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 186
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 186
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IV .- CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
This township was formed from the territory of In- dependence in the year 1873. Its act of incorpora- tion, which was approved April 4th, is as follows:
" AN ACT to establish a new township in the County of Warren, to be called the township of Allamuchy.
" 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the Stalo of Now Jersey, That all that part of the township of Independence in the County of Warren, being the boundaries and descriptions following-to wit : Beginning in the contro of thu Morris Canal at the cast corner of Joseph Smith's farm in sald township of Independence, in n direct line to n point in the contro of a public highway leading from Vienna to Long Bridge two rods southwest of the present residence of Rev. John McLoughlin, aud from theuco on a straight line northwesterly to a point two rods northeast of the southwest corner of the present roeldenco of Benjamin Howell, in said township of Independence, and still con- tinuiog ou the same straight lino to the division line of the township of Independence and FrolInghuysen in sald county of Warren; thonce northonsterly ulong sald division lino of the townships of Independence and Frelinghuysen to the division line of Sussex nud Warren Counties, thouco southeastorly ulong said county division line to the contro of the
MascoDetcong River, theace down the middle of said river to the east corner of the borough of Hackettstown, thenco northwesterly along the lins of said borough to the place of beginolog-shall be aod is hereby set off into a separate township, to be called and knowo by the name of the township of Allamuchy.
"2. And be it enucted, That the inhabitants of the said township of Alla- muchy shall be and they are hereby constituted a body politic and cor- porate, and shall be styled ond known by the name of the lobaljtauts of the township of Allamuchy in the county of Warren, aud shall bo entitled to all the rights, powers, authority, privileges, and advantages, and subject to the sarno regulations, government, and liabilities, as the Inhabitants of the said township of Independence in the said county uf Warren are now entitled or subject to by the existing laws of the State.
"> 3. And be it enacted, That the Inhabitants of the township of Alla- muchy shall hold their first annual town-meeting at the house Dow occupied by Eliphalet Hoover, at Allamuchy, in the said township of Allamuchy, on the second Monday In April next.
" 4. And be it enacted, That the inhabitants of the township of Inde- pendence shall hold their next town-meeting at the house now occu- pied by Lowis Martonius, at Danville, in said township of Independence, un tho second Mouday In April next.
"5. And be it enacted, That the township committees of the townships of Independence and Allomuchy shall meet on the Monday Dext after their first ooqual town-meetings at the Hotel of Lowis Martenius, at Danville, in the said township of Independence, at ten o'clock io the forenoon, and then and there proceed by writing, signed by a majority of those present, to allot and divide between the said townships all properties and mionics on hand, dus or to become due, In proportion to the taxable property and ratables as taxed by the assessore, or within their respective limits at the Inst assessment, and may adjourn the said meoting from time to time as a majority of those present may think proper, and the inhabitants of the township of Allamuchy shall be Hablo to pay their just proportion of tho debts, If any there be; and if any of the members of the said township committees shall neglect or refuse to meet us aforesald, those assembled may proceed to make the division, and the decision of the manjority of those present shall be final oud conclusive.
"6. And be it enacted, That nothing lo this act shall be so construed as to jospair or in any wise affect the rights of the said township of Alla- muchy of, In, and to any portion of the surplus revenue of the general government, or to school fond of any naturo to which the said township may now or at any time hereafter be ontitled in the distribution of any and all such fund or funds.
"7. And be it enucled, That all paupers who omy be charged to the sald township of Independence at the time this act goes into operation, shall thereafter be chargeable to and supported by that township within the bonuds of which they have respectively acquired their legal settlements.
"S. And be it enacted, That Aaron O. Bartow, of the township of Knowlton, Calob II. Valentino, of the town of Hackettstown, and Isaac L. Cook, of the township of Frelinghuysen, jo said County of Warren, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to run and mark, by and before the first day of April next, the separating lino between the said towoships of Independence and Allamuchy, and a majority of them if necessary can perform said commission In all respects, and that the expenses and reasonable compensation of said compassion bo equally paid by said townships, and said towoships shall comprise a part of the Second Assembly District.
"9. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately.".
The principal officers of the township since its or- ganization have been the following :
Town Clerks,-On the formation of the township David J. Bedford was elected clerk, and re-elected in the years 1874 and 1875. His successors were in 1876, Byron R. Clifford ; 1877, David J. Bedford, re-elected in 1878-79; in 1880, D. A. Young, who was chosen again in 1881.
