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THE flat official meeting of citizens in the county of Gloucester having for its object the division of that county was held at the house of John M. Johnson, in the city of Camden, on the 16th day of February, 1837. The object of this meeting was to consider the propriety of petitioning the Legislature to authorize the erection of a new county to be composed of the townships of Waterford, Camden, Newton, Union and Gloucester and to be called "Delaware." The deliberations of this meeting did not result in anything effectual, but that agitation on the subject for which it met was kept up, is evident from the decided stand shown in the resolutions passed at a similar meeting held seven years later, on the 11th day of January, 1844, at the Friends’ school-house in Haddonfield, where a large number of the citizens convened in response to a notice. John Clement, Sr., was chosen chairman at this meeting and Thomas Redman, Jr., secretary. Richard W. Snowden, Jacob L. Rowand, and David Roe were appointed a committee to draft a series of resolutions, which were adopted and read as follows:
"Resolved, that In the opinion of this meeting the contemplated division of the county is altogether useless and unnecessary and would be highly oppressive, subjecting the inhabitants to a heavy taxation on the one hand without any beneficial advantages on the other, the county being at present of a convenient size and form and the public buildings already erected and in the centre of population adequate to public accommodation."The meeting, in another resolution, recommended a county convention to be held at the Woodbury court-house on January 22, 1844. Notice was given to that effect and a convention was held on the day appointed, John Clement, Sr., of Haddonfield, presiding. A series of resolutions and a memorial deprecating the division were presented and adopted and a number of persons were appointed to attend the Legislature at Trenton to present and support them.
The movement for a division had its friends, who were not members of the convention held, and who were endeavoring to accomplish the end desired. A bill was presented to the Legislature, asking for the division of Gloucester County by the erection of the townships of Camden, Waterford, Newton, Union, Delaware, Gloucester and Washington into a county to be called "Camden." On the 6th of March, 1844, seventeen petitions signed by three hundred and forty-two persons and twenty remonstrances, signed by one thousand four hundred and sixty-seven persons, were presented, but the bill finally passed both Houses and was approved by the Governor March 13, 1844, and Camden County took its place with the counties of the State of New Jersey. In November, 1845, an effort was made, without success, to return the townships of Washington and Gloucester to Gloucester County. Later, however, Washington (then including the present township of Monroe) was returned to Gloucester County. In December of the year 1845 an ineffectual attempt was made to re-annex all of Camden County, except the township of Camden and part of Delaware, to Gloucester County, and in September, 1846, to erect the townships of Franklin, Washington, Gloucester and Winslow into a county to be called "Washington." It will thus be seen that the erection of the new county of Camden caused considerable agitation and discussion.
The public buildings of the county at Gloucester (now Gloucester City), having been destroyed by fire, an election was had and the seat of justice was removed to Woodbury in 1787. Public buildings erected at Woodbury, which, about 1819 -20, having become somewhat dilapidated, the question of a change of location of the county-seat to Gloucester again was agitated among the people. Meetings were held in the townships and in Woodbury at different times. A petition was presented to the Legislature having this change in view, whereupon a large meeting of citizens convened at Woodbury January 17, 1820, at which remonstrances signed by over one thousand six hundred persons were read, and James Matlack, Joseph V. Clark, Joseph Rogers, Isaac Pine and John M. White were chosen to visit the Legislature, present remonstrances and take measures to prevent the passage of the bill. An influence was brought to bear upon the projectors of the bill and they asked permission to withdraw their petition, which was granted, the agitation ceased, two buildings for county offices were erected at Woodbury, and necessary repairs made upon court-house and jail. Had this change of county-seat then been made it is probable Camden County would not have been erected.
The act under which the county of Camden was formed provided that after one year from date of erection the location of county buildings should be decided by a vote of qualified electors in the county at such time and places as the Board of Freeholders should appoint. In accordance with this act, the freeholders, on April 7, 1845, set apart August 12, 1845, as the day of election. Prior to that time a county meeting was held at White Horse Tavern, in Gloucester township, for the purpose of selecting and agreeing upon some town most suitable in which to erect the public buildings. Richard Stafford was chosen president of the meeting; Evan C. Smith, of Delaware, Richard Thomas, of Camden, Richard W. Snowden, of Newton, Joshua Peacock, of Waterford, Joseph Budd, of Union, John Albertson, of Winslow, John North, of Gloucester, and Joel Steelman, of Washington, vice-presidents; Jacob L. Rowand and James D. Dotterer, secretaries. In accordance with a resolution, five persons were chosen from each township as a committee and each township to cast one vote. This joint committee was empowered to select the most desirable town for the location of the proposed buildings. The result of the vote was nineteen for Haddonfield, ten for Long-a-coming, and fewer votes for certain other places. The meeting adjourned to July 31st, of which meeting no account has been obtained.
