History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 97

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 97
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 97

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).

"Sergeantsville Grange, No. 101," was organized April 6, 1876. Place of meeting, Fisher's Hall, at Sergeantsville.

The following are the names of the charter mem- bers: Joseph Williamson, D. Wilson Hoppock, Isaac Smith, Charles Heath, Edwin T. Phillips, Joseph Hageman, Joseph Ensminger, Mary Ann Ensminger, Jacob Smith, Samuel D. Barcroft, Elizabeth Barcroft, James P. Dilts, John B. Fisher, Deborah B. Fisher, Asa Cronce, Elisha Alwood, Joshua Primmer, Asher Reading, Thomas P'. Holly, Anna Holly, Frank Ven- erble, Hiram Johnson, Anderson Reading.

The following were the first officers elected for 1876: Master, Joseph Williamson ; Overseer, James P. Dilts; Lecturer, Joshua Primmer ; Steward, D. Wilson Hoppock ; Assistant Steward, Joseph Ens- minger ; Chaplain, Asa Cronce ; Treas., John B. Fisher ; See., Edwin T. Phillips; Gate-Keeper, Frank Venerble ; Ceres, Sarah Venerble ; Pomona, Adaline Phillips; Flora, Elizabeth Barcroft; Lady Assistant Steward, Anna Holly.

Jan. 20, 1877, J. B. Fisher was chosen Master, D. W. Hoppock secretary, Samuel D. Barcroft lecturer, and Asa Cronee chaplain.

The Master for 1878 was J. B. Fisher, and for 1879, Isaac H. Hoffman.

Officers for ISSO: Master, E. P. Tomlinson; Over- seer, John T. Hampton ; Lecturer, Isaac H. Hoffman; Steward, J. B. Fisher; Assistant Steward, Frank Venerble ; Chaplain, AAsa Cronce; Treasurer, Joseph Williamson ; Sceretary, Della A. Tomlinson ; Gate- Keeper, Asher Reading ; Ceres, Deborah Fisher ; Po- mona, Martha Hageman ; Flora, Annie Carcotl; Lady Assistant Steward, Mary J. Hoffman.

The present number of members enrolled is 40.

CORPORATIONS.

The Centre Bridge Company was incorporated by act of the Legislature of New Jersey passed Feb. IS, 1811, supplemented by act of the Legislature of Penn- sylvania passed March 23, 1811. Letters patent were granted Aug. 17, 1812, by Joseph Bloomfield, Gover-

386

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

nor of New Jersey, to Alexander Bonnell, Samuel McNair, George Rea, John Britton, James Hart, Henry Dusenbury, Thomas MeEwin, William Mitch- ell, Samuel Johnson, William Hart, Watson Fell, Peter Fisher, John Wilson, and Morris Robinson, commissioners appointed by the said act to receive subscriptions for building the bridge.

The first meeting of the stockholders for the elec- tion of officers was held Oct. 21, 1812, when the fol- lowing were elected: President, William Mitchell ; Managers, Watson Fell, Samuel Johnson, John Wil- son, Albertus King, Peirson Reading, George C. Max- well ; Treasurer, Aaron Eastburn ; Secretary, William Sitgreave.

Dec. 24, 1812, a contract was made with Capt. Pe- leg Kingsley and Benjamin Lord for building the bridge. John Ruckman was appointed surveyor, and Aug. 19, 1813, John Abell was made toll-collector, salary to begin Jan. 1, 1814. The company pur- chased of Joseph Howell the right of his ferry, to- gether with land for a road, also stone and sand, for which he received forty shares of stock.

Dec. 2, 1813, the company contracted with Thomas Lake to fill in against the abutment on the New Jer- sey side of the river, which contract was fulfilled on the part of Lake, and the bridge was informally opened in the spring of 1814. During the fall and winter of 1816-17 a stone toll-house was built on the Jersey side, where the present toll-house stands, by William Mitchell.

