USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Warren County, New Jersey > Part 20
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
The Baptists were very active in our early history, and had many churches in the county, where now are only three, namely, those at Port Murray, Phillipsburg and Washington.
An Episcopal missionary from Elizabeth, sent by the Society for Propagating the Gospel, came to visit the earliest settlers in Knowlton, who are said to have come from Orange county, New York. A church was established at Knowlton as early as 1750, with regular ministra- tions. The present church records of St. James Parish begin with the year 1769. The next Episcopal church in this region was "The Parish of Christ Church, Newton," which was organized in 1769, at about the same time the church was established at Johnsonsburg, which was abandoned in 1850. St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, at Hope, dates from 1828, and Zion Church, at Belvidere, became a corporate parish in 1833. The Episcopal churches at Hackettstown, Washington and Phillipsburg were all established about 1860.
Methodism came into the field as a revival of the spiritual life of Christiandom. It had no doctrines other than those sanctioned by the Episcopal church. The official standard of the Methodist doctrine in America is found in the "Articles of Religion," taken by John Wesley, from the "Thirty-nine Articles" of the Anglican church, eliminating Calvinism. Its main features were its earnestness and the methods it used to reach the people. Its itinerant missionaries covered a large territory, and wherever they went they organized societies which they left in charge of a lay preacher or a class leader. Its first annual conference was held at Philadelphia in 1773, and the first general conference at Baltimore in 1784, at which Bishop Coke consecrated Francis Asbury a bishop over the new church. These were the first Protestant bishops in the new hemisphere.
The development of Methodism was delayed several years by the Revolution. The missionaries sent out by Wesley were, in the main,
262
WARREN COUNTY.
loyal Englishmen, and on the outbreak of the war most of them returned to their native country. Bishop Francis Asbury, however, remained until the end of his life. He was the chief founder of Methodism in America. He preached almost daily for half a century. He came to America in his twenty-sixth year, was ordained bishop when thirty- nine, and guided the church in its growth from 15,000 members to 21 1,000, with 700 itinerant preachers. "No one man has done more for Christianity in the Western Hemisphere, and his success places him unquestionably at the head of the leading characters of American ecclesiastical history."
The principles of the Christian church were first proclaimed in this county by Mrs. Abigail Roberts, as a result of whose efforts a church was established at Johnsonburg on July 15, 1826, and one at Finesville in 1835. A Christian church was erected at Petersburg in 1839, which became the church at Vienna in 1858. The Hope Chris- tian Church was established in 1842.
Roman Catholics did not have full freedom of conscience in New Jersey until 1844, when there was repealed an old law of West Jersey concerning it. Consequently we find the early Roman Catholic missionaries traveling over the country at times in the disguise of a physician, to minister to the spiritual wants of their people. Three of these missionaries between 1743 and 1793 were Fathers Schneider, Farmer and Groessl. In 1776 Father Farmer records two baptisms at Change Water Furnace, and in 1781 a baptism is recorded at Green- wich. We read of no further Roman Catholic services in Warren county until 1854, when the building of railroads and extension of public works brought many of that faith to the county, mainly from Ireland, whence they had been driven by the dreadful years of famine. The early Roman Catholics before 1854 went for spiritual help to Dover or Easton. In that year Bishop Bayley sent Rev. Father McMahon here, with all of Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon as his parish. In 1859 Rev. Claude Roland, of New Hampton, was pastor of
263
WARREN COUNTY.
missions at Oxford and West Portal, and held services in private houses in Washington as early as 1861. In Phillipsburg, Rev. Father McKee held services in a house on Sitgreaves Street before 1860. The first Roman Catholic church in the county was built at Oxford in 1858. The cornerstone for a small church in Phillipsburg was laid in 1860. The church at Hackettstown was built in 1864, the one at Washington in 1871, and the first one in Belvidere at about the same time.
In the early days it was the custom to have preaching services on Sunday in the morning and afternoon. People came for miles to these services, bringing along their dinners, which they enjoyed in picnic style between the services. Many were the Sunday picnics thus held at the Old Oxford Meeting House. In the summer time the people went barefoot toward church, to save their one pair of shoes, which they carried in their hands and put on when they came in sight of the church. As a matter of fact, that was the only time in the week when those shoes were worn. The Sunday picnics at, for instance, the Old Oxford Meeting House, formed the main social gatherings of those times. From here the latest pieces of news were scattered, here court- ships were begun, and here invitations were given to the next corn husking frolic to help out some sick neighbor.
