USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
In the year 1850, owing to the growth of the population of Boonton, the school room became overcrowded, and some were asking for a division. The township superin- tendent, aware of what had been done at Plainfield, Bloomfield, Salem and Bridgeton under special power
184
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
given by the Legislature to establish free schools, and thinking the time had arrived when it would be most to the advantage of the people of Boonton to remain in one district and have a free school, prepared the draft of a bill suited, as he thought, to meet the wants of the case; and in November of that year he presented it for consideration at a public meeting called for the purpose, and accompanied it with a statement of the advantages of a free school. The proposition and the bill as presented were favorably received, and after fur- ther consideration at subsequent meetings, and some amendments suggested and adopted, the bill, accompanied with a petition, was presented to the next Legislature. It was passed in March 1851, and went into effect im- mediately. Under it in April 1851 William G. Lathrop, James Holmes and George W. Esten were elected the first board of trustees, and Henry W. Crane was elected clerk. During that year a brick building of suitable size and two stories in height was erected, on a suitable plot of ground donated by the New Jersey Iron Company for the purpose. It was completed early in the following year, and school was opened in it on the 19th day of July 1852, under Alonzo B. Corliss, principal, and Miss Corliss, assistant. This was the first and for many years the only free school in Morris county. It has been kept free and constantly open during the whole of each school year from that time to the present, and, save in its pro- portionate share of the State appropriation of public funds, has been entirely sustained by money derived from taxes voluntarily imposed by the people of the district. The persons first chosen as school officers under the act of 1851 are still living, and all others who took a prom- inent and active part in the initiatory steps for establish- ing this free school, after a lapse of thirty years, are, with three exceptions, still living to testify to its benefits, and are as true and ardent friends as ever of free popular ed- ucation.
In 1853 an association of the teachers of Pequannock was formed, Boonton, Montville and Pequannock then being in one township. The object of this association was self-improvement in all matters pertaining to the business of teaching. The points to which attention was more especially directed during that school year were a thorough examination of the principles of arithmetic, and a critical examination of the principles of grammar as applied to the English language. The township superintendent participated, and at the request of the teachers led in the exercises. The subjects for consider- ation were announced before the meetings, which were held monthly. The exercises were so conducted as to engage and bring into use the individual capacities of the members, in giving in precise language the clearest and best explanation of each point under consideration. In this way all became interested in giving close attention, and were incited to careful study and reflection, which tended to produce in the mind of each clearer concep- tions of principle, and to furnish each with a greater wealth of illustration. The working of this association before the close of the year had a very happy and notice-
able effect, not merely upon the teachers, but through them upon their schools, in a less mechanical but more thorough instruction and greater interest among the pupils; thus furnishing proof that the best way to elevate the character of schools is to elevate the character of the teachers. Among those who took an active part in that association were Samuel A. Farrand, then principal of the Boonton school, since a graduate of the State nor- mal school, and now principal of the Newark Academy; and S. A. Felter, then a teacher in the school at Pine Brook, and since a graduate of the State normal school and the author of Felter's series of arithmetics.
Owing to the rapid growth of Boonton during eight or nine years after the close of the civil war, much of its population had spread beyond the limits of the school district as established under the act of 1851. In addi- tion to this, the increased number of departments and the large number of pupils, as well as other reasons, made it not only necessary to extend the boundaries of the district, but advisable to vest the control and man- agement in a board of education, consisting of seven commissioners in place of three trustees; and also to have provisions under which evening schools might be established for the accommodation of those whose avoca- tions were such as to prevent their attendance at the day schools. The gentleman who framed the act of r851, under which the free school was established and had been successfully operated twenty-four years, was still living, and then a member of the board of trustees. To him was assigned the labor of drafting a new bill, pro- viding for necessary changes and the prospective wants of this growing district. Accordingly in December 1874 a bill with suitable provisions was prepared, which, being accompanied by petitions and without remonstrance, was presented to the Legislature at its next session. It be- came a law and went into effect on the 5th of April 1875. Under this special act the school at Boonton is now operated. This school is graded, and occupies two build- ing-one, the main building, in the north part of the town, and the other, a primary department, in the south part. There are in all nine departments, under the charge of a principal and nine assistants. Both build- ings are of brick, with slate roofs and two stories in height, and supplied with improved modern furniture.
