The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 122

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards
Number of Pages: 1220

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THE VILLAGE OF SNOW HILL is two miles from Haddonfield, on the elevated lands along the road to that town. Its population is composed almost exclusively of colored people. It contains several small stores, two good society buildings, three churches and within a radius of a mile are six hundred colored inhabitants. Although a number of colored people had settled in this locality at a much earlier period, the village was not regularly laid out until about 1840. At that period Ralph Smith, an Abolitionist, living in Haddonfield, who had advanced ideas of the future condition of the negro, purchased a tract of land and had William Watson survey the same into lots for him. In accordance with his purpose, to give the negro a village of his own, the place was appropriately called Free Haven. The lots being offered cheap, and as much effort was made in Phila- delphia and other cities to induce settlement, a large number were soon sold, only a few of which were improved. Among those who first settled here were Stephen Thomas, James Arthur, Isaac Arthur, Samuel Sharp, Perry Gibson, Thomas Brown and Thomas Banks. The last-named was a man of superior attainments, which caused him to be looked upon with deference, hut at the same time made him an object of suspicion among his fellows, who accused him of self-aggrandizement. In the main, the settlers were harmonious and the community law-abiding and orderly. Many of the settlers came from the vicinity of Snow Hill, Md., from which circumstance came the name. Free Haven, as applied by Ralph Smith, never ob- tained any hold upon the people, and the original name still remains good. The village plot was enlarged by Jacob C. White, a colored dentist, of Philadelphia, who was warmly interested in the development of the place.

Within the last few years small stores have been kept at Snow Hill by Joseph E. Gray, John Williams and P. S. Smiley. A few shops are also maintained, but most of the inhabitants find occu- pation in agricultural pursuits.

SOCIETIES .- In few places of its size are more secret societies successfully maintained than by the colored people of Snow Hill. A sketch of the various lodges of the village that existed in Janu- ary, 1886, is here given. The Daughters of Ebene- zer, organized 1842, a local beneficial society for women, having twenty-two members; Mt. Zion Beneficial Society, also local, instituted in 1850 and having thirty members; St. Matthew Union Lodge, No. 10, Independent Order of Good Samari- tans, instituted October 7, 1852, and incorporated March 18, 1872, had one hundred and twenty-five

members. In 1870 a spacious two-story hall was erected by this order, the upper room being used for lodge purposes, the lower room for general meetings. In this building also meet the Daugh- ters of Samaria, whose membership is composed of women only. Hiram Lodge, No. 5, A. F. A. M., was instituted in September, 1874, and has thirty members. The meetings of this Masonic lodge are held in the Samaria Hall. Star of Liberty Lodge, No. 1062, G. O. of O. F., was instituted March 9, 1863, with nine members, which number has been increased to eighty-six. In 1882 a very fine hall was built by the lodge, in the upper story of which meetings are regularly held. In this hall, also, meets the Household of Ruth, a Ladies' Odd-Fellow Auxiliary Society, which was organized in 1878, and which had thirty-six members in June, 1886. The Union Republican Association of Snow Hill, incorporated February 19, 1886, is one of the youngest benevolent organizations at this place.

SCHOOLS .- Separate schools for the education of colored children were established about 1848, Samuel Sharp being the teacher. The present school-house was built in 1872, and is a large two- story frame structure. There are one hundred and twenty-seven children of school age, many of whom have a keen interest in educational matters. Among the later teachers have been Edward Mil- ler, John Jackson and John Goodwin.

THE MT. PISGAH AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH was originated soon after 1800, and became a per- manent organization in 1813. Until that time Methodists of both the white and colored race of . the vicinity held religious services together in a small frame building which stood upon the present church lot; but, following the advice of a colored minister, Richard Allen, who subsequently became a bishop, the colored element declared themselves independent of the Methodist Episcopate, where- upon some of the colored members and the whites withdrew to form the Methodist Church at Green- land. Bishop Allen then became the pastor of the independent church, and for many years served it, in connection with the Bethel Church (colored), in Philadelphia. From this fact the members of Mt. Pisgah Church are sometimes called the "Allenites." The present bishop is R. H. Kane, and the preacher in charge is T. A. V. Henry, who also supplies the mission at Haddon- field. The members number sixty-three.

