USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 55
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And one that does esteem you dear So mark what I have written here Keep for me a faithful kiss I mean the Baverish of this And then I'll count myself rewarded If by you I'm so regarded And if you love I as I love you
'No pair so happy as we two Here I now must drop my pen By saying more I Might offend By what is said you may discover That I remain your loyal Lover. WILLIAM YOUNG.
The calling of the banns and the wedding certificate
That William Leslie Young and Margaret McNaught both of this parish have been proclaimed in the Church here, in order for Marriage, three several Sabbaths and no objections made, is attested at Gorbals, the 24th day of May one thousand eight hundred and thirty years,
On the 25th day of May 1830
By John Wilson Sess. Clerk.
The above-mentioned parties were married by me, in Laurieston Glasgow
James Smith Minister.
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Mrs. Young died Jan. 18th, 1875. Her husband leaned over her and said, "I will soon be with you, my dear." He died Jan. 24th, 1875. "In their death they were not divided."
Wm. Young was an elder in the Presbyterian church. He was not friendly to the use of tobacco. He used to make root beer which he kept in stone bottles and had the first "soft drink" establishment in town. He was not favorable to dancing, although Mrs. Young was very fond of it and had been a notable dancer in her younger days. She distinguished herself at The Thistle Ball in Brooklyn before they removed to Dover. Here she found life rather quiet. Nothing more exciting than the croaking of the bullfrogs in the swamp across the way, as she said. But she was a kind, motherly soul, and endeared herself to many of the little ones who came to her bakery on errands, she knew how to win their hearts by the dainties and goodies which she bestowed upon them.
The incidents in the life of childhood as lived on Dickerson street would make a chapter in itself, beginning, of course, with the two schools. The children from the public school would come over to Grandma Pruden's house to get a pail of nice well water. Only one at a time was allowed to enter the yard and that one must go straight to the well, get the water and retire in good order-no playing or romping around in the yard. But Zenas Pruden, the wheelwright, was playful with the children. He has often chased Jennie Young out of his shop and around the block to her home, simply because he was a great hand to play "last tag."
When Christmas day came the children all went to the Dover Bank, where they were met by old Mr. Segur, who kept special bank hours that day for Santa Claus. He gave each child a little package of dates or raisins and two bright new pennies. That was a great event for the children of Dover in those days. Two pennies, bright and new, presented by the man in the bank seemed great treasure.
But there was another way in which fortune then favored the children of Dover. Jabez Allen announced that he would give a hundred dollars to every boy that was named after him. So there was probably a long list of youngsters christened "Jabez Allen Smith" or "Jabez Allen Jones," &c. And then Mrs. Allen, not to be outdone, declared that she would give a hundred dollars to every girl that was named after her, and so there was another list of little maidens who bore such names as "Carrie Allen Breese," "Carrie Allen And-so-forth." These halcyon days are gone forever. No one has dared to offer any such financial encouragement to the children since those early village days.
And when the children got older they went to parties, of course, and had good times suited to their age. They even danced. When Jennie Young had a party at her house she was in some perplexity on this point. She consulted her mother. "What shall we do? The boys and girls will expect to have a dance, and father does not approve of dancing." The good mother, who liked to shake a foot herself when she was light-footed enough to do so, gave her best consideration to this delicate situation. On the one side her affection and respect for her "gude mon" were enlisted, and on the other side her sympathy with her daughter and the young folks and her own love of the lively pastime. She said little, but that was to the point: "We'll just invite Andrew Gillen, around the corner, to come to the party and bring his fiddle. He's a great friend of your father's and your father loves to hear him play." The situation was explained to
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Andrew Gillen. He came with his fiddle. In the course of the evening he said to Mr. Young: "William, suppose I give you a little music." "Just the thing," says William, "I always like to hear you play." But when the music began, such music as Andrew Gillen could play, it was impossible to sit still and soon the couples were keeping time to the music. What did the strict Scotchman do then? He disappeared. They searched for him. "Where is he?" "He's gone down cellar." What can he be doing there? Is he, like Samson at the feast of the Philistines, invoking imprecations upon the company for their folly and wishing that the house would fall upon them? No, the next day it was discovered that every stick of timber that could be used for the purpose had been used to prop up the floor upon which the company were dancing. So you see, there was one occasion on which William Young really "supported" dancing. And we catch a glimpse of the village fiddler, who was more than that in his official relation to the community.
