Bergen County, NJGenWeb

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BIOGRAPHIES

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THE EDSALL FAMILY are still numerous in both Bergen and Hudson Counties. The founder of the family in America was Samuel Edsall, a native of Reading in Berkshire, England, where he was born about 1630. He was a hatter by trade, and came to America early in the spring of 1655 (as is said), settling first at New Amsterdam. There, on May 29, 1655, he married (1) Jannetie Wessels, then a belle of the city, whose mother kept a tavern in Pearl Street, celebrated for burgomasters' dinners. In April, 1657, Edsall was made a small burgher. From New Amsterdam he went to Newtown, L. I. In 1663 he volunteered his services in the Esopus Indian War, and was made a Sergeant. On October 6, 1664, he, with Richard Nichols, bought of Governor Phillip Carteret a tract called Nipnichsen on the Kill Von Kull in Hudson County, containing about 400 acres. He sent over four men to Bergen that year to help fortify the "towne." In 1668, with Nicholas Varlet, he bought from the Indians 1,872 acres of land fronting on the Hudson River, bounded west by Overpeck Creek, and extending northward from the town bounds of Bergen to what is now Leonia in Bergen County. After the surrender of the Dutch to the English he took the oath of allegiance to the British king and removed from Newtown to Bergen. There was a member of Carteret's Council from 1668 to 1672. In 1668 he was appointed a commissioner to assess and collect a tax to resist invasion, and was made treasurer of the fund. He joined James Bollen and John Berry in petitioning the Dutch government that the books and papers of New Jersey be delivered to Secretary Bayard, September 12, 1673, and was one of the commissioners sent by Bergen to the same government. In 1689 he removed to New Amsterdam and became a partisan of Governor Leisler, a member of the Committee of Safety, and of the Court of Exchequer. He was caught in the net with Leisler, and put on trial for high treason, of which he was honorably acquitted. In 1699 he removed to Queens County, L. I., where he was Justice of the Peace in 1699, and where he died. He married (2) August 27, 1689, at Flatbush, L. I., Janneite Stevens, widow of Cornelius Jansen Beory, of Newton.

His issue were Ann, 1656; Judith, 1658; John, 1660; Ann; Julia; and Richard. Of these Ann married William Laurence, of New York, and Julia married Benjamin Blagge, of Plymouth, England. John settled north of his father's farm on the Hudson. Blagge and Laurence by the deed of Edsall became the owners of part of his Hudson River farm, and the remainder passed to the ownership of the De Groots, Days, Smiths, and other settlers of Bergen County. Some of Edsall's descendants are still living on portions of the farm bought from the savages by their first common ancestor.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, pages 163-164.

JOHN ENGEL, formerly Postmaster of Hackensack, and one of the most popular hotel proprietors in Bergen County, was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 16th of April, 1845. His parents, Charles Engel and Agustia Kuehn, ere both born and married in Prussia.

Major Engel received his education at the military school at Schloss, Annaburg, Province of Saxony, and in 1860 came to this country, arriving in New York City on the 16th of October. His first business here was as a barber in New York. In 1868 he removed to Hackensack, N. J., where he has since resided, and where he was for some time engaged in the barber business. He became Postmaster of Hackensack in 1888, and served one term. Afterward he engaged in the hotel business in Hackensack, in which he has since continued, becoming one of the most popular and best known hotel keepers in Bergen County.

As a soldier in the Civil War Major Engel made an enviable record. He enlisted, in 1862, in the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth New York Volunteers and served until the close of the war in 1865, receiving an honorable discharged after a long and active service at the front. In 1898 he enlisted for active service in the War with Spain, becoming Major of the Second Battalion, Second Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and going into camp with his regiment at Jacksonville, Fla. He was mustered out in November, 1898. He is Past Commander of James B. McPherson Post, No. 52, G. A. R., and also Captain of Major John Engel Command, No. 56, Spanish War Veterans. He served twenty-seven years (1872-1899) in the National Guard of New Jersey, rising from a private to the command of the same battalion in which he enlisted in 1872.

Major Engel is a man of great energy, ability, and enterprise, and during his entire career has maintained the respect and confidence of all who know him. He is one of the most public spirited citizens, deeply interested in the affairs of the community, and thoroughly identified with every movement which has for its object the general welfare. He is a member of Lodge No 177, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Hackensack, of the Improved Order of Red Men, of the Hackensack Wheelmen's Club, and of the Hasbrouck Heights Field Club.

On October 31, 1867, he married Miss M. H. Gehrels, of Charleston, S. C. Their children are Charles W., George S., John A., Augusta, Herbert B., Frank P., Emma T. B., and Daniel C.

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 150-151.

William Fair was a native of Scotland, emigrated to America with his wife, Mary Hume, and three children, Mary, John and Jane, and settled in New Barbadoes, now Hackensack, about 1785.

