History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 83

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 83
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 83

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The earliest turnpike was known as the l'aterson and Hamburg turnpike; it entered the township near the southeast corner, and, passing through the hamlet known as Snufftown, pursued a northwesterly course, then veered to the south and again to the northwest, passing through Hamburg and out of the township on its way to Deckertown.

From the following document it appears that Martin I. Ryerson was an early president of this road :

" MAY 8th, 1810.

"SIR,-At a meeting of the stockholders of the l'aterson & Hamburg Turnpike Company, at the house of Martin G. Ryerson, Pompton, this ilny, you were elected one of the lirectors for the present year. A meet- ing of the directory is requested at the house of M. G. Ryerson, Pomp- ton, on Monday, the 28th of this inst., at Il u'ck. forunoon, at which suecting you are directed to attend.

" By order of the directory, " MARTIN I. RYERSON, " Pres'd't.

" THOMAS LAWRENCE, ESQ.

" Monday, 2xth."

During 1817 a highway was projected called the " Pochunek turnpike," to be built by subscription, the amount of $25 having entitled the individual to one share of the capital stock. For some reason the road was never completed, though the following subscrip- tion-list indicates the favor with which the project was received :

" We whose names are hereby subscribed do, for ourselves and our legal representatives, promise to pay to the President and Directors of the 'P'ochunck Turnpike Company' the sum of twenty-five dollars for every share of stock In the said company set opposite to our names re- epectively, in such manner and proportions, aud at such times and places, as shall be determined by the sald President and Directors :

" APRIL the 22nd, 1817.

" Nicholas Ryerson, fifteen shares. $375

R. A. LJun, nine shores ....

225

Themas C. Ryerson, two shares .. 50

Josoph Edsali, two shares ... 50

Peter Ryerson, four ehares. 100

Joseph Shurte, four shares .. 100

John S, Hepbern, one share ..

Robert Hinchman, two shares.

l'riah Goodsell, ono share.

Francis Hamilton, eight shares.

20Ml

Ebenvzor Townson, three shares ..

Willlam Crabtree, four shares. 100

Elias L. Chamberlain, two shares.

Julin Givens, one share ...

Susanna Beardslee, one share.

John Russell, twe shares.

Charles Baxter, three shares

llenry W. Owen, one share. 05

Matthew Van Nostrand, to work through his laud. ...

Benjamin Quick, four shares.

W. Shea, three shares.

Richarıl M. L. Lawrence, one share.

Benjamin Hamilton, two shared .. 5€

" John Langwell to work through his lund from where some sacefras bushes was this day cut until it cornors in the road near the wry-field where it has been chninel this day, ath June, 1823.

" l'eter Ryerson will pay one hundred dollars to addition to his former assessment, payable in labor on the road, provided it runs where ur near the ground that it was chained this day, 5th June, 1823, if it comes to the same point at thu uld barn.

" PETER RYERSON."

VII .- ORGANIZATION.

The township of Hardyston was set off from New- ton in 1762, and erected by a royal patent as an inde- pendent township.

VIII .- CIVIL LIST.

The records in possession of the townsbip clerk begin with 1854. It is therefore not possible to give the civil list of Hardyston for an earlier date.

FREEHOLDERS.

1854-55, Asa Munson; 1856, J. R. Monell ; 1857-59, Asa Munson; 1860- 63, Jolin D. Monell : 1804, William 11. Elson ; 1865-68, Ama Munson ; 1869, William H. Edsall ; 1870, Asa Munson, W. H. Edsall ; 1871-72, William II. Edsall, Asa Munson ; 1873, Ara Munson, James G. Scott; 1874-75, Axa Munson, Alexander Carpenter; 1876, Horace E. Rude, W. S. Longstreet ; 1877, Horace E. Rude, Alexander Carpenter; 1878, Horace E. Rude, Benjamin H. Edsall ; 1870-80, Horace E. Rude, George W. Rude.

