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 52
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 52
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 52
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Bank Street to Irving, Washington Street, and part ! dred dollars. In 1821 a new draw was built, which
of Cohansey laid out in 1830, Orange in 1843, Laurel below Jefferson, and Gla-s in 1847, and Pine Street in 18-17.
wheeled vehicles in this vicinity for a long time after that date. Before the bridge was built a ford aero -. the Cohansey, about opposite Hampton Street, was used at low tide, and a road crossing the river about one-third of the way up the Tumbling Dam Pond was used when the tide was in, the marks of this 1020 being yet visible. That bridge was doubtless replaced by a new one before the Revolution, but no record of it exists. At that day bridge, were built by the town- ships in which they were situated, no law existing for the building of bridges by the board of freeholders in this part of the State until the passage of an act Nov. 5, 1798; when the present method, which had been in forre in the upper part of the State since 1771, was extended to the whole State. About 1754 there was quite a strife concerning the bridge, Col. Enos Seeley desiring to have it placed at Broad Street, while Alexander Moore desired to have it rebuilt on the old site. It contained no draw at that time. After John Moore White came of age, he made efforts to have a draw put in it, so that he could erect wharves along his property north of Commerce Street. He agreed to pay the cost of the draw and to keep it in repair for five years, and deeded to trustees a lot of land at the foot of Washington Street, where the pipe- mill : now is, for a publie landing. This lot was used for that purpose many years, but with the decrease of the traflie in wood it became of less value to the inhabi- tants, and Mr. White took possession of it again nearly - fifty years ago, and sold it for its present nsc.
hoi-ted up.
In 1833 the third bridge at Bridgeton was built on piling, and a law authorizing it was passed. This bridge was twenty-six feet wide, and had a draw twenty-four feet wide. David Reeves, one of the iron-work- firm, took the contract for four thousand!
Bridges, -. A bridge over the Cohansey at Bridge- ton was built previous to 1716, the resurvey of the Pamphilia traet at that date referring to it. It was probably not pas-able for wagons, there being no four- . six hundred dollars, and during the summer of that
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year it was completed, and accepted by the board in , last four of five years, when it was changed to October.
This bridge having become out of repair, it was re- solved, in June, 1849, to build a new bridge, with a railroad draw, two feet wider than the old one. It was built that year, and cost $2506.53, the old abut- ments being used. This bridge was a continual source of expense and trouble.
Dee. 31. 1874, the board resolved to build a new bridge at Commerce Street, and a committee was ap- pointed, and given discretion as to the kind of bridge to be built and the expense. It was built during the summer of 1875. New abutments, of large blocks of stone, were built on both sides, all the oldl piling was removed, and a pier of stone, like the abutments, was built about one-third of the way from the west abut- ment, on which a wrought-iron pivot bridge was erected, the short arm of the bridge being hung with heavy weights, so as to balance the longer arm. The total eost was :21,800.21. It has proven a very satisfactory bridge during the eight years it has been in use.
Broad Street Bridge .- The necessity of another bridge over the Cohansey at Bridgeton, to be located at Broad Street, became more apparent as the popu- lation increased at a rapil rate after the close of the rebellion. It was first considered by the freeholders at their meeting in December, 1567, and a committee appointed to procure plans. This committee reported in December, 1865, in favor of a wrought-iron pivot- bridge, one hundred and thirty-five feet long and thirty feet wide. They were ordered to advertise for proposals and proceed with its construction as soon as possible. It was built in 1869, and it rests on a stone pier in the centre of the river, the arms of the bridge being of equal length. The total cost was $23,905.59. Some slight signs of weakness have shown themselves in the centre pier, but it has so far been a very ser- viceable bridge, and is used fully as much as the one at Commerce Street. Jeffer-on Street was extended from Laurel Street to this bridge, and the great im- provements made ou South Laurel Street in the last ten years are largely due to the building of the Broad Strect bridge.
South Avenue Stone Bridge .- At what date this bridge was built is unknown, but probably the first part of it at the time Col. Enos Seeley cut the rare- was. It was rebuilt in 1$20, and in 1873 it was widened on both sides to the line of the street. Dur- ing the present year Grove Street has been extended northward across Mill Creek and the flats adjoining to Pearl Street, but no bridge has been built as yet, but doubtless will be during next year.
