USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Narratives of Newark (in New Jersey) from the days of its founding > Part 23
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He arrived at Elizabeth in the early morning and, after a reception attended by many thousands, visited the State Fair at Waverly. Here a crowd of 20,000 with many bands of music gave a welcome which lightened for a moment the imperturbable countenance of the President. He was plainly pleased with the cordiality of his reception, but not once did he allude to his candidacy for re-election to his high office.
Governor Ward, who was in the President's party, was compelled to leave early, as he was nominated for Congress by the convention held that afternoon in Newark. After leaving the fair President Grant was taken directly to the home of the Governor, on Washington Street, facing Wash- ton Park, where an opportunity to rest was given him.
Brass bands were playing in every section as darkness settled upon the city in the early autumn night. The homes of patriotic Newarkers were decorated with lanterns, strings of them being placed in trees and shrubbery in Broad Street estates and those on other thoroughfares.
The official party was greeted at the rink by a large crowd
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of residents and visitors. Governor Ward escorted General Grant. Their appearance was the signal for the band to play "See the Conquering Hero Comes!" Cheers, hand- clapping, handkerchief waving and shouting continued for a long time.
Newark was giving its testimonial of appreciation of Grant the soldier and Grant the President. Only six years had passed since the close of the Civil War and our veterans knew him well. Many were exhausted, while the cause of all the commotion looked calmly down upon the multitude from his position on the raised platform.
"I am most happy to be here to-night to witness the dis- play of Newark manufacturers," said the President. "This far-famed city of Newark has done well. The excellency of your manufactures is working a large influence on the importation of foreign manufactures. I heartily thank you for this great pleasure."
An hour was spent in looking about the exhibits. Then came the final number on the program of the guest's busy day. The Ward mansion was ablaze with lights. The people flocked from a radius of twenty-five miles. Marching campaign clubs surrounded Military Park. It was a tumul- tuous ovation accorded President Grant.
Four thousand torchlight paraders, led by the famous Frelinghuysen Lanciers, came up Broad Street, turned into Washington Place and to the Ward home, scattering the crowd right and left. Thousands upon thousands of men, women and children gazed with awe upon the scene in the front parlor of the Congressman-elect's home. General Grant shook hands with all who could reach him. Then came the speeches from the front piazza. The address of the evening was given by Senator Frelinghuysen, one of Newark's most useful and honored citizens.
Grant carried Essex County excepting Orange and Cald- well, on Election Day, Newark giving him 3,684 majority and Governor Ward's majority for Congress was 4,333. New Jersey gave Grant 14,000 votes over his opponent.
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KEARNY
Statue of General Philip Kearny, in Military Park. Dedicated December 28, 1880
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Among the other distinguished visitors to the fair was General Benjamin F. Butler, the soldier and occasional candidate for the Presidency. Bishop William Henry Oden- heimer, Episcopal bishop of New Jersey, was also an honored guest. The bishop made a speech, proving himself a friend of Newark:
If any one impression beyond all others was left on my mind after this short but deeply interesting visit it is the perfection of Newark work. Wherever I turned this element of perfection met my eye. The brazen padlocks glittered like gold, the huge shears were ornamented as if for simple beauty, the carriages and harness seemed as though they might have been made for a perpetual show case. The thread and silk were attractive in the variety of their colors and in their artistic arrangement. The cutlery and the iron and steel work of every description were perfect in their departments, even to the arrangement of the objects in lines and forms of beauty. Even the trunk department had its beauty and the perfection of workmanship was seen in a trunk that could be converted, by a very simple process, into a baby's cradle and bath- tub.
Not unmindful of the excellent administration of Secre- tary Holbrook, the night of October 2 was set aside as "Secretary's Night." The attendance was nearly as large as it was upon the occasion of General Grant's visit to the exposition.
Mr. Holbrook was presented with the best watch and chain Newark could produce. Mrs. Holbrook was remembered,. too, receiving a morocco case in which had been placed $125 worth of jewelry.
Governor Ward formally pronounced the fair closed on the night of October 11. Statistics were produced, proving the success of the enterprise. Goods valued at $700,000 had been on exhibition and they were viewed by approxi- mately 125,000 persons.
