USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 75
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TOWN MEETINGS AND OFFICERS.
The early records of the township are lost, stolen, or destroyed, hence the list of officers cannot be obtained. There can be no doubt, however, that the township was organized in 1805, and town meetings regularly held, and the proper officers elected and installed, without inter- ruption, until the present time.
The following township officers were elected March 8th 1881, the election being held in three different places.
Ist (northern) election district-Judge of election, Sylvester Dickerson; inspectors of elections, Charles H. Eagles and Andrew Kaiser; clerk of election, John Frank Mase.
2nd (central) election district-Judge of election, John V. Cain; inspectors, James H. Neighbour and Pe- ter Vanderhoof; clerk, James S. Melick.
3d (southern) election district-Judge of election, James Nortman; inspectors, Peter E. Coe and George H. Wolfe; clerk, Edward B. Lieurs.
Township clerk, James S. Melick; assessor, Erastus E. Potter; collector, Charles H. Munson; freeholder, James H. Carrell; township committee-Albridge C. Smith, James T. Spargo and John A. Casterline; commissioners of appeals-Charles Spargo, James W. Bryant and Isaac Hance; justice of the peace, Moses Blanchard; consta- bles-Samuel M. Sutton, William T. Williams, Joseph R. Williams, John Leitze, Charles Trowbridge and John M. Smith; overseer of the poor, Elisha Meeker; pound- keepers-Samuel Burchell, William Barrett, Marvin Ac- kerson, Alexander W. Garrigues, George Blanchard.
DOVER.
The town of Dover has a population of about 3,300. It was incorporated in 1869, with the following bound- aries:
An Act to Incorporate Dover .- Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jer- sey that all that tract of land situate, lying and being in the township of Randolph and county of Morris, and within the limits and boundaries hereinafter mentioned and described-that is to say: beginning at a stone bridge in the road near the house of Mahlon Munson; thence in a straight line to the road to Walnut Grove, including the house of John Conrod; thence in a straight line to the junction of Wallam and Jackson Brooks, passing near the Lawrence farm-house; thence in a straight line to the road to Mine Hill, in front of the old Catholic
church; thence in a straight line to the Dover and Sparta turnpike, including the wheelright shop of Sylvester Dick- erson; thence in a straight line, including the houses of Sylvester Dickerson, Charles M. Tunis and Stephen C. Berry, to the division line between the townships of Ran- dolph and Rockaway; thence in a straight line to the stone bridge in the road to Morristown, between the houses of Robert F. and Thomas Oram; thence in a straight line to the stone bridge, to place of beginning- containing about eleven hundred acres, shall be and the same is hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be a town corporate, and shall henceforth be called, known and distinguished by the name of Dover.
The act provided that the officers of the town should be a mayor, a recorder, two aldermen and five common councilmen; and directed " such of the inhabitants of of Dover as reside within the aforesaid limits, and who have resided in the county five months, and in the State one year, immediately preceding the election to be held for town officers, and who are in other respects legal vo- ters, to assemble at the hotel of Isaac B. Jolley, in Dover aforesaid, on the first Monday in May next, and there by a plurality of votes to elect a mayor, one alderman, and three common councilmen, to hold their respective offices for two years, and a recorder, one alderman and two common councilmen, to hold their respective offices for one year; and the tickets to be voted at said election shall state term for which the said aldermen and common councilmen are respectively elected; and on the first Monday of May in each and every year thereafter the inhabitants aforesaid shall and may hold a like election at such place as may be designated by the common coun- cil, for such of the said members of common council whose terms shall have expired; and that at every elec- tion after the first election herein provided for the mem- bers of common council elected shall hold their respect- ive offices for two years, and until their successors are elected and sworn into office," etc., etc.
The first officers, who were elected in May r869, were the following: George Richards, mayor; James H. Neigh- bour, recorder; Mahlon H. Dickerson and Ephraim Lindsley, aldermen; Wm. H. McDavit, Alpheus Beemer, Thomas J. Halsey, Daniel F. Wiggins, and Martin V. B. Searing, common councilmen; Wm. H. Lambert, clerk.
THE STORES IN DOVER.
The people of what is now Dover were in early times compelled for purposes of trade to go to Morristown, Newark, or more distant places; but as the population increased the inconvenience of procuring household sup- plies from a distance created a demand for accommoda- tion near home, and a store was opened in Dover.
