History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

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 85
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 85

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Its officers for 1880 are as follows: William P. Em- ery, President; C. C. Dunham, Secretary and Treas- urer. The board of directors is composed of John C. Hopewell, Charles Bartles, William P. Emery, Alex-

335

FLEMINGTON VILLAGE.

ander Wurts, Joseph H. Higgins, Peter I. Nevins, John B. Hopewell, A. V. Van Fleet, and C. C. Dun- ham.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

In 1842, Samuel IIill, William P. Emery, Abraham Fulper, Mahlon Fisher, Wilson Forker, John Capner, Charles Miller, Tunis Sergeant, Joseph P. Boss, and their associates, were incorporated as the "Fame Fire Company of Flemington," with a capital stock not to exceed $3000, " which shall be solely and exclusively applied to procuring, maintaining, and repairing such engines, hose, reservoirs of water, ladders, buckets, fire-hooks, engine-houses, and other implements and machines, and to such other incidental expenses, as shall to the said company appear best calculated to secure the property of their fellow-citizens from in- jury or destruction by fire."*

Practically, nothing was done under this charter, so that the only protection against fire which the people of Flemington possessed up to 1862 was the "bucket brigade." In that year certain private individuals who did not desire to leave the place at the mercy of the flames at every chance conflagration purchased a steam fire-engine and erected a commodious two-story engine-house. This was an entirely voluntary action on their part. The names of these public benefactors are engraven upon a plate on the engine, and are as follows: "The Flemington Water Company, The Flemington Railroad Company, The South Branch Railroad Company, Charles Bartles, John L. Jane- way, John G. Reading, Robert Thatcher, John H. Capner, Thomas C. Haward, Alexander V. Bonnell, Charles Tomlinson, Edmund Perry, William P. Emery, George F. Crater, Alexander Wurts, Bennet Van Syckel, Anderson & Nevius, Hugh Capner, Joseph HI. Higgins, Albert G. Smith, John C. Hopewell."

A company was formed, but after a few years it be- came disorganized. A year or two since it was recon- stituted, and now (1880) has the following officers and members : President, A. T. Connet; Vice-P'resi- dent, L. F. Reinert ; Secretary, G. T. Gray ; Assistant Secretary, C. H. Higgins; Treasurer, J. A. Bullock ; Foreman, John HI. Stockton; First Assistant Fore- nın, C. D. Fulper; Second Assistant Foreman, George W. Fulper ; Engineer, George T. Gray; First Assistant Engineer, Hf. Hughs; Second Assist- ant Engineer, Jacob Johnson; Third Assistant Engineer, Frank Gray ; C. A. Anderson, Edward B. AAllen, John H. Bullock, C. D. Burk, William Bellis, Theodore B. Bellis, Peter Bodine, Frank Burk, Robert Baum, James Bellis, A. T. Connet, Samuel Case, Samuel A. Duckworth, George W. Fulper, Charles D. Fulper, E. B. Fulper, George T. Gray, Frank Gray, Arthur Ilughs, S. B. Hill, Davis Hanson, t. II. Hig- gins, Jacob Il. Johnson, James 11. Kline, William S. Kline, John C. Pyatt, John B. Price, L. T. Rein- ert, T. II. Rice, C. D. Rittenhouse, John HI. Stockton,

B. P. Stout, George W. Sheppard, J. Q. Thompson, Odell Van Doren, George Van Ness, Hugh Van Doren, John Warn, Lemuel Warman, L. K. Young.

Some five or six years since the purchasers and owners of the engine property offered to donate the same to the township authorities provided they would purchase a sufficient quantity of good hose to take the place of that which was old and unservice- able. This offer was accepted, and the engine, etc., were transferred to their guardianship. The engine- house is located on the lot adjoining and west of the court-house, on Lyceum Street. The second story, used as an assembly room by the fire-company and the board of highway commissioners, is carpeted and neatly furnished, the furniture being the gift of Dr. J. Il. Schenck, of Philadelphia.

BANKS.

Under the " Act to regulate the business of Bank- ing," approved Feb. 27, 1850, the "Tradesmen's Bank"f and the " Bank of North America"# were or- ganized at Flemington. The bank commissioners of the State, in their report for 1853, state that neither had gone into full and bona fide operation, and that the former had declared an intention to "wind up its affairs."

