USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 3
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The first charter election of the town of Free- hold was held on the first Monday in May, 1869, in pursuance of the requirement of the act of incorporation, David C. Perrine, Holmes W. Murphy and John S. Denise (the persons named in the act) being judges of the election, which
resulted in the choice of the following-named officers, viz .: Commissioner, Holmes W. Mur- phy; Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise, John G. Cooper, John Dorrance, Joseph T. Laird; Town Clerk, John L. Howell; Inspec- tors of election, George W. Vanderveer and Alfred Walters. Following is given a list of persons who have been elected to the offices of commis- sioner, assistant commissioners and town clerk in each year, from that time to the present, viz. :
1870 AND 1871.
Commissioner, Holmes W. Murphy.
Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise, John G. Cooper, Joseph T. Laird, William Cooper.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
1872 TO 1874 (INCLUSIVE).
Commissioner, Joseph T. Laird.
Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise, John G. Cooper, Alfred Walters, William Cooper.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
1875.
Commissioner, John G. Cooper.
Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise, Alfred Walters, William Cooper, John H. Ellis.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
1876.
Commissioner, Alfred Walters.
Assistant Commissioners, John H. Ellis, William Cooper, William S. Combs, James J. Conover.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
1877.
Commissioner, James J. Conover.
Assistant Commissioners, Alfred Walters, William W. Pitman, Charles Truex, William H. Butcher.
Town Clerk, Jolin L. Howell.
1878.
Commissioner, James J. Conover.
Assistant Commissioners, William W. Pitman, Charles Truex, William H. Butcher, Joseph H. Rosell.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
1879 AND 1880.
Commissioner, James J. Conover.
Assistant Commissioners, Charles Truex, William H. Butcher, Joseph H. Rosell, Jolin Dorrance.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
1881 TO 1884 (INCLUSIVE).
Commissioner, John Dorrance.
Assistant Commissioners, William H. Butcher, Charles Truex, Joseph H. Rosell, Frank P. MeDer- mnott.
Town Clerk, John L. Howell.
Town Marshal, Jolin Neafie (held that offiee con- tinuously from 1869 until his death).
,
462
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
JOHN NEAFIE was born at Turkey, in Howell township, Monmouth County, May 16, 1837. His father was Abraham G. Neafie (afterwards sheriff of Monmouth County), who was born April 25, 1804, married Sarah A. Smith, De- cember 29, 1825, and died June 7, 1846. His wife was a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Hall) Smith, of Howell township, who lived to the respective ages of eighty-eight and eighty- four years. Their daughter, Sarah A., was born August 31, 1809, and died November 21, 1880. The children of Abraham G. and Sarah
in 1841 removed to Lower Squankum, where John Neafie passed the years of his boyhood. He attended the common schools of the neigh- borhood until, having reached the age of fifteen years, he went to Freehold to learn the trade of sash and blind-making with a Mr. Van Doren; afterwards he was employed in superin- tending the same business for Austin H. Pat- terson, at Turkey, Howell township, where he remained one year, and then returned to Free- hold, where, in April, 1857, he established a sash and blind-factory. After having been in
John Seatho
A. (Smith) Neafie were nine in number, viz. : A son who died in infaney, unnamed ; Peter Smith Neafie; Margaret (married Marshall Allen); Caroline (married John B. Cowdriek); Garret; Jolin; Jackson H .; Mary Conover and Ruhania Campfield. Of these, only two-Mar- garet (Mrs. Allen) and Jackson H. Neafic,- are now living.
that business about two years his health became so much impaired by a pulmonary disease that he was entirely incapacitated for work, and in that condition he remained for more than five years, during which period his disease became at times so alarming that his life was despaired of. At length, however, his health began to improve, and finally became so far re-established that, in connection with Henry F. Jennings,
In 1838, Abraham G. Neafie, father of John, was elected sheriff of Moumonth County. and afterwards with D. D. Cawley, he engaged Upon his assuming the duties of that office he in the ready-made boot and shoe business in Frechold; but after a time it became evident removed with his family to Frechold, where they remained until the close of his term, and i that out-door employment was indispensable to
463
THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.
the preservation of his health; thereupon he re- linquished his business, and in 1868 was elected constable of the township. In the following year, upon the erection and organization of the incorporated district of Freehold, lie was ap- pointed marshal of the district.
