USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 28
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He married first Miss Martha Ann Zabriskie, daughter of John Zabriskie of Paramus, Bergen county. Of this union were born three children, Richard W., who married Miss Ida Miller and resides in Ridge- wood, Theodore Leonard, who married Jennie Bogert and lives in Ridge- wood, and Nelson Holmes who died at the age of ten years. After the death of his wife, Mr. Terhune married on February 16, 1876, Charlotte Augusta Bills, a native of Tioga county, N. Y., and by this marriage two children have been born, Margaret Helena and Ethel May.
Mr. Terhune was a member of the National Guard of Hohokus several years previous to the outbreak of the civil war. In 1862 he volun- teered as sergeant serving nine months in the army of the Potomac, chiefly in the defenses of Washington. He was a member of Company B, 22d N. J. Regiment, and is a Republican ; has served nine years as Justice of the Peace, when he resigned and is now a chosen Freeholder. In religion Mr. Terhune is a Methodist Episcopal.
ROGER M. BRIDGMAN.
Roger M. Bridgman, postmaster at Ridgewood, is a son of John and Margaret (Hovell) Bridgman and was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., October 26, 1852. His mother was born in New York city, while his paternal ancestry are English, his father being a native of Stone- market, England, from whence he emigrated to America when but twelve years of age. After coming here he learned the trade of baker, which he followed through life, passing away in 1895.
Roger M. Bridgman was educated in the public schools of New York city, and at an early age became an employee of the Erie Railroad Company at Jersey City, remaining in their counting department for a continuous period of seventeen years. In 1883 he took up his residence in Ridgewood. Mr. Bridgman is a Republican and held the office of clerk of the town for eight years, and also clerk of the village after its organization. He was appointed postmaster at Ridgewood in October 1897, and re-appointed January 12, 1898, the term of office of his pre- decessor having expired while congress was not in session.
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PETER L. ZABRISKIE
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
In 1882 Mr. Bridgman married Miss Isabella Brown, daughter of Napoleon and Margaret Brown of New York. Of this union, one daughter was born, Isabella Marguerite, who was graduated from the the Ridgewood High School in the class of 1898, following which she has just completed a course of Kindergarten training in New York city. Mrs. Bridgman's father, Napoleon Brown, lost his life in our late Civil war.
Mr. Bridgman and his family attend the Reformed Church. He is a member of the Junior O. U. A. M., and president of the Fire Department.
HARRY TERUNE
The proprietor of the Rouclere House in Ridgewood, is Mr. Harry Terhune, son of Abram Terhune. He was born in Paterson, N. J., June 3, 1866, and received a common school education in the town of Ridgewood. While still a mere lad he showed a marked talent for jug- glery and sleight of hand and at the age of eight years had a local reputation as a boy magician. He entered the profession as a means of livelihood in 1878, under the name of "Harry Rouclere" doing a short act of magic and working a troop of dogs. A few years later he branched out as a gymnast and acrobat but sustaining a severe fall from the trapeze he abandoned the gymnast line. He then devoted his entire time to jugglery and in a few years became the recognized American manipulator, appearing with marked success in nearly every large city in America.
He was married to Miss Mildred Searing of Brooklyn and shortly after conceived the idea of a mind reading performance. Assisted by his wife, their success has been marked in this peculiar line of work attracting the attention of the press and public. This baffled the inves- tigations of the most ingenious scientists and physicians of this country. On May 22, 1891, they startled the scientific world by producing a new version of hypnotic mental telegraphy, which they called " Psychon- otism," and in it demonstrated that one intelligent person can convey ideas to another without visible means of communication. This act created a sensation in all parts of the United States and so great was their success that they were pictured and headlined on all bills and programmes.
Apart from her many accomplishments Mildred Terhune is en- dowed by nature with a marvellous memory. She can not only instantly give the day of the week that any date falls on, or the cube or square root of any number or numbers but on one occasion memorized Longfellow's "Hiawatha" in two readings. This is most remark- able from the fact that the poem is in blank verse.
Mr. Terhune besides his hotel business, is owner and proprietor of the "Mildred Novelty Company," ( an organization which tours the cities every winter,) is manager of the Opera House at Ridgewood, and is reaping the rewards of his ingenuity and industry.
ROUCLERE HOUSE
283
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
He is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, the Masonic Order, the Royal Arcanum and the Heptasophs.
VAN EMBURGH & TERHUNE.
