SOURCE: “History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Their Pioneers and Prominent Men” by Major E. M. Woodward & John F. Hageman, 1883.

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP HISTORY

Villages and Hamlets. -

(When this text was written in 1883, Hopewell and Pennington boroughs (or villages) were still a part of Hopewell Township.)

PENNINGTON.

HOPEWELL.

TITUSVILLE - Titusville is a village on the Delaware. River, in the southwestern part of the township. It derived its name from Joseph Titus, who owned the land upon which it is built, and who was the first merchant there. He began trading at a comparatively early date, and was succeeded in turn by Schenck & Young, Titus, Hoff & Nevins, Hoff & Nevins, Nevins & Van Cleef, and John Hoff, who went out of business a little less than thirty years ago. About 1850, Hoff & Nevins moved into a new store, which was built in that year, on the opposite side of the street from the old stand, by Peter A. Van Cleef, who later had an interest in the business. In 1855 this building was converted into a hotel. The firm of Ege & Stout opened a store in the old building soon after it was vacated by the firm above mentioned, and were succeeded by Ege & Van Cleef, they by Ege & Quick, they by John Sargent, he by Pearson & Hart, they by B. Matthews, he by W. H. Snoak & Son, and they by Alfred W. Smith, the present occupant, in 1874. In 1858, Hart & Ege built store in which they traded until 1860, when they were succeeded by Hart & Parley. After the death of Mr. Hart the business passed into the hands of his partner, who was succeeded by Farley Brothers, who ceased business some years ago. Samuel Halcombe established a trade in the same building shortly afterwards, and in 1881 sold to Hoppock & Trimmer.

A post-office was established many years ago. The present postmaster, Alfred W. Smith, was commissioned in 1874.

The hotel mentioned above, which from 1850 to 1855 was a store building, was opened in 1855 by Benjamin Burrows. It has had numerous occupants. It is now owned by Hoppock Brothers, and managed by Henry C. Savage. It is known as the Delaware House. The Riverview House was built in 1878 by C. H. Swift, who has occupied it continuously since.

In 1860, Jesse A. Holcombe established himself in the harness-making business, which he has continued.

Among the early blacksmiths was Joshua Perrine, who built a shop in 1845, which changed occupants as often as once a year, until it was purchased by George H. Smith, the present blacksmith, in 1862.

The wheelwright-shop of David H. Hunt was erected by him in 1862. Amos Harbourt, another wheelwright, began business in 1880.

The following-named physicians have from time to time resided in the village: Drs. Twining, J. W. Robinson, Lyman Leavitt, George W. Copeland, John Meeser, and Henry H. A. Neel, now a resident practitioner.

The village contains two churches, two hotels, two stores, one harness shop, one blacksmith-shop, two wheelwright-shops, a post-office, a flouring-mill, a school-house, and a population of three hundred.

MOUNT ROSE. - This village, located in the eastern part of the township, contains one store, a post-office, a blacksmith-shop, a wheelwright-shop, a shoe-shop, a harness-shop, a distillery, an agricultural implement warehouse, and twenty dwellings. It was named by Ralph Sansbury, formerly a school-teacher in the neighborhood. 1 Richard Stout was the first merchant. He built a store, and began trade about 1822. About 1832 he was succeeded by Josiah Cook and John Savidge. Cook & Savidge were succeeded about two years later by Elias Griggs, and he about 1850 by Paul H. Tolan. About 1854 the enterprise passed into the hands of Philemon Golden, and about 1858 into those of the present proprietor, Reuben Savidge, who in 1868 removed the old store and built the one he has since occupied. In 1835, Alexander Waters built a hotel, which, after being kept two years, was converted into a dwelling.

1 Name derived from the beautiful roses which surrounded the homestead of Maj. Houghton, an elevated residence on the edge of the village.

The post-office was established thirty years more. The first postmaster was Josiah Cook. The present incumbent of the office is Reuben Savidge, who has served continuously twenty years.

Thomas Reed was the first wheelwright. He has been succeeded by Benjamin Vankirk, James Robinson, Titus Drake, Isaiah Lee, and the present representative of the craft, Spencer Updike. Benjamin Vankirk built a blacksmith-shop about 1849, and Thomas Reed became the first blacksmith, working therein until he made way for the first of a number of successors, the last of whom was Samuel V. Lee, the present owner of the shop, who took possession about ten years ago.

