USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 51
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The Property of Phebe H. Baker's Book, Dover, 1828. M. Day, Printer, No. 372 Pearl Street.
The first page of the copy book bears this copy at the top: "Learning improves the mind and commands respect. L" It is signed "Phebe H. Baker's Writing Book, Dover, August 14th, 1828." Every page is signed "Phebe H. Baker's Writing Book" and the date, or Phebe H. Baker's Book, or Phebe H. Baker's Coppy Book, or Copppy Book, or Copy Book, or "Phebe H. Baker Book Stone School House," on a page toward the end of the book, after the date June 8th, 1829, had been reached. The dates run from August 14th, 1828, to September, May, 1829, June, ending July 16th, 1829, Stone School House. This stone academy is said to have been built in 1829. Mrs. Emily Byram, née Baker, remembers playing on the timbers that lay on the ground when this building was being constructed. She was then too young to go to school. She was born in 1824. The book seems to have been begun in another school house that stood near by. When the fine new stone academy was finished she seems to have been proud of going to that school.
There was an act of Legislature in 1829 calling for better schools, and an awakening interest in education seems to date from that time, in New Jersey.
Phebe H. Baker was born November 28, 1815, and is now (June 20, 1913) living in Bloomfield, N. J. Her name is now De Hart. She is the oldest living pupil of the Dover schools, and this Coppy Book is the oldest specimen of work done by a pupil in the schools of Dover.
Mr. Wm. H. Baker has in his possession a page of pen-work done by Stephen Hurd, a teacher in the Dover school, about 1807 or 1808. He after- wards went to Sparta and built a store and kept store, besides setting up a
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forge there. He died in Sparta at an early age, being about thirty years old. He is the earliest school teacher of Dover thus far discovered by inquiry, and his specimen of pen-work is the earliest specimen of work connected with the Dover schools.
This specimen of pen-work is a list of family names of the Baker family, as if it were a leaf from an old family Bible. It is beautifully en- grossed and illuminated in colors, with designs and pictures in color, after the manner of the ancient missals, but the lettering is plain Roman type. It would be a valuable and beautiful contribution to a museum of New Jersey Historical Collections, relating to one of New Jersey's oldest and most prominent families. Jeremiah Baker of Westfield is said to be the early pioneer who came to Dover, and the family has representatives in Elizabeth and other parts of the State.
The back of Phebe Baker's old copy book has a border of lines and dots, with pictures representing: 1. The Selling of Joseph to the Ishmael- ites. 2. Joseph and his Brethren. 3. Joseph presenting his Father to Pha- raoh. Below these cuts, which are very good, are two verses by John New- ton, famous in the days of our forefathers as the associate of Cowper, the poet, in composing the Olney Hymns. Below the border is the legend : "Sold by J. V. Seaman, No. 296, Pearl Street." The following are some of the copies set in this "coppy book:" Learning improves the mind and com- mands respect. L. Happiness most commonly springs from uprightness. Let prudence and moderation govern your actions. L. Modest deportment ever commands admiration. Kings may command but subjects must obey them. Nothing but true religion can give us Peace in Death.
139 E. Washington Ave., Washington, N. J., June 10, 1913. I attended a private school on Prospect street, Dover, N. J., during the year 1869, of which Mr. B. C. Nevius was principal and Miss Harriet Breese assistant teacher. My maiden name was Josephine Langdon, then of Mt. Pleasant.
My present name is
Resp'y yours, MRS. JOHN C. GROFF.
Boonton, June 17, 1913.
I can't give you the date when I first went to school in Dover, but it was about 1841-2 or 3. The first teacher that I remember was John O. Hill, in the wooden building or Miss Ballentine in the Stone Academy. The next teacher was John Lewis, the next Mr. and Mrs. Pease, the next Charles E. Noble.
DAVID WHITEHEAD, Boonton, N. J.
Maiden name, Emma E. Minton.
143 Bergen St., Newark, June 17, 1913.
I commenced attending school in '63 in a private school in the house now occupied by Mr. Cox near the gates of Orchard street cemetery. I cannot recall the teacher's name and my parents both being dead, have no one to help me. After that I attended the public school at the foot of Morris street. My teacher was Miss Dickerson; the principal, James Cooper.
Mrs. JOSIAH VANDERHOOF.
June 7, 1913.
Mr. Charles D. Platt :
Dear Sir: I received your letter dated June 4th. Thank you for returning my sketch, and I thank you also for sending the interesting note, from Sir Cecil Spring- Rice. I will return it with this letter.
You ask me many questions about Mr. Spring-Rice, and I can remember so little about him. His name, and the almost certain impression that he lived in a house adjoining "Grace Methodist Church," is about the extent of my knowledge.
