History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 43

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 43
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 43

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In December, 1857, Messrs. Cooper & Hewitt, who were controlling stockholders in the company, sold their stock to Thomas N. MeCarter, John McCarter, John Townsend, Edward C. Moore, Dr. John R. Stuart, and others, for $82,000, of which $32,000 was raised in new stock to pay arrears of interest on the bonds and part of a floating debt of over $50,000, and $50,000 issued in second mortgage bonds at seven per cent. The new proprietors operated the road for sev- eral years, and then sold their stock to Capt. Aaron Peck, formerly of Essex County. In 1864, Capt. Peck sold his stock to Moses Taylor, William E. Dodge, John I. Blair, and others, for $157,000, who still own and operate the road.

Branchrille Extension. In 1868, Mr. William Bell, of Branchville, was instrumental in securing an ex- tension of the Sussex Railroad from Drake's Pond to Branchville by the way of Lafayette. MIr. Bell pro-

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

cured the right of way and graded the road, which was constructed and equipped by the company, who have since operated it as a part of their line.

Franklin Extension .- In 1871 the Sussex Railroad Company extended their line to Franklin, laying a new track across the Newton meadows, intersecting with the line to Branchville and following that to the Branchville Junction, thence diverging in an easterly direction, passing to Monroe Corners and thence to Franklin. By an arrangement with the New Jersey Midland Company the cars of the Sussex road were permitted to run over the track of the former to Ham- burg Junction, from which point the Sussex road was extended to McAffee's Corner, in Vernon township, where it now connects with the Warwick Valley Rail- road, since built from Warwick, in Orange County, to McAffee's.

It was the intention of the Sussex company, in building a road to Franklin, to leave the Sussex Rail- road at Andover, passing by Struble's and Iliff's Ponds through Woodruff's Gap to the Wallkill val- ley, thence to Ogdensburg, and thence to Franklin. But the subscription of 825,000 by the citizens of Newton changed the route and secured its construc- tion by way of that village. The obstacle in passing the bog-meadow was overcome with no little diffi- culty, the ground being so soft as to require a cover- ing of plank before the filling iu with rock and gravel could be effected. The work, however, was success- fully accomplished by continuous filling.

The entire distance traversed by the road and its branches is thirty-five miles. Cost of construction and equipments, $1,875,100; receipts for 1879, $123,- 167.91; expenditures, $105,628.63. John I. Blair, President.

OGDEN'S MINE RAILROAD.

A portion of this road lies in Sussex County. It was chartered Feb. 19, 1864, and extends from Og- den's Mines to Nolan's Point, Lake Hopatcong, a distance of ten miles.

Capital stock paid in, $450,000; value of road and equipments, $189,808.76; dividends paid in 1879, in cash (three per cent. on capital stock), $13,000; in- come, 827,327.60; expenditures, $14,335.15. This road in 1879 transported- 49,226 tons of iron ore and 3791 tons of coal. George Richards, President.

MORRIS AND ESSEX RAILROAD.

The Morris and Essex Railroad passes along the southern corner of Sussex County, with stations at Waterloo and Stanhope. These villages are in the township of Byram, Sussex Co., but the stations are just over the line, in Morris. This road forms a val- uable outlet for the Sussex road, both cast and west, extending, as it docs, from New York to Easton, Pa., and being an important division of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad .*

# Sve history of the Morris and Essex division under the head of " Railroads" of Warren County.

CHAPTER VI. EDUCATION IN SUSSEX COUNTY.

I .- EARLY SCHOOLS.

