History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 41

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 41

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The site of Lockport was purchased at the sale of November 3 and 4, 1829, by James Spronl. It was niek-named Lockport in the early days, and was separated from the other land by Necius Pond, which is now entirely filled up and built over. Bedle's mill is on the pond. In 1844 there were one hundred houses upon it.

The doek was built by the Keyport Company in 1830, as before mentioned. They also built two sloops,-the "New Jersey" and the "Middle- town,"-which were run from Keyport to New York. As business increased others were added. On February 29, 1839, the company sold their doeks and business to Oliver Vanderbilt, of Castleton, Richmond County, N. Y., for seven thousand dollars. A line of stages was established in 1836 to run from Keyport to Long Branch, and on May 2, 1839, the low- pressure steamboat "Wave," commanded by Captain Joseph Stoney, commeneed making regular trips to New York, and in the next year a line of stages, to eonnect with the "Wave," was established to run from Keyport to Free- hold; the stage-office was at the hotel of William Jacques (the Pavilion).

The property passed to other hands, and on February 19, 1851, the Keyport Doek Com- pany was incorporated. The doeks were rebuilt, and the steamer "Minnie Cornell" was built to run to New York for both passengers and freight. It is still in use. A large amount of market produce is shipped daily from this doek.

The Farmers' Transportation Company was chartered November 20, 1865. The eorpora- tors were mostly farmers of Holmdel town- ship, who had large quantities of produee to ship. Joseph Rose was ehosen president, and Rufus Ogden seeretary. The present dock was built and the steamer "Holmdel" placed on the line. The doek and business was sold, in 1878, to G. W. Walling, superintendent of poliee of New York, who now owns it.

The Chingarora Dock Company was organ- ized in 1846, and built the dock called Chinga- rora Doek. The company was incorporated February 2, 1851. The "Golden Rule" and other sloops were built and put on the line. Abont 1875 the property passed to Captain George W. Johnson, and in 1881 to T. S. R. Brown, who now owns it.

One of the first enterprises of the old Keyport Company was the building of the hotel in 1832, as before noticed. Its location was on Front Street, nearly opposite the present post-office, on the site of John Sproul's bakery. It was kept by

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Primrose Hopping uutil about 1834. He was succeeded by Tobias S. Hendrickson. The hotel was uamed the Atlantic. On September 1, 1842, Tunis J. Ten Eyck, who had kept a public- house at Middletown Point, became landlord of the hotel. He was succeeded by John L. Doty, who was succeeded, in 1846, by Joseph J. Reeves, who kept it for a few years. After he retired it was kept by several, until its destruction by the fire of September 21, 1877. Jesse Coldrick, of Tom's River, had leased the property and was moving in at the time of the fire. It was not again rebuilt.

In 1840, William Jacques built the Pavilion Hotel, and kept it until his death, July 4, 1849, while engaged in firing a salute. The property passed to Elisha Thomson, by whom it was operated until destroyed by the fire of 1851. Mr. Thomson died the week after the fire aud the property was purchased by D. L. F. Schenck and rebuilt. It is now kept by Jacob Sickles.

The Mansion House was built by George Davison, of Burlington, N. J., who rented it. It was destroyed by fire in 1877 aud rebuilt. It is now carried on by - Van Mater.

The first grist-mill at Keyport was built in 1856 by Andrew McDowell. It is now owned by Stephen G. Lambertson. In 1867, James M. Burrowes and James Bedle erected the mill, now owned by James Bedle, on the site of Necius Pond.

On the site of the armory building, several years before that was erected, Uriah H. Dudley erected a canning-factory, which was used for a time, then burned, rebuilt and again destroyed by fire in February, 1877. Later, the citizens donated to Austin Nichols & Co., of New York, a lot of land on which to erect a canning-fac- tory, which was built aud continued until its destruction by fire, in 1880. The lot now be- longs to the village.

The Keyport post-office was established at Keyport March 12, 1833, with Leonard Walling postmaster. Captain Joseph D. Hoff had at that time opened a store on Front Street, nearly op- posite the present post-office, and the office was then kept in this store, with Captain Hoff as assistant postmaster. In 1835, Captain Hoff sold the business to Henry Seabrook, who was

appointed postmaster and served until 1856, when Dr. J. E. Arrowsmith was appointed and served until 1861, when Rufus Ogden, the present postmaster, was appointed.

