USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 1 > Part 61
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 1 > Part 61
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 1 > Part 61
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JOHN RAMBO.
Mr. Rambo's ancestors were Swedes, and emigrated at an early date to America. His great-grandfather was John, who had among his sons a son John, born in 1776. He cultivated a farm in Gloucester County, and married Patience Crim, whose children were five in number, while by a second marriage, to Lydia Key, were eight children. Peter C., a son by the first marriage, was born in 1801, in Woolwich township, Gloucester Co., and later removed to Deptford town- ship, where he followed farming employments. An interval was spent as a resident of Pennsylvania, after which he returned again to New Jersey, and settled in Trenton. He married Margaret, daughter of Richard Stockton, of Burlington County, and had children,-Benjamin, Elizabeth, Emeline, Samuel, John, Mary Jane, Thomas, Edith, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Rambo still survives, and enjoys robust health, in his eighty-third year. John, his son, was born in Paulsboro, Greenwich township, on the 22d of Angust, 1833, and remained during his early youth an inmate of his father's house, where he enjoyed ordinary advantages of education. At sixteen he began a career of independence, and con- tinued actively employed until 1859, when he leased his present farm, and subsequently purchased the property, which has since that time been greatly im- proved and rendered unn-nally productive. The spot is, among other advantages, remarkable for its facili- ties of shipment, both by railroad and water. Mr.
CHAPTER XLIII.
TOWNSHIP OF HARRISON.1
Geographical and Descriptive .- This township was taken from Greenwich and Woolwich townships in 1844 and named Spirer, in honor of one of the early settlers of Mullica Hill, but only retained the name for about a year, when it was changed to Harrison, in honor of Gen. William Henry Harrison, tenth Presi- dent of the United States. Ex-Judge Jacob Harvey and William Haines, both praetieal surveyors, ran the division line, assisted by the township committees.
The northeastern portion of the township is a little hilly. while the rest is level or gently undulating. There is in this township a variety of oil, all of which is susceptible of a high state of cultivation, and is very productive of vegetables and garden truck. The township contains, including South Harrison town- ship, an area of twenty-four thousand and seventy- two acres of land. It is one of the most extensive and populous townships of the county, peopled by an industrious and thrifty class of farmers. Its farms and residences are among the neatest in Southern New Jersey.
The township is bounded on the northeast by Mantua, and southeast by Clayton township, on the south by Salem County, on the southwest by Wool- wich, and northwest by Greenwich township.
Harrison is watered along its southerly border by Oldman's Creek and its tributaries. The north and south branches of Raccoon Creek and their numerous tributaries water the northern half of the township.
Early Settlers .- In all probability the pioneer land-owner and settler of what is now Mullica Hill was Eric Mullica, from whom the town derives its name. He located on the north side of the creek. (For farther notice, see villages and hamlets. ) Another and probably more prominent pioneer settler at Mul-
1 By W. H. Shaw.
24-4
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
liea Hill was Jacob Spicer. It was he after whom the township was first named. His traet lay nearly or quite all on the south side of the creek, and covered a large extent of territory. The next tract south of Spicer's was the lsaac Browning tract. Ile married into the family who previously owned the traet, and in this way came in possession, after which it was known as the Browning tract. Browning's daughter married a llatch, and the old plantation is still known as the Hateh place. Benjamin Moore was owner of a large tract of land south of the Spicer and Browning tracts, which was subsequently divided among his heirs. The Gorsline or Goshorn tract was still farther south, and it is now entirely out of possession of the family.
The Zane tract lay southwest from the village of Mul- lica Hill. The senior Zane took a proprietary right to seven hundred acres, which, at his death, was left to his two sons. Like many others, the old Abel Nich- olson farm was a part of the Spicer traet, and lay west of Mullica Hill. About the year 1800, Joseph Gibson and Enoch Allen purchased the old Spicer homestead, and afterwards made an equitable division of the property, and the Joseph Gibson share was purchased by William Hazleton. Fox was one of the early settlers in this vicinity, locating where Joseph Jessup now lives. James Cassady also purchased that portion of the Spicer tract where William Howey now lives. Gabriel Davis was a large land-owner in this township, and died about 1835, also Isaac B. The above list of pioneers of what is now Harrison township was furnished by Hon. N. T. Stratton, and embraces nearly or quite all sections of the township. Mr. Stratton has been a resident of the township since Snowden, who lived to the advanced age of over eighty years. George Ilorner, father-in-law of Hon. N. T. Stratton, owned a large property, and died in 1840. The father of Joshua Moore was one of the pioneers , 1829, first as clerk and then a merchant since 1835, of this township, and died in 1835, aged eighty-five. Mr. Moore was the father of a large family of sons and daughters, most of whom lived to the ages of eighty or eighty-five years. Christopher Kinsel, one of the prominent old settlers of the township, died in 1822, at the advanced age of seventy years.
