History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 85

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096

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 85
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 85

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In 1850, G. W. Norton built the store on the eor- ner east of the hotel, and traded there some time. He was sneceeded by James Lce, and Lee by Lce & Brock. Charles H. Hughes suceceded this firm. In 1855, H. J. Smith bought this store and kept it till 1864, enlarging it considerably during his time of possession.

Under the firm-name of Recd & Cubberley, S. R. Reed and Azariah Cubberley kept the store just men- tioned from 1864 to 1866, when they were succeeded by Smith & Reed, the new member of the firm having been H. I. Smith. In 1868 this firm built the brick store on the southwest corner of Main and Mercer Streets. Iu 1873, S. R. Reed retired from the firm and engaged in the clothing trade in company with James Smyth, under the firni-name of Reed & Smyth. The mercantile business was continued by H. I. Smith until he was succeeded by C. Smith, whose successor is Alfred Fagans. Alfred Cubberley erected a store in 1879, and has since occupied it.

Moses A. Hooper opened a store about 1854, and did a gradually increasing business until his death a few years ago, latterly in partnership with his son Alfred, under the firm-name of Hooper & Son. Alfred Hooper is now proprietor of the establishment.

A tobacco and ice cream store was established in 1869 in the old store east of the hotel by J. T. Reed, which elosed in 1872. The store was reopened in 1877 by John E. Cubberley, who was succeeded by Samuel M. Robbins in 1879.

Blacksmithing was done here during the Revolu- tion and long afterward by David Cubberley, Sr. Jesse Hutchinson, James Danser, Samuel Danser, Theodore Hill, Israel Taylor, Isaiah Silvers, John Hutchinson, David Cubberley, Jr., Maj. Hooper, Charles D. Cubberley, William H. Forman, John Lewis, Thomas Wood, and Charles MIcCabe have bcen the village Vulcans since. Elijah Ridgway, Jonathan Appleton, William I. Robbins, John Hutch-

The post-office was established some time between 1840 and 1850. The following, and perhaps others, have served as postmasters : William Tindall, Simeon Reed, Rev. Scaring Stites, James Lee, M. A. Hooper, 1854-61; Howard I. Smith, 1861-72; William C. Van- nest, 1872-79; and E. R. Good, since 1879.

Unsuccessful attempts to establish bakeries were made by Rev. Scaring Stites about 1852, William H. Nelson in 1861, and William H. Cubberley in 1870.

The Patrons' Fire Insurance Company was organ- ized at Hamilton Square in 1881. It is conducted

on the mutual plan, and its benefits are confined to the members of the order of Patrons of Husbandry. The officers are Jolin Hammell, president ; Jolin C. Cubberley, treasurer ; and Theodore Cubberley, sccre- tary.

This village contains thirce churches, a school- house, two general stores, a tailoring establishment, an extensive rubber-works,1 an undertaking establish- ment, two blacksmith-shops, a wheelwright-shop, a hotel, and several small enterprises of different kinds.

YARDVILLE, on Doctor's Creek, near its junction with Crosswicks Creek, on the southern border of the township, is a station on the Amboy Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and, though comparatively small, has long been a place of some local importance. It was formerly known as Sandville, and received its present name from John Yard, the first postinaster there, who was succeeded in 1858 by Robert C. Hutchinson. Clark Hutchinson, the present post- master, was commissioned in 1859.

The first hotel was opened many years ago by John Nelson, as is supposed. After occupying it four years, Nelson rented the building to John Long- street. In 1833, John Ginglen bought the house, and in 1848 sold it to Moses Johnson, who has since kept it. A few years ago there were two hotels, the second that of E. King, at the station.

Among the merchants of Yardville have been Hill & Hutchinson, C. & S. Hutchinson, and S. Hutchinson. A lumber-yard was established by Clark Hutchinson a few years ago, and a eoal-yard by Amos H. Cole in 1877.

A business in pressing and dealing in hay was begun about 1857 by Joshua Taylor, who, after a few years, sold out to Jacob Hornord, who, probably twenty years later, sold to the present proprietor, John Kiffcart.

The first blacksmith to open a shop here was John Taylor, about 1825. Some time before 1845 he sold out to Stephen West, who continued the business about five years, when he was succeeded by John inson, George Middleton, John Anderson, Cornelius . Furman, whose successor was H. Tantum. The Voorhies, John Scudder, William Walton, A. A. Campbell, and R. F. West have been wheelwrights in the village since 1812. The village Crispins since 1846 have been William Hughes, William Nelson, Joseph Hughes, Aaron Prevo, and D. C. Wilgus.

present blacksmith, John Hart, succeeded Tantum in 1878. George MIcCabe built a blacksmith-shop in 1860, aud occupied it some years, after which it was for some time closed until reopened by John Mitchell in 1881.

