Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Part 16

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 698

USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey > Part 16

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Mr. Johnson married, October 31, 1876, Anne Adelia Kentner, born in Cedar Grove, July 23, 1859, daughter of Conrad and Phoebe (Updike) Kentner, and they have had children: 1. Will- iam M., born August 21, 1879. 2. Charles C., born March 9, 1881, died February 26, 1882. 3. Jennie R., born September 23, 1885. 4. Rus- sell C., born October 9, 1892.

GEORGE FURMAN UPDIKE, who is a progressive and successful farmer of Princeton township, Mercer county, New Jersey, repre- sents a family which has been closely identified with the agricultural interests of the state for a number of generations. They have also been influential in the public affairs of the community in which they resided, and are descendants of the celebrated Op Dyck family of Holland.

Louris Jansen Op Dyck, the pioneer ancestor of the family, was a native of Holland, from whence he emigrated to the new world in 1659, settling in Albany, New York, and Gravesend, Long Island.

Johannes Opdyck, son of Lauris Jansen Op Dyck, born 1651, died 1729. He was a planter at Dutch Kills, Long Island, also in Maidenhead and Hopewell, New Jersey, removing to that state in 1697 and purchasing two hundred and fifty acres of land above the falls of the Del- aware. In May or June of that year he moved his family in carts and wagons, and settled in Lawrence township, near Lawrenceville, and, July 12, purchased thirteen hundred acres, ex- tending one and three-eighths miles north and south, and two miles east and west, including the present site of the borough of Pennington, New Jersey. He was one of the founders of the Baptist church in Hopewell. He married Cath- arine , who bore him the following children : 1. Tayntie, died 1744; married Enoch Andrus, a land owner in Trenton, who gave, April 10, 1727, one hundred and fifty square feet of land for the first Presbyterian church of Trenton, long called Sanderson Meeting House. 2. Engeltie, died 1741, married Joshua Ander- son, of Maidenhead. 3. Annettie, died 1746, married Cornelius Anderson, of Maidenhead. 4. Lawrence, born 1675, died 1748, of whose de- scendants more is written in this work. 5. Al- hert, born in 1685, died 1752; married Eliza- beth -; resided in Hopewell and Maid-

enhead, New Jersey. 6. , died 1730. 7. Bartholomew, a resident of Maidenhead, New Jersey.

Lawrence Updike, eldest son of Johannes and Catherine Opdyck, born 1675, died 1748. He resided in Maidenhead, New Jersey. He mar- ried Agnes -, and their children were: William, born 1704, died 1783; resided in Dutch Neck, New Jersey. John, see forward. Tunis, a resident of Somerset, New Jersey.

John Updike, second son of Lawrence and Ag- nes Updike, born 1708, died 1790. He was a resident of Somerset, New Jersey. He was the father of nine sons: Lawrence, Isaac, Burgoon, William, Roliph, Abraham, Jacob, Peter, see for- ward; John, Jr.

Peter Updike, eighth son of John Updike, born 1756, died 1818. He was a resident of Somerset, New Jersey. He was the father of three sons: Garrett, born 1781, died 1838; he

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was a resident of Princeton, New Jersey. Aaron, see forward. John V., born 1788, died 1832; he was a resident of Cedar Grove, New Jersey.

Aaron Updike, second son of Peter Updike. born 1784, died 1861. He was a resident of Princeton, New Jersey. He married Rebecca Morgan, daughter of Andrew Morgan, and they were the parents of six sons: Samuel Bayard, born 1810, died 1888; he was a resident of Princeton, New Jersey. Peter, born in 1812, died 1866. Furman, born 1823, died 1843; he was a resident of Princeton, New Jersey. George F., born 1825, died 1843; he was a resident of Princeton. New Jersey. Andrew M., born 1828, died 1884: he was a resident of Princeton, New Jersey. Abraham D., born 1830, resides in Kan- sas.

