USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 24
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 24
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 24
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
About 1756, John Johnson and his wife, Jane, em- igrated from Ireland, and having considerable means at his disposal, he located a large tract of land in this township and settled thereon. In his native country he had been a Presbyterian minister. He is not thought to have preached in America.
lis son, Isaac, born in 1772, was an uucommonly active and enterprising man. He often said while young that he was determined to own innre aeres of land than his father possessed at the time of his ·leath. This ambition he more than realized, owning, not far from Daretown, in Upper Pitt-grove, six hun- dred acres of excellent land, and large tracts else- where, besides two Houring-mills and much other valuable property. One of the most influential men in Salem County, he was chosen to the office of .herif; and was prominently identified with numerous public and private interests of importance.
Another sou of John Johnson the pioneer, James, 20
the oldest, was perhaps as prominent as any, serving in the colonial army in the Revolution. He was a' man of superior mental and physical endowments, and of great energy, and was regarded as one of the most successful farmers in the county. John, the -on of James, followed the sea in early life, and was captain of the ship "Josephine," trading between Philadelphia and New Orleans, When past middle age he settled in Lower Penn's Neck, on a farm left him by his father. Isaac Johnson, another descend- ant of the pioneer, lived to an advanced age. An active and influential man in business and political circle-, he served the county as sheriff, and was other- wise prominent. Descendants of John and Jane Johnson have intermarried with many of the leading families of the county, and are to be found widely disseminated throughout the State and beyond its limits.
Jeremiah Stull, a descendant of John Stull, of Upper Pittsgrove, lived near Deerfield, Cumberland Co., and owned a large tract of land extending into Pitts- grove. He was well known and influential, and did much to advance the interests of Centreton and vicin- ity, where he was an extensive property-owner, and built a house for publie worship, which fell into dis- use as such, and was presented by him to the Odd- Fellows' lodge of that village.
William Loper, of Epper Pittsgrove, owned much land extending into Pittsgrove. His son, Seth Loper, is a prominent citizen of Elmer.
wheelwright. After his death his property passed by purchase into possession of David llitchner, whose heirs sold many lots, on which considerable of the village stands.
The contracted limits of the territory settled during the pioneer or early history of this township, and the extensive purchases of some of the early comers renders the list of those entitled to consideration as pioneers comparatively small. The settlement of the vast extent of the township south and cast of its cen- tre is of such recent date as to preclude any extended treatment of it in connection with its early occupa- tion. Among those who have acquired property in this section may be mentioned the Langleys, the Richard es, the Rowans, the Scotts, the Farnsworths, the Kandles, the Englishes, the Garrisons, the Leaches, the Edwardses, the Harrises, the Parvins, the Crea- mers, the Richmans, the Gartons, the Ackleys, and the Dunhans.
The Van Meter family, whose progenitors originally located in Upper Pittsgrove, have representatives living and owning land in that portion of Pittsgrove contiguous to the Upper Pittsgrove line. Some of the Van Meters, of D'ittsgrove, have been and are among the best known and most induential of its citizens, taking a prominent part in the conduct of township atfairs.
--
-- - -
IHISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
Prominent among the families of Pitt-grove and Upper Pitt-grove during the period 1s00-30 were those of Antrum, Ackley. Avis, Adcock, Adamis, Bur- roughs, Babcock, Brown. Coombs, Conover, Clark, Crompton. Cook, Dare, Davis, Davenport, Elwell, Ewing, Evans, Estlack, Foster, Fish, Garrison, Gar- ton, Gray, Gordon, Hitchner, Harker, Heinson, Hampton, Ivins, Johnson, Janvier, Jarman, JJordan, Kendall. Krom, Loper. Mayhew, Moore, Mattison, Montgomery, Newkirk, Nutter. Nichols, Orr, Potter, Peacock, Richman, Kreves, Russell, Swing, Sheppard, Thompson, Taylor, Hulings, Husted, Hulick, Urion, Whittaker, and Wick.
In the southeast part of this township a colony of Russian Jews located in the summer of Iss2. On account of their nearness to Vineland, Cumberland Co., they are sometimes referred to collectively as " the Vineland colony."
Organization .- Pittsgrove was set off from Piles- grove at an early but unknown date, and named in honor of the famous English statesman and orator, William Pitt, before he accepted the earldom of Chat- ham. U'pper Pittsgrove was subsequently formed by its division.
