USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 45
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The club known as the Chatham Wheelmen was organized in 1893, when the bicycle craze was rife throughout the country. It was strictly a wheelmen's club and enrolled in its greatest prosperity 160 members, most of whom were actual bicycle riders. Frequently large numbers would take long wheeling detours over the country. With the subsidence of the novelty of the bicycle the club slowly evolved into a social organization, and were it not for the name, the original significance of the club would be lost. Mr. Cyril G. Smith was the first president. The club now numbers about seventy-five members.
Industries-One great factor in the attraction of settlers to this locality was its water power which was caused by a slight fall in the flow of the river over the remaining terrace of the terminal moraine of the glacial period. This in fact was the most deciding element of the location of the village. There were mills at four different points in this immediate vicinity ; one at the crossing of the Passaic by the road to Elizabeth Town, one at the crossing of Summit avenue, one at the crossing of the Shun-pike in Bonneltown, and one a short distance up the river above the railroad culvert. It is possible that the "Old Forge" was located on the west side of the tail-race. In about 1850 Parrott's mill was built east of this race way. Previous to Parrott's mill there were on that site at different times a small carding mill, a flour mill, and a fulling mill. About 1845 Mr. Chas. Spencer had both a cider mill and a saw mill west of the pond. In conjunction with these two indus- tries he also ran a store in which he sold the product of his cider mill. The names Uncle Bobbie and Aunt Affie as applied to the Spencers are familiar cognomens to the oldest inhabitants of the present time.
The story is told that Uncle Bobbie, consistent with his penurious dis- position, in selling whiskey would always put his large thumb inside the quart can in which the liquid was drawn, and in this way would profit by the amount displaced. On account of this characteristic method of doling out his liquor the young men of the town were always on the alert in order to get even with Uncle Bobbie. It is said that one Thomas Bond on a cer- tain occasion came into Mr. Spencer's store and asked for a quart of spirits. Inquiry was made concerning what he had in which to put it. Mr. Bond brought forth an old green bottle with a hollow bottom. Uncle Bobbie re- torted at once saying, "That bottle won't hold a quart." After much arguing
Stanley Mill, near Chatham, along Passaic River.
Parrott's Mill, Chatham.
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pro and con Spencer said, "Tommy, if we can get a quart of whiskey in that bottle, I will give it to you." He proceeded at once to fill the bottle from his quart measure, this time measuring without a big thumb inside the receptacle. The bottle was filled and there was still some whiskey in the measure. "There," said Uncle Bobbie, "I told you so." At which remark Bond calmly shoved the cork into the bottle, turned it upside down, and said, "You can put the rest in there." Mr. Bond drank the spirits from the bottom of the bottle and walked out of the store with a quart of whiskey which cost him nothing more than the exercising of his wit.
At another time this same Bond was short of cash and desired a drink of Uncle Bobbie's refreshing liquor. Before going to the store he wagered with the boys that he could get a quart of Mr. Spencer's whiskey "on trust." This the crowd felt assured was impossible for Bond already owed Spencer for too many quarts for which Uncle Bobbie knew there was little chance of making settlement. It was winter and Bond wore a long coat. In prepara- tion he got two quart bottles, filled one with water, and put one in each of his hip pockets. After his cronies had assembled in the store Bond walked in and asked for a quart of spirits. Mr. Spencer drew the quart which Tommy at once thrust into his pocket saying, "I can't pay you for this today." After some parleying Uncle Bobbie became angry and said, "Then give it back to me. I won't trust you for any more." "All right," replied Bond and reaching into his pocket unawares to his humble landlord he pre- sented the bottle filled with water. Uncle Bobbie poured it back into the barrel and returned the bottle to Bond. The boys went out at once, leaving poor Bobbie the victim of their joke.
