History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 183

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 183
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 183

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Soon after the completion of the chapel a Sunday- school was organized, with William M. Van Sickle as superintendent. The present superintendent is Eugene Carrigan. The school numbers thirty-five scholars, and has a small library.

Burial-Places .- There can be little doubt that the earliest interments within the present township were made at the old graveyard now included in Van Liew Cemetery, and at the ancient burying- ground at Three-Mile Run. Which of the two places has any claim to priority would be a difficult ques- tion to answer. In both grounds are graves with monuments on which the inscriptions have been rendered undecipherable by the hand of Time, and in both are doubtless many graves unmarked and unrecognizable as such. The earliest legible inscrip- tion to be seen in the old portion of Van Liew Cem- etery is in the German language, and is to the follow- ing effect :

"Johannes Martinus Van Harlingen was born January 11th, 1684, at Weetbrock, in Holland, and died October 22od, 1768, at Lawrence's Brook."

Near by are other time-worn monuments, bearing the following inscriptions:

" In Memory of Maria Van Harlingeo, Relict of J. M. Van Harlin- gen, born March 10th, 1700, and died October 8th, 1788."

" Richard Jaques departed thie life May 9th, 1792."

" In memory of Eva Van Harlingen, who departed this life October the 6th, 1799, age 64 years, 9 months, and 12 days.

" Holland was her natioo,

New Jersey was her dwelling place, And Christ is her salvation."

The following-named persons were interred in this burying-ground previous to 1825, as appears by the dates on the headstones erected at their graves :

Jobannah, wife of Garret Voorhees, Oct. 22, 1799 ; Samuel, son of John and Hannah Outcalt, June 11, 1800; John G. Voorhees, Sept. 7, 1800; Caty, wife of Jacob Musero,1 Sept. 8, 1800; Cornelius Van Derbilt, Sept. 26, 1800; Hannah, wife of Peter Buckerlew,2 Feb. 28, 1803 ; Frederick, son of Jeremiah and Mar- garet Voorhees, Aug. 31, 1804; Catharine, daughter of Jeremiah and Margaret Voorhees, Sept. 12, 1804 ; Sarah, danghter of John M. and Frances Bloom, Jan. 12, 1807 ; Cornelius Vanderbilt, son of Cornelius and Jane Bodine, March 31, 1807 ; Johannah Vanderbilt, April 17, 1807; Nicholas Bordine, Jr.,3 May 21, 1807; Catharine, daughter of Nicholas and Eliza Van Brunt, Feb. 23, 1808; Jacob Meserole,1 Dec. 12, 1809; Jacques Van Liew, Aug. 28, 1810; Peter Buckerlew,2 Dec. 28, 1810 ; Mrs. Johannah Voorhees, Jan. 9, 1811 ; Rnth, widow of William Budd, March 30, 1814; Dinah Bor- dine,3 wife of Powl DeHart, Jan. 31, 1815; Nicholas Bordine,3 March 16, 1814; Cornelia Ann, daughter of Cornelius and Jane Bodine, May 1, 1815 ; Jane, wife of Cornelius Bordine, May 14, 1815; George, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Van Brunt, May 12, 1815; Frederick Outcalt, Jr., Aug. 26, 1818 ; Elijah Hunt, Dec. 3, 1818 ; John Ryder, Jan. 2, 1823, aged eighty- one years and ten days; Peter Voorhees, Oct. 10, 1823; Elizabeth Stephenson, wife of Peter Voorhees, Jan. 11, 1824; Bernardus Ryder, Feb. 3, 1824, aged seventy- five; Maria Voorhees, wife of Jaques Van Liew, Oct. 1, 1824; John Vanderbilt, Nov. 18, 1824.

The old graveyard at Three-Mile Run had no con- nection with the early church at that spot, as it was not used as a place of burial until some years after the church was removed. Rev. Johannes Leydt, second pastor of the First Reformed Dutch Church of New Brunswick, died June 2, 1783, and he was buried there. His tombstone stands directly in front of the gate, with an inscription stating the day of his death and age. His wife, Treuntje Sleight, died Dec. 2, 1763, and is buried by his side. Two other stones mark graves of his children,-Elizabeth, who died Oct. 22, 1760, aged twelve, and Anna, who died June 10, that year, aged seven months.

The following names and dates are from other head- stones there :

Johannes Van Liew, Oct. 10, 1794; Mary, wife of John Hampton, Aug. 28, 1796; Gertrude, wife of Cornelius Cornell, March 19, 1805; Henry Cortel- you, Feb. 22, 1806; Dorothy Lott, wife of Johannes Van Liew, Oct. 9, 1813 ; Cornelius Cornell, March

1 Messeroll.

2 Buckalew.

3 Bodine.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

29, 1819; John Hampton, Aug. 30, 1822, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.