Newark was in 1872 a community of about 110,000 souls. Factories were running on a ten-hour-day schedule and the people were happy. People attended church and every
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man had one suit of clothes put away in the darkest recesses of closet for Sunday wear. Women had one silk dress (if they could afford the luxury) "that stood by itself." Vanity sometimes prompted our leading families to walk up the church aisle after the bell ceased tolling because mother had a new silk gown or father a new suit of broadcloth.
Many of our citizens will remember the $2,000,000 fire in the Erie car shops at Jersey City on July 24, and also the extensive fire in Orange, when in the early morning of October 2, Robert J. Van Ness's grocery store at the north- east corner of North Centre and Main streets and the block of buildings extending as far as the recently vacated post- office site were destroyed. Chief Carhuff and steamer No. 7 of Newark assisted in extinguishing the flames.
Newark's most disastrous fire was on September 12, when White's axe factory and other buildings along the river front near Commercial Wharf were destroyed. The amount involved was $100,000.
"The meadow question," it was remarked by an editor in 1872, "will continue to excite the interest of the people of this section of the state as long as a foot of lowlands remains unappropriated for some purposes of utility." The proph- ecy is now being realized in 1916 with the port of Newark advantageously located for taking care of shipping interests.
The Board of Trade, which held its first annual dinner on January 12, 1872, at the Continental Hotel, discussed one month later, February 12, the proposition of opening a ship canal from the Passaic River to New York Bay. The canal was staked out, having a width of 200 feet, with a series of basins 400 feet in width and a depth of twenty feet at low tide. The cost of the improvement, however, was too great for the undertaking. The estimate was from $10,000,000 to $12,000,000.
On April 11, 1872, the corner-stone of the Church of the Redeemer was laid at the corner of Broad and Hill streets, and on the day previous the Clinton Avenue Baptist Church was dedicated.
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Broad Street in 1872 was paved with cobblestones. New- ark resembled an overgrown village in its quaintness of buildings, luxuriant growth of shade trees, and the prosaic life of the business men and others carrying on the affairs of daily routine. While great fortunes were not made, competences were amassed. The saving habit was then popular with all classes.
CHAPTER LII
DEDICATION OF KEARNY STATUE
"Oh, evil the black shroud of night at Chantilly, That hid him from sight of his brave men and tried; Foul, foul, sped the bullet that clipped the white lily,
The flower of our knighthood, the whole army's pride."
F REQUENTLY have these words been quoted by eu- logizers of the gallant Kearny, who fell on the field of Chantilly, Va., at sunset on the evening of September 1. He was the idol of the army, and sorrow was general when the news of his death came over the wire early in the morning of the following day. Newark was not ashamed to show her grief for the soldier and townsman who had died in the merid- ian of his life upon his country's altar.
Grand Army posts in Essex County during the follow- ing decade well maintained the patriotic spirit of the Civil War days. Kearny's memory was revered by every man who bore arms under the Stars and Stripes. Discussion at camp fires as to the most appropriate way to honor his memory and celebrate his valorous deeds took concrete ac- tion, following the constant stirring of Kearny sentiment, on January 21, when several veterans met in Newark and resolved that a suitable tribute in enduring bronze should forthwith be paid to New Jersey's most distinguished soldier. General William Ward, who lost his left arm at Second Bull Run, was chairman of the meeting and Samuel Toombs of the Thirteenth New Jersey Volunteers acted as secretary.
Then came the permanent organization under the title of "The Phil Kearny Monument Association." Cortlandt Parker was chosen president, Judge F. H. Teese, treasurer, and General Ward, secretary. This was the beginning of a
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movement existing through the year 1880 and culminating in one of the most enthusiastic celebrations Newark has ever held.
The sum of $5,000 was to be raised by popular subscription and a petition was sent to the Legislature asking that the statue of General Kearny, resting in an out-of-the-way place at the State Capitol, be sent to Newark and set up on the old training ground, now Military Park.
Corridors of the state house in the opening days of the Legislature were filled with groups of citizens urging the legis- lators to acquiesce in their desire. This was quickly granted. On February 20, 1880, the statue arrived in Newark. Then the discovery was made that the money was not in hand to pay for the erection and dedication. Trenton newspapers twitted our energetic Newarkers of thirty-six years ago, one editor asking:
"If the Legislature, by a mere majority vote, can take a statue from the state house, after having been paid for by the people at large, and send it to a point designated by the arbitrary majority, what is to prevent them from taking the pictures from the walls of court rooms and sending them to their own homes, and of transporting any property owned by the state withersoever they will? If these things are permissible, why not divide the funds in the State Treasury and retire from business?"