The first store was started about the beginning of the present century, in what is known as the Hoagland house, which stood on the north side of the Rockaway River near the depot of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and was kept by Canfield & Hunt.
The next store, which was a small one, was kept by Moses Hurd sen., near the old school-house on the corner of Dickerson street and Morris avenue. This house took fire and burned down, and was never rebuilt.
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
The stone house on the north side of Blackwell street, three doors from Warren street, where the residence of Sheriff Mc Davit now is, was built for a store and long used for that purpose. Being centrally situated it be- came the center of trade in the village. It was first kept by Israel Losey, who resided next door, where stands the large brick building used by the National Union Bank.
John M. Losey and Manning Rutan carried on a profit- able store business in a small building about half a mile from Dover on the road to Sparta, near Sylvester Dicker- son's. Mr. Rutan afterward moved to Newark and con- tinued the same business there, and Mr. Losey erected a large building on Blackwell street next door to the Man- sion House, where he continued in an extensive business till his death. His successor in this store-house was Ephraim Lindsley, who occupied it when it was destroyed in the great fire of 1880, which consumed a block of build- ings on Blackwell street; these have been replaced by an elegant row of brick houses, and Mr. Lindsley and son continue the business at the old stand. Manning Ru- tan after an absence of many years returned to Dover, and kept store in the old stone building above the Na- tional Union Bank, on Blackwell street. Mr. Rutan was an excellent citizen and the generous patron of all moral and religious efforts. About sixteen years ago he moved from Dover to Michigan and purchased a large tract of land, which has proved to be a financial success.
Stores have multiplied since then, and in 1881 there were upward of seventy, great and small-twenty-five on Blackwell street, six on Dickerson street, six on War- ren street, twenty-two on Sussex street, and twelve on other streets. These consist of general country stores, in which almost every article is offered for sale; three large drug stores, groceries, meat and vegetable markets, dry goods stores, hardware stores and so on, including every variety of merchandise, as books, periodicals, music, musical instruments, cigars and the like.
IRON WORKS AND WORKERS.
We have seen that John Jackson built a forge on Granny's Brook in 1722. He employed forgemen and car- ried on the iron business until 1753, when he became in- volved and was sold out by the sheriff, and his 527 acres were bought by Hartshorn Fitz-Randolph, an influential and leading member ef the Society of Friends, who pur- chased 300 acres adjacent, making his whole farm con- sist of about 900 acres.
Josiah Beman, who in 1757 bought the north side of Dover, soon afterward erected a forge on the Rockaway River just east of where the canal crosses the river, and continued the iron business which Jackson had aban- doned. Mr. Beman was succeeded by Israel Canfield, of Morristown, who built a slitting-mill and took Jacob Losey as a partner. Mr. Losey, who was a native of Dover, built and occupied the house where Henry Mc- Farlan lives, and superintended the works, while Israel Canfield continued his residence in Morristown. The latter put in capital and the former personal services.
Canfield & Losey carried. on the iron business till the war of 1812; that war checked this industry, and the treaty of peace, which opened American ports to British competition, paralyzed this business, not only in Dover and its vicinity, but throughout the country. Conse- quently after the war Canfield & Losey closed up their works, and sold at auction their property, which was pur- chased by Blackwell & McFarlan. Mr. Blackwell died in 1827, after which the property was held by McFarlan & Son & Ayres, who held it as trustees. In 1830 Wil- liam Scott leased the property of these trustees and car- ried on the business. In 1832 it came into the posses- sion of Henry McFarlan, who nine years afterward moved from New York to Dover, and himself conducted the business, which consisted of a rolling-mill, spike machine, rivet machine, steel furnace and foundry. In 1880 Mr. McFarlan sold these works to Judge Francis S. Lathrop, then receiver of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, who formed a company out of the stockholders of the railroad company, with a capital of $200,000. .This company repaired the buildings and made other im- provements, and is now doing a good business, making things very lively in Dover. This company was con- cerned in the extension of the High Bridge branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey from Port Oram to Dover. This extension was completed to Dover and Rockaway and the trains commenced running in June 1881, thus increasing the demand for labor in this vicinity.
Felix Hinchman was superintendent of the iron works for several years, and was succeeded by Guy M. Hinch- man, who was identified with them for a generation. More will be found concerning G. M. Hinchman on another page of this book.
