History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 183

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 183
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 183

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Subsequently he took a tour throngh the Western States with a view of prospecting for settlement and to improve his health. Returning, he kept a store one year at Pennwell, and during that time, July 24, 1847, married Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary Hagerty, of New Hampton. The children born of this union arc Sarah Ann, Henry, Mary, Catharine (deceased), Jacob, Amelia S. (deceased), William H., Emcline, Stewart B., Elmer (deceased), and Maude Alice.

Following his second marriage he farmed for one year on Schooley's Mountain, and then for three years rented the farm where he now resides of his father, who had then purchased it. This farm Mr. Miller purchased of his father at the end of three years, which contained one hundred and sixty-five acres, one hundred of which he retains, and has resided on since. This farm and its surroundings show the work of an industrious and thrifty farmer. Upon it was dis- covered a slate-quarry in 1880, which, from prospects upon its opening, will vie with the best in the United States for accessibility and the quality of slate. For many years Mr. Miller has been a member of the Grove Church congregation, on Schooley's Mountain, and has acted as trustee.

Following in the line of his ancestors, he was for- merly a Whig, and has been identified with the Republican party since its organization. He has been little connected with official duty, but was one of the board of registers during the war, and has acted as judge of election for six years.

JOHN C. MILLER.

John C. Miller, son of Henry and Ann (Hann) Miller, was born on the homestead farm, where he now resides, July 26, 1820. At the age of nineteen he went into a store at Port Murray, and remained there and at Easton, Pa., for one year. On March 3, 1842, he married Miss Hester, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kitchen) Wyckoff, of Jackson Valley, Warren Co. She was born March 25, 1822, and is a granddaughter of Simon Wyckoff, the first settler of the family in Jackson Valley, who came from Read- ington, Hunterdon Co., in 1771, and was the son of John Wyckoff, of that place. Their children are Mary, wife of Hiram Vescilus, of Providence, R. I .; Ann Elizabeth, wife of Henry Marlatt, of Colorado ; Emma, wife of William Anderson, of Mansfield ; Re- becca; Sarah, wife of Joseph Vannata; and Edwin. After his marriage Mr. Miller farmed for six years for his father, during which time he was a partner with Andrew M. Nunn in a store at Pennwell. He sold a part of the land which he had purchased at his father's death, leaving him one hundred and eighty acres lying on the east side of the river. He erected his present house in 1853, and his most sub- stantial barn in 1873. Upon this farm he has resided since his purchase, except for six years (1866 to 1872) he was a resident of Beattystown, and was en- gaged in milling, mercantile business, and in hema- tite-ore mining. Mr. Miller is one of the substan- tial farmers and business men of Hunterdon County, and everything about his well-appointed place shows the work of industry, care, enterprise, and thrift.

Mr. Miller has always voted with the Democratic party, and has been honored in both Lebanon and Mansfield townships with the important offices of

Gory ON Taylor

735

MANSFIELD.

committeeman and assessor. For twenty years he and his wife have been members of the Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church, and he was one of the foremost in the construction of the church and parsonage edi-

John T. Miller

fices of that place. He is a man of liberal ideas, and has given his children the benefit of a good educa- tion. His resolution and sterling integrity and his sound judgment and practical ideas have given him place among the most intelligent farmers of his town- ship and county.

ItON. GEORGE W. TAYLOR.

ITis grandfather, George Taylor, was one of the carly settlers of Karrsville, in the township of Mans- field, where he purchased and owned during his life a large property. Hle creeted a grist-mill and a saw- mill, which he ran besides carrying on farming. lle was a man of enterprise, and contributed largely to the thrift and prosperity of the vicinity and township, in which he was a much respected and influential citizen. Upon his death he left his large and valuable estate to his only son, Jacob, father of our subject.

Jacob Taylor resided on this property during his life, carrying on the same interests as his father had before him. He married Mary Bray, of which union was born an only son, George W. Taylor, whose por- trait appears in connection with this sketch. Jacob Taylor was a man of good business ability and sound common sense. He' possessed in a high degree a "

sense of justice in all his dealings, and his correct habits and sterling integrity gave him the confidence of his fellow-citizens.

