The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 52

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

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friends. He collected much genealogical data relating to both branches of his family, Lippincott and Starr, but his enfeebled health prevented his arranging it before his death.

His library was large and select, containing volumes entirely out of print, and but seldom met with. Any purpose that advanced know]- edge, or developed any particular brauch of science, he was in sympathy with. His manuseripts are extensive and will increase in value, making it desirable that they be kept together, where they could be consulted by those of like tastes and in search of like knowledge. He was a devoted student and genial companion, always familiar with the literature of the day and ready with good- natured criticism. He was twice married, but left no children. He died March 17, much missed by his friends and associates.

WILLIAM FEWSMITH, author of the well- known Fewsmith's English Grammars, was boru in Philadelphia in the year 1826, and is a son of Joseph Fewsmith. When he was six years old his parents removed to the vicinity of Haddonfield. He obtained a pre- paratory education in the schools of that village and in Franklin Park Boarding- School, near Burlington. After spending three years in an academy at Colchester, Conn., he entered Western Reserve College, in Ohio, and there passed the freshman year. At the expiration of this time he went to Yale Col- lege, and was graduated from that institution in 1844, with a class of one hundred and six, of whom about thirty-five are now living. While in college Mr. Fewsmith was recog- nized as the best Latin and Greek scholar in his class, and took several prizes for his pro- ficiency in reading those lauguages at sight. From 1844 to 1857 he was teacher of ancient languages and English grammar in a private academy in Philadelphia. He then opened a school himself at Tenth Street and Arch, in that eity, continued it there until 1860, when he removed to 1008 Chestnut Street, and has

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

since conducted the well-known "Fewsmith Classical and Mathematical School " at that place, with gratifying success to himself and with satisfaction to its numerons patrons. Since he entered the profession of teaching, in 1844, he has trained more than one thousand different pupils, many of whom have since gained prominence in law, medicine and theology. His influence as an instructor of the young has been productive of much good. In 1867 he was elected superintendent of the schools of Camden and did efficient work in re- organizing and grading them. He filled this position for several years, and in the mean time continued his school in Philadelphia. In 1867 the firm of Sower, Potts & Co., of Philadelphia, published his "Grammar of the English Language " and " Elementary Gram- mar," both of which have had a wide cir -. culation and extensive sale in the schools of this country.

JOSEPH F. GARRISON, M.D., D.D., for twenty-nine years rector of St. Paul's Epis- copal Church, Camden, was the only son of Dr. Charles Garrison, of Deerfield, Cumber- land County, N. J., and was born in Fairton, in that same county, on January 20, 1823. His father removed to Swedesboro', Glouces- ter County, N. J., in the latter part of this year, where he became one of the most prom- inent physicians in New Jersey, and prac- ticed medicine for over fifty years.

J. F. Garrison entered the sophomore class in Princeton College in 1839, and was grad- uated, third in his class, in 1842. He at once began the study of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, and was an of- fice student of Dr. Edward Pearce and Dr. William Pepper, the latter being the father of the present distinguished professor and provost of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Garrison received his diploma in medi- cine in 1845, and settled in Swedesboro', where he practiced in connection with his father until 1855, when he entered the min- istry of the Episcopal Church. He was or-

dained deacon by Bishop Doane on June 3, 1855, in Trinity Church, Swedesboro', and was almost immediately invited to take charge of St. Paul's Church, Camden, which had been vacant for some months after the death of Rev. Joseph Lybrand. Dr. Garri- son entered on the duties of minister in this parish in September, 1855.

In 1879 Dr. Garrison received the honorary degree of D.D., from his old college, Prince- ton, N. J., and in June, 1884, he was elected professor of liturgics, canon law and eccle- siastical polity, on the " Moorhead fonnda- tion," in the Episcopal Divinity School of Philadelphia. Having decided to accept this appointment, Dr. Garrison resigned the rec- torship of St. Paul's from September 1, 1884, and immediately entered on the duties of the chair entrusted to him.

