USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 49
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San Bernardino, Cal., May 2, 1913.
Dear Sister : In answer to your questions about Dover years ago I doubt if I can give you very many satisfactory answers. Have been thinking over the matter for three days. I have no recollection of ever going to school in the old Red School House. I remember attending school in the old Academy building, but do not remember the teacher's name. Dover had a population of about 400 when I was very young. No railroads nor telegraphs in those days, and everybody seemed to be as contented and happy and enjoyed life as well as they do at the present time perhaps better. People were not money crazy in those days. The boys and girls enjoyed themselves playing games, riding down hill, skating, swimming, etc. Many parties and dancing. The old Bank Building (Stickle House) was built before I was born. Yes, we had singing schools as long ago as I can remember and nearly every winter. Mr. Hinds was-that was his name, I think-singing teacher several winters. I believe that there were school teachers, Loveland and
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Sibbetts, don't know their first names nor the year they taught. Mr. Wyckoff was Presbyterian preacher and his little girl's name was Abbie. B. C. Magie was next minister. Any of the Crittenden family may be able to give you some information in regard to singing school teachers.
I will relate a little incident about myself and Lige Belknap. We found a goose nest near John Ford's house (near the school house) containing about a dozen eggs. We took the eggs and traded them for root beer, peanuts, etc., at old Granny Sickles' little shop. The eggs were bad, so the thing was exposed and Mr. Ford, who had set the goose, told my father about it, also Lige's mother. I got a reprimand and Lige a spanking. But old Granny never did get over worrying about bad eggs. Some of the boys used to jump out the windows and run away, half-day, anyway.
I do not know the year the McFarlans moved in the old Losey House, but it must have been in the early '40's-'40 to '46. I have written you all I can think of now.
Your brother, E. W. LOSEY.
To Mrs. Ella W. Livermore.
Granny Sickles' shop was in an old red house that stood next to the old red school house on Morris street .- E. W. L.
Letter of Mrs. Ella W. Livermore :
Richmond Hill, L. I., May 7th, 1913.
My dear Mr. Platt: I enclose a few notes and also some of my recollections of Dover. They may not be at all what you want; if not, please consign them to the waste-basket.
I do not remember of ever having heard of Prof. Rudd. I was not at the great exhibition of 1866, but knew about it. In looking through my trunks about three months ago, I found a catalogue of the articles that were exhibited at that time. Unfortunately for you, I destroyed it, and also threw away some old school books.
My maiden name was Ella W. Losey. The house where I was born stood on Blackwell St. where Mr. Pierson's hat store now stands. My father was John Marshall Losey, who was a merchant in the town. He established his business there about 1830 and continued it up to the time of his death in 1857, September 22d. His store joined the Mansion House, and the entrance was where Mr. Martin Haven's store now is.
Jacob Losey and Israel Canfield were my great-uncles. My grandfather, John Puff Losey, was a brother of Jacob. My grandfather was also in the iron trade, having the forge at Longwood. My grandfather and grandmother were married at Dover, 1804, in the Losey house, which I have described, and my grandfather died in that house.
On the corner of Blackwell and Sussex Sts. stood the home of Major William Minton. The house is still standing. A portion of it on Blackwell St. has been removed. (Mrs. Calkins and Mrs. Stickle of Prospect St. are Major Minton's daughters.)
In the winter the children of Dover rode down hill on their sleds and skated on "Billy Ford's" pond and the "Basin." "Billy Ford's" house disappeared long ago. It was a large, old-fashioned house and stood opposite Mr. Zenas Pruden's house,- had a large yard around it, filled with beautiful trees, among them several large pear trees which bore delicious fruit. The front door yard of this place is now taken up with railroad tracks. A brook ran back of this house and crossed Morris St., and ran along the foot of the hill and back of the school house.
Two of the school boys got in an argument; words ran high, and one was knocked down in a mud puddle. He feared to go home; a friend came to his rescue, and said, "let us trade trousers. I will wear yours home and my mother will clean them." The trousers were exchanged, the boys went home to dinner. The mother cleaned the trousers, never discovering they did not belong to her son. When the boys returned to school, trousers were once more exchanged and the boys were happy.
I have never been a teacher, and with the exception of one Summer I never attended the public school. That summer, Mr. Martin Lee was the teacher.
I attended the Presbyterian Church and Sunday school. Rev. B. C. Magie was the pastor. I was not a communicant at that time, therefore my name will not be
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on the church book. I am a member of the West Church, N. Y. City. I was married by the Rev. B. C. Magie in 1860.