George W. Middleton opened the first wheelwright- shop in 1831. In 1835 he sold out to George H. Stew- ard. In 1845, Steward gave place to Lewis Thorne, who died in 1850. The shop was unoccupied until 1880, when it was purchased by Amos H. Cole.

The elder Robert C. Hutchinsou at one time car- ried on quite an extensive trade here in wood and lime, buying wood, and shipping it by sloops from

1 For sketch of this and other manufactures, sce industrial history of the township.

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HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

navigation on Crosswieks Creek to Philadelphia, where he purchased limestone, which he burned, : selling the lime throughout the surrounding country.

When the Camden and Amboy Railroad was first put in operation, passengers for Trenton left the cars at Yardville, and were conveyed thence to the State capital by stage.

Yardville contains a general store, a saw-mill, a grist-mill, a Presbyterian Church, and thirty-four dwellings. It has the usual variety of shops and business enterprises, and ample hotel accommoda- tions. The population is about two hundred.

NORTH CROSSWICKS .- Crosswicks is a village on the creek of the same name, partially in Burlington County. It was the scene of the labors of Brainerd among the aborigines, and of a short and sharp en- counter between the patriots and the British during the Revolutionary war, both of which events are else- where referred to. That portion of the village lying within the township of Hamilton was early known as Woodwardsville, in honor of Samuel Woodward, who was once prominent there. Its later appellation is North Crosswicks, given in contradistinction from South Crosswicks, on the opposite side of the creek.

The nucleus around which North Crosswicks grew up was the old grist-mill, which stood there from far back in the last century until some time during the Revolution, and its successor built after peace was established.

A tannery was established by Samuel Fowler about 1800. It subsequently passed into other hands, and was abandoned about twenty years ago. William Potts opened a blacksmith-shop in 1842, which has since been in the possession of H. Chaffee and the present proprietor, John Hampton. In 1852 a wheel- wright-shop was established by Alexander Wood. He was succeeded by Albert Hendrickson. The pres- ent wheelwright is Morgan Perrine.

Frazer & Johnston had a store in North Crosswieks from 1860 to 1862. There has been no store since.

North Crosswicks contains a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a plaster-mill, a turning-mill, a blacksmith-shop, a wheelwright-shop, and about thirty dwellings. South Crosswicks contains two Quaker Churches, an Episco- pal Church, a Methodist Episcopal Church, an Afri- can Methodist Episcopal Church, a post-office (Mrs. English, postmistress), two stores ( kept by J. J. Wool- man and Edgar Brick), a hotel, a carriage-shop, a wheelwright-shop, a blacksmith-shop, a saloon, and about one hundred and seventy-five dwellings.

WHITE HORSE .- White Horse is a cross-roads set- tlement in the southern part of the township, on the elevation overlooking Crosswicks Creek. It contains only four dwellings and a public-house, to which was long ago given the name by which the locality is known.

John Satterly kept an inn there during and prob- ably prior to the Revolution, and from the fact that Washington one day passed by mounted on his his-

torical white horse, Satterly gave the name "White Horse" to the house, procuring a sign on which was painted the representation of a white horse, which, or one similar to it, has been conspicuously before the tavern since.

Satterly kept the house many years, and finally sold it to Benjamin South, who enlarged the building and remained there about forty years. In 1830 he was succeeded by James Hollinshead, who was sheriff of Burlington County before the erection of Mercer, and hung Joel Clow, at Mount Holly, for the murder of MIrs. Hamilton, of Bordentown, about fifty years ago.

The successor of Hollinshead as " mine host" of the White Horse was James Risdon. He was followed in turn by George Vannest, S. King, Patrick McCann, John Taylor, William King, J. H. Hendrickson, and the present landlord, Thomas J. Parent, in 1878.

The pioneer blacksmith was John Satterly, the tavern-keeper above mentioned. A man named Dunn had a shop as early as 1820. Joseph Scott was the first wheelwright, about 1820. Alfred Nutt now combines the trades of blacksmith and wheelwright.

Fifty years ago or more there was a store at White Horse, kept a few years by James Risdon.

EXTONVILLE .- The old establishment which was successively a grist- mill, a woolen- and cotton-mill, and a carpet-warp manufactory was the centre of the growth which resulted in Extonville, which contains eight dwellings all told.

About 1837, William Gibson opened a store here, but abandoned the enterprise as unprofitable in two or three years. There was once a blacksmith whose name was Brown.

