History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 152

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 152
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 152

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There are seven cemeteries in Oxford township,- two at Oxford Furnace (union and Roman Catho- lic), two at Oxford village, one on the church lot, and one between the residences of Mrs. Davison and L. Mackey. Summerfield cemetery is located adjoining the Summerfield Methodist Episcopal church, in the south part of the township, in which are represented the Myers, Cole, Rittenhouse, Appleman, Stout, Golds, Willever, Frome, Sarson, Pierson, Voorhees, Cox, Radle, Kugle, Mathews, Parks, Milroy, Woolverton, and other families. Buttzville cemetery, located at Buttzville, on the east side of the township, adjoining the Methodist Episcopal church lot, contains repre- sentatives of the Vasbinder, Stevens, Jones, Lanning, Petty, Banghart, Bailey, Smith, Sehuyler, Anderson, Major, Shannon, Widner, and other families. There is also an old graveyard on the Young farm, in the southwest coruer of the township.

IX .- INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS. MILLS.

The Pequest Creek furnishes some of the most val- uable water-powers to be found in this part of the State, and many persons well versed on the subject of water-powers throughout the State claim for it equality with, if not superiority to, any stream of twice its size in the State.

* Mount Bethel was united.

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OXFORD.

The "Cedar Grove" grist-mill, on the banks of the Pequest, about two miles above Belvidere, was built in 1865 by William Mackey, who is still proprietor and operator.

The Buttzville grist- and plaster-mills were built many years ago by Daniel Axford. They are as an- cient as they appear to be, and are now owned by John Green.

The Oxford Furnace grist-mill was built soon after the settlement of the township, probably as early as 1750 or 1755. It is now owned by the Oxford Iron Company.

Old Oxford grist-mill is also one of the centenarians of this township, having been built as early as 1780. In 1835 the addition was built for a clover-mill. It is now owned by John C. Prall.

The Sarepta grist-mill, on Beaver Brook, in the north part of the township, was built by Charles Croxall, in about 1760, as near as can be ascertained. He also had a saw-mill at that place, and tradition says-and that, too, with an air of confidence in the truthfulness of the story-that when the saw-mill re- quired a new roof, Mr. t'roxall was very desirons of saving the nails, and, in order to do so, ordered the roof to be burned off, which of course partially de- stroyed the mill, but he saved the nails, with which he put on the new roof.

The " Foul Rift" grist-mill was originally built in 1814 by William Sherlock, on the bank of the Dela- ware River, about two miles below Belvidere. It was rebuilt in 1836 by the Sherrerd & Co. Mill Company, and destroyed by fire in 1856-57. The mill was operated two or three years by Abram MeMurtrie.

WATER-POWER ON THE DELAWARE.

The water-front, or that portion of Oxford lying along the Delaware River from the mouth of Pophan- dusing Creek, extending down the river for a distance of one and three-quarter miles, to below "Great Foul Rift," affords some of the best mill-sites and water- powers to be found anywhere in this part of the State.

In or about 1836 the Belvidere Water Company was formed, and a survey made in 1847 by Caleb H. Valentine, civil engineer. The strip of land along the river, as surveyed by the company, crossed the lands of Hoff & Paul, at the mouth of the creek, Hotf, Abraham MeMurtrie, John Mackey, Philip Mowrey, and Lommason & White. A village plat was also surveyed at the lower end of the com- pany's tract, which contained twelve and one-half aeres, according to maps shown. No improvements have been made since the destruction of the com- pany's mill in 1856-57.

OXFORD MINES.

These mines are situated in the townships of Ox- ford and Washington, near the line of the Warren Railroad. Some of these mines have been worked for about 140 years.

The original Oxford Furnace, still in operation, was built by Jonathan Robeson in 1741-42, and put in operation in 1743, Mr. Richard Shackleton having had the contract to construct the race-way to carry water for its motive-power. Tradition says that the water-blast was first used, and that the product per week was from 13 to 17 tons of pig iron, consuming from 300 to 400 bushels of charcoal to a ton of iron ; at a later period large bellows, similar in shape to those used by blacksmiths, were used, increasing the product two to four tons per week. From the years 1800 to 1809 the power was so increased as to pro- duce from 17 to 22 tons per week. In 1832 what were known by furnace-men as tub-bellows, with a working receiver, were introduced, and the make, with cold- blast, reached about 22 tons per week, consuming about 275 bushels of charcoal. This was under the management of William Henry, Esq., who, as early as 1834, applied hot-blast, obtaining a patent there- for. Soon after this period the subject of heating the blast by means of the waste- heat of blast-furnaces was much talked of, and every improvement or thought in this line was eagerly caught up. In 1837 the hot-blasts had been so much enlarged and in- proved that a yield of 27 to 28 tons per week was the result. This satisfied the publie want at that time. The same stack is at present in use, having been en- larged in its interior diameter and height, and, using anthracite coal as fuel and steam as its motive-power, produces over 70 tons per week, or more than three times its early product.

