USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 41
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Louis Koch was born in Saarlouis, Germany, March 14, 1837, and was educated in the public schools of his native place. His mother who had ten boys and six girls, desired that Louis should enter the priesthood, but after her death which occured in 1851, he left school and went to Nancy, where he learned the trade of confectioner. In 1854 he came to America, the first of the family to come to this country. The following three years he was employed by a Mr. Schiller a confectioner of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. In 1857, he with his brother John started in business in Scranton, in the hotel, restaurant and confectionary trade, at the same time opening places in Easton, Pennsylvania and in Phila- delphia.
August 10, 1864, Mr. Koch was married to Miss Amelia Weber of Scranton, in the Masonic Hall, at which ceremony there were present over two hundred of Scranton's best families. Mr. Koch was a private in the Fifth Pennsylvania Militia during the first invasion of the state by the rebels. He was a member of the Town Committee of Union township from 1872 to 1879, President of the Kingsland and Sawmill Creek Drainage Company, and President of the Board of Education of Union township. He became a member of the I. O. O. FF. in 1858, and joined the Free Masons in 1859 and the Knights Templar in 1862, becoming a 32d degree Mason in 1887, in Scranton.
Mr. Koch has four children, Louis, Albert, Frank and Anna Ida. Louis and Frank both served in the late Spanish war as members of Company L, Second Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, Louis a sergeant
LOUIS KOCH.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
while Frank was a corporal. Anna Ida was lately graduated from the Metropolitan College of Music. She has a dramatic soprano voice, and is preparing for a professional career.
WILLIAM H. CASTLES.
William H. Castles, who is a native of New Jersey, was born in Newark about fifty years ago. His education was received in that city in the public and high schools. He afterwards took a course of mathe- matical training from Bernard Kearney, one of the ablest mathemati- cians of his day. Mr. Castles' first business experience was in the grocery trade, his father placing him in charge of a store when he was but sixteen years of age. The business not being congenial to his taste he entered the employ of the Gould Machine Works Company at New- ark, as an apprentice, and by close attention to business and hard study, he was soon able to begin work as a journeyman machinist. In 1869 Mr. Castles was employed as such in the shops of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company, at Hoboken, where he was sub- sequently promoted to the place of time-keeper. His energetic business ability was soon noticed and appreciated by President Sloan who appointed him in 1873 chief clerk of the Car and Machinery department -which comprise all the locomotive and car repair shops of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna and Western, as well as the Sussex Railroad, in New Jersey. This position he had held for more than a quarter of a century, when in April 1899, owing to a change of management, he was promoted to the position of manager of all the company's holdings of real-estate in Union township.
Mr. Castles is of Scoth-Irish ancestry of Presbyterian stock. He is a member of the Scotch-Irish Society, which has had Dr. John Hall as a member and also Robert Bonner, with other eminent men of the country. He is also a member of Northern Lodge, No. 25 F. & A. M. of Newark and of Kingsland Council, J. O. U. A. M., and of other societies.
Public spirited and wide awake he has served in many capacities in society organizations, among others, was president of the Eureka Boat Club during the Centennial year. He has served one term as collector for Union township. While doing some real estate business, he has also acted in the capacity of agent for the German-American Insurance Company for over twenty years. He is a Commissioner of Deeds, Notary Public and a Pension Attorney.
Mr. Castles purchased some years ago, the rather picturesque old George Kingsland homestead at Kingsland where he now resides. Four acres of ground surround the house, and some fine old trees adorn the sloping lawn. A fine spring supplies water.
Mr. Castles is a highly esteemed citizen.
JOHN R. MILLAR.
Robert Millar, the father of Mr. John R. Millar, of North Arling- ton, was a successful scientific gardener in Scotland, the native land of
WILLIAM H. CASTLES
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
the Millar family. For generations, gardening on scientific principles, had been the chief industry of the Millars. In 1867, Mitchell Millar, a brother of Robert, died, leaving an estate valued at $50,000, represent- ing the earnings of forty years, on twenty-six acres of land, which had cost him yearly about fifty dollars an acre for rent.
