USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 56
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IRON-WORKING AND DEPENDENT ENTERPRISES.
There were at one time eight forges in the township. They were all built, according to the best information which we can obtain, within a period of twenty years before and after 1800 (1790-1810). The only positive date which we have is that of the building of the Swedeland forge, at Milton, in 1797. This forge was erected by Captain Cornelius Davenport and John Dow, and was worked by them for a long time.
The Russia forge was owned and probably built by Thomas Keepers, the father-in-law of Enos Davenport.
The "Hard-Bargain forge," beyond Petersburg, on a stream running from the Little Mooseback Pond, was built by Captain Cornelius Davenport. This forge is abandoned, and the land about it is now owned by Stephen Strait.
The Woodstock forge was built, or at least conducted a long time ago, by James L. Dickerson and Stephen |never to be dug out."
Adams. This forge is in little better condition than the preceding, and the land about it is occupied by Zophar Talmadge.
Below the Hard-Bargain forge is the Upper Longwood forge. It was built by John De Camp. The freshet of 1800 swept the first building away, and Mr. De Camp afterward quarried a site out of the slate rock, and built a second one, at a cost of several thousand dollars. We gather from the foregoing statement that this was proba- bly the oldest forge in the township, with the possible exception of the Lower Longwood. This was built or carried on by Mr. Tuthill, in connection with Joseph Huff. It afterward went into the hands of John P. Losey, and thence into those of Blackwell and McFar- lan, and it is now the property of John Hance.
The forge at Weldon was built by Major Moses Hopping.
The forge at Hurdtown was called the New Partners, and was built in 1804 or 1805, by Joseph and Daniel Hurd.
In addition to the men already named, who were prominent in the early development of the iron industry, there were John O. Ford, Joseph and Stephen Dicker- son, William and Samuel Headley, Stephen Adams, Joseph and David B. Hurd and Colonel John H. Stanburrough.
Commencing at Berkshire, in the valley of the Rocka- way, throughout the greater part of the township there is presented an appearance altogether singular in this . thriving county of Morris. At various points along the road leading from Berkshire to Milton decayed and empty houses rapidly falling to ruin are visible. In some cases these houses still might easily be made habitable, in others the foundations are scarcely visible. Elsewhere in the township similar evidences of decay may be dis- covered, but the appearance is most marked and striking in the Longwood Valley. These houses were formerly the habitations of men connected with the work of the forges. The forests which covered nearly all sections of the township afforded an easy and ample supply of char- coal, the burning of which gave occupation to a consid- erable number of men. Before the building of the two main roads which traverse the township longitudinally (the Union turnpike and the Longwood road) all carry- ing was done on horseback. These roads were in their day works of public utility scarcely less important than the railroads of the present time. The Union turnpike, running through Dover, Mount Pleasant, Berkshire, Hurdtown, Woodport, and so on through Sussex county, was built about the year 1805, the charter having been obtained in 1804. John P. Losey was one of the persons engaged in the enterprise, and was an active and ener- getic business man. The Sussex farmers did not fully appreciate the advantages to accrue from an avenue of commerce which formed their first means of communi- cation with the outside world. Much to Mr. Losey's dis- gust they insisted upon charging an extravagant price for the right of way over their lands, a practice which drew from him the energetic remark, "D-n 'em, they ought
235
THE IRON AGE IN JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Unfortunately we can have no positive information of the population of Jefferson before 1810, since its organ- ization occurred between that year and the last preceding census. In 1810, however, the population amounted to 1,281 persons. From 1804 to 1816 affairs in the town- ship were very prosperous. What with the embargo and the interference with commerce occasioned by the Euro- pean wars the price of iron was very high. It is stated that iron brought as much as $150 a ton in 1814. The producing capacity of the forges was not great at that time. Most of them had two fires, but one or two had only one. At one fire could be manufactured on an av- erage one ton a week, and this seems to be regarded by those who were familiar with the business as the max- imum. There were eight forges, and allowing for all two fires 1,600 tons would have been the annual iron product of the township. If the price of $150 a ton was ever reached it is not likely that it remained at that point for any great length of time. If it be called $100 per ton there would have resulted the very large income of $160,000 for the year, or an average of about $125 for each man, woman and child, from this one source.
