History of Passaic, (Passaic County) New Jersey United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Passaic, (Passaic County) New Jersey, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Local History Notes:

PASSAIC, a county in the N.N.E. part of New Jersey, has an area of about 270 square miles. It is partly bounded on the E. by the Passaic, and on the S.W. by the Pequannock river, and is intersected by the Ringwood, Ramapo, and Passaic rivers, which afford valuable water-power. The surface W. of the Ramapo is broken and mountainous; E. of that river the country is more level, and better adapted to cultivation. The soil in the more level portions is fertile, but in the W. part is better adapted to grazing than tillage. Indian corn, rye, potatoes, hay, and butter are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 140,213 bushels of corn; 41,509 of rye; 79,169 of potatoes; 11,025 1/2 tons of hay, and 238,470 pounds of butter. There were 10 cotton factories, 1 carpet factory, 1 card factory, 4 woollen factories, 7 forges, 2 foundries, 1 furnace, 2 locomotive manufactories, 11 flour mills, 8 paper mills, 2 calico print works, 15 saw mills, 1 iron-rolling mill, 2 sewing-silk manufactories, and 3 tanneries. It contained 27 churches, and 2 newspaper offices; 1157 pupils attending public schools, and 960 attending academies and other schools. Magnetic iron ore is found among the hills in the W. part of the county, and limestone is abundant in the valleys. The Morris canal, and the Ramapo and Paterson railroad intersect this county. Organized in 1837, having been formed from portions of Bergen and Essex counties, and named from the Passaic river. Capital, Paterson. Population, 22,575.

Biographies:

Peter Force, historian, was born at Passaic Falls, N.J., Nov. 26, 1790; son of William and Sarah (Ferguson) Force; grandson of Manning and Lucretia (Winchell) Force, and great-grandson of Obadiah and ??? (Manning) Force. His parents removed first to New Paltz, N.Y., and subsequently to New York city, where upon leaving school, Peter learned the trade of printer, and in 1812 was president of the New York typographical society. He removed to Wasthington, D.C., in November, 1815, with his employer, W. A. Davis, to carry out a government printing contract. He compiled and printed the Biennial Register, 1820-22; the National Calendar, 1822-36; and, published the National Journal, 1823-30. In 1833 the U.S. congress authorized him to compile "American Archives, a Documentary History of the English Colonies in North America." He was assisted in the work by Matthew St. Clair Clarke; but the work was discontinued in 1853 by Secretary Marcy, after they had finished the fourth series of a complete set of six series of six volumes each, their work covering the period, 1765-76. His collection of references, including 22,000 volumes and 40,000 pamphlets, was purchased for $100,000 by the government in 1867 and placed in the library of congress. During his residence at the national capital he was major-general of the militia of the district, and was mayor of the city of Washington, 1836-40. He helped to organize and was the first president of the National institute for the promotion of science. He published, outside his government works: Origin, Settlement and Progress of Colonies in North America (4 vols., 1836-46); Grinnell Land (1852); Notes on Lord Mahon's History of the American Declaration of Independence (London, 1855); and Records of Auroral Phenomena (1856). He died in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 1868.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor