History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 195

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 195
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 195

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).

DAVID K. AUTEN.

David K. Auten was born in the township of Bridgewater, Somerset Co., N. J., Nov. 2, 1807.

12, 1848. The brothers of James Auten were Jolin, Thomas, Abraham, Isaac, and Peter. The three eldest lived to be old men. All lived in Bridgewater township except Abraham, who resided at Richmond,

David / Autor

on Staten Island, where he attained prominence, and was sheriff or deputy for some thirty years.

David K. Auten, at the age of seventeen, went to learn the hatter's trade at Somerville with Aaron Van Natta, where he remained for four years. Ile was then a partner of Dennis Tunison in the business at Farmersville, Seneca Co., N. Y., for three years, and in 1825 returned to his native State and spent some time with his brother Aaron, a wheelwright, at North Branch. He worked at that business for three years at Branchville, in Hillsborough township. On Sept. 12, 1838, he married Matilda, daughter of William Burniston, of Hillsborough. She died Sept. 15, 1854, aged thirty-five years. Their children were Auron, born June 29, 1839; Maria Elizabeth, died young ; Mary Ann Kelley, born Dec. 16, 1×42, wife of Jonn- than Prall, of New York City; Hannah Rebecca, born Dec. 10, 18-14, wife of Jacob R. Sutphin, of Hillsborough ; Sarah Louisa, born Nov. 15, 1846, wife of John B. French, of Mercer Co., N. J .; James Franklin, born Jun. 9, 1849; Eliza Matilda, born April 16, 1851, wife of Charles Hamblin, of Hillsbor- ough ; and Malvenah, who died in her eleventh year.

Ilis father, James Auten, born May 24, 1774, mar- ried, March 14, 1801, Hannah, daughter of Squire David Kelley. He was a wheelwright and farmer, and resided about two miles north of Somerville, on the Pluckamin road. He died June 4, 1809, leaving a widow and children,-viz., Mary Ann, born June 30, 1802, wife of James Kelley, first of Seneca Co., N. J., and then of Wisconsin, where she died ; AAaron, born Jan. 18, 1804, of North Branch; Elizabeth Stry- ker, born Dec. 10, 1805, wife of Joseph Perrine, of His second wife was Emily, seventh daughter of Enoch and Jane (Covert) Stewart, of Seneca Co., Bound Brook ; and David K. The mother of these children was born Oct. 29, 1778, and died March I N. Y., whom he married Sept. 27, 1856. She was

798

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

born Dec. 9, 1817. Her parents were born in Som- erset County, were married in Seneca Co., N. Y., where they settled in 1791 as farmers, and were mem- bers of the Dutch Reformed Church. She died at the age of eighty-three. He died in Lodi, Nov. 27, 1865, aged ninety-seven years and eight months.

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Auten, in 1840, pur- chased a farm of eighty acres, now occupied by his son James. He has since added one hundred and fifty acres, and built a substantial residence in 1854. He built the residence where he now resides, adjoin- ing his old farm, in 1873.

Mr. Auten has spent a life of industry and activity, wholly devoted to business pursuits. In politics he is a Republican, having formerly been a Whig. He has been a member of the Reformed Church since 1839, and has officiated as elder,-first at Somerville and subsequently at Raritan. His wife is also a mem- ber of the same church.

PETER PETERSON QUICK.

Peter Peterson Quick is the grandson of Joachim Quick, whose father came from Long Island and settled in Hillsborough township when the country was a wilderness. Joachim married a Miss Schnid- aker, who bore him five children,-viz., Peter, Garret, James, Abraham, and Maria.

Peter Quick, son of Joachim, was born Sept. 19, 1758, and married, Nov. 27, 1799, Aletta, daughter of Peter Peterson ; she was born Jan. 30, 1762. He was a farmer near the river in Hillsborough township for many years, and in the year 1800 purchased and re- moved to the place now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. He was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war, and was in the battle of Monmouth and in the skirmish at Springfield. Joachim Quick also served in that war.