Dickerson is a short little street, but it had its full share of human history. In the way of real estate transactions it is interesting to trace the dealings of William Young from the day when he first caught sight of the Burchell house on the corner of Sussex and Dickerson-a little bird- cage of a house, and fell in love with it to such a degree that he bought it and moved his family from Brooklyn. He built an extension in the rear of this house, which became his store. He built a bakeshop further up the street-the little shop which has since been used as a bicycle repair shop. Afterwards he sold the corner property to a Mr. Titman whose name appears on the old map of Dover in 1853, and built the house which has recently been known as Martin's Bakery, with a bake-shop in the rear.
Later, when some one wished to open a saloon near the Warren street corner Mr. Young and a friend bought the lot, and later still he built a dwelling house on that lot and invited his daughter Jennie, then Mrs. Chambre, to come and occupy it, so that he might have her near him. This resulted in bringing Dr. Chambre to town and adding his name to the roll of our physicians. And so these operations in real estate, extending over nearly one quarter of Dickerson street, became one index of the activity of this honored citizen for a quarter of a century. This last house has figured as a polling place in recent years, but has lately been sold by the family. Tempora mutantur. What a history there is in the vicissitudes of one old house or of one block in what is now a side street, once the thoroughfare.
UNITED STATES EXPRESS COMPANY Treasurer's Department Office of Supply Agent Geo. Brown Sanford, Supply Agent 170 Eighth Street. Jersey City, N. J., Aug. 18, 1913. MR. CHARLES D. PLATT, Principal,
Dover High School, Dover, N. J.
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your letter bearing date of August 15th, addressed to my residence at 791 South Tenth St., Newark, N. J. In response, I cheerfully comply with your request contained therein, and will, so far as memory enables me, furnish the information asked.
I was born in Dover, N. J., August 19th, 1839, and am proud to boast of being a Dover boy. With pleasure I cherish the memories of the long ago, and revere the memory of those who helped to make Dover what it is today. My recollections of school-boy days recall a composition written by me, subject "Dover," which in substance was that Dover was inhabited by 700 people, and had one rolling mill,
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one steam furnace, and factory, together with small stores, a boat yard, and a few other small industries. I speak of this, showing the great growth since my early days.
The most prominent citizens of that day could be counted upon one's fingers. Eminent among them was Mr. Henry McFarlane, who owned the steam furnace, rolling mill, factory, and also possessed large lands and interests in and about Dover. Associated with him was a Mr. Guy Hinchman, a dapper little gentleman of strong personality, genial, and possessed of considerable ability, and considered to be the finest penman at that time, or to the knowledge of those living at that time.
Associated also with Mr. Hinchman was a gentleman named John Hoagland, who had the charge of the rolling mill in the capacity of manager, etc. Another prominent man was the Rev. Burtis C. Magie, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, a man of great learning, respected by all regardless of creed. Another kind-hearted gentleman was the Cashier of the Union Bank, a Mr. Thos. B. Segur. Mr. Segur, as was his custom at Christmas time, invited all the children of Dover to call upon him, at the bank, where they were kindly received, wishing him a Merry Christmas, and in return, he, to all the children, giving each, as they departed, a package containing candy, nuts, etc., also a new red cent. If there are those living today who participated in his hospitality, they will recall with pleasure the instance referred to.
The most prominent citizens at that time were: Jabez Allen, Alfred Beemer, Asa Berry, Steven Berry, William Berry, Sidney Breese, Titus Berry, John Butter- worth, Dr. Thos. B. Crittenden, Britten Coe, Dr. Canfield (of Dickerson mine), Dr. Wm. Crittenden, Esq. Conger, Daniel A. Berry, Mahlon Dickerson, Moses Doty, Esq. Doty, Peter Doyle, Alfred Dickerson, James Devore, William Ford, John Ford, Elias Garrigus, Sidney Ives, Edward Jackson, Isaac B. Jolly, William King, Dr. William King, Ephraim Lindsley, Thomas Lindsley, Alfred Lamson, John M. Losey, Jabez Mills, James McDavitt, John Maze, Mahlon H. Munson, Major Minton, James H. Neighbour, Zenas Pruden, Byram Pruden, James Searing, Samuel Sutton, Thomas T. Sturtevant, Matthew Sigler, Jacob Simon, Theodore Thompson, Smith Gage, Cornelius B. Gage, Jacob Hurd, Moses Hurd, John Hance, Peter Vanderhoof, John Wrighton, John A. Wilson, William L. Young.
