History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 54

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 54
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 54

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EDWARD S. BELL was born in New York City, May 6, 1815; removed with his parents enrly in life to Mansfield, Ohio, at which place he received his " education and commenced the study of medicine.

* Atkinson's "Physicians nud Surgeons of the United States," p. 376.

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

He completed his studies with Dr. John B. Beach, of Branchville, Sussex Co., N. J., during the winter of 1837-38; attended the University of New York, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and received his diploma as M.D. June 7, 1839. He married, in 1838, Catharine L., daughter of his preceptor, Dr. Beach. Resided at Stillwater from June, 1838, to April, 1839; at Lafayette until 1840, at which time he removed to Stanhope, where he followed his pro- fession until his death, Oct. 23, 1844. He left a widow and one son, Theodore, who now reside at Paterson, N. J.

ISAAC S. HUNT, for many years a resident practi- tioner of Sandyston township, and well known throughout Sussex County, was born near Newton, in the year 1818. He was literally a self-made man, and whatever prominence he acquired in the profes- sion of his choice may be mainly attributed to his studious course in early life. He established himself at Sandyston in 1846, and secured a large practice; he there married, in 1848, Sarah Ann, daughter of Joseph Fleming. Dr. Hunt was eminently successful in his treatment of the celebrated "Finch fever,"-a species of typhoid, which so disastrously raged in that section years ago, counting its victims by the score,- and was eventually taken down by the same disease, barely recovering from the baleful effects of the scourge. He removed in 1865 to Port Jervis, N. Y., which was his residence up to the time of his death, Nov. 23, 1875, at the age of fifty-seven. He left two sons and three daughters, all living,-Dr. J. Halsey, Victor, Mrs. Ella Gallup, Stella, and Rebecca.

Dr. Hunt was a skillful physician, and gained not only fame, but a reasonable competency. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order.

ALFRED WYKER, another physician, who was a native of this county, was born in Frankford town- ship, July 12, 1827. His parents were Henry and Mary Wyker, well-to-do farmers. His schooling was obtained at Deckertown and Mount Retirement ; he then began the study of medicine with Dr. Alexander Linn, at Deckertown. Two years later he entered Jefferson College, Philadelphia. In 1852 he com- menced to practice in Beemerville. In 1856 he emi- grated to the West, and from Niles, Mich., in 1862, entered the Fourteenth Michigan Volunteer Regi- ment, as assistant surgeon. Weakness and poor health, induced by overwork, caused him to resign his commission, May 19, 1863. He returned to Michi- gan and commenced to practice in Ionia, but, his health becoming poorer, he returned to New Jersey, where he died, at the residence of his father, Nov. 24, 1864. In 1852 he married Julia Frances, daughter of Thomas I. Ludlum, deceased. They had but one child, a son.

Dr. Wyker was a Presbyterian, joining the church of that denomination at Branchville, N. J., at the early age of fifteen.

A. W. HAIGHT made his advent at Lafayette about

1837, as would appear from the following advertise- ment, published in the newspaper at that time :

" PHYSIC AND SURGERY.

" Alvan W. Haight, M.D., Graduate Columbian Medical Institute, of the city of New York, a member of the Delaware Medical Society, &c., tenders his professional services to the public. Particular attention paid to all chronic complaints, and diseases of the chest, &c. Residence at the house of Lewis Peters, near Lafayette.

"LAFAYETTE, Feb. 6, 1837."

"A. W. HAIGHT.

CARLOS ALLEN, a member and president of the Sussex County Medical Society, is a native of Ver- mont. He was born at Huntington, Sept. 18, 1814. The academies of Richmond and Williston, Vt., fur- nished his preparatory education ; he then entered the Medical Department of Dartmouth College, and was graduated thence M.D. in November, 1837. During the ensuing five years he practiced his profession at Richmond, Vt., from 1842-46 at Deckertown, N. J., and since the date last given has been established at Vernon, in this county, where he is at present practicing. In 1877 he had the operation performed upon himself for Dupuytren's finger contraction, ac- cording to the method of Prof. Busch, as described by Madelung. The operation was successful, and the benefits derived from it were so great that he is a strong advocate of it. He married, Nov. 15, 1838, Arvilla Browning, of Richmond, Vt .; she died in May, 1867. Three years afterwards he married Susan, daughter of Maj. William Simonson, of Vernon, Sus- sex Co., N. J .*

