History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 61

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 61
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 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" The Regular Steam-Boat " ATALANTA

" (CAPT. HOUGHWOUT, MASTER)

" Has recommenced running between Elizabeth-Town Point and New York.

" Fare, 3712 Cents.

"She leaves the Point at 8 o'clock A.M., and at half-past 12 and at 5 o'clock P.M.

" She leavee New York at 6 and at half-past 10 o'clock A.M. and at 3 o'clock P.M.

"This boat has at great expense been lately fitted up, and ju the most convenient manner, for the transportation of llorsee, Carriages, and Freight, as well as of Passengers. And the owners beg leave to assure the public that nothing will he omitted which may tend to promote their accommodation or to preserve her koown reputation for punctuality and the uniformity of her trips.

" N. B-On Sunday she will make but one trip, leaving New York at hølf-past 6 o'clock A.M. and Elizabeth-Town Poiot at 6 o'clock P.M. " Aug. 26, 1822."

Stephen Cooper advertises for sale at public vendue on Monday, Sept. 30, 1822, at the residence of Ann Richards, in Rahway, 5 hogs, 2 cows, 3 acres of corn in shock, some hay, 50 bushels of winter apples, one elegant eight-day clock, beds and bedding, and a variety of household and kitchen furniture not neces- sary to enumerate.

" A very convenient and well-shelved store in the centre of Rahway is advertised for rent a short time on accommodating terms. Apply at the office of the MUSEUM." Aug. 30, 1822.

Cornelius Vanderhoven and Robert Burwell, Jr., give notice of a dissolution of the firm of Vander- hoven & Burwell on the 16th of August, 1822.

" Joseph P. Tucker offers for sale at his store, on reasonable terms, twenty barrele of superior cider spirits. Rahway, Sept. 20, 1822."

John T. Vail, "at Force & Vail's saw-mill, near Rahway," gives notice to the public that

" llaving the advantage of water-power for turning, &c., he ventures to assure those who may favor him with their custom of having the fol- lowing description of worke done in the best manner aod at short notice, to wit : Cranks, Spindles, Gudgeons, Rag Irone, Pitmon Irona, Stirrups, Dogs, Mill Bars, Carding Machinery, Turning Lathes, Smith's Screw Tools, Carriage Springs, Brasa Castings, Fire-Enginee, Iron, Wood, and Brass Turnings of every description."

Peter Cohn, who has a woolen-factory near Bar- nett's mill, in Rahway township, advertises for wool for cash, or in exchange for woolen goods, announcing to the public that be

" Continuee the manufacturing of fine Blue and Black Broadclotha and Satinette of various descriptions, which he offers for sale on the most lib- eral terme. Also wool manufactured for customers in various brauches and the beet manner, viz., Carding, Spining, dying, Weaving, Fulling, and Dressing Cloth."

Joseph Stansbury offers a farm for sale on the road leading from the bridge to the Blazing Star Ferry, now occupied by David Carpenter.

Notice is given that " The Bridge-Town Packet will ply regularly twice a week from the dock at Rahway to Whitehall Slip in New York, for the transportation of freighit to and from each place." This packet was a small sailing-vessel, and was owned by Smith & Shotwell, of Rahway. George Brown had also an interest in it.

Some of the marriage notices of this period may be of interest. We give the following. The first is from the Museum of July 20, 1822 :

" In Rahway, on Saturday evening last, by the Rev. Berkley Carle, Isaac Vader to Miss Charity DeCamp." Some one, probably the minister who married them, expressed his well wishes in the following lines :

" Long may they live iu tranquil peace and joy, And nothing ill their happiness alloy ; May love for each each rising suu increase,

And all its contrasts ever, ever cease.

May each the other every rolling day Espy new charms iu various circles play ; Io their bleet union møy they ever find A soothing conscience and a placid mind."

Aug. 17, 1822 :

"On Saturday evening last, by Richard Marsh, Esq., Mr. Joho Swaine to Miss Nettie Hand, all of Rahway."

The deaths reported from July 13 to Sept. 22, 1822, are the following :

Mr. Randolph Jacques, aged thirty-four.

Ann, daughter of Jonathan Squires, young lady.

Miss Susan Shotwell, of Rahway, of pulmonary consumption.

It appears that in Angust, 1822, yellow fever pre- vailed quite extensively in New York, so much so that the business portion of the city was largely de- serted, the people going into the country. The death from this disease at the Blazing Star Ferry of Mr. D. R. Jacques, of the firm of M. & D. R. Jacques, of New York, is noticed in the paper for Sept. 14, 1822, and Mrs. Warner, of Broad Street, New York, died of the disease in Woodbridge. Also Frederick Everson, of New York, died of the disease at Springfield ; all died soon after their arrival in the country.

