History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 194

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 194
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 194

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Civil List .- Below will be found a complete list of all the principal township officials chosen in Monroe each year from 1838 to the present time. The records of the township are in excellent condition, complete, and well kept, reflecting much credit on Mr. Robert R. Vandenberg, who has been township clerk contin- uously since 1850.

CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.

Adam Smith, 1839-49. Jacob Wyckoff, 1869-72.

Joho Baird, 1839-50. Joseph C. Magee, 1870-71.

Willianı Perrine, 1850-54, 1856-62.

S. L. Vandenberg, 1872-75, 1880-

Anthony Applegate, 1851-58.

Leonard Appleby, 1855-56.

David M. Perrine, 1873-76.

John B. Applegate, 1859-68.

Thomas A. Wyckoff, 1876-78.

Peter Voorhees, 1863.

Vincent W. Mount, 1877.

George Perrioe, 1864-69.

Charles G. Hoffman, 1878-79.

ASSESSORS.

George A. McDowell, 1838.

Jolia B. Applegate, 1851-55.

Aaron Gulick, 1839-41.

Jacob O. Burtt, 1842-43.

Alexander Laird, 1858-59. Abijah Applegate, 1860-66.

Peter W. Dey, 1844-45.

David Mount, 1867-71.

Edward Paxton, 1846-48, 1856-57.

David McL. Voorhees, 1872-75.

Jacob Wyckoff, 1851.

Peter Voorhees, 1851.

William S. Dey, 1876-77. Elias D. Applegate, 1878-81.

COLLECTORS.

James Buckalew, 1838-42.

Abijah Applegate, 1858-59.

John A. Davison, 1843-49. Peter Voorhees, 1848.

Stephen M. Van Wickle, 1850-53, 1860-61.

John H. Johnson, 1854-55.

Joseph C. Magee, 1856-57. -

William S. Dey, 1862-69. John Gibson, 1870-71.

George B. Perrine, 1872-66.

George Van Artsdalen, 1877.

David McL. Voorlees, 1878-81.

1 New Jersey Historical Collections, Barber aod Howe, 1844.

802

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

TOWNSHIP CLERKS.

John A. Daviaon, 1838-42.

Jacob S. Brumaghio, 1843-49.

Robert R. Vandenberg, 1850-81.

JUDGES OF ELECTION.

David R. Schenck, 1838.

Jacob Van Cleef, 1839-46.

James Ivea, 1870-71. Richard C. Dey,1 1872-74, 1878-79.

William Longstreet, 1847-49.

Jacob Wyckoff,1 1875-77.

Peter Voorhees, 1850-54.

Joseph C. Magee, 1877-79.

Elias Dey, 1851-52.

John H. Dey, 1880.

William Redinon, 1880-81.

Corneliua B. Hoagland, 1881.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.

Aaron Gulick, 1838.

Peter W. Dey, 1838, 1860. John Applegate, 1838, 1847.

Lewie Rigga, 1838-40. Thomas Potts, 1838, 1839. Stephen Van Wickle, 1839. Peter Wycoff, 1839-44, 1850-51. Andrew Snowhill, 1839.

Isaac Rne, 1840. William Paxton, 1840, 1842, 1849- 51, 1853-55, 1862-64. Enoch Perrine, 1841, 1843-45. John N. Applegate, 1841-47. Thomas Ely, 1841-51, 1853-54. Jahn Paxton, Jr., 1841. Daniel R. Schenck, 1842-48. David K. Perrine, 1845-46, 1852. William D. Jamison, 1846. Charles Abrahams, 1847-48. Eleazer Ayers, 1848. John R. Wetherill, 1848. James Applegate, 1849, 1854, 1856- 57,1870.

John L. Rne, 1849-51, 1853-54. Samuel R. Forman, 1849. Enoch Pullen, 1850-51. Peter Voorhees, 1852, 1856-57, 1859. William I. Reed, 1852. William C. Rue, 1852. Peter C. Stryker, 1852. Garrit A. Snediker, 1853-54. Henry H. Stulta, 1853-54. John D. Buckelew, 1855-56. Derrick G. Davison. 1855. Orlando Perrine, 1855. Gilbert W. Mount, 1856-59, 1860. James Paxton, 1856. John P. Voorhees, 1860.

