USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 67
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Frederick Alexander Canfield graduated at Rutgers College in 1870 and at the school of Mines, Columbia College, New York City, in 1873, as Engineer of Mines. He has practised his profession in North and South America. In 1886 he discovered the fossil plants which determined the geological age of the famous mountain of silver, the Cerro de Potosi, in Bolivia. One species was named "Passiflora Canfieldi," it being new to science. A new and rare mineral has been named "Canfieldite" in his honor. He is a member of the following societies :- The Society of Cin- cinnati of New Jersey; The American Institute of Mining Engineers; The American Numismatic and Archaeological Society; The New Jersey His- torical Society ; The Brooklyn Institute; World's Columbian Exposition of 1892 ; secretary and treasurer of the Ferromonte Railroad Company ; secre- tary and general manager of the Dickerson Suckasunny Mining Company.
He is a collector of minerals and coins, and of historical data. A List of Minerals of New Jersey, compiled by him, was published in Vol. II., Part 2, of the Final Report of the State Geologist, 1889. His home is at Ferromonte, N. J. P. O., Dover, N. J.
A picture of Israel Canfield, 1759-1841, is shown in the front of the Canfield book.
Old Maps of Dover :
I am indebted to the courtesy of the late Frederick Beach of Morris- town, for permission to take copies of maps and papers in his possession, belonging to the McFarlan Estate. These are valuable data for the com- mercial history of Dover. The earliest McFarlan map was dated 1825. A tracing of it is given in this book. The following is a list of the shops and buildings shown on map of 1825-
a blacksmith shop, b dwelling, c carpenter shop, d saw mill, e coal house, f new rolling mill, g rolling and slitting mill, h dwelling, i new iron house, k chain proof, 1 turning mill, m cyder house, n forge, o carpenter
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NEW JERSEY
shop, p dwelling, q dwelling, r dwelling, s Mr. Losey's, t wood house, u new coal house, v grindstone, w blacksmith shop, r chain shop, y coal house, z tavern, aa barn, bb barn, cc chair house, dd store, ee school, ff dwelling, gg steel furnace. Stone buildings thus, xx; frame buildings yy; compound buildings zz; new streets
McFarlan's Descriptions :
The First Tract of Land situate lying and being in the Township of Randolph in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey. It being the fifth tract of Land contained in a certain Deed of Indenture bearing date the 13th of October A. D. 1817 and given by David Mills, Sheriff of the County of Morris by his official Deed to Henry McFarlan, Beginning at N. W. corner of the bridge over Rockaway R. at Warren st. in Dover Containing 4611/2 A.
Excepting
Silas Ayres 13+ A.
Price
Patrick Crystal & Michael Coyle
17 + A
1813
Blk-Ssx SE
Jacob Hurd & Israel Canfield
5,000 sq. ft.
1827
475
Blk So
John M. Losey & M. Rutan
5,000
1827
220
Blk So
Thomas Coe
2,500
1827
100
Blk-Mo SW
Felix A. Hinchman & W. Losey
2,500
1827
100
Mo W
Jared Coe
2,500
May I
1827
400
Blk So
Joshua Stackhouse
3,750
June 20
1833
300
Blk So
William Minton
1,250
1833
100
Blk So
John M. Losey
2,500
1833
200
Blk N
David Sanford
2,500
1833
200
Blk So
Moses Hurd Jn.
5,000
Nov. 10
1834
200
Blk So
John M. Losey
2,500
1834
100
Ssx W
William Minton
7,500
1834
150
Blk-Ssx NE
Felix A. Hinchman
5,000
Dec. 2
1835
750
Blk So
Moses Doty Jn.
2,500
1835
100
Blk N
David Sanford
5,000
1835
200
Blk So
Chilion De Camp
9,000
1835
100
Ssx E
Jacob Hurd
7,500
Apr. I
1836
175
Blk-Ssx NW
James McDavitt
7,500
1836
500
Dck N
Chilion F. De Camp do. do.
