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 96
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 96
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The following officers have served in this township :
JUDGES OF ELECTIONS.
William Littell, 1870-73, 1876-78.
Alexander A. Taylor, 1876-81.
E. W. Day, 1874-75. Jamies M Woodruff. 1879-80.
Daniel W. Day, 1873-74.
J. II. Pleasent, 1881.
William H. Briant, 1875.
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CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.
Augustus J. Thebaud, 1869-75. William HI. Briant, 1877-79.
Lewis McKirgan, 1876. William H. Briant, 1880-81.
TOWN CLERKS.
Alfred Albertson, 1869-75. Alexander A. Taylor, 1876-81.
JUSTICES OF PEACE.
Thomas McKirgan, 1869-70.
Jolını Dean, 1876.
William II. Briant, 1871. William G. Marsh, 1877.
David M. Smythe, 1881. George M. Tingley, 1875.
James S. Sandford, 1873, 18SI. James S. Sandford, 1879.
Archibald Gracie, 1878-80.
D. M. Smith, 1880-81.
TOWN COMMITTEE.
John H. Allen, 1869-70. Wilmot M. Chapman, 1875-76.
James C. Pitts, 1869-71, 1875, 1877.
J. Dagget Ilunt, 1875.
Daniel W. Day, 1869-71, 1876.
Joshua Young, 1876.
James M. Woodruff, 1871.
William M. Chapoman, 1877.
Jonathan Edgar, 1873-75, 1878.
A. N. Martin, 1877, 1880.
Willoughby Powell, 1872-74.
George H. Nicholas, 1878, 1880-81.
William 2. Larned, 1872-74, 1877- 78.
William H. Dumont, 1878-79.
J. E. Sayre, IS78. Lewis MeKirgan, 1879.
Eugene Devoe, 1873.
Alexander Robertson, 1873. James S. Sanford, 1874-75.
George M. Tingley, 1874, 1876.
George Manley, 1880-81.
ASSESSORS.
Jonathan Bonnell, 1869-75.
S. Il. Congar, 1879. David M. Smythe, 1879, 1881.
Benjamin S. Denn, 1877.
James M. Woodruff, 1876. David M. Smythe, 1878-81.
RESIDENCE OF I. E. DOYING, SUMMIT, N. J.
393
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.
COLLECTORS.
Benjamin S. Dean, 1869-76. S. H. Congar, 1×77. Daniel H. Day, 1878.
John B. Walsh, 1879.
Edward B. Kelley, 1880-81.
INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS.
P. H. Vernon, 1877.
J. W. Foster, 1877.
W. N. Benjamin, 1878. David W. Bonnel, 1878.
George Cassidy, 1879-81. W. G. Marsh, 1879.
Samuel Ilouston, 1880-81.
COMMISSIONERS OF APPEALS.
James S. Sandford, 1870-73, 1878. William C. Hicks, 1870-72.
James Good, 1878-79, 1881. William lland, 1879-80.
Theodore F. Littell, 1873-76.
George W. Campbell, Jr., 1880. John Rooney, 1881.
William H. Briant, 1873.
George W. Nicholas, 1874-77, 1879. Jacob F. Badgley, 1874-76.
J. E. Dohman, 1881.
Charles P. Edwards, 1872.
J. N. Devoe, 1877.
William Delancy, 1872. Willoughby Powell, 1870.
Villages and Hamlets .- SUMMIT .- The town of Summit includes the whole of the centre and main road called Springfield Avenue, leading from the village of New Providence. The outskirts are sur- rounded with fine country-seats, the home of retired as well as business men from the adjacent cities of Newark and New York. Here can be seen fine villas, parks well laid out, and grounds with well-built man- sions, while many extensive hotels and resorts for boarders are handy for the many trains which go from its depots upon the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad, as well as the Passaic and Delaware Rail- road depot at West Summit. It is a flourishing, pic- turesque town on the top of the Orange range of mountains, being well supplied with churches,- Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, Presby- terian, and Roman Catholic,-and with well-con- ducted schools. The Park Hotel, where a large number of guests find a home; the grounds, kept in excellent order, give it with the interior an air of comfort.