Van Emburgh and Terhune, of Ridgewood, N. J., Funeral Direc- tors and Embalmers, is composed of Messrs. J. D. Van Emburgh, Jr., and Harvey Terhune, now conducting an extensive business. Mr. Van Emburgh is a son of Jacob D. Van Emburgh, a native of Bergen county. In his boyhood days he went to school to Judge Van Valen, the editor of this work.
Mr. Terhune the Junior member of the firm is a 'son of A. D. Terhune of Bergen county. He received a special education in the U. S. school of Embalming of New York, where he perfected himself in the art, thereby giving the firm a special prestige by being prepared with all modern appliances in embalming. Both the above gentlemen are members of the Jr. O. U. A. M. Mr. Van Emburgh is a member of the Knights of Honor and Mr. Terhune is a member of the Royal Arcanum. The service of this firm is of the highest order, and their territory extends over a wide area, largely in Bergen county. They also conduct funerals in and around Brooklyn and New York.
WILLIAM F. SCHWEINFURTH.
William F. Schweinfurth is a son P. L. Schweinfurth and was born February 13, 1859 in west Hoboken. His father who was a native of Germany, emigrated to this country about the year 1848. He was a cooper by trade but in 1865 removed to Hudson county where he en- gaged in the manufacture of vinegar and also in the sale of mineral water. Young Schweinfurth was educated in the common schools of his native village, leaving school at the age of fourteen years.
After this he was employed in various floral establishments near his home.
In 1892 he and his brother began business as florists under the firm name of F. &. W. Schweinfurth, at Bronxville, Westchester county, N. Y., in which they were successful. Mr. William Schweinfurth. in 1897. sold his interest to his brother, afterward purchasing the establishment of H. E. Forbes, at Ridgewood. This is a plant of three acres in ex- tent , and contains nine hundred square feet of glass.
Mr. Schweinfurth makes a specialty of roses and cut flowers, selling to New York customers almost wholly. His business is prosperous, owing to his personal energy and industry, having started in 1892 with- out capital.
He is a Republican and an attendant of the Reformed Church.
JOSEPH H. CHRISTOPHER.
One of the ablest architects and builders of the county, is Mr. Joseph H. Christopher of Ridgewood. His father was William, son of Joseph Christopher and his mother Rosanna Lake. Joseph H .. was born in the village of Allendale, September 17, 1863.
284
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
After receiving a common school education he took a special course in scientific drawing in New York, afterward studying mechanical and architectural drawing.
For some years he worked as a machinist and mechanical engineer, in New York, becoming an expert in that line. In 1889 without capital, he established himself in Ridgewood, beginning business necessarily in a small way. By industry and perseverance he increased his business, building many of the handsome residences of Ridgewood, a number of these being models of modern architecture. Being a thoroughly equipped architect, he is skilled in every department of house building, superin- tending the painting and plumbing as carefully as any other part of the work.
The public school building attests the thoroughness of his methods. Mr. Christopher remodelled the Almshouse, and erected many other prominent structures. He may be truly said to have been the "archi- tect of his own fortune."
Mr. Christopher was married in 1886 to Miss Elizabeth Hopper, daughter of Peter G. Hopper, a native of Bergen county. They have two children, Rachel and Rowena.
In politics, a Democrat, he has never aspired to office ; is a member of the Legion of Honor and of the Royal Arcanum and a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. He belongs to the Ridgewood Fire Company. Mr. Christopher is a member of the Reformed Church of Ridgewood of which he has been deacon and has also been treasurer.
EDWIN NICKERSON.
Edwin Nickerson is a descendant of French and Irish ancestry, who for generations back have lived in America. His immediate ancestors resided in New York state. his grandfather Zalmon Nickerson, and his father George W., who was the eldest of Zalmon's thirteen children living in Rockland county, where Edwin was born April 20th, 1859. Mr. Nickerson's mother was Amelia (Johnson) Nickerson, a very pious woman and a devoted member of the Reformed church. She died January 1898, at the age of sixty-nine years.
Mr. Nickerson was educated in the common schools of his native county, and began business for himself when nineteen years of age, by taking charge of a farm, in the vicinity of his home, which he success- fully managed for three years. He then came to Ridgewood and for sixteen years was associated with I. E. Hutton in the retail lumber business. At present he is in the same line of business, with J. Blau- velt Hopper and his brother Walter J. Nickerson. He married Miss Anna A., daughter of John R. Westervelt. They have three children. In their religious relations they are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Nickerson is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
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A. V. M. SNYDER
286
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
GLEN ROCK.
