History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 116

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 116
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 116

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).

1877 78.

First Instri t, Edward S. Smith, (president, Lewis F. Word . Second District, Garret Haley, Michael Reardon , Third District, Edward M. Butler, Marmaduke Tilden ; Fourth District, William F Kern, Il nry 1 Powell , F''th District, David W. Lawrence, Henry \. Theman sixth District, George D. Mackey Stephen S. Vreeland.

184 74.

First Just t. Matthew W Kelly, Lewis E. Wood, Se of ) District, Thomas Reilly, Muhael Hearlon , Third District, Edwarl M Butler, Danidi E Smule ; Fourth lastrict, William F. hern, Henry 1 Pmel . Fifth Instrict, David W. Lawrence, Abram P & wkirk . Sixth District. John E. Smith, Stephen & Vreeland president

1×79-401

First District, Matth .w. W. Kelly, Lewis E. Wind. pr-lent . soc nel District, Michael Reardon, Thumas Reilly , Thirl District, Frederick Payno, Daniel E. Sumule ; Fourth District, Thomas Deran, William F. Kern, Fifth District, Julia do. Fisher, Abram P Newk k ; Sixth Instrict, Juste Rent, JJobn F. Smith.

1880-81.

First District, John t. Berrian, Lewis F. Wood Second District, Jamen Ambtime, Muhaci Rennion . Third District, Emil E. Detz. Frederick Payne ; Fourth District, Thomas Foran, John Mannson ; Fifth District, John G. Fisher Jur &b Iluxle , Sixth District, George D Markey, Janice Reil (prvallent. )

1881-82.

First Intriet, John G. Berrian, James V Giannen Second District,

lanac Elge, ING .;

1. Wm. H Nafr 1st. C

Aza llı Drak 1. -. Patrick Duff, 150 Gr

1 Thomas B. Decker land In. Thomas lin They, 14 16" Steph , Quaife, 1st )- .. Jolın W Panglern. In 1-66.

Hay Fin.k. 1404 16. John Lennon, 1864 17

1 Thottlas Karle, ING" -IN 4. John W. Brik, Wer:

B. Rufush Terry, 1815-68.

1 Juin .& N Davis, Is -

5 Jam & Casedy, 1466-4ª

6. Hoera F Clarke, 1X0 6-4,

4. Amung Smith, 1806-47.

5. Andrew A. Guddis, 196 67. 3. Thimnus Gross, 1x60-47

2. Win. W Knight, 1867-68.

7. M'charl C. noally, 196 ;- 69

7 Francia Garrett 1 67 08.

1 Leroy Schermerhorn, 1868-70.

2. Inanc Kalge, 1868-7 ). 3. Thomas Grose, INE> 70.

4. Adolph Kirsten, 1508-70.

5. Thomas Đ Thri tư, Saúd 70.

6. I'nirick Sheeran, 1x18.

7. Francis Garrett, 1808. 4. Jumex T Hongh, 1868-69.

3. Jeremiah Sweeny, 1803-69.

1. Frun is S. Fitzgerald, 186 -71. 2. John Whalen, 1860-70.

. Iloratio N. Ego, 1809-70.

4. Acil Campbell, 18-4-70.

& Jeremiah Sweeney, 1409-70. 6. Homes F Clarke, 1×69-70).

7. John Egan, 1869-70.

War

: Flwant o Reily, 81-44

, Charing " Hawkins, 1 1-04

1 J bm W Par born 1 1

It pryl cox Juni o Charles H Athi | 1- 1.

14in. L. Prik ng, 1 0 44

1 nº lius Kane 14 62

Aul w Barri 6: 1 1 1

(Presten ilevelsted, 1 61 43.

1 Thema Fart, 1 26

1 Hat robet 1

3. Ho tin\ Er 1%.

3. Rufish Terry, Ist

4 Washin en J I urb, IN_

4 Win. II Nat w INt.

: Cornelius Kane, 1. 2.

