History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 39

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 39
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 39

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SCHOOLS .-- The first school-house in this village was built in 1770, which was destroyed by fire about 1820. Another was erected, but was displaced by a new and commodious building in 1865. The school of late years has been fully up to the average of its grade. Mr. Alfred Beau-elere has been principal of this school for several years. He is popular with all classes. The second story of the school-house has been fitted up as a lecture-room, which is used by the citizens for entertainments. It is also occupied upon the Sabbath by the clergymen of Caldwell, Verona, Fairfield and Little Falls, who hokl alter- nate services.

The first settler of whom we have authentic trace was a Mr. Garrabrandt, who, in 1711, claimed to own these lowlands. A Mr. Bush, who came from Hol- land, -the great-grandfather of ex-Sheriff William Bush, who now resides in this section,-came here

about the year 1711. His son was one of the parties who were dispossessed by the general proprietors. Mr. Bush at one time could have obtained title by the transfer of a yoke of cattle. He shared the obsti- nacy of his neighbors, and was finally dispossessed. He squatted, however, on another section. This has since remained in the family. His son, Henry Bush, was a man of marked energy of character, and left his impress upon the community. Ilis sons, William and Nicholas Bush, are residents of ('linton. William Bush removed to the West in 1838, when a young man, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He re- turned to Clinton in 1843, and purchased one hun- dred and fifty acres of land, and engaged in general farming. He was for several terms a member of the Board of Frecholders, for nine years assessor, and in 1867 was elected sheriff of the county, in which office he rendered honorable service. Mr. Bush is a lead- ing member of the Fairfield Reformed Church, and has been active in local educational matters. Nicho- las is ocenpied with his farm, and is among the fore- most in the Methodist Church Society in Clinton village.

The other pioneers were the Jacobus, Crane and Doremus families, who were bona fide purchasers. Among the squatters were the Bushes, the Vander- hoofs and Massakers. At the beginning of the present century Clinton numbered fourteen frame dwellings and ten log houses. These were occupied mostly by the descendants of the parties above named.

Daniel Jacobus became a resident of Clinton be- fore the Revolution. His son, Gouhl Jacobus, settled in Cedar Grove. His sons, Elijah and Amzi, are resi- dents of the same village. William G. Jacobus began business in Verona in 1879.

John Husk, a native of Holland, bought a tract of land in 1800. He shot a deer upon his first visit to Clinton, on the spot which afterward became his garden.

His sons, Stephen and Richard, have small estates in Clinton ; James and William own farms in Fair- feld. James purchased the Caldwell stage line in 1883, and divides his time between his two enter- prises.

William Crane had a large section of real estate. Ile settled thereon in 1800. The homestead part of this property is now held by Simeon D. Pier.

The leading citizens of the closing years of the last and the first of the present century were Capt. Caleb Dodd, Justus Burnet, Timothy Gould, and Zadoc Crane, who owned the major part of the lands of the Great and Little Pieces. These were men of sound

Clinton .- The village of Clinton occupies the low- est lands of the township. A large section is natural meadow and swamp, occupied for pasturage, all of judgment, whose counsels were sought, and whose in- which is subject to overflow. fluence was felt throughout the entire community.

The leading farmers of this section are John H. Henion, Isaac C'anfield, John De Baun, Daniel Ilen- ion, Simeon D. Pier and son, William Bush, Peter Vanderhoof.

EDUCATIONAL .- Clinton organized a school about

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the year 1790. The old school-house stood near the spot occupied by the barn of J. G. Jacobus. Another was built early in 1800, but displaced by the present one in 1857. The first teacher was a Mr. Me Kinnie, an Irishman, who taught the school for several years, and who is remembered for his quaint manners and his skill as a violinist. The new school building. erected in 1857, stands at the junction of the Horse- neck, Pine Brook and Fairfield road -. Of the teach- ers, the people speak in terms of praise of Rodney T. Hyde, whose teaching began in 1820. Mr. A. O. Kent had a successful school in this district for six or eight years. The school is fully up to the average of its grade. Miss Vier M. Mead has been engaged here for the past two years to the general satisfaction of pa- rents.

RELIGIOUS The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1823. with six male and perhaps twenty Simon's sons were Hendrick, Isaac, Evert and female members. Res. Manning Forer was the first Simon. In 1749, after the decease of Simon Vanness, pastor. This and the church at Hook Mountain are under one pastorate. The church editive was built in

Sr. Hendrick, waiving his right of primogeniture, caused the estate to be divided among the sons above 1823. The organization now embraces one hundred named, and also the son-in-law, Michael Kook and amel sixty -tive members. Cobey Jacobuse. The last were from Morri- County, but shared with the sons in the estate.