WEST SUMMIT is on the extreme border of the township; has many fine residences and well-culti- vated farms. The depot of the Passaic and Delaware River Railroad is here convenient for all needed bandy transit. The roads are kept in excellent order. The Baptist Church is here located, stores, etc.
EAST SUMMIT, or Deantown, originally called from settlement of families by name of Dean, is to the ex- treme eastern border of the township. District school No. 20 is here located; also the hub-factory of Houtem & Bro. This part of the township is growing rapidly, with neat, comfortable homes. Good roads are also found here, as well as nearly in the whole of the township.
HUNTLY is a small hamlet, having a mill, and is included in East Summit boundary.
Business Houses .- Real estate, Archibald Gracie. Printing, Lorenzo H. Abbey ( Herald office). Stoves and tinware, T. W. Overpeck. Upholsterer, James H. Green. Plumbing, Thomas Ryan.
Plumbing, J. Munssinger.
Painters, Kelly, Chamberlain & Jones. Mason and builder, David O'Rourke.
Livery stables, James Henry Martin. Kindling wood, at Hub and Kindling Wood Co., Housten Brothers. Hotel, " Union," kept by James H. Donnelly. Groceries, Edward B. Kelly.
Wm. Littell & Sons.
John Rooney.
D. R. Valentine.
Feed and grain, A. R. Randolph.
Cabinet-maker, James Long.
Carriage- and wagon-works, H. J. Holmes.
Boots and shoes, M. Murphy.
Ale, Walsh, Union Avenue.
Barber, Fred. Badelt.
Carpenter, C. R. Brown.
Oyster and ale house, P. B. Caviston.
Lumber and coal, E. A. Day and D. W. Day & Son. Livery, W. H. Delany.
News agent, G. H. Dietrich. Dry-goods, J. H. Donnelly. Dowd & Butler.
Blacksmith, C. Farrell.
Express agent, J. W. Halsey.
Carpenter, Hughes & Pheasent.
Livery, P. Kelley.
Hotel, M. Kinney.
Architects, H. Lamb & Co.
Postmaster, Theodore F. Littell.
Horse-shoeing, etc., M. Martin. Groceries, M. C. McBurney.
Hotel, D. Morrissey. Livery, O. Mahoney.
Park House, James Riera.
Boots and shoes, J. H. Smith. Baker, S. O. Smith.
Blackburn Honse, Mrs. M. S. Tatem.
Drugs, etc., A. A. Taylor.
Summit Library Association .- Among many en- terprises for the benefit of the town of Summit is a fine library, numbering 1038 volumes. This associa- tion was organized Jan. 10, 1874, and with the follow- ing officers : W. Z. Larned, president; Olive Bough- ton, vice-president ; Archibald Gracie, secretary and treasurer. Jonathan Bonnel, Sarah F. Gracie, Olive Bonghton, P. V. R. Van Wyck, W. Z. Larned, Eliza P. Sandford, and Caroline A. Hicks are the directors.
They have published in neat pamphlet form some twenty-six articles of by-laws, and the Summit Li- brary is in a prosperous condition, having conveniences for their volumes and reading-room in the new brick academy on Springfield Avenue, convenient to the residents of the Summit. We are told that they are in a prosperous condition, and adding to their library many valuable volumes.
Railroads .- The Delaware and Lackawanna Rail- road passes nearly through the centre of the township,
J. M. Woodruff, 1878.
394
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
having three stations, Summit, New Providence, and Huntly.
Summit Post-Office .- It was through the instru- mentality of William Little, Esq., in 1840, who opened a store in the Summit nearly opposite the depot, that a post-office was granted them in that year. He has held the position since that time, excepting of four years, when John and Daniel H. Noe were appointed. His two sons now are engaged with him in business, and Theodore F. Little postmaster, and Mr. William Little is acting as assistant postmaster.