COUNTY BUILDINGS. - The act establishing the county provided that the courts of the county should be held at Woodbury for a year, and that a seat of justice should he chosen by a vote of the people on the 12th of August, 1845, and required a majority of the total vote to establish the site. The election was held with this result: Camden, 1062; Gloucester, 822; Haddonfield, 422; Mount Ephraim, 33. There was no choice, and then began a series of contests in the Board of Chosen Freeholders almost without parallel in the history of municipal bodies, extending over a period of seven years, and requiring the assistance of four elections by the people, two legislative bodies and three courts to bring it to a final result. There were seven townships and one city, each with two representatives in the board. December 2, 1845, the board appointed Joseph Kay, Joseph Porter and Charles Kaighn a committee to obtain an act of the Legislature to authorize the holding of another election. This was done and the act called for two elections, at the first of which a majority was requisite, and, that failing, at the second a plurality would suffice.
The first was held April 28, 1846, with the following vote: Camden, 963; Mount Ephraim, 427; White Horse, 330; Chews Landing, 93; Haddonfield, 46. The scattering vote was sufficient to exceed Camden’s lead, and there being no choice, the second election was held June 2d, with this result: Camden, 1434; Long-a -Coming, 1498. This, it was thought, would settle the controversy, but Abraham Browning and Captain John W. Mickle were members of the board, while Thomas H. Dudley was clerk, and they were fertile in expedients. The board met at Long-a-Coming, June 15th, and at once took steps to provide the necessary buildings at that place. A committee was appointed, and at once reported plans for buildings, and a site on lands of Jacob Leach. The plans were, - a court-house of stone, forty-five by sixty-five feet, with offices on the first floor and court-room on the second floor; the jail, also of stone, forty-two by forty-five feet, with five apartments or cells. The cost of both estimated at seventeen thousand dollars.
As they were about to adopt the plans and advertise for proposals, a writ of certiorari was served answerable to the Supreme Court. The decision of the court favored Long-a-Coming, but the proceedings caused delay, and it was March 8, 1847, before further action was taken. At that meeting, held at Long-a-Coming, a committee had been appointed with instructions to purchase the Leach property, and to advertise for proposals for the construction of the buildings on the plans already adopted, when a preliminary injunction, from the chancellor, issued at the instance of Richard Fetters and Dr. Isaac S. Mulford, was served. The majority appointed a committee to inquire into frauds at the elections and to sue for damages, the authors of the vexatious suits; but as the injunction was dissolved, no further steps were taken in that direction. Frequent meetings were held in out-of-the-way places: Ellisburg, Chews Landing, Cross Keys and Blue Anchor, but seldom at Camden. Another meeting was held at Long-a-Coming February 12, 1848, when bids for the erection of the buildings at that place were opened as follows: Rush, $17,540; Joseph H. Collins, $16,500; John K. Inskeep, $13,500 and the latter accepted. It seemed inevitable that Long-a-Coming would become the county seat, but the alert friends of Camden had procured an act from the legislature calling for another election by the people, containing this clause:
"That if at such election, no one City, Village or Cross-reads shall have a majority of all the votes polled, then Long-a-Coming shall be the seat of justice."The editor of the West Jersey Mail, Philip J. Grey, Esq., visited the town of Long-a-Coming with the Board of Freeholders, and in the next issue of his paper said: "Our trip to Long-a-Coming on Monday, under the favorable auspices of pleasant weather, good roads and agreeable company, was not ‘bad to take,’ notwithstanding when we got back in the evening we found a resting-place quite as acceptable. This may be called the sunny side of the picture, not to be looked upon in a trip during either the November or February term of the court. Indeed, we cannot but think that our fine little county has been ‘knocked into a cocked hat’ by this extraordinary freak of the popular will, the bitterest fruits of which are yet to be tasted."
