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 53
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 53
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 53
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
Isaac T. Nichol-, son of Isaac and Mary .A. Nichols, was born in the city of Bridgeton, March 22, 1848. Je obtained his early education at the Bank Street public school of the city, and at the age of seventeen began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Chronicle, where he became conversant with the various branches of newspaper work, In 1869 he mar- ried Emma, daughter of George Rem-ter, and grand-
Bridgeton _furora .- This paper was started as the exponent of Democratie principles, April 16, 1862, by Fayerte Pierson, who was a former editor of the Observer. It continued to be published until July, 1864, when its publication was suspended for a few weeks, owing to the high price of printing paper, occasioned by the civil war. It was again issued September 14th of that year, and continued until
-
----------
--- 1
1 1
4
. J. J. orichala
501
CITY OF BRIDGETON.
after the ensuing election, when it again suspended. Davis. Aug. 11, 1843, and they to Francis R. Fithian, owing to an insufficient financial support. Oct. 29, Jss3.
The New Jersey Patriot .- After the suspension of the .Furora, effort- were made to start another Demo- eratie paper, which finally resulted in the issue of the Cumberland County Patriot, Sept. 90, 1865, by Oscar 1. Douglas. On March 26, 1868, the name was changed to the New Jersey Patriot, and on Sept. 2, 1800, Nelson C. Barelay became associated with him, under the firm-name of Douglas & Barclay, and on October 22d of the same year the paper was changed to the quarto form. The firm of Douglas & Barelay was dissolved Det. 27, 1871, and Mr. Barclay continued the publication of the paper until .Aug. 2, 1872, when, Mr. Douglas' interest having passed into the hands of John Cheesman, Jr., the firm became Barclay & Chee-man, and so continued until the re- tirement of Mr. Barclay, May 1, 187-4, since which it has been owned and published by Mr. Cheesman.
Bridgeton Daily Nous .- This was the first daily newspaper published in this county, and was first issued from the office of the Patriot, Barclay & Chees- man being also editors of the News. It was neutral in politics. The first number was issued March 1. 1873, and it was regularly issued until Sept. 25, 1873, when it was discontinued for want of a sufficient support.
Daily Chronicle (or Bridgeton Daily) .- On Sept. 18, 1873, Mr. Nixon, the editor of the Chronicle, com- meuced the publication of a daily newspaper, and by the suspension of the Daily Evening News the next week the field of daily journalism was left to the Chronicle. The daily afterwards passed into the hand- of Charles R. Elmer, in February, 1877, and the name was changed to the Bridgelon Daily, and in September, 1878, Mr. Nixon again became the owner of it, and published it until it was transferred with the weekly Chronicle to Mr. Heston, and he discontinued the daily a few weeks after.
Bridgeton Evening News .- The first number of this paper was issued Feb. 1, 1879, by the Evening News Company, composed of Joseph H. C. Applegate and J. Ward Richardson. The office was then situated in the second story of the building on the northeast cor- ner of Commerce and Cohansey Streets, but has since been removed to the office formerly occupied by the Chronicle on South Laurel Street. Its publication has been continued to the present time. The same firm also published the Dollar Weekly News as a con- tinuation of the American Favorite, first issued as a monthly in )874.
Education in Bridgeton .- The citizens of Bridge- ton early appreciated the benefits of educational facilities. As early as 1773, John Westcott kept a school there and taught mathematics. As early as 1781 there was a school-house near where now is the Lader school-house, about two and a half miles from the built-up portions of the city, but within the present city limits. A classical school was taught in the town between 1780 and 1785 by Rev. Andrew Hunter. In January, 1785, a stock company was formed, of which Mr. Hunter was president, and Ebenezer Elmer, secretary, for the purpose of huild- ing an academy, to be called the " Bridgeton Acad- emy." A lot was bought on Main (now Broad) Street, and a plan adopted for a stone academy, fifty- four by twenty-four feet in size, to be divided into two rooms, with fireplaces in each room, and mana- gers were appointed to build it, and a contract given out to Eleazer Mayhew to build it for three hundred and forty pounds. For some reason, not now known, nothing further was done. 1 book containing the minutes of the meetings of the company down to March 10, 1785, is still in existence, but they sud- denly stop at that date, and nothing further is known about it. About 1792 the lot on Giles Street, now occupied by the public school building, was deeded to trustees for school purposes by Mark Miller. In 1795 the academy on Bank Street was built by a stock company, the upper story to be used for a lodge- room for the Masons, as it has been ever since. For many years a good school was kept in this building.
