History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 115

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 115
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 115

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Edwin Bevans, son of James C. and Maria Boevans, was born Feb. 1, 1839. His minority was spent at home, where he became inured to farm-work and learned those inestimable lessons of industry and perseveranee that

are indispensable to a sueeessful business career. He married, Dee. 12, 1860, Kate, a daughter of Aaron and Permelia (Howell) Sehooley, of Newton township, and granddaughter of Joseph Schooley, one of its first set- tlers. She was born Ang. 13, 1811, and was one in a family of fourteen children-four sons and ten daugh- ters-by the first marriage of her father, and six chil- dren by a second marriage. The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Bevans are W. Barger and Blanche I.

From 1860 to 1863, Mr. Bevans carried on a general mercantile business at Bushkill, Menroe Co., Pa., and on April 1, 1863, he was selected as steward of the Sus- sex County almshouse, to which place he removed. llero, by reappointment, he filled the position of steward until April 1, 1877, and then removed and settled on the farm where he now resides, at Washingtonville, which is a part of his father's real estate.

Mr. Bevans has given great attention to dairying sinee his residenee on a farm, and has kept, on an aver- age, some thirty-five mileh-eows annually ; these supply him daily with some two hundred and fifty quarts of milk, which he ships to a New York market, and gets, in 1880, one dollar and sixty cents per can of forty quarts.

Mr. Bevans is known as a good judge of stock, as a representativo farmer, and as a thrifty, industrious, and enterprising business man.

Thomas Struble

PETER STRUBLE, the progenitor of the family in New Jersey, emigrated from the province of Alsace, Germany, in 1748, with his family, and settled at German Valley, N. J., but about 1752 removed, and settled on Smith's Hill, in the old township of New- ton, Sussex Co. With two of his children, Conrad and Adam, he subsequently removed to West Branch, on the Susquehanna River, where he resided until his death, reaching the great age of one hundred and one years. The children left in New Jer- sey were Leonard, George, Peter L., Daniel, Jacob, John, and one daughter, Phener, who married a Mr. Simmons.

Of these children, Leonard was the grandfather of our subject, and was eight years old when he came to this country with his parents. His wife was Margaret Longcoy, who was born in Germany, in 1748, and came to America with her parents at the age of four years, settling in Andover, Sussex Co.

After his marriage Leonard Struble settled on a farm on Smith's Hill, but subsequently purchased one at Myrtle Grove, in Newton township, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1805. lle was quite a large real-cstato owner, and left a good competency for his children. Ile was a man of general information, a member of the Presbyterian Church at Newton, and could speak well both the German and the Eng- lish language. llis wife died in 1822, aged about cighty years. One brother, Daniel, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was stationed at Morristown in 1779 and 1780. His chil- dren were Anthony, Mary, Leonard, Margaret, Elizabeth, Peter L., Catharine, Jacob and Susan (twins).

Of these children, Anthony was father of our subject, Thomas, who was horn June 9, 1809, at Myrtle Grove, on the homestead. Ile married, Nov. 20, 1841, Caroline, a daughter of William and Christiana (Stivers) Snook, of Newton township. Her father is now in the eighty-eighth year of his age, and well

preserved in body and mind, having been born in 1793. The Snook family is one of the oldest in Sussex County, and three generations of Mrs. Struble's ancestors, including her father, have lived to the age of cighty-eight years.

The children of Thomas and Caroline Struble are Walter, died July 7, 1868, aged twenty-five years ; William, died Aug. 24, 1851, aged seven years; Henry M., born Nov. 9, 1846, graduated, at Lafayette College in the class of '73, studied law with the late Levi Shepherd at Newton, and died Nov. 1, 1875; Thomas, born July 2, 1849, died March 24, 1875 ; William A., graduated at the collegiate institute at Newton, was for some time a teacher, and is now carrying on the home- farm at Myrtle Grove; Anna M., wife of Dr. Joseph F. McCloughan of Swartswood ; Laura, wife of William A. La Rue, of Anandale, N. J.

Prior to bis marriage Mr. Struble purchased a farm of two hundred acres, upon which he lived for several years, and in 1859 he purchased another, of David Ryerson, ef two hundred and sixty-six acres, at Myrtle Grove, upon which be resided until 1869; be bad, besides, other real estate. He was never of robust constitution, but was possessed of great energy and resolution. He was a man of good judgment and sound finan- cial ability. Although he had little pecuniary assistance in starting out in life, by his own industry, assisted by a devoted wife, he paid for all his property and left a good competency for his children at his death, which occurred March 24, 1875. He was a promoter of all worthy objects, and well read in the current topics of the day. He was plain and nnassuming in his ways, and never sought preferment in the township by way of public office. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but voted for President Lincoln at bis socond election. Ile was known as a man of strict integrity in all his business relations.

