USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Chatham > Brief history of Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey > Part 7
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Stanley Mill, near Chatham, along Passaic River.
Parrott's Mill, Chatham.
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Littlejohn who erected the present greenhouses east of the clubhouse grounds. This industry has grown until at the present time we have the following greenhouses located within the borough limits; those of Frank L. Moore, Fairmount avenue ; David Falconer, Hillside avenue ; G. F. Neipp and Wil- liam J. Badgley of Floral Hill; Pierson & Green and Smith & Company on Lum avenue, Samuel Lum on Main street, John Roper near Division street, Phipps Brothers on Hedges avenue, and J. T. Wagner in Stanley.
In connection with the growing of roses it is interesting to note that the widely reputed pink Bridesmaid rose was first grown in this town by Mr. Frank L. Moore in 1891. This variety was for a long time the popular rose of New York City, and the honor of its original culture lies to the credit of Mr. Moore of Chatham who discovered it as a sport on a bush called the Catherine Mermet.
The manufacture of vapo-cresolene began on Main street in the upstairs rooms of Nelson Kelley's store. The early promoter of this compound was J. H. Valentine. Later Mr. George Shepard Page, who was at the time en- gaged in a tar paper manufactory in Stanley, took up the industry and de- veloped it to its world-wide extent of the present time. The proprietors of the present business are Messrs. Laurence S., Harry DeB., and Albion L. Page.
The grinding of wheat flour was at one time the predominant business of Chatham. Mr. George T. Parrott for a number of years conducted a very flourishing flour industry at the river. Farmers from Sussex, Warren, and the northeastern part of Hunterdon were accustomed to bring their grain to Parrott's mill to be ground into flour. This business thrived until the extensive flour mills of the west crowded it out of existence on account of the subtle competition.
For some years past the business of digging building sand from various glacial deposits in the vicinity has grown to a considerable extent. This began in the sand pit formerly known as Gould's sand pit and later as Duchamp's. At the present time it is in the possession of Mr. Jacob Snook. Mr. August Molitor has developed at Stanley a similar industry which has reached a large annual output. Sawmills of this community were also in- strumental in attracting people to the town and helping to make this little hamlet west of the second mountain the center of business.
For many years about the time of 1850 the "great island" of former times, (known at this date as "the island"), was the place where special gatherings of the community were held. Before the time of mosquitoes the people of Chatham would often have evening teas on the island, picnics, and Children's Day celebrations. However the one great occasion of the year was that known as "Bobilation Day." This particular event was celebrated on the fifth of July and was a day set aside on which the colored people of the northern part of the State might celebrate the anniversary of the Inde- pendence of America. A considerable feeling was at this time held against negroes and they were not privileged to celebrate on the same day with their superiors, the white people. The one great attraction on "Bobilation Day" which brought hundreds of people from Newark and the surrounding country was a butting match betwen two negroes. It is said that a scene of this kind was witnessed annually and that in a certain contest one of the negro contestants had his neck broken and died instantly. The immediate locality of these celebrations was on that part of the island which extends north of the bridge and at the present time is but a narrow strip of land in the river. When the earliest settlements were made here this island was
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undoubtedly many times larger than it now is, otherwise the name "great island" could not have been appropriately applied. It is said that for a number of years the southern end of the island was used as a place to bury the slaves of the community.
