History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 148

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 148
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 148

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LEWIS II. MOSHER became associated with Peter D. MeKissack in 1849, and continued in this relation until 1865, when he removed to Montgomery town- ship, where he yet continues to practice. IFe was graduated from the New York University in 18:47. He had practiced at Griggstown before coming to Millstone.

WILLIAM E. MATTISON was also an associate of

Dr. MeKissack. He was born March 22, 1822, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and was graduated from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in March, 1852. He had practiced in Morris County, and was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the army, for three years, on Aug. 20, 1862. He resigned March 5, 1863. From 1863 to 1865 he practiced in Somerville. In 1865 he removed to Millstone, where he remained, practicing his profession, until 1873, when he removed to New Brunswick.

DAVID CLARK VAN DEURSEN became a physician in Millstone in 1873, and still continues. He was born in 1840, at New Brunswick, and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1870. He had practiced with Dr. Baldwin in New Bruns- wick for more than a year, when he succeeded Dr. Mattison.

FREDERIC C. BLACKWELL also resides in the vil- lage of Millstone, but does not practice. Ile was graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in 1845, and practiced at Kingston (living on the Middlesex side of the road) for one year.

OTHER SOMERSET COUNTY PHYSICIANS.

JOHN ROBBINS practiced at Branchville from 1858 to 1869, when he was succeeded by Dr. Merrill.

JACOB W. WILLIAMSON and WILLIAM MOORE practiced for a time at Raritan ; they were both na- tives of Hunterdon County. Dr. Williamson, born May 12, 1821, was a son of Abraham Williamson, of the vicinage of Ringos, where Jacob practiced a short time, then went to California, but soon returned and located in Somerset County, as stated. ITis stay here was brief, however, for, soon being taken sick, he re- turned to Ringos, and died there Aug. 9, 1852. With good abilities and fair prospects, his career was cut short.

HENRY SMITHI was located at Neshanic. He com- meneed the practice of his profession there in 1852, and was succeeded by Richard Ludlow. Dr. Smith was a native of New England. He went to Elizabeth, N. J., where he kept a drug-store, but subsequently removed to Ringos, Hunterdon Co., where he died.

GEORGE S. DILTs practiced at Raritan for some time; also served as surgeon during the Rebellion. lle was a native of German Valley, and a brother of Isaiah N. Dilts, the lawyer.

CHARLES H. HORTON, at Martinsville, followed the medical profession for some five or six years, as the successor of Dr. Martin. About 1877 he removed to Iowa, and was succeeded in practice by E. J. Bergen, a student of Dr. Wagoner, who practiced there a year or more, moved to Trenton, then to Jersey City, and finally to Kansas.

WILLIAM S. PENNINGTON for a time practiced at Somerville, removing thither from New Germantown, where he located in 1862. From Somerville he re- moved to Basking Ridge, where he is now practicing.

Dr. BELLANGE came from Hamilton Square to

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

East Millstone, and followed his profession for a year or two, ahout 1861. He went thence into the army.

WILLIAM C. RIBBLE succeeded Dr. Bellange, and has continued as the physician of the location to the present time.

Dr. MAYNARD practiced medicine at Six-Mile Run for several years after the death of Dr. Schenck.

HENRY WILSON practiced his profession in Somer- ville some years ago. He was a son of Rev. Abram Wilson, of Fairview, Ill. His wife was Ann Deyo, of Somerset Co., N. J .*

JAMES SUYDAM KNOX-born July 26, 1840, grad- uate of College of New Jersey, 1860, of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, 1866, City Hospital, Brooklyn, 1868-practiced in Somerville from 1866 to 1873, when he removed to Chicago, where he is now located, and is lecturer and clinical professor in Rush Medical College.

NATIVES OF SOMERSET WHO PRACTICED ELSE-

WHERE.

EUGENE JOBS, late of Springfield, Union Co., N. J., was born at Liberty Corner, Feb. 23, 1821 ; he was the son of Nicholas C. and Margaret Jobs. He died May 22, 1875.

LOT S. PENNINGTON, now located in Whitesides Co., Ill., is a native of Somerset County, born in 1812; received his early education at the Somerville Academy and at Basking Ridge; he never practiced medicine in this county, and moved west in 1836.

JAMES M. BOISNOT was born at Six-Mile Run, in Somerset County, July 20, 1826; was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and settled in Phila- delphia, where he became a lecturer on anatomy and operative surgery. Among his notable cases was the successful reduction by manipulation of a double dislocation of the hip-joint, followed by a perfect recovery.+ During the civil war he was surgeon of the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was a member of the Northern Medical and of the Phil- adelphia County Medical Societies. He died in 1880.