In 1879 a law was passed authorizing the appointment of two sergeants-at-arms for the connty eourts, and on the 5th of April in that year. Mr. Neafie was commissioned to that office, his being the first appointment as ser- geant-at-arms in Monmouth County. Subse- quently he received the appointment of erier of the courts, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George Huntsinger. All the offices to which Mr. Neafie was appointed, as above- mentioned, were held by him continuously until the time of his death.
In November, 1879, he purchased the book and stationery store on Main Street, established by John G. Cooper, and, in partnership withi Mr. Grandin Johnson, under the firm-name of Neafie & Johnson, continued the business very successfully until his death, Mr. Johnson attending chiefly to the in-door work of the store.
Mr. Neafie was married, December 28, 1857, to Kate Taylor, daughter of Johnson Taylor, of Howell township, and his wife, Sarah (Huff) Taylor. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Neafie have been Harry Neafie, born August 4, 1859, and now a physician of Freehold; J. Conover Neafie, born December 20, 1864, and died in infancy; Emma, born March 31, 1869, died in infancy ; and Maggie A., born May 7, 1872, and now living with her mother in Free- hold. Mr. Neafie died at his home in Freehold, after a short illness, of pneumonia, March 4, 1885.
During his residence of more than a quarter of a century in Freehold, John Neafie was one of its most active and valued citizens. In his business relations he sustained an unblemislisd reputation. In his family he was kind, affec- tionate and indulgent. As a public officer he was faithful, fearless and impartial, yet conr- teous, kind and forbearing in the discharge of his duties. In his social relations he was highly esteemed; and as a man and citizen, he enjoyed
to the fullest extent the confidence and respect of the community in which he lived.
The first bank of Freehold was the ill-fated Monmouth Bank, chartered in 1824. In the following year it was (nominally) in business, with William J. Bowne as manager and cashier. For a time in that year, whatever funds, securi- ties or other property it possessed, liable to be stolen, was locked, for safe-keeping, in one of the cells of the jail. Afterwards a safe or strong box was provided, and the office of the bank was kept in Mr. Bowne's building, on Main Street,-the same one which, in the great fire of October, 1873, was torn down by the Good Will Hook-and-Ladder Company to check the spread of the fire westward. It stood next east of the First National Bank building, and between that and the Ryall mansion.
Of the history of the old Monmouth Bank during the twelve years next following the time of its incorporation very little is now known. In Gordon's "Gazetteer" is found the following : " Monmouth Bank at Freehold .- Chartered in 1825. Capital, $200,000. Amount paid in, $40,000. Amount of bonus, $4000. Amount paid to treasurer, $4000." The bank was always regarded with distrust by the community, and finally ceased to exist. The end of it, under its first organization, is marked by an advertise- ment printed in the Monmouth Democrat of February, 1836, as follows :
" MONMOUTH BANK
" Will be sold at Public Auction, at the house of Barzillai Hendrickson, in Freehold, on Saturday, the 12th of March next, at eleven o'clock, A.M. The Vault of the Monmouth Bank, Consisting of Iron and Stone, two Iron Doors, one large fire-proof Iron Chest, three Copper Bank Note Plates, Bank Note Paper, Blank Account Books, one Large Bank Lock and other articles,
" W. J BOWNE, Assignee.
" Freehold, 23d February, 1836."
The sale was twice adjourned, viz., to Sat- urday, February 18th, and again to Saturday, the 26th, at which latter time the articles were doubtless disposed of, though uo account of the sale is found.
The bank was afterwards resuscitated under the same name, and with Dr. John T. Woodhull as president. It is said (and is undoubtedly
i
464
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
true) that Dr. Woodhull was deceived into con- necting himself with the project by the mis- representation of some traveling cattle-dealers, who, with their friends in New York, wished to (and did) use the bank to serve their per- sonal ends, in speculation-or worse. The office or place of business of the resuscitated bank under Dr. Woodhull's presidency was in the house now occupied by the Misses Christo- pher, on Main Street. Some of the bills of this bank are still in existence. One of them, kept by Hon. Charles A. Bennett as a curiosity, reads: "THE MONMOUTH BANK will pay to J. S. English, or bearer, one dollar. Jolin T. Woodhull, president ; James H. Earl, cashier." The number of the bill is 147 ; date, January 22, 1842. This was the last year of the existence of the Monmouth Bank, its charter being repealed in 1843.
In 1836 application was made to the Legis- lature for a charter of the Marl Bottom Bank, to be located at Freehold; but it was not ob- tained.
