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 88
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 88
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 88
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THE inauguration of the war of the great rebellion. by the bombardment of Fort Sumter, aroused in Salem ; County the same thrill of patriotism that it awakened in other portions of New Jersey. In their response to the call of the government for men, the people of this ater of Nicholas and Ann Gibbon, to whom he was
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united Nov. 3, 1767. The sole issue of this marriage was Robert Gibbon Johnson, horn July 23, 1771, died Oct. 2, 1850. He was a man of character and inthut- ence, and the father of our subject. He first married, June 19, 1798, Hannah, youngest daughter of Thomas and Mary Carney, of Penn's Neck. Their children were Jane Gibbon, Mary Jane, Anna Gibbon, and Robert Carney Johnson. His second wife was Juli- ava Elizabeth, daughter of Paul Zantzinger, of Lan- caster, Pa. Of this union there was no issue.
Robert Carney Johnson was born in Salem on Sept. 29, 1811, and died at the same place March 25, 1881. During his lifetime he was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of Salem. For a few years in the carlier portion of his life he resided in California, then just passing from the condition of a Mexican to an American territory, and witnessed the . rapid material change which at that period occurred. He returned to Salem shortly after the death of liis father, in 1850, and passed the remainder of his days in his native place. Becoming possessed of a large estate, he engaged in no other business than attend- ing to its management. He was greatly interested in the incorporation of the city of Salem, being elected the first mayor of the new monnicipality in 1860, and re-elected in 1863. Ilis administratiom of the office was marked by dignity, independence, and impartial- ity, and proved popular and efficient. On the break- ing out of the rebellion in 1861 he raised the first company of three months' volunteers to go to Wash-
An incident which occurred about that time served ington. Afterwards he was elected colonel of the ! to illustrate the active vigilance of the people in this Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers, with which he re- mained in the field until incapacitated by sickness. Returning to his home, he remained in private life until his death, yet taking a deep interest in public affairs. He was no aspirant for public place, and de- clined all political preferment, yet was one of the most active in the organization of the Republican party in Salem County. He was distinctively a home man, closely identified with the material growth and development of his own locality, and an earnest sup- porter of all movements of an elevating and pro- gressive character. Like his father, he was possessed of strong prejudices and positive opinions, yet tem- pered each with a proper measure of discrimination and judgment. He married, Sept. 2, 1841, Julia, daughter of Josiah Harrison, Esq., of Salem, who occupies the family homestead on Market Street with the only surviving son, Henry II. Johnson. county as well as the apathy of those who should have been vigilant. Information was received that the garrison in Fort Delaware was insufficient, and a party of volunteers, with Dr. J. II. Thompson and ex-Mayor Johnson, proceeded thither for the purpose of offering assistance. On landing it was with much difficulty that the garrison could be aroused, and, when called from his bed, the commanding officer coolly informed the volunteers that when he desired their assistance he would ask for it. The garrison was soon afterwards strengthened by volunteers from Philadelphia, as a result of the representations made by a few citizens of Salem of the condition of things at the fort. In view of the exposed condition of this part of New Jersey several other military companies were afterwards organized in Salem County, for the purpose of meeting any emergency that might arise here.
The following is the muster-roll of the JOHNSON GUARDs as it was constituted when it left Trenton : Captain, Clement II. Sinnickson ; First Lieutenant, George T. Ingham; Second Lieutenant, Henry F. Chew; Sergeanty, Elward A. Actou, Sunuel Canby, Jr., Nathaniel S. Stretch, William C. Harris: Cor- Forals, Charles H. Miller, Henry Jones, Henry Frankenfield, Henty Rocap.
Richard B. Fisher. John H. Williams. Charles M. Pinkar !. Joseph C. Bowker.
Privates.
L. Henry Smith. Charles S. Freoze. Elmer R. Wolruff. George A. Cob !.
John L. King.
Joseph II. Sh -plard.
Vehah Buch.
Thutous H. Mills.
Frank Wordrutt.
David S. Barr.
Sangel Williams.
Maurice B. Elton.
Howard I'ss. t.
3.hin 11. Cidhus.
David Diekinsan.
John IL. Goff.
William H. Plaillye.
James Stanton.
Hugh Crispin.
Thomas Conover.
Edward L. Williams.
William Frazer, Jr.
John Bank ..