Fairfield- PIONEER SETTLERS .- This is the oldest village of the township. The Dutch occupied the William E. Vanness, who possesses a valuable farm, year. Evert was his great-grandfather. Isaac .I. Vanness, who holds another large portion of the es- tate, is a son of Isaac, a grandson of l'eter a great- rich bottom-lands of this section as far back as 1720. a part of the original estate, is now in his eightieth There were adventurers, als ), who squatted upon favorable localities, some of whom removed early in the last century, while others remained, and their

descendants are found both in Essex and Morris grandson of Isaac, and great-great-grandson of Simon.

Counties. Indeed, many of them were found in the David Pier was contemporaneous with Simon Van- northern parts of North Caldwell, Colar Grove and ness, and shared his experiences. He owned two

Franklin. There are but meagre records, however, of the experiences of these pioneers. As a rule, they were thriftless, ignorant and vicious. I'p to the ad- hundred acres in Pier Lane. His sons were Isaac and David. Isaac entered the Continental army in 1750. During the winter of 175- when a small body vent of the English-speaking settlers, the spirit of of the Anu rican troops were quartered at Pompton lawlessness was dominant with the large majority of Plains, a portion of a company remained for a time the adventurous people. They were frequently visited upon the Pier property, and Gien. Washington visited them while there. by a Mr. Dean, a Separatist preacher from Morris County, who sought to instruct them in matters of The large family of Piers and the Vannesses found Christian faith and duty, but they treated him rudely. in this section may be traced back to these two early They are described, in their intercourse with the | pioneers. It should be recorded in this connection that Indians as "corrupting and being corrupted, de- praved manners and spiritual degradation bring thereby increase)." Evert Vanness and Isane Vannes purchased other estates adjoining that of their inheritance. Corne- lins Hetfield, Frans Post, William t'rane, William, Earl (of Serling), John Reid, Walter Rutherford a 1 David Ogden were the grantors, and their title, it called the West Jersey Society."

Of the substantial and Good-fearing settlers, there were several families. It appears that Simon Vanness owned on the northeastern boundary of the village a large tract of three hundred acres. He obtained a title, probably, through some of the early Indian deeds. He came from Holland us curly, doubtless, as 1713. He was a party to the controversy with the proprie- tors, mentioned in the opening pages of this history. | Dutch Church records. The Van Proofs numberet

lle accepted the terms of settlement proffered, and in 1744, "the third day of September, in the eighteenth year of the reign of theorge the Second, King, etc.," he obtained a deed from James Alexander, Robert M. Morris and David Ogden confirming him in his possessions. This deed recites that, " whereas John

Johnson and theorg. Willocks, late of the city of Perth Amboy, deceased, in their life tion did grant in fer simple to Simon Vannes of Essex County, with other lands in their deed & him given" the tract which con- stituted his estate, and "whereas the parties above mentioned being owners of the West Jersey's Soci- ety's patent," the said Alexander Morris and Ogden, by agreement with these proprietors, confirmed, by authority from the general proprietors, the several deeds given by the parties of Perth Amboy previously mentioned This old deed, now in the possession of Mr. William E. Van oss, is a valuable relie, and help- ful in the solution of j hases of the long controversy of the primitive settlers with the landed proprietors. The deal whereof this is confirmatory was one of those given by other proprietors, some of which date back as far as 1716.

The names Francisco and Kierstead were common in this village as far back as 1790. In 1754, Aaron Kierstend hnd a child baptized, as appears upon the several families, some of whom were in t'linton.

These people, who were possessors of real estate, led quiet and unobtrusive lives, and their descendants occupy the greater portions of the real estate owned by their progenitors. They have sustained the Re- formed Church of their village, and maintained a

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

school since 1760, when the first school-house was built.

Cornelius Dey established the Fairfield Hotel in 1500. He was followed by his son. Henry, who was succeeded by his son, Samuel. He has added a store, and condnets his affairs on temperance principles.

The Doremuses are also among the early settlers. and are a branch of the Pompton Plains family of that name.

Thomas Speer, whose descendants were located in Fairfield, lived on the Van Houten property, in North Caldwell. Ile was an early settler. His sons were Richard, John, William, Thomas and Teunis.

