USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 58
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 58
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After the close of the school-year of 1871 it was not lawful to change tuition fees.
The revision of 1874 was generally a copy of the act of 1867 and the supplements of 1871. There are a number of minor variations, but there is one amend- ment too important to be overlooked, from the earliest time, 1851, in which school districts have been authorized to levy a distriet tax a two-thirds majority in any given district meeting was always an indispensable preliminary in favor of such taxation ; in the revision of 1874 a majority vote is sufficient for that purpose.
This cursory view of legislation in behalf of free schools shows how the State has crept, step by step, to the position in which it stands to-day. Beginning nearly seventy years ago to create a fund, adding to it from time to time for thirteen years, it enacted in 1829 an incipient system which, by numerous ad- ditions and amendments, has given to us an admirable system for common school education.
CHAPTER XXIII.
COUNTY SOCIETIES.1
The Essex County Bible Society .- At a meeting held in the court-house on the 20th of October, 18-10, a number of gentlemen from various parts of the county assembled to form an association, through the medium of which the county might at once be supplied with the Bible. R. T. Haines, of Elizabeth, was chairman, and C. H. Whitecar and J. W. Duryec secretaries. Resolutions were adopted to organize a Bible Society for the purpose of supplying the Bible to the destitute of the county, and a constitution was adopted. The committee on officers reported the following, who were unanimously elected: Presi- dent. Richard T. Haines, of Elizabeth; Vice-Presi- denta, Rev. D. W. Bartine, Rev. Mr. Scott, William Rankin, John Taylor (of Newark), William Stephens (of Belleville), Rev. Mr. Seymour (of Bloomfield), Rev. Mr. Tuttle (of Caldwell), S. T. Day (of Orange), R. Harrison (of Livingston), S. Baldwin (Clinton), Rev.
Dr. Murray ( Elizabeth), J. W. Wade ( U'nion), Rev. Gr. Windsor (Ruhway), John Potter (New Providence), William Wallace (Springfield), Andrew t'lark (West- field), Rev. S. 1. Prime, secretary; Isaac Van Wag- enen, treasurer; Executive Committee, F. T. Freling- huysen, J. B. Pinneo, Rev. Messrs. Imbrie and Garretson, and J. P. Bradley, Charles H. Whitecar and J. B. Condit.
A depository was located at the store of D. C. Bos- worth, 272 Broad Street, and colporteurs were ap- pointed to explore the whole county and supply every destitute family with the Word of God.
The officers of the Essex County Bible Society for 1884 were as follows. President, (vacant) ; Scere- tary, Edward E. Rankin, D.D .; Treasurer, Charles 5. Haines; Depository, M. R. Dennis & Co., 789 Broad Street; AAuditing Committee, T. M. Harrison, S. H. Wheeler, W. D. Cowan; Executive Commit- tee, Rev. J. Few Smith, D.D., Rev. J. H. Knowles, Rev. W. J. R. Taylor, D.D., Rev. J. Howard Smith, D.D., Rev. Ray Palmer, D. D., William Robb, Horace Alling, together with the president, secretary and treasurer.
Essex Art Association .- A number of the artists of Newark and vicinity met at the studio of Professor W. C. A. Frerichs, 760 Broad Street, on April 14, 1883, for the purpose of forming an art club. MIr. J. K. Hoyt acted as chairman, and Mr. W. E. Me- Dougall as secretary. A committee was formed to report a plan of operations, which consisted of Dr. C. A. Mecker, D. S. C'rowell, Herbert Boggs, J. A. Crockett and T. B. Allen. The club was organized on the 21st, with the following officers: President, J. K. Hoyt ; Vice-Presidents, JJ. A. MeDougall, W. C. A. Frerichs, P. J. J. Spurr ; Recording Secretary, II. M. Crowell; Corresponding Secretary, John .I. Hubbell; Treasurer, Dr. C. A. Mecker; Board of Directors, for one year, E. O. Hovey, Ernest AAdams, Thomas B. Allen and J. Wesley Bolles; for two years, John A. Crockett, David S. Crowell, C. A. Meeker and Ilerbert Boggs. It was decided to as- sume the title of the Essex Art Association, and to provide for the instruction of students in every branch of art in metal, wood or other materials in which artistic advances could possibly be made.
