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 76
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 76
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Post-Offices .- The first post-office in this city was in the year 1806. It was then part of the township of Westfield. Mr. Samnel Manning was appointed postmaster, he being not only the inn-keeper, but also proprietor of a general country store. The let- ters were kept in one corner of the bar-room, and here the mail was made up about twice a week. A stage from Amboy passed through this village and stopped at "Manning's Inn" for dinner, carrying a package of letters tied up " and placed in the general bag of all the district for miles around." In the year 1813 a regular ronte was established from Easton to Elizabeth Town Point. It was called the "Swift- sure," and " Gummins Line," which had its head- quarters in the hamlet of Lyons Farms, near New- ark, N. J. There Mr. Gummins lived and changed his horses at the same time that the "Newark and York" letters were being assorted. In 1830 this route was abandoned, and Jacob Manning, the son of the inn-keeper (who had died Sept. 20, 1817, in his forty- second year), carried the mail in a bag upon a horse or in a sulky, and for many years carried the mail for a large scope of country, as well as verbal mes- sages including the news of the day. He is now living on Front Street in this city, nearly ninety years of age, and tells us that he was always a welcome visitor, for he carried the news of one neighborhood to the next, being intrusted with many confidential communications, and among the proud recollections of that period is the consciousness that he never broke his " troths" with any one.
In the year 1838, Mr. Jacob Manning gave up the business of carrying and assorting the mails, and the late Dr. John Craig took charge of it, and had the office in his drug-store on the corner of Park Avenue and Front Street, where he had a corner fitted up for the mail-bag and conveniences for correspondence ; " many coming from a distance would answer these letters in the drug-store before returning home." The next postmaster was Elias Kirkpatrick, from 1850 to 1857 ; he was also and still is a magistrate. Elston Donn was appointed in 1860, and held the office seven years, when Wallace Vail received the appointment, and held the office fifteen years. Elias R. Pope received the appointment Feb. 23, 1882. He was born at Dunellen, March 8, 1836. His an- cestor was a Revolutionary soldier, and did good service in the war. His father, John Pope, owned lands in Piscataway township which are still in the family. Mr. Pope removed to this city in 1849, and was clerk for seventeen years with Isaac S. Dunham. He has been since 1866 a dry-goods merchant, latterly of the firm of Pope Brothers.
Glan Deventure
311
TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.
Banks .- "The Plainfield Bank," the first institu- tian of the kind in the village, obtained a charter in 1837, and did business for some time. Its charter was repealed in 1847 by act of the Legislature.
N. Brass was the cashier, but the name of the president does not appear on the single bill in the possession of the writer.
In 1859 a charter was granted for the "Union County Bank." This institution was more successful than its predecessor, and remained in operation until superseded by the First National Bank of Plainfield.
First National Bank .- This institution was first organized in 1868. It has a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, with a surplus of fifty thousand dollars. President, J. R. Van Deventer ; Vice-Presi- dent, E. W. Runyon ; Cashier, Carmen Parse ; Board of Directors, J. R. Van Deventer, E. W. Runyon, John Simpson, Manning Stelle, A. Berry, I. D. Tits- worth, L. Craig, M. D. Williams, McD. Coriell, P. M. French.
JEREMIAH R. VAN DEVENTER .- The Van Deventer family is of Holland origin, and the progenitor of the family in New Jersey is supposed to have been among the early settlers here from that country about the middle of the seventeenth century.
