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 80
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 80
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 80
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The first officers were : N. G., Eugene Wiley ; V. G., N. Henry Stephens; Treas., D. W. Price; Sec., C. R. Wiley. Pa-t Grands : Eugene Wiley, C. R. Wiley, R. B. Palmer, H. C. Perry, 11. E. Thayer, John Reed, J. W. Day, James Chance, John L. Ring, Charles Clark, H. B. Reese, T. E. Bailey, E. II. Pierson, James Mukely, C. W. Taylor, E. Morley, W. G. White, E. C. Wells, A. F. Parsons, J. T. Duncan, I. D. Liten- berg, W. II. Blake, T. B. Steele, S. C. Singleton, J. A. Temple, Robert McMahan, Charles Goodenough, John P. Ashworth, John II. Cunningham, Martin L. Hart, Charles P. Lord, Frank B. Potter.
1 By Henry W. Withur, of Vineland.
712
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
It has at present ninety members, and is a very strong lodge. The following is a list of the present officers :
V. G., A. J. Washburo; V. G., T. K. Eastburn; Rec. Sec., G. L. Randall; Per. Sec., J. A. Temple ; Treas., James Chance.
Vineland Encampment, No. 54, I. O. O. F., was instituted Ang. 22, 1876, and has now twenty-five members. The encampment, though small in num- ber, is in a flourishing condition. The first officers were: C. P., James Chance; S. W., II. B. Reese; J. W., W. H. Blake; Scribe, C. W. Vaughn ; Treas., E. H. Pierson ; H. P., W. C. Sharp. Past Chief Patri- i archs; H. B. Reese, W. H. Blake, W. G. White, S. C. Singleton, E. C. Wells, J. T. Dunean, Miles Myres, ! W. C. Pasco, Theodore Foote, I. D. Eilenberg, M. L. Hart, W. II. Nickerson, F. N. Parker. The following are the present officers : C. P., George L. Randall ; S. W., A. J. Washburn; Scribe, W. H. Nickerson ; Treas., James Chance ; H. P., W. II. Blake.
The Knights of Labor organized in the year 1879 with thirteen members. They meet in the Grand Army Hall every Thursday evening, and have a present membership of fifty. The following is a list of the officers from the origin of the lodge: First, S. T. W. Barton, M. W .; Jarvis Wanser, W. F .; N. E. Nelson, See. Second, Jarvis Wauser, M. W .; 1 A national bank was again organized, and com- menced business May 19, 1883, with a paid-up cap- ital of fifty thousand dollars. The company bought the building of the Security Trust and Safe Deposit Joseph Hargraves, W. F .; J. L. Welch, Sec. Third, J. L. Welch, MI. W .; Joseph Hargraves, W. F .; Charles Bergenstean, Sec. Present officers: Frank Graham, M. W. ; Henry T. Ives, W. F. ; W. L. Van- I Company, which retired from business, and elected meter, Sec.
Vineland Council, No. 110, 0. U. A. M., was or- ! Vice-President, Myron J. Kimball; Cashier, Charles ganized in 1875, with thirty-six charter members, and it has a present membership of sixty. The following is a list of the Past Councilors : E. S. Harner, D. W. ; Allen, C. E. Greene, L. S. June, J. Stevens, C. W. Palmer. The present officers are H. M. Hill, Coun- cilor ; William Montgomery, Vice-Councilor; V. T. Howell, Sec.
The Knights of Honor were instituted in 1879, and have a present membership of twenty. The fol- lowing is a list of the Past Dictators: George G. Souther, N. Henry Stevens, Lewis W. Gould, E. Morley, Theodore Foute, Charles E. Greene, T. W. Walker. The present officers are L. D. Johnson, Dietator; D. A. Russell, Vice-Dictator; Charles E. Greene, Reporter.