Isaac Murphy and Josiah Albertson were also among the old settlers in the latter part of the last century, and died in 1832 or '33, each aged over eighty years. Jonathan Colson was one of the pio- neer merehants of Mullica Ilill, and one of the largest Among the older citizens now living in thi- township are N. T. Stratton, Joseph Engle, now living in Mul- liea, aged seventy-nine; Samuel Atkinson, aged ninety ; Thomas Stratton, living at the north end of the town, aged seventy-nine; and James Gibson, who was born in this township Feb. 3, 1806, and was appointed postmaster at Mullica Hill March 7, 1871, and is still actively engaged in the duties of his office. John Pancoast is another old citizen of the town now living at the advanced age of eighty- four years. One of the old citizens and largest land- owner in the township is Joseph Je -- up. One of his first purchases was a tract of four hundred and fifty acres, at Lincoln, in 1833, of which he is still the land-owners in this township. He died in 1850, aged seventy-one years. Staey Hazleton, an old res- ident of Harrison township, died at the age of eighty- five years, and Enoch Egans, who lived till 1876, was ninety-three years old when he died. Ilugh Egan, another of the pioneers of Ilarrison, lived to the age of eighty-eight years, and died in 1832. Jacob Stratton, one of the old and influential citizens of the township, died in 1856, at the age of eighty-one. Joseph Doran came on the stage of action a little later, and died in 1846, at the age of sixty-eight. Isaac Pine and Michael Allen, both large land- owners, each lived to be over eighty years of age, and died in 1841. William Hollinshead lived till 1830, I owner. In his home-farm, about one mile west from
and died at the age of eighty-six. Benjamin C. and Jethro Lippincott each lived to reach their eighty- first year, and died in 1879 or '80. William Cassady. Charles String, Peter String, and Daniel Curran were among the pioneers of Harrison, and cach lived be- yond his fourscore years and ten. Nathan Pine lived to be eighty-four, and Joseph Gruff died in 1830, at the advanced age of eighty years. Hon. Elijah Bower, one of Harrison's pioneer representatives in the legislative halls, and prominently identified with every progressive movement, died at the age of ninety years. David Hurley, one of the pioneers, prominent as a school-teacher, died at an advanced age. Robert Newell was another of the old settlers, and lived long in the township. John Atkinson lived to be eighty- eight years of age, and died in 1834. Joseph Chat- ham, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens in township affairs, died in 1834, at the age of ninety years. George Sherwin was an early settler and pio- neer farmer, who lived to the age of eighty-two years. William Allen, Enoch Allen, and Matthew Allen were all pioneer farmers, all of whom died in 1834, each one aged between eighty-two and eighty-six years. Enoch Allen was the ancestor of a numerous progeny. and his oldest son was drowned in the Delaware River in 1832. Jedediah Dawson, another old pioneer of this township, lived to be eighty years of age, and died in 1834. Nathau Folwell was one of the old farmers of this township, who died in 1834.
and he has also represented his district in the national as well as State Legislature, and remembers well the time when half an acre of potatoes was a large patch for a farmer to plant, the majority of farmers plant- ing less than that amount. The time, however, has come, even in his day, when potato-fields are counted by tens of acres on almost every farm, and when, in fact, South Jersey has become to a large extent the garden patch from which Philadelphia obtains her vegetables.
245
TOWNSHIP OF HARRISON.
Mullica Hill, he has one thousand acres of as good farming land as there is in Harrison. Altogether he is the owner of over three thousand acres of farming land in Gloucester County. When thirteen years of age he was the engineer of a five-horse team, at no salary beyond his board and clothes, and when he was turned out into the world he had a capital of twenty dollars. Around this small nucleus he has gathered nearly or quite half a million dollars, which is the result of an honest, industrious life.