William H. Dillinghouse.
John Toster.
James Bussett.
George W. Williams.
James Riley.
Samuel R. Morton.
William Il. Pierce.
John Logan.
David M. Palmer.
John Ennis.
Firman Lloyd, J :.
William T'razer,
John D. Somers.
Auley 1: Sheppard.
Theodore F. Null.
John Brady.
Stewart Spears.
James V. Clark.
William W. Plummer.
George Burroughs.
Eli P. Bli-s.
Samuel Hogate.
Samuel Cole.
Charles M. Stanger.
Edward P. Thomas.
Richard McPherson.
David D. Blizzard.
George l'eachy.
David Stouckle.
David Mitchell.
Inoch F. Sheppard.
James Storckle.
Charles D. Lampblack.
John N. Johnson, druunder.
Denajah Ilelmis.
Barrison Y. Higgins.
Charles Il. Wendell.
This became Company I, Fourth New Jersey Vol- unteers.
Home Guards .-- A company of home guards was at once formed, with Dr. Joseph H. Thompson, cap- tain ; William B. Robertson, first lieutenant; and Owen L. Jones, second lieutenant.
The patriotic feeling which sprang up at the out- break of the war did not subside, and, as call after call was made by the government for mea, the same alacrity was manifested, and still greater efforts were put forth to fill the requisitions and provide for the welfare of those who went forth to defend the coun- . try in its hour of peril. Even among the Friends, : who constitute a considerable portion of the popula- tion of the county, patriotismi could not be held in abeyance hy the restraints of their discipline, and
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HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
many of the younger noabers went forth to do battle in defense of the institutions under which their an- eestors had enjoyed freedom of conscience ; and many of the eller ones quietly gave, liberally and not grudy- ingly, of their wealth, simply saying, as they passed over their money, " Don't thee put my name down."
The loyal women, too, bore their full share of the burden of the hour. Not only did they repress their grief, and bid their sons, husbands, and brothers who went into the field, many of them never to return, a hearty God-speed; but they labored assiduously to provide them with those comforts which the govern- ment was unable to furnish. Ladies' Aid Societies sprang up in all parts of the county, and many a poor soldier, as he languished on his cot in some distant hospital, and in his feverish shep dreamed of home, and of mother, wife, or sister, had occasion to bless his unknown benefactors in Salem County for com- forts and luxuries that would not otherwise have come to him.
Of the patriotic women of Salem County, Miss Cornelia Hancock, sister of Capt. William N, Han- cock, of Lower Alloways Creek. deserves especial mention. Early dining the war she went into the field as a volunteer uurse, and she continued her mis- sion of merey till the close of the conflict. She bas sinec been engaged in charitable works of various kinds, and she is now an efficient member of the Society for the Organization of Charities in the city of Philadelphia.
Action of the County Authorities .- The first re- corded action of the board of freeholders of this | county in support of the war was taken at the annual meeting in May, 1861, when two resolutions were adopted; the first indorsing the payment of one thou- sand and one dollars and sixty eents for the purchase of side arms for the Jolison Guards, and the second authorizing the loan committee to settle all bills pre- sented by Samnel Plummer, Benjamin Acton, and Jonathan Ingham for expenses incurred in fitting out the same company ; the whole amount not to exceed three thousand dollars.
At a special meeting, in September of the same year, the board ordered the payment of one hundred and thirty-eight dollars for the board of the volunteers in Capt. Reynolds' company while in Salem.
At a special meeting held in July, 1862, the sum of six thousand dollars was appropriated as a fund for the payment of bounties to volunteers in the Twelfth Regiment. The sum of thirty dollars was directed to be paid to each recruit not receiving other local bounty, and such bounty was made subject to the draft of the colonel of the Twelfth Regiment. To this appropriation the sum of eighteen hundred dollars was afterwards added.
In August of the same year a fund of twelve thousand five hundred dollars was appropriated for the payment of bounties to volunteer, accredited to Salem County, at the rate of fifty dollars to each
volunteer. This fund was made subject to the drat: of Jonathan Inghim, the draft commissioner of tis county. To it was added the sum of ten hundies and ninety dollars at a meeting in September of the same year.
