USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 14
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In 1872, Judge Van Valen, having become interested in the National Guard, organized Company C, Second New Jersey Regiment, and be- came first lieutenant. He was afterwards made quartermaster of the battalion. Soon after this he was made Inspector of Rifle Practice. with rank of captain, and subsequently was appointed Assistant Inspec- tor General of the State of New Jersey, with the rank of colonel. At his own request he was retired on July 5, 1893, with rank of Brevet Brigadier General, and still holds that commission.
Judge Van Valen, always interested in educational matters, was chairman of the Board of Education of Hackensack for a period of eighteen years, declining a re-election on account of pressure of business. He is first Vice President of the Bergen County Bar Association, and is Vice President of the Holland Society of New York, of which he has been a member since its organization. He is also a prominent Mason. member of Pioneer Lodge, No. 70, and has been Master of that Order. Judge Van Valen has been signally successful in the various lines in which he has been engaged. As soldier, teacher, lawyer and judge. he has made an enviable reputation, and, as a jurist, his opinions have stood without reversal, except in two cases. Socially, Judge Van Valen stands without a peer.
He was married in 1874 to Miss Anna Augusta Smith. daughter of Theodore Smith. They have nine children, seven boys and two girls.
WILLIAM M. JOHNSON.
William M. Johnson, President of Hackensack Trust Company. well-known lawyer and legislator, was born in 1847, in Newton, Sussex county, N. J., and is the son of Whitfield S. Johnson, who served as Secretary of State for the State of New Jersey from I861 to 1865.
Mr. Johnson was educated at Princeton College, and subsequently entered the office of the late Judge Scudder, of Trenton, under whose direction be pursued the study of law, being admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1870. After practicing four years at Trenton, be removed to Hackensack, and located permanently. His ability as a lawyer soon
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brought to him a large and growing clientage, and he became a recog- nized legal light in that part of the State in the various departments of the profession.
Politically Mr. Johnson is a Republican. He has served on the Re- publican State Committee, and was a delegate in 1888 to the Nationa Republican Convention that nominated Harrison for the Presidency. He was elected Senator from Bergen county in 1895, and took an active part in legislation. In the session of 1898, and also in the session of 1899, he was the leader of his party in the Senate. He has been con- spicuous for many years in all enterprises tending to a healthy and per- manent growth of his town. He served four years as a member of the Hackensack Improvement Commission, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Hackensack Hospital, which institution he greatly aided in establishing, and continues to support. He has also been a member of the Hackensack Board of School Trustees and a director of the Washington Institute. He is a member of the Oritani Field Club, the Hamilton Club of Paterson, the Princeton Club, the Lake Hopatcong Club and other societies.
In 1872. Mr. Johnson married Miss White, of Trenton. Of this mar- riage there are two children. George W., the elder, a graduate of Princeton College. class of 1898. and William Kempton. Mr. Johnson occupies offices in the Hackensack Bank Building.
GEORGE H. ATWOOD.
In full view of the White Hills of Mount Washington stands "Sugar Hill." in the town of Lisbon, N. H., where George H. Atwood was born, on November 9th. 1838. He was the seventh son of Moses K. Atwood. a wheelwright and maker of fine sleighs and carriages. The family ancestors came from England at an early period, and both father and mother were pious and devoted Christians.
Upon the death of his father, the mother was left with nine chil- dren, and shortly after this, George H., then but eight years of age, went to live with Joseph Clark, who owned a good-sized farm at Carroll, N. H. Mr. Clark had no children. and young Atwood worked on the farm. and during the winter and school terms did the chores and at- tended the village school. He spent the evenings in reading. and fre- quently engaged in the village debating society. At the age of thirteen he professed conversion, and was baptized in a pond, fed by mountain springs. at Whitefield, N. H., and united with the Baptist Church.
In 1857. Mr. Atwood's real business career began when he became a clerk in his uncle's jewelry store, at Littleton. N. H .. continuing in that business until he came to New York, in 1863, where he engaged with the old linen collar and cuff house of Bennett. Strickland & Fellows, as entry clerk. and was rapidly advanced to bookkeeper, then to cashier, and. in 1868. to the position of manager and credit man of the New York house, a place he has occupied with honor to the house for the past thirty-six years. During these years he has managed the credits of the
GEORGE H. ATWOOD
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New York house, had charge of the salesmen and directed the affairs of this extensive business through successive changes of firms, the present firm of Fellows & Company being really the oldest collar and cuff manu- facturers in the United States, having been established in Troy, N. Y .. in 1834. In all his transactions he enjoys the confidence of his employ- ers in the highest degree.