My personal friends were Mary Jackson, married Mr. I. D. Condict and living on Randolph Ave. in Dover; Racilia Hoagland, married George Hance, living at Easthampton, Mass .; Mary Breese, married M. Whitlock, living at Indianapolis, Ind .; Etta Berry, married Rev. I. B. Hopwood, of Newark; Sarah Stickle, married Ellery Stickle, she is living on Prospect St ;. Sarah Lindsley, (deceased) married W. Drummond; Susan, Lucy, and Abby Magie, etc. I am well acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Jas H. Neighbour, Mrs. Kilgore, Mrs. Byram. I visit at Miss Mary Rose's and at Mrs. Calkins' and Stickles'. I have told you all this in reply to your questions. My letter is quite disconnected. You may change it and make it better.
My brother wrote me of two teachers, Mr. John E. Lewis, who taught in the early '40's. He married a daughter of Major Minton. Mr. Lewis went to California in 1849. After that he settled at Reno, Nev., and was editor of a paper. He was a very able man. Mrs. Calkins and Stickle are his sisters-in-law, and could give you more particulars. My brother also mentions a Mr. Babcock, who taught. And now while I am writing, another letter has just come from my brother, which I will send you to read and you may please return to me. It will save my copying.
I have written so much, I fear I have trespassed upon good nature. If what I have told you will assist any in writing your historical sketch, or will be of any interest to Dover people, I shall be pleased. When your sketches are read or published, I will appreciate if you will let me know, as I often miss seeing the "ERA." I may come up to Dover soon, and if I do, I shall be pleased to see you and I might be able to tell you things which I do not think of at present.
I have an indistinct recollection about that old school house: it is this, that it was either moved and joined to the Pruden shop, or if it was joined, they cut through from one building into the other. I remember of playing in the yard with Sue Pruden and seeing this work being done. I have written to a cousin and asked about it and will notify you if I learn anything new. Hoping you will be successful in making a fine historical collection, I remain,
Most sincerely, ELLA W. LIVERMORE.
P. S .- Just received a letter from my cousin, Mr. J. M. Losey. He says the school building was not connected to the Pruden shop. So you see he confirms my memory and I think we must be right.
Letter of Miss Abby F. Magie :
May 2, 1913, 2430 Aqueduct Ave., New York City.
Possibly some one in Dover may be able to tell you of a young man that taught for a very short time in the old stone Academy. I do not know what year. He called himself the Hon. Mr. Spring-Rice, and claimed to be the oldest son of Lord Mont Eagle, an English Earl. My parents did not send me to his school.
Miss Belknap and Miss Maria Dalrymple taught in the school house that now belongs to Birch. Both ladies were nieces of Hudson Hoagland. They taught some time between 1863-66. A Mr. Pease of Mass. taught. I do not know where, or when, but I think before 1845, as I have always understood Rev. Frank P. Berry was named for him.
(Above is an extract.)
Letter of Sir Cecil Spring Rice :
British Embassy, Washington, May 13, 1913. To Charles D. Platt, Dover, N. J. :
Dear Sir: The Hon. Edmond Spring Rice, 3d son of first Lord Monteagle, was born 1821 and died 1887. I understood from the late General Wade Hampton that my uncle had been a tutor to his children. He died in Ottawa. I am very glad to hear that he was a teacher in Dover school. My father was Lord Monteagle's second son. The daughter of Edmond Spring Rice is a doctor in New York City. He had a son who died. His widow survived him. I am much obliged for the information which you have been good enough to give. I fear I can't supplement it myself, as I only saw my uncle once, in his house in Ottawa, shortly before his death.
The first Lord Monteagle was an Irishman and descended, not from the Lord Monteagle of the gunpowder plot, but from a brother or cousin of the Sir Stephen Rice of King James' short lived Irish government of whom you may read in Macaulay's History. Lord Monteagle was Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Yours sincerely,
CECIL SPRING RICE.
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Mr. David Young, former Surrogate of Morris County, is a son of William L. Young of Dover. He remembers that a Mr. Field assisted Rev. Mr. Dudley in the Stone Academy. He also recalls Mr. Spring-Rice as a teacher of that school, perhaps in 1859 or '58. This Mr. Spring-Rice used to give the boys of his school a "blow-out" now and then. By this expression is meant a dinner and a jolly time-something different from a "blowing-up." He would invite the boys around to his house, which may have been the old Ark, once a shop for building canal boats, and in the twentieth century a boarding place for public school teachers, known as The Colonnade. Rev. Mr. Dudley once had a school there.