Civil List .- We here present as complete a civil list a- we have been enabled to compile. It will be found to contain the names of those who have been prominent in town-hip affairs during the past thirty years.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1.50-22. J. seph H. Trenchard. 1st. Jacob. M. Kandie.
1.53-56. R dert M. Hitchner. 1. Julin MI. Kandle.
1.57-59. David V. ML. smith. 1 -60. Clark Iredell.
1:00-02, 1:71-7: 1875-81. Jacob
150. Jacuh Hitchner.
Whk.
1874-75. Edward HI. Loper.
1863-65. Harmon Hitchner.
1427-78. James W. Goldder.
1sod, Daniel Hitchurr. 18-2. ITiram Vanmeter.
ASSESSORS.
15 41. Jacob Hitchner.
1.63-65. Samuel V. Jones.
1-31-53. llenry Kandle.
1466-68. Thomas Murphy.
1:54-56. John Kawlie.
1863-71. Isaac Julinson.
1-17-39. Hubert MI. Hitchner.
1572. Jesse T. Humphrey.
1.00-61. Felix S. English.
1573-75. David Ilitchuer, Jr.
1802 Charles W Jones.
Js77-82. Martin V. Haines.
COLLECTORS.
1:0-32. John Kandle. 1$GS-70. Joseph Jones.
1853-65. Paniel Hitchner.
1-71-13 Charles F. Hitchnes.
1850-5%. J. P. Garton.
1-74-75. 1as1. Wm. W. Johnson.
1-39 61. Juhn K. Nichols.
1-77-79. Jacob Hitchner (3).
IS62-61. David Edward -.
18-0-$2. Clinton Jolunison.
1-65-61. Jacob B. Shimp.
COMMISSIONERS OF APPEAL.
1850, 1-55-57. John Hughes.
1659, 1>61, 1-$2. Elum Dunhanı.
1-30, David Sithens.
1800. William B. Rogers.
18w. Henty Randle.
1800-61. Joseph II. Miller.
1551-31. Marthin' S. Miller.
1×62-65, 1:71-73. Elins Halings.
1851-33, 1×6. Jucob Ilitchuer.
1:14-15. Henry C. Allen.
1-31-52, 1570. Richard Langley.
1866-69. Samuel Golder. 1466, 1863-50, 1:74-75. I. Christy.
IS:1. Leutel Parvin.
1>GT-DO. Coutube Ackley.
1:54, 1:89-60, 1862-65. S. Hann.
18;0-13. William MI. Kandle.
1835-37. John & Watson.
15:1 -; 3. Thomas Matphiy.
1:56. John 11. Clark.
1874-75. 1-57-78. Frederick For.
1-35, 1:58-59. Matthias ilitchner.
1:74. David Garton.
1:57-68, 1-02-63. Julin K. NIchota.
15%5. 1;7-82. George F. Clark.
1867. Benjamin Pedrick.
1877-51. Samuel Dualmumn.
1-35. Ju'nes ti. Forl.
1479-82. Sammel llemy.
CONSTABI.I.S.
1.3 . Joel F. Langley. 1907-68. Thomas N. Gaston.
1231-52. John Mayhow.
1x65. Clark Inlel !.
1853. 1 53-62. Janın s P. Garton. 1-72-73. Pantel Christy.
1-31-53. David V. M. Smith. 1874. Thomas Murphy.
1.6. WITham Elwell. 1-75. Adam Kandie, Jr.
147. Meheudry Richman. 1 .;: 78. Samnel J. Christy.
1863-61, 1-7-71, 1-73. J. Wick. 1×60-$1. Clinton Johnson.
1-65-66. C'uper RIchart. Je82. William W. Johnson.
-
TOWNSHIP SUPERINTENDENTS.
1850-64. J. Sheppard Whitaker. 1567. Charles F. Hitchuer. 1.65-66. Elmer D. Christy.
JUDGES OF ELECTION.
1-50, 1554 Michael Oxonbaker. 15;2. Hirum Strang.
1 91-53. Samuel GulJer. 1872. Thomas Morphy.
. 1x37-56. Prtor Denl. 1573-74. David Garton.
1-55, 1-50-61. Julin S. Watson.
1875. Daniel Chtisty.
1548. Mi-hurt Futter. 1877-75. MIwood H. Immer.
1-02-4H. John Gatuble. 1879-82. Davil Beckett.
