USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 6
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In 1888, Harrison carried the county against Cleveland, Democrat, for President, by a plurality of 246, the vote standing : Harrison, 5826; Cleve- land, 5580 ; the latter, however, carrying the State by 7149 plurality. Charles D. Beckwith, Republican, was elected to congress over Hoagland, Democrat, by the small majority of 74.
In 1889 the county gave Leon Abbett 4994 votes, a plurality of 100 over his Republican opponent, Grubb, who polled 4894.
In 1890, Cornelius A. Cadmus, Democrat, of Paterson, defeated Charles D. Beckwith, Republican, for congress. Morris county gave the Democratic candidate a plurality of 286.
In 1891 the county had been redistricted and divided into two instead of three assembly districts. The first district included Chatham, Chester,
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Mendham, Morris, Mount Olive, Passaic, Randolph, Roxbury and Washing- ton townships; the second district embraced the townships of Boonton, Hanover, Jefferson, Montville, Pequannock and Rockaway. Both districts elected assemblymen that year, Ford D. Smith, Democrat, of Dover, and John F. Post, Republican, of Riverdale. The State was divided into eight congressional districts in 1891, Morris being placed in the Fourth District, with Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon counties, and part of Essex county.
In 1892, George T. Werts, Democrat, of Morristown, was the success- ful candidate for governor, defeating John Kean Jr., Republican. The Morris county districts divided, the first going Democratic, the second Re- publican. Werts' plurality in the county was 47. The vote for President was not so close, Cleveland having 107 plurality over Harrison. For con- gressman, the vote was even closer, the county giving Johnston Cornish of Washington, Warren county, a plurality of 40 over Howey, Republican. Both Republican assemblymen were elected, but Charles G. Drake, Demo- crat, of Chester, was elected state senator by 275 plurality.
George T. Werts, son of Peter Werts, was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey, March 24, 1846. In 1849 his parents moved to Bordentown, where the lad attended the public schools, advancing to the high school. He was also a student at the State Model School in Trenton, but at seventeen years of age began the study of law in Morristown, under Jacob Vanatta. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1867, and began practice in Morris- town. He became recorder of the town in May, 1883, serving until his resignation in February, 1892. He also resigned his seat in the state senate at the same time, to accept the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, to which he had been appointed by Governor Abbett, and he was unanimously confirmed by the senate, of which body he had been president in 1889. He was a wise and impartial judge and a valuable legislator, often floor-leader of his party, and the author of efficient liquor and ballot-reform laws. After receiving the nomination for governor he continued his labors as Justice of the Supreme Court, taking absolutely no personal part in the campaign, be- yond writing the usual letter accepting the nomination which had been ten- dered him by a unanimous vote of the Democratic State Convention. He was elected over John Kean Jr., Republican, by a plurality of 7625.
In 1894, Mahlon Pitney, Republican, of Morristown, was the successful candidate for congress from the Fifth Congressional District, defeating Johnston Cornish, the sitting member. In Morris county Mr. Pitney re- ceived the large plurality of 1803, also carrying the Democratic counties of Warren and Sussex. His own township of Morris gave him a plurality of 441, the highest ever given any candidate at any contested election in the township.
In 1895 New Jersey again elected a governor, John William Griggs, Republican, Alexander T. McGill, Democrat, being the opposing candidate. Morris county gave Griggs 6063, McGill 4351, a plurality of 1712. John Beam Vreeland, of Morristown, was elected state senator by a plurality of 1526, over William McCracken, Democrat ; and Charles F. Hopkins, of Boonton, and Joseph B. Righter, of Denville, both Republicans, were elected assemblymen.
The presidential election of 1896 marked the departure of New Jersey from the column of sure Democratic States, and it was not until 1912 that the State again chose Democratic electors. William McKinley, Republican. carried the State in 1896, Morris county giving him 8190 votes against 4936 for his Democratic opponent, William J. Bryan. For congress, Mahlon
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Pitney, Republican, a candidate for re-election, was victorious over Augustus W. Cutler, Democrat, by a vote of 8537 to 4910.
In 1898 Morris county gave Foster M. Voorhees, Republican, a plurality of 735 over Elvin W. Crane, Democrat, Voorhees carrying the State for governor by 5499 votes. The Fourth District elected Joshua S. Salmon, of Boonton, to congress, by a plurality of 2659 over John I. Blair Reiley, Re- publican; but Morris county was loyal and gave Reiley a plurality of 639. Mahlon Pitney, Republican, was elected State senator by a plurality of 831 over his Democratic opponent, Thomas H. Hoagland.
