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Camden in 1815 - Camden in 1824 - Assessment of 1834 - Manufacturing Industries and Interesting facts - Pleasure Gardens - "Sausage Weaving."
CAMDEN IN 1815.— The Cooper mansions were not in the town plan made by Jacob Cooper. In the list of names of those who became purchasers of lots will be found that of Vincent Mari Pilosi. He was an Italian and a merchant in Philadelphia. The lots he purchased were Nos. 24, 30 and 32. The last two were purchased after the death of Jacob Cooper. No. 24 fronted on Cooper Street and No. 30 was directly south, adjoining, and fronted on Market Street. No. 32 was the lot on the corner of Market and Second, where the present National State Bank now stands. In the year 1780 Mr. Pilosi built a large mansion-house, sixty-six by twenty-two feet, three stories high, of English brick, alternately red and white, upon the lots on Cooper Street, a part of which is now No. 122. The lots, with others, were made into a large garden. Mr. Pilosi died of yellow fever in 1793, and was buried in his garden. His widow afterwards married a Mr. Tiffin and in 1815 died and was buried by the side of her first husband.
In later years the remains of Mr. Pilosi and his wife were taken up and removed to the Camden Cemetery. The garden was used as a lumber-yard for many years afterward and eventually laid out into lots. A portion of the old mansion was used for five years as the "soup-house" of the Dorcas Society and is now used as a carpenter shop. Years ago thirty-aix feet of the front wall on the west end were taken down and the double brick building was erected on its sits. Probably the oldest person living born in Camden and now a resident is Benjamin Farrow. He was born October 12, 1804, in the two-story brick house built by his father, Peter Farrow, in 1802, which stood on the site of the State Bank, and purchased by that institution in 1812. His father was a shoemaker and carried on an extensive business by "whipping the cat," which means that he visited the farmers, engaged work and sent his journeymen with their "kits" to the several places, who made the shoes for the families, the farmers finding the leather. About 1810 Peter Farrow bought the time of a young Dutch redemptioner, who, after a few weeks’ service, offered for his time to make for his son, Benjamin a pair of boots seamed in the side, they having been made prior with the seam at the back. This offer Farrow accepted, and the young Benjamin trod the streets of Camden, proud of his new boots, and became a walking advertisement and gained for his father much trade.
Benjamin Farrow, in 1820, was apprenticed to Gideon Stivers for five years, and continued with him until 1839, and helped to build Coopers Creek bridge, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and other buildings. From 1840 to 1856 he was in the employ of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company and was stationed on Wind-Mill Island to light lamps, ring the fog bell and kept the register of boats passing through the canal. He handled the rope the night the "New Jersey" was burned (see page 388), and helped swing her round to start for the bar. After service with the company, he was sixteen years with Gilbert Balson in the produce business, making a term of fifty-one years in the employ of but three persons or firms. He new resides at 258 Sycamore Street. His memory of the early days is excellent.
In 1815, he states, on Cooper Street there was a group of houses at the ferry, the Pilosi house described above and then occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tiffin; a frame house on the corner of Third and Cooper, occupied by Isaac Wilkins, and who later kept a lumber-yard extending from the bank to where the West Jersey Press building now stands; and the brick rough-cast house of Edward Sharp, long known as the Dr. Harris house, on the corner of Second and Cooper.
Joshua Cooper’s brick house was built in 1810, and was later owned by Dr. Isaac S. Mulford, and now by the Safe Deposit Company. Joshua Cooper was an ardent Federalist, and about 1803 named the road that extended down to his ferry Federal Street, hence the origin of the name. Nearly opposite Joshua Cooper’s farm-house, and where S.S.E. Cowperthwait’s store now stands, was a frame house. On the corner of Second and Federal was a frame house, occupied by Henry Chew, a sea-captain. On Fourth and Federal stood the Methodist Church, erected in 1809, and en Federal, near Fifth Street, was a frame house, occupied by Frank Peters.
Plum Street was laid out in 1803, and the name changed to Arch by action of the Common Council June 26, 1873. On the north side of Plum, above Third Street, in 1815 were two one-story and two two-story frame buildings. On the northwest corner of Fourth and Plum was a frame building owned by Sylvanus Shepherd, and on the northeast corner a two-story brick building owned by Isaac Smith. Next above was a frame building owned by Captain Manley Smallwood; above were two or three frame buildings owned by Amos Middleton, father of ex-Mayor Timothy Middleton. Edward Daugherty made sausages in a two-story frame building above Sylvanus Shepherd’s. Thomas Smith lived on the southeast corner of Fourth and Plum. His widow, a few years later, erected the building on the northeast corner of Fourth and Federal. On the south side of Plum Street, below Fourth, were three frame buildings owned by John Warren. Below was a two-story frame house built in 1810 by Mrs. Peter Farrow, below which, in the same block, were two frame houses and two brick houses owned by Daniel Swim.
On Market Street were the ferry-houses. On the south side, below Second Street, was a frame building put up in 1810 by Thomas Wright, and now used as a saloon, and a brick bank building corner of Second and Market, the brick dwelling-house of George Genge, still standing on the southeast corner of Second and Market On Market, above Third, the brick building now standing, long the residence of Dr. O.G. Taylor. There were no other houses on Market Street, except the academy, on the corner of Sixth and Market Streets.
The Friends’ Meeting-house, built in 1801, stood at the intersection of Mount Ephraim road and Mount Vernon Streets, and near it was the residence of Richard Jordan, a prominent minister among the Friends, a sketch of whom will be found on page 331.
