The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 92

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

USA > New Jersey > Camden County > The history of Camden county, New Jersey > Part 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas W. Shinn was sexton superintendent for twenty-one years. At his death, in 1876, Joseph Jennings, the present superintendent, was ap- pointed to the position. The office of the company is at No. 414 Market Street.

THE HARLEIGH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION was formed April 28, 1885, and soon afterwards pur- chased of John B. Wood and Lydia C., his wife, the land on Haddon Avenue near the city line, on which its cemetery is laid ont.

The name Harleigh was chosen because that was the name of the country-seat on the Schuylkill (now Laurel Hill Cemetery) of Isaac Cooper, who formerly owned this and most of the land on the east side of Haddon Avenue from Pine Street to the city line, and from whom it descended to Mrs. Wood and others. Harleigh is laid out on what is called the landscape lawn plan,-an entirely different one from that of any cemetery in or around either Camden or Philadelphia, -- the new- est part of West Laurel Hill more closely resem- bling it than any other. The idea is a series of lawns always kept in order by the association,

with interlacing drives and carefully grouped „trees and shrubbery, giving it the appearance of a well-kept private park, rather than that of an old- fashioned burying-ground. For this purpose no fences or lot inclosures are allowed and no head or foot-stones over eight inches in height, although monuments are permitted. The present officers of the association are Howard M. Cooper, president ; Benjamin C. Reeve, vice-president ; Watson De- puy, treasurer ; Harris Graffen, secretary ; John B. Wood, manager; Ralph Moore, superintendent.

A TORNADO .- October 23, 1878, a tornado vis- ited Camden and did much damage to property. It began to blow from the southcast about two o'clock in the morning and increased in violence until three o'clock, when it reached the climax, and it was during this hour that the principal damage was done. It affected all portions of the city alike, and from Newton Creck to Coopers Creek at daylight the streets were found to be blockaded with displaced roofs, debris from demol- ished walls and shattered and uprooted trees. Nearly two hundred houses were unroofed and many unfinished buildings were leveled.

The Second Baptist Church, the Union Method- ist Episcopal Church and the Tabernacle Method- ist Episcopal Church were unroofed and a large stack at the Nickle works, on Coopers Creek, was blown down, crushing a honse in its fall. Although the height was reached at three o'clock, the tor- nado swept with great force for several hours, and about six o'clock blew a train from the track of the Camden, Gloucester and Mount Ephraim Railroad as it was crossing the meadow below Atlantic Ave- nue, and injured Wm. Dorell, the superintendent, Conductor Wm. H. Fults and Charles Hallam, a passenger. Thos. A. Wilson, president of the Horse Railroad Company, was injured by a falling chimney, and a number of others received injuries, but not a life was lost. The peculiar action of the wind is shown by giving one out of many in- stances : The Union Methodist Episcopal Church, extending back to Newton Avenue, was unroofed, as were houses on Broadway, while a row of tall, frail frame houses between them did not lose a shingle.

There was not much rain, but the strong wind blew the water into Delaware Bay and up the river, cansing the tides to rise to an unprecedented height. The water reached Locust Street on Kaighn Avenue and Front Street on Market, sur- rounding the West Jersey Hotel, so that boats were used to reach it, and the ferry-boats ceased running because the people could not get to the slips. The river-bank below Kaighns Point was

555

THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

overflowed, flooding the meadow and so washing the Ferry road, Broadway and the West Jersey. Railroad as to render them impassable, and pas- sengers by the railroad were transferred at Glouces- ter City and brought hither in boats.

THE CYCLONE OF 1885 .- On the afternoon of August 3, 1885, a cyclone struck the city, uprooting trees, damaging or demolishing over six hundred . houses, involving a loss of nearly a million dollars, wounding a number of persons and causing the death of four. It had heen raining heavily, the storm coming from the eastward, and, crossing the river, met a storm coming from the west, and the struggle of the two for mastery caused the unusual atmospheric disturbance. The opposing forces first came in contact in the southern section of Phila- delphia, known as the "Neck," and uniting continued in a zigzag direction to the New Jersey side, and north through the eastern and northern portions of Camden, across the river to Richmond, its northern limits. It was not a tor- nado nor a whirlwind. Trees were not twisted off, nor were they prostrated in one direction. On opposite sides of the street, tree-tops in some places were towards each other, in other cases were away from each other, while the wall of one house was pressed in, and the next one forced ont, as if two mighty wrestling Titans were struggling for the mastery, with their feet scuffling on the ground, sometimes pressing stones into the earth, and then scattering them in all directions; so these two storm-clouds, coming from opposite directions and contending for the right-of-way, rose and fell and swayed to and fro, crushing or pushing aside what- ever occupied the location of the conflict. The east-born storm had passed over, but the west-born storm was the stronger of the two, and forcing its antagonist back, made the fight in this city.

