USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 57
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GARRET A. LYDECKER.
The Lydecker family are descendants of Ryck Lydecker, who was among the first settlers of Bushwick, L. I., in 1661, where he obtained a grant of land in 1660, a's recorded on page 54 of the English Manual.
In the years 1662-63-65 he was magistrate of the town, and was appointed captain of the militia June 24th, 1663, as noted on the town record. The muster roll contained forty names, including officers, and these were divided into watches of ten men each, of whom one watch was on duty each night as a guard against attack by the Indians, and on June 22d, 1663, Stuyvesant, the Director General, visited the village and ordered a fortification of the place with palisades, as a further protection.
Ryck Lydecker married Claere Voormiere, and their children were: Gerrit, born in 1650; Jan, born in 1653; Ryck, Cornelis and Abraham. It is not probable that Ryck ever lived in New Amsterdam or New Har- lem. He died prior to November 28th, 1666. His son, Gerrit, married Neeltje Cornelis, from Kuijl, Holland, daughter of Cornelis Cornelison, at New Amsterdam, in the Dutch church, May 20th, 1682, and settled in what is now Englewood, probably in 1691 to 1696. The children of this marriage were: Ryck, born May 7th, 1683; Lysabeth, November 2, 1684; Claere, October 3, 1686; Cornelis, March 13, 1689; Gerrit, October 21, 1691. These children were all baptized in New York at the dates given, except Lysabeth, who was baptized in Hackensack August 9th. 1696.
Gerrit married Weintjen Terhuen, young daughter of Albert Terhuen and Weyntie Brickers, (baptized at Hackensack April 1st, 1705), April 5th, 1723. Their children were: Neeltje, baptized at Hackensack, February 2, 1724; Gerrit born at Tappan, N. Y. November 19th, 1728; Geertijn baptized at Hackensack, May 16th, 1731; Cornelia, baptized at Schraalenburgh, March 13, 1734; Antjen, baptized at Hackensack, March 21st, 1736; Elizabeth, May 28th, 1738; Albert, August 10th, 1740. These three were baptized at Hackensack, Marytje was born at Schraalenburgh, March 20, 1743, and Neeltje was baptized at Schraalenburgh, August 22, 1745. Gerrit G. Lydecker son of Gerrit Lydecker and Weintjen Terhuen, was a captain in the Revolutionary War and was subsequently a member of the Colonial Legislature.
He married Lydia Demarest (twin daughter of Jacobus Demarest and Margreitje Cozine Herring), baptized at Schraalenburgh July 19. 1733, marriage record not found. Both became members of South Church March 11, 1762. Their children were Gerred, born August 29. 1753; Jacobus, May 27, 1755; Wyntje, April 17, 1757; Margrietje, April
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16. 1759; Gerrit, August 31, 1761; Jacobus and Cornelis (twins) March 25. 1764; Lidia, September 13, 1766; Jacobus, March 14, 1769; Elizabeth, June 23, 1771, and Maria, March 15, 1774. These were all born at Englewood.
His son Garrit born August 31, 1761, drove one of the wagons containing household goods belonging to the family when they fled from the British, and after crossing at New Bridge, the bridge was destroyed behind them to prevent the enemy from following. The British after landing at Fort Lee came and encamped on the Lydecker homestead adding quite materially to their commissary stores by appro- priating a number of fat sheep and hogs, which were necessarily left behind. Mr. Lydecker subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits on this farm. He married Annaatje Westervelt, daughter of Ari and Geertje (Zabriskie) Westervelt, (born February 16, 1766) November 27, 1784.
Their children were: Abraham born May 23, 1786 ; Gertrude, born April 16, 1790, married John Edsall of English Neighborhood; and John, born December 25, 1795. Garret Lydecker died April 27, 1848, and his wife September 15, 1849.
Abraham the eldest son of this Garret, was born on the old home- stead as given above, and became a farmer, as his father had been. He was active and energetic, identified with the interests of his locality. He served as freeholder of his township for two terms, and represented his district in the Legislature of the state. A man of sound judgment and business ability he was frequently called upon to act as executor and administrator of estates. Mr. Lydecker married Maria, daughter of Daid N., and Maretje (De Clark ) Demarest, December 15, 1808. Their children were Garret A., David, born May 31, 1814, died in infancy ; Mary Ann, born February 15, 1820, married Thomas W. Demarest, and Martha born July 18, 1824, married John Van Nostrand. Abraham Lydecker died November 20, 1841, and his wife on July 7, 1834.