William A. Applegate, 1857-59. J. B. Wyckoff, 1857-59.

A. J. Applegate, 1858-62.

Nelson Thompson, 1860-63, 1872 -75. Edward Rue, 1860. Daniel Daviaon, 1860. Aaron Bennett, 1861-65. Isaac S. Stulte, 1862-66.

Gilbert S. Davison, 1863-64. Thomas S. Hulit, 1864, 1866.

E. Silvers, 1865-69.

F. L. Buckelew, 1865-67, 1870-71, 1876-78.

Edward Paxton, 1865-67.

Thomas A. Wyckoff, 1867-68, 1870 -71, 1873-74. Richard C. Dey, 1867-69. Peter W. Applegate, 1868-71. Thomas E. Perrine, 1868-69. David Applegate, 1870. Joseph B. Mount, 1871-72. Samuel E. Perrine, 1871-72. Elias D. Applegate, 1872-75. William Redmond, 1872-75. William H. Clayton, 1873-76. John E. Rne, 1875-76. Jacob Applegate, 1876. C. G. Hoffman, 1876-77. Joseph K. Mount, 1877. A. I. Richardson, 1877-78.

John N. l'axton, 1877. Benjamin Vandenbergh, 1878. William H. Hoffman, 1878. C. B. Stults, 1878-81.

Peter V. Davison, 1879-81. Alfred Davison, 1879-81. William G. Mount, 1880.

COMMISSIONERS OF APPEAL.

John I. Voorheea, 1838-41.

Thomas Hoffman, 1838. Andrew Snowhill, 1838. Peter J. Dey, 1839-44. Peter Voorhees, Sr., 1839. Henry H. Stulte, 1840-47, 1855, 1859 -64.

Thomas Ely, 1842-57. John R. Wetherell, 1845-47. Elias Rigge, 1848-51. George McDowell, 1848-54, 1856 -60.

John Appleby, 1852. John S. Davison, 1853. Isaac De Voe, 1854. George Sharp, 1855. Anthony Applegate, 1856-58. William 11. Stults, 1858. Garret A. Snediker, 1859-63. Jahn B. Wyckaff, 1861-63. Ezekiel Silvers, 1864-67.

Peter W. Dey, 1864-68. David K. Perrine, 1865-70. Isaac Covert, 1868-70.

Alfred M. Perrine, 1869-71. Peter Farr, 1871. Charles H. Perrine, 1871. Jacob Applegate, 1872-75. Thomas A. Wyckoff, 1872, 1881. Joseph C. Magee, 1872-75. Derrick G. Daviaon, 1873-75. William 11. Hoffman, 1876-77. Vincent W. Perrine, 1876, 1878. Andrew D. Perrine, 1876. Lewis C. Perrine, 1877-78. William D. Perrine, 1877. William E. Paxton, 1878. William S. Dey, 1879. Sammel E. Parrine, 1879-81. Lewis P. Dey, 1879. Corneliua B. Hoagland, 1880. Samuel Marryott, 1880-81.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

John Perrine, Jr., 1847-4S.

George II. Snowhill, 1858.

John H. Manning, 1849-52.

R. J. Brumaghim, 1853.

James Ivee, 1859-61, 1863-67. Rodger G. Iaham, 1862.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

John Perrine, 1850, 1855.

George McDowell, 1850-51.

William A. Appleby, 1859.3 Edward Paxton, 1860-70.

Matthew A. Rue, 1850.

Robert R. Vandenbergh, 1862-81.

Thomas Hoffman, 1850-60.

Peter Duncan, 1851.2

John Flemming, 1855.

Samuel Marryott, 1872.

John Dey, 1856.

Alfred Davison, 1874.4

William W. Clark, 1858, 1865.

Gilbert W. Mount, 1874-75.

Educational .- PUBLIC SCHOOLS .- There are in Monroe eight school districts, known as Jamesburg District, No. 56 ; Matchaponix District, No. 57 ; Pros- pect Plains District, No. 58; Monroe District, No. 59; Gravel Hill District, No. 60; Old Church District, No. 62; Grove District, No. 63; and Pleasant Grove District, No. 64.