Local Branch, No. 13, Iron Hall .- This society is similar to Chosen Friends, and was organized in 1881, with twenty-four members, and has at present one hundred and sixty. The following is a list of the Past Chief Justices : N. P. Wiswell, Theodore Foote, J. S. Bowman. The present officers are Charles E. Greene, C. Justice; Joseph Mason, Accountant.
ishing condition. The following is a list of Pa-t Councilors : Theodore Facet, N. P. Wiswell. c. E Greene, J. S. Bowman, C. D. Bailey. The present officers are Gilbert F. Washburn, Councilor : E. L. Bolls, Vice Councilor ; Frank Hurd, Sec.
Lyon Post, No. 10, G. A. R .- This post was or- ganized in 1875, with a membership of forty, and has now one hundred and thirty. It is one of the most energetic posts in South Jersey, and is in an excellent condition. The following is a list of Past Com- manders : C. P. Lord, W. G. White, A. T. Parsons, A. F. Gutterson, S. C. Singletou, Charles E. Greene. Thomas B. Ross, David H. Burge. The present ofli- cers are George W. Swing, Commander ; Jarvis Wanser, Sen. Vice Commander; E. H. Foote, Jun. Vice Commander; W. G. White, Adjutant; A. F. Gutterson, Quartermaster.
Vineland National Bank .- A national bank was organized in November, 1878, with B. D. Maxham. president ; Thomas II. Vitner, cashier ; and Willis T. Virgil, teller. Mr. Horatio N. Greene was after- wards elected president, and Willis T. Virgil, cashier. This national bank was succeeded on Jan. 1, 1881, by the Security Trust and Safe Deposit Company. B. D. Maxham became president ; Henry Hartson, cashier ; and Willis T. Virgil, teller.
I the following officers: President, D. B. Maxhan ; HI. Anderson. On account of failing health Mr. Maxham resigned, Sept. 4, 1883, and Mr. Kimball was elected president, and Mr. Horatio N. Greene i was elected vice-president in his place. The deposit> of the bank are about one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; discounts, ninety-eight thousand dollars. Their business has been better than antici- pated. The building is valued at six thousand do !- lars, furniture and fixtures one thousand dollars.
MANUFACTURES.
Kimball, Prince & Co.'s Sash, Door, and Blind Manufactory .- This enterprise dates its origin from 1864, but it was not till 1872, when the present firm succeeded to the business, that it was made to assume more than ordinary proportions. It is now the largest eoneern of the kind south of Camden.
The plant is excellently located on the corner of the Boulevard and Almond Street, the West Jersey Railroad running through the former. There are three large buildings, and out-sbeds for the storage of lumber, etc., together with every facility that is af- forded by ample space to conduct the large business.
Acme Council, Chosen Friends, No. 3 .- This council was organized in 1880, with sixty members, ! A powerful engine with great boiler capacity is re- and has a present membership of one hundred and ! quired to operate the machinery in use, all of which ten. They have a handsome hall, and are in a flour- i is of the most improved modern design, for wool-
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713
TOWNSHIP OF LANDIS AND BOROUGHI OF VINELAND.
working purposes. They are extensive manufactu- rers of fruit-boxes, the home demand alone for this specialty being very large, Vineland being a fruit- growing community. The co-partners are Messrs. Myron J. Kimball, William V. Prince, and John Prince. They possess an unusual aptitude for the business, over which they exercise the closest super- vision.
A. K. Hobart's Briek-Yard .- This well-known brick-yard, on East Avenue above Oak Street, was established in 1868, and has been very successfully carried on ever since under several different firm- names, although the Hobarts have always bad a con- trolling interest. When Hobart's yard was first established there were three other yards here in full operation, but they, not being able to compete with Mr. Hobart in price and quality, were soon aban- doned, leaving Mr. Hobart the only one on the Vine- land tract. The business has grown very extensive, and is constantly on the increase. He makes twenty different patterns of brick, including the regular Philadelphia press-brick. Large quantities of brick are shipped elsewhere, while nine-tenths of all the immense quantity of brick used in Vinclaud comes from this yard.