Garret A. Lydecker was born on the farm on which his son Abra- ham afterward resided, in Englewood, on January 5, 1811. He was educated in the common schools of his locality and at the Hackensack Academy. In 1833 he removed to the farm which became his by bequest from his grandfather, Garret Lydecker, and continued to reside here during his life. Mr. Lydecker was a Democrat, and in his younger days was interested in local politics. He was freeholder of his township for three years, and was town committeeman for a period of about fifteen vears; also holding the position of commissioner of appeals, and other local offices. He was a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Hackensack, and of the Hackensack Savings Institu- tion, and a director in the Bergen County Mutual Assurance Society, of which his father was one of the founders. He was a member of the True Reformed Dutch Church, of Leonia, in which he held the office of elder for many years.
THOMAS WILLIAM LYDECKER
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Mr. Lydecker was married first to Gertrude, daughter of Peter J. Cole, on August 25, 1831. She was born August 22, 1813, and died August 10, 1847. Of this marriage were: Gertrude, who died in infancy; Abraham, born January 30, 1834, married Rachel, daughter of Ralph S. and Jane (Haring) Demarest; Rachel, born July 10, 1838, married James Christie; Maria, born August 12, 1841, wife of Cornelius Terhune, and John, who died in infancy. His second marriage was to Maria, daughter of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Zabriskie) Demarest, of Bergen county. They were married December 30, 1847. The children of this union were Thomas William, born April 18, 1849, died October 20, 1870, and Martha, born April 9, 1851, married Silas Wright, of Jersey City, died July 29, 1879. Mr. Lydecker died March 16, 1888.
THOMAS WILLIAM LYDECKER.
Thomas William Lydecker, grandson of Garret A., is of Holland and French ancestry, having descended directly through the line of
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS WILLIAM LYDECKER
Lydeckers and Demarests, two of the oldest families in Bergen county. On the maternal side his grandfather Ralph S. Demarest, was a great grandson of Samuel Demarest who was imprisoned in the Old Sugar House in New York city, being a true patriot worthy of historical notice. The four sons of Samuel Demarest all served in the Revolu- tionary war. Ralph S., who was a schoolmate of Hamilton Fish and John Jay in New York city, chose the life of an agriculturist, becoming a representative man not only in business but among men. He was one of the projectors of the Northern railroad of New Jersey and was for many years a director in the company. He was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 1854 to 1855, and was also State Senator from 1859 to 1861. His daughter, Rachel, married Abraham Lydecker, a farmer. Their children were Garret and Jennie, who both died in infancy, Gertrude, Ralph Demarest, Thomas William, and Bessie.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Thomas William was born at Englewood August 11, 1868. He occu- pies the house built in 1803, by his great-grandfather, Garret Lydecker, and in which his grandfather Garret A. Lydecker was born January 5. 1811. This is the oldest house in Englewood, a print of which accom- panies this sketch.
Thomas William Lydecker was educated in the public schools of Englewood. He is a floriculturist, devoting his time almost wholly to the cultivation of roses. He began in a small way in 1892, first occupy- ing a building covering a space of about eleven by forty-eight feet and having only about two hundred feet under glass. His business has increased until he now has 25,000 square feet under glass, and does a wholesale trade almost exclusively. He is a thorough going business man, understanding and carrying out in detail the enterprise he has so successfully inaugurated. Mr. Lydecker's father died September 16. 1885. His mother is still living.
JAMES LYDECKER
Another branch of the family descends from James, son of Captain Garret, whose son Garret J., was born in 1797, died in 1880. He was a man who occupied a prominent position in the locality then known as the English Neighborhood, having large farming interests, and being one whose advice was sought in all leading questions of the day. His wife was Sarah Ryer, who died in 1862. Their children were James. John R., Cornelius, and Maria. John R., was born in 1824. He was a merchant for a number of years. Afterwards he entered political life and served as deputy collector for the port of New York for twenty-five years. He was a personal friend of President Arthur and many other well known men. He married Elizabeth Ward. They had four children. Garrett J., Lieutenant Colonel in the regular army, J. Ward, Robert and Ida. He died in 1896.