The Warren County Bible Society was organized April 13, 1825, at the Presbyterian Church at Danville, and has numbered among its members and contributors all the most prominent people of the county. The society, besides giving large sums of money to the parent society, has placed a Bible in every home in the county that was without one. Out of 5,114 families in the county, according to a canvass made in 1862, only 448 were without a Bible !
The Warren County Sunday School Association has more mem- bers by far than any other organization in the county. The officers and teachers connected with it number 8,447. The association was formed June 4, 1861, and celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 1911, in the Second Presbyterian Church at Belvidere, where it was founded. Its
264
WARREN COUNTY.
first president was John M. Sherrerd, who was the founder, when a student at Trenton, of the first Sunday school established in that city. Those who have been president for a number of years are Rev. J. DeHart Bruen, William M. Davis, Alonzo Sailer and Dr. G. C. Moulsdale. Its first secretary was the Rev. Richard Van Horne, and others who have served a number of years are Nahum Stiger, Joseph Johnson, Hon. C. H. Albertson, Rev. J. R. Burtt, A. McCam- mon, Mrs. G. W. Cummins and Mrs. M. T. Craig. The two last have served seven years each.
Members of the Masonic order were in our county before the Revolution. Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., was instituted at Greenwich January 9, 1799, and was at that time the only lodge in the county. Warren Lodge, No. 13, of Belvidere, received its warrant November 14, 1826; it has 115 members. Mansfield Lodge, No. 36, of Washington, received its warrant January 9, 1856, and has 134 members. From 1814 until 1824 it held a warrant as No. 31. Temple Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., was instituted at Phillipsburg in 1860, and removed to Washington in 1865. Washington Council, No. 7, R. & S. M., was instituted in 1866. De Molay Commandery, No. 6, K. T., was instituted at Washington in 1866. Independence Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., of Hackettstown, received its warrant January 12, 1859, and has 176 members. Delaware Lodge, No. 52, of Phillips- burg, received its warrant January 12, 1859, and has 207 members. Eagle Chapter, No. 30, R. A. M., is located at Phillipsburg, as well as Delaware Chapter of Eastern Star Lodge, which was instituted in January, 1911, and has forty-five members. Oxford Lodge, No. 127, F. & A. M., received its warrant January 18, 1872, and has forty-seven members. Blairstown Lodge, No. 165, received its war- rant January 25, 1893, and has ninety-two members. All the other secret orders entered the county more recently.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows has five lodges in the county, and three encampments. Covenant Lodge, No. 13, of Belvi-
265
WARREN COUNTY.
dere, has 244 members. Mansfield Lodge, No. 42, of Washington, has 274 members, and was instituted in 1846; Musconetcong Lodge, No. 81, of Hackettstown, has 122 members; Accho Lodge, No. 124, of Phillipsburg, has 237 members; and Harris Lodge, No. 157, of Oxford, has 138 members. Delaware Encampment, No. 1i, of Belvi- dere, has thirty-four members; Zenas Encampment, No. 31, of Phillips- burg, has fifty-eight members; and Union Encampment, No. 57, of Washington, has 147 members.
Montana Lodge, No. 23, Knights of Pythias, of Phillipsburg, was the first instituted in the county, and has a membership of 171. There are also in the county Belvidere Lodge, No. 58, with a member- ship of seventy-four; Starlight Lodge, No. 112, of Washington, with a membership of ninety-five; Hackettstown Lodge, No. 125, with 141 members, and Mount No More Lodge, No. 146, at Oxford, with fifty-six members.
Eleven tribes of the Improved Order of Red Men are located in Warren county, Teedyuscung Tribe, No. 17, at Phillipsburg, has 340 members; Ute Tribe, No. 80, of Washington, has 261 members; Pequest Tribe, No. 90, of Hackettstown, has 133 members; Kittatinny Tribe, No. 126, of Blairstown, has 101 members; Tippe- canoe Tribe, No. 152, of Hope, has twenty-nine members; Lappa- hannock Tribe, No. 191, of Rocksburg, has 126 members; Musconet- cong Tribe, No. 205, at Finesville, has ninety-four members; Ioka Tribe, No. 217, of Stewartsville, has ninety-six members; Atoka Tribe, No. 230, has thirty-seven members; Pophandaising Tribe, No. 236, of Belvidere, has seventy-nine members, and Onoko Tribe, No. 244, of Asbury, has fifty-one members.