Jacob Van Deventer, grandfather of our subject, resided near Bound Brook, in Middlesex County, N. J., on the New Brunswick road ; was a farmer by occupation, and reared a large family of chil- dren, who became farmers and mechanics, and set- tled in different parts of the State. One son, Jacob, born Oct. 7, 1774, settled at Bound Brook. He died July 17, 1870. His wife, Mary Garretson, of Bound Brook, whom he married April 2, 1803, was born Feb. 4, 1767, and died March 6, 1846, leaving four chil- dren,-Mary Ann, who was twice married, and died in August, 1860 ; Jeremiah R., subject of this sketch ; Jacob G., a clothing merchant of St. Louis, who was killed May 6, 1853, by a railroad accident in New England ; and Sarah Margaret, wife of John Smith, of Weston, N. J. Jacob Van Deventer was a me- chanie by trade, but followed agricultural pursuits during the latter part of his life in Franklin town- ship, Somerset County, dying at the residence of his daughter, Sarah Margaret, at Weston, at the advanced age of ninety-six years and ten months.
Jeremiah R., son of Jacob and Mary Van Deven- ter, was born at Bound Brook Nov. 25, 1805. He re- mained at home during his minority, and obtained his early education in the common school of his na- tive place. After reaching his majority he learned cabinet-making, and worked at it for three years. In 1829 he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and purchased a farm in the township of Warren, now North Plainfield, Somerset County, upon which he has resided since. At the time of his settlement on this farm the village of Plainfield, in Union County, numbered only a few hundred inhabitants, and its business interests were mostly confined to the
village and surrounding country, whereas during the past twenty years its population has rapidly increased, its business has developed, and it has become one of the most desirable locations for a residence, contain- ing, as it does, very many of the finest-designed and beautiful residences anywhere to be found in the State. The contiguity of Mr. Van Deventer's resi- dence to Plainfield and the rapid growth of the place led him many years ago to take an active interest in its business affairs.
He was one of the directors of the old Union County Bank, was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Plainfield in 1865, which superseded the other, and has officiated as its president, with the ex- ception of three years. He has been one of the prin- cipal owners of the gas-works of the city since 1870, and served the company as president ; succeeded Mr. Elston Marsh as president of the Washington Fire Insurance Company of Plainfield, and has served as one of the trustees of the Second Presbyterian Church of the place for many years. Among other enter- prises Mr. Van Deventer and his nephew, Augustus Van Deventer, erected, in 1877, “ Van Deventer Hall." on Front Street, in Plainfield, a brick structure of three stories, the finest-designed business block in the city.
His connection with the First National Bank from its organization has given that institution a substan- tial financial standing among business men, who re- gard his quick perception of matters, his thorough- going business capacity and integrity as safeguards for the judicious managements of its funds. As a citizen he is frank and outspoken, sociable, earnest, and unostentatious. His life has been almost wholly devoted to business pursuits, and he has never sought official place or the emoluments of office, except sev- eral years ago to serve for a time on the board of chosen freeholders of Somerset County, in which his residence is located.
By his wife, Cornelia, daughter of Beekman Stryker, of Somerset County, whom he married in 1830, he has one child, Caroline, wife of Peter Bronson, of New Brunswick, N. J.
Dime Savings Institution .- Organized in the year 1868. Motto: " A penny saved is equal to two earned." President, E. W. Runyon ; Vice-Presidents, Stephen O. Horton, Isaac R. Brown ; Secretary and Treasurer, Elias R. Pope ; Assistant Treasurer, James C. Pope; Board of Investment, Stephen O. Horton, Enos W. Runyon, Joseph B. Coward, William White ; Managers, E. W. Runyon, R. M. Titsworth, Levi Het- field, Jr., Lewis E. Clark; Auditing Committee, Car- mon Parse and Nathan Harper.
City National Bank .- Organized April, 1875. Capital, $150,000. President, Charles Hyde; Vice- President, E. R. Pope; Cashier, Joseph M. Myers; Directors, E. R. Pope, J. B. Coward, R. MacDonald, C. H. Stillman, Charles Hyde, C. Schepflin, I. F. Hubbard, I. T. Clossin, Lawrence Myers.