Before Dover enjoyed railroad facilities, Mr. James McDavitt ran a stage between Dover and Newark. The stage driver was one Jacob Scott; the fare charged was one dollar. After the extension of the Morris & Essex R. R. to Dover, the town was made a busy shipping depot. Covered wagons from the out-lying districts arrived, some as far as from Sussex, loaded with pork, flour, eggs, and other farming products, to find shipments or sale at Dover. It was quite a market place.
The first ones engaged to buy and sell, to my knowledge, were Mr. M. B. Titman, Warren Shinner, and James Losey. They were termed, at that day, specu- lators. Dover, at that time, was at its zenith, but after the extension of the railroad from Dover to Hackettstown, there was noted an absence of this marketing which found other avenues. Mr. James Losey removed from Dover to take the agency of the railroad at Hackettstown, where he remained up to his death.
Dover had one hotel, known as Hurd's Tavern, which was conducted by John M. Losey, in connection with a store and Post Office. After the arrival of the Morris & Essex R. R., making a terminal at Dover, two employees of the railroad, a Mr. Edward Jackson, and Isaac B. Jolly took over this hotel, and made considerable alterations, and named it The Mansion House, where Mr. Jackson and Mr. Jolly were associated for a short time; Mr. Jackson retiring, and Mr. Jolly continuing up to his death.
The industries of Dover, of which special mention should be made were, first, the manufacturing of our celebrated bank lock by Mr. Butterworth. The lock in question is in use today, and considered a very superior piece of mechanism. Also there was manufactured by William Ford, a special ax. Besides this Mr. Ford manufactured engines and machinery and conducted a general machine shop. Next was the boat yard, owned and managed by my father, Mr. John Sanford, which industry I will long remember. It was one of my duties on Saturday to attend to the pitch kettle and do odd chores, which I recall with distasteful recol- lection.
In regard to my school-days: you speak of the Academy. I did not attend that institution, but the one opposite, under the brow of the hill, in the rear of which, way up the hillside, was a small habitation occupied by Mr. John Ford and
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his family. I learn that the school building that I refer to is now occupied by some manufacturing interest.
While at school my teachers were Franklin Pease, Charles E. Noble, and a Mr. Cox, all of whom I remember as being capable instructors, and adepts, par- ticularly in the use of the rod. I submit the names of the scholars that attended the school at that time: Martin Berry, William Berry, Charles Berry, Payson Berry, Frank Berry, Sidney Breese, Elisha Belknap, A. Judson Coe, Tip Doty, Thomas Devore, William Ford, Amity Ford, John Ford, Joseph King, Mulford King, Alfred Lamson, Edward Losey, James Losey, Henry McDavitt, Guy Minton, Frank Sturtevant, Jno. W. Searing, Samuel Searing, William Tone, Sidney A. Wilson, Wm. Waer. Marcus Ford, Chas. T. Gage, David A. Jennings, David King, Thomas Searing, Albert Wiggins, Sandy Young, David Young.
Also many others, whom I note on your list, which I have starred opposite the names; they, too, are recollected and recalled as scholars of my time, viz .: Asa Berry, Wm. Cooper, George L. Denman, Ludlow Denman, Joseph Dickerson, Wm. Donahue, Wellington B. Doty, Marcus Freeman, Caroline Gage, Ella Gage, Laura Garrigus, Leonard V. Gillen, Emma Goodale, John Hance, Racilia Hoagland, Whit- field Hoagland, Isabella Wilson, Isaac King, Joseph King, Martha Lamson, Amelia Lindsley, Harriet Lindsley, Marshall Losey, John Love, David McDavitt, Adelia Palmer, Stephen Palmer, Eliza Sanford, Mary Searing, Phebe Searing, Olivia Segur, John Stickle, Susan Stickle.
Those days were days of anxiety for all. The free use of the rod was at that time permissible. The scholars felt the force of the argument, and tried as best they could to be good.
One unpleasant feature of this mode of punishment was that the scholar selected for punishment was obliged to go up in the woods in the rear of the building and cut a whip to be used and each time, it can be cheerfully said, upon the return of the whip by the scholar to the teacher, it was properly sliced, which made the punishment lighter and wasted a whip.
After leaving the Dover schools, I attended the Mount Retirement Seminary at Deckertown, N. J., conducted by E. A. Stiles. I returned to Dover and accepted a position as teacher of mathematics in this academy referred to by you. The academy or school occupied the ground floor of the building. The teacher in charge was the Rev. Hamilton C. Dudley, who was rector of the Episcopal church, services of which were held on the floor above.