This outburst was treated with dignified silence by our Newark committee. The statue was here-that was the principal point.
Committees were appointed in every ward on July 22 to solicit funds. Memorial Day, when it was hoped the statue would be unveiled, had passed, and so had Kearny's birth- day on June 2, his sixty-fifth anniversary. All things come, however, to him who waits. Never was a more representa- tive body of Newark citizens mustered for a great move- ment than the committee appointed November 19, 1880, to arrange for the ceremonies of the Kearny statue dedica- tion. The year was nearing an end and the committee had to
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move with alacrity or the exercises would go over into 1881. December 28 was the date decided upon.
Colonel William A. Allen, Dr. Charles S. Stockton, Schuyler B. Jackson, Charles Borcherling, Marcus S. Rich- ards, John W. Taylor, Peter M. Mellick, William Clark, William H. Francis, Seymour Tucker, James E. Bathgate, Edward Balbach, Jr., Inslee A. Hopper, James L. Hayes, and Edward L. Conklin composed the committee. Old Glory was displayed in the morning and the people were early on the street.
General Grant had recently returned from his two-year trip around the world and was more popular than at any other period. He accepted the invitation to assist in dedicating the memorial. Kearny was known to him as commandant of the popular New Jersey First Brigade and as major- general of a division.
When the train arrived at 11:30 o'clock the crowd, stand- ing in the cold, warmed up to a very enthusiastic welcome. All the way to the home of Senator Frelinghuysen, at the head of Military Park, the people followed.
General Sherman arrived at 10 o'clock. He was accom- panied by his aide, Colonel Bacon, and both were escorted to the home of William A. Righter for luncheon. Newark did not possess a hotel or hall large enough to entertain its dis- tinguished guests.
General Wagner, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, did not arrive till 2 o'clock in the afternoon. He was escorted to the Board of Trade rooms, where the Civil War veterans called in large numbers. General George B. McClellan came over from his winter home in New York. He retired as New Jersey's Governor in the previous January. First he was entertained at the home of Colonel E. H. Wright, going from there to the reception in honor of General Wagner.
Military Park was packed with humanity, conservative estimates placing the number at 25,000. The hour set for starting the parade from there was 2:30. General Joseph W. Plume was grand marshal.
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Shivering multitudes watched the procession. Overcoated militiamen made an excellent appearance, their capes thrown back showing the lining of red cloth. The musicians played "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Marching Through Georgia," or "Rally Round the Flag," for they were as dem- onstrative as the men behind them.
Unique in many ways was that ceremony of December 28, but it has never been excelled for the attendance of the "boys in blue" at any function within our gates.
Besides the distinguished guests mentioned, the dashing cavalry officer, General Judson Kilpatrick, General Gershom Mott, commander of New Jersey's division of the National Guard, General Joseph R. Hawley of Connecticut, and many of our own Newark soldiers were in line. General Plume's aides were Colonel William Allen, Major W. W. Morris, and Edward L. Conklin. Tall and dignified, Dr. Gabriel Grant, beloved surgeon of the Second New Jersey Volunteers, marched with the veterans of that organization. Dr. A. N. Dougherty and Dr. Lewis Oakley also trudged with the veterans as comrades. Dr. John J. H. Love, the well- known surgeon of the Thirteenth New Jersey Volunteers, marched with the men of that organization. The Eighth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-third, and Thirty-ninth New Jersey Volunteers were also in line. Other Civil War soldiers paraded with Grand Army Posts and the Fifth Regiment N. G. N. J.
Proceeding up Broad Street to Washington Street, the display met the approval of the crowd. Handclapping and cheering were continually heard. Above the clamor was the cry, running along, resembling picket firing: "Where is Grant?" When the open barouche containing the fa- miliar form of the General appeared the crowd rushed for- ward near the centre of Washington Park, threatening to overwhelm him. He extended his hand, and it was grasped by hundreds of men, women and children. Grant was ac- companied by Senator Frelinghuysen and Cortlandt Parker. General Sherman rode in the second barouche and received
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a hearty ovation. General McClellan followed, and he, too, was recognized and cheered.
