History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city, Part 18

Author: MacLean, Alexander, fl. 1895-1908
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: [Jersey City] : Press of the Jersey City Printing Company
Number of Pages: 1074


USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 18


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64


PACIFIC HOSE NO. 1.


Nelson Barron, Moses Coleman, John Coyle, John Creech, Jr., L. G. Fogg, Jr., Patrick Grady, Theodore Hall, Albert Kittle, Cornelius MeMillin, David Orr, John S. Traul, James Doyle, Thomas J. Blaney, Charles Comstock, John Haggerty, Thomas Trotter, Robert Johnson, George H. Thomas, Edward McCormack, William Thornell, Henry Whitehead, Joseph Orr, William Cunningham, Benjamin Titcombe, Peter I. MeKelvie, Joseph Edge, George H. Phyfe.


THE HUDSON CITV AND BERGEN DEPARTMENTS.


The records of the Hudson City Fire Department were taken by Theodore Tachiera at the time of consolidation, and he took them to Western New York some years later. He died there, and the records were lost.


The records of the Bergen City department went into the custody of Henry H. Newkirk at consolidation, and they, too, were lost.


The Hudson City department was merged with the Jersey City department in 1870. Hud- son Engine No. I became No. 9. It lay on Bergenwood Avenue. It was organized July 14, 1868. The original members were : Edward ()'Donnell, Gideon Isley, Alfred Heritage, John Wandle, Michael Lennon, William Guinan, Thomas Mead, William Kimball, Thomas Towells, Charles Kohland, James Earl, William Conk, William H. Boyd, Sylvanus Judd, Albert Shore, Sylvester Van Buren, John Headden, Jr., John McFadden, Joseph P. Rovell, John Miller, Isaac Clyde, Joseph Greenleaf, William H. Celler, William Isley, James Burke, John R. McPherson. In addition to these, at the time of disbandment, the roll had these names : James Boucher, John Allen, Jr., Patrick MeFadden, Henry Greenleaf, Jacob Harrison, Isaac Van Wort, Winfield DeMott, James Nolan, John Hogan, George Peyser, Peter F. Crugen, Archibald Smith, Samuel Judd, Nicholas Keller, Frederick Kruger, Edmund Roerbel, John Case, William McCleary, Nathan R. Valentine, William Blackley and William H. Thomas.


Union Engine Co. No. 2, of Hudson City, lay on Palisade Avenue, and became No. 10 at consolidation. It was organized July 18, 1859, with these members : Edward Esler, Ste- phen D. Colley, Joseph F. Hill, Albert T. Griffiths, Iliram K. Gaynor, James R. Bogert, Samuel N. McDonald, George W. Heritage, James Montgomery, John Wallace, Isaac L. Meyer, David Tuttle, Thomas Dorsey, John Hawkins and Thomas Shirlan. These additional names were on the roster when the company was mustered out : Elisha T. Conover, Richard R. Conover, Geo. Martin, James Helme, George Eubrey, Joseph L. Hoffman, George W. Bell, Horace Webster, Thomas Howell, Isaac Bolborough, William Neefus and Henry T. Mogridge.


Palisade Engine Co. No. 3, of Hudson City, became No. 11, of Jersey City, and lay in Franklin Street. The company was organized May 20, 1863, the original members being : Henry Hasted, E. Tebbenhoff, J. Bracklein, P. Adams, Il. Comens, J. Feiler, J. Pfore, J. Berger,


119


HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.


C. Freiknecht, C. Heine, II. C. Ranft, B. Goll. When the company was disbanded these addi- tional names were on the roll : S. Grunan, C. Reineman, Henry Brantigam, E. Wileke, E. Blume, John Prigge, A. Stovessner, John Wright, M. V. Mora, C. Schildwachter, G. Kriener, J. Reil- back, C. Off, J. Reinhart, Emile Steger, George Schlade and Henry Shaffel.