THE first schools of the county were of the most primitive type, kept in log school-houses erected often by a few settlers who felt the necessity of giving their children some instruction in the simple rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic. A quarter's school- ing of this sort was all that could be afforded during the year, and this usually occupied the winter months, when the children's time at home was least valuable. The following description, given by Mr. B. A. West- brook of an old-time school-house which stood on lands of Capt. Abraham Shiner, in Wantage, and built just prior to or during the Revolution, will suf- fice to illustrate the class of school-houses of those days and to suggest somewhat the character of the schools taught in them :

" It stood at the foot of a ledge of rocks at the head of the captain's mill-pond, on grounds at present owned by his great-grandson, Jacob Hornbeck. It was in size sixteen by sixteen feet, and built of logs, with plank floor, one story high, with one course of boards for roof, and the cracks battened with slabs from the captain's saw-mill hard by ; the oval side was turned to the weather. In one end inside the room was an open fireplace, with chimney laid through the roof and built of sticks and clay. The school-room was entered by the old-style double door, divided horizontally in the middle and opened with a latch and string. There was no ceiling overhead, and the boys sat on slab benches that surrounded the centre of the room and formed a hollow square. A rude desk used for writing, etc., faced the wall in front of the window,-which, by the way, was the only window in the room, and only three panes of glass, placed abreast in it,-the use of which seemed to be for the 'master' alone, as he occupied it almost exclusively. During pleasant weather the upper door was allowed to stand open, in order to benefit from the light thus afforded, or, more likely, so that the boys could see what was passing out of doors."+

Little can be said of education in the county prior to the Revolution. Most of the settlements had their common schools, such as they were at that early day. Many wealthy citizens sent their sons to be educated at Princeton, at Queens College (now Rutgers), and some cven to England and Holland. The county was not without its men of education in the profes- sions and in the civil walks of life. Clergymen fre- quently engaged in school-teaching, and were gener- ally among the most active advocates and supporters of schools. The tendency, however, among ministers, as well as among many others of that day, was to give their support and encouragement to colleges and schools for the higher education of the few, rather

f Centennial report on schools of Sussex.

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EDUCATION IN SUSSEX COUNTY.

than to schools for the primary instruction of the masses.

II .- BEQUEST OF REV. ELIAS VAN BUNSCHOTEN.

Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, who was many years pastor of the Reformed Dutch Churches of this county, and during the latter part of his ministry of that at the Clove, in Wantage, made, in 1814, just prior to his death, a bequest of fourteen thousand six hundred and forty dollars, increased by his will to seventeen thousand dollars, the income of which was to be applied to the education of "pious youth who hope they have a call of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ." The following is a literal copy of the dominie's bequest :

" The donor hna a miud to bestow thirteen thousand eight hundred and forty dollars in obligations, and eight hundred in cash, to the Trustees of Queen's College in New Jersey, in trust on the following torms, viz. : The General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church in America to ap- point a Committee and the Trustees to appoint one also. The two Com- mittees jointty to devise the best plan and most solid foundation to put unt said money to Interest, which the giver reserves to himself during hals life, but after his decease, the Trustees to use and nppdy said Interest for the support and education in the classical and theological studies of pions youth who hope they have a call of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ ; no one is to he admitted to snid benefit but such as nre recommended by the General Synod. If the interest of what is now offered, and what in future may be added by him and others, should ac- cumulate above the aforementioned education, such overplus the Trus- teca, with the novice and consent of the General Synod, moy then use und apply to such other purposes us shall most tend to the good of the Institutlon and the benefit of literature; who uro to render nn account to the General Synod when they require it.

" The giver humbly desires that these torina be recorded in the record of General Synod, and in the record of Particular SynodH, and registered in the records of all the Classes belonging to General Synod ; and to be read in the said judicatories at their ordinary meetings, not for oggran- dizement or self-ostontution, but to be an humble pattern for others to copy after ; if the thing being so kept alive and considered, who knows whether God, in Ilis good providence, would not move some to do the like. It will also be the pleasure and delight of him, the bestower, and others, that all the officers of the college live frugal and industrious, and thus Hot u good pattern to their pupils; and all ecclesiastical officers de- port themselves dillgent, frugal and plons, before those over whom they nro set for edification ; thus to prepare not only for heaven, but for the approaching millennium, the commencement of which may be at a further distance than the present living. It is also the humble and ain- core request of the donor that the aforesaid officers exhibit no special inclination for luxury and accumulation of wealth, which la offensive und bars the door of donation. On the said terms and recommendations the giver io willing to bestow as before mentioned.

" ELIAS V. BUNSCHOUTEN.

" New York, June 9th, 1814.

