USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 59
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
A large quantity of rails made by this process were laid on the Eric Railroad, and wore so well that for a time it seemed likely that the cheaper "steel- topped" rails would compete successfully with "all- stcel." But the rapid eheapening of steel as eom- pared with iron superseded the intermediate article.
Besides the above mentioned, Mr. Hewitt made many minor inventions of value, for some of which he obtained patents, while others are known to those only who have worked with him. Enough has been given, however, to show that his genius was fruitful in original conceptions. Yet we should hesitate to eall him "inventive," if by that term is meant the temperament which characterizes many professional inventors-a restless seeking after novelties to be pat- ented. Mr. Hewitt belonged to a higher class of minds, namely, to those who, recognizing in the prob- lems with which they are practically familiar the dif- ficulties which need solution, bring to bear upon these results of trained and patient thought. Such men rarely invent anything by accident. They do not build better than they know. There is a world-wide distinction between them and the inspired idiots who infest all mechanical industries, claiming that each new achievement of actual practice involves a princi- ple which they had previously, in some aimless and imbecile excursion of thought, either perceived or stepped upon without perceiving.
As a manager of men, Mr. Hewitt probably never had a superior. The record of thirty years, unbroken by a single conflict between him and those whom he employed, is significant proof of the justice and the sympathy which characterized him, and of the eonfi- dence which all those who had to deal with him re- posed in these qualities. A touching evidence of the affection with which he was regarded by his workmen was furnished by their action after his death, when, at their request, the works which he had directed were entirely closed for the four days preceding his burial,-a saerifice of wages which the owners would not have felt justified in requesting, and which cus- tom in such cases does not require. The elosing of the works on the day of the funeral alone would have been a sufficient expression of respect; bat the men declared that they had no heart to labor under the cir- cumstanees, and, in accordance with their feeling, the fires of the wire-mill were extinguished until the
-
687
CITY OF TRENTON.
night after its late director had been laid in the grave.
deplorable thing to miss from the ranks of business, politics, philanthropy, and friendship a man whose character. matured by time and trained by experience, has carned our perfect trust.
The presence at the funeral of more than a thousand operatives from the establishments of the Trenton Iron Company and the New Jersey Steel and Iron Mr. Hewitt married, in 1849, Miss Anna Conrad. of Philadelphia, a sister of Timothy Abbott Conrad, the well-known paleontologist. His widow and seven children survived him. Company added to the ceremonies an impressive sol- emnity ; and as the long procession filed through the . house to look, in passing, upon the face of the dead, it was evident that these sons of toil were among the Brackett's Machine-Shop .- In 1878, William H. Brackett established a machine-shop and foundry on Stockton Street. The concern employs ten men, sincerest mourners. Some of them were observed to bend over the coffin and kiss the brow of him who had been their steadfast friend. There are, indeed, , and the machinery is driven by an engine of ten horse- many serious evils and perplexities connected with power. Steam-engines, pottery machinery, sewing-ma- chines, etc., are manufactured here, and miscellaneous job-work is done. the various aspects of what is known as " the labor question ;" but lives like that of Charles Hewitt arc standing proofs of the power of manly Christian character, bestowing and inspiring confidence, to reconcile the antagonistic conditions of industrial en- terprise, and to infuse into the much-abused " wages system" the spirit of a true co-operation.
D'Unger's Machine-Shop .- The oil-mill adjoin- ing Moore's flour-mill was carried on by Joseph, Charles, and Imlah Moore till about 1844, when Jo- seph withdrew from the firm, and the business was conducted by I. & C. Moore till about 1860, when the mill was converted into a machine-shop.
