USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 13
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THE ORITANI FIELD CLUB
of Hackensack, is the leading athletic organization of Bergen County.
To Mr. F. A. Anthony is due the honor of suggesting the idea of such a club. associating afterwards with him as founders, Messrs. J. S. C. Wells. John R. Bogert. William P. Ellery, George M. Fairchild, Jr., C. Julian Wood, E. E. Poor. Jr .. Asa W. Dickinson and William Welles Holley. Rector of Christ Churchi.
Soon after the first public meeting, which was held in Library Hall. on the 8th of November, 1887, the club was organized. Mr. F. A. An- thony was elected President, with I. B. Bogert, First Vice President; G. M. Fairchild, Jr .. Second Vice President ; C. Julian Wood, Secretary ; E. E. Poor, Jr., Treasurer ; J. S. C. Wells, Captain. The Governors were Messrs W. P. Ellery, R. S. Jacobson, B. J. Richardson, A. W. Dickin- son. A. B. Banta. C. W. Berdan, Rev. W. W. Holley, Rev. Arthur John- son and A. Trowbridge.
The club at once incorporated with an enrollment of ninety-seven members. Soon after this, the Anderson homestead was purchased and necessary alterations and improvements made. . The house and toboggan slide were opened to members on the 26th day of December, 1887. The club was a popular organization from the first. and at the end of this year the membership numbered 234. The formal opening of the grounds took place on July 4th, 1888, with an appropriate programme. No less than 5000 people assembled to witness the game of base ball and tennis matches, and to hear the fine music by Drake's Military Band. A drill of Company C, was an interesting feature, the whole closing with a display of fireworks in the evening. The house and grounds have now become valuable property. The ball field has been enlarged, fine bowling alleys adjoin the club house, and some of the members being expert bowlers, these alleys are in great demand. A reading room, billiard and pool room, excellent tennis courts and a boat house, are all open to the members. They have also a fine hall equipped for entertainments and dances. The family of each member is al- lowed all the benefits and privileges which he enjoys, except that of
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
voting and holding office. This has been a benefit to the club finan- cially, since the women have held affairs, which have netted a neat sim each time.
The present officers are : F. A. Anthony. President ; I. F. Hinds, First Vice-President; C. M. Horton, Second Vice-President; Dr. A. C. Heydon, Corresponding Secretary; H. De Mott. Recording Secretary; I. H. Labagh, Treasurer.
Governors : J. P. Clarendon, W. J. Fisher, F. W. Beattie, A. T. Holley, J. J. Phelps, G. W. Conklin. H. G. Terhune, W. P. Ellery R., S. Bruns.
THE ORDER OF AMERICAN MECHANICS
which was founded in Philadelphia, July 8th, 1845, had as its chief ob- jects, the advocacy of free schools, and the non-union of church and state. Columbia Council No. 66 of this order, was organized in Hacken- sack September 5, 1871 with seventeen members, but has passed out of existence.
PIONEER LODGE
No 70 F. and A. M. was instituted April 4th, 1865, under dispensation, the first meeting being held in Odd Fellows Hall, Hackensack. Its officers were : William H. De Wolfe, W. M. ; Dr. William H. Hall, S. W. ; Robert W. Goslee, J. W. ; Richard A. Terhune, S. D. ( acting treasurer ) ; Isaac E. Bogert, Secretary ; Thom is Picker, J. D. ; and David M. Hall, acting as Tyler. In the Fall of 1865 the meeting place was changed from Odd Fellows Hall to Anderson Hall, a room in the third story having been fitted up specially for the lodge. Its first regular meeting was held under charter or warrant, from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. Febru- ary 12, 1866. After passing through some adverse experiences the lodge settled again in Anderson Hall where it remained until its removal to the Bank Building. The present membership is about one hundred.
BERGEN CHAPTER
No 40 R. A. M. was instituted in 1895 with eighteen members and now has forty-three.