Doctors and Lawyers-The locality of Chatham was made famous in the time following the Revolutionary War by one of its inhabitants known as Dr. John C. Budd. He was born in the year 1762 and was the son of Berne Budd, a physician at Hanover. In the early part of the nineteenth century on the death of Mrs. Moses Lum who occupied the farm now owned by Mr. Frank M. Budd, and that time known as "The Lum Plantation," Mr. Budd moved from Hanover to this place. Mrs. John C. Budd was the daughter of Moses Lum and inherited the right to the farm. The Doctor lived to the age of eighty-four and was known in the latter part of his life- time as "Old Doctor Budd." Not only was he a physician of great repute within his own vicinity, but he also had a high reputation both in the city of New York and throughout the whole northern part of New Jersey. Many young men received their medical instruction and first practice under the direction of Dr. John C. Budd. It was for him that the road leading to Cheapside Bridge, or the lower Chatham bridge, was named Budd Lane. Besides his great ability as a physician Dr. Budd was reputed to have control over the evil spirits. Many incidences occurred where he was re- ported as threatening the visitation of his Satanic Majesty and likewise where he, as it were, "cast out devils." At one particular time it is said that the doctor was frightened by his own devil. One evening on his way from visiting a patient at Springfield he stopped at Mrs. Day's hotel east of the river. It was late and Mrs. Day was prevented from closing her place of business on account of some town characters who continued to play cards in front of the open hearth. The doctor on entering was asked by the pro- prietress to help her in her trouble. Willing to be of service to her, he said to the boys, "The devil will get you fellows if you don't stop playing cards at this late hour of the night." Notwithstanding his admonition, they kept on playing and the doctor finally became interested in the game, too. Mrs. Day much exasperated called from out of the room one of the chimney- sweeps who was stopping off for the night on his way from Newark, and prepared to dispel the loafers. In the barn was a cowhide with the hoofs still attached to it. This she fastened on the chimney-sweep, setting horns and tail in place. Then with some heel chains in his hand she sent the urchin to the top of the house to play the devil coming down the chimney. The fire on the hearth was about burned out, and presently in the dim candle light chains were heard in the chimney. Before the company could explain the noise "the devil" dropped into the ashes with a thud and began scram- bling about. The frightened party together with the Doctor made hasty exits through doors and windows, and Mrs. Day promptly closed the hotel for the night. [The Medical Men of N. J., 1666 to 1866, by J. Henry Clark, p. 26.]
The next doctor of considerable repute was Jephtha B. Munn who lived in the latter days of J. C. Budd and fell heir to a great part of his practice. His home was opposite the Fairview Hotel in the house occupied at the present time by Mr. William Riker. Dr. Munn was very active in the poli- tics of Morris County and was made a member of the council ( senate) of New Jersey in the year 1835. He was elected vice-president of that body. and it is said that during the absence of the governor. Hon. Peter D. Vroom, Dr.
Home of Hon. Jeptha B. Munn, East Main Street, Chatham.
NicLaughlin Home of Revolutionary times. North of West Main Street, Chatham.
Park at Railroad Station. Chatham.
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Munn was the acting governor of the State of New Jersey, and in this capacity signed a number of bills. Dr. Munn was a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons and filled the most exalted office of that or- ganization in the State of New Jersey as right worshipful grand master. Following Dr. Munn came Dr. George M. Swaim, who was the next doctor of any length of service in the town of Chatham. He was of an old Newark family members of which were among the early settlers of that city. Dr. Swaim in connection with his practice had a drug store near the corner of Main and Center Streets. He was a surgeon in the Civil War and served with Sherman on the march to the sea.
The next physician of prominence to come to Chatham was Dr. William J. Wolfe who has been a highly successful practitioner in his profession in the village since 1885. He has been active in both borough and school affairs. At present he is the borough postmaster, and is the owner of one of the largest business blocks.
Other physicians of the town at present are Drs. F. Irvin Krauss and Bert A. Prager. Dr. Walter A. Jaquith, chief of the medical staff of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, and Dr. Joseph E. Pollard, also a member of this staff, are residents of Chatham.
For the past fourteen years Dr. Frederick H. Lum Jr. has practiced dental surgery in the borough. He has not only a large patronage in the town but attracts patients from many of the cities in the northern part of the State. Dr. J. P. Ekings has recently established a practice in this profession in Chatham. Drs. C. S. Van Orden and his son Charles are prominent den- tists of Brooklyn, New York, who reside in the village.
Most prominent among the lawyers of the town was Frederick H. Lum who spent his whole life as a most worthy citizen of Chatham. He was not only the organizer of the borough but also the guiding spirit of its initial success. The highest respect was given him by the populace whom he served consistently until his untimely death. Mr. Lum was born in 1848. His early education was received in the public school of the town. Later he attended the private school of Julius D. Rose, of Summit, New Jersey. After leaving this institution he took up the study of law, under Judge John Whitehead and Wm. B. Guild, Esq. of Newark. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and in 1873 became one of the original members of the firm of Guild & Lum, which firm at the present continues in the family as Lum, Tamblyn, and Colyer. To the great grief of his many friends on account of over work Mr. Lum's health broke in the year 1904, and with the best medical aid he was not able to recover. In his death in 1906 the Borough of Chatham lost its greatest benefactor.
