History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 179

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 179
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 179

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Staats Clark, in common with his brothers, inher- ited from his father habits of industry, economy, and a capacity for business, and probably no family has ever lived in New Brunswick whose members have so unanimously turned their attention to mercantile pursuits as that of the Clarks, and the iron business founded by the father about the beginning of the century was continued at the same place by his sons successively and grandson after his decease until 1881, a period of eighty-one years, and was in that year sold out to Philip Weigle. At the age of fifteen Staats Clark began a business life for himself, and for several years was a clerk in the dry-goods house of Beekman & Johnson, New York. Returning to his native city, he became a partner with James Van Nuys in the dry-goods trade on Church Street, where he remained until the death of his brother James, and then became a partner with his brother Ira Condit in the lumber trade. Upon the death of David, in 1863, he bought out the iron business, which had been carried on by his brothers, David and Ira Condit, and with his son John S. as a partner continued the business until 1874, when he retired from business, and left the iron business with his son John S., who, as before stated, sold it in 1881. Thus, for a period of a half-century, Mr. Clark was known in the business circles of the city, and always known as a man of strict integrity in all his business rela- tions. He has never sought political place and never held office, but quietly and nnostentatiously pursued the even tenor of his way as a business man. For several years he was a director in the Novelty Rubber Company of New Brunswick. In July, 1844, he mar-

Staats Clunk

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CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

ried Sarah, daughter of Josiah Ford, of New Bruns- wick, who died May 7, 1852, aged thirty-seven years, leaving three children,-Ellen, born in October, 1845, died at the age of fourteen ; Margaret is the wife of Henry De Mott, of Minneapolis ; and John S. Clark, only son, before alluded to in this sketch.

GEORGE B. MUNN.

George B. Munn, master-mechanic and inventor, of New Brunswick, N. J., was born at West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass., July 16, 1831.

His paternal grandfather, Nathaniel, was an inge- nious blacksmith of that county, and his ancestors on both his father and mother's side were among the early settlers of New England. His father, James, was a carriage manufacturer, and carried on his busi- ness in Massachusetts, Roxbury, N. Y., and removed during the latter part of his life to Shawano, Wis., where he died in 1868, aged about seventy-five years. His mother, Elvira Bidwell, died in 1844, aged about thirty years. One brother, Rev. Anson F. Munn, was graduated at Rutgers College in 1852, at the Theolog- ical Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church in 1856, was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick, and installed pastor of the Reformed Church of East New York, L. I., where he preached for twelve years. In 1867 he accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the Reformed Church at Coxsackie, N. Y., where he labored until his decease in 1878, being at that time nearly fifty years of age. Another brother, Guy P. Munn, was a farmer and hat manufacturer of Pratts- ville, N. Y., where he died.

George B. Munn received little book knowledge during his boyhood, and on account of the limited means of his parents, he early in life learned that he must care for himself. At the age of ten years we find him making miniature saw-mills, windmills, and boxes, showing a genius and inventive talent, the de- velopment of which, after a quarter of a century, has given him an enviable place among the leading ma- chinists and inventive geniuses of this country. At the age of sixteen, in 1847. he apprenticed himself to Harlow Taylor, of Prattsville, N. Y., where he was engaged in his machine-works and foundry for three years, and there he had charge of the works during his fourth year. In 1851, having made himself a trunk, he set out for Massachusetts, but stopped on his way at Philmont, N. Y., where he engaged with Whiting & Marshall, manufacturers of woolen ma- chinery. After one year spent there, he was one year with Mackay & Hoadley, engine- builders, of Pittsfield, Mass. Young Munn's reputation may be said to have now been fully established, and his services began to be sought for to fill important and trustworthy places. He set up woolen machinery for Whiting & Marshall for a year, aided Taylor & Whiting, of Winsted, Conn., one year in perfecting machinery for the man- ufacture and setting of pins, and after a time spent

with a Mr. Frink, the inventor, he went to Norfolk by request, and for one year and a half was closeted with E. E. Kilbourn in working up an invention in knitting machinery, for the manufacture of full-fash- ioned goods. At this time such work was only done by hand, and mostly in England. The result of their united labors was "Kilbourn's Patent Automatic Knitting-machine," which with its improvements has been largely controlled since by the "Norfolk Hosiery Company" and the "Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company." Mr. Munn then manufactured knitting machinery for the Norfolk Hosiery Com- pany until some time after the war broke out, and for two years thereafter he was engaged with Welsh, Brown & Co. in the manufacture of guns for the war.

