History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 168

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 168
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 168

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BAPTIST CHURCH.

A Baptist church was erected at Montana nearly fifty years since by a Mr. Chamberlain. This edifice becoming dilapidated, another was built in the suburbs of the hamlet. The church is at present without a pastor.

VIL .- BURIAL-PLACES.

A burial-ground is located adjacent to the Method- ist Episcopal church, in Lower Harmony, which is supposed to represent an antiquity exceeding a hun- dred years, It is not known when the first burial occurred, or which of the families of the neighbor- hood were first called upon to dedicate the spot to sacred uses. The families of Wilson, Person, Plum- mer, Dewitt, and Ranb have for years made interments in this ground. it is neatly inclosed and carefully maintained by the owners. The cemetery adjoining the Presbyterian church in Upper Harmony is doubt- less as okl as the former, and is still in use. Many beautiful memorial-stones have been erected over the graves, and evidences of tender care are manifested in every direction.

The following inscriptions are found in this in- closure :

" In memory of William Gardner, who departed this life on the 3d of November, 1×12, aged 8 years."

" In memory of Rosetta Miller, consort of Joseph Miller, who departed this life May 11th, 1825, In tha 26th year of her age."

" In memory of John Miller, who died November 1th, Iso7, aged 21 yonTH,"

" In memory of Gerret Bird, who departed this life March 16th, 1631, aged 41 years, 8 months, and 16 days :

" Clasped in my Heavenly Father's arms, I would forget my brestli, And lose my life among the charms Of so divine n deuth."

" In memory of Catherine Dewitt, who departed this life February 2Ist, A.D. 1822, aged 76 years, 5 months, and 18 days."

" In memory of Isaac, son of William and Catherine Cline, who died May 14th, 1827, nged 10 years, 10 months, and 5 days."

" In memory of Margaret, wifo of James Barber, who died October 23, 182%, In her 80th year."

" In memory of John M. Nenl, who died February 17th, 1-17, aged x3 years, 7 months, and 24 duyy."

A very old cemetery is located near Roxburg, in Oxford township, and known as the " White" burial- ground. Members of the Vanatta and David-on families find here a last resting-place.

A burial-ground whose founding is contemporane- ous with the existence of the old Baptist Church i- still in use at Montana. It was first used about 1827.

VIII .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. LOWER HARMONY.

The earliest settler within the limits of this little hamlet was probably Godfrey Person. The date of his arrival is not chronicled, and few facts regarding him are obtainable. It is known that he erected the in 1876, when supplies were appointed by Presbytery. clover-mill which stood in the place, and also that he

built and kept the tavern which is now used as a blacksmith-shop. This building stood here during the Revolutionary war, with its sign swinging, after the fashion of olden times, in front of the building. It is related that a squad of Morgan's cavalry, pass- ing by on their way from some marauding expedi- tion, tendered it a salute with their muskets, which nearly riddled the inoffensive signboard. At a later day the tavern was kept by Henry Mellick, but has long since been abandoned for any purposes of hos- pitality.

Mr. Person left one son, Capt. Jacob, who inher- ited the property and remodeled the old clover-mill. It was later owned by his sons, John and Jeremiah, both of whom have removed from the township.

The next remembered settler within the bounds of the little hamlet of Lower Harmony was one Nice, who probably came during the latter part of the past century. He purchased a tract of land, upon which he located. His life was suddenly terminated by an accident. About the year 1810, Henry Hoover ar- rived, and, having married Mrs. Nice, the widow, re- sided upon the land she inherited from her husband, and which is now in possession of Abram Raub. Mr. Hoover cultivated the farm for a series of years, and on the death of his wife removed to Pennsylvania. The estate of Mrs. Hoover included portions of both Upper and Lower Harmony, which was ultimately divided between Jacob Ranb and Mrs. John P. De- witt. The present owner came into possession on the death of Jacob Raub. The earliest mercantile ven- ture was made by Daniel Harker, who opened a gen-

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

eral store, which was at a later date kept by John Kern.

A school-honse was erected at a very early date, and spot was also the centre of religious gatherings many years ago.

Dr. A. O. Stiles arrived in 1828 and established himself in the practice of medicine. He has been a resident since that time, and enjoyed an extensive professional patronage, which was relinquished only as advancing years necessitated rest from labor.

There are now at the hamlet a store (at present vacant), a blacksmith-shop, kept by Benjamin Swarts, and a saddler-shop, kept by Henry Simons. The physicians in active practice are Dr. Garner H. Cline and Dr. James D. Dewitt.