TOWNSHIP CLERKS.

1854-59, William II. Elsall; 1860-61, S. M. Stull ; 1862, William II. FAl- sall ; 1863-64, John F. Simpson ; 1865-67, W. II. Edsall ; 1868, H. O. Fowler ; 1869-71, J. F. Simpson ; 1872, Hugh Struble ; 1873-74, James K. Smith ; 1875-78, John F. Simpson; 1870-80, Martin J. Welsh.

COLLECTORS.

1854-59, Alexander Carpenter; 1860-64, George J. Inde: 1865-66, II. J. Harden; 1867, John B. Monell; 1868-71, D. S. Beardsley; 1872, George W. Greer; 1873-75, William S. Longstreet : 1876, Robert Simpson; 1877-80, John P. Wilson.

ASSESSORS.

1854-57, Nicholas S. Cox ; 1858-60, R. II. Edsall; 1861-67, John Gibson; 1868-71, F. M. Ward; 1572-80, Jesse Dennie.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1854-55, Joel Campbell ; 1856, Rev. J. Campbell; 1857-59, Thomas C. Elle- ten ; 1860-13, Horace Rude ; 1864-60, F. M. Ward.

SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.

1855-60, B. IT. Kays, John Munson; 1861-62, B. II. Kays, William Cox ; 1803, 1.evl Congleton, George B. Stall ; 1×64, George R. Stall, Levl Congleton ; 1865-66, Asa Munson, Samuel McCoy ; 1867-71, Alex- ander Carpenter, Ant Munson ; 1872, James G. Scott, Alexander Car- penter; 1973, Alexander Carpenter, Stephen Smith ; 1874, Stephen Smith, Jacob Smith; 1×75, Stephen Smith. Abram Shorter; 1876, Stephen Smith, John F. Congleton ; 1877-78, Steplien Smith, Seely Simpson ; 1879, 1 :. M. Kimball, William 11. Duun; 1880, E. A. Caso, F. M. Kimball.

VIII .- VILLAGES AND ItAMLETS.

ITAMBULG.

The village of Hamburg, though inconsiderable in the matter of population, has been since its early settlement the centre of a cultivated and intellectual social organization, and has in the list of its citizens who have been honored in the gift of high eivil offices a Governor and several congressmen, senators, legislators, and judicial dignitaries. The older in- habitants have passed away, and the reminiscences left behind afford but little light upon the past. It is therefore difficult to afford the reader many facts of interest regarding the early settlement of Hamburg.

The earliest pioneer within its limits was Joseph Walling, who came in 1750 and erected a spacious residence on the site now occupied by the dwelling of Richard E. Edsall. It has been suggested that he was an early landlord, though this fact is not clearly es- tablished. The house was afterwards enlarged and

336

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

occupied by Martin Ryerson, who came early to the village of Hamburg and, with the exception of the present Haines estate, owned most of the property embraced within its precincts. The Ryerson family are of Huguenot extraction, and settled in New Jer- sey at least one hundred and fifty years ago. There are many branches of the family in the county, all doubtless of the same origin. Martin Ryerson was a man of means, and of influence in the township. He remained in Hamburg during his lifetime, and the property he owned was ultimately purchased by Robert A. Linn.

The Simpson family came at an early date and en- gaged in farming pursuits. They were for years rep- resented in the township, but have now no descend- ants within its borders. Robert A. Linn, who was a son-in-law of Martin Ryerson, removed to Hamburg in 1818, from Newton, and engaged in mercantile pursuits on the site of the store at present occupied by Edsall, Chardavoyne & Co. Jolın Linn also made his advent at the same time. Both these gentlemen were actively identified with the growth of the ham- let, and exercised a considerable influence in the township. The latter was a representative in Con- gress from his district. Dr. Alexander Linn was a physician of prominence, and had an extensive coun- try practice. The descendants of this family are still residents of the village.

