History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 152

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 152
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 152

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).

A brewery business went on successfully under the anspices of John 11. Wettig, as well anterior as sub- sequent to the year 1867. Mr. Wettig disposed of one hundred and eighty and a half barrels of lager during the single month of June. 1870; the entire number of barrels sold by him in 1871 was seventeen hundred and eighty. The brewery was located some distance south of Cox's Corners, on the east side of Bergenwood (or Weavertown) road. At present Charles Gelan, a silk manufacturer, occupies the premises, keeping busy twenty-five operatives upon silk fabrics.

Business advertised in 1875, through the medium of the almanac published by AAlfred E. Gregory for that year includes. Edward Baptis, Jr., carpenter and builder; Frank Beatty, hardware, lumber, lime, etc .; William Rosman, groceries; Joseph E. Taylor, groce- ries; Henry T. Bernhard, groceries; John Ehrardt, groceries; Thomas Keynton, groceries; Charles How- nig. Railroad House ; Walker & Doab, Depot House; John H. Wise, groceries; A. Anderson, real estate; M. S. Kerrigan, Henry Monett, Henry Dean, Fred. Waltka, Monsieur Feytel, and others in various branches of business.

The post-office at this place varies in some of its features from others. Located on the southwest for- ner of Spring and Hoboken Streets, with an outlook towards the east, the building, which is large and airy, presents a tidy and cheerful aspect. No one can enter it and not notice its neat and methodical appoint- ments. A hardware business is joined to the official duties devolving upon Mr. Lawyer; and neither branch of his calling is neglected owing to the nimble movements of so brisk a personage. At one moment you hear him speaking to some person who seems to choose the Parisian style of speech, and then speedily his ideas are wanted in our vernacular form. The postmaster accommodates and gratifies both. The posi- tion, held by him since 1880, has a routine with which he shows a brisk familiarity ; and his adjustment of appliances to tit despatch in practical operations, seemstoshow the happiest design. All his arrangements appear well adapted to the business in hand. Mr. Lawyer is a native of the city of New York, and located in the immediate vicinity of has present store in 1868. Since May 1, 1880, the post-ofhee under his manage- ment, has indicated evidences of improvement ; one hundred and twenty-six boxes are now rented to pat- rons. The "international money order system" operates here, and parties from the circuit of other post-offices avail themselves of that feature at this

1307

WEST HOBOKEN TOWNSHIP.

office. French and German letters coming to this sented from 188 to 17 in the me ward. The office are about equal in number. Epistles in the residence of Mr Hague was corner of Clinton Ave- Russian, the Turkish and a number of other f rogn languages come hither ; those of the latter class in the Castilian, the Portuguese and the Italian predominat- ing. A Chinese letter is a thing not unknown to this other. There are two arrivals and two departures of the mail each day.

Noted Residents. Amongst thecarhier resident evinving enterprise and showing adventure about tids locality it would bea neglect to omit mentioning these so conspicuous at one or another period as (. S. Brown- mng, James Cox, Smith A. Freeland, John Ha que. James Kerrigan, Daniel Lake, Thomas Rosmac and Charles A. Savoye. Biography yields to rach In limited record ; in a history yielding beal tran ar- tions all these men figure more or less conspicuously in the affairs affecting West Hoboken and its carly chronicles. Other inhabitants as prominent were noticed in other parts of these chapters; yet these make their impressions upon the local record as events transpired in which they figured. Browning became possessor of considerable land here, as shown by the map drawn by S. D. Button, May 30, 1813. Ilis dwelling, which became the residence of John syms, was for a long period more conspicuous than any other of its class in the neighborhood. Snatched from this world by a tragical event " that occurred Nov 9, 1815 the property passed into other bands and enterprises contemplated by the active mind of the adventurous Browning forever ceased. He left a widow and one daughter, the latter became the wife of A. H De Motte.

