History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 121

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 121
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 121

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GRAPHITE LE SPIEATINA COMPANY -This company was organize 1 Sept. 1, 15-3, with JJacob Weart + presi- dent, John Smalley treasurer, and Spencer Weart as secretary, and the board of directors was composed of Jacob Weart, John Smalley and James B. Throck morton. On the 224 day of February, 1884, John Smalley lied, and his son, William W. Smalley was elected tr aserer and a director. rice his father, dec ated The company has its office in Jersey City, and it- factory is at Bound Brook, N. J.

The object of the formation of the company was for the purpose of the manufacture and sale of graph- ite journal boxes, carriage-wheel boxes, bu-hing- for loose pulley , sheaves, etc., requiring no grease or oil to successfully run machinery. carriages, etc.

The manufacturing is done under letters patent issued to John am lley and William W. Small, and assigned to the Graphite Lubricating Company.

The inventions consist of acting a journal bearing or bushing, with grooves cast in the same, which grooves ure filled with a composition, the chief ingredient being graphite, which is place l in the grooves under heavy pressure and then vulcanized, the same making a good lubricating surface, which polishes up the shaft or axle and overcomes the friction and successfully does the work.

This new and novel mode of lubrication by the use of graphite and dispensing with oil is one of the most novel and useful inventions of modern times, and its progress will be watched with much interest. When the president of the company was asked for the facts for this article, he replied by saying that the graphite box was too young to go into history, and its success not yet fully assured, and the public preju- dice against it very strong: but the facts could be made known, and future historians could write its success or final failure.

For more than fifty years graphite (or the article more generally designated as black lead or plumbago has been known to be the best lubricant extant. The difficulty in the way of its use consisted in the fact that it could not be convived and held in position so as to do its work. These dithiculties were overcome by the invention of the grooved box by William W. Smal- ley, and the composition and vulcanizing process by John Smalley. Soon after the discovery of the graph- ite bushing it was successfully introduced into the block trade hy William H. MeMillau. of New York City, who became the general agent for that trade

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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

and for the last five years the graphite bushing has been in use on sheaves and pulley wheels used in the block trade, and is gradually displacing all other bushings in that trade, and while it was a great success in this business, Mr. Smalley failed to introduce it into any other class of business, or to find any person or per- sons with capital willing to purchase the patent. notwithstanding Dr. C. M. Field, of Bound Brook, had successfully run a carriage without grease or oil for twenty-two months, and a loose pulley with graph- ite bearing had been run in the navy-yard for nearly fourteen months, running seven hundred and fifty revolutions a minute and ten hours a day.

In the summer of 1883, Jacob Weart, of Jersey ( ity, joined with Mr. Smalley for the purpose of the general introduction of the graphite box, which resulted in the formation of the Graphite Lubricating Company. Mr. Weart did not expect much trouble in the introduction of the same, but in this he was greatly disappointed ; no carriage-maker could be found who was willing to try a set of axles ; and there was no other mode of introduction left except for Mr. Weart to put a set in i se on his own carriage, which have now been running for over fourteen months without grease or oil, and with but very little wear on the boxes, and at this time sets are running in ten States and without hot boxes, and time alone will settle the fact whether

general use. Mr. Weart cneouutered the same ditli- culty to get it started on machinery, but by giving away a few journal bearings he obtained a foothold for the graphite box, and its use is now rapidly extending upon all classes of machinery, and wherever placed, has proved successful.

BENJAMIN G. CLARKEI was born at Easton, Pa., March 5, 1820. He received an academic education, and was prepared to enter college in 1838. At that time his father was engaged in milling and keeping a | of the city, State and nation, and upon the breaking store, and became financially embarrassed owing to the great financial disturbance of 1836, which eventu- ally carried down mnost of the active business men of the country. This event changed the purposes of Mr. tinued in it for six years, when he removed to New York City, and joined his father-in-law, William Muir- head, as a partner in keeping the Merchants' Hotel, in Cortlandt Street, New York City, and Mr. Clarke continued in this business until 1861, when he retired to engage exclusively in the coal and iron business.