George W. Taylor was born in the year 1810. In early life he became inured to work on the farm and in the mill; learned those inestimable lessons of economy and industry which enabled him upon reaching man- hood to exercise good judgment in the management of the estate left him by his father. He erected a grist-mill, now to be scen at Karrsville, in place of the one built by his grandfather, made other improve- ments on the property, upon which he continued to reside during his life, and where he carried on the same pursuits followed by his ancestors of two gener- ations. During his minority he had received a good education, which he improved by reading in after- years. From early manhood he was interested in all questions of importance in any way affecting local or State legislation, and while a young man took an active interest in the political questions of the day, and soon became. prominent in the councils of the Democratie party, of which he was a member. He was honored by his fellow-townsmen with many po- sitions of trust and responsibility in Mansfield, and at the age of thirty-five, in the year 1845, he was elected to the State Senate, where he served his con- stituency for three years in succession, and where by his integrity of purpose and sound judgment he re- tained the confidence of his senatorial district, and won eredit and honor for himself as an honest and upright representative of the people. He was a man of practical ideas and self-reliance, and his opinion was always based upon sound logic, and only ex- pressed upon mature deliberation.

Mr. Taylor was possessed of fine perceptive facul- ties, and in all his doings sought to be on the side of justice and arrayed against wrong-doing. He could not look upon corruption in business or politics but with disdain, and regardless of men or party he stood firmly intrenched in what he conceived to be the right. He was interested in all worthy enterprises of a local nature, and sought to do his part in an unostentatious way as a citizen. He was one of the directors in the bank at Washington and also at Hackettstown, where his counsel in the management of the affairs of these institutions was always regarded as safe, wise, and judicious. Upon the occasion of his death, June 16, 1872, the officers of the First National Bank at Washington met, and with the late James K. Swayze as president and Judge Philip H. Hann as cashier, passed appropriate resolutions.

Mr. Taylor, although not connected as a member with any church, was a contributor to religions work, and especially was he known for his many kindnesses and gifts to the poor and to those in need, and upon his death many who had often received from his bounty held him in dear remembrance. He married, Feb. 9, 1847, Miss Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Mary ( Weller) Fritts, who survives him.

INDEPENDENCE .*

I .- GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

INDEPENDENCE contained, prior to the setting off of Allamnchy, 37f, square miles, or 24,096 acres. It is bounded on the north by Frelinghuysen, on the south by Hackettstown and Mansfield, on the east and northeast by Allamuchy township. The Morris Canal is the dividing line between Independence and Hackettstown. The Jenny Jump Mountain forms the border on the northwest, along the Frelinghnysen line. Independence is eight miles long from the south- east to the northwest end, and nearly six miles across. The population in this year-1881-is a little over 1000.1

The Peqnest River winds its crooked and sluggish way directly across the township from northeast to southwest, which, with its many tributaries flowing down from the high hills on each side, causes the country to be well watered, and admirably fits it to yield good crops of hay and all kinds of grain.

II .- NATURAL FEATURES.

All of the township lying near the canal (the southeast part) is composed of ranges of high hills and deep gullies. On the road leading from Hacketts- town northwest to Vienna, a steep hill, nearly a mile long, has to be surmounted. When the top is reached the land is found be rolling, but laid out in good farms. As Vienna is approached, a long hill is de- scended fully a mile in length. Then the beautiful valley of the Pequest is reached, where may be seen some of the finest farms in the county. Rough as the uplands are, they afford abundant crops. The soil is largely composed of limestone on the hills and hill- sides ; in the valleys it is a dark loam, and needs but little cultivation to be made to produce most bounti- fully. The "Jenny Jump" Mountains is a high range of hills bordering the township on the north- west. The origin of its name is a matter of tradition. Probably the most reliable account is, that as an old settler was driving down the steep side of the moun- tain his team became unmanageable, and, being in great danger of being capsized, he called to his wife, whose name was Jenny, to jump, which she did, thereby saving her life. Be this as it may, the moun- tains have borne this name far back of the memory of any living man. The mountains slope down to the Great Meadows, and their sides and summits are mostly covered with timber.

In Independence there are many excellent grazing- and stock-farms, and some enterprising farmers. Quite celebrated throughout the country is the stock- and dairy-farm of Dr. William A. Conover, known far and near as the "Pohatcong Valley Stock-Farm." The farm has been settled and cleared nearly one hundred years, and is noted for its abundant crops of corn and hay, its blooded Alderney cattle and excellent butter. It derives its name from the fact that the Pohatcong Creek has its source and fountain-head in a spring upon this place. The Pohatcong flows west to Mans- field; thence southwest through that, Washington, Franklin, and Greenwich townships, and empties into the Delaware River about one mile below Car- penterville. It furnishes power for a number of saw- and grist-mills and distilleries.