David Young had made up his mind to attend Mr. Spring-Rice's school, for reasons aforesaid; but before the time came for him to be enrolled there was a change of teacher. David Young's name is on the 1856 list of the public school. He also attended Mr. Hall's school on Prospect street, 1861-'62. Hence we conclude that Mr. Spring-Rice taught in the Stone Academy between 1857 and 1860. Mr. Spring-Rice was born in 1821; he was about 37 years old when in Dover. We have the testimony of three persons to his being in Dover. David Young also attended school under Mr. Cox and remembers his skill with the rod of correction. Letter of Miss G. A. Dickerson :
May II, 1913., 559 Bramhall Ave., Jersey City.
I can give you very little more information concerning the school. I have no photograph and any of the scholars would not recognize me with my scant gray locks. Am glad they remember me so kindly. I know the time passed pleasantly with me. I had no great trouble with them that I remember. The only one that was a nuisance was a colored boy. His name was Jackson. I dreaded to see him come in the room, for as soon as he appeared, the room was in an uproar. I could not keep the attention of the scholars and Mr. Cooper would have to come and chase him out and around the school house, as he would always manage to escape. Mr. Cooper was a good disciplinarian and fair teacher for the times. Do not remember Prof. Rudd, as there was no singing taught in my room. No exhibitions or enter- tainments, as I remember.
I never heard that Mr. Pruden's wagon shop was used for a school room. Used to visit there when I was a child, as Mr. Pruden's wife and my mother were cousins. I boarded with them while I taught and no children were ever allowed to play in the yard and only one at a time could enter to get a pail of water for the school. Some of the children came to school barefoot and as to the human nature side, they were no different from the present day. I attended the Methodist church. There was but one at that time.
Some of the names of the scholars were Elliotts, Halseys, Georges, Gages, Byrams, Welches, Haines, Kings, Roaches, Champions, Searings, Stickles, Dickersons, and hosts of others I have long forgotten.
Yours sincerely, G. A. DICKERSON.
GLEANINGS-Mrs. D. F. Calkins and Mrs. Sarah L. Stickles, May 19:
Mrs. Calkins attended school under Mr. Pease and Mr. Chas. E. Noble. Mrs. Stickle attended school under Mr. Pease, Mr. Lee and Mr. Cox, and Mrs. Pease, Mrs. Lee.
Mrs. Stickle remembers that in the old Stone Academy, on the ground floor, the teacher had a platform at one end of the room, on which to preside over the room. From under this platform little snakes would wriggle out into the room-seeking the benefits of an education, presum- ably-"Oh, I can see them yet," she says. In trying to fix dates and order of succession we were driven to such shifts as this: Mrs. Stickle brought out a little needle-book in the shape of a heart, opening on a hinge at the point, in which was pinned a piece of paper bearing the date, May 28th,
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1854. This needle-book was given to her by Mrs. Lee, soon before the Lees left the public school, thus fixing the date.
Hugh Nelson Cox is said to have been here in 1854, and must have come in the latter half of this year. Mrs. Stickle remembers Mr. Cox from this circumstance: One day, on the way home from school, she killed a caterpillar. This dreadful deed was committed on the corner where Moller's saloon now stands. She supposed, as she was there out of school bounds, that she could kill the caterpillar without being subject to school discipline, for it seems that the teacher had been inculcating lessons of "kindness to animals," possibly in accord with that well-known line of the poet Cowper-"the man who needlessly sets foot upon a worm, I will not number in my list of friends." This sentiment of mercy toward the weak creatures was voiced in Burns's poem to a mouse, whose nest he had turned up with a plow-share, and in his poem on a hare chased by the dogs. It was part of Rousseau's influence. Evidently it extended to Dover, New Jersey, and to the lessons of Mr. Cox's schoolroom. The children were taught not to hurt a poor little, harmless fly. The story of Nero torturing a fly when he was a boy, ominous of his later cruelties, used to be told in schools of that date. And the lesson of avoiding brutality and needless infliction of pain is still a good one. But in those days the true character of the fly was not so well known as in these latter days of sanitary science and our modern war-cry, "Swat the fly!" had not yet been heard. So little Sarah's deed was brought to the attention of the schoolmaster, who detained her after school that afternoon. (Evidently the deed had been committed at noon, on the way home to dinner.) She received a reprimand that she never forgot. And this goes to fix Mr. Cox in her memory and attests his date as coming after the departure of the lady who gave her the needle-book: in May, 1854. On such incidents does the science of local history depend.