The Order United American Mechanics has two councils in the county. Liberty Council, O. U. A. M., 15, was instituted at Washing- ton in 1866, and now has 199 members. Pequest Council, No. 5, at Belvidere has 103 members. The Junior Order of United American Mechanics has ten councils in the county, with a united membership of
266
WARREN COUNTY.
2,269. The councils are: Malaska, of Phillipsburg; Warren, of Washington; Liberty, of Oxford; Monitor, of Hackettstown; Mans- field, of Port Murray; Belvidere and Stewartsville.
The Knights of the Maccabees of the World have two tents in the county: Warren Tent, No. 30, at Belvidere, and Delaware Tent at Delaware. At each of these places is also a hive of Lady Maccabees.
The Grand Army of the Republic is well represented in Warren county. Henry Post, No. 30, was organized at Washington in 1870, had a life of ten years and was followed by the John F. Reynolds Post, No. 66, which was organized in 1882. At Phillipsburg is the John G. Tolmie Post, No. 50. Captain Henry Post is at Belvidere, as is an organization of the Sons of Veterans.
The Daughters of Liberty have eight councils in Warren county. American Advocate Council, No. 64, of Washington, has 382 meni- bers; Good Intent Council, No. 75, of Hackettstown, has 140 members'; Pride of Malaska Council, No. 100, of Phillipsburg, has 178 mem- bers; Golden Star Council, No. 126, of Oxford, has 141 members; Colonial Council, No. 169, of Belvidere, has fifty-two members; Grace and Unity Council, No. 187, of Stewartsville, has forty-nine members; Stars of Jenny Jump Council, No. 190, of Hope, has sixty- three members, and Liberty of Warren Council, No. 193, of Blairs- town, has forty-six members. The last three councils were instituted in 1910.
The Patriotic Order Sons of America has nine camps in the county with a total membership of 1,430. Two camps at Phillipsburg have 566 and 233 members respectively and there are camps at Belvidere, Washington, Asbury, Hackettstown, Blairstown Warren Paper Mills and Brainards.
The Warren County Medical Society was formed in accordance with a warrant dated November 8, 1825. Its first members were Jabez Gwinnup, Gideon Leeds, John S. Hughes, Revel Hampton, George Hopkins, Samuel W. Fell, George Van Nest, Samuel Fowler
267
WARREN COUNTY.
and Elias L'Hommedieu. It has since included most of the prominent physicians of the county. The first physicians to practice in the county were Samuel Kennedy, of Johnsonburg, and Robert Cummins, of Mount Bethel, both of whom were here before the Revolution.
The Warren County Fair Grounds, as they were familiarly known, were leased of Abram McMurtrie, near Belvidere, by the Warren County Farmers, Mechanics and Manufacturers' Association. The first fair was held October 11-14, 1859, and the fairs continued annually for twenty-two years. The great Warren County Farmers' Picnic, usually held in the park at Belvidere in August, has, in a measure, taken the place of the old Warren County Fair, and brings together annually the largest gathering in the county. As many as ten thousand people attend, or one-fourth the population of the county. It would be quite impossible to enumerate all of the organizations that have been in the county at one time or another, as in these days nearly everything is organized and many of the organizations are short-lived. More than forty secret orders in all are in the county at present.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
A list of the works that have been consulted is appended as a guide to those who may care to go more deeply into some of the subjects treated of in this work :
William Clinton Armstrong-"The Lundy Family;" "A Genea- logical record of the Descendants of Nathan Armstrong."
Alden's "New Jersey Register."
John Atkinson-"Methodism in New Jersey."
"David Brainerd's Journal."
Barber & Howe-"Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey," 1844.
Thomas Budd-"A true Account of Pennsylvania and New Jersey," 1685.
Brodhead-"Delaware Water Gap."
"Biographical Record of Hunterdon and Warren."
William J. Buck-"History of the Indian Walk, to which is appended a Life of Edward Marshall"; "History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania;" "Penn Papers in Possession of Historical Society of Pennsylvania."
Crantz-"History of Moravians."
Custis-"Memoirs of Washington."
"Dr. Joseph Clark's Diary, 1777-78."