18/2-60, 1671. Jacob Hitchiner, Er.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
ISCA. Jesse T. Humphrey. · JxGr. Willlata B. Rogers.
1865, 1575, 1-sy. Rubert 31. Hitch. 1×68, 1573. Richard Langley. 1581. William W. Goller.
ner.
SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.
1930-53 Michael OxenUnker.
1853. Daniel IT,tchter.
1-30-52. James II. Treuchard. 1.Cu. Michael P'utter, Jr.
18/1. Lemnnet Parvin.
1502-52. Adam Kandlle.
1-71. Jatous Carluet.
1-37 -35. John KamHe.
197: 18. Oliver P. H.trhner.
1950-41. John Gamble
1-39-19. Juba Inghes.
1561-63. Samuel Ackley.
1-49-30. John 11. Clark.
1504-66. 18;1. Co. mls Ackley.
1×9-52. David S.theus.
14:5-67. Daniel Chri-ty.
1452-35, 1.62-61, 1>>>-70. Jacob Hitchner.
1967. Willium 13, lingers. laiks-$1. Hiram Strang. 15.6. John Ackley.
JAH-34. John K Nichols.
Francis. J Buthun S. Whittaker.
1,43-45 Samuel Henry.
1,94-55 John Hughes. 1872-55, 1 -12- 82. John Ackl.y.
1850. James Kataly.
CHOSEN FREQHOLDERS.
1849, 18:1-53. John Johnson.
1866. Robert M. Ward.
163. Michael Oxeubaker.
1867. Arthur G. Parvin.
1633. Matthias Hitchner.
1859-55. John Mayhew.
1951, 182-63. J. I. Clark.
1.4. M C. Miller.
1571. James Gardiner.
1855. Juhn P Garton.
1856-5 ;. John Hughes.
1856-0), 1866-65. Sammel Ackley.
1638. James G. Foril.
1.75. William Marshall.
1958, 1>63-61. Felix S. English.
1527. Jame M. Imutti-l.
1855-61, 1863-67. Reuben Langley. 18-0 82. Davil Hitchner.
1-50. William T Ward.
1,30-51, 1$54-00. Jur b Ilitohner.
18/1-02, 1-0 -. 72. Jar n. B. Shimp.
15:00-22. James il. Trenchard.
1 800, 1982-63, 1995. 1-17-73. 1-9- 82. Robert M. Hitchuer.
1-30, 1551-07. Henry Kandle.
1×51. David situons
1501. 1575. 1',vid Hlwards.
1861-64, 15. s :1. J. Hitchuer, Jr.
1852. A.lam Kandie.
1802. 1865. Samuel SHen, Jr.
1552. Peter Peal.
1565. Tiram strane.
1×32, 1-4-55. Julin M. Husted.
1-65. Daniel Hitchuur.
153, 1:51, 1,77-78. David Hutch- Der.
1800-71, 1571-75, 1-77-78. F.L.MI Dunham.
1833. John Kandlo.
1606-60, 1:22, 1:25. 1877-70. C. Arkley. 170. George F. Clark.
1-72. llenry J. smith.
1×7-11. Soltew J. smith.
1853. Thonre Murphy.
-.
-
1:53. 1556-52, 1460-65. Matthias Ht-liner. 1x51-1. 1.66-70. Sumuel Hewes.
18:1-22. Jamara Burrongbe.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.
1650-51, 1123. 1556, 1880->2. Rich- 1859, 1901, 1:73-77, 1577-59. Jamies ard lairgl.y. F. A.,thony.
1850-51, 1:79 Wm. B. Regeis
1:52. Joha K Nichols.
1:13. John Mayhogy.
467
TOWNSHIP OF PITTSGROVE.
CHURCHES.
Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church. - Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1758, and a house of worship was soon thereafter erecte 1, which was rebuilt in 1851, and is yet standing in good condition, a large wooden structure of the plain, old-fashioned kind.
This church is on the charge which includes it and the Elmer and Friendship Churches, and which, until 1843, was connected with a large circuit, and was ministered to by eirenit-riders.
The first regular pastor was Rev. Matthias German, in 1843. The following mentioned have been his suece-sors in the order named : Revs. Noah Edwards, Joseph Atwood, John W. Me Dougall, Joseph Gas- kell, Abraham Gearhart, Levi J. Roads, Charles W. Jeisley, Samuel Hudson, Joseph Summerill, James Morell, Samuel Johnson, Charles W. Heisley, HI. S. Norris, M. C. Stokes, Edward HI. Deurelle, J. B. Turpin, J. H. Hilenman.
