History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 132

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 132
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 132

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The premiums awarded from year to year on stock, machinery, farm produce, and ladies' handiwork have ranged from eight hundred to twelve hundred dollars. The tendency of its fairs of late years has been to- wards the speed of horses, which, in an agricultural county like this, should not be permitted. The county being rich in its mineral resources, as well as having

a very fertile soil, prodneing almost every variety of grain and vegetables, and being very advantageously situated for marketing its products, an annual exhi- bition by an association like this of the various pro- duets of the farm, the dairy, and the orchard is calculated to aronse and stimulate efforts of rivalry and competition that will tend to develop the best in- terests of the county if it is properly encouraged and conducted.

fff .- THE WARREN COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCE- ATION.

At a meeting of teachers held at Washington in the summer of 1868 it was resolved to organize a county association, and the initial steps were then and there taken by the appointment of a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws.

"The Warren County Teachers' Association" was formed at Phillipsburg, Dec. 26, 1868, on which occa- sion the teachers of the county assembled to hear the report of the committee previously appointed to pre- pare a constitution and by-laws for the association. Mr. 11. C. Putnam was president and J. S. Smith see- retary of the meeting. The report was accepted and the constitution and rules adopted. After signatures were obtained thereto the following officers were chosen : President, 11. C. Putnam ; Vice-Presidents, W. Il. Prouty, Mrs. Couch; Recording Secretary, Joseph S. Smith; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Maggie Yale.

The constitution provided for stated meetings in January, May, and September, but the first regular meeting was held in May, 1869. Several meetings were held, as provided by the constitution, quite reg- ularly during its earlier years, but for several years past the association has hell no sessions, and is now inoperative.

"Teachers' Institutes" have been held nearly every year ever since the enactment of the present school law .* The annual reports of the county school su- perintendents give a full account of their proceedings and the practical results of their work.

* The first (or about the first) Teachers' Institute of Warren County was held at Washington in the year 1853.

TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS OF WARREN COUNTY.

TOWN OF BELVIDERE.

I .- GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

THIS village, beautiful for location, picturesque in its surroundings, is pleasantly situated upon either side of the Pequest Creek at its confluence with the Delaware River. That portion of the town lying upon the south side of the creek, and oldest in point of settlement by the white race, is upon a broad, level plateau, some 30 or 40 feet above the level of the river, and regularly laid out in squares. Here, too, is the public square, with its noble old elms, pines, and buttonwoods, neatly trimmed, surrounded by a suitable railing, the whole presenting an air of solidity, neatness, and comfort. Here, also, is located the Warren County court-house, occupying a central position opposite the north side of the park, while the Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, Presby- terian, and Baptist churches face the east, south, and west sides of the park.

With the exception of Water Street, that portion of the town lying upon the north side of the Pequest is upon ground more or less uneven, with an abrupt bluff running from, Market Street, in rear of, and nearly parallel with, Water Street, easterly to the vicinity of Miller's bridge, showing unmistakable evidence that it was at one time, far back in the misty past, the low bank of the then unnamed Pe- quest Creek, the outlet of a small lake then covering an area back of the vicinity of what is now Miller's bridge. The north side of the creek is also full of historic associations. There are located the Second Presbyterian church, the Hoops, and later the Paul, property, the pioneer tavern, and other points of in- terest.

The town is located geographically in latitude 40° 47' N., and longitude 1º 50' E. from Washington ; 65 miles west of New York, 65 miles north of Phila- delphia, and 13 miles above Easton, reckoning dis- tance by turnpike.

II .- EARLY SETTLEMENT AND PIONEER INCI- DENTS.

The well-known habits of the aboriginal tribes that inhabited this region of country previous to its occupation by the white man, the large number of their warlike implements found, and the topography

of the surrounding country, all furnish unmistakable evidence that the beautiful plateau upon the south side of the Pequest was at one time an Indian village. Whether there were any remnants of the Indian tribes here when Rohert Patterson, the pioneer of Belvidere, traveled this way and asserted his sover- eignty by squatting upon the site now occupied by the Warren House, is not definitely known ; but it is pre- sumable, however, that they had left this their happy hunting- and fishing-ground in accordance with a treaty made with William Penn, he having pur- chased (as it was ealled) of them the tract upon which the town of Belvidere is situated. This was in the early days known as the " Alford tract."

