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 78
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 78
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 78
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Mr. Baker, on the 25th of March, 1874, purchased : his present farm .in Hopewell township, and begau
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Israel Todreef
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John Davis
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Theo. F. D. Baker
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703
TOWNSHIP OF LANDIS AND BOROUGH OF VINELAND.
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the business of market gardening, making the grow- ing of onion seeds and onion sets a specialty. a con- tract having been effected with Peter Henderson & Co., of New York, and David Laudreth & Sons, of Philadelphia. Ile has been signally successful in this undertaking, having grown upon twelve acres two thousand seven hundred bushels of onion sets per year, and received in a single year seven thousand five bun- dred dollars as the return of his labor in this specialty.
Mr. Baker, though formerly a Democrat in politics, now supports the Republican ticket, and manifests a keen interest in the local issues of the day. Ile has served for eight years as the clerk of Hopewell town- ship. Ile is a- member of the County Agricultural Society, and vice-president for Cumberland County of the State Horticultural Society. He is also a member of the Cohansey Lodge, No. 44, of Knights of Pythias, of Bridgeton. He supports the Protestant Episcopal Churchi, of which Mrs. Baker is a member.
JACOB HEPNEIt.
John Hepner, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Germany, and on his emigration to America settled in Shiloh, Cumberland Co., where he cultivated a farm. He married Mary Hitchner, and became the father of children, -Mat- thias, John, Jacob, Barbara, Margaret, Betsey, and Mary. He served during the war of 1812, in which he was wounded, and subsequently removed to the West, where his death occurred. His son Jacob was born Sept. 11, 1787, in Shiloh, though his life was principally spent in Deerfield, where he succeeded to the occupations of his father. He was on the 7th of June, 1794, married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick Fox, and had children .- John, born in 1813; Mary, whose birth occurred in 1816; Frederick, born in 1819; Elizabeth, in 1821; Catharine, in 1925; Lydia Ann, in 1828; George, in 1831; Matthias, in 1833; David, in 1836; and Jacob, who is the subject of this biography. Mr. Hepuer's death occurred in Deerfield township in 1876. Jacob, his son, was born Oct. 9, 1823, on the homestead in the latter township, where his youth was principally devoted to labor, with such limited advantages of education as were afforded by the neighboring schools. At the age of twenty- one he left home, and was employed in various capaci- ties until twenty-seven years of age, when his present productive farmi in Hopewell township was por- chased, which has since been his home. In 1873, Mr. ' Hepner, in connection with his brother Matthias, erected a saw-mill in Jericho, where they are now actively engaged in the lumber business. Jacob Hepner was married, March 11, 1850, to Lucinda MI., daughter of John Randolph, of Shiloh. In his politi- cal views he is a Democrat, though the close attention paid to his own business leaves no time for participa- tion in political or public life. Mr. and Mrs. Hepner
CHAPTER XCIX.
TOWNSHIP OF LANDIS AND BOROUGH OF VINE- LAND.
Incorporation .- This township was created by an aet of the Legislature, approved March 7, 1864, set- ting off the northeastern part of Millville township as a new township, which received its name in honor of Charles K. Landis, the founder of Vineland.
Soil .-- The soil of the township is light and sandy for the most part, but under the labors of the enter- prising people who have settled upon it it has been made to produce good crops of nearly all kinds, and especially of grapes, pears, and the small fruits gen- erally.
Previous to 1860 there were very few inhabitants within the limits of this township. The small settle- ment at Willow Grove, in the northwestern part of the township, containing probably a hundred inhab- itants or so, was the only village. Scattered farm- houses, mostly along the road from Millville to Philadelphia, now known as Malaga road, and on Main road, on the east of the railroad, probably added another hundred to the number within the present limits of the township. In addition to the farming which these inhabitants carried on, nearly all of them were also engaged a portion of their time in carting wood and lumber to Millville and other markets.
