USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 51
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
was a Tory in the Revolution, and went to Canada ' the church, which was paid. Harrison Street in
and remained there during the war. He died in 1788, and was buried in Princeton. His nephew, Matthew Millette, and his two nieces survived him and his wife, and lived along the Stony Brook, near Titus' mills, until the last twenty years. Matthew has a son living in Trenton. They formerly had a large and respeetable family eonneetion in Monmouth County.
ELIAS WOODRUFF came from Elizabethtown to Prineeton in 1772, and had three sons, who graduated at Nassau Hall, viz .: Aaron D., George W .. and Abner. He remained here during the war, and ren- dered serviees in the army in offices eonneeted with the magazine and commissary department at Prinee- ton. His son George was a lawyer of distinction in Georgia, but when he became advaneed in life he re- moved to Trenton, and there died leaving a large estate. His son, Aaron Dickinson, settled at Trenton, and was attorney-general of the State for twenty-four years. His son Abner first settled in Sussex County as a merehant, then entered the navy as midshipman, but resigned in 1803, and died at Perth Amboy in 1842. They were related to the Woodruff family in the eastern part of the State.
------
byterian Church. She died in 1851 at an advanced age. They had children, among whom were John Ross Hamilton, who died before his mother, and Samuel R. Hamilton, a prominent lawyer, who prac- ticed in Princeton for several years and then removed to Trenton, where he spent the residue of his life in the practice of the law. He had three sons,-Morris R., John R., and S. Alexander Hamilton. The first is a lawyer and editor at Camden, the last one re- mained on the farm until it was eonveyed to Alex- ander Gray.
JOHN HARRISON was a merchant in Prineeton after the Revolution. He first settled at Queenston, on what is still known as the Harrison farm. In a few years after he had engaged in business there he bought it up to the Martin property, which he occu- pied till his death, when Robert Voorhees took it. He held the office of treasurer of the college from 1791 to 1794 under Dr. Witherspoon. He was a trustee of the ehureh of Princeton from 1796 till his death in 1816. He was also treasurer of the church, and bequeathed a legacy of five hundred dollars to Queenston is called after him.
THOMAS WHITE eame to Prineeton from Virginia, and engaged in the mercantile business for many years. He was a useful and popular eitizen, with a family which eommanded much respect in the eon- munity. He was hospitable and attentive to the students, and received a large share of their patronage. He frequently served the publie in local offices, both in the borough and in the township of Montgomery. Mrs. White was a Hamilton. They had four daughters and two sons. He died in 1837.
JOHN S. WILSON kept general store for many years on the old corner of Nassau and Washington Street,- Wilson's Corner. He was a very respeetable and useful citizen. He filled offiees in the township and in the Borough Council. He was an elder and trustee of the church. They had one son, Dr. Joline Wilson, who died in Georgia while a young man, and two daughters; one married Rev. E. D. Prime, and the other Rev. Frederick Knighton. Mr. Wilson died in 1836.
FRANCIS DE HAES JANVIER was a man of extra- ordinary genius and acquirements. By trade he was a coaeh-painter, and while he followed his trade with uncommon skill he achieved a distinguished local reputation in art. His taste led him to make exeur- sions beyond his daily work. He ornamented his
JOHN HAMILTON was the son of Scotch parents, and . took the name of his father. They settled in Philadelphia. John married Sarah Manning, whose mother was a daughter of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph. Their daughter Mary married Maj. Stephen Morford. , house with numerous oil paintings of portraits and fancy pieees. He was fond of reading. An open book was always found attached to his easel, and sometimes he would have a boy reading to him while grinding his eolors. He was familiar with English lit- crature, and made himself master of the French lan- guage, which he spoke with facility. He was a most genial companion. He was a musician of high order,
Their son Jolin married Phebe Ross, and settled on . the farm which had been the eastern end of the John Hornor tract at Queenston, a farm which has been known as the Hamilton homestead for several genera- tions. John was a coach-maker by trade, and carried on that business till his death. His wife survived him many years. She was greatly respected for her piety, and was long an honored member of the Pres- i could play on several different instruments, and was a
654
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
sight-singer, and read intricate music with ease. He had poetic tendencies, and sometimes wrote verses. Withal he was a very religious man, and was a ruling elder in the Princeton Church from 1807 to 1824, the time of his death, in his fiftieth year of his age. He married Mary Thompson, a daughter of Professor Thompson, of the college. One of their daughters , married the Rev. John Newton, missionary to India. The father of Mr. Janvier was a descendant of a French Huguenot family, and married into a Holland family by name of De Haes. The above description is taken from the writing of the late Rev. Dr. James W. Alexander, who said of him that he had "never known a more accomplished man."
