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 8
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
Chapter IX.
MONTCLAIR IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
HIE infant village of 1-60 having received its baptismal name, and cast off its swaddling clothes, was looking forward to a bright and glorious future ; when suddenly the toesin sounded the call " to arms! " and men were brought face to face with the stern realities of war. All thoughts of village improvements and the speedy accumulation of wealth were for a time forgotten :- the spirit of '76 was again aroused :- the fires of patriotism re-enkindled ; and the descendants of the brave men of '76 rallied around the flag to preserve inviolate the I'nion established by their forefathers.
The first man in Montelair-if not the first man in the State of New Jersey-to respond to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion, was Edward Moran. On the 19th of April. 1561. when the famous New York Seventh Regiment passed through Newark on their way to Washington, Moran boarded the train, and, being acquainted with one of the officers, offered his services, which were accepted. He was soon after provided with a uniform and served through the first campaign. Hle afterward enlisted in the U. S. Navy, and served until the close of the war.
Public meetings were held in Montelair, and the people became fully aroused to the dangers which threatened the Union. There was no lack of volunteers, and this little village furnished its full quota of troops. Some of its most promising young men entered the ranks of the Union army, bade farewell to their friends, and, with the benediction of their beloved pastor, took their departure-some of whom never returned.
An invasion of the North was frequently threatened during the war. and local military organiza- tions sprung up in almost every town and village throughout the country, many of which rendered efficient service in cases of emergency. A company of " Mounted Wide Awakes " was organized in Montelair, with Julias HI. Pratt as Captain, S. E. Hayes, First Lieutenant, and William J. Harris, Sceond Lieutenant. The commander of this company had seen service among the " Forty-Niners" in California, in the days when men used a Bowie knife as a tooth pick, and a six shooter as a plaything, and had the " emergency " arisen there is little doubt but that the " Wide Awakes" would have given a good account of themselves.
The citizens of Montelair did their full share in providing means to carry on the war, and they responded heartily to every appeal in behalf of the sick and wounded on the battlefield.
On the evening of August 25. 1962, a few of the leading citizens met together to pay their respects to Captain Frederick II. Harris, who had organized a company of the 13th Regiment N. J. Vols., and was about to depart for the front. On behalf of his fellow citizens Mr. Julins HI. Pratt presented ('apt. Harris with an elegant sword, and, after allnding to the demands of our country upon its young men, complimented the recipient on the alacrity with which he had responded, and on the indomitable energy and perseverance with which he had enrolled his company.
Mr. Pratt " presented the sword-pointed, that it might pierce the heart of the rebellion- sharp, that it might cleave the traitor's brow-polished, that it might reflect the light of liberty shining
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
in the constitution-the fires of patriotism burning in his own soul-the lightning of Heaven's retribution descending on poor misguided rebels. The sword once drawn, it should never return to its scabbard until vietory had been won and a peace conquered."
Capt. Harris responded in a few appropriate remarks. Ilis friends crowded around him to say farewell-to bid adien ; they sung the song of the "Star Spangled Banner," and then he and they received the parting benediction by Rev. A. Brundage.
Among those who enlisted for three years in Company B, 7th Regiment N. J. Vols., were John HI. Jacobus, Stephen P. Williams, Albert Woodruff (died of disease), John Dickinson (killed), Henry B. Ball (killed).
For three years in the 13th Regiment N. J. Vols., Robert Madison, William J. Madison, John B. Munn, James Taylor, John Webster, James Kane, David MeNamara.
The following persons enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Regiment for nine months' service : First Lient., William R. Taylor; Corporals William Egberton, James HI. Williams, Jolin M. Corby, and Edwin F. Dodd; Privates : Peter Arnold, Alfred T. H. Church, John Collins, Henry A. Corby, William II. Corby, James B. Crane, Edwin Dodd, Horace Dodd, Henry Glan, Cornelius Delhagen, Monroe Harrison, John H. Harrison, Richard Jacobus, Charles Johnson, Charles Leist, Eliot W. Little, John D. Penn, Peter King, Joseph W. Penn, George W. Post, William A. Riker, Mortimer Whitehead, Thomas Somerville, John Speller, George Ungeman, John E. Van Gieson, John M. Wheeler, Albert E. Munn, John J. Reese, Joseph W. Nason.
