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HISTORY
oh^
JBergen County
Nkav Jersev ^fh
I r^T^lTSTR ATTi: D
J. M. Van^ VAi^Risr
New Jersey I'UBLISHI^G and Engraving Company
New York
1 !)()()
S 17.
BinvKKs Pkintint. Comi-anv
Pmi.AIlKI.l'HIA
ly(it)
PREFACE
The "History of Ik-rg-yn County" is now suliUiitted to tho reader
for his criticism. The book has been written by a number of ])ersons.
all of them being old residents of the county and abundantly able to
write on the subjects assigned them. It is for this reason the imblishers
somewhat confidently send the \-olume forth, defective though it may be
in some minor particulars.
The compilation of the worfc covers a period of more than two
centuries. In securing facts recourse has been had to divers authorities,
including histories and historical collecticms, implying almost an endless
array of papers and documents, public, private, social and ecclesiastical.
That so much matter could he gathered from so many original sources
and then sifted and assimilated for the production of one volume, with-
out incurring a modicum of errors and inaccuracies, would be too much to
expect; but it is believed, nevertheless, the historical value of the work
has not been impaired therebv. Much credit is due to Hon. J. M. Van
Valen for his editorial review, his revision having been of incalculal)le
benefit.
As to the biographical department, the work has been prepared
somewhat in accordance with the idea entertained by England's greatest
of historians, Macaulay, who said the history of a country is best told
in the lives of the people. For this reason we have published personal
sketches by the hundred, because of their historical worth, making that
part of the work as exhaustive as possible.
As to the general history, due credit has been give in most cases tor
the borrowed matter. Particular mention, however, should be made ot
the following authorities: " Whitehead's Work on East Jersey," "Everts
& Peck's History of Bergen and Passaic Counties," "Rutherford Illus-
trated," "Things Old and New." " Hackensack Illustrated," "The
Bergen County Democrat's History of Hackensack," "C. H. Dunn's
Picturesque Ridgewood" and other works, among which might be mem-
tioned those by Dr. Edward H. Dixon and Dr. Thomas Dunn English,
on the history of Fort Lee. all of which ha\'e furnished valuable
material, and the same, whenever needed, has been uns])aringly utilized.
Among those who have written for the work, and, in several instances,
have done so somewhat extensively, may be eninnerated by the following
contributors and their contributions: Ridgewood, Cornelius Doremus;
Upper and Ivower Saddle River Boroughs, John (1. Esler; Union Town-
shij), W. H. Castles; Rutherford. Addison Ely and others; Reminiscences
of Lodi, Henry Kipp; "In Ye Olden Time," and other sketches, J. J.
Haring, M. D.; Ridgeticld Park, John E. Hoey; Early Settlement of
Kinderkamack. and other sketches. Hiram Loxier. Newburgh. N. Y.;
Hasbrouck Heights. W. S. Laurence; Coloni.'il Buildings. Ernst Bil-
4 PKEFACE.
huber, Maywood; Revolutionary Reminiscences and other data on Fort
Lee, James F. Tracey; Org-aniiiation of the City Government of Engle-
wood, Robert Jamieson; History of Borough Organizations, George Cook.
Allendale; Bernard Koster, Wallingtou, Frederic L. Colver, Tenafly; and
a number of borough and township clerks, whose valuable contributions
of this kind have been graciously given and thankfully received; Church
history of Hackensack, Rev. H. Vanderwart; Church history of Ruther-
ford and vicinity. Rev. Edwin A. Bulkley, D. D., and this list should
include the names of Revs. Allan McNeil, of Ridgefield Park; Rev. C.
Mondorf, Carlstadt; Rev. Artemas Dean, D. D., Englewood Cliffs; Rev.
Joseph Dally, Englewood; Rev. A. Van Neste, of Ridgewood, and J. J.
Ilaring, M. D., Tenafly, each of whom wrote special articles on church
history. Due credit is also accorded to Professor R. S. Maugham, of
Tenafly, for sketches on the various societies and organizations of Tena-
fly; to Dr. David St. John, for a well-written pen description of Hacken-
sack, including its sanitary history, and tn James E. Church, for the
history of Hackensack Hospital.
