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Hoboken Manufacturers 1901

This page will attempt a look at the principal manufacturing establishments operating in Hoboken the turn of the 20th century. Most of the following companies were take from a list compiled in 1901.

Many of these companies had offices in New York City and branches in other locations.

Several industries were represented by more than one company:

  • Silk: Amsterday, Balas, Beck, Hoboken Silk dye works, and Majestic Velvet Mill

  • Paper: Hobbs, Benton & Heath wallpaper, Hoboken Paper Mill, and Frank S Pownall

  • Cork: Meinecke cork, Truslow & Fulle and Vilar Cork

  • Iron works: William C Baker, Flecher Brothers, Fagan Iron Works, Goerge Focht, William Dunderdal Forbes & Company, F Furgeson & sons, F. W. Mills, New York Switch and Crossing, New York wire and Spring and F. A. Verdon

  • Underwear: Edward H. Horwood and Wright Health Underwear

The state of New Jersey had annual inspections of factory facilities. In different years different information was given in the inspection reports. In 1887 information included: the name of the company, goods manufactured, a brief description of the building, total number of employees, no of male employees, number of female employees, Number of employees under the age of 16.

In 1890 and 1892 the information included: the name of the company, goods manufactured, the number of male employees, the number of female employees, the number of employees under 156 and the number of children discharged (if any).

In 1898 the information included: the name of the company, goods manufactured, the number of male employees, the number of female employees, the number of employees under 16 and general comments when applicable.


American Lead Pencil - Pencil Manufacturers - Fifth and Clinton

American Lead pencil, manufacturer of Venus pencils, was established in 1860 by Edward Weissenborn. By 1901 it employed 789 people.

1868: WANTED - FOUR FIRST CLASS HANDS (GIRLS) to make boxes, good wages, and permanent situation. Apply American Lead Pencil Company, 269 canal street

1872: Out of 150 hands employed at the American Lead Pencil company about 80 were woman. (Report on Condition of Woman and Child Wage-earners Volumes 8-10 By United States. Bureau of Labor, Charles Patrick Neill)

1874: American Lead Pencil of Hoboken employed twenty-five "boys" who went out on an impromptu strike in early August for "fun". The parents of the boys soundly thrashed them with a cat 'o nine tails and the boys returned to work the next day. (The Utica Sunday Tribune and other papers)

1880: In June 1880 a fire broke out around 2:30 in the drying room of the American Lead Pencil plant at 5th and Clinton. The factory employed a large number of "boys and girls". Smoke was pouring out of the widows. Orders were issued for no one to leave the building. The doors were locked to "prevent the frightened children from getting out in the street". Some children gather on the roof top and their friends and relatives stood on the sidewalk calling for the children to come out. The superintendent refused to let the children go and also refused the help of the fire department saying they American Lead Pencil employees could put out the fire themselves. The firemen were obliged to break into the factory by force and release the children. Stock valued at $41,500 was damaged. The superintendent claimed that the drying room was fire proof and the fire would not have spread to where the children were.

1885:

"JERSEY CITY, Aug. II, A wall of the American lead pencil company's three story brick factory, at Fifth and Clinton streets, Hoboken, fell outward upon laborers, who were excavating in an adjoining lot and had carelessly undermined the building."
Two workmen died and it was feared that others were under the debris.

1887: 4 story brick building - Employment total 300 - 100 men, 200 women and 16 under 16 years old.

1890: Employment 125 men, 200 women and 30 under 16 years old.

1888:

"The reports in some of the daily and afternoon papers regarding an explosion and fire at the American Lead Pencil Company's factory in Hoboken, on the 20th inst., are grossly exaggerated. The flaming head lines and lurid descriptions of the "terrible catastrophe" might have been judiciously "boiled down " to a modest paragraph of a dozen lines. The truth is that, instead of a number of people being "fatally injured," only one met with an accident worth notice, and this was a girl, who had two ribs broken, but who expects to be at her post again shortly. The total loss will not exceed $1,000, which is covered by insurance. The fire occurred in the sawdust shop." (American Stationer)

1890: Maggie Beyer who lived with her parents at 71 Willow Street, Hoboken was employed by the American Lead Pencil company when she was discharged on Friday by Miss Nellie Crosby. Miss Crosby was in charge of about 300 "girls" and fired Maggie for being careless with her work. On Saturday Maggie returned to work having snuck into the factory in order to get her revenge. Maggie went to the closet where Nellie kept her cloths and cut Nellie's silk dress to shreds. Some of the "girls" surrounded Maggie and made her a prisoner.

1890: A 31 year old woman suffering from mental strain committed suicide by hanging herself. Her 68 years old father was so distraught he shot himself in the head with a pistol. A doctor arrived and ordered the father to the hospital. A watchman at the American Pencil Factory refused to allow the use of the telephone to call an ambulance and the morgue wagon.

1891: In 1891 girls in the cedar sorting department went on strike at the American Lead Pencil factory in Hoboken. They reached a compromise with the superintendent Hoffman by which they agreed to return to work at a 5 per cent deduction of wages. They had struck against a 10 cent reduction in wages. The average wage was $5 per week. The work was said to be hard. The building was not adequately heated and rain sometimes came through the roof. The girls complained they had to work with their cloaks, hats and wraps on. The superintendent claimed the company had little trouble with their employees except the grils in the sorting department.

1892: Employment 150 men, 125 women and 50 under 16 years old.

1893: March Amelia Golz claimed she was assaulted by two co-workers at the American Lead Pencil factory (namely Mamie Carney and Katie Nugent) for refusing to skip work on St. Patrick's Day. The three had agreeded to skip work but Amelia went to work anyway. Mamie and Katie met Amelia at the door of the factory at days end. There was name calling, hitting and hair pulling.

1896: Henry Beck, a German, who with his wife ran a saloon in New York City worked at American Lead Pencil Company, at Hoboken in 1896.

"His hours there were from seven in the morning until six at night, and he has worked there from 1896 to date. His wages began at $5.50 per week, and have gradually advanced until he is now receiving $14 a week. All of these wages were turned over every week by him to his wife, saving the following amounts, which she gave him back for his personal expenses: At first, $1.25; then $2.75, and finally, $3 a week.

The man would go to his work, as above stated, at seven o'clock in the morning, after having first opened the saloon at five o'clock. He would return about six-thirty and attend the saloon while his wife got her supper, and would then be in and about the saloon until it was closed. During the rest of the time the wife and the older children ran the saloon."

(Reports of Cases Decided in the Court of Chancery of the State of New Jersey Volume 77 By New Jersey. Court of Chancery)

1898: Employment 165 men, 130 women and 60 under 16 years old - 35 girls failed to attend night school

1899: William Burt, an engineer at the American Lead Pencil factory in Clinton street between 5th and 6th in Hoboken discovered a fire in the finishing room on the third floor around 7 o'clock in the evening. The company's own fire briggade was unable to contain the fire and the city firedepartment was called. The finishing room was stocked with thousands of gross of pencils - most of which were destroyed by the flames. There was also water damage to the building. The company employed about 800 "hands".

1899: In September Woerner Dunkin of 367 Germania Ave. Jersey City was an employee of American Lead Pencil. He was married and was a already a grandfather but his fellow workers though he was single. While at work Mr. Dunkin "struck up and acquaintance" with Mrs. Minnie Kaiser a widow who lived in the apartment directly behind the pencil factory. "The acquaintance ripened into an affection several shades closer than that accepted as platonic, the factory girls declared." Mrs. Kaiser was robbed of $9 by one James Carswell. Mr. Dunkin had Carswell arrested. When the case came before the judge Mr. Dunkin further asked the judge to throw the book at Carswell. The judge suspended decision because the amount was triviling and Carswell swore to pay it back. Subsequently Carswell found out that Dunkin was married and to get revenge he told Dunkin's wife of his infidelities. Mrs. Dunkin proceded to the Kaiser house and beat up on Mrs. Kaiser and her daughter, Martha. Mrs. Dunkin was accused of assault.

1899: September, Four girls employed at the American Pencil Factory - Dora Bender, Sadie Geisler, Daisy Schmidt, and Nellie Johnson - "bought a pitcher of birchbeer at Henry Hillmann's saloon and drank it at dinner time". A short time later they became sick and had to go home." Miss Bender almost died. Miss Schmidt spent several days in bed. It was believed that someone had put poison in the drink.

1900: The American Lead Pencil co. installed two 150 horse-power horizontal Scotch tubular boilers in their "extensive factory" in Hoboken. (Geyer's Stationer: Devoted to the Interests of the Stationery ..... Volume 29)

1900: October 11, 1900

"THE SCHARN MURDER CASE; Effort at Inquest to Fasten the Crime on the Girl's Brother. His Counsel, Emanuel Friend, Denounces the Course of the Police --- Several Witnesses Examined.

The inquest into the death of Kathryn Sharn, who was found murdered early in the morning of Aug. 19 in her flat at 674 Second Avenue, was begun yesterday at 11 A. M. in the Coroner's Court in the Criminal Court Building before Coroner Bausch."

Katherine was 23. Frederick Scharn, the 18 year old brother of the victim, was the prime suspect. He had found his sister body in the apartment they shared. Police said her drawers had been ransacked but his had been left untouched. Frederick testified that his sister had gone and drawn her wages at the American Lead Pencil factory at noon. The police claimed her pocketbook was empty, but Frederick had money in his pocket. Other articles say Kate Scharn was a pencil packer at Eagle Pencil company. The case was never solved.

Katherine Scharn Birth Year: abt 1878 Age: 22 Death Date: 18 Aug 1900 Death Place: Manhattan, New York, USA Certificate Number: 26841

1900: January James D. Beecher a foreman of on of the departments at American Lead Pencil at 5th and Clinton was arrested for assault on Charles E Parcels a foreman of another department at the factory. According to testimony Beecher attacked Parcels from behind, pushed him down and kicked him. Five girls rushed to Parcels aid, pulled Beecher off and drove him back to his own department. Beecher was fired.

1900: 831 Park ave., Charles E Parcels 37, pencil maker, born New Jersey, Emma A Parcels 38, 5 children 3 living, Charles H Parcels 15 Walter W Parcels 9 Elmer H Parcels 3

1903: Charles E Parcels 831 Park av H Hoboken, New Jersey, USA Occupation: MacHinist Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1903

1910: Brooklyn Ward 28, pencil maker, Emma et al.

1915: Lott ave., Queens, Charles E Parcels 52, pencil maker, Emma Parcels 54, Charles H Parcels 30, Elmer H Parcels 18, bank, Edward A Parcels 14, high school, Ethel R Parcels 12

1920: Lott Ave., Queens, New York, Charles E Parcels 56, foreman, pencil factory, born New Jersey, Emma Parcels 59 Charles H Parcels 34, salesman dry goods, Elmer H Parcels 22, book keeper, bank, Edward A Parcels 19, clerk bank, Ethel R Parcels 16, children all born New Jersey.

1901: A female employee of the American Lead Pencil factory was arrested fo stealing five gross of pencils. Lead to an investigation which concluded that several thousand dollars worth of pencils had been taken by employees of the company which employed from 700 to 1,000 "girls". The "girls" stuck the pencils in their stockings or down their backs. Detectives were hired to keep an eye on the women and search them if anything looked suspicious. Superintendent Weissenbaum said the measure was necessary. It was anticipated that the "girls" would resent the action. (The Sun)

1909: November

"The American Lead Pencil Co. has laid off 200 of the employes of its Hoboken plant for an indefinite period; the condition of the money market is said to be the cause of this action." Annual Report, Volume 31 By New Jersey. Bureau of Industrial Statistics

1911: In May 1911 Miss Margaret Walsh an forewoman of the American Lead Pencil company was dying in St. Mary's hospital American Artisan and Illustrated Journal of Popular Science of injuries received when her hair caught in a flywheel tearing off her scalp and knocking her unconscious.

