History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 69

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 69
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 69

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Their children are Francis J., a graduate of Har- vard in the class of '79; Mary C., William Henry Sew ard, John Lowrence, and Joanna H.

THE NEWTON GASLIGIIT COMPANY

was chartered in 1860,* which franchise constituted Robert Hamilton, John Linn, and D. S. Anderson commissioners, empowered to open books for snbserip- tions to its capital stoek, limited to $30,000. They were permitted to organize and proceed to business so soon as $15,000 was subseribed. On account of vari- ous discouragements about that time the project was laid aside, and nothing was done. In January, 1869, the Rev. Myron Barrett suggested to certain citizens who talked of getting a gas-machine of sufficient capacity to light their dwellings that many others in various parts of the town would like gas also, and also suggested the putting of the several investments into a common stock and erecting works sufficient to light the town. He was reminded that the charter, obtained some years before, must still be in existence. It was found, and under its provisions subscription books were opened, a company formed, and gas-works speedily erected. They were completed in the fall of 1869, and are of sufficient capacity to light a town of 20,000 inhabitants,-with a six-inch main,-so there is no immediate danger of their proving inadequate to the demand. The first president was J. L. Swayze, and J. L. Lawrence secretary.

The present officers are Alfred F. Fellows, Presi- dent; Dr. Franklin Smith, Secretary and Treasurer ; Franklin Smith, Jr., Superintendent.

THE NEWTON CEMETERY COMPANY

was incorporated March 22, 1860, with Michael B. Titman, Moses W. Northrup, Daniel S. Anderson,

Samuel Cassady, Nathaniel Pettit, Thomas N. Me- Carter, and Whitfield S. Johnson as corporators. Several meetings were held, but the amount required for the purpose was not obtained until 1866, when the company was organized. Dr. Franklin Smith was elected president, Daniel S. Anderson secretary, and Thomas Anderson treasurer, with about $16,000 capi- tal. The present grounds were purchased of the heirs of Aaron Peck,-some 20 aeres, beautifully situated in the south part of the town. The first interment was Joseph A. Linn, in August, 1867.

The present officers are Franklin Smith, President; Thomas E. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer; Charles Stickle, Superintendent.

"THE NEWTON BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION"

was organized in September, 1869. A. W. Price was chosen president, Joseph Coult vice-president, John C. Howell treasurer, and S. S. Cook secretary. The first directors were the following-named gentlemen : Joseph Conlt, William W. Woodward, John C. How- ell, Franeis Graey, Lewis J. Martin, Henry M. Ward, A. W. Priee, William E. Taylor, S. S. Cook, Thomas Farrel, O. B. Pellet, A. J. Landon, George Nelden, It elosed up its affairs in 1880. During its existence it transacted a large amount of business by loaning its money on real estate, etc.

THE DENNIS LIBRARY.

This institution is the result of the munificent gift of $25,000 by Alfred L. Dennis, Esq., of Newark, N. J., to this his native town. The citizens of New- ton added $5000 to this sum, which purchased the lot on which the library building was erected. The cor- porate name is "The Newton Library Association," yet, out of respect to the founder, the directors unan- imously resolved to let the library bear his name and be called "The Dennis Library."

The aet of incorporation is dated April 2, 1867, and names as incorporators Martin Ryerson, George H. Nelden, Thomas Ryerson, Franklin Smith, Thomas Anderson, Rev. Nathaniel Pettit, John R. Stuart, Charles P. Rorbach, David Thompson, Benjamin B. Edsall, John Linn, George M. Ryerson, Daniel S. Anderson, Samuel Dennis, Theodore Morford, John McCarter, Jonathan F. Shafer, and Robert Hamilton.

The charter provided that the capital stock should not exceed $50,000, nor the yearly income from real and personal property exceed $10,000. Tho associa- tion was to have power to commence operations as soon as $10,000 was subseribed. An annual stoek- holders' meeting was to be held, to eleet from their number thirteen directors, the incorporators to act until said election should be held. The officers therein provided were president, vice-president, see- retary, treasurer, "also a librarian, and such other officers as may be necessary," all to be chosen by the directors, seven of whom constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A supplement to the aet of incorporation, passed March 31, 1869, made it legal

* Seo New Jersey Session Laws, 1860, for act of Incorporation.

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NEWTON.

for the town to vote money, not exceeding $500 in any one year, in aid of the library.