Opposite Mr. Hobart's yard, George A. Irish has started a brick-yard in June of this year.
Morris' Steam Grist-Mill .- This mill, situate on Bonlevard below Montrose Street, was established Nov. 1, 1878, by Manlief Morris. Building and steam-power rented from Kimball, Prince & Co. Grinds corn, rye, oats, etc. Grinds for market six | of binding, etc. hundred bushels per werk.
H. A. Cotton's Steam Saw, Grist, and Bone- Mill .- This was established August, 1881. The build- ing is frame, and is located on Sixth, corner Quince Street. He furnishes his own steam-power. The grinding capacity of the mill is six hundred bushels per weck.
Charles Keighley's Shoe-Factory .- Mr. Keigh- ley first started on a small capital in 1875 in a build- ing on Sixth Street, now occupied by Thomas H. Hawkins. He gave employment then to about ten hands. Business began to grow to such large propor- tions that he eventually moved to the present loca- tion on East Boulevard and Montrose Streets. He has now the largest shop in Vineland, employing one hundred hands in his extensive manufacturing trade. MIr. Keighley has all the latest improved machinery in his shop, making two thousand four hundred pairs of shoes per week, with large orders ahead.
Thomas H. Hawkins' Shoe Factory .- Mr. Ilaw- kins began the manufacture of shoes in Vine- land in 1876, with ten hands and a limited amount of machinery in Merchants' Block. In 1879 he moved to the present location on Sixth Street below . Montrose, and added steam-power and all the latest improved machinery. Je employs over one hundred hand:, and is turning out several hundred dollars'
worth of shoes per day, which are sent to all parts of the country.
J. H. Hunt's Shoe-Factory .- Mr. Ilunt started the factory formerly run by C. H. Birkinshaw in 1874. He came to Vineland and took charge of the shop on Landis Avenue, west of Boulevard, where he is now located, employing over fifty hands. His ma- chinery is run by foot-power.
Thomas H. Proctor's Shoe-Factory .- Mr. Proctor established business in Vineland in 1872. At present he employs about fifty first-class workmen, and pays o'ut several hundred dollars a week. He has all the late improved machinery, which is run by foot-power.
A. H. Blaisdell's Machine-Works .- This concern was first established by Mr. Blaisdell in 1872, and from its inception has been successful. The build- ings, three in number, are located at the junction of the West Jersey with the New Jersey Southern Rail- road. They are fitted with the most improved ma- chinery and mechanical applicances. Twelve skilled machinists and moulders are employed, and the work turned out by Mr. Blaisdell is noted for its excel- lence.
George A. Cheever, Grape-Box Manufacturer and Book-Binder .- Started in 1866. Carried on the manufacture of paper boxes, making the celebrated Cheever paper box a specialty. The firm is now doing an extensive business, making thousands of boxes an- nually for the various glass firms throughout South Jersey. The factory turns out as many as four hun- dred thousand grape-boxes alone, besides other work
L. L. Eelknap, Manufacturer of Wearing Ap- parel .- Commenced to manufacture wearing apparel of all kinds in 1874, and now gives employment to a large number of hands. The goods are made prin- cipally for large hou-es in Philadelphia. This busi- less has become one of the principal industries of Vineland.
R. S. Armstrong's Foundry,-This business was established in 1830 at Milton, on the Hudson, New ' York State. It was moved to Vineland in August, 1880, by Mr. Armstrong, who brought his tools and machinery with him. The principal kind of work done is iron mortars for druggi-ts, wagon-boxes, etc., which are used principally in the South. Piows and plow-castings are a specialty. This is the only foundry on the Vineland tract. Goods are shipped to New York, Boston, and other large cities.