The next landowner in that portion lying south of the Pequest was Robert Morris, who, Nov. 15, 1793, gave a deed of the entire tract to his son-in-law and daughter, Charles and Mary Croxall. The deed of Morris to Croxall was one of those peculiar instru- ments in writing so frequently made in those days, en- tailing the property to the heirs of Charles and Mary Croxall forever ; but by an act of the State Legislature passed Feb. 14, 1818, the entailment imposed by the deed of 1793 was discharged, and the estate unfet- tered and converted into a fee simple.

The family history of the Croxalls and the devolu- tion of this property-i.e., so much of the town of Bel- videre as lies on the south side of the Pequest-be- tween 1793 and 1825, showing the different titles, tides the property over a period of so many years, and finally settles it in possession of its present rightful owners.

Charles and Mary Croxall had four children,- Thomas, Daniel C., Anna Maria (who married Clau- dius F. Le Grand), and Morris. The three eldest had become of full age prior to November, 1817. Morris, the youngest, became of full age in 1820. Prior to his coming of age Peter Gordon was his duly- constituted guardiau.

Previous to 1817 the life estate of Charles Croxall, by judgments, sheriffs' sales, and otherwise, had become vested partly in Mary Croxall and partly in trustees in trust for her; and Charles and Mary had, in 1814, conveyed one undivided half of the lands to their sons, Thomas and Daniel.

* By W. II. Show.

532

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COURT HOUSE AT BELVIDERE, WARREN CO. N J.

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TOWN OF BELVIDERE.

In 1818 the Legislature of New Jersey, on the ap- plication of Thomas, the eldest son, and by the con- sent of Charles and Mary Croxall, and the younger children and the guardian of Morris, passed an act authorizing a division of the entire tract of 61.1 acres among the four children in fee simple. This di- vision was made, and the family arrangement thus agreed upon and authorized by legislative enactment was further carried out by mutual deeds of bargain, sale, and release by the several children to each other respectively for their respective shares in fee simple, confirmed by Charles and Mary Croxall, and contain- ing covenants of non-claim. The chain of titles since the deed of Robert Morris are as follows :

The act of the Legislature dated Feb. 11, Ists, and the division made by the commissioners under that act.

Deed from Thomas Croxall and wife, Daniel C. Crexall and wife, C. F. Le Grand and wife, to Morris Croxall, in fee simple for the share set off 10 Morris, Including the promises in question, dated March 16, 1823.

Mortgage given by Morris Croxall to Thomas Lomassen, dated March 19, 1x33, and paid by Garret D. Wall.

Deed from Morita Cruxall to Garret D. Wall, dated Sept. 30, 182%, for the sharo set off to Morris In fee simple, with full covenants and war- runty.

Deed from Charles Croxall (after the death of Mary) to Garret D. Wall, Unted Sopt. 30, 1825, releasing the entire Gli acres.

Dred from Garret D. Wull to John M. Sherrerd, dated Jun. 5, 1827, for the Croxall house and lot, containing two acres of land. This was the first salo made of any of the Croxall property.

The Croxall property, over which there has been so much litigation, was embraced within the following lines :

" Beginning on the south side of Second Street, at the river, at low- water mark ; running in a straight line to the northeast corner of Hlou. W. 11. Morrow's lut on Greenwich Street, opjuwite Third ; thence south- ensterly diagonally through the grounds of the chusjent nendemy, bu- Iween Third and Fourth, and the puldir school grounds, between Fourth and Fifth Street4, on the lino of Independence Street to the old liles property, now owned by Levi S. Johnston ; thence northerly in a straight Jino to near n white-unk tree at the intersection of Oxford and Parker Strocts ; thence northrusterly to neur the upper end of the rare; thenice across to North Water Street, following that down to Wall Street ; thenco north to Deluwuro Street ; thenco wert to the Delaware River; thenco down the Delaware Elver to place of beginning."

This embraces all the water-power within the town of Belvidere, the county buildings, four of the churches, the most prominent residences, and the business portion of the town.

During its ownership by Mr. Wall he very gener- ously donated to Warren County the public square, also the grounds upon which the county buildings stand, lle also gave to the several churches sur- rounding the public park the lots upon which their church edifices and parsonages stand, except the Bap- tist church lot, which was purchased of Hon. George M. Robeson in 1866.

Previous to the purchase of the Croxall property by Mr. Wall, that portion of Belvidere was very slow in growth, and as late as 1820 there was not half a dozen dwellings on the south side of the Request, and in 1826 they numbered but seven.

