USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 40
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
members of the family seeking the more active political, financial and commercial world to be found in the city.
"In time strangers came to purchase portions of this land and to occupy it as homes. In 1868 the partition of the original holdings was practically completed by a general public auction sale of the fields lying about the old homestead, made by the widow and executors of the last owner, General George Kingsland.
"Those who invested, have been disappointed in the outcome of their expectations.
"Among other things in the way of growth, is the lack of railroad accommodations at hours to suit those who need transportation to and from New York city.
"The geographical situation of the two places may have contributed somewhat to their present depressed condition, lying as they do between the Passaic and Hackensack rivers, a large portion of the area being the low, marshy lands bordering the two streams. These uninhabited, unproductive tracts comprise nearly fifty per cent. of the area of the township and borough. Many schemes have been proposed and several attempts made to reclaim the Hackensack Meadows, but no success has yet been achieved within the Bergen county lines.
"The most elaborate scheme ever attempted was that by Spencer B. Driggs, some fifty years ago, in which was invested a large amount of capital. He built a series of dikes and canals which by the aid of windmills was to pump out the water, in the old Dutch fashion at Hol- land. He also intended to supplement the wind power with steam to prevent submergence when there was a lack of wind.
"His first dikes were bored full of holes by muskrats, which abound in great numbers on the meadows and he was forced to insert sheets of perforated iron in the dikes to save them from the ravages of these pests."
The following is a brief summary of the connection of Mr. Driggs with his great enterprise :
"He first purchased the whole four thousand acres of swamp land in Hudson and Bergen counties from the many owners, among them being representatives of the oldest families in Bergen county, such as the Kingslands, Rutherfords, Stuyvesants and many others. The land cost from two to five dollars per acre. A great deal of trouble and expense was incurred in getting deeds correct, some of them having to be sent to Europe for signatures, and so varied and complex were the legal intricacies of these documents that when completed, the instru- ment covered a space 100 square feet in area and filled a good sized box.
"The lawyer, former Judge Lawrence. of New York city, who searched and passed upon the titles, received the enormous fee of $10,000. All real estate men previously had decided that a perfect title was unobtainable, but the Judge set all doubts at rest.
"After this success, Mr. Driggs found a capitalist in the person of Mr. S. N. Pike, a millionaire, of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is stated upon
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good authority that within twenty-four hours after his first interview, Mr. Driggs had interested and caused Mr. Pike to comprehend his scheme, with the aid of his patent iron dikes. Within these twenty-four hours a contract was drawn and closed and Mr. Pike had deposited $100,000 to the credit of Mr. Driggs, and the next week work began on the four thousand acres. Jerome J. Collins, who afterwards died with the Jeannette expedition of the "New York Herald," and was buried with great honor on the recovery of his body, was employed by Mr. Driggs as his chief engineer. Many men were given employment and much money was spent.
" A great deal of annoying criticism was raised and many adverse opinions were circulated as to the result. This did not phase Mr. Briggs, who went on in the even tenor of his way undisturbed. His dikes were cut, and his men incited to revolt. Impediments caused by ignorance and jealousy were placed in his way, but after a time favor- able results were seen. In the lower section-in Hudson county-the cars and engines of the New Jersey Railroad Company, at high tides no longer ran with their wheels under water. The land rose gradually and after being well drained by a system of cross ditches, ceased to be flooded at the highest tides.
" The iron protected dikes prevented the muskrats and crawfish from boring holes in the banks and letting in the river water. Then the hunters of these rodents complained that Mr. Briggs was depriving them of a living, and the contractors tried to force upon the Iron Dike Reclamation Co., S. N. Pike, president and S. B. Briggs, manager, the rejected plates and suit was brought for their value.
"Another trouble was caused by the men who not having been paid for two weeks were then incited to riot .by enemies of the company. They quit work and assembled upon the land, threatening to cut the dikes, and sent written communications to Mr. Briggs, denouncing him and endorsing their papers with a skull and cross-bones.