Aside from the extensive manufacturing enterprises with which Mr. Hewitt was identified in Trenton, he In 1865, B. G. D'Unger succeeded the Messrs. Moore in the machine-shop. In 1872, Ellwood D'Unger be- eame a partner in the concern, and the business has since been conducted under the firm-name of B. G. D'Unger & Son. was favorably known in connection with the various institutions of the city, both religious and civil, and bore an intimate relation to the growth and develop- ment of the city of his adoption. Within the thirty ycars preceding his death he had been vice-president New Jersey Steel and Iron Company .- In 1845, Peter Cooper established a rolling-mill at the foot of Warren Street. It was conducted by him till 1847, when it was purchased by the Trenton Iron Company, and it constituted a part of the works of that company till 1866, when the property of the Iron Company, which was then incorporated by an act of the Legislature, acquired these works. Of this of the New Jersey Steel and Iron Company, presi- dent of the Trenton Water-Power Company, president of the National Pottery Company, a member of the Common Council of Trenton and president of its Board of Trade, and a manager of the State Lunatic Asylum of New Jersey. In 1871 he was elected to , company was divided, and the New Jersey Steel and represent Mercer County in the Senate of that State, and was appointed chairman of the Committee on Education, and of the Committee on the State Prison, company the principal stockholders were Edward Cooper and Abram S. Hewitt. Edward Cooper was chosen president, and Edwin F. Bedell, secretary. and they still retain these positions. The present treasurer is F. J. Slade, and Joseph Stokes is the superintendent. The capital stock of the company has been from the first $47,200. besides being a member of other important commit- tees. He drew the bill which enacted the present general railroad law of the State, and by active and laborious effort had it adopted in the face of vigorous and persistent opposition. His labors for the promo- tion of the growth and prosperity of Trenton, and especially for the better utilization of the water-power Since 1866 there have been added to this establish- ment, which had previously been only a rolling-mill, the manufacture of chains and bridges. of the Delaware River, have been universally ac- knowledged. He was an earnest supporter of church and kindred institutions, and was connected, both as a member and an officer, with the Episcopal Church of Trenton.
He was called away from the scenes of this life in the fifty-fifth year of his age. The death of such a man at that period of life, when, his weight and worth being known, his powers trained and proved, and all the fevers of youth and ambition replaced with the calin certainty of success, his work was likely to be most fruitful and beneficent, is a pro- foundly sad event, when judged from the stand-point of human loss. We mourn the untimely death of the young, but we cannot be sure how much or how little has been taken from the world thereby. It is a more .
:
The works consist of ten principal buildings, and include an area of about twenty-five acres. The principal articles produced in the rolling-mill are structural and merchant iron in all its varieties.
The Siemens-Martin process of manufacturing steel was first introduced in the United States by this com- pany in 1868. Puddled stcel was extensively manu- factured here previous to that time.
The company employs about one thousand men, and its machinery is propelled by seventeen engines, aggregating one thousand horse-power. About twenty thousand tons of the various articles manufactured at these works are annually produced.
Star Chain - Works. -- L. Chevirer first estab-
688
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
lished a chain- and bed-spring manufactory about 1$60, on Quarry Street (now West Hanover) near Willow. He afterward removed to another location, also on the same street and near the first, where he ereeted more extensive works, and limited the busi- ness to the manufacture of chains.
In 1879, Messrs. W. Whitaker and Asa J. Skirm purchased the establishment, which they extended to double its former capacity. At this factory all varie- ties of eoil chains, made of rods one inch and a quar- ter in diameter or less, are manufactured. The works cover an area of two hundred feet square, and one hundred and fifteen men are employed. An engine of fifty horse-power is used.
States' Chain - Works. - In 1879, Alexander States eommeneed the manufacture of chains in a shop on Passaic Steeet, near Calhoun. From a small beginning the business has inereased till six men are employed, and an engine of six horse-power is used to drive the machinery.
Trenton Agricultural Works .- This establish- ment was first a small shop on Stockton Street, established by Messrs. Meliek & Quiek in 1853. In 1856 it was removed to its present location on Carroll Street near State. The business inereased, and the firm was changed to Melick, Withington & Co., and finally, in 1869, the establishment became the property of a joint-stock company, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars.
In 1874, B. Gill & Son purchased the interest of the other stockholders, and it ceased to be a stoek company. The business has sinee been eondueted by this firm at the old place on Carroll Street.
The principal implements manufactured here are threshing-machines, gang-plows, and the Aspinwall potato-planter and potato-digger. These last are reeent inventions, and are believed to be the most important labor-saving implements that have been introdueed among farmers.
Novelty Iron Foundry .- In 1870, McFarland, Sample & Mann erected a foundry on Lamberton Street, next to the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1874 the present proprietor, Joseph Evans, purchased the property, and he has from that time eondueted the business. He carries it on as a jobbing foundry. Five hands are employed, and an eight horse-power engine is used.
