History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 99

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 99
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 99

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).

THE UNION CHURCH BURIAL.PLACE.

An uninclosed burial-ground surrounded the old " Union church" at Branchville; as nearly as can be determined, it was first used about 1800. Over the graves originally stood memorial-stones, most of which have yielded to the ravages of time or been ruthlessly destroyed by sacrilegious hands. It is probable that

the individuals who gave the site for the church also bestowed the ground for burial purposes. The fol- lowing epitaphs are the only ones that remained un- impaired :

" In memory of Ilunnah, wife af JJub Cosad, who died March 2nd, 1815, In the eighty-second year of her age.

" Inwok un me, and you may see, As I am now so you sonst be."

" In memory of Hannah, wife of John Elflott, who died September 26th, 1813, aged thirty-five years, seven months, and sixteon days. A good wife, a kind mother, and obedient child."

" Sacred to the memory of Mr. John Elllott, who departed this Hfe No- vember 14th, 1833, aged fifty-seven years, three months, and twenty-slx days."

BRANCHVILLE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.

This association was organized under an act of the State Legislature passed March 14, 1851, and the pro- ceedings of the meeting held for the purpose of incor- poration were officially recorded Jan. 30, 1868.

At this meeting it was determined that a board of nine trustees should be elected, and the following gentlemen were chosen :

First Class,-Squire Dalrymple, Israel McDanolds, Martin R. Everitt, Second Clim,-Nathan S. Roo, Virgil HI. Crisman, John J. Coss. Third Class,-William McDanolds, J. I .. Everitt, S. Il. Stivers,

Judge William MeDanolds was chosen president of the association, and John L. Everitt secretary and treasurer.

A committee was appointed to make an examination of grounds adjacent to Branchville with reference to the selection of an advantageous site for the cemetery. Their report recommended the purchase of land on the farm of Nathaniel Roc, and lying near what are known as the "Calamus Rocks." With a view to the picturesque location of the latter point, they also recommended that a portion of it be included in the purchase.

On Oct. 17, 1868, the business details with Mr. Roe were consummated, and a deed was given by him for 14 acres, which included a tract of 3 acres embracing the " Calamus Rocks." The ground thus secured was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, Dec. 17, 1868. A set of by-laws was then adopted by the association, which were printed and generally distributed. An executive committee was also appointed, consisting of the president, Squire Dalrymple, and Martin R. Ever- itt. The price fixed by the trustees for lots was ten and fifteen cents per square foot, to be governed by location, and this was to be modified on the applica- tion of poor persons who desired ground within the limits of the cemetery.

A neat structure has been erected at the entrance for the accommodation of visitors and the convenience of the sexton, and a ragged hedge forms a picturesque inclosure around the grounds.

There are in addition two private burial-places in the township; they have for years been maintained by a few of its older families, and are still used by the later generations of these families.

398

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

IX .- VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. BRANCHVILLE.

Very few facts regarding the early settlement of the village of Branchville have been preserved. It is conceded, however, that the pioneers to this spot were of German nationality, and that William Bea- mer, as early as 1690, was the first to discover the superior advantages the locality afforded. Very little is known of Mr. Beamer.

Mr. Beamer, on his death, was buried upon land adjacent to the village of Branchville, where, after a peaceful slumber of a century and a half, his bones were recently exhumed. With him came from his native land a son John, who had a family of five sons. The eldest, William Beamer, Sr., was born July 10, 1769, and was married, June 20, 1793, to Mary Kan- auf. They had six children,-Margaret, John W., Elizabeth, William, Jacob, and Catherine. Of this family of children the only survivor in the township is Catherine, now Mrs. Peter Williams. William Beamer, her brother, resides in Ohio. Two sons of John W. Beamer-David C. and Charles L .- still reside in the township.

No indication of the future progress of Branchiville was apparent during the lifetime of the elder Beamer. In 1793 the property was acquired by James Hagerty, whose presence gave an impulse to its later growth. The following facts regarding the Hagerty family are gleaned from a descendant now residing in the town- ship.

The progenitor of the branch of the family identi- fied with Frankford was Patrick Hagerty, who emi- grated from Ireland in 1750 and located at the point known as Papakating. With him came his brother Hugh, who found a congenial field of labor at Au- gusta, where he settled. To the former were born two sons,-Patrick and James,-the first of whom died in New York, while James removed during the Revo- lutionary war to Goshen, N. Y., where he embarked in mercantile ventures. His steps were later directed to New Jersey, and, having removed to Branchville, he purchased, in 1793, as above stated, 1000 acres of the land originally acquired by William Beamer.