The Farmers' Bank of Frcehold (notwith- standing its name) never had any banking-office or regular place of business in Freehold, but was owned by and carried on in the interest of a few men living and doing business in New York. No facts have been ascertained showing the amount of its nominal capital, or how long it had been in existence prior to January 2, 1853, which is the date of the following self- explaining advertisement, found in the Mon- mouth Democrat of that time, viz .:
" BANK NOTICE. " Farmers' Bank of Freehold, N. J.
" All the outstanding notes of this bank must be presented to the State Treasurer for payment within two years from the date hereof, or the funds deposited for the redemption of such notes will be given up to this institution at the expiration of said time.
"DANIEL CHRISTOPHER, Prest."
THE FREEHOLD BANKING COMPANY Was originally organized under a special charter granted by act of the Legislature of 1855. The incorporators named in the act were James S. Lawrence, Peter Vredenburgh, Nathaniel S. . Ruc, Tunis V. Conover, Bennington F. Ran-
dolph, John Vought, Joseph Combs, Jacob B. Rue, James Buekalew.
The capital stock authorized was $100,000, with the privilege of increasing the same to $200,000. The company was organized at a meeting of the stockholders held at the Union Hotel on the 28th of September, 1855, of which meeting James Buekalew was chairman and Dr. John Vought secretary. The first board of directors was composed as follows : James S. Lawrence, William D. Davis, Joseph Combs, William-H. Conover, William Statesir, Ben- nington F. Randolph, A. R. Throckmorton.
The bank commenced business February 1, 1856, with- a capital paid in of $50,000, and with James S. Lawrence as president and Jacob B. Rue as cashier. The bank building was built in the fall of 1855 and following winter. In 1865 it was enlarged and remodeled, forming the substantial and commodious building now occupied by the bank.
The first president, Mr. Lawrence, held the office until 1861, when he resigned and was >uc- ceeded by William Statesir, who continued as president until his resignation, in 1882. His successor was Aaron R. Throckmorton, who held until his death, March 3, 1883, upon which William Statesir was again elected, and is the present president. The cashiers have been as follows : Jacob B. Rue, 1856 to 1864, resigned ; W. H. Howell, 1864-70, resigned ; Stewart Brown, 1870-71 ; James L. Terhune, 1871-74, resigned ; T. A. Ward, 1882 to present time.
The capital of the bank, originally $100,000, was afterwards increased to $150,000, and again to $200,000. About 1874 it was reduced to $150,000, as it is at present. It has a surplus of $100,000.
In March, 1865, the bank was organized, under the National Banking Law, as the Free- hold National Banking Company, under which name and organization it contimed for nearly twenty years, until December 13, 1884, when it was reorganized under the State laws, resuming its original name, the Freehold Banking Com- pany.
JAMES S. LAWRENCE .- James Lawrence, the grandfather of James S. Lawrence, who was of English descent, married Elizabeth
465
THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.
Ritchie, of Aberdeen, Scotland, and was the father of children,-Ann, born in 1740; Mary, in 1750; Rebekah, in 1752; James, in 1754; George, in 1756; John R., in 1759; and Mehitable, in 1760. John R., whose birtli occurred on the 24th of September, 1759, and his death on the 14th of February, 1882, married Margaret, daughter of James and
town, in Burlington County, N. J., and subse- quently under Samuel Gummere, of Burlington, adding much to this early training by careful and judicious reading and habits of observation and thought. The early death of his father placed in his hands, when a youth, the manage- ment of the farm, and caused him to be intrusted with unusual responsibilities, which were met
Hannah Shinn. Their children were James S .; Ritchie, born September 5, 1801; and Margaret R. (Mrs. William Tilton), whose birth occurred April 3, 1803. James S. Lawrence was born August 24, 1797, at Cream Ridge, Upper Freehold township, and spent the greater portion of his life at the aneestral home which was the seene of his birth. He received a thoroughi preparatory education, first at Arney- 30
with a determination and energy that insured sneeess. At a later period, though placing the cultivation of the land in other hands, he still retained his residence in Upper Freeliold town- ship. Judge Lawrence was married, on the 10th of February, 1825, to Mary S., daughter of Hendrick Conover, whose death oeeurred on the 7th of August, 1834. He was again married, on the 3d of June, 1841, to Phobe Ann, eldest
466
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
daughter of Nathaniel S. Rue, Sr., of New York City, formerly of Manalapan township, Mon- mouth County. Mrs. Lawrence's paternal grand- father was William Rue, who married Nellie Conover, and had, among his seven children, a son, Nathaniel S. Rue, who was united in muar- riage to Elizabethi Toan. The surviving children of the latter marriage are Mrs. Lawrence; Na- thaniel S., of Cream Ridge, Upper Freehold township, whose children are Elizabeth L. and James L .; Robert C., who has children, Lucretia M. and Nathaniel S. (deceased); and Sarah M., wife of George W. Shinn, of Freehold, whose children are James L. and Mary A. Judge Lawrence, in 1856, made Freehold his residence, having that year been elected president of the . Freeliold Banking Company, which position he held until his death, on the 26thi of February, 1860, in his sixty-third year. He was also director of the Mercer County Fire Insurance Company, and frequently the incumbent of offices of trust, such as guardian and executor. He was long identified with the Old-Line Whig party in politics, and on the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks. He was for twenty-four years freeholder of Upper Freehold township, for many years justice of the peace and served a term in the State Legislature. He was also appointed associate judge of the Mon- mouth County Court. Judge Lawrence was deseeitded on the maternal side from Quaker stock, but in later life supported the Presbyte- rian Church, to which he was ever a willing contributor.