Schools .- This township has (1881) within its bounds two school districts, Nos. 19 and 20, and the following teachers have supplied them since the town- ship was organized in 1869: Emily Weeks, Arthur Baily, H. M. Bachlier, J. V. D. Green, T. T. Collard. E. H. Schuyler, who is the principal of No. 19. At the present time Miss M Ella Tappen, Cora B. Smal- ler, J. W. Fort; and the School District No. 20, Mr. Wheat and Wesley V. Woodruff, who is the present principal.
The amount raised for the year 1880 in support of School District No. 19 was the sum of $5559.40, and for School District No. 20 the sum of $1090.45. This included the State appropriation of $1575.73.
The fine school building, built of brick in the year 1875, has many desirable improvements that are adapted to the large public school buildings in the city. The location is central and on a fine avenue, convenient for all the children of the township. The whole cost was $13,500.
The district school clerk, Mr. Alex. A. Taylor, at Summit, No. 19, reports 297 children, and the district school clerk, J. C. Kellington, No. 20, at East Sum- mit, reports 170 children in the district.
Burial-Ground .- There are no cemeteries in the township ; most of the interments are taken to New Providence or Springfield. We find two private plots, one belonging to the descendants of Isaac Sayre, on the Baltus Roll road leading to Westfield, the other on the farm of late Brooks Vreeland, now occupied by Mr. Delaney, at Briant's Mill, now called Huntly, but they are seldom used at the present time. There is said to have been an Indian burial-ground near the Passaic River, but all traces of the locality have long disappeared.
Historic Incidents .- During the memorable battle of Springfield, just below the First Mountain, in 1780, many of the Continental army made their quarters in this valley. IIere they could have a good view of the approach of the enemy under the command of Gen. Howe, with his six thousand regulars, and Col. Day- ton's detachment lay near Westfield, while scouts or runners, as they were called, lined the summit, bring- ing messages from Gen. Washington, who was just back a few miles, encamped with the American army near Morristown, some eight miles. Isaac Sayre's home was the resort of many of these weary, footsore scouts ; there they found a welcome. His wife, Eliza-
beth, it is said, could not do too much for them. She died the 26th September, 1850, in her ninety-second year, after being a long time a widow, and to her last day she recounted the fact that she had entertained Gen. George Washington, had fed him and encour- aged his men as they came to her mountain home, never turning them empty away. The old homestead is still standing on the road corner, where the Old Red School-house stood going towards Deanstown. Here, it is said, the first tavern was kept by Brooks Sayre, son of Isaac Sayre, and father of the present Brooks Sayre. There was also kept a house for the entertain- ment of man and beast by one Isaac Potter about the year 1833.
Newspaper .- There is published the Summit Herald by Lorenzo H. Abbey, of Madison, N. J., who is the editor and proprietor. It was started the 22d of July, 1881. The subscription price is one dollar a year. A neat six-column paper and ably handled, and in its growth will be an impetus to the growth of the Summit interests.
Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church .- In the year 1840 a few families of the Protestant Episcopal Church had settled upon the Summit, and desiring to have services regularly upon the Sabbath, as the nearest church for them to attend was at Millburn, or Madison, a distance of some miles, when it was de- cided to have the rector of St. Stephen's Church to come occasionally to supply, and with others, when a mission was formed with some sixteen communicants, and a small building was erected upon land given by William Littell, Esq., of Summit.
In the year 1843, Dr. R. Riley became their regular pastor, and remained until Rev. Mr. Kramer came, in 1849, and since then Revs. Mr. Reese and Depui supplied this mission until the fall of 1871, when it was decided to build a larger building on lots given by the late Jonathan Edgar, in 1872, on the corner of Kuttuck Place and Springfield Avenue, and in the spring of that year ground was broken to build the New Calvary, forty by seventy feet, of stone, which was completed in the fall, the edifice resem- bling the old English style of architecture, many beautiful conglomerates and other native stones being selected for its erection. Their former mission church was taken down in the year 1872. This parish was duly organized in the year 1862. The Rev. J. F. Butterworth is the present rector, and came from St. Mark's Church, Jersey City, the 23d of February, 1875, and resides in the rectory belonging to the parish. The number of sittings, 240 ; number of com- minicants, 128; Sabbath-school scholars, 70. Super- intendent, Rev. J. F. Butterworth.
