USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 39
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Previous to 1870 this district was a farming community, comprising such families as Enoch Vreeland, Abram A. Ackerman, Christian P.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Terhune, John Van Bussum, Henry Ackerman, Richard Berdan, Rich- ard Terhune, John H. Berdan, Isaac Gott, Henry Kipp, Robert Williams and Garry Kipp. Since 1870 outside capital has become interested. Lord & Van Cleeve bought the land known as the Richard Terhune, farm, Meyer & Smith bought part of the Richard Berdan farm, all of the farm of J. H. Berdan, and an Association known as the Center Corona Land and Building Association bought the Henry Kipp farm. Of all this property purchased, no improvement was made until 1874, then Henry Kipp foreclosed a mortgage on the property held by the Center Corona Land and Building Association, and built about eight houses, which were occupied soon after. During all this time and up to 1889 this place was known as Corona and was part of Lodi township.
In 1889 Daniel P. Morse, of New York, bought the farms of Henry Ackerman, Chris. Terhune and part of the John Van Bussum farm, which he laid out in building plots, making macadamized streets, and bluestone sidewalks, and immediately began the erection of buildings, thus giving the town the first and most substantial start. The follow- ing year, Mr. Henry Lemmermann, another New York business man, then owning the Richard Terhune property, began to improve it by lay- ing out streets and building houses. It was owing to the efforts of these two men, that water and electric lights were first introduced.
In 1894 Hasbrouck Heights separated from the township, holding an election July 31st, of the same year. The people by their ballot carried the election for incorporation, and the Borough was incorpor- ated August 12th. The first election for Borough officials was held September 11th with the following results : John H. Garrison, Mayor; G. W. Selleck, S. P. Ferdon, R. F. Taggart, John W, Charlton, Andrew McCabe and Will D. Crist, Councilmen. These officers served until March 12th 1895, when another election was held with the following results: J. W. Charlton, Mayor; George W, Selleck, W. D. Crist, S. P. Ferdon, S. P. Frier, Henry Gross, and John Behrens, Councilmen. The present officers of the borough are: William S. Laurence, Mayor; John E. Musselman, F. S. Chesebro, John H, Garrison, E. A. Capen, E. W. Biesecker and S. P. Frier, Councilmen. Since the incorporation all the officials have done nobly in building up the borough. It has to-day a population of about thirteen hundred, a $14,000 brick school house, five churches, two social clubs, one weekly newspaper, a Hook and Ladder Company, Hose Company, Royal Arcanum, and "Council ", besides prosperous stores. The village is situated so high above tide water as to make it a healthy spot, while the magnificent views render it a place of beauty .- W. S. LAURENCE.
CHURCHES OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS.
METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist church was the first religious organization in Has- brouk Heights. For a long time itinerant preachers held service at stated
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periods, finally succeeding in the organization of a class, a Ladies' Aid Society and Sabbath school, members of other denominations assisting in the work. In 1878, Rev. W. H. Russell, from Brooklyn, N. Y., the present pastor of the church, came in answer to a call, and through his labors a chapel was built, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Valentine, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Alexander, Charles Ackerman and others being the prime movers in this work.
The present church edifice was erected some five or more years ago, and the Rev. Mr. Russell, after an absence of twenty-one years, is again conducting a successful ministry.
REFORMED CHURCH.
The Reformed Church was organized February 11th, 1893, previous meetings having been held looking toward the establishment of this society. Both the Reformed and the Baptist churches had their origin in a Sabbath school, for a long time conducted by W. A. Fisher, in the chapel. On January 5th, 1893, the people, with the Ladies' Aid Society, met to organize a church. A. M. Paulison, W. A. Fisher and W. G. Martin were the first elders ordained, and Henry Lemmermann, Henry Kiel and A. K. Goodrich were the first deacons. These officers, with one or two changes, remain the same. Mr. Lemmermann and Mr. Kile are now elders, their place as deacons being filled by J. Behrens and Frank O. Peckham. Dr. C. I. Shepard has been their only pastor.