Again in 1900 came the opposing candidates of 1896, William Mckinley and William J. Bryan, with the same result, New Jersey going heavily Re- publican. Morris county gave Mckinley a plurality of 1946, much less than before, but larger than the relative sizes of the two parties justified. Joshua S. Salmon was returned to congress from the Fourth District by a plurality of 1644, Morris county, however, giving Herr, the Republican candidate, a plurality of 1606 and electing a solid legislative delegation.
In 1901, with Franklin Murphy, Republican, of Newark, and James M. Seymour, Democrat, of the same city, the opposing candidates for governor, Morris county gave Murphy 6335, Seymour 5455. Jacob W. Welsh, Re- publican, of German Valley, was elected state senator over Hoagland, Demo- crat, by a plurality of 709.
On February 5 of this year, Mahlon Pitney, son of Vice-Chancellor Henry C. Pitney, was nominated by Governor Voorhees for Justice of the Supreme Court, to succeed Justice Gummere resigned. The nomination was confirmed by the senate without reference, and Mr. Pitney, on November 19, 1901, was sworn into office for a term of seven years.
In 1902, the State, having been redistricted, Morris county with Union and Warren counties became the Fifth Congressional District. Charles Newell Fowler, of Elizabeth, the Republican candidate for congressman, carried the new district by 1022 plurality over Dewitt Clinton Flanagan, his Democratic opponent.
Two years later, in 1904, Theodore Roosevelt and Alton B. Parker were the opposing candidates for President; Morris county gave Roosevelt 8201, Parker 4766. Charles N. Fowler was elected to succeed himself by a plurality of 5234 over James E. Martine, Democrat. Edward Caspar Stokes, the Republican candidate for governor, carried the State by a plurality of 51,644 over Charles C. Black, Democrat, Morris county giving Stokes 8039, Black 4993. For state senator, Thomas J. Hillery, Republican, carried the county by a plurality of 3343; Charles A. Baker, of Kenvil, and John M. Mills, of Morristown, both Republicans, being the successful candidates for assembly.
In 1906, Charles N. Fowler, Republican, and James E. Martine, Demo- crat, were the opposing candidates for congress from the Fifth District. Fowler was victorious, but by the small majority of 552, Morris being the only county in the district to give him a majority, Fowler's majority of 1463 in Morris county overcoming the 911 adverse majority in the other counties, and carrying him to victory.
On November 5, 1907, John Franklin Fort, Republican, was elected governor of New Jersey by a plurality of 8013, over Frank S. Katzenbach, Democrat. The vote of Morris county was 7007 for Fort, and 4826 for Katzenbach. Thomas J. Hillery, Republican, was elected State senator over Salmon, Democrat, by a plurality of 1057.
In 1908 the twelve electoral votes of New Jersey were given to William
MORRIS COUNTY
H. Taft for President, by a vote of 365,326 against 182,567 for the Demo- cratic opponent, William J. Bryan. The vote of Morris county was 9089. for the highest Taft elector, 5026 for the highest Bryan elector. For con- gress, Charles N. Fowler was elected to succeed himself by a plurality of 7463. over Barber, Democrat, Morris county contributing a plurality of 3796. On January 22, 1908, Justice Mahlon Pitney was nominated by Governor Fort for the office of chancellor and was at once confirmed by the senate. He held that high office until appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States by President Taft in 1912.
In 1910, New Jersey returned to the Democratic fold, by electing Woodrow Wilson governor by a plurality of 49,056. Morris county also broke loose from her Republican moorings, giving Wilson 7395 votes against 5856 for Vivian M. Lewis, his Republican opponent. The Fifth District also went Democratic, returning William E. Tuttle, Democratic candidate for congress by a plurality of 3093, over Runyon, Republican. Richard Fitzherbert, Democrat, of Dover, was elected state senator by a plurality of 223 over his Republican opponent, Edward K. Mills. Albert Bunn, Demo- crat, of Parker, and Eugene S. Burke, Democrat, of Morristown, were elected members of the house of assembly, forming with Mr. Fitzherbert the first solid Democratic delegation from Morris county to the legislature, in many years.