The first blacksmith in Dover was probably Jesse King, who lived on Prospect street, where Dr. Condit resides, and had a blacksmith shop near his house in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Jesse King was the father of John D. King, Andrew King and Wm. King, and the grandfather of Dr. Joseph King and of Milford, Halsey and David King, who are still in the business of their grandfather Jesse. Nearly contempor- aneous with the first blacksmith was William Ford, who was also a machinist. Elias Garrigus, who learned his trade with William Ford, was a blacksmith for the Dover Iron Company for more than a quarter of a century. William A. Dickerson, who also learned his trade with William Ford, and succeeded Elias Garrigus, has been in this business for over half a century, and is still carrying it on, with the prospect of many years before him.
There are now several other blacksmiths in Dover be- sides those who have been mentioned-one or two in connection with carriage factories.
Upward of 40 iron mines have been worked in this township, known as Baker, Black Hills, Brotherton, Bryant, Byram, Combs, Canfield, Cooper, Corwin, Conner Fowland, Charles King, David Horton, De Hart, Dal- rymple, Solomon Dalrymple, Dickerson, Erb, Evers, George, Henderson, Horton, Hubbard, Harvey, Hurd, Jackson, Hill, King, Lawrence, Lewis, Munson, McFar-
RESIDENCE OF RICHARD GEORGE ESQ., DOVER, N. J .
315
MECHANICS AND BANKERS OF DOVER.
land, Millen, North River, Orchard, Randall Hill, Spring, Sullivan, Stirling, Scrub Oak, Trowbridge and Van Doren. Some of these mines are now idle. Seven mines are located in Irondale and very near to each other. The Dickerson mine at Ferromonte, which is the old Succasunna mine, the Byram mine and the Orchard mine are the most valuable. A further account of these mines will be found on page 63. The ore is of an ex- cellent quality.
William Ford was a machinist who fifty years ago did considerable work in his line. His shop was first where the locomotives of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad are kept; he afterward had a larger shop at or near the corner of Blackwell and McFarlan streets.
John E. Hoagland was also a skillful machinist, and was for many years the superintendent of this depart- ment of work in the Dover iron works. He was suc ceeded in this position by John Mase, who continued to occupy it till the property was sold to the new company.
The Morris County Machine and Iron Company is spoken of on page 61. It consists of a president, secre- tary and treasurer, and seven directors, as follows; Pres- ident, George Richards; secretary and treasurer, Wil- liam H. Lambert; directors, Henry McFarlan, Columbus Beach, M. D., I. B. Jolley, Richard George, I.W. Searing, Alpheus Beemer, George Richards.
THE SILK FACTORY.
A stock company, formed under the lead of Alpheus Beemer, is erecting a large brick building a little west from the center of Dover and on Granny's Brook, about 200 feet in front and four stories high, which will fur- nish room for 200 hands or more, to manufacture Ameri- can silk.
CARPENTERS AND MASONS.
Emigrants who make their homes in the wilderness, and are content for a time to dwell in temporary cabins or log houses, usually feel competent to perform for them- selves the labor of house carpenters. Some dwellings, even in such tinies, will appear more pretentious than others; and the owners, if skilled in the use of the ax and the saw, will be sought after to assist their neighbors in improving their houses or building new ones. Such services, frequently repeated, give one the advantage of surpassing others and lift him to the rank of a mechanic in his department, especially among a class where no ed- ucated mechanis resides. In this way some of the earli- est residents grew into the business of carpenters, and did good work. Still the more ambitious were accus- tomed to go to Morristown or Newark for skilled labor when they proposed to erect a substantial frame building.
Mordecai Wilson, who was a carpenter and also a ... moulder, and worked for the Dover Iron Company, is among the earliest of those who resided in the township whose names can be recalled. His son followed the bus- iness and worked on some of the finest buildings erected here in his day.
James Searing, a native of the town, was for half a century, together with his sons, known as the principal carpenter in the place. His brother, Jacob Searing, who built and worked a saw-mill at Mill Brook, carried on the same trade. His sons, Isaac and Martin Searing, are the principal persons now engaged in this business.
Mr. Palmer and son are old citizens who have done much work in this line of business. J. J. Vreeland is an excellent carpenter and well known. The names of Joseph Reed and others are deserving mention. Mr. Reed, who learned his trade with James Searing, was for several years boss of the car factories of Dover, where he turned out some excellent work.