312
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
The Mutual Assurance Fire Company .- At a meeting of the inhabitants of the village of Plainfield and vicinity, convened pursuant to public notice at Abraham Laing's on Jan. 13, 1832, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of devising a plan to insure property that is perishable from loss or damage by fire, Randolph Dunham was called to the chair and Cornelius Boice appointed secretary. The object of the meeting being stated by Zachariah Webster and others, it was
"Ordered, That it is expedient for this meeting to form an association for the purpose of insuring prop- erty that is perishable from loss or damage by fire upon the plan of a Mutual Assurance Fire Company." The following-named persons attached their signa- tures to the plan March 12, 1832:
Edmund Webster, Elias Runyon, Daniel Vail, Isaac Titsworth, Dennis Coles, Jacob Manning, James Leon- ard, Randolph M. Stelle, John Wilson, Piatt Drake, Theophilus Pierson, Enoch M. Randolph, SmithWeb- ster, Joseph Webster, Jacob Thorn, George Thorn, Elisha Runyon, Nathan Vail, William M. Clark, Daniel Carle, Samuel Pound, Caleb Freeman, Francis Runyon, Jobs & Runyon, Ira F. Randolph, Martin Runyon, John T. Cook, Randolph Marsh, Richard Hartshorn, Samuel Webster, Laing Webster, Zacha- riah Webster, Daniel Shotwell, Alex. Wilson, Ran- dolph Marsh, Nathan Laing, William Hendrickson, Trustum Manning, Daniel Allen, E. S. V. Fitz Web- ster, Lucas V. Hoagland, John Layton, William Vail, Peter Coriell, Abijah Titus, Jonah Vail, John H. Coward, F. Cole, Eli Pound, David Dunn, William S. Webster, Randolph Dunham, W. P. Williamson, Jon. M. Kinsey, Job Meeker, John x (his mark ) Laing, Reuben Dunn, Siles Williams, Peter Wooden, Thomas Stead, A. D. Titsworth, Noah Drake, Lewis Bond, William Tunison, Joseph Fitz Randolph, Joel Wil- son, Joel Wilson & Co., James Laing. Edward Vail, David Allen, Robert Anderson. Steven Cooper, John Runyon, Joseph D. Shotwell, Jarvis B. Ayres, John Randolph, John S. Shotwell.
The following officers were then elected: Jacob Manning, president ; Randolph Dunham, vice-presi- dent ; Cornelius Boice, secretary. .
The present officers are Alfred Berry, president ; Isaac H. Dunn, vice-president; Walter L. Hetfield, secretary and treasurer.
Directors, Alfred Berry, David L. Randolph, Calvin Drake, George Drake, Isaac H. Dunu, William C. Ayres, Oliver R. Stelle, Phineas M. French, Eugene Runyon, Corra O. Meeker, Daniel F. Randolph, Wal- ter L. Hetfield, John Ross, Joseph B. Coward, John : Simpson.
Washington Fire Insurance Company of Plain- field was organized in 1875, Elias R. Pope, secretary and treasurer, 1875-82.
CHAPTER XLVII.
TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD .- (Continued.)
Inn-Keepers .- The first public-house in Plainfield was built by Samuel Manning. " He kept a Country Store and Inn" in 1806, near where Lebbeus Comp- ton's bakery and confectionery store is situated on Front Street. In this building was the first post- office. This was the only house of entertainment, and was called "Manning's lon" and the "Post Store," the spot
" Where gray-beard mirth and smiling toil retired,
And village statesmen talked with look profound."