The records of the company, dated Jan. 18, 1841, mention "the destruction of the toll-house, two piers, and three spans of the Centre Bridge, on the Jersey side, by the late freshet, on the 8th of January, in the Delaware, which was higher than any ever known be- fore from records or the memory of man." Feb. 22, 1841, the managers contracted with Cortland Yardley to rebuild the Centre Bridge complete for $4200. At a meeting of the managers held Nov. 29, 1841, the following schedule of tolls was adopted :

Coach and 4 horses $0.75

46 2

.3715

1 horse ..

.25

Wagon " 4 horsee " 2

.50

.25

" 1 horse

Cair or sulkey and 1 horse.

Cart and 1 horse .. 15

.10

Cattle, cach.

.03

Sheep or swine, each .. .01

Foot-passengers .. .02

Lime-wagons, one cent per bushel; no load less than 25 buchols.

All funerale free.

Porsons on foot going directly to and from divine service, free on Sabbath days.

The length of the bridge is 833 feet 8 inches.

The present officers are John W. Reading, Presi- dent; Dr. I. S. Cramer, Anderson Bray, Thomas H. Ruckman, Lukens Thomas, Jesse B. Fell, William S. Barron, Managers ; Cyrus Risler, Treasurer ; Dr. O. H. Sproul, Secretary ; R. M. Dilts, Toll-Collector.

The " Delaware and Raritan Canal-Feeder" was

constructed along the river front of this township in 1832. In 1873 the company built permanent cribs opposite Bull's Island, so that, with a temporary dam, plenty of water can be obtained for the feeder.

The " Belvidere Delaware" (now the " Pennsylva- nia") Railroad was built across this township, along its river front, in 1851-52. It has two stations in this township,-one at Stockton, the other at Bull's Island, or Raven Rock post-office, in the west corner of the township.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

The industries of this township, aside from agricul- ture, are limited to a few enterprises, although there is quite a large amount of capital employed.

The original mills at Headquarters were probably the first of the kind in what is now Delaware town- ship, having been built iu 1756. During the Revo- lution these mills were a portion of the granary of the little American army then protecting New Jersey. At present there is a steam grist- and saw-mill at that place, which does a fair amonnt of custom-work. The mills are owned by J. A. Carroll.

Sergeant's mill, one mile west of Sergeantsville, was the next most prominent in its day, having been built as early as 1820. Here, too, quite a large business was done in the line of custom-work, and there is still a custom grist- and saw-mill at this place, owned by E. S. Johnson.

The Prallsville mills were built by John Prall, Jr., soon after he purchased the property, in 1792. He built a grist-mill on the site of the present one, a saw- mill, and an oil-mill, which was subsequently con- verted into a plaster-mill. The grist-mill is the largest of its kind in the township. The other mills at this place have long since been abandoned.

During the Revolution the Rittenhouses had a tan- nery near Prallsville, and the general troubles made oil scarce. During a freshet several large sturgeon came up the creek; the waters left them in pools whence they could not escape, and the Rittenhouses conceived the idea of rendering them up for the oil, which proved to be admirably adapted to their busi- ness.

In the spring of 1862, Mr. John Finney erected a steam saw-mill, 120 by 20 feet, in Stockton, on the wharf of the canal-feeder, and commenced the manu- facture of both pine and hard lumber.

Early in 1865, Messrs. William V. Case and H. W. Case purchased the saw-mill and built an addition to it; they also doubled the original size, and carried on a large business, under the firm-name and style of W. V. Case & Bro.

In 1874 the Messrs. Case built a large mill, 120 by 40 feet, for the manufacture of spokes, besides the necessary sheds and outbuildings, and commenced operations under the style of the "Stockton Spoke- Works." They put in all the necessary machinery,

Horse and rider. extra

.061/4

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DELAWARE.

and when running at their full capacity turned out about 18,000 spokes per week.

In the spring of 1877 their mill was burned and a large quantity of stock consumed, but in a few weeks they had the whole rebuilt, new machinery in, and the works again in operation.

