USA > New Jersey > Camden County > The history of Camden county, New Jersey > Part 82
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WORTHINGTON LIBRARY COMPANY .- This com- pany was organized as early as February, 1838, and in the winter of 1839-40 instituted a lecture course. Lectures were delivered in the lower room of the Baptist Church. The first in the course was by
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Dr. Isaac S. Mulford, who was followed by Abra- ham Browning, Dr. Caldwell, Chauncey Bulkley, William J. Allinson, Samuel R. Gunnimere, James Wilson, Dr. Earle and J. R. Chandler. The course of 1840-41 was delivered by David Paul Brown, Rev. George Chandler, E. Morris, John M. Reed, Chauncey Bulkley, William M. Jeffers, Job R. Tyson, Rev. P. E. Moriarty, J. T. S. Sullivan and Morton McMichael.
The trustees of the company for the year 1840 were E. Cole, R. W. Ogden, Jr., I. Mickle, J. A. Balantine, G. Stevers, Jr., J. Folwell and S. S. E. Cowperthwait. The course of lectures for 1841-42 were delivered by the following gentlemen : Hon. Samuel L. Sonthard, David Paul Brown, Esq., Philadelphia; Lncius Q. Elmer, Bridgeton ; Rev. F. A. Eustis, Philadelphia; J. T. S. Sullivan Esq., Philadelphia; Morton McMichael, Esq., Philadelphia; William B. Kinney, Esq., editor of the Newark Daily Advertiser; Richard P. Thompson, Salem, N. J .; James T. Sherman, Esq., editor of the State Gazette, Trenton; William D. Kelly, Esq., Philadelphia; Stacy D. Potts, Esq., Trenton ; Richard W. Howell, Esq., Camden ; Henry S. Patterson, M.D., Philadelphia; William N. Jeffers, Esq., Camden ; Isaac S. Mul- ford, M.D., Camden; and L. F. Fisler, M.D., mayor, Camden.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS .- The school, conducted by the sisters, Miss Mary G. and Miss Annie Grey, has firmly established for itself, by over twenty years of success, an excellent reputation as a first- class seminary for young ladies and little girls. Originally occupying the school building con- nected with the Friends' Meeting-House, it was later removed to its present location, 709 Market Street, where the conveniences of commodious school and class-rooms were added to the advantages resulting from faithful, conscientious teaching.
The course of instruction comprises all the branches of a thorough English education ; also French, Latin, German, drawing and music.
The department of music, conducted by Miss Annie Grey, has for years furnished thorough in- struction to pupils seeking to perfect themselves in a musical education.
The Commercial Institute, at No. 608 Broad- way, was established in 1882 hy Charles M. Abra- hamson. Both males and females are taught in this school. In 1885 there were one hundred and nine students admitted and instructed; the present year, 1886, there are forty-nine in attendance.
A Kindergarten School was kept for some years, at No. 557 Mickle Street, by Miss Ida L. Warner, but, in July, 1886, was removed to Germantown.
Mrs. S. A. Wescott was for four years the prin- cipal of the Young Ladies' Seminary, at No. 312 Cooper Street, but it has been discontinued since the close of the spring term of the present year, 1886.
The excellent school of the Misses Northrop was opened in 1879, as a Kindergarten School, and in 1885 became a graded school in which six teachers are employed. During the year 1886, a large building was erected on Penn Street, where the school is now conducted.
THE WEST JERSEY ORPHANAGE for colored children is situated on the corner of Sixth and Mechanic Streets. This excellent institution owes its origin largely to the' efforts of Mrs. Martha M. Kaighn, Mrs. Mary E. S. Wood and Mrs. Rebecca C. W. Reeve. The object of the Orphanage is to afford a home for destitute colored children of Camden County and neighboring counties, give them the rudiments of an education and train them to habits of industry. At a suitable age they are indentured to respectable families. A charter was procured, February 17, 1874, and the institu- tion organized by the selection of the following board of trustees :
Joseph M. Kaighn, president. Edw. Bettle, let vice-president. Wm. Bettle. Angustue Reevee, 2d vice-pree. John Cooper.
