David des Marest (1), of Beauchamp, in Picardy, France, and his wife, Maria Sohier, of Nieppe, in Hainault, had four children of the second generation: David, Samuel, John, and Daniel. David Davids Demarest (2) married Sara Bertholf, daughter of Rev. Gilliam Bertholf, and had eleven children of the third generation.

Jacobus Davids Demarest (3), baptized May 30, 1705, married (1) Lea de Groot and (2) Margaretta Cozine Haring. He lived at Schraalenburgh and had issue fifteen children of the fourth generation.

John Jacobus Demarest (4), born August 20, 1720, died February 1, 1783, married, March 7, 1744, Rachel Zabriskie, daughter of Joost Zabriskie, who was born March 19, 1725, and died April 16, 1813. They resided at Schraalenburgh and had thirteen children of the fifth generation.

Jacobus Johns Demarest (5), born August 20, 1748, died October 9, 1844, married (1) Rachel Smith, who died April 28, 1825. He married (2), in 1825, Rachel Voorhis, who survived her husband. Jacobus J. Demarest was a surveyor by occupation and lived at Middletown in Bergen County. He had issue ten children of the sixth generation, one of whom was Joost.

Joost Demarest (6), born December 4, 1797, died at Closter, N. J., November 1, 1878. He married, in February, 1823, Margaret, daughter of Frederick Haring, born October 2, 1802. Joost was a cabinetmaker and lived at Piermont, N. Y., until 1825, when he removed to what is now Harrington Park, on the farm now occupied by ex-Sheriff William C. Herring. He served in the War of 1813. His children of the seventh generation were James, Frederick J., John B., Isaac II., Abraham, Vreeland B., Mary M., and Ann Eliza, of whom Jacob J. is the subject of this sketch.

Jacob J. Demarest (7) was born at Piermont, N. Y., March 17, 1834, but has resided in Bergen County since he was one year old, his parents moving to Harrington Park in 1835. There he received his education. He left school at the age of sixteen and began active life on his father's farm. He also taught school about three and one-half years. Afterward he engaged in the hardware business in Closter with his brother Abraham under the firm name of A. Demarest & Brother, and has ever since continued in that trade. He has also been somewhat active in public affairs, having served one year as Assessor and three years as Township Clerk. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church and a public spirited, enterprising citizen.