History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 130

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 130
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 130

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Taking an active interest in local politica, he, for a

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

while, abandoned the practice of his profession and filled a position in the county clerk's office. In 1866 he was appointed by the Commissioners of Charity and Correction, elerk of Bellevue Hospital (filling the place made vacant by the promotion to the Warden- ship of Thomas S. Brennan, now president of the Board of Commissioners), which position he resigned to resume the practice of dentistry.

Dr. Barlow came to Jersey City in April, 1869, thinking it a promising field for the exercise of his

of the Central Dental Association of Northern New Jersey, and of the Hudson County Dental Society. He was for the years 1877,'78,'79,'80 and '81 a mem- ber of the Examining Board, of the State Dental Society, after which he was elected president of the Society, and on the expiration of his official term was again placed on the Examining Board, which position he still retains. He is now president of the Central Dental Society, and has been both president and se- cretary of the Hudson County Society.

skill. His ability has since been recognized by a steadily increasing practice.

Ile has always been an advocate of the advanee- ment of dental education, and has been and is iden- profession by many of which he has been honored with official positions.

He is a member of the American Dental Associ- ation, of the Dental Association of the United States of America, of the New Jersey State Dental Society,

Dr. Barlow served his full time in the Seventh Re- giment, N. G., S. N. Y., and is a member of the Veteran Association.

The doctor was twice married, his first wife being united on the 8th of January, 1860, and by whom he has one child living. His second marriage in April, 1873, was to Miss Fanny M. Winans, of Newark, N. J.

tified with most of the associations connected with the , Miss Josie Norris, of New York, to whom he was

In polities he is a Democrat, though not active in the political arena since his residence in the State.

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CITY OF HOBOKEN

HENRY LEMLECK.

Henry Lembeck is of German parentage, his father having resided in Osterwick, Munster Ger- many, where he followed the trade of a cabinet- maker. He married Elizabeth Wenning, of the same town, and had children,-Elizabeth, t'atrina, Bernard (deceased), Henry and Joseph. Henry was born on the 8th of April, 1826, in Osterwick, where he remained until eighteen years of age. He received in youth a rudimentary education, and on the death of his father, when his son was fourteen years of age, became an apprentice to the cabinet-maker's trade, serving three years in that capacity. For two and a half years he was employed as a journeyman, when, being drafted into the German army, he did duty as a soldier for two and a half years. His strong love of liberty, however, found expression in the revolution- ary sentiments declared by him, which rendered his presence in his native land uncomfortable. He was therefore induced to emigrate to America, and on landing in New York at once resumed bis trade, that of a cabinet-maker. Mr. Lembeck subsequently, for the purpose of acquiring a more thorough command of the English tonguy, engaged as a grover s clerk, and remained three years in that capacity, after which, with assistance, he purebased and conducted the store successfully for a period of three years. Jersey City then became his place of residence, where the business of a groeer was continued and greatly enlarged. Circumstances influenced a change in his pursuits and led him to engage for six years in market gardening, after which he became the agent for the sale of the ale made at the brewery of John F. Betz, of New York.

This was continued until 1870, when, in con- nectiou with John Betz, he established the firm of Lembeck & Betz, and erectedl their present brewery. of which ale is the staple product. They speedily won an extended reputation for the excellence of their ale, and created a wide demand for it in New York City and the vicinity. Mr. Lembeck was married, in 1853, to Mary Beadle, of New York, whose children are Henry F., Mamie (Mrs. H. W. Harms), Katie, Albert B. and Victor H. Albert B. is engaged in the pro- duce commission business in New York, and Heury F. has embarked in that of malting at Watkins, N. Y. His wife died Feb. 8, 1870, and Mr. L. was a second time married, July 11, 1871, to Emma Kraus, of Jersey City, whose children are Gustave, Ida and Otto.