Hibernia Engine Co. No. 4, of Hudson City, became No. 12 after consolidation. The members mustered out in 1871 were : Thomas Reddington, Edward Hopper, James Varley, Patrick Anderson, Charles Willson, J. R. Tate, Robert McDonnell, Michael Magee, Philip Blumm, Patrick H. Lyons, Robert Elwood, Robert H. Gorbuth, William Brown, Charles Boll- decker, John H. Besta, John Haughey, Joseph Boyer, Angustus Wood, Thomas Sloyan, Chris- topher Karhoff, Lawrence B. Fagan, William McCarthy, Barnwell Sweetingham, Robert Flat- tery, Hugh Mellon, James Coyle, Frank A. Van Horbeck, Lawrence J. Walsh, Thomas McNeil, Patrick Sullivan, Alfred Zabriskie, Thomas MeCarthy, William D. Gregory, Charles Morgan, Lawrence Collett, Hiram MeNiff and John Dickson.


American Hose Co. No. 1, of Hudson City, became No. 5, of Jersey. It lay in Bergenwood Avenue. The final roll call showed these members : Walter Rogers, Thomas Wood, Anton Schick, John Boyd, Thomas Hardy, M. C. Hardy, Robert McGue, Randolph Schuchart. George Wagner, William J. MeClave, Andrew Bittner, John Schuchart, Jr., William Smith, F. H. Book- staver, John Moran, Thomas Hennessy, Frederick Gelting, James Mende, John Engles, John Olter, John Steele and James Pendergast.


Eagle Hose Co. No. 2, of Hudson City. lay on Palisade Avenue and became No. 6, of the Jersey City department, in 1871. It was organized November 12, 1859. The last mem- bers were: Stephen P. Yoe, Edward B. Jones, Theodore Tasheira, Theodore W. Edwards, Nathaniel Smith, John II. Heritage, William Greenleaf, August Nesteer, Henry Morgan, John S. Edwards, John C. Clark, Frederick C. Yoe, William A. Armstrong, Albert Dayton and Will- iam Cashman.


Hudson Hose Co. No. 3, of Hudson City, was housed in Washington Avenue and became No. 7 on consolidation. The final membership was: John Rudolph, Frederick Baker, John H. Niebuhr, George J. Elwood, A. Dunken, H. M. Kattenhorn, J. Schweader, H. Brashel, A. Shippert, G. P. Krehbell, W. II. Van Ogen, A. Bloomstock, G. F. Kattenhorn, C. Ohlandt, John Camp, Jr., John Mccullough, J. A. Wolf and Martin Fox.


West End Hose Co. No. + lay at West End, on Newark Avenue. It became No. 8 of the new department. The final roll in 1871 had these names: William Oerling. Frederick Rodsfeld, George Schober, Joseph Autenreith, Henry Klein, John Schwerty, Charles Becht, John Hoersch, Henry Schmale, George Dover, Ernst Brinkmayer, Nicholas Tiedemann, Fred. Vogel, William O. Loery.


Hudson Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2, of Hudson City, lay on Palisade Avenne and be- came No. 4 of the new department. The final roll was : A. L. Lennon, J. De Temple, W. J. Robinson, E. Sharp, J. Pattison, G. Smith, J. O Lynch, J. R. Gillen, J. W. Robinson, P. Ban- hard, C. F. Kiessling, Fesber D. Asthumer, J. W. Hyde, D. Farrington, P. Farrington, J. Fenton, A. Siegfried, Edward Quinn, Thomas Nolan, George Murphy, Thomas Coffey, James Jollie.


Vesta Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3. of Hudson City, was located on Newark Avenne, between the court house and Palisade Avenue. The final roll was: Henry C. Thomas, C. Whyrate, R. M. Packer, William Dunbar, John Lowenberg, H. M. Thomas, Henry Smith, William Payne, Jolin J. Toffey, John R. Dewar, John Walters, J. B. Hunt, James Glass, S. J. Austin, W. D. Reynolds, Alvin Graff, John Cornell, P. W. Levering, E. L. Kimberly, L. F. Ward and John Flaherty.