This was a period of great prosperity. The iron- masters were rapidly growing rich. They built for them- selves what at that time were considered handsome res- idences, and kept fine horses and carriages. This valley -not confined entirely to the township-is said, to have been the center of the iron interest of the country at that day.
Moses Hopping, at the Russia forge, was famous for his handicraft. He made the best iron in the country, and drew it out himself into plowshares, mouldboards and harrow teeth, and sent them to Rahway, Paterson, Elizabethtown and other places for general sale.
In 1816, however, the termination of the war opened the ports to foreign commerce, and the markets were al- most immediately flooded with English iron. The price fell at once, and nearly all of those engaged in the bus- iness in Jefferson township succumbed to the pressure. This state of things seemed to have put a stop to all growth and between 1810 and 1820 the population de- creased from 1,281 to 1,231.
The persons engaged in the industry, however, recov- ered themselves before a long time and business again became active. Between 1820 and 1830 churches were built at Milton, Hurdtown and Berkshire. Enos Daven- port in this period had established a post-office at Milton and Joseph Dickerson one, at Berkshire.
One of the most prominent and perhaps the wealthiest of the early ironmasters was John De Camp. After the business transacted now than formerly.
failure of 1816 he obtained an appointment in the custom. house in New York, where he continued until his death. He became a man of much distinction.
About 1837 the hot blast, as it was called, began to be introduced. Judge Freeman Wood, now of Dover, was at that time in charge of the iron works at Rockaway. He was the person chiefly engaged in the manufacture of the pipes used for this purpose, and for a considerable in operation. The work stopped and was never resumed. period he was overcrowded with work, running night and
day to fill the orders for the hot blast pipes. After this new method was introduced it was found that it effected a saving on charcoal of about one-half; twice as much iron could be manufactured from the same amount of fuel as before. When iron began to be manufactured by means of stone coal the forges gradually ceased opera- tions. There was a fitful revival of the industry during the Rebellion, but at the present time there is no forge work carried on in the township. Three of the forges, those at Swedeland, Petersburg and Lower Longwood, are still in some state of repair, but the others are ruins. The one at Hurdtown is so completely gone that even the foundation and the dam have disappeared.
Between 1820 and 1830 the population had been in- creased by 320 persons, making the number of inhabit- ants 1,551, a point which was not again reached until 1880.
Perhaps this was in reality the most prosperous period of the township. Berkshire is said to have been the center of trade and the iron interest. In 1830 much more business was done there than in Dover. It is stated that when the Rev. Peter Kanouse preached at the former place the church was frequently so crowded that all per- sons who desired could not obtain seats, and that people stood at the doors and windows to hear the sermon.
Hurdtown was also at this time and before a lively place, and a considerable population was gathered about it. A Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1828, the land for which was given by David B. Hurd; and among the preachers who held service there were such men as Rev. Caleb Lippencott, Rev. Dr. Bartine, Rev. Manning Force and Rev. C. S. Coit.
John Seward kept the Seward tavern, and it became a center for trainings and other celebrations. Horse races were not infrequent, and it was the court-house for all the neighborhood, where what were called two-shilling law- suits were tried. Polydore Seward, brother of Secretary Seward, was a frequent visitor. John Seward himself kept a slave. James L. Hurd had two. These slaves are the only ones, so far as we have learned, that were ever in the township, and they were afterward eman- cipated.
Joseph Hurd and after him David B. Hurd had a large distillery, as did also John Seward. The buildings of both have rotted down and disappeared. The tavern is now a dwelling house and is owned by the estate of Aaron Peck. There were also a store and saw-mill.
