USA > New Jersey > Cape May County > The history of Cape May County, New Jersey : from the aboriginal times to the present day > Part 27
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Colonel Leach has long devoted much time to literary
342
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
pursuits, largely of a historical and genealogical character. His contributions to "Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography" were more numerous than those of any other contributor, aside from its editorial staff. Among his publi- cations is "Memoranda Relating to the Ancestry and Family of Levi P. Morton, Vice-President of the United States," a work of 190 pages. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Academy of Social and Political Sciences and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and was for some years the historiographer of the latter. He was one of the founders of the Genealogical Society of Penn- sylvania, of which he has been a vice-president since its or- ganization; a member of the Society of Colonial Wars; a founder of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolu- tion and its historian, and is also historian of the Pennsyl- vania Society of Descendants of the Mayflower, and a mem- ber of many other organizations of a literary and social character.
Reuben Foster was born in Lower township October 28, 1839. He received a common school education, and when eighteen years of age went to Southwestern Iowa, where he remained with his uncle, Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Hughes, for four years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1861 he returned home, and entered the Twenty-fifth Regiment, and was promoted for meritorious conduct at Fredericks- burg. After the close of the war he attended a business college in Philadelphia, and in 1867 he entered into the transportation business. He shortly afterwards located at Baltimore. He became connected with the Southern Steamship Line, and is now one of the wealthiest men in the Monumental City. He was at one time receiver of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, and is also agent of the North River line of steamers.
The Relief Committee for the years 1863-4, as appointed by the Board of Freeholders on May 13, 1863, was com- posed of Thomas Williams, of Upper; William S. Townsend, of Dennis; Dr. Alexander Young, of Middle; Samuel F. Ware, of Lower, and Joseph S. Leach, of Cape Island. Be- sides the money distributed by the board, the State contrib-
343
THE ENLISTMENTS OF 1862.
uted to the relief of the soldiers' families a total of $5449.40, through County Collector Charles Hand.
By the calls made by the State for troops in July and Oc- tober, this year, Cape May county was to furnish eighty- three on the first call and eighty-eight on the second call. These men were to be recruited by January 4, 1864. On December 22, '63, the Board of Freeholders voted a bounty of $300 to each volunteer who would enlist, and this offer was to last until the 171 men had been secured. Dr. Cole- man F. Leaming was appointed to distribute the bounty among the volunteers. The townships' committees and Cape Island City Council also passed resolutions giving bounties in addition to further aid in the recruiting. The Freeholders recommended recruiting officers for each town- ship, which they asked the Governor to appoint, as follows: Thomas Williams, Upper; Clinton H. Ludlam, Dennis; Dr. Coleman F. Leaming, Middle; Waters B. Miller, Lower, and George W. Smith, Cape Island. By the same body it was agreed that each volunteer would get seventy-five dol- lars before leaving camp, and, in addition to regular pay, be given every six months an additional sum of fifty dollars. On January 13, 1864, the Freeholders passed a resolution making the $300 bounty apply to colored as well as white persons, and the rule was to hold good until the 171 men had entered the service. The bounty ceased on May 7, 1864.
CHAPTER XXV. THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 AND 1865.
On the 4th of January, 1864, the time set for the filling up of the quota for Cape May, a number of persons volunteered and entered Company A, Third New Jersey Cavalry. Most of these men had served in the Twenty-fifth Regiment, In- fantry.
The Third Cavalry was organized under the provisions. approved July 22, 1861, and in pursuance of a proclamation issued by the President of the United States, dated October 17, 1863. The organization of the regiment was to be ef- fected under the requirements of existing orders for the en- rollment of troops. The organization of the regiment was immediately commenced, and the authorities to raise com- panies were issued to individuals in different parts of the State. The headquarters of the regiment were established at Camp Bayard, Trenton, and, to insure an early comple- tion of the organization, it was designated the First Regi- ment, United States Hussars, and a uniform pertaining to. this branch of service was adopted, which gave an enthusi- asm to recruiting, and the required number of men to com- plete the regiment was soon obtained. As soon as the com- panies were raised they reported at camp, and were immedi- ately mustered into the service of the United States for three years, unless sooner discharged. Company A was mustered in January 26. The regiment left the State April 5, 1864, and marched overland to Annapolis, Md., having been as- signed to the Ninth Army Corps. It remained at this point but a short time, when, under orders, it proceeded to Alexandria, Va., and joined the Army of the Potomac. The regiment continued its organization and remained in active service until the close of the war, and the most of the officers and men were mustered out August 1, 1865, at Washington, D. C. The regiment was first attached to the Ninth Army
345
THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 AND 1865.
