History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 63

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 63
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 63

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Samuel Smith died Sept. 21, 1859, and his brother, William L., the day preceding. Samuel's widow is still living, the wife of Maj. John Kraber, and by him has had one daughter,-Elizabeth H.

DURING THE REVOLUTION.

The statement has been published that the "Tory Bonnell Moody, who made his home in the rocks of the Muckshaw swamp, near our town," and who com- mitted many desperate acts, was hunted by the Whigs of Newton, "eventually captured, and finally hang

* Ho was buried In Newton, but his father and grandfather wero in- terred in the Plains Church Cemetery.

t James Mattison came from Hunterdon to Sussex County between 1,50 nml 1785, nud settled one mile from the court-house, on the north shilo of tho Fredon road ; Und children,-William, Nicholas E., John, James, Susan, Mary, and Sarah,-all deceased, but most of them left largo fami- Bes. Willlum married Elizabeth Rubldns, and had ten children, of whom six nro deceased,-unmely, Ann, wife of Hampton linzen ; John B, mar. rled Mary A. Hardisty ; James, marriod Mary Itunt; Amlrow, married Caroline Blunt ; Mary, wife of Albert C. Townley ; and Alico G., wife of Ephraim D. I'mamor. Those living are Sarah l'., whlow of John Stephens; Margaret 11., second wife of Albert C. Townley, deceasel; Elizabeth, widow of Samuel Smith, and wife of John Kraber; and Anios S., nhu married Susan Oxford. There are represented in Newton children of John B. Mattleon, Mary Townley, Margaret HI. Townley, and Elizabeth (Smith) Kraber.

: The Inte W. L. Smith was county clerk from 1846 to 1851.

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on the green, where the surrogate's office now stands, for robbing a gentleman's house and self near Belvi- dere." This is an error. The person hung was not Capt. Bonnell Moody, but one of the prisoners whom Lient. James Moody released from jail, and who was afterwards captured, as above related .*

But the patriotic record of Newton in the Revolu- tion is one that does her honor. In the County "Committee of Safety," which met monthly at New- ton, the old town had a large and loyal representation in the persons of Archibald Stewart, Robert Price, John Stoll, Thomas Anderson, Jacob McCollum (who served in the Legislature in 1778), Philip Doderer, and Jacob Stoll.

Newton furnished both men and means in the struggle for independence, and the records show it to have been in no ways lacking in loyalty to the patriot cause. Among the names of these patriots that of Thomas Andersont stands prominent. He was clerk of the Committee of Safety (and also acting clerk of the county from 1770 to 1777, and surrogate from 1785 till bis death, in 1805), and for a considerable portion of the war acted as assistant deputy quarter- master-general. The army supplies raised in this county -horses, flour, feed, etc .- were forwarded through him to the various military posts. It is said that Gen. Washington at one time during the Revo- lution stopped at Newton and was a guest of Mr. An- derson. It is traditional, also, that Washington re- buked his entertainers for their very lavish display of silver plate on that occasion, remarking that it was unseemly at a time when the soldiers in the field were suffering for both food and raiment.

James Robinson guarded prisoners from Sussex to Ringos, in Hunterdon County, in 1783.

OCTOGENARIANS AND OLD RESIDENTS.

The following list of persons of eighty years and upwards exhibits the names and ages of the oldest living residents of Newton in the year 1875, as shown by the census of that year (the age is given at last birthday) : Margaret G. Anderson,# 85; Elizabeth Townsend, 91; Hannah Meacham, 83; Sarah Kon- kle,¿ 81; Mary MeIntire, | 89; Rebecca Drake, 80; Susan Cornell, 89; Jane Northrup, 85.

