USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 87
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This township, with its elevation of 900 feet, its hills and valleys, its clear atmosphere and pure water, offers as healthy a location as any in the county for a summer residence. The surroundings of Lake Hopatcong fur- nish for the country what the Highlands of Navesink furnish for the seashore. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in two hours will set the passenger from the city upon the border of the lake, where can be found health, seclusion, rowing, fishing, the wildness of camp life, the comforts of the cottage and the excite- ment of the hotel. Such is Lake Hopatcong, and such is life in these high altitudes of Roxbury.
SETTLEMENT AND FIRST SURVEYS.
So far as records show and traditions indicate the earliest settlement of the township was in the vicinity of original form was Sogksoona, meaning, it is said, " heavy the Raritan's headwaters, at Succasunna and Drakeville. In this locality it is probable were Indian residences, as in the valley near Succasunna arrow heads, hatchets and other relics have been found in abundance. A very in- teresting collection of these is in the cabinet gathered by the late Frederick D. Canfield, now in possession of the family at their residence near the famous Dickerson mine in Randolph township, two miles from Succasunna.
The first location of land of which we find date was made May 15th 1713, by Peter Garbut and Francis Breck, who took up 2,500 acres. Beginning at a corner near the Musconetcong iron works at Stanhope, the first line on the north side runs to a point east of Port Mor- ris; the second line runs south to the top of a mount north of Budd's survey; another corner was near the Cary stone house, and another a little north of Flanders. John Reading, June 14th 1716, located 289.25 acres, which includes the north half of Budd's Lake; and in the same year he located land from Drakeville to Flan- ders, 588 acres, beginning at a white oak tree near an In- dian path, now about six rods north of Baker's Hotel. October 27th 1714 John Budd located 1,054 acres south and west of Succasunna. In 1752 a tract of 1,725 acres
was located · by Ebenezer Large, north of Budd's Lake and extending from what is called the Mary Norris tract westward toward Hackettstown. This is now nearly all owned by the heirs of Archer Stevens. In 1754 William Throckmorton located lands where Succasunna and Mc- Cainville stand, and sold the same to Cornelius Slaight. Northeast of McCainville is the Mary Wills tract, now and since 1869 occupied by the Atlantic Giant Powder Company. East of this last and partly adjoining is a tract returned to James Parker in 1810, and now owned by A. R. Riggs. In 1757 Martin Ryerson located 218 acres, lying north of Budd's Lake and south of and adjoining the Large tract. In 1789 Jacob Drake located 502 acres north west of Drakeville. Soon afterward George Eyre located a large tract, including nearly all the remainder of Budd's Lake. Later Mary Tompkins of London inherited a large tract adjoining and west of the London tract and extending to Stanhope. Israel Pemberton bought lands north of Budd's Lake. Joshua Newbold located a tract of 252 acres, which he afterward sold to Samuel Wills. This was inherited and is now occupied by H. C. Seward. Michael Newbold located a tract north of Flanders. Israel Canfield located 95 acres where Port Morris now stands.
VILLAGES AND POST-OFFICES.
The villages of the present Roxbury are Succasunna, Drakeville, McCainville and Port Morris. When the new court-house was built, about sixty years ago, there was a sharp contention among the freeholders whether it should be erected at Succasunna or Morristown. There was a tie in the vote and the chairman, though a resident of Succasunna, gave the casting vote in favor of Morris- town.
Succasunna .- This word is of Indian origin, and the
stone," which the iron ore resembles. The name Suc- casunna was first given to the Dickerson mine, and the corporate name of the company includes the word still. During the Revolution and before the ore from the mine was carried in sacks on the backs of horses to Elizabeth, thirty miles, for smelting. Another signification found for "Sogksoona " is " Black Stone Creek," and the name was supposed to apply to the north branch of the Rari- tan, now called, as we have said, Black River, which has its rise not a mile from Succasunna village. The valley here, which is more than a mile wide, has for many years been known as Succasunna Plains. The post-office (spelled Suckasunny), established July Ist 1808, James Hinchman postmaster, was first east of Black River, at the foot of the hill near the Dickerson mine, now known as the Vannier place. The present postmaster is Josiah Meeker, a trusted and influential citizen of the township, who has held the office since 1861; and the post-office is in the village of Succasunna, half a mile west of Black River.