He was a cabinet-maker by trade, and carried on his business on the site of the Fair Homestead, in Hackensack, until his death, which occurred February 24, 1839, dying at the age of eighty-three years. His wife died at the age of seventy years, September 23, 1824. Mary died unmarried, October 12, 1852, and Jane died unmarried, July 19, 1848. John was a successful merchant in New York for many years, and died January 5, 1854, aged seventy-six years.

George Fair, fourth child of William and Mary Hume Fair, was born in Hackensack, on the homestead, November 27, 1785. He received during his boyhood only a common school education, but the rigid home discipline of his Scotch parents early impressed him with habits of industry, economy, and self-reliance.

At the age of fifteen young Fair became a clerk in a dry-goods store in New York city, where he continued for many years, and until he had saved enough money from his earnings to establish business for himself. With his elder brother, John, he engaged in the dry-goods trade on his own account in Vesey Street, New York city, where for many years they continued a successful trade. They invested of their surplus means in city real estate, which increased in value on their hands and gave both a large competency.

In 1859 Mr. Fair completed the homestead formerly occupied by his father, a substantial residence on Essex Street, where he resided until his death, which occurred October 16, 1868.

James Van Valen, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1900

Mr. Jacob H. Fank, the present postmaster of Hackensack, was born in that city August 17th, 1855, and was educated in the public schools of his native place. When but fifteen years of age he became telegraph operator for the New York and New Jersey Railroad Company. Afterward he filled similar positions with the New York, Ontario and Western, and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad, returning in 1875, to Hackensack.

In 1879 Mr. Fank began the manufacture of cigars at 71 Main Street, but in 1883 disposed of this business and resumed that of telegraphy, accepting a position with the West Shore Railroad Company, subsequently becoming operator for the Long Island Railroad at Brooklyn, N. Y. In 1885, upon his return to Hackensack, he opened a grocery store, in which he did a good business until 1896, when he was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland, a position which he continues to hold.

In 1887 Mr. Fank was elected chief engineer of the Hackensack Fire Department, and re-elected to the same office in 1888. He served four years as tax collector for New Barbadoes township.

Mr. Fank is a member of many lodges: Pioneer Lodge, No. 70, F., & A. M.; Uhland Lodge, No. 177, I. O. O. F.; and Hope Encampment; Hackingeshacky Tribe, No. 189, I. O. R. M.; Court Hackensack F. of A.; the A. O. U. W. and Exempt Firemen Association. He is also secretary of the Hackensack Firemen Insurance Association; vice president of the State Exempt Firemen Association of New Jersey; Master Workmen of Hackensack Lodge, No. 64, A. O. U. W. He is a member of the Kalamazoo Band; Alert Hose Association, and is L. A. W. Local Consul.

Mr. Fank was married December 7, 1879, to Miss Thresa Mattjetscheck. They have two children living, a son and a daughter. In politics Mr. Fank is a Democrat.

[check Van Valen book]
James Van Valen, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1900

ALEXANDER FISHER was born in Buffalo, N. Y., on the 14th of May, 1849, his parents being John Fisher and Margaret Cortelyou. His ancestors came to this country from England. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo and spent his early life as a traveling salesman. In this capacity he gained a wide practical experience. He is now private secrreary to Henry Dalley, of New York City.

In 1862 Mr. Fisher became a resident of Closter, Bergen County, N. J., where he has since remained. As a citizen he is thoroughly identified with public affairs, liberal in promoting every worthy object, and prominent in the community. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, public spirited and progressive, patriotic and enterprising, and highly esteemed and respected. He married Mrs. H. R. Downs (nee Du Bois).

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 151.

The Flierboom Family. The first American ancestor of the Flierboom and Vlierboom families was Mattys Flierboom, a Hollander, who emigrated to America somewhere about 1660 and settled at New Orange (Albany), where he became a man of note, rising to the dignities and honors of a judge of the courts at Albany. There he reared a family of five children: Caroline, Wellempie, Maritie, Servaes, and Jacob, and perhaps others. About 1692 the family removed to New Amsterdam, married Cornelius Jaus Haring. Maritie married in 1694 Rynier Reyserick. Servaes, in 1697, married Gertrude Lesting. Jacob married in 1699 Maritie Peters Haring. All these, except Servaes, became residents of Bergen County. Jacob, at the division of the Tappan patent, bought a large farm at what is now Rivervale, in Washington Township. He owned other lands there. His issue were Mary, Matthew, John, Abram, Ryner, Jannetie, James, and Jannetie. All of these except Matthew were baptized at Tappan. Jacob's children (a large family) located west of the Hackensack on lands bought of John McEvers, and their descendants are scattered over Bergen County, some having taken the name of "Freeborn."

Source: Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, Editor, Cornelius Burnham Harvey, The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900, page 164.