Mr. Clarke's business at the Merchants' Ilotel was very successful, so much so that he became a capital- ist, and when the Messrs. Thomas were seeking finan- cial assistance to develop their own interests, Mr. Clarke joined them in 1855, and became the agent of the Thomas Tron Company, having his office first at the Mer hants' Hotel and afterwards in Wall Street.

He still continues to be the agent of the company. lle has been either vice-president or president for the whole period. The company has been one of marked Success. It started with a cash capital of three hun- dred thousand dollars, and now has a cash capital of two million dollars.

Mr. Clarke is vice-president of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal t'ompany and chairman of its executive committec. This is one of the largest concerns in the country. Hle is president of the New Jersey Zinc Company and president of the Columbia Chestunt Hill Iron Company. These four corporations com- bined have a capital of sixteen million dollars.

Mr. Clarke has been for the last ten years a director in the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company. He is also a director in various banks and other corporations. At one time he was a di- rector in fourteen corporations, but finding it impos- sible to attend the meetings of the directors of so many companies, he has gradually retired from most of them.

Mr. Clarke is devoting his life to the eoal and iron interests, and especially to the latter; he endeavors to keep pace with all modern improvements and in- ventions in that direction, and he does not allow any- thing to pass without notice that is likely to promote these interests ; so watchful is he in this direction that the boxes are of sufficient durability to come into | he has visited Europe several times to study and ex- amino all the iron industries of England, France and Germany, and he watches all new discoveries and pro- cesses with the greatest diligence.

In 1856, Mr. Clarke took up his residence in Jerscy City, and resided there until 1880, when, owing to the encroachments of business upon the residence portion of the city where he resided, he reluctantly gave up his residence there and removed to New York City. While a resident of Jersey City Mr. Clarke took the deepest interest in everything which pertained to the interests out of the late civil war he became one of the leading patriots. When President Lincoln, on the 15th of April, 1861, issued his proclamation for seventy-five Thousand volunteers, Mr. Clarke joined in the effort Clarke, who entered the dry-goods business and con- to raise the men. The Second Regiment of Hudson

County volunteered to go ; but there was no clothing, overcoats or blankets, and no means or organized measures to procure them. The citizens of Jersey City held a meeting and appointed a committee, con- sisting of Messrs. Clarke, David Smith and Henry M. Traphagen, to equip and send this regiment to the front, and provide for the families of the volunteers during their absence in the field. To equip the regi- ment with clothing would cost thirty thousand dollars. Several elothing houses of the city of New York were willing to equip the regiment and wait the action of the authorities, if proper security could be given for the ultimate payment of the bills. There was no lack of patriotisin on the part of the citizens, but the finan- / cial panic of 1857 had impoverished most people as to

1 sketch by Hun. Jacob Weart.

1167

JERSEY CITY

financial means, and at theix juncture Mr. Clarke came bank was reorganized. In la inter, I've Mr. smith gave place as enshier to Lowi V. Condit. II re- signed in Hos, and was see led by A. A. Har len- bergh who had entered the bank as a autant cashier in 1851 He has been identified with the bank over since, and his ability bas den much towards isur- ing its prosperity In May, 145, the Huds County forward and became security for the whole amount, which put the regiment in the field, and it was one of the four regiments which entered Washington in a body, and the first considerable forer which reached that city and gave to the government and citizens an assurance of safety. This committee discharged their duty to the families of the volunteers with great fidel- I Bank was merg | into the Hudson County National ity, and the public anthorities raised and paid the Bank. The organization was effectol with a capital thirty thousand dollars in question.

Again, in Jas7, Mr. Clarke showed his patriotson to and the following clicers were elected : Directors, his country. President Johnson had removed nearly all the Republican collectors of internal revenue and put Democrats in their places, to the great de riment of the public service. Mr. Clarke was fearful that after the Rebellion had been suppressed in the field. the nation might still be destroyed by the weakness of the public treasury and inability to pay the war debt. In his district he took the lead to turn an inefficient collectnr out and put a suitable gentleman in, and took the public position in advance of any appointment that he would help to secure a proper appointment, and be one of five gentlemen to go on a bond for one hundred thousand dollars for the collector when ap- pointed, and this Mr. Clarke carried out to the letter These nets of patriotism endeared him to the people of New Jersey, and he has been frequently sohcited to run for the highest political offices, but to these ap- peals he always gave one answer : "I have devoted my life to commercial pursuits, and I am developing the coal, iron and rai road interests of the country, and can be more useful in these fields than I could hope to be in the political field ;" and adhering to this policy, he has never held any public office, but has The assets of this bank amount to about one and three-quarters millions of dollars. been an ardent supporter of the R pubhean party and an advocate of the protective tarit.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

JERSEY CITY.

