History of Warren County, New Jersey
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^"^^'^••'^^"" ¥2 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924010411118 OLIhl mF cm\A/2 CORNELL university: LIBRARIES ITHACA, N. Y. 14583 JOHN M. OLlN» LIBRARY HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY NEW JERSEY BY GEORGE WYCKOFF CUMMINS, Ph. D.. M. D. Formerly Instructor in Mathematics in Yale University; Fellow of the Americap Association for the Advancement of Science; Member of the American Medical Association, Medical Society of New Jersey, etc., etc.; Ex-President of the Warren County Medical Society; Author of Genealogical Articles in Snell's "History of Sussex and Warren Counties," and Chamber's "Early Germans of New Jersey," "Indian Relics Around Belvidere," ''A Four Thousand Year Calendar," "The Annealing of Copper," and many other Scientific Papers. ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1911 Copyright, -' Lewis Historical Publishing Company. igii. PREFACE The aim of this work is to give such a description of important events relating to the region now known as Warren County, New Jersey, as will enable us to understand the development of conditions as we know them to-day. Written history is a narrative of the deeds of men and of the motives that actuate them. The reader will pardon, therefore, if much of this History of Warren County is narrated as a part of the lives of men whose deeds are the history proper. It is purposed to give only as much of the State and National his- tories as will render clear the part that Warren County and her sons have played in them. Official records have been examined at Trenton, Burlington, Newton, Morristown and Belvidere, as well as every known historical work bearing on the subject, a list of which may be seen in the Bibliography. A previously published work has given important material in our history between 1800 and 1880. In this work will be found published for the first time a great deal of material dealing with the early history of our county. It has been a real pleasure to look up much that was not clear in our history before 1750. The author is much indebted to Miss Mary Clark, of Belvidere; Dr. John H. Griffith, of Phillipsburg; ex-Mayor Nicholas Harris, of Belvidere; and to many others, for valuable aid in collecting material for this work. THE AUTHOR. ADDENDA AND ERRATA Captain p. i6i, next to last parag. : The Joseph Kirkbride tract was bought in 1778 by Joseph Mackey. P. 164: The D. A. R. have erected a tablet on the site of the Brainerd cabin. P. 176: Josiah Ketcham, ancestor of that family in this country, was born in East Jersey in 1673, and settled near Karrsville about 1800. Here he raised a large fam- ily, the eldest son of whom was Andrew, born 1791, died 1868, at Townsbury, where he had lived since 1815. His son, Joseph Ketcham, was for many years editor of the Belvidere Apollo. P. 197 : In paragraph relating to Mansfield Baptist Church ; the present pastor is Rev. William V. Allen. P. 204: The iron interests at Oxford were owned by the Robesons until about 1770. P. 207 : View of Stone Bridge at Bridgeville : This bridge was built in 1857, not 1836. i P. 210, parag. : Where appears name, Mrs. Kiefer, read Mrs. George Kiefer. P. 215, 2nd parag.: Joseph McMurtrie bought the Alford tract in 1750, not 1746. — CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I—From the Earliest Times to the End qf Proprietary Govern- ment, 1609-1702—Explorations by Verrazano and Hudson—The New Neth- erlands—Covenant of Corlear—-The Old Wime Road—Conquest by English —Grant to Berkeley and Carteret—Temporary Reoccupation by the Dutch —The Twenty-four Proprietors—New Jersey a Part of New England—New Charter Given by Queen Anne ] CHAPTER II—From End of Proprietary Government to the First Settlement, 1702-1725—Purchase of Indians' Possessory Rights—The Delaware, Indians —John Reading Jr.'s Journal— Early Surveys 9 CHAPTER III—From Earliest Settlements to the Formation of Sussex County, 1725-1753— Early Visitors—First Settlers—Early Counties of New Jersey The Log Jail 22 CHAPTER IV—From the Formation of Sussex County to the End. of the French and Indian War, 1753-1763—Rapid Growth in Population—The Indian Walk—Indian Hostilities—Tom Quick—Block Houses 27 CHAPTER V—From the French and Indian War to the End of the Revolution, 1763-1783—Map Published in 1777—The Stamp Act—Resolutions on Closing of Boston Harbor—John Cleves Symmes—Committees of Safety—Articles of Association—Tory Association—Battles of Lexington and Concord—Battle of Bunker Hill, and Death of General Warren—New Jersey Militia—New Jersey's Declaration of Independence—Confirmation of Constitution—Max- well's Brigade—The Indian Campaign—Tories—Jane McCrea 32 CHAPTER VI—From the