The Messrs. Case continued in business, having at different times other parties associated with them as partners, until the fall of 1878, when they failed, and Rev. C. S. Conkling, the principal mortgagee, took the mills. He has successfully operated the saw-mill ever since, cutting about 1,200,000 feet of lumber per annum, chiefly hard-wood.

There is also, in connection with the saw-mill, a turning-shop, in which all kinds of wood-turning is done, but chiefly telegraph brackets and pins, of which from 1000 to 1200 are turned out daily.

There is also a handle-factory, in which from 1200 to 1500 hatchet- and hammer-handles are daily turned.

The spoke-works remained idle from the time of the failure of the Messrs. Case and their purchase by Conkling until the spring of 1880, when Messrs. J. [ .. Kugler & Co., by whom they have since been op- crated, took charge of them.

In the spring of 1877 a gentleman came to Stock- ton with samples of paper-ware manufactured in Ca- nandaigua, N. Y., at a factory of which he had been the superintendent. The factory had burned down, and he had lost all, being unable to rebuild. His ob- ject, therefore, was to form a stock company for the manufacture of paper-ware, and, representing the business as being profitable, he induced a number of the business men of Stockton to organize a company with a capital of $15,000. On April 6th of the year aforesaid, having secured subscriptions amounting to $6000, a certificate of incorporation was executed. 1 lot of ground was purchased, and a factory 60 by 30 I'vet, of three stories, was creeted, besides a commo- dious drying-house and paint-shop. Suitable machi- nery was put in, and the business of manufacturing paper-ware was commenced about September 1st fol- lowing. But the company was soon in debt $9000, and disappointed in selling their goods at such prices as they had been led to expect, it became bankrupt about a year after organization. The factory and machinery were sold Aug. 2, 1878, being purchased by the firm of E. P. Conkling & Co., of which Mr. Conkling was the principal member, and to whom the other members soon sold out their several inter- ests, leaving him, as he is at this date, sole owner.

In the winter of 1879 the firm of George O. Baker & Co., of New York City, rented the factory and com- menced the manufacture of various kinds of paper- ware, but on April 9th following, the drying-house and paint-shop being burned down, consuming also a large quantity of ware, the firm became discouraged und gave up the works. In the following fall Mr. J. L. Knox, of New York, rented them, and is still

successfully carrying on the business, making chiefly pails, of which about 100 dozen per week are turned out, and employing about 16 hands.

The Prallsville quarries were opened in 1830 or 1831 by John Prall, who furnished stone for the railroad- bridge across the Delaware at New Hope. The quar- ries are now owned by the heirs of the William Hop- . pock estate, but are not being worked.

The quarry in the rear of the Stockton House, now owned by J. S. Hockenbury, was opened in 1832 by Asher Johnson. A large quantity of stone was taken out and used in building bridges on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The quarry is not being worked at present.

The Delaware and Raritan Canal Company are working their quarries, located a short distance above those at Prallsville. Fifteen men are employed.

Asher Wolverton owns a valuable quarry along the feeder of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, but at the present time (1880) it is not being worked.

The "Hunterdon Nurseries," at Sergeantsville, were established in 1870 by Dr. Isaac S. Cramer, the present proprietor.

There are two carriage-manufactories in this town- ship, owned respectively by Hon. C. W. Godown, at Dilts' Corners, and Henry Quick, at Sergeantsville.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Clark, who lived at Oakdale, commenced the practice of medicine there in 1790. He was suc- ceeded by John Bowne, 1795 to 1857. Ile also prac- ticed medicine at Prallsville, 1791-95, when he moved to what is now Barber's Station, where he remained for sixty-one years. He died Nov. 4, 1857.

Prior to 1790 the nearest physician to what is now Delaware township was at Flemington, Quakertown, and Kingwood.

Richard Mershon practiced at Sergeantsville, 18-t0- 42, being followed in 1842 by Jolin Stout. Isaac S. Cramer is now in practice at Sergeantsville.

