History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 90

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 90
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 90

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The Mapes Farm. - In 1847, Professor James J. Mapes leased and afterwards purchased a farm in Clin- ton township. Essex Co., and made it his home. This farm, known since then as the Maprs farm, was in poor condition, run down and sadly neglected at the time of the purchase. Professor Mapes set to work at once to improve this worn-out farm, by the best scien- tific and practical methods then known in the art of cultivating the soil. By the use of the subsoil plow, the first ever used in the State, the soil was loosened and deepened without turning up the cold subsoil to the surface. The heavy clay fields were underdrained, using stones at first and soon afterward tiles, reliev- ing the surface of stagnant water, which was found

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

necessary in order to prepare for planting early in the spring. Then followed heavy applications of carefully prepared compost made under the Professor's direction, and with a knowledge of the wants of the soil. In following out these improvements, they were carefully recorded and the results carefully noted for future reference. In the course of three or four years the beneficial results became notiecable, and attracted the attention of not only the farmers in the county and state, but enlightened farmers in every part of the country. Land on Mapes' farm that before these improvements were made would not have grown twenty bushels of corn to the acre or fifty bushels of potatoes, would yield three times as much corn and five times the yield of potatoes, and other crops in the same ratio. Soon after taking possession of the farm, Professor Mapes started the Working Farmer, a monthly agricultural journal, which he owned and edited. In this journal these practical experiments were printed each month. with a general invitation extended to farmers to visit this faro and witness what had been accomplished from year to year; and the results proved the soundness of Professor Mapes' teachings in scientific farming, and it was the begin- ning of a new and advanced system of enlightened agriculture in this county, state, and country. In justice to the late Professor Mapes, it may be said that he was the pioneer in scientific agriculture in this country. In the first four volumes of the Working

Farmer may be found the ground-work clearly and concisely elucidated, and although written thirty years ago, the principles laid down there are abreast with the most advanced systems of to-day on modern scientific agriculture. This great man's broad and far-seeing mind foresaw half a century beyond those of his contemporaries, and to him is dne more than any man in America the credit of promoting and fostering agriculture, and to his system practically carried out, we owe to a large extent our prosperous condition. To him, above all other Americans is due the title of the pioneer of scientific agriculture in this state and country.

General Review of Farming Interests in Essex County .-- In looking at Essex County at this time, with its broken, undulating surface, with its hundreds of comfortable farm-houses, well-tilled land, yielding liberally of grains, fruits and vegetables, for which there is a good home market, it presents a different picture from the following description written in 1685, in " Scot's Model." The author, a Scotchman, urging his countrymen to emigrate to East New Jersey on the Hudson, then a part of Essex County, says, " Its true, the first difficulty meets people in planting there is the cutting down wood, (though having some meadow intermixed already covered with hay is a great ease), yet the trouble is compensed by the advantage which the timber being ent down yields,- being good oake fit for shipping and masts, and also chestnute, walnut, poplar, cedar, fir, ash ; and also

by the fertilitie of the soyl being cleared, which yields a vast increase not only of Indian corn, which is a very wholesome food, but of English grain as wheat and barley, whereof it usually yields betwixt the 20th and 30th fold, and with far less labour (the timber being once removed) than in Britain ; and to show the labour of cutting down the trees and clearing the ground is not so great as some may imagine. It is known by experience that two men arriving there in September or October, may clear as much ground as usually brings by harvest following twenty quarters, that is about thirty Scots bolls of grain.

" This country also produceth good flax and hemp, which they now spine and manufacture into linen cloth, and the very barrens there, as they are called, are not like most in Britain, but produce grass fit for grazing cattle in summer time. There is also upon ground already cleared, store of good English clover grass growing. The country is well stored with wild deir, connies, and will fowl of several sorts,-as turkeys, pigeons, patridges, plovers, quaills, wild swans and geese, ducks in great plenty. It produceth variety of good and delicious fruits-as grapes, plums. mul- · berries, and also appricots, peaches, pears, apples, quinches, water millons, which in England are planted in orchards and gardens, but grow there with far less labour; and many more fruits which come not to perfection in England are the more natural products of this country. It is thought olives would grow there, and (there) being store of mulberrie trees, silk worms would do well there, for they were tryed in Virginia and proved very well. if the laziness of the people and their being wholly set on tobacco and the interests of the merchants, who were afraid it might spoil their silk trade from the Straits, had not hindered.