Only two of the above named were living in June, 1880,-Rebecca Drake, at Newton, and Susan Cor- nell, in Hardwick township, Warren Co.,-at which date the list of octogenarians was given by the census enumerators as follows: Jane Brower, 80; Jacob Mabce, 80; Anna B. Cassidy, 80; Job J. Drake, 80; Jacob Strader, 80; James Sutton, 80; Moses Wood- ruff,1 81; Ann S. Armstrong, 82; Anna M. Johnson, 82; Benjamin Booth, 84; Rebecea Drake, 85; Nancy Pettit, 86; Charles Cinderbox, 89.

" For an account of Lient. Moody, see chapter on the Revolution. + Grandfather of Capt. Thomas Anderson and Judgo Daniel S. Ander- son.

# Died April 11, 1879.

¿ Died In December, 1877.

| Died In May, 1880.

§ Dicd in December, 1880.

The oldest man in this list, Charles Cinderbox, is not a very old resident here, but was a long-time resi- dent in Byram township, coming here about ten years since. Among other old citizens may be named Mor- ris Simpson, 79; Merritt Pinckney, 79; Aaron H. Bonnell, 74; Elijah Rosenkrans, 74; Samuel P. Rob- erts, 72; Benjamin Van Campen, 79; Charles Stick- ers, 74; David Thompson, 71; Jacob Huyler, 72; Israel Blanchard, 73; Benjamin Hand, 70; and the oldest of the old ladies (besides the six given above) are Jane Wilson, 77; Mary Bross, 79; Effie Beemer, 78; Sarah Hart, 78; Sibilla Linn, 78.

EARLY MERCHANTS.

Holmes, Pemberton & Stuart are reported to have been the first merchants; they were in active opera- tion long before 1800. They were not in business together when they first started, although they sub- sequently were associated as partners. Their store was at one time on the lot now partly occupied by the Anderson House. George H. McCarter clerked for them there. This stand was subsequently occupied by David Ryerson and Garret Rosenkrans.

It is stated that in 1820 there were but six stores in Newton, which were those of George H. McCarter, where Joseph Anderson's store now is; Pettit Britton, where yet is the Britton property, above the park ; John Feeny, in a building belonging to the estate of D. W. Smith, and occupied by Huston & Van Blar- com ; Bonnell Haggerty, on the Samuel Johnson cor- ner; John Rorbach, on the late Rorbach property, above the court-house; and Ryerson & Rosenkrans, at the place above mentioned. About this time the firm of Ryerson & Dennis was engaged here in mer- cantile pursuits ; its members were David Ryerson and Ezekiel Dennis, the latter the father of the founder of the "Dennis Library." Phillips & Rosenkrans came a little later. Hall & Johnson kept a general merchandise store in the old academy building for several years prior to 1829.

NEWTON'S PROGRESS.

The changes which have taken place in the village of Newton during the past thirty-five or forty years, and its growth during that period, may be seen in the following paragraphs, condensed from an article pub- lished in the Sussex Register a few years since, and. revised to date :

At that time the town comprised hardly o quartor of its present population, and the principal business was transacted abovo Spring Street. The corner of Church and Main was one of the busiest portions, as the post-office and two stores wore located thero.

The valonble slato-quarry, which is now a source of so much pride and profit, is located where a thick woods afforded a place for political meetings in Polk and Dallas' times.

Betweon Church and Division Streets tho ground was a quagmire,- a calamus-swamp,-over which It was impossible to drive without miring. Now it Is filled up, and is good solid ground. At the lower corner of Division and Iligh Streets was formerly un old brick kiln over sixty years ago, but gone about 1820, and near the samo pinco the site of a lomber- yard, belonging to George and Robert HI. McCartor; and tho building now owned by Robert Gray derived the name of " mule-stable" because it was originally used by the McCartors as a shelter for their mules, of

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which they had a large number employed In carting. The ground be- tween Division and Liberty Streets was known as Johnson's muradlow, and used ny a training-ground when the militia went out for parade.