The death notices in Rahway and vicinity are mostly of children and young people.

The following subscription has been found among the manuscripts of the late Joseph O. Lufbery :

2448

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

" We, the subscribers, promise to pay J. B. Mant or J. O. Lufbery the BumIs affixed to our names for the purpose of paying the expenses of the committee to Trenton in aiding us in getting a charter for a bank.

" RAHWAY, Nov. 10, 1824.

William Lawren .. $5.00

D. L. Crage. $4.00

Willian Fornote

2.00

Ichabod Barnett 50

Jackson Freeman. 3.00

Moses Dupny. 3 00

J. O. Lufbery.

4.00

R. C. Vail. 1.00

Job Clark

1.00

J. D. Shotwell 1 00

Samuel Oliver.

4.00

H. Drake ..

1.00

John Y. V. Huyler

3.00

Joseph P. Tooke. 1.00

Nathaniel Bennett

1,00

Henry Forem.

1.00

Thompson Crowell,

0.00 Lathem Clark

1.00

Joel Clarkson.

4.00

Asron Shotwell 1 00

Job Runds.Il

1.00

Daniel Guyon

2.00

William Martin 3.00 Urel O. Marsh 1.00

Richard Mant.

2.00

Robert Lee.

5.00

Joseph Ifampton ...

2.00 Jacob Brookfield

1.00

J. B. Marsh.

2.00

Nathan Thorp & Co. 2 00

J. H. Ransonı ..

3.00

Benjamin S. Forem

1.00

Lewis Ross

1.00

John Simonson

1.00

Benjamin S. Forem.

1.00

Robert C. Vail

1.00

Jacob Parker ..

4.00

Isaac Moure.

2.00

Bennett & Marsh

1.00 Henry Foren

1.00

Michael Brown.

D. S. Crage.

1.00

Jobn Shutwell 3.00 W. Thorp. 1.00

Rahway in 1827 .- The New Jersey Advocate and Middlesex and Essex Advertiser, which was the suc- cessor to the Museum. We have a single copy of this paper, dated Rahway, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 1827. It con- tains many local matters of interest which throw light on that period of the history of Rahway.

Jacob Parker was agent for the United States Fire Insurance Company, and had an office in the village.

Phineas Munday and Frazee Ayres had opened a grocery-store, under the firm-name of Munday & Ayres, at No. 55 Whitehall, New York, and offer to take all kinds of country produce to sell on account or on commission, and, if required, liberal advances will be made on goods left with them for sale.

A valuable tan-yard is offered for sale in the town- ship of Westfield, near Scotch Plains, by Job Clark, executor of the estate of Rachel Clark, deceased ; like- wise a blacksmith-shop and lot of ground in Milton.

A. Shotwell & Co. advertise for an apprentice to the soap and candle business, Rahway, July 2, 1827. The factory of Alexander Shotwell was in the rear of the building owned by Nathan Shotwell.

At that time two regular freight-boats, the " Thomas Gibbons" and the " Nonpareil," made trips between Rahway and New York. One of these boats left the dock at Rahway on Tuesdays and returned on Fri- days, the other on Fridays and returned on Tuesdays. " Freight carried as low as any boat ont of the river."

" London Porter, dried beef, English cradle-scythes, 1 cask English horse nails, pork, shad, mackerel by the barrel, paints, oils, etc., just received and for sale by J. P. Tooker."

Luke Haviland, harness-making and trimmings.

New bakery, J. S. Smith.

New grocery-store, Alexander Shotwell & Co.

Hats and caps, Thomas Crowell.

Watch-making and repairing, John Pressaq.

Smithing, Vail & Guyon.

Isaac Osborn, gig- and carriage-manufactory.

P.M. Leave New York at 6 o'clock A.M., half-past 10 A.M., 3 o'clock P.M., touching at Merserenu's Dock on Staten Island on her passage each way. " Passage 12 1-2 Cents."

A convenient, new, and superior sociable stage- coach provided to take passengers from Elizabeth Town to the landing free of charge. Stages from Easton, Pa., Basking Ridge, and Morristown, N. J., are admitted to run in connection with this boat.

The following advertisement appears :

" FRIENDS' SCHOOL-HOUSE,

" Rahway.

" The inhabitants of Bridgetown and its vicinity, and all others whom it may interest, are respectfully informed that on Wednesday, the 12th of the present month, the subscriber will open a school in the Friends' School-House, Rahway.