Mr. Lembeck in politics is a Demoerat, and bas taken an active part in local political issues. lle was for four years a member of the Board of Public Works of Jersey City, two years of which period he was its president. He is also a director of the IS. B. Parsons Malting Company of Rochester, N. Y. Hle is mn religion a Catholic, and identified with st. Paul's Catholic Church of Greenville, in which place he has resided since 1857.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

itTY OF HOROKLX.1

General Deuption-Sanitary 'ndit : - Statistical

THE city of Hoboken occupies a more unique poll tion in many respects than any other city in the world. No other city of its size is so well known by name and so little known in fact. No suburb of New York city is so accessible and its notoriety is due to circumstances which in a great mesure no longer exist. Situated on the west bank of the Hudson Kiver, opposite that portion of New York lying be- tween Grand Street and 23rd Street, it was for years a kind of pienie ground for the residents of the great metropolis. Its " Elysian Fields" and " River Walks ' were visited by thousands, especially on Sundays. Its proponderating German population entered with all their national zest into the summer garden recreations, taking their entire families with them. C'entral and Prospect Parks had not been contemplated ; Coney Island and Long Branch hardly known; Hoboken was the great pleasure resort of New Yorkers.

Nom, all is changed. The great increase of popu- lation has encroached on the Fields until they have almost disappeared. A strong vity government mai 1- tains perfect order and public peace ; other national- ities are largely represented among the population and greater summer attractions lead the multitudes in other directions. In many respects the city is now becoming very favorably known. Here many live their early married years, and this accounts for the large proportion hereinafter noted of children among the population.

No city of its size has better credit ; none where so large a portion of its population take a personal in- terest in the administration of municipal affairs, none where partisan ties are less binding. Hoboken has the honor of containing a college for the education of mechanical engineers which is unsurpassed in size, equipments and thoroughness by any in the workl. Four great Ocean Steamship Lines and one of the most important trunk railroad lines have their ter- mini in the city. Churches, schools, hospitals and other benevolent organizations are flourishing. An efficient police force, fire department and board of health, an excellent water supply, and, on the up- lands an efficient sewage system, have all during the last few years produced a marked effect on the

Is preparing the Blue sketch the writer has drawn freed from the records gathered during the last as ateen years by Speelmant & Brush, civil engineers of Holmken, but he has been under special obligation to many other people to whom he returns sincere thanks He can not allow the occasion to parse without especially acknowledging the assist- once he has received from the officers in the various city departments- banka, churches, juntoffer, private companies, et .. The Democrat- Advertiser, the publicationa of the Hon. Charles H1. Winfeld and the per- minal mentaire of Mr. T. H. McCann, lamis Mc Culloch aud Edward CHARLES B. BRIAN

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IHISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

city. The streets are generally well paved with block pavement ; excellent ferry accommodations exist with New York, and the mail, telegraph, telephone and di- rict messenger service is generally satisfactory.

On the other hand, the drainage of the lower, or, as it is called, "The Meadow," portion of the city is bad. The public improvements are generally made without munch system, and the frequent change in office of those in charge of the municipal affairs and the fact that those who are elected by the people to these municipal offices are often irre- sponsible, incompetent and improper men, results in a burdensome and unnecessary taxation, while many real and needed improvements in the city are not made.

An enterprising horse-railroad company not only furnishes excellent accommodation to surfare passen- gers, but in 1874 built an elevator by which its cars, horses and passengers are elevated from the level of Hoboken to Jersey City Heights, an elevation of abont 100 feet, in less than one minute, instead of taking ten minutes to make the ascent, as was neces- sary before the erection of the elevator. The business of this company, however, has now increased to such an extent that one elevator is not enough. and the company, in 1884, built an incline plain one mile in length and in places seventy-five feet in height, by which it proposes to transfer people from the ferry to the Heights in five minutes, where, even with the elevator, the time consumed used to be ten minutes.

Two creditable parks adorn the city, the one on the river, known as Hudson Square Park, being un- usually beautiful and attractive.

The national and savings banks are both strong and safe institutions.

Title and Early History .- The great merchants of Holland, on receipt of the news, in 1610, of Captain Hudson's discovery of " De Groote Rivier" (the IFudson), were not slow to avail themselves of the possession of its shores. In 1614 a number of them formed the "United Netherland Company " under the authority of the United Netherlands. Inme- diately afterwards Herr Block, in the "Restless," explored "Scheyichbi" (Indian name for New Jersey).

