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 63
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The DAVIDSON OFFICE BUILDING has a frontage of 70 feet on Montgomery Street and 50 feet on Washington Street. It is a four-story and cellar brick, and was for- merly known as the " Fleming Building." It was renovated in May, 1893, by its agents, the Real Estate Trusts Co., for its owner, Daniel Finn, trustee for Elizabeth Smith, to the present superbly appointed office home of the following lawyers and business men : the Lembeck & Betz Eagle Brewing Co., Dennis Gallegher, Chas. G. Rochat, Hudspeth & Puster, Zachau & Trotter, Jr., Robert Carey, John W. Bis- sell, Lewis H. Broome, Fred. S. Dunn, Van Buskirk & Parker, Wm. C. Gebhardt, Chas. Woodbury & Co., Union Mutual Fire DAVIDSON BUILDING. Insurance Co., Barber Asphalt Paving Co., Alex. Simpson, Warren Dixon, Nathan J. Conover, Frank P. MeDermott, Louis H. Vultee, Dehli & Chamberlin, Dayton & Atkinson, and others.
The WELDON BUILDING is one of the most conspicuous structures in the city. It is a large, five-story brick building on the northwesterly corner of Washington and Montgomery streets. The frontage on Montgomery Street is 150 feet. and on Washington Street it is 50 feet. The erection was begun on June 15, 1887, and work was completed on May 1, 1889. There are 110 offices and seven stores in the building. It is steam-heated, electrically-lighted and provided with an elevator. It is a popular office building for lawyers.
WM. LOFT COMPANY'S CANDY WORKS. The founder of this business, Mr. William Loft (according to the New York Directory), was in business in 1861, and a well-known resident of Jersey City for twenty-six years, doing business at No. 54 Barclay Street, New York, manufac-
HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
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turing and exporting confectionery to all parts of the civilized world. Realizing the import- ance of Jersey City as a receiving WW LOFT and distributing centre, he had erected for the company one of the handsomest and most substantial Co factories in Jersey City, containing a fine plant, with a capacity of over 100 tons weekly.
The company has a paid-up capi- tal of $100,000, and employs a large number of hands. Their goods are well and favorably known; find a ready market throughout the United States, all England, Cape of Good Hope, Aus- tralia, New Zealand, South Amer- ica and the West Indies. They have a branch house in London, England, located at No. 40 Hatton Garden.
MORGAN & SONS. The piano establishment of Morgan & Sons is the oldest and largest concern of its kind in Jersey City. The house was originally established in New York City in 1860 by William Morgan, and was re- moved to this city in 1870. In 1877 he admitted his two sons, Samuel and William H. Morgan, to an interest in the business ; the firm since then has been conducted under the name of Morgan & Sons. They still occupy the original building at the corner of Grove
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WM. LOFT COMPANY'S BUILDING.
and Ninth streets. It is a three-story briek strnc- ture, two floors of which are occupied for the business of the firm. On the first floor is located the office and the show rooms for new instru- ments ; the second floor is devoted to storage of old pianos, etc., and the repair shop is here located. The building has been altered and in- creased in size from time to time, as the require- ments demanded.
William Morgan, the founder, was born in England, August 28, 1818. He came to America in 1842, locating in New York, where he found employment in a large carpet establishment. Hle remained in the employ of that concern for several years, when he resigned to accept a more lucrative position in the furniture business. AAfter filling that position for some time, his services were sought by several large piano manufacturers. Being of a frugal disposition, he managed to save a few hundred dollars, and
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WILLIAM MORGAN.
1894
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
engaged in business for himself, opening a grocery store which he conducted about six years. Not finding that business suitable to his tastes, he sold out in the spring of 1858, losing all he had invested. He resumed work at the piano trade. By strict economy he managed to save enough from his scanty earnings to liquidate his old indebtedness in full. In 1860 he again entered into the piano business on his own account.
The volume of business annually transacted by Messrs. Morgan & Sons will aggregate nearly $100,000.
