History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 61

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 61
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 61

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The Democrat, in all the forty-two years of its exist- ence, has been conservative in its course, and has ex- ercised an influence for union and harmony in the party that established it. It has taken no part in the making of candidates for local or county offices, but when made it has exerted an honest and persevering influence to elect the same. Of all the editors of the Democrat but two survive, Adam Bellis and the pres- ent editor. Mr. Swallow, who once owned the Gazette for a short time, is still alive.

In March, 1868, Mr. L. R. Runkle succeeded J. Rutsen Schenck as local editor of the Demoerat,-a position he has filled acceptably ever since. It is but justice to Mr. Runkle to record the fact that much of the interest which has attached to the paper during the past twelve years is due to his persevering indus- try and tact. Of those who have learned the art of printing in this office, it may be truly said that John Y. Fostert has made his mark the highest. Of the' present force on the paper, Messrs. L. R. Runkle, W. S. Runkle, Forrest A. Rice, and John H. Choyce learned the "Art preservative of all Arts" in this office.

THE HUNTERDON REPUBLICAN,

also published at Flemington, was established in 1856. The Presidential campaign of that year found the young Republican party without a newspaper to rep- resent its principles in Hunterdon County. A stock company was formed, and soon sufficient shares were subscribed and paid for to warrant the establishing of a Republican paper. On the 15th of October, 1856, the first number was issued, Thomas E. Bartow being its editor. He continued at its head until the fall of 1862, when he was succeeded by the late G. A. Allen, Esq.,¿ and William G. Callis, who was then employed in the office. Mr. Allen retired from his editorial connection with the paper in 1872, leaving it to the sole control of Mr. Callis, hy whom it is now (1880) conducted.

Since its establishment the paper has been twice enlarged, and is now one of the largest and hand- somest of our State papers.

CLINTON NEWSPAPERS.

The first representative of the press in Clinton was the Clinton Times, established in February, 1859, as a local paper, neutral in politics, by William Abell. In April, 1860, it passed into the hands of A. J. Shampa- nore, who converted it into a political organ repre- senting the Republican party. In January, 1861, he enlarged it and changed its name to the New Jer- sey Leader. Soon afterwards Shampauore & Little hecame its publishers ; then Mr. Little was announced as publisher, and Mr. Shampanore|| as editor. On the Ist of January, 1864, William AbellT resumed the proprietorship, and published the paper as a Demo- cratic journal. He continued its issue until the sum- mer of 1865, when it was discontinued. The full files of both the Times and Leader are now in the hands of Enoch Abell, Esq., of Union township.

On the 11th of April, 1868, J. Rutsen Schenck, who had been previously the publisher of the Hunterdon County Gazette, began, in Clinton, The Constitutional Democrat, with a new establishment. Dec. 15, 1868, John Carpenter, Jr., purchased it, changed the name to

THE CLINTON DEMOCRAT,

and has continued its publication as a Democratic paper to the present time. It claims to have the largest regular circulation of any newspaper in Hun- terdon County, and is certainly one of the most influ- ential and prosperous. William H. Carpenter is the local editor ; John Carpenter, Jr., editor and propric- tor. -

* See sketch in "Bench and Bar of Hunterdon County," elsewhere in this work.

+ A personal sketch of Dr. Nightingale will be found in the " History of the Medicul Profession," ante.

# Author of the work " New Jersey in the Rebellion," etc.

¿ Personal sketch in " Bonch and Bar" chapter, ante.

| A. J. Shampanere subsequently published the Belvidere Intelligencer (now the Apollo), and, associated with his son, is the present proprietor of The Bound Brook Chronicle.

T I'mblished the Hackettstown (lazette from 1861 to 1864. When he discontinued the Leader, in 1865, it was not for want of patronage, for its circulation had been increased to fifteen hundred subscribers, but because he " thought he was tired of the printing business." 1Ie is now (September, 1880) residing in Providence, R. I .- l'inde personal letter.

237

THE PRESS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.

