USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 17
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
and was secretary and treasurer of the Bergen County Mutual Assur- ance Association from 1863 to 1867.
Colonel Ackerson was a delegate in 1876 to the Democratic National Convention that nominated Samuel J. Tilden for the Presidency.
He was married July 9, 1863, to Ann Elizabeth, daughter of John A. Zabriskie and Mary Anderson, and is survived by three sons, John Zabriskie, James B., and Garret G. Ackerson, Jr.
CAPTAIN ANDREW C. ZABRISKIE.
Captain Andrew C. Zabriskie, son of Christian A. Zabriskie and Sarah J. Titus, was born in New York city May 30th, 1853. His grand- father, Andrew C. Zabriskie, was born at Paramus, N. J., at the ances- tral homestead. His fortune, however, was made in business in New York, after which he retired to enjoy his declining years in the old home at Paramus. His four children consisted of three sons, Christian, A.,Martin, John, John Jacob and one daughter, Matilda Mary, who became the wife of Martin E. Greene. John Jacob owned a cotton mill at Hohokus, and was well known throughout Bergen County. Martin changed his name to the original Polish, Zborowski. He was by profession a lawyer, but abandoning practice, he devoted his time to real estate investments, which have proved to be of immense value. He has two children, Anna, wife of the Comte de Montsaulnin, and Eliott. Christian A. Zabriskie was also well known and highly esteemed in Bergen County, and was greatly lamented at his death, especially in church circles, being a strong sup- porter of the Episcopal Church at Paramus, where he spent much of his time. His wife was Sarah Jane Titus, daughter of Captain William M. Titus and Maria Gardner, the daughter of Thomas Gardner, a wealthy resident of Paramus, and who was somewhat eccentric in dispo- sition. Captain and Mrs. Titus frequently drove from New York in their carriage to spend the day with Mr. Gardner, often starting early enough to see the sunrise from Weehawken Hill. Mrs. Zabriskie was then a little girl, and the Bergen Turnpike, over which she drove, has now as its president and controlling stockholder her son, Andrew C.
Captain Zabriskie is well known in Hackensack partly through his presidency of this ancient turnpike which was incorporated in 1802. with Colonel John Stevens of Hoboken as its first president, and partly by his large real estate interests in the vicinity.
Andrew C. Zabriskie, grandfather of Captain Andrew, was adjutant of the squadron of horse of the county of Bergen, and his maternal grandfather, William M. Titus, served in the War of 1812, afterwards becoming captain in the Eleventh Regiment New York Artillery. When but twenty years of age he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Regi- ment N. G. N. Y., in which he served more than seven years and was then elected captain of Company C, Seventy-first Regiment N. G. N. Y. Still later he was appointed inspector of rifle practice on the staff of this regiment, and upon resigning in 1890, was elected to his old com- mand soon after bringing his company up to such an efficient state, as
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CAPTAIN ANDREW C. ZABRISKIE
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
to inspect one hundred per cent; but after a military experience of near- ly twenty-five years he resigned in 1897.
The captain is a member of many clubs, the Metropolitan, City, Army and Navy, National Arts and Church Clubs, and to the Holland Society, the Military Society of the War of 1812, and the Veterans of the Seventh Regiment. He is also a devoted and active Episcopalian, a member of the Church of the Incarnation, and a delegate to the Diocesan Convention from that church, a manager of St. Luke's Hospital, a trus- tee of the Sheltering Arms, the Children's Fold and the Archdeaconry of New York, in addition to which he is treasurer of the American Church Missionary Society and the House of Rest for Consumptives. Interested in the collection of coins and medals since boyhood, he is president of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society.