Richard Speer established the Pine Brook Hotel. His son, William B., succeeded him. Josiah, another son, was for a long period a justice of the peace, and represented this district in the State Legislature tor two terms. Tennis T. Speer settled in Fairfield. His sons were Peter T. and Thomas T. Speer. Peter T. wasa land surveyor. fu 1864 he was elected county register. Thomas T., now (1884) holds the wardenship of the Essex County l'enitentiary.

The grinding of bark became a leading industry of this seetion. The business was conducted by Teunis T. Speer, Squire Peter and John T. Speer. The several Speer estates in Fairfield have passed into the hand- of James Husk, Abram Zeik and Hamilton Walling.

CHURCHES .- The Reformed Church of this vil- lage is the oldest in the township. The old octago- mał church was built certainly as early as 1730. It stood opposite the present residence of James Husk. Esq. It- early records have been lost. There are baptismal records of the Kiersteads, Bushes and others reaching as far back as 1750. It was for a long period really a branch of the Acquackononek Church, and probably did not support a settled pastor until a long period after the organization of the society. All the pastors up to 1800 were Hollanders and "were known as belonging to the party in the Church, who claimed to supply the pulpits in America from the institutions of learning in Holland." From seemingly good authority, it appears that religious services were conducted from 1720 till 1760 by neigh- boring pastors. It is the prevalent impression that Rev. John Duryea was the first resident pastor; he preached in the old and in the new church. The present edifice was completed during his pastorate. Hle owned a quarry, and contributed the stone for the building, which was inclosed and doubtless occu- pied as early a- 1804. The society was broken by dissensions during the progress of building, but was reunited and reorganized in 1817, when the Rev. Ava Neal became the resident pastor. Mr. Neal is described as a gentleman of learning and very able as a speaker. The indulgence of social drinking, however, led to the development of a passion for liquor, and he became intemperate.

The pastors have been as follows: Revs.

Blauw, supplied pulpit from 1762 till 1768; - Meyer, pastor from 1772 to 1785: - Seydt, pastor from 1789 to 1790; John Duryea, pastor from 1801 to 1817; Ava Neal, pastor from 1817 to 1822; 11. B. Stryker, pastor from 1823 to 1827 ; James (. Ogilvie, pastor from 1827 to 1332; - Raymond, pastor from 1833 to 1835; A. Bronson, pastor from 1836 to 1838; Joseph Wilson, pastor from 1838 to 1845; J. J. Quick, pastor from 1845 to 1849: Joseph Wilson, pastor from 1849 to 1873 ; E. N. Sebring, pastor from 1873 to 1877; M. M. Smith, pastor in 1877 from April to October; P. S. Pockman, pastor from 1878 to 1881; James II. Owens, pastor from 1881 to present time. The present consistory of the church are, Elders Thomas Sindle, Henry Doremus and William Bush. William Jacobus, recently deceased, was a member of this body.

Among the pastors, Rev. Joseph Wilson occupies the most prominent place, not because of the long duration of his office, but more particularly because of his genial character, learning and ability. He was fearless in the advocacy of what he esteemed the right, and he possessed the aptitudes of leadership in a large degree. He invariably carried his auditors with him, and secured the very general acceptance of his views. fle was a warm friend and a devoted pastor, and has left an indelible impress upon this society. Rev. Mr. Quick was an amiable gentleman, au carnest preacher, and popular among his parish- ioners. Of the later pastors, the Rev. Mr. Pockman, whose stay was regrettully brief to his people, oecu- pies a prominent position as a minister, able as a speaker, atlable as a companion and sincerely devoted to his high mission. Rev. James H. Owens, his sue- cessor, stands equally well approved. His people are thoroughly united, and the church affairs are in a prosperous condition.

Westville Village .- Caleb Hetfield inherited from his father, Cornelius, a very large estate in Westfield, which he occupied as early as 1730. He held the title to the lowlands, comprising a part of Hetfield Swamp. He was a slave-owner, and held a large number of negro men and women. Although an ex- tensive cultivator of the soil, he is said to have been unsuccessful. The cost of providing for his slaves absorbed very nearly his entire income. He was liberal in his gifts of land to the Caldwell Presbyte- rian Church, but reereant to the cause of American independence. Ilis pronounced Toryism made him the target of scorn and dishonor. His estate is now held by the families of the Cranes and Harrisons.

The history of this village consists, therefore, of an outline sketch of these families. They have been progressive and steadily prosperous in their avoca- tions, and have controlled large areas of real estate. Many of them accumulated considerable capital from their agricultural and lumber industries.

