History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 92

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 92
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 92

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LAFAYETTE .*

I .- SITUATION, BOUNDARIES, ETC.

THE township of Lafayette derives its name from the hamlet within its midst, which was so called in honor of that distinguished patriot the Marquis de la Fayette on the occasion of his visit to America, in 1824. It has acquired some little distinction as having been the first spot in the Union which in its christen- ing did honor to the illustrious soldier.

Lafayette is situated upon the line of Frankford and Newton, near the centre of the county, and is bounded north by the township of Wantage, south by Hampton and Andover, east hy Sparta and Har- dyston, west by Frankford and Hampton. An im-

aginary line has separated the township into Lafayette and Lower Lafayette, the first being the site of the hamlet of Lafayette, and the latter, to a considerable extent, the scene of early as well as of present enter- prise.

By the valuation of the assessors of the county in 1880, the real estate of Lafayette was estimated at $499,672, the personal property at $270,703, making the total valuation of taxable property $656,600. The school and county tax amounted to $2789.09.

II .- NATURAL FEATURES.

Lafayette township contains an arca of 11,150 acres of land, a very large proportion of which is improved and cultivated. The soil is a mixture of clay, loam,

* By E. O. Wagner.

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LAFAYETTE.

and gravel, very little sand being apparent. The pro- dnctiveness of this land is in some localities modified by the presence of veins of limestone and slate, which traverse the centre and western portions of the town- ship, the former deposit running from northeast to southwest.

The country is admirably adapted to grazing, and the dairy industry is followed with success, much of the milk being shipped to New York, which affords a ready market.

In point of productiveness, the township of Lafay- ette compares favorably with any of the townships of Sussex County. The Paulinskill, its principal stream, rises in Sparta, Newton, Andover, and Hampton, the east branch emanating from Sparta township, while the "Big Spring." near Newton, at a corner between the town of Newton and the townships of Andover and Hampton, is the main source of the western branch. They unite in the township, and, running north, then west into Frankford, are joined from the east by a small stream called Spring Brook. The Paulinskill affords an ample water-power for the mills which are built along the banks, and is thus rendered valuable for commercial purposes.

III .- EARLY SETTLEMENTS, ETC.

The first settlement was made in this township about one hundred and thirty years ago. Henry Bale, a German by birth, was the pioneer to the village now known as Lafayette; he settled at this place as early as 1750. A log grist-mill was built by him at that early period, and located on the lower side of the head-race to the present mill, and 50 yards easterly from the present railroad depot. This was the first flouring-mill in the village or its vicinity, and one of the first in the county. The earliest dam that checked the natural flow of the head-waters of the Paulinskill was constructed by his hands, and by him its waters were first rendered subservient to man's will. A long head-race, dug from this dam to the old mill, still re- mains as one of the landmarks to remind the present generation of the first tedious strokes towards our present civilization. The dam remained as another landmark until 1858, when it was removed to reclaini n large area of land that had been flooded by its back- water for over a century. The log mill remained, and was operated as a flouring grist-mill until 1822, when it ceased longer to be used, and gave way to one of more modern style and machinery.

Mr. Bale also built for the use of his family a log house, which was located on the east side of the road leading from the centre of the village to the residence of Mrs. William Snyder, and about 80 yards from her house, on a course a few degrees west of south. This building remained and was occupied until 1835, and a portion of its foundation is still to be seen.

Henry Bale was a man of great enterprise, and found a zealous helpmeet in his wife, Elizabeth. He erected a blacksmith-shop and devoted most of his

time to the forge and anvil, while his wife tended the mill ; and together they instructed their sons in the arts of milling and blacksmithing. He made the first clearing in the neighborhood, erected other houses and buildings, and tradition says that he dis- covered and secretly worked a silver mine, and thus accumulated a part of his fortune. This, however, is very doubtful, as no silver ore in paying quantities has ever been discovered in the county. He was a man of marked intelligence, enterprising, and highly respectable, and lived to a good old age. His chil- dren married, and most of them settled during his lifetime in his adopted county and State.

