History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 159

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 159
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 159

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bushels of Indian corn and fifty thousand bushels of rye annually exported about the year 1830, and some years later it is said the total number of bushels of grain passing through this market reached over a million. In these fast days it is almost impossible to conceive of a little city like ours being the entrepôt for the products of nearly all the fruitful sections of New Jersey, and for a goodly stretch of Pennsylvania ter- ritory, and being also their market for the supply of the necessaries of life, as well as furnishing a chief source of supply for the New York agricultural trade. But it must be remembered that before the advent of railroads and canals as a means of intercommuni- cation the Raritan was the only outlet to the metrop- olis from a large territory west of us. One item here may be mentioned : " Our peach trade was also con- siderable, and many of our staid citizens remember the Saturday frolic on Sonman's Hill when they were allowed to sort out from the great wagons the lus- cious fruit to be packed in the steamers, and taking home as recompense all they could carry of the 'speckled' but none the less delicious flavored escu- lent."

The thonght is a striking one in illustration of the remarkable advance we have made in civilization during the past half-century, and suggests to us a picture of what we should now be if steam traffic and the telegraph had been delayed in their coming or had advanced less swiftly towards apparent perfection, as well as shows us what absolute changes are made by the progress of science in the very structure and nature of society and of life. At this time passenger communication was had four times daily with New York by steamboat, with which connected stages to Lamberton, where other steamboats took up the journey. Two lines of steamers vied with each other in the passenger traffic, while many citizens of New Brunswick ran trading vessels. These were lively times in the busy little town. "Crowds would gather at the steamboat dock to witness the Union line steamers race to the dock with their competitors, and extensive was the betting on the result. As thesteamers bumped against the wharves the passengers made a rush for the line of four-horse stages which stood ready. These filled, whips would crack, and whistling up Burnet Street would race a train of as many as twenty-two stages in line. The excitement concerning the travel north was little less. From the cupola of the steam- boat-house a signal on the straight turnpike tavern could be seen, and in a few moments more the blast of bugles and the whirl of dust announced the arrival of the return stages. Crowded with passengers, the horses would gallop madly down New Street, and dash around the corner in a style that would touch the heart of that Jehu of Yosemite, California Joe. Rattling along they presently reached the boats, which lay, steam up, ready to continue the journey to the metropolis. The boys and young men, and even the older citizens, would take sides with the

652

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

' Citizens' or 'Union' line as exeitedly, and even more so than the youth of the present period bet and yell over the fire-engines. They would gather on Sonman's Hill, where the view would be clear to the turnpike near the Adrain estate, and descry the vic- torious coach, usually but little ahead of her rival, with which she had run a dead race all the way from Trenton. If the ' Union' stage was ahead the wait- ing steamer 'Thistle' would peal ont a welcome of victory. With eager eyes the crowd watched the de- scent of the hill to the old willows, and waited for the second appearance at the turn into New Street, wildly shouting at the hazardous tilt around into Burnet Street and the final gallop to the doek. Contrast these scenes with that of the Philadelphia business man of to-day, who at morning steps into a vehicular palace, transacts a day's business in New York, and sups with his family again at night in the Quaker City."

" The boats and stages which came into the eity at night would deposit their living freight in the care of our Bonifaces, who kept open house along Burnet and up in Albany Streets. Here were the present Bell Tavern, and White Hall ('Hart Moore's' ancient predecessor), and the City Hotel, and, the best of all, Mann's Hotel. This was the long old building, corner of Albany and Neilson Streets, now occupied as a boarding-house and by Van Cleef's grocery. This, by the way, continued to be the only public lecture hall the town possessed up to a tolerably recent date, -' Mann's long room,'-in which many of our busi- ness men of to-day will remember to have first strutted forth upon the stage in all the glory of juvenile ora- tory. Opposite here stood the moss-covered, stuccoed stone dwelling which dated back to the Revolution, which has been eredited with the frequent entertain- ment of Washington, and in front of which, in July, 1776, Col. Neilson mounted a table and first read to our loyalists the Declaration of Independence. The hotel at the foot of Burnet Street was kept by Skipper Cornelius Vanderbilt, the late commodore of steam- boats and general of railroads. His wife kept clean and neat the house, and attended to the boarders during the day, while her husband ran his 'perry- auger'-a sloop without a bowsprit-to New York. His ambitious mind yearned for a steamboat, and when an opportunity to buy one was presented and he lacked the money, his wife, according to a story Judge Fisk, a great friend of Vanderbilt's, used to tell, surprised him with a considerable sum which she had, unknown to him, saved by economy in her manage- ment of the hotel. He was also aided by Mr. William Gibbons, who resided at Madison, N. J., and also owned the Union Line of steamers ; so he started off' then, where he remained until his death, at the liead of one of the main routes of travel. But how differ- ent the relations to society and its history this position bore then and bears now."