Peter Quick died Aug. 29, 1842. His wife died May 6, 1838. Their children were Anna, born Sept. 29, 1780; Jacob, born Sept. 30, 1782; Catharine, born Dec. 9, 1783; Nelly, born June 20, 1788; Maria, born March 25, 1792; Peter P., born June 27, 1795 ; Aletta, born May 24, 1799; Jacob (2d), born Feh. 9, 1805. Only one of these children, besides Peter P., is living, -viz., Aletta, widow of the late Dr. Whitenack, of Raritan. Most of them lived to advanced ages.

Peter P. Quick received a common-school educa- tion, and in early life became inured to farm-work, early in life learning those valuable lessons, industry and ceonomy. He succeeded his father on the farm, which originally contained two hundred and sixty acres, but now consists of one hundred and fifty-five acres. His life has been almost wholly devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he has been successful in the acquisition of property. He has ever been known as a man of good mind, and moral and upright in his life. For many years he has been a member of the

Third Reformed Church at Raritan. In his early manhood he was identified with the old Whig party, and is now a Republican. For several years he has only voted at Presidential elections. Now nearly eighty-six years of age, Mr. Qnick remains quite active in body, and is able to dictate nearly all of the facts for this sketch.

JACOB DILTS.

Jacob Dilts' great-grandfather emigrated from Ger- many, and was one of the first settlers of the township of Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., N. J.

L'ocob Dilts

His grandfather, Jacob, married Miss Heath, who died in 1828, aged sixty-nine years. He was a farmer through life, and died in West Amwell township in 1828, aged seventy-two years. His children were John, Paul K., Henry, Andrew, Asher, Richard, Hiram, Ann, and Mahalch, wife of George Dilts, who lives at Lambertville, N. J. The latter is the only one living, except Paul K., who was born April 8, 1788, married, Feb. 23, 1811, Sarah, daughter of Elisha Sharp. She was born Feb. 13, 1793, and died Aug. 22, 1876. Paul K. Dilts is living, in 1880, in East Amwell township, and in comparatively good health. He followed the trade of a carpenter in early manhood, subsequently was a miller, but has spent the major part of his active business life as a farmer. He was formerly a Whig, and has been a member of the Republican party since its organization. Both he and his wife were members of the Dutch Reformed Church at Clover Hill, of which he was also elder for some

Deter & Dowade

MG.

John Man Doven

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HILLSBOROUGH.

time. Their children are Isaac S., resides at Clover Hill on the old homestead; Jacob; Elisha, died in Fairview, Ill .; Sarah M. (deceased), wife of John L. Bellows.

Jacob, son of Paul K. Dilts, was born in Amwell township, Hunterdon Co., Oct. 25, 1813. He re- mained at home on the farm until he reached his majority. He married, Oct. 13, 1836, Margaret K., daughter of David Bellis, of Amwell township. She was born Jan. 8, 1813, and died June 8, 1859. The children of this union are Augustus ; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Peter J. Quick, of South Branch ; Mary Sut- phen, wife of Talbot C. Gulick, of Readington; Eleanor ; Charlotte B., wife of Richard H. Layton, of Somerville. For his second wife he married, Aug. 26, 1862, Catharine M., daughter of Dennis and Eliz- abeth (Perrine) Huff, of Hillsborough. She was born Jan. 11, 1820.

For several years after his marriage Mr. Dilts rented farms, but in 1848 he purchased the farm of eighty-six acres where he now resides, in the town- ship of Hillsborough, and on which he built his present residence, and nearly all other buildings on the place. Mr. Dilts has led an industrious and active life, and unassisted pecuniarily has, by good management and economy, secured a fair competence. Ile is a man of strict integrity and correct habits, and a promoter of all worthy enterprises. Ile cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison, and is a member of the Republican party, but no seeker after place. For forty-one years | the farm during the summer months.

he has been a member of the Reformed Church, first at Somerville, but now at Raritan. He has officiated both as deacon and elder.

JOIIN VAN DOREN.

