History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 72

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 72
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 72

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).

In 1852 he established and was superintendent of a Sunday-school three miles out in the country at Uniontown, and for fifteen years was most regular in attendance. In 1867 the Second Presbyterian Church started a mission Sunday-school in East Rahway. Mr. Woodruff took a deep interest in the enterprise, and in 1869 he, with other friends of the Sunday- school, contributed freely, purchased a lot, and built for the use of the school and for a place of worship what is known as the Grand Street Chapel.

In 1855, Mr. Woodruff, in connection with two | other gentlemen, Messrs. William Edgar and A. C. Watson, realizing the need of a school in the place where an education could be obtained higher than the public school afforded, purchased a lot, and erected a suitable building on Milton Avenue, and furnished it free to a suitable teacher.

Mr. Woodruff has never sought political prefer- ment, but his opinions on the great questions of the day are decided. Originally a Whig, when the Re- publican party was formed he was a decided Repub-

Freace Osborne

John AL Leathery

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CITY OF RAHWAY.

lican, strongly opposed to the extension of slavery. He believes in the faith of the Presbyterian branch of the Christian Church, of which he has been a | member since he was nineteen years of age, and for the last twenty-five years a ruling elder in the Second Presbyterian Church in Rahway. He has been re- peatedly sent by the Presbytery of Elizabeth Town as commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.

His wife, whom he married in August, 1842, is Alvira, daughter of William and Sarah Crowell Mar- tin, who was born May 9, 1816.

Their children are Lizzie, Amos, Edward, educated under the private instruction of Rev. Dr. Pierson, of Elizabeth, and at Princeton College, graduated at the Columbia College Law School, in New York, 1874, and is now practicing his profession in that city ; Laura J., wife of David Jones, of Rahway ; and Carrie, wife of R. M. Huntting, of Sag Harbor, L. I.

ISAAC OSBORN

Ferdinand was in the same business, and died in 1860 in Rahway ; Mary ; and Albert, who is a tinsman near Bound Brook, N. J.

Isaac, eldest of these children, born July 8, 1803, went with his parents to hve in New York in 1809, and remembers that city when there were only two houses on Canal Street between Broadway and Hud- son Street, and of crossing Broadway at Canal Street on a wooden bridge. He came with his parents to Rahway in 1815, where his father had been engaged at work in building the Taurino Factory, superin- tended by William Shotwell. Here he received three years' schooling, and for four years he was an ap- prentice to the trade of harness-making and carriage- trimming.

In 1822, as before stated, Mr. Osborn established himself in the business of carriage-making in a small way, which he gradually increased and carried on until 1830 on Mechanic Street, now Grand. In that year he opened a general store for the sale of dry- goods and groceries at 91 Main Street, which he suc- cessfully carried on until 1855, when he retired from the trade, and has since given his attention to the care and improvement of his property. The Rahway Mutual Fire Insurance Company was founded in 1833. Mr. Osborn succeeded Mr. Crowell as president of this concern in 1859, and his official relations with the com- pany have given it increased strength and confidence. He was president of the Rahway Fire Association for twenty years prior to its being a city, was a director and stockholder of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Rahway from 1850 to 1864, was one of the incorporators of the savings-bank and gas com- pany, and since 1838 he has been a member of the Methodist Church at Rahway, and since 1845 a trus- tee and president of its official board. Mr. Osborn remembers that in 1815 there were only twenty-nine houses in upper Rabway, and no streets except St. George's Avenue and Mechanic Street.

