USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 10
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
ories of thousands. The Jersey City volunteers, according to the State records, numbered about one in eight of the population, but that does not represent the total. Hundreds of men enlisted in regiments belonging to other States, and a strong contingent served in the navy. These, of course, are not credited on the roster of the New Jersey regiments. Every fire company and every other civic organization had its quota of members in uniform, and its roll of martyrs who came not back. Competent judges have estimated that the total enlistment in Jersey City was nearly one in five of the total population. Certainly no place was more patriotic and none more prompt in responding. No record has ever been made of the residents of Jersey City who en- listed in other States or who served in the navy. It is believed that several thousand residents of New Jersey crossed the Hudson and the Delaware in order to serve among friends or com- panions. The organizations that were recruited in Jersey City and credited to New Jersey are duly recorded in the office of the Adjutant-General at Trenton. The organizations recruited in Jersey City and credited to it included, in whole or part, the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth, Twenty-first and Thirty-third Regiments.
The Second Regiment was mustered into the service of the United States at Trenton, N. J., May 1, 1861, by Maj. T. T. S. Laidley, and Lieut. A. T. A. Torbert, and at the end of its term of service (three months) returned to Trenton, where it was mustered out of the service of the United States, July 31, 1861, by Lieut. A. T. A. Torbert, U. S. Army.
SECOND REGIMENT. FIELD AND STAFF.
COLONEL-Henry M. Barker, mustered in May 1, 1861.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL-Abraham Speer, mustered in May 2, 1861.
MAJOR-John J. Van Buskirk, mustered in June 15, 1861; Captain, Co. E, May 1, 1861; com. Major to fill original vacancy.
ADJUTANT-Cornelius Van Ripen, mustered in May 2, 1861.
QUARTERMASTER-Henry H. Brinkerhoff, mustered in May 2, 1861.
SURGEON-John E. Quidor, mustered in April 26, 1861.
ASSISTANT-SURGEON-John Longstaff, mustered in April 26, 1861.
CHAPLAIN-Matthew B. Riddle, mustered in May 28, 1861.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. -
SERGEANT-MAJOR-Noah D. Taylor, mustered in May 1, 1861.
QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT-Francis R. Hill, mustered in May 1, 1861.
DRUM-MAJOR-Edward C. Woodruff, mustered in May 1, 1861.
FIFE-MAJOR-William K. Van Ripen, mustered in May 1, 1861.
The Fifth Regiment was organized under an act of Congress approved July 22, 1861, and was mustered into the service on August 22, 1861, at Trenton. It was brigaded with the Third Brigade of Hooker's Division. It was subsequently attached to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps, then to the First Brigade, Fourth Division, Second Corps, and finally to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps. At the end of the three years a large por- tion of the regiment re-enlisted. Those who did not were mustered out at Trenton, September 7, 1864. Three companies were raised in Hudson County, Companies B, C and G. The regi- ment took part in these actions : Siege of Yorktown, Va., April and May, 1862 ; Williamsburg, Va., May 5th ; Fair Oaks, Va., June Ist and ed ; Seven Pines, Va., June 25th ; Savage Station, Va., June 29th ; Glendale, Va., June 30th ; Malvern Hill, Va., July Ist and August 15th ; Bris- tow Station, Va., August 27th ; Bull's Run, Va., August 29th and 30th ; Chantilly, Va., August 31st ; Centreville, Va., September 2d ; Fredericksburg, Va., December 13 and 14, 1862 ; Chan- cellorsville, Va., May 3d and 4th ; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2d and 3d; Wapping Heights, Md., July 24th ; MeLean's Ford, Va., October 13th ; Mine Run, Va., November 29th and 30th and December 1, 1863 ; Wilderness, Va., May 5th and 6th ; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8th to 11th ; Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12th to 18th ; North Anna River, Va., May 23d and 24th ; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30th and 31st; Cold Harbor, Va., before Petersburg, Va., June
.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
16th to 23d ; Deep Bottom, Va., July 26th and 27th ; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30th ; North Bank, James River, Va., August 14th to 18th ; Fort Sedgwick, Va., September 10th ; Poplar Spring Church, Va., October 2d ; Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27th, and Fort Morton, Va., November 5, 1864.