JOHN PASSAGE, a celebrated baker by occupation, was a well-known citizen of Princetou for more than a quarter of a century, at one time having his place of business where now the Mansion House stands. He was succeeded in his business by Gerardus Skill- man. He had a large family of daughters and sev- eral sons. His daughters Marian and Mrs. Clifton are still living in Princeton, on the same ground on which the old homestead stood.
ROBERT VOORHEES came to Princeton at the begin- ning of this century, and was one of the most success- ful merchants of the place. He left a large estate, and died without children. He was an elder in the church, and the first president of the Princeton Bank. His residence was in the house now occupied by Philip Hendrickson, and he built a large brick store and dwelling where the post-office and the Press build- ing stand, and John Van Doren became his successor. Both he and Mr. Van Doren kept a large and pros- perous store there. Mr. Voorhees died in 1838, and Mr. Van Doren is still living in Monmouth County.
HART OLDEN, the father of Job G. and Charles S. Olden (the Governor), was a merchant all his life, be- ginning in a store at Stony Brook, then in Princeton. He was a few years in Trenton. His sons were also merchants much of their lives. Their residence and store was in the Kelsey brick property, now owned by Mr. Dohn, the baker. They were the descend- ants of the original settler, William Olden.
THE POTTER FAMILY .- John Potter emigrated from Ireland to Charleston, S. C., in 1784. On his voyage the vessel was wrecked and he lost all his property. He began business in Charleston as a salesman of small wares. He was successful, and be- caine a prominent merchant with a princely fortune. He had three sons, William, James, and Thomas F. Potter, and one daughter. William died young. The daughter was married to Robert F. Stockton, of Prince- ton, N. J., then a dashing young lieutenant in the United States navy, afterwards a commodore. The . result of the marriage was the removal of John Pot- ter and his family to Princeton in 1824. He pur- | chased of John I. Craig "Prospect," and resided at that place until a few months before his death, when he and Mrs. Potter moved into " Morven" with their
daughter, Mrs. Stockton, and died there. Mr. Potter was very wealthy. He invested largely in the Dela- ware and Raritan Canal stock, and gave fortunes to his three children, still retaining a large one for him- self. He and his two sons owned valuable planta- tions at the South, which they retained till their deatlı. He made liberal gifts to the Episcopal Church ; he built the parsonage and presented it to the church, and he was its most reliable patron. His wife died in 1848 and he in 1849. Both were buried in their family burying-ground on land adjoining Trinity Church.
James Potter, a son of John Potter, was born in Charleston in 1793, and graduated at Yale College. He married a daughter of Dr. John Grimes, of Sa- vannah, Ga. He brought her to Princeton in 1840, and bought the handsome residence of Commodore Stock- ton, corner of Stockton Street and Bayard Avenue, and made it his summer residence till the civil war closed the lines against him. He was wealthy, own- ing valuable rice and cotton plautations at the South. He was a true Christian gentleman, of most generous liberality, giving cheerfully and gracefully to every appeal made to him. Everybody respected and ad- mired him. He was a communicant member of the Episcopal Church. He died of an affection of the throat at Savannah, Jan. 25, 1862. His wife was very handsome. They left six daughters and one son.
Thomas F. Potter, the brother of James, was born in 1806, graduated at Yale, and studied medicine. He was very wealthy and liberal. He received from his father Prospect, and built the magnificent house upon it which he occupied till his death, and which now is occupied by President McCosh, of the college. By his first wife, Miss Jenkins, he had two sons,- John and William. Both survived him. His second wife was Miss Hall, of Sunbury, Pa., now deceased. The children by this marriage who survive are Mrs. Ashurst and Mrs. Lippincott, of Philadelphia.
Maria Potter, the daughter of John, was married to Lieut. Robert F. Stockton in 1823-24. She was an excellent woman, domestic in her tastes, and she reared a large family of three sons and six daughters, the commodore being much of his time absent in the public service. She died only a few years before the commodore.