In 1912 came the bitterly fought triangular contest for the presidency between Woodrow Wilson, the choice of the Democracy, Theodore Roose- velt, the candidate of the Progressive Republicans, and William H. Taft, the standard bearer of the regular Republican party, and the choice of the united Republican party in 1908. With the Republican party hopelessly divided into two camps, fighting each other a little bit harder than either fought their ancient party enemies, the result was disaster for both, and Democracy triumphed. New Jersey gave Wilson 178,289, Roosevelt 145,- 410, Taft 88,835, the fourteen electoral votes of the State being given to a Democrat for the first time in many years. Morris county remained true to Wilson, giving his highest elector 5628 votes, against 4440 for the highest Roosevelt and 3329 for the highest Taft elector. For congress, the Fifth District, composed of Morris and Union counties, gave Tuttle, Democrat, 13,920; Runyon, Republican, 10,885; Ennis, Progressive, 7393. Morris county gave Tuttle 9020, Runyon 3645, Ennis 2881.
In 1913, for governor, the vote of the State stood: James Fairman Fielder, Democrat, 173,148; Edward C. Stokes, Republican, 140,298; Everett S. Colby, Progressive, 41,132. Morris county gave Fielder 5408, Stokes 4568, and Colby 1773. For state senator, Charles A. Rathbun, Republican, of Madison, was successful over Lyons, his Democratic opponent by a plurality of 229. George W. Downs, of Madison, and Harry W. Mutch- ler, of Rockaway, both Republicans, were elected members of the assembly.
Since 1844 Morris county has furnished four presidents of the New Jersey senate : Ephraim Marsh, 1849-50; George T. Werts, 1889; Mahlon Pitney, 1901 ; Thomas J. Hillery, 1908. Three speakers of the house have also been furnished by Morris county ; Edward W. Whelpley, 1849; John Hill, 1866; Nathaniel Niles, 1872. During these years the county offices had been filled by both Democrats and Republicans, according to the personal strength of the candidates, and the condition of the state and national senti- ment. The result of the local elections in general, however, was about the same as indicated in the foregoing pages. The county has been well gov- erned by both parties, county interests never having been sacrificed for party gain.
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The present board of chosen freeholders and the officers of the board follow :
Boonton Town-Peter Telfer, Charles E. Estler. Boonton Township- George A. Estler. Chatham-Joseph H. Conklin. Chester-Harold Van Natta. Denville-Elmer Dickerson, Mount Tabor. Dover-Leonard Elliott, John K. Cook. Hanover-Harrison D. Mead. Jefferson-George H. Hulmes, Lake Hopatcong. Madison-Frank C. Carle. Morris-Harry L. Prudden. Morristown-First Ward: Frank D. Abell; Second Ward : Jonathan R. Eichlin; Third Ward: Anderson M. Guerin; Fourth Ward : William J. Ambrose. Mendham-Theodore S. Hill. Mount Olive-Mahlon K. Tharp. Montville-Edward Kayhart. Passaic-E. Frank Oliver, New Vernon. Pequannock-Simon E. Estler, Butler. Randolph-William Kin- ney, Mine Hill. Rockaway-Christopher Kelly. Roxbury-John W. Fancher, Succasunna. Washington-William E. Coleman, German Valley. Wharton-John A. Birmingham.
Officers of the Board-Director : Simon E. Estler, Butler. Clerk: J. Arthur Richards, Dover. Counsel: John M. Mills, Morristown. County Col- lector : Joseph F. McLean, Butler. County Engineer : William E. King, Landing. County Supervisor of Roads: Michael P. Norris, Morristown. County School Superintendent : J. Howard Hulsart, Ph.D., Dover. Steward of Alms House: Lewis Dufford. Matron of Alms House: Mrs. Lewis Dufford. Alms House Physician : Clifford Mills, Morristown. Jail Physician : James B. Griswold, Morristown. Keeper of County Jail: Ed- ward Carroll. Matron of Children's Home: Mrs. Sarah Moore.
CHAPTER VI.
THE REVOLUTION - PRELIMINARY MEETINGS - MILITARY PREPARATION- MORRIS COUNTY TROOPS IN THE FIELD-MORRIS COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR,
The Revolution-While the people of New Jersey were not as early sufferers from the ills which led to the Revolution, as were some of the other colonies, they were quick to discern that they could not long escape. They soon joined in the common cause, in which they were destined to take a most important part.
In 1772 the legislature comprised two bodies-the House of As- sembly, elected by the people, and in which Jacob Ford and William Winds represented Morris county ; and the Privy Council, appointed by the gov- ernor (Franklin), devoted to the King. On February 8, 1774, without reference to the council, the assembly designated nine of its members as a committee of correspondence, to cooperate with similar bodies in the other colonies. On June II, following, the freeholders and inhabitants of Essex county assembled and recommended that each county should hold similar meetings and send delegates to a colonial convention which should appoint delegates to a general convention, with the object of formulating a general plan of union. Accordingly, "a respectable body of freeholders and in- habitants" met at Morristown, June 27th, and, under the chairmanship of Jacob Ford, adopted the following stirring resolutions :
"Ist .- That George the Third is lawful and rightful king of Great Britain and all other his dominions and countries; and that as part of his dominions it is our duty not only to render unto him true faith and obedience, but also with our lives and fortunes to support and maintain the just dependence of these colonies upon the crown of Great Britain.