The first school-house in the Jamesburg District was located about half a mile from the mill, on the road to Englishtown. It had slab seats and straight benches, and was abandoned in 1847, and a new two- story brick building of more modern construction was erected by James Buckelew, on a lot owned by him near the Presbyterian Church, which for a number of years he permitted the district to use without rent. In 1864 the school-room on the ground floor was fur- nished with improved desks, and in 1866, to make room for the Presbyterian parsonage, the building was removed to its present site, at the corner of Church Street and Gatzner Avenue. In August, 1875, the heirs of James Buckelew deeded the house and lot to the district, and by the expenditure of fifteen hundred dollars the building was enlarged, remodeled, and re- furnished. The improvements made were of the most substantial character, within and without, and the district now has a valuable property. In 1846 there was a division of this district because the trustees re- fused to admit a colored boy to the school. One fac- tion built the school-house now in Monroe District, and Jamesburg was supplied by the school-house erected, as above stated, by James Buckelew.

The early schools at Matchaponix are said to have been established far beyond the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The fathers of men now past fourscore were taught in them. They were of the kind usually de- nominated " pay-schools," and at first do not appear to have been kept in any regular school-house. The first school-houses remembered were log structures of a truly primitive style. The teachers were men who came into the neighborhood prospecting, or without any regular employment, and who, to have something to do and turn an honest penny, opened schools by sub- scription. Some of them were smart, passably edu- cated young Irishmen, who were trying their for-

1 In the first polling district.

2 To fill unexpired term of Matthew A. Rue.

3 To fill the unexpired term of John Perrine.

4 To fill the nuexpired term uf Edward Paxton.

Jacob Wyckoff, 1865-81. Charles H. Perrine, 1870.

Stephen M. Van Wickle, 1855-59. Garrett A. Snediker, 1860-66. Derrick G. Davison, 1869.

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MONROE.

tunes in the new country, and had not yet settled upon what their occupation was to be and where they should locate. The oft-told stories of "lockings out," " barring in," etc., which seem to have had foundation in nearly every pioneer section, had their counterparts in events which occurred at Matcha- ponix. It is said that at one time the scholars locked the teacher out, and in retaliation he clambered to the roof and placed a slab over the chimney, with the design of smoking out the scholars. This they soon dislodged, seeing which the teacher again went up and put the slab on the chimney and sat on it, with the expectation that the scholars would soon have to open the door to get air. But they were no less determined than he, and taking a rail or large strong pole of some sort which was fortunately at hand, several of the big boys literally "bounced" the slab and the surprised pedagogue off the roof and into an adjacent snow-bank. At another time, it is related, a teacher, having been "barred out," barred the scholars in and kept them there several days, during which their parents, who enjoyed the joke, carried them provisions, which they received through an opening so small as to forbid ingress or egress, the resolute and unyielding " master of the birch" mean- while standing guard outside.

There was an early school in the Rhode Hall neighborhood; nothing of particular interest can be learned of the other schools. The following statis- tics show the status of the schools of Monroe in 1880: Number of school-houses in the township, 8, in fair condition. Total valuation of school property, $7300, divided among the several districts as follows : Dis- trict No. 56, $3000; No.57, $600; No. 58, $1500; No. 60, $300; No. 64, $400; Nos. 59, 62, and 63, $500 each. Number of children of the school age in Dis- trict No. 56, 134; No. 57, 50; No. 58,87; No. 59, 61; No. 60, 56; No. 62, 75; No. 63, 40; No. 64, 41 ; total in the township, 553. Estimated number at- tending private schools, 32; attending no schools, 161. Number of teachers employed : males, 4; fe- males, 5. Average monthly salary of males, $32; of females, $30.50 ; average number of months schools were kept open, 10; total amount received from all sources for public school purposes, $3246.76 ; amount of apportionment from State appropriation, $2864.26 ; amount raised by taxation for the support of district schools, $382.50. Districts Nos. 56 and 57 have libraries containing respectively 22 and 36 volumes. In Districts Nos. 60 and 63 movements are on foot looking to the establishment of libraries.