Heath's Limekilns .- In 1868, Pickle, Lanning & Co. established a lime manufactory at the junction of the canal and Feeder, where they erected two double kilns. In 1873, Mr. Pickle withdrew from the firm, and the business was eondueted by Lanning, Booth & Co. till 1875, when Samuel Heath purchased the establishment, and he has sinee carried on the business.
Eight men are employed at this establishment, and sixty thousand bushels of lime are annually produced. The limestone used here is brought from the Schuyl- kill River, near Norristown, Pa.
Trenton Potteries. - It is well known that in former times people in this country were wholly de- pendent on foreign manufacturers for what are now known as ordinary grades of pottery. It was not known that the requisite material existed here, and the skill necessary for its manufacture, if it should be found, was not possessed by Americans. Indeed, in an early day artisans in England were not able to pro- duce the finer grades of ware. for in Eastern countries alone had any approach to perfection in the eeramie art been made, and Europeans were dependent on tile Chinese for all the finer artieles of pottery and porcelain.
It was not till 1815 that Chinese porcelain beeame generally known in Europe. It is elaimed by the Chinese that the ceramic art was known among them twenty-five hundred years before the Christian era.
It is only within the last thirty years that the manufacture of pottery to any considerable extent has come into existence in the United States, and already has it, to use the language of a eitizen of Trenton, come " to be a very great thorn in England's side, and one destined to stab her to death eventu- ally, so far as earthly life is eoneerned."
Of all localities in the United States where pottery is manufactured, Trenton has from the first taken the lead. The business was first established here be- cause all of its surroundings pointed to this place as the most available locality. The facilities for bring- ing hither the materials used iu the manufacture of pottery, and for sending to all parts of the country the manufactured ware, determined the pioneers in the business to seleet this as their field of operations, and the rapid expansion of the business here has de- monstrated the wisdom of their choice. The wares manufactured at Trenton are sent to every portion of the country, from Maine to California, and so firmly is this industry established here that it is not likely to be affected by any eontingeney that ean be foreseen.
White granite ware is the great staple which has been produced here in greatest abundance, but more and more attention is being given to the manufacture of finer varieties, and Trenton now produces ware that fully equals, if it does not excel, that manufae- tured in any other region. It is quite safe to predict, not only that Trenton will become the Staffordshire of America, but that, in the not distant future, Staf- fordshire may be spoken of as the Trenton of Eng- land.
In their general character and appearance the pot- teries here strongly resemble each other. They are built of brick, and each covers a large area of ground. Their kilns, the tops of which are truncated cones, are visible above the surrounding buildings from a long distance, and above all towers the ever-pre-eut chimney, sending forth, like the crater of a volcano, its large volume of dark-colored smoke. The engines that drive the machinery of these potteries are usually I of from twenty-five to forty horse-power.
James Taylors
689
CITY OF TRENTON.
JOHN STILES MCCULLY .-- The progenitor of the McCully family here was John, who cmigrated from Newry, Ireland, about 1735, and settled at Mount Holly, N. J. His eklest son, John, grandfather of our subjeet, succeeded to the home property at Mount Holly, where he resided for a time. He also resided in Gloucester County, N. J., in Philadelphia, and
VS. MaCally
finally settled in Trenton about 1820, where he died about 1826. He enlisted at the beginning of the war for independence, was at the battles of Monmouth, : began the pottery business in Trenton in September, Long Island, in Sullivan's expedition, and at the taking of Yorktown, serving throughout the entire war. One of his brothers was killed on board of the Jersey prison-ship during the war. Another brother, Joseph, a carpenter by trade, resided most of his life in Tren-
ton, built a pottery opposite the Bound Brook depot, which he carried on (now the "Lamb Tavern"). John McCully's wife was Margaret Peters, who bore him three sons,-Joseph, Samuel, and James,-and one daughter, Elizabeth. The eldest, Joseph, born in 1772, lived until ten years of age with his unele, John Stiles, who was the first pension agent of the United States, located at Philadelphia, and at that age in 1782 came to Trenton to live with his uncle, Joseph McCully. After reaching manhood he carried on the pottery business in Trenton during his active business life.
He built a pottery on Warren Street in 1799, and in 1816 moved it to Bank Street. This he carried on
until about 1852, retired from business, and died in 1858. He was active in politics in his younger days. and was one of the first seventeen men in Trenton who voted the Jefferson Democratic ticket. He went out in the volunteer company from Trenton to put down the Whiskey Insurrection in Western Pennsyl- vania.
