History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 124

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 124
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 124

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The present building, 24 by 40 feet, is in every way in marked contrast with the old houses. It has a com- manding situation, and is the pride of the district.

In "The Grove" (District No. 79), a school-house was standing on the lands of George Biggs, not far from the site of the present building, in 1776. It is said that Henry Mendham was an early teacher, and George Sharp one of the oldest trustees. There are reported to have existed within the bounds of this district four school-houses, but the date cannot be given. The present building is in size 18 by 30 feet.

SOCIETIES AND CORPORATIONS.

In 1827 a society was organized after the plan of the one instituted at Amwell the previous year. Its title was the "Readington, Tewksbury, and Lebanon

Society for the Suppression of Vice and Immorality, and for the Promotion of Virtue and Good Morals." In its constitution its principal object was stated to be "to carry into full effect the salutary laws of the State against vice and immorality by aiding the civil authorities," and every member was pledged "to em- ploy his influence and exertions to attain this object," but "in no cases shall legal coercion be resorted to except those in which persuasion, admonition, and other mild measures are found ineffectual." The first officers of the society were: President, David Tra- phagen; Vice-President, Garret V. Stryker; Secretary, William Johnson ; Treasurer, Lucas Voorhees; Man- agers, William Johnson, William Rockafellar, Abram A. Johnson, Martin Wyckoff, Jr., Capt. Cornelius Ten Eyck, Joseph Cratz, David M. Kline, C. Van Nostrand, J. Mitchell, Philip Alpaugh, Esq., John Haas, Esq., Isaac Dumont, Conrad Rarick, Henry Miller, Jr., Nicholas Wyckoff, William J. Alpaugh, Peter P. Schamp, Joseph Van Doren, Martin Nevius, and John Reger. How long this society existed is not known.

"The Farmers' Mutual Fire Assurance Association of New Jersey" was chartered March 3, 1856, by the State Legislature to insure dwelling-houses, school- houses, churches, mechanic-shops, barns, etc., with or without their contents, against loss or damage by fire or lightning. Twenty-two persons were named as the incorporators, the charter to continue at the pleasure of the Legislature. The directors appointed by the charter were nine: Isaac R. Srope, David Davis, Peter E. Voorhees, Tunis V. M. Cox, John P. Rittenhouse, and Nelson Thatcher, of Hunterdon County ; John S. Hoagland, Andrew Fleming, and James Ten Eyck, of Somerset County. The company commenced business April 26, 1856, with $120,000 worth of property insured. The first officers (ap- pointed April 26, 1856) were Peter E. Voorhees, President ; Andrew Fleming, Treasurer .; Joseph Thompson, Secretary.

The increase has been gradual, and, from the state- ment on file in the office of the Secretary of State at Trenton, the company on Dec. 31, 1879, had $12,682,434 worth of property insured, extending over the counties of Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Morris, Sussex, and Warren. At the same date the losses had been 323, varying in amount from $3 to $3000. The company is out of debt, and has over $3000 in the treasury.

The present officers are David Davis, President; T. V. M. Cox, Vice-President; Calvin Corle, Treasurer ; Joseph Thompson, Secretary ; Aaron J. Thompson, Assistant Secretary ; David Davis, T. V. M. Cox, Wm. P. Johnson, Peter P. Quick, Henry F. Bodine, Andrew Van Sickle, and Moses Robbins, of Hunterdon; C. N. Dumont, Calvin Corle, and C. Nelson Staats, of Somerset; David W. Dellisher, of Morris; William Ramsey, of Warren ; Thomas Armstrong, of Sussex, Directors.

John line

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READINGTON.

CEMETERIES.

There are burial-places connected with all the churches in the township except the Centreville Methodist Episcopal, also very many family burial- grounds, some of quite early origin. A little to the northeast of the Wyckoff homestead are the relics of the old family burying-ground, the fragments of a few headstones alone marking the site. From these, in 1873, it was deciphered that "Cornelius Wyckoff, Sr., died April 1, 1796, in the 81st year of his age," and his wife " Elizabeth, May 1, 1799, in her 80th year."

An important cemetery is that at Pleasant Run, on what was formerly the Emans farm, now the prop- erty of James N. Pideock. It was used as a place of interment by the people of Readington township gen- erally, and is one of the earliest within her limits. It is still occasionally used. In it repose the remains of many of the Biggs, Coles, Schamp, Van Fleet, and Emans families.

Adjoining the White House station is an ancient ground which about 1850 was inelosed with a stone wall by the descendants of the Van Horns, Pickels, Covenhovens, Andersons, etc., whose ancestors were buried there. ' The graves of George Anderson and a few others are marked by red sandstone slabs with still legible inscriptions.