The great pier of the Freehold and New York Railway at Keyport, which was built by that corporation in 1880, is a really magnificent structure, though at the present time very little business is done on it. It was built at the Keyport terminus of the railway, and extends out iuto Raritan Bay for a distance of nearly two thousand fect. No expense was spared to make the pier substantial, and to fully adapt it to the uses which it was intended to subserve. As it isa fine specimen of engineering skill, peculiarly unique in its construction (there being no other pier similar to it in this or any other country), a minute description of the structure is here given.

Crossing First Street, on the east side of the town of Keyport, at a point about midway be- tween Myrtle Avenue and Cedar Street, the railway runs, parallel with the two last-men- tioued streets, down to the shore of Raritan Bay. The company purchased of the State the riparian right to the bay-shore between Myrtle Avenue and Cedar Street. Bulkheads were erected along the shore extending one hundred and fifty feet outward into the bay, giving what is called the "bulkhead privileges," aud fur- nishing excellent advantages for loading and unloading small craft, such as sloops, schooners, canal-boats, etc. The depth of water at the outer edge of the bulkheads at mean high water is about eight feet, and at high water steamboats can have no difficulty in making a lauding there. The pier proper begins about seveuty- five feet back of high-water line and extending out into the bay eighteeu hundred and twenty- five feet, then defleets to the right, making a total length of nineteen hundred and twenty- five feet. For a distance of thirteen hundred fect from the shore end the structure is eighteen feet in width, fourtecu feet being occupied by tlie railway, and four feet by a foot-walk, which runs along the east side of the pier, pro- teeted by a guard-rail, three feet high, extend- ing along the easterly edge as a protection

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THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

against falling overboard into the water below. As has been already stated, the pier for thirteen hundred feet from the shore end is wide enough only to admit of a single track and a footway. Beyond that it gradually broadens for a distance of two hundred and sixty feet, and becomes forty-eight feet in width. The object of seeur- ing this additional width is to provide space for the laying of two side-tracks. The one on the west, or left side, leaves the maiu track first and furnishes some two hundred feet or more of parallel track before reaching the wharf proper, this to be used as a siding for unloading freight by gravity from the cars into scows, barges and other small craft. The east side-track leaves the main track at a point further forward, and becomes parallel therewith when it reaches the wharf proper. The construction of the pier for the two hundred and sixty feet referred to is of the same general character, in respect to bents, stringers, footway, etc., as that of the thirteen hundred feet already described.

The wharf proper begins fifteen hundred and sixty feet from the commencement of the pier, and is constructed as follows: The structure at this point broadens to a width of sixty-five feet, extending twenty-seven and one-half feet to the west of the main track and thirty-seven and one-half feet to the right of the same. It thus admits of three platforms,-the first twenty- two and one-half feet in width, situated on the westerly side, and to be used for freighting pur- poses ; the second beiug a passenger platform ten and one-half feet in width, between the main track and the easterly siding; the third being a freight platform thirteen and oue-half feet wide, and located just to the right of the easterly side-track. The bents of this portion of the pier reach the great length of sixty-five feet.

The forward end of the pier extends in a northeasterly direction, at an angle of thirty degrees with the main structure, so as to con- form to the direction of the channel of the bay, as well as to the course which the boat is to take in approaching or leaving the dock. This end of the pier is provided with two chutes for pas- senger purposes, the intention having been to make this part of the pier the main landing for

passengers. On each corner of the wharf proper are immense mooring or belaying piles, while at convenient intervals along the string piece are iron belaying-cleats. The outer end of the pier is projected to the northeast some cighty feet, forming a wing thirty-three feet wide by eighty feet long. The northwest face of the pier is one hundred and thirty-four feet in length. The extreme end of the wing, which is more exposed to the action of the waves and storms than any other portion of the structure, is protected by extra piling.

Mention has already been made of the fact that the piling averages fourteen by sixteen inches in diameter. In length the piles vary according to the depth of the mud into which they are driven. Beginning at the shore with twenty-five feet lengths, they gradually increase as they extend outward to seventy, eighty and even eighty-five feet. They were all driven down to a firm foundation, chiefly of clay, by means of one of Ross & Sanford's steam pile- drivers, with a hammer weighing three thousand three hundred pounds. As the ordinary ham- mer used for such purposes is from sixteen hundred to two thousand pounds weight, one can faintly imagine what gigantic force was brought to bear upon these piles, in order to secure that remarkable stability which charac- terizes the whole structure. The work of cou- structing this immense pier was commenced on the 20th of May, 1880, and was finished in the following August.