Milton was a place of much trade at this time, but perhaps with the exception of the forges there is more
It was many years after this before the forges generally ceased working, but the following instance is an example of their fate when the use of stone coal forced them to discontinue. The flume of the old forge at Weldon was made of the trunk of an immense tree, and carried the water faithfully for many years. It gradually became rotten, and at last fell down one day when the forge was
Probably the earliest and most valuable of the niines
32
236
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
in the township is the Hurd mine in Hurdtown, the ore of which is very similar to that of the Governor Dicker- son mine. It was opened about 1804 or 1805, when the Union turnpike was built. The original proprietor was Joseph Hurd, who worked it himself until his death, in 1818, and then it went into the hands of his son David B. Hurd, who had charge of it until about 1847, the time of his death. His executor, Dr. William B. Lefevre, leased it with the consent of the heirs to the Glendon Iron Com- pany, who now have control of it. There have been three leases to this company, the last being made in 1877. The royalty named in this lease is one dollar per ton, with the condition of mining not less than 20,000 tons annually. The present owners of the mine are Mrs. Phobe A. Wood, Edward C. Hurd and William J. Lefevre, of Dover; Mrs. H. W. Cortright, of Nolan's Point, and Lewis Hurd, of Hurdtown. Thomas Bright, now residing at Woodport, has been the efficient super- intendent of the mine works for many years.
The following is a list of the mines of the township. taken from the State Geological Report for 1880: Ford, Dodge, Upper and Lower Weldon, Hurd. Hurdtown, Appetite, Nolan's, Davenport, Scofield, Frazer, Duffee. Shongum, Goble and Boss. Most of these fourteen mines produce abundance of ore of a good quality. The Ogden Mine Railroad has done much to facilitate the transportation of the ore, but the expense must still be considerable. As most if not all of the ore is carried over that road it would be fair to assume that the pro- duction of the township for 1880 was the same as the ore tonnage of that road, mentioned below.
The Ogden Mine Railroad was put in operation about the year 1865. It is ten miles long and is used almost entirely for the purpose of carrying ore from the mines in Jefferson township to Nolan's Point, on Lake Hopat- cong, whence it is shipped by canal boats to various points on the Morris Canal. A steamboat belonging to the company tows boats from Nolan's Point to the lock of the canal at Shippenport. The ore stations of the road are at the Hurd, Upper Weldon, Lower Weldon, Dodge, Ford and Scofield mines, and Ogden Station, where the the principal mines are the Davenport, Old Ogden, Rob- ert shaft and Pardee shaft. The ore tonnage of the road averages from 50,000 tons to 60,000 tons yearly. In the year 1880 the ore shipments were exceptionally large, and amounted to 108,000 tons. There are some repair and car shops and other necessary outbuildings belonging to the railway company at Nolan's Point, and about twelve houses built by the company for the use of employes, besides a few other dwellings. Harlan W. Cortright has been superintendent of the road from its commencement, and is much esteemed for the ability and care with which hs has discharged his duties in this office. In November 1881 it was announced through the press that the Ogden Mine Railroad had been leased to the managers of the Central Railroad of New Jersey for 999 years, and was to be connected with the High Bridge branch of the Central; the rental to be equal to 6 per cent. on the capital stock of the leased line.
STORES AND HOTELS.
Between 1800 and 1810 stores were established at Mil- ton, Hurdtown and Berkshire. Captain Cornelius Dav. enport first kept the store at Milton, and after him his son Enos. During the time that Enos kept it Dr. David Jayne bought his "runaway suit" of him, but neglected to pay for it. Forty years afterward he sent Mr. Daven- port a check for principal and interest, at that time amounting to quite a sum, the original debt being $40.
There are now three stores at Milton, the oldest being occupied by Simon Misel and Henry Misel, his son; it has been established since 1850. The second is kept by Edward N. Norman, and was established in 1870. Jetur R. Riggs has also a store. Joseph Hurd established the first store at Hurdtown, about 1806, and it was continued in various hands with some interruptions until 1872, when it was removed to Woodport. The last owners at Hurdtown were Richard Simpson & Co.
Joseph Dickerson had a store at Berkshire perhaps as early as 1810, and did a large business. He dealt largely in iron and shipped it by wagons to Elizabethtown.
Charles F. Davenport has had a store for several years at Berkshire Valley, but not in the same locality as Mr. Dickerson's, which was in the neighborhood of the hotel. The store at Newfoundland is an old establishment and is under the control of John P. Brown.
William A. Wood established the first store at Wood- port, in 1831, and kept it until his death. In 1872 Clark D. Simpson & Co. moved into their handsome new building immediately across the stream from the old store.
One of the earliest hotels was that established soon after the opening of the Union turnpike at Hurdtown, and probably first kept by Colonel John Seward, and afterward by his son John Seward. The building was ultimately burned down, and another built upon the same spot.
