History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 82

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096

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 82
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 82

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"Though in the dust I lay my head, Yet, gracious God, thon wilt not leave My soul forever with the dead, Nor lose my children in the grave."

"In memory of ELIZABETH TUCKER, the wife of Sainnel Tucker, Esq., of Trenton, and daughter of James and Ann Gould, who departed this life on Sunday the 13th day of May, 1787, aged 57 years, 8 months, and 14 days.

" This life's a dream, an empty show, But the bright world to which I go Hath joys substantial and sincere; When shall I wake and find me there? Then burst the chains with sweet surpriso And In my Saviour's image rise."

1 Rev. John Ilall, D.D., 1859.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-YARD .-- This burial- place contains numerous early graves, and is said to hoid the remains of a Governor of New Jersey. The following inscriptions have been copied from head- stones in this church-yard :

" 1732 April 25, D. Howell." "A + S 1735."

"John Scudder died May 10, 1748, aged 47."

" Here lyes int'd ye Body of Sackett Moore, who departed this life August the 18th, Anno Domini 1753, aged S7."

" Here lyeth the Body of Peter Lott, late of Long Island, who de- parted this life on the 14th day of April, 1755, aged 30 years."

" I. S. Temple, Ang. 28, 1757."

" Here lieth the Body of Phebe, wife of Abraham Temple, who died Angust, 1758, aged 53 years."

"In memory of Nathaniel Moore, who departed this life Sept. 6, 1759, in the 72d year of his age."

" Love Moore departed this life February 9th, 1776, aged 59 years."

" In -memory of Sarah, wife of William Barber, who departed this life May 16th, 1776, aged 20."

" Anna, wife of Amos Moore, departed this life August the 27, 1777." " Here lies the Body of Mary, the wife of John Davison, who departed this life in the 66th year of her age 11 day of December, 1777."

"J. B. 1782."

" In memory of Benjamin Clark, who departed this life November 25, 1785, aged 54."

Educational .-- The " pay-schools which furnished such educational advantages as were formerly enjoyed by the residents within the borders of the present township of Ewing gave place to the schools estab- lished under the common-school law of the State of New Jersey, under the provisions of which Ewing is divided into five school districts, named and num- bered as follows :

Scudder's Falls, No. 14; Birmingham, No. 15; Ew- ingville, No. 16; Columbia, No. 17; and Brookville, No. 18.

The educational statistics of the township, as set forth in the last published report of the superintend- ent of public instruction, are appended :

Total amount received fromn all sources for public school purposes, $1689.72; value of the school prop- erty, $4100; number of children of the school age in the township, 461; average number who attended schools during the time they were kept open, 151; estimated number who attended private schools, 36; estimated number who had attended no schools, 136; number of male teachers employed, 1, at a salary of $36.66 per month ; number of female teachers employed, +, at an average monthily salary of $32.98.

THE STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS .- This institution was organized in 1871, under an act of Legislature, and officered as follows :

President, Samuel Allison ; Secretary and Treas- urer, Samuel C. Brown ; Trustees, Abraham Taylor, Burlington, Matthew Mitchell, Morristown, Samuel C. Brown, Trenton, Rodolphus Bingham, Camden,

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EWING TOWNSHIP.

Samuel Allinson, Yardville, Charles H. O'Neill, Jer- unless sooner discharged as reformed or incorrigible, sey City ; Lady Managers, Mrs. Olivia S. Fuller, or in due course of law, or bound out by order of the Trenton, Mrs. Rebecca A. Colson, Woodbury, Mrs. . trustees. Elizabeth Baily, Trenton, Miss Sarah E. Hayes, Sunt- mit, Miss Sarah E. Webb, Elizabeth, Miss Margaretta Potts, Trenton ; Matron, Mrs. Harriet F. Perry ; Teacher, Miss Iteline MI. Terridell.

About twelve acres of land, situated on the bank of the Delaware, within the limits of Trenton, was leased, and buildings thereon occupied in January, 1872. In the winter of 1872-73 the trustees purchased a farm of about eighty acres between the Scotch road and the Asylum road, in Ewing, for twelve thousand dollars. A suitable building was completed in April, 1874, and was at once occupied by the school. The farm was supplied with a tenant-house. This and the barns and the fences on the place were at once repaired, and a frame dwelling for the steward and gardener was built at a cost of about eighteen hundred dollars. An ice-house and necessary sheds were also erected. In 1876 a little more than an acre of land was sold off the farm to the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad Company. During the summer of 1880 a brick farm-house was built and paid for out of a special appropriation made at the previous session of the Legislature.