" As the enbacriber is R regularly-graduated Master of Arts, and has long been familiar with the various modes of education now in use, both in English and Classical Schools, it ie hie intention, whenever the ad- vancement of the youth of the place and the wishes of their parents and guardians shall require it, to offer here the facilities for as extensive and complete an education as is to be obtained in any similar institution elsewhere.

"The prices of tuition will be ae followe, viz. :

For Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, per quarter, $2.50

With English Grammar and Geography .. 3.00

With the Elements of Geometry and their application to

Surveying, Navigation, &c. The Rudiments of Alge- bra 4.00

" The strictest attention will be paid to the instruction sod morals of the children, and it is hoped that the School will be found worthy of the public patronage, which is hereby respectfully solicited.

" BRIDGETOWN, JUth Sept., 1827."

" HENRY B. POOLE.

In this number is to be found a "Prospectus of The New Jersey Magazine, to be published in monthly numbers at Rahway, N. J., by James A. Bennett & Co." The editor's name is not given, but it is an- nounced to be under the editorial superintendence of " a native of this State, who is accustomed to literary and editorial pursuits, and conversant with domestic and foreign periodicals." Subscriptions to the work were advertised to be received at the office of the New Jersey Advocate.

In this paper also are reported the " Proceedings of a Convention for the Internal Improvement of the State of New Jersey, held at Princeton on the 25th day of September, A.D. 1827." This convention was the inception of the Delaware and Raritan Canal and of the Camden and Amboy Railroad. It was attended by leading men from all parts of the State, and adopted a plan of organization of a permanent society having the object of internal improvements of the State in view. Richard Stockton was chosen president ; Dan- iel Cox, vice-president ; John M. Sherrard, secretary ; and David C. Croxall, assistant secretary.

Rahway in 1834 .- The following is a description of the town of Rahway in 1834 by Joseph O. Lnf- bery :

" SIR:

" In answer to the enquiries of your letter requesting information relative to this town and its vicinity, I shall very briefly remark :

" This town contains from 350 to 400 houses ; population about 5000. Stores of various kinds, 25; Taverns, 3; Public Buildings; I Presbyterian Church, brick ; 1 Methodist ; 1 Baptist, building; ] Friends and 1 Ortho- dox Friends, and 1 Meeting-Tlouse for the Blacks; 1 Academy, called the 'Athenian,' 36 hy 68 feet, two stories. This building is just fin-

"NEW YORK AND STATEN ISLAND STEAMBOAT. - The well-known steamboat 'Bellons,' Capt. J. H. Vanderbilt, will commence running on Monday, the 2d of April, as follows: Leave Rising Sun Landing every day except Sundaye at 8 o'clock A.M., half-past 12 P.M., 5 o'clock | ished, and was built by a few enterprising and public-spirited citizene.

249

CITY OF RAHWAY.

The stock is in ahares of $25 each, and cost about $5000. It will accam- modate vo the first floor 150 scholars. The managers have limited it to 100, which it now contains. The upper room is 36 by 60 feet, and ceil- ing 16 feet high, and furnished in the best manner. This is for a lec- ture-roum, on subjects such as will aid the pupils in gaining general in- formation of the arts and sciences. We have also 1 Academy, built by one of our spirited citizena, Mr. Samuel Oliver. Tbia also is rented as a Boarding-School, and is now in operation, with a full complement of scholars. There is 6 other schools, all well supported. We have a Bank, capital paid in $70,000, a post-office mail every day North and South, a printing-office and weekly journal, an incorporated fire-Engine Com- pany, extending over 2 miles square, & Mutual Insurance Company.

" We manufacture for exports flata, Shoes & Boots, Carriages, Cabinet furniture, ready made Clothing, Sitting-Chairs, Svap & Candles, Cottoa & Woolen goods, tioware, coach lace, plated ware for carriages. The capital employed in manufacturing ia about $300,000, value of exporta from 10 to 1200,000 dollars. We have + Milinery-Shops, 2 Watchmakers, 3 Bakers, 6 Lumber & Conl-yarda, 1 Soap and Candle manufactory. Ou the river 2 Saw-mills, doing a very extensive business in sawing lumber braces, joiata, sealing latha, &c. There is now laying in the river near the milla more than $30,000 worth of timber. Distance to New York by land 20 miles, to Newark 10 miles, Elizabeth 8, Woodbridge 3. Am- boy 8, and New Brunswick 11. There is & railroad now making from Jersey City to New Brunswick, passing through this town. Soll very good, generally a light loam on a Sandy, gravelly, or red shell bottom, well adapted to grass, grain, &c. We have nt thia tiare 5 vessela, ane or two leaving each day for New York.