Peter P. Brown first kept the hotel at Newfoundland, and it afterward came into the hands of his son John P. Brown, under whose management it has become famous as a summer resort. It is excellently kept.
William Wood went to Woodport shortly after the opening of the turnpike, to take charge of the tollgate at that place, and afterward built the hotel now standing. It is at present under the management of Thomas Bright. Its situation on Lake Hopatcong renders it an attractive place for boarders. Mr. Bright also owns the hotel at Berkshire. This was originally a frame building and was put up by Joseph Dickerson. The frame building was burned down and the present stone structure was erected in its place.
Captain Cornelius Davenport kept a tavern in the old stone house at Milton. This hotel was perhaps even earlier than that at Hurdtown. The present hotel at Milton has been kept by John K. Norman for about nine years past.
Captain Davenport also built the first grist-mill in the township, as long ago as 1800, at Milton. There is also
237
CHURCHES, PHYSICIANS AND SCHOOLS IN JEFFERSON.
a grist-mill at Petersburg, which has been standing many years. There are several saw-mills and three distilleries in the township besides those already mentioned, which have fallen into disuse.
CHURCHES.
We are informed that the date of the building of the church at Berkshire is the year 1820. It is a Presby- terian church and its first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Slater. Others were the Rev. Mr. Kanouse, Rev. E. A. Osborn, Rev. B. C. Megie, D. D., Rev. J. Kirby Davis, Rev. Josiah Fisher, Rev. Thomas Tyack and Rev. Pearce Rodgers.
The second building of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hurdtown was erected in 187c. The Method- ist Episcopal church at Nolan's Point was built in the same year. The foundation of the latter church, how- ever, was laid some time previously, in order to comply with the provisions of the will of the late John Cornine, who left a sum of money to assist in the erection of a house of worship, on the condition that it should be be- gun within three years after his death. The building cost about two thousand dollars. The Rev. Mr. Tamblyn is pastor of both these last named churches, as well as of the community at the Dodge mine. There are two churches at Milton. One is a Baptist church and was built in 1824. The Baptists were at that time the most numerous denomination in the vicinity, but the church was built by a subscription of all denominations. It is stated that the general understanding was that the church should be free to the various denominations that were represented on the subscription list. The land, however, was conveyed to the trustees of the Baptist church, and the building consequently belonged to them. After a time those in possession objected to its use by other de-
nominations. Out of this unpleasant state of affairs of Morris County:" "Prior to the year 1800 there were William Headley found a way by the simple expedient of breaking open the door. This it is said was done on several occasions, when some other than a Baptist min- ister desired to preach.
The first settled pastor was Rev. Gabriel Van Duser. He was also a school teacher, and preached at Milton for many years, and continued to conduct the services until about 1850. He married Mr. Headley's daughter and passed the latter part of his life as a farmer in the neighborhood of Milton, where he died.
In 1878 a new house of worship was built on the old grounds, under the ministration of Rev. Conrad Vree- land.
A Methodist church is now in procees of erection at Milton by the society to which the Rev. Mr. Rider preaches.
DOCTORS.
The first physician of whom we can obtain any men- tion was a certain Dr. Spellman, who resided in the neighborhood of Milton about the commencement of the present century. He was followed by Dr. G. I. De Camp, who afterward removed to Washington, D. C., and ob-
tained much distinction in his profession. Dr. De Camp's son entered the U. S. navy, and gained the rank of cap- tain. Dr. Jacob D. Roe succeeded Dr. De Camp in the Milton neighborhood, and went away about 1830.
Dr. John W. Jackson, now of Rockaway, also resided for a few years in the township.
Among the influential citizens of Jefferson the name of William B. Lefevre, M. D., deserves a prominent place. For intelligence, usefulness and weight of character he will long be remembered. His ancestors on both sides can be traced to an early date. The first of this name was Hippolyte Lefevre, who came to this country in the ship " Griffith " in 1675 and landed at Salem. For a long period the Lefevre family lived on the island of Tinicum, in the Delaware River, eleven miles below Phil- adelphia. From there Minard Lefevre, the third in de- scent from Hippolyte Lefevre, came to Succasunna about the year 1750. His son John married Elizabeth Day, a granddaughter of J. Jeff, who in 1750 came with his family from England and settled at Elizabeth- town. This Mr. Jeff was a commission merchant, and the owner of several ships which sailed regularly between England and this country. His three children in 1775 moved to Succasunna Plains. Mary Jeff, the youngest of these three, married Aaron Day, a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. Their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, married John Lefevre, the father of Dr. Willliam B. Lefevre.
