History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 130

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 130

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Shrewsbury Inlet was closed before 1775, and again opened in 1778. It was again closed in 1810 and again opened about 1830. In 1847 the "Cricket " steamboat, owned by Thomas Hunt, then running from Port Washington (now Oceanic), was wrecked on the bar. The wreck gathered the sand around it and thus hastened the closing of the inlet in that year.

Bellevue is the next property north of Sea- bright. It was part of the Wardell estate, and there, over forty years ago, Major Henry War- dell built a hotel known as the Ocean House, which was kept by Anthony H. Haggerty. It was destroyed by fire May 20, 1862, and came into possession of Lemuel Smith, who built the present Bellevue Hotel and still owns it.

Beyond Bellevue (northward) is the High- land Bridge and a railroad station for the High- lands of Navesink. On March 25, 1875, the Highland and Seabright turnpike was incor- porated, and contracted with Mr. M. Paul to build a turnpike to connect Seabright and the | Highland Bridge for the sum of seven thousand dollars. It was finished and delivered to the company June 30, 1875, and on the next day, July 1st, a schooner ran into the draw of the bridge and destroyed it. It remained unused for three years. The turnpike was not used under this company. When the Navesink Bridge Company was organized, a new turnpike company was also organized (December 18, 1878). April 15, 1879, Mifflin Paul was chosen superintendent, and the turnpike was soon after put in operation. During the inter- val from 1875 to 1878 encroachments had been made upon the turnpike by lot-owners building stables, fences, &c. These were ordered to be removed, which action, together with the fact that members of the first company felt aggrieved that the turnpike was under other management, occasioned long and tedious litigation, which is not yet entirely ended.

The sea-shore from Deal Lake, the southern extremity of Ocean township, northward to the southern line of the incorporated district of Long Branch is composed of numerous tracts of land taken up under several different patents and purchases, concerning which tracts the following information has been gathered :

In 1820, Jacob Corlies owned a large traet bordering on Deal Lake and the ocean, and now divided as follows :

A tract of land thirteen hundred and twenty feet on the ocean and four thousand two hundred and twenty-four feet on Deal Lake is now called Locharbor. It is laid out into streets, and is being improved. A life-saving station is on the dividing line between this tract and Asbury Park.

The Abner Allen house and grounds are situated next north, and next north is the John C. Hathaway house. The next property is known as the Deal Beach, the territory of which, and for several miles back in the coun-

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OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.

try, was known as " Deale " or " Dale " before 1700.

In 1693 persons living in " Deale " peti- tioned for a passage-way through Francis Jef- frey's and John Tucker's land to their meadows.

In 1712 all the land from Hog Swamp to the beach was owned by Thomas White. On the 9th of November in that year he made his will, making his brother Amos and his wife, Eliza- beth, his executors. His property was disposed of as follows : To Amos, his brother, of Shrewsbury, one-quarter "of my plantation sitnate, lying and being in the said Shrewsbury at a place commonly called Deale, and the fourth part of all my meadow upon Crosswork and Longwork." To his oldest son, Samuel White, " one-fourth part of Deale and Crosswork and Longwork." To his second son, Thomas, the same. To his third son, Amos, the same. To his fourth son, Jacob, " All that part of my plantation I now live on which lyeth to the west of the highway that goes through my plantation to Long Branch, with the half of all the meadows on the said plantation." To his youngest son, Levi White, " all that part of my said plantation I now live on which lves below the highway that goes to Long Branch, except the half of the meadow to be divided history of that place.

to the said Jaeol White, as aforesaid." He gave to his wife, Elizabeth, all his remaining real estate in Shrewsbury during her widow- of money.

hood, and to his five daughters a certain amount district was built abont 1784 on land then

The land of Thomas White was on the old highway from Long Branch to Squan ; the highway ran through the White farm, as is shown In 1836 a house was erected on land of John Howell, which was used until about 1864, when it was abandoned and the present house was erected on land of Edwin Woolley. The district at present contains fifty-six children of school age by the will. The old homestead was, a few years ago, owned by James and Amos White, now by Thomas Murphy, west of the Deal ! Beach Station. The old house standing at the intersection of Deal Beach Station road and the Long Branch road to Asbury Park is said to have been built in 1770, and in 1820 was owned by Jacob White. This was part of the old White tract. It is now owned by Bloomfield Drummond and Samuel Hendrick- on what was then known as Sandy Lane. Jo- son.

place, where from fifty to one hundred persons may be comfortably accommodated."

