from the village of Bloomsbury, and the pursuers are
to advance seventy-five miles, or farther if necessary.
The regular meetings of the society are held in Jan-
uary of each year.
The present officers (1880) are: President, William
S. Hulsizer ; Vice-Presidents, Joseph W. Willever
and AVilliam Dalrymple ; Treasurer, Theodore Tins-
man ; Secretary, William G. Jones ; Directors, James
Apgar, Daniel Williamson, Charles Hazard, Joseph
W. Willever, James J. Willever; Pursuers, Charles
Hazard, Wilson Metier, John Cole, Joseph Emery,
Amos Maxwell, Joseph B. Boss, William Vliet,
Albert Insley, Isaac Wolverton, John B. Smith,
Thomas Lake, Readon Stiner; and Theodore Tins-
man Principal Pursuer.
" Touchstone Lodge, No. 156, I. O. of O. F.," was
instituted at Bloomsbury, May 16, 1871, with the fol-
lowing charter members : B. E. Bowne, Henry Carter,
John S. Carter, F. K. Young, William B. Housel,
and Peter D. Rockafellow. The principal first officers
were : Noble Grand, B. E. Bowne ; Vice-Grand, Henry
Carter ; Rec. Sec, John S. Carter ; Treas., F. K.
Young ; Warden, Peter D. Rockafellow ; Conductor,
Abram W. Smith. The successive presiding officers
have been Henry Carter, John S. Carter, S. N. Parks,
F. K. Young, W. H. Allen, Henry Carter, W. B.
Housel, W. S. Schooley, W. M. Cackender, W. C.
Cole, W. H. Foose, H. S. Apgar, J. W. Creveling,
Jacob Stone, Joseph L. Allen, Nelson Geary, and
John W. Bowlby. The sessions are held Saturday
evenings, in Odd-Fellows' building, Bloomsbury.
Present membership, 60. But one member has died
since organization, — viz., George Wood, killed by ac-
cident, Jan. 21, 1875.
The principal present officers (December, 1880) are:
N. G., James P. Myers ; Vice-Grand, S. R. Dalrymple ;
Rec. Sec, Peter D. Young ; Treas., S. N. Park ; Con-
ductor, W. H. Foose ; Warden, Nelson Geary.
" The Odd-Fellows' Hall Association" was formed
for the purpose of investing the surplus funds of the
lodge, and was chartered by the Legislature, March
14, 1873. The first officers were : President, William
G. Jones; Vice-President, Jacob Stiner; Secretary,
F. K. Young ; Treasurer, John S. Carter ; Executive
Committee, S. B. Fine, John W. Bowlby, and W. B.
Housel. The hall was erected on the corner of Main
and Centre Streets. It is three stories high, with a
Mansard roof, and cost $7000.
The officers for 1880 were : President, Jesse J.
Lape; Vice-President, Daniel Bloom; Secretary, W.
H, Foose; Treasurer, George W. Scott; Executive
Committee, W. H. Foose, George W. Scott, and W.
E. Schooley.
" H. R. Kennedy Lodge, No. 140, A. F. and A. M.,"
Bloomsbury, was granted a warrant of dispensation
Sept. 7, 1874, under which it worked until Jan. 21,
1875, when it was chartered by the Grand Lodge.
The original members were John Stute, P. D. Rocka-
fellow, J. W. Bowlby, William W. Swayze, Charles
Tomlinson, M. D. Knight, Solomon W. Weider, Robert
A. Shinier, and Theodore B. Hance. The first W. M.
was Samuel Phipps ; first secretary, S. B. Fine. The
Past Masters are Samuel Phipps, S". N. Park, William
Dalrymple, and William A. Schooley. Present mem-
bership, 52.
The principal officers for 1880 were : W. M., F. K.
Young; S. W., D. S. Stute; J. W., J. J. Lake;
Treas., W. G. Jones ; Sec, S. N. Park ; S. D., W. A.
Schooley; J. D., E. T. Vliet; Tiler, Jas. Boss.
INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
The industrial pursuits are about the same as in
other townships, except that of mining, in which by
far the most capital is invested and the most men
employed.