16,500
Apr. I
1837
200
Dck-Mo NW
Eliezer Lampson
1,875
1837
200
Ssx E
Chilion F. De Camp
2,500
Jan. 8
1838
Dck-Ssx NE
Jacob Hurd
7,500
Sep. I
1838
Blk So
Guy M. Hinchman
2,500
Apr. I
1839
Dck N
Byram Pruden
5,625
1839
Dck-Ssx NW
Jacob Scott
7,500
1839
Ssx W
William Minton
2,500
1839
150
Mo W
John Swayne
5,000
Aug. 20
1839
Blk-Wa NE
James McDavitt
13,500
Apr. I
1840
Blk-Wa SE
Joshua Butterworth
11,000
1840
Blk-Mo SE
Sidney Breese
5,000
Apr. I
1841
Mo E
James S. Gage
7,500
1841
Blk So
Pres. Church
14,100
Feb I
1842
Fsx W
Wm. A. Dickerson
7,500
Apr. I
1843
Blk So
Thomas Coe
5,000
Sep. I
1845
Blk So
Sidney Breese
2,500
Feb.
1846
Blk-Brgn SE
Erastus D. Johnson
5,000
June I
1847
Blk So
Anson G. Phelps
44,000
1847
Blk So
Joseph McCord 1000 ft. E. of Brgn.
5,000 sq. ft. Sept. I
1848
Blk So
Amzi Allen
2,500 Sep. I
1849
80
Ssx E
Jacob Hurd
2,500
Mch
1828
200
Mo W
William Ford
2,500
June 15
1829
150
Blk-Ssx SW
William Minton
2,500
1827 $395
Aaron Doty Blkw st S
9,000 sq. ft.
These exceptions appear to show the development of the village of Dover by giving location, name of Person buying lot, size of lot, and date
15,000
1836
100
Blk So
1837
400
Blk So
8,250
1827
Moses Doty 1/2 A.
١
Rocio way River
Morris Canal
Canal
Www Ford
Rockaway River
5
.
Samt Hicks
27
DoctCrittenden
Mrs. Le 19%
----
Turnpike
Lloyd
No. 11
Mine Ridger
( Sand)
Nº9
Sam Hick's
P. Coyle
bad to Lampoon's Parm
McElhose
M. Munson
25
No.10
PENN'S RETURN
-1715-
24
23
17
18
1
1 W Mintoni
Nº 15
21
Hurd
10
11
Moses
Hard
9
13
14
7
Moses Hurd
Y .. 3
Moses Hurd
DOVER, N.J. September 1832 E. H. Van Winkle Surveyon
V
· Harvey Mine
5. Cooper
Tas Ford
Jas McDevit
Hubbard Mine Lot
10 20
Moses Hard
Jas Ford
w- ford
Mrs. Losey
Moses
Hur
Josiah Hurdy
Hard
Jackson Mine
Mrs Hoagland
Turnpure
Dan Hurd
Joseakultura
Patrick
Crystal
Motes
22
2
J. Lawrence
Sammu
/ Mases Doty
THE-LATHAM . RETURN- OF- 17/3 John Jackson - - 1722
Hartshorne Fity Randolph 1753
THE KIRKBRIDE RETURN . -- >
-1713-
Jos Dickerson
Roadto
Berrys
Morris Canal
1
Nº 13
J. Bater
Dan& Lemon
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MORRIS COUNTY
of sale. Here is a group of men who are early land-owners because they have acquired the means to buy. When the Blackwell and McFarlan ad- vertisement was inserted in the Palladium of Liberty in 1827 some of these men took advantage of the opportunity and we see who followed their example for twenty years after. Connected with each purchase there is a story of human interest.
There is also an extended list of further "exceptions"-On Penn's line, Charlotte Losey, 18+ acres; William Ford, 1827.
Another tract of 286 acres is described, on both sides of the Rockaway River, beginning at the Shotwell return.