The banks now in operation are the following :

" The Hunterdon County National Bank of Flem- ington" is the successor or outgrowth of the old " Hunterdon County Bank," organized in 1854, under the general banking laws of the State. Subsequently it received a special charter from the State Legisla- ture, and was thus continued until May, 1865, when it was converted into a national bank. Isaac G. Far- lee was its first president, in 1854; his successor was George A. Allen, followed in 1858 by Charles Bartles, who now tills the position. The cashiers have been William Emery, Charles Tomlinson, C. C. Dunham, and, since 1876, John B. Hopewell. The tellers were successively J. T. Conover, C. C. Dunham, and J. L. Connet.

The present board of directors are Charles Bar- tles, John C. Hopewell (vice-president), William P. Emery, Judiah Higgins, Runkle Rea, Peter S. Dalley, Avery Parker, Joseph HI. Higgins, Peter P. Quick, John W. Priestly, Andrew Van Syckle, William R. Risler, and David Van Fleet.

It has a capital stock, paid in, of $200,000.

" The Flemington National Bank" was organized April 27, 1876, with a capital stock of $100,000, and with the following officers and management : Presi- dent, Peter E. Emery; Vice-President, John L. Jones; Cashier, C. C. Dunham ; Attorney, J. N. Vor- hees; Directors, C. C. Dunham, Miller Kline, Moses K. Everitt, John Shields, Edward P. t'onkling, John N. Voorhees, William Richards, Jr., Hiram Deats, Peter E. Emery, John L. Jones, Thomas B. Fidler,

t Ch. T. Counwell president in 1xx1.

$ 1. 1. Merriam was president, and John C. Chon, Jr, cashier, In 1853.

* Acts of Assembly, 1842 (passed March 2).

336

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Zenas L. Nevius, and Peter I. Nevius. The principal official changes have been the election of John L. Jones to the presidency of the bank in October, 1877, and of Peter I. Nevius to the vice-presidency in No- vember of the same year.

The present officers are : President, John L. Jones ; Vice-President, Peter I. Nevius ; Cashier, C. C. Dun- ham; Teller, Louis Anderson; Attorney, E. P. Conk- ling; Directors, J. L. Jones, P. I. Nevius, C. C. Dun- ham, George H. Dunham, W. E. Anderson, Miller Kline, H. A. Holcombe, Moses K. Everitt, E. P. Conkling, Zenas L. Nevius, William Richards, Jr., William W. Fisher, and Joseph Haines.

The bank is located in Rea's building, on Main Street.

"The Hunterdon County Savings-Bank and Trust Company" was established in 1876, under a charter from the State, and, although most of its officers and managers are also interested in the "Flemington Na- tional Bank," and its business is transacted in the banking-house of that institution, it is an entirely separate corporation. It commenced operations Oct. 6, 1876, at which date the first deposit was received. The result of this financial enterprise demonstrates that a savings institution in Flemington can hardly get more than a nominal business. After over three years of passive existence it voted, in May, 1880, to discontinue the payment of interest after July 1st following, and to retire its business as fast as practi- cable. This is being done, and the bank will soon be numbered among "the things that were."

SOCIETIES.

Various societies of a literary, social, or secret char- acter have from time to time been instituted in Flem- ington, have flourished for a season, aud have died out.

One of the associations of the "old days" was the " Flemington Vigilant Society," for the detection of thieves and robbers. It was in existence in 1824, and no doubt was organized several years prior to that date. Its officers in 1824-25 included Thomas Cap- ner, President and Treasurer; Charles Bonnell, Sec- retary ; Capt. Jonathan Higgins, Thomas Capner, Neal Hart, Samuel D. Sutphin, and Andrew Van Fleet, Directors. The "pursuers" at that time were William R. Prall, Samuel Higgins, William Marsh, Peter Quick, Robeson Rockhill, James Taylor, Thomas W. Reading, Jesse H. Landis, Capt. J. Higgins, and Charles Bonnell. It had an existence until fonr or five years ago, but for the last ten years of its life it was a mere matter of form.

The only societies, other than those of a religious character, now to be found in the village are the lodges of the Masons and Odd-Fellows, and a re- cently-organized post of the Grand Army, sketches of which are herewith given.