FIFTH REGIMENT. FIELD AND STAFF.
COLONEL-Samuel H. Starr. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL-Gershom Mott. MAJOR-William S. Truax. ADJUTANT-Caldwell K. Hall. SURGEON-James C. Fisher. ASSISTANT-SURGEON-A. W. Woodhull. QUARTERMASTER-James F. Rusling. CHAPLAIN-Thomas Sovereign.
The Sixth Regiment was one of the regiments composing the Second Brigade, New Jersey Volunteers, and was raised under the same order as the Fifth Regiment and shared in the same engagements in which the other regiments of the brigade were engaged. Company C was raised in Hudson County.
SIXTH REGIMENT. FIELD AND STAFF.
COLONEL-James T. Hatfield. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL-Simpson R. Stroud. MAJOR-John P. Van Leer. ADJUTANT-Leonard J. Gordon. QUARTERMASTER -- Joseph Woodward. SURGEON-John Wiley. ASSISTANT-SURGEON-Bedford Sharpe. CHAPLAIN-Samuel T. Moore.
The Seventh Regiment was raised under a requisition made by President Lincoln on July 24, 1861, for four regiments. It was one of the famous Second Brigade regiments, and shared in all the engagements of the brigade. Company F was recruited in Hudson County.
SEVENTH REGIMENT. FIELD AND STAFF. COLONEL-Joseph W. Reverc. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL-Ezra A. Carman. MAJOR-J. Dallas McIntosh. ADJUTANT-Francis Price, Jr. QUARTERMASTER-Thomas P. Johnston. SURGEON-D. W. C. Hough. ASSISTANT-SURGEON-Alvin Satterthwaite. CHAPLAIN -- Julius D. Rose.
The Ninth Regiment was raised under an authorization of the War Department for a regi- ment of riflemen from New Jersey. Recruiting began in September, 1861, and the regiment was mustered at Camp Olden on October 5th. It was sent to Washington December 4, 1861. It was assigned to the Burnside expedition, in the command of Brig .- Gen. J. L. Reno. Only Com- pany E was recruited in Hudson County. The regiment took part in forty-two battles and traveled 7,652 miles. It entered the service with 1, 142 men, was several times recruited, and then 600 men mustered out. The total loss from all causes during its service was 1,646 men. The principal engagements were : Roanoke Island, N. C., February 8th ; Newberne, N. C., March 14th ; Fort Macon, N. C., April 25th ; Young's Cross Roads, N. C., July 27th ; Rowell's Mill, No-
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
vember 2d; Deep Creck, N. C., December 12th; Southwest Creek, December 13th ; Kingston, N. C., December 13th and 14th : Whitehall, N. C., December 16th ; Goldsborough, N. C., De- cember 17, 1862 ; and Comfort, N. C., July 6th ; Winton, N. C., July 26, 1863 ; Deep Creek, N. C., February 7, 1864 ; Cherry Grove, N. C., April 14th ; Port Walthill, Va., May 6th and 7th ; Swift Creek, Va., May 9th and roth ; Drury's Bluff, Va., May 12th to 16th ; Cold Harbor, Va., June 3d to 12th ; Petersburg, Va., June 20th to August 24th ; Gardner's Bridge, N. C., Decem- ber 9th; Foster's Bridge, N. C., December roth ; Butler's Bridge, N. C., December 11, 1864 ; Southwest Creek, N. C., March 7th ; Wise's Fork, March 8th, 9th and 10th ; Goldsborongh, N. C., March 21, 1865.