At the expiration of the first year the membership had increased to two hundred and forty-five, and but very few resignations were reported. In August, 1883, the club's present rooms iu West Park Street were secured and preparations for a fall exhibition were begun, the result of which was a display of paintings, owned in this eity and vicinity, which, for general excellence and interest, surpassed anything of the kind ever before attempted.
The establishment of a system of instruction in art, especially as applied to industry, has been from the first the main object of the association. The liberal action of the firm of Messrs. Carter, Sloan & ('o. has enabled the board of managers to set on foot
1 By Henry Farmer.
14
210
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
a school for instruction in art, which, although still in its first term, has demonstrated the fact that, given a very moderate encouragement, a very large class of the young men of the community ean be sonndly taught in the fundamental principles of the arts of design. There are two classes, one of forty members, the apprentices of the firm above-mentioned meeting on Monday and Thursday evenings; and a smaller class has been formed, meeting on Tuesday and Friday evenings. They are completely instructed by Professor W. C. A. Frerichs. In addition to this class. the Art Association has another. chiefly for ladies, which meets in the room on the second floor on Monday and Thursday afternoons, and is in charge of Mr. J. W. Bolles. Instruction is given in free-hand drawing and drawing from lithographie studies.
At the annual meeting held on the 19th of April, 1×84. President Hoyt delivered an address, in which he summed up the results of the first year of organi- zation. The treasurer's report showed the total re- veipts to be $1,990.57, and expenditures $826.83. The following officers were elected: President, J. K. Hoyt; Vice-Presidents, J. J. Spurr, Rev. Dr. Boggs and George R. Howe; Recording Secretary, Henry M. Crowell ; Corresponding Secretary, J. J. Hubbell; Treasurer, Dr. C'has. A. Meeker. The following direc- tors were elected to serve for two years: S. B. Jackson, L. P. Brown, Professor E. O. Hovey and J. W. Bolles.
Essex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children .- In the month of February, 1883, there was organized in Newark, following in the wake of over forty other cities and towns, a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. It found plenty of work to do. Many of the cases that come before the society are those of destitution and beggary, the latter often the result of intemper- anee on the part of the parents or of unconquerable idleness. Many of the parents sin through ignorance rather than from design, and they can be reached through the influences that can be brought to bear upon the children. The society started out to use all remedies according to the necessity of the case. It takes note of cruelty in its broadest sense, which in- «Indes any form of injustice or wrong to a child, or any perversion of its faculties, or any neglect or desti- tution, and it strives, within its proper sphere, to bring the discordant parts of human life into accord with the body politie, to stimulate industry, to pro- mote morality and cheek intemperance.
The original incorporators of the society were: Thomas B. P'eddie, James W. Miller, D. Smith Wood, Gien. William Ward, John M. Rand, M.D., | Christopher Roberts, J. K. Hoyt, John Hyler Smith, James Austin Williams, Mrs. T. T. Kinney, William A. Smith, M.D., Emma W. Edwards, MI.D., Mrs. Martin R. Dennis, Jared Haines, Franklin Murphy, S. S. Sargeant, S. II. Pennington, Jr., Jere- miah O'Rourke, Archibald Mercer, MI. D.
The officers and directors for 1884 were as fol-
lows: President, Thomas B. Peddie; Vice-Presi- dents, James W. Miller, D. Smith Wood, Mrs. Thomas T. Kinney, Emma W. Edwards, M.D .; Board of Directors, Thomas B. I'eddie, D. Smith Wood, | James W. Miller, Gen. William Ward, S. S. Sar- geant, J. K. Hoyt, J. M. Rand, M.D., S. H. Penning- ton, Jr., Walter P. Dunn; Treasurer, Gen. William Ward; Secretary, Rev. C. H. Yatman ; Counsel, S. II. Pennington, Jr .; Superintendent, C. B. Yatman. The office of the society is at 144 Market Street.
