History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 110

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 110
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 110

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Ralph Dildine was born in Green township, May 28, 1815. He acquired such an education as the town- ship school then afforded, and worked on the farm until he was twenty-one. Then he commenced bnsi- ness for himself as a merchant, first having a store at Springdale, and then at Sparta, N. J. In 1843 he sold out and returned to Green township, and bought the " Kirker" farin, where he remained some years. In 1850 he purchased the farm on which he now re- sides ; it is located to the east of Hnnt's Mills, near the old homestead. In 1840 he married Eunice, daughter of Samuel Wells, of Mendham, Morris Co., N. J. The ancestors of Mrs. Dildine were among the first settlers of Morris Co., N. J. Of this union were born the following children: Mary P., married L. Horton, of Chester, Morris Co., N. J .; Samuel W. (deceased) ; Sarah E., married John C. Howell, of Newton, N. J. ; Henry and Ralph W., now living at Jefferson City, Montana Territory.

In politics, Mr. Dildine has been an independent, supporting those who in his estimation best serve the country. He attends the Hardwick Yellow Frame Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member.

SOLOMON ROE.

MRS. SUSAN ROE.

SOLOMON ROE.

The Roe family is of English ancestry. The name is mentioned among the carly settlers of Long Island, N. Y.

David Roe, father of the subject of this sketch, lived at Chester, Orange Co., N. Y., where he followed farming. He married Miss Carpenter, of the same place. The children of this marriage were Amasa, deceased; Solomon, deceased; Lewis C., de- ceased; Hannah, deceased, married - Jennings, of Florida, Orange Co., N. Y .; Phebe, deceased, the wife of William Schofield, of Lafayette township; Maria, married - Beers, of Northern New York.

Solomon Roe was born at Chester, Orange Co., N. Y., where he remained during his minority. He removed to Frankford township, Sussex Co., N. J., remained there for several years, and in 1862 removed to Green township, and purchased from William Hunt the farm, situated to the south of the village of Hunt's Mills, on which his family now re- side. In 1826 he married Susan, daughter of James Canfield, of Ridgebury, Orange Co., N. Y. The ancestors of Mrs. Roe were among the first English settlers of the province of the New Nether- lands. The children of this union were William T., now living at Newton, N. J. ; Mary E., married Thomas Schofield, deceased, of Lafayette township; Phebe A., the wife of C. N. Wells, of Connecticut; David C .; Jane, deceased, married William West-

brook, of Independence township; Maggie, became the wife of Austin Carpenter, of Frankford.

In politics, Solomon Roe was always a Democrat, and held several township offices. He was a member of the Hardwick "Yellow Frame" Presbyterian Church, and was a liberal supporter of church and kiudred interests. His death occurred in 1872. IIe was a man who always tried to fulfill the duties of a good neighbor and citizen, and his death was a serious loss to the community in which he lived.

David C. Roe, his son, was born in Frankford township, Jan. 9, 1832. As before stated, in 1862 the family removed to Green township, where he has since resided. In 1872 he married Sarah J., daughter of Joseph Pierson, of Sparta. The grand- father of Mrs. D. C. Roc was Thomas Dunlap, a Revolutionary soldier. The children of this marriage are Roswell P., Sanford I., and Charles L.

In politics, Mr. Roe has always been a Democrat, has occupied several positions of trust in connection with township affairs, and has been justice of the peace for five years. He and his wife are members of the Hardwick " Yellow Frame" Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Solomon Roe is now residing on the old homestead in Green township; she is in her eightieth year, hale and hearty. To her is due the credit of placing herein the above portrait and biography of her honored husband.

439

GREEN.

WILLIAM KYLE.

The subject of this sketch is of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion. Ilis father, James Kyle, was born Aug. 28, 1801, in the County Tyrone, Ireland. In 1829 he came to America, landing at Philadelphia, Pa. He

