History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 40

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 40
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 40

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Jonathan Beach built a stone house in the northern Cyrus Canfield, a son of Matthias, occupies the old portion of the village, probably in 1749. This property homestead, which he has greatly improved. He is a | is now held by Jonathan Davenport. The estate of Thomas Sanford is occupied by branches of the Stager

Kent, from whom it was purchased by Thomas Il. Stager, who has greatly improved it. It ranks as one of the finest properties of this vicinity. The old stone house built by Elias Courter and his landed estate were occupied by a son, John E. Courter, who died at a very advanced age, after which the house and a part of the land were purchased by William Rickard.

David Harrison, Jr., bought a farm in North Cakl- well, where he settled about 1770. lle was an active and enterprising young man, and soon became prom- inent in publie affairs. His excellent abilities and sound judgment were utilized by his towns-people, legal adviser. He was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and commissioner of deeds. His property is now held by Amzi Mintonye.

John Noe owned a section of land adjoining Joseph Baldwin. lle is another of the hardy pioneers who did yeoman's service in battling the wilderness. lle has left an unsullied name.

The other families in this vicinity are, with few exceptions, "to the manor born," and of the accessions since 1800 it may be said they are mainly from okl colonial families.

EDUCATIONAL .- The first North Callwell school- house dates back to 1770. Another was built shortly after 1800, but was burned down. A small building took its place. This was succeeded by the present neat edifice, which was built in 1871, under the trusteeship of Charles B. Gould.

Throughout this entire section it seems that it was the proverbial Irishman that did the first teaching.

853

BIOGRAPHICAL.

The earliest recollections of the oldest inhabitants of this village are most vivid touching the experiences of a teucher whose name was Roorke or O'Roorke. He was a martinet, and certainly did good work ; but he was not a tectotaler, and his exhibits as a drunken master perhaps more than the excellence of his teach- ing has prolonged the memory of his career.

The teachers of recent years have been ladies, and the school ranks among the best of the ungraded schools of the township. The trustees of this district Are Chas. B. Gould, Sherman Paddock aud Francis Sindle.

one of the founders of Newark. Ile had four sons,-John, Jasper, Deliverance and Azariah. The last named, who died in 1730, aged eighty-three years, was married to Mary, daughter of C'apt. Robert Treat, and had four sons,-Azariah, John, Robert and Na thaniel. The latter married Elizabeth Gibson, to whom were born six children, Nonh, of this number, being the great-grandfather of the subject of this biography, and the brother of Samuel Crane, a resi- dent of Montelair until his later purchase of the property in Franklin, Caldwell township. His son,

The school-room is occupied upon the Sabbath by an union Sabbath-school, of which Charles B. Gould is superintendent.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SAMUEL CRANE.

Joseph Crane, who died in 1641, came from Eng- land and settled in Connecticut. From thence he removed, in 1666, to New Jersey, and became

Nathaniel S., married Jane Lee Durger, who was of Huguenot nneestry, and had children,-Samuel, John D., Caleb S., Henry W. and Jane E. (Mrs. Nelson Pierson ). Samuel Crane was born on the 16th of November, 1810, on the homestead in Caldwell town- ship. He was necustomed from his enrly youth to labor, and enjoyed but limited advantages of educa . tion, a careful habit of observation, together with in- telligent reading, having done much in Inter life to supply this want of his boyhood days. He was em- ployed in various capacities, the farm, the cider mill | and the saw mill in turn demanding his attention.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

On the 6th of February. 1834, he was married to Miss Maria, daughter of Elijah Pierson, of Caldwell, to whom were born children,-Jane L. (Mrs. G. W. Steel), Nathaniel N., Anna M. G. and Eliza C. (Mrs. G. W. Poole). On his marriage Mr. Crane purchased a share in the saw mill, the capacity of which he greatly increased. This he conducted successfully during his lifetime, but a few years later secured a farm opposite the homestead, and made it his home for nine years, when the present family residence-the l'ier- son homestead-was purchased with the land aecom- panying it. He was an intelligent farmer, with a love for agricultural pursuits. He availed himself of

superior to any personal consideration. Mr. Crane was in his religious faith a Presbyterian, and a trus- tee of the church of that denomination in Caldwell. HIis death occurred on the 19th of December, 1×74, in his sixty-fifth year.