THEOPHILUS H. ANDRESS, son of Hampton and Martha E. Andress, was born Jan. 10, 1841, in Stillwater township, Sussex Co., N. J. Having ac- quired his academical education, he chose the profes- sion of medicine, and entered the office of Thomas Ryerson, A.M., M.D., of Newton, where he remained until he entered the College of Physicians and Surgcons of New York. After attending his first course of lec- tures, he served as medical cadet in the United States army for one year. Returning to the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, he remained there until he was graduated, in March, 1864. In the following May he located at Sparta, in his native county, taking the clientèle of Dr. David M. Sayre, one of the leading physicians of the State. He at once entered into full practice with all the ardor and enthusiasm of one in love with his profession, and with a determination to succeed. The following year he married a daughter of the late Dr. Cutler, of Morristown, and grand- daughter of Judge Vail. The year following he moved to the city of Newark, but after six months' residence, at the urgent solicitations of his many friends, he returned to Sparta, where he has ever since remained in full practice, enjoying the confidence of his patrons and the esteem of his professional brethren.

The doctor's taste or speciality has been more par- ticularly surgery, and being surrounded by the great

* Atkinson'a " Physiciane and Surgeons of the United States," p. 437 ..

C.C andres mas

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION INN SUSSEX COUNTY.

mining interests of the county, more opportunities to practice that branch of the profession have been af- forded him than many of the profession in the country could enjoy. In emergencies he is cool and collected, prompt in his decisions; and, having decided what course to pursue, he is firm and undaunted in his op- erations, but not foolhardy, and always willing to listen and give due respect to the suggestions and opinions of others. He never stoops to the little acts that bring forward little men, but stands fairly on his merits for his professional success; and now, at the age of forty, in the prime of life and full vigor of manhood, he is actively engaged in his professional duties.

FRANKLIN SMITH, son of John T. and Mary Smith, was born in Newton, May 13, 1820. His parents came from Philadelphia and settled at Newton about the year 1812. His father died in 1822, and in 1826 his mother became the wife of Dr. Francis Moran, with whom Franklin studied medicine. He commenced the practice of his profession in 1843, at Papakating, in Frankford township. He went to Lafayette the following year, where he remained five years. In 1849 he removed to Hamburg, and practiced there until 1856, when he changed his location to Newton, which has since been his residence. He married Mary, a daughter of Benjamin Northrup, of Andover, but a native of Zanesville, Ohio. He is the oldest living member of the District Medical Society of Sus- sex County.

SIMEON ROSENKRANS, formerly of Walpack, died at Cocheeton, Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 24, 1841. HIc was born March 6, 1775; was in Sussex County but a short time.

HI. STITES WOODRUFF was born in 1791. He prae- ticed at Lafayette, Sussex Co., and died in 1844. He had four sons, one of whom bore his name, was a phy- sician, and apparently succeeded him at Lafayette, according to the following newspaper announcement :

" Dr. H. S. Woodruff would offer his services to the people of Lafayette and Its vicinity in cases of slekness, and all other ills which flesh may in- herit In this mortal life. His prescriptions will be elther (fashionably) with medicines, or physiologically (without them), as the faith of the pa- lient may be. He would prefer the latter, and promises quite as good success, if hala directions are attended to (in all cases). Apply to yours truly,

"JI. S. W.

" LAFAYETTE, Aug. 7, 1857."

He soon after located at Marksboro,' but died, mite suddenly, March 29, 1858.

JESSE R. BURGESS was a graduate of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania. He was examined and licensed funo 13, 1844, and commenced practice at tireens- ville, Sussex Co. He removed to Lafayette in Jan- uary, 1846, and labored there over ten years. He had sales of land, etc., in December, 1856, and a final sale Feb. 20, 1857. He was succeeded at Greensville by Dr. Cooley, who came from New York, and was " physician, surgeon, and dentist." In 1848, Dr. Bur-

gess married Huldah L. Dodder, of Frelinghuysen, Warren Co.

JAMES HALL was located and practicing at Decker- town in 1819,-possibly earlier.

JOSEPH B. DUNLAP located in Newton, April, 1845, and during the same month became a member of the County Medical Society. He also practiced in Still- water, and had previously (1842) married Lydia J., the only daughter of John Strader, Esq., of Still- water. In 1847 he had his office at his father-in-law's residence. He removed from the county.

JOHN II. ARMSTRONG, born Oet. 31, 1828, at Papa- kating, N. J., was the son of Capt. Thomas M. and Anna (Sausman) Armstrong, both natives of Sussex County. He entered the University of New York in 1854, graduating therefrom, and receiving two certifi- cates, the second being for special honors; attended lectures in 1859; studied medicine with Dr. Smith, of Williamsburg, L. I., and practiced two years in Stan- hope, N. J., where he died, Sept. 17, 1862.