MR. JAMES LEO was born in the town of Winsted, Litchfield County, Conn., June 3, 1849. His education was limited to the district schools of that village, and at an early age he located in the West. Not finding in that section all that he had expected, he returned East, and at twenty-one years of age entered a paper-box factory in New Britain, Conn., in which he spent about five years. He was then offered a position in New York City, which he accepted. He was with the firm four years, rose rapidly in business, paid careful attention to all practical methods for doing the work, and after passing through various positions for a few years, he started business for himself in paper-box making in Jersey City, January 1, 18SI, at the corner of York and Greene streets. Two years after his entrance into business he found his quarters too small, and was compelled to seek a larger factory, which he found at 181 and 185 Grand Street, where he spent seven years. Success has crowned his efforts.
The factory at 181 and 185 Grand Street became too small, and in 1889 he built and occu- pied his present large factory at Varick and Grand streets. This factory is one of the most complete establishments of its kind in the State, if not in the country. Two hundred and fifty persons, two-thirds of whom are young women and girls, find employment in it. The factory contains 60-horse boiler for steam-power, and 40-horse boiler for heating ; repair shop, etc .; lin- ing machine for lining strawboards, and baling machine for baling waste ; machine for inixing and making paste. The first floor contains offices, engine rooms and general stock depart- ment ; an elevator for shipping and another for receiving. Within three years after the com- pletion of this building Mr. Leo was compelled to add an annex, 25x70 feet. The floors are simply an extension of the main building. The second floor contains machines for cutting, scoring, trimming, cornering, folding, slitting and rewinding. The third and fourth floors are finishing departments, where the boxes are put together, covered and completed. These floors also contain machines for gluing, pasting and wire-stitching; also machines that fasten the corners with paper or cloth, producing almost instantly a corner finish, stronger, better and quicker than that accomplished by hand. There are machines for covering boxes with paper from rolls, in any color or in any size, and with different colors at the same time.
The printing department is in a separate building connected with the third floor, and contains 160 fonts of job type and four presses. The stable contains five excellent horses, and four wagons are in constant use. All these extensive departments are conducted under the immediate supervision of Mr. Leo, and reflect the highest credit upon his management and business ability.
CHRIST MARTENS was born in Germany on January 15, 1852. He came to this country in 1871. He secured employment in Brooklyn, and remained there until 1888, when he came to Jersey City, and established his present business at 381 Communipaw Avenue. His business prospered, and he has been compelled to enlarge his plant. It now embraces three lots and ex- tensive stables. His bakery requires 175 barrels of flour daily, and his trucking and delivery outfit consists of nine wagons and twelve horses.
HARRY LOUDERBOUGH, proprietor of the New Jersey Paint Works, located at the corner of Wayne and Fremont streets, Jersey City, was born in Bristol, Pa., in 1845. He has been a resi- dent of Jersey City since 1866, at which time he accepted a position in the employ of the Mor- ris Canal Company. After remaining in the employ of the canal company for three years he connected himself with Mr. Charles A. Woolsey. After Mr. Woolsey established himself in the paint business Mr. Louderbough was engaged to introduce the goods on the road, and after a faithful service of about twenty years in the employ of that gentleman, in 1889 he established
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PAPER BOXES.
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JAMES LEO CO., BOX MANUFACTORY, JERSEY CITY.
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F. W. PAYNE BUILDING, JERSEY CITY.
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FISS. DOERR & CO.'S LIVERY, SALES AND EXCHANGE STABLES, JERSEY CITY.
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NEW JERSEY PAINT WORKS, HARRY LOUDERBOUGH, PROP.
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MINERAL WATER ESTABLISHMENT OF LOUIS T. STEINBERGER.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
the large plant of the New Jersey Paint Works, which is one of the most important manufact- uring industries in Jersey City. The establishment manufactures the largest and inost varied line of marine paint specialties and lead, zinc, oil colors, mixed paints, etc. His long and ex- tensive acquaintance with dealers in the paint market has given Mr. Louderbough opportunities of placing his goods in all the large cities of the United States and foreign countries. His name is a positive guarantee as to the reliability of his products. The illustration of the New Jersey Paint Works presented herein gives the reader some idea of the magnitude of the plant.
DR. OLIVER PHELPS BROWN. The well-known proprietary medicine house of Dr. O. Phelps Brown, 45 and 47 Grand Street, was established in 1850, and is one of the old business land- marks of Jersey City.