The great-grandfather of John Van Doren, belong- ing to one of the old Dutch families who settled New York City, came from Long Island, and was one of the carly settlers of Franklin township, Somerset Co. There he reared a family of fifteen children, of whom one son, John, purchased and settled the farm now owned and occupied by our subject, near Millstone, in Hillsborough township, some time pre- vious to the Revolutionary war. Here he crected a house, covered it with shingle, and the same building is in 1880 in a good state of repair, still being the home residence of his grandson. In this house Gen. Wash- ington often slept, during the ever-memorable strug- gle, as he was passing to and fro through New Jersey. It was on this farm that the Hessians, after clearing off a large piece of woodland, established their hos- pital for wounded and sick soldiers. His wife was Miss Marretye Lott, who at one time during the war was taken a prisoner by the British troops, a rope put around her neck, and ordered to disclose certain things relative to the enemy. The attempt was un- successful, and she was released. Sho died April 27, 1855, aged seventy-seven years. The children of John

Van Doren were Abraham, Christianus, John, Corne- lins, Jacob I., William, and Mrs. Tunis Hoagland.

Johan Van Doren was a farmer through life, was a supporter of all worthy enterprises of his town and county, gave the ground to the Dutch Reformed Church where their church edifice now stands at Millstone, and died in 1815, aged eighty-nine years.

Jacob I., father of our subject, was born on the home- stad Dec. 26, 1761, succeeded the senior Van Doren on the old homestead, and then carried on agricultu- ral pursuits during his life. He married Mrs. Hoag- land, formerly Miss Mattie Ditmars, of Hillsborough, who bore him one son, John, and one daughter, Maria, widow of the late Isaac Dumont, of Branchburgh. His wife was born Nov. 10, 1767, and died April 8, 1852. Jacob Van Doren and his wife lived a quiet life, were members of the Dutch Reformed Church at Millstone, and were interred in the burial-place near that church, where his parents were also buried. He was a firm supporter of the old Whig party of his day, but never sought or held office. He died July 27, 1828, aged sixty-six years.

One brother, John, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, was taken prisoner by the British, and for some time confined in New York City.

John Van Doren, the subject of this narrative, was born on the homestead Feb. 3, 1804. 1Ie received a fair common-school education while young, but after reaching the age of twelve years was kept at work on

In January, 1829, he married Charity, daughter of Rynier and Catharine (Voorhees) Staats, of Hills- borough township. She was born in 1807, and died in 1872. Their children are Rynier, born Oct. 15, 1829, who resides in Franklin township; Jacob, born February, 1831, now carrying on the home farm; and Catharine, born in April, 1833, wife of George W. Metlar, of Raritan Landing, N. J. Mr. Van Doren is known as a man of strict integrity, correct habits, and sterling principles. Ilis life has been spent on the farm where he was born, which originally con- tained one hundred and thirty-five aeres, but now contains one hundred and thirty-two acres. He was formerly a member of the Whig party, but upon the formation of the Republican party beeamo a sup- porter of its principles. He has held the office of freeholder for four years. He has been a member of the church of his forefathers since abont 1840, and has officiated for some time as deacon and elder. His wife was a zealous, devoted Christian woman, and for many years a member of the same church.

ISAAC V. D. HALL.

Isane V. D. Hall, son of George and Sarah (Van Doren) Hall, was born at Neshanic, Dec. 18, 1817.

His father was a miller by occupation, and died near Clinton, aged about sixty-six years.

His mother was a relative of the Van Doren family

800

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

who settled near Millstone, N. J. The other children of George Hall were John (deceased), Magdalen, who married Edward Losee, and William G., who resides at Raritan.

Isaac Of D Hall

Isaac V. D. Hall received only a common-school education. He went to learn the carpenter and join- er's trade at the age of nineteen, and worked at this business until he was fifty-five years of age. He mar- ried, in March, 1855, Ann, daughter of Dominicus and Aletta (Whitenack) Stryker. She was born May 9, 1824, and is living in 1880 on the place purchased by her husband in 1858. Their children are William Wesley, born Nov. 3, 1856, died Oct. 2, 1877, and one died in infancy.

