History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 48

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 48
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 48

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Hubert De Burgh, John O'Connor and the present pastor, Rev. W. H. Dornin, under whose pastorate it is in a prosperous condition. It numbers awning it's pastors, besides the late Bishop Bacon, others of marked ability, one of whom, the Rev. John Hogan, died while in charge, beloved by his congregation and possessing the universal esteem of these by whom he was known.

The s wiety has a parochial sch mol, the attendance at which is large. numberin_ two. hun Ire land twenty- five. It embraces a large portion of the children of the church, and is admirably conducted by several sisters under the management of the pastor.

The church corporation is possessed of considerable real estate outside of the church site, which em- braces about two acres. On the west side of the church is the burial-place, where rest the remains of many of its foun lers and supporters, among them not a few who ranked as our old and respected citizen-, having for the most part emigratel here in early life from Ireland, acquired property, reared families to succeed them in the church, lived and died respected citizens. In this burial-place there is a marble monu- ment of more than ordinary proportions, a well- merited tribute of respect to their deceased pastor, the Rev. John HI ogan.

Of those who served from time to time on the board of trustees, wo mention the following, many of whom, though now dead, still live in the recollection of some of our citizens. Commencing with the early history of the church: George Mccloskey, John Graham, John Butler, John Conlin, Felix MeD'amnell, Michael Gorman, Nicholas Dutl'y, John Finn, Michael and Timothy Barrett, Peter MeCloskey, Patrick Smith, John Sleator. Liter, William Connolly and Alfred Lintott.

Following the example of the older churches, not content with the prosperity of their first established church organization, they became imbued with the spirit of church extension which characterized the other churches, and about the year 1871, a plot of land having been donated the church by William JJoyce, Fr., at North Belleville (now Avondale) near the sta- tion on the Newark and Paterson Branch of the New York and Lake Erie Railroad, this corporation built texture. This now independent church is making good progress toward equality in success with its mother, under the pastorate of the Rey. - Morris.

The church property ha- a valuation of twenty thousand dollars. Nor is this the only instance of the spirit of church extension here manifested. as the church organization of this denomination at Bloom- field owes much of the merit of its establishment to this church, whose pastors had charge of it- adherents up to the date of and for some time after, a separate church organization there.

Schools .- On the 14th day of April, A.D. 1804, I the trustees of the Reformed Dutch Church at Belle-

The waiter to be tel for luf mination to un . v ] Hers written for

post rof this chu h.

BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP.

ville conveyed to William Burnett and John Spier in trust for th . proprietors of the School Association at Bell ville, a tract or lot of land out of the south- east corner of the lot by Hance Spear and Catryna, his wife, conveyed to Aaron Schuyler and others, - the same whereon the Reformed Dutch Church now stands.

This proprietory school association appears to have existed as an organization long prior to the date of the deel, and a constitution is in existence, adopted by them on the 27th day of February, 1792. By this constitu in the subscribers are made sole proprietors, with power to dispose of the property by will or otherwise.

In 1829 the minutes show the names of the pro- prietors, with the suis contributed by them resper- tives, rach contributor Cemg one of the joint pro- prietos in proportion to his subscription. The names of the first fifteen proprietors, of whom there we're seventy-seven, were as follows. Philip Van Cort- lan1, Thomas Burnet, Abraham Cadmus. Abraham Spear, Minard Coesman, Henry Stimus, John 1. Sanford, Sammel Stevens, Abraham Van Emberg, Abrahan Sevens, Michal Sanford, Garrit Hangh- hoort, James Sandford, Abraham Sandford, Samuel Morris, Notable among the other proprietors are Adrian Van Riper, Anthony Wauters, John Spear, Jr., Dr. Thomas Steele, William and John Horn- blower, Dr. William Burnet, Thomas Spear, Varon 1. Schuyler.