Frecholders .- 1873-74, Israel Swayze; 1875, James Ayers, re-elected in 1876; 1877-78, Andrew J. De- mus; 1879-81, Joel Till.
Justices of the Peace .- Thomas A. Haggerty was elected to this office when the township was formed,
* Pago 792, Jawa of 1873.
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and has filled the office continuously ever since. David V. Maring held over, being elected while it was a part of Independence, and served until 1875, when John Shields was chosen and served two years, when he resigned, and David Maring was elected to fill the vacancy. Julius J. Gregory was subsequently elected, and now holds the office.
Collector .- Eliphalet Hoover has held this office ever since the organization of the township,-1873 to and including 1881.
Town Committees .- 1873, D. A. Young, William M. Seals, George Wintermute, John Jilson, and I. N. Blackwell; 1874, D. A. Young, George Wintermute, Joel Till, I. N. Blackwell; 1875, D. A. Young, William M. Seals, George Wintermute, A. Wilson, William Vanhorn ; 1876, D. A. Young, William Vanhorn, D. J. Bedford, William M. Seals, George Wintermute ; 1877, Levi Kittle, A. S. Hibler, John Shields, S. D. Hibler, W. W. Willett; 1878, Levi Kittle, John Shields, A. S. Hibler, W. W. Willett, S. D. Hibler; 1879, Levi Kittle, A. S. Hibler, W. W. Willett ; 1880, Jacob Axford, Adam Stiff, W. M. Seals.
Assessors .- 1873-74, Andrew J. Vought; 1875-77, Joel Field ; 1878-81, John N. Hibler.
V .- SCHOOLS.
When the township was incorporated it was divided into four school districts, the condition of which is here given, quoting from the report of the State su- perintendent of public instruction for the year ending Aug. 31, 1879, the last one published :
Meadville District, No. 52: Amount of State appro- priation, $115.24; total amount received from all sources, $155.24; value of school property, $400; total number of children enrolled between the age of five and eighteen years, 33.
Saxton Falls District, No. 55: Amount received from State appropriation, $300; amount received from all sources, 8347; value of school property, $700; total number of scholars enrolled between five and eighteen years of age, 44.
Allamuchy District, No. 56 : Amount of State ap- propriation, $300; amount received from all sources, $381; value of school property, $500; number of children enrolled between the age of five and eight- een years, 69.
Quaker Settlement District, No. 57 : Amount re- ceived from State appropriation, $300; total amount received from all sources, $358; present value of school property, $800; whole number of scholars en- rolled between five and eighteen years of age, 60.
VI .- VILLAGES.
ALLAMUCHY
is the principal village in the township. It is said to have been the location of an old Indian village. In an early day there was quite an extensive business done in the mercantile line at this place. Among the first stores was one kept by James Shotwell. Stephen Ken- nedy and Paul Angle also engaged in merchandising. At this time Allamuchy was the principal trading-point for many miles around. There is now but one store in the place. This is kept by Samuel Berry, who is also postmaster.
There are twenty-eight houses now occupied as dwellings; two grist-mills, one owned by John Till, the other by Thomas A. Haggerty ; and a hotel, kept by Eliphalet Hoover.
WARRENVILLE
is a hamlet half-way between Hackettstown and Alla- muchy. About 1830 there was started here a car- riage-factory, which was run till 1860, a hotel, and a foundry, where plows were quite largely manufac- tured. In 1840 there was a store kept here by George Wire, which did a large business. The place has no business now, nor has it had since the railroad was opened.
VII .- CHURCHES.
For many years the Society of Friends (at the "Quaker Settlement") had a house for public wor- ship. Those belonging to other denominations at- tended the churches in Hackettstown, or other con- venient localities.
The Methodists and Presbyterians held occasional meetings in the school-house, which stands on the site of the old Quaker church, but there is no regular appointment there, nor any church organization in the township.
VIII .- RAILROADS.
The people of Allamuchy soon are to have a railroad through their township. It is known as the Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad, and is to run from Belvidere to Andover, where it will connect with the Sussex road. Its route is along the Pequest Creek, through the Great Meadows, crossing Allamuchy township about its centre. The contractors have already commenced the work of its construction, and it is expected that it will be completed and in operation during the summer of this year, 1881 .*
* See also page 489, this volume ..
ADDENDA.
EXECUTION OF JOHN MOODY.