From the beginning of his connection with the ministry of the churchi Dr. Garrison was active in the general affairs of the Diocese of New Jersey. He was dean of the Convoca- tion of Burlington for a considerable period ; an examining chaplain to the bishop for more than twenty-five years; one of the deputies to the General Convention from 1874; a member, and subsequently president, of the standing committee of the diocese, and was for some time a diocesan trustee of the General Theological Seminary, in New York. He has also been appointed as the Bohlen lecturer for the year 1887. The published writings of Dr. Garrison have been a considerable number of articles in the Church Review and elsewhere, and several sermons, the most important of the latter being " The Centennial Discourse," delivered in New Brunswick, N. J., at the request of the bishop of the old diocese in the State on May 5, 1885, upon the occasion of the cele- bration of the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the Episcopal Church in the State of New Jersey. The sermon is an extended account of the character of the Colonial Clinrch, and of the events connected

J. Martindale

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AUTHORS AND SCIENTISTS.

with its separation from the mother church in England, and the beginnings, in the same year, of the General Conventions of the Church in the United States and the Diocesan Conventions of New Jersey.

ISAAC C. MARTINDALE was born in By- berry, Philadelphia County, Pa., July 15, 1842. His parents were members of the Society of Friends, and his early education was acquired chiefly at schools under the control of Friends. His father was a de- scendant from John Martindell, who, early in the history of the country, settled in Bucks County, Pa. Many of the family name have become prominent in the history of that part of Pennsylvania, and of late years we find them scattered all over the conntry. Some remarkable instances of longevity are noted in different branches of the family. His mother was the daughter of Joseph Comly, a brother of John Comly, an eminent minister of the Society of Friends, the an- thor of "Comly's Spelling-book," "Comly's Grammar," etc., and who, with another brother, Isaac Comly, edited Friends' Miscel- lany and other periodicals. The literary ability thus conspicuously marked can be traced backward through several generations, and the subject of this sketch, whose portrait is herewith given, has inherited it in a good degree.

While living on his father's farm he took up the study of natural history, and, not- withstanding his scanty supply of books, he early became possessed of considerable scien- tific knowledge. The geology and mineral- ogy of the neighborhood were especially stud- ied. Ornithology received much attention, till he became quite familiar with the names and habits of most of the birds that belong to that partof the country. He, too, was quite familiar with astronomy and meteorology, and was one of the appointed meteorological ob- servers of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington for a number of years.

His favorite study, however, was botany,

which he began soon after leaving school and has continued it ever since, so that he ranks among the noted botanists of the conntry ; he has contributed largely to scien- tifie periodicals on this subject and has ac- cumulated a collection of specimens in the form of a herbarium, the finest in New Jer- sey, with but few in the country surpassing it, embracing tens of thousands of species from various parts of the world, the flora of North America, including Mexico, being very fully represented, as well as that of Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Palestine, Arabia, Australia, New Zealand and other islands of the Pacific Ocean. This depart- ment of study has brought him in intimate association with the eminent scientists of the day. He is a member of many of the learned societies of the country, and has done mnch to encourage and foster the study of scientific subjects in Camden County by his identity with and aid to local institutions.

In 1867 Mr. Martindale left the farm to accept a position as clerk in the National State Bank of Camden, of which Jesse Townsend, also a native of Byberry, Pa., was cashier. By diligent attention he became so familiar with all the details of the banking business that at the death of Jesse Townsend, in 1871, he was elected cashier. In April, 1874, the sudden death of his wife occurred while in attendance at a religious meeting at Fifteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia (she was Hannah Ann Kirk, daughter of Samuel Kirk, of Byberry, Pa.). In the month of June of the same year, in order to recuperate his health, which had become im- paired, he took a trip to Europe and traveled through Scotland, England, Germany, Switz- erland and France. He visited many mu- seums and scientific collections both in Eng- land and on the Continent, and also made a collection of several hundreds of specimens of the Alpine flora of the country. He re- turned in the autumn of 1874, resnming his position as cashier, which he retained till

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

February, 1885, when he resigned. He then became interested with others in the estab- lishment of a bank in South Camden, and soon had in operation the Camden National Bank, of which he is now cashier. The literary ability which he inherited led him to become quite a contributor to magazines and other periodicals, and while his articles are largely on scientific subjects, others are often found, even the poetie vein not being omitted. I Ie has taken much interest in local histories; was engaged for several years in collecting material for a history of the townships of Byberry and Moreland, Philadelphia County, Pa., which was afterwards published by his brother, Joseph C. Martindale, M.D.