MERCERVILLE (SANDTOWN) .- For many years this place was known as "the Corners," on account of its location at the intersection of five roads in the north part of the township. This fact also at one time led some one to call the place "Five Roads," a name which never was popularized. The latest name for the place is Mercerville, which it will probably bear in time by common consent, but the old name Sandtown, given in description of the soil there- abouts, will doubtless cling to it many years to come.

This hamlet contains a grocery-store, kept by Mrs. James Van Camp; a hotel, kept by Lewis Anderson, and owned by Spafford Sutton, of Trenton; the blacksmith-shop of Peter P. Anderson, the wagon- shop of David H. Anderson, a school-house, and twelve dwellings.

GROVEVILLE .- Settlements were made at a com- paratively early date south of Doctor's Creek, about half a mile from the central portion of Yardville. This place is now known as Groveville. In 1821 there were here a small woolen- and grist-mill, a saw- mill, and a store, all the property of John Longstreet, and fifteen dwellings.

At the date mentioned George S. Green and Churchill Houston purchased of Longstreet all of this hamlet except two or three houses, and built

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

new manufacturing establishments elsewhere referred to, and the place entered upon an era of growth.

for many years. The present occupant is Mrs. Eliza- beth Allen.

There are two stores in the village, which were for- merly kept by the successive proprictors of the mills. The merchants at this tinte are E. A. Beaumont and Randolph Rider.

The first blacksmith was William Chitty, who opened his shop about 1845. He had several sueccs- sors, the last of whom was John Gamble, who. in com- pany with William Gamble, manufactured augers about two years.

Groveville consists of two stores, a hotel, a school- house, a warp-factory, a Methodist Episcopal Church, and sixty dwellings, a good share of the population depending on the manufactory mentioned for em- ployment.

Educational .- The history of the public schools of Hamilton does not differ materially from that of other townships in New Jersey similarly circum- staneed. The early schools were select schools, kept in log houses. These were followed by pay schools, very little different in organization or operation, in houses which were no great improvement on the first ones.

The publie school law of the State brought about a systematization of the educational facilities of the township, and school districts were formed, and one after another better school-houses were built. There are now nine school districts, known as Wash- ington District, No. 26; Mercerville District, No. 27; Hamilton Square District, No. 28 ; Edge Brook District, No. 29; Groveville District, No. 30; Yard- ville District, No. 31; White Horse District, No. 32; Friendship District, No. 33 : and Farmingdale Dis- trict, No. 35.

In 1880 the school statistics of Hamilton were as follows :

Amount of appropriation from the State fund, $2950.27 ; total amount received from all sources for school purposes, 83025.27; value of school property, $9650; number of children of the school age, 817; number enrolled in the school registers, 540; esti- mated number who attended private schools, 57 ; esti- mated number who attended no school, 248; number of teachers employed, three males, seven females; average monthly salary, males, $36.60, females, $29.77

Industrial History .- MILLS AND OTHER ENTER- PRISES .- The first Crosswicks grist-mill was built , probably in the early part of the last century, and was destroyed by fire some time during the Revolu- tion. It was rebuilt by one Britton about 1779. After some years Britton sold out to one Dan-er, from whom the property was sold by the sheriff of Burlington County to Joshua Wright, of Trenton, who was sue- eceded in its ownership by Samuel Woodward. Josiah

Buzby became the proprietor in 1845. In 1847 the old mill was torn down, and the present mill was

The hotel liere has been kept open most of the time . erected near where the old one had stood. A saw- mill which stood for many years beside the old grist- mill was removed in 1855 to make room for the pres- ent saw-mill then built, under the same root with the saw-mill, where an extensive business is done in the manufacture of chair-parts, pumps, oat-forks, and rakes. Near his grist-mill and saw-mill Mr. Bazby has a mill for grinding plaster, which is imported from Nova Scotia, and after its preparatiou for mar- ket shipped to Philadelphia.

At Yardville was an early grist-mill owned by a man named Britton (perhaps the same mentioned above), which had several owners, the last of whom was R. C. Hutchinson, who tore it down in 1869. building his present mill on the same site. In 1866, Mr. Hutchinson built a saw-mill near the grist-mill, which he rebuilt in 1869.

The old Lowrey mill (later the Hutchinson mills}, on Back Creek, near its mouth, and about midway between Yardville and White Horse, was built prior to 1800. It has had several owners. one after another, and is now the property of D. C. Hutchinson.

Joseph B. Reed's grist-mill, on Miry Run, was erected early, as is supposed, by Samuel Hutchinson, and came into the possession of the present proprietor about 1865. It was burned in 1880, and rebuilt in 1881.

