History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 183

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 183
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 183

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" We presented ourselves for examination before Dr. S. S. Smith, then president of the college, and were admitted to a standing in the Junior Class. . . . " This class completed its course and graduated in September, 1804. It was a class of men who subse- quently made their mark and left their names carved high in the temple of fame, containing, as it did, Rev. Philip Lindsley, D.D., Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, D.D., Rev. Nathaniel S. Prime, D.D., Rev. Alfred Ely, D.D., Hon. Samuel L. Southard, Hon. Theodore Freling- huysen, Hon. George Chambers, Hon. Thomas H. Crawford, Hon. Joseph R. Ingersoll, to mention no others.

Dr. Jacob Kirkpatrick became a very distinguished clergyman. His room-mate, Dr. Philip Lindsley, was a man of great originality and power, and dis- tinguished himself as an educator of youth. He was twenty-six years president of the University of Nash- ville, Tenn., from 1824 to 1850, and left a son who succeeded him in that responsible position,-John Berrien Lindsley, M.D., D.D., of Nashville, Tenn. The careers of Mr. Frelinghuysen and Mr. Southard as counselors-at-law and as statesmen prove them to have been men of mark, and have made them an honor to their native State.

Hon. William L. Dayton, Rev. Symmes Henry, D.D., and many others, were prepared for college at Dr. Finley's school. Commodore Stockton was once a student here. The old rectangular, three-story brick building in which the school was held is still standing, and used for public school purposes.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The public schools of the township have always been a subject of interest to citizens, and have been well supported. The township is divided into eight school districts, as follows: Bernardsville, Basking

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BERNARD.

Ridge, Mine Monnt, Mine Brook, Franklin, Mount Pleasant, Liberty Corner, and Pleasant Valley. The school-house in the first is of stone; in the second, brick ; all the rest are wood. The aggregate value of the school property for the year ending _Aug. 31, 1879, is reported at $9200. Whole number between the ages of five and eighteen, 701 ; average number of months the schools have been kept open, 10; nnmber enrolled, 522; average attendance, 245; number of teachers employed, 9; Basking Ridge being the only school which employs two teachers. Of the whole number of teachers employed, 4 were male and 5 female. The total amount of money received from all sources for public school purposes was $3384.50.

BURIAL-PLACES.

The oldest burial-place in the township is that at Basking Ridge, the deed for which bears date Feb. 8, 1731. The oldest gravestone discovered in this ground is that of Henry Haines, who died June 9, 1736; but there were probably earlier interments, the first settlers having arrived from 1717 to 1725. Tra- dition says that the late Col. John Brees is known to have spoken of seeing a stone with the date 1719, though it cannot be found now. The ground is in- closed by a strong stone wall, and filled thickly with graves bearing the names of representatives of the old families and their descendants for four and five gen- erations. Many quaint and interesting inscriptions might be given did space permit. We give only that of the oldest person buried here :

" Here lies the body of John McCollum, who departed this, life April the 18, A.D., 1760, In the 103d year of his age."

The other churchyards which contain repositories of the dead are of a considerable later date, and pre- sent nothing worthy of special mention.

INDUSTRIES.

The industries of the people of this township are chiefly agricultural. The farming is of two kinds,- grain-raising and general crops and dairying. The milk of the dairies mostly goes to supply the Newark market, but of late much of it is made into an excel- lent quality of butter at the creamcries, so called, several of which exist in the township. The abun- dance of pure spring water is a great advantage in this regard. Agriculture is carried on in the township, generally with the most improved implements. There being no large towns, the employment for mechanics is limited.

MILLS.

Ferdinand Van Dorn's mill is situated on the head- waters of the Passaic, on the line between Somerset and Morris Counties. It is a large stone mill, three run of stones, furnished with the most improved ma- chinery, and grinds both custom and merchant flour.

Saw-mill on the Passaic, owned by James Osborn, does a considerable business for the New York and California trade ; propelled by water-power.

Spoke- and felloe-factory at Madisonville, run by steam; also a water saw-mill between Madisonville and Bernardsville. Richard Irving, proprietor.

Saw-mill owned by Widow McMurtry, above Van Doren's, on the Passaic.

Flour- and grist-mill, owned by B. Guerin, on Mine Brook, at Bernardsville; custom mill; two run of stones.

Below, on the same stream, is a custom flour- and feed-mill, owned by the Bunn Brothers,-Thomas and John Bunn. It is a large four-story stone mill, three run of stones, and has an up-and-down and circular- saw attachment for cutting lumber of any length or dimensions; also cider-making and distilling apple brandy is carried on at this establishment quite ex- teusively.