In August, 1868, it was resolved that a bounty a three hundred dollars be paid to each volunteer fron. Salem County under the then prosent call, to the number of two hundred and fifty-eight. In Deren,- ber of the same year a bounty of three hundred dol- lars was ordered. At the annual meeting in May. 1864, a further appropriation of three hundred dol- lars per man was made for two hundred and two men to fill the quota of the county under the then pending draft. The expenditure of this appropriation wa- made under the direction of a committee consisting of the two chosen frecholders and three citizens from each township. The following were the citizens ap- pointed :
Pilesgrove, John W. Dickinson, Samuel Parton, Smith Hewett.
UppPi Pittsgrove, William A. Wood, Theophilus Paulding, Jails Coombs.
Mannington, Casper W. Acton, Richard Wistar, John T. Basertt.
Elsinboro, William B. Carpenter, Joseph Waddington, Joseph E: Thomps .
Upper Denn's Neck, William Summerill, Joseph W. Cooper. Istac Wright. Lower Penn's Neck, James S. Johnson, Martin Patterson, Wilham Callahan,
Upper Alloways Creek, Emmot Reeves, Zaccheus Timmerman, H ,- ratio J. Stow.
Lower Alloways Creek, Joseph HI. Fogg, Robert Butcher, William N. Hancock.
Pittsgrove, J. S. Whitaker, William B. Rogers, Samuel Ackley. Salem, Samuel Plummer, Benjamin Acton, Robert Gwiane.
It is proper here to say that all the quotas for Salem County were filled by voluntary enlistment : and at a special meeting of the board of freeholders, March 4, 1864, the following resolution was adopted :
" That Henry Sinuickson, William House, and Chail-s F. II. Gray Is appointed a committee to visit the provost-marshal of this stete, or of the United States, if necessary, and ascertain from him or them whether the county can now volunteer soldiers into the United States servic, and receive credit for them in case a future draft should be ordered."
In June, 1864, a further appropriation was made for a bounty of three hundred dollars per man for those who should volunteer and be credited to the county under the next call by the government for troops.
At first money for the payment of bonnties Wils raised in the usual way ; then loans were effected to meet emergeneies as they arosc, and finally here, as in other parts of the country, county bonds were is- sned. The total expenditures for bounties and pay to the families of volunteers reached the round sum of half a million dollars. Added to this were the in- cidental expenses, which amounted to a large sum, making a grand total of probably not less than five hundred and fifty thousand dollars which the people of Salem County raised by taxation to support the war for the Union. All the indebtedness which wa- incurred for this purpose has been discharged.
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CHAPTER LXIL
THE PRESS AND EDUCATION IN SALEM COUNTY !!
Salem Gazette .- The first newspaper in Salem County was issued in 1816 by Isane A. Kollock, editor and proprictor, and bore the title of the Salem Gazette. The course which the editor of this paper pursued with reference to the removal of the county building, from Salem, when an election was held to determine the question of removal in 1817, rendered the journal obnoxious to many who had given it their support, and, probably from that canse, its publica- tion ceased early in 1819.
Salem Messenger .- September 19th, in the same year, the first number of this paper appeared. The publisher was Elijah Brooks, who continued the paper till 133.
The American Statesman was started during the canvass in which Gen. Andrew Jackson was a Presi- dential candidate, and was continued about four years. Both these journals were purchased, in 1833, by James M. Hannah, who merged them in one paper called the Union.
The Anti- Masonic Courier .- At the time of the candidacy of William Wirt for the Presidency a paper with this title was published by Mr. Brooks at the office of the Messenger, and its publication was continued till the failure of the anti-Masonic party when it ceased. Two of its supporters and contribu- tors were Dr. James Van Meter and A. L. Eakin.
Fremad's Banner .- On the 1st of April, 1834, the publication of this journal was commenced by Sisty & Prior. Mr. Sisty closed his connection with the paper in a few months, and in 1836 Mr. Prior purchased from Mr. Hannah his interest in the Union.
National Standard .- In 1840, Charles P. Smith purchased the Banner from Mr. Prior, and changed its name to the National Standard, by which title it has since been known. The paper has since been owned by Frank Patterson, William S. Sharp, and Sinnick- son Chew, under the firm .name of Sharp & Chew, by Samuel W. Miller, Jr., and by S. Chew & Brother, who purchased it Aug. 8, 1878. Since the Messrs. Chew became proprietors the editors have been : A. M. Ifeston, till October, 1879; D. Harris Smith, till June, ISS1 ; and since that date the present editor, Benjamin Patterson.