Another humble instrument in fixing a date and a name is a little sampler worked by a young lady at the age of five years, and that, too, long before our modern "manual training" had been heard of. This sampler was really worked in school, as part of the curriculum at the old Stone Academy in the year 1831, under the direction and instruction of Miss Harriet Ives. How do we know the date? It was worked by Miss Maria F. Minton, who was born in 1826. She was five years old when she worked this sampler, as you may read upon the face of it. Hence she was going to school to Miss Harriet Ives in 1831. This is the earliest date associated with the name of a teacher in the Dover schools-all depending on this little sampler.
Now, as the Stone Academy was built in 1829, Miss Ives was there very early in its term of public usefulness. Possibly she was the first teacher employed there. And the last teacher to teach school in the Stone Academy was Miss Harriet Breese, who kept a private school there in 1875-76. So we see that the rising sun and the setting sun of the old Stone Academy shone upon a Harriet in the preceptorial chair. And the town may well do honor to their memory in this, its two hundredth year.
The little Maria who worked the sampler was the daughter of Major Minton, who dwelt in the old homestead now occupied by Kilgore & White's drug store. This house was built in 1827, and in 1831, the date of the sampler, this little lady was doubtless residing where the soda water foun- tain now refreshes the wayworn traveler.
Miss Maria F. Minton afterwards became Mrs. William Rumsey, of
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Orange County, New York State. Mrs. Calkins can fix the date of Mr. Wilson, who taught in Dover.
RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY DOVER DAYS.
By Mrs. Louisa Hinchman Crittenden (widow of Dr. Crittenden) 1913.
The following dates are taken from "Historical Collections of New Jersey," published in 1845: A rolling mill was built in Dover by Israel Canfield and Jacob Losey in 1792. A Methodist church was erected in 1838. The Presbyterian church was erected in 1842. The Academy was erected in 1829. The post office was established in 1820. The village of Dover was incorporated and laid out in building lots in 1826.
. In 1836, Dover was still a small village, although ten years had passed since it was incorporated. Blackwell street extended only from Prospect to Morris. Sussex street ran from Dickerson street to the base of the hill where the north side school building now stands. At this time there were no buildings on Prospect street. On the west, the splendid forest trees came down to the road; on the east there was a large open field. On Morris street there were a few buildings between Blackwell and Dickerson. The continuation of Morris street was a road leading over the hill to Mill Brook. This road was bounded on the east by the forest, and on the west by the pond which was called then, as now, "Billy Ford's Pond." On the south side of Blackwell street from Prospect to Warren, the only house was the east end of the stone building now known as the Hotel Dover. The west half of this building was erected many years later by Mr. Edward Stickle. In this building there was a bank owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co., of New York City, of which Mr. Thomas B. Segur, who resided in the building, was the cashier. On the south side of Blackwell street, between Warren and Morris, there were dwellings, stores, and, where the Mansion House now stands, a hotel kept by Mr. I. B. Jolley.
On the site of the Memorial Presbyterian Church stood a good-sized cottage, and back of this, a little to the west, and quite near the canal, was a dwelling in which Mr. Jacob Losey resided, and which afterwards became the home of Mr. Henry McFarlan. Near the canal and west of Warren street, there was, in the early days of Dover, a long, low building used sometime before 1836, as a tavern, and afterwards, as a tenement house. On the northeast corner of Blackwell and Warren streets was a good-sized building, the first floor of which was used as a store. Midway between this building and Sussex street, was a dwelling occupied by Mr. McDavit, who drove the old-fashioned coach-and-four to and from New York City. From this house to Sussex street was an empty lot. On each side of Black- well street, from Sussex to Morris, were dwellings and stores.
On Dickerson street, besides several houses, stood the academy, just east of Morris street. In leaving Dover toward the east, one followed the road from Dickerson street, along the base of the hill, where the D. L. & W. R. R. tracks now run. On this same road, one mile east of Dover, at Pleasant Valley, were two rather large, comfortable houses, in one of which lived Mr. Conger, and in the other, Dr. Ira Crittenden, who was the first physician settled in Dover. The road to Morristown, over the mountain, passed in front of these two houses, and a road running between these houses led to Rockaway, Denville, and other places. This was the regular stage route to Newark and New York City.