Corps: then to the Third Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps; Army of the Potomac; then to the First Brigade, Third Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. It took part in the following engagements, all in Virginia: United States Ford, May 19, 1864; Ashland Station, June I; North Anna River, June 2; Haines' Shop, June 3; Bot- tom's Bridge, June 4; White Oak Swamp, June 13; Smith's Store, June 15; before Petersburg, July 25; Lee's Mills, July 27; Winchester, August 17; Summit Point, August 21; Kearneysville, August 25 and 26; Berryville Turnpike, Sep- tember 13; Opequan, September 19: Front Royal, Septem- ber 21 and 22: Fisher's Hill, September 22; Winchester, September 24: Waynesboro, September 28; Bridgewater, October 2; Tom's Brook, October 9; Cupp's Mills, October 13: Cedar Creek, October 19; Back Road (near Cedar Creek), November 12; Mount Jackson, November 22; Lacey's Spring. December 21; Moorefield, February 22, 1865: Waynesboro, March 2; Dinwiddie C. H., March 31; Five Forks, April 1; capture of Petersburg, April 2; Deep Creek, April 3: Sailor's Creek, April 6; Appomattox Sta- tion, April 8, and at Appomattox C. H. (Lee's surrender). April 9.
When the company was mustered into service the Cape May men ranked as follows:
Second lieutenant, John F. Tomlin.
Sergeant, Joseph H. Holmes.
Blacksmith, German Corson.
Privates-David S. Townsend, Isaac W. Mulford, Daniel H. Wheaton. Thomas H. Taylor, Shamgar C. Townsend, Lewis Gooden. John W. Hand, Andrew Kramer, George W. Lester, John W. McCarty, Joseph A. McCarty, Isaac W. McCormick, William H. McKeag. Francis G. Springer, John Thornton, Edgar Voss, Elva E. Westcott, Josiah Whit- taker, George L. Williams, Willets Corson, Charles Grace, Alfred Warwick.
John F. Tomlin was promoted to first lieutenant of Com- pany M on May 6, '64. and assumed the place five days later. May 3, 1865, he was commissioned captain of Company E, and on the 17th mustered into that office and remained as
346
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
such until the regiment was mustered out on August I, I865.
Joseph H. Holmes was, on May 3, 1865, commissioned second lieutenant of Company F, and mustered into that po- sition on May 18, 1865, in which he served until mustered out of service on August 1, 1865.
David S. Townsend was promoted to sergeant January I, 1865, and Isaac W. Mulford to corporal on June 11, 1864. Daniel H. Wheaton was made a corporal on January 4, 1865; Shamgar C. Townsend, April 26, 1864, and Thomas H. Taylor, March 1, 1855.
Those who did not remain with the company during their entire service and the reasons therefor were:
Shamgar C. Townsend-Prisoner of war and confined in Andersonville Prison; paroled and discharged at U. S. Army General Hospital, York, Pa., May 12, 1865.
Andrew Kramer-Discharged at Armory Square, U. S. General Hospital, Washington, May 3, 1865.
Edgar Voss-Discharged at same time and place.
Willitts Corson-Died at Douglass U. S. Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C., June 9, 1864; buried at Na- tional Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Charles Grace-Died at U. S. Army General Hospital, Fairfax Seminary, Va., June 19, 1864; buried at National Cemetery, Alexandria, Va., Grave 2191.
Alfred Warwick-Died October 6, 1864: buried at Pop- Jar Grove National Cemetery, Va .; prisoner of war; died of starvation in Saulsbury Prison.
Those who remained with the company until it was mus- tered out, August 1, 1865, were: David S. Townsend, Isaac W. Mulford, George L. Williams, German Corson, Lewis Govlen, John W. Hand, Elva E. Westcott, Joshua Whit- taker, Daniel Wheaton, Thomas H. Taylor, George W. Lester, John W. McCarty, Joseph A. McCarty, Isaac W. McCormick, William H. McKeag, Francis G. Springer, John Thornton.