In 1864 Mr. Atwood was made a Mason in Sagamore Lodge No. 371. New York City, and became Senior Deacon, Senior Warden and Wor- shipful Master in rapid succession, the lodge greatly prospering under his brilliant administration. The lodge presented him with a gold watch and chain upon his retiring from the mastership. He was made a Royal Arch Mason in 1865, in Phoenix Chapter No. 2. New York, and was immediately elected Principal Sojourner of the Chapter. He was also made a Knights Templar in Palestine Commandary No. 18, New York, in 1865, under a dispensation of the Grand Commander, being given all the degrees at one conclave. and was at the next conclave elected Prelate of the Commandary, filling the office with marked ability for years. During 1865-6-7. while visiting Hackensack and when Pion- eer Lodge was young, he attended the lodge meeting. conferred de- grees, installed officers and gave valuable counsel. His membership is now with Pioneer Lodge No. 70. F. & A. M. of Hackensack as a Past Master.
In 1865 he became a boarder at the Hackensack House. kept by A. Van Saun, and on December 22nd, 1866, was married to Miss Lucy Shel- drake, eldest daughter of the late George H. Burt of Hackensack, where he has since resided. Six children have been born of this marriage. three boys and three girls, all living.
Early identifying himself with the interests of the town. he became one of the founders of the Public Library and Reading Room and one of its first trustees. Taking the lead he arranged for a course of popular lectures for its benefit, which netted them $350. So anxious was Mr. Atwood for the financial success of this cause that he personally sokdl lecture tickets on the trains.
He 1869 he was a member of the choir in the Second Reformed Church, Dr. George H. Fisher, pastor. Being a Baptist, in May, 1870. he started a subscription to build a Baptist Church. and personally secured $1500 before any one else had raised a dollar, and on the third of July a church was organized with eleven members who received the right hand of fellowship by Deacon De Wolfe and his wife, the only surviving members of a church that existed in Hackensack about thirty- five years prior to that time, Mr. Atwood being one of the eleven organizers. Ground was broken on September 9th of that year and on December 30th following the present church edifice was dedicated. He has labored zealously in both church and Sunday school ever since. holding the various offices of trustees, clerk and deacon in the church while he has been a teacher in the Sunday school for twenty-nine years.
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and three times elected superintendent, which position he now holds. In 1873 he was President of the New Jersey Sunday School Convention, comprising thirty-five schools.
Mr. Atwood has been a liberal and cheerful giver to Home and Foreign Missions, and to every good and benevolent work.
DR. DAVID ST. JOHN.
Dr. David St. John is descended from Matthias St. John (Sention) who came from England in 1635, settling in New England. His grand- father, Noah St. John, removed to New York State upon his marriage with Elizabeth Waterbury, of Waterbury, Conn. Dr. St. John was born in Berne, Albany County, New York, in 1850, his father being David St. John and his mother, Mary Johnson of Scotch ancestry.
After pursuing a preparatory course in the Albany Schools, he com- menced the study of medicine with Dr. H. W. Bell of Berne, N. Y., afterward entering the office of Professor James H. Armsby, of Albany, N. Y., then the leading surgeon in that part of the state. He took , courses of lectures at the Albany Medical College, Buffalo Medical Col- lege, and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, graduating from the latter institution in 1875. He located in Hackensack where he has become prominent in his profession, and has been closely and prominently iden- tified with all matters of town interest.
In 1888, realizing the great advantages that a hospital would offer for the better treatment of a class of medical and surgical cases, Dr. St. John conceived the idea of organizing the Hackensack Hospital, and while his energetic and untiring efforts in its behalf have been ably seconded by all classes of citizens, his indefatigable labors have been the primary cause of its great success. He is President of the Medical Board, and visiting physician and surgeon to this institution, ex-Presi- dent and member of the Bergen County Medical Society; a member of the New Jersey State Medical Society; New York State Medical Associ- ation and the American Medical Association. He was appointed by Governor Griggs one of the managers of the State Hospital for the In- sane, Morris Plains, and is surgeon for the Erie Railroad. He also per- forms a good share of the surgical work in the western portion of the county outside of his hospital practice. Associated with him as assist- ant is Dr. A. A. Swayze, graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md.
The doctor is First Vice President of the Hackensack Trust Com- pany, a director of the Hackensack Bank and of the Gas and Electric Company of Bergen County, and President of the Hackensack Heights Association, owners of a large track of valuable real estate on Hacken- sack Heights.