There was, at a date not certain, a stone school- house, perhaps fifty feet in length by twenty-eight in width, two stories high, built on the lot alluded to, the lower story of which was used as a school-he use and the upper part as a place of meeting for the in- habitants, and also for the undenominational Sunday- school.

Among the superintendents were the Revs. Peter Stryker, Staats Van Santvoord, John Dow, William Bachelor, Barklow Stryker and others ; as teachers, James T. Spier, Willi m M. Sandford, Peter Giroshong. Jane Wade, Jeremiah T. Brower and Aaron Sandford, all now deceased except William M Sandford. Ofthe scholars there yet remain a few, as John Collard, Eliza Stimus and James Brown This school was probably organizel at the close of the last century and continued in existence for some years, when de- nominational Sabbath-s Pools were established.

On the first floor of the building was a day-school, which was attended by the children of second River or Belleville and its surroundings. There was a sle- cession of teachers, several of whom afterwards occupied more prominent positions in life. From Belleville, at the close of his engagement here as teacher, Edmund Janes entered the ministry of the Method st Episcopal Church, and became one of its most prominent bishops. His twin-brother, Edwin, succeeded him as teacher, and also entered the min- istry. I-aae N. Felsch succeeded the last-named,

and he, too, at the close of his engagement, entered the ministry, and became a prominent canister and presiding eller of the Methodist Church They are all now dressed.

Of the trustees of this - hool, the first we can name were John N. Jorah mon, James T. Spier, William Coryman, Henry N Jaralemon I bu Stin us and Capt. Herry Joralemon. They were elected by the proprietors March 2. 1-29, and were called "school visitor- " At this time Henry JJoralemen vas chair- man and Abraham V. Spier secretary of the School Association. Of the latest and last trustas of the school of this association were Henry N. Joralemon, Abraham V. Spier, Isaac A. Corley and Theodore Sandford. A school was continued here up to 1532, when it was removed and the material used in the new Dutch Church, then building. In the meanwhile private dav-s .hools had also been conductel by Jere- minh T. Brower in a building then known as the " Lecture-Room," belonging to the Dutch Reformed Church. Mr. Brower continued his school for many years. This lecture-room building was located on the west side of Cortlandt Street, a little south of .I.Jin, and is now a dwelling-house. A Mrs. Laslie and Miss Wallace also had their private schools for small children at a very early day, Miss Wallace continu- ing hers on the corner of John and William Streets up to the time of her death, in advanced years, about 1846.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of Second River school district, held Saturday, Sept. 4, 1552. it was resolved that an dlection for and against an appro- priation of money for the purchase of ground and the creation of a school-house for that district be held on the 11th day of September then next cashing. One hundred and ninety-one votes were est. one hundred and eighty of which were in favor of appropriating five thousand dollars. Arthur Ward, Andrew Arthurs and Theodore Sandford being at the time trustees of said district, purchased of Hugh Holmes the present site of the public school, on the southwest corner of Academy and Stephen Streets, embracing nearly two neres of land, the purchase money being seven hundred dollars. On the 11th day of April, S.D. 1858, the trustees entered into a contract with Timothy Underwood for the erection of the present structure, for the sum of $4995,54, he contracting with Hinman Lyon for the mason-work. They entered upon the work, and in the fall of that Year completed it. It is of brick, thirty-two by sixty feet on the ground. It is two stories high besides the basement story. In point of architecture it was in ad- vance of its day. The basement is of dressed stone in courses, on which rests a double base course of brown out stone. The monotony of the brick wall is also broken by pilnsters and a belt course of brown ent stone; the windows have brown out stone sills and circular hends. It is of us tine appearance now as when built, and as thoroughly substantinl. It is surrounded