End of the Revolution to the Formation of Warren County—Money—Post Roads and Stage Routes—Progress of a Century—Dur- ham Boats—War of 1812—Merino Sheep Fever—Coal—^Division of Sussex County 56 CHAPTER VII—The People of Warren County—Hollanders, English, Scotch- Irish, German— Eflfect of French and Indian War on Population—Recent Immigration 72 CHAPTER VIII—From the Forination of Warren County to the End of the Civil War, 1824-1865—Militia—Morris Canal—Slavery—Benjamin Lundy, the Original Abolitionist—The Civil War 76 CHAPTER IX—From the End of the Civil War to the Present Time, 1865-1911 —Development of Towns-^Organs—Railroads, Trolleys and Macadamized Roads—Telephones^ Bicycles and Automobiles—Newspapers 87 — vi. CONTENTS CHAPTER X—History of the Development of the Physical Features of War- ren County—Geology, Coastal Plain, Elevation, Erosion, Great Glacier, Lakes, Meadows—Minisink 9" CHAPTER XI—Civil List of Warren County—Members of Congress, Gov- ernors, State Senators, Assemblymen, Surrogates, County Clerks, Judges, Sheriffs, Prosecutors '"" CHAPTER XII—Civil Divisions of Warren*County m^^ CHAPTER Xirr—Allamuchy—Quaker Settlement—Lundy—Wiretown—Mead- ville io« CHAPTER XlV—Belvidere—William Penn Tract—Colonel Alford Tract- Early Settlers—Water Power—The Alfred Thomas Industries—Banks- Churches—Schools—Park 1 12 CHAPTER XV—Blairstown—Early Surveys—Blair—Titman—Wildrick—Blair Hall—Churches—Banks 124 CHAPTER XVI—Frelinghuysen—Green—Lanning—Armstrong—Johnsonburg —Old Log Jail—Marksboro—Shiloh—Southtown^-Kerr's Corners—Paulina —Yellow Frame—Dark Moon i.^o CHAPTER XVII— Franklin — New Village — Cline—Asbury— McCullough— Cummins — Richey — Shipman—Woolever — Broadway—Warne — McKinney '. Lomerson—Cole . 136 CHAPTER XVIII—Greenwich—Straw Church—Kennedyville—Bloomsbury Stewartsville—Hulshizer—Cline 14,? CHAPTER XIX—Hackettstown—Helms—Hackett—Ayers—Churches, Schools and Hotels—Industries—Centenary Collegiate Institute—Sully's Grove 148 CHAPTER XX—Hardwick—Bernhardt—Shafer—Schools— Lakes — Industries —Hankinson 155 CHAPTER XXI—Harmony— Montana —Churches — Rush — Shipman —Upper Harmony, Lower Harmony—DeWitt—Vanatta—Rocksburg—Martin's Creek —Brainerd—Totamy—Hutchisons 159 CHAPTER XXII—Hope—Green—Howell—Moravians—Green's Pond—Silver Lake — Mount Hermon — Honeywell — Beatty—Albertson — Swayze — Free Union—Kispaugh Mine—Townsbury—Vliet 167 CHAPTER XXII I—Independence—Wiggins — Cumminstown —Vienna — Fleming —Great Meadows—Vliet—Barker's Mill—Petersburg 177 CHAPTER XXIV—Knowlton—Schools— Ramsaysburg— Delaware—Cummins —Adams—Harris—Columbia—Hainesburg—Most Beautiful Bridge in Amer- ica—Zion Chapel—Brands—Centerville—Warrington—Polkville—Slate In- dustry 184 — — CONTENTS vii. CHAPTER XXV—Lopatcong—Phillipsburg—Low's Hollow—Delaware Park —Peach Orchards—Soapstone 193 CHAPTER XXVI— Mansfield — Schools— Beattystown—Labar—Karrsville— —Timberswamp—Jackson Valley—Oxford Tunnel—Port Murray—Anderson —Rockport—Mount Bethel— Egbert's—Penwell—Oxford—County House.. 194 CHAPTER XXVII—Oxford—Green—Axford—Scott's Mountain—Mount No More — Jenny Jump — Oxford Furnace — Shippen — Scranton — Buttzville Bridgeville—Titman—Banghart—Boyer—Hixson—Hope Station—Sarepta Manunka Chunk — Hazen — Foul Rift — Lommasson — Butler—McMurtrie White—Mackey—Prall 201 CHAPTER XXVIII—Pahaquarry—Mount Tammany—Mount Minsi—Water Gap—Blockade Mountain—Kittatinny—Buckwood Park—Dupui—Manwala- raink—Old Mine Holes—Old Mine Road—Van Campen—Minisink 218 CHAPTER XXIX—Phillipsburg—Chintewink—Coxe—Feit—Roseberry—Mar- tin's Ferry— Bridges—Churches—Schools— Industries— Hotels— Banks—^Trol- leys 226 CHAPTER XXX—Pohatcong—Railroads—Schools—Industries—Riegelsville— Laubach—Carpentersville—Alpha—Warren Paper Mills—Hughesville—^Fines- ville—Siegletown—Springtown—Straw Church 240 CHAPTER XXXI—Washington Township—Port Colden—Changewater—Car- ter and Parks—Jackson Valley—Wyckoff—Roaring Rock—Wandling—Bow- er's Foundry—Fitts—Pleasant Valley—Weller 245 CHAPTER XXXII—Washington Borough—Mansfield Wood House—Col. Mc- CuUough—Early Land Owners—Churches—Schools— Industries Banks... 251 CHAPTER XXXIII—Organizations—Meeting Houses—Presbyterians, Luth- erans, German Reformed, Friends, Baptists, Episcopalians, Methodist Epis- copal, Christian, Catholic—Warren County Bible Society—Sunday School Association—Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, American Mechanics, Junior American Mechanics, Maccabees, Grand Army of the Re- public, Daughters of Liberty, Sons of Veterans^—Medical Society—County Fair—Farmers' Picnic 259 CHAPTER XXXI V—Bibliography 268 . CHAPTER I. From the Earliest Times to the End of Proprietary Govern- ment. 1609— 1702. Warren county, named in honor of the gallant General Joseph Warren, who died at Bunker Hill, came into existence on November 20, 1824, by an act of