Custom-House .-- AAfter the adoption of the Consti- tution of the United States, Congress passed an act establishing districts for the collection of duties upon umpoits, and all the southern portion of the State below Camden wa- made the district of Bridgetown, which remained the official nande until within the
Bridgeton. The first collector of the port was Col. Eli Elmer, who served from its establishment to 1803, followed by JJeremiah Bennett, 1803 to 1808; Dr. Chenezer Elmer. 1808 to 1817; James D. Westcott, 1817 to 1522; Dr. Ebenezer Elmer, 1822 to 1823 ; Daniel Garrison, 1833 to 1837; Dr. William S. Bowen, 1837 to IS41; James G. Hampton, 1841 to 1844; Lorenzo T. Lee, 1844 to 1848; James M. Newell, 1848 to 1849; Dr. Ephraim Buck, 1849 to 1853: Dr. William S. Bowen, 1853 to 1862; and the present incumbent, Joseph 11. Elmer, from 1862 to the present time. The number of vessels enrolled (over 20 tons register) is 177, having a total tonnage of 16,696 tons; number licensed (under 20 tons) is 176, tonnage 2060 tons, About In to 50 of those en- rolled are coasting vessels, and about one-half of them and all the licensed ones are engaged in the oyster business.
Post-Office .-- A post-office was established at this place March 20, 1793, called Bridgetown West, to distinguish it from Bridgetown East, as Rahway, in the upper part of this State, was then ealled. Eli Ehner was the first postmaster. The mail went by way of Salem, and was carried between there and Bridgeton in a sulky onec a week. Hle was succeeded by John Soulard, who kept the office in the house where he lived, still standing on the south side of Broad Street, adjoining the brick block of Satanel Coombs. In 1803 a mail route was established by way of Deerfield to Bridgeton, Millville, Port Eliza- beth, and Cape May, after which the mail was carried by way of Road-town once a week, and by Deerfield once a week. About 1816 a daily mail was com- menced. James Burch succeeded Soulard as post- master, and he was followed by Abijah Harris. After him came Stephen Lupton, who kept the office in his shoemaker-shop on the north side of Washington Street, between Pearl and Laurel. He was succeeded July 1, 1816, by Curtis Ogden, who kept the office at his tailor-shop on Commerce Street, and who hekl the office until July, 1841, when he was succeeded by Jeremiah Lupton. Daniel B. Thompson became postmaster in 1845, Stacy P. Kirkbride in 1850, Henry Sheppard in 1853, George W. Johnson in 1861, Joseph S. Miner in 1865, and the present in- cumbent, John Trenchard, was appointed March 3, 1×83.
Stages .-- The first stage of which there is any ac- count was run by Mr. Haskel, who lived in Upper Hopewell, near the present Cohansey post-office. It ran from Greenwich through Roadstown and Cohan- sey Corners (now Shiloh ), by Mr. Haskel's house, to Cooper's Ferry, as Camden was then called, and was in operation as early as 1774. Soon after the Revo- Intion a stage ran from Bridgeton to Philadelphia, by way of Road-town, making two trips a week, which was afterwards changed to one trip that way and one by Deerfield. About 1806 or 1807 it went
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
up one day and down the next, and in 1809 another line was started, which went up on the days the first line came down. These were afterwards united, and a daily stage was ever after run umil the West Jersey Railroad was opened, in IS01.
Steamboats .- In August, 1828, a camp-meeting was held in Hopewell township, near Platt's Landing, and the steamboat " Esses," Capt. Richard Ross, came up the Cohansey to the landing with an excursion from Salem, to which place she ran regularly from Philadelphia. This was the first steamboat which came up the Cohansey that far. In 1815 a company was organized, and a fine steamboat, called the "Co- hansey," ran regular trips to Philadelphia. The boat, not paying expenses, was sold to private parties, who continued running her a year or two, and then took her to Salem. Most of the time since there has been a steamboat on the line between Bridgeton and Philadelphia.
The Press in Bridgeton .- The first newspaper printed in New Jersey was at Burlington, in 1777. Previous to this, in December, 1775, when Bridgeton contained about one hundred and fifty inhabitants, a desire was felt for some means of laying their opinions before the public, and a plan was devised which may well be considered a forerunner of the newspapers. An association was formed, of which Dr. Jonathan Elmer was chairman and Ebenezer Elmer secretary. Notice was given "that pieces handed in would be corrected and transcribed for public view, that they may be read every Tuesday morning by every one that will take the trouble to call at Matthew Potter's bar, and that every one that has a mind may peruse them ; 'tis expected that no one will offer to take them out of his house, but every one will be freely allowed to take a copy. It will be entitled the Plain Dealer, and no one is to ex- ceed a half a sheet in length." A book containing eight numbers of the' Plain Dealer is still in exist- ence. The articles are patriotic in tone, and took strong sides in behalf of the course of the colonists. How long the Plain Dealer continued in existence is unknown, but probably the exciting times of the sue- cecding years, and the absence of nearly all the sup-
porters of the association in the army, soon ended , self in the fall of 1832. Mr. Pierson became sole its career.