"There is there also great store of horses, cows, hogs, and some sheep, which may be bought at reasonable prices with English money or English commodities or man's labour, where money or goods are wanting."

Of Essex the same writer says, "This being an ok settled county, and good land is consequently full of inhabitants, their plantations are too high in value to be generally large ; their improvements greater than in many other parts; they raise wheat, beef, sheep, and generally what is common from good land, part is carried to New York and part exported in bottoms of their own."

At this early date this shrewd Scotchman saw the capabilities and resources of the fertile soil of this county, with the natural advantages to be derived from nearness to the markets of New York and Phila- delphia, the truth of which no one questions who owns or cultivates an acre of land in Essex County.

P. T. QUINN. The subject of this sketch was born on the IIth of March, 1838, near the village of Edger- worthstown, County Longford, Ireland. When ten

ESSEX COUNTY AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

353

years of age his parents immigrated to this country and settled in Newark, N. J. They were well-to-do and prosperous, like hundreds of Irish families of the better classes, but met with a series of reverses and lost all their property during the long period of hard and distressing times memorable in Irish his- tory from 1834 to 1848, at which time this family looked to the United States as their future home.

Soon after their arrival in this country the young lad P. T. Quinn was placed in the family of the late l'rof. James J. Mapes, near Newark, N. J., as an errand- boy and to make himself generally useful. The com-

essential to snecess to have a thorough scientific knowledge of the subject, as well as a practical train- ing. The boy attended to his duties during the day and in the evening pursued his studies, under the direction and supervision of the kindest of teachers. He made commendable progress in the English branches, and advanced in a satisfactory manner both in the theory and practice of scientific agriculture. At the age of sixteen Prof. Mapes sent his juvenile pupil to the boarding-school of the Rev. John F. Pingry, at Roseville (now a part of Newark ) for one term of six months. During this term, and under the

J. S. SHA .

pensation for his services was his board and clothes. At this time Prof. Mapes was the leading and foremost scientific agriculturalist in this country. In connec - tion with his scientific researches and experiments, he devoted his farm to raising vegetables and fruits for profit, employing a large force of men.

This young boy soon manifested an aptness for agri- cultural and horticultural pursuits, which attracted the attention of his employer and the members of his talented family. The lad at this date could barely read and write. ITis kind-hearted and generous mas- ter soon convinced the active-minded boy that it was

wise, kind and intelligent course of instruction of Mr. Pingry, a warm and lasting friendship grew up between the pupil and teacher, which has become stronger by age.

When only eighteen years of age Prof. Mapes ap- pointed young Quinn superintendent of his farm, (employing twenty men), giving him full power to manage the business according to his best judgment, at the same time taking his young superintendent as a partner in the profits of the business. The farm under Mr. Quinn's management proved a great suc- cess. Naturally Prof. Mapes felt proud of his pupil,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

and the pupil worshiped his guardian and friend ; and this sacred friendship continued without in- terruption until the death of Professor Mapes in 1866, when Mr. Quinn lost his best and truest friend.

Besides his farm Professor Mapes then owned and edited a sterling agricultural journal known as the Working Farmer, and at nineteen years of age P. T. Quinn became one of the associate editors, contrib- uting practical articles on agricultural and horticul- tural topics to its columns. These articles were copied widely by the agricultural press of the country, giving the author a good position as an agricultural writer. In 1868 Mr. Quinn was engaged by Horace Greeley to contribute regularly to the agricultural department of the Weekly Tribune, and this position he held for five years, when other duties compelled him to resign. In 1869 the subject of this sketeh wrote a book,- "Pear Culture for Profit,"-which met with a warm reception and a large sale. In 1871 he wrote another book, entitled "Money in the Garden," a practical treatise on the vegetable garden. This book was also well received by the public. Both of the books are popular to-day, have a steady sale and are acknowledged authorities on the subjects which they treat.