The Stem Sunbeam .- The first number of this paper appeared on the 27th of July. 1844, under the "ditorship of Israel Wells. Mr. Wells was not a practical printer, and had no capital. During the .excitement of the political canvass which was then in progress he was aided by contributions of money ; but when, after the clove of the campaign, these con- tributions ceased, and patronage was less liberal, he found his position anything but a desirable one, and
his experience was like that of many others who have undertaken to conduct journals without capital to sustain them in the early years of their ventures. He subsequently sought journalistie honor> andemoin- ment- elsewhere, but the wolf was a constant attend- ant at hi- door. He died of disease, in the army. during the war of 1961-65.
On the 26th day of March, 1849, the establishment became the property of Robert Gwynne and Nathan S. Hales, young men who had graduated from the office of the Pennsylvanian in Philadelphia. These men brought to the work a practical knowledge of their trade, and an enlarged view of journalism ; and bent all their energies to the building up of the es- tablishment and to keeping up with the spirit of the time in improvement. At the end of the year Mr. Hales retired, leaving the editorial honors, as well as the peenniary responsibilities, to Mr. Gwynne. These responsibilities Mr. Gwynne succeeded, by the exer- cise of energy and economy, in discharging, and the experience and reputation which he thus acquired have been important factors in his subsequent suc- cess as a journalist. " From this time forward the Sunbeam continued to grow in public favor and popu- larity, until now it takes rank with the most influ- ential weeklies in New Jersey, and its senior editor and proprietor is among the most honored in his pro- fession. In all these years he has favored every enterprise for the advancement of the interests of his adopted home, and has filled several positions of honor and responsibility by the choice of his fellow- citizens, Educational progress, moral and religious matters, local business, and the State and national advancement, in all that tends to elevate a free people, have ever found in him a ready and steady advocate."
Mr. Gwynne still sits in the editorial chair, which he has so long and ably filled, esteemed by his friends for his many sterling qualities, and respected by lis political foes for his candor, generosity, and honor. In 1880. Robert Gwynne, Jr., became the associate of his father in the editorial management of the Sun- beam.
The Woodstown Register .- It is learned from old residents of Woodstown that, as early as 1849. efforts were made to have a newspaper started there ; but these efforts did not meet with success. In 1852, Robert Gwynne took from the office of the Salem Sunbeum anti- cient materials for the printing of a small paper, and in April of that year commenced the publication in Woodstown of the Franklin Herald. Mr. Gwynne found that the profits of publishing a second news- paper were not commensurate with the additional labor which it involved, and. in the following No- vember it was suspended. The office was soon after- wards purchased by J. R. Schenck, and in May, 1853, the issue of the Woodstwen Register was com- menced, but it had only a short existence. The print- ing materials became the property of Hadley & Willis, who issued the American Eagle and Jerry Blue till
1 Will. acknowledgments to Samuel Priec.
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HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
October of the same year, when W. E. W. Radley . Harris Smith and Charles X. Bell, proprietors. It became sole proprietor. It soon " went the way of all flesh," and during seventeen years no paper was pub- lished in Woodstown.
In September, 1870, William Taylor, who had been engaged in several journali-tie enterprises in this vicinity, started the Register in Woodstown. In 1872 it was changed to an eight-page paper, and a year later, its prosperity having greatly increased, it was enlarged, a new heading and outfit were procured, the four-page form, with eight columns to the page, was
under the editorial management of the former. wi had been during several years editor and manager of the National Standard. The South Jerseyman is it" conducted by the same gentlemen, under the first,- name of Smith & Bell. In politics it is independent Republican, and in all respects it has been the aim o; its conductors to incur no obligation which wonil place them in the slightest degree under the dictation of any faction, clique, or corporation. Although thi- journal has only been three years in existence its cir-
readopted, and the new Bradford series of book type, culation is fully equal to that of any local paper in called old style, was used to print it. The Register this region, and its future prosperity is considered cer- tain. was the pioneer paper in New Jersey in the adoption of this improvement.
