History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 142

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 142
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 142

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It is obvious that with such an immense estab- lishment upon his hands Mr. Howell led a life of unceasing toil and vigilance. It was, in fact, a matter of pride with him to be at his post at seven o'clock in the morning, and to ring the bell for his workmen. He was cognizant of everything that was going on around him, and could give prompt and specific instructions upon any point that might be referred to him for investigation. Difficulties which would appear to many insurmountable were to him, apparently, but trifles, and on no occasion did he lose his self-possession or suffer his proverbial cheerfulness to be disturbed.

It is a remarkable fact that, notwithstanding the vast amount of business transacted by Mr. Howell every day, he never appeared to be in haste, and was always ready to give his time and attention whenever he could render either a public or a private service. In politics he always took a prominent and active part, in early life as a Whig and later as a Republican, yet he never sought office, and only once allowed his name to be placed upon an election ticket. This was in 1850, when there were three parties in the field, and the Whig party, which Mr. Howell dearly loved, certain of defeat. The office of mayor was the prize to be fought for. The Democrats and the Native Americans each had a candidate, the Democrats certain of victory and the Native Americans certain of giving it to them. It was a difficult matter for the Whigs to find a suitable person who had the courage to become a candidate, but finally Mr. Ilowell, who could not bear to see his party without a head, and

who also knew very well that his responsibilities would not be at all increased by the result of the election, suffered his.name to be used.

In everything that could redound to the credit or welfare of Newark, Mr. Howell was always foremost. Hle was one of the most active of its citizens in securing the charters for the Plank-Road and the Newark and New York Railroad, believing that in- creased avenues of communication between these cities would cheapen transportation and place the manufacturers of Newark in fair competition with those of other places. And for similar reasons he was also in favor of free roads.

He believed it to be his duty as a citizen and as a business man to share the responsibilities which certain persons in every community must assume. For this reason, notwithstanding the arduous labors of his private business, he was willing to become a director of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Com- pany, of the Mechanics' National Bank, of the American Insurance Company and of the Howard Savings Institution. On many occasions he was fore- man of the Grand Jury of Essex County, and it became a subject of remark that whenever he held that position the business of the Grand Jury was always expeditiously and thoroughly performed. Of the Park Street Church he was a constant at- tendant, and for many years president of its board of trustees.

Mr. Howell was a man of most rare and most excellent qualities, and by his death, which occurred, after a long and painful sickness, Dec. 3, 1878, the city of Newark lost one of its bravest and most valu- able men. He was a man of the most generous impulses, ever ready to contribute to public enter- prises of a beneficent nature, and always in sympathy with the suffering and the needy. His widow and six children, two of whom are sons, survive him. The two sons, Mr. Henry C. and Mr. Samuel C. Howell, both of whom are thoroughly acquainted with every department of this establishment, are now conducting it with great success.

There were also engaged in the patent-leather busi- ness in Newark, from 1836 to 1861, the following : The brothers Joseph, Robert N. and Richmond Ward, the founders of the firm which, upon the death of Robert V. (who was killed in 1837), became J. & R. Ward, and still later, in 1857, when Joseph withdrew, R. Ward & Co .; Ebenezer Francis, who was established in 1842, is doing business on Market Street.

E. S. Ward & Co. (the "Co." being Edgar B. Ward) are the successors to E. S. Ward, established in 1850. They carry on the manufacture of patent and enameled leather at Norfolk and Richmond Streets.

The firm of C. Il. & J. D. Harrison, New York Avenue, has been in existence since 185] and the senior member was in the business as early as 1849. The factory occupies thirty-three city lots and has a

JungHowell

INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.

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frontage of three hundred and sixty-eight feet on New York Avenue. Over one hundred hands are employed, and the annual product amounts to over halfa million dollars.

Michael Hartel, Jacob II. & Thomas W. Dawson, George Allen, Christian Stengel, T. G. Pahner, S. Dunn, Finley & Wilde, Charles Smyth, and N. F. Blanchard were other old-time business firms of Newark. As years rolled on and success set in many of the old firms changed their titles. J. & R. Ward, for instance, became Richmond Ward & Co., (the company being B. J. Wood, J. C. Littell, E. II. Reynolds and Mortimer S. Ward), and, still later.

in 195, by T. (. Palmer, and in 15G), Mr. F. A. Smithi purchased an interest in the firmn, from which time down to the early part of 1873 the business was conducted at No. 70 Market Street, at which date they removed to their present commodious building, one hundred and forty two by thirty feet, five stories high, heated throughout by steam, and conveniently arranged for manufacturing leather. Subsequent to removal Charle- L. Smith became a partner. Their trade is very extensive, covering the whole United States. Their annual products amount to over $200,- 000, giving employment to an average of fifty per- sons.

