History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 80

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 80

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In 1729, and afterwards, Nichols' house was the place designated for the meetings of the Board of Freeholders. These facts do not prove that Nichols kept a public-house, but they lead | by David Patterson, who, about a year after-

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

wards, purchased the property, and kept the Carson, who repaired and refitted the house. house until 1873. During this period, in In 1856-57 it was kept by Carson & Conover. 1869, he demolished the old house, which had In February, 1858, the property was purchased been added to and repaired at various times

by Thomas P'. Barkalow, who then kept the from the year 1800, and erected the present house eight years, and was succeeded by John- Washington Hotel, of which he is still the son & Patterson, who kept it from 1866 to owner. Since his retirement from the manage- agement of the house it has been kept by George W. Patterson, - MeNulty. Richard David C. Danser, E. C. Richardson and John Fleming, John J. Wheeler and Samuel Thomp- son, who occupied it until April 1, 1885.

The Union, now Taylor's Hotel, was known eighty years ago as "Coward's Tavern," being then kept by Samuel Coward, who was the first kept it as an inn, though the house had then been

1869, and whose successors have been Johnson & Bailey, Danser & Sutphin, Richard Fleming, Taylor, the present proprietor, who purchased the property in the spring of 1882, and by whom the house has been enlarged, thoroughly repaired and refitted in every detail.

The United States Hotel, previously the of the landlords now definitely known to have Monmouth Hotel, was opened under the lat-

ter name by Benjamin Laird, in the year 1830, in existence many years.1 After him (about 1809) ; the house being the same which had been the residence of John Craig, adjoining the court- years, and was succeeded about 1823 by Jacob house lot on the main street. Mr. Laird kept the house until 1837 or 1838, after which it was kept a short time by Mrs. Ware. In the

eame William Egbert, who kept it a number of Dennis. Charles Burk was its landlord in 1825, and continued until after 1830. After Burk, the house was kept by C. C. Higgins, spring of 1840 it was taken by C. C. Higgins, who afterwards took the Washington, and still later the United States. He was snc- ceeded in the Union, in the early part of the spring of 1845, when it was again taken by 1834, by Barzillai Hendrickson, who kept the house about six years, after which Higgins again became the proprietor. It was kept by Nathaniel S. Rue from 1844 to 1853, inclusive. In March, 1854, it was taken by Welch &

who rebuilt the house (raised it to three stories), named it the United States, and kept it till Benjamin Laird, who kept it several years. After Mr. Laird the house was kept by John L. Doty, but the exact date of the latter's pro- prietorship has not been ascertained. It was kept in 1854-55 by John C. Cox, whose sne- cessor was D. C. Conover. Stokes & Rogers took it in 1857. After them came as land- lords, George H. Snowhill, J. S. Crater and Danser & Hamill. In 1864 the property was purchased by David Patterson, Snowhill being then the landlord. Afterwards (while Danser & Hamill were in possession) it was sold to Rowland A. Ellis, who remodeled the building into stores and offices, as it still remains.

1 On the 11th of June, 1779, the land now embraced in the Union Hotel property was sold under the confiscation laws by Samuel Forman, Joseph Lawrence and Kenneth Han- kinson, commissioners. The property was then described as adjoining David Rhea's lot, and consisted of " a house. out-houses and lot of ground," previously owned by John Longstreet, Jr., who was a Tory Refugee. The purchaser from the commissioners was Elisha Walton. On the 21st of December, 1808, Walton conveyed it to Lewis Gordon, who, on the 23d of May, 1809, conveyed it to William Eg- bert, who mortgaged it to the Rev. John Woodhull, and was sold out by the sheriff, July 6, 1823. It then be- came the property of the estate of Tunis Vanderveer, and so remained until April 15, 1825, when it was soll to Charles and James Burk. In 1827, James Burk sold his interest to Charles, and in October, 1832, Charles Burk was sold out at sheriff's sale. The purchaser was James Burk, who sold the property to Barzillai Hendrickson,

The American Hotel is the youngest of the hotel-stands on the main street of Freehold. Gordon's "Gazetteer " for the year 1834 says that at that time there were three hotels in the town. These three were, of course, the old Washing- ton and Union taverns, and the Monmonth February 7, 1834. Hendrickson sold it, January 2, 1840, | Hotel, which Benjamin Laird had opened four to C. C. Higgins, who sold it to N. S. Rue, May 7, 1844. Rue sold it, in 1854. to Welsh & Carson. and in 1858 the property was sold by the sheriff to Thomas l'. Barkalow. Subsequent changes of proprietorship are noticed above.

years before. There was then no tavern on the site now occupied by the American Hotel, but there was one built and opened there very soon

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

afterwards, and it was kept in 1837 by John I. Thompson, who was then familiarly known as " Boss " Thompson, and who kept the house for three or four years. Reference to newspaper files of that time show that while Thompson was landlord (and for a time afterwards) the house was called Monmouth Hall. When he left the house he removed to Shrewsbury, but sub- sequently returned to Freehokl, took the Wash- ington Hotel, and died there. After he left Monmouth Hall it was kept by Isaae Amer- mau. In April, 1843, it was bought by David C. Conover, who afterwards became landlord of the United States.