THE LAMBERTVILLE PRESS.

The first paper published in Lambertville was The Telegraph. It was started in May, 1845, by John R. Swallow. He sold subsequently to Messrs, George C. Large and William B. Hughes ; the latter disposed of his interest to Edwin G. Clark, and the paper was pub- lished under the firm-title of Large & Clark, and later by Mr. Clark alone. While the latter gentle- man had sole charge of the paper he changed the name to The Delaware Valley Diarist. In 1853, Franklin P. Sellars purchased the establishment of Mr. Clark, and upon taking possession he changed the name of the paper to The People's Beacon. He had charge until 1858, when the office again changed owners, and the paper its name ; he sold, in that year, to Clark Pierson, who continued the paper under the title of The Beacon, which name it still bears. In November, 1869, Hazen & Roberts purchased the es- tablishment. April 1, 1875, Phineas K. Hazen bought his partner's interest, and has conducted the sheet to the present time, both as editor and proprietor.

During the ownership of Clark Pierson, The Beacon was enlarged from a seven- to an eight-column paper. It has always been neutral in politics. Its publica- tion-office is located on the corner of Bridge and I'nion Streets, in connection with which is a good job- printing office.

The Lambertrifle Record was founded in September, 1872, by Clark Pierson, as its editor, publisher, and proprietor, and, without any changes, as such still re- mains. It was started as a Republican paper, and so continues. It is a well-managed, ably-conducted local paper. Its office is situated at the corner of Union and Coryell Streets. Mr. Pierson is also post- master.

FRENCHTOWN PAPERS.

The first paper in Frenchtown was the Press, which was established April 2, 1868, by Charles S. Joiner. It was a weekly paper, independent in politics, and a twenty-four-column quarto in size. In the great fire of June 29, 1878, the office was destroyed. The last number of The Frenchtown Press was a half-sheet, containing an account of the fire, and issued from one of the Trenton printing-offices, July 3, 1878.

The Hunterdon Indepradent first appeared May 6, 1871. Its publishers were S. D. & R. Slack, and .An- drew Slack was its proprietor. Ross Slack retired from the firm in the spring of 187-4, and S. D. Slack continued the publication of the paper until his death, Jan. 21, 1879. The Independent was then purchased by J. R. Hardon & Co., who had charge until Decem- ber, 1879, when Mr. Hardon became sole editor, pub- lisher, and proprietor. Ile still continues its publi- cation, the otlice being located at the corner of Bridge and Harrison Streets. It is a thirty-two-column paper, and is published weekly.

The Frenchtown Star was founded by W. H. Sipes. in May, 1879. It was designed to be a monthly peri-

odical, and its initial number was eight pages of six by nine inches in size, but it was enlarged with its second number to twelve pages, and so continued for ten months. March 31, 1880, the form was changed to a twenty-four-column, and it was made a weekly at the same time. Mr. Sipes still continues its publication, his office being located at the head of Bridge Street.

OTHER PAPERS.

The Family Casket was first issued at White House, on Wednesday, the Sth of April, 1868, by A. J. Sham- panore. It was twenty by twenty-six inches in size, and was published weekly, at one dollar per annum. On the Ist of October of that year it was enlarged to a seven-column sheet, it having attained a circulation of six hundred. It was edited and published by Mr. Shampanore until Sept. 12, 1877, when he sold it to E. S. Stout ; but, the latter gentleman not being able to continue it, the establishment reverted to its orig- inal owner, who, on the 1st of December, 1877, re- moved the otlice to Bound Brook, where the paper reappeared Jan, 30, 1878, but the following April its name was changed to the Bound Brook Chronicle. The Casket was independent in all things, but took a decided stand in favor of temperance, being in 1871- 72 the organ of the Good Templars. It was first published over B. V. Pickel's store; in April, 1870, it was removed to the building now occupied as the post-office; in June, 1872, it occupied the structure now known as James Mallison's hardware-store, the owner having built it on purpose for a printing-office. Its success was remarkable, the paper having reached a circulation of twelve hundred and thirty-two on its third anniversary.