The Junior Order United American Mechanics, was organized Ang- ust 4, 1894, and has an enrollment of about 200. Having no home of its own, this lodge meets at Odd Fellows' Hall every Friday night. The objects of the organization are such as to interest all true Ameri- cans.
Hackensack Lodge No. 64, Ancient Order United Workmen. meets in Odd Fellows' Hall the first and third Thursdays of each month. This organization has a limit of twenty annual assessments of one dollar each, with a benefit at death of $2000, and in addition to this they have a sick benefit class, paying a weekly sick benefit of six dollars to its members.
Bergen Lodge 143, Knights and Ladies of the Golden Star, was organized in March, 1897. This fraternal insurance organization, as its name implies, admits both sexes. Any member of the family over twelve years of age is eligible to membership.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The Hackensack Wheelmen on February 11th, 1895, organized with 111 charter members. They have a home which they have occupied since May, 1896, having prior to that time occupied the old Bank Build- ing, now owned and occupied by C. A. Bogert. The enrollment is now 250 active members, while Mr. E. C. Humphrey is the only honorary member.
Besides these, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was org- anized in 1883, and the Hackensack branch of the Children's Home So- ciety, a national organization, for the placing of homeless children, was organized March 23, 1895.
There are also many societies for musical and dramatic culture. Among this number we find the Gunod Society founded for the purpose of promoting the study of choral music and also for developing a taste for the music of the great masters. The Hackensack Dramatic Associa- tion has been fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Alfred Young, stage manager of the Brooklyn Amaranth. To his training, is largely due no doubt, the success achieved by the members. They now enjoy the services of Mr. George G. Ackerman of the late Schubert Club, who comes with a commission to form the Dramatic Association Orchestra, and in which he will act as musical director.
The Deutscher Kriegerbund of Bergen County, is an association for the relief or assistance of regular army veterans and was organized July 11, 1894.
THE GERMAN SCHUTZENBUNDES WASHINGTON RIFLES,
State of New Jersey, organized March, 1881, and the Bruderliebe So- ciety, organized in 1864, are both fraternal institutions.
THE HACKENSACK CORNET BAND
is a creditable band of twenty-one instruments.
THE KALAMAZOO BAND
was formed in 1892, and is a social organization of about eighty mem- bers. There are also the German Dramatic Harmonic, the Liedertafel German Singing Society and the Court Hackensack, No. 47, F. of A .; Hackingshackey Tribe, No. 189, Improved Order of Red Men; Order of United Friends, Royal Council, No. 1151, Royal Arcanum, National Union, with many others of a fraternal, beneficiary or social nature.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
There have been several banking institutions in Hackensack during the last sixty years, but none of them are now in operation. The first banking institution of any importance was the Washington Banking Company, which came here from Hoboken, where it had been previously organized under a State law. It transacted business here about seventy years ago, but after a few years met with financial failure. John De Grott was President and George Y. Allaire Cashier. It was first located in the present southwest parlor of the Mansion House, and subsequently moved to its banking house, erected by the company on the north side of Mansion Street, near Main.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The Bank of Bergen County was established January 2d. 1872, with a capital of $60,000, and in January, 1874, increased to $100,000, and in the same year a spacious and substantial banking house was built on Main Street, on the site of the old Campbell tavern, of Revolutionary memory.
Bergen County Savings Bank was chartered in 1870, and commenced business in 1872. Its business was mainly carried on by the officers of the Bank of Bergen County.
The First National Bank of Hackensack was organized October 23. 1871, and commenced business the following January, with a capital of $100,000.
The Hackensack Savings Bank was incorporated April 4, 1873, and commenced business the following May. This bank was managed by the officers generally of the First National Bank. All of these four financial institutions continued in business till about twenty years ago.
THE HACKENSACK BANK,
now carrying a capital of $50,000, was incorporated in 1889, when David A. Pell was made President; M. E. Clarendon, Vice-President, and H. D. Terhune, Cashier. These officials still continue to hold their positions.