Geo. K. Johnson, Jr.
J. E. Atkinson, recd'g eect'y.
Dr. Isaac B. Mulford, physician.
Wm. A. French, cor. sect'y.
Henry Fredericke.
Howard M. Cooper, solicitor.
John C. Stockham.
Jacob J. Pitman.
Asahel Troth.
Joseph M. Cooper.
Alexander C. Wood.
John Gill, Jr.
Joseph B. Cooper.
Richard H. Reeve.
The members of the original board of managers
were,-
Martha M. Kaighn, president. M. P. Bettle, let vice-president. Ellen C. Cooper. Mary S. Bettle.
Mary H. Pitman.
M. S. Troth, 2d «
Anna Burroughs, treasurer.
Rebecca C. W. Reeve,
Susan S. Atkinson, rec'g eect'y.
Matilda Buckine.
Mary M. Mulford, cor. eect'y. Edith E. James.
Mary M. Cooper.
Elizabeth T. Gill.
Jane Bettle.
Mary E. S. Wood.
Annie S. Baker.
Sallie K. Johnson.
Elizabeth Cooper.
Sarah Fredericka.
Mary C. Browning. Sallie C. Kaighn.
Joseph M. Kaighn donated three lots of ground at Oak and Chestnut Streets, in the Seventh Ward of Camden, and three adjoining lots were pur- chased, the intention being to locate the Orphan- age there, but at a subsequent meeting it was de- cided to purchase of James W. Purnell the two- story brick, built by Joseph Kaighn for a farm- house at Sixth and Mechanic Streets, with a half- acre of ground. A few necessary repairs and al- terations were made, and on January 20, 1875, the
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THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
institution was opened, with Mrs. Deborah Rich- ardson as Matron, and on the 29th of that month the first child was admitted. Mrs. Richardson re- mained in charge but a few months and her place was filled by Mrs. Jane Price as matron, and her daughter, Ida Price, as teacher. The children are taken at any age under twelve years if old enough to walk, but an effort is made to find them homes before they are eleven years of age. Of those who have gone out from the Orphanage very favorable reports have been received. The Orphanage is supported solely by the free-will offerings of be- nevolent persons. During the year 1886 twenty- four children were cared for in it.
The Board of Trustees for 1886 are,-
H. M. Cooper, president and solic- itor.
Dr. G. W. Bailey, first vice-pres.
Daniel Thackara, second vice-pres.
Alexander C. Wond, sec. and treas. William Bettle.
Augustus Reeve.
John Gill.
George K. Johnson, Jr.
Edward L. Farr.
William B. Cooper.
Thomas W. Syanott.
William J. Evans.
Benjamin C. Reeve.
William J. Cooper.
David E. Cooper.
The board of managers are,-
Mary E. S. Wood, president, Cin- namioson.
Lizzie J. Martindale.
Hettie G. Evaos.
Maria M. Clement.
Anne J. Stokes.
Martha C. Stokes.
Elizabeth C. Reeve.
Hannah H. Stokes.
Hannah F. Carter, recording sec- retary.
Mary E. Eyre.
Abbie B. Warrington.
Rebecca C. Reeve.
Aona E. Fowler.
Lucy S. Cooper.
Laura W. Scull.
Mary L. Treth.
Caroline Bettle.
CHAPTER VII.
THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
Iron Works-Lumber interests of Camden-Oil Cloth Mannfactories -Woolen and Worsted Mills-Miscellaneous Industries-Car- riage Making-Shoe and Morocco Factories.