The borough of Glen Rock was formed in 1894, its area to extend from a point near John H. Storm's marble shop, on the Paterson road, to a few rods beyond Van Wagoner's Hotel, and from the east side of Cherry Lane to Hohokus Brook. Mr. A. V. D. Snyder, David Zabriskie, John A. Marinus and a few others were the promoters of the borough scheme, and have from the beginning officiated in its government. It is a farming community wholly, has one church, a branch of the Reformed Church of Ridgewood, but no pastor at present. It comprises one school district, a new building for which is now being erected at a cost of S5000.
A. V. D. Snyder is the present Mayor.
ANDREW V. D. SNYDER.
Andrew V. D. Snyder, Mayor of Glen Rock, son of John R. and Sarah (Van Dien ) Snyder was born March 28, 1856, and is a native of Midland Park. For four generations the Snyder family have been resi- dents of this part of the county. In the family of Mr. Snyder's grand- father were the following; Thomas R., who lives at Midland Park; Maria, who became the wife of Daniel Ackerman; Garret R., of Midland Park; John R., the father of our subject and Rachel who mar- ried David Van Houten.
Young Snyder, after leaving the common schools, attended the Paterson Seminary from which he took his degree, and afterward took a special course in the French and German languages. He was employed for a short time by A. T. Stewart & Co., of New York, and subse- quently by a hardware concern in Paterson. After embarking in the butchering business in which he was unsuccessful, losing the result of several years labor, he took a position with the Metropolitan Steamship Company of New York, where he remained a short time. In 1886, how- ever. he began business in Ridgewood as a florist, and has gradually built a thriving trade in that line, making a specialty of importing bulbs from France and Holland, and also dealing in all kinds of farm and garden seeds. Having made extensive improvements in his premises, his buildings and equipments are now new, and modern throughout. Mr. Snyder is an energetic business man and is self made in every respect. He was married in 1875, to Miss Hopper, daughter of Garret N. Hopper of Paramus, and by this union they have had four children : Christina, and Andrew J., now living, Sadie who died at the age of twenty, and Fred who died at the age of ten months. Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics. He has been a Freeholder and Town Clerk of the town of Ridgewood and has served for five years, as a member of the Democratic Executive Committee. He is now Mayor of the Borough of Glen Rock, also Vice President of the Ridgewood Co-operative Building and Loan Association. The family attend the Reformed Church.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
THE BOROUGH OF MIDLAND PARK.
The Borough of Midland Park was incorporated September 6, 1894.
The first Mayor was William B. Morrow ; Councilmen: H. A. Lawrence, C. A. Tillotson, John Klopman, Marcus Young, Louis Smith; Clerk, Thomas Holt; Freeholder, John R. Carlough; Collector, E. M. Krech; Assessor, Will Holt.
Present Mayor, M. B. Wilson: Clerk, Thomas Holt; Councilmen: Francis H. Mayhew, George B. Krech, Garret Klopman, Garret Mul- der, John Beattie, John R. Carlough; Collector, William R. Morrow; Assessor, Will Holt. Board of Health, Thomas Holt, president; Jacob Leames, secretary; John Klopman, Henry Deiphauser, John L. Guyre.
EDWARD M. KRECH.
Edward M. Krech, son of George and Hannah (Glasser) Krech was born in Saxemeiningen, Germany, November 17, 1836. Mr. Krech had three brothers. Christian was a resident of Hackensack and died there in 1889. August lives in Milwaukie. and Adolph is still in Ger- many. Edward M. was educated in his native land, coming to the United States in 1854. Immediately after his arrival he became em- ployed in the cotton mills of David Perry, at what is now Midland Park, continuing in that business for four years, The following twenty-six years he spent with the Wortendyke Manufacturing Company. This Company failed in 1884, when Mr. Krech engaged in business on his own account. In 1895 Mr. Krech retired from active life, after a suc- cessful business career covering a period of more than forty-two years.
In politics Mr. Krech is a Democrat. He was the first collector of Midland Park, and is chairman of the school board. He is a charter member of Wortendyke Lodge, 175, Odd Fellows, which was organized twenty-six years ago. In his religious life, Mr. Krech is a member of the Methodist church.