Another of the prominent lawyers of the town is Mr. Chas. M. Lum. After graduating from Columbia College as an honor student. Mr. Lum was admitted to the bar as attorney in the State of New Jersey, in 1884, and as counsellor in 1889. He became a member of the firm of Lum, Tamblyn & Colyer, of Newark, in '89, and has since distinguished himself as a coun- selor at law. In this capacity he has rendered invaluable service to numerous large estates and corporations. great interest in the welfare of Chatham. Mr. Lum has always exercised From the inception of the Free Public Library he has been its president. For a number of years he was the president of the Chatham Fish and Game Protective Association, and in addition to this has given like service as the chief official of the Board of Trade. Mr. Lum has not only exercised a great deal of interest in and attention to the history of Chatham, but has also reached out into the
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broader field of the history of the state. He is at this writing honored with the vice-presidency of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Prominent among the lawyers of Chatham is Mr. Guy Minton who has had his law office in Morristown since he began practicing in 1868. At this time he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey and succeeded in the prac- tice of Mr. George Gage under whom he studied. Mr. Minton is connected with various business enterprises of Morristown such as the Morris County Insurance Company, Morris County Savings Bank, and the First National Bank of which he is the vice-president. He is a most active official in the Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church of Chatham, and shows a lively inter- est in all the projects of the municipality.
Mr. Ralph E. Lum, although young in the law profession, has already made himself prominently successful. As a pleader in court he has few equals. Mr. Lum was graduated from Columbia University in 1900, took a post graduate course in law at New York University, and entered the bar in New Jersey as an attorney in November, 1900. He was admitted as a coun- sellor in 1903. For a number of years Mr. Lum has given his service gratis as counsel for the borough of Chatham. In his practice in Newark he stands among the highest and in consequence is entrusted with a large and distinc- tive clientele.
Among the younger promising men of Chatham in the law profession should be mentioned Mr. Lawrence Day, who is practicing in Morristown, and Messrs. Ernest Lum and Ernest L. Quackenbush, practicing in Newark.
Slavery-Although slavery in its greatest extent was confined to the South, the practice was participated in to no small extent in our Northern States, and New Jersey was not least among them in the holding of human chattels. The institution was formally abolished by the State legislature in 1820. Previous to this time the more wealthy families of the locality held from one to a half dozen colored men and women in bondage. Mr. Thomas Bond, Dr. Jephtha Munn, and Dr. John C. Budd, of Budd Lane, were the last to liberate their slaves. The following copies of agreements found among the papers of Mr. Washington Bond are in brief the history of the negro man Jack, who belonged at one time to Mr. Thomas Bond.
Know all men by these presents that I, John B. Miller, of the County of Morris and State of New Jersey do this day sell and deliver to Thomas Bond for the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars my Negro man Jack to serve him for the term of seven years at the expiration of the said time Thomas Bond is to manumet and set free the said Negro man Jack and should the said Jack run away and put the said Thomas Bond to any expense to recover him, he the said Jack shall continue in said Bond service to pay said expense and loss of time and I do warrant the property of said Negro man Jack against me or any other person whatsoever as witness my hand this 29th day of December 1823.
JOHN B. MILLER.
On the back of said document the following entry is made :
I do hereby certify that the within named (Negroman) Jack was sold by me to John B. Miller and his age is not to exceed thirty-four years.
January 10-1831.
ISRAEL DAY.
Another document reads as follows :
STATE OF NEW JERSEY MORRIS COUNTY
To wit we do hereby certify, that on this fifth day of March in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and thirty one-, Thomas Bond of the township of Chatham, in the said County of Morri sbrought before us two of the overseers of the poor of said township and two of the justices of the Peace of said County,
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his slave named Jack, who on view and examination appears to us to be sound in mind, and not under any bodily incapacity of obtaining a support, and also is not under the age of twenty-one years nor above the age of forty years. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, the day and year above written.
ZOPHAN FREEMAN Overseer of Poor ARCHIBALD TAYLOR Overseer of Poor AZARIAH CARTER WILLIAM BRITTIN On the reverse side is written :
Certificate of Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Chatham and two of the Justices of the County of Mor- ris.
Overseers of the Poor of said Town- ship of Chatham.
Justices of the peace in and for said County of Morris.
Rec'd. and Recorded in the Morris County Register of Manumissions 12th March 1831 (Liber C. Fol. 16).
Fee paid. DAVID DAY, Clerk.