The election was ordered for April 11th, and the result was thus tabulated and reported to the board by County Clerk, Thomas B. Wood, at the meeting held May 10th, -
For Camden.
Haddonfield.
Long-a-Coming.
Camden, North Ward,
144
5
6
Camden, Middle Ward,
673
6
8
Camden, South Ward,
442
16
..
Delaware Township,
199
185
3
Monroe Township,
139
149
3
Gloucester Township,
102
104
137
Washington Township,
80
8
143
Waterford Township,
41
63
172
Winslow Township,
59
17
233
Newtown Township,
65
242
..
2444
795
705
Abraham Browning offered a resolution to appoint a committee to "select a site in the City of Camden," but it was voted down, and, instead, one was appointed to investigate frauds. This committee had a baffling experience. July 7th they reported that their counsel, James B. Dayton, advised them to go to the Legislature for redress, and, March 19, 1849, they reported that the Legislature advised them to seek redress in the Supreme Court; and again, December 3d, they advised "that the inhabitants of Camden County petition the Legislature to select a site for the public buildings, in some suitable place, at least five miles from the city of Camden."
The majority resolved, if possible, to prevent the location of the public buildings in Camden, and nothing definite was done until May 14, 1851, when Abraham Browning’s oft-repeated motion to "appoint a committee to select a suitable site in Camden" was voted down by the usual majority, - yeas, five; nays, eleven, - whereupon Sheriff Garrett served a writ of alternate mandamus, requiring them to show cause why they did not provide buildings for the use of the county, and in Camden, as directed by the election of 1848. They answered the writ of the Supreme Court by an adjournment. Meetings were held, but nothing was done in this matter until December 1st, when Abraham Browning’s motion was backed by a peremptory mandamus and was adopted. This ended the long struggle, with the exception of the effort of John W. Mickle to locate the court-house at the Woodlands, instead of Sixth Street and Market, and the work of providing the necessary buildings went on.
FIRST COURT-HOUSE. - At the meeting of May 3, 1852, plans prepared by Samuel Sloan were adopted, and, May 12th, proposals for the construction of the building were opened. They were: Charles Wilson, $35,000; Roberts & Reeves, $21,950; Daniel A. Hall, $26,800. The latter was accepted, with Henry Allen, Samuel D. Elfreth and Joseph Weatherly as bondsmen.
A plot of ground one hundred and ninety-eight feet on Market, one hundred and eleven feet on Federal, three hundred and fifty-eight feet on Sixth Street and four hundred and twenty-five on Broadway was purchased of Abigail Cooper, for five thousand dollars, and the building located midway between Market and Federal, so that neither ferry should reap undue advantage. Abraham Browning, Samuel Norcross, John Wilkins, John J. Githens, Joseph B. Tatem, Cooper P. Browning, Benjamin Horner and Edmond Brewer were the building committee, and, March 19, 1855, they reported, "Little remains to be done except the planting of trees in and around the yard, and the paving of the walks from the streets to the building, the bricks for that purpose being on the ground."
The final statement of their operations was very full and clear, and gives the cost of the building complete at $40,970.79, leaving cash in their hands $187.03. The building, however, was completed many months before the first court was held in it, being the October Term, 1853, and the first case tried in it was that of William Hope, the famous ferryman, charged with assault and battery, and in which Thomas H. Dudley appeared for the State, having been deputized to act as prosecutor of the pleas.
The building is of brick, rough-cast, fifty by one hundred and five feet in length and width. The first design included a dome, but this was omitted in the building. The jail, containing twelve cells, is in the basement, below the level of the streets. The county officers were on the first floor, the only ones remaining being the sheriff and county collector. The court-rooms are on the second floor, while the third floor comprised apartments for the sheriff and family, who formerly resided in the court-house. Here, also, is the celebrated iron cage, in which alleged murderers are safely kept, before and after trial.
THE NEW COURT-HOUSE. - The want of more jail room led to the erection, in 1875, of the one-story, fire-proof, brick building on Market Street, at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars, and its use by the county clerk, surrogate and register of deeds.