Dr. Brown was a native of Vermont, and, in conformity with his natural bent, his early education or studies were allowed to vibrate between the two pursuits he seemed equally adapted to, namely, the medical profession and journalism, until, through the misfortune of becoming an orphan, he was obliged for the time being to suspend his medical studies, and to go forth to earn a livelihood, and seek his fortune in a broader field than his native Green Mountain State could yield him.
His first business venture was in Connecticut, where he started The New Britain Journal, which under his management became one of the most promising daily papers of that State.
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A favorable opportunity induced him to dispose of this paper, and coming to New York in 1839, he established The Empire City, which also, under his able management, in due time grew into a sub- stantial business enterprise.
Having now acquired the means to enable him to resume his suspended studies in medicine, he disposed of his second paper, and began to pre- pare himself for the profession which had been his life's ambition to achieve.
Becoming, in the pursuit of his medical studies, thoroughly imbued with the conviction that Nature's herbs, roots and juices contain a healing balm for every wound and ill that mortal flesh is heir to, he zealously entered into the work of forming a "Complete System of Standard Herbal Remedies," which he placed upon the market, and which soon became widely known for their ster- ling qualities and real merit.
OLIVER PHELPS BROWN.
In 1851 he removed from New York to Jersey City, and, selecting the site at 19 and 21 (now 45 and 47) Grand Street, he commenced on an extensive scale the manufacture of his now well-known " Ten Standard Herbal Remedies." These medicines became popular in America and Europe.
Dr. Brown went to London, and established a branch concern at No. 2 King Street, Covent Garden (now removed to 61 Chandos Street, Strand), which branch supplies the foreign trade, and quickly grew to equal proportions with the parent plant.
The specialties are now sold all over the world, and flourishing agencies are established in Africa, Australia, South America, Canada, etc.
Dr. Brown's next labor was that of producing his "Complete Herbalist ; or, The People Their Own Physician," a book of over 500 pages, copiously illustrated. It was published in 1855, since which time the sale has reached, for a medical work, the unprecedented number of over half a million copies. It is one of the standard medical works of the day, and continues to have a steady sale.
Having always carried his equal affection for the press and his profession side by side, the printing departnient was, of course, a prominent feature of his business, wherein, beside the printing of his Complete Herbalist, all the matter for his business, etc., he also, in 1869, began
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to issue his annual "Shaksperian Almanac." illustrated with original euts, which immediately became, and has ever since remained, a very popular almanac, both in America and Europe.
In 1876 was started a semi-monthly, illustrated paper called The Growing World, which promised to be the greatest success of Dr. Brown's life. In two years its subscription list num- bered more than ten thousand. But, about this time, in the very midst of an energetic, useful and successful career, with a business flourishing and rapidly increasing on both sides of the Atlantic, with ambitious and benevolent plans for endowing an institution in Jersey City, etc., he met with an accident which eventually proved fatal to his life.
The business is still carried on at 45 and 47 Grand Street, Jersey City, and 61 Chandos Street, Strand, London, England.
THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM. One of the most important industries of the city is the tele- phone system, both as a great business and as an aid in the transaction of the business of the community.
In 1878, and almost immediately after the art of transmission of the sound of the human voice by wire was discovered, a few of the foremost business men of the city made contracts with the then newly-organized Telephone Company to run wires, furnish instruments, and pro- vide a switch-board, with operators to make the necessary connection between their wires. This little exchange, opened on the top floor of the Fleming building, Washington and Montgomery streets, in a very small room, formed the nucleus of the telephone business in Jersey City and
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LONG DOCK STORES, 13TH AND PROVOST STREETS, JERSEY CITY.
throughout the northern and central parts of the State. From this little beginning, involving only a small capital and few employees, with the simple devices known at that time, there has grown a business of tremendous proportions. The growth of the exchange system was so rapid that the appliances adapted to the small exchange were discarded almost immediately as crude and unsuitable ; in fact, this condition has continued to exist during the past fourteen years, as no less than three changes of equipment have been made in this city, and still a fourth, entirely new in design, is now installed in the company's new building at the corner of Bay and Erie streets.