BANKS AND SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS.

Hudson County National Bank .- This is the suc- ressor of the Hudson County Bank, which was estab- Jished in August, 1851, with a capital stock of one hundred and eighty thousand four hundred dollars, and was the first bank in Jersey City under the free banking law. The directors were W. S. Gregory, John Cassedy, James Keene, John Griffith, Samuel Westcott, Richard Morrow, Matthew Armstrong, Minot C. Morgan, John Van Vorst, Abram Becker and James R. Thompson. John Cassedy was elected president and Albert T. Smith cashier. The former resigned in 1856, and John Griffith was elected to the office. He served until 1558, and was succeeded by Matthew Armstrong who held the place until the

look of two hus fred and fifty thousand dollars, Matthew Armstrong, Abran Becker, W s. Gregory. John Griffith, Job Male, J Dickinson Miller, Mint C. Morgan, Offrent Sip, Charles G. Sirson, James R. Them son, and John Van Vorst Matthew Arm- streng was cocted president, John Van Vorst Vier- president age A. A. Hardenberyl cashier. Mr. Armstrong died during the year, and his son John was elected to the vacancy. John Armstrong died in 1873, when Job Male was elected president. Mr. Male resigned in 1575, and A. A Hardenbergh was chosen to the position, which he has onee hell. Mr. Van Vorst resigned the vice-presidency in Desem- ber, 1572, and was succeedel by the present incum- vest, Thomas Earle. Edward A. Graham the present cashier, was elected in May, 1842. David W. Taylor had filled the position from the timeof Mr. Harden- borghi's resignation to 1582. The present directors are Robert C. Bacot, Peter Bentley, Gilbert Collins, Hampton A. Coursen, Thomas Earle, Augustus .1. Hardenbergh, John Lamb, Job Male, James R. Thompson, Garret D. Van Reipen, Richard C. Wash- burne, Augustus Zabriskie, Corneliu- Zabriskie.

JOHN GRIFFITH .- The family of Mr. Griffith emi- grated to Amerien from Wales during the latter part of April in the year 1500. On the 5th of the sie- ceeding month the subject of this biography was born. When but twelve years of age he entered the employ of the great Robert Fulton, and five years later was sent as that gentleman's agent to fit out an engine to be used in the first steamer that sailed on the Mass- sippi River. He arrived in New Orleans in June, 1-17. set the engine, and in the fall of that year ace summanied the steamer on her trial trip. He next, in connection with a partner, engaged in the patent-leather business in Newark, and continued to make that place his resi- dence until 1533, when he refnoved to Jersey City and with his brother, established, under the firm-nanie of E. & J. Gritlith, a commission four business. On the dissolution of the firm, in 1540, he sailed for Europe to contract for the supply of iron for one of the New York rulroads, and on his return was for some years actively engaged in business. In polities Judge Grit- fith was formerly a pronouncel Democrat, bet during the war embraced the principles of the Republican party, though never a strong partisan. In 1848 he was appointed a lay judge of Hudson County, and held the

1168

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

position for a period of fourteen years. He served also as a member of the Board of Aldermen of Jersey City, and was during the late war an carnest supporter of the government. He was appointed one of a war com- mittee to equip sokliers, and, together with an associ- ate member of the committee, made himself personally responsible for the purchase of clothing and other e quipements. In all his official relations Judge Grit- fith was an honest, efficient and trustworthy man. He wason ofthe founders of the Hudson County National Bank, one of its presidents, and for twenty-one years on its board of directors. He was also for twenty-five years director of the Provident Institu- tion for Savings, and much of the time chairman of its committee on loans. Judge Griffith was twice married,-first to Martha A. Mulford, and a second time to P'lebe M., daughter of Jeremiah Mulford, of New- ark He was in religion a supporter of the First Reformed Dateh Church of Jersey City. The death of Judge Griffith occurred July 21, 1872, in his sev- enty-third year.