The pioneer house was probably that built by Rob- ert Patterson, and torn down in 1838 by Maj. Depeu. This was a block-house, or double log house, as it was

styled in those days. Just when it was built is not known, but it must have been near the middle of the last century. It was built of hard-wood timber, 10 by 14 inches square, and white-oak plank 3 inches thick, and dovetailed together at the corners of the building, and the major said he had a " tarnal tough job a-giten 'em apart." This was no doubt the first house in what is now Belvidere.

The Croxall mansion, still standing on Greenwich Street between Front and Second Streets, was built in or about 1780, and is now owned by the J. M. Sher- rerd estate. It was known for many years as the loveliest spot in Warren County, with a beautiful lawn between the mansion and the road that swept around the hill below.

Five other and smaller dwellings was the sum total, down to 1826, upon the south side of the Pequest.

Dr. Paul, in an article entitled "Belvidere One Hundred Years Ago," says there was in 1780 a stone distillery stamling on the corner between the east end of South Water Street and the bridge, and the bridge at that time was a very primitive affair, built of logs and poles, where now stands a substantial iron bridge. The double log house of Patterson's, afterwards known as the "Mansion House," was in 1780 tenanted by Robert Patterson, who was a tinman.

After Patterson's removal, the doctor says, a store was kept.in the house for some time by old Mathew Lowry (and brothers), the father of John Lowry, so well known throughout this region as " Captain Jack," and who was so famous for his expertness in steering Durham boats and rafts of lumber down through the rapids of the Little and Great Foul Rifts.

The two houses on the northern side of the Pequest were a double log house, on the site of the late Dr. J. 3. Paul's residence, in the grove up Market Street," and the other was a small log house built against the bank southwest from the Dr. Paul mansion, in rear of what was known as " Old Juddy's" lot, and occupied by George Matthew, a day-laborer.

The Rev. Mr. Treat, a Presbyterian minister, resided in the double log house on the hill, and officiated at the old Oxford log church. The dwelling of Mr. Treat was known afterwards as the "Cottman house." and was subsequently occupied by Maj. Robert Hoops. an extensive land proprietor in and about this place. He came to Belvidere about 1770, and purchased the mill- and water-power, together with the adjoining properties on either side of the Pequest, amounting to some 500 acres of land, known since as the Paul and Croxall tracts.

Some years subsequent to the purchase of the water- power, Hoops erected an extensive slaughter-house on the lot where now stand the fine barns of D. C. Blair, on the north side of the Oxford road, just across from the Belvidere House. In this building great numbers of cattle and hops were slaughtered and

. Drs. Larrabee and Gwinnup both Hved In the ell double log honse. The l'aul manslon was built by Dr. George Green in about 1830.

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

packed, which, together with the flour manufactured at the mill, were transported to middle Jersey for the use of the Revolutionary army ; and not unfre- quently, at that period, all the farmers' wagons and sleds were put into requisition to convey these articles to the half-starving thousands under the command of Gen. Washington, in the vicinity of Morristown.

Dr. Paul, in his "One Hundred Years," says the first frame honse erected in Belvidere was put up by Maj. Hoops, on the site now occupied by the first house below the Second Presbyterian church, on Market Street. It was occupied by Messrs. Hoops & Hyndshaw as a surveyor's office. The frame of this house was removed in 1827 by Dr. Clark, Sr., and converted into a dwelling for a blacksmith by the name of Wright.

Hon. J. P. B. Maxwell says in " Historical Collec- tions," 1841, that shortly after Robert Patterson lo- cated here "a small block-house was erected on the north side of the Pequest, some 30 or 40 yards east of the present toll-house of the Belvidere Delaware bridge. Some time previous to the Revolutionary war a hattle was fought on the Pennsylvania side of the river between a band of Indians, who came from the north, and the Delawares residing in the neighborhood, aided by the whites, in which the latter were defeated and driven to the Jersey side."

" About that time the principal part of the lands on the north side of the Pequest was owned by Maj. Hoops, while that on the south side was owned by Robert Morris," who entailed it, as has been stated.

While Maj. Robert Hoops owned the north side of the Pequest he surveyed it into town plats, and gave the town the name of "Mercer," which it retained for many years. This was then the business part of the town, for in fact there was no town or business on the south side, except the double log or block-house of Patterson's, which was occupied as a store, and subsequently as a tavern, and the Croxall-now known as the Sherrerd-mansion, which was in all probability built by Robert Morris about the year 1780. It is quite positively known, says Dr. P. H. Brakcley, that the well in front of his office, standing next south of the old mansion, was dug as near 1780 as can be ascertained by Robert Morris. The water in this well is so strongly impregnated with iron as to be unfit for culinary purposes, and after J. M. Sherrerd came into possession of the property he caused it to be filled up.