H. Durgin, Glove Manufacturer .- Started the business in 1872 on the corner of Landis Ave- nue and Fourth Street. He employs upwards of ten hands in the manufacture of gloves, which he sends to all parts of the country. He has been very successful.
James' Button-Factory .- The pearl-button fac- tory of David James is located at the corner of Brewster Road and Maple Avenue. He employs fifteen to twenty hands regularly, and manufactures
71.4
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
from four to six hundred dollars' worth of goods per week. The factory i- run by steam.
Willow Grove is a village lying on the Maurice River, abont five miles northwest of Vineland. It is the oldest place in the township, and was settled pre- vious to this century. Previous to the setting-off' of Vineland probably nearly one-half of the inhabitants within the present limits of the township lived in this vicinity. The dam across Maurice River, at this place. furnishes water-power for a grist- and saw-mill which have been here for many years, and are now owned by Richard Langley & Sons. Part of the village lies on the Salem side of the river, and was for years called Fork Bridge, but it is now all called Willow Grove, deriving its name from the large trees of that variety growing along the stream. In the early part of this century lumber was taken to Millville to a market, from there and from Malaga, by floating it down the river. Large gates were constructed in the dam, and when there was a sufficient head of water they were opened, and the logs and lumber were carried down on the current. The Union Pond, wear Minville, also had similar gates. The only business carried on for many years, besides the mills, has been cutting wood and carting it to market. A mile east of Willow Grove is the cross-road called Pleasantville, with a small Methodist Church, now owned by a private individual. The post-office at Willow Grove was established March 29, 1870, with Thomas Dare, Sr., as postma-ter. The present in- cumbent, Michael Potter, Jr., was appointed April 7, 1879.
North Vineland is a railroad station and post- office on the West Jersey Railroad, about three miles north of Vineland, and about half a mile south of the Gloucester County line. A railroad station and post-office being established at this point for the con- venience of the neighboring regions, a few houses have been built near the station. The population near the station is about one hundred. It was made a post-office Sept. 29, 1861, with George W. Cottrell as postmaster. The present one, appointed June 15, 1881, is William 1. Warren. There was formerly a Congregational Church at this place, but it has be- come extinct, and the meeting-house has pas-ed into the possession of the Catholics.
South Vineland is a railroad station and post-office on the West Jersey Railroad, about two and a half miles south of Vineland. Both this and North Vine- land are only continuations of Vineland proper, but, for convenience of shipping. a station wa- established, around which a small village has grown up. South Vineland contain- a Methodist. an Episcopal, and a Baptist Church, all three of which are weak organ- izations. The population of the village is about one hundred and fifty. The po-t-office here was e-tab- lished Nov. 21. 1866, David II. Cramer being the first incumbent, and the present one is Andrew S. Whit- ten, appointed Dec. 14, 1874.
Main Avenue is a station and post-office on t !! New Jersey Southern Railroad, two miles northeast of Vineland, for the convenience of the neighbor- hood. The post-office was established May 6, 1-2. Robert B. Knowles was appointed postmaster, and still holds the office.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
THOMAS JONES.