The original mills at Bloomsbury were built prob-
ably as early as 1760. The grist-mill was, most
likely, the first of the kind in this part of the valley,
and was rebuilt about 1825, burned Feb. 6, 1878, and
again rebuilt and put in its present condition in 1878
by John Herbert, of Bound Brook. The present
owner is Thomas T. Huffman.
There have been three distilleries at Bloomsbury.
The first was built by Daniel Stires, in the bend of
the Little York Road, just below the arch-bridge of
the Central Railroad. There is no trace of it left.
The next was on the site of Huffman's saw-mill, be-
low the grist-mill, and the other was built by Jona-
than Robbins, on the farm now occupied by Moses
Robbins, a little west of the village of Bloomsbury,
and still standing, but not used as a distillery.
The distillery below the grist-mill gave place to
cotton-factories, built in 1842 and 1843 by the Mus-
conetcong Manufacturing Company. This company
was established for the purpose of manufacturing and
finishing for market cotton, woolen, and flax goods,
and was incorporated in 1842. Enoch Green, John
G. Richey, Adam D. Runkle, George B. Green, and
Thomas Green were the first directors. The capital
stock was not to exceed $200,000. The factories were
located below the grist-mill at Bloomsbury, covering
the site of the present saw-mill, and were burned in
1856. The present saw-mill, on the site of the factory,
was built by John Herbert, and sold to T. T. Huff-
man, present owner.
The grist-mill at " Jugtown" (or " West End") was
built in 1825 by Joseph Cornish ; in 1849 it was pur-
chased by Sylvester Ii. Smith, the present owner.
The saw-mill at West End is now owned and oper-
ated by Charles Opdyke.
The first manufacturing establishment of any kind
at what is now Bloomsbury was a saw-mill and fur-
nace where "blooms" were made from the iron ore,
to which reference has already been made.
The grist-mill on the Bethlehem Creek at Asbury
was built some time previous to the Revolution, and
J^^pt^^^
IIKTIILKIIKM.
4G7
there has been a mill ;it this place ever -inee. The
lime interest hits been one of importance in this town-
ship, and at one time was extensively carried on.
"WEST END IRON COMPANY."
The mines of the company are located in 1 1 1 i - town-
ship, near Bethlehem village, though the post-office is
bamed"Wes1 End," to conform to the name of the
Company. The ore from the Turkey Hill mines, sit-
uated about a mile and a half southwest of the vil-
lage, is delivered on board cars run on a branch from
that place on the Kuston and Amhoy branch of the
Lehigh Valley Railroad. The ore from the Swayze
minis, located the same distance easl of Jugtown, is
carted to the Valley station, on the * lentral Railroad,
a distance of two and a half miles. These mines are
producing annually large quantities of the best kind
of Bessemer iron ore.
The officers of the company are: President, I'. \.
Potts; Secretary and Treasurer, John Kcau, dr.;
General Manager, G. M.Miller; Superintendent, N.
II. Heft.
PHYSICIANS.
The first physician known to have located in whal
is now this township was Thomas Elder, at Blooms-
bury, between 1800 and lsln. Just how long he re-
mained here is unknown. The next was John Sloan,
who practiced in 111 nsbury from lsjn to 1822. He
was followed in I S22 by 1 high Hughes, who died here
in 1856.
Other physicians in I'd isbury have been J. M.
.lunkin, Isaac 0. Stewart. Joseph Bird, Jeremiah 0.
Ilnir, Dr. Elder, a Scotchman, and the present prac-
ticing physician, William K. Little.
At Junction there- have been four physicians, of
Whom there still remain Philip 1 1 . < 'reveling, located
in 1866, and Robert Fenwick, the same year, and still
in practice.
H. Servis came in 1874, and T. A. Heron in 1876;
both still practice here.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SYLVESTEB II. SMITH.
Sylvester H. Smith was horn in Franklin township,
Warren Co., \. J., Julj I i. L821. He is a - f
D ivid and Mary (Wyckoff) Smith, the old. -I of
twelve children, five sons and seven daughtei
living.