"Without fear Mr. Driggs went to the scene of the disturbance, accompanied by a friend in a carriage, his only protection being a walk- ing stick. When he arrived there was at least a thousand excited men awaiting him. Jumping out of the vehicle he advanced toward his employes shouting loud enough that all could hear: "You wanted me, here I am." This bold action changed the sentiment of the mob, who cheered, while he explained the cause of the delay and pledged himself for the payment of the men on the following Saturday. The rioting ceased. although there were many lawless characters scattered among his workmen, who were captured by his bravery and daring.
"Having thus discovered the class of men with whom he had to contend, he deemed it necessary to use caution and protection, and when ay day came, his paymaster stood upon a small bridge with two clerks covering each man with a pistol as he advanced to receive his pay.
" What land was reclaimed became tillable and fertile and the com- pany set off a piece, planted it and raised the finest of vegetables, even
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
tobacco being grown, as the soil was very rich. Arrangements were pending to build a town on the lower developed section, when Mr. Pike's sudden death put an end to the scheme.
"So highly did Mr. Pike value his holdings that he left them to his grandchildren, and when the Pennsylvania Railroad made a large offer for the portion of land which they occupied, it was necessary to get permission of the court, before a sale could be effected. This sale netted the company $175,000; other sales produced $25,000 more.
"Twenty years ago Mr. Navarro of New York offered $1,000,000 for the whole tract but his offer was refused. Mr. Briggs obtained from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, through Mr. Cassatt, a bid of $600 per acre, which was also refused. More recently the prices became much higher. There are now over three thousand acres of this land left of the four thousand acres originally bought by Mr. Driggs for $60,000. $300,000 has been realized by the company, $1,000,000 was refused, and it holds what will be one of the most valuable large tracts of land in this section of the country, thanks to Mr. Driggs' foresight, inventive genius and untiring perseverence.
" The benefits derived from the taxes of the improved portions of the land, yields a good revenue to the state and to the municipalities in which they lie. In the near future it is expected that factories will be built and homes be established along the trolley roads, and in the course of the next twenty-five years a town will probably connect the two cities of Jersey City and Newark.
" Another effort, and the last attempt to reclaim this great area of waste land, was made by James R. Day, but on a smaller scale. His dikes were built of blocks of peat cut from the meadows but they were not heavy or substantial enough. The material dried and one spring season during a freshet the greater part of his dike floated away on the tide.
" The first and original owners of the land grant from the Lord Proprietors, were two Englishmen, William Sandford and Nathaniel Kingsland, the latter being a Sergeant Major in the British Army, stationed at Christ Church Parish in the Island of Barbadoes."
The record of their grant is described in New Jersey under the proprietors as follows :
"On July 4th 1668, all the meadows and upland lying south of a line drawn from the Hackensack to the Passaic Rivers, seven miles north of their intersection and comprising 5308 acres of upland and 10,000 acres of meadow, were granted to Captain William Sandford for twenty pounds sterling per annum, in lien of the half penny per acre, per amnum, the standard price of the agreement."
To complete the title there remainded the Indian title. The Indi- ans hereabouts at this time, we are informed, were very sensitive regard- ing the title to their lands and actively resented its being taken from them by the whites without their consent or any consideration of value being given for it.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The Indians were in considerable numbers about the settlement then, but they were strong in their alliances with neighboring tribes by whose aid they could easily annoy the outlying plantations, and previous to this time, there had been much friction between them and the Dutch settlers.
The Dutch, who had settled the outlying country, about New York and New Jersey, first feared English interference. They supplied the natives with guns and ammunition and taught them their use, in order that they might use the natives to help them dispossess the English when the opportunity camie.
In order to allay all fears of. unjust treatment in the savage mind. regarding their property rights, the Lords Proprietors made provision for them in their concessions by instructing the Governor and Council to purchase the Indian titles to all lands and look for reimbursement to the settlers, as the latter mnade their purchases. In compliance with these instructions the Governor decreed that the new comers were either to purchase from the Indians themselves, or if the land had been previously purchased by the Proprietors, they, the new comers, were to pay their proportion.
It is related that this system of securing equity to the natives had the desired effect and they parted with their lands with satisfaction, becoming good neighbors, no instance being recorded showing any fric- tion with them in the early days of the New Jersey settlements.
