History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 150

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 150
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 150

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DANIEL PRICE was born in Schenectady, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1799. Ile was scarcely a year old when his parents returned to Newark, N. J., their former res- idence. Here he passed his youth, and here he ob- tained such an education as the common schools of the period furnished. At the age of about seventeen he went with his brother to Charleston, S. C., for the purpose of learning the trade of coach painting, but after remaining only six months in that city, returned to Newark, and entered, as an employé. the

616

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

coach factory of John Gardner. In this establishment he ultimately held for five years the position of super- intendent of the coach-painting department, and then went into business for himself. Such was his success that in time he purchased property on the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry Streets, where he erected a coach factory, and where he performed only that part of the work allotted to the coach-painter. While successfully engaged in this enterprise he was induced to enter into partnership with Mr. F. P. Smith in the manufacture of varnish, and this business was con- ducted with considerable profit for about two years and a half, when a dissolution of the firmi was agreed upon, Mr. Smith retaining the old works, and Mr. Price erecting others on the adjoining premises. Associating with himself Mr. David M. Fitzgerald, the new firm, under the style of Price & Fitzgerald, carried on the business for thirteen years, when Mr. Fitzgerald died suddenly of cholera. His brother, Mr. John Fitz- gerald, had been, a short time before, taken into the firm, and now, without any change of name, its business was continued until 1867, when Mr. Price retired.

successful operation in Bloomfield, N. J. Of this in- stitution he is a director.

Ile was one of the trustees of Princeton Theological Seminary, and in that capacity has made himself very useful. To him the College of New Jersey is greatly indebted for securing to it the services of that eminent scholar, the late Professor Guyot. As a token of the kindly feeling entertained towards him by that institu- tion, he was elected an honorary member of the C'lio Society.

Mr. Price is a stanch Presbyterian, and was one of the founders of the Central Presbyterian Church of Newark, of which he was an elder until, for greater convenience, he united with the Third Presbyterian Church, where he was at first elected a trustee and subsequently an elder. Although now considerably past fourscore years of age, he is in vigorous health, and bids fair to remain for some time yet the useful citizen that he has always been.

W. H. MURPHY & Co. is another large varnish manufacturing honse, established in Newark in 1865, by William HI. and Franklin Murphy and James G. Barnet. Messrs. Murphy & Co, through a strict ad-

From that time to the present Mr. Price has con- herence to improved processes, have made the quality fined his labors to the management of his private affairs and to the discharge of such duties as belong to

of their varnishes equal or superior to any English varnish. As an outgrowth of their extended business, a good citizen and an exemplary Christian. Without | they have established branch houses in Cincinnati, being a very prominent politician, be has been called Ohio, depots in St. Louis and Chicago, and au othice upon several times to occupy publie positions. In in New York. The present extensive works on Me- 1837, the second year after the incorporation of the Whorter Street were built in 1874, and since then en- city, when Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen was mayor larged. In 1882 the house was incorporated with six and Joseph N. Tuttle, Esq., was city clerk, Mr. Price hundred thousand dollars cash capital paid in. Its Presidents, Henry Sherwin, James G. Barnet ; Treas- urer, William H. Murphy ; Secretary, C. D. Ettinger.

