History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 100

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140

USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 100
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 100

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The Sussex Register of date Feb. 14, 1814, contains the following notice, which indicates that the system of slaveholding was in full force in New Jersey at the beginning of the present century :

A HEALTHY WENCH, about twenty years old, and two male children, one three years old and the other one year old, are for sale in Frankford township, Sussex County, the wench undertaking all kinds of housework, and will be sold with either one or both the children.

" Enquire of H- P --.

" FEBRUARY 14th, 1814."

Milliano No Damold

James etho tween

401

FRANKFORD.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM MODANOLDS.

His paternal grandfather, William, came from Morristown, N. J., about 1790 and settled at Branch- ville, Frankford township, Sussex Co., N. J. At the same time his brother, Joseph MeDanolds, and a sister, Mary, came, but soon afterwards Joseph re- turned to Morristown. Mary married Simon West- fall and settled in Wayne Co., N. Y., where she died a few years since.

William MeDanolds, the progenitor of the family in Sussex County, was a clock-maker by trade, which business he carried on here as long as he lived, and taught all his sons the same trade. He died in middle life, and both he and his wife, Jane Stoll, were buried in the "Plains Cemetery," about three miles from Branchville. Their children were Henry, Hugh, Israel, Mary, wife of John W. Smith, and Joseph.

Hugh was a noted hunter and marksman, and kept the first public-house in Lafayette. Israel worked at his trade of clock-making during his early life, but after his marriage was a farmer. Joseph carried the mail from Newton to different parts of Sussex and Warren Counties for many years; was subsequently ul merchant at Colesville, N. J., and at Swartswood, N. J. He died at the latter place.

Henry, eldest son, and father of Judge William MeDanolds, was born in 1799, and married, in 1819, Catherine, a daughter of Randall Stivers, of Frank- ford township. She was born in 1800, and died in 1862. Mrs. McDanolds was an active member of the Presbyterian Church at Branchville, was a woman of great moral worth in the community where she re- sided, and reared her children under the influences of all that pertains to true manhood and womanhood. Henry MeDanolds spent his early life working at clock-making and in carrying the mail from Newton on various mail routes. For six years following his marriage he worked at his trade ; for four years he re- sided at Dingman's Ferry, on the Delaware, where he carried on mercantile business and bought and shipped lumber to Philadelphia, Pa. In 1829 he returned to Branchville and established a general mercantile bus- iness, which he carried on successfully until 1850, when he gave it up to his sons. During this time he purchased the woolen - factory and flouring - mill at Branchville, rented the former, and carried on the latter himself. Besides, he also purchased, in con- nection with the mills, a farm, which he carried on for a short time. He was nn netive, enterprising, and prosperous business man. His word was his bond, and all who knew him esteemed him for his sterling integrity in all the relations of life. He died in 1854. His children were Matilda, wife of John Dalrymple, a farmer in Frankford; William; Henry, Jr., the present surrogate of Paxmuie Co., N. J .; Israel, a spo-

cial mail-agent at Elmira, N. Y., post-office detective, and carries on milling business at Horseheads, N. Y., and was formerly a merchant there; John, a merchant at Branchville; Mary Ann, deceased, who was the wife of William P. Crane, of Frankford township; Jane, wife of George Hursh, died in Missouri; and James S. MeDanolds, who served in the late Rebel- lion, was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and is the present State librarian of New Jersey.

William, eldest son of Henry MeDanolds, was born at Branchville, June 9, 1822. Ilis early education from books was received in the schools of his native place, and his practical business education in his father's store, where he was a clerk for many years. Mr. McDanolds was a merchant in Branchville most of the time from 1844 to 1863, except one year, when he was in business at Vienna, Warren Co., with George Roe, and a short time that he carried on mercantile business at Hackettstown prior to the death of his father. He purchased a farm and the woolen-factory in 1855, which interest he disposed of about two years afterwards.