William Sanford purchased the Indian title to the lands aforemen- tioned, on the 20th day of July, 1668, and sixteen days after he received the land grant from the proprietors, giving for it the following commo- dities :
170 fathom black wampum, 200 fathom white wampum, 19 match coats, supposed to be watch coats, 16 guns, 60 double hands powder. 10 pairs breeches, 67 bars lead, 1 anker of brandy, 3 half fat beer, 11 blankets, 30 axes, 20 hoes, and 2 cooks of dozens.
The later item seems to have been intended as two coats of Duffils. a cloth of that age, suitable for warm climates. It is claimed that Nathaniel Kingsland was the principal in this grant, and received con- sideration for it from the crown, as services, although there is no record to establish this claim. Captain Sanford is said to have made the pur- chase in Kingsland's interest. Kingsland gave the new tract the name of New Barbadoes which was afterward localized to New Barbadoes Neck, which name it retained until recently. Previous to its settlement that location bore the Indian name of " Mighgecticook."
There is mention of a patent having been issued for this grant by the proprietors on March, 1671, to William Sandford in trust for Nathaniel Kingsland, forever, for the sum of 200 pounds sterling. This patent, it is supposed, confirmed possession to the grantees, they having probably within the time specified in the first document made the required settlement and improved and fulfilled the requirements of the concessions.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The land adjoining the Sandford and Kingsland tract on the north and extending six miles into the country, or from Rutherford (then Sandford's Springs), to Hackensack was granted, by the Lords Pro- prietors to Captain John Berry and associates, about a year after Sand- ford's grant was issued.
A conveyance was made on the first of June, 1671, by Nathaniel Kingsland and Mary his wife, to William Sandford, of one-third of their patent, the consideration being 200 pounds sterling, and this transfer was confirmed by the Governor and Council on the 21st day of March. 1673. This it would seem. should confirm the statement that Sandford acted in the interest of Kingsland throughout.
This latter conveyance appears to have been the final division of the property between Sandford and Kingsland, the line of separation, as near as one can discover being the northerly boundary of the Van Em- burgh estate, in Kearney township, Hudson county, which seems to have been the first portion deeded away by the Sandfords.
The first actual settlers of New Barbadoes were Edward Ball. Nathaniel Wheeler and John Bauldwin, who were among the first settlers of Newark, (settled in 1666 by colonists from Connecticut. ) These did not remain long, however, being probably warned by Captain Sandford, that he and Kingsland had a prior claim to the land.
No record exists to show that Nathaniel Kingsland ever left Bar- badoes to settle his share of the grant. Isaac Kingsland, supposed to be a nephew, was the first of the family to settle here in 1668, for at that date we find an account of the New Colony in New Jersey written by Secretary Nichols of New York, in which he states that on the north of Milford, or Newark River, is a larger tract of land belonging to Kingsland and Sandford and that higher up the river another tract exists owned by Captain Berry, who divided his tract into plantations which were soon settled.
It is recorded that when Captain Sandford was tendered a coun- cillor appointment, by Philip Cartaret, the first Governor of New Jersey, in 1669, he was unwilling to accept it, or any office in the com- monwealth.
"Some interest as well as mystery, is thrown around this name by the records, for it does not appear from whence he came, but he was probably an Englishman, from the West Indies.
"His title, 'Captain of Militia,' was conferred upon him while resid- ing in Newark, in 1675. His scruples respecting his contempt for office seems to have been overcome, for he subsequently served in the Councils of Deputy Governors Rudyard and Lawrie.
"On April 24, 1677, Sandford transferred to Mrs. Sarah Whartman, in trust for his eldest daughter, Nedemiah and the children born of the said Sarah Whartman, viz .: "Cather, Peregrine, William and Grace, one equal third part of all his property between the Passaic and Hacken- sack Rivers, with one-third of the stock, household stuffs, etc., provided it were improved for her maintenence and the education of the said chil-
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
dren, the principal not being disposed of, in any way, without his consent."