E. H. Van Winkle made various surveys in 1830, '31, & '32, and a new description of bounds was made. There is an account of ten acres in the "Outlands" of Israel Canfield, also the "Hoagland Tract," conveyed to Henry McFarlan by Peter G. Hoagland, May 3d, 1825. In these descriptions we find the names Coyle, Moses Hurd, Jesse King, Josiah Bee- man, the Outwit Forge, Arthur Young, Mahlon Munson, Thomas Coe, Elias Garrigus, Daniel H. Fairchild, James Searing, David Sanford, Guy M. Hinchman, Gamaliel Sanford, the Steel Furnace Lot, The Morris Canal and Banking Company, (1838), The Methodist Church (1838), Thomas Kindred, William F. King, John Maseker, Charles R. Hurd, John S. Hurd, James Devore, Sylvester Dickerson, Charles Lamson.
Then the "Andrew Bell" tract is described, opposite the mouth of Jackson's Brook; and the Edward Condit tract, sold to Henry McFarlan in 1823. Scattered through a wilderness of "description" one finds such names as Titus Berry, Luther Goble, Phineas Ward, Israel Crane, John P. Conger, The Richards Mine, David A. Ogden, Lemuel Cobb, the "Kearney Lot," Moses Cooper, John Cooper, David Power, Peter G. How- land, Isaac Hance, (who with others purchases a "forge-right").
Other lands are described-on the Muskonetcong, in Mendham Town- ship, the Longwood property, lands in Jefferson Township, Green Pond Mountain, the "return" of 1714 to Courtland Skinner and John Johnson, the 10,812-acre tract returned to the heirs of Hugh Hartshorn, the Weldon property, Hurd's mine, the William Headley deed, the John De Camp deed, the "Great Pond," the Hardiston tract.
Such is the brief outline of a manuscript legal paper covering 62 pages.
Through the kindness of Mr. Fred H. Beach I have had access to the McFarlan books, in which an account was kept of every lot in Dover offered for sale. These books are a model of old style accounting and give a very full history of early real estate dealings in Dover. A brief record is given of the survey of each piece of property owned by McFarlan and of the references to the recorded deeds. Finally a surveyor's map is drawn in the book.
The terms of sale offered in 1827 were as follows :- Ten per cent. on the day of sale ; 40 per cent. on Nov. 1; 50 per cent. on May 1, 1828. The last two payments to bear interest from May 1, 1827. If improvements valued at $800 are made during 1827 one-half the amount paid for the lot will be refunded. If improvements are made in 1827 & 1828, then 1/4 will be deducted from the cost of the lot. The streets to be public high- ways and all expenses for paving and repairing to the middle of the street to be paid by the owner.
The following are a few entries of sales in addition to those already given.
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NEW JERSEY
Blk So
John Scott
4,500 sq. ft.
$200
Blk S Jacob Hurd & Israel C. Losey
4,500 sq. ft.
125
Blk So
Charles F. Randolph
225
Blk So
Jared Coe
2,500
99
Susx E
Mahlon Munson
7,500
249
Susx E
Jacob Hurd & Israel C. Losey
2,500
90
Susx E
David Sanford
5,000
1 59
Susx E
Thomas Coe
2,500
80
Susx-Clin SE
Daniel H. Fairchild
5,000
237
Susx E
Jacob Hurd & Israel C. Losey
5,000
232
Clin N
Elias Garrigus
2,500
100
Clin N
Elias Garrigus
2,500
100
Morris W.
Zenas Pruden Dec 1, 1827 All above were in 1827.
5,000
300
Dck N
Samuel Burchell,
June 20,
1833
1,875
125
Clin So
James Searing
1834
5,000
75
Blk So
John M. Losey
1834
2,500
100
Blk-Mo NW
Titus Berry
1834
7,500
350
Susx E
Guy M. Hinchman
1835
10,000
100
Susx E
Guy M. Hinchman
1836
28,550
300
Susx W
Gamaliel Sanford
1837
10,000
80
Henry McFarlan the younger died suddenly of pneumonia in New York City, March 27, 1882, at the age of seventy-seven. He was the son of Henry McFarlan and was born in Vesey street, New York City, near St. Paul's Church, where his father then resided. His family always held a high position in New York, and was closely connected with the Lennoxes, Mortons, and others who have stood high during the nineteenth century in the business, political, and social circles of that city.
