History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 115

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 115
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 115


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).


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The first manufacturing establishment of any kind at what is now Bloomsbury was a saw-mill and fur- nace where "blooms" were made from the iron ore, to which reference has already been made.


The grist-mill on the Bethlehem Creek at Asbury was built some time previous to the Revolution, and


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BETHLEHEM.


there has been a mill at this place ever since. The lime interest has been one of importance in this town- ship, and at one time was extensively carried on.


"WEST END IRON COMPANY."


The mines of the company are located in this town- ship, near Bethlehem village, though the post-office is named " West End," to conform to the name of the company. The ore from the Turkey Hill mines, sit- uated about a mile and a half southwest of the vil- lage, is delivered on board cars run on a branch from that place on the Easton and Amboy branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The ore from the Swayze mines, located the same distance east of Jugtown, is earted to the Valley station, on the Central Railroad, a distance of two and a half miles. These mines are producing annually large quantities of the best kind of Bessemer iron ore.


The officers of the company are : President, F. A. Potts; Secretary and Treasurer, John Kean, Jr. ; General Manager, G. M. Miller ; Superintendent, N. Il. Heft.


PHYSICIANS,


The first physician known to have located in what is now this township was Thomas Elder, at Blooms- bury, between 1800 and 1810. Just how long he re- mained here is unknown. The next was John Sloan, who practiced in Bloomsbury from 1820 to 1822. He was followed in 1822 by Hugh Hughes, who died here in 1856.


Other physicians in Bloomsbury have been J. MI. Junkin, Isaae C. Stewart, Joseph Bird, Jeremiah O. Hoff, Dr. Elder, a Scotchman, and the present prac- ticing physician, William R. Little.


At Junction there have been four physicians, of whom there still remain Philip G. Creveling, located in 1866, and Robert Fenwick, the same year, and still in practice.


II. Servis came in 1874, and T. A. Heron in 1876; both still practice here.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


SYLVESTER H. SMITH.


Sylvester II. Smith was born in Franklin township, Warren Co., N. J., July 14, 1821. He is a son of David and Mary (Wyckoff) Smith, the oldest of twelve children,-five sons and seven daughters,-ull living. Mr. Smith lived on a farm till he was twenty years of age, when his father hired him to George Painter, of Asbury, to learn the milling business. This was in 1840. He remained at Asbury, engaged in mill- ing till 1843, in the spring of which year he went to Waterloo, Sussex Co., and engaged in the same occu- pation there, remaining till the fall, when he re-


turned to Asbury and resumed milling business, which he followed till the spring of 1848. In 1849 he en- gaged in milling at Spring Mills, Alexandria town- ship. Hunterdon Co., where he remained one year, and in 1850 removed to his present location, his father having purchased the mill property there. This mill property is situated on a mountain stream in the village of Bethlehem, upon which there has been a mill for more than a hundred years. MIr. Smith purchased the property of his father in 1853, and has rebuilt the mill, and erected two dwelling- houses and other buildings upon the place. He is engaged in grinding both merchant and custom flour, and in handling and shipping grain in bulk, the highest amount having been reached in 1864, in which year he shipped $45,000 worth of grain in the three months of December, January, and February, making a large profit. Since then the amount han- dled has not been so large, though it has steadily amounted to a considerable trade. In 1873 and 1874, while the tunnel on the Lehigh Valley road was being built at this place, Mr. Smith's sales from his mill and coal-yard averaged $2500 per month.


Hle is a Republican in politics, having, as he says, been "left by the Democratic party in 1856." HIe had previously been elected justice of the peace by the Democrats, and served for nine years, from 1851 to 1860. He was again elected justice in 1870, and has held various other local offices in his township. He ran at the instigation of his friends for member of Assembly in 1855, but was defeated by a small ma- jority. He has frequently served as a delegate to county, congressional, and State conventions, and was a member of the Sutfrage State Convention in 1869. In 1874 he was appointed one of the lay judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and held the oflice five years. In 1879 he was nominated for sena- tor for Hunterdon County and made a good race, but on account of certain local issues was defeated.