served as a member of the Common Council. In 1849 | officers are: President, Franklin Murphy ; Vice- and 1850, and again in 1851 he occupied a seat in that body. In 1852 and in 1853 he was elected a member of the General Assembly of New Jersey, and took an There are other firms in Newark engaged in the manufacture of varnish, such as Hewson Brothers & Co., New York Avenue and Mcwhorter Street ; Hed- den & Wheeler, 317-319 New Jersey Railroad Avenue ; Price, Bond & Co., 255 New Jersey Avenue ; T. Bond, 225 New Jersey Railroad Avenue ; F. W. Devoe & Co., 213 New Jersey Railroad Avenue; Fisher Varnish Company, Chestnut and MeWhorter Streets; Lewis, Bedell & Co., 20 Vesey Street; W. Marshall, 111 Chestnut Street ; J. J. Reid, 354 Mulberry Street; G. W. Robertson, 91 West Kinney Street ; Shipman & Bolen, Chestnut Street, near Railroad Avenue ; and Bigelow & Co., 356 Mulberry Street, started by the senior partner of the present house about 1845. active part in the proceedings of the House. When the Newark Savings Institution was projected he took a laudable interest in the enterprise, and was not only one of its incorporators, but has been, since its first organization, one of its direetors, although for a year past he has not been able to take an active part in its management. He was also one of the incorporators of the Essex County Bank, and is still one of its directors. One of the originators and directors of the Newark Plank-Road and Ferry Company, he remained in that connection until the same was sold out, which was the first break made on the railroad monopoly. Of the American Bible Society he was also a director, as well as of the American Colonization Society, and of the JonN L. ARMITAGE, of 80 Oliver Street, began business in 1874. He is the producer of what are known as the Eureka varnishes and japans, the sale of which extends throughout the United States. New Jersey Colonization Society he was one of the executive committee. In the establishment of "The Old Ladies' Home," in Newark, he became very en- thusiastie, and not only gave to it liberally himself, JULIUS STEFFENS, of 37 Waverly Place, formerly of Vesey Street, began the manufacture of coach-var- nishes in 1860, and has continued it very successfully since. but devoted much time to raising the funds needful to erect and equip it. Of its advisory board he has al- way- been a member. In like manner he interested himself in the establishment of the German Theolo- E. C. ROBERTSON is also a varnish manufacturer, No. 124 Chestnut Street. Hle established business at gical Seminary, first located in Newark, and now in

Daniel Price

Fred. Heller

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INDUSTRIES OF NEWARK

that place in 18-19, and rebuilt his factory in 1869. the capacity of which is seventy-five thousand gallons of varnish annually.

Vegetable Wool-THE FREMEREY MANTTAO- TURING COMPANY .- A novel and promising industry has been very recently introduced in Newark by the Fremerey Manufacturing Company, an organization incorporated March 3, 1880, of which Charles G. Grote and Felix Fremercy are the active partners. The company has begun. at 363 Market Street, the manufacture of vegetable wool of all kinds and linen lint for hospital uses. It is proposed to make cloth from various fibres which have not heretofore been appreciated by manufacturers. Among those plants which have heretofore been experimented with i- Ramie, or China grass, a plant which is indigenous in India and Japan, and which has been grown success- fully in Europe, but not in the United States (although it has been repeatedly attempted in New Jersey). A nettle of the Urtica species ( U'rtica Postulata), which grows wild in endless profusion in the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania, and which can be easily cultivated almost anywhere, is considered fully equal to the Ramie, and its fibre is to be used by the Freni- erey Manufacturing Company. Mr. Fremerey has ex- perimented with it for several years. Mixed with wool, this fibre will form a fabric which is superior to woolen goods, and which can be produced cheaper. The cloth made from it will take any color and hold it fast, and it has a peculiar brilliancy, softness and strength. Prepared as linen lint for hospitals, it is peculiarly valuable, because of the silky smoothness, length and tenacity of the fibre. Beside the fibre in question, Mr. Fremery intends to prepare and use for the same purposes that of the the Syrian swallow wort, or silk plant (Asclepiax Cornuti), which grows wild in the State of New Jersey, and may be cultivated advan- tageously even on land that is commonly considered worthless.

Desks .- The house of Hemmer Brothers, manufac- turers of desk and office furniture, was founded in New York in 1853, and removed to Newark in 1860. The premises are located on Bloomfield Avenue and the Morris C'anal. The individual members of the firm are Frederick, Peter, William and Frank, sons of William Hemmer, the founder, who succeeded him upon his death, in 1881.

Soap .- Soap and candles are made by Michael J. Ledwith, at 48 Oliver Street. He is the successor of the firm of M. Ward & Son, who began business here in 1828, and he himself entered the employ of M. L. Ward & Co. in 1850.