Down Washington Street to Central Avenue the parade proceeded and then to Broad Street as far as the Canal bridge, thence around Military Park, where every place of vantage was occupied. A ludicrous incident happened just at the beginning of the exercises. A colored man, in his effort to catch a better view of the platform, endeavored to climb a large elm tree. When half way up the trunk his. hands, benumbed with the cold, held him fast. He could move neither up nor down. Suddenly the attention of the people thousands upon thousands-was attracted to the screaming, frightened, dusky patriot. Shouts of "Get a plank!" "Get a crowbar," etc., were heard. One man shouted "Get a Gun!" and the eyes of the stricken man rolled in horror, and, limp with fear, he dropped to the ground.
Hexamer's Battery A fired the salute as J. Wesley Jackson loosened the string removing the flag from the statue. Bands played "The Star-Spangled Banner" and Cortlandt Parker in his address extolled of Kearny's life and deeds.
Immediately after the oration General Grant left for his New York home and so did General McClellan, who went by another route.
General Sherman accompanied the committee and com- rades to a neighboring banquet hall. When he appeared the diners all arose and sang "Marching Through Georgia."
The city was nearly deserted on June 23 when all who could leave home and business visited Springfield to assist in cele- brating the centennial of the battle in the village between the Continentals and the British. The militia fought a sham battle.
In the summer of 1880 the excavation made for the Hud- son River tunnel was brought to an end for a quarter of a century by the caving in of a greater part of the work accomplished. In the early morning of September 21 the free bridge over the Passaic River at Bridge Street gave way, pitching a drove of cattle into the water. Men in boats with
Statue of General Washington in Washington Park
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long hooks, ropes, grappling irons, and other implements, rescued the swimming animals.
Edison, at his Menlo Park laboratory, made this state- ment in November, 1880: "I have been anxious to make an experiment of operating hundreds of lamps through eight miles of wire for some months. The date I fixed was Au- gust 15, but I was disappointed in not getting the steam engine." We all know that Mr. Edison secured the engine eventually.
CHAPTER LIII
A MEMORABLE SUMMER
THE 'week ending July 2, 1881, was uneventful in the city and nation. James A. Garfield was inaugurated President of the United States on March 4, and the affairs of the country were moving along serenely. Suddenly, without the slightest warning, the ticking of the telegraph in the Fearey office at Broad and Market streets, in the fore. noon, conveyed the startling news of the President's assassi- nation in the Baltimore and Ohio depot in Washington.
The people, shocked by the distressing occurrence, as- sembled at the "Four Corners." The newspaper extras were eagerly read and during the long day dispatches received from the national capital held out little hope for the Presi- dent's recovery.
Plans were practically completed for the observance of the Independence Day anniversary and the city was preparing for a jubilee in harmony with its current prosperity. Exer- cises were held, according to program, at the Grand Opera House. Rev. James B. Brady, the orator, was eloquent and interesting but the audience was not in a receptive mood. It was a sad day.
The dreary summer of 1881! Excursions were unpopular. Sympathy for the President seized the people. Gloom spread over the city and an intense sorrow was bringing the hearts of all in close relationship with the nation's head in his hour of severe trial.
To this anxiety was added one of the worst droughts in the city's history. Only a few light showers fell in July, August, and September, while the temperature rose higher and higher as the summer advanced. The Oranges did not have a pub- lic water supply. Late in August water was sold there
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at the rate of twenty-five cents per barrel and the commodity was very scarce. Brooks and springs were fading out of existence. Newark and Jersey City were receiving their supply of water from the Passaic River, which was ample for all purposes.
Fields and meadows in late summer were a sere and yellow waste, birds dropped dead from the trees, and fruits and vege- tables shriveled. Farmers suffered greatly and Centre
Military Park, Where Newark Patriots Have Rallied for 250 Years
Market merchants apologized for the tasteless quality of their produce.
September was heralded as a welcome relief to the drought. Rain would surely fall, nourishing the sun-baked earth, it was thought. But this did not happen. Serious consider- ation was given to a plan of exploding gunpowder from Eagle Rock, West Orange, for the purpose of forming rain clouds. An increase of temperature came with the dawn of the month. The mercury in the thermometer rose as the sun ascended in the heavens. At noon the thermometer registered 102 de- grees Fahrenheit in the shade, and the air was devoid of the slightest breeze.