In the year 1830 the railroad agitation commenced, and the State began to be tickled with the feelers of

the monster which was afterwards to grapple with and subdue it. Camden and Amboy made its appear- ance, and the Delaware and Raritan Canal was soon under way. In 1833 it was completed and opened for passenger and freight traffic. There was no particular rejoicing over it, although naturally the popular feel- ing for improved methods of transit was gratified and the health of the town was much improved by the substitution of deep water and doeks for the hare river-beds covered with filth which formerly lay ex- posed. The canal was projected as far back as 1804, and companies were several times in the next quarter of the century talked of and chartered. The present company was incorporated in 1830, and in four years had built the forty-two miles of eanal from Borden- town to this eity, together with twenty-three miles of feeder along the Delaware north of Trenton. The canal is seventy-five feet wide and seven to ten feet deep, admitting vessels of from seventy-five to one hundred tons burden. Its cost, together with that of the feeder, was about three millions of dollars. It has some twenty locks. The benefit derived from the canal has been chiefly from the bringing of eoal from the mines, although its through traffic is immense, and puts the Raritan among the three greatest rivers in the country for her tonnage. It is an interesting fact that the first steam-propeller which ever passed through a canal was the " Hercules," which came up through the basin at New Brunswick soon after her arrival in this country. The vessel was an iron serew- steamer, built at Glasgow by order of Commodore Stockton, and sailed to America by nine persons,-a most daring feat, for she was little larger than our present towing-tugs. She is still in use about Phila- delphia.

In 1734 the Bordentown and Washington road was opened, and once a week a freight wagon was run, connecting with boat for New York.

But the coming of the New Jersey Railroad awak- ened the wildest enthusiasm. It was bitterly opposed by the Camden and Amboy, and the feeling of the people sided with it as against the monopoly, aside from their local prejudice in its favor. The road was incorporated in 1832, and soon had horse-cars run- ning from Newark to New York eight trips daily. On Dec. 3, 1835, the first locomotive, named the " Newark," ascended the grade at Bergen Hill and came sweeping in upon the Newarkers in gay style, at the rate of twenty miles an hour, now and then increasing to thirty. A month later the entire road was opened to this city. On Jan. 2, 1836, a new lo- comotive, the " New Brunswick," attached to thir- teen cars decorated with banners bearing the names of the counties, cities, and villages along the road, and United States and State flags, eame down at the rate of abont twenty miles an hour from Newark, freighted with guests from all along the line to East Brunswick. Here the visitors were received by Al- derman Zabriskie, who conducted them in carriages

653

CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

over the Albany Street bridge to the court-house, where had been prepared a sumptuous collation. The feast was presided over by Hon. C. L. Hardenbergh, and accompanied by toasts and speeches. On January 4th the regular trains, three each way, commenced running from Rahway to Newark, fare fifty cents.

Trains had to stop across the river, as there was at that time no railroad bridge. The depot stood on the right as the train came in, on the little knoll now covered with a few cedars, and omnibus coaches ran thence to the City Hotel via the Albany Street bridge, at the low charge of six and a quarter ceuts. On the Ist of January, 1838, the first train ran across the viaduct to the depot on Somerset Street, which had meanwhile been erected on the site of the old Baptist Church, for which was paid $6327.50 by the company. It is worthy of remark here that this bridge cost at that time $57,532,-twenty-nine thousand dollars less than the Albany Street bridge. The company, having obtained permission of Common Council, built their road out two or three miles towards Monmouth Junc- tion, to what were then the city limits, and efforts were made to continue the line on to Trenton, to con- nect with the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad, and thus make a through line to New York, to compete with Camden and Amboy. To prevent this, the Cam- den and Amboy, in 1837, yielded to destiny and applied for permission to build a branch of their road be- tween the Philadelphia and Trenton and the New Jersey Railroads, and on March 15th the necessary bill became a law. In the following year the first train passed through from New York to Philadelphia, via Kensington, connecting with the Baltimore train, so that the transit occupied a day.

Prices and Premiums, 1822 .- In the Bridgetown Museum, published at Bridgetown (Lower Rahway), the wholesale prices current of flour and grain at New York and New Brunswick, Sept. 23, 1822, are given as follows :

New York superfine flour, bll .. $6.00

Philadelphia

6.50

Baltimore,

6.50

Richmond City mills ...

6.75

Country mills ...

