USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Montclair > History of Montclair township state of New Jersey; including the history of the families who have been identified with its growth and prosperity > Part 38
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Isaac Van Vleck, probably a brother of Tielman, settled at or near Albany. He married, Ist, Cornelia Beckman ; 2d, March 5, 1680, Catalyntje de Lanoy. Ile was a dealer in beaver skins in 1674 and '76. as stated in Stoothoof Papers. He made an affidavit June 11, 1690, relating to the troubles under the administration of Governor Lester. He had several children.
JOSEPH VAN VLECK, the subject of this sketch, is a descendant of Isaac Van Vleek. His mother before her marriage was Ann, daughter of Joseph Hasbrouck, a Captain in the War of the Revolution, a descendant of Abraham Hasbrouck or Has Brouck, who removed from Calais into the Palatinate in Germany about the middle of the seventeenth century, belonging to the body of French Protestants whom religions persecution forced from their native land. From Germany the family went to England in 1675, and emigrated the same year to New Netherlands (New York), and was of the patentees of New Paltz (Ulster County, N. Y.) in 1676. Two of his sons, Jan and Abraham, with ten others, all Huguenots, obtained a patent of 40,000 acres on the west shore of the Hudson River, September 29, 1677, and settled there. Many of his descendants were conspicuous in the early history of New York State, and especially in the War of the Revolution. Joseph, of New Paltz (probably the great-great-grandfather of the present Joseph), was the grandson of Abraham (2). He was a prominent man and filled several public offices. Ile married Elsie Schoonmaker, daughter of Captain Joakim Schoonmaker, a native of Hamburg, Germany, wlro was one of the first settlers of America, having come over in the employ of the Dutch West India Company while the country was under Dutch government and control.
Joseph Van Vleck, son of Peter and Ann (Hasbrouck) Van Vleck, was born in Marbletown, Ulster County, N. Y., November 19, 1830. He attended the Kingston Academy until he was fourteen years of age, and began his business career as clerk in a country store. He came to New York City in 1849, and was engaged in a wholesale boot and shoe house. In 1860 he entered the house of Phelps, Dodge & Co .- the largest house in their line of business in the United States-and in 1879 was admitted as a partner. Ile resided for a number of years in Brooklyn. He spent the sunnners of 1868-69-70 in Montelair, and was so favorably impressed with it as a summer resort that he determined to make it his permanent residence. In July, 1868, he purchased the property fronting on Upper Mount. ain Avenne, containing about four aeres, and subsequently bought about eight acres additional. Ile was mainly instrumental in opening the street from Mountain Avenue to Valley Road, which his neigh. bors named Van Vleck Street. At the time of his purchase there were only three other houses on the avenne. He made many improvements and built five additional houses, thus adding materially to the taxable property in the township. ILis interest in the public affairs of Montelair led to his election in 1874 as Commissioner of Public Roads. Little comparatively had been done at that time in the way of improvements, and the streets and avennes were not inch in advance of ordinary country roads. He saw the necessity of a radical change, and two years later, when he was elected a member of the Township Committee, he earnestly advocated the MeAdam system of roads. He wrote a paper on this subject, which was published in the county papers, and afterward in pamphlet form. The taxpayers were slow at first in adopting any changes that would materially increase their taxes, but later they were convinced that every dollar expended in street improvements added to the value of their property, and Mr. Van Vleck's suggestions were finally adopted. As a member of the Township Committee he favored liberal appropriations for public improvements, and the impetus given to the movement at that time-from 1876 to 1879-during his administration led to greater efforts in this direction by subsequent administrations, which were ratified by the taxpayers. Hle improved the system of public accounts and brought order out of confusion.
In all his efforts Mr. Van Vleck has been influenced by the one desire to make Montelair a model suburban town, and to this end he has contributed liberally of his own means, and has cheerfully borne his share of the increased expenditures.
He was for a time connected with the M. E. Church, but in 1874 united with the First Congrega- tional Church, in which he has since been one of its most active and earnest members. He was the Treasurer of the Society for about ten years, and for a number of years has served, and still serves, as
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Deacon of the Church and Trustee of the Society. He has been identified with and is a liberal contributor to the various benevolent organizations originating with this church and society.