459

HAMPTON.

reaching the remarkable age of one hundred and one years. The children left in New Jersey were Leon- ard, George, Peter L., Daniel, Jacob, John, and one daughter, Phener, who married a Mr. Simmons.

Oliver IStruble

Of these children, Leonard was grandfather of our subject, and was eight years of age when he came to this country with his parents. He married Margaret Longeor, who was born in Germany in 1748 and came to America with her parents at the age of four years, settling in Andover.

After his marriage Leonard Struble settled on a farm on Smith's Hill, but subsequently purchased a farm at Myrtle Grove, in Newton township, where he continued to reside until his death in 1805. He be- came a quite large real-estate owner, and left a good competency for his family. He belonged to the Jef- ferson school in politics, and, although no seeker after place, was chosen as collector, which position he filled for several years. He was one of the early members of the Presbyterian Church at Newton, and a pro- moter of benevolent and charitable interests. He is said to have been a man of general information on the current topics of the times in which he lived, and could speak well both the German and English lan- gunges.

His wife died in 1822, aged over eighty years.

One brother, Daniel, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, and was stationed at Morristown, N. J., in 1779 and 1780. The children of Leonard Struble were Anthony; Mary, wife of Robert Bell; Leonard; Margaret, wife of George Roce; Elizabeth, wife of Peter Bales; Peter L .; Catharine, wife of John Hoffman;

Jacob and Susan (twins). Susan became the wife of William Roe.

Peter L., son of Leonard Struble, was born on the homestead on Smith's Hill, July 3, 1778.

His first wife was Margaret Lanee, who bore him four children,-William P .; Anna Maria, who became the wife of Benjamin Griggs, of Ohio; Elias; and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Richard Merring, of Illinois.

His second wife was Ruth, a daughter of Moses and Mary ( Hull) Morris. She was born March 13, 1783, and died Nov. 11, 1867. The children born of this union were Phobe, wife of Azariah Drake, and Oliver.

Peter L. Struble was a cabinetmaker by trade, and carried on business at Branchville for several years after his first marriage. Upon his father's decease he settled upon a farm now owned by his son Oliver, which was a part of his father's estate, and there re- sided until his death, which occurred Nov. 11, 1852. He was a man of sterling integrity, and sought to fulfill the full duties of the citizen.

Oliver Struble, son of Peter L., was born on the farm where he now resides, March 28, 1821. His minority was spent on the farm and attending the school of his native place. In June, 1842, he mar- ried Maria, daughter of James and Mary (Van Gor- der) Shotwell, and granddaughter of Samuel Shot- well, of Frankford township. She was born Aug. 12, 1822. Their children are Peter L., Albert, James C., and James D., died young ; O. Linn, J. Watson, Ruth, and II. Jennie. Mr. Struble sneceeded to the homestead by purchase of the other heirs, which con- tains some two hundred and eighty acres. To this property he has added the homestead of his grand- father, at Myrtle Grove. He ranks among the sub- stantial business men of Sussex County, is a man of strict integrity in all his business relations, and well read in the current topics of the day. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been chosen to fill some offices in his township. He was one of the township com- mittee for several years, was judge of election and surveyor of highways.

JOHN HENDERSHOT.

The Hendershot family of Sussex Co., N. J., are of Holland origin.

Jacob Hendershot married Miss Ethe Paugh, and re- sided in the old township of Newton (now Hampton ), near the village of Newton. He was quite a large real-estate owner. His children were Peter ; John : Jacob; Abraham; Isaac; Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Ayers; Effie, wife of Daniel Predmore; Mary, wife of James Smith ; and Catharine, wife of Jacob Arvis.

Jacob Hendershot was father of John, and died at the age of fifty-one years, in the year 1834. His wife was Mary Louis, of Pleasant Valley, who survived him several years, and died in 1853, aged sixty-two

460

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

years. Their children are Peter, died young; Jesse ; Phebe, became the wife of John Bell; John; Mary Ann, wife of Garret Rosenkrans; Jacob; Clarissa ; Levi; Hannah. Of these children, only John and Mary Ann survive in 1881.