6 00

Fredericksburg ..

6.00

Muldling», fine ...

4.50

Rye flour.

3.75

Indian meal 3.87

" in hhds. -(8(0).

18.00

Wheat, North River, Unshel. Virginia ....

1.20

Rye ..

Corn, yellow,

North River ...

Oats.

Prices at New Brunswick.

s. d.

8. d.

Wheat.

9 0

Rye

Corn.

Oats

2 9

Flaxseed.

Wheat flour

Rye

18 0

Indian meal

13 0

Potatoes ...

3 3

Butter, fresh.

14 to 16 cents.

firkin

Lard

9 to 915 cents.

Cider Spirits

35 to 36 cents.

Flax

7 to 716 cents.

Eggs ..

9 cents.

"LIST OF PREMIUMS

" To be awarded at the Full Meeting of the Agricultural Society of New Bruns- wick, on the first Tuesday of November, 1822.

"I. For the greatest nunsher of bushels of corn, raised on two acres of laud lying together, at the rate of fifty-eight pounds to the bushel. The Diode of culture, planting, and manuring to be stated, and the measurement of corn and land to be proved by affidavit before the Committee, a unp ...

$10

" 2. For the greatest number of bushels of Wheat, raised on two acres lying together, to be threshed and measured, the quantity and kind of measure and made of culture to be stated, a cup ...... 6

"3. For the greatest quantity of Millet raised ou two acres, for hay, a cup.

"4. For the greatest number of bushels of Potatoes raised on one acre, a cup

8 "5. For the greatest number of bushels of Turnips on one acre, & chp

6 "6. For the greatest number of bushels of Ruta Baga ou one acre, a cup.

"7. For the greatest number of bushels of Carrots from oue quarter of an acre, # cup

"8. For the best half acre of cabbage, a cup ..

"9. For the best two acres of Flax, to be viewed and judged by a committee before pulling, a cup ....

" 10. For the best pair of Fat Cattle, a cup.

"11. For the best Fat Cow, a cup ....

(In both cases to be owned and fed by the owner on his farm for one year previous to the show.)

" 12. For the best Call, not exceeding eight months, a cup ... 6

"13. For the best sucking foal, a cup.

"14. For the best pen of spring pigs, not less than five, of one litter, not over nine months old, raised by the owner, stating pre- cisely the mude of feeding aod nearly as may be the expense, a cnp ....

" 15. For the best Merino Rain, a cup

" 16. For the best English Ram, a cup.

" DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

" Best pair of knit thread stockings.

Best pair of kuit woolen stockings.

Best cloth, not less than ten yard-, made in this State from wool raised by the person offering

Best Bonnet of split straw ..

2d Bonnet of split straw

2 Best Bonnet of grass

3 2d Bunnet of grass.

The best Diaper for table cloths, not less than fifteen yards.

The best two dozen Napkins ....

3 The best thirty yards of linen shirting. 4 The best piece of Flannel, not less than twenty yards ...

4 The best piece of Carpeting, not less than thirty yards. 4 The best Bed-quilt or Counterpane. 3

"In all cases the materials must be raised or manufactured by the person offering; and no article that has been used or worn shall be ad- mitted. " By order,

" JAMES CROMMELIN, Sec'ry."

Manumission Papers .- The following is a copy of a bill of sale for a negro girl, Jude :

" This is to certify that I have this day sold to Peter Spader my Negro woman, Jude, aged seventeen years for the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars, which Negro woman I promised to deliver or cause to be delivered noto Peter Spader or order.

" As witness my Hand the 26th day of March, 1814.

" ROELIF NEVIUS.

" Witness Present :

" ABRAM SPADER."

BILL OF SALE OF SLAVE POLL.

" For in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to me in hand paid, 1 hereby freelly assign and deliver to Jane Spader of New Brunswick-My Negro woman named Poll-abont forty years of oge and do warraut hier against all the claim of all persons.

60 " As witness my hand the 9th day of January, 1810.

" JOHN M. BAYARD.

" Witness Present :

" I'. SPADER."