He was married in 1868 to Miss Theresa Lassman, who is also a native of Germany. They have had four children, Rosa, wife of John S. Payne, of Wortendyke; George E., married to Jessie, daughter of the Rev. J. S. Gilbert, former pastor of the Wortendyke Methodist Church; Dora, who died at the age of thirteen years, and Theresa, who is at home unmarried. George E., is manager of the agency account department of the German American Fire Insurance Company of New York.
JOHN IL. POST.
John H. Post general merchant and postmaster, of Midland Park, is a native of Bergen county born July 22, 1844. His father Henry P. Post, is also a native of Bergen county, and a son of Peter Post of Hol- land ancestry. Mr. Post had one brother, Peter, who enlisted in the 22nd New Jersey volunteers, and died of wounds received in the army.
Our subject received a common school education, and afterwards learned the trade of brick and stone mason, which he followed for a num- ber of years. In 1888 he purchased the property where he is now loca-
288
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
ted, and after improving it, entered into the retail of general merchan- dise, in which industry and honorable business methods have made him successful. In 1863 he married Miss Louisa Coe, daughter of Abram Coe, also of Bergen county. They have two children, both of whom have received a high school education. Thomas, the son, is assistant in the store with his father. In politics Mr. Post is a Republican. He has been postmaster at Midland Park, for a period of ten years, excepting one year, after which he was reinstated. He has also served as town committeeman, and as school clerk. Mr. Post and family attend the Methodist church.
CHAPTER XXIII. WASHINGTON.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS -- BOROUGH FEVER-FAMILY HISTORY-CIVIL LIST WESTWOOD-PASCACK -- WOODCLIFF BOROUGH-HILLSDALE TOWN-
SHIP-PARK RIDGE-MONTVALE-BIOGRAPHICAL.
The township of Washington was taken from the township of Har- rington by an Act of the Legislature passed January 30, 1840, and was made to consist of all that territory lying west of the Hackensack River, which belonged to Harrington, at that time. Its area covered 19,525 acres in extent. It was in this part of the old township at a place known as the Overkill Neighborhood, where occurred the surprise and slaughter of Col. Baylor's light horse on the night of October 27, 1778. A geographical description of Washington township at the time of its formation is as follows: Bounded on the north by Rockland county, N. Y., south by Midland and Harrington, east by Harrington and west by Hohokus and Ridgewood. The New Jersey and New York Railroad runs through the township in nearly a northerly direction with stations at Etna, Westwood, Hillsdale Manor, Woodcliff, Park Ridge and at Montvale.
The borough fever attacked this township in 1894, and soon after each of the above named places, with one or two exceptions, became the capital of a borough formed within its precincts. First came the formation of the boroughs of Westwood, Woodcliff, Park Ridge. Mont- vale and Eastwood leaving Hillsdale for the center of a rather distorted area, for the old township. Eastwood finally returned to the township having become tired of borough life. Hillsdale, looking after its own interests organized into a township-in 1898-leaving " Old Hook " in the desert waste to look after its own municipality with Etna for its trading post, and the old romantic name of Kinderkamack for its legacy.
Etna, or Actna, as it was formerly called, is located in the old town- ship of Washington. It was originally known as Kinderkamack, the name in accordance with popular tradition being of Indian origin and signifying " the place where the cock crowed." The place was the scene of some of the more important incidents of the Revolutionary period. During the time the American army encamped here, occurred the death of Brigadier General Poor, one of the bravest generals of the Revolution. His remains were interred in the old cemetery of the Reformed Dutch Church at Hackensack, his funeral obsequios having been attended by both Washington and Lafayette. His grave is marked by a plain slab bearing the following inscription: " In memory of the Hon. Brigadier General Enoch Poor, of the State of New Hampshire, who departed this life on the 8th day of September 1780, aged forty-four years."
290
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The township of Washington in its early history is associated with the names of Wortendyke, Blauvelt, Eckerson, Hering, Demarest, Hol- drum, Storm, Brickell, Hopper, Westervelt, Bogert, Van Emburg, Campbell, Banta, Perry, and others. Many if not all of these names are still represented by later generations, a portion of whom have inherited the paternal estates. The tradition of the fathers have in a few instan- ces been preserved, but with most of these families little of interest is remembered prior to the present century. The Wortendykes are among the earliest residents of the township, the progenitor of whom was Jacob, who came from Holland at the period prior to the Revolution and settled in Harrington township. He had two sons, Rinear and Frederick, both of whom located in Washington. Rinear married, and had as descend- ants Cornelius, Rinear, Frederick, Albert, and Jacob. The latter was married to Elizabeth Campbell, and had children, Rinear and two daughters. Frederick, the son of Jacob first mentioned, had sons, Fred- erick, Peter and James.