The name of Henry Bale, the earliest pioneer of this hamlet, is indelibly associated with the development and progress of this township. For the reason that he was the first settler in this part of the county, the pioneer in its development, and bore the heat and burden of the day, it is proper that mention should be made of the family connections. The descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Bale are connected with very many of the oldest and most prominent families of Sussex County.

Nothing is known of the ancestry of Henry Bale, or even from what section of Germany he came. Equally meagre are the facts with reference to the ancestry or nativity of his wife, Elizabeth.

Mr. and Mrs. Bale had seven children,-Jacob, Pe- ter, Henry, Rhoda, Elizabeth, Mary, and Catharine. Jacob, the oldest son, with his two sisters, Mary and Rhoda, and their husbands,-the former having mar- ried a Washer and the latter a Huffman,-moved to Kentucky. Peter, born in 1768, and Henry, born in 1778, Jeft their father's home, and, having moved down the Panlinskill during the latter part of the last cen- tury, located at the place that still bears their name, -Baleville, now in Hampton township. Here, in 1800, they erected a grist-mill, which was operated as such until 1840, when it was remodeled by James, John, and Peter, the sons of Henry. Elizabeth mar- ried Zachariah Stickles, and Catharine espoused John Widener. Peter married Elizabeth Struble, daughter of Leonard Struble, whose wife was Mary Longcore. Mr. and Mrs. Struble were the parents of ten chil- dren : Leonard, Jr., who married Rhoda Morris ; Anthony, who married Mary Kays; Elizabeth, who married said Peter Bale ; Mary, who married Robert Bell; Catharine, who married John Hutfinan ; Mar- garet, who married George Roe ; Peter, who married Ruth Morris; Jacob, who married Mary Haggerty ; and Susan, who married William Roc.

l'eter Bale, the second son of Henry and Elizabeth Bale, and who married Elizabeth Struble, had eleven children, six of whom grew up and married,-viz., Henry, who married Lydia Bell ; Jacob, who married Sarah Shotwell ; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Bell ; Peter, who married Elizabeth Snook ; Sarah Ann, who married Cornelius Howell ; and Mary, who mar- ried Thomas Kays, the son of John Kays, whose wife,

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Sarah, was the daughter of Benjamin Hull, whose wife was Anna Duer.

Benjamin Hnll had thirteen children: Charity, who married Samuel Jones; Nancy, who married Peter Bell; Sarah, who married John Kays; Mary, who married Moses Morris; Rhoda, who married Martin Ryerson; Elizabeth, who married William Ryerson ; Martha, who married John Young; Ruth, who married Caleb Hopkins; John, who married Margaret Lantz; Benjamin, who married Elizabeth Case ; Phebe, who married Joseph Warbasse; Wil- liam, who married Hannah Marr; and Dorcas, who married Henry Priee.

John Kays, the father of Thomas Kays by his wife, Sarah Hull, had nine children : Mary, who married Anthony Struble; John, who went West when a young man; David, who married Phebe Durner ; Benjamin, who married Charlotte Hopkins ; Samuel, who married Elizabeth Tuttle; Martha, unmarried and still living in this township; Martin R., who married Mary Ann Dusenberry; Thomas, who mar- ried Mary Bale; and James, who was never married.

Henry Bale, Jr., the second son of Henry Bale the pioneer, married Abigail Current, by whom he had eight children : Elizabeth, who married Joseph Ships ; James, who married Sarah Havens, and now living in Ohio; Ann, who married John Huston; Sarah and Abigail, who died in childhood; Susan, who married Andrew Havens; John, who married Rhoda S. Morris ; Peter, who married Sarah Drake; and Mary, who married John Hardin.

