History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 87

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 87
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 87

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VII .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. VILLAGE OF VERNON.

It is difficult to determine, in the absence of au- thentie facts regarding the early settlement of the village, who were the earliest arrivals within its lim- its. It is probable that the advent of the Campbell and Winans families was identical, both having come during the war of the Revolution, or a short time after. William Winans was the father of a numerous family of sons, and was an early host in the village, his tavern having been the popular resort of the day. The history of the family has been elsewhere given more fully.

The Campbell family are of Scotch deseent. The first of the race to settle in Vernon was William Campbell, who located on a traet of land now in possession of his grandson, William Campbell. The elder Campbell served in the war of the Revolution, and on the declaration of peace made Vernon his permanent abiding-place. His half-brother, George, held a commission as surgeon in the army, and on retiring from the service purchased the property, which was formerly in possession of Tories and had been confiscated. William Campbell had five sons, but one of whom, Rue, survives; he resides in Mon- month County. John, another son, located upon the homestead, which is now occupied by his son, Wil- liam Campbell.

Many representatives of the older families of the township now reside in the hamlet, though their ad- vent has occurred at a comparatively late date, which precludes their being numbered among its early set- tlers.

No trace of the beginning of mercantile enterprise in Vernon ean be discovered. In 1840 the place con- tained three stores, two blacksmith-shops, two wheel- wright-shops, a grist-mill, and two cheesc-factories, and the population was abont 200.

It has made but little advance since that time, and has now two general stores, owned by R. S. Denton and George E. Shorter; two blacksmith-shops, con- ducted by George 1. and Charles Wood; two wagon- shops; one grist-mill, owned by Benjamin Harri- son ; and a hotel, of which Peter Smith is landlord.

The physician of the hamlet is Dr. Carlos Allen, whose advent occurred in 1845, and who enjoys an extensive practice in the vicinity.

The village is situated in nearly the centre of the township, west of the Wawayanda Mountains, in one of the most picturesque localities of the neighborhood.

CANISTEER.

This is a mere settlement, located in the southeast corner of the township, the pioneer of which was the venerable Adam Smith. At an early day an exten- sive forge was located here, and a water-power of con- siderable magnitude was fed by a series of ponds lying to the northward. The iron mine, for some time worked, is now dormant. No trace of enterprise remains in the hamlet.

MCAFEE VALLEY.

The earliest purchaser of land at this point, so far as can be learned, was John Wilkins, who was for a long period possessor of a tract of which 2.40 aeres was conveyed to Ebenezer Townsend in 1826. There still remained 7.71 acres, which was purchased by Samuel MeAfee, who conducted a blacksmith- and wagon- shop, and was for a time the oracle of the neighbor- hood ; from him the hamlet derived its name. Mr. MeAfee sold to Robert Martin and wife, who conveyed to William Benjamin, from whom the property was transferred to Stephen Smith, who was for a brief time the owner, and later sold to William Simpson, who in turn conveyed to William Simpson, Jr., the present owner.

Stephen Smith, about 1851, built a tavern, which is still standing, and which was in 1858 sold to William Simpson, and later became the property of his son, who was its popular landlord. He was followed by Nathaniel Garrison, and later by Gasper Carr. Oscar Simpson afterwards filled the role of host to the trav- eling public, and was suceceded by S. C. Wright. The last owner was Thomas Drew, sinee which time it has been closed.

A very early blacksmith-shop was among the in- dustries of the place; its owners rivaled those of the tavern in the rapidity of their succession. It was de- molished, and a more spacious one substituted in 1860 by William Simpson, who, also, in 1856 erected a store on the opposite side of the road, which he still con- ducts, and which enjoys an extensive patronage from the surrounding country. There were also a shoe- shop, a wheelwright-shop, a harness-shop, and a cooper-shop.

A school-house was erected in 1840, which in the course of years became old and dilapidated, and was replaced in 1878 by a new and more convenient edi-

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fice, which is among the most attractive in the town- ship. A new hotel was built by Mr. Simpson in 1873, the store having been rebuilt the year previons.

The present business enterprise of McAfee Valley consists of the store above named, a hotel, the land- lord of which is W. C. Bird, one blacksmith-shop, kept by E. F. Ryerson, and a wheelwright-shop, managed by H. Wilcox.

McAfee Valley derives some consequence from the fact that it is the terminus of both the Warwick Val- ley and the Sussex Railroad, each of which has a comfortable depot at the station.