Henry McFarlan the elder came to this country from Scotland with his cousin James Lennox, and they became still more closely connected by marrying sisters. He was of the original firm of Blackwell & McFarlan, who did a large business in the city and became such heavy creditors of Israel Canfield and Jacob Losey, the then proprietors of the Dover Rolling Mills, that when the latter failed in business the works here fell into the possession of the former. They assumed the business and conducted it so energetically that they soon became known as having the most extensive business in all this section. There were scarcely a dozen dwellings in the town when they came here, but they began at once to sell lots, and their works and the opening of the Morris Canal caused the village to grow quite rapidly. After he had been here some time the elder McFarlan died suddenly one day, in 1830, while sitting in his chair on the porch of the "stone hotel." His son, Frank McFarlan, also dropped dead, although he had been an invalid for some time, and his two other sons, Charles and Henry, each died after being ill only a few days, at a later date.
Henry McFarlan the younger was, in his earlier days, active in the social circles of New York, and was especially partial to the militia, being at one time the aide-de-camp of Gen. Morton, whose son, Prof. Morton, afterwards married Mr. McFarlan's sister. When his father died, he took his place in the firm of Blackwell & McFarlan. Later he purchased the interests in the business of the other heirs of his father and of Mr. Black- well, and conducted the business of the concern upon his own responsi- bility, the late Guy M. Hinchman acting as his superintendent. In some manuscripts which Mr. Hinchman left he says he came here at the solicita- tion of Mr. McFarlan in 1835. He also says that Mr. McFarlan conducted the business successfully till 1869, when, the business being dull, and he being in a position to suspend operations, not having a dollar of outstanding obligations, he closed down the works. After that time there were several
463
MORRIS COUNTY
attempts made by different parties to start up the mills, but little of con- sequence was done in them until Mr. McFarlan sold them, in 1880, to The Dover Iron Company.
In all the history of the town these works have been the most con- spicuous feature. Here was prepared much of the machinery used in the construction of the Morris Canal, necessitating the erection of the old foundry, which used to stand near the Morris street dam. Another venture was the erection of a steel furnace on the property now owned by L. D. Schwarz, where after a process then in vogue the iron was changed and rolled into spring steel. The spike mill was established in 1837, and the manufacture of rivets and brace jaws was begun somewhat later. In this branch he commanded the aid of the wonderful mechanical ingenuity of the late John H. Butterworth, who superintended the construction of the ma- chinery in these departments. These machines were then the wonder of all this section and were inspected by all the curious. This period repre- sents a part of the history of Dover which the old residents love to dwell upon and talk about. With the deaths of Messrs. McFarlan, Hinchman, and Butterworth, all within a few years, the central figures of interest in connection with these works passed away.
Mr. McFarlan did not remove to Dover until 1842, but since that time he was so closely identified with all its interests that his presence was felt in nearly all private and public undertakings, while his means stimulated very many of the enterprises of the town. He was a director in the National Union Bank from the time of its organization until his death, and at one period was vice-president of that institution. When the Miners' Savings Bank was founded he was made its president and continued as such while it existed. Of the Dover Printing Company he was a director. Albert R. Riggs was associated with him in both of these enterprises. Mr. McFarlan was also one of the charter directors of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company of Newark, and was the last surviving member of the original Board. Speaking of his connection with this institution the Newark Advertiser said, "he was one of the most attentive and valuable members of the Board. He rarely failed to attend the monthly meetings and he had the deepest interest in its welfare." All the other institutions with which he was connected will doubtless give him the same meed of praise for his constancy and attention to their interests. He was largely interested also in railroads, being a heavy stockholder in the Bound Brook, Dover, and Rockaway, and other corporations. Beyond these his local real estate operations were very extensive, he having during the course of his life owned very much of what is now the most valuable property in Dover. During his later years he disposed of much the greater part of his landed property.