THE JAMESBURG INSTITUTE .- A desire on the part of many citizens for a more advanced system of edu- cation than that afforded in the public schools led the Messrs. Buckelew, in 1873, to erect a building for the use of an academic school to be known by the above name. The institute was opened in the fall of that year by Mr. M. Oakey with a class of young men. His labors were appreciated and encouraged

to such an extent as to render the enterprise a snc- cess.

THE NEW JERSEY STATE REFORM SCHOOL .- In 1865 the Legislature of New Jersey enacted a law providing for the establishment of a reform farm school for juvenile delinquents, to which boys be- tween the ages of eight and sixteen years were to be sent with a view to their instruction and amendment of life. A farm of four hundred and ninety acres was purchased in 1866 near Jamesburg. Buildings were erected and the school opened by the reception of the first pupil July 6, 1867. There are now about two hundred and seventy-five scholars, who are instructed in the elementary branches of learning and accustomed to agriculture and other branches of labor, with an allowance of time for youthful recrea- tion. When regarded as having been fitted for re- moval (in .not less than a year after admission to the school), good homes are sought for them either with their friends or by indenture to proper persons, the board of trustees continuing their guardianship over them during their minority.

The board of control of this institution consists of Governor George C. Ludlow, Chancellor Theodore Runyon, and Chief Justice Mercer Beasley. The trustees are Messrs. Samuel Allinson, of Yardville, Mercer Co .; Nathan T. Stratton, of Mullica Hill, Gloucester Co .; Nathaniel S. Rose, of Cream Ridge, Monmouth Co .; David Ripley, of Newark, Essex Co .; M. S. Higbee, of South Amboy ; and George W. Helme, of Jersey City.

The establishment is in charge of James H. East- man, superintendent, Samuel L. McFadden, assistant superintendent, and Elizabeth F. Eastman, matron.

The receipts from the Reform School farm and from the mechanical industries in 1881 were $50,722.67, of which $33,000 was from the State, $15,492.16 from the labor of boys in the shirt manufactory, $1978.82 from produce, material, and stock sold, and $251.09 from miscellaneous sources.

The disbursements were $56,392.24, of which $40,835.07 were for salaries, provisions, labor, fuel, clothing, and other expenses for the use of the institu- tion, $11,459.67 for machinery, farm implements, boil- ers and boiler-house, pumps and fire apparatus, fur- niture, repairs and improvements to buildings, and labor and machinery at brick-yard, and $4097.50 for new barns.

Villages and Hamlets.1-JAMESBURG is located on Manalapan Creek, in the northeast part of the town- ship. "Upper" and "Lower" Jamesburg are local names distinguishing the two extremities of the vil- lage. The grist-mill, saw-mill, and fulling-mill at the present site of Jamesburg had been established previous to the year 1792, and, together with one or two buildings for residences and a small store, con-

1 In this sketch the writer has again, by permission, drawu quite largely upon the historical address by T. Wilton Hill, Esq., delivered at Jamesburg July 4, 1876.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

stituted what was then known as Ensley's Mills. Billy West's tavern stood on the corner of the Half- acre road, just inside Mr. J. D. Buckelew's present inclosure, and the last of it was taken down niue or ten years ago, it having for a year previously been used as a canning-factory. Nov. 15, 1800, John Mount bought the mill property of George Rossell, and it was for eighteen years afterward known as Mount's Mills. Mount prospered, and added to his lands from time to time until he owned most of the land on the west side of Manalapan Brook lying be- tween the present lands of Alexander Redmond and the estate of Abraham S. Davison. In 1818 the mill property was turned over to William Gordon, who married the only child of John Mount, after which the place was called Gordon's Mills until Nov. 10, 1832, when Mr. James Buckelew purchased Mount's entire interest, from which date it was known as Buckelew's Mills.

At that time the property consisted of the saw-mill, still preserved ; the grist-mill, since enlarged and im- proved ; the fulling-mill, standing at the easterly end of the grist-mill, long since destroyed ; the dwelling- house, now the enlarged and remodeled residence of Mrs. James Buckelew ; also the dwelling since occu- pied by Mrs. Marsh, then standing near the centre of the present road, one end being used as a store, and the dwelling since occupied by James D. Browne. On the west side of the brook opposite the saw-mill stood a small house, now on the south side of Willow Street. The old Gwinnip house stood on the lot at the corner of Church Street and Gatzmer Avenue.