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As Miss Magie speaks of him as a young man, he probably boarded with some one. As to the time he was in Dover, I have only this clue-Mr. and Mrs. Henry McFarlan came to reside in Dover, I think, in 1844. I remember hearing them tell, one day, after they had been calling on Mr. Spring-Rice, about the many pictures he had in his room. That looks as if he were a boarder.
You say Miss Harriet Ives taught in 1831, as that is five years before my father moved to Dover, I, of course, know nothing about her. Mr. Lloyd is the first teacher I remember. He and his sister boarded at Mr. Jacob Losey's. Mr. Lloyd, Miss Scott, and Mr. Babcock were my only Dover teachers, before going to boarding school.
I attended Mr. Cook's school in Bloomfield for several years. I think my daughter Susan mentioned all the teachers who gave instruction to her, her sisters, and brother. A three story building was erected, on the corner of Blackwell and Sussex streets, I should say, in the early fifties, by Mr. Sidney Breese and Mr. Robert Crittenden. The lower floor was used by them as a store, the second floor served various purposes, and the "Free Masons" occupied the third floor for a number of years. Mr. Crittenden died in the spring of 1857, but Mr. Breese kept the store some time after that.
In the old days we had fine singing teachers through the winter, and the teaching generally closed in the spring with a concert. I remember two exceptionally fine teachers, A Mr. Foote, and Mr. Hinds from Newark, who taught several winters.
I am glad you have gotten such satisfactory material to pay you for your trouble. With kind remembrances to your family and to yourself, I am sincerely, LOUISA M. CRITTENDEN.
533 Quincy Ave., Scranton, Pennsylvania.
I want to thank you for the delightful as well as educational entertainment yesterday afternoon. I think they were the finest graduation exercises Dover has ever had and will not be forgotten.
I have tried to think what I could send you of any interest and all I have to say is-I taught here during the years of 1877-78. Mr. Reynolds was Principal. That seems of little interest to any one.
You told me the best of myself that I have known, and I am grateful that I planted a seed that did some one some good. I refer to the Jennings boy. He told you I was his teacher and told him "Work well begun is half done." If, in your history. that would be of any use, if you think it might help others, I am willing to have it passed on.
(MRS. R. A.) FANNIE ELIZABETH BENNETT.
June the twenty-second, 1913.
Facts Concerning the Lawrence Homestead where Mr. Doney lives, on the Chester road, about two miles beyond the Mt. Fern Church.
In 1716 a survey was given to William Penn, of Philadelphia, which consisted of 3,750 acres. (Recorded in Surveyor General's office at Burlington, New Jersey.)
In 1728 Henry Clark came from Suffolk Co., Long Island, settled in this vicinity and in 1734 built a frame house on a tract of land, 277 acres, which was taken from southwest corner of Penn's survey. On December I, 1757, he bought the 277 acres which he sold to Daniel Lawrence in 1796, who built the stone house on the northeast corner the same year. In 1836 Daniel Lawrence sold the stone house and 165 acres to his son, Samuel Tyler Lawrence.
In the "History of Morris County," published in 1882, on page 301, we read that the old Jacob Lawrence house, the first stone house on the Chester road from Dover, was built by Isaac Hance and finished on Oc- tober 19th, 1781, the day on which Cornwallis surrendered. If such a legend got started in early days there must be something in it. This house was the one on the George Richards estate, now owned by Everet L. Thompson. It was the old farm house opposite the reservoir, which has since been torn down. The nails in it were the old hand-made nails.
Miss M. I. Hance says that Isaac Hance was born in 1779. Hence he
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must have completed that house at the age of two years. Either there was another Isaac Hance, or else builders were smarter in those days. The Lawrence-Doney house is an interesting specimen of early architecture.
Copied from a letter dated Dec. 31, 1858:
Yesterday was the great day of the fair, concert, and tableau. The Amateur Club from Morristown was here. Their selection of music was very fine, and Prof. Feigl was leader. Then came the Tableau, "A Tribute to Liberty." Thirty-two young ladies personated the Goddess of Liberty and the states of the Union. It was truly a lovely scene. They were all dressed in white, with sashes of red and blue, the blue crossing the breast, and the red below the waist. The skirt of the Goddess (Miss Sarah Lindsley) was two and one-half yards long, made of red and white stripes. The waist was blue, ornamented with stars. The head-dresses were red, white and blue.