On the expiration of their charter, in 1618, these merchants formed another association called "The Dutch West India Company." This company pur- chased Manhattan Island from the Indians for sixty guilders. In 1629 the Assembly of the Nineteen granted to all such as should plant colonies in New Netherlands absolute property to such lands as the emigrants might be able to improve, and any men- ber of the company who should plant a colony of fifty adults should be entitled to sixteen miles of river- front, and the title of Patroon, or fendal chief, provided he satisfied the Indians for the lands taken. Under these privileges, one Michael Pauw, burgo- master of Amsterdam and lord of Achtienhoven,

near Utrecht, obtained from the Indians, through the director of the Council of New Netherlands, the right and title to the lands which now comprise Iloboken, The following is the deed :

" From the Director and Council of New Netherlands, residing on the Island of Manhattan and the Fort Amsterdam, under the authority of their High Mightineves, the Lord State-General of this I'nited Nether- lands und the incorporated West India Company, ut their chambers at Amsterdam, tu Michuel J'uuw : the aforesaid lands, by us named Hobo- can Hackingh, extendling on the south side, Ahasimus eastward, the River Mauritius, and on the west side surrounded by a valley (manh) and mornes, through which the boundaries of said land can be seen with suf- ficient clearness and be distinguished. Done at the aforesaid Island of Manhattan, in Fort Amsterdam, this 12th day of July, 1630."

The Ahasimus spoken of in the deed is the Indian name of that portion of Jersey City lying east of the hill, and between Hoboken and Panlus Ilook. This is the first time the name of floboken was met with. It is an Indian word and is said to mean tobacco pipe. The name as given above, with its suffix Hackingh signifying land, gives the land of the tobacco pipe. Here the natives were accustomed to procure a stone out of which they carved pipes.

The name is spelled in various ways : Hobocan, Hacking, Hobocan. Hoboken, Hoboeken, Hobucken, Hobokina, Hoboquin, Hobuk, Hoebuck, Hohock, Howbuck, Hooboek, Hoobooeken.

This same Pauw obtained a deed from the Indians for Staten Island. Pauw bestowed his name on the river front, between Communipaw and Wechanken, in the Latin shape of Pavonia. The ownership of Pauw was very unpopular with the members of the company. He did not comply with the stipulation to plant colonies on his land. This led to strife, and finally, in 1635, he delivered up to the company all his title and interest for twenty-six thousand florins, or ten hundred and forty dollars. Up to Feb. 16, 1643, no settlement had been made north of Hoboken. At this place a farm-house and brew-house had been built where Arent Teunissen Van Putten and his family resided, who rented it in 1640 for twelve years. The stipulation of the rent was, "The fourth sheaf with which God Almighty shall favor the field." From 1643 to 1645 there was constant trouble with the Indians. During a portion of this period, they had absolute control of the whole west side of the river. Van Putten while on a trading excursion was killed by the Indians, his farm laid waste and bis cat- tle destroyed. On Aug. 30, 1645, the Indian war was concluded and a treaty signed.

In July, 1646, Petrus Stuyvesant was commissioned director-general, and for the next ten years we find the residents of the west side of the river pursuing the even tenor of their ways. But the killing of an Indian girl by Van Dyck while she was robbing his peach orchard at midnight, brought on another war between the Indians and Dutch in 1654, and for a second time, the west side of the river was laid waste and the savages gained an undisputed possession of the soil.

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CITY OF HOBOKEN.

On Jan. 30, 1658, the Indians deeded to Petrus Stuy- vesant all the land in the county, between Hacken- sack and Iludson Rivers, and so the Dutch under the good Governor Stuyvesant continued in possession. During the fifty years they had control they subdued nature and the savage. Through barter and judicious treatment by Stuyvesant the Indians had been induced to give up the land of their fathers. Govern- ment was established on thes . wild shores and the influence of the language and customs of these hardy Dutchmen is to be found among us even to-day. Nieuw Jar (New Year), with its open hospitality, while Kerstijd (Christmas), yet brings its Santa Claus laden with gifts.

But these Dutch pioneers were to endure other troubles; for in 1664 Charles IL., of England, without any cause whatever, without any preliminary war be- tween England and Holland, granted on March 12 of that year all that portion of the New Netherlands ly- ing cast of the Delaware Bay to his brother, the Duke of York. While yet the squadron was on its way to capture the country, the duke deeded, on June 23, 1464, to John Lord Berkley, a brother of the Giov- ernor of Virginia, and to Sir George Carteret, the tract lying between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, to be called New Carsarea or New Jersey. This name was given in honor of sir John Carteret, who was born on the Island of Jersey in 1599. Ile had always been loyal to the king, having suffered con- finement in the Tower in 1657 and afterwards held many high places under his sovereign's reign. On Sept. 8, 1664, Col. Richard Nichols captured New Amsterdam, and ignorant of the fact that his master had already named the country, he, in honor of the duke, called it Albania. Among the articles of ca- pitulation agreed upon between Stuyvesant and Nichols, two were as follows:

"2. All people shall continue free denizens and shall enjoy the lands, houses, goods, wheresvever they are within this country and dispose of them as they please."