He is a native of New York city, was born in 1827, is a graduate of Rutger's College, New Jersey, and for a term of twenty-four years was pastor of the church at Newtown, L. I. Dr. Shepard was president of the General Synod of 1887, president of the Particular Synod of New Brunswick in 1896, and chairman of the committee on Education for Academies and Colleges, for the Synod of 1897, and president of the Board of Publication for 1896. The annex to the old chapel was built in 1893.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist church was organized Deceniber 22, 1892, and incorpor- ated November 27, 1893. The church building was begun November 21, of the same year, and the corner stone laid January 1, 1894. Rev. George B. Griffin was the first pastor, and filled the pulpit from Decem- ber 25, 1892, to February 4, 1894. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles Stanley Pease, who served from April 5, 1894, to April 5, 1896. He left the church free from debt and was succeeded by the Rev. Ackland Boyle. who supplied the pulpit for a time on a salary of eight dollars per week and was called to the pastorate, May 22, of that year. He was succeed- ed by the present acting pastor, Rev. George L. Hunt, D. D. of New York city.
The first deacons of the church were R. F. Taggart. George W. Davis, George Kiel Jr., and George W. Selleck.
The church membership has increased and a flourishing Sabbath School of over sixty scholars is maintained the year round.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Roman Catholic Church is a beautiful structure on Kipp Avenue, built in 1896. This was started by Mrs. Mary A. Murtha, who, feeling the need of a place to worship nearer than the church at Lodi, visited Bishop Wigger at Newark, and having received permis- sion and letters from him, set about the work of securing a house and a church organization.
Mrs. Murtha was assisted in the enterprise by her faithful husband, through whose untiring efforts the money, amounting to $2700, was raised and the chapel built. Edward M. Anson donated the two lots on which the house stands, and Father John A. Sheppard has charge of the flock. The church has a membership of about fifty souls and is growing.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Murtha are natives of Ireland. They were mar- ried July 14, 1895. Mr. Murtha is a prominent contractor and builder in New York. He erected the Bachelor apartments on Twenty-third street, the Progress Club on Howard street and Broadway and other high class buildings in the city. They bought their present residence in 1896.
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE.
The young and growing congregation of the Church of St. John the Divine, in Hasbrouck Heights deserves more than passing notice.
Although but little more than three years since its organization, it has become a stronghold in the community. Realizing the need of a church home for those who were of the Episcopal faith, a meeting was called for May 17, 1895, when an organization was effected. The first service was held about one month later on June 28, in the old school build- ing. Afterward the congregation purchased this building, which they remodeled and dedicated, the dedication being conducted by William R. Jenvey, assisted by Dr. Holley, of Hackensack, Rev. Ladd, of Ruther- ford, and several others of the clergy.
The organization is now under the direction of the Right Reverend Thomas A. Starkey, D. D., bishop of the diocese of Newark, the services at present being conducted by lay reader J. Montier DeVoll, of the General Theological Seminary of New York city.
The present board of three trustees hold the property of the diocese are as follows, under appointment by the Bishop: Eugene W. Dunstan, chairman; Richard Berdan, Jr., secretary; John L. Dean, treasurer; Edwin F. Benedict, financial secretary. The congregation and Sun- day school are increasing steadily and the results are thus far gratifying.
WILLIAM SUMNER LAURENCE.
William Sumner Laurence, the present Mayor of Hasbrouck Heights, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 8, 1854, and was educated in the public schools of Newton, Massachusetts. In business he has always been connected with the wholesale shoe trade, being with one house in Boston for a period of eighteen years and is now a stockholder
WILLIAM S. LAURENCE
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
and director in the firm of Morse & Rogers, 134-140 Duane Street, New York, the largest shoe, rubber and findings jobbers in New York city. He has been with this house for nine years.
He was elected Mayor of Hasbrouck Heights, March 1897, and was re-elected in 1899. He is also a director of Hasbrouck Heights Building and Loan Association, director of Star Building and Loan Association of New York city, has been two terms president of Hasbrouck Heights Field Club; also a member of the executive committee of Seward League of Hasbrouck Heights. The last named is a Republican organization. Mr. Laurence has also been a member of the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education two terms.
Mr. Laurence's wife is Lydia A., daughter of Captain Myer Brad- bury, of Machias, Maine.
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JOHN VAN BUSSUM.
The old homestead of the Van Bussum family at Peck Hook, be- tween Lodi and Passaic. was first occupied by David D. Van Bussum of Revolutionary fame, who settled in this part of Lodi some time before that vital struggle. Of his three sons, two died in early youth, but David D., the father of the subject of this sketch, lived to the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was a member of the State Legislature from 1837 to 1840, and was for a time Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, He died in the year 1879.