All the school buildings in Boonton township are located at Boonton. A small portion of the school population of Boonton township in the western and northern parts of it is attached to adjoining districts at Powerville, in Hanover, and Rockaway Valley, in Rock- away township. The school property in Boonton is estimated to be worth $25,000. For several years prior. to 1876 the Catholics maintained a separate school in this place, kept in the basement of their new church. Since the stoppage of the iron works this has been abandoned, and their children are sent to the public school.
The experience of thirty years under the operation of a free school at Boonton has convinced the people there that no town becomes the poorer by taxing itself to
.
185
BANDS AT BOONTON-CAUSES OF PROSPERITY.
educate its children; that a proper and thorough system of education will raise its moral, social and intellectual position, and add to the security and value of property; and that by consolidation and keeping strength together better schools and increased means of instruction can be secured, not only at comparatively less cost, but with far greater advantages.
BANDS.
For a quarter of a century Boonton has been more or less noted for its musical attainments. In that time it has had several fine bands of music, that became widely known, through services rendered at various public meet- ings and celebrations, especially during that most excit- ing period of our history, the war of the Rebellion and the subsequent political agitations. The first band was organized about the year 1850, under the name " Excel- sior." About five years later another was organized, called the " Temperance band." Not long after this, be- cause of some disagreement, the Excelsior band was dis- solved. This resulted in the formation of another, called the "Washington cornet band," which is said to have been one of the finest bands Boonton ever had. Whatever may have been the peculiar merits of these bands, it is but just to say that the people have reason to remember them with pleasure and gratitude, for the cheering and inspirit- ing influence of their music on the many occasions of gloom and despondency, rejoicing and excitement, exper. enced in the past twenty years.
CAUSES OF PROSPERITY.
The history of Boonton, as to growth in population, and results in a moral and social aspect, contains some features deserving special notice. Many persons seem impressed with the belief that a manufacturing town must necessarily have a mixed population, a majority of whom will rank low as to intelligence and social and moral qualities. One of the marked features of Boonton is that a majority of its citizens own the dwellings they live in, and have acquired them by the savings from years of honest, hard labor here; and the general appear-
ance of tidiness, convenience and orderly surroundings indicate the existence of some refinement and taste. As to the intelligence and general good character of its citi- zens, Boonton undoubtedly stands ahead of most manu- facturing towns. The question naturally arises, why is this so? It appears to be mainly traceable to two causes.
The New Jersey Iron Company never adopted that ex- clusive system, characteristic of many manufacturing vil- lages, of owning all the dwellings, holding all the land, and paying employes in store goods. It paid monthly, and in cash, and induced its employes to obtain homes of their own, by offering lots at nominal prices-from $10 to $25-and some assistance in money, if needed, to erect a house after the lot had been cleared and improved; the company taking pay by installments, as could be spared from their wages, and holding the deed, to be delivered when paid for. This policy tended to inculcate habits of industry and frugality, and to induce families to prac- tice economy, virtues that contribute to form manly char- acter, and tend to thrift and prosperity. This was one cause.
The other is the free public school established thirty years ago. Fortunate was it for Boonton when it was de- cided in 1850 not to divide the district, but to have only one school, and make that of a better class-free, graded and with more branches taught-thus bringing within the reach of all the opportunity of obtaining a more thorough education. That a generation has grown up under its influence to a higher degree of intelligence is manifest in the results. Of the ten teachers now employed, seven have been trained and educated in that school, and many of its graduates have gone forth and engaged in teaching elsewhere, with credit to themselves and satisfaction to their employers. Several of those who attended this school have entered the learned professions, some have engaged in mercantile pursuits, and many in various trades and occupations the doors of which would have been closed to them but for their educational advantages in that public school. Such are some of the historical lessons presented as the results of thirty years of experi- ence at Boonton.
186
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
IL Garrison.