Mr. Hagerty was a man of enterprise and business capacity, and at once actively engaged in business ventures. He built a grist-mill, a rye-distillery, and a fulling-mill, all of which he successfully conducted.

Mr. Hagerty retained the property during his life- time, and died, as nearly as can be determined, in 1812, having by his capital and energy already made the spot on which he settled a considerable business centre. Of his children, one son, Uzal C., and four daugliters survived. The son inherited the Branch- ville property, which also embraced several adjoining farms. Uzal C. Hagerty having been elected sheriff of Sussex County, removed to Newton during his offi- cial term, and there died. Each of the daughters of James Hagerty was comfortably established upon a farm inherited from her father. They all married in

Branchville, but the only descendants of this vener- able gentleman now living in the township are Mrs. John Bray, the daughter of Mary (Mrs. Jacob L. Struble), and a brother, Canfield Struble.

Hugh Hagerty, the brother of James, before men- tioned as having settled at Augusta, where he pur- chased a farm, left five sons and two daughters. Of these children, John only remained in the township and settled at Papakating. The homestead was di- vided, and ultimately sold by the heirs to Col. John Gustin.

The direct descendants of Hugh Hagerty now in the township are James R., the son of James S. Hag- erty, and John Bray, son of Mary, who married Abram Bray.

Uzal C. Hagerty retained the ownership of the Branchville property for a series of years, finally dis- posing of the land to Judge John Bell, Samuel Price, and Joseph Stoll. With their advent began an era of prosperity for the hamlet, and its early growth may be spoken of as identical with this period. The property was by these gentlemen divided into lots and tracts, and settlers, attracted by the impulse thus given to the development of the locality, purchased and built houses for themselves.

Various names were given to the embryo village, as pleased the individual fancy of the inhabitants. About 1821, Mr. Samuel Bishop, the aspiring peda- gogue of the district, christened it by its present ap- pellation,-Branchville. What first attracted him to this name is not related by the older settlers. That it possessed for him peculiar charms is demonstrated by the fact that on emigrating later to the genial climate of the South, Mr. Bishop bestowed the same name upon a little hamlet in South Carolina, which has since outstripped its forerunner in the rapidity of its growth.

A hotel was soon opened by John Johnson, Esq., more familiarly known as " Farmer Johnson," one of the pioneer hosts of the township; and mercantile enterprise found an exponent in Dr. John Beach, who came to the place about 1800, having married a daugh- ter of James Hagerty. He established himself in the practice of his profession on his arrival, but, not having found the field a lucrative one, repaired to Hacketts- town. Having there met with reverses through dis- asters by fire, he returned again to Branchville and opened a general store, Mr. Hagerty having erceted a building for his use. Mrs. Beach was the agile clerk of the establishment, and assisted him greatly in business. The doctor later built a forge, located opposite the present hotel of George J. Bowman, and also a grist-mill, near the site of the present residence of William H. Bell. The store first occupied by Dr. Beach was long since converted into a dwelling.

The advantages of Branchville as a business centre were apparent to the settlers, who were not slow to take advantage of them. Still, little advancement was made, and the village awaited the impulse that

V.H.Grisman

CHARLES CRISMAN, born in Germany, Sept. 9, 1749, emigrated to America and settled in Warren County about the year 1770. He resided in the township of Knowlton, was a blacksmith, and resided on the property now owned by his grandson, Mor- ris Crisman, son of Isaac. His wife, Mary Kimball, horn in Germany in 1755, whom he married Feb. 17, 1779, died Dec. 24, 1823; he died July 30, 1817. They had five children, -; Isaae, Jonas, Jacob, Margaret II. (wife of William IIankerson, an early merchant of Blairstown), and Ann.

Of these children, Jacob, father of our subject, born Aug. 25, 1788, married Margaret, daughter of Gen. Hill, of Knowlton. She was born May 27, 1789, and died March 31, 1860. Their children were John II .; Charles L., of San Francisco, Cal. ; Mary Anne, wife of Joseph Clark, of Elizabeth, N. J .; Gideon L., served in the late Rebellion, was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, and there buried; Margaret II. (twin of Gideon L.), wife of ex-Sheriff Samuel H. Lauterman, of Oxford; Virgil H .; and Jonas, of Paulina, Warren Co.

Jacob Crisman was a earpenter and millwright, and followed this business during the latter part of his life. He inherited a part of the homestead; afterwards resided at Markshoro', War- ren Co., and at Elizabeth, N. J. He was killed at Paulina by the bursting of a cannon while celebrating the election of Gen. Harrison, Dee. 12, 1840. A piece of the cannon was plowed up in 1880 by Theodore Cornell, of that place, and is now in possession of the subject of this sketch.