The first newspaper published in this county was The Argus and New Jersey Sentinel, published weekly, on Thursdays, by -- MeKenzie and James D. West- cott. This paper was established and the first num- ber issued Oct. 1, 1795, and continued in existence about two years. It was a small sheet, seventeen by twenty-two inche- in size, and the price was two dol- Jars per year. The tradition is that an article headed " The Cobbler Cobbled," which Westcott wrote in reply to one written by Dr. Jonathan Elmer, the lending citizen of the place, and signed " A Cobbler," was so offen-ive to the doctor and his friends that they withdrew their patronage, and the paper failed.
Between 1803 and 1805, John Westcott, brother of James D. Westcott, published a newspaper in Bridge- ton, and also several pamphlets. Copies of some of the pamphlets are still in existence, but no copy of the newspaper is known to exist, and even its name has been forgotten.
The next newspaper in West Jersey was the Wash- ington Whig, which was established at Bridgeton by the Washington Whig Society, a Democratic political association set ap in opposition to the Washington Benevolent Society, which was composed of Feder- alists. It was published by Peter Hay, who after- wards was an alderman and prominent citizen of Philadelphia, and who died recently, Nov. 15, 1879, at the age of ninety-one years. The first number was issued July 24. 1815. This paper proved permanent, and has been continued to the present time, being the oldest paper south of Burlington. Mr. Hay sokl it, Jan. 20, 1817, to William Shultz, who sold it, Jan. 1, 1821, to John Clark, who published it a year or so under the name of John Clark & Co., and then under his own name. During this time the paper supported John Quincy Adams.
The Bridgeton Observer and Cumberland, Cape May, und Silem Advertiser was commenced by Simeon Sieg- fried, in 1822, in opposition to the Whig, under Clark, the first number being issued October 5th of that year. It was published by him until Dec. 18, 1824. when he sold to Robert Johnston. Mr. Clark dis- posed of the Whig, Jan. 14, 1826, to Jolin I. Met'hes- ney for six hundred and fifty dollars, but the bill of sale was made to several gentlemen of Bridgeton, who became security for the purchase-money for Mr. McChesney. His notes, which they had indorsed, not being paid at maturity, they took possession of the office ou June 20th of that year, and on the same day sold it to Robert Johnston, the publisher of the Ob- serrer, who at once united the two under the title of Washington Whig and Bridgeton Observer, and Cum- berland, Cope May, and Salem Advertiser. Under Mr. Johnston the paper was an ardent supporter of Gen. Jackson. He ebanged its name Dec. 8, 1827, to West Jersey Obserrer, and sold it, Nov. 14, 1829, to Samuel S. Sibley, who associated Fayette Pierson with him- owner March 16, 1833, and published it until April 1, 1835, when he sold it to Jauies M. Newell, who had become a Democrat.
Mr. McChesney, who did not relish the manner in which he had been onsted from the Washington Whig, obtained a press and material, and on July 15, 1826. issued a paper under the old title of Washington Whig; which he claimed to be the regular paper of that name. It became a supporter of Henry Clay, and later was the organ of the Whig party, and between it and the Observer a very bitter contest was carried . on. Mr. McChesney sold it, in October, 1826, to Franklin Ferguson, and he to James P. Powers and James M. Newell, Aug. 4, 1>32. They published it
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until June 21, 1834, when Mr. Newell retired, and F. Histine became the partner of Mr. Powers, but one week later, on the 28th, Samuel S. Sibley, a former owner of the Observer, who had become a Whig a few months before, became the owner, and he sold it to James S. Thomas, March 11, 1837.