The total length of the battle-field did not exceed six miles, while its hreadth ranged from one hun- dred to eight hundred feet. Beyond this scope all was peaceful. While the storm was playing havoc on Federal, at Second and Third, a car-load of pas- sengers at Fifth and Federal did not know of the storm until told. Its duration was brief, almost momentary. The southern ends of the storms came in contact at 3.25 P.M., and the points of contact ran rapidly all along the line. Careful observers said the northern point of collision was reached in from one to two minutes. Like two heavy planks in contact at one end allowed to come together by the force of gravity, forcing out the air and other material between them, so the two storms came to- gether in the " Neck," closed up rapidly along their length, squeezing the air from between their un-

eveu edges, in all directions, and with uneven force and zigzag course.

The cyclone began in the "Neck," where there was nothing to harm, and moving east nearly, crossed the river to Gloucester City, in its way striking the after-part of the ferry-boat " Peerless," on her way from Gloucester Point to Philadelphia, carrying away the pilot-house and a team of horses, otherwise doing no damage. The course then led northwest to the Pennsylvania Salt-Works, which were partially demolished. Turning east of north, towards Camden, it recrossed the river, striking the Salem steamboat " Major Reybold," sweeping away her upper works, and with them several per- sons, including the pilot, named Townsend, who was the only one lost, although the upper part of the boat was a total wreck.

Crossing the river, it reached Kaighns Point, and, passing over the large machine and boiler shops of Dialogue's ship-yard, fell upon the work-shop, a hundred feet away, and crushed it to the ground, leaving the debris where it fell. Rising, and moving north, the cyclone did no harm to ferry-house, mills and many dwellings, but passed on to the premises of the American Dredging Company, a half-mile away, except to drop a foot npon a large spar-shed, ahove Kaighn Avenue, and push it over, burying, without hurting, several men.

Reaching the dredging works composed of seve- ral buildings, it fell upon the machine-shop, which it leveled. Among those in the building, who, seeing the cyclone coming, ran out, were George Daisy, Harry Stevens and Benjamin Smith. The two former were fonnd at a distance, the first dead, the second with a leg crushed off by a piece of timber. The last-named threw himself upon the ground, and rolled and tossed for some distance, but escaped with bruises.

John H. Dialogue, of the Delaware River Iron Ship-Building Works, at Kaighns Point, thus de- scribed the phenomena :

"I was in my office at 3.25 P.M., when my son called my attention to the barometer, which sud- denly fell from 30,2% to 29 . This portended mis- chief, and, looking towards the southwest, I saw and heard the storm passing over the Pennsylvania Salt Works, tossing the buildings like chaff. Then it struck the steamer ' Major Reybold,' which was nearly abreast of my place, and portions of her upper works were whirled four hundred feet in the air. A loud roaring preceded the storm, which resembled a dense mass of rolling black smoke, traveling within ten feet of the water. It crossed the river, crushed one of my buildings, and, pass-

556

HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ing north, struck the machine-shop of the dredging company, crushing it and passing on. A singular phenomenon was noticed, not alone by me, but by all my men : a large ball of fire, fully ten feet in diameter, accompanied the storm-cloud. It moved with great rapidity, and exploded two hundred and fifty yards north of me, with a report so ter- rific as to shake the foundation of the building in which I stood. The sky to the east was unusually bright, with a rainbow appearance, and was one of the most remarkable sights I ever witnessed. The storm moved north, not straight, but in a zigzag course, not horizontal, but undulating, up and down, now sweeping the ground, and then passing over houses and tree-tops."

HOTELS .- The West Jersey Hotel was built by the West Jersey Ferry Company in 1849, and was leased to Israel English until 1866. James Bodine then became the proprietor and remained such for three years, or until 1869, and since that time it has been conducted by Mr. Kirbride, George Camphell, George Cake, James Titus and Captain John Mount. In 1883, it was leased to Stephen Parsons, the present proprietor. When built it was close by the bank of the river, the ferry slips being upon the opposite side of Dela- ware Avenue. At the slips nearest Market Street the steamboats " Billy Penn " (as then called) and "Southwark " made connections with Philadelphia by way of Callowhill Street wharf, and at the ad- joining slips the "Mariner " and "Merchant" steamers made regular trips, from Market Street, to Philadelphia. The main slip has been extended from the hotel into the river five hundred feet, and the wharves nine hundred feet.