800

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

by a suitable fence and shade-trees. The building when complete exceeded the appropriation abont two thousand dollars, which was appropriated. Soon after school was opened there, and has been continued to this time. The town superintendents from the date of building have been Theodore D. Wells, Dr. Samuel L. Ward, Gasherie DeWitt (the two latter deceased), who were succeeded by County Superin- tendent Charles M. Davis, Esq., of Bloomfieldl. The trustees in the meanwhile have been Dr. Arthur Ward, Andrew Arthurs, Theodore Sandford, Charles II. K. Smith, John W. Dow. Dr. D. M. Skinner, George Dunbar and others. The present board is O. II. Perry, Charles O'learman and Theodore Sand- ford. There have been employed here as teachers Robert Gow, Chauncey Wagner, Amanda Garfield, Fanny Bruen, Alice Morgan, A. F. Horst, Serena Ross, Amzi Barringer and wife, Helen Sandford, Emma Lyon, Miss Cox, F. Pierce and wife, Phochus Lyon, Miss Stimers. The present teachers are E. L. Anderson, Emma Titus, Margaret Key, Amelia Can- niff and Sarah Albey.

MONT HOMERY SCHOOL, in the vicinity of Ran- dolph's mills, was organized about 1838, and a small frame building was created on the northerly side of the road leading through the village. The first board of trustees was John Vreeland, James Moore, Hugh F. Randolph, Elias Osborn and Abraham IF. Cad- nus. On its boards of trustees, besides the above- named, have been John Robinson, James C. Dodd, John Crisp, William Piervey, Ephraim Moore, Right Gilbert and James Fry. Among its teachers we name Isaac S. Bruen, Margaret A. Williamson, David Met 'lure, James Gambale, Sarah Snow and C. M. Fuller. Margaret Williamson taught there ten or twelve years. Elias Osborn has been one of its trustees from the time of its organization to this time excepting only an interval of one year.

There has grown up here quite a spirited little settlement. Elias Oshorn has been the grocer of the neighborhood for nearly fifty years. Among the old residents who have long since passed away we call to mund John Vreeland, John Robinson and their wives. They left descendants residing in the vicinity. James Moore and Elias Osborn are old residents, now living in quite advanced years. They are large prop- erty -holders in the neighborhood. North of this settlement was the lower portion of Newtown, where the Kidneys had large possessions, and where for succes- sive generations they lived and died. A door of the residence of the later of them, Richard Kidney, had small holes in it made by British bullets.

Roads .- During the winter of 18691 an act was passed providing for an extended system of Tel- ford roads er boulevards, varying in with from sixty to one hundred feet, radiating from the city of Newark, leading to and passing around the sur-

rounding towns. One of this system of road-, called Washington Avenue, commencing at the north- erly termination of Belleville Avenue, Newark, ex- tending northerly, passing through Woodside (now part of the city of Newark), through Belleville and Franklin and to the Passaic County line, is eighty feet wide and is about six miles in length. Its course is generally straight, with such curves only as are rendere I necessary in order to conform to the general lay-out of Belleville, and to make the most beautiful sites along the line accessible by means of this boulevard. It passes through the village from one thousand to twelve hundred feet west of the river, on an elevation of fifty to sixty feet above the same. From its eastern border the ground is de- scending, from its western either level or gradually ascending along its line through and above Belleville. There are most beautiful villa sites, from which most extended views in a sontherly and northerly direction are afforded, stretching out for miles. The scenery is unsurpassed for beauty. It is yet thinly settled, and affords opportunity to persons desiring to locate in the suburbs of New York or Newark worthy of their examination and consideration, and a day spent by such in this neighborhood would not be without its advantages to them. The road is telfordized, in good condition, furnishes a fine drive; from this ele- vation the air is exhilarating, and the health of the locality compares favorably with any of the sur- rounding towns.