" Ile left behind, not wealth nor fame, But flowers that never fade : A quiet trust-an honest name, A spirit undismayed."

ZENAS C. CRANE.

Noah, the great-grandfather of Mr. Crane and the son of Nathaniel Crane, resided in Essex Coun-

Jenaz la Crane

many modern appliances which science has devised | ty, where he was an enterprising farmer. Among to aid the farmer in his labor, and brought wisdom his children was Samuel, who also followed the employment of an agrieulturist in Caldwell town- ship, of the same county. He married Mollie Bald- win, of Bloomfield township, and had children,- Caleb, Cyrus, Zenas, Nathaniel, Dorcas, Mary and Elizabeth. Caleb was born on the homestead in Caldwell township and succeeded to the employment of his father. His wife was Lydia Personette, of Cedar Grove, Essex Co., whose children were Maria, Samuel G., Elizabeth (Mrs. Gershom Freeman), Moses P., Zenas C. and Lydia P. (Mrs. George C. Stute). and foresight to bear in his varied operations. Mr. Crane was formerly a Whig iu politics, and later be- came a pronounced Andrew Jackson Demoerat, though not an active politician. Ile was identified with the township and its interests, serving as freeholder and in other capacities at various times. His known in- tegrity and serupulous exactness caused his services often to be sought as the custodian of important trusts, while his broad and generous spirit made him not only respected, but beloved in this community. ! His convictions were firm, and the demands of duty | The birth of Zenas C. occurred Oct. 22, 1804, at the

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LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP.

parental abode in Caldwell, in the immediate neigh- talents suggested for the purpose of procuring a live- lihood.

borhood of which his life was spent. Not satisfied with the meagre advantages of the district school, Mr. Crane spent a portion of his boyhood at a school near the cultivation of the farm. He later engaged in butchering for a brief period, and subsequently, with his brother, Moses P., embarked in the manufacture of shoes. In connection with George C. Stecle, he became a manufacturer of tobacco, and conducted the business for a number of years, ultimately returning to the farm, which he cultivated from 1839 to 1549, when the tobacco interest was resumed, his partner being David Campbell. After an interval of farming. he removed, in 1880. to Caldwell, where his death oc- enrred on the 10th of July, 1x83. Mr. Crane was married, on the 17th of October, 1833, to Mis- Mary, daughter of Rufus Harrison, of Livingston. Essex Co., N. J. Their children are Marcus II., mar- ried to Ellie Muzzy, of Springfield, Ohio ; Caleb, mar- ried to Rachel A. Jacobus, of Mottville, N. J .; and Annie M. (Mrs. Lewis ti, Lockwood). Mr. Crane was active in the direction of the City National Bank of Newark. He was formerly a Whig in his political views and later advocated Republican principles, but was in no sense a politician. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church of Callwell, in which he officiated as elder until his death.

CHAPTER LXVII.

LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP.'

THE narrative of the township of Livingston lacks most of the essentials to make it vividly interesting. It is a great rural district, and its history is without stirring events. The tract now comprising the town- ship was within the bounds of Newark, and was con- trolled by the authorities of that place until 1797.

At that date two townships were created, -t'allwell and Springfield,-and from these was taken in about equal portions the territory that is to-day known as Livingston. This was in the year 1813.

Just when the first settlers took up their abode here it is impossible to tell, as there are no dates recorded that cast light on the subject. It is known, however, that Whippany, in Morris County, was settled about the year 1685, and a road or pathway from Newark thence was established about the same time, and the course of this pathway lay through the southern part of Livingston. Immediately thereafter there were settlements along this road, and by the beginning of the last century a number of families were permanently located here, following such pursuit- as their respective

The settlers about the villages of Newark and Elizabethtown turned their attention entirely to till- his home, and on completing his studies assisted in | ing the soil, and at an early date had removed a great share of the forests, and as the locality grew in popu- lation there came to be a demand for wood for all purposes, greater than could be supplied from the immediate vicinity. The luxuriant growth of hickory, oak, chestnut and white-wood beyond the mountains then attracted attention, and the work of cutting and hauling began. At first those engaged in the busi- ness drove from Newark to the woods and back again daily, but the advantage of being constantly upon the ground was soon manifest, and a few of the more sturdy men engaged in the work determined to locate at the serne of their labors. Accordingly. log cabins were built which were first occupied by men alone ; subsequently, when small tracts about the cabin- bad been cleared, their families came, too, to assist in pro- viding for their wants and to relieve them from the monotony of their work.