Mr. Smith married, Oct. 22, 1844, Ann Elizabeth, daughter of John and Catharine McCrea, of Bethle- hem, N. J. They have had ten children,-two sons and eight daughters; two of the latter are deceased. JIis eldest son, Simeon H., is in mercantile business at Bethlehem; the youngest, Abraham Lincoln, is attending school at Trenton, N. J.


HOWARD SERVIS, M.D.


Howard Servis, M.D., was born Oct. 6, 1829, near Ringos, N. J. His father was ferret Servis, a promi- nent citizen of Hunterdon County, who was for three years sheriff, was twice elected to the New Jersey Legislature, and for several years was postmaster at Clinton. His mother was Susan Stout Servis, a grand- daughter of John Hart, one of the signers of the De- claration of Independence. Dr. Servis was educated solely by his father. He studied medicine with Dr. Charles C. Phillips, of Deerfield, Cumberland Co., N. J.


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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.


In 1856 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. Being over twenty-one years of age at the time of his matriculation, he was required to take but two terms, and in 1858 received his degree of Doctor of Medicine.


Howard Servis M. D.


He at once established himself at Fairmount, Hun- terdon Co., N. J., and soon built up an extensive practice. With unusual professional ardor, he deter- mined, after having been in active practice two years, to resume his academic studies, and he accordingly, in the winter of 1860, attended a special course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. He re- turned to Fairmount, but at the end of a year he re- moved to New Hampton, and succeeded to the prac- tice of Dr. McLenahan, a prominent physician, at whose request Dr. Servis made the change. With such indorsement, he succeeded to the full practice of Dr. MeLenahan, and has since won the respect and confidence of the community in which he resides, both as a useful citizen and as an eminently successful phy- sician and surgeon.


He is a member of the District Medical Society of Hunterdon County.


He was married, June 12, 1867, to Belinda, daughter of Philip Johnston, Esq., of Washington, N. J.


SAMUEL CREVELING.


The late Samuel Creveling, of Asbury, was born in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Aug. 6, 1796, and died March 15, 1880. He married Abigail


Warne, Sept. 20, 1820. She was born July 27, 1800, and died March 8, 1863. Their children were Elisha W., born Dec. 11, 1821, married Mehitable Stryker, Dec. 11, 1840 ; Jacob, born Nov. 4, 1823; Susan, born June 19, 1826, married Charles S. Carpenter, Oct. 15, 1845 ; Samuel, born Aug. 14, 1828, married Emma C. Boyer, Dec. 23, 1858; Rachel Ann, born Sept. 14, 1830, married William A. Young, Sept. 14, 1852; Mary Elizabeth, born July 3, 1834; Sarah Ellen, born Sept. 2, 1837, died Jan. 8, 1867; Emma W., born Feb. 29, 1840, married Dr. Frederick P. Shepherd, Jan. 1, 1867; Jane W., born Feb. 16, 1843, married Charles W. Opdyke, Feb. 27, 1862.


Mr. Creveling was a well-known citizen. He fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer, residing on the old homestead near Valley Station. The latter part of his life he lived retired in the village of Asbury, su- perintending the interest of his farms. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for many years, was a man of integrity of character and exem- plary life, very liberal in support of churches. He was also very strong and decided in his political views, being a staunch Republican and a warm frieud and supporter of the principles of that party. He lived to an advanced age, being in his eighty- fourth year at the time of his death.


JOHN C. WENE.