Educational.1-The necessary data for the prepa-
In 1873 the proprietor went on a tour to the World's i ration of the early history of education in Salem! Fair at Vienna, and through Europe ; and on his re- . County are now very difficult to procure. It appears turn he adopted several reforms in country journal- , that the Friends, after establishing their meetings, ism. Prior says, "The Register has not followed the
turned their attention to the education of the chil- beaten track of country newspapers, nor has it been . dren of the early settlers. At first the system bore forced to cke ont the scanty support given its prede- : the unmistakable impress of sectarian exclusivenes. ; but after the lapse of a brief period the paramount importance of the general diffusion of knowledge became evident, and led to the admission, in the primitive schools, of children of all the religious creeds professed by the early settlers. There exists, in the mind of the student of history, no doubt that much credit is due to the exertion of the members of the Society of Friends for the early progress of education in Salem County, There was not, however, any set- tled plan till the present excellent public school sys- tem was adopted. cessors in Woodstown. Besides using great care to exclude harrowing details of the effects of man's evil passions, that so tend to bring out the morbid evil nature so easily excited in youth, great care has been taken to give all the local and general news, to advo- cate temperance and progress, and from time to time to print classical selections from the greatest of ancient and modern writers, in prose and verse. This trust in broader culture of country readers has met with great encouragement in Woodstown, and the experiment might be of advantage in other localities, where the newspapers treat people of the 'rooral The first step toward the establishment of the gen- deestricts,' so called, as if they were boors that never . eral school fund of this State was the act of the 9th could appreciate matter of a higher tone than de- scriptions of murders, fights, etc. The Register has printed the chief minor poems of Milton and other of our great poets; selections from Homer, Plato, Virgil, Cicero, and others of the world's great lights of an- of February, 1816, which directed the treasurer to invest in the public six per cent. stocks of the United States the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, arising from the payment of the funded public debt, and from the dividends on the stock held by the State in tiquity, and occasionally presented specimens of pure , the Trenton Bank; and at the end of every year to Latin, French, Gaelic, and other languages, in the . invest the interest on the capital in the same manner. original." Another change was made in the dress of ; the paper in 1882, and an educational and literary
department has been added. The paper has a large ' stock and its accumulations, vested under the act of corps of home and foreign correspondents.
Penn's Grove Record .- The first number of this ; the Cumberland Bank, and in the Newark Turnpike paper was issued in October, 1878, by J. D. Langhlin, editor and proprietor. It was a four-page six-column sheet, devoted to general intelligence and local news, ' tenth of all moneys thereafter raised by tax for State and it was then, as it bas since continued to be, inde- pendent in politics.
Mr. Laughlin continued the publication of this journal till February, 1883, when the office was pur- chased by Joseph D. Whitaker, the present editor and proprietor.
The Record is prosperous, having a good circulation and a liberally patronized job department.
The South Jerseyman .- On the 14th day of June, 1881, the first number of this paper was issued by D.
On the 12th of February, 1817, the "act to create a fund for free schools" was passed, setting apart the 1816 ; the dividends on the stock held by the State in Company, the proceeds of the sale of a house and lot in New Brunswick, the property of the State, and one-
purposes ; and the treasurer was instructed to vest these, as they came into his hands, in the public stocks of the United States. By the act of Feb. 12, 1618, the Governor, vice-president of the. Council, speaker of the Assembly, the attorney-general, and Secretary of State, for the time being, were appointed "tinstees for the support of free schools ;" and the treasurer was directed to transfer to them the school
. 1 Abridged from a skoteli by Sommel Prior.
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fund, to be by them applied in the mode to be pre- of the Proprietors of West Jersey, it was ordered that any person selling strong Bquor- to the Indians shoal] forfeit for every sneh offense the sum of three poand-, and the next year it was made five pounds in case of foreigners so offending. Thus early in the history of scribed by the State ; reserving to the Legislature the authority to change the existing fund, and to dissolve the trust at pleasure ; and requiring an account of the fund to be annually laid before the Legislature. This act made the following additions to the fund: the , Salem County did the alcohol question enter into the balance of the old six per cent. stock. due Feb. 12. financial and social affairs of the inhabitants. 1817, with the interest and reimbursement thereof The town-hip of Salem was incorporated in 1693. One of the duties of the burgess was to grant tavern licenses, and he was empowered to revoke such since Feb. 9, 1816 ; the three per cent. stocks of the United States belonging to the State on the 12th of February, 1817; the shares of the State in the Tren- ' licenses when he might see fit. ton and Cumberland Banks, with the dividends since Fairs were established by law to be held in Salem for two days in May, and also two days in October, at which all persons were at liberty to buy and sell all lawful goods. In 1698, however, a town-meeting was held, and it was enacted that "foreigners" might not sell liquors at these fairs, under penalty of for- feiture of all liquors found in their custody. the 9th of February, 1816: all moneys receivable from the foregoing items, future appropriations, and such gifts, and grants, bequests, and devises as should be made for the purposes contemplated by the act, and one-tenth part of the State tax for the year 1817. Additions to this fund were made by subsequent acts, and by the act of March 27, 1874, it was provided that A legislative enactment, about 1704, made the pen- "alty of Sabbath-breaking and drunkenness a fine and commitment to the stocks for four hours. the public stocks and moneys previously appropriated by law should constitute the school fund, and that all moneys thereafter received from the sales and rentals of the land under water, belonging to the State, should be appropriated for the support of free public schools, and the treasurer was directed to invest them for that purpose.
