History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2, Part 29

Author: Cushing, Thomas, b. 1821. cn; Sheppard, Charles E. joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 920

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 29
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 29
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 29

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).

near a century ago, and kept by him for some time .. Samuel Borden succeeded him, and after him Michael Walker and Daniel Vanncian. James Sherron pur- chased the property and kept a store for some time, and in 1829 sold it to John Summerill, Sr., who, with his son, John Summerill, Jr., commenced business under the name of Summerill & Son. The firm eon- : tinued for some time, when the elder Summerill with- drew his name, and the business was conducted by Jolm Summerill, Jr., who about this time enlarged the business.

Previously it had been a small country store. Hle now added grain, lumber, coal, cordwood to his other business, and became interested in vessel property, and continued up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1565. After his death his son, John Sum- merill, and Samuel B. Holton conducted the business four year-, when the latter withdrew fiom the firm, and Joseph C. Summerill and John Summerill, sons of Jolin Sumimerill, went into business under the firm- name of Jolm Summerill & Brother.

There has been a ship-yard upon the Catharine Diver property, along the shore, as long as the oldest inhabitants have any recollection. The place in former years had a public landing, where hundreds of cords of wood were piled for shipment to Philadelphia.

There is now a wharf at the foot of the main street, whence packets run during the season to Philadel- phia with all kinds of produce, and from which are landed lumber, coal, and other merchandise.

There has been a blacksmith-shop in the village for some thirty years. It was established by William S. Dayton, and after his death Thomas' Norcross oc- cupied it for two or three years, since which Albert Fox has conducted the business. A wheelwright- shop was established in the place by Theophilus Paulin, about the same time the smithery was started, and has been occupied at different times by Augustus 1 Jacobi, Chester Dilks, and others.

The business of gill- fishing in Helm's Cove is car- ried on quite extensively. Some eighteen nets are fished by the inhabitants. The cost of each net and boat is about two hundred and fifty dollars. They earn from three hundred dollars to one thousand dol- lars each yearly, and each net furnishes employment to two, sometimes three, mev. There are about thirty- five houses in the village of South Penn's Grove, and about two hundred inhabitants.

Industrial and Commercial .- The principal in- dustry of the township at large is agriculture. The · snil is well adapted to raising sweet potatoes, melons, and other truck, all of which are produced in abun- dance and shipped to market daily through the season. Wheat, rye, and corn are grown in large quantities for export. Many tomatoes are raised.

There was from a comparatively carly period a small ship-yard at Penn's Grove. It has not been in existence for many years. Occasionally, however, a shallop or other small boat is built there. From time immemorial there has been a ship-yard on the Cath- arine Diver property, at South Penn's Grove. Major Denny was the first buffder there, and continued the business while he lived, in connection with his sons. David and James, and after the death of the elder Denny, about 1825, James conducted the business until 1845, when John Faweett and James Lock oc- eupied the yard for some time, after which the firm of John and l'eter Fawcett took and retained pos- session of the yard until the death of the latter, in 1878. Since that time John Fawcett and Joseph Dougherty have conducted the business.

Ever since the beginning of improvements in this township measures have been frequently adopted to drain marshy lands and to improve navigation. As , early as 1783 an act was passed to enable owners of swamp and marsh-meadow lands to repair banks, and since that day much money has been expended, with considerable anceess, both in a private and a public manner, to reclaim submerged or marshy territory. The canal from Salem Creek to the Delaware, across the southern extremity of Upper Penn's Neck and the northern part of Lower Penn's Neck, was pro- ; jreted in 1891, and completed in its present prac- ticable form, after several failures, about thirteen or fourteen years ago. It serves the double purpose of

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JHISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.

draining low lands and shortening the navigation to the Delaware.