Johu C. Wene was born in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Sept. 20, 1809. He is a son of Paul and Elizabeth (Cregar) Wene. At the age of eight years he went to live with his grandfather Cregar ; lived there until he was thirteen ; then hired out to Ichabod Lee, of Bethlehem, for whom he worked till twenty years of age. The last year of his minority his father gave him his time, and he earned eighty-five dollars, out of which he saved forty. He then came with his brother Conrad to the mountain, and they together purchased the adjoining farm, where his brother now lives. After working here one year he was induced to relinquish his interest in this farm and take the Bigler farm, adjoining, to work upon shares. He has ever since lived upon this farm, having, on the 3d of September, 1859, married a granddaughter of Mr. Bigler, Miss Elizabeth Mat- thews.


Mr. Wene has been an industrious and persistent worker and a good manager, and by prudence and economy has saved a handsome competence. From a boy of eight years of age he has depended upon his own exertions, and had little or no schooling except what he procured for himself after he was twenty-one. Yet he has achieved success, not only in a pecuniary point of view but in the maintenance of a character for integrity and liberality. He has been for about forty years a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, and is one of the largest contributors to


SAMUEL CREVELING, SR.


SAMUEL CREVELING, JR.


Samuel Creveling, Jr., son of Sammuel C'reve- ling, Sr., and Abigail (Warne) Creveling, was born in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Aug. 14, 1828, and died Ang. 19, 1875. He was brought up to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education at the com- mon schools of his neighborhood. He mar- ried, Dec. 23, 1858, Emma C., daughter of David and Lydia (Shimer) Boyer, born in Franklin township, Warren Co., N. J. The fruit of this marriage has been eight children, as follows: infant daughter, born Jan. 9, 1860; Harry d., born April 19, 1861, died Sept. 20, 1862; Jennie, born Jan. 26, 1863; George B.,


born Jan. 23, 1865, lives at home; Julia, born Jan. 11, 1869; Charles, born Sept. 20, 1870, died Oct. 9, 1870; Annie, born Sept. 20, 1870; Lnie, born May 28, 1874, died Ang. 15, 1880.


Mr. Creveling was a staunch Republican, and took an active part in the political affairs of his party, being a frequent delegate to conven- tions, and an earnest and indefatigable worker in behalf of the principles he so highly valued. Hle had a high reputation for honor and integ- rity ; was a faithful and affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent father, and a true friend. His death was much lamented by a large circle of friends.


W. S & reveling


THE ancesters of Dr. Creveling came from Holland, and were among the earliest settlers in the Musconetcong Val- ley. The following is a record of the first couple who settled there and their children : Johannes Creveling, born Jan. 6, 1706; Catharine, his wife, born July 12, 1716, married, Sept. 6, 1737, by Johannes Casprivis Everhartns, minister in Banmoxeein. Their residence is given as Woverlingen, Holland. Johannes Creveling died Jan. 20, 1782. The children of this couple were: William, born Feb. 14, 1739, married, Jan. 28, 1762, to Catharine Wel- ler, by Charles Huff, Esq. ; Mary, born April 24, 1740, married, Jan. 28, 1762, to Henry Strader, by Charles Huff, Esq. ; Henry, born Nov. 6, 1741, married, July 1, 1770, to Sarah Weller, by Thomas Van Horne, Esq. ; Andrew, born Feb. 28, 1743, married, June 18, 1771, to Margaret Patrick, by Minister MeHannah ; Johannes, born Feb. 22, 1745, married, Feb. 8, 1776, to Mary Knowles, by Mr. Stright; Margaret, born Sept. 31, 1747, married, March 30, 1763, to David Beer, by Mr. Rosebrook, minister; Christiana, born Sept. 30, 1749, married, Nov. 29, 1769, to Jacob Weller, by Thomas Van Horne, Esq. ; Peter, born Feb. 22, 1753; Jacob, born March 25, 1755; Anne, born March 10, 1758, mar- ried, Dec. 13, 1778, to John Brinkerhoff, by Joseph Treate.