Simon Van Meker's old residence, later the house of Nelson B. Smock, stood near its present site, while the old Peter Deremer house, since metamorphosed into the residence of James Redmond, was sugges- tive of a generation familiar with Brainerd and his Indian friends. Opposite was the farm-house of William W. Davison, built in 1807, since removed by his son, the late Abraham S. Davison, to the site of the present family homestead. At West's tavern were three log houses, and at the other end of the settlement, within the present limits of Col. I. S. Buckelew's lawn, was the dwelling of Daniel Da- vison, afterwards moved and changed into the house since occupied by Mrs. Mahala Mount.

James Farrington kept the store for some time, and was succeeded by James Buckelew, followed by John A. Davison, and in 1848 by James Redmond. The building of the Camden and Amboy Railroad (1830- 33) formed an epoch in the history of this vicinity. James Buckelew's interests were at an early period largely identified with that road, he no doubt antici- pating therefrom great advantages for his embryo village.

The first trains were drawn by horses, and though it seems strange that an accident of a serious nature could occur to a train with such a motive-power, a fatal accident did occur within the village limits, a

passenger being killed by the upsetting of a car near the station, then called " West's Turnout." He was a stranger, and the last sad offices for the dead were reverently performed by the villagers at West's tavern. The railroad, as originally laid out, followed the pres- ent line of the Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad, di- verging therefrom near the present engine-house, crossing Gatzmer Avenue on a curve, passing a little north of the L. Cox residence, and thence at an angle across a lot formerly occupied by Buckelew's canning- factory, and entering the present road near the John Bennett place. The granite stones upon which the bed of the road was originally laid are still occasionally unearthed along the line. The first station in the village stood near the willow-trees opposite the Charles West residence, and was a one-story building. In 1850 the railroad was straightened and the station built on its present site. When, Jan. 1, 1872, the Camden and Amboy Railroad was leased by the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, with the branches from Bordentown to Trenton and from Jamesburg to Mon- mouth Junction, it was constituted the Amboy Divi- sion, and Isaac S. Buckelew appointed superintendent.

The name Jamesburg was first applied to the district school in honor of James Buckelew, who erected and granted to the district the use of a school-house, as has been stated, and at once, in honor of the man by whose untiring perseverance, energy, shrewdness, and sound judgment the place owed its prospects for fu- ture advancement, was given by common consent to the village, which was duly christened by the insertion of a tablet in the gable of the school-house bearing the inscription, "Jamesburg, 1847."

It was several years before the railroad company thought it advantageous to stop for passengers at the village, and after they concluded to do so the name was not at first popular on the railroad. Perhaps the company wanted to use up the old tickets marked " West's ;" at any rate the conductor would call " West's," and then in an undertone, "Jamesburg."

July 21, 1845, James Buckelew and Nathaniel S. Rue established a stage line between Freehold and Jamesburg, connecting with the railroad for New York, carrying in the second year of their enterprise five thousand and seventy-four through passengers, the fare being eighty-seven and a half cents. After- wards they established a through line from Philadel- phia to Long Branch, often sending out from here as many as thirty coaches and wagons to accommodate their patrons. This gave way to the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad, which, surveyed in 1851 by Col. I. S. Buckelew, under direction of Gen. William Cook, chief engineer of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company, was completed so that trains commenced running regularly from Freehold July 18, 1853.

The first regular morning train left Frechold at 6.30, running through to South Amboy, and connect- ing there with the New Brunswick boat for New

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MONROE.

York, Charles Worts, of Jamesburg, being the en- gineer.

About this time there arose a demand for increased mail facilities, Spottswood being the nearest post- office, and sharing with Cranbury the distribution of mail matter for the intermediate country. It is said that often two weeks were required to transmit a letter from Brooklyn, N. Y., to Jamesburg. In 1848, soon after succeeding John A. Davison in the mer- cantile business, James Redmond was commissioned postmaster, retaining his commission until 1853, though from 1850 onward his brother William was | the acting postmaster. In 1833, James C. Stout had built a small store building near the present crossing of Gatzmer Avenue with the Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad, which had been unoccupied for some time, when, in 1851, Mr. J. C. Magee renovated it and opened a store in it. In 1853. Mr. Magee relinquished this store and opened one in the building erected by Mr. Buckelew for that purpose not far from the mill, but on the opposite side of the street, and succeeded Mr. Redmond, becoming the second village post- master, which position he retained for nearly fifteen years. He was succeeded by George Van Artsdalen, who, in the spring of 1878, turned over his trust to the present postmaster, Harrison W. Crosby. It was not until after Mr. Magee had been postmaster some two years that he succeeded in having a direct mail from Philadelphia and New York. Previous to that time all local mail matter from the cities was sent via Freehold, and was two or three days in transit.