The firm of John Summerill & Brother are heavy dealers in lumber and shingles. Their coal trade is also very large. Nearly all the grain produced in this section of the country is put on the market by this firm, who have handled one hundred and thirty thousand bushels of corn in a season, that being the surplus product of this vicinity. Gilling-twine forms an important part of their business, the firm being im- porters of the golden trish gill-thread. They sell an- nually several thousand pounds. The office of Sum- merill & Hires, importers of Orchilla guano, is at South Penn's Grove. The firm is composed of the firms of John Summerill & Brother, of Penn's Grove, and Ilires & Co., of Quinton.

Few towns are more desirably situated for the sue- cessful prosecution of the canning business than l'enn's Grove. It is surrounded by an abundance of land admirably adapted for the growth of fruits and vegetables, while the preuliar composition of the soil imparts to them a rare richness. Especially is this so of the tomato, which here gains a rich flavor that heavier land does not bestow. And then the town itself is sufficiently populous to provide the large number of hands the industry requires, while the river and railroad afford easy access to markets.

Acting upon these facts, in 1879. D. Peterson and F. W. Tussey, under the firm-nan.e of Peterson & Tussey, started a small factory for the canning of to- matoes, more as an experiment than as a permanent business, though with the idea of continuing and en- larging the enterprise should the patronage of the farmers and the laborers warrant it.

The first year the pack did not exceed five thousand cans. The name of the brand was " Standard." In 1880 the firm was enlarged by the admission of John Summerill & Brother and Jo-iah Summerill, the firm- name changed to Summerill & Co., and the brand was changed to " Jer-ey's Favorite." New buildings were erected and every facility introduced for a larger pack, which reached sixty thousand cans. In 1881, J. C. Sununerill, Sr., purchased the interests of Peter- son & Tussey, the original firm. More buildings were erected, a new boiler of fifty horse-power put in, the best canning-machinery purchased, and every facility for the prompt handling of the goods and the safety and general comfort of the laborers intro- duced. That year the pack exceeded one hundred and sixty thousand cans, for which a market was readily foun 1. In 1882, at the decease of J. C. Suni- t.crill, Sr., bis interest was taken by Joseph J. Sum- merill. During this year everything that experience has shown to be necessary has been added, so that this now ranks as one of the most complete canning establishments in the State. The interior of the works is conveniently arranged for the different processes of manufacture, and is light and well ventilated, and provided with the most efficient machinery for the

prompt doing of work in every department. This firm packs nothing but " cold hand-packed" tomatoes, and warrant every can for one year after being packed, so that their trade-mark is a sufficient guarantee to the consumer that he is receiving the best in the market.

They contract with the farmers to grow tomatoe- for them, picking nothing but the best and that of uniform quality. During the canning season from seventy-five to one hundred hands are employed. Quality is always packed in preference to quantity. and so good is the reputation of the brand that "Jer- sey's Favorites" are eagerly sought after in Philadel- phia, New York, Baltimore, London, and other large markets.

The fisheries, which form no inconsiderable part of the industrial interest in Upper Penn's Neck, are referred to elsewhere.

A Remarkable Incident .- The history of Upper Penn's Neck would be incomplete without a narra- tion of the following wonderful event : In the fill of 1837 a menagerie was being conveyed from Wilming- ton to Penn's Grove by the steamboat " New Jersey," en route for Salem. The boat had to make two trips to bring the entire show across. It was dark. A large elephant was brought over the first trip. The custom of the showmen was to drive the elephants, after land. ing, up the road, there to wait until the whole caravan was ready to move forward. On this occasion the cle- plant, instead of waiting, started on and took the up- river road, and after continning a short distance turned off in a by-road through the woods, crossing the property of John Holton and the Biddle farm, to the Pedricktown road, thenee making his way up that road a short distance to a gate opening upon a pri- vate way across the farm of linear Latchem. This led into the woods and swamps known as Quillytown, a wild region of country with few inhabitants.