SAMUEL L. GARRISON.
The subject of this sketch was born of humble parentage, near Bridgeton, Cumberland county, N. J., on the 8th of February 1845. When he was very young his parents removed to Bridgeton, and after becoming of suitable age Samuel was sent to the public schools of that city. He was an apt scholar, and the progress he made during the few years he was able to attend school laid the foun- dation for a successful career in the profession afterward chosen by him. When he was only fourteen years of age he obtained a position as clerk in a store, and he continued as such for two years. At the age of sixteen he was urged by James B. Ferguson, editor and proprietor of the West Jersey Pioneer, published in the city of Bridgeton, to accept a position in his office. After some reluctance the lad accepted the position, and in about three years was capable of performing the duties of foreman, which he did for about one year, when he accepted a similar position in the office of the Millville Republican, pub- lished in the city of Millville, in the same county. After serving as foreman for three or four years he became as- sociate editor, and upon him devolved most of the labor of the office, the editor having many outside matters to engage his attention. Mr. Garrison performed the duties of associate editor a number of years. He made many friends by his obliging manners, and was warmly attached to the people of Millville, almost all of whom treated him with uniform kindness.
the remains of one of the same name, which had suspended publication after being pub- lished less than two years in Boonton by An- drew A. Neal. The Bulletin was revived in the interests of the Republican party, by a number of prominent Republicans of the town, and for a year was published by Dawson & Garrison. At the close of the year, on the Ist of September 1873, this partnership was dis- solved and Mr. Garrison assumed control of the publication as editor and publisher. In the year 1878 he bought up all the stock in the concern and became proprietor also. He is still engaged in publishing the Bulletin.
Mr. Garrison's efforts and final success in pushing forward improvements in the town during the dark days it was obliged to pass through after the stoppage of the great iron works-the only industry in the town at the time of their stoppage-and his untiring exer- tions to introduce new industries in the place, make this sketch of him especially appropriate as a part of the history of Morris county .. The following sentence in a notice published in the Millville Republican, after Mr. Garrison assumed control of the Bulletin,. shows the editor's opinion of him as an advocate of local interests: "We commend Mr. G. to the people of Morris county as an earnest and indefatiga- ble worker for local interests, and hope they will give him substantial aid and encourage- ment."
The closing of the Boonton iron works in June 1876 threw out of employment about seven hundred men and boys, and soon many people moved away from the town. Now, if ever, was the time for determination and ac- tivity on the part of all interested in the future of Boonton. No one saw this Garrison. sooner or felt it more forcibly than Mr. True he did not own as much Boonton property as many others, but he labored harder to push improvements and encourage industries than many of the property holders, who were fearful of increased taxation. These citizens ought to have known that im- provements would enhance the value of their property, especially so the establishment of new industries. The active interest taken by Mr. Garrison in assisting to in- troduce the silk business in the town commends him to the citizens of the county, to which this industry will be one of the most valuable. The first silk-mill in Morris county was erected in Boonton, and most of the funds to erect it were solicited by Mr. Garrison. Strange as it may appear, the improvements made in the town from 1876 to 1881, during which time the iron works were idle, were greater than had been made for many years while the works were in operation. When Mr. Garrison first came to Boonton steps were being taken to improve the town, but the stoppage of the works would probably have caused an entire cessation of improvements if Mr. Garrison had not advocated pushing them forward. Then Main street was a burlesque on the name; now it is a pleasant thoroughfare. The introduction of street lamps was due in a great measure to Mr. Garrison's ad- vocacy, both in his paper and before the town council.
Mr. Garrison is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he takes a deep interest, having filled a number of important and responsible positions in connection with the denomination. He also takes great interest in educational matters, being a mem-
In the year 1872 he was offered the editorship of the Boonton Weekly Bulletin, a newspaper resuscitated from ber of the Boonton board of education.
CHATHAM TOWNSHIP.
BY REV. ROBERT AIKMAN, D. D.