Mine Brook Mill, Charles Baker, proprietor; two run of stones, and does a general custom and mer- chant business.

Grist- and saw-mill of James Bunn, on a mountain- stream in the northwest part of the township.

Saw-mill and brush-back-factory, on the North Branch of the Raritan River, in the extreme north- western part of the township, owned by Peter Z. Smith, and carried on by his son, Oscar Smith.

Hub-factory of the Ludlow Brothers, farther down the Branch. Proprietors, Isaiah and James Ludlow.

Leason's, formerly Dunn's, Mills, on the line be- tween Somerset and Morris Counties; custom flour and feed.

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS, BASKING RIDGE

is the oldest and most considerable village in the township, and was settled the earliest of any portion ofit .* It contains four churches,-Presbyterian, Epis- copal, Methodist Episcopal, and Roman Catholic; a graded public school, occupying a brick building; two general stores, Putney O. Belding and Parmenas C. Ilenry, proprietors; grocery- and faney-store, Mary and Ida Brown; bakery, P. O. Belding; tin and hardware, William R. Bromfield; drugs, James Doty, M.D .; post-office, P. C. Ilenry, postmaster ; and telegraph-office, kept in Dr. Doty's store. The place has, besides, one carriage-shop, J. C. Oliver; blacksmiths, John R. Hollingshead, Freeman Pen- nington ; creamery (for milk, butter, and cheese), S. S. Beach & Co. There aro six physicians-viz., Drs. John Dayton, Amadeo Voorhees, Frederick C. Jones, William Pennington, James Doty, and D. H. G. Whitnall-and one lawyer, John H. MeCracken, Esq., business office in Newark. The names of the clergy- men are given in connection with the church his- tories. The number of inhabitants is about $00.

BERNARDSVILLE

was formerly called "Vealtown," and was changed to its present name at the suggestion of Roderick A. Mitchell, who settled in the place in 1840. Lord

. Seo Early Settlement.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Stirling and Capt. John Parker were the original proprietors of the soil in this vicinity, forty acres of which were bought by Judge Woods, of Morristown, about 1778. Considerable of this tract was subse- quently bought by Dr. John Boylan, an old and dis- tinguished physician, who practiced many years in the place during the early half of the present century. He had five or six sons and one daughter, who died in 1864, leaving her property to Margaret Cole, wife of Charles Quimby.

Tradition says that when Washington's army was at Morristown a disagreement arose about the pay of some of the Virginia soldiers, and in consequence a portion of them started for Virginia, and came as far as "Vealtown." An officer was sent after them, and in the old tavern kept by Capt. Parker they signed an agreement to continue in the service. The old tavern is still standing, and is the Mitchell homestead, purchased by Roderick A. Mitchell in 1840. Thirty- three years before, Mr. Mitchell had been taken to the house, a child of seven years, by his mother, who was passing through the place and was detained over- night by an accident to her carriage. The old tavern was then kept by one Whitenack. Mr. Mitchell is now seventy-four years of age; was a seafaring man in early life, and a sailor on board the ship " Cadmus," Capt. Howard, which brought La Fayette to America in 1824.

John Bunn was one of the prominent early settlers. He came here a poor young man and accumulated large property. He left ten children, two of whom- John and Thomas Bunn-own the stone mill at Ber- nardsville.

John H. Anderson was one of the most influential men of this section. He was surrogate of the county of Somerset, member of both houses of the Legisla- ture, and judge of the Common Pleas. He was also a director in the Delaware and Passaic (formerly the West Line) Railroad. His son, J. L. Anderson, is a graduate of Princeton, and resides on the old estate with his mother. George Anderson, the oldest son, is a graduate of West Point Military Academy, and has served on the Western frontier. He has 'also more recently been a teacher at West Point.

Capt. Nehemiah Norris, who commanded a company at Sandy Hook during the war of 1812, resided in this vicinity. He left a family of sons and daughters, of whom only two are now living,-viz., Caroline, wife of R. A. Mitchell, and Harriet, wife of Ferdinando Rnsh.

There are at Bernardsville two general stores, kept respectively by Thomas Bird and Calvin D. Smith. The latter is also postmaster. The Bernardsville Ho- tel is kept by E. L. Doty. There are two blacksmiths, -Robert Young and Oscar Wright; milliner and dressmaker, Mrs. Hall. The Methodist Episcopal church is a neat and commodious structure recently dedicated.