Virgil II. Crisman, son of Jacob, was born July 17, 1828, and married, Nov. 13, 1852, Sarah E., daughter of Tunis and Anna Tunison, of Stillwator; she was horn May 3, 1830. Their ehil- dren are Anna M. (wife of Charles F. Struhle, a merchant at Newton), Charles II., Ellen G., Martha I., Emma E., George T., Ormento, and Isabella.

During his boyhood Mr. Crisman received only a common- school education, and at the age of fourteen years hegan serving an apprenticeship in learning the milling business with Wil- liam Drake, of Blairstown. Ho had obtained the rudiments of the trade of n millwright from his father, and quite naturally learned this business. Ilere he continued for three years, and

for six years following he ran the Shaver mill at Stillwater on shares. He had very little pecuniary assistance from any sonree in starting out in life, but by this time, by economy and strict attention to business, he had saved enough for a start. In the spring of 1855 he eame to Branchville, Frankford town- ship, and purchased the flouring-mill of the MeDanolds estate, consisting of three run of stone. This he carried on until 1868, when he erected his present mill, of four run of stono and large accommodations for storing grain, near the site of the other, which he continues to carry on. In 1876 he pur- chased a second grist-mill at Branchville, of William Sly and Robert H. Beatty, which he has since run, and in 188I controls the milling interest at that place. His mills are supplied with water by the outlet of Culver's Lake, a part of which he pur- chased when he first settled at Branchville; the remainder, since. This outlet is about one and a half miles from the vil- lago, and a second lake, nine feet above the other, from which the water flows into the first, is situated about three and a half miles from the village of Branchville. It is affirmed that at a little cost this water-power could he made to furnish equal to sixty horse-power for ten hours a day, through a severe drought, and would be one of the finest water-powers to be found any- where in the State.

On Feb. 5, 1881, Mr. Crisman, with others, purehased an interest in Culver's Lake. Ilis life-long business has been milling, and his familiarity with the business and thoroughness in manufacturing flour have made his name familiarly associ- ated with the best quality of flour, and especially buckwheat flour.

Mr. Crisman is a man of great energy and practical ideas, and whatever he undertakes or coneeives to be right ho carries forward to a successful completion. In matters of a local nature he is ever ready to do his part, and promptly aids all worthy objects. Politically he is a Republican, but has sought moro the quiet of business pursuits than the bickerings of political strife. IIe is a dircetor in the Sussex National Bank, at New- ton, and ranks among the sound financial business men of Sussex County.

399

FRANKFORD.

should quicken into activity and life the dormant possibilities of the place. This came at length in the Sussex Railroad, which was projected, and by the aid of its inhabitants completed. This brought new capital to the place, and greatly increased its oppor- tunities for business enterprise.

Improvements followed rapidly, and extensive tracts were devoted to purposes of buikling. Streets were opened in various directions, and the place speedily doubled its area, the advance of a few years far eclips- ing the growth of the previous half-century. As early as 1844 it contained three tlouring-mills, two saw-mills, one cloth-dyeing and dressing establish- ment, one carriage-factory, two cabinet-making estab- lishments, one harness-shop, one cooper, two weavers, two blacksmiths, two taverns, an academy, a church, and thirty-two dwelling-houses.

The population at this time numbered 200; in 1871 it exceeded 600, and was still increasing. The fol- lowing extract from one of the leading county papers indicates the advance made previous to the year above mentioned :

" Broad Street, now the longest and finest in the place, beginning at the business centre of the old town, crossing the railroad near the depot, and extending to the residence of Nathaniel Roe, Esq,, has been opened since the projection of the railroad, and every building thereon-twenty in number, including three store-houses and one hotel-erected since that time. On this street Capt. N. K. Bray has in course of erection a frame dwelling-house, and will soon begin another, while Mr. Alexander Hongh hos In progress a large building lutended is a sash-and-blind futury.

" Madison Street, running northwest from Dunning's store, on the rond leuling towords Culver's Lake, has been improved by the remodeling and enlarging of several dwellings and the orection of a blacksmith- und wheelwright-shop.

" Wantage Avenne, together with the new streets, has been greatly improved, forty now buildings having been erected since the commence- ment of the Sussex Railrond extension to Branchville. All these struc- turewe are substantially huilt, and in the latest style of architecture."