Serving but a short time as teacher, I sought other business. Your inquiry concerning Mr. David Sanford: He was an uncle of my father; my great-uncle. Mr. David Sanford kept a country store at Blackwell Street, nearly opposite the old postoffice, during which time he had as clerks Mahlon Dickerson and Daniel A. Derry, who afterward became prominent as merchants, doing business in their own names. Mr. Sanford left Dover and opened a store in Newark, N. J., located at the corner of Kinney & Washington Sts., and took with him as managing clerk, one Elisha Belknap, who continued with him up to the time of Mr. David Sanford's death. Mr. Elisha Belknap, after the death of Mr. Sanford, was employed by James R. Sayre, engaged in the brick, lath, lime, and cement business, where he continued until he engaged directly in the coal business, and up to the time of his death enjoyed the position of General Manager for one of the leading New York concerns in coal, located at III Broadway.
Now as to the Sanford home: It was located at Sussex Street, a short distance from the Methodist Church. As I understand it, the old house is still standing. The one rebuilt by my father is on the grounds formerly occupied by me in a one story and a half red house. Our neighbors at that time were Mr. William King, a blacksmith, who lived directly in the rear, and on the lower part of the lot was a Mr. Alfred Lamson, and up to and near the Methodist Church, a Mr. Thomas Lindsley. The adjoining house was occupied by a Mr. Kindred, then by Jacob Scott, followed by Mr. Alfred Beemer.
One item of note is the fact that Dover did not, until Mr. Beemer arrived, enjoy a butcher shop. This Mr. Alfred Beemer inaugurated, and located near the Canal Bridge. Prior to Mr. Beemer's time, the towns-people were served twice a week by a Mr. Richard Brotherton, who called upon all, and served them with meats from his wagon.
I have replied so far as memory serves me, to nearly all of your interrogations, and should there be anything on which I can enlighten you, I will cheerfully comply. I thank you for the opportunity of writing you upon a subject nearest to my heart, my birthplace, Dover, N. J.
Respectfully yours, GEO. B. SANFORD.
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From Miss Abbie F. Magie, August 25, 1913: Teachers of private schools in Dover, New Jersey :
1840-Joseph H. Babcock, Miss Pike. 1848-David Stevenson. 1850-Mrs. Annie C. Whittlesey. 1854-Miss Lucy Mason, Miss C. A. Breese and Phoebe Berry. 1860-62-William S. Hall, assisted by Mr. Saunders, Mr. Remington, Mr. Shriver, Miss Anna Mills. 1863-65-Miss S. C. Magie, Mr. Conant and Miss Conant, Chalmers Nevius and Miss H. A. Breese, Miss H. A. Breese. 1877-1901-Miss L. B. Magie, Rev. W. W. Halloway Sr. and Miss S. Crittenden, Miss Sturtevant, Miss Abbott, Miss Susan Crittenden.
In 1840 Joseph H. Babcock came from Maryland to Dover. He taught school in the old Stone Academy. He later became a Presbyterian minister and went to Corydon, Ind. Died in 1848.
Miss Pike (date uncertain). She must have been here before 1850. The school was probably held in her home, as the stories are that her mother used the rod whenever a pupil was the least bit unruly.
David Stevenson opened a school in the basement of the old Presbyterian Church in 1848. He later became a Presbyterian minister and was pastor of a large, flourishing church for a good many years in Indianapolis, Ind.
Mrs. Anna C. Whittlesey, after the death of her husband, the Rev. Samuel Goodrich Whittlesey, a missionary in Ceylon, returned to her old home in New Jersey. In 1850 she opened a select school for boys and girls in Dover, in a building corner of Prospect and Spring sts. The house now occupied by Mr. Russell Lynd is the old school house, altered and enlarged. Mrs. Whittlesey was a remarkably fine teacher, and although many of her methods would be now considered old fashioned and crude, it is doubtful if many boys graduated from the present-day high schools are any better equipped for business than boys that went from that school to office, store, or bank. In October, 1854, Mrs. Whittlesey was married to the Rev. Thornton Mills, D. D. Dr. Mills was a very distinguished Presbyterian minister and at the time of his marriage to Mrs. Whittlesey was pastor of a Pres- byterian church in Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. David Stevenson and Dr. Mills were settled pastors in Indianapolis during the same period.