Pennsylvania Railroad Mutual Aid Associa- tion .- Among the operatives, mechanics and work- ingmen of the Pennsylvania Railroad a strong and flourishing association has been formed. The object of this association is to aid and benefit by affording relief in cases of siekuess, disability or death of its members. The society was incorporated June 7, 1884. As there are several thousand men employed by the railroad company, the association promises to be a large and powerful organization. The follow- ing are the officers: William G. Wetherill, presi- dent ; Thomas Marshall, vice-president; James H. Osborn, recording secretary ; Rufus R. Schenek, financial secretary; John Rogers, treasurer; Finance Committee, James H. Osborn, (chairman ) William H. Van Houten John Griggs and S. B. Jackson (counsel).
The following were the charter members :
William Wetherill.
George Ilicks.
Thomas Marshall. M. Worth.
Juhu Rugers.
George W. Marshall.
Rufus R. Schenck.
R. T. Dennison.
D. A. Porter.
HI. Mead.
MI. Van Nostrand.
George Stirness.
Isaac Van Houten.
John Ryan.
(. Rick.
Donald Johnson.
James Stevens.
E. W. Osborn.
Charles E. Marcell.
J. Manning
Wilham II. Cook.
R. Klanag.
G. W. Cook.
A. Cooper.
Edward G. Hultz.
I. Bruton.
John L. Porter.
H. Blon.
1. Engle.
E. M. Robeson.
l'eter Lawson.
William Finger.
John Lawless.
J. Gormaley.
George K. Whelan.
William J. Shipman.
Samuel C'openhafer.
A. McChesney.
Arthur H. Bennett.
J. W. Coughlin.
W. Il. Blurton.
C. Campbell.
J. 11. Osborn.
Leo Griggs.
T. A. Purchase.
J. W. Irwing.
MI. Pender.
D. C. Porter.
Joseph Shaffer.
J. B. Fugan.
M. Casey.
T. W. Sidgares.
John Murphy.
A. Mitchell.
Isuse l'int.
Willinm Kellogg.
W. J. Van Houten.
J. S Dempsey.
O. Jerolman.
C. P. Terhune.
"'. Youmans.
J. F. Randolph.
Thomas Gillings,
J. O. Spak.
M. G. Covert.
Elias Bouth.
George Smith.
Horace Allen.
D. Hutchinmm.
J. M. Horton.
John Griggs.
P. K. Mulraine.
JJoel Giles
J. I', Weidener.
William Cavanah.
R. Buylem.
John Croker.
1). Ilolce.
E. Campbell.
M. Rigney.
211
CIVIL HISTORY.
The New Jersey Wheelmen .- The officers for 1884 were: President, W. H. Parsons; Vice-Presi- dent, J. S. Duston ; Secretary and Treasurer, J. C. Willever; Captain, Charles R. Zacharias; First Lieu- tenant, C. W. Jones; Second Lieutenant John Lindner, Jr .; Club Committee, A. O. Lameris, William II. Westwood and Clark Thompson.
Essex Bicycle Club .- The officers for 1884 were : President, Elwood C. Harris; Vice-President, W. J. Knight; Secretary and Treasurer, George H. Bailey; Captain, Robert D. Mead; Lieutenant, E. L. Sargeant.
Excelsior Bowling Association .- The officers for 15×4 were : President, Louis Brehme; Vice-President, Anthony Bratch; Secretary, Frank Imfield; Trea- surer, John Staats; Captain, Joseph Roeder ; Assist- ant Captain, Jacob J Widmayer.