William Simpson holds the commission as post- master of the hamlet, and is also station-agent.

White Rock Lime and Cement Company .- Among the most prominent business enterprises of McAfee is the White Rock Lime and Cement Company. The business was first established in 1872 by Messrs. Rosewall & Beardsley, and the following year or- ganized as a company under a charter granted by the State. The material used in the process of manufac- ture is obtained from the farm of Robert Charde- voyne, in the township of Vernon, and barreled at their kilns, near the hamlet of McAfee, from whence it is shipped. The kilns have a capacity of 35 bar- rels of lime per day for chemical and manufacturing uses, and 25 bushels for purposes of agriculture. The material is shipped in barrels manufactured by the company, and the market is found in Sullivan and Ulster Cos., N. Y., in Newark, and in Paterson.

GLENWOOD.

Glenwood is pleasantly situated, at the opening of the valley leading from the Wawayanda Valley to- wards Deckertown, and near the point where the Wawayanda crosses the New York and New Jersey State line. It has two churches,-Methodist and Baptist, - a school-house, grist-mill, turning-shop, saw-mill, a wagon-shop, two blacksmith-shops, a creamery, a general store, and a distillery.

At the highest point of the valley is a small lake, fed by springs and covering about 14 acres, which forms a natural reservoir and supplies the stream running down the valley. This stream-known in the vicinity as the "Mill brook"-furnishes power for the several mills, and finally empties into the Wawayanda. Just above the village the stream tum- bles over a high ledge of rocks into a pool at the head of the "Glen," and the locality is known as "The Falls." At the side of the Glen a small cave has been worn in the cliff, probably by the action of the water on the soft limestone rock. The "Glen" and the "Falls" are overshadowed by a grove of elms, which in summer afford a very inviting retreat.

"The Falls" furnished the power for the first grist- mill built in the township. The tract-a square of ten acres, including the mill-site-was conveyed by Delancy & Cuyler to Denn Decker by deed bearing date May 31, 1774, and is described as follows:

" Lying on both sides of a brook called and kuown by the name of Pochunck Brook, on the south side of a mountain called by the same name, including a place about a quarter of a mile above Denn Decker's called The Falls."

The adjoining lands were surveyed to James Drum- mond Lundin, Earl of Perth, Sept. 14, 1764, and sold to Stephen Bailey, May 1, 1793. They are still occu- pied by his descendants.

The Denn Decker property referred to in the deed is the farm next below on the mill-stream, now in pos- session of the Houston family. Adjoining this is the farm on which George Backster settled, in 1795, and which is now owned by his grandson, John C. Back- ster. The next farm was settled in 1797, by Matthew Van Norstrand. He was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Williamson and Council in 1821, and for many years was the arbiter of the legal dis- putes of the neighborhood. The adjoining lands were settled in 1787 by Hassell Ryerson, whose descendants still occupy the same farm.

Up the valley above the falls among the early set- tlers were Robert Donaldson, the school-master, who taught in the old school-house; Joseph Edmondson, who removed to Newton and purchased the property now called the Babbitt farm; Abram Van Winkle, the millwright ; Jeremiah Force, and William Rhodes, the surveyor who located many of the vacant lands in the vicinity. His first compass was made by himself. Farther up were Frederick Arvis, afterwards sheriff of Sussex County, Tobias Van Gelder, and Abner Toland. Nearly every farm in the valley is still owned by descendants of the first settlers, but two having changed hands in many years.

Of the first mill erected at the Falls no vestige re- mains. The second, built lower down on the stream, was burned in 1809. The third, built in 1810, with some additions and repairs is still standing, and ntil- izes the power of the lively brook before mentioned.

Samuel Vail built a fulling-mill on the stream about 1804. So long as the people wore homespun the mill did a flourishing business, but when more luxurious attire became general, and silk and broad- cloth were worn, the fulling-mill went to decay.

Jacob Dodder erected a sash-and-blind factory in 1830, and invented and built a planing-mill which worked successfully. It imitated the motion of plan- ing by hand, the planing-irons being set in a frame, which was drawn back and forth by water-power.

The place was once noted for its maple-forests, and until 1835 nearly all the sugar nsed in the settlement was produced from these trees. A few of the old maple-groves remain, but little sugar is manufactured, the high price of fuel rendering the business unprof- itable.

The meadows along the Wawayanda in the vicinity of Glenwood have for many years been remarkable for their productiveness. As early as 1825, $100 per acre was offered for the meadow tracts, and the present holders do not sell at any price.