Stages and Taverns .- The first public convey- ance to New York was a daily stage, the proprietor of which was Joseph Sandford. Its origin dates back probably ninety years or more. It furnished the only means of getting to and from New York (other than by water) for several years. Later, John Dow and John Williams were the proprietors of a line of stages running to New York. These stages were of the old Concord style,-close coaches, with more seating on the back, front and top than on the inside. They were driven by Jacob Robinson, who, in the commence- ment of his career as a driver, was the slave of John Dow, who, after purchasing him, at once informed Jake that he had paid so much for him, naming the sum, and that as soon as his wages, at a sum named, amounted to the price paid for him he should be freed. Jacob was a faithful man, and the promise of his master was fulfilled. He did more; he sokl out his interest in the stages to him, and thereafter the proprietors of the same were John Williams and Jacob Robinson. This period of stage-driving was from sixty-five to seventy years ago. Jake became a man of some importance. The last-named proprie- tors continued the stages up to fifty-five years ago.

John Williams in the meanwhile was keeping a hotel on the corner of John and Main Street where stood a home-like looking old stone house, one and a halfstories high, with four rooms on the first floor, the door being in the centre. Back of this and con-

I See " Acts of the Legislat re," page 037

890-a

BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP

nected with it was a frame building of considerable size, a part of which forns the rear of the residence of one of these landlord's descendants. Here was con luctel a hotel which was widely knowo. It was a summer resort, as well as a stopping-place of the greatest re- spectability for travelers. The stages started from this hotel at eight in the morning and returned to- wards evening. After some years Jake becoming old and unable to endure the exposure incident al to stage- driving, his son Francis became driver. Mr. Wil- linus and Jacob sold out to a Mr. Tury, of New York. Tury continued the stages for a time, and sold out to T. P. Scampan, about fifty years ago. He put on line stages, and drove four, and sometimes six, splendid horses, employing one Barber as driver, who, besides being a good horseman, was quite a musician, and played the bugle tinely. For a long time the depar tore of the stages was announced by stirring aire played upon the buzle. Seamoun also was at this time proprietor of the Mansion House, and, besides, a horse- man of great notoriety.

Thomas Tarraod about th's time was keeping a hotel on the corner of Wilham and Main Streets. where James 11. Van Rensselaer resides, and he, too, started a line of stages. He sold out to Seaman, and went to Europe on a visit. On his return he repur- chesed the property. John T. Grice became pro- prietor of these stages, and he soll to one Lewis, of New York.

The stage line was continued, under various pro- prictors, until lines of stages were extended to Newark, which, running in connection with the rail- road to New York, diverted the travel so that the stages between Belleville and New York, failing to pay, were discontinued. This state of things existed until the establishment of a horse-car railroad from Newark to Belleville, about twenty years ago.

Civil Organization. - Of the township officers, commencing with the year 1839, we give the names of many of the assessors, collectors, town committees. chosen freeholders and clerks for a portion of the time since the township was set off,-

1-39, - Ver. Jeremiah T Brower : Call for, Janus G. Herunder, Town Committee, John C. Lloyd, Richard ci. Hundir yo, John Vre lund, Dann! Van Winkk, WEraham Van Riper. Chosen Frecholders, John 1 Lhad and John Williams , Clerk Silas Munn.

1×10 -\www JT Buwer, (dlectur, € Jacoline Town Com- mitter, Abraham Van Riper, Richard G. Humphreys, Daniel Van Winkle, John Stamina, Hugh F Bank Igh William M Sandford: ( hoeken Fr. eholder, Juba Wi Hear in and William Ihrw.

12 -AJ T Brower, Collecter. Calvin Lathrop; Town Committee, High F Randolph John & Vreeland, Alfred Koene, John W Sandford, William M Sandford , Clark, John Kes nody.

mitter and Clark, mathe us last ver.

1×11. Sommer, collector and Clark, mam as let your ; Town con- mittee, Francis A Ili wer, klias Url ru, John Whitfield, J M. Rcene ; Chosen Freeloddera, Vor Ju Jus mid II F Randolph.