In 1867 the old meeting-house was replaced by the present large frame building which was neatly repaired in 1884. Its seating capacity is increased by the use of galleries on two sides and one end. The property appears neatly kept and is in

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THE TOWNSHIP OF CENTRE.

charge of Trustees Isaac Jackson, Charles Arthur, Richard Tilman, Alfred Arthur, Joshua Arthur, Peter S. Smiley and Warner Gibbs. Ebenezer Mann and Peter Mott were former local preachers, and the latter organized the first Sunday-school about 1854. The present superintendent is John H. Jackson, and the membership of the Sunday- school is about seventy. In connection with the church is a grave-yard, where are buried some of the first colored settlers of this part of the town- ship.

THE MT. ZION AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCO- PAL CHURCH .- Not long after Allen's congrega- tion declared itself an independent church, the colored members adhering to the Methodist Epis- copacy organized themselves into a church body and, in 1828, secured their own house of worship. In this meetings were regularly held until it was burned down in 1835. A new church was then built, which became too small to accommodate the growing membership, and, in 1868, it was taken down and the present church built in its place. It is a frame of neat proportions and has a large seat- ing capacity. A part of the old church building was converted into a parsonage, this appointment forming a charge in connection with Jordantown. The membership of the church is large, number- ing nearly one hundred and seventy-five, and the Sunday-school has one hundred and sixty scholars, having as its superintendent Henry D. Wilson. Upon the church lot is a grave-yard, and the prop- erty has, in 1886, the following trustees: Robert Cooper, Franklin Fossett, William Henry, An- thony Baynard, Albert A. Calles, Cupid Moore and Joseph E. Tray.

SNOW HILL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- The building in which the members of the Catholic Church of this vicinity worshipped was built in 1859, on a lot of ground donated for this purpose by James Diamond. It was here located on ac- count of its central position, in a large scope of country, which was taken up as a mission, many of the members living beyond Kirkwood, Black- wood, Chews Landing and Haddonfield, and all being whites. The communicants number nearly a hundred, and semi-monthly services are held by clergymen from Camden and Gloucester. At the latter place interments are made. The church is a small frame building of very humble appearance.

MAGNOLIA is southeast from Snow Hill and ex- tending beyond the Evesham road, on and in the neighborhood of the White Horse turnpike. It is the old hamlet of Greenland, properly called Magnolia, since the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad located a station with that name

near the place where a post-office is now estab- lished. The term Greenland was applied on ac- count of the prevalence of a greenish soil in this locality very closely resembling marl. For many years the upper part of the settlement was called Frederickville, after Frederick Hines, one of the first settlers there, and by occupation a weaver. Joseph Webb, another early settler, followed the same trade, while John Albertson and Samuel Barrett were farmers.

For the greater part of half a century John P. Curtis, a local Methodist preacher, has lived in this place. Barrett varied his occupation of a farmer by keeping a small store at the corner of the turnpike and the public road, where James Lee was afterwards engaged in trade. Within the past few years James Barrett, Jr., has opened a store in a new building, not far from the old stand, and in the same neighborhood a good smithy has been established.

At the crossing of the Haddonfield road, oppo- site the toll-house on the pike, Frederick Besser had a store and was succeeded by Joel G. Clark. The latter sold out to A. H. Wolohon, who built the present store about 1851, and converted the old stand into a residence. Nearer Snow Hill, Joseph Fish opened another store about 1855, where, for a number of years, Henry Charman has been in trade. The village has several hundred inhabit- ants, most of whom are whites.

THE GREENLAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- Methodism was preached in this locality as early as the beginning of this century by the preachers named in the account of the Blackwood Church, and later by others, whose names have not been preserved. The appointments were numerous and separated many miles, two preachers serving the circuit in 1826. It is said that David Daly, one of the preachers, was of the opinion that the members were heavily burdened to raise the pay of the preachers, about six hundred dollars per year, and that the pioneer, Jacob Gruber, thought that one man should be able to serve the circuit, which embraced the most of old Glouces- ter and Burlington Counties. It is an interesting historical fact that the same territory now supports about forty preachers, and that nearly one hundred thousand dollars is raised annually for the promo- tion of the church work, where a little more than sixty years ago a hundredth part was raised with difficulty. It is evidence not only of the increase of population, but also of the hold that Methodism has upon the people.