STEPHEN PARSONS is descended from English ancestors, his grandfather, Stephen Parsons, a na- tive of England, being the first member of the fam- ily to emigrate to America. The children of the latter are Stephen, William, Joseph, Thomas, Rebecca (Mrs. Reeves Metcalf) and Ellen (Mrs. James Anderson). Thomas, of this number, was born in 1797, in Reading, Pa., and spent his life principally in Burlington, Atlantic and Cumber- land Counties, N. J., where he was for many years a manufacturer of iron. In politics he was first an Old-Line Whig, later a Republican, and filled the offices of lay judge of Atlantic County and justice of the peace. Mr. Parsons married a Miss Champion, of Gloucester (now Atlantic) County, N. J., whose children are Harriet (Mrs. Elmer Smith), Joseph and one who died in infancy. All are now deceased. He married, a second time, Hannah Taylor, of Burlington County, N. J., to whom were born children,-Stephen, Martha (Mrs.

Jeremiah Zane), Elizabeth Ann (Mrs. Richard Vannaman), Ellen (Mrs. Godfrey Hancock), Mary (Mrs. Daniel Erdman), John T. (who was lost on the steamer "New Jersey," plying between Phila- delphia and Camden), Thomas (deceased), Rebecca (Mrs. Eli Braddock), Arabella, James A., Sarah (Mrs. Benjamin T. Bright) and Henry C. (de- ceased). Stephen Parsons, the eldest of the chil- dren, was born on the 24th of June, 1821, in Bur- lington County, N. J., and removed in infancy to Cumberland County, where his early youth was chiefly spent. Later, becoming a resident of Glou- cester County, he received his education at private schools, frequently being obliged to walk a long distance for that purpose. Mr. Parsons for many years assisted his father in lumbering and farming, but, desiring a wider and more independent field than was thus opened to him, he, in 1844, removed to Camden and embarked in the business of hotel- keeping with Richard C. Cake. Here he remained ten years, ultimately becoming sole proprietor of the house known as Parsons' Hotel. This hotel was built in 1764, and was devoted to the uses of a public-house until 1882, when it was demolished. Mr. Parsons then sought another field, and became the popular landlord of the Fulton House, at At- lantic City. In 1884 he leased the West Jersey Hotel, Camden, which is at present under his suc- cessful management.

Mr. Parsons was, in 1848, married to Sarah, daaghter of Nathaniel Steelman, of Atlantic County, who died in August, 1849. He was a second time married, October 31, 1863, to Mrs. Emma A. Rice, daughter of Sylvester Senseman, of Philadelphia. The larger part of Mr. Parsons' life has been devoted to the duties of a landlord, though other interests have also engaged his atten- tion. A Republican in politics, he has never par- ticipated in the strife for office, nor been the recip- ient of political honors. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and connected with Senatus Lodge, No. 76, of that order.

The South Ferry Hotel, located at the southeast corner of Kaighn Avenue and Front Street, has been known to the citizens of Camden as a hotel, and its gardens as a place of resort, for more than a century. Originally it was a farm-house, built by one of the Kaighn family ; the exact date when it was converted into a hotel is unknown, but the names of the landlords are familiar to the old resi- dents, and include Adon Wills, Ebenezer Toole Captain George Bender, Hewlings Haines, Aaron Hillman, William Bryant, John Kinsell, Daniel W. Beckley, Abraham Smith, Sothron Norcross, ex-Sheriff' Leeds, Daniel Wells, William Sands,

Stephen Parsing

George Campbell,

557

THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

Theodore Grug and the present proprietor, John Korn.

When first opened as a hotel it was close by the river-bank, and the ferry-boats, when started, had their slip just across the street. The hotel is now nearly two squares away from the Kaighns Point Ferry, the intervening ground having been filled iu and built up to within a short distance of the ferry slip. It, however, still retains its name of South Ferry Hotel. A century ago it was a fa- mous place of resort in the summer days for citi- zens of Philadelphia.

The Avenue Hotel, northeast corner of Fifth Street and Bridge Avenue, was opened in 1883 by the present proprietor, August C. Miller, who made additions and alterations to the original pre- mises, making the entire area for hotel purposes thirty-six by eighty-five feet. The hotel has an excellent location on the line of the West Jersey Railroad and near the city buildings.

