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 61
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 61
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He was united in marriage, Dec. 24, 1839, to Elizabeth, daughter of William Cook and Esther
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Buffin, of Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, who was born Jan. 12, 1822.
Their children are Mary, wife of Daniel Mckenzie, of Chambersburg ; William, a graduate of the Poly- technic College of Philadelphia, is superintendent of the flint- and spar-works at Trenton; Edwin, super- intendent of the china clay mills in Delaware; Moses, superintendent of the Liverpool works, Ohio; Martha ; and George, superintendent of the Brandy- wine Summit works, Pennsylvania.
Brick Manufacture .- The first bricks used in Trenton were brought from Philadelphia, but most In 1878-79 the manufacture of pottery saggers was These saggers are not manufactured elsewhere by machinery. of those used here till 1835 were manufactured at | added to the former varied productions of the works. Attleboro', Pa. A few were made here as early as 1817, and from that time till 1870 the number pro- duced annually gradually increased, though the busi. ness did not prove to be profitable." Of those engaged in the business during that period and afterwards, John Smith, Morgan Beaks, Samuel Mulford, Peter Grim, George Kulp, Peter and Daniel Fell, Joseph Hymer, Henry Nice, William King, Joseph Boud, and Charles Garrot may be named.
Within a comparatively recent period the manu- facture of pressed bricks has assumed an importance that it had not before possessed. This is because of the large proportion of peroxide of iron contained in the clay here, which gives to these bricks the beauti- ful deep-red color for which they have become justly celebrated.
Since 1870, when the manufacture of these superior bricks may be said to have commenced, the business has increased in this vicinity till the annual product reaches about twelve millions of pressed bricks, which are sent to all parts of the country North and West. In addition to these, about sixteen million ordinary bricks are annually produced here.
The manufactory of Fell & Roberts, on Calhoun | saw-mill on Peace Street. The name of the firm was Street, near the Bound Brook Railroad, and that of F. D. Cook, at the corner of Princeton Avenue and Kirkbride Street, are the only ones within the limits of the city, though there are several others in the immediate vicinity.
Brass Foundry .- Joseph Milburn established a brass foundry in 1879, in Decatur Street, near South Trenton Railroad Station. His business has con- sisted of making miscellaneous castings for customers.
Trenton Terra-Cotta Works .- Edward Davis in 1845 established a manufactory of fire-brick on a . small scale on Third Street below the State Prison. It was at first a very small affair, and the machinery was worked by horse-power. It was rebuilt, steam- power was introduced, and' its capacity was increased to twenty-five hundred bricks daily.
About 1855, Mr. Lynch erected terra-cotta works adjoining the fire-brick manufactory. These were purchased by Mr. Davis, and on the 1st of January, 1867, by O. O. Bowman & Co.
July, 1870, it was again destroyed by fire, and was again rebuilt.
Jan. 1, 1877, O. O. Bowman & Co. sold the entire establishment to the Trenton Terra-Cotta Company, which was then formed.
In 1880 the old fire-briek works that were estab- lished by Mr. Davis were sold to the Trenton China Company. The Terra-Cotta Company enlarged the terra-cotta department by the addition of buildings, machinery, and kilns. The buildings are of brick, and include fifty thousand square feet of floor.
This company manufactures all varieties of fire- brick, salt-glazed, drain- and sewer-pipe, chimney tops and flues, and garden ornaments. Seventy-five men are employed here, and twenty-five thousand dollars are annually paid for labor. Two thousand five hundred tons of coal and six thousand tons of clay are annually consumed, and one million fire- brick, thirty thousand saggers, and a large variety of terra-cotta ware are annually produced.
The officers of the company are Joseph MePherson, president ; O. O. Bowman, treasurer and manager : and G. W. McPherson, secretary.
TURNING, BENDING, AND BOW BUSINESS .- The turning and bending business was commenced in 1830, by John A. Hutchinson and Pinder Antrim, in the mill on Factory Street, now occupied as a woolen- factory. The bow business was soon added. Antrim retired in 1833, and Xenophon J. Maynard became a member of the firm, which was known as John A. Hutchinson & Co. They removed to the third story į of a mill in Bloomsbury, and in 1834 to McKelway's
changed in 1836 to Maynard & Hutchinson. After several changes of place the firm, in 1844, purchased the saw-mill of Dr. John McKelway, on the south side of the water power, and considerably enlarged it. In 1851, Mr. Maynard retired, and Mr. Hutchinson's two sons became partners in the concern, and finally the firm became Hutchinson & Brother. They sold the establishment in 1875 to B. W. Titus, who con- verted it into a woolen-mill.