Mr. Hall resided for three years at Neshanic Sta- tion before purchasing his place near Flaggtown. He was a man of correct habits, and esteemed by all who knew him. Both he and his wife became members of the church at Neshanic, and gave liberally of their means for the support of Christianity.

PETER W. YOUNG.

Peter W. Young, son of William P. and Lydia (Hagaman) Young, was born in East Amwell town- ship, Hunterdon Co., Oct. 8, 1807. His great-grand- father, Peter, was a native of Niewit, Germany, and the progenitor of the family here. Ile purchased and settled one thousand acres of land in Amwell town- ship. His grandfather, Peter, born in Montgomery township, Somerset Co., N. J., March 16, 1731, mar-

ried Mary, daughter of Christopher Snyder, who bore him one son, Peter, born March 2, 1756, and one daughter, Mary, born Aug. 20, 1757. His wife died in 1758. He married, in February, 1759, for his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Herbert Hummer, who bore him the following children : Ann, born Sept. 14, 1764; Herbert, born Aug. 14, 1766; Jacob, born Oct. 12, 1768; Elizabeth, born June 6, 1771; Margaret and Sarah, born Jan. 12, 1774; John, born July 31, 1778; Elsie, born July 11, 1781; William, born Dec. 20, 1783. The mother of these children died in 1808. Their father died in 1809. He settled on five hundred acres of land purchased by his father, and built a residence, where he resided during the remainder of his life. Upon his death his sons William and John purchased the other heirs' interest in their father's estate and settled on the property. William sold his interest in the estate in 1840, and settled on one hundred acres of land near Neshanic, where he followed farming until about 1853, when he gave up the active duties of life, and afterwards resided with his children until his death, July 29, 1856. His wife died Feb. 7, 1845. She was a daughter of Ralph and Mary Hagaman, who were married Sept. 27, 1806. Their children were Peter W., subject of this sketch, and Catharine Maria, born Aug. 12, 1814, wife of Henry D. Johnson, of Blawenburg, Montgomery township.

William P. Young was a man of strict integrity in all the relations of life. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church at Neshanic for many years, and for some time officiated as deacon. He never sought political preferment, although he was a firm adherent of the old Whig party.

Peter W. Young, only son of William P., received a limited common-school education, but so improved the opportunities afforded as early in life to develop his natural business ability. He resided on the home farm until Nov. 27, 1829, when he married Penelope, daughter of Henry and Ann (Staats) Herder, of Nesh- anic. She was born Sept. 25, 1807. Their only child, William P., born Oct. 12, 1837, died Sept. 24, 1851.

After his marriage, Mr. Young, in 1830, settled on the farm, of three hundred acres, where he has since resided and carried on agricultural pursuits. He is one of the largest land-owners in Somerset County, and in every sense of the term a representative farmer. Mr. Youug is known as a man of sterling integrity, energetic in business, and judicious in its manage- ment. He is a promoter of all worthy local enter- prises, and a liberal supporter of church and kindred interests. He became a member of the Dutch Re- formed Church at Neshanic in 1854, and has continu- ously served that church as treasurer since 1855. Mr. Young possesses that force of character and business capacity that places him among the leading financiers of his township. He has kept aloof from place in political matters, although often solicited to accept office. Following in the line of his ancestors, he is a staunch supporter of the Republican party.