The Tenth Regiment was organized under the aet of Congress of July 22, 1861. It was not under State supervision. It was first called the Olden Legion. On January 22, 1862, it was transferred to the State by the War Department, while the regiment was in camp on Bladensburg Turnpike, near Washington. Company B was recruited in Hudson County. The regiment took part in these engagements : Carrsville, Va., May 9, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 5th to 7th ; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8th to 14th ; Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12th to 16th ; North and South Anna River, Va., May 24th ; Hanover Court House, Va., May 29th ; Tolo- potomy Creek, Va., May 30th and 3Ist ; Cold Harbor, Va., June Ist to 3d ; before Peters- burg, Va. (Weldon Railroad), June 23d ; Snicker's Gap, Va., June 18th ; Strasburg, Va., August 15th ; Winchester, Va., August 17th ; Charlestown, Va., August 21st ; Opequan, Va., September 19th ; Fisher's Hill, Va., September 21st and 22d ; New Market, Va., September 24th ; Mount Jackson, Va., September 25th ; Cedar Creek and Middletown, Va., October 19, 1864; Hotcher's Run, Va., February 5, 1865; Fort Steadman, Va., March 25th ; capture of Petersburg, Va., April 2d ; Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6th ; Fairville, Va., April 7th ; Lee's surrender, Appomat- tox, Va., April 9, 1865.
The Thirteenth Regiment was raised under President Lincoln's call of July, 1862. Ezra A. Carman, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventh N. J. Volunteers, was commissioned by Gov. Olden to recruit the regiment. Companies B and H were from Hudson County. The regiment was mustered in on August 25, 1862. It served two years, nine months and fourteen days, and was mustered out on June 8, 1865. It participated in these battles : Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862 ; Chancellorsville, Va., May 1, 2 and 3, 1863 ; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863 ; Resaca, Ga., May 14 and 15, 1864; Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864; Culp's Farm, Ga., June 22, 1864; Nancy's Creek, Ga., July 18, 1864 ; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864; Siege of Atlanta, July 22 to September 1, 1864; March to the Sea, November 5 to December 21, 1864; Averysboro, N. C., March 16, 1865, and Bentonville, N. C., March 19, 1865.
The Twenty-first Regiment was raised under the call for 300,000 men for nine months' ser- vice, issued August 4, 1862. The State authorities, wishing to avoid a draft, announced that the quota for New Jersey would be 10,478 men, and volunteers would be received until September Ist. Five camps were established, one at Trenton, under Brig .- Gen. N. Norris Halsted ; one at Beverly, under Brig .- Gen. George M. Robeson; one at Freehold, under Brig .- Gen. Charles Haight; one at Newark, under Brig .- Gen. Cornelius Van Vorst, and one at Flemington, under Brig .- Gen. A. E. Donaldson. On September 2d there were 10,800 volunteers in the eamps. These were reduced by the medical examination to 10,714. This was 230 in excess of the required number, and New Jersey was the first State to fill its quota. The Twenty-first Regiment was organized at Trenton in August, 1862, and eight of the ten companies were from Hudson County. Companies E and H were from Mercer. The regiment was organized and equipped in ten days, mustered into the service on September 15th and left for Washington on the next day. It joined the Army of the Potomac at Antietam, being attached to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Corps. The regiment participated in the engagements at Fredericks- burg, Va., December 13 and 14, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., May 2 and 3, 1863 ; Salem Heights, Va., May 3 and 4, 1863 ; Franklin's Crossing, Va., June 5, 1863, and in numerous minor actions. The regiment returned June 15, 1863, and public receptions were given to the men in Trenton and in Jersey City. In the battle at Fredericksburg on May 4, 1863, the regiment suffered severe losses. Col. Van Houten and a number of officers and men fell and were left in the
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
enemy's hands. Col. Van Houten was moved to the rear, and Sergt .- Maj. George B. Fielder, of Jersey City, was left to attend him. A change of position left him and his charge in the enemy's lines. The colonel died early in the morning and was buried by Sergt. Fielder. When Fielder informed Gen. Barksdale, the rebel commander, of the circumstances he was at once released on parole. A few days later the body of the brave colonel was recovered under a flag of truce and sent home to Bergen under a gnard commanded by First-Lieut. William D. W. C. Jones, of Company C.