The first physician at Rosemont was John Barcroft, 1841-42. George N. Best is the present physician at Rosemont.

HI. O. Sproul has practiced at Stockton from 1866 to the present time, and is the only physician there.

STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

The following have been elected to the positions named from Delaware township : State senator, Ilon. William Wilson ; members of the State Legislature, John Lambert, David B. Boss, C. W. Godown ; sheriff's, James Synder, A. B. Chamberlin ; judges, Mahlon Smith, F. S. Holcombe ; county clerk, A. B. Rittenhouse.

388

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOSEPH WILLIAMSON.

Joseph Williamson, son of Matthias and Susan (Slack) Williamson, of Hunterdon County, was born · in the township of Delaware, Oct. 10, 1839. His grandfather was Abraham Williamson, who was born in Germany or Holland, and came to this country about 1773. He was a soldier in the war of the Rev-

Jaseph Williamson

olution, and fought in several battles under Washing- ton. He settled in Delaware township about the year 1780, on the road from Sergeantsville to Kingwood church, on property now owned by his grandson, Joseph Williamson. IIe had five children, four of whom, Derick, Abraham, Eleanor, and Sarah, signed the deed, May 1, 1828, given to Matthias Williamson, father of our subject, for the homestead farm. All lived to an advanced age, but are now deceased.

Matthias Williamson, the youngest of the family, bought out the other heirs, and remained upon the homestead where he was born in 1787, and died in 1875, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. HIe married Susan Slack, Oct. 13, 1832, and had four children, two of whom died in infancy and two sur- vive,-viz., Joseph, our subject, and Margarette, for- merly wife of the late Martin V. B. Rittenhouse, of Kingwood township, and present wife of Bartlett HIann, a farmer in Kingwood.

Joseph Williamson was born on the homestead farm, and resided there till 1877, when he purchased the farm adjoining the village of Sergeantsville on

the west, the homestead of John H. Gordon, whose daughter Mary Ann he married, Dec. 15, 1864. He has followed the occupation of a farmer and peach- culturist all his life, and since 1877 has resided on the place near Sergeantsville, still owning and carrying on the old farm. He may be regarded as a model farmer of his district, and has rendered the occupation successful financially and in every other respect.

In politics Mr. Williamson is of the faith of his fathers,-a Democrat,-and is also a member of the Masonie fraternity. For two terms he has held the office of justice of the peace, and has been called to fill other offices of trust and responsibility in his township. He has frequently been a delegate to the county and congressional conventions, and has served the interests of his party and constituents with intel- ligence and ability. He has five children,-four sons and one daughter,-viz., Franklin P., Kate G., Mat- thias, John H., and Fred B., in the order named.

ANDREW LARASON.#

Andrew Larason, son of Andrew and Mary (Wil- son) Larason, was born in Kingwood township, two miles from Frenchtown, N. J., Oct. 2, 1803, and re-

Anden Larason

moved with his parents to Harbortown, Mercer Co., when he was eight years old. After remaining there five years he removed with his father to the farm where he now resides. The place is known as the "Old Larason Farm," and was purchased by his

* Sometimes spelled Larison.

Benjamin Larsson

RES. OF BENJAMIN LARISON, DELAWARE TP., HUNTERDON CO., N. J.

389

DELAWARE.

father of Joseph Higgins in 1816. At that time there was a tannery upon the place, which was then quite old, and the house which Mr. Larason still occupies. Hle lived with his father on the place till the death of the latter, in 1861, when he came into possession of the estate. His mother had already departed this life.

Mr. Larason married Mary Ann, daughter of John Phillips, in January, 1837. They had two children, both sons,-viz., John P. and David W. The former died of scarlet fever at the age of seven years; the latter married Sarah, daughter of George Wilson, and has four children,-Mary, John, Cora May, and Howard Larason.

Mr. Larason has lived a quiet, unobtrusive life on his farm, which is one of the finest in this section of New Jersey, and bears the evidence of many im- provements made by his own hands. Hle is an up- right and worthy citizen of the old school, conscien- tious and conservative in politics, and a supporter of the church of his neighborhood.