Passaic Carbon and Agricultural Chemical Works .- About the year 1842, Joseph Lister, an Englishman of ingenuity and experience, came to this country, bringing with him a bone-grinding ma- chine. Hle was the pioneer in America in the utiliza- tion of animals' bones for fertilizing material. His sons, Alfred and Edwin Lister, succeeded him, and

established themselves in Newark about the year Jx50. Such is the extent of their concern-the largest of its kind in the world-that they employ about three hundred hands, and do a business of about one million dollars annually. Their trade reaches to Europe and South America, and it may be said that the soil of thousands and tens of thousands of acres of land, in the Old World and in the New, have been made to laugh with plenty through the "pungent grains of titillating dust" manufactured by them from the bones of animals, and distributed over their lands by scientifically-guided agriculturists. The bones used by the firm are gathered in large quanti- ties from various parts of the country, the West being especially a great source of supply. Not only do the Listers produce the finest kind of fertilizers, but also a species of tallow admirably suited for the manufac- ture of the choicest toilet soaps. In addition, thanks to the scientific scope of their researches and the mar- velous machinery they employ, they are able to trans- form into sizing for certain fabrics, matter that for- merly was thrown away as refuse. Instead of being common-place, the Passaic Carbon and Agricultural Chemical Works form an industrial study of the deepest interest to the student of mechanic arts, sci- ence and philosophy.1

The American Ultramarine Works were estab- lished in 1869, in an experimental way, by Frederick Heller and Henry Merz, under the firm-name of Heller & Merz, who brought men and machinery from Europe. In 1872, the success of the works being demonstrated after repeated failures, the present works were built on Hamburg Place Road. These works form one of the important industries of Newark. The firin manufactures ultramarine, the various aniline ent- ors used in painting, paper-hanging, calico-bleaching and printing, sugar-refining, starch and candle manu- factures, printing inks, lithographers' colors, and, in fact, everything in the line of colors. A very large exporting trade has been established with South America, Cuba, and some of the foreign nations. The company has an office at 55 Maiden Lane, New York. At present the manufacture of ultramarine is the largest part of the company's business, as high as two million pounds having been made in one year, but it is expected that in a few years the value of the aniline colors will exceed in value, though, of course, not in bulk, that of the former product. The works are the largest in the world of their kind. The build- ings cover seven acres of ground. The machinery is driven by three engines of three hundred, eighty, and thirty horse-power, and one hundred and ten men are employed.

FREDERICK HELLER .- George Heller, the grand- father of the subject of this biographical sketch, was a resident of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where he served the Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt as gardener.

1 Ath non's " History of Newark "

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Among his sons was Christian, born in Giessen, in JOHN W. HYATT .- John Wesley Hyatt, the father the same duchy, lle learned the printers' art, and of John W., was born in Pompeii, N. Y., and after his marriage to Anne tileason, daughter of Cephas Gleason, of Vermont, removed to Yates County, N. Y., where he followed the trade of a country black- smith, and resided for fifty years. His children who survived were Jonah G., George W., Nancy S., Anna, Isaiah S., Sophronia R., Elmina L., John W. and Charles M., five of whom are now living. Mr. Hyatt's death occurred in Chemung County, at the age of seventy-six years. His son, John W., was born Nov. 28, 1837, in Starkey, Yates Co., N. Y. His education was confined to such advantages as were obtainable at the district school, supplemented by a year at the Eddystown Seminary, in the same county. At six- teen he removed to Illinois, and learned, with his elder brother, the trade of a printer. Later he became a resident of ('hieago, and there established a job-print- ing business, which engaged his attention for a period of eleven years, most of that time having been spent in Chicago. His inventive genius at this time devel- oped itself in the invention of a machine for sharpen- ing knives, in connection with which was an emery- wheel, the latter under a succession of improvements having become one of the most necessary implements of the machinist. This period may be mentioned as the beginning of Mr. Hyatt's successful career as an inventor, since which time he has controlled either wholly or partially, one hundred and twenty patents. The Embossing Company of Albany has the proprie- tary interest in many of these patents, which are intimately connected with the productions of the establishment. In this connection Mr. Hyatt has many interests in the city of Albany. While inves-