In 1867 he came to New Brunswick, and took charge of the Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company's machinery department, which he superin- tended until 1869, when he formed a partnership with his old fellow-laborer, E. E. Kilbourn, under the firm-name of G. B. Munn & Co. One year there- after, Messrs. Johnson Letson, L. P. Porter, Jonathan Earle, and E. E. Kilbourn joined with him in the formation of the "New Brunswick Machine Com- pany," which continued operations for two years, being succeeded by Mr. Munn alone, who changed the name to the " Empire Machine-Works," and has continued sole owner and proprietor of them since.

Mr. Munn's specialty is the manufacture of knit- ting machinery, yet he manufactures steam-engines, seaming-machines, fine machinery of all kinds, and constructs models for patents, works up patent-rights from inventors' crude ideas, etc. The reputation of the Empire Machine-Works stands second to none in the United States, and here have been manufac- tured hundreds of knitting-machines for the local industry and for shipment to all parts. He is the only builder of these knitting-machines, and owns all the patterns.

Mr. Munn is an indefatigable worker, and an enthu- siast in his profession, and always acts as his own super- intendent, foreman, and draughtsman, thus giving the benefit of his life's work, by advice and direction, to every piece of machinery that is manufactured at his works. Hisidentification with all local enterprises of a worthy nature, both by encouragement morally and as a contributor, has made him favorably known in New Brunswick. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1862, and since his residence here he has been identified as a member of Union Lodge, No. 19, of Scott Chapter, No. 4, is officially connected with the St. James Methodist Episcopal Church, and is freeholder from the Fifth Ward.

Mr. Munn has taken a somewhat active part in political matters, and cast his first vote in 1856 with the Republican party. He was twice a delegate to State conventions in which Governor Buckingham was nominated each time, and assistant secretary of one. He was elected freeholder of the Fifth Ward

738

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

of the city in 1881, and re-elected in 1882. Upon the breaking out of the rebellion, he assisted in the organization of companies, and was offered a com- 1 Peter V. Voorhees, both deceased; George S., born Dec. 20, 1821, a merchant in Brooklyn, L. I .; Joseph D., born Oct. 6, 1823, was a farmer, and resided near Bordentown, where he died.

mission by Governor Buckingham, but declined in favor of the more useful service of manufacturing guns for the government. He has been a member of the National Guard of New Jersey for ten years, has been commissioned four times by the Governors of the State, and is in 1882 judge-advocate of the Third Regiment, N. G. N. J.

He has been twice married, his present wife being S. Louise, daughter of John Anderson, of Dayton, Middlesex Co., N. J.

GARRET CONOVER.

Garret Gonover, clothing merchant of New Bruns- wick, N. J., was born at Hightstown, Mercer Co., N. J., Feb. 3, 1817. The name was originally spelled " Covenhooven" in Holland, and the progenitor of the family in America was Wolfert Gerretson Von Coven- hoven, who, with his three sons, Jacob (died in 1670), Gerret (born 1610, died 1645), and Peter, came from near Amersfoort, Holland, in 1630, and settled on Long Island. Gerret is the paternal ancestor of our subject, married Cornelia Lambertson Cool, and reared two sons, William Gerret and John, and two daughters, Nellie and Maritjie. William Gerret mar- ried Altie Brinckerhoff, and had one son, Gerret, who married Janett Montfoort, who bore him twelve chil- dren, of whom John married Coba Vanderveer and removed to Monmouth Co., N. J., where they reared a family of eight children, of whom William, the eldest son, was great-grandfather of our subject, and was born Oct. 25, 1705. He married Catherine Lane, born May 16, 1709, who bore him nine sons and two daughters, of whom Peter was grandfather of our sub- ject, and was born Oct. 18, 1743. His wife was Phebe Dey, born Nov. 18, 1748, who bore him six sons and four daughters. Of these children, John P. Conover .was the father of Garret, was born Oct. 3, 1778, and died in the winter of 1832. His wife was Lydia Duncan, a native of Cranbury, born in March, 1777, and died Aug. 1, 1851. Their children were Ste- phen, born April 17, 1801, was a school-teacher, surveyor, and farmer, and died in 1836; Peter, born Jan. 14, 1803, was a farmer in Hunterdon County, and died about 1854; John D., born Aug. 5, 1804, re- sided in New Brunswick, was a shoe manufacturer, and died about 1850; David, born March 25, 1805, was a cabinet-maker at Hightstown, where he died April 8, 1870; Margaret, born Dec. 5, 1807, is the wife of David Hill, of Mercer County ; Catherine, born Feb. 1, 1810, wife of Peter Selover, of South Amboy; Lette, born Dec. 3, 1812, wife of Richard