In 1860 he purchased a farm near Branchville, upon which he settled in 1865, and has resided upon it for a part of the time since. He was formerly identified with the old Whig party, and became a member of the Republican party upon its organization. In 1865 he was appointed judge of the t'ourt of Common Pleas for Sussex County, but after serving for four years resigned. In 1878, Judge MeDanolds was elected freeholder of his township, and by re-election is serving his third term; and it is a fact worthy of note that although politically opposed to the majority of Frankford township, he received at each election the whole number of votes cast within less than thirty.

In 1862 he was appointed postmaster at Branchville by President Lincoln, and officiated about one year. He was again appointed by President Hayes in April, 1880, and is the present incumbent of the office.

Judge MeDanolds is interested in all worthy local objeets, a promoter of the best interests of society, and a leading and influential citizen of his township and county. For upwards of twenty years he has been a director of the Sussex Bank, at Newton, in which, also, his father was a director for many years prior to his decense. His wife was Margaret t., daughter of James H. and Eliza A. (Osborne) Struble, and grand- daughter of Jacob L. Struble, who was son of Peter Struble, the progenitor of the family in Sussex County, and settled here from Alsace, Germany, in 1752. Mrs. McDanolds was born in 1832, married in 1857, and died without issue in 1865.

JAMES SHOTWELL.

His father, Samuel Shotwell, reared under Quaker influences, came from the Quaker Settlement in War- ren Co., N. J., and for a time was a farmer in the old

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

township of Newton. He subsequently owned and resided upon a farm in the township of Frankford, on the road from Newton to Augusta, where he died in 1804. His wife was Hannah Lundy, who bore him the following children and survived him several years, -viz., Abraham, Joseph, James, Mary, wife of Charles Van Gorder, and Sally, wife of Jacob Bales.

James Shotwell was born May 30, 1792, and mar- ried for his first wife Mary Van Gorder, a daughter of Peter Van Gorder, of Frankford township. She died about 1836, leaving children,-viz., Hannah, wife of Canfield Struble ; Sally Ann, deceased, wife of Sam- uel Smith ; and Maria, wife of Oliver Struble.

For his second wife he married, Aug. 10, 1839, Sa- rah Jane, daughter of George and Margaret (Struble) Roe, of Frankford township.

George Roe was the son of Jonas Roe, of Florida, Orange Co., N. Y., of Scottish birth, who settled there about 1730. George Roe, youngest in a family of seven sons and several daughters, purchased five hundred acres of land at the intersection of the outlet of the " Ponds" and the Paulinskill, in Frankford, where he settled about 1798. For a more detailed sketch of the Roe family, see sketch of Charles J. Roe in the history of the bench and bar.

Mrs. Shotwell was born May 18, 1810, and resides in Branchville.

The children born of this second marriage to Mr. Shotwell are Margaret O., wife of William M. Mc- Danolds, a farmer in Frankford; Arminda, wife of William Slater, died leaving three children,-Mary Isabel, Willie H. and Willis J. (twins) ; Lucy Irene, wife of Henry S. Smith, of London, Va .; Lntheria ; wife of Jacob Slater, of Frankford ; Alwilda, wife of Joseph Smith, formerly of Virginia, but now of Con- necticut ; James H., of East Strondsburg, Pa .; and Elba Jane, wife of Dr. J. C. Priee, of Branchville.

James Shotwell resided for six years after his second marriage upon the homestead of his father, for some sixteen years upon a farm he purchased of Mr. Ry- erson, at Augnsta, and the remainder of his life on a farm adjoining, known as the Pellet farm. He re- ceived little pecuniary assistance in starting out in life, but by his superior management and untiring industry he accumulated a large property, and at the time of his decease owned some sixteen hundred acres of valuable land. His life was wholly devoted to ag- ricultural pursuits, and he was known as a represen- tative farmer. He gave little attention to politics, never songht office, and never held any, except to act as surveyor of highways. He possessed a kind dis- position, was frank and manly in his ways, and never feigned ostentation or display in his daily walk in life. He was known to the citizens of his township as a practical business man and, an upright citizen. He died Oct. 15, 1867.