on removing to Benshein became the proprietor and editor of a newspaper. He married Elizabeth Bull, of Darmstadt, and had children,-Dorothea, Antonie, Frederick, Elizabeth, Augusta, Louis, Au- gust and Caroline. The death of Mr. Heller occurred in 1847, and that of his wife in 1878. Their son Frederick was born in 1835, in Benshein, Hesse- Darmstadt, where his early years were spent in school. At the age of ten he entered the gymna- sium, and remained four and a half years as a student, after which he emigrated with friends to America. lle made the city of Buffalo the objective-point, and there entered the office of the Buffalo Democrat as a compositor. After three years' service with that journal he made St. Louis and some of the larger towns of Wisconsin his residence for a brief period, and in 1854 crossed the plains for California. Mr. Heller remained there until 1865, first engaging in a general mercantile business, but making stoves and hardware a specialty. In the latter year he removed to Idaho. During his residence in California he had become thoroughly proficient in the work of an assayer, and was employed by a leading banking house in that capacity. The erection of hydraulic apparatus for mining companies also largely engaged his attention, he being the pioneer in the latter enter- prise.1 He traveled extensively in Oregon, Mexico and along the coast, and in 1867 returned to New York. During a trip to Europe made soon after, his attention was directed to the manufacture of ultra- marine ble in Germany, the establishments he visited having attained a high degree of perfection in its production. Hle acquired the art, returned to the , tigating with reference to the manufacture of billiard

United States, erected a factory in Newark, and

skilled workmen to operate the laboratory. He has since, under the firm-name of lleller & Murz, estab- fished a wide market for the products of the factory. Mr. Heller is in polities a Republican, but with the exception of the office of water commissioner of the city of Newark, has declined all political honors. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Annie Josephine Traud, of New York, and has children,-Frederick C., Edgar A., and Annie C'atherine.

Newark Filtering Company was chartered in December, 1880, with J. W. Ilyatt, A. (. Westervelt and Patrick Clark as incorporators. These, with Orrin N. Baldwin, were the first directors. The busi- ness of manufacturing and setting the Hyatt filter is carried on at 141 Commerce Street. The directors in 1884 were J. W. Hyatt, A. C. Westervelt, Patrick Clark, O. N. Baldwin, J. S. Hyatt, John D. Harrison and Peter Kinnear, with J. W. Hyatt, president and treasurer ; O. N. Baldwin, secretary.

balls, in 1870, Mr. Hyatt and his brother perfected,

brought from Germany machinery to equip and after a series of experiments, the material now

known as celluloid. That their discovery was a marked advance in the arts is demonstrated by the fact that the word celluloid is popularly used to describe a material that had been unknown before Mr. Hyatt's discovery, but the invention of the material was only the beginning of the solution of the problem. To know that a solid collodion could be made was not to disclose the means of making such material useful for commercial purposes. Realizing this, Mr. Ilyutt undertook to invent a process and machin- ery which would enable him to utilize the newly -dis- covered substance. He was eminently successful in time in devising ways and means whereby it became possible to use celluloid in the manfacture of brushes, combs, collars and cuffs, piano-keys, veneers and numerous other articles which are usually made of ivory. A large number of patents were granted cov- ering these improvements, many of which have been utilized in the actual production of the articles by the Celluloid Manufacturing Company of Newark.

Mr. Hyatt has also invented and obtained a sue- cession of patents on a material known as bonsilete,

On las rulesquent removal to Idaho the towner of saying absorbed his time during his residence in that locality.

J. W. Hyatt

619

INTHE STRIES OF NEWARK

composed of bone and silica, in connection with which were formed the Bonsilete Company and the Albany Billiard Ball Company. Many of these pat- ents have been secured conjointly with other parties holding intimate relations with Mr. Ilyatt.

The Hyatt filteroccupied the attention of its inventor for a period of several years. It grew out of the convic- tion that there was a demand for means for purifying water which had never been supplied. The problem was undoubtedly a difficult one, but that it has been mastered admits of no doubt. The filters now pro- duced under Mr. Hyatt's direction accomplish the perfect filtration of all kinds of water rapidly and economically. They have been made the subject of numerous patents, which cover the whole theory of the Hyatt system.

Special machinery is necessary for the manufacture , customers reduced him again to straits, but by the aid of their compositions, all of which is the product of Mr. Hyatt's genius, Mr. Hyatt was married in Chicago, in 1862, to Miss Julia, daughter of Lyman Philco, of AAlbany. Their only child with the mother, is deceased. In March, 1869, he married Anna E., daughter of Edward Taft, of New York City, whose children are Ralph W. and Charles E. Mr. Hyatt removed to Newark in 1872, since that date his place of residence.