His youngest son, John Van Bussum was born at the old homestead February 9th 1837. He has always lived in the immediate vicinity, and now occupies a very pleasant residence at Hasbrouck Heights, less than one mile from the place of his birth, He is a man of sterling worth and one of the leading Democratic politicans of Bergen county;
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
has been Assessor of Lodi township since 1876; a member of the County Executive Committee since 1870; was elected to the State Assembly in 1881, and thrice re-elected. He was Freeholder in 1867 and held the position uninterruptedly for nine years, again assuming its duties six years ago. He has occupied many minor positions of trust, and is always foremost in every measure promoting the public weal, In 1867 he was married to Miss Katharine Anna Voorhis, a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Bergen county.
Mr. Van Bussum is possessed of untiring energy and perseverance, and has overcome obstacles that would have crushed any person of ordi- nary endurance. Like all men of positive character, he has some enemies, but many strong personal friends, and is very popular in his locality. The poor and afflicted know where to find a helper, and they never leave his doors unaided. Generous to a fault, he scatters his benefactions on every side.
HENRY LEMMERMANN.
Henry Lemmermann, the president of the Mattson Rubber Com- pany, New York, is a well known resident of Hasbrouck Heights. He was born in Germany in 1848, and came to America in 1863. After coming to New York he was employed in a grocery store for some years but eventually embarked in the hotel business, in which he continued until 1890, when he became actively engaged in the manufacture of rubber goods. At that time he became president of the "Mattson Rub- ber Company," and still remains in that office. Previous to this, in 1884, he bought a farm of Mr. Terhune at Corona, N. J. (now Has- brouck Heights), and in 1891 built his present residence. He immedi- ately afterward began improving the land and preparing it for building, by opening streets, making sidewalks, planting shade trees, introducing water (The Hackensack Water Company), and supplying electric lights. He then, through the Hasbrouck Heights Land and Improvement Company, built about thirty cottages. In 1893 he organized the "Lemmermann Villa Site Company," of which he has been president and treasurer ever since. He is also president of the Hasbrouck Heights Building, Loan and Savings Association and has been continuously, since its organization in June 1890.
Mr. Lemmermann is a Past Supreme Representative of the Knights of Pythias, was Grand Chancellor of Knights of Pythias of New York in 1878, and at this time is the treasurer of the Pythian Home of New York. He is also a member of the Masonic Order and the Royal Arcanum, president of the Pioneer Club of Hasbrouck Heights and a member of the New Commercial Club of New York. He has been Town- ship Committeeman of Lodi township and a councilman of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights and a member of the Board of Health.
Mr. Lemmermann was married in 1872, to Miss Wilhelmina Gross, daughter of F. C. Gross of Hackensack, N. J.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
EDWARD M. ANSON.
Edward M. Anson was born at Hyde Park, Dutchess county, New York, June 4, 1856. His ancestors are English, who for several gener- ations have been in America. He was educated in the public schools of Lockport, Niagara county, New York, and at the early age of fourteen years was employed as telegraph operator in the oil regions of Butler county, Pennsylvania, later being employed by the Western Union Company in the cities of Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis and New York. When the St. Louis Convention met, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden for president, Mr. Anson was one of the five operators of Chicago chosen to attend to the telegraphic business of the meeting, and again at the Cincinnati Convention when Rutherford B. Hayes was
EDWARD M. ANSON, ESQ.
nominated he was chosen to act in the same capacity. In 1877, Mr. Anson came to New York as chief operator in the main office, where he remained twelve years. In April 1892, he left the service, to engage in real estate business, in which he has ever since continued.
Hasbrouck Heights has a prosperous "Building, Loan and Savings Association" of which Mr. Anson was one of the organizers and for six vears its secretary. He was the organizer and secretary of Hasbrouck Heights Land and Improvement Company, and also organizer and secre- tary of the Lemmermann Site Company. Since beginning business Mr. Anson has built over one hundred houses and brought out from the city more than one thousand residents. While devoting time and energy to the upbuilding of his borough, although not seeking office or self-
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interest, he was elected postmaster in November 1893, holding the office for a period of four years, and in 1896 was elected Justice of the Peace. Socially he is a member of a number of organizations at Hasbrouck Heights, the Pioneer Club, Hasbrouck Heights Field Club, and the Royal Arcanum; is also a member of the "Old Time Telegraphic Asso- ciation." "Telegraphers' Mutual Benefit Association," and "Teleg- raphers' Aid Society."