2 This Gamey txt_ vi

:, Patrick Sheeran, INGS-68 1 Wm. Clauke, ları e.

2 John Eller In, 18, 19.

4 Richard A. W. 1, 1xI'G-0x

First District, R-bert Bumstead, Flward & Smith $= ni Dustri t, 12. i M. Laughin, George (. Brow, Third District, Samt el (1-rk, Marinaduke Tilden , Fourth Distri t ('hr tian Heln a, Houry J. I we 1, Fifth Jstrict, Thun as D. Harrison, I hn J T .fey . Svth Dist et J hn H. Cable, John Mayer

1141

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

James Ambrose, John F Kelly ; Thurd District, Enul E. Date, Henry HI. Old ; Fourth District, William I Furman, John Mannion , Filth Dis- trici, Jacob Ringle, Garret D. Van Ropen president) ; sixth District, George I. Mackey, Henry Pust .r.

1ペトニーと3.

First Justrict, James F. Gannon, Robert S. Jordan ; Second District, James Ambrose, John F. Kelly ; Third District, Frederick Hauser, Henry 11 old , Fourth District, Ferdinand Dziuba, William HI. Furman (presi- del Fitth District, Joseph J Reynolds, Garret D. Van Reipen ; Sixth District, Pearl t'. Ililliard, Henry Puster.

1>>3-84

First District, Robert S. Jorlan, A Harvey Marsh ; Second District, Janie's Auil rose, John F. Kelly ; Third District. Ilugh Hl. Abernethy, Jr., Frederick Hauser ; Fourth District. Ferdinand Dziuba, William II. Fur- man (president ; Fifth District, Joseph J. Reynolds, William D. Rey- nulds Sixth District, Pearl ( . Hilliard, Robert A. Mcknight.

Ilox. DUDLEY S. GREGORY, first mayor of Jersey ('ity, was born in Reading, Fairfield Co., Conn., Feb. 5, 1800. His ancestors, who took an active part in the Revolutionary war, removed to Albany, N. Y., in 1805, and five years subsequently he was appointed clerk in the comptroller's office, filling the position nearly fourteen years, and declining the deputy comptrollership. Mr. Gregory held several important commands during that period in the New York militia, and was one of the guard of honor that re- ceived the Marquis de Lafayette on his second visit to this country.

Mr. Gregory removed to Jersey City in 1834, and soon became conspicuous in public life. He repre- rented Bergen township, as Hudson County was then called, three successive terms in the Board of Free- holders, was twice elected to the Board of Selectmen of Jersey City, and became the first mayor under the charter, being elected three times and feeling com- pelled to decline positively when nominated for a fourth term. In 1846 he was elected to Congress from the Fifth District-comprising Bergen, Essex, Passaic and Hudson Counties-by a majority of two thousand five hundred and sixty, receiving eleven hundred and forty-two votes out of the sixteen hundred and seventy-one polled in his own county. He peremp- torily declined a renomination.

Mr Gregory was largely identified with many of our manufactories and public institutions. He or- ganized the Provident Institution for Savings (the first savings-bank in our state), as also the first bank of discount established in Jersey City, namely, the Hudson County Bank ; and he was likewise one of the commissioners to introduce water into our city.

There was, in fine, scarcely any enterprise or in- dustry calculated to increase the wealth and pros- perity of this community in which he was not prom- inent; and he was equally well noted for his acts of public and private benevolence. After an active and successful life, his demise took place in this city on Der. 8, 1874.

DAVID S. MANNERS .- The character and actions of its publie men constitute the history of every com- munity, and Jersey City is no exception to this un- written law. David Stout Manners, the subject of

this sketch, was for so many years connected with its progress and actively identified with its public inter- ests that any history of Jersey City, no matter how brief, would be incomplete without reference to " Mayor Manners," as he was so long and familiarly known by name.

