History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 178

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 178
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 178

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).

By the removal of his father from Charleston to Philadelphia, in 1833, he was brought into the best opportunities for medical study, which he improved by attending both the summer and winter courses of lectures, and at the same time pursued the study of French. Graduating at the Medical College of Phila- delphia, he established himself at the home of his ancestors in Bedminster,-the "Retreat,"-where he carried on a very large medical practice till the break- ing out of the civil war.

Dr. McDowell married, Sept. 3, 1844, Anna Maria, daughter of Rev. Enos A. Osborn, a prominent Pres- byterian divine of New Jersey.

At the breaking out of the war Dr. McDowell earn- estly espoused the cause of the Union, and entered the service as a surgeon. He served at different times, both as regimental and brigade surgeon, with the rank of major, and in March, 1865, he was bre- vetted colonel " for faithful and meritorious services during the war" by Andrew Johnson and Secretary Stanton. His first medical services rendered were in the Department of the West, where, with two assist- ants, he had charge of the hospital at Ironton, Mo., containing about six hundred patients.

At one time the hospital was entirely surrounded by the Confederate Gen. Price and his troops. Gen. Price sent in a flag of truce and demanded their sur- render. Dr. McDowell and his assistants were not ready to give up without doing all they could. The messenger was blindfolded before being brought into their presence, while they, from the convalescent patients, made all the show of force they could, and

then, removing the bandage from his eyes, told him to tell Gen. Price if he wanted the place to come and take it. The show of force so deceived the emissary that, upon his report being made to his general, he made his advance with such care and loss of time that the United States troops were reinforced, the property saved, and the retreating Confederate force overtaken and defeated. In this malarious region first both of his assistants and then himself were stricken with disease ; but he clung to his duty, not only taking all their work upon himself, but the care of them also, until, broken down, he applied for leave of absence. As soon as he could again return to duty he was placed in charge of the government hospital at Staten Island. With renewed strength he sought more active duty, and became the surgeon of the Sixth Regiment of Hancock's corps of veteran volun- teers, soon to be promoted to brigade surgeon of the same corps. With the renewal of hard service his disease returned upon him and clung to him until death.

At the close of the war he was retained by the government for some time at Harrisburg, Pa., for the purpose of disposing of the hospital property at that place. He put the property in such order that le was afterwards complimented by the government agents for the highly successful manner in which it was disposed of. While in the army scarcely a day passed in which he did not write a letter home, giving his anxious wife and family many details of each day's progress of the war. These letters, in the pos- session of Mrs. McDowell, would constitute a valuable contribution to the military history of the war of the Rebellion.

Dr. McDowell took great interest in the Presby- terian Church at Lamington, of which he was for many years a member and elder. Like his revered father, he was a man of earnest Christian faith and of a devoted, exemplary life. At the celebration of the semi-centennial of the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Blau- velt, in 1876, he delivered the address of congratula- tion, on the part of the congregation, in such a man- ner as to elicit the highest commendation. He took a prominent part in every good word and work con- nected with the church and society, and was a life- long friend of its beloved pastor, Dr. Blauvelt. No man who had not held public office in Somerset County was more widely known or more highly re- spected than Dr. McDowell.

Dr. McDowell was a historian. He treasured up every scrap of local history that was ever told him or put in print. Next to Judge Ralph Voorhees, the octogenarian chronicler, he had, perhaps, the best-in- formed mind on local matters of a hundred years ago of any one in this locality. His articles to the news- papers during the last few years of his life were almost always historical, and are extremely valuable. He wrote many still more valuable articles for "Our Home" in 1873, notably those entitled "Pluckamin

BEDMINSTER.

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One Hundred Years Ago," "Our Oll Physicians," and " Dr. Van Derveer and Sister." During the year 1876 he contributed many things to The Gazette, of which he was a warm and consistent friend.

The following is contributed by a member of the family :