Joseph Sharp came to Hamburg as early as 1790, and, being possessed of ample means, soon made his presence felt in the community. He erected a spa- cious residence, which was later occupied by the late Governor Haines, and built also an extensive flonring- mill on the Wallkill River. Mr. Sharp was not suc- cessful in his mercantile ventures, and retired from business financially, though not seriously, embar- rassed. He removed to Vernon, where his death oc- curred. His grandchildren still reside in the town- ship.

Col. Joseph E. Edsall, another of the energetic prim- itive settlers, came as early as 1830; he erected a store- honse beyond the Haines residence, and also built a furnace on the site of the present paper-mill. This was in its day a considerable industry, employing about 70 men, and producing 5 tons of pig iron per day. Ile also erected a blacksmith-shop, with several buildings for his workmen. Col. Edsall did much for the improvement of the village by his extensive business connections. He was also an aspiring and successful politician, and served a term in Congress.

Robert Lewis came soon after, built a storehouse, and conducted for a while a mercantile business.

Richard E. Edsall became a resident of Hamburg in 1837, and was for a brief period associated with Col. Edsall, after which he embarked in trade. The family were of English descent, and settled in Bergen County, from whence they came to Vernon and Har- dyston.

Benjamin Hamilton came to Hamburg during the

latter part of the last century, and intermarried with the family of Col. Edsall. He had two sons, Robert and Benjamin, each of whom attained some measure of public distinction. Both were representatives in the State Legislature, and the former was also elected to Congress in 1873. He removed to Newton, where he became a prominent member of the bar of Sussex County. His death occurred in 1878 .*

The village at present has three stores adapted to a general country trade, kept by Messrs. Edsall, Char- davoyne & Co., Smith Brothers, and Philip M. Bird. Charles H. Linn is the proprietor of a drug-store, and John Linn controls the hardware business. There are in addition three blacksmith-shops, two wheel- wright-shops, one harness-shop, a coal- and lumber- yard owned by V. Warbasse & Co., a creamery in the vicinity which consumes the milk of five hundred cows, and two hotels, kept by J. K. Smith and Na- thaniel Martin, respectively.

Henry W. Edsall is the postmaster, and the phy- sicians are Jackson Pellet and Joseph Couse.

FRANKLIN FURNACE.

The hamlet of Franklin Furnace, which possesses no interest apart from the works of the Franklin Iron Company, is situated ten miles northeast from Newton, at the junction of the Midland and Sussex Railroads, the latter of which was built with especial reference to the mining interests of the county. The settle- ment is situated on the Wallkill River, and by its railway connections is accessible from all points,- north, south, east, or west. The spot is not an invit- ing one, being inhabited principally by miners, whose cottages are small and scattered at various points without regard to symmetry of arrangement.

The Boston Franklinite Company erected the first store, which was burned in 1871 and replaced by a large brick building, 28 by 100 feet in dimensions, with iron front. This was also consumed by fire, after which the present store and offices of the New Jersey Zinc and Iron Company were built, during 1878. A store suitable for the demands of the mining popula- tion, erected by Messrs. Smith & Longstreet, was also opened. During 1876 a spacious school-building was erected, and a church originally built by the Baptist denomination is still used.

The post-office is located at the store of the New Jersey Zinc and Iron Company, with W. W. Pierce as postmaster and E. M. Wildriek as deputy.

GREEN SPOT.

The ground embraced in this hamlet, together with a large area surrounding it, was originally owned by James Scott, and was on his decease apportioned among his children. By will and purchase it came into the possession of James Mattison, and passed from him to George W. Greer. It was purchased of the latter by Robert Maybee, who divided a portion

* See "Snssex Bench and Bar," in this work.

337

HARDYSTON.

into building lots, the first of which was secured by Jesse Dennis, who erected a hotel, of which he is the present landlord.