THE proximity to Philadelphia-the greatest manufacturing city in the Union -- the superior local resources, the many eligible sites, and the situa- · tion, being near the great marts of trade and com- merce of the seaboard States, have been the causes of Camden developing into a manufacturing city of great importance and influence. The substan- tial prosperity of Camden within the last decade has been largely due to the establishment of manufac- turing industries which have given employment to many persons who found homes in the growing
city. A sketch of many of the minor industries which existed at a former day is given in the early history of Camden. A description and a history of those now flourishing, given in the succeeding pages, will furnish a valuable chapter to the " History of Camden County."
IRON WORKS.
THE CAMDEN IRON WORKS .- In 1845 John F. Starr, who had leased the iron foundry of Elias Kaighn, at the foot of Stevens Street, built the Camden Iron Works, on the north side of Bridge Avenue, above Third Street, for the manufacture of gas works machinery and steam-pipes. He had previously been associated with his father, Moses Starr, and brother, Jesse W. Starr, in build- ing iron steamboats-the "Conestoga," " Inde- pendence " and "Ida,"-and for a time at Hobo- ken, N. J., where he built the iron steamboat " John Stevens." His Camden enterprise was a success, and, in 1846, Jesse W. Starr, taking an interest in the works, another foundry amd machine shop was started on Bridge Avenue, below Second Street, where Jesse W. Starr erected the large three- story brick building, long known as Starr's Hall, and which was used as a hardware store. The firm then employed a hundred men, but orders exceeded their facilities, and in 1847 the ground was bought on Cooper's Creek, and then was laid the founda- tion for the extensive establishment known as the Camden Iron Works, now one of the most ex- tensive manufacturing industries in West Jersey.
In 1883 the works were purchased by a stock company, in which R. D. Wood & Co., of Phila- delphia, are largely interested. The works had not been in operation for nearly two years previous to this purchase, but were successfully started again in the fall of 1883, after some needed improve- ments had been made. Early in 1884 the entire works were in full operation, and since that time have been steadily running to their full capacity. The buildings in which the different branches of the business are carried on, cover an area of twenty acres, with an additional tract of twenty-one acres, used for storing material and manufactured pro- ducts. The buildings include six large foundries for the manufacture of cast-iron pipes, machinery for gas works, water works plants and other heavy machinery, one large machine shop, two boiler shops, carpenter and pattern shops, blacksmith shops, store-houses, offices and stables. These are all conveniently located on the grounds. Five powerful steam-engines supply the motive-power of the many and varied patterns of improved and automatic machinery used in the mechanical de-
Sallie K. Johnson, first vice-presi- deat.
Mary S. Bettle, second vice presi- dent.
Rebecca C. W. Reeve, treasurer.
Susan S. Wood, corresponding sec- retary.
Sophia Presley, M.D., physician. Anna S. Stark.
Dr. Wallace McGeorge. Joseph B. Cooper.
Richard H. Reeve.
John Cooper.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
partment of the works. Two large duplex pumping engines furnish the water supply for fire protection and general purposes. Coopers Creek, which is navigable some distance above the works, gives the company excellent facilities for water transporta- tion, and several branch tracks of the Camden and Amboy Railroad enter the works at various points. About eight hundred men are employed in the different departments. The products of the Cam- den Iron Works have acquired a great reputation for excellence of manufacture. They are shipped and supplied to all parts of the United States. R. D. Wood &. Co. now operate the works. Walter Wood, of Philadelphia, is president, and John Graham, Jr., also of Philadelphia, is the general manager.
THE M. A. FURBUSH & SON MACHINE CO. own extensive machine-shops at the corner of Twelfth Street and Market. It is one of the most prom- inent manufacturing enterprises in the city of Cam- den, and gives regular employment to about three hundred workmen. A great variety of machinery for woolen-mills is here manufactured. The works were erected and the business originally established in 1863, by the firm of Furbush & Gage. In 1869 Mr. Gage retired from the firm, and Merrill A. Fur- bush, in partnership with Charles A. Furbush, bis son, continued the business, under the firm-name of M. A. Furbush & Son, until January, 1884, when a charter of incorporation was obtained as the M. A. Furbush & Son Machine Company. The business has gradually increased, and is now a very productive industry. The machinery made at these works is sold throughout the United States, Canada and South America. An area of twelve acres, surrounded by Market and Twelfth Streets, the Pennsylvania Railroad and Coopers Creek, is owned and occupied by this company, and several large brick buildings, covering four acres of this tract, constitute the shops where this extensive business is done. The machinery of the works is driven by a one hundred and fifty horse- power engine, supplied by three huge boilers.