Jacob Creveling, tenth child of Johannes and Catha- rine, was the grandfather of Dr. William S. Creveling. His father was William Il., youngest son of Jacob Creveling, born July 31, 1801, and married Mary Bar- ber. He lived in the Musconetcong Valley, on the farm cleared by his grandfather Johannes, and had twelve children, nine of whom are living; their names are as follows: John J., now living at Bloomsbury, N. J. ; Christiana, deceased ; Jacob, residing in the city of New


York; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of John Hunt; Wil- liam S., M.D., of West End, Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co .; George, now living in Washington, D. C .; Francelia, wife of Dr. William Little, of Bloomsbury, N. J .; Charlotte V., wife of A. York Smith, residing at Hazleton, Pa .; and Isabella, wife of George W. Scott, of Bloomsbury, N. J.


William Sloan Creveling was born at West End, Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Nov. 21, 1829. He was brought up on a farm and received a good English education, reading in the classics and studying medicine with Dr. John Blane, of Perryville, Hunterdon Co. He commenced his medical studies in 1846, and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of New York in 1851. After practicing one year with his preceptor, in the spring of 1852 be moved to the village of Stanton, Hunterdon Co., where he remained, pursuing a successful professional career, for twenty-two years, and attaining a high reputation as a physician. In 1874 he removed to West End, or Bethlehem Village, where he still follows his profession with the same ardor and success.


Dr. Creveling is a member of the State Medical Society, and holds a practitioner's license from that body. He is also a member of the District Medical Society of Hunterdon County, of which he has several times been president and a delegate to other important medical bedies.


He married, Jan. 2, 1854, Thisby M., daughter of the late John S. Britton, of Hunterdon County. They have two children,-Martha, born Sept. 8, 1855, wife of Dr. Albert S. Shannon, successor of Dr. Creveling at Stanton, N. J., and Mary, single and living at home.


MARTIN H. CREVELING.


Martin H. Creveling was born June 2, 1812, | Alexandria township. They have had four on the place where his life was spent, near the children,-three sons and one daughter, all living,-viz., Agnes, James L., Alfred G., and Charles O. All except Alfred G. reside at home ; he married JJulia J. Smith, and lives at Bloomsbury, N. J. village of Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co., N. J., where he died April 24, 1878. He was a son of Peter and Delilah (Farrell) Creveling ; was educated at the common schools, and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life.


He inherited a part of his father's estate, ou which he was born, and purchased a portion from the other heirs, leaving to his widow and children who survive him a comfortable competence.


He married, Dec. 24, 1840, Hannah Ann Alpaugh, daughter of Charles Alpaugh, of | and relatives.


Mr. Creveling was a man of upright and un- blemished character, and a member of the Pres- byterian Church. Although in feeble health for some time, his death was quite unexpected. He died suddenly, of pneumonia, in three days from the time when he was taken seriously ill. His memory will be cherished by many friends


MG


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BETHLEHEM.


its support and to missionary and other ineidental interests.


In politics he is a Democrat, and has held sey- eral responsible offices in his township, such as a member of the committee, collector, etc.


Mr. and Mrs. Wene have three children, one son and two daughters,-viz., Elizabeth, wife of Henry Laity, foreman of the Swayze mines, Margaret, and John Wene.


DAVID F. WENE.º


His grandfather, Conrad Wene, lived in Tewksbury township, and served in the Revolutionary war. Later in life he lived at Quakertown, where he attained the remarkable age of one hundred and one years. He


Javiobureau


was buried at Lebanon church. His third son, Peter Wene, father of David F., married Polly De Forest, served in the war of 1812-14, had nine children, five sons and four daughters, three of whom-viz., Mary, wife of Aaron Roff, of New Germantown ; Sarah, wife of John Stakle, of Bueks Co., Pa. : and David F., the subject of this sketch-are living.