A post-office was established at Deal Beach Station in 1874. The postmasters have been Edward Combs, Abner Allen and Samuel W. Hendrickson.

Northward from Deal is Elberon, which has already been mentioned in connection with the Long Branch district.

THE CENTREVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH edifice was built in 1882 at a cost of fourteen hundred dollars, and dedicated September 20th, in that year. Services were held in 1881 in the school-house of the dis- triet, under the care of the Rev. R. J. An- drews. He was succeeded in 1883 by the Rev. William Barnart, and in 1884 by the Rev. B. C. Lippincott, who is also in charge of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Long Branch, located at Branchburg.

The school districts of Ocean township are three in number,-Long Branch, Deal and Pop- lar Districts,-all containing three thousand and fifteen children of school age. The Long Branch schools are noticed separately in the

Poplar District, No. 81, is situated in the west part of the township, west of Oceanville. The first school-house within the bounds of this owned by Nathan Woolley, now by Mrs. Mary Beecroft. It was torn down about 1835, hav- ing then been in disuse for several years.

Deal District, No. 87, includes Oceanville village and territory adjacent to it. The first school-house in this locality was erected on or near the present school-house site before 1818, 'seph Wardell was a teacher there in 1823.

Gordon's "Gazetteer " of 1834 says of Deal : In the summer of 1870 the school-house was " There are several boarding-houses at this raised and a second story added, at a cost of

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

two thousand dollars. It was first used in |committee of Ocean township. In 1879 he was December of that year. The district now made chosen freeholder, and held office until contains one hundred and fifty-six children of 1883, when he declined re-election. He was, school age.

in 1877, elected by the citizens, irrespective of party, commissioner for Long Branch, and served for four years as chairman of the board, when, . BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. having placed the town on a firm financial basis, THOMAS R. WOOLLEY .- Britton Woolley, he declined further service. He is also a mem- the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Woolley, was ber and president of the Long Branch Board of born April 15, 1765, on the homestead at Poplar, Health. Mr. Woolley is a director of the Long Ocean township, now owned by Eden Woolley. Branch Banking Company, treasurer of the Long He married Mary Williams, whose children Branch Building and Loan Association, and were Britton, Jordan, and a daughter, Mary Ann. His son, Jordan Woolley, was born May 22, 1815, on the homestead, and after a residence

was formerly treasurer of the Long Branch Gas- Light Company. He is a member of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, of Free and Accepted of some years in his native county made his Masons, of Standard Chapter, No. 35, and of home in the city of Philadelphia. He was for 'Corson Commandery Knights Templar. He several years sheriff of the county, as also cor- is also connected with the Odd-Fellows and oner, and for successiveterms chosen freeholder. Knights of Pythias fraternities. He is fre- He married Mary Jane Haslem, who was of quently solicited to fill the office of guardian, English birth, and had children,-Thomas R. and has on many occasions been appointed ex- and Mary Jane (wife of Edward R. Slocum). ecntor, these important trusts being invariably Mrs. Woolley died on the 1st of January, 1844, filled with unswerving fidelity to duty. Though and he was again married, to Margaret Van of Quaker antecedents, Mr. Woolley manifests a Brunt, to whom were born children,-Clay, liberal spirit toward all religious sects.

Penn, Ada, Sarah, Maggie and Annie. The birth of Thomas R. Woolley occurred on the 10th of March, 1841, in Philadelphia, where he received a rudimentary education, and after- wards entered a wholesale hardware-store and remained until his twenty-first year in the capa- city of clerk. Removing to Long Branch, he was, in 1862, appointed under-sheriff of the county, serving three years with his father, then sheriff, and two years with his successor, Wil-

JOHN SLOCUM. - John Slocum, grandfa- ther of John, the subject of this biographical sketch, a resident of Long Branch, and by or- cupation a mariner, married Miss Susan War- dell, whose children were Henry, James, Peter, Wesley and Susan. Henry, who was born at Long Branch, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed in the vicinity of his home, having married Lydia, daughter of John Boud, liam B. Sutphen. He resigned this office in ; of Eatontown. Their children are James, John, George, Mary Ann (wife of Sidney Throck- morton), Michael C., Henry, Abram and Lydia (wife of E. G. Pitcher). John, of this number, was born November 28, 1811, at Long Branch, where, with the exception of a brief interval, he has since resided. He availed himself of such advantages as the winter sessions of a country school afforded, and at the age of seventeen resolved to render himself independent by mastering a trade. He chose that of a carpenter, and continued his apprenticeship until his ma- jority was obtained. With skill as a workman,