1915: In September 1915 about 100 employees iin the "blue": department went on strike and the superintendent Edward L Ascheim asked for police protection ( New York Times)

1916: In 1916 "September 23. Seventy-five men and women employed in the glue department of the American Lead Pencil Works, at Hoboken, struck for an increase of pay, but all returned to work next morning on receiving assurance from the manager of the concern that their demands would receive immediate and fair consideration. The wage loss was about $100." (Annual Report By New Jersey. Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries)

1918:

"Three hundred men and 400 women employed in the factory of the American Lead Pencil Co. at Hoboken, struck for a reduction of working hours to eight per day, a Saturday half holiday, and the days and was ended by a compromise under which some advances in wages were given, and an adjustment of working hours promised in the near future. The wage loss was $7,000. (Annual Report of the Bureau of Industrial Statistics of New ..., Volume 40 By New Jersey. Bureau of Industrial Statistics)"
1919:
"Efficient training to guard against danger from fire this morning stood more than 200 men and young women employed in one of the smaller units of the plant of the American Lead Pencil Company in Hoboken in good stead. The employees were marshalled by their captains in regular formation and made their way to the street via the stairways and the fire escape in splendid order. There was no evidence of any excitement. The fire broke out on the third floor of building No. 18 of the American Lead Pencil Company, situated on Grand Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets, Hoboken. It was of slight consequence of itself and did almost no damage, but the letting go of the sprinkler system in the factory added to the quantity of water poured on the blaze by the local fire fighters, and damage to the machinery is expected to raise the damage total to between $3.000 and $5,000.

Employees of the company had it well in hand by the time three fire companies, summoned on a still alarm, reached the scene and took up the fight. The blaze was extinguished in short order, but not before it had caused considerable excitement in the neighborhood." (Walden's Stationer and Printer, Volume 42)

Other Products

By 1908 American Lead Pencil also made erasers. They also made crayons as early as 1890.

American Lead Pencil 30th Anniversary

"AMERICAN LEAD PENCIL COMPANY CELEBRATES THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY

February 19, 1915, was the thirtieth anniversary of the incorporation of the American Lead Pencil Company, one of the pioneer pencil manufacturers of America.

The factory of the American Lead Pencil Company is located in Hoboken, N. J. It was established about 1860, and comprised at that time, one small building located at Fifth and Clinton streets, which still stands, and is known as Building No. 1 of the present plant of the company. Numerous additions have been made, and several stories added from time to time, and besides this, the growth of the factory has been a steady one, additional buildings being added, until at this time, Building No. 21 is being erected, and the vacant space between Clinton and Grand streets, shown in the illustration, lias been bought and is being held by the company for future development.

Like many successful enterprises the business of the American Lead Pencil Company has grown from a comparatively small beginning, until it now employs more than 2,000 people.

The American Lead Pencil Company, besides complete lead pencils, manufactures penholders, rubber erasers, rubber bands, compasses and novelties. These goods are subdivided into many styles and classes; for instance, there are manufactured in the Hoboken factory alone, over five hundred different grades, classes and styles of black lead pencils, ranging from the ordinary kind to the famous Venus pencil.

The graphite for these pencils comes chiefly from Bohemia and Mexico. The clay also comes from Bohemia, and the cedar from the company's forests in Tennessee and other southwestern states. The rubber used for rubber tips on pencils, rubber erasers and rubber bands, comes principally from Brazil.

The graphite, clay, cedar and rubber are all received at Hoboken in the raw state, and the complete manufacture of the lead pencils from the very beginning is done in the numerous departments of the company's factory.

The crowning triumph of the American Lead Pencil Company's Hoboken factory was the Venus pencil, which today stands in the very first rank in pencildom the world over. No manufacturer has ever produced a better pencil. It is made in seventeen degrees from the very softest to the very hardest known as well as in two copying degrees.

In addition to the large factory at Hoboken, the American Lead Pencil Company has offices in Europe, four lumber mills in the South and Southwest, and a factory in London, England, where certain European wants are taken care of.

The business since its incorporation thirty years ago, has practically been under the same management. The company's present officials are: Louis J. Reckendorfer, president; Byron B. Goldsmith, vice-president; Sam. J. Reckendorfer, secretary and treasurer.

While it has been the policy of these gentlemen to avoid publicity, and account of the company's progress would not be complete without making the names of these gentlemen known."

The American Stationer, Volume 77

Image - Rutgers University

Edward Weissenborn, Founder of American Lead Pencil

1860: New York Ward 17, Edward Weissenborn 31, born Baden, machinist, $300, Eliza Weissenborn 34, Albert Weissenborn 5, Rudolph Weissenborn 4, Edward Weissenborn 2, Flora Weissenborn 1, Roxanna Weissenborn 67

1870: Edward Weissenborn 44, born Baden, manufacturer of pencils $100,000, Elisabeth Weissenborn 40, Albert Weissenborn 15, office boy, Rudolf Weissenborn 14, Edward Weissenborn 12, Flora Weissenborn 10, Oscar Weissenborn 6, Hugo Weissenborn 5

1874: August 17, "NORTH RIVER. Rudolph Wetssenborn, aged nineteen years, son of Mr. Edward Weissenborn, of tbe American Lead Pencil Company, Hoboken, swam across the North River yesterday morning. He was accompanied by his brother, Mr. Albert Weissenborn, in a row boat." Rudolph swam from the Hoboken Swimming Baths to the Delamater Ironworks at 14th street a distance of about a mile and a half in in thirty one minutes. The brothers rowed back.

1880: Reservoir Ave, Jersey City, Edward Weissenborn 53, lead pencil manf, born baden, Eliza Weissenborn 57, Rudolph Weissenborn 24, salesman, Edward Weissenborn 22, salesman, Flora Weissenborn 20, Oscar Weissenborn 15, Hugo Weissenborn 13

1880: "Mr. Edward Weissenborn, of Jersey City Heights, N. J., has patented an improved package for pencils, crayons, and similar articles, so constructed as to prevent the pencils or other articles contained in the packages from rubbing against each other." (Scientific American)

1899: Edward Weissenborn Birth Date: abt 1828 Birth Place: Germany Death Date: 30 Jun 1899 Death Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey Death Age: 71 years 10 months Occupation: Mf'R Marital Status: Married Gender: Male Father Birth Place: Germany Mother Birth Place: Germany FHL Film Number: 589811

1899: July 2, Edward Weissenborn senior died at his home on Reservoir Avenue, Jersey City from debility. He was born in germany in 1828 and came to the United States in 1854. "During the Civil War he was associated with Capt. Ericsson, Gen. Newton, and Capt. Worder in the construction of the monitors for the Government. In 1864 he established the American Lead Pencil company, and made improvements in the manufacture of lead pencils." He was survived by a widow, five sons and one daughter.

1911: Albert G. Weissenborn, one of the directors and factory superintendent of the American Lead Pencil Company, died in his home, 270 Midland avenue, Montclair

General Pencil company

Louis J Reckendorfer - President of American Lead Pencil 1910

Louis J Reckendorfer was born in New York City October 24th, 1866. He was the son of Joseph and Babette Reckendorfer. The family was listed at East 74th street, NYC in the 1880 census. Joseph, born circa 1838 in Bavaria, was a pencil manufacturer. In 1880 the family also included Daisy, age 16, and Samuel age 10 plus three servants. Louis married Miriam Louise King in February 1890. Louis was listed in the 1900 census at 62nd street, NYC, age 33, with his wife, Louise age 28 and children Edna, age 9 and John R age 5 plus 7 servants. In 1910 Louis, President of the American Pencil Company and his wife Louise K children Edna, age 19, and Adelaide age 7 were listed as "guests" at the St Regis Hotel in NYC. In 1911, at the time of the marriage of their daughter Edna, the family had a home in Elberon, N. J.

The family traveled frequently to Europe. They were also mentioned frequently in the csocial pres. In 1914 a large fire destroyed caused extensive damage in Elberon, New Jersey and destroyed a barn on the Reckendorfer estate.

In July 1883 Louis's father, Joseph Reckendorfer, age 46, born in Furth, Bavaria, the president of the Eagle Pencil company of New York died at his "county seat" in Long Branch New Jersey from blood poisoning. He was the first pencil manufacturer to use American cedar. He owned extensive cedar forests in Florida. He had been active in the German American community in New York. He was survived by his wife and three children.

In 1890 a real estate transaction listed Babette, widow, Louis J. and Samuel J. Reckendorfer and Daisey, wife of William Strauss, as heirs of Joseph Reckendorfer.

In 1902 Samuel J Reckendorfer the Treasurer of the Americal Pencil compay purchased a new five story dwelling at 45 West 56th street.

In 1907 Louis J and Samuel J REckendorfer bought 103 West 63rd street a three story private dwelling they already owned the "block front on the west side of Broadway from 63 to 64th streets."

In 1914 an injunction was brought against Samuel J Reckendorfer and the American Pencil company, in Taney Co Missouri to cease cutting cedar trees on the property of d. P. King and Jennie c King. In 1918 the family name Reckendorfer was changed by both Louis J and Samuel J to Reckford, as did John K the son of Louis J. The name change may have resulted due to Anti Germany feelings at the time.

Louis Reckendorfer Reckfort died in 1928. Samuel died in 1949.

How a Lead Pencil was Manufactured at American Lead Pencil in 1867

1867: The American Lead Pencil Company have an establishment for the exclusive manufacture of pencils at Hudson City, N. J ., where every process-from the seasoning of the wood up to the stamping and polishing of the pencils, and the making of necessary packing-boxes and labels is carried on by the employment of some two hundred hands. The first process connected with the preparation of the blacklead is the refining. This is a chemical process known only to the manufacturers. After undergoing refining, the black-lead is placed in a drying-chamber, where it is kept in earthen pots for about two weeks. It is then conveyed to a furnace for burning; the furnace is 15 feet in hight and has a diameter of 5 feet 6 inches inside; the interior being lined with fire-brick and the walls having a thickness of about 15 inches. The black-lead is kept here exposed to a strong but slow heat for four days, after which it is washed in order to clear it from the chemical impurities. It is now taken to the mills, which are circular stones running at 80 revolutions, to be ground with water; the grinding process occupies about four days. The mixing machine next receives it. This machine has a circular concave trough in which revolves a stone like a grindstone, but with a convex face; both the trough and stone revolve, the former horizontally and the latter vertically or at right angles to the trough. Inside the trough is a stationary scraper which plows up the black-lead so that every grain of it shall successively and repeatedly pass under the stone and be thoroughly mixed; The black-lead in the course of manipulation is repeatedly sprinkled and dried. When the lead is properly prepared it has the consistency of dough; and now comes the most interesting and curious operation of converting it into the shape seen in black-lead pencils.

A quantity of black-lead about ten pounds in weight is put into a small and strong castiron cylinder, into the bottom of which is inserted a small plate of crystal, in which is perforated a small hole of the size and form of the black-lead to be used. Thus, if the black-lead is to be round, the small aperture will be made circular; if hexagonal or octagonal the opening in the crystal will be also six or eight sided. The cylinder charged with the pasty mixture is then put under a powerful press, which gets its power from a combination of spur-gearing, worms, and screws. A piston or ram just of the exact diameter of the exterior of the cylinder now slowly descends and, with a pressure varying from 140 tuns to 450 tuns, compresses the lead to such a degree that it is forced through the small opening in the crystal and leaves it in a continuous coil; the black-lead being in appearance precisely like what we see incased in pencils, only that it is several yards in length. The crystal is used on account of its extreme hardness; no metallic substance can keep the necessary edge for any length of time. The coil is then cut up into the proper lengths. The length of a black-lead pencil is 6? inches; the diameter of the wood-casing depends upon the size of the black-lead. Artists' pencils are generally made with round leads, but there are several qualities made with hexagonal and sometimes with octagonal leads. The black-lead being cut up and the lengths arranged in bundles, they are next baked from three to four hours; the hardest pencils require the most baking.