The next companies in which Cape May men served were Companies H and K, Thirty-eighth Regiment Volun- teers. This regiment was organized under the provisions
347
THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 AND 1865.
of acts of Congress of July 22, 1861, and July 4, 1864, and under authority of the War Department for the raising of two regiments of infantry. The recruiting was commenced and headquarters of the regiment were established at Camp Bayard, Trenton, and active measures were pursued to complete the organization at an early date. The required number of men to complete the regiment was raised and mustered into the service of the United States by com- panies, for one year, by the Ist day of October, 1864. Com- pany H was mustered into service September 30, 1864, and Company K September 15, at Camp Bayard. The regi- went was fully officered and completed by October 3. It
WILLIAM J. SEWELL.
left the State in three detachments. Company K left in the first detachment on September 20, and Company H October 4, under Colonel William J. Sewell, whose name has since become a household word in the county by reason of his prominence in Cape May's improvement, his summer residence in the county and his twice serving the State in the United States Senate. Each detachment proceeded to Baltimore, Md., thence by transports' to City Point, Va. Upon its arrival it was assigned to garrison and other duties, the headquarters of the regiment being at Fort Powhattan, on the James River, having been assigned to a provisional brigade, Army of the James. It remained in this vicinity
348
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
during its entire period of service, which lasted until the end' of the war. It was mustered out of service at City Point, Va., June 30. 1865, and started immediately for its return to New Jersey, where it arrived on July 4. It took part in. the operations of the army before Petersburg, Va., which resulted in its capture April 2, and the surrender of General. Robert E. Lee, April 9.
Those who enlisted in Company H on September 20. were: George Aumack. Richard Aumack, Jr., Samuel Barnes, John G. Sheppard, Edward F. Townsend, Joseph W. Whitaker, and on the 27th were John C. Camp, James- Chambers, Frederick W. Crandol and Franklin Scull. They all served as privates. All but Franklin Scull were mus- tered out on June 30. 1865, he having died of pleurisy at. Post Hospital, Fort Pocohontas, Va., on November 22,. 1864.
The Cape May men in Company K all enlisted on Sep- tember 6, excepting William Hoffman, who enlisted on the. following day. When the company was mustered into ser- vice the Cape May men ranked as follows:
First lieutenant, Albert E. Hand.
Sergeant, Samuel E. Douglass.
Corporal, Eleazer F. Hankins.
Privates-Isaac Heritage, Enoch T. Abrams, Skidmore' Abrams, Elijah D. Batts, Henry Brown, James F. Cham- bers, Jacob S. Corson, Joseph Cresse, George Eldridge, James Estell, Robert Garrison, Benjamin A. Hankins, Wil -- liam H. Heritage, William Hoffman, David Lloyd, Albert Norton. David Norton, Uriah Norton, Henry Rudolph and Socrates J. Smith.
Samuel E. Douglass was made first sergeant October I, 1864; sergeant-major of the regiment on November I, and was on May 16, 1865. promoted to be second lieutenant of Company E, with which company he served until the regi- ment was mustered out.
Eleazer F. Hankins was made sergeant on October I, 1864, and Isaac Heritage a corporal on November I. All the men remained with the company until it was mustered out, on June 30, 1865, excepting Samuel E. Douglass and!
349
THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 AND 1865.
Henry Rudolph, the latter being discharged at Camp Pa- role, Annapolis, Md., May 1, 1865.
Cape May men did excellent service in the navy, the more prominent of these men being:
Henry W. Hand, acting master; appointed November 13, "61; discharged February 21, '66; served on U. S. steamship "Vermont" during 1863 and 1864.
James Mecray, Jr., acting assistant surgeon; appointed November 5, '62; resigned April 1, '64; served in East Gulf Blockading Squadron, '62; U. S. bark "James L. Davis," 1863,
Henry Bennett (records unknown); drowned in Charles- ton Harbor, S. C.
Edward D. Springer, acting ensign; appointed August II, '64; dischaged December 1I, '65; served in Mississippi Squadron.
Eli D. Edmunds, acting master; appointed May 8, 1865; discharged September 9, 1865; acting master's mate Sep- tember 9, '62; U. S. steamer "Crusader," '62; acting en- sign September 9, '63; Potomac Flotilla, '63 and '64; com- manding coast survey steamer '66.
Seth L. Hand, landsman; appointed September 2, '64; discharged June II, '65; served on U. S. receiving ship "Princeton."
Theodore F. Hildreth, seaman; appointed December 14, '63; discharged December 7, '64; served on U. S. steamer "Niphon."
Elijah Hand, Jr., ordnance seaman; appointed Septem- ber 5, '64; discharged June 8, '65; served on U. S. steamer "Pontoosuc."
Andrew J. Tomlin, U. S. Marine Corps.