At Coopers Point was the ferry-house, built in 1770, the dwelling-house above (now occupied by Mrs. Sarah (Cooper) Gaskill, built in 1789, and a few other smaller dwellings; the old Benjamin Cooper house, built in 1734, the I.C.E. house, built in 1788, and the Cope house, built in 1766, all still standing.
At Kaighns Point was the old mansion-house of John Kaighn, built in 1696, with its yew and box-trees in front, and the house built by Joseph Kaighn, about 1750, then used as a ferry-house and standing on the bank of the river, but now several blocks away, and a few other dwellings and out-houses.
Between the Federal Street Ferry and the Kaighns Point Ferry was the farmhouse of Isaac Kaighn, occupied by Thomas, the father of Joseph Githens, now the oldest living ferryman on the river. Below Kaighns Run were the historic old Mickle residences.
In 1815 Randall Sparks was keeping a ferry. Soon after this time the question of extending slavery into the Western States and Territories was being agitated throughout the North, and a public meeting of the citizens of Gloucester was called to meet at the house of Randall Sparks, in Camden, on the 10th of December, 1819, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of slavery and to express their sentiments and opinions on the propriety of limiting its extension and prohibiting its introduction into new States hereafter to be admitted into the Union."
At this meeting Edward Sharp was appointed chairman and J.J. Foster secretary. A committee was appointed— consisting of the Rev. Samuel Wilmer, Swedesboro’; John Tatem, Jr., Deptford; John Firth, Gloucester; Edward Sharp, Camden; John Clement and J.J. Foster, Haddonfield; and Daniel Lake, of Egg Harbor— to draft resolutions, expressive of their sentiments and to prepare a memorial for signatures deprecating the admission of new States and Territories upon the terms proposed.
The ferries constituted the leading business of Camden in 1800. In addition, there were several tanneries, one of which was conducted by a Mr. Haines. It was near Coopers Point, north of Vine and west of Point Street. He was succeeded by Charles Stokes, who sold to Captain William Newton, who continued until his death, when the business was abandoned.
A tannery also was in operation between Market and Arch Streets, below Front. It was abandoned about 1822.
Benjamin Allen, before 1810, established a tannery west of Second Street and north of Kaighn Avenue. It was continued until 1838, and at one time had forty vats.
William Williams, an enterprising resident of Camden, as early as 1816, constructed a large bathhouse, which in the warm season he moored on the west side of the bar above Wind-Mill Island, and running row-boats to Market Street, Philadelphia, for passengers, secured a patronage and made money. When his house was worn out, however, he quit the business. In 1835 similar boat-houses on the river excited the ire of City Council, and a committee was appointed to induce the Philadelphia authorities to suppress the annoyance to the modest who crossed the river on the ferry-boats.
CAMDEN IN 1824.— About 1800 William Bates, a blacksmith, opened a shop on the east side of Front Street, above Market, and on the site of Joseph Z. Colllngs’ present coach factory. A few years later he sold to Thomas L. Rowand, who conducted the business several years and sold to Samuel Foreman, who had been his apprentice, and continued many years, and in 1841 the business was sold to Samuel D. Elfreth, who, in 1848, moved to the site of the Electric Light Company’s works and continued as a machinist, repairing ferry-boats until 1863, when he sold to Derby & Weatherby, who then began their present business. Samuel D. Elfreth was apprenticed by his father, Joseph Elfreth, of Haddonfield, in 1824, to Samuel Foreman, the blacksmith, in Camden. In April of that year, when fourteen years of age, he came to Camden and began his apprenticeship. He describes the business interests of the place at that time as follows: Foreman’s blacksmith shop and Samuel Glover’s carriage shop were on the site of J.Z. Collings’ present coach factory; Samuel Scull had formerly occupied the place of Glover, but was then carrying on the same business at the corner of Arch and Front Streets. He died a few years later.
William Carman, who married Mary, the daughter of Daniel Cooper, removed to Camden about 1820, and in 1823 built the large brick house standing on the northeast corner of Broadway and Bridge Avenue, where he resided. By his marriage he came into possession of considerable land lying between Federal Street and Washington, and made many improvements. In 1830 he built the large frame house on the southwest corner of Broadway and Federal Streets. He carried en the lumber business and saw-mill at Coopers Point many years and was active in city affairs.
On the southwest corner of Front and Cooper stood a livery stable, occupied by Joshua Porter and John Thorn. A tannery had formerly stood upon its site. On the west side of Front Street, joining the livery stable, was the printing-office conducted by Samuel Ellis, who then published the American Star and Rural Record.
On the corner of Front and Market was Browning’s Ferry House, leased then to Benjamin Springer who ran the Market Street Ferry with a nine-horse team-boat. Between Market and Plum and on Front Street stood the carriage factory and blacksmith shop of Isaac Vansciver. It was destroyed by fire Nov. 24, 1834, with a large amount of stock, also his dwelling-house adjoining. The buildings in the vicinity were much endangered, and the progress of the fire was stopped by fire companies of Philadelphia that crossed the ferry. The buildings belonged to Abraham Browning, Sr., who promptly rebuilt on the site three brick buildings, and Vansciver again took possession. The citizens of Camden met at Isaiah Toy’s Ferry House and passed resolutions recognizing the efficient services of twelve fire companies and ten hose companies of Philadelphia. On the 18th of January, 1842, Vansciver’s coach factory was again destroyed by fire, and rebuilt by Mr. Browning, and again on the 19th of May, 1858, a fire occurred at the place and destroyed one of the buildings in which was a barrel and keg factory on the first floor and a soap factory on the second floor.