Albert, the son of the first Rincar, married and had children, - David, Abram, Rinear, and a daughter, Jane. Abram had two sons, Abram, and Albert A. Frederick F. and Peter Wortendyke each repre- sent other branches of the same family.
The Hopper family are of Holland descent, the earliest one remem- bered in Washington being Abram, who had among his children one Jacob. He resided at Kinderkamack, on property recently occupied by John Smith, and which was formerly the homestead. Jacob had one son, Abrain, who settled on ancestral land and had children,-Abram, Garret, Isaac, John, James, and Jacob, and one daughter. Jacob located upon the farm afterwards occupied by his only son, Richard Hopper, and a daughter, Mrs. J. C. Westervelt. Another branch was that of Nicholas Hopper, who resides in Hohokus, and had three sons, John, Jacob, and Andrew.
The Brickell family were originally from Rockland County, the first member of whom was probably George, who fell in the Revolutionary conflict. He had two sons. George and Thomas, the latter of whom came to the township of Washington (then Harrington) and pursued the weaver's craft. He was united in marriage to Altye, daughter of William Bogert, and had twelve children, of whom seven reside in the township. The sons were George, John, and David, of whom George and David lived in Washington, and John in Newark. Much of the land now embraced in the village of Westwood belonged to the family.
Among the oldest families in the township is that of Bogert, who are of Holland ancestry, and the pioneer of whom was Isaac. See spec- ial sketch.
Conrad Storms of Holland descent was probably the first of that family to come to the township. His children were Henry and a daughter. Henry married Margaret Holdrom, and their children were Conrad, Cornelius and two daughters.
291
HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Peter Perry was an early resident and purchased a large tract in the north east corner of the township. He had sons, Peter, Johannes and Jacob. A. P. Perry, Mayor of Park Ridge, is a descendant of this early settler.
The Demarest family in this township descend from Garret who located on the mill site but recently occupied by Robert Yates. His sons were Tunis, James, Abram, Samuel and John, all of whom became resi- dents of the township. One of his daughters became Mrs. John Hopper.
Another branch of the Demarest family was represented by two brothers John and Abram who settled in the south east part of the town- ship but neither left families. Still another member of this family- Jacobus Demarest-was a resident of this township, living first at Old Hook then at Montvale. He had children David, Abram and John and two daughters. The sons all lived and died in the township.
The Alyea family, none of whom now live in the township, was represented by Jacobus, who was buried in the Old Hook cemetery dur- ing the latter part of the last century.
The earliest of the Banta family to settle in Washington township was John, born October 6, 1824, who resided at Pascack. He married Margaret Duryea and had children, Henry, John, Jacob, and Agnes.
The Westervelt family are among the earliest settlers in the town- ship. Casparus I. had a son John C. who was married to Agnes Van- derbeck, and had children, Casparus I., Sarah and Martyntie. Casparus I. married Maria Van Riper and had one son, Captain J. C. Westervelt of Westwood.
*"The Blauvelt family are of Holland descent, and associated with some of the most stirring events of the Revolutionary period. Among a large family of brothers were Jacobus and Cornelius D., the former of whom settled near Mont Vale and had four sons-James, John, David, and Tunis-and six daughters. Among these sons his land, embracing a tract of two hundred acres, was divided. All but Tunis left descend- ants. John I., the son of John, was a resident in the township. Cor- nelius D., a soldier of the Revolutionary war, had a son, David C., who was the father of James D. and John D. Blauvelt, both residents of Washington.
" At the home of Cornelius D. Blauvelt, whose wife was a member of the Hering family, occurred one of the most heartless massacres of the Revolution-the surprise and slaughter of a detachment of Col. Bay- lor's command. The spot upon which the Blauvelt home was located. as described to the historian by one of the descendants of the family, was at River Vale, on the west side of the river. on the site of the house more recently occupied by L. Cleveland, the original structure having long since been demolished. The night was severely cold, and the troops were quartered in the barn, the officer in command with some of his subordinates having been more comfortably provided for at the house. Guards were stationed about the place, who at three successive
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