& A Smith

Reynolds & Wood ; E. Francis became E. Francis & Co .; Finley & Wilde became II. L. Wilde; and N. F. Blanchard became Blanchard, Brother & Lane (N. F. and F. S. Blanchard and P. Van Zandt Lane).

R. Neuman & Co., established in 1877, carry on the manufacture of fancy leather, etc., at Norfolk and Academy Streets (they have also a traveling-bag factory at 267-27I Washington Street, which was established in 1869).

PALMER, SMITH & Co .- Leather manufacturers, No. 67 Hamilton Street. The firm is composed of Theodore G. Palmer, Ebenezer A. Smith and Charles 1. Smith. The business at this place was established 37

EBENEZER A. SMITH .- John Smith, the grand- father of Ebenezer A., left his native Scotland when a boy, and on his arrival in America settled in Mont- clair, N. J. He served in the war of the Revolution, and was, after participating in the battle of Monmouth, for a brief period confined in the old Sugar-House Prison, in New York. On retiring from service he resumed his trade of carpenter, and was also a thrifty farmer. He married a Miss Ward and became the father of seven children, among whom was Isaac, born in Montelair (then West Bloomfield), who, on attaining a suitable age, acquired the trade of a mason and builder. Ile married Jane Hathaway, of the same

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

township, and had children,-David, Ebenezer A. and Isaac F. Ebenezer A. was born on the 21st of August, 1825, in West Bloomfield, and when a youth of but six years was deprived of a father's counsel and pro- tection.

He acquired at school the rudiments of Eng- , than formerly, and the business was eventually aban- lishi, and at the age of ten became an employé of a , doned, Mrs. Smith, with her growing family, mean- woolen mill and later of a print works. Remaining thins occupied until fourteen years of age, he then sought employment upon a farm, and at sixteen entered the shop of a wagon-maker, learned the business, and followed it until 1849. During that year he joined the vast concourse of gold-hunters who sought the newly developed wealth of California, and re- mained until 1851. He then became a citizen of Newark, and, in company with Henry Powles, engaged in the coal business. In 1860, under the firm-name of l'almer & Smith, he became a manufacturer of leather, and still continues the business, in which he has met with much success. Mr. Smith was married, on the 22d of December, 1852, to Miss Phebe E. Munn, daughter of John Munn, of Montclair, N. J. He was formerly a Whig in his political sentiments, but found it not difficult to transfer his allegiance to the Repub- lican party on its organization. He has mingled to a limited extent in local political contests, and repre- sented the Third Ward of Newark as alderman, but declined a re-election. He has been since 1853 a member of the Central Presbyterian Church of the latter city, in which he is now an elder.

HUGH SMITH, manufacturer of patent, enamel and fancy colored leather, at Nos. 25 to 29 Hoyt Street, commenced business at that place in 1862, where he has since continued the business in its various branches. One of the principal productions of his factory is that of shoe and bag leather, although other branches of the business are not lost sight of in the very large and extensive business in which he is at present engaged.

turer, and became assistant to his father in his various business enterprises. Mr. Smith's death occurred in 1853, when the interests he conducted were for a while continued by his widow. Various depressing intln- enees, however, ocenrred to make them less profitable

while embarking for America. They landed in New York in 1854, and came direct to Newark, where Hugh Smith was actively employed for two years, after which he became an apprentice to the trade of a currier and leather manufacturer. During the two years which succeeded the completion of his trade he- had husbanded sufficient capital to invest in business in connection with his brother Charles. Together they, in 1862, built in Newark a small factory, and be- gan the manufacture of leather. This venture was from the first successful, and received a marked impetus from the increased demand for their commod- ities during the progress of the war. The firm, which remained for five years Hugh Smith & Brother, was, in 1867, dissolved by the retirement of Charles, with a view to the establishment of a separate branch, after which Hugh Smith continued and still conducts the business, making a specialty of patent, enameled and fancy colored leathers. Mr. Smith was, in 1862, married to Miss Mary, daughter of Patrick Me Cabe, of Durnakash, County Cavan, Ireland, and niece of Revs. James and John Callan, of Newark and Paterson. The children of this marriage are James T., Hugh E., Charles T., Mary Ann, Ellen M., Maria T., Henrietta L. and three who died in childhood. The death of Mrs. Smith occurred in October, 1883.