John Hendershot was born on the homestead where he now resides, April 19, 1814. This property be- longed to his grandfather, and upon it his father sub- sequently resided. He married, March 19, 1836, Martha, a daughter of Anthony and Mary (Kays) Struble, and granddaughter of Leonard Struble, who was a son of Peter Struble, the first progenitor of the Struble family in Snssex Co., N. J., and who settled on Smith's Hill, in the township of Hampton, about 1752, and was born in Germany, province of Alsace, from which place he emigrated in 1748. She was born April 11, 1811. Their children are Margaret

Ann; Jacob B .; Joseph A .; Mary L .; Frances A., wife of James S. McDanolds, State librarian of New Jer- sey ; George D .; and Rosie E.

Mr. Hendershot is one of the representative agri- culturists of Sussex County, and a man widely known for his integrity in all his business relations. His life has been wholly devoted to farming. In 1839 he erected a substantial farm residence on his place, and in 1840 commodious barns, and all his surroundings show the work of a thrifty and judicious farmer.

He has lent his aid in the erection of the churches at Swartswood, and has been a supporter of benevo- lent and charitable objects in the vicinity where he resides.

Ile was originally a member of the Democratic party, but upon the organization of the Republican party he became allied to its principles of reform.

BYRAM.

I .- GEOGRAPHICAL, Erc.

THE township of Byram, with a population of 1400, occupies the extreme southern point of Sussex County, having the townships of Andover and Sparta on the north, Morris and Warren Counties on the south, Morris County on the east, and the townships of Green and Andover on the west. It is oblong in shape, averaging abont eight miles in length and five in width.

Lake Hopatcong, lying between Byram and Morris County, is a handsome sheet of water, about six miles long and two miles wide at its widest part. It is a valu- able adjunct to the Morris Canal, which it feeds, while it occupies the highest elevation on the line of the canal. Its waters, which pass eastward to the Hudson as well as westward to the Delaware, are plentifully stocked with fish, and freely invite the attention of sportsmen from miles around.

Byram is conspicuous for being devoted to agricul- ture in a lesser degree than any township in the county, and in possessing within its soil in almost every direc- tion abundant deposits of iron ore, which, while crowd- ing aside the interests of agriculture, compensate for that action by contributing largely to the town's wealth and prosperity.

Although the Morris and Essex Railroad has near Waterloo village a station called Waterloo, the road does not, as a matter of fact, touch Sussex County. The Sussex Railroad passes across the township, and has one of its termini at Waterloo.

Stanhope, the most important village in Byram, is

an iron-manufacturing centre of some pretensions. Waterloo is but a rural hamlet. Roseville was a mining village, but is now dismantled.

Watercourses are numerous in Byram, and water- power abundant. The Musconetcong River flows from Lake Hopatcong along the town's southern bor- der, while a branch of the river, called Lubber's Run, passes through the centre of the township from north- east to south west.

The assessed valuation of Byram in 1879 was $523,410, and in the same year the taxation aggre- gated $6465.20.

II .- EARLY SETTLERS, Erc.

The earliest settlements made in Byram centred about the localities opened to the iron-working in- terest, for there was scarcely any inducement for the farmer, in view of the facts, first, that the land was generally given over to the production of ore and hence ill adapted to the purposes of agriculture, and, secondly, that there was more profit in iron-mining than in farming sterile lands. Hence nearly all who penetrated the township at an early date concerned themselves more or less with the development of iron mines or with iron-working.

There were furnaces or forges at several places, such as Stanhope, Brooklyn, Old Andover (now Wa- terloo), Lockwood, Roseville, and Columbia, where settlements sprang up and made the country a mod- erately busy one while they lasted. These settlements were, however, in the nature of things, transitory and changeable in their character. As the iron interests declined, however, public attention was more closely

* By David Schwartz.

461

BYRAM.

directed to the business of agriculture, and so, grad- ually but slowly, iron-mining gave place in some measure to farming, and before long there was a con- siderable show of effort at developing what agricul- tural resources the soil might possess.

Among the earliest of the bona-fide settlers may be mentioned the brothers Byram,-Jephthah and John, -after whose family name the town was christened upon organization, in 1798. These Byrams lived near Columbia, and there, too, a shoemaker, by name .John Bird, lived. Bird worked frequently for John Byram, and was, withal, a dealer in practical jokes, the which he portioned out freely to whomsoever happened to come within range.

John Byram owned a nice melon-patch, of which he was inordinately proud, and upon which divers and sundry covetous persons had set their longing desires, but vainly, since John knew how to watch the treasures and defend them. Bird was, however, determined to have not only his joke, but some of Byram's melons in the bargain, and, what's more, was resolved that Byram should himself be a party to the abstraction. Accordingly, he mentioned quite casually to Byram one day that he had found a lovely melon- patch, and asked him if he wouldn't go around some fine night and get some. Byram was quite as ready to raid a strange melon-patch as he was to defend his own, and so, that night Bird leading him by a round- about path to his own patch, both loaded up with all they could carry, and made off' in high glee at having ontwitted the owner. When Byram learned from Bird the next day that he had robbed his own patch, he offered Bird ten dollars to say nothing about it to the neighbors. Bird wouldn't promise, and then Byram, becoming a philosopher, resolved to tell it himself. Ever after that he lost no chance of repeating the story, and always with infinite zest.