THE CAMDEN TOOL AND TUBE WORKS .- This large manufacturing establishment, located at the corner of Second Street and Stevens, is a branch of the Reading, Pa., Iron Works. The large, three- story brick building, whose dimensions are one hundred by one hundred and fifty feet, was built by John Kaighn, and originally used by him for the manufacture of agricultural implements. It was af- terwards used by John H. Dialogue, the ship-build- er, as a machine and boiler-shop, and also for a foundry. Previous to 1864 it was known as Griffith's Pipe-Finishing Mill. In 1864 the Reading Iron
Works purchased the entire property, introduced new machinery, made other improvements and began the manufacture of wrought-iron tubes, hand and power screw-cutting machines, screwing- stocks and dies, drill-stocks, dies, taps, reamers, tongs and other tools used by gas-fitters and plumbers. A twenty-five horse-power engine drives the machinery of the works. Fifty work- men are regularly employed. The location of the works, near the Delaware River, and near the ter- minus of the Camden and Amboy, Camden and New York, New Jersey Southern, and Central Railroads, affords easy and quick access to the sea- board and inland towns and cities, where the pro- ducts of manufacture are sent. The superintend- ent of these works is C. W. Thompson.
THE COOPERS POINT IRON WORKS were estab- lished in 1867 by Fullerton & Hollingshead, who continued to operate them until 1879, when Charles F. Hollingshead became the sole proprietor. The large, three-story brick building, one hundred by one hundred and twenty feet, is fitted throughout with improved machinery for the production of finished work in the two departments of general machinery and of iron railing. In the first depart- ment steam-engines, boilers, pulleys, shafting and mill-gearing are manufactured. In the second department all kinds of plain and ornamental iron railing and fencing, awning-frames, window-guards, lot-inclosures, fire-escapes, iron roofing, trusses, etc., are made. The machinery is driven by an en- gine of fifty horse-power. A large force of work- men is employed in the different departments.
PEARL STREET IRON FOUNDRY, at the foot of Pearl Street, is owned and operated by Johnson & Holt, who are engaged in the general iron foundry business. In 1881 this firm established the foundry for the manufacture of gray iron cast- ings of various kinds desired by the trade. The main foundry building is one hundred by fifty feet, and adjoining it are several smaller structures used for cleaning, polishing and shipping the products of manufacture. The foundry in all its departments is furnished with ample motive-power and the present demand for this class of iron castings from this foundry gives employment to thirty-five workmen. The trade is mostly local, but is grad- ually extending to several adjacent States. Nelson W. Johnson and Benj. Holt are the co-partners and have built works at the foot of Elm Street, with more extended facilities of manufacture than the place now operated.
CAMDEN MACHINE WORKS are situated at the foot of Cooper Street. The site on which they are built is a water lot which was purchased in 1878 by
509
THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
Charles E. Derby and Joseph P. Weatherby, who for fifteen years previously had been proprietors of the machine works on North Front Street, under the firm-name of Derby & Weatherby. The place originally not being suited for the wants of this increased business, the large two-story brick factory building, fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, now occupied, was built. It was then fitted with suit- able machinery for the manufacture of appliances for hoisting apparatus, dredging machines, engines and for repairing machinery of different kinds. The wharf property extends one hundred and sixty feet on Delaware Avenne and continues westward to the riparian or port warden line, with an open space to form two landings, the water dock, eighty by seven hundred feet, being between. This dock is for the accommodation of tug-boats and steamers needing repairs and it also offers facilities for un- loading cargoes from vessels, and for shipment. Nearly every manufactory from the lower end of Kaighns Point to the upper end of Coopers Point, as also all the ferry companies, have their machiu- ery made or repaired by this firm. Thirty work- men are employed, and the trade extends to many localities in the adjacent States.