At the death of Mr. Samuel Manning (20th Sep- tember, 1817) his son, Jacob Manning, continued the same store and kept the office. It is said that the Quaker influence was against inns, and this commu- nity was nearly half of this faith. They were op- posed "to revelry and feasting." After Mr. Jacob Manning quit keeping tavern Abram Lainge opened a house of " entertainment l'or man and beast" in 1828. The place soon took the name of "Lane's Tavern." Travel from "up country" was lively in those days. Wagons loaded with beef, hogs, grain, tallow, and honey for the near market of "Amboy Perth" or "Perth City," and the " perriogers" run- ning to New York were constantly passing or stopping at the hotel. Mr. Manning kept the tavern about twelve years. Jacob Thorn opened another in 1837 or 1838; William Craig kept here about two years. After Mr. Laing gave up his original hotel he built the present house on Front Street in 1840, and he re- mained here until his death, in 1856. Et has been long known as "Laing's Hotel." After the death of the senior Laing his son carried on the place until quite recently, being the well-known and popular landlord of the establishment. Mr. George Miller opened the house in 1880, but in a few months he died, and his son, J. B. Miller, is now occupying the stand. The hotel is popular not only as a summer resort for boarders, but for transient customers.
Mr. Jacob Thorn built the present "Mansion House." In 1858 it was called the "City Hotel." Mr. Forman had charge of it for one year, 1856; after he left it Mr. Thorn opened the house in 1858, and Mr. Sanders, "the stage-driver," as he has generally been called, came and leased the Mansion House from 1859 to 1861. Hle removed, and John T. Lee carried on the business from 1861 to 1863, and Jacob Thorn took it again in 1864; E. P. Thorn, 1866-71; George Miller, 1872-75; William Hughson, 1876; Christo- pher Vannarsdale, 1877; Mr. De Revere, 1877-79. Mr. Jacob Thorn died May, 1874, in his seventy-third year. His son now keeps the hotel, and has a fair share of the public patronage. There was for a few years, about 1827 and subsequently, an inn kept by John Ayres on the corner of Cherry and Front Streets, where Berry & Thorn's hardware-store is situated.
313
TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.
Force's Hotel, on Front Street, is still kept open, and has become somewhat popular with the traveling public. James H. Force, proprietor.
Park House, a temperance boarding-house, is a family hotel with accommodations for one hundred and twenty-five guests, open all the year. It was first opened by the owner, Evan Jones, in 1873. George B. De Revere, formerly of the Mansion House, took possession of it as landlord in 1879, and up to this time the house has been popular with families desiring a healthy country home.
There are a large number of first-class houses which are adapted for a few private families, and convenient for the daily trains to and from the city of Plainfield.
Burial - Grounds. - Among the earliest burial- places were family plots situated mostly on the farms of the first settlers, and some of the lands having changed ownership, the graves have been removed or leveled in the process of tilling the soil. Many have but rough stones with initials of the name and date, and many are without any inscription. The burial- plot of the Lenox, Coriells, and Coverts, situated on the George Smock farm, near Dunellen, in this town- ship, is of an ancient date, and a large number are here buried. The following epitaph is found on one of the stones :
" In Memory of LUKE CUVERT, Who died Jan. 22, 1828, In the 94th year of his age. Come look upon my grave, All you that pass by ; Where one doth live to such an age Thousands do younger die."
On the line of the New Jersey Centrai Railroad was the family burial-plot of the Marsellies families. It is just south of Evona Station. A few years ago the stones were removed by the family.
The Coles burial-ground, near the line of Fanwood township, is still used by the family, and kept in ex- cellent order. Here are the first of this family buried, and the gravestones are erected to designate the spot.
BAPTIST BURIAL-GROUND .- It was found neces- sary that some action should be taken in relation to a proper locality for the burial of the dead in the year 1849, and the trustees of the First Baptist Church took the initiative in purchasing and beautifying a suitable plot of ground for a cemetery, "whither full oft, with saddened heart and solemn step, many have made their pilgrimage to lay beneath the shadow of its evergreen trees the forms of their loved ones."
In the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church a large number are buried. The Quaker burying-ground, near the station, dates back to 1788, when the meet- ing-house was built. They had previously buried their dead in the old Quaker ground in Raritan town- ship, of which no distinct trace now remains. But their records show that it was first used in 1731.