Mı. Manners was born at East Amwell, in Hunter- don County, N. J., Jan. 12, 1sos, and was descended from an ancestry honorably mentioned in the military annals of the Revolution. His grandfather, Capt. John Schenck, bore a conspicuous part in the strug- gles preceding the battles of Monmouth and Prince- ton, and in those contests was recognized as a gallant and intrepid otheer. His father, Capt. David Man- ners, was an officer in the war of 1812, and won honor- able mention in several important engagements. The early years of David S. Manners were spent on the tarm as aid to his father, who, besides the cultivation of the farm, was also employed in surveying large tracts of land in various parts of the State. It was during the winter months that young Manners at- tended the village school, where from the start he evinced the utmost interest in his studies, carrying his books in his pocket when at times engaged on the farm. His favorite study was that of mathematics, and it was by close application he was enabled to lay that basis of character which, in the occupation of surveying, rendered his services so valuable to his father and gave direction to the labors of his manhood.

In 1840, Mr. Manners, then in his thirty-second year, left the county of Hunterdon, with the small proceeds derived from the sale of the old homestead, to make his first venture in the mercantile world. His success was assured. Close and earnest attention to business as a wholesale grocer in New York City, with a steadfast and unyielding integrity which frowned on the trickeries of trade, found an early and merited reward, and enabled him in the short space of fourteen years to retire from the business. He came to Jersey City in 1844, which theu had a population of about seven thousand, and invested largely in real estate. Always interested in the pub- lic welfare, his counsels were eagerly sought and civie honors awaited him at every step.

He was chosen in 1848 a member of the first Alder- manic Council elected by general ticket, and became chairman of its committee on finance. then, as now, a most important position, as giving direction to the progress and improvement of the city and shaping its great destiny. In the discharge of these duties the public confidence to an unusual degree was awarded him. A new charter having been obtained to meet the requirements of the fast-growing city, he was elected an alderman from the Second Ward, and immediately president of the Common Council, by virtue of which office he became a member of the Board of Water Commissioners, whose duty it was to obtain the introduction of pure and wholesome water into Jersey City. In 1854 the work was completed,

1145

JERSEY CITY

and in the summer of that year the great event was celebrated in a becoming manner, the whole popu- lation by imposing processions and the thunders of artillery giving announcement to their joy at the manner in which the great work had been necom- plished. Previous, however, to the completion of the works Mr. Manners, in 1852, by a nomioation of the Citizens' party, had been elected as mayor by a very handsome majority, and he had thus the proud satis- faction of the public acclamations yielded to him as the chief executive for his untiring fidelity and un- ceasing labor, in conjunction with Hon. Dudley S. Gregory, Hon. John D. Ward and others, in summon- ing from their course the waters of the Passaic for the healthful purposes of the city he had loved and served so well. For five terms in succession he was re-elected to the mayoralty, and was only allowed to withdraw when, weary with the burdens of official station, he gave assurance of his readiness to join with his successors at all times in perfecting by every aid had so successfully inaugurated and now so contid- ingly bequeathed to them.

As mayor he never hesitated to interpose the execu- tive veto against any measure which his far-seeing wisdom deemed hasty or imprudent, and it was this that attached to him through life the familiar title of "Oll Veto."

Mr. Manners early manifested an interest in the question of insurance, and after repeated services as a director, he was elected, in 1854, president of the New Amsterdam Fire Insurance Company, at An. 20 Wall Street, then one of the leading companies of New York City. During his presidency the company leased and rebuilt the northwest corner of Broadway and Cortlandt Streets, and there conducted its busi- ness until its career was arrested by the great Chicago fire of 1871, an event unprecedented in insurance annals.