The leads are now ready for the casings, which are made in arapid and curious manner. The small slabs already alluded to, after being stained in a chemical liquid for ten hours and planed, are taken to the grooving machines, each containing a series of small circular cutters which, revolving at a great speed, groove out the slabs for the insertion of the black-lead. The leads are placed in these slabs, two of which are then glued together. The slabs contain five or six lengths of leads arranged side by side, and make a corresponding number of pencils. These are next taken to an ingenious machine which shapes and cuts out the pencils to a cylindrical or other form. The pencils are next polished; the manner of polishing at the establishment of the American Lead Pencil Company's Works is a method peculiar to themselves and is not at present excelled by other manufacturers. The pencils are now ready for receiving the trade-mark or the letters and numbers signifying the quality of the lead, whether it is soft or hard. The trademark of the American Lead Pencil Company was patented May 9, 1865, and applications for patents are now pending on some of their machinery. During the various operations of manufacture the leads are constantly taken to the "proof-room" where they are all thoroughly tested and assorted as to grades and quality.

The American Lead Pencil Company display more than ordinary taste in packing their pencils in neat and ornamental cases or boxes, on some part of which are printed the letters and numbers signifying the kind of pencils contained in them. It is generally known that soft pencils are stamped with a "B" and hard ones with an "H". The softest pencil is stamped "B B B B B B" and the hardest "H H H H H H" between these two extremes, however, are many other grades of hardness, softness, and blackness, denoted by "HB", "F", "HH", "B B", etc. The different kinds of pencils for different purposes are quite numerous, as there are "super extra fine", "fine", "polygrades Nos. 1 to 5", "carpenters' pencils", "tablet pencils", "artists' pencils", "colored pencils", and "pencils for special purposes". In addition to these there are "editors' pencils", "engineers' and architects' pencils", stenographic pencils, leads ever pointed, etc.

The ingenious machinery (designed and constructed by Mr. E. Weissenborn) at the pencil works in New Jersey is driven by a 50 H. P. steam engine. There are a machine-shop, carpenters' shop, printing-room, packing-room, and all other facilities connected with the manufactory, so that every requirement from the first to the last stage of the manufacture of pencils is amply provided for on the premises."

(American Artisan and Illustrated Journal of Popular Science)

American Lead Pencil and Child Labor

According to the New Jersey State Factory inspections in the late 1800s and early 1900s American Lead Pencil was one of the biggest employers in Hoboken. They were the biggest employer of women and children under the age of 16 in 1887, 1890, 1892, and 1898.

1902:

"While In the employment of the American Lead Pencil Company at its factory in Lewisburg, Tenn.. Clarence J. Davis, a boy 10 years old, received such personal injuries as necessitated the amputation of his right arm. By his father, as next friend, he brought this action against the company, and obtained verdict and judgment for $2,875 as damages. The company prosecutes this appeal in error from that judgment, and raises several objections to the proceedings. It was the duty of the plaintiff, in the course of his work for the defendant, to tie in bundles the penholders that dropped from each of two planers into boxes. These planing machines were near each other, and in close proximity to the pulley on which the plaintiff was caught and injured."
1904 Alec Fries and his guardian, Mary Fries, sued for damages for injuries suffered while in the employ of American Lead Pencil in Fresno California in 1904.

"The law made it the duty of the master to give cautionary instructions when a nine year old boy was employed and placed amid unusual circumstances, in a noisy room full of danger even for adults. - Fries v. American Lead Pencil Co., 2 Cal. App. 148, 83 Pac. 173.

Where an inexperienced boy of nine years of age was employed in a sawmill dangerously near to a saw, in bringing blocks to be sawed, and in carrying away blocks sawed, and was injured by having his finger sawed off, a short time after he began work, without having been warned or instructed by anyone to keep away from contact with the machinery or saws, a verdict in his favor is sufficiently supported. - Fries v. American Lead Pencil Co., 2 Cal. App. 148, 83 Pac. 173."

(New Complete Digest of the Decisions of the Supreme Court and the District By James Manford Kerr)


American Lead Pencil 1892 - Rutgers Library digital Collection


american Lead Pencil - Hudson County to-day - 1915


1947 Sol Libsohn [Workers who have no indoor lunchroom eating outside American Lead Pencil Company] Hoboken New Jersey, Life Magazine collection, 2005

Hoboken Museum

American Mutoscope and Biograph Company - 1013 Grand Street, Hoboken - Moving Pictures

American Mutoscope Company, manufacturers of mutoscopes; employed 30 in 1901.

The American Mutoscope Company was a motion picture company founded in 1895 in Canastoda, New York by Harry Norton Marvin, William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, Herman Casler and Elias Bernard Koopman. They called themselves the K.M. C. D group and had their headquarters in New York city, They opened a developing and manufacturing plant in Hoboken circa 1897.

1906: Practically the entire floor space of the four story building housing the American Mutoscope was used to store about 10 thousand reels of film.

1907: The factory capacity had recently been doubled.

American Mutoscope

The Life of a City: Early Films of New York, 1898 to 1906 - Library of Congress


Amsterdam Silk Mills - 1011-1015 Grand Street

1902: Amsterdam Silk Mills 1011-1015 Grand st. branch of Amsterdam Silk Mills, Amsterdam, N. Y. Golf Gloves 70 knitting machines, steam sell direct Louis Lichtenheim, buyer.

1903: July - Alexander Hartfleld of New York, manager of the Hoboken factory of the Amsterdam Silk Mills, is in Amsterdam his former home.


William C. Baker (1828-1901) - 127 Grand street, Hoboken - Heating Apparatus

W. C. Baker, manufacturer of car and house heaters; employed 23 persons in 1901.

William C Baker was born in Dexter Maine in 1828. He died in 1901 after accidentally being hit by a train while visiting his daughter in suburban New York.

In 1871 William C Baker inventor of regulating heaters purchased twenty-five acres along the Palisades above the Hudson.

In 1890 William C Baker of New York applied for a railway car heater. He was also granted a patent for a hot water heater in 1893.

1893: The offices of William C. Baker, the well known manufacturer of car-heaters, has been removed to the Central Building, No. 143 Liberty Street, New York. Mr. Baker has established new works in Hoboken, N. J., which are fitted with the best appliances for manufacturing. (American Engineer and Railroad Journal, Volume 67)

1903: William C Baker Heating Apparatus, 127 Grand H Hoboken, New Jersey, USA Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1903

1895:

Mr. Wm. C. Baker, manufacturer of car heaters, has erected on the roof of one of his buildings, three stories from the ground, a 7O - ft. passenger car, fitted with steam heating pipes in several different styles for experimental purposes, in which position the car is under conditions very similar to those found in actual practice. One is a heat storage system, consisting of a 4-in. pipe running along each side of the car inside a long wooden box. These pipes within the car are filled with gravel. A perforated copper plate, running horizontally the length of the pipes, cuts off a small segment at the bottom of them in which the steam circulates. They are to be charged with steam at high pressure. This steam heats the gravel, and the heat in the pipes is constantly restored by steam rising through the perforations in the copper plate, into the gravel spaces of the pipes. Another novelty consists in a heat storage cylinder resembling, and suspended similarly to, a Pintsch gas tank. This cylinder is filled with pebbles, among which circulates a coil of pipe containing water, and leading to the piping system in the car. The cylinder is charged with steam at high pressure from a stationary boiler. Mr. Baker claims that such a charge will easily heat the car for 30 hours. The admission of steam to the pipes in the cars from the coil in the storage cylinder, in which it is generated, is automatically regulated by a brass expansion valve.

Besides this system, and a standard system of piping for passenger cars also on exhibition in this car, there is shown the piping system for the new Pullman compartment cars.

The exhibition car at the Baker works at 127—129 Grand street, Hoboken, is open for inspection to railroad men. It will be used during the spring for the purpose of making comparative tests of the different systems of car heating which we have described. (Railroad Gazette, Volume 27)

1896:

New Baker Boiler. There is in the Baker Car-Heater Works at Hoboken, N. J., a boiler shown used for supplying steam to drive the machinery, which is a development of the well-known Baker heater used so much for railroad car-heating.

A leading peculiarity of the Baker car-heater is compactness and the large percentage of the fuel heat imparted to the water. All kinds of pipe coils were employed as heat generators, and some of them were fairly efficient; but Mr. Baker found that a brass casting forming a top and bottom tube, with vertical tubes connecting them, made a still more efficient and compact generator. He determined to try that arrangement in a steam boiler for commercial purposes, and the boiler now in use in his works embraces the inventor's ideas of the most economical means for transforming the heat of coal into dry steam.

Mr. Baker was one of the first engineers to make a successful water-tube boiler, and therefore he is perfectly familiar with the line of improvement he is working upon. There are water-tube boilers used for supplying heat and steam for the Grand Central Station, New York, which were built by Mr. Baker thirty years ago.

The boiler in the shops at Hoboken has fourteen generators, which connect, as seen, with a combined water and steam drum. The water passes into the lower horizontal tube, which is close to the fire, and circulates up through the vertical connections into the upper tube and thence to the drum. On the top of the upper generator tube there is a lining of brick which divides the fire chamber. The fuel gases pass first below the brick and then return on the top, imparting the remaining heat to the drum and its connections.

The steam, on its way from the boiler to the engine, is passed through generators in the uptake and goes to the steam chest partly superheated.

1901:
William C. Baker

We deeply regret to announce the death of William C. Baker, Upper Montclair. N. J., on February 6th. He was killed by a train of the Erie road, while on his way to New York. He was born in 1828 and had been in business for about fifty years, being the originator of the system of heating cars by hot water circulation.

After making the Baker heater famous throughout the country, he designed apparatus for using steam from the locomotive, and this system is now largely used throughout the world.

He was well known in all railroad circles and had a host of friends in every part of the country, to whom he was an authority on all matters relating to the heating of cars. During his business career he was connected with Baker, Smith & Co., the New York Steam Heating Company and the Baker Heater Company, succeeding the latter in his own name a few years ago. If the thousands who travel daily would stop to consider the added comfort which they enjoy due to his inventions, they would resolve never to forget the man or his invention. We understand the business will be carried on under the same management as associated with Mr. Baker during the last ten years.

(Railway and Locomotive Engineering: A Practical Journal of ..., Volume 14, 1901)

1903: William C Baker Heating Apparatus, 127 Grand Hoboken, New Jersey, USA Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1903


Balas Freres - Silk Ribbon Braids and Trimmings - 4th and Jefferson

Gabriel Balas, Florian Balas and Stephane Ballas traded as Balas Freres tape and trimming manufacturers in Saint Charmond (Loire) France in 1879.

1892: State Inspection - Bales - Bindings, 25 males, 50 females, 5 under age 16

1896: In 1896 Philip William Caille testified that he lived at 126 Bloomfiled street Hoboken and was the superintendent at Balas Brothers.

Balas Freres, Ltd., manufacturer of silk ribbon; employed 160 persons in Hoboken in 1901.

1898: State Inspection - Bales "Freres" & Co., Braid, 25 males, 60 females, 15 under age 16

In 1902 Balas Freres 4th and Jefferson had 80 looms, Poncet and Neeser 108 Greene street, New York

In 1904 John Poncet was the president of Balas Freres.

In 1898 Balas Freres was advertising for only young men, experienced ribbon weavers. Adds were also run for women.