Ishe. Amor Collector, same as last year, Cheen Freeholder, John Williams and J. I. Vreeland ; Town Committee, Francis . Brower, John Whilbell, Thus Omborn, John Vreeland and John M

1xis -Nepomwir, SIlas Munn ; Collector, John S. Brown ; Town Com-

mite .. ... .. Barth (, Jobb 1 Vreeland, thirl - J Wowwms, Daniel Van Wankl . ani Wil wmn M Sandford C'irk, Th alon Sa , if ard

F & It .wer ; " lock. It Fire San ford. 1 T .wat anun te , Johr H Black, \ raham W Van I ar, Nostisb

Tut e (Lern Free holders, John Vr Plant and Abraham Van Hjer

Comunter, R Parkes, J ho Rust Livie Du Thucar, Henry Van

W II We ater and Jeph Kan land.

Committee, Thet Cher, Char Ack, An Foi, Henry Van Winkle and Heel Holmes . Och, Hry & Innan

mittee, Charb V.b . Jobn J Br , Anthony Fin . ,, W Hint Little and a I Vorland, Clerk, Grup. I'llak

In 1871 a portion of the township was set off and designated as the Belleville polling district. It em- bracel the territory bounded by the river on the east, Second River on the south, and a point nearly the same as that now being the line between Belleville and Franklin townships was its northerly boundry : its western houndry approximately the lin . of the road known as that leading to the poor house. This territory, so far as local improvements were concerned, was placed in the hands of five commissioners, first appointed by the act creating the board of con mis- xioners, and afterward- elected by the people residing within this district. Their power over this territory was quite extended.' It included the right to grade and pave streets, contract for water supply, light- ing street , ctr. The commissioners appointed by the act were fiasherie In Witt, James 11. Van Rensselear, Hugh Holmes, Andrew Little, Theodore Sandford and John Spier.

Beside the above-named as commissioners, there were subsequently serving at different times N. 11. loralemon, Michael R. Kenny. Of this number, serv- ing as treasurer, was Andrew Little, N. H. Joralemon and Theodore Sandford. The first board organized, and under the act made many permanent improve- ments, among them the paving of William Street. They also made the first contract with the city of Newark for a water supply ; they continued in cui t- ence as the controlling power until March 27, 1574, when an act creating the city of Belleville was passer .? This city act embraced Belleville town- ship as it then existed, Woodside having been set off on the south in 1869, and Franklin set off Feb. 15, 1-74. Many questions arese as to our legal existenre as a city, and the questions involved were sharply contested in the courts. In the meantime Ix th the town and city authorities claiming, and, to some extent performing, the functions of their respee- tive offices. Hugh Holmes having been elected mayor, took to himself the dignities of that other, and exercised certain functions supposed to be conferred on Him by the net creating n city. A Common Council

1 Soo Acts of 18°1, page 1478.

" Svo Acts of that year, 674.

8:00-b

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

was also floral, who, in bike manner. exercised the functions of tofir office, as supposed to be conferred. Menwhit the town committee held over and acted a- if in authority, and so things remained until the city charter was repealed on Feb. 29, 1876 (page 481), and by the acts of the same your (s e page 595) for an att Lfining th . status of Belleville township officers. With the date of this act Belleville again became a township, with all its original powers and authority, having by means of these acts last referred to shorn bh the com mission and city authorities of all lowor.

At this time suits were pending. varied in their character, growing out of this confused state of things. notably moong them the suit brought by Mitfin Paul, to recover the amount due him, being certain bonds issued by the commissioner . of Belleville poll- ing district in payment for William Street pavement, and a second to determine the right of the township authorities to have and spend over the entire town- ship $3279.75. money- in the hands of Theodore Sandford, as treasurer of the commissioners of the Bell vill> polling listrict, the allegation in rebut- ting this claim of right, being that the moneys hav- ing been assessed upon approximately one-half of said township, should not be expended upon the township at large, but upon the territory upon which i was ass used in a manner provided by legislative e artment. which should be obtained in the premises. In the last-named case it was decided in favor of the twoship, and a general expenditure of the money ; most of the suits involving the legal existence of the city were affirmatory of its legal statutes. Those of the city ofieers elected and exercising the functions of their respective offi ers we name, besides Hugh IT does as mayor, -- O. H. Perry, chairman of Coun- ril; Johh L. Daizlas, William McVay, Martin Ma- lague, James Degshan, Henry Lane, Ephraim Moore, Henry B. Marchbank and R. P. Seaine, city clerks ; Richard Ferris, city surveyor. The officers filling the positions of ass wor, collector, town committee, chosen freeholders and town elerk for the year sue- ceeding the return to township authority was, --

