History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 93

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 93
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 93

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

375

LAFAYETTE.

it is reasonable to presume that the establishment of schools was contemporaneous with its first settlement.

The earliest school building remembered was built at the point known as Statesville, on the southeast corner of the cross-roads. It was a small frame build- ing and was later converted into a cooper-shop, a frame house having been substituted, which was lo- cated a few rods below. This was in turn converted into a dwelling and superseded by a substantial edi- fice of brick. The district was at a subsequent period «livided, and a stone building erected on ground adja- cent to the present Methodist church. This is also now used as a residence. During the carly days of the township's existence no church edifices bad been erected, and the school-house was devoted to purposes of worship and freely used by all denominations. In localities remote from churches this custom is still followed.

The township is now divided into three districts, designated, respectively, the Harmony Vale, Lafay- ette, and Lower Lafayette Districts. The former contains a frame, and the latter each a brick, build- ing. David Dennis presides over the former school, while Mrs. C. M. Blanchard is located at the village, and P. 1. Crispell at Lower Lafayette.

Aside from the fund raised by taxation in the town- ship for educational purposes, the following amounts are credited to Lafayette : From the State appropria- tion, $70.05; from the surplus revenue fund, $71.94; from the two-mill tax, $758.01.

VIt .- CHURCHES.

LAFAYETTE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The records of the Baptist Church are devoted en- tirely to a chronicle of the spiritual condition of the church, and but little can be learned from them of its temporal progress.

On May 19, 1830, a council composed of the follow- ing delegates was appointed for the purpose of con- stituting a church in the township of Newton (now Lafayette) : From Wantage, Leonard Fletcher, Hum- phrey Martin, Thomas Teasdale, Sr., Reuben F. Ran- dolph, and Nathaniel Martin ; from Warwick, John C. Murphy, Jeremiah Morehouse ; from Kingwood, David Bateman ; from Amwell, Charles Bartolett, William Merrill ; from Lower Dublin, Wilson Crane, Zelotus Grenell, - Matthews. The church was regularly constituted by the council under the name of "The First Baptist Church of Newton, New Jersey."

At a subsequent meeting Moses Northrop was chosen deacon, and Jacob B. Maxwell church clerk. During 1831, through the assiduous efforts of Rev. John Teasdale, who had been conducting religious services in the vicinity, a subscription was raised having for its object the erection of a church edifice, which was completed and dedicated the same year.

Rev. John Teasdale became the first settled pastor, and under his ministry the church enjoyed a season

of great prosperity. Ile later removed to the Newton Baptist Church, and subsequent events seriously im- peded the advancement of the organization.

The church on its formation had joined the War- wick organization, but by vote at a meeting held March 9, 1833, it was determined to withdraw from that body and form an independent association, of which other churches were invited to become mem- bers.

For an interval of some years, little interest was manifested in the growth of the Lafayette Baptist Church, and this lack of interest caused, for a brief period, a suspension of services. At a later date more zeal was manifested among its membership, and a pastor was employed, under whose regular ministra- tions accessions to its list oceurred, and a renewal of its former prosperity seemed apparent.

The church has recently been refitted and embel- lished at a cost of $600, and, though at present without a settled pastor, is more prosperous than formerly.

Richard Vaughan is the acting clerk of the church. The deacons are Joseph V. Vought, Chauncey .1. Kinney, David Kinney.

LAFAYETTE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The earliest efforts to organize a church under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal denomination in Lafayette were made Dec. 9, 1837, when a meeting was held at the house of Isaac Van Gelder for the election of trustees. On this occasion the following officers were chosen : Samuel Ingersoll, Isaac Van Gelder, Mahlon B. States, James Peters, Joseph Northrop, Jr.

No further progress was made until 1840, when a tract of land was purchased of Joseph Northrop, Jr., and wife, embracing .75 of an aere.

At a meeting held on Feb. 6, 1841, James Peters, James C. Ilagaman, and Joseph Northrop were chosen a building committee, and labor upon the new edifice was begun soon after. On its completion the building was dedicated with impressive ceremonies, the total cost having been less than $1600. The congregation having increased in numbers and influence, it was found necessary, in 1859, to improve and enlarge the edifice, which was at a later date again renovated and beautified.

The earliest pastor, Rev. Warren C. Nelson, began his labors in 1843. Since that period the following clergymen have in succession ministered to the people : Revs. W. W. Wiggins, - Post, Gerret Van Horne, - Christine, - Cross, - Bardsley, Thomas Rawlings, T. S. Dedrick, 11. I. Hoyter, W. C. Nelson, W. E. Blakeslee, S. N. Bebout, J. F. Dodd, G. W. Horton, W. W. Voorhees, W. HI. Haggerty, and the present pastor, Rev. R. W. Copeland.