" Hiram Lodge, No. 25, F. and A. M.," was the first Masonic organization of Flemington, and the second

established in Hunterdon County .* From the min- utes of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey (August ses- sion, 1811) we ascertain that a petition, received " from Bro. Ephraim F. Ogden, and seven others, all Master Masons, praying that a warrant may be granted to form a new lodge, to be held at Fleming- ton, to be called Hiram Lodge, No. 25," was read, and it was resolved "that the prayer of the petition be granted and that a warrant do issue accordingly."+ At a meeting of the grand body held Aug. 11, 1811, at Trenton, this lodge was represented by Ephraim F. Ogden, W. M., John Cherry, S. W., and Thomas Gor- don, J. W. The first return contains seven names, and is for November, 1811. Meetings were held at Flemington on or before full moon on Mondays. Their last return to the Grand Lodge was dated Nov. 13, 1820, signed by Samuel Hill, Secretary, and con- tains the names of James Herring, W. M. (who was a Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York, and a very influential and prominent man there in his time) ; John Bush, S. W .; Dr. William Geary,} J. W. ; John T. Blackwell, Treas .; John Maxwell, S. D .; Jacob Moore, J. D .; Daniel Case, Henry M. Kline (the father of Miller Kline), Daniel P. Shrope, Henry B. Poole, Joseph P. Chamberlin, Henry H. Schenck, Abrm. R. Sutphin, Andrew Wilson, and Nathan Price.

Although few, if any, meetings were held after 1820, its warrant, jewels, etc., were not taken by the Grand Lodge until after November, 1826, as appears by the "Proceedings" of that date, p. 240.

" Darcy Lodge, No. 37, F. and A. M.," held its first meeting May 24, 1855, under dispensation of the Grand Lodge of the State. Its charter bears date of Jan. 9, 1856, and its charter members were John A. Partridge, Edmund Perry,¿ John C. Coon, George F. Crater,¿ Jacob S. C. Pittinger, John P. Rittenhouse, Justus Leesey, John S. Hockenbury, and William Nichols. The first Worshipful Master was John A. Partridge, in 1855-56. His successors to the present time have been John F. Schenck, 1857; Edmund Perry, 1858; J. Alfred Gray, 1859; J. S. C. Pittinger, 1860; J. A. Gray, 1861; Jacob Young, 1862; John F. Schenck, 1863-64; J. A. Gray, 1865; I. S. Cramer, 1866-67; Henry S. Crater, 1868; J. A. Gray, 1869; George A. Poulson, 1870; Dr. Henry B. Nightingale, 1871; William S. Riley, 1872; George T. Robbins, 1873-74; John S. Hankinson, 1875 ; Edward P. Conk- ling, 1876; S. S. Robbins, 1877-78; Richard S. Kuhl, 1879; A. H. Rittenhouse, 1880. The first return to

# Tho first lodge established was "Unity Lodge, No. 7," of Kingwood, in 1788.

+ Proceedings Grand Lodge N. J., p. 136.

# Joseph H. Hough, Grand Sec., Trenton, writes (Aug. 7, 1880) of Dr. Geary : " He was a resident here when I was made a Mason, and I have frequently sat in the lodge with him. 1Ie was a Scotchman, and his certificate was spelled Garrioch. I had it in my possession some time, then gavo it to his daughter, Mrs. Hays, who is living a short distance from here."

¿ Decoasod.

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FLEMINGTON VILLAGE.

the grand body of the State, in 1856, shows that the lodge then had 22 members.

The present (1880) officers are Albert H. Ritten- house, W. M .; Dr. Thomas B. J. Burd, S. W .; Wil- liam G. Callis, J. W .; George T. Gray, Treas .; Wil- liam G. Pedrick, Sec .; A. T. Connet, Chaplain ; Wil- liam E. Trewin, S. D .; John Warne, J. D .; Jacob Spangenberg and Elisha S. Wyckoff, M. of C .; Jacob M. Bellis and Edward P. Conkling (P. M.), Stewards ; John S. Hankinsou (P. M.), Tiler.

This lodge numbers 58 members at the present time. Its stated communications are held at Masonic HIall, on the first and third Thursday evenings of each month.