Iron ore is abundant in various parts of the town- ship, and mines have been opened by Bulgin & Swayze, near Vienna; Azariah Davis; and Johnson I. Cummins, southwest of Vienna. None of the veins, however, have been worked to any great ex- tent, and it is impossible to correctly approximate their true standard. There is an abundance of lime- stone throughout the township, of which large quan- tities are constantly being quarried and sold to the furnaces and for use as a fertilizer. In fact, the soil of nearly all the farming land is largely composed of the disintegrated limestone. This rock extends from the Pequest Valley well up the slope of the hillsides, where a dark slate crops out.

Among those who have kilns and burn lime are James F. Boyd, S. A. Cummins, Harvey Fleming, A. J. Cummins, E. Simonton, L. Merrill, D. Roe, S. Green, P. Cummins, R. Ayers, J. N. Lenerburg, R. Ayers, Jr., J. F. Ketcham, P. Larkins, A. Howell, M. Wise, and others.

III .- EARLY SETTLEMENT.

From all the facts that can be learned, Independ- ence had a settlement many years prior to the Revo- Intionary war, though it was meagre and scattered. Among the first who made this township their home were Philip, Christian, and John Cummins. The exact year of their location is not known, but it was as early as the outbreak of the struggle with Great Britain. They were men who acquired property and standing in the community. These three brothers settled in what is now known as Vienna. During the first war with England a Tory named Jeremiah

* By S. Il. Hadley.

. f 1018 in 1880, when the census was taken. 736

737

INDEPENDENCE.

Moody was an active worker against the colonies, and spent much of his time in hunting up unpro- teeted patriots and making them swear allegiance to the crown. Moody would call on Philip Cummins at regular intervals and make him take the oath, although it was well known among his relations that his sympathies were with the colonies. These visits would generally occur in the night, and Moody was often accompanied by some of his Tory associates, one of whom, on one occasion, discharged his gun at Philip, but Moody struck up the barrel and saved his life. Philip's sons were Christian, Matthias, John, and Jacob. Andrew J., Simon A., and Nel- son N. were sons of Jacob Cummins. Three other sons in this family were Addis, Daniel, and Riehard. Daniel lived on what is now called Trimmer's Island, in the Great Meadows. Richard lived at Schmuck's saw-mill, at the head of the Great Meadows, from whence he moved to Fulton Co., H., in 1834. An- drew J. Cummins' mother was a daughter of Richard Addis.

Thomas Fleming, the ancestor of the Fleming family in Warren County, came from County Ty- rone, in the northern part of Ireland, in about the year 1746, and settled in Amwell, Hunterdon Co .; two of his brothers, Andrew and Samuel, also settled there, Samuel being the first settler in what is now Flemington, and from whom the town derived its name.

. Thomas Fleming had three children,-namely, James, Thomas, and Margaret, who came to War- ren County (then Sussex) prior to the Revolution. Thomas married and settled in what is now Hope township, and reared a large family, whose descend- ants are still numerous in that vicinity.

Margaret Fleming married Andrew Van Why, who lived in the township of Independence, and raised a family of five children, one of whom, James, owned the Townsbury mill property for several years, and until his death, in 1850. Several descendants of the Van Why family still live in the county.

James Fleming, who was born in 1754, also settled in Independence township about the year 1775, and died in Vienna in May, 1840, nged eighty-five years and seven months, He married Elizabeth, the young- est daughter of John Coryell, who was the oldest son of Emmanuel Coryell, who in 1733 became the owner of the ferry at Lambertville, Hunterdon Co., famous during the Revolution as " Coryell's Ferry."

Elizabeth (Coryell) Fleming was born June 6, 1769, and died Sept. 21, 1839. The children born of this marriage were John C. Fleming, December, 1793, died April, 1878; Mary, December, 1793, died in 1818; Nancy, August, 1796, died March, 1877 ; Mar- garet, August, 1798, died January, 1876; Amelia, July, 1801, died March, 1881; Harvey, October, 1803, still living in Independence; Sarah N. and William H. (a second pair of twins), Jannary, 1808, died in infancy. The farm on which Harvey Flem-

ing now resides was purchased of Samuel Hackett (for whom Hackettstown was named), and has been in possession of the Fleming family for over a century.

Two brothers named Vliet-Daniel and William- settled near Danville previous to the beginning of the present century. Daniel was quite a prominent man in the early days. He served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary war, was afterwards appointed a major in the militia, and was elected to the Legisla- ture. He was also chosen a Presidential elector on the Democratic ticket when Andrew Jackson was elected for his second term. He had two sons who grew to manhood,-William and John. William Vliet, brother of Daniel, lived about one mile above Vienna, Their descendants are among the promi- nent citizens of Independence at this time.

The Ayers were also early settlers in the neighbor- hood of Vienna. Aaron Ayers lived about one mile and a half east of that place, towards Hackettstown, and his brother Ezekiel also resided on the road between the two towns.