The officers of the institution in 1881 were as fol- lows: President, Samuel Allison ; Secretary and Treasurer, Samuel L. Baily ; Trustees, Samuel Alli- son, Yardville, Samuel C. Brown, Trenton, Samuel L. Baily, Trenton, Rudolphus Bingham, Camden, J. Newton Voorhees, Middlebush, Jeremiah O'Rourk, Newark ; Lady Managers, Mrs. Rebecca A. Colson, Woodbury, Mrs. Margaretta Potts, Trenton, Mrs. Elizabeth Baily, Trenton, Miss Sarah E. Webb, Eliza- beth, Miss Mary G. Abbott, Trenton, Miss Mary S. Atterbury, Trenton; Matron, Mrs. Harriet F. Perry ; Assistant Matron, Mrs. Rebecca Barber; House- keeper, Miss Margaret Atkinson; Teacher, Miss Bar- tine; Seamstress, Miss Abbie Cole.

The capacity of the building is sufficient to accom- modate forty girls. Particular attention was given in its construction to secure good ventilation in all the rooms. The parlors, school-, sewing-, and dining- rooms are all on the first floor, leaving the second and third floors for sleeping apartments; each girl is pro- ' vided with a separate bedroom. The laundry is in the basement. A supply of water from a spring is thrown into two large tanks in the attic, and thence distributed through the house for bathing and washi- ing purposes.

The girls are received, cared for, and dismissed ac- cording to the provisions of a supplement to the act entitled "an act to establish and organize the State Reforui School for juvenile offenders," approved April 6, 1865, with the additional provision that all com- mitments of girls to this institution, of whatever age when committed, shall be until they shall have ar- rived at the age of eighteen years, and not longer,

The girls, as soon as received, are made acquainted with the rules and regulations of the school,-are given to understand that so long as they observe those rules they will not be restrained in their liberty, but placed at once upon the same footing as those who have been there for some time. This mode of treatment has in almost every case proved a wise one. Attempts to leave the institution are rare, and when they have occurred, the usually prompt arrest and return of the parties convinces those so disposed that any etfort of the kind will be futile.

The discipline of the school is mild but firm, pun- ishment of any kind beyond confinement in the dor- initory being rarely necessary. The uniform kindness with which the girls are treated wins them to a cheer- ful submission, and begets a warmth of love towards the officers in hearts little accustomed to sentiments of the kind, deprived, as most of them have been, of the comforts of home or kind parental influences.

The girls take turns regularly in the different de- partments of the house-work, such as cooking, laundry, and general domestic work, all of which is neatly performed, and the whole building kept in excellent order.

Each scholar is taught to make lier own clothes and keep them in repair, as well as to do such plain sewing as is sent by friends of the institutiou. Work for shirt manufacturers has been done here at some little profit to the institution. The afternoon of each day `is occupied in the school-room, where the girls are taught those branches of study which will be of prac- tical use to them through life. A Sunday-school is maintained, the influence of which has been very efficacious in the work of reformation.

The success of the institution is thus referred to in the report of the tru-tees for the year 1881 :

" The discipline of the school has been well maiu- tained; no effort has been made by any girl to escape, and, with but few exceptions. they have yielded to the firm but kindly hand which governs them. And it is with pleasure that we are able to state that the reformation of our girls from evil habits has been eminently satisfactory. The wise and motherly coun- sel of the matron, supported by the other officers. has not only had its influence on the scholars while in the school, but from reports continually reaching us from the families in which they have been placed, show that these lessons in the way of virtue have not been forgotten, but remain like an anchor, holding them fast."

The New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum. - In 1845, Governor Stratton appointed the following- named commissioners to select a site suitable for a State asylum for the insane : Daniel Harris, Theodore Arrowsmith, John Condiet, Joseph Sanders, Maurice Beesley.

790

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

These gentlemen chose the site now occupied by the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum, on the Old River road, near the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the . under one of the early Scottish kings, and on the southern part of the township of Ewing. Rev. Eli : maternal side from Count Habspurck, who at the time of the Norman conquest of England came over from Normandy with William the Conqueror. F. Cooley, Calvin Howell, and Samuel Rush were appointed to superintend the erection of the building. The architect chosen was Mr. J. Notmann. The first appropriation by the Legislature towards founding this institution was one of 835,000, of which $10,000 was for the purchase of the site, and $25,000 was to be used in building.