This well was on a line with and about half-way between the old mansion and the pioneer barn, that stood for nearly a century in the corner of the lot just south of Dr. Brakeley's office, and was taken down by the doctor a few years since. In 1876-77, Dr. Brake- ley caused the old pioneer well to be cleaned out, and found in the bottom an old-fashioned claw-hammer and a piece of white oak pump-log, from the latter of which he had a walking-stick made. Both hammer and cane are preserved by the doctor as relics of the last century.

Another of the old landmarks of the town of Bel- videre is the old stone mansion on the southwest cor- ner of Mansfield and Second Streets, and known as the " Robeson Mansion," built in 1834 by Hon. John P. B. Maxwell.

Among others whom we find have borne a promi- nent part in the development of Belvidere is Maj. Benjamin Depeu. He is a descendant of the Depeu family who settled in the Minisink or Pahaquarry valley nearly two centuries ago, whose descendants are scattered all through the country, and many of whom have become honored citizens of other States as well as this. Mr. Depeu was born Sept. 1, 1796, two miles below Belvidere, on the farm now owned by Mr. Britton. He located in the town of Belvidere in 1838, and for many years was one of its most promi- nent citizens, and is yet, although deprived of his eye- sight, quite active, and as conversant with the busi- ness affairs of the world as most men at half his age and with perfect sight.

John Shay, another of Belvidere's early residents, was born in Easton, Pa., Aug. 10, 1812, and came with his parents to this place in 1816, where he still resides.

Daniel Hull was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., Feb. 7, 1801, and has been conversant with Belvidere since 1810, and finally located here in 1844, where he ex- pects to spin out the brittle thread of life .*

Frederick Searles, from whose storehouse of written memoranda pertaining to the early history of Bel- videre we have been permitted to make oft-repeated drafts, was born on Rattlesnake Hill, in Oxford town- ship, in 1804, and as early as 1820 was doing business in Belvidere for himself. Here he has since resided, having been prominently identified with the building up of the town, and for ten years having served as one of the justices of the peace.

EARLY PHYSICIANS.

The good physician is one of the men in a com- munity identified with the whole people, especially in a new country. Among that class of pioneers at Belvidere, or rather " Mercer," as it was then known, was Dr. Jabez Gwinnup, who came to this town during the latter part of the last century and located on the site of the late Dr. Paul's mansion. He remained here till 1815, when he removed to Delaware Station, where he died. Drs. Larabee and Fell were here about the same time. Dr. Moreland was here about the close of the Revolutionary war. IIe was a sur- geon in the British army, and for reasons best known to himself he decided to spend the remainder of his days and usefulness on American soil, which he did.

TAVERNS, EARLY AND LATER.

Previous to 1800, but the exact date we were un- able to ascertain, a tavern was kept in what was then the "Town of Mercer," on the north side of the

# Mr. Shay and Mr. Hull have both furnished the bistorian with valu- able data for this work.

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TOWN OF BELVIDERE.

Pequest. The little old dwelling standing on the side hill up against the southeast corner of the Dr. l'auł property on Market Street was a tavern as early as 1800, and kept at that time by Capt. William MelIenry, who was subsequently succeeded by James MeMurtrie. This was at one time the only tavern in Mercer. The property is now owned by Miss 11. l'ritchett.

The next of the three taverns there in 1800 is the venerable-looking long, low, crooked two-story wooden structure dignified by the title of " Franklin House," and kept in 1825-30 by John Deitrick. This is one of the ancient of ancients, in which a tavern has been kept most of the time for nearly or quite a hundred years, its present keeper being Mr. G. Cramer.

Third, and by no means known to be the youngest, is the " Washington House," built prior to 1800, burned in 1833, rebuilt in 1834, and kept from that time until 1840 by Daniel Winters. It was kept prior and subsequent to 1874 by John G. Schenck. It was again destroyed by fire in 1877, and rebuilt in 1881, being completed about April Ist. It is located on the west side of Market Street, near Water.

In 1820 another tavern was opened in " Mercer" by Capt. John Craig, up Market Street, east side, near the railroad crossing, now owned and occupied by Thomas Payne as a dwelling.