WILLIAM R. HAND was born in Somerset County, and married Miss Annin, daughter of J. Annin, Esq., of Somerset. He practiced in Hunterdon County until 1870, when he removed to Virginia, and died there in 1871, aged seventy-five.

FREDERICK GASTON, son of William B., and brother to Drs. Alexander and Joseph Gaston, of Chester Co., Pa., located at Woodsville in 1846, but, his health failing, he returned to Somerville, where he died, aged about twenty-five. He was unmarried.

ISRAEL L. CORIELL, who practiced for many years in Hunterdon County, was a native of Somerset, and was buried at the place of his nativity.

JOHN F. SCHENCK, born at Neshanic, son of Dr. Henry H. Schenck, commenced his practice at the

head of Raritan River, in Somerset, afterwards re- moving to Flemington. (See further account in the Hunterdon County medical chapter.)

MERRILL W. WILLIAMS, although not a native of this county, taught school in Ricefield, read with Dr. Lawrence Van Derveer, married Miss Duryea, of Millstone, and practiced a while at Somerville.

JACOB E. HEDGES, born at Somerville, and son of William J. Hedges, merchant, practiced principally in Hunterdon County. (See chapter on medical pro- fession of that county for sketch.)

WILLIAM DURYEA, born in Somerset, son of Col. H. B. Duryea, of Blawenburg, was graduated at University of Pennsylvania in 1833, practiced in Flemington, removed West, and died there.

JOHN ALFRED GRAY was born near Princeton in 1812, and practiced for a short time at Rocky Hill, this county, but subsequently removed to Fleming- ton, where he died in 1872. (See medical chapter of Hunterdon County for a more extended sketch.)

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PRESS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

The Press of Somerville: The Messenger, The Unionist, and The Gazette- The Bound Brook Chronicle-The Press of the Past: The Somerset Whig, The Literary Gem, The Comet, The Somerset News, The Millstone Mirror, The Bound Brook Argus, Our Home, The Sower, Flowers' Family Magazine, etc.

THE SOMERSET MESSENGER.

THE oldest paper now existing in the county dates its origin from the Political Intelligencer, which James E. Gore, a practical printer, started in Somerville about the time the post-office was established and the village recognized as of some local importance. The first number of that paper was issued in October, 1823; size, thirteen by twenty inches, five columns to the page. The office was in a room over C. G. Tuni- son's store, on the spot where the Somerset County bank now stands. Shortly after the name was changed to the Somerset Messenger and Political Intelligencer, and hefore 1829 the latter title was dropped and the present name given.

In 1826, Mr. Gore married and moved the office to his residence, which, built by Judge Toms, and more lately owned by Col. William Thompson, is now the building occupied by the stores of James Gaston and Mrs. E. R. Burner. The printing-office was there about two and a half years, and was then removed to the building now owned and resided in by David M. Voorhees, Esq., opposite the court-house. For seven years it continued here, during which time Thomas Allison became associated with Gore, under the firm- name of Gore & Allison. The paper was enlarged, and about 1836 the office was again relocated, this time in the house now occupied by Joseph McBride and owned by Daniel Sanborn, nearly opposite Fritts' hotel.

* Bergen's History of the Bergen Family.

+ Am. Jour. of the Med, Sciences.

Homoeopathy left out

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THE PRESS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

The death of Mr. Gore occurred Nov. 17, 1837. Mr. Allison continued sole proprietor until 1851, when he received the appointment from Governor Fort of Secretary of State and removed to Trenton. The purchaser of the paper was A. E. Donaldson, who conducted it for eleven years. Nov. 11, 1862, he assumed command of the Thirtieth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers as colonel, and Orson Cone pur- chased the Messenger. His name first appears in the issue of Nov. 13, 1862. He died March 26, 1868, leaving John F. Talmage acting editor. Sept. 3, 1868, he purchased, and Charles B. Honeyman be- came assistant in 1869. MIr. Talmage was a bright, shrewd business man and a ready writer,-too much of a business man to settle down at the slow desk of a country newspaper office, and he sold out in less than a year, June 3, 1869. MIr. G. E. Godley was the next publisher, and Mr. Honeyman continued as local editor.

