History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 99

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 99
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 99

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Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church .- This beautiful church was erected by the faithful labors of a number of residents of this town and clergymen of the neighboring parishes. The organization was formed April 18, 1872, and services were held for some months prior to the building of the church upon North Avenue, easterly from the station, and near the residences of a number of its members. The cost when it was completed, in 1875, amounted to seven thousand dollars, and it is now free from in- cumbrance. The number of families connected with the parish is thirty-seven. The Rev. E. M. Reilly was the first rector in 1875, and remained for nearly three years. The Rev. J. H. Young was the next, and the present rector is Rev. William C. Roberts. Communicants, thirty-five; sittings, one hundred and fifty.

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church .- A few Catholic families residing in this township in 1871 had with Westfield occasional mass every two or three Sabhaths. In the year 1874 efforts were put forth for the building of a church which would ac- commodate all the families within two or three miles around, and material was purchased, but not until the fall of 1875 and the spring of 1876 was much done towards building, but in the summer of the latter year they had completed a neat building at a cost of about two thousand dollars, which will accom- modate some two hundred and fifty. The present res- ident priest is Rev. W. J. Weisman.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CORNELIUS A. LEVERIDGE.

Cornelius A. Leveridge was born in the city of New York, April 30, 1829; son of John Leveridge, coun- selor-at-law of that city, and descendant of Rev. Wil- liam Leveridge, the learned and revered Presbyterian clergyman, who was a student at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated, taking his degree of A.B. in 1625, and that of A.M. in 1629. He en- gaged to become the minister of Dover, N. H., and embarked at London in the ship "James," and after a passage of eight weeks arrived at Salem, Mass., Oct. 10, 1633. He immediately entered upon his work at Dover. Three years later we find him preaching at Sandwich, on Cape Cod. and here he remained for many years engaged in imparting religious truth to the Indians and proving himself a worthy cotempo- rary of the apostle Eliot. In 1653 he became a pur- chaser and settler of Oyster Bay, L. I., and at this place, Huntington, and Newtown he spent the rest of his life, preaching not only there, organizing churches, but came occasionally to Elizabeth borough and preached to some of his former parishioners who had settled there, and whose descendants are now oc- cupying the former homes of their ancestors. There is a manuscript commentary on the Scriptures which is preserved as the production of Mr. Leveridge among the town records of Newtown. "It is an old folio volume. The whole consists of one or two observa- tions upon each verse, chapter by chapter, each re- mark comprehended in four or five words. With some study the whole could easily be made out after the signs and abbreviations were mastered. He was settled as pastor at Newtown in 1662, and after a pas- torate of fourteen years died, June 19, 1677, leaving his sons Caleb and Eleazer. The former took out letters of administration on his estate." The follow- ing aphorism is from Freeman's "Cape Cod," vol. i. page 219:

" He who does not think of his ancestors will be negligent of his posterity.

[Signed ] " REV. WILLIAM LEVERIDGE."

At an early age Cornelius A. Leveridge attended the Union Hall Academy, Jamaica, L. I., connected with the Reformed Dutch Church, Henry Onderdonk, principal, where he remained until 1842, when he entered the grammar school of Columbia College, where he received a classical education. After spend- ing some four years in studies and in the school of chemistry, he removed in 1849 to Westfield, Union Co., N. J., and resided on the farm formerly owned by his uncle, Benjamin Leveridge, M.D., giving his attention to his favorite pursuits of geology, chem-

407

TOWNSHIP OF CRANFORD.

istry, and historical research. There he remained |N. J.' He was married at Quebec, Canada, on Sept. until the year 1865, accumulating an extensive and 24, 1849, to Eleanor J. Mills, daughter of James Mills, a leading journalist of Exeter, England. valuable collection of geological, historical, and nu- mismatic matter, which he sold at a large sum to P. T. Barnum, Esq. for his second museum, then being established in the upper part of Broadway,

M.K

Ca. Leveridge.

New York, his first having been consumed by fire in 1864.

In the year 1869 he removed to Cranford and be- came interested in the formation of this new town- ship, where he became identified with the growth of that beautiful village in the establishment of its churches and fine school building. He has been en- gaged in literary pursnits, writing historical and geological articles for the local newspapers, and as correspondent, and at the same time attending semi- naries and schools in Newark and other places, giving instruction on scientific subjects, and during this time he has been in correspondence with different historical and scientific societies throughout this country as well as Europe.

His habits of close observation and pedestrian tours have fitted him in an nnnsual degree for the work of local historian in this State, and he has col- lected a large amount of information of the early settlers. He is receiving letters from all parts of the Union relating to family history.