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. FIELD AND STAFF.
COLONEL-Gilliam Van Houten, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; died near Bank's Ford, Va.,
while prisoner of war, May 6, 1863, of wounds received in action at Salem Heights, Va., May 4, 1863.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL-Isaac S. Mettler, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June ยท 19, 1863.
MAJOR-Hiram Van Buskirk, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863.
ADJUTANT-Andrew Van Buskirk, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863.
QUARTERMASTER-William Harper, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863.
SURGEON-Daniel McNeill, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered ont June 19, 1863.
ASSISTANT-SURGEONS-William S. Janney, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; promoted Surgeon Twenty-second Regiment Volunteers, March 27, 1863. Cornelius Conover, mustered in June 2, 1861 : mustered out June 19, 1863 ; commissioned Assistant-Surgeon, vice Janney, promoted.
CHAPLAIN-Samuel Conn, mustered in October 16, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863 ; Private, Company H ; Chaplain to fill original vacancy.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
SERGEANT-MAJOR-George B. Fielder, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863 ; Private, Company A ; Sergeant, September 15, 1862 ; commissioned Second-Lieuten- ant, Company I, June 1, 1863 ; not mustered.
QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT-Edward B. Bingham, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered ont June 19, 1863 ; Private, Company I ; Quartermaster-Sergeant, September 15, 186z.
COMMISSARY-SERGEANT-Cornelius Young, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863 ; Private, Company A ; Commissary-Sergeant, October 10, 1862.
HOSPITAL STEWARD-William M. Cornelison, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered out June 19, 1863 ; Private, Company I ; Hospital Steward, September 15, 1862.
DRUM-MAJOR-Theodore H. Teeple, mustered in September 15, 1862 ; mustered ont June 19, 1863 ; Musician, Company A ; Drum-Major, September 15, 1862 ; discharged November 12, 1862, G. O. No. 126, War Department, A. G. O., Washington, D. C.
The Thirty-third Regiment was raised by Colonel George W. Mindil in Newark during the summer of 1863. It was mustered into the service September 3, 1863, and was sent to Vir- ginia, but in the latter part of the month was sent to join the Army of the Tennessee, and reached Bridgeport on September 30. The regiment contained but three companies from Hudson County, though its Major, David A. Peloubet, has been a prominent resident of Jersey City ever since the war, and was a member of assembly from the third Jersey City district. The Thirty-third Regiment participated in these battles : Chattanooga, Tenn., November 23, 1863 ; Mission Ridge, November 24 and 25, 1863 ; Mill Creek Gap, near Dalton, Ga., May 8, 1864 ; Resaca, Ga., May 15 and 16, 1864; New Hope Church, near Dallas, Ga., May 26 to June 1, 1864 ; Pine Knob, June 15 and 16, 1864 ; Mnddy Creek, Ga., June 17 and 18, 1864 ; Culp's Farm, Ga., June 22, 1864 ; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864 ; Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864; Siege of Atlanta, July 22 to September 2, 1864; Siege of Savannah, December 11 to 21, 1864 ; Averys- boro, S. C., March 16, 1865 ; Bentonville, N. C., March 18 and 20, 1865.
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF HUDSON CITY-ITS EARLY DAYS-THE TOWN SET OFF FROM BERGEN-A CITY CHARTER SECURED-THE EARLY SCHOOLS AND GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF A DEPARTMENT-THE ERIE TUNNEL RIOTS-MILITIA CALLED OUT-THE OFFICERS WHO SERVED THE CITY.