Of the several veins here, the Franklin vein and the new vein at the west of the property have not been worked for ore; only searches have been made on these. The Harrison vein has been worked to some extent, and contains an immense quantity of ore, a vein of about 12 feet in thickness having been opened for about 250 feet along the surface, and for a depth of 94 feet.

The ore in this mine contains a considerable per- centage of pyrites, but, with the recent improvements in working sulphurous ores, this large mine has be- come a valuable one.

The Washington vein is close to or a part of the Harrison vein, being separated by not over 12 feet thickness of rock. It runs parallel to the Harrison vein, and has been worked about 100 feet in depth and 700 feet in length. Its width averages about Is feet, and is traced in length 2100 feet, showing about equal dip and variation of the magnetic needle for its whole distance.

The Staley mine was quite extensively worked for- merly, nud yielded an excellent ore for bars.

The new mine is the centre of the mining opera- tions now carried on. It is a wide vein with a strike N. 25° W., a dip of 55°-70º N., and a pitch to the northwest. It has been worked for a distance of nearly 1000 fret, and is in some places 10 feet wide, and averages 18 feet. It has been worked down 140

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

feet in depth, and it is at this depth from the surface where it has reached its greatest width (40 feet). A very large annual production can be had from this mine whenever it is wanted.

The Car-wheel or old mine is like an offshoot of the new mine, and its eastern end curves around in a very indescribable way. It has been worked in some parts to a depth of 125 feet for nearly 500 feet in length, and has a thickness varying from two to twenty feet. The ore is a very good magnetite, and has been largely and satisfactorily used at the furnace for making iron for railroad car-wheels. The old workings in the last century were on the western end of this vein, cover a large surface, and are scattered about in a most perplexing way.

The property was first owned by the Robesons ; next by the elder Dr. William Shippen and Nicho- las Biddle, grandfather of the banker, and David Roberdau, afterwards surveyor-general of the United States ; then by Judge Morris Robeson ; next by the late Hons. William P. Robeson and John P. B. Maxwell ; they were succeeded by the Messrs. Scran- ton, and at the present time by the Oxford Iron Company.

In its early days the iron not used by forges in the county, or for chimney-backs and cannon-balls, was carted to the Delaware River below Belvidere, and thence transported in Durham boats to Philadelphia, some as pig iron and some in heavy square blocks for ballasting ships. Cannon-balls have occasionally been found in the old cinder-heaps, and many of the old houses in this State and New York were fitted out with iron chimney-backs in their fireplaces. Some still are in existence, dating back respectively 1747, 1758, etc., with carvings of the lion and uni- corn, and either the motto, " Dieu et mon droit," or " Honi soit qui mal y pense."

The Rosebury magnetic iron mine is on Marble Ridge, which runs parallel with Scott's Mountain. This mine was opened in 1872 by Joseph M. Rose- bury, Jr., and owned by him and A. Depue Rosebury. Twelve hundred tons of this ore were taken out in 1872 and 1873 and shipped to the Durham furnaces, since which time the mine has not been worked until the spring of 1880. This ore contains most excellent fluxing properties, and, used with harder magnetic ore, produces excellent pig iron.

Parties are now negotiating with the owners with the view of leasing it and working it with a strong force of hands. A line of attraction running northeast and southwest from this mine has been traced by Mr. Rosebury several miles .*

* See also pp. 78-80 of this work.

BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM MACKEY.

His grandfather Mackey was of Irish origin, and re- sided at Roxburgh, in Warren Co., N. J. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and after its close carried on farming and milling at Roxburgh, in Har- mony township. He became the possessor of a large quantity of real estate, which he left to his children at his death. The children were John, Joseph, Wil- liam, Jeremiah, Lewis, James, Mrs. Hazel, Mrs. Mi- chiael Roseberry, Mrs. William Roseberry, and Mrs. Lowe Miller. The mother of these children was of Dutch origin.