The pioneer tavern on the south side of the Pe- quest is conceded to be the old double log or block- house of the pioneer Robert Patterson. After it was vacated by Patterson it was occupied as a store, and then again as a tavern by William Craig, who was succeeded by Joseph Norton, and in 1838 it was purchased by Maj. Benjamin Depeu, who removed it and built the present brick structure, known as the "Warren House," which the major kept for many years. Now owned by Widow Anderson, and kept by Vincent Smith.

The " Belvidere House," corner of Hardwick and Front Streets, is of wood, built in 1831 by Chapman Warner, uncle of S. T. Scranton. It was originally built for a store and a dwelling ; the corner room, now the bar-room, was occupied as a store. Mr. Warner also kept a lumber-yard in connection with his store. It was converted into a hotel and named " Belvidere House" in 18-, and kept by William Butler. Hle was succeeded by William Craig, who was followed in 1844 by John P. Ribble. Then came C. Taylor, Mr. Floyd, Peter Fisher, William Brockaw, and then purchased by Peter Fisher. He was succeeded by his sons, Hugh and William Fisher, and they by Joseph Fisher, the present proprietor.

As early as 1810 or 1812, when the name of " Bel- videre" had not yet seen the light, a tavern was kept by a Mr. Todd near where Judge W. H. Morrow's new house stands.

The " American Hotel," located on the east side of Mansfield, between Front and Second Streets, was built originally by Nelson Jay in 1835. John Young

was the next owner. He was succeeded by Peter Fisher and Isaac Houghawont, when Fisher subse- quently purchased Houghawout's interest, and in 1865 the property was purchased by Mr. Augustus Lan- bach, the present proprietor. He has from time to time enlarged and improved the house, until it is at present one of the best hotels in Warren County.

The old "Franklin House," on Market Street, was built in sections. The old tavern part, or upper end, was built first, and Samuel Loder, a tailor by trade, built the next section, and in 1833 the now venerable John Shay built the lower end, and finally the upper end absorbed the rest, and the whole became the " Franklin House," kept in 1834 by Daniel Winters, who was subsequently sheriff of Warren County.

PIONEER MERCHANTS.

In the latter part of the last century a stone build- ing was ereeted on what is now the northwest corner of Market and North Water Streets, and occupied as early as 1792-93 by Capt. John Kinney and Thomas Paul, general merchants. They were succeeded in 1800 by Messrs. Wares & Waterfield. This store was in the corner of the building, on the site now occupied by Freeman Brothers, clothiers. Wares & Waterfield subsequently kept store in a small buikling west of the Warren House. In 1818, and to 1821, Brown kept a store in the west end of the old stone store- house. His store was about on the site now occupied by the drug-store of A. G. Smith. The old stone storehouse was destroyed by fire in 1877.

Another of the pioneer merchants, and probably the first in Mercer, was Robert Hoops. Ilis store- house was on the site now occupied by Mr. Carhart's residence, tirst south of the Second Presbyterian church. Hoops was succeeded in the mercantile business at this place by Peter Kleinhaus, in about 1800. As early as 1810 there was a store kept just south of Judge Morrow's new residence by Francis Dunlevy, who was sneceeded by Daniel Hopkins. The old store building long since disappeared.

When Patterson's old log house was still standing a frame addition was attached to it, and when pur- chased by Maj. Depeu the frame part was moved across the road on the site now occupied by Kerns' drug-store, converted into a storehouse, and occu- pied by Robert Boyd as a drug-store. Boyd was succeeded in the drug trade at that place in 1854 or 1855 by Dr. Byington.

The pioneer crockery-store in Belvidere was opened in the spring of 1871, by T. W. Hilton, on Front Street, opposite the Warren House, who is still in trade at that place.

The pioneer clothing-store in Belvidere was opened in the spring of 1855, by Charles Freeman, in the room now occupied by W. T. Laubach, on Water Street.

Among the merchants of Belvidere in the early part of the present century was Theodore Paul, who in 1826 built a brick storehouse on the northeast cor-

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ner of Water and Market Streets, in front of his pres- ent residence. In 1868-69 the unsightly pile of brick was removed.

MISCELLANEOUS. .

Previous to 1838 the bridge across the Pequest where the lower bridge is now located, and known as the " Market Street bridge," was a wooden structure, or rather several of them, at different periods. Its successor was an improvement, but not up to the times. In 1838 a stone arch-bridge was built by Pe- ter Baylor, contractor. March 9, 1839, a portion of the arch-bridge was destroyed by water, and immedi- ately rebuilt by Frederick Searles. This last stone bridge remained till about 1858, when it was replaced by the present iron bridge. This bridge is of the truss pattern.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 132

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