The Woman's Art Exchange .- This society was organized in March, 1881, by ladies from Trenton, Elizabeth, Paterson, Jersey City, Hoboken, Bloom- field, Short Hills, Orange, Morristown and many other places, oniting in its management and taking a practical interest in its development. The objects of the association are two-fold,-first, to encourage art studies in a line available to women, and, sec- ondly, to provide a mart or exchange where the products of their labor may be taken for disposal. To accomplish this second object, each member is entitled to enter the work of three persons for one year. The field for woman's labor is a wide one, and in this exchange a great variety of articles are re- cognized as coming within the scope of art,-as, for example, in needle-work, it is not only the fancy tidies in knitting or crochet, or the more elaborate embroid- erie- on plush or velvet, but the useful in all the range of needle-work is admitted in the rooms of the exchange; woolen and knit goods, underclothing and plain sewing of every kind are represented, besides a wide range of articles of household consumption, embracing bread, cake, pastry, preserves, canned fruits, and numerous other adjunets of domestic economy. The society has two ladies engaged at their rooms, 91 Halsey Street, attending to the sales. In art needle-work, embroidery classes are formed where pupils have inducements for improvement through the variety of artistic designs and the newest modes of reproducing them, and thus aid in raising the standard of decorative art. There are classes, also, for painting in oil and water-colors, drawing in crayon and other art methods, which are fairly patronized during the season of study, which commences in October.
The officers of the society who were originally elected still retain their official positions, and but few changes have been made in the management since its organization. The president is Mrs. Thomas T. Kinney ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. John H. Ballan- tine, Mrs. H. S. Bishop (East Orange), Mrs. H. Booraem (Jersey City), Mrs. De L. Cleveland, (Short Hills), Mrs. C. L. C. Gifford, Mrs. C. E. Green (Tren-
ton), Mrs. R. S. Green (Elizabeth), Mrs. Cortlandt Parker, Mrs. S. A. Starkey, Mrs. E. A. Stevens (Ilo- boken), Mrs. James P. Wilson : Recording Secretary, Mrs. C. L. C. Gifford ; Assistant Recording Secretary, Miss MeCarter; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. S. S. Tiffany ; Assistant Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. N. Perry, Jr .; Treasurer, Miss 11. R. Pennington ; As- sistant Treasurer, Miss Isabella Tiffany ; Board of Managers, Mrs. P. 11. Ballantine, Mrs. S. S. Battin, Mrs. J. D. Bedle (Jersey City), Mrs. J. L. Blake (Orange), Mrs. W. R. Bliss (Short Hills), Mrs. Wil- liam H. Bradley, Mrs. L. P. Brown, Mrs. W. W. By- ington, Mrs. Malcolm Campbell, Mrs. Horace W. Conger, Mrs. David A. Depue, Miss De Rouge (Short Hills), Mrs. Amzi Dodd (Bloomfield), Mrs. B. L. Dodd, Miss D. J. Fish, Mrs. F. T. Frelinghuysen, Miss Frelinghuysen, Mrs. R. S. Grummon, Mrs. Da- vid Hayes, Miss Henry (Short Hills), Mrs. F. Wolcott Jackson, Mrs. William G. Lewis, Mrs. Theodore Mack- net, Mrs. T. N. MeCarter, Mrs. E. N. Miller, Mrs. T. B. Peddie, Mrs. S. H. Pennington, Miss H. R. Pen- nington, Mrs. N. Perry, Jr., Mrs. T. L. Raymond (East Orange), Mrs. J. W. Revere (Morristown), Mrs. J. B. Roberts (South Amboy), Mrs. James B. Sayre, Mrs. Morgan L. Smith, Mrs. Fayette Smith, Mrs. E. D. G. Smith, Mrs. J. O. Stearns (Elizabeth), Mrs. Frederick W. Stevens, Mrs. C. P. Stevenson (Pater- son), Miss Gertrude Thomas, Mrs. Lemuel Thomas, Mrs. S. S. Tiffany, Mrs. Socrates Tuttle (Paterson), Mrs. Van Rensellaer, Mrs. E. Vanderpool, Mr -. A. Ward, Miss S. H. Ward, Mrs. A. Whitehead, Mrs. S. Whittemore (East Orange), Mrs. Ruggles Wright (East Orange), Mrs. S. S. Morris, Mrs. Robert Cum- mings, Mrs. Dr. Edwards.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CIVIL JIISTORY .!
Formation of the County-Public Buildings-Roster of Civil Officials.
The Assembly in 1675. in making provision for the building of courts in the province, enacted, among other things, that Newark and Elizabethtown should form a county, but the division was given no name or definite bounds.