St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Church .- Upon a hill that commands the view of the beautiful coun- try all around the Summit is erected a neat little church, built of stone in English Gothic style, and dedicated to St. Teresa. The growth of fine shade- trees cover the ground and give it the appearance of
PROPERTY OF GEO. W.
SHOWING NEW ENGLAND AVENUE AND BY HIM AND BY PART
ILLEN, SUMMIT, N. J. PROVEMENTS, WITH HOUSES ERECTED PURCHASING LOTS.
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395
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP.
a park, containing also a residence for the pastor and a commodious house for the Sisters of Charity teach- ing the parochial school.
Previous to the year 1862 the few Catholics of Summit were obliged to go to Springfield or to Mad- ison to attend church, a distance of several miles, but about the year 1862 it was decided to build a church for the Catholic people. This step was taken through the efforts of Mr. Maller, a good and pious man, with his son-in-law, Mr. A. Thebaub, and a few others in- terested. The pastor of St. Vincent's Church at Mad- ison undertook the task of building the church. The families of Maller, Thebaub, Riera, of Summit, and Coughlan, of Whippany, were the principal benefac- tors, and memorial windows were placed in the church to commemorate their charity. At this time the Catholics of Summit were less than one hundred. The church was blessed by the Right Rev. Bishop James R. Bailey, and for many years was attended once or twice a month from Madison, principally by the Rev. Fathers Madden, Darcey, Wigger, and Smith. In the year 1874 it was made a parish, and the Rev. W. M. Wigger, D.D., Bishop of Newark, was appointed first pastor by the Right Rev. Bishop Cor- rigan. During his pastorate a pastoral residence and a school were erected for the year 1876, and the Rev. G. A. Vassallo was placed in charge of the parish. During his pastorate he brought the Sisters of Char- ity from Madison Convent to take charge of the pa- rochial school, and built a beautiful house on the Queen Anne style for the Sisters' residence and for a select school.
The grounds have been tastefully embellished. Under Rev. Mr. Vassallo's care the congregation is in a progressing condition, though small in number, counting only eighty families. Through the zeal and efforts of the pastor and the good will of the peo- ple the parish is growing. The school is attended by over one hundred children, who, under careful train- ing in their duties towards God and society, are striv- ing to become useful citizens.
Presbyterian Church .- This church has but little history, having been organized only since 1870, when a few who were interested met in Littell's Hall, and twenty members were enrolled from the church at New Providence. D. H. Cooley and William Littell were chosen as elders, In 1871 the Rev. J. De Hart Bruen was installed as the first pastor. In the year 1872 the new church building was completed and dedicated. In 1879 the Rev. J. H. Mellvaine was installed as pastor, Mr. Bruen having gone to Clay- ton, N. J. During the present year a chapel has been erected for the use of the Sunday-school. The parsonage was built in 1876. The church cost about $16,000, the parsonage $6000, the chapel 86500. The whole property with furniture has cost not less than $34,000. The membership has increased to one hun- dred and seventy-five, and the Sunday-school to about one hundred and twenty-five. During the past ten
years the congregation has contributed for all relig- ions purposes over $43,000, and over $5000 has gone directly to the mission board of the Presbyterian Church. Two hundred and sixty members have been received during that time. The church is at present connected with the Presbytery of Elizabeth, and has been from the first. The following is a list of the elders, with the date of their election : Dwight H. Cooley, William Little, 1870; P. H. Vernon, J. E. Sergent, 1873; H. G. Simmons, Frank H. Dodd, Au- gustus F. Libby, 1880.
Baptist Church .- A few members of this church feeling a desire that there should be organized in Summit a Baptist society, when, about the year 1876, the Presbyterians decided to vacate a building where they had had occasional services and also a Sabbath-school for a few years, and having built their new Presbyterian Church in the Summit proper, they offered this building, which they were about to vacate, to the few Baptists, which was accepted at a cost of $6000, having seating capacity of 250. This new society was organized March 17, 1876. It is pleasantly situated on the road from New Providence to Summit and in a growing neighborhood, no other religious society being in the immediate or near by. The present membership is 30. The former pastors have been Rev. A. B. Woodworth, William Lawrence, and the present pastor, Rev. Gulien Garardus Noe, who is doing excellent service for this feeble church.