Thomas Rogers, whose house was on the northeast corner of Second and Market, was a brass founder, and had a shop to the rear of his residence. This section of the town was very swampy, and an elevated walk was built from his house to the shop. To the rear of the shop was a large pond, where the boys of the neighborhood sought cat-fish and eels, with which it was plentifully stocked.
Samuel Cake, in 1824, kept the Federal Street Ferry House, and ran a stage from the ferry to Leeds Point, Atlantic County. In a slack lime of business, between 1820 and 1825, Benjamin Farrow, apprentice to Gideon Stivers, drove a stage a short lime over this route, leaving the ferry at six o’clock A.M., and reaching the terminus at four o’clock P.M., making six miles an hour, and carried the mail in his pocket. Stages also ran from the same ferry to Cape May and Tuckerton, under charge of Joel Bedine; to Woodbury, under John N. Watson; and to Bridgeton, under John Parvin. On the south side of Federal Street, at the ferry, were the livery stables of Samuel Laning and the hay-scales and grocery of John Wessels.
The bank was then in operation on the corner of Second and Market Streets, the building having been formerly used as a dwelling and shoe-shop of Peter Farrow. Richard M. Cooper kept a store at Cooper Street Ferry and also the post-office. Nathan Davis was for many years his deputy, and finally succeeded him in the post-office. A cigar-box was the receptacle of all the letters brought by one mail then. William Cooper kept the Coopers Point Ferry and Ferry House. A store was kept at that place by John Wood.
Where the Camden and Amboy Railroad track crosses Market Street, Isaac McCully had a blacksmith shop, William Caffrey soon after opened a wheelwright shop, and around these shops grew up Dogwoodtown in later days, and the shops developed into the establishment of Charles Caffray.
At the head of Market, on north side, above Fifth Street, and the upper end of the town plot, in 1824 Jacob Lehr built a large candle factory, twenty by fifty feet, with a capacity of making at one time one thousand two hundred candles daily. It was continued by him until 1840, and was later used by Frederick Fearing, who manufactured pianos in the building until about 1854. The drug store of Charles Stephenson occupies part of the site.
Benjamin Allen was running a tannery with forty vats at Kaighns Point, west of Second Street, and north of Kaighn Avenue. It had been in operation many years.
Elias Kaighn had established, at Kaighns Point, an edge tool and carriage spring manufactory, which he enlarged and added thereto a foundry. He also had a foundry in Camden about 1835 to 1840, which, in the latter year, he leased and continued at Kaighns Point. In 1834 he opened a coal-yard at Kaighns Point, and kept the Lehigh and Schuylkill coal. His foundry and shops were continued many years.
The Ferry House and ferry at Kaighns Point were kept by Ebenezer Toole.
ASSESSMENTS OF 1834.— In 1884 Isaac H. Porter was assessor, Caleb Roberts, collector, and John K. Cowperthwaite, treasurer of Camden township, with Nathan Davis, Gideon V. Stivers and Isaac Vansciver, commissioners of appeal. The tax required was,— For State, $158.90; county, $470.25; poor, $235; township, $600,— total, $1463.15. The tax-rate was 25 cents on the $100; householders, 45 cents; singlemen, $1.65; horses and mules, 40 cents; cattle, 18 cents; gigs and chairs (pleasure carriages), 28 cents; common wagons and dearborns, 40 cents; jack-wagons (leather springs), 80 cents; sulkies, 21 cents. There were 561 ratables, of whom 440 were householders and 121 single men. The tax duplicate footed up $2153, less $74.50 dog tax. The dog tax was 50 cents. The following, taken from the assessments of that year, will give an idea of the possessions of the leading property-holders of that day:
Mrs. Ann Andrews was taxed $4 for a lumber-yard. Josiah Atkinson was assessed at $1000. Benjamin Allen, the tanner, for forty vats, $1800 mortgages and $1900 real estate. Atwood & Cawcey, five lots on Market Street, $1800. Ann But-rough, for the Taylor property on Market, above Third, was assessed $800, and $2000 for other property. WIlliam Bates, house and lot, southeast corner Fifth and Market, $1500; five lots on Fifth, below Market, $800, and lands, $600. Abraham Browning, Sr., store and lot, Second and Market, $1000; livery stable, $flOO; other property, $1500. Richard M. Cooper, property, *12,200; lands, $1500; his tax was $8t40. William Carman’s property was assessed at $18,800; one lot, $800; and his Mw-mill was taxed $4. Daniel S. Carter, assessed at $800 and Edward Dougherty at $700. Elizabeth Heyle was assessed at $7000, besides twenty-three lots at $900. Hugh Hatch, assessed at $15,100; tax, $47. Joseph Kaighn’s assessments were,— three lots, $450; three lots, $150; a store, $400; bonds and mortgages, $47,985; other property, $4400,— total, $53,385; his tax was $136.50. Charles Kaighn was assessed at $2900 and taxed $1 for a lumber-yard, Charity, Grace and Ann Kaighn were assessed $1700, $1100, and $3200, respectively. John Kaighn, real property, $4500; lands and mortgages, $5000. Ebenezer Levick, the tanner, was taxed for forty vats, and Auley McAlla, long cashier of the State Bank, was assessed for $2000 of property. Dr. Isaac Mulford was assessed at $4300. William Fortner was assessed at $2100, and for a lot and shop he bought of Caleb Roberts, next to the southwest corner of Second Street and Federal, $200. Richard Fetter’s 48 1/2 Fettersville lots were assessed at $50 each. The frame two-story house which he used for a store, and an upper room