Nicholas Byram, son to John, took possession of the old place upon his father's death, and there re- sides now the widow of Nicholas Byram, with James Mcleake, her son-in-law.

Anthony Heminover lived about a mile above Rose- ville, where he died at the age of ninety. He had a son named Anthony, and now a grandson bearing the same name lives near Lockwood. Robert Byerly, liv- ing at Roseville, is a son to John Byerly, who married one of the daughters of the first Anthony Heminover mentioned. It is toll of John Byerly that, being once at Newton during one of his periodical moods of dissatisfaction with the government of the nation, he exclaimed in a public place that King George had ruled the country once, and, according to his belief, the country would be better off if King George were to rule it again. There was a strong expression of disapproval at his remarks, and one John Moore, standing near, went so far as to attack Byerly and violently assault him. There was a good deal of ex- citement over the matter, and the popular feeling was naturally directed against Byerly. He was, however,

determined to assert his rights in the premises, and so, obtaining a warrant, he caused Moore's arrest. The prisoner soon found a legion of supporters, who prom- ised to stand by him through thick and thin; and when he was marched away to jail he was attended by a crowd of admirers, whose strong desire seemed to be to make the march an ovation. Upon his trial he was convicted and fined to pay $1 in addition to the costs ($40). In a twinkling a dozen hands eame quickly forward to pay the fine, and then bore the heroic Moore away in triumph, much, doubtless, to his joyful satisfaction.

There was a settlement in the locality known as Brooklyn as early as the Revolutionary period, during which an Englishman named Rappalee had a 4-fire bar-iron forge there. Before the close of the war he, his family, and his men moved away, and, about 1800, Phineas Randolph, of Morris County, came into pos- session of the property. He started a 3-fire forge, and carried it on a dozen years or more. In 1814, James Hinchman took hold of the business, but in 1816, when the iron interests generally sutlered a collapse, he gave it up. Charles Randolph revived it in 1×18, and not long after that William Zeek, the owner of a large farm in that neighborhood, operated two fires of the forge, and for him John Lewis, now a resident of Stanhope, worked when a lad. Zeck carried on the forge business until his death, in 1828, when the Mor- ris Canal Company obtained control of it. But little was done at that point, however, after 1830. There was a good water-power there, and during the time of Rappalee and Phineas Randolph a saw- and grist-mill at that point attracted considerable business.

The settlements at Brooklyn, however, were so tran- sitory and uneertain in their character, it is at this day impossible to find but faint traces of the presence of descendants of Brooklyn's earlier residents. Among those who can now be remembered as having lived there in 1815 were Jacob Miller, Thomas Jones, Wil- liam Sheldon, Simeon Dickerson, John Abell, Mr. Oliver, Nicholas White, and William Zeek.

William MeKain came from Ireland, and abont 1783 brought his family to Byram. He located on a farm near Roseville, and there subsequently his sons Alexander, Thomas, William, and James also became settlers. In 1816, Alexander bought the Lockwood tavern-stand, then kept by Mark Luce and owned by Daniel Chambers, who lived in the town as early as 1800, and built the tavern probably about the time the Union turnpike was opened, in 1807. McKain, whose wife was called "the smartest woman in the town," became a well-known and popular personage, and was designated far and near as " the Governor." Ile called his tavern the " Lockwood House," and kept it to his satisfaction and profit until the comple- tion of the Morris and Essex Railroad relegated the famous pike to obscurity. Stages stopped at MeKain's to change horses, and, as there was a vast deal of travel over the route first and last, the tavern drove a

462

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

brisk business and was reputed to be a hostelry high in favor with the traveling public. When McKain went to Lockwood he cansed the Lockwood post- office to be established, and himself to be appointed postmaster, which he retained as long as the office lasted. Josiah Munson, who kept the Stanhope tavern in 1819, moved to Lockwood in 1820, and with his sons Charles and Hiram opened a store and carried on also a saw-mill and forge. Hiram Munson was a prominent man, and served a term in the Legislature.

Among the early residents at Lockwood were also Delaneey McConnell, a blacksmith, John and Daniel Nixon, the Whites, and many others mainly em- ployed in the mill and forge. Lockwood was for a time a place of local importance, and the general rendezvous on the occasions of town-meetings and general trainings.