Dr. St. John is a courteous and dignified gentleman. Sympathetic and thoughtful, he gains the confidence of his patients as he does of others with whom he comes in contact.
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He was married in 1879 to Miss Jennie Angle, of Hope, New Jersey. They have three children- Olive Graham, Fordyce Barker and Florence Angle . ..
THE ROMEYN FAMILY.
Prior to the middle of the thirteenth century, Giacomo de Ferentino, an Italian gentleman, settled at Rongham Manor, Norfolk, England, married Isabella de Rucham, a lady of that place, by whom there were two sons, Peter and Richard (or Thomas). They were sent to Rome to be educated. After their return, Peter, at least, took surname of Rom- aeyn (Peter the Roman). Although educated for the priesthood, he married the daughter of Thomas de Leicester. Her mother's name was Agatha de Cringleford, of Norfolk. Peter Romaeyn devised property, made out leases, granted "charters," many of which still exist over the name assumed by him. His widow sold the property at Rongham in that name. In the third year of Edward II, A. D., 1387, Thomas Romayn was Lord Mayor of London. His arms (foreign) not granted in England. Described in the register "Argent" (white) on a fesse gules (red) three crosses pater or crest, a deer's head Erased. Soon after the above date, troubles broke out between the king and the house of Leicester (see History of England ) and many of the Leicester family and adherents were forced to flee the kingdom, and it is probable, though not a part of family history, that some of the Romayns went to the "low countries" at that time. There is a claim made that the name in France is spelled Romaine, in England, Romain, and in Holland, Romeyn -the latter we know to be a fact. Jan Romeyn, of Amsterdam, Holland, was a descendant of the Romeyns who went from England to the low countries, he had three sons, Simon Janse, Christoffel and Claas or Klass. (Note-In Valentine's Manual, 1863, is the facsimile signature of Simon Jansen Romeyn, 1661, in the Dutch Church records of New York is the marriage, 1668, of "Simon Jansen Romeyn, young man from Amster- dam and Sophie Jans, maiden from the Hague.") Christoffel and Claus sailed from Rotterdam for Brazil with the expedition of Prince Maurice. When Brazil was ceded to Portugal, they sailed for New Netherlands, and settled on Long Island (there is a dispute as to the date, some claim- ing 1654, others 1661), then removed to Hackensack, N. J., remaining about ten years, and later to Greenwich, on the island of New York. Claus married Christianje or Styntie Albertse Terhune, May 2, 1680, of Ams- fort now (Gravesend, N. Y.), and died at Greenwich, N. Y. His children were Garrebregt, (a) John, Elizabeth, Lydia, Albert, Cora and Daniel. Daniel married in Hackensack, May 17, 1716, Martie ( Mary ) Westervelt.
JOHN ROMEYN,
(a) John Romeyn (of Holland) married Lammatje Bougeart at Hackensack, in 1699. Of this union there were also seven children, (b) Nicholas, Roelif, Isaac, Aquietjin (David), Rachael (Berdan), Asseltjin ( Van Voorheest ). At this point it may be opportune to produce the names that belong under this head, as they are found in the records of the Dutch Church at Hackensack. Garrebreght Klas Romeyn, Elizabeth Romeyn,
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Lydia Romeyn, Jans Clasen Romeyn, Clara Romeyn, Daniel Romeyn. Rachael Janse Romeyn, Klaes Romeyn, Jan Romeyn, Geisjan Romein, Annastjen Romeyn, David Romayn, Isack Romeyn, Anguietjin Romeyn, Leude Romein, Cristyntjen Romein, Claes Romeyn, Roelif Romeyn, Nicholas Romein, Antje Romein, Guetje Romeyn, Eyntje Romeyn, Jan Romeyn, John Romeyn, Nikase Romeyn, Eliza Romeyn, Sarah Romeyn.
NICHOLAS ROMEYN.
(b) Nicholas Romeyn was born in 1700, died in 1763, married Eliza- beth Outwater 1726, who died 1732. His second wife (1733) was Rachel Vreelandt, who died in 1761. The issue by his first wife was (c) Rev. Thomas Romeyn. By his second wife, John, born 1734. The latter first , married Julia and second Lady Mary Watts. Issue Eliza (Simmons), John and the Rev. Theodoric (Dirk) Romeyn, D. D., born 1744, died 1804, who married Elizabeth Broadhead. The latter was pastor of the Dutch Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh about ten years. The pastorate beginning May, 1776. He is largely quoted, and in the list of names of distinguished personages, he is considered one of the prominent American theologians.