Samuel Bayard Updike, eldest son of Aaron and Rebecca (Morgan) Updike, was born on the family homestead in Cherry Valley Road, Princeton township. Mercer county, New Jer- sev. 1810. He spent the entire years of his life in his native county : he died in 1888, and his remains were interred in the Presbyterian cem- etery at Pennington, Mercer county, New Jer- sey. He was a progressive and successful farm- er. and was the owner of and cultivated a farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres at Lam- hertville, and a farm of one hundred and twenty- five acres in Princeton township, where he spent the latter years of his life. Samuel B. Updike married Sarah Hart, born at Washington Cross- ing, Mercer county, New Jersey, daughter of John and Urie (Golden) Hart, and of this mar- riage were born a family of eight children, as follows: 1. Joseph P., married Almira Sauter and had children : Gretta, Almira, deceased; Bavard. deceased ; Gordon, deceased; Dotia, married Victor Holcomb, and has five children. Joseph P .. father of these children. died Sep- tember 25. 1906. 2. Phineas, died in childhood. 3. Tohn H., married Jane E. Dalev, and their children are: Susanna, married Fred Scott, and has four children; Sarah, married Calvin Drake, and has three children; John H .. Tr., married Grace Manners, and has three children surviv- ing ; Havilla, married Matilda Mershon, and has two children; Elizabeth, married William Mer- shon. and has one child : Florence, deceased ; Ar- chibald: Anna H .: Frederick, deceased. 4. George Furman, of whom later. 5. Aaron, mar- ried Hannah Slocum, and had one son, Walter ; Aaron married (second) Jane Conover, and their

children are: Abel, Emma, Harriet and Anna. 6. Harriet, died in childhood. 7. Harriet, sec- ond, married John Van Fleet, and has two chil- dren : Bayard, deceased, and Louisa. 8. Sarah Louise, died in childhood.

George Furman Updike, son of Samuel Bay- ard and Sarah (Hart) Updike, was born in Lambertsville, Mercer county, New Jersey, July 20, 1844. His education was acquired in the district school at Cedar Grove, and at a suitable age he took up the occupation of farming, in which he has been eminently successful. When he was thirty-three years of age he purchased the farm of Elijah E. Clark, consisting of one hundred and eighty-six and one-half acres on the old Quaker road, and this he is cultivating at the present time. He later purchased the farm of William Paxton, consisting of one hun- dred and ninety-seven acres, immediately ad- joining the Clark farm. Both farms are noted for their extraordinary crops, and this is entire- ly due to the practical and improved methods adhered to in their cultivation. They are man- aged in a systematic and progressive manner, due attention being paid to the acquisition of im- proved farming implements, and are among the show farms of this section of the state. Mr. Updike takes a great interest in church affairs, and is one of the trustees of the Princeton Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Updike married, December 31, 1867, Mary A. Hartwick, born April 20, 1840, daugh- ter of Benjamin and Jane (Cortelyou) Hart- wick, who bore him the following children : I. Emma, born October 2, 1868, married Gideon Applegate and has six children: Walter W., Bertha M., Willard C., George F., Elmer G. and Marion H. 2. George Furman, Jr., see forward. 3. Sarah Louise, born September 27, 1871, married Bartley Schenck, and has two children : A. Elsworth and Allen D. 4. Julia Estelle, born December 17, 1873, married Bur- tis Hageman, of Trenton, and has two children: Wilber D. and Carlton. 5. Jane E., born No- vember 10. 1876, married Harry Flock, of Tren- ton, and has two children: De Witt and Or- ville D. 6. Samuel B., born July 16, 1878, married Elizabeth Robbins, no issue. 7. Ben- jamin H., born November 22, 1879. 8. Mary Belle, born November 16, 1886. Mary A. (Hartwick) Updike, mother of these children. died March 17, 1904. She was a lady of the old school type, and was possessed of many excel-

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lent qualities of mind and heart. She was a lutiful wife, an indulgent and loving mother, and her death was a sad loss to many who had known her best in life and who had shared her generosity and kindness.

George Furman Updike, Jr., second child and eldest son of George Furman and Mary A. (Hartwick) Updike, was born in Princeton township, Mercer county, New Jersey, March 7, 1870. He attended the public school at Stony Brook and upon the completion of his education commenced to assist his father in the farm la- bors. Later he took complete charge of the William Paxton farm, which had been purchased by his father, and this is now under his sole management and in a most flourishing and satis- factory condition. Like his father he is enter- prising and energetic and keeps well abreast of the times in all essential directions. He gives his polit- ical support to the Democratic party, and takes an active and intelligent interest in the affairs of that body. He is also active in church matters, and is a member of the official board of the Princeton Methodist Episcopal Church, where his services are held in high esteem.

Mr. Updike married, November 23, 1898, Dora Drake, born May 8, 1872, daughter of Theodore and Sarah A. (Drake) Drake, of Cedar Grove, and they have children : Vernan B., born October 23, 1899. Sewell D., born Octo- ber 12, 1901. Oscar L., born October 23, 1903. Irving M., born November 12, 1905.