Mr. Smith lived on a farm till he was twenty years
of age, when his father hired him to George Painter,
Of Ashurv. to learn the milling business. This was
in L840. lie remained at Asbury, engaged in mill-
ing till 18 !•"•. in the spring of w hieh year he went tn
Waterloo, Sussex Co., and engaged in the -ami- occu-
pation there, remaining till the fall, when he re-
turned to Asbury and resumed milling business, which
he followed till the spring of 1848. In 1849 he en-
gaged in milling at Spring Mill-. Alexandria town-
ship. Hunterdon Co., where he remained om- year,
and in I860 removed to his present location, his
father having purchased the mill property there.
This mill property is situated on a mountain stream
in the village of Bethlehem, upon which there has
been a mill for more than a hundred year-. Mr.
Smith purchased the property of his father in 1868,
and has rebuilt the mill, and erected two dwelling-
houses and other buildings upon the place. II- i-
engaged in grinding both merchant and custom flour,
and in handling and shipping grain in bulk, the
highest amount having been reached in 1864, in
which year he shipped (45,000 worth of grain in the
tine,- months of December, January, and February,
making a large profit. Since then the amount han-
dled has not been so large, though it ha-s steadily
amounted to a considerable trade. In 1878 and 1874,
while the tunnel on the Lehigh Valley road was
being built at this place, Mr. Smith's sales from his
mill and coal-yard averaged $2500 per month.
He is a Republican in politics, having, as he says,
been " left by the Democratic party in 1856." lb-
had previously been elected justice of the peace by
the Democrats, and served for nine year-, from 1851
to 1860. He was again elected justice in 1870, and
has held various other local offices in his town-hip.
lb- rin at tin- instigation ol hie fn ods fcr memfcii ct
Assembly in 1858, but was defeated by a small ma-
jority. He has frequently served a- a delegate to
county, congressional, and state conventions, and
was :[ member of the Suffrage State Convention in
1869. In 1874 he was appointed one of the lay
judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and held the
office five years. In |X7'I he Was nominated for sena-
tor for Hunterdon County and mad.- a g 1 race,
but on account of certain local issues was defeated.
Mr. Smith married, Oct. 22, L844, Ann Elizabeth,
daughter of John and Catharine McCrea, of Bethle-
hem, X. J. They have had ten children, — two 30I1S
and eight daughters; two of the latter are deceased.
His eldest -on. Simeon II.. is in mercantile lui-iue-s
:ii Bethlehem; the youngest, Abraham Lincoln, is
ij; school at Trenton, N . .1 .
HOW \K1> SERVIS, Ml'.
Howard Servis. M.H.. was born Oct. 6, 1*-'.', near
Ringos, N.J. His lather was i terret Servis, a promi-
nent citizen of Hunterdon < Sounty, who was for three
years sheriff, was twice eh-eted to the New Jersey
Legislature, and for several year- wa- po-tma-t. r at
Clinton. His mother wa-Su-an Stout Servis, a grand-
daughter of John Hart, one of the signers of th,- l de-
claration of Independence. Dr.Serviswaa educate, 1
solely by his father. He studied medicine with Dr.
Charlc- C.l'hillip-. of peertield. Cumberland C - V.I.
468
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
In 1856 he entered the Medical Department of the
University of Pennsylvania. Being over twenty-one
years of age at the time of his matriculation, he was
required to take but two terms, and in 1858 received
his degree of Doctor of Medicine.
M^-f^t
fit ~&^^r /&, St.
He at once established himself at Fairmount, Hun-
terdon Co., N. J., and soon built up an extensive
practice. With unusual professional ardor, he deter-
mined, after having been in active practice two years,
to resume his academic studies, and he accordingly,
in the winter of 1860, attended a special course of
lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. He re-
turned to Fairmount, but at the end of a year he re-
moved to New Hampton, and succeeded to the prac-
tice of Dr. McLenahan, a prominent physician, at
whose request Dr. Servis made the change. With
such indorsement, he succeeded to the full practice of
Dr. McLenahan, and has since won the respect and
confidence of the community in which he resides, both
as a useful citizen and as an eminently successful phy-
sician and surgeon.
He is a member of the District Medical Society of
Hunterdon County.
He was married, June 12, 1867, to Belinda, daughter
of Philip Johnston, Esq., of Washington, N.J.
SAMUEL CREVELING.