In the illustration of certain chapters of the work, we are in-
debte
and to Dr. David St. John, both of Hackensack; and to Mr. W. O. Alli-
son, of Englewood Cliffs, for cuts of different kinds; and to other parties
all over the county, including the secular press, in particular, for the
valuable assistanee rendered in the comjiilation of this work, the kindest
thanks are extended by
Thk Publisheks.
■^-J ty £■C- i*«««^^ ^
CONTENTS
Genekai, History.
Chapter I
Indian History.
Chai-tkr II
â– In Ye Olden Time.
Chai'Tek VIII.
Civil (Jriranization of the Cininty of Berg-en.
Chapter IX.
Civil List of Berg-en County.
Chapter X.
City. Viij.ac.e. Township and BouorCH History.
ChaiTER XV
11
Discovery and Occupati(jn of the New Netherlands.
Chapter III â– ^'*
Early Settlement and Land Patents.
Chapter IV ^'i
Land Patents in Berg^en County.
Chapter V 24
Old Bergen Town and Township.
Chapter VI -'
The Old Township of Hackensack.
Chapter VII
32
38
41
48
Courts and Court Houses.
Chapter XI ^^
Bergen County in Time of War.
Chapter XII "<>
Societies and Incorporated C'ompanies.
Chapter XIII ^^
Internal Improvements.
Chapter XIV 89
Schools.
92
New Barbadoes — Hackensack.
Chapter XVI '62
Saddle Kivtr Township— B.)roMgh of (iarfield.
Chapter XVII 1?**
Franklin Township— Oakland. Wyckoff. Wortendyke.
Chapter XVIII 1*^7
Hohokus Kamseys, Mahwah.
Chapter XIX 209
Orvil Towii.ship- Hohokus. Waldwick, New Prospect.
Caapter XX 219
Boroughs— Allendale. Upper and Lower Saddle Kiver.
Chapter XXI 238
Ridgewood Borouglis (.f (ilcii Rock and Midland Park.
(, CONTENTS.
CllAl'TKK XXII -^'J
Wa^hinirtoii Townsluii- Boroiiy-Iis of Ridsc Park, Muiitvale Wood-
clilV, Westwood: the Township of Hill.sdale. Pascack.
Chai'TKk XXIII -^l^*
Midlaiui To\vnshii) - Borou<,'-hs of Uelford. Riverside and Maywood:
Vilhiijes of Oradell, New Milford. Cherry Hill, and Spring Valley.
ClIAl'TKR XXIV •'■'^■+
Lodi Township Boroiig-hs of Lodi. WallinH-fon. Carlstadt. Wood-
rid.ye. Hasbrouck Heig-hts, Little Ferry and the Township of
liers'en.
CiiAi'TKK XXV -tlJ!
Union Township— Kingslaiid, Lyndhurst, and the IJorouirh of
North Arling-ton.
CllAl'TKK XXVI 42M
Borou<,rhs of Rutherford and East Rutherford
ChapTKk XXVII 49+
The Township of Rid^elield— -Fort Lee. Ridsrefield Park.
Ch A I'TKK XXVIII . ; .^.^2
Borou!;hs of Ridgefield — Leoiiai, Fairview, tindercliff. Palisades
Park, and Bog-ota.
Cli A I'THK XXIX .=^85
Englewood Township-City
Chaptkk XXX 6,?'»
Teaneck Township— The Villa Grange.
Cm Ai'TKK XXXI h,^l
Palisades Township - Boroughs of TenaHy. Cresskill. DunKint and
Bergen field.
Chai'TKk XXXII 6S0
Harrington Township — Northvale. Closter. Ueniarest. and Boroiig-h
of Tappan.
LLUSTRATIONS
I'ACK
Avfis. Dr. M. S 551
Alison, Edward M 410
Atwood. Georg^e H 12.?
Ackerman, Abraham H 217
Ackerman, Peter 255
Ackerman, Residence of Peter . . 25?