In 1828, Josiah Cook began business as a shoe-maker, in which he continued until 1880. The shoe-shop of Reuben Savidge was opened by him in 1842. Azariah Titus was the first harness maker who plied his trade here. He began in 1876, and still continues.

The distillery of Nathaniel H. Drake was early established by members of his family. A distillery was erected by Theodore H. Reed in 1880.

Alfred Drake has dealt in agricultural implements since 1872.

WOODVILLE. - Woodville is a hamlet rear the northern boundary of the township.

A hotel was erected by Titus Ege about 1832. It was kept for a time by tenants, and later by the owner, who converted it into a dwelling in 1852. It is now the residence of Augustus T. Ege. The Woodville Mountain House was built in 1854 by Abraham A. Darling, who has since kept it.

Joseph Wood, from whom the place derived its name, opened the first store. After some years he was succeeded by John Hill. The building was subsequently torn down, and the hotel was built on its site. A store was opened by Nelson Ege about 1852. He was succeeded in turn by Theodore Silvers, Samuel Halcombe, Halcombe & Rue, Rue & Taylor, John Riley, Liscomb Stout, and John Phillips.

Abraham Darling erected a blacksmith-shop in 1848, and in 1858 sold it to William Scudder, who has continued the business to the present time. E. Snoak built a second “smithy” about 1877, and rented it to Francis Runyan.

The first wheelwright was Elijah Ege, who built a shop about 1840, and carried on a general manufacturing and repairing business many years. The present wheelwright, Jacob Williamson, began business in 1857.

The first postmaster was Joseph Wood. The present one is J. R. Phillips.

Dr. William Jenney began the practice of his profession in Woodville in 1856, and continued it until 1869. Dr. A. W. Armitage was a resident physician for some years until 1877, when he was succeeded by Dr. Joseph T. Laning.

Woodville is pleasantly located, and contains twelve dwellings, a hotel, two blacksmith-shops, a wheel wright-shop, and a store and post-office.

MARSHALL'S CORNERS. - Marshall's Corners is a hamlet containing a store, a blacksmith-shop, a wheelwright-shop, and eight dwellings, northeast of the centre of the township. It was named in honor of William Marshall; who was a merchant there from 1833 to 1839. His predecessor was Joseph G. Hunt, in 1828-32. He was succeeded by George W. Smith. In 1840, William Dean succeeded Smith, and traded until 1843, when Peter Ferris, the present merchant, bought him out.

HARBORTON. - Harborton, in the west part of the township, at the crossing of two highways, contains a store and post-office, a church, and four dwellings.

The pioneer merchant was Henry Rosseau, who opened a store as early as 1829, and traded until 1837, when he was succeeded by William Roscoe, who, in 1874, gave place to Silas Lawrence. John Harbor, from whom the locality is said to have received its name, built a house here as early as 1768, which, after a time, passed into other bands and was converted into a tavern, which Joseph Burrowes kept a few years, but was finally closed. About 1820, Isaac Williamson kept a tavern. About 1826 he was succeeded by Ira S. Williamson. About ten years later Jacob Hoff became the landlord. In 1837 or 1838 he was succeeded by Samuel S. Cornell, who soon abandoned the enterprise.

A quarter of a mile from Harborton are the wheelwright-shop of William S. Hunt, established thirty years ago, and the blacksmith-shop of George W. Kelly, opened in 1849.

The post-office was established in 1875, with Silas Lawrence as postmaster. He has held the office continuously since.

STOUTSBURG. - This is a small hamlet, containing a hotel, a post-office, a blacksmith-shop, a wheelwright-shop, and about half a dozen dwellings. It is located on the eastern border of the township, mostly in Somerset County. It was formerly called Dogtown.

A store was kept there as early as 1812 by Abraham and Richard Stout, in whose honor the locality was named. They were succeeded about 1815 by Stout & Anderson, Richard Stout withdrawing. In 1819 this firm sold out to Daniel Amerman, and he, about three years later, to Daniel Thorne, who converted the building into a hotel, which is now kept by F. W. Pittinger. The blacksmithing and wheelwright interests are represented respectively by W. A. Simmons and M. F. Perrine. Dr. James H. Baldwin for many years was the practicing physician in this neighborhood.