History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 84

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 84
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 84

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).

" THE MEMORIAL AND REMONSTRANCE OF THE SUBSCRIBERS, CITIZENH OF FLEMINGTON AND ITS VICINITY, IN THE COUNTY OF HUNTERDON, AND OF OTHER SECTIONS OF SAID COUNTY,

" Respectfully Sheweth, That for several years past the Inhabitants of the village of Lambertsville, in this county, have been circulating ju ti- tions for the removal of the sent of justice of the county to that place; during which time they have labored assiduously to satisfy themselves of the propriety of the measure and convince the public that they wonld, in some way or other, be benefited by the change. By dint of unworried patience and perseverance they have, as is neun! in such cases, succeeded in obtaining their own approbation, and the algnatures of a large nuni. ber of persons, some feeling a deep interest in the prosperity of that par- ticular plare, and others feeling little or no interest at all in that or any other location, but who could not resist continued aud importunnte solici- tation to subscribe their names to a petition.

" Some three or four years ago, having obtained a sufficient number of aabscribers to give countenance to the measure, they ventured to present petitions, and bring the subject before your honorable lanly, and a bill was actually reportod, which upon further reflection, however, was abandoned by them as hopeless and chimerical ; and so the project in still considered by the great body of substantial yeomanry of the county, and by many of the most respectable citizens of their own neighborhood. The Legls- Inture has not since been troubled with it until lately, when some fur- tultons circumstances, entirely unconnected with their claims un the ona hand, or tho publio interest on the other, but backed by the recent de-

struction of part of the public buildings at this place, have aguin encour- aged them to press the subject on the attention of your honorable body. . ..

" In pursuance of an act passed in May, 1790, the ment of justice of the county of Hunterdon was, by a large majority (upwards of three-fifthin) of all the votes of the county, at an election held in October in that year, located in Flemington. The place at that time contained about 10 or 12 houses; since which titue all the property in the village has changed hemels nt advanced prices, and ubout 35 new dwelling-houses have been erected, on the faith of the seut of justice having been established ut the pince, which now contains, beside 3 churches and the county offices (yet nainjured), between 40 und 50 dwelling houses, ull occupied, several of them with two families each ; besides store-houses, shops, and outbuild- ings. There are in the place 4 taverns, 4 stores, a post-office, printing- office, an earthen manufactory, 20 mechunles of different occupations, 11 professionai men, and the county officers, besides uther citizens, to all of whom a removal would be a sacrifice. And wo hesitate not to declare that Flemington, within the circuit of the village, contains more build- inge, public and privato, thun Lambertsville, and considerably more in- habitants, some buildings in the latter place, erected] some years ago on speculation, remaining to this duy unoccupied.

"The public buildings in Flemington were erected in 1791, plain, sub- stantiul, and sufficiently large for the accommodation of the county, al- though the court-room was not arranged to the best advantage for the convenience of the court and bar ; and on this account only was an ap- plication mado by the members of the bar to the board of frecholders for some alterations. This application was not refused on account of any con- templated change of the seat of justice, but, on the contrary, the board appointed a committee with instructions to examine, and report the most eligible plan of improvement. The report was made to a special meet- ing of the board called on another occasion : the season being for advanced, und the assessments begun, it was, on that account only, postponed to the ensuing spring, and, not being again urged, was not afterwards acted on. .

" Bot least of all will Flemington suffer by a comparison with Lam- bertville with respect to its local situation for the convenience of the county as the seat of justice. By inspection of the map, your honorable body will perceive that the county of Hunterdon extends from Trenton up the Delaware nbout 12 miles. Lumbertsville is situated on the western margin of the county, not exceeding 16 miles from the southern and not less than 26 frinn the northwestern extremity, on the Delaware, nor less than 36 miles by the nearest practicable route from the northeastern ex- tremity, on the Masconetcong, adjoining the county of Morris; while Flemington is 23 miles from Trentun, about 20 from the northwest and 25 frinn the northeast extremity, being nearly equidistant, and if any- thing about a mile below the central point between the three extremes of the county, ami ut lenst 12 miles nearer to that point than Lamberts- ville. And when it is considered that the lower end of the county from Trenton ap to Lambertsville does not average more than from 8 to 12 miles in width, that up as far as Flemington it does not exceed 15 miles, that opposite Flemington ita eastern boundary is suddenly extended down the Raritan to a much greater width, and that from thence upward to the Musconetcong it averngen between 20 and 30 nifles in width,-the whole extent of which is thickly inhabited,-it is abundantly manifest that the greater portion both of the territory and population of the county ile above Flemington. And when it is further considered thint from this place upward the country is nneven and mountainous, it is evident that in short days and Ind roads it wouhl take some of these upper inhabitants two days' travel to reach the seat of justice, if estab- lished nt Lambertaville ; and that a great portion of the population of the county would be put to great inconvenience, and have just reason to complain of such a location.