The late Samuel Creveling, of Asbury, was born in
Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Aug. 6,
1790, and died March 15, 1880. He married Abigail
Warne, Sept. 20, 1820. She was born July 27, 1800,
and died March 8, 1863. Their children were Elisha
W., born Dec. 11, 1821, married Mehitable Stryker,
Dec. 11, 1840; Jacob, born Nov. 4, 1823; Susan,
born June 19, 1826, married Charles S. Carpenter,
Oct. 15, 1845 ; Samuel, born Aug. 14, 1828, married
Emma C. Boyer, Dec. 23, 1858 ; Rachel Ann, born
Sept. 14, 1830, married William A. Young, Sept. 14,
1852; Mary Elizabeth, born July 3, 1834; Sarah
Ellen, born Sept. 2, 1837, died Jan. 8, 1867 ; Emma
W., born Feb. 29, 1840, married Dr. Frederick P.
Shepherd, Jan. 1, 1867; Jane W., born Feb. 16,
1843, married Charles W. Opdyke, Feb. 27, 1862.
Mr. Creveling was a well-known citizen. He fol-
lowed the occupation of a farmer, residing on the old
homestead near Valley Station. The latter part of
his life he lived retired in the village of Asbury, su-
perintending the interest of his farms. He was a
member of the Presbyterian Church for many years,
was a man of integrity of character and exem-
plary life, very liberal in support of churches. He
was also very strong and decided in his political
views, being a staunch Republican and a warm
friend and supporter of the principles of that party.
He lived to an advanced age, being in his eighty-
fourth year at the time of his death.
JOHN C. WENE.
John C. Wene was born in Bethlehem township,
Hunterdon Co., N. J., Sept. 20, 1809. He is a son of
Paul and Elizabeth (Cregar) Wene. At the age of
eight years he went to live with his grandfather
Cregar ; lived there until he was thirteen ; then hired
out to Ichabod Lee, of Bethlehem, for whom he
worked till twenty years of age. The last year of his
minority his father gave him his time, and he earned
eighty-five dollars, out of which he saved forty. He
then came with his brother Conrad to the mountain,
and they together purchased the adjoining farm, where
his brother now lives. After working here one year
he was induced to relinquish his interest in this farm
and take the Bigler farm, adjoining, to work upon
shares. He has ever since lived upon this farm,
having, on the 3d of September, 1859, married a
granddaughter of Mr. Bigler, Miss Elizabeth Mat-
thews.
Mr. Wene has been an industrious and persistent
worker and a good manager, and by prudence and
economy has saved a handsome competence. From a
boy of eight years of age he has depended upon his
own exertions, and had little or no schooling except
what he procured for himself after he was twenty-one.
Yet he has achieved success, not only in a pecuniary
point of view but in the maintenance of a character
for integrity and liberality. He has been for about
forty years a member of the Bethlehem Baptist
Church, and is one of the largest contributors to
SAMUEL CREVELING, SR.
SAMUEL CREVELING, Jr.
Samuel Creveling, Jr., son of Samuel Creve-
ling, Sr., ami Abigail (Warne) Creveling, was
born in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co.,
N. J., Aug. 14, 1828, and died Aug. 19, 1875.
He was brought up to the occupation of a
fanner, and received his education at the com-
mon schools of his neighborhood. He mar-
ried, Dec. 23, 1858, Emma <'., daughter of
David and Lydia (Shinier) Hover, born in
Franklin township, Warren Co., X. J. The
fruit of this marriage has Urn eight children,
as follows: infant daughter, born .Ian. !•. I860;
Barry J., born April 19, 1861, died Sept. 20,
1862; Jennie, born Jan. 26, 1863; George B.,
born Jan. 23, 1865, lives at home; Julia, born
Jan. 11, 1869; Charles, born Sept. 20, 1870,
died Oct. 9, 1870; Annie, born Sept. 20, 1870;
Luie, born May 28, 1874, died Aug. 15, 1880.
Mr. Creveling was a staunch Republican,
and took an active part in the political affairs of
his party, being a frequeni delegate to conven-
tions, and an earnest and indefatigable worker
in behalf of the principles he BO highly valued.
He had a high reputation for honor and integ-
rity; was a faithful and affectionate husband, a
kind and indulgent father, and a true friend.
