The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 74

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

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were bountifully cared for by the firm, who in this and in other ways contributed thousands of dol- lars for every worthy object looking to the sup- pression of the Rebellion.

In 1862 Mr. Starr was elected to represent the First District in the Thirty-eighth Congress of the United States, and he was again elected in 1864. Mr. Starr entered Congress during the most critical and eventful period in the nation's history. The most gigantic rebellion the world ever saw was gathering strength to establish a rival govern- ment, the corner-stone of which, as declared by its projectors, was to be human slavery, and there never was an hour in his Congressional career when he did not aid, by his influence and vote, every measure calculated to place the country in a position to successfully confront and overcome its foes. Courageous and unflinching, he did not stop to dally with subjects of minor importance so long as the life of the republic hung in the balance. He discharged faithfully every duty imposed upon him as a legislator and has a record. worthy of the State and the people. While a member of Congress, Mr. Starr served upon the committee on manufactures, committee on terri- tories, committee on public buildings and grounds and was also a member of several special commit- tees. He had the privilege and proud satisfaction of supporting every measure looking to a vigorous prosecution of the war against rebellion, as well as the distinguished honor of being the only mem- ber of the House from New Jersey who voted for the amendment to the Constitution abolishing sla- very in the United States, and for all the legisla- tion required to give force and effect to that amend- ment. He was an ardent supporter of the national banking system and scrupulously maintained the credit of the nation. His successors have done well, but circumstances enabled Mr. Starr to do more for the perpetuity of the nation and free in- stitutions than those who have followed him.

In 1864 Mr. Starr was elected a director of " The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Camden," which was soon after changed, by virtue of the National Banking Law, to "The First National Bank of Camden," and of which he has been a director since its organization. He was elected president of the board of directors in 1875, which office he now holds (1886).

In 1870 Mr. Starr disposed of his interest in and severed his connection with the Camden Iron Works, and has not been engaged in any continu- ous business since that time, but he has kept a watchful eye on the busy world and loaned his in- fluence and material aid on frequent occasions to

1 By Sinnickson Chew.

464

HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

projects of pith and moment affecting this peo- ple. During his residence in Camden he has been and still is a director of the West Jersey Ferry Company, having served in that capacity for more than twenty years, during which time he gave the company the benefit of his wise counsel and wide business experience. He also served as a director of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad for several years, advancing from time to time his private funds to make improvements for the better conduct of its business, and through which it was enabled to multiply its facilities and give a new impetus to Atlantic City.

He took an active part in the organization of, and was treasurer and director of, the first building and loan association established in Camden.

Mr. Starr has ever held to the motto that it is not enough to help his fellow-man up, but to sus- tain him after, and never through his long resi- dence in Camden has his purse been closed or his ear deaf to the cause of the unfortunate and help- less, as has been seen by his many and liberal gifts to the churches, and the benevolent institutions, in hundreds of instances as opportunities were af- forded him. For these and other kindred acts he needs no other reward than an approving con- science.

WATSON DEPUY, the present cashier of the First National Bank, has been engaged in the banking business since 1857. He was born in Philadelphia, February 6, 1834, and is the son of J. Stewart Depuy, for many years a merchant of that city. He attended the public schools of Philadelphia, and completed his education in the Friends' Central High School. In the year 1857 he was given the position of book-keeper in the Commonwealth Bank, of Philadelphia, and, a few years later, was elected assistant cashier of the same institution, and continued there until 1872, when he was elected and served for three years as cashier of the old State Bank, of Philadelphia, then on the corner of Strawberry and Market Streets, which institution paid off its depositors May 24, 1875 and retired from business. In 1785 Mr. Depuy came to Camden as general assistant in the First National Bank, and on October 11, 1876, the Board of Directors elected him assistant cashier, and on the 8th of May 1878, he was elec- ted cashier, which position he has since held with great acceptability to the authorities of that insti- tution and its patrons.

JONAS LIVERMORE. - There caine to Massa- chusetts in the early part of the seventeenth century settlers named Livermore. They chose Worcester County for their home and made their impress on

the county and State. From them sprang the various branches found in the East and West. In Maine, as well as in Pennsylvania and California, the towns bearing their names were so called for them, and one of the family, a civil engineer by profession, was closely identified in building the canals running through Pennsylvania. In the Revolution they were known for their activity in the service of the colonies and for their liberal support of the government by their means.