The Jones family are of Welsh descent, Thomas Jones, the grandfather of the subject of this biograph- ical sketch, having emigrated from his native land to England and settled in Birmingham, where he fol- lowed his trade of baker. Hle married and had chil- dren,-John, Thomas, Ann, Sarah, Mary, and Jane. His son Thomas was born about the year 1812 in Wales. He accompanied his father, when eleven years of age, to Birmingham, and there learned his trade of pearl-button making, having previously assisted in the baking business. He married Louisa Davis, of the latter city, and had three children,-Thomas, John, and James. Mr. Jones continued to be industri- ously employed in Birmingham for many years, and died in IS67, his wife's death having occurred two years previously. Their son Thomas was born March 28, 1432, and having followed his father's trade, began working in pearl when ten years of age. He continued for many years in Birmingham, but in 1858 emigrated to America, having discerned in the New World a wider field of activity for the artisan than his home at that time afforded. He settled in Philadelphia, and engaged in the trade of pearl-but- ton making with Edwin Marklow, for whom he soon became manager. In 1859 he himself began with but a limited capital the manufacture of pearl but- tons in the same city, and in 1860 entered into a co- partnership with James Largay. The following year he returned to England and remained two years, after which, in 1863, Philadelphia again became his home. and the former partnership was resumed. In Febru- ary, 1864, having disposed of his interest, he began the manufacture of pearl buttons alone, and in 1877 sold again, and embarked in the importation of mother-of-pearl shells for the supply of manufac- turers, which were purchased chiefly, though not ex- clusively. in London and San Francisco. In 1872 Mr. Jones became a resident of Vineland, where he purchased land and engaged in improvements, In 1876 he sold the farm, in the cultivation of which he had been greatly interested, and two years later re- turned to England with a view to retiring from active business pursuits. He, however, found little employ- ment for his active mind in a life of leisure, and the same year brought him again to American shores and made him a resident of Vineland, where he . became extensively engaged in buikling. In 1879,
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Thomas Jones
715
TOWNSHIP OF MAURICE RIVER.
E. O. Mil.« & Co., of which ho was the principal, established a pearl-button factory at this point, and in 18$2 creeted a building for the use of their opera- tives, Mr. Jones subsequently becoming proprietor of the business. In this peculiar branch of industry he has been exceptionally successful, and conducted it with great profit, having established a trade extending from Boston to California. He was married, in 1850, to Miss Mary Fisher, daughter of Enoch Fisher, of Birmingham, England. Mr. Jones, though a Repub- lican in his political principles, devotes but little at- tention to politics, his time and energies being wholly employed in the management of his business. He was educated in the Church of England faith, and still adheres to its tenets.
CHAPTER C.
TOWNSHIP OF MAURICE RIVER.
Original Boundaries and Subsequent Changes. -This was one of the original six townships into which the county was divided by the act creating it, in 1748. It included all the land on the east side of Maurice River, which remained its bounds antil Mill- ville township was created, in 1802. As has been already mentioned, in 1844 the eastern corner of the. township was set off to Cape May County, but was set back in 18-15, and in 1878 that portion of the town- ship which ineludes Marshallville was again set off to Cape May, where it has ever since remained. It portion of it has few if any inhabitants.
is the largest township in the county, but u large , other portions increasing in population and business
Name .- This township received its name from the river which formy its western boundary. The Indian name of the river was Wahatquenack. The English name was probably derived from Maurice, Prince of Orange. An old tradition says that the name of the river was derived from the circumstance of a ship, the "Prince Maurice," being burnt by the Indians and sunk, about half a mile below Mauricetown, at a reach in the river known as the "No Man's Friend." A vessel by that name, owned by the Dutch West India Company, came from Holland to New Nether- land, as New York was called by the Dutch, in the neighborhood of two hundred and fifty years ago. It ! ware, and been burned in this river, according to the tradition. On a map of "Nieuw Nederlandt," in- eluding " Zuyd Revier," or the South River, as the Delaware was called by the Dutch, which map was published at Amsterdam in 1676, this river is called " Mauritius Revier." This was the Dutch or Latin name for " Manrice," and was evidently derived from the Prince of Orange, either directly or through the vessel which was named from him.
first mention of it, in 1717, it is called " Morrisses River," and it continued to be spelled in that way throughout the Salem records. When the county was created, in 1748, it was called "Prince Maurice's River," and the township " Maurice River precinct."
