USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 11
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77
THE CITY OF TRENTON.
This charter of 1874 is a most comprehensive legislative grant of power to a municipality. By its various divisions the people are given the absolute control of the selection of their officials, either by direct vote or through their representatives in Common Council. The powers and duties of Common Council are in the main similar to those of the charter of 1866, whilst the varied functions of a growing city are the subjects of beneficial legislation.
Upon the sixteenth of October, 1888, the general ordinances were revised and consolidated. They embrace city legislation in reference to the Board of Assessors ; the inspection, construction and alteration of buildings, with the fire limits laid down ; the numbering of buildings-State street being the base line north and south, and Princeton avenue, Warren street and the wharf line of the Delaware from the Assanpink to the city limits the base line east and west. The cleaning of chimneys, the City Clerk, City Hall, City Physicians, city printing, City Solicitor, City Treasurer, also coming under the various chapters of these ordinances. Disorderly persons, nuisances and the fire department are other subjects upon which there has been legislation. Since 1888 the city has developed its fields of action, and the results have been most gratifying.
A great change was brought about in municipal affairs on March 23d, 1892. Then the Legis- lature passed an aet constituting a municipal Board of Public Works in this city as well as in certain other cities of the State-Camden and Paterson. The aet provided that the Board should consist of five members, appointed by the Mayor of the city, which Board should be substituted for Com- mon Council. The Board of Publie Works were empowered to have full control of all matters relating to the streets, sidewalks, sewers water works and water-supply, and to this end were to appoint a Clerk of the Board, Street Commissioner, Sewer Engineer, Superintendent of Water Works. The Mayor was authorized to appoint the City Clerk, City Comptroller, City Treasurer, City Counsel, Receiver of Taxes and Inspector of Buildings, Lamps, Wells and Pumps. Rules for the government of the Board were passed by its members.
In accordance with the provisions of the act, the Mayor appointed Garret D. W. Vroom, who bceame President of the Board ; Anthony A. Skirm, Joseph T. Ridgway, James E. Hanson, John W. Brooke.
Under this Board, Trenton's advance in the building of her sewers, the care of her streets and the bettering of her water department will ever be a bright page in the history of the city. Trenton made marvelous progress in every direction, and the impetus the city received threw her forward in progress and in stability.
The Board, after an eventful career-eventful in aceomplishing great good-was abolished on May 8th, 1894, by aet of the Legislature. Its abolition was, of course, a politieal exigency.
The eity, after this finale of the Board of Works, returned to its former method of government and still continues to act under its old charter. The following is the list of city officials on July 1st, 1895 :
Mayor,
City Clerk,
Assistant City Clerk,
City Treasurer,
Assistant City Treasurer,
City Comptroller,
Assistant City Comptroller, .
City Solieitor, . Receiver of Taxes, City Engineer,
Judge District Court, .
Clerk District Court,
Superintendent Poliee and Fire Alarm Telegraph,
Charles C. Drake.
Chief of Police,
Charles H. MeChesney. William B. Van Duyn.
Police Surgeon, .
S John J. Cleary,
Captains of Poliee,
Emory N. Yard. C. Edward Murray. Henry B. Salter. W. J. B. Stokes. R. S. Wilson. Howard S. Titus. J. H. B. Howell. John Rellstab. C. Harry Baker. C. C. Haven. Chauncey H. Beasley. George N. Packer.
William Hartman.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
City Marshal,
Janitor City Hall, . Street Commissioner, School Superintendent, Building Inspector,
Police Justices,
City Physicians, .
Overseer of the Poor, Steward of Almis House,
Scaler of Weights and Measures,
Chief Engineer Fire Department,
Assistants,
Board of Assessors,
Edmund R. Nutt. Walter Seruby. John Ginder. Leslie C. Pierson. William H. Lee.
S Louis Coutier, ( William J. Crossley. ( E. L. Diekinson, (L. D. Tompkins. William M. Nutt. L. F. Baker. Gottleib Jenter. William McGill. [ Charles S. Allen, James W. Bennett. Lewis R. Williams, Alphonso M. Pycraft, Martin Keegan, John C. Schweizer, Levi R. Furman.
The following are the officers and members of Common Council :
President, Clerk,
First Ward,
Second Ward, .
Third Ward,
Fourth Ward, .
Fifth Ward,
Sixth Ward, .
Seventh Ward,
Eighth Ward, .
Ninth Ward,
Tenth Ward, .
Eleventh Ward, .
All Republicans except the representatives of the Fourth ward.