White, and resides at Robbinsville, N. J .; Thomas D., born Nov. 12, 1813, died in 1879; Garret, subject of this sketch; Phebe, born Jan. 29, 1819, wife of

Garret Conover spent his early boyhood at home. At the age of twelve he came to New Brunswick, and was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade with Wil- liam Owen, and at that youthful age started out in life for himself, and since his beginning in 1829 he has been continuously identified with the clothing trade in New Brunswick. He came to New Bruns- wick without money, but he learned that industry and economy form the basis of wealth and success. He finished learning his trade with John Stryker, who left the place in 1835.

In 1836, Mr. Conover resolved to start business for himself as a merchant tailor, and accordingly estab- lished himself on Commerce Square, where, after he had been in business about one year, his goods were destroyed by fire, leaving him in debt. The confi- dence of New York merchants from whom he pur- chased his goods in his integrity and honesty of pur- pose enabled him at once to start again, and from that time his trade rapidly increased until in 1851 he added to his business the manufacture and sale of clothing, which he has carried on successfully since. He purchased his property for a residence on Albany Street in 1845, and kept store near by on the same street, and in 1851 purchased property and established his business at 33 Church Street, on the opposite side of the block, where he continues to do business in 1882. For several years Mr. Conover has dealt quite largely in real estate, and through his business owns a fine estate of desirable property in the city. He has served on the board of chosen freeholders of Middlesex County, and was elected mayor of New Brunswick on the Democratic ticket, and served in that capacity in 1874 and 1875. He has been identi- fied with several local enterprises in the city, and served for ten years as a member of the board of edu- cation, and for several years as president of the building and loan association. He is a member of St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church, and president of its board of trustees. He married in 1838 Ann Louisa Wetsel. Their children are Caroline, deceased ; Joanna, died at the age of twenty-six; George, died at the age of twenty-four; Wesley Hudson, Charles, and Garret, in business with their father; Emma, deceased ; Howard William, died at the age of twenty- six; and Katie. Four generations of Mr. Conover's ancestors resided near Hightstown, where he was born, and were farmers.

Gant Coonsve

739

NORTH BRUNSWICK.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

NORTH BRUNSWICK.1

Situation and Boundaries, etc .- As originally sur- veyed, North Brunswick contained an area of 23,000 acres, of which 5000 were unimproved. By the or- ganization, partially from its territory, of the town- ship of East Brunswick and the separation of New Brunswick from it, the former extent of the township was reduced to 8256 acres, and most of the formerly unimproved land has been put under cultivation. North Brunswick is bonnded north by New Bruns- wick, east by East Brunswick, south by South Bruns- wick, and west by Franklin township, Somerset County.

The population of North Brunswick, according to the last census, was 1251.

In 1880 the assessed value of real estate was $496,380; amount of deduction therefrom, mortgages, $19,850. The value of personal property was $120,170 ; amount of deduction therefrom, notes, $1825. The total amount of real and personal property taxed, including mort- gages and notes, was $638,257. The rate of tax for State purposes was $2 per $100; the rate of tax for county purposes was $6.10 per $1000; and the rates of tax for local purposes was as follows: for incidental expenses, $0.60 per $1000; for the maintenance of the poor, $1.60 per $1000; for road construction and re- pairs, $1.10 per $1000. The whole amount of tax ordered to be raised, including a special school tax, a poll tax, and a tax on dogs, was $7833.73. The ex- penditures during the previous fiscal year amounted to $400 for incidental expenses, $1000 for the mainte- nance of the poor, and $700 for road construction and repairs.

Physical Features,-The surface of this township is level. The soil is red shale and sandy loam, and much of it is under a high state of cultivation ; the drainage being provided by Lawrence's Brook on the east, One-Mile Run on the west, and in the southern part and centrally by Oakey's or " Cow Yard" Brook and other tributaries to Lawrence's Brook. The latter is by far the largest and most important stream wash- ing any part of the township. It has its source in South Brunswick, and flowing in a northeasterly course separates North Brunswick from East Bruns- wick, emptying into the Raritan at the eastern ex- tremity of the city of New Brunswick; and at Mill- town and at Brookford, just above, affords excellent water-power, which has been employed for manufac- turing purposes since early in the history of the country south of the Raritan. The Trenton and New Brunswick turnpike traverses the town in a di- rect line from the northeast to the southwest, west of the centre, and George's road of historical fame has its deviating conrse in the same general direction near

the eastern bonndary. The Princeton and Brunswick turnpike forms the western boundary of the township, the dwellings on the west side of that thoroughfare being in Somerset County. One branch of the Penn- sylvania Railroad crosses North Brunswick from near its northern to its southern extremity, with a flag station, known as Adams, within the township. The branch railroad to Millstone has its junction with the Pennsylvania Railroad near the northwest corner.