From 1901 to 1908 Balas Freres advertised for women twisters on ribbon looms, steady work, good pay, all wide lobs no narrows beams. In 1906 an experienced ribbon weaver was being offered $16 a week at Balas Freres.

1906: Official American textile directory; containing reports of all the textile manufacturing establishments in the United States and Canada, together with the yarn trade index ... Comp. annually by the Textile world journal Published July 1906

Balas, Freres (ltd) 4th and Jefferson St; $168,000 John M Poncet, press; John G Neeser, treas; Broad Silks and Ribbons; 80 looms and 12 braod looms; Poncet & Neeser, 58-60 Greene street, N. Y. s agts.

In 1909 Balas Freses was advertising for experienced winders and warpers.

In 1905 John H Faissant of Jersey City was the manager of the silk and ribbon of Balas Freres, Hoboken.


Beck Bros. - Ferry and Bloomfield streets - 110 Ferry street (1922) - Silk Manufacturers

1892: state inspection - Beck Bros, silk 25 males 35 females and 5 under age 16

1898: Beck Bros, Silk, 25 males, 30 femlaes and 15 under the age of 16

1880: New York, William Beck 61, dry goods, Anne Beck 54, Alonzo Beck 22, clerk, Louisa Beck 18, Cornelius Beck 15, William Beck 4

In 1901 Beck Bros., manufacturers of silk; employed 28 persons.

The Beck brothers were Theodore Lewis Beck (18 Sept 1861- 27 May 1927), William Beck and Don Alonzo Beck (13 Sept 1857- 19 Sept 1902).

1900: East Orange -Don Beck 42, silk manf., Eloise Beck 42, Maggie Brady 22

1902: Death - Beck, East Orange N. J. Don Alonzo Beck age 45, son of Anna C and the late William Beck. Spouse Eloise.

In December 1906 there was a large fire at 104 Ferry street. Young women employed at the Beck Brothers ribbon factory at Ferry and Bloomfiled became panic-sticken as the flames and smoke approached the factory. They rushed from their looms but the fire was stopped before it reached them.

1906: Official American textile directory; containing reports of all the textile manufacturing establishments in the United States and Canada, together with the yarn trade index ... Comp. annually by the Textile world journal Published July 1906 Beck Bros; Ferry and Bloomfield st Narrow silk ribbons; 31 looms, sell direct

1910: Summit, Theodore L Beck 48, manager sil co., Cora S Beck 44, Alexander Beck 18, John S Beck 16, Margery E Beck 14, Dorothy Beck 12, Hermine Albrecht 31, Mary Collins 25

1922: Theodore Lewis Beck Birth Date: 18 Sep 1861, Birth Place: New York, Age: 60, Passport Issue Date: 5 Jan 1922, Passport Includes a Photo: Yes Residence: Summit, New Jersey Father Name: Wm Beck Father's Birth Location: Ireland Father's Residence: Deceased

Theodore Lewis Beck


Herman Deile (Dieel) - Wurst maker - provisions 92 Jackson street

Herman Diele Inc. wurst making 91 Jackson street, was founded by Herman Diele in 1871. The process of making the wurst was mainly by hand with refrigeration provided by ice blocks.

1886: Herman Deile 7 Nov 1886 Manhattan, New York, USA Spouse: Fredricka Schweitzer Certificate Number: 63505

1889: October naturalization of Herman Deile, butcher, 613 E 11th street, New York Common Pleas, date of arrival July 5, 1882.

1900: Ward 4 Jackson street Herman Diele 45, provisions dealer, Freida Diele 41, Emma Diele 11 Herman Diele 10 Wilhelm Diele 7 Charles Diele 5 Andrew Diele 3 Frederick Diele 1

1910: 91 Jackson street, Frederick Eberle 37, marriage 2, provisions manufacturer, Freda Eberle 50, marriage 2, 6 children 6 living,, Emily Deile 22, step daughter, Herman Deile 18, step son helper provisions manufacturer, William Deile 16, step son, helper provisions manufacture, Charles Deile 15m step son Andrew Deile 12, step son, Frederick Deile 11, step son

1904: Herman Diele sued the Erie Railroad company when one of the railroad's engines hit Mr. Diele's horse and wagon.

1905:

Herman Deile, a wholesale provision dealer at No. 89 Jackson street, Hoboken, died Monday of blood poison, caused by a rusty carpet tack which he ran into his foot about a month ago. He leaves a widow and six children.

The National Provisioner, Volume 33

Probate: New York of Herman Diele Sept. 16, 1905 Hudson co. New Jersey, petition of Fredericka Diele, 91 Jackson street, executrix, will dated Sept 17, 1903. Herman Diele died Aug 1905, heirs, widow, Emma a daughter, Herman, William , Charles, Andrew and Fredrick sons. Real property $9,000, personal property $600

1916: Mrs. F Diele Hoboken the National Provisioner

1917:Meat industry and trade Herman Deile Wholesale Dealer in FINE PROVISIONS 89-91 Jackson St., HOBOKEN, N. J

1920: 91 Jackson street, meat inspection

1920: Jackson street, near 1st street, Frieda Deile 64, proprietor provisions, Herman Deile 30, truck driver, provisions dealer, Andrew Deile 23, salesman provisions, Frederick Deile 20, salesman provisions

1922: Passport application Fireda Diele, widow, born Donserdars [?] Rhein Platz, 15 February 1858, husband Herman Deile born Germany he imm to US from Harve France July - 1882

1882. Lived in New York until 1887 in US until 1905 , occupation Provisions to visit relatives.

1930: 83, Jackson street, Albert Deile 66, head $6,000, Eugenia F Deile 59, wife, Herman K Deile 28, son, Walter E Deile 24, son, chauffer, no occupation for the rest.


Hobbs, Benton, Heath & Co. - Wallpaper - 18th street and Willow

Benton, Heath & Co was in business from circa 1871 to 1917. They opened a factory in Hoboken in 1893.

1895: July - A new and large wallpaper plant was established by Benton, Heath & Co in Hoboken. "The new factory is remarkable for having a straight run of 426 feet, the longest on record."

In May 1897:

"BIG FIRE IN HOBOKEN; Whole Block Swept Away and Over One Hundred Families Made Homeless. FIREMEN WERE POWERLESS Flames Started in a Factory and Communicated to a Row of Tenement Houses. ALL THE BUILDINGS PROVED TO BE VERITABLE TINDER BOXES. The Flames Broke Out in a Closet in the Factory -- Found by a Watchman, Who Believed He Had Thoroughly Stamped Them Out -- Total Loss About $650,000." (New York Times)

The fire started in a closet of the five story brick factory in the area occupied by the wallpaper factory. It destroyed the factory and a row of fourteen five story brick tenement houses from 1203 to 1231 Washington street. The factory ran the entire block from 12th to 13th streets. The tenement buildings were about four years old and did not have fire escapes. The tenements and the factory were owned by the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company. The flooring of the factory was three inch pine planks. There were pine joists. While the outer walls of the building were brick there were no brick or fire resistant partitions inside the building. Pine is notorious for burning easily. Four firms resided in the building, Ward, Leonard & Co., Paul & Gallagher (both manufacturers of shoe brushes), Nathan Straus & co. (glass cutters) and Benton, Heath & co. wallpaper manufacturers. Benton, Heath & co. occupied the southern half of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors.

Fire companies came from several towns in the area. The factory was allowed to burn as there was little to do to save it as the factory boilers exploded. The focus was directed on saving the tenements and getting the inhabitants to safety. Some effort was also made to save furniture from the tenements. Some near by canal boats also caught fire. The factory and tenements were totally lost.

1895:
THE newest Richmond in the wall paper field is the firm of Benton, Heath & Co., who have just completed their preparations for the fall campaign, and will have their new line of papers on the market before the end of the month. For several months past preparations have been going on in their new and conveniently located factory in Hoboken, N. J., which is said to be the longest wall paper factory in the world. Although this is a new firm, who are showing new goods in a new factory, the proprietors are all thoroughly experienced men in the several branches of the business. C. B. T. Benton is the son-in-law of that veteran wall paper manufacturer, Robert S. Hobbs, and has had a thorough schooling under that gentleman, having been engaged with him in the manufacture of various grades of wall paper for over nine years. This experience has made him thoroughly capable of running a factory, and he will establish the work of the new firm on the highest standard of mechanical and artistic excellence. Frederick Heath is also well known to the trade, having been with the old house of Breed, Barriclo 8: Co., from there going with T. J. Briggs. For sixteen years he was with Whiting & Young, afterward Whiting & Campbell, and later Whiting & Sons. In 1890, he became associated with Robert S. Hobbs, in which firm he had an interest. The special partners in the new firm, George Weldon and James Z. Weldon, are of the well-known firm of Rochesterjobbers. Thus it will be seen that if experience is to count for anything, the trade may look for an exceptionally fine line of papers from Benton, Heath & Co., and from what we have seen, they will have no reason to be disappointed.

Painting and Decorating: A Journal Treating of House, Sign ..., Volume 10 edited by A. Ashmun Kelly, Frederick Maire, Arthur Seymour Jennings

1898: Frederick Heath of Benton, Heath & Co. Wallpaper (The Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer, Volume 9)

1898: Not listed in the State Inspection of factories for 1898.

1901: Benton, Heath & Company, manufacturers of wall paper; employed 136 persons in Hoboken in 1901.

1911: In October 1911 eight Wallpaper manufacturers, including Robert Hobbs a director of the Hobbs, Benton and Heath Company of Hoboken, were indicted for conspiracy in restraint of trade in violation of the Sherman laws. The incitements charged that Hobbs and others had met and agreed to a plan to prevent their products from being sold by five and ten cents stores across the country, thereby attempting to control the country's wallpaper sales.

1958: Robert F Hobs Sr., age 91 died in Lansdowne, Pa. He was born in New York and was a former president of the wallpaper firm of Hobbs, Venton and Heath in Hoboken. He was survived by his wife Jessie, a son Robert F Jr, a sister, Grace Hobbs of New York and a brother, Ernest Hobbs of Washington, D. C. In 1910 Robert F Hobbs was renting a house on Eldorado Place in Weehawken - Robert F Hobbs 44, wall paper manufacturer, Jessie Hobbs 30 Robert F Hobbs 8 Mary L Bradley 47, roomer, Anna M Gallagher 18, servant

In 1920 Robert F Hobbs and his family lived in North Hempstead, New York. In 1930 and 1940 they were in Beverly, New Jersey.

Wallpaper

Cooper Hewitt - Samples of the Benton Heath Wallpaper


Hoboken Silk Dye Works - 907 Madison

1902: Hoboken Silk Dye Works - Eugene Schmidt prop 907 Madison st - dye organzines, Trams, souples, black and colors


Horace Brittain - Union Hat Company - 116 Willow Ave.

1892: Alex Altgo, straw hats, 25 males 100 females 10 under the age of 16.

1896: Organization of the Middletown Straw Hat Works was completed in Hoboken New Jersey under the name Union Hat Company - incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey - Horace Brittain President. Losses by a recent fire had been "adjusted" and repairs on the building had been completed.

1897: "A shed on the premises of the Union Hat Company of 1118 Willow street Hoboken collapsed last Tuesday morning and considerable damage resulted."

1898: Altgo, Alex, straw hats, 25 males, 50 females 10 under age 16.

1901: Horace Brittain, manufacturer of straw hats; employed 290 persons in 1901.