Since the centennial year of 1876, on his return from Philadelphia, Pa., he has resided in Dunellen,

His interest in political affairs dates back. to his early manhood, and he has always been an upholder of Jeffersonian principles. In 1865 he was elected as justice of peace, receiving nearly the whole vote of the township. He has also held many official relations in the county. His cheerfulness and sociability make many friends, and few men enjoy the society of their friends more than he.

JOHN DENMAN.

The homestead of the Denmans, which is still in the family and name. is situated in the town of Cran- ford, formerly a part of Westfield, and about five miles from Elizabeth. It was purchased in 1723 by John Denman, Jr., who was a descendant of the John Den- man who in 1635 lived in Dorchester, Mass. He is mentioned in Town Book B of the Elizabeth records as one of the memorialists of Nov. 18, 1729. He had much influence among his townsmen on account of his education and wealth, and possessed the luxuries of those days, as his "books" and " riding chair" are mentioned in the inventory of his effects. He was au Episcopalian, and attended St. John's Church, Eliza- beth, where his children and grandchildren were bap- tized. His first wife, Mary, daughter of Joseph Wil- liams, and the mother of his children, died March 27, 1762, in the sixty-second year of her age. He was married to his second wife, Elizabeth Lolloo, Sept. 18, 1763. He died March 15, 1775, in the seventy fifth year of his age, and was interred beside his first wife in the old cemetery at Westfield. He left four sons, John, Joseph, Daniel, and Christopher, and two daughters, Mary, who married Samuel Yeomans, and Jenny, who was twice married, her second husband being Aaron Faitoute. The farm was left equally to the sons, but Christopher purchasing the rights of the others became the sole owner. He was born March 5, 1741, and married Abigail Hendricks, who was born Feb. 17, 1746. She was the daughter of Isaac Hendricks and his wife, Lydia Craig. They were members of St. John's Church, Elizabeth, until the Revolutionary war, when the church was closed, and they then went to the Presbyterian Church at Westfield. In 1803, Christopher Denman assisted in erecting their third edifice. The district school long known as the Red School-house through his influ- ence was established near his home, and for years the teachers were accustomed to live with him. He com- manded the respect of all who knew him, was ener- getic and prudent, and by his perseverance accumu- lated a large amount of real estate, besides personal property, such as notes and bonds. His death took

1 Since the above was written he has returned to the homestead at Cranford, which is now his family residence.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

place Oct. 21, 1808, and that of his wife five years previous, in 1803. They are buried in the old West- field Cemetery. They had five daughters and one son,- Susan, born Nov. 22, 1773, died Oct. 15, 1854, married to Benjamin Cory, Jr .; Anna, born Oct. 24, 1776, died May 14, 1832, married to John Mills; Abigail, born May 3, 1779, died May 10, 1841, married to John

John Denmark

Marsh ; Hulda, born Oct. 1, 1784, died Aug. 7, 1830, married to Jonathan Miller; Mary, born Sept. 1, 1787, died July 24, 1831, married to Benjamin Woodruff; John, the only son, born Feb. 28, 1782, was married to Rebekah, daughter of John High, who died Jan. 4, 1812, leaving no issue. On Feb. 15, 1815, he mar- ried his second wife, Lockey Marsh, eldest daughter of Capt. Isaac Marsh and his wife, Catharine Terrell, of Rahway. Capt. Marsh from boyhood passed his life on the sea. On Feb. 14, 1788, he sailed as first mate on the bark "Jenny" for China, and on his return built and became captain of his own vessel. During the war of 1812 he was captured on the high seas and imprisoned in England until peace was de- clared, when he returned home, and died Jan. - , 1821.

ernment to transport cannon and powder to our Northern frontier.

He was a true American, in action as well as at i heart, and considered it the duty of every man to be present at the polls. He was a Democrat of the Jef- fersonian school, and interested himself in everything relating to his country, his neighborhood, and friends, always responding to calls of sickness and want. The following anecdote will illustrate a generous and kind-hearted disposition. He had frequently missed corn from his crib, and determined to watch for the trespasser. One night he saw a man filling a bag at the crib. After he had filled it, and was engaged in filling another, he felt a tap on his shoulder, with a demand for an explanation. He answered he was needy, and thought the owner would not miss it from his plenty. He was taken into the house, made to draw cider in the cellar, bring a mince-pie from the pantry, and then told to eat and drink until satisfied. When he was through they went to the crib. He was made to empty one bag, to put the other on his shoulder, and go home, with the advice that if he ever was in need to come and ask, but never to steal.