The first meetings were held at Snow Hill in a building which was the joint property of the

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

whites and the blacks, but which was relinquished in favor of the colored people about 1813. Soon after Samuel Barrett set aside an acre of land, on the Evesham road, for church and cemetery pur- poses, where a small frame meeting-house was built in 1815, which was thenceforth the spiritual home of the white Methodists in this section of the country. Among the early members, and those who participated in building this house, were Samuel Barrett, Christopher Sickler, Joseph Webb, William Heppin and Frederick Hines. The church was used until 1867, when the present building was erected in its place by a building committee composed of J. P. Curtis, John W. Chester and Samuel Barrett. It is a frame house, thirty-five by forty-five feet, of very modest appear- ance. The membership of the church is small, numbering but forty in 1886. The church has no regular pastor, but was last connected with Glen- dale to form a circuit. A flourishing Sunday-school has John Harley as its superintendent.

In the fall of 1885 a Ladies' Aid Society of the neighborhood built a hall near the church, in which social gatherings may be held for the pur- pose of securing funds to encourage church work, The efforts of the ladies in this direction have already been attended with gratifying success.

GUINEA TOWN is another hamlet wholly inhab- ited by colored people. It is located on the Black- wood turnpike, on the sand-hills near Beaver Branch, and was formerly more populous than at present. The village site was a part of the Hugg estate, and the first houses built belonged to the former slaves of that family, who were settlers here under the provisions of an act, which required owners of negroes to provide homes for them and to prevent them from becoming a public charge. Some of the inhabitants of Guinea Town were Cubit Waterford, Archibald Farmer, Daniel Wil- liamson, Daniel Stevens, Edward Jackson, Thomas Quann and the Still family, who had been slaves of persons living near. The last-named claimed royal descent, their ancestor being a prince in the direct line, when he was captured in Guinea and brought to America as a slave. The Stills were superior, both in stature and mental endowments, and after their removal some of them became prominent in the learned professions.

The soil at Guinea Town being unproductive, many of the inhabitants removed, after living there a few years, and the hamlet decreased in size until but a few houses remained of what was quite a large settlement about 1805.

INCIDENTS OF THE REVOLUTION .- Along Great Timber Creek, landings were established at con-

venient points, where considerable business was transacted before railways afforded more expedi- tious transportation. The landing at Clements Bridge has a Revolutionary interest attaching to it. On the 24th of October, 1777, the Hessian troops, twelve hundred strong, crossed here on their retreat from the battle-field of Red Bank. They had marched through the township, by the King's Highway, two days previously, cross- ing Little Timber Creek; but the Americans destroyed the bridge at that point, which prevented them from going back to Haddonfield by that thoroughfare. Worn out and disheart- ened, it is said that they threw two brass field- pieces into the creek near where now is Clements Bridge, where they have since remained. The King's Highway had a course to the north, near the lower part of the township, crossing Little Timber Creek half a mile below its present ·bridge. In that locality was a tavern, called the "Two Tuns," which was kept during the Revolu- tion by an old lady known as " Aunty High-cap," from the head-gear she wore. Here the British officers were wont to assemble and regale them- selves with the rum the old lady dispensed, having little fear of attack or disturbance by the Ameri- cans. This over-confidence led to the death of one of their number, who was shot by a patriot more than a third of a mile from the house, and whose presence was never discovered by the Brit- ish.

The tavern was abandoned after the course of the road was changed, and the tavern nearer what is now Brownings Landing was also discontinued. At this landing and at Crispins Landing large quantities of moulders' sand were formerly ship- ped, and manure and coal received in return. Small scows yet occasionally land at these places, but they are not important in a business point of view.

MOUNT EPHRAIM has a beautiful location, mid- way between Gloucester and Haddonfield, five miles from Camden, on the Blackwood turnpike. It is also the terminus of a branch of the Reading Railroad, which was completed to this place as a narrow-gauge road June 10, 1876, and changed to a standard gauge, in 1885, by the present company. Six trains per day afford communication with Camden, at Kaighn's Point, five miles distant, while half that distance only separates it from Gloucester. Its situation and healthful surround- ings are favorable to its becoming a thriving subur- ban town.

Though an old business point, its growth has been slow and was uneventful until the completion

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THE TOWNSHIP OF CENTRE.

of the railroad. That year the first regular plat of lots was made by James Davis, the original village not being laid out, except a few lots by Hezekiah Shivers, about 1820. In 1876 Joseph Warrington also laid out an addition, and Mary K. Howell one the following year. John D. Glover made an addition in 1886, as also did the Mount Ephraim Land and Improvement Company, which was incorporated March 8, 1886. These additions aggregate more than two thousand lots. In the fall of 1876 the Iowa State Exposition Building was removed to this place from Philadelphia, and was converted into a residence for Joseph H. Bower, and since that time a number of fine resi- dences have been erected. In June, 1886, the vil- lage had a public hall, store, tavern and twenty- five dwellings.