Joseph Coryell was one of the oklest inhabitants who lived above Danville, near to the Hope town-hip line. As a man of local prominence he was second to none in his day. He was surveyor, justice of the peace, and a member of the State Legislature. His most active business career ended some tive years before his death, which occurred about 1830.

Among the men who deserve a prominent place in this history is Judge Aaron Robertson, who has resided for some years past in the edge of Morris County, just across the Musconeteong River from Beattystown. He was born in 1803, in what is now known as the Quaker settlement in Allamuchy town- ship. His father came from Scotland, near Paisley, on the Clyde, and settled in the place above men- tioned. lle lived at one time in the house now owned by Jesse Adams, who is mentioned in connec- tion with the history of Allamuchy. Judge Robert- son had three brothers and two sisters,-namely, Archibald, Joseph, Charles, Nancy, and Euphemia. They continued to reside in the "settlement" until 1805, when the family moved to what is now Inde- pendence, and bought the farm owned at this time by Dr. Conover. Judge Robertson had but few oppor- tunities of gaining knowledge from books. He first went to school in an old building every vestige of which has long since passed away. It was located about one mile west of his father's house. Ilis first teacher there was Henry Harold, an Irishman, who taught in 1811. To this primal education was added a few terms spent in the common schools of Hack- ettstown. In 1839, Mr. Robertson was appointed surrogate of Warren County, and served in this capacity five years. In 1845 he was appointed judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals, which position he held for three years.

One incident of historic interest appertaining to this vicinity seems never to have found its way into print.

738

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

During the Revolutionary war, when Gen. Burgoyne's army were made prisoners at Saratoga, N. Y., there was danger of their being retaken. To prevent this (for it was well known that Sir Henry Clinton was hurrying troops up to their aid) the prisoners were pressed forward as fast as possible through New York and New Jersey en route southward to their desti- nation in Virginia. As the prisoners were moving along the road between Allamuchy and Hackettstown, and passing that particular point on the road known as the Allamuchy Pond, one of the prisoners, named Philip Hoffman, stepped behind the large rock so well remembered by those who are familiar with the road, and remained concealed until the guard had passed. The fact of being among strangers and in an enemy's country did not dishearten him, for he settled down in Independence, and there spent the rest of his life. He died some years since a few miles from Hackettstown.

HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.

Nearly all the main roads of Independence were laid out prior to the year 1800, and there have been few changes since. The location of the township is snch that roads must be built in certain localities or not be useful to the public, on account of the range of hills situated between the greater part of the farming settlement and the railroad. Through the absence of the township records from 1782 till 1853 we are unable to give many interesting items which we could other- wise upon this subject. The road from Hacketts- town to Vienna and Danville is the oldest one in the township; it was built many years prior to the Revolution. The next main road of this section, the one running through Danville up the valley of the Pequest towards Newton, was laid out many years before the township was formed or the county sepa- rated from Sussex. There is an item of expense, taken from the proceedings of the board of chosen freeholders, which pertains to the bridge over the Pequest between the Methodist Episcopal church and Vienna :

"Ordered that the sum of seven pounds he paid by the county collec- tor to Obadiah Ayers, in addition to twenty-five pounds already paid him for building a bridge over the Pequest near Philip Cummins."

This was a wooden structure, long since replaced by a substantial stone bridge.

IV .- CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

This township was set off from Hardwick in 1782. Its original limits have been changed or curtailed to a considerable extent, and over one-half its terri- tory has been taken away. In 1853, Hackettstown was taken from the southeast part of the township. In 1873, Allamuchy was set off, which took nearly half of the remainder.

The records of the township, from its organiza- tion in 1782 to 1853, have been lost (or destroyed) ; so that we are unable to give a full list of township of- ficers. The names of the chosen freeholders from

1783 to 1822 have been obtained from the ancient county records of Sussex Connty, while those from 1825 to 1881 have been taken from the freeholders' records of Warren County.

CHOSEN FREEIIOLDERS.