James was born January 15, 1822. When twenty-one years of age he went to New York and became station agent for the Harlem Rail- road and in one way and another he had been connected with the railroad interests until his retirement to private life. In 1862 he went to Alex- andria, Va., where he served the interests of railroad officials as conductor in and about Washington for awhile, but in 1864, and for a few years subsequently. he conducted a train for the Erie Railroad. from Port Jervis up through the Catskills in New York. In 1868 he returned to Englewood and subcontracted for the building of the Northern Rail- road of New Jersey and afterwards wasconductor for a train on this road. In 1842 he was married to Miss Ellen Lake with whom he lived fifty years. Four children were born of this union.
CORNELIUS LYDECKER.
Cornelius Lydecker a descendant of Dutch ancestry, who emigrated from Amsterdam, Holland, at an early day, is a conspicuous figure in the county., He is a great grandson of Garret Lydecker, and a grand- son of James Lydecker and Mariah Day. Mr. Lydecker's father was Garet J., who married Sarah Rvers. Their children were James, John
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
R., and Cornelius who was born at Englewood on the place where he now lives, April 16, 1827. Mr Lydecker has had a varied experience in both public and private life. In 1846, he went to New York as a clerk in the dry goods store of his brother John, where he remained two years. The gold excitement of 1849, attracting him to California, he went by the water route sailing around Cape Horn. After a stay of two years in the gold regions he returned home and subsequently entered the political field, soon after being elected surveyor of highways. Follow- ing this he was elected township collector, and in 1862, was elected county collector, holding that office five years. In 1872 he was elected to the state senate, on the Democratic ticket, being continued in this office from year to year until 1875, when he became a candidate for state treasurer and comptroller, and for seven years thereafter he was a lobbyist in the Senate. In 1871, Mr. Lydecker with William B. Dana, editor of the "Financial Chronicle" built the Palisade Mountain House. He then took a rest by travelling for a time, returning to engage in real estate, building and selling.
Mr. Lydecker was married in 1852 to Miss Catherine S. Van Blar- com, they have six children, Mary wife of Oliver Drake Smith, Mary Ryers, wife of Stanly P. Parsons, Elizabeth, Garret in a banking house at 18 Wall Street, New York, Katie and Cornelius at Englewood. Mr. Lydecker is a member of Masonic Lodge, 114.
ALEXANDER CASS, ESQ.
Alexander Cass, Esq., Justice of the Peace, Surveyor, Coroner and citizen needs no introduction, although many have been introduced to him, and some in the quiet retirement of the County boarding house in Hackensack have subsequently regretted the necessity of the interview. Mr. Cass was born November 20, 1825, at Carlisle, Schoharie county, N. Y. When he was about eighteen months old his father died. Some two years later his mother remarried and went to Carthage, Jefferson county, N. Y., to reside. She died there in 1852. The then juvenile Alexander did not accompany his mother to her new home, but was left with his maternal grandparents, at Carlisle, on a farm. There he grew, and when of sufficient years was sent to the public school, where he received a rudimentary education. When he reached the age of twelve years he was taken from the school and sent to Albany, where for a year he officiated as clerk in a store. At the end of the twelve months he returned to his grandparents' home, where he remained for a few weeks. Next he was sent to the Schoharie Academy, remaining two years. 3 After this he worked for one season on the farm of an uncle, but, as he himself says, he did not take kindly to farming.
He next attended a select school conducted by Prof. A. Smith Knight, a most excellent teacher, who was also a civil engineer and a lawyer. There he studied surveying and acted as amanuensis. During the last six months of study under Prof. Knight he made his home with him. He left his tuition April 1, 1842, and became teacher of the school
(Mexander pass.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
in Carlisle where he had received his earlier education. The school was known as District N. 4, or the Little York District. He taught there for two and a half years, when he went to an adjoining district, known as Rockville. There he remained five and one-half years. From 1848 to 1850, however, he spent a portion of his time, Saturdays generally, in the law office of Mr. John H. Salsbury, at Carlisle. In November 1850. Mr. Cass went to Cobleskill, N. Y., where he entered the law office of Messrs. T. and H. Smith, remaining until September 1852, as a student, subsequently entering the law department of the University of Albany, from which he was graduated in April 1853. He was admitted to the bar at the April term of the Supreme Court of the State, and the same year, at Albany, as an Attorney and Counsellor at Law. Meantime the Senior member of the firm, Thomas Smith had moved his law office to Albany and Mr. Cass remained with him at No. 51 State Street, for some time. He looks back with a justifiable pride to the fact that he paid most of his way while studying law, with money he saved while teach- ing school. One man, Mr. Charles Courter proved his bon ami, and advanced him money to enable him to finish his legal course and pay graduating expenses, taking Mr. Cass's note, simply, as security. This was paid after Mr. Cass removed to New Jersey.