WILLIAM STATESIR is of Holland descent, his grandfather, Isaac Statesir, having been a farmer in Shrewsbury township, Monmouth County, N.J. He had children-John, Isaac and a daugh- ter, who became Mrs. Simon Duryea. The birth of Jolin, who served in the Revolutionary army, ocenrred January 24, 1760, in Shrewsbury town- ship, where his life was spent. He married, February 16, 1783, Agnes, daughter of John 'Aumack, of Frechold township, whose children were Mary, Lena, Elizabeth, Arintha, Jane, Isaac, Jolin, Tunis and William, of whom Elizabeth died in her ninety-eighth year, and William is the only survivor. John Statesir . died October 13, 1825, and his wife October 1,
1836. William was born on the 25th of Janu- ary, 1806, in Shrewsbury, now Atlantic town- ship, and remained during his youth at Colt'. Neck, in the latter township, where his father was engaged in the business of a tanner. After sueh advantages of education as were obtaina- ble at the common schools, he entered the tall- nery and became familiar with the business. Desiring a less circumscribed field of action, he studied surveying, which for several years en- gaged his attention in the vicinity of his home. He was, April 20, 1836, married to Sarah Ann, daughter of John Conover, of Freehold, now Marlboro' township, whose children are Joli Henry (deceased), David Abeel, Agnes and Alphens. Mrs. Statesir died December 6, 1851, and he was a second time married, in January, 1855, to Cornelia Ann, daughter of Arthur Van Derveer, of Atlantic township, whose only child, Eliza R., born November 17, 1855, died on her twenty-fifth birthday. Mr. Statesir, the year following his first marriage, removed to a farm in Marlboro' township, and remained un- til the spring of 1864. On the organization of the Freehold Banking Company he was elected a director, and in 1864 was made its president, which influeneed his removal the same year to Freehold. He has, since that date, made that town his residence, and still retains his official connection with the bank. His fidelity to important trusts lias caused him frequently to be chosen as administrator and guardian. He has in politics always been identified either with the Whig or Republican party, but has filled no political office. Mr. Statesir was formerly a member of the First Reformed Church of Free- hold, and now holds his membership with the Second Reformed Church of that place, having officiated as elder in both. He has for twenty years been the treasurer of the Monmouth County Bible Society, and is among the most active citizens of the connty in the promotion of all philanthropic and Christian projects.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FREEHOLD was incorporated under the National Banking Law, February 24, 1864, and was organized with the following-named board of directors, viz., -- Arthur V. Conover, John Dorrance, Joseph T.
Eng ªby A H Fortinue
Eng . by AH Ritchie.
467
THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.
Laird, Joseph D. Bedle, Charles Haight, Charles ! Allen, Charles A. Bennett, Jacob B. Rue, Philip J. Ryall. Jacob B. Rue was elected president and James Fountain cashier. Mr. Rue con- tinued in the presidency until January, 1883, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the present president, Joseph T. Laird, Esq. In 1865, James Fountain was succeeded as cashier by Isaac B. Edwards, who continued until 1875, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Joseph T. Laird. When Mr. Laird accepted the presi- dency, J. W. S. Campbell became acting cashier, and on the 8th of January, 1884, was appointed to the cashiership, which he holds at the present time.
The capital of the bank at its organization was $100,000, which was afterwards increased to $125,000. In February, 1883, the charter of the bank was renewed, to continue twenty years from that date, and in the same year $75,000 was refunded to the stockholders, and the capital stock accordingly reduced to $50,000, still leaving a net surplus of $50,000. Since the reduction of the capital, three semi-annual dividends of seven per cent. each, have been made.
