NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey
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NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey
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Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914 One of the most prominent and influential citizens of Lincoln Park, Morris county, New Jersey, is Abraham RYERSON, ex-sheriff of the county. The origin of his family in this country is a most interesting one. Among those valuable French subjects whom the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes drove out of France were immigrants of the best type who brought substantial additions to the early settlers of this country. Of these Frenchmen who sought an asylum in Holland was a family known as REYERSE. Though the family intermarried with the Dutch and acquired some of their characteristics, they never wholly lost the vivacity and other charming attributes of their French ancestors. A member of this Huguenot family, Martin REYERSE, came with other Netherlanders and settled near the western end of Long Island, on Wallabout Bay. He married Annetje RAPELJE, who was the first white child born on Long Island. The Canarsie Indians, in recognition of this distinction, had donated to her a large tract of land. They had four sons, three of whom went to New Jersey, settling in different parts of the State. About this time the spelling of the name was changed to RYERSON. Joris or George RYERSON was the first member of his family to come to New Jersey, having been a planter in New York. He arrived in Bergen county, in 1710, and settled on a place which he called Pacquauac. He was a deacon in the Dutch Reformed church. He died in 1749, and his remains were interred in the RYERSON Cemetery. George RYERSON, seventh child of Joris or George RYERSON, was born January 5, 1703, died in April, 1792, buried in the RYERSON Cemetery. He was a surveyor by occupation. He married Mary DUBOISE, of Somerset county, New Jersey, born 1721, died April 8, 1792. Abraham RYERSON, fifth child of George and Mary (DUBOISE) RYERSON, was born 1761, died in September, 1810. He was a surveyor by occupation. He married Sarah MANDEVILLE, born 1765, died in February, 1831. They had seven children. Abraham (2) RYERSON, son of Abraham (1) and Sarah (MANDEVILLE) RYERSON was born January 14, 1783, died February 7, 1856. He was a surveyor by occupation. He married Sarah BUSH, who bore him five children. George A. RYERSON, eldest child of Abraham (2) and Sarah (BUSH) RYERSON, was born 1803, in Essex county, New Jersey, died on his farm at the age of seventy-six years. He was a farmer and surveyor by occupation. He achieved considerable prominence in the public affairs of the community, and was the first county clerk of Passaic county, New Jersey. He married Christina De BOW. Children:
Abraham (3) RYERSON, son of George A. and Christina (De BOW) RYERSON, was born at No. 14 Temple street, Paterson, New Jersey, in January, 1842. He was educated in the public schools of Passaic county, and in an academy at Pompton Plains. Upon the completion of his studies he was apprenticed in Newark to learn the trade of machinist, remaining for a period of two years, up to the breaking out of the Civil War. He enlisted in New York City, October 22, 1861, in Battery L Artillery, mustered in as Fourth New York Independent Battery Light Artillery, Captain James E. SMITH. The battery was attached to General HOOKER’s division at Budds Ferry and remained there until April, 1862, then ordered to the Peninsula, Virginia, where HOOKER’s division became the Second Division, Third Army Corps. They participated in the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, April 10 to May 4, 1862; engaged in battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862; served in operations before Richmond, Virginia, from June to July, 1862; engaged in battle of Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862; at Harrisons Landing, Virginia, until August, 1862, then moved to Alexandria, Virginia, on duty there until October, 1862; battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862; Mud Marsh, January 20-24, 1863; battery transferred to First Division, Third Army Corps, in spring of 1863; battle of Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and served as No. 1 on extreme left gun of Fourth New York Battery, Third Army Corps, near Devil’s Den. He was promoted first corporal, September 1, 1863; he took part in the Mine Run campaign, December 26-28, 1863; transferred to Fifth New York Independent Battery, December 4, 1863; wintered at Brandy Station, Virginia; participated in battle of Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864, battery attached to Fifth Corps, May 17, 1864; battle of Spottsylvania, May 18, 1864; ordered to Washington, May 18, 1864; garrisoned Fort Albany, until July 15, 1864; was in Shenandoah campaign, battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864; Fisher Hill, September 22, 1864; Newmarket, September 24, 1864; promoted to sergeant, October 13, 1864; battle of Cedar Creek, October 19; 1864; honorably discharged from the service of the government, October 19; 1864. In December, 1867, Mr. RYERSON was appointed assistant jailer of the Hudson County Jail, and served in that capacity for almost ten years, serving under two appointments, and for almost a year, between his two appointments, he devoted his attention to carpenter work. He then returned to Wayne township, his old home, and for a period of time was engaged in building sidewalks in the Oranges and at carpentry work. Subsequently he was employed by the Laflin & Rand Powder Company of Wayne, for a period of twenty-two years, until he was elected sheriff of the county in 1902. Prior to his election as sheriff he served as township clerk of Wayne township, Passaic county, being twice elected, and also served one term as clerk of Pequannock township, Morris county. He was a chosen freeholder for two years, representing Pequannock township, and also served many times as a member of the Morris county Republican committee. He has been for many years a member of the Reformed Church of Pompton Plains, and a member of the consistory. He has been a Mason since 1873, affiliated with Highland Lodge, No. 80, of Jersey City, demitted to Silentia Lodge, Butler, New Jersey, Triune Chapter, No. 29; Hugh De Payen Commandery, No. 1, of Jersey City; and Salaam Temple. He is an honorary member of the Paul Revere Council, No. 197, J. O. U. A. M., also charter member of Zabriski Post, No. 38, G. A. R., of Jersey City, demitted John E. Beam Post, No. 92, Bloomingdale, New Jersey. He is president of Lincoln Park fire department. He served twice on the grand jury, acting as foreman of that body. On October 9, 1912, twenty-five members of the first New York Volunteer Engineers’ Association and the veterans of the vicinity, together, together with their wives and families and other guests, gathered at the home of Abraham RYERSON, at Lincoln Park, to celebrate the thirty-second reunion of the association. The veterans were given a royal reception by Mr. RYERSON and the reunion was one of the most enjoyable from every standpoint that the association has had. Not only did the older people take the reunion as an excuse for a holiday, but the school children as well, for the Lincoln Park School was dismissed after the morning session in order that they might be present in the afternoon and hear the old soldiers talk about the war. Mr. RYERSON’s home was decorated in patriotic style with large American flags. Owing to the number of people the host was unable to accommodate his guests in the house, and a large tent was erected on the lawn, where the dinner and exercises were held. Exclusive of the school children there were over one hundred of the veterans and their friends present. After the meal had been served Mr. RYERSON gave the veterans a chance to talk and each speaker confined his remarks to a short space of time. Among the veterans who spoke were Comrades L. A. PIAGET, C. F. HOPKINS, H. H. TRENOR, Major PARSONS, Rev. Fred E. FOERTNER, of Pompton Plains, Mr. RYERSON and several others. Mr. RYERSON married (first) Martha BENJAMINE, (second) Melinda J. VAN NESS. Children:
This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003). |
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