The old clover-mill, located upon a brook running through the place, has since been converted into a grist-mill, and is now owned by William Vanatta. It has two run of stone and a capacity of one hundred bushels per day, with a sufficient supply of water. It is principally devoted to custom work, and enjoys a large patronage from the neighboring country.

UPPER HARMONY.

The earliest remembered owner of property at this point was Adam Ramsay, who resided at Phillips- burg, and whose son Adam made this spot his resi- dence. Mr. Ramsay erected a store which was man- aged by his son, and is now in possession of Charles Ramsay, a son of the latter. Morgan B. Hineline located very early near the village, and later removed within its limits where he now resides. He followed the occupation of a weaver. Charles Carhart, a cabi- net-maker and carpenter, lived and died in the place. His son, Jacob Carhart, now occupies the property. A church was built by the Presbyterian denomina- tion, whose history is more fully given elsewhere. It was burned and speedily rebuilt. A school was opened at an early date, and has since been main- tained.

There are now one store, kept by Charles Ramsey, and a blacksmith-shop, by Daniel Garrou. These rep- resent the business activity of the place.

MONTANA.

This place is a small hamlet situated at the ex- treme northeast corner of the township, on Scott's Mountain. The locality was early settled by the Beers and Rush families, who have for years owned much land in this locality. George Pickle located soon after at the edge of the hamlet, where he resided until his death. Four brothers of the Lance family- Michel, Abram, George, and John-were also occu- pants of land in the vicinity. They are since de- ceased, and no descendants of the family remain.

There are at the place two churches, a school- house, one store, kept by Ralph Ruslı, and one black- smith-shop, owned by William Galloway.

ROXBURG.

This hamlet, located in the northern portion of the township, was originally settled by John Young, who replaced later by a more substantial structure. The owned most of the land in the immediate vicinity. He erected a foundry and blacksmith-shop, the for- mer of which was devoted to the manufacture of plows, and managed by him for a period of nearly 40 years successfully. It is now owned by his son, Isaac Young, but not driven to its full capacity.

There is also a grist-mill located at this place, the proprietor of whom resides in Washington, the mill being conducted by the miller, Mr. Beatty. It has two run of stone, and depends for power upon the stream running from the mountain upon which it is located. It is equipped with steam-power, to be used as necessity requires. The mill is devoted to custom work, and has a capacity of at least 100 bushels per day. There are at the place a store, kept by Oliver Badgley, and a blacksmith-shop, conducted by Isaac Woodruff.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PETER KLINE.

His great-grandfather and great-grandmother, Philip Kline and wife, emigrated from Germany about 1720 and settled in what was then known as Sourland Mountain, now called Neshanic, in Som- erset Co., N. J., and whose wealth consisted of strong hearts and sturdy hands. To them were born three sons and four daughters. His son Godfrey (grand- father of Peter) was born in Somerset County in 1742, and married Mary Haines, a native of Prussia, and who bore him three sons and two danghters,- viz., William, Peter, Philip, Margaret, and Elizabeth. Margaret left two sons. Elizabeth died unmarried. Wm. Kline (father of Peter) was born in 1776, and his wife, Catharine Horn, was born in 1781, and of this marriage there were born seven children,-viz., Godfrey, John, Sally, Peter, Isaac, Mary, and Haines.

Peter Kline, the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 31, 1806, and in 1835 married Margaret Tins- man, daughter of Peter and Mary Tinsman, also of German descent, and of this union were born five children,-viz., Mary Catharine, John, William, Eliz- abeth, and Peter, and of whom only Peter survives. John and William died in infancy. Elizabeth mar- ried Mathias Brakeley. She died Jan. 18, 1878, leaving an only son, George, an infant of two weeks old, who bears a striking resemblance to his mother, and who finds a home with his grandparents, whose highest pleasure it is to tenderly watch over and care for this orphan child.

The great-grandfather, Philip Kline, at an early day bought one hundred and sixty acres of govern- ment land at Still Valley, which at that time was a part of Burlington Co., N. J., but is now in Green-

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HARMONY.

wich township, Warren Co., and sent two sons and a daughter to settle upon it and make a clearing. He afterwards bought six hundred acres in what is now Harmony township, and in course of time divided it

PETER KLINE.

among these three children, apportioning two hun- dred acres to each. The farm on which Peter Kline resides has descended in an unbroken line to the fourth generation, and if Peter, his only living son, survives the father, it will ere long have passed to the fifth. Mr. Kline has in his possession now the orig- inal parchment deed for this property, given under the seal of King George III. His farm at this time consists of one hundred and sixty-five acres of fine grain-growing land.