In front of the dwelling now occupied by Robert S. Wintermunte, and the E. C. Moore vatuto, stood a large baru-like structure, which was used na a blacksmith-shop. A building somo distance in its rear was occupied by John A. Bonnell as a wagon-making and paint-shop. The house oc- cupied by John T. Stewart was built in 1840, by J. A. Bonnell, for Mr. Hunt. A stream of water (now covered) runs through the centre of this lot, und on the north side was a small building where a large number of our young people attended school under the tutelage of Miss Isabella Dennis and Miss Warner. The house of David L. Foster was occupied by the firm of Foster & Aublo as a shoe-shop oml dwelling.

David Thonison's house was built by G. H. McCarter in 1819, the brick for which was burned near the old Methodist Episcopal church. This is one of the first brick buildings erected. Mrs. Halleck's residence was built by the MeCarters about 182. Dr. Havens' house was built In 1821 by William Beach, and is an old but very substantial structure. The udjoining house hos bren naed for a variety of purposes, and was originally built for a tailor-shop. Daniel S. Anderson's house was built by David Ryerson, and was afterwards occupied by Dr. A. D. Mor- foni and Dr. Thomas Ryerson, before it came into possession of its present ou ner. The " Hoppaugh House" was built by Juson King. Lewis Van Blarcom's house was erected by Ephimim Green ; the portico in front is the first one that was built in Newton,-by Admos A. Harrison, before 1810. The Register building was built for a store.house by the MeCarters. The Rorbach dwelling-house und harness-shop have since been merged Into one building, and only the rear looks natural.

Tho Drake house is one of the oldest buildings, and its neighbor, the Woodruff building, has been very much changed since John Trusdell Bold candies and marbles to the boy's In 1850. The court-house was built in 1847, on the site of the one buruod. The original county clerk's and murrogute's office, built in 1802, was torn down in 1559. The old " County Hotel," fronting on High Street nml Park Place, was burned in 1857.

About where the post-offico is located William Van Campen first started the shoemaking business, and Mrs. Harker lived on the east etde end of tho anmo Imilling. Charles Arvis' house is built upon part of the hotel garden, and the open space below the Presbyterian church fonned part of the atable-yard.

Where now in the handsome mansion of John Ling formerly stood a stury-and-a-half house, in which the MeCarter, Dennis, Johnson, and other funilira have resided. Its frame constitutes a part of the Joseph Warbasse house, in High Street; a row of fino maples In front was cut down when the street was widened. The next house was built by John S. l'otwine, and has been used as a dwelling au boarding-school ; the "Collegiate Justitute" was started there, the " Female Seminary" also Andling a home in it for some time, and until it was closed in 18Gl .* An old tumble-down building, occupied by Barnabas Carter us n dwelling Bud shoc-shop, has disappeared, unul in its place is the residence of MIrs. B A. Hedges, A large duck-pond formerly occupied part of the lot on which is now the residence of George H. Nelden.

The Baptist parsonage was built by Edward Stewart, sold to Phiebe Finster, who disposed of it to the Methodista for a parsonage. They in tura sold it to other parties, nud it finally beenmo tho property of the present owners. In Isto the house then owned by the Halsteds, Main nul Hulstod Streets, was moved to the opposite side of the street, and is now, remodeled and changed, tho residence of Wickham MI. Clark; on the site of Its former loention was erected the dwelling occupled by the Inte Judge Martin Ryerson. The old himuse of Judge Hall, now occupied by tennuts ut owned by Lafayette Westbrook, was built by Judge Joseph Y. Miller, but has since then been remodeled. The corner of Juin and Division Streets was formerly occupied by the Register office, and at one time by Ladner Trusdell as a chair-shop. Job Halsted's law- office stood opposite, on what is now Halsted Street ; the frame of that office formed part of the 1. Trumdell house. On the sito of Francis Grey's building stond an old house known as the Winterbottom property.