On April 13, 1871, J. Rutsen Schenck, son of Dr. John F. Schenck, of Flemington, assumed control. Hle was born May 23, 1831, and at seventeen entered the office of the Hunterdon Democrat. He subse- quently fonuded the Woodstown Register, also a Demo- cratic paper at Mattawan, and left it to enter the war in the Twenty-ninth Regimeut New Jersey Volun- teers. He owned the Hunterdon Gazette, 1863-65, in 1867 founded the present Clinton Democrat, and in 1871, as above stated, purchased the Messenger .* C. B. Honeyman was his local editor a brief period, when D. R. Rockafellar took his place for a year or two, since which no other name has been upon the paper but that of the editor and proprietor.

The Messenger came into its present hands March 30, 1876. Charles M. Jamesou was, and is, the owner and editor. He was born in York, Pa., in 1823, grad- uated at Marshall College in 1849, and entered the ministry in the German Reformed Church. For twelve years he had charge of the Fiftieth Street Reformed Dutch Church in New York City, and re- signed iu 1862. The next fourteen years he was a farmer near Somerville, but since 1876 has paid chief attention to the Messenger. He was secretary of the State Senate two sessions, -- 1877-78.

The newspaper has never been other than strictly Democratic, being the organ of that party in the county from its first issue. No competitive paper of the same politics has ever been printed in the county, if we except the News, which was independent Demo- cratic.

THE SOMERSET UNIONIST.

This newspaper succeeded both the Somerset Whig and the Somerset County News, which were consoli- dated March 5, 1863; Vol. 1., No. 1, of the Unionist bears the latter date. A stronger newspaper than the

W'hig had been was needed at that time to advocate the cause of the I'nion against the Rebellion, and the name " Whig" was also of the past rather than of the present or future. Col. A. D. Hope, S. W. Daven- port, Culver Barcalow, and others were the main spirits in bringing about a consolidation of the Whig and News and in securing a wide-awake editor and a new publisher.

The outcome of the movement, which was carefully studied, appeared upon the face of the first number, when it announced that the publisher was Daniel Porter and the editor Edward F. Stewart. Of Mr. Porter we shall speak presently. Mr. Stewart was then in the New York custom-house, but had some leisure, and had concluded to remove his family to Somerville in order to give his evenings to his new service. He had been sought out for the position to carry on a specific patriotic work, and he did it with spirit and characteristic energy. The Unionist was thus made a power on the Republican side during the war.

Mr. Stewart continued editor until Jan. 25, 1866, when he resigned and made his permanent home at Easton, Pa., where he was selected to be bookkeeper of the First National Bank of that place,-a position he still holds. Mr. Porter became editor from that date, and continued as such and as proprietor until his death, March 9, 1879. His son, Edward B. Porter, sneceeded him as publisher and Dr. Joseph H. Wil- son as editor, and both now occupy these positions.

Daniel Porter was thus connected with the Unionist. as publisher for sixteen years, almost to the day, and as editor for thirteen years,-the longest period of service of any newspaper publisher in the county. He was born at Orange, N. J., April 15, 1836, and was the son of a farmer. When about seventeen he entered the office of the Newark Daily Advertiser, and learned the printer's trade. The time he spent there he ever afterwards referred to as full of instruction and interest, not merely because of the lessons learned in so strict and careful an office, but because of the men of renown who gathered there to discuss the management of this leading journal during the then trying political times. In 1850 he became connected with the Newark Mercury, and came direct from that office to establish the Somerset I'nionist. For a short. period during the war, while Elston Marsh was col- lector of internal revenue for this district, Mr. Porter was his assistant. In December, 1871, he received the appointment of postmaster,-a position he hehl until his death. He was also at his decease secretary of the County Sunday-School Association and presi- dent of the New Jersey State Editorial Association, by the members of which he was hehl in high esteem. Mr. Porter's death was from Bright's disease, and came only after a long illness, in which for many months he was obliged to relinquish all business cares and labor. Of his characteristics as a jour- nalist the Somerset Gazette said after his death,-

* Upon his leaving the Mevenger, Mr. Schenck founded the Ocean County Democrat al Tom's River, meeting with remarkable success, flut consumption seized him, and ho died April 1, 1ss0, agod forty-ulue.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

" As a journalist Mr. Porter was painstaking aud exact ; not a brilliant writer, but always up to the times in his news and conservative iu his comments. Politically he was a strong Republican, but it rarely led him into severe words against bis adversaries. Except when the strife of party conflict ran high, the tone of his editorials was invariably mod- erate."

