History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 137

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 137
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 137

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Mr. Wallace died at a good old age, Der. 20, 1842. and his son, William U. Wallace, the inheritor not only of his wealth, but of his many excellent quali- ties, both of head and heart, is now quite near the age at which his father died, To say nothing of him in this connection would be an injustice to the noble man who pointed out to him the path along which he is even yet gathering delights, and at the end of which he sees immortal joys. Barn so long ago In July 4, 1804 he is, as has been intimated, full of years, and full, too, of vigor, both of body and of mind. Having received a good preparatory educa- tion, he entered the C'ollege of New Jersey at P'rinte- ton, and was graduated therefrom in 1823. In his early days he was engaged in mercantile business in the city of New York, but ill health compelled him to retire, and during the latter yeurs of his father's life he devatel himself entirely to the management

of the estate belonging to that venerable gentleman. Like his father, he has always preferred to live quietly and without display Public position- he has ever avoided, and it was with difficulty that he was per- shaded to become a director in the bank of which his father was one of the earliest officers and patrons. Of the Presbyterian Church of Chatham, where he spends his summers, he is an older. The New Jersey Historical Society number- him among its members, and to its support he contribute- regularly and liber- ally. Other institutions and charitable bodies, were they permitted, would be glad to make known to the world his munificence.

Soon after the commencement of the century there came to Newark a man who was destined to make his mark in its mercantile history,-Jous H. STEPHENS. He established himself in the grocery business, and for many years had the leading store of this class in the city. When he settled here Newark was a town of only about twelve hundred inhabitants, but so great was his faith in its ultimate great growth that he invested the proceeds of his large business prin- cipally in real estate. When the whaling fever was at its height, he became interested in a company or- ganized in the city, be ame the president of it, and sent out a ship called the " John Wells " to operate in the Pacific Ocean. The necessities of his business also brought him into the navigation between Newark and New York, and he established, in connection with the late doel A Condit, a line of steamers to ply be- tween the two cities. He was one of the first stock- holders of the Morris and Essex Railroad, one of the founders of the Mechanics' Bark, and had extensive in- terests in other corporations. Ilis business ability and the labor he performed were probably not equaled by any other man of his time. Many of the leading men of a younger generation received their business education under his tuition, among them D. W. Richards, Silas Kitchen and Marcus L. Ward. He was a safe, solid, conservative merchant, and his influence was of marked value upon the class of busi- ness men who were his latter-day contemporaries. Retiring from artive mercantile business soon after the close of the war in favor of Messrs. Camp & Osborn, he still retained the management of his other affairs until shortly before his death, which oc- curred Jan. 23, 1870. He was born in Freehold, & J., in February, 1789, and was the son of Thomas H. Stephens, who came from Somersetshire, England.

The store of Mr. Stephens, as we have said, Was turned over to his clerks, WHHim H. Camp and Den- nin Osborn. Subsequently the last named beenme sole proprietor by the death of Mr. Cump, und as such in now the owner and manager of the oldest business stand in the city.

DENNIN OSHORN is a lineal descendant of Daniel Dad, who emigrated from England to America in 16.16, und whose chlest son, Daniel, belonged to the colony which, under the lendershlp of the rettowned

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Abraham Pierson, founded in 1666 the town of New- manufacturers of Newark. The ohl warehouse stood ark. Mr. Osborn's father, Matthias Dodd, was the ; upon the identical spot now occupied by Mr. Osborn, great-grandson of Stephen, the second son of the distinguished colonist, whose posterity in Newark and -a frame building originally, a brick one now. From 1806 to 1842 it was the countrymen's rendezvous, not its vicinity are now counted by hundreds. In 1827, , only for gossip, but for trade, and it was not unusual Mr. Osborn was born, in Newark, and while yet of on any day of the week (except Sunday, of course) to sec twenty or thirty farmers' wagons drawn up before it. Here articles of almost every description could be purchased, and a grocer or a druggist could here replenish his diminished stock as conveniently and as favorably as in New York City. Here Mr. tender age, his mother becoming sick, and, as was supposed, at the door of death, he was removed to the home of his mother's sister, Mrs. Osborn, who, becon- ing much attached to him, adopted him, and gave to him the name of her husband, who was a manufac-