The building of vessels was one of the first industries in Keyport. In 1831, John Cottrell established a yard on Brown's Point aud con- tinued for twenty years. It is still carried on by his son, Fraucis Cottrell. Iu 1832, Roose- velt & Hoff established a yard on the lot now occupied by Warn's drug-store, where they built for three years. B. C. Terry carried on the business first at Brown's Point and after- wards at Lockport, where the business is still conducted by Mrs. Terry. In April, 1854, he liad on the stocks three first-class ferry-boats and two steamboats. From 1866 to 1869 no work was done, but in 1870 business was re- sumed.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

The first physician who settled in Keyport was Dr. John Griggs, who came about 1833 and remained until 1848. Dr. J. E. Arrowsmith, still a resident of the village, became a resident in 1845. Dr. Wilmer Hodgson settled in 1870; Dr. George T. Welsh in 1874.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF KEYPORT, now only about one year old, is the result of ef- forts which have been made, at different times for nearly half a century, to sceure the estab- lishment of a banking institution at Keyport. The first of these efforts was made in Decem- ber, 1836, when notiee was given that appliea- tion would be made to the Legislature of New Jersey for a bank with $50,000 capital, to be called the People's Bank, and located at Key- port. This effort failed, and another was made in 1854; again in 1858; and again in 1859 and 1862; but all efforts to establish a bank at this place failed until April 23, 1884, when the First National Bank of Keyport was chartered. A lot was procured on Front Street and a briek banking-house, twenty-three by forty-five feet, was erected. Business was begun on Septem- ber 1, 1884. The following are the officers of the bank: Directors, Michael Taylor (presi- dent), George W. Walling, Ezra A. Osborn, T. S. R. Brown, Thomas Aumack, John W. Keough, Chrineyonce S. Holmes, John W. Hoff, Alfred Walling, Jr. ; Cashier, Garrett S. Jones; Assist- ant Cashier, A. W. Brown.

MICHAEL TAYLOR .- John Taylor, who was of English extraction, and a Friend by birth- right, resided in Chesterfield township, Bur- lington County, where, during the War of the Revolution, he followed his trade of a weaver and was also a prosperous farmer. To his wife, a Miss De Cou, were born children, - Marmaduke, Thomas, Jedediah, Isaiah, Phoebe (Mrs. Dowell), Sarah (Mrs. Applegate), Maria (Mrs. Woolman) and Caroline (Mrs. Ross). Isaiah Taylor was born in Chesterfield township in 1789, and during his lifetime continued the oceupations of a farmer, having married Sarah, daughter of Jolin Hall, of the same township, whose children were Albert, deceased; John, deceased ; Edna (Mrs. Robert Gillam), de- ceased ; Susan, who married, first, Jonathan

Williams, and, second, Jolin Snyder ; Maria, deceased ; Michael ; Charles, of Burlington County ; and Joseph, of Bordentown. Michael Taylor was born at Recklesstown, Chesterfield township, Burlington County, on the 15th of May, 1820, in the dwelling which was also the place of his mother's birth. Having spent the first twelve years of his youth with his parents, he became a member of the family of Margaret Allison, of Burlington, N. J., a Quaker preacher, who married Benjamin Parker, of Shrewsbury, to which township she later removed. Here he remained until the age of sixteen, when, desiring to be independent by the mastery of a trade, he chose that of a black- smith, and having completed his apprenticeship, removed to Red Bank for one year in the capa- eity of a journeyman. He then established a business and continued it until 1848, when, changing his voeation to that of an agricultu- rist, he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres on Rumson Neck, in the same county. Selling this property ten years later, at an advanee, he made a second purchase at Cream Ridge, in Upper Freehold township, and remained eleven years at this point, when an advantageous offer induced him to part with the land, and Middletown became his home. This farm was three years after sold to D. D. Withers, Esq., at an advance, and after a brief interval spent at Red Bank, Mr. Taylor, with his family, removed to his present location, familiarly known as the John H. Holmes farm, and among the most valuable in the county. Michael Taylor was, on the 4th of October, 1842, married to Sarah, daughter of Captain Hendrick H. Bennett and his wife, Elizabeth Heyer. Their children are Elizabeth B., widow of Henry D. Probaseo ; Evelina ; Charles .1., married to Mary K. Thompson ; Henry B. deceased, married to Emma Van Valken- burgh, of New York ; Sarah E. ; Emma H., wife of William H. Reid; Maria L., wife of Henry E. Armstrong ; George MeC., married to Julia Whiting ; Julia, wife of John W. Hance ; Charlotte H .; Frank; and Clarenee, deceased.

Mr. Taylor has always been in his political predilections an active and pronounced Demo-

Michael Maylow .