The Coleman grist-mill, on Miry Run, was built in 1824 by Gunner Coleman, who owned and operated it many years. Afterwards it had quite a number of proprietors at different times until 1876, when it was purchased by Elijah C. Hutchinson, who renovated and improved it; substituting a thirty horse-power engine for its former water-power, increasing its grind- ing capacity to thirty-five thousand five hundred bushels of grain per annum, and introducing what is . known as the " patent process" with much success.

At Groveville were early established a saw- and grist-mill, and a small woolen-mill. These, with other property there, passed into the hands of George S. Green and Churchill Houston in 1821. Green & Houston tore down the woolen-mill about 1829, and on its site built a mill three stories high aud one hun- dred and twenty feet long for the manufacture of sat- inets. It contained fifty power-looms, and gave em- ployment to fifty hands. In March, 1837. it was sold to James Houghton, and a few months later it was destroyed by fire, the saw- and grist-mill burning at the same time.

At an early date brick were made quite extensively about Hamilton Square.

There was an early flouring-mill at Extonville, which in 1840 was purchased by William Richardson & Brother, who converted it into a cotton- and woolen- mill, and operated it as such till about 1860. About 1865 it passed into the hands of a Philadelphian named Cheatham, who remodeled it and introduced

1º

WHITEHEAD BROTHERS, MANUFACTURERS OF RUBBER GOODS, TRENTON, N. J.

William Whitehead

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HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

machinery for the manufacture of carpet-warp. As a warp-factory its existence was of brief duration. It has been torn down.

An old tannery, which formerly stood near the White Horse Hotel, on Crosswicks Creek, and was early owned by John Abbott, is reasonably supposed to have been built about 1740. John Abbott was succeeded by Timothy Abbott, in whose ownership it went to ruin. In 1830 it came into possession of John Cornish, who tore it down.

Thomas Butcher, Sr., the first cabinet-maker at Hamilton Square, opened a shop there in 1800 or earlier, and was a cabinet-maker and carpenter until he became too feeble to continue in active business .. He died in 1853. His grandson, Thomas Butcher, ; was a cabinet-maker there some years. A. R. Hutch- inson began business in 1830. R. F. West opened an undertaking establishment in 1873.

About 1850, John Viot began the manufacture of candy at Hamilton Square, and in a few years re- moved the business to Yardville, where after a time it was discontinued.

The manufacture of chairs was carried on at Ham- ilton Square by John Appleton sixty years. His son, John Appleton, succeeded him, and continues the business.

A harness-factory was started at Hamilton Square in 1875 by John C. Bennett, who removed from the place in 1876. Later the business was carried on by A. Madden, who now leases the shop to Samuel Vaughn.

In different parts of the township other smaller enterprises have from time to time been started by different persons with various degrees of success.

WHITEHEAD BROTHERS' RUBBER-MILLS. -- In Hamilton, two miles and a half from Trenton, is located the factory of Whitehead Brothers. Here John Whitehead & Sons began the manufacture of woolen goods in 1842. The business was continued till 1865 or 1866. In 1869 the Messrs. Whitehead con- verted the then idle mills into a factory for the manu- facture of rubber goods, which was at once put in operation, and has since done a large and increasing business. The firm of John Whitehead & Sons has been succeeded by that of Whitehead Brothers, sons of John Whitehead. About forty-five hands find em- ployment at this establishment, and a great variety of rubber goods is manufactured and shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada.

cassimeres and clothis until 1838, when he settled in Newtown, Pa., and engaged in the same business. His eldest sons, William and John, who had been partners in business with him at Hatborough, came in advance of their father in 1842, and purchased the property since used by them on the Assanpink, which was formerly a fulling-mill, but then a paper-mill. This they remodeled. put in new machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods, and established the "Whitehead & Sons' Woolen-Mills." The father closed out the interests of the firm in Newtown, Pa., and joined the sons in 1845, where he continued in active business till his death in 1852, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife survived nntil 1866, and died at the age of seventy-six years. The other chil- dren are Mary (wife of Nathaniel Johnson, Esther, Anna (wife of Francis Collins), Richard, James, Charles, Joseph, and Ann (widow of David J. Mc- Vaugh, of Norristown, Pa.). After the death of the father three other sons, Richard, James, and Joseph, joined the partnership, and the firm was afterward known by the name it still retains in 1882 as White- head Brothers. John died in 1860, and Joseph with-" drew from the business in 1879. The Whitehead Brothers continued the manufacture of woolen fabrics at Assanpink until 1865, when in 1870, after remodel- ing their mills and putting in proper machinery, they began the manufacture of rubber goods, such as hose, packing, car-springs, etc., which they have success- fully carried on since.