From the memorial tribute delivered at the annual meeting of the County Sunday-School Association next succeeding his death (Sept. 9, 1879) by Rev. P. M. Doolittle, and entered in the minutes of the asso- ciation, we make a brief extract :

dated Dec. 21, 1848; William M. Drake & Son were proprietors. These gentlemen had no previous expe- rience either as printers or as editors, if we rightly in- terpret their "Salutatory ;" nevertheless, they pub- lished one of the most creditable village newspapers in the State. Whether considered typographically or in regard to the quantity of original and the quality of selected matter, it was a handsome, praiseworthy journal.

At the expiration of one year the publishers an-

DANIEL PORTER.

" He was eminently a just man in all the relatione of life. His natural probity and other virtues were seasoned with grace and developed into a piety which was profound, devoted, and faithful. . . . Modesty was one of his chief characteristics; hence it was left for occasion to summon forth his abllities, but the demand never failed to elicit such a response as to prove his claim to the title of Christian manhood."

THE SOMERSET GAZETTE,

an eight-page Republican weekly, published every Thursday afternoon in Association Hall, Somerville, was originally the Plainfield Gazette, located at Plain- field, over the Somerset County border-line. That was then a village in Essex, but is now a city in Uuion County. From a complete file of the first three years of its existence (recently discovered and rescued from oblivion) it is learned that the Gazette was a five- column, four-page weekly, size twenty by twenty-six . inches, published on Thursdays, at one dollar per ycar to mail subscribers, or one dollar and twenty-five cents to those in the village. The first number is

nounced that the results "had more than realized their highest expectations." But, unhappily, thie elder Drake was a skeptie in religious matters, and delighted in controversy respecting the Scriptures. This brought down some odium upon the Gazette, and so, in 1851, the owners consented to a sale of the paper. Excepting its skeptical articles, it must be admitted that the Gazette, under the Drakes' super- vision, was a strong newspaper against slavery and monopoly ; in the latter cause a powerful opponent of the arguments of Commodore Stockton and of his Camden and Amboy enterprise. In politics it was in- dependent, but tended towards Democratic principles, save on the slavery question,-an odd mixture of in- dependence, certainly !

Mr. Uzal M. Osborn, who until recently has been publisher of the Rahway Advocate and Times, was the next proprietor. He conducted the Gazette from July 24, 1851, to Sept. 11, 1851,-less than two months.

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THE PRESS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

He proved unable, financially, to do justice to the journal, and it went back into the hands of William Drake (the junior of the first Drake firm), who con- tinued its publication until October, 1852.

Enos W. Runyon, Esq., of Plainfield, purchased it at the latter date. He was then a lawyer with a growing practice, but took hokl of it with zest, partly for the employment it would give his brother, Mr. John C. Runyon, and partly because of his literary and controversial tastes. He was proprietor nearly five years. As his brother went West in October, 1856, he coneluded to sell it, and finally transferred it in April, 1857, to Mr. Luther Martin. While we have not seen a copy of the Gazette as printed during Judge Runyon's administration, it is not likely he made it less wide-awake or less indedependent than it had previously been.

Mr. Martin* was publisher until July, 1859, when he sold it to Mr. Charles J. Wilson, a resident of Somerville. Mr. Wilson had learned his trade in New York and with the Somerset Whig; he was therefore a practical printer, and was possessed of some ability as a writer, particularly in a humorous direction. He changed the name of the paper to the Somerset and Union Gazette, Union County having recently been formed, and he desiring to extend its circulation more into Somerset, but continued the publication-office in Plainfield.

In March, 1864, the paper fell into the hands of Mr. David K. Milliken, of Somerville, by whom it was transferred to the latter place. Mr. Milliken had been one of the publishers of the Somerset County News and was a printer by trade. Whether he leased the paper or purchased it was a controverted matter, but Mr. Wilson, who declares it was leased, obtained possession of it again in May, 1867. While Mr. Milli- ken had it the words " Union and" were taken from the title, and "Weekly" substituted ; so that it was the Somerset Weekly Gazette. It was now made a six- column paper, still neutral in politics, but with a Democratie leaning. It was published on the south side of Main Street, Somerville, in the building re- moved recently for the creetion of Mr. George V. Tunison's store.

Mr. Wilson, in 1867, removed to the office attached to his father's residence, "one door east of the court- house," and continued its publication until sold to the present owner. At some time during this last-named period the word " Weekly" dropped from the title, and "Somerset Gazette" thus stood alone.