Methodist Episcopal Church. - The Summit Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on the 17th of July, 1867. The first board of trustees was composed of the following gentlemen, to wit: Benja- min S. Dean, John Denman, and William B. Cogge- shall, of the Springfield charge, Rev. G. H. Winans, pastor, and, being present, presided over the meeting, and Daniel W. Day and James Pitts, of New Provi- dence charge, J. W. Young being pastor. The church is situated on the corner of Morris and Summit Ave- nues. The ground on which the church and parson- age are erected was donated to the society by Mrs. Mary Sayre. The corner-stone of the church was laid on the 11th of September, 1867, by Rev. James Ayres, presiding elder of the Newark District, and an address was delivered by the Rev. R. L. Dashiel, D.D., then of Orange.
The society was constituted a station by the pre- siding elder Feb. 23, 1868, and the first Quarterly Conference was held at the house of Daniel W. Day, of Summit. and the following board of stewards were chosen : D. W. Day, William R. Gray, M.D., John Denman, Jr., and Benjamin S. Dean.
From the organization of the society until the Conference of 1869, held in the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Newark, the pulpit was supplied respectively by Henry Graham, a local preacher at Drew Theological Seminary, S. M. Vernon, and Rev. J. O. Winans of the Newark Conference. At this Conference Rev. R. B. Collins was stationed here as the
396
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
first settled pastor. The following are the subsequent pastors : 1870-71, Rev. W. S. Galloway ; 1872, Rev. W. W. Voorhees ; 1873-74, Rev. James Boyd Brady ; 1875-77, Rev. Charles S. Winans; 1878-79, Rev. Michael E. Ellison ; 1880-81, Thomas H. Jacobus, the present pastor.
In 1875 a beautiful parsonage was ereeted adjoining the church. The present official board is composed of the following persons : Trustees, D. W. Day, Joshua Youngs, John Denman, Stephen Mullen, and George R. Gibson ; stewards, viz. : D. W. Day, John Kelley, Charles S. Day, Seamen Wright, Theodore W. Over- peek, John Denman, S. Mullen, Charles F. Wood, and George R. Gibson.
Sittings, 275; communieants, 80; Sabbath-school scholars, 65. The church is located on a fine avenue and is in a prosperons condition.
CHAPTER LIV.
LINDEN TOWNSHIP.
Description .- In February, 1861, that portion of the borough of Elizabethtown that lay beyond a northwest line from the mouth of Morse's Creek to Galloping Hill road (measuring 2853 aeres) was set off to form the township of Linden with the following boundaries : "Beginning at a point on the northerly side of Staten Island Sound, at the intersection of the line between the city of Elizabeth and the town- ship of Rahway, running thenee northerly in a direct line to a point on the highway leading from the city of Elizabeth to Westfield opposite the Galloping Hill road, thenee westerly along said highway leading from the eity of Elizabeth to Westfield to its inter- section with the Central Railroad of New Jersey, thenee still westerly along said railroad to Rahway River, thence southerly along the said Rahway River to the centre of the bridge crossing the same at Vreeland's Mill, thence still southerly in a straight line to the northeasterly corner of the city of Rah- way, thenee along the easterly line of the city of Rahway to its intersection with the Rahway River, thence easterly along the said river to Staten Island Sonnd, and thenee along said Sound to the point or place of beginning."
Natural Features .- Formerly this township com- prised one of the finest farming sections in the county. But within a few years many of these farms have been made smaller, and more attention has been paid to the raising of garden produce, fruits and berries, there being abundant demand and ready market for these in the adjacent cities. The surface of the township is undulating, and lies convenient for the laying out roads. It slopes gently towards the north- west. The soil is a elay loam, with here and there a sandy loam. The salt meadows on the Staten Island Sound (Kill vou Kull) lie in the easterly portion of of the family lived near Scotch Plains.
the township. There are no streams of any note, bnt an abundance of excellent water is obtained from wells. The Central Railroad of New Jersey has a station at Roselle, and the Pennsylvania Railroad at Linden ; the station on the Long Branch road at Trem- bly is in this township. There are many advan- tages afforded by a country residence in this township to those doing business in New York, the eity being within forty minutes' ride. It is fast becoming a de- sirable locality for families on account of churches, schools, etc. Roselle and Linden are thriving vil- lages rapidly attracting a desirable population.