There is a burial-place on the Princeton and Bruns- wick turnpike, in the southwestern part of the town- ship. In the vicinity of the George's Road Baptist Church is another. Neither of these possesses suffi- cient antiquity to render it interesting historically.

The burying-place of St. Peter's Catholic Church of New Brunswick is located on the Princeton and Brunswick turnpike, about a mile from the city line, and in the northwestern corner of North Brunswick township. It has an area of about seven acres, and is laid out in lots. The earliest grave that can be found there is that of Bridget Win, who died Jan. 14, 1865. This cemetery contains several beautiful monuments, those of the O'Neal, the Lyons, the Dixon, and the McGahill families being conspicu- ous. This cemetery is in charge of a committee constituted as follows : Rev. Father O'Grady, Mar- tin Kelley, John McCloskey, and John Lawrence.

THE VAN LIEW CEMETERY .- The Van Liew Cemetery Association was incorporated in 1861. The first officers were Dennis Vanderbilt, president ; Henry H. Booraem, treasurer; and Philip Kuhl- than, secretary ; Directors, Dennis Vanderbilt, Ross Drake, Philip Kuhlthan, Henry H. Booraem, and Peter Stevenson. Van Liew Cemetery embraces about five acres, including the old cemetery, in which were buried many members of the Van Har- lingen, Voorhees, Vanderbilt, Van Liew, Bodine, Buckalew, Messeroll, and other old families of North Brunswick, and which has been referred to. It is beautifully laid out, and is rendered attractive by several fine monuments.

ELMWOOD CEMETERY .- This cemetery is situated on George's road, near the northern border of the township, not far distant from Van Liew Cemetery, and contains about forty acres. It is the property of the Elmwood Cemetery Association of New Bruns- wick. This association nominally succeeded the Cedar Lawn Cemetery Association of New Bruns- wick, which was incorporated by an act of the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, approved March 18, 1868, of which the following is the first section :

" Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jer- sey, That Lucius P. Porter, John W. Newell, Henry R. Baldwin, M.D., Levi D. Jarrard, Henry L. Janeway, Johnson Letson, A. D. Newell, M.D., Simon Van Wickle, and such other persons as are now or shall hereafter hecome stockholders, their successors or assigns, be and are hereby made and constituted a corporation and body politic by the name of the Cedar Lawn Cemetery Association of the City of New Bruns- wick."

A supplement to this act was passed and approved March 26, 1873, of which the subjoined is a copy :

"1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jer- sey, That the name of the 'Cedar Lawn Cemetery Association of the City of New Brunswick' be changed to the 'Elmwood Cemetery Association of the City of New Brunswick,' and by such name shall be invested with all the powers, rights, and duties which belonged to said Cedar Lawn Cemetery.

" 2. And be it enacted, That the first section of the act to which this is a supplement is hereby amended by striking out the names of the corpo- rators individually nemed therein and inserting in lieu thereof as such individual corporatore the following persons, viz .: Henry H. Booraem, Deniel G. Stubblebine, Garret Van Liew Booraem, Levi D. Jarrard, Heury Arbogast, Cornelius Farley, and Davis Carel.

"3. And be it enacted, That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act he and the same are hereby repealed, and this act shall take ef- fect immediately."

" Elmwood" is one of the largest and most beauti- ful burial-places in this section, and is marked by a number of elegant and costly monuments. The officers of the association are as follows: Daniel G. Stubblebine, president and superintendent ; Cornelius Farley, secretary ; and Davis Carel, treasurer; Di- rectors, D. G. Stubblebine, William G. Parsons, Davis Carel, L. D. Jarrard, John C. Meyer, Van Liew Booream, and Henry Arbogast.

Villages and Hamlets .- MILLTOWN is the only village lying wholly or partially within the township of North Brunswick. It is located on Lawrence's Brook; mostly in North Brunswick, but partly in East Brunswick, and is a small but thrifty and home-like place, owing its existence to the presence there of the extensive factory of the Meyer Rubber Company, which affords employment to nearly the entire adult and a good share of the juvenile population. It has an aspect of comfort and solidity which is to be seen only in villages in which a majority of the heads of families own their own houses, the policy towards its employés of the Meyer Rubber Company (which pays cash for labor and has no store) being to extend an opportunity to such as so desire to purchase on easy terms and own a house in the village, thus in- suring the permanent service of desirable artisans, and diffusing a spirit of thrift and contentment among its workmen, which redounds to the benefit of the company eventually by going far to prevent dis- affection through the absence of the abject subservi- ence of labor to capital, which is the fruitful source of that rancor and antagonism which engender strikes, and result only too often in the stagnation or utter prostration of manufacturing industry.

