History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 140

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 140
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 140

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THE METROIST CHURCH is A fine. imposing strue- ture, corner of Fourth Street and Harrison Avenue,

and is the pride of the Methodists of Harrison. It was built in 1×76, and is ornamented with a line spire easily seen from a long distance and from the boats as they pass back and forth through Newark Bay, being one of the means of recognizing the exact location of Harrison by excursionists. The present pastor is the Rev. Dr. Seran, an able preacher and popular Christian gentleman.

Societies .- HARRISON LODGE, No. 120, 1. O. O. F., meets Wednesday evenings in East Newark. The lodge was instituted by Grand Master John W. Orr. Aug. 16, 1865, with the following charter members, who had taken their cards from Columbian Lodge, No. 117, Newark, on the 27th of July previous: Richard Jones, John Petter, William II. Casler, Francis B. Eager. Richard Powell, Cornelius V. Poland. The institution ceremony was performed in the hall of the parent lodge in the afternoon, and in the evening of the same day, the first officers were Newark by Grand Representative Theodore A. Ross, who was deputized for the occasion. The first offi- vers were: N. th., Richard Jones; V. G., William H. Caster; Rec. Sec., Cornelius V. Poland ; Per. Fec., Richard Powell; Treas., John Petter. The present officers are: N. G., Mark Williams; P. G. V. G., Henry E. Rothe ; Rec. Sec., John I. Patterson : Per. Sec., Lewis Fader ; Treas .. William Black. Harrison was the first and only lodge in the city and vicinity to invest its capital in a building of its own. It erected a large Odd-Fellows' Hall, and for several years the members were aided very materially by Harrison Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 12.

THE CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION Was Of- ganized in 1873, and has continued a Hourishing existener. The pastor of St. Pius' Church is presi- dent of the society, but the vice-president generally occupies the chair. The association numbers nearly one hundred young men at present. Their rooms and hall are situated on Jersey Street, near the Sacred Heart Academy. This hall is now entirely clear of debt, and the young men are bending their energies to establish a first-class library, which effort will, in the near future, be er owned with success. The asso- ciation is one of the standing conservative institutions of the town, and is destined to play no small part in shaping the future of Harrison.

THE CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT LEGION was organized Oet. 5, 1883, with sixteen charter members, viz. : Rev. Pierce Mccarthy, John Dwyer, Michael Bender, Peter J. Goodman, Patrick Toohey, John Condon, Bernard J. Murphy, Bartley Smith, James Mccloskey, Michael Kiernan, Patrick Bridges, Francis Sherlock, John Gillen, Patrick Maher, Patrick MeAvmey, James J. Kenny. The association numbers forty members in good standing. The legion is a co-operative insur- ance society, founded by the Supreme Council, who reside in Brooklyn, and chartered under the laws of New York State. There are six grades, ranging in

1253

TOWN OF HARRISON.

The Tempoand Society is at present (July, Ist) commanding the close attention of Harrisonings, as it is making a war opon saloon busine . on the Pathgath - day 'This organization number- at prest it some ofle hundred and fifty members, with Patrick Wallace as president, Thomas Milligan secretary, and Patrick Clerk treasurer It the Seat . Convention of Ten- perance Societies, held at Trenton, June 2, 151. Res. Jether O'Connor, of Harrison, was elected State president. The Harrison delegates represented the banner swiety in numbers on that be asion. Ifthe war against rum-selling is prosecuted with cherry and determination Harrison will become a ne delety on the Sabbath day, a consumirtiny desouth wished for by all good Christians and law -abiding citizen.

THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY is dương much annually to alleviate the distres of the ificent per- ple at the town.

are from eighteen to sixty-five years, and in insurance by fire, and the Herr an buildi , ~ were out - my from five hundred dollars to five thousand dollars. createl, at a cost of one hundred th a Med lar- The present others are: President, John Dwyer, has been Experiencing at aly enlargement auto it- Vice-President, Patrick Toohey; Secretary, l'eter . present value is vastly alove this fight. I datry Goodman ; Treasurer, John Coton. Collector Ber- nard J. Murphy ; Marshal, Patrick Maher ; Chan collor, James Mellonkey ; Guard, Patrick Me Sviney : Orator Micha 1 J. Bender The council is known as Assumption Council, No. 42, Uh holic Bem voleot Legion, and holds its meetings to the serend and fourth Mondays of each month at se Pius school hall.

emplay - some four hundred persons, and has a spaets of, and regularly turns out two thousand trunks every week, and one thousand dosen bags. It -- in the manufacture of boxes, roughly mit le, to inclose the trunks and bags diding transportation to Jew York, two million feet of im ber All the. tringgir- train anl everything os On the mentfac ure of the trunk . al Ings is prepared from the raw material in a je partime it of the factory. The factory is one of the prominent features of the section of Harr an in which it is located.