William Byle

first went to Orange Co., N. Y., where he worked on a farm for a short time, but soon rented one for himself, and lived on it until 1837. In that year he removed to Sussex Co., N. J., and purchased a farm in Stillwater township, on which he remained until 1848. In addition to farming, he also kept a public- house in the same township. In the year above men- tioned he sold out his properties and removed to Green township, Sussex Co., and bought a farm sit- uated about a mile to the east of ilunt's Mills, from Ralph Dildine. Before leaving Ireland he married Margaret Gilleland, of the County Tyrone. Of this union were born the following children : John, living at Hot Springs, Ark. ; William; Thomas, residing at Owego, N. Y. ; Mary Ann, the wife of William C. Gray, of Green township; Elizabeth (deceased, 1842) ; James Henry, living at Stillwater, N. J. James Kyle was a very energetic and industrious man ; landing in this country comparatively poor, he was able to accu- mulate a competence, and at the time of his death was the owner of four hundred acres of as good land as there is in Green township. In politics he was a Democrat, but he never sought office, though he filled several positions of trust in connection with the man- agement of his township affairs. He was a regular at-

tendant of the " Yellow Frame" Presbyterian Church, which he liberally supported. He died in Green township in 1859. William Kyle was born in Or- ange Co., N. Y., May 17, 1831. His facilities for ac- quiring an education were limited to the Stillwater township school, which he attended and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one. In 1855 he bought the farm on which he now resides from .1. Pickney. It is situated in Green township, near Hunt's Mills, and consists of two hundred acres of land, with good buildings, and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Kyle has been twice married; his first wife was Sarah A., daughter of W. S. Hlibler, of Springdale. N. J. The children of this marriage are William Hibler and Floyd J., both residing at New- ark, N. J. His first wife died in 1872. His second wife is Anna C., daughter of A. T. Hill, of Freling- huysen township, Warren Co., N. J., whom he mar- ried in 1873. Mr. Kyle has always been a Democrat, and has held several township offices. He attends the Yellow Frame Presbyterian church, of which he and his wife are members.

G. B. DRAKE.

The father of the subject of our sketch was Joseph Drake, who was born in 1761. He was twice mar- ried ; his first wife was Miss Desire. The children of

this marriage were Nathaniel (deceased); John (de- ceased ) ; Sarah (deceased), married A. Penny ; Martha (deceased) ; Alexander F. (deceased); Margaret, mar-

440

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ried W. Young, now living in Canada. His second wife was Mrs. Susannah Ayres. Of this union were born the following children : Mark L. (deceased) and George B. Joseph Drake died in 1813.

George B. Drake was born Sept. 28, 1812, near Tranquillity, Green township. His opportunities for. acquiring an education were very limited, as, his mother being poor, he was obliged to support himself at an early age. He worked for his uncle, John Drake, until he became of age. Then he rented a farm from Samuel H. Hunt for eleven years; after that he bought the farm on which he now resides from Timothy H. Cook. Besides erecting commodi- ous buildings, he has made such other improvements as denote thrift and prosperity. He has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Ann, daughter of Jacob Potts, of Marksboro', N. J. The children of this marriage were Joseph M .; Almeda, married A. K. Wildrick, of Paulina, N. J .; Roxanna, married Henry Space, of Green township, N. J. His second wife is Sarah A., daughter of Nicholas Crisman, of Hardwick, N. J. Her grandfather was John Cris- man, who came from Philadelphia, Pa., prior to the Revolutionary war, and was a soldier in the American army during that momentous struggle. The children of this union are Harry (deceased, 1865), Samuel H., Anna E., and Emma J. In politics Mr. Drake has always been a Democrat. He has been freeholder, member of the town committee, and has held other town offices. He attends the Christian church in Johnsonsburg, of which Mrs. Drake is a member.

MARSHALL S. HIBLER.

The Hibler family are of German ancestry. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch was Corne- lius Hibler, who came from South Jersey and settled in what is now Green township. He married Mar- garet Amerman. The children of this marriage were William (deceased) ; John (deceased in Michigan) ; Anne (deceased), married Jos. Hunt, of Green town- ship; Jane (deceased), the wife of R. Conant, of Connecticut; Mary (deceased in Michigan); Adam (deceased) ; Philip (deceased in Michigan). Adam Hibler was born on the old homestead, in Green town- ship, July 9, 1801. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Young, of Newton, now Andover township. Of this union were born the following children : Margaret A., the wife of George Greer, of Green_ township; John (deceased); Cornelius (deceased) ;

Marshall S .; Rebecca I. (deceased), married Clinton Vass, of Green, and G. W. Kennedy, of Green town- ship; G. W. living in Warren Co., N. J. Adam Hibler always followed farming. He was a man who com-

Marshal & Bibler

manded the respect of the community in which he lived. ITis death occurred April 17, 1864. Marshall S. Hibler was born on the homestead in Green, April 28, 1827. He attended school in his native township, and worked on the farm where he has since resided. He married Augusta, daughter of John and Susan Vassbinder, of Frelinghuysen township, Warren Co., N. J. The great-uncles of Mr. Hibler were soldiers in the American army during the war of independ- ence. The children of this marriage are Susie B., Elwood A. (deceased), and Wilfred.