BENJAMIN LARISON.

Benjamin Larison was born Jan. 5, 1805, in King- wood township, near Frenchtown, N. J. He is a son of Andrew and Mary (Wilson) Larison, both natives of Amwell township.

Andrew Harison, Sr., moved with his family in 1810 to a large farm which he purchased at Harborton, in Mercer County, where he remained till 1816, when he purchased the large farm known as the Larison home- stend, on the York Road, between Mount Airy and Ringos, N. J. This farm has ever since remained in the family. Here Andrew Larison, Sr., spent the re- mainder of his life. Ile was a prominent and well- to-do farmer and drover, and represented his district ! two terms in the Legislature (1835 and 1836). He was born May 17, 1776, and died July 26, 1861, aged eighty-five years, two months, and nine days. His wife Mary was born Oct. 15, 1778, and died Sept. 24, 1856, aged seventy seven years, eleven months, and nine days.

Benjamin was the youngest of three sons, the others being John and Andrew, and the daughters, Sarah and Lavina. The former married Aaron C. Wilson, a large farmer near Harbortown, in Hopewell town- ship. The latter is the wife of Samuel R. Holcombe, of Hopewell. Benjamin was raised on the old home- stead and edneated at the common schools. Ile married Hannah Ann, daughter of Capt. George Holcombe, near Lambertville, N. J., by whom he had nine children, all living except the late Andrew B. Larison, M.D., pastor and founder of the Baptist Church at Ringos. The survivors are George H. Larison, M.D., of Lambertville ; Cornelius W. Lari- son, M.D., of Ringos; John, residing on the home- stead farm ; Lucy A., residing at home; Mary ('.,

who married Thomas C. Johnson ; Sarah, wife of Reading Bodine; Ellen and Jane, at home.

Mr. Larison has never sought or held any political olliees, but has been deacon of the Baptist Church at Sandy Ridge for several years. He is an upright and worthy citizen and an exemplary Christian.

He lived on the old homestead from 1828 to 1874, when his wife died and he bought the adjoining lot, on which he has erected an elegant stone cottage, beautified the grounds, and made other improve- ments. (See cut of the place, on another page.)

ELISHA PATTERSON TOMLINSON.

The original ancestors of the Tomlinson family were of Scandinavian origin, or descendants of the Northmen. The first of the name who came to this country was Matthew Tomlinson, who embarked on board a ship at London, Richard Goodladd master, bound for America, May 21, 1638. Matthew Tomlin-

8, Tomlinson

son's age, as set down in this ship record, was thirty- one years. He appears to have settled at New Haven, Conn., among the carly colonists of that place. We find that William Tomlinson and his wife Abigail were accepted as citizens of Derby, New Haven Co., Conn., in December, 1677. Mr. Tomlinson traces his descent directly from this couple through Isaac, Sr., Isaac, Jr., Timothy, and Samuel, his father. The latter was a native of Woodbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., where the family resided at the time of the birth of our subject.

Ilis maternal ance, tors, the Pattersons, are traced

390

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

back through six generations to the first settlers of Stratford, Conn. His mother, Jennett Patterson, was the oldest daughter of Elisha Patterson, of Roxbury ; he was a son of Samuel Patterson, who was a son of Abraham, a son of Charles, etc. Thus his ancestors on both sides were among the early settlers of New England,-the Tomlinsons of New Haven, and the Pattersons of Stratford, Conn.,-whence they have become scattered widely in the Eastern States and other portions of the country.

Elisha Patterson Tomlinson was born in Woodbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., Aug. 2, 1822. In the spring of 1861 he purchased his farm in Delaware township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., upon which he settled and has since resided. He married, Jan. 1, 1867, Della A., daughter of John Reading.