is one of the oldest business men of Rahway, and has led an active business life here since 1822, a period of fifty-nine years. The family were among the early settlers at Scotch Plains, Union Co., N. J., where his great-grandfather, John, resided, and where his grandfather, John B. Osborn, was born, spent his life as a farmer, and died in 1848 at the age of ninety-six years. The first homestead of John B. Osborn con- sisted of forty acres of timbered land, upon which he erected his log cabin, and which he cleared of its original forest. To this he added until he was the possessor of some four hundred acres, which he ac- quired solely by his own industry. He was known as " Deacon Osborn," and for seventy years officially served as deacon of the Baptist Church at Scotch Plains, Born in the middle of the last century, he lived during the Revolutionary war, and served in His life has been one of industry, care, and honesty of purpose, and he may be safely classed among the representative business men of a generation nearly gone. that memorable struggle for the independence of the colonies. His wife was Mary, a sister of Hon. Ezra Darby, an early member of Congress ; she lived to be ninety-two years of age, and died in the house where His wife, Emily McDonald, died Jan. 11, 1879, aged seventy-seven years. Of his children, Uzal, eldest son, survives. Eliza Augusta died at the age 1879. she had spent ber married life only a few weeks before her husband. The children of this venerable couple were Patience, Joel, William, Charles, John, , of twenty-two, and Emily Caroline died Feb. 16, Jonathan, and Mary, of whom Joel was father of our subject, and inherited the homestead of forty acres, where he was born, and where he died in 1853, aged JOHN H. LUFBERY. seventy-five years and seven months. Joel Osborn His father, Abrabam Lufbery, died in Rahway, Aug. 5, 1825, aged about seventy-one years. He came to Rahway soon after the close of the Revolu- tionary war, and for several years worked at his trade as a ship-builder. Subsequently he engaged in the bakery business, which he carried on during the re- mainder of his active business life. He was a non- commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war, and upon the occasion of Gen. Lafayette's visit to Rahway was a carpenter by trade, and resided respectively at Scotch Plains, New York, Rahway, and Westfield, where he worked at his trade. His wife was Nancy, daughter of Joseph Halsey, of Newark, who died in 1861 aged seventy-eight years. Their children were Isaac; Susan, wife of Isaac Moore of Rahway ; William, a carriage-maker of Rahway, who died in 1865, aged sixty ; Joel, a carriage-maker of Rahway ;

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

in 1824 he was made chairman of the committee for the reception of that distinguished son of France. His wife, Jenet Conger, survived him, and drew a pension during the remainder of her life, dying March 15, 1861, at the age of seventy-two years, and leaving the following children : Sarah, wife of Brittin Haines, of Rahway, died July, 1874, aged fifty-eight years ; John H., subject of this sketch; Margaret and Isaac having died young.

By a former marriage to Charity Oliver on March 20, 1785, he had the following children : Joseph O., a prominent business man of Rahway, who estab- lished the saw-mill and lumber interest in 1827 now carried on by Ayers & Lufbery, was president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Rahway, was a merchant for many years, and also carried on a nail manufactory (the nails being made by hand), and who was born Jan. 29, 1786, and died Dec. 25, 1865; Lydia H., born Oct. 26, 1789; Edward and Morde- cai, born May 15, 1790; Phebe, born April 12, 1794; Daniel and Oliver, born April 2, 1796; Nancy. born Feb. 3, 1798; Mary, born Jan. 7, 1800; and Ann, born in 1802.

John H. Lufbery, born Sept. 2, 1818, had only the educational opportunities of the schools of his native place during his boyhood, and at the age of sixteen began as an apprentice to learn the carpenter's trade. After four years he went to work for his brother, Jo- seph O. Lufbery, in his saw-mill, where he remained until 1846, when his brother retiring from the busi- ness, in partnership with others, the firm of Ayers, Williams & Lufbery continued the business, which in 1882 is carried on by Ayers & Lufbery. A planing- mill was erected in connection with the lumber inter- est by them in 1846, and since June 28, 1855, they have done all their sawing and planing by steam- power.

Prior to the transfer of a part of Woodbridge to Union County, Mr. Lufbery took an active interest in local matters relating to the township and county, and for some four years served on the board of chosen freeholders of Middlesex County. He has served in the same capacity for several years in Union County, was the second mayor of Rahway after its incorpora- tion as a city, and has served for some thirteen years in its Common Council, being for three years its pres- ident. In the fall of 1870 he was elected on the Re- publican ticket from Union County to the lower branch of the New Jersey Legislature, and for two years (1871, 1872) honorably discharged the duties as assemblyman.

8, 1823, and their surviving children are Margaret, wife of William Chamberlain, John H., Anna, wife of Samuel Williams, Abraham Frederick, Joseph O., Jr., and William R. Lufbery.

JOEL AND IRA LAFORGE

are among the enterprising and active business men of Rahway, N. . I., in 1882. Their grandfather, John Laforge, settled in Woodbridge township from Staten Island during the latter part of last century, and there carried on farming and tanning until his death. His children were Cornelius, a ship-carpenter ; Bet- sey, wife of Ephraim Compton ; John, father of our subjects, followed the sea during his early life, was a farmer in Woodbridge, and died in 1848, aged fifty- one years; Mary, wife of David Bloomfield ; Ann, wife of Martin Compton; Charlotte, wife of William Acken; Charles, a carpenter and farmer in Wood- bridge; William, a farmer; Asa, died in New Or- leans, and was a ship-carpenter by trade; and Mar- tha, wife of Albert Edgar, of Newark. The wife of John Laforge was Mary, daughter of Matthias Free- man, who died in 1864, aged sixty years, and whose mother was Mary Dally, of Woodbridge. The chil- dren of John and Mary (Freeman) Laforge are Joel ; Isabella, wife of Elijalı Hutchinson, of Trenton ; Ira ; Mary Ann, wife of George W. Wooley, of Rahway; Asa, deceased; Jobn Edmond, resides in Staten Island ; and Ellis, deceased. By a former marriage to Joanna Tappan John Laforge had two daughters,-Harriet, deceased, and Joanna, wife of Jerome B. Ross, of Woodbridge.