I will try and give you an idea of the arrangement of the tableau. First, there was an arch thrown across the church, which was covered with evergreens, with colored lamps twinkling like stars amid the foliage. Then came the stage behind the arch, on which sat the' musicians. Behind, concealed by a curtain, was the platform on which were the young ladies. The arch was surmounted by a portrait of Wash- ington, surrounded by colored lamps. The back of the platform was draped with flags from the ceiling of the church. The young ladies at the top were: Olivia Segur, Clara Jolly, and little Gage girl. Miss Lindsley sat very gracefully on her throne, with her long skirt falling to the floor, holding the Cap of Liberty in her felt hand. Mary Jackson, Mary Breese, Nancy Gary, Ella Losey had standard flags in their hands. They stood in this way for fifteen minutes, without even winking, as I could see.
During this time the band played and there was singing by invisible musicians. (Mrs. Elisha Segur, Mr. Elisha Segur, Miss Fannie Crittenden, Mr. D. F. Calkins.) Then the curtain was drawn and there was the most vociferous applause. The audience would see the tableau again and they were gratified. After the concert we all went down stairs and had a fine supper, then went home. They received $112 at the concert and fair tonight and the tableau is to be repeated and the fair continued.
Reminiscences of David Whitehead, Lake Avenue, Boonton, N. J., July 4, 1913 :
Charlie Sammis, an old Quaker, kept the third lock in the canal. It was back of the Presbyterian church, as that now stands, 1913. He used to teach some of the larger boys in winter, keeping school in the lock house. He had as many as ten or fifteen boys in his school. At this same time a school was kept in the basement of the old Presbyterian church, and when the boys from the two schools encountered each other at recess or at other times, or met on the skating pond, there was trouble and some hard fighting. The boys from the lock house were larger than the others.
The old Quaker was a practical teacher and taught them many things that were not in the book. Their book learning was very limited. They all had to study arithmetic and penmanship or get out. Quill pens were used in those days. Among the boys who went to school in this lock house with David Whitehead were Marshall Doty, Abram Masseker, and George Chrystal.
Charles Sammis was a son-in-law of Richard Brotherton, who was the butcher of those days. Among the scholars who went to school to Mr. Pease with David Whitehead were Charlie, and Phebe, and Kalita Berry.
The father of David Whitehead of Lake street, Boonton, was David Whitehead, an Englishman, who came over from Manchester when he was eighteen years old. He was born in 1800, and died in 1888. He was gardener or florist for Guy Hinchman. David Whitehead, second, also went to school to Charles E. Noble. The teacher who did not use the whip in those days was no good. Little David had his experience of the
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correcting rod and declares it did not make him any better. He says that Fred Dalrymple taught school in Rockaway, went to California and died in 1849. John Hurd also went to California in 1849.
John O. Hill had a farm near Franklin and died there recently. He used to teach in the Dover school.
Locust Hill, where the cemetery is, used to be called Kelso Hill, after a man who lived there. There was an old house cellar where the Hinch- man monument is or near by, and when David Whitehead was a boy there were pear trees, currant bushes, and rose bushes there, traces of an old home, the Kelso home.
David W. Jr. was born up Mt. Hope avenue, about half way to Rock- away. He left Dover in 1860, and has been in the employ of the Fuller- Lord Boonton Iron Company and the J. Couper Lord estate for fifty-three years, now retired on a pension. He is highly esteemed as a capable and faithful workman, as Mr. Smith Condit testifies. The old Birch school was known as the little red school house. Scrape the paint from the old end of it, and see if it isn't red yet. An addition was added later.
In 1856, on the Fourth of July, it was so cold that overcoats were needed-a great contrast to 1913.
Abraham Palmer, father of Rev. Mr. Palmer, of New York, was the Methodist minister in Dover in early days; also Rev. Mr. Griffith, Ellison, Christine.
Old Billy Ford was the "father" of Dover's mechanics, machinists, and workers in iron. He had the blacksmith shop of the town and had a great many apprentices whom he instructed in this kind of "manual training." They made gunstocks, etc. He sold his shop near the corner of Dickerson and Morris streets, and moved to Sussex street, where the Morris County Iron and Machine shop has been located since then.
David W. has a copy of the old picture of Dover in 1849. He also has a picture in his mind. When he cannot sleep these hot nights he thinks over his boyhood days in Dover. He recalls every street, every building, and the people whom he knew. If he could have a stenographer at hand to write down all that passes through his mind, it would make quite a history. Here is one of his reminiscences.