His wife, Sarah Howell, borc him three sons and one daughter,-Mary, wife of Abram Gazley, John Stiles, Richard Howell, and Thomas Peters. Only Jolin Stiles McCully survives in 1882, having been born Feb. 5, 1799. In boyhood he learned the pot- tery business with his father, and carried on that business in the pottery on Bank Street before men- tioned, which he managed from 1846 until 1868, and retired from the more active dutics of life. Active in polities and an organizer of party measures, Mr. McCully stood among the leaders of the old Whig party in the State for many years. For nine years, 1839 to 1849, he was elected to the office of inspector of the State's prison, and discharged his duties faith- fully, and from 1849 to 1853 he was postmaster of Trenton. Mr. McCully is said to be the oldest native- born resident of Trenton that has kept his residence here without intermission, and his memory goes back to Trenton a small place, with no manufacturing in- terests except the pottery interest, which was in its infancy. His father was a member of the Presby- terian Church at one time, his mother a member of the Baptist Church, but he inclines to the persuasion of the Friends, and attends their meetings. His wife, Margaret Ann Herbert, whom he married in 1850, died in February, 1866, aged fifty-nine years, leaving no children. Mr. McCully has lived an ex- emplary life, and is highly respected by all who know him. He is a surviving representative of a genera- tion of men nearly gone.
TRENTON POTTERY .- James Taylor and Henry Speeler, under the firm-name of Taylor & Speeler,
1852. They manufactured yellow or Rockingham ware. though as carly as 1856 they made white granite to a limited extent. Mr. Bloor became a member of the firm in 1854, and retired in 1859. In 1860, Mr. Spceler disposed of his interest to John F. Hondayer. In 1870, James Taylor and John Goodwin were the proprietors. In 1871, James H. Goodwin and Isaac Davis purchased the interest of Jolin Goodwin, and soon afterward Mr. Davis purchased Mr. Goodwin's interest. In 1875, Mr. Davis acquired Mr. Taylor's interest and thus became sole proprietor, as he has since been.
White granite and C. C. warc are principally pro- duced at this pottery, which is located in Taylor Street near Broad. There are in this pottery -ix kilns, and three hundred hand, are employed.
JAMES TAYLOR was born at Staffordshire Potterics. England, May 16, 1810. At the age of twelve he began learning the pottery business at home, where
690
-
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
his father was a journeyman potter, as a thrower or free-hand potter, and continued the business until 1829, when he accompanied his father to America. landing at New York. Their first work was in a pottery in Jersey City, conducted on French principles, which : Daniel Willets secretary, and Edmund R. Willet. they soon raised to notice and stability by their superior treasurer. At this pottery three hundred hands are employed. Opaque porcelain, thin and hotel-white granite, C. C., decorated ware, and majolica are pro- duced ; also porcelain door-knobs and hardware trimmings, as well as electric ware. workmanship and knowledge of the business. The father worked as a journeyman there; established business of his own in Connecticut, afterwards re- turned to Jersey City, where he died. Young Taylor remained in Jersey City for four years, was subse- It is due to the original firm to say that none have done more than they to develop the pottery interest in Trenton. quently a journeyman in Troy, Ind., Osville, Ky., Cincinnati, Ohio, and for eight years manufactured yellow ware at East Liverpool, Ohio, where he estab- lished the second pottery of the kind in the United States. In 1852, James Taylor came to Trenton, ; where he established a pottery on the corner of Tay-
CARROLL STREET POTTERY .- Richard Millington and John Astbury, under the firm-name of Milling- ton & Astbury, established this pottery in 1853, at its present location on Carroll Street near Perry. The lor and Jackson Streets on the canal, the present site of | firm subsequently became in succession Millington, the large brick pottery-works, which he subsequently Astbury & Poulson, Millington, Astbury & Colcough, Millington, Astbury & Maddock, Astbury & Mad- dock, Thomas Maddock, and finally the present firm, Maddock & Sons. built, and which he sold to the present proprietor, Isaac Davis, about 1875. Mr. Taylor was among the first to manufacture white ware in Trenton, and re- ceived a medal in 1856 when he exhibited at Frank- Sanitary earthenware, druggists' earthenware, and under-glaze printed earthenware are produced at this pottery. One hundred hands are employed, and there are six kilns. lin Institute, Philadelphia. About 1861 he gave up the manufacture of white ware, and has since pro- - . duced porcelain opaque ware, which compares with the highest standard of the English manufacturers. It may be safely said that to Mr. Taylor is largely due the rapid development of the pottery interest in Tren- ton, which has become one of the leading manufac- tures of the city. About 1863 a joint-stock company established flint-works on Broad Creek, Md., and later, in 1867, spar-works at Topsham Ledges, Me., which supply material for pottery purposes for the Trenton works.