The Ferry Hotel, at the foot ot Kaighn Avenue and near the Ferry House, was built in 1864 by Dorman & Stout, the contractors for the owner John E. Reese. Hugh Miller was the first pro- prietor and kept it until 1868, when it was leased to John Bamford, who has since conducted it.

The City Hotel, No. 112 Market Street, was built in 1864 for a large clothing house by a Mr. Holmes. In 1866 it was leased to the present pro- prietor, Lewis Herbst, who remodeled it and built a two-story brick addition at the rear, making the front twenty-five feet by one hundred feet deep.

GEORGE CAMPBELL was the son of John Camp- bell, a member of the Society of Friends and a na- tive of Camden County, where he was born on the 12th of May, 1799, and died July 11, 1882. Mr. Campbell resided during his life-time in the county of his birth, where he was chiefly engaged in labor pertaining to the career of an agriculturist. He married Mary, daughter of George Horn, of the same county, who was born October 31, 1803, and died August 24, 1883. Their children are Mary Jane, Anna, George, John, Jr., and Charles, who died in youth. George, of this number, was born on his father's farm on the 29th of December, 1838, and received his early education at the dis- trict school near his home, after which he pursued his studies in Camden. Leaving the farm at the age of eighteen, he removed to Camden and en- gaged in the coal business. A few years after he formed a copartnership with his brother John, and embarked in the livery business, to which was 67

subsequently added extensive contracts for street- paving. Continuing thus employed until 1876, he in that year sold his interest to his brother, and later became landlord of the West Jersey Hotel, in Camden, which he managed successfully for three years. Mr. Campbell, in 1883, repurchased the livery business, and continued its management until his death. He was, on the 6th of July, 1865, married to Louisa, daughter of Samuel H. Warwick, of Camden. Their children are two sons,-Harry W., in his twenty-first year, and George Percy, aged fifteen. Mr. Campbell was in politics an active Republican, aud, while a zealous worker for the success of his party, invariably de- clined all proffers of office. Endowed with keen perceptions and a mature judgment, his business ventures were usually successful, while his kindly nature and genial bearing won for him many friends. Mr. Campbell was an earnest supporter of the Union cause during the late war, and raised a company which only the most importu- nate entreaties on the part of his parents prevented his leading to the field. His means and influ- ence were ever at the service of the government. The death of George Campbell occurred on the 5th of September, 1886.

JOHN CAMPBELL, JR., was born October 26, 1840, on his father's farm in Newton township, which he now owns. He attended school near by his home until his parents removed to Camden, when he became a pupil in the school kept by a Mr. Wells, at Fourth and Market Streets. Afterward he had charge of his father's farms for two years, and later was associated with his brother George in the coal business, and with his brother in the livery business, Market and Delaware Avenue. His brother becoming the proprietor of the West Jer- sey Hotel, Mr. Campbell continued the livery business alone, and also took contracts for paving streets. He was in the paving business about eight years. He sold his livery to his brother George, and since that time has been in the real estate business. He is a Republican politically, and has been a member of the Council since 1881, serving at this time his second term. He is chair- man of the Committee of Highways and chairman of the Building Commission. He was married, October 16, 1870, to Elizabeth Mason Reade, daughter of John S. and Margaret Mason Reade, of Camden. He has two children,-John Reade and Mary Anna.

558

HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

CHAPTER IX.

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

Free Masonry-The Independent Order of Odd Fellows-Knights of Pythias-Improved Order of Red Men-Knights of the Golden Eagle-Ancient Order of United Workmen-Brotherhood of the Union-Order of United American Mechanics-Independent Order of Mechanics-Miscellaneous Societies.

FREE MASONRY.

THE early history of Free Masonry in New Jersey is involved in a shade of obscurity, yet there is evidence that it existed in the province nearly a century and a half ago, and was intro- duced but a few years after its revival in England. In 1729, Daniel Coxe, a large proprietor in West Jersey, and for many years a justice of the Supreme Court, was appointed Provincial Grand Master for New Jersey, under the seal of the Duke of Norfolk, Grand Master of England.

There is no evidence that the appointment resulted in the establishment of any lodges in the province, and it is presumable that in those times temporary lodges were convened, at irregular inter- vals, to give the craftsmen an opportunity of en- joying fraternal amenities, and promoting the cultivation of Masonic science among the scattered brethren. At these esoteric communications it is probable that candidates were initiated into the ancient mysteries of the craft under a dispensa- tion from the Grand Master.

The first deputation for New York was granted in 1737, during the Grand Mastership of the Earl of Darnley, to Richard Riggs as Provincial Grand Master, and neither is there any record of his having established any lodges or doing anything towards organizing or extending the order.