The first directors (elected May 30, 1868) were Alfred L. Dennis, Robert Ilamilton, Daniel S. Anderson, Jo- seph Coult, Samuel Johnson, George M. Ryerson, Henry C. Kelsey, Thomas Ryerson, Theodore Mor- ford, Myron Barrett, Jonathan F. Shafer, John Me- Carter, and Franklin Smith. The following were the first officers: Robert Hamilton, President ; Daniel S. Anderson, Vice-President ; Henry C. Kelsey, Secre- tary and Treasurer; Rev. Myron Barrett," Librarian.

Mr. Hamilton continued to act as president until his death, in 1878, when he was succeeded by Daniel S. Anderson, at present officiating. S. II. Hunt is the present vice-president, Dr. Jonathan Havens seere- tary, and Theodore Morford treasurer. The present directors are as follows: A. L. Dennis, S. II. Hunt, D. S. Anderson, Thomas Ryerson, Theodore Morford, George MI. Ryerson, Jonathan Havens, II. C. Kelsey, Thomas G. Bunnell, Franklin Smith, Thomas Ander- son, Samuel Johnson, J. W. Lane.

The library building was erected in 1871-72. It is 45 fret front by 75 feet deep, three stories in height, with a basement, and is constructed of pressed brick with blue limestone corners. The first story is occu- pied by the post-office and the New Jersey Herald es- tablishment ; the second story by the library, reading- room, etc. ; while the third or upper story, extending over the whole area of the building, is used as a public lecture-room, and known as " Library Hall." It is of sufficient size to comfortably seat 500 people. The building, with its mansard roof and ornamental tower, is a valuable architectural addition to the place ; while the public conveniences and literary privileges therein embodied are invaluable to the present, and will con- tinue to be to coming generations.

The general rules, adopted by the association and governing the library, are :

" The Library shall be open from 2 to 6 r.s., and from 7 to 8.30 in the evening.

" The Rending-Room will be open from: 9,30 A.M. to 0,30 in the evening. "TERMS .- The stockholders, free; to subscribers, 25 cents a month, 00 cents n quarter, or $2 n year, in advance.

"The Reading-Rumth, free to all."

The library contains 3580 volumes, and is under the superintending care of Dr. Thomas Ryerson, librarian, assisted by Miss Elestine Foster. David L. Foster is janitor.

* To the Rev. Myron Barrett, who labored so zenlonsly and efficiently, giving his entire timo gratuitously to the arranging, cataloguing, aund preparing the library for public use, aud Inter serving as librarian, much credit is due. U'pout his death the directors passed condimentary resu- Jutions nad direstod that a tublet be placed over his desk lu the reading- Toom na a memorial. This was done. The tablet bears the following luscription :

" REV. MYRON BARRETT, First Librarian of Dennis Library,

and whose services were Indispensable in its organlention, Dled May 8, 1×7G. In the Goth year of his age."

ALFRED L. DENNIS.

It is a chief glory of our country that it sets "an open door" before young men, bidding them enter if they be worthy. Among the most fascinating pages of our history are those which record the struggles, the courage, and the successes of young men with no resources but their own in reaching high position among their fellows.

A few years ago a citizen of Newark made a large gift in money for the establishment of a public library in Newton, the shire-town of Sussex Co., N. J. A sketch of that noble institution can hardly be re- garded complete without giving a sketch also of the life of the donor.

Alfred L. Dennis, the founder of the Newton Li- brary, is the son of Ezekiel Dennis and his wife, Mary Baldwin. The father was for several years in business in Newton, and was honored with several important trusts in the county. He was an accom- plished surveyor, and much esteemed in every posi- tion by those who knew him. He died in middle life, leaving a family of five young children, Alfred being the second. Ile received his early education under the instruction of the Rev. Clarkson N. Dunn and Dr. H. Hallock, of Newton. At the age of thir- teen he went to Newark and found employment for a short time as a grocer's clerk. His worldly goods consisted of a small bundle of clothes and his moth- er's blessing.

Mr. William Tuttle, who had a bookstore at the corner of Broad and Academy Streets and was the proprietor of the Sentinel of Freedom, advertised for a boy to learn the bookbinding business; the same evening a lad of diminutive stature applied for the place. It is said that Mr. Tuttle, after inspecting him, remarked, "I am afraid you are not big enough to handle the press-bar," referring to the iron bar used in pressing the sheets for binding. The boy an- swered with words that at once won him a lifelong friend, and which also were the true index of his character and the key to his future success : "I am large enough to try it !"