Thus, by descent and marriage in the first and sec- ond generations, came blood-relationship from old Henry Bale and wife with the several families of Struble, Kays, Hull, Morris, Ryerson, Bell, Rose, Price, Warbasse, Tuttle, Snook, Lantz, Washer, Long- core, Huffman, Haggerty, Shotwell, Howell, Jones, Young, Hopkins, Case, Marr, Dwiner, Dusenberry, Stickles, Widener, Current, Ships, Havens, Huston, Drake, and Hardin. At the present time there are not many families in the county who cannot trace a relationship, either by consanguinity or by affinity, to this old settler and his wife, while by migration from this section hundreds beyond the borders of the county and State can also trace relationship to them.

Among other prominent families of Lafayette may be mentioned the following :

Peter Warbasse, the progenitor of the family of that name in Lafayette, was a native of Jutland, in Denmark. He espoused the faith of the Moravians, and emigrated to America about 1753, settling in Pennsylvania. His son Joseph became a resident of Newton in 1794, was a blacksmith by trade, and owned the homestead farm, in Lafayette, now occupied by Samuel Warbasse. He was eccentric in character, and commonly known to the town'speople as "Citi- zen Warbasse."*

John D. Ackerson came from Paramus, N. J., about 1800, and located upon the farm now occupied by John P. Sigler. He inhabited this spot until his death, and a son, Peter Ackerson, is still a resident of the township. Paulus Ackerson lived where Mrs. R. F. Randolph now resides, having had two sons, James and Aaron A., and one daughter, the wife of Mahlon B. States.

George Lantz came to the township early during the present century, and was known as a thrifty and very successful farmer. His children were William, Jacob, John, David, Peter, George, Susan Ann, and Maria.

The first member of the family of Demorests who resided in Lafayette was Peter, who came to the town- ship as early as 1790 and located upon the farm now occupied by John Demorest. His son Gilliam suc- ceeded to the estate, and on his death, in 1855, be- queathed the farm to his son Peter, after which it came to John, the present occupant. The progenitor of the family removed from Bergen Co., N. J., and was by trade a carpenter and joiner. David Demo- rest, one of the family, who early removed to Lafay- ette, died in 1825, in his sixty-fifth year, and was buried in the cemetery near the village.

Casper Snook came from Germany and settled in the township as early as 1760, on the farm now occu- pied by his grandson, Robert G. Snook. His son William C. was born upon this farm, and resided upon it until his death, in 1855. The male descend- ants of the family now living in the township are Robert G. and David C. Snook. A brother, Isaac V., is a resident of the township of Green.

Samuel Ingersoll, a farmer, lived upon the land now owned by his son Gilbert; he had two children. The renowned Robert G. Ingersoll, of Illinois, traces his ancestry from the same origin.

Capt. Abram A. Richards, for many years a mer- chant of prominence in Lafayette, was among the early arrivals in the village. He had five children,- Elisha, Hiram, Jane, Hester, and John.

John Kaltz was of Dutch extraction, and followed farming pursuits on the land now occupied by his daughter Barbara. He had also a son, John M. Kaltz, a man of varied attainments, who was for a while en- gaged in slate mining, and who died in 1877.

John Simmons made his advent to the township as early as 1783 and purchased land, upon which he erected a log house. His son, Philip Simmons, was born in the same dwelling, and died there in 1867, at the advanced age of eighty-two. A grandson, also, John Simmons, now occupies the home.

William Gunderman lived near what is known as Hopkins' Corners, having come to Lafayette in 1800. He later removed to the spot now the residence of Jacob Simmons. Samuel S. Gunderman, his son, still resides in the township.

Mahlon B. States resided at the locality known as Statesville, which was early identified with his family.

* See page 251 for further mention.

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LAFAYETTE.

He conducted the foundry at Lower Lafayette for some years, and successfully managed an extended business. His children are Ackerson P., Louisa, Nancy, and Lyman.

Barabbas Quackenboss was a former resident of Bergen County, and located on what is known as "German Flats." He was a successful farmer, and a man of influence in the township.