HATHAM TOWNSHIP* was formed from Morris and Hanover, in the year 1806. It is in the shape of a wedge, about six miles in length and four broad, and contains twenty- three and a half square miles or 14,712 acres. It is bounded north by Hanover; on the east and south by the Passaic River, which separates it from parts of Essex and Union counties; and on the west by Morris and Passaic townships.
The population of the township. at the several census dates has been as follows: 1810, 2,019; 1820, 1,832; 1830, 1,874; 1840, 2,138; 1850, 2,436; 1860, 2,968 (105 col- ored); 1870, 3,715 (130 colored); 1875, 4,440 (148 col- ored);" 1880, 4,277. The population of the villages in the township at the last date was: Madison, 1,756; Chatham, 738; Afton, 279.
The assessors' statistics for 1881 were as follows: Acres, 12,418; valuation of real estate, $2,127,089; personal prop- erty, $574,735; debt, $87,680; total taxable property, $2,614, 144; polls, 891; State school tax, $6,654.59; county tax, $6,212.19; road tax, $6,000; poor tax, $300.
In the southern corner of the township is a portion of the Great Swamp, a remarkable formation, probably the bed of an ancient lake or pond, whose description more properly belongs to the account of Passaic town- ship, within which it mainly lies. The whole swamp was until recently covered with a heavy timber growth, but it is now largely cleared and drained, the upland portions well tilled, and much of it excellent meadow land, pro- ducing large crops of lowland hay. About 2,560 acres
of the Great Swamp lie in Chatham township. It is drained by the Lowantica River, or Black Brook.
On the southeast of the township is a fine elevation of land, called Long Hill, running parallel to the Passaic River, of the valley of which it here forms the northern and eastern crests, affording picturesque and beautiful views of one of the most charming portions of the State.
The principal settlements of the township are Colum- bia, Madison, East Madison, Chatham and Stanley.
One of the earliest settlers at Columbia was Thomas Eckley, an English gentleman, who came here about the year 1750. He purchased 500 acres of ground, and built a house of considerable elegance, in the midst of a fine park. He died in 1793, and with his wife was buried in the Hanover graveyard. The house passed into other hands, and was subsequently burned down. A portion of the grounds is now owned and occupied by C. B. Meeker and W. J. Meeker.
Columbia has for a year or two borne the name of Afton, the change having been made to distinguish it from another village of the same name in the State. It is a beautiful part of the township, delightful for resi- dences, and the land fruitful and well cultivated.
THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS
of this region were New Englanders, mainly Connecticut men and women, whose first New Jersey homes had been made in Elizabeth and Newark, as is shown by the coincidence of names among the earlier inhabitants of these places with our own. Rumors of vast quantities of iron ore imbedded in the hills beyond reached the ears of these men, and attracted them. This ore had been long known to the Indians, and had been worked by them in their rude way into implements of industry and war. Probably also the fine rolling country, with its well-watered valleys and promise of fruitful harvests, drew them on.
Large purchases of land were made from the old "New Jersey proprietors;" and about twenty-two years after the purchase of Elizabeth by Carteret-that is, about the year 1685-a few men crossed the Newark Mountain, then called the " Great Watchung Mountain," . and brought civilization into these hills and valleys.
1
* The author of the history of Chatham township desires to express his obligations to the Rev. J. F. Tuttle, D. D., president of Wabash Col- lege, and to Rev. Samuel L. Tuttle, for a number of years pastor of the Presbyterian church of Madison. To both these gentlemen every one who gains much knowledge of the early history of this part of New Jersey will have to confess indebtedness. Both were settled pastors in Morris county, and with genuine antiquarian enthusiasm improved their opportunities to gain information while yet there remained among the living aged men and women who remembered old historic scenes, or could repeat the recollections of their fathers or mothers. Rev. S. L. Tuttle has left a large manuscript volume, of nearly five hun- dred pages, filled with facts and ancedotes of the early days of the township, and especially of the old Bottle Hill church. His address de- livered July 4th 1855, entitled "Bottle Hill during the Revolution," much enlarged, was published in the Historical Magazine in 1871. Each of these is a thesaurus of information, and has been largely drawn upon for the early portions of this history.