Jonas Livermore was born in Leicester, Mass., about 1730. He was one of its prominent citizens and a builder of repute. There were eight chil- dren in his family-Jonas, Salem, Daniel (father of present Jonas) and five daughters, one of whom, Sarah, was married to Wm. Upham, of Vermont, and the mother of Wm. Upham, who was State's attorney and afterwards became United States Senator, dying in Washington during his term of office. Daniel was married to Elizabeth Parker, of Leicester, Mass., daughter of Thos. Parker, by whom he had eight children-Jonas, Lewis, Hor- ace, Daniel, Eliza, Cimentha, Mary and Dianetha. Lewis came to New Jersey and was connected with Jonas in the manufacture of woolens at Black- wood until his death. Horace died young. Daniel became a prominent minister in the Universalist Church in Massachusetts and at present resides at Melrose. He was at one time editor and publisher of the New Covenant at Chicago, and was distinguished for his learning and strength of character. He was married to Mary A. Rice, of Boston, now so widely known, loved and respected as " Mary A. Livermore." Her devotion to the soldiers in the field, her unceasing labors in their behalf, her connection with the "Sanitary Com- mission Fair," in Chicago, will always be remem- bered, and to-day she stands as one of the foremost and ablest lecturers in the country.

Jonas Livermore was born in Leicester, Mass., in 1802 and became early engaged in woolen manu- facture. In 1830 he removed to Blackwood, N. J., and, in connection with Garrett Newkirk, estab- lished the "Good Intent Woolen-Mills," managing them successfully for thirty years. In 1858 he was chosen a director of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, of Camden, N. J. During that time, with rare foresight, he with others so shaped the policy of the old bank that in 1864, it became the First National Bank, being among the first in the coun- try to get its charter, and he was made president, which position he held for eleven years, retiring at his own request, but consenting to remain vice- president at the solicitation of the directors.

While Mr. Livermore was connected with the

Jonas Livermore

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THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

bank a one-dollar note, issued by the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, was returned to the bank for redemption, with the following remarks on a paper pinned to it and preserved by him, viz .:

"This note has been in the wars. The owner of it was wounded at Bull Run, Aug. 30, '62, and through the admirable arrangements of the U. S. authorities he was allowed to remain on the field only till Sept. 6th, one week ; then he was conveyed to Washington Hospital. If he has proper atten- tion he will recover. Strange to say, the rebels didn't rob the pocket containing his money purse."

In 1827 Mr. Livermore was married to Louisa Gates, by whom he had four children-Henry and Sanford, who served during the war in the Army of the West, and Edwin, who, enlisting in the Sixth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, became an officer in the Ordnance Department. He fell dur- ing the Wilderness campaign, and his body, like many more of those gallant "boys in blue," was never recovered ; it is among the missing, or per- haps lying beneath the simple slab bearing the in- scription " Unknown." The only daughter, Mary A., is the wife of Wm. A. Wilcox, of Blackwood. Sanford is an officer in the First National Bank, Camden. Henry resides in Blackwood.

Mr. Livermore is a man of rare business talents, and owing to his patient industry he has given val- ue to his banking interests, as well as those of property in Blackwood, and at the age of eighty-four is in vigorous manhood, still supervising personally his business. He married a second wife, Annie McElroy, daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth McEl- roy, of Moorestown, N. J .; she is still living. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, and during the war was a stanch supporter of all government measures; in religion a Presbyterian and for years an elder iu Blackwood Presbyterian Church. It can truly be said of him, as of another when asked about the standing of a friend, he replied, "He is religiously blue, politically black and financially O. K."

THE CAMDEN SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY is a banking institution whose charter was approved on the 4th day of April, 1873. The incorporators, who also became the first Board of Directors, were John F. Starr, Samuel Davis, Rudolphus Bingham, Patrick Byrne, William J. Sewell, Charles P. Stratton, John Hood, Thomas McKeen, Samuel H. Grey and William S. Scull. Upon organiza- tion, June 30, 1873, Jesse W. Starr w. s elected president, and Colonel Thomas McKeen treas- urer. The residence at No. 224 Federal Street, formerly the home of the late Dr. Isaac S. Mul- ford, was purchased and fitted up as a banking

house and has-since, with its delightful surround- ings, admirably served the purpose for which it was secured. The bank was opened for business on the 1st day of July, 1873, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, in shares of twenty-five dollars each.