Whether he left the neighborhood after this, is unknown, but the next year on August 10th, Mrs. Whartman relinquished all she had received, re-transferring it to Sanford having of her own obstinate will violated the condition of the conveyance by removing the stock. The historian then states that these proceedings assume rather a strange aspect when considered with reference to the following facts :
"Major William Sanford died in 1862, letters of administration of his estate being granted in September 1669. His will was dated Janu- ary 3d, 1690, in which he acknowledged Sarah Whartman to be his lawful wife. Some considerable reasons having caused them to conceal their mrriaage, a certificate of marriage was annexed. signed by Richard Vernon, as having occurred on board the Pink Susannah, in the river of Swimam, on the 27th day of March, 1667.
"In his will he desired that his body be buried, if it may be, in his own plantation, without pomp or expensive ceremonies. and he implored his honored friends, Colonel Andrew Hamilton, Mr. James Emott, Gabriel Meudille and William Nichols, of New York, to assist, and favor the concerns of a poor ignorant widow and five innocent children ( another daughter, Elizabeth, having been added to those already named ) 'with their best advice and counsel, to preserve them from those vultures and harpies, which prey upon the carcasses of widows, and fatten on the blood of orphans.'"
Further mention is made of his daughters Nedemiah, who married Richard Berry, and Catharine, who married Doctor Van Emburgh, and who left numerous descendants, and of Elizabeth, who became the wife of Captain James Davies. There seems to be no doubt that Major Wil- liam Sandford, who was one of the council under Governors Hamilton and Lord Cornbury, was his son. He was very prominent, and when but twenty-eight years of age presided as Chief Justice over the Court of Sessions at Elizabethtown, March 12th, 1700. with four associate Jus- tices, who were said to be all men of standing in their respective com- munities
The desire of the first Sandford to be buried on his plantation, with- out pomp or expensive ceremony, seems to have been carried out. al- though nothing definite exists relating thereto, except the existence of a very old landmark, a burial plot in which is interred some of the early Sandfords. Its location is in Kearney township, Hudson county, about two miles south of the North Arlington line, just off Schuyler Avenue, a few yards north of the old Kenton homestead. In this same yard another quite large stone, broken straight across its middle, lying face upward, bearing the record that " Major William Sandford died March 2d, 1732-33, aged 60 years."
This broken and neglected relic marks a point very near to the burial place of the colonial Major, Judge and Councillor of the proprie- tors of the Jerseys, son of the first William Sandford, the first owner
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
of one of the richest land grants of the United States at the present day.
THE HOME OF THE KINGSLANDS.
The old Manor House, formerly the home of the Kingsland family still stands as a memento of "ve olden time" in the village of Kingsland. Around this house cluster the memories of much that is historically associated with this part of Bergen county, and in remembrance of his forefathers the property is retained in the possession of Mr. Edmund W. Kingsland, president of the Provident Savings Institution, of Jersey City, N. J. Besides this old land-mark there remains also the old mill pond, and the antiquated graves, both reminders of colonial days. The old wheel and the miller's house were both but recently torn down by the railroad people, but the old homestead with its wide door and great knocker, though bereft of its projecting, wooden columned porch, which for many years shielded it from sun and storm, still stands under its old gambrel roof with an appearance as imposing as any domicile erected to-day.
This old house was once the object of attack by the British in Revo- lutionary times. Edmund W. Kingsland then the owner, was dragged from his home and after suffering injury, insult and ignominy was incar- cerated in the old sugar house prison in New York city and there con- fined for a long time. The silver and household valuables were saved by the ingenuity of the inmates of the house, who were not disturbed by the soldiery.
The late Chief Justice Joseph Hornblower, who died in Newark in 1864, was born in this house. His father was Josiah Hornblower, a young man who came from England in 1753, to superintend the erection of a steam engine brought from that country to Union township to work the copper mines then operated by Colonel John Schuyler. Mr. Hornblower married Miss Kingsland by whom he became the father of Joseph, afterward the Chief Justice, he being the youngest member of of his family of twelve children.
In 1868, the Morris and Essex Division of the D. L. and W. R. R. Company completed its railroad through this place. and shortly after- wards the railroad shops were re-erected for the repair and renewal of its worn out and defective locomotives.
In April 1875, the shop equipments of tools and machinery were taken from the other shops at Hoboken and elsewhere on the road and removed to this point, where about three hundred and fifty hands find steady employment.