Several wealthy New York men have summer resi-

dences in the vicinity. Among them may be named George I. Seney, president Metropolitan Bank, New York; A. V. Stout, president Shoe and Leather Man- ufacturers' Bank, New York; and George B. Post, the well-known architect, New York.

LIBERTY CORNER

was formerly known as " Annin's Corner," on account of the settlement there at a very early day of John Annin, the patriarch of the Annin family. Tradition says that the name was originally spelled " Annan," and that the ancestors lived at Annandale, Scotland .* As most of the early settlers of this portion of the township have been referred to elsewhere, we shall omit further mention of them for want of space.

At Liberty Corner are Augustus Fohling and John Y. Bird, shoe-manufacturers ; P. F. Randolph, corn- planters and fertilizer-distributors ; Dennis Van Liew, Liberty Corner Hotel ; John Compton, agricultural implements ; Peter Taylor, wheelwright ; L. Manker, harness-maker ; Irving & Layton, undertakers; Wil- liam Lockwood, house and sign painter; James D. Van Derveer, physician.

The section of country about Liberty Corner is devoted chiefly to dairying, the milk being sent to Newark.

MADISONVILLE

is a small hamlet north of Basking Ridge, containing Irving's store, blacksmith-shop by Jacob Van Arsdale, and some ten or fifteen residences.

The old stage-line from Basking Ridge to Bound Brook, founded by Solomon D. Gilespie, of Basking Ridge, is still run by his son Samuel. Stephen D. Gilespie runs a hack from Liberty Corner to Lyon's Station, on the Delaware and Passaic Railroad, daily, carrying the mail. A branch of the Delaware, Lack- awanna and Western Railroad passes through the township, connecting Bernardsville, Newark, and other points. The advantages of this road bring in many New Yorkers, who do business in that city and have their residences during the summer among the beautiful and health-inspiring hills of Bernard.

MASONIC.

CLINTON LODGE, No. 8, A. F. and A. M., located at Basking Ridge, was chartered Nov. 13, 1827, as Basking Ridge Lodge, No. 56. The charter members were Edward A. Darcey, W. M .; Cornelius Ludlow, S. W. ; and Dr. Samuel S. Doty, J. W.

This lodge survived the Morgan excitement by being removed to several places of safety .; It was finally returned to its birthplace, where it has ever since held its regular communications. We append the following list of officers for the year 1880: C. H.

* Sce account of the Annin family, in other parts of this work.

+ The records of the Grand Lodge of the State of New Jersey show that a petition to remove to Little Cross-Roads was granted November, 1829; petition granted to move to Peapack, November, 1830 ; in 1831 to remove to Chester, Morris Co., and change name to " Clinton Lodge, No. 56." In January, 1848, Clinton Lodge, No. 8, petitioned to remove to Peapack, and in January, 1855, to remove to Basking Ridge.

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BERNARD.

Ames, P. M., W. M .; N. C. Bonnell, P. M., S. W .; George Browne, J. W .; N. Compton, Jr., Treas .; Thomas Terrell, Sec .; N. C. Cox, P. M., S. D .; George L. Rickey, J. D. ; C. D. Todd, P. M., M. of C .; Samuel Humphrey, M. of C .; S. S. Adamson, P. M., Steward; George H. Logan, Steward ; O. W. Brown, Tiler. Communications are held twice a month.

TOWNSHIP STATISTICS.

Amount of floating debt, $1121.13; interest, $224.21; total, $1345.34.

Amount of real property, $1,662,685; deduction therefrom, $255,725.

Amount of personal property, §274,525; deduction therefrom, $109,755.

Total amount of real and personal property taxed, $1,561,730.

Rate of tax : State purposes, 5 per cent .; county purposes, 20 per cent. ; local purposes,-township, 10 per cent .; school, 20 per cent .; roads, 15 per cent .; poor, 15 per cent.

Amount of tax ordered to be raised, $13,906.70.

Annual expenses, township purposes, $1000.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

FERDINAND VAN DORN

was born at Peapaek, Somerset Co., N. J., on the 17th of April, 1807. His early life was spent at that place, where he engaged in various enterprises, chiefly in connection with his father's large business, till the year 1842. With a view of establishing himself on a good and eligible mill-site, and of pursuing an oe- eupation with which he had already become familiar, he bought, in 1842, the Richard Southard place, on the Passaie River, where he now resides. A mill had been built here in 1768 by Samuel Lewis, the mater- nal great-grandfather of Samuel L. Southard, but it was not of such structure or capacity as suited the purpose of Mr. Van Dorn. He selected a site about two hundred yards below, where he was enabled to increase the fall from eight to twenty feet, and in 1843 ereeted a stone mill which is a model for solidity of structure and equipments. It is said to be the finest flouring-mill in Somerset County. The building and management of this mill, the large business of purchasing and marketing which it has necessitated, the care of the farm, the building of the pleasant and home-like residences in its vicinity, and the improve- ment and ornamentation of the grounds, which occupy a delightful slope on the bank of the Passaie, have occupied the chief attention of Mr. Van Dorn since he settled here, in 1842. Still, he has found time, as he has always had the liberality and the means, to identify himself largely with the public interests of his township and neighborhood, and to do much for