" It is my wish, and I therefore recommend It to the Trustees within named, to require such retribution as they shall deem just and reasonable from nuy person who shall obtain the benefit of the within mentioned fund, and who may become able to make ouch retribution.

" ELIAS V. HUNSCHOUTEN.

" JUNE 9th, 1814."

This fund at the present time exceeds twenty thou- sand dollars, and has educated a large number of use- ful ministers of the Reformed Church.

ItI .- CLASSICAL SCHOOLS.

About 1825 the late Rev. Clarkson Dunn, rector of Christ Church, established a small classical school in the village of Newton. This school, though small in numbers, was conducted with dignity, taste, and pro-

priety, and attended with success. The fruits of this early effort at classical education were such cultivated minds as the late Hon. Martin Ryerson, Dr. Thomas Ryerson, Rev. N. Petit, and numerous others.

The school at Deckertown was not, as is supposed by some, the first classical teaching in the northern town- ships of Sussex. In the fall of 1828 the Rev. Edward Allen, then residing in the Clove, a man of scholar- ship joined to great benevolence of character, zeal, and activity, opened a room for a small select school, in which he employed William Rankin to teach. This was truly the first classical teaching given in the northern part of Sussex. At this incipient Clove school the late E. A. Stiles was a scholar, and com- menced that career of mental cultivation which led to a life of usefulness enjoyed by few. This little Clove school was participated in and upheld by the families of Dr. Herman Allen, of Deckertown, Robert A. Linn, of Hamburg, and Nathan Shafer, of Stillwater. Latin and English grammar were taught, and astron- omy by oral instruction or lecture. It continued but one term, at the close of which, by an arrangement agreed upon by the Rev. Mr. Allen and the Rev. Clarkson Dunn, Mr. Rankin removed to Newton and became the English teacher of Mr. Dunn's school in that village, while Mr. Dunu himself taught the classics. Again, in 1830, Mr. Allen, assisted by MIr. Rankin, hazarded the establishment of a boarding- school at Harmony Vale, near Hamburg. This school was at once liberally patronized, reaching about fifty boarders, besides day-scholars. The school at Deckertown was commenced towards the close of IS33. This was a natural growth and advance on what had already been done.

Subsequently arose the Mount Retirement Semi- nary, which completed the series of pioneering acu- demic schools in Sussex. This seminary was con- ducted with faithfulness and success for a long term of years. It was opened by Mr. Edward A. Stiles as the " Wantage Select School" in 1833, with three boarders. These gradually increased, so that in 1860 there were sixty, besides a large number of day-schol- ars, and three assistant teachers were employed. The name was changed to " Mount Retirement Seminary" in 1846. The school continued prosperous under the management of Mr. Stiles till 1865, when failing health compelled him to relinquish it, after having devoted to it thirty-five years of his life.

WILLIAM HANKIN-DECKERTOWN CLASSICAL SCHOOL.

William Rankin, who has been called " the vener- able pioneer of classical education in Sussex County," deserves to be mentioned in connection with the ltis- tory of education in this section. He was born in Greenville, East Tenn., his father having been a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war. When but a boy his minul thirsted for knowledge, and by untiring industry he early acquired what in those days and in that country was regarded as a liberal education. But,

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desiring greater advantages than the backwoods of the Southwest then afforded, young Rankin turned his face eastward with the design of ultimately enter- ing Yale College and quaffing knowledge from that fouutain-head of learning. On his pilgrimage his scanty means were replenished at times by teaching a quarter in some common school by the wayside.

In 1828 he arrived at Johnsonsburg, now in Warren County, and applied for the village school, which he received after undergoing a thorough and critical ex- amination by Dr. Roderick Byington, father of Rev. Theodore L. Byington, formerly pastor of the Pres- byterian Church at Newton, and now a missionary in Turkey. The examination took place at the tavern, and attracted quite a crowd of persons, who expected a "streak of fun" at seeing an uncouth backwoodsman " put through" by the well-educated village doctor. But their merriment was soon turned to surprise, then to admiration, when they found that the rough-look- ing young man before them was more than a match for his interlocutor. Besides exhibiting a thorough knowledge of history, grammar, and geography, and the common branches of education, he showed him- self equally at home in Latin and Greek. During his short stay there he was prostrated several weeks with a violent fever, which came near terminating his life. When he had recovered barely sufficient to be able to walk he visited Newton, where he was kindly received by Rev. Joseph L. Shafer. Here he spent some time as assistant teacher in the school then kept by Rev. Clarkson Dunn in the old Episcopal rectory on the hill, late the residence of Levi Shepherd, Esq. At the conclusion of his engagement with Mr. Dunn he went to New Haven and entered Yale College, thus realizing the dream of his youthful ambition. He remained but a single year, when he again re- turned to Sussex County.