The present owner, A. V. D. Honeyman, purchased the office Jan. 1, 1876, and is still the publisher and editor. He enlarged the paper to eight columns, size twenty-eight by forty-two, in its first new issue, and continued its independent course, although, being a Republican, the Gazette in his hands necessarily had Republican proclivities. It was also removed to its

present commodious quarters in Association Hall. In July, 1876, Mr. Honeyman associated with him Mr. John E. Rowe, of the Newark Daily Advertiser, a job - printer of originality and tried experience, and the firm of Honeyman & Rowe existed until Jan. 1, 1879, when it was dissolved by mutual eon- sent. To meet the increased job-work, after July 1876, steam-power, new presses, and new type were added to the stock, and, with the aceretions ot four years, the office is now better equipped than any in Somerset or the adjoining counties, with a single exception at New Brunswick.

In April, 1877, the form of the paper was changed to a quarto of sixteen pages, pasted and trimmed,- the only paper of that shape in the State,-and the full present title was given, The Somerset Gazette. From Nov. 1, 1877, to Jan. 17, 1878, it was issued as a semi-weekly, of eight pages, with a view to antici- pate the news of its contemporaries by one day, and to be "abreast of the times." But its readers pre- ferred a large paper once a week rather than a small one twice, and the old sixteen-page form was soon re- instated. That continued until July 1, 1880, when the present eight-page form was adopted, size thirty hy forty-four inches, which is likely to be permanent. From May, 1877, to December, 1877, it had a " Law Supplement" of four pages, which afterwards devel- oped into "The New Jersey Law Journal," a monthly magazine still published at the same office. Sinee October, 1878, The Gazette has been a thorough Re- publiean newspaper, but treats with fairness the views of opposite parties. In June, 1879, a series of articles by its editor upon "The Frauds and Ex- travagances of Somerset County Officials" (subse- quently republished in pamphlet form as "Somerset Gazette Extra No. 3") was begun and continued until an official investigation was made, - a publication which has done much towards placing the paper in public favor with the best citizens of both parties.

Besides "The New Jersey Law Journal," newspaper publications have come from its office during the past four or five years, and a number of books also. The motto which flies atits masthead is: "With Charity for all, with Malice toward none, with Firmness in the Right as God gives us to see the Right."

THE BOUND BROOK CHRONICLE,

an independent paper, published every Wednesday, is a four-page journal, size twenty-six by forty. It is a continuation of The Family Casket (a sketch of which appears under the head of "The Press of Hun- terdon County"), located at White House. A. J. Shampanore & Son are the proprietors and editors. The stock and materials of the office also inelude the type and fixtures of The Rock, a paper located at Bound Brook, which became extinct after the Chron- icle had established itself.

The Family Casket was removed to Bound Brook Jan. 1, 1878, and soon after the name was changed to

* Enlisted in the war ; was captain of Company D, Eleventh Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, and was killed in action, May 27, 1862.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

the present title. It took a fearless stand on county affairs in 1879, which materially increased its circula- tion and influence. In 1880 it advocated the election of the Republican candidates.

THE PRESS OF THE PAST.S

The Somerset Whig was established by Baldwin & Hassey in 1834, the initial number being dated Tues- day, August 12th. It was a five-column quarto, at two dollars per annum, and (as its name indicates) was an exponent of the principles of the Whig party. In July, 1836, the partnership was dissolved, S. L. B. Baldwin continuing as publisher until his death, Sun- day, May 7, 1848. Mr. Baldwin was one of the founders of the Whig, and was its editor and proprie- tor for over thirteen years. June 7, 1848, the office was sold by his administrators-Nathaniel L. Bald- win and Henry Cook-to Allan N. Wilson, who changed its time of publication to Wednesday, the first number under his conduct being dated June 14, 1848 (Vol. XIV. No. 723). The office at this time was opposite the court-house. Mr. Wilson continued its publication until August, 1849, or later (possibly until the spring of 1852). April 14, 1852, J. Hatfield Frazee became editor and proprietor, commencing at that date "New Series, No. 1." He was succeeded April 1, 1858, by W. H. Van Doren. Exactly when the paper passed from his management into the hands of William D. Waterman we cannot say, but it was some time between Dec. 31, 1858, and Jan. 12, 1860. March 27, 1862 (or earlier), Daniel Taggart became publisher, and continued its issue until March 5, 1863, when the offices of the Somerset Whig and the Somerset News were consolidated and a new paper started called the Somerset Unionist. The Whig, at the time of its suspension, was a seven-column paper, its subscription price being one dollar and a half.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 148

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