Vineland Tract .- Charles K. Landis, who had previously been interested in building up the settle- ment at Hammonton, Atlantic Co., bought from Richard D. Wood the most of the lands owned by him in the limits of this township, and afterwards made large purchases from other parties. The Vine- land tract, as it is called, covers nearly all of this township, and also extends into the counties of A1- lantic and Gloucester. It includes an area of over twenty-eight thousand acres, or nearly fifty square miles.
The history of the township and of the town of Vineland are so interwoven that they will be treated for the most part as one.
Town of Vineland .-- Mr. Landis laid out the town on both sides of the railroad, six miles north of Mill- ville, and about thirty-five miles south of Philadel- · phia. Hle laid out the town plat, about one mile square, in lots of six hundred by three hundred feet, the avenues and streets running east and west and north and south. The streets running east and west, commencing at the north side of the town plat, are Park Avenue, Peach, Pear, Plum, Wood, Landis Avenue, Eliner, Grape, Montrose, Almond, Quince, and Cherry Streets, and Chestnut Avenue. The streets running north and south were numbered up as high as Eighth, with East and West Avenues ou the respective sides of the town plat. The Railroad are members of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeton. . Boulevard, two hundred feet wide, was laid out along
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
the railroad with a broad drive on either side of the track, and it extendis from North Vineland to South Vineland. . Landis Avenne is one hundred feet wide, and extends from the Maurice River on the west. through the centre of the tract, a distance of ten miles. Outside of the town plat the roads were laid out a half-mile apart. Aug. 8, 1861. Mr. Lamlis cut the first tree on the town plat, and drove the first stake, made from that tree. where Landis Avenne intersects the railroad. Ile fixed his office at the house of .In- drew Sharp, at the corner of Park Avenue and Main road, which was then the only good house ou the tract. A footpath was the only lireet route from the railroad. to Mr. Sharp's house, and the old Manl's Bridge Road was the only one for teams.
The land being almost entirely unoccupied, Mr. Landis was enabled to carry out his plans more com- . thorized the election of a town superintendent ot pletely. Several distinctive features were introduced, which have had much to do with the present beauty of the place, and with attracting settlers to it. His own words concerning the plan of the place are : " I decided that all the roads should be broad and straight and at right angles, making up for the want of the picturesque in the straight line and right angle by re- quiring trees for shade. in single or double rows. to be planted along all the roads. It was required that the purchaser should erect a habitation not nearer than twenty feet from the side of the street in the city plat, or seventy-five feet from the roadside in the country. The stipulation about -etting houses back removed them from dust, and induced great attention to the ornamenting of front gardens with flowers and shrubbery. The next stipulation was that the road- sides should be see led to gras, within two years and kept seeded. Another important question was with regard to the sale of liquor. I believed that if the public sale of liquor was stopped, both in taverns and beer-saloons, the knife would reach the root of the evil. The local-option law in Vineland has been practically in operation since the beginning of the settlement, although the act of the Legislature em- powering the people of Landis township to vote upon license or nn license, was not passed until 1861." This latter act was the act setting off' the towuship.
Early Purchasers and Pioneer Buildings .- The first purchaser in the tract was J. G. Colsou. He bought ten acres of land on the West Railroad Boule- vard, above Oak Road, Oct. 24, 1861. The next pur- chaser was George L. Post, who bought forty acres on the southeast corner of Main and Post roads, and in the following winter erected the first house on the tract, under the Landis title. A small shanty, known as " Packard's Hotel," was previously erected in the fall of ISU1, on Capt. Po-t's premises. MIr. O. Packard built the house for Capt. Po-t. and Mrs. Sharp and Mrs. Post, through the invitation of the builder, had the pleasure of helping to raise the first house of any account. The first house on Landis Avenue was built by James Stuart, east of Spring road. The
first house on Landis Avenue, west of the static. was built by Mr. Washburn. The first bu.bl .. : on the town plat was erected by E. W. Fletel. : in the rear of where C. P. Davis' hotel was att. wards built, in February, 1862, and has since the purchased by the Vineland Historical Society, ani placed upon their Int on Peach Street, to be preserve ! as the first beginning of the place. The visitors wie came to look at the land during 1861 and the spring of 1862 were accommodated at Mr. Sharp's hon -. an.l it was often overcrowded.