One of the "old boys" of the town on a certain occasion when he had no money was refused the accustomed quart of whiskey by Mr. Spencer. He was very thirsty and in consequence was impelled to devise some scheme by which to solve the difficulty. It was the practice in those days to take in exchange for whiskey, eggs, butter, grain, and whatsoever could be sold from a country store. The man in question knowing that Uncle Bobbie had a number of hens "setting" at the time, went to the nests in the adjacent wagon house and brought back with him a sufficient number with which to purchase a quart of whiskey. It chanced that these eggs were soon after- wards sent in to Aunt Affie to be used in cooking, who found them to be unfit. A few days afterward Uncle Bobbie discovered that they were the eggs from under the "old blue hen" in the corner of the wagon house ; but alas, the clever boy had already disposed of the whiskey.
A most amusing incident happened with "Aunt Affie" Spencer on the occasion of a hunter coming to the store to buy a pound of shot. The customer was in a hurry and "Aunt Affie" in her anxiety to accommodate her patron could not find the pound weight of the scales with which to weigh the desired amount of shot. Finally becoming confused in her futile search she jocularly cried "Well, a pint's a pound the world around," and gave the patient man a superabundant measure full, none the wiser of her unaccustomed liberality. Considering Aunt Affie's penurious disposition the joke on her was highly appreciated by the town folk.
Where Summit avenue crosses, the Passaic mills were located. One of these was known as Edward's saw mill. A paper mill was also located here. In 1850 there was a millwright shop at this point.
In an issue of the New Jersey Journal in 1780 there is an advertisement of the vendue of a farm which was located about a mile from Chatham near the "Old Mill." This old mill could have been none other than the mill at
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Bonneltown, at one time called "Goose Town," and suggests by its name that a mill was built at this crossing at an early date. The name "Bonnel's Mill" was applied very appropriately to the mill situated in this locality since it was owned and operated for a number of years by members of this family. Later it was known as Franklin's mill of Bonneltown. The name Ross's mills which applied to a combination grist and saw mill is also mentioned in the early records.
Further up the river was located the old paper mill. The principal product of this establishment was pasteboard. Jonathan C. Bonnel was the first proprietor of this business. The various firms which conducted busi- nesses on the Bonnel Mill property were Page, Kidder, and Fletcher ( felt paper, in 1868) ; Page and Kidder, (same business, mills burned in 1870) ; Armour and Co., (manila paper). Later malt creamlets were manufactured here. The buildings were also used at one time as a hat manufactory. Page and Kidder continued a business of making tar roofing paper on Willow street in Stanley. It was here through the experiments of a Mr. Cheever, a chemist, with the waste-tar products, that cresoline was discovered.
One of the earliest industries carried on to any great extent in this borough was that of the making of brick. The oldest inhabitants say that bricks were first made of clay taken from a pit opposite the old school on Passaic Avenue, however none are now living who remember seeing bricks made in this locality. It is quite likely that the business there ante- dated 1835. Brick clay was found after that date near the present "old brickyard" back of the new school on Fairmount Avenue, and one of the earliest promoters of this industry was Benjamin P. Lum, known popularly as "Squire Lum." Mr. Nelson Kelley relates that as a boy he was greatly interested in their primitive methods of making brick. Clay was mixed in a large hollow in which chunks of earth were thrown and over which oxen were driven round and round in order to "temper the mortar," as it was then termed. Afterward this clay mortar was thrown into a large receptacle and ground by means of the old time lever-power. Bricks were made by hand. The man making them had six molds in front of him which he filled with his hands and leveled with a straight stick called a "striker." The bricks were then carried off to one side to be dried in the sun. Later kilns were constructed for this purpose. After the death of Benjamin P. Lum this business fell into the hands of Messrs. Charles and Harvey Kelley, and was run by them until 1892 when the industry was discontinued on account of the scarcity of clay. The maximum output of this business was reached in about the year 1875 when 3,000,000 or more bricks were manufactured each year.
If there is one industry in this locality that stands out more prominently than any other it is that of rose growing. The earliest promoter of this business was Mr. James M. Littlejohn who was the first to send roses as merchandise from New Jersey to New York City. This was in the year 1867 at which time Mr. Littlejohn worked in Madison. Later he built the first greenhouse in Chatham which was located on Lum avenue. The business was continued at his death by his son, James R. Littlejohn who erected the present greenhouses east of the clubhouse grounds. This industry has grown until at the present time we have the following greenhouses located within the borough limits; those of Frank L. Moore, Fairmount avenue ; David Falconer, Hillside avenue; G. F. Neipp and Wil- liam J. Badgley of Floral Hill; Pierson & Green and Smith & Company on
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Lum avenue, Samuel Lum on Main street, John Roper near Division street, Phipps Brothers on Hedges avenue, and J. T. Wagner in Stanley.