of which he rented for Council meetings in 1828, for $12 per year, on Third below Market, where Association Hall now stands, was assessed at $400. His other property was assessed at $11,485, besides $4655 in lands and mortgages and $100 for "the Shivers lot," total, $19,080. This tax was $47.62 1/2. Ellen Genge, real property, $7300; personal, $4,000. Her tax was $28.55. Frederick Rath, the veteran ferryman, was assessed at $2200. Collector Caleb Roberts was taxed 63 cents. John Sisty, the Baptist preacher, was assessed at $5800, besides $3900 in the name of Sisty & Richards, partners in real estate transactions. Isaac Smith’s property was assessed at $8600, and bonds at $400. Joab Scull was assessed at $1200, and taxed $4 for his store at Second and Federal.Gideon V. Stivers was assessed at $9400, besides $350 for his carpenter shop, which stood on Fourth Street, adjoining the First Baptist Church on the north. He was also assessed $150 for "Stokes’ shop." Ebenezer Toole, of the Kaighns Point Ferry, was assessed at $19,250; also $900 for 3 1/2 lots and $50 for a lot. His tax was $50.25. Isaac Vansciver’s carriage factory, Front and Arch, was assessed at $1200, and his other property at $5000. Joseph Weatherby built and opened the Railroad Hotel, Second and Bridge Avenue, when the Camden and Amboy Railroad was built, and was assessed at $600. David Read, grandfather of Joseph J., Edmund E. and the late John S. Read, was assessed at $2900; besides a lot at $300.
The legal fee of the assessor was eight cents per name, but the economic voters of that day devised a plan to save by voting for the candidate who offered to do the work for the lowest price. Thus Daniel S. Carter, at the spring election in 1833, offered to assess for four cents, and being the lowest bidder, got the votes and the job, but when he asked for eight cents a name he received it, for the law was on his side. When, however, at the next town-meeting, he made a similar offer, the voters preferred the bid of Caleb Roberts for four cents and made him assessor, with Isaac H. Porter collector on the same terms. The emoluments of the offices that year were,— Roberts, assessor, $34.02; Porter, collector, $35.52; while Josiah Shivers, assessor in 1835, received $59.73 for his services, his popularity, or, maybe, absence of competition, securing him the contract at six cents a name.
INTERESTING FACTS AND INCIDENTS.— Joseph Edwards, in the year 1826, erected a distillery for the distilling of spirits of turpentine, on the west side of Front Street, south of the old printing-office. Rosin was brought from North Carolina, and for several years he carried on an extensive business, and until distilleries began to be erected nearer the supply of rosin. About 1833 he sold to Benjamin F. Davis, who turned his attention to the preparation of camphine, burning-fluid and other illuminators. He did a large business and made money. Several disastrous fires occurred at his works, and Council passed an ordinance restricting the boiling or distilling of oil or turpentine within the city limits. With the advent of coal oil, Davis’ occupation vanished.
Charles Freeman, about 1833, established a factory at the foot of what is now Penn Street, on the north side, for the manufacture of leather and fur caps. Women were mostly employed. His works were removed a short time after to near the centre of the square bounded by Front, Second, Market and Cooper Streets, where he added the manufacture of oil-cloth. This establishment was destroyed by fire January 18, 1844.
After Charles Freeman removed his cap factory from the foot of Penn Street, Flannigan & Carpenter fitted up the building for a grist-mill, which they continued for several years and sold to Bingham & McKeen. The mill was in operation until it was destroyed by fire. Above the grist-mill of Flannigan & Carpenter, Joseph Jones also erected a grist-mill, which was in operation several years.
Jacob Sawn, in June, 1834, began the manufacture of cedar-ware on Second Street, five doors below Federal. Jacob Ludlam, who had kept store for several years on Federal Street, opposite the town-house, sold his grocery, April 15, 1834, to Amasa Armstrong. Josiah S. Stevenson, April 15, 1834, opened a flour, feed and grocery store on the corner of Market and Second Streets, opposite the bank. John R. Sickler, former editor of the Camden Mail in 1834 opened a "drug and medicine store" at his residence, on Market Street, between Third and Fourth.
About 1830 Robert Smith started a pottery, using a portion of Benjamin Allen’s premises at Kaighns Point. He took in partnership with him his brother, George H. Smith. The product was glazed earthenware. The industry continued for a number of years. George H. Smith was a harness-maker and a prominent politician.
Benjamin Dugdale, a son-in-law of James Kaighn, shout 1830 established a tannery at the foot of Cooper Street, on the site of Esterbrook’s pen factory, which in 1834 had forty vats and was conducted by Ebenezer Levick. The site was later used by Joseph Myers for a livery stable, and until the Camden Water-Works Company erected the brick building now part of the pen factory.
Smith & Kane, in May, 1884, opened a "Drug and Medicine Store" on the northwest corner of Plum and Third Streets, and in May, 1835, dissolved partnership. Daniel S. Smith continued the business and soon after sold to Dr. J. Roberts. J.C. De La Cour became a partner and on October 19, 1836, the latter was alone in the "Drug and Chemical Store," and is now (1886) in the same business. Browning Morgan had been for many years engaged in the sale of drugs and medicine.