The presence of David Hopkins in the township gave a distinct identity to the point known as "Hop- kins' Corners." Mr. Hopkins engaged in farming pursuits, which he found both congenial and profitable. His son, Philip Hopkins, now owns and resides upon the land.

Capt. John Snyder located upon land now occupied by Joseph Vought, and soon became prominent in the affairs of the township. A more detailed history of the family will be found elsewhere.

John Backster [ Baxter] became in 1827 a resident of Lafayette, having removed from the township of Wantage. Hle followed agricultural pursuits, and oc- enpied until his death, in 1872, the land now owned by his son George. Two sons are still residents of the township.

Hazlet Slater was one of the early landlords of Lafayette. He was first located at a point on the eor- ner opposite the old foundry, but later erected a hotel, over which he presided until his death, in 1861. He was also a landed proprietor, owuing two farms. MIr. Slater was the father of five children.

Moses W. Northrop resided near Hopkins' Corners, where he was the owner of a large and productive farm, now in possession of his granddaughter. He removed at a later period with his son, Henry C., to Newton, where he built a steam grist-mill, which was conducted for some years. His death occurred in 1878.

George Sharp and his ancestors were former resi- dents of Morris Co., N. J., and removed to the town- ship in 1820. He was for several years a resident of Lafayette, and died at the home of his son, Morris Sharp.

Charles Mackerley, who is a native of Sussex County, removed in 1839 to Lafayette, where he has sinee resided. He is prominently identified with its later advancement.

HIGHWAYS.

The road passing through the township from west to east, and formerly known as the Milford and New York turnpike, was half a century ago one of the great thoroughfares of the country, and formed a part of the great turnpike lending from Owego through Binghamton to New York City.

At this early period the turnpike was lined with hotels,-or taverns, as they were then styled,-among which, in the township, were three of especial promi- nence. One occupied the site of Peter Ackerson's present residence ; another was located in the village of Lafayette, and at a later date kept by Hazle: Slater ;

and the third stood east towards Sparta, and was known as the Lewis Peters Hotel, over which Daniel P. Chase subsequently presided as landlord.

Prior to the construction of this highway the oldest road, as far as can be ascertained, which traversed the township passed over the Blue Mountain Ridge through what is known as "Culver's Gap"; from thence to Branchville and Augusta, and on to the present residence of Peter Ackerson, from whence it followed the east base of the large hill past the resi- dence of Leo B. Hurd. On this site stood an ancient hostelry known as "Predmore's tavern," remembered in connection with the Brakeman murder. From this point the road passed over the present road-bed to the bridge over the Paulinskill, near the site of Collver & Huston's grist-mill; thence to the store of the above firm, and over the present road to Upper La- fayette ; thus on to Sparta, Dover, and Morristown, eventually reaching New York, its terminus.

The next oldest road in the township connected with this old road east of the village, at Gustins' Corners, and followed a northeast direction to Ham- burg, Vernon, and on to Esopus and Newburg, in New York.

The main object in constructing the turnpike was to modify the distance, and if possible make the road less tortuous in its course. It diverged from the old ' road at the residence of Peter Ackerson, and, passing through what is known as Statesville, rejoined it near the home of James Hagaman, deceased, and adjacent to the old academy.

EARLY TAVERNS.

During the early settlement of the township nearly every farmhouse on the public highway was for the time converted into a hostelry, and but few were more conspicuous for hospitality than that known as " Pred- more's tavern." It was opened during the beginning of the present century, and was for years the popular resort of the traveling public. This house became famous in 1819 as having been identified with the murder of a peddler named Francis Nichols, a full account of which may be found on page 200 of this work.

As early as 1828 a hotel was opened in the village of Lafayette by one Hugh McDonald. It was located in the centre of the hamlet, on the south corner of the cross-roads, and was in 1835 disposed of to Hazlet Slater, who became landlord, and n few years later erected a large frame edifice, of which he was the popular Boniface. It has since that time been de- voted to purposes of public entertainment.

