USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 35
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Originally there were three separate settlements in what now constitutes the city, -the northern section called Rahway, the southern, Bridgetown and the western, Milton; more recently the southern section was known as Leesville, the Lee family owning much of the property in that locality. The eastern part was also known as Brick- town, on account of large brick factories located there, near the river landing, whence the bricks were shipped by boats to New York city and elsewhere, many of the older buildings in the lower part of that city being constructed of Rahway bricks. The earliest name for the town, that appears on record, was Spanktown. There are different reasons given for the adoption of that name,-among them, one that the locality gained notoriety from the circumstance of a man "spanking" his wife, and another that it was on account of the "spanking" rate at which General Maxwell came from Short Hills with his militia during the Revolution, to engage in a battle, lasting about two hours, with the British troops, who came from Perth Amboy. The battle occurred February 23, 1777. The British were defeated, and the records report the American loss as three killed and twelve wounded, while the British lost five hundred.
What is now known as Lower Rahway originally belonged to Woodbridge. On the 21st of May, 1666, John Pike, David Pierce and Abraham Tappan signed articles of agreement, in behalf of themselves and their associates, with Governor Carteret, to have the right to settle one or more plantations or townships, each to consist of fifty to one hundred families, "between the Rawawack river and the Raritan river," before or by November. The first charter for the "town of Woodbridge" (including Lower Rahway) was dated June 1, 1669, the
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Rahway river being the boundary on the east, from its mouth to the present Robinson branch. There are three branches of the river in different sections,-the north branch, Robinson's branch and south branch. The river has its rise in the Orange mountains, and is a very beautiful stream of pure water. The city obtains its water supply for all purposes from the river, by direct pumping pressure, and chemists, by analysis, pronounce the water as equal to the best known. The city is located from twenty-five to thirty-six feet above the level of the sea, and is considered among the healthiest places in the country.
This locality was prominent in the Revolutionary war times, it being one of the five places where military guards were maintained. Besides those who were members of New Jersey organizations, as recorded in other histories, the following young men of Rahway were enlisted in Colonel Elisha Sheldon's Connecticut regiment of dragoons: Captain, David Edgar; lieutenant, James Paton; sergeant, Morris De Camp; corporals, Daniel Terrill Craig, Joseph Gilmore and Eliakim Ross; privates, Abraham Frazee, Benjamin Frazee, John Gilmore, Ephraim Little, Joseph Ludlow, Isaac Marsh, John Meeker, Samuel Oliver, William Pain, Henry Rolph, Joseph Wood and Daniel Vree- land. What is now Rahway was evidently quite an important place in those times, and history tells us of the "Sons of Liberty " here, who were from good old Quaker and Presbyterian stock, descendants of the Hollanders who came over in the ship "Half Moon," with Hendrick Hudson, in September, 1609, and also of the Puritans, from Connecticut, who contended with General Knyphausen's troops, who frequently made raids iuto Rahway, and especially upon the bar of Isaac Walton's tavern at Milton, on the old St. George road, called "the King's Highway." Generals Washington, La Fayette, Cornwallis, Gates and Howe were visitors in Rahway in those days, and afterwards Jefferson, Adams, Burr, Hamilton, Clay and Webster were guests at the Milton Inn, which had the reputation of being the best one on the road from New York to Philadelphia, between which places the people then traveled in stage coaches. Many old head-stones in what is now Rahway cemetery mark the graves of patriots of those times, particu- larly that of Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a delegate to the continental congress, who was born in what is now Clark township, formerly a part of Rahway, February 15, 1726, and died September 15, 1794. July 4, 1848, the citizens erected a handsome monument to his memory.
Among the early events of the locality we are inforined that, in 1683, John Marsh built the first saw inill on the river (near the present railroad bridge) which was transferred to Stephen Van Cortlandt in 1695; to Samuel Marsh in 1739, and remained in the Marsh family until 1826, wlien it was bought by Lufbery & Vail; afterward John R. Ayers, Samuel Williams and John H. Lufbery became its proprietors,
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and the business is still carried on by Mr. Lufbery and Ira C. Ayers, son of John R., who died several years ago.