The directors are David A. Pell, William M. Johnson, F. A. An- thony, James W. Gillies, Samuel Taylor, M. E. Clarendon, David St. John, M. D., C. J. Cadmus, John J. Phelps, Frank B. Poor, H. D. Terhune.
The bank has added to its capital $50,000, a surplus of $50,000 and undivided profit of $25,000, and carries about half a million dollars in deposits.
In proportion to its capital and volume of business it is one of the wealthiest banks in the State.
MILITARY COMPANIES OF HACKENSACK.
The organization of the Hackensack Continental Guard. as a military company was effected in 1855. Later it formed a union with the Bergen County Rifles and then became known as the Bergen County Battalion. It was then officered as follows: Colonel A. G. Ackerman: Major, David A. Barry; Adjutant, John J. Anderson; Quartermaster. R. P. Terhune. The battalion was disbanded in 1861.
Company G, Second Regiment N. G. N. J., was organized by Hon. J. M. Van Valen, October 8th, 1872. Through the instrumentality of Mr. Van Valen, who had removed to the town, a number of persons had become interested in the formation of this company, which was organized as "Company C," and in which the people of the county have always taken a pardonable pride. The officers elected at the above date were Garret Ackerman, Jr., Captain; James M. Van Valen, First Lien- tenant; Nicholas C. Demarest, Second Lieutenant; George T. Haring. Sergeant. To Lieutenant Van Valen is due the credit of not only organ- izing this company but also of perfecting a discipline in drills, which made it a name, and gave it a permanency in the popular opinion of the people.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
In 1876 changes were made in the organization of the company. In March of that year Captain Ackerson resigned. and soon after. Lieutenant Van Valen was appointed quartermaster of the battalion. Lieutenant Demarest also having resigned.
The new officers were elected March 7, 1876, and were as follows: A D. Campbell, formerly Quartermaster was elected Captain; John Engel. First Lieutenant; and John E. Huyler, Second Lieutenant May 30th. 1876. In 1877 the company was called out in the railroad strike, and upon returning was presented a purse of three hundred and fifty dollars. In January 1891 Captain A. D. Campbell retired with the brevet rank of Major, and John Engel was elected Captain. George E. Wells was promoted to fill the place of Lieutenant Freeman, who had removed from town. Upon the retirement of Judge Ackerman he was appointed Judge Advocate. becoming in time Judge Advocate General of the State. June 15th, 1896, Lieutenant Van Valen resigned the office of Quartermaster of the Second Battalion. On February 26th, 1883, he was made Captain and inspector of rifle practice of the battalion, follow- ing which, on June 8th, 1886, he was made Colonel and Assistant In- spector of rifle pratice, after which he was retired as Brevet Brigadier- General. On May 31st. 1883, Company C became Company G. in the Second Regiment, New Jersey National Guard, and took part with that regiment in its movements in the war with Spain, as will be seen else- where. The company left Hackensack with a full complement of officers and one hundred and three men, and in the regiment with them Major John Engle, Major Charles F. Adams, Surgeon of the regiment, and Adjutant A. T. Holley. Officers of the company were as follows:
Captain George E. Wells; First Lieutenant, Garret H. Sturr; Second Lieutenant, Irving R. Pierson; First Sergeant, Walter Bur- roughs; Quartermaster Sergeant, Charles H. Mabie; Sergeants, Edward A. Burdett, Addison B. Burroughs, James H. Russel, Edgar Vreeland: Corporals. Fred V. Bates, James A. Van Valen, George M. Edsall Ward G. Berry, Harry Fosdick, Uncas E. Richter; Musicians, William Campbell, Garret Robertson: Artificer, William D. Newman, Wagoner. Paul T. Scoskie.
JAMES B. M'PHERSON POST, NO. 52, G. A. R.