WILLIAM HARKNESS, a successful farm- er near Cherry Hill road, Princeton township, Mercer county, New Jersey, traces his ancestry to Scotland. and from them has inherited the traits of thrift and energy which have made that nation notable.

William Harkness, father of William Hark- ness, was a native of Scotland, and was a weav- er bv trade. He emigrated with his family to the United States in 1853, and settled in Prince- ton township, where he engaged in garden farm- ing. He married Jane Stuart, born in Scotland, daughter of Andrew Stuart, also of that coun- try, and had a family of ten children, among whom were: William, the particular subject of this sketch; and Jane, now surviving, who mar- ried Samuel B. Updike, now deceased.

William Harkness, son of William and Jane (Stuart) Harkness, was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, May, 1840. His education was ac-

quired partly in the schools of his native town and partly in the district school on Cherry Hill, Upon the completion of his education he fol- lowed in the footsteps of his father, and having a practical knowledge of all the details of this branch of industry, he set about in a very meth- odical and enterprising manner, which soon brought him well deserved success. He is now (1906) the proprietor of a farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres, situated on the Ridge View road. This farm he acquired by purchase from his sister, Mrs. Samuel B. Updike. Dur- ing the time of the Civil war Mr. Harkness was a member of the Home Guards, of Blawnburgh, Somerset county, New Jersey, and did good service. He is a member of the Second Pres- byterian Church of Princeton, and his political support is given to the Republican party. Mr. Harkness is unmarried and has a host of friends.

JOHN E. GORDON, a well know resident of Lawrence township, Mercer county, New Jer- sey, and one of the successful farmers of that vicinity, is a representive in the present genera- tion of a family which has been identified with the agricultural interests of the state for a num- ber of generations.

His grandfather, David Gordon, was one of the early settlers and farmers of Mercer coun- ty. He operated a private distillery, and also cultivated a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which is still in the possession of the family. He married, and among his twelve children who at- tained to years of maturity (one having died in infancy) were: Lewis, see forward ; Thomas, of Hightstown, now (1907) seventy-five years of age; and Joel, of Washington township, Mer- cer county, who resides near the old homestead. Of these only Thomas and Joel are now living.

Lewis Gordon, son of David Gordon, followed in his father's footsteps as a tiller of the soil. He purchased from Henry D. Phillips a farm of seventy acres, a small amount being paid at once, the balance to remain on mortgage. He was doubtful of the advisability of this under- taking, but Mr. Henry D. Phillips said: "You can plow close to the fence and pay for the bal- ance." This they did, and the expression has become one of the proverbial savings of the coun- ty-"Plow close to the fence." Lewis Gordon married Caroline Flock. born December 9, 1821, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Tindall) Flock. John Flock was born September 21, 1771, and

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died February 19, 1862. They had one child, John E. Gordon. Lewis Gordon died March 7, 1903. He was born September 14, 1819. Car- oline (Flock) Gordon died February II, 1882.

John E. Gordon, only child of Lewis and Car- oline (Flock) Gordon, was born at Windsor, Washington township, Mercer county, February 2, 1845. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and was then sent for one winter to the State Model School. He then be- gan to assist his father on the farm, and thus obtained a practical and thorough knowledge of farm work. Subsequently he went to Illinois for a short time, but upon the death of his moth- er he returned to his birthplace and assumed the responsibilities of the home farm. He purchased his present farm in 1848, and so progressive and energetic has been his methods of cultivation that he has been eminently successful, and his farm is considered a model of its size in that section of the county. He has always taken an active interest in the social and religious as well as in the material interests of the neighborhood where he resides. In 1904 he was elected a mem- ber of the township committee, and has served in that capacity to the present time (1907) to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He is much interested in matters of historic impor- tance, and has in his possession many articles of value, among them being a family clock which is upwards of one hundred years old, and also a diary and account book for the building of the first school house in the district, written by his grandfather, John Flock, in 1822. He has giv- en much of his time to the advancement of the educational interests of his township. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Hamilton Square, in which he has been an elder for a pe- riod of twenty-five years. His political affilia- tions are with the Republican party.

Mr. Gordon married Sarah Lee, born Decem- ber 18, 1849, a daughter of David and Hannah (Norton) Lee. who had two children: Sarah, wife of John E. Gordon; and Mary C., married James West, and they have one child, Edgar L. West, M. D. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are: I. Carrie L., born January 12, 1870, married Charles H. Mather, and had chil- dren : Samuel Southard, Arabella, Levi and John. 2. S. Southard, born March 24, 1881. died January 20, 1885. 3. George Blaine, born July 22, 1882. 4. David Stuart, born Decem- ber II, 1890, now a student in the Rider-Moore

College in Trenton. The two last named are unmarried.