REV. THOMAS ROMEYN.
(e) Rev. Thomas Romeyn (see Corwin's Manual) was born at Pomp- ton, March 20th, 1729, and died October 22d, 1794. He graduated from the College of New Jersey, 1750. Studied theology. After preaching a few times on Long Island, he went to Holland in 1752 for ordination, and was settled at Jamaica, Long Island, until 1760. It is said that the spelling of the name Romeyn was adopted in this form from his researches in Hol- land. Prior to that the name was spelled in several ways; but his informa- tion obtained in Holland led him to a certainty that "Romeyn" was the proper spelling, and it is in that form to-day in Holland. He married twice, first a Margarita Freelinghuysen, June 29th, 1756, who died at Jamaica, December 13th, 1757, leaving a son, Rev. Theodore F., who died at Somer- ville, N. J., in 1785. Secondly, Susanna Van Campen, whose ashes rest in the graveyard of the old Church on the Green, in Hackensack. He died at Fonda, N. Y., October 22d, 1794, and was buried under the pulpit of his church. The issue was (Rev. ) Thomas, Nicholas, Abraham, Rev. John Broadhead, at one time pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York (Dr. Hall's), Benjamin and Rev. James Van Campen.
REV. JAMES VAN CAMPEN ROMEYN.
Rev. James Van Campen Romeyn was born at Minsink, Sussex County, N. J., November 15th, 1765, died at Hackensack, June 27th, 1840, and was buried in the old churchyard on the Green, by the side of his first wife. He attended the Schenectady Academy, 1784. Studied theology under Rev. Theodoric (Dirk) Romeyn, his uncle. He was a trustee of Rutgers College. He had several charges, the last of which was the Reformed Churches of Schraalenburg and Hackensack from 1799
REV. JAMES VAN CAMPEN ROMEYN Deceased.
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to 1833. "Without ever having seen or heard him, he was called to the distracted churches of Bergen County, N. J., on the ground of his repu- tation as a man of forbearance, discretion and piety." (Taylor's An- nals, Sprague's Annals). He married twice, Susanna, a daughter of Maus Van Vranken, of Schenectady, and Mrs. Elizabeth Pell, who sur- vived him. There was a family of two sons and seven daughters, Susan (Zabriskie) born 1790, died 1868; Harriet (Stafford) born 1792, died 1849, Anna Maria (Varick) born 1794, died 1855; Rev. James Romeyn, D. D. born 1797, died 1859; Anna (Taylor ) born 1800, died 1868; Eliza (Berry) born 1803, died 1849; Caroline (Danforth ) born 1807, died 1845; Theodore, born 1810, died 1885 (Lawyer, Detroit, Mich .; Sarah (Hornblower) born 1814, died 1874. They resided on the property now owned by the Oritani Field Club, in Hackensack. About 1827 he lived in the homestead now occupied by Hon. William S. Banta, Main Street, where most of his daugh- ters were married. In 1833 he erected the house just north of the latter, on Main steet, now the property of Mr. O. O. Shackleton, where he died.
REV. JAMES ROMEYN.
Rev. James Romeyn was born at Blooming Grove, N. Y., Septem- ber 30, 1797. He graduated from Columbia College in 1816, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., in 1819. He de- clined the title of Doctor of Divinity bestowed on him by Columbia Col- lege. He was settled at several places-was pastor of the First Re- formed Church of Hackensack from 1833 to 1836; was elected a trustee of Rutgers College in 1842. He married Joanna Bavard Rodgers, daugh- ter of John Richardson Bayard Rodgers, M. D., a leading physician and professor in Columbia College, New York. There were two sons, James Rodgers and Theodore Bayard Romeyn. Mr. Romeyn was a man who threw his whole energy into his labor. He was a student and very pre- cise in his work; an exceedingly rapid speaker and there are those who remember him to-day who rapturously speak of him as a wonderfully powerful preacher. His nature was exceedingly sensitive ; but his phy- sical strength was not equal to the mental strain, always at a high ten- sion. His manner of writing his sermons was most remarkable-a few are in existence-the manuscripts are written so fine and condensed that they cannot be read without the aid of a strong magnifying glass. While in Hackensack he resided part of the time in the parsonage of the First Church, on Essex Street, and part of the time on the southeast corner of Main and Ward Streets. He died at New Brunswick, N. J., in 1862, and his ashes mingle with his kindred dust.
REV. THEODORE BAYARD ROMEYN, D. D.