In connection with the growing of roses it is interesting to note that the widely reputed pink Bridesmaid rose was first grown in this town by Mr. Frank L. Moore in 1891. This variety was for a long time the popular rose of New York City, and the honor of its original culture lies to the credit of Mr. Moore of Chatham who discovered it as a sport on a bush called the Catherine Mermet.
The manufacture of vapo-cresoline began on Main street in the upstairs rooms of Nelson Kelley's store. The early promoter of this compound was J. H. Valentine. Later Mr. George Shepard Page, who was at the time en- gaged in a tar paper manufactory in Stanley, took up the industry and de- veloped it to its world-wide extent of the present time. The proprietors of the present business are Messrs. Laurences, Harry DeB. and Albion L. Page. The grinding of wheat flour was at one time the predominant business of Chatham. Mr. George T. Parrott for a number of years conducted a very flourishing flour industry at the river. Farmers from Sussex, Warren, and the northeastern part of Hunterdon were accustomed to bring their grain to Parrott's mill to be ground into flour. This business thrived until the extensive flour mills of the west crowded it out of existence on account of the subtle competition.
For some years past the business of digging building sand from various glacial deposits in the vicinity has grown to a considerable extent. This began in the sand pit formerly known as Gould's sand pit and later as Duchamp's. At the present time it is in the possession of Mr. Jacob Snook. Mr. August Molitor has developed at Stanley a similar industry which has reached a large annual output. Sawmills of this community were also in- strumental in attracting people to the town and helping to make this little hamlet west of the second mountain the center of business.
For many years about the time of 1850 the "great island" of former times, (known at this date as "the island"), was the place where special gatherings of the community were held. Before the time of mosquitoes the people of Chatham would often have evening teas on the island, picnics, and Children's Day celebrations. However the one great occasion of the year was that known as "Bobilation Day." This particular event was celebrated on the fifth of July and was a day set aside on which the colored people of the northern part of the State might celebrate the anniversary of the inde- pendence of America. A considerable feeling was at this time held against negroes and they were not privileged to celebrate on the same day with their superiors, the white people. The one great attraction on "Bobilation Day" which brought hundreds of people from Newark and the surrounding country was a butting match betwen two negroes. It is said that a scene of this kind was witnessed annually and that in a certain contest ont of the negro contestants had his neck broken and died instantly. The immediate locality of these celebrations was on that part of the island which extends north of the bridge and at the present time is but a narrow strip of land in the river. When the earliest settlements were made here this island was undoubtedly many times larger than it now is, otherwise the name "great island" could not have been appropriately applied.
Doctors and Lawyers-The locality of Chatham was made famous in the time following the Revolutionary War by one of its inhabitants known as Dr. John C. Budd. He was born in the year 1762 and was the son of Berne Budd, a physician at Hanover. In the early part of the nineteenth
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century on the death of Mrs. Moses Lum who occupied the farm now owned by Mr. Frank M. Budd, and that time known as "The Lum Plantation," Mr. Budd moved from Hanover to this place. Mrs. John C. Budd was the daughter of Moses Lum and inherited the right to the farm. The Doctor lived to the age of eighty-four and was known in the latter part of his life- time as "Old Doctor Budd." Not only was he a physician of great repute within his own vicinity, but he also had a high reputation both in the city of New York and throughout the whole northern part of New Jersey. Many young men received their medical instruction and first practice under the direction of Dr. John C. Budd. It was for him that the road leading to Cheapside Bridge, or the lower Chatham bridge, was named Budd Lane. Besides his great ability as a physician Dr. Budd was reputed to have control over the evil spirits. Many incidences occurred where he was re- ported as threatening the visitation of his Satanic Majesty and likewise where he, as it were, "cast out devils." At one particular time it is said that the doctor was frightened by his own devil. One evening on his way from visiting a patient at Springfield he stopped at Mrs. Day's hotel east of the river. It was late and Mrs. Day was prevented from closing her place of business on account of some town characters who continued to play cards in front of the open hearth. The doctor on entering was asked by the pro- prietress to help her in her trouble. Willing to be of service to her, he said to the boys, "The devil will get you fellows if you don't stop playing cards at this late hour of the night." Notwithstanding his admonition, they kept on playing and the doctor finally became interested in the game, too. Mrs. Day much exasperated called from out of the room one of the chimney sweeps who was stopping off for the night on his way from Newark, and prepared to dispel the loafers. In the barn was a cowhide with the hoofs still attached to it. This she fastened on the chimney sweep, setting horns and tail in place. Then with some heel chains in his hand she sent the urchin to the top of the house to play the devil coming down the chimney. The fire on the hearth was about burned out, and presently in the dim candle light chains were heard in the chimney. Before the company could explain the noise "the devil" dropped into the ashes with a thud and began scram- bling about. The frightened party together with the Doctor made hasty exits through doors and windows, and Mrs. Day promptly closed the hotel for the night. [The Medical Men of N. J., 1666 to 1866, by J. Henry Clark, p. 26.]