He always kept a pew for the use of his family in the Presbyterian Church, and entertained all minis- ters who came to preach in the Old Red School-house, one of whom, a Methodist, came monthly for fifteen years. He took a great deal of pride in keeping up the old homestead, and bequeathed it as he had re- ceived it from his ancestors, and it still stands to-day as one of the few places having a clear title, a mort- gage never having been placed upon it. He died Sept. 25, 1849, leaving four sons and one daughter. John Christopher Denman, born Nov. 17, 1815, married Eliza Hendricks, 1844, and died Feb. 4, 1864. A sketch of his life will be found in another part of this volume. Isaac Marsh Denman, born March 7, 1821, married Mary Cross, 1848, and died Nov. 25, 1866. He went to New Orleans in the em- ploy of his uncles, Ralph Marsh, John D. Marsh, and James B. Laing, in the carriage business. He was soon made a partner, and afterwards purchasing the interests of his associates continued the business, and took in his youngest brother, Rolph Marsh Den- man, who was born Feb. 23, 1833, and died unmarried. The partnership formed what was known as the Southern house. They both possessed remarkable business qualifications, were high-spirited, and very similar in talents, disposition, and ambition. They were interested in several moneyed institutions of the city. Isaac M. Denman died in New Orleans in the forty-fifth year of his age. His brother Rolph became the sole survivor of the Southern house, which terminated four years afterwards with his death, which occurred in New Orleans, Dec. 13, 1870. Mary Bartoche, 1855, and died Oct. 20, 1865. He was a farmer, and lived at the homestead, where since his death his family has resided.

John Denman was a man of indomitable energy and will. He was about six feet in height, of fine personal appearance, and noted for his horsemanship, in which he had few equals. For years he was en- | Alvan Fox Denman, born June 3, 1831, married gaged in getting out ship-timber, and often employed by the government to select it for the navy-yard. During the war of 1812 he was employed by the gov-

409

CLARK TOWNSHIP.

Mary Rebekah Denman, the only daughter, born Jan. 7, 1824, married April 5, 1848, to John Evans Matthews, who was born March 8, 1815. Mr. Mat- thews was the son of James and grandson of Thomas Matthews, of Raglan, England. At the age of twenty years he came to this country, and in 1837 went into business for himself in New Orleans, making and repairing carriages. In December, 1839, John C. Denman was taken into partnership under the firm- name of Matthews & Denman. They were very suc- cessful in their business, and executed large govern- ment orders during the Mexican war. In 1850, John C. Denman returned to the North to reside, Mr. Matthews continuing the business and adding to it a large stock of carriage trimmings and supplies. The following year he took in Isaac M. Denman as his partner under the name of J. E. Matthews & Co. The firm continued until the death of Mr. Matthews in 1859.

Mrs. Lockey Marsh Denman, the wife of John Denman, and the mother of the Denman sons, was born Sept. 28, 1792. She was a woman of superior manners, possessing fine conversational powers, as well as executive ability, which was inherited by her sons. Her Christian spirit and resignation was sorely tried when called to part with all her sons during a period of less than seven years. Her death took place July 30, 1875, and her remains are interred beside those of her husband in Fairview Cemetery, Westfield.

CHAPTER LVI. CLARK TOWNSHIP.

Natural Features,-This township was erected from the Fifth Ward of the city of Rahway in 1864. The surface is generally a level, having a gentle de- scent until it reaches the line of the city of Rahway. It is well timbered, and has a few of the original trees, which have grown to a large size. The soil is generally a clay loam, with here and there a sandy knoll or slight ridge. It is traversed by a copious stream, the Rahway River, affording plenty of water for "milling purposes," and running in a zigzag course through the easterly part of the township. On the westerly sides are tributaries or branches, the chief of which is known as Robinson Branch. This township, adjoining the city of Rahway, of which it was formerly a part, is well located as to its advan- tages of travel and transportation, and there are many fine farms which have been brought to a high state of cultivation. A few market-gardens are also suc- cessfully cultivated in the township, producing good returns also of fruits and berries.

The population of the township is 352,-males, 187 ; | females, 165; children between the ages of five and eighteen, 70.

Early Settlement .- This township was settled as part of the ancient borough of Elizabeth. In the

early part of the history of that borough will be found the names of the early settlers in this section, as well as in the other parts of the old borough and township. All that is necessary here is simply to give a list of the names of the early settlers within the limits of the present township of Clark.