"2nd .- That it is our wish and desire, and we esteem it our greatest happiness and security, to be governed by the laws of Great Britain, and that we will always cheerfully submit to them as far as can be done consistently with the constitutional liberties and privileges of freeborn Englishmen.
"3d .- That the late acts of Parliament for imposing taxes for the purpose of raising a revenue in America are oppressive and arbitrary, calculated to disturb the minds and alienate the affections of the colonists from the mother country, are replete with ruin to both; and consequently that the authors and promoters of said acts, or of such doctrines of the right of taxing America being in the Parliament of Great Britain, are and should be deemed enemies to our king and happy con- stitution.
"4th .- That it is the opinion of this meeting that the act of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston is unconstitutional, injurious in its principles to the general cause of American freedom, particularly oppressive to the inhabitants of that town, and that therefore the people of Boston are considered by us as suffering in the general cause of America.
"5th .- That unanimity and firmness in the colonies are the most effectual means to relieve our suffering brethren at Boston, to avert dangers justly to be appre- hended from that alarming act commonly styled the Boston Port Bill, and to secure . the invaded rights and privileges of America.
"6th .- That it is our opinion that an agreement between the colonies not to purchase or use any articles imported from Great Britain or from the East Indies, under such restrictions as may be agreed upon by the General Congress hereafter to be appointed by the colonies, would be of service in procuring a repeal of those acts.
"7th .- That we will most cheerfully join our brethren of the other counties in this province in promoting a union of the colonies by forming a General Congress of deputies to be sent from each of the colonies; and do now declare ourselves ready to send a committee to meet with those from the other counties at such time and place as by them may be agreed upon, in order to elect proper persons to repre- : sent this province in the said Congress.
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"8th .- That it is the request of this meeting that the county committees, when met for the purposes aforesaid, do take into serious consideration the propriety of setting on foot a subscription for the benefit of the sufferers at Boston under the Boston Port Bill above mentioned, and the money arising from such subscriptions to be laid out as the committees so met shall think will best answer the ends proposed.
"9th .- That we will faithfully adhere to such regulations and restrictions as shall by the members of such Congress be agreed upon and judged most expedient for avoiding the calamities and procuring the benefits intended in the foregoing resolves.
"Ioth .- It is our request that the committee hereafter named do correspond and consult with such other committees as shall be appointed by the other counties in this province, and particularly that they meet with the said county committee in order to elect and appoint deputies to represent this province in a General Congress."
The committee appointed under the foregoing resolutions was made up of the leading men in all portions of the county, as follows :
Jacob Ford, of Woodbridge, where he was born in 1704. He was a pioneer in iron manufacture, operating many forges, and maintaining a general store at Morristown. He was a member of the first county court, which met at his house, and he was the builder of the edifice afterward known as Washington's Headquarters. He was a delegate to the provin- cial congress. He died January 19, 1777.
General William Winds was born on Long Island, about 1727, and when a young man came to New Jersey, settling near Dover. He was said to have held a commission during the French War, and as colonel and brigadier-general he made an excellent record in the Revolutionary War. He is described as "a man of great physical powers, tremendous voice, strong will, and indomitable courage; very impulsive, and calculated to be a leader and foremost in every popular movement." He died October 12, 1789, and a monument to his memory stands in Rockaway cemetery.
Abraham and Samuel Ogden, brothers, were ardent patriots. Their father, David Ogden, of Newark, a Supreme Court justice, was a pro- nounced royalist, as was his eldest son, Isaac. Abraham Ogden was a distinguished lawyer, United States district attorney under Washington, and a member of the legislature. Samuel Ogden commanded a company of militia during the Revolution ,and afterward was a leading iron manu- facturer at Boonton. He married a sister of Governor Morris, and they became the parents of the distinguished lawyer, David B. Ogden.
William De Hart served as major and lieutenant-colonel during the Revolution; he was a lawyer of ability, and a prominent resident of Morristown, one of whose streets is named in his honor.
Samuel Tuthill was also of Morristown, and became clerk and judge of the county court. He was a son-in-law of Jacob Ford Sr.