For years the first settlers in Randolph were obliged to go outside of the township for masons. Dennis Dal- rymple of Morristown did all the stone work and plaster- ing as a matter of course for the people in Dover and vicinity. At length, about the beginning of the present century, a mason named Fairchild moved into the town- ship, and found employment here until he moved to Den- ville. Daniel Lampson, a native of Randolph, early suc- ceeded in this business, and though consumptive in con- stitution was an efficient and excellent mason, and lived and worked at his trade till a good old age. David Tucker for two score years and more, with his sons and other employes, has supplied the wants of Dover and vicinity in this department of work. Abram Ross, Ira Cooper and others have long been known as good work- men in Dover belonging to this craft.
THE BANKS.
The Union Bank of Dover was formed in 1832. It was owned almost entirely by Anson G. Phelps, a wealthy iron merchant of New York city. The following were its first officers: President, Colonel John Scott; cashier, Thomas B. Segur (till his death, in 1854); directors- Richard Brotherton, William Scott, Jacob Wilson, Jos- eph Dalrymple, Jacob Hurd, Israel C. Losey, John M. Losey, Freeman Wood, Alexander Dickerson and Joseph Dickerson jr.
In 1866, when the national banking system came into operation, the " Union " closed up its affairs, paying all its liabilities. A private bank called "Segur's Bank " was organized in 1867; it continued till 1871, and re- ceived and paid the old bills of the Union Bank. The National Union Bank of Dover was organized in 1872. The same year the Dover Bank was chartered, which was a State bank and which consolidated with the Na- tional Union Bank in the year 1879. The officers of the National Union Bank were: Columbus Beach, M. D., president; Jay S. Treat, cashier; Edward Smith, book- keeper; Graff, teller; directors-George Richards, Richard George, Ephraim Lindsley, Henry McFarlan, Hudson Hoagland.
THE MORRIS CANAL ..
This canal, whose construction is elsewhere narrated, was of great benefit to northern New Jersey, and was the cause of this portion of the State increasing in pop-
42
- 3.16
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
. ulation faster than the southern portion. It tapped the coal regions of Pennsylvania, and had a decided influence in reviving the iron industry. So great were the difficul- ties of transporting iron previously that "a ton of iron could be carried from Archangel, on the White Sea, to New York for the same price as from Berkshire Valley." It was a gala day in Dover when the canal was ready for use, in 1831. A handsome boat was built and richly dec- orated, called " The Dover, of Dover." Byram Pruden, .now in his goth year (the only surviving soldier of 1812 in Randolph), was appointed captain, and made a success- ful trip. Judge Freeman Wood, who was at that time a partner in the store of Israel Losey, went on "The Do- ver, of Dover," as supercargo, and brought back goods - for his store. It was the most sensational day that Dover - had thus far seen; and henceforth New York was more easily reached.
Had it not been for the canal the iron mines would not have been developed, and the iron business would have been discontinued for many years.
THE POST-OFFICE.
The first post-office was kept by Jacob Losey; the ex act date of his appointment we have been unable to as. certain, but it is probable that he was appointed in the first decade of this century, though possibly, as some say, not till 1820-nearly thirty years after the establishment of an office at Rockaway, where in 1791 Colonel Joseph Jackson was appointed postmaster by General Washing- ton. Jacob Losey's successors in this department have been David Sandford, Sydney Breese, Ephraim Lindsley, Wilmot . Thompson, Alpheus Beemer, and Guido M. Hinchman, who is the present incumbent.
ยท This post-office is now kept in a convenient and spacious apartment of the brick building used for the National Union Bank. Though the Dover post office did but little business at first, this business has grown until the Dover office has become the greatest in the county except Morristown, and is placed among the classified post-offices, with salary affixed, the postmasters of which are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Dover postmaster now receives a salary of $1,800 per annum.
TAVERNS.
The first tavern in Dover was commenced in 1808. -. In 1792 Dover contained only four dwellings and a forge. Three of these buildings remained in 1842, and were known as the Beeman, Augur and Doty dwellings. In 1808 the Augur house was enlarged to fit it for a tavern, and it was afterward known as the " Old Tavern House." It stood inside of Mr. McFarlan's park, near the north- eastern corner, the old road then extending in front of this house about 300 feet south of the canal and on the north side of the residence of Mr. McFarlan. It was torn down or removed when the park was inclosed, about 1860. This tavern was kept by Peter Hoagland.
building on the corner of Blackwell and Sussex streets, and kept a popular and profitable inn there for a great many years. He at length sold out to Jackson & Jolley, who together continued the business for a while, and then Mr. Jackson sold out to I. B. Jolley, who enlarged the buildings and made other judicious improvements, and so added to the good reputation the house had under Jacob Hurd that it has acquired the name of being one of the best kept hotels in the State. It is called the Mansion House. Mr. Jolley is still the popular proprie- tor.