Franklin Engine Co. No. 1, of Bergen, became No. 13 after consolidation. It was housed on Bowden Avenue. The final roll call was : William Scrivens, James Hughes, John McMahan, Esau L. Trotter, Francis McNichol, Michael Lemur, William McAllister, August Kresinger, John McBride, John McGeney, John F. Daab, Thomas Scrivens, Martin May, Adam Bender, James Coleman, Franklin Sheid, John Dunn, Christopher Wagenhals, Thomas Boys, Lewis Schanek, Joseph Franklin, George Lusch, Thomas Palmer, Robert Boxhall, Charles Kelly, Joseph Mckean, John V. Burke, Michael Farrell, Patrick Aully, John Campbell, Henry Windecker, James Russell, John Moran, Michael Mulligan, Timothy O'Sullivan, E. T. B. Wakeman, Joseph Ryan, George Maturin, Thomas R. McKee, James Soper, Charles Koeble,


120


HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.


Alfred Maturin, John Burns, Thomas Kearney, John Langdon, Bernard Thornton, Frederick Rivle and John Staples.


Lafayette Engine Co. No. 2, of Bergen, lay on Halladay Street ; was No. 14, of Jersey City. It was organized April 11, 1866. The roll bore these names at disbandment: A. L. Martin, Howard Slater, Franeis Clark, J. B. Cleveland, Simeon M. Ayres, William F. Snow. William Van Keuren, A. A. Woodward, John R. Halliday, Garrett Van Horn, Franklin Mallory, Frederick Storm, M. S. Roe, M. G. Van Buskirk, Albert W. Powell, Edward S. Allison, John E. Halliday, Charles E. Knoeller, G. C. Mechin, John Henry, E. Cowper, John Woods, John Vile, G. V. H. Brinkerhoff, Isaac B. Culver, Cornelius Vreeland, George R. Hillier, Seth G. Babeoek, Robert W. Moore, Russell W. Woodward. James Diekson, John Arbuekle, James A. Britten, John Westervelt, John W. Welsh, James Barton, James Bloy, William Ferguson, John Hudson, John P. Culver, William H. Case, John C. Smith, Peter Ritscher, William H. Nieve, Gardner O. Kimball, William A. Kimball, Richard W. Buren. Charles M. Watkins, James H. Dolly, Reese Hughes, James MeDougall, Charles S. Wilson, James Stevens, Isaac Freese, Jr., Cornelius A. King, John O'Donnell, Alpheus L. King, Joseph Vile, Edward H. Curtis, John H. Cable, James R. Hillier, Richard M. C. Broas, C. C. Humphreys, Wesley H. Lovell, Edwin Fowler.


Columbian Engine Co. No. 3, of Bergen, became No 15. The company was organized November 10, 1868. It lay on Tuers Avenue. The membership was: Asa A. Ashley, Walter B. Gurney, William G. Hauser, Henry L. Newkirk, Daniel R. Van Riper, Jr., John M. Parks, William H. Tise, William S. Okie, Thomas D. Mills, Abram P. Bush, John M. Van Winkle, Joseph Prior, Cornelius L. Post, Jacob Sip, Edward N. Wilson, John P. Lewis, Joseph N. Crane, John A. Van Gelder, Moses Townley, Louis B. Du Bois, B. Mortimer Franks, Edward Wilson, Adelis E. Ryan, Charles H. Perrine, Philemon Hounnel, Jan.es R. Morehouse, Daniel Goslin, William H. Giles, William H. Thomas, George Piatt, D. Van Wart, Isaac Taylor, Albert Kreinere and Frederick Schott.


Claremont Hose Co. No. 1, of Bergen, was organized April 27, 1869. It was housed on Columbia Street. The membership as No. 9, of Jersey City, was: John P. Lowe, Samuel A. Besson, Andrew G. Smith, Sidmon T. Keese, John E. Heywood, John F. Klumpp, Frank M. Bartleman, Joseph B. Bartleman, William B C. Carpenter, Allen I. Clark. John M. Chamber- lain, George Coppell, Abraham H. Clark, George W. Daumont, Charles H. Daniels, James A. Daumont, James C. Daniels, James Fleming, Edward Floyd, Stephen Hoff, Peter Henderson, Henry B. Laidlaw, Charles V. Martin, John R. Mullany, John R. Onderdonk, John H. Simonson, Robert L. Smith, William J. Tait, A. W. Turnbull, James J. Henderson, Peter P. Turnbull, James Halsey, John Reid, George L. Kernaghan, Wilbur N. Wickham, Andrew Reid, John L. Parker, Joshua Clark, William W. Remmey, Daniel F. Bumsted, John V. R. Vreeland.