The elephant stayed in the woods that night and the next day. The following night he came back by the way he had gone the night before, when he had broken all obstrueting gates and fences in his pas- sage. When he arrived at Penn's Grove, not having had his regular meals, it is supposed he had a good appetite. Noah Humphreys, the hotel-keeper, had a small building for the storage of feed. The elephant knocked in one side of this building and ate what oats he wanted, then went along the shore above the pier, where lay a small bateau above high-water mark. Whether the anchor was in the boat or not is not known, but the elephant took the boat from the shore and half-way across the river, where it was found anchored the next morning. The elephant having left it, he struck ont alone for the Delaware shore, and landed at Quarryville about sunrise.

The workmen at the quarry had just come to their work, when an Irishman saw him coming ashore. HIe exclaimed, "Be jabera, there comes a sea-hos; "" The elephant had a short piece of chain around his

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Abermy Banker

459

TOWNSHIP OF UPPER PENN'S NECK.

leg, with which the workmen fastened him to a small tree when he came out of the water, and claimed him as a prize, and refused to let the owner have him un- less he paid them fifty dollars, which he refused to do, but offered a barrel of whiskey instead. The workmen refused the whiskey, and the owner had to go to New Castle and get the sheriff' in order to obtain possession of his property. The quarrymen received nothing. The elephant was brought over on the boat and taken to Woodstown, where the show was on ex- hibition that day.

LODGES.

Mural Lodge, No. 86, I. O. O. F., of Penn's Grove, was instituted Dee. 14, 1843, with the following char- ter members: Woodburn Mulford, P. G .; James MI. Saunders, Thomas Reeves, Benjamin F. McCallister, Frank D. Mulford, P. G.

The first officers installed were Thomas Reeves, N. G .; J. M. Sanders, V. G .; B. F. McCallister, Sec .; Woodburn Mulford, Treas.

The officers serving in September, 1822, were R .. M. Featherer, N. G .; John D. Harris, V. G. ; II. MI. Flanagin, Rec. Sec .; E. P. Barnart, Per. Sce. ; Sedg- wick R. Leap, Treas.

The lodge numbers eighty-five members, and meets every Thursday evening.

Paradise Encampment, No. 41, I. O. O. F., of Penn's Grove,-This encampment was instituted Nov. 16, 1869. In September, 1882, the principal ! officers were as follows: C. P., John W. Trumbull; S. W., U. B. Biddle ; J. W., H. M. Flanagin ; Seribe, C. G. Abom; Treas., J. Featherer; II. P., J. F. Layton.

Union Lodge, No. 38, K. of P .- This society was organized under a charter dated Jan. 12, 1870, with the following-named charter members :

S. B. I.c.p. Jeremiah s. Hagen.

J. Q . Denny. Henry Barber.

Juhn It, Lloyd.

Julin Simpkins.

William Lawrence. JoseI hr G. French.

Benjamin Shivers. Joseph K. MIintou.

Charles Hourn. John C. Peterson,

Samuel B. Holton. Joseph B. Yonker.

Edward Robinson.

George Elkinton.

David R. Leap. James E. Smith.

John I'. Harnett. Parker Fencmore.

Alfred Simpkins.

John W. Thompson.

Thomas Norton.

Jacob Cable.

Janis A. Penny. S. D. Stultz.

Following are the names of the principal officers serving in September, 1882: C. C., Joseph Whitaker ; V. C., Joseph Robbins; K. of R. and S., George W. Bevis ; M. of F., James Cunningham.

Viola Council, No. 20, Jun. O. U. A. M .- Viola Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics was instituted June 11, 1573. The charter members were the following :

Willard Shriner. Burroughs Smith.

Joseph. Ilves. William Smith. Jemepl: T C'rom. Eiwool l'usrey.

Erne-1 l'right. I:ichand Layton. Frank Fentherer. Howard Hewitt.

William Higgina.

The principal officers in service in September, 1:82. were : C., Joseph Paulin ; V. C., Norval Leap; Rec. See., Inb Bevis.

