History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 112

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 112
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 112

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).

" White Hall" (District No. 6) is in the south part of the township. The first school-house was built of logs, in 1801, by Frederick Felver. It stood in what is now the village of White Hall. The second house was erected, of stone, in 1820, by Benjamin Fritts. It stood near the present residence of John S. Apgar. The third (present) house, also of stone, was built in 1848 by Peter C. Apgar. The pioneer teacher was Samuel Anderson.

"Spruce Run" (District No. 7) lies in the south- west part of the township. Its early history was ob- tained from papers of the late Rev. Richard Collier, late pastor of the Lutheran Church there. There have been three houses, all standing upon the site of the present onc. The first was a small frame, huilt in 1766. After it became unfit for school purposes, there was no school in the district for several years. In 1825 a new house was built, a small stone building, which in 1874 gave way for the present structure. The teacher in 1793 was William Brown.

"New Hampton" (District No. 8) lies in the north- west corner of the township. The pioneer house, of logs, stood on the site now occupied by the cabinet- shop of John L. Prall & Sons. The present edifice was built in 1823. Among the pioneer teachers were a Mr. Beetles and a Mr. McConnell.

In 1870 the children of " Junction" (District No. 9) were included in Clarksville district. The present trustees are M. D. Wells, L. L. Fulper, and Everett Gordon.

In "Clarksville" (District No. 10), on the west side of the township, the school-house is of stone, rough- cast, and was built in 1865.

"Glen Gardner" (District No. 11) is in the south- . west corner of the township. The present building is a two-story frame, built in 1865, near the depot. Academic branches are taught. John C. Eayers is the present principal.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. DANIEL F. BEATTY.

Daniel Fisher Beatty, the subject of this sketch, was born on the summit of Schooley's Mountain (near Beattystown), in Lebanon township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., on the 14th of August, 1848. He is the son of George W. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Beatty, the former being a son of James, who emigrated from the north of Ireland and was eighty-eight years old at the time of his death. John Beatty, one of the sons of James, of Ireland, was the father of Maj .- Gen. Samuel Beatty, of Stark Co., Ohio, who served with distinc- tion in the Mexican war, and in the late war of the Rebellion rose through all the grades to the rank of major-general.

James Beatty came to this country in the latter part of the eighteenth century. His son, George W., mar- ried when quite a young man, and brought up a fam- ily of ten children, four daughters and six sons, of whom the third son, Daniel F., has hecome noted for his extraordinary genius and enterprise in the devel- opment and manufacture of the popular musical in- struments which bear his name. In early life he evinced not only a rare business capacity, but a de- cided taste for music and for the rustic scenes sur- rounding his native home in the mountains. In the reception-room of the old homestead the visitor is shown the instrument-an old-fashioned melodeon, long since out of date-which first inspired the sub- ject of our sketch, while he little dreamed that in after-years he should be the means of introducing in- struments far superior to this one on which he prac- ticed his first youthful lessons. Amidst these early associations we learn for the first time the reason why we do not find him established in the city, like other large and influential manufacturers, carrying out his ideas amidst the hnm and bustle of the busy mart, but preferring to remain near the place of his birth and to build up a business which has now become the chief industry of Washington, N. J.

It is said that "young Beatty gave early indica- tions that he was not ' cut out' for a farmer." Tuck- ing liis music-book under his arm, he would sally forth to the fields, and, while perhaps his father would berate him for not taking his hand at the plow, he would be deeply immersed in the mysteries

Dawill Becity

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LEBANON.

of the theory of music, or making out impromptu ad- vertisements of his contemplated occupation, or, beside the cool spring of never-failing water, he would con his book, and amidst rustic scenes and sounds instil into his mind his first rude conceptions which in after- years moulded his tastes and pursuits to that refine- ment which carly musical associations beget.

While at home on the farm, Mr. Beatty led the choir in the church of his neighborhood. His oppor- tunities for education were such only as the common schools afforded, but his lack of classical culture is compensated for in a great measure by his quick per- ception, clear and rapid insight into the nature of things, the characters of men, and the readiness with which he appropriates the results of science and phi- losophy. He sees and generalizes rapidly, and comes directly to his conclusions, which are generally found to be safe and accurate. Above all, that which gives Mr. Beatty his great success is his practical common sense in business matters, which enables him to ar- range his plans with reference to the best financial results,-a quality of mind which appeared early in his life, and which induced his father to entrust him with all his finances while he was yet in his mi- nority.