The Smith burial-ground is located on the farm first settled by John Henry Smith, at the foot of the mountain, near the source of the Pleasant Run. In it he and various of his descendants lie buried.

On the road from Readington to Drea Ilook is the Schamp family cemetery. Directly west, and adjoin- ing, is a very old burial-place, now disused and ne- glected. On the north side of the road, directly op- posite, is the burial-lot of the De Mott, Decker, and Vroom families. This is also in a dilapidated condi- tion.

The burial-ground of the Readington Reformed Church was opened in 1804. John Ditmars, Sr., erected the fenee around it, and was the first person buried there. Ifis son, Capt. John, followed soon after. Prior to 1804 the church had a cemetery about one-quarter of a mile from the present one; it was located on land then owned by Casper Berger, now the property of William Fitch. Since the opening of the new yard the old one has not been used, and is much neglected.

INDUSTRIAL.

Jacob Klein, the grandfather of the John who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, was a tanner and currier, and three of his sons carried on the business in this township: John William, on the original homestead; Peter, on the farm adjoining on the west; and Aaron, near Drea Hook. Other descendants con- tinued the business on Campbell's Brook, near Cushe- tunk Mountain; but it has long been abandoned.

In 1828, Washington Skillman notified the public

that he would " continue the business of wool-carding the present season, at the well-known stand of Nich- olas Stilwell, at the White House."

William Corwine removed from Cushetunk Moun- tain to Readington Church in 1829, and with Mr. Cozine (firm of Cozine & Corwine) engaged in the manufacture of " double spread, diaper, carpet, etc."

At Mechanicsville, in 1829, George Hall opened a shop for " cabinet- and plough-making, wheelwright- ing, blacksmithing, and painting," Ephraim Parker a saddlery and harness-shop, and William Risler a tailor-shop.

More than one hundred years ago Michael Kinney had an apple-distillery near the middle of the town- ship, on Holland's Brook ; his son and grandson after- wards added a rye-distillery. There was another, near the foot of Cushetunk Mountain, west of White Ilouse station, and one at Centreville ; afterwards one was erected on the farm cast of White House, now owned by Theodore Polhemns, another near Pleasant Run store, and one north from The Grove Methodist Episcopal church. They all did a thriving business in their day. The only one now in operation is near Pleasant Run post-office.

The "Readington Mining Company," which in 1847 was carrying on mining operations at the copper mines, four miles north of Flemington, like most of the other mining companies of this section, soon sus- pended operations, and since has been dormant.

From 1820-25 considerable excitement was created by the discovery of mineral springs near the source of Campbell's Brook. Buildings were erected, grounds improved and cleared, and it appeared for a while that they would rival Schooley's Mountain Springs. Though the waters were prononneed by chemists to be of much benefit in certain diseases, the supply was limited, and the speculation was a failure. Summer boarders from the city, at White House and vieinity, still visit the place and drink of the waters.

EARLY ROADS.

A road leading by the New Mills, built by Andrew Leake, in Readington township, was laid in 1761, " beginning at a black-oak on the main road leading from New Germantown, and along lands of Andrew Ten Eyck, along by a wheat-field," ete. On petition of James Stout, during the same year, November 6th, a two-rod road was laid out, " beginning at a four-rod road against Peter Rockafellow's house, running across said Rockafellow's land as the beaten path runs to James Stout's land, thence across Stout's land to Stout's mill." The commissioners who laid out these roads were Thomas Atkinson, Morris Wolverton, Winant Vandeventer, and Isaac De Mott .*

MILITARY.

Joseph Hankinson was a soldier of the Revolution. He subsequently was a member of the Legislature

· " Tradillons of our Ancestors," 1870.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

and of Congress. He died in Readington, Nov. 30, 1825, aged eighty-one. His descendants still live on the homestead farm, in the southwest part of the township.

Col. David Sehamp, who was engaged in the battle of Trenton, was the second son of Hendrick Schamp; he was a captain in the secret service of Gen. Wash- ington. He lived on Pleasant Run, in a house a part of which is still standing, and occupied by his grand- son, David Schamp. His wife was Helena Hoffman, daughter of Johannes Hoffman, a large landholder near Metler's Mills.

Other Revolutionary worthies from this township: Fulkert Voorhees, Jacobus Aray (colored), Adrian Johnson, Peter Latourette, and Cornelius Latourette were in the Continental service; in the militia were Lieut. Abram Post, Lieut. (or Ensign) Abraham Ten Eyck, Jacob Neff, and Capt. Cornelius Lane.