John W. Barber. C. Edward Murray. § George W. Macpherson, (F. F. C. Woodward. § William Jackson, ( Richard C. Oliphant. ( Enoch W. Case, ¿ Peter E. Baker. § James Fury, Jr., ( William Gropp. Joseph C. Dye, ( Harry E. Fisher. § John Q. Ginnodo, ( Henry J. Nicklin. James B. Bell, Frank M. Weller. Walter Firth, William H. Baker. Amos B. Scudder, ( John Hazlett. ( Fred. A. Walker, John W. Bates. Fred. P. Reese, Frederick Petry.
Through the researches of the Hon. G. D. W. Vroom, the following is a correct list of Mayors of the city of Trenton :
UNDER TIIE FIRST CHIARTER. Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, Chief Burgess.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
UNDER THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT CHARTERS.
Moore Furman, 1792-1794,
William R. Mckean, 1861-1863,
Aaron Dickinson Woodruff, 1794-1797,
Franklin S. Mills, 1863-1867,
James Ewing, 1797-1803,
Alfred Reed, 1867-1868,
Joshua Wright, 1803-1806,
William Napton, 1868-1871,
Stacy Potts, 1806-1814,
John Briest, 1871-1875,
Robert MeNealy, 1814-1832,
Wesley Creveling, 1875-1877,
Charles Burroughs, 1832-1847,
Daniel B. Bodine, 1877-1879,
Samuel R. Hamilton, 1848-1849,
William Rice, 1879-1881,
William C. Ilowell, 1849-1850,
William Napton, 1850-1852,
Garret D. W. Vroom, 1881-1884, Richard A. Donnelly, 1884-1886, John Woolverton, 1886-1887,
John R. Tucker, 1852-1854,
William Napton, 1854-1855,
Frank A. Magowan, 1887-1889,
John R. Tucker, 1855-1856,
Anthony A. Skirm, 1889-1891,
Joseph Wood, 1856-1859,
Daniel J. Bechtel, 1891-1893,
Franklin S. Mills, 1859-1861,
Joseph B. Shaw, 1893-1895,
Emory N. Yard, 1895.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ANNEXED DISTRICTS.
TRENTON'S GROWTH FROM WITHIN, OUTWARD-TOWNSHIPS OF INDEPENDENCE AND EWING-TOWN- SHIP OF LAWRENCE-THE BOROUGH OF SOUTH TRENTON-TOWNSHIP OF HAMILTON-TOWNSHIP OF NOTTINGHAM-OUTLINE SKETCH OF CHAMBERSBURG-TOWNSHIP OF MILLHAM-THE PRESENT BOROUGH OF WILBUR AND ITS OFFICERS-CADWALADER PLACE.
RENTON, in its system of extension of city limits, has at various times embraced portions of contiguous townships. So much of the annexed districts as are prop- erly a portion of the present city of Trenton, are worthy of consideration. The plan of absorption has never been violent, but every move made has met with the general consent of both Trentonians and their neighbors. The annexed districts have become merged into Trenton in the strictest sense of the term. When the township or borough became of sufficient size, Trenton spread her protecting arms, and the union was complete. In this conservative but slow growth, Trenton has been most fortunate. No great wilderness of unoccupied territory, dignified by the name of "city," surrounds Trenton. Her population crowds her every limit. She pays for no miles of sewers through country roads, nor electrie lights to illuminate wheat-fields. No mounted police are necessary, and the line between city and country is very sharply defined.
Trenton's first experience with her suburban interests was during the period of her incorpora- tion. The act of 1792 cut into two parts the old township of Trenton. The city appropriated the name so long honored, and the remainder of the inhabitants of the township felt that they must do something to redeem themselves, so it came about that the citizens of that portion of Trenton town- ship not included within the corporation, upon the twentieth of May, 1793, presented a petition that they be set off into a township, to be known as Independence. A bill for this purpose was presented, with a remonstrance from the citizens of Trenton. It was agreed to submit the decision of the bill to the House of Assembly, where it passed upon the thirty-first of January, 1794, but was defeated in Council on the eleventh of February. This is the territory which later became the township of Ewing upon the twenty-second of February, 1834. The name Ewing was given thereto in honor of Chief Justice Charles Ewing, who had died in the year 1832. This township, which was then a part of the county of Hunterdon, was absorbed into Mereer county in 1838.
In 1816, on petition of the inhabitants, the Legislature changed the name of Maidenhead to that of Lawrence township. The latter name had become somewhat objectionable to the citizens, although commemorating a place in England. Furthermore, they desired to pay homage to Com- modore Lawrence, who was a citizen of New Jersey, in fact, of Burlington county, and had then recently gained his naval victory. In 1838, Lawrence township became a part of Mereer county. In 1844, March 14th, a portion of the northeast section of the city of Trenton was annexed to Law- rence, whence it had been taken in 1837.