Other lots were sold for building purposes, and among their purchasers was David MeCarthy, who in 1876 erected a store, which was consumed by fire and rebuilt. Ilenry Misel and W. C. Langdon had pre- viously erected a building for business purposes, but it was burned and not rebuilt. Mr. McCarthy con- trols the general mercantile interest of the hamlet, besides which there is a wagon- and blacksmith-shop, owned by Robert Maybee.

HARDYSTONVILLE.

This is a new hamlet, containing a hotel and a store. It was formerly known as Upper Hamburg, and is situated about a mile south of Hamburg. It possesses a fine water-power, which has been utilized for milling purposes.

SNUFFTOWN.

Another hamlet in the eastern portion of the town- ship is known as Snufftown. The Midland Railroad passes through it, which affords its only claim to dis- tinction.

IX .- IRON AND ZINC MINES.

More than half a century since, Dr. Samuel Fow- ler removed to Franklin Furnace or near it, and pur- chased of his father-in-law, Robert Ogden, a tract of land several miles in extent (including the famous Sterling Ilill property, in Sparta) for the sum of $9000. He also owned all that traet of mineral land at Franklin, with 3000 acres of mountain, besides tracts at Snufftown and other places. He prospected for and discovered veins of zinc, iron, and franklinite ores, the rights of which he sold to various companies.

The subjoined letter, written by Dr. Fowler as early as 1826 to an eminent English scientist, contains an adequate conception of the condition of the mines and the mining interests of Hardyston at that early date:

"FRANKLIN, N. J., June 27, 1826.

" PROFESSOR BERZELIIS, LONDON :

"SIR,-I have taken the liberty of sonding n smal box of minerals to Mr. Guhn, of New York, who has promised to forward them to you. lle hns also been good enough to say that he would write to you on the sub- joet. I resido in n section of country rich und interesting in minerals, both ns to the numeruns varieties of some and the immense quantities of other»: I allude particularly to the franklinite nud rod oxidle of zine. The difficulty we experience in working the former I stated in my catn- logue, fuclosed in the box I sent you : the latter we have not attempted to work. Berthier, in his examination of the franklinite, did not np- prehend the difficulty we experience in reducing tho ore. He thought nothing ubut what the workmen call salamanders or the congelation of the Iron in the furnace-hearth, which thereby obstructs the whole pro- cena. lo examined but one variety of the ore,-which, I do not know, You will observo from the variety of the specimens 1 send you that it varies much in external appearance,

" There has been as yet but a very imperfect examination of the min- erula of this place : I allude particularly to the valley comprising Frank- Hu nud Spartn, in New Jersey, and Warwick, in New York, which is a continuation of the same valley. The whole distance is about Si niles, It is the region of the primitive or white carbonate of lime in which all our minernia occur Nearly all found here have received names fonuded on the oxteranl character. If ngroenlde to you, it wouldt afford me plens- ure to traummit to you specimens of them nil. I request nothing in re- torn but your opinion ; and if you can dovisr n method to work the frunk.

linite and red oxide of zinc, or either, you will confer a lasting favor ou New Jersey. The ore oceurs here in sufficient quantity to supply all Amerien with iron and zine, and we look to you with greater confidence for information on the subject thun to any other person.

" I beg you will excuse the liberty I have taken, and believe me, with grent regurd, your very humble servant,

" SAMUEL FOWLER."

IHON ORES.

The Franklin mine is described in the " Geology of New Jersey," published in 1868, as having two dis- tinct veins of iron,-one in the gneiss, which can be traced across the hill southwest of the furnace, and one very near the furnace and across the Wallkill, and then along the side of Mine Hill, parallel with the zinc vein, and only 40 or 50 feet from it, quite to the Hamburg road. The northwest end of it has been found too narrow to be worth mining. On the hill south of the furnace there are several places where ore has been raised in quantities; this ore is hard, firm, and quite rich. A sample of the ore of this vein from the hill on the south gave the following results:

Magnetic iron ore ......

80.8

Alımlun,

2.3

Magnesia.

2.3

Lime .... 4.7

Potash und soda

Phosphoric neid ..