David F. Wene was born in Lebanon township, N. J., April 8, 1806. He went to Tewksbury town- ship, where his mother died when he was eleven years old, and he was bound out to Kasper B. Wye- kotl, in Readington, and remained there till he was of age, working on a farm. After arriving at his ma- jority, he did farm-work, made brick, etc., up to the


time of his marriage to Elizabeth Dalrymple, in May, 1837. He was saving, prudent, and industrious, and has well realized the reward of his virtues. After his marriage he settled in Bloomsbury and bought prop- erty largely in the village, much of which he still owns, although he has missed few opportunities to dis- pose of a piece of property profitably.


He followed the business of a carpenter and under- taker till 1872, sinee which time he has been in the lumber business, owning a saw-mill at Bloomsbury and a farm near the village. He has ten acres in Warren County which he has been fitting up for a cemetery.


Mr. Wene has been for many years a member of the Greenwich Presbyterian Church.


JOSEPHI W. WILLEVER.


Joseph W. Willever was born Nov. 20, 1820, on the farm adjoining the place where he now resides, being part of the original homestead, in Bethlehem town- ship, Hunterdon Co., N. J. The estate has been more than one hundred years in the family. It belonged first to the Conover (originally Covenhoven) family, one of whom, Sarah, married James Eckman, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch. His grandfather Eckman being one of the heirs, the property came into the Willever family partly in this way and partly by purchase by Mr. Eekman of the other heirs. .


The Willevers from whom he is deseended lived many generations ago in Greenwich (now Franklin) township, Warren Co., where his great-grandfather, Adam Willever, was the original proprietor of a large tract of land, and had also a large tract near Jerseytown, Pa. This land was divided among his six sons, three of whom settled on the estate in Pennsylvania, and three-viz., Joseph, Peter, and Phillip-on that in Warren Co., N. J. Joseph was the grandfather of the subject of our sketch. Ho lived and died on the old homestead in Warren County, having married a Miss Kinneman and raised a family of three children,-two sons and one daugh- ter,-viz., Adam, Peter, and Barbara.


Peter, the second son, was the father of the present Mr. Willever. He was born and reared in Warren County, and lived there till his marriage to Ilannah Eekman, daughter of James and Sarah (Conover) Eckman, above referred to; and after his marriage came to live with his father-in-law on the Eckman, now the Willever estate, in Bethlehem township. He was active in town ntfairs, especially in the militia, in which he held at different times the positions of captain and major. He died in 1835, leaving two sons, Joseph W. and James; the latter now owns the original homestead, but resides at Bloomsbury, N. J.


Joseph W. Willever was brought up on the old homestead and bred to the occupation of a farmer ;


· Or Wenn


470


HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.


received his education at the common schools; has been an indefatigable worker, carrying on a large farm, remodeling everything upon the premises, and erecting buildings which no farmer would be ashamed to pattern after, for their appearance, convenience, and durability. He is living in the third house erected upon the same foundation, probably laid more than a hundred years ago by John Beamer, a native of Ger- many, who came here before the Conovers and erected a stone house. That house was torn down by Mr. Willever and a frame one erected upon the same foundation ; the latter was burned down and another built, which was also destroyed by fire, and was re- placed by the present brick residence in 1859.


Mr. Willever married, May 19, 1842, Elizabeth W., daughter of James Horner, of Northampton, Pa. They have had eight children, five of whom are liv- ing,-viz., James H., Hannah M., deceased ; Jane Alice, deceased ; Robert M., George W., Willard C., deceased ; Stephen A. D., and Anna E. James H. was educated at the Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin, Delaware Co., N. Y. Robert M. and George W. were prepared for business at Eastman's Com- mercial College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Stephen A. D. is studying medicine in Philadelphia. Anna E. was educated at the Moravian Seminary, in Bethle- hem, Pa.


In politics Mr. Willever is a Democrat, and has held several local offices of trust and responsibility, having been justice of the peace and a member of the Legislature for two years,-1855 and 1856. He has been for some fifteen years a director in the Readington Fire Insurance Company, and is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Bloomsbury.