The present condition of Branchville, as contrasted with the period above described, does not indicate a marked advance. Like many places, which from some special circumstance have received a sudden impulse, a reaction followed, and for the past quarter of a cen- tury there has been no advent of capitalists to the place, and consequently no development of its com- mercial resources. The population has remained the same, fluctuating but little, and the general business of the village shows no increase, unless it be in its more extended milling interests. Its fine water-power remains yet to be fully developed. With the ample resources supplied from the two beautiful lakes of the township, the capacity of this power cannot easily be estimated, and only the presence of capital is needed to make Branchville one of the most flourishing in- dustrial centres of the State.

AUGUSTA.

The little hamlet of Augusta, located upon the east branch of the Paulinskill, was once the centre of commercial interest for the township. The earliest settler to develop its advantages was HIngh Hagerty, who came about 1750and located on land, which he cul-

tivated, and upon which he resided until his death. It was later sold by the heirs to Col. John Gustin, who also purchased the property formerly owned by John Stoll. The Gustin family conducted extensive busi- ness interests at this point, the colonel having been a man of intelligence and influence. In politics he was the autocrat of the neighborhood, and exercised an imperious sway over his followers.

A post-office was carly established here, with the colonel as postmaster, and a tavern offered hospitality to travelers very soon after mercantile enterprise dawned upon the hamlet, the Gustin family being the popular landlords. It was later purebased by Abram Bray, who rendered it famous as a drovers' resort.

In 1812, Obadiah Pellet, together with a partner, opened a store. Benjamin Curry at a later date em- barked in trade, and was followed by Joseph MI. Brown and William Crow. John Bray in 1835 purchased the interest of the latter, and became proprietor.

A fulling-mill was successfully managed during the career of Col. Gustin, and an ashery is also remem- bered by early residents. No vestige of former enter- prise is now scen in the hamlet. The last sanguine exponent of commercial enterprise long since closed his doors, and a post-office, with William M. Cramer as postmaster, is the only reminiscence of its early importance.

PAPAKATING.

The name may with more propriety be applied to a district on the east line of the township. It embraces a portion of the most beautiful valley in Frankford, and was one of the earliest to be improved. A postal station has been established here, with Stephen .J. Pellet as postmaster.

WYKERTOWN.

This is the designation of a locality in the township settled by the Wyker family. It is situated on the Papakating stream, and was an early postal station, with Philip Wyker as the postmaster.

X .- PRESENT MANUFACTURING. CRISMAN'S FLOURING-MILLS.

The oldest of these mills was built in 1845, at Branchville, by John Bell, and derives its power from the stream generally known as the outlet of Culver's Lake. He conducted it successfully until his death, when the property came into possession of his son, Wil- liam H. Bell, from whom it passed into the hands ofser- eral parties in succession, and was finally purchased, in 1876, by the present owner. It was built with three run of stone, and has a capacity of 20,000 bush- els per year.

Mr. Crisman, in 1868, built a larger mill on the same stream; it is located about 1400 feet below the former one, and is equipped with four run of stone. It has a capacity of 50,000 bushels per year.

The grain consumed by these mills is principally the product of Sussex County lands, and the market for the flour is found in Newark, Morristown, Now

400

SUSSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

York, and the West. It is shipped mainly in sacks, the demand being greater thus than in larger pack- ages.

These mills have established a reputation for the excellence of the buckwheat flour they produce, the West affording a considerable market.

CHAMBERLAIN'S MILLS.

The manufacturing interest of Mr. Chamberlain embraces a flouring-mill, a saw-mill, and a distillery, each of which, when run to its utmost capacity, does a considerable business. The former has three run of stone and supplies a local trade. The distillery manufactures apple brandy, for which the demand is unlimited.

SUSSEX WOOLEN-MILLS.

This site was first occupied by James Hagerty, who erected a fulling-mill at Branchville, which he con- ducted for many years, and which was finally pur- chased by Joseph Stoll and Samuel Price. They rebuilt the structure and converted it into a finish- ing-mill.

William H. Bell later came into possession of the property, which he remodeled and equipped as a woolen-mill. It was by him leased to Joseph Hague, the present controller of the mills. They are run by water-power and are furnished with twenty-eight looms. At present the mills are not running at their full capacity, having but twenty-five workmen em- ployed, while the estimated force when operated to their utmost limit is one hundred and twenty-five. They are at present mannfacturing a coarse quality of blankets, though a finer fabric made by the same looms is also produced. The market is found princi- pally in New York.

WILLIAM MATTISON'S TANNERY.

This manufacturing enterprise, which employs both water- and steam-power, was built by John Rose as early as 1805. It later became the property of Reu- ben Westbrook, and from him passed to the owner- ship of Samuel A. Evert, from whom it was purchased by the present owner. The structure now used was erccted by Mr. Westbrook, but has been enlarged by Mr. Mattison.