Soon after coming to Camden he prepared and published in the West Jersey Press a series of " Objects of Interest in and around Camden," which have been very serviceable in the preparation of this history. His con- nection with various literary societies has made him quite an earnest publie speaker. In recent years he has become quite prominent in the meetings of the Society of Friends, of which he is a member.

He married Lizzie Ball, daughter of John Ball, a native of Quakertown, Bucks Coun- ty, Pa., a few years ago, and now resides in Camden ; he has a family of two sons- Wallace S. and Charles B .-- and one daugh- ter, Emma K., by his first wife.

GEOFFREY BUCKWALTER, principal of the First School District of Camden, is an occasional contributor to the periodical liter- ature of the day, and the author of a " Pri- mary " and a "Comprehensive Spelling- Book " and " A Practical System of Penman- ship," consisting of two series of copy-books. The spelling-books were published by Porter & Coates in 1879, and the copy-books by the same firm, in 1884 and 1885.

BARTRAM L. BONSALL, for several years past the enterprising proprietor of the Camden Post, which influential journal was estab- lished greatly through his energy, in 1882

wrote and published a work of one hundred and ninety-four pages, entitled "Cash ; or, Practical Hints from Practical People." The book contains interesting instruction and valuable information.

DR. J. DUNBAR HYLTON, of Palmyra, is the author of " Betrayed ; A Northern Tale in seven parts." One volume, two hun- dred and eighty-eight pages. "The Bride of Gettysburg. An Episode of 1863." One volume, one hundred and seventy-two pages. " Above the Grave and the Præsidieide, etc." One volume, two hundred and twenty-eight pages. "The Heir of Lyolynn. A tale of Sea and Land, in seven parts ; Lays of An- cient Times; Song of the Engineer to his Engine while conveying President Garfield from Washington to Long Branch ; and nu- merous Charades and Riddles." One volume, five hundred and forty pages. "Above the Grave of John Odenswurge."

GEORGE F. FORT, a member of the Cam- den County bar, is the author of an " Historical Treatise on Early Builders' Works," " Medi- eval Builders,"" Medical Economy during the Middle Ages " and " Early History and An- tiquities of Masonry."

BOTANISTS .- The opportunities afforded for the study of botany, led many persons into it, but no society was organized to that especial end till 1870, when a seien- tific circle of the Camden Literary and Li- brary Association was established, Isaac C. Martindale being the prime mover therein. The purpose was to have the different de- partments of natural science represented, whenever persons thus interested should call up the various subjects ; but the botanical circle was the only one regularly organ- ized. Mr. Martindale was elected its presi- dent ; Reynell Coates, M.D., vice-president ; and Mrs. Mary L. Gilbert, secretary. The meetings were held at the library-room, No. 106 Market Street, Camden. The exer- cises consisted of lectures, presentation of specimens, descriptions of rare localities, etc.

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AUTHORS AND SCIENTISTS.

Besides the officers above mentioned, those who took an active part at the meetings were Rudolphus Bingham, Miss Carrie A. Boyce, Mrs. Harriet M. Harned, John F. Harned, Frederick Bourquin, Thomas Gilbert, Mrs. Virginia R. Naisby, Charles F. Parker, Wallace M. Smith, S. D. Button, Miss E. J. Burnside, M.D., Frank Harned, J. T. Penny- packer, S. W. Cochran, Henry Harned, U. F. Richards, W. S. Johnson, Miss Lizzie A. Sanders, M.D., Mrs. Dr. Pratt, Carrie Titus, Lillie Titus, Clara Titus, Minnie Titus, Miss Salina A. Rule, Charles P. Burrough and Mr. and Mrs. J. Hugill. Mr. Martindale gave a series of illustrated lectures on the adopted classification of the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms. Mr. Bourquin dis- coursed on ferns and mosses, his especial study, and also on the culture of roses. Dr. Coates gave a number of discourses on natural sci- ence, relating his experience as a naturalist while attached to exploring expeditions in former years. Rudolphus Bingham, with his fund of information, became a very active and influential member. The meetings were continued several years, adjourning usually in the summer season. After their final dis- continuance, among all the lovers of botany in Camden, who continued active as botanists, we find only the names of Isaac C. Martin- dale, Charles F. Parker and Carrie A. Boice, probably because many had removed to other localities, some had died and others became engrossed with manifold duties and respon- sibilities that left little time for scientific study.

THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CAM- DEN was formed November 7, 1878, by a few gentlemen desirous of improving them- selves in microscopical investigation. The original members were Joseph C. De la Cour, Albert P. Brown, Ph.D., Joseph L. De la Cour, Samuel W. Cochran, M. F. Middleton, M.D., William D. Clark, Harry S. Fortiner, I. Harvey Wroth, M.D., Alfred W. Test and C. Henry Kain. The first president of the

society, Albert P. Brown, occupies the posi- tion of microscopical preceptor in the Phila- delphia College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, and has been instrumental in advancing the use of the microscope in that institution.

Mr. Brown was succeeded by Isaac C. Martindale, whose botanical knowledge is too well appreciated to call for more than in- cidental mention.

The present chief officer, C. Henry Kain, has devoted his time and labor to the study of the diatomaceæ, on which subject he is an acknowledged authority. He is at present engaged in preparing a list of the diatoms of' New Jersey, which, when completed, will be a valuable contribution to the literature of that order.

Various papers of scientific interest have been read at the meetings of the society, and an effort is made to have, during the winter of each year, an exhibition at some public place of the work of the season. These soireés are always largely attended, and liave had the effect of increasing the membership.

The present membership is about thirty. Of the originators, but five are now connected with the society.

The following is a partial list of members of this society, together with the subjects upon which they are specialists :

A. P. Brown, Ph. D., chemical microscopy and urinary deposits.

G. G. Browning, general microscopy, adulteration of drugs. Rudolphue Bingham, botany, effects of alcohol.

James Buckle, ocenlt science.

John B. Betts, entomology, desmidaceæ.

I. S. Cheney, choice mounting, section preparation.

J. Loriot De la Cour, entomology, chemical microscopy. Louis T. Derousse, entomology, general microscopy. John H. Dialogue, Jr., general microscopy. Samuel Hufty, general microscopy.

E. M. Howard, M.D., bacteria, general microscopy, histology.

Charles A. Hotchkiss, diatomacea, general microscopy. Henry Harned, general science.

C. Henry Kain, diatomaceæ, special preparation of slides. Isaac C. Martindale, botany, general microscopy. M. F. Middleton, M.D., clinical microscopy, histology.

E. F. Moody, engineering, physics.

A. A. Moss, general science. Edwin Morgan, general science. George T. Robinson, electricity, microscopy, fungi. E. E. Reed, general microscopy, adulteration of foods.

S. Howard Troth, general microscopy.

Aaron Van Gelder, gonoral microscopy.

I. Francis Walsh, clinical microscopy.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

CHAPTER XVIII.

PUBLIC INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

INDIAN TRAILS AND EARLY ROADS .- Colonel Thomas H. Benton once said that the buffalo established the courses and positions of the great highways across the continent, which, in a broad sense, is true ; but in the Eastern States it is more exact to say that the present routes of travel by land were first in- (licated by the aborigines.

In almost any given region of territory it will be found that the centres or chief seats of the past and present populations have occupied practically the same ground, and so general is this rule that where a marked ex- ception has occurred, peculiar and potent canses may be looked for as its explanation. As a natural sequence to this truth that the centres of population of successive races have been generally one and the same, it follows that the highways of travel in the past and in the present must similarly coincide or ap- proximate. The lines along which, with roar and rumble, the locomotive now rushes with its mighty load, making an old-time day's journey in sixty minutes, are almost exactly coincident with the first rude wagon-roads of the pioneers of two centuries ago, and also with the paths or trails along the water- courses and through the easiest mountain passes trodden from time immemorial by the moccasined foot of the red man. In one re- spect, then, it is literally true that civilization has followed in the footsteps of barbarism ; that the skilled surveyor and engineer has followed with scientific instruments where the ignorant savage first went, gnided only by the instincts of woodcraft. The difference between the new and the old is far less in the direction or lines of communication than in the method of travel, and the moderns, with all of their wisdom and knowledge, have done little besides making grand improve- ments on old routes-building with stone

and iron and steel, it is true, but, nevertheless, along the course of the old, narrow, leaf- strewn path that the Indian first found out was the most direct and practicable line of communication between two given points.