In the northwestern part of Livingston, not far from Eagle Rock Avenue, there are a number of -prings, the waters of which unite and form a splendid stream that flows southerly and empties into the Passaic River just north of t'hatham. As early as Fol this stream was known as Canoe Brook, and the name was applied to designate the section of country through which it ran. How the name originated is not posi- tively known, but there is a tradition that a family of Indians remained in the township until somewhere about 1750. A little before the French and Indian war broke out they become anxious to remove from the neighborhood for a place where their people wore more numerous. In the absence of the conven- tional birch, they stripped a fine chestnut of its bark entire, and making it into a canoe, took advantage of a spring flood, passed down the brook to the Passaic, thence to the Hudson River, and by that to t'anada. This incident, however, were it true, could scarcely have given rise to the name, as t'anve Brook Swamp is referred to in records as early as 1700.

About the year 1730 the proprietors of East Jersey began to appropriate the lands of this section, a sur- vey being made in that year, for John Burnet, of a tract along the Passare River north of the Whip- poning or Hanover road. In the southern part of the township the first survey of lands was made in 1741, for John Stiles, and covered a tract of fifteen hundred and eighty-six acres, and in- eluded the lands occupied at the present time by David and Bern Dickinson, and running as far north as the farin now owned and occupied by I-aac s. Crane. This land was subsequently divided into sections of one hundred acres and sold, and they were long known as the Canoe Brook lots. Surveyors have relied upon the monuments and bench-marks fixed and described in this old survey for their data for

1 By .F II. Bullwin.

856

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

surveys up to the present time. Among the first set- tlers on this tract were Timothy Meeker and Effing- ham Townley, Jr., both of whom came from Elizabeth- town. They were extremely active in populating the place, Meeker being the father of no less than eighteen children, and one of his sons is accredited with two more than that number. Some of their descendants still remain in the township.

Among the carly settlers on the west side of the township were Epaphras Cook. Joshua Burwell, I'noch and Noah Beach, and William Ely. From its proximity to the place of the first-named the bridge across the Passaic at Ilanover was long called, and is by some still known as, Cook's bridge.

That portion of the township now adjacent to Cald- well was settled by the Harrisons, Wards and Tompkins.

In 1742 and 1744 large tracts of land in the south- Religious .- The larger number of the inhabitants came from Elizabethtown, and many were members of the Baptist Church located at Lyons Farms. The only other church of that denomination in this part western part of the township were surveyed for Lewis and Andrew Johnston, of Perth Amboy. One of these tracts on the Passaic, containing 782 acres, was purchased in 1744 by Nathaniel Camp and Jonathan , of the State, north of Scotch Plains, was at Morris- Squier, the consideration being £391, and in 1773 the sons of Squier and Camp bought an adjoining tract of 694 acres, for which they paid £1156. These trans- actions show that the place was growing and that land was advancing in value quite rapidly.

It will be noted that the growth of the southern part of the township, which has been known in later years as " Northfield" at one point, " Morehousetown" at another and "Cheapside" at another, was in the racher days in advance of the other and northern parts. That it was so will not be doubted, when it is remembered that the road now known as Northfield Avenue was the first road over the mountain from Newark to Whippany, through Livingston, and was the route taken by the New York and Easton stage line. The old turnpike, which was built and owned by a company chartered by the State Legislature, did not open the road at present known as Mount Plea- sant Avenue until 1807, more than one hundred years i torate of the church in 1787.

after the old road had been in use. The Swinefield road (Eagle Rock Avenue) has been in use a little more than one hundred years. It is a rather singular name, and came from the fact that a number of large farmers about Tory Corner were in the habit, in the spring of every year, of driving large herds of swine by that route to the Passaic River, near what is now Swinefield bridge, leaving them there to pasture through the summer. The place was an excellent one, and was found to be decidedly profitable. The roads throughout the township were for the most part opened between the years 1760 and 1780. Wagon- paths were made by the settlers for their own conveni- ence, and subsequently they were surveyed by the surveyors of highways, and their courses recorded.