Mrs. McDowell has in her possession a number of books given him before he went to college as pre- miums for being first in his class,-Greek, Latin, sacred history, etc. His was a warm-hearted, lov- ing, and affectionate nature. In the latter days of his life he spent several winters at the South, among the scenes of his boyhood, and in the mild, soothing cli- mate of Florida. In the fall of 1877 a Southern trip was again talked of, fearing he could not stand onr rigorous winters. But his health was too delicate to travel, and we said, "We will make our home as nearly like a Southern climate as possible." His home was made warm and cheerful. Ile enjoyed his books, his writings, and his friends. As the spring of 1878 ap- proached his physical weakness increased, but with it came a calm, happy state of mind. The Bible, always a book he loved to read and study, now became his greatest joy and comfort. He would often say, " What would I do withont the comfort derived from this blessed book ?" His wife and daughters read to him daily, and he generally had the portion selected in his mind, asking them to read it. IIe loved to have us read of heaven, the New Jerusalem ; of his Saviour and the angels, saying, "I shall soon be there. I have no doubt, no fear, not one. I know I am ac- cepted; I know I am forgiven." About this time the silver question was before the public, and he was inter- ested, and wanted his family to read the papers daily. When the question was settled he was satisfied, and said, " Now you may put away the papers; we will just come down to ' the good old book !' all the read- ing I have now may be from that," often exclaim- ing, "How beautiful! how sweet ! how precious !" Ilis brothers-in-law, Dr. Joseph and Mr. Frank Os- born, at his regnest, came from Newark to visit him a few days before his death. He asked them to unite with the family in his room in prayer, which they did. His two sons, William and Charles, came to see him for the last time. Ile asked them to pray with him, gave them pleasant, parting messages, talked of his heavenly hopes, and of the happy meeting in the beautiful home above, and sent messages of love to his absent son, Frederick, in California. They were expecting to come again on Saturday. On Wednes- day, March 5th, he said, " Wife, this is death ! prop me up; open the windows, and do not leave me for a moment ; it won't be long. Keep me alive till Sat- urday, if you can : I would love to see my boys once more. Just you stay with me, with good Aunt Leah (a faithful colored woman who had been with us for many years) to wait on you; let all the rest sleep." Ile fell into a quiet, steady breathing, which kept up for more than an hour. I knew it was the sleep of

death, and said, " Aunt Leah, this is his last sleep, shall I awake him, or let him pass quietly away ? I feel as if we must hear him speak once more." 1 laid my hand on his forehead and said, " Would you not like some hot beef-tea?" Ile said, " Hot beef-tea ? Oh, yes!" He took two cups, very hot, and then asked for hot coffee, and said, " Maybe you can keep me alive till Saturday, and I can see my boys once more." Ile seemed unconscious of any one around him, and prayed distinctly one of the most beautiful prayers ever repeated: thanked the Lord for giving him such peace and joy ; prayed for his loved ones ; mentioned by name friends he loved who were not Christians, and asked his Heavenly Father to show them the way clearly to prepare for a meeting with him in heaven. That wonderful night, the saered messages and words of love to us in the morning, while memory lasts will never be forgotten. When asked " How does the other world appear now ?" he said, "Beautiful! beautiful! It is all true : heaven, the angels, all-all ! I'll come and meet you when you are ready." At 10 A.M., March 6th, we closed his eyes,-he had left us.

PETER J. LANE.

Peter J. Lane, whose portrait appears herewith, lives on the old McCrea estate in Bedminster, which his

PETER J. LANE.

grandfather, Cornelius Lane, purchased of James and Catharine MeCrea, the parents of the ill-fated Jane McCrea,* Dec. 23, 1769. The house in which

* Seo Irving's Life of Washington, p. 142, other histories of the Boro- lution, and the history of Bedminster and general history. In this work.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Jane McCrea was born is occupied by Mr. Lane and his family, the place having descended from Corne- lius Lane through Job Lane to the present proprietor and occupant.

Cornelius Lane came from Monmouth County and settled in Bedminster prior to the purchase of the McCrea property. He married Mary Compton, and his second son, Job Lane, born in Bedminster, Oct. 6, 1769, married Susannah Nevius, and had a family of ten children, four of whom died in the old McCrea house, and but two of whom are living,-viz., George Lane, who resides in Bridgewater, Somerset Co., and Peter J. Lane.

JOHN G. SCHOMP.

John G. Schomp was born in Readington, Hun- terdon Co., N. J., June 5, 1812. He is a son of George P. and. Elizabeth "(Anderson) Schomp. George P. Schomp was a son of Peter Schomp.

JOHN G. SCIIOMP.

Mr. Schomp moved into Bedminster in 1830, and has never missed an election since he became a voter. He has been twice married,-first to Avaline Layton, who died a few years afterwards ; his second wife was Elizabeth Ann Van Liew, whom he married in 1848, and has had seven children, all of whom are living.

Mr. Schomp purchased his present farm of the Vail estate in 1849, and by his systematic mode of farm- ing has made it a rich and valuable property. He has always been a Democrat in politices, and has held the responsible offices of assessor and collector of his township, discharging these duties with fidelity and satisfaction to his fellow-citizens, who hold him in high esteem.

HON. CORNELIUS W. SCHOMP.