On September 1, 1873, George Raphael resigned, and, on the same day, Thomas H. Dudley was elected vice-president. November 27, 1873, I. Woolston resigned; William Moore, of Millville, was elected. November 27, 1873, Patrick Byrne resigned as director, and James B. Dayton was elected in his place. December 11, 1873, Thomas A. Wilson resigned, and Albert W. Markley was elected. December 11, 1873, Jesse W. Starr, presi- dent, resigned, and James B. Dayton was elected president. December 12, 1873, Thomas McKeen resigned as treasurer; William Stiles was elected treasurer and entered upon his duties January 1, 1874. December 15th Benjamin Cooper was elected director in place of Thomas McKeen, resigned.

At the succeeding election, on July 1, 1875, Peter L. Voorhees was elected a director. On July 22, 1876, by election, William C. Dayton, William Hardacre and Jeremiah Smith became directors, and William Stiles was chosen a director on July 1, 1878, Benjamin C. Reeve was elected July 1, 1881, and D. J. Pancoast July 2, 1885.

This institution has continued to do a large and prosperous business since the time of its organiza- tion, and is recognized as a valuable accession to the financial interests of Camden. A general banking business is conducted, and interest is allowed on time deposits. According to the last report, on July 1, 1886, the capital stock paid in was $100,000 ; surplus, $100,000; amount of de- posits, $1,193,069; amount of loans and discounts, $776,962. The following are the present directors : William J. Sewell, Samuel H. Grey, William S. Scull, Peter L. Voorhees, William C. Dayton, Benjamin D. Shreve, John C. Bullitt, William Hardacre, Jeremiah Smith, Benjamin C. Reeve, William Stiles and D. J. Pancoast.

The President, James B. Dayton, died March 9, 1886, and on the 15th of the same month Peter L. Voorhees was chosen to succeed him. William Stiles has served as treasurer since January 1, 1874. Samuel H. Grey has been solicitor since the organization of the bank. James M. Cassady is the notary. The paying-teller is J. Henry Hayes ; Receiving-teller, Conrad F. Austermuhl ; General Book-keeper, Edward F. Moody ; Individual Book- keepers, B. M. Stiles and William Joyce; Messen- ger, Thomas W. McCowan; Watchmen, William Hawkins and Thomas Carson.

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

WILLIAM STILES, the present treasurer of this financial institution and the son of Thomas and Judith Stiles, was born in Moorestown, Burlington County, New Jersey, August 23, 1828. He obtained his education at the Friends' School of his native town, at a school of the same religious society at Mount Laurel, and at the age of sixteen years became a pupil in the boarding-school at Gwynedd, Pa. In 1854 he entered the State Bank at Camden as a clerk, and subsequently, hy promotion, occu- pied various positions in the clerical force of that bank, and was also chosen one of its directors. While serving in the capacity of receiving teller of the National State Bank, in 1874, he was elected to the position which he now very acceptably fills, being at the same time one of the directors of the institution.

THE CAMDEN NATIONAL BANK. - A movement was made shortly after the passage of the National Bank Act toward establishing a bank in the southern part. of Camden, but the project was abandoned. A few years later the Gloucester City Savings Institution opened a branch office on Kaighn Avenne, which it maintained till the time of its failure, 1884. In 1885 the subject of estab- lishing a National Bank on Kaighn Avenue was again discussed. Isaac C. Martindale, who had many years' experience in the banking business, became interested in the movement, and Zophar C. Howell, president of the Kaighns Point Ferry Company, and others gave the project encouraging support. Application was made on May 30, 1885, to the comptroller of the currency for authority to organize and establish "The Camden National Bank," with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to two hundred thousand dollars. The necessary permis- sion having been received, a call for a public meet- ing to promote the enterprise, signed by John Cooper, Henry B. Wilson, Howard M. Cooper, William B. Mulford, Zophar C. Howell and Isaac C. Martindale, was issued and the meeting held at the office of the Kaighns Point Ferry Company June 13, 1885, when more than one-fourth of the capital stock was subscribed. A committee then appointed to solicit further subscriptions reported, at a meet- ing held July 6th, that the full amount ($100,000), had been subscribed. The articles of association and the organization certificate were signed and executed, and a meeting of the stockholders held on July 20th, when the following-named persons were elected as the first Board of Directors: Zo- phar C. Howell, Henry B Wilson, Charles B. Coles, James Davis, Isaac C. Toone, George W. Bailey, George T. Haines, Irvine C. Beatty, John

Cooper, William B. Mulford, Philip H. Fowler, Charles E. Thomas, Harry B. Anthony, Howard M. Cooper, Zophar L. Howell, Herbert C. Felton, Rudolph W. Birdsell. William W. Price, is teller at Philadelphia office; Charles P. Martindale, receiving teller at the bank; Lewis Mueller, book- keeper.