Allison, W. 538
Allison, Residence of \V. U. and
Palisade Avenue. 638
.\ venue, May wood 322
Hauer, Jacob 153
Kechtel, Herman 17<)
Rechtel Hotel ;.. 177
Bilhuher, Ernst 330
Bilhuber, Residence of Ernst 331
Hog-ert, Andrew D
Hog'ert, Residence of Andrew D. fi32
Bog-ert, Isaac D 29(>
Robert, John \V 218
Heniiett, William \V 648
Bulkley, Edwin A 451
Bell, John M 449
Banta, William S 118
Brinkman, Dr. Max. R 160
Bridgman, R. M 281
Barrett. David L 636
Rush. David C 193
Hhike, J. J 456
Castles, W. H 226
Cass, Alexander 618
Carrigan, Residence of J. F 284
C
Church, t'liion 518
Crouter, C. P 268
Cumming. Thomas H 142
Cane, F. W ,S81
Christie, Cornelius 521
Christie, Residence of C-ornelius 525
Christie Homestead 523
Colver, F. E b77
Christie, Cornelius [Leonia] .... 563
Demarest, Garret Z 687
Demarest, Daniel 1 346
Demarest, C. V. B 1^4
Demarest, Clayton 144
Demarest School 583
Dupuy, J. J 481
Doremus, Cornelius 265
Doremus, Residence of Cornelius 266
DoGroot. Samuel E... 539
De Rondo, .Vbram 621
Darlington School 207
Edsall. J. G 556
Easton, Edward D 332
Easton, ResideiKTe of Edward D 334
Esler. John (i 2.%
Feitner, John F 3i)9
Feitiier, Residence of John F 370
Garrison, Aaron G 191
Glcncourt 109
Gramlich, Alfred 4011
Gramlich, Residence of Alfred . 401
Hariiig, Dr. J. J 674
Hackensack Hospital 106
East Rutherford .School 475
High School, Ridgewood 239
Hales, H. W 279
Hales, Residence of H. W 271
Home, Rethmore 662
Hudson River and Palisades .... 637
Hutton, Isaac E 277
Hotel. Overpeck 531
Hose Company, Maywood 326
Haa.s, Nelson ISO
IvLson. David B 454
Iviswold 453
Jaeger, Gustav L 32S
Jaeger, Residence of Gustav L. . 329
Jacobus, Nicholas 543
John.son. W. M 121
Jones, J. Wyman 605
Kohbertz, Mansion of F 397
Kohbertz, Residence of F 401
Koch. Louis 424
Lydecker, Garret A 6U9
Lydecker, Thomas W 613
Lydecker, Residence of Thos. W bl5
Laurence, William S 407
Eozier, John B 3.vS
Lozier, Residence of John B .. . . 340
Lozier, John B., Dining Room. . 341
Eozier. John H.. Winter (Juarters 342
I,ozier, John B., Stock Barns 343
Eozier, Hiram 344
Ea Fetra, Daniel W 2til
La Fetra. Residence of Daniel W 26,!
Eibrary Hall 6.S6
Marsellus, Henry 172
8
ILLUSTKATIONS.