Early Settlements .- This township was first settled in common with Elizabethtown, of which it originally formed a part. Among the first who came was Stephen Crane, who was from Connectieut, and was probably nearly related to Jasper Crane, who settled in Newark. The family is quite ancient and honorable. Ralph Craue accompanied Sir Francis Drake to America in 1577, and Robert Crane was of the first company that came to Massachusetts Bay in 1630. It is said that Sir Robert Crane was of Essex County, England, in 1630, and Sir Richard in 1643, of Wood Riding, or Rising, in Norfolk, England. Henry and Benjamin Crane were of Wethersfield, Conn., at an early day, and the former removed thenee to Guilford. Stephen was born not later than 1640, and married as early as 1663. He owned some one hundred and fifty-six acres of land on the borders of Union and Linden town- ships, parts being in each; also a house-lot of six acres, bounded southeast by Samuel Trotter, north- west by Crane's Brook, east by the Mill Creek (now Elizabeth River), and west by the highway. He had also sixty acres between two swamps and adjoining William Cramer, also seventy-two aeres on Crane's Brook, bounded by the brook, William Cramer, Richard Beach, Nathaniel Tuttle, and William Car- don; also eighteen acres of meadow "towards Ra- wack Point." The old homestead of the Cranes is still standing, just over the line of this township. The well by the side of the road and a large oak-tree, said to have been one of the original forest trees, is still standing. " It has long been known as the Oak-Tree Well," and where cattle and horses have been watered on the highway for more than a century. Mr. Crane died in the year 1700.
John Hinds and William Johnson came here at an early date; they owned lands here. It is also re- corded that William Meeker (frequently " Meaker") owned land here. "He was appointed Oct. 7, 1667, to be loader to mill for a 12 month, to goe in all seasons except unreasonable weather." He was prob- ably connected with the grist-mill on Mill Creek in 1669. The old homestead of the Meekers is still standing in Cranford township. He was town con- stable in 1711. Joseph, his son, kept a country store, and Benjamin was a carpenter, while both were " planters." The father died in December, 1690. Part
397
LINDEN TOWNSHIP.
The family of Mosse (Morss, Morse) came at an early date. Robert, with his son Peter, were from Massa- chusetts. He had a large family, and carried on the trade of " tailor" as well as planter. He owned some four hundred acres in different townships, and per- haps about sixty acres in this township. One of his sons was a surveyor. He gave, Sept. 26, 1681, a tract of land on the Elizabethtown Creek to his son-in- law, William Broadwell. In one account it says "he disposed of it," instead of giving. The homestead was on "Thompson's Creek" (more generally of late called " Morse's Creek"), long the boundary between Rahway and Elizabeth. Peter died in May, 1702.
Nathaniel Norton was from the east end of Long Island, but though admitted one of the eighty Asso- ciates was induced after a short sojourn to return to the island. He owned lands here on the border of Elizabeth and this township. He sold his lands to Henry Morris, or Norris, and removed to Brookhaven, where he was living in 1685.
The family of Norris have owned a large number of acres on the borders of this township, but have been more identified with Elizabeth. William Oliver came at an early date and "possessed" the "planta- tion" by Jeffry Jones, Caleb Carwithy, eighty-four acres of upland, the meadows (" salt mash") now near the town of Linden, parts being in " Rahwack" proper. The families of Trembley and also Osborne had land here at an early date. Humphrey Spinage (also Spinning), Capt. John Baker, Charles Tucker (also Tooker) owned lands at an early day in the north- easterly part of this township (partly in Elizabeth Town and Union township), amounting to some four hundred acres.
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