History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 130

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 130
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 130

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).

In 1869 the High Bridge Methodist Episcopal Church was established, at which time the member- ship was about 80. Rev. William S. Searls was then the pastor, and succeeding him to 1880 came Revs. Theodore D. Frazec, John Faull, and Jacob Tindall.

In 1873 the erection of the present house of wor- ship, costing $7000, was begun and completed, so that the basement was used for meetings in 1874, but not fully finished until 1879. The membership is now claimed to be 200, and church affairs are in a pros- perous condition. Rev. Jacob Tindall is the pastor ; George Simpson, William G. Simpson, Wesley Ap- gar, and C. S. Hummel are the class-leaders; John Strobel, John W. Hummer, Nicholas Conover, Jerome B. McLean, E. J. Cregar, and Matthias Agen, the trustees; and William G. Simpson, super- intendent of the Sabbath-school, in which the attend- ance averages 160.

THE REFORMED CHURCH IN HIGH BRIDGE.

Members of the Reformed Church living in High Bridge and vicinity prepared a petition, Jan. 24, 1866, and transmitted it to the Classis of Raritan, asking to be organized as a Reformed Dutch Church, the peti- tioners reciting that there had been Reformed Dutch preaching in the vicinity "for the past twenty-five years." Those who signed the petition were D. L. Everett, Edward Johnston, Isaac Hummer, Charles Fox, Nicholas Emery, W. C. Beavers, W. J. Iloff- man, A. V. Cregar, Samuel Carhart, Jacob Cregar, P. A. Beavers, Henry Rockafellow, J. G. Scale, J. J. Tunison, C. S. Hummel, William Hackett, Benjamin Cole, J. H. Cregar, Jacob Cole, Charles Conover, Newton Hoffman, J. H. Bennett, William Lance, Andrew Cregar, Nelson Bennett, Parish Apgar, Mrs. Jane Hoffman, Thomas Conover, Jacob Hackett.

In accordance with the petition, the church was or- ganized Feb. 13, 1866, Rev. P. M. Doolittle, president of the Classis of Raritan, presiding. Charles Conover and Isaac Hummer were chosen elders, and John G. Seale and J. H. Bennett deacons, Rev. Robert Van Amburgh preached a while for the church, and May 27, 1866, Rev. Cornelius Wyckoff commenced his labors as stated pastor. In 1869, Rev. Robert Van Amburgh became pastor, and in 1870 a church and parsonage were built, worship having previously been held in the church built in 1854 by the Albright

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Methodists and sold to the Reformed Duteh congre- gation some years after. In 1871, Rev. Jacob Fehr- man took charge, and remained in the pastorate until his death, March 1, 1874. At that time the member- ship was 78. In 1875, Rev. Artemas Dean, the present pastor, began his labors.

November, 1880, the elders were Charles Conover, David Neighbour, James H. Walker, and David Apgar; the deacons, Thomas Richards, Frederick Apgar, William H. Day, and John Alpaugh. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is James H. Walker. In the church the membership is 107; in the school the attendance is 125.

ST. JOSEPH'S (ROMAN CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

There was no Roman Catholic preaching at High Bridge until 1876, when Rev. Franeis O'Neil, sta- tioned at the Junetion, began to hold occasional ser- viees, and for six months preached onee a month or so in a publie hall and in the old Methodist Episcopal church building. After his departure no regular ser- vices were held until Rev. J. F. Brady took charge of the congregation at Clinton in the summer of 1879. At that time he began to preach at High Bridge also, and, the congregation purchasing the old Albright Methodist church building, remodeled and made of it a neat house of worship, which they dedicated Nov. 25, 1880. Regular services are now held three times each month. In November, 1880, St. Joseph's con- gregation included forty-six families.

SOCIETIES.

"Rialto Lodge, No. 161, I. O. O. F." was chartered Nov. 8, 1871, with six members, as follows: N. G., Henry Roekafellow; V. G., Theodore Perry ; See., J. B. Everett ; Treas., J. B. Cronee; Allen Apgar and A. B. Valentine. Among those who have served the lodge as Noble Grands sinee 1871 have been Henry Rockafellow, Thomas Perry, Thomas Rich- ards, William P. Frey, C. C. Apgar, William J. Iliff, A. B. Valentine, Henry K. MeLean, J. B. Everett, J. K. Naughright, T. H. Dunn, D. L. Apgar. In No- vember, 1880, the membership was 60 and the officers D. L. Apgar, N. G .; George Simpson, V. G .; J. B. Everett, R. Sec .; F. A. Apgar, P. See. ; J. T. Dor- land, Treas.

VILLAGES.