Perhaps there was no trait of the character of Mr. Manners more pronounced than that of steadfast adherence to principle and an unflinching courage in the maintenance of his convictions. In the long contest through the courts of the State he struggled manfully for the interests of the city to save the magnificent water-front from the eneroachments of monopolies, and to permit the extension of its thor- oughfares to tide-water, and thus give development to its commercial interests, beyond all others the most important to a city located as Jersey City is. at the very gates of commerce. It was for efforts such as this that Mr. Manners was repeatedly ten- dered a seat in the State Senate and in Congress; but he resolutely declined further promotion and retired from the field of politics.

Whatever gave promise of benefit to the best inter- esta of the city in its moral or social enterprises found always in Mayor Manpers a warm and earnest advocate. He connected himself with Grace Episcopal

Church, and was a regular attendant, with his family, upon its services. His charities were numerous and unostentatiously bestowe l.

Hle was married, in 1543, to Miss D. P. Jolines, of New York City, who died in 1876. Mr. Manners was fond of agricultural pursuits. Ile owned a valuable farm at Harlopen, in Somerset County, to the im- provement of which he devoted such time as he could spare from the varied trusts under his control and the care and management of his vity property. In the early summer of 1954 he was stricken with the disease which proved fatal, and on the 19th of August be passed quietly and peacefully away. He left sur- giving him four daughters and three sons, - Virginia wife of John W. Beckman, of Perth-Ambos, a prom- inent member of the Muldles .x bar), Marie Louise, Helen, Blanche, Sheridan (a civil engineer), Edwin (a young lawyer of prominence in Jersey City), and t'lar-

As a citizen and neighbor, Mr. Manner- was in his power the plans of municipal government he greatly respected. In private life he was a con-

spicuous figure ; he was genial, possessed of humor and a fund of witty ancedote. His home was the abode of a generous hospitality, From his extensive acquaintance with municipal affairs his counsel was often sought, especially by the young, to whom he was always ready to extend a helping hand, and by whom he will be greatly missed, as prominent among those who, by a long and honorable life of public and of private usefulness, have written their names in no doubtful characters upon the pages of Jersey City history.

JAMES GorILL, Mayor of Jersey City in 1867, was born in the city of New York, July 22, 1823. He was of English parentage, his father having come to this country in 1810, and established him- self in business in New York. He was a member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. James Gop- sill, after having the usual schooling then to be obtained in private schools, became a student of the school maintained by the Mechanics' and Traders' Society of New York, of which his father was a mem- ber, and graduated therefrom. He was then engaged as a clerk in a dry-goods house in New York, and was bred to a mercantile life. In 1840 he removed to Jersey City, and engaged in the dry-goods merchandise business in his own account, continuing in it for several years. The Iludson County Mutual Insurance Company elected Mr. Gopsill to be its secretary in 1856, and in that line of business the remainder of his life was spent. Ile displayed great energy and skill in managing the business, and a few years since, when the company was changed to a stock insurance company, under the name of the Hudson Insurance Company, Mr. Gopsill was made its president, and held that position until his death, making it, in con- nection with his brothers, a very prosperous and successfulinstitution. Mr. Gopsill was best known to the public by his activity and influence in public

1146

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY. NEW JERSEY.

enterprise- where public spirit and benevolence were requisite, and by his energetic and zealous work as a patrioti . citizen, and a prominent and honorable ewber of the Republican party. During the last forty years there has been no work undertaken in Jersey City for the publie good in which James Gop- sill has not been conspicious. In this category of activities his hfe was full of good works. Ile was always among the first to be consulted, the first to give his time, labor and means in forwarding any enterprise of a charitable, reformatory or publicly beneficent character. He was one of the founders and the originator of the Children's Home, for orphans,

expressed them with fearlessness and energy. But he was in his views far in advance of the public, and but few of his wise and progressive suggestions were acted on.