North of Lagowits' factory are the stone-work- ofd. J. Spuirr, where some of the most beautiful mar- ble is polished, out and shape Into all kinds of wy le- und shipped to all parts of the country. The Passan River fronts the works.

Notheard along the river-front is the large Royal Hamburg Cordovan tagning establishment, known as Hahn & Stumpf, but recently, since the death of Mr Hahn, is controlled by his brother-in- is, Jacob Stumpf. The building & surrounded by Jeres Street on the north, Warren on the south and ley Street on the west and occupies over an acre of ground. 1. company was organized in 1-62, and turns out tive hundred sides of leather per week and employs from fifty to sixty person- constantly Mr. Witter Howar I i- book-keeper. The building to three hundred and twenty-five feet long by thirty feet wide. Cor bivah leather of every de cription is o anumctured here, also English grain cow-lode and allorator leather. One hundred alligator-hidesare converted into leather every week.

Industries of Harrison. Harrison is most favor als situated for manufacturers and industries of all kinds. Its immen, e water front along the Pas aic is destined to become the abiding home of computer of all kinds, and it- numerot ~ railroad facilities affording rapid means of travel and transportation of merche dive is calculated to develop Harrison into a great city The Thomas & Edison Jaap Company occupies the Im dings formerly . cupied by the Peter- Manufactur- ing Company. Peters Manufacturing Company, man- nfacturers of oil-cloths of all kinds, but the " work- in 1877; but, frequent fires leaving completely le- strayed a great part of the buildings, the business was abandoned. After some time Edison, of M nlo Park fame, rented the buildings, improved and enlarged the same, and is now manufacturing his newly invented electric lamps. There areover two hundred persons employed by Mr. Edison, and the business is m a flourishing onditen Mr. Edcon has attuine 1 world-wide tame for his invention. He is vet a young mon, and may startle the world chee mpre with secs at no distant day. Everything - me to favor the sanguine estimate of its future. Indeed, if we judge of the future Is the recent past. - and all philosophers agree that experience is the great teacher, that we can best judge of the future by illuminating it with its limp of experience : we are compelled to agree with those who draw such sanguine pictures of the future growth and development of Harrison into a large manufacturing centre. Theseportant industries that have found an abiding home in Harrison within the past few years is a strong indication that others will quickly follow and take up the vacant and available sites, and place on them walls and factories, and so contribute to the formation of the great city of the other discovery of invention of his feet. i am. Ile

future within the bonn laries of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivets. Herewith are described some of the most important mills, manufactories and industries of Harrison.

Dis possessed of the venin- which all great men et history had, that which invariably accompanies constant toil and indefatigable industry. The Edli- som Company commenced work in Harrison in Isso, and promises to become a permanent industry of the growing city

J. Lagowits & Co.'s trunk-factors is located at the junction of the Pennsylvania Railroad and First Street, on the bank of the Passaic River. His first South of Warren Street, between that street and the factory was built at Newark in 1844, and destroyed Morris and Essex Railroad, is situated the Woodward

1254

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

South of Centre Street bridge and of the Pennsyl- vimonia Railroad is situated the stone-yard, worked by machinery of Mr. Reilly, of Newark. This establish- ment has constantly on hand a large supply of orders from all parts of the country, as the work done has a cern in any part of the country.

The Pennsylvania Railroad shops, employing over i machine itself, in the engine-room, one experiences fifteen hundred persons, situated at the northeastern ... tremity of Kearny township, were, some sixteen : through the building one experiences the cold of the years ago, situated in Ilarrison, adjacent to the pres- ent East Newark Station. They were burned, and subsequently rebuilt in their present location.

Stannier & Laffey's brass and copper wire and wire-cloth factory is situated on Passaic Avenue, opposite lebden Street. This is a very conservative institution, and any approach to the same, either by a local historian or newspaper reporter, would be con- sidered in the light of an "inquisitorial" attack on the secrets of the business. The factory is one of the very few of its kind in the country, and was erected in July, 1866. The present value of the work done annually may be estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but the actual capacity is double these figures. There are forty-five persons employed. One of the buildings was burned some years ago, after which the entire works were renovated and enlarged to their present capacity. These works were an off- shoot from the paternal works, at present in operatio at Belleville, a suburb of the city of Newark.