ROBERT V. ARMSTRONG.

His paternal grandfather, Hugh, emigrated with his family from Londonderry Co., Ireland, about 1740, and settled at Short Hills, Middlesex Co., N. J. His children were Robert, who inherited the homestead at Short Hills, and there died, April 13, 1802; Thomas, father of our subject, born at Short Hills, Ang. 3, 1750; William, who served in and died during the Revolutionary war; Margaret, died in 1828, aged eighty-one years ; Jane, Hannah, and Polly. Hugh Armstrong died at his place of settlement, Oct. 23, 1781. Thomas Armstrong married Martha Brittin, who died in 1817, at the age of fifty-eight. He served through the whole of the Revolutionary war, was quartermas- ter, and ranked as major. In April, 1782, he and his wife settled on the Papakating, in Wantage township, Sussex Co., N. J., where they resided for eight years, and bought land at Sugar Loaf, Orange Co., N. Y., upon which he settled, but sold it three years after- wards. In 1793 he purchased about three hundred acres of land, mostly uncleared, on the Papakating, in Frankford township. Soon afterwards his mother, Margaret (Moore) Armstrong, came to live with him, and here died, March 11, 1811, aged ninty-nine years. Thomas Armstrong added to his original purchase and owned at his death, Jan. 3, 1833, seven hundred acres of land in Frankford township, which was divided among his sons; also one thousand acres mostly in Newton township, which was divided among his daughters. At his original purchase of Mr. Hoops he obtained twenty-seven slaves, whom he retained in his possession until the law of the State liberated them. He managed farming on a large scale. His children were James B., born Sept. 15, 1782; Elizabeth, wife of John Seward, born March 11, 1784; Margaret, wife of Theophilus Hunt, horn June 13, 1786; Thomas M., born Sept. 6, 1788; Jane G., wife of Uzal Hagerty, born June 6, 1790; Robert, born Jan. 21, 1792; William, born Feb. 13, 1794; Martha M., wife of John S. Warbasse, born in September, 1796; Susan, born Feb. 6, 1798, died in infancy ; Susan E., wife of Dr. John Beach, of Branchville, born Aug. 4, 1800; and Robert V., born Sept 15, 1803. Such was the ancestry of the subject of our sketch, and the experiences incident to pioneer life were not unknown to him. His education was obtained at the common schools, and his minority spent at home. On March 9, 1827, he married Luretta, daughter of Obe- diah and Charlotte (Westbrook ) Pellett, of Frankford township. She was born Sept. 25, 1807, and belongs to a family of six daughters and six sons, all of whom were married and reared families in the vicinity of their birth. It is a remarkable fact that at this time ten of these children are living, the youngest being fifty-five years old. Mr. Armstrong inherited of his father's homestead estate one hundred and seventy- five acres, and resided in the homestead house until 1845, when he built his present residence. He has added some two hundred acres of contiguous land,

THE progenitors of the Price family in Frankford township were Robert and Samuel Price, who, with their brother John, came from Con- nectient and settled here among the first white men who found a home in this part of New Jersey. It is related of Robert that when a emall boy he and his mother were taken prisoners by the Indians at one of the massacres in the Eastern States, and marched off together. She, being somewhat conversant with the language of the savages, soon learned from their conversation and gestures that she was to be dispatched, and immediately communicated the intelligence to her son. She told bim that he must not cry when they killed her, or they would kill him too. She only marched a few rods farther before she was killed. The boy was eventually adopted by one of the squawe as her child, she having lost one of her own n few days previous. He lived with the Indians until he was over twenty-one years old, and was then rescued by his friends. It was a long time before he became thoroughly reconciled to civilized society, and he sometimes expressed a desire to return to the Indians, but the feeling gradually wore away after his release. IIe re- moved to Frankford, Sussex Co., N. J.