" 11. The Dutch shall enjoy their own customs concerning their inheritances."

George Carteret commissioned his brother Philip to be Governor, and he assumed control in July, 1665.

The war between England and Holland arising out of the bad faith of the English was finally settled by the treaty of Breda on July, 1667, by which each party was to hold what had been captured. This confirmed the title of the English to New Nether- lands, and they continued to govern the province under the same military form of rule as had been established by Stuyvesant.

On Feb. 5, 1663, Petrus Stuyvesant derded the tract known as the Hoboken Patent to his brother-in-law, Nicholas Varlet, which deed or patent was confirmed by Governor Carteret May 12, 1668. This deed in- cluded all the uplands and marsh-lands within the present city limits. Varlet lived in Bergen.

Stuyvesant died in 1671, but the friction between England and lolland resulted in another war, in which the Dutch captain, Anthony Colve, in com- mand of twenty-three vessels and sixteen thousand men, recaptured New Amsterdam July 29, 1678, but by the trenty between England and HboHand made ut Westminster, in 1674, the country was again re- storol to the English, who held control of it until the Revolution.

'To clear up any shadow which the recent occupa- tion by the Dutch might have cast upon former grants, Charles Il. made a second grant, dated July 29, 1674, to the Duke of York, who, in turn, the same your granted to Sir George Carteret what was after- wards known as East Jersey.

In a minute description of the whole country in 1680, by one George Scott, Hoboken was referred to as follow- :

" Further up in a good plantation in a ne k of las I almost an toland, called Hobuch It did belong to a Dutch mer bant, whe formerly, in the Indmu war, had his wife, children nud servante murdered by the ludiane, and his house, castle and stock destroyed by them. This was Great Trunissen. It is now settled again, and a mill erected there by ona dwelling in New York.'

But few incidents appear in the history of the city until 1700, when the inhabitants petitioned King William to take from the land proprietors their arbi- trary powers, and the proprietors gladly surrendered a burden which was pecuniarily unprofitable and productive of discord.

Land troubles continued, however, until 1673, when the legislature passed the Act providing for a com- plete survey and allotment of the common land among the frecholders. This survey was very ar- curately made and is to-day the basis upon which all land titles are founded.

The estate of Nicholas Varlet was inherited by his daughter, Susauna, who married Robert Hickman, a resident of lloboken. Hickman and his wife con- veved Hoboken, containing one hundred and thirty- eight Dutch Morgens, to Samuel Bayard, a New York merchant. Bayard occupied it as a summer residence. His mansion was on "Castle Point. " It was burned by the patriots, Aug. 24, 1780, and the farm laid waste. Bayard was at first a patriot, but when he saw the cause waning he turned loyalist. His property was confiscated, and at the close of the Revolu- tion he went to England, where he lived to be a very old man, at his seat, Greenwich House, South- ampton.

Hoboken is described by the commissioners of 1674 as beginning at the mouth of the creek, and running to a stake at the foot of the hill, S. 56.30; W. 18.63 chains, from the beginning; thence westerly 113 1-2 chains, on a straight line to a stake by n creek which parts Hoboken from the meadows lying north of Har- simus, and so down the creek to the Hudson, and thence up the Hudson to the point of beginning.

On March 16, 1784, the State of New Jersey sold

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Hoboken, which had been confiscated from Bayard, to John Stevens, for 18,360 pounds. Col. Stevens, the founder of the present city of Hoboken, was born in New York in 1749 and died in 1835. His grand- father was a native of England, and came to New York as an officer of the Crown. His father, John, became a resident of New Jersey, and his son mar- ried Rachael, daughter of John Cox, of Bloomsburg, N. J. He was for several years treasurer of the State, and his sister married Robert K. Livingston, Chan- cellor of New York.

At the outbreak of the Revolution the patriots found many warm supporters on the west side of the Hudson River. Ontpost- of the American army un- der Gen. Greene were stationed at Hoebuck.