Bergen Hook and Ladder Co. No. I was organized December 17, 1863, and became No. 6 of the Jersey City foree. The roll contained these names : J. V. R. Vreeland, D. L. Holder, C. H. Fash, J. A. Alexander, W. S. L. Jewett, Alexander Bonnell, J. J. Van Riper, S. Stevens, S. McBurney, Philemon D. Haight, J. A. Hilton, F. H. Bluxome, W. Wand, A. Thompson, C. E. Laidlaw, A. Daumont, J. W. Gilmore, Thomas D. Harrison, E. B. Price, J. W. Soper, J. Romaine, A. J. C. Foye, R. P. Percy, A. Romaine, J. L. Hallenbeck, G. E. Baxter, A. Powell, W. H. Gilder, J. V. B. Vreeland, George Tirre, Jr., John Warner, Jr., D. T. Holley, E. M. Allen, J. B. Loveland, Joseph Godfrey, C. H. Raebergh. Jr .. J. D. Romain. D. W. Palmer, J. W. Thomas, A. C. Learned, William Hepsley. David Toffey.


Union Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2 was housed on Sackett Street near the Plank Road. Its roll contained these names: William Welsh, Charles P. Knowles. B. F. Welsh, George J. Lang- worthy, William Hanbury, J. N. Rapp, Benjamin Van Keuren, P. H. Tealing, James Hether- ington, H. S. Dickerson, E. W. Brown, George Sip, Peter Messereny, Hugh Muir, A. M. Vree- land, William Hill, Barney Bonner, Daniel Rapp, Christopher Sip. Alford Jones, Gat. A. Vree- land, William Pearcy, H. V. Mandeville, W. H. Bumsted, Godfrey Jogurs, John Shopp, Edward Jones, C. G. Vreeland, Jr., Robert Moffitt, H. Campbell, Patrick Kinlon, Charles Choplin, M. D. Vreeland. Charles Nobt, Joseph Wyks, Samuel Baile, Louis F. Garson, James Soper, Jacob Ebert, De Witt Shaffer, Jabez Wakeman, William Twaits, Richard A. Vreeland, Alford Van Winkle, J. C. Vreeland, Robert Blewitt, J. C. Westervelt, Energy Berry.


Sherwood Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3 was located in Union Truck House. The roll was :


121


HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.


Humphrey Price, Francis Henry, Thomas Brynes, Patrick Wall, James Coyle, James Mc- Conigly, Patrick Donoghue, John McGuire, James Ward, John Grant, Henry Conbery, Daniel Martin, Richard Macwell, Thomas Markey, Edward Hays, John Bullwinkle, Jeremiah Mahoney, Michael Covington, Charles Smith, Patrick O'Brien, Michael Nolan, John Duffey, Dawson Roberts, Roland ('Maras, James Munroe, Thomas McRay, Patrick Dawson, James Walsh.


OFFICERS OF THE VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT.