The stone building known as the Stickle House, on the corner of Blackwell and Warren streets, was originally built by the Dover Iron Company, and used for a hotel. From 1831 to 1847 it was used for a bank, called the Union Bank of Dover. When the new banking house next door to the Presbyterian church was opened the stone house was again used as a hotel. It has frequently changed keepers. Mr. Roff kept it before it was a bank, and after it ceased to be a bank it was kept by Mr. Van Deveer and others, until it was purchased by Edward Stickle. Owing to the popularity of the Mansion House the various keepers did not meet with much success until it came into the hands of its present possessor, Mr. Melek, an experienced inn-keeper, who has im- proved its reputation and given it a good degree of popu- larity.
A third tavern was opened about 1872 on the corner of Sussex and Clinton streets, by Charles Searing. Though not as advantageously located in reference to the railroad station, nor as spacious in its accomodations as the other inns, still the patronage of Searing's Hotel has been steadily increasing, and since the extension of the Cen- tral Railroad of New Jersey to Dover it has done a profit- able business.
Another house was opened on the eastern part of Blackwell street, under the name of the Miner's Hotel; this was more of a boarding house than a hotel proper, and was shortlived.
EXPRESS COMPANIES.
The first express business in Dover was started in 1860 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, employing Mr. H. Breese. This company sold out to the Traders' Express, and J. M. Losey acted as their agent. In 1870 the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company bought out the Traders' Ex- press; Wm. A. Waer has been their agent ever since, and is justly appreciated for his promptness and fidelity.
The Central Express Company, connected with the Central Railroad of New Jersey, employed David A. Searing, who drove a stage from Dover to Port Oram, at that time the terminus of the Central road. Since the extension of that road to Dover J. M. Brown has acted as the express agent.
PROFESSIONAL GENTLEMEN.
The second hotel in Dover was kept by Jacob Hurd, The names of the pastors are to be found in connec- who married the daughter of Peter Hoagland, erected a tion with the histories of their churches. The six law-
"SPRING SIDE" RESIDENCE OF ALEX. ELLIOTT, ELLIOTT ST., DOVER, N.J.
RESIDENCE OF HON. COLUMBUS BEACH, COR. OF ORCHARD & BANK ST'S, DOVER, N.J.
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PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE OF DOVER.
yers are James H. Neighbour, Albridge C. Smith, Wm. T. Leport, J. Ford Smith, Moses Blanchard and B. C. Megie jr. The names of physicians are Thomas D. Crit- tenden, Joseph D. King, Isaiah W. Condit, A. Rossi, George O. Cummins, R. Bennet, Wm. Derry and Miss Mary Ford.
Of these Dr. Crittenden and Dr. King were born in Dover. Dr. Crittenden is the son of Dr. Ira Crittenden, who came from Lennox, Mass., when a young man, stud- ied with Dr. Pierson, of Morristown, and graduated at the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1812 he married Harriet, youngest daughter of Stephen Jackson. In 1813 he built the house where Thomas Oram now lives, at Pleasant Valley, where he lived the remainder of his life, devoted to his profession. Two of his sons succeeded him in his profession-Wm. Critten- den at Rockaway, and Thomas Crittenden at Dover. Before Dr. Ira Crittenden began to practice in Randolph the people of this township sought medical aid chiefly from Morristown.
Dr. Condit, though not a native of Randolph, was born in Succasunna; he is a descendant on his mother's side from General William Winds, and has practiced longer in Dover than any other physician except Dr. Critten- den. Ifis original progenitor in this country, John Con- dit, came from London to Newark in 1680. His son Peter moved to Orange. Peter's son John moved to Morris county, and his descendants were Jonathan, Isaac, Uzal and Isaiah Condit.
Leonhard Nachbor, or Leonard Neighbour, came to German Valley when a boy in 1707, and settled on a farm of 325 acres, about one mile below the Presbyterian church. This farm is still in the family, occupied at present by Silas Neighbour, brother of James. Leonard Neighbour died in 1766, aged 68; his son Leonard died in 1806, aged 75; the latter's son Leonard died in 1854, aged 90. David Neighbour, son of the last named, is still living, verging toward 90. His son James H. was the first settled lawyer in Dover, and has won a good repu- tation and acquired an extensive practice.
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