1900: Hoboken Horace Brittain 47, mfr, straw hats, Irina Brittain 44, 4 children 1 living, Alexander A Brittain 18, son, William H Butterfield 39 Kate Kennedy 29

1901/1903/1908: Horace Brittain straw hats 1114 Willow

1906:

"The Union Hat Company, Hoboken, N. J., whose factory is at Middletown, N. Y., has increased its capital stock from $75,000 to $100,000 and elected the following officers for the ensuing year: President, Horace Britain of New York; treasurer, A. L. Ehardt of Peekskill; secretary, George Brown of Middletown. The season just closed, it reports, has been a very successful one."

Men's wear. [semi-monthly], Volume 21

1904: Death of Alexander Algeo Brittain Hoboken New Jersey (Sixth Catalogue of [Theta Delta Chi] By Theta Delta Chi). Columbia University yearbook 1905 Alexander A . Brittain Death Sep 1904 Green-Wood Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA

1916: March 12, Middletown, N. Y. William A[lgeo] Demarest superintendent of the Union Hat company, shot and killed himself in his office. He was a former resident of New York and had previously "conducted a factory in Hoboken." He was the son of Benjamin Demarest and Adalaide Algeo - He was born 12 Jan 1883..

1919: H Brittain was selling Union Hat Co. in Middletown, N. Y. - three and four story brick factory - close to the N. U. Ontario and Western R. R., plentiful help, paved brick streets, completely equipped for the manufacture of mens and women's straw hats, 2 80 HP boilers, 25 HP engine 80 W & G visible and concealed stich sewing machines, 10 hydraulic and 100 plug hat presses, hydraulic brim press, band box and case making machinery, main building 42,000 square feet, framed annex 8,000 feet.

1920: Middletown, Orange, New York Horace Brittain 67, born New jersey, president hat co. Irene Brittain 61 Adalaide Tompkins 56, sister, Ruth Tompkins 17, niece


Fletcher brothers - Consolidated Iron Works - 65-75 River street

Consolidated Iron Works, manufacturers of machinery; employed 76 persons in 1901.

1887: Not listed by the New Jersey Factory Inspection

1890: Fletcher & Co. machinery 350 men no women or children

1892: Consolidated Iron Works - machinery 40 men on women or children

1898: Consolidated Iron Works machinery 30 men, no women or children

1898: Fletcher & co. machinery, 200 men

Scottish brothers William and Andrew Fletcher founded an Iron Works in 1853 with a partner, Joseph G Harrison. Harrison left the company and in 1880 the Fletcher brothers renamed the company W & a fletcher and moved to Hoboken. William died in 1883. Andrew and his son continued the company.

1850: New York William Fletcher 26, machinist, born Scotland, Cathern Fletcher 23, Janet Fletcher 4, Jane Fletcher 3, Ellen Fletcher 1, Andrew Fletcher 22, machinist,born Scotland, Alexander Fletcher 14

1880: Andrew Fletcher 52, born Scotland, engineer mfr., Mary A. Fletcher 45, wife, Mary I. Lockwood 24,daughter, Edward P. Fletcher 21, son, Andrew Fletcher 16, son, Adelaide Fletcher 14 Harry U. Fletcher 10 Jno. P. Lockwood 28, son in law, and two servants

1913: William H. Fletcher vice president of W. & A fletcher co, North River Iron Works, Hoboken and president of Consolidated Iron Works of Hoboken died at his home 777 West End ave, New York City April 2 age 56. He was a well known engineer and shipbuilder and his firm built many important steamships and steam yachts. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.

In 1915 Consolidated Iron Works made stationary steam engins, boilers, steam hammers, furnace changing barrows and improved Corliss engines.

Andrew Fletcher born 1863:

Passport application Andrew Fletcher Jr 7 Jun 1863 Hoboken, NJ, New Jersey Age: 28 Passport Issue Date: 13 Jun 1891 Passport Includes a Photo: No Residence: New York City, New York, builder of steam engins.

Passport application 1905 Andrew Fletcher Birth Date: 8 Jun 1863 Birth Place: New York Age: 57 Passport Issue Date: 11 Mar 1921 Passport Includes a Photo: Yes Residence: Glen Cove, Long Island, New York Father Name: Andrew Fletcher Father's Birth Location: Scotland Father's Residence: Dead Died Bernardsville, NJ, August 7th 1905 Father Andrew Fletcher born Scotland, March 14 1828 immigrated July 1828. Died Bernardsville, N. J. august 7 1905

1910: Red Spring Colony, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York, Andrew Fletcher 46, president North River Engineer, Jean Fletcher 42, wife, 2 children 2 living, Andrew Fletcher Jr. 15 Jean Fletcher 11 Katharine Logen 28, cook

1922: FLETCHER, Andrew, Hoboken, N. J.,; res. 640 Park Ave.. New York, N. Y. Capitalist; pres. and dir. W. & A. Fletcher Co. (North River Iron Works), Hoboken. N. J.; Con- solidated Iron Works. North River Derrick Co.. American Locomotive Co.I dir. William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Co., Bucyrus I Ho- boken Trust Co., First National Bank, Hoboken, N. J.; Chase National Bank, and others. Member American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Naval Architects. Who's who in Finance and Banking, 1922

Andrew Fletcher, son of Andres Fletcher, born circa 1895:
Andrew Fletcher, after Hill School and a mechanical engineering PhB from Yale ('16), started his career as a shipyard mechanic in Wilmington, Del, became secretary of Hoboken's W & A Fletcher (a family business) two years later.

The W & A Fletcher Company

1895: The machinists at the Fletcher Shop and the Consolidated Iron Works, Hoboken, went out on strike.

1886: The W & A Fletcher Company was boycotted for offering to repair work for a steam heating company involved in a coal strike.

1899: August - W & A Fletcher made an attempt to fill positions of the iron workers who when out on strike in July. Sixteen non union machines and two non union blacksmiths were hired from Philadelphia. When the noon whistle blew some of the men were met by a committee of strikers. After a few minutes discussion all of the machines left the factory. The blacksmiths remained. The union gave the machines tickets to return to Philadelphia,.

1899: September W & A. Fletcher was advertising for machinist, blacksmith, boiler makers and helpers first class to work 10 hours per day - high wages. They were advertising as far away as Wilmington, Deleware and Philadelphia.

1900: January 29 A fire destroyed several factories including the brass foundry of W & A Fletcher & Company at 1313 Hudson street. A wooden building at the corner of 14th and Hudson next to the pattern shop of W & A Fletcher was damaged slightly.

1902:

"Three hundred union men employed at the marine engine shops of W. & A. Fletcher at Hoboke threatened to go out on strike this this morning. The trouble was over a steamboat sent to the firm for repairs. It appears that the woodwork on the boat had been done by a nonunion firm, four of whose employes were sent with the boat to the marine yard. The machinists employed there objected to working with these nonunion men. The men remained at work pending the settlement of the matter at issue at a conference which will be held on Monday evening. Annual Report By New Jersey. Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries, 1902

1903: March 11, About 150 boiler makers and iron ship builders went on strike at the W & A Fletcher works in Hoboken. Nearly 2,000 boiler makers and iron ship builders went on strike in Brooklyn.

1903: When striking machinist left W. & A Fletcher's shop they picketed the works. The company applied for a restraining order to prevent the strikers from seeking to force out other workers still at the shop and to prevent them from persuading workers arriving at the shop seeking work to go elsewhere. The court ordered that the strikers (and their friends) could not interfere with the running of the company. Several arrests of the men were made after an initial court order stating that the strikers and their friends could not interfere with the operation of the company.

1903: July 17, During the strike at the Flecther shops the strikers were gathering at the saloon of William Berdon at 14th and Hudsons treets. Charles Hunshaw a stike breaker from Connecticut employed in the machine shop of W & A. Fletcher when to Berdon's saloon for lunch. Berdon was accused of assaulting Hunshaw and throwing him out of the saloon.

1903: Strikers at W & A Fletcher had been our for 14 weeks when they took the unusual action and filled out an application in the Court of Chancery for an injunction against the Fletchers and the police to restrain them from interfering with what the strikers called their legal rights in stationing pickets and the "privileges of teses pickets while on duty".

"On July 21 last the Fletchers asked the Court of Chancery to restrain the strikers from their organization and friends from interfering with the work and the people who called at the shops." The Fletchers claimed that the strikers held up people who approached the shop and attempted to discourage potential replacement workers. The Fletchers claimed this practice was unlawful and impeded their business.

1903: Striking machinist were still out when a judge handed down his decision on the restraining order. The court ruled that W & A fletcher was not entitled to any further preliminary restraint against the picketers. In other words, the picketing was not unlawful.

1903: Union members were expelled form their unions for scabbing at W & A Fletcher.

1904: After threats of stikes by about 1,000 shipyard blacksmiths due to lowering of wages and agreement was reached to maintain an open shop. Workers at W & a Fletcher agreed to no sympathetic strikes and that no person other than those authorized by the employees should interfere with the workmen during working hours.

1905:

"The strike of boiler makers at the W. & A. Fletcher Machine Shops, Hoboken, has been declared off after having continued for a period of six months. Only a part of the original number of strikers was taken back, the places of the others having been filled in the meantime."

1905: The "great and splendidly equipped" steamship yards of W & A Fletcher ran along the Hoboken waterfront from 14th street to the North River (Hudson River). President and treasurer, Andrew Fletcher, vice president William H Fletcher.

Annual Report, Volume 28 By New Jersey. Bureau of Industrial Statistics

1907: William H Harrison age 59 of Montclair shot himself in the head resulting in death. He had been ill for some time. He was an employee of the W & a Fletcher Iron works in Hoboken.

1908:

"One hundred men who had been employed as helpers in the boiler making department of the W. & A. Fletcher Co., at Hoboken, quit work because of dissatisfaction with their wages, which were $1.80 per day. After leaving the works the men notified the firm that they would be satisfied with nothing less than $2.00 per day. After having been idle from the 3d to the 7th of May, the men returned to work on a compromise which gave them a part of what they had demanded. The wage loss, as reported by the firm, was $500.00. Annual Report of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor and ..., Volume 30, Part 1907 By New Jersey. Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries

1913: The boiler shop of W & A Fletcher was on strike over an insult to the United States Flag. Joseph Fletcher (not a relative) was the tool keeper at the shop for nine years. He was born in Canada and according to the men was free with anti-America slurs including - it was claimed - the remark "to hell with the American flag." The workers met and decide to strike until Joseph Fletcher was fired. Andrew Fletcher said: "I do know that Joseph Fletcher has been a mighty good tool keeper and that he has been very strict in making the men pay for tools they have lost or have failed to return. This has made him highly unpopular with the men and very popular with me." Andrew Fletcher claimed tha Joseph Fletcher (while not a US citizen) was not anti-American and unless evidence supporting the charge could be show he would not fire the tool keeper.

1919: More than 1,000 workers employed by Tietjen & Lang, and the W. & A Fletcher Company and the Consolidated Iron Works in Hoboken went out on strike. The were asking of a 45 hour week and a 25 cent wage increase.

1920: News of an alimony issue in a divorce case reveled that a boiler maker at W & A fletcher was making a week in 1920. W & A Fletcher sent a statemnet of the wages for John Joseph O'Reilly of 911 Park Ave. His earnings over ten weeks were: $55.40, $40, $5-, $48, $72, $112, $46, $54, $56 and $140.

River Street Consolidated Iron Works


Robert Benson Davis

R. B. Davis, manufacturer of baking powder; employed 70 persons in 1901.

R.B. Davis Co. began manufacturing its baking powder and Cocomalt in Hoboken at 112 Murray Street.

Robert B Davis was born circa 1843. He founded his baking powder company in 1878. He married Jennie Weed in 1881.

Davis Baking Soda was incorporated in 1905. When he was in his 40s Robert married teenage, Jennie Weed. They had one daughter Lucretia born in 1886.