This first John Flock was said to have been a German. He may have been a Hollander, or a descendant of one, as so many of that race, or their descendants, settled in that section at or about the same time. He was born in 1734, was married and had three children: Samuel, John and Deborah, before the war of the revolu- tion. His name is on the list of New Jersey mil- itia, and the story of how he dispatched the marauding Hessian and staked his body down in the waters of the Assanpink has been related in one of my former sketches. He became pos- sessed of the farm where the British wagon train was captured, and eventually moved there and died there in the year 1818, and was buried at Hamilton Square, being a prominent Baptist and concerned in the work that established the church at Penn's Neck. His last will gave to his son, Samuel, the farm where Golden now lives and half of his Assanpink wood lot, and gave to his son, John Flock, Jr .. the historic farm which Herbert J. Coleman now owns, and all the re- mainder of his real estate; and to Deborah he gave his personal property, amounting to $3,- 539.19.

John Flock, Jr., married Elizabeth Tindal, daughter of John and Amy Hammell Tindal, of near Edinburgh. He was born in 1771, and re- membered many of the stirring events of the revolution. He bought of Dr. Clarke and Mrs. Robert Howell, in 1800 and 1803. about thirteen acres fronting the Quaker road, which he later deeded to his daughter, Louisa Robbins. He probably resided on this land for a time, fol- lowing his trade, that of a carpenter, but event- ually moved to the historic homestead that became his own at the death of his father, in 1818, buy- ing twelve acres additional at a later period. Probably many years before the death of his father he erected what is now the main part of the house, retaining the huge stone wall of the original house that one cannot help noticing when entering the west side. The east end was built by her son, J. T. Flock. John Flock, Jr., was a good mechanic, a prominent resident and a consistent Christian. A memento of him that is preserved by his grandson. John E. Gordon, of Clarksville, is a little book in which he recorded the cost of the construction of the original stone school house there in 1822, each item being quaintly set down, the total cost being $200.15.

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Among the "materials" that were used in the construction of this school house were several gallons of whiskey, which was only fifty cents a gallon, it being a common thing in those days for workmen to be furnished with liquor. John Flock sold the old farm in 1854, consisting of one hundred and three acres, to his son, J. Tin- dal Flock, who in 1883 sold it to Zephanialı Adams, and in 1898 Mr. Adams sold it to the present occupants, Herbert Coleman.

John Flock lived to a great age, dying in 1862, past ninety years old, and at the time of his death six children were living, thirty-three grandchil- dren and twelve great-grandchildren. His chil- dlren were: William T. Flock; Louisa, married Enoch Robbins; Amy, married George W. Ap- pleget ; Rachel, who was the wife of Robert Miller ; J. T. Flock, who was the last one of the Flocks to live on the old homestead; Jane, mar- ried Israel Clark; and Caroline, who was the wife of Lewis Gordon. All are dead save Mrs. Jane Clark, who is in her ninetieth year.

FORMAN HUTCHINSON GORDON. of Windsor, is a representative of a race whose name is interwoven with the history of both the old world and the new, and also bears the pat- ronymics of two other well known New Jersey families, the Hutchinson clan being reputed more numerous in Mercer county than any other with the exception of that of the Cubberleys.

Josiah Worth Gordon, father of Forman H. Gordon, born August 16, 1822, died March 31. 1900, was one of eight sons and four daughters of David and Eliza (Kirby) Gordon, residents of Windsor, New Jersey. The educational ad- vantages of Josiah W. Gordon were limited to attendance at the district school: the old school- house which he and his wife attended and where his great-grandfather, Robert Hutchin- son, taught. is standing at the present time (1907). He was reared on a farm, and thus acquired a thorough knowledge of farming. which occupation he followed in connection with lumbering, buying and selling timber lands. He was an industrious and prudent man, acquired a large tract of land, and he and his son jointly were the owners of some eight hundred acres of land, which proved exceedingly remunerative. He was a Republican in politics. He married Lucv A .. daughter of Forman Hutchinson. who conducted farming on the farm whereon Josiah W. Gordon resided, and which has descended

down to the present generation. Mrs. Gordon is residing on the homestead, where her birth occurred in 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were the parents of two children: Forman Hutchin- son, of whom later. Mercy Ann, wife of Voor- hees Cubberley, of Newtown.