Joseph W. Nason enlisted at the age of eighteen in the Twenty-sixth N. J. Volunteers, and after the expiration of his nine months' service, was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and was assigned to the Thirty-ninth Regt., N. J. Vols. At the time of his enlistment he gave his bonnty of $100 to be divided among ten men, who had the same amount as himself; he found it difficult to make up the quota and offered this as an extra indneement. He was killed on April 2, while leading a " forlorn hope" during the last day's fight in front of Petersburg. He lived but a few hours after being shot, and was buried within the enemy's lines ; was carefully wrapped in his two blankets, his name pinned on the inside one, also a bottle inside, enclosing his name ; and a head-board was placed at his grave, with his initials eut upon it. His parents endeavored to ascertain the names of those who so tenderly cared for their son in his last hours, but without success.
Nicholas Beadle was killed at the battle of Williamsburg, James Taylor at the battle of Antietam ; John M. Wheeler at the battle of Fredericksburg, and John B. Munn at the battle of Chancellorsville ; Charles Little died from disease in front of Fredericksburg.
Frederick II. Harris entered the service as Captain of Company E, 13th Regt. N. J. Vols., Ang., 1862, promoted to the rank of Major, to that of Lient. Col., March 26th, 1865, and returned home at the elose of the war in 1865. IIe had command of a brigade during his service, and was twiee brevetted by the President of the United States; onee for "gallant and meritorious service in Georgia and the Carolinas," and onee for gallant service in the battle of Bentonville, N. C.
Dr. John J. II. Love was appointed volunteer surgeon by Governor Olden, of New Jersey, in April, 1862. He was engaged in a thirty days' service after the battle of Williamsburg, on May 5th, in the transportation and care of the wounded, was commissioned surgeon in the Thirteenth Regiment, N. J. Vols., on July 19th, and in Angust was mustered into the United States service. He was made surgeon- in-chief of a brigade in March, 1863, and in August was made surgeon-in-chief of a division, Twelfth Army Corps, in the Army of the Potomac. He served with distinction in this position, and returned home with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Chapter X.
ACT CREATING THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR .- BOUNDARIES. - ORGANIZATION OF MONTCLAIR RAILWAY COMPANY .- BONDING OF THE TOWNSHIP .- ADVANTAGES ACCRUING TO THE PROPERTY-HOLDERS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROAD .- LITIGATION GROWING OUT OF THE DEFAULTED BONDS .- FINAL DECISION BY THE U. S. SUPREME COURT .- INCREASE OF THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE TOWNSHIP FROM 8200,000 TO $400,000 .- TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF ISS3 AND 1884 ; ELECTION OF MESSRS. RUSSEL, CAREY AND FARMER. - EFFORTS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO PURCHASE THE OUTSTANDING BONDS AND TO FIND THE INDEBTEDNESS .- PLACING OF THE NEW LOAN WITH THE MUTUAL BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEWARK, N. J .- AMOUNT SAVED BY THE TOWNSHIP' THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THIS COMMITTEE. - TOWNSHIP OFFICERS .- THE NEW CHARTER ADOPTED, 1894 .- Post OFFICE AND POSTAL FACILITIES.
N AGT CREATING THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR .- An Act to set off from the Township of Bloomfield in the County of Essex, a new township to be called the
TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR
BOUNDARIES " That all that portion of the township of Bloomfield, known as the second election district of said township, and lying west of a line running through as follows : Beginning at a point in the centre of the stone arch bridge over the stream crossing the road west of and near to the residence of Henry Stucky, on the Orange line, thence from said starting point in a straight line about north thirty-one degrees live minutes east to a point in the Passaie County line, which point is five hundred feet west on said county line, from the centre of the road running in front of the residence of Cornelius Van Houten, shall be and hereby is set off from the township of Bloomfield, in the County of Essex, and made a separate township, to be known as the township of Montclair."