1892: State Inspection - Davis Powder co, baking powder, 50 males, 75 females, 15 under the age of 16.

1898: State Inspection - Davis Powder Co., baking powder, 50 males, 35 females, 20 under 16

1900: Glen Ridge N. J., Robert B Davis 56, baking powder, Jennie W Davis 37, Lulu W Davis 14, Jean Mcguckin 22, Mary Mcnamara 27

1910: Las Angeles, Robert B Davis 66, own income, Jennie W Davis 47 Louse Davis 53 Willa Arthur 28 Elinor Carlson 35 Sfugino 33

1910: In October 1810 Mrs. Jennie B Davis withdrew her suit against her husband Robert B Davis. Mr. Davis age 66 "was many times a millionaire". Mr. Davis alleged that in 1908 while he confined to his home by sickness, Mrs. Dais conspired again him to have him declared insane. In 1910 friends though the couple had "made up."

1911: A suit by Robert B Davis for divorce from his wife was dismissed by a Los Angeles court because it was deemed Davis was not a legal resident of the state.

1912:

"Charges Witnessed for Baking Powder King with Perjury Attorney for Mrs. Robert B. Davis Says Husband's Former Employes Swore Falsely Bold charges of perjury by the defendant's witnesses were made by Delphln M. Delmns, attorney for Mrs. Jennie W. Davis, this morning In his argument before Judge Bordwell of the superior court in the maintenance suit which the wife has brought against Robert B. Davis, the wealthy baking powder man. Alice Davis, the negro cook in the Davis homo on Riverside drive in New York, and Joseph Strong, the chauffeur, were the witnesses for Davis whom Dolmas declared had "laid indubitable perjury upon their souls." According to the wife's counsel, these witnesses swore falsely in giving testimony tending to show that Mrs. Davis and the daughter, Lucretla, were in a conspiracy to deceive the husband and hasten his death. Mr. Delmas admitted that Harry Weed, the wife's brother, had taken stenographic notes of conversations which he overheard between Davis and his visitors at the Riverside home during the husband's illness in the summer of 1908, but said that they had been taken by order of the at tending physician, who believed Davis to be insane and wanted notes taken during his absence of the patient's conversations as a matter of record." Los Angeles Herald, Number 157, 27 March 1912
1913: Los Angeles Robert B Davis, baking powder king was found in contempt of court for failure to pay his wife $1,500 a months. Mrs Jennie W. Davis had brought a divorce action agains her husband. In addition there was a suit by Mrs. Davis and her daughter, Lucretia, for a monthly allowance of $5,000. Mrs. Davis lawyers were attempting to prove tha Robert B Davis was a paranoiac. The judge found in favor of the baking powder king. Mr. Davis was reported to be 30 years older than his wife.

Death of Jennie Weed Davis: Died December 1915

1920: Robert B. Davis New Your, Feb. 10. Robert Benson Davis, baking powder manufacturer, died yesterday at Los Angeles, Cal., according to a message received here last night. He was 74 years old. Mr. Davis, who was the founder and president of the R. B. Davis Co., one of the largest baking powder manufacturing concerns in the world, lived at 330 Riverside Drive. For many years be divided his time between his home here and his summer place at Cazenovia, N. Y. When he was sixteen years old Mr. Davis left his home on a farm near Pompey, N. Y., where he was born, and came to New York. He was first employed in the old wholesale grocery firm of J. Monroe Taylor. During the civil war he was an officer in the first New York Regiment. Forty-one years ago he started in business for himself with his own small baking powder plant, which has been expanded until it now occupies a whole block in Hoboken and has 800 employees. Mr. Davis is survived by one daughter, Mrs. George S. Jephson. Mrs. Davis died several years ago. (Coffee and Tea Industries and the Flavor Field, Volume 43, 1920)

1920: Robert Benson Davds of N. Y., beloved husband of Jennie Weed Davis, deceased, and father of Lucretia Davia Jephson. (New york Times)

Davis Baking Powder

1890: April, Stanley G Ludlow a millwright at Davis baking powder factory in Hoboken broke his leg 4 inches above the ankle.

1884 and 1891 The inspectors of factories for the sate of New Jersey ordered Davis baking powder of Hoboken to make changes in guard hatch opening, stair openings and belts.

1904: Davis Baking Powder owned a large number of buildings near Ferry and Jefferson.

1906:

"Easter Hats as Hoboken Strike Breakers. "Here we are, Mr. Foreman, back again and ready to take our old places, providing, of course, you will allow us," said one of the leaders of the thirty girls who went out on strike because they were not paid what they claim was just wages by the Davis Baking Powder Company in Hoboken. The girls all walked in a body into the office. "We know," said their leader, "that there is no chance of the firm giving in to us, so we made up our minds to return work. You know Easter is coming, and we all need money to buy hats." (American Industries, Volume 4)
The 1902 Robt. Davis Mansion -- No. 330 Riverside Drive


T. W. Dorsett - Cornice maker -

1870: Hoboken, Andrew Dorsett 44, engineer, $800. $300, Susan Dorsett 42 Timothy Dorsett 19, gravel roofer, George Dorsett 14, Abram Dorsett 11, Hannah Graver 49, Andrew Dorsett 17 all born New Jersey

1880: Bloomfield street, Hoboken, Timothy Dorsett 30, tin smith, Ella Dorsett 24 Ella Dorsett 6 Susan Dorsett 3

1899: Wanted cornice Makers also sheet iron workers, T. W. Dorsett, 113 Clinton Hoboken

1900: Hoboken, Garden street, Iimothy W Dorsett 49, mfr. sky lights, Ella Dorsett 44, Ella Dorsett 25, Harriet Dorsett 18, Jessie Dorsett 17, Mabel Dorsett 9, Frank Dorsett 7, Kate Mcdermott 34, servant

1901: T. W. Dorsett, manufacturer of cornices and skylights; employed 15 persons in 1901.

1901: 1113 Clinton street Hoboken, The Metal Worker: A Weekly Journal of the Stove, Roofing, Cornice ..., Volume 54, 1901

1901: Cornice Maker and Cutter a woking Foreman thoroughly understanding the business in every detail, competent to estimate accurately get out and erect all kinds of sheet metal work and handle men to best advantage, good wages and steady employment, sober industrious man T. W. Dorsett 1113 Clinton Hoboken

1901: Help Wanted - Tin and Sheet Iron Worker thorough good, all around man $8 per day with steady work T. W. Dorsett, 113 Clinton HOboken

1907: The T. W. Dorsett Co., office 1113 Clinton street, Hoboken, N. J., has been incorporated with a capital of $30,000 to manufacture galvanizing iron, roofing and metal materials by Timothy W. Dorsett, 69 North Walnut street, East Orange, N. J.; Albert Villaret, 327 East Eighty-third street, New York, and Jessie L. Dorsett, 69 North Walnut street, East Orange, N. J. The Iron Trade Review, Volume 40


Fagan Iron Works

Fagan Iron Works, manufacturers of iron construction; employed 106 persons in 1901

1887: "Munsfield" & Fagan Iron Railing - 3 story wood building - employed 75 men, no females and no children under 16.

1890: "Mansfield" & Fagan Iron Railing - employed 75 men, no females and no children under 16.

1892: Fagan Iron Works Iron railings etc employed 75 men

1898: Fagan Iron Works - iron railings - 100 men, no women or children under 16.

Isaac Mansfield and Lawrence Fagan - Architectural Iron Works, Store Fronts, Girders, Columns, Beams, and all kinds of Building Castings, Mansfield & Fagan, Proprietors, Jefferson, Third, and Fourth Streets

1887:
Architectural Iron Works, Store Fronts, Girders, Columns, Beams, and all kinds of Building Castings, Mansfield & Fagan, Proprietors, Jefferson, Third, and Fourth Streets. The widely known and progressive firm of Messrs. Mansfield & Fagan was established in 1872 by the present proprietors, Messrs. Isaac Mansfield and Lawrence Fagan, both of whom bring great practical experience to bear, coupled with an intimate knowledge of the industry and the requirements of builders and contractors. The premises occupied comprise a spacious four-story building, having a frontage of 325 feet by a depth of 100 feet. The mechanical equipment of the works embraces all the latest improved machinery, tools, and appliances known to the trade, and the policy of the management has been constantly directed to adopting every improvement or invention that tends to perfect the production. Sixty experienced workmen are employed and the machinery is driven by a fifty-horse power steam engine. Messrs. Mansfield & Fagan manufacture largely store fronts, girders, columns, beams, door lintels, window lintels and sills, and also all kinds of building castings, iron railings, and iron work in general. These are unsurpassed for quality of materials, design, finish, and workmanship by those of any other first-class house in the trade in New York or New Jersey. The firm promptly and cheerfully furnishes estimates for castings and iron work of all kinds to any part of the country. Messrs. Mansfield & Fagan have latterly furnished all the iron work for the City Hall, Hoboken; Snake Hill Almshouse, Lorrillard's factories, etc. The partners are energetic, hardworking business men, who have spared no pains or capital to make their Architectural Iron Works a leading one in the production of building materials. The telephone call of the firm is No. 81. (Quarter-century's progress of New Jersey's leading manufacturing centres ... By International Publishing Company (New York, N.Y.) 1887)
Lawrence Fagan

1880: Park Ave., Lawrence Fagan 30, iron founder, born Ireland Annie F. Fagan 26, wife, Charles Stewart 16, nephew

1900: Hudson street, Michael Foley 55, widow, head, mason builder, born Ireland, Timothy Foley 28 Catherine Foley 22 Magaret Foley 20 Anna L Foley 17 Irenie Foley 14 Frances Foley 13 Lawerence Fagan 49, son in law, Mary Fagan 33, daughter, 5 children 4 living, Catherine Fagan 19, g daughter, John J Fagan 17 Madelina Fagan 5 Marion Fagan 3 Arthur L Fagan 1 Mary Kearns 32, servant, Margaret Kearns 19, servant, Mary Oburns 21, servant

1910: Hudson street, Lawrence Fagan 58, iron works, Mary A Fagan 43, 3 children 3 living, Madeline Fagan 15 Marion Fagan 12 Authur Fagan 11 Anna L Foley 25, sister in law, Roso Jarvorka 32, servant Charlotte Struck 21, servant

1920: Hudson street, Laurence Fagan 69, iron worker own business, Mary Fagan 53, Madeline Fagan 24, Arthur Fagan 20

1921: Former Mayor and owner of Fagan Iron Works, Lawrence Fagan, died of stomach trouble May 9, 1921. he was said to be the wealthiest man in hHoboken worth $5,000,000 at his death.

Lawrence Fagan was married twice. First fo Hannah McHale of Hoboken and second on September 1891 to Mary A. Foley. He had two children from his first marriage, Katherine and John. From the second marriage he had Marion, Madeline Marie,and Arthur Andrew.

Lawrence Fagan was the mayor of Hoboken when the piers burned in June 1900. See 1900 Hoboken Pier Fire

Lawrence Fagan

Lawrence Fagan

Image of Lawrence Fagan - Hoboken Museum Mansfield & Fagan Hoboken

Isaac Mansfield

1860: Catherine Mansfield 40, tailoress, born Ireland, Martha Mansfield 18, born Ireland, Isaac Mansfield 15, blacksmith, born Ireland, Henry Mansfield 13, born Mass., Joseph Mansfield 10, born Ind, Georgianna Mansfield 8, born Ind.