Hle at once became an apprentice to the business, and, what was a matter of no small importance, a member of Mr. Tuttle's household. In those days the master-mechanics and employers of Newark boarded their apprentices in their own families, and there are scores of enses besides that of Mr. Dennis where the apprentice-boys were made so much at home in their employers' families as to refer to those days, even after they had become men of wealth, with real satis- faction. Between Mr. Dennis and Mr. Tuttle's fam- ily there grew up a strong attachment, which not even prosperity has weakened.

For many years Mr. Tuttle was a director in " the Old Bank," as the Newark Banking and Insurance Company was commonly called. One of the duties which he regularly performed was on Thursday to go to New York for the bank to effect its exchanges. It

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was not an uncommon occurrence for the ice to drive the boat miles from the ferry ; so that not only all day would be taken for the Thursday trip to New York, but sometimes a large part or the whole of the night.

This day of bank exchange became an important circumstance in Mr. Dennis' life. He had no sooner been placed in the bindery, under the foremanship of John Smith, in Academy Street, a few doors from Broad, than he began " to show the stuff there was in him" not merely by proving that he was "large enough to try to handle the press-bar" and to master other details of the trade, but by studying the nature of the business itself, especially as related to the ma- terials used in it. In this way he studied the business of binders' leathers, the process and cost of their manufacture, where they were chiefly made, and even the laws regulating their importation into this coun- try. Of this more presently.

After Mr. Dennis had been some months in the bindery he asked Mr. Tuttle to be allowed to act as clerk in the bookstore at night. At once he began to display the grand trait, as already mentioned, of getting a thorough knowledge of the business. He soon knew the position on the shelves of all the books, and their cost and price, and the principles on which the bookselling business was conducted. His employer was not reluctant to impart intelligent an- swers to his inquiries. Not long after this "night service" had been in successful operation Mr. Tuttle found it to be to his interest to have his apprentice as clerk in the bookstore on the Thursdays when he went to New York for the bank. So skillfully did he conduct his sales and so well did he conciliate cus- tomers, that the sales of books on Thursday were per- ceptibly larger than those on other days. Of course, it was not long before he became the trusted and ac- tive clerk whose services were devoted entirely to the bookstore. All this while the young man was en- larging his stores of knowledge not merely of the bookselling, but of books. Of this he gives evidence to this day.

As the day of his majority was drawing nigh, the question of his own future was one that caused young Dennis no little anxiety. He had carefully studied bookselling as a business, and especially the booksell- ing at the old store, corner of Broad and Academy. Not long before he was twenty-one he astonished his employer by a proposition to huy out his business as a bookseller, with all the stock in hand. He admit- ted he had no capital, but was sure he soon would have some if he could have a chance. After careful consideration Mr. Tuttle-a man noted for his caution -agreed to sell out his store to Mr. Dennis on terms satisfactory to both.

At once a great change was effected in the stock of books and in the business. The "dead stock" of the upper shelves was sent to the auction-rooms to be sold for what it would bring in cash. With great sa- gacity he also devised and introduced into his busi-

ness a method at that time unknown-as is said-in any salesroom of Newark,-the taking orders for merchandise in his line and filling them by imme- diate purchase in New York. Several times a week he went to the city, and each night he would be ready to furnish his customers with the merchandise or- dered. Of course, he made quick sales, turned his capital often, and accumulated no dead stock. Care- ful of his credit and on the alert for custom, he soon greatly enlarged his business. Sometimes he seemed rash to his old employer, but rarely failed to make his investments profitable. In due time he had not only paid Mr. Tuttle for his books, but he had pur- chased the valuable property on which the store was located. This last purchase was not made until after Mr. Tuttle's death.