Tornado .- On June 19, 1835, our town came near meeting the most melancholy fate of total destruction. Two dark clouds approached and joined each other in the vicinity of Griggstown, on the Millstone River, and then started a full-blown tornado on a path of devastation through Six-Mile Run and Middle- bush to this city, where at five o'clock in the even- ing they appeared a lowering mass projecting down-

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Southern

654

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

ward a pillar of fire. The hurricane with fearful violence took an easterly course, threatening Albany and Church Streets, but actually striking at the heads of Paterson, Bayard, Liberty, and Schureman Streets (the heads of these being at George Street), whence it took its destructive way across Neilson and Burnet Streets, killing several persons in its path; thence over the Raritan to Piscataway, and so to the water. Schureman, Liberty, and Burnet Streets were a complete mass of ruins, over one hundred and twenty dwellings, exclusive of numerous stores, store- houses, etc., being destroyed or greatly damaged. The loss reached one hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars, a very large sum in those days, and the suffering was considerable, though speedily relieved by contri- butions from all over the State. The razed parts of the city were speedily rebuilt, and the industry and commerce of the city received no serious check.

Present Status of the City .- New Brunswick is well supplied with water, and is under adequate police regulations. It is protected from the ravages of fire by a well-organized and efficient fire depart- ment. Its educational affairs are under the manage- ment of a board of education composed of twelve men. Its business places number over six hundred, and its furnishing stores, banking institutions, and in- surance companies are adequate to meet the city's demands.

The city can claim high standing for her educa- tional advantages, being possessed of Rutgers College, the Theological Seminary, the Conservatory of Music, Rutgers Grammar School, five public schools, two young ladies' seminaries, and eleven private schools. The press of this city can boast of two daily and two weekly papers, Times and Fredonian, and two monthly journals, the Constellation and the Rutgers College Targum.

The religious advantages of New Brunswick are not less marked. There are twenty-one churches besides six missions, viz., four Reformed, two Episcopal, three Baptist, five Methodist Episcopal, two Roman Cath- olic, one Jewish synagogue, one Evangelical Luth- eran (Emanuel, German) ; besides Bethel Mission Union, North Mission Union, Hope Misson, Plum Street Mission Union, Second Reformed Mission, Young Men's Christian Association Mission; the Charitable Association, Humane Society, established in 1807, object, to supply the poor with fuel, etc., during the winter; Dorcas Society, established in 1813, object, clothing destitute widows and their chil- dren.

Ladies' Depository, established in 1856, object, to supply work to respectable families. Burnet Street, foot of Hiram, is the headquarters of the society.

New Brunswick Auxiliary Orphan Asylum (aux- iliary to the Newark Orphan Asyium), established 1860. Young Men's Christian Association, organized in 1857, meets at No. 48 Church Street, S. S. Lindley, librarian.

Middlesex County Bible Society, established in 1849 at New Brunswick, meets annually.in the dif- ferent townships. Depository with the executive com- mittee. Chairman of the executive committee, Rev. R. H. Steele, D.D., of this city ; Treasurer, Johnson Letson.

New Brunswick City Mission, established Jan. 26, 1862. Anniversary held in the fall election in the spring. City missionary, Silas E. Weir. They are doing a vast amount of good, and have plans well laid for visiting and holding meetings throughout the city.

Young Men's Auxiliary Bible Society, established in 1816 (contemporary with the American Bible So- ciety ).

THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES .- Of these there are four. The Reformed Theological Seminary Library was organized at an early date, and a large number of volumes were secured ; in the year 1873 it was reor- ganized. The library is in the " Sage Library Hall," open daily from 9 A.M. to 12.30 P.M., and from 2 to 4.30 P.M.

Rutgers College Library, open to students during the week. Library in Kirkpatrick Chapel building.

Young Men's Christian Association Library, at Association Rooms, No. 48 Church Street. S. S. Lind- ley, librarian. It contains nearly six thousand vol- umes.

New Brunswick Circulating Library, established 1876. They now have it in the bookstore of Messrs. Morgan & Shivlers, 36 Church Street. I. Heidings- feld, librarian.

MUSICAL SOCIETIES. - Hartranft Choral Society was organized April 18, 1870. Holds regular meet- ings once each week at Masonic Hall.

Gesang Verein Eintract (Glee Club Eintract), or- ganized 1861. Leader, Professor Frederick Sehnee- weiss. They meet every week at Saenger Hall, Rich- mond Street.

Aurora Verein, reorganized 1875. Leader, Otto Geitner. Rooms at Saenger Hall. Singing school on Thursday evening.

Volks Concert Association, organized 1876. Pro- fessor Frederick Schneeweiss, musical director. Ob- ject, to give popular concerts of popular music by local artists, professional and amateur.

Americus Glee and Social Club, organized 1872; object, to promote social amusement among the Israel- ites of this city ; meets every two weeks on first and third Thursdays of each montlı.

New Brunswick Vocal Union, organized February, 1877 ; meets every week on Monday evening at Ma- sonic Hall.

BANDS .- Darrow's Cornet Band was organized March, 1866, Burritt Darrow, leader; meets once each week at Bull's Head.