" This town is sometimes called, by way of designating the several parta, Upper & Lower Rahway and Leesville. Upper Rahway ja on the East side, is divided from Lower by the river. The South End of Lees- ville takes ite name from a family named Lee, who have long resided there. Thia family has furnished our most enterprising and public-spir- ited citizena as merchants and manufacturers, who were the first to lead the way to our extensive trade to the Southern States, and by their industry and perseverance, liberal and enlightened viewa have greatly added to the prosperity of our place.

"I have extended this further than I expected. Yours."

Removal of the Mill-Dams .- In 1854 the late Dr. David S. Craig and others procured an act of the Legislature to tear down and abolish the mill-dams in Rahway, on account of the malarial fevers pro- duced by the stagnant ponds. The desirableness of such a measure was generally concurred in by the citizens, who had approved of it at a public meeting held in the fall of 1853. But it met with strenuous opposition on the part of some, and the act of 1854 proving defective in some of its provisions it was re- solved to seek an amendment at the next sitting of the Legislature. That body was memorialized by the resident physicians as follows :

". To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New Jersey :

"The undersigned, physicians, practitioners of medicine, residing ia the district referred to in an act passed third of March, 1854, would heg leave to atate to your honorable body, that from experience and obaer- vation we believe the health and prosperity of the village of Rahway and surrounding country is greatly injured by pounds of water occasioned by erection of dams obstructing the course of nature's pure and healthfnl streams, and we are also of opinion that the removal of anid dams ia the only means whereby the health and prosperity of the place can be restored.

" MOSES JACQUES, M.D., " LEWIS DRAKE, M.D., " SILAS COOK, M.D., " DAVID S. CRAIG, M.D.,

"S. ABERNETHY, M.D.,

" JOHN H. JANEWAY, M.D.,

" ELIHU B. SILVERS, M.D."

The law was amended, and the trustees proceeded to give public notice of its execution by inserting the following in the local papers :

"The anbacribers, trustees for carrying out the law authorizing the removal of the mill-dans, hereby inform the public that they have de- termined to take down all the dama anthorized to be removed at one time, and have the assessment made for the whole amount required at once. In announcing this determination, the trustees would state that they had taken into respectful consideration the recommendations of a meeting of a portion of their fellow-citizens, advising that only two of the dans be removed thia year, and the remaining two the year follow- ing. But it having been represented that the only objection to the re- moval of all the dams this year was in consequence of the distress the levying of the tax would occasion to many small property holders, who had been thrown out of employment during the past dull businesa sea- 801, a number of gentlemen who had taken on active interest in the matter pledged themselves to raise by subscription an amount necessary to pay the taxes of those unable to pay themselves. With this assurance the trustees considered the cause of the recommendation of the public meeting referred to as having been removed, and no other objectivas having been presented, no obstacle was foreseen to the accomplishment of the truate confided to us. The fund subscribed is considered ample to pay the taxes of all who will be unable to pay, and alao to loan to many others who may require temporary assistance the amount of their taxes, but the subscription was tendered and intended especially as a gift to those whom the tax would be pecuniarily oppressive, and of all such aa the taxes will be paid before loana are made.

" DAVID S. CRAIG, " W'M. B. CROWELL, " .Jos. T. CROWFLL, " Trustees.

" RAHWAY. Ang. 22, 1855."

A bill of complaint was taken to the Court of Chancery praying for an injunction to restrain the action of the trustees. But it was decided against the petitioners, and the act for the removal of the dams was upheld. The dams removed were those of Jesse C. Hendenberg, Ayres, Williams & Lufbery, Henry B. Shotwell, and Isaac Jones. Steam has since en- tirely superseded water-power as a motor in the various manufacturing interests of Rahway, and the improved healthfulness of the city has added greatly to its prosperity in other respects.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CITY OF RAHWAY .- ( Continued.)

Incorporation of the City, Original Boundaries and their Changes .- Rahway was incorporated as a city by an act of the Legislature approved March 12, 1858. The original boundaries, as defined by the charter, were as follows :

"SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the Stute of New Jersey, That all that part of the several townships of Rah- way, in the county of Union, and Woodbridge, in the county of Middle- aex, in this State, beginning at the Stone Bridge over King's Creek, where aaid creek crosses the road leading from East Rahway to Treni- bley's Puiat ; thence in a northwesterly direction on a straight line ta the brook which crossed the road leading from Kinsey's Corner to Florence'a Mill, intersecting said brook two hundred yards to the east- ward of said road ; thence in a southeasterly direction to the rond which leada from Rahway to Westfield, and kaowa as the Westfield road, inter- secting seid Westfield road et & point where the road which leads to Madison Hill intersecta it; thence in & soutbwesterly direction, on a atraight line, to the road leading from the Six Roada to Mount Pleasant, intersecting said Mount Pleasant roal at & small bridge, nbant two hun- dred yarda to the northwest of the house owned and occupied by Moses B. Bramhall ; thence in a aouthwesterly direction along the line of said Mount Pleasant road to the road which lead- froal Kinsey's Corner to Woodbridge, and known as the old Woodbridge road ; thence along the