Few men have been held in higher esteem by their townsmen, and there have been few whose memories are cherished with greater respect and affection than the subject of this brief memoir. Cornelius Wyckoff Schomp was descended from Holland ancestors, who emigrated to America and became early settlers of Readington, Hunterdon Co., N. J. His father's name was George Schomp, who married, first, Elizabeth Anderson, by whom he had seven sons and one daugh- ter, of whom Cornelius W. was the seventh son. He was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., Oct. 20, 1816. His mother died when he was an infant, and he was brought up by his sister, Mrs. Cornelius M. Wyckoff, till he had attained the age of nineteen. His health was quite delicate, and, after spending several years as clerk in a mercantile house in New York, he sought recovery by traveling with goods in the West. In this occupation he spent about one year. His health being sufficiently restored, he settled at Lesser Cross-Roads (now Bedminster), where he followed mercantile busi- ness for seven or eight years. Finding his health again declining, he sought change of employment, and in 1845 removed to the estate of Judge Arrow- smith, in Bedminster, now known as Schomp's Mill, having purchased the estate of the heirs. He married Louisa Arrowsmith, a granddaughter of Judge Arrow- smith, Jan. 21, 1840. The family was a prominent one in Bedminster, and the judge a man of consider- able distinction in his day. In 1845, Mr. Schomp removed to the estate, where his active energies, ex- cept when engaged in public duties, were employed for the rest of his life. He rebuilt the mill and fam- ily mansion, and made many important and valnable improvements, designing others which were not fully carried out ere death had called him from the scene of his earthly activities. While devoting himself chiefly to the pursuit of agriculture and milling, he was an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and took an active part in the affairs of his township and county, extending his social and political influ- ence far beyond their limits. In 1855-56 he repre- sented his district in the Legislature, being a popular and influential member of that body. He was also for several years a member of the Democratic Execu- tive Committee of New Jersey, and always acted with the Democratic party, whose principles he earnestly supported. He was at the same time popular with all parties, and exceedingly liberal in his views, as well as in the distribution of his means for the pro- motion of every nseful enterprise.

By his marriage with Louisa Arrowsmith, Mr. Schomp had one son, William A. Schomp, Esq., present proprietor of the home estate. He is a grad- uate of Rutgers College in the class of 1860; studied law in the city of New York in the office of David Dudley Field, and was admitted to the bar in 1862.

Cornelius Wyckoff Schomp died Sept. 17, 1872. At a meeting of the Consistory of the Reformed

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BEDMINSTER.

Church of Bedminster, N. J., held Sept. 21, 1872, the following resolutions expressive of the feelings of that board respecting his decease were adopted. He was at the time of his death an acting elder in the church :

" WHEREAS, It has been the will of our Heavenly Father, who le infi- nitely wlso and good, to suddenly enll from us by denth our dearly be- loved brother, Cornelius W. Schomp; thereforo,

" Resolved, That while we cannot but feel this sore bereavement to be a great mystery, we do not question the wisdom ond loader love of God, who ' knowoth the end from the beginning,' and ' who dooth ull things well,' and that wo find comfort in Ilis own assurance, " What I do thou know- est not now, but thon shalt know hereafter.'

" Resolved, That wo cherish the memory of the many virtuos of our le- loved brother, of hals genlal and amiable disposition, of his oxemplary Christian doportment, and of his dovotod zoal ond usefulness as an officer In the church ho loved.

" Resolved, That we offer our honrtfelt sympathy to the bereaved widow and only son of our departed brother, and that we commend them to the tender sympathy und love of the dear Redeemer, who is 'onr rofuge and atrongth and a very present help lu trouble.'"

WILLIAM HEATIt.

The ancestors of the lleath family in Somerset County are traced back to Thomas Heath, who died in Stafford, England, date unknown. His widow, whose maiden name was Annie Neville, married again to his cousin, Thomas Heath, by whom she had one child, Mary lleath, born April 23, 1737. She, together with her mother, emigrated to America in 1742.

Anne Neville, wife of Thomas Heath, died Nov. 28, 1776. Mary Heath died Jan. 6, 1773, at the age of fifty-six.

John Heath, son of the first-named Thomas Heath, was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, England, and em- igrated to America in 1741. He married Ann Lewis. John Heath died April 22, 1806.

He had children,-Thomas, born July 23, 1747; John, born Feb. 6, 1748; Daniel, born Aug. 30, 1750; Ann, born June 19, 1752; Samuel, born Jan. 16, 1754; James, born Oct. 11, 1762; Esther, born April 18, 1766; Isaac, born Nov. 3, 1780; Elizabeth, horn Dec. 3, 1781. The mother of the two last-named children was Naomi Leigh.