Mr. Smith is in politics a Democrat, but not a strong partisan, frequently voting independently of his party, when the issue is one of personal character, as well as a question of policy. Mr. Smith is in religion a devout Roman Catholic, and actively interested in the work of the church, as in various charitable undertakings, being vice-president of the Society of St. Vincent de l'aul and a life-member of the Young Men's Catholic Association.

Mr. Smith is of Irish lineage, his grandfather, Charles Smith, having resided in Collon, County Louth, Ireland, where he was engaged in the manu- facture of linen fabrics. Ile married Mary Smith, and had children,-James, Thomas, Philip, Rose, HENRY LANG, 195 to 199 Plane Street, commenced the manufacture of trunk, bag, harness, bridle and other kinds of leather in 1869. The plant of this im- mense establishment includes eight buildings on Plane and Arch Streets, five buildings on Boyd and Lillie Streets. The various departments of the business contain a full complement of machinery, driven by two engines, of fifty horse-power ench. One hundred and fifty men are employed, who produce annually goods valued at four hundred and twenty-five thou- sand dollars. Bridget and Susan. James, who is the father of Hugh Smith, was born at Istradone, in County Cavan, and succeeded to the business of his father, which was established both at Collon and in County Cavan ; he also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret, daughter of Hugh Bradley and Mary, his wife, and sister of Rev. Hugh Brady, of Larah. Their children are Charles, James, Maria (wife uf Thomas Callan), Hugh and a number who died in childhood. Hugh Smith was born Feb. 2, 1840, in County Cavan, Ireland, where his early childhood was spent. He llenry Lang was born in Barr Head, Scotland, Feh. 7, 1829, and, with his parents, came to America at the age of four years. Ilis early days were spent in the city of New York, where he attended school subsequently removed with his parents to Collon, and there received a substantial English education, after which he devoted his energies to the nequirement of a technical knowledge of the trade of a linen manufac- I until he had reached his fifteenth year, when he re-

High Smith

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INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK

moved to Newark, N. J. Here he es ered the leather dressing establishment of Mr. John f. Crockett, and here learned the business which he has so successfully carried on until the present time. In 1853 he went to Portland, Me., where he established a leather manu- factory, which, however, at the expiration of four years, he sold out to a partner in the business and returned to N .rk, N. J. His health being some- what feeble, he did not again assume the cares and responsibilities of active business life until 1870, when he founded, on his present location, the exten- sive patent-leather manufactory which he has since that time conducted.

In 1877, Mr. Lang was elected a member of the Common Council of the city of Newark for the term of two years. He was re-elected to the same office in 1879, for a similar period, and again re-elected in 1×81, but before the last-named term had expired he resigned in order to assume the duties of mayor, to which otlice he had been called in October, 1881. One of his first acts upon assuming the government of the city, was to cause an estimate to be made of the cost of paving Broad Street with granite block, from Lincoln Park to the Stone Bridge; also Market Street from High Street to the Market Street depot. Con- vinced of the importance of having this improvement made with as little delay as possible, he devised a plan by which it could be accomplished without an issue of bonds for that purpose, but by having the work done in sections and paid for as completed, nut of money raised each year in the tax levy, for that purpose. Probably no improvement ever made in the city has given such general satisfaction.

Mr. Lang gave, during his administration, a great deal of attention to matters affecting the health of the city, and to his recommendations and labors the people of Newark are much indebted for the active measures laken to prevent the spread of sickness and pestilence within their borders. To his efforts mainly may be ascribed the passage of an act by the Legislature whereby the powers of the Board of llealth were greatly increased, and additional means obtained for securing to the city a more healthful condition.