Post 52. Department of New Jersey, Grand Army of the Republic. was mustered in on the evening of July 13, 1881. by Mustering Officer Commander Rodrigo. Delegates from Post 7. 17 and 35 were present. Details from the visiting comrades filled the different chairs. The fol- lowing veterans were mustered in as charter members: George M. Hun- ter, James H. Russell, John Engel, Simeon Van Wetering. William H. De Wolfe, John Spyri, John G. Fream, William H. Harper, Albert C. Bogert, Conrad Hoffman. T. E. Lonergan, Frederick Zeeb, William Brant, Daniel W. Demarest, Frank W. Hover. Joseph Scott, Aaron E. Ackerman, Lewis C. Cotte.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Commander Sproul of Post No. 7 of Passaic, at the same meeting installed the following comrades as the first officers of the post : Com- mander, George M. Hunter ; Senior Vice-Commander, William J. Brant ; Junior Vice-Commander, James H. Russell ; Quartermaster, John Engel ; Surgeon, John G. Fream ; Chaplain, William H. Harper ; Officer Day. Frank W. Hover; Officer Guard, Albert C. Bogert ; Adjutant, Daniel W. Demarest; Sergeant Major, Simeon Van Wetering : Quartermaster Sergeant, A. E. Ackerman.
The officers of the post for 1898 are : Commander. James H. Russell ; Senior Vice-Commander, William P. Amerman ; Junior Vice-Commander. William O. Labagh; Adjutant, L. S. Marsh ; Quartermaster, Aaron E. Ackerman ; Surgeon, Everadus Warner; Chaplain. Jasper Westervelt : Officer of the Day, David J. Myers ; Officer of the Guard. John Engel ; Sergeant Major, A. Mckinney; Quartermaster Sergeant. Alber G. Smith.
On the evening of July 29, 1881, the name of James B. McPherson was adopted as, the name of Post No. 52, after Major General James B. McPherson, who was killed July 22, 1864, in a rebel ambuscade at Atlanta. Ga. We have in our possession his dressing gown and the leather case containg the field order book used by him. They were sent us by his mother in gratitude for having adopted the name of her son.
This post, aided by the citizens of Hackensack, erected a fine monu- ment in the Hackensack Cemetery, at a cost of over one thousand dollars. There, too, provision is made for the interment of all Bergen County comrades.
THE SILK MILL
owned by Givenaud Brothers Company, of West Hoboken, was erected in 1879. They began with about one hundred and eighty looms and three hundred and fifty employees The new building will contain two hundred and thirty looms and five hundred employees. The Silk Weavers' Union for the mutual protection of its members, has for offi- cers : A. Bunger, President; John Grass, Secretary.
KRONE BROTHERS
are publishers of educational work and make a specialty of penmanship and drawing books, in addition to a great variety of school stationery. Many of their publications are their own copyrights. Herman Krone. Jr .. eldest son of the senior member of the firm, is in charge of the New York salesrooms and offices, and H. Martini, son-in-law of the senior member, has the superintendey of the factory.
BRICK MAKING
is another important industry. This plant was established about half a century ago by Moses and Andrew Sears who were followed by Philip Shafer and he in turn by John Schmaltz and Mr. Bruuses. The salle yard is now operated by the Gardner firms and J. W. Gillies.
THE HACKENSACK MUTUAL, BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
organized in 1887, has been a great power in the development of the
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
town. Its officers consist of: William A. Linn, President; George W. Conklin, Vice President; Frank Pitcher, Secretary; A. S. D. Demarest, Treasurer and Abram DeBaun, Counsel.
THE HACKENSACK REALTY COMPANY,
organized in 1897 with W. A. Linn, President; W. C. Thomas, Secretary and Lemuel Lozier, Treasurer, is improving a section of the city, by ex- tending Clinton Place to the top of the hill, where they have graded the streets and made other improvements.
THE HACKENSACK, HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION'
is an incorporated company that purchased the old Red Hill. This is a tract of ninety acres of land, which the company so improved as to make of it a desirable residence section. Water, gas and electric lighting have all been secured, streets laid out and a railroad station house built, known as Prospect Avenue Station. So beautiful is the location, and so substantial the improvements that the enterprise is proving a finan- cial success.