Captain Zabriskie was married in 1895 to Frances Hunter, youngest daughter of the late Charles F. Hunter, president of the Peoples Bank, New York, and Juliana M. W. Zabriskie. Her grandfather passed most of his time in New York, although a native of Hackensack, and was for some years one of the lay judges of Bergen County. Mrs. Zabriskie's grandmother was Susannah Van Campen Romeyn, a daughter of the Rev. James Romeyn, well known in the vicinity, early in the century. Mrs. Zabriskie is interested in many charities and has a large circle of friends. She is a skilled pianist and possesses marked musical talent.
Captain and Mrs. Zabriskie reside at No. 2 West Fifty-Sixth Street, New York, and have a fine country home at Lake Memphramagog, just over the Canadian line, where they own Province Island comprising over 100 acres. They also own and occupy, a portion of each year, a large estate called "Blithewood" at Annandale on the Hudson. They have two children, Julia Romeyn Zabriskie and Christian Andrew Zabriskie.
MAJOR JOHN ENGEL.
Major John Engel, son of Charles and Augusta (Kuhn) Engel, was born at Bunde, Prussia, April 16, 1845. After completing his course at the Prussian Military School at Schloss Annaburg, in the Province of Sachsen, he came to America in the month of October, 1860. Upon coming to this country he became identified with its interests, adapting himself to the habits and customs by which he became surrounded. A mere lad in years, he was a man in mental vigor and high aspirations. His military training was soon to be put to use in his new home.
In August, 1862, two years after landing in America, he enlisted in the famous Duryea's Zouaves, 165th New York Volunteers, serving until October, 1865. Major Engel served in the Nineteenth Army Corps, in the Department of the Gulf, taking part in all the battles of that corps. He was in the battles of Cedar Creek and Winchester in 1864, and was wounded in the Red River expedition at Cane River Crossing in the same year.
October 8, 1872, upon the formation of Company C, which became a part of the Second Battalion N. Y. N. G., Mr. Engel enlisted as a pri-
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vate, and on the 18th of the same month was elected Sergeant. On May 30, 1876, Sergeant Engel was elected First Lieutenant, and under his efficient drill, continued with untiring energy and self-devotion, the com- pany has ever sustained an enviable reputation. On January 27, 1891, Lieutenant Engel was elected Captain.
The reorganization of the National Guard of New Jersey in 1892 made this battalion a part of the Second Regiment, and December 7, 1898, the Captain was made Major. Upon the breaking out of the late Spanish- American War, this regiment, on May 2, 1898, entered the service as the Second Regiment N. J. Volunteers, U. S. A., Major Engel going to the front in his official capacity. His military career covers in all a period of about thirty-three years.
In private life the Major has engaged in the hotel business, and was for eight years manager of the Hackensack Opera House. He was postmaster of Hackensack from 1888 to 1892 and has twice been elected Justice of the Peace. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Red Men, Wheelmens' Club, Hasbrouck Heights Field Club, Pioneer Club, and a member of James McPherson Post, G. A. R., of which he is a charter member.
He married Miss Mathilda H. Gerrels at Charlestown, S. C., October 30, 1867.
MAJOR ABRAHAM D. CAMPBELL.
Major Abraham D. Campbell, deceased, was a great-grandson of John, who settled in Closter, and at the close of the Revolution located in Washington Township, at Pascack.
Abraham D., son of David A. Campbell was born October 10, 1842. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and at Hack- ensack, and after teaching for a short period, during which time he was elected school superintendent of his township, he resigned and entered the State Normal School at Trenton, from which he was graduated in 1863. After leaving school he engaged in teaching until 1865, when he entered the office of Colonel Garret Ackerson, Jr., at Hackensack as a law student, being admitted as attorney at the June term in 1869, and as counsellor in 1875. A few months after his admission as attorney, he opened an office in Hackensack, and on August 7, 1870, was appoint- ed Prosecutor of Pleas to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Colonel Ackerson, and September 1, of the same year was appointed by Governor Randolph to fill that office until the close of the next session of the Legislature. April 5, 1871 he was appointed for the full term, and by subsequent appointments held the office for twenty-five years.