Readington did its full share in sustaining the government during the war of the Rebellion.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. JAMES N. PIDCOCK.

James Nelson Pidcock, the subject of this sketch, was born at Mechanicsville, N. J., Feb. 8, 1836. He is descended from an English family who settled in New Jersey at an early date, and is a son of John G. Pidcock, whose wife's maiden name was Ramsey. His parents, when he was about five years of age, re- moved to Lebanon, Hunterdon Co., N. J., where he was brought up till about the age of thirteen and attended the public schools. About this time he left school and went to work with a corps of engineers on the Belvidere Delaware Railroad, where he was en- gaged till 1851, and so profited by his experience that he was able, upon going South, to take charge of the construction of a section (twenty-five miles in length) of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, situated in the State of Mississippi. This work he carried on suc- cessfully, notwithstanding the deleterious effect of the climate, till the financial panic of 1857 so damaged the immediate prospects of the company that he re- signed his position and came home. He soon after became a member of the firm of William E. Henry & Co., and took a contract to build several miles of the Allentown and Auburn Railroad. The financial disaster also impeded the progress of this road, and the company being obliged to suspend operations, he and his partner lost heavily, but paid all their in- debtedness.

During the remainder of that disastrous year, in- stead of remaining idle and complaining of hard times, he planned new enterprises, and, in company with J. E. Voorhees and J. F. Wyckoff, engaged

largely in the purchase of clothing at forced sales in New York, disposing of the purchases by wholesale and at auction through the country. These operations resulted in handsome profits. Engaging next in busi- ness as drover and stock-dealer, his profits largely in- creased until 1861, when, owing to the embarrassment caused by the first stage of the war, he lost all he had saved during the preceding prosperous years, and had literally to commence business anew, with no other capital than his characteristic energy and persever- ance. He chose to remain in the stock trade, and did so with fair success till 1865, when, in company with J. N. Ramsey and Richard Bellis, he commenced business in New York and Jersey City as live-stock commission merchant. He continued in this way till 1868, losing in the mean time eighteen thousand dollars through the defalcation of a bookkeeper in the employ of the firm, and then became sole pro- prietor of the business, which, under his enterprising and judicious management, became one of the largest of the kind in New York and vicinity, averaging three hundred thousand head of live-stock, sheep, and lambs a year, and comprising, besides the large local trade, heavy consignments from the South and West.

In 1875 he entered into copartnership with Mr. Philip S. Kase, under the firm-name of Kase & Pid- cock. The present headquarters of the business are at the Central Stock-Yards of Jersey City.

In politics Mr. Pidcock is a Democrat, but previous to 1873 took no part as a candidate for any office. In that year he was the regular nominee of the Demo- cratic party for the office of State senator, and was defeated by Hon. F. A. Potts, the Republican candi- date. He was again nominated in 1876, and elected by a majority of sixteen hundred and seventy-five votes. He is largely interested in real estate in the vicinity of White House, Hunterdon Co., the place of his family residence. He has been largely instru- mental in the improvement of the village, selling property on time for building purposes, and advanc- ing purchasers a large part of the money necessary to erect buildings thereon. He was married in 1862 to Fanny A. Faulks, of Elizabeth, N. J.

BERIAHI A. WATSON, M.D.

Beriah A. Watson, M.D., was born at Lake George,- Warren Co., N. Y., on the 26th of March, 1836. He is the third son of Perry and Maria (Place) Watson, -the former a native of Rhode Island and son of Perry Watson, Sr., who participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. In early youth he removed to Green- wich, Washington Co., N. Y., where his wife was born, and where he followed the occupation of a farmer in that and the adjoining county of Warren. Here the subject of our sketch was early made acquainted with farm labor ; but, having a decided preference for study, he was allowed to attend school more than the

Julazy Pub. C. Pralai

M. a. Thalkow M.3.

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ordinary winter months devoted to the education of farmers' boys. He was soon placed in the family of Jonathan Streeter, an intelligent Quaker of that lo- cality, where he enjoyed uncommon advantages for mental discipline and for that orderly and systematic pursuit of knowledge which laid the foundation of his future snecess as a student and medieal writer. He spent two years in this Quaker family, then taught school to acquire the means of prosecuting his future studies. At the age of twenty-one he entered the office of the late Dr. James Reiley, at Suckasunny, Morris Co., N. J., where he studied medicine, and in the autumn of 1859 entered the Medical Department of the University of New York, where he took his de- gree of Doctor of Medicine in the spring of 1861. After graduation he located at White House, N. J., where he practiced for a short time. In the fall of 1862 he entered the United States service as a con- traet surgeon, after having passed an examination before the board of examiners, appointed by the Surgeon-General U.S.A., of which Dr. Valentine Mott was president, and was ordered to report for duty September 1st, at Newark, where he was en- gaged in the army hospital service until March 26, 1863. He then received a commission from Governor Parker as assistant surgeon of the Fourth New Jersey Volunteers, and reported promptly to the comman- dant of his regiment, but very soon after was de- tached from that command and ordered to report to Dr. Asch, medical director of the Artillery Reserve, and by him directed to take charge of the artillery brigade then located at Falmouth, Va. He remained with that command until after the battle of Gettys- burg, when he received orders to return to his regi- ment (the Fourth New Jersey), of which he was com- missioned surgeon, with the rank of major, November 4th. Shortly after this he was detailed as one of the operating surgeons to the First Brigade, First Divis- ion of the Sixth Army Corps, stationed in front of Petersburg, Va., at this time.