The following are the present trustees : Frederick Eft, Joseph H. Miller, Jacob Wick, Henry K. Dubois, Daniel H. Eft, David Hitchner.
Willow Grove Methodist Episcopal Church .- At Willow Grove, on the eastern border of the town- ship, is a small wooden church which affords a place of worship to a Methodist society, the members of which live in the neighborhood and in adjacent parts of Cumberland County. Meetings have been held there with more or less regularity for some years. The lack of records precludes the possibility of en- tering more into detail concerning this organization.
Methodist Episcopal Church at Elmer .- Since 1818 Elmer has been the abiding-place of the pastors of the charge, including, at this time, the Elmer, Friendship, and Olivet Churches. There was oc- casional preaching in the school-house for many years, and for some time prior to 1863 regular Sun- day evening services were hell there.
In 1868 the erection of a frame church was begun, which, with the lot on which it stands, cust about eight thousand five hundred dollars. The basement was ready for occupaney and was dedieated in Feb- ruary, 1569. The upper part was finished and dedi- cated in May, 1871. The first dedication was by Rev. C. W. Heisley, the second by Rev. II. S. Norris.
The pastors since the erection of the church have been levs. C. W. Heisley, H. S. Norris, M. C. Stokes, Edward 1I. Deurelle, J. B. Turpin, and J. II. Hilen- man, the present incumbent. Previous to the date mentioned services were conducted by the pastors of the charge above referred to. whose names are given elsewhere.
The present trustees are Henry Coons, William Marshall, William Overs, Rufas W. Smith, Samuel Christy, Clinton Johnson, Joseph M. Garrison.
Anderson and wife, William Middleton, William Erwin and wife, Mrs. Joseph Jones, Mrs. William Heighten, Miss Maggie Curry, Theodore Rogers and his wife and two daughters, and Ellis W. Pedrick and his wife and two daughters.
Prior to June. 1881, the church was ministered to | by supplies, and it has never had a regularly installed pastor, though Rev. William D. Smith was a resident minister from June, 18$1, to June, 1852, when he was succeeded by Rev. IT. R. Randall.
A fine frame church was built in 1880 and 1881, and dedicated in September of the latter year.
The present board of trustees is composed as fol- lows: Dr. A. B. Woodruff, Dr. C. F. Hitchner, Wil- liam B. Hitchner, E. C. Harris. Ellis W. Pedrick.
Divine Worship at Centreton .- A building now standing in the outskirts of the village of Centreton was erected by Jeremiah Stull for use as a meeting- honse for such of the citizens of Centreton and vicinity as might desire to gather there from time to time. Falling into disuse as a church it was presented by Mr. Stull to Grotto Lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., by which body it has since been occupied as a louge- room.
Burial-Places .- The old burying-ground in the rear of Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church, north of Centreton, is deserving of historical record. Here lie the bones of many who died in this township more than a century ago, the headstones to some of these graves being so ancient as to render their inscriptions illegible.
Educational .- The earliest schools in this town- ship were kept in log houses, and were similar to the " seleet" schools of a later date. These were followed by the public schools, which were at first conducted on the tuition system. Under the public school low of New Jersey the township is divided into seven dis- triets, known and numbered as follows :
64, Elmer; 65, Greenville; 66. Centreton ; 67, Upper Neck; 68, Lower Neck; 69, Charity ; 70, Good Hope.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
Elmer .-- The most important point in Pittsgrove, in a business sense, is Elmer, on Muddy Run, at the junction of the West Jersey and Salem Railroads, nearly on the boundary line between Pittsgrove and Upper Pittsgrove. It was formerly called Pittstown.
Improvement and growth began at the present lower part of the village, that now important portion lying upon and near the two railroads mentioned not having come prominently into existence until the construction of the West Jersey Railroad, which was opened in 1862 between Woodbury and Bridgeton.
The nucleus of the town was the old log grist-mill, in the lower part of the village, elsewhere referred to. The "old red tavern" was built at so early a date that the name of its builder cannot be recalled. It was kept sixty years ago by Enos Sithens, and later
The Elmer Presbyterian Church. - The Eliner Presbyterian Church was organized in November, 1879, with the following constituent members: Calvin . by Henry Husted, I-aac Elwell, Mrs. Catharine Cox,
468
HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.