In 1833 he started a select school at Deckertown. So little interest was felt in the enterprise that he could procure no room for the purpose but a small building about fourteen feet square in an inconvenient part of the village. This, however, he rented, and commenced his first term with a single scholar. This lone pupil was John A. Whittaker,-for many years cashier of the Deckertown Bank, and now its presi- dent,-whose father then lived at Unionville, in Orange County. "It was universally looked upon as a romantic and impracticable undertaking. But the school went on, and for the first week with one scholar only, who accompanied his preceptor to and from the school-room at regular hours, resembling a hen with one chicken." Before the ensuing spring, however, the school numbered twenty scholars. From this small beginning it grew to be a power for good, and with its success dawned a new era in educational mat- ters in Sussex. At the end of ten years over a thou- sand pupils had been under his instruction. Many had been prepared to enter college or to commence professional studies, and a large proportion of the

schools in the surrounding country were conducted by teachers qualified at this institution. Among his early pupils was the veteran educator Edward A. Stiles, for many years county superintendent of schools for Sussex County.

Mr. Rankin subsequently taught at Amity, N. Y., but for more than twenty years he was engaged in Morris County, N. J., teaching with his usual force and zeal at Mendham.

Mr. Rankin was not only a master of the classics, but his mind was a perfect storehouse of scientific and useful knowledge, and his memory remarkable for its retention of facts gathered from a wide field of read- ing and observation. In fact, he has been called " a walking encyclopædia of all things worth knowing," and his power of imparting to others was equal to the great resources of knowledge which he possessed, He was truly a remarkable man, and his name and self- sacrificing labors will long remain as one of the bright pages in the educational history of Sussex County.

We select from contributions made to the press by Mr. Rankin himself the following account of the school at Deckertown and matters pertaining to edu- cation in general in this county :

"I rented from the tavernkeeper before mentioned a small building, which was situated about half-way up a very steep hill. This building had been erected for a tailor-shop, and used for that purpose until the proprietor changed his business and went to tavern- keeping. It had never been painted, and had stood long enough to turn black, or at least blackish. There was no furniture,-neither stove, chair, bench, nor stool. Access to the door was by steps-or, rather, stairs-on the lower side. After examining all within I descended the steps and attempted to regain the main street, which I did by two or three dangerous slides, for the ground was covered with ice. It was now the latter part of the week, and I determined to open my school on the next Monday ; consequently, my whole thoughts were turned upon preparation. In the first place, borrowing a pick, I dug out of the frozen ground steps up to those of the house, thus making the whole ascent practicable. I next inquired of the merchants for a stove, but they knew of none to be had nearer than Newton or Goshen. I then made the same inquiry of the tavernkeeper, who at first made the same reply ; but then, looking for a moment downward, he raised his head and, striking the counter, as was his manner, said, 'I will rent you a stove, but it is a broken one. A few nights ago the young fellows in my bar-room got tight and in a row broke my stove badly.'-'I will take it,' said I. 'What is your price?'-' I will charge you nothing for the use of it if you will get it repaired.'-' Have you a black- smith-shop in the place?'-' None nearer than a mile and a half.'-' Have you anything by which I can convey the stove thither ?'-' I can lend you a horse, but I have neither sleigh, sled, nor wagon that would answer for such a purpose.'-' Have you a wood-pile?'

EDUCATION IN SUSSEX COUNTY.