The name Essex was applied in 1682 iu "an Act to creet County Courts," which declared that the sessions for that county should be held in Newark and Elizabethtown.
Definite establishment of the boundaries of Essex County was not made until the Assembly, on Jan. 21, 1710, passed an act of which the following is an excerpt :
"That the County of Frwx shall begin at the mouth of the Raway River, where it falls into the Sound, aud so to run up the said Raway
1 Complied by Alfred Matthewa.
212
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
River to Roberon's Branch, thence west to the Division Line between the Easteru and Western Division * and Fu to follow the said Divisi n Line to Requaneck River, where it meets Peffaick River; thence down Pefaick River to the Bay and Sound ; thence down the Sound to where it began."-New Jersey Laus.
These limits were modified by the act of Nov. 4, 1741, which annexed a part of the county to Som- erset.
Further diminutions in the territory of Essex County were made by act of Feb. 7, 1837, when Passaic County was formed from its northern part, and by act of March 19, 1857, when Union was set off from the southern part.
It was not until 1692 that counties were divided into townships. Essex was in that year divided into three. the first being ealled Aquackaniek and New Barbadoes, the second Newark and the third Eliza- bethtown.1
Public Buildings .- The first building used as a court-house in Essex County was the church or meeting-house built in 1668-69 by the Presbyterian congregation, which had been organized in Branford in 1644, and bodily transplanted to Newark in 1666. The whole town helped in the matter .? It was thirty- six feet in length, twenty-six feet in width, and thir- teen feet between the joists. The site of the building was near the spot now occupied by the Minnehaha Engine house, on the west side of Broad Street, almost opposite the present church. This buikling was a " meeting-house" proper, for it was not only used as a temple of religion and of law, but was the place of assembly for the people of the town whenever they had publie measures to consider. In 1675 the building was also made a passable house of refuge from and defense against the Indians. The people of Newark had well-grounded apprehensions at that time that the llackensack Indians or some other tribe would suddenly attack them; hence they fortified the meeting-house or court-house. The room was lathed and plastered on the inside, and the space between the laths and outer-boards was filled in with small, flat stones and mortar. Two "flankers" were also built for palisades to shelter the men-at-arms. It does not appear that these precautions adopted by the people were ever really needed or that an Indian attack was ever made on Newark. The structure which we have described was not regularly occupied by the tribunals of justice, constituted by State authority, until about fifteen years after it was built. The original for erecting County Courts designated it as the place for holding those of Essex County. Prior to that time, however, the town courts had been held there.
In the old court-room common wooden benches, without backs, were used for seats, a row being arranged each side of the door, which opened upon
the Broad Street side. Less than a score of years after it was built, in 1688, we find that the townsmen " shall endeavor to get the Meeting-House repaired to keep out the wett and cold for the present ; and also to repair the seats and provide cedar shingles to cover it when the spring comes suitable, and be paid for it in a town rate."
In 1686-87 mention is made of bringing weights and measures to the prison to have them sealed. Where that prison stood is a matter of conjecture. It probably occupied the ground near the church or court-house, where a jail of a later date (of which we shall presently speak) was built, and it was undoubt- edly a small and rude structure.
About the year 1700 a brick jail was built a few rods south of the church and fronting on Broad Street. The upper story was designed and was used for a number of years as a court-room.
In 1708 the frame meeting-house was torn down and replaced by one of stone, which was considered at that time to be the best in the colony. The courts con- tinued to be held, as a rule, in the room over the jail until 1791, when the new church commenced in 1787 was finished. There they were convened at the old stone building upon the same spot where the original frame church had stood, and where justice had its first home in Newark. The building was then given up almost entirely to the courts, and was used as their meeting-place for a score of years. The coat of arms of New Jersey was placed over the door, and a repre- sentation of justice holding the scales and sword adorned the wall back of the judges' seat, accompanied by the couplet .-
" In equal balanco Justice weighs her canse,
And wields a sword to vindicate her laws."