1870: Ike Mansfield 25, iron railing, $500, born New York, Jane Mansfield 24, born Ireland

1880: Isaac Mansfield 35, iron foundry, Mary J. Mansfield 34 Charles Mansfield 8 May Mansfield 5

1869: August 2, 1869, Dutch Reformed Church of Hoboken Father: Isaac Mansfield, born New York, Spouse: Mary Jane Kellett born Ireland, Child: Marian Adelhaid Mansfield

1873: April 24, Dutch Reformed Church, William James of Isaac Mansfield born New York and Jane Kellet born Dublin Ireland

Fagan Iron Works

1894: Two men Michael Kennedy of 328 Madison street, Hoboken and Peter Sullivan of New York. employed by the Fagan Iron Works in Hoboken died when a wall of the new Jersey City municipal building collapsed in August 1894.

1895: "Policemen were put in charge of the Fagan Iron Works, at Jersey City, on account of labor troubles."

1905: A three alarm fired destroyed the entire plant of Fagan Iron works on 13th street and 14th streets, Jersey City. The foundry, storehouse, pattern shop with over 3,000 patters all burned. The head of the company was Hoboken's ex-mayor Lawrence Fagan. He had been in Europe all winter and was retuning on the Kaiser Wilhlem de Grosse which reached port but would not dock until the next morning May 3rd.

1908:

"John Norton, employed in the Fagan Iron Works at Hoboken, sued for and recovered $89 as damages for injuries received from a blow of a chisel which one employe was throwing to another." Annual Report of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor and ..., Volume 30, Part 1907 By New Jersey. Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries
1914:
"New York, Jan. 13. Some improvement is noted in the schedule of foundry operations in this district. A good many plants which have been shut down in whole or in part for several weeks past are now ordering their men back to work. The Fagan iron works, Hoboken, has resumed operations on a schedule of four days per week."

Elizabeth & Walter S. Finley (Finlay)

1878: Walter S Finlay 296 Garden Hoboken Hoboken, New Jersey, USA Occupation: Lace Goods Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1878

1880: Park Ave., George Finlay 64, clerk in lace, born Scotland, Elizabeth Finlay 63, manufacturer lace, born Scotland, Ina Finlay 21, daughter and a servant, born New Jersey.

1886: Finlay Elizabeth, laces, 105 Prince, h 337 Park av. Hoboken

1889: E & W S Finley rufflings employees males 1 females 26, females under 21 11 hours worked per week 51 time allowed for noonday meal 30 minutes changes ordered railings machines - New York Annual Report on Factory Inspection, Volume 3

1900: 941 Bloomfield, Hoboken, George Finley 82, retired, Elizabeth Finley 83, 5 children 3 living, Annie Doran 28

1901: E. & W. "F." "Finley", manufacturers of rufflings and neckwear; employed 50 persons in 1901.

1902: Finley, E & W S (Elizabeth and W. S. Finley) ladies waists, 20 Hudson home Elizabeth Home Brooklyn

1903: Finlay, Elizabeth (E & W S Finlay) home 941 Bloomfield also "Finley", George 941 Bloomfield and "Finlay" Walter S (E & W. S. Finlay) Glen Ridge New Jersey.

Walter S Finlay born 25 October 1852 Glasgow Scotland, Hoboken merchant, applied for a passport in 1889 in Hoboken immigrated June 1857 .

1941: Funeral services for retired lace maker, Walter S Finlay age 89. His parents Mr. and Mrs. George D Finlay founded the firm of E and W. s. Finlay in Hoboken in 1866. Mr. Findlay went to work for the firm as a young boy and eventually became sole owner. He was survived by a son Walter S. Finlay of New Rochelle.


W & A. Fletcher

W. & A. Fletcher Company, manufacturers of marine engines; employed 600 persons in 1901. See Consolidated Iron above.

W & A Fletcher


George Focht

Geo. Focht Sons, manufacturers of coal hoisting machinery; employ 73 persons in 1901.

1887: Geo. Focht, Iron Buckets- 1 story wood, 50 men, no women or children

1890: George Foecht, Iron Buckets, 50 men, no women or children

1892: Not listed by New Jersey Factory Inspection

1898: New Jersey Factory Inspection - "Focht", George, Iron buckets, 30 males

1860: Reading, South West Ward, Berks, Pennsylvania George Focht 36, machinist, $2,000 $800, Saxony, Henreetta Focht 37 Louisa Focht 13 Anna Focht 6, born Saxony, George Focht 3, born Penns., Augustus Stuben 69 John Kurtz 17, apprentice

1881: August- Geo. Focht of Hoboken sold a stable and a lot of ground in Reading for $650. In September 1889 a two story frame dwelling and 36 by 165 feet lot belonging to "Augustus" Focht of Hoboken was sold for an undisclosed amount.

1890: Runaway horses in Weehawken Cemetery. - Charles Focht a wealthy iron founder and his wife and guests were attending a funeral in Weehawken cemetery when their carriage collided with another. The horses got spooked and ran through the cemetery knocking over headstones and iron fences. Several men tried to stop the carriage. By the time the carriage was stopped the horses were almost stripped of their harnesses and the carriage was almost wrecked. Most of the passengers had managed to jump out of the carriage at the beginning of the fiasco. But one woman suffered the whole ridw and ended with a broken arm and cut face.

1893 Death : May - Henrietta Focht beloved wife of George Focht of Hoboken in her 71st year, 102 Adams street.

1896:

"MRS. FOCHT'S GRIEVANCES.

Sues the Son of a Wealthy Hoboken Manufacturer for Separation and Tells Her Troubles

Mrs. Sarah A. Focht applied for an order compelling her husband, George Focht, Jr.. son of a wealthy Iron man of Hoboken to maintain her separately. Mrs Focht, being a Catholic, did not sue for divorce. The Fochts were married in the Church of Our Lady of Grace, Hoboken, on September 24, 1879, and have two children. Mrs. Facht claimed that five months after their marriage her husband started treating her "in a cruel and inhuman manner". The would threaten to strangle her, leave all night without excuse, and when she asked where he had gone would tell her it Was "none of her business." Mrs. Focht wis the first witness. After repeating the charges in her petition, Mrs. Focht He never gave her any money to buy clothes. The judge asked her where she got her lovely dress and the diamonds in her ears. she said she had made the dress and inherited the earrings from her mother in law. Mary Danhau, a neighbor of the Fochts. told how Mrs. Focht often came into her house and exhibited the marks of her husbands fingers on her throat. Annie Amberg of New York testified that under the name George Foster George Focht " "had made violent love to her" and had taken her on many "pleasure trips". Michael Henry Coile of Hoboken testified that under the name George Foster George Focht had made love to Florence Dunn a young woman from Tennessee who lived in the same house as Coile.

1898: George Focht, head of the George Focht Iron Works Company of Hoboken, died June 20, 1898 age 76. He was born in Eisenach, Germany March 13, 1828 and came to America in 1849 settling in Reading Pennsylvania. While in Reading he developed the Focht self-dumping coal tub. This made him a wealthy man. He moved to Hoboken with the intention of retiring but when he became bored he opened the Focht Iron Works.

1899: December A hearing was held in Jersey City in the case of Carrie Buddington Focht, a good looking widow, who asserted that she was the common law wife of George Focht the owner of Georg eFocht Iron Works, who had died in Hoboken June 20, 1898 leaving an estate valued at $5000,000. The bulk of his estate had been left in his will to the six children oby his first wife who died in 1893. His will left "my Friend. Mrs Carrie Buddington Frocht" all his household furniture, jewelry, $500 in cash, and an annuity of $100 a month besides the use of certain parts of the house at 102 Adams street, Hoboken for her life or as long as she remained a "widow". The children accepted the terms until "Mrs. Focth" refused to waive her dower rights as a common law wife. the children claimed she was the house keeper but never the wife. Mr Focht's first wife had been an invalid for some years. In February 1900 the case was still before the court. Testimony stated that George Focht left his iron foundry to his sons, Charles and George with provisions for the his four daughters and the above stated provisions for Carrie Buddington Frocht. Mrs. Focht testified that she was 46 years old born in Southhampton, L. I. she had been married to Edwin Buddington as traveling salesman who had died in a railroad accident. She had met Mr. Focht while out horseback riding in 1892. Although he was married at the time he started a relationship with her and he provided her with a furnished flat at 1-- East 86th street where he spent some time. Soon after the death of his wife she moved to his house as his housekeeper. In 1894 he promised marriage. The pledged there troth without benifit of lawyer of clergy as Mrs. Focht said the were all scoundrels. The hearing was adjourned. 1900: Weehawken, George Focht 43, born Penn., iron worker, A Sarah Focht 43, George Focht 18, Charles Focht 17, student, Nora Keane 17 servant

1910: Teaneck, George Focht 55, foundry, employer, , born Penn, Sarah Focht 55 George Focht Jr. 29

Schlegel's German-American Families in the United States ..., Volume 3 By Carl Wilhelm Schlegel:

George Vogt (Focht), third child and son of Daniel and Dorothea (Hebig) Vogt, was born at the family home in the city of Eisenach, in the principality of Eisenach, Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Germany, March 13, 1823. He acquired his educational training in the Volks-schule of his native city, where he was confirmed in the Lutheran church at the age of fourteen. His father, Daniel Vogt, having died while the son George was yet attending school, the boy was soon after his confirmation placed under the guidance and tuition of a master mechanic, and he was accordingly apprenticed to learn the locksmith trade, at which he faithfully served an apprenticeship of three years, and upon having acquired a thorough knowledge of the various details and technique of his chosen work, the young German mechanic next visited the principal manufacturing cities throughout Central Germany, where he worked at his trade as a practical machinist, and thoroughly perfected himself in the various details and technique of his trade. Upon his return home in his twentieth year he responded to the call of the government and presented himself for military duty, and was enlisted in the service of the German army as a reserve. Upon completing his military service in the German army, he again pursued his trade in the Fatherland up to 1849, m which year he decided to emigrate to the United States. This decision was largely caused through the changed political conditions resulting from the revolution throughout the German states at that time. The young German mechanic, being desirous of improving his condition in life, arranged his interests and family affairs, and accordingly set sail for the harbor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he arrived August 8th, 1849.

Soon after setting foot upon American soil, the young German mechanic worked at his trade in the city of Philadelphia for one year, and next made his way to the city of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, where in the course of time, as a result of his industry and frugality, George Vogt, purchased his first house and lot in the city of Reading. This was coincident with the changing of the spelling of his family name. The deeds for the house and lot, having been written and prepared by a local justice of the peace, who, not being strictly familiar with the spelling of the family name of Vogt, assumed that it was spelled Focht, conforming to the spelling of the name of a family of Focht who had settled in Berks county prior to the Revolution. The deed and warrant for the purchase of the house and lot having been recorded with the name of George Focht, the purchaser, George Vogt, decided to adopt the new spelling of the name Focht for his family patronymic, which form has been faithfully adhered to by his descendants down to the present time (1917).