Acton Post, No. 33, G. A. R .- Acton Post, No. 33, Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted Nov. $, 1879, with charter members as follows :

11. If. De Groft. Jeremiah S. Biddle.

Isaac l', Simpson. Thomas J. While.

George Couk. Charles English.

James Holier. Philip Link.

George M. Pyle. Charles Somers.

Julin S. Lloyd.

Alfred Simpkins.

John E. Wilsou.

Jamies Armstrong.

William I1. Harris.

Adam Jess.

11. 1. BRlille. Jesse Hallon.

James P. Butler.

Joseph Murphy.

l'emberton Pierce.

James Murphy.

Samuel P. Wand.

Juhu Moure.

Elias Black.

William Borden.

John M. Walker.

Dauiel Myers.

Henry M. Flanigan.

James Moore.

James F. Layton.

The more prominent officers were as follows in the fall of 1882: C., HI. H. De Groff ; S. V. C., Charles Pierson ; J. V. C., S. P. Ward ; Q. M., D. C. Kimp- kins; Adjt., J. S. Biddle.

Samaria Lodge, No. 14, Masonic Ladies, of Penn's Grove .-- Samaria Lodge was instituted Aug. 12, 1870, with the following charter members :

Rioda 11. Davis. Mary C. Vanniemann.

Kezinh Somers. Elizabeth Davis.

Caroline D. Burden. Many S. Cable.

Anna MI. Jordan.

Mary Locke.

Mary J :. Londerluck. Mary J. Dolbow.

Katy Justice.

Margaret De Grofft.

Mary A. Laylou. Elina A. Cunningham.

Caroline V Fawcel. Minry Smith.

Bachel Pillinger. Sarah Hornn.

Hannah 31. Norton. Marin Bid-Itu.

Anna T. Hannah.

Margaret Rubinwon.

Samh Morris.

Susun W. McCom.br.

Penn's Grove Conclave, No. 34, I. O. H .- Penn's Grove Conclave of the Improved Order of Heptasophis was organized Sept. 23, 1881, with the following constituted members :

J. W. Annghlin. A. F. Layton. .

J. H. H.Ihinton. J. (. A. Denny.

John Gruff. Jacob Smith.

G. 1[. Elkinton, Joseph G. French.

Moses Hughes. B. Blohm, Jr.

William F. Yenger. 1'. l'ierce.

Samuel benny. Wilmer Clark.

W. 11. Denny. S. H. Leap.

In September, 1882, its officers were the following : S. H. Leap, Arch .; W. H. Denny, Prov .; Samuel Denny, Sec .; William F. Yeager, Chan.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

HON. HENRY BARBER.

The subject of this sketch is the son of Samuel and Hannah Barber. Hle was born in the township of Upper Penn's Neck, Salem Co., July 12, 1820. 111x

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490

HISTORY OF SALEM COUNTY.

father was of English descent, and by occupation a tailor. HIis ancestors on his mother's sido were Ger- man. When he was twelve years old his father died. leaving his widowed mother with ten small children. His educational advantages were limited to the schools of his neighborhood. In 1813 he married Charlotte, daughter of Rev. William Smith. IJe had by her only one chill, Charles S., who died in his nineteenth year.

On March 3, 1852, he married Sarah Jane, daughter of John and Elizabeth Boyd, of Wilmington, Del. His second wife is still living, by whom he has had two children, Frank P. and John S. John died in June, 1877. On March 30, 1875, Frank married Mary C., daughter of Franklin and Ellen Beckett. He died three years later, leaving one child, Harry S., who, with his mother, resides in the family of MIr. Barber.