William Mackey, third son of William Mackey, and father of our subject, was born on the homestead, in Harmony, Nov. 1, 1767, and married Hannah Hen- dershot, who was born Nov. 20, 1773, and died April 18, 1848. During his early business career he carried on farming and milling at home, but after his mar- riage he settled on a farm in Oxford township, which was a part of his father's estate, where he resided the remainder of his life. To this he added considerable real estate, so that at his death he owned some eight hundred acres of land, besides houses and lots in Bel- videre. He was a good business man, and by indus- try and judicious management acquired a large and valuable property. In polities he was a Democrat, and he was a member of the Presbyterian congrega- tion of Oxford, and a liberal contributor to church interests. He died May 21, 1848.

The children of William and Hannah Mackey are Rachel, wife of Jacob Miller, of Harmony (deceased) ; Margaret, wife of Elias Jones, of Blairstown (de- ceased) ; Mercy, wife of Henry Young, of Harmony (deceased) ; Levi; William ; Marshall ; Elizabeth (de- ceased) ; Mary, wife of A. B. Randolph, of Belvidere (deceased).

William, son of William and Hannah Mackey, was born on the homestead, in Oxford township, May 1, 1808. Until twenty-two years of age he remained at home, where he was fully schooled in the rudiments of a practical business life.

For one year he carried on farming at home, and for several years he worked a farm of his father's in Blairstown. In 1849 he purchased one hundred and sixty-six acres at Bridgeville, in Oxford township, upon which he has erected commodious buildings, and brought the land to a high state of cultivation. Upon this property, in 1856, he built a grist-mill, which he has carried on since in connection with his farming. To this property he has added other real estate, and is in 1880 the owner of some four hundred acres of land, besides parcels of real estate in the borough of Belvi- dere. He has never been a seeker after political pre- ferment, although as a member of the Democratic party he has always been interested in all measures in any way affecting the prosperity and welfare of the

William Machny

LEVI MACKEY.

His father, William Mackey, born Nov. 1, 1767, married Hannah Hendershot, who was born Nov. 20, 1773, and died April 18, 1848. Their children were Rachel (deceased), wife of Jacob Miller, of Harmony ; Margaret (deceased), wife of Elias Jones, of Blairstown; Mercy (de- ceased), wife of Henry Young, of Harmony; John (deceased); Levi; William, of Bridgeville; Marshall; Elizabeth (deceased); Mary (de- ceased), wife of A. B. Randolph, of Belvidere.

William Mackey resided in Oxford township his whole life, and was a farmer. His real estate consisted of some eight hundred acres of laud, most of which was situated in Oxford; besides he owned several houses and lots in the borough of Belvidere. He was a good business man, and by his own industry acquired his large and valuable property. In politics he was a Democrat; he was a member of the Presbyterian congregation of Oxford, and a liberal contributor to church interests. He died May 21, 1848.

Levi Mackey was born Nov. 16, 1805, on the homestead which he purchased at the death of his father, and upon which he resided for many years and still owns. To this he has made ad- ditions of other real estate, and is now the pos- sessor of upwards of four hundred acres of land.

He married, Feb. 19, 1829, Nancy K., daughter of Robert and Martha (Axford) Ax- ford, of Oxford. She was born July 14, 1809, and died Feb. 11, 1860. She was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church at Oxford for many years, and a devoted Christian woman.

Their children were Rebecca K., wife of Theo- dore Hoagland; Elizabeth A. (deceased), who was the wife of Marshall Titman; Sarah A., wife of J. W. Dernberger, of Oxford; Edward H .; William B .; Martha A., wife of William Prall, of Princeton, Ill .; Levi D. (deceased) ; Mary, wife of James Wyckoff, of Oxford; Josephine B. (deceased).

Mr. Mackey has spent his life as a farmer, and ranks among the most thrifty and judicious agriculturists of Warren County.

He is a Democrat in politics, and has been honored with some minor offices by his fellow- townsmen. He has served as overseer of the poor and surveyor of highways for several years.

He contributed to the building of the Oxford Presbyterian church and parsonage, as well as to the school originally designed to be ' under the control of the church, and has always been willing to do his part as a citizen towards for- warding every worthy local work.

Wesley Banghave.

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OXFORD.

country and its citizens. As a member of the Pres- byterian congregation at Oxford he has been a pro- moter of church interests.