PAGE
McMaiiLs, William "«*
.Moliiiari, Anton 398
Molinari, Residence of Anton ... 402
Moeuch, A â– ^^^
Mittag, Frank O ^03
Mittag & Volger. Offices of 305
Movverson, J. E 1^5
Mercer, George C 384
Mondorf , Rev. C 374
McKenzie, William 477
Mountain House, Ruins of 590
Moore, J. Vreeland 5/1
Moore, Stephen H. V -is
Moore, Residence of J. V. and
S. V. H 567
Maywood Avenue 322
May vf cod School House 325
Maywood Art Tile Works 324
Maywood Hose Company 327
Osborne, John H., Residence of.. 234
Ockf ord, George M 273
Phelps, William Walter 641
Paramus Church 251
Palisades and Hudson River,
View of h52
Post, Peter J 482
Quackenbush, John 208
Roehrs, Julius 389
Roehrs, Residence and Flower
Houses of 389
Residence, Colonial 327
Ridgefield School 533
Ravekes, Albert 527
Roraeyn, Rev James Campen. . . 127
Romeyn, Rev. Theodore Bayard 131
Romevn, Rev. James 129
P.\GE
Romeyn, James A 133
Rutherford School 433
Rouclere House 282
Ridgewood High School 239
Ridgewood Reformed Church — 249
Richter, Paul 668
Richter, Dr. August 372
Springer, Moses E 625
Snyder, A. V. D 285
St. John, Dr. David 124
Shuart, James 204
Stagg, Peter 135
Shafer, Luther .' 447
Sullivan. A. D 395
St. John, Residence of Dr. D 97
Tallman, Abram 634
Terhune, John 148
Tracey, James F 512
Van Bussura, John 408
Van Buskirk, Jacob 336
View of Hackensack 96
Von Hartz, Carl 458
Volger, Theodore G 306
Vogel, Charles 509
Van Dien, John B 259
Wheeler, George W 146
Wallington School 386
Wenger, Chas. L,. A 67I
Westervelt, Jasper 645
Winton, Henry D 140
Zabriskie, David D 275
Zabriskie, Andrew C 158
Zabriskie, Peter L 279
Zabriskie, Peter G 348
Zinimermann, George 367
History of Bergen County
CHAPTER I
INDIAN HISTORY
\Vithout the histdry of the Indians who inhabited this section of the
State the history of Bergen County would be incomplete. But neither
history nor tradition can tell from whence these savag-e tribes came, nor
how long- they had dwelt on these shores. A few statements, however,
relative to them may not be without interest.
It does not appear that the Indians inhabiting New Jersey were very
numerous. An old publication, entitled ' 'A Description of New Albion "
and dated A. D. 1648, states that the Indians inhabiting New Jersey were
governed by about twenty kings, but the insignificance of the power of these
kings may be inferred from the fact that only twelve hundred of these
people were under the two Raritan kings on the north side next to the
Hudson River. Whitehead, in his " East Jersey Under the Proprietary
Ciovernment," says there were not more than two thousand Indians
within the province while it was under the Dutch. The Indians inhab-
iting the Lower Hudson and East Jersey country as far south as the
Karitan are considered by most writers as belonging to the Delaware or
Lenni-Lenape nation. Lenni-Lenape in the Indian tongue signifies
"Original People." The tribes who occupied this section of New Jersey
were called Raritans, Hackensacks, Pomptons and Tappeans.
That "Wicked Nation," as DeLaet calls the Manhattans, dwelt on
the island of Manhattan. Before the white man took up his residence in
this country the Lenape nation was subjugated by the powerful Iroquois.
The conquered nations, however, were permitted to remain on their
former hunting grounds by the payments of tribute, which as an acknow-
ledgment of their vassalage was exacted of them annually.
During the year 1630 the first hostility of the Indians against the
Dutch was directed against their plantation on the Delaware, which was
totally destroyed and thirty-two men killed.' In 1641 an expedition was
fitted out against the Indians on the Raritan, they having been accused,
though wnmgfully, of trespassing and committing theft. Various
causes led to the outbreak of UAX One cause was the exacting of a
tribute from the Indians by Kieft, the Director-General, in 1639; another
was the killing of a white man by an Indian in 1641 in retaliation for
the r.)l)bery and murder of (me of his tribe many years before.