Civil Organization .- The following is a copy of the proceedings of the first annual town-meeting of Harrison township, held March 13, 1844:
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the township of Spicer, held at the house of Mary Wood, in Mullica Hill, the following persons were chosen to serve in said township for the ensuing year :
"Town Clerk, Asa Colson ; Assessor, Benjamin P. Lippincott ; Assistant Assessors, Henry Jackson, Jonathan Colson, Jr. ; Collector, Abel Knight; Overseers of Poor, Benjamin P. Lippincott, Abel Knight ; Overseers of Roads, Thomas Hursback, Ehjab Horner, Malachi Horner ; Chosen Freeholders, Charles French, Joseph Jessup: Con- stable, Isaac Ridgway ; Commissioners of Appeals, Charles Batten, Ira Gibson, Benjamin Colson ; Townshuy Committee, James Lippin- cott, Joseph A. Chatham, John W. Hazleton, Chalkley Lippincott, Jobn Duell; School Committee, Joshua Engle, William Hazleton, Samuel Pimm; Surveyors of Highways, Asa Moore, William W. Dunn ; Judge of Election, Samuel H. Weatherby : Pound-Keepers, Edward B. Knight, Andrew Kuisel."
The following are among the resolutions adopted at the same meeting :
" Resolved, That the next election for county officers shall be opened the first day at the School-House at Harrisonville, and to be continued the day after at the house of William W. Tomlin ( Blue Balls, Mullica Hill.
" Resolved, That the next annual township-meeting shall be held at the house of Mary Wood, Mollica Hill.
" Resolved, That at the next annual town-meeting the vote shall be taken by Ballott.
" Resolved, That the township shall raise as much money as shall be necessary to improve any certain piece of read, as shall be raised by sub- scription from the inhabitants of the township, the amount to be left to the committee."
The committee of the town-hip convened in the afternoon, and the officers all having been sworn, and other business having been attended to, they ad- journed.
The minutes are signed by Stacy Hazleton, mod- erator; Asa Colson, town clerk.
The following is a complete list of clerks, assessors, collectors, chosen freeholders, township committee, constables, and justices of the peace for Harrison from 1845 to 1882, inclusive :
CLERKS.
1845-47. Asa Colson. 1851-68. Alexander .A. Pine.
1:48-49. Andrew H. Weatherby. 1600-71, 1881-82. Wm. Bunuing, Jr.
1850. Edward B. Kuight. : 1852-60. Charles E. Elkintou.
ASSESSORS.
1845, 1850, 1855. Joseph Chattin. 1-46. Charles If. Agginz. 1:62-61. Samuel II. Weatherby. 1603-67 Benjamin G. Pancoast.
1852. Benjamin P. Lippiucott. 1853. Asa Colson. 1856-58, 1872. Jubn I. Dunlap.
1850-61. Lewis I Zano.
1>17-49, 1-51. Joseph A. Shute.
18H. Joseph C. Chattin. 1868-70, 1879-52. Thomas Botton
1371. Jamie Chattin
1872-78. Julin J. Ininlap.
COLIJ.CTORS.
1835. Abel Knight. 1558, 1861. Thomas G. Batten.
1x16. >annel Gaunt, J1. 1502-64. George W. Hilyard.
1-47-49. Benjamin Cul-vi. 1-65-62. George 11. Duell.
1830-52. Jacob G. Turner.
1867-69. I. E. Jappincott.
1833-341 Stkey L. Pancoast.
1870. Charles W. Knight.
1-33-36. Samuel Ashcroft. 1 -; 1. Edward B. Knight.
1837, 1859-10. James Renezet.
CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.
1845-46. Joseph Jessup. Charles Batten.
1866-68. I. H. Lippincott. John S. Rulon.
1847-50. Malachi Horner. 1869. Ası Coles.
William W. DunD. Jolin &. Rolou.
1>51. Benjamin Colson. 1870. Edward R. Knight
Jacob G. Tomlin.
Asa Coles.
1-32-53. Jacob G. Tomlin.
ISTI. Aca Coles. George C. Allen.
Stary Lippincott.
1854. Thomas L. Sharp. 1872-74. George C. Allen.
Stacy Lippiucott. Charles String.
1855-57. Abel Knight. 1875-77. William M. Colson. Asa Cole. George Horuer.
1858. Abel Knight. 18;8. Samuel Giant.
Thomas E. Roberts. George Horner.