In 1822 a building was erected on the west side of Pearl Street, ahove Myrtle Street, for an academy, and was called the Laurel Hill Academy. It was opened for pupils on October 28th of that year, with Samuel Doughty as the teacher, and instruction was given in the different branches of an English educa- tion. The first trustees were Stephen Lupton, Gar- rison Maul, William Nienkirk, John Rose, and Elias P. Seeley. It was carried on a number of years, but finally went down. The building was afterwards con- verted iuto a dwelling.
Money was raised by tax for school purposes in the county previous to 1830, and a large part of the ex- penses of public schools was paid in that way for a long time. In 1847 the public school building on Bank Street, at the head of Washington, was built, and in 1848 the one in Cohansey township, now the Third Ward, was built on Giles Street. Since that time the schools have been entirely free, all ex- penses being paid by tax and by the income derived from the State school fund. The growth of the place necessitating larger school secommodations, a large addition has been made to the Bank Street school. A lot of one aere on the north side of Vine Street
Daily Morning Star .- On April 10, 1853, the first number of this paper was issued by a publishing com- pany, composed of three young men, all of them prac- tical printers. The second number, which commenced the regular issue, was issued on the 14th. On June 12th one of them retired, and the other two continued it under the firm-name of Hunt & Murphy. They , was bought in October, 1866, and a building built transferred it to Charles HI. Cochrane and Paul S. thereon the next year for the primary department in
592
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
that ward. In 1873 a fine brick school-house was built at South Avenue and Willow Street, in the Sec- ond Ward, for the scholars residing in that ward, and at the present time a site for an additional house in the First Ward is about to be secured. The number of children between five and eighteen years of age in the city for the school year ending Aug. 31, 18$2, ' was two thousand two hundred and thirty- seven, with four male and twenty-four female teachers, and the total amount of money for all school purposes was $13,277.27.
The West Jersey Academy was built by the Presby- terians of South Jersey in 1852, the movement having been started at a meeting of the Presbytery of West Jersey in April, 1850. The whole square bounded by Commerce, Lawrence, Broad, and West Streets was bought, at a cost of sixteen hundred and twenty- five dollars and fifty cents, on which the present build- ing of native stoue, fifty-three and a half by sisty feet, three stories high and basement, was erected and inclosed by David A. F. Randolph, contractor, for the sum of six thousand nine hundred and ninety- nine dollars, the finishing of it being delayed for want of sufficient funds until the next year. The corner- stone was laid Aug. 2. 1852, with appropriate cere- monies. The school was opened in 1854, and was for many years very prosperous, but was afterwards al- lowed to go down, and was closed for a number of years. It has been reopened within the last few year», and is now under charge of l'rofessor Caleb Allen.
The South Jersey Institute was established by the West New Jersey Baptist Association at their meet- ! the stockholders. In 1965 it was changed to a na- ing in September, 1865. Bridgeton presenting the greatest inducements, the school was located there. A charter was granted by the Legislature March 25, 1866. A lot of 10A3 acres, at the southeast coruer of Atlantic and Lincoln Streets, in the Third Ward of the city, covered with a natural growth of oak and The deposits have steadily increased from an aver- age of $20,000 during the first fifteen years to about $500,000 at the present time, and over $600,000 at the beginning of this year. Beside the dividends de- clared by the bank, it has also accumulated a surplus fund of $100,000, and undivided profits of over $49,000. other trees, wa- given to the trustees by Horatio J. Mulford, who, with his brother, Isaae W. Mulford, and sisters, Miss Anna M. Mulford, Miss Hannah Mul- ford, and Miss Lucy W. Mulford, had offered to the trustee, the ten thousand dollars which secured the location of the building at Bridgeton. They have ever since remained earnest and devoted friends of The Bridgeton National Bank was organized in the institution, and have been the largest contribu -. the spring of 1883, with $100,000 capital, and com- tors to its funds. A plan was adopted for a centre menced business on July 12th. This young in-titu- tion has secured the confidence of the community, and ou Vetober Ist had on deposit $73,2413.11, and had loans and discounts amounting to 8103,009.15. A lot nineteen feet front has been bought on Laurel Street, a short distance below Commerce, for $3500, on which they are now erceting a fine and convenient bank building. Thomas U. Harris is president, and James W. Tienchard, cashier. building forty three by fifty-eight feet, with east and west wings, each fifty-seven by forty-one feet, making the entire length one hundred and fifty-seven feet, to be built of brick, five stories high, including the French roof and basement stories. It was erected and inelosed during 1869 for the sum of twenty- five thou- sand five hundred dollars. In 1970 the work on the interior was completed at a contract price of twenty- two thousand seven hundred and sixty-two dollars, but other items, including the furnishing, raised this to a much larger zum. The school was advertised to
be opened on Oct. 5, 1870, but the building not being completed. it was hell in the basement of the Fir-t Baptist Church from that date until December, when it removed into the institute building. Professor Henry K. Trask became the first principal, and has ever since remained at the head of the institution. The debt of nearly thirty-five thousand dollars wa- paid during the Centennial year. The institute ha- had an eminently succesful career, and its annual commencement-day, in June, is one of great interest in this community.