In 1818 Succasunna became known as a racing center. A course a mile in length was built on a tract of 200 acres, where noted horsemen of the day came from neigh-
48
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
The post road from Newark through Morristown and Newton and westward passed through the Plains and Drakeville, and the post-office east of Black River was not far from the residence of General Mahlon Dickerson, one of the most noted citizens of New Jersey, whose kindly interest in the village of Succasunna was mani- fested in all suitable ways till the time of his death. The first service in the new church which he helped to build was his funeral.
Succasunna is located in the valley of the Black River, about a mile in width, between the Mine Hill range on the northeast and the ridge separating the north and south branches of the Raritan on the southwest. It has one broad street, a mile in length, crossed by two streets leading up and down the valley of the north branch. It has two churches: the Presbyterian, built about 1760; and the Methodist Episcopal, built in 1851 and 1852. There is one public house, which in the days of the academy was built as a boarding house for the students and for many years was occupied by the teacher of the academy. There are four stores, a school-house, a smith shop, a harness-maker, a shoe-maker, a milliner, and a pottery selling each year about $5,000 worth of stone and earthen ware. A pottery was here as early as 1800, and the pres- ent building was erected in 1813. The village has sev- enty-five houses within a mile of the churches, many of them occupied by laborers in the iron mines on the north- east border of Roxbury, in Randolph township. The activities of the village are largely sustained by the iron interest of the vicinity.
Drakeville was named after Col. Jacob Drake, who re- sided there many years and located land in the vicinity. For several years previous to 1810 it was called New Mar- ket. Its first post-office was established about 1844. Its
postmaster, Albert R. Riggs, a prominent citizen of the township, was born at Drakeville and has resided there nearly seventy years. He still holds the post-office, which has been out of his hands only a brief period during forty years, and it is kept in the stone store where it was first opened. Theodore F. King is the present assistant postmaster.
has a good water power for a grain and saw-mill. It lies so near the head waters of the south branch, and so near the outlet of Lake Hopatcong toward the east, that the supply of water is materially aided by the lake.
The first school in Drakeville was taught in a cooper's
boring States to test the speed of favorite animals. After a few years this sport was broken up by an enactment of shop, in 1836. The first school-house was built in 1838, the Legislature. The property was also used as a train- and is now in use. ing ground of the county militia. The attractions of the The village has a Baptist church, built in 1874, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a store, a post-office, and about forty houses within a mile of the church. place at present are its healthful climate and beautiful scenery and the conveniences of summer residence. The Vannier House, commanding a fine view of the The Morris Canal passes through this village, having a lock and two planes, by which the level of the canal is changed about one hundred feet within half a mile. Plains from the border of Randolph, can entertain one hundred guests. The Scheer House, at Drakeville, can accommodate sixty.
McCainville is close to the headwaters of the north branch, and this valley toward the northeast leads to Berkshire Valley, and thence onward with the range of hills toward Newburgh, N. Y. The first school was taught in 1836, in a small red building. The new house was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,300.
This village contains about thirty houses. It has a store, a post-office, an apple distillery using about 8,000 bushels yearly, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a wheelwright shop, a coal and lumber yard, and a shoe shop. The Central Railroad of New Jersey has a station and tele- graph office. The Chester branch railroad has also a station.
The post-office at McCainville was established about 1872, and its first postmaster was George Drake. The present incumbent is Hiram Hulse.
Near this village are located the Atlantic giant powder works. Here are made and shipped-mainly by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, High Bridge branch- about 1,050 tons per year. It is sent to all parts of the country, and is exceedingly effective for blasting pur- poses. The works were built in 1873, and manufacture began in 1874. May 16th 1876 an explosion killed two men and destroyed the mixing house. This was soon rebuilt. In May 1880 fire destroyed the pul- verizing house, a wooden structure, which has since been rebuilt with brick.
Port Morris .- This village lies on the Schooley's Mountain range, at the highest point, by way of canal and railway, between Newark and Easton. On this pla- teau, which is sixteen feet below Lake Hopatcong, the waters of that lake are drawn out to float by the Morris Canal the cargoes of iron ore and merchandise westward, and the vastly greater cargoes of coal from the Lehigh Valley eastward to the New York market.