James Cox, a brother of William, of whom record is already given, kept a grocery in this region many years. He was a school trustee several years. Il - brick store, on the south side of the Bergen turnpike, west of Bergen Line Avenue stood for years a- a hint for further progress, its style, size and appointments showing local advancement consideraly ahead of all others disposed to invest at that period in builling enterprises. An imposing obelisk of marble now standing near the easterly border of the main ave- nue within the Grove Cemetery gives the announce- ment that James Cox died Det. 28, 1867, aged fifty-four years. Smith A. Freeland, sou of Lawrence Free- land, was a member of the firm of Anderson & Free- land for several years. He was postmaster and township clerk, and gave much energy to the further- ance of laudable enterprises. John Hague repre- sented, with hus colleague, John Shields, the township of North Bergen in the Board of Chosen Freeholder- in 1850. Ilis interest was forcible and efficient in establishing this township, which he ably repre-

nue and Hoboken Street , his garden always po se ed attractions, and de conservatory conne tel with the dwelling about the year 1-53 and ante quently yaMed an exhun mot r. nl choire plants. Mr. Kerr van 3 make curly nvestments in reil elite, pur- chasing land fron Van Voorst and others. Danne I Lake repre entedth township in the Boardof theen U'rechelders during the year- 1.61-62 and the year 1-72. Thom_ Rosman, the owner of the ancient stone house east side of the Weaverton road, filed the position of school truster with great ar eptabiny. Ilis widow survives him, living in 184 within the cindy of " the old house." Charles & Savoye, the with his son, came here in 1812. The property Gernpied was bought of C. S. Browning. The father dod Sept 24, 1890, aged eighty-(w). The business continued under Ulysse Savoye's direction until 1561. Mr. My e Savove was born in Fra ier, and came to this country when reventern your of ago, having been born April 29 111. Thi pleasant resid nee, in which has g llen wedding occurred in 1542, is located west sale of Spring Street, between Cort landt and De Motte Streets. Mr. Say De served as a member of the township codin ttee in 1-72, a posi- tion he beld several terms at intervals in years gone by, when a greater area of territory pertained te the township. The daughters Harriet, Mise an ! Mille are married. He has six sons now living, -c'harh -, Victor, William J., Ulysse, Edward, Walter (i.

Fire Department .- The protection of property from the elements, at least that of fre, has gained attention here. The bel-tower is locatelin the rear of the two-story brick edifice occupied by Neptune, No. 1, east side of Clinton Avenue. Near by. in a similar edition, north side of Charles Street, adjoining the Town Hall, is Columbia, No. 1. Empire Con - pam. No. 2, on the south side of Hoboken Street, west of Clinton Avenue. Eagle Engine Company, No. 3, is in the northerly portion of the town. Imard of trustees, denominated fire trustees, takes charge of the department, the proceedings t which are published. Here we give the render the transat- tions of a

"special meeting at the Thw : Hal \ \ _ 1 == 1

. I'mwent, M. r. N den Olin tead, Laun , Fran and Bruin.

"Alt, Mler linekwev. Bloptet, seiler ani Ta aber

. The chairman state I that the fit . was calind to ret iv be - fr nn Hurdy & Pinkman

"un mold n. That the hadgr. de no. I if they are accor ".

"Un nation, That Netten. Empire and bagle Engine I = [mnier Pe- centr Ally tu ges nach art ( 10 a look-and- Ladder Company !) badges for di tribut u

" Amended, That each in mer appear before this board and rer ve hin badgr.

"The yras and hare being called, resulted as follows

ber, Ile left five el Iren, three of whom was living In inn 1- 4.

) killed in a burdl -ruce en the Beacon race surve, being thrown frumu the Canadian pony " Hepe.

2 The committee having the business in hand ronve ned at M Hn,rue's homme, where the " Act to divide the township of North Jurgen win matured and prepared to be submitted to the Senate uary, 1861.

130)>

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

. On amendment, yeas, Olinstead and Lanne

. Naya, Nolan, Francois and Broekman. In motion, year, Solan, Francois and Brookmun

. Naya. Ohnstad and Lanne.