PHYSICIANS.

The earliest physician in Lafayette was Dr. Edward S. Bell, who enme from Stillwater, Sussex Co., in 1839, and the following year left for Stanhope, the field not having proved sufficiently inviting to detain him in the village.

He was followed by Dr. Richard S. Farrand, who

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SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

arrived from Newark in 1840 and remained until 1843, when he departed for Morris County.

Dr. Franklin Smith, a native of Newton, began the practice of medicine in the township of Frank- ford. In 1844 he removed to Lafayette, where he followed his profession until 1849, when he repaired to Hamburg. In 1856 he became a resident of the village of Newton, where he now lives.

Dr. Jesse R. Burgess came from Bucks Co., Pa., in 1847, and practiced in the vicinity for a period of ten years, when he repaired to Webster City, Iowa. He also followed agricultural pursuits while in the township, having purchased the farm formerly owned by John Cummins.

Dr. H. Stites Woodruff made his advent in 1849, but, not having met with the desired success, removed to Newark.

Dr. Thomas A. Drown came from Western New York in 1852. He engaged in successful practice, but later removed to Sparta and purchased a hotel, of which he was landlord.

Dr. Levi D. Miller, formerly of Andover, became a resident of the township in 1856. He entered the army in 1862, and later removed to Newton, his | present home.

Dr. J. Linn Allen removed from Branchville in 1862, and became a practitioner in Lafayette, where he still pursues his profession.

Dr. John C. Strader came from Phillipsburg in 1878, and at present shares the practice of the town- ship with Dr. Allen, the only resident physicians .*

IV .- ORGANIZATION.

Lafayette was formerly embraced in the townships of Frankford and Newton, and was not made an independent township until a comparatively late date.

The act which conferred upon it this distinction was approved March 20, 1845, and runs as follows :

" AN ACT TO SET OFF FROM THE TOWNSHIPS OF NEWTON AND FRANKFORD, IN THE COUNTY OF SUSSEX, A NEW TOWNSHIP, TO DE CALLED THE TOWNSHIP OF LAFAYETTE.

" Be it enacted by the Senute and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, as follows : Those parts of the townships of Newton and Frank- ford, in the county of Sussex, lying within the boundaries and descrip- tion following,-to wit, beginning in the middle of tho road lending from Thomas Honse's to Merritt Pinckney's, at the southwest corner of the township of Sparta; thoucs running in a direct line to n black-vak tres standing on the enst side of the great road lending from Newton to La- fayette, northeast of the dwelling-honse of Jacob Snook, which tree stands near the forks of the road leading from said Newton and Lafayette road to the Newton and Deckertown turnpike; thence continuing the same course from said black-oak tree until it strikes the aforesnid turn- pike; thence along the centre of said turapike until it strikes the line of the townships of Newton and Frankford ; thonce in a direct line to a corner of the townships of Frankford and Wantuge, southicast of the dwelling-honse of John Clay ; thence along the line of the townships of Fruokford and Wantage to a corner of the townships of Ilardyston and Frankford north of the dwelling-house now occupied by Jonathan A. Dusenberrie; thence along the lino of the townships of Frankford and Hardyeton until it strikes the line of the township of Sparta; thence along the line of the township of Sparta to the beginning,-shall be, ond

the same is bereby, set off from the townships of Newton and Frankford, in the county of Sussex, and made a separate township, to be called and known ns ' The township of Lafayette.'

" The inhabitants of the township of Lafayette shall hold their first annun] town-meeting nt the house of Hazlet Slater, innkeeper, in the village of Lafayette, in snid township of Lafayette, on the second Mon- day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five."

Moses Woodruff, Alexander Boyles, and John Sny- der, or any two of them, were by the same act ap- pointed commissioners to run, survey, mark, and as- certain the lines above mentioned, and were to execute and discharge the duties of their said appointment before the second Monday of April, 1845, the charges and expenses of said commissioners being taxed and paid as by law directed in case of commissioners ap- pointed by the Court of Common Pleas.