Port Morris is the highest point in New Jersey on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. An or- dinary engine can draw only fifty loaded cars from the west to this point, while the same engine will take from here 100 cars to New York. Returning it can draw only roo empty cars. In the fall of 1869 the Delaware, Lack- awanna and Western Company built at Port Morris the first half of the present round-house, and a machine shop attached-the last half being added in the summer of 1873. It contains room for twenty. three engines. Here
Drakeville lies in the valley at the head of the south branch of the Raritan, having the Schooley's Mountain range on the northwest. It is on the old turnpike pass- ing through Succasunna on the way toward Newton. It | also was built the trestle work for stocking coal. It was begun in 1871 and completed in 1875. It is about half a mile in length, thirty to forty feet in height, four rows in width, and has a capacity of 170,000 tons of coal. When the demand is slack the coal is dumped. When there is
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RAILROADS İN ROXBURY-SUCCASUNNA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
a call the coal is passed through screens and sent at once to market. This labor gives employment to a large num- ber of men. In 1873 the company built a row of twelve houses opposite the round-house for the use of employes. Other houses have been erected in the vicinity, and the inhabitants number 340. The company has about 200 employes here, and some of them reside in Stanhope. A church, a public school, a grocery store, a post-office, a depot and a telegraph office are among the conven- iences of Port Morris. The post-office was established in 1879, with Ira H. Mowery as.postmaster; he was suc- ceeded by Thomas Reynolds.
Rustic .- A post office called Rustic was established in 1878 at Drakeville station, a mile and a half from Drake- ville village, on the Morris and Essex Railroad. The only postmaster here has been John H. Low.
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION.
Previous to 1832 the New York market was reached over this church was Rev. William Woodhull, who grad- only by teans, and going and returning consumed three days. In 1824 ground was broken at Brooklyn, the out- let of Lake Hopatcong, for the Morris Canal, in the pres- ence of George B. McCulloch, the projector, the State officials, the engineers, the capitalists, and interested cit- izens. This canal is peculiar in that there are very few locks. The hills are crossed by plane cars. Boats of eighty tons are lifted over an elevation of 100 feet as rap- idly as the ordinary movement in the water, and with greater economy than by locks. The canal above the ele- vation furnishes the power, the fall varying from 30 to 50 feet. The canal was completed in 1832.
The Morris and Essex Railroad was completed to Hackettstown in 1853. The largest outlay for improve- ments has been at Port Morris, after the Delaware, Lack- awanna and Western Railroad Company obtained a lease of the Morris and Essex Railroad. The Chester rail- road is a branch of the Morris and Essex, thirteen miles in length, which leaves the main line near Port Oram, two miles from Dover, and passes through McCainville and Succasunna. It was opened for traffic in January 1870. The High Bridge branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey was completed to McCainville July Ist 1876, and extended to Port Oram in 1878. A further extension to Rockaway was completed in July 1881. It was designed to run this branch through Berkshire and Longwood Valley and so on to Newburgh. A branch to connect the Ogden Mine road with the Central Railroad of New Jersey at McCainville will probably be completed in 1882.
Before 1872 the mail was brought through this town- ship by the post-rider, the four-horse mail coach, and, when the railroad came near, the one-horse mail wagon- each in turn waiting for the changing of the mail. Since 1872 the Chester branch railway has brought the mail twice each day. In the earlier time it would take three days for a letter to reach New York city and the answer to be received. It is no unusual thing for a letter to pass over the same distance and bring return in ten hours.
This township has always been on a line of travel; for-
merly loaded wagons slowly passed on their way to New- ark and New York, and returning carried the merchan- dise of the counties of Sussex and Warren.
CHURCHES.
Succasunna Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest in the county. A deed executed in 1756 by James Parker, one of the West Jersey proprietors, for the sum of five shillings conveys one acre for a church and burial ground to Levi Lewis, Daniel Cary and others resident here. This Daniel Cary, whose ancestor came from England in 1634 to Cambridge, Mass., came to this place in 1742. He was an elder and trustee of the church from its or- ganization, which is supposed to have occurred about 1745. The first church building must have been erected about 1760. It is said that Levi Lewis owned a saw-mill at Combs Hollow, where he sawed the timber for the church. The first pastor known to have been settled
uated from the College of New Jersey in 1764, and be- longed to the Presbytery of New York. The original call, September Ist 1768, for his services over this church and that of Chester is now in possession of the Succa- sunna church, with the signatures of Daniel Cary, Levi Lewis, Jacob Drake, Jeremiah Rogers, Eliphalet Lewis, Benjamin Clark and Elisha Drake; part of these were the trustees to whom the deed of the church lot was given. These two churches pledged the "Rev'd Pres- bytery of New York," for the encouragement of the said Rev. William Woodhull, £40 per year, the use of the parsonage, and his firewood. So easily were the pure- hearted ministers of more than a hundred years ago en- couraged and freed from worldly care. The descend- ants of Mr. Woodhull are still living in this vicinity, and their virtues and intelligence declare they came from a worthy ancestry. The same may be said of those who signed the call and were co-workers with Mr. Woodhull in sustaining this ancient church.