" Th . following bill was ordered paid . Harly & Pinkman, two hundred badges, eighty dollar -. " Adjurund,

".FREDERIK WELLS, Clerk."

Boat Club .- Membership of a boat club whose Imober three or four years since at the organization did not exceed seven men now numbers forty-five. It is named the Hillside Boat Club of West Hoboken, N. J. Its officers consist at present of a president, vice-president, captain, secretary, treasurer and a first and a second lieutenant, besides a board of seven trustee -. The club has a dozen boats. Its boat-house is at the Elysian Fields. Meetings of the club occur weekly, and a quorum consists of eight active mem- ber -. The constitution and by-laws were printed in 1883. Article tenth designates insignia to be worn by the several officers, and declares what shall be the uniform. Present President, J. Buttertield ; Vice- President, F. Stern ; Captain. Charles Schindler, Jr.

Masonic .- The Masonic organization here is named Doric Lodge. No. 86, " warranted at the January com- munication, A. L. 5868." The earliest W. M. was Richard Graham; Senior Warden. William Fearis; Junior Warden, Jonah Fulcher.

This lodge has held its meetings for some time in the Baptist Church building, east side of Clinton Avenue. In making an impressive announcement touching the views held by their organization, Doric Lodge says, in the brochure containing its by-laws, " Each individual is free to choose the creed most in accordance with his own sense of right and justice." By fostering the benevolent principles of the human ws ind through unity of action, these are brought, they believe, into more active and useful excreise. " Free- masonry has existed from time immemorial, and has received the sanction of the wisest and best of men in all ages."

The regulations shown by this lodge are made ap- parent throughout the several sections and articles of the by-laws, which were adopted and ordered printed Tuesday, April 14. A.D. 1863. Independent of the chaplain, the marshal and the organist and several other efficient assistants, the lodge has seven elective officers, whose duties are specified in the third article of the brochure above named. These comprise a W. M., a Senior and a Junior Warden, a Treasurer and a Secretary, and a Senior and a Junior Deacon.

Ecclesiastical. - Early movements made here about the year 1844 suggested church organization. Re- hgious services were held in this and that place, wherever suitable convenientes permitted. In some Suasons recourse was had to the school-house, then located on the west side of the Weavertown road, and to private dwellings. About twenty persons were united in this direction in 1848, and in the latter part of the next year the location of a

church building met deliberation. A plan of an elli- fire, with dimensions twenty-eight by fifty feet, was obtained in 1850 from E. Waring. Towards the erection of the building, and in aid of the ecclesiasti- cal society that took up the matter of procuring a suitable place. many carly residents and not a few neighbors were ready with earnest efforts. The help- ing hand and generous contribution, so needful in enterprises of the sort, showed themselves with the lapse of time, and the work, wished for so earnestly and so long, was at length accomplished. Quite con- spicuous in this enterprise were the Messrs, Syms (father and three sons), the Messrs. Alcorn, R. W. Ryerson & Co., William Galbraith and others. Lib- eral collections were received from the city by several friends, including Rev. Mr. Howe; the great bulk. however, were those received through the instrumen - tality of Rev. Charles Parker, these being from Spring Street Church, New York, $50; Thirteenth Street Church, New York, 882 ; various other sources, $1277 ; total, $1409.

The Rev. Mr. Parker, in 1852 and thereabouts, preached in the new church ; also Rev. William Brad- ford, as occasion required. Bradford was an associate editor of the New York Evangelist, and both these gentlemen were zcalons in adding to the efforts and plans inaugurated by Rev. Mr. Howe. Contributors. Orison Blunt, John Brookes, C. Y. (Tickener & Co., D. F. Gregory. L. Van Buskerck evineed a lively in- terest, as also (by a second contribution) James G. King. R. W. Price and E. A. Stephens showed en- couragement with others.1 John Syms had given $243.11; Rev. Mr. Howe had received from Mercer Street Church $138.05; his own subscription, $34, and the total of the other subscriptions, including those collected by Rev. C. Parker, made an aggregate of a trifle in excess of $2700, valuing the lots donated by Mr. Syms at $100 each.