1859-01. Jaunes Chattin. * 1879. Samuel Gaunt, Jr.
Paul Avis. William S. Matson.
1862-63. Isaac H. Lippiacott. 1890. Samuel Gaunt.
Jaules Chattin. William 3latson.
1864-65. Jonathan Colson. 1881-82. Samuel Ganut. William S. Matson.
f. H. Lippincott.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.
1845 .-- Chalkley Lippincott, John W. Hazelton, John Duell.
1-46-47 .- James Lippiacett, C. Lippinentt. John Duell, John W. Hazel- ton, Joseph A. Chattain.
1848-19,-J. Lippincott, C. Lippincott, Joseph H Freuch, Charles Betten, Jacob G. Totalin.
1850-51 .- John W. Hazelton, Samuel E. Moore, Joseph Chattin, Chalk- ley Lippincott. J H. French
1852 .- J. Chattin, S. E. Moore, J. W. Hazelton, C. Lippincott, Jantes Lippincott.
1-53-54 -J. Chattin. J. W. Hazeltou, Abel Kuight, Chalkley Lippincott, James Lippincott.
1855-56 .- J. Chattin, C. Lippincott, Joseph Ashbrook, samuel Gaunt, Francis A. Campbell, Jr.
1857 .- J. Chattin, F. A. Campbell. Jr., Edward B. Kuight, Samuel H. Weatherby, Willton H. Batten.
1858 .- J. Chattin, E. B. Knight, William B. Peterson, James sherwin, Isaiah Carter.
1859 .- J. Chittin, E. B. Knight, Ezekiel C. Moore, James Sherwin, Amos String.
1860 .- J. Chattin, E. B. Knight, E. C. Moore, J. Sherwin, Charles String, Jr. 1861 .- J. Chattin, E. B. Knight, E. C. Moore, C. String, Jr., James Pen- ningtou.
I-62-+4 .- Jacob G. Turner, E. C. Moore, E. B. Knight, C. String, Jr., Benjamin F. Cole.
1865 .- Nathan T. Stratton, Israel C. Ewan, Elisha C. Heritage, B. F. Cole, Thomas L. sharp.
1966 .- I. C. Ewan, James Chattin, E. C. Heritage, B. F. Cole, T. L. Sharp.
1867 .- 1. C. Ewan, James Chattin, E. C. Heritage, B. F. Cole, Chalklay Duell.
1868 .- E. C. Heritage, James Chattin, C. Duell, Asa Eagle, Samuel Moore.
1869 -Asa Engle, Samuel Moore, Charles E. Sonders, Charles D. Lip- pinrost, George W. Hilyard.
1870 .- A. Engle, S. Moore, O. C. Souders, G. W. Hilyard, John Sinite. 16:1-72 .- Benjamin G. Pancoast, S. Moore, A. Engle. J. Shute. C. C. Son- ders.
1873 .- A. Engle, S. Moore, C. C. Su ders, J. Shute, Jacob H. Mounce. 1874 .- A. Engle, C. C. Souders, S. Monte, J H. Mouuce, George Walter. 1>75 -- A. Engle, S. Moore, C. C. Souders, J. H. Moance, Thomas Bort es. loTo .- A. Engie, J. Il. Mounce, T. burton, Jonathan G. Fister, rant Avis.
1 Samuel Asberuft elected Aug. 16, 1954, to fill vacancy.
246
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY.
1877 .- A. Engle, T. Borton, J. G. Foster, Paul Avis, Joseph Kirkbride.
ISTS .- A. Ingle, T. Borton, J. G. Foster, J. Kirkbride, James Benezet.
1879,-A. Engle, George Horner, Jonathan Colson.
1850 .-- A Eugle, G. Horuer, James Benezet.
ISS1 .- A. Engle, G. Horner, Charles C. souder.
1882 .- A. Engle, G. Homer, Joseph Il. Knight.
CONSTABLES.
1845. I-anc Ridgway. 1878-79. Clarkson Lippincott.
1846-54. 1858-63. Joseph A. Shute. . S. H. Knight.
1.55, 1867. William Waters.
1880. Samuel L. G. Murphy.
1856-57. Resmud D. Parks.
John W. Messick.
1864. Edward S. Stratton. ISSI. H. Lippincott (three years).
1865-66. William S. Matson., 1
C. Lippincott (two years).
1868-69. John H. Coles.