Dennis Cobran -

turer of considerable importance in Newark, also a Osborn and Silas Il. Kitchell and D. W. Richards and William 11. Camp and Governor Marcus I. Ward and Joel W. Condit and other well-known business men of Newark received the carly training by which they achieved success in life, not as merchants only, but as followers in other matters of that enterprising man, who, with his subsequently distinguished part- ners, Joel W. Condit and John Reock, Sr., founded the Stephens, Condit & Co.'s Transportation Line and magistrate, and one of the founders of the Clinton Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Young Osborn was carefully brought up by his estimable aunt, and at a proper age sent to the best schools in Newark, and subsequently to Pennington Seminary. Desirous of becoming a merchant, he was, at the age of fifteen, placed, as a elerk, in the well-known store of John 11. Stephens, which had been in successful operation since 1806, and which was, in fact, the business school , other establishments that have added so materially to of some of the most distinguished merchants and the growth and prosperity of Newark.

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PIONEER MERCHANTS OF NEWARK

Mr. Osborn was a great favorite with Mr. Stephens, so was William M. Camp, and when the veteran merchant, in 1855, began to feel the weight of years, he, now the sole proprietor of the store, relinquished it upon easy terms to these two young men, who had grown up in his employ. Without any alteration in the building, except to increase its capacity, or in the character of the trade, except, perhaps, that it became more adapted to the wants of a growing city store the business was now conducted under the name of Camp & Osborn; and thus it went on until 1877, when Mr. William 11. Camp died. Thus left alone, Mr. Osborn continued the business in his own name until 1882, when he associated with himself his bro- ther, Mr. E. V. B. Dodd. U'npretending as this estab- lishment appears to be, there is none in the city better known and none of a similar character in the State that has extended more widely its operations. Mr. Osborn, like his old preceptor and predecessor, is a man thoroughly devoted to his business interests, and has persistently declined all offices, either of a public or private nature. This old store is one of the landmarks of Newark, and its long and successful maintenance is due to the energy and careful business habits inherited, as we might say, by its present pro- prietor from its distinguished founder, Mr. John 11. Stephens.

JOEL W. CONDIT was one of Newark's most promi- nent merchants and general business men during the first half of the present century, and, indeed, up to 1860. Ile was born in Orange in 1793, and began his business career as a clerk in the store of John 11. Stephens, soon rising, by his superior qualities, to a leading position among the more successful mer- chants of the city. He was identified with many of the most useful enterprises and financial institutions of the city. He was a director of the Morris and E-sex Railroad, the vice-president of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company from the time of its organization, a director of the Mechanics' Bank and of the Mechanics' Insurance Company, and also of the Savings Society. He took a prominent part in the affairs of Stephens, Condit & Co.'s freight and steamboat line, and was therefore largely interested in the navigation of the Passaic River. He was a member of the State Legislature a few years before his death, and held various other positions of honor and trust. His death occurred in September, 1860, in his sixty-seventh year, after an illness of several months which had compelled him to abandon all business occupation.

JONATHAN V. D'OREY, who has been spoken of as occupying the southeast corner of Broad and Market Streets, probably began there as early as 1508. Of him but little is now known, except that he did a good busi- ness and acquired a large property. In addition to what is now the Advertiser site, he owned the wharf property at the foot of Market Street, known as the Commercial Dock, and much other real estate. In addition to his

mercantile business, he carried on boating between Newark and New York. Thomas V. Johnson, who married d'orey sdaughter, inherited all of his property. Hle went largely into out ide enterprises, which proved unprofitable, and the estate was mostly seat- tered. Mr. Johnson's death occurred comparatively recently.

Books were sold by William Tuttle, proprietor of the Centinel of Freedom, as early as 1809, his store be- ing at the printing-office at Broad and Academy Streets. The store passed into the hands of A. S. Dennis, who sold it to Martin Dennis, whose heirs now carry it on.

Another carly bookseller was Benjamin Olds, The firm subsequently became Olds & Son, then Wil- liams & Plum, and now the house is carried on by Matthias Plum.

Drugs were sold by Matthias Ward as early as 1809-10.

Hardware was early made a special branch of mer- chandise by Abraham W. Kinney, who had a store on Broad Street, between Market and Mechanic Streets. The business passed into the hands of William & Theodore Kinney, and was carried on by them until 1833.

As early as 1812, Doremus & Vanderpool began selling hardware. The sons of the members of this firm succeeded them, and before 1533 the business passed into the hands of Josiah Doremus, a son of the original proprietor.