Mr. Kline has been a farmer all his life; in poli- tics a Democrat, and member of the Harmony Pres- byterian Church. He belongs to one of the oldest families in the county, and many of whom have taken a prominent part in its affairs. He bears the name of Peter Kline, Sr., his uncle, whose name appears so frequently in the list of frecholders and justices of the county. As justice of the peace he did a very large business before Warren County was set off, and the distance to the county-seat indneed most of the people to have their law and justice business trans- acted at home. He removed to Michigan, where he died many years ago.

Peter Kline, Sr., is in his seventy-fourth year, and he and his wife are both well preserved in body and mind, and quietly enjoying the comforts of n compe- tence, the fruit of a life of industry and prudence. They are persons of quiet, refined tastes, not given to ostentation, with the habit of attending strictly to . industry and perseverance, assisted by the son, they

their own business. Down through all these genera- tions the Kline family have exhibited the sterling qualities of industry, self-reliance, and thrift.

WILLIAM MERRITT.

William Merritt, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from the city of London about the year 1730, landed at New York, and after- wards settled at Union Furnace, in Innterdon t'o., N. J., and of which he became proprietor. By his industry, economy, and prudence he became possessed of considerable wealth. Ile disposed of his furnace, and received in payment therefor Continental money, and, not seeing a favorable opportunity for reinvest- ment, this currency so rapidly depreciated that in a

WILLIAM MERRITT.

very short time his hard-earned competence had van- ished into thin air, and at an advanced age he had to commence the battle of life anew. There were born to him six sons and four daughters. Samuel Merritt was a captain in the Revolutionary army, and was wounded in a hand-to-hand encounter by a entlass at the battle of Charleston, S. C. John Merritt, the father of William, married Sarah Osman, and settled near Foul Rift, in Warren Co., N. J., and from this union there were born an only son and two daughters. Charity and Letitia. William was born Nov. 1. 1802, while his father resided at the place above named, and has now almost completed his seventy-eighth year. Subsequently the family removed to Pennsyl- vania, and after a residence of six years returned to Warren County and settled in what was then an un- broken forest, known as the " Barrens." Here, by

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

succeeded in clearing up one hundred and sixty acres of what became a valuable and productive farm, and descended from father to William, in whose possession it has remained for thirty-eight years. In conse- quence of the limited facilities for education in those early days, his youth was largely spent in helping to improve the farm. Notwithstanding this, he developed the traits of prudence, sagacity, and self-reliance, and has been so well esteemed for these that he has fre- quently been called to fill official positions connected with the finances of his township and county, and at this advanced age retains his mental faculties in such

good degree that he is now one of the active members of the board of directors of the county almshouse. William Merritt has been twice married,-in 1824 to Miss Catharine Huff, and who lived to the year 1838 and bore him four children,-viz., John, Abel, Rachel, and E. Livingstone, of whom only John and Abel survive. In 1843 he married Elizabeth, daughter of of Morris Morris and Martha Galloway Morris, and of this marriage three children were born,-viz., S. Elizabeth, Martha, and Fannie, of whom S. Elizabeth and Fannie are still living, the former the wife of Roderick B. Vannatta.

LOPATCONG.®

I .- DESCRIPTIVE.

LOPATCONG township, lying on the Delaware, is the smallest of all the townships of Warren. It is not more than four miles in length between extreme points, and about the same distance in width at its widest part. Its population in July, 1880, was 1589, against 1150 in 1870. The boundaries are Harmony on the north, Greenwich on the south and east, and the town of Phillipsburg and the Delaware River-separating it from Pennsylvania-on the west. The township is peculiarly shaped, like a wedge, and on the east cor- ners with three townships,-Harmony, Franklin, and Greenwich. The surface of the country is uneven and in places mountainous. Agriculture is a profit- able industry, and well-to-do farmers are plentiful. Iron ore is found to a limited extent in various places, but nothing important in the way of mining has yet been developed. Ores are found on the lands of John H. Boyer, Matthias Brakeley, William Ham- lin, William H. Hamlin, John Smith, and others. Some mining is being done by Henry Fulmer and William Hamlin, with promise of something in the way of profitable results. The township has no vil- lage, and needs none, since Phillipsburg and Easton are within hailing distance. The railway lines of the New Jersey Central, the Morris and Essex, the Belvi- dere-Delaware, and the Easton and Amboy, traverse the township, while along the south and east lies the Morris Canal.

II .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.