The town hall was built in 1862 for both school and public purposes, and is a neat, two- story frame building. In it the Baptists have maintained a Sabbath-school for several years, but in the sum- mer of 1886 that denomination built the first house of worship in the village. The chapel was erected for mission purposes, under the direction of the Baptist Church of Haddonfield.

A public-house has been kept in this locality from a period so remote that the memory of the oldest citizen does not reach it. The first keeper is not re- membered, but it is believed to have been Ephraim Albertson, from whom the village obtained its name and who owned the land. He was a farmer, and it is quite probable that he added to his other duties those of a tavern-keeper. William Batt was the proprietor of the old hostelry in 1825, and James Jennett came after him, achieving con- siderable reputation as a landlord and horse-trainer. He often had a large number of thoroughbreds in his stables, some coming from States as far dis- tant as Kentucky, Among other horses he prepared for the race-course were those of General Irwin, of Pennsylvania, and Dr. McClellan, of Philadel- phia, father of the late General Mcclellan, of New Jersey. Jennett had a track near his tavern and also used the course near Camden, where famous trials of speed took place. The old tavern has had many owners, among them being Charles Buckingham, who is still the proprietor, though not the keeper of the place.

Opposite the tavern was the first store, a small farm building, which was removed in 1877, after Charles C. Clark had put up the present stand on an adjoining lot. Clark has since been in trade, and is also postmaster of the Mt. Ephraim office, which is the only one in the township. In the old building a number of persons traded, among those

best remembered being Jonathan Johnson, James M. Glover, Joseph Tomlinson, Samuel Eastlack, Peleg Brown, William Garrett, John I. Brick and Charles Brown.

On the corner beyond the turnpike Wm. Hugg formerly had an undertaker's shop which was changed to a store by Daniel Lamb, where Simon W. Mitton and James Cordery afterwards traded. William K. Cook was the last there engaged in merchandising, and converted it into a residence which is now occupied by him. On this corner several mechanics' shops are carried on, but the proximity of Mt. Ephraim to older and larger towns has limited its interests and occupations to what has been above noted.

THE HEDDEN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. -- This house of worship is in the old Budd neigh- borhood, on the Blackwood turnpike, a little less than a mile from Mount Ephraim. It is a large, plain frame building, standing on a spacious lot, connected with which is a cemetery of about an acre of ground. As it now stands it was erected in 1868, at a cost of $2500, but prior to that time a smaller house, built about 1840, had been occupied. The church has been connected with other appoint- ments in this and Gloucester County to form a circuit, belonging at present to Chews Landing Circuit. Its membership in 1886 was sixty, and the board of trustees was composed of Hiram J. Budd, J. C. Curtis, John Webb, John Williams, John Peters and James McManus. A Sunday- school of eighty-five members has George W. Barnes as its superintendent.

In the cemetery the following interments have been noted, most of these persons named having been connected with the church :

Jehu Budd, died 1882, aged fifty-two years. Jacob Wagner, died 1884, agsd eighty-five years. Amy Wagner, died 1850, aged fifty-seven years. William W. Webb, died 1879, aged seventy years. Elizabeth Curtie, died 1853, aged sixty-four years. Jeseph Webh, died 1854, aged eighty years. Rebecca Webb, died 1855, aged seventy-one yeare. Hugh H. Garretteen, died 1853, aged fifty-eight years. Elizabeth Jehneoa, died 1849, aged sixty-six years. Martha Cook, died 1885, aged sixty-seven years. Patience Gladden, died 1885, eeventy-four years. Jeseph D. Fox, died 1876, aged seventy-ene yeare. Sarah Curtie, died 1879, aged seventy-cevea yeare. Eli Brasington, died 1843, aged forty-twe years. John Peters, died 1852, aged sixty-four years. Mary Peters, died 1880, aged seventy-eight years. Mary Ogg, died 1866, aged seventy-six years. Elizabeth Sayere, died 1869, aged forty five years. Elizabeth Budd, died 1879, aged seventy-one years. Sarah Hendry, died 1842, aged eighty-three years. David Galaway, died 1842, aged thirty-two years. Philip Petere, died 1851, aged fifty-eight yeare. Mary A. Peters, died 1876, aged eighty-five years. Micajah Beakiey, died 1875, aged sixty-three years.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Joseph Budd, died 1862, aged sixty-three years. John Stewart, died 1867, aged seventy-eight years. Martha Stewart, died 1864, aged seventy-five years. Frederick Lister, died 1871, aged forty-nine years. Jane E. Zane, died 1874, aged sixty-six years.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOSEPH M. HAINES .- The family from which Joseph M. Haines is descended came from Eng- land shortly after the arrival of the " Commission- ers in Burlington, in 1678." They settled in Eves- ham township, Burlington County, and among the names are William, Thomas, Daniel, Nathan, Samuel, Sarah, Deborah and Amos.