In the management of his farm Mr. Tomlinson combines the three branches of agriculture,-dairying, grain and stock raising. He is a progressive, wide- awake farmer, and has devoted much attention to the subject, both theoretically and practically. Of late he has taken a deep interest in promoting agriculture by the establishment of analysis and experimental stations, for the testing of fertilizers adapted to the various sections,-a mode of safety to farmers and of practical development of the resources of the soil destined to be of great benefit to the State. He has been for some time a member of the State Horticul- tural Society, and is a reader of books on that subject, as well as on agriculture, and has a large and choice collection.

As a member of the Patrons of Husbandry he has taken an active interest in that order, and during the first two years of his connection with it held the office of lecturer of the grange at Sergeantsville.

ISAAC S. CRAMER, M.D.

Isaac S. Cramer, M.D., son of Peter E. and Sarah (Smith) Cramer, was born at Changewater, Hunter- don Co., N. J., May 24, 1834. His paternal ancestors were German, those on his mother's side English. His grandfather, Noah Cramer, was born in Lebanon township, and married a Miss Emery. His maternal grandfather was Isaac Smith, born in Bethlehem (now Union) township, and married Nancy Potts, who was born in Warren County, near Washington; both she and her husband died at Asbury, N. J.,-the former Sept. 4, 1867, aged cighty-three; the latter Feb. 9, 1845, aged fifty-seven years, eight months, and five days. Isaac and Nancy (Potts) Smith had two sons and two daughters, of whom Sarah, the mother of Dr. Cramer, is the eldest, and is still living, at Waslı- ington, Warren Co. She was born Aug. 20, 1813. The other surviving members of the family are Amos Smith, residing near Chicago, and Cornelia H., wife of Hon. John Blane, M.D., of Perryville, Ilunterdon Co., N. J.

Peter E. Cramer, father of Dr. Cramer, was born March 6, 1810, and died Jan. 3, 1836. The early life of Dr. Cramer was spent chiefly at school, although he was clerk in a country store for about two years. His parents removed from Changewater, his native place, to Upper Valley, in Morris County, where his father, being a miller by occupation, went to take charge of the mills, and died there, at the age of twenty-six, Jan. 3, 1836, leaving his widow and two young children. The subject of this sketch was then only twenty months old. His mother, being thus de- prived of the support of her young husband, went to her father's, in Union township, formerly Bethlehem. In April, 1840, she removed to Bloomsbury, Hunter- don Co., and during two years in that place put her children to school. She then removed to Asbury, where the children enjoyed schooling privileges for three years, and then, for the purpose of enjoying better advantages, she spent a year with the boys at New Hampton. Returning to Asbury, she remained there till the spring of 1849. During the year 1849, Mr. Cramer attended the academy at Stewartsville, Warren Co .; returned to Asbury in the spring of 1850, and, after a short time spent in a store, com- menced the study of medicine with Dr. John Blane. He continued his studies till he went to attend lec- tures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, where he graduated, receiving his well- earned degree of Doctor of Medicine March 10, 1854. After graduation he commenced practice with Dr. Blaue, and continued there till Jan. 8, 1855, when he removed to Sergeantsville, where he has pursued the practice of his profession ever since. The country practice has rendered the doctor's ride extensive and laborious, but he has realized the pleasure of doing much good, as well as that of achieving success as a practitioner.

Dr. Cramer has taken an active interest in Masonry since 1858, at which time he was made a member of Darcey Lodge, No. 37, of Flemington. He was subse- quently chosen Master of the lodge. He assisted in instituting Orpheus Lodge, No. 137, at Stockton, in 1873, of which he was Master for two years. He is now treasurer of the lodge. Ile is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, No. 13, of Lambertville; St. Elmo Commandery, No. 14, of Lambertville; and is Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter.

In politics he is a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in behalf of the party, being frequently a del- egate to county, Congressional, and State conventions, although declining to hold office himself. He has been for several years secretary of the District Medi- cal Society of Ilunterdon County, and has done much to advance the interests of that institution. He bas also been president of the society, and delegate to the State Medical Society and the American Medical As- sociation, of which he is a member.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 97

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