The banking-house of the institution (a hand- some and substantial structure of brick, with brown-stone trimmings) is on the north side of Main Strect, between Court and Throckmorton. For more than twelve years after the bank went into operation the building had a front of but eighteen fect on Main Street, but in 1877 it was rebuilt and enlarged to a front of twenty-five feet, with a depth of sixty feet, as it now stands.
The present directors of the bank are Joseph T. Laird (president), Charles Haight, Eliliu B. Bedle, William H. Vredenburgh and Charles A. Bennett.
JACOB B. RUE, who for nearly thirty years was widely known and prominent as a bank officer of Freehold, being a large stockholder in both the present banks of the place, and hold- ing, at different times, high positions in both, was born on the family homestead in Middle- sex County, near Cranbury, October 10, 1827. His father was Joseph I. Rue, a farmer, and his grandfather was John Rue, of Cranbury, a soldier of the Revolution. His mother was
Mary Bergen, daughter of Abraham Bergen, of Middlesex, in the same neighborhood. His education was acquired in the district school. In his boyhood he developed an inclination for mercantile pursuits, and at the age of sixteen years he became a clerk in a store in New York City ; but after a short experience there he removed to Freeliold, where he entered the store of Colonel William D. Davis as a clerk. In that position he exhibited such an aptitude for business that at the end of about two years, and when he had hardly attained his majority, he was taken into partnership, and so continued until he entered upon his duties as cashier of the Freehold Banking Company. He was active in promoting the establishment of the bank, and was elected its cashier upon the organization of the board of directors, in De- cember, 1855, the bank being opened for busi- ness early in the following year. He remained in this position until the organization of the First National Bank of Freehold, when he was elected its first president, and he continued at the head of the institution until the condition of his health warned him to retire, which he did, resigning the position January 1, 1883. His condition was not thought to be immediately alarming, but his health continued precarious, and, with a view to its improvement, lie left Freehold with his family on the 9th of Febru- ary, 1885, and proceeded to Jacksonville, Florida. But the anticipated benefit of the Southern climate was not realized, and he died at Jacksonville on the 19th of the following March.
During all the period of his business life Mr. Ruc was largely engaged in buying and selling real estate in Monmouth County, both on his own account and in company with others, who were glad to avail themselves of his accurate judgment and business tact in this line. He was also one of the promoters of the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad, and at the time of his death was one of its directors. In fact, he was foremost in most of the larger business enterprises of Freehold and vicinity almost from the beginning of his career. In all his business relations he was methodical, correct and upright, as may be judged from his long
-
468
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
and uniformly successful career. In his inter- course with the public he was in business matters sometimes brusque and peremptory in his manner, because of his quiek perception and the decisive cast of his mind. This caused him to be occasionally misunderstood by men less accustomed to business liabits and methods, but he was always just and fair in all his dealings, and ordinarily was easy and affable. He was frank in the expression of his sentiments, and a hearty hater of shams. In his family relations and in the social eirele the better traits of his character were exhibited. He was an affec- tionate and indulgent husband and father, and a warm and reliable friend.
JOSEPH T. LAIRD, for many years a well-known merehant at Colt's Neek, and now president of the first National Bank of Freehold, is a grand- son of Robert Laird, a soldier of the Revolu- tion, who was a descendant of one of three brothers (Alexander, William and Robert Laird) who emigrated from Scotland and settled in East New Jersey before the year 1700. Robert Laird, the descendant of one of these brothers, was born April 7, 1758, and died June 3, 1811. His wife, Elizabeth, was born May 12, 1754, and died April 13, 1833. Their home was at Englishtown. They had two daughters-Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Walton) and Charlotte (Mrs. James Herbert)-and four sons, -John A., Ben- jamin, -Samuel and Elisha,-none of whom are now living. John A. (who received a better education than either of the other sons) went South and died there early in life; Benjamin, who was a well-known hotel-keeper at Freehold and other places in Monmouth County, died at his son's house at Long Branch ; Samuel was the father of the subject of this biography, as more fully mentioned below ; Elisha, the young- est of Robert Laird's sons, remained a bach- elor, and died at Colt's Neck, September 12, 1863. For more than thirty years, and until the time of his death, he had been engaged in a general mercantile business at Colt's Neck. He was county collector from 1856 to 1862, and was a man widely known and universally re- speeted.
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