Old Jabez Mills owned property on Orchard street. He sold to the town land to make a good wide street, where Chestnut street now is. Then he built a board fence and set it on his lot ten feet beyond the line of the street, encroaching on the street, and making it narrower. This act aroused the indignation of his fellow-townsmen. Billy Young, Dover's first baker, and a man highly respected for his upright and philanthropic life, was then president of the Cemetery Association. He sent out word for all the boys of the town to meet him at the Cemetery one Saturday night. He directed the boys to line up alongside of the obnoxious fence. At the word of com- mand each boy took hold of the fence-there were seventy-five or a hundred of them. Then came the word to pull it out, and they "snaked" it out of the ground, pulled it over and threw it ten feet back in Jabez Mills's grain field. This was spoken of at the time as an instance of "Dover Law."
Along in the evening of that Saturday night, Jabez Mills said to his wife: "Wife, I believe I'll go down and see if that fence is all right. There was some talk of pulling it down." "Oh!" said his wife, "they've pulled it down already." "Well then, let's go to bed," said Jabez.
David Whitehead knew "Billy Young" when he first came to Dover.
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Mary J. King became the wife of David Whitehead. She went to Mr. Noble's school.
Mrs. Monroe Howell, of Boonton, once taught school in Dover. Miss Lucy Coe went to school to her.
Letter of Miss Harriet A. Breese, Los Angeles, Calif., July 12, 1913:
Los Angeles, Calif., July 12, 1913.
My dear Mr. Platt: My recollections of many of the teachers are too dis- connected to write them out. My remembrance of Mr. and Mrs. M. Lee and Miss Chapman is that of family friends, as my family kept up the friendship with them for many years. Mr. Lee was a successful grain merchant in Topeka, Kansas. He died there a few years ago. Miss Cox, sister of Mr. Hugh Cox, with whom she taught in the old public school, married a Mr. Morehouse of New Providence, N. J., and as far as I know is still living there.
The second Mr. John Wilson had red whiskers. His specialty in teaching was mental arithmetic. I am still grateful for the drill he gave me in that study. I think he taught about 1861, but am not sure about the date.
Mr. Bancroft, after leaving Dover, became quite a noted physician in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Saunders became an Episcopal clergyman after leaving Dover. I met his wife a few years ago and she told me that he was then in the Insane Asylum at Morris Plains.
Miss Susan Magie-Mrs. James-taught in the Hill Top Seminary on Prospect street during the Civil War. I remember that we, as a school, made "comfort bags" for the soldiers, putting in each bag, beside the usual needles, pins, thread, and buttons, a letter. We edited a paper, calling it "The Union," and in it were copied all the letters we received from the soldiers in reply to ours.
My sister, Mrs. Whitlock, sent me the enclosed notice of Miss Mason's school, which she attended.
My sister Carrie had a private school in a room over my father's store. The room was also used for public entertainments. It was the largest room in the village and was called Temperance Hall. The store stood on the corner of Blackwell and Morris streets, where the George Richards store now stands. It was built by my father and Mr. Robert Crittenden. They were in business together. It was the first three-story store building put up in the village. After my father's death it was bought by the George Richards Company and eventually it was moved to East Blackwell street, where it now stands on the opposite side of the street from the Dover Lumber Company.
When my father built his house in 1842 on the corner of Morris and Blackwell streets, where the Lehman store now is, Blackwell street ended, as you show in your map. My father built his house facing the meadow. People asked him why he built his house facing that way. He said there would soon be a street there and it was soon after that the street was opened.
I do not remember anything in particular of the Pruden corner, and of the Billy Ford place, I only remember the big old house and garden and pond.
Your map of Dover (made by I. W. Searing) is, I should judge, very good. I wish I had saved a map of Dover that my mother drew. It was as she remembered it, but in some way it has been lost. Where Gen. Winds and old Doctor Crittenden lived it used to be called "Pleasant Valley.
My mother was born in 1805 in the old Hurd farm house that stands back in the fields from where Blackwell street now is. Her grandfather, Josiah Hurd, Sr., came to Dover from Connecticut and bought a thousand acres from the government in that section of the town. I have often heard my mother tell of it.
Mr. Ives never taught in Dover. I do not remember Miss Harriet Ives. I remember we used to receive rewards of merit in the shape of cards with colored pictures on them, and sometimes we had quite large crayon pictures given us. I was given a silver thimble, but whether for lessons or conduct I can't remember.
Mrs. Calkins and Mrs. Stickle ought to be able to give you real help in your search, for they must remember the Dover of long ago, even before my time. Ask Mrs. Chambre about the old library that was in her father's store. I think you will find some of the books belonging in it in the garret at the south side school house. We had some in our own public library, too. I don't think the library was originally Mr. Young's. I remember looking it over when I was quite young.
Thank you for the High School Program. The exercises must have been very interesting, only I do not think my letter of sufficient interest to have been read on such an occasion. I am simply writing to try and give you a little help, if I can.