Un the corner of Main and Church was Samuel Johnson's storo until his death, 1843 (Inter Nicholas & Tiebut, Perry & Co., etc.), which, after trude changed to Spring Street, was mule Intu a dwelling. The tin-shop and dwelling of Gon. Lyman Edwards was torn down sulde- quently to make room for the Episcopal rectory. The former building bnl a dismal look, and, with the hugo boxes of old flint lock muskets which were kept within Its walls, it was looked upon by the youngsters with terror. Next to this, ou lands of William T. Anderson, Enqq., stood the house of Newton's first fire-engine. The machine was an ungninly

thing, worked by two eranks, one on ench able ; the water was carried in Senther bekets and poured Into the engine, which, by great exertion, threw a stream of water 30 or 44 feet.

On the corner below, a small brick building, bullt by Col. Grant Fitch, and uard ns n book-store by A. HT. Rogers, is still standing, and is un- doubtedly the first brick building in Newton.

Squire Samuel Lane's old house, on the east side of Main Street. in one of the oldest now standing. It shows bot little change during the pust three deentles.

The resblence of William P. Nicholas fa a landmark. It was originally built In 1802, and known as the Newton Acudemy. The Register office wn in Its second atory for a time; the store was occupied by Hall & Juhn- wn, Johnson & Sons, and W. P. Nicholas, and subsequently was con- verted into a dwelling. The entrance to the old cemetery is by the side of this place.

In front of Charles L. Inslee's (formerly Dr. Smith's) residence, and almost upon the street, was an old frame and stone building erected by Dr. Liun, and torn down about IsGo by Thomas N. McCarter, to mako room for the present structure. It was at one time occupied as a tiveru, and the Townsend honse, on Spring Street, has part of its frame.

The adjoining house of Nathan Drake, deceased, Is a very old one. It was occupied at one time by Job S. Halsted, Esq., as a law-office. The first poplar-tree ever planted in Newton found a place in Its door-yard. The library building stands on the site of the late Col. James Conover's old dwelling nud drug-store. All the land in the rear of these buildings, as far down na Madison Street, was owned by Mr. Cooover, who cut it up into lots, which were drawn in a lottery over sixty years ago.

Next is the dwelling owned and occupied in his lifetime by " Golly" Van Sanda, who kept the worst-looking drug store and tho grentest af- aortment of wooden clocks and brass watches in the country. Charles Van Sands was a genius, but a peculiar one. The property was after- wants purchased and remodeled by Denuis Cochran, who lived there until it was Imrued, In September, 1873.

The Sussex Bank was first started in 1818 in a building which stood where is now the new house of Dr. Sheppard, and in 1823 moved to its present location. The third builling from this was a rickety old struc- ture used by J. B. Mucklow as n hat-factory. This gave way to Mills . Goodale's hardware-store. " Johnson's corner looks no more liko. Bench's Bazaar' than a crow resembles a sleep."

Thirty years ago there was not a sign of n house below Spring Street on what is now occupied by Trinity and other streets. From recollection we count over one hundred houses which have been Imilt since that time on what was then almost considered bog-meadows. The late Dr. Stuart'a neldence was then the extreme limit of that part of the town. From that point to Drako's Pond, over a mile, there was not a single house now there are about thirty, not Including the depot-buildings and shve- factory. From there to the point it was one of the drenrlest rides imagi- table, and was very appropriately named the " Gallows Road," two nur- derers having been hung along it .- Peter Brakeman and Mary Colo. In the vicinity of the old depot the road was narrow, and high rocks and thick cedars seemed to make the place more ellenmal if posible than it really was; but the advont of the iron horse lot daylight in, and the gloum is dispelled.

The Cochran House was built in 1840. The site of Warbe'a and Oak- ley B. Pellet's stores was formerly occupied by nn obl building, in which (next the "Cochran") were a saloon and n watchmaker's shop. A long building in the rear was n bowling alley until removed; it then made two tenant-houses on Hamilton street. The saloon was kept by William Lil (now of Sparta), Lewis La. Kent, and others. The building was torn down, and the present ono erected by James A. Goodale. The sidewalk In front of these buildings were of various grades, so that coming from Tho court-house was like ascending o pulr of stairs. It was nt one of thene offrets that Hornco Greeley met with a dovere accident while returning to his hotel after lecturing in the court-house.