Tobacco Manufacturers .- Among the old firnis of this line of goods is that of Campbell & Co. Busi- ness was established in October, 1834, by Bush & Campbell. Bush retired from the firm in December. 1849, when the firm became Campbell, trane & Co. Mr. Crane remained till 1862, when he retired, and the firm-name became Campbell, Lane & Co. Mr. Lane retired in July, 1880, when the firm-name became Campbell & Co., the junior partner being E. A. Campbell, son of David Campbell, the senior member. The firm occupy a large three-story brick building at 484 Broad Street, and employ seventy-five hands.

DAVID CAMPBELL, manufacturer of Newark, N. J., and prominently connected with many of its moneyed and charitable institutions, was born in Caldwell. Essex Co., N. J., Oct. 27, 1810. When but a few months old his father died, leaving a widow and two young children in circumstances very little short of destitute. But the mother from whom he doubtless inherited his well-known force of will as well as his industry and integrity, was equal to the emergency, ; board of directors of the Newark and Rosendale t'e- and the little ones were not allowed to suffer in body or in soul.

As soon as young David was able to make himself useful he was placed with a neighboring farmer, with whom he remained until the age of fourteen years, when the death of his mother lett him without any natural or legal custodian. Free to roam the world as he pleased, he quitted the distasteful occupations of the farm, determined to learn a trade, and to become some day a business man. The tobacco manufactory in his native place offered to him sufficient induce-

ments and in it he went to work, acquiring in three years all of the art and mystery of the trade which this slender country establishment could make known. Ambitious of becoming an adept in his vocation, he went to Newark, N. J., where better facilities were afforded, and at the age of twenty-one found himself not only a skillful workman, but a connoisseur in every- thing belonging to the business which he had adopted.

Industry and integrity brought with them pros- perity, and prosperity brought to him a happy home and wife. But it was a short-lived prosperity and a short-lived home. Sickness and death swept away his hard-got earnings and his wife. He was, however, young and resolute ; so, nowise daunted, he went to work, and soon recovered his former financial condi- tion. Too much confidence in the promises of his of friends he once more re-established himself, and now determined to be the boss of the factory to which. when a boy, he had wandered in search of employ- ment. This was in 1835, and such was his success that in 1840 he was obliged to increase hi- facilities and to open a house in the city of Newark as a branch of his Caldwell establishment.

Though still a young man, Mr. Campbell, by reason of his integrity and keen business talent, began not only to attract the attention of his fellow-citizens, but to win their admiration and respect. He soon became one of the board of trustees of the Wesleyan Chapel, the first Methodist Church established in Newark, and during the last forty-three years has been the presi- dent of that board. In 1843 he became a member of the Common Council, and in that capacity gave so much satisfaction that he was returned to that body in 1847, and remained in connection therewith until 1850. He was one of the founders, in 1849, of the Wesleyan Institute, and for four years president of its board of trustees. The Hackettstown Institute, a school established in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church, received his careful attention, and of its board of trustees he was also a member, and during four years its president. During the last seven years he has been president of the board of trustees of the Newark Conference Camp-Meeting Association, and to the successful management of this organization devotes a great deal of his time and care. He is now and has been for four years last past, president of the ment Company, a very important corporation. In the board of directors of the National City Bank he has hold a place since its organization, likewise in the American Insurance Company, both of Newark, N. J.

It is worthy of note that all these institutions with which Mr. Campbell has been connected have been flourishing, and all are still in successful operation except the Wesleyan Institute, which gave way to the public schools, as did all the other educational estab- lishments of Newark, with the exception of the New- ark Academy.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

Ilis seventy-four years appear to be no burden to Mr. Campbell, who, despite his multifarious offices, is still at the head of his extensive factory, while it is true that here he is ably assisted by his son, Mr. Ed- ward A. Campbell, a man of excellent business talent.

Although in youth Mr. Campbell had no oppor- tunities whatever to obtain an education, he applied himself industriously to study as soon as the favorable moment offered, and while the Bible has always been for him the book of books, a visitor at his house will

on C'anal, near Bloomfield Avenne, and is among the most extensive and important of the many industries of Newark. Alexander Geddis is the superintendent.

Newark Tea Tray Company, located at No. 395 High Street, wasestablished in 1867 by Walter M. Con- ger, the present proprietor. Mr. Conger manufactures, through a patent process, the various kinds and sizes of japanned tea-trays. Forty persons are employed in the factory, and produce annually goods valued at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 150

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