JOHN RENSHAW THOMSON was a prominent and distinguished citizen of Princeton and of the State. He was born in Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 1800. He left Princeton College to engage in mercantile busi- ness, and went to China and became consular agent for the United States government. After spend- ing some years at Canton he returned to his native city. He married Annis Stockton, danghter of Rich- ard Stockton, a sister of the commodore, and removed to Princeton, where he built a handsome residence opposite Morven. on Stockton Street, which he occu- pied till his death. The Delaware and Raritan Canal Company had its headquarters and offices at Prince-
655
PRINCETON.
ton, and Mr. Thomson was a director and became ; Princeton with his family for about thirty years secretary of that company, and afterwards of the : prior to his death, which occurred June 29. 1872. He joint companies. He was the Democratic nominee was born in Maryland, Dec. 19, 1787. He entered the United States navy at the age of twenty-two, and
for Governor of New Jersey in 1844, but was defeated after a severe contest by Mr. Stratton. In 1851 he : continued in it for more than sixty years, rendering was pressed for United States senator as successor of faithful and honored service. He was successively commander of a sloop-of-war, captain of a steamship, and commodore of a squadron on the coast of Africa. Mr. Dayton, but he could not obtain the requisite vote from liis party, and the choice fell ou Commo- dore Stockton, who held it for one session of Congress, : He received a commodore's commission in 1862, and and then resigned, when Mr. Thomson was elected for the unexpired term, and was reappointed and held the office at his death. He was not conspicuous ! in the debates of the Senate, but he was a useful and : influential member of important committees. He :
was a member of the convention to form a Constitu- tion for the State in 1844. He was a man of culture and of business habits. He entertained handsomely at Washington and in Princeton. Though he was a lifelong Democrat, and voted for the repeal of the - Admiral Crabbe joined the Presbyterian Church in 1844, while Dr. Rice was pastor, and served as a trus- tee for a short time. He died in the cighty-fifth year of his age, at his home in Princeton, leaving his wife, who was Miss Jane Louisa Craven, and two daugh- ters surviving them. He was buried in the Princeton Cemetery. Missouri Compromise in the Senate, and was also an intimate personal friend of President Buchanan, be deserted him and his party when Fort Sumter was captured by the secessionists. He raised the Stars and Stripes over his house at Princeton, and avowed his loyalty to the Union ; but his health failed, and he died at his home Sept. 12, 1862, and was buried in the GEORGE F. EMMONS, rear-admiral in the United States navy, has made his home in Princeton for the cemetery. Having lost his first wife, he married for his second wife Miss Josephine Ward, daughter of | last twenty years .. He purchased the beautiful Edge- Gen. 'Aaron Ward, of Siug Siug, N. Y., who is still hill property, and has made it one of the most attrac- tive residences in the place and a hospitable home. living in Princeton. He had no children, but left a : large estate.
SAMUEL BAYARD was long a prominent citizeu of Princeton. He came to this place in 1806, and re- mained till his death in 1840. He had graduated at Princeton in 1784, studied law with William Brad- ford, and began practice in Philadelphia. In 1791 he was clerk of Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President Washington agent of the government to prosecute, in the British Admi- ralty Courts, the claims of American citizens under the British treaty negotiated by Jay. On his return he resided at New Rochelle with his father-in-law, Lewis Pintard, for a few years. Governor Jay ap- pointed him judge of the Common Pleas of West- chester. He removed to New York City in 1803, where he practiced law, and thence removed to Princeton. He was one of the founders of the New York Historical Society. He published an edition of Peake's Evidence, with notes, and an abstract of the United States laws. While at Princeton he pub- lished a volume entitled " Letters on the Sacraments." He bought the Bainbridge house on Bayard Avenue, which is named after him. Lieut. Frank Conover now resides in that mansion. He was a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church. He was a son of Col. John Bayard, and left several children, of whom Samuel J. Bayard was one. His daughter, Mirs. Professor Albert B. Dod, is still living.
that of rear-admiral in 1866. He served his country well, but his health allowed him to take no active part during the late civil war in the naval service at sea, but he served in the naval courts of adjudication sitting at Philadelphia, as much as his strength and age allowed. He outlived all his contemporary fel- low-officers. Even the distinguished Farragut, who had served as a midshipman under him, passed away before him.
CAPT. THOMAS LAVENDER bought the "Castle Howard" farm, and resided on it for about twenty years from 1842. He had been a sea-captain in the merchant service the greater part of his adult life, and had been in China, Japan, and all parts of the world. He was a Quaker, and a very intelligent and agreeable man. He was one of the commissioners appointed to select a place and erect a building for the State Reform School. Kingston was selected and the building was commenced, when the place was abandoned by the Legislature and the property was sold. He was a native of Great Britain, but a naturalized citizen of the United States. He was a model scientific farmer. He and Mrs. Lavender were faithful adherents to the Society of the Friends, and when he died the meetings in the Stony Brook meet- ing-house were discontinued for want of attending members.