EAST HIGH BRIDGE .- On the south side of the South Branch of the Raritan is a hamlet known as Everettstown or East High Bridge, but, properly eon- ' sidered, a portion of High Bridge village. D. L. Everett made the first improvement there in 1838, when he erected a dwelling and wagon-shop. Mr. Everett has since lived there, pursuing his business of wagon-making, and, as a village began to cluster about him, he was naturally looked upon as its father, and so it came to be known as Everettstown.

COKESBURG has long been a hamlet. It lies upon both sides of the eastern town line of High Bridge,

with but a meagre village showing in the latter town- ship. In the Tewksbury portion there are two churches, a school, a store, wagon-shop, ete.

SCHOOLS.

In School District No. 60, known as "Silverthorn" (after a family of that name early in the neighbor- hood of the school-house), there was a school-house in 1825 near the locality now ealled Tunison's Cor- ners. How long the school had existed there cannot be told. Daniel Seale went to school there and re- members that Benjamin Lloyd was his teacher, and that among the scholars were children of the Birds, Hildebrants, Crozats, Rolands, Cregars, and Apgars. Charles Q. Phillips and a Mr. Armstrong were teachers, and Obadiah Evans taught there in 1836. In 1848 the school lot became the property of Caleb Halstead, of New York, who donated the present site, conditioned that a stone school-house be erected thereon. That house was accordingly built, and in 1875 replaced by the present frame structure, 22 by 32 feet, and possessing a seating capacity for 100 scholars. In November, 1880, the teacher was James White, and the trustees George N. Cregar, James McKerren, and Edgar I. Cregar.

The present school-house in District No. 59, ealled "Roeky Run," was built in 1870. Moses Gardner was the first teacher, and Thomas Banghart, Sr., Con- rad Honness, and George Rodenbough the first trus- tees. In the High Bridge distriet school was taught at a very early period. John Seale, a school-teacher, lived at the iron-works long before 1800, and, as it is certain he taught school, the inference is that he taught in his home locality. A school-house was built in 1846 in East High Bridge, in which the first teacher was Philip Creveling. The present school- house, a two-story frame, standing in East High Bridge, was built in 1864. It will seat 170 and has an average attendance of 130. I. P. Bailey is the principal; Lizzie Henry and Emma Cook the assist- ants. Isaac Hoffman, Henry Estes, and Thomas Richards were the trustees in 1880.

INDUSTRIES.

The iron-works at High Bridge, lying motionless from the time when Allan & Turner's property was sold (about 1783) until 1851, were in that year restored to activity by Mr. Lewis H. Taylor, although not carried on at first in a very extensive way. The building of the New Jersey Central Railroad, in 1851, was the in- eentive to the revival of the industry, just as the laek of transportation had eaused its cessation years before and kept it quiet until then.

In 1851 these works consisted of a bloomery-forge with one hammer and one fire, making about one and a quarter tons of bar-iron per week. In 1852 another fire was added, doubling the production. In 1853 the manufacture of wagon-axles, in addition to bar-iron, was commenced. In 1854 a scrap-furnace and ham-

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HIIGH BRIDGE.

mer were added, and the production from this time to 1858 was mainly wagon-axles.

About 1856 the manufacture of car-axles began, but they were not made in any quantity until the third hammer and second scrap-furnace were built, in 1863.

In 1866, W. J. Taylor, son of L. H. Taylor, re- turned to High Bridge, became interested with his father, took charge of the business and began extend- ing the works. The first addition under his manage- ment was a car-wheel foundry in the same year.

In 1868, Mr. Taylor, in connection with his father, formed a stock company under the corporate title of "Taylor Iron-Works," with an authorized capital of $500,000. His father was made president and he the general manager and treasurer, with many of the representative men of the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey as stockholders. During the next four years many improvements were made, the most im- portant of which were the building of the dam and the railroad connecting the works with the Central Railroad. The dam is twenty-six feet high, and its erection employed one hundred men'for about a year.

In 1874, Mr. Taylor retired from the management, and was succeeded by Mr. J. HI. Walker as secretary and treasurer, L. H. Taylor remaining president.

The force of men under regular employment reaches 185. The departments of the works are a forge, foundry, and machine-shop. The company owns about two miles of railway-track, locomotive, cars, etc., and a landed territory, in connection with the works, of 130 acres. The motive-power is furnished by the South Branch of the Raritan, and is claimed to equal the power of 473 horses-the total fall being 33 feet.

The directors of Taylor's iron-works for 1880 were John Brown and Jesse Lines, of Easton ; William J. Taylor, of Chester ; Lewis H. Taylor, of High Bridge; James Moore, of Elizabeth. S. P. Raber, the super- intendent, has been such since 1872.