Of the above family, Daniel Heath was the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. He was born near Amboy, N. J., and afterwards lived near Prince- ton, where he was a farmer by occupation. He re- moved to Mine Brook, Somerset Co., in 1792, and there bought a farm of Andrew Kirkpatrick, on which he lived till his death, which occurred in May, 1825. He married Eleanor Runyon, who was born Oct. 1, 1748. The children of Daniel Heath and Eleanor Runyon were John, born Aug. 14, 1772; Ann, born Jan. 16, 1774; Hugh, born July 20, 1775; Elizabeth, born Feb. 15, 1777; Margaret, born Nov. 26, 1778; Daniel, born July 19, 1780 (the seventh chikl, a son, born June 27, 1782, died in infancy) ; Mary, born Sept. 19, 1783; Daniel, born April 25, 1785; Thomas, born Feb. 19, 1787; Robert, born Feb. 6, 1789.

Robert lleath, father of our subjeet, married Sarah Cole, Jan. 1, 1809, who was born July 24, 1787. They

had children, -Daniel, born Nov. 24, 1809; Sarah Ann, born Feb. 27, 1813; William, born June 1, 1817; Eleanor, born Sept. 21, 1820. Robert Heath died in 1880, aged eighty-one.

WILLIAM HEATH.

The subject of this sketch, born, as above, at Mine Brook, married Ann Voorhees, Nov. 15, 1849. She was born at Mine Brook, Aug. 12, 1820. They have one son, John Heath, born near Burnt Mills, Sept. 25, 1856 ; married Emma J. Fritts, Feb. 8, 1879. She was born Aug. 10, 1860. They have one child, Lou- anna, born Feb. 17, 1880.

William Heath was a Whig up to the formation of the Republican party, sinee which he has been a sup- porter of the principles of the latter. Ile and his wite are members of the Reformed Church of Bed- minster.

GARRET VOORHEES was born Nov. 5, 1784; married Sarah Whittaker, Sept. 19, 1816. She was born Sept. 8, 1792. Their children were,-John, born June 14, 1817; Matilda, born Oct. 19, 1818; Ann, born Aug. 12, 1820; llannah, born Jan. 4, 1823; Ellen, born Jan. 21, 1825 ; Garret, born March 20, 1827 ; Nathaniel W., born June 29, 1829; Samuel S., born June 19, 1831 ; Mary, born Aug. 20, 1833 ; Ruth E., born Sept. 19, 1835 ; Ralph, born March 20, 1838. All are liv- ing but Matilda, who died Sept. 28, 1851, and Ruth E., who died Jan. 10, 1879.

Garret Voorhees died Feb. 24, 1870, aged eighty- six. Sarah, his wife, died Aug. 8, 1863. She was a member of the Bedminster Reformed Church.

732

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

MARTIN LA TOURETTE.

His ancestors removed from France to Holland, and thence at an early time to Long Island, N. Y. Cornelius La Tourette, his grandfather, was born March 27, 1778, and settled in the township of Read- ington, Hunterdon Co., N. J., where he remained until the time of his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wyckoff, of that place, when he removed to Bedmin- ster and settled on the place where Peter La Tou- rette now resides. He became a resident of this town- ship about 1802.

Cornelius La Tourette had children,-Martin, born Sept. 11, 1803; Peter, horn Oct. 3, 1805; Henry, born May 9, 1808 ; Girtright, born Oct. 30, 1811 ; John W., born July 23, 1814 ; Margaret E., born Aug. 10, 1823.

Martin, the subject of this notice, was the oldest son. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation through life, acquiring a comfortable estate and leav- ing a reputation unsullied for honor and integrity. He married Mary Armstrong, Nov. 30, 1825. She was born Sept. 25, 1806. The following were their children : Henry, born Oct. 23, 1828 ; Hannah, born Dec. 28, 1831; Elizabeth, born March 19, 1834; George, born July 23, 1836; John, born April 18, 1839 ; Margaret, born Aug. 5, 1844. All died of con- sumption, as did also their father and mother. Mar- tin La Tourette died Feb. 3, 1880; his wife died in September, 1862. He willed his estates to Henry and his grandchildren. Henry La Tourette remains on the homestead. He married Harriet Backer, Dec. 10, 1856. Their children are Ophelia, born Sept. 18, 1857; Emma B., born April 12, 1859; Martin, born Jan. 27, 1861; Stephen B., born June 15, 1866 ; Car- rie B., born June 30, 1874; Charlie K., born Aug. 26, 1877. Henry is a Democrat in politics, and has taken some part in the local affairs of his township. His father and grandfather were elders in the Reformed Church of Bedminster.