Trenton Falls Woolen-Mill .- In 1875, B. W. Titus purchased the bow-factory of Hutchinson & Brother, on the south side of the water-power, at the foot of Peace Street, and fitted it up for a woolen- mill. The looms and other machinery which Mr. Titus had used at the State Prison were removed to this mill, and business was commenced early in that year.
In February, 1881, Mr. Titus died, and the business has been continned to the present time by A. C., J. W., and H. S. Titus, under the firm-name of B. W.
In August, 1869, the terra-cotta establishment was . Titus' Sons. The works consist of two large brick burned, but was at once rebuilt on a larger scale. In . buildings, two and three stories in height.
1. 1.
FE
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TRENTON RUBBER WORKS. MAGOWAN, ALPAUGH & MAGOWAN, PROPRIETORS, TRENTON, N. J.
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CITY OF TRENTON.
The mill has sixty looms and two sets of cards, and the machinery is propelled by both water and steam. Sixty-five to seventy hands are employed. Ten thou- sand pounds of wool and twenty thousand pounds of cotton are annually used.
Woolen-Mill .- A brick mill was crected in Fac- tory Street in 1814, by Lawrence Huron & Co., under the name Trenton Manufacturing Company. It was afterwards carried on by John Hoy, then by him and his son James, under the firmi-name of J. Hoy & Son. John P. Kennedy & Co. subsequently conducted it. The building was injured by fire in June, 1851. It was then fitted up for a woolen-mill, and afterwards twice enlarged. The manufacture of woolen fabries is still carried on here.
Mercer Zinc-Works .- This business was com- meneed in 1861, by John Noble and Alexander Far- rington, on the bank of the Delaware River. The water-power was found to be insufficient, and after the expenditure of a large sum that location was abandoned for the present site on Third Street, where the works were erected by Mr. Noble and Joseph G. main building is one hundred and fifty by eighty Brearley, and the business was prosecuted under the management of Jolin S. Noble and his son, Henry S. Noble.
In 1878 the manufacture of zine oxide (the produet of these works) having become unprofitable by reason of too great competition, operations at these works were suspended.
In January, 1882, a company was organized with Joseph Whitehead, president ; W. H. Linburg, see- retary ; W. F. Van Camp, treasurer; and A. L. Worthington, manager. The works went into oper- ation again on the 1st of February, 1882. The coal and ore used here are brought in vessels and eanal- boats through the Delaware and Raritan Canal to the basin communicating with the canal direetly in front of the works.
Paper Bags .- The manufacture of paper bags, which have within the last thirty years come into general use in eommeree, is carried on here to an | extent more than sufficient to supply the wants of the people in the eity.
In 1863, H. G. Armstrong came to Trenton from Philadelphia, and commeneed the manufacture of paper bags in Front Street, near the capitol. He , was at the same time engaged in the manufacture of paper. In 1877 he removed his manufactory to ; ing Railroad, and operations were commenced in July,
Greene Street, near Perry, where it is still carried on by his widow. He died in September, 1879.
Seven hands are employed in the manufacture of bags liere, and a two horse-power engine is used. These bags find a market in various parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
bags was established under this name by Whitehead . factories, was small, no more than one hundred and
MONITOR BAG-WORKS .- A manufactory of paper & Lord in 1863. The business passed successively into the hands of Thomas Whitehead, Fowler & Howell, and the present proprietor, James Fowler,
who is located at 548 South Warren Street. Five hands are employed in the business here. The bags manufactured are sent to various parts of Pennsyl- vania and this State.
H. B. LANNING'S PAPER-BAG MANUFACTORY .- In 1874, H. B. Lanning established a manufactory of paper bags on Broad Street, over Assanpink Creek. In 1880 he removed this manufactory to Greene Street, near the Assanpink, where he now conducts it. Five hands are employed in this factory.
The Trenton Rubber-Works .- The Trenton Rub- ber-Works of Messrs. McGowan, Alpaugh & McGowan are located on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, distant about two and one-half miles from Trenton. They were established in 1879 by Messrs. McGowan, Foreman & Alpaugh, who were succeeded by the pres- ent firm in May, 1882. The individual members of the firm are Messrs. Allen McGowan, Spencer M. Alpaugh, and Frank A. MeGowan. The works consist of sub- stantially constructed brick buildings, in every way adapted to the manufacture of rubber goods. The
feet, and is devoted to preparatory processes for the perfeetion of the different articles of manufacture ; the second is a structure fifty-four by forty-two feet in size, which contains the offices and warerooms; and the third is a building thirty-six by sixty-eight feet, used for general manufacturing purposes. An apartment fitted up for grinding rubber is forty by thirty feet, and another of the same dimensions is used as a compound-room. There are also several auxiliary buildings. The annual product runs from five hundred thousand to six hundred thousand dol- lars.