The iron mines once the supply of the works have not contributed towards their support for many years. They were sold years ago by Mr. L. II. Taylor to the Thomas Iron Company, a Pennsylvania corporation.

"The American Chemical, Mining, and Manufae- turing Company" was formed for the manufacture of plumbago from ore found in considerable quantities near High Bridge. The company's works are located just north of High Bridge village, where they have six and a half acres of land, upon which there is a vein of ore 512 yards in length and from 8 to 20 feet in width on the surface. The capital invested in the enterprise is represented to be $30,000.

South of High Bridge village, the "Phoenix Phun- bago Company," composed of Thomas Brown, of Phil- adelphia, James Cope and J. L. Moyer, of Reading, began the manufacture of plumbago in November, 1880. They occupy a four-story frame building, with an invested capital of $30,000, and have five acres of land, upon which the ore-vein measures from 3 to 13

feet in width. From 30 to 35 men are employed. The superintendent is John Hackett.

IRON ORE.

There is yet considerable ore in the iron mines of High Bridge, and, although the Thomas Iron Com- pany, controlling the greater share of them, are not working them at present, various parties are getting out ore at various places, the most extensive work being done by a New York firm near High Bridge village.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JACOB CREGAR.

Jacob Cregar was born in Lebanon (now High Bridge) township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., March 29, 1821. He is a son of Andrew and Charity (Voorhees) Cregar. His grandfather, John Cregar, was an early

JACOB CREGAR.

settler in the vicinity of High Bridge, where he owned several farms. He died on the place now owned by Mr. Conover, adjoining the borough of Clinton, leay- ing sons-John, William, Andrew, and Peter-and daughters,-Polly, Elizabeth, and Catharine.

Andrew Cregar, the father of Jacob, was born near Clinton, and resided there with his father till after his marriage, when he bought the farm where Jacob now resides near the village of High Bridge. He had a family of thirteen children,-nine sons and four daughters,-five of whom ( four sons and one daughter ) are living,-to wit. Peter, Andrew. Elias V., Jacob, and Eliza Ann, wife of Dennis Balbey, of Indiana.

Jacob U'regar was born and brought up on the farm

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

where he now resides. He married Mary Catharine, daughter of George Neighbour, of Lower Valley, Leb- anon township, and has had six children,-three sons and three daughters,-four of whom are living,-viz., George N., who married Emily Ann Haver, and lives on the homestead farm; Mary Elizabeth, who mar- ried Oliver Fritts, farmer near Hamden; Isaac L., who married Susan Hummer, of High Bridge; and Susan E., wife of Cyrus Bird, of Union township.

Mr. Cregar followed farming from boyhood till the spring of 1877, when he transferred the farm to his sons, still keeping a general oversight of the business. Besides the farm on which he lives, he bought another, where his son Isaac now lives, in 1878. He has now three farms, including two hundred and sixty-five acres, under a good state of improvement and culti- vation. Since retiring from active farming, Mr. Cre- gar occupies his time chiefly in looking after his in- vestments and other business interests. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Republican, though he has neither sought nor held office.

DAVID NEIGHBOUR, ESQ.

In the year 1705 a colony, having left their native home in Saxony, "between Wölfenbottle and Halber- stadt," fleeing from oppression, in 1707, sailed from Holland to America. By adverse winds they were driven south, and entered the Delaware Bay and landed at Philadelphia. Determined not to relin- quish their original purpose,-to join the Dutch at New Amsterdam (New York City),-they set out on a land journey across the then wilderness of New Jer- sey, and fell upon the goodly land known as German Valley, where they resolved to settle.

Among these pilgrims were Leonhard Nachbar and his future wife, Miria Margareta, the great-grand- parents of David Neighbour, Esq.

From tombstones in the old churchyard in German Valley we take the following record :

" Leonhard Nachbar, who departed this life August the 26th, 1766, Aged 68 years and 3 months."

" Miria Margareta, the wife of L. N., who died No- vember the 17th, 1770, aged 72 years and 3 months."

These were the parents of Leonhard Nachbar, who died in 1805. This Leonhard was the father of Leon- hard, Jr., who died in 1854, and was the father of David. . David was born in German Valley, on the farm now owned by his son Silas, Nov. 25, 1797, and is the fifth in a family of six sons and four daughters.

At the age of twelve he entered the store of Welsh & Dellicker, on Schooley's Mountain, as clerk, and at twenty-one became partner with Mr. Dellicker, where he remained until 1823.