Ledden Davis, after conducting the dry-goods and grocery business for many years, sold out in June, 1834. A few years later he went to Chicago. His store was on the north side of Plum Street, two doors below Fourth.
Norcross Reeves, Toy & Co. advertised, October 23, 1834, "that in addition to their old established mail-stage, they would begin to run a new accommodation stage, to leave Good Intent every morning; Sundays excepted, and pass through Blackwoodtown, Chews Landing, Mount Ephraim, and returning leave Toy’s Ferry, Camden, at 2.30 P.M."
John Brook and Jonathan Pitney, M.D., (the latter of whom became the projector of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad), in this year (1834) disposed of their line of stages running between Philadelphia, Absecom and Somers Point, consisting of twelve horses, two stages and mail contract.
Dr. Lee advertised that he "had paid considerable attention to the practice of dentistry, such as filling, plugging and extracting teeth," and asked the patronage of the people of Camden.
Philip J. Grey, then editor of the West Jersey Mail, says, in this year (1834), that Camden sends off two or three coaches daily to the South.
Mr. Cole has a four-story shop with one hundred windows. Richards & Collins and T. & R.S. Humphreys each had shops. Isaac Vansciver was also the proprietor of a large establishment.
Davy Crockett, the celebrated frontiersman, stopped in Camden on the 14th of May, 1834, while on his way to Washington from Boston. He was then a representative in Congress from the State of Kentucky. He also stopped at Jersey City on his way to Camden, and at a shooting-match there he gave splendid evidences of his skill as a marksman, hitting a silver quarter of a dollar at a distance of forty yards. While visiting Camden he was the guest of Isaiah Toy, at his Ferry Hotel, now at the foot of Federal Street. After attending a banquet given by Mr. Toy, in his honor, he participated in a shooting-match, but before he had an opportunity to sustain his fame as a marksman, "some of the light-fingered gentry," always present at such places, stole from him the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars, which very much discomfited the humorist Congressman. Other unwary persons present met a similar misfortune at this shooting-match.
By an act of Congress in 1834, the city of Camden became a port of entry, and Morris Croxall became surveyor and inspector.
August 25, 1834, George Elliot, an aeronaut, made an ascension from Camden in his balloon "Lafayette."
Daniel S. Southard and Abraham Browning in this year associated themselves together to practice law and opened an office in a building adjoining Toy’s Hotel.
In 1835 there were two thousand people and four hundred houses in Camden; the latter were all occupied and there was a great demand for more.
Benjamin Burrough, who for many years had kept a livery stable at Coopers Point, advertised for sale in May, 1834; Bradford Stratton, of the same place, advertised his livery stable for sale September 30, 1835.
Jacob S. Collings, before 1835, had a coach manufactory, which "turns coaches, dear-borns and vehicles of various descriptions."
In August, 1835, William Norcross & Co., of Blackwood, advertised "a new and superior line of stages leaving Reeves’ Ferry, Market Street, Philadelphia, and Toy’s Ferry, Camden, passing through Mount Ephraim, Chews Landing, Blackwood, Cross Keys, Squankum, Free Will, Blue Anchor, Winslow, Map Landing and Somers Point to Absecom, where there are superior advantages for sea-bathing."
In 1885 Hannah Clement was keeping a dry-goods store on Federal Street, below Third. She advertised a fall supply of all kinds of goods.
Mrs. Vaughn, in 1835, owned a bakery on the corner of Third and Market, and in December of that year sold to E.D. Wessels.
In 1836 William J. Hatch was keeping a store on the corner of Market and Third Streets.
William Morris, in 1836, carried on the watch and clock-making business near the corner of Third and Plum.
On Monday evening, April 4, 1836, at "early candle-light," a temperance meeting convened in the Methodist Episcopal Church. An address was delivered by William Kee, chairman of the State Temperance Society. Jacob S. Collings was chairman of the meeting. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution for a Camden society. The committee reported and a constitution was read and adopted and a society formed.
Mark Burrongh, in 1836, established the business of weaving on Plum Street, between Third and Fourth Streets.
Joseph C. Morgan, in June, 1836, advertised for sale his grocery store at Paul’s Ferry, Camden.
J.C. Burrongh established a tailor shop on the corner of Second and Federal Streets March 1, 1837.
The new burial-ground was opened in May, 1837, and the first sale of lots was made on the 29th of the month.
Charles Bontemps opened a gunsmith-shop opposite the bank July 12, 1837. He continued many years and later was postmaster.
Caleb Roberts opened a cabinet-shop on Third Street, opposite the Methodist Church, in 1837.
William Wannon, in February, 1839, established a book-bindery in Fettersville, which continued many years.
D. Dickinson, a portrait and miniature painter, opened a studio in Camden August 19, 1840.
Horatio Shepherd and Andrew Wilson for several years had conducted pump-making between Clement’s and English’s Ferries, and August 7, 1840, dissolved partnership and Wilson continued.