The Act provided "That Robert M. Hening. Grant J. Wheeler, and Philip Doremus shall be and hereby are appointed commissioners on the part of said township of Montclair, to meet with three other commissioners on the part of said township of Bloomfield, previous to the fourth Tuesday in April, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight : that said meeting of said commissioners shall take place at the post office in Bloomfield, in said township of Bloomfield, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the fourth Tuesday in April, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight : that the said commissioners shall then and there proceed by writing, signed by a majority of those present, to allot and divide between the said townships all property and money on hand or due, in proportion to the taxable property and ratables as taxed by the assessor, at the last assessment, and to ascertain the just proportion of debts, if there should be, to be paid by the inhabitants of the township of Montelair: and the decision of those present shall be final and conclusive, and the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall and may sell and execute a deed of the township almshouse farm, which deed shall be deemed and taken to convey a good and sufficient title thereto ; and said township of Montclair shall pay its proportion of the existing debt of the township of Bloomfield, at the time or times when payment, either principal or interest thereon, shall become due and payable, provided that it shall and may be lawful to adjourn the said meeting to such time or times, and place or places as a majority of those assembled as aforesaid may think proper."
The township is four and one-sixth miles in length on the western mountain crest, four and a half miles on the eastern ridge of Bloomfield, and has an average breadth of one and one-sixth miles.
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
The township of Verona lies west of the mountain summit, Acquackanonck lies on the north, Bloomfield on the east and Orange on the south. The village of Upper Montelair formerly known as Speertown, is divided from Montelair by Wachung Avenue but is embraced in the township of Montelair.
All the present territory of Montelair was included within the colony or "town" of Newark for one hundred and forty-six years, until the ercetion of the township of Bloomfield in 1812. It included all the northern end of the colony, and comprised about two-fifths of its territory. For twenty-seven years Bloomfield extended from the ridge of the mountain to the Passaic, until Belleville was formed in 1839.
The erection of Montclair as a separate township was occasioned by the refusal of the citizens of Bloomfield proper to consent to the bonding of their portion of the township of Bloomfield (of which the village of Montelair formed a part) for the purpose of constructing the Montelair Railway.
The organization of the Montclair Railway Company was the result of the inadequate facilities
A VIEW OF MONTCLAIR FROM THE MOUNTAIN,
afforded by the Morris & Essex R.R. Company to the people-more especially to the commuters-of Montclair. They were often delayed from ten to fifteen minutes at Newark, while en route to New York City, owing to the failure of the trains on the branch to connect with the main line. Owing to this change at Newark, the running time between Montclair and New York was one hour and twenty minutes.
The building of a railway at a cost of $4.000,000, the chief object of which was to connect a country village of 2,000 inhabitants with the eity of New York was, at the time, as it would be now, regarded as a pure chimera. The very absurdity of the scheme enabled its friends to obtain a charter with but little opposition from a Legislature which might and would have demanded thousands of dollars from the natural enemies of such a project, had they dreamed of the future forces that it would call into life.
The project originated with Julius II. Pratt in 1866, and was the result of a sudden impulse, while waiting in the depot at Newark the usual slow connection of the train for New York. He
HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
suggested to those who were with him-viz., Samuel Wilde, Joseph B. Beadle, and Albert Pearce, that they obtain a new railroad charter. It was hoped that the mere possession of such a charter would compel the Morris and Essex Railway Company to afford better accommodations to the people of Mont- clair who had been vainly demanding through trains to New York. Mr. Henry C. Spalding, a man of large experience in railroad and legislative affairs, was present at the time, and his advice and counsel were solicited. He informed these gentlemen that it would cost $500 to get it through the Legislature. Each of the above named gentlemen agreed to subscribe their pro rata of the amount, and were named as incorporators. Further demands, to the extent of $5,000, were made upon them and Messrs. Wilde, Beadle and Pearee, rather than incur further responsibility. dropped out, and Mr. Pratt paid back to them the money they had invested. Mr. Spalding continued his interest and was active in promoting the enterprise. The act of the Legislature granting the charter, authorized the bonding of the towns along the line of the road, by and with the consent of two-thirds of the property holders in each township through which the road was to pass. Mr. Pratt reorganized the Montelair Railway Company, and soon after the charter was obtained learned that the New York and Oswego Midland Railway Company were looking for a route through New Jersey, and at once opened negotiations with them. Under his agree- ment with them his company was to construet the road from Jersey City to the State line at Greenwood Lake. The officers of the New York and Oswego Midland Company agreed to build their road from Middletown, Orange County, N. Y., to councet with the Montelair road at the Sate Line. They also agreed to indorse and guarantee all the bonds that might be issued to construct the Montelair Railway. The Montclair Railway Company carried out its contract and commenced operating the road in January, 1873. Mr. Pratt became President of the Company at its organization and continued to hold that office until the railway was completed and leased to the New York and Oswego Midland Company, which Company from that date-January. 7. 1878-assumed possession and control.