The act of March 21, 1867, created the office of county superintendent of the public schools, and the , sugar and one gill and a half of rum. nine pence; for office was, during several terms, held by W. H. Reed, cach nib, made with single refined sugar and one gill of Woodstown. The present incumbent is R. Henry ; and a half of rnm, eight pence; for each nib. made of Holme, of Elsinboro.
According to the report of the State Board of Edu- cation for 1882 there were in the county seventy school districts, and the number of children of school age enrolled was 5608; average attendance, 2681. The number of children attending private schools . was estimated at 331, and the number attending no school at all 866. There were 108 teachers employed, of whom 27 were male and 81 female ; the average From this order of the court rum seems to have been the most common intoxicant. The Swedes monthly salary of the former was 837.12; of the latter, 831.04. The total seating capacity of the ; brought with them to this country the art of brew- school-houses was 5588. Schools were kept open | ing, and families were accustomed to brew their own during an average of 9.5 months, and the total amount received from all sources for public school ; tated them, and breweries were erected on many of purposes was $13,122.88.
CHAPTER LXIII.
TEMPERANCE IN SALEM COUNTY.1 --
AMONG the articles with which John Fenwick pur- chased from the Indians their right and title to al! lands included within the bounds of Oldman's Creek and Morris River were ten and a half ankers of rum, -an anker being equal to about thirty-two gallons. Six years later, at an Assembly convened by authority
1 By II. P. Davidson. --
The granting of tavern licenses, as has already been seen, had existed before, but in 1729 the court. assumed to regulate the sale of intoxicating drinks by declaring, as follows, in what quantities and at what prices public-house keepers should deal them out: "For each nib of punch, made with double refined
Muscovado sugar and one gill and a half of rum, seven pence; for each quart of tiff, made with half a pint of rum in the same, nine pence; for each pint of wine, one shilling ; for each gill of rum, three pence ; for each quart of strong beer, four pence; for each gill of brandy or cordial, six pence ; for each quart of metheglin, nine pence; each quart of cider royal, . cight pence; each quart of cider, four pence."
; liquor. The English and German immigrants imi- the farms, not only for home consumption, but for exportation to such markets as Philadelphia and New York.
Until recently there were several substantial brick buildings, built previons to 1790, still remaining as monuments of the beer-brewing and beer-drinking customs of the early >ettlers. Later generation-, however, planted apple orchards, and cider, apple brandy, and West India rum, which, from abont 1700 to 1750, became every year more plentiful in all the colonies, gradually took the place of malt liquors. $0 that breweries seem not to have been used on any of the farmis after about 1770. The last attempt at brewing is believed to have been made in Salem City, but was given up for lack of patronage.
36.1
HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
Until the beginning of the present century the people seemed to regard the use of alcoholie liquors of some kind a necessity. They were upon every sideboard, and to set out the decanter was among the first hospitalities extended to the minister on hi- pastoral calls, while the friends who had met to pay their last call respects to the memory of some departed neighbor were treated to the same potent drinks. No grocery or dry-goods store was consid- ered complete without its stock of liquors, and every prominent cross-roads was an eligible situation for the licensed "inn or tavern." As late as 1833, fifty years ago, there were no less than twenty-five licensed inns in the county, although the population at that time wa- but little more than fourteen thousand. Previous to this time, however, there had been comparatively little agitation against the universal use of strong drink in moderation. In 1808 the first temperance society of this country was organized at the town of Moreau, in New York. Twenty-five years later and not only a temperance society regularly held its quar- terly conventions in Salem County, but local societies existed in the various townships. At a temperance meeting heldl in Pittsgrove, Jan. 31, 1835, a resolution was adopted asking those engaged in the liquor busi- ness to relinquish it. At an adjourned meeting held in Friend-lip meeting-house one week later, Samuel Langley, Esq., and Judge Loper signified their will- inguess to comply with the request, and Jacob Hitch- ner was also represented as willing to relinquish the traffic.