Ivy Hall Seminary for young ladies was established by Mrs. Margaretta Sheppard about 1859, and was a flourishing school for many years under her charge. Later it was in a less prosperous condition, but has lately been revived under the charge of Rev. Henry Reeves.
BANKS IN BRIDGETON.
The Cumberland Bank was organized by virtue of a charter from the Legislature in 1816, commencing business in September of that year. The capital at that time was $52,000. James Giles was the first president until his death, in 1825, succeeded by Judge Daniel Elmer, who resigned in 181); James B. Pot- ter from that time to 1865, who resigned shortly be- fore his death, and Charles E. Elmer from that date to the present time. Charles Read was elected the first cashier, and served nutil his death, May 9, 1841, when William G. Nixon succeded him, and still holds that position. About 1857 the capital stock was raised to $102,000 by the accumulation of the surplus earnings, without any additional payments by tional bank, and the capital made $150,000. This bank has always maintained a high financial stand- ing, and has paid a semi-annual dividend from the beginning, ranging from three to six per cent., beside- large extra dividends.
THOMAS U. HARIJS, -- The Harris family are of English extraction, Ephraim Harris, the great-grand- father of the subject of this biographicalsketch, hav.
·
٨
م
ــ أ
SOUTH JERSEY INSTITUTE, BRIDDETON, N. J.
J.W. Hanis
593
CITY OF BRIDGETON.
ing resided in Fairfield, Cumberland Co., where he was a citizen of much repute, and represented his constituents in the State Legislature. He was mar- ried, in 1755, to Miss Jane Pierson, and had children, -Thomas, John, Pierson, Allen, Jane, and Hannah. He was married, a second time, to Miss Rezine An- derson, no children having been born to the second
Their younger son, Theophilus Elmer, was born Jan. 28, 1796. Ile was married on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1817, to Miss Lydia, daughter of Urban Dixon, of Fairfield township, and had children,-James, Newton, William, Theophilus E., Ellen R., Harriet, Thomas U., Theophilus (2d), Albert, and Sarah. By a second marriage, Dec. 2. 1847, 10 Miss Clarissa Whitaker, two daughters-Ellen and Mary-were born. Mr. Harris resided in Fairfield township, where he followed agricultural employments. Ile was a man of enterprise, and led rather than fol- lowed public sentiment. His political sympathies were in harmony with the Whig platform, and by this party be was elected to many important und re- sponsible olliees, among which was that of sheriff of the county from 1848 to 1551. His death occurred in February, 1864, in his sixty-ninth year.
His son, Thomas U., was born Oct. 22, 1831, at the homestead in Fairfield township, where his youth, until his eighteenth year, was spent. During this period the village school offered the only opportuni- ties for education, and the demands of the farm served to develop habits of activity and industry. He later became a clerk in Bridgeton, and at the age of twenty- three embarked in business as the proprietor of a gen- eral country store. Five years after he engaged in the sale of boots, shoes, and leather, and still successfully pursues this industry. Mr. Harris was married, Aug. 31, 1853, to Mary C., daughter of John Holmes, of Bridgeton. Four ebildren were born, all of whom died in infancy. Mr. Harris has been and is largely identified with the business interests of the county. Ile is president of the West Jersey Transportation Company, and secretary of the Bridgeton Saving Fund and Building Association. He is also presi- dent of the Bridgeton National Bank. In politics he is a Republican, and has served as member and di- rector of the board of freeholders, and also as- meni- bers of the City Council, though not >pecially active in the political field. Mr. Harris is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Bridgeton, and has been one of its trustees.