JOHN WESTBROOK WILSON, a native of Dingman's Ferry, Pa. (1829), studied with Dr. Lines, graduating from College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1851. He commenced practicing at Hawley, Wayne Co., Pa., then at Flatbrookville, Sussex Co., N. J., but after- wards returned to Dingman's Ferry, where he died, at his father's house, June 29, 1859, of consumption. He was buried in the old Westbrook burial-ground, about two miles below Dingman's.

THEODORE A. LINN, son of Robert A. and Eliza- beth Linn, was born at Hamburg, Oct. 20, 1830. HIe began the study of medicine with Dr. Joseph S. Beemer, of Hamburg, in 1847, and further pursued the same under Dr. Alexander Linn. He was grad- uated at Jefferson Medical College in 1850, but soou after was attacked by rheumatism, from which he never recovered, and which caused his death, Sept. 5, 1852. He was buried in the family grounds at his native place.

HORATIO N. CRANE was a native of this county, born in Wantage, June 3, 1848. Quite early he de- veloped a strong inclination for the study of medi- vine ; in 1867 commenced study with Dr. M. Lampson, of Beemerville; in 1868 entered the Michigan State University, Ann Arbor. Graduating in 1870, he be- came a student in the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, New York City, and was graduated there in 1871. He then formed a partnership with Dr. Hedges at Branchville, but after a year opened an office for himself. He practiced for another year, but was then compelled to desist by his malady, consumption ; and, although he sought health by change of climate, he returned from a trip to the West only to die at his parents' home, in March, 1875. A most promising and useful career was thus prematurely cut short.

OTHER PHYSICIANS.

DR. FETHERMAX was located at Flatbrookville in 1844, and at Stanhope in 1845.

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

C. V. MOORE was at Stillwater in 1848, in which year he joined his fortune with those of Louisa, daughter of Isaac Coursen, of that place, where he is now residing and practicing.

JOSEPH HEDGES, son of Stephen Hedges, was lo- cated at Sparta, where he was a partner of Dr. Sayre ; in 1850 he removed to Western New York. He sub- sequently returned to Coleville, but soon after mi- grated to Branchville, where he is now in practice. He married Angeline Shiner, of Newton.

J. W. RAFFERTY advertised himself as "a grad- nate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Edin- burgh, Scotland, and a member of the medical so- cieties of New York State and Orange County." He was located for some time in the last-named county, and in 1838 was in Coursenville. He was the origi- nator of several patent nostrums, out of which he made some money, but did not enjoy a very high reputation with the regular practitioners here. He subsequently removed to Carbondale, Pa., where he died.

JOHN LINN ALLEN, a grandson of Judge John Linn, on his mother's side, was licensed in April, 1845; became a member of the District Medical So- ciety in 1846. Beemerville was his first professional location, from whence he removed to Branchville in the spring of 1846. His office was at Roberts' hotel. At the same time he formed a copartnership with Dr. Beach. Dr. Allen married Charlotte, daughter of Judge John Bell, of Branchville, June 27, 1850. He is now practicing at the village of Lafayette, this county.

J. H. THOMPSON located at Vernon, July 12, 1844. His office at that time was at Vandergriff's hotel.

THOMAS A. DROWN was practicing at Lafayette, Dec. 2, 1852; he located at Deckertown, but subse- quently left the county. He was a member of the District Medical Society of Sussex County from June 5, 1854, to June 3, 1863.

RICHARD S. FARRAND was at Lafayette in April, 1844. Four years previously he "took for better, for worse," Harriet, eldest daughter of Maj. William Stevens, of Newark, N. J.

ANTHONY D. MORFORD, son of Samuel D. Mor- ford, had an office in Newton, Ang. 14, 1845, and practiced there until he removed to Nyack, N. Y .; he is not now practicing. His consort was Margaret A., daughter of David Ryerson, Esq .; they were joined in wedlock in 1846.

J. WATSON YOUNG was born Jan. 1, 1840; grad- uated at the University of Pennsylvania, Medical Department, March 9, 1862; died Feb. 14, 1864. He was a son of Nelson V. Young, of West Amwell, Hunterdon Co .; read with Dr. Wetherill, of Lam- bertville, and practiced medicine at Montague, in this county. He died there, but was buried at Mount Airy, Hunterdon Co., N. J. He left a widow and one son, who bears his name. He was a member of the District Medical Society of Sussex County, join- ing in 1863.