In this new exchange building every device has been adopted for the quick and sure con- nection together of telephone lines. All the wires in the closely built-up part of the city are brought to the office in underground conduits specially designed for the purpose. These con- duits are formed of creosoted wood, laid together in ducts or tubes in such numbers as may be required, with manholes, or testing stations, at intervals of 500 feet. Through these ducts wires encased in lead pipe, forming cables of 200 wires each, are drawn and connected directly between the switch-board and the subscriber's station, thus supplying in many eases a continu- ous wire unexposed to storms.
The means of intercourse opened up by the telephone has revolutionized business methods throughout the city. The telegraph, the next latest and next quickest method of transmission of information, is not only slow in comparison with the telephone, but it requires specially- trained employces for its manipulation.
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY TELEPHONE CO. BUILDING, JERSEY CITY.
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BUSSING & GRAEF
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ESTABLISHMENT OF BUSSING & GRAEF. JERSEY CITY.
VULCANIROLI WORKS.
BROWNS
PATENT
CLEETS
CHOCKS
FOUNDRY OF BROWN & MILLER. JERSEY CITY.
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VULCAN STEAM BOILER WORKS
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BOILER WORKS OF BROWN & MILLER, JERSEY CITY.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
The exchange system opens up great possibilities. Conversation can be carried on not only over the short lines of subscribers of any one exchange, but all the cities, most of the villages, and many of the hamlets of the State of New Jersey, are brought together within a minute of time of each other. States contiguous to New Jersey, and States lying far to the east and far to the west, are in turn brought together, and time and space eliminated. Any subscriber in Jersey City has the means in his hands of communicating with any one of the 200,000 telephone subscribers east of the Mississippi.
Through the system of pay-stations, dotted everywhere around the city, the transient user of the telephone may have, for the small price of a message, the company's expensive plant placed at his entire disposal. ʻ
The New York and New Jersey Telephone Company, conducting its business in Jersey City and other parts of New Jersey, has always been keenly alive to the fact that a satisfactory service can only be rendered to its patrons by means of good office equipment, good outside construction and efficient employees, who conscientiously, under proper discipline, do the work allotted to them.
The switch-board at the new exchange is one of the very latest in design and of the best workmanship ; the underground con- duits through the streets of the city are laid in accordance with the views and plans of the leading mechanical and electrical engi- neers of the day ; the home of the Telephone Exchange itself is noticeable, both from the ornamental character of its architecture and the substantial character of the building.
CHARLES S. FURST established a dry goods business in Jersey City, at 32 Newark Avenue, in 1873. It was a small business at first, but it grew until, in 1892, it required more room than any store in the city would afford. He then built his present place of business at 129-131 Newark Avenue. It is the most ornamental and extensive store in the city. In March, 1894, his brother Myron joined the firm, and it is now Furst Bros.
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THE DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE COMPANY is one of the most widely-known manufact- uring concerns in the country. The factories are in Newark, the main office at Fourteenth Street and Broadway, New York. The Jer- sey City office of the company is a landmark, FURST BUILDING. and a picture of it is given herewith. This company has sold over 20.000 machines in Hudson County. In connection with the Jersey City office there is a department for art needlework. The designs are all especially made for this department. The Domestic paper patterns are also provided to patrons of the Jersey City agency.
LONG DOCK STORES. The tobacco inspection and storage warehouses known as the Long Dock Stores form one of the largest blocks in Jersey City. They are situated at Thirteenth and Provost streets, and are connected with the terminal stations of the New York, Lake Erie & Western, and Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railways. There are branches of the storage and shipping departments at the corner of Clinton and South street, and at the foot of Grand Street, and on piers 48 and 55, East River, New York, and a bonded storehouse at Nos. 4 and 6 Jones Lane, New York. The main offices are at 60 Broad Street, New York. The old firm of Jarvis & Co., which organized the business, began operations in 1834. It grew under
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their management, but more notably under the direction of R. M. Jarvis, the present proprietor, until it is the largest of its kind in this country.
HUGH DUGAN was born in Ireland in 1832. He came to America in 1848, and for a number of years worked at his trade as a carpenter. He was assessor of the third district in Jersey City eight years, after which he was elected a member of the board of chosen freeholders, and served one year. He was then elected county collector, and still fills the office. He is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Jersey City in addition to his official duties. His family consists of his wife, one son and two daughters.