Upon reaching manhood, John R. Millar became manager of a farm known as " Melvin Hall," in Midlothian, in the interest of Margaret Gow, heir to this estate. Miss Gow was the eldest of six daughters, and subsequently became the wife of her manager.
They were married in March, 1872, coming to America and settling on land owned by her father in Kingsland, N. J. In 1875 they bought land, built a house and entered upon the business of making a farm out of the forest. It looked a herculean task, but trees and tanglewood were in due time cleared away, and we now see a fine garden, bringing in a handsome revenue, Of Mr. and Mrs. Millar's four children, three sons and one daughter, John Gow Millar, the eldest son, is a prominent man in the borough, being a member of the school board, and holding several offices in the government. Robert G. Millar inherited the tastes of his ancestry in the line of gardening, while also being an expert bookkeeper. His death occurred on December 1, 1898, at twenty-three years of age. His father survived him but a few days, dying on the 18th of the same month. Mr. Millar was born near Edinburg, Scot- land, in 1840.
JESSE P. JORALEMON.
The Joralemon family came to this country in a very early day. John and Cornelius Joralemon, with the Westervelts and the Browns represented the shipbuilding craft, in the early history of the town of Union. Cornelius Joralemon who died during the first years of the civil war built many vessels, mostly two masted and of about thirty or forty tons burden.
The Joralemon homestead was on the Passaic River, where John Post now resides, their shipyards also being in that vicinity. Boats in those days plying between Acquackanonk and New York were the com- mon mode of conveyance for excursions or other pleasure parties between these two places.
Peter Joralemon, who has been bridge tender for the last twenty years at the Lyndhurst bridge, studied the art of shipbuilding and became a skilled draughtsman, modeler and designer. During his time, larger vessels were constructed, some schooners of four hundred tons burden and over, having been built by him and others for several lines doing business between New York and Charleston, Savannah and other southern seaports.
The last vessel he built was the "Westley Stone," still running into New York harbor.
He married Miss Margaret Brown, daughter of Abraham Brown, and is the father of Jesse P. and Warren H. Joralemon, the well known coal men of Rutherford.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Jesse P. Joralemon, was also engaged for a time in boat building. He owned a floating dock, a few years since in Hoboken, but he drifted from that to house building and finally placed his capital in the business of trucking, already started by his brother. The large storage house in Lyndhurst was built by Jesse P. in 1896, and the present dock about the same time.
Twelve or fifteen teams are constantly in use, and a large business is done, not only in coal and ice, but in the moving business.
CHAPTER XXVII. RUTHERFORD BOROUGHS.
VILLA SITES-THE MANOR HOUSE-RUTHERFORD PARK LAND COMPANIES -THE BOROUGH-SCHOOLS-NEWSPAPERS-SOCIETIES, ASSOCIA-
TIONS, CLUBS AND LODGES-BOARD OF TRADE-BANKS- COMPANY L-CHURCHES-EAST RUTHERFORD- ORGAN-
IZATION OF THE BOROUGH- BOROUGH OFFICERS -- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
In "Things Old and New," published in 1898, we find a letter writ- ten by Mr. Floyd W. Tompkins, the "Pioneer" of the village of Ruther- ford, in which he tells us that on April 2d, 1858, he removed with his family to a little farm of twenty-five acres which he had bought, and on which stood a small stone house. Shortly after this he purchased seventy-five acres more on what is now Union Avenue, and had it sur- veyed and a map made of " Villa sites at Boiling Springs, New Jersey." This was the beginning of the village, although a station had been established here ever since 1832, when the New York and Paterson Rail- road was finished. When locomotive power was adopted the never fail- ing spring had been utilized by the company as a watering station under the name of Boiling Springs. Several gentlemen now bought lots, built houses and finally by using some liberality prevailed upon the railroad company (now the Erie) to erect a passenger depot and ticket office. This depot was a small triangular shaped brick building, with a gable roof. It stood on the east side of the railroad at the corner of Union Avenue, which was then more a lane than an avenue. At this time Charles Ingersoll was station agent. About the year 1862, this little structure gave place to the one which in time has been displaced by the beautiful, new and commodious building completed in 1897. Park Avenue was laid out in 1866 by the commissioners, to connect the lands of the Rutherford Park Association with the depot.