" Flemington Lodge, No. 94, I. O. of O. F.," was organized Dec. 17, 1875, with the following charter members : H. S. Crater, H. A. Fluck, G. F. Crater, E. Tunnewald, J. P. Rittenhouse, J. R. Potts, Frank McCue, John Ramsey, and G. Crater. The first offi- cers were E. Tunnewald, N. G .; H. A. Fluck, V. G .; H. S. Crater, Sec. ; John Ramsey, Treas. The prin- cipal officers of the lodge since then have been as follows :

July 3, 1876 .- II. A. Fluck, N. G .; John Smith, Soc .; John P. Ritten- honao, Grand Representative.

Dec. 30, 1876 .- Joseph R. l'otts, N. G. : John Smith, Sec.

July 1, 1877 .- Frederick Burtlemnn, N. G .; John Smith, Sec. ; Henry A. Fluck, Grand Representative.

Dec. 21, 1877 .- Frank C. Bush, N. G .; John F. Smith, Sec.

June 24, 1878,-John A. Schultz, N. G. ; Howard Sutphin, Sec .; F. Bar- tleman, Grand Representative.

Dec. 30, 1878 .- J. V. Smith, N. G. ; Howard Sutphin, Sec.

.June 30, 1879 .- William C. March, N. G. ; Wm. IT. Johnson, Sec. : Josoph V. Smith, Grand Representative.

December, 1879 .- Howard! Sntphin, N. G .; George F. Hanson, Soc. July, 1880 .- Davia Hanson, N. G. ; Charles Iliggina, V. G .; John II. De- mott, Sec .; George W. Cronao, Treas.

The lodge numbers at the present time (1880) 80 members, and holds its meetings weekly.

" Major Boeman Post, No. 48,"* of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in Flemington, Aug. 25, 1880, by Chief Mustering Officer Peter F. Rogers, of Newark, assisted by members of the organization from that city, Lambertville, and Junction. Its charter members were A. T. Connet, John C. Coon, Simpson S. Stout, James Mattison, Abram W. Boss, James S. Fisher, William T. Barber, Hiram G. Voor- hees, Fredolin Bartleman, Samuel L. Hart, Cornelius Emmons, Jacob Veit, Jeremiah Opdyke, George W. Sheppard, Theodore B. Bellis, Francis M. MeQue, Christopher Thudeum, John C. Higgins, and Robert Hugh Kelley. The following officers were elected : Post Commander, Andrew T. Connet ; Senior Vice- Commander, John C. Coon ; Junior Vice-Commander, Simpson S. Stout ; Adjutant, James Mattison ; Quar- termaster, William T. Barber; Surgeon, Abram W. Boss; Chaplain, James S. Fisher ; Officer of the Day, Theodore B. Bellis; Officer of the Guard, Jacob Veit ;

* Originally chartered as No. 45, but within a few weeks changed to No. 48.

Sergeant-Major, Frank MI. McCue; Quartermaster- Sergeant, Samuel L. Hart.

'This new organization started off under favorable auspices, and with over 20 members.

" The Flemington Building and Loan Association, No. 2," was established and organized in December, 1877. The design of the association is to assist the members in the acquisition of real estate and the making of improvements thereon, and removing in- cumbrances therefrom by the payment of periodical instalments, and also to accumulate a fund to be re- turned to the members who do not obtain advances when cach share shall become worth $100.

'The following have been the officers and directors since the organization of the association up to the present time :

1877 .- President, Charles Bartles ; Secretary, J. L. Connet ; Treasurer, J.

T. Thatcher ; Directora, A. T. Connet, J. B. Hopewell, Joseph II. Hlg- gina, R. S. Kuhl, Avery Parkor, Elias Vossoller.

1×78-80 .- President, Charles Bartles ; Secretary, J. L. Connet ; Treasurer, J. T. Thatcher ; Directors, Avery Parker, J. B. Hopewell, Ellas Vos- seller, J. H. Higgina, A. T. Connet, George T. Gray.

The meetings of the board of directors are held on the second Monday of each month. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of officers is held on the second Monday of December of each year.

INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURES, ETC.

Flemington has several industries which employ a number of hands, and whose business adds to the prosperity of the place. Among them may be named the tile-works and the pottery owned and operated by the Messrs. Fulper, the steam grist-mill of II. & J. W. Britton, and the sash-and-blind factory of G. T. Gray, both near the depot ; the marble- and gran- ite-works of James H. Murphy ; the brush-manufac- tory of Eli C. Cook ; the brick-yard of Pedrick Broth- ers; while the manufacture of carriages, wagons, and sleighs is carried on by John R. Skillman and Arthur IIughes.