They organized by electing Zophar C. Howell, president; John Cooper, vice-president; and Isaac C. Martindale, cashier, who still continue in office. Howard M. Cooper was chosen solicitor. No. 259 Kaighn Avenue was selected and fitted up for a temporary banking-room. Authority to commence business was granted by the comptroller of the currency on August 1st, and on August 13, 1885, the bank was opened for business.

The first statement, on October 1st, after the bank had been in operation six weeks, showed aggregate assets of $219,018.

On March 20, 1886, the bank opened a special line of accounts, on which interest is allowed, at the rate of three per cent. on all sums from one dollar to five hundred dollars, and two per cent. on all sums over five hundred dollars, such deposit to be drawn only after two weeks' notice has been given, the interest being credited to the account every six months.

This bank has a branch office at the northwest corner of Second and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, and arrangements have been perfected by which deposits are made at J. A. Wamsley's drug-store, in Gloucester City. The management of the Camden National Bank has been a success, and the institution has secured a good patronage.

JOHN COOPER, who for more than forty years has been prominently identified with the business interests of the city of Camden, is a grandson of James Cooper, who resided near Woodbury, Glou- cester County, and who became possessed of con- siderable property in that section, a portion of which, still owned by John Cooper, is the only tract that was thus originally purchased that has remained ever since in the family name. His father, William Cooper, who married Sarah Mor- gan, daughter of Joseph Morgan, of Delaware County, Pa., was a prosperous farmer for the period in which he lived. He died in 1850, at the ad- vanced age of eighty years. His wife died about two years earlier. They were earnest supporters and consistent members of the Society of Friends, and both occupied the station of elders in the Friends' Meeting held at Woodbury. They had six children,-Mary, the eldest, married Charles Kaighn, of Camden ; Ann married Joseph Tatum, of Gloucester County ; James married Lucy Mid-

JohnCooper

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THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

dleton, of Burlington County; William E. married Elizabeth, daughter of Enoch Roberts, of Burling- ton County ; Joseph M., a twin brother of James, who died unmarried, in 1885, at the residence of his brother John, the subject of this sketch, born in 1814.

In 1843 John Cooper married Mary M. Kaighn, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Kaighn, of Camden, and soon after opened a grocery store on what was then known as Market Street (now Kaighn Avenue) It was the only store in that section of Camden. In- deed, there were but few houses there except those in the immediate vicinity of the ferry. In 1845 he opened a coal-yard, being the pioneer in that branch of trade, and the first one to engage in that business in Camden, south of Federal Street. For more than forty years he has been active in business in that part of the city, interested in the develop- ment of its mercantile interests, and has been a successful merchant. He has been a director of the Kaighns Point Ferry Company for many years and was one of the promoters of the Cam- den National Bank, of which he is now vice- president. He is the head of the firm of Cooper, Stone & Co., dealers in coal, wood and hardware, doing business at Front Street and Kaighn Ave- nue. Both he and his wife, Mary M., were much interested on behalf of the colored population of the city, were among the founders of the West Jersey Orphanage, a home for colored chil- dren, and became very active in its management. She left a considerable sum of money to be paid to it after her death. She died in 1880. They had four children,-Howard M., a prominent member of the bar; Sallie K., who married George K. Johnson, Jr .; William J., who is now associated with his father in business ; and Ellen, who died in early life. A few years ago Mr. Cooper pur- chased a lot of ground on Cooper Street, above Seventh, and built thereon a fine residence. He recently married C. Louisa Gibberson, of Phila- delphia, and now lives in his Cooper Street man- sion.

CHAPTER V.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF CAMDEN.

Newton Friends' Meeting-Methodist Churches-Baptist Churches -Protestant Episcopal Churches-Presbyterian Churches-Luth- eran Churches-Churches of the United Brethren in Christ, Church of the Evangelical Associatiou-Young Men's Christian Association-Roman Catholic Churches.