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Of sehool-houses the place has had three,-the "old" school-house, standing by the "crotched hickory," near the mill-pond, built in 1795, where Donaldson and Brougham taught; this was succeeded by the " red" school-house, where the grown citizens of the ! present time conned their tasks in early days, and the " white" school-house, on the hill, built by George W. Rhodes in 1864. The "red" school-house was used by the Methodist Church as a preaching-station until the erection of the brick church, in 1863, and the beautiful grove near the building was a favorite eamp- meeting ground in the early days of Methodism.

No records of Revolutionary date have been pre- served. A few veterans of 1812 lived in the commu- nity and fought their battles over, to the wonder and admiration of a generation unused to war. Nearly every young man in the hamlet volunteered his ser- vices during the late war, and there were few families in Glenwood and its vicinity that had not one or more representatives at the front.

The Nusser Battery .- The Sussex Battery is stationed at Glenwood. It has two bronze 12-pound Napoleons, with carriages and limbers, and is well fitted with all the necessary battery equipments.

The company was organized in 1879, and the guns were first used at the centennial celebration of the battle of Minisink, at Goshen, N. Y., and since at the following places: Grand Army encampment at Skillman's in August, 1879; unveiling of the soldiers' monument at Middletown in September, 1879; recep- tion to Kilpatrick at Franklin, October, 1879; and the Grand Army encampment at Bordentown, N. J., in 1880. The battery has never met with an accident of any kind, although it has fired several hundred full charges.

WAWAYANDA.

The hamlet bearing this name had its first incep- tion in 1845, when O. Ames & Sons began the erec- tion of a blast-furnace, which was run by charcoal and depended for its supply of this material upon a traet of woodland embracing 6000 acres, from which the charcoal was burned. A magnetic ore mine, then known as the " Acker Mine," situated about two miles from the furnace, furnished the principal portion of the ore consumed in the business, the power having been supplied by the sheet of water known then as " Double Pond," and now christened Wawayanda Lake.

About 1868, the Thomas Iron Company purchased the property from O. Ames & Sons, but did very little towards developing the mines until 1880. They are at present actively engaged at a point known as the "Green Mine," adjoining the property before mentioned. The ore is delivered by wagon to the track of the Warwick Valley Railroad,-a distance of three miles,-from whence it is shipped for smelting purposes. Upon the 6000 acres of land owned by the company there is unquestionably a large amount of magnetic ore, which only awaits additional rail-

way facilities for a more full development of its wealth.

VII .- IRON-MINES.

The ore particularly abundant in Vernon is known by geologists as red hematite.

The Simpson mine of this ore is located in Vernon township, 24 miles northeast of Hamburg. The ore occurs in the form of a bed or irregular deposit, from 6 to 10 feet in width, in the white limestone. Exca- vations have been made in it to a considerable extent, from which large quantities have been removed and smelted, yielding iron of a superior quality.

Red hematite has also been found in the hill di- rectly back of McAfee Valley, and within half a mile of the hotel. It is on land owned by William Smith, and has been opened to a moderate extent, thoughi not at present worked.

Two miles and a half northeast of Hamburg, be- tween the base of the Pochnek Mountain and a ridge of white limestone, occurs an extensive bed of brown hematite of a fibrous and massive structure. Exca- vations have been made, and the ore smelted in the Ilamburg furnace.

IX .- BURIAL-PLACES.

A very old burial-place, known as the "Perry graveyard," is located on the farm of the late T. T. Simonson. Many members of the Perry family are interred here, though the spot has not been frequented for years, and presents many evidences of neglect. The only memorial now remaining is the headstone of one Rachel Derby, bearing date 1776, the material of which is old red sandstone. Other stones or frag- ments of stones of a very rough character are seen, but they were used simply to designate the presence of a grave.

DE KAY CEMETERY.

This burial-spot-the oldest in the township, and possibly in the county-was confined almost entirely to interments in the De Kay family, to whom it be- longed. It was selected by Col. Thomas De Kay, on his arrival in the township, as the spot where his bones should repose, and is, as a consequence, more than a century old. He inelosed it with an attractive fence and otherwise improved its appearance. Here are buried four of the family named Thomas who are in the direct line of descent, all of whom were resi- dents of Vernon.

VERNON BURIAL-PLACES.