The first chief engineer of the fire department was Samuel Bridgart, who was appointed by resolution of the board of selectmen on February 5, 1835. There was only one company at that time, and Charles Scott was the foreman. The first fire after his appointment Bridgart attempted to assume command, but the summary manner in which Foreman Scott prevented him from interfering convinced him that he had better act as chief emeritus. The office of chief was not regularly created until December 4, 1840, when the common council passed an ordinance to reorganize the fire department. There were then two companies, and they enjoyed a continual feud. There was some misunderstanding about the ordinance, and Liberty No. 1 made the only nominations for the election held January 19, 1841. These were John Scott for chief engineer and John Thane for assistant. When the votes were counted it was found that Arreseoh had voted for Scott, but had ignored Thane and voted for Walter Lamb as assistant. A dispute over the result showed that Arrescoh had most members, but the common council left the position vacant. The next election was held on May 12, 1842. Timothy L. Smith was elected chief and Joseph W. Morgan assistant. On May 18, 1843, Smith was re-elected, with William A. Pollard as assistant. They were re-elected the two succeeding years. On May 4, 1846, Pollard became chief and Jonathan J. Durant assistant. They were re-elected the follow- ing year. On May 5, 1848, Pollard was re-elected, with William Coleman as assistant. They were re-elected in 1849. In 1850 the city was divided into two fire districts and there were two assistants. After an exciting canvass William Sanderson was elected chief and George Mor- row and William Bumsted first and second assistants. This result was achieved by a com- bination between Liberty, Arreseoh and Empire Truck, and Hercules, and Hudson Hose protested. , An investigation showed irregularity, and a special election was held for chief and first assistant, Bumsted's election having been conceded. At this special election Jacob Z. Marinus was elected chief and John l'ost assistant. There was no opposition, but there was not a majority of all the firemen in the ballot, the companies who had elected Sanderson refusing to vote. The common council filled the vacancy by appointing Phineas C. Dummer as chief and confirming Bumsted, leaving a vacancy. The annexation of Van Vorst added Harsimus Engine No. 1 to the department, and on September 16, 1851, the two departments were consolidated. From that time until consolidation there were four chiefs, Thomas W. Moorehouse, 1851-53; Samuel A. French, 1853-62; Samuel C. Mclaughlin, 1863-66; John Coyle, 1867-70.


The Jersey City Commissioners of the Volunteer Department were :


Dudley S. Gregory, Jr., 1857. John B. Haight, 1862.


C. C. Martindale, 1857.


William A. Fisher, 1863.


William White, 1857.


John Rooney, 1865.


Charles Seott, 1857-61-8.


John Egan, 1865-6.


James M. Clark, 1857.


Salmon W. Hoyt, 1866.


Thomas Royle, 1858.


John MeGuigan, 1867.


James K. Morgan, 1858.


Robert Duffy, 1869.


James F. Fielder, 1859-64. Bernard MeGuigan, 1860.


Joseph W. Strober, 1869.


Frederick P. Budden was Clerk during the time the board existed.


THE PAID DEPARTMENT.


In 1870 the departments of the three cities were consolidated under the direction of Chief Coyle and the Jersey City fire commissioners. The board met in the hall on the upper floor of the city hall during its existence. The numbers of the companies were changed, and where the names were duplicated, these also were changed. The fire alarm telegraph was purchased


122


HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.


soon after consolidation, but the volunteer force was not adapted for such a large area. When the legislative commission was appointed, steps were at once taken to organize a paid depart- ment. The new board met in the parlor of One Truck, at the corner of Grand and Van Vorst streets for several months, and while they met in that room the change was effected. All of the buildings and apparatus that belonged to individual companies were bought and paid for by the city. The apparatus was inspected, and many engines and other apparatus were condemned and sold. Steamers were substituted for hand engines, and horse power for transportation. The number of companies was reduced, and a dual system adopted. The working force for each company was uniformed, paid, and required to remain in the engine-house. A supple- mental force known as " buffaloes " was organized for each company. These semi-volunteers were paid $75 a year, and had a foreman for each company. It was their duty to respond to every alarm and to do fire duty the same as the full-paid force. Within a few months after organization the fire commissioners had the parlors of the old Harsimus Engine house on Bay Street fitted up for headquarters, and they have remained there ever since. The department suffered from political changes for several years, but on March 24. 1885, the firemen's tenure of office act became a law, and since then there have been no violent changes on account of politics. The force has steadily improved from that time in discipline and efficiency. Later a law was enacted by which firemen injured in the service were pensioned, and superannuated men were retired on half pay. The funds arising from payments made by insurance companies under a State law were placed in the hands of trustees for the benefit of sick firemen and the widows and orphans of firemen. These were wise laws, and helped to improve the personnel of the force. Improvements were made from time to time in the apparatus, and each increased its efficiency. It would require too much space to cnumerate the changes that have been made, but they have reduced the time required to reach a fire, and systematized the work to be done after the fire is reached. No part of the city administration has been more appreciated or better deserved the praise obtained.


The annual appropriations for the department have been :


1871


$113,875


1883


$89,999


1872


143,700


1884.