The misfortunes of the Midland Company were shared by its New Jersey protege, and both became insolvent during the financial blizzard of '73.
The bonding of the township of Montelair was brought about by the action of the property owners, represented by Robert M. Hening, Iliram B. Littell, and Jared E. Harrison, who were appointed by the Court as Commissioners under the bonding act.
In a statement made to the township authorities in 1983, by Mr. Julius II. Pratt, regarding the bonding of Montelair township, he says :
" I'nder the original administration the interest of the Township Bonds had been promptly provided for by the Montelair Railway Company, but the failure of the lessee of the railway deprived the township of the means with which to pay interest thereafter. except by regular taxation of township property, and it seems that no township committee had the courage to order such taxation. The first default occurred in May, 1873, and consequently the original issue-8200,000, and ten years' interest- makes the total debt at present about $350.000.
"C'an the township afford to pay this claim, and is it equitable ? To understand this question we must refer back to the condition of our township just prior to the building of the new railroad. An outraged feeling on account of the abnses to which we were subjected by the insolent tyranny of the M. & E. Railroad Company was universally prevalent, and when the question of lending the credit of the township in aid of a new line was presented. more than two-thirds in amount of the taxpayers signed their written consent, and acknowledged it before Commissioners with the same solemn formality that they would a mortgage deed. Allowing for non-resident owners, trustees and others legally incapable of signing. but in fact favorable to the movement, it may be fairly assumed that not one-fourth of the property owners made any opposition to the issue of the bonds, while a large majority were enthusiastically in favor of it. This eonsent was given with the full knowledge that, from the time of signing, the claim became a lien on their property by their voluntary act and deed. The railroad company, in accepting the bonds, became morally bound to use the proceeds in the construction of the road within the township, and manifested their good faith by spending their own money greatly in advance of any avails obtained from the bonds.
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
The carrying out of this bargain cost the railroad company more than $1,000,000, and probably cansed its subsequent bankruptcy. This statement may seem to require explanation, and I give it briefly thus:
" The Company had acquired under its charter and supplements the option to build its road by way of Paterson instead of Montelair on substantially the route afterward adopted for the main line of the D. L. & W., a line which would have cost at least $1,000,000 less than the Montclair route. The Company had, in consequence of the want of financial support from Bloomfield and Montelair, bought considerable right of way at Rutherford Park, and had a deed of right of way given by the Paterson Society of Useful Manufactures through more than one-half the distance across the city of Paterson, and an arrangement with the city authorities for the use of an avenue through the remaining distance for a trifling cost, by which the freight traffic of all the great locomotive works within a few rods of the line would have been at once secured. Rutherford Park had given consent to the issue of $200,000 of bonds in aid of the road on that line.
" The Montelair route involved the Kearney cut, costing 8500,000, the expensive right of way through Newark, Bloomfield and Montelair, and continuous deep excavations across the ridges from the Passaic river westerly, making a difference in cost between the two routes of not less than $1,000,000. The acceptance of proffered hospitality is often expensive, and in this case was disastrous to the railroad company ; for the road could have been built on the Paterson route at least one year sooner, and would have been in operation, and its securities marketed, before the financial crisis of '73, and would have been self-supporting from the start.