In the year 1775, on the road between the corner where the Northfield Church stands and Orange, there were but for families, -i.e., David Dickerson,

Timothy Meeker, John Meeker, and Samuel Pierson. Twenty-three years later, 1798, the number had in- creased to ten, or nearly as many as there are at the present date. The names of the heads of families in 1798 were David Dickerson, Abner Ball, Everitts Townley, Timothy Meeker, Isaac Meeker, Jonas Meeker, Jol Townley, Corey Meeker, Jonathan Meeker, and Zenas Pierson.

Schools .- The value of education was fully appre- ciated by the sturdy men of these early times, and before the close of the war for independence the sub- jeet of a school building was agitated. During the year 1782 a small stone building was erected a short distance sontheast from where the Northfield School building now stands, and that served the double pur- pose of a school and meeting-house until the Baptist Church was built.

town. Through the efforts of the parent church at Lyons Farms a mission was established at Canoe Brook, and it was styled the Northfield. Meetings were held at first in the houses of those most interested in the cause, and on the 19th of April, 1786, a church organization was effected, with a membership of eleven persons, nearly all of whom were dismissed from the church at Lyons Farms with that objeet in view. The names of the eleven were Obed Dunham, Mary Dunham, Timothy Mecker, Thomas Force, Jr., Sarah Cook, Moses Edwards, William Meeker, Mary Corey, Content Edwards, Desire Edwards, Timothy Ward, Jr. The clergy present and officiating were the Rev. Ebenezer Ward, Rev. William Van Ness, Rev. George Guthrie, and Rev. Reune Runyon. The last named was the pastor of the ancient church at Piscat- away. The Rev. Mr. Guthrie was from Kentucky.

The Rev. David Loofborrow was called to the pas-

The first public baptism took place on the 17th of June, 1790, when Abner Ball and Rachel, his wife, were baptized in Canoe Brook by the Rev. Ebenezer Jones. Three weeks after, on July 10th, Mr. Ball was elected church clerk, and held that office for more than half a century. He was also elected president of the board of trustees, and was deacon in the church from the year 1798 to the time of his death, which occurred May 21, 1848.

The Rev. Stephen Dunham followed Mr: Jones in the pastorate of the church, but remained only a short time, on account of differences between him and some of the congregation.

In 1801 the church became a legal corporation, and assumed the name of the Northfield Church. The Rev. David Loof borrow was called to the pastorate of the church in 1787. The necessity for a place of worship became seriously felt at an early day, and

LIVINGSTON TOWNSHIP

many were the discussions in reference to it and to its largest congregation that had ever assembled in the location. The Jatter caused some dissension, and as three prominent places had been proposed, the follow- ing preamble and resolutions were adopted :

" I deres, throw packs have been proposed for building the month

landing at uch plar proposed ; that the houw shall be torift th John . Ist which the largest and of money shalt to ante read the other -ne riptionis to be void.'

Notwithstanding this expechent, the question, which was so important for the welfare of the church, was not soon settled. Several years later the site on which the cozy little structure now stands, including four and a half acres of land, was selected in deference to the wishes of Moses EIwards, who was not only the largest subscriber towards the building fund, but was one of the most ardent workers in the church. The land was purchased of squire Burnet. A few of the active workers took umbrage at the selection of the site over one they had proposed, and declined to con- tribute in any way towards the construction of the edifice, illustrating thereby that human nature was materially the same then as now

The old Burnet house, which still stands, and is occupied by the venerable smith Baruwell, was fitted up as a temporary place of worship, and was used as such for some time. 'Somewhere about this date the Rev. Isaac Price officiated as pastor for a short time. Then followed the Rev. Caleb Janes for a year or two, and after him came the Rev. Ebenezer Jayne. A Rev. Mr. Briant also served the church a short time.

The progress of this church under such adverse cir- cumstances, and with so many changes, was neces- sarily slow, and it was at a stand-still spiritually and temporally. Towards the close of the last century. however, Moses Edwards, the same who had done so much towards the building, began to labor to strengthen the church spiritually. He was n good and noble man, and soon developed rare powers as a speaker, and more than ordinary ability as a student in matters pertaining to theology. The church reeog- nized his ability and devotion, and at the request of many of his friends, he applied for a license to preach, which was granted to him May 5, 1798. Three years later he was ordained a minister of Christ. llis week-days were spent in work upon his farm or in his blacksmith-shop, -the only one for miles around,- which left him but little time for preparation for his Sabbath-day duties; but he was extremely apt in the application of Bible truths, and was an eloquent speaker His work was highly appreciated by his little Hock, and their affection for him was deep. He received no stated salary, but the voluntary con- tributions of the congregation were very liberal. MIr. Elwards continued his ministrations until the year 1815, when, with his family, he removed to Clermont, Ohio. His farewell sermon was preached to the