Mr. Van Vleek married, in 1852. Miss Amanda Niles, daughter of William Niles, a descendant of John, born 1603, who emme to America in the " Speedwell " in 1634, settled in Braintree, Mass., in 1639, and was one of the grantees of Dorchester lands, from which place he removed to Braintree. The name was originally spelled Niel, but at the close of the seventeenth century the present orthography was adopted. The issue of the marriage of Mr. Van Vleek with Miss Niles was ten children. six of whom are deceased : three are married.
CHARLES HENRY JOHNSON.
One of the founders of the First Congregational Church of Christ, and for seventeen years the Superintendent of the Sunday school connected with this church, was born in Ithaca, Tompkins County. Hle is a descendant of who settled in the Mo- and was conspienons for the warriors of the Six appointed Colonel of all Clinton. For his services expedition, which re- the French under Dies- George, he received the gift of $5,000 from Par- 24. 1774.
Johnson, the father of of this sketch. served War of fs12, and after- most prominent lawyers Ile was District Attor- at the age of 21, and was many years. He was great legal ability as well qualities. lle married tuck.
son, fifth child of Nathan (Shattuck ) Johnson, was school of Tompkins decided to adopt a mer- moved to New York found employment in a house. Ile remained
Charles Henry John- and Charlotte Roxana educated at the high County, N. Y. Having cantile career he re- ('ity. in 1-54, where he large wholesale grocery CHARLES H. JOHNSON. with this house about three years, and during that period the knowledge he acquired from study and observation laid the foundation of his subsequent successful business career. In 1857 he organized the firm of Pinney & Johnson, commission merchants. The firm for many years was one of the most prominent in this line. and its business operations have extended to nearly every quarter of the globe. For many years it had extensive connections with South America, Germany, England, China and the West Indies. Mr. Pinney. of the firm. died in 1876, and the business was carried on by Mr. Johnson until his retirement in 193. He is a man of unflinching integrity and uprightness of character, and is a fitting example of the Christian merchant, whose religious principles are exemplified in his every-day life-a " living epistle, known and read of all men." To the people of Montelair he is
N. Y., May 10, 1533. Sir William Johnson. hawk Valley, in 1735. his great influence with Nations, he having been the tribe- by Governor while in command of the sulted in the defeat of kau, at the head of Lake title of Baronet, and a liament. Ile died July Colonel Arthur S. Charles II .. the subject with distinction in the ward became one of the in Central New York. ney of Tompkins County Surrogate and Judge for highly esteemed for his a- for his many personal Charlotte Roxana Shat-
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known as the Christian gentleman, whose whole aim in life has been to make the world better. His work as a Sunday-school Superintendent was begun at the Tabernacle Church in Jersey City, in 1863, at which place he removed soon after his marriage with a lady of that place. He succeeded A. S. Hatch, the banker, as Superintendent of the school connected with that church. He was then a young man of 30, full of vigor and enthusiasm, and earnest in his devotion to the Master's cause. Under his admin- istration the school grew in numbers and influence and became the second largest in the State of New Jersey, numbering 625, including teachers and scholars, at the close of his six years' labors. He was equally active in the affairs of the church in which he served both as deacon and trustee, and was also President of the Young Men's Christian Association. He removed to Montelair in 1869, where, finding no Church of his faith and denomination, he identified himself with the Presbyterian Church, but ou learning that there were a number of residents in Montelair who held to the doctrines which he had been taught from his childhood up, he united with them in founding the new church, and soon began the work of organizing a Sabbath-school. The history of this school is a history of his work, which began under the brightest auspices in June, 1870, with 72 scholars and IS teachers, and through the storms of winter and the heat of summer he, for seventeen consecutive years, was invariably at his post unless prevented by sickness. Both teachers and scholars, whatever their position in life, always received a kindly welcome, and he took a personal interest in each one, watching over them with tender and parental care as the shepherd watches over his sheep, never for a moment losing sight of even one stray lamb. He was their advisor, counselor and benefactor. How many, through his influence and efforts, have been gathered into the fold of Christ, and their names enrolled in the Lamb's Book of Life, only the councils of eternity will reveal. The little ones of tender years grew up under his fostering care, and became co-workers with him. It required great wisdom and tact to harmonize all the varied elements, to prevent discord, and preserve peace at all times. These characteristics he possessed in a marked degree, which were not only hereditary, but combined with Christian graces and a kindly genial nature, enabled him to control and direct the affairs of the school, which grew and prospered under his management. He inspired the teachers with his own enthusiasm and love of the work.