Mention has been made of the fact that when in the bindery Mr. Dennis had carefully studied the his- tory of binders' leathers. Sure there "was money in it," after he had become a bookseller he quietly in- vested a few hundred dollars in sheepskins only par- tially finished in England. He had the process com- pleted in Connecticut, and then among the first to whom he offered his leathers were the Harper Brothers, who, finding his wares excellent and his prices reasonable, purchased largely. In a very short time he had disposed of his stock at a fair profit and had ordered a larger invoice from England. This was the beginning of a large and profitable business so shrewdly managed that it led the wealthy firm of Abram Bell & Co., bankers, commission and shipping merchants, of New York, in 1849 to offer him an in- terest in their business and to give him its principal control. This move proved to be one of large profit.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dennis continued the book busi- ness in Newark, having taken his brother, Martin R. Dennis, into partnership. In 1861, having disposed of his interest to his partner, he retired from the firm. Mr. Dennis proved so successful also in the invest- ment of his surplus capital that he had become an acknowledged authority in matters of finance, and about twenty-five years ago he was elected a director of the same "Old Bank" of which Mr. Tuttle had been a director. He has continued in this position until the present time, and is also an influential di- rector of the Newark Howard Savings Institution, which now stands among the best managed in this country.

Having married in Connecticut, lie was led to ex- amine the condition and probable outcome of the Naugatuck Railroad, and he finally purchased a large amount of its stock and was elected its vice-president. Not a little owing to his tact is due the fact that this road has cleared off its entire bonded debt and regu- larly pays satisfactory dividends. It is said that the Naugatuck, and the New York, New Haven and Hartford roads are the only ones in this country that do not owe a debt of any sort.

In 1861 that very able railway manager John P.

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Jackson, the vice-president of the New Jersey Rail- road and Transportation Company, died. Mr. Den- nis was elected his successor in the directorship of the road, and in 1864, when Gen. John S. Darcy, who had from the organization been president of the road, died, he was elected his successor,-a position which he filled with great ability until the road was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in 1872, and he still continues the vice-president of the corporation that contracted that lease to the Pennsylvania road, known as " The United Railroads of New Jersey."

It almost bewilders one to think of the boy of slight stature uttering the keynote of his poverty and also of his pluck-" I am large enough to try it"-now occupying so many positions of great responsibility in the business world : the vice-president of the Nau- gatuck Railroad, vice-president of the United Rail- roads of New Jersey, the fiscal and excentive agent of the l'ennsylvania Railroad at New York, president of the Jersey City Ferry Company, and of several other railroad and bridge companies. He is also an active director in the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, and, in connection with such men as Jay Gould, John I. Blair, and Samuel Sloan, is building

Whilst Mr. Dennis has been investing his fortune so advantageously in these great corporations, he has not forgotten the city of his adoption, but has freely invested in buildings in Newark, and in other ways has helped to enlarge the city. Oceasionally, as a railroad executive, he has met with some very marked and pleasing incidents. Such a one was his placing a palatial train from Jersey City to Washington at the service of the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, then visiting this country. It was a graceful and compli- mentary act in honor of "our distinguished guest." The grand duke recognized the act by a beautiful souvenir, and also an autograph letter which he sent to Mr. Dennis.

In 1866, Mr. Dennis determined to aid in founding a public library in Newton, the place of his birth. Accordingly he pledged the sum of twenty-tive thou- sand dollars on certain conditions. On Nov. 28, 1872, private subscriptions having been obtained sufficient to secure his gift, the building was dedicated, and ad- dresses made by Col. Robert Hamilton, Judge Martin Ryerson, and other distinguished gentlemen of the place. Col. Hamilton said in delivering the address of welcome, "That it was with much pleasure that he was allowed to officiate at the presentation of this beautiful building, with its ample dimensions and well-ordered apartments. Well might we congratu- late ourselves upon its success. He hoped soon to be able to announce an interesting and attractive library, -not fully equaling, perhaps, the famous libraries of

Alexandria and Paris, yet such a one as where the lovers of reading might find a feast of reason and a flow of soul. He did not suppose this beautiful hall would attain to the celebrity of Independence Hall, Philadelphia,-the birthplace of our great and glo- rious Declaration of Independence and of the Consti- tution of the Union,-or Faneuil Hall, Boston, which has rung with the eloquence of the great Webster and the magnetic Choate; but we hope to make it the place where the vocalist, the elocutionist, the scientist, and the philosopher may exert their powers, and great wisdom and solid good be imparted.

"For it we are indebted to a gentleman who is with us,-who, though a native of our town, has gone abroad and prospered, and who in his success forgets not his native town and people. I feel assured that you will be glad with me to express to him our grate- ful acknowledgments for his generosity in the follow- ing resolution :

"' Resolred, That we tender to Alfred L. Dennis, Esq., our most heart- felt thanks for his munificent endowment of twenty-five thousand dol- lars for the library enterprise In Newton, and that we preseul to him our best wishes for his continued welfare.'"