The following are among those who took allotments of land in this part of Elizabethtown prior to 1709: Radley (Radelieft), Enders, Bullman, Scudder, Rick- etts, Wynants (now Wynans), Robertson, Halliday, Ross, Russell, Ryno, Powel, Darbie (Darby and Derby), Hendrick, Micheau, Clark, Miller, Pack, Lemington, Lilly, Mondy (Mundy), Woodruff, Sut- ton, Brant, Bowne (Boune), Thompson. There may have been a few others who settled within the bounds of this township, but no account of them can now he found. Many went in 1720 and settled in that part of the borough which afterwards was called Westfield township.

The Rev. Thomas Halliday, Episcopal missionary, whose ancestors settled in this township, had charge of the missions in Elizabeth Town, Rahway, Wood- bridge, and Amhoy. He says under date of Nov. 8, 1716, "In this part of East Jersey there are three townships,-Newark, Elizabethtown, and Wood- bridge,-which consist of upwards of a thousand families, the chief settlers of which were New Eng- land Independents (Presbyterians or Congregation- alists), who are now old and confirmed in their erro- neous way. In each of those towns there is a large Independent Church, who support their preachers with the allowance of £80 per annum, besides house, glebe, and perquisites of marriages."

Civil List .- Since the organization of the township the following have served as town clerks :

William J. Thompson, 1864-66, Charles A. Gundaker, 1871-72. 1869-70.

Adam Brown, 1867.

Benjamin F. Oshorn, 1873. William Bloodgood, 1874.

George W. Bullman, 1868, 1875-76.

Franklin P. Bullman, 1878-82.

ASSESSORS.

Robert 1. Turney, 1864.

William I. Thompson, 1873-76.

Gurshoni M. Dunn, 1865-67, 1871- 72 Jacob Ludlow, 1868-69.

George W. Bullman, 1877. 1 William Clark, 1878-79.

| Willitt H. C. Coles, 1880.

James B. Westervelt, 1870.

L. M. Scudder, 1881.

COLLECTORS.

William H. Enders, 1864, 1871-73, 1876-77.

John M. Park, 1865.

William I. Thompson, 1866-70.

TOWN COMMITTEE.

Robert A. Russell, 1864, 1867. John F. Whitney, 1864.

William E. Bloodgood, 1864-70, 1873-78.

Leonard Dunn, 1864-67, 1870-72. John Weimar, 1864-68, 1871-72. William N. Dougherty, 1865-66. Robert A. Russell, 1865-72.

William J. Thompson, 1867-68, 1874-76, 1879.

James B. Westervelt, 1868-69.

Jolın A. Halliday, 1868, 1870, 1876. Marx Riefle, 1869. Israel Vail, 1869, 1878-79.

Clark Stevens, 1869.

Augustus Ritter. 1870. John H. Athridge, 1871-72.

Adam Brown, 1871-72.

Hugh H. Bowne, 1873-75, 1877-81.

Lewis Smith, 1873. Andrew Trehune, 1873.

William H. Enders, 1873-75, 1877.

M. F. Garthwait. 1874-76. William Clark, 1876-77.

Frederick Schonmaker, 1877.

William Bloodgood, Jr, 1880-81.

L. M. Scudder, 1880-81.

William Bloodgood, 1874-75. Matthias F. Garth wait, 1876. Marx Riefle, 1878-81.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.

John F. Whitney, 1864.

John A. Halliday, 1865-67, 1870-

72.

William N. Douchety, 1864.

Robert A. Russel, 1865-69, 1875-76.

Eden Vail, 1873-74.

William J. Thompson, 1877-81.

JUSTICES OF PEACE.

Robert I. Farney, 1864.

Charles M. Hawkins, 1878.

Adamı Brown, 1865-70.

William Clark, 1879.

Hugh H. Bowne, 1868.

Adamı Brown, 1870.

William J. Thompson, 1869, 1877.

Lewis Smith, 1880.

Charles A. Gundaker, 1872.

Hugh H. Bowne, 1881.

William E. Bloodgood, 1873, 1878.

Robert A. Russel, 1881.

William Brown, 1875.

Schools .- There is but one district in this town- ship, called the "Scudder School District," named from a family living in the neighborhood. This school was established at an early date, the house having been built in 1818. For many years school was taught only for one "quarter" during winter. The following is the report for 1881 : District No. 6, children about 70; attendance, 24; trustees, C. A. Gundakers (district clerk), L. M. Sendder, and W. B. Mundy ; teacher, Miss M. T. Reed.

Among the early teachers in this district was Mr. Jotham Williams, 1825-26; Isaac H. Pierson; Mr. Nelson (two terms), 1841-42 ; Horace Roberts ; Abner Coriell; Mr. Willcox ; Eugene Snyder, 1849.