In the early part of his life Mr. Barber was a farmer, but subsequently turned his attention to the lumber business and contracting. In 1845 he re- moved to Wilmington, Del., and engaged in the ice business, but in a few years returned to Penn's Grove, in his native township, and entered into the coal and lime business. He has also continued his interest in agriculture, and still owns near the village a fine farm which is in a high state of cultivation. His fellow-citizens have proved their esteem for him by often calling him to fill places of honor and respon- sibility.

freeholders for the township of Upper Penu's Neck, and continued to occupy the position for several years. In 1879 he represented the First District of to the sessions of 1850 and 1881. In the latter ses- sion he served on the Committee on Riparian Rights and joint Committees on Treasurer's Accounts and Printing. During his service of three terms in the Legislature, such was the consistent determination expressed by Mr. Barber to promote the common good of the State by advocating the passage of just and equitable laws, that he has been again unani- inously nominated by the Democratic party a cau- didate for the Assembly.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

TOWNSHIP OF UPPER PITTSGROVE .!

Situation and Boundaries .- Upper Pittsgrove is situated on the northern border of the county, east of the centre, and is bounded as follows : North by Har- rison and Clayton townships (Gloucester Co.), east by Pitt-grove, south by Dcerfield (Cumberland Co.) and Upper Alloways Creek, and west by Pilesgrove.

Its area is 21,422 aeres, and its population in IS-1 War- 2100.

Topographical and Statistical. - Like most Nen Jersey townships, Upper Pittsgrove is irregular in form. The surface of the land is generally level, but in some portions slightly undulating. The soil is a light gravelly loam, susceptible of a high degree of cultivation if treated artificially. Many thousand aeres of formerly useless land have been redeemed, and now take rank among the most productive land. of the county.

Oldmau's Creek flows along a portion of the north- ern border, and several small streams have their , sources in the township, radiating irregularly from near the centre, aiding in the drainage of the land. and affording small water-powers here and there.

The township is traversed in all directions by well-kept roads, connecting it with various points in Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland Counties and beyond.

The Salem Branch of the West Jersey Railroad, in its course from Elmer to Salem, crosses the township, with a station at Daretown.

The financial statistics of Upper Pittsgrove for the year ]88) were as follows: Valuation of real estate, $1,063,300; valuation of personal property, 8627,570; total indebtedness, 8422,825; polls, 559; poll tax, $510; school tax, $3206; county tax, $304].

Early Laud Purchases and Settlement.2-Most of the land lying within the bounds of the two Pitts- Daniel Coxe, of Barlington, and Judge William Hall, of Salem, were the principal purchasers.

of New York, and had located temporarily in Ulster County, to come on their lands in Salem County, rep- re-enting the excellent quality of the soil and it- adaptability and the local conveniences and sur- roundings, and offering favorable terms to all who would become land-owners and settlers on the tract. | The colony sent some of their number to view the land and take careful account of the advantages and disadvantages of the locality, as well as to confer with the proprietors concerning prices and credit -. - with instructions to accept the offer of Messrs. Coxc and Hall, on behalf of the colony, if the committee should be satisfied that the proposed measure wa- likely to prove of benefit to the expectant settlers.

Large tracts were purchased by the committee, in pursuance of further instructions of the colonists, and! several families moved on their new possession in 1714 or in the spring of 1715. Prominent among these settlers were the Van Meter and the Dubois Jamilic -. who took up three thousand acres, and the Newkirk -. Garrisons, Barnetts, Craigs, Danlaps, Aldermans, and

" Summe valuable data embodied in this chapter was furnished is Thomas Shourda, lisq.

In 1714, Messrs. Coxe and Hall extended an invi- Salem County in the Assembly. He was re-elected : tation to a colony who had lately arrived in the State

In 1868 he was elected a member of the board of . grove townships was taken up by land speculators.

1 By M. O. Rolfe.

491

TOWNSHIP OF UPPER PITTSGROVE.

Mayhews, all of whom were liberal purchasers. The Coombs and other families soon followed. It is a fact somewhat remarkable that a majority of the residents of Upper Pittsgrove at this time are descendants of those colonists who first made openings in the forests of the township nearly one hundred and seventy years ago, the different families having intermarried during successive generations, until the outgrowth has been a relationship so complicated as to defy the most ex- pert genealogist.