1867 for the purpose of embarking in the Inmber business, which still engages his atten- tion. Mr. Woolley was, on the 4th of December, 1864, married to Annie M., daughter of James C. West, of Long Branch, and granddaughter of George W. West, her maternal grandfather being Benjamin White. The children of this marriage are Thomas R., Charles P., Annie S. J. and Bloomfield Drummond, the last-named born April 3, 1876, being the only survivor. In 1866, Mr. Woolley was elected to the office of township superintendent of schools, and later served three years as member of the township and excellent judgment in perfecting his plans,

Thomas B. Woolley

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OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.

an extended business was soon established, the death occurred October 20, 1851, and he was work being chiefly donc by contract. He erected again married, October 11, 1854, to Mrs. Eunice the Reformed (Dutch) Church at Long Branch, H. Maps, daughter of Michael Ferguson, whose children are Eunice H., (Mrs. Harry Hoffer) and Lewis T. M., married to Elizabeth Goudy, of Chicago. Mr. Slocum has for years been identified with the business and public interests of Long Branch. Ile is a strong adherent of the Republican party, and from 1861 until

built the first cottage on the coast and many other structures of consequence, continuing thus occupied until 1852, when, abandoning his trade, he embarked in the lumber business at Branchport, under the firm-name of Pool, Slocum & Co., continuing this enterprise, with some changes of partnership, until 1865. Re- , 1876 hekl the commission as postmaster of the

Lolin Alocuri

moving at that date to Long Branch, he became a member of the firm of Maps, Slocum & Co., and still continues this business connection. Mr. Slocum was, in 1834, married to Ann, daughter of Britton and Ann Woolley, of Long Branch. Their children are Deborah H. (Mrs. James H. Słocum) ; J. Howard, married to Rachel L., daughter of William Price, of New York ; Henry B., deceased ; and Mary Ann, deceased, who grew to mature years. Mrs. Slocum's

latter place, receiving his appointment from Presidents Lincoln and Grant. He was a mem- ber, and for several years chairman of the town- ship committee, and has filled various minor positions in both township aud village. He is a member of St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal Church of Long Branch, in which he has held the offices of steward and trustee since its organ- ization, and still acts in that capacity.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

THOMAS W. COOPER .- Uriah, the grand- father of Thomas W. Cooper, who was of English birth, resided at Long Branch, where he died in his eighty-sixth year. He married Elizabeth Green, whose children were David, John, Benjamin, Sarah, Zilpha, William and Samuel. The last-named was born at Long Branch, and, though by trade a baker, in later years engaged extensively in real estate opera- tions. He married Rachel, daughter of Thomas Woolley, of Poplar, whose children were Joseph, Thomas W., Martha W. (wife of Francis Cor- lies), Isaac E. and five who died in childhood. The death of Mr. Cooper occurred at Long Branch in 1864. His son Thomas W. was born on the 17th of July, 1830, at Long Branch, where he has since resided. He acquired at school a knowledge of the English branches, and was early made useful by his father in the management of a hotel owned by him, which occupation was supplemented by employment on a farm. Having determined to exercise the functions of a landlord, in connection with his brother Joseph, the Metropolitan Hotel, at Long Branch, was purchased and successfully managed for eight years. Mr. Cooper continned the busi- ness, in conjunction with farming, until 1869, when he embarked in the real estate and insurance business. This, by attention and judicious man- agement, soon grew to large proportions, much of the property in the vicinity being immedi- ately controlled by him or intrusted to his care. He is himself the owner of much valuable prop- erty and has been extensively engaged in build- ing, either for purposes of rent or sale. He is a Democrat in politics and a strong Prohibition- ist, the canse of temperance receiving a substan- tial support both through his means and influ- ence. He is an earnest friend to the cause of education and a member of the Board of Edu- cation of Long Branch, his efforts in building the new graded school and various other school edifices having won the commendation of all liberal-minded citizens. He has been a director of the Long Branch Banking Company and identified with other public and financial enter- prises. Mr. Cooper is connected by membership with Royal Arcanum Lodge, No. 429. He is a member of St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal

Church of Long Branch, in which he fills the offices of steward and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school, having been also one of the building committee in the erection of the edifice. Mr. Cooper was, on the 18th of Octo- ber, 1860, married to Mary L., daughter of Samuel Wardell, of Long Branch. Their chil- dren are Carrie (wife of Frederick Van Derveer), Emma, Thomas W., Jr., and Clemmie L.