The next factory of note on the north side of llar- rison Avenue is Stewart Hartshorn's shade-roller manufactory, located at the corner of President Street god Grant Avenue. It was built in 1870 and cost about twenty thousand dollars. This factory gives employment to about two hundred persons, and turns out one hundred dozen shade-rollers daily. It is one of the very prosperou- institutions of East Newark, and has made its proprietor, Mr. Hartshorn, who at present realdes at Short Hills, N. J., very wealthy.

John D. King's dye establishment, on Passaic Avenue, was built in 1870 and cost about twenty thousand dollars. It is capable of manufacturing eight thousand pounds per week, and employs eighteen jn rsons.

The insulated wire works recently founded east of Davis Avenue, on Cross Street, and between that street and the Erie Railroad, were in 1584 only in their tofaney, but promises to be one of the great industries of Harrison, and to give employment to, a great omiby persons. The buildings are sur- rounded by a high inclosure and a gate-keeper guards the entrance. Ingres or egress can only be secured by positive business with the institution or its officers. Mr. Dallas is the superintendent.

Peter Hanck & Co.'s large brewery is situated on Harrison Avenue, between Fifth Street and Wash-

Scam-lump and Steam-Heating Company, doing a prosperous business. ington Street. The brewery was built in 1850 to take the place of the old buildings, which were cou- sumed by fire the same year. New machinery has been recently erected in the building for refrigerat- ing purposes, which entirely supersedes the necessity for ice. The machinery of these works was manu- factured by Becket & MeDowell, of Arlington, N. J. reputation not to be excelled by any other similar con- . It is rather paradoxical to call the machine a re-

frigerating one, for, while in close proximity to the the torrid temperature of the tropics, while passing

frigid zone; this will have the effect of cheapening the ice crop, as the machine will stop the immense brewery demand for the article through the country.

It is worth noting that the first factory built and operated in Harrison was located on the spot where St. Pins' Church now stands. It was a japanning factory, and was owned by a Mr. Young, from Newark. It gave employment to many of the older residents, and was finally consumed by fire some twenty years ago, after which the site came into the possession of of St. Pios' parish, which first erected thereon a school buikling, which was afterwards enlarged, in 1873. to the present dimensions of school and church.

The gas-house of Harrison is situated on Passaic Avenue, and i- a branch of the gas corporation of Newark. The streets are well lighted and also the public buildings, and gas is to be found in all the stores and most of the private residences.

Kerr & Co's spool-cotton factory is also situated on Passaic Avenue, at which a large number of per- sons are employed. In the same vicinity are the machine-works of George A. Ohl, which turns out some fine work.

The Greenfield Steam-Engine Works, situated cor- ner of Fifth and Cross Streets, East Newark, were built, the new factory in 1852, and are owned and incorporated by the brothers, William Greenfield and George Greenfield; date of charter of the old works on Fourth Street, April 1, 1974. The business was started in the Hope Machine- Works on Fourth Street, and in April, 1><2, was moved to the new building corner of Fifth and t'ross Streets. The main build- ing is forty by eighty feet, with an extension for the boiler-room, eighteen feet square, and is considered the best lighted and ventilated shop in this vicinity. The lower floor has a fourteen-feet ceiling, and the upper floor twelve feet. It has windows on all the four sides, and authent ground has been secured to pre- vent the obstruction of light and air. The principal production of these works is indicated by the name of the business, and as such it has a national reputa- tion, having engines in most of the States and Terri- tories, and also in Mexico, Cuba, Nova Scotia, New - foundland and many parts of South America. They also manufacture the Riley Patent Foot-Press and many other articles of great value, and their work is of the very first quality. The firm is destined at no