In the village of Vernon, and adjoining the lot on which stands the Methodist Episcopal church, was many years ago a burial-ground used by members of the Baptist denomination. This was for a while in general use, and among others here interred were John Jessup and members of the Winans, Edsall, Campbell, Denton, and Simonson families.

Adjoining the Episcopal church is the cemetery used by that denomination. It has no claim to an- tiquity, having first been used in 1848.

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Among other family burial-grounds is that of the Ricky family, now in disuse, and now known as the Green Cemetery.

GLENWOOD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.

The Glenwood Cemetery Association was organized in 1876 under the direction of a board of trustees which embraced the following individuals: William Van Winkle, Joseph Simpson, Daniel Bailey, Michael Morehouse, Gilbert D. Drew, Peter J. Brown, John C. Backster, Sharp Backster, Nicholas N. Ryerson. The association purchased from Capt. N. N. Ryerson a tract of 12 acres well adapted for the purpose; it was laid out and improved under the direction of B. F. Hatheway, C.E. The year following were added evergreens, hedges, and much ornamental shrubbery, which have greatly enhanced the beauty of the spot. The Glenwood Cemetery is fast becoming one of the most picturesque and attractive in the county.

X .- EARLY TAVERNS.

It is probable that houses of entertainment were open to the public while traversing the highways of , ship on the "old" school-house lot. The building Vernon as early as the middle of the last century. Nevertheless, none is recalled of an earlier date than that kept by William Winans, who came during the war of the Revolution and probably opened a public- house soon after at Vernon village. It was at that time the only stopping-place between Hamburg and Orange The building was finished in the winter of 1841-42 at a cost of $1500, and dedicated to the service of God with appropriate services June 2, 1842. Co., N. Y., and, as a consequence, monopolized all the patronage of the traveling public. Mr. Winans later converted it into a dwelling, in which he died. Richard S. Denton finally purchased it, when it be- beyond the prospect of liquidation, offered the build- came the residence of his son, Smith Denton.

The second tavern was built by Simon Simonson, about 1790, and stood on the site of the residence of the late T. T. Simonson. It was converted into a dwelling many years since, and is still standing.

Stuffle Simonson in 1820 opened a house of enter- tainment for the public two miles east of McAfee, which was for years the rendezvous on the occasion of town- ship elections. This was abandoned many years since.

A second tavern was built at Vernon by John Ben- jamin, who was also the landlord. He was succeeded by John Van Derriff, after whom it passed into the hands of Thomas S. De Kay, who rendered it exceed- ingly popular as a summer resort.

XI .- RELIGIOUS. GLENWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH.#

The records of the Glenwood Baptist Church extend as far back as 1838, although the church was not regu- larly constituted as such until 1862, existing, in the mean time, as a branch of the Hamburg Church.

In the spring of 1838, Elder William H. Spencer commenced his earnest and efficient labors with the latter church, devoting a part of his time to Glenwood and vicinity, then known as North Vernon. At that time the Baptist element in the place was very small,

consisting of a few scattered members of the Ham- burg Church and some others, who held their connec- tion with Orange and First Wantage Churches. Meet- ings were usually held in the "old" school-house, which then stood on the place where the church building was afterwards erected. The precise time when the few scattered members were organized as a branch of the Hamburg Church is not known, but it was evidently during the first part of Elder Spencer's ministry. Previous to his coming Baptist ministers from Orange and First Wantage-among whom were Rev. Zelotes Grenelle, afterwards pastor of the church, and his brother, Elder Samuel Grenelle-had occa- sionally preached in the vicinity.

During Elder Spencer's ministry of seven years 62 members, mostly by baptism, were added to the branch, of whom some continue with the church to this day.

Early in 1841 the "Christian" denomination (having some time previously organized a church in North Vernon) commenced the erection of a house of wor- committee consisted of Matthew Bailey, Gabriel Hous- ton, Price Van Ostrand, Francis Walling, and Samuel Vail. William Backster, Price Van Ostrand, and Frederick Arvis were appointed trustees at a meeting held March 8, 1841.

This society, finding themselves involved in debt ing for sale in 1844 .. It was purchased by the Bap- tists for about $1100, and rededicated by them in the winter of 1844-45. A new board of trustees was appointed, consisting of Matthew Bailey, Ebenezer Drew, and Evi A. Martin, and the church occupied this edifice, standing on the site of the " old" school- house, before mentioned, until it was taken down, twenty-four years afterwards.