Edward Lacy (one year).
1870-77. Samuel H. Knight. . 1882. Henry Lippincott.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
1849, 1851-53. Joseph A. Shute.
1857-59. Benjamin G. Pancoast.
1850. Benjamin P. Lippincott.
1860-61. J. P. Dunlap.
1854. Michael C. Jennings. 1862-67. John W. Hazleton.
1855-56. William A. Snowden.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1850. James Lippincott. 1867. Samuel P. Haines.
Samuel Pimm.
Charles C. Souders 1
1835. James Lippincott. Samnel Pimm.
Joshua Lippincott."
1856. James Gibson. 1872. George Walter.
Jacob L. Strattou. John S. Hulou.
1857. Malachi C. Horner. 1873. Francis B. Ridgway.
1859. Nathan F. Iredell.
1575. George C. Mthens.
Nathan F. Iredell.
1860. Samuel Pimm. Nathan F. Iredell.
1877. John S. Rulon.
1861. Israel C. Ewan.
Asa Roberts.
1862. Levi D. Davis. 1878. John P. Reece.
1805. Nathan F. Iredell.
1880. Nathan F. Iredell.
Samnel Fimm. George C. Sithens.
1866. James S. Hatnah.
1882. Nicholas J. Justice.
ELECTION OF DELEGATES.
" At an election held March 18, 1844, for the purpose of electing dele- gates to meet in Trenton for the purpose of framing a new Constitution for the State of New Jersey, at the house of Mary Wood, at Mullica Hill, Spicer township, Gloucester Co , Charles C. Stratton received thirty- ['sel. John Speer, and Abel Knight in 1833 to 1835. nine votes ; John R. Scikley, forry-two votes ; John C. Smallwood, four- teen votes."
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
Mullica Hill, the principal village of the township, is situated in the northern portion of Ilarrison, on the main branch of the Raccoon Creek, and at the southern terminus of the Woodbury and Mullica Hill turnpike.
Settlements were made here prior to the Revolu- tionary war, and during that long and eventful struggle it is said that a battle was fought between the British and American troops at what is now Mollica Hill, at which only one man was killed. Ile was buried near where the grist-mill now stands.
The village of Mullica Hill takes its name from Eric Molica, by birth a Swede, who came here when a young man, and purchased a large tract of land about the site of the town." His house stood on the north side of the creek, in or near the orchard of the late Joseph Doran. Ife lived to the age of one hundred years, and had a family of eight in 1693 when the census of New Sweden was taken.
The name of Mullica Hill was at first given only to that portion of the village north of the Raccoon Creek, the southern part having been named Spicer- ville, from Jacob Spicer (one of the compilers of the valuable book of Provincial laws), who came from East Jersey early in the eighteenth century and set- tled just south of the creek, where Samuel Hazleton now lives. In the olden time Mullica Hill, like all other towns of a Swedish derivation, was merely a settlement of farmers. The origin of these farm vil- lages was a fear of the Indians : but they were prob- ably held together long after Indians ecased to be a eause of alarm by the gossiping propensities of the Swedish matrons, Being removed from the seat of war Mullica Ilill has few Revolutionary reminis- cences of interest, yet there is an abundance of curious traditions connected with the place. 4
Previous to the Revolutionary war a tavern was kept on the north side of the ereek, where Widow Pancoast now lives. It is believed that a tavern was also kept on the site of the present one as early as 1780, and probably prior to that date, but whether in the present house is not known, though from the gen- eral appearance of the building it must be at least a centenarian.
Among the numerous landlords that have minis- tered to the necessities of the traveling public at this old and ancient hostlery we learn the following- named persons: James Wood was the landlord here as early as 1808, and kept the tavern till the close of the war of 1812, when he died, and the tavern was kept by his widow a few years, when she was suc- ceeded by John Becket, James Tomlin, Andrew Kni-
Among those who have kept the old tavern since that time are Mrs. Mary Wood, Harry Paul, Howell Mulford, John Vaneman, George Gale, Charles East- lack, Albert Parker, and Frye Hopkins, the present popular landlord. who purchased the property and took possession in March, ISSI.
Tavern-keeping on the north side of the creek seems to have been a failure, as the business of the town naturally settled down upon the south bank, or hill side of the creek, where is now located the principal business of the town.
