USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 22
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Colonel Miller was married in May, 1841, to Miss Amanda, daugh- ter of Captain Seth Miller, of New York. They had five children. Amanda J., wife of Marshall L. Hinman, of Dunkirk, N. Y .: Ezra W ..
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our subject; Harriet M., wife of John H. Van Kirk, of New York; Jordan G., and Dr. Frank P.
Ezra W. Miller was born May 26, 1845, at Fort Hamilton, N. Y. His early life was spent in Wisconsin, where his classical studies were prosecuted at Racine College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1865.
Returning to the East, he was for some time engaged in the whole- sale drug trade, subsequently becoming associated with his father in New York, in connection with the business of his inventions. In 1874, he removed with his father to Mahwah, N. J., where they erected a mansion known as the " Owena," a fine establishment which Mr. Miller is at present conducting as a hotel with good success. This is a beau- tiful place, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country.
He was married in 1870 to Caroline I. Rollins, daughter of True W. Rollins, of Brooklyn, N. Y. They have one daughter, Adele R. In politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and of the Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Miller's mother died in 1881, and his father in 1885.
JOHN PETRY.
John Petry, of Mahwah, is of French ancestry, a son of George Petry, who was a harness maker by trade, and a native of Canada.
The family lived near Paterson, N. J., where John was born August 24, 1824. The first experience of young Petry as a wage earner was in Paterson, when he was employed for a number of years in the various cotton mills. In 1853 he went to California, taking the route by the Isthmus of Panama. After an absence of two years he returned, and sub- sequently engaged in the retail liquor trade for a number of years in New York city. Having accumulated a considerable fortune, he pur- chased a tract of near land Mahwah in 1864, which he improved at a great expense. Afterward, however, meeting with financial loss, he sold this farm to Mr. Havemeyer. Mr. Petry then removed to the village of Mahwah, where he opened a hotel, which has proved a profitable busi- ness, and where he continues to reside.
Mr. Petry has been twice married, first to Miss Jemima Gerll. By this marriage were two children, Jesse and John. After the death of his first wife he married Miss Ruth De Fau. Four children were born of this union, Harry, Herbert, Milred and Howard.
Mr. Petry is a Democrat, and held the office of postmaster under Cleveland's last administration. He is a member of the Order of Free Masons.
CHAPTER XX. ORVIL TOWNSHIP.
ITS ORGANIZATION-VILLAGES-HISTORICAL RESIDENCES --- MANUFACTUR- ING INTERESTS-CHURCHES-BIOGRAPHY.
This township was incorporated in 1885, and was formed out of the southerly part of Hohokus and the westerly part of Washington. In 1894, owing to troubles growing out of the school law, three boroughs, namely, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River and Allendale, were taken off the township. The borough of Saddle River was taken off the eastern part of Orvil; Upper Saddle River was formed out of part of Orvil and part of Washington, and Allendale borough comprised the northwest part of Orvil, part of Hohokus and part of Franklin town- ship. The township was named in honor of Orville Victor, whose sketch is given in this chapter of the work.
The prime movers in the formation of the township of Orvil were Martin M. Smith, Abram H. Ackerman and John G. Esler. The first officers of the township were: Township Committee-Dr. B. Oblenis, Elijah Rosencrantz, Nathaniel Orr. Collector- Albert De Baun. As- sessor-Abram H. Ackerman. Freeholder-Dr. B. Oblenis. Town Clerk-S. Nelson Woodruff.
The officers for 1899 are: Township Committee-A. S. D. Demarest. John W. Quackenbush, Harvey Springstead. Freeholder-Abram H. Ackerman. Collector-John Magee. Assessor-J. B. VerNooy. Town- ship Clerk-I. B. Keiser.
VILLAGES.
There are two villages in Orvil Township. Hohokus, formerly known by the name of Hoppertown is on the Erie railroad, with " Undercliff " as one of its stations, and is situated in the extreme part of the township. The land covering the site of this village was taken up by Abram Hopper long before the war of the Revolution. This influential family lived here many years, and from them the place aptly received it name Hop- pertown.
The American Pegamoid Company's works, also the Brookdale Bleachery, are located here, besides, there are stores, a hotel a school and a post office.
The old Mansion House still occupied as a hotel, is one of the indeli- ble landmarks, Both the Bleachery and the Pegamoid works of very recent origin. G. J. B. Keiser has been postmaster in the village since 1876, and virtually since 1864. The two store are kept by J. E. Miller and E. W. Leary respectively.