church, and it was with deep regret and unfeigned sorrow that his congregation parted with him. He was the father of Enoch Edwards, and grandfather of Deacon Tobias Edwards, who died not many years ago, leaving Enoch, George and Stephen, and two daughters, Hannah and Tripheny, the first-named son and daughter occupying the old homestead.

About the year 1501 the society built the old church on the site now occupied by the present one. It was dedicated to the service of tiod, Dec. 22, 1801, and was a source of much comfort to the congregation. The names of the ministers that presided over the desti- nies of the little flock for a number of years thereafter are as follows: The Rev. John Watson, ancestor of the present family of Watsons residing on Mount Pleasant Avenue; the Rev. Augustine Elhott, who came from Muth River, N. J. He was a native of England and a tailor by trade. The Rev. Elisha Gill came next, and he was followed by the Rev. John Hancock (a Methodist), the Rev. Stell F. Randolph, Rev. Isaac M. Church. Rev. Josiah Jones. Rev. John HI. Waterbury, Hev. John 12. Adams, Rev. Thomas Davis, Rev. Mr. Hinds, Rev. Samuel &' Moore, Rev. Willard Howell Rev. John T. Craig, Rev. James 1. Davis, Rev. A. C. Knowlton The present pastor of the church is the Rev. Alexander S. Bastian, who also serves the Livingston Baptist Church.

The ecclesiastical organization of the Livingston Baptist Church occurred on June 17, 1851, with a membership of fourteen persons, and in 1884 bad a membership of fifty. The house of worship stands on the north side of Mount Pleasant Avenue, near the corner of L'anve Brook Avenue, and was built in 1-52. and has a seating capacity of two hundred and fifty. Since its organization eighty persons have been bap- tized into the church. The present pastor, the Rev. Alexander S. Bastian. is the tenth. The names of the pastors, arranged in the order in which they have served the church, are Revs. G. G. Gleason, Thomas Davis, Thomas M. Grenell, H. W. Webber, J. B. Hutchinson, Samuel (. Moore, J. T. Craig, James L. Davis, A. C. Knowlton, Alexander S. Bastian. The church edifice, furniture and grounds cost five thon- sand dollars, and the parsonage and furniture two thousand dollars. The church has an invested fund of three thousand dollars, and is entirely free from debt.

Early Houses and Mills .- The first dwellings occupied by the people, as heretofore stated, were log cabins, but the ingenuity of man soon supplied some- thing better At several points on the swift-running "treams that coursed through the country were eligi- ble sites for the development of water-power, and it was made available by the erection of saw mills. These turned out claph mrds of white-wood, white oak and other wood, and the framing timber was hewed out of oak, while shingles were split from chestnut and oak. Chimneys and hearths were made

858

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

from stones picked up in the fields, of which there was an abundance. Bricks for chimneys were also used in the early history of the township. They were made at two briek yards established near Canoe Brook, the site of one of which is still marked by a pond-hole about a quarter of a mile east of the turnpike road on Canoe Brook Avenue. The other was located on what is now known as Burnet Hill, near the residence of Samuel H. Burnet. The bricks were very soft, and not fit to compete in the market with those from Hay- er-traw, in New York State, but they served admira- bly for chimneys, and for filling in between walls of dwellings, thereby making them solid and comforta- ble.

The great abundance of good timber afforded plenty of work for the people, as it was cut off and used for wagon-making, for which it is very superior, building purposes, or carted to Newark or Elizabethtown and sokl. The price was very low, varying from two shil- lings and sixpence to five shillings per two-horse load. according to quality and the demand for it. Of the five saw mills that were in existence at one time in the township, not one is now left. The old saw mill of Deacon Thomas Foree, located on Canoe Brook. midway between the Northfield road and the turnpike, was revived in 1852 by John Emmons, but timber at last became so searee that even that had to be aban- doned. At the present time a few men get a liveli- hood by carting firewood to Orange, but little or no standing timber is to be found in the entire township.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 40

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