AUGUSTI S A. HARDENBERGI, of Jersey City, who represented the Seventh Congressional District of New Jersey in the Congress of the United States, was born on the 13th day of May, 1830, at New Brunswick, N. J. His father, Cornelius I. Hardenbergh, LL. D., was one of the most eminent members of the bar of the State, and for many years prominently connected with Rutger, College (originally called Queen's Col- lege), of which the Rev Jacob R. Hardenbergh, D.D., his grandfather, was the founder, in 1770. and the first president. Mr. Hardenbergh entered Rutgers College as a student in 1844, but before the end of his course was called home to act as amanuensis for his father, who, in middle life and in the full tide of practice, had become suddenly blind. Though failing for this reason to graduate, so favorable had been the impression made by the young student upon the faculty that the college, in 1851, conferred on him the honorary degree of Bachelor of Arts.

further powers to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company, a monopoly then almost as powerful as its gigantic successor is, that now dominates the policy and fortunes of the state. From 1857 to 1863 he was a member of the Common Council of Jersey City, part of the time its president, and during a portion of the war period chairman of the war committee, and the records of the city during that trying time con- tain many evidences of his untiring energy, patriotic action, and judicious counsels. In 1868, Mr. Harden- bergh became state director of railroads, and in 1874, being then a resident of Bergen County, he was sent as a delegate from the Fourth Congressional Dis- triet to the Democratic National Convention at Balti- more. The same year he was chosen president of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, and in the fall, having moved back to Jersey City, he was nominated forthe Forty-fourth Congress by the Democracy of the Seventh District, without solicitation on his part and even much to his surprise, and was elected by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1876. In 1878, hav- ing been elected president of the bank with which he had so long been connected, he declined being a can- lidate for renomination for Congress. But in 1880, at the imperative demand of the leaders of his party throughout the State, he again became a candidate, and was elected by five thousand majority, notwith- standing the popularity of his opponent and the sharply-drawn party lines of a Presidential contest. His nomination saved the State to the Democracy in that contest. During his first term in Congress he was a member of the Military, Centennial, and Dis- trict of Columbia Committees; and during his second and third tering he was on the Banking and Currency Committee. He was a war Democrat of the most out- spoken and determined character, and is a protective tariif and hard money man. In one of his public speeches against the wild schemes of the inflationists, he says : "I turn, sir, with an abiding faith, from the new-fangled doctrines of our modern financiers to the cherished opinions of the great lights of our history as enunciated by Jefferson, by Jackson and by Benton, and give value to the coin that can only be extracted earth, und not that which is the representative of indebtedness and issued by millions within the brief limit of a day or of a week."

In 1846 he entered a counting-house in the city of New York, and became a resident of Jersey ('ity. which continues to he his home. In 1852 he asso- viated himself with the Hudson County National . by the giant arms of labor from the bosom of the Bank, in Jersey City, and has continued with it in almost every capacity until the present, having been elected its president in 1878, which position he still occupies. But he never abandoned his first inclina- During 1876, when the public depression was great, and bitter feeling prevailed against national banks as great monopolies, Mr. llardenbergh made a speech on the subject of " The National Banks and their Rela- tion to the Union," in which, referring to the necessi- ties which called the national banking system into being, he said,- tion to study, and at the early age of twenty-one had established an enviable reputation as an eloquent speaker, which was considerably enhanced by a speech made by him that year on the engaging theme of Cuban Freedom." In 1858 he was elected to the State Legislature from a strong Whig district, and, although the youngest member of that body, he soon ".It was called anto cai logre by the me ccasition of a disordered finance, rendered thus disordered by the stern arbitrament of war. The mortallic currency was not suficient by which armies could be mine, and a patriot wouldcry mustered for the tented field. The nation had the right to use whatever of its remmrees the preservation of its hfe demanded. Thus were swept away the banks of state organization, that but one currency beca ne one of the most prominent by his services in se uring the passageof the General Banking Art, fixing the rate of interest at seven instead of six per cent .. and by his strong and manly opposition to granting !