In this capacity he had served but a few months when he was ordered to take charge of the First Di- vision, Sixth Army Corps Hospital, and at the same time made acting medical purveyor of the corps. Ile retained these positions, and continued to discharge the duties until the close of the war, retiring from the service July 10, 1865.

Returning to civil life, he made choice of Jersey City as his future residence, and resumed the prac- tice of his profession. Although actively engaged in practice, he still finds time for study, and very few men of any period of life enter into it with more ardor. The passage of the act legalizing dissection of human cadavera in this State was seeured principally through his efforts and those of his friend, Dr. J. D. MeGill. The same may be said in regard to the formation of the New Jersey Academy of Medicine.

IIe is a fellow of the New Jersey Academy of Med- ieine; permanent member of the American Medical 33

Association ; member of the New York Neurological Society, New York Pathological Society, New Jersey Microscopical Society, and also of the Jersey City Pathological Society. He has been president of the New Jersey Academy of Medicine, and also of the District Medieal Society for the county of Hudson, N. J. He was appointed attending surgeon to the Jersey City Charity Hospital at the time of its organ- ization, in 1869, and was also appointed attending surgeon to the St. Francis Hospital in 1873, and still continues to discharge the duties of both positions.

He has from time to time contributed essays and reports of cases to medical journals, among which may be mentioned the following : " A Case of Facial Neu- ralgia treated by Extirpation of the Superior Max- illary Nerve," The Medical Record, Oet. 16, 1871. " A Case of Hæematoma of the Thigh-Two Opera- tions ; Death," The Medical Record, Feb. 20, 1875. "The Pathology and Treatment of Chronic Uleers," New York Medical Journal, July, 1875. "A Supposed Case of Rabies Canina treated with Strychnia and Woorara ; Recovery," The American Journal of Medi- cal Science, July, 1876. " Femoral Aneurism treated by Plugging the Sac; Death, caused by Hemorrhage from Deep Epigastric Artery, on the Eighteenth Day ; Autopsy ; Remarks," The American Journal of Medi- cal Science, October, 1876. "Stomach-Pump, Aspira- tor, and Syringe," The Medical Record, New York, vol. ii .. p. 805. "Woorara in Rabies : Report of Two Cases, with Remarks," The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, vol. Ixxiii. p. 413. " Lever Exseetion-Saw," The Medical Record, New York, vol. xiii. p. 38. "Dis- cotome," Ibid., vol. xiv. p. 78. "Gunpowder Disfigure- | ments," The St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. xxxv. p. 145. "Pyzemia and Septicemia," New York Medical Journal, vol. xxvi. pp. 367, 461. " Dis- ease Germs: their Origin, Nature, and Relation to Wounds," Transactions of the American Medical Asso- ciation, vol. xxix. p. 263. Translation from German, " Woorara in Tetanus" (extract from a "Contribution to the Knowledge of Tetanus," by 1. E. Knecht, Physician to the Prison of Waldheim, reported in Schmidt's Jahrbücher, band. elxxiii. 294), New York Medical Journal, vol. xxvii. p. 626. "Remarks on Treatment of Stumps after Amputation: a New Method," Landon Lancet, vol. i. (1879) p. 536.

TRANSLATIONS FROM THE FRENCH .- " New Mode of Surgical Treatment" (" Histoire de la Chirurgie Française," par le Docteur Jules Rochard, Edit. 1875, p. 635, et seq.), St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. xxxvi. p. 442; vol. xxxvii. pp. 23, 439; vol. xxxviii. p. 478; vol. xxxix. p. 484. " A Contributiou to the Treatment of Compound Fractures of the Skull," Richmond and Louisville Medical Journal, vol. xxviii. p. 1. "Antiseptic Treatment of Wounds : Carbolie Acid rs. Alcohol," The Medical Record, New York, vol. xvi. p. 46. "The Proper Period for the Per- formance of Amputation in Cases of Traumatic In- juries," Gillard's Medical Journal, vol. xxx. p. 1 (for-

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merly the Richmond and Louisville Medical Journal). "A Contribution to the Study of the Action of the Carbolized Spray in the Antiseptic Treatment of Wounds," The American Journal of the Medical Sci- ences, vol. lxxx. p. 419.