The officers of the church are: Class-Leaders, W. M. Ackerson and Mrs. E. A. Smith ; Exhorters, Wm. N. Ackerson, P. L. Crispell ; Trustees, Peter Acker-

376

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

son, Win. N. Ackerson, James W. Hagaman, Gerret Van Blarcom, Ernest Huston; Stewards, Jacob Shuster, William N. Ackerson, Peter Ackerson, Ernest Huston, William N. Pollison, Edward May- bee, Gilbert Ackerson, Benjamin S. Dormida.

The valuation of church property, including a sub- stantially-built parsonage, is $6000.

A Sunday-school is maintained, with 95 scholars in attendance, of which P. L. Crispell is the efficient superintendent. An additional Sabbath-school is established at Harmony Vale, with N. E. Benjamin as superintendent.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

An effort was made as early as 1842 to establish a church at Lafayette, but the feebleness of the little flock who desired thus to form themselves into an or- ganization rendered action at that time inexpedient. During 1856 the church was formed, however, with a membership of 13, embracing the following individ- nals: John D. Ackerson and Charity Ackerson, his wife ; George Sharp and Elizabeth Sharp, his wife ; Catharine Ackerson and Mary Richards, who were received from the Frankford Church ; while Daniel Gunderman, Abigail Demorest, Martha Demorest, Tallmage Woodruff, and Phebe Woodruff, his wife, Martha Simmons, and Agnes Ackerson were received from the church of North Hardyston.

A house of worship was erected, and dedicated May 12, 1857, at 11 A.M., the services having been con- ducted by a committee of the Presbytery of Rocka- way, consisting of the following ministers: Revs. B. C. Megie, S. Cook, Joel Campbell, Nathan Leighton, and Livingston Willard. The official organization was effected Aug. 22, 1857, and at the same date John D. Ackerson was ordained an elder of the church.

Rev. Joel Campbell officiated as the first pastor, and remained until death ended his labors, in May, 1872. At a special meeting of the Presbytery of New- ton held in May, 1872, Rev. Jethro B. Woodward was ordained and installed, and still continues his minis- trations.

The present elders are Sylvester Slater and Sidney Smith, the former of whom is also the clerk of the session.

VIII .- BURIAL-PLACES.

There is but one burial-place located within the limits of the township. Many residents have for years buried their dead in a cemetery located in Sparta, which, from its location, has proved more convenient. It has thus become identified with the old families of Lafayette, and is the centre around which many ten- der memories cluster.

The burial-ground in use in the township is located on a rise of ground east of the village, and was used a century since, if tradition be correct, as a potter's field. It was later controlled by a society, who placed it under the direction of a board of trustees, and in- terments were made irrespective of sectarian prefer-

ences. About 1820 the lady who was owner of the land which embraced this spot gave a deed of this and additional ground to the inhabitants of the town- ship, to be forever used as a burial-place. It was much neglected for a term of years, but at a later period funds were raised, and under the direction of the trustees a substantial stone wall was built around the ground. A tract of land was also purchased, which increased its dimensions, and more care has since been bestowed upon its adornment.

Many of the memorial-stones bear the names of the oldest families of the township. There are unques- tionably graves unadorned with headstones whose mute history, if revealed, would recall many events of the last century. The oldest inscription is that upon the tablet of Mrs. Margaret, wife of David De- morest, who died March 29, 1812, aged forty-seven. Among others of earliest date are the following :

"Sacred to the memory of David Demorest, who died October 28th, 1825, aged sixty-four years, three months, and twelve days."

"In memory of Katherine Demorest, danghter of David and Katherine Demorest, who died November 30th, 1825, aged thirty-four years, three months, and seven days."

"In memory of Maria, wife of Mahlon B. States, and daughter of Paul aud Maria Ackerson, who died April 15th, 1831, aged twenty-three years, eight months, and six days."

"In memory of Peter Demorest, who died August 29th, 1825, aged thirty-five years and six days."

"Sacred to the memory of Henry Demorest, who departed this life August 3Ist, 1836, aged thirty-four years, eight days.

"Farewell, my friends! I must be gone: I have no home or stay with you. The Lord doth call, and I must go, And leave you in the world below."

IX .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. LAFAYETTE VILLAGE.

Henry Bale was the first settler in this hamlet, and the very full history of himself and his descendants under the title of "Early Settlements" makes a re- capitulation of facts under this head unnecessary.