"On behalf of the application, it is said to be in conformity to the principles of pure republicanism to facilitate the expression of the pub- lic voice. Pure republicanismo requires that the opinions and Interests of n fow should ytell to that of many, and not that the property, inter- eat, and convenience of many should be sacrificed to the aggrandizement uf a few, or the interest of one section or district of country to that of another. That it is proper to afford an opportunity of expresing the pullle volce as to the location of a ment of justice is out denled, but in the present instance that has long since been done, the privilege has been exercise, and exercised judiciously ; and wo humbly apprehend that It is not proper, after it has been thus exerted, the scat of justice located, and property to a large amount Invested on the faith of that in. cation, that this property should be sacrificed, and the seat of Justice set allout to la grumbled for by all those who may fancy that the silvan- tages of their situation entitle them to It or enalde them to obtain it.

" flut It is sahil that it is proper to take the public opinion on the luca-

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

tion at this time, because part of the public buildings have been de- stroyed. The destruction of part of the public buildings undoubtedly renders it proper that they should be rebuilt, but by no means proper or necessary that the remainder of the public buildings should also be de- stroyed, private property to a large amount sacrificed, the harmony of the conuty disturbed, and the inhabitants put to much more expense in coateoding for the location than would have replaced the buildings. This would render the destruction of a public building a calamity indeed.

" Your memorialists humbly trust that wherea seat of justice has been once located by the public voice, legally and decisively expressed, and expensive improvements made on the faith of that location, your honor- able body will listen to an application to change it only when coming from portions of the community who can demonstrate that from their local situation they are subject to unnecessary inconvenience or oppres- siou, and not when coming from those who have no such injury to com- plain of, but can boast of the advantages they enjoy, and seek a change of the location ouly to enhance those advantages, raise the value of their property, fill their empty houses, build up their village, and aggrandize themselves at the expense of their neighbors.

"They therefore humbly pray that your honorable hody will not pass soy law authorizing au election for the seat of justice in the county of Hunterdou.

" And your memorialists, as in duty bouod,"will ever pray."

The bill introduced into the Legislature providing for an election to determine the location of the county- seat was negatived in the House on Wednesday, March 5th, and on the following Monday the board of chosen freeholders, in session at Flemington, resolved to pro- ceed in the erection of a court-house and jail with convenient dispatch, and appointed appropriate com- mittees to effect the same.

EARLY PHYSICIANS.

Dr. John Gregg was an early resident, and the second physician to locate in Flemington, being the successor of Dr. Creed. He established himself here about 1790, and practiced as a physician and surgeon from that time until 1808, when he was succeeded by Dr. William Geary. Dr. Gregg was (says Mahlon Smith) a bachelor, and boarded with his brother, James Gregg, who lived where Peter Nevius now resides. He was very fond of hunting and fishing, and was crippled in the leg by being accidentally shot by a fellow-hunter. In 1808 he removed to Pennsylvania.

Dr. William Geary was a Scotchman. When he came to Flemington is not definitely known, but his record as a practicing physician here dates from 1808. He was small of stature, quick, shrewd, a good horse- man, an excellent doctor, and a popular man. In 1832 he was still in Flemington, but left shortly after for Trenton, his former residence, where he lived a short time, and died. He left a widow and several children. At the time of his death he was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Among other early physicians prior to 1840 were John Manners, Henry B. Poole, John F. Schenck, and William Duryea. (See chapter on "Medical Pro- fession," in this work, for further sketches of Flem- ington physicians.)

The incipiency of the express business in this place is to be found in the early post-carriers, who seem to have made a practice not only of forwarding letters, bnt of delivering packages, money, and light articles,

very often without receiving any compensation. But Jacob Lacy advertised in the village paper in 1831* that he had "worked for nothing long enough," and absolutely would not forward letters, packages, etc., un- less the small sum charged for his trouble was left with the article to be sent, and that in no case would he go off the post-route.

ORGANIZATION, CIVIL LIST, Erc.