The Mercury of Jan. 20, 1777, says, " A party of place of the Spring Street landing, which had been forty Rebels came down to Col. Bayard's Mill-, last Friday morning, near lloebuck Ferry. and carried off some cattle, but being persued by a few of the 57th Regiment, stationed at Powles Hook, they took to their heels and made off. "

The New Jersey Gazette of April 28, 1779, says: "On Sunday, 28th ult., a party of thirty men belong- ing to Col. Van Buskirk's corps of Tories, and em- bodied Refugees, stationed at Hoboken, went out as far as Closter, horse stealing. "

The city of Hoboken was founded by John Stevens according to a map made by Charles Loss, C. E., covering about half of the upland within the present city limits. The first sale of lots from the " Loss Map" was made at the Tontine Coffee House, in New York, by auctioneer, David Dixon, Mar. 20, 1804.

Early in 1774. a ferry was established to connect the Corporation Dock at Bear Market in New York, with Hoboken. It was under the charge of Corne- lius Ilaring, Agent for the State of New Jersey. The boats were distinguished by the name " The Hoebuck Ferry " painted on the sterns. During the war ofthe Revolution this, like all the other ferries, was under the control of the military. Up to 1811, the Com- mon Council of New York leased the ferry to differ- ent parties, although all the years since 1784 John Stevens had been owner of Hoboken. After remain- ing quiet, with only an occasional remonstrance against the management of the ferry, until Dec. 11, Isos, he came forward as a discoverer of a new power in navigation. lle claimed to be the first man in the country who had successfully applied steam as a pro- pelling power. On April 13, 1811, he obtained a lease of the ferry, and immediately set about to com- plete his steam ferry- boat. It was called "Julia Ann. " carried one hundred passengers, and was the first steam ferry-boat in the world. It made sixteen trial trips, but not being as economical as the horse boats, it was taken off the Ferry.

John Stevens was in fact the first railroad man in this country. He published an elaborate pamphlet, addressed to De Witt Clinton advocating the con-

struction of a railroad to convey troops to Canada during the war of 1812.

In June, 1817, John Stevens sold all his interest in the ferry to John, Robert and Samuel Swartwout, who assigned it in 1813 to Philip Horne. At this time the landing in New York was changed from Vesey to Barclay Street. In May, 1821, the Stevens family repurchased the ferry, paying to the city of New York eighteen hundred dollars rent per ammm. The Stevens's started the steam ferry-boat at this time. The first boat was the "Hoboken," and made regular trips "every hour by the St. Paul's clock." The ladies' cabin was below deck, carpeted, and warmed by open fire-places. The Christopher Street branch was started in July 1836, taking the used since 1774.

On April 15, 1814, Samuel Swartwout and his brother Robert purchased from John Stevens the marsh portion of Hoboken, now known as the "Cos- ter Estate." They made a vegetable garden of it, aud attempted to reclaim a large portion of it. They failed, however, in 1819, and their mortgagee, John (r. C'oster, took title to the tract. In 1860 Coster laid it out into building-lots, according to a map made by Daniel and Austin D. Ewen, civil engineers of New York.

On Feb. 10, 1843, that portion of Hudson County north of New Jersey Railroad was set off and called North Bergen. Hoboken continued part of this town- ship of North Bergen until April 16th, 1849, when it was organized as a separate township, under the name of Hoboken; this includes Weehawken.

The city of Hoboken was incorporated March 28, 1855; on March 15, 1859, a portion of it, including Castle Point was annexed to Weehawken, but in 1876 this portion was re-annexed to Hoboken.

The population of this city in 1850 was 2,605, I'nited States Census; 1855 was 6,727, New Jersey census; 1860 was 9,659, United States census ; 1865 was 12,976, New Jersey census; 1870 was 20,297, United States census; 1875 was 24,766, New Jersey census; 1850 was 30,999, United States census; 1884 was 37,184 estimated.

John Stevens had five sons, John C., Robert L., Richard, James and Edwin A.

Richard died young, and on the death of John Stevens, his sons, John C. and Robert L. and Edwin A., bought out the other heirs. Subsequently Edwin A., inherited from Robert L., and bought from John (., the whole estate. The Stevens Battery was commanded by Robert L, iu 1837, and was intended as an impregnable protection to New York Harbor. The science of ordnance advanced so rapidly, how- ever, that before the battery was completed, it was found to be vulnerable. Changes were made, the battery was enlarged from time to time, but the advance in ordnance was too rapid and the batt. r .: was at last abandoned.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 130

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