Dr. Lemuel Bright has gained a large practice in the neigl.borhood of Hurdtown and Woodport during the few years that he has resided there.
SCHOOLS.
The following account of the former condition of the schools is taken largely from the "Centennial Collections
no school-houses built expressly for school purposes. Yet schools were taught in various localities;" as Berk- shire Valley, Longwood and Milton, but probably not at Hurdtown. "About the year 1800, or shortly thereafter, the people of Berkshire Valley, through the exertions of the members of the Presbyterian church, built a school- house on the site of the present one," and in 1859 the present structure was built, at a cost of $350. An old "double " school house was the first to be built, and it is probably the oldest one in the county. Another was built on the same site in 1824, and rebuilt in 1873. The school-house at Longwood was built in 1812, the land therefor being given by Philip Losey. The house cost $150. A second house was built in 1847 of stone. The site for this building was given by Mahlon L. Dickerson, and the house cost $400. Charles McFarlan and Elias C. Talmadge were instrumental in causing its erection. "Following this was the school-house at Scrub Oaks, now Milton, a frame structure with seats for forty, which was built in 1830 and repaired about fifteen years ago. The Hopatcong school-house was built between 1840 and 1850;" that at Russia in 1852, and replaced, after being burned, in 1871. A school-house was rented at Hurd-
238
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
town in 1831, and probably before. The present build- ing was erected in 1855 or 1856. It seats one hundred and fifty. The school-house at Weldon was built in 1878 and seats seventy-eight.
" The township was regularly divided into six school districts in 1838, under the jurisdiction of a school com- mittee of three persons. In 1849 the jurisdiction of the schools passed into the hands of a town superintendent. The first person elected to that office was " John W. Jackson, who held two years. After that time Charles McFarlan held it almost continuously until 1862. "No better school officer than Mr. McFarlan," who was a gentleman of much culture and refinement, and much given to literary pursuits, " could be found. He devoted his time, his talents and his money to promote the cause of education."
The condition of the schools of this township in 1880, as given in the report of the State board of education, is as follows: There were in that year eight schools. The total income from all sources was $2,717.12; the value of school property was $4,400; total number of children between five and eighteen years, 493; average time the the school was kept open, 8.8 months; number of chil- dren enrolled, 366; number of male teachers, three; number of female teachers, five; average salary of males, $43.33; average salary of females, $22.20.
Among the old teachers mentioned in the "Centennial Collections " were Messrs. Canfield, Dickerson, Sutphen and Wilson; others were Scarlet, Dalton, Sherman, who taught before 1820, and Rev. Gabriel Van Duzer.
FROM THE TOWNSHIP RECORDS.
The township was organized in 1804. The following is the record of the first town meeting, held April 9th 1804:
" This day being appointed by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey for the first annual town meeting of the inhabitants of said township; agreeable to the law in - corporating them into a separate township, the inhabi tants assembled at the house of Mr. John Seward jr., lately occupied by Mrs. Hilah Seward, and proceeded to business as follows (viz.): Between the hours of it and 12 the persons assembled and elected the following per sons (viz.): John P. Losey their president and John Kelso their town clerk for the ensuing year; after which they proceeded and made the following appointments and en- tered into the-resolutions and by-laws as follows: $20 bounty on wolves headed; $2 on wildcats; 2 shillings per head on cattle drove into town and not owned by in- habitants thereof; $250 to be raised for contingent ex- penses; next town meeting to be held at John De Camp. Esq's; second day of election to be held at Capt. Cor- nelius Davenport's."
Shortly afterward the following entry was made: "Dr. James Boylan is to have thirty dollars for attending Michael Conoly while sick at Cornelius Davenport's, which sum the Dr. agrees to accept in full for his ser- vices. Cornelius Davenport is to have twelve shillings per week for boarding said Conoly, and attending him while sick, being thirteen weeks; amounting to $19.50."
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