Mr. Quinn was elected corresponding secretary of the New Jersey State Agricultural Society in 1871, a position which he still holds. The success and high position the horticultural department of the society has attained is due solely to his management. The an- nual exhibitions of fruit of the society are now de- cidedly the best held upon the seaboard. Early in 1875, Mr. Quinn was elected secretary of the New Jersey State Centennial Commission, and in connection with his friend, Samuel C. Brown, Esq., of Trenton, who was president of the commission, they worked up the fine State display of manufactured goods and agricultural products shown by New Jersey at Philadelphia in 1576. Later on they prepared for publication a full report of the State exhibit. In 1874, Governor Joel Parker appointed, and the Senate confirmed, Mr. Quinn as one of the board of visitors to Rutgers College.

He held this position, being reappointed every two years, until 1884, when the present Governor turned a non-partisan board into a political one. In 1877, Mr. Quinn was unanimously elected secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. By his earnest and faith- ful work as secretary this board has become one of the most useful and influential in this country. Its annual meetings are attended by the best farmers of the State, and its annual reports are among the very best published by any State board in the country. The board is growing more popular each succeeding year.

In the fall of 1877, Mr. Quinn was elected sec- retary of the Board of Trade of the city of Newark, which position he holds at present. The Board of

Trade at the time when the present secretary was elected was two thousand dollars in debt and the mem- bership below one hundred. It is now out of debt and has an active membership of one hundred and seventy- five. In 1880, Mr. Quinn was appointed by General Walker, superintendent of the United States census, to take the census returns of the manufacturing industries of Newark, N. J. This difficult task he performed to the satisfaction of the superintendent at Washington, D. C., as well as to the thirteen hundred manufac- turing establishments with whom he had to deal. At the request of the Board of Trade, Mr. Quinn pre- pared, and read before the members of the board, at their meeting, in January, 1882, a paper on the his- tory and growth of the manufacturing industries of Newark, which was the most comprehensive, reliable and complete record of the sort published.

In April, 1882, the mayor of Newark, the Hon. Henry Lang, sent the name of P. T. Quinn before the Common Council for comptroller of the city for a term of five years. He was confirmed by the Council without opposition, and his appointment to the most important city office gave general satisfaction to both political parties. His term of office will expire on the 1st of January, 1887. Mr. Quinn is a bachelor, living in Newark in comfortable quarters. He is a Republican in politics, always ardent and earnest for the success of his party, believing that the greatest good to the greatest number will come from Republi- can supremacy. With his multiplicity of duties he finds time to contribute to magazines and news- papers his experience and observations in agriculture, horticulture, and rural topics. He has crossed the Atlantic every two years for the last sixteen years, and in this way turns his vacations into pleasure and profit.

Mr. Quinn is deeply interested in practical horti- cultural pursuits. In company with two of his brothers, he owns and cultivates two fruit-farms in the vicinity of Newark. On one of them was raised in 1884 over one thousand bushels of strawberries, and on the other, besides other crops, is produced an- nually from two to three thousand bushels of choice pears.

These farms are run on business principles and return a handsome income. He owns and cultivates the farm once owned by the late Prof. Mapes, and Mr. Quinn takes pride and pleasure in carrying out the doctrines taught him years ago by his lamented friend, who was the pioncer in the teaching of scientific agri- culture in the L'nited States. Mr. P. T. Quinn is in comfortable circumstances, is of a happy, genial dis- position, fond and devoted to his friends, of whom he has hosts, and, judging from his appearance, thoroughly enjoys life. He is a life member of the American Pomological Society, and an honorary member of a dozen or more State horticultural societies, and inti- mately associated with the progress of husbandry of the State of New Jersey.

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CITY OF NEWARK.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

CITY OF NEWARK.

tarrespondence leading to its settlement Pioner Settlers, with Genealogienl Not » of cach

NEARLY or quite forty years subsequent to the land- ing of the Pilgrims on the then wild and barren shores of New England the population and religious dif- ferences of opinion had so increased at Plymouth Rock and adjacent settlements that it was deemed advisable by some of the leading spirits of at least two of the towns of the scattered and feeble colonies that new fields should be occupied, and thereby a better cultivation of that religious freedom of thought and action for which they or their immediate ances- tors had but four decades before sacrificed pleasant homes and surroundings in their far-off' native land.