By the beginning of the present century it became apparent that not many years could elapse before a new court-house would be imperatively demanded in Essex County. The people of Elizabethtown, then in- eluded in this county, were jealous of the growth of Newark, and ambitious to have the seat of justice located within the limits of their own town. Elizabeth- town had a preponderating influence in the Board of Freeholders, and her representatives and those con- trolled by them had steadily resisted the making of repairs upon the old building or the erection (in New- ark) of a new one. Elizabethtown was thus the master of the situation. Finally, however, it was agreed to submit the matter of the court-house location to a vote of the people, for which authority was obtained through a special act of the Legislature. In this elec- tion all single women and widows were allowed to vote, "only wives," says Mr. Atkinson, " being placed on a political level with infants and idiots."$ Neither was there any restriction in regard to color. Seven
1 For further litstory uf county affairs, particularly the establishment of the courts, me Beach and Bar chapter.
1 See " History of the Fint Church, " in this volume.
" This was under the constitution of 1797. Elizabethtown nud Newark used to fight about the member of the Legislature and in 1797 the women's voto decided the contest In favor of Newark.
213
CIVIL HISTORY.
localities were placed in nomination for the site. These were distributed in Newark, Elizabethtown and Day's Hill, and the contest was ostensibly between the first and last, Elizabethtown's choice being the latter, which was within its bounds. Great excitement at- tended the canvass, the election and the count suc- ceeding it. Mass-mectings were held in all parts of the county, and the claims of the different localities were urged by a score of orators with a vigor and virulence not transcended even in the hottest of mod- ern political contests. Everybody was enlisted in the war. Such animosity was engendered that it was not safe for Newark people to visit Elizabethtown or those who were active champions of the latter town's claim to cuter the boundaries of Newark.
The election, which lasted three days, began at Day's Hill, Feb. 10, 1807. During the forenoon the election was believed to be fairly conducted, but in the afternoon illegal voting was commenced, and carried on with the utmost boldness until the close of the man stood ready at his post prepared for the combat ; polls. Next day the struggle was transferred to the every town and village was divided into distriets, and men specially appointed to see the electors to the polls. Every nerve was strained by each party to ensure snecess. Elizabethtown polls, and there greater dishonesty pre- vailed than at Day's Hill. Next came Newark's chance, and here the corruption was more open and shameless than at either of the other places. As early as one "On Saturday, when the county clerk proclaimed the majority in favor of Newark, the old court-house re- sounded with the loud and repeated huzzas of an as- sembled multitude ; every heart beat with joy, every countenance beamed satisfaction, and such mutual congratulations, we doubt, were ever witnessed before. Cannon announced the triumph of Newark and her friends, and in the evening the court-house, as well as the town in general, was brilliantly illuminated." o'clock in the morning of the day, big with the fate of Newark, the polls were opened at the old court- house, and the third and conclusive day of the battle was begun. Aaron Munn was judge of the election. The voting had not long been in progress when fraud was resorted to, and carried on in every way known to the " ballot-box stutlers " of the times. "Repeating " was resorted to, by many who would in any other cause have scorned such action. Men usually honest seemed But after all the election was not a victory for New- ark, for the beaten party, crying " fraud," opposed by every means the buikling of a new court-house in Newark, and the matter finally being taken before the Legislature, the election was declared by that body corrupt and illegal, and therefore set aside, greatly to the discomfiture of the Newark people, and the joy of the Elizabethtown inhabitants. A very good idea of the amount of frand in this election can be arrived at by the reflection that the vote at the Newark polls, 5039, was only 961 less than the number of the entire lost to all seuse of honor, so completely were they car- ried away by the heat of the strife. Women vied with the men, and in some instances surpassed them, in il- legal voting. Only a few years ago there were living in Newark two ladies, who, at the time of the election in their 'teens, voted six times cach. Married women, too, indignant, perhaps, at being placed on the same politieal level as children and idiots, in defiance of the law, cast their ballots. Governor Pennington is said to have escorted to the polls " a strapping negress." Men and boys disguised themselves in women's attire, and ( population three years afterwards. The relative figures of vote and population at Elizabethtown, show an equally bad state of affairs.
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