MANNING F. CROSS commenced practice at Swarts- wood, in Stillwater, in 1855. He located at Lafayette, this county, April 22, 1859, and died of consumption, Jan. 29, 1860, aged thirty-two. He had only fairly entered upon his professional career, but was greatly esteemed by all for his amiable disposition and his uprightness in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SUSSEX COUNTY PRESS.

I .- THE SUSSEX REGISTER.

PRECEDING the Sussex Register there had been one newspaper venture in Sussex County. The Farmers' Journal and Newton Advertiser had begun and closed its brief existence before the beginning of the present century. Its first number was issued on the 8th of January, 1796, by Elliott Hopkins and William Hus- ton, and its publication was continued abont three years.

The Sussex Register was first published by Judge Hall on Tuesday, July 6, 1813, in a building in the rear of the court house. The size was eighteen by twenty-two inches, and printed on coarse paper, with- out column-rules, the type used being small pica and English, three and six sizes larger than that with which the paper is now printed. The proprietor and one journeyman were able to set the paper up in a day, and while the judge distributed the paper the jour- neyman loafed around. In addition to his editorial duties Judge Hall advertised that he would receive subscriptions for books and had for sale legal blanks and writing-paper. The price of the paper was two dollars per annum, half yearly in advance, the first dollar being payable at the end of the first quarter, at which time the editor informed those who had not already paid him that one dollar was due and "VERY MUCH WANTED."

Editorials were rare in those days, and in fact there was not much room, as half the paper was filled with advertisements set in large type, like the reading- matter, which was made up very largely of accounts of the movements of our troops and those of England, with whom we were then at war. Most of the adver- tisements were legal, though a column and a half were used by business men. Henry Jolinson, of New York, advertised dry-goods, Henry N. Miller, of Newton, a conntry store, while the others were James Spence, of Newton, watch- and clock-maker; Belvidere saw- mill, by Kinney, Ware & Waterfield; cloth-mill at Hackettstown, by Christopher Little; fulling and drying at Moden, by Moses Northrup, and in Frank- ford, by John Canfield.

The paper was first published on Tuesday, but on the 20th of September the day was changed to Mon- day, "better to suit the arrangement of the mails,"

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THE SUSSEX COUNTY PRESS.

and for this and other reasons from time to time the publication-day has been set back one day, until every one of the six working-days has been in use.

The paper has been enlarged several times since its first publication, and changes have been made in its typographieal appearance. July 13, 1818, column- rules were introduced, and the paper was practically enlarged in 1821 and again in 1822 by the use of smaller type. The file from 1828 to 1830 is missing, but during that time the paper was enlarged to twenty- two by thirty-eight inches. In 1843 the size was in- creased to twenty-three by thirty-eight inches, June 29, 1846, to twenty by forty, and in April, 1868, to twenty-nine by forty-three inches, its present size.

The country was not rich with farmers during the first years of the Register's existence, nor was the paper crowded with paying advertisements. At the close of the eighth volume, in 1821, the judge said he had done business with upwards of twelve hundred people of every kind, but, on the whole, was thankful that he had been able to keep his head above water so long.

In May, 1827, " in order to keep his head above water," he entered into a copartnership with William II. Johnson, and opened a store at Lewisburg, near Deckertown, and continued there until May, 1830, when they moved to Newton, into the old academy building, opposite the Episcopal church, on Main Street, where the Register was also printed until 1836. By strict attention to business the paper then began to prosper, until the judge, before he severed his con- nection with it, in 1865, saw it reach its highest point of success.

The place of publication has been moved several times. It was first published in the rear of the court- house until 1818, when it was moved into a building on the site of the Methodist Episcopal church. From 1830 to 1836 it was printed in the old academy build- ing, opposite the Episcopal church, on Main Street, and then found more permanent quarters in a build- ing on the corner of Main and Division Streets, where it remained for an unbroken period of thirty-one years. It was then removed into the old McCarter store-house, opposite Park Place, on High Street, where it remained until April, 1869, since which time it has been located on Spring Street.

The Register was wholly independent in politics during the first twenty-two years of its existence, the only political articles published being in the form of communications, for which the columns of the paper were open to both political parties, and during the campaign the tiekets of both parties were advertised. Very soon after the entrance of Mr. Edsall into the oflice anti-Democratie short paragraphs began to ap- pear, becoming more frequent, strong, and lengthy, until, in 1836, the name of William Henry Harrison for President was placed at the head of the editorial page, since which time the principles of the paper have remained unchanged.