On the twenty-eighth of February, 1840, the Legislature erected a portion of Nottingham town- ship into the borough of South Trenton. Its bounds were marked by the Assanpink creek, the canal, Cass street and the Delaware river. This included what is now the Third and Fourth wards of the city of Trenton. On the nineteenth of March, 1851, the Legislature annexed this borough to the city of Trenton, thereby constituting the Third and Fourth wards. Under the incorporating act, James M. Redmond was appointed Chief Burgess ; James H. Sims and Bailey A. West, Assist-
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
ant Burgesses ; Marshall C. Holmes, High Constable, and Jacob B. James, Borough Clerk, to con- tinue in office until the first Tuesday in May, 1841, and from thenceforth until others should be duly appointed in their places.
Upon the eleventh of March, 1842, the township of Nottingham was subdivided by the erection of the township of Hamilton. Its bounds were marked by the Delaware and Raritan canal, where it crosses the Assanpink creek, the Crosswicks creek, the East Windsor and West Windsor lines, and the Assanpink creek, by its several courses, to the place of beginning. In 1868, the township was divided into two election districts. From the township of Hamilton in 1872 (April 2d ) the borough of Chambersburg was formed. The legislative bounds included the present limits of the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh wards.
This early-established township, lying contiguous to Trenton, was among the townships which formed Mercer county (act of February 22d, 1838). This new county of Mercer included the town- ships of Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell of the county of Hunterdon, Nottingham of the county of Burlington, East Windsor and West Windsor of the county of Middlesex, as then con- stituted. On the twenty-seventh of the same month, a portion of Montgomery township, Somerset county, and that portion of West Windsor in the borough of Princeton, were erected into the town- ship of Princeton. Trenton was selected as the county capital after a spirited contest.
Upon the sixth day of March, 1856, all that portion of the township of Nottingham lying north " of the line drawn from the lime kiln on the Delaware and Raritan canal along the foot of the high bank westerly to the Delaware river," was annexed to the city of Trenton. This became the Sixth ward of Trenton. The remaining portion of the township was annexed to Hamilton township, which eradicated from the map the last trace of old Nottingham.
AN OUTLINE SKETCH OF CHAMBERSBURG, WITH HISTORICAL ALLUSIONS TO THE CHAMBERS FAMILY.
All that part of Trenton bounded by the Delaware and Raritan canal, Assanpink creek, Chambers street and Lalor street, was the borough of Chambersburg until its consolidation with the city of Trenton upon the first day of May, 1888.
The founder of Chambersburg was the late Robert Chambers, whose family had been residents of Trenton and vicinity for five generations.
Mr. Chambers purchased some of the Chambersburg land as early as 1820 and used it for farming purposes. About 1853 Mr. Chambers employed John H. Whittaker, then a boy-student of surveying, to draw a map of this property on the White Horse road, consisting of about twenty- seven acres.
The following year, 1854, Mr. Chambers built three three-story brick houses on the corner of Washington, Broad and Coleman streets, consisting of a store on the corner of Washington and Broad, the next a dwelling, the third a hotel. The latter was on the corner of Broad and Coleman, with its sign-post "Chambersburg Hotel." This was the beginning of Chambersburg. He soon erected five frame houses on Broad and Coleman streets. A year or two later he constructed a woolen factory on the southeast corner of Broad and Coleman streets. This was burned about 1858 or 1859. He then erected another large four-story brick factory on the corner of Coleman and Houghton streets, which was used for a short time as a blind and shade factory. During the Civil war it was rented by Quartermaster-General Perrine as barracks for the soldiers. At one time this edifice sheltered about one thousand men. This building was partially destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in three stories. After this it was used as a cracker bakery.
About twelve or thirteen years after Mr. Chambers built these houses, the Home Land Asso- ciation laid out lots in 1867, south of his property and toward the canal. On the east, the Work- man's Land Association, Linden Park Association and Mechanics' Land Association laid out their lots about 1869.
An act to incorporate the borough of Chambersburg, in the township of Hamilton, county of Mercer, was approved by Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, April 2d, 1872.
Robert Chambers II. was a son of Robert Chambers, a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Robert Chambers I. was at the battle of Trenton, although but eighteen years old at that time. In
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania there is a $50 Continental note which Captain Robert Chambers received as part pay for services rendered in the Revolutionary army.