In the reign of one of the English Kings, one of their ancestors offered the King a bowl of punch as he rode along the highway, and he was knighted on the spot for his hospitality. This characteristic has been transmitted with their good name to the present generation. As early as 1711 Jonathan Haines married Mary Matlack. He died in 1729, leaving in his will the old homestead farm. In 1738 Nehemiah and John Haines conveyed land to John Peacock, and the old "Haines Saw-Mills," on Ran- cocas Creek, was their property. In the earlier periods of our country's history they were stirring and energetic men. Jacob Haines was born in Burlington County ; he was married twice, and his children were as follows : Samuel, Abel (father of Joseph M.), Jacob, Beulah, Stokes and Hannah.

Abel Haines married Nancy Moore, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Moore, whose maiden-name was Heulings, by whom he had the following-named children : Jacob, Mary Ann, Rachel M., Eliza, Samuel, Ann Eliza, Abel and Joseph M. and William, all deceased but Samuel and Joseph M.

Abel, after his marriage, settled upon the farm sit- uated on Beaver Branch and now owned by Joseph M., and he was considered the " pioneer farmer of the neighborhood." He was the first to bring fertili- zers of any kind up Great Timber Creek in vessels, and of his skill and knowledge in husbandry John Gill used to say, "I borrowed from his book."

Joseph M. Haines has always been a farmer and lived on the old homestead until quite recently, when he retired to Mount Ephraim, near which place he was born on August 15, 1826.

On the 22d day of April, 1869, he was married to Martha D. Calm, daughter of Davis W. and Han- nah (Lacy) Calm, daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Lacy. Their children are Joseph E, Ann Eliza, Emily M., Abel, Martha R. and Henry C. Ann Eliza is deceased.

Joseph M. Haines is a Friend, as were his ancestors. In politics, a Republican. He has been township collector, member of township com- mittees, commissioner of appeal, member of Board of Chosen Freeholders, and for eight years on the standing committees continuously. While freeholder he has always been noted for strict justice and integrity, and at the age of sixty enjoys good health. The Haineses are well-known in Burlington and Camden Counties, and are connected by mar- riage with the oldest families.

Joseph M. holds the deed given in 1689 by John Hugg to his son John, the Huggs at that time owning vast properties, while now none is held in their name, while in the name of Haines it descends from father to son through the different generations.

Joseph M Haines

THE TOWNSHIP OF DELAWARE.1

CHAPTER XVII.

Civil History-Affairs of the Townchip during the Civil War-Liet of Officiale-Mills-Early Settlers-The Howells, Coopers, Cham- pions, Collins, Burroughs, Ellis, Heritages, Keys, Matlacks, Shivers, Stokeses, Davises, Frencbee and others-Old Houses- Ellisburg-Batesville.

CIVIL HISTORY .- The township of Delaware was originally a part of Waterford township. An effort was made in 1838 to erect a township from the west end of that township. At a meeting of citizens December 12th in that year notice was given that application would be made to the Leg- islature at the then present session for a township to be made from the territory so described. It does not appear that the application was made until five years later, when, on the 28th of Febru- ary, 1844, an act was passed by the Legislature, and was approved, by which all that portion of Waterford township lying north of the road run- ning from Clementon to the Burlington County line, near the grist-mill known as Hopkins' mill (now owned by Charles E. Matlack), and extend- ing to the Delaware River, embracing all the ter- ritory between Coopers Creek and the Pensaukin (which constitutes the dividing line between the counties of Burlington and Camden, then Glouces- ter), was set off and designated as the township of Delaware. The first town-meeting of the in- habitants of the township of Delaware was held in the town-house, at Ellisburg, on the 13th day of March, 1844. John Coles was elected moderator and Mahlon M. Coles (his son) clerk. The report of the committee of the township of Waterford was read and approved, after which a series of resolutions were passed, embracing the following points of business :

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 122

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Prowell, George Reeser, 1849-1928
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Richards
Number of Pages: 1220