Settlement .- Much that would be interesting con- cerning the early settlement of this township has long since been buried in the grave of the past, and no clue remains by which it can be brought to light. The ancient Reformed Dutch Church at Three-Mile Run was doubtless the earliest ontgrowth of civilization within the present borders of North Brunswick, and it is so much a thing of the past that it is not improb- able that some of the present residents of the town- ship are ignorant that it ever existed. At Three-Mile Run was first planted the banner of Christianity in that portion of Middlesex County south of the Rari- tan. The interesting story of a long struggle to establish a permanent church there and its final abandonment is told by Dr. Steele in an historical discourse published in 1867. It is published in this work in connection with the history of the First Reformed Dutch Church of New Brunswick, to which the reader is referred.

" The names of the following persons are attached to a subscription designed to raise means to import a minister from Holland in 1703 : Dollius Hageman, Teunis Quick, Hend. Emens, Thos. Cort, Jac. Pro- basco, Neclas Wyckoff, Mic. L. Moor, John Schede- meun, Nec. Van Dyke, John Van Houten, Wil. Bennet, Folkert Van Nostrand, Jac. Bennet, Hend. Fauger, Ab. Bennet, Cor. Peterson, Philip Folkerson, -avi L. Draver, George Anderson, Stabel Probasco, Isaac Le Priere, Simon Van Wicklen, Cobas Benat, Garret Cotman, Lucas Covert, Wil. Van Duyn, Den- nis Van Dnyn, John Folkerson, Jost Banat."-Hon. Ralph Voorhees, Middlebush.

It is not probable that many members of the Three- Mile Run, and later of the New Brunswick Church, resided within the limits of North Brunswick as now bounded. Many of the family names are familiar ones in the township to-day, however, and it is cer- tain that some few present residents are able to trace their descent from those whose labors and strifes in the canse of Christianity have been depicted. A majority of representatives of pioneer families are of Holland Dutch descent, and the old families, through successive generations, have intermarried with each other till they form practically one fam- ily. It is worthy of note, too, that these families have all along been identified, with few individual exceptions, with the Reformed Dutch Church at New Brunswick, the continuation, in a certain sense, of the historical church which centred at the old house of worship at Three-Mile Run and sowed the

1 By M. O. Rolfe.

740

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

seeds of religious development in all the country round about.

One of the oldest families of North Brunswick is the family of Voorhees,1 descended from one or more of several members of the original family in America, who came from Long Island to New Brunswick and vicinity at an early date. Who was the first settler of the name in the township is not ascertainable. An early resident, who was contemporary with others of that name there, was (1) John G. Voorhees, who lived on a farm adjoining Henry Van Liew's and died in 1800, leaving two daughters. These were named Catharine and Helena. (2) Catharine be- came the wife of John Voorhees and died before he did, leaving a son named Peter, who died some time ago at Princeton, where he lived. (3) John Voor- hees remarried, and afterwards had two sons,-Craig, a silversmith, resident at New Brunswick, and Ste- phen, who was killed during the late war. (+) Helena married Dennis Vanderbilt.

Jeremiah Voorhees was many years ago a resident near Bodine's Corners. He was a wheelwright by trade, and married Margaret Outcalt. His daughter Catharine died in 1804, and his son Frederick only twelve days before. Abbie, one of his daughters, married Nicholas DeHart. Another, called Gettie Ann, became Mrs. Dennis Bodine. None of his sons are living.

John S. Voorhees, who died in 1877, was of the eighth generation of descendants of Stephen Coert, and his father was the fourth (1) Peter in the line of descent. The latter married Jane Schenck, and was a prominent resident of North Brunswick. The chil- dren of (2) John S. Voorhees were A. DeHart, Peter, John S., Jr., and Anna M. A. DeHart and Anna M. live on the homestead, and Peter and John S., Jr., are lawyers at New Brunswick and in Canada respectively.