The principal business interests at the present time ure the following :

Agricultural Implements,-J. P. Bodine, G. H. SIator.

Books, etc .- E. Voeseller.

Boots ami Shoes .- 11. C. Finch, George A. Rea, Jacob Spagonnberg, E. C. Green.

Bakery .- John Goll.

Confectionery .- P. A. Reinert.

Cigars and Tobacco .- J. V. Sailth, Rending Mooro.

Dry-goods, Clothing, etc .- 11. C. Fluch, William II. Fulpor, Richards & Sutphin, Peter I. Nevius, Nevius Bros.

Drugs,-Joseph HI. Higgins, Alexander B. Allen, J. Miller Bollis, A. J. Green.

Hardware .- G. Il. Slater, J. l'. Bodino.

Groceries .- William Il. Hall, J. W. Race, Wilson Fulper, N. G. Smith, L. Hellis.

Hides, Tulles, etc .- George A. Rea.

Ice .- David B. Bonn.

Jewelry .- Avery Parker, S. L. Hart, Lemnel Fisher.

Lirery .- Jacob R. Johnson, Jacob Veite.

Lamber .- W. I'. Emery.

Millinery .- Mrs. M. Housell, MIrs L. SI. Davis, Mrs. Mary Ramsey,

Miss C. Welster, Mrs. Van Zandt, Mire. Brown, Mrs. Parks.

Meat-Markets,-S. W. Wyckoff, Stephon G. Gano.

338

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Photographer .- George B. Spencer.

Plaster, Coal, etc .- Z. C. Nevius & Co. Restaurants .- J. H. Stockton, Joseph Gray, P. A. Reinert. Sewing-machines .- E. H. Trimmer. Express and Baggage .- Wilson Moore, Ogden Robinson. Legal Blanks .- R. J. Killgore.

Hotels .- "Union Hotel," L. Humpbrey, proprietor; "County House," William H. Force, proprietor.

Newspapers .- Hunterdon County Democrat, Robert J. Killgore, publisber ; The Hunterdon Republican, William G. Callis, editor.

MILITARY.

In 1805 an infantry company called the " Fleming- ton Volunteers" was formed. In September, 1807, all the members of this company volunteered to be ready to march at a moment's notice, whenever called by the Governor.

Fifty years ago, and over, the martial spirit of the Flemington people found vent through several com- panies, among which were the "Uniform Infantry Company," commanded by Capt. Voorhees, of which O. H. Blackwell was "orderly," and Peter I. Case's troop, the "Fifth" of the Hunterdon squadron, of which John Wyckoff acted as first sergeant. Later came the " Flemington Grays," of which H. S. Stryker was orderly in 1840.

The meeting of the Hunterdon brigade of militia at Flemington on June 9, 1830, was not only a notice- able event, but the first parade of the kind in the connty deemed of sufficient moment to receive men- tion by the press. The four regiments were com- manded respectively by Cols. Parks, Stires, Van Kirk, and Clark. The several troops of cavalry composing the Hunterdon squadron were under command of Maj. MeIlvaine. Infantry companies ("Phoenix," " Blues," and " Guards") belonging to the independent battalion of Trenton, and Capt. Gaston's spirited troop of Somerset cavalry, were also present. His Excellency Governor Vroom and suite, Maj .- Gen. Stryker and suite, several of the field- and staff-officers of the Somerset brigade, and Brig .- Gen. Williamson, of the Warren brigade, graced the occasion with their presence. The review and inspection were highly creditable to the Hunterdon troops.

"When the national flag was insulted at Sumter, and the whole North was aroused, Flemington re- sponded with both men and money. The first company of three months' volunteers was com- manded by Capt. George A. Allen, and left in May, 1861, as Co. H of the Third Regiment. Rev. John I. Janeway, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of this village, was chaplain. The farewell service, held in the Presbyterian church, was solemn and impres- sive. These troops were the first that reached Wash- ington from the North. (An account of its services, with a list of its members, may be found in Chapter X. of the General History in this volume, commencing at page 116, and on following pages sketches of the other companies raised in Flemington.)

Rev. Mr. Janeway, of Flemington, also served as chaplain of the Thirtieth Regiment.