Aasesor, Charles F. Willet Collector, John Collard ; Town Committee, William Staniar, John Eastwood, Charles S. Willett, Levi Decker, E- wand Heykel th non Frecholders. M. E. Blewett and Oliver HI. Ferry . Clark, Gir ri Batte pon

1870 -Awar d'barles It. Willett . Collector, Henry Hebern : Town Come Jen Eastwood, An. Francisco. H. Jorlemon. A. Howard "barn, Eli Ve Horton ; Freeh ler, James Scott and Minard Cory mais 1'I rk, Walter & itt.

1×82 -Awwer, Wili Connelly ; Coll-tor. Henry Oshorn ; Town ( mutter 1 H! Perry, John Canton A Loring ( naling. Charles (hearn an. WH sth M Vay Chus n Frechulders, A. E. Sandford and W. r & B. T wnclerk, Im T Boylen.

13 -1 -wr, Wenn Is : Coll tor. J \ Mooney. Town Com. mitt Jou Onlin, A Laaring Pushing, Jamies Uigh n. Charles ('lenr. man W har VeVey, Chosen Forholdene, A. I. Sanford, Walter Scott ; T infbr . I. P - ine

I Sur Willim Connolly , Colle or, E . Sauferd; Town Committee, ( H K Seth Jones Hardman, Jr. Benjamin Preston, I I Bake , T . . Henderson . & homen Freeheldere, A. E Sanford,

Serving as justices of the peace at various periods commencing with the early history we name Josiah Hornblower, John Dow, John Williams, Abraham Joralemon, John C. Lloyd, William M. Sandford, Abra- ham Van Riper, Theodore Sandford. John W. Pow, Abraham W. Van Riper and Mr. Hays. Those serving as sheriff's of the county from this township have been William Dow, John Kennedy and S. V. C. Van Renssclear. William II. Webster having served a term as surrogate. As members of the Senate, resi- dents at Belleville, we give the names of Josiah Hornblower and John Dow; as members of the Assembly, Josiah Hornblower, John Dow, William M. Sandford, Capt. Abraham Spier, Abraham Van Riper, John Kennedy, Abraham V. Spier, Hugh Holmes.

Old Residents and Reminiscences .- THE SPIER FAMILY .-- The first mention made of the Spiers is in connection with a grant of land lying east of the Hackensack and embracing many thousand aeres, in which Hendrick II S. Spier is named as one of several owners. Later we find that on the 2sth day of March, 1679, Captahen, an Indian sachem, executed a deed for faquequenunek to Hans Dider- irk and others; still later, on March 16, Jo84. in the exceution of confirmatory deeds, John Hendrick S; ler is named as one of the grantees.' The Spears of this locality claim to be the descendants of this John Hendrick Spier. They were among the earliest settlers at Freond River, and were Hollanders of the genuine type. They occupied here very large tracts of land, including much within the limits of Povers- land (now the township of Franklin). There is traditional evidence among the Spiers resident here to the effect that John or Hans Spier, of whom they are descendants, was a son of John Hendrick Spier referred to. Hans Spier and Catryna, his wife, were here in 1720, and on July 13th of that year made conveyance to Arent Schuyler, John Stontenburgh and others of the church lot now occupied by the Reformed Dutch Church. The Spier tract was large and covered the heart of what is now the village of Belleville,

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 48

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