President Garfield lived through the heat. His attending physicians, however, declared that a change of climate was necessary as the last hope of saving his life. A cottage at Elberon was thereupon placed at the disposal of the patient and he arrived on September 6, in a special train, ac- companied by physicians, nurses, members of the family, and officials of the United States Government. Governor
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Ludlow issued a proclamation (Governors of other States doing likewise) requesting the people to assemble in their respective houses of worship in fasting and prayer for the President's recovery.
Mayor Fielder, of Newark, also issued a proclamation, suggesting that all business of the city be suspended during Thursday, September 8, the day designated. A union ser- vice was held at the First Baptist Church, and in Orange prayers were also offered that the Lord might send rain .- This was one of the warmest days of the summer and the heat was severely felt. Horses dropped dead in the streets and prostrations overworked the ambulance service. Several deaths of human beings occurred during the day.
The President, though in the pure atmosphere of the sea air, did not improve in health. The wound in his side baf- fled the skill of his physicians. Near the middle of the month hope for recovery was abandoned.
Jabez Fearey, who was in his office in the late evening of September 19, 1881, received this message:
President Garfield died at twenty-five minutes before 11 o'clock to-night.
Instantly he communicated with Mayor Fielder. The lat- ter then requested Mon'signor Doane to cause the great bell in St. Patrick's Cathedral to toll. Promptly the priest complied with the official wish, and the solemn notes of the bell in the quiet, heated night proclaimed the passing of the nation's executive from the scene of his earthly sufferings. Citizens, unable to sleep in the sultry atmosphere, arose and proceeded to the corner of Broad and Market streets, the city centre then as it had been and perhaps will be for many years. Other church bells took up the message sentout by St. Patrick's. The streets were filled at midnight with a sorrow-stricken people.
Through the long night the country was without a presi- dent. Vice-President Arthur was administered the oath in New York at 8 o'clock the next morning.
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Draping of stores, public buildings, factories and homes with mourning began early and Newark citizens arranged a memorial service and funeral procession as further tributes to the late President.
Funeral services were held on Monday, September 26, at the White House in Washington. Local churches held services in the morning and in the afternoon a procession formed on Military Common. Colonel E. W. Davis was the marshal. The entire First Brigade, N. G. N. J., was paraded in command of Brigadier-General Joseph W. Plume. Grand Army Posts and the German Veteran Association preceded Damascus Commandery, Knights Templar, es- corting the catafalque, drawn by six horses, each horse be- ing attended by a groom. A platform car rested on wheels, the entire arrangement surmounted with a domed roof, resting on four columns, all being draped in mourning. In the centre was a casket raised above the heads of the people. At Broad and Market Streets a crowd of thirty thousand persons congregated.
Memorial services were held in the Grand Opera House in the evening. Chancellor Runyon presided and Judge Caleb S. Titsworth and A. Q. Keasbey delivered addresses. Cortlandt Parker of Newark was the orator at Orange Music Hall in the afternoon.
The long drought was broken late in September, but not till every vestige of garden growth was scorched to worth- lessness. Wide-spreading lawns of deep-growing verdure of early spring were now a stubble patch and foliage drooped and withered as if struck by the hoar frost.
CHAPTER LIV
THE OLD BURYING GROUND
TI THE fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of Newark as a city was observed on April 16, 1886, the day mark- ing the installation of the first Mayor and Board of Alder- men. Federal salutes were fired at sunrise, noon and sunset, the City Hall was decorated with flags and banners and the city offices were closed for the day. A parade of the Police and Fire Departments, held in the afternoon, was reviewed by Mayor Joseph E. Haynes and others. The year also marked the climax of a movement for the obliteration of the Old Burying Ground, fronting on the west side of Broad Street, and a few rods south of Market Street. Two acres and more of valuable land contained in the tract, it was sug- gested, might be used for building purposes. Long had it been abandoned as a burial place and in 1885 public senti- ment crystalized in a movement by the city authorities to have it condemned. Accordingly, a bill was introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, of the session of 1886, and passed both houses, providing for removal of the remains and per- mitting the city to use the property as it thought best.
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