Having enlisted in Company C. Second Battalion, N. G. N. J., Oc- tober 8, 1872, he was commissioned quartermaster of the battalion with rank of first lieutenant, January 14, 1873, and on March 15, 1876, re- ceived the commission of captain. He served during the railroad strike of 1877, and retired with the rank of brevet-major, December 16, 1890.
M.R. BrinkmanDel
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Mr. Campbell was married September 22, 1869 to Ann E. Hopper. daughter of Jacob Hopper and Lydia Bogert, of Hackensack. They had five children, Luther A., Eva, David (deceased ), Harry (deceased ), and N. Demarest Campbell.
LUTHER A. CAMPBELL.
Luther A., son of the late Abraham D., and Ann E. ( Hopper ) Campbell, was born at Hackensack, November 28, 1872. He was edu- cated in the public schools and was graduated with honors from the Union Street High School, of which Dr. Nelson Haas was principal. Immediately after leaving school he began the study of law in his father's office, and in June 1894 was admitted to the bar as attorney, subsequently becoming associated with his father under the firm name of A. D. & L. A. Campbell. In 1895 at the organization of the Improve- ment Commission, Mr. Campbell became counsel and clerk of that board, and was also for several terms clerk to the Grand Jury by appointment of Judge Dixon, but was forced to give up this position because of grow- ing business in general practice. He has also been chosen counsellor in several townships and boroughs in Bergen county.
Mr. Campbell is a member of Bergen County Lodge No. 73, and of Hope Encampment No. 33, I. O. O. F.
He was married April 22, 1896, to Miss Mae E., daughter of Richard P. Paulison of Hackensack.
CORNELIUS W. BERDAN.
Cornelius W. Berdan, lawyer, was born in the City of New York December 24, 1850. A few years afterwards his father. the late James Berdan, moved with his family to Maywood, N. J., where he died in 1862. The widowed mother then removed to Hackensack, where Cornelius continued his studies in the public schools and at Williams' private academy. At the age of seventeen he took a mercantile position in New York, but, when twenty-three years of age, left that to study law in the office of the late Manning M. Knapp, continuing his studies subsequently with the late Garret Ackerson, Jr., being admitted to the bar in 1878. He has followed his chosen profession ever since. He is a member of the Pioneer Lodge, No. 70, FF. and A. M., and of the Royal Arcanum.
On October 15, 1870, he married Miss Mary P., daughter of John C. O'Connor, a prominent citizen of Milford, Conn. One daughter was born of this union.
Mr. Berdan is a man of strong convictions, and has done much to promote the cause of good government in his city and county.
CHAPTER XVII. SADDLE RIVER.
DESCRIPTION AND EARLY SETTLEMENT -CIVIL LIST-GARFIELD-ITS CHURCHES AND MANUFACTURING- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
This township is one of the oldest in the county. It was formerly a part of New Barbadoes, and was then embraced in Essex county but became a portion of Bergen, in 1709.
When first set off it comprised all the former territory of New Bar- badoes lying between Saddle River and the Passaic River to the prov- ince line, embracing nearly half the territory of that township. About 1772 Franklin township was erected, its boundary including the present townships of Hohokus, Ridgewood and Franklin. The following des- cription given of the township at that time may be of interest :-
"It is centrally distant northwest from Hackensack Town eight miles, its greatest length east and west being ten miles, its breadth north and south eight miles, its area 41,000 acres, of which about 17,- 000 are improved. The surface is generally hilly, the First and Second Mountains of Essex county crossing the Passaic and continuing through it. On the east, however, between the Passaic and Saddle Rivers, there is a neck of low and level land, the soil red shale and loam the valleys fertile and well cultivated, and the hills well wooded. Through the valleys flow several small brooks, such as Singack, Preak- ness, Krokaevall, Goffle, and Ackerman's Brooks.