By the deputation of Grand Master Coxe, there- fore, whose jurisdiction included New York and several other provinces, it is safe to say that the history of Free Masonry on American soil had its starting-point in the province of New Jersey.

On December 18, 1786, a convention was held in New Brunswick, and a Grand Lodge was organized, the Hon. David Brearley, chief justice of the State, being elected Grand Master. From that time Masonry in New Jersey has a distinctive history, and the growth and prosperity of the institution in the century which nearly elapsed since the organization of that body, both at home and in other States, is a matter of pride and congratulation to the twelve thousand craftsmen now within the borders of the foster-mother of American Free Masonry.

The first regularly organized lodge of which we have any record, and which antedates the Grand

Lodge by nearly a quarter of a century, is St. John's Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M., of Newark, which was instituted 13th day of May, 1761.

CAMDEN LODGE, No. 15, F. and A. M .- This lodge was originally organized and set to work No- vember 21, A.L. 5821, and continued at work until the year 1842 as Camden Lodge, No. 45, F. A. M.,.

holding its meetings at Vauxhall Garden, at the southwest corner of Fourth and Market Streets, and ceased work from lack of interest on the part of its members. The warrant was surrendered and the effects of the lodge were sold at constable's sale to satisfy the landlord.

On March, 29, A.L. 5849, a petition signed by Richard W. Howell, John W. Mickle, Richard Fetters, Thomas W. Mulford, Joseph Taylor, Charles S. Garrett, George House, Waters B. Miller, Josiah Shivers, George W. Carpenter, Jesse Hall and Ezekiel Hall (all of whom are deceased except Waters B. Miller and Jesse- Hall, neither of whom now hold membership with No.15) wassent to the Grand Lodge, praying for a new charter. This petition was recommended by Mount Holly Lodge, No. 14, April 17, A.L. 5849, and on the 18th day of April, A.L. 5849, Worthy Brother John P. Lewis, Grand Master of the M. W. G. Lodge of New Jersey, set Camden Lodge to work by dis- pensation, in the third-story room of the southeast corner of Second and Plum, where the lodge continued to work for a short time, when they removed to the present hall, southeast corner of Fourth and Market Streets, and still continue. At the session of the M. W. G. Lodge of New Jersey, held at Trenton, January 9, A.L. 5850, the old warrant was restored to the petitioners, and the number changed to 15 on the recommen- dation of the committee to whom petition was referred. Camden Lodge, No. 15, is justly styled the mother lodge of Masonry in Camden and vicinity.

The following lodges were recommended to the Grand Lodge of New Jersey by Camden No. 15: Glassboro', No. 85; 'Ionic, No. 94, Florence"; No. 87 ; and Trimble, No. 117. Other lodges have been instituted by recommendation from these lodges.

Since Camden Lodge, No. 15, has been work- ing it has had a roll of membership of some 550; 403 persons have been made Master Masons, 10 persons Fellowcrafts, 30 Entered Apprentices and 99 have affiliated from other lodges. The roll of Past Masters shows 30 who have served as Master of this lodge, 9 of whom are deceased, 2 with- drawn, 1 affiliated, 20 still active members. This lodge has furnished the Most Worthy Grand Lodge

559

THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

of New Jersey with 2 Grand Masters, 2 Deputy Grand Masters and 1 Senior Grand Warden.

The finances of the lodge are carefully taken care of, and all the surplus invested for future use.

The present roll shows some two hundred active members, and the lodge is in a very healthy condition. The present corps of officers is as follows: John E. Fagen, Worthy Master; David M. Spence, Senior Warden ; John Cherry, Junior Warden ; Joseph P. Weatherby, Treasurer ; James M. Cassady, P. M., Secretary ; Edmund B. Leam- ing, Senior Deacon ; Harry P. Paul, Junior Dea- con ; Byron Sharp, S. M. C .; E. Hitner Geise, J. M. C. ; William Cline, Senior Steward ; Howard Carrow, Junior Steward ; Charles H. Gordon, Tiler; J. S. R. Cassady, P. M., Marshal ; C. Henry Kain, P. M., Organist ; Louis T. Derousse, G. Genge Browning, J. S. R. Cassady, Trustees; Representatives in the Masonic Board of Relief, David M. Spence, John N. West, James W. Ayers, S. Glover Rudderow and Joseph F. P. Reed. The present Secretary has held this position contin- uously since December, A.L. 5852.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Camden county, New Jersey, Part 92

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