Goodwill Cornet Band, organized in 1877, Kemble Dunham, leader ; there are abont thirty members.

POLITICAL CLUB .- Union Republican Club, organ- ized March 29, 1880; mects Friday in each month.

Martin .A. Stoute

655

CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

BUILDING LOAN ASSOCIATIONS .- There are some nine associations in this city who are regularly organ- ized for the purposes specified as a loan company for building purposes.

The Middlesex Building and Loan Association, or- ganized October, 1867. President, P. Wychoff Voor- hees ; Secretary, William A. Van Doren.

Union Building and Loan Association, organized October, 1869. President, James P. Langdon ; Secre- tary, A. M. Way ; office, 20} Albany Street.

Raritan Building and Loan Association, organized March, 1870. President, Garret Conover; Secretary, Arthur G. Ogilby ; office, corner George and Albany Streets.

Home Building and Loan Association, organized April, 1871. President, Garret G. Voorhees ; Secre- tary, Peter G. Polhemns ; office, 152 George Street.

Empire Building and Loan Association, organized in 1872. President, James L. Rogers ; Secretary, A. M. Way ; office, 20 Albany Street.

New Brunswick Building and Loan Association, organized April, 1873. President, Kenneth J. Dun- can; Secretary, Peter G. Polhemus; office, 152 George Street.

Third Excelsior Building and Loan Association, organized June, 1877. President, William G. De Hart; Secretary, Theodore B. Booraem.

People Building and Loan Association, organized January, 1880. President, Mahlon Runyon ; Secre- tary, D. F. R. Runyon.

The PUBLIC HALLS in the city are as follows :

City Hall, corner George and Schureman Streets.

Masonic Hall (containing opera-house, assembly- room, lodge- and drill-rooms), corner Albany and George Streets.

Geological Hall, College Campus.

Greer Hall, No. 195 Burnet Street.

Helectia Hall, 22 Albany Street.

Kearney Hall, 20} Albany Street.

Odd-Fellows' Hall, 134 Neilson Street.

Saenger Hall, Richmond and Dennis Streets. Sage Library Hall, Seminary Place. Schmidt's Hall, City Alley.

Suydam Hall, Seminary Place.

Van Neste Hall, College Campus.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS .- County court-house, Court- House Square, between Bayard and Paterson Streets.

County collector's office, grand jury-room, court- rooms of Supreme, Circuit, Oyer and Terminer, Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, and of Dis- trict Court, in court-house, erected in the year 1843.

Sheriff's house and office, Court-House Square.

County jail, Court-House Square.

County clerk's and surrogate's office, Court-House Square.

Pump-house, water-works, at Lawrence's Brook; reconstructed in 1874.

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS .- The following are the organized clubs :

The Young Men's Athletic Association, organized in 1879. Its regular meetings are every Thursday evening, corner Hiram and Neilson Streets,

Rutgers College Boat Club, organized in 1876. Boat-house (floating) in Raritan River, south of Al- bany Street bridge. Navy : two four-oared shells.

New Brunswick Yacht Club, organized in 1875. Commodore, Clifford Morrogh, M.D.

The Washington Yacht Club, organized in 1876. Commodore, Augustus Wilcox.

BASE-BALL AND FOOT-BALL CLUBS .- Rutgers Col- lege Base-Ball Association, organized 1860.

Union Base-Ball Club, organized 1875.

Rutgers Foot-Ball Association, organized in 1868; now called " Rutgers Foot-Ball Eleven."

The above associations are very popular with the community during the pleasantest parts of the year. The organizations show new life and vigor, and attract much attention from the college and the citizens gen- erally.

There are a dozen loan associations, whose advan- tages in increasing private buildings are marked.

There are two military companies, eight Masonic lodges, four of the Independent Order of Odd-Fel- lows, one Knights of Pythias, two of the Order United American Mechanics, six Sons of Temperance, two political clubs, two brass bands, some seven benevo- Jent societies and three church benevolent lodges, six -musical societies, one historical society, and one ·board of trade.

MARTIN A. HOWELL, born Dec. 25, A.D. 1804, and in his seventy-eighth year, was one of a family of five, and is one of the oldest native residents of New Brunswick, N. J. His paternal grandfather, Howell, was of Welsh descent, and his maternal grandfather | (Armstrong) of Scotch descent, and were both resi- dents of Franklin township, Somerset Co., and farm- ers. His father, Christopher, born in Griggstown, N. J., settled in New Brunswick after his marriage to Ann Armstrong, where he resided until his death in 1814, aged fifty-five years. His mother died in 1829, aged sixty years.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 159

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224