V .- CIVIL LIST.

FREEHOLDERS.

1845, Jolın Snyder, John Titman ; 1846, John Titman, George W. Coll- ver; 1847, George W. Collver, Alexander Doyles; 1848-50, George W. Collver, William Snyder, Jr. ; 1851, John M. Kalts, Thomas Kays; 1852-53, John Suyder, John M. Kalts; 1854, II. B. Kays, Hazlet Slater ; 1855, Hazlet Slater, John Weller; 1856, M. R. Kays, Hnzlet Slater ; 1857, M. R. Kays, Thomas Knys; 1858-60, Hazlet SInter, Charles Mackerley ; 1861, Henry C. Northrup, John Weller; 1862, Thomas Kaya, John Weller ; 1863-65, William B. Slater, Gilbert In- gersoll ; 1866, Ahram Cassady, Emanuel Ackerson; 1867-68, James B. Hnston, Abram Cassady; 1869-71, Gilbert Ingersoll, James B. Huston ; 1872, Elias P. Demorest, Jnmes B. Huston ; 1873-75, O. P. Armstrong, John Demorest; 1876, Gilbert Ingersoll, Jolin Demorest; 1877, Gilbert Ingersoll, Elias P. Demorest; 1878, James B. Huston, O. P. Armstrong; 1879, James B. Huston, Jacob Simmons; 1880, Jacob Simmons, John T. Knys.

TOWNSHIP CLERKS.

1845-48, John H. Simpson ; 1849-50, James B. Huston ; 1851, J. B. Hus- ton ; 1852, William S. Bunn ; 1853-55, Andrew J. Rogers; 1856, J. J. Backster; 1857, Evi Potter; 1858-62, H. S. Fountain ; 1863-73, Ack- erson P. States ; 1874, Jacob S. Vnogban ; 1875-76, M. L. Huston ; 1877, George C. Kinney ; 1878-80, M. L. Huston.

ASSESSORS.

1845, Alexander Boyles ; 1846-47, Alexander McDaniels ; 1848-50, Moses W. Northrup; 1851, Henry B. Kays ; 1852, James B. Huston ; 1853- 57, Charles Mackerley ; 1858-59, James B. Huston; 1860-66, Robert G. Snook ; 1867-71, Charles Mackerley ; 1872, Emanuel Ackerson ; 1873-74, Robert G. Snook; 1875-76, Joha T. Kays; 1877-79, Charles Mackerley ; 1880, Jolin Demorest.

COLLECTORS.

1845-46, Thomas Cox; 1847-50, Henry B. Kays; 1851, George W. Coll- ver; 1852-54, Willinin Snyder; 1855-57, James Sinter; 1858-60, A. A. Richarda; 1861-63, Samuel Shotwell; 1864, Willinm Snyder; 1865-66, James Sinter ; 1867-74, John T. Kays; 1875-76, William Lantz; 1877, George Backster; 1878-79, William Lantz; 1880, Sid- ney Smith.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1845, Charles Mackerley, Noah Moore ; 1860, William Howell, William A. Bunting; 1865-80, William Howell, Willinm M. Pollison,

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

1845, Franklin Smith, E. D. Warbasse, Moses W. Northrup ; 1846, Frank- lin Smith, Jesse Burgess, Moses W. Northrup.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1847-48, Franklin Smith ; 1849-51, Jesse Burgess; 1852, O. P. Armstrong ; 1853-54, Thomas Kays; 1856-56, John M. Kalts; 1857-59, L. D. MII- Ier; 1860-66, Jool Campbell.

VI .- SCHOOLS.

Tradition throws but little light upon the subject of the early educational interests of the township, though

* Sce chapter on the " Medical Profession of Sussex County," unte, for sketches of most of the above physicians.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 92

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