The upper room in the Academy on Dickerson street was used for church services, and the lower room on the west side of the hall was a
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school room. I recall the names of two of the teachers who taught in this room-Mr. Lloyd and Miss Araminta Scott, of Boonton.
In 1834 Mr. Guy M. Hinchman, who might be called one of the pioneers of Dover, left New York City on account of ill health and came to New Jersey. In May, 1835, Mr. Hinchman became superintendent of the Dover Iron Works,-rolling mill, foundry, and nail factory, which position was offered to him by Mr. Henry McFarlan. Mr. Hinchman held this position until 1869, when he and Mr. McFarlan both retired from business.
During the two years from 1835 to 1837, Mr. Hinchman occupied the cottage above referred to, on the present site of the Memorial Presbyterian Church. In 1837 Mr. Chilion F. De Camp built the house now occupied by Mr. Turner. Mr. Hinchman rented this house until 1850, when he purchased the property, two hundred and ten feet on Blackwell street, the same on Dickerson, and two hundred and seventy-five feet in depth. Mr. Hinchman's place was noted for its beautiful flower garden and rare trees. It was one of the old-fashioned gardens, laid out with symmetrical beds bordered with box.
When Mr. McFarlan came to reside in Dover, he occupied the house in which Mr. Jacob Losey formerly lived. Mr. McFarlan soon improved this property, making a beautiful park from his house to Warren street, and a fine garden on the west, from his house to where the D. L. & W. R. R. crosses Blackwell street. There was always a pleasant rivalry between Mr. McFarlan and Mr. Hinchman as to who should be the first to hear of and purchase a rare tree or flower.
In the early days, Mr. Jacob Losey and Mr. Hinchman set out maple trees on both sides of Blackwell street, from Prospect to Warren. In time, these became splendid trees, the branches nearly interlacing across the street.
Mr. Hinchman died in the spring of 1879. Mr. and Mrs. McFarlan died in 1882. The heirs of the McFarlan estate, soon after, sold off this beautiful homestead property, thus giving business an opportunity to creep into this part of the town. As business increased, trees decreased, and the glory of this portion of the town became a thing of the past.
Among the earliest houses built on Prospect street was the one occupied for so many years by Doctor I. W. Condict. This house was built by Mr. Jabez Mills of Morristown, who lived there until he built and occupied the house opposite, now the home of Mr. James H. Neighbour. The Rev. B. C. Megie also built his home on Prospect street.
One of Dover's earliest Presbyterian ministers was the Rev. Mr. Wyckoff, who preached in the Academy, and was followed by the Rev. B. C. Megie, who also preached there until the First Presbyterian Church was built in 1842, on the corner of Blackwell and Prospect streets.
An extract from Mr. Hinchman's diary: "I was elected president of the Dover Union Bank on January 29, 1841, and held that position until 1866. At this time the taxes on capital were so much increased, that the stockholders, believing the capital could be used to better advantage, con- cluded to have the bank go into liquidation, promptly settling all indebted- ness. Straggling bills continued to be presented for nearly_ten years and were all paid." One of these bills, dated April 20, 1849, and signed by Thomas B. Segur, cashier, and G. M. Hinchman, president, is now in the possession of one of Mr. Hinchman's granddaughters.
Dr. Ira Crittenden died in 1848, and was succeeded in his practice by
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his son, Dr. Thomas Rockwell Crittenden, who had just graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Dr. T. R. Crit- tenden was the only physician in Dover for several years. He practiced there about fifty-five years, and died in 1906.
Letter of Miss Susan H. Crittenden, May 20, 1913:
533 Quincy Ave., Scranton, Pa.
My dear Mr. Platt: Enclosed is a list of the private schools that I attended. The dates bother me. I can only tell you that I was born in 1854 and must have been four or five years old when I went to Miss Breese's school. I remember my mother thought I was too young to go to school regularly, and as we lived next door-on the present site of the Geo. Richards grocery store, I was allowed to run home whenever I felt like doing so. I should think Miss Breese could tell you when her sister taught, and from Miss Abbie Magie, you could get the dates of the years when Miss Susan Magie taught. I think she was the one who promised us a holiday when Richmond should fall.
I left Miss Forgus' school in the spring of 1870, and went to Elmira College in the fall. I think there was another man, perhaps two men, who taught in the Hill Top Seminary after Miss Magie, for a very short time, either before or after Mr. Conant, but cannot remember their names.
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