250

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

line of said road to the bridge which crosses the South Branch of the Rahway River; thence in a sontheasterly direction, and nearly dne east, to the road leading to New Blazing Star, and along the line of said New Blazing Star road to a point where the lands of Walter Fuller and Aaroa Wilkinson adjoin ; and thence in a northeasterly direction in a straight line to the place of beginning; and all citizens of this State who now are or hereafter may be inhabitants within said limits shall be and are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by the name of 'The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Rahway,' with all the powere incident to a municipal corporation and necessary far the purposes of carrying out the objects of this act."

Section second of the act divided the city in four wards, the boundaries of which it is not necessary here to describe.

The city at the time of its incorporation was situated in two townships in two separate counties, viz., the township of Rahway, in Union County, and the town- ship of Woodbridge, in Middlesex County. Each of these townships maintained its original boundaries and jurisdiction independent of the city government, so that the inhabitants for the time being were under three governments, viz., that of the city and those of the townships of Rahway and Woodbridge respec- tively, each holding its sceptre over its portion of the territory, and the city extending its municipal hands over both. Surely, if good government were in the ratio of its quantity, the city of Rahway must have been well governed. But such is not always the fact. This anomalous state of things, however, did not last long. By an act of the Legislature approved Feb. 16, 1860, that part of Woodbridge township included in the city was taken from Middlesex County and at- tached to the township of Rahway, in Union County. Thus the city got rid of the difficulty of being situated in two townships and two counties, and the number of governments was reduced to two. The city and the township governments-a sort of wheel within a wheel, though less complicated than the former struc- ture-ran on together until March, 1861, when by legislative enactment the township of Rahway was divided, part of its territory formed into the new township of Linden, and the rest absorbed in the ex- tended limits of the city. Thus the old township of Rahway, being cut in two by a legislative blow, died, at the age of fifty-seven years. Part of it, perhaps we may call it the head, came into the city under the name of the Fifth Ward. Whether it was found to be as useless in the corporation as "the fifth wheel to a coach," or whatever may have been the cause, the Legislature took it out March 23, 1864, and constructed ont of it the present township of Clark. It certainly could be put to no better use than to be converted into a monument to that worthy citizen of yore, the signer of the Declaration of Independence.

election for city officers was held on the 19th of April, 1858, under the direction of the commissioners of election appointed by the charter for the several wards, viz .: For the First Ward, Joel Clarkson, Fran- cis Labaw, and Stephen Jackson; for the Second Ward, Jeremiah Tunison, William Gibby, and Enoch

M. Ayres; for the Third Ward, Jacob L. Woodruff, Henry Platner, and James McKelvey. The mayor and Common Council elect met pursuant to the re- quirements of the charter at Washington Hall on Monday, the 3d day of May, 1858, at 10 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 re- ceived the highest number of votes for the respective offices : Mayor, Edward Y. Rogers; City Clerk, John R. Chapin ; Treasurer, William Osborn, Jr .; Collec- tor, Peter B. Sharp ; Collector of Arrears, Enoch M. Ayres.

WARD OFFICERS .- First Ward: Councilmen, Abel V. Shotwell, James O. Halsey ; Judges of Elections, Joel Clarkson, Horace H. Roberts, Augustus M. Laing; Ward Clerk, Albert G. Sym ; Constable, John Harvey ; Commissioner of Appeal, Eden Hay- dock.

Second Ward : Councilmen, William Gibby, Crowel Macann ; Judges of Elections, George J. Trussler, Andrew J. Halliday, Jeremiah O. Tunison ; Ward Clerk, William Geery; Constable, John J. Cladek ; Commissioner of Appeal, Amzi W. Williams.

Third Ward: Councilmen, Abraham 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. Wood- . ruff.

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.

The oath of office and allegiance were administered by Thomas H. Schafer, Esq., Master in Chancery, to the members of the Council and the city clerk, and the following officers gave bonds in the sums named for the faithful performance of their respective du- ties : City Treasurer, $6000 ; Assessor, $500; Collector of Taxes, $6000; Collector of Arrears, $3000; Con- stables, $300.

At two o'clock P.M. the Council assembled, and being opened by prayer the mayor proceeded to de- liver his inaugural address, which was listened to by a large assemblage of people.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 61

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