HARRISON FAMILIES-Joseph Harrison bought a large traet of land of a Mr. Wright, located partly in Roseland, shortly before the outbreak of hostilities

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CALDWELL TOWNSHIP.

with Great Britain. In 1793 he purchased what was then known as Wright's Island, located in Westfield Swamp. On this property, hidden in the woods, Mr. Harrison found an old log cabin, which the former owner may have occupied before 1750. This old structure had been, from 1780 until 1793, the haunt of a gang of counterfeiters. The extent of their nefari- ous operations has never been known ; they were so secluded in this retreat, and their association had been so skillfully disguised, that they escaped sus- picion for a long period. The parties engaged in this unlawful enterprise were Aaron Crane, Dr. Ezol Crane. Richard Hollenbeck, a schoolmaster, Moses Camp- bell, Thaddeus Russell and Andrew Miller. Some of the apparatus used by these counterfeiters was found in the log house, while several of the dies were dis- covered in an old building in Caldwell as late as 1847. It is said that they prepared their own paper and ex- eruted designs with remarkable skill. When discov- ered, a quantity of counterfeit silver dollars, having a body of copper coated with silver, was found in their possession, and these were designed for trade in Mex- ico. Several were incarcerated; the physician and schoolmaster fled before they could be apprehended, and were not afterward heard from, while the weaker of the accessories were left to remain in Callwell, under a suspension of sentence.

Joseph Harrison served in the Colonial army, and was in the thick of the battle at Springfield. He was a stanch supporter of the measures instituted for the organization of the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell.

Samuel Itarrison, a son of Joseph, acquired a large property of three hundred aeres in or near the village of Westville. He was an energetic and skillful farmer, and was prosperous. He was a man of strictest in- tegrity, devoted to his duties, and he contributed liberally to the charities of religion.

llis sous, Samuel O. and Cyrus F. Harrison, who located in Caldwell, holdt his Caldwell property, to which they have made valuable additions. These gentlemen own excellent farms, to which they devote themselves with gratifying results. They are devoted members of the Caldwell Presbyterian Church, and in all their relations uphold the honorable repute of their excellent ancestry.

Uzal Harrison, a cousin of Joseph, located in West- wield in 1790. In 1798 he built the water mill now in possession of his grandson, George B. Harrison. He was the leading miller of his section Henry W. Harrison, after U'zal's death, held a large portion of his real estate, from whom it has descended to Ashbel and llenry F. Harrison. Aaron B. Harrison, a younger son of' Uzal, bought the grist mill in IS42, where he conducted the flour and feed business until 1864. Mr. Harrison was one of the first Garrisonians of the township. His, on one occasion, was tho only "Abo- lition " ballot cast in this township. His sons, Henry J. and William H., entered the Seventh New Jersey

Regiment at the outbreak of the Rebellion. Henry was killed at the battle of bettysburg. William en- tered the regiment as lieutenant, and was promoted to a captainey in 1863. George B. Harrison, a younger brother, bought the Caldwell stage line in INGS. He evineed enterprise in this undertaking, and was pros- perous. In 1883 he was elected a member of the House of Assembly.

C'HANE FAMILY .- Noah, a great-grandson of Jasper C'rane, is the progenitor of the Cranes of Montelair and Caldwell. Samuel Crane settled in Franklin ; two of his sons, C'aleb and Cyrus, established them- selves upon large sections of real estate in Westville. C'ol. Cyrus Crane left his homestead and a portion of the contiguous lands to his son Asher, who is now living, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He has been engaged mainly with his farm, though he has held an interest in the wood and lumber business since the death of his father, in 1827. He is every- where esteemed for his integrity and his munificence in his church relations. Ilis sons, t'yrus and Marcus, are engaged with their father in agriculture. t'yrus has served the township acceptably as chairman of the town committee for several terme. The sons of Caleb, Zenas C. and M. Personette Crane, each held a large property. Zenas C'. Crane was a partner in the tobacco business at Franklin for several years. He was a successful business man, and possessed large wealth. He died in 1883, leaving the bulk of his real estate to C'aleb, bis youngest son, who is occupied therewith in general farming. He is well and favor- ably known, and was for a term an active member of the township committee.