In 1684 John Marsh erected a grist mill just above the saw mill and this was continued as such, by different parties, until about the time of the war of the Rebellion-1860-65, the last proprietor being Lewis Hoff, who is still living. The premises were afterward used for a sawing and planing mill and later were purchased by Dr. E. B. Silvers and converted into an opera house. Here were also in early times a silk and woolen mill, liat factories and other mills, long since discontinued,-some burned, some crumbled, and others changed into dwellings or utilized for other purposes.
One of the oldest dwelling houses of the place stands at the corner of Main street and Elm avenue and was owned by Samuel Marsh, Sr., and is said to be about one hundred and seventy years old. An older house is one that is located a little back from Main street, near Commerce street, said to have been built two hundred years ago, by a Quaker named James Moore; in this officers of the Revolutionary times held conferences. An old burying ground is still visible at Bricktown, in which are tombstones marking the graves of members of the Miller and Morris family, dating as far back as 1757. The oldest tombstone that has been discovered is one in the Rahway cemetery, of John Frazee, the date of death being 1724.
According to tradition the first church in existence was one built of logs, a little east of where the Scott avenue station of the Pennsylvania Railroad is now located, and in what is known as Gibby's woods; and here an old graveyard is still visible. There is also a tradition that the old chief, Rahwack, was buried there.
In 1665 Robert Mosse (afterward Morss and Morse) came from Rowley, Massachusetts, and settled near Rahway. A number of his descendants still live in this vicinity, as also of others who came with him, including Samuel or Solomon Marsh, Sr., Thomas Moore, Jonas Ward, William Letts, Joseph Frazee, William Johnson, Simon Rouse, John Toeand, William Robinson, who was a doctor, probably the first one in the place, and after whom the branch of the river is presumed to have been named, as he owned lands along the stream. The first religions meeting of record was that of the Quakers, held August 12, 1707, in his house, which was located, it is said, on Hamilton street, where the dwelling of the late John H. Dierand now stands.
Amos Morss (Morse) was a captain in the Continental army and lived in a farm house on the grounds of what is now of the Ralph Marsh estate, on St. George's avenue. There is a story that one night his house was surrounded by British soldiers, the Captain taken from his bed, made a prisoner, and for six months kept in the old Sugar-house in New York. His house was ransacked and among the articles taken was one of the old high clocks; but, being inconvenient to carry, the
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works were removed and the wooden case discarded; it was afterwards returned to the Captain's house ; subsequently new works were put in by the great clockmaker of early times, Isaac Brokaw, and it is now possessed by Mrs. Lewis White, who is a great-granddaughter of Captain Morse.
The road which is now called St. George's avenue was laid out during Queen Anne's reign, and extended from Amboy to Elizabeth- town, afterward to Newark, through what is now Broad street in that city, and in King George's time it was extended to Jersey City, and then called the King's Highway until after the Revolution, when the patriots did not like anything that referred to the king, and it was called the Old Country Road, being changed to St. George's avenue when the streets and avenues were laid out and named, as Rahway became a city.
A prominent landmark in Rahway is what was once known as old Peace Tavern, located in the east side of Main street, in the central business portion of the city, for many years occupied by the late Jona- than Woodruff and family and still belonging to his estate. It is memorable as the place where General La Fayette was entertained when he made his visit to the United States and passed this way in going from New York to Philadelphia, in 1824, and also the place where the meeting was held, in 1822, at which the name of the town was changed from Bridgetown to Rahway. We know of but one of our residents now living who saw General La Fayette on that occasion, George W. Law- rence. There are some of the relics of that occasion still in existence, including a copy of the printed invitation to a reception held in his honor, and a handsome satin vest worn by the late Joel Clarkson, which is still in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. James T. Melick.
It is recorded that for some time after the Revolution the landing at Bricktown was an important point, vessels loaded with produce sailing from there directly to Bristol, England, and returning with dry goods. For many years, even up to a recent date, after the railroad was completed and freight rates cheapened, there was a large business done in transportation by boats to and from New York. In 1827 two boats are especially mentioned, - the Thomas Gibbons and Nonpareil.