The history of this village is brief. Its nucleus was the old grist-mill known early in the present cen- tury as Bergen's Mill, in honor of its then proprietor, Jacob I. Bergen, the locality being known at that time and later as Bergen Mills. This mill changed ownership several times, and finally, in 1843, the last vestige of it disappeared with the utilization of the water-power by Mr. J. C. Meyer for the manufacture of rubber goods. The beginning of the new enter- prise was insignificant when compared with its pres- ent extent, but it made the beginning of the growth of the settlement called Bergen's Mills to the later flourishing village of Milltown.

In 1816 the place consisted of the old grist-mill, a little tavern, and five or six houses west of the brook; east of it were only two or three dwellings. The population was not more than twenty-five all

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755

NORTH BRUNSWICK.

told. Early tavern-keepers there were Jeptha Cheese- man, John Outcalt, Robert Watts, and Daniel Lott. Jacob I. Bergen, the mill-owner, was an early mer- chant. Christian Van Nortwick was another.

The present merchants west of Lawrence's Brook are Philip Kuhlthau and Dennis Vanderbilt, and there are also located there a brick Methodist Church, erected in 1872, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars, the factories of the Meyer Rubber Company, covering a considerable acreage, and many substantial and comfortable dwellings. East of the brook are the Meyer Rubber Company's box-factory, two stores, two meat-markets, a German Reformed Church, two taverns, and quite a number of dwellings. The pop- ulation of the village is about four hundred. The post-office was established Dec. 13, 1870. Philip Kuhlthau was commissioned postmaster, and still re- tains the office.

Milltown has a large German population, whose love of music led, in 1880, to the organization of two cornet bands, one of nineteen, the other of twenty pieces, with John Fuchs and George Schlosser as their repective leaders.

LIVINGSTON PARK .- This is the name by which a hamlet is known containing a union chapel and eight dwellings, and located a little north and west of the centre of the township, on the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Trenton and New Brunswick turnpike. This turnpike is locally known as Livingston Avenue, it being a continuation of an avenue of that name of New Brunswick. A large tract of land there was in- herited by Mrs. Henry K. Haw; and, in 1865, Mr. Haw had it surveyed into lots, which he offered for sale at a low price, in the hope of gathering sufficient population at that point to induce the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to make it a stopping-place for trains between New Brunswick and Trenton. This hope was not yet realized at Mr. Haw's death, in 1876, since which time no effort has been put forth for the attainment of that end.

ADAMS STATION .- This is a flag-station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, a little south of the centre of the township, and is the only railway station in North Brunswick.

Taverns .- The "Red Lion" tavern, on George's road, about the centre of the township, north and south, has been built more than a century, and was formerly the scene of sundry public meetings and local jollifications. It is now merely a halting-place for travelers over this thoroughfare.

The " Black Horse" tavern was erected on George's road, near the present southeastern boundary of the township, some time during the latter half of the seventeenth century, as is supposed.

to Richard De Mott. After the death of Mr. De Mott, in 1850, the hotel was managed by his widow two years, when a German from New York purchased and renamed it the " Hines House." In 1873 he sold it to John Tolen, who has since repaired and reno- vated it, leasing it to other parties,

Local Nomenclature. - Bodine's Corners is the name, derived from pioneers there, of a neighborhood on George's road in the northern part of the township. Three-Mile Run is a name which in common use designates a small portion of North Brunswick and Franklin (Somerset County) townships, near a stream of that name. Six-Mile Run is a title similarly ap- plied to another neighborhood, also on the county line, farther south.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY H. BOOREAM.

The subject of this biographical sketch was the son of Joseph Booream, an enterprising farmer, residing at Matchaponix, Middlesex Co., who married, in Jan- uary, 1798, Miss Abigail Potter. Their children were Gilbert, born in 1797; Jane, whose birth occurred in 1799; Joseph, born in 1802; Elizabeth, in 1803; Nicholas, in 1807; Henry H., in 1811; and Sychee Maria, in 1813.

Mrs. Booream's death took place April 11, 1865, her age having been generally believed to have exceeded one hundred years.