M. P. Crane was an active and successful farmer. His sons, Caleb G. and Edward W., engaged in the agricultural warehouse business in Newark, where they achieved large success. C. G. Crane served as an alderman for several terms. Edward W. repre- sented his district in the Legislature for two terms, with credit to himself and constituents. The real estate of M. P'. Crane is now held by his nephew, Wilson Crane, of Boonton.

PIERSON FAMILY .- Elijah Pierson, one of the first painters in the township, owned the estate now held by Mrs. Samuel Crane. He possessed a small farm. David II. Pierson, one of his sons, evineed scholarly aptitude in his youth. He received a collegiate edu- cation and entered the ministry, but afterward opened a classical school at Elizabeth. In his work as an educator he achieved an enviable reputation. He re- sides at Elizabeth.

INDUSTRIES, -The saw mill in Westfield was built by Caleb Westfield. It, with much of his other prop- erty, passed into the hands of the t'ranes, This mill was burned in 1851. It was promptly rebuilt, aud was for a long period held jointly by Nathaniel S., Moses P., Zenas C. and Asber t'rane, each party own- ing a certain number of shares. Samuel Crane, a son of N. S. Crane, was an owner, after 1×57, of several

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

shares, and he was the business manager until his death in 18 --. He was succeeded by his son, Na- thaniel N. Crane, who conducts the business at the present time. The mill is supplied with modern ma- chinery.

thorough and successful farmer, and is active and influential in town affairs, having held a place in the | family. The Evert Van Zile farm passed to David township committee for several terms. Samuel Can- field has a farm on the south side of the village, which he has cultivated with protit, while Isaac N. is located at Franklin, on the Henry Francisco prop. erty. Matthias S. is a resident of Caldwell.

North Caldwell-PIONEER SETTLERS .- This vil- lage occupies the most elevated lands of the township. It was originally covered with extensive forests of oak and hickory. the most valuable of the native hard Jacob Jacobus, who built a substantial stone awell- woods. The soil is fertile and the drainage excellent. 1 ing in the last century, was followed by his son Aaron and grandson Jacob, after whom a son-in-law, Peter Francisco, inherited the property. His sons, Barney and Frank, share this well-known estate. As the forests disappeared the more favorably located areas were cleared, and the village now possesses large tracts of fine arable land. Settlements were made very early in the last century by ycomen devoted to the wood and lumber interest. These people, for the sake of convenience and economy, located in the near vi- cinity of the water-springs, of which there were many, while the conn try was largely a forest. The roads, too. originally were known as " wood-paths," being laid : for whom he acted in the capacity of magistrate and out with reference to convenience in wood-hauling, and they date back as far as 1730.

The oldest accessible records show that Henry Bush, from whom a part of the present village took the name of Boshtown was among the first of the pioneers who remained upon their settlements. Hendrick Kollier (sometimes C'holler or Collier) owned a con- siderable tract; Aaron Simons, John Tindall, Jacob Garabrantsen, Henry Stager, Thomas Sanford, Josiah Gonld, William Libbey, Azariah Crane and Joseph Baldwin and Van Riper were the principal land- owners, and had their estates fairly well improved be- fore the Revolutionary epoch. Their descendants are in possession of the greater portions of these old (states.

Joseph Baldwin was succeeded by his son Noah. The sons of the latter, Joseph E., Noah O. and Marcus Y. Baldwin, possess this estate at the present time, and are actively engaged in lumber and agriculture.

The last named is favorably known alike for his intel- ligence and generosity. lle has represented his township in the County Board of Freeholders for several terms.

In 1770, Stephen Gould purchased the Ashfield tract from John Taylor, of Burlington.

CANFIELD FAMILY .- Matthias Canfieldl was born in Orange, 1775. After the completion of his term of Josiah Gould also held a large property. Stephen J. Gould was born on the old homestead, and succeeded to the estate. He was a progressive and successful farmer. Hle died in 1882, eighty-two years of age. Ile was one of the first trustees of the Verona Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and held that position until 1873. Two of his sons, Caleb and Charles B., are resi- apprenticeship with Matthias Smith, of Bloomfield, he purchased the tanning and currying business of Zadoc Baldwin, in the village of Caldwell, in 1800, and continued it until 1817, when he sold to Abram Personette. He built and occupied the house now owned by Joel D. Mead. lle sold his Caldwell real estate and removed to Westville, where he purchased | dents of North Caldwell, the latter having acquired real estate from Joseph Gould. He is remembered title to the homestead. IIe is a thrifty farmer, and active in church and educational circles. for his sturdy qualities and for his active influence in local atfairs.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 39

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