Peter Wr young

Frederick UL Nordling

FREDERICK V. L. VOORHEES is a descendant of Koert Voorhees, of New Utrecht and Graves- end, L. I., from which place his great-grand- father, Jacques, came and settled in Franklin township, Somerset Co., where John Voorhees now resides. His grandfather, Jacques, resided on the old homestead. Married Dinah Stryker, of the same place, who bore him children,-viz., John, Jacques, Abram, Cornelia, wife of Dr. Pomeroy, of Utica, N. Y., and Ellen, wife of Lewis D. Hardenbergh, of New Brunswick. Only Mrs. Pomeroy is now living. His wife died May 10, 1831, aged sixty-three years. Jacques, father of our subject, born March 27, 1792, on the old homestead, married Ann, daughter of Frederick Van Liew and Ann Rappleyea, of Three-Mile Run, of Franklin. She was born March 15, 1795, and died at the age of seventy-five years. Their children were Jacques, born Oct. 18, 1815; Matilda, wife of John Demott, born Sept. 8, 1817; Frederick Van Liew, born March 22, 1820; John, born April 23, 1822; and Abram, born April 7, 1826, all living. The father was a farmer through life, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church at Six- Mile Run (now called Franklin Park), and died on the old homestead where he spent his life, Sept. 21, 1828.

Frederick V. L. Voorhees spent his minority at home on the farm, and received a liberal ed- ucation in the district school and at a boarding-

school in New Brunswick, N. J. It was during the memorable time of the tornado in June, 1835, that he was away. at school in New Brunswick. After the death of his father his mother carried on the farm, and in this way kept the family together, and not only taught her children the value of labor and economy, but gave them such an education as she could afford. Mr. Voorhees married, Aug. 20, 1845, Eliza T., the eldest in a family of five daughters of Abram C. and Eliza (Houghton) Beekman, of Hopewell, N. J. She was born on June 24, 1823. Her father died Feb. 24, 1877, at New Brunswick, and her mother died at her old home, Aug. 2, 1864, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Voorhees purchased a farm near Blackwell's Mills, in the township of Hillsborough, containing one hundred and sixty aeres, in 1844, upon which he has since resided.

He has not been active in politics, yet interested in all matters in any way adding to the prosperity of the people and the establishment of our gov- ernment upon a firm basis. He was formerly identified with the Whig party, and naturally espoused Republican ideas upon the formation of that party. He took an active part in the construction of the Millstone Railroad, ruuning through the township of Franklin. His chil- dren are Abram B., Elizabeth H., wife of Eugene Nevius, of Franklin, Jacques J., Ida Van Liew, Frederick A., and C. Beekman.

Zacheus Bergen

ZACHEUS BERGEN (James,5 Evert,4 Ilans Joris3 (George), Joris Hansen,2 llans Hansen1), of Hillsborough township, Somerset Co., N. J., was sixth in regular line of descent from llans llanson Bergen, common ancestor of the Bergen family of Long Island, New Jersey, and their vieinity, a native of Bergen, in Norway, n ship-carpenter by trade, and removed from thenee to Ilolland. From Holland he emigrated in 1633 to Now Amster- dum, now New York, arriving in April of that year, with Wou- ter Van Twiller, the second director-general, in one of the ves- sels of the fleet, consisting of the West India Company's ships, the " Salt Mountain," of twenty guns, commanded by Jurinen Blnnek, the "Carvel," " St. Martyn," and the " Hope," which vessels necompanied the "Salt Mountain" in her voyage from the Fatherland.

Hans llansen Bergen married, in 1639, Sarah, daughter of Joris Jansen Hapalie, a French Huguenot from Rochelle, who "migrated in 1623, in the ship " Unity." She was born on June 9, 1625, nnd is said to have been the first white female child of European parentage born in the colony of New Netherlands. Of their children, four sons and four daughters, Joris (George) wns fifth child, baptized July 18, 1619, in Now Amsterdam, living as Inte R$ 1736 ; married, Aug. 11, 1678, Srn, daughter of JJan Strycker, of Flatbush. " Capt. Joris Hansen Ber- gon's" family in 1698 consisted of "one man, one woman, eleven children, and two slaves." In the same year and in 1702 ho was an eller in the church in Brooklyn. In 1690 he was elected one of the trustees or commissioners of common lands, which office he held until 1702. " In 1700 he was a member of the grand jury and foreman of the same, and the same year he was captain of the foot company of militia of Brookland." Hans Joris, son of loris Hansen, baptized Aug. 31, 1681, in New Utrecht, died in 1726; married, Ang. 16, 1711, Sytje. daughter of Evert Van Wieklen, of New Lots. His children wero George, born Oct. 9, 1712, and Evert, born in 1717, died Nov. 17, 1776.