In the church he has been equally conspienous as a worker, counselor, friend and brother to rich and poor alike. As a deacon he has fulfilled all the required conditions-" grave, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, being found blameless," and " purchased to himself a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." As a trustee he has managed the business affairs with fidelity and economy, as one who must give an account of his stewardship. His love, fidelity and devotion to his pastor has been exhibited to a marked degree, and through every difficulty and trial he has " stayel his hands " and encouraged him in his work. He has given liberally and even bountifully in aid of every benevolent and religious undertaking connected with his own church as well as assisting others " not of the household of faith " in their work and labor of love.
Mr. Johnson has been for a number of years a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Consolidated Exchange, Mercantile Exchange, and of the New York Board of Trade and Transportation. Ile was one of the founders and is still a director of the Bank of Montelair. He has been for twenty-three years a trustee of the church, a member of the American Home Missionary Society, American Congregational Union, and of the Congregational Club, New York.
Mr. Johnson married, in 1858, Miss Henrietta Holdane, daughter of G. W. Holdane, Esq., ot Jersey City.
CHARLES HALDANE JOHNSON, son of Charles H. and Henrietta (Holdane) Johnson, was born in Jersey City, N. J., May 12, 1859. He was prepared for college at public school and at Hasbrouck Institute ; entered Columbia College in 1876-7. and was graduated at Cornell University in 1880, and at Columbia Law School in 1882; admitted to the Bar of New York the same year. Believing that the West offered a more promising field for ultimate success than any place nearer home, he went to Colorado, where he became associated with District-Attorney McLivesay, whose jurisdiction covered six connties. Mr. Johnson engaged in the trial of many important cases and achieved marked success as a
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proseenting attorney. After a year's experience he returned East and began practice in New York City. His experience in the West proved of valuable assistance to him, although he subsequently entered upon an entirely different line of practice. His success in the metropolis has been principally in the manage- ment of cases outside of court. He is well read in the law, thorough and careful in his legal investigations, and discusses legal questions with clearness of illustration and strength of argument. He has had charge of large interests, necessitating occasional trips to the West and to Europe, which have been attended with satisfactory results to his clients. He has been a resident of Montelair for many years, and since his return has taken a great interest in the political affairs of his County and State. He is an able and forcible speaker, and in every campaign since he resmed his residence in New Jersey his services have been in demand. He canvassed his State in 1854 under the direction of the State Republican Committee. Upon the retirement of Dr. Love, who for many years has been President of the Republican Club of Montelair, Mr. Johnson was elected to succeed him, and the Club has continued to prosper under his administration. He is a good organizer and an indefatigable worker. He managed with much ability the campaign of 1892, and with marked success that of 1893, lle is a member of the Montelair Club and other organizations, and was for a time Assistant Superintendent of the First Congregational Sunday School. He has been for several years one of the trustees of the Montelair Publie School, a director of the Montclair Savings Bank, and one of the Executive Committee of the Citizens' Committee of One IIundred, organized for the enforcement of law and order.
Mr. Johnson inherits many of the personal traits of both parents. He is a man of great force and moral earnestness ; genial, exceedingly affable, yet firm in his convictions of right ; conscientious, upright, and a man of striet probity and honor, personally popular with all his friends and associates. He married Adela, daughter of Julius II. Pratt. Esq. His children are Holdane Kennet, Allen, and Elizabeth.
CHARLES HI. NOYES.