26
188
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
The central settlement for some time was on the Whip- panong River; called so for the tribe of Indians living hereabouts, of whom, however, as of other indigenous Indians, there have come down to us no historical ac- counts, and almost no traditions. This indicates that be- tween the whites and the Indians there were, happily, no have occurred for many years,
serious conflicts, to leave, as in many cther places, bloody way-marks on the early records. The histories of peace PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION. have usually been written in few pages. In the language As has been said, the iron ore abounding in the hills of one of New Jersey's distinguished sons, " It is a proud of Morris county was a principal incentive to immigra- fact in her history that every foot of her soil has been ob- tained from the Indians by fair and voluntary purchase and transfer-a fact that no other State in the Union, not even the land which bears the name of Penn, can boast of."
The township of Whippanong was constituted in the year 1700, and included all the territory now embraced in the townships of Morris, Chatham and Hanover.
The names of many of the earliest settlers have a famil- iar sound to-day-such as Carter, Genung, Miller, Potter, Burnet, Thompson, Marsh, Muchmore, Roberts, Day, Lum, Bruen, Lindsley, Halsey, Bonnel, Cook, Ward and others. Of these settlers Benjamin Carter seems to have been the largest landholder, owning most of the land now occupied by the village of Madison. His residence was a few rods south of where the Presbyterian church now stands. The first grist-mill here was built by him, and stood in the valley opposite his house ; the mill dam being thrown across the valley and flooding the land to the north, making a considerable stream part of the year, but quite dry in the summer.
The original blacksmith appears to have been Ellis Cook, whose shop occupied the site of the old and now forsaken academy building. Aaron Burnet settled on the spot owned by the late John B. Miller, and died there at the age of 100 years; the house has disappeared. His four sons, James, Matthias, William and Aaron, lived to advanced age, the last of them being the late Matthias L. Burnet, who passed away recently in his 93d year. David Bruen came from Newark and built upon the spot occupied by the late Captain Mallaby.
For many years the settlements were mere hamlets, while the entire surrounding region was an unbroken wilderness, whose only inhabitants were wild beasts and Indians. Here and there a more enterprising or adven- turous settler erected a dwelling and cleared a space for a future civilization.
When, about the year 1718, the old church in Whip- panong was formed, Morristown had hardly begun to be a village, and not until sixty years afterward did it number two hundred and fifty inhabitants. Newark had been settled forty years, and had a population of less than three hundred. Elizabethtown was the center of trade for the whole region, and although small was yet the most influential of all these settlements. What is now Springfield contained but three dwelling houses. Bloom- field, Orange and Belleville were mere outskirts belong- ing to Newark, while the villages of Parsippany, Hanover and Chatham were not yet in existence.
For many years after the first settlers came the country filled up very slowly. The farmers were few, houses were widely distributed and of the humblest character, and of course the religious and educational advantages were extremely limited. No marked changes seemed to
tion. Upon the tracts of land purchased of the New Jersey proprietors forges were erected in various places, One of these stood near the present grist-mill in Green Village, another near the grist-mill in Chatham village, and the region hereabouts came to be known for many years by the name of "The Old Forges."
The ore was carried from the mines in stout leathern bags on the backs of horses, and after being manufac- tured into iron the bars were carried in the same way to Elizabeth and Newark, and thence forwarded in boats to New York. This business not only had much to do with the early settlement of the region, but soon led to the opening of roads. The earliest highway leading through Chatham to the seaboard was that long known as "the old road," which, coming down from Morristown by the residence of Judge Lathrop, passed from thence to the corner of the road leading to the convent, now occupied by Mr. Vernier; then, by the site of the old academy, down the hill, past the lecture room of the Presbyterian church, along the present track of the railroad, in front of the house now occupied as a home for invalids by Mrs. Van Pelt, down toward Chatham by the house of Mrs. George Ebling; thence over the Passaic River and Short Hills, through Springfield and Connecticut Farms to Elizabethtown, striking the seaboard at the Kill von Kull. Communication with New York from there was by means of row boats and small sailing craft, two days being frequently consumed in going from Chatham town- ship to New York.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.