In 1655 trouble again arose among the Indians during the absence
of (xovernor Stuyvesant at which time they sought safety by flight to
the West side of the river and at which time Staten Island was laid
waste and Pav.mia was burned. The Pomptons and Minsies removed
10 HISTORY OK BKKtiEN COX^NTY
from New Jerse}- about 1730 and in the treat}' of 1758 the entire remain-
ing- claim of the Delawares to lands in New Jerse}-, was relinquished
except that there was reserved the rig-ht to fish in all the rivers and bays
south of the Raritan and to hunt in all uninclosed lands A tract of
three thousand acres of land was also purchased at Edge PiHock, in
Burling-ton County, New Jersey, and on this the remaining Delawares
of New Jersey, about sixty in number, were collected and settled. They
remained there until the year 1802 when they removed to New Stock-
bridge near Oneida Lake, New York, becoming there the Stockbridge
tribe. In 1832 there remained about forty of the Delawares, among whom
was still kept alive the tradition that they were the owners of the hunt-
ing and fishing privileges of New Jersey. They resolved to lay their
claims before the Legislature of this State and request that a moderate
sum of ($2,000) might be paid them for its relinquishment. The person
selected to act for them in presenting the matter before the Legislature
was one of their own number whom they called Shawuskukhkung, mean-
ing "Wilted Grass", but who was known among the white people as
Bartholomew S. Calvin. He was born in 1756 and was educated at the
expense of the Scotch Missionary Society. At the breaking out of the
Revolution he left his studies to join the patriotic army under Wash-
ington, serving with credit during that struggle At the time he placed
this matter before the Legislature he was seventy-six years old, and
when the Legislature granted the request Mr. Calvin addressed to that
distinguished body a letter of thanks which was read before both houses
in joint session and was received with repeated rounds of enthusiastic
applause
History of Bergen County
CHAPTER II
DISC( )VKRY AND OCCUPATION OF NKW
NETHERLANDS
The harbor or hay of New York was discovered b_y Estevan Gomez
in 1(>25. Gomez was sent out b\' the Emperor Charles V. of Spain, who
had fitted out the expedition for the purpose of discovering- a shorter
passage to the East through the continent of North America. From
Winfield's History- we find that all the country extending from New
Jersey to Rhode Island was named "Estevan Gomez" at that time. It
was from Gomez the natives obtained the maize, or Spanish wheat.
It is possible that Verrazzano in his voyage from the Cape of the
Breti.n Southwest to Florida sailed into the harbor of New York in 1524,
as the charter of Henrj- IV of France was granted to De Monts, in 1603
by '.irtue of that claim. The Charter of Acadia embraced all that por-
tion of the country- lying between the fortieth and forty-sixth degrees
north latitude and consequently included the greater part of New Jersey.
The grant of the French King, however, was ignored by the English,
and in 1()07 Henry Hudson was sent out by the East India merchants in
pursuit of northwest passage to East India, but he was unsuccessful in
his search. The Dutch East India Company with unshaken faith in the
â– "bold Englishman", as they termed Hudson, put him in command of a
yacht or Vlie boat of thirty tons burden called De Halve Mann, ( Half
Moon ), to make search for that much sought after northwest passage to
India. Hudson left port on April (>, 1()09 for New Foundland, his boat
being manned by a crew of twenty, partly English and partly Dutch.
* " By his agreement with the Company, dated January 8, 1609, he
was to sail about the first of April in search of a passage to the north of
Nova Zembla, and to continue along that parallel until he was able to
sail south to the latitude of sixty degrees, and then hasten back to report
to his employers. For this service he was to receive eight hundred guil-
ders, and, in case he did not come back within a year, they were to give
his wife two hundred guilders more. In case he found the passage, the
Company were to reward him for his dangers, troubles and knowledge,
in their discretion."
â– (â– "Hudson's anxiety to discover his favorite passage led him to dis-
regard his orders, and he coasted southward as far as Chesapeake Bay,
and, returning, cast anchor inside of Sand}' Hook on the 3d of Seji-
teinber. The scenery around delighted him, and he pronounced it " a
very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land to see.'
â– Ju.-l-.. .loinnal .,1 IIuiKoirs V.ivairc. (History .)f lii-ifiii aii.l I'assaic Coumii's.
12 HISTOKY OF BEKGEX COUXTV
" Hero Hudson mot the natives for the first time. The journal says.
'The people of the country came aboard of us, seeming very glad of our
coming, and brought green tobacco and gave us of it for knives and
beads. Thev go in deer-skins loose, well dressed. They have yellow
copper. Thev desire clothes, and are very civil.' On the 6th of Sep-
temljer, John Coleman, an Englishman of the crew, with four men. was
sent to sound the river opening to the north, — the Narrows. They
sailed through and found 'a very good riding for ships." They found
also 'a narrow river to the westward between two islands,' — the Kill
VanKull. Passing through these two leagues they came to an open sea,
—Newark Bay. The Dutch called it Achter Cull— that is, the after
bay, because it lay behind the Bay of New York. It was called by the
English After Coll, and sometimes, corrupting the word, they called it
Arthur Cull. It is sometimes applied to the territory bordering on the
Itav. as well as to the bay itself. On their return they were attacked l>y
a hostile party of twenty-six Indians in two canoes : Coleman was killed
bv an arrow which struck him in the throat, and two more were
wounded. It is th
the Jersey- Indians visited the ship the next da}- and were ignorant of
what occurred. The next day the body of Coleman was buried on Sandy
Hook, and the place where it was interred still bears the name of Cole-
man's Point."
