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JAMES H. STEPHENS
Originally published in 1900 |
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JAMES H. STEPHENS, of Closter, is descended from John Stephensen,
an Englishman, who came to America about 1670 and located at Fort Orange (Albany), where he followed his profession, which was that of a school
teacher. On October 4, 1673, he married Elizabeth Lucas, who, the record
states, was from New Orange. The couple must have resided in New Amsterdam for some time, as seven of their children are recorded as having
been baptized there, in the Dutch church, up to 1693. His first wife died
in New Amsterdam and he married (2) Maria –. He had children of
the second generation: Elizabeth, Lucas, Mary, Steven, Jenneke, Cornelius,
Catalyna, John, Peter, Nicholas, Roeloff, Abraham, and Gertrude.
Lucas Stephens (2) married and had issue, among other children, Abra-ham (3), born about 1730, who married, in 1757, Sarah Peters O'Blenis, of Clarkstown. They resided at Clarkstown, N. Y., and had seven children of the fourth generation: Elizabeth, 1759; Peter, 1760; Maria, 1763; Elizabeth, 1765; Abram, 1767; Jannetie, 1769; and Hendrick, 1771. Hendrick (4), born at Clarkstown, June 11, 1771, married Ann de Clark, born at Clarkstown, December 11, 1771, died there December 25, 1843. Hendrick died there October 25, 1834. They had issue, among other children, James H. Stephens of the fifth generation. James H. Stephens (5), born at Clarkstown, N. Y., august 28, 1804, died at Closter, N. J.. August 28, 1867, married (1) Catharine Pye in 1824 and (2) Ida E. Pye, widow of Edmund Irish. James H. Stephens was a carpenter, and for many years followed his occupation in the City of New York, where he acquired a competence in constructing frames for buildings which were at that time being shipped to California. Early in the fifties he purchased a large farm in Monmouth County on which he devoted his time to the production of fruits, for which he found a ready market in New York. In 1867 he sold his Monmouth farm and removed to Closter, N. J., on the farm for- merly owned by David A. Demarest. He died there five months after his arrival. His issue by Catharine I've were two sons, Abraham and John H. Stephens, and by Ida E. Pye two children, Edmund and Catharine. John H. Stephens (6) was born in Bank Street, New York, February 8, 1831, and died at Closter, N. J., September 8, 1887. He learned the car- penter's trade with his father in New York and married Rachel D. Huyler, daughter of Barney and Maria (Demarest) Huyler. In 1858 he removed to Closter, N. J., bought lands, and followed carpentry until the opening of the railroad in the following year, when he built a store (the first one in the place) and began to speculate in real estate. He was station agent for twenty-five years, Postmaster for thirty years, held many town offices, and was the promoter and leading spirit' of the village. In fact he may justly be called the father of Closter. His issue of the seventh generation are James H., Eugene, and Percy. James H. Stephens, the subject of this sketch, was born in Closter, N. J., September 19, 1860, and received his education in the public schools of Bergen County. Leaving school at the age of eighteen, he first engaged in the sugar business in New York City, in which he continued four years. He was then engaged in the meat business in Closter for seven years, and subsequently, after a retirement of two years, associated himself with the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Mr. Stephens has been successful in every connection, and as a public spirited citizen has taken a deep interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Reformed Church and identified with other organizations in his native county. He married Elizabeth M. Ferdon and has one child, a daughter, E. Marion Stephens.
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