History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 145

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 145
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 145

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impressive tribute to the memory of the dead inventor. It was no exaggeration for his funeral eulogist, Rev. A. A. Thayer, to say, in the eourse of his enlogy : " The memory of Seth Boyden belongs to the Ameri- can people. Nearly every family throughout the land have had their labors lightened by his inven- tions. It would be difficult to find a cunning work- man in leather, in brass or iron whose toil has not been made lighter by Boyden's discoveries. The iron horses and chariots, with their thousands of travelers, which follow the iron threads from the Atlantic to the Pacific, feel the touch of his genius, at every vibration. As a man and a citizen, his praise was on every lip. Ile was absolutely without avarice, as he was without wealth." " His grand ideas," wrote another at the time of his death, "were scareely perfected before they were ap- plied, frequently with profit, to others. His was a

SETH BOYDEX.

quiet, natural life, without great trouble or sorrow. lle was respected by every one that knew him, his kindly nature and genial disposition rendering him a friend to all." And yet another has said, with equal justice : "Few men have lived lives of more un- obtrusive usefulness, or been more regretfully remem- bered at death, than he." To the exceptionally remarkable genius of Seth Boyden Newark is indebted in a degree at least equal to that in which the world esteems James Watts, Isaac Newton, Robert Fulton and Professor Morse; and it is creditable to her manufacturers' sense of what they owe him, that they contemplate in the near future the erection to his memory of a suitable monument.

Upon the site now occupied by the Second Presby- terian Church, on Washington Street, facing the park of the same name, is said to have been established the first iron foundry in Newark. This must have been

1 From Atkinson's History of Newark.

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INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.

prior to 1810, the year in which the foundation-stone of the church was laid. An Englishman, employed there to remove the sand from the castings, subse- quently removed to New York, established a foundry and accumulated a splendid fortune. For sey- eral generations cunning artificers in iron, steel, brass, silver and gold have flourished here, adding to the fame and reputation of Newark. Seth Boyden was busy here nearly two-thirds of a century ago. So were Hinsdale, Taylor, Phelps, Downing and Car- rington, workers in gold, silver and precious stones.

In 1837 Heury C. Jones advertised himself as a Newark Steel Works, on Chapel Street, near the River. The manufacture of steel was begun in New- ark in 1864 by Prentice, Atha & Co., who continued the business until 1871, when the firm-name became Benjamin Atha & Co. The firm at that time was composed of Benjamin Atha, John Hlingworth and Patrick Doyle, the two latter gentlemen being prac- tical manufacturers, and by their knowledge of the business and rare skill have greatly contributed to the excellent reputation of Newark steel in the markets of the world. The works are among the largest in the country, and are situated on the Passaic River near by a branch of the New Jersey t'entral Railroad, which secures to them the very best facilities for transportation. "tieneral Spring Maker," having "erected a spacious shop, 7 Church Street, where he will be happy to exe- cute all orders that the publie may favor him with." Alexander Connison and John Helm, proprietors of the Washington Foundry, No. 50 Halsey and 29 New Street, were also "prepared to furnish iron castings of any description and to execute millwright and engi- neer business in all its various branches." H. B. Smith and Elias Wilcox likewise solicited orders for the manufacture of gratings, railings, iron shutters, doors, bank-vaults, safety-closets, etc., "at 1I Bank Street, a few doors from Broad." And there were Cyphers & Duvall, " Housesmiths, 50 Canal Street, near Cherry ;" and John Garside, "Engraver and Steel-Plate manufacturer, Washington Factory." In 1840, Connison & Helm had prospered so that they were "able to furnish iron castings up to two tons weight with certainty." At the same period Jacob Alyea conducted an iron foundry at " No. 290 Market Street, near the Railroad depot;" Oba Mecker and Ely Mecker, another one at No. 75 Clay Street, " near the Stone Bridge ;" Andrew Roalefs and James B. Hay, still another at the corner of Market and Ward Streets. At No. 24 Market Street, near Washı- ington, Samuel E. Farrand and Ezra Gould had a sign up as "Machinists and Brass and Iron Founders." John P. Joralemon and Arnold Stivers did business at No. II Mechanic Street as lock manufacturers and ier, manufacturers of enameled cloth, continued, on a

brass founders. Daniel Condit and Joseph A. Bowles, " successors to S. Boyden," carried on a " Malleable Iron Foundry" at " No. 25 Orange Street, near Broad." Besides these there were under the head of " Ma- chinists," Abner Dod, who was also a worker in iron and brass, and "City Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures ;" Moses J. Martin, who had harness mountings "always on hand;" Alfred Huuter, a table-knife manufacturer ; James N. Joralemon & Co., coach- spring, step and axle manufacturers; Isaac B. Ler, millwright and pattern-maker ; Amos II. Searfoss and Eliphalet Miller, the same.