the beautifying of his home and the education of his children. He is one of the most thrifty, enterprising, and intelligent citizens of the township in which he resides, and which has called him more frequently

FERDINAND VAN DORN.

than has been consonant with his wishes to exercise the functions of offices of trust and responsibility. Mr. Van Dorn married Phebe Woodward on the 13th of October, 1831, and has ten children, all living, whose names are as follows: Angeline, who married William B. MeMurtry, of Basking Ridge; Caroline, who married George Quimby and settled in Kansas ; William, who married Susan Augusta Robinson and resides at the mill of which he has charge; Julia Ann, wife of Rev. George Dickinson, of Newark ; Josephine, wife of Rev. Matthias F. Swaim, who died in Florida ; Gilbert, who married Jane Ann Stevens and lives in St. Augustine, Fla. ; Eugene, a farmer on the home estate, who married Maggie II. Bar- calow; Anna B., wife of Alfred A. Lewis, M.D., of Morristown, N. J .; and two unmarried children,- viz., Catharine Isabella and Richard Southard Van Dorn, a medical student at the College of New York.

This brief sketch would be incomplete were we to close without suitable mention of Mrs. Van Dorn, the estimable wife and mother, who departed this life April 15, 1878. An obituary notice published at the time of her death contains the following :

" Phebe Woodward Van Dorn, daughter of Samuel Woodward and Phebe Southard, was born Feb. 14, 1812, on the homestead near Basking Ridge, N. J., where her ancestors had lived for half a century. Hlere were passed her childhood and youth, where she became well known for beauty of person and ex-

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

cellence of character. At the age of nineteen she married Ferdinand Van Dorn, then of Peapack, and at once entered upon a life of the greatest domestic activity. Her husband engaged ardently in the busi- ness enterprises of the day, and they began together the struggle of life,-to improve their surroundings, to develop the resources of the neighborhood, and to acquire a competency against declining days. After a few years Mr. Van Dorn purchased the homestead property at Basking Ridge, and, removing thence with his wife, she lived to the end of her days on the spot where she was born. A plan of improvements upon this place began immediately, which extended through a series of years. Lands were reclaimed, the water- power was enlarged, aqueducts were laid to last for centuries to come, the well-known stone mill and other buildings were erected, giving employment to a large number of mechanics and laborers. These, as was customary, were boarded in the family, de- manding of the housewife superior skill in manage- ment, and untiring diligence in prosecuting the do- mestic lahors of the day. But she proved equal to every emergency, never delegating her authority to another, but taking the lead and direction of all household matters with such a quiet system of prompt- ness and patience that without bustle or confusion or fretting and scolding everything moved smoothly on in her department. A foreman of the mechanics who worked there months together, said that he never knew the dinner-bell, calling them to an abundant meal, to vary five minutes from the appointed hour. " As the years went by a numerous family gathered around her; ten children, all living and grown to years, at home, under her motherly care, 'rise up to call her blessed.' Thirty-five grandchildren live to treasure her memory through future years. She also saw her children's children to the third generation. Without being demonstrative, she took a quiet enjoy- ment in gratifying the demands of childhood, and the troop of children and grandchildren who delighted to romp around her home will remember in after- years, as the bright days of early life come up before them, the many little comforts and 'goodies' prepared for their pleasure.

"She was also social in her nature, and hosts of friends thronged the house, whom, though they added to the multitude of cares of her already busy life, she was pleased to entertain."

Many years ago she united with the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge, and, though distant from the church and taxed with worldly cares and influ- ences not likely to develop Christian graces, she always maintained a true Christian spirit. Whenever de- tained at home the Bible was invariably her Sunday book, which she scemed to read with daily renewed satisfaction.

" In looking at such a life, we are constrained to say, 'Not all heroism is shown on battle-fields.' The spirit that so courageously carries such burdens iu the

retirement of domestic life, stimulated only by the purpose to perform each duty, deserves to rank with those whom the thoughtful delight to honor, and to be cherished in grateful memory by those who have been blessed by the toils. When these fall asleep at the end of the journey, we may follow them with the comforting thought, 'They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.'"