Mr. Cass came to this state, to Bergen county, May 22, 1853, and and through Mr. John Van Brunt was appointed teacher of the Upper Teaneck public school. In 1842 the school committee consisted of Abram Ely, New Bridge; Abram Carlock, Fort Lee; and John Van Brunt, English Neighborhood. There were then ten school districts in the township. In 1853 there were thirteen, as follows: Bulls Ferry, Fort Lee, English Neighborhood, Tenafly, Lower Teaneck, New Bridge, Schraalenburgh, Kinderkamack, Closter, Upper Teaneck, Central Eng- lish Neighborhood, Old Bridge and Palisades. The Coytesville district was set off from District No. 11, this year (1898). In Mr. Van Brunt's report for 1854 he says: "Eight districts have changed teachers within the year. These changes are not so much to be attributed to entire dissatisfaction with the teachers as to efforts on the part of the trustees to engage the services of such as possess rare abilities. This township has now a far better corps of teachers than at any time within the recollection of the superintendent." This may be considered a highly complimentary reference to Mr. Cass and the other seven new teachers.
Mr. Cass assumed charge of the Upper Teaneck School August 6, 1853. The school house was then located on the corner opposite the present building. About six months after Mr. Cass assumed charge it was moved to the present site. He taught in the Upper Teaneck school, in all about ten and a half years, but after six years and a half he was transferred to the Lower Teaneck District, where he remained two years after which he returned to the Upper District. This gave him all told a teachership of thirteen years in Teaneck.
Besides his experience as a teacher Mr. Cass had other connections with various schools. In 1845 he was elected Town Superintendent of
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
Public Schools at Carlisle, but could not qualify on account of his age. The next year he was re-elected and served for two terins. He moved from Teaneck to Englewood in 1865. In 1867 he was appointed School Superintendent for Bergen county, being the first man to hold that office. He remained in the position two terms or six years in all. The salary for the first year was $688, of which he had to pay expenses. Subsequently the Board of Freeholders allowed $100 extra for the latter purpose.
Since retiring from the position of County Superintendent, Mr. Cass has acted as civil engineer, been a Justice of the Peace, a Coroner, and has held other offices.
His first term as Justice of the Peace began in 1864, and was for five years. Mr. Cass is now serving his fifth term as a Justice. He was the Town Clerk for Englewood from 1859 to 1865. He was Assessor for Englewood Township during the years 1876-77. He served his first term as Coroner, 1878 to '81, and his second term 1892 to '95, the term expiring in November. Mr. Cass has also served several terms as Com- missioner of Appeals. In 1858 he was appointed one of the two examiners and visitors of the public schools of Bergen county, a position lie held for two years.
Many of our citizens were pupils under his tuition at Upper and Lower Teaneck, and Mr. Cass feels proud of the fact that ex-Judge J. M. Van Valen, of the Court of Common Pleas, was one of his pupils. The Judge received his first license as a teacher from Justice, then superintendent Cass.
Other pupils who received their early training under his guidance were Rev. S. I. Vanderbeek of the Reformed Church, late of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Judge Holt of Galesburgh, N. Y .; H. T. Austin, E. D., now of California; and lawyers, late George Palmer, of East Worchester, N. Y .. and Theodore F. Lozier of Jersey City.
Mr. Cass was married July 4, 1855, to Miss Maria Louisa Halleck, a lineal descendant of Fitz Greene Halleck, the celebrated author of " Marco Bozzaris." Miss Halleck was a native of Delaware county, N. Y., is now dead. Two children were born to them Willard, now a civil engineer, and a daughter, Hattie E., who died at the age of sixteen months. Mr. Cass' ancestors were Germans and Hollanders on the ma- ternal side, and English on the paternal side. He traces his ancestry back to 1686. He is a distant relative of the late U. S. Senator Lewis Cass, of Michigan."
Copied from Englewood Press, of September 7, 1895.
ABRAM DE RONDE.
On a common field stone in the old De Ronde grave yard in King Valley, Rockland county, New York, is the name of Abram De Ronde, of Revolutionary fame. The death of this old soldier occurred in 1781. and was caused by a gunshot, in an attempt the Americans were mak- ing to recapture him from the enemy who had taken him while he was conducting an expedition to Clinton Point.