URING its earlier days Hudson City was a wilderness known as the Bergen Woods. The first road or opening was made by woodchoppers, and was known as the Bergen- wood Road. Settlements were formed north of Hudson City long before there was anyone living in the Bergen woods. The trails developed into roads prior to the revolution, but they were bad roads. The settlement or nucleus for a village began at Five Corners after the Hoboken turnpike was built in 1794. Later the Newark turnpike, finished in 1806, gave new life to the village. The proximity of Jersey City and New York made the land desirable for building speculations, and a number of them were organized. These caused a number of neighborhoods to form, and the demand for roads made the people anxious for a separate municipal government. Several futile attempts to secure independence were made after Hudson County was created; but it was a dozen years later before the population was strong enough to accomplish its object. The increase at first was very slow. The main attraction was the Beacon race course, which was laid out by Cyrus Browning in 1838. It was on this track that Hiram Woodruff rode Dutchman on August 1, 1839, and made a record which was not beaten until Huntress made a new record at Prospect Park on September 21, 1872. The race track attracted undesirable visitors, and it was closed in 1845. It occupied part of the site of Reservoir No. 3. of later days.
The earlier social movement was in the direction of church organization. The first was made by a group of Methodists, who met in the district school-house at Five Corners in 1839, and formed an organization which produced the Simpson M. E. Church. They built the wooden church on a small street that connected the Newark and Hoboken turnpikes. It was called Church Street, because of the building, and at a later date, when streets were opened, it became Oakland Avenue. Holy Trinity was organized by the Episcopalians September ro, 1851. under the charge of Rev. W. R. Gries, and a frame church was built on St. Pauls Avenue. Rev. Norman W. Camp succeeded him in 1855, and the building was removed to Hoboken Avenue to bring it nearer to the centre of population. A Reformed Church was organized in Miss Graves' female seminary on December 14, 1853, and Rev. Aaron Lloyd was assigned to it as a missionary in 1854. Prior to that the church members of that denomination worshipped in the old Bergen Dutch Church. A Catholic church was organized by Rev. James Coyle in 1856, and was known as St. Bridget's. The congregation built a small frame church on Hopkins Avenue, and worshipped there for several years. Rev. Aloysius Vanuta was pastor during the riots. The church name was changed to St. Joseph's after consolidation, not to conflict with St. Bridget's in Jersey City. Rev. C. Doeppenschmidt organized a church and built a house of worship on Central Avenue near Franklin Street for Germans of the Reformed faith in 1859. Other churches sprung up later, but their organization will be noted elsewhere.
The town of Hudson was set off by the legislature on March 4, 1852. The area included in it was 2,394 acres, of which 333 acres were swamps along Penhorn Creek and the Hackensack River. The town included the territory north of the Pennsylvania Railroad cut and south of the Paterson plank road. On the east it extended to Mill Creek at the eastern base of the hill, and westward it was bounded by Penhorn Creek and the Hackensack. The act which set off the town gave slight powers to a board of five supervisors, and an effort was made to join in the march of improvement. The effort was not a success. For all practical purposes the town of Hudson was still a part of Bergen township. The supervisors soon found the need for more power, and a movement was made to get it from the legislature. On April 11, 1855, the gov-
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
ernor approved an aet by which the town was incorporated as the City of Hudson, with powers of government vested in the mayor and common council. The charter was left to the accept- ance or rejection of the people, and a special election was held on April 12th, at which a majority of 120 votes were cast for the charter. The first officers elected under its provisions inet in the court house on May 7th, and took the prescribed oaths of office before Judge Daniel Haines. The total population of the new city was 3,322. In the following June an ordinance providing for a board of education was adopted. The members were appointed by the com- mon council, which audited and paid their bills. The first board was organized on July 7, 1855. In August a special committee had a school census made which showed 877 children of school age. Of this number only 120 attended the public schools, and these taxed the accommo- dations.