The Cumberland Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany was organized Feb. 23, 1844, and commenced :
business in May, 1815, with Benjamin Sheppard as 1 pre-ident, and Henry B. Lmpton as secretary, the lat- ter having held that office ever since. Mr. Sheppard resigned March 13, 1879, on account of advanced age, and was succeeded by the present officer, David P. Elmer. In 1867 the company built the commodious brick building now occupied by it on the north side of union. The birth of his son Thomas occurred Sept. ! Commerce Street, between Laurel and Pearl. The . 9, 1759, in Fairfield township, where he was both a farmer and a popular landlord. He married, July 16, 1778, Miss Elizabeth Lawrence, and had chil- dren,-Norton L., Thomas, Sarah E .. Norton, and . Theophilus E. The death of Thomas Harris oc- curred March 3, 1825, and that of his wife, Eliza- beth, May 4, 1844.
company has been very successful, and has made but Tone assessment on the premium notes hehl by it dur- · ing its entire existence. The total number of policies issued by it during its existence has been over twenty- three thousand, of which about eight thousand four hundred and forty are still outstanding, insuring ! $13,103,634, and the company hold premium notes amounting to $2,359, 117, and cash assets 8-16,S.17.
The Bridgeton Gas-Light Company was incorpo- rated by an act of the Legislature passed in 1853 and amended in 1857. The works on Water Street were built and went into operation in November, 1858, and have been much enlarged since that, in order to meet. the growing demands of the city.
1 Bridgeton Water-Works .-- A water company for Bridgeton was chartered by the Legislature in 1872, and an organization was effected ; but the lack of con- fidence in its financial success prevented subscriptions to its stock sufficient to take active measures to intro- duee water. A fire in the winter of 1876-77 so aroused the citizens to the danger from the fiery element that there was a general demand for the purchase of a steain fire-engine and the building of water-works, and public meetings were held for that purpose. The City Council immediately purchased a Silsby rotary steam fire-engine, which has given good satisfaction. They al-o authorzied a vote to be taken at the muni- cipal election in March, 1877, whether the city should build water-works or not, and it was carried by a vote of 1145 in favor of it and 171 against it. The Council then entered actively upon the building of the works ; i plans were prepared by Isaac S. Cassin, a civil engi- neer of Philadelphia, contracts were given out after ! public advertisement, and the works were built during the summer and fall of that year. On Dec. 18, 1877, the pump was started for the first time, and water was pumped into the distributing reservoir. On the 24th of the same month the event was celebrated by a grand trades' parade, surpassing in interest anything of the kind ever known in the city.
The works consist of a distributing reservoir on the north side of East Commerce Street, about a quarter of a mile cast of East Lake, one hundred and three feet above high-water mark in the Cohansey, with a capacity of one million five hundred thousand gal- lons, a retaining reservoir on the south side of the East Lake dam, cighty-eight and one-quarter feet below the distributing oue, having a capacity of three million gallons; a pump-honse adjoining, with a compound duplex Worthington engine, with a ca- pacity of one million five hundred thousand gallons
39
594
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
per day. It is distributed through about thirteen miles of pipe from sixteen inches down in diameter, which are laid in nearly every street in the city. About seven miles were first laid, but constant do- mands for extensions have nearly doubled the length of pipe. Eighty six fire hydrants furnish water in case of fire. The total cost of the works up to Feb. 1, 1883, has been >>6,258.57. Bonds were issued to the amount of 876,500, and the balance has been paid out of funds raised by taxation. There is in a sinking fund toward the redemption of the bonds, when they come due, the sum of $6066.68.