Joseph Campbell, D. D .- Sermons.
Rev. T. F. Chambers-"Early Germans of New Jersey." Sherman Day-"On Pennsylvania."
De Vries-"New York Historical Collections."
Du Chastellux-"Travels in North America, 1780-82."
Sereno Edwards Dwight-"Memoirs of Rev. David Brainerd."
William H. Davis, A. M .- "History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania."
Dusenbury-"Carhart Genealogy."
Ellis-"Life of Penn."
Lewis Evans-"Map of the Middle British Colonies, 1755."
Alice Morse Earle-"Stage Coach and Tavern Days."
Gordon-"History of Pennsylvania;" "History of New Jersey."
.
269
WARREN COUNTY.
T. F. Fitzgerald-"Legislative Manual."
John Heckewelder-"History of Indian Nations."
Matthew S. Henry-"The History of the Lehigh Valley."
"Harbaugh's Harfe Pennsylvania Dutch Poetry." John Heckewelder-"Lenni Lenape Geographical Names." "The Harris Family."
"Hallesche Nachrichten." Janney-"Life of Penn."
Dr. D. X. Junkin-"Centennial Discourse, Greenwich, N. J."; "Fiftieth Anniversary of Newton Presbytery,"
Eli Keller, D. D .- "History of the Keller Family."
Rev. Charles F. Kluge -- "Settlement of Hope."
Loskiel-"History of Indian Missions."
Rev. Walter T. Leahy-"The Catholic Church of the Diocese of Trenton."
P. V. Lawson-"The Fleming Family."
Francis Bagley Lee-"New Jersey as a Colony and a State."
Hon. J. P. B. Maxwell-In "Historical Collections."
George S. Mott, D. D .- "The First Century of Hunterdon County."
"Moravian Historical Society Transactions."
Morse's "American Geography, 1796."
"Pennsylvania Records and Archives."
"Pennsylvania Historical Society Memoirs."
Proud's "History of Pennsylvania."
James Porton-"Life of Benjamin Franklin."
Ponceau and Fisher-"A Memoir On the Celebrated Treaty."
Dr. J. M. Paul-"Belvidere One Hundred Years Ago."
Reichel-"Memorials of the Moravian Church."
Prof. I. D. Rupp-"Collection of 30,000 Names of Immigrants." Richards-"Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania."
Gen. James F. Rusling-"The Rusling Family."
John Reading's Journal in New Jersey Historical Society Library. "Life and Adventures of Tom Quick, the Indian Slayer."
"Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania-Historical Reminiscence .. " Stevens-"Centenary of American Methodism."
Snell-"History of Sussex and Warren Counties."
Smith-"History of New Jersey."
Samuel Smith-"History of Pennsylvania."
Spangenberg-"Life of Count Zinzendorf."
Col. Charles Scranton-"Centennial Address."
Nicholas Scull-"Map of Pennsylvania, 1759."
Abel Stevens-"History of American Methodism."
270
WARREN COUNTY.
Captain Charles Sitgreaves-"Warren County Politics."
General Stockton's-Lists of Soldiers and Officers.
Charles Thompson-"Alienation of the Indians."
Whitehead-"East Jersey Under the Proprietors."
George Brakeley White-"In the Time of Matthias Brakeley, of Lopatcong."
John F. Watson-"The Annals of Philadelphia."
Wickes-"History of Medical Men of New Jersey."
Howard H. Widener-"The Wideners in America."
CENSUS OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF WARREN COUNTY
NAME.
Formed.
FORMED FROM
1790
1810
1820
1830
1840
I850
I860
1870 |
I880
1890
1900
1910
Allamuchy
1873
Independence
648
759
588
642
Belvidere
1845
Oxford
1,001
1,530
1,882
1,773
1,768|
1,784
1,764
Blairstown
1845
Knowlton
1,405|
1,542
1,379
1,458
1,662
1,576|
1,718
Franklin
1839
Mansfield
1,348
1,902
1,655
1,529
1,283
1,280
1,585
Frelinghuysen
1848
Hardwick
1,277
1,297
I,II3
1,042
879
797
1,074
Greenwich-before .
1738.
2,035
2,528
2.335
2,902
2,541|
2,587
2,554
825
909
904
Hackettstown
1853
Independence
2,561
3.360
1,962, 1,957
727
792
638
583
503
400
405
Harmony
1839
Greenwich and Oxford.