The unhealthy location of the jail and its crowded condition caused protests and complaints, and the project of a work-house outside the city was agitated. John H. Jones, while a member of the Board of Freeholders, gave the subject earnest attention. Nothing was done, however, until 1878.
The board, in 1881, considered the question of a work-house, but finally decided to build a commodious jail, with all modern improvements, on Federal Street.
Architect Gendell, of Philadelphia, prepared the plans, which embraced a group of sandstone buildings, prison, court-house and county offices, covering the entire plot of ground owned by the county; the several parts to be erected in detail as the demand arose; and as a jail was an immediate necessity, that was to be built by a tax levy of forty thousand dollars for two years, the estimated cost being eighty thousand dollars. In May, 1882, the first levy of forty thousand dollars was made, and Edward S. King, John Day, Morris Hallock, Joseph L. Thackara and Thomas McDowell were constituted the building committee. In 1883 the second levy of forty thousand dollars was made and the building was approaching completion when there was a change in the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and with it a change of plans. It was determined to change the jail, upon which ninety thousand dollars had been spent, and make of it a court-house. Rudolph U. Birdsell, James Davis, Charles F. Adams, Wm. C. Clark, and Samuel Wood were appointed the building committee, and thirty thousand dollars were appropriated for the purpose. The alterations were made and the first court was held there in May, 1885. The final report of the committee was made May, 1886, and the entire cost of the building was found to be $129,762.18.
The design is to convert the old court-house into a jail.
THE COUNTY ALMSHOUSE. - The first mention found on record relating to the care of the poor of Gloucester County is in the minutes of the proceedings of the justices and freeholders, June 10,1765, when Wm. Hugg and Samuel Harrison were allowed L62 16s. 2d. for repairs to the house. In 1770 repairs were ordered, but no mention is made of the location and character of the building. In 1799 Samuel Cooper, James Hopkins and James Stratton were directed to look after a site, but failing to report, the Board of Freeholders, in August, 1800, appointed Samuel Cooper, Jas. Hurley, John Hider, Samuel W. Harrison, Amos Cooper, Wm. Ford, Jas. Stratton, John Collins, Richard Westcott and Elias Smith a committee to purchase a site. The committee selected one hundred and twenty-five acres of land on the south side of Timber Creek, in Deptford township, belonging to Michael Fisher. The consideration was $3383.33 1/2 and the deed conveying the land to the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Gloucester County was dated December 12, 1800.
A building committee was appointed, - Samuel Cooper, Jacob Stokes, John Brick, Amos Cooper, Samuel P. Paul, Enoch Allen, Enoch Leeds, Thomas Somers, Elias Smith and Isaac Tomlinson, - who contracted with Edmund Brewer and John C. Morgan to erect the almshouse for five thousand six hundred dollars. In 1812 the freeholders purchased two hundred and forty-eight acres of woodland, near Williamstown, for the purpose of supplying the almshouse with fuel. When coal was substituted and no use of the woodland had been made for a number of years, the ownership was forgotten, until 1882, when Timothy J. Middleton, then clerk of the board, called attention to the fact. In 1822 the adjoining farm of Jedediah Morgan, about one hundred and sixty acres, was purchased. The almshouse was enlarged from time to time as necessity demanded. The small building for the insane was built in 1816.
Upon the erection of Camden County, in 1844, the two counties used the almshouse jointly under direction of a joint committee until 1861, when, under an act of the Legislature, the property was sold, and the present farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, containing the buildings, together with the woodland, was bought by Camden County for $19,802.
Timber Creek is the dividing line between the two counties, but an act of the Legislature rectified the line so as to place the almshouse farm in Camden County.
A new almshouse was built in 1864, which was enlarged in 1877 and again in 1881. In the latter a hospital ward was erected separated from the main building, and so thus arranged, the Camden County Almshouse is regarded as one of the most complete in the State. The farm and buildings, including the Insane Asylum, are valued at ninety thousand dollars. In the fall of 1880 an epidemic of typhoid fever broke out in the institution, decimating the ranks of the inmates, including the steward, Isaac P. Wilson, who had filled the position from the date that Camden County first took sole possession. The stewards have been Isaac P. Wilson, 1861 -81; Alfred Harris, 1881 -86; and Charles F. Adams. The annual cost is about one thousand eight hundred dollars.