After the war Captain Chambers kept a store on State street, between Warren and Queen (now Broad) streets. After a few years he removed to his plantation in Middlesex county, but after- ward returned to Trenton, purchased a house and grounds on the west side of Queen (now Broad) street, and south of the Court House, about one hundred and sixty feet on the street, and extend- ing the same distance back therefrom. A French gentleman, a friend of Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain, had the grounds laid out in walks and flower-beds, which added much to the beauty of the street, but not liking this country as well as France, sold the property to Mr. Chambers and returned to his own country. Here Captain Chambers resided until his death, 1813, his wife, Francinah Reeder, surviving him about eighteen months. Both were members of the First Presbyterian Church and were buried near the center of the churchyard. When the present church was built in 1839 it was concluded to place the new edifice more in the center of the church- vard, as the old church was on the west side of the plot. The graves of Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, three grandchildren and many other families, came just inside of the northeastern foundation wall. This explains the reason for their headstones being placed in the northeastern outside wall of that church.
Robert Chambers, the founder of Chambersburg, was descended from a long line of pious ancestors, dating from the religious persecutions in Flanders. The family fled to Scotland. Here they again suffered religious persecutions in the reign of Charles HI. and James II. They then sought refuge in America. The original emigrants of the Chambers line sailed from Leith, the sea- port of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the ship " Henry and Francis, " which left August 1st, 1685. After a tedious voyage of fifteen weeks they arrived at Perth Amboy and settled first at Piscataway, where they purchased land. Afterward, as early as 1700, the family purchased land in old Windsor township, Middlesex county, now Washington township, Mercer county, near Allentown. A part of this property is now in the possession of Abner R. Chambers, Esquire, of Trenton.
Robert Chambers, the founder, was, like his father, a consistent member of the First Presby- terian Church of Trenton for forty-six years, and was a noble-hearted, public-spirited man. He departed this life February 22d, 1865.
MILLHAM.
By act of the Legislature passed February 10th, 1882, the township of Millham was set off from the township of Lawrence. The bounds began in the center of the Assanpink creek, on the easterly line of Trenton, and following the several courses of the creek, on the line of Hamilton township, to the line of the Enterprise Land Association, thence by the Enterprise Land Association to the center of Brunswick avenue, thence westerly to the Ewing township line, thence southerly along the Ewing-Lawrence line to the Delaware and Raritan canal, thence to the Lawrence-Trenton line and along the same to the place of beginning.
The first township officers were elected at the town meeting at the house of James D. McManus.
Millham was largely a portion of the old Philemon Dickinson estate, which, with other prop- erties, came into the possession of the East Trenton Land and Building Company in 1866, and the Enterprise Land Company in 1873.
Millham is essentially the pottery, tile and rubber manufacturing district of the city. It is this portion of Trenton that is strictly called the "Staffordshire of America," where all grades of pottery are made, from the coarse clay " sagger" to the fragile Belleek cup.
Upon the thirtieth day of March, 1888, the Legislature passed an act consolidating Millham with the city of Trenton. By this, Millham became the Eighth ward. The act took effect the first day of May of that year.
WILBUR.
The organization of Wilbur into a borough was effected under the Borough Commission act of 1882. A special election of the inhabitants of that portion of Hamilton township was held in the William G. Cook school-house on the eighteenth of April, 1891, and the borough was erected by a vote of forty-nine to thirty-six. This method of a Borough Commission did not fully meet the ends
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
designed. In that the newly-crected municipality was in such direct connection with the city of Trenton, the Commission plan did not give the latitude desired, and the inhabitants desired to avail themselves of the provisions of a later law. Therefore, by virtue of the "Act for the formation and government of boroughs," approved April 2d, 1891, the "Borough Commission of Wilbur" was erected into the "Borough of Wilbur," the certificate being filed May 17th, 1892. On the tenth of May, 1892, in the William G. Cook school-house, the election to this end resulted in a vote of one hundred and thirty-four to nine.
The bounds of Wilbur are thus set forth : "Beginning in the middle of the Assanpink creek at a point where the eastern line of the East State Street and Greenwood Avenue Land Association if continued would intersect the said creek, and running thence westerly along the line of the said Assanpink creek to a point where Chambers street bridge crosses the said creek, thence southerly along Chambers strect to Jefferson street, thence northeasterly along Jefferson street to Olden avenue, thence northerly along Olden avenue to Hamilton avenue, thence easterly along Hamilton avenue to a point opposite the castern line of East State Street and Greenwood Avenue Land Association, thence northerly along said casterly line of East State Street and Greenwood Avenue Land Associa- tion, in a straight course, to the Assanpink creek aforesaid and the place of beginning."