There was considerable practice of kidnapping in this vicinity in these days of slavery. The following incident was related by Mr. William Budd, concerning a slave girl of Dr. John C. Budd. So bold were these kidnappers that on an evening in the year 1814, while the family was at tea, they came through the back door of Budd's house into the kitchen with a large plaster which on catching her was placed hastily over the mouth of the slave. In their attempt to take her from the kitchen, she caught hold of the cupboard filled with dishes and upset the same. This aroused the family and the poor girl was left behind by the kidnappers, who were fortunate in escaping. Many incidents of this kind happened within our vicinity during the time of the holding of slaves. Kidnapping was a business with some of the repro- bates of New York City and other towns.
The following advertisement taken from the files of the New Jersey Journal suggests the difficulties encountered by slaveholders of this vicinity :
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD-Ran away from the subscriber, early this morning, from Mr. John Leary's, at Chatham, a negro man named Scipio, about 5 feet 9 inches high, about 45 years old, not married, with a flat face and nose, large eyes, and grey hair on his head; he had on a claret colored short coat, with lapels, a gold lace or old plain hat, short waistcoat, and leather breeches, a pair of shoes without buckles. He had a bundle with him containing four shirts, a blanket, and a pair of breeches, etc. Whoever will take up said negro, and deliver him to Captain Jacob Arnold, at Morris Town, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges paid by
JOHN BARRERE.
Civil War Period-When the Civil War broke out, the patriotic spirit of the citizens of Chatham was shown by the way in which its sons responded to the national call for the defense of the Union. About ten per cent. of the male population of the town left their homes and enlisted.
Again the custom of erecting a liberty pole established in Revolutionary times was participated in, however the location was not the same since the center of the village had changed. It was no longer east of the Passaic. The coming of the railroad and the location of its station attracted the inhab- itants westward, and at this time the business section was at the crossing of Passaic avenue and Main street. Here in '61 a liberty pole was erected. This first one was unfortunately blown down. In an attempt to erect another in its place, the pole fell and was broken to pieces. Although this seemed to be an omen of an unfortunate outcome of the war, the popu- lation of. the borough was determined to be represented as standing ardently in behalf of the united nation by a pole from which the stars and stripes should be floated to the breeze. The third attempt was successful and the pole stood for many years. At this time Aunt Dorcas Day, a weaver of
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rag carpets, lived on the corner of Passaic avenue, where Mr. Nelson Kelley's house is now located. One of the guy ropes was fastened to the pear tree standing on the ground of Aunt Dorcas's lot. In the second attempt to erect the pole this tree was uprooted and the derrick and pole fell to the ground and was broken in pieces. It is said just at this time the mail train bound for Newark stopped at the station. Many of the passengers seeing the plight that the people were put in by this unfortunate happening, stepped from the train. Among the arrivals was one Joseph P. Bradley, who after- ward became a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Seizing the opportunity offered hin, he climbed upon the roof of the scale house situated near the corner of the Long Hill road and the turnpike and extem- poraneously made the speech of the day. This stirred the villagers to a renewed effort and within a short time two large timbers were hewn out, fashioned and spliced by the millwrights and carpenters, and soon became the liberty pole of the town. The great flag which floated from this pole was the product of the skillful hands of the patriotic women of Chatham.
So anxious were the young men of the town to enlist in the army that a load of sixteen was assembled and driven by Mr. Paul Lum to the county seat of Hunterdon County, at Flemington, New Jersey. There these anxious young patriots became members of Company C, 15th New Jersey Infantry, on August 7, 1862. Of these sixteen, five were killed in the service and six wounded. It should be noted that this 15th New Jersey composed of citizens of Morris, Sussex, and Hunterdon counties stood seventh in the list of the three hundred fighting regiments of the war in the number killed and ยท wounded in battle. Of the one hundred five members of Company C, the record shows that there was not one deserter among them.
It is said by one of the number who joined the army from Chatham, that when the news of the firing on Fort Sumter reached the village, the excitement was so great that more than half of the men of the town volun- teered their services. Messrs. Hudson Muchmore and William Lum were among the most active, and took their places at once as officers of companies of boys who began drilling, hopeful that they might soon enter the army.