MACHINE TOOL MANUFACTORY .- The manu- facture of machinists' tools in their various forms is an industry of considerable importance to Cam- den as a manufacturing city. In 1881, J. F. Blair started an establishment for this purpose at the corner of Point and Pearl Streets, and in 1882 ad- mitted J. G. Gage as a partner. The business was extended to include the manufacture of engine lathes and special machinery In 1883 the interest of J. G. Gage was transferred to D. T. Gage, and the firm is now known as J. F. Blair & Co. A large and increasing business is done not only in the manufacture, but also in the repairing of machine tools for saw-mills, planing-mills and grist-mills in the surrounding country. From twenty-five to thirty workmen are employed. The business office of this establishment is at No. 118 Market Street, Philadelphia.
THE STANDARD MACHINE WORKS, at Nos. 117, 119 and 121 North Front Street, occupy a large portion of a square. This productive industry is owned by Samuel N. Shreve, Esq., who in 1884 conducted a manufactory of similar kind at the corner of Second Street and Stevens. In the de- structive cyclone of August 3, 1885, this establish- ment was blown down and he at once resumed business at the present location. The ample equipments of these works in improved machinery are adapted to the production of machine work of various kinds and mill repairs. In connection with
this industry a large number of workmen are em- ployed in the manufacture of Gray's patent revolv- ing screw machine, and the Louderback combi- nation tool. Of the latter specialty one thousand and five hundred pairs are made weekly. Forty- five workmen are constantly employed.
THE CAMDEN ARCHITECTURAL IRON WORKS, at Nos. 111, 113 and 115 North Front Street, were established in 1870 by John F. Starr, Jr., who operated them until 1882, when James A. Carr and Adam C. Smith bought his interest and the ma- chinery, and under the firm-name of Carr & Smith have since operated them. A considerable business has been done in the manufacture of heaters and ranges. Galvanized iron cornices, window caps, dormer windows, building trimmings, tin, slate and corrugated iron roofing, awnings and weather vanes are made at these works. This firm has the exclu- sive right for the manfacture of Starr's ImprovedEx- panding Water Conductor or rain spouts of eight feet in length, without a cross seam, and made of gal- vanized iron. Fifty-seven workmen are employed and the manufactured products are shipped over a large area of the United States. The firm is pre- paring to build an extensive addition to the establishment, especially for facilitating the pro- duction of galvanized architectural designs.
THE AMERICAN NICKEL WORKS are situated on the east side of Tenth Street, extending to Coopers Creek, south of State Street. This estab- lishment, covering an area of two and a half acres, occupies the site of a smaller one commenced in 1840, and which was rebuilt in 1862 by the present owner and proprietor on an enlarged scale. In 1872 the works were destroyed by fire, and soon after rebuilt and greatly improved. The works are specially designed for the manufacture of nickel, cobalt oxides, blue vitriol, copperas, nickel salts, etc., from the ores of the Gap nickel mines, in Lan- caster County, Pa., which, with the works, are owned and conducted by the general manager, Joseph Wharton. No other nickel or cobalt works exist in this country, though ores of these metals occur in many places. Three large engines are required as a motive-power for the machinery and from sixty to eighty hands are constantly employed.