The first board of managers was constituted as fol- lows :

Hon. James Parker, president ; Thomas J. Stryker, secretary and treasurer ; Lewis W. R. Phillips, Rev. | tionary war, and a member of Congress from Bucks Eli F. Cooley, Stacy G. Potts, Richard Stockton, Charles Ridgway, M.D., Isaac S. Mulford, M.D., John S. Dorsey, and William F. Anderson.

The whole number of patients admitted and treated from the opening of the asylum in 1848 to the 31st of October, 1881, was 5818. Of this large number 3569 have been returned to their friends, recovered or improved.

The number of patients in the asylum on the 31st day of October, 1880, was 550; the number received sinee that time to Oct. 31, 1881, was 157, making an aggregate number of 707 under treatment during the ycar. Of these, 58 were discharged recovered, 20 improved, 4 not improved, and 45 died ; 1 escaped, 1 not insane, and 1 removed to the Camden County Almshouse; left in the institution under treatment on the 31st day of October, 1881, 577 patients. Of the number then being treated, 80 were private patients, supported by their fricuds, and 36 convicts, supported by the State.

The board of managers in 1881 was composed of the following-named persons :

Rev. S. M. Hamill, M.D., Lawrenceville, president ; Hon. Caleb S. Green, Trenton, secretary ; John Vought, MI.D., Freehold; William Elmer, M.D., Bridgeton ; Garritt S. Cannon, Esq., Bordentown ; Joseph H. Bruere, Esq., Princeton ; Hon. James Bishop, New Brunswick ; Hon. Benjamin F. Carter, Woodbury ; Isaac Stephens, Trenton ; Hon. John I. Bird, Flemington.

The resident officers were as follows ;

Superintendent and Physician, John W. Ward, M.D .; Assistant Physician, John Kirby, M.D. ; Sec- ond Assistant Physician, Charles P. Britton, M.D .; Steward, Edmund White; Matron, Mrs. S. J. Clark; Treasure:, Austin Snider, Trenton.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM RODMAN MCILVAINE.

The aneestors of William McIlvaine came from Seotland, and were descended in regular sueeession

from Sir Patrick McIlvaine, who received an endow- ment of lands called Grymmet for valiant serviecs

William Rodman Mellvaine was born in Ewing township, Mercer Co., N. J., Dec. 20, 1820. His father, Edward Shippen Mellvaine, was maternal grandson of Chief Justice Shippen, of Pennsylvania, and son of Dr. William Mellvaine, an eminent phy- sician of Bristol, Pa., who died in Burlington, N. J., where he resided a part of his life. His maternal grandfather, Rodman, was a soldier in the Revolu- County, Pa., during President Madison's administra- tion. In 1812, Edward Shippen McIlvaine purchased and settled on an estate of some two hundred acres in Ewing, where he resided the remainder of his life. This property was inherited by his son, and is, in 1882, the property of the grandson.

William Rodman McIlvaine resided on the home- stead in Ewing during the early part of his life, and afterwards in Trenton. He was a man of good mind, sterling principles, well read, a friend to the poor, an advocate of temperance reform, and a leader among his fellow-townsmen in public matters. Hc was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Mercer County, and by reappointment served in that capacity for three terms of five years each. Judge MeIlvaine was an active member of St. Michael's Church in Trenton, and senior warden at the time of his death, Jan. 13, 1875.

His wife, Christiana, whom he married in 1842, is an only sister of Hon. E. W. Scudder, one of the justices of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and daughter of Jasper Scudder and Mary Stillwell Reeder, who resided at the "Falls of the Delaware," near Trenton, where the Rceders settled as early as 1696, and the Scudders in 1704. Their children are Rev. Jasper Scudder McIlvaine, deceased; one daugh- ter, died at the age of nineteen ; and the only surviv- ing child, Edward Shippen McIlvaine, before men- tioned upon the homestead property. The ancestor of the Scudder family emigrated from England to Holland, and thenee to Long Island. Richard Scud- der settled at the "Falls of the Delaware," as the site of Trenton was called, in 1704, and purchased a tract of land extending two miles on the Jersey side front Jacobs Creek to a point about four miles above the Falls. He died March 14, 1754, aged eighty-thrce, leaving eight children, of whom John died in 1748; his son Daniel died in 1811, his son Elias died in 1811, and his son Jasper, father of Mrs. McIlvaine, died in 1877, aged eighty years.

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791

EWING TOWNSHIP.

ALEXANDER B. GREEN.