The New Netherlands, that had been discovered and occupied by the Dutch in the early part of the century, seemed to be, in the judgment of English Puritans, the land best adapted to their desires of necessities for the planting and culture of that form of religious polity embraced in the congregational form of church government, and having heard by some means of the "goodly land" (the land of "milk and honey") that lay beyond the Noordt River, or the land of Achter Kull, as the country beyond the great river was known to the Pilgrims,-having heard such favorable report« of this land, the settlers at Branford and Milford appointed a committee to investigate and spy out the land, when the following correspondence was opened between said committer and Petrus Stuy- vesant. the then Governor-General of the New Neth- erlands, which resulted in the settlement of "Our Town on the Passayak :"

"LYTTER FROM JONS STILLLAND TO

QUESTING HIM TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE PLACE IALITD ACHTER ('11.L. BI OPLY TH SETTLEMENT, ETC.

· Worthy sır After my due respects presented sute yon these few lines are to request a kindness of you, taking you to be my special freud and know no other like yourself to intrust in such a come in this : that you would be pleased to take the first and meste suitable opportunity to speak with the housered governor desiring him to resolve in these per- terulers first, whither or no that phore vpon the muyne land, which is called Arthor Call lave free from any ingagentus : secondly if free, then whither or no he will be phrad to grant it to a company of honest men that may deziere to sit duune ther to make a plantasion y oder his gonern- ment and that you would be pleasand having ve done to return an answer by the heat, which we shall waight for, and having incorugement fr shall forthwith adres ourselves to trente further with him nlunite the matter thus not doubting of your faithfullnes herin I take leaue attel test yours to comamile John Sticklin . From Huntington February 156 Hod : (old style)

" Læett me iutreate yon to send the answer to Sannovell Mathies at Rustorpe, that it mnye be convriedl to me in safety and that you woulde Is pleased that It may be kept writ hourver it gu. (in another baud- writing) : Sr if you can we convenience I would Intrenta you to send nie an answer hy ye bearer of this, all convenient jede boing requisite."

"LETTER FROM JONS STICKLAND TO BRIAN NEWTON ARING WHETHER THE COUNTRY ON THE ACHTER C'ULL IS OPEN FOR RETTLEVENT.

" Worthy Sir. After my due raqueta presented into you these few lines ar to Intresto a courtesi of yon, that you wouldle be plesed to spwake with

the lowered governor and lorde Stevenan, to know of him, if that place which is called Arthor Call to five to be di pod of and whither or no he will give Incoragement ton Company of the inglish nation there to settle thomasluck, if spon a few made they shall take satisfaction and when you know his minde harin, that you would be pleased to return me a few wende in auswer by this Iwarer Samevell Matthew, and accordingly muy self with wuin uthier freuda, who hanr an 1 that wave will address our- moluen I shall trubble y a su fuder at point, but to intresto to pardon my bowldans and we get your loving frend tos mand John Stikland fr m huntington April so Lol :

"The foregoing request, made to Captain-Lieutenant Brian Nuton, who hatided in and communicated by him to his Honor, the Din tor- tienemal, who produced the same to the Council. After due considerati in It was resolved, to rejds to the maid C'uptain-I.eutenant, that he might in- form the petitioners, that they could fly come to view the piece of land in question and if it united them, further order would be given un their request and promotion, ed June je."

"LETTER FROM MATHEM GILBERT TO THE DIRECTORGENERAL, INFORMING HIM THAT A COMMITTEE HAD BEEN APPOINTED ON THE PART OF A COMPANY IN NEW ENGLAND, WHO DESIZE TH SETTLE AT ACHTER U'LLL.