The name American Hotel was given by Joseph G. Stillwell, who, with his partner, McNulty, purchased the property, and after continuing business for a few years in the old house (which was a small, low-studded struc- ture), tore it away and erected a new and com- modious house, which they opened under the present name. One of the landlords of the house was J. L. Huntsinger, but neither the precise date nor the duration of his oeenpaney has been ascertained. Another landlord (for a short time) was John C. Cox, who afterwards kept the United States. In 1854 the American Hotel was kept by Abner H. Reed, who re- mained in it about fifteen years and was suc- ceeded by Moses M. Laird, who kept the house until January, 1873, when he was succeeded by the present proprietor, Mr. William Davis.

The Railroad Hotel, on Throckmorton Street, pressing riots and disturbances of the peace; for near the Pennsylvania Railroad Station, was suppressing vice and immorality; and all such opened in 1861 by Charles T. Fleming. In other laws and ordinances as they may think 1864 he sold it to William Thompson, who adapted to promote the welfare, good order, was succeeded in the proprietorship by Thomas Mulholland, the present owner.

The post-office at the village which is now Freehold was established January 1, 1795, and named "Monmouth," which name was officially changed to "Frechold" on the Ist of January. 1801. Following is a list of the postmasters, with dates of their appointment, viz. :

Samnel Mckinstry . January 1, 1795. Samuel MeConkey April 1, 1795. John Laird . April 1, 1798.

David Craig July 12, 1798.

Richard Throckmorton . October 1, 1805.

William J. Bowne . July 1, 1817. Peter C. Vanderhoof. . June 26, 1825.

Cyrus Bruen . December 15, 1827.

William Lloyd, Jr. March 3, 1835.

Orrin Pharo. November 15, 1849.

William V. Ward . June 7, 1853. James S. Yard September 25, 1855.

Jacob C. Lawrence July 23, 1860.

J. H. Rosell March 26, 1861.

Charles T. Fleming . July 23, 1870.

Edwin F. Applegate . . June 18, 1874.

Martin L. Farrington . March 3, 1883.

Freehold became an incorporated town in 1869, under " An Act for the Improvement of the Town of Freehold, in the County of Mon- mouth," approved March 25th in that year. By this aet the legal voters of the town were authorized and empowered to elect annually one commissioner, four assistant commissioners, a town clerk and two inspectors of election, the commissioner and assistants, when duly sworn into office, to constitute "The Board of Com- missioners of the Town of Freehold," having corporate powers and privileges and authority " to pass and enaet such by-laws and ordinances, not repugnant to the constitution or laws of the State, as they may consider proper, for altering, regulating and fixing the grade of the roads, streets and side-walks and lighting the same within the limits of the town; for keeping the same in repair and for preventing or removing obstruetions therein ; for preventing and sup-

health and prosperity of the said town and the inhabitants thereof; to revoke, alter and amend the same in their discretion, and to enforce obe- dience to the same by fines and imprisonments," . to an extent not exceeding twenty dollars' fine and a term of thirty days' impris- onment; the board to appoint a town treasurer, two police justices, a town marshal and one or more assistants, and also a street superintendent, having duties "the same as the overseer of the roads under the laws of the State." The mem- bers of the Board of Commissioners to receive no compensation for their services. The cor-

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

poration limits and boundaries were established by the act, as follows :