Mr. W. H. Lewis, Master Mechanic of this division, has been in charge of these shops since 1870. In 1882, the machine shop or main building was destroyed by fire, but it was immediately rebuilt. The depot station at this point was formerly a dwelling house. The rail- road company has another station at Lyndhurst, about one mile from the station at Kingsland.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
THE SCHUYLER COPPER MINES.
The first business venture in this part of the country was the cop- per-mining industry. These mines are located in the borough of North Arlington and were the property of the Schuyler family until a few years ago, when they were purchased by Mr. George Bayless.
About the year 1700, Arent Schuyler, son of the celebrated Philip Pieterson Schuyler who came from Holland in 1650, bought the tract of land upon which these mines are situated, from William Kingsland. A few years later a negro slave, while plowing a field found a stone which from its peculiar hardness excited his curiosity. He carried the stone to his master. who finding in it indications of copper ore. sent it to England for examination. This resulted, eventually, in the opening of the mines. Owing to the find the negro was given his freedom, with a request that he make three wishes, which if possible were to be granted. His first wish was that he might live with his master as long as he lived and to have all the tobacco he could smoke. His second wish was for a dressing gown with big brass buttons " just like massa's." When urged to ask something valuable as a third wish, he thought a moment and scratching his wooly head said, "I guess I'll hab a little more 'baccy." The mines were not made profitable until about 1753, when Colonel John Schuyler, son of Arent, coming into possession, sent to England for a steam engine, such as were being used in the Cornwell mines. These engines were built by Joseph Hornblower & Sons, manu- facturers. At the request of Mr. Schuyler that an experienced engineer be sent to place the engine in successful operation, for that purpose came young Josiah Hornblower, afterwards the father of Chief Justice Josiah Hornblower. The engines referred to were known as the New- comer & Cornish engines. This one brought over and planned at great cost was burned in 1772. In 1792, work was resumed and carried on for several years, but finally ceased. The castern face of the old mine has been operated for some years as a stone quarry. In September, 1899, a syndicate of Boston copper capitalists commenced operations looking to the development of the mines. as a first step, pumping out the Victoria shaft on the west side of Schuyler Avenue.
Colonel John Schuyler was a progressive man and probably it was he who extended the Belleville turnpike from the Passaic river at Belle- ville, to the Hackensack river at Dow's ferry. This road is supposed to have been finished and the ferry established about the year 1755. Wil- liam Dow was given charge of the ferry, the site of which was at a point a little north of the present bridge of the northern railroad of New Jersey. To this ferry and over this road, it is presumed Schuyler carted his ore and afterwards loaded it into vessels which conveyed it to Eng- land, the vessels clearing from New York city. The late openings in these mines disclose veins of the finest ore, while the stone quarried for building purposes is said to contain about three per cent. of ore. Lack of space forbids further description of this interesting locality and its early surroundings.
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LOUIS KOCH.
The paternal ancestors of Louis were machinists and dealt in iron, steel and brass, in Saarlouis, their French home. The first practical coffee mills are said to have been made by them and conveyed to Paris, in big wagons. The father of Louis was Peter, the father of Peter had seven sons. One of these was Michael a professor of languages in Zweibruchen, Bavaria, while his son Victor, was a Colonel in the Bavarian army and another son, August, was Court Physician. Mr. Koch's father was born in 1801, and died in Metz, Germany, in 1897, aged ninety-six years. John Koch, a brother of Louis, with six other brothers gave New York the first successful Symphony Concert in Cen- tral Park Garden, with Theodore Thomas. John afterward built the Lexington Opera House, and lost it in the great panic which came upon us in the seventies.
On the maternal side Mr. Koch's grandparents were John and Anna Raiser. John Raiser was of an old French family and died at the age of sixty-three, being the last of the name. He had seventeen daughters, and one son, who died at nineteen years of age. Three of these daugh- ters married three of the Koch brothers. John Raiser was a captain of Artillery under Napoleon I, until his surrender in 1815. Peter Koch, the father of Louis, invented the breech-loading cannon, sending the pattern and specifications to Napoleon III'in 1854, who afterward, it is said, claimed the invention for himself.
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