LOWER LAFAYETTE.

The oldest remaining landmark in that portion of the township designated as Lower Lafayette is the old mill now known as Messrs. Collver & Huston's foundry. Tradition accredits this building with an existence of at least one hundred years, and, althoughi no definite information with reference to its origin is accessible, the authenticity of this statement has never been disputed. It passed, early in the present century, into the hands of Joel Benjamin, Joseph Predmore, and Gilbert Ingersoll, and was by them conveyed in 1819 to Thomas Kays. He conducted the business, and also filled the office of justice of the peace, until his death, in 1829. The premises, after passing through several hands, were purchased in 1843 by George W. Collver and Henry B. Kays, a son of Thomas, above mentioned. They erected the present grist-mill in 1843 and 1844, and also a saw- and planing-mill and many tenant - houses. A very extended milling, foundry, and mercantile business was conducted by them until 1853, when Mr. Collver purchased the

William Snyder

JOSEPH SNYDER came from Germany more than one hundred yenrs ngu and settled in New Jersey. Ilo reared a family of ten chillron,-Jacob, Elizabeth, John, Anne, Catharine, Henry, Margarot, William, Eve, and Mary. Of these children, Wil- liam, the father of our subject, was born March 6, 1780. and marriod Sarah Putman, July 5, 1801. She was born Nov. 12, 1779, and died July 1, 1849; he died Sept. 10, 1853. Their children wero Margaret; Juhn, who married Sarah Warbasse ; Rachel ; Effa, who married Jacob Hilos; Catharine, who mar- ried Daniel C. Adams, of Warren Co., N. J .; Sarah, who mar- ried Robert M. Ogden; Mary ; William ; and Elizabeth, who married llenry C. Northrup.

William Snydor the elder-or "Capt. Snyder," as he was familiarly known-was a representativo farmer, a Democrat in politics, and took a deep interest in and was a liberal contrib- ntor tu churches and charitable objects.

William Snyder, the subject of this sketch, was born in La- fuyetto township, Oct. 1, 1817. He remained on the farm at home until he renched his majority, and for a few years after- wards he worked his father's farm on shares. On tho Ist of January, 1842, he married Mary J., daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tuttle) Kays, of Hardyston, Sussex Co., N. J. ; sho was born May 1, 1821. They have had six children, five of whum are living,-viz., Samuel, who served three years in the Union army in the Inte Rebellion; Raymond, who married Kate Roof, daughter of Christopher Roof; John; Laura; and William. Laura is tho wife of Henry Huston, of Newton.

After his marriage Mr. Snyder purchased the farm where Richard Vaughan now lives and started in the agricultural busi- ness for himself. To this farm ho made additions until ho owned sumo two hundred acres of land. After living there fourteen years ho sold that property and bought the farm where his son Raymond nuw resides (1881), to which he removed in the spring of 1856. lle lived on this place until the spring of Is6s, when ho removed to the village of Infayette, having purchased and thoroughly rebuilt the fine residence where his widow now lives. While at Infayette he was engaged for three years in tho milling business with Mr. O. P. Armstrong. Ho resided in the villago until his death, which occurred Oct. 11, 1877.

Mr. Snyder was a thoroughgoing farmer and careful business man, He was possessed of clear judgment and practical ideas, and may safely be classed among the most active ond progres- sive farmers of his dny. Thoroughly honest and exnet, he was prompt in bis business engagements, and was n man of whom it was frequently said that his word was as good as bis hond.

In politics he was a Democrat until Henry Clay ran for Pres- ident, and afterwards voted with the Whigs until tho formation of the Republican party, which be at onco joined and warmly sopported during the rest of his life. Ho served as freebulder and held other minor offices in his township, although his party was largely in the minority. Ho was a stockholder in and a director of the Merchants' National Bank of Newton. Ile wns not a member of any church, but an attendant and supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A man of strong force of character nod correct habits, he was a pronounced advocate of temperance, and at his death a professor of Christianity.

Mrs. Snyder's paternal ancestor, whose name was Kays, como from Edinburgh, Scotland, and settled in Philadelphia. Ilo had two sons, Jubn and David. The former-her grandfather -was born March 9, 1739, and died July 13, 1829; his wife, Sarah Hull, daughter of Benjamin Hull, was born Oct. 21, 1754, and died Sept. 20. 1824. He served in the Revolutionary war as one of Gen. Washington's body-guord. Their childron wero Mary, John, Lettie, David, William, James, Thomas, Benjamin H., Martin R., Samuel, and Martha.