NEWTON FRIENDS' MEETING.1-About the year 1800, when the general opening of roads made it 1 By Howard M. Cooper.

no longer important to be on the water, Newton Friends determined to move from their old meet- ing-house on Newton Creek to a place more central; and in Fourth Month, 1801, Joseph Kaighn gave them the lot of land at the corner of the Mount Ephraim road and Mount Vernon Street, in the present city of Camden, on which, in the same year, they built the brick meeting- house that now stands there. Here they continued meeting without dissension until the separation of 1827-28 occurred, when the Orthodox Friends retained possession of the house and have occupied it ever since.

For several years before the separation Richard Jordan, a prominent minister, was a member of this meeting, and afterwards, being an Orthodox Friend, continued to preach here until his death, often drawing full houses. The present public Friend is Richard Esterbrook.

At the separation the Hicksite Friends met a short time in the old Camden Academy, that stood where the George Genge Grammar School now is, at the southwest corner of Sixth and Market Streets. On Seventh Month 6, 1828, Joseph W. Cooper gave them a lot of ground on Cooper Street, above Seventh, on which, in that year, they erected a frame meeting-house and have met there continuously since. When the house was built, it was in the midst of a woods, some of the old oak-trees of which are still standing in the meet- ing-house yard. In 1885 the house was enlarged and greatly improved in appearance. Samuel J. Levick, Rachel Wainwright and Sarah Hunt have been ministers here in the past. At present the public Friends are Mary S. Lippincott, Isaac C. Martindale and others.

THE THIRD STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- Exactly when Methodist preachers, lo- cal or itinerant, commenced preaching at Camden is unknown, but in 1797, Rev. Benjamin Fisler, M.D., of Port Elizabeth, N. J., preached here sev- eral times, and we find subsequently that local preachers from St. George's Church, in Philadel- phia, made Camden one of their preaching-places. In 1808 the New Jersey District of the Philadel- phia Conference was formed, with Joseph Totten presiding elder, and an appointment called " Glou- cester Circuit" created, which included what is now Camden. Revs. Richard Sneath and William S. Fisher were appointed as preachers of the new circuit and the following year, 1809, Richard Sneath formed the first regular class in Camden, composed of James and Elizabeth Duer, Henry and Susannah Sawn, William and Martha Price and Phebe Peters, of which James Duer was ap-

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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

pointed leader. Services by the circuit preachers were held once every two weeks, on Wednesday evening, in the academy which formerly stood on the corner of Market Street and Sixth. The same year, finding the academy insufficient for their wants, a regular church organization having been formed in the meantime, it was determined to erect a house of worship. A lot on the corner of Fourth Street and Federal was secured and a board of trustees elected, composed of James Duer, Jonathan Petherbridge, Henry Sawn and William Price, and the corporate name of " The Methodist Episcopal Church of Camden " given to the new organization. James Duer and Jonathan Pether- bridge were made a building committee. Before the building was completed, Thomas Dunn, one of the preachers on the Gloucester Circuit, preached

THIRD STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Street, was purchased, and on the Fourth of July, 1834, the corner-stone of a new church was laid with appropriate services. December 14th, follow- ing, the church was dedicated by Rev. Charles Pitman, assisted by the pastor, Rev. William Granville. The new building cost about eight thousand dollars. In this new building the soci- ety did its work for over thirty years, increasing in numbers rapidly, especially during the great revi- val in 1837. The church building had been en- larged and improved to meet its increased wants, at considerable expense, and it was a crushing blow to the society when, on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1867, the building was totally destroyed by fire, with but a slight insurance on it. But though for a moment paralyzed, the congregation soon re- covered itself and, with commendable energy, im- mediately began the erection of a new building, and appoint- ed Rev. Charles H. Whitecar, pastor, S. S. E. Cowperthwait, Thomas B. Atkinson, Morton Mills, E. S. Johnson and James M. Cassady a building com- mittee to superintend the work. The lots on Third and Mickle Streets and Bridge Avenue were purchased, and the work was pushed forward with so much energy that the present beautiful house of worship, with a seating capacity of about fourteen hundred, and costing, with the lot, some sixty thou- sand dollars, was dedicated on September 1, 1869, in the pre- sence of an immense concourse of people, by Bishop Simpson and the pastor, Rev. C. H. Whitecar.

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The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 74

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