Rahway was also a prominent point in stage-coaching days; before railroad communication with New York and Philadelphia had been secured. There were different lines,-some running through, and others being local; the stages were drawn by four-horse teams, and connected with boats for New York at what was known as Elizabetli- town Point. The first railroad was built in 1835, by a corporation known as the New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company, the same route being now used by the Pennsylvania Company. Among records it appears that one of the first property-owners was William Oliver, who had "eighty-four acres of upland at Rawack," bounded by the lands of Peter Morse, Samuel Marsh, Sr., David Oliver and
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William Piles. He was one of the eighty original Elizabeth "Associates," and lived there, using his Rawack property for farming purposes. He died about 1694, and the Olivers, of which name there are many still in this locality, are his descendants. The David mentioned was his son.
The first newspaper that we have any record of, as published within Rahway, was the Bridgetown Museum and New Jersey Advocate, the first issue being July 13, 1822, and Smith Edgar being the proprietor. The first portion of the title was soon dropped, and there have been numerous publications since that time. In 1840 Josephus Shann established the Rahway Republican, which has been continued under different titles, without cessation, and is now the Union Democrat. The establishment was purchased by Lewis S. Hyer, then of Freehold, Monmouth county, in 1865, and he is still the owner and editor, with John I. Collins as manager since July, 1896. About 1860 the publication of the paper that was at first the Museum and Advocate, suspended, and the appurtenances were purchased by Mr. Shann and consolidated with his establishment. Subsequently a publication was started by a company, taking the title of Advocate and Times (the latter having been the name of a publication also suspended), which has been continued under different titles, and for some time as the New Jersey Advocate, by a stock company, the present editor being Harry B. Rollinson.
Over sixty years ago Rahway appears to have been an enterprising town, judging from a description then prepared by Joseph O. Lufbery (father of John H., before alluded to), in which he says, among other things: "This town contains three hundred and fifty to four hundred houses, population about three thousand, stores of various kinds, twenty-five taverns, three public buildings, one Presbyterian church, one Baptist, one Methodist, Friends and Orthodox Friends, and one meeting house for blacks; one academy, called the Athenian, just finished by a few enterprising citizens, also one academy built by one of our public-spirited citizens, Mr. Samuel M. Oliver, now rented as a boarding school, with a full complement of scholars; bank with a capital- of $70,000; postoffice, mail every day north and south; a printing office and weekly journal, an incorporated fire-engine com- pany, a mutual insurance company. We manufacture for exports hats, shoes and boots, carriages, cabinet furniture, ready-made clothing, sitting-chairs, soap and candles, cotton and woolen goods, tin ware, coach lace, plated ware for carriages. Capital employed in manufac- turing about three hundred thousand dollars; value of exports, one million to twelve hundred thousand dollars. We have four millinery stores, two watchmakers, three bakers, six lumber and coal yards, one soap and candle factory. On the river two sawmills do a very extensive business. There is a railroad now making passage
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through the town, from Jersey City to New Brunswick. £ Soil very good, generally loam, sandy, gravelly or red-shell bottom, well adapted to grass, grain, etc. We have at this time five vessels, one or two leaving each day for New York. The south end, Leesville, takes its name from a family named Lee, who have long resided there. This fainily has furnished our most enterprising and public-spirited citizens as merchants and manufacturers, who were the first to lead the way to our extensive trade to the southern states."
By the above description it appears that the manufacturing then was even as varied, probably, as it is now, but not, perhaps, aggregating as much in results. Our stores and small tradesmen, of course, are more numerous, but since the commencement of the war of the Rebellion the manufacture of carriages and appurtenances, clothing, hats, shoes, etc., has greatly diminished, and the loss has not been made up entirely by other enterprises which exist at this time.
Prior to 1854 there were a number of mill dams in the river, which, it was alleged by physicians, and as it appeared from malarial sickness, were a detriment to the health and prosperity of the city. A certification to that effect was signed by the physicians then practicing in the place, those signing being Moses Jaques, Lewis Drake, Silas Cook, David S. Craig, S. Abernethy, John J. Janeway and Elihu B. Silvers, -all of whom except the last named are now deceased. A law was passed by the legislature providing for the removal of the dams in that year, the expenses being assessed upon the taxpayers, a subscrip- tion being raised to assist those who felt unable to pay their assessment. David S. Craig, William B. Crowell and Joseph T. Crowell were the trustees to carry out the law, all of them now deceased.