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The only school Mrs. Smith ever attended in Dover was the little private school kept by Miss Tompkins. * *
HARRIET A. BREESE.
Los Angeles, July 15, 1913.
The old stone hotel, "Hotel Dover"-was there before my father's store was built. Of the old teachers, Mr. M. I. Lee, Miss Chapman, Mr. Calkins, and Mr. John Wilson second were from Massachusetts. Mr. Gage was from Vermont. You probably have heard that he became a lawyer and practiced in Dover and Morristown after he left teaching. Mr. Bancroft was a Connecticut man. Mr. Harvey's home was at Mine Hill, N. J. I think he became a lawyer. The public school teaching in the early days seemed to be used as stepping stones to a profession other than teaching, but they were good teachers, too.
I taught in the Dover public school in 1872-73 under Mr. Spaulding. HARRIET A. BREESE.
YOUNG LADIES' SCHOOL Dover, N. J. Miss L. A. Mason, Principal. TERMS:
I. Reading, Writing, Spelling, English Grammar, Geography and Arithmetic .. $3.00 II. History, Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Botany, Latin, French, and III. Instruction in Music on the Piano. 5.00 Drawing . 5.00 This school is taught in the house of Rev. B. C. Magie, who will assist Miss M. in giving instruction.
Dover, May 1, 1855.
Letter of David A. Searing, July 17th, 1913: Pompton Lakes, July 17th, 1913.
Mr. Charles D. Platt :
Dear Sir: I read in the Index a "notice," requesting those who went to school in Dover before 1870 to write to you. I attended at the old school house where Mr. Birch's place is now. It was fifty-seven years ago. (1856.) "Miss Belknap" was my first teacher, then a Miss Dalrymple. Then I entered the higher room and was there until I was fourteen years old. I had three teachers in that room-a Mr. Wilson, then a Mr. Calkins, and finished up with Mr. James Cooper of Mill Brook. From 1856 to 1866 I got my schooling. Mr. Calkins, teacher, was in business in New York the last time I saw him.
Names of my schoolmates: Stephen Palmer, Dover; Wm. Wrighton; Nelson Wrighton, Elizabeth, N. J .; Miss Malvina Sutton, Princeton Ave., Dover; Miss Sarah Lampson, Miss Adda Lindsley, Miss Nettie Dickerson and Edward, Urvin Freeman, Andrew Freeman.
Respectfully yours, D. A. SEARING, Pompton Lakes, N. J.
Letter of Louisa Crane Wortman :
Mr. Charles D. Platt :
Brookside, N. J., July 22, 1913.
Sir: In reply to "Names Wanted," published in the Index, perhaps I can say something that will interest someone.
In 1868 I entered Dover Academy as a pupil. It was a substantial stone building fronting Dickerson street. The beautifully shaded lawn extended the entire distance between Morris and Essex streets. Over the entrance was "Erected 1829." To me as a child the building seemed gloomy. I fancied the key to the massive doorlock looked like a prison key. But an eglantine grew near the doorstep that I thought even then softened and made more homelike the whole. That was indeed a "bonnie brier bush." The general schoolroom was furnished with primitive desks to accom- modate fifty pupils, perhaps more. The panes of the lower sash of the windows were painted a light tint to let in sunlight, but prevent scholars from looking out on the street. The room across the hall was more modernly furnished and contained a piano. The chapel, or church, as it was called, was upstairs. We attended service
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there every Wednesday and Friday morning. There the rector, the Rev. Mr. Upjohn, monthly read reports of all pupils.
Miss Abbie L. Forgus was principal and taught in the large room. She was a beautiful, gracious gentlewoman, whose discipline was love. Some of the names of those seated in her room were as follows: Sarah Overton, Elizabeth Taylor, Harriet George, Rose and William Derry, Sarah Cooper, Irene Davenport, Ella Coe, George Richards, Joseph Lambert, Munson Searing, Sarah Lampson, Lucy, Lida, and Edward Neighbour, Alfred and Annie Goodale, Uzal Crane, William Vail, Serena and Louise Oram, Gussie Lindsley, Emma and Alice Ried, and Thomas Segur.
In the smaller room Miss Emma Cressy taught Mary Rose, Susan Crittenden, Louisa Crane, Nettie Dickerson, and Jennie and Mary Berry. Miss Cressy was a linguist, teaching Latin, German, and French, and was decidedly proficient in the latter. Miss Addie Overton was music teacher. Before Miss Forgus went to Cohoes, N. Y., to teach, Miss Cressy resigned and Miss Louisa Crane assisted with primary work.
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