In 1867 an act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the im- provement of this street and soon after Ridge Road and Rutherford Avenue were laid out and graded, under an act of the Legislature. other streets following, through the efforts of land companies or by private individuals.
During the lifetime of Mr. Rutherford his property was known as "Edgerston Manor," the name of the family seat in Scotland. The Manor House stood on the River Road south of what is now Ruther- ford Avenue, After the death of Mr. Rutherford the greater part of the estate passed into the hands of Mr. William J. Stewart, who dis- posed of it to the Rutherford Park Association. They laid out streets. dividing the land into building lots, converting the Manor House into a hotel, which after a period of some success and later of failure in busi-
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
ness, was eventually destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. Another hotel in the early history of the borough, was the "Vreeland House," now used by the Salvation Army as "Cherry Tree Home."
In 1870 the name "Rutherford" was adopted on account of much of the land having been a part of the farm of John Rutherford, while "Park" was attached no doubt as a sort of attraction. This name continued until about 1875, when, after much discussion, a request was forwarded to the Postmaster General to drop "Park" from the name. This request was granted, the Erie company soon after changing to the same name.
In 1882 controlling interest of the Rutherford Heights Association passed into new hands, when it was decided to begin building houses for sale on easy terms. Three cottages were built on Passaic and Donald- son Avenues, which were rented, because of failure to find purchasers. However, under the able management of Mr. A. G. Bell, the treasurer of the Association, several houses were built and disposed of on liberal terms. This giving an impetus to business, many people availed them- selves of the opportunity to secure a home, and soon more than two hun- dred houses had been disposed of on "easy terms." Other land companies were now organized, "Mount Rutherford Land Company" claiming precedence in the matter of organization, The Home Land Company, Rutherford Heights Association, Park Land Company, The Ruthei- ford Park Association, West Carlstadt Land Verein, and the East Rutherford Land Association. All these have aided in building up the borough. In the little "Souvenir " from which we draw largely in this article, we find this statement : "Looking westward from the depot two modest looking hills completely shut out a view of the lands lying beyond. The more southerly one is now dignified by the name of Mount Rutherford, the other, a smaller one, arose in a depressed, cone- like shape directly back of the depot. Between these sister hills was a deep ravine affording a complete drainage for a large section of back land. Upon laying out and grading the lands around the depot by the Mt. Rutherford Company the smaller hill was cut down to fill up this ravine, where it was crossed by the Orient Way, and also by the Home Land Company, in forming the plateau through which runs Ames Avenue. A filling at Orient Way, gave opportunity for the forming of a picturesque, lake-like pond, called 'Glen Waters,' fed by living springs, and fringed on its southern side by a cluster of fine elms. In its waters was baptized the first convert in the Baptist church of Rutherford. This lake was given to the town by the Mt. Rutherford Company, but was subsequently filled up from fear of malaria."
The Rutherford Improvement Association was organized in 1881. This organization was the outcome of a meeting called by a few leading citizens in order to bring before the people a plan by which they might secure a local government. Major Richard Allison was its first presi- dent. On September 5, a meeting was called over which Mr. David B. Ivison presided, when it was decided to call a meeting and take a vote
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
on the question of borough government. This election was held on the twentieth of the same month, when the question was decided and the certificate filed the following day. The first election for borough officers was held October 4, following, when Alfred Oakley was elected Mayor. The final and full separation from the township government, however, took place, when on March 10, 1890, a law was enacted by the legislature, by which the borough became a distinct municipality, the officers consisting of a mayor elected annually, with executive responsi- bility and power to veto, with six councilmen serving three years each, who with the mayor constitute a full local legislative power, the council having the power by a two-thirds vote to pass measures over the veto of the mayor. In addition to these an assessor and collector of taxes serv- ing three years, four justices of the peace, who are elected for five years, and also three commissioners of appeal, having power to adjust the assessment laid by the assessor. As many marshals may be appointed as the Mayor and Council deem necessary.
Prior to this an Electric Light plant had been placed and put in operation in 1899. In 1891, water was introduced by the Hackensack water system, which supplied pure water taken from the river at New Milford, above the dams at the lowest point where fresh water can be obtained. The water in the mains as well as in the reservoir, is thoroughly aerated, by forcing fresh air into the mains of the reservoir, by compressors built for that purpose and located at New Milford and Weehawken. Some forty hydrants are distributed throughout the bor- ough at convenient localities, about twelve miles of mains being used.