M. M. Davis

1255

TOWN OF I'NION

distant day to enlarge the present landings and be- the family residence. On the t nr trad is er ated come the most popular machine-work- in this part of the Davis Memorial Church, in which MIr Davis the conutry There are in Harrisem some veteran- of the Mexi- can war, uneing whom may he mentioned the popular Justice Collins. The horreurs, which had ve al running in 1982, resamed their ushal tripe in Is . l. The company have laid excellent tracks and built spacious stables in Harrison. The people find the great accomoc lation which p'ves a healthy injatu- to the prosperity of the town. The future historian of Harrison and Kearny will no doubt be chronichne the industries of the great city which is destined to grow up in this location, wo favorably situatel for such development. manit stell roch interest an mas hre contribu- tions Ihren W. Dav & war mestriel on the 4th of November, Fl, to Mais Enna L., daughter at Duval Sandford, if Hula cint The'r Fofren ar Mark W Mary Celeste, Annie E (Mrs. Gr rre ). Blake), William Jerange, Mar Coast (2), Ir n. W Mrs. Theodore Cuyler Now and Lana (' (Mr. Balward PÅmert. Mr. Davis was formerly a Whip in polities, and later he son a Ropolovan, thench hi- ultimate allegiance was to the principles of the I- mocracy. He was an active worker in the field of polities, unl held the office of fre holder for succes- sive terms during important periods. He was inder- entral in obtaining a fr & bridge between Isex and Hudson Counties, and was also a member of the Im Lling committee for the crection of the Ind on BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. County Penitentiary. He was one of the incorpora for of the East Newark Ga-Light Company, and artive in other public enterprises requiring hoth executive ability and public spirit. Mr Davis pos- HIRAM W. DAVIS. sessed a genial nature, was benevolent without osten- tation, and enjoyed the esteen and confidence of the publie until his death, Aug. 22, 1576,

Aaron Davis, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born Oct. 23, 1775, and on the Juth of July, 1796, married to Mary W. Williamson, whose birth occurred July 15, 1776. Their children were Ronces, Eliza, Re- bevea (2d), Mark W., Harriet, Charles H., Jahue and John A. Aaron Davis resided in Hope, Warren ('o., N. J., where his death occurred on the 27th of July, 1439, in his sixty-fourth year. llis son, Mark W .. was born March + 1:04, o Warren County, his place of residener until his later removal to Harris n township, in Hudson County. He was, on the 9th of February, 1526, united in Marriage to Ann Read, of the same township, and had children, -Irene M (Mrs. George W Cross), Iliram W., Jeronu and Jerome B. Iliram W. ot this nuober was born Feb, 9, 1529, in Hope township, the scene of his youthful expert- ener -. In the year 1599, he removed with his parents to Ilarrison township, and ther continued at school until his father fit ed an establishment for diving and wrecking, when his son joined him in an effort to recover the Lost steamer " Lexington," in which they were partially succes dl. On the calmination of this enterprise Hiran W. for a while continued his studies, meanwhile assisting his father in various business undertaking-, and finding his time and attention mu h occupied with interests of a gen- eral character. Mr. Davis had invested much of his surplus earnings in land, all of which was eventually inherited by his son, the subject of this biography. The care of this large property absorbed his time and precluded the conducting of other business operation aside from the purchase and sale of real estate. In 1873, Mr. Davis disposed of much of this land to the East Newark Land Company, reserving certain lands in East Newark and three acres now the site of

CHAPTER XLIV. TOWN OF PSION.'

General View of the Town. This compact Orer- man settlement covers a limited area of territory, ex- tending, in its main dimensions, from Bull's Ferry Avenne, on the east. tr Bergen Turnpike in part, and Bergenwood or Dalleytown road, on the wist ; on the north is I'niou town-hip . the south, West Hoboken township.

The boundaries, under the original act, were to a small extent changed by adding a triangular chapel plot. Founded by the Bergen turnpike at Cox's ( or- ners, the southerly line of Louis Becker's land and the bergenw wod road. The area here added included Lewis Street, or Pennsylvania Avenue, and what . called Durham Avenue, as they are openel to the Bergen turnpike. The town has for its westerly meghbor the township of North Bergen, and for it- easterly the township of Weehawken.

It was set off March 29, 1864, and dashed at once ahead upon a career of improvement. An inventory of the properties of the town, recorded at page ? of the second annual report, shows,

& h photo with three lost who furniture Twih lf rmiture

Fır Il gertthent apparel luan Poni bb

1 rrasti y lalane T 1 urunt, ex wuling +

$14.' 4 11

1 By H n. Anthony IT. I.v4

1256

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

At the first charter election of the town of Union the following officers were chosen :

Town Ch, Win. Moll Board of funcilumen, Robert E. Gardner, para Fasel, Christian Riskeert, John M My r, Lunes Wiggins, Dage 1 Sturm, Ascensor, Wm Moll ; Collector, John Reinhardt, Ir .; tr & ref the Poor, Fred. Etzold , Constable, Charles Stahl Treasurer, Jam (lar, Everyer of Streets and Highways, Christian Balk ; Sheom 1 1 ut of % hods, Dr Chuiles Si dhoff ; fhosen I're -holder, Je'n Gardner Found-Keeper, Joka Reinhardt, Sr. ; Judge of Election, Marge Il " man ; Commissioners of Appeals, Conrad Woerner, Henry M ng tonry Bell.