In politics Mr. Hibler has always been a Republi- ean, and has never sought office. He has always fol- lowed farming, which business he has carried on in a successful manner. Though not a member of any church, he attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. His mother is living on the old homestead, hale and hearty, and in her seventy-fifth year.

ANDOVER.'

I .- DESCRIPTIVE.

ANDOVER, one of the southern towns of Sussex, con- taining, in 1880, 1153 inhabitants, measures in its terri- tory about five miles from north to south and four from east to west. It is bounded north by Lafayette, Hampton, and Newton, south by Green and Byram, east by Sparta, west by Green and Hampton. Its surface is dotted with ponds and streams. Big Muck- shaw and Struble's are among the largest of the for- mer, and the Pequest Creek of the latter. Water- power is abundant, but mills are few. The only vil- lage is Andover, on the Sussex Railroad, where there are important iron-mining and limestone-quarrying interests that contribute largely to the town's substan- tial prosperity.

The Sussex Railroad passes through Andover town- ship in an almost straight line between north and south, and provides, of course, an appreciated and valuable convenience.

The mining region in Andover is confined to the range of hills lying northeast from Andover village, where, since early in the eighteenth century, iron- mining has been carried on, and where it is now pur- sued to a liberal extent.

There are some rich farms in the township, and from some points agricultural products are freely shipped to market, but as a rule stock-raising and the production of milk and butter comprise the husband- man's chief interests. The town is quite famous for its dairy products, and daily forwards largely thereof to New York.

Andover's assessed valuation in 1879 was $533,295, and tax 83422.42.

II .- MOODY'S ROCK.

About a mile south of Newton, in Andover, Moody's Rock, a low shelving slate-rock cavern on the margin of the Big Muckshaw Pond, is a historic feature of the landscape, towards which the attention of the curious is frequently attracted, and where one may sce a bountiful crop of inscriptions telling how visitors to the spot feel it incumbent to leave their autographs as mementoes of their visits.

The rocky cavern was during the Revolutionary war a Tory rendezvous, and of the Tories who used it as such Lieut. James Moody was the moving spirit and recognized leader. Moody was a terror to the

patriots of Northern New Jersey, and extended his predatory excursions even into New York. He was a bitter foe to American independence and an untir- ing adherent to the British cause. From a poem written by Dr. Thomas Dunn English, and entitled, " Moody of Sussex," two stanzas are here given :

" Moody was loyal to George, who was King by God's wrath at the time: He looked ou sedition ne sin, and he held all rebellion as crime,-

Which is wo if they fail in their nim ; so when traitors raised forces and

He was true to the flag of his sovereign, and loyally struck at his foes.

" Not a Ing caldo in Sussex and not a red farm-house whose roof Was not slated to mack at all fire or had windows and doors billet-proof Seemed to be safe from his wrath ; but n mother there went to her bed But her prayers, with her chill wildly clasped, for deliverance from Moody she said."

Nelson Robinson has thus written about Moody's Rock :

" This is one of the numerous spots In New Jersey around which hangs an interest, a traditional celebrity, that is destined to endure as long as the grent principles for which her patriots ef the Revolution valiantly struggled shall animate their offspring to noble and virtuous enterprise. It was here that an instrument of foreign tyranny found shelter for hitn- self and his loyal followers in those days of peril. Hence Hke n band of hungry wolves they broke loose from their den in the dend of night to commit their depredations upon those who rallied aronund the standard of liberty and bado defiance to the wrath of the uppresor. To this wild and secure retrent when danger threatened did the Tory leader anul his company of active associates resort ; and the political hypocrites of those times nourished them there and kept them advised of what was gulug on among the friends of the colonists.

" Moody Is believed to have been originally from Kingwood township, in the county of Hunterden, Ho was employed by the British to obtain recruits in this section of such as were favorable te Great Britain. Ho was likewise to act as a spy upon the movements of the Whigs, and to check and overnwe them by a show of opposition in their midst, by mink- Ing divisions and difficulties close at hand, and thereby drawing off thelr attention and assistance from the colonial army.