Under its present organization the borough of Wilbur depends upon Trenton for its water- supply and for its gas and electric lighting facilities. During the summer of 1895 the borough purchased a chemical fire engine. It also maintains its own system of police. In late years Wilbur has grown with rapidity. Although not in the annexed district, the situation of the borough renders it highly probable that it will form a part of the city of Trenton ere many years have gone by. The following is the present organization of the borough :
Mayor,
Common Council, .
Harry E. Barlow. Charles H. Christopher, William A. Sanford, Aaron Gagg, George Tunnicliffe. Albert Edward Dearden.
Clerk, Assessor, Collector, Solicitor, Surveyor,
John Hess.
John Coxon. Barton B. Hutchinson. E. G. Weir. Samuel T. Hawkins.
Marshal,
School Trustees, .
William Thomas, William E. Bloor, Mark Moses, George W. Price, Millard F. Snyder, William H. Lecse, Irvin Wolfinger, Thomas H. Humphreys, Nahor B. Yard.
CADWALADER PLACE.
"Cadwalader Place" is the only locality in the neighborhood of Trenton that has been developed exclusively for a residence quarter. For four generations it was the home of a branch of the Cadwalader family, a Welsh family that has been identified largely with the growth and prosperity of the city of Trenton. Doctor Thomas Cadwalader was the Chief Burgess of Trenton in 1748, and for a hundred and fifty years members of the family have been prominent in colonial, national, State and local affairs.
The tract comprises one hundred and fifty acres, and is eligibly located upon the bank of the Delaware river, between Cadwalader Park and the city proper, and is rapidly being built up with beautiful residences.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
The traet was handsomely laid out with macadamized roads, foot-paths, sewers, gas and water before it was offered for sale ; the improvements cost $80,000. The land is divided into large plots and sold with numerous restrictions, chief among which are the prohibition of the carrying on of manufacturing or mercantile affairs, or the sale of liquor.
OLD CADWALADER MANSION.
There were many prophecies that the experiment would be costly and disastrous, but on the contrary the improvements and the restrictions struck the popular fancy, and the result was very satisfactory.
--
JENNA. ENC.CO. PHILA
RESIDENCE OF E. C. HILL, CADWALADER PLACE.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
The general scope of the enterprise was suggested to the Cadwaladers by Edmund C. Hill, when he was Chairman of the Park Committee, who thought it would improve the Park approaches and surroundings. The Cadwaladers agreed to adopt the suggestions if Mr. Hill would superintend the work, an offer that was at first declined but afterward accepted.
"Cadwalader Place" has been an example and an inspiration to Trentonians and a large share of the recent extensive local improvements is traceable to the impressions created by the new suburb.
CHAPTER XV.
THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
TRENTON'S WATER-SUPPLY-HOW THE CITY SECURED WATER IN THE EARLY DAYS-THE PRESENT ORGANIZATION OF THIS DEPARTMENT-THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND ITS OFFICERS-TRENTON'S PARKS-THEIR HISTORY AND COMMISSIONERS-THE SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM-ITS ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT-THE EXCISE DEPARTMENT-ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND ITS HISTORY.
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HE FIRST charter for the Trenton Water Works was passed December 3d, 1801. It was termed "An act to authorize Stephen Scales to convey the water from his spring through the several streets of the city of Trenton," the preamble whereof thus read : "WHEREAS, Stephen Scales hath represented that he hath purchased a spring in the city of Trenton, from which he can conduct the water through several of the streets of said city, thereby supplying the inhabitants with plenty of sweet and wholesome water, provided he can be authorized to lay his trunks through some of the intervening lots."
This charter gave him power to convey the water from said spring through any lots which he might find it necessary to pass in its way to the streets of said city, without let, trouble, hindrance, or molestation of any person or persons whatsoever, and with laborers, carts, wagons and other carriages, with their beasts of burden or draught, and all neces- sary tools and implements, to enter upon the lands through which it is necessary said aqueduct should pass, and to dig through and lay trunks in the same, for carrying on the said work, and for repairing the same from time to time, first giving notice to the owner, if in this State, or to the tenant in possession thereof, doing as little damage thereto as possible, and repairing any breaches they may make in the inclosures thereof, and making amends for any damage that may be sus- tained by the owner or owners thereof. Penalties were laid for obstructing the water works. Furthermore, the first charter granted to Stephen Scales gave him power to use only the water which should originate or rise from his spring, or upon his said lot so purchased, but that he should permit all water not originating or rising upon his said lot or from his spring freely and uninter- ruptedly to pass for the use of the tanyards on the stream made thereby.
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