Mr. Mackey is a man of sound business principles, and has spent his life as an active and enterprising business man. By his own management he has been successful in acquiring property, but in no way by sacrificing principle or sound business relations. He is known as correct in his habits, unassuming in his ways, and as possessing integrity in all the relations of life. His first wife was Mary, a daughter of l'eter Kline, of Harmony. His second wife was Catharine H. Painter, who was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., Feb. 25, 1809, and died June 25, 1866.

The children born of this union were Mary H., died young, and William Henry, born June 22, 1845, and died at the age of twenty-eight. His present wife is Huldah Larue.

WESLEY BANGHART.

His grandfather, Michael Banghart, born in Ger- many in 1740, came to America with his parents when quite young, and with them settled near the old Forge, in Hunterdon Co., N. J. The family was poor, and young Michael was sold for his passage. Upon ar- riving in the land of his adoption he began learning the shoemaker's trade, but in after-years he gave his attention to farming, which he followed for many years prior to his death, which occurred in 1825 on the farm owned by William Mackey, in Oxford town- ship, Warren Co., N. J. He owned some five hun- dred acres of land, all of which he had acquired by his own industry and hard labor. His first wife was Miss Angle, and his second Miss Bertha Grimes, By the first he had six children, and by the second two sons and two daughters. His son Michael, born of his first wife, was father of our subject; married Eliza- beth Cummins, of Independence township, who bore him eleven children, as follows : George; Mary, wife of Cornelius Flummerfelt; Philip; Josiah ; Wesley ; Catherine, wife of Zachariah Flummerfelt ; Sarah, wife of Lewis A. Misner, of P'enn Yan, N. Y .; Jacob ; Barnabas; Ann, wife of John J. Van Allen, of Eas- ton, Pa .; Bothia, wife of R. Davidson.

Michael Banghart began life upon the farm now owned by our subject, where he resided during the remainder of his life. He was a thorough student of the Bible, although he acquired little book knowl- edge while young. Both he and his father were among the early members of the Methodist Church and promoters of kindred interests. He was born in 1774, and died in 18-16. His wife lived a Christian life, and was also a member of the Methodist Church.

Wesley, son of Michael Banghart, succeeded to the homestead of one hundred and thirty-five acres upon the death of his father by purchase of the other heirs. Hle was born Sept. 1, 1805. He has remained upon the property bis whole life, and has made additions

thereto, so that his real estate is, in 1880, two hundred and eighty-one acres. He is also the owner of valu- able personal property, and enjoys a good competency as a result of his industry and care. Besides agricul- tural pursuits he has engaged quite extensively in lumbering, and erected a saw-mill for that purpose. Hle married, Nov. 29, 1858, Hannah Rourbacher, formerly of Cortland Co., N. Y. She was injured by the cars, and died Nov. 11, 1864. For his second wife he married, Nov. 29, 1871, Maria Lott, of New Brunswick.

In politics Mr. Banghart is a Democrat, and has been honored by his fellow-townsmen with the office of justice of the peace for fifteen years, besides filling some minor places. He is an attendant and supporter of the Oxford Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Banghart is one of the substantial farmers and worthy citizens of the township where he resides, and has always been known as a man of strict integ- rity in all his business relations.

GEORGE KEYSER.

Ilis paternal grandfather, Michael Keyser, came from Germany about the middle of the eighteenthi century, and settled in Pennsylvania.

His maternal grandfather, John Fulmer, also came from Germany in 1766, and settled in Richmond, Northampton Co., Pa.

His father, Michael Keyser, married Katy, daugh- ter of John Fulmer, and spent a part of his life in Northampton Co., Pa., and was a farmer. He died in 1809 at the age of fifty-one. His mother lived to the age of seventy-five, and died in 1841. Their chil- dren were John; Frederick ; George; Michael ; Jacob ; Katy, died unmarried; Sally, became the wife of Jacob Strepy ; Susan, became the wife of Frederick Lair; Polly, was married to Jacob Cole; Rebecca, became the wife of Francis Steeples; Elizabeth, became the wife of Henry Mills. Of this large family of children only Michael and George survive in 1880.

George Keyser was born at Upper Mount Bethel, in Northampton Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 1802. He re- mained at home until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he went to Richmond, Pa., and began learning the tanning and currier's trade. After be- coming master of this business at the end of four years, he worked for some six years as a journeyman at his trade. In December, 1826, he married Eliza- beth, daughter of Frederick and Christina ( Emery) Miller. She was born Feb. 14, 1800, and died Aug. 25, 1872. She was a member of the Oxford Presby- terian Church. Their children were Sally Aun, widow of the late Jacob Pace; Aaron ; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Angle; Jane; Christina, wife of Wil- liam Mackey ; Kate, deceased; George; and John.