Rahway township was formed February 27, 1804, and the first town committee comprised Captain Isaac Marsh, Dr. David S. Craig and Lewis Brand. Meetings were first held in the house of John Mason. In 1830 the town was bounded by the towns of Westfield, Union, Elizabeth, Woodbridge and the Sound, measuring eight miles east and west, four miles and a half north and south, with an area of ten thousand acres. The township government continued until 1858, when the city was incorporated. Lower Rahway had been in Middle- sex county, and Upper Rahway in Essex county. In 1857 the county of Union was formed, taking in the portion belonging to Essex county, so that when the city was incorporated it had a sort of " triple alliance," as the boundaries included tlie portions situated in the township of Woodbridge (in Middlesex), in Rahway township, and in Union. In 1860, however, the act was so amended as to include the portion of Middlesex in Union, and in 1861 again amended so as to be relieved of the Rahway township attachment.
The first mayor was Edward Y. Rogers, then the leading lawyer in the place; city clerk, John R. Chapin; treasurer, William Osborn;
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collector, Peter B. Sharp; councilmen, -first ward, Abel V. Shotwell, James O. Halsey; second ward, William Gibby, Crowell McCann; third ward, Abraham Ackerman, Benjamin C. Watson; fourth ward, John Woodruff, Thomas J. Lee. Of the above John R. Chapin and Thomas J. Lee are the only ones now living, and in the list of the other officials the only ones surviving are Albert G. Sym, clerk, and John Harvey, constable, first ward; judges of election, George J. Trussler and Andrew J. Halliday, second ward, and Edward E. Hooker and George J. Merrick, of the fourth ward; John J. Brown, constable, and James Vanderhoven, commissioner of appeals, of the same ward; Thomas H. Shafer, still living, administered the oaths of office. By the abolition of the township of Rahway, in 1861, the territory added was constituted with the fifth ward, but it being principally farming lands with a scattered population, the residents were not satisfied, and it was formed into Clark township in 1864. Rahway continued with four wards, with three councilmen each, until 1894, when the third was divided, making the fifth, and reducing the number of councilmen to two from each ward and one at large, making eleven members, and thus avoiding deadlocks, which had frequently occurred between the political parties when there were twelve members.
Rahway sent its full portion of soldiers to fight for the Union in the war of the Rebellion, and the patriotic citizens were liberal in providing for them and their families. Many of the veterans still survive, most of them being members of Barry Post, G. A. R. The city has numerous social and beneficial societies, besides its well sustained churches,-three Presbyterian (one a German), two Methodist Episcopal, one Protestant Episcopal, a German Lutheran, two colored (one Methodist and one Baptist), one Friends; also two chapels where union Sunday schools are held, one in East Rahway and one at Milton. The finest church edifice in the city now is the one recently finished and known as the Trinity Methodist Episcopal, formerly known as the second church of that denomination. The Church of the Holy Com- forter (Episcopal) was burned by accident within the past year. We also have one of the best stocked libraries in the country, controlled by a private association; a successful Young Men's Christian Association, temperance organizations, etc.
In the years of inflation following the war of the Rebellion, Rahway, like other places near the large cities, undertook too much of street and other improvement, for which bonds were issued. Some years later, when the bonds came due and the times had changed, financial embarrassment came, which was finally overcome by an amicable adjustment with its creditors, and the conditions and prospects are now greatly improved. The principal streets are well paved with Belgian blocks, macadam and asphalt, well sewered and are lighted at night by electricity, gas also being available.
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During the past year an electric railway has been completed, connecting with Woodbridge and the popular summer-picnic resort, Boynton Beach, and it is expected before a long while this railway line will be connected with a general system throughout the state.
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CHAPTER XXII.
CITY OF RAHWAY.