" To the much honored tionernot of the New - Netherlands humble

"Saying it hath ploand tied to order it in his providence, that a com- panic of Considerable perseus, that Came into V. F., that they might ·rue God with a pure & naciente and enjoy auch biertas and princledge, both ('ivill and Ecclesiasticall, no might test moluantage voto, and strengthen them in the end and works aformid, was also thorough the mervy of God they hauve enjoyed for more then sruentie yeares together and the Lord having loved them with prostorition & that their number are increased and they bring desirous tu prutde for their praterities. so Bn their outward comfortable wulwistance and their salles welfare might it the www af autalde mirans thorough the Mewing of the almightie be attained, in order herpunto they have a, pointed time to view wie adjacent parts of this American wildernes, who hane bin turtemusly & charmingingly entertained by Je Home, was the Companie doeth a know- ledge wth all thankfulnes- And hane now wht some of our honored trusties and well laloved Friends, to wit, Me ikonjamin Nen, Me Robert Treatt, Me Lawes & Dencon Gun in the name of the | ommittee royjmen red by the Companie and in ye whalf of the C'omijanie to treat and l'onciude as they shall ser cause with your home of whom it shall concerne About the tearmies ujums weh they may be encouraged to begin to plant and a. from time to time as they are able to proceed yearly by name of them- plus and by made of their poteritie or their friends that may hereafter desire to jaine with them for the enlarge ' of the Kingdom of Christ Jas in the l'ongregationall way and all other mnen now if I umfort in subordina- tion heervnt . And weing that this Designe if sutally encouraged may hopefully be more for the glory of find and benefit & welfare of the Dutch bastien in America and the hems of their principalin in Europe then any yet hath hin by planters vnder their shaddow in thew parts. The l'om- panie dorth therfore desire that neither any queries or ppeitions made by our holwerd mevangers bots ated and instructed might be in the least measure greinous or offendue to your home or any Interest with you, for we are true men and new spies, but to jeunde ground rights and honest things for perfume queturition and friends like minded : As we have atreadie for many years enjoyed and are come by these auf messagem to yon And therfare in order to prprall- wre desire that webent offense we may have as plaine and clear an answer as may be to the following ruquiries and prjuwitions.

" fruns Milford Dated the 8th uf November IG61. In New England. " MATHEW GILBERTE in the nama of the Comittre Impovered hy the t'umpenie."

" I'ROM SITIONS AGREED UPON A) THE COMMITTEE IN THE NAME à HEHAITK OF THE COMPANIE TO DE PRESENTED TU THE MUCH HUNDRED GOVERNOR OF THE NEW -NETHERLANDS BY THEME,

"] That If a Church of Churches of English shall be planted in the place prpounded they may be allowed by the Authorities of the high and mighty Lords & States General of the United Princes in the Netherlands in Europe And wo the apprhation of the Bewindhebbers of the West Indin L'umpame to anjes all such power pulledgus and lilerties in the Congregationall way as they have enjoyed them in New England aluno (wentie gran parte without any disturbance important or impositiva of any other formes, orter or customers to be ulerused by them : And

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

that therein they be Allowed and Approved churches by some publique testimonie \ pon Record.

"2. That if the English Churches planted vidder the Dutch Gowerne- ment shall consent to consociate together for mutuall helpfullnes : They may be allowed by the Authority & with the approbation aforesaid sve to Que and to call a synod and therein to establish by common conseat such orders according to scripture as may be requisite for the suppressing of hacrester, schinmes and false worship and for the establishmt of truth wth peace in those English churches. And that the Gouernor & Courts at Now-Amsterdam shall protect the said English , churches and synnos from any that oppure them or be Injurious to them.

"$3. The English planters due desire that they may hane libertie and power by ye Authority & we yo approbation aforesaid to have the order- ing of nhl Judicature and of all their civill affaire. within themselves, to chun their owne magistrates and all other officers amt Constitute and keep Courts and make all such lawes and orders as they shall find most Futable to their condition and welfare in that phie And that all persons, Hanters and others, for the time they are amongst them within their jacincts, shall be bound to arquiesce in all their lawes, orilers, sentences and appointme of any of their owne Conrt or Courts and officers deter- minately according to such orders and lawes as are or shall be from time to time agreed vpon & enacted by them and unto their sentences made & verdicts declared without apprales to any other Authority or jurisdic- tion. This power the English in Amerrick within New-England have had und exercised in all causes by the grauat of the late King of England, Charles the First, as is to be seen in his Majesties letters patteut aboue twentie years together. And it is much more necessary that they hane it vnder the Dutch (whose lawes they know not nor understand their language and the way and manner of their exerciseing this their sole power). We purpose according to the fundamentalls received in New Hanen Collonie web are in print to be seen (or the Most of them) su fur as we shall finde it will alike suite Christ's ends and our condition- there.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 90

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840