"Goffle and New Manchester, a part of Paterson, are the chief vil- lages of the township. The population in 1830 was 3397. In 1832 there were 741 taxables, 496 householders whose ratables did not exceed $30 in value, 80 single men, 7 stores, 8 grist-mills, 1 cotton manufactory, 1 furnace, 10 saw-inills, 13 tan-vats, 2 distilleries, 1 wool-factory, 506 horses and mules, and 1324 neat cattle over three years of age. The township paid a State tax of $364.10, and a county tax of $690.26."
Saddle River township is bounded on the north by Ridgewood, south by Lodi, east by Saddle river, and west by Passaic river. Aside from Garfield which is of recent origin, there are no villages in the township, and until recently none but agricultural pursuits have been engaged in, the soil and climate not only being adapted to the raising of all kinds of grain, but also to the culture of fruit and vegetables.
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad passes through the Township from east to west, with stations at Rochelle Park and Dundee Lake. The Bergen county Short Cut, a branch of the Erie Road, runs through the entire length of the township from north to south, connecting Ridgewood with Rutherford. Of the highways in Bergen county that of Slaughter Dam, now designated as the Passaic Valley road, is one of the oldest. This thoroughfare was in use long
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
before the Revolutionary War, and was constantly travelled at that period. It was, in fact, the Indian trail formerly on the east side of the river. The township has now twenty-seven miles of road, and in 1893 it was bonded in the sum of $90,000 for the improvement of its high- ways.
The names of many of the early settlers of this township, because of the removal of their descendants to other places, have been quite forgotten. Lands entered by these pioneers, in many cases, have changed hands, their homes having been transferred to the stranger. Among those whose heritage have been assumed by others may be mentioned the Post and Horne families in particular.
Among the earliest settlers in Saddle River was the Doremus family, the progenitor of whom was John Doremus, who in 1740 purchased the original property near Arcola. He was in 1747 united in marriage to Miss Maria Lutkins, and on his death in 1784 left a son and daughter. Mr. Doremus was during the Revolutionary war taken prisoner by the British, and confined in the old Sugar House prison in New York city. On his release he returned to his home, where the remainder of his life was spent. His son George occupied the homestead until his death in 1830, leaving five sons, Richard, Albert, George, Joh1 B. and Peter, and one daughter, who became the wife of Andrew H. Hopper, well known as a General of the Bergen County militia. John B. occupied the farm for a period of half a century after the death of his father, and subsequently removed to Paterson. His son Jacob occupied the homestead afterwards.
Two brothers of this family, Cornelius and Henry, on their arrival in America, first repaired South, but not being favorably impressed with the land repaired to New Jersey, one having located in Passaic and the other in Morris county. Cornelius died in the latter county, leaving a grandson, Henry, who removed to Saddle River, on the homestead after- wards occupied by William Doremus, the deed of conveyance bearing date July 12, 1782. Among his large family of children was Peter, who inherited the farm and was united in marriage to a Miss Berry, of Carl- stadt, to whom were born children, Henry, William and Cornelius, all of whom located in the township.
George, only son of John Doremus, succeeded to the home property. and married, in 1777, Anna, daugher of John and Catharine Berdan, by whom he had the following children: John, born July, 1779, died May 9, 1796; Maria, born November 12, 1783, and became the wife of General Andrew H. Hopper; Richard, born June 16, 1786, was a farmer at Preakness, N. J .; Albert, born April 25, 1790, spent most of his business life in stage-driving and carrying the mail between Hoboken and Hack- ensack and on the Albany mail route; George, born, November 13, 1794. was a blacksmith, farmer, and inn-keeper; John B. born June 26, 1799; and Peter, born 1801, was a blacksmith by occupation, for many years was a teacher, served as justice of the peace in Saddle River township for several terms.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The Berdan family are of Holland extraction, the first member of whom was Rinear. He emigrated from his native land at a very early date, and choosing Bergen county as a favorable point of location made Hackensack his residence. His sons were six in number of whom two John and Rinear, settled on farms, afterwards owned by Rinear J., and G. V. H. Berdan respectively. The former was married to Miss Ann Romaine, and had one son, John, whose wife was Miss Hen- rietta Van Dien. Their son, Rinear, was united in marriage to Charity Ryerson, and became the parent of two children, John and a daughter Ann. The former married Miss Mary Van Houten, and had two sons- Rinear and Garrabrant-and a daughter, Mrs. Daniel Romaine.