Starting out in life for himself without one dollar in hand, he commenced business as a salesman, and finally advanced to the manufacture of the instruments which bear his name; and, in the short period of his industrial life and fair dealing, he has so prospered that he now owns one of the largest factories in this country; has large and commodious offices, di- vided into seven departments, connected by electric bells, telephones, and telegraphs, by which news is received and transmitted to all parts of the world, adapted to all branches of his extensive business. Ilis sales of musical instruments are simply enor- mous.

It may be truthfully said of Mr. Beatty that he is a natural genius, a sociable, elever man, and has abun- dantly prospered by being so liberal in giving to his customers the profits of the middle man by selling to them directly. He is a liberal and cheerful giver of his substance to benevolent purposes ; and, as a token of the high appreciation of his fellow-townsmen, he was elected mayor of Washington, N. J., the place of his residence, which office he holds at the present writing. The community which has thus honored him with its confidence is indebted more to him than to any other person for the prosperity it now enjoys, on account of the immense organ and piano trade which he has centralized there. His generous donations of or- ders upon the largest local stores to supply flour to the needy during the severity of winter, and his lib- cral contributions to the various religious organiza- tions, without regard to denomination, are indicative of but few of the many incidents that are continually transpiring, and which have made Mr. Beatty execed- ingly popular among his fellow-citizens.

The following account of the growth and extent of Mr. Beatty's business is taken from the New York Daily Star :

" Daniel F. Boutty is still n youog man, but he has succeeded in build- ing up e business that to-day ranka second to none of its kind in the world, and his name is familiarly known In evory Stato of the Union, and in the Canadas, Mexico, South America, and in many Europenn coun- tries, as the head of an establishment whose operations are vast in con- coption, complete in detalis, and successful in achtovoment. His atten- tion wna early turned to music, and In this way he became interested in the sale and finally fu the manufacture of nmusical instruments. His first operations wore on a small scale, but his active and progressive mind saw wido fields open to energy and enterprise in his chosen voca- tion, oud he has never waverod nor fultored in hla projects. Mr. Beatty conceived the idea of embarking in business for himself, and boing a man with whom to conceive was to perform, he at once established himself in a small office and began to manufacture organs in a small building. By his shrewd, skillful, and persistent advertising ho attracted wide atten- tion at once. llia business grew to such au extent that he was forced to employ assistant after assistant, until to-duy he employs forty men and women to keep his books and manage hia correspondence, besides adding hundreds of workmon at the factories. The growth of his business was n surprise to him, and resulted from his peculiar methods of advertising. Letters and orders poured in very rapidly with every mail, and the in- struments were sold in euch numbers that he was unable to supply the demand without largely increasing his facilities.

" llis organs are known in every part of the civilized world, and every- where favorably known for their cheapness, elegance, and durability. Mr. Bentty is tho man who first conceived the idea of reducing the prices of organs and pianos to a reasonable basis. He exposed the deceptions | practiced by the leading manufacturers, and in face of established prices nud customs he bokelly bid for the patronnge of the musical public. Ho was ridiculed and misrepresented by the monopolists who saw their profita in danger, and no stone was left unturned to defent and ruin him. But conscious of the justice of his intentions, assured that the intelligent public would support him, he gallantly met and repulsed his foes at every turn, and they, instead of crushing him, were forced to curtail, and sone go ent of the market. This was a great thing for one young man to accomplish from an obscure inland village, but Daniel F. Beatty did it. These operations indicate the character of Mr. Bentty's mind.

" Bot amid all the rush and hurry of a vast and far-reaching business, Mr. Beatty never forgets the duties of a minu nud n citizon. Ho was elevated to the Muyoralty of Washington entirely without his socking it. His fellow-citizens choso him. He conducted no campaign, and was not even present on election day, business having called him to New York on that day, and the news of his triumph was telegraphed to his headquarters at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. He bears his honors modestly, and is the same genial, open-handed, free-hearted mun as ever, not for- getting to relieve tho pauper, to donato freely to his church, nor deeming it beneath him to president Children's Day service in his own church."

CORNELIUS STEWART.