His death was much lamented by a large circle
of friends.
&Z/jg/u*e&
The ancestors of Dr. Creveling came from Holland , and
were among the earliest settlers in the Musconetcong Val-
ley. The following is a record of the first couple who
settled there and their children : Johannes Creveling,
born Jan. 6, 1706 ; Catharine, his wife, born July 12, 1710,
married, Sept. 6, 1737, by Johannes Casprivis Everhartus,
minister in Banmoxcein. Their residence is given as
Woverlingen, Holland. Johannes Creveling died Jan.
20,1782. Thechildrenof thiscouple were: William, born
Feb. 14, 1739, married, Jan. 28, 1762, to Catharine Wel-
ler, by Charles Huff, Esq. ; Mary, born April 24, 1740,
married, Jan. 28, 1762, to Henry Strader, by Charles
Huff, Esq. ; Henry, born Nov. 6, 1741, married, July 1,
1770, to Sarah Weller, by Thomas Van Home, Esq.;
Andrew, born Feb. 28, 1743, married, June 18, 1771, to
Margaret Patrick, by Minister McHannah ; Johannes,
born Feb. 22, 1745, married, Feb. 8, 1776, to Mary
Knowles, by Mr. Stright; Margaret, born Sept. 31,
1747, married, March 30, 1763, to David Beer, by Mr.
Kosebrook, minister; Christiana, born Sept. 30, 1749,
married, Nov. 29, 1769, to Jacob "Weller, by Thomas
Van Home, Esq. ; Peter, born Feb. 22, 1753; Jacob,
born March 25, 1755; Anne, born March 10, 1758, mar-
ried, Dec. 13, 1778, to John Brinkerhoif, by Joseph
Treate.
Jacob Creveling, tenth child of Johannes and Catha-
rine, was the grandfather of Dr. William S. Creveling.
His father was William H., youngest son of Jacob
Creveling, born July 81, 1801, and married Mary Bar-
ber. He lived in the Musconetcong Valley, on the farm
cleared by his grandfather Johannes, and had twelve
children, nine of whom are living; their names are as
follows: John J., now living at Bloomsbury, N. J.;
Christiana, deceased ; Jacob, residing in the city of New
York; Elizabeth, deceased, wife of John Hunt; Wil-
liam S., M.D., of West End, Bethlehem township,
Hunterdon Co. ; George, now living in Washington,
D. C. ; Francelia, wife of Dr. William Little, of
Bloomsbury, N. J. ; Charlotte V., wife of A. York
Smith, residing at Hazleton, Pa. ; and Isabella, wife of
George W. Scott, of Bloomsbury, N. J.
William Sloan Creveling was born at West End,
Bethlehem township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Nov. 21,
1829. He was brought up on a farm and received a
good English education, reading in the classics and
studying medicine with Dr. John Blane, of Perryville,
Hunterdon Co. He commenced his medical studies in
1846, and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine at
the University of New York in 1851. After practicing
one year with his preceptor, in the spring of 1852 he
moved to the village of Stanton, Hunterdon Co., where
he remained, pursuing a successful professional career,
for twenty-two years, and attaining a high reputation
as a physician. In 1874 he removed to West End, or
Bethlehem Village, where he still follows his profession
with the same ardor and success.
Dr. Creveling is a member of the State Medical
Society, and holds a practitioner's license from that
body. He is also a member of the District Medical
Society of Hunterdon County, of which he has several
times been president and a delegate to other important
medical bodies.
Ho married, Jan. 2, 1854, Thisby M., daughter of the
late John S. Britton, of Hunterdon County. They
have two children, — Martha, born Sept. 8, 1855, wife
of Dr. Albert S. Shannon, successor of Dr. Creveling
at Stanton, N. J., and Mary, single and living at
homo.
MARTIN H. ('REVELING.
Martin H. Creveling was born June 2, 1812,
on the place where his life was spent, near the
village of Bethlehem, Hunterdon Co., N. J.,
where he died April 24, 1878. He was a son
of Peter and Delilah (Farrell) Crevelingj was
educated at the common schools, and followed
the occupation of a farmer all his life.
He inherited a part of his father's estate, on
which he was born, and purchased a portion
from the other heirs, leaving to his widow
and children who survive him a comfortable
competence.