Mr. Dennis is an active patron of many worthy ob- an extension of the road from Binghamton to Buffalo. jects that come before him, and is a trustee, with Whilst this enumeration does not exhaust the list of his responsible trusts, it is sufficient to indicate the confidence placed in his sagacity and executive abil- ity as a business man.

William E. Dodge, S. B. Chittenden, William A. Booth, and others, of the Syrian Protestant t'ollege, at Beyrout. He married, September, 1841, Eliza, a daughter of Maj. James Shepard, of Norfolk, Litch- field Co., Conn. The children born of this union are five. The oldest, Rev. Dr. James S. Dennis, is a graduate of Princeton College, in the class of '62, was one year at Harvard University Law School, was foreign missionary at Sidon, in Syria, for a few years following 1868, and afterwards called to Beyrout, in Syria, and added to that magnificent band of workers in Syria of which the venerable Thomson and Cal- houn, Vandyke, one of the most learned of Arabic scholars, the Jessup brothers, Bliss, and others are members. Dr. Dennis has already become so profi- cient in the Arabie as to have prepared several text- books with special reference to the Theological De- partment of the Syrian Protestant College, of which he is the professor.

Mr. Dennis' remaining children are Dr. Frederic S. Dennis, of New York, a partner of the celebrated sur- geon Professor James R. Wood, of Bellevue llos- pital; Warren E., just admitted to the bar in New Jersey; Samuel S., assisting his father in business ; and Mary Eliza, an only daughter.

There was one scene in Mr. Dennis' life which de- serves mention. When the civil war broke out threats were freely made that if the New Jersey Rail- road took troops South, the torch would be applied to the bridges over the Hackensack and Passaic. Gen. Darcy, the president of the road, and Mr. Dennis, one of the directors, were one whole night looking after these bridges and directing the batteries whose guns were trained to guard every foot of the endangered

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structures. They were surrounded by a mob of des- perate men bent on burning the bridges. Gen. Darcy and Mr. Dennis, in the carriage of the general, were driving to the scene of danger, when they were beset by the roughs, who took the horse from the carriage. Gen. Darcy was popular with the men, and so great was his influence that the men hitched the horse to the wagon and allowed them to drive on. It was a night of danger, but prudence, courage, and the well- loaded cannon brought the matter to a safe conclu- sion ; so that not a single train was detained.

It certainly seems almost like a tale of the romancer thus to note a few of the incidents in the life of one who by fidelity to principle and duty has steadily risen from " the iron press-bar of the bookbinder" to be the counsel, friend, and partner of some of the greatest monarchs of the rail in our country.

VIII .- THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.#

The first fire company in Newton was organized in 1835, after the burning of Trusdell's chair-shop, on Mill Street, with Maj. John Kraber as foreman, Judge Martin Ryerson secretary, and Whitfield S. Johnson treasurer; Gen. Lyman Edwards was appointed chief engineer. An old " crank"-engine was purchased by the town and placed in charge of the company, under the name of "Phoenix Engine Company, No. 1." Previous to 1835 the only protection the town had against fire was fourteen leathern buckets, which were kept hanging on a pole in the lower hall of the court- house.

In Jannary, 1847, the court-house was destroyed by fire, and the following year a "goose-neck" hand- engine, known as " Neptune, No. 3," formerly used in New Haven, Conn., was purchased, and a company formed, with Lewis N. Williams as foreman. Wil- liams was succeeded by Maj. Kraber and Foreman Shafer, and Dr. Thomas Ryerson, Dr. Morford, John C. Williams, Aaron H. Bonnell, Alexander Shafer, Henry W. Johnson, James R. Hull, William Mor- ford, John W. Lane, Harvey Raymond, George Ryer- son, David Auble, and others took an active part. Another company was organized about the same time, with John J. Edwards, as foreman, who took charge of the " crank"-engine, and for a few years a warm and friendly rivalry existed between the two compa- nies. Gen. Lyman Edwards acted as chief engineer during this organization.

In 1857, Charles Crook formed a new company for No. 3, and was elected foreman. Mr. Crook took a very active part in fire matters, and principally through his efforts the organization was continued for three or four years.

In 1863 occurred what is known as the Snook fire, on Spring Street. At this time there was no organized company, and the goose-neck engine was manned by the citizens under command of Charles Crook, who had kept the engine in order for use. After this fire

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 69

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