Forman Hutchinson Gordon was born on the old homestead near Windsor, New Jersey. He received his early education in the public schools of Windsor, afterward attending a school at Hightstown and subsequently graduating from the Rider Allen Business College. Trenton. Ow- ing to the high honors which he earned as a student he was, after leaving school, the recip- ient of many flattering offers from a number of prominent business men, but his inherited in- clination for agricultural pursuits led him to choose the life of a fariner. To the labors of this calling he brought an abundance of ability and enterprise, joined to assiduous application, and today is a recognized leader among the prominent farmers of Washington township. He is the possessor of about eight hundred acres of the best land in the township, and he also owns a large and valuable tract on the outskirts of Tren- ton. By his energetic industry he has greatly increased the property left him by his father. Of a retiring disposition, he has never taken an active part in public affairs or been willing to accept office, albeit possessing in the highest de- gree the respect and confidence of his neighbors. He is a Republican, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, in which he serves as elder and trustee.

Mr. Gordon married, February 13, 1884, Eliz- aheth Eugenia, daughter of Charles H. and Ida (Riggs) Perrine, of Hightstown. She received her education at the Young Ladies' Seminary of Hightstown, and graduated from the same. Mr. Perrine was a veteran of the Civil war, and a prominent member of an old and respected fam- ily which has done much to make the history of Mercer county. Mr. Perrine died February 20, 1905, and his widow is living on the homestead ir Middlesex county. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are the parents of two daughters : I. Maud Ethel, attended a private school of Windsor ; went from there to the State Model School, Trenton, pass- ing thence to Yale University, taking the academ- ic course, where she applied herself to the study of music, winning many honors on composition of music. Almost from the beginning her teach- ers predicted for her a brilliant future, and when

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she graduated it was with high honors, receiv- ing the degree of Bachelor of Music. She achieved special distinction by winning the great privilege of the use of the Newbury pipe-organ. She is now taking a post-graduate course. She is also a graduate of Anderson's Physical Cul- ture School, captain of the basket-ball team, pres- ident of Yale University glee club and a prom- inent member of several of the Greek letter so- cieties. 2. Ida Louise, now (1907) attending a preparatory school at New Haven, Connecti- cut.

DAVID KIRBY GORDON, of Windsor, a member of the old historic Gordon family, is a native of the place where he now resides, having been born there March 13, 1861. He is a son of Joel Gordon, who was born January 5, 1831, 011 the homestead, in Windsor.

Joel Gordon received his education in the pub- lic schools. Obliged, like all youths of that time, to leave school at an early age, he became his father's assistant on the farm, remaining at home until the age of twenty-six, when he en- tered upon an independent career as an agri- culturist. He prospered and in 1890 retired from active labor, taking up his abode on Main street, Windsor, where he now resides. He is a Re- publican, and a member of the Hamilton Square Baptist Church. Mr. Gordon married, Decem- ber 25. 1856, Sarah E., daughter of Samuel S. and Mary (Slack) Chamberlain, of Hightstown, the former a member of a family which traces its origin from a period prior to the revolution. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gor- don: James C., dicd young ; and David Kirby, of whom later.

David Kirby Gordon, son of Joel and Sarah E. (Chamberlain) Gordon, received his early educa- tion in the schools of Windsor, afterward attend- ing the Van Rensselaer Institute, Hightstown. He then became the assistant of his father on the latter's extensive farm, situated a short distance from the centre of the town. As his father ad- vanced in years Mr. Gordon gradually assumed full charge of the large estate, which now con- sists of about one hundred and twenty-five acres. Under his able and progressive management the farm has increased in value, and the products, in- cluding rye, grain and potatoes, find a ready sale in the market. He belongs to the American Mechanics, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which body he has held various of-

fices. Although prominent in the councils of the Republican party he has never accepted office. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Gordon married, March 13, 1889, Phoebe Dye, and they are the parents of one daughter, Bessie Dye, born December 18, 1890, now at- tending the State Model School, Trenton. Mrs. Gordon is a daughter of James Dye, a well- known citizen of Windsor, and a member of an old and respected family. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson, and their children were: Jonathan H., married Annie Ealy, one child, Joseph E. Forman H., married Gertrude Perrine, one child, Redford P. Phoebe, wife of David Kirby Gordon.

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Genealogical and personal memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey, Part 16

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 698

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 698