'The Green family has been represented in Ewing township since the opening of the eighteenth century. About that time came William Green from England, landing at Philadelphia in the year 1700. Thenee he went to Long Island, and came to this, now Ewing township, and purchased between three and four hundred acres of land, the deed bearing date 1712. He here married and had a son named Richard, who

died in 1741, leaving with other children two sons, Richard and George. About that time Richard, the son of Riehard, purchased some four hundred acres of land where James B. Green resides, near Greens- burg, and devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil. He married Phebe Moore, of Hopewell town- ship, and had a large family of eliildren, ineluding William R., John, Benjamin, George, Joseph, and Richard. John and Benjamin settled in Easton, Pa., George and Joseph in Bueks County, Pa., and Rieh- ard in Lawrence township. George, brother of the seeond Richard, son of the first Richard, and grand- son of the first settler, William Green, settled in now Lawrenee township, where he became the progenitor of an influential branch of the family elsewhere re- ferred to.

Here he passed his days in farming, pausing only to participate in the nation's struggle for independence, and serving personally in the patriot army. He mar- ried Elizabeth Burroughs, and had three children, viz. : Naney, who married Joseph B. Green, of Tren- ton, Samuel, and James B. Green.

Previous to the demise of the father the homestead property was divided between the two sons, Samuel and James B. The former died in early life, leaving descendants, however, who left the home locality after his death. To James B. Green fell the homestead and about one hundred and forty acres of land. He passed his entire life on the traet, and besides being a representative and successful agriculturist was ac- tive in advancing the general interests of the town- ship, and closely identified with the progressive movements of his time. He married Catharine, daughter of William Anthony, of Ewing, and had eight children,-Naney, who married John Seudder ; William A., Alexander B., Martha A., who married John M. Van Cleve; Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Cain, of Trenton; James B., who occupies the family homestead in Ewing; Catharine, wife of Henry H. Johnson, of Ohio; and Edward M., who resides in Shelby County, Ohio, and is a member of the present Legislature of that State. James B. Green died in 1847, aged sixty-three years, and his wife in 1866, in her eighty-first year.

Alexander B. Green was born at the ancestral seat of his family in Ewing, on March 16, 1811. Until sixteen years of age he remained at home, and re- eeived only a common-school education. At that age he went to Philadelphia, where he clerked for a time in a dry-goods store, and subsequently engaged in that branch of trade on his own account until 1842, when he located at Trenton in the coal business. After two years lie returned to Philadelphia and resumned the dry-goods business until 1848. He then engaged in mereantile business in Trenton for some time, also the lumber trade, and from 1853 to 1872 acted as the general freight agent and general freight accountant of the United Railroads of New Jersey at Trenton. In the latter year he resigned his position and re- moved to Greensburg, where he has since engaged in the lumber and coal business and in farming.

Mr. Green has led an active and busy life, and reaped the sure reward of a competency, and the re- spect and esteem of a large circle of friends. He is naturally retiring and modest in demeanor, and shrinks from notoriety and public applause. Though an ardent member of the Republican party, he has studiously avoided publie position, although called to represent the First District of Mercer County in the New Jersey Assembly in the years 1865 and 1866. He made an intelligent and honest legislator, and after the close of his term declined further election and retired to private life. He takes an active inter- est in the local affairs of his township, has been presi-

Upon the death of Richard Green, grandson of the first settler, his land was divided among his children, the homestead property, comprising about two hun- dred and fifty acres, falling to his eldest son, William R. Green, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. i dent of the West Ewing Improvement Association

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

since its organization in 187S, and is a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Ewing. His first wife was Mary A., daughter of Clark Chambers, of Trenton, and died in 1848. Of this marriage there arc two living children, viz., Louisa, wife of Harvey Fisk, of Ewing, a leading banker of New York City, and Miss Mary C. Green. An only son, Alexander, was a sergeant in Company I, Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers, during the late war, and lost his life at the battle of Monocacy, Maryland, July 9, 1864. His second wife was Jane A., daughter of the late Charles Rice, of Trenton. She died in March, 1869. In 1870 he married Mary, daughter of the late Squire Daniel Cook, of Hopewell. She died in April, 1875. His present wife, Clementina, is the daughter of the late Benjamin T. Davis, of Columbia, Lancaster Co., Pa.

ELIJAH L. HENDRICKSON.