Henry Walker Hand is of colonial stock, being a lineal descendant of Mark Hand, a soldier in the army of Oliver Cromwell. He is a son of Christopher Smith Hand, and was born at Green Creek on July 8, 1833. After obtaining such educational advantages as were to be had in his native neighborhood, he began a life upon the sea at seventeen years of age. At twenty-one he was a master in the mer- chant marine. When in Mobile, Alabama, in 1856, he was
350
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
arrested for carrying off a negro slave, but upon trial was acquitted. He was, however, an ardent Abolitionist and strong Union man during the war. He entered the navy at the outbreak of the conflict, on November 13, 1861, and as master was ordered to the U. S. steamship "Keystone State" as division and watch officer. He was on this vessel when it made its long cruise after the Confederate blockade runner "Nashville." He was in Admiral Du Pont's squad- ron when his fleet captured the Southern ports south of Port Royal, South Carolina. He operated with the divi- sions of sailors and marines for shore duty and was prize master of the Confederate privateer "Dixie," captured by the "Keystone State." He was attached to the monitor "Passaic" in New York during the celebrated draft riots, and had command of her turret division. He was after- wards transferred to the U. S. ships "Vermont" and "New Hampshire," and was executive officer of each of them in succession from July 28, 1863, to November, 1865. He did. service at the blockade at Charleston, S. C., and with the naval brigade, under Brigadier General Hatch, operated in. South Carolina in February, 1865, in the division which acted as a diversion to General Sherman in the march to the sea.
After the war Captain Hand made a three years' cruise. in the U. S. steamship "Lackawanna," on the Pacific sta- tion, as watch officer. This ship did surveying in the Pa- cific Ocean with headquarters at Honolulu, Sandwich Is- lands. This was the first U. S. war vessel to reach that port after the war. He was honorably discharged in 1869, and returned home. Since that time he was connected with the public schools as teacher until he devoted his whole time to editorial duties as editor of the "Wave," in which ca- pacity he has acted since 1883.
In 1862 the total value of property in the county was $2,638,028, divided as follows: Upper township, $536,775; Dennis, $520,871; Middle, $580,180; Lower, $498,476, and Cape Island, $474,726. In 1865 the total value had de- creased, according to estimate, a half million dollars. The following table shows the condition of the county as esti- mated at the close of the war (June, 1865):
351
THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 AND 1865.
TOWNSHIPS.
Number of Acres.
Value of Lands.
Value of Real and Personal Estate. State Tax.
Quota of |
Quota of Co. Tax.
Quota of War Tax.
Upper.
23,545
$246,675
$435,000
$ 582.26
$ 1357.45
$ 160.00
Dennis
26,162
295,870
430,000
575.58
1341.84
240.00
Middle.
28,476
424,760
530,000
709.42
1653.90
666.66
Lower.
13,516
265,000
360,000
481.87
1123.41
622.22
Cape Island ..
240
281,000
360,000
481.87
1123.40
311.12
Total
91,939
$1513,305
$2,115,000
$ 2831.00
$ 6600.00
$ 2000.00
-
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
I11 1866 the war debt of Cape May county had reached about twenty thousand dollars, and it was reduced at the rate of about thirty-five hundred dollars per year until ex- tinguished.
Frederick Ricard, State superintendent of public schools, in his report of January 15, 1862, says of the Cape May county schools :
"The tax per child raised here for the purpose of edu- cation is exceeded by only three other counties in the State. * * There is no charge made for tuition in any of the public schools, though I regret to say that the average number of months which they are kept open does not com- pare favorably with that of other counties. The teachers here are, with very few exceptions, spoken of in the high- est terms."
Cape May county's war Senator was Jonathan F. Leam- ing, A. M., M. D., D. D. S., who served from 1862 to 1865. He was born in Cape May county September 7, 1822. His family is of English extraction, he being the sixth in his line from Christopher Leaming, who migrated from England in 1670 and settled in Cape May county in 1691. He was 2 great-grandson of Aaron Leaming, second. Ha pursued his collegiate course at Madison University, New York, and subsequently at Brown University, Rhode Island, and graduate at the Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, in 1846. In 1847 he commenced the practice of medicine in his native county, which he pursued for fourteen years. compelled to relinquish it for the kindred but less arduous profession of dentistry on account of impaired health. In 1860 he graduated at the Pennsylvania Dental College, Philadelphia, and has since practiced dentistry in Cape May county. He has taken an active part in public affairs, edu- cational, political and religious. For several years he was township superintendent of public schools, for fifteen years county school examiner; served two terms as trustee of the State Normal School, of which he was always a firm advo- cate and supporters.
In 1861 he was elected as a Republican to the New Jer- sey House of Assembly, and in 1862 he was elevated to the
353
THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864 AND 1865.
State Senate, where he served three years. He was chair- man of the committee of the Senate on the establishment of the New Jersey Agricultural College, and was largely inter- ester in securing for Rutger's College her agricultural en- dowment fund.