Of these children, Sammuel Kays, the father of Mrs. Snyder, was born Jone 2, 1791, and on Sept. 12, 1816, married Eliza- beth Tuttle, who was born June 11, 1797, and is living, in 1880, in fair health and full meotal vigor, with her daughter, Mrs. Snyder, at Infuyetto ; she has for many years drawn n pensiun for services rendered by her husband in the war of 1812.

Samuel Kays had six children,-Martin, who lives in Iowa ; William T., who served in the late Rebellion as enptnin nad was distinguished for gallant services, now n Inwyer in Mis- sonri; Mary J., who married William Snyder; Sarah A., who married Paniel Dolan ; Martha; and John. All are living except the last two, and the other four reside in different States.

Arina Pavlafa

Tur progenitor of the Warbasse family in Sussex County was Peter Warbasso, who was born Mny 10, 1722, in Denmark, was confirmed by n Lutheran minister, afterwards united with the Moravians, and with n company of that religious seet, about 1753, emigrated to America and settled in Bethlehem, on the Lohigh, in Pennsylvania. His wife was Anna Mary Sehemolin, also n native of Denmark, who boro him two sons, Peter and Joseph, both of whom settled in Newton, N. J. Petor joined the army about 1791, and was last heard of in Virginia. Joseph carried on blacksmithing in Newton for some time, and subsequently worked at his trade on his farm, which ho parchased of John Jay, in the township of Lafay- otto, in 1811. This farmu has remained in the family since, and is in 1880 the property of Samoel Warbasso.

Joseph Warbasso married Phobe Hull, who bore him the fol- lowing children : John, Joseph, Sally (who became the wife of John Snyder), Phebo (who beenmo the wife of Jonathan Cotton), James R., Edward, nud Mary Ann. He died on his homestead, in Lnfnyetto.

Jaures R., son of Joseph, born Sept. 2, 1797, married, July 3, 1823, Anna Tattle, who boro him children as follows : Ruth, wife of Jonathan Dusenberry ; Elizabeth, wife of Isaac h. Nowainn, of Illinois; Elias II .; Joseph, a merchant at New- ton, N. J .; Vincent ; David It .; and Samuel, who occupies the old homestend, in Lafayette.

Mrs. Annn Tuttle Warbasso was born in the township of Minisink, Orange Co., N. Y., Sept. 4, 1803. Hor father, Wil- liam Tuttle, is believed to bo one of the descendants of the William Tuttlo who came to this country from England in the year 1635 and settled in New Haven, Conn. Her mother was Anna Terry, daughter of Urinh Terry, of Kingston, N. Y. Of this branch of the family it is known that an early progen- itor was driven from Franco in the latter part of the sixteenth contury for his ndhoroneo to the cause of tho Huguenots or

French Protestants, and after a temporary sojourn in England came to this country.

The parents of our subject moved to the township of Wan- tage, in this county, when she was but a child ; in that place she received such education as was afforded by the common schools of the time. ller husband was a farmer by occupation, and during the first sixteen years of his married life rosided in Sussex County. He then purchased a farm in what is known as the Quaker Settlement, in Warren County, intending to make that place his home during life. And so it proved, for after six years' residence there he was taken sick, and after a short illness died, on Sept. 12, 1844, leaving no picture of him- solf. Notwithstanding he was a man of more than average mentol nbility, ho never joined in the general seramble for place and power, but, instead, found his highest enjoyment in his home and its surroundings, and in honestly performing the every-day duties of life as he understood them. Faithful to family, to friends, country, and to humanity,-such a man was James R. Warbasso.

Mrs. Warbasso was now left with a family of seven children, the youngest being but three years of age, and, having been accustomed to rely with entire confidence on the judgment of her husband in regard to the management of the farm, she was unschooled in the new daties she was compelled to assume. But she proved equal to her task, for under her management the remaining indebtedness upon the farm was paid, a small ad- joining farm was bought and paid for, and the children given a practical business education. In 1853, when, in consequence of the death of her father-in-law, Joseph Warbasso, " Eden Farm" was sold, she became the purchaser, and movel there in April of that year. This was her home until the titno of hor death, which occurred Oct. 17. 1865. Like her husband, sho lived for nso and not for show, and had the respect and esteem of all good people wherever she was known.

Fuerte Simmons

HIs paternal grandfather Philip came from Ger- many and settled near Marksboro', Warren Co., N. J. He reared a family of four sons,-Adam, Jacob, Philip, and John,-who grew to manhood and reared families.