" Many stories ure told of the man and his deprodutions. Among others is one that on one cold winter night he suddenly entered the dwell- Ing of Robert Ogden, in Sparta, and, despoiling the house of considerable valoable pinte, searched fruitlessly for money. Being thereupon enraged, he compelled Mr. Ogden to subunit to indignities, and then, binding him by oath not to give warning of the outrage until Moody and his men could have time to evade pursuit, departed. A couple of hired hands ly- ing concealed In the upper portion of the log house made hasto, however, to wound the alarm, mul the neighbors, gathering, gave chose to the gung. They tracked the gume closely ne far ns Goshen, N. Y., and recovered sono of the plunder; It Moody and his men gut safely away.

" Moody was often hunted, but never taken ; and this business of chas- ing him got to be such a frequent pastime that it was known all over as * Moody-hunting.' One midnight he appeared at the bedside of the jaller at Newton and demanded the jail keys. Although the jailer had fre- quently been heard to boldly declare that he would never surrender the keys to Minuly except by force of arms, he handed them over to the re- doubtable Tory In a twinkling. Reporting the circumstance afterwards, the jufler's wife remarked, " Pour Joinmy trendyed like a leaf, and handel over the keys without resistance.' Having got the keys, M dy set at liberty the prisoners, and then, ranging bis men in front of the jail, gave

141

* Hy David Schwartz.

442

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

three loud cheers and proclaimed a general jail delivery io the name of King George III.

" There is a story to the effect that Moody was eventually hung at Mor- ristown as a spy, but it lacks authenticity. The weight of evidence points to the conclusion that he passed safely through the war, achieving an immense amount of useful service on behalf of the British canse, and that he retired to England upon the cessation of hostilities."*

III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT. THE ANDOVER IRON-WORKS.

Among the lands in New Jersey acquired in 1714 by William Penn from the Council of Proprietors was a large tract in what is now Andover township, including the site of Andover village as well as the mining district in the vicinity. This tract was soon afterwards purchased by a company of English iron- workers hailing from Sussex County in England, of whom the head was the firm of Allen & Turner, then located in Philadelphia. They became possessed of the knowledge that iron could be mined on the land, and upon completing the purchase began the con- struction of suitable buildings and apparatus for , smelting and forging.

Just when they commenced at Andover cannot be said, but, estimating from the fact that Allen & Tur- ner began to operate a forge at the place now known as High Bridge, in Hunterdon Connty, as early as 1725, it is likely that work was inaugurated at Ando- ver not very long afterwards. There is a rudely in- scribed date upon the old furnace building at An- dover village recording that the building stood there in 1761, but it is by no means certain that that record was an evidence of the inauguration of affairs there. It means, doubtless, that the furnace building was erected in that year ; that another building was used before that time is altogether likely.

Beyond a question, the iron-workers and iron-miners brought to the place by Allen & Turner were the ear- liest white inhabitants in the present township of An- dover. The mine worked by the company was near the one now under lease to W. J. Taylor & Co., of Chester. At what is now Andover village they built a furnace, grist-mill, blacksmith-shop, barn, and, be- sides tenement dwellings, a commodious mansion, in which dwelt the person charged with superintending the works. These structures were built substantially of stone, and are still in excellent condition, all save the smithy being now in use and liable to endure many years more. The furnace is a mill, the old mill is a store, and the mansion-destroyed once by fire save as to its walls-is still a dwelling-house. At Old Andover (now Waterloo) the company had a forge and refinery, where innclrof the pig iron made at Ando- ver was turned into bars and packed on mules for transportation to the Delaware.

The iron thus manufactured was shipped chiefly to England, and, without interruption, Allen & Turner carried on the business in that fashion until the second year of the Revolutionary war. At that time

the attention of the government was strongly di- rected to the iron-works at Andover by reason of a demand for an increased supply of iron and steel for cannon-balls and fire-arms, it being represented that the iron made at the Andover works was more snita- ble than any other to be had for the production of steel. Allen & Turner were, however, loyalists, and were by no means inclined to aid the Federal cause hy supplying the means for forging Federal guns. In the emergency Congress promptly provided for taking possession of the property.t

There was, however, some delay in arranging with Col. Patton to take charge, as witness the following letter from the Board of War to the Governor of New Jersey :

" WAR OFFICE, May 25, 1778.

"The Board, not having thought proper to agree with Co !. Patton for the carrying of the Andover Iron-Works, have instructed Col. Fowler to apply to the government of your State and procure the possession of the works for Col. Thomas Maybury, with whom the terms of the con- tract are settled ou condition of his getting the possession agreeably to the resolution of Congress. As we find it absolutely necessary to put these works in blast, the Board beg the favor of Your Excellency to assist Col. Flower or Col. Maybury in the business. They will necessarily have to have such, relative to these works, with the government of your State. " By order of the Board,

" RICHARD PETERS.