-' Do you mean to hitch my horse to the wood-pile and drag it to the smith's shop with the stove on top?' -' If I injure your horse in the least,' I answered, ' I will indemnify you for the same.' He then laughed, and said, 'Go ahead.' While he went for the horse I went to the wood-pile and selected a couple of poles eight feet long, and, having obtained a hammer and nails, nailed on several cross-pieces; and, putting the horse in these shafts, I loaded up the broken stove and moved off to the blacksmith-shop.

" This the reader will say is partly romance, but I say, upon honor, it is every word strictly true. The repairing accomplished with dispatch, I returned and put my stove in the place for which it was prepared. HIaving now furnished my room with warming appa- ratus and a few rude seats, I advertised on the public doors of the village that my school would open on the ensuing Monday morning. I repaired to my lodgings oppressed with anxiety for the future. I had not as yet one single scholar engaged certainly, though all told me they would see about it, and, if I succeeded, they would most likely send.

"I spent that night in sleeplessness, and the en- suing Sabbath day in anything but peace of mind. At length Monday morning came, and I went at sun- rise to my newly-prepared school-room and kindled a fire that the room might be warm in time for taking in the school. I then returned for my breakfast, after which I went to open school. Roguish eyes were peering out from behind corners and suppressed laughs were heard as I passed along the street, but no scholars were seen gathering. AAscending the steps, I entered the door; and was there not a single scholar there? Yes, there sat a single one,-a young man of fifteen or sixteen. He arose and handed me a note from his father, a respectable and worthy gentleman of Orange Co., N. Y. This gentleman stated in his note that he had heard of my intention of opening a school, and wished to enter his son at the beginning.

"Thus opened the classical school at Deckertown in 1833, which continued twenty years, always full in numbers and prosperous in other respects. At this school seores of young men were educated who are now eminent in each of the professions throughout this and the adjoining States, and between four and five hundred teachers of schools of all grades iu Northern New Jersey emanated from this school, supplying the country with teachers at a time when they were most needed."

Thus Mr. Rankin's school might be called the nor- mal school of Sussex : it had sent out four or five hundred teachers before the State Normal School was founded. We find the following reference to this school in Barber and Howe's "Historical Collections of New Jersey :"

" Although Wantage, Sussex Co., has long been celebrated for the wealth of its inhabitants, it has not, until recently, fostered literature in its precincts. Formerly, the wealthy citizens who wished to educate

their children sent them off to boarding-schools in some different sections of the country. Common schools also were in a low condition. No select schools of any permanency had been sustained in the township until near the close of 1833, when an enter- prise was undertaken by William Rankin in the vil- lage of Deckertown. A few circumstances relative to the establishment of the school at Deckertown will throw light on the subject of education in this region. When the above-mentioned gentleman proposed to open a select school in the central and main village in this township at the time mentioned, so little in- terest was felt in his proposal that he could procure no room but a small building fourteen feet square in an inconvenient part of the village. This, however, he rented, and commenced the first term with a single scholar ; and this lone pupil was not of the State of New Jersey, but from New York. This discouraging commencement did not arise from want of knowledge of or confidence in the teacher,-for he had been favor- ably known in the country several years previous as a classical instructor,-neither was it because the in- habitants were averse to education, but it stands as an illustration of the strength of habit on communi- ties, and the difficulty of breaking over the barriers of long-continued custom."

IV .- PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

In the progress of publie schools the county of Sussex labored under the same difficulties which em- barrassed every other portion of the State. For more than half a century there was no action taken by the State to provide for popular education, no law enacted by the Legislature or fund created or appropriation made for educational purposes. The people, left to themselves, did the best they could towards sustaining schools in their respective neighborhoods. The act which gave the first legal authority for laying out school districts and for raising money by vote of the townships for building and furnishing school-houses was passed in 1829. In that year an appropriation was made from the school fund of $20,000 for the en- tire State, to be distributed according to the ratio of State taxes. An equal sum continued to be appro- priated till 1838, when it was increased to $30,000; in 1851 it was raised to $40,000, and an additional $40,000 appropriated out of the State treasury, making the annual amount appropriated for school purposes $80,000, at which it remained till 1867, since which the amount has been $100,000. The act of 1851 changed the basis of apportionment, making it to the counties in the ratio of population and to the town- ships in the ratio of the school een'sus.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 43

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