Dr. Richard M. Cooper opened an office between Front and Second, on Cooper Street, August 26, 1840. The upper part of the Baptist Church was dedicated January 3, 1841; N.B. Tindall was then pastor. On the 5th of July, 1840, J. Coffee opened a public-house called "Coffee’s Woodlands." Seven acres of woodland were fitted up for the public. It was ten minutes’ walk from the ferries, and on Sunday afternoons an omnibus was in waiting at Walnut Street Ferry to conduct visitors to the garden. Judge J.K. Cowperthwalt opened a store in January, 1841, on the northeast corner of Second and Federal Streets. Charles B. Mench was upholstering in a shop on Plum Street, six doors above Second Street.
J. & H. Chapman, tin plate and sheet-iron workers, had a shop in 1841 on Market Street between Second and Third. John Ross established a tailor shop in May, 1841, in No. 4 Lanning’s Row, opposite Cake’s Hotel (Toy’s Ferry House). John B. Richardson advertised to furnish Camden with Schuylkill coal from August 12, 1849. September 16th, the same year, Cole & Elfreth also had coal for sale. Their office was on Front Street, between Market and Plum. William Carman, who had kept both Lehigh and Schuylkill coal since 1835, advertised to deliver it from his mill at $4.50 per ton. In 1841 Richard Fetters advertised two hundred and eight lots for sale, parts of and additions to his plot, which derived the name of Fettersvllle. On the 8th of June, 1840, George G. Hatch advertised "to open a milk route and to supply Camden with pure, good milk and cream," and solicited patronage. This does not appear to be the first attempt to open a milk route, as in 1825 William Carman built a two-story brick house on the east side of Newton Avenue, south of Bridge Avenue, for his tenant, Witten Richmond, who farmed the land and managed the dairy, the Coopers Creek meadows providing the pasture. He was the first to serve customers by going from house to house. The dairy farm was continued as late as 1859.
In 1842 John & James G. Capewell established works for the manufacture of flint glassware at Kaighns Point. They were located in the block bounded by Kaighn Avenue and Sycamore, Second and Locust. The Capewells were masters of the craft, and putting on the market a superior article, established a large and lucrative trade, and gave employment to twenty-five skilled mechanics, besides other help. The works flourished until crippled by the financial crisis and industrial depression of 1857, and after a struggle of two years, were finally closed in 1859.
S. W. Trotter, in May, 1842, was keeping an "Iron store" next to R.W. Cake’s Hotel and ferry. R.W. Howell opened a law-office at the foot of Market Street in 1841, and in May, 1842, moved to building adjoining Cake’s Hotel. A Union Temperance Beneficial Society of Camden was organized in January, 1842, under an act of Legislature, with Samuel H. Davis as secretary. Clement Cresson, a druggist at No. 54, south side of Market Street, sold to Edward Cole in February, 1843. William Carmen built at Coopers Point a large ice-house in the fall of 1842, which held "60,000 bushels of ice."
Joseph C. Shivers, the proprietor of the old established line of stages to Haddonfield, sold the business, in October, 1843, to Benjamin M. Roberts. Evans & Brink, who owned a wharf on the river-bank, in August, 1843, opened also a coal-yard, where they kept for sale Lehigh, Beaver Meadow, Peach Orchard, Sugar Loaf, Hazleton and Schuylkill coal for sale. Dr. G. Schwartz, who had been practicing homeopathy for nine years, July 23, 1845, advertised that he intended to locate permanently in Camden, and was daily at Mr. Fearing’s house, on Market Street near Sixth. R.J. Ward opened a new store, corner of Federal and Third Streets, in January, 1844. Edward Browning & Brothers erected a steam plaster-mill on the river’s edge and Market Street, in March, 1846.
Jesse W. Starr, the proprietor of the West Jersey Iron Foundry, opened a hardware store on Bridge Avenue, below Second Street, in 1846.
In the year of 1845 great additions were made to the town by extensive building of rows of brick houses in South Camden. Three large brick houses by Mr. Fearing; one large brick dwelling, corner of Market and Second, by Edward Smith; five-story brick building on site of the "late fire;" three-story elegant brick dwelling, on Cooper Street, by William Lawrence; Collins & Carmen, two large brick coach-shops, and many other smaller buildings. Ralph Lee opened a coal-yard at Kaighns Point in 1852. It had been sold three years before by Elisa Kaighn.
In 1852 Lefevre, Guthrie & Co. were running the carriage factory established many years before by Isaac Cole. It was on the river at the foot of Plum Street.
About 1845 Collins and the heirs of Marmaduke C. Cope erected on the Cope property a mill for the manufacture of paper. It was operated by James and Robert Greenleaf; March 24, 1854, they made an assignment to P.J. Grey. At that time the mill had been lately repaired, and had a capacity of manufacturing forty-five tons of paper per month, with ten rag-machines, one cylinder and one Fourdrinier machine. The machine-shops of M. Furbush & Son now occupy the site.
The Camden Literary and Library Association was organized January 28, 1852. A course of lectures was conducted in 1858.
Dr. G.S. Frederick Pfieffer, homeopathic physician, opened an office at No. 48 Stevens Street in 1854. The Free Reading-Room Association opened rooms in the second story of Samuel Andrews’ building in October, 1854. The corner-atone of the Methodist Church, on Coopers Hill, was laid August 7, 1855; Bishop Janes and Rev. Mr. Bartine conducted the services. The State Agricultural Society held its fair at Camden September 18—21,1855. The Washington Market-House Company was organized April 17, 1856. Brink & Durvin, in 1854, erected a rolling-mill at Coopers Point, near the head of Third Street, for the manufacture of bar-iron, and operated it for several years. It was afterwards bought by the firm of Noble, Hammett & Co., of which Asa Packer was also a member. It was subsequently sold to A.T. Wilson & Co., who did a large business, but eventually transferred it to the Camden Rolling-Mill Company, which was incorporated by Charles Garrett, J.W. Middleton, Jacob Harned, William Decon, Edward Middleton, Nathan Middleton, Allen Middleton and David Longenecker, who continued business for many years. A nail factory for the production of cut nails was built by A.T. Wilson & Co., in 1860, on Front Street, adjoining the rolling-mill. They employed four hundred hands in the rolling-mill and nail factory.