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By the aet of March 7, 1864, setting off the town- ship, most of the peculiar features of Mr. Landis plan were enacted into a law. It gave to the tona- ship committee authority to divide the roads into suitable road districts and appoint overseers, and :1"- public roads having charge of all the roads in the township, and required him to put out the work of them by contract, and to report at the annual town- meetings. The sides of the roads were required to he seeded, and shade-trees put out, as the committee or- dered, and they were authorized to fix the building limit at twenty feet in the town, and seventy-five feet in the country districts. Fences were not required to be built, beer saloons were prohibited, and no hotel was to be licensed unless the majority of the people. should vote for it at their annual town-meeting. Under these powers great benefit has been derived to the settlement. The avenues, which are one hun- dred feet wide. generally have two rows of trees on each side, and the other roads, fitty to sixty-six feet wile, have on each side a single row. The street> and roads of the entire tract have been graded an! covered with gravel, and no finer or better roads can be found in any community, or more beautiful than are those of Vineland in the summer season, lined! with beautiful shade-trees, and ornamented wit !: handsome and well-kept lawns and flower-bed- on both sides.
Early History .- Mr. Landis extensively adver- tised the new settlement, aud settlers began to come in more rapidly. Not over a half-dozen settlers lo- catel on the tract in 1561, but quite a large number esme in 1502. During this year Landis Avenue wa- cleared of stumps as far ea-t as Spring road, and pu: in traveling condition ; Main Avenue, leading to Millville, was straightened and widened, and other streets were opened. The first hotel was opened ler C. P. Davis, where the Vineland House now stand -. A school-house was erected, and a private school opened by Mis, Lucille Richardson, with eleven scholars. The first religious meeting was held in Habbett's barn, by Rev. M. C. Comnaugh, of the> Millville Presbyterian thurch. The first child bort. in Vineland was William C. Richardson, born J.In. 16, 18G3, and the first death was that of Hezekiah Davis, died March 31, 1863.
Growth. - From this time the incoming tide of .. :-
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TOWNSHIP OF LANDIS AND BOROUGH OF VINELAND.
tlers became stronger. Every train brought new arri- Oyer and Terminer of Cumberland County, Judge Alfred Reed presiding. After a long and tedious trial the jury returned a verdiet of not guilty, on the plea of temporary insanity. It was the most noted criminal trial in the history of the county. vals, and improvements began in all direction -. Lands were cleared and put under cultivation, and the demand for dwelling-houses was greater than could be supplied .. In the one month of January, 1865, over one thousand acres of wild land were sold. and as the plans of Mr. Landis divided the land into small farms, averaging not over fifteen or twenty aeres each, the above represents quite an addition to the population in the one month. During eight months of that year over five hundred buildings were erected. Many of the new-comers were among the best citizens of the land, and quite a number were wealthy. These were attracted to Vineland by its fame as a temperance town and the mildness of the . land Stations. During the fifteen days ending July climate as compared with that of New England and the Northwest. In 1866 more than twelve hundred buildings were erected.
About 18GS the tide of new settlers began to slacken as compared with the rush of the preceding years. Vineland began to settle down into a slower but steadier and more certain condition. Dependence no Jonger being put in new-comers, manufactures began to spring up, and though for a few years Vineland was in a condition of partial stagnation, she is now slowly but more surely advancing to the position and im- portance to which the enterprise and thrift of her in- habitants entitle her.