Wharton Elwell, Samme! Langley, and others, and abandoned and torn down as much as twenty-five years ago, after having been occupied as a store by Samuel Langley, and as a sumac-factory by Joseph Jones.
A store was kept half a century or more ago by John Loper, whose successors bave been Samuel Riley, Joseph Jones & Sons, I. & C. Johnson, Daniel Hitelner, James MI. Reed, James MI. Reed & Son, and, since the spring of 1882, Aubrey Reed.
A store was opened about twenty-five years ago at ' tion here. the lower end of the village by John S. Watson, and by him sold to Joseph Jones, who replaced the old : building by a new one, in which he carried on a business in connection with that at his " upper" store. Some years ago he sold the enterprise to Johnson & Christy, who leased the building, and - continued the business until succeeded by William Johnson, in 1881. In the fall of the same year Mr. Johnson was succeeded by David Nichols. 1
About the time of the completion of the West JJer- sey Railroad Messrs. Strang & AAckley opened a store. They were succeeded by Hiram Strang. A store was opened by Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, who succeeded her husband in charge of the village post-ofice during the late war, and has held the office since. Her son, Rufus Smith, is now a partner in the business. An- other store was established by Isaac Johnson some years ago. The store of George Il. Woodruff is of later date.
The first drug-store was opened by Hitehner & I-zard, who were succeeded by litehner & Hanes, and they in turn by T. J. W. Phillips. A second drug-store is that of Julius Wilcox. Other mer- chants in various lines are J. W. Barber, dealer in hardware, tin, and -toves ; Cochran & Surran, dealers in agricultural implements; Steelman & Wentzell, clothiers ; George Grotchen, tobacconist ; and Lizzie Hitchner and Sarah Berry, milliners.
The tavern at the lower end of the village was built, and for some years kept, by Isaac Johnson. Among subsequent landlords may be mentioned Jesse I'. Dilks, John Stepbenson, Hope Williams, liam Bate, -- Bruigstein, and Oliver P. Ilitchner, the present occupant. A restaurant and boarding- house is kept by James Vansant at the upper end of the village.
There have been many successive wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and shoemakers in the village within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The present representatives of these crafts are E. E. Long and Dennis Rodden, wheelwrights; David Beckett, Wil- liam Long, and Thomas P. Rogers, blacksmiths; Casper Pfefer, William Coblentz, and Thomas P. W'riggins, shoemakers.
The resident professional men are Drs. Woodrun, Hitchner, and Cheesman; and Abrain Cochran, at- torney.
Business interests of Elmer not previously referred to are the following: William Johnson's and John Ackley's grist-mills, John Ackley's steam saw-mill. Joseph Gibson's marble-yard, Seth Loper's lumber- yard, the spindle-factory of Hitchuer & Colling (in course of erection), the harness-shop of William H. Kirby, Jonathan Brooks' and Frank Beckett's meat- markets, the dairy of James B. Anthony, Charle- Surran's livery-stable, a harber-shop, and lesser en- terprises. A canning-factory was formerly in opera-
Elmer is situated in the midst of a very fine farm- ing country. It is rendered attractive by its neat dwellings, well-graded street-, and an abundance of shade-trees and shrubbery. The beautiful lake on the castern boundary has a bold shore, and affords good angling, boating, etc. The village is a growing one, the citizens being enterprising, and having al- ready formed a Board of Trade, that offers, free of rents, desirable locations near the station to parties starting manufacturing purposes, Rent and taxes are reasonable, and labor pleuty ; churches, school-, and society are upheld strictly. The many trains north and south give the village considerable ac- tivity, and provide facilities to reach the prominent points of the country with but little delay. This vil- lage was named in honor of Judge L. Q. C. Elmer, of Bridgeton, who was instrumental in securing the establishment of its post-office.
Centreton, sometimes called Centreville, is a small village on Muddy Run, at its confluence with Indian Brook, seventeen miles southeast from Salem. It contains one store, a hotel, a school-house, a former church edifice, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a wagon-shop. and a blacksmith-shop, and has a population esti- mated at two hundred and fifty.
A tavern was kept in Centreton early by a man named Cox. Some of his successors have been Abra- ham Stull, Thomas Whittaker, Daniel Bowen, John W. Husted, Frederick Fritz, and the present occu- pant, Samuel F. Pancoast.