The next doctor of considerable repute was Jephtha B. Munn who lived in the latter days of J. C. Budd and fell heir to a great part of his practice. His home was opposite the Fairview Hotel in the house occupied at the present time by Mr. William Riker. Dr. Munn was very active in the poli- tics of Morris County and was made a member of the council (senate) of New Jersey in the year 1835. He was elected vice-president of that body, and it is said that during the absence of the governor, Hon. Peter D. Vroom, Dr. Munn was the acting governor of the State of New Jersey, and in this capacity signed a number of bills. Dr. Munn was a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons and filled the most exalted office of that or- ganization in the State of New Jersey as right worshipful grand master. Following Dr. Munn came Dr. George M. Swaim, who was the next doctor of any length of service in the town of Chatham. He was of an old Newark family members of which were among the early settlers of that city. Dr. Swaim in connection with his practice had a drug store near the corner of Main and Center Streets. He was a surgeon in the Civil War and served with Sherman on the march to the sea.
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The next physician of prominence to come to Chatham was Dr. William J. Wolfe who has been a highly successful practitioner in his profession in the village since 1885. He has been active in both borough and school affairs. At present he is the borough postmaster, and is the owner of one of the largest business blocks.
Other physicians of the town at present are Drs. F. Irvin Krauss and Bert A. Prager. Dr. Walter A. Jaquith, chief of the medical staff of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, and Dr. Joseph E. Pollard, also a member of this staff, are residents of Chatham.
For the past fourteen years Dr. Frederick H. Lum Jr. has practiced dental surgery in the borough. He has not only a large patronage in the town but attracts patients from many of the cities in the northern part of the State. Dr. J. P. Ekings has recently established a practice in the profession in Chatham. Drs. C. S. Van Orden and his son Charles are prominent den- tists of Brooklyn, New York, who reside in the village.
Most prominent among the lawyers of the town was Frederick H. Lum who spent his whole life as a most worthy citizen of Chatham. He was not only the organizer of the borough but also the guiding spirit of its initial success. The highest respect was given him by the populace whom he served consistently until his untimely death. Mr. Lum was born in 1848. His early education was received in the public school of the town. Later he attended the private school of Julius D. Rose, of Summit, New Jersey. After leaving this institution he took up the study of law, under Judge John Whitehead and Wm. B. Guild, Esq. of Newark. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and in 1873 became one of the original members of the firm of Guild & Lum, which firm at the present continues in the family as Lum, Tamblyn, and Colyer. To the great grief of his many friends on account of over work Mr. Lum's health broke in the year 1904, and with the best medical aid he was not able to recover. In his death in 1906 the Borough of Chatham lost its greatest benefactor.