R AHWAY was incorporated as a city by an act of the legis- lature approved March 12, 1858. At the time of its incorporation the city was situated in two townships in two separate counties, viz .: the township of Rahway, in Union county, and the township of Woodbridge, in Middlesex county; by an act of the legislature, approved February 16, 1860, that part of Woodbridge township included in the city was taken from Middlesex county and attached to the township of Rahway, in Union county. The first election of city officers was held on the 19th of April, 1858, under the direction of the commissoners of election appointed by the charter for the several wards, viz .: For the first ward, Joel Clarkson, Francis Labaw and Stephen Jackson; for the second ward, Jeremiah Tunison, William Gibby and Enoch M. Ayers; for the third ward, Jacob L. Woodruff, Henry Platner and James McKelvey. The mayor and common council, elect inet, pursuant to the requirements of the charter, at Washington Hall, on Monday, the 3d day of May, 1858, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and proceeded to count the number of votes given at the election for city and ward officers. The following were declared to be elected, they having received the highest number of votes for the respective offices: Mayor, Edward Y. Rogers; city clerk, John R. Chapin; treasurer, William Osborn, Jr .; collector, Peter B. Sharp; collector of arrears, Enoch M. Ayers. The following ward officers were chosen: First ward : councilmen, Abel V. Shotwell, James O. Halsey; judges of elections, Horace H. Roberts, Augustus M. Laning; ward clerk, Albert G. Sym; constable, John Harvey; commissioner of appeal, Eden Haydock. Second ward: councilmen, William Gibby, Crowell McCann; judges of elections, George J. Trussler, Andrew J. Halliday, Jeremiah O. Tunison; ward clerk, William Gibby; constable, John J. Cladek; commissioner of appeal, Amzi W. Williams. Third ward: councilmen, Abraliam Ackerman, Benjamin C. Watson; judges of elections, Almeth White, Francis E. Terrell, John R. Ross; ward clerk, John H. A. Wobbe; constable, Benjamin Parker; commissioner of appeal, Jacob L. Woodruff. Fourth ward: councilmen, John Woodruff, Thomas J. Lee; judges of elections, Edward E. Hooker, George J. Merrick, John A. Jaques; ward clerk, Abraham S. Bonney; constable, John J. Brown; commissioner of appeal, James Vanderhoven.
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The oath of office and allegiance was administered by Thomas H. Shafer, Esq., master in chancery, to the members of the council and the city clerk, and the following officers gave bonds, in the sunis named, for the faithful performance of their respective duties: City treasurer, $6,000; assessor, $500; collector of taxes, $6,000; collector of arrears, $3,000; constable, $300.
MANUFACTURING IN RAHWAY.
On the north branch of the Rahway river, near St. George's avenue bridge, stands the ruins of a large brick building, formerly used as a manufactory. It was known as the Taurino factory, erected by William Shotwell, a resident of Rahway, in 1814. On account of the embargo on British importations during the war, it was undertaken as a good invest- ment in the direction of home manufacture, and so proved until the close of the war, when the business became unprofitable, and was abandoned. It was afterward utilized as a woolen mill, a silk-printing establishment, and for many other purposes, employing many hands and being a great benefit to the town. . It was destroyed by fire some fifteen years ago. Among the later operators were Daniel Stansbury, of New York, John Y. Van Tuyl, Samuel, Edward, and William Dudley (brothers), Stone & Brown, then Thomas Hale, who converted it into a silk factory. Then Daniel Wilcox took the building and started carpet- weaving. After it was repaired from the effects of the fire which had destroyed the upper story it was occupied as a carriage factory, by Denman & Freeman. About 1870 it was finally blown up by the bursting of a boiler, and only the ruin of it remains.
HOUSMAN & McMANUS.
This firm was established in 1872, and began business in a shop owned by John R. Ross, on Seminary street. In 1875 they purchased their present buildings, which were built and owned by Randolph Ross, who had carried on carriage-making for several years, and had been succeeded by his sons, Milan and Bedott Ross, who carried on the business up to the late civil war.
AVERS & LUFBERY.
This firm, who operate a steam saw mill, planing mill and lumber yard, are the successors of an old establishment,-Joseph O. Luf bery and John T. Vail having built a saw mill on the premises in 1827, the property, including the mill-site, belonging originally to Henry Moore and Henry Mundy. In 1827 Lufbery & Vail, also purchasing the old Marsh property on the south side of the river, opposite their saw mill, erected a grist mill and a mill for cutting wood for dyeing purposes. In 1830 Mr. Vail retired from the firm and removed to the
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