THEODORE M. TUCKER, No. 393 Mulberry Street, manufactures the No. 99 Crown Jewel and Regal fluting-machines, also manufacturer of Tripoli. The business was established iu 1864 by Lowerre & Tucker. Mr. Lowerre retired in 1883, when Mr. Tucker became sole proprietor, who now employs ten men annually, doing a business of thirty thousand dollars. Mr.

Tucker is a native of Fuion County, and has been in Newark for the past twenty-five years.

The Tomlinson Spring Company, whose factory is at Nos. 233 to 239 New Jersey Railroad Avenue, was incorporated in 1867, with the following-named persons as directors: John A. Clifford, W. G laneburgh, C. B. Hotchkiss, 1. Cleveland and Theodore tiray. The factory is a brick structure one hundred by two hun- dred and twenty fret, owned by the company, who give annual employment to sixty men. The above- named directors are also the officers of the company.

ANDREW ATHA was born at Wakefiehl, England, Nov. 10, 1810. In 1842 he came to the United States, and in 1847 settled iu Newark, N. J., entering the employ of Prentice & Brown, Japan hat manu- facturers of that city. Within a few months he was made the foreman of their establishment, and in this position remained until 1851. when he began for him- self the manufacture of Japanned muslin, an article used for carriage-tops, table-cloths, and stair-eover- ing. After conducting this business with great suc- cess until 1870, he admitted to partnership with himself Mr. George 11. Hughes and Mr. Emil Spanier, and, under the firm-name of Atha, Hughes & Span- more extended scale the original business. This co- partnership was formed for the term of five years, but near its close, in 1874, Mr. Atha and Mr. Spanier both died.

Nearly ten years before his death (1864) Mr. Atha was strongly urged by his former employer, Mr. Wil- liam Prentice, to enter into partnership with him in the manufacture of cast-steel, an industry at that time nuknown in Newark. Pleased with the enter- prise, Mr. Atha advanced a considerable sum of money, and buildings belonging to the New Jersey Zine Company were leased and adapted to the pur- pose. All Mr. Atha's interest in this establishment, now one of the most extensive in the city of Newark, was, after the expiration of three years, transferred to his son, Benjamin Atha, who is at present the head of the firm. Mr. Atha was one of the original corporators of the Essex County National Bank, and from its organization, in 1859, until the time of his

594

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

death, Aug. 12, 1874, continned to be one of its direc- tors ; and the same thing may be said of his connec- tion with the People's Insurance Company, organ- ized in 1867.

Although disinclined to hold any political posi- tion, he was, nevertheless, nominated in 1867 for the office of allerman for one of the strongest Democratic wards of the city, but being a Republican, and quite certain of defeat, he made no objections to the nomi- nation. llis great personal popularity, however, carried him triumphantly into the Common Council, where he served one term, with great credit to him- self and to his constituents.

During the war of the Rebellion he took a warm interest in the Union cause, and often became so strongly excited upon the subject that he seemed ready to abandon his great establishments and go as a com- mon soklier into the field. To the multitude of men in his employ, many of whom were his tenants, he made known that the families of those who might choose to enlist should continue to occupy their houses free of rent until the war was ended, and that the men that enlisted should, on their return, resume their places in the factory, even at his own personal loss. In this matter he not only kept his word, but . House in the city of Albany.

through the "Public Aid Committee " contributed munificently to the comfort of the Jersey soldiers in the field and their suffering families at home.

The death of Mr. Atha brought mourning wherever it became known, so great was the regard entertained for him by reason of his kindly disposition, his genial manners and his sterling integrity.

HEWES & PHILLIPS are among the well-known iron manufacturers of this city. The firm was origi- nally composed of .I. L. Hewes and J. M. Phillips. They commenced the manufacture of steam-engines, boilers and machinery in New York in 1845, and in 1846 transferred their then small business to Newark, and located at Orange and Ogden Streets, where the business is still carried on by the John M. Phillips estate, under the firm-name of the Ilewes and Phil- lips Iron Works. This is perhaps the oldest works of the kind in this State, and has come to be known as one of the most reliable Both of the proprietors were under Newark's great inventor, Seth Boyden. The productions of the works consist mainly of sta- tionary, portable and marine engines and boilers, and general machinery. The average working force is about three hundred men, and the average annual production is nearly half a million dollars.