On the subject of temperance and the liquor traffic Mr. Gop ill held very positive views, and he had the moral courage, as the city's chief magistrate, to act upon them. He refused to give his sanction to the indiscriminate licensing of groggeries, and his vetoes of the licenses granted by the aldermen were counted by the score and hundred; nothing like it had ever been known before; he was remonstrated with by some of his friends, who told him that such a course and its success is largely due to the cHorts of Mr. , must be fatal to any political ambition ; but James Gopsill in its behalf. Hle, with Mr. David Tay- lor, did more than any other man to help the poor colored people of Jersey City in organizing and main - taining their church; in all practicable ways his counsel, his encouragement, his means were always at the service of the poor, the needy and the atticted. Iu hos charities he was generous even to lavishneas ; he had a womanly tenderness of heart that responded

Gopsill was not the man to yield any conviction of duty or impulse of his own conscience to any con- sideration of personal advantage. He persevered in his consistent, courageous course, saying that he, at least, would never make himself responsible for the making of drunkards by the wholesale. He continued his official protest and opposition throughout his term of the mayoralty. Jersey City never had a more James Gopsill. He was a Freemason of the highest attainable, or thirty-third degree, and, besides, was a member of a special order of Supreme Counselors or Princes in the Masonic order, which made him the highest ranking Mason in the State. He was the president of the Abraham Lincoln Association of Jersey City, and one of its most zealous and ellicient promoters. He bad also been at various times a

to any appeal to his sympathies ; by his death the poor , sagacious, public-spirited, conscientious mayor than lost one of their best and kindest friends.

In his action as a citizen and a politician Mr. Gop- sill's hearty and energetic nature found full scope, and where his feelings were interested his zeal was un- bounded and his activity intense and effective. He was especially adapted to be an organizer, and never lacked either the courage of his own convictions or that which is required in a leader of an enterprise. Hence those who sympathized and acted with him ; trustce and officer of several financial and other in- were always ready to follow where he led. The out- stitucions of the city. The death of Mr. Gopsill, at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, in his sixty-second year, was lamented as that of a manly, high-minded, hon- orable gentleman, a most highly valued citizen, and a faithful, generous, helpful friend. break of the war of the Rebellion aroused in him all the fire of patriotic feeling, and during all that long and terrible contest James Gopsill was conspir- nous among the friends of the Union cause, and especially zealous in aiding in all things needed to James Gopsill was married, on the 23d of May, 1849, to Rachael A. Garretson. Their children are Mary S., John (., Thomas Millburn, Josephine D., William, support the government. He rendered excellent service in many ways to the Union cause, and was widely known for his uncompromising hatred of | James, Alfred A. L. (deceased), Caroline and Emma L. treason and his earnest love for the cause of the Union. Jersey City as a Port of Entry.1-By act of C'on- gress, March 2, 1799, the territory now embraced in Hudson County was placed within the district of l'erth Amboy. The district then included all of East Jersey, except such parts as were within the district of Little Egg Harbor. As a member of the Republican party, Mr. Gopsill was among the foremost men in New Jersey. No man chd more than he in this locality to advance the fortunes of his party, and he was the recipient of its trust and honors. Four times he represented his district in the National Republican Conventions, and had long terms March 8, 1806, "the town or landing-place of Jer- sey, in the State of New Jersey," was made a port of delivery, within the district of Perth Amboy. of service on its State and local committees. He was never himsell a socker after office, but labored often and effectively to advance his political friends to posi- March 2, ISH, the whole county (then Bergen) was annexed to the district of New York. tions of honor and trust. In 1867 he was elected ; mayor of Jersey City, the first Republican mayor the June 30, 1834, the westerly part of the county was annexed to the district of Newark. city ever had, his election being a great surprise at the time both to his political friends and opponents. From ISIt to the time the office was abolished (1×15) Col. Aaron Ogden was assistant collector, re- siding in Jersey City. In the office of mayor Mr. Gopsill displayed the same characteristics which marked his conduct as a busi- ness man and politician. Ile held advanced views as to what the best interests of the city demanded, and From Winfield's History of Hudson County, praze 201.

formerlychance

1147

JERSEY CITY.