In 1823 he removed to Lower Valley, Hunterdon Co., where he established a store and carried on the mercantile business, in connection with his farm, until 1852. In the latter year he quit the store, continuing on the farm till 1859, when he went to New York

City, where he spent eight years, and then returned to the old homestead, where he now resides.

He was married thrice: in 1820 to Miss Ann Hance, of Schooley's Mountain; the second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Trimmer, of German Valley, who died in 1857 ; and the third was Mrs. Elizabeth Chi- chester, of New York. The first marriage was blessed with six sons and one daughter, and all except one are living.

The esteem in which he is held has been frequently evinced. In 1837 and 1838 he was elected to the As- sembly, and in 1844 a member of the convention from Hunterdon County to frame the new constitution for New Jersey, and for thirteen years held the office of town treasurer.

In the church, the Presbytery of Newton elected him in 1846 and in 1859 to represent it in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at its sessions in Philadelphia and Indianapolis, Ind. He always was a faithful elder in attendance on the sessions of Presbytery and Synod. His sterling character is known and read of all acquaintances aud friends.

Of the advantages of early education he says, "It was after the A, B, C character,-the simplest kind ; almost next to nothing." One fact is worth recording for general history, as it marks the changes : at the close of each quarter of school, custom demanded that the schoolmaster trcat the scholars to a quart of whisky and sugar, or be barred out or smoked in. In his school-days this law was executed.

David, being blessed with superior natural gifts, however, and by diligence and improving every op- portunity, qualified himself to discharge the private and public duties and trusts reposed in him.

For about fifty years he was a constant supporter of the German Valley Presbyterian Church, and for over forty of these years scarcely ever missed a Sabbath from the sanctuary, although he lived six miles from the church. Stormy Sabbaths were un- known days to him and his family. As a pillar in the church, the pastors found in him a man on whom they could rely. Through his energy, wise counsels, and Christian spirit, the neat and commodious Presby- terian church and manse of Lower Valley were erected. In every good work his Christian liberality has abounded.

In the autumn of 1877 children and grandchildren, neighbors, and friends gathered at the old homestead, and appropriately celebrated the completion of his fourscore years.

Had those native talents received an academic training, he would have been a marked man in the world. But it was not so ordered. By fidelity and perseverance he carved out for himself a life which has borne good fruit for his family, the church of God, and the commonwealth. He now enjoys vigor of body and mind remarkable for men of his age. Although in his eighty-fourth year, his "eye is not dim uor his natural force abated."

David Neighbour

CLINTON.

THE township of ('linton, lying a little to the north- east of the centre of Hunterdon County, contained in 1880 a population of 2133 and had within its limits 170 farms. Its boundaries are High Bridge and Tewksbury on the north, Raritan and Readington on the south, Readington on the cast, Clinton village and Franklin township on the west, the South Branch of the Raritan separating it from the latter.

Clinton is traversed through its northern part by the New Jersey Central Railroad, and touched on the west by the Easton and Amboy Railroad. An- nandale and Lebanon are small villages and stations on the line of the Central, but two miles apart. Lime- stone deposits of value abound, and lime-burning is a consequent industry.

Round Valley is a marked feature in the land- scape. Passing southward from Lebanon station, the traveler enters it after a journey of perhaps a mile, and sees before him a spot famous in a traditionary and natural way. The valley, shut in on every side by hills, occupies a nearly circular space, measuring about three miles in one direction and two in another, and containing upwards of 3000 acres. Pickel's and Cushetunk Mountains are at the northern and eastern boundaries, on the west is a chain of low hills, and on the south Round Mountain.

Although Clinton is richly agricultural and pro- duces largely of wheat and corn, much dependence is fixed upon stoek-raising and the production of milk.

EARLY HUISTOttY.

According to the best obtainable authorities, the township was first peopled in the vicinity of Lebanon and at Round Valley, and it would appear that Ger- mans were among the earliest, if not themselves the first, settlers. The German Valley, which spreads over the territory now occupied by Lebanon, was en- tered by a colony of Germans as early as 1707, who soon spread up and down the valleys of northern Hun- terdon, but congregated most thickly, doubtless, in German Valley, wherefore the name. Many gathered about Lebanon, but to-day their descendants are seat- tered, and just who were the earliest settlers at that place cannot be positively stated, although between 1768 and 1771 the inhabitants of that region ineluded the families of Peter Elscher, John Rodenbough (then written Rothenbach), Peter Huffman, Peter Sharp- stein, John Huffman, the Pickels, Hummers, Beckers, Kas, Luneburgs, Hinderscheits (written now Hender- schott), Epschers, Laus, Diltz, Schurtz, Ten Eycks.