He married, Dec. 124, 1840, Hannah Ann
Alpaugh, daughter of Charles Alpaugh, of
Alexandria township. They have had four
children, — three sons and one daughter, all
living, — viz., Agnes, James L., Alfred G., and
Charles O. All except Alfred (i. reside at
home; he married Julia J. Smith, and lives at
Bloomsbury, N*. J.
.Mr. Creveling was a man of upright and un-
blemished character, and a memlicr of the IVcs-
byterian ( ihurch. Although in feeble health for
sometime, his death was quite unexpected. He
died suddenly, of pneumonia, in three days from
the time when he was taken seriously ill. His
memory will he cherished by many friends
and relatives.
&* 'f-^^Tie.
kktiilkiikm.
469
its support and to missionary and other incidental
interests.
In polities lie is a Democrat, and has held sev-
eral responsible offices in his township, such as a
member of the committee, collector, etc.
Mr. and Mrs. Wene have three children, one son
and two daughters, — viz., Elizabeth, wife of Henry
Laity, foreman of the Swayze mine-, Margaret, and
John Wene,
I) Will F. \VK.\E.
His grandfather, Conrad Wene. livid in Tewksbury
township, and served in the Revolutionary war. Later
in life In- lived at Quakertown, where he attained the
remarkable age of one hundred and one years. He
^CC^^t,
time of his marriage to Elizabeth Dalrymplc, in May,
1837. He was saving, prudent, and industrious, and
has well realized the reward of his virtues. After his
marriage lie settled in Hloomsbury and bought prop-
erty largely in the village, much of which he -till
own-, although he has missed lew opportunities to dis-
pose of a piece of property profitably .
He followed the business of a carpenter and under-
taker till 1872, since which time he has been in the
lumber bu-iiicss, owning a saw-mill at lllooin-bury
and a form near the village. He has ten acres in
Warren County which he has been filling up for a
cemetery.
Mr. Wene ha- l«n for many years a member id' the
( rreenwich Presbj terian I Ihorch.
was buried at Lebanon cbiircb. Hi- third SOU, Petei
Wene, father of David !â– '., married p. .IK I v i?orest,
served in the war of 1812 I i. had nine children, five
sons and four daughters, ibn I w I \ i/.. Mary.
wife of Aaron i;,,ti'. of N e« ( termantown ; Sarah, wife
of John Stakle, of Bucks I !o., Pa. ; and David I'., the
siibjeci of this Bketch are living.
David I'. Wene was |„>rn in Lebanon township,
N. J., April 8, L806. lb wen! to Tewksbury town-
ship, where his mother died when he was eleven
years old. and he was bound OUl to ka-p.r B. Wyc-
koif, in Readington, and remained there till he was of
age, working on a form. After arriving at his ma-
jority , be did farm work, made brick, etc.. up to the
JOSEPH w\ WXLLBVBB.
Joseph W. Willever was born Nov. 20, 1820, on the
form adjoining the place where he now resides
part of the original homestead, in lietlihhem town-
ship, Hunterdon Co., N. J. The estate has been more
than one hundred years in the family. It belonged
first to the Conover (originally Coven ho vi â–¡ family,
one of whom. Sarah, married .lames Kekman, the
maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
His grandfather Kekman being one of the heirs, the
property came into the Willever family partly in this
way and partly by purchase by Mr. Kekman of the
other heirs.
The Willevers from whom he is descended li\cl
many generations ago in ( irecnw ieh I now Kranklin)
town-hip. Warren Co., where his great-grandfather,
Adam Willever, was the original proprietor of a
large tract of land, and had also a large tract near
Jerseytown, Pa. This land was divided among bis
-i\ -on-, three of whom settled on the estate in
Pennsylvania, and three — viz., Joseph, Peter, and
Phillip -on that in Warren • '".. N. .1. Joseph was
ndfatlicr of the subject of our sketch. IL-
lived and died on the old hoine-tcad in Warren
County, having married a Miss Kinneman and raised
8 family of three children, two sons and one daugh-
ter, — viz., Adam. Peter, and Barbara.
l'i i, r, the second son. was the tat her of the j
Mi. Willever. lie was born and reared in Warren