The Lauter, a weekly newspaper devoted to local news and interests, was established at Milford by John C. Rittenhouse, March 17, 1880. This is the first publication of any kind in Milford. It was started a live-column paper in size, all printed at home, but was soon enlarged to seven columns to the page, with " patent outsides,"-that is, the first and fourth pages of the paper are furnished the publisher ready printed from some other establishment. In connection with the Leader is a job-printing office, under the same management, and located in Conine's building.

The first number of The Mutual Insurance Advocate was issued April 1, 1873. It was originally proposed to make it an occasional publication, but during most of the seven years it has been published it has ap- peared as a quarterly. It was devoted to the interests of mutual insurance in general, but was published by the Readington Farmers' and Citizen-' Mutual Life Insurance Company of New Jersey. Its editor was Aaron J. Thompson, the assistant secretary of the company from its organization to the present time. The last munber, recently issued. contained the fol- lowing announcement : "This number of the .Idre- rate makes twenty-three i -- nes. Hereafter, other methods of advertising will be resorted to."

238

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

In 1872 were published at Glen Gardner the Moun- tain Echo and the Glen Gardner Sentinel, printed at Washington, Warren Co., N. J., by the Touchstone and Star offices respectively. They were issued but a year or two, and then discontinued. The Philocrat is now published as a weekly newspaper. It was established in 1879 by Dr. Thomas C. Hunt, edited by Rev. William Henderson, of California, until the summer of 1880, when Dr. Henderson assumed the editorial control. Is a four-page, five-column paper, devoted to the advocacy of the temperance cause.

CHAPTER VIII.

AUTHORS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY .*

Prefatory Remarks-Sketches of Forty-seven Authors of the County, arranged Alphabetically, with List of their Publications.

PURPOSELY, a wide scope has been permitted in this chapter on authors. The design is to record what has been done by natives of this county, or those who have resided in it, in the way of influencing others through the press. Hence Legal Decisions, Lectures, Addresses, Tracts, Serials, and extended articles in Newspapers and Magazines have been included. The list has not been restricted to those who have written books.

The rule of selection was to take those who were born in the county and have published whether while living in the county or elsewhere. Of those not natives of the county, the selection comprises those who have resided in the county, and some or all of whose productions appeared while residents. Editors have not been included, because their publications re- ceive mention in the chapter on the press. Probably some names are omitted that should appear. Of the forty-seven authors mentioned, twenty-one were na- tives of the county.

BAILEY, REV. WILLIAM .- Born Feb. 14, 1819, in Bethlehem, Albany Co., N. Y .; graduated at Rutgers College, July, 1842; graduated from theological semi- inary of Reformed Church, New Brunswick, July, 1845; entered the ministry of Reformed Church at Guilderland, Albany Co., N. Y., 1845; remained there to 1847; pastor at Schodack, N. Y., 1847-56; at Constantine, Mich., 1863; Albany Third Church, 1868 ; White House, N. J., 1868 to present. Mr. Bailey has been an active and successful pastor, fully enlisted in all Christian work.

Publications .- He contributed a valuable historical article on "The White House" to a magazine pub- lished by A. V. D. Honcyman, Esq., of Somerville, in 1873. Ife has also written for The Christian Intelli- gencer and The Sower.

BIRD, HON. JOHN T .- (See a biographical sketch

in the chapter on the "Bench and Bar," elsewhere given.)

Publications .- While in Congress he made a number of able speeches which were published,-in 1869, "The Method proposed to Reconstruct Georgia;" 1870, " Against Repudiation," "The Farmer and Tariff," "In Opposition to the Third Attempt at Re- construction of Georgia," "On the Regulation of Commerce by Congress ;" 1871, " On the Enforcement of the Fourteenth Amendment," "On National Edu- cation ;" 1872, "Civil Service," "Revenue Reform," "The Tariff;" 1873, " Crédit Mobilier."