Prior to 1833, another firm, MeMurtry & Roth, was engaged in the business.

John Y. & Jesse Baldwin sold hardware as early as 1820 at their store on Broad and Market Streets.

A jewelry-store was opened as early as 1815 by George R. Downing, on Broad Street, below Bank. The business passed through the hands of several proprietors, and was longest conducted by Mr. Bald- win. It is the same which has come down in direct descent to Richard Smith.

The oldest merchant in the city i- Jonas Agens, of whom a sketch follows :

JONAS AGENS is the oldest living merchant in Newark, and now, at the age of eighty-six, is conduct- ing the business which he began sixty-four years ago, and for nearly forty-six years on the same spot and in the same building where it is at present carried on. His father, James Agens, was of Scotch-Irish parent- age, who, while a youth, manifested a great deal of the courage and energy found in this union of nation- allies. Having been apprenticed to a weaver, he ran away, at the age of fourteen, and enlisting in the British army, was sent to America. While stationed at Boston he was led to sympathize with the Revolu- tionists of that place, and, in company with thirteen of his comrades, joined the C'ontinental army, and served bravely until the close of the war. In the battle of Monmonth he was seriously wounded, and lay all day in a helpless condition upon the battle-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY. NEW JERSEY.

field. At the close of the war he accompanied his commander, Col. John Condit, to Newark, N. I. where, in time, he bought a farm on what is now called Valley Street, in the town of Orange. In 1785 he married Phebe Force, an estimable young lady of that vicinity, and became quite prosperous in his affairs. Under the Presidency of Mr. Monroe he obtained a pension, as well as honorable mention for gallant conduct while in the service. Here, for nearly forty years, he has pursued the even tenor of his way, attending strictly to his own affairs, and never risking his honest earnings in specu- lations of any kind whatever. Repeatedly, during his loug and prosperous carcer, has Mr. Agens been invited to accept of public office, but he has uniformly declined. His repugnance to positions of trust or honor is so great that it has been impossible to induce him to assume the responsibility of even a bank Of his large family of children only two survive, one of whom is Mr. Thomas Agens, who is elsewhere noticed in this volume, and the other is the subject of this sketch, who was born Oct. 14, 1798, in what was at that time a part of Newark, but which, in 1806, was creeted into a township called Orange. Here the ambitious lad, at the age of nine years, entered upon his long business career by becoming an ap- director. In carly life he became a Mason, and for more than half a century has been a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 1. At the meetings of that landy he may even now be found, especially at the annual festival on Washington's birthday, which he rarely fails to attend, and in which he takes the deepest interest. There, as everywhere, he always finds a welcome, by reason of his genial manners and his dis- prentice to his kinsman, Mr. Barnabas Day, one of , position to make every one around him happy. In

the numerous shoemakers for whom the enterpris- ing Luther Goble at that time furnished constant employment. The lad's industry and close attention to work, even at that early period of life, was not only remarkable, but proved injurious to him, and at the age of fifteen he was obliged to abandon the shoemaker's bench and betake himself to more active employment. Then it was that he first left home, and going to New York, became a clerk in a shoe- store, which at the end of two years was sold out. Another shoe-store, however, readily received him, and thus, as a clerk in various mercantile establish- ments, he studied the ways of busines- and of busi- ness men until the age of nineteen, when he returned to his home.

At the suggestion of friends, who, doubtless, per- ceived that close confinement was beginning to affect his health, he was induced to obtain a horse and wagon, and, traveling about the country, to exchange such goods and wares as he could carry with him, for butter and other commodities which could be gath- ered up among the farmers. Although this business did not fill his purse, it filled his lungs with so much fresh air and his veins with so much healthy blood that he resolved to try once more the lap-stone and the bench. Now he had reached his majority, and the shop and the tools were his own. His industry was not only backed up by sound health, but by good substantial friends, who saw in him a man destined to succeed in whatever he might undertake to do. It was in 1820 that he went into business for himself. In 1821 he purchased, on favorable terms, the house ad- joining his shop. The following year he moved into it, and gradually began to extend his operations until, finally, he had eight apprentices besides journeymen in his employ. His goods were sold not only in New- ark, but in New York. The loans which had been inade to him by friends were all paid, and, with the handsome surplus left in hand, he purchased, in 1845, the property on Broad Street which he now occupies as a place of business and as a dwelling.

his domestic relations it rarely falls to the lot of man to be so fortunate. The wife of his youth and mother of his eleven children has for sixty-four years shared his joys and sorrows, and still, at the age of eighty- three, retains her place and influence in the happy household.