WILLIAM TINSMAN.


The grandfather of Mr. Tinsman formerly resided across the line from the present homestead, in Green- wich (now Franklin) township, Warren Co., and sub- sequently removed to Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., where he settled on a farm and lived there till his death. William Tiusman, Sr., the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born and brought up in Franklin township, Warren Co., and in 1838 moved across the line into Bethlehem township and settled on the place where his son now resides. It is a beau- tiful situation, in the rich valley between West End, or Bethlehem village, and Bloomsbury, within sight of both the Lehigh Valley and Central Railroad of New Jersey.


William Tinsman, Sr., married Mary, daughter of John Fine, of Fineville, N. J., and had children,- John, William, Sally, Catharine, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, and Emily. Only two of these are living at this writing,-to wit, Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Hance, of Bloomsbury, and William, the subject of our sketch.


William Tinsman was born in Greenwich (now Franklin) township, Warren Co., N. J., May 1, 1811. He married, while living in Warren County, Rachel, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Gardner, in 1839.


They have had children, as follows : Mary, wife of Charles Alpaugh, of Bloomsbury ; Theodore, who married Anna Smith and lives in Bloomsbury ; Eliz- abeth, wife of Joseph B. Emery, living on the farm with Mr. Tinsman ; and Margaret, wife of William S. White, a keeper of lighthouse in Salem Co., N. J.


Mr. Tinsman inherited part of his estate from his father and purchased the rest of the heirs. He has been justice of the peace several years, and has held nearly all the responsible offices in his township, has been county collector, and was a member of the Leg- islature in 1851-52. He was elected on the Dem- ocratic ticket, of which party he has always been a staunch supporter, and an active worker in many of its conventions.


In his ecclesiastical relations he was first connected with the Lutheran Church, and represented it in the General Synod. Since his settlement here he has joined the Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury, in which he is an elder. He has represented this church in the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly, and was elected to represent it in the Synod convened at Bridgeton, N. J., in October, 1880, but his health would not admit of his attending. He is a liberal giver to charitable and church enterprises.


I Willever


BRAD


RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH W. WILLEVER, BETHLEHEM TP., HUNTERDON Co., N.J.


RESIDENCE OF W. H. DRAKE, BETHLEHEM TR, HUNTERDON CO, N.J.


REA


THE great-grandfather of W. R. Little came from Europe, and settled in Chester Co., Pa., in 1710. He had a son, Roger, who was a soldier in the Revolution, although a Quaker, being forced into the service on account of his value as a scout. He settled after the war in Charlestown, Chester Co., Pa .; was twice married, and had five children by his second wife, of whom Wil- liam, the father of Dr. Little, was the third, and was born in the year 1800. He lived on the homestead property till 1857, when he moved to East Bradford, Chester Co., where he spent the remainder of his life, and died there, in 1879, in his seventy-ninth year. He never would accept any public office, although nomi- nated for the Legislature with a good chance of election, being a staunch Republican. He fol- lowed farming through life. In 1833 he married Ann Chrisman, by whom he had four children who arrived at mature age, two sons and two daughters,-viz., George Little, who lives on the homestead property ; Martha, wife of Samuel Fetters, of Glenloch, Chester Co., Pa .; Mary


J., who died in young womanhood; and Wil- liam R., the subject of this notice.


William R. Little was born in Charlestown township, Chester Co., Pa., Oct. 27, 1850. He was brought up there, and received his rudi- mentary education at the common schools ; was prepared for college at Litiz Academy, in Lan- caster Co., Pa., and graduated at Lafayette College, Easton, in 1873. Two years later he entered the Medical Department of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and re- ceived his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1877. He immediately settled in Bloomsbury, N. J., where he has remained ever since, acquir- ing a large practice and a good reputation as a physician. In addition to his practice he is also proprietor of a drug-store in Bloomsbury.




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