THE COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM. - The County Insane Asylum was built in 1877, under the law giving counties an allowance for the care of its indigent insane. It stands north of the almshouse, on the county farm, is of brick, three stories high, with all the best modern appliances for the care of the insane, in the protection and cure of whom the institution has been very successful. It has been enlarged and accommodates over ninety inmates. It is in charge of a matron, under the supervision of a committee of the Board of Freeholders. The net annual cost to the county for maintenance is about ten thousand dollars. The matrons have been: 1877 - 85, Adelaide Stiles; 1885, Jennie Gardner; 1886, Mary Nichols.
RANDAL E. MORGAN, whose life has been marked by great activity, both in public and private affairs, was born November 6, 1824, near Blackwoodtown, which was named for one of his ancestors. He was a son of Randal W. and Sarah (Eldridge) Morgan. The former was the descendant of one of three brothers, of Welsh origin, who came to America some time between 1660 and 1670, one settling in New Jersey, one in Connecticut and the third in Virginia. Our subject’s mother was of an old family of Friends, and thus his ancestry in America has been upon both sides quite ancient.
Mr. Morgan’s youth was spent upon the farm where he was born, and his early education received in the schools of the neighborhood, though he subsequently attended a select school at Woodbury. As he grew to manhood his industrious habits and good character were recognized, and he was gradually raised into prominence by his fellow-citizens. In 1855 he was elected a freeholder, and at the same time held the offices of trustee of the almshouse and treasurer of the same institution. After holding various minor offices, he was elected treasurer of Camden County, upon the Republican ticket, in 1861 (Washington township, the place of his residence, then being a part of Camden County, though subsequently returned to Gloucester County). In 1864 he was re-elected, and held the office for another term of three years. During his six years’ occupancy of this position of responsibility and trust, covering the period of the Civil War, over two million dollars passed through his hands.
At the same time he was a special collector in his township of moneys needed for war purposes, was on the committee to secure substitutes, had several private estates to settle, and attended to his large personal business. In the fall of 1868 he was elected sheriff, and re-elected in 1869 and 1870. He did all of the work of the office, with the assistance of his sons, and discharged the duties incumbent upon him with the same fidelity and promptness which had characterized his administration as Camden County’s treasurer. In addition to the labor devolving upon him in this office, he served frequently as deputy United States marshal, sometimes in quite important matters. In 1875 he was appointed by the Council as city treasurer, to fill the unexpired term caused by the death of Captain Hufty. Most of his time since 1871, however, has been employed in extensive building operations, and he has erected in Camden about two hundred buildings, principally dwelling-houses. Of these he has sold the greater proportion. His energies have also found exercise in various other occupations, and he has been constantly busy in some line of enterprise. His career forms a remarkable illustration of what industry and integrity may accomplish in private and public life.
Mr. Morgan’s religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian Church. He was chosen an elder in his home church when only thirty-one years old; retained the office until coming to Camden, and is now a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of that city.
He has been twice married. His first wife, with whom he was united June 10, 1847, was Mary Josephine Willard. She died August 30, 1881, having been the mother of seven children, five of whom survived her. These were Randal W., Eli B., Mary E., Joseph Willard, Sallie (died in infancy), Ella (died in 1872, aged thirteen years) and Carrie W. Randal W. Morgan, the eldest, was a midshipman, but subsequently retired from the service, studied medicine, carried on a drugstore in Camden, was vaccine physician and county physician. His health failed, and he went twice to Europe for its benefit, and died at sea on his return voyage, October 20, 1884.
Eli B. was a deputy in the sheriff’s office, under his father, and subsequently under other sheriffs; then deputy clerk for five years, and since 1885 has been engaged in building operations.
Joseph Willard is a counselor-at-law, and has been city solicitor since the spring of 1884. He was elected immediately after attaining his majority, and is the youngest man who ever held the office.
Mr. Morgan’s second marriage, with Mrs. Mertie C. Webster, daughter of Rev. Wm. P. Maul, of Camden, occurred September 1, 1886.
SOURCE: Page(s) 179-186, History of Camden County, New Jersey, by George R. Prowell, L.J. Richards & Co. 1886
Published 2010 by the Camden County Genealogy Project