MICHAEL T. CONNOLLY was born in Jersey City on August 14, 1862. He was educated in
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JAMES RILEY'S REAL ESTATE OFFICE.
the parochial schools. He began business as a con- tractor and builder, and has since added real estate, and has been quite success- ful. He was married Jan- uary 12, 1891, to Miss Mary Kennelly, and they have one child, a boy. Mr. Con- nolly is a member of the Jersey City Board of Trade and of the Catholic Club.
JAMES RILEY was born in Ireland, November 6, 1858. He served his time and worked seven years as a steel rail maker. He has lived in this country twenty-five years, mainly in New York, Philadelphia and Jersey City. He is engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and has achieved success. He is a republican, and was elected a justice of the peace in 1893 in a deme- cratic district.
LORENZ KOPIDO was born in Baden, Germany, in 1833, and came to America in 1851, loeating at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., where he
resided until 1860, at which time he removed to Hoboken, N. J. When a young man, Mr. Kopido learned the trade of a silk examiner. He continued at his trade until 1869, when he removed to Lafayette (now a part of Jersey City), and engaged in the general dry goods and carpet business at the corner of Halliday and Lafayette streets. In 1870 he removed to 142 Pacific Avenue. His success was so rapid that he enlarged his store premises by building additions four different times. In 1889 he built the large business and flat structure at the northeast corner of Communipaw and Pacificavenues. The property has a frontage of seventy-five feet on each of the above avenues. The main or ground floor is oeen- pied by L. Kopido & Sons, and has an area of 22,000 square feet. Their establishment is the largest dry goods and carpet concern outside of Jersey City proper. Since the death of Mr. Kopido, which occurred June 16, 1894, the business has been continued the same as heretofore, Messrs. E. L. and Harry Kopido being the active partners.
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L. KOPIDO & SONS' DRY GOODS, CARPET AND FURNITURE WAREHOUSE.
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During his lifetime no citizen of Jersey City took a more active interest in the welfare of the city than the subject of this sketch. He was ever upright in all matters in private and commercial life, and was universally es- teemed by all who knew him.
In 1862 Mr. Kopido married Miss Cath- erine Wezsel, of Hoboken, N. J. She still survives him ; eight children were born to the union, five of whom are deceased.
JOHN H. FICKEN was born in Oldendorf, Amt Zelven, Hanover, Germany, July 13, 1840. When sixteen years of age he came to America and settled in Brooklyn, N. Y .. where he obtained a position as a clerk in a grocery store and remained five years. In 1862 he entered the service of the Pull- man Palace Car Company as a ticket agent at the Erie station in Jersey City. He retained that position until 1873, and in April of 1874 he decided to engage in business for himself. He opened a livery stable on Communipaw Avenue, where he remained until 1884, at which time he began the erection of his present structure at the corner of Arlington Avenue and Harmon Street, and which he has occu- pied ever since.
Mr. Ficken is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the American Legion of Honor and several other similar organizations.
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Livery Stable and Storage House of John H. Ficken, Jersey City.
On January 4, 1874, Mr. Ficken married Miss Lena Landmesser, daughter of Charles Landmesser, of New Brunswick, N. J. Mr. and Mrs. Ficken are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City, and are deeply interested in all christian and charitable work of that congregation.
EDWARD WALTER BURKE was born in Ireland in 1830. He removed to this city in 1848. He was in the employ of Samuel Mclaughlin and Gail & Murray until 1852, when he went to Middlesex County to take charge of the training of horses on the stud farm of Hon. Peter Voorhis. After several years he returned to Jersey City, and was in the employ of Cor- nelins Van Vorst, and later with Daniel McLeod. He went to Georgia later, and remained until 1862, when he returned to the employ of Samuel Mclaughlin. In 1864 he was manager of Gaffney's stables on Mercer Street. The following year he formed a partnership with N. Burrows, which continued until 1881, when he removed to his present well-known stables.
JAMES M. BENNETT was born at Bay Ridge, L. I., September 23, 1870. He was educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton's Livery Stable of E. W. Burke. Jer-ev City. Business College in Brooklyn. After gradna- tion he was for five years employed in a New York mercantile concern. On April 1. 1894, he became manager of the Jersey City branch of Fiss & Doerr's horse business. On January 1, 1895, he was admitted as a partner, and the
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