AARON EDWARDS .- Daniel Edwards, who was a native of Monmouth County, resided at Eatontown Dock (now Oceanport), where he continued the occupation of a tanner until his death, in 1815. He married Ann Wardell, of the same township and county, whose children were William T., Stephen, Joseph, Eliza (Mr-, James Lane), Henry D., Ann (Mrs. William 1. Chamberlain) and Daniel. Heury, whose birth occurred upon the homestead, was left fatherless in early youth, and, on attaining a suitable age, determined to follow the fortunes of the sea. He married, in 1835, Phebe, daughter of James Joline, of Long Branch, whose only child is a son, Henry B. His wife having died, he was again married, on the 19th of January, 1837, to Lydia, daughter of Aaron Cook, of Long Branch. The children of this marriage are Aaron, Sarah (Mrs. Ten Brook Morris), Asbury (deceased), Eliza, Lewis, Charles (deceased), Daniel and Thelbert. Aaron, the eldest of these children and the subject of this sketch, was born October 16, 1837, on the farm purchased by his father after his marriage, and located in the present Eatontown township, where his early years were devoted to school, and, later, to his father's various business enterprises, in which he proved an invaluable aid. At the age of sixteen he accompanied the latter on his vessel and speedily developed a quickness of perception in nautical matters, which aided him, when but a youth, in acquiring a practical knowledge of navigation. His skill in this science enabled him, at the age of nineteen, to take command of a vessel and, when twenty-one, to become joint-owner with his father of a craft, which he sailed until 1868, when, retiring from the career of a mariner, he became interested with his brothers in the construction of three vessels, the

Hromas M. Confrun

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OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.

building of which he personally superintended, Charles L. Mr. Edwards is inclined to con- remaining thus engaged until 1875. These servative opinions in politics and rarely partici- vessels were employed in the carrying trade, pates actively in party movements. He is a and, as an ontgrowth of this enterprise, the | member of Long Branch Council, No. 429, brothers, under the firm-name of L. & D. Ed- Roval Arcanum, and of Mizpah Lodge, No. 61. wards & Co., established at Pleasure Bay, in the same county, a depot for the sale of coal and masons' building materials. The business was , Church of Oceanport, and, as a trustee, aided in

continued at this point until 1875, when the present site at Long Branch was occupied, the New York and Long Branch Railroad having

I. O. O. F., of Oceanport. He is connected by membership with the First Methodist Episcopal the construction of the edifice.

GARRET D. VANDERVEER .- The grand-

Caron Edwards

laid side-tracks and offered other advantages for father of Mr. Vanderveer resided above Free- the accommodation of their large and increasing hold during the period of the Revolutionary War, at which time he suffered great loss from British soldiers. His children were Tunis, David G., Garret, John, Hendrick and several daughters. David G., a native of Monmouth County, spent his life in the immediate vicinity of Freehold, where he was an industrious farmer. He married Katy, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Dubois, and had children,-Garret D., Joseph, Benjamin, Tunis, Henry, John, Eliza (wife of Peter Van trade. In 1880 they erected a sash and blind- factory and a moulding and planing-mill, adding lumber and building material to their stock and otherwise enlarging the business, which, in this peculiar line, ranks among the most extensive in the State. Mr. Edwards was, in 1859, mar- ried to Mary C., danghter of Captain Thomas Riddle, of Oceanport. Their children are As- bury, Irene (Mrs. Lewis R. Williams) and

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Dorn), Sarah Jane (wife of Joseph Lefferson), Phobe Ann, Sophia (married to Addison W. Hobart), Margaret (wife of Thomas Hough) and Amanda (wife of Isaae Quackenbush). Garret D. was born on the 2d of January, 1805, on the homestead, near Freehold. After such very limited opportunities as were afforded at the schools of that early day, he assisted in the cultivation of the farm, and afterwards made the township of Marlborough his residence, where he continued the employment of a farmer. He was,

land until advancing years admonished him that the work should be done by other hands. He has always been a strong Democrat in polities, but held no office other than that of trustee of the public schools. He is a regular attendant upon the services of the Reformed (Dutch) Church at Long Branch, of which his wife is a member.