William Whitehead has remained the senior men- ber of the firm since his father's decease, is a careful business manager, and now, seventy-two years of age, is the oldest representative of three generations who have spent their lives as manufacturers. The religious persuasion of the Whiteheads is Baptist, and their political affiliations were formerly with the Whigs, but after the dissolution of that party with the Re- publicans. William Whitehead married Ann P., daughter of Caleb Valentine, who died in 1859, aged forty-five years, leaving the following children : Clara, William Henry, Charles, Mary, Anna, Nellie, and Nathaniel.

THE FACTORY OF THE MERCER RUBBER COM- PANY .- In 1866, C. V. Mead, associated with Rev. R. S. Manning, built the rubber-mill at Hamilton Square. C. W. Norton and R. L. Hutchinson went into the business soon afterward, and the firm bore the name of C. V. Mead & Co. They did a flourish- ing business, but not enjoying the railroad facilities they wished they removed to Trenton in 1870.

WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, manufacturer of rubber goods, on the Assanpink River, in Hamilton town- ship, near Trenton, N. J., was born in Yorkshire, The mill at Hamilton Square was closed for some months, when the Mercer Rubber Company assumed possession and management, with T. E. McDonald, Judge Campbell, and Edward Scudder in control. In 1872, T. E. McDonald retired. In 1873 the east wing of the factory was built. Edward Scudder dying suddenly, the business was continued under England, Oct. 10, 1810. Both his father and grand- father were manufacturers of woolen fabrics there, and the latter died where he had spent his life. His · father, John Whitehead, and mother, Anna, left their native country in 1817, came to America, and settled at Hatborough, Montgomery Co., l'a., where the father established and carried on the manufacture of | charge of Charles W. Sloan. It is now conducted by

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Charles W. Sloan and John Clancy, with A. S. Phillips as book-keeper.

The Mereer Rubber Company of Trenton is ofli- cered as follows : Charles Sloan, president; J. E. Olaney, secretary and treasurer. The capital of the company is seventy-five thousand dollars. During the past three years its average sales have amounted' to three hundred thousand dollars. The number of hands employed is sixty-five. Belting, packing. hose, and mechanical rubber goods are manufactured.

THE CLARENCE COTTON. MILLS .- The satiuet-mill of James Houghton, at Groveville, a few years after its purchase by him in 1837, passed into the hands of James Woodward, of Philadelphia, and another eapi- talist, who carried on quite an extensive manufacturing business for some years. This firm was succeeded by Woodward's partner, and he by James Woodward, ; from whom the enterprise descended to James E. Woodward & Son, the present proprictors.

For history of Trentou Marble Works see " Indus- tries of Trenton."

THE NAVIGATION OF CROSSWICKS CREEK .- On account of its peculiar formation, to the high piece of ground below Yardville, on the left of the road and between Doctor's and Crosswieks Creeks, was early giveu the name of " Hog-back."

The traffic up Crosswicks Creek to Hog-back was large for many years, the wharves there aud at the landing below the railroad bridge being crowded with vessels, which brought lime and fertilizers from Phil- adelphia and elsewhere. The boats were poled up the ereek from Bordentown.

Navigation of this creek has ceased and the wharves have long sinee gone to ruin. The bridge over the stream below White Horse is yet ealled the draw- bridge, although the draw has long been done away with. A bridge with a "draw" in it was built there before the Revolution. In this eentury that conven- ' ience was removed, and all sail vessels which have sinee passed up the creek have been such as were provided with a "struck" mast.

of worship was built, north of the road, at a cost of about fifteen thousand dollars. The corner-stone of this church was laid by Rev. Henry Perkins, and a copper box, provided by Rev. R. S. Manning, contain- ing many curious records, was deposited therein. The boys of the village placed bottles coutaining various things in the walls at different times during their erection. The first bell ever hung in the village was swung in the steeple in 186S.

Nov. 2, 1877, a tornado swept over the village. It was of only brief duration, but did much damage. The spire of the Presbyterian Church, one hundred and twenty feet high, was torn from its trusses and hurled to the ground. It fell in the garden of Jere- miah Reed, adjoining the church lot, and was literally dashed to pieces. The belfry struck the ground and fell back against the building, and the bell, though : it had fallen from such a height and weighed oue thousand and ten pounds, rolled out at the top un- injured.1 Three of the large windows of the church were blown in by the wind. Many headstones in the churchyard were blown over, and one was broken off at the base. The steeple was replaced by a smaller one in the fall of 1881.

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History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 85

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096