A system of sanitary sewers was also voted for, in which is embodied all the advantages of modern science, as applied by Colonel G. E. War- ing of Newport, R. I., and other well known engineers. The sewers are of the kind known as the "close" system, intended to convey sewage only, instead of receiving surface and subsoil drainage in addition to household sewage. By this system no foul gases are supposed to escape; the conduits are small and the joints hermetically sealed, while the sewers are flushed twice every day to insure against the accumulation of foul gases.
The borough of Rutherford covers an area of something less than two square miles, with a population of about 5000. The business por- tion of the borough is mostly near the depot and on Park Avenue. Business of various kinds is carried on by which the necessaries of life may be supplied. The sale of intoxicating drinks as a beverage has never yet been authorized.
When the railroad was first completed in 1832, and for some time afterward, the coaches were drawn by horses, the driver sitting com- fortably on top of the coach. Twosmall locomotives were subsequently built in Baltimore, which superseded the horses. A pumping station was built near where "Just's Hotel" now stands, the water being drawn from the underground vein of the Boiling Springs. Two boys were
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
employed to pump the water into an elevated tank, which supplied water for the locomotives.
What is now East Rutherford was then composed of five or six old- fashioned farm houses.
The Rutherford fire department is regularly organized under the control of a Chief and Assistant Chief Engineer. The department com- prises four companies, Truck and Bucket Company organized June 6, 1876; Fire Engine Company No. 2 organized March 24, 1886; and West End Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3 organized July 1890. No. 3 is equipped with a chemical apparatus furnished for immediate use, and not wholly dependent upon water.' Hose Company No. 4 was organized September 1896. This company is composed of men who are within call during the day. They are equipped with a modern style of hose cart to be drawn by hand or horses. No. 1 has a truck drawn by horses also.
Unlike the general run of suburbs, Rutherford has a well kept and finely located cemetery, the property of a local corporation. The Hill- side Cemetery Company was organized May 20, 1882, under the act entitled "An act to authorize the incorporation of rural cemetery associations and regulate cemeteries," approved April 9, 1875. The cemetery is situated between Rutherford and Kingsland, and is easily accessible from Jersey City and Hoboken by either Kingsland or Ruther- ford depots. It contains about forty-five acres.
The present officers of the borough of Rutherford are: Mayor, Edward J. Turner; Councilmen, Andrew H. Teeple, President; Joseph N. Mileham, Charles L. Crear, Frank P. Newman, David Bosman, Samuel T. Davy; Clerk, Joseph W. Burgess: Collector, Edwin C. Abbot; Asses- sor, Jacob Rohrbach.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Rutherford Public School as it now exists, is practically what was Old District No. 40, in the township of Union. In 1870 the resi- dents in the vicinity of the Rutherford depot, then Boiling Springs, were obliged to patronize the only school in the neighborhood, on the Meadow Road. It was a quaint old one-story building said to have been built about the year 1850. The school house seated fifty pupils and was like many of the old fashioned school houses, seated with benches without backs, and with smaller benches for the young children. Many who were teachers in this old building are now alive and it is amusing to hear them recount their experiences. At that time before a teacher was permitted to instruct pupils in the public school he had to procure a license from the town superintendent who together with the board of school trustees constituted the examining board. Mr. Jacob G. Van Riper, late postmaster of Rutherford, was for many years town superintendent and was known as one of the most intelligent who held the office. The teachers who at various times taught in the Meadow Road school house are George Brinkerhoff, J. P. Jones, E. E. Vreeland. Mr. Gow, George Parcel and G. R. Alyea. A Mr. Mersereau became the first teacher in the Park Avenue school house. After the erection
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
of the Park Avenue building, about the year 1871, the old school build- ing was sold to a man by the name of McGinnis who placed it upon a stone foundation and occupied it as a residence for many years. About the year 1886 Mr. McGinnis took the building down piece by piece and moved it together with the foundation to Newark where it still stands in much of its former style.