The old school house in this district, was a rude affair but nothing in particular is known at this late day, concerning its erection. The Hohokus District embraced territory both in Hohokus and Franklin
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Township. In 1856 another house was erected by subscription, and this in turn gave place to a better one erected in the village on the avenue leading to the Paramus Church. Until 1870 the school was maintained by a tuition fee of one dollar per quarter, but it is now entirely free.
In the village of Hohokus are three very old houses, dating back to colonial times. They were built by the Hoppers and are known as the old Stone Building South of the Brook ; the old Stone House and the Mansion House. The first named is probably the oldest. A cannon ball was shot into it during the war of the Revolution, and still remains as a relic of that struggle for our independence .* On June 13, 1803, this property was sold by John A. Hopper to William Bell, who sold it to Andrew J. Zabriskie, in 1827. Mr. Zabriskie owned a cotton mill and a saw mill in the town at that time. About 1857 John J. Zabriskie, son of Andrew, came into possession of the property, and the whole Hopper estate is now in the possession of McCafferty & Buckley, including, of course, the old Mansion House. This is the famous old tavern on the old stage route from Albany to New York, when the stage coach was the chief means of travel.
The old Quackenbush estate, subsequently known as the Jolin A. Bogert Hotel, was also used for a tavern in Hohokus before the railroad diverted travel. This tavern was on the road about half way from Hohokus to Paramus.
Waldwick, another enterprising little town of the township, where the Post silk mill is located, is on the Erie railroad. Waldwick is a Saxon word, which means beautiful grove, and the old village was well named. Besides the manufacturing interests, there are several stores, two hotels, a church and a fine school. The village proper is of recent origin. Henry L. Hopper was the first postmaster, and took the office in 1890. George Oughten, the present postmaster, started the first grocery store in the village in 1881. His commission as postmaster dates back to 1892. The next store was opened by George Tonkin. F. F. Wagner, proprietor of the Waldwick Hotel, began business in 1891. The Orvil House was built in 1894. The school house also built in 1894, is a well constructed, commodious structure with departments for three teachers. William McKenzie is the principal at the present time.
A portion of the agitation that led to the good roads, for which Ber- gen county is now noted, began in Orvil Township. The leaders in the movement were John G. Esler, Alfred P. Smith, Martin M. Smith, and Abram W. Ackerman of Saddle River, and Garret H. Bamper of Hohokus. The first appropriation for Macadam was made in March 1891 and with a portion of this money the first Macadam on the Paterson road was put down in the Fall of that year. Ridgewood Township and Saddle River Township quickly followed the example set by Orvil.
In June 1882 Alfred P. Smith, a lame and invalid colored man started at his home in Saddle River, "The Landscape," which is prob- ably the smallest paper in the United States. It is 6x8 inches and has * See sketch on the history of Oakland.
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been published every month since the initial issue. It is a sheet that reflects the ability of its editor in every line, and by many is retained as and encyclopaedia of events in Saddle River borough, both past and present. The influence of " The Landscape " in securing good roads was an important factor in 1891.
HISTORICAL RESIDENCES.
Among places of historic interest, that of the beautiful Theodosia Provost, afterwards the wife of Colonel Aaron Burr, is worthy of note. It was once, in ante-Revolutionary days, the residence of a wealthy English family, and, during the war, at different times, the stopping place or headquarters of Washington. At that time it was called the "Little Hermitage," and many of Mrs. Provost's letters to Burr were dated here. It was while residing here that she became acquainted with the Colonel, who was then stationed at Ramapo.
Only a part of the original building, which was a substantial, first- class country house, now remains. It is not known by whom, or when, the original buildings were erected. The principal structure has on one of the stones in the front of the house, Masonic emblems inscribed, and there was one room in the building that could be entered only by a trap door. These facts led to the conjecture that the house was erected at an early date by the Masonic fraternity. Elijah Rosencranz, Jr., father of William Rosencranz, the present owner, had a door cut into this room.
Mrs. Provost was a sister of De Wisum, a French nobleman, who owned the property at the time of the war of the Revolution. In 1812 it was rebuilt by William Ranlett, Esq., for Dr. Elijah Rosencranz, and has been in the possession of that family ever since.