Jonathan Stiles, also of Morristown, had been sheriff, and became a county court judge. John Carle, also a county judge, lived in the southern part of Morris county ; he was an elder in the Basking Ridge church, and a man held in high esteem. Philip Van Cortlandt, whose home was near Pompton, was a colonel during the Revolution.
The aforesaid committee, subsequent to the session of the General Congress in Philadelphia, called a public meeting in Morristown, and the following declaration was adopted and promulgated :
"At a meeting of the freeholders of the county of Morris, at Morristown, on Monday the 9th day of January, 1775, William Winds, Esq., chairman, the committee of correspondence for the county of Morris having produced and read the associa- tion of the Continental Congress, the same was deliberately considered by the whole assembly and by them unanimously approved as a wise, prudent and constitutional mode of opposition to the late several tyrannical and oppressive acts of the British
Ford's Powder Mill, 1776. (Plate of P. H. Hoffman).
16.1 -
Lindsley House, near Powder Mill. (Plate of P. H. Hoffman),
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Parliament. Whereupon they unanimously determined strictly to abide by the same, and thanks to the delegates of this colony for their great attention to the rights and liberties of their constituents, and for the faithful discharge of the important trust reposed in them.
"The assembly then unanimously agreed that the inhabitants of each several township in the county should meet, at their respective places of holding town meet- ings, on Monday, the 23d day of January instant, at I o'clock in the afternoon, then and there respectively to choose (by those who are qualified to vote for representa- tives in the legislature) a committee of observation, pursuant to and for the pur- poses expressed in the eleventh article of the said association. After which the committee of correspondence declared to the assembly that they had thought proper to dissolve themselves, in order that their constituents might have an opportunity of a new choice, and that they were dissolved accordingly. Whereupon Jacob Ford, William Winds and Jonathan Stiles, Esquires, Messrs. Jacob Drake, Peter Dickerson and Ellis Cook, together with Samuel Tuthill, Dr. William Hart and Abraham Ogden, Esquires, were elected; and at the same time authorized to in- struct the representatives of this county when convened in General Assembly to join in the appointment of delegates for this colony to meet in General Congress at Philadelphia; but if the said Assembly should not appoint delegates for that purpose by the first day of April next, then the said committee of correspondence to meet with the several county committees of this colony and appoint the said delegates, at such time and place as shall be agreed upon by the said committees.
"The assembly afterwards, taking into consideration the conduct of James Rivington, printer in New York, in publishing two certain pamphlets-the one en- titled 'A Friendly Address,' &c., &c., the other under the signature of 'A. W. Farmer,' and several others-all containing many falsehoods, wickedly calculated to divide the colonies, to deceive the ignorant, and to cause a base submission to the unconstitutional measures of the British Parliament for enslaving the colonies, do unanimously resolve that they esteem the said James Rivington an enemy to his country ; and therefore that they will for the future refrain from taking his news- papers, and from all further commerce with him; and that by all lawful means in their power they will discourage the circulation of his papers in this county."
In the reorganization of the committee, it will be noted that the names of John Carle and Philip Van Cortland disappear, but the fact is not accounted for. Their successors were Colonel Jacob Drake and Peter Dickerson. Colonel Drake was a Virginian, and an early settler at Drakes- ville, Morris county, where he took up a large tract of land. He was colonel of the Western Battalion of Morris county militia, and resigned when elected to the first legislature. He lived to the venerable age of ninety-three years. Peter Dickerson came from Long Island to Morris county about 1741. He was an ardent patriot, and was a member of the Provincial Congress of 1776. He was captain of a company which he is said to have organized and equipped entirely at his own expense, an outlay for which he was never reimbursed.
On January 23d, 1775, committees were chosen in each township, but the full list of names is not of record. Those known are as follows : Hanover township-Matthias Burnet, Aaron Kitchel, David Bruen, Captain Stephen Dey, Stephen Munson, Benjamin Howell, Captain James Keen. For Pequannock township-Robert Gaston, Moses Tuttle, Stephen Jack- son, Abraham Kitchel, Job Allen. David Thompson was at the head of the Mendham township committee. Each township committee was to pro- cure signatures to a pledge of support of the Provincial and Continental congresses, a notable evidence of which is preserved in the pledge cir- culated by Captain Stephen Jackson, containing one hundred and seventy- two signatures, and printed in Dr. Tuttle's "Revolutionary Fragments." It is interesting to note that the form of pledge drawn up by the Hanover township committee was adopted by the Provincial Congress, May 3Ist, 1775.
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