" IIIS EXCELLENCY GOV. LIVINGSTON."

Three days afterwards Col. Flower addressed the following letter to Governor Livingston :

" LERANON, May 28, 1778.

"Sra,-Your Excellency will see by the Honorable Board of War and Ordinance that they have not thought proper to agree with Col. Patton for the carrying ou of the Andover Iron-Works, and have directed nie to apply to the government of your State and procure the possession of the works-to wit, the furnaces and forges-for Col. Thomas Maybury, with whom I havo made a contract for the iron to be made at the said works to be converted into steel, agreeably to the resolution of the Honorable Congress of the 15th of January last; since Col. Patton could not get possession of these works with the consent of the owners (two of them being with the enemy in Philadelphia), and Mr. Chew, whom Mr. White- head Humphreys and myself waited on, who is another owner, refused to have anything to do with it, as he was only part owner, but advised me to send in a flag to Philadelphia in order to treat with Messrs. Allen & Turner on the terms of the lease, agreeably to the resolution of the House of Assembly of your Stute ou the 13th of March last; which ad- vice of Mr. Chew I considered as an insult, as he knew such a step was inipracticable.

"} therefore, on behalf of the United States of North America, beg leave to solicit Your Excellency's assistance in these premises, in order to have Col. Maybury put in possession of the Andover works as soon ns possible. As Your Honors were pleased to assure us that if the present owners of the works refused to let them for the use of the public the Legislature would then take the necessary steps for putting them in pos- session of a proper person, in order to have them carried on for the pur- pose before mentioned, I hope the Legislature will approve Col. Maybury and give him such assistance as will ennblo him to perform his contract, and that Your Excellency will use your influence to accomplish this very essential and important business.

" I have the honor to be Your Excellency's most obedient, obliged, and humble servant,

" BENJ. FLOWER, " Col. Adg. C. G. M.

"ITIS EXCELLENOY GOV. LIVINGSTON."

Col. Maybury was accordingly placed in possession, and the works were employed until the close of the war in making pig iron and casting cannon-balls for

+ For the netion of the Continental Congress, as well as of the Legis- luture of New Jersey, in this mutter, seo pp. 56, 57 of this volume.

* Sce pages 57-61 of this work for tho miost full and authentic history of Moody yet published .- Editor.

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ANDOVER.

the American army. They were ultimately confis- cated, and, along with other landed possessions once belonging to Allen & Turner, were sold for the benefit of the government.

I'pon the close of the war the mines were aban- doned and the works neglected because of the ex- haustion of timber fuel. The revival of the mining interest is spoken of elsewhere.

Mention having already been made of the existence of a store at Andover during the progress of the works under the dircetion of Allen & Turner, it may be in order to quote from the pages of an account-book, under date of May 8, 1773, showing that for articles sold at the Andover store prices were then as follows : 58. for a bushel of corn; 58. 6d. per bushel for rye ; &d. per pound for sugar; 18d. for coffee; 9d. for tobacco ; 2x, for a peck of salt ; 23 cents per pound for flour ; 7 cents for pork ; 4 cents for beef; molasses, 1s. per quart ; 78. 6d. for a bushel of wheat; 98. for a pair of shoes; 50x, for a beaver hat ; 1s. for a razor; 48 cents per yard for red flannel ; 18, for a paper of pins; and 2×, 6d. for "check." Among the customers' names found upon the store-book appear those of James Stewart, John Blanchard, Amos Pettit, John James, Abraham Ayres, Mathew Wheaton, Adam White, William Coughran, John Young, Azariah Smalley, Mathew Mills, Patrick Doyle, Amos Brock, Benja- min Moore, Luke Kelly, Jonathan Salsbury, Patrick Campbell, John Dougherty, John Knight, John Dar- berry, John Crow, Joseph Hancock, Daniel Burns, Samuel Price, William Hart, John Lowe, John Sheals, Thomas Price, Higgins Coppinger, Benjamin Bedell, Lewis Ayres, Edward Martin, George Oswald, Fred- erick McCafferty, James McIlwe, John Connell, Peter Dragoc, Andrew Willson, William Holmes, William Mahoney, John Seabolt, Peter Bossu, John Grady, Azzar Read, Thomas Beatty, John Kirkendall, Jo- seph Augustus, John Vennett, John Quig, John Rob- inson, Thomas Christy, William Coppinger, Peter Main, John Stull, William Oliver, and James Fagan.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 110

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