BLANE, JOHN, M.D .- Born in the township of North New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., July 7, 1802. (For further particulars see " History of the Medical Profession of Hunterdon County," in this work.)

Publications .- Dr. Blane has devoted considerable attention to historical subjects. He has written a valuable history of the medical society of this county, which embodies about all that is known of the history of the physicians of the county from 1748 to 1872. In 1837 he made a minority report against the mo- nopoly powers of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company. He was chairman of a committee of in- quiry, being senator that year from this county.

BUCHANAN, JAMES, EsQ .- Born at Ringos, June 17, 1839; removed to Clinton, 1849; began study of law with Hon. J. T. Bird, 1860; 1863-64, law school of Albany University; began practice of law at Trenton, 1864; in 1875, honorary degree of A.M. conferred by Lewisburg University; in 1865 was ap- pointed reading clerk New Jersey Assembly ; member board education, Trenton, 1868-69; presiding judge Mercer County, 1874-79.

Publications .- He is the author of several pamph- lets,-" Protection to American Ship-Building," an address before the National Board of Trade, Wash- ington, D. C., 1879; "Growth and Importance of the Baptist Denomination," au address before the New Jersey Baptist State Convention, October, 1879; "History of the Central Baptist Church, Trenton, N. J .; " "Our State Finances." He has contributed at different times about one hundred articles for the daily and weekly press, both secular and religious, among the most prominent of which are "Legal Status of Women in New Jersey," 1869; "Capital Punishment," 1878. Judge Buchanan's articles give evidence of an active and well-informed mind. His style is clear and direct.

BUCHANAN, REV. JOSEPH CHANDLER .- Born at Ringos, May 17, 1841; resided at Clinton for several years; graduated from Madison University, New York, 1866; received A.M. 1869; ordained and installed over Baptist Church, Scotch Plains, N. J., Oct. 1, 1869 -78; present pastor Baptist Church, Pemberton, N. J.

Publications .- He has published three sermons,- " Thoroughly Furnished," "Home Life," and "The Great Calamity,"-also four annual reports of East New Jersey Baptist Association, 1872-76, inclusive.

* Prepared by George S. Mott, D.D.

239

AUTHORS OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.

He has contributed nearly fifty articles to Examiner and Chronicle, Religious Herald, National Baptist. In 1871 he published a "Historieal Sketch of Baptist Church of Scotch Plains, N. J." He has been prom- inent as a member of various boards of benevolent, religious, and educational work of his denomination.

CLYDE, REV. JOHN C .- Born Oct. 22, 1841, at White ; Deer Valley, near Williamsport, Pa .; entered Lafay- ette College, Easton, in 1860; remained one year, and then spent a year at Belle Centre, Logan Co., Ohio, from which he had come to college. In August, 1862, he joined the Seventy-second Regiment Illi- nois Volunteers. He remained in the army until July, 1863, serving most of the time as deputy pro- vost-marshal on the Mississippi River at Columbus, Ky. He was honorably discharged, returned to La- fayette College in September, 1863, and graduated in 1866. He then entered the theological seminary at Princeton, and graduated 1869. Licensed by Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, April, 1868, he supplied the church at Tioga, l'a., four months of vacation ; 1869-70, stated supply at Chesterville, Iowa ; August, 1870, to June, 1872, supply of Presbyterian Church, Shenandoah, Pa .; June, 1872, to July, 1879, pastor Presbyterian Churches at Frayer and Charlestown, Chester Co., Pa .; July, 1879, pastor of Presbyterian Church, Bloomsbury ; degree of A.M. in course from Lafayette College.