In 1873 Italian settlers began to arrive in Vine- land, and mostly settled in the eastern part of the tract near the line of Atlantic County. Quite a large number of the-e industrious, law-abiding people have come to Vineland, some of the later ones locating northwest of the borough, between the Blackwater and Manaway Branches of Maurice River.
The Landis-Carruth Tragedy attracted great at- tention throughout the whole country. An opposi- tion to the management of township affairs, as they were carried on by Mr. Landis and his friends, gradu- ally grew up, and was voiced by the Independent, . edited by Uri Carruth. Mr. Carruth carried the opposition to extremes, and induiged in a series of personal attacks on Mr. Landis, criticisms of his pol- icy, and ridicule of his public and private aets. On March 19. 1875, Mr. Landis, after reading the issue of the Independent, containing an article which ridiculed Mrs. Landis as well as himself, went to the office of Mr. Carruth. There were no witnesses to the meeting in the office. In a few moments Mr. Carruth rushed into the printing department, followed by Mr. Lan- dis, who fired at him, the builet entering the back of Mr. Carruth's head. Mr. Landis gave himself up, and was committed to jail to await the result of the injury. Mr. Carruth recovering, Mr. Landis was ad- mitted to bail. It was thought Mr. Carruth would entirely recover, but he died, before the expiration of a year, from abscesses which formed around the bullet. Mr. Landis was recommitted to jail, and was tried at the adjourned January term, 1876, of the Court of 45
Fruits .- The soil of Vineland seeming well adapted to the growth of grapes, pears, and other small fruits, large vineyards, orchards, and berry-patches were set out shortly after the first arrivals, and these consti- inte the leading erops of Vineland. The strawberry crop for the season of 188) showed a total of two hundred and fifty thousand quarts shipped from Vineland, worth about twenty-five thousand dollars, besides large amounts from the North and South Vine- 27th, four hundred and nine thousand six hundred quarts of blackberries were shipped to New York and other points. During the entire season the total shipments of blackberries amounted to about seventy thousand dollars. Large shipments of grapes and pears were also made. During the season of 1888 one million one hundred and eighty-four thousand quarts of berries of all kinds were shipped from Vineland.
Freeholders .- The chosen freeholders of this town- ship have been as follows :
1871. Jonathan Wilde.
14. Charles K. Lantis. Jobn Kandle. 1872. Netson Roberts,
ISG5-66. Jolin Kanelle. Oliver D. Graves.
Jumes JI. Fitch. 1873. Nelson Roteits.
18G .. Edwju MI. Turner. Elias Doughty.
Joliu Kandie.
1871-76. Nelson Roberts.
Iscs. Edwin M. Turner.
Iamı N. Bostwick.1
1877-78. Horatio N. Greene. Arthur T. Parsons.
1869. George Roberts.
1879-80. Horatio N. Greene.
John C. Wheeler (resigned).
1881. Arthur T. Parsons.
Caleb H. Bennett .? 1862. Arthur T. l'arsons (res'd).
1870. George Noterts. Caleb II. Bounell.
B. C. Skinner.º
1883. Albro S. Brown.
1571. Neton Roberts.
BOROUGHI OF VINELAND.
Vineland having become one of the most enter- prising towns of South Jersey, the question of incor- poration for the purpose of having increased local powers was agitated. A meeting of the citizens was beld March 23, 1880, and resolutions adopted in favor of incorporating the town plat under the general Borough Corporation Act of the State. An election was held May 25, 1880, at which three hundred and four persons voted, and one hundred and eighty-one voted in favor of incorporation, and one hundred and twenty-two against it. An election for borough officers was held on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1880, and immediately after that the Council passed ordinances, appointed minor officers, and the machinery of the borough was set in motion. The population of Vineland in 1880 was two thousand five hundred and nineteen.
I Elected at the anooal meeting, but died before the board organized.
2 Appointed by township commitice to Ell vacancy.
705
John C. Wheeler .:
Eli B. Heudre.