JOHN KLINE.

The subject of this brief memoir was born near New Germantown, Hunterdon Co., N. J., on the 8th day of August, A.D. 1784. He was the grandson of Jacob Kline, who was born in Germany, March 6, 1714, and Fraenica Gertraut Melick, born at Lan- daff, Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 9, 1727. They emigrated to America, and settled at Readington, on the farm where the subject of this sketch spent eighty- three years of his life (from 1796 to 1880). Jacob Kline was for many years a justice of the peace of the county of Hunterdon; his docket, kept in the German language, is now in the possession of Lewis Vandoren, of Peapack, N. J. He died A.D. 1789, and was buried in the Lutheran cemetery, at New Germantown. His widow, Fraenica Gertraut, died A.D. 1801, at the house of her daughter, at Ger- mantown, Pa. They had six sons and three daugh- ters. The sons, as well as the father, were not only agriculturists, but tanners and curriers also. Their eldest son, John William Kline, was born Jan. 5, 1750. He married Altje, daughter of Matthias Smock and Geertje Post, Jan. 24, 1780. They had one daugh- ter, Charity Kline, born Nov. 6, 1780, married Henry Van Derveer, May 12, 1799, and had six children, two of whom are deceased, leaving no issue,-viz., Rev. John Van Derveer, D.D., of Easton, Pa., and Jacob K. Van Derveer, of Flemington, late of Clover Hill. Those still living are Peter N. Van Derveer, of Somer- ville; Alletta Vandoren, relict of Christianus T. Van- doren, late of Neshanic; Mary, relict of John C. Van Liew, of the same place; and Henry Van Derveer, of North Branch. Peter has two sons and three daugh- ters. Mary has two sons and one daughter,-Henry V. D., John J., and Anna Van Liew. Henry Van Derveer, of North Branch, married Frances Caroline Blackwell, of Amwell; she died without issue, August, 1880.

John Kline was born, as above stated, on what was for many years known as "the Cole farm," half a mile southwest from New Germantown. His father, John William Kline, moved to Lower Valley, and engaged in mercantile business with David Miller; and when John was twelve years of age, he returned with his family to the homestead at Readington, three years before his father's death. He was a man of correct habits and exemplary character, much respected in the community,-and so were his brothers and sisters, -and attached to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Ilis son, the late John Kline, married Catharine Williamson, Oct. 27, 1804, who died A.D. 1837; and

for his second wife he married Ellen Wyckoff (widow of Henry Vroom), Jan. 27, 1841, who survives him and now resides in Somerville, N. J. Mrs. Vroom (the youngest daughter of Dennis Wyckoff, Esq.) had one daughter by her first husband, Henrietta Vroom, born in Wayne Co., Ohio, June 27, 1836; was edu- cated at the female institute in Somerville. She married Lewis Vandoren, of Peapack, Somerset Co., N. J., and died January, 1875, leaving three children, -John Henry, Ellen Kline, and Henrietta Vroom. Mr. Kline did for her in all respects as he would have done for an only daughter, and she loved and re- spected him as a father. The death of Mr. Kline, which occurred Jan. 20, 1880, was deeply lamented by the whole community. He was the patriarch of that section of the country, and commanded more than the respect of all who knew him. He was hon- ored and beloved. Speaking of his funeral at his late residence on the homestead farm of his father and grandfather, and where he had spent eighty-three years of his life, the obituary notice says, "Never had that wide-spread, hospitable roof covered a larger company, and seldom has such a gathering been so entirely pervaded and absorbed with affectionate rev- erence for departed worth." Several years before his death he selected for his funeral text, "To live is Christ, to die is gain." He was a man of exemplary, devoted Christian life, genial in spirit and abundant in hospitality ; of simple, child-like faith and unos- tentatious manners, he was yet a man of positive strength of character, and exerted a wide-spread influ- ence for good, being a liberal patron of the church and a free giver to every charitable and benevolent enterprise. From the worldly abundance with which Providence had blessed him, and from the rich treas- ure of his inner life, he shed a light and a benediction upon all around him. His body lies in the Reading- ton cemetery, near the Reformed church, of which he was many years a member and ruling elder. A granite monument, inclosed by an iron fence, marks the place of burial.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 124

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