Joel Laforge was born in Woodbridge, Nov. 5, 1825, and from eighteen to twenty-one years of age was ap- prenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade with David L. Depue, of Rahway. After the death of his father, he was a partner of Benjamin Conaway in a grist- mill in Piscataway for two years, was in New York for a time as carman, and in 1853 came to Rahway, and until 1861 worked for his brother Ira in his sash- and-blind manufactory. For four years following he was engaged in making bayonets for Joseph Gatchel in Rahway, to be used in the late civil war. Since 1865 he has been the partner of his brother in the spoke, wheel, and spring manufacturing business, under the firm-name of I. & J. Laforge.

He married in 1850, Susan, daughter of Reuben and Saralı Potter, of Woodbridge, and their children are John Lester; George William, died young; and De Witt Edson.

Although of Quaker parentage on the paternal side, Ira Laforge was born in Woodbridge, Feb. 24, 1830, and from eighteen to twenty-two years of age learned the carpenter's trade, first with Daniel N. Gardner, then with Jonathan B. Nichols, of Newark. In 1852 he established a sash-and-blind factory in Leesville, near the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, Rahway, which he carried on successfully, first by hand and he has adhered more particularly to the views of the Baptist denomination. His wife, whom he married April 6, 1845, is Henrietta C., daughter of Frederick and Ann (Burnett) Freeman, of Woodbridge. Her father was a tanner and currier and farmer there, and his ancestors were among the early settlers of that part of Middlesex County. She was born May ' afterwards by machinery, until 1861, shipping his

Joel Laforge

Ora. Laforge

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CITY OF RAHWAY.

goods mostly to Mobile and Georgia. From 1863 until 1867 he was engaged in the coal and lumber business in Rahway, but in 1865 he established a spoke and wheel manufactory on the site of his former manufac- tory, where he carried on business in partnership with his brother (I. & J. Laforge) until 1870, when they purchased their present brick manufactory, which is seventy by fifty-six feet, and four stories in height, placed in it a fifty horse-power engine, and began the manufacture of spokes and wheels on a more exten- sive scale. In 1874 they made large additions to their building, and added to their business the man- ufacture of carriage-springs. Their manufactured goods are sold in New York, Baltimore, Wilmington, and in Eastern and Southern markets, and are among the best manufactures of the kind. Ira Laforge mar- ricd, in September, 1851, Helen C., daughter of Caleb W. and Mary Woodruff, of Newark. Of his four children, Theodore W., Mary A., Emma C., and Fred- erick F., only Mary A. Laforge survives.

Ira Laforge built the first residence on Milton Avenue in 1865, and a second one in 1860.

The Laforges started out in life without pecuniary assistance, and, like many of our best business men, in early life met the obstacles incident to obtaining much education from books, but learned the lessons of economy and prudence, which with well-directed energy form the basis of practical and successful business men. Neither of them have ever sought official place, but devoted their whole time to busi- ness pursuits.

DANIEL K. RYNO.

Pack Ryno, who was supposed to be of French ex- traction, was grandfather of Daniel K., and resided in Woodbridge township, Middlesex Co., N. J., where he died of typhoid fever at the age of forty-eight years, leaving a large family of children. One son, Lafayette, settled in California about 1850. Clayton, father of our subject, born in 1800, was a carpenter by trade, resided in Woodbridge township, now Pis- cataway, during his life, and there died in 1849. Wilson lived and died at Plainfield, N. J. John died in New York City. William, retired, resides at West Henrietta, near Rochester, N. Y. Sarah is the widow of the late Joseph Dunham, of Cranford, and Rachel was the wife of Lewis Dunham, and resided near Plainfield. The mother of Daniel K. Ryno was Mary, daughter of Daniel Kelly and Huldah Drake, whose uncle was familiarly known as "Priest Drake," a Presbyterian clergyman of Plainfield, N. J. She died in 1867, and by a former marriage to David Lane had two daughters,-Rachel, wife of Barzilla Ran- dolph, of Piscataway, and Catharine, wife of Drake Randolph, of the same place. By her marriage to Clayton Ryno she had children,-Caroline, wife of Randolph Pack ; David, of Rahway ; Daniel Kelly, subject of this sketch; William, of Rahway ; and Howard.