محمد

JERSEY CITY

or included in the collection district of New York fortunes at the repul Anw per fumo it brennt that his country was not Đình altul /' .. . he g. the awful pledge of it's life to her weryDe, al t' Lete Famil thu instead of Newark, a matter of the first importance to its vast an I rapidly growing commercial and chips- f battle his family would and protection Hotell me more than It. ping interests. By this act vossas are allowed to be and still performed its inte ion as the on . wings of new site ! entered and . Frared from New York City within sight of their moorings instead of having trgo, as formerly to Newark, a distance of some theen miles, and back. Moment of gratitude from all Smer os ena url m ts (north years Letve priseest. No disa teror di ister hn followel m ifr w k its prosim das are now more filmeral thouse . il lol ist no gusety, in controlled by i section, offers its advantages would who work the i, at gives to all the Statesa purring unapproch I s cents, al pres- served from the manipulation in the me la its crowning featur, that during the long jest of war and of peace out a dollar has been lost to the fifth bler, we are the pond themselves What a newly can dia hlasy en war ala nhu vary fare . perlent freedom, re mirigevery . if wrlmit n maszement, und so far as the interests of cool are concerned place beyond the reach of peril' . . It has stood through every tel, aty ng car le we slike to dejenitor and I. Well-holder; and if oy menog Is est it is that of the public e stiden's, which refe a to Im shaken. It bepigsty un Prret ; it is allied to no party while the ly r ww ve tured for it- repeal is the strangest which can be urged for it continuance it is

While dage attiny it's too non as the security for the re lempet net de cir- culating notes, it gives to the people from Mone to Text, and frem menhard to coward, its notes of credit, current in every werten, with the I tion as their . udonser and the varity for their & lempt n."

In the same speech he advocated the issue of four per cent. bonds, which has since become a happy realization. In 1877 a bill was presented to repeal the resumption act, which had been solemnly passol in 1875, and the faith of the government pledged to its fulfillment. Mr. Hardenbergh. in opposition to, the great majority of his party, took strong grounds against its repeal, saying, in a speech delivered in the House November 14th -

" My appeal is for a ant' n's & nor and a dition' fourth. I veld re- egnet to those who differ from the views I reprise it I know it is easier to touch the popular bord by quoting the despotismo of cafat I, but the de ht which has been created was mainly to einfach the nation - Of - and preserve to the age of the future the light and beautiful evalue of an empire consecrated to freedom By all the numbers of the post, its ex- pounded treasure, it will on heroes who have fallen in the shock flattle, I invoke you to the aument are that by one rude at ver spread of the spirit of rapud ation throughout the land and noite disaster worse than we have yet seen.

"The splendor of our arme will be dime I by the failure te dis large our national obligations, and the good specta In given to the world ! i & veramnot founded upon the liberties of man nundle borrel nits prom- Ises atul it- pled .el faith. "

During his service in Congress Mr. Hardenbergh has been the uncompromising opponent of war claims, and a courageous and consistent advocate of all measures for judicious reduction of expenditure in all departments of the government. He was a men. ber of the t'entennial Committee in the Forty-fourth Congress, and largely by his action, as expressing the sentiments of the New Jersey delegation, the bill appropriating one million five hundred thousand dollars from the United States Treasury in aid of the Centennial celebration was passed.

On the 15th of January, A.D. ISTS, leaving been selected by the Indiana delegation in the House of Representatives for the purpose, he delivered an ad- dress on the life and character of the late Senator Morton, of In liana. Mr. Hardenbergh's speech en that occasion was one of the most graceful, claquent. and justly appreciated tributes by a member of one political party to the memory aml services of a leader of the opposition that has ever been heard in the House of Representatives. Mr Harderbergh re- gards his office as a public trust, and has discharged its duties with all the thoroughne an

fidelity which characterizes his a tien in his private business, and it is a great satisfaction to him to rec.Il the fact that he has not missed a single vote in the House of Representatives during all his four years of service there.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 121

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830