Mr. Taylor has been identified with the society of Free and Accepted Masons since 1861.
He married, in 1832, Mary Ann, daughter of Jolin Holmes, a native of England. She was born in New | Trenton in 1879, was a journeyman potter ; Thomas, York in 1816. They have three daughters,-Saralı, , of whom we are now writing; Mary, wife of Roland wife of Jonathan Price; Mary, wife of John Severs; and Josephine, wife of George Lawton, all of Trenton.
Mr. Taylor's mother, Kitty Beardman, died in Eng- ; land in 1818. His brothers and only sister, most of whom were born in England, are John, was-proprie- | Jane, wife of William Bloomfield, of New York City. tor of Taylor's House, Jersey City, and there died; ! The mother of these children died in New York City Richard, died in Johnston, S. C. ; William, resides in Jersey City; Thomas, deceased; Noah D., born in America, was proprietor of the Taylor House for some time, and is proprietor of a public-house on the sea-shore; and Eliza, of Jersey City.
WILLETS MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- William Young & Sons established the Excelsior Pottery in 1853, on the canal near Perry Street. A few years later the works at the present location, on the canal above Rose Street, were erected. These works, which were at first on a small scale, now cover three acres, and have eleven kilns. Their capacity has been doubled within the last three years.
Business was done under the original firm-name till February, 1878, when the Willets Manufacturing Company was incorporated and purchased the prop- erty. Of this company Joseph Willets is president,
THOMAS MADDOCK, proprietor of the Carroll Street Pottery and president of the Trenton Potters' Asso- ciation, of Trenton, N. J., was born at Burslem, Staf- fordshire, England, the birthplace of the great Josiah Wedgewood. His paternal grandfather was a cabinet- maker from the city of Chester, England. His father, Thomas, a journeyman decorator of pottery, spent his active business life at the Staffordshire potteries. and died there in 1836, at the age of fifty-one years. Thomas Maddock's wife, Mary Crompton, after her husband's decease, came in 1847 to New York City. Her children were as follows: John; who died in
Rathbun, she died at Greenpoint, L. I., in 1850; William B., an importer of earthenware in New York City ; Betsey, wife of William Steele, of Brooklyn, L. I .; Henry, a salesman of New York City; and
in 1849. Thomas Maddock learned the branch of potting business known as decorating, which he fol- lowed as journeyman until his arrival in New York City, May 15, 1847, when he immediately commenced business there as china decorator, along with his part- ner, William Leigh, who came with him from Eng- land for that purpose. They started business at 39 Greene Street, and in 1848 removed to 29 Spruce Street, and in 1849 they made an arrangement with Woram & Haughwout, 561 and 563 Broadway, to de all their decorating on their own premises, and in a short time a large business was established. In 1853 they decorated a dinner set for the United States
Joseph OU
691
CITY OF TRENTON.
government for the use of President Pierce. Through Coxon & Thompson, established this pottery at the corner of Clinton and Ott Streets. It was a manu- factory of white granite and cream-eolored ware. and was conducted by the original firm till the death of Mr. Coxon in 1868. Mr. Thompson retired in 1869, and the firm has since been known as Coxon & Co .. though many have been members of it. The present over-exertion Thomas Maddoek became sick, leaving the business to his partner in 1854, and retired to a farm in Somerset County, N. J., where he remained for four years, and regaining his health, he bought out the Star Hotel, 56 ITieks Street, Brooklyn, which' he kept for eight years, during which time he joined the Thirteenth Regiment N. G. S. N. Y., and with : firm is composed of Mrs. Mary Coxon, S. M. Al- them went to the war for three months, on April 23, pangh, and F. A. McGowan. 1861.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.