The Park Avenue house when erected, was a model of its kind and its erection by taxation, raised all in one year, showed a spirit of enter- prise and energy that was commendable. This school was first in charge of Mr. Mersereau, then came Mr. W. F. Morrow, who was succeeded by
RUTHERFORD NO. 3 SCHOOL
William H. Palmer in 1877. In 1878 Mr. Paddock Mersereau had the school, and in 1879 Captain Addison Ely became its principal and held the position for seven years. He was succeeded by Mr. T. B. Hascall who was principal for eight years. He was succeeded by the present principal, Mr. William C. Ingalls.
In 1876 there was a division of the school district, when a new school house was built in East Rutherford for the new district formed out of a part of District No. 40 which became known as District No. 4012. A Miss Ginn was made principal, and Mr. Canfield an old citizen, and school teacher throughout this section of Bergen county for many years succeeded her. He was succeeded by Mr. G. R. Alyea, who was a few years since succeeded by Mr. Wilcox, the present County Superin- tendent of Passaic County.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The residents of Rutherford have been noted for their liberality in the matter of public schools and have expected as a result of their expenditures, the best schools possible. Rutherford sustained the reputation of being second in the state of New Jersey in the cost of education per capita, last year. Within a few years the number of pupils attending school having become too large to be accommodated longer in the Park Avenue house, buildings were erected on Sylvan Street and Union Avenue and at present the Board of Education have an annex building on Park Avenue. The average number of children attending all the Public Schools during the last year is not far from six hundred.
CHURCHES OF RUTHERFORD.
BY EDWIN BULKLEY.
For several years prior to 1862 a Union Sunday School had been maintained in what was then known as the "Boiling Springs Neighbor- hood," comprising the territory of the present Borough of Rutherford, and that part of the township up to the boundaries of Carlstadt. This "Neighborhood" was regarded as connected with and under the care of the Reformed Dutch Church, in Passaic, with which many of the farmers and other residents here were identified. The Union Sunday School was not, however, an outgrowth of that church, but owed its existence to persons of the immediate vicinity. They united to secure a building and meeting place for purposes of public welfare, the most lasting and beneficial of which proved to be this Sunday School. The building was erected on high ground, facing the railroad. It still remains, trans- ferred to the opposite side of Ames Avenue, as a part of Union Hall, much having been added to it since; its frontage being changed and its accessibility increased by taking down the hill on which it stood, and lowering it to its present foundation.
Although occasional preaching was heard in Union Hall, and some resorted to neighboring places for church services, it soon became apparent that this was insufficient provision for the community. No other denomination being prepared to offer this, a Presbyterian organ- ization was determined upon, with the concurance of many who felt the need of church privileges of which they could more easily avail them- selves.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
With the fostering care of Rev. Joseph Alden, D.D., L.L.D., who became a property owner and resident of "Boiling Springs,"-a Church was organized by the Presbytery of Passaic-afterward merged into the present Presbytery of Jersey City, July 26, 1863, with an original mem- bership of fifteen. Dr. Alden continued as its stated supply for nearly two years, or until the Spring of 1865. This distinguished man rend- ered good service to it by his sound teaching and' counsel. He had occupied eminent positions in colleges and other of the higher institu- tions of learning, and was the author or editor of several useful books.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
The Rev. George L. Smith was the first pastor, from October 25, 1865, to April 19, 1871. He was succeeded by Rev. Herman C. Riggs, (D. D.,) from November 12, 1871, to March 26, 1876. Rev. Dana M. Walcott was invited to the pastorate May 25, 1876, but was never installed in it. His labors were discontinued June 15, 1878. Rev. Edwin A. Bulkley, D. D., was called to be pastor September 13, 1878, and fulfilled the duties of his office until March 27, 1898, when on account of infirm health he asked to be released from them. Retiring from active service he was unanimously invited by the congregation to be "Pastor Emeritus," with an annual allowance.
He commemorated October 17, 1897, the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination to the ministry, October 11, 1847, when he was but little over twenty-one years of age. Since that time he had been nearly continu- ously in the active pastorate. During the time of his service in Ruther- ford 697 had been added to the membership, leaving it at 560, and embracing 716 in its Sabbath schools.
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