Here are interred the Shotwells, Thorns, Marshs, Vails, Pounds, Laings, Bonners, Fitz Randolphs,
Kinseys, Wilsons, Griffiths, Hartshornes, Hamptons, Parkers, Rogers, and many of those whose names have become unknown in this township. The ground in Plainfield is still used for burials, but with very few stones placed to identify them.
The Methodist burial-ground is but recently estab- lished. In 1864 plots were secured and many of its members are there buried. It is near the Baptist cemetery, and kept in good order, the grounds having abundance of evergreens, and neat paths dividing the lots.
The Catholic burial-ground is also of recent date. It is situated north on the line of the railroad going to Scotch Plains. The ground is kept in excellent order, and has some fine monuments, as well as beau- tifully-carved gravestones.
The Union Cemetery Company was incorporated in the year 1871, and in 1874 the Plainfield Cemetery act of the Legislature was revived, which law can be found recorded on page 984 of New Jersey Laws, which give them power to own lands for the purpose of interments within the limits of Plainfield.
Evergreen Cemetery is the name given the present place of interment in Plainfield, and where most of the residents own family plots.
Seventh-Day Cemetery, situated on Park Avenue and Ninth Street, is kept with considerable neatness and respect for those there buried.
Roads and Avenues.1-The distinctive character- istic of Plainfield is not its manufacturing nor com- mercial interests, but rather its elegant residence property and the interesting drives on level, shaded streets and avenues, generally straight and macada- mized, under continuous archways of maples and elms, made delightful by the well-kept, tasteful lawns and many neat terraced banks. The many avenues that might be mentioned are the fine wide Park Avenue, Crescent Avenue, the avenue leading to Fanwood, the wide avenues to Evona, and others, as well as many leading in different directions out- side of the city limits. The Johnson drive, as it is popularly called, is a macadamized road leading along the brow of the Blue Ridge range, extend- ing from the notch through which Somerset Street passes to the picturesque gap in the mountains. Some of the highest points on the drive are three hundred to three hundred and fifty feet above the adjacent plain. And also a drive on Netherwood Heights af- fords a charming pleasure trip of endless variety over serpentine roadways on an undulating surface covered with a natural growth of oaks and chestnuts, passing an unusually attractive class of dwellings and beautiful grounds. And lastly the ride to Wash- ington Rock is another attractive pleasure drive, aud well repays any one to visit that upper region of in- vigorating mountain air and expansive panoramic
I An act of the Legislature in relation to laying out avennes and I streeta was passed in 1873.
314
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
landscape. These eireumstanees, in connection with the local improvements and unsurpassed railroad facilities, have attracted a larger percentage of New York business men than any other suburban city along the eighteen or twenty lines of travel from the great metropolis.
Fire Department .- For many years previous to 1827 the inhabitants of this then small village de- pended in a sudden emergeney when the ery of fire was sonnded upon each neighbor bringing his bucket and axe, and it was understood that such or such a neiglibor owned a ladder. But, unfortunately, it was sometimes lent out and had not been returned. The necessity of some organization was deeply felt, and in the above-mentioned year some thirty of the townsmen, through Mr. Robert Anderson, the prime mover in the enterprise, secured by subscription of ten dollars each a hand-lever engine for extinguish- ing fires from New Brunswick called the "Har- mony." This was the first fire-engine brought to the village of Plainfield, and a house for its reception was built on a lot belonging to Jacob Manning, where Mr. Green's furniture store now stands. The engine- house remained here for a time until it was removed to near the corner of Cherry Street and the lane to the Quaker meeting-house, now the corner of Park and North Avenue, where The Constitutionalist is published. The following composed the volunteer company of 1827 : Dr. John Craig, Jacob Manning, Zachariah Webster, Caleb Freeman, Jarvis B. Ayres, James Leonard, Randolph M. Stelle, Eli Pound, Ira Fitz Randolph, Laing Webster, Abraham Parker, Simeon Fitz Randolph, Randolph Dunham, Corne- lius Boice, Joel Wilson, Benjamin M. Stelle, Edmond Webster, Jacob Thorn, Lewis Force, Nathan Vail, John Briant, Robert Anderson (he was foreman for a time), Miriam Ormston, John Layton, Joseph Shotwell, and John Edgar. There were probably others, but at this late date it seems impossible to procure a complete list.