In he chapter on the Revolution a younger brother of Lieut. James Moody is referred to as having been captured in an attempt to rob the archives of the Con- tinental Congress and excented as a spy. We find in a copy of the Pennsylvania Packet, in the collec- tions of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, an ac- count of the execution. It appears that the young man's name was John Moody, and that he was exe- cuted "agreeable to the usages of nations" on the 13th of November, 1781.
RESERVE MILITIA.
The assistant adjutant-general of the State reported, Oct. 30, 1880, the reserve militia of New Jersey ap- proximately, in which Sussex County has the number of 4776, and Warren County 7355.
WARREN COUNTY SUNDAY-SCHOOL ORGANIZATION.
There have been Sunday-school conventions and organizations of one sort or another in the county for many years, but the present organization was effected in 1869. The last annual convention was held at Port Murray in May, 1880, Rev. Mr. Kelley, of Stewarts- ville, being president.
The following are the officers at the present time, -namely, President, Rev. Richard Van Horn, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington; Vice- Presidents, Judge Somerville, Port Murray ; L. M. Teel, Phillipsburg; Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, Hon. C. H. Albertson, Vienna. Joseph S. Smith, the recording secretary, died within the year.
WAR RECORD OF BLAIRSTOWN.
As supplemental to the statement made at the foot of page 81, and to the account to be found on page 654, the following letter from D. C. Blair, Esq., to Col. Charles Seranton, of date April 12, ISSI, and kindly placed at our disposal, is here given :
"Upon the first call by President Lincoln, ju April, 1861, for 75,000 truopw to serve fur 3 months, I raised at Blairstown a company of volun- tvers, in all 92 mon, and was unautionsly elected captain. Robert G. Hunt (deceased) was nrst Hleutenant, and Arthur Hemingway (deceased) second. The Governor refused to accept this company, as every regiment was full and there seraied to be no immediate prospect of a second call for volunteors, na Secretary Seward entertained the opition that this was only a thirty days' war. I nevertheless made a proposal to the mon tu hold together and await a second call ; but many grew impatient nt for- ther delay. Finally, after supporting the men for two weeks lunger
at my own expense, and a second call not having been made, I was com- pelled, under the circumstances, to disband them. When, after a long in- terval, a second call came for nine months' service, I found the company scattered ; some of the men had gone to Pennsylvania and New York, and had volunteered jo other States. I then went to New York City and co- listed as a private in the Twenty-second Regiment, National Guard, Col. Monroe commandant. The National Guard of New York was called upon in an emergency by the government for three months' service. The Twenty-second Regiment moved first to Baltimore, and afterwards was ordered to Harper's Ferry, Va., and was scattered down the Shenad- doah valley as far as Winchester, principally engaged jo picket duty. After the expiration of our term of servico the regiment was ordered back to New York for the purpose of suppressing the riots in that city. After these disturbances ended I received au honorable discharge and was mustered out of service."
GREENWICH TOWNSHIP.
The following sketch of School District No. 6, for- merly the "Straw," but now known as "Still Val- ley," was accidentally omitted from the history of the township. It is condensed from an article written by E. F. Cline :
The first school known to have been kept in this vicinity was in a log hoase on the New Brunswick turnpike, a few rods enst of what is now called Green's Bridge. The Inillding stood opposite the brewery (now nt this place), between the rond and creek. Mr. Barnes, an aged citizen of Phillipsburg, inforins us that he went to school in this house seventy-two years ago, and that Mr. Cohen was the teacher, more commonly called " Old Colion." How long there was school at this place previous to 1804 is not known, but we are told that at this time it was a very old and di- lapidated building, it being almost impossible to keep school ja it any junger, for one could see through it between the logs in almost any part of the house. It was abandoned in 1807 or 1808, a stone house having been erected by Mr. George Bidleman a few roda east of his mill, In which one room was fitted up for n school-room and the other part as a dweil- Ing. The said mill ia now owned by R. K. Shimer.
The first teacher in this house was Mir. Simpson, who lived do it at the time. This honso wus burned in the summer of 1812, and Immediately rebuilt with an extension of 25 feet. The whole building is now 55 hy 22 feet, and Is used as e dwelling for two families. The burned part can readily be distinguished, the stones being binckened by the fire.
The oldest record found is the minute-book of the reorganization of the school in the winter of 1512. It is headed thus: " Liberty Hall School-House, Suwex t'o., N. J., Dec. 21st, 1812." The origin of this name is not known, but it was a very appropriate name at that time, our nation being then engaged In war with England, trying to establish per- manent liberty to her citizens on both land and sea.