The Conns were early comers to Byram. The first of that name in the township was James, who came from Ireland and eventnally located upon a farm about midway between Roseville Mine and Andover. He died there in 1840, at the age of forty. His sons were Joseph, Samuel, and Robert, of whom the only one living is Joseph, now in his eighty-eighth year. He lives in Byram, and is rather proud of the fact that he never married.

Jacob Rose lived at Roseville during the Revolu- tion. His sons, Andrew, John, and Jacob, settled on farms in Byram. All except Andrew died on their farms; he died in Stanhope. The first Andrew at one time owned a forge at Roseville.

Abraham Hathaway, who had a forge later at Stanhope, lived at an early period at a place called Bear Swamp, one mile from Columbia, and there car- ried on a saw-mill. Thomas Drake, one of Byram's early settlers, served in the war of 1812, as did his uncle, Thomas Drake, a resident of Morris County.

BYRAM'S VOTERS IN 1803.

From a preserved list of the names of the persons who voted at the election hield in Byram, Oct. 11 and 12, 1803, for members of Council and General As- sembly, sheriff, and coroners, it appears that one hun- dred and fifteen votes were cast, of which twelve were apparently by women. The names of the voters are here given, the feminine names in italics :

John Bedell, William Zeek, Daniel Jackson, Samuel Smith, James Conn,

William Green, Samnel Staples, Simeon Dickerson, Simon Millham, Michael Dixon, Jonb Rose, Silas Dickerson, Thomas Johnson, Aaron Whitehead, Daniel Perry, Jared Coe, Joab Daniels, Richard Peters, Charles Munn, Willis Pearson, Samuel Bedell, James Rowland, James Gallagher, Amariah Casterline, Thomas Rowland, Samuel

Wright, Jr., Samuel Lyle, Joseph MeNear, Joseph Perry, Samuel Hudson, Abraham Hathaway, Silas Undson, John Gonzales, Jolin Rose, Elizabeth Bedell, John Rhodes, William Unmes, Josiah Miller, David Wright, Daniel Chambers, Lewis Ayers, John Bird, John Jones. Jepthalı Byram, William Heminover, Samuel Landon, Jr., Deris Coe, Jonathan Dickerson, Benjamin Pitney, John Fulkerson, Ephraim Wright, Nicholas Byram, Gilbert Lish, Zebulon Landon, Anichel Lovell, Henry Atno, Jr., Moses Johnson, Abram Fulkerson, Aaron Fulkerson, William Sheldon, Allan Wagar, Josoph Fulkerson, John Cooper, Sr., David Thomas, John Harpperre, James Youmans, Harmon Caffrey, Eliab Byrum, Josoph Willgus, Andrew Swacham-

ber, John Staples, Martin Sidener, Daniel Bird, David Day, Elizabeth Rowland, Ruth Johnson. Asenath Lish, Mary Hayward, Stephen Hann, Joseph L. Dickerson, Joseph Caffrey, Benjamin Hayward, Isaac Hayward, Byram Pitney, Samuel Landon, Esq., Nathan Zeek, John Dickerson, Samuel Bedell, Jr., John Abell, Susannah Byram, Sarah Hayward, Ruchel Hazen, Lemuel De Camp, Surah Hudson, Elizabeth Wright, Mary M. Cuin, Mary Wright, Jacob Youngs, Ebenezer Hunt, William Newman, Benjamin Howard, Zenas Johnson, John Reeder, James Brown, Hercules Clawson, Charles Fisher, Hamilton Patter- son, Joshua Reeves, Joseph Horton, Ruchel Horton, John Masecar, Thomas Mckain, Robert Chambers, Amasa Landon, Mathias Hay- ward.

It is perhaps worthy of observation that of the one hundred and fifteen persons voting, but one boasted a middle name.

BYRAM'S TAX-PAYERS IN 1819.

Of the township assessment rolls now in existenee, the oldest bears date 1819. The names of the tax- payers, with amonnt of land owned and assessed value thereof, appear below :

Names.

Land.

Valuation.

Henry Atno ..

$39.90

William Ayers.

120

200

108.00

Catharine Ahell.

HIII

...

William Abell.

...

Miles, Auson & Co.

14.70

.John Bedell ....

100

104

87.48

Nicholas Byram.

74.52

Anna Bird.

...

......

Daniel Bird.

... ...

John Bowlin

HII

...

.John Budd

12.00

Christopher Case, est.

...

11.20

Joseph Caffrey

29,00

Willimn Cohman

65,45

Asa Cain.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 115

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