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HISTORY OF BERGEN COUNTY
William De Ronde was the grandson of Hendrick De Ronde one of the ancestors of this family who came from Holland in Colonial days and settled on Long Island. The De Ronde's were French Huguenots, who like others failed to find an asylum in Holland and came to this country in consequence. His son William De Ronde married Rachel Goetchess and moved to Teaneck, Bergen county about sixty-five years ago. He was the father of four children three sons and one daughter. Two sons, Abram and John died recently, aged respectively eighty-two and eighty- three years. The other son William, the father of the subject of this sketch, is the well known coal dealer of Englewood and is still living. By his marriage to Miss Lavinia Doremus, he became the father of seven children, three sons and four daughters, all living except Rachel the eldest.
Abram De Ronde was born in 1857, and his career, for so young a man, has been both financially and politically a brilliant one. His education preparatory to entering College was received in the Has- brouck Institute, Jersey City, N. J. When seventeen years of age he left school and entered upon a business career, which eventually evolved the well-known house of Abram De Ronde & Co., a large business firm favorably recognized as such throughout the countries of Europe as well as in both North and South America. It is not often that financial ven- tures backed by syndicates and moneyed influence have forced them- selves world wide upon the business public even under these favorable circumstances, but Abram De Ronde has accomplished this mercantile feat, not only alone but without a dollar to begin the enterprise and with the natural drawbacks and disadvantages which always encumber such undertakings.
With a definite conception of life before him and a faith in himself necessarily commensurate with the victory to be achieved, Mr. De Ronde became first the agent for E. Oakes & Co., 41 Dey Street, New York. going to Boston for this firm, where he succeeded in establishing their Eastern house under some trying difficulties and - putting it upon a solid business foundation. Two years afterwards he established a busi- ness for the same firm in Philadelphia, and when twenty-four years of age launched out for himself in the manufacturing and importing of chemi- cals, colors and dyes, with offices in New York, at which place the head- quarters of the concern has remained ever since, with branches in Bos- ton and Philadelphia.
The manufacture of nitrate of iron occupied the attention of Mr. De Ronde at first, but as business necessitated, other chemicals were put upon the market, and the trade eventually so widened that importa- tions were undertaken, a large agency with a competent corps of buyers and sellers were brought into requisition, so that now the name of Abram De Ronde & Co. is well known throughout the old world, and is one of the most prominent of American houses as manufacturers and importers of all kinds of chemicals and dye stuffs.
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Mr. De Ronde has also become largely identified in real estate in- terests, and has built several large houses in Englewood. His own resi- dence is one of the most elegant structures in this part of the county.
In 1889 Mr. De Ronde was elected a member of the State Legisla- ture, and was re-elected in 1893. He was afterwards candidate for State Senator, but was defeated in the nominating convention. As a prominent member of the Democratic party he served four years on the State Com- mittee of New Jersey, but not approving of the Chicago platform, he resigned that position and took a prominent part in the campaign for sound currency. He has also served as a member of the City Council, of Englewood, where he now lives.
MOSES E. SPRINGER.
Mr. M. E. Springer is one of the oldest citizens of Englewood, and was born at the corner of Bedford and Commerce streets, in the old Ninth Ward, New York, August 5, 1827. When about five years old he was taken to Paterson, N. J., where, at the early period of seven sum- mers he began to earn his own living. He was first put to work in a cotton mill and at one time worked in the "Old Red Mill" at Oradell At that time he used to walk the entire distance to and from Paterson, both morning and night, from and to the house of his grandmother, where he resided.
When about eleven years old he was taken back to the city of New York, where he attended a public school on Seventeenth street for a short time. He afterward received a brief course of rudimentary instruc- tion in the public school, which with an occasional month or two at a country school at Cold Spring, and at the Pond Church, Franklin town- ship. this county, was all the schooling he received.
At the age of twelve years he was placed in a shoemaker's store and shop, on Houston, opposite Orchard Street, New York city, with a view of mastering the mysteries of the cobbler's art. The employment was not congenial and at the end of a year and a half he went to reside with a Dr. Colville who at that time had a local reputation as the "Scotch Doctor," a man who was both a practicing physician and a druggist. Master Springer remained here for two years. During that time he mastered the art of making pills, learned to compound drugs and to put up physicians' prescriptions. This line of business proved pleasant to him, but those who had control of his destiny thought that he should learn a trade, and when fifteen years and a half old he was taken to Fishkill Landing, "Five Corners," N. Y., and apprenticed to a country carpenter to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner.
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