The first church building and its burial ground have a share in the history of the Revolution. October 13th 1777 General Burgoyne and his army were cap- tured near Saratoga, N. Y .. His park of artillery was brought to this place, and the soldiers having it in charge used this church for barrack and hospital purposes. The Hon. Lewis Condict, late of Morristown, when a child, saw these military stores. The larger cannon, some of which required three yoke of oxen to draw them, were ranged and sheltered outside the building, and the mu- nitions in the church. The drums, band instruments and other accoutreinents requiring shelter were stored in James Young's garret. When the new Centennial bell for Independence Hall, Philadelphia, was to be cast, the United States government contributed one of these can- non for bell metal. These trophies of British defeat, the powder-mill near Morristown and the magazine in the town, together with the zealous character of the people, made the British anxious to lodge their troops within the border of Morris county. But to the honor of her yeomanry be it said that the enemy never reached the
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
county, except now and then a marauding party. Col- onel Dayton and Captain Dickerson, of Succasunna, were among the competent leaders. While bankruptcy, disease, nakedness and famine were crowding upon Washington and the army, Morris county freely gave her sons to fight, her daughters to toil and suffer and her property to be consumed for country and liberty. The smallpox was among the soldiers, and General Washing- ton required the inoculation of his army, then at Morris- town, and the churches there and at Hanover and Suc- casunna were used as hospitals. This old graveyard has many nameless graves, and it is not too much to believe that some who dared to die for their country lie buried here. Seven of those who fell in the service during the rebellion of 1861-65 also rest in this cemetery.
This old church building had only the floor finished and plain seats-no plastered walls and no- ceiling. In the memory of some now living it could be said literally of this house of the Lord, " The sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young." The swallows twittered from the rafters while the people worshiped from the floor. January 28th 1818, in the ministry of Rev. Jacob Green, the con- gregation " resolved to repair the meeting house, put on new covering, put in new windows and new timbers, and lath and plaster." This house, which was nearly square (36 by 40 feet), with its pulpit on the side, continued to accommodate the people till January Ist 1853, when, in the ministry of Rev. Josiah Fisher, the parish resolved to build a new church. The last day of service in the old church of nearly one hundred years' standing was the first Sabbath in May 1853.
The corner stone of the new church was laid May 26th 1853. In that stone were deposited a brief history of the church, the names of its officers and members at that time, certain newspapers, and a bullet found in removing the old building, bearing date, in etching, "July 4 1776." The new house was dedicated October IIth 1853. The building was 35 by 50 feet and cost about $4,000. In August 1872, in the ministry of Rev. E. W. Stoddard, it was resolved to enlarge the church by adding 12 feet to its length and a pulpit recess 6 by 14 feet. The work was begun September 15th, and the enlarged church was reoccupied on the first Sabbath in January 1873. The cost of the enlargement was about $2,500, and the seating capacity was increased forty per cent. It will now seat three hundred.
The records of the church from its organization to 1817 have been lost. The recorded membership at that time was 35, and from that date to this 540 have been added. The present membership is 110. Twenty- three members of this church have been chosen to the eldership since 1817. At that time Ebenezer Coe and Hiram Condict were elders. Albert R. Riggs, Josiah Meeker, Lemuel F. Corwin and Silas H. Hopkins were the elders in 1881.