John, the second son of the first Rinear, the progenitor of the family, had three sons-John, Richard and Stephen-and one daugh- ter. John, who served with credit in the war of 1812, is represented by a son, Cornelius Z.
John Berdan, died August 22, 1871. at the age of eighty-one years; and his grandfather, Rinear, also lived to be eighty years of age, dying January 28, 1843.
Charity Ryerson, his grandmother, was born in 1760 and died in 1848. She was a descendant of Joris Ryerson, a native of Amsterdam, who settled first on Long Island, and afterwards, in 1701, in Bergen county, with his two sons. The children of Rinear and Charity Berdan were John R. and Ann, wife of Richard Berdan.
Mary Van Houten, born June 22, 1791, was the wife of John R. Ber- dan, and died January 12, 1862, leaving three children -. Rinear, G. V. H., and Ann, the wife of Daniel Romaine, of Lodi.
Rinear J. Berdan was born on the homestead June 28, 1809, and married March 7, 1833, Catharine, daughter of General Andrew H. Hopper and Maria Doremus, of Saddle River township. Both the Hoppers and Doremuses were among the earliest settled families in Bergen county.
Mrs. Berdan was born December 22, 1846, and by this union they have one son and one daughter, viz .: John, married Christina M. Berry; both are dead. The former died July 20, 1876, the latter February 19, 1881, leaving one son-Walter H. Berdan. The daughter Mary Ann, became the wife of William H. Cadmus, of Saddle River township.
The Hopper family are also among the oldest families in Saddle River. One branch is descended from Andrew Hopper, who emigrated from Holland and had children, among whom were Peter and Andrew. Andrew joined the army during the Revolutionary conflict, and fell in one of the engagements. Peter settled in the township on land still in the family and had three sons, Garret, Andrew, and Henry, all of whom remained in Saddle River. Andrew married and became the father of twelve children, of whom two, John A., and Henry A., located in the township, the latter on the homestead which was the birthplace of his father. Another representative of this family was Henry Hopper, who resided in the present Franklin township and had four children,-two
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
sons and two daughters. The sons were John H., and Andrew H., the latter of whom married Maria Doremus and had seven children, of whoni Henry A., occupied the homestead, and a daughter, Mrs. Rinear J. Berdan.
Peter Hopper, owned some 300 acres of land, and was the first of the family that settled the homestead where Sheriff Hopper now resides. He died in 1818, at an advanced age. His wife was Anna Doremus, who died at the age of eighty-eight, and bore him the following chil- dren: Keziah, wife of Jacob Demarest; Mrs. Voorhis, Garret, Andrew P., and Henry; all were married and reared families, excepting Garret.
Of these children Andrew P. Hopper was born on the homestead in 1777, which he afterwards inherited, and resided there during his life, engaged in farming. He also took part in politics, representing his township in the board of chosen freeholders, and for two terms served as county collector. He served as sheriff of Bergen county for one term, and for one term represented his Assembly district in the State Legislature.
Henry A., son of Andrew P. Hopper was born August 3, 1819. He was sheriff of Bergen county and member of State Legislature one term.
The ancestor of the Garretsons (the name being spelled Garretson or Garrison by members of the same family) was Peter, a native of Holland, who left his native land in 1664 and settled in Bergen county, where he purchased an extensive tract of land. Among his sons was John P., who married a Miss Ryerson and had children, John, Jacob, Garret, and one daughter. John P., spent his life upon the homestead, and here his death occurred. His sons John and Garret remained in the township, the latter having married a daughter of Ralph Romaine and had eight children, among whom were three sons, John G., Ralph, and Abram.