1,602
1,565
1,382
1,405
1.350
1,152
1,080
1,490
Hope
1839
Knowlton and Oxford.
1,903
1,755
1,789|
1,542
1,569
1,332
1,144|
1,119
Independence
1782
Hardwick
1,850
2,126
2,140|
2,621
1,871
1,766
1,018
904
805
867
Knowlton
1798
Greenwich
2,70I
2,827
2,310
1,356|
1,557
1,69I
1,476
1,4II
1,210
1,556
Lopatcong
I863
Formerly Phillipsburg ..
2,058
2.787
3,310
3.057
1,615
1,688
1,997
1,709
1,362
1,324
1,238
Oxford
1798
Greenwich
2,470
3,665
2,855
1,718|
2,350
2,952
4,594
4,002
3,095
3,444
Pahaquarry
1824
Walpack
?165|
?230
258
292
460
465
405
418
29I
257
205
Phillipsburg (town).
1861
Phillipsburg township ..
5,932
7,181|
8,644 10,052 13,903
Phillipsburg (twp.) ..
1851
Greenw'h and Harmony
3,74I
1,483
2,215
3,202
Washington borough.
1868
Washington township ..
1,880
2,142
2,834
3,580| 3,567
Washington township.|
1849
Mansfield
1,567 2,634
2,160
1,452
1,304)
1,249|
1,023
Total ..
13,070 16,352| 18,634 20,366|22,358 28,433 34,336 36,589 36,553 37,781 43,187
1
1
4,48€
3,726
1,352
2,202
2,502
2,417
2,474
2,715
Hardwick-before
..
.
1881
Greenwich
Pohatcong .
1798
Greenwich
1,150
1,59I
1,738
1,962
766
Mansfield
de novo
1738
de novo
1,224| 2,064
3.089
1,565
PART TWO
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL
BLAIR The Blair family of New Jersey had its ancestral home for many cen- turies in the northern part of Perthshire, Scotland, where for six cen- turies or more it held an honored place in the annals of that country, many of its members winning a worldwide fame. Among these should be mentioned Rev. Dr. Hugh Blair, the distinguished rhetorician; Lieutenant Blair, R. N., after whom is named one of the best harbors in Asia; and Rev. Robert Blair Jr., the poet. . The Blairs were zealous covenanters, and at different times members of various branches emigrated to this country and became distinguished in early American colonial history as eminent divines and educationists. Among the first of these were the two brothers, Rev. Samuel and Rev. John Blair, who emigrated about 1720 and became prominently identified with the history of Presbyterian institutions in this country. Both were early trustees of the College of New. Jersey, and the Rev. Samuel Blair, after teaching a classical school at Neshaminy and preceding Dr. Witherspoon, serving for a year as acting president of the college, became vice-president of the College of New Jersey, and the first professor of theology of Princeton Theological Seminary. His brother declined an election as president of the college in favor of Dr. Witherspoon. Elizabeth Blair, sister of these two, married Rev. Robert Smith, D. D., for many years the Presbyterian pastor at Pequea, Pennsylvania, and became mother of Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, seventh president of Princeton College, and grandmother of. Mrs. T. W. Pintard, Mrs. Thomas Callender, Mrs. D. C. Salomans, and Mrs. Joseph Cabell Breckenridge, the mother of Hon. John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, vice-president of the United States in 1856, and the defeated opponent of Lincoln in the presidential campaign of 1860.
(I) Two cousins of the above-mentioned clergymen, the sons of a Samuel Blair, and, curiously enough, bearing the same names, John and Samuel, also emigrated to America between 1730 and 1740 and settled in what was then Greenwich township, Sussex county, New Jersey. Samuel Blair married a daughter of Dr. Shippen, of Philadelphia, and settled on property belonging to his wife at Scott's Mountain. His brother, John Blair, was born in 1718, and died May 20, 1798. He was a man of great force of character, engaged in local preaching,. taught school, and became the owner of much land near Scott's Mountain, and of the Beaver Brook land of about five hundred acres between Hope and Belvidere. He married Mary Hazlett, born about 1735, died January 18, 1819. Children, so far as known: John; Samuel; Robert; James, referred to below; William, married Rachel Brands.