Mr. Anson was married to Miss Margaret E. Crawford of New York city, April 16, 1879. He is a highly esteemed citizen both in his public life and in his private character.
JUDGE HENRY KIPP.
The following is taken almost wholly from the "New York Tri- bune" of January 12, 1896:
One of the most unique characters in Bergen county, New Jersey, is Henry Kipp. He presents a strong type of the early settlers, who in 1640, ascended the Hackensack River and established a trading post to barter with the Hackensack Indians who were then masters of the land. Mr. Kipp's ancestors were a part of that sturdy Dutch colony which laid the foundation of so many communities near New York. His name comes down through a record of three hundred and fifty years, the family history going back to the De Kypes of Alencon, France, the first conspicuous member being Boloff De Kype, whose chateau was burned and lands confiscated by the Prince of Conde. Hendrick De Kype, son of Boloff, and progenitor of the American Kips, was born in 1576, com- ing to Amsterdam in 1635. In 1657 he was selected by Governor Stuy- vesant as one of twenty families, comprising the aristocracy, and was otherwise honored.
Henry second moved from New Amsterdam to the western boundary of New Jersey, on the Delaware River, where he remained a few years, when he returned towards New York and settled at Polifly on the King's Highway in 1685. The next year the name was changed to Kip, as shown in a deed of that date, a second "p" being added by a later member of the family.
In Polifly the direct male descendants of Hendrick were born in the order named: Henry Nacasias, Peter, Abraham, Peter A., Henry and Henry second.
The present Henry Kipp is a son of Peter A. Kipp and Maria Stuyvesant, a lineal descendant of Governor Stuyvesant. No descendant of the first Hendrick has led a more active life or attained to more local notoriety than this Henry, who was born August 31, 1811. In July, 1841, he married Susan A. Howard, a niece of Enoch Morgan. She became the mother of six children, four of whom are still living.
Judge Kip was a master of the Cooper's trade but abandoned it to open a clothing house in Greenwich Street, New York. This venture was attended with fair success and from there he removed to Trenton, where he established the largest general store in New Jersey.
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At the age of thirty he received the title of Judge by appoint- ment as a lay member of the Mercer county bench. He retired from mercantile business in 1846, to take charge of the homstead farm at Polifly, which he managed for about forty years. While a resident of this town, Mr. Kipp erected two churches and the first school-house for the village of Corona.
The Judge is rich in reminiscences of early days and recalls vividly the visit of Lafayette to Hackensack.
In 1873, Judge Kipp purchased the "Bergen County Herald" at Rutherford Park, but after a comparatively brief editorial experience, he returned to the farm where his wife died. Mr. Kipp served as chosen Freeholder. Justice of the Peace, Town Committeman, Township Superintendent of Schools and other local offices. He died in 1898.
JOHN L. C. GRAVES,
John L. C. Graves one of the Assemblymen elected in November 1899, to the State Legislature and who died a few days afterwards, was a contractor, who came into Bergen county from Jersey City, where he was identified with the Union League Club of Hudson county.
On coming to this county he soon made friends throughout Lodi township, before Hasbrouck Heights became a borough.
He was elected president of the Harrison and Reed club of Lodi township, afterward the Republican club of Hasbrouck Heights, and remained its president until 1898.
Mr. Graves was a tireless worker. He was identified with the Re- publican County Committee for several years, during which he served either as chairman or member of every committee incidental to the life of a convention, whether state, congressional or county. He served as chairman of the Bergen county delegation in the congressional conven- tion of 1898.
He was a volunteer fireman, and had been repeatedly re-elected chief of the department of Hasbrouck Heights. He was also a member of the Volunteer Fire Department Association of the city of New York, and a charter member of Hasbrouck Heights Council of the Royal Arcanum, whose orator he was until he declined re-election in 1899.
He was a ready and forcible talker, and an uncompromising defender of what he believed to be right. His aggressiveness, combined with straight-forwardness, won for him the respect of his opponents and had he lived he would have been found an able representative of our county at Trenton.
CHAPTER XXVI. UNION TOWNSHIP.