JAMES VAN DEVENTER is perhaps the oldest liv- ing citizen of Princeton, having been born Oct. 13, 1799, near Somerville, N. J., where his father, Cor- nelius Van Deventer, lived. James was in the ju- nior class of Queen's College when that institution suspended, before it was revived as Rutgers Col- lege. He then intended to study medicine, and entered the office of Dr. F. R. Smith, but soon after entered the drug-store of Smith & Ackerman, in New Brunswick, and became a proficient pharma-
REAR-ADMIRAL THOMAS CRABBE resided in ! ceutist. In 1820 he came to Princeton, and with
656
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
John Terhune, of New Brunswick, who is still living, though older than Mr. Van Deventer, engaged in the sale of drugs and books. In about four years after, Mr. Terhune withdrew, and he continued the drug business alone, having sold the book department to William De Hart. He was the principal druggist in the town till he transferred that business to Crowell Marsh. At one time he was a partner with Col. John Lowrey in a general store in the Arcade, but the latter sold his interest to John V. Talmage. Mr. Talmage afterwards opened a store at the corner of Mercer and Stockton Streets. After Mr. Van Deventer retired from the drug business he devoted his time to fruit-growing and the nursery business. He has for many years takeu all the prizes offered at the fairs for various choice fruits which he presented. He has also constructed two beautiful lakes in his grounds, which afford skating to the young people of Princeton in winter.
Mr. Van Deventer has always shown a liberal pub- lie spirit. He built Mereer Hall, the first and only public hall ever built in Princeton for the use of the town. He has served the church in the board of trustees, and as a member since 1831, the town in Common Couneil at different times, the State in the Legislative Assembly in 1857, and is at this time a member of the board of health of the borough. He ! has been a consistent advocate of the cause of tem- peranee ever since that eause was organized. He has been a friend to popular edneation, and a sup- porter of all charitable and benevolent enterprises within his reach. For over sixty years he has been an active business man in Princeton, and has wit- nessed marvellous changes in the town since he first came here. He is still active and industrious. His mother was a daughter of Maj. Thomas Talmage, of Somerville. His first wife was a daughter of Jacob Van Doren, at Raritan, above Somerville, and by her he has two children living, a sou and a daughter, Wil- liam B. Van Deventer residing with his father, and Mrs. Kaufman, of Plainfield. His second wife was Sarah Elizabeth Duyckinck, of New Brunswick, who died iu December, 1880. Mr. Van Deventer pos- sesses a very kindly nature, with a high degree of intelligence.
Official or Civil List.
MEMBERS OF THE COLONIAL ASSEMBLY AND KING'S COUNCIL.
Benjamin Clarke. Thomas Leonard. - Richard Stockton.
COLONIAL JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT. Richard Stockton.
COLONIAL SHERIFFS.
Barefoot Brinson.
Job Stockton.
Jolin Riddle.
MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant.
Jolin Witherspoon, D.D.
W. Churchill Houston. Jonathan Sergeant.
Jonathan Deare. Jonathan Baldwin. Enos Kelsey.
MEMBERS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant. Richard Stockton.
Dr. John Witherspoon.
-
W. C. Houston. Gen. John Beatty.
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
Richard Stockton, LL.D.
Commodore Robert F. Stockton.
John R. Thomson.
Richard S. Field. John P. Stockton. -
MEMBER OF UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Richard Stockton, LL.D.
FOREIGN MISSIONS. .
Samuel Witham Stockton. | John P. Stockton.
UNITED STATES JUDGE FOR NEW JERSEY. Richard S. Field.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR NEW JERSEY. James S. Green. IN THE ARMY AND NAVY.
Promotions in the United States Army .- Rev. Andrew Hunter. chaplain ; Col. Francis Barber, Geu. John Beatty, Col. Erkuries Beatty, Gen .. David Hunter, Surgeon George M. McGill, Capt. Charles H. Dod, Capt. Edward Field.
Promotions in the United States Nary .- Commodore William Bainbridge, Commodore Robert F. Stockton, Lient. Samuel W. Stockton, Lieut. P. Augustus Stockton, Surgeon Louis B. HInnter, Surgeon J. Dick- inson Miller, Rear-Admiral Thomas Crabbe, Rear-Admiral George W. Emmons, Purser John S. Gulick.
. GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY. Charles S. Olden. MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE.
Of Council and Senate. -
Samuel Bayard. William C. Alexander (president). James S. Green.1 Crowell Marsh.
Charles S. Olden.
Of the Assembly.
Samuel Bayard. James S. Green.
Abner B. Tomlinson. James Vandeventer.
William C. Alexander.
James H. Brnere.