Evert Bergen married Jane, daughter of Dennyse Hegeman. of Flatbush, n descendant of Adrian llegoman, who emigrated from Amsterdam, Holland, In 1650. In his younger days Evert Borgen resided in New Lots. In 1737 ho purchased and set- tied a tract of one hundred and forty neres of land at Royer- field, Hillsborough township, and also n farm nt Whitehouse, nino miles from Somerville. He brought a pear tree with him from Flatbush to New Jersey which boro fruit until 1861, over one hundred and twenty years, when it was blown down during n violent storm. llis children were lohn, born Sept. 26, 1746; Jane, baptized Aug. 5, 1750, in Somerville Reformed Putch Church; JJames, born Sept. 11, 1755; nnd Evert, born in 1756.

James Bergen, father of our subject, married, May 20, 1779, Ann, daughter of Zacheus Van Voorhees, who was born Feb. 20, 1761, and died Jan. 11, 1852, in her ninety-first year. ile inherited from his father and occupied the homestead farm in Roycefield, N. J., to which he added by purchase two hundred and twenty neres. Dying intestate, his land was equally di- vided nmong his children. He died Jan. 30, 1830. His brother

Evert was a soldier in the Amerienn nrmy, nod engaged in the battle of Monmouth in the war of the Revolution.

The children of James Bergen were Evert, born Oct. 30, 1780; Mary, born May 5, 1786; John, born Feb. 19, 1790; Zachens, born Oct. 1, 1792; Jane, born March 15, 1791, died in infancy ; Jnne, born April 12, 1797; and James, born Aug. 30, 1799. Zacheus Bergen married, Jan. 18, 1816, Mary Simun. son, who was born April 29, 1789, and died Feb. 21, 1880. Their children nre Joanna Voorhees, born Sept. 4, 1817, wife of Rev. J. A. Van Doren, of Millstone; Elizabeth, born Aug. 14, 1819. widow of the Inte Simon S. Van Liew, of Somerville ; nt the time of his death, May 24, 1880, he was sheriff of Somerset County ; Mary S, Staats, born May 5, 1822 : Gertrude, boru June 19, 1525, wife of John A. Voorhees ; James Z., horn Dee, 19, 1:27.

Zachens Bergen, at the time of his death, residel on the farm where he was born. Ilis portion of his father's estate was thirty neres which included the homestead, to which he added by pur- chase of the other heirs some eighty-seven neres. Here, like his ancestors, he followed agricultural pursuits. Ilis life was one of netivity, energy, and perseverance, uninterrupted by the biekerings of politienl strife or seeking after place. Of a natu- rally robust frame, and possessed of a strong constitution, he retained in the later years of his life to a remarkable degree the vigor of both body and mind which characterized his earlier ycars. lle was afflicted for about seventy years with deafness. and was unable to engage in conversation save by the use of writing. Notwithstanding this difficulty, Mr. Bergen never relaxed his desire for reading, and was always interested in and conversant with the current political topics of the day, and especially woll read in Seripture history. He was positive nod decided in his opinions, and possessed force of character and integrity of purpose in all his undertakings. Following in the footsteps of his ancestry, he was interested in all worthy local enterprises, and performed his part well, and was ever foremost in the establishment and propagation of school and church interests. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Somerville nearly his whole life, and officiated as dencon and eller. His wife was also a member of this church, a devoted wife, and a kind Christinn woman. This old family, of which Mr. Bergen was the oldest living representative in Isso in Somerset County, dating back nearly one hundred and fifty years prior to the Declaration of Independence, became mem- bers of the Federal party upon the close of the Revolutionary struggle, and have kept their principles inviolable through the subsequent Whig and Republican parties, never seeking place of political preferment, but ever patriotic and true to the best interests of the republic.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 195

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