· He subsequently became a resident of Belvidere, There being insufficient patronage to support two papers, Mr. Thomas sold the Whig to James MI. Newell, the publisher of the Observer, in December, l'a., and the proprietor of the Belvidere Apollo, and assumed its management in 1834. In 1843 or 1845 he removed to Bridgeton. N. J., and in 1848 became 1837. Having thus become owner of both papers, , editor and proprietor of the West Jersey Telegraph. which name was soon after changed to that of the Jersey Pioneer. In 1856, Mr. Ferguson disposed of the Pioneer to his son, and removing to Burlington, which was in after-years changed to the Burlington Gucette. Ile remained in charge of this paper until failing health compelled him, in 1876, to close his paper was bought by Samuel Harris, who assumed . active business life, when he removed to Camden,
Mr. Newell associated with himself Matthew Sey- mour, and united them in one paper, neutral in poli- tics, called the Bridgeton Chronicle, the first number of which was issued Dec. 23, 1837. The paper was i N. J., purchased the New Jersey Dollar Newspaper, carried on by them until June 19, 1841, when MIr. Newell became sole owner, and carried on the paper very successfully until his death, Sept. 2, 1851. The charge on the 13th of the same month, and sold it Nov. 19, 1853, to Harris B. Mattison. He died June 15, 1855, and it was conducted by his representatives until September 1st of that year, when Frank F. Pat- terson purchased it, and remained the owner until Oet. 3, 1857, when he sold to James Stiles and Smith Dal- rymple. Mr. Dalrymple sold his interest to George F. Nixon, Sept. 11, 1858, and Mr. Stiles sold to Robert B. Potter, March 10, 1800, when the firm became Nixon & Potter. On Sept. 19, 1863, Geurge F. Nixon became sole owner. During the rebellion the paper became a supporter of the Republican party, which it has ever since continued to uphold. Mr. Nixon remained the owner until Oct. 10, 1879, when the present owner, Alfred M. Heston, formerly editor of the Salem Standardt, became proprietor and editor.
West Jersey Pioneer .- About 1846 a paper was started by G. Howard Leeds, called the Next Jersey Telegraph, and continued about two years. Mr. Leeds was not a practical printer, and it did not prove a success.
The material of the office was bought by Franklin Ferguson, and he issued a paper which was practi- cally a continuation of the Telegraph, called the West Jersey Pioneer. The first number was issued March 1, 1848. It was neutral in politics, "its leading feature being to keep before the people the impor- tance of temperance reform," as its prospectus read. Mr. Ferguson conducted it alone until March 3, 1855, when he associated his son, James B. Fergu- son, with himself, and June 14, 1856, he sold his re- maining interest to his son, by whom it was con- ducted until bis death, March 6, 1875. It remained in his name until April 24th, when the name of his widow, Mrs. L. M. Ferguson, appeared as editor, and continued until the sale of the paper to George W. McCowan and Isaac T. Nichols, Oct. 16, 1874. Upon its purchase by this firin it became Republican in politics, and has ever since been an organ of that Party.
JAMES B. FERGUSON .- Franklin Ferguson, the
father of the subject of this biographical sketch, was of Scotch descent, and born at Doylestown, l'a., in 1806. He learned the art of printing of Asher Minor, and in 1825, having removed to Bridgeton, N. J., purchased the Washington Whig, and became its editor.
As a journalist, Mr. Ferguson was non-partisan, and held aloof from political strife, though outspoken on all moral questions. He labored for the general good of the community in which his lot was cast, re- gardle-« of personal ease or comfort. In his dealings he was exact, methodical, and jealous of his rights, demanding all his just dnes in a question of right or wrong. Unostentatious in his deeds and charitable to the last degree, he was the perfect type of the Christian gentleman. He was identified with the sceret orders of Masonry, Odd-Fellowship. and Tem- perance, and participated actively in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a member. Sunday-school work was his especial de- light. He was for many years a superintendent and leader in the work at home and throughout the State.
Mr. Ferguson was twice married,-tirst, to Miss Louisa Ring, to whom were born children,-Mary E. (Mrs. Davis), James B., Martha, Ann Louisa, and Benjamin F. ; and, a second time, to Miss Sarah May- hew, of Bridgeton, N. J., who survives, and has one daughter, Matilda MI.
The death of Mr. Ferguson occurred June 9, 1877, in Camden, N. J. Ilis son, James B., was born Jan. 16, 1832, in Bridgeton. When sutliciently old he en- tered his father's printing-office to learn the printer's art, which, in course of time, he thoroughly mastered. In 1855 he became a partner with his father, and in June, 1850, the latter having retired, he assumed con- trol of the Pioneer establishment, which was continued until the day of his death. Under his successful man- agement the paper attained both popularity aud a high degree of prosperity.