The following is a list as accurate as could be had from the minds of veteran residents of the town, Messrs. William Lum and George Spencer, of those men who left Chatham and went to war: Merritt Bruen, first lieutenant, quartermaster in Co. K 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, died in the army ; Theodore Bruen, brother of Merritt; Joseph Marsh ; Lewis Bruen ; Stephen Bruen, brother of Lewis ; Andrew Genung, killed at Spott- sylvania ; Israel D. Lum, color-sergeant, was wounded by a bullet that killed the color bearer in his regiment; William Lum, brother of Israel; Elias Muchmore, captured at Monocacy, Md., died in Danville prison ; Oscar Brokaw, killed at Salem Heights, Virginia (When the report reached Chat- ham of a certain important battle in which the North lost, he was working in a carpenter shop of Mr. Harvey Lum. Mr. Brokaw was planing a board when the news arrived. He stopped work at once and said to his employer, "I shall not complete the planing of that board until the war is over." He joined the load of sixteen which went to Flemington and became a member of Company C of the 15th N. J. Soon after his departure news came of his death. Mr. Brokaw was over six feet tall, and was killed with a bullet which struck him in the very topmost part of the head. Had he been two inches shorter he would have escaped the fatal shot) ; William Brokaw, brother of Oscar ; Albert Nichols; John Nichols, brother of Albert ; Samuel Ball; Job Hardman ; William Kelley, navy; Isaac Day, missing after the
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battle of the Wilderness, and never heard from; Edward Day, brother of Isaac, was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia; Vincent Clark, navy ; William Howard, army and navy; Silas Eugene Wonderley; John Tyson; William Trelease (He was the son of a widow in town and worked in the wagon- maker's shop. Mr. Trelease was mortally wounded at Spottsylvania, Virginia. Israel Lum was marching at his side when he was shot and bending over him at his dying moments, asked whether he had any word to send to his mother. The response of the patriotic son of Chatham was made in the words of Nathan Hale: "Tell mother that 'my only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country' ") ; Lewis Turner ; Frank Pollard, son of John Celey Pollard, wounded and confined during the latter part of the war in Libby prison ; Eugene Pollard, brother of Frank; Marsina Pollard; Munn Pollard, brother of Frank, died in Andersonville Prison; Joseph Spencer, killed before Petersburg; Charles Spencer, died in hospital in Nashville, Ten- nessee; William H. Thomas; Joseph C. Bower; Manning C. Broadwell; Henry W. Pierson; Thomas Phipps, killed in service; William Phipps, brother of Thomas, carries in his body to this day a bullet received while on duty on the firing line; Henry C. Addison; James Riker; George Oakley, navy; Sylvanus Oakley, brother of George; Daniel Stickles; Frank Camp; Minard Farley Miller, enlisted a second time; William H. Miller, lost an arm at Gettysburg; William Brewster; James Brewster, brother of William; Philip Ryan; Alonzo Edgar; William Oliver, killed in service; John N. Wilkinson, died in Andersonville prison ; William Highland ; Charles Cucuel ; Brittin Durie, William Brant, William Young, wounded; Jacob Miller ; Charles Miller, brother of Jacob; Samuel Parsons; Aaron Parsons, brother of Samuel-these two brothers joined a New York regiment ; John Dennis Ferris, joined the 3rd New York.
Modern Growth-The Chatham Library began previous to the year 1870 in a most humble way in the upstairs rooms of the old D., L. & W. R. R. station. A few books were assembled and were read by the people of the town who were interested in the project. The use of these rooms for religious services caused the promoters of the library to abandon the pro- ject. In 1875 a committee consisting of Rev. Jas. B. Beaumont, Charles M. Lum, William H. Lum, Charles H. Hoyt and Dr. George S. Swaim estab- lished the organization. The library was located in the home of David S. Bower, with Miss Nettie McDougal as librarian. Later it was moved to Kelley's Hall, where Mrs. Swaim was librarian for a time. A number of books and pictures were donated by Mr. William A. Martin. Under this organization it continned for about ten years. In the year 1886 the in- stitution was revived by James Littlejohn and George MacDougal. At Mr. William Martin's death a legacy of $1000 was bequeathed, the in- terest and principal of which were to be used only for the purchase of books. The library at this time consisted of about 2500 books, which were kept in the house of Mr. Bower. Members of a committee served gratis as librarians. For a long time this committee consisted of John Tallmadge, James Littlejohn, Fred Sayre, and Charles E. Genung. Mr. Littlejohn was one of the most active. When the municipality in 1906 voted one-third mill of the total borough assessment for the maintenance of a library, $700 of the Martin endowment together with the books were handed over to the borough. For a number of years the leading spirit in the library movement has been Mr. Charles M. Lum, who is now the president of the association. Under Mr. Lum's wise guidance it has grown to a collection of about 6000 volumes. Since the library has been under municipal ownership
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