Their son, Henry H., was born Oct. 6, 1811, at Matchaponix, where his early life was spent upon the farm of his father. He later acquired the ma- son's trade under the direction of his brother, which was successfully followed until failing health com- pelled its abandonment, when he pursued the busi- ness of marketing. In 1837 he purchased the property now the home of his widow, where he resided during the remainder of his life. He was on the 28th of February, 1833, married to Maria, daughter of Gar- ret Van Liew, of North Brunswick, whose birth oc- curred Nov. 20, 1812. Their children were Garret Van Liew, born Dec. 7, 1833, who married Miss Martha Gilliland, Dec. 6, 1855, and Mary Elizabeth, born Sept. 29, 1836. She was married to Daniel G. Stubblefine, and had three children, of whom one, Henry L., is still living. Mrs. Stubblefine died Sept. 29, 1866.

Mr. Booream was a dealer in general produce, and followed the business of marketing during his active career, having been generally regarded as a successful man. He was also a man of much public spirit, and participated in all enterprises having the interest of the township of North Brunswick in view. He was in politics a Republican, and at the time of his death was the chosen freeholder of the township. He had

The Brunson hotel, in the northwestern part of the township, was built about 1800, and was later, for a number of years, kept hy Daniel B. Brunson. At his death he was succeeded by his son, who, after doing the honors of the house several years, sold the stand | also been for twenty years its collector, and held

756

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

other offices of minor importance. He was an ex- emplary member of the Reformed (Dutch) Church of New Brunswick, N. J., in which he was formerly a deacon. Mr. Booream was greatly esteemed, not less for his capacity and energy than for his integrity. He enjoyed the reputation of having a more profound knowledge of the township interests than any other resident, and by his watchfulness and executive abil- ity aided greatly in reducing its expense account.

The death of Mr. Booream occurred Jan. 10, 1879, in his sixty-eighth year. As a useful public man, his place cannot be readily filled.

HENRY K. HOW.

The earliest members of the How family, who are of English lineage, located in Burlington, N. J., the grandfather of the subject of this biography having been John How, who was united in marriage to Mary Ann Blanchard. Their children were James, a cler- gyman who settled in Delaware; William, Anna, Jane, who became Mrs. Fairbairn, and Samuel Blan- chard. The last-named son was born Oct. 14, 1790, at Burlington, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 18II. He was licensed by the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia as a minister of the gospel in 1813, and was first settled at Salisbury, Pa., where he remained two years. He was then called to Trenton, N. J., where he resided for five years, after which he accepted the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick. He later removed to Sa- vannah, Ga., where he was for seven years pastor of the Independent Church of that city. After filling for a brief period the presidency of Dickinson Col- lege, Pennsylvania, he engaged in a new enterprise in New York, and on the 18th of May, 1832, accepted a call to the First Reformed Church of New Bruns- wick, N. J., where he remained until his resignation, June 14, 1861, on account of failing health. Dr. How's ministerial labors in New Brunswick were eminently successful. During the twenty-nine years of his pastorate there were received into the member- ship of the church five hundred and thirty-eight per- sons on profession, and two hundred and twenty-five by certificate from other churches, in all the large number of seven hundred and sixty-three. His rela- tions with his people were harmonious and cordial, and his death was sincerely lamented by all who knew him.

The doctor was first married to Miss Mary Snow- den, to whom were born children: Cornelia (Mrs. Potts), Henry K., and Samnel B., who died in early childhood. Mrs. How died Dec. 12, 1837, and he married a second time, Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Chief Justice Kirkpatrick and his wife, Jane Bayard. Dr. How died March 1, 1868, in his seventy-ninth year, and his wife on the 17th of April, 1882, in her ninetieth year.

Henry K. How was born April 21, 1825, in Savan-

nah, Ga., and during childhood removed with his parents to Carlisle, Pa. He later became a resident of New Brunswick, where he began a course of study preparatory to entering Rutgers College, from which he graduated in 1842. He then entered the Theologi- cal Seminary with the intention of studying for the

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ministry, but was compelled by failing health to re- linquish his purpose.

After a brief residence in Texas he engaged in the drug business in New Brunswick, and subsequently removed to Trenton, where he embarked in business. He afterwards returned to New Brunswick, but at the time of his death was a resident of the township of North Brunswick. He was married in 1857 to Miss Mary, daughter of John Kinnan, of New Brunswick, to whom were born children: John K. and Mary Blanchard. Mr. How was in politics a stanch Dem- ocrat, and although at all times manifesting a keen interest in public affairs he cared little for official dis- tinctions, and could not be induced to accept office. His excellent judgment and practical wisdom made his services invaluable to the township of his resi- dence, and measures having for their aim improve- ments which redounded to the public welfare met from him a hearty sympathy.