The capacity of the tannery is fifteen hundred hides and the same number of calf-skins per year. The bark used in the process of tanning is procured in the vicinity. New York affords an ample market for the leather.

XI .-- TIIE LAST CENSUS.

The following list embraces the names of residents of the township who have reached or exceeded their sixty-fifth year :

Robert V. Armstrong, 77; Loretta Armstrong, 73; James Adams, 66; Jeremiah Bancker, 71; Anna Bancker, 71 ; Henry Babcock, 72 ; John Bray, 72; Eliza J. Bray, 70; Anna L. Black, 75 ; Catharine Butler, 71 ; Henry J. Bedell, 72; Margaret Barker, 74; Elias Bloom, 76 ; Daniel Bassett, 74; Susan Bowman, 74; William M. Cramer, 73; Emeline Clark, 65; Neleon Crane, 65 ; Catharine Cummins, 85 ; Lowis Cosner, 69; l'armella Cosner, 66; David Compton, 75; Willium Cort-

- -

right, 76; Eliza Cole, 70; Thomas Compton, 71; Elizabeth Drake, 70; William W. De Kay, 67; Nancy Dilliston, 75; Thomas Dickson, 75; Benjamin A. Drake, 72; Daniel Dalrymple, 70; William Drake, 65; Stephen Foster, 84; John W. Goble, 65; Jobn A. Grion, 76; Tobias Haines, 89; Thomas 0. Hazen, 87; P. Hotalen, 68; John M. Hulshizer, 70; Stephen Hunt, 73; Maria Hagerty, 72; Julia Huffman, 70; William A. Harker, 69; John Kymer, 86; Cornelius Kitchcart, 81 ; Malinda Lantz, 65; John Lantz, 66 ; Parmelin Lenter- man, 75; Polly Litts, 80; Lizzie Loscy, 65; William Losey, 67 ; Peter Mills, 70; Charles Malone, 66; Dennis J. Morris, 72; Elizabeth J. Morris, 69 ; Daniel McNara, 68; William Myers (col.), 70; Harriet Mercer, 67; Jacob Morris, 75; Nancy McDanolds, 78 ; Jane McDan- olds, 77 ; William McDanolds, 77; William McPherson, 77; William Nixon, 77; Elizabeth Osborne, 66 ; Lucretia Phillips, 90; Zachariah H. Price, 66 ; Henry Phillips, 77; Simon Phillips, 70; Maria Pitney, 71; John P. Price, 73; Thomas Perego, 70; Clarissa Perego, 65; Elizabeth Ross, 73; Jerome Riker, 77; Delia Riker, 65; Peter Rodimer, 72; Mary A. Rodimer, 70; William H. Roe, 66; Char- lotta Williams, 74; Elizabeth Roe, 69; June Roe, 70; Joseph H. Strader, 67; Margaret Suook, 80; Mary Snook, 82; Philip Snook, 72; Jesse Spangenberg, 74; James Spargo, 72; Sarah Spargo, 65; Eliza Stevens, 73; Elizabeth Struble, 88; Abram Snavel, 71; Elizabeth J. Smith, 69; Ilenry Snook, 71; Sarah J. Shotwell, 70; Peter Stepenfield, 80; Christiana Stepenfield, 70; Jack Staliter, 80; Patrick Scanlon, 75; Mrs. Van Ankeo, 60; Hannah Van Riper, 65; Andrew L. Williams, 65; Cathiariae Williams, 73; J. Weaver, 65 ; Seeley Yetman, 77. Number between the ages of 60 and 65, 55.

XII .- HISTORICAL INCIDENTS.

Robert Price, mentioned elsewhere as one of the earliest settlers in the township, when a lad, was made a prisoner by the Indians, as was also his mother. They were conveyed to a place of security, and Mrs. Price, having previously acquired a limited knowledge of the language of the savages, compre- hended, from their conversation and ominous ges- tures, that she was speedily to be made the victim of their brutality. She conveyed this intelligence to her son, and warned him not to cry lest he. also be mur- dered. The heroic woman was soon after toma- hawked, and the boy found favor in the eyes of a kind-hearted squaw, who, having lost her child but a few days before, adopted him as her own. He led the nomadic life of his captors until his twenty-first year, when he was rescued by his friends. Civilization for a time presented no charms to him, and he fre- quently expressed a desire to return to the scenes of his early life. This desire was at length overcome, and some years later he removed to the township of Frankford.

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 99

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