1 Mrs. F Browning.

Alexander Galbraith.

Mira Harper

t. G. Ilook.

Mrs. Lenox.

J. C. Hoxey.

Mrs. Nixen.

T. G. Hodgkins.

Mrs. Quigley

A La Grave.

Mrs. M E. Serrell

K. Mellowet.

Dr. Eller

W. R. Painter

Dr. Julian

A. Purdy.

A. Beatty.

Mr. Melaughlin

Mr. Chamberlain.

Mr. Clark.

Mr. Taylor.

('. Bently.

A Randell.

1. Beheer.

1. T. scott

A. N Brown

Philip Scott.

E. K. Bowing.

J. J. Serrell.

R. Button.

J. Sylverin.

Denning Barr.

William S.nelwir

William Elva

JJuhn Tonnelle.

John Everin.

G. Vivelamıl.

1. Freeland.

Dudley Wheeler

Mr. New kirk

Mr. Van Vorst

Mi Ronman

Mr Van Winkle.

These solaristiene were in sums from each party less than thirty dol- lars, given to the agent of the keclesiustical Society us that organization reported from time to time.

R. McDowell.

1309

WEST HOBOKEN TOWNSHIP

Is brilliant an author as the English language pre- Mente says, " Ignorance is the curse of field.' Local zeal here led from ignorance into other directions The Governor of the State, in his message of January, 1853, remarks: "There seems to be a disposition in the popular mind to sustain all proper methods hy which knowledge may be universally difined " This region had its proportion of people holding similar sentiments, and of such were the contribut ra here named. Colporteurs, sanguine in the cause of sacred truth, evinced a vigilant cate in distributing the Scriptures. The Hudson County Bible Society at this period evinced much assiduits. The noted historian Allison at this epoch was saying. " Wher the Christian religion had spread the people loud re- plenished and subjected the earth in proportion; .

the discoveries of the compass, of printing, were contemporary with the Reformation, as if the shackles of superstition were to be shaken from us before we were allowed to people the Western Il mis- phere."

PRESBYTERIAN C'HORett .- This buildingis located on the south side of Hague Street, corner of (Vinton Avenue. The structure is the outcome of the con- tributions mentioned in the preceding paragraph. As the basement was devoted to a library and other purposes pertaining to a literary organization, the congregation got the facilities of an additional bild- ing, erected by Daniel Lake, for their devon nal mert- ing4. This accommodation contributed by Mr. Lake was made available till 166, when the church assumed entire possession of the premises. 1 manual comprising thirty-eight pages mentions the chronological events connected with this church en- terprise. The pastor. Rev. J. C. Egbert, has officiated here since June 13, 1855.

EPISCOPAL .- A number of services were held at a room in MeRen's factory preparatory to establishing a church here. June 8, 1546, seven gentlemen assem bled at the house of James Delaney Walton, and initiated measures leading to an organization. On the 19th of the same month al vestry was chosen , I. D. Walton and HL_ G. M. Rea, wardens. In 1×47, William Sinclaire donated two lots, corner of Warren Street and Clinton Avenue. The foundation was laid by Richard Upjohn, and Bishop Doane officiated in laying the corner-stone on the 29th of June, ISIS. Among the early rectors of St. John's Episcopal Church, West Hoboken, were Res. F. F. Edwards, Rev E. P. Wright, IS56, Rev. Orlando Harriman, 1559. This church was consecrated Oct. 2, 1849, Rev. John Reynolds then bring the rector. The present rector is Rev. Stephen H. Battin.