Feb. 21, 1863, the wh de county of Hudson was an- nexed to the district of New York This act provided for an assistant collector, to resole in Jersey ('it .. with power to enter and clear vessels, but subject to sich rules and regulations as the collecter of New York might establi hı,

Feb. 25, 1865, the assistant collector was empowered to enroll and license vesel ca aged in the consting trade and fisheries owned in whole or in part by residents of the counties of Und. on and Bergen.

Postmasters .-- The Jersey City post office was not established until 1831. William Lyon was the first postmaster, and served until 1535. Since his time the succession has been as follows: William R. Taylor, 1835-37; Samuel Bridgart, 1837 11, David Smith, 1841-15; John Ogden, 1545-46; Samuel Brid_art, 1846-49; David Smith, Is19-5º, Samuel M. Chany- bers, 1853-61; Henry A. Green, 186 79, John 1. Gopsill, 1879 to the present tini.

Water-Works .- After several ineffe ctual attempts to provide a proper water supply for the city, the present works were constructed in the years 1851-54. A Board of Water Commissioners, consisting of Ed- win A. Stevens, Edward Coles, Dudley S. Gregory, Abraham J. Van Boskerek and John D. Ward, was appointed March 18, 1851, and empowered to take measures to prov de the townships of Hoboken and Van Vorst and Jersey City with pure and wholesome water. They selected as engineer William S. Whit- well, of the Boston Water-Works, and he began operations near Belleville on Aug. 20, 1851. His perfected plan, however, was not submitted until De- cember. An act of the Legislature, passed March 25, 1852, granted authority to construct the works, and operations were from that time pushel with such rapidity that on the 30th of June, 1451, water was let into the pipes at Belleville, and on the both of the following August distributed through the city. Th cost of the works up to that the was $652,993.73. The cost eventually reached $1,918,493 The works are owned by the city and managed by the six com- missioners of the Board of Public Works.

The Passaic River, at Belleville, furnishes the sup- ply, where the water is pumped into a settling reser- voir on the ridge east of Belleville, and one hundred and fifty-seven feet above tide-level. It flows thence by gravity, through one twenty-inch and two thirty- six-iuch conduits, to the distributing reservoir in Jersey City. The low-service district is supplied direct by gravity, while the high-service district re- ceives its supply by pumping. There was in 1952 eight hundred and fifteen thousand nine hundred and forty lineal feet of distributing pipe, varying from three inches to thirty-six inches in diameter, some of which are cast iron, wrought iron and others of cement lined. The pumps used at the pumping- station are two Worthington pumps, with a capacity of eight million gallons each, one Cornish pump of eight million gallons, two Cornich pumps of seven

million gallonie each, on. Worthington of thre mil- hon gallons and one Knowles pump of one million gallons.

Jons Dop WARD was born at Men tham in Morris County, N. J. Jan. 6, 1795. His youth was passed in this State, but on reaching manhood b left home, and at the age of twenty-four establishel himself in business & Montreal, t'anade. Ilence be removed, in 129, to Virgen , Vt, and in 1×37 came to New York City In 1844 be fixed his final residence in Jersey City, where he died May 19, 1573.

II :- grandfather, Samuel Ward, boru in 1724, con - gratul from Virginia alu ut the middle of the last century, and settled at Moros Plains, in the icinity of Morristown, N. J. Here he died in 1799. Left an orphan in his boyhood, he had been rered by an older brother in one of the frontier set ments on the south branch of the Potomac River. The offer by Governor Booth of free farms in the rich meadows of this valley, coupled with a guarantee of religious toleration, had, about the year 1755, attracted to it a large number of immigrants from the colonies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and frem Eurom These colonists, not having taken the precaution to secure titles in dh form to their farms, found themselves subsequently obliged to choose between vacating them or remaining on most onerous terms as the tenants of Lord Fairfax.

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.

History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 116

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830