Adam, father of our subject, was born in 1780, and about 1811 married Mary Shuster and removed to what is now Lafayette, Sussex Co., N. J., where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, to which he made additional purchases, until he owned some four hundred and twenty aeres at the time of his death. He was a farmer through life. He was a man of strong force of character, and was known as a man of good judgment and sterling princi- ples. He died in 1867. His children were Eliza- beth, became the wife of William M. Coxe, of Hamp- ton ; Philip, deceased ; John, deceased ; Margaret, wife of Andrew F. Vass, of Newark, N. J .; Jacob ; and Isaac. The mother of these children died in 1871, aged eighty-five years. She was a devoted Christian woman, and was a member of the Lutheran Church near Stillwater.

Jacob, son of Adam Simmons, was born in the town of Lafayette, Jan. 8, 1825. Until twenty-four years of age he remained at home, at which time (1849) he married Margaret, daughter of Elias and

Sarah (Givens) Potter, of Sparta; she was born Sept. 16, 1827. The children born of this union are Wesley, Dec. 26, 1849, died Sept. 11, 1851; Luey A., April 12, 1851; Elias P., Nov. 24. 1853; Edwin J., Dec. 11, 1863. Lucy A. Simmons was united in marriage to Dr. John C. Strader, of Lafayette.

Mr. Simmons' life has been spent as a farmer, and he may be safely classed among the representative agriculturists of Sussex County, and all the appoint- ments about his place show thrift and thoroughness. He has been honored by his fellow-townsmen, as a member of the Democratic party, with the office of commissioner of appeals, and in 1879 he was elected freeholder of the township of Lafayette, and re- elected to the same office in 1880. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he is a pro- moter of church interests, and is one of the trustees of the Presbyterian Church at Lafayette. His wife is a member of that church.

Mrs. Simmons' father died July, 1865, aged sixty- five years. His life was spent .as a carpenter and joiner and farmer. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church, and in polities a Demoerat. Her mother died about 1860, aged fifty-nine years, and was also a member of the same church.

George Mallory

Thx family of Collver frem whom our subject is descended is tracedl back in line of regular descent to John Collver, who lived in England and had three sons,-John, Edward, and Joseph. John inherited the estato in England : Joseph went to Ireland, where he settled and reared a family ; Edward, with bis two sons, came to America and settled at New London, Conn. One son was killed by the Indians; the other son, John, had n sen John, who married Sarah Winthrop, a granddaughter of Gov- ernor Winthrop, and came with his family and located on Schooley's Mountain, in Morris County, The farm upon which they settled reminined the homestead of the family for many generations. Ile died in 1760, aged ninety ; his wife died in 1766, aged eighty-three. Both were interred in the private burying-ground near Pleasant Grove church.

The descent of this family is traced still further to Thomas, son of John, who purchased two hundred acres of land on Schooloy's Mountain in 1719, and whoso son Simon, grandfather of eur subject, was boro April 7, 1745; married Jemima Tuttle, who was born June 30, 1752, and diod Nov. 2, 1843. Simon Cellver was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died July 11, 1828,

David J., son of Simon Collver, boro Jan. 16, 1787, on the old homestead, married, April 8, 1809, Margaret, daughter of Jacob Myers. She was born May 14, 1792, and died Jan. 6, 1866; he died Dec. 13, 1878. Their children wero George W., Simion Bar Jonas, Jacob Myers, Amos, Edward, John Miller, Clarissa, Polly, V. Il., Jemima, Nathan, Elizabeth Seeple, l'atharine, and Andrew Jackson. A nophew of Thomas Collver was Rov. Jabez Collvor, who was the second pastor of the only Congregational Church ever organized in Sussex County, In 1793, at the solicitation of Governor Simcoe, he went to Canada, and settled in Norfolk County upon a tract of one thousand acres of Inad given him by the Governor, There he organized a church, and continued preaching for twenty-tivo years. Ho diod in 1818, at an advanced ago, David J, Collver removed from Schooley's Mountain io 1811 and settled in Lafayette. During the Inte war he had three sons and fourteen grandsons in the Union army. Once n Jackson Domocrat, he afterwards became and romainod a Republican ; was patriotic. participating in the centennial celebration nt Newton in 1876, bearing the cnp of Liberty and singing the American ode, "The Liberty Treo,"-a song over n hundred years old. On his ninetieth birthday hiv compased the song. "The Republican Victory," soon afterwards published in the Register. His reminiscences of Hackettstown, published in the Hackettstown Gazette about

1875, nre interesting and authentic. Ile was formerly a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, and over sixty years ago organized the first Fundny-school in Northern New Jersey, on Schooley's Mountain, in ISI8.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 93

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