92,399


1873


149,430


1885


96,999


1874


130,000


1886


94,999


1875


125,000


1887


105,149


1876


127,000


1888


102,150


1877


117,150


1889


104,499


1878


109,000


1890


114,299


1879


84,999


1891


143,599


1880


84,999


1892


154,249


1881


94,999


1893


166,133


1882


84,999


1894


159,55º


The present force consists of I chief engineer, I assistant engineer, 2 battalion chiefs, I inspector of horses, I superintendent of telegraph, 5 telegraph linemen, 14 engineers, 14 stokers, 14 steamer drivers, 14 tender drivers, 5 hook and ladder drivers, 14 permanent hosemen, 14 permanent truckmen, 5 tillermen, 19 foremen, and 133 men-at-call, known as " buffaloes."


The apparatus consists of 12 steam fire engines, 5 hook and ladder trucks, one of which is an ærial, 2 chemical engines, 6 hose wagons, 6 hose tenders, and 13 houses. The force is divided into two battalions, and at the first aların 4 engines and i hook and ladder respond : at the second aların 2 additional engines and i hook and ladder respond ; at a third alarm 2 more engines turn out. A general alarm is responded to by the whole department.


There are three bell towers, and alarm boxes in all parts of the city, all connected by tele- graph. The boxes give the alarm by a code which is repeated in every fire house. The houses are thoroughly equipped with appliances for use at fires, to seenre speed in responding to alarms and for the comfort of the men. The department has reached a high degree of efficiency. The majority of buildings in the city are built of wood. This was made necessary in a large measure in the earlier days on account of bad foundations in made land that had been reclaimed


123


HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.


from the meadows. This increased the danger and tried the efficiency of the department. The following table affords a birdseye view of the work accomplished :


Alarms.


Bell.


Still.


False.


Loss. $79,610


Insurance. $156,000


1872


151


109


42


13


875,061


276,275


1873


169


81


88


6


175,031


289,227


1874


189


106


83


10


103,359


327,556


1875


194


105


89


6


150,436


250.977


1876


221


106


115


IO


113,662


164,986


1877


162


73


89


7


34,70I


137,600


1878


173


80


93


11


220,065


319,335


1879


185


So


105


4


36,123


300,785


1880


219


98


121


I


85,470


297,149


1881


200


89


120


8


20,091


112,695


1 882


267


122


145


13


255,618


669,281


1883


253


108


145


5


563,439


393,471


1884


255


110


145


I


376,709


288,822


1885


241


133


108


4


173,104


129,291


1886


280


153


127


3


472,440


397,147


1887


130


150


1


186,861


161,445


1888


277


147


1 30


3


81,134


71,994


1889


251


138


113


3


407,448


344,848


1890


261


142


119


6


189,492


109,370


189


386


193


193


6


394,818


369,785


1892


421


245


176


5


628,933


584,811


1893


383


224


159


1 2


197,482


479,876


1894


245


149


96


7


423,676


968,416


5,739


2,981


2,758


141


$6,244,763


$7,601,142


The Commissioners who have held office in the Fire Board since the paid department was created have been :


John H. Carnes


1871-72


T. Leather


1879-85


D. S. Gregory, Jr.


1871-73


J. Brennan


1880-86


T. W. Tilden


1871-73


M. Kuntz


1880-81


John Boyd


1871-74


C. J. Speck


1 880-84


A. B. Dean


1871-74


J. Egan . 1881-85


J. B. Drayton


1872-75


G. Isley 1881-86


T. C. Speers .


1873-76


J. H. Henderson 1884-93


A. J. Martin


1874-77


D. J. Burke


1885-87


F. P. Budden .


1875-76


P. H. Madden


1886-89


J. J. Van Riper


1876-77


J. Conway 1886-91


W. A. Fisher


1876-77


J. Guiton


1887-89


J. Mechan


1877-79


R. Quinlan


1889


C. H. Parsons


1877-78


J. H. Brown


1889-91


E. O'Donnell


1877-80


W. F. Kern


1890


S. M. Ayres .


1877-80


J. J. Donnelly


1891-94


J. MeDonough


1878-80


J. Brennan


1893-97


B. MeCarty


1879-81


T. D. Mills


1894-96


C. A. Roe .


1879-81


7


6


1871


67


60


J. S. Edwards


1874-77


D. F. Shea


1885-89


C. L. Krugler


1877-79


T. D. Mills


1887-89


S. W. Stilsing


1873-77


H. Windecker 1881-87


124


HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.