Flemington is not incorporated, and has no civil government independent of the township of which it is a part, without we except the board of highway com- missioners. A few years since some efforts were made towards securing an incorporation, but, the project being opposed by many of the leading citizens, it was abandoned. An " Act for the Improvement of Flem- ington" was procured from the Legislature in 1870, which created the board of commissioners, defined their powers, etc.

Board of Commissioners .- This body, exercising the power and performing the duties of highway com- missioners for the town of Flemington, and provided for by an Act of the Senate and General Assembly, approved March 14, 1870, is composed of seven mem- bers, elected annually. The board has been consti- tuted as follows :

1870-73, John C. Hopewell, Ruakle Rea, Samuel M. Higgins, Myles Cunningham, Nathaniel G. Smith, Abel Webster, John L. Jones; 1874, John C. Hopewell, Runkle Rea, John L. Jones, Samuel L. Higgins, Myles Cunningham, Isaac Smith, Andrew T. Connet; 1875, same as 1874, except Henry Britton in place of M. Cunningham; 1876, Ruakle Rea, Isaac Smith, T. R. Trewia, Henry Britton, Tunis Sergeant, John M. Moses, Joseph H. Higgins; 1877, Runkle Rea, Nathaniel G. Smith, Joha L. Jones, John H. Capner, Tom R. Trewin, Richard Emmons, Joseph H. Higgins; 1878, Ruokle Res, Joho H. Capner, King Pyatt, William G. Pedrick, J. Wesley Britton, George Harrison, Joseph H. Higgins; 1879, Ruakle Rea, Joha H. Capner, John W. Britton, David Dunham, Jos. B. Case, William B. Hall, William G. Pedrick ; 1880, David Vao Fleet, John B. Hopewell, John H. Capaer, John W. Britton, William Purcell, William H. Hall, Urish Warmao.t

Until 1875 the board met in Hopewell Hall, since which date its sessions have been held in the upper story of the Flemington engine-house.

THE POST-OFFICE.

The post-office of Flemings (now Flemington) was established in 1794. James Gregg was the first to handle the mails, which at that time embraced letters only ; in fact, it is only in quite recent years that newspapers have been carried through the mails in this county. They were distributed through the vil- lage and throughout the county by a carrier mounted on a horse, whose services were paid for by the pub- lisher of the paper .; In the early days the mails were "posted" in the same manner. In 1826 the "Swift-Sure" stage-coach line brought letters from Philadelphia, New York City, and intermediate

# Hunterdon County Gazette, Aug. 24, 1831.

+ The first-named commissioner in the above list served as president of the board. The secretary and treasurer of the board have been John

L. Jones, 1870-75; Joseph II. Higgins, 1876-78; Wm. H. Ilall, 1879-80.

¿ See files of the Hunterdon Gazette, Flemington, 1825, et seq.

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FLEMINGTON VILLAGE.

points on the route, three times a week. In 1829 a tri-weekly mail-line was established between Trenton and Flemington. No doubt prior to these dates the mails were " few and far between." In the post-office may still be seen a box, of the size of and resembling a ballot-box, which was used by the carly postmasters of Flemington to contain the mail, and the old case of "distributing-boxes" still stands in the office.

The first printed "List of Advertised Letters" pub- lished in Flemington or in Hunterdon County ap- peared in the Gazette, April 7, 1825, and contained the names of "Jacob Buzart, Agesilus Besson, Henry Bu- chanan, William M. Bellis, Mrs. Sarah Case, Major Carman, Lewis Dunn, Miss Rebecca Devitt, Mrs. Anne Housel, George Holcombe, Ross Jones, George N. Jones, Miss Marcia Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Henry M. Kline, Mrs. Henry and J. M. Kline, Dan- iel Larrowe, Mrs. Rachel Lanning, Aggie Lewrue (Taylor), Michael Murphy, Philip Rake, John W. Seymour, William Snydam, John Smith, John Sty- res, Joseph Schenck, Joseph Thatcher, Cornelius Williamson, Henry Wright, Peter Wolverton."

Early in 1838 the post-road from New Brunswick to Flemington was established by Congress.