FORMATION OF THE TOWNSHIP -- GENERAL DESCRIPTION -- THE KINGS- LANDS AND OTHER PROMINENT PERSONS-THE SWAMP LANDS-
THE PURCHASE OF WILLIAM SANDFORD-THE HOME OF
THE KINGSLANDS-THE SCHUYLER COPPER MINES BIOGRAPHICAL.
That portion of Bergen county which included what now constitutes Union township was originally known as a part of New Barbadoes Neck. In the year 1825 a new township was made from New Barbadoes township named Lodi, which included the present townships of Lodi and Union, in Bergen county, and of Kearney and Harrison townships in the county of Hudson. In 1840 Hudson county was formed from the ' county of Bergen, and a new township was made and named Harrison, which included Union, Kearney and Harrison, but, because of the long distance for the farmers to travel when attending court or doing other business in Hudson county, the township of Union was set off by an act of the Legislature approved February, 1853.
The first town meeting of Union township was held in the school- house of Riverside April 6, 1853, the moderator or presiding officer being Joseph K. Hazen. The officers elected were as follows: Aaron Hazen, Town Clerk; John V. S. Van Winkle, Assessor; Henry H. Yearance, Collector of Taxes; Henry Kipp and Cornelius C. Joralemon, Freehold- holders; Joseph K. Hazen, Robert Rutherford, Tunis A. Brown, Joseph M. Roy and John I. Vreeland, Town Committee.
The total amount of taxes raised in Union township for that year was $1397.08.
Boiling Springs, so called from a powerful and never-failing spring of pure cold water, which flowed in the cross road at the northern extremity of the township, gave a name to that locality. Here the wagon road and the railroad crossed, and here the "Depot," a small structure was built. In 1858 a gentleman from New York bought a small farm of twenty-five acres near the Boiling Spring and soon after- ward increased his purchase to one hundred acres. In 1862 the first map suggestive of streets and avenues was published, and business men from the city were induced to settle in the place and build homes. In 1866 several men bought a large farm on the Passaic, founded an Associa- tion and projected a broad avenue, now Park Avenue, in a direct line from their property to the railroad station, and one year from that time the name " Boiling Springs" was dropped and the place called Ruther- ford Park, abreviated subsequently to that of Rutherford, its present cognomen.
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In 1868 the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad was built giving rise to Kingsland village and South Rutherford. In the year 1890 the bor- ough of Rutherford and Boiling Springs township were formed and in 1895 the borough of North Arlington was set off leaving the territory comprising Union township that which now lies between the two bor- oughs just named, with Berry's Creek on the East and the Passaic River on the West, for that organization.
The officers of the town for the year 1898 are: Charles R. Searle, Chairman of the township committee; David Machette, James McKenna, Thomas Buckley, Assessors; Herman Froehlich, Collector; William L. Grant. Clerk.
The following sketch of Union township was taken from a valuable paper prepared for this work by W. H. Castles, of Kingsland. In speak- ing of the early settlement of the town, Mr. Castles says:
"For over two centuries, since their first settlement the progress of improvement and colonization of Union township and North Arlington has been far behind that of any of the other nearby environs of New York city.
"The southeastern point of intersection of the boundary lines of . Hudson and Bergen counties on the north Arlington border is the nearest point in Bergen county to the first area of settlement of the state itself.
"Both places are within easy distance, view and sound of the great metropolis, their eastern boundaries being less than five miles away, as the crow flies. The tall buildings of the city and the statue of liberty -in the upper bay-loom up grandly against the eastern horizon on a clear day and the boom of the sunset gun at Fort Hamilton is not an unusual sound on a quiet day.
"Faithful search and eager inquiry for historical fact and events bearing upon these places, from their first settlement to the present time, which might be of interest, has been made with poor satisfaction and meagre results. The field is bare and at this time there seems to be no documentary evidence or matter among the township or borough records, to add anything to their history. Very little can be secured from the present resident descendants of those energetic, hardy spirits, who settled here and by energy, industry and perseverance developed its wilderness into fair, fruitful fields and pastures-a birthright of great worth and magnitude to be pointed to with pride by their kindred who follow them.
"Very few of the descendants of the earlier heroes bearing the old ancestral name of Kingsland are now to be found within the confines of the two places. With but one exception, North Arlington contains the only descendants of Isaac Kingsland, who settled here in 1668. These are the children of Enoch Kingsland, with Mr. William Kingsland and his children. The enterprise of the early settlers, transmitted to each succeeding generation, has manifested itself in new lines, the male
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