Among the pioneer merchants of Mullica Hill may be mentioned the names of Joseph and James Lippin- cott, whose store stood a little north of the present hotel, or on the site occupied by John Reidon's dwell- ing. Josiah Moore occupied the same building, and kept a store there from about 1810 to 1814, and as late as 1825. Among the first stores was that of Jonathan Colson, who occupied the brick building nearly oppo- site the store of Hon. N. T. Stratton. Christopher (Stoffle) Knisel kept a store in what is now the MIounce building. Another store was kept by John Hazleton. in a building then standing on the site now occupied
-
1 To fill vacancy caused by resignation of J. S. Hannah.
2 Elected for five years.
3 Watson's Annals, vol. ii. p. 231, and Hist. Coll. of New Jersey.
4 " Reminiscences of Old Glon'ester," by I-aac Blickle.
-
1870. Nathan F. Fredell.
£
2.17
TOWNSHIP OF HARRISON.
by the town hall. The Christopher Knisel spoken subsequently occupied by Samuel Gaunt, and in 1834, of was the grandfather of ex-Sheriff Knisel, of Wood- bury. Hon. N. T. Stratton was for several years a clerk for Jonathan Colson, and Jan. 25, 1835, Mr. Stratton was admitted as a partner, and the firm re- mained Colson & Stratton till 1840, when it dissolved, each one then operating a store on his own account. In 1842, Mr. Stratton admitted a partner in business, who remained till 1852, when Mr. Stratton was elected to Congress, and his two sons took charge of the store, since which the firm-name has been " Stratton Broth- ers."
MULLICA HILL IN 1822 .- As late as 1822 the town, thongh nearly a mile in length, had not assumed much of its present appearance, as there were but few build- . ture all kinds of small castings, as well as small 1
ings in the now beautiful, populous, and well-shaded place. There were the two taverns, one at each end of the town, the two stores of Moore and Colson, a log house on the site of the present town hall, the brick house now owned by Batten & Iredell, a honse where James Benezet's house now stands, one where Iredell's harness-shop is located, and an old store-house, moved from some other place to where Esquire Reece's residence now stands. There was a house where Widow Stratton lives, and another on the site now occupied by Mrs. Fullerton's resi- dence. There was a house on the site now occupied by the Baptist parsonage, and one where Ketura French's house now stands. There was the mill- house down under the hill, and a Mr. Fullerton lived where is now located the tin-shop of Mr. Schweble. Another house stood on the site now occupied by Parker Steward's residence, and another where Capt. Stratton lives, and Egan, the village tailor, lived where John Reidon now lives. There was a house where Harry Norman lives, another on the site now occupied by the Methodist parsonage, and Lydia Gibson lived on the opposite side of the road.
Of the industrial pursuits at that time there was the old grist-mill. It then stood over in the meadow across the road from where it is now located. The present mill is supposed to have been built by Chris- topher Knisel. There was also a carding-mill here, bnt by whom built is not known. An attempt was made at this mill to manufacture cloth from cotton and wool, which for a time succeeded, until the East- ern manufacturers came into market ; they, having better facilities for manufacture and transportation, : Egens store and present site of the Union store. In soon compelled the Mullica Hill establishment to sus- pend operations.
A post-office was established at Mullica Hill in the early part of the present century, and the first post- ina-ter, as remembered by the oldest inhabitant, was Willett Smith, better known as "Captain" Smith. This was as early as 1810 or 1812.
Pioneer and Later Trades .- The pioneer black- smith, as best can be remembered, was Samnel Weatherby, who, in 1825, had a shop near where the Baptist parsonage now stands. The same shop was
Mr. James Gibson, now the venerable village post- master, having learned the blacksmith trade over in the Keystone State, purchased the shop and moved it over where the foundry and machine-shop is now located, where he carried on the blacksmith business till 1850, when he rented the shop to Jacob L. Strat- ton, who carried on the business for five or six years, and in the mean time, 1850 or 1851, built the foundry. William Waters was the next owner of the shop and foundry, he having purchased the property of James Gibson. Jan. 1, 1868, the foundry property was sold by Waters to Hoffmann & Reese, the present owners and operators. Messrs. Hoffmann & Reese manufac- farming tools, such as plows, cultivators, harrows, : rakes, and both rod and cast railing for ornamental fencing.
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