The following has been kindly furnished for this history by the present obliging incumbent of the Flemington office :

" POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, "OFFICE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL, " WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 6, 1880. 4 WILLIAM HILL, EsQ., P .- M. Flemington, J. N. :

"Sin,-In compliance with the request contained in your note of the 28th of July, I take pleasure in furalshing you with the date of the es- tablishment of your office, together with a list of oll the postmasters who have been appointed since that time. Owing to the fire which burned the buildlag on the 15th of December, 1836, three of the earllest record books were destroyed, but, by the auditor's lodgors, which for- tunately were preserved, it is nacertained that the office hegen to render accounts on the lat of January, 1795. It is probable, therefore, that the office was established in the mouth of November, 1794. The following comprises the list of

"POSTMASTERS FROM 1794-1880:

" Jamos Gregg, November, 1791; George Rea, Jr., July 1, 1808 ; Joha Maxwell, Jr., Oct. 1, 1813; James H. Blackwell, April 11, 1820; John Callla, Jan. 13, 1830; John S. Brown, June 21, 1811; George W. Risler, Oct. 26, 1841 ; . Inmes Callis, Ang. 2, 1815 ; John R. Holcombe, Juno 9, 1849; John Volk, Juno 18, 1853; Josoph 11. Ilggina, March 30, 1853 ; Nathaniel G. Smith, May 10, 1861 ; Asa Jones, Oct. 15, 1866; Nathanlol G. Smith, March 20, 1869 ;" William Hill, April 19, 1877, present incumbent.

"Tho foregoing names and dates are believed to be correct as found on the record books of the department, each postmustor holding the office up to the appointment of his successor.

" I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servent, " E. C. FOWLER, " For First Assistant l' .- M. Gen."

The Flemington office is now graded as third class, with a salary of $1500 per annum.

SCHOOLS.

The first school appears to have been established about 1760, when a small, one-story frame house 20

by 30 feet was erected in the rear of the Baptist meet- ing-house. It was rather a rude affair, and very simply furnished. The second structure was of brick, erected about 1812, and was located on the back end of the academy lot, on the west side of Main Street, nearly opposite the Baptist church and facing Church Street. Rev. W. W. Blauvelt, D.D., then a young man of eighteen, tanght in the academy about 1818.

The brick school-house was known as the "acad- emy" at least as early as 1826. In that year the trus- teex of the academy resolved to open a classical school. They proposed that "all branches usually attended to in our most respectable academies shall be taught." This school was to "be under the imme- diate superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Clark (pastor of the Presbyterian Church of this place)," the pupils being expected to board in the same house with the principal, and applications for admission to be made to the president of the board of trustees, John F. Clark, to Andrew Miller, Esq., or to Mr. Charles George.t William M. Hough was engaged as teacher of the English department, and the school opened Oct. 16, 1826. In 1827 he became principal.

Feb. 25, 1829, the trustees advertised for "a suit- able teacher to take charge of the English department in the academy." Edward Murray was secured, and the village paper announced that he would "open school in the academy on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1829." Charles Bartles, Esq., also taught in this school in 1822. J. J. Rockafellow taught in the "academy" in 1840. The okl Flemington Academy building is still standing, abont 100 yards west of the Baptist church.

The oldest deed of school property in this district, to be found, bears date of Jan. 1, 1812 .; Among the carly teachers here Mahlon Smith names Messrs. Leigh, Mendham, Kissam, and Brown, and says the latter was the last teacher in the oll building, which stood in the rear of the Baptist church. The first trustees were Peter Ilaward, Thomas Capner, James Clark, Jonathan Hill, and John Maxwell.

Various select schools have been taught here from time to time. One of the earliest was that of an English maiden lady, a Miss Allen, in a house built for the purpose by Mr. Peter Haward, which stood on the east side of Main Street, a little north of where is now the track of the South Branch Railroad. Miss Harriet T. Thayer taught a select female school in 1829, at the residence of Mrs. S. Maxwell, and the same year Nathaniel G. Mattison gave instruction in penmanship at the house of Elnathan Moore. In 1867, Prof. MeBeth established an "English and classical school," but four or five years later sold to I. N. Leigh and removed to West Virginia. Mr. Leigh had charge of the school until September, 1880, when he disposed of his interest in it to Mr.

· At and from thla duto the office became " Presidential," and Mr. Smith was appointed by the President, instead of by the Postmaster- General.

+ Hunterdon Gazette, Sept. 20, 1820.

* Rov. C. S. Conkling's Contennial Ileport, 1876.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Bahler, who is now conducting the same. Mr. Leigh, upon retiring from this institution, assumed the man- agement of the Ringos Academy.