In denominational belief Mr. McFarlan was an earnest Episcopalian, taking such a deep interest in the affairs of that church that for years he was classed among the prominent and influential Episcopalians of the two Dioceses which once formed the Diocese of New Jersey. Of St. John's Church in this town he was a valued supporter during the whole course of its existence. He donated the beautiful and valuable property on which the church edifice stands, assisted largely in its erection, and contributed liberally to its maintenance. When the building was erected he placed in it a handsome memorial window dedicated to the memory of his father. He was always a warm friend of the venerated Bishop Doane, and by that ecclesiastic was appointed a lay reader. On many occasions when the
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NEW JERSEY
church was without a rector he officiated at the service, and always so earnestly and impressively that it was ever a pleasure to the congregation to hear him. He was the senior warden of the church from the time of its institution, and his death and that of his colleague in this office, Mahlon Munson, left the church without wardens.
Before the erection of St. John's Church Episcopalian services were for years held in the old Academy building, which Mr. McFarlan's father erected but a short time before his death. The continuance of the service there for years depended largely upon Mr. McFarlan's liberality. In this building the exercises of the Sunday School of the parish were held. In these he took a great interest, acting as superintendent for many years. He was also one of the trustees of that well known Episcopalian institution of learning, St. Mary's Seminary, at Burlington, N. J., a position which he held for many years prior to his death. As further evidence that his generosity to his church was not bounded by the community in which he lived, it need only be said that the church in which his funeral services were held-the church of St. James the Less, at Scarsdale, N. Y .- was, to a great extent, founded by his liberality, it having been erected by the contributions of himself and his younger brother Frank.
In his later years it was only in the summer that Mr. McFarlan oc- cupied his residence in the handsome park which bore his name. (This residence stood on the rear of the lot later occupied by The Hoagland Memorial Church.) His winters were spent in the city, but he would make occasional visits to the town during the winter to look after his business interests. One of these visits was made just ten days before his death. He was then looking as well as usual, and none who saw him had any idea that his life was so near its close. After an illness of three days he died at his boarding place in New York, No. 125 East 17th Street. His illness at first seemed of a very trivial nature. His wife survived him but a few days. Her death occurred April 5th, 1882. They had been married for more than thirty years. They never had any children. At the time of his death, his sister, Mrs. Patterson, of Sing Sing, N. Y., was the only remaining member of his father's family.
Aside from his business relations with this community he possessed remarkable traits of character which will cause his memory to be a pleasant one with the many who knew him. He was an aristocrat in the best sense of that often misapplied term. His was an aristocracy of worth, good breeding, and gentlemanly qualities, and those who enjoyed his esteem had to be the possessors of the same qualities. In this atmosphere he lived and these inherent traits in himself gave him immunity from the association of the rude and vulgar, making his life very pleasant and enjoyable in its associations. His finely organized nature made him always considerate of the feelings of others, and it was particularly noticeable that he was ever careful not to give offence to the humblest, a fact that redounded to his own peace and contentment, for even the rudest would desist from giving offence to one of his mild and gentle deportment and uniform courtesy. He illustrated grandly in life the courtly bearing and mild movement of that old school of gentlemen of whom there are now so few living repre- sentatives. Unostentatious, but scrupulously neat in the simplicity of his dress, there was about him a reminder of the olden time that was always pleasant and agreeable. But while in outward appearance he adhered largely to the customs of the past, his strong intellect kept pace with the best thought of the present, forming in him a charming combination of
465
MORRIS COUNTY
what was best in the social acquirements of the half century before with the finest accomplishments of more recent culture. His literary tastes were of a high order and his wife being rarely gifted in this respect their home was naturally one of culture and refinement. Although not a politician and never an applicant for official position, his clear judgment kept him free from any political errors. From an old-time Whig he became one of the original Republicans, and remained always steadfast to the principles of that party, so that he had the satisfaction of being a supporter of every right theory and successful feature of governmental policy wrought out by those two great parties. In his business intercourse with his fellows he was above suspicion. His name was a synonym for honesty and com- mercial integrity, and of the hundreds who have been in his employ, and the many who have done business with him, we have never heard it asserted that he wronged any or ever took a mean advantage which might have been legally in his power. It was more his nature to submit to an imposi- tion rather than have the slightest difficulty with any with whom he had business relations. Notable among his traits was an affection for children, and having been denied this blessing himself, the children of others often found a warm place in his heart. It is related of him that during the great panic of 1857 he carefully looked after the wants of all the children of the place and caused them to be clothed at his own expense. His love of neatness and order was also a prominent characteristic. When he came to Dover the houses of the community looked very unsightly in their plain coats of dull red. He succeeded in remedying this defect by presenting to each householder who would use it a keg of white paint.