(1) Jaques Van Liew was an early resident on the Henry Van Liew place. He married Maria Voorhees, dying in 1810, she in 1824. Their children were Henry and Garret Van Liew. (2) Henry married Ann H., daughter of Enos Ayres, who survives him, and lived on the farm previously occupied by his father. (3) Garret Van Liew was also a farmer, liv- ing on George's road, and died some years since. His son, Jacques Van Liew, died on his father's farm at a recent date.

(1) Nicholas Bodine, blacksmith, is said to have been the first of the name at Bodine's Corners. His best-known son, (2) Cornelius, lived on his father's place after the latter's death, and died an old man some time before 1850. His sons, who lived and were

known in the township, were Abraham, Dennis, and John. Others died early in the present century. Abraham, a farmer and speculator, for a time kept a hotel in New Brunswick, and died of the cholera in 1849. Dennis was a wheelwright, and passed his life at Bodine's Corners, where he died a few years ago. John is a farmer, and lives near New Brunswick.

(1) Frederick Outcalt was an early resident in the vicinity of Bodine's Corners, and died there at an advanced age in 1818. His sons, Frederick, Henry, John, and Richard, were well known. (2) Frederick lived at Three-Mile Run, and died there about fifteen years ago, very old, leaving two sons, Jacob and Frederick. (3) Henry removed to New Brunswick, and died there twenty-five or thirty years ago. His sons were Frederick, Jacob, John, and Richard. Jacob and John are living in New Brunswick. (4) John found a home in Ohio in 1820, revisited the place of his nativity about 1866, and returned to Ohio and died there. His family all live in the West. (5) Richard was a farmer, and spent his life on his father's homestead, dying there past ninety. John, Henry, and Frederick are names of his sons. John and Henry are West. Frederick lives in New Brunswick.

The Vanderbilt family has become firmly rooted to the soil of North Brunswick by several generations' residence. The first there of the name of whom their descendants have any knowledge were two broth- ers, Cornelius and Jeromus. (1) Cornelius owned the farm now known as the John Brush place, and died in 1800. He had a son (1) Dennis, and a daughter (2) Johannah.

(1) Dennis married Helena, daughter of John G. Voorhees. Their children were John, Cornelius, James C., Dennis, Henry, Garret, Catharine, and Jo- hannah Jane. John died in 1824, at the age of twenty-one. (2) Cornelius married a Tunison, and had sons Cornelius, William, aud Dennis; Cornelius lives in New York; William died in 1881; Dennis lives in New Brunswick. (3) James C. married Sarah, daughter of Luke and sister of Matthew Edgerton, and is living, at the age of seventy-two, on George's road. (4) Dennis went West, and married and died there. (5) Henry lives in New York, and married there. (6) Garret G. is living in New York, unmar- ried. (7) Catharine married John Bergen, of Mill- town, and is dead. (8) Johannah Jane is married and living in Raritan.

(2) Johannah married Cornelius Bodine.

Jeromus Vanderbilt, brother of Cornelius, Sr., early lived near Milltown, subsequently removing to New Brunswick, where he owned property and died nearly half a century since.

(1) John Ryder was one of the early comers. His sons, John, Bernardus, and Stephen Ryder, all lived on Lawrence's Brook, in the northwestern part of the township, early in the present century. (2) John had sons,-William, now living on the place where

1 The ancestor of the family of Voorhees in this section of the coun- try is Stephen Coert, or Koers, who emigrated from Holland in 1660, and settled on Long Island. Having no surname, members of the fam- ily subscribed themselves Van Voorlees, or "from before Hees." Stephen Coorte married Willimpie Raelefse, and died about 1684. llis son, Lucas Stevense, married on Long Island, aud six of his chil- dren emigrated to New Brunswick and vicinity. See genealogy of the Bergen family, p. G1.

741

NORTH BRUNSWICK.

his father died, and Stephen, now of East Brunswick. (3) Bernardus was a bachelor, and has been dead about fifty years. (3) Stephen has been dead forty years, and none of his descendants are in the township. The Ryder property is a portion of the three-thousand- acre tract, embracing the brook, once owned by Thomas Lawrence, and which came into the posses- sion of Cornelius Longfield and Governor Barclay in 1689. John Ryder, Sr., bought one hundred and forty-four acres of Longfield in 1741, and from him it passed to his heirs.

(1) Martin Stevenson located early where his son, the late Peter Stevenson, lived and died. John, his eldest son, has been dead some time. (2) Peter mar- ried Mary, a daughter of Jeremiah Voorhees. After her death he married the daughter of an early resi- dent at Cheesquake. (3) Borent Stevenson, son of Peter, married a daughter of James Edgerton, and is a well-known citizen.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 179

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224