0.0

Silica

10.1

Metallic iron, 58,5 per cent.

101.2

The other vein is in the white limestone. Its prin- cipal exploration has been in an old mine on the northeast bank of the Wallkill, opposite Franklin Furnace. It was opened in 1868, directly under the furnace, and also in two or more places on the hill farther southwest. From the mine on the bank of the Wallkill it runs nearly parallel with the ore in the gneiss, and but a few feet from it. The vein in the old mine was from 3 to 8 feet thick, and in the opening under the furnace was thicker still, though the walls were not uncovered at the time the mine was visited. The ore in the limestone is dark-colored, with a bright metallic lustre, compact, contains num- crous small flakes of graphite and more or less carbon- ate of lime, magnesia, and manganese.

The following analysis of an average specimen of the ore from this mine is given :

Magnetic Iron ore ..

79,0

Prutoxide of Binnganere.

3.0

Magnesin.

3,9

LICHLO

Carbonic acid ....

Graphite,

0.6

Phosphorle neid.

0.0

Sulphur.

Water.

0.4

This ore has been worked at the charcoal-furnace at Franklin.

ZINC ORES.

The structure of the zinc veins or beds of this locality is the same as that of the magnetic iron ore- veins. They are confavorable to the stratification of the rocks in which they are imbedded ; they pitch to the northeast, they dip to the southeast, and there lie

Sulphur ..

338

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

in a fold, or, in other words, have a synclinal axis running through them.

FRANKLINITE

is a mineral of an iron-black color, metallic Instre, and about as hard as feldspar. It is slightly magnetic, and might easily be mistaken for magnetic ore. Its specific gravity is 5.05 to 5.16. Its crystals are regu- lar octahedrons. Small crystals are common in the gangne rock, and those of 1, 2, 3, and rarely 4, inches on each edge have been found. The average of four carefully-made analyses of crystals of franklinite was as follows :

Sesqnioxide of iron 68.3

Oxide of zinc.

24.8

Red oxide of manganese ..

10.5

103.6

The excess of products of analysis over 100 is prob- ably due to the oxidation of iron, which must exist in the mineral,-in part at least as protoxide of iron, or else as magnetite. From the fact that specimens of this mineral from Mine Hill contain more iron than those from Sterling Hill, and also that they are more affected by the magnet, there seems good reason to suspect the presence of magnetite in the mineral, and, as it gives off chlorine when hydrochloric acid is poured on it, the manganese is probably a binoxide.

RED OXIDE OF ZINC.

This mineral is of a deep red color, varying in specimens to orange color; its streak is also orange- yellow. Its lustre is not metallic. Occasionally specimens are found which are partially transparent, but generally the substance is quite opaque. Its hard- ness is about that of limestone, and its specific gravity 5.4 to 5.7. Its structure is foliated; it splits up easily into tabular flakes. Its composition should be zinc 80.26, oxygen 19.74, though it contains oxide of manganese, which gives the mineral its red color. It is easily soluble in acetic acid.

WILLEMITE, TROOSTITE, OR ANHYDROUS SILICATE OF ZINC.

This mineral is found in abundance at Mine Hill, and also at Sterling Hill. It is of various colors, from an apple-green to flesh-red and to grayish white, and when weathered is of a manganese-brown color. Its streak is uncolored. It is nearly as hard as feldspar, and the flesh-colored specimens have a splintering and tough fracture, while the light-colored and green- ish specimens have a lustre resembling feldspar. Its specific gravity is 3.9 to 4.2. Its composition is oxide of zinc and silicic acid, being 27.1 per cent. of the latter and 79.9 of the former. It usually contains some impurities, oxide of iron and manganese being almost always present in small quantities.