FLEMINGTON IN 1880.

Since 1785, when Flemington became the county- seat, the growth of the place has been, although slow, steadily progressive. The business incident to the seat of justice, gave then, and will always give, an added importance to the little settlement, now grown to be a considerable village, embracing a present (1880) population of 1754 souls. Its activity and wealth were stimulated by the opening of "The Flemington Railroad" to Lambertville in 1854, and still further by the building of the "South Branch Railroad" to this point in 1862. Since then its pros- perity and advancement have been assured. The beauty of its situation none can dispute, while its fine churches, good school, and business enterprise, with its healthful climate and ample supply of gas and water, combine with the high moral tone, intellectual enlture, and law-abiding character of its people to give it an enviable name among the villages of this State. There are few places of its size that possess at once the rural beauty, the repose and quiet, and the conveniences of the metropolis in so great a de- gree as Flemington, in which all seem happily blended. And in that distant future for which we write we ven- ture to prophesy that Flemington will still stand in the fore-front of the villages (perchance boroughs) of the State.

The writer is under obligations, and hereby returns thanks, to the following-named persons (residents of Flemington), for information furnished and courtesies extended during the compilation of this sketch: Rev. George S. Mott, D.D., Hon. Alexander Wurts, Charles Bartles, Esq., Rev. T. E. Vassar, D.D., Robert J. Kill- gore, editor of the Democrat, William G. Callis, editor of the Republican, John B. Hopewell, C. C. Dunham, Rev. R. Johns, Andrew T. Connet, John F. Schenck, M.D., William Hill, postmaster, David Van Fleet, Esq., John Hyde, county clerk, William H. Johnson, surrogate, H. G. Chamberlin, Col. J. C. Rafferty, Mahlon Smith, John Capner, Judiah Higgins, E. P. Conkling, Esq., A. H. Rittenhouse, Dr. Thomas B. J. Burd, John L. Connet, E. Vosseller, Hon. Jobn T. Bird, E. R. Bullock, and many others.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHARLES BARTLES.

The subject of this sketch is of German extraction, and traces his descent from Frederick Bartles, his grandfather. The latter, while serving in the cavalry of Frederick the Great of Prussia, was captured by the French, but succeeded in effecting his escape; from Paris he reached Amsterdam, whence he pro- ceeded to London and thence to this country, arriving in Philadelphia some time previous to the Revolution- ary war. He married a Miss Apt of that city, and sub-

6. Baubles.

339

FLEMINGTON VILLAGE.

sequently settled among the early German colonists at New Germantown, Hunterdon Co., N. J. He was a man of enterprise, and soon engaged in the manufac- ture of wrought iron at Hackelbarny, on the line be- tween Hunterdon and Morris Counties. He followed this business several years in connection with John Plum, of New Brunswick, the maternal grandfather of Charles Bartles, who, it is said, manufactured the first cut nails ever made in the State of New Jersey. In 1793, Frederick Bartles was induced by Col. Charles Williamson, the agent for the Pulteny estate, in what is now Steuben Co., N. Y., to emigrate to the head-waters of the Susquehanna, near Bath, in view of the great advantages afforded for the transportation of the products of that rich country down the Susque- hanna and its tributaries to Columbia, Harrisburg, and Baltimore. He settled at " Bartles' Hollow," now Bradford, N. Y., where he built the first mills, and shipped flour and large quantities of fine lumber down the river in arks. He was thus the first to in- augurate that mode of transportation which, before the construction of the Erie Canal, conveyed most of the products of the rich "Genesee country" to market on the Atlantic seaboard through the western branch of the Susquehanna River. The headquarters of this enterprise was at Bath, which city Col. Wil- liamson founded as the prospective great inland com- mercial centre of New York, or what was then con- sidered " the West." Within a few miles of this place Mr. Bartles established himself, constructed a canal from the outlet of Mud Lake to the Conhocton, through which he sent down large cargoes of flour and lumber to Baltimore and other Atlantic cities.

We find the following reference to Mr. Bartles' op- erations in Clayton's " History of Steuben County" :

" In 1798, Mr. Bartles rafted one hundred thousand feet of boards from his mullls to Haltimoro. In 1800 ho ran two arks from the same place, of which the following record was made by the county clerk :

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 85

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