The receipts of the town from all sources from : considered. The daughter of Burnet, who occupied M: rch 23, 1865, to April 1, 1866 (the close of the first final year), made a total of $29,305.01; and the disbursements, including $3617.01 paid for support of the public school during the same period, to April 1 1866, made a total of $28,590,95. Expenses on mili- tary account, denominated " war debt and interest," were $19,261.82, in addition to an amount of $606.51. paid on account of Union township volunteer honds.

During the year- 1864-65 the representative in the Board of Chosen Freeholders from this town was John Gardner, and in 1856, 67 and '68, Frederick Etzold. While yet part of Union township the latter's rep- resentative in the board was from this locality in 1861-62, being Jacob Sebweitzer, who resigned in the second year, John Gardner taking his place in Decem- ber. 1562, and following bun was Cornelius Van Vorst, in 1863. The Board of Councilmen attest- ing the annual report, before referred to, are Robert E. Gardner, Henry J. Rottmann, James Wig- gius, Christian Rickert, Daniel Sturm, C'arl Meyen- berg John R. Wiggins, town clerk. The same col- lector who served the township of Union in 1863 was the earliest collector for this town. The school super- intendent, Charles Siedhof, served in township and in town.

A local resident, removing from Philadelphia, and taking up his abole corner of Durar and Kossuth Streets in 1863, refers to the streets and avenues at that period as raw and rough, being then neither graded nor improved, and sidewalks not flagged. The largest building at that time was Schweitzer's brew- ery. The business of the town about that time, in- cluding theatries and picnics, was transacted at Mit- chel's or at Xavier Stoppel's summer resort. Every- thing was more country-like, and rural scenery won the visitor's notice. Trees were more numerous than at present, and the approach to the hill during the autumn, when the foliage displayed variously tinted leaves (crimson and yellow the prevailing colors), could not be excelled.

Earliest Aspects .- All the older inhabitants whose recollection takes in this territory mention a small number of residents here sixty years ago. Much of the domain was a dense woods. The remembrances of three or four veterans and the traditions of others agree in the brief chronicles given. On the east side of the area were the families of Gardner and of Lyons.

A dwelling near the Indian Pond was ocenpied by one Whitehead, then Zuel, and then C'antelo. Far- ther to the west, on Bergenwood road, lived Van Vorst. To the extreme west, within the area added to the town after set off from Union township, was the dwelling of John Burnet. Quite a variety of rec- ollections have survived concerning these families.

Burnet was employed at the ferry then plying be- tween New York City and this side of the river, of which more will be mentioned when Weehawken is the location many years after his death, died but a few years ago, never having married. Van Vorst, father and son, cultivated a few acres of land. The late Cornelius Van Vorst, who died at the homestead a few years ago, was a justice of the peace within the town, and, as was before stated, represented the town- ship of Union in the county board in 1863. Early in life he was a wheelwright, having his shop near his dwelling, a building that stood many years on Bergen- wood road. Mr. Van Vorst had a son Garret, whom he survived, and another son, Cornelius, who is still living.

Samuel Whitehead cultivated but little of the land more than a garden spot. He had a wife, but no children. Zule, a Scotchman, had one son and three daughters, the girls often working in the corn-fields like so many men. Zule had the land around him cleared of trees, and went more extensively into cul- tivation than his predecessor. An old resident who remembers Zule well alludes to devotional services at his house under the ministrations of Rev. Mr. Demerest, then officiating in this latitude. Mr. Zule had a great admiration for vocal music; his own ear, however, was not a sufficient prompter to variety,-he himself would sing every hymn to the same tune.

Contelo is remembered by a considerable number of the senior inhabitants. One refers to a variety of cherries and to his fine peaches another, " It was the first place I ever tasted celery."

An old inhabitant remarks that Lyons, whose wife was from Gloucester, N. J., had two sons, James and Jacob. Jacob was a ship carpenter. One daughter married a Mr. Clinton ; the others were named Mar- garet, Letitia and Mary. The wife of the senior Cor- nelius Van Vorst was a daughter of Letitia, whose husband's name we could not learn. The farm of Mr. Lyons was cultivated, as was also that of Gardner. Van Vorst owned a slave named Ben. Gardner owned one also called Cuff. Ben mowed salt hay every sum- mer at Secaucus for his master, who kept a horse, a yoke of oxen and several cows. The negro Cuff perished in the cold weather while on a spree, in 1821; the other darkey, Ben, lived to be an old man. He was uncommonly spry and supple, and wrestling was a pastime to him. Once he was bantered to enter the lists as a pugilist, in combating with a darkey that considered himself the smartest in the role. Ben

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 140

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