May 31, 1836, less than two years after the first temperance society in this country on the principles of total abstinence had been organized, a temperance convention was held in Pittsgrove Church. The fol- lowing is among the resolutions passed at that meet- · ing :
" Reclred. That this Convention recommend to the several auxiliary societies of this county the adoption, as a principle of action, total ab- stinence from all intoxicating liquors as a common drink."
Society was beginning to be thoroughly shaken, and yet it was but the forewarning tremor of the temper- ance earthquake that was soon to follow. In 1840 the Washingtonian movement was originated at Chase's to indulge in their evening drinks. Inauspicious as was its beginning, it quickly became an irresistible tide, which rolled over the whole country. The next year a National Temperance Convention met in Sara- toga, about five hundred and sixty members being present. This Washingtonian Convention sent out Messrs. Pollard and Wright, who traveled as mission- arie, through New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. In the fall of that year -- Nov. 5, 1841 -- the Jefferson- ian Temperance Society was instituted in Falem, with John Bailey president, and Dr. Thomas E. Ware sec- retary. It was a beneficiary society, and was founded upon the principles of total abstinence. Like all other outgrowths of the Washingtonian movement,
its existence was limited to a few years. Men w. everywhere beginning to feel that in order to sert the full benefit of this tidal wave of temperan some more thorough organization was needed. 1. cordingly, on the 29th of September, 1842, sixteen. persons met in New York and organized the order ... the Sons of Temperance. Three years later --- Soje. 28, 1845-a subordinate division of the order was in- stituted in Salem. The following were initiated int, the order as charter members of Salem Division, N ... 17 : Thomas Hurley, Alexander G. Cattell, Elijah ti. Cattell, Joshua T. Nicholson, George M. Brown. Henry Colgan, Joshua J. Thompson, William Paulin. Christian Brown, Peter Barnart, Charles S. Scott, Nathan D. Pugh, Isaac Hackett, William Acton, Eli- Jah Gilmore, John Bailey, Jacob Rienfried, Henry Slaugh, and John P. Bruna.
Other divisions soon followed in other parts of the county, so that by the close of 1849 there were no less than twelve divisions in working order. The Legislature in 1847 passed an act authorizing the people to vote, at an election held for that porpose, whether they would have inns or taverns licensed in their respective townships to retail intoxicating liq- uors or not. At the election held for that purpose in the following December, Lower Penn's Neck, Piles- grove, and Pittsgrove voted against license ; the other townships were in favor of it. The law was repealed the following year.
The basis of the present Maine law was enacted in 1851. The spirit of that Jaw was adopted by the friends of temperance in nearly all the Northern State- during the next four years. Salem County was not behind its neighbors in the canze, and a temperance convention was called, which met in Washington Hall, Salem, Oct. 15, 1853. A ticket was nominated, and about eight hundred votes were polled in the county for it.
Temperance tickets were supported at each election till slavery became the all-absorbing theme, and tem- perance ceased to be a prominent issue at elections or in Legislatures.
tavern, in Baltimore, by six men who had met there . from selling without license in less quantities than
Salem having been incorporated as a city in 1858, the Council passed an ordinance prohibiting any one one quart any brandy, wine, gin, or distilled or spirit- uons liquors, nor any porter, ale, beer, or cider, or any fermented liquor. It also prohibited any shop- keeper or store-keeper from giving them away ar dispensing of them in any such way as to cause drunkenness.
Two years after the close of the Rebellion the Grand Lodge of Good Templars in New Jersey wa- instituted, and during the next six years no less than ten subordinate lodge- were organized in Salem County. The church, the Sons of Temperance, the Good Templars, and other temperance societies hal by this time greatly increased the number of total abstainers from the use of intoxicating drink, and to
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