A foundry was also built, on Second and Erie Streets, by the Camden Rolling-Mill Company for the manufacture of cast-iron pipe, and thirty moulders were employed in the foundry. The company operated the Sundry until 1869, when it was bought by Jesse W. Starr & Son. The rolling-mill, nail-works and foundry have been out of blast since 1870; a portion of the land occupied by them was bought and dwellings erected thereon.
The first cobble pavement was laid in 1851 between Market and Arch. There are now (1886) 22 miles of cobble pavement; 4 42/100 miles of rubble pavement; 2 85/100 miles of asphalt pavement; 52/100 miles of Belgian blocks pavement; 86/100 miles of Telford pavement.
The first culvert was laid along Federal Street in 1864. There was, up to 1886, twenty-eight miles of culverting in the city.
"THE PLEASURE RAILWAY" in the city of Camden was built in May 1884. It was a circular track on which two miniature cars "were propelled by an easy and healthful application of power in a beautiful grove at Coopers Point." It afforded innocent amusement to the youths of that day.
There were no large shoe stores in the early days of Camden City. Shoes were made to order, and in some cases the shoemaker would take his kit of tools to the house of the patron, who furnished the leather, and make up a stock sufficient to last for months. The leading shoemaker of Camden, in 1828, was James Deur, or "Uncle Jimmy" as he was called. He resided at Coopers Point and was elected to the first council to represent "the village of William Cooper’s Ferry," but declined to servo. He was a good man, an active Methodist and a Jackson Democrat.
PLEASURE GARDENS.— The memory of the oldest inhabitant, recalling the scenes of the first years of the present century, represents the site of Camden as very rural in its character. Corn-fields, pasture-lands, orchards and woods covered its face, and the numerous tidal streams flowing into the Delaware afforded excellent sport for anglers, and Philadelphians in large numbers, attracted by these conditions, made it a resort, and sought the shade and pleasure it furnished. The people of "Pluck-em-in" (as Camden was sometimes called), with an eye to gain, encouraged these visitations by establishing gardens, with seats for the weary, viands for the hungry and drinks for the thirsty, adding to the attractions by providing merry-go-rounds, shuffle-boards, nine-pins, swings and other means of pleasure and recreation. Every ferry had a garden attached to it, and others were to be found in the oak and pine groves covering much of the land. The Vauxhall Garden was the most noted of these in the olden time, on the east side of Fourth Street, between Market and Arch. It was first opened by Joseph Laturno, a Frenchman, who ran the steamer "Minette" from Market Street for the accommodation of his patrons. This was in 1818. The garden was well patronized, but Laturno soon left for Washington, taking the "Minette" with him. John Johnson succeeded, and was in the hey-dey of success when Camden was made a city. The first City Council met in his house. This garden was a great resort while in Johnson’s hands, and multitudes sought its shades, the amusements it afforded and the ice-cream and the rum toddies it supplied. The latter were sometimes too strong for weak heads and at times brawls, fights and even riots resulted from too free indulgence. Johnson was succeeded by a German named Geyer, who was noted for his fondness for crows, which he shot and cooked in a way of his own. This penchant for the able croakers led a number of young men to go with a wagon one night to the crow-roost or rookery in the woods, near the Catholic Cemetery, in Stockton township, where they secured a large number, and in the morning dumped them before Geyer’s door, who, whether pleased or not, had the discretion to appear pleased, and requested a repetition of the favor. With Geyer’s departure, in 1835, Vauxhall ceased to be a public resort.
The Columbia Garden was started in 1824 by Sebastian Himel, the baker, in the grove between Market and Arch, above Fifth Street. On his death his brother-in-law, Henry C. Heyle, conducted it, making sausage in winter and running the garden in summer. He lived there but a short time, and, in 1828, the liquor license was granted to his widow, Elizabeth Heyle, who conducted it for a number of years. It came into the possession of Gottlieb Zimmerman, well known to many of the present generation. He constructed a house in the form of an immense puncheon, from which the garden was thereafter known as the "Tub." The bar was on the ground floor, while, on the second floor, large parties enjoyed the pleasures of the dance. The outside of this unique building was kept in place by great bands of iron, similar to the hoops on a barrel. Zimmerman was the last occupant of the "Tub."
The Diamond Cottage, situated north of Cooper and east of Sixth Street, was opened by Joshua Benson, and was a popular resort for many years. Its proprietors after Benson were Gottlieb Zimmerman, Frank Richter and others. It was classed as a beer garden in 1875, and has since been the meeting-place of the Prohibitionists, who gather in large numbers and listen to some of the best speakers in the land. It is asserted that near the end of the grove, at Cooper Street, was the burial-place of many dead victims of the yellow fever epidemic which visited Philadelphia in 1793, the bodies being brought over the river and buried there. It was also the burial-place of unknown drowned persons. New Jersey State fair was held here in 1855.