THE ESTERBROOK STEEL PEN COMPANY .- The manufacture of steel pens is comparatively a new industry. The establishment engaged in the production of them in Camden is the oldest and by far the most extensive one in the United States, there being but two or three others in this country. The early history of steel pen making is herein briefly given :
A Roman metal pen is said to have been found
61
510
HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
at Aosta, not a mere stylus, but a bronze pen slit, and there is some evidence of a pen or reed of bronze nearly as early as the invention of printing in the fifteenth century. A hundred years ago some steel pens were made in Birmingham by Mr. Harrison for Dr. Priestly, and some of these passed into the hands of Sir Joseph Mason in his early days with Mr. Harrison, but all seem to be lost. The first pen of metal of a definite date, beyond all question, is one in a Dutch patent-book of 1717. At the same time a polite ode of Pope refers to a "steel and gold pen," but these were evidently lux- nries only. It was about 1823 or 1824 that the great revolution came by which pens were made by a cheaper process-the hand-screw press, which pierced the pens from sheet steel. Previously, pens had been made from steel rolled into tube fashion, and the joint formed the slit; but these required considerable labor to shape them into pen-form. The use of the screw-press belongs to the period of John Mitchell, Joseph Gillott and Josiah Mason ; but on a careful review of the facts, it seems to he clear that John Mitchell has the best claim to be . considered as the introducer of press-made pens. Skinner, of Sheffield, England, was apparently one of the first to cheapen steel pens, but his produc- tions were soon surpassed when the screw-press was introduced.
The Esterbrook steel pen factory, the first one of its kind in America, was established in 1860 by the present head of the company, Richard Ester- brook, and his son, who came from England. The business was started on the site now occupied, in a small building, with ten employees, and ten vari- eties of pens were made. Since that time extensive improvements and additions have been made. The main building is a large four-story structure, con- taining conveniently-arranged apartments, and supplied with the best improved engines, machin- ery and other appliances needed. There are now abont fifty men and two hundred and fifty women regularly employed, and four hundred styles of steel pens are made. Many kinds and styles of pens are here manufactured for other firms, whose names are placed on the pens and thus sold to the trade, but the Esterbrook pens are known to nearly every school-boy, school-girl and accountant in the land. They have been largely sold in Canada, England, Germany, Cuba and South America. There is probably no other establishment operated with better system than this one. Some of the employees have been continuously engaged for a period of twenty or more years, and are therefore skilled workmen. When new employees enter a certain department they are continued there, and
thus by long experience become experts in that department. They are paid in accordance with the amount of work performed.
The manufacture begins with the steel, shipped from Sheffield, England, which, after going through various transformations and interesting processes, eventually comes out the delicately-formed and serviceable steel pen, now the necessary property of every intelligent individual.
Few persons without careful observation of the minute details of steel pen making will compre- hend how much care and delicate workmanship is required in the manufacture of the finished article. The business of this establishment was conducted by Esterbrook & Son for a few years, when an incorporated company was formed. The present officers of the company, under whose management it is now successfully conducted, are : President, Richard Esterbrook ; Treasurer, Alexander Wood; and Secretary, Francis Wood.
LUMBER INTERESTS OF CAMDEN.
Early in the history of Camden, the large flats on the river-shore, from Market St. to Coopers Point, and also down to Kaighns Point, during the rafting season, was covered with lumber of such kinds and qualities as were calculated to meet the demands of the trade. The shore-line of Philadelphia being such as to prevent the stor- ing of lumber there, of necessity more eligible lo- cations were sought, which eventuated in the Cam- den side being early selected, not only to supply the local trade, but for the general and wholesale trade and for ship-building purposes. The busi- ness has been the most extensively carried on in Camden since 1850, since which time thousands of rafts along the river have been brought here from the lumber districts in Central and Northern Pennsylvania, and from the head-waters of the Delaware, in Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York. The great distributing point for the Pennsylvania white-pine lumber for more than half a century, and, to a considerable extent yet, is at Port Deposit, Md., the head of tide-water, near the mouth of the Susquehanna. To this point, from up the river, thousands of rafts were, and still are, floated annually. The Camden lumber deal- ers went there during the rafting season in the spring of the year, purchased large rafts, separated them in parts, and, either by floating them on the water, or by loading them on schooners, brought them through the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal and up the Delaware to Camden. Sometimes rafts were bought by Camden dealers at Marietta, on the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, which for more
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