JOHN M. PHILLIPS was born in Newark, N. J., Nov. 4. 1-17, and is descended from Col. Phillips, an officer in the army of Oliver Cromwell, who, on the accession of Charles II. to the throne of England. in 1660, was obliged to fly to America with Goff, Whalley and Dixwell, three of the regicide judges who assisted in having Charles I. beheaded. He first settled in Killingsworth (now Clinton), Conn., and subsequently removed to New Jersey, where he

purchased nine hundred acres of land near Caldwell, Essex Co. One of his grandsons, David Phillips, settled in Newark, N. J., and married Sarah Morris, a granddaughter of Dr. Morris, who was also an offi- cer of Cromwell, and had fled to America in com- pany with Colonel Phillips. David Phillips began his house-keeping in a small one-story frame buikling that stood on the old Baek Road to Belleville, now called Lincoln Avenue, and he purchased subse- quently sixteen acres of land near his little house, for which his family received a deed from the proprie- tors of East Jersey in 1696. In this little house the father of John MI. Phillips, the subject of this sketch, was born, and in it died. In it, too, Mr. John M. Phillips was born, and the little house still stands, a treasured heirloom, in the rear of the fine mansion which Mr. Phillips erected some years ago near to its original site. It may be mentioned as an interesting fact in this connection that Mr. Phillips' father was one of the proprietors of the quarries at Belleville, and that from these quarries he furnished the stone used in building Fort Lafayette, Castle William, the old St. John's Church and other buildings in New York, as well as the Mechanics' Bank and the old State-

Fifty years ago young Phillips, at the age of six- teen, became an apprentice at the pattern-making trade under Mr. Horace T. Poinier, who was after- wards mayor of the city of Newark. Subsequently he found employment in the establishment of Seth Boy- den, where he had charge of the pattern-making de- partment for six or seven years, and then he worked in the West Point foundry, from which he went to the Novelty Iron Works, in New York City. In the fall of 1845 he formed a partnership with the late Joseph b. Ilewes, and began the manufacture of machinery at No. 60 Vesey Street, New York. Early in the following year they removed to the Hledenburg Works in Newark, N. J., and again, in the winter of 1847, to Oba Meeker & Co.'s property, at Bridge and Spring Streets, in the same city. Finally, in 1858, they purchased the site, on Orange and Ogden Streets, where the manufactory is now located, and where they began making boilers, steam- engines, mining machinery, and machinists' tools, etc., on a large scale. The works cover an area of more than two and a half acres of ground, a part of them extending along the Passaie River with a dock one hundred and ninety feet long, provided with a forty-ton crane for lifting machinery in boats. For many years past the products of this vast establish- ment have been sold and shipped to cuba, England, China, South America, and, indeed, to all parts of the world. During the war the firm employed four hun- dred hands, and did a business of above five hundred thousand dollars a year. At the beginning of the war they altered eight thousand stands of arms from fint-lock to patent breech and percussion guns for the State of New Jersey, asking nothing more from the

595

INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK.

State than to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred in altering them. They also altered twelve thousand stands of arms for the general government, and in twenty-one days turned the turret-rings and made a planing-machine for planing the turrets of the little " Monitor," which arrived at Fortress Monroe, in time to prevent the Southern ram, the "Merri- inac," from destroying a part of the Union navy. Of this little "cheese-box," as it was called, Mr. Phillips always spoke with a great deal of pride. All the motive machinery for the " Modoc," the " Cohoes" and other light-draught iron-clads was made in this establishment, and it furnished thousands of dollars' worth of machinery for the various gun factories in the Union. From it seventy men were enlisted, and Mr. Phillips, as well as his partner, sent each a substitute to the field, although neither of them had been drafted.

The heirs of Mr. Hewes, soon after his death, in 1873, sold their interest in the establishment to Mr. Phillips, and from that time the business was carried on by him alone. llis six sons, as they grew up, were educated with a view to sending them to college, but before allowing them to enter they were placed in the factory, and after having thoroughly learned every branch of the business were sent to Cornell University, where they were successively graduated. The youngest is now in course of preparation for that institution.