In 1868 he was elected surrogate of Cape May county for five years, and re-elected in 1873, but in 1877 resigned that position on January I to accept a seat in the State Sen- ate again, to which he had been elected by the people for a term of three years.
Religiously, lie is a Baptist, and has been affiliated with church work for sixty years, either as teacher, trustee, dea-
DR. JONATHAN F. LEAMING.
con and clerk, and for a great many years was a Sunday- school superintendent.
A prominent citizen of Cape May during the war period was Dr. Coleman F. Leaming, of Court House. He was the second son of Jeremiah Leaming, who was in the Leg- islative Council in 1832 to 1834, and elder brother of Rich- ard S. Leaming, who was a Senator in 1874 to 1877. The doctor was born on June 6, 1818. He was loan commis- sioner of Cape May county from 1863 to 1880. He was a member of the Board of Freeholders from Middle town- ship in 1863. '64, '65. Previous to the war he practiced medicine in New York. For a number of years he has been
354
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
a director of the West Jersey Railroad, and was for some. years superintendent of schools in Middle township.
The war Assemblyman was Wilmon W. Ware, who served. from 1862 to 1865, and who was State Senator from 1865- to 1868. He was born at Cape May City, where he always re- sided, in 1818, and was a brother of Joseph, Daniel C., Mas- kel and John G. W., all of whom held public offices of trust in Cape May City. He was a member of Cape Island Ctiy Council during the years 1854, 1864, 1870 and 1878. He served as city clerk from 1858 to 1861, and was a member of the Board of Freeholders in 1870. In politics he was Republican, having formerly been a Whig. He died at Cape May City on August 25, 1885.
CHAPTER XXVI.
LIFE FOLLOWING THE REBELLION.
John Wilson was elected sheriff in 1865 and served un- til 1868. He was born at East Creek, where his father, then a lad of nineteen, had settled, June 13, 1809. His fa- ther came from the north coast of Ireland to America. He always lived in that village, where he was a leading citizen. He was a merchant, and engaged largely in the shipping of cord wood. He was the first postmaster of his village, hav- ing been appointed in 1842, and occupying the position until he died, December 23, 1875. He was prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church of his neighborhood and a devout Christian. In politics he was at first a Whig and then a Republican.
On June 14, 1865, the Board of Freeholders concluded to build a new surrogate's and clerk's office, and selected a committee to visit other counties and examine the public offices. Dr. Coleman F. Leaming, Sylvanus Corson and Joseph E. Hughes were chosen as the committee. On De- cember 28 they reported to the Board that they had had the offices built at a cost of $5100 and that they were finished on December I.
By the census of this year, and in spite of the war, the population had increased to 7625 persons, or a gain in five years of 495. The population was apportioned among the townships as follows: Upper, 1575; Dennis, 2019; Middle, 2077; Lower, 1355, and Cape Island, 599.
On September 10, 1866, the New Jersey Legislature, in special session, ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the Con- stitution of the United States. Wilmon W. Ware was Sen- ator and Thomas H. Beesley was the Assemblyman.
On January 16, 1767, a postoffice was established at Belle Plain, which was then in Cumberland county, but which is now within the bounds of Cape May county. On
356
HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
the 7th of September of this year the postoffice at South Seaville was opened, with Remington Corson as postmaster.
Samuel R. Magonagle, who was a member of the As- sembly in 1868, and the fifth and seventh Mayor of Cape Is- land, was born in 1829 at Mifflin, Juniata caunty, Pa., where he was brought up and went to school. His mother died when he was ten years of age, and he was left much of the time to look out for himself. Early in life he apprenticed himself to a printer, and learned that trade, and so industri- ous was he that, when nineteen years of age, or in 1848, he was the publisher of a newspaper in his native town, known as the "Pennsylvania Register." He published the journal for a number of years, and during his editorial management was a power for the Democratic party, to the principles of which Mr. Magonagle always clung. After disposing of his paper, the young and ambitious man hunted for new fields, and traveled all over the West, working his way at the printer's case, until, in 1859, we find him in Philadelphia. At that time he became an employe at the printing establish- ment of Crissy & Markley, and afterwards became an em- ploye of the "Philadelphia Inquirer." In 1856 he came to Cape May, or Cape Island, as the place was then called, and became an employe and assistant to Mr. Joseph S. Leach, at that time proprietor and publisher of the "Cape May County Ocean Wave," when the paper was a power both editorially and in a business way. While in the employ of Mr. Leach he did not waste any time, but between hours learned to manipulate the telegrapher's keyboard, and was shortly made the manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company for Cape Island.
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