' In 1866, Mr. Magee removed his store to the upper part of the village, and is now senior partner in the firm of Magee & Davison, lumber shippers and mer- chants in coal and hardware. Other merchants in the village are Paxton ' & Buckelew, George Van Artsdalen, Harrison W. Crosby, Thomas Charlton, and I. S. Bennett. Benjamin Arber has a boot and shoe store, and F. H. Pownall an undertaking estab- lishment. There are two tin-shops and stores, kept by Adam Schellbacher and Albert Keinzle respect- ively.

The Jamesburg House was erected in 1856 by James Buckelew. Richard Fleming was the first occupant and landlord. It has several times changed hands, and in 1881 was purchased by the present pro- prietor, David C. Bowne.

In 1855 the village contained thirty houses and two hundred inhabitants. Its present population, inclu- sive of operatives in the shirt-factory of Downs & Finch, is estimated at nearly one thousand. Since about 1866 the growth has been rapid, and new dwell- ings are constantly appearing in all directions. The immense business of Messrs. Downs & Finch has given an added impetus to the material advancement of the place. Another powerful aid has been the Mutual Building and Loan Association. This was organized Feb. 18, 1869, and 349 shares were issued. A second series was started in October, 1872, with 543

shares; a third series in November, 1876, with 251 shares; a fourth series in November, 1879, with 443 shares; and a fifth series in November, 1881, with 267 · shares. The first officers of the association were J. C. Magee, president ; C. S. Worts, vice-president ; A. P. Knapen, secretary; Benjamin Snyder, treasurer; W. H. Courter, solicitor. The.directors were F. L. Buckelew, J. D. Buckelew, W. H. Courter, J. D. Heath, Isaac Brown, Samuel Marryott, and H. A. Perrine. The present officers are J. C. Magee, presi- dent; Samuel Marryott, vice-president; John D. Courter, secretary ; T. Wilton Hill, treasurer ; W. H. Courter, solicitor. The directors are George A. Shultz, William H. Williams, James D. Bowne, Charles E. Paxton, and Isaac S. Davison.

There are in the village the usual variety of small mechanics' shops.

UNION VALLEY is a hamlet in the southwest part of the township, containing a store, one church, and about fifteen dwellings. The first store there was opened by Samuel Mace in 1855. He was soon suc- ceeded by Edgar W. Reed; he in 1860 by Charles Perrine ; he in 1862 by George Wader; and he in 1864 by William 'Doty, who continued in business there until 1865. The old store building is still stand- ing, at the intersection of the Cranbury and English- town roads.

HALF-ACRE .- This is an abbreviation of a flippant name of a sulphurous suggestiveness by which is known a settlement in the west part of Monroe, about two miles and a half southerly from Jamesburg, con- taining a store, a hotel, a wheelwright- and blacksmith- shop, and a few dwellings. Years ago the locality was called "the Devil's half-acre," on account, it is said, of having gotten into bad odor with the public as a consequence of frequent unseemly orgies and hand-to-hand encounters at the old tavern there, in the days when a resort to arms is stated to have been a fa- vorite mode of adjusting personal misunderstandings, and " hard hitters" are supposed to have been plenty everywhere. There is another version of the man- ner in which the place came to be called Half-Acre, which totally ignores the suppositious connection of the Evil One with the locality. It is to the effect that there were two wagon roads passing the ancient hos- telry, one in front and the other just at its rear, and that the latter road was fenced up by the then pro- prietor in such a manner as to form an inclosure be- hind the tavern of half an acre of land, which cir- cumstance caused the name " Half-Acre House" to attach to the hotel, and in time to the immediate neighborhood.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 194

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