Woodside, the North End of Newark, N.J.: Its History, Legends and Ghost Stories Gathered from the Records and the Older Inhabitants Now LivingHine, C. G. (Charles Gilbert)
History
Woodside, the North End of Newark, N.J.: Its History, Legends and Ghost Stories Gathered from the Records and the Older Inhabitants Now Living
Hine, C. G. (Charles Gilbert)
Hine, C. C. (Charles Cole), 1825-1897; Woodside (Newark, N.J.) -- History
In those days the Hackensack meadows were covered with a dense cedar
growth which was a hiding place for those whose deeds were evil, and the
road was the scene of many hold-ups. On one occasion Mr. Smith, while
driving home, overtook a woman who asked for a ride, and he took her in
his trap, only to discover that the supposed woman wore heavy boots; he
then concluded that they would later meet with others who would assist
in relieving him of the necessity of carrying his money home. Having
made up his mind to rid himself of the passenger, he dropped his whip
and requested her to get it, as he could not leave his restive horse;
and, of course, once she was out, he did not wait for whip or passenger.
The children of Robert Smith all of whom are now dead, were Charles H.,
Eugene B., Robert A., Sarah and Agnes W.
LAND VALUES BEFORE THE PANIC OF ’73.
This property was purchased by Peter H. and John H. Ballantine just
before the panic of 1873 (the deed is dated January 31, 1873) when
prices were greatly inflated, and they paid therefor the sum of
$217,000, paying $50,000 down and giving a mortgage and bond for the
remainder. It was not long before the new purchasers saw the error of
their ways and desired to relinquish the property and the $50,000, but
to this the Smith estate would not agree. It is hardly probable that
they will ever see a profit on the investment, as interest at 5 per cent
(and it was more than five in those days) would in itself now amount to
almost twice the original outlay, and when the taxes and assessments to
which the property has fallen heir are added to the loss of interest,
even eighty dollars a foot can hardly seem a large sum to the Ballantine
estate.
WHERE JOHN MORRIS LIVED.
Passing the Robert Smith place we come to the home of the Bartholfs,
which was erected more than sixty years ago, as it is so designated on
the map of ’49. Who Mr. Bartholf was or where he came from I have not
ascertained. The records show that John G. Bartholf purchased the
property from Samuel Morris, who had it from Zebulon Morris, to whom it
came from John Morris. This was probably that John Morris who was a
resident of the old Bloomfield road during the Revolution.
Mr. John Morris Phillips, in the Daily Advertiser of February 19, 1880,
stated that John Morris was his great-grandfather, and that it was to
his house that the son of Joseph Hedden came when he fled from the
British (referred to elsewhere), having nothing on but his night clothes
and a pair of stockings. His feet were frozen to the bone as a result of
the exposure.
Some time in the sixties Mr. Albert Beach acquired this property which
he at first used only as a summer home. The house was taken down in
November, 1909.
KEEN FAMILY TRADITION.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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