"Beginning at the southwesterly edge of the new Street, recently opened by Henry Brinkerhoff, where it intersects with Main Street, and running thence along the southwesterly edge of said new Street to the middle of South Street, and including the land three hundred feet deep on the southwesterly side of said new Street from Main to South Street; thence , who have been elected to the offices of commis- northerly along the middle of South Street to the northerly edge of the road leading from South Street, by Benjamin Lefferson's house, to Jerseyville ; thence along the northerly edge of said Jerseyville road to 1870 AND 1871. the middle of Parker Avenue, opened between lands Commissioner, Holmes W. Murphy. of Joel Parker and the late Thomas C. Throckmorton ; Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise, John G. Cooper, Joseph T. Laird, William Cooper. thence along the middle of Parker Avenue to the middle of Institute Street; thence in a northerly Town Clerk, John L. Howell. direction in a straight line to a point where the most 1872 TO 1874 (INCLUSIVE). easterly line of Hudson Street intersects with Elm Commissioner, Joseph T. Laird. Street, as marked on the map of Freehold, made by Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise. John G. Cooper, Alfred Walters, William Cooper. Ezra A. Osborn and Thomas A. Hurley, in 1855; thence along the most easterly edge of Hudson Street Town Clerk, John L. Howell. in the northeasterly direction to Bennett Street, as marked on the aforesaid map; thence in a straight 1875. line, the same course as the most easterly line of Commissioner, John G. Cooper. IFudson Street to the Freehold and Colt's Neck turn- Assistant Commissioners, John S. Denise, Alfred Walters, William Cooper, John H. Ellis. pike, and including the lands two hundred feet deep, on the most easterly side of said line from Elm Street Town Clerk, John L. Howell. to said turnpike ; thence in a northerly direction in a 1876. Commissioner, Alfred Walters. straight line to the southeasterly corner of the land of William H. Conover, Jr., on the Freehold and Assistant Commissioners, John II. Ellis, William Cooper, William S. Combs, James J. Conover. Keyport turnpike; thence northerly along said Conover's easterly line, six hundred feet ; thence in a Town Clerk, John L. Howell. straight line to the middle of Henry Street, where it 1877. is intersected by the middle of Brown Street ; thence Commissioner, James J. Conover. in a westerly direction along the middle of Henry Assistant Commissioners, Alfred Walters, William W. Pitman, Charles Truex, William H. Butcher. Street to the middle of Court Street ; thence north- westerly along the middle of Court Street to where Town Clerk, John L. Howell. the southeasterly edge of Haley Street intersects with 1878. Court Street ; thence along the southeasterly edge of Haley Street in a westerly direction to Throckmorton Commissioner, James J. Conover. Avenue ; thence in a straight line in a southwesterly Assistant Commissioners, William W. Pitman, Charles Truex, William H. Butcher, Joseph H. Rosell. direction to the most easterly corner of Elisha Schanck's line; thenee along Elisha Schanck's line in a southwesterly direction to Manalapan Avenue, as Town Clerk, John L. Howell. marked on the aforesaid map of Freehold; thence in 1879 AND 1880. a straight line in a southerly direction to a point on Commissioner, James J. Conover. the southerly edge of Main Street. three hundred feet Assistant Commissioners, Charles Truex, William H. Butcher, Joseph H. Rosell, John Dorrance. from the place of beginning; thence along the southerly edge of Main Street to the place of hegin- Town Clerk, John L. Howell. ning."

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; Insper- tors ofelection, George W. Vanderveer and Alfred Walters. Following is given a list of persons sioner, assistant commissioners and town clerk in each year, from that time to the present, viz. :

1881 TO 1884 (INCLUSIVE).

Commissioner, John Dorrance.

Assistant Commissioners, William H. Butcher, Charles Truex, Joseph H. Rosell, Frank P. MeDer- mott.

Town Clerk, John L. Howell.

Town Marshal, John Neafic (held that office con- tinuously from 1869 until his death).

462

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

JOHN NEAFIE was born at Turkey, in Howell in 1841 removed to Lower Squankum, where township, Monmouth County, May 16, 1837. John Neafie passed the years of his boyhood. 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 lune 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 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 Neaglio

A. (Smith) Neafie were nine in number, viz. : that business about two years his health became A son who died in infaney, unnamed ; Peter so much impaired by a pulmonary disease that Smith Neafie; Margaret (married Marshall Allen); Caroline (married John B. Cowdrick); Garret ; John; Jackson H. ; Mary Conover and Ruhama Campfield. Ofthese, only two-Mar- garet (Mrs. Allen) and Jackson H. Neafie, --- are now living.

he was entirely ineapaeitated 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, and afterwards with D. D. Cawley, he engaged in the ready-made boot and shoe business in

In 1838, Abraham G. Neafie, father of John, was elected sheriff of Monmonth County. Upon his assuming the duties of that office he removed with his family to Freehold, where Freehold; but after a time it became evident they remained until the close of his term, and i that out-door employment was indispensable to

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

the preservation of his health; thereupon he re- to the fullest extent the confidence and respect linquished his business, and in 1868 was elected of the community in which he lived. constable of the township. In the following year, upon the erection and organization of the incorporated distriet of Freehold, he was ap- pointed marshal of the district.

In 1879 a law was passed authorizing the appointment of two sergeants-at-arms for the county courts, 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 crier 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 with Mr. Grandin JJohnson, 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 iu 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 unblemished reputation. In his family he was kind, affec- tionate and indulgent. As a publie officer he was faithful, fearless and impartial, yet cour- 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

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 ecased 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 Loek 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 no 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

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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 eattle-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-

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. John 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 Freehold (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 |held until his death, March 3, 1883, upon which a few men . living and doing business in New 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. 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.

" AH 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. Rue, Tunis V. Conover, Bennington F. Ran-

dolph, John Vought, Joseph Combs, Jacob B. Rue, James Bnekalew.

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 Buckalew was chairman and Dr. John Vought secretary. The first board of pher, on Main Street. Some of the bills of this ! 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 suc- ceeded by William Statesir, who continued as president until his resignation, in 1882. His successor was Aaron R. Throckmorton, who

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 continued 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

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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 birth occurred on the 24th of September, 1759, and his death on the 14th of February, 1882, married Margaret, danghter of James and

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 80

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