BAPTIST .- Organized in 1953; located on De Motte Street, corner of Clinton Avenue, in a frame building erected by John Syms, in I&ii, Res C. A. Buck- bee, pastor. The present structure is of stone, front- ing on the west side of Clinton Avenue, corner of Serrell Street, fifty-seven by seventy feet, with chair

gallery. Dedicated Jim. 13, 1-74. Pastor Rev. Frederick la @ born. The annual report by the North New Jersey Association for 15 ... . Ili- church has a vigorous school, sup ports a ne ve Karen preacher, aoil canceled a morte re of five thousand dollar -. "

GERMAN-A frame building south side ot toirt- land stret The church was constituted in Their, and now numbers fifty-acht members. " Th iner poration. Feb, 1, 569 Harlest pastor, Bet. ( F Blument rg, present pastor, Kes E Anche z.

Mignoor . The Porter Methodist Episcopal Church, is located cant side of Bergen Line Avenue & short way south of Bergen turnpike. Prame building, dedicated Sept 19, 174. Traster in 12, James D) Ackerman, Davil L. Beatty, Samuel H In Wint Richard 11. Denman, Hiram Dodd, George W Holl, Garret H. Westervelt. Earliest pastor, Rey John Cumple I : present pastor, Res (' Crawford.

REFORMED C'HO BOB. Chapel in co-operation with Grove Church, a two-story trame ditice, with belfry, erected in Ists, south side of Bergen turn the cast of Berger Line Avenue, Land conversed as a donation from F. A. Stevens, and chidice created by the li- oraliy of James Brown. The services here are usually in the evening the Grove Church jast r officiating The sabbath- hool meeting here was organized in 185%. The building is styled the Plank- road Chapel. Present past r, Rev. W. HI Scadder.

ROMAN CATHOLIC-On the northwest corner of High Street and Clinton Avenue stamp a frame building surmounted by a cross. A tablet over the floor of a vestibule in freut, contains the following :

Mother of om e- 0, Mary Let T. thre, «wet fount if I vi, we By. sheld is the ugh I fr and take ne he H . To thy đỏer bomcơn when we đắt

This church was consecrated Nov. 23, Foi1. 1 . Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Rev Anthony C'auvin theiated as pastor from July, 151. till April 21, 1×61. The church was at the last date transferred to the Passionist l'athers,' who erected open a large plot of ground some distance north of St. Michael -. Of th's edifice we have a description firnished by Benedict C. P., as follows.

" The church called &t Micha i . B. man que itte will of an- t tur, andisbu of Mye strie, with Emowu i ne trimning. 1to ex. freme length is tw . hun fred feet , its width in the conmpt is one h n- ·tred and five feet, in the nare ighty-five ft Two towers, Fach De hundred wind forty -five feet high guard Its front, lite -- - ir d-ne, two hundre i feet high, can be Fen for mile arvg +. The borci can nr vhinkelate from two to hme thopen ] ] ] Its int ri- . :- ) handeme and r lv urnati ntel There am alt altars, the f wh b are of Italian marble, nia je al H m .. It is delly the gra -

) The l'assionist Fat iets ere id lere a m itery, the corn r-et ne f which was Inid July 1= 1> 4 It is the al ale f th . Pror u ial and . Council, being the prin pal b uer off the onler n i . untry las charter of March & , IM66, shows in nl tt } the alvan nt er ahol near by is taught to the first in Brothers

1310

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

church structure in the State. The corner-stone was laid in 1868, and on the 4th of July, 1875, the church was solemnly opened."

ST. MICHAEL'S MONASTERY CHURCH, in West Hoboken, comes next in size to the lloboken Church, andl'it surpasses the latter in cost. The structure cost over two hundred thousand dollars. It was dedi- cated July 4, 1875. It is attached to the great Pas- sionist monastery, and it serves as a parish church for the neighborhood. The parish counts about four thousand souls, but the church is filled every Sunday by visitors from New York and other neighboring cities. This church succeeded as parochial church the old church called Our Lady of Mercy, which was built in West Hoboken in 1851 by Rev. A. Can- vin, of Hoboken, on ground donated by James Kerri- gan. The ohl church and parish were given to the Passionists in ISol.