WILLIAM SICKLES BANTA.
ยท William Sickles Banta, is a lineal descendant of Epke Jacob Banta who emigrated to this country in 1659, coming from Amsterdam in the ship De Trow. This emigrant was born at Harlengen West Friesland, Holland. Upon his arrival in America he settled at English Neighbor- hood, now Fairview, and in 1679 was a Judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. The Banta family remained in this part of Bergen County until about 1750, when Yan Banta, the great-grandfather of William S. removed to Pascack, Washington Township, where he died. His large landed estate was divided among his children, Hendrick liis eldest son who was born May 27, 1749, succeeding his father in the old homestead. In 1803 Hendrick died leaving 500 acres of land to be divided among his five sons, one of whom was Henry H., the father of William S. In those early days it was a custom, born of necessity, for young men to learn some useful trade. Of the five sons of Hendrick Banta, but one left home to engage in mercantile pursuits. Henry H., the father of Judge Banta, learned the trade of shoemaker, but the real business of his life was merchandise and farming. In 1833, he removed to Hackensack and formed a partnership with his brother Teunis, under the firm name of H. H. & T. Banta, in which he continued until his death in 1849. Mr. Banta was for some years postmaster of Hackensack, receiving his ap- pointment from General Francis Granger, and was a member of the New Jersey State Militia, with the rank of Adjutant.
He was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, serving three terms, from 1829 to 1834, from 1838 to 1843, and 1843 to 1848. Public spirited, active and alive to the best interests of both church and state, he wielded an influence for good, commanding the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
The maternal ancestry of Judge Banta are of good stock, his mother being Jane, daughter of William Sickles of Rockland County,
L
M.J. Banta
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
N. Y., born January 19, 1792, and died September 2, 1870. She was a descendant of Zacharias Sickles, who was born in Vienna, Austria, going to Holland and from there to Curacoa, one of the Dutch West Indies, serving in the military rank of cadet. It was here he met Governor Peter Stuyvesant, and came to New York with him in 1655, soon after becoming attached to the garrison at Fort Orange (Albany), returning to New York in 1693.
Judge William S. Banta was born at Pascack, December 12, 1824, and was educated in the public schools, finishing his preparatory course 'for college, in the private classical school of Rev. John S. Mabon at Hackensack. After being graduated from Rutgers College in 1844, he began the study of law in the office of Abram O. Zabriskie, of Hacken- sack, afterward Chancellor of the State of New Jersey. Mr. Banta was admitted to the Bar of New Jersey as an attorney in 1847, and as a counsellor in 1851. Soon after his admission to the Bar, Judge Banta was appointed Master and Examiner in Chancery, later being made special Master in Chancery and Supreme Court Commissioner.
After acting as Superintendent of Schools in the Township of New Barbadoes (under the old law), he was appointed by the Board of Free- holders to act with Rev. Albert Amerman on the Board of Examiners, a place which he filled with efficiency for several years. In 1860 he was appointed Prosecutor of the Pleas for the County, and reappointed in 1865. A Republican in politics, he held the office of Deputy Internal Col- lector from 1862 to 1865. The Judge was President and Treasurer of the Hackensack Gas Light Company for many years, and also Secretary and Treasurer of the Bergen County Mutual Fire Assurance Associa- tion, and was one of the first members of the Hackensack Improvement Commission. In 1872 he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Ashbel Green, Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 1873 was reappointed to the same place for five years. In 1879 Judge Banta was appointed Associate Judge of the same court. He was for several years one of the managers of the Morris Plains Asylum.
In 1850 Judge Banta was married to Sarah, daughter of John and Katy Ann (Hopper ) Zabriskie, of Hohokus, who died in 1853, leaving a son, who died in infancy. His second wife was Adelia, a sister of his first wife, who died in 1869. His present wife is Jane Aune, daughter of Abram H. and Maria ( Anderson ) Berry, a lineal descendant of John Berry, one of the original patentees of Bergen County.