The machinery is of the most approved construe- tion, and is operated by a two hundred and fifty horse-power Corliss engine. A general line of heavy rubber goods is manufactured, such as belting, pack- ing, hose, valves, car-springs, wagon-springs, etc., and these wares are to be found in use in nearly all parts of the civilized world.
The Globe Rubber Company.1-This company was ineorporated in April, 1881, with a capital of $30,000. James F. Brook is president; John B. Candy, treasurer; Josiah Hollies, seeretary; and Jacob D. Joslin, superintendent. Works were erected on Prospect Street, near the Philadelphia and Read- 1881. Belting, packing, springs, etc., are manufae- tured at this factory. The machinery is driven by an engine of one hundred and fifty horse-power, and one hundred men are employed.
Trenton Knitting-Mill .- This was established in 1870, by W. H. Slack, by whom it is still conducted. The commencement of this, as of many other manu- fifty dozen hose per day being produced; from this
1 Since writing above have discontinued business.
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
the business has gradually increased till the daily production is from seven hundred to eight hundred dozen.
Two hundred hands are employed in this factory, and the machinery is propelled by an engine of twenty-five horse-power.
Shirt-Factory .- J. T. Glenn commenced the manu- facture of shirts at Temperance Hall in 1875. In 1879 lie removed to his present location, 31 East State Street. Sixteen hands are employed, and the goods manufactured here are sold through this State and Pennsylvania.
Slate-Works .- Samuel Ellis established his slate- works on Spring Street, between Willow and Cal- houn, in 1852. The business consists of slate-roofing. Four hands are employed, and five hundred tons of slate are annually used. This slate is brought mostly from the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.
Carriage-Wood Works .- In 1860, Edmund Craft and Henry T. White established a manufactory of carriage-wood work in a building that had previously been erected by Mr. Craft for a manufactory of mill supplies. It was conducted by Craft & White till 1880, when William T. Craft purchased his father's interest in the concern, and the business is carried on under the same firm-name.
The machinery of this factory is driven by an engine of fifty-horse power. and twenty-five men are employed. The timber used here is brought princi- pally from the West. The goods manufactured at this factory are sent to all parts of the world.
Laning's Shoe-Factory .- In 1855, Jasper Laning commenced the manufacture of shoes, for the whole- sale trade, in South Warren Street near Front. In 1880 the manufactory was removed to 14 East State Street, where it is still carried on by Mr. Laning. He employs fifteen hands, and manufactures four hundred pairs of shoes per month.
Fagin's Shoe-Factory .- Watson, McClaskey & Fagin commenced the manufacture of shoes at the corner of Hanover and Greene Streets. They after- wards removed successively to State Street, to the corner of Hanover and Warren Streets, and finally to the corner of Warren and Bank Streets, where Alexander Fagin succeeded the firm in 1875, and where he still conducts the business.
Fourteen hands are employed in this factory, and five hundred pairs of shoes per month are produced.
Hattersly's Piano Manufactory. - Hattersly . tory is at 216 Clinton Avenue. Brothers, in 1877, established a manufactory of pianos on the corner of Perry and Montgomery Streets, where they have since conducted the busi- ness. They have manufactured mainly for their retail trade. They employ eight hands, and manu- facture forty pianos annually.
Winkler's Piano-Factory .- Gustav Winkler be- gan the manufacture of pianos, at the junction of ; Warren Street and Pennington Avenue, in 1875. At first there were only himself, his brother, and
another workman. In 1878 he removed to No. 147 North Warren Street, and in 1881 to his present place of business, a three-story brick building on North Warren Street, near Perry. From a humble begin- ning his business has steadily increased till he now employs seventeen hands. Unlike many larger manu- facturers, he makes all the parts of his instruments.
The Trenton Steam Soap- and Candle-Factory was started in 1841, by A. W. Yard, on Mill Street, near Warren. He removed it to its present location on the corner of Market and Union Streets, and at- terwards sold it to William MI. Stetler. In 1870 the present firm, E. C. Niedt & Co., purchased the works, and enlarged them to three times their former ca- paeity. They can now produce five million pounds of soap annually.
All varieties of soap are manufactured here, and sold in all parts of the United States and in South America. The latest improved machinery has been introduced, and by its use a large amount of manual labor is dispensed with. This machinery is driven by an engine of teu horse-power.