Kramers, Ohlbachs, Schencks, Meyers, Eichs, Van Horns, Gerhards, Humerichs, Schumachers, Enders, Withauers, Hebers, Hochstenbachs, Schaffers, Belers, Fishers, Wetters, Mils, Reits, Kleins, Dufurs, Kru- gers, Kribs, Eckers, Bittesfelds, Philips, Papetchers, Stadels, and Schneiders.

From a deed now in the possession of A. E. Sander- son, of Flemington, it appears that in 1711 the West New Jersey Society eaused to be surveyed certain ter- ritory in Hunterdon County, N. J., since known as the society's great traet. Of this tract James Alexander purchased 10,000 acres in 1744, his purchase including the whole of the Round Valley and surrounding moun- tains, reaching northward beyond Lebanon village, westward to Bray's Hill, and eastward well-nigh to White House. Abont Lebanon his purchases aggre- gated 2000 acres, which he was to hold in trust for Anthony White, to whom Alexander's heirs conveyed it upon Alexander's death, in 1755. Alexander's heirs were William, Lord Stirling, Peter Van Brug Livingston and Mary, his wife, Walter Rutherford and Catharine, his wife, John Stevens and Elizabeth, his wife, and Susanna Alexander .*

The Alexander mansion stood upon portion of the farm now owned by Peter T. Haver. It had a fine location, and to it the patriotic members of the fam- ilies of Stirling, Livingston, Rutherford, and Stevens hastened for refuge when hard pressed by British enemies. In that mansion Edwin A. Stevens, the New Jersey railway pioneer, was born, and there also, says tradition, Livingston, the associate of Rob- ert Fulton, was a frequent visitor. In the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, held August, 1775, the repre- sentatives included Ralph Hart, Jacob Jennings, Rich- ard Stevens, and John Stevens, Jr., of Round Valley. Among the earliest settlers were Peter Haver, William Eick, Morris Welch, and Abraham Voorhees. The name of Eick does not present itself among those now resident in the valley, but there one may still find numerons descendants of the Haver, Welch, and Voorhees families.

The t'regars were, and still are, a famous family. John Cregar was the first of his name to locate in Clinton, and since his day the Cregars have greatly multiplied not only in Clinton, but in all Hunterdon. Five of his granddaughters are still living in Hun- terdon County whose combined ages reach the sum of upward of 400 years. Their names are Mrs. Wil- liam Yanger, Mrs. J. S. framer, Mrs. Archibald

. " First Century of Hunterdon County," George S. Mott, D.D.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Huffman, Mrs. P. H. Huffman, and Mrs. William . Hackett.

Among the early settlers in the vicinity of the valley were two brothers, Abram and John Shurts. A deed still extant testifies that Abram Shurts bought from William Coxe, of Philadelphia, in 1751, a piece of land on the South Branch of the Raritan, and his brother John owned a place adjoining. Part of the old Abram Shurts farm is now owned and occupied by Emanuel Fritts. John Shurts willed his property to his son, known as "Big" Michael Shurts, who built the first grist-mill near the Round Valley. It stood on Prescott Brook, and near there he had also a dis- tillery. "Little" Michael Shurts, a distant relative, owned a farm adjoining him, and also a distillery. John Dawes, a Quaker, had a mill on Prescott Brook near where Jonathan Dawes now lives. Old John Dawes was famous in his day as a mediator between disputants and as an esteemed authority.

Just above Dawes was Benjamin Lowe, an elder and trustee of the Bethlehem Church. Years before that, even, John Lowe came to the valley from Ger- many.

Mr. J. A. Young, of Clinton village, says that his great-grandfather, George Young, came from Ger- many and settled in the Round Valley at a time when there was no grist-mill nearer to him than on the Raritan, six miles west of New Brunswick. There were then no roads for wagons, but only trails through the woods.

One of the most widely known of the families early in Clinton township was the Grandin family, of whom Philip was the head. Probably in 1760, or mayhap before, Philip and his brother John purchased a tract of about 1000 acres lying on the South Branch of the Raritan and reaching eastward. It covered the site of the village of Hamden, and was long known as the Hamden tract. The brothers Grandin built on the river a grist-mill and a fulling-mill, and opened a store,-all at the place now called Hamden. They lived in the same house, on the place latterly occu- pied by Joseph Fritts. At his death Philip's prop- erty passed to his two sons, Philip and John F. The former acquired the mills and the homestead, and in a little while (about 1790) induced a man named Ab- bott to open a tavern there. The place, which was known as Grandin's Mills and Grandin's Town, was on a route of considerable travel, and "Grandin's Tavern" came to be recognized as an excellent halt- ing place.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 130

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