The first school in Hudson City was a small frame building at the Five Corners. The date of its erection has not been recorded. It was built early in the Thirties, and was used for public meetings as well as a school. Some time during the Forties, a new school-house was built on the north side of the Hoboken turnpike, cast of Oakland Avenue. This was a one- story frame building, and became Public School No. 1, and it is still standing. The building was sold to the Erie Railway Company, when it was buying a right of way for the tunnel, June 19, 1856. The building was repaired and served as the office of the Long Doek Improvement Company and the tunnel contractor, and is still in use as an office. The school completed the term in the old building. During the summer vacation the new stone church for the Simpson M. E. congregation on Central Avenue was completed, and the trustees sold the old frame church on Church Street to the city for $1,660. In September School No. i was transferred to the old church. At the same time a site on the corner of St. Paul and Montgomery avenues was bought for a new school, and a contract made with Charles W. Allen for its erec- tion. In 1860 the new school-house had absorbed the pupils of old No. 1, and the old frame church was altered to be used as a town hall and jail. After consolidation the building was removed to make way for the Third Precinct Police Station. The street name was changed to Oakland Avenue. School No. 2 was at Washington Village. This was a land association settlement, occupying a tract of land on Palisade Avenue, and west of it south of the Ravine road. The school-house was in a leased building. The number of the school was subsequently changed to No. 3, and it was moved to Sherman Avenue, near Franklin, and across the street from the present school No. 8. New No. 2 was at Congress and Central avenues and is now No. 7. School No. 4 was known as the West End School. A site was selected at West End on property owned by James R. Dey, but it was subsequently changed to a plot on Tonele Avenue north of St. Pauls Avenue, and John Whelihan erected a small but neat two-story brick building on a terrace. The school was abandoned after consolidation and allowed to fall into ruin. It was finally removed as a nuisance a few years ago.
The scarcity of water and the lack of roads to the ferry, the difficulty of drainage and the many advantages of being part of a large city eaused a good many residents of Hudson City to desire consolidation with Jersey City, and a bill was introduced at the legislative session of 1860 to consolidate the two cities, but it was opposed by the Hudson City government and was not thought desirable by Jersey City. The undesirable notoriety caused by the tunnel riots gave Hudson City an unenviable reputation about that time. Alderman Glaubrecht introduced resolutions on February 6, 1860, against the proposition, and they were sent to Trenton. The bill was smothered. The turbulent character of the tunnel laborers caused the aldermen to employ a few special policemen, but there was no regular force organized until iso6, when Col. Gilbert P. Robinson was appointed chief. He had a force of nine men and one sergeant. In 1867 the force was increased to fifteen patrolmen and two sergeants. In 1868 there were eighteen patrolmen and in 1869 there were twenty-four patrolmen, two sergeants and two roundsmen. This was the strength of the force when the cities were consolidated, and Hudson City became the third precinct. Col. Robinson was retained as captain of the precinct. The time of the council was largely occupied with questions relating to street opening and grading. Very little paving was done and but little sewering. The largest sewer built extended from the low lands north of Newark Avenue, through the Harrison estate, to Mill Creek. The most exciting question that was discussed was in relation to water supply. Attempts were made to form a private company to extend mains and sell water to be procured from the Jersey City
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
reservoir. A fire department was created and a board of fire trustees elected, but the records have disappeared.
The board of education, hampered for funds though it was, was the most satisfactory part of the city government. In 1861 the annual report contained this summary of the work accom- plished in six years : " Three new and commodious school buildings have been erected, at an aggregate cost of $30,000. During the previous year over $1,000 had been expended in im- proving School No. 3. Schools Nos. 1, 2 and 3 were occupied. They contrast proudly with the humble tenements in which the public schools of the city were formerly accustomed to assem- ble-an old seven-by-nine country school-house, located at one extremity of a frog-pond, a metamorphosed church and two temporarily-rented lager beer saloons."
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