Hancock's Saw-Mill .- Probably the first mill of any kind ereeted in the county-unless the tide-mill near Greenwich was earlier-was the saw-mill and dam erected on Mill Creek or Indian Fields Branch, where Pine Street crosses the original bed of the stream, which then ran in the rear of the houses on the north side of Pine Street, opposite the Stone Bridge, and around where the dam now is, between Pearl Street and the Stone Bridge. It was erected by Richard Hancock as early as 1686, being referred to in a survey of that date. . How long Hancock re- mained here is not known, nor who was in possession of the mill property after his removal. It was in- cluded in the nine hundred and ninety acre tract bought by Alexander Moore of the West Jersey So- ciety in 1752. Moore sold a tract of one hundred and sixty-one acres, bounding on the south and cast sides of his projected town-plot of Cumberland, and on the south side of now Commerce Street from Orange Street to the line of the Indian Fields survey, and running southward about a half-mile, and including this mill property, to Benjamin Sayre, but it was sold from him by Howell Powell, sheriff of the county, Feb. 2, 1766, and bought by Thomas Thompson, of Bordentown, who sold it to Col. L'nos Seeley, Oct. 16, 1770. Soon after that he cut the race-way which now exists, and removed the saw-mill to a new location just below the Stone Bridge, and put up the Pearl Street dam for the purpose of draining the low ground extending nearly to Commerce Street. Two acres of land, together with the saw-mill, pond, and dam (part of this traet), and the property of Matthew Parvin, were again sold by the sheriff, Thomas Maskell, Dec. 11, 1770, and bought by Silas Parvin, who was prob- ably a brother of Matthew, and he sold it back to Enos Seeley, Aug. 1, 1777. Enos Seeley sold to Judge Ephraim Seeley the undivided half part of twenty-seven aeres, which included the saw-mill tract, previous to his death, and upon the division of the property of Judge Seeley, in 1800, it was set off to his son, Samuel, who conveyed it to Jeremiah Buck, May 7, 1802, and he to John Wood, of Stow Creek, Nov. 16, 1802. Wood also bought the other half part of the property from Ebenezer Seeley, son of Col. Enos, Feb. 23, 1802, and conveyed the whole property to Jeremiah Buck, March 19, 1808. When Mr. Buck built his new dam and mills at their present location
on Commerce Street, in 1809, he let the water out "; the saw-mill pond. so as to get a better head of water at the gri-t-mnill, by lowering the back water from the saw-mill pond. The old saw-mill was soon after taken down, and the ground covered by the old pond ha- been farmed for many years, and at the present day Mill Street is opened over it, and a number of house- are built upon it.
East Lake Mills .- The land covered by East Lake. as it is now called, was a part of the Indian Ficki- survey, and was purchased by Ephraim Seeley, the son of Joseph Seeley, who was one of the C'ot .- neetient settlers at New England Town. He prob- ably erected the dam and built the first grist-mill in the limits of the city as early as 1700. The first dam put up crossed abont one-third the way up the present pond, from the hill on the east side i near the north line of the property of Oberlin Smith to the hill on the west side back of the residence of Jeremiah Dubois, on East Avenue, and a race- way ied along the side of the hill from the west- ern end of the dam about twelve rods to the mill. which stood on the low ground now covered with water, called Mulberry Cove, about opposite .the eastern end of Cedar Street. Near the middle of the dann was a fulling-mill, a necessary adjunet in a new settlement, but this was suffered to fall into decay before 1800. The mansion-house stood on the high ground northwest of the mill, and near to it. The road from the bridge over the Cohansey to the mill ran nearly a direct course from the neighborhood of where the Methodist Church now is, back of the resi- dence of Jonathan Elmer, to the mill ; the marks of the old road are still to be seen between East Avenue and the pond. On the east side a road led down the hill near the old house now belonging to Ilenry C. Dare, the marks of which could still be seen a few years ago, which was used by the Indian Fields set- tlers in coming to the mills.
Ephraim Seeley was the miller during his life, and at his death, in April, 1823, left the mills to his wife during her widowhood, and then to his son Ephraim. Ile lived there the most of his life, and by his will, dated June 18, 1771, left this property to his son Ephraim (3d), who was called Judge Ephraim from holding the position of judge in our county court-, He also lived in the mansion-house at the mill, and managed it (the fulling-mill having gone to decay until he built the house at the northwest corner of Commerce and Bank Streets, to which he moved, and died shortly after, in 1799. A division of his prop- erty was made in September, 1800, by commissioner- appointed by the Orphans' Court, and the grist-mill and pond were set off to his son, Ephraim Seeley (-Ith :. who sold the property to Jeremiah Back, June ., 1807. In 1809, Buck enlarged the pond by building a new dam, which he located where the straight road 'to Millville, laid ont in 1805, erossed the stream. Jle built the present grist-mill, known as Elmer's Mill,
595
CITY OF BRIDGETON.
in 1809, and the saw-mill in the same year. Mr. Bnek became embarrassed after the close of the war of 1812-15, owing to the enormous depreciation of prop- erty which took place, and was compelled to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors in 1\19. Ilis assignees sold the property to Dr. William Elmer, May 2, 1820, and at his death in 1836 it became the property of his son Jonathan, who now owns the grist-mill. He sold the saw-mill. together with other property in the vicinity, to R. and J. Dubois in 1864. The grist-till is one of the most valuable mill-stands in the county, and does a large business under the charge of Jonathan Elmer, Jr., who now occupies it.
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.