The Woodland Garden, along the Camden and Amboy Railroad, northeast of Haddon Avenue, was opened by Joseph Maurer in 1857. This was part of the Carman grove of oaks that formerly covered a large space of the centre of the city. It was popular in its time, and when Maurer died others succeeded him, but improvements encroached upon the grove, and the trees have been supplanted by brick houses.
The Cave was an excavation in the bank facing the meadows on Coopers Creek, south of Federal Street, and was opened in 1855 by August Sandman and William Helmuth, whose drinking-places were closed on Sundays by the vigilance of Mayor Samuel Scull. It was not a garden, for there was no shade, except that furnished by canvas, but it was outside the city limits, and therefore beyond the mayor’s jurisdiction, and to it the thirsty hied on Sunday in large numbers. The Cave maintained its existence for several years, but few now living remember it.
Coopers Ferry Garden, situated on the north side of Cooper Street, west of Front, was a noted resort and was started by Joseph and Israel English, father and son, when they had charge of the ferry. The house was the one built by William Cooper in 1769, and removed in 1883, the site being wanted for improvements.
English’s Garden was on the south side of Market Street, below Front, and was first opened by Benjamin Springer in 1818, and continued until several years after the West Jersey Hotel was opened by Israel English, in 1849. It was called Springer’s Garden while he controlled it.
The Round House, as the garden at the Federal Street Ferry was called, because of the circular two-story brick house, built by Jacob Ridgway, was started by him in 1832. It was south of Federal Street, the Fulmer building occupying part of the site. The large willows, planted by Ridgway’s orders, were cut down a few years ago.
Toole’s Garden, at Kaighns Point, was south and east of the hotel at Front Street and Kaighn Avenue. There was a small garden attached to the hotel below the ferry and both places had many visitors. Dr. L.F. Fisler says: "Kaighns Point at that day was a place of great resort for the citizens of Philadelphia during the summer season. It is said that Captain Watmough, of the Washington Guards, and Captain James Page, of the State Fencibles, often visited this cool and shady retreat, accompanied by Frank Johnson’s renowned Black Band. Then the music consisted of national and patriotic airs and marches, instead of so much of the spiritless pieces of the present day."
There was a garden at the Coopers Point Ferry, and, in fact, every ferry had a garden, except that on the upper side of Market Street.
"SAUSAGE WEAVING" was quite an industry in Camden two and three generations ago, and farther back than that in all probability, but it is one of those trades of which no public record is made and hence dependence for information regarding it falls upon the memory of the living. Among the oldest living of those who in times past regaled the taste of Philadelphia epicures with the well-seasoned, linked-up result of finely-chopped corn-fed pork, named Jersey sausage, was Joseph Sharp, of 830 South Fifth Street, where, about 1835, he built his house with all the essential appliances for successful trade. He had carried on for nearly ten years before in the upper part of Philadelphia and found his patrons in the Spring Garden Market.
William Sharp, a brother, started a few years later, and was quite successful, amassing a competence which he is now enjoying. His establishment during the last years of his active business life was on Kaighn Avenue and his market was on Shippen Street. Early In the present century David Read, grandfather of Joseph J. and Edmund E. Read, of Camden, did a large business at sausage weaving at his residence on Arch Street, below Third.
James McGonigle carried on in the "twenties," at Fourth Street and Taylor’s Avenue, and made money.
Peter Bender began sausage waving in 1826, on Arch Street, but removed to Coopers Hill. He died in 1858.
Thomas McDowell’s factory was at No. 825 South Fifth and his brother Isaac was on Third Street, near Arch. They stood on Market Street, between Front and Second Streets, Philadelphia, called the Jersey Market, because so many of the stalls were rented by Jerseymen. It was here Samuel Scull, once mayor, once Assemblyman and often Councilman, sold his sausage and Jersey cured hams from his establishment on Kaighn Avenue, near Locust.
The earliest sausage waver, of which tradition gives notice, was Edward Daugherty, who was one of the first Councilmen of the new city, and who long before there was an established church in Camden, he a Methodist, with Edward Sharp, a Presbyterian, established a Sunday-school in the old Camden Academy. Edward Daugherty was regarded as one of the best men in the town and was noted for his integrity in business, in which he secured competence, if not great wealth. He began business on Federal Street, above Fourth, afterwards building on the northwest corner of Third and Bridge Avenue. He, too, "stood" in the "Jersey Market," and, like many of his follow-craftsmen, could be seen early on market mornings trundling a wheelbarrow, load with piles of sausage, on his way to the ferry and to the "Jersey Market."
It was in this market that Reiley Barrett, a local preacher, politician, shoemaker, city treasurer and member of Assembly, sold his linked wares for a time, and for many years he dispensed his sausage hot, with coffee and rolls, to his hungry fellow Jerseymen.
There were others in the trade in the earlier years of the century, among them William J. Hawk, on Kaighn Avenue, and Andrew Jenkins, and all who did not waste, saved money, as for long years the reputation of "Jersey Sausage" was such that the demand was equal to the supply and the price equal to the reputation. In addition to her duties as proprietress of the Columbia Garden, Elizabeth Heyle did an extensive business in the winter season in sausage-making, as did her husband, Henry Heyle, many years before his death, in 1825.
SOURCE: Page(s) 444-454, History of Camden County, New Jersey, by George R. Prowell, L.J. Richards & Co. 1886
Published 2010 by the Camden County Genealogy Project