. railroad runs from Dover to Chester. The High Bridge branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey crosses the northern part of the township. The Black river, flowing near the northern and western border, forms a part of the boundary line between Washington and Chester. Chester township was formed from Roxbury township in 1799. Chester, formerly Black River, is the principal village. The land is rolling, rising at some points 1,000 feet, and the soil is under good cultivation. Until about 1876 the township was an entirely agricultural one, but the discovery of extensive and valuable deposits of magnetic iron ore soon converted it into one of the busiest mining districts of New Jersey, and in 1880 the township reached a highwater mark in population of 2337, with an assessed valuation of real estate and personal property amounting to $1,411,475.
In early times the abundant fruit orchards of the township employed several distilleries, while the water power and plentiful timber land led to the erection of many saw mills. Prior to 1827 a woolen mill was built and operated by Stephen Haines on the Haines estate on Black river. In 1827 the mill was bought by William Nichols who came to the township from Vermont. From 1844 to 1861 John and Abraham Van Doren conducted a factory for the manufacture of threshing machines, and in 1857 brought the first steam engine to the township. Chester, however, was noted for its mineral wealth, its hills being filled with deposits of magnetic iron ore. A forge was carried on at Hacklebarney, prior to 1800; later Daniel Budd, in partnership with William Bartley, operated this forge for many years, their iron being classed with the best in the state. In 1867 mines were opened in various places and after the building of the Chester railroad, in 1869, many veins of ore were opened. The Chester furnace, located west of Chester village, was built in 1878 by the Jersey Spiegel Iron Company, for the pur- pose of making spiegeleisen, a by-product. The project was abandoned even before it was begun and the furnace leased for a term of years to W. J. Taylor & Company, who operated it until 1880, when they enlarged the works and increased their production to 240 tons weekly of red short mill iron, made from the Chester sulphur ores after roasting in the Taylor kilns. In 1872 five miles of railroad was built by W. J. Taylor & Company to con- nect the tracks of the D., L. and W. railroad with the Hedges and the Hacklebarney mines. A part of this road was on a grade of 176 feet to the mile. These tracks later became the property of the New Jersey Central R. R. Co., which completed the road to High Bridge in 1876. In 1881 this track was extended through the village one and a half mile northeast to the Swayze, Leek and Cooper mines.
The tract upon which the village of Chester is built was surveyed in 1714, laid off in plats and settled on by emigrants from Easthampton and Southold, Long Island. Among the earliest names are those of Cooper, Seward, Horton, Luse, Terry, Skellenger, Sweazy, Howell and Brown. The tract belonging to the Cooper family was purchased in 1713 from a Mr. Davenport, who had taken up the land from the province. The Seward family of Chester were the ancestors of William H. Seward, the statesman whose life was sought by the same group of assassins who compassed the murder of President Lincoln, under whom Mr. Seward served as Secretary
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of State. General Nathan A. Cooper, born April 29, 1802, died July 25, 1879. He inherited the large Cooper estate, originally purchased by his ancestor, Nathan Cooper, the original purchase being 1600 acres. General Cooper was one of Morris county's prominent men, an unalterable Demo- crat ; brigadier general of militia, commissioned in 1854; a man of unbend- ing integrity, and a good citizen.
The village of Chester, originally known as Black River, was laid out in lots by General Horn, who purchased the land from Zephaniah Drake. When the first settlers came there were no roads, travel being by bridle paths, and as late as 1768, Rev. William Woodhull made his way into the parish, of which he became pastor, on horseback with his wife and child riding behind him. The first spring wagon was brought in by James Topping, who died in 1874, aged ninety-four years. The proprietor of the first line of stages was Zephaniah Drake, who also erected the first brick building in the village, in 1812, and therein kept a public house. Four-horse coaches made the journey from Easton to Paulus Hook and return weekly. Later the stages ran daily, Chester being a regular station for refreshment and change of horses.
Churches-The emigrants from Long Island were men of strong char- acter and deep religious conviction. Those from Southold were devoted to the Congregational denomination, those from Easthampton to the Presby- terian. From Congregational church records it is proven that as early as 1747 a house of worship was erected with pews and galleries accommodating 400 people. The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Sweazy, who after minister- ing to the church for twenty years, removed to the state of Mississippi. During the years 1777 and 1778 both the Congregational and Presbyterian churches were used as hospitals for disabled soldiers, although Black River was off the line of conflict. About 1779 an attempt was made to effect the union of the two churches, under the name of "The Church of Christ," but the attempt failed. The Congregational church was then reorganized and in June, 1785, Rev. James Youngs was installed pastor, continuing until his death in 1790, aged thirty-two years. From 1790 until 1801 the church was without a pastor. On June 16, 1801, Stephen Overton was ordained and installed and in 1803 the old church building was demolished and re- placed by a more modern structure. The pastor traveled a great deal and it is said that he preached daily for weeks at a time. This church like those of Connecticut and Long Island, became concerned in the rupture that sun- dered the Congregational church, and from its formation until 1810 church and pastor were enrolled as members of "The Separate Congregational Convention of Connecticut and Long Island." Iu 1810 with other churches, it formed a new and similar convention which in 1828 was dissolved. Many ministers have served this church, which from colonial days has stood as a rallying point for God's people.
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