At the close of Elder Spencer's labors, on Nov. 24, 1845, the North Vernon branch met for the transac- tion of business, at which meeting the following reso- lutions were adopted : .

" First. That we as a branch will hold regular church-meetings on the second Saturday of each month.

"Second. That we approve of the call given by the Hamburg Baptist church to Elder John Davis to become our pastor.

" Third. That Matthew Bailey be the regular clerk of the branch."

This was the first recorded church-meeting of the branch church.

The call thus made to Elder Davis was accepted, and he entered upon his ministry with the church early in the winter of 1845-46, continuing in the pas- toral relation until the autumn of 1849,-a period of four years.

At the close of Elder Davis' labors Rev. J. M. Hope accepted a call to the pastorate of the Hamburg Church and the branch. His work continued but one

* Prepared by Rev. T. M. Grenelle, pastor.

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year, when the church was left without a regular pastor until the spring of 1851,-a period of nearly a year and a half. During this time the branch was supplied occasionally by Elders Thomas Davis and David Bennet, until the services of Mr. J. L. Barlow, a licentiate of First Wantage, were obtained for six months. Mr. Barlow at the time was editor of the Home Journal, published at Deckertown.

In the spring of 1851 the pastoral services of Rev. Sanford Leach were procured by the Hamburg Church and the branch conjointly for one year. The Lord's Supper was regularly administered and regular church- meetings were held. During this time Mr. Leach reorganized the Sabbath-school, which had been dis- continued, and seeured a library for it.

In 1852, Elder Leach resigned the pastorate. The alternate services of Elder Thomas Davis, of First Wantage, and Rev. J. I. Grimley, of Orange, supplied the pulpit for one year.

Rev. J. S. Christine, the next pastor, entered upon his labors April 1, 1853, and continued about three years, after which the church was destitute of regular preaching for one year, when Elder J. M. Hope ac- cepted his second call to Hamburg, and entered on his ministry April 1, 1857.

About 1860 the members of the branch, convinced that a mere supply of the pulpit would result in the future, as it had in the past, in very slow progress,-if, indeed, there should be any progress at all,-resolved to break loose from Hamburg and set up for them- selves. Accordingly, at a church-meeting, Nov. 16, 1861, they unanimously agreed to ask letters of dis- mission, which were promptly granted. Elder Zelotes Grenelle, before mentioned in this sketch, of Port Jervis, was called as the first pastor.

It was formally recognized by a council of ministers and delegates from the churches of the Sussex Bap- tist Association convened Jan. 14, 1862.

At a subsequent church-meeting Michael More- house was chosen deacon for four years, and Ebenezer Drew for two years. Sharp Backster was appointed clerk and Daniel Bailey treasurer for one year. It was evidently a fortunate circumstance that the infant church was first placed under the pastoral care of Rev. Zelotes Grenelle, as in him were combined acceptable gifts and a large experience in the pastoral office.

Elder Zelotes Grenelle closed his labors with the church in the last of March, 1865, to take charge of the Baptist Church in Millington, N. J., and was succeeded on the 1st of April following by Rev. Thomas M. Grenelle, from Hollisterville, Pa., who still (1881) remains the pastor.

At a regular church-meeting held July 1, 1865, Gabriel Welch was elected deacon and Daniel Bailey trustee, both in place of Ebenezer Drew, deceased. Frederick Arvis was elected deacon in February, 1868.

In 1867 the church acquired the lot of land on which the present house of worship was erected.

At a regular church-meeting held Feb. 1, 1868, a committee, consisting of Michael Morchouse, Chris- topher Ilaggerty, Zenas D. Riggs, Peter J. Brown, and Daniel Bailey, was appointed to procure subserip- tions, make estimates, and to obtain a design for the proposed edifice. They reported at a subsequent meeting ; their plan was accepted, and the same per- sons were appointed as a building committee. Ground was broken for the new church edifice May 13, 1868, and the foundation completed the following June.

Ang. 26, 1868, the society secured an act of ineor- poration as "The Glenwood Baptist Church," the name of the place having been changed from North Vernon to Glenwood by the postmaster-general.

The last sermon in the old building was preached by Rev. T. M. Grenelle, the pastor, on Sunday, Ang. 14, 1868, a historical review of the church being given at the same time. The house was taken down the week following, and the frame of the new edifice raised in September, 1868. The lecture-room was finished in November, and first occupied by the Sabbath-school on Sunday, Dec. 4, 1868, followed by the regular ser- vice of the church.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 87

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