The Flemington High School, a school conducted for many years under Baptist management, was estab- lished by Rev. Moses Heath in the fall of 1855. The following spring he was succeeded by Rev. Jonathan Dayton Merrill, a graduate of Rochester University. He had charge until the spring of 1856, when he re- turned to college to finish his theological course, his place being taken by Mr. --- Sherwin. In Septem- ber, 1859, John S. Higgins, also a graduate of Roch- ester University, became principal, Mr. Sherwin re- maining as assistant. In the fall of 1861, Cornelius W. Larison became associate principal, and at this period the school was conducted in two separate buildings, for the boys and girls respectively. In 1857 -58 there were 180 pupils and 5 teachers,-Mr. Hig- gins, Mr. Sherwin, Mrs. Higgins (instrumental music), Miss Higgins (drawing, painting, etc.), and Joanna Higgins (the English branches). Prof. Abijah Rit- tenhouse, formerly professor of mathematics in the State Normal School of New Jersey, was the last prin- cipal of this school, and subsequently became the first of the Reading Academy, when the classical school went out of existence.

This school was first opened in the old Episcopal church, where now is the residence of Dr. George H. Rowland, and subsequently in the Lyceum Hall, then owned by Hugh Capner. It was quite successful, and did a noble service in the cause of education.

"The Reading Academy," the only public school in Flemington, was established in 1862 with a fund left by the will of the late Daniel K. Reading. The cost of erection was about $6000. In was named in honor of its founder. The Hon. Alexander Wurts supervised its construction. Abijah Rittenhouse was the first principal. After a few years he went to the oil regions, being succeeded by J. R. Enke. Other teachers since Mr. Enke have been Isaiah N. Leigh, William T. Fidler, Simeon R. Opdyke, and Prof. R. F. Pierce, the present principal.

The building, as erected in 1862, was a substantial brick edifice 42 x 50 feet, two stories in height, di- vided into four rooms, with accommodations for 200 scholars. In 1875 it was enlarged and improved at an expense of $4000, embracing eight rooms. During the present year (1880) many important improve- ments and conveniences have been introduced at a further cost of $1000, and it now takes first rank among the public schools of the State. The present (1880) trustees are David Van Fleet, Chester Van Sycke, and G. C. Stiger. The teachers are R. F. Pierce (principal), Mrs. Mary Cox, Mrs. J. C. Higgins, Miss Caddie Combs, Miss Drake, Miss Bailey.

"THE FLEMINGTON GAS-LIGHT COMPANY."

In 1859 gas was introduced into this village, and in the following year the water-works were established.

These two important measures are due to the energy and public spirit of John C. Hopewell, who desired gas, and Charles Bartles, the champion of the aqueous element. They joined issue in the matter, and Mr. Bartles procured the charters for both institutions in 1859. The gas-works were built in the north part of the village, on Branch Street, near the Bushkill Creek, in 1859, and pipes laid throughout the village. The incorporation is known as the " Flemington Gas- Light Company." The first officers were John C. Hopewell, President; Bennet Van Syckel, Secretary and Treasurer.

Its present (1880) managers are : President, William P. Emery ; Secretary and Treasurer, C. C. Dunham; Directors, Charles Bartles, W. P. Emery, John C. Hopewell, John B. Hopewell, and C. C. Dunham.

"THE FLEMINGTON WATER COMPANY."

Water was introduced so long ago as 1808, in wooden logs bored through the centre, and was brought from Coxe's spring, on the property now occupied by Rob- ert Thatcher. Mr. Bartles says it was in bad repair in 1822, and, although there had been two plugs con- structed,-one at the court-house and another just north of the Presbyterian church,-the whole affair had been neglected and left to go to ruin, so that for many years prior to 1859 the place was without an adequate water-supply in every dry season.

Two springs, located on John Capner's and J. C. Hopewell's lands respectively, were largely the supply in times of scarcity until the water-works were built, water often being hauled from them when wells and cisterns gave out. " The Flemington Water Company" purchased springs about two and a half miles west of the village, and the first supply was brought in iron pipes from thence to the reservoir on Mullen Hill. An additional reservoir, of three times the capacity of the first constructed, was afterwards huilt, adjoining and connected with it. An engine-house was also built, and a small engine put in, on the west side of the hill, in Suydam's meadows, to pump water from Mine Brook and other streams. A six-inch main was recently laid to Kershow & Chamberlin's mill, and the necessary power provided to pump the water from the South Branch. The springs before men- tioned supply all the water required for nine months in the year, but for the remaining three months the Sonth Branch is now had to guard against any defi- ciency. The first officers of the water company were Charles Tomlinson, President; George H. Bartles, Secretary and Treasurer. The first directors were Bennet Van Syckel, John C. Hopewell, Charles Bar- tles, William P. Emery, Charles Tomlinson, Alexan- der Wurts, John L. Janeway, John G. Reading, and Ilugh Capner.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 84

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