Among the prominent old families of Ewing town- ship is the Hendrickson family. A native of Hol- land, John, the progenitor of the branch of the family represented by the subject of this sketch, emi- . grated to our shores about the year 1690, together with two brothers, and settled on Long Island, whence, owing to difficulties regarding the title to his land, he came to Ewing, and took up his location where the late Israel Hendrickson resided. Here he closed a long and busy life, enduring the privations incident to a pioneer settlement. He was one of the early members of the First Presbyterian Church of Tren- ton, now Ewing, and was officially connected with that body as elder. Among his children was Thomas, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. In early life he married Ruth, daughter of Richard Burt, of Ewing, and shortly thereafter took up his residence on the Burt homestcad, where he passed his days in agricultural pursuits, and where several generations of his descendants have succeeded him. He filled a number of the local offices of his township in an ac- eeptable manner, and served as a trustee of the Ewing Presbyterian Church. His death occurred on July 7, 1822, in his eighty-third year, and that of his wife on Nov. 3, 1817. His children were Hannah (born

. March 30, 1761, married John Reeder, of Ewing), John (born Nov. 22, 1763), Kezia (born Oct. 7, 1765, married Philip Burroughs), Richard (born April 7, 1768), Sarah (born April 24, 1770, married Joshua Furman), Timothy (born March 30, 1772), Phebe (born . March 20, 1774, married Joseph Tindall, of Sussex County, and died there), Moses (born March 14, 1776), Huldah (born March 19, 1778), Mary (born Aug, 11, 1781), and Jemima (born Jan. 25, 1784, married Jo- seph Burroughs).

Timothy Hendrickson, father of our subject, was born on the old family homestead, and occupied it during life. He was an industrious and intelligent farmer, active in all good works, and was also a regu -. lar attendant and supporter of the Ewing Presbyterian

Church, of which he was also a trustee. He married Eunice, daughter of Elijah and Sarah Lanning (born Dec. 12. 1779, died Aug. 14, 1839), and had three sons,-Elijah L., John R., and James A. Hendrick- son. Of these the first and third still reside on the old homestead, and John R. on the adjoining farm, which also belonged to his grandfather's estate. Timothy Hendrickson died Feb. 23, 1848, in his . seventy-sixth year.

Elijah of Humane Know

Elijah L. Hendrickson, whose portrait will be recognized by a large number of the readers of this work, was born on the old homestead in which he resides, on April 2, 1816. The brick portion of his residence was built by his grandfather, Thomas, in the year 1800, and is still in a substantial condition. He was early inured to the life of a farmer, and en- joyed only such educational advantages as the dis- trict school of his neighborhood furnished. He has continued to occupy the old home during his lifetime, and has rcaped from the ancestral soil of his fore- fathers many an abundant crop. He is one of the most public-spirited and representative farmers of his township, and in close sympathy with all pro- gressive and clevating influences. Of strong Demo- cratic principles, he has held all the important offices of his township, was frecholder from 1850 to 1855, a justice of the peace for twenty years, assessor for : long term of years, and in 1853 represented his dis- trict, including the city of Trenton and township of Ewing, in the State Assembly, performing his legisla-

793

EWING TOWNSHIP.

tive duties with singular fidelity, and serving upon a number of important committees. Though en- dowed only with a common-school education, Mr. Hendrickson has always felt a deep interest in the instruetion of the young, and has been very active in elevating the standard of education in his township, and in organizing and sustaining schools of high character in the town. He has led an active and busy life, and is held in respeet aud esteem by a wide ! cirele of friends. He is one of the most liberal and earnest supporters of the First Presbyterian Church of Ewing, and has been a trustee in that body for the past twenty-five years. He was married on Jan. 13, 1842, to Louisa C., daughter of the late Riehard Hunt, of Ewing, and has three children,-Cornelia, wife of Edward M. Burroughs, of Ewing ; Franees, residing with her father; and Annie L., wife of George L. Howell, of the same township.

The Hough family is of Gallie-Flemish origin, a braneh still existing at Bruges, in Flanders, the name being De la Hooghe. Representatives of the family were in England in Cheshire at the time of the Con- quest, the name at that time being Del Hoghe, De gies exist in the British Museum and elsewhere where the name appears as Del Hoghe, De Hogh, d'Hoghe, etc.

Richard Hough, the aneestor of William Aspy Hough, was a leading member of the Society of Friends, having become a member at his home in Macelesfield, Cheshire, England. When he deter- mined to emigrate to Ameriea he purchased two tracts of land, one above and the other below the village of Yardleyville, Bucks Co., Pa.

He arrived in the Delaware River on the 29th day of September, 1683, in the ship "Endeavor," from London, bringing with him five servants, who were to serve four years, and at the expiration of their service to receive an honorarium in money and their freedom.

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History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 82

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096