Another of the prominent lawyers of the town is Mr. Chas. M. Lum. After graduating from Columbia College as an honor student, Mr. Lum was admitted to the bar as attorney in the State of New Jersey, in 1884, and as counsellor in 1889. He became a member of the firm of Lum, Tamblyn & Colyer, of Newark, in '89, and has since distinguished himself as a coun- selor at law. In this capacity he has rendered invaluable service to numerous large estates and corporations. Mr. Lum has always exercised great interest in the welfare of Chatham. From the inception of the Free Public Library he has been its president. For a number of years he was the president of the Chatham Fish and Game Protective Association, and in addition to this has given like service as the chief official of the Board of Trade. Mr. Lum has not only exercised a great deal of interest in and attention to the history of Chatham, being in consequence one of the editorial staff of this work, but has also reached out into the broader field of the history of the state. He is at this writing honored with the vice-presidency of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Prominent among the lawyers of Chatham is Mr. Guy Minton who has had his law office in Morristown since he began practicing in 1868. At this time he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey and succeeded in the prac- tice of Mr. George Gage under whom he studied. Mr. Minton is connected with various business enterprises of Morristown such as the Morris County Insurance Company, Morris County Savings Bank, and the First National Bank of which he is the vice-president. He is a most active official in the
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Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church of Chatham, and shows a lively inter- est in all the projects of the municipality.
Mr. Ralph E. Lum, although young in the law profession, has already made himself prominently successful. As a pleader in court he has few equals. Mr. Lum was graduated from Columbia University in 1900, took a post graduate course in law at New York University, and entered the bar in New Jersey as an attorney in November, 1900. He was admitted as a coun- sellor in 1903. For a number of years Mr. Lum has given his service gratis as counsel for the borough of Chatham. In his practice in Newark he stands among the highest and in consequence is entrusted with a large and distinc- tive clientele.
Among the younger promising men of Chatham in the law profession should be mentioned Mr. Lawrence Day, who is practicing in Morristown, and Messrs. Ernest Lum and Ernest L. Quackenbush, practicing in Newark.
Slavery-Although slavery in its greatest extent was confined to the South, the practice was participated in to no small extent in our Northern States, and New Jersey was not least among them in the holding of human chattels. The institution was formally abolished by the State legislature in 1820. Previous to this time the more wealthy families of the locality held from one to a half dozen colored men and women in bondage. Mr. Thomas Bond, Dr. Jeptha Munn, and Dr. John C. Budd, of Budd Lane, were the last to liberate their slaves. The following copies of agreements found among the papers of Mr. Washington Bond are in brief the history of the negro man Jack, who belonged at one time to Mr. Thomas Bond.
Know all men by these presents that I, John B. Miller, of the County of Morris and State of New Jersey do this day sell and deliver to Thomas Bond for the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars my Negro man Jack to serve him for the term of seven years at the expiration of the said time Thomas Bond is to manumet and set free the said Negro man Jack and should the said Jack run away and put the said Thomas Bond to any expense to recover him, he the said Jack shall continue in said Bond service to pay said expense and loss of time and I do warrant the property of said Negro man Jack against me or any other person whatsoever as witness my hand this 29th day of December 1823.
JOHN B. MILLER.
On the back of said document the following entry is made :
I do hereby certify that the within named (Negroman) Jack was sold by me to John B. Miller and his age is not to exceed thirty-four years. January 10-1831. ISRAEL DAY.
Another document reads as follows :
STATE OF NEW JERSEY MORRIS COUNTY
To wit we do hereby certify, that on this fifth day of March in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and thirty one-, Thomas Bond of the township of Chatham, in the said County of Morris brought before us two of the overseerers of the poor of said township and two of the justices of the Peace of said County, his slave named Jack, who on view and examination appears to us to be sound in mind, and not under any bodily incapacity of obtaining a support, and also is not under the age of twenty-one years nor above the age of forty years. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, the day and year above written.
ZOPHAN FREEMAN Overseer of Poor ARCHIBALD TAYLOR Overseer of Poor AZARIAH CARTER WILLIAM BRITTIN
Overseers of the Poor of said Town- ship of Chatham.
1
Justices of the peace in and for said County of Morris.
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On the reverse side is written: Certificate of Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Chatham and two of the Justices of the County of Mor- ris.
Rec'd. and Recorded in the Morris County Register of Manumissions 12th March 1831 (Liber C, Fol. 16).
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