ABRAM B. BANTA
Abram B. Banta who for forty years has been identified with the grocery trade in Hackensack, is a son of John H. Banta and grandson of Henry W. Banta both of whom were life long residents of Hacken- sack. The father established the grocery trade on Main and Bridge Streets in 1846, and was identified with that stand until his death thirty- eight years afterward. In 1836 he was married to Lydia Bartholf, who is still living at the age or eighty-one years. Their children were.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Henry, Jane 'T., wife of Thomas H. Cumming; Abram B., John, and Cornelius T.
Mr. John H. Banta was at one time Sheriff of Bergen County.
Abram B. Banta was born in 1842 and when seventeen years of age went into the grocery business, which he has followed ever since. In 1882, the Banta Brothers started their branch store at Passaic Avenue and Main Street. In 1866, Mr. Banta was married to Miss Rebecca Westervelt and five children have been born of this union.
JAMES M. VAN VALEN.
Among the lineal descendants of David Van Valen, who came to America from Holland in 1652, followed by his father Johannes Van Valen five years later, is James M. Van Valen, ex-Judge of Bergen County, whom the writer of this sketch knows from personal contact with the people to be regarded as one of the most useful and important citizens of the county.
For a brief period of time the ancestors of this family in Bergen County lived in New York City, then removed to Harlem where Johan- nes became one of the original patentees of the Harlem Grants, and the last survivor of them. In course of time his descendants removed to Bergen County, N. J., where they became extensive land owners. Deeds bearing date of 1701 record the purchase of 2600 acres of land by Jo- hannes, Bernardus, Gideon and Rynier Van Valen, from Lancastar Syms, comprising all the Palisade lands from the Jay Line, extending from the Hudson on the east to Overpeck on the west. Bernardus Van Valen was the great-grandfather of James M. He was a member of the militia serving as militiaman, in the Revolutionary War, when he was taken prisoner and confined in the Old Sugar House in New York City. A stone house built by him is still standing near the railroad depot at Closter. He lived to the age of eighty years and died in 1820, leaving five children, James, Andrew. Cornelius, Isaac and Jane. James, the grandfather of James M., was for a time a farmer at Closter, but re- moved to Clarkstown, Rockland County, N. Y., where he died in Aug- ust, 1786, at the age of twenty-six years. He left three children Barney, Sarah, who became the wife of Henry Westervelt; and Cornelius. Cor- nelius was born at Clarkstown May 21, 1786. He married first Elizabeth Blackledge, and lived for some years in New York City. In 1832 he bought a farm at Englewood, then Hackensack Township, where he lived seven years, when he sold that farm and purchased another at Teaneck, where his wife died soon after.
Caroline, wife of David Lamberson, and Cornelius were children of this marriage. His second wife was Jane, daughter of. Abram Zabris- kie of Paramus. Of this marriage there were three children, Eliza, wife of Edward Barr, who died in 1867; James M. and Sarah A .. wife of Cornelius D. Schor, of Leonia.
James M. Van Valen was born at Teaneck, July 21st, 1842. When the War of the Rebellion broke out he left school to enlist in Company
W. M. Johnson.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
I, of the Twenty-second Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and served ten months in the Army of the Potomac. Upon his return he engaged in the book trade in New York city until 1868, when he began teaching in Bergen county, continuing in that profession for five years. He taught, among other places, at Paramus Church, New Bridge and Hack- ensack. Subsequently he entered the law office of Garret Ackerson, and, under his direction, pursued a course of study, being admitted as attorney in 1875, and as a counsellor in 1878. Immediately after his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with Mr. Ackerson, which continued for eleven years, terminating with the death of Mr. Ackerson in December, 1886. In 1887, Governor Robert S. Green appointed Mr. Van Valen Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Bergen county. At the close of this term he was reappointed for a like term by Governor Werts, his term expiring in April, 1898.
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