Rev. Theodore Bayard Romeyn, D. D., was the second son of Rev. James Romeyn. He was born at Nassau, N. Y., October 22, 1827. He attended school at Hackensack and other places. He graduated from Rutgers College with the distinction of the Honorary Oration in 1846, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., three years later. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him
REV. JAMES ROMEYN Deceased.
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by Rutgers College. He was called to preach Christ at Blawenburgh, N. J., near Princeton, immediately after his graduation, where he lab- ored with a united people who reverence his memory and treasure his ministrations among them. He responded to a call from the church of Fathers-the First Reformed at Hackensack-in 1865, where for twenty years he labored "faithful unto death." He was a man whose retiring tendencies were predominant. He despised shams, and when once his mind was made up there was no compromise. He inherited a keen sen- sitiveness from his father. He carried the joys and the sorrows of his congregation, sharing with each member, especially in their sorrows. He was exceedingly sympathetic and his charity was a marked feature of his life, though the left hand knew not the gifts of the right. He was the embodiment of faithfulness, never shirking duty, but many were the occasions when, physically incapacitated, he responded to the calls of his parishioners, and was present at the post of duty, in the vineyard of his Master, which was always his pleasure. He was a close and persistent student, a deep thinker, eloquent in his discourses, fer- vent in his labors and ardent in effort to lead the erring into the paths of rectitude and to the Throne of Grace. Dr. Romeyn had been on a longer vacation than he usually indulged in and among the scenes of his boyhood, near Catskill, N. Y. He came home upon a Friday evening, the following morning the Master called-he was stricken with paraly- sis. His illness was of but brief duration, in a few hours he had passed into the holy atmosphere of the Delectable Mountains, August 18, 1885. His body was laid in God's acre, hard by. "the old Church on the Green," from which pulpit with an unfaltering zeal he had proclaimed the un- speakable truths of his Redeemer. The following is quoted from a bio- graphical sketch in the memorial volume published by the consistory. "It is also worth a passing notice to observe the large ministerial circle of which he was a member by family ties. His maternal great-grand- father was Rev. John Rodgers, forty-four years pastor of the Wall Street Presbyterian Church, New York City. * * His paternal grandmother was a sister of Rev. Nicholas Van Vranken. In these several branches of relationship there are found nearly or quite forty. names of those who have devoted themselves to the ministry of the Gospel, and of this number, three-quarters belong to the Romeyn fam- ily. Dr. Romeyn married Amelia A. Letson, daughter of Johnson Let- son, Esq., of New Brunswick, N. J. Mrs. Romeyn survived her husband a few years and was called home October 22, 1897. The issue was Mary Letson Romeyn, who died in infancy, and James A. Romeyn, surviving.
.JAMES A. ROMEYN.
The subject of this sketch was born at Blawenburgh, Somerset County, New Jersey, 1853. He is the only son of Rev. Theodore Bayard Romeyn, D. D. and Amelia (Letson) Romeyn. His mother was the daughter of Johnson Letson and Eliza Shaddle, of New Brunswick, N. J. Mr. Letson was a trustee of Rutgers College and a liberal contributor
REV. THEODORE BAYARD ROMEYN Deceased
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to its support and endowment. He was President of the Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company and the New Brunswick Rubber Company. Dr. and Mrs. Romeyn settled at Blawenburgh in 1850, where James A. attended the public school, until 1865, when his father was settled as Pastor of the First Reformed Church at Hackensack, N. J., the " Cld Church on the Green." He was prepared for college at the academy at Lawrenceville, N. J., and at the Rutgers Grammar School at New Brunswick. In 1872 he entered Rutgers College and was graduated in 1876. He entered the law office of Bedle, Muirheid & McGee in Jersey City, in 1876, took a course of study of Columbia Law School and was admitted to practice law at the New Jersey State Bar in 1879. He practiced law in Jersey City until 1890, part of which time was a partner in the firm of Romeyn & Griffin. The practice of law becoming distasteful to him, he abandoned it 1890.
In 1894 he became editor of The Evening Record. an independent daily newspaper, published in Hackensack, the only daily in Bergen County. He entered upon the work of journalism, as he would upon the high professions with a firm conviction that it was equal, if not of more importance than the profession of theology, law or medicine. He has continued this work with great energy and success until his paper has become an important vehicle of news and thought, and a necessary institution of the city.
His whole thought and discussions have been on the side of good morals and the public welfare. No questionable paragraphs have ever found place in the columns of his paper. His, has been a successful effort to make the Evening Record one of the most influential papers in this locality, an with a very flattering circulation, he has made an envi- able reputation throughout the whole State.
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