Aug. 25, 1853, the following citizens of Plainfield united for the purpose of organizing a new company, to be called " a fire-engine company," in the village of Plainfield : Isaae C. Varian, James M. Dunn, D. W. Dorman, L. E. Barkalew, Samuel Manning, John Cummings, William Gano, E. B. Titsworth, A. Van- derbeek, William M. Webster, R. C. Barkalew, E. W. Bloom, Henry R. Cannon, H. C. Randolph, Ellis Ayres, George Pack, Randolph Marsh, I. W. Martin. John V. Arrowsmith, Warren Marsh, John C. Run- yon, Augustus Martin, George Strooks. James M. Dunn was made chairman ; Samuel C. Varian was elected foreman. The organization was called " Har- mony Fire Engine Company, No. 2;" a constitution and by-laws were adopted Ang. 31, 1853, and Samuel Manning was elected secretary and treasurer.
At the next monthly meeting Messrs. W. W. Web- ster, Jacob C. Varian, H. R. Cannon, E. B. Titsworth, John Arrowsmith, William Gano, and Lewis E.
Barkalew were appointed a committee to raise money to build a new engine-house and proeure a new engine.
At a meeting Sept. 14, 1853, Dr. Cannon, treasurer of the committee, reported on hand $787.50 in sub- scriptions, and a committee was appointed to visit the different engine-builders in New York and Brook- lyn, to examine carefully the construction and engage an engine for this company not to exceed in cost $800. The following were said committee: Messrs. D. W. Dorman, Washington Marsh, Isaae Varian, William Gano, Samuel Manning, and William Webster.
At their next meeting, Oct. 5, 1853, the committee reported that they had contracted with Mr. Joseph Pine for an engine to cost $900. At this same meet- ing it was decided to determine by ballot the name of the new engine. Three ballots were taken with no choice, when on motion of Mr. Dorman it was de- cided to call it "Washington, No. 2;" but at their next meeting this action was rescinded and a commit- tee appointed to name the engine, consisting of the following: Messrs. Washington Marsh, L. E. Bar- kalew, James M. Dunn, E. W. Bloom, Ellis Ayres, and the committee reported the name of "Gazelle, No. 3."
Jan. 4, 1854, a committee was appointed to " pre- pare and circulate for names a petition to the Legis- lature of New Jersey for an act incorporating Plain- field into a fire district," and the company held their first meeting in their new house Aug. 3, 1854, ealled Fireman's Hall. D. W. Dorman was elected fore- man, and Ellis Ayres secretary, at the annual meet- ing Feb. I, 1855.
At a meeting hield March 7, 1855, John Ayres was made foreman of a juvenile hose company. The hose- carriage, or "jumper," as it was termed, was a two- wheeled paint-cart procured from Frazee Marsh. A roller was fixed on the axles, and the same apparatus is in use to-day, known as " Warren Hose-Carriage, No. 3."
Before the purchase of the new engine the company worked an old double-deek engine, loaned them by Mr. Pine while he was building the new engine. This apparatus was called the " Night-Owl," and was surrendered to him when the new engine arrived.
The number of this company was changed about this time to No. 1 Engine, and the company had secured a lot on Cherry Street and commeneed the erection of an engine- house next to Martin Brothers' grocery. The new engine arrived about Feb. 1, 1855, also a supply of hose. D. W. Dorman was re-elected foreman, and Ellis Ayres secretary. It was proposed to have a parade the 1st of April, and to invite the superintendent and inspectors of the railroad to attend the parade, which was afterwards postponed for two months.
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