An early merchant was Isaac Abbott. George Carpenter built, and for many years kept, a store. Hiram Strang, - Brown, Barzillai Prickett, Wil- ; Thomas Whittaker opened a store, and after a time James 11. Trenchard became his partner. After the death of Mr. Whittaker, John Couch engaged in trade at the old stand. ITis successors have been Charles & Brooks, Clark Iredell, and Richard R. Miller, the present merchant.
Of blacksmiths and wheelwrights there have been several. For some time these erafts have been rep- resented in the Golder family, the present blacksmith being William Golder, Esq., and the present wheel- wright, J. W. Gokler. The grist-mill and saw-mill elsewhere referred to are the property of Charles D. Moore.
Formerly considerable business was done at Cen- treton, and it was a point of more than its present importance.
-
-
1 1 1
1
--------- 1 1 {
----- 1 1
ł
1 1 1
1
1
: 1
1
:
1 t 1 ¢ 3
469
TOWNSHIP OF PITTSGROVE.
Palatine is a station on the Bridgeton Branch of the West Jersey Railroad, in the southwestern part of the township. It contains a depot, a small store, and a few dwellings, the population not exceeding fifty, all tohl.
Bradway .- By this name is known a hamlet in the southeastern part of the township, the chief elaim of which to distinction is that it is a station on the New Jersey Southern Railroad.
Willow Grove is a country neighborhood on Mau- rice River, on the eastern border of the township, containing a church, a school-house, and a few dwell- ings.
Industrial .- The earliest industrial enterprises were the first of the numerous grist- and saw-mills which have been created in this township.
The grist-mill at the lower end of Elmer, formerly called Lower Pittstown, was built at an early date by a man whose name cannot now be ascertained. It was originally constructed of cedar logs, but it was rebuilt, more than half a century ago, by John Pym, who erected the long-familiar frame building. It has since been owned successively by Johnson & Adcock, Isaac Johnson, John Johnson, and the present pro- prietor, William Johnson, grandson of Isaac and son of John .Johnson. It has been several times reno- vated and reconstructed, is provided with three runs of stones, and has steam-power, which is used only during times of low water.
The Centreton grist-mill was built some time in the last century by Jeremiah Stowell, who also built a saw-inill, and for a time had a carding- and woolen- mill, which he ran in connection with the other mills. The carding- and woolen-mill disappeared long since. The grist-mill and saw-mill have been several times repaired and remodeled. The property passed into possession of James H. Trenchard, who was suc- ceeded in its ownership by Thomas Elwell, and the latter, in IS89, by Charles D. Moore. The grist-mill has three runs of stones, and does a good business.
The Dealown mill, at Dealtown, a neighborhood between Centreton and Palatine, was built a few years ago by James L. Duffield, its present operator. It has three runs of stones, and is fairly patronized by the surrounding farmers, besides doing a good mer- chant business. A foriner mill on this site was built by Benjamin Haywood, and by him converted into a hu-k-grinding mill, which was abandoned before the erection of the present grist-mill.
A stock company, organized at Eliner, erected and put in operation, some years since, a canning-factory. For reasons not necessary to mention the enterprise Was not successful, and in 1878 the building was sold to John Ackley, who converted it into a steam gri-t- mill of good capacity, adding a steam saw-mill in ' 1852.
A saw-mill was built on Muddy Run, abont 1817, by Lemuel Parvin, and was long since abandoned. Another carly saw-mill was known as Creamer's mill.
On its site Enoch and Joel Garrison built a mill about ten years ago. The following saw-mills are now in constant or periodical operation in various parts of the township: John Ackley's, Coombs Ackley's, Ackley & Garrison's, George Leach's, William Ward's, James L. Duffield's, and J. Stevenson's.
Many years ago Joseph Jones had an establishment at Elmer, where he prepared sumach for market.
A somewhat extensive factory, now in course of erection at Elmer, is the spindle-factory of Messrs. Ilitebner & Cotting, about to be removed from Upper Alloways township to that village on account of the shipping facilities it affords. This enterprise will give employment to numerous skilled workmen, and cannot but add to the importance and population of Elmer, and increase the prosperity of the entire town- ship, through the increased market which it will create for produce of various kinds. The buildings of Messrs. Hitehner & Cotting will be large and sub- stantial, and work upon them is progressing rapidly.
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.