Daniel K. Ryno was born in Piscataway township, then Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., Sept. 21, 1830. He lived with his half-sister, Mrs. Randolph, from seven until he was thirteen years of age, and for three years following worked on a farm, attending school a few months in winter. For one year at the age of seven- teen he resided with Jonathan Randolph, and for his

services received twenty dollars and his board and clothes. Thus he spent his boyhood, meeting the obstacles incident to limited advantages for both edu- cation and place. With only eighty-seven and a half cents in money, at the age of eighteen he came to Rahway in the spring of 1847, and became an appren- tice to learn the cabinet, furniture, and undertaking ; business with John A. Briant, then in business here, with whom he served for four years, and became con- versant with all departments of the trade. He had a particular liking for the undertaking part of the busi- ness, which Mr. Briant gave him the supervision of, and in 1849, during the cholera epidemic in Rahway, he was the only one who remained in his line of business and buried those who died with that terrible disease. After completing his term of service, and working a year and a half as journeyman at Plain- field and Rahway, he in the spring of 1855 bought out Mr. Briant's stock of goods and established busi- ness on his own account. In 1848, Mr. Ryno pur- chased the property of Mr. Briant, on the corner of

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Irving and Hamilton Streets, in Rabway, the old stand when the business had been carried on, and there he has continued the undertaking business since.

The same year, 1855, he established the furniture business on Main Street, Rahway, which he continues in 1882, and about 1865 he established a branch un- dertaking business at Elizabeth, which he sold out the next year to a partner, George C. Ford.

Mr. Ryno's business life has been one of constant activity, and his devotion to it, his naturally social disposition, frank manners, correct habits, and integ- rity in all his business relations have made his name widely known throughout Union and Middlesex Coun- ties. He is an advocate of temperance reform, and a member of and officially connected with the second Methodist Church in Rahway.

In 1855 he served as township clerk of Rahway, and in the spring election of 1875 he was chosen on the Democratic ticket, as an advocate of retrench- ment in city expenditures, mayor of Rahway.

His wife, whom he married Nov. 8, 1855, is Rebecca V., daughter of Rev. Sedgwick Rusling and Electa Cummings. Her father was a Methodist clergyman at Rahway for two years, and labored as a minister of the gospel for thirty-six years, preaching in New Jer- sey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and died in 1876, aged seventy-six years. Her mother died in Rahway in 1865, leaving children,-Mary, Rebecca, Joseph F., Mrs. Col. Woodruff, Sedgwick C., Sarah E. (Mrs. Ayres), and Thomas.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ryno are Sedgwick Rusling, Harry P., Charles, Stella, and Walter (deceased ).

CHAPTER XLIV. TOWNSHIP OF PLAINFIELD.1

THE township of Plainfield was erected by act of the Legislature approved March 4, 1847.

Natural Features .- The most striking natural feature of this township is its plain surface, from which the name Plainfield is derived. Throughout it is moderately undulating, but there are no abrupt declivities or elevations, the highest rise of land being the Short Hills, on the southeasterly border, which centre in Fanwood and Raritan townships, The soil is chiefly composed of clay, gravel, and sandy loam,

and is regarded as one of the most fertile farming sections of Union County. The township has an ex- treme width of about four miles, and is some seven or eight miles in length. On the east is the beautiful village of Scotch Plains, settled in 1667, and on the westerly border of the township is the village of Dun- ellen.

It is some eight miles from Rahway on the south. The township is bounded by Green Brook on the north- westerly border, giving it ample water privileges for manufacturing, while Cedar Brook lies upon the south- erly border. Artesian or tube wells are largely used by the inhabitants for procuring water for domestic purposes. Excellent pure water can be obtained at a distance in the gravel of from fourteen to thirty feet, and it is never failing.

A short distance across the border in North Plain- field township, on the range known as the First Moun- tain, stands " Washington's Rock," from which it is said that that immortal patriot and soldier surveyed with paternal solicitude the movements of the British forces about Amboy and New Brunswick .. The rock is an immense trap bowlder, and stands out so boldly in the southern face of the mountain as to command a view for many miles.

Early Settlement .- In 1684, Thomas Gordon, John Forbes, John Barclay, Thomas and Robert Ful- lerton settled some two miles south of Plainfield, at the place now called New Brooklyn, sometimes "Tow Town," or near there on the borders of this township. In a letter written by Robert Fullerton to his relatives in Scotland very soon after their arrival he remarks, " We have the honor of being the first of planters in this inland part of America." The first frame build- ing was erected in 1735, at which period there were a few log huts and Indian wigwams belonging to the Delaware Indians.