John only remained a short time in Frankford, and returned to Con- nectient, and enbeequently hecacie a mariner, and was never heard of afterwards, which business he and his brothers had previously followed on their own account, until they lost several valuable cargoes by wreck- age.

Samnel and Robert remained where they settled, the latter on lands about the " Plains church" now occupied by Z. Simmons, and the former on lands at present owned by Elijah Martin and William Lantz.

Samuel died in 1768, aged seventy-five years, and both he and his wife, Surah, who died in 1761, aged fifty-five yenrs, were buried in the ceme- tery near the " Plaine church," which the Prices had laid out for a burial- place.

Samuel is thought to have been married prior to his settlement in New Jersey, and left a family of children in Connecticut. Upon his death he left two sons, Zacharinh, grandfather of our subject, and Francis. Robert left children, the descendants of whom are mostly settled in Ohio and other Western States .*

Zachariah, son of Sumnel, born Sept. 22, 1743, married, in 1772, Mary Depue, a lady of Huguenot extraction, who was born Oct. 20, 1754. Their children were Samuel ; Henry ; Surah, wife of Zachariah Price; Mary, wife of Joseph Hill; Zachariah ; Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Ilill ; Jo- rusha, wife of Joseph Coult; Francis, father of ex-Governor Price, of New Jersey; Rachel; Joanna, wife of Jonathan Hill; John, and Robert.

Zachariah Price resided where his granddaughter, Mrs. Joseph A. Os- borne, now resides, owned some eix hundred acres of land in ono body, and quantities of real estate in Vernon and Lafayette. In tho latter township he owned the land where the village of Lafayette now is, and there had a carding-mill, flouring-mill, and distillery. Ile also built and ran a distillery on hie farm in Frankford. He was an enterprising, theronghgoing business man, was largely engaged in connection with the commissary department during the Revolutionury war, furnishing supplies for the American army, in which his brother Francis was a cap- tuin. Both he and his wife were Episcopalians and supporters of religions interests.

* For sketch of Francis Price see early history of Frankford township.

Henry Price, son of Zachariah, was boro on the homestead, March 20, 1775, and married, Dec. 31, 1810, Dorcas, the youngest of ten dough- ters in a family of thirteen children of Benjamin Hull, the progenitor of the Hull family in Sussex County. She was born April 4, 1772, nad died Jan. 24, 1848 ; he died July 19, 1831. Their children were Mary Ann, (decensed), born Nov. 13, 1812, wife of David Couse; Zachariah HI., born Feb. 10, 1814; Phebe Elizabeth (decensed), was the wife of John Cum- mins, of Lafayette, born June 21, 1815; nnd Sarah D., born Aug. 20, 1817, widow of the late Joseph A. Osborne, who was once a sheriff und deputy collector of Sussex County.

Henry Price succeeded to the homestead property partly by purchase and partly by inheritance, and owned altogether one thousand acres of Innd. Ile followed egricultural pursuits during his life, and preferred the quiet life of a farmer to the bickerings of political strife and official position. He was often solicited to represent Sussex County in the State Legislature, but always declined office or its emoluments. In politics he was a firm adherent of Gen. Jackson, and after that memorable cam- paign voted with the Democratic party.

Zachariah H., son of Henry Price, obtained his education at the com- mon school and under the instruction of the well-known teacher, Rev. Clarkson N. Dunn, of Newton. With the exception of a short time spent in the store of Linn & Haines, of Hamburg, as n clerk, his mi- nority was spent at home and in obtaining nn education. He married, Feb. 8, 1838, Sarah A., daughter of John nud Snrah (Banghart ) Titman, of Lafayette, but formerly of Oxford township, Warren Co .; she was born Oct. 20, 1815. Their children were Margaret Elizabeth, wife of Michael Cochran, of Newton ; Henry ; Sarah Bethier, died in infancy ; Sarah Dorcas, wife of John B. Armstrong, of Lafayette township.