The Clerks have been :


T. W. Tilden (temporary) 1872


J. T. Denmead 1871-77 J. T. Denmead (acting) . 1889


J. B. Doremus . 1877-80


S. M. Ayers (temporary) 1880


J. I. Van Alst, Jr. 1880-89


C. Esterbrook 1889-95


The present loeations of the companies are :


Engines-No. 1, Warren near Morgan ; No. 2. Morris near Warren ; No. 3, Mercer near Grove; No. 4, First near Coles ; No. 5, Sixth near Coles ; No. 6, Henderson near Twelfth ; No. 7, Summit Avenne near St. Pauls; No. 8, Ege Avenue near Ocean ; No. 9, Bergen Avenue eor. Duncan ; No. 10, Halladay near Communipaw ; No. 11, South near Central Avenue ; No. 12, Summit Avenue near St. Pauls; No. 13, Linden Avenue near Old Bergen Road ; No. 14, Webster Avenue near Franklin.


Hook and Ladder Companies-No. 1, Van Vorst cor. Grand; No. 2, Ninth near Grove ; No. 3, Webster Avenne near Franklin ; No. 4, Ocean Avenne near Dwight; No. 5, Communi- paw Avenue near Monticello.


NEW JERSEY CENTRAL RAILROAD FERRY IN 1865.


CHAPTER XXI.


THE POLICE DEPARTMENT-THE OLD WATCHMEN-HUDSON RIVER FORCE ORGANIZED-A STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY-THE CHANGES MADE BY POLITICS-TENURE OF OFFICE ACT-REORGANIZATION -THE PRESENT FORCE-LIST OF COMMISSIONERS, OFFICIALS AND APPROPRIATIONS.


RIOR to consolidation the police force of Jersey City was of a very primitive character. The first attempt to maintain a force was made in May, 1829, when Hiram S. Meeker. Lewis Randolph, Isaac Seaman, Charles Schriver, James Pollard, John Post and Lorenzo Jaquins were appointed as watchinen. They wore no uniform nor badge of office. They were simply citizens who were authorized to preserve the peace, and acted when called upon. For a number of years after their first annual appointment expired there were no officers, and the constables were relied upon to do police duty. In 1837 four night watchmen were appointed, and City Marshal Ellis was the only officer on duty during the daytime. The watchmen were paid a dollar a night for nights they served, and there was so little for them to do that in 1838 the number was reduced to three. These were John Lyon, John Watson and James Mccutcheon. Even this force became burden- some, and it was reduced to one night watch- man. In 1840 there were half-a-dozen watch- men-at-call, who were paid for their services at the rate of a dollar a day. In 1844. R. M. Du- rant, W. A. Pollard and James McDonald were appointed as watchmen and lamplighters at sal- aries of $32 a month. In the following year Pollard was made captain, and with the other two formed the police force. With three of equal authority nothing was accomplished. That year the watch were ordered to call the hours during the night. In 1848 the common council was authorized to appoint watchmen-at- FIRST POLICE STATION. call up to a maximum of fifty. These men were to be paid for any service rendered. The power to appoint was the outcome of disturb- ances caused by tough characters from New York, who invaded the city periodically. In 1849 the force was increased to ten men, five for day and five for night service. The pay allowed was $3.50 per man each week. On August 10, 1849, a more pretentious effort was made. Benja- min F. Champney was appointed captain, William Anness, assistant-captain, and the regular force of four men was augmented by the appointment of two chancemen and five men-at-call. In 1850 the foree was again divided into day and night men. The captain was paid $23 a month, the assistant $20, and the patrolmen Sis. In 1851 Champney was reappointed and Joseph MeManus was made assistant. Twenty-four watchmen were appointed that year, and the force wore uniform caps and carried clubs.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.