Mr. Ferguson, to those who knew him best, mani- fested a warm heart, a liberal spirit, and a generous mind. He was at once forward and retiring, forward in any business that required puch and energy, and backward in any measure which would seem to indi- cate a desire to push himself forward. When he seemed cold and indifferent he was simply reticent
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and wary, He was honest to the last farthing, and, although strict and exacting in his business rela- tions, gave liberally to the needy and to all worthy charities. Mr. Ferguson had for years been identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a steward of the church of that denomination in Bridge- ton. Though not of demonstrative nature, he was a man of deep religious feeling and fervent piety, and to confer happiness upon those most dear to him, and daughter of the late Judge George Remster, of Salem County. Oet. 8, 1874, he became editor of the l' Jersey Pioneer, and a member of the firm of MeCowan Nichols, publishers of that journal in Bridgeton. The Pioneer is the leading Republican newspaper of Cumberland County. In 1876 he was chosen on the Republican ticket to represent the First Assembly District in the State Legislature, and again in the following year, and served on the Committees ou live a useful, Christian life was the ardent desire of , Education, Revision of the Laws, Banks and Insur- his heart. MIr. Ferguson married, and had children, . -Louise R., Jame- Howard, Franklin, and Benjamin V., the latter of whom is deceased. The death of James B. Ferguson occurred March 6, 1874, at his home in Bridgeton, in his forty-third year. ance, and State Library, besides on a special com- mittee appointed to investigate the charges against certain State officials, He gained prominence in the House as a ready debater and for his parliamentary tact and sound, practical ideas on all questions in- ISAAC T. NICHOLS .- The paternal great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, I-aae Nichols, was born in Deerfield, Cumberland Co., in 1757, and died April 1, 1817. His ancestors came from Rhode Island, they being among the early settler- of that colony. During the Revolutionary war the Nichols family, residents of Deerfield, were actively interested in the success of the patriot cause. volving important issues. In 1877 he originated and introduced a bill, which became a law, exempting all soldiers and sailors who served in the late war from poll-tax, and he also strenuously advocated the " Cash Bill," which prohibited the use of shinplasters and punch orders in the glass-factory stores of South Jer- sey. llis speech on the report of the investigation of the accounts and transactions of the Secretary of Samuel Nichols, the grandfather, was born in Deerfield township in 1778, and died Oet. 9, 1823. Samuel married Catharine Carll, in 1806, daughter of John Carl, a prominent mau in Cumberland County, Thomas Shourds, in his " History of Fen- wick's Colony," refers to this marriage, and speaks of the Carll family as "a large and influential one in Salem and Cumberland Counties." State received the unanimous indorsement of both parties in the Assembly, In 1878 he was an edeetive advocate of the bill reducing the legal rate of interest in the State from seven to six per cent. In 1880, Mr. Nichols was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Senate, where he has served as an honest ex- ponent of the wishes and interests of the constituency which placed bim there. In the Senate be introduced and secured the passage of numerous important measures, among them the act prohibiting the sale of cigarettes or tobacco in any of its forms to minors under sixteen years of age. Recognizing the great and growing value of the cyster industry, especially of South Jersey, he introduced among others a bill forbidding non-residents from planting, catching, or gathering oysters in the waters of the State, which, after a prolonged contest, was pushed through both houses. l'or two years he served as chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing, and he was chairman of the Joint Committee on Bi-Centennial Celebration. His loyalty to the cause of economy and thorough reform, often voting against his own personal interests. and his earnest advocacy of the Local Option and Prohibitory resolutions before the Senate have gained him the confidence and esteem of even those who differ with him in important State matters. Mr. Nichols is the youngest man over elected a .State Senator from Cumberland County.
Capt. Isaac Nichols, father of Isaac T. Nichols, was born in Deerfield township in 1806, and died Aug. 13, 1875. In 1844 he married Mary A., dangh- ter of William and Elizabeth MeGear, of Bridgeton, in which city he had his residence. For twenty years he followed the water, and most of that time commanded a vessel, Capt. Nichols' political affiliations were with the Whig and Republican parties, notwithstanding the fact that his father was an ardent Democrat. He cast his first vote for John Quincy Adams for Presi- dent of the United States, and was one of the first adherents of the Free-Soil and Republican parties in Cumberland County, He and his wife were members of the Methodi-t Church. Mary A. Nichols, mother of Isaac T. Nichols, was for many years a devoted member of that communion, a most exemplary Chris- tian wife and mother. She gave her children, of whom there were five, careful training, but did not live to see them reach manhood and womanhood. She died Aug. 10, 1863.
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