Publications .- The authorship of Mr. Clyde has so far been of the historical order. In 1876 he published " History of the Allen Township Presbyterian Church, and the Community which has sustained it, in what was formerly known as the 'Irish Settlement,' North- ampton Co., Pa." This is a 12mo of one hundred and ninety-eight pages. In 1879, " Genealogies, Ne- crology, and Reminiscences of the 'Irish Settlement ;' or, a Record of those Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Fam- ilies who were the First Settlers in the ' Forks of Dela- ware,' now Northampton Co., Pa." This is a 12mo of four hundred and twenty pages. In 1880, "Ros- brugh, a Tale of the Revolution; or, Life, Labors, and Death of Rev. John Rosbrugh, Pastor of Greenwich, Oxford, and Mansfield Woodhouse (Washington) Presbyterian Churches, N. J., from 1764 to 1769; and of Allen Township Church, l'a., from 1769 to 1777; Chaplain in the Continental Army; Clerical Martyr of the Revolution ; Killed by Hessians in the Battle of Assanpink, at Trenton, New Jersey, Jan. 2, 1777. Founded upon a paper read before the New Jersey Historical Society at its meeting in Trenton, Jan. 15, 1880; to which is appended genealogical data of all the Rosbrughs of the connection in America." While in the army he contributed a series of letters to Belle- fontaine (Ohio) Republican; in 1871, a series of arti- eles on "College Secret Societies," in Nassau Literary Magazine, Princeton; in 1872, a series on "Rotary Eldership," in Presbyterian, Philadelphia. He has also written short articles on various topics for differ- ent journals. Mr. Clyde gathers with great care and

industry all accessible details which bear upon his theme, and these he weaves together with skill, pre- senting an attractive narrative.

COMFORT, REV. LAWRENCE L .- Born Nov. 5, 1822, in Orange Co., N. Y .; graduated at Union College 1848, and at theological seminary New Brunswick 1851. Licensed in 1851, he was pastor of Reformed Church, White House, 1852-54; New Hurley, 1854- 71. Settled at Berea 1872, and at Montgomery, N. Y. 1873. He died July 21, 1879.

Publications .- While pastor at White House he published a sermon on "Temperance," Dec. 18, 1853, pp. 15.

DEMAREST, REV. CORNELIUS T .- Graduated from Columbia College 1804, and licensed 1807; was set- tled at White House 1808-13; while there was elected a trustee of Rutgers College; pastor at English Neigh- borhood from 1813-39; King Street, New York, 1851 -62. Died 1863.

Publications .- He was engaged in church contro- versy, and published " A Lamentation over Rev. Solomon Froeligh, with copious historical Notes." (For further see Corwin's " Manual," p. 233.)

HONEYMAN, JOHN, M.D .- Born at New German- town, Feb. 22, 1798; graduated Medical Department University of Pennsylvania 1824; practiced at New Germantown, and died Jan. 2, 1874.

Publications .- His publications were : 1. "On Tem- perance," in Temperate Reporter, 1837; 2. "History of Revival under Dr. Pohlman," in Lutheran Observer, 1840. In a memoir of him, published 1874, are let- ters, addresses, and six poems from his pen.

HONEYMAN, PETER NEVIUS .- Born June 12, 1840, at New Germantown, where he still resides; gradu- ated at Allentown Seminary 1856, and became a mer- chant. Like most of the family of this name, he plies a facile pen. He is a son of the preceding.

Publications .- He has contributed articles to sev- eral newspapers, besides a series in Hackettstown Gazette, 1862; " Plots and Counterplots," a serial in thirty-six chapters, in Belvidere Intelligencer, 1864- 65; "Byron Hunter," serial in twenty chapters, in same, 1865; "The Mysterious Spectre," in twenty chapters, in same, 1865; also about a dozen poems.

HONEYMAN, COL. ROBERT RAYMOND .- Born at New Germantown, Oct. 1, 1836; died June 14, 1873. He was colonel of Thirty-first New Jersey Regiment. (See Army Record of this History.)

Publications,-His publications were, in "Our Home," 1873: 1. "New Germantown: Its Local History ;" 2. " An Arkansas Tour ;" 3. His " War Journal" (posthumous). He also contributed various articles to the Hunterdon Republican about 1858.