CHAPTER L.

WEEHAWKEN TOWNSHIP.1

As a township covering a limited area of territory along the west shore of the Hudson, Weehawken dates its beginning from the middle of March, 1859. For years, in common talk, Weehawken was given a larger area. The post-office by that name is to-day within the town of Union. What are styled Wee hawken Grove and Weehawken village are not in- cluded within this incorporation, nor is the landing- place of the Weehawken ferry. that went under a charter of March 25, 1852. The ferry grant by George the Second to Stephen Bayard, dated in 1752, mentions an ampler line coursing the distance of halt a mile below that place called the Great Slaugh, meaning the property of one Jacob Slaugh, and ex- tending to the Bergen north line. In a reference to local real estate movements and great changes along the opposite shores, a New York City newspaper of April 30, 1852, after commenting upon the busy in- vasion of Ilarsimus and Hoboken, remarks : " Far- ther up the river, at Weehawken, a German Building Association have purchased a thousand acres of land on the slope of the hill belonging to the estate of a Mr. Dubois." Common references to this region amplify its actual area as a municipality, the name being a sort of generic term applied to all the lesser localities around, owing, no doubt, to the historic events and prominent personages connected with its history.

The name Wechawken attracted the notice of anti- quarians years ago; of late, attempts to elucidate it have been abandoned. Onc authority, as the modern orthography gives a sound similar to Ye-haw-kens, thought it must signify houses ; another authority sus-

pected the word bore reference, by its termination "auk," to a tree. The local Indian name for tree is hitock; therefore it scarcely gets its direct origin from that source. Several early residents, amongst whom the late James Gardner is one, had an inclination to think the word conveys an allusion to the designa- tion mill. Earliest proprietors here took occasion to seek a privilege to erect a saw and corn-mill along the water-run upon their plantation in this region. The local historian, in mentioning the locality of the land- ing-place of the earliest ferry here, speaks of it as be- ing "near the mouth of the Weehawken Creek,"2 equivalent in this sense to Mill Creek. "The Indian Interpreter " copied from the Salem town records, 1684. and now in the office of our Secretary of State at Tren- ton, yields nearly three hundred translations of Indian phrases and terms. In a social and business inter- course those terms used by the aborigines were gathered, and they are not otherwise than instructive when referring to a period during which they were in daily use. Fifty morgens of land at Awiehaken are granted to one Maryn Adriaensen, whose widow subsequently marries, May 3, 1654, one Geerlief Michielsen. The Dutch morgen was equal to ahout two English acres. On the 10th of June, 1678, refer- ence is made to a water-mill and plantation here; no doubt that mill had been erected pursuant to a grant very early allowed by the Bergen authorities. The Indians, when designating localities, were apt in pick- ing out particular characteristics and notable features. They chose some definite object to distinguish a loca- tion ; at this spot neither rocks nor trees would suffice, owing to a superabundance of these objects. The mill was the monument to which the aboriginal arrow was directed. Accordingly, Chockon was the term applied, for this word was the term used in naming mill by the aborigines. At all events, as the reader can discover, this is the broadest hint developed this far as to the source of the familiar name Wechaw- ken.

Duels .- Events of this description took place here in considerable numbers early in the current century. The platean picked out for this display of pluck continues a topic for the graphic historian and a scene for the artist. In a moment of irritation a rash deed was done; a poetic squib gave offense ; sarcastic, nipping expressions were uttered ; offensive epithets were applied : the consequence was a chal- lenge. Grievous words stir up anger. The party asked to explain declined to do so, and the private difference or the point of honor led the duelists to combat. Formal steps made by the seconds in ar- ranging the preliminaries gave the transaction a little display of ceremony. The affair could not be ami- cably adjusted. The hills of Weehawken must rever- berate with their pistol-shots. The time was fixed for the

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 152

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