A few years after his marriage Mr. Price settled on a part of the home- stead-farm, consisting of one hundred and eighty nerea, and upon it built his present residence in 1847, where he has resided since nnd carried on his farm.

In early manhood Mr. Price became interested in local politics, nad as a member of the Democratic party has for many years taken an in- ilnential part in the affairs of the townshipnnd county. For several years he was chosen freeholder of Frankford. Ile has been n director in tho Merchants' National Bank of Newton since it was first organized, on July 11, 1865, and has also been a director in the Sussex County Mutual Insurance Company since its incorporation, in the yenr 1840. Ho was elected State senator for three years in the fall of 1855, as n Democrat, in opposition to the Republican and American parties, and served for three years, always voting to stop all wastes and extravagances and for the best interests of tho tax-payers generally.

The Sussex Register of March 8, 1856, a paper in opposition to Mr. Prico in politics, snys : " Mr. Prico lins deported himself in the Senate in the most unexceptionable manner, and has earned, by a firm and intelligent yet courteons discharge of his duties, n high character among bis ns- socintes, and reflecte credit npon the county. We opposed the election of Mr. Price, and in the ardor of a heated political ennvass may have called in question his fitness for the senatorinl office. If so, we desire to recall it, and to say that his course us a senator satishes us that the honor and the interests of Sussex County, so far as they are committed to his guardianship, are in enfe Innde."

Mr. Prico whilst senator also served on many important committees, and his counsels were always regarded as safe and judicious.

Fib l'antaken

DANIEL, grandfather of Abram Cole Van Auken, emigrated from Holland about 1750, and settled at Minisink, Orange Co., N. Y. He there married Leah Kettle, and for some time held office under the king. They reared a family of fifteen children, all of whom were married and had families living near the vicinity of their birth. Among these were Jeremiah, a school- teacher of Minisink, killed by the Indians under Brant at the time of the Neversink massacre; Daniel Na- thaniel, who was a farmer of Wantage; Elijah, born Oct. 23, 1759 ; Absalom, Isaiah, Jeremiah (2d), Leah, and Rachel.

Elijah, father of our subject, was wounded at the time his brother Jeremiah was killed; their mother escaped by concealing herself in a ditch. He married Catharine Cole, of Minisink, May 27, 1784. She was born March 8, 1767, and died Sept. 8, 1849. In 1785 they moved from Minisink to Dalsontown, Orange Co., and in 1793 to Wantage township, Sussex Co., N. J. Ilere he bought two hundred aeres of land known as the Swartz property, and afterwards added seventy acres in Frankford township, upon which were a saw-mill and grist-mill. During life he was a farmer, and died in Frankford, Ang. 27, 1837. ITis children were Daniel, born July 2, 1785 ; Elijah, born Jan. 16, 1789; Jesse, born May 23, 1791; William, born Feb. 26, 1794; Maria, born Sept. 2, 1796, married John Dunning, of Beemer- ville; Rachel, born Dee. 23, 1798, married John Decker, of Papakating; Abram Cole, born Dec. 3, 1800; and Elinor, born Jan, 10, 1803, married J. V. Carmer, of Frankford, died in March, 1877.

Abram C. Van Auken was educated at the common schools and spent his minority at home. At the age of twenty-fivo he took the home-farmu to work, and his

parents there lived with him until their death. April 2, 1831, he married Martha, daughter of Daniel Reese, of Newark, N. J., and Maria (Crane) Reese, of Con- neetieut Farms, N. J. Their children are Catharine, wife of Walter Van Syekle, a farmer of Wantage; Obadiah C., born Jan. 27, 1834, a butter-merchant of New York. who married Celesta L. Clark, of New York City, and died at Passaie, N. J., Aug. 26, 1871 ; Jane Mariah, wife of Robert MeMiekle, a farmer of Wantage ; Martha Ellen, who lives at home; Barrett A., who lives at home; Isabella P., born Ang. 13, 1848, and died Feb. 9, 1867; Cornelia, wife of Daniel Dalrymple, Jr., a farmer of' Frankford ; and Rena Louisa, who lives at home. In the spring of 1841 he moved upon the seventy aeres in Frankford township, to which he added some two hundred aeres of adjoining land, and here spent the remainder of his lifetime.