The design of the house is of the old English style, and is finished inside and out in the most substantial manner. The walls are con- structed of hammer dressed brownstone from quarries in the vicinity. The timber is of oak and chestnut and the roof of cedar. The original house had a piazza on the western side. Mr. William Rosencranz is of the opinion that Burr was married in the dining room of this house, The general belief is that the marriage took place in the Paramus church, but there is no record in the church books to that effect.
THE BAMPER HOUSE.
The Bamper House was a famous tavern in ante Revolutionary times. It is not knwon by whom nor at what time this building was erected. The house was built for a tavern, and did duty in that capa- city, from time out of mind, until the railroad was built. It was known formerly as the "Old Le Rue" tavern, and came into the possesion of Captain Bamper, probably about the time of the war of the Revolution. His son, G. H. Bamper, the last of a long line of proprietors, who en- tertained stage drivers with their passengers, on the way from Albany to New York, owned four, four horse stage coaches. He died soon after the war of the Rebellion, aged eighty six year. The property is now owned by the widow of G. H. Bamper, Jr.
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The beautiful, picturesque residence and grounds. now the property of John B. Miller, but formerly owned by Joseph Jefferson, the famous actor, are also in Orvil township. The grounds are kept under the highest state of improvement and with the antique buildings the stately trees of shade. the fish ponds and other attractions, the place never ceases to be an object of general interest.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
On the Hohokus Brook are located the paper mill of White & Co .; the Brookdale Bleachery, formerly Rosencrantz Cotton Mills ; the Saw Mills of M. D. White : the Paper Mill of C. S. White, and the Silk Mills of John A. Post. C. A. and J. B. Wortendyke also owned a cotton mill on this brook, for the manufacture of warp and yarn.
John Rosencrantz. the founder of these cotton mills, came to Hohokus in 1787. In 1812 his brother Dr. Elijah Rosencrantz came. Elijah Rosencrantz was both a preacher and a physician, and became a partner with his brother in the mill interests, which they carried on for many years together. In 1853 John Rosencrantz. Jr .. became sole owner. The mills were run for the manufacture of cotton warps, the product being sold in Philadelphia. The brothers employed as many as forty and fifty hands at times, and the business was continued up to recent times when all was sold to
THE BROOKDALE BLEACHERY.
This business was inaugurated in 1898. It is a stock company organized for the bleaching of goods.
E. White, president ; Thomas A. Deery, vice-president ; J. L. Van Sant, secretary ; Isaac T. Johnson, treasurer.
On the site now owned by C. S. White, John White, his father, established the original mill in 1837. He came here from Milburn, New York, where he had been conducting a paper mill. He continued the busness here until his death in 1848. After that his widow kept the mill in operation until 1876, when she died and her son, C. S. White took charge. and for some time manufactured paper twine. but recently manu- factures toilet paper. He employs a number of men continously.
THE WALDWICK SAW MILL.
The Waldwick saw mill was built in 1850 for a paper mill and during the war. from fifteen to twenty barrels of paper twine was made, daily. About twenty years ago it was burned. and was rebuilt by Matthew D. White, for a saw mill, having been used for that purpose since that time, sawing and shipping hard wood. Mr. White keeps a force of sixteen men and four teams employed, and furnishes lumber to the New York and Paterson markets, principally.
THE POST SILK MILL COMPANY,
The Post Silk Mill Company is located at Waldwick, and was estab- lished in 1891. by John A. Post, where he engaged in silk throwing, exclusively, doing a strictly commission business. He began with but twelve hands but increased until he had a force of eighty men employed. and on February 1. 1899, the concern was incorporated. with John A. 1
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Post, president ; F. C. Streckfuss, treasurer and secretary. They now employ about one hundred men, preparing thread from the raw silk, for the loom.
THE AMERICAN PEGAMOID COMPANY.
The American Pegamoid Company was incorporated December 17, 1897, with the capital stock of five million dollars. The incorporators and those interested are John R. Bartlet and many others of New York and Boston, it being a foreign company though the works are at Under- cliff. The certificate of incorporation says : that the company is organ- ized to import, deal in, and manufacture paper materials and paper sub- stitutes of all kinds of raw substances, pulps preparations and all articles to be made from paper or paper substitutes.
NEW PROSPECT M. E. CHURCH.