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THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

crat, and an influential representative of his party in the county. He was chosen representative to the State Legislature from 1862 to 1865, and during the latter year was, on the occasion of a tie vote, nominated for Speaker by his party. He has also served as freeholder and in various other township offices. He is a member, and was in- strumental, with others, in founding the Mon- mouth County Agricultural Society, of which he was for two years president. He is president

invaluable as administrator and counselor, and all important issues affecting the township or county have received both encouragement and substantial aid from him. His religious sym- pathies are with the Reformed (Dutch) Church of Holmdel, of which several of the family are members, and to which he is a liberal con- tributor.

GEORGE W. WALLING is the grandson of

George Mr. Malling

of the First National Bank of Keyport, and was formerly director of the Princeton Fire Insurance Company. He is a director of the Monmouth Park Railroad, and, together with Nathaniel S. Rue, Samuel Stockton and ex- Governor Fort, was one of the projeetors of the Pemberton and Hightstown Railroad, for which he secured the charter while a legislator. Mr. Taylor's known business capacity and ac- knowledged integrity have made his services

Daniel D. Walling, a Revolutionary soldier, and his wife, Helena Hoff. His father was Leonard Walling, who married Catharine Aumack, of Middletown (now Raritan) township. Their son, George W. Walling, was born near Keyport, Monmouth County, on the 1st of May, 1823, and in 1832 removed with his father to Keyport, where he received such in- struction as the schools of the place afforded. He then entered the latter's store, and later

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

embarked upon a schooner sailing for Virginia. He also, at a subsequent date, spent occasional winters in North Carolina, superintending his father's interest in that State. On the death of the latter he resumed the life of a mariner, both on the Hudson River and on Long Island Sound. During the year 1845 he was engaged in the revenue service on the steauier " Spencer." The removal of Mr. Walling to New York, in September, 1847, greatly influcneed his later · career, and eventually brought him into prom- inent notice in connection with the municipal police. He was, December 22d of that year, appointed to the position of patrolman on the New York police force. He was reappointed for four years, and during this time was detailed as stage inspector. On the 30th of September, 1853, he was promoted to the position of captain of the Eighteenth Ward, and continued thus to act until 1866, having meanwhile been detailed to harbor service at Seguines Point. He was, November 21, 1866, made inspector, having meanwhile had charge of the detective office and made many important arrests, notably those in connection with the crime of counterfeiting. On the 23d of July, 1874, Inspector Walling was made superintendent, which office he continues to fill with satisfaction to the people. In his long career the superintendent has had many hair-breadth escapes, participating, as he did, in nearly every riot that raised its bloody and destructive hand in the city of New York since 1847.

In person, Superintendent Walling is tall and muscular, but without any superabundance of flesh. He has a decided military bearing, a firm but kindly face, a keen, bright eve that sparkles when interested in conversation or when listening to thic details of some fresh crime, and laying his plans for the capture of the criminal.

Superintendent Walling was, on the 30th of January, 1854, married to Sarah Rosina, daughter of William Bennet, of Long Island. Their children are Ada (deceased), wife of Henry Cuppia; George (deceased) ; Edward S., a policeman ; Leonard B .; Frank ; Theresa (de- ceased); William; Herbert (deceased) ; and Perey. The superintendent is a Republican in politics,

but takes no active part in the political move- ments of the times. He is identified with the business interests of his former home as a direc- tor of the First National Bank of Keyport. His religious sympathies are with the Baptist Church.

The first successful newspaper of Keyport was the Keyport Press, which was established in 1863. In the previous year B. F. Under- wood, F. D. Woodruff and Jacob R. Smith started a job printing office on Front Street, Keyport, under the firm-name of Underwood & Co. September 24, 1863, they founded the Keyport Press, a three-column, semi-monthly paper, which, after running about six months, ceased to be issued, the enterprise proving a failure. Mr. Underwood withdrew from the business, which was continued by Smith & Woodruff until 1866, when they sold out to G. W. & C. S. Henderson, who founded the Weekly Star on March 7, 1866. Its publi- cation was continued but a short time, and the office came back to Smith & Woodruff's hands. Mr. Woodruff bought Mr. Smith out in March, 1867, and in January, 1871, sold out to Dr. Wilmer Hodgson, who immediately started the Keyport Weekly. December 9, 1871, he sold out to E. Mckinney & Brother. January 1, 1877, W. F. Le Roy bought the office. The office was sold to Charles E. Close & Co., April 9, 1881, but on account of the dissatisfaction of the advertisers and subscribers, Mr. Le Roy resumed control the next week, but sold out to Gil- more & Clay, October 22, 1881. They sold the office to Mr. Le Roy, June 22, 1882, when the paper was run by his sons, M. D. & H. D. Le Roy, until December 1, 1882, when it was pur- chased by the present proprictor, E. D. Petteys.