Settlements .- The carly settlements, as already stated, were made along the bank of the river. The Swedes were among the earliest arrivals, and about 1743 they erected a church on a lot of land which they obtained of John Hoffman, lying on the east bank of the river, above Spring Garden Ferry, and nearly opposite Buckshutum. Worship was main- tained here until after the Revolution by the mission- aries from Sweden, who served the Swedish congre- gations at Swedesboro and Penn's Neck. This church long ago went to decay and disappeared, and only a few tombstones in the graveyard are still to be seen. Among the descendants of the Swedes are the Peter- sons, Vannemaus, Lords Hoffmans, Erricksons, and others. In 1718 the number of inhabitants along the river was sufficient to require a constable to be ap- pointed by the court at Salem, and in 1728 an over- -eer of roads was first appointed. In 1740 a tavern license was granted to John Bell, of Maurice River. who resided at Port Elizabeth, which indicates an increase in the number of inhabitants, and the same year a constable was appointed for each side of the river. In 1742 an overseer of roads was appointed for the upper part of Maurice River, and one for the lower part.
Maurice River increased rapidly in population in the latter part of the last and the beginning of this cen- tury, but afterwards lost its importance in the county, in a greater ratio. At this day a large portion of its population are engaged in the oystering and counting trade, while ship-building is the most important in- ' dustry in the township.
Villages and Hamlets .- It contains the villages of Port Elizabeth, Bricksboro, Dorchester, Leesburg, Hei-lerville, Ewing's Neck, Belle Plain, and the rail- road station of Manamuskin, and the neighborhood (hardly a village) of Manamuskin Manor. There are six Methodist Churches, but none at this day of any other denomination, in the township. The popula- tion of the township is two thousand three hundred and seventy-four.
Port Elizabeth .- This town is situatedl on Mau- is possible that she might have come into the Dela- . amuskin Creek, about half a mile east of Maurice River and six miles south of Millville. The site of this town was a part of Bartlett's ten thousand acre survey, which afterwards became John Scott's. He sold the portion of it, where Port Elizabeth stands, to John Purple about 1720, who sold it to John Bell, who kept a tavern there in 1740. Bell sold it, in 1771, to Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, afterwards Bodely, who laid out the town previous to 1785. It received its name in honor of her. A dam was erected across the Mana-
In the early records of the court at Salem, at the i muskin, near its mouth, previous to 1782, in which
716
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
year a law was passed authorizing it. In 1739 the act of Congress was passed establishing district- for the collection of duties on imports, and the castern side of the Delaware from above Camden to Cape May was made the district of Bridgeton, with Bridgeton as the port of entry, and Salem and Port Elizabeth as ports of delivery. Trade was carried on from the Maurice and Cohansey Rivers directly to the West Indies for some years, but the greater advan- tages of Philadelphia and New York ended all foreign trade from these places some fifty years ago. l'ort Elizabeth was relatively a place of much more im- and sold to Samuel Townsend, the present owner, portance in the latter part of the last and the early part of this century than of later years.
In 1794 an act of the Legislature was passed ap- pointing commissioners to lay out and open roads from Bridgeton and also Roadstown to Cooper's Ferry, now Camden, and also from Port Elizabeth to Bridgeton. All of these roads were laid, but only the one from Roadstown to Camden was openedl. The one from Port Elizabeth to Bridgeton erossed the river to Buckshutum, and then ran a straight northwesterly course to Bridgeton. Application was made by the commissioners to the board of freeholders for money to open the road, but they at first refused to grant any, and in 1797 granted only three hundred dollars, but the road was never opened. The present straight road from Bridgeton to Buckshutum, and from there across the river to Port Elizabeth, was laid, in the usnal way, a few years later, a short dis- tanee north of the location of the former one. At that time Port Elizabeth was the second place in the county in business enterprises, but it has since lost the most of its old-time importance.
In 1821 the board of freeholders built a bridge over the Manamuskin Creek, at Port Elizabeth, eight rods long. eighteen inches high above all tides in the creek, and twenty feet wide in the clear. In 1850 a new one was built, sixty feet long and twenty feet wide, on the truss plan, and it is covered over. It was built by Amos Campbell, contractor, for the sum of two thousand three hundred and fifty dollars.
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