The Indian trail which led from Perth Amboy to Salem, where in early times was an Indian village, was one of the ear- liest routes used by the whites at the time of their first explorations in New Jersey. It passed through Haddonfield, at which place was an Indian village and considerable cleared land, which later was known as the "Great Field." George Fox, during his travels in America in 1672, in his journey from Maryland to New York, passed along this trail through West Jersey. In his journal he says : " We came one night to an Indian town and lay all night at the King's house, who was a very pretty man. Both he and his wife received us very lovingly, and his attendants (such as they were) were very respectful to us. They laid mats for us to lie on, but provisions were very short with them, having caught but little that day."

Soon after West Jersey was vested in the proprietors, they felt the importance of open- ing a highway between the towns of Bur- lington and Salem, these being the only towns in West Jersey prior to 1682, and also the county-seats of Burlington and Salem Counties. Accordingly, on the 12th of No- vember, 1681, the Legislature of New Jer- sey passed an act authorizing the laying out of a highway between the two towns. The act provided for the appointment of twenty men-ten from Burlington and ten from Sa- lem County -- who were to carry out its pro- visions. At that time there were no white settlers within the limits of Camden County, except possibly a few families of Swedes, who formerly lived on the site of Fort Ara- womac, at the mouth of Pensauken Creek.

The road then laid out followed the old Indian trail, which led from the site of Perth Amboy through the site of Burlington to Sa-

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PUBLIC INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

lem, where was formerly an Indian village. It crossed the streams near their sources, where they were easily forded. The ford through Coopers Creek at first was a short distance above Haddonfield, at a place later known as Uxbridge. This road was merely a bridle-path, and very crooked. As the amount of travel increased, the road was straightened and widened ; but as for many years the early settlers traveled on horseback only, it was not until about 1730 that car- riages of any kind were introduced. The first settlers usually located on land along the streams, and small boats were used on them to convey produce and merchandise.

When towns were laid out along the line of this road, which was known as the "Kings- Highway," the roadway through the town was increased to one hundred feet in width. It is quite evident that the line of the road where it passed over Coopers Creek was changed quite early, as, the 13th of March, 1744, the town-meeting of Newton agreed that "ye Mill hill near Isaac Kays, in the road to Burlington, be mended."1

A bridge was built over Timber Creek (called also, in the early records, Gloucester River) as early as 1687, an account of which will be found in the article on Creeks and Bridges.

The aborigines fixed the pathways from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware River, across the State of New Jersey, and long before the white men attempted to explore the forests, the lines of travel through the country had become plain and beaten paths. For many years after the first settlements on the ocean and the river the only track between them was along these Indian trails." Several of these were through Atlantic and Camden Counties; one began at Somers

Point and extended along the east side of Great Egg Harbor River, so as to pass to the north of the heads of the branches of Babcocks Creek, over the low lands to the tributaries of Little Egg Harbor River, called "the Locks," by the Blue Anchor tavern, crossed the head of Great Egg Harbor River at Long- a-Coming (Berlin), passed a short distance south of Haddonfield, over the mid- dle branch of Newton Creek at Atmores Dam, and thence to Coopers Ferry. This trail was used as a road many years, and as early as 1696 was known as the Philadelphia and Egg Harbor road. It was not laid out according to law, and has been aban- doned. It may be described in this county as lying between the road from Camden to Berlin, by way of Kirkwood and the road from Camden to Berlin, by way of Haddonfield. There were three noted taverns on the route,-one at Atmores Dam, which was built and kept by John Willis, then kept by Joseph Kinlee, and after 1718 by Thomas Atmore, and it being at the head of navigation of the stream, considerable ship- ping was carried on from this place.

" Inside the low ceilings and ill-arranged rooms told that ventilation and convenience were not regarded ; yet the well-sanded floors and the bright pewter dishes betrayed the good housewife and thrifty matron. The bar-room opened by a double door, cut horizontally, and within might be seen the crib which screened the liquors and protected the dealer. The immense open fireplace, arranged with a bench on each side, made sitting room for guests by day and beds for dogs at night-to say nothing of the straight-backed slat-bottomed chairs that stood around the walls. The visitors were mostly rude, uneducated people, unused to the refinements of society and contending with ad- versity in its many shapes.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 52

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