Mr. Van Auken was an active business man and a successful farmer. From 1841 until about 1860 he bought most of the butter made in the northern part of Sussex County. At first he shipped it to New York by way of Goshen and Newburg, drawing it to these places with his own teams, and afterwards by way of Dover, Stanhope, and Newton. He was a kind and generous neighbor, and was regarded as one of the leading citizens of his township. Politically he was always a staunch and unwavering Democrat, but preferred to be a private in the party rather than hold any office. Ile was a member of the Beemerville Presbyterian Church, towards which he contributed at the time of its erection, and attended there with his family, who are also members of the same church.

Mr. Van Auken died at Wykertown, Jan. 24, 1880, and was buried in the Beemerville cemetery.

JOHN DALRYMPLE.

John Dalrymple, son of Brice and Mary (Struble) Dalrymple, and grandson of Andrew Dalrymple, the progenitor of the family in Sussex County, was born at Branchville, N. J., April 9, 1813. (For a further account of the Dalrymple history, reference is made to the biography, in this volume, of his brother, Squire Dalrymple.) His educational opportunities were lim- ited to the common school of his native place ; the dis- cipline, however, obtained there, and at home, where he spent his early manhood, has been since exempli- fied in the successful farmer and the substantial busi- ness man. On Nov. 24, 1847, he married Matilda, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Stivers) MeDan- olds, and granddaughter of William MeDanolds, who were among the old and worthy families whose his- tories have been interwoven with the best interests of this section of New Jersey. She was born Feb. 14, 1820. On another page, in connection with the sketch of Judge William MeDanolds, of Branchville, appears the carly MeDanolds' history.

The old Dalrymple homestead originally comprised two hundred and sixty acres of land. This property

was bought in 1848 by the sons, John, Richard, and James, who purchased the interests of the other heirs and made a mutual division of the same among them- selves. Thus did Mr. Dalrymple become possessed of the farm, of eighty-six acres, upon which he now re- sides, and upon which he settled with his wife in 1848. It is here, upon this paternal soil, that they have reared their children and traveled life's journey together for more than thirty-three years. He ereeted upon his farm a commodious farmhouse in 1848, and barns in 1850.

Mr. Dalrymple ranks among the substantial and successful farmers of his township, and has spent a life almost wholly devoted to agricultural and business pursuits. In politics he is a Democrat, and, although no seeker after political place or the emoluments of office, he has been chosen to fill some of the minor offiees in the township, having officiated as one of the town- ship committee-men and as commissioner of appeals. His children are Daniel, a farmer in Frankford ; Wil- liam H., a merchant at Branchville; Brice, Halsey, John S., James M., and Jennie H.

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FRANKFORD.

and here has spent his life and successfully followed agricultural pursuits. His children are Thomas, a farmer of Wantage; Charlotte P., born Feb. 16, 1829, died, unmarried, Sept. 26, 1868; Jobn, died in infancy ; James D., a farmer of Franklin, Gloucester Co., N. J .; Martha M., wife of Henry McDanolds, present surro- gate of Passaic Co., N. J .; George N., residing on the homestead; Robert V., Jr., born March 28, 1836, died Jan. 17, 1864; Sarah E., born Sept. 15, 1839, was drowned near home April 3, 1844; and Sarah E., re- siding at home. Mr. Armstrong was formerly a Whig, but has been identified with the Republican party from its organization. He has never been solicitous of office, but has held several offices in his township. IIe und his family are attendants of the Presbyterian Church at Branchville, of which his wife is a member and towards which he contributed at the time of its erection.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 100

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140