" It is certain that the road would not have been built through Montelair except for the issue of the bonds. No one connected with the railroad company employed either influence or effort to secure the taxpayers' consent ; it was obtained by Commissioners appointed by the Court at the solicitation of many respectable freeholders of the township, and the entire movement was carried through by the influence of representative men of wealth and high standing in the community.
" What benefits did the township secure in consequence of the construction of the railroad ? This question may be concisely answered thus : The value of its real estate was immediately and permanently increased at least $2,500,000, and the annual saving to our citizens has been at least $100,000 every year since the road was built. I have a statement carefully prepared with the aid of our real estate dealers, showing the prices of fourteen pieces of property in Montelair (about 500 acres) sold just prior to the locating of the road, also the prices at which the same pieces of property were resold just after the road became a fixed fact. The former prices range from $150.00 to $1,000 per acre ; the latter from $1,000 to $3,500; the average profit on the transactions being over $1,100 per acre ; and the property was fairly distributed over the township.
" Taking these prices as a criterion, the entire 4,500 acres in the township were enhanced in value about five millions of dollars. This startling conclusion will be better understood by noticing the fact that without the railroad two-thirds of the land in the township would have continued to this day purely agricultural in character, with only one railroad station near the south end, while now we have five stations, some one of which is in proximity to every acre of land in the township.
"Let us be moderate in onr estimate, allowing something for subsequent shrinkage, and discount fifty per cent., then we have $2,500,000 as the increase of value in consequence of the construction of the new railroad.
" What has been the annual saving to our people? I show it approximately thus :
300 commutations formerly $13 per month ; now $6.50-total
$19,500
15,000 tons of coal, $1 per ton 15,000
Other freight, say .. 10,000
Time of trips reduced twenty-five minutes each way for 500 passengers whose time is worth $3 per day .. 37,500
Profit in local trade from increased population, estimated.
20,000
Total $102,000
" Add the fact that every rod of land for right of way was bought and paid for, and generally at
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
prospective prices, and another fact that not more than two men in the township of Montelair had invested a dollar in the original construction of the railroad which has benefited this community so largely. while non-resident investors to the extent of $3.000,000 lost it all, and you have facts sufficient to decide the question of equity involved in the issue of the Montelair Bonds."
Subsequent events show that Mr. Pratt's estimate of the accrued benefit to the property holders were altogether too low ; and a comparison of the value of property in 1883 with that of ten years later, will convince any reasonable man that the construction of the Montelair Railway, with all its " concomitant evils " has indeed proved a " blessing in disguise."
The bonds of $200,000 issued by the new township extended over a period of twenty years, bearing interest at seven per cent., the principal maturing in sums of $10,000 at stated periods, the first of these falling due five years from the date of issue. Suit was commenced by the holders of the defaulted bonds, which was contested by the township, the defence being that the act authorizing the issue was unconstitutional=that the township of Montelair did not comply with the requirements of the State Constitution which requires that the purpose of the act shall be distinctly stated in the title-this having been omitted in the act. The defendants also claimed that the new assessor was not legally qualified to give the certificate by virtue of which the bonds were issued.
The Courts in deciding the matter held that inasmuch as the township of Montelair had permitted the bonds to go out it was therefore legally responsible. The case was continued for a number of years, the best legal talent being employed on both sides, and appeal having been made to the Supreme Court, the latter rendered decision in favor of the bondholders March 5, Ps3.
The property hoklers of Montelair were appalled at the condition of affairs which now confronted them, the debt being virtually a lien on every man's property. The question of electing town officers was already under consideration. Three members of the Township Committee were practically forced upon the ticket. Mesers. Thomas Russell, Chairman, Stephen W. Carey, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and George P. Farmer had repeatedly declined to accept the nommation, but realizing the importance of the matter, their own wishes were ignored, and they were duly elected.
How to secure control of the bonds (890,000 of which had not yet matured, and would bear interest at the rate of seven per cent. per annum until maturity), and the funding of the indebtedness at a lower rate of interest, were the problems with which these men had to deal. They immediately consulted with a few experienced citizens and obtained promises of co-operation.
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