David It. Hull's store was built by Edwarda & Smith, on land formerly ownedby William Pettit. Tuttle & Tulley's more occupies the rest of the Pettit let, and the old building shows some of ita former plan in the base- ment. Huston & Van Blarcom's store was built atul originally occupied ly Edwards & Sous an u stove-sture. Tho Williamis building wiw first oc- euplod by William F. Morfont with dry- goods, ote., afterwards by Hull & lesenkrana and other firnis. The oldl Raynor building was built am owned by Thomas Raynor, and then Harrium Cole kept a tillor- shop ated Cuminlus & Wildrick soll dry-goods. Tho llosenkrans building, aunther old structure, has been much changed. It was a story and a half high when bullt by George Walker.

From the corner opposite the Anderson House, out na far as Charles I. Rorbach's, there are eighteen or twenty buildings, of which only three

. Now the residence of W. W. Woodwant.

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

or four were in existence thirty years ago. . . . In the rear of the court- house was an old building which served ns store, printing-office, shoe- shop, etc. ; it was bonght by the county and torn down some years ngo. The late Anderson (now Word) Honse occupies the site of the former ilwelling of Oakley Anderson, father of Daniel S. Anderson. The houses from this place down to the property of Mrs. B. B. Edsall have all been erected within the past twenty [-six ] years.

The Van Campen house is one of the old landmarks, nnd of great nge. It was originally a hewn-log honse, but about forty-five years age it was wentherboarded. It is still owned by Mr. Van Compen, but occupied by tenants. Between the residence of Mrs. J. R. Hull stood a blacksmith- shop, owned by the Drake family, but long since converted into firewood. To one who never saw the lInll mansion when it was surrounded by tan- vats, bark-mill, etc., it would be impossible to describe the change. The immense tan-bank, extending into the street, together with the tannery buildings, passed away yenrs ngo. . . . East of the steam-mill was nn old dwelling known as the Drake house, and in Hall's meadow, back of tho mill, the centennial celebration was held.

CENTENNIAL FOURTH-OF-JULY CELEBRATION.

The one hundredth anniversary of American inde- pendence was celebrated at Newton according to the programme. The day was ushered in by the usual demonstrations,-ringing bells, firing of cannon, and the display of the national colors from public and private buildings. At half-past ten o'clock the pro- cession of civic societies and citizens was formed under command of Capt. Samuel Dennis, grand mar- shal, assisted by Majs. N. K. Bray and William R. Mattison and Capts. Francisco and Northrup, which, after making the tour of the streets of the town, brought up at the park, where stands had been pre- pared for the reception of the speakers, music, and invited guests. Ex-Governor Haines presided. His remarks on opening the proceedings on the grand stand were received with demonstrations of applause, especially the announcement that he had been a citi- zen of old Sussex for upwards of fifty years. Besides lıim on the stand were Maj. John Boss, of Sparta, standard-bearer ; David J. Collver, the veteran of La- fayette, bearer of cap of Liberty ; Ex-Governor Bross, of Chicago ; George Washer, of Romeo, Mich .; Rev. John T. Craig, formerly of Newton, but now of Bal- timore; V. M. Drake, of Goshen, N. Y .; Rev. N. Pettit, of Bordentown; Judge Daniel S. Anderson, of Newton; Senator Samuel T. Smith ; ex-Assembly- man Samuel H. Hunt; Judge Moore, of Newton ; Moses Northrup, of Hampton; Dr. Sayer, Col. Rob- ert Hamilton, Moses Woodruff, James Hamilton, and other well-known citizens of the county, among whom were also the following clergymen: Revs. Dr. Priest, J. I. Morrow, J. L. Davis, William M. Moffat, and clergy- men from different localities throughout the county.