Mr. Phillips took an active part in every enterprise which tended to promote the welfare of his native place. He was one of the originators of the Board of Trade and of the Newark Industrial Exhibition. In the spring of 1883 he was elected president of the Newark Sanitary Association, as well as vive- president of the State Sanitary Association. When dlected president of the Newark Sanitary Association he pledged himself to devote the remainder of his life to the sanitary improvement of the city, and it is a noteworthy fact that, on rising from the chair in which he had been seated, while studying works upon that subject, he fell lifeless upon the floor. This sad event occurred Feb. 15, 1884.

Mr. Phillips was in many respects a remarkable man, and as he was a leader in the business which he had chosen, so would he have been the foremost in any pursuit which he might have selected. With a meagre education at the beginning, he made himself, in the end, conversant with almost every branch of human knowledge, and his writings for the publie journals were not only pointed and vigorous, but evinced a profound knowledge of his subject. Ilis gentleness and kindliness were inexhaustible. llis charities ceased only when the object became un- worthy of them. Ilis filial piety has preserved intaet the humble dwelling of his ancestors, while his devo- tion as a husband and a father has always made his home the most agreeable spot on earth for his numer- ous family. He died the death of a manly Christian,

mourned by the church of which he was an exeni- plary member and lamented by the community in whose service he drew, as he had promised, his latest breath. At a meeting of the directors of the Newark Industrial Institution, of which he was one of the founders, the following resolution was adopted a few days after his death :

" Resolved, That in the death of John M. Phillije we are called upon to mourn the love of another of our members, one in high extrem, a connu- balog; a friend, one in when Sewark his lost a sheet mislimcantial and valued citizen, one who was ever foremost in all that tended to the well-being of arrests and ever gralons in promoting the industrial in- terents of Newark, regrecial'y ma in the exhibition of its industrien, through which Newark has been No largely benefited, giving to it from the first his counsel and widl. Ilis ready advorney and untiring efforts in the advancement of every interest productive of gonal to Newark remdler his death a loem which will be deeply felt throughout this commu- nity. To the Board his removal in a serious love for which there is no compensation ; and we would tonder our heartfelt sympathien to him family, on whom this bereavement most heavily falls.'

THE EAGLE IRON FOUNDRY, on Alling Street, car- ried on by E. C. Hay, was founded over half a cen- tury ago, in 1830, by J. B. Hay, one of the pioneers in this trade in this city, and father of the present proprietor. At that time the foundry was a very small establishment, but the business increased, and larger and more complete facilities were demanded and supplied. The manufacturing plant has a frontage of ninety-three feet on Alling Street, and runs back two hundred and twenty feet to Ward Street, and consists of a four-story brick building and pattern- shop, and stables in the rear. The business is divided into two departments, the foundry and the iron railing works, and both are furnished with every mechanical appliance required, including a large collection of patterns suitable for every kind of work. The busi- ness done at this establishment is so extensive and the productions so various that it would be almost. impossible to enumerate them in detail. In the foundry, castings of all kinds, including machinery, railroad, bridge and building materials, such as co]- umns, girders, store-fronts, etc., hatters', bakers' and tailors' furnaces and factory stoves, and in the railing department, iron railings and coverings, gratings, crestings, balconies, etc., are all made to order on the shortest notice. Over fifty men are regularly employed in this establishment.

JAMES B. HAY .- Solomon Hay, the grandfather of James B. Hay, was the grandson of Solomon Hay, who was of Beotch descent, and lived to the great age of one hundred and twenty years. The former married Ann Bruce, and subsequently removed from Caithness to the city of Edinburgh. The children of this marriage were James, David, William, Robert, Christiana, Ellen and one who died in early youth. James, of this number, was born in Caithness, and when a lad removed with his parents to Edinburgh, where he followed the occupation of a gardener. lle married Janet Nisbet, whose children are Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert Nisbet), James B., Catharine (Mrs. John llay) and Adam. James B. was born July 3, 1809, in