Cornelius Stewart was born in the township of Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Dec. 20, 1799. His father, Lewis Stewart, came from near Aberdeen, Scot- land, where he was born Nov. 29, 1751. He married Lavina Hoff, born in Kingwood, N. J., Oct. 16, 1769. Their children were John, born Aug. 31, 1793; Samuel, horn Dec. 30, 1794; Mary, born March 21, 1797; Cornelius, born Dec. 20, 1799; Lewis, born Dec. 1, 1801; Thomas, born July 6, 1809.

Lewis Stewart, the father, died May 20, 1821 ; his wife, Lavina, survived him, and died Dee. 9, 1853.

Cornelius Stewart, the subject of this sketch, mar- ried Elizabeth Carter, March 15, 1832. She was born in Greenwich township (then in Sussex, now in War- ren Co.), N. J., May 26, 1809. They have had children: Sarah, born Dee. 14, 1832; William Runkle, born Feb.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

10, 1835, died May 14, 1842; Lewis, born July 16, 1837, died March 18, 1838; Joseph Carter, born Sept. 1, 1840, married Mary P. Doolittle, of Washington, Warren Co., Oct. 26, 1864; John Hoff, born Sept. 14, 1844, married, first, Rebecca Roebling, June 3, 1869; she died Jan. 10, 1871, and he married for his second wife Fannie Southard, Oct. 16, 1872, and resides in Trenton, N. J .; Mary Isabel, born Nov. 9, 1847.

LITTLE

Cornelius Stewar.

Mr. Stewart was brought up on the homestead farm in Kingwood till about the age of fifteen, when he engaged in clerking, and followed that occupation till 1827, at which date he engaged in mercantile business with Joseph Runkle, at Asbury, N. J., under the firm- name of Stewart & Runkle. They continued in this partnership about six years, when the firm was dis- solved, and Mr. Stewart carried on the business alone till 1838. He then bought the mill property where he now resides, at Changewater, Lebanon township, in company with George Franks. The property at that time had no improvements upon it, except an old mill, which is still standing. They built the large stone mill, forty-five by sixty feet in dimensions and five stories high, and erected the large and commodious residence now occupied by Mr. Stewart. In 1841, Mr. Stewart sold his interest in the mill property to John Strader, and removed to Port Coldin, where he re- mained three years engaged in mercantile business ; he subsequently followed the same business in Wash- ington, N. J., for four years, up to 1846, when he went to New York and engaged in the grocery and commis- sion business, in the firm of Cooper & Stewart, after- wards Stewart & Mettler, till 1853, when he returned to Changewater and purchased the mill property. 1Ie

has followed the business of merchant, miller, and farmer ever since, making improvements in his ma- chinery and keeping everything up to the progress of the times. His mill has a capacity of eighty thousand bushels of grain a year, and is considered the finest of the kind in this portion of New Jersey. It is situated on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, and on the Musconetcong Creek, a fine water-power, about three miles from Washington, Warren Co. Quite a neighborhood of buildings has sprung up in the place, and there is a post-office at Changewater, on the opposite side of the creek in Warren County.

Mr. Stewart possesses the energy and perseverance so characteristic of the nationality from which he is descended, and has made his own way in the world, having been thrown upon his own resources when a small boy. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church at Washington.

NATHAN LANCE.

Nathan Lance was born in Lebanon township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Feb. 25, 1820. He is a son of William and Mary (Anthony) Lance. His grand- father, Peter Lance, was an early settler in Lebanon, and lived on a farm in the township near Anthony.

Nathan Lanee.

Nathan Lance has resided all his life on the farm where he was born. He has been a justice of the peace for twenty years, and has held nearly all the local township offices at different times, being in his political principles a Democrat, as were his father and grandfather before him. Part of his estate he inherited

Was W Swayze

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BETHLEHEM.

from his father and part he has acquired by purchase from the other heirs.

In 1843 he married Margaret, daughter of Morris Fritts, of Lebanon township, and has one child, Mary Cornelia, wife of William H. Anderson, a farmer, re- siding in an adjoining house on the homestead. They have five children,-Lauretta, Anna, Emma, Mar- garet, and Nathan.

Mr. Lance is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Pleasaut Grove, Morris Co., and is an elder in that body.

WILLIAM W. SWAYZE.