The present school-honse stands on the forks of the old road from Westfield to Rahway, and there being no church in this township it is used for religious meetings and Sabbath-sehools. Tradition says that there was a school-house near this locality before the Revolutionary war, and that it was used by the Con- tinental soldiers as a barracks; and it is said that before the close of the war in 1780 the building was burned by the Hessians while they were on their way to Westfield. The present building is the fourth that has been built for school purposes in the district.

Manufacturing Interests. - ESSEX FELTING MILLS .- In Clark township, which is sufficiently near Rahway to regard it as local territory, is a manufac- turing establishment-the only one of its kind in New Jersey, though there are several in New York City and one or more in Brooklyn, N. Y., and one in Bradford, Pa .- engaged in the production of felt goods and employing a force of two hundred work- men. It is situated on the banks of the Rahway River, only about a mile above the city water-works. The building is on the site of an old mill built a century ago, "where grain was ground, supplying the neighborhood also with woolen yarn." Part of this mill was then used as a woolen-mill.

Philip Trussler for several years had a bleaching and calico print-works, but in 1845 part of the build- ing was destroyed by fire. In 1847, after the property had become nearly worthless, William Bloodgood, Esq., of New York, purchased it, and at a large out- lay of money the building (what was left of it) was repaired, and other larger buildings were added for the manufacture of felt goods, started by William E.

Bloodgood, at first on a small scale, at a time the business was comparatively new in this country. The business rapidly increased. On July 4, 1869, the main building of the factory was entirely de- stroyed by fire, but immediately rebuilt.

The firm at present conducting the business has been organized about six years, and is composed of Mr. W. S. Taylor and William Bloodgood, Jr. A mill has stood on the site of the present works, however, for more than one hundred years. The varions mills, with the residences of the two proprietors and the tene- ments occupied by the workmen and their families, cover an area of several acres of ground. The mills are located on low land quite near the banks of the river, while the dwellings and a village store owned by the firm are situated on the higher ground that rises pleasantly above the banks of the stream. Felt goods of all descriptions are produced here, and the annual production of the mills is at least two million square yards of feltings per year, and the firm pays out at least seventy-five thousand dollars per year in wages to the operatives.

Besides these mills the firm has a factory at the cor- ner of West Broadway and Franklin Street, in New York City, where about one hundred girls are em- ployed. The warehouse and principal office of the firm is at No. 8 Thomas Street, New York.

A visitor to the mills who has no previous knowl- edge of or acquaintance with the business carried on will be surprised when he is shown samples of the very numerous kinds of goods turned out. The out- pnt of the establishment ineludes feltings of the loos- est and most fleecy texture, intended for the linings of gloves and other articles ; those quite thin, but pos- sessing great durability, intended for table- or piano- covers, of the most beautiful shades of colors; goods of dark navy-blue shade or the numerous tints of brown, intended for ladies' underskirts or petticoats, some of these articles being flounced and most elab- orately embroidered with silk thread, or ornamented with printed designs of various patterns ; the thicker grades of goods, white and colored, used for the mann- facture of chest-protectors, up to the heaviest, which are used for polishing purposes on brass or marble. Felting is also used largely for upholstery purposes, and the visitor is shown elegant shades of brown de- signed for the manufacture of lambrequins, etc. Felt- ing, too, is largely employed by piano-makers for covering the hammers that strike upon the metal wires stretched in the iron frame within the case or body of the instrument, and which produces the tones, and also for covering the under side of the keys in the manual or key-board of the instrument.

The establishment also turns out some goods for the manufacture of gentlemen's caps, but not at pres- ent for liats.

This firm manufactures all the saddle-cloths of the Spencer patent that are used by the government, pay- ing a royalty for the right to manufacture. In these

OFFICE.

Office, No. 8 Thomas Street, New York.

ESSEX FELTING MILLS. W. S. TAYLOR & W. BLOODGOOD, JR., NEAR RAHWAY, N. J.

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FANWOOD TOWNSHIP.

cloths the thickness of the fabric is graduated accord- ing to the particular part of the saddle that is most worn.

On the river a short distance below these mills, near the ice-houses, is another dam of stone and a fine water-privilege. We are informed that the proprie- tors of a manufacturing establishmeut now located in Vermont have lately been examining the same, with a view of buying it ; but we cannot say certainly that the parties can be induced to settle here, though we sincerely wish they could be. The cost of help, we are informed, is about the same in Vermont as here, but the cost of transporting manufactured goods to the New York market from Rahway is very much less than it is from the Green Mountain State.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 99

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