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

the suburbs of Edinburgh, in which city his early life was spent. After receiving a common-school education he became an apprentice to the mouklers' trade, and continued for seven years in the foundry of John Anderson, at Leith Walk. Removing at the expiration of this time to Dalkeith, he pursued his trade for a brief period, and after an interval equally brief in Leith, embarked in the sailing-vessel "Margaret " for American shores. He landed in New York in 1832, and during a temporary depression in the manufacturing interests of the country willingly accepted such employment as was at hand. He later removed to Newark and resumed his trade, renting, in connection with a partner, a furnace, after which a contract was secured from the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company. In 1838 he, in con- junction with the same partner, erected a furnace in Newark, of which he subsequently became the sole owner. After conducting the business alone for twelve years his brother Adam became a partner, this copartnership continuing until the retirement of the senior partner, in 1860. Mr. Hay was married,

sons, James B. and John 1 .. , and two daughters, de- ceased. Mr. Hay's political convictions led him to support the principles of the Republican party, though he has taken no active part in politics. He is director of the State Banking Company, and also of the Germania Insurance Company of Newark. 1Ie is associated with the Masonic order as member of Newark Lodge, of Union Chapter, of Kane Coun- cil and Damascus Commandery.

He was in religion educated in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, and worships with that denomi- nation.

The extensive tool and machinery works of Ezra Gould, on Railroad Avenue, are the ontgrowth of a shop not much larger than a roomy closet, in which Mr. Gouldl began business over forty-five years ago. About the same time E. W. Roff started the Hunt- ington Machine Works, the products of which found a market throughout America and even in Europe. Before 1850 there were established factories from which have grown the business now conducted by Oscar Barnett, of Hamilton Street; Cyrus Currier (a June 6, 1834, to Emily, daughter of David Hay, of , fellow-worker with Seth Boyden), Railroad Place; D. Edinburgh. Their children are Janet (deceased), Ebenezer (., Emily (Mrs. James R. Anderson), Elizabeth A. ( Mrs. George Moore) and Ellen (de- ceased.) In politics Mr. Hay early indorsed the prin- ciples of the Whig party, and later became a Repub- lican, though he cannot be regarded as a strict party adherent. He was by Governor Ohlen appointed a justice of the peace, for which office he was qualified, but did not serve. Ile fills at present the position of director of the People's Insurance Company of New- ark. lle is a stanch Presbyterian in his religious faith, and has filled the offices of both elder and dea- con in the church. Mr. and Mrs. Hay celebrated in 1884 the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, on which interesting occasion the members of the family assembled to offer their congratulations. M. Mecker & Son, Clay Street (established by Gard- ner, Harrison & Co.); L. J. Lyon & Co., boiler- makers, Commerce Street. Subsequent to 1850 there were established T. M. Ward & Co .; The Globe Foundry, established by J. B. Ward; Dickinson & Rowden, manufacturers of bank-note engravers' machinery ; Wright & Smith, manufacturers of steam engines, machinists' tools, wood-working machinery, jewelers' machinery and general outfits for factories, planing mills, etc .; Watts, Campbell & Co., The Passaic Machine Works; J. S. Mundy, general machinery business, including hoisting, pumping and mining engines; Bolen, Crane & Co., machinists, boiler-makers, tools, etc .; James Donaldson, a variety of castings ; A. J. Davis, general machinery, includ- ing steam-engines, hoisting-machines, hat-machines, etc. ; Surerus & Co .; Seymour & Whitlock, iron and wood-working machinery, Baxter's portable steam- engines, etc .; Lowerre & Tucker, finting-machines ; Elwood Wrigley, general machine work; Skinner & Leary, stationary and portable steam-engines, etc .; Crane & Co .; Samuel Hall's Son & Co .; Smith & Sayre Manufacturing Company ; M. S. Drake, elec- trieal machines; E. O. Chase; II. W. Chapman. To the other departments of mechanical excellence for i which the city has achieved fame is to be added that of the construction of very superior steam fire-engines, Hewes & Phillips being the makers. From the shops of these gentlemen many cities throughout the coun- try have obtained highly-prized engines.

EBENEZER C. HAY, the son of James B. and Emily Hay, was born March 8, 1838, in Newark, N. J., which city has been his life-long residence. lle was early placed in a private school, and received an ex- cellent English education, after which he determined upon the acquirement of a trade that should render him independent and self-supporting. He therefore entered his father's shop as an apprentice, and served seven years, meanwhile becoming proficient in all departments of the business. He remained a journeyman in the same establishment until 1861, and that year purchased the interest of his father, the firm becoming A. & E. C. Hay. During this business association with his uncle the building now occupied was erected, and the capacity of the foun- dry greatly increased. In 1875 the retirement of the senior partner from the firm left him sole owner, which he still continues to be. Mr. Hay was mar- ried, in 1860, to Annabella Lewis, daughter of ('apt. John Lewis, of Newark. Their children are two

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 145

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