Miss C. A. Breese and Miss Phoebe Berry had a school in the Whittlesey school house. Date uncertain. Miss Berry, a little later, opened a school in a building called "The Berry Store House." The building stood on the North side of East Blackwell St., between Morris and Sussex streets, and very near the present Berry building. Miss Berry married Rev. I. Hopwood, for many years pastor of a Presbyterian church in Newark, N. J.
Miss Lucy Mason, of Rutland, Vt., came to Dover about 1854 as governess for the daughters of Rev. B. C. Magie. As there was no select school in Dover at that time, a number of parents requested permission for their daughters to share in Miss Mason's instructions. Quite a large school was formed, but Miss Mason was already pledged to the foreign missionary cause, and before the end of her second year in Dover, left for her chosen field of labor in India. She died some few years later.
In 1860, a number of Dover gentlemen, desiring better school facilities for their children than the district school afforded, erected a building for the purpose on Prospect St. The school house stood where the house of Mr. Reese Jenkins now stands. The school yard included the lot the "Manse" now occupies and extended to Spring street. When the building was finished, a board of trustees was chosen and requested to find a suitable teacher, and it was hoped a permanent first-class school would be built up.
Mr. William S. Hall was chosen, and in the fall of 1860 he removed his boys' boarding school from White Plains, New York, to Dover, N. J. Mr. Hall occupied the two houses on Orchard St. next to the cemetery, and the day school was held in the new building. "The Dover Institute" opened its doors early in September, . 1860. Girls were admitted to the day school and very fortunate they were to come under the care and instruction of such a man as Mr. Hall. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the boys and girls were fired with patriotism, but at first could find no better method of expressing their feelings than singing loud and long "The Red, White, and Blue" and every other war song they heard. When school closed at 4 p. m., every day they would sing the usual school song, but always: attempted to wind up with "John Brown." Mr. Hall did not approve of that song, and would always say, "tut-tut, no, no!" The boys and girls of 1860 were very much like the boys and girls of the present time, and would obey just as little as
Miss Lucy B. Magie's Private School, about 1885.
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possible. The singing would stop in the school room, but as they marched out, the first boy reaching the lobby would begin with "John" and each boy and girl following would join in, but never until both feet were well over the door sill. We thought it patriotic. It certainly was fun, but probably not very harmonious. Mr. Hall had spent a number of years in the South and his sympathies at this time were with the South, but he did not allow his sympathies to obscure his sense of right.
Early in 1861 the school decided a flag must wave from the building, so the boys contributed the flagpole and the girls made the flag,-at that period of history considered a fair distribution of labor. Bunting was too expensive, so turkey red, indigo blue, and white cotton cloth was purchased. A young lady drew the pattern of the star, but it required the aid of a boy to place the 33 stars in position. All flags at that date had only 32 stars. Kansas had been admitted to the Union, but not long enough to entitle her to a place on the flag. However, we insisted upon putting her on. There were really 66 stars sewed on, as it was necessary to put them on both sides of the blue. On each star was written the name of a state and date of admittance to the Union. The flag was a large one, about nine feet. When the flag was completed the girls were so impatient to see it floating over the school house that they would not wait for the appointed day for the flag raising, which was intended to be observed with great dignity and ceremony, but during the noon recess attempted to raise it themselves. The ropes became entangled and the poor flag hung at half mast the rest of the day. After the girls (and a very ashamed set of girls they were) had gone home, the boys untangled the ropes, lowered the flag, folded and put it away until "Flag Raising Day." (Not sure of the date, but it was before the first battle of Bull Run.) The flag was the pride, not only of the school, but of the town, and it was the first flag made by school boys and girls to float over a school house in Morris County, and, it was said, in all Northern New Jersey. Before the close of the year several of the school boys had enlisted for the war, and more followed, the next year.
Mr. Hall left Dover in 1862, and established a school in Orange, New Jersey, that had a long and successful life. Mr. Hall died about twenty-five years ago.
Miss S. C. Magie took charge of the Dover Institute in 1863. She was a young lady of great force of character, untiring energy, highly educated, and a most superior teacher. The war fever still pervaded the school, but took the practical form of raising money for the Soldiers' Aid Society, giving many dramatic enter- tainments, acting such plays as "The Forty Thieves," "Ticket of Leave Man," "Box and Cox," "Cinderella," and "Blue Beard." The entertainments were very popular, often repeated several times, by request, and always to a full house. The school had a weekly paper, very well conducted, and usually of interest to others not attending school, as the editors collected the news of the day, as well as inter- esting letters from soldiers at the front.
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