706
IHISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Borough Officers .- The following have been the otheers of the borough :
Mayors .- 1880, Quartus Wright; 1882, Joseph Mason ; 1883, Albro S. Brown.
Borough Clerk .- 1880, Levi D. Johnson, and con- tinued to present.
Council .- 1880, (for one year) E. Morley, II. B. Reese, (for two years) Solon S. Gould, John P. Ash- worth, (for three years) Albro S. Brown, Henry llart- son ; 1882, (for three years) John Prince, Daniel A. Russell; 1883, (for three years) Dr. C. R. Wiley, Oliver D. Graves, Freeman S. Hale, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Albro S. Brown.
Post-Office. - A post-office was established here Aug. 31, 1861, upon the condition that Mr. Landis would pay twenty dollars a quarter towards the ex- pense of carrying the mail. This payment was con- tinned for almost two years. Mr. Landis was ap- pointed postmaster, and kept the office where he had his own office, at Andrew Sharp's, about one and three-quarter miles from the railroad station. HIe | chased the business May 8, 1876; Dodge retired in attended to the duties of the office in person until the February, 1877, and the Independent was consolidated with the Weekly Ang. 1, 1880. spring of 1862, when he had. as assistant postmaster Mr. II. M. Holbrook, and the office was removed to Evening Journal .- The Daily Journal was estab- lished June 7, 1875, by W. E. Cansdell, being the first daily paper issued in Vineland. It was trans- ferred, May 1, 1876, to B. F. Ladd and Obert Spencer. Mr. Obert Spencer retired from the business the fol- lowing year, since which time the paper has been edited and published by Benjamin F. Ladd. The name of the Daily Journal was changed Dec. 14, 1880, to the Evening Journal. In November and De- ember, 1882, Mr. Ladd erected one of the handsomest : and best newspaper buildings in South Jersey. He moved into it Jan. 1, 1883. the second story entry of C. P. Davis' hotel. Mr. Holbrook was followed by C. P. Morehouse as deputy. In 1863 the office was removed to the store of W. F. Bassett, in rear of the hotel, who acted as deputy, and upon the purchase of the store by William G. Smith he became the deputy. The receipts of the office for the quarter ending Sept. 80, 1862, were only eight dollars and fifty cent .. Such was the growth of the settlement that the business of the office for the quarter ending June 30, 1581, was six thousand one hundred and forty-eight dollars and fifty cents. Charles Lyford acted for a long time as deputy, and i The News- Times .-- The Daily Times was established Nov. 17, 1877, by Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Duffey, who conducted it for over four years. About September, 1850, they commenced the issue of a weekly edition, called the South Jersey Times. in March, 1876, was appointed postmaster, and re- mained in office until his death, Jan. 1, 1879. 1Ie was succeeded by Seaman R. Fowler, who beld the office four years, and was followed by the present officer, William H. Loppy, appointed Feb. 5, 1883.
PRESS.
The Vineland Weekly, the first weekly newspaper M. C. & F. P. Crocker, and enjoyed a large patronage under their management. It was then especially de- voted to the interests of Charles K. Landis in estab- lishing the Vineland settlement. After the death of Moses C. Crocker, March 17, 1874, the paper was con- dueted by Frank P. Crocker, and was finally sold to E. G. Blaisdell and Charles D. Thomas in the spring
Wilbur, editor, and Wilbur & Flint, proprietors. and called the Weekly Independent. Aug. 1, 18$1. Mr. Flint retired, leaving 11. W. Wilbur as editor and proprietor, until the present time.