Mr. McFarlan's life was well rounded in character and fruitful in good results. He was not one of those aggressive ones who keep near the sum- mit of local prominence by their persistent force, but his was one of those well rounded characters, attaining as near perfection as human nature does, and exerting the quiet but mighty influence of purity and gentleness.
His funeral services were held at Scarsdale, New York, in the church of St. James the Less. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining. A num- ber of intimate friends were present from Morris county, and among the pallbearers were ex-Gov. Marcus L. Ward, Judge Teese, and Jeremiah Garthwaite, of Newark.
Jacob Losey: Written by Mrs. E. W. Livermore.
Jacob Losey was born Oct. 26, 1767, and died May 22d, 1858, aged 90 years and seven months. He was the son of James Puff Losey and Hannah Burwell Losey, and was born at Ninkey, near Dover. The early part of his life was spent near his home and at Morristown, N. J. He married, in 1792, Anna (Nancy) Canfield, the daughter of Abraham Canfield of Morristown (New Vernon). She was sister of Israel Canfield, who was Mr. Losey's partner in business.
In 1792, Losey & Canfield erected the rolling mill at Dover; also a dwelling house, which was occupied by Mr. Losey as his home. A section of it was used as a store, kept by Losey & Canfield. Mr. Losey laid out the grounds back of his house in a very attractive manner, and took great interest in his garden. He was the first to cultivate tomatoes in this section. People were afraid to eat them, as they were afraid they were poisonous and called them love apples. The Losey home was known as a most hospitable mansion, with larder full, and colored Jule and Peggy in the kitchen, whose cooking would excel the Delmonico or the Waldorf of today. It was not to be wondered at that the house was always full of guests, and this reminds me that Miss Harriet Ives, of whom you have record, resided at Mr. Losey's during her term of teaching at Dover.
Mr. Losey had many faithful men in his employ. Among them was one Daniel Clark. One day Mr. Losey called in a very imperious way, "Daniel, Daniel !" But Dan continued his walk, never looking back. Again he was called, louder than
466
NEW JERSEY
before,- "Daniel, Daniel!" No notice was taken of the call, and Dan continued his walk, muttering to himself,-"Don't hear you and I am damned glad of it!'
Losey & Canfield were successful business men for many years. At last a crash came in business, they could not surmount the difficulties, and their affairs passed into other hands; but the rolling mill which they established in 1792 has always been one of the chief industries of the town. An agreement was made that Mr. Losey should be provided for as long as he lived. This agreement failed to be kept and his relatives and friends provided for him as long as he lived. He is buried in Locust Hill Cemetery. Israel Canfield returned to Morristown and died there. The business that they established in 1792 has passed from one to another and has assisted in the development of the town.
ELLA W. LIVERMORE.
My father, John Marshall Losey, was the most prominent merchant of Dover for years and a most generous man, never refusing aid to any who were needy. He was a first class bcsiness man and one of the most honest that ever lived. He owned a great deal of real estate in Dover. In 1857 there was a black Friday all over the country. My father died that year, 22d Sept. Everything was in bad shape and the depression in business caused everything to shrink in value. His real estate was sold for little or nothing. After debts were paid there was little left. But he was Postmaster a good many years.
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