JOHN McDOWELL.

Ephraim McDowell, an ancestor of John and the first settler on the estate, was a native of Ireland. On the 1st of May, 1750, he purchased the property of William Axtell, a merchant of New York. It then embraced 238 acres, which he gave to his two sons, John and Matthew. He afterwards purchased the adjoining farm (151 acres) of William Cummings ; this he willed to his son Ephraim, who sold to his brother Matthew, and the latter purchased a portion of John's estate. The whole was subsequently di- vided into two farms of about 200 acres each, a part of which is now in the possession of John McDowell and the widow and heirs of the late Dr. William A. McDowell.

Ephraim McDowell had sons,-Jolin, Matthew, Ephraim, Peter, and Benjamin. Ephraim and Peter removed to the West. Benjamin became a settled

minister in Dublin, Ireland, having gone there to finish his education. He had pursued his prepara- tory course at the grammar school kept by Rev. Mr. Hannah on the McDowell estate in Bedminster,-an old school quite noted in its day.

JOHN McDOWELL.

Matthew McDowell was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was twice married,-first to Miss Simpson, of Lamington, and second to Eliza- beth Anderson, of Bound Brook. By Elizabeth An- derson he had John, William (both became clergy- men), and Benjamin, father of our subject, who re- tained the estate, and was a farmer during life. He was a justice of the peace for about fifteen years, and for ten years judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He married Elizabeth Field, daughter of Jeremiah Field, of North Branch, and had two children, --- John and Elizabeth A., widow of the late Abraham Ten Eyck, of Somerville. He died July 24, 1855. Mrs. McDowell died March 28, 1873, in her ninetieth year.

John McDowell was born on the estate in Bedmin- ster, Jan. 12, 1810, and was educated at the common schools. He married Maria, daughter of Robert Todd, of Lamington, and has one son and three daugh- ters living. A Whig from early life, he joined the Republican party upon its organization in 1856, and has since adhered firmly to its principles and meas- ures. He is a man of sound judgment and exem- plary habits, and is an older in the Presbyterian Church of Lamington, of which he and his wife have long been members.

MARTIN LA TOURETTE.

FREDERICK H. LANE.

Frederick 11. Lane, son of Matthew P'. and Anna (Hlownel) Lane, was born in New Germantown, Ilunter- don Co., N. J., Dec. 22, 1813. Married Mary Ann Craig, daughter of William Craig, of New Germantown, Dec. 3, 1840, and hud fourteen children,-seven sons and seven daughters,-of whom eleven are living in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. Mr. Lane devoted his attention to agriculture, and was a thrifty and successful farmer. In 1855 he purchased one of the most beautiful estates in the township of Bedminster, on which his widow and sons now reside, where he made various improve- ments, and spent the remainder of his quiet and exem- plary life attending to his domestic duties, the education of his children, and the interests of the church of which he and his estimable wife were members. They belonged to the Presbyterian Church at Lamington, N. J. Mr. Lane died on the 7th of October, 1873. From the obituary notice published at the time of his death we extract the following just tribute to his character :

" When a good man dies a great void is left. When a useful man departs few can take his place. Both these vacancies were made when our friend FREDERICK H. LANE left us. Some of the old-fashioned men of honor, probity, and religion are still left as ancient landmarks among us, men who act out Christianity in their daily walk and habits. Many men can talk Christianity. How few there are that the whole community know and feel aro good men in word and deedl Frederick 11.

Lane's light was set upon a hill seen of all men. No man doubted that in him the genuine root of the matter existed. He came from a noble father. A fine-looking man, his soul was ns large as his body. He raised : family that inherited those qualities. Frederick possessed noble feelings and strongly exemplified them. You could not be in his company for a minute without recog- nizing a noble Christian man, of fine, commanding person and marked features. lle had a large soul, a numerous family; his children loved and revered him. A young man to the end of life, full of innocent fun and mischief, he never beenme old. He was the perfect model of a wise, skillful, judicious farmer. llis judgment seldom erred. Surrounded by laboring hands, he was prompt in his payments and a most judicious friend and ud- viser. As a Christian man he shone with the best and purest lustre. From church, prayer- meeting, Sabbath- school he was never absent, and their most able sup- porter. Having a large family, he was a strong nd- voente and efficient sustainer of our common-school system. As n public man holding office he never pros- tituted his powers, but retained the firm confidence of his fellow citizens in his unbending integrity. A com munity that loses such a man has met with a great misfortune. To his friends he has left the best of conso- lations; we know and feel that he was a good Christian man. To his family he has given the noblest legacy-a name pure and unsullied, without a single blemish."

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 178

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