The first grist-mill was built in the year 1760, on the banks of the upper mill-pond, but about the year 1790 was removed to where it now stands on Somer- set Street, and the place was then, and subsequently for a long time, known as "Mill Town." Here all the grain for a long distance round was brought to be converted into flour. The first store was kept by Thomas Nesbit, and after he left it John Fitz Ran- dolph kept a miscellaneous store, selling "dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc.," and taking in ex- change "skines, furs, tallow, wax, and honny." This primitive store was on the corner of Front and Som- erset Streets. The first hat manufactory was built in 1808, by John Wilson, and in 1812 there were twelve hat factories, supplying some sixty thousand dollars' worth of hats to New York market and other places. Plainfield was a small country village in 1800, con- taining two hundred and fifteen inhabitants, and had a regular line of stages, connecting New York with Philadelphia, passing each way three times a week, called the "Swiftsure."

For many years after the first settlement the people had no place of worship. In 1788 the Society of Friends erected their meeting-house. There had been a small building erected in 1736 near the line of this township, in Raritan, on the Laing property, near what was then called "Tow Town." In 1818 the First Baptist Church was built, the congregation being from "Samptown." In 1825 the First Pres-

I The histories of this and the following townships of Union County were compiled from data furnished by C. A. Leveridge, Esq., of Cran- ford.

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TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

byterian Church was organized, and the corner-stone of the edifice was then laid. In 1830 the Society of Friends, on account of their tenets, was divided, and one portion thereof built a meeting-house. In 1832 the Methodist Episcopal Church was reared. In 1838 the Seventh-Day Baptists, who had long wor- shiped in their church at Piscataway, found the dis- tance too great, and so built themselves a small church. In 1842 the Second Baptist Church was organized, and in 1844 the Second Presbyterian Church was built on Front Street. It is within a few years that the other churches have been organized, proper mention of which is made under head of " Churches."

In 1726, Coddington, White, and Vanneste each purchased and "had surveyed to him 877 acres of Land; John Barclay, 700 acres ; Peter Sonmans, 2500 acres ; Robert Fullerton, 300 acres ; James Coles, 125 acres; Andrew Gullena, 350 acres; and William Gerard, 350 acres." These are probably the first who owned land in this township and cultivated the soil at this early date. From 1731 " many came up and took land," among whom were the Ackens, Bacons, Browns, Curtis, Dunham, Fitz Randolph, Force, Frazee, French, Geddis, Harriott, Hendricks, Hoog- land, Ilsleys, Jackson, Kelly, Kent, Lacey (Lacy), Lawrie, Marsh, Meeker, Mores (Moore), Osborn, Pangborn, Pearce (Pierce and Parse), Perkins, Jen- ning (Gennings), Lane (Laing), Price, Shotwells, Ross, Shippy, Marcellias, Smith, Pound, Stelle, Strangman, Hatfields, Connett, Sutton, Toppen (Tap- pen), Thorp, Thorn, Tingley, Vail, Vermuele, Wall, Maning (Manning), Webster. And at a much later date, or after the year 1785, the following residents owned lands here: Halsey, Dunn, Titsworth, Pope, Rolfe, Morgan, Wilson, Freeman, Deare (O'Dera), Boyce (Boice), Compton, Melick, Stillman, Bond, Leonard, Harris, Bryant (Briant), Allen, Hands, Jones, Lees, Miller, King, Lawrence, Smock, Lithgow, Livingston, Lyons, Merrill, Terry, Terrill, Ford, Drake, Darby, Chandler, Pruden, Stewart, Cory (Corey), Conover, Potter, Craig, Crane, Gilmon, Harriman, Hart, Ogden, Pack, Mulford, Melyen, Pin- horne, Berny, and some others who came and stayed but for a few years.

Civil List .- The following is a list of the principal officers of the township since its organization in 1847 :

TOWN CLERKS.

Robert Anderson, 1847-54, 1856-67.

John P. Runyon, 1855. -

Nelson Runyon, 1868-73. Joseph B. Coward, 1874-77.

CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.

Frazee Cole, 1847-49.

Zachariah Webster, 1847, 1849-51, 1857-60, 1862-68.

John Layton, 1848-55.

Jonathan Cory, 1850.

Manning Vermuele, 1851-60.

ASSESSORS.

Elisha Runyon, 1854-55.

Jarob Thorn, 185G.

Isaac S. Duun, 1857-62.

Elias R. Pope, 1863-67.

Joseph A. Ilubbard, 1868-77.

COLLECTORS.

Daniel Bullman, 1847. Elisha Runyon, 1852.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 72

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