After prayer and the blessing of Almighty God had been feelingly invoked by Rev. Dr. Priest, a beautiful and appropriate ode, by Rev. Mr. Pettit, was sung by a musical choir under the direction of HI. J. Rudd, accompanied by three cornets, led by J. L. Northrup, of the Newton Cornet Band. The Declaration of In- dependence was read by Col. Clark, of Newton, at the conclusion of which Rev. N. Pettit occupied nearly an hour in giving his address, which as an or- atorical effort was one entirely worthy the occasion.

Next in order came the "Liberty Tree Song," by the veteran David J. Collver, in a loud clear voice, which was distinctly heard at a great distance. It was a wonderful performance of a man upwards of ninety years old, whose head, well covered with long white hair, rendered him the most conspicuous figure con- nected with the centennial celebration.

At the conclusion of the song Governor Haines an- nounced that further proceedings at the stand would be postponed until four o'clock, when it would be oc- cupied by former Sussex men, present by invitation of the centennial committee. Accordingly, at four o'clock the stand was again occupied, Col. Robert Hamilton as presiding officer. After some very happy and interesting remarks by the colonel, he introduced to the assemblage ex-Lieut .- Governor Bross, of Illi- nois, a native of Sussex. He referred briefly to his own history, and those of his ancestors, as being originally Sussex people. As for himself, he was born in old Montague, and was pleased to say that he was a Jer- seyman. He had left the county early in life, and had now returned to it to aid in doing honor to the mem- ory of his ancestors, and to recall their sacrifices in the trying scenes of the Revolution. He related during the hour he occupied the stand many inter- esting facts connected with Chicago and the West during the many years he had been a citizen and a resident of the State of Illinois. Governor Bross was followed by George Washer, of Michigan, formerly a resident of Sussex, in a few well-timed remarks. The next speaker was the Rev. Mr. Craig, of Baltimore, who said he had performed a journey of two hundred miles to do honor to the principles of liberty, and to show his devotion to the land of his adoption by mingling his rejoicings with the people of the town in which he had first taken out naturalization papers announcing his intention to become a citizen of the United States. The years he had spent in Sussex were the most interesting of his life, and he trusted the citizens of the county would continue in the fu- ture, as they had done in the past, to cultivate the principles of religious and political liberty and free toleration. These he considered the foundation-stones of all good government.

Col. Hamilton next introduced to the audience V. M. Drake, a former well-known citizen of the county, who responded briefly. He had spent the greater por- tion of his life in these valleys, and was prompted to attempt to complete the work his father had begun when he marched from the Delaware to fight the British at Plattsburg and Lundy's Lane. As for liim- self, he had shared in all the enterprises undertaken in Sussex for the last thirty years; and, although he had had his ups and downs in life, like most other men, he was here to mingle his congratulations with those of its citizens on the auspicious evont they were engaged in commemorating, and also to add his thanks for the uniform support the citizens of the county had always extended him under the most

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trying and difficult circumstances. In the evening there was a handsome display of fireworks, got up under the special direction of Mr. Charles Crook and S. S. Cook, and a midnight torchlight procession, com- posed of some 200 citizens, headed by a drum corps, which passed through all the prominent streets amid the loud plaudits of bystanders and the deafening noise occasioned by the explosion of large quantities of giant-powder upon the adjoining hills.

IV .- ORGANIZATION AND CIVIL HISTORY.

In 1753, when the county was set off from Morris, commissioners were chosen to divide Sussex County into precincts, according to an act of the Assembly. The commissioners were Benjamin Smith, William Schooley, Johannes Depue, Joseph Hull, Johannes Cornelius Westbrook, Richard Gardner, and Richard Lundy, Jr. They divided the county into four pre- cincts,-Walpack, Greenwich, Hardwick, and New Town. The area of "New Town" was then nearly or quite one-half of the present county. In May, 1754, Wantage was set off from Newtown, and Ox- ford and Mansfield-Woodhouse from Greenwich, the bounds of which were defined May 30, 1754. The record thus describes those of Newtown :

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 63

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