It is not easy to determine the date of the first set- tlements upon the territory now occupied by the town- ship called Lopatcong, since such settlements were effected as early, perhaps, as 1740 or thereabout, and as there happens, unfortunately, to be but little in the way of preserved history referring to this particular

region, the argument as to first settlers must neces- sarily be vague and somewhat unsatisfactory. It may, however, be definitely stated that among the very earliest comers was John Feit, the first of the name to locate in the county. John Feit was an inhabit- ant of the Rhine country between France and Ger- many, and at the age of perhaps eighteen emigrated to America, to escape military proscription, which at that time was driving the Germans in great num- bers to the New World. Of his family nothing is known, nor is anything known concerning the cir- cumstances under which he left the mother-country, aside from the statement already made. That he was well provided with means would appear from the fact that not long after his arrival in America he bought a large tract of land in New Jersey. The supposi- tion must be that his parents were well-to-do people, if not wealthy, and supplied him with means to push himself forward in his new home, for he himself was too young to have acquired a fortune through his own exertions. At all events, the fact remains that not far from 1740 he settled on land near the town of Phil- lipsburg. The date of his earliest land purchases is not at hand, but deeds bearing date 1749 show that he ac- quired important landed possessions in that year. One deed, dated Jan. 1, 1749, sets forth that on that day, for the consideration of £80, Samuel Carman, of Greenwich, yeoman, transferred to John Feit, of Greenwich, yeoman, 100 acres of land. On the same date Jaspar Carman, of Greenwich, deeded to John Feit, of the same place, 90 acres, for a consideration of £80. Oct. 31, 1749, William Coxe, of Philadel- phia, Daniel Coxe, of Trenton, and John Tabor Kempe deeded to John Feit 500 acres of land for £750. The deed recites that this land was surveyed to Daniel Coxe in 1715, under a warrant issued by the Council of Proprietors of New Jersey, March 10, 1714. July 30, 1766, Thomas Cadwallader, of Philadelphia,

# By David Schwartz.

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LOPATCONG.

physician, deeded to Jolin Feit a certain piece of land for £30.

Although the year 1749 is given as the date of the first purchase, it is altogether likely that Feit bought land in the county long before that, or lived on the land as a tenant, for it was pretty well settled that he resided near Phillipsburg before his marriage, which event he himself has recorded as having taken place in 1741, his wife being Anna Mary, daughter to a Mr. Bender. It would seem, therefore, that Mr. Feit was a settler in 1740. The land he bought in 1749 and 1766 was located in what is now Lopatcong town- ship, along the line of the Morris Canal, and to a great extent has remained since 1749 in the posses- sion of his descendants. His home was upon the place now occupied by the widow of his great-grand- son, William Feit. There he died in 1790, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and there five children were born to him.

Three generations of the Feits have passed away upon the old Feit property bought in 1749 by John Feit, and their representatives of the fourth gener- ation still till the soil. Of that generation there are, however, but two,-John and his brother Daniel. Their father, Paul, lived upon the place now the home of John Feit. He was born there in 1782, and in 1790, so he used to tell his children, he went to school in an old log cabin that stood in what is now a corner of John Feit's garden. One of the first teachers in that school was one Stewart, an Irish- man.

The Shipmans have for more than a century been identified with the history of what is now Warren County. The first of the name to make his home here was Mathias, who served during the Revolu- tionary struggle as colonel and commissary. He and Isane Hendershott migrated in company from Say- brook, Conn., to New Jersey, in search of lands. They squatted in German Valley, Morris Co., and directly determined to make a tour in search of per- manent locations. Making a horseback journey, they rode far and wide, and eventually selected lands in what is now called Lopatcong township. The date at their settlement is not known, but presumably it was about 1763, which date appears upon an old deed for land bought by Shipman and occupied from the beginning of his possession by four generations of Shipmans. Mathias Shipman's old homestead is now the home of his great-grandson, William Shipman. According to the deed above.referred to, the title was made out in 1763, to Shipman, but it is quite likely that he may have bought the land some time before that period, and, paying for it in installments, did not get his deed until perhaps a few years after he had been in possession. The instrument reads as fol- lows :

"THIS INDENTURE made the 21st day of October, in the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Thin over Great Britain, etc., King, Anno Dumini One thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, between William