A few of the colonists had been residents of Ulster County, N. Y., for some time; most of them had but quite recently arrived in America when they removed from Ulster County to Salem County. Among the former class was the Van Meter family, who had emi- grated from Holland between 1650 and 1660. There were three brothers Van Meter among the emigrants from New York. Joseph settled in Monmouth County, and John and Isaac came on to U'pper Pittsgrove. The earliest record of the name to be seen in the county clerk's office in Salem is dated 1714, and is evidence of the purchase of three thousand acres of land by the Van Meters and Duboises from Daniel Coxe, of Burlington. These parties divided their land- by the compass, the Van Meters taking a tract lying to the south of a certain line, and the Duboises the balance of the joint purchase, lying to the north of said line. The Van Meters were noted for their de- sire to extend their landed possessions, and they con- tinued to purchase until they owned a large portion of the land, extending from the "over,hot mill," in Upper Alloways Creek, near Daretown, southerly to Fork Bridge, about six thousand acres in all; and most of the title> of the present owners go back to those held by the Van Meters.

Isaac Van Meter had a son Garrett, who married a daughter of Judge John Holme in 1774. He emi- grated to Virginia with his family, and some of his descendants live there still. John Van Meter left a son llenry, who was the ancestor of all, or nearly all, of the Van Meters now living in Salem County. HIe was married four times. The following-named chil- dren are mentioned in his will : Joseph, Ephraim, John, David, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Jacob, and Benja- min. Of these, Jacob Van Meter removed to Genesce County, N. Y., and died, leaving a family, and Ben- jamin Van Meter settled carly in life on his ancestral estate, and was a useful man in his time. He mar- ried Bathsheba, daughter of Capt. James Dunlap, of Upper Pitt-grove. Hedied in 1826; his wife in 1881. Their children were James, Mary, Ann, Sarah, Eras- muty F., Robert HJ., and Bathsheba. James became & physician, began practicing his profession at Allo- waystown, and soon removed to Salem, where he had a very extensive practice, especially among Friends, dying in 1817, aged eighty. His son, Thomas Jones Van Meter, also graduated as a physician, but never practiced to any extent. Benjamin Van Meter was the owner of several slaves, but becoming convinced

of the unholiness of human bondage, he liberated them all a few years prior to his death; but he had been so gentle and considerate a master that some of them refused to leave him, and lived out the remain- der of their lives on his homestead.

The other parties to the purchase of Jolin and Isaac Van Meter in 1714 were JJacob Dubois and his sister. The latter and the Van Meters conveyed twelve hundred acres to Jacob Dubois, as his por- tion, in 171C. . Barrett Dubois, his son, settled in Upper Pittsgrove, having previously been married in New York State. Catharine, his daughter, was born in 1716; Jacob, in 1719, and he married Janette Newkirk in 1747. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, and a deacon. and one of the trustees to whom the deed was given for the ground to erect a church on. Lewis, third son of Jacob, was born at Hurley, Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1695, and married Margaret Janson in 1720. He came to West Jersey in company with his brother Barrett, and soon owned one thousand and ninety-one acres of land in Upper Alloways Creck. He and his wife were among the first members of the Presbyte- rian Church of Pittsgrove when it was organized in 1741, when, for forty shillings, he sold the trustees two acres of land on which to build a church ; and in 1761 he sold fifty acres for a parsonage, for seventy- five pounds proclamation money, in addition to the fifty acres the church purchased of Abrahami New- kirk in 1744.

The Elwell family of Upper Pittsgrove have had a large influence both in religions and civil society. Jacob Elwell, the emigrant, was born in England in 1700, and located in Pilesgrove soon after his arrival in this country. Jacob Elwell died in Pittsgrove at the age of seventy-three, leaving numerous de- scendants.

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History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2, Part 29

Author: Cushing, Thomas, b. 1821. cn; Sheppard, Charles E. joint author Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 920

Author: Cushing, Thomas, b. 1821. cn; Sheppard, Charles E. joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 920