HONEYMAN, REV. WILLIAM EDGAR .- Born July 26, 1839, at New Germantown, brother of above : graduated at Princeton College, 1861, and at Prince- ton Theological Seminary, 1864; preached at Rock- away, N. J., Shenandoah, Pa., and Ashland, l'a., to November, 1870, when, health failing, he returned to

240

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

New Germantown. In May, 1871, went to Wabasha, Minn., thence to Colorado and California, returning to New Jersey in 1879.

Publications .- Two articles of his appear in " Our Home," 1873: 1. " Ascent of Long Peak, Col. ; " 2. " Minnesota Climate for Invalids." In newspapers a number of sermons in part or in full. He has written considerably for different journals.

HUNT, CICERO, M.D .- Born in Ewing township, Mercer .Co., N. J., 1801; died Dec. 1, 1876. (See sketch in Medical chapter, Hunterdon County, in this work.)

Publications .- He took a deep interest in politics, and wrote two articles on political questions, pub- lished in Hunterdon Gazette, December, 1858, and July, 1860. His chief excellence as a writer was in his poetical compositions. He composed an ode on " The Celebration and Completion of the Erie and Hudson Canal, Oct. 20, 1825." This was written while he was assistant physician at the State's prison, N. Y. This ode was selected by the committee out of 148 competing odes. It was sung in New York City, at the celebration, and was published in the journals of that city. He also prepared a poem, which was dedicated to the young gentlemen of the Lyceum at Ringos, 1847. It expatiates on the works of Nature. It presents the causes which led our forefathers to this land, and the difficulties they encountered; closing with the injustice done the savages, their fate, aud their end. A long poem of his, entitled " America," was published in the Hunterdon Gazette, January, 1856. The theme is the organization of the American party. These poems indicate a poetic talent which, if cultivated, would have secured a good reputation to Dr. Hunt.

JANEWAY, JOHN LIVINGSTONE, D.D .- Born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1815; son of Jacob J. Jane- way, D.D., a very prominent divine in the Presby- terian Church of the last generation. John graduated at Rutgers College, 1835; theological seminary, New Brunswick, 1840. Pastor at Montville, N. J., 1843-50; at Flemington, of Presbyterian Church, 1850-69. Degree of D.D. was conferred by Lafayette College, 1866. He served as chaplain of Third New Jersey Regiment and of the Thirty-first.

Publications .- Two sermons by him have been pub- lislied : 1. "On the Death of President Lincoln ;" 2. " Memorial Sermon on the Death of P. O. Studdiford, D.D."

KIRKPATRICK, REV. JACOB, D.D .- Born Somerset Co., N. J., Aug. 8, 1785; graduated Princeton Col- lege, 1804; studied law under George C. Maxwell, Esq., Flemington, but at the end of three years began the preparation for the gospel ministry with John Woodhull, D.D., of Freehold, N. J .; licensed to preach Aug. 8, 1809; stated supply of Ringos and Mount Airy Churches, 1810-15; pastor 1815 to death, May 2, 1866. (For sketch of his life see "Kirk- patrick Memorial," published in Philadelphia, 1867.)

Publication .- His only publication is "Half-Cen- tury Sermon."

LARGE, GEORGE H .- Born Dec. 1, 1850, at White House Station ; graduated Rutgers College, 1872; admitted to bar of New Jersey, 1875, having stndied under J. N. Voorhees, Esq., Flemington.

Publications .- " The Imagination, its Nature, Uses, and Abuses," in " Our Home;" editor of Targum, a college paper; essays on "Literary Revivals" and on "Character of George Washington," for which college prizes were obtained.

LARISON, REV. GEORGE HOLCOMBE, M.D .- Born Jan. 4, 1831, in Delaware township. (See Medical chapter in this work, for a biographical notice.)

Publications .- " Annual Address before the Medical Society of New Jersey, May 25, 1875." This gives evidence of an acquaintance with the classics and with the history of medicine most creditable to the author; also an essay, "Diseases Prevalent in the Valley of the Delaware."

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 61

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