The New Prospect M. E. Church, now better known as the Wald- wick M. E. Church, was the first society of that denomination in Bergen County. No records remain of its first organization, nor any earlier than 1797; but the tenor of those existing seems to imply that the society had been in existence for some time.
These quaint old records are interesting, showing the contrast between those days and the present. Accounts were kept in " pounds. shillings and pence; " the building was illuminated at night, first by tallow candles, then by oil, then by "camphene," and not till compara- tively recent times by "kerosene." The curious archaic spelling, the signatures of men of note in their day as pastors, presiding elders and as private members, make the faded lines and age-yellowed pages interesting.
Rev. J. Fountain was pastor in 1797; Barnabas Mathias associate pastor. "The circuit" to which this appointment was attached extended then from Haverstraw, Rockland County, N. Y., to Belville, N. J.
Revs. Manning Force, J. Mallinson and George Banghart, all men of mark in their day, were among its first pastors. In fact the roll of New Prospect's ministers in charge includes none but honored names. Those still living are Rev. W. A. Dickinson, Rev. J. E. Switzer, Rev. J. R. Daniels. Rev. H. D. Opdyke, Rev. E. Clement, Rev. E. V. King. Rev. J. E. Gilbert, Rev. J. Tyndall. Rev. J. A. Piper and Rev. A. J. Conklin, now serving his second term as pastor here.
A church building was first erected near where the Erie Railroad now runs, -within the bounds of Waldwick. This growing too small for their needs was replaced by another, a neat frame structure near the present building, and now altered into and used as a dwelling house.
The present edifice. a handsome white frame building, was erected during the pastorate of Rev. J. E. Switzer (1865-1867) and is a taste- fully furnished and well planned church, with belfry and bell.
By the untiring diligence of the Ladies' And Society, from 1891 to 1894, a convenient and pleasant new parsonage and a large hall for
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Sunday School, business and social uses were erected upon lots adjoining the church.
Many are the changes that have taken place in this hundred years. Many are the good men and good women, noble and true, who have gone to their reward from this church. They are no longer with us, but are not forgotten. The names of Whitman Phillips, Abraham Ackerman and wife, Aaron Ackerman and wife, John A. Storms, Peter D. Bush, Stephen Hammond and many others will long be remembered in the annals of this church.
From this old mother church of Bergen Methodism have gone out other societies, who have built beautiful churches in Allendale, Camp- gaw, Wortendyke, Little Zion. Sloatsburg and Suffern the last two in Rockland County, N. Y.
The trustees are as follows: Matthew D. White, George Storms, E. D. Leary. D. Van Blarcom, Andrew Storms, Abram Storms, G. Winters, J. Terwilliger and G. Simmons.
The Catholic Church in Hohokus is a branch of the Lady Mount of Carmel, Ridgewood, and is under the pastorate of Father E. A. Kelly. Ground for this building was given by Jacob Zabriskie in 1864. The society was organized and the building erected under the pastorate of Father McNulty.
ABRAHAM H. ACKERMAN.
During the reign of King George III, the ancestor of the Acker- man family of Orvil township, found a home in this part of Bergen county, where several generations of his descendants have continued to reside.
In the year 1763, Johana Arie Ackerman came to New Jersey and in 1773 began purchasing land, subsequently continuing these transac- tions until large portions of this part of the old township of Franklin, now Orvil, came into his possession. His son Abraham I. Ackerman was born October 10, 1766. Abraham I. married Sarah Cooper who was born November 5, 1766. They were married May 12, 1784. Their son Henry A., was born November 28, 1787, and his wife, Elizabeth Hopper was born May 28, 1799. Henry and his wife were married January 16, 1819. He died May 18, 1879. She died December 29, 1881. Their children were Abraham H., the subject of this sketch, who was born May 22, 1820, and Nicholas H., born September 17, 1837, died. October 23, 1892. Abraham resided on the old homestead until his death which occurred December 8, 1891. He married Mary Van Riper. daughter of Harmon Van Riper, November 1, 1838. At the time of this marriage his father, Henry A., built a house on the farm on the Pater- son road and with his wife and younger son, Nicholas H., removed there, leaving Abraham H., to care for his grandfather and grandmother, which he did for five years, his grandfather dying November 22, 1843.