Wm. W. Swayze, son of Conrad and Uzinah (Yard) Swayze, was born Oct. 1, 1837, in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J. His grandfather was Andrew Swayze, who lived on a farm in Union township, near Clinton, where he died. His son, Conrad, had five children who reached the age of maturity. Mary, the oldest child, married John Gano, a farmer, residing in Bethlehem township; Sidney Y. is a farmer, also of Bethlehem township; Jacob resides in Clinton ; Sarah is the wife of John R. Bowlby, of Alexandria town- ship; and William W., the subject of this sketch, re- sides at Clarksville, Hunterdon Co., N. J. He was

brought up on a farm in early life and acquired the rudiments of an education at the common schools. He subsequently attended an academy at Easton, Pa., and also the Pennington Seminary, and for some time followed the occupation of teaching. In 1862 he married Leantha, daughter of Robert Smith, of Beth- lehem, by whom he has four children living,-viz., George B. M., Lenora, Minnie, and Gracie.

Mr. Swayze's chief business has been farming and handling stock, which he has carried on successfully on his father's old homestead in Bethlehem. He has taken an active part in local affairs, having held most of the offices in his township at different times. He is at present county treasurer, and has held the office for the last two years. In his political opinions he is a Democrat, and has been quite active in the party. In 1874 he was elected to the Legislature from the Second Assembly District, composed of Alexandria, Bethlehem, Clinton, Franklin, Tewksbury, Lebanon, and Union townships, and the boroughs of French- town and Clinton. During his first term in the House he served on the committees on railroads and canals and on banking and insurance, and the second term on the committees on treasurer's accounts and agri- eulture.

BETHLEHEM.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

BETHLEHEM is one of the northwest townships of the county. It is about ten miles long by three wide, and is bounded east by Lebanon and High Bridge townships; south by Union; west by Alexandria township; north by the Musconeteong Creek, also the dividing line between this township and Warren County.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface presents a variety of topographical features. Along the north half of the township lies the beautiful valley of the Musconetcong, while the southern half is covered by the Museonetcong Moun- tains.

The soil along the valley is a rich alluvial with a mixture of red shale, which returns large erops to the husbandman. The mountain-sides are more of a gravelly loam, but produce good crops under proper cultivation.

There are several small streams that rise in this township, while the Musconetcong washes the entire length of the north side, furnishing ample water- power for large manufacturing establishments, which is improved at both Asbury and Bloomsbury villages.

Spruce Run washes half of the cast border, furnishing excellent water-power at Clarksville. Monselaugha- way Creek, main branch, rises in the north part of Charlestown School District No. 16, and runs south- erly into Union township. Other streams are Black Brook, and Osman, Creveling, Bethlehem, and Vliet Creeks.

A letter in possession of Rev. J. W. Dally, dated Aug. 28, 1765, is directed to "Bethlehem, in West Jersey, in care of Samuel Barnhart," which shows that at least ten years previous to the Revolution this re- gion was known as Bethlehem. There are also deeds in the possession of J. W. Lequcar, Esq., of King- wood township, which describe tracts of land in Bethlehem township as far back as 1745. At just what date the original township (which included what is now others in this county) was surveyed or laid out we have been unable to ascertain, but is be- lieved to be as early as 1725.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

It is a pretty well established fact that the first white settlers of the township were Hollanders, and came here in the early part of the last century. Among the descendants of the pioneer settlers who still retain

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

a portion at least of the original purchases are the Hoffmans, Alpaughs, Crevelings, Hoppocks, Duck- worths, Willevers, Vliets, Boss, Housels, Opdykes, and others, whose ancestors were the pioneers along the river.

Among the German pioneers we find the names of Deremer, Bowlby, Groendyck, Wene, Rodenbaugh, Kimmerhower, Shaffer, Foose, Frittz, Grochley, Sigler, and others, whose descendants are in many cases in pos- session of a part at least of the original tract, and yet a very large percentage of the present owners of real estate have no title-deeds that run back much beyond the birth of their oldest children.

That part of the township immediately around Bloomsbury has come down through the possession of Robert Johnston, who owned a large tract, including not only what is now the village of Bloomsbury, but the farms of Moses Robbins and John Stute on the west, and the Taylor property on the east, of the vil- lage, and running to the top of the mountain. The Taylor tract was probably the eastern part of this original tract of Robert Johnston. A little farther east was a tract owned for a short time by a man named Hamilton ; then came tracts a part of which are still in possession of the descendants of the origi- nal owners, as previously stated. On the east side or end of the township are to be found the Lakes, Terre- berrys, Shorts, Vuslers, Honsels, Walters, Shaffers, Thorps, Wellers, and other descendants of the pio- neers.