About the same time that Mr. Agens went into business Rodney Wilbur opened a dry-goods store on the northwest corner of Broad and Market Streets. Charles T. Day, son of the old postmaster, Matthias Day, was long associated with him as clerk.

David Smith began business about 1825.

Heath & Earl were in business on Broad Street. prior to 1833, but failed soon after the panic of 1837.

In the year 1833, D. W. Richards & C'o. (the com- pany being his father) went into the grocery and liquor business at the identical stand where Mr. Richards is now engaged. He has carried on trade at one location longer than any other merchant in New- ark.

DAVID WILLARD RICHARDS was born in Newark, N. J., March 12, 1812, and is the son of Leonard Richards, who, while a lad, with a single silver dollar in his pocket, traveled from New England to that town in 1800 in search of a trade and a fortune. Of ' the latter he became the possessor in a comparatively short time by dint of his energy and enterprise, and the old store on Broad Street, near the City Hall, now occupied by the subject of this sketch, was the family mansion. Young David, or Willard, as he was com- monly called, was carly sent to the Franklin School, in Fair Street, close by his home, and subsequently made himself the master of everything that was taught in the Old White School-House, a neat- looking little editiee with a steeple upon it, which stood near the middle of the small park now bounded by Clinton Avenue, Washington and Spruce Streets, and which, about 1847, was destroyed by fire, probably to give a little run to the volunteer fire companies of that day. Having been graduated from this school at the age of fifteen, he entered, as a clerk, the post-office,

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PIONEER MERCHANTS OF NEWARK

kept by Matthias Day, on Broad Street, in a building located on the spot now occupied by Central Market, and iu that position, by reason of his complaisance and fidelity, became a general favorite among the merchants and other business men of the town. But a desire to become a merchant himself induced his father to place him, at the age of seventeen, in the extensive mercantile establishment kept by Mr. John II. Stephens, on Broad Street, nearly opposite Trinity Church, and which is elsewhere in this volume briefly described.

same spot upon which it was founded The first partner of Mr. Richards Was his father, Mr. Leonard Richards, who furnished the capital, while the son managed all the affairs and performed all the active work. This partnership continued until Is45, when Mr. Richards, Sr. now deceased, retired, and Mr. Henry E. Richards, a younger brother of Davil W. Richards, took the father's place. The firm now became known as D. W. & H. E. Richards, and thus continued until 1864, when it was dissolved. Since that time Mr. D. Willard Richards has conducted the

Here young Richards devoted himself faithfully to the interests of his employer, and in time became the head elerk and book-keeper, making himself thoroughly acquainted with the ways of doing busi- ness adopted by that sagacious merchant, Mr. Ste- phens, as well as winning the confidence and esteem of the numerous customers who Blocked from every quarter to this well-known store. At the age of twenty-one he left Mr. Stephens' employ for the pur- pose of establishing a business of his own, and thus began, in 1833, the house of D. W. Richards & Co., which for more than forty years has occupied the

business in his own name. In this establishment the old-time methods are still in practice. Exterior and interior display of goods and wares has never been adopted, and the store, with the exception of a little enlargement, wears, in general, nearly the same appearance that it did fifty years ago, and during this long period Mr. Richards has never been absent from this post for a single day, except in the prosecution of his business. His commercial operations still receive his personal attention, and he is apparently as vigor- ous and active as when in hi- prime. He has uni- formly declined offices, whether political or otherwise,

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

although always ready to give, whenever sought, the benefit of his large and valuable experience. No one in the community bears a higher reputation for strict integrity, honorable dealing and great business abilities.

JOSEPH E. TRIPP was another merchant in business as early as 1833 (and a son by the same name is now engaged in trade in the city). Mr. Tripp sold out to his brother Robert, and removing to New York, carried on the wholesale line. He is still living.

Reviewing the names we have mentioned, we find that D. W. Richards and Jonas Agens are the only persons now in business among those who had stores here fifty-one years ago, and but few of the number are living. The contemporaries of these veterans in 1833 were McMurtry & Rolf and Josiah Doremus, hardware; Thomas V. Johnson, John H. Stephens and Joel W. Condit, groceries; Benjamin Olds and William Tuttle, books; Charles T. Day and C. Bald- win, Jr., clothiers; Joseph E. Tripp, drugs ; Heath & Earl, dry-goods; Backus & Co., stoves; and George R. Downing, jewelry.