Very few local items found their way into the paper during its earlier days, but on Feb. 5, 1864,-the sec- ond issue by B. B. Edsall & Co.,-a "local column" was introduced, and since March 10, 1870, local mat- ters have been given a page by themselves.

The proprietorship of the paper has changed but seldom, considering the length of time that it has been published. John HI. ITall, who began its pub- lieation, was editor and sole proprietor for nearly twenty years. From April 7, 1834, to March 26, 1836 John H. Hall and Henry P'. Moore were the publish- ers, under the name and firm of Ilall & Moore, and this eopartnership expired by limitation at the end of two years.

A new era began in August, 1833, when Benjamin B. Edsall-the man who made a reputation for the paper and himself-came into the office, he having been introduced to Judge Hall by C. S. Hendrie, a brother-printer, who, hearing that the judge needed a good workman, took the trouble to drive over from his home in Goshen, bringing Mr. Edsall with him. New life was infused into the paper, and its typogra- phieal appearance improved at onee. But Mr. Hall soon learned to leave the editorial labor to Mr. Ed- sall, devoting himself to the outside business, can- vassing for subscribers, and making collections, while Mr. Edsall devoted himself to the in-door work, writing sharply, elipping adroitly, working at the ease, press, or at whatever his hands could find to do.

July 5, 1856, Mr. Hall admitted Mr. Edsall into partnership, and the paper was published in the name of Hall & Edsall until Jan. 22, 1864, when Mr. Hall announced that he had disposed of his interest to his son-in-law, Richard B. Westbrook; but the old vet- eran, though seventy-four years of age, was unwilling to neknowledge that he had thrown off the harness entirely, and announced, "I shall still continue to exercise such oversight as my health will permit and the proprietors may desire." Smaller type was intro- duced by the new firm, and a power-press purchased .* It was during the existence of this copartnership that the Register reached its highest success, it being the only country paper in the State that paid the United States goverment a tax on its advertising, and it was during this time,-Dec. 4, 1865,-that Judge HIall died.

Mr. Edsall remained as editor until his death, and though, Nov. 10, 1866, Joseph Coult purchased Mr. Westbrook's interest, the firm-name remained un- changed.

Mr. Edsall died March 27, 1868, from which time until the paper came into its present hands Mr. Coult was the editor, maintaining its former reputation, and, if possible, keeping up a still more vigorons and pointed onslaught upon the Demoeraey.

July 10, 1868, Mrs. Edsall sold her interest to A. E. Goodman, of New York City, the name of the firm

" This prees remained In uso nutil the fall of 1880, when a still more modoru one, with steam-power, was Introduced.

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becoming then Coult & Goodman. Mr. Goodman, however, visited Newton but once, and then when he came to examine the office hefore purchasing. He bonght an interest in the paper as an investment, and retained it until Oct. 1, 1869, when its control was placed in the hands of his nephew, Richard F. Good- man, who is now editor and publisher.

JUDGE JOHN H. HALL.

The Hall family, of which Judge John H. Hall was a representative, is of English extraction. Theo- dore Hall, his grandfather, was born in England, and emigrated at an early age, with his brother Jacob, to the United States, but whether with or without his parents is unknown. The brothers settled in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, where Theodore he- came acquainted with Gertrude Gordon, born in the year 1710, near the Raritan River, Middlesex Co., N. J., whom he married in 1729. At this date he was conducting a milling business where he first located. Subsequently himself and wife settled in Kingwood township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., near the east bank of the Delaware River, where Mr. Hall still pursued the business of milling. He was finally drowned by the npsetting of his canoe, caused by the swollen waters of a freshet when crossing the river.

The children of Theodore and Gertrude Hall were Joseph, born in 1730, who removed at an early age to Western Virginia; Isaac, who died without issue when a young man; Samuel, who married Rhuhamah Everitt and settled in Kingwood township, Hunter- don Co., where he reared a large family and lived to an advanced age; Jacob, who married Elizabeth Davis, settled in the same township, and also raised a large family; Jesse, father of Judge Hall; Susan, who married Ambrose Fox and removed with him to Western Virginia; Rebecca, who married Quill Richards and located near Reading, Pa .; Mary, who married John Lake, for many years a resident of Kingwood township; and Gertrude, who married Luther Opdyke, also of Kingwood township. Mrs. Theodore Hall died in the year 1805, aged about ninety-five years.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 54

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