An old deed now in possession of J. C. Lake, Esq., at Junction, dated in 1765, given by John Bowlby to Thomas Bowlby, describes quite a large tract of land, covering a part of what is now Junction village, or that portion lying in the township of Bethlehem. The Deremer family still occupy the lands settled by the original Deremer pioneer, between Asbury and the Junction.

A piece of land situated on the side of the moun- tain, above Jugtown, was deeded by Nathan Parke and his wife, Mary, April 26, 1763, to John Cham- bers, of Bethlehem. The document was witnessed by Michael Rosenbury and Roger Ray.

The history of Jeremiah Lott, a " hero of the Revo- lution," was given by his son, John L. Lott, of Bloomsbury, but a few years before his death.

Peter Lott came from Germany about 1750, and settled in the upper part of Hunterdon County. Jere- miah Lott, at the age of eighteen, enlisted in the Revolutionary army. He served seven and a half years, a greater part of the time under Gen. Wayne. He was in most of the important battles in New Jer- sey, fought through the Southern campaign, and was several times taken prisoner. Lott was one of those who guarded Andre on his way to execution. He was also one of the party who pursued Sergt. Champe to the British lines when he was supposed to have de- serted. After the war Mr. Lott came to Bethlehem township and worked at his trade, carpentering.

When Gen. Wayne went on his celebrated expedi- tion to the Ohio, Lott was with him and participated in the battle of the Miami, Ang. 20, 1793. When the Whisky Insurrection of Pennsylvania broke out, he again answered to the roll-call. He finally settled in Bethlehem township, between the farms of John McRea and Jacob Race. He afterwards moved to Bloomsbury, where he died in 1822, and was buried in the Presbyterian cemetery. He had seven chil- dren,-Reuben, moved to Ohio; Henry, went to Illi- nois; James, to New York; Polly, married John Brock; Sarah, married a Mr. Carter; Levina, married John Myers; and John L., lived and died in Blooms- bury. Two of Jeremiah Lott's grandsons, John and Edward, were in the late war. John Leacock, the maternal grandfather of John L. Lott, was of French descent, and settled on the mountain, above Blooms- bury.

Of the Vliet family, descendants of Maj .- Gen. Daniel Vliet, one of the early settlers in the valley, we are unable to give a detailed history, for want of the proper data. . The old general was a prominent man in the early history of this township, having for years held many of the prominent offices. He was boru in 1761 and died in 1833, and was buried in the Vliet family burying-ground on the old homestead. He was in the war of 1812, and commanded the State militia several years.

A TRADITIONARY LEGEND.

About a mile below Bloomsbury, in the bed of the Musconetcong Creek, is "Butler's Hole," about 60 feet deep. In a large rock opposite are several de- pressions, as though intended for moulds in which to run metal. Tradition says that Spanish buccaneers once came here and melted their ill-gotten spoils into ingots and secured them in this hole.

A legend also states that two young adventurers were once fishing in the stream when their lines became entangled and they drew up a large ingot of silver. A party was organized the next day to search farther, bnt they were too late. The young men had revisited the spot by night and cleaned ont the hole, and were nevermore heard of.

Dr. Hughes was a prominent character in this township as late as 1832, when he boarded with C. Tomlinson, in the old log tavern where the brick store now stands, in Bloomsbury. His office was at the side of the old house occupied at that time by - Bidleman, on the site where is now the residence of Henry Gardner. The old office was moved from its original foundation to where C. Alpaugh's house stands, then to the rear of L. Hulsizer's residence; it stood there till the old doctor died, when it was again moved.

EXTRACTS FROM OLD RECORDS.

The following are some of the car-marks mentioned in the old township records :

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BETHLEHEM.

1762 .- Mary Clifford'e oar-mark is n crop off the off ear and a slit in the noor enr. Joseph Beaver's enr-mark is a crop off the near ear. l'eter Caso's ear-mark is a half-ponny nudor each ear and a elit In the near car. Robert Biggers' ear-mark Is a " croop of the off ear, and a nick in the croop and a nick in fore part of the near ear neur his head." James Higgen' our- mark is n " croop off the near ear, and a swallow fork in the off car, and a half-penny in the fore part of the near eur." Joho Beaver's car-mark brought from old book, record there In the year 1753; his mark is a half- penny under sido each ear, and a slit In each ear top the enr.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 112

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170