In 1828, Mr. Keyser removed from Pennsylvania, nnd settled at toxford, Warren Co., N. J., where he purchased some sixty aeres of land, a part of which

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

was the site of the distillery owned by Hugh Smith, of Philadelphia. Here he established himself in the tanning and currier business, using the old distillery for his tannery building. At first, for a few years, he hauled his stock of leather to New York and Phila- delphia in wagons, which was in striking contrast with the rapid transit carried on nowadays by rail- road. He made his shipments by water after the com- pletion of the Morris Canal, and by railroad subse- quently.

Mr. Keyser continued to do business in the old distillery until 1839, when he erected a stone building for a tannery, in which he carried on business until 1849. This buikling is standing in 1880, and for some time after he gave up business as a tanner the build- ing was rented to his sons-in-law for a tannery. By industry and judicious management Mr. Keyser car- ried on a successful business as a tanner, and used much of his surplus funds in the purchase of real estate; so that in 1880 he is the possessor of some- thing over nine hundred acres of land here, besides in connection with Dr. Green, of Belvidere, he pur- chased some sixty thousand acres of tax land in Illi- nois, a large part of which has been redeemed. In 1869 he gave his six children ten thousand dollars apiece.

Mr. Keyser is a careful and judicious business man. He is a man of independent thought and action, although he is conscientious and has always tried to act in justice to all men.

As a member of the Lutheran Church, which he joined in 1823, while a resident of Pennsylvania, and of the Oxford Presbyterian Church since he has been a resident of Warren County, he has always been a contributor to church interests and a promoter of all worthy local enterprises.

For many years he was an elder in the Oxford -

Church.

BENJAMIN B. COOPER.

· Benjamin B. Cooper, son of Benjamin and Mary (Cooper) Cooper, was born in Bucks Co., Pa., in 1796. His boyhood days were spent at home, but before reaching his majority he learned the mill- wright trade, which he followed for several years. About the year 1823 he married Sophia, widow of the late David Johns, and a daughter of Jacob Creveling, of Bloomsbury, Warren Co. She died in 1850. For his second wife he married, in 1853, Jemima, daughter of William and Jane (Ross) Gal-

loway, of Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton Co., Pa. She was born Jan. 2, 1815, and is still living. Her only child and daughter is Miss Mary Ellen Cooper. Mrs. Cooper's father, William Galloway, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was engaged at Sandy Hook, where his brother Robert, who also served in the army, died of fever. William Galloway spent most of his life as a teacher in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and died at middle age. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas Ross, was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war, and his wife received a pension after his death. Her mother died in 1854, aged sixty-three. The family of Galloway were old settlers of Lower Mount Bethel, and prominent among the founders and promoters of church interests there.

After his first marriage, Mr. Cooper for some time kept a hotel at Bloomsbury, N. J .; but in 1833 he went to New York City, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, his place of business be- ing at 64 Dey Street. In this business he was very successful, and carried it on with that energy and care so characteristic of his business life. Having secured a sufficient competency, Mr. Cooper, in 1849, retired from the business in New York, removed to Belvidere, where he purchased some valuable real estate, upon which he made improvements. A short time before his death, which occurred July 26, 1868, he completed arrangements for the construction of a fine brick res- idence fronting the public park in Belvidere, which was subsequently completed, and is now occupied by his widow and daughter.

While a resident of Belvidere, Mr. Cooper took an interest in all worthy local objects. He was a man of great kindness of heart, and sympathized with the needy, who always found a friend in him.

During the late Rebellion, when families were left destitute by members of them being called to serve in the army, Mr. Cooper publicly, but more often privately, gave aid and assistance to those in need, and, as he was blessed with property, he liberally dis- tributed to those who risked their lives in support of the Union cause. Although not a communicant of any church, he was a member of the Presbyterian con- gregation at Belvidere, was one of the trustees of the church, and a promoter of church and kindred in- terests.

Mr. Cooper was politically a Democrat, although not a seeker after place, yet he was honored by the citizens of the borough of Belvidere, and served as mayor, besides holding some other minor offices.

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MICHAEL BOYER.

Michael Boyer, great-grandfather of our subject, was the progenitor of the family here, and emigrated from Germany, settling in Pennsylvania, where he died.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 152

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