1783, Obadiah Ayers, Adam Misener; 1784-86, Obadiah Ayere, Capt. Johnson ; 1787-89, Obadiah Ayers, William Helms; 1790-91, Obadialı Ayers, Montgomery Riding; 1794-1800, William HIelms, Daniel Vliet; 1801-2, Montgomery Riding, Daniel Vliet; 1803-11, Mont- gomery Riding, John Robertson; 1812, Robert W. Rutherford, Wil- liam Hampton; 1813, Joseph Demund, William Hampton ; 1814, Daniel Vliet, William Hampton ; 1815, Benjamin Gustin, William Hampton ; 1816, Robert W. Rutherford, Jacob Miller; 1817-18, Robert W. Rutherford, Ziba Osmun; 1819-20, Robert W. Rutherford, Robert Thompson; 1821-22, Robert W. Rutherford, John Stinson ; 1825-27, John Schmnek, Robert Thompson; 1828-29, Ross Crane, Daniel Vliet; 1830, Nathan Stiger, --; 1831-33, Nathan Stiger, Archibald Ayres; 1834-35, Jacob Clawson, John Vliet; 1836-38, Jacob Clawson, William Larason ; 1839, Jacob Clawson, John H. Fleming; 1840-42, Henry L. Pownell, Christian W. Cummins; 1843, Henry L. Pownell, Caleb II. Valentine; 1844, Jonathan Shotwell, James Boyd; 1845, Jonathan Shotwell, C. H. Valentine; 1846-47, Samuel Beatty, James Boyd; 1848, John Blackwell, James Boyd; 1849, Abraham A. Van Sickle, John T. Buckley; 1850, Abraham A. Van Sickle, Caleb H. Valentine ; 1851, Daniel Van Buskirk, Tunis Allen ; 1852, Daniel Van Buskirk ; 1853-57, William F. Wire; 1858- GO, Eugene J. Post; 1861-62, Daniel Green : 1863-64, Lewis H. Mar- tenis; 1865, Robert Ayers, Sr .; 1866-68, Christian C. Huntsman ; 1869-71, J. N. Linaberry ; 1872-74, John F. Van Sickle; 1875-78, Robert Ayres, Jr .; 1879-80, Robert Ayers, Sr. ; 1881, John Merrell.

The following are the names of some of the early town collectors of Independence, with the amount of tax assessed for the years named :

1783, William Little.

518

1784,

227

1785, Abraham Johnson

377 2

1786, Samuel Willson

264

18 3

1787, =

296

1788, Ebenezer Willson

289

1789, Samuel Lundy

360

1790, William Helms

242

£2576

The names of the other principal officers of the township since 1850 are as follows :

TOWNSHIP CLERKS.

1850-52, George W. Johnson ; 1853, Benjamin Hall; 1854, Robert L. Gar- rison ; 1855-57, Jamies Shotwell ; 1858-63, Robert L. Garrison ; 1864- 66, Lewis Merrell; 1867-69, Andrew V. Sexton ; 1870, Felix C. Pyle; 1871, Perry Vliet; 1872-73, Andrew V. Sexton ; 1874-80, William A. Harris; 1881, Justin N. Stiff.

ASSESSORS.

1850, Tunis Allen ; 1851, Caleb H. Valentine ; 1852-55, Robert L. Garri- son; 1856, David Fleming; 1857-63, John R. Carr; 1864-65, Alfred Albertson; 1866, D. V. Maring; 1867-75, R. L. Garrisoo; 1876-80, 0. H. Albertson ; 1881, John C. Lafaucherie.

COLLECTORS.

1850-52, Dennis T. Wicoff; 1853-54, Isaac Newton; 1855-60, Moses IIa- zen; 1861, Simon A. Cummins; 1862, J. Till; 1863-65, James Shot- well; 1866-67, D. A. Van Syckle; 1868-69, John F. Mcclellan; 1870 -77, Ezra P. Gulick ; 1878-81, Robert Ayres, Jr.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.

1851 .- Daniel Van Buskirk, William Rittenhouse, C. O. Harris, Isaac Shields, Samuel A. Johnson, James A. Hamilton.

1853,-Isaac Cummins, James Boyd, C. O. Harrie, John Scott, Samuel A. Johnson.

1854 .- Isaac Cummins, M. W. Shotwell, E. J. Poet, Richard Hall, James McGier.

1855 .- Isaac Cummins, M. W. Shotwell, E. J. Post, Martin Ditrich, John Scott.

Robert Synon

ROBERT AYERS is the great-great-grandson of Oba- diah Ayers, who, with his brothers Ezekiel' and Wil- linm, emigrated to this country from Aberdeen, Scotland, about the year 1720. Obadiah settled at Hackettstown, Ezekiel' at Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., and William in Pennsylvania, opposite Belvidere. Their descendants are numerous. Ezekiel? Avers, son of Obadiah, was among the early and influential settlers at Inekettstown. lle was « miller by occupation, and built and operated one of the first mills at Hackettstown. He died Aug. 5, 1796, in his sixty-seventh year, and his wife, Annethe, on Nov. 27, 1778, in her forty seventh year. Both are interred in the old Presbyterian burying-ground at Ilackettstown.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 183

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