CHARLES HI. NOYES was one of the early settlers of Montelair when it became a place of suburban residence. He descended from an old Puritan family which emigrated from England to Newbury, Mass., in the 17th century, and is still largely represented in Newburyport and vicinity. Mr. Noyes came to New York City early in life, and was for many years at the head of the well-known dry-goods and commission house of Noyes, Smith & Co .. and was widely known in business cireles of New York, New England and the West. In 1862 he purchased property in Montelair and was identified with the early development of the township. He removed to Brooklyn in 1566, and six years later returned to Montelair, where he again purchased property and decided to make it his permanent home. He died here in 1881. He married Miss Jane R. Dana, daughter of Alexander H. Dana, well known as a lawyer and writer on philosophical subjeets, who spent most of his life in Brooklyn and died in Montelair in 1887. The family of C. H. Noyes comprised Charles S., a practicing lawyer in New York City ; Alexander D., William B., a practicing physician in New York : Jennie D. and Henry R.
CHARLES S. NOVES, first son of Charles II. Noyes, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., graduated from the high school of Montelair. from Amherst College in 1850, and from the Columbia Law School in 1882. In 1892 he was married to Ella E. Shafer, daughter of I. Calvin Shafer, of Montelair. They had one child, Alexander G., now deceased.
ALEXANDER D. NovEs, second son of Charles II. Noyes, was born in Montelair in 1862, prepared for college at the high school of Montelair, was graduated at Amherst College in 1883, taking third rank in his class. He chose journalism as a profession and became identified with the New York Tribune in 1883 ; subsequently financial editor and editorial writer on the New York Commercial Advertiser and New York Evening Post, which latter position he still occupies, writing also for numerous other periodicals. He is identified with social circles in Montelair, is a member of the Montelair Club, Dramatic Club, and Tariff Reform ( 'Inb. Ile is a leader in the latter, and did effective service in behalf of tariff reform as a public speaker during the last Presidential campaign.
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WILLIAM B. NOYES, third son of Charles II. Noyes, was born in Montelair, graduated from the high school of Montclair, from Amherst College in 1888, and from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1890; studied subsequently at Seney Hospital, Brooklyn, and at Berlin and Vienna.
THE BENEDICT FAMILY.
The name Benedict is derived from the Latin, benedictus-blessed, well spoken of. The first to illustrate the name was St. Benedict, an Italian, most illustrious in early history, who, about 520 A. D., established the order of the Benedictines, so famous all over Europe.
The Abbé de Benedictis, the distinguished secretary of Cardinal Mazarin, made himself famous by the ceremonies instigated by himself in honor of the Queen of France.
In England, in the year 640. the name was made famous by a noted Saxon, who introduced vast improvements in architecture. He was afterward canonized.
In Denmark, the prodigies of bravery performed by Benedict, brother of Canute the Fourth, covered the name with honor.
Tradition says that the Benedict family is of Silesian origin, bearing the titles of Count of the Banat and Baron of the Holy Roman Empire, the last German Count Von Benedict having passed first to France and then to England in the time of Edward the Sixth.
The American genealogy of the Benedict family begins with the pioneers of Christian civilization in the settlement of the new continent.
Among those who went into voluntary exile, rather than endure the oppression of the Stuarts in the State and Lands of the Church, was the first American progenitor, Thomas Benedict, of Nottingham- shire. He landed in Massachusetts, then a settlement seventeen years old. Hle was one of the few American forefathers who sought to introduce civilization and Christianity into this then savage country. He settled finally on Long Island, and there was charged with the powers of government. In the language of the old records, "he was empowered to act in point of government and was invested with magistratical power on the Island." He was the arbitrator of differences, civilized and savage, the pacifier of the offended Indian chief. It is said that when Uncas, the celebrated Sachem of the Mohegans, complained to the United Colonies in New England, because the Mohansick Sachem of Long Island had killed some of his (Uneas') men, the matter was referred for adjustment to the famous "Captain Mason and Thomas Benedict." He was a member of the first legislative body to convene in America and afterward was a member of the Colonial Legislature. He was foremost in the organization and sending out of colonists to plant new settlements, intrusted with these functions by the voice of the people, whose entire confidence he commanded. All sorts of offices in Church and State clustered around him, forced upon him by popular choice.
He is identified with the founding of the first Presbyterian Church in America, at Hempstead, Long Island, where the tablet is still in preservation that records the event.
His sons were prominent in the early Indian wars, while his descendants have fought in the battles of every war, from the direful King Philip's War to the multitudinous battles of the greatest civil war in history. His son JOHN held many public offices of state.
JOHN, the second, served as representative, and was a publie-spirited citizen.