OLIVER DUNSTER.

Charles Dunster, the original ancestor of the family in this country, came from England. He was the English proprietor of the Dunster tract in Bernard township, consisting of seven thousand five hundred acres of land, extending from Mine Brook to the Morris county line, bounded on the west by the North Branch of the Raritan, and on the east by the Passaic River. A portion of this land is still in the Dunster family, being owned by Oliver Dunster; it passed out of the hands of the original family, and one hundred and fifty acres were purchased by Oliver Dunster in 1852.

Charles Dunster had one son, James, and two daughters. James married a Woodward, and had sons,-Oliver, James, John, Andrew, and Daniel. Oli- ver Dunster, Sr., was the father of the present Oliver Dunster, of Mine Brook.

Oliver Dunster was born in Bernard township, July 9, 1811; married Abigail Sanders, of Bernard town- ship, Jan. 17, 1835. The following are their children : John B., born Dec. 10, 1835; Jefferson J., born Feb. 18, 1837 ; Mary Ann, born Jan. 25, 1839; Andrew N., born Dec. 20, 1840; Cyrus S., died in infancy ; H. P., born Sept. 25, 1847; Curtis O., born July 12, 1849; Mary A., born July 15, 1854; Frank A., born March 28, 1856. Of these the following are deceased : Mary Ann, died Sept. 15, 1854; Jefferson J., died April 14, 1878.

Mr. Dunster, on account of the loss of his father's property, was left a poor boy, and was indentured to Oliver Woodward at the age of six years to serve for food and clothing till he should attain his legal ma- jority at the age of eighteen. He grew up a youth of wonderful energy, both physical and mental, and as he advanced in age his capabilities for work and business increased. Frequently, after doing his full day's work at wages, he took jobs to chop and saw cordwood by moonlight, and thus increased largely the profits of his labors. In connection with pro- digious and indefatigable energy, he developed a remarkable business capacity and powers of acquisi- tion and economy which turned his work to the best account in the acquirement of property. He had in a pre-eminent degree the faculty for making money, and he never spent it unnecessarily or foolishly. An instance may be related illustrative of this fact. When he was a small boy, at the age of ten, Mr. Woodward gave him ten cents to spend at a Fourth-of-

DAVID W. KING.

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BERNARD.

July celebration at Basking Ridge. He spent four cents, and came home at night with six cents in his pocket. From that day forward he has never been withont money. ( His oldest son married Mr. Wood- ward's daughter, to whom he was indentured.)

In 1830 he commenced doing business for himself; jobbed for two years by the month and day; then bought a team and commenced carting charcoal to New York City, buying wood by the aere, chopping the timber into cordwood, rails, etc., and converting the refuse into charcoal, which brought a good price in New York. While hanling coal to New York in 1834 he saw the foundations laid of that famous prison, the Tombs, and of the Astor House, then being built. He has followed as a business through life, in addition to farming, dealing in wood, charcoal, and tanner's bark; the bark business he has followed con- secutively for fifty-one years. Ile has so managed this business as to bring out of it the highest finan- cial results, and to secure a handsome competence for himself and family.

Hle is a man of original thought and genius,-has his own ideas and his own way of doing things. Be- ginning life without education or means, he has edu- cated himself in a practical sense by experience and observation. To this he has added the benefits of extensive travel, having visited the Pacific coast, California, and been in all the States of the Union.

He has taken no part in politics, except to vote regularly the Democratic ticket, and on occasions to exert his electioneering abilities in favor of some favorite candidate or against the election of some undesirable man to offiee. He has never sought office for himself.

The above sketch has been written on Mr. Dunster's seventieth birthday, and he seems as young and active as a man of fifty. His powers of body and mind are unimpaired. At the date of this writing we have seen his indenture to Mr. Woodward as ap- prentice, made Feb. 28, 1818, signed by Oliver Wood- ward and witnessed by Samuel S. Doty and John Beam.

DAVID W. KING.

David W. King was born near Liberty Corner, in Bernard township, Somerset Co., N. J., Ang. 23, 1817. Ile is a son of William and Phebe (Hayden) King, the former a native of Liberty Corner, Somerset Co., where he was born March 17, 1793. His father be- fore him, John M. King, was born in the same place, his father, Marcus King, being the first of the name who settled there at a very early time, when this por- tion of New Jersey was a wilderness. Marcus King was born on board a vessel off Sandy Hook, and was the first printer at New Amsterdam, now the city of New York.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 183

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