Returning again through the Narrows, Hudson cast anchor on the
11th of September in the Harbor of New York, "and saw that it was a
very good harbor for all winds."
The report of Hudson's discovery caused a new field of trade to be
opened which the East India Company, becoming eager to monopolize,
sent out another ship in 1610 for the purpose of trading in furs. Five
years afterwards a company' of merchants who had procured from the
States-General of Holland a patent for the exclusive trade on the Hud-
son River, had built forts and established trading posts at New Amster-
dam (New York), Albany and the mouth of the Rondout Kill. The
fort at New York on account of the "'fierce Manhattans" was erected on
what is now the Battery.
May 11th, 1647 Petrus Stuyvesant succeeded the reckless Kieft as
Director General, under whose ordinances villages and communities on
the west side of the Hudson began to spring into existence.
Lords and Patrons of New Netherlands now supplied the Schouts
and Schepens for Bergen County and until the surrender of the Dutch to
the English in 1664 this change of government was followed bv a grant
or charter from Charles II to his brother James, Duke of York, of the
territory from the western side of the Connecticut River to the Eastern
side of the Delaware River including New York and New Jersev. In
the same year James, Duke of York by indenture of lease and release,
granted and sold to John, Lord Berkely, Baron of Stratton, and Sir
(k'orge Carteret, of Saltrum, the territory of Nova Ca?sarea, of New Jer-
HISTOKV OF HKK(;i'".\ COrXTY 1,1
st'v. Under their charter from the Duke of York, Berkeley and Carteret
])r
jiosl' thev had a constitution drawn up in Eng-land, entitled "Tlu' t'on-
cessions and Ag-reement of the Li>rds Proprietors of the Province of
New Cttsarea or New Jersey to and with all and every the x\dventin'ers.
and all such as shall settle or plant there." This instrument was en-
L;riisst'
\hh4. Philip Carteret was appointed (iovermir of the province, but did
Ucit arrive thither till August, 1665. In the mean time New Jersey was
placed under the jurisdiction of Col. Richanl Nic(dl. (iovernor of New
York. During the interval a legislative council or assembly convened
at Flizabethtown on the loth of A])ril, l
in this Assembly — the first e\er held in the province — by Engelbert
Steenhuysen and Herman Smeeman. This government was continued
over the Province of New Jersey until the estaljlishment of the separate
Pro])rietary governments after the division into East and West Jersey.
On the 1st of July, 1()7(). jiartition was madeof New Jersey by deed,
so that the eastern part, known as East Jersey, was allotted to Sir
(Jeorge Carteret. Sir (ieorge, by his last will and testament, dated De-
cember S. 1()7S, devised the same to John, Earl of Bath, and others, as
trustees, to sell the same, and ap]iiiinteil IClizabeth Carteret sole execu-
trix . and she, with other trustees, by deed nf lease and release, dated 1st
and 2d of February, IdSO, s(dd and conx'eved all East Jersey to William
Penn and eleven others, which twelve persons were known by the name
id the "Twelve Proprietors of East Jersey." These twelve proprietors,
by twelve separate deeds, in 1682, conveyed each one-half of their re-
spective interests in East Jersey to James. Earl of Perth, and eleven
others, whereby East Jersey became held by twenty-four General Pro-
prietors, each holding in fee one-twenty-fourth part or propriety of the
same. Thus from these proprietors ha\e issued from time to time their
deeds for tlie jmrtions of territnry sold bv them in East Jersey, their
office being at I'erth Amboy, where all such conveyances and other
records have been kept.
History of Bergen County