The Keyport Enterprise was first issued by Armstrong Brothers, September 18, 1879,-a five-column, four-page newspaper, independent in politics. It was soon changed to seven col- umns. The office and material were purchased. February 14, 1884, by Frederick F. AArm- strong, the present proprietor. The office is at the foot of Broad Street.

The Keyport Express was started, June 8, 1860, by J. H. Sibily & Co. The Weekly Star

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THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

was first issued in Keyport, April 25, 1866, by G. W. & C. S. Henderson. Neither of these papers were successful, and both were discon- tinued after a brief existence.

THE CALVARY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT KEYPORT dates back in its organ- ization about fifty years. Soon after the com- mencement of the Keyport Company's opera- tions at this place, in 1831-32, Nimrod Bedle settled here. He was an earnest Methodist, and induced Father Stuart to visit him, and hold services at his house, on which occasion he preached the first sermon ever heard in Keyport. From this time he visited the place once in two weeks. In 1835 a Sunday-school was organized with twenty pupils, and in the same year a elass was also organized, and John Sproul, Richard D. Walling, Cornelius Carhart, William and Nimrod Bedle were elected trus- tees of the church. It was soon after decided to build a church, the society having previously held worship, alternate Sundays, with the Bap- tists in the school-house.

The Keyport Company had offered a lot to any society which would ereet thereon a church edifice; and under that offer, this society re- ceived the lot next to the school-house on Church Street. A contract was made with William Jaeques to erect a house, thirty-five by forty-five feet in size. The Revs. Long and Dunn were then in charge of the district. In March, 1841, the Rev. John Spear was ap- pointed to the charge. The ehureh building was completed in the summer of that year, and was dedicated by Bishop Janes. This building was used until 1856, when the present church was ereeted on the corner of Osborn and Cross Streets. It is forty-five by seventy-five feet in size, with lecture-room forty-five by thirty-six feet. The basement was inclosed and used in the winter of 1856-57, and finished in the fol- lowing summer. The audience-room was fin- ished later, and was dedicated February 17, 1859. The old church was sold to the school district, and used for school purposes.

In 1842 the church was under charge of Vandewater; in 1843, White and Rogers; - 1844, John Mathews. The charge then em-

braced Harmony, Chapel Hill, High Point, Chanceville, Bethany and Keyport. In 1846- 47 the Rev. Mr. Burrowes resided at Keyport, in the parsonage built during the first year of his term. The following-named pastors have served the church from that time: 1848-49, Socrates Townsend; 1850-51, J. S. Beegle ; 1852-53, Samuel Jacquett ; 1854-55, John Searlett; 1856-57, Robert S. Harris; 1858- 59, Josephi Chattle; 1860-61, F. A. Morrell; 1862-63, W. W. Christine; 1864, H. B. Bee- gle ; 1865-67, J. G. Phelps ; 1868, R. V. Lawrence; 1869, Edward Hewitt; 1871-73, R. J. Andrews; 1873-75, B. C. Lippineott ; 1876-77, G. L. Dobbins; 1878, S. F. Wheeler; 1879-80, Philip Cline; 1881-83, G. C. Stan- ger; 1884, George C. Maddoek. The church has now a membership of about two hundred.

The first Sunday-school of this ehureh was held in an upper room of the house of John Snyder, that stood on the corner opposite Warn's drug-store, and now owned by Peter Stout. Twenty seholars were there gathered, who were taught by Miss Susan Bedle, Miss Louisa Bedle, Miss Mary Bedle, Stephen Sto- ney, Asher Collins, and John Snyder and his wife. William Van Dine was elected superin- tendent. As the numbers inereased, the lower part of the house was used. Afterwards the school was held in the old red school-house, until the church adjoining was built, in 1841. In April, 1857, the school was moved into the present ehureh. About this time branch sehools were established at Oak Shades and Union, which were kept up with indifferent suceess. In 1869 a school was established, with one hundred members, at Mechanicsville, and was held in the blacksmith-shop of Thomas Car- hart. This school continued, and is now the school of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church. The superintendents have been Wil- liam Van Dine, 1835-42; Robert B. Warden, 1854-57 ; Rufus Ogden, 1857-76; Richard Wharton, 1876-84. Miss Mary C. Walling has acted as female superintendent since 1853.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 41

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 994

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994