Bedding .- BLOOM & GODLEY. In 1874, D. D. Davis & Co. established a manufactory of bedding on the corner of Paul and Warren Streets. In 1876 the establishment was sold to J. C. Bloom and J. F. Godley, who have since conducted the business under the firm-name of Bloom & Godley. In 1879 the manufactory was removed to No. 140 Broad Street, where it is still carried on.
From a small beginning the business has grown to large dimensions, and the bedding, mattresses, and lounges manufactured here are sold in many States in the Union.
An engine of eight horse-power is used to propel the machinery in this manufactory, and fifteen hands are employed. About twenty-five tons of feathers, ninety tons of husks, thirty of hair, twenty of cotton, and many thousand yards of cloth are annually con- sumed.
STOLL .- In 1877, R. P. Stoll established a manu- factory of bedding, which has steadily increased in importance to the present time. His business is prin- cipally the manufacture of mattresses, in which he employs constantly from eight to ten hands, and uses an engine of six horse-power. His goods find a i market mostly in the States of New Jersey and Penn- sylvania, though many are sent elsewhere. His fac-
Brushes .- In 1880, L. M. Clayton commenced the manufacture of brushes of various kinds, especially of mill and machine brushes. The business has grown from its modest beginning with one workman till five are now required to meet the demands of the trade. The manufactory is at No. 20 North Greene Street.
G. D. Hammell also carries on the business of brush-making. His manufactory is in Front Street, above Stockton.
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699
CITY OF TRENTON.
Miller's Fruit-Canning Establishment .- About thirty-five years since William Bamford, Henry M. Lewis, and Robert C. Bellville commeneed the busi- ness of canning fruit, which did not then succeed. Mr. Bamford continued the business on a gradually increasing scale till 1865, when he was succeeded by Jesse Bodine and Samuel MI. Youmans. In 1872, John C. Miller and Henry K. Heidweiler succeeded to the business, which they conducted till 1882, when Mr. Heidweiler retired from the firm. Mr. Miller continues the business in a brick buikling on Stock- . ton Street, near State. The annual production of this eannery is about two hundred thousand cans of va- rious kinds of fruit. The cans are manufactured in the establishment.
Glue-Factory. - In 1843, Francis Pashley, Sr., commenced the manufacture of glue on the corner of Calhoun and Spring Streets, in a building that was used during the Revolution as a hospital. Thence he removed, in 1843, to Warren Street, near the Feeder, and in 1858 he removed to the present location of the factory, Willow Street, near the Bound Brook Railroad.
In 1879, Mr. Pashley died, and the business has since beeu carried on by his son, Franeis Pashley.
Jewelry .- In 1874, Williams, May & Co. estab- lished a manufactory of jewelry on the corner of Centre and Federal Streets. This firm was succeeded in 1877 by M. C. & C. H. Williams ; then, in 1878, it beeame MI. C. Williams & Brother, and in 1881, A. F. Williams became proprietor of the manufactory.
The business is now limited to the manufacture of solid gold bracelets and rings. Thirteen hands are employed in the establishment. The jewelry manu- factured here is sold in most of the large cities in the United States.
Leigh's Match-Factory .- In 1868, Israel Hen- drickson and H. Leigh established a match manu- factory in Broad Street, near Livingston. The busi- ness increased rapidly, rendering larger accommoda- tions necessary, and in 1869 they removed to Stockton Street, below Front, where the business is still carried on in a large brick building erected there.
In 1876, Mr. Hendrickson sold his interest in the establishment to J. R. Palmer, and in 1878 Mr. Leigh : became sole proprietor.
From a small beginning the business has increased till the annual production amounts to forty thousand gross of boxes.
To the manufacture of matches Mr. Leigh has added that of paper boxes of various kinds, and in this branch of the business he employs about twenty hands. The total number employed in the establish- ment is seventy-five.
Smith's Fertilizer-Works .- Among the manufac- tories of fertilizers that have come into existence within a comparatively recent period, and that are destined to be of great benefit to the farmers of the country, is that of John R. Smith, of this city. These
works were established by him in 1877, on the bank of the canal, near Perry Street. They occupy two large brick buildings, and employ six men. The ma- chinery is driven by steam. The fertilizers manufac- tured here are sent to all parts of the country.
Richardson's Limekilns. - In 1850 the lime manufactory that had been carried on at the corner of Jackson and Taylor Streets by George James was removed to the corner of Front and Stockton Streets, and was there conducted by Whitaker, Darrow & James. In 1872, Joseph B. Richardson purchased the concern, and he has since carried it on.