Of the ministry we know that Rev. William Woodhull began his labors in the early part of 1768. Rev. Ebene- zer Bradford also preached here before 1776. Who min-
istered to this church during the next twenty years we do not find. From 1798 Rev. Lemuel Fordham was pas- tor till his death. Rev. Jacob Green became pastor Aug- ust 3d 1817, and- served four years and nine months. From May Ist 1822 Rev. Enos A. Osborn supplied the pulpit six months; from January 23d 1823 Rev. Peter Kanouse was pastor five years and six months; from July 1828 Rev. E. Hooper supplied a few months; from June 8th 1829 Rev. Enos A. Osborn was pastor four and a half years; during two years from April 26th 1834 Rev. Messrs. Jones, of Chester, Woodbury, George Pierson and Edward Allen supplied the church in the order named, and for a short time each. Rev. Joseph More was pastor two and one-half years from April 17th 1836; Rev. David Frame one and one-half years from Decem- ber 3d 1838; Rev. D. E. Megie three and three-fourths years from October 5th 1840; Rev. John Ward supply about two years from July 1845; Rev. J. K. Davis about two years from May Ist 1848; and Rev. Josiah Fisher pastor thirteen years and six months from September 1850. Rev. E. W. Stoddard has been pastor since May Ist 1864-eighteen years.
A parsonage was built in 1856, valued, with one acre of ground, at $2,000. In 1840 one and a half acres were added to the burial ground, and in 1872 five and a half acres were purchased, joining the graveyard and parson- age lot, at a cost of $1,200, and this addition will meet the cemetery necessities for the next two hundred years.
The Sabbath-school has been maintained nearly sixty years, the present superintendent having served about eighteen years continuously and in some capacity more than fifty years. The librarian, Josiah Meeker, has been at his post nearly twenty-five years. The attendance of scholars has reached 177. There are 350 volumes in the library, valued at $200. For many years a private house could accommodate the Sabbath-school; now it more than half fills the church.
Janes Chapel .- The Methodist Episcopal church, next in order of time, was called Janes Chapel, after the late Bishop E. S. Janes, who had his residence here. It grew out of the old Flanders circuit. Its first place of worship prior to 1850 was Corwin's Chapel, in the present village of Ironia. The quiet of this "class " was dis- turbed by the temperance question, and the part living in this vicinity decided to build a church at Succasunna. In 1849 Rev. T. T. Campfield, of the Flanders circuit, organized a class and preached in the old academy and in private houses. Rev. J. W. Gilder is said to have preached here as early as 1832, and, the academy being too small to hold the people assembled, the service was held in the Presbyterian church; but no organization was effected till 1850. The members remained connected with the Flanders charge, under Rev. Messrs. Campfield, Thackeray and Absalom Steelman, till 1852. The circuit included Flanders, Draketown, Tottens, Walnut Grove, Succasunna and Cross Roads. The New Jersey annual conference in 1852 constituted a new charge, Succasunna and Walnut Grove, and Rev. William Day was appointed preacher. The official board consisted of Rev. C. A.
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CHURCHES IN ROXBURY TOWNSHIP.
Lippencott, presiding elder; Rev. William Day, preacher in charge; Rev. Absalom Steelman, local preacher; Silas H. Hopkins, exhorter; Harmon K. Waer, Absalom Steelman, Silas H. Hopkins and E. Lewis, class leaders; Edward Lewis, David Trowbridge, William Fowler, Rich- ard Greene and H. K. Waer, stewards; Richard Greene, M. Force, John S. McDougall, William Fowler, A. W. Snyder and C. A. Lippencott, trustees, elected July 3d 1850, at the residence of Bishop Janes. The membership was thirty-nine. The trustees began preparations for building soon after their election, Bishop Janes contribu- ting $500. At the laying of the corner stone Rev. W. P. Corbit preached in the graveyard adjoining. The church was dedicated February 17th 1852, Rev. J. B. Wakely, D. D., officiating; assisted in the services by Revs. M. Force, C. A. Lippencott, J. Faull, E. Griffith and Swaim Thackeray. The church stands adjacent to the Presby- terian church, on a lot of an acre and a half, donated to the Methodist Episcopal church by the wife of Rev. C. A. Lippencott, for church and burial purposes. It is a frame building, thirty-five by fifty feet, with end gallery and belfry. It is valued at $5,000, and is capable of seating 300 people. The parsonage is nearly opposite, on a half-acre lot donated by the heirs of Rev. C. A. Lippencott. It is a neat frame dwelling, built in 1859 and 1860, and is valued at $1,500. In 1872 three acres of land were added to the burying ground, at a cost of $675.
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