Another old house deserves mention because of its remarkable progressiveness. We refer to that which is now known as Heath & Drake. This house had its inception in 1841, as lleath & Crowell, Mr. S. R. W. Heath being the senior partner, as now. Subsequently he took his brother. Daniel R., as a partner, in place of Mr. Crowell, then for a short time conducted busi- ness alone, and again as lleath & Co. until 1867, when the firm became Heath & Drake, by the admission of Mr. E. C. Drake.

STAFFORD R. W. HEATH was born at Basking Ridge, N. J., July 8, 1820. His father, Daniel lleath, was a farmer, who gave him such advantages as the country school afforded. At the age of fourteen, ex- pressing a desire to become a merchant, his parents allowed him to go to Newark, N. J., where he entered, as a clerk, the dry-goods store of Mr. David Smith, well-known at the time as a leading merchant on Broad Street, of that city. llere he remained until 1837. when he found another situation in the store of Messrs. Guild and Alling, in whose employ he cou- tinued until March 4, 1841, saving with the greatest care his earnings. At this date he commenced busi- ness at 779 Broad Street, with S. Grover Crowell, a former fellow-clerk, under the name of Heath & Crowell. After four years of successful business, this partnership was dissolved, and with his brother. Daniel R. Heath, the business was continued at 783 Broad Street, under the name of Heath Brothers. Ilis brother died March, 1-47, and Mr. Heath continued the business in his own name until Feb. 1. 1851, when he associated with himself his cousin, William .1. lleath, a former clerk, under the firm-name of S. R. W. lleath and Co. On Feb. 1, 1855, Cortlandt E. Drake. who had been with Mr. Heath from his youth as a clerk, was admitted to partnership. In 1860, William A. Ileath retired, and the business was continued under the

same firm-name until 1867, since which time it has been llcath & Drake. After thirty-nine years of success- ful business at 783 Broad Street, they removed April 1, 1864, into the new and spacious edifice just erected by Mr. Heath at 777 and 779 Broad Street. Although watchful over his own interest in this great establish- ment, Mr. Heath, on account of other business rela- tions, has left its management chiefly to his partner, Mr. Drake, a thoroughly qualified business man.

It is to the Firemen's Insurance Company of Newark that Mr. Heath devotes nearly all his time. Of this institution he has been president since 1862, and apparently takes more pride in its success than in that of his own private affairs. Here in his office he may be found as regularly as any of his subalterns. This company, under his supervision, has become one of the strongest in the State, its stock selling, as is said, higher than that of any other. Mr. Heath has been a director of the Newark City National Bank since May, 1854, also of the Newark and Rosendale Cement Company since February, 1859, and president of the same from 1870 to 1876. 1le has also been a director of the Peters Manufacturing Company since December, 1878, and president from Feb. 1, 1879, to Sept. 10, 1880. He was also a director in the New Jersey Mutual Life Insurance Company, and trustee of the American Trust t'ompany. He has been executor, guardian and administrator of estates, and has invested trust funds for individuals and institu- tions. Since 1854 he has been a trustee of Rutgers College, N. J., and an active member of its finance committee. On his arrival in Newark he became an attendant at the First Reformed Church, and was successively Sunday-school scholar, teacher and super- intendent. In June, 1840, he united with that church, and from that time was repeatedly elected to the office of deacon or elder until ISGS, when, with a number of others, he left in order to form the Clinton Avenue Reformed Church, of which he has since been an elder. He was the chairman of its building committee, and one of the largest contributors towards the erection of the church edifice. Both of these churches have been repeatedly represented by him at the meetings of the Classes and Synods. Since 1875 he has been president of the Board of Domestic Missions, under the General Synod of the Reformed Church, and has not only held official positions in the bible, traet, and temperance societies, but has given of his time and means for their extension. The various charitable institutions of the city have always had his sympathy and aid, especially the Orphan Asylum, of which he has been for many years one of the Board of Advisors. Many suburban churches, as well as needy ones at home, have also at different times been assisted, either when building or when repairs have been required, or when struggling to be free from debt.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 137

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840