ANTHONY TRUAX -Mr. Truax is deseended from Holland aneestry, his grandfather having

Garret D Tanderweek

in 1830, married to Eleanor, daughter of Daniel and Sally Polhemus, of Middletown township. Mr. Vanderveer later removed to Englishtown and cultivated a farm on shares, continuing to be a renter for some years after his removal to Middlesex County, N. J. He made other changes of location, but in 1839, preferring to be more independent than was possible on land owned by others, purchased the farm which is his present home, in Ocean township. He eon- tinued to labor for the improvement of this

been John Truax, who married Catharine Good- enough and had children,-Elias and Betsey (who married Eli Williams). He married, a second time, Mary Sutton, whose only son was Goodenough Truax.

Elias Truax was born in Shrewsbury, now Ocean township, and survived until his ninety- fifth year, having been during his period of activity a successful farmer. He married Han- nah, daughter of William Layton, of Ocean I (then Shrewsbury) township, whose children were

785

OCEAN TOWNSHIP AND LONG BRANCH.

Anthony, John and Sarah Ann (wife of Hamilton period of forty years these duties have en- Banta). Anthony was born on the 17th of July, gaged much of his time and attention. In 1850 1810, in the present Ocean township, and re- he was appointed by the court at Freehold mained until his twenty-first year at the home of his parents, acquiring meanwhile the rudi- commissioner of wrecks for the Deal district, and for five years performed the duties of that meuts of English at the district school and office frequently under trying circumstances, lending a hand at labor on the farm. He then involving much peril and requiring great fore- engaged for four years in the burning of char-

thought and judgment. As a new departure coal, and later in the sale of fish between Long from this routine of labor, he engaged in mer- Branch and Philadelphia. This occupation , cantile ventures at Poplar, Ocean township,

Anthony Trung 0

was varied by the business of boating between ; and three years after in the commission business Oceanport and New York, after which he found in New York City. He then retired to the farm, which he had meanwhile cultivated in connection with his varions pursuits, and which is his present home, following also du- ring this lengthened period the calling of an auctioneer. During a practical experience of forty-five years he has sold a vast quantity of real and personal estate, has been appointed com- missioner to divide and settle estates, often chosen as assignee and acted as arbiter in the the ocenpation of a butcher both profitable and easily managed. 'Squire Truax was, in 1849, as the candidate of the Old-Line Whig party, elected justice of the peace for Ocean township, and such was his popularity that for twenty years he continued to fill the office at the will of his constituents. His executive ability and fidelity to trusts have made him justly popular as executor, trustee and guardian, and for a 50

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

adjustment of differences. Squire Truax was, on the 15th of December, 1832, married to Miss Tenty Ann, daughter of Jacob and Mary White, of the same township. Their children were Henry, born in 1835; Hannah (wife of Matthias Wool- ley), in 1837; Jacob W. (deceased), in 1839; Elias L., in 1841; Mary Catharine (wife of George C. Taylor), in 1843; Cornelia (de- ceased), wife of Charles E. Huliek, in 1846; Anthony T., in 1847 ; George W., in 1849; Joseph C., in 1851 ; and Newell, deceased. 'Squire Truax is a director of the Long Branch Banking Company, of the Eatontown and Sea- Shore Turnpike Company and various other local enterprises. He is actively identified with church-work as member and steward of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Long Branch and of the Centreville Church of the same denomination, in which he is both steward and class-leader.

CAPTAIN W. S. GREEN is the great-grand- son of Major-General James Green, of the Revolutionary army. His grandfather was William Green, who died in 1812. To his were born children,-Dr. J. O. Green, Elizabeth Green, W. S. Green, L. C. Green, E. S. Green and C. H. Green (deceased). Captain Green, the subject of this sketch, was born at Long Branch, August 13, 1837, and has lived all his life within hearing of the place where he first saw the light. He received his education at the Freehold High School, and after graduating he joined an older brother in the management of the large farm on which he was born.

parents, James and Elizabeth Murphy Green, and entered upon its duties with a zeal and

In the year 1861 he married Mary, the third daughter of the late William Hathaway, of Deal Beach, N. J. About this time the farm was divided, and that portion of it lying on the north side of Cedar Avenue fell to his lot, a portion of which he sold. This has since been converted into a beautiful park, and is now one of the attractions of this celebrated water- ing-place. The remainder has been beautified and improved by the erection of picturesque cottages, many of which are now owned by non- residents ; the remainder, four in number, are the property of Captain Green, from three of

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 130

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148