Richard S. Field.' Augustus L. Martin.
Josiah S. Worth. Charles O. Hudnut.
John Lowrey. Joseph Il. Bruere.
John F. Hageman, on general George O. Vanderbilt (Speaker).
ticket.
Under the district system.
ATTORNEY.GENERALS OF NEW JERSEY. Richard S. Field. John P. Stockton (now in office). PROSECUTOR OF THIE PLEAS OF MERCER. John F. Hageman. · SHERIFF OF MERCER. George T. Olmsted.
LAW REPORTER FOR NEW JERSEY. James S. Green.
CHANCERY REPORTER FOR NEW JERSEY. John P. Stockton.
The Present Bar of Princeton .- JOHN F. HAGE- MAN (noticed in chapter lviii.).
LEROY H. ANDERSON is a son of the late William T. Anderson, long an honored offieer in the Dela- ware and Raritan Canal Company. He graduated at Princeton in the class of 1861; studied law with
1 These were chosen before Mercer County was formed.
657
PRINCETON.
James S. Green and John F. Hageman ; admitted to the bar in 1865 as attorney, in 1871 as counselor ; began to practice in Princeton, but at the present time gives almost his entire attention to official trusts and duties in the Pennsylvania and the Camden and Amboy Railroad Companies. He resides in Prince- ton, and is a member of the Board of Education of the Public Schools, director of the Princeton National Bank, and was mayor of the borough a few years ago.
JOHN F. HAGEMAN, JR., was born in Princeton, Ang. 9, 1849; is a son of John F. Hageman, above named; graduated in Princeton College in the class " of 1869; studied law with his father; was licensed as attorney in June, 1872, and as counselor in June, 1875. He opened an office in Princeton, and is pur- suing his profession assiduously, and he is also mayor of the borough.
WILLIAM J. GIBBY came to Princeton from the Nor- mal School at Trenton and took charge of the Princeton Public School as principal in 1860, and holding it for about fifteen years. He studied law with Leroy H. Anderson, and was admitted to the bar in 1875, and became counselor in 1878. He opened an office in Princeton, where he practices law, and holds the office
GEORGE O. VANDERBILT was born in Alexandria, Hunterdon Co., N. J. His father was Wholston Van- derbilt, and his mother Elizabeth Opdyke, a relative of the late Mayor Opdyke, of New York City. George O. worked on a farm and taught school till he was twenty years of age, and then prepared for college at Pennington, and graduated at Princeton in 1873, taking the prize for the best essay on political science. In the fall 'of that year he was elected to the Legisla- ture on the Democratic ticket, and he so pleased his constituents that he was re-elected the next year. 1874, when the Democrats, having the majority of the House, elected Mr. Vanderbilt Speaker, and in testi- mony of his acceptable services in that office he was presented by his friends with a valuable gold watch and chain. In the mean time he was reading law in the office of Thomas G. Lytle, in Princeton, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1876. He opened an office in Princeton, where he has acquired a good practice. He cherishes some political aspirations, and has warm political friends.
RICHARD RUSYAN read law with Thomas G. Lytle, and was licensed as an attorney, February, 1877. He has an office in Princeton, where he attends to pro- fessional business.
BAYARD STOCKTON is a son of the late Richard Stockton, and grandson of the commodore, and a native of Princeton. He graduated at the college in Princeton in the class of 1872, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1878, becoming counselor in 1881. He opened an office in Princeton, where he resides, but he has within this year removed his office to Trenton, where he practices.
FERGUS A. DENNIS, a native of Princeton, son of
Joseph Dennis, studied law with Mr. Gibby, and was licensed as an attorney, June, 1880, and has his office in Princetou.
MAYORS OF PRINCETON, 1814-82.
Samuel Bayard. -
Oliver 11. Bartine.
Erkuries Beatty. Augustus L. Martin.
Robert Voorhees. Hezekiah Mount.
John Lowrey. Eli R. Stonaker.
Henry Clow.
Richard Runyan.
Alexander M. Cumming.
Martin Voorhees.
Jared J. Dunn.
Charles O. Hudunt.
Abram J. Berry. Leroy H. Anderson.
John T. Robinson.
Frank S. Conover.
Richard Stockton.
Charles S. Robinson.
John Conover.
William J. Gibby.
George T. Olmsted.
Alexander M. Hudunt.
James T. L. Andersou.
John F. Hageman, Jr., the present incumbent.
The first township-meeting of Princeton after the organization of Mercer County was held April 9, 1838, at the house of Simon Vleit. Alexander M. Cumming was moderator, and David N. Bogart was clerk.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.