In the matter of education Mr. Lang showed, throughout his official career, a very lively interest. Strenuous efforts were made, on his part, to enforce the attendance of children at the public schools, in ac- cordance with the statute enacted for that purpose. In his second annual message he says, very truly : " A successful school system will afford ample room, and will compel those within school age to attend, to the full requirements of the law. Anything else is a failure." And in regard to evening schools, he appre- ciated their value in a city like Newark, and did all in his power to promote their usefulness. "Our population," he says, in another of his messages, "is largely engaged in manufacturing pursuits. Many children are compelled by poverty to seek employ- meut, and are unable to obtain an education by at-

tending day schools. Evening schools furnish just the opportunity for them ; and the board should procced to open an evening school whenever there is a suffi- cient number of applications to form a class,'

Since his retirement from public office Mr. Lang has given his attention to the affairs of his patent- leather manufactory, which is one of the most exten- sive in the city of Newark, Ile is a director in the German National Bank and a member of the Board of Trade in the proceedings of which he has always taken an interest. Ill health has, on two or three oc- casions, compelled him to seek relaxation from bu-i- ness, and this he has obtained while traveling exten- sively throughout the I'nited States and Europe.

PATENT- LEATHER. - One of the most important establishments in this line is that of Butler & Ward, 195-199 Plane Street. It was founded in Istis by F. ('. Butler & Co., who were sueceeded by the pre-ent firmi, which has an invested capital of seventy-five thousand dollars, and carries on an extensive business in the production of patent-leather, used chiefly in harness.

THE HAMBURG CORDOVAN TANNERY, 99-113 Sus- sex Avenue, R. G. Salomon, proprietor, manufacturer of all kinds of Cordovan leather. This is the trade- mark name used for horse-hide leather, of which Mr. Salomon is the originator in the United States. This is the largest tannery of alligator skins in the United States. Other specialties are porpoise hides, kangaroo skins and goat skins. Has sole agencies in London. l'aris and Hamburg, as well as in leading cities of the United States. Began in 1877, with three workmen, in a small, dilapidated tannery; is now employing a force of one hundred and twenty men, occupying ten buildings and doing an annual business of four hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars.

PATRICK REILLY .- Owen Reilly, the grandfather of l'atrick Reilly, resided in County West Meath, Ireland, where he was an enterprising farmer. Ile married Nora Neal, and had children,-Bernard. Thomas, Patrick, and one daughter, Ellen. Bernard Reilly, who was a native of County West Meath, later removed to County Cavan, where he married Ann Donoghue, of the same county, and was the father of children,-Thomas, Rose, Patrick, and several who died in childhood. Mr. Reilly continued to follow the healthful pursuits of a farmer in his native land until bis death, which occurred in 1876. His son Patrick was born in County Cavan on the 6th of January, 1834, and devoted his youth to acquiring a substantial education, his advantages of education being supe- rior to those received by the lads of the neighbor- hond. He was ambitious for a wider career than was opened to him in the vicinity of his home, and at once decided to emigrate to America, where he arrived in 1830. Coming directly to Newark, he entered the work-shop of a leather manufacturer, with a view to learning the business. At the expiration of the second year he transferred his services to another

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

house, and subsequently made other changes, each time adding to his knowledge of the trade and ulti- mately becoming perfect in all its departments. Mr. Reilly during the six succeeding years acted as super- intendent for William Donn, and during that time introduced the process of buffing the hide with machinery, the work having formerly been done en- tirely by hand. He was unable to obtain an interest in the business as a proper recognition of his ser- vices, and leaving the establishment, he organized the firm of McClatchey, Reilly & Smith, manufac- turers of leather, which, on the expiration of

Catholic and member of St. Patrick's Cathedral of Newark.

MAHON & DINGWELL, Summer Street, corner of Seventh Avenue, curriers and dealers in leather, calf skins, sheep skins and all kinds of bag leather, shoe splits, buff wax, etc., patent and enameled feather. The firm was organized in 1881, by the present proprietors, Mark W. Mahon and Robert Dingwell. They make a specialty of seal-grain leather, and employ seventy men, whose annual product amounts to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Their buildings are of brick, the main portion one hundred by two hundred

Patrik Pily

the sixth year of its existence, was dissolved, and Mr. Reilly, in 1876, established his present flourish- ing business, to which his time has since been en- PIONEER MOROCCO MANUFACTORY .- Another highly important branch of the leather industry of Newark is the manufacture of morocco. Morocco leather was nowhere made in this country until some years later than the Revolution. The first effort at its manufacture is said to have been made in Phila- delphia. The first trace we have of the manufacture in Newark is the establishment of the business on a small scale by Charles T. Shipman. Before Newark Donegal, Ireland, came here and purchased Shipman's tirely devoted. He was, on the 29th of September, 1854, married to Margaret, daughter of Michael Tor- iney. Their children are James Edward, Mary The- resa, Margaritta and seven who are deceased. Mr. Reilly is in politics a Democrat, but not a striet parti- san, frequently voting independent of his party, when men or measures are obnoxious to him. He fills the office of director in the Enterprise Building and Loan Association, but gives little time to matters apart | became a city George and John Dougherty, natives of from his manufacturing business. He is a devoted

and twenty feet, and dry-house and store-rooms twenty by seventy feet.

INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.

factory, on Washington Street. This was in 1834. Of the morocco industry as now established George Dougherty may justly be regarded as the founder. Ile is the trade-father of all the manufacturers who have made Newark famous as a chief seat of the production of morocco. Most of them learned their trade in his employ. With various partners and sometime- alone, Mr. Dougherty conducted business in Newark for up- wards of forty years, and when he retired from active pursuits, in the closing months of the Centennial year, there was not a blemish on his record. A few years after the brothers Dougherty established then- selves here John withdrew, and went into business in New York. George Dougherty then took into part- nership with him John Young, a clerk in his employ, and Thomas Garthwaite. The firm was Dougherty & Young. Subsequent to 1850, Young withdrew from the firm, and started business on his own account in Market Street. After a time he took in as a partner his son, Charles E. Young. Upon the death of John Young his son continued the business under its old title of John Young & Son, conducting it to a high plane of success. When Dougherty & Young were in partnership there were also in the morocco business Wickliffe (. Broadwell, Brady, Gratton & Co., and George Watts.

Pioneer and Later Carriage-Making in Newark. --- To Stephen Wheeler, Cyrus Beach, Caleb ('arter, Robert B. Campfield, and afterwards Campfield & Hedenberg, are traced the earliest manufacture of car- riages in Newark, one or two of them being exten- sively engaged in the trade as early as 1804.

For considerably more than half a century the man- ufacture of carriages and coaches has been a leading and important department of local industry. The pioneers were Stephen Wheeler, Robert B. Campfield, John (. Hedenberg .Campfield's son-in-law), and later, G. & A. K. Carter and the lately-deceased James M. Quinby.

Campfield's labor was at first confined to the mak- ing of stage-conehes-huge, unwieldy vehicles, with long bodies hung upon massively-constructed iron jacks. His principal customer was Gen. John N. Cumming, then a great mail contractor. In polities the general was a strong, earnest and active supporter of JetTerson and Madison. Such was the extreme zeal of his politiet partisanship that he allowed it to in- fluence his business conduct. Because Campfield was a Federalist. Cumming proseribed him in business, and refused to patronize him longer. This bitter proscription -- most unworthy of an otherwise most worthy eitizen-drove L'ampheld elsewhere for a mar- ket. Ile went to New York, and found one infinitely more satisfactory and profitable than that on which he had heretofore been depending. Persecution for opinion's sake proved a blessing in disguise, primarily to Campfield and secondarily to Newark. The work turned out by him and his son-in-law gave wings to the fame of Newark. Such was the celebrity of their

handiwork that state earringes, costing two thousand dollars each (a very large sum for those days), for Santa Anna, of Mexico, and Capt .- Gen. Tacon, of Cuba, were made by them upon orders from New York dealers, the work being superintended by John Clark, who afterwards took a front rank in Newark as a mas- ter carriage-maker.

The oldest carriage-making firm in Newark, and the oldest in the United States, except one fan Albany firm), is that of J. M. Quinby & Co., of Broad Street. The founder of the firm, and for forty years (up to the time of his death) the senior partner, James M. Quin- by, was born at trange, tct. 4, 1804, and died in New- ark, July 20, 1874. He came to Newark when a lad, and served his apprenticeship with John Hledenberg. Upon the failure, in 1834, of G. & A. K. Carter, in whose shop Quinby was foreman, the latter continued the business on his own account, subsequently taking in as partners George MI. Spencer and Mr. Young. Though holding positive politieal opinions, Mr. Quinby was in no sense a partisan politician. In con- sideration of his worth as a citizen and a business man of the highest probity, he was thrice chosen mayor of Newark, serving the three one-year ternis from 1851 till 1854. In 1860 he was chosen to the State Senate, and most satisfactorily served a three years' term, representing his native county, Essex. During this estimable gentleman's time, and largely owing to the surpassing excellence of the work man- ufactured under his eye, Newark-made carriages be- came famous throughout America, and even in Europe.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 142

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