Two branches of the Van Riper family claim Saddle River as their residence. Jeremiah resided on the Passaic river, above the Dundee bridge, and early purchased land of a very old resident named Van Horn. His sons were Simeon, Stephen and Nicholas, all of whom remained in the township. The latter branch is represented by John N. Van Riper.
The Zabriskie family in Saddle River are descended from Andrew Zabriskie, whose son Christian had three sons, Andrew, Cornelius and Abram. Abram married Maria Zabriskie, of New Bridge, and had one son, Christian A., who took up his residence in Saddle River township. The daughters were Mrs. Cornelius Van Houten and Mrs. Henry Demarest.
Johannes Berdan was the pioneer of the family by that name in this township. He had two children, John and Anna, and was grand- father of John, Jr., Richard, Stephen and Mary and great-grandfather of Cornelius Z. Berdan.
The Terhunes, Ackermans and Romaines and a branch of the Dem- arest family were also settlers in the township, some of them coming here before the Revolution.
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Philip Van Bussom early settled in Saddle River, having purchased land of Dominie Marinus. He had children-John, Andrew, Peter, and two daughters. The sons located in Saddle River, Peter having retained the homestead and married. He had three children.
ORGANIZATION.
It is difficult to learn the exact date of the erection of Saddle River as an independent township. In the list of freeholders immediately following, the first of these officials served in the year 1794. It may, therefore, be assumed that Saddle River was erected as an independent township either in that or the previous year.
CIVIL LIST.
The list of freeholders it is possible to give complete since 1794. The remaining more important township offices cannot be secured for the period prior to 1862, as the records are not obtainable. The free- holders are as follows :
1794, Jacob Berdan, Martin Ryerson ; 1796, Samuel Van Zaen, John C. Bogert; 1797-1801, 1809-15, George Doremus; 1797, John Benson, Jr .; 1798-1801, John Dey; 1802-6, Henry Mead, John Garrison; 1807-11, Jacob Ackerman; 1807, Richard Degray; 1808, William Colfax; 1812, Isaac Van Saun; '13-14, Robert Van Houten; '15-18, Martimus Hogencamp; '16-18, John J. Berdan; '19-20, Isaac Van Saun; '20-25, Garret P. Hop- per; '22-25, '30-31, Martimus Hogencamp; '26, Jacob Berdan;, '56-27, Richard Ackerman; '27, Adrian R. Van Houten; '28-29, Andrew H. Hopper, Richard Doremus; '30-'34, Samuel C. Demarest; '32-35, '43-45. Andrew P. Hopper; '35-36, Perigan Sanford; '35, Henry Doremus; '37-39, Henry P. Hopper; '37-38, Turnier Van Iderstine; '39-42, Henry C. Van Houten; '40-42, Cornelius Post, Jr .; '43, '45-46, Andrew B. Van Bussum; '44, Henry P. Doremus; '46-48, John B. Doremus; '47-48, Henry Cole; '49-51, Peter A. Hopper; '49-51, '57-61, Andrew C. Cadmus; '52, Simeon G. Garrison; '52-54, William Doremus; '53-54, John A. Hopper; '56, Cornelius p. Doremus; '56-57, David Alyea; '58-61, Peter I. Demarest; '62-64, Richard Van Winkle; '62-67, '68, Henry A. Hopper; '63-64, '66, John Vreeland; '66-67, James G. Cadmus; '68-70, Cornelius R. Van Houten; '69-71, John G. Garrison; '72-74, J. W. Doremus; '75-77, John B. Schoonmaker; '78, James V. Joralemon; '79-81, '82, Martin Romaine; '82-92, Albert Bogert; '93-96, William Readio; '96-98, William H. Fair- child; '98-99, C. V. B. Demarest, who died in August 1899 and the va- cancy filled by appointment of Tunis W. Vreeland.
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