The Vineland Independent was started in 1866, by E. Hale and William Taylor, and was run in the interest of those who opposed Mr. Landis politically and otherwise. Mr. Hale was connected with the paper but a short time, and disposed of his interest to Mr. Charles W. Blew, whose relations with the paper were also brief. Mr. Taylor finally disposed of the business to Messrs. Gill and Mckenzie, who sold to Messrs. Smith and Carruth. Mr. Smith did not continue long in the business, and sold his interest to Uri Carruth, who edited and published the paper. After the shooting of Carruth, March 19, 1875, the Independent was conducted by C. B. Bagster till it was bought by friends of Edwin A. Teall, who conducted it for a short time and was succeeded by E. G. Blais- dell. Henry W. Wilbur and Myron H. Dodge pur-
The Morning News was established Oct. 29, 1881, by Theophilus French. Mr. French bought out the Times and consolidated the two papers into one, called The News- Times, the first number of which was lican in politics. The weekly South Jersey Times was also bought by Mr. French, and is now a six-column, eight-page paper.
published in that place, was issued Sept. 9, 1805, by , issued Feb. 13, 1882. It is a sprightly paper, Repub-
Public Schools .- Vineland is noted for its excel- lent public schools and fine school buildings. The Vineland High School was opened Jan. 24, 1870, in Plum Street Hall, with Charles HI. Wright as prin- of 1877. Mr. Thomas soon retired from the business, | cipal. The High School District was formed by the consolidation of three smaller districts. Sept. 26, 1873, the corner-stone of the Vineland High School building was laid in the presence of a large audience. The building was dedicated Aug. 22, 1874; President
and Mr. E. G. Blaisdell continued to edit and publish .the paper until Oct. 1, 1879, when Mr. H. K. Flint became part owner. It was published by Flint & Blaisdell until March 1, 1880, when it was purchased by H. K. Flint. On Aug. 1, 1880, the Weekly was . Grant, Governor Parker, and other high officials were consolidated with the Independent, with Mr. H. W. , present on the occasion, and short speeches were made
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TOWNSHIP OF LANDIS AND BOROUGH OF VINELAND.
by them. It is a handsome three story brick building, with basement, and cost twenty-five thousand dollars. I It stands at the southeast corner of Sixth and Plum Streets, and is the ornament and pride of the town.
The fine and convenient two-story briek school- house, at the corner of Second and Park Streets, was built the same summer as the high school building, and was dedicated Nov. 3, 1874. It cost five thou- sand dollars. The Orchard road school-house is a two-story brick building, and cost about three thou- sand dollars. The one-story brick school-house at Chestnut and West Avenues cost two thousand five hundred dollars. The Wheat road school-house, also a onc-story brick building, cost two thousand dollars. Besides these, there is a two-story frame school-house at Park and East Avenues, and a similar one at Chestnut and East Avenues, both of which were built about 1863, and are still good buiklings. These schools are all ineluded in District No. 44, and are under control of a board of three trustees, one of whom is elected cach year.
During the year ending Aug. 31, 1882, the township raised by tak, for school purposes, $2201.86, and the total amount received from all sources was $15,443.68; value of school property, $51,150; number of children within school age, 1582; and six male and nineteen female teachers are employed.
There are no private schools of high grade. The Methodists of this section of the State having deter- mined to erect a seminary of high order, Vineland was selected as the site, owing to large subscriptions made by its citizens towards the building. The erec- tion of the building was begun in 1868, and the corner- stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies Nov. 18, 1868. It was situated on the West Boulevard, north of l'ark Avenue. The centre building and one wing were inclosed, but funds were not forthcoming to com- plete it. A mortgage was given upon the property, and the money expended, but the building was still unfinished. The New Jersey Conference finally aban- doned the attempt to found another institution of learning, and the property, after being sold for taxes, was finally sold on a foreclosure of the mortgage, and passed into the hands of the mortgage-holder. In 1878, Rev. Thomas Conway and others attempted to establish an lacbriate Asylum in the building, but funds could not be secured, and the attempt was aban- doned. Mr. L. D. Farr, having become the owner of the building, fitted it up for an oil-cloth factory, but when nearly ready to commence operations Mir. Farr died, in the spring of 1883, and it now awaits the set- tlement of his estate.
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