Allen and Joseph Turner, both of the City of Philadelphia, in the Prov- Ince of Pengsylvania, Esquires, on the one part, and Mathias Shipman, of the township of Greenwich, in the county of Surex, and western di- vision of the Province of New Jersey, farmer, on the other part,- Whereus, William Penn, Gawen Lawrey, and Nicholas Lucas being sized in fer uf ninety equal aml undivided hundred parts of the western division of the Province of New Jersey, the same being to be divided into one hundred equal parts, in trust nevertheless for Edward Billing, his hofrs, and as- signs. And being ou seized by the direction and appointment of the said Edward Billing by their indenture dated the second day of March, one thousand six hundred and seventy-six, did grant, bargain, and wol of the said ninetieth parts of the said western province of New Jersey commonly called and known by the name of a Propriety uoto Robert Squib, Sr., and Robert Squib, Jr., their heirs and assigns forever, which the said Robert, Sr , did by his indenture dated the 10th day of November, 1680, grant ond release all his estate and interest in the aforesaid proprioty unto the sald Robert Squib, Jr., and to his heirs and nusigns forever. And whereas by un Indenture tripartite, date March 14, 16ist, between the sald William Ponu on the first part, Gawen Lowrey on the second part, and the sald Edward Billing ou the third part, the said William Penn for the consider- ation thereio mentioned and by the directions of the said Edward Billing lid grant, confirm, and release all his estates in the premises unto the sand Gawen Lawrey, his heirs nud assigue forever, In trust nevertheless for the said Edward Billing, his heirs and assigns forever, and whereas the said Edward Billing, Gawen Lawrey, and Nicholas Lucas by their Indenture, etc."

The instrument goes on at length to trace the his- tory of the property, and to show that Allen and Turner, for the consideration of £353 178. of "good lawful proclamation money of the said province of New Jersey," did sell and transfer to the said Mathias Shipman a tract of land in the township of Green- wich, county of Sussex, containing 235 acres 3 quar- ters and 25 perches.

Mathias Shipman had four sons, named Paul, Jacob, Mathias, Jr., and Isaac. The first three re- moved from the township. Isaac remained on the old homestead, where his father, Mathias, died in 1812, aged eighty-six. Isaac himself had six sons,-Mathias, Isaac, Jr., Philip, John, Jesse, and William. Mathias died young, Isaac died in Lopatcong in 1879, Philip and John live in Lopatcong, Jesse in Easton, and William in Greenwich. Their father, Isaac, died in 1853, aged eighty-six.

There was at a very early date a Herman Shipman at the place called Uniontown, but he was not related to Mathias Shipman.

West of there, and not far from Phillipsburg, were the De Witts, who came in before the Revolution and located upon lands that have to this day remained in the possession of a De Witt.

West of the De Witts, and towards Phillipsburg, a German, by name George Geasarrh, was a large land- owner as early at least as 1755. Shortly after his arrival in America from Germany he bought a traet of 700 acres of land lying on the Delaware and running cast- ward therefrom. Perhaps 25 or 30 acres of that tract lie now within the limits of the town of Phillipsburg ; the residue is included in Lopatcong township. Mr. Geasurrh was a farmer of some pretensions for those days, and occupied a very considerable space among the men prominent in his neighborhood. He raised grain enough to warrant him in building a stone house on the bank of the river and in owning a num-

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WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ber of boats, which he employed in transporting his grain down the Delaware to Philadelphia. He em- ployed a good many people to labor for him, and owned also several slaves. When he made his land- purchases there was but little of the tract cleared. It did not take him long, however, to level timber enough to make a fruitful farm and begin to increase his pos- sessions rapidly, for such farming methods as he em- ployed were of the most vigorous and industrious kind, and yielded quick returns. His first dwell- ing-house was a log cabin that stood upon ground occupied by a brick house in which resides Ellen Howell. Mr. Geasarrh had seven children, all of whom were girls. One of his daughters married John Howell, of Trenton, in 1790. About that year Howell located upon some land near the site of the Andover Iron-Works, and, after living there seven years, moved in 1797 to the farm of his father-in-law, George Geasarrh. John Howell's son Joseph, now living near Phillipsburg, was born upon the Geasarrh place in 1798, and that year, in the month of April, at the age of two months, floated down the river in a boat, with his father, mother, brothers, and sisters, to the township of Hopewell, in Mercer County, whither his father was at that time proceeding in search of a new location. That location John Howell found there. Joseph Howell, now aged eighty-three, living near Phillipsburg, believes, and with a show of probability on his side, that he, of all living inhabitants of Warren County to day, is the only one who floated down the Delaware as long ago as 1798. An older brother, John, who was with the boating party on the occasion mentioned, lives now in Northampton Co., Pa., at the age of eighty-seven.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 168

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