The first trustees (1>12) In the rebuilt house were: Abraham Bidle- man, Henry Bidlemun, Leffenl Hanghawont, and John Carpenter, Thomne Wilson then taught for a time. But, for some reneun not known, the Liberty Hall school-honso was vacated early In 1814 and the dis- triet divided. The Immundaries of the district before the division was inado were almost unlimited, this ling the only school-house on the rundt from Phillipsburg to Hoomsbury. At this time Greenwich town- ship Included what is now Lopatcong township and Phillipsburg, the division being made in 1877. Many suppose that when the building was burned the district was divided, and that there was never any school kept in it after being relmilt ; but they must be wrong, for Mrs. Meyers, a very agand lady, Informs us that the went to the fire, taking her child with her, then a year old, and that It was in the summer. That child
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ADDENDA.
now being sixty-five years of age makes the date of the fire 1812. Mr. Perdoe, who owned this house a number of years, also ioforms us that it was burned in the summer. We have the original lease for the first lot on the site of the present building, given by Dr. John Cooper, and made out to John Sharps and Lefferd Haughewout, io behalf of the trustees of the school. The lease is dated Feb. 15, 1814, which proves that the divi- sion was made some time in the winter of 1813-14. This district is more generally known by the name of Straw School, from the old straw- thatched church. The origin of the present nome, Still Valley, is not known.
A frame building was erected in 1814, school being kept in & log house a few rode farther south, opposite the form-house (then owned by the said Dr. Cooper), nntil it was completed. This farm is now owned by Mr. H. Metler. The cost of erection is not exactly known, but thought to have been about $300. The site of this building is about two miles east of those of the original district, the other pert of which also built a new house in 1814, about three-quarters of a mile farther west, and was called Ihrie school-house, the first in the limits of what is now Phillipsburg.
We now confine our history to the Straw school, or District No. 6. Mr. Beck worth was the first teacher in the new building, and also taught in the log house while it was being built. The following are also known to have taught in thie building previous to 1847: Messrs. Simpson, Werner, Erskine, Spiddle, Moulton, Smith, and Fair.
In 1836, or near that time, the house occupied all the ground they had, 25 by 20 feet. Being painted red, it was sometimes called the Red Frame school-house. It seems they had a variety of nemes.
The following teachers taught from 1847 till the summer of 1858: M. F. Stillwell, J. V. Fair, Daniel E. Phillips, David Seem, William Sibly, C. W. Feucher, P. M. Melick, G. C. Eddy, M. Sheeleigh, Henry Hulshizer, Miss Thompson, Miss R. W. Davis, Josiah Devis, W. H. Godher, Mr. Shoemaker, Dr. Herrick, and Dr. Jennings.
In 1858 a brick building was erected at & coet of $1200, 24 by 36 feet in size. The size of the present lot ie 240 hy 60 feet, divided into two play-grounds and inclosed with a fence The building committee were
Michael Cline, Lefferd Thompson, and R. L. Cline. Dr. N. Jenning. last teacher in the old house, was the first in the n w one. The i ing are his successors : Mary E. Jennings, J. B. Alsover, Julie M. TI Ambrose Asy, C. W. Wood, J. P. Weymouth, Emma Grauger, E. Johnston, Joseph S. Smith, Miss Alice Besoer, Frank B. beckman, J. Edmunson, and E. F. Cline.
The trustees of Liberty Hell school have been mention ed. Tl of the present district (in 1814) were Lefferd Haughawout, John £ and William Carter. After this date none are recorded until 1. which year the following were elected: John H. Hamlen, Ja.co' shizer, end John K. Thatcher.
From 1860 to 1870, George Insley, George B. Hawk, Peter SL'1: William S. Karr, William Hemlen, and William Corter eerved. 1870 to 1880 the incumbents were G. B. Hawk, William Carter, W Hamlen, George W. Hance, Philip L. Hawk, and Thomas Dalry mp None of the trustees who served prior to 1844 are now living.
J. B. Alsover and Ambrose Asy, who taught here a short time, ar Pennsylvania lewyers. Joseph S. Smith, ex-superintendent of W County, taught at this place e while, and is deceased. Mr. Fre Heckman, who taught this school during the winter of 1872-73, i- ¥ living in Phillipsburg, N. J., end, being an able writer, is deeply en 1 in literary work. The present teacher is E. F. Cline, who has ht echool in charge for nearly three years.
ERRATA.
On page 537, the name of Philip Y. Brakele; member of the Council for 1847 should be Philip J . Brakeley.
On page 549, last line of second column, "18 should read " 1880."'
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