The Mine Hill zinc vein has its outerop on the northwestern brow, and extends in a southwest direc- tion from the Hamburg road to the southwestern end of the hill, near the Wallkill. Here it turns off at an acute angle and runs in an east-northeast direction for nearly 600 feet. The higher portions of this out-

crop are 150 feet above the Wallkill. The ore consists mainly of the same minerals as that of Sterling Hill. In color it is darker and duller, and the limestone less white and pure in appearance. The franklinite is not so perfect in crystalline form; it is more magnetic, softer, more reddish in its powder, and dissolves read- ily in acid. An analysis of three specimens gives the following result :

Sesquioxide of iron. 74.8

Oxide of zinc .. 21.7

Red oxido of manganese. 7.8

104.3

The green- and light-colored varieties of willemite are most abundant, and make the largest part of the mines which are worked. In all the northeastern part of the vein near the Hamburg road two layers of the ore can be recognized,-one containing red oxide of zinc, and the other none of that mineral, and the layers receive the names of the zinc vein and the franklinite vein. Farther to the southwest, and to- wards the curve in the vein, the red oxide is found in two different streaks, and there is much difficulty in tracing any regularity in its position in the vein. The gangue rock is carbonate of lime and manganese, like that at Sterling Hill. At the Hamburg road the vein already worked is 10 feet wide. About 300 feet farther southwest it is 6 feet wide, and the franklinite vein of equal width. Near the.middle of the ontcrop mixed ore was uncovered 21 feet across ; southwest from this the outerop measures 29 feet. At the extreme south- west opening the mass of ore was not less than 30 feet thick. In the large opening on the east vein ore has been quarried out in the open and almost vertical vein for a length of 100 feet, 35 feet wide and 40 feet deep.

The pitch of these veins is not distinctly marked. The dip in all the front vein is southeast 55° to 65°. The east vein is vertical. The fine crystals of willem- ite or troostite which are from Mine Hill have been found in cavities near the surface of various points. Fowlerite is found at the southwest opening. Fluate of lime is found in small grains in several places in the mass or ore. The new asbestiform mineral of Profes- sor Brush, sussexite (a borate of magnesia and man- ganese), is found at the mine near the Hamburg road. Large magnesian garnets and crystals of jeffersonite have been obtained from a cavity near the large gneiss rock on the hill. Most of the ore from the zinc mines is worked into white oxide of zinc, to be used for paint.

The Hill Vein and Furnace Vein are now being worked by the New Jersey Zinc and Iron Company ; the Hill vein, at the beginning of the present year (1880), had reached a depth of 190 feet in the shaft near the furnace. A new opening farther southwest than any of the present workings has shown a good vein of ore. The mining on this vein has demonstra- ted the existence of shoots and intervening pinches. The walls are of gneissic rock. The ore is adapted to Bessemer metal.

339

HARDYSTON.

The Furnace Vein is in the white crystalline lime- stone; it is worked northeast of the Wallkill. The prin- cipal slope is on the southwest point of Mine Hill, a few rods from the creek. It is 300 feet long, and descends on the foot-wall at an angle of about 60°. The working in it has thus far opened three shoots, one above the other, and pitching towards the northeast. Between them the vein is narrow, or pinches. The horizontal drifts show very plainly these variations in size as one goes from southwest to northeast. There are no elear, well-defined walls, but ore and limestone are mixed, and the mining stops where the latter predominates. They stand up firmly, and no timber is necessary. At the bottom Mr. C. C. Pierce, the superintendent, is driving westerly and expects to strike the Hill vein.

X .- INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS. THE FRANKLIN IRON-WORKS.

The earliest company organized with a view to the development of the iron interests of the vicinity was known as "The Boston Franklinite Company," and was composed mainly of Boston capitalists. The whole property of this company was in 1867 purchased by William E. Dodge, Moses Taylor, John I. Blair, Joseph II. Scranton, and others, who were stock- holders of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, of Seranton, Pa. In 1872 the company was reorgan- ized under a new charter, becoming known as "The Franklin Iron Company."

While in the hands of the original owners little was done towards the development of the mines. The manufacture of charcoal pig iron was begun, but was not financially successful.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 83

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