He was not only president bnt one of the founders of the Farmers' Club of Middlesex County, and mem- ber of the State Agricultural Society. Mr. How pos- sessed fine mental endowments and a ripe culture, whichlı, had his health enabled him to pursue a profes- sional carcer, would doubtless have led to distinction

Philly Kuhetau

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EAST BRUNSWICK.

in any field of labor. Both himself and wife were members of the First Reformed Dutch Church of New Brunswick. The death of Henry K. How oc- curred on Sabbath morning, June 20, 1875, in the fifty-first year of his age.

PHILLIP KUHLTHAU.

The town of Oberzell, Kurhessen, Germany, was the early home of the Kuhlthau family, where the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch was engaged in agricultural employments. He was married and became the father of four children, among whom was John Henry, who was born and re- sided in the town above named. The latter was mar- ried to Barbara Lins, also a native of Oberzell, and had children : Anna Margaretta, Conrad, Phillip, A. Elizabeth, Eva Margaret, Henry, William, Kuni- gunda, John, Barbara, and Seaman.

Phillip, of this number, was born at Oberzell on the 22d of October, 1829, where his boyhood was spent at school. At the age of sixteen he was employed and filled for two years the position of clerk on the public highway. Having determined to explore the re- sources of the New World, he, in 1848, emigrated to America, and, landing in New York, finally located in Middlesex Co., N. J. He for two years engaged in farm labor, and was for the succeeding three years employed by the Ford Rubber Company, at Milltown. In August, 1852, he decided to visit the fatherland, mainly for the purpose of seeing again his maternal grandfather, to whom he was strongly attached. On his return the following year he brought to America his parents and their family.

Mr. Kuhlthau again became an employé of the Ford Rubber Company until April, 1855, when he determined to engage in business pursuits, and opened a grocery store at Milltown, in a building 16 by 32 feet in dimensions.

This enterprise steadily increased in magnitude until more spacious apartments were found necessary, and its owner ultimately became one of the leading merchants of the village. He also, in 1856, erected a residence adjoining the store, which he now occupies.

Mr. Kuhlthau was on Feb. 17, 1856, married to Miss Catherine, daughter of Christopher Klein, of Mill- town, N. J. They have had children : John H., Philip C., Mary A., Catherine, Conrad W., and three who are deceased.

Mr. Kuhlthau is in politics a Republican, and has been honored by various public offices. He has been freeholder of North Brunswick for two years, member of the township committee for ten years, justice of the peace for five years, commissioner of deeds six years, collector, and postmaster for twelve years of the vil- lage of Milltown.

He is a man of much enterprise, and has been ac- tive in the purchase of property and the improvement of the village. Mr. Kuhlthau is also a trustee of the

Van Liew Cemetery Association. He is in connec- tion with his mercantile enterprises actively engaged in farming. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kuhlthau are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Milltown, of which the former is both trustee and steward.

CHAPTER XCIX.

EAST BRUNSWICK.1

Situation and Boundaries .- This township is situated nearly in the centre of Middlesex County north and south, varying only a little from the same position in the county east and west in the latter direction, the town of Washington, on its northeastern border, occupying a position which well-nigh entitles its citizens to claim it as the geographical centre of the county. Dunham's Corners, near the centre of the township, is about equidistant from the city of New Brunswick lying to the northward and James- burg to the southward.

The township is bounded northwest by North Brunswick and New Brunswick, north by New Brunswick and Raritan, northeast by Raritan and Sayreville, east by South Amboy, southeast by Madi - son and Monroe, south by Monroe, and southwest by South Brunswick, and, as is indicated by its bound- aries, is very irregular in form. The town of Wash- ington was formed from East Brunswick in 1870, reducing the area of the township somewhat, though it can hardly be said to have been thus far independent of East Brunswick in many important particulars. The area of the township, including the town named, is 13,130 acres. In 1880 the valuation of its real estate was $789,170, of its personal property $241,400. The total taxable valuation was $900,000. The popu- lation of the township was 3272, 675 of whom were voters. The total township indebtedness was $130,570.

Physical Features .- The surface of East Bruns- wick is generally rolling, and it declines unevenly from near the centre in all directions towards its borders, which are defined by streams, except where the township adjoins the eastern extremity of South Brunswick. Occupying nearly all of the territory between South River and Lawrence's Brook, two important tributaries to the Raritan, which flows along its northern boundary between the points of confluence with the two streams mentioned, fully one-half of its southern boundary is formed by Grog Brook, a tributary to Lawrence Brook, and which, like a number of small tributaries to all of the streams mentioned, has its source within its borders. These streams afford an ample drainage to the township, and at places good water-powers, which have long been utilized to a considerable extent by manufac- turers. South River is navigable for sloops and

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 183

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