CALEB, the son of John, the second, moved from Long Island and settled in Connecticut at New Canaan.
CALEB, son of Caleb, held many important offices of Church and State. His two brothers, Lient. Ezra and Capt. Benjamin Benedict. rendered important service during the War of the Revolution, and the latter, it is said, was on duty at Tappan during the trial and execution of Major John Andre, the British spy, during the latter part of September and 1st of October, 1780.
EZRA. son of Caleb (2), lived in New Canaan, was a Colonel of militia and prominent as a military man. Ile married Hannah, daughter of Moses and Betsey (Seymour) Comstock, a direct descendant
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of Christopher Comstock, who came from England about 1652, and settled at Fairfield about 1654. He brought with him his family coat-of-arms engraved upon a silver tankard. which descended to Major Samuel Comstock, before the latter's death. He gave the pitcher for preservation to the church in Wilton to be used as a part of the articles for communion service, supposing it would be retained by the church just as he left it. The tankard was sent to New York, however, and wrought into a more comely fashion of the day and the design of the grantor thereby defeated.
It is a noteworthy fact that the first Comstock who settled in England-a German baron-fled from Germany in the sixteenth century because of his participation in the Von Benedict treason.
THE BENEDICT HOMESTEAD.
LEWIS ST. Jons BENEDICT, son of Ezra, was born in New Canaan, Conn .. Oet. 24, 1811, and was in direct line of descent from Thomas Benediet-the father of all. He graduated from Yale College in 1834, and married Harriet, daughter of Czar Jones, son of Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Jacob, Isaac and Wil- liam, who was the first Deputy Governor of Connecticut and a son-in-law of Governor Eaton, who was the first Governor of Connecticut, and who held the position for twenty consecutive years. E. Czar Jones, referred to above was a member of the Connecticut Legislature in 1837-38.
Lewis St. John Benedict, after his gradnation, began the study of medicine, which he relinquished for flattering business opportunities. He became a member of the well-known firm of Benedict, Ilall & Company, prominent during the War of the Rebellion as large manufacturers of boots and shoes, being
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awarded enormous contracts by the United States Government for the supply of the Federal forees, in army and navy.
In 1850 Mr. Benedict moved to Brooklyn, residing on Columbia Heights for thirteen years. He was one of the pioneer members of Plymouth Church during the early pastorate of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and for a number of years acted as one of the Trustees of that historic church. In 1863 he retired from business and moved to Montclair where he purchased twelve acres of land on a part of which is now located the Benedict residence, corner Mountain and Bloomfield Avenues. He was one of the original members of the First Congregational Church. He was regarded as a publie spirited citizen, was identified with the progress of the town, a man of genial temperament and personal popularity ; he commanded universal respect. He died Oct. 23, 1884.
His immediate family are : Harriet Benedict Beecher, wife of Col. Henry Barton Beecher, son of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher; Mary Ame- Taylor, formerly Prin- High School, died No- drew Czar Benedict, ance firm of Benedict Broadway and corner Streets, Brooklyn : dict, Cashier and Gen- of Pleasanton, Cali- dict (of whom here- Martha Hartt Bene- Benedict; Caroline George A. Milne, Pas- John Benedict, men- firm of Benedict & way and corner Court Brooklyn. lia, wife of John Ward cipal of Montelair vember 28, 1880; An- member of the insur- & Benedict, 145 Court and Montague Edward Lewis Bene- eral Manager of Bank fornia : Seelye Bene- after) Sarah Benedict, diet, Emily Keeler Kirkham, wife of saie, N. J .; Walter St. ber of the insurance Benediet, 145 Broad- and Montague Streets,
Seelye Benedict, and Harriet (Jones) Brooklyn, and gradn- inary, East Hampton, 1867, and at Yale Col- 1871. During the he was engaged in the ness in San Francisco, sale lumber business at after which he asso- others as General SEELYE BENEDICT. of New York of the North-Western Mutnal Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee. Conceiving greater possibilities in the general business of fire insurance he founded the old and well-known insurance firm of Beecher and Benedict, later Benedict & Benedict, of New York and Brooklyn. Ile is a leader of social eireles of Montelair, where he now resides, and is one of its most energetic and enterprising citizens.
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