Abraham H. Ackerman began life as a farmer. He received his early education in the school at the Paramus Church, which was at that tinie
ABRAHAM H. ACKERMAN
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a small structure, furnished with long wooden benches for seating pur- poses. School opened at nine and closed at four o'clock. The teachers were exacting, and made full use of the rod as a means of discipline. Mr. Ackerman received a very good common school education, however. and began farming for himself in the spring of 1839, on this farm of sixty acres. He had no money to start with, but he and his wife worked faithfully for a few years, and accumulated enough means to purchase more land. In 1855 he bought thirty acres from Mr. Andrew Zabriskie, subsequently buying more from other parties.
In his younger days he was a somewhat extensive strawberry grower, selling his berries in New York. In order to be ready for the morning trade, he would go at night and return, after making his sales, to prepare for the following day. His berries brought good prices for those times. In addition to his trade in this line, he was also in the milk business for a period of about ten years, furnishing milk during all this time to one dealer in Jersey City, receiving two and one-half and three cents per quart. To these two commodities Mr. Ackerman attributed a good share of his success in money making. He was a successful farmer, and his crops were well tended; they yielded well, and when disposed of, the money was safely invested in farms, until about 1865, when he began purchasing real estate in Paterson. This was simply as an investment, for he never sold any land, and at the time of his death he owned a large number of houses. In 1852 he and his wife became mem- bers of the Reformed Church, at Paramus, where they had attended all their lives, and from that time he was closely identified with all the interests of that church, serving as deacon and elder a greater part of the time until his death.
Two children were born to them, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Elizabeth M., now the wife of Mr. A. A. Blauvelt, resides on the old homestead, being the fifth generation who have occupied this place as a residence. Mr. Ackerman was a Republican in politics, serving often in township offices.
ABRAM A. BLAUVELT.
The Blauvelt family in this part of Bergen county are descendants of Henry Blauvelt, who settled on a considerable tract of land early in the present century, and lived there until he died, December 27, 1897. aged ninety-three years. He was born June 22. 1803. His wife, Chris- tina Baldwin, was born January 19, 1807. She died March 13, 1881. Their children were Garret B., Thomas B. and John Henry, who is living in Michigan, and David A., who lives on the old farm.
Garret B. Blauvet was born September 20, 1824. He married Jemima Ackerman, who was born February 13, 1825, and died Septem- ber 2, 1898. He died September 24, 1898. They at first lived on a farm at Arcola. About thirty years before they died they retired, taking up their residence at Paramus.
Abram A. Blauvelt, the subject of this sketch, was their son. He was born August 20, 1844. His life has been spent on a farm in the
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quiet pursuit of an avocation that has always been congenial to his tastes. He cares nothing for political preferments, but is an official in the church, and has identified himself with the Paramus Society for over twenty-five years. He is now serving his third term as elder of that church. Mr. Blauvelt was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Ackerman October 17, 1866. She was born April 2, 1848. They have no children. They live on the old Ackerman homestead, and have a delightful home.
HON. JOHN W. BOGERT.
Hon. John W. Bogert, the well-known Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals, whose appointment first by Leon Abbett, the Democratic Governor of New Jersey, in 1891, and again by Governor Griggs in 1897, proclaims both his efficiency and popularity. As a representative of the Bogert family, which came to this country from Holland several genera- tions ago and settled in Bergen county, the Judge inherits many of the admirable traits and characteristics of this sturdy race. Born Septem- ber 3, 1839. and reared within the precincts of the home of his immedi- ate ancestry, he has been called to numerous positions of trust and con- fidence which he has filled to his own credit and to the satisfaction of his constituents. The great grandfather of John W. was Stephen, and his grandparents were James S. and Sarah ( Westervelt) Bogert, whose son, Stephen J., was born April 3. 1813. His wife was Catharine Hop- per, the daughter of Albert G. Hopper, late of Ridgewood. John W. was their only child. He now owns and occupies the farm upon which his father passed his life, dying February 3, 1854. The Judge was educated in the public schools of Hohokus. He was elected township clerk when but twenty-one years of age, has held the office of township assessor, and was for fourteen years county collector. In 1874-1875 he was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly, and served as State Senator for four years. 1886, 1887, 1888 and 1889, and as Judge of the court he has filled the office with distinction and to the general satis- faction of the public.
Judge Bogert's wife was Miss Etta Ackerman, daughter of Daniel and Mariah Snyder Ackerman. She died in January, 1896, leaving two children, Sarah C., wife of Stephen L. Van Emburgh and Daniel A., unmarried.
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