The works cover about one acre of ground, and ten men are employed. There are four kilns, and the annual production is one hundred thousand bushels of lime. The limestone used here is brought from the vicinity of Norristown, Pa.
Prison Manufactures .- Although the State Prison can hardly be classed among the manufactories of Trenton, yet several branches of manufacture are car- ried on here torender available the labor of convicts, and a brief mention of these is quite proper here.
There are six of these, viz .: Whips, shoes, collars and cuffs, shirts, tannery, and hair-picking.
The number of convicts employed in each of these departments of manufacture is, whips, 40; shoes, 97; collars and cuffs, 80; shirts, 75; tannery, 95; hair- pieking, 12.
Taylor's Pork-Packing Establishment and Cat- tle-Yards. - In 1870, John Taylor established on Perrine Avenue, near the Belvidere and Delaware Railroad, the cattle-yards and slaughter-houses that he still carries on there. At first the business amounted to about three hundred thousand dollars annually, but it has gradually increased till it now reaches an annual average of one million two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars. The establishment covers about three acres of ground, and employs seventy-five men.
The beeves and swine slaughtered here are brought mostly from the West. The pork and beef packed at this establishment find a market in various parts of the United States, in the West Indies, in South Amer- ica, and Europe.
Financial .- THE TRENTON BANKING COMPANY was chartered in 1804, when but one other bank ex- isted in New Jersey. The lot on which the banking- house stands, in Greene Street near State. was the site of the oldf court-house and jail of Hunterdon County, buildings that were erected prior to the Rev- olution. It was deeded to the corporation in May, 1805, by Hugh Runyon, Andrew Reeder, James Ew- ing, and others, freeholders of Hunterdon County. The original banking-house erected on this property was used till 1838, when it was removed and a new buikdling creeted. An addition was made to this and its interior was improved in 1872, and it is now prob- ably not excelled by any banking-house in the State.
From the time of its organization till the establish-
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
ment of the national bank system this was a bank of issue. It is now a bank of discount and deposit, having never organized under that system. Its cir- culation at the time of the adoption of that system was nearly four hundred thousand dollars, all of which is believed to have been redeemed.
Many interesting incidents in the history of this bank might be related did space permit. In the book which has from the first been used for a record of the signatures of those opening accounts with the bank may be found the names of many prominent eitizens of this country, as well as distinguished foreigners. Among the latter are those of Prince Lucien Murat, Marshal Jean Victor Moreau, and ex- King Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte.
The presidents of this bank have been Judge Isaac Smith, 1804-7 ; Col. Jonathan Rhea, 1807-15; Gen. John Beatty, 1815-26; Dr. Thomas L. Wood- ruff, 1826-32 ; Philemon Dickinson, 1832-81 ; Joseph Bruere, 1881.
The eashiers have been Pearson Hunt, 1804-29; Joseph Olden Clark, 1829-33 ; John Titus, 1833-42; Thomas J. Stryker, 1842-72; Abbot J. Whittaker, 1872.
The few changes in the officers of this bank during a period of seventy-eight years constitute a remark- able feature in its history.
BENJAMIN FISH. - Three brothers, Nathaniel, John, and Jonathan, came from England and settled at Lynn, Mass., in 1637. Jonathan removed to Long Island and joined in the settlement of Newtown as early as 1659. Jonathan's son Nathan remained at Newtown, and had, among other children, a son named Benjamin, who married in 1728, and removed about 1745 and settled in the township of Trenton (now Ewing), N. J. He, among other children, had a son Benjamin, wliose youngest son, Benjamin Fish, is the subject of this sketch.
ing between Philadelphia and Trenton, and soon after engaged in the business of transporting commissary and ordnance stores across the State for the govern- ment, and general merchandise for the public. The goods were taken from Philadelphia to Trenton, and from there by wagons across the State to New Bruns- During its existence of more than three-quarters of a century, this bank has in many instances, iu times of their embarrassment, aided by timely loans ! the National and State governments, as well as the local municipal authorities. The benefactions of this institution to the government, the State, and wick, whence they were transported by vessels to New York City, and up the Hudson River to Albany. The American army was then operating in Northern New York, which was at that time almost a wilder- ness, and Mr. Fish transported thousands of barrels of flour from Philadelphia iu this way for its commis- the local authorities during the war of the Rebellion | sariat. He had under his charge at this time forty will long be remembered by those who lived in that huge Conestoga wagons, drawn by four-horse teams, dark period of the nation's existence.
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