(II) James, son of John and Mary (Hazlett) Blair, was born on Scott's Moun- tain, New Jersey, August 5, 1769, and died at Beaver Brook, New Jersey, August 5, 1816. He married Rachel, daughter of John Insley, of Greenwich township, New Jersey, who was born about 1777, and died August 23, 1857, aged eighty ycars. Chil- dren : Samuel; Mary; William; John Insley, referred to below; Robert; James; Catharine; D. Bartley; Elizabeth; Jacob M.
(III) John Insley, son of James and Rachel (Insley) Blair, was born near Foul Rift, on the 'Delaware river, about three miles below Belvidere, New Jersey, August 22, 1802, and died December 2, 1899. Until he was eleven years of age he lived on his father's farm and attended in winter the neighboring district school. He then entered the store of his cousin, Judge Blair, of Hope, New Jersey, where he remained about three years learning the mercantile business, until the sudden death of his father called him back to the farm to be the mainstay of his mother. Shortly afterwards, still continuing to manage the farm, he returned to Hope and entered the store of Squire James DeWitt, where he busied himself learning the forms and proceedings of law, the method of collecting debts, compromising suits, the drawing of legal papers, and
274
WARREN COUNTY.
familiarizing himself with a practical knowledge of business life. In 1819 he located at Gravel Hill (now Blairstown), New Jersey, where, in connection with his cousin, Mr. John Blair, he established a general country store. Two years later this partner- ship was dissolved and Mr. Blair continued the business by himself. He remained here for forty years, attending closely to business and constantly extending his trade, establishing branch stores at Marksboro, Paulina, Huntsville, and Johnsonburg, in some of which his brothers, James, Jacob M. and Robert, and his brother-in-law, Aaron H. Kelsey, as well as Mr. John M. Fair, all of them successful merchants, were partners.
During this long period of mercantile life Mr. Blair was constantly enlarging his business connections and unconsciously laying the foundations of his future extensive and far-reaching business life. He was largely interested in flour mills, the manu- facture of cotton, in the general produce of the country around, and wholesaled a great many goods to other stores, and was postmaster at Blairstown for many years. It is not surprising that the growing business relations of Mr. Blair to the general commercial world should gradually have drawn him into intimate business connection with some of the largest enterprises of the country. His acquaintance with Colonel George W. Scranton and Seldon T. Scranton commenced as early as 1833 or 1834, when he assisted these gentlemen to lease the mines at Oxford Furnace, New Jersey, which had been operated before the revolutionary war. Circumstances made it neces- sary for both to remove to Slocum's Hollow. (now Scranton), Pennsylvania, where on October 1, 1846, was organized the Lackawanna Coal & Iron Company, of whose mills Mr. Blair was one of the proprietors, the others being the Scranton brothers, William E. Dodge, Anson G. Phelps, Roswell Sprague, L. L. Sturges, Dater and Miller, and George Buckley. From that day, when these men of strength laid the foundations of Scranton and set in operation the furnaces and the railroad mills there, until now, they have continued to be among the largest and most successful works of their kind in the country. The same company bought and rebuilt the road from Owego to Ithaca, New York, and opened it for business on December 18, 1849. In 1850 and 1851 they built the road from Scranton to Great Bend, then called the Legget's Gap railroad, which was opened for business in October, 1851, thus securing by means of their New York and Erie connection an outlet for their coal and iron. In the fall of 1852 Mr. Blair and Colonel Scranton had a conference of several days length at Scranton, during the which a plan was formed to separate the Legget's Gap, or western division of their road, from the iron company, and consolidate the former with a new company to be organized which was to construct a road to the Delaware river. The latter was called the Cobb's Gap railroad. At the suggestion of Mr. Blair the appropriate and characteristic designation of the "Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western railroad" was given to the consolidated road. Mr. Blair located and procured the right of way for the road, and the line, including the Warren road, with its Dela- ware river bridge, the Voss Gap tunnel, and a temporary track through Van Ness Gap, was opened for business May 16, 1856. The Warren road and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad now own the Morris & Essex railroad, which, having been double tracked and improved as to the grades and curves, and almost entirely rebuilt by the purchasers, is doing a business such as was never dreamed of by its projectors. It is a part of a chain of roads nearly seven hundred miles long, operated by one company, reaching from New York City to Lake Ontario, with branches to various points in New York and Pennsylvania, the combined capital and cost of which is probably one hundred millions of dollars, and which transports nearly four hundred millions of tons of coal every year.
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