Soon after taking up his abode in the city of Reading, the young German mechanic found employment as an engineer and machinist in his newly adopted home. He had not, however, been long engaged at his chosen work before he found ample opportunity to apply his genius and inventive powers towards improving a number of mechanical devices with which his work had brought him into immediate contact. Among the first of his inventions was an automatic self-dumping coal bucket, a device which is now universally used throughout the civilized world. This invention, along with a number of other useful and practical appliances along mechanical and scientific lines, were finally perfected by the young German machinist, and in the course of time he enabled himself to engage in business in the manufacture of these implements which he had devised and perfected. Soon after completing his inventions, Mr. Focht found a large and ever increasing demand for his wares, and in the course of time he enabled himself to erect a plant with modern facilities and all other accessories necessary for the manufacture of these special articles. In this undertaking he met with immediate success as the logical result of his practical and farsighted judgment in both the technique as well as his business ability as a manufacturer. In 1866, Mr. Focht having acquired an ample competence as a result of his industry and thrift as an inventor, he disposed of his interests in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. He did not, however, remain idle a long time, when he decided to again engage himself in his chosen line of work, and he accordingly came to Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, where he sought a suitable location, and finally purchased four building lots on the corner of First and Adam streets, in the city of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, whereon he erected a modern building equipped with modern machinery and all facilities necessary for the successful manufacturing of his specialties, the plans of which he himself had devised and perfected. In 1873, Mr. Focht purchased additional lands on the east side of Adams street, between First and Second streets, in the city of Hoboken, where he began the erection of the first of a series of buildings especially constructed to meet the requirements of his rapidly increasing trade. In 1879 the old shop building on the west side of Adams street was torn down, and upon the site he erected two modern apartment houses facing on Adams street. The present buildings comprising the foundry department, along with the pattern making department and lofts in connection with the offices and drafting department of the establishment, now occupy the space of fourteen city lots. The foundry department, along with the machine shop, are each fitted throughout with the latest improved machinery and other accessories for the successful manufacture of the various products made from iron and steel. The George Focht's Sons Iron Works and Machine Shop have become an important enterprise in Hoboken, giving employment to a large number of skilled mechanics and artisans who have built their homes and reared their families in Hoboken and vicinity. Mr. Focht's career as a manufacturer and inventor was attended with a marked degree of success, as the logical result of his skill and enterprise, along with the straightforward and honest methods in all his business dealings. George Focht died at his home in the city of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, June 20, 1898.

Married, in the city of Eisenach, principality of Eisenach, Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Germany, in July, 1846, Henrietta Stuebner, born July 16, 1822, in the village of Gerau, province of Saxony, Germany. She died May 15, 1893. Her parents were both natives of Gerau, province of Saxony, Germany.

Issue of George and Henrietta (Stuebner) Focht:

  1. Louisa, born July 13, 1847. Married, August 12, 1866, John Pipher, born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1845, son of John and Catharine (Klein) Pipher.

  2. Anna, born August 15, 1849. Married, February 10, 1868, Carl Wilhelm Schalck, born January 9, 1847, son of Karl Wilhelm and Elizabeth (Butz- bach) Schalck, both of whom were na- tives of the duchy of Nassau, Germany. (See Schalck family data following this sketch.

  3. A son who died in early life.

  4. A son who died in early life.

  5. A daughter who died in early life.

  6. A child who died in early life.

  7. A child who died in early life.

  8. George, born October 3, 1856 George Focht, eighth child and eldest surviving son of George and Henrietta (Stuebner) Focht, was born at the family home in Chestnut street, in the city of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1856. His early educational training was acquired in the parish schools of the city of Reading, and in October 1866, he was brought by his parents to the city of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, where his father, George Focht, Sr., later established himself in the iron foundry and machine business. Here George, Jr., attended Public School No. 1, in Garden street until his fourteenth year. About this time his father, George Focht, Sr., had developed a considerable business in his foundry and iron works, and here the boy finally became engaged at suitable work in the foundry department of his father's iron works, which were at that time located at the corner of Willow avenue and Second street, in the city of Hoboken, where he continued thus engaged up to his sixteenth year, when his parents sent him to Professor Fuerst's Institute, a military school located in College Point, Queens county, Long Island. Here the boy pursued his studies for some time, and upon his return home again entered upon his chosen work in the foundry department of his father's iron works, and under the guidance and tuition of the latter young Focht acquired a thorough knowledge of the various details and technique in the work of his father's iron foundry, where he remained actively engaged up to 1879, in which year the young foundryman pursued his chosen work in other establishments in New York City and in Hudson county, where he further perfected himself in the art and technique of the iron foundry business. In 1882 he again became identified with his father's iron works in the city of Hoboken in the capacity of foreman, and was thus actively engaged up to the time of his father's demise which occurred June 20, 1898.

    Soon after his father's death, George Focht, Jr., became a member of the firm of George Focht's Sons and assumed the management of the engineering and technical work of the foundry department of the George Focht's Sons Iron Works in Adams street, city of Hoboken, where he has since been actively identified with this institution, and has by his skill and enterprise contributed to the growth and development of the George Focht's Sons Iron and Machine Works which have become well and favorably known throughout the country. In 1905 George Focht took an active part in the organization of the Jefferson Trust Company in the city of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, and for a number of years served as a member of the board of directors of that institution.

    Married, in the city of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, September 24, 1879, by Reverend Father Corrigan, Sarah A. Curley, born in New York City, September 22, 1856, daughter of Patrick and Catharine (Larkin) Curley. Her father, Patrick Curley, was a member of the old Curley family of County Roscommon, Ireland, and of which family the noted priest and astronomer, the Reverend James Curley, of Georgetown College, D. C, was also a descendant, to whom reference is made below. Patrick Curley had for a number of years resided in New York City. His wife, Catharine (Larkin) Curley, was descended from an old English family. Her maternal grandmother was Bessie Talbot, who was a member of the Talbot family of England, and of which family the present Lord Talbot is a descendant. Bessie Talbot married Thomas Larkin, an Irish gentleman who was a graduate of Maynooth College, Dublin, Ireland. (3rd), born June 25, 1881

  9. Amelia Henrietta Dorothea, born August 8, 1860. Married, June 14, 1881, Maximilian Wenzel, born November 23, 1850, in the town of Loerach, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, son of Karl and Bernhardine (von Ehrolzheim) Wenzel. The former was a native of Mannheim, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, and the latter was also a native of the Fatherland.

  10. Charles H., born July 1, 1862

    Charles H. Focht, youngest son and tenth child of George and Henrietta (Stuebner) Focht, was born at the family home in Chestnut street, city of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1862. He was brought by his parents to the city of Hoboken in 1866, and here he acquired his early educational training in the public schools, and while yet in his eleventh year his parents had him enter upon a course of study in Professor Fuerst's Institute, a noted educational institution in College Point, Queens county, Long Island, where the boy continued his studies up to his thirteenth year. He next entered upon a preparatory course of study in the Stevens Institute in the city of Hoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, where he pursued his studies up to his fifteenth year. He then entered his father's office and counting room, where he became engaged in clerical work and at the same time pursued a course of mechanical drawing in the Cooper Institute in New York City during the evenings, and in the course of due time graduated from this institution. Upon laying aside his school books the young clerk gave his undivided time and attention to his duties in his father's office and iron works in the city of Hoboken, and by his persevering care and study, acquired a complete and practical knowledge of the various detail and technique of the different departments of the Focht Iron Foundry and Machine Works under the guidance and tuition of his father, who during the years of his early career as an iron worker and manufacturer in the city of Reading, had invented and perfected an automatic self-dumping coal bucket and other mechanical devices for lifting coal and other heavy material from the bottom of vessels, as well as from railroad cars. These special articles, along with other ingenious mechanical devices which were perfected by George Focht, Sr., are now being extensively manufactured by the Focht establishment.

    Charles H. Focht remained closely associated with the Focht Iron Works in Adams street, city of Hoboken, up to the time of his father's demise in 1898, since which time he has been actively identified with the management of the interests of his father's estate under the firm name of George Focht's Sons, and in this capacity he has rendered, as a result of his practical experience and business enterprise, important service which has contributed largely to the growth and development of the George Focht's Sons Iron Works which have become recognized as one of the leading industrial concerns of its kind in the city of Hoboken, where the George Focht's Sons Iron Foundry and Machine Shops have for many years furnished employment to a large number of skilled mechanics and other operatives, and has become an important nucleus to the growth and development of the city.

    Charles H. Focht has also given of his time and influence towards advancing the material and civic welfare of the community. In 1905 he was instrumental in organizing the Jefferson Trust Company, now one of the leading institutions of its kind in the city of Hoboken. Immediately upon its organization he was elected second vice-president and a member of the board of directors, and faithfully served in that capacity up to 1907. After the death of James C. Gahagan, the first president of the institution, Mr. Focht was chosen by his fellow-board members to the office of president of the Jefferson Trust Company, which office he has faithfully served up to the present time (1918). He is an active member of the Board of Trade of the city of Hoboken. Fraternally Mr. Focht is an active member of Euclid Lodge, No. 136, Free and Accepted Masons, and also is a member of Salaam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Newark, New Jersey. He has for many years been a member of the Hoboken Council, No. 99, Royal Arcanum, and a charter member of Elysian Council, No. 56, Loyal Association, organized May 1st, 1894, in the city of Hoboken, having served continuously as its treasurer since that time. He is also an active member of the Lutheran Society, a church organization in New York City.

    Married, in Jersey City, New Jersey, October 21, 1885, Annette Testo, born November 3, 1864, daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Nordenholt) Testo. Her father, Louis Testo, was a native of the province of Hanover, Germany. He died December 27, 1873. Her mother, Elizabeth (Nordenholt) Testo, died in 1865, in Jersey City, and the daughter, Annette, was cared for and reared to the years of womanhood under the parental roof. She obtained her educational training in the schools of Jersey City.

Geo. Focht Sons Coal chute cover

Geo Focht


William, Dunderdale, Forbes & Company - Marine Engines -

W. D. Forbes & Company, manufacturers of marine engines; employed 52 persons in 1901.

1902: Office at 1300 Hudson street

"WILLIAM DUNDERDALE FORBES

Mr. Forbes was born in Perth Amboy, N. J., on July 10, 1854. He was educated abroad and while a student in France served in the Franco-Prussion War as a franc-tireur* in the French Army. Before returning to this country he worked with the famous gunsmiths of Switzerland and for a time was on the editorial staff of Engineering of London.

Upon returning from Europe in 1872, Mr. Forbes began his professional career with the Delamater Iron Works, at that time located on West 11th Street, New York City. Following this, he became engineer of the Gould Sprinkler Company, 237 Broadway, New York. He then spent two years in Kingston, Jamaica, as operating engineer for the Watson Sugar Plantation Company, and in 1878 was appointed by Governor Palmer of Colorado as chief engineer of the Gunnison Division of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company with headquarters at Gunnison, Colo.

Returning east after two years, he became superintendent of the Eaton, Cole & Burnham Manufacturing Company, Bridgeport, Conn. At this time he invented the Forbes patent die stock and, forming a partnership with Roderick P. Curtis of Bridgeport, took up the manufacture of this specialty, selling his interest to the Curtis family in 1888.

As Mr. Forbes was chiefly interested in the development and manufacture of high-speed marine engines and other marine machinery, he came to New York and, entering into partnership with the late Col. E. A. Stevens, established the W. D. Forbes Company in Hoboken, N. J., for the manufacture of marine engines and ice machines for the Government and for owners of private yachts. For sixteen years this plant, known to many as the "gun shop" on account of Mr. Forbes' interest in the development of rapid-fire machine guns, was in active operation in Hoboken, after which it was moved to New London, Conn., where later, owing to unfavorable business conditions, the business was discontinued.

In 1914 Mr. Forbes was stricken with brain fever, resulting in total blindness. During the last years of his life, although deprived of sight, Mr. Forbes continued his professional activities in the design and development of mechanical devices, including a successful automatic rifle, and in contributing to the engineering press.

Mr. Forbes was an active member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers since 1898, serving several terms as a member of the Council. He was also a member of the Engineers' Club of New York, an associate member of the American Society of Naval Engineers, and a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Apart from his professional career, his interests were many and varied. For nine years he was a member of the Board of Education of New Jersey, and for several years was in charge of the colored school at Bordentown, N. J. He is survived by a wife, a daughter, widow of Lieutenant Murray E. Cramer, of the 107th Infantry, and a son, Reginald D., who is State Forester of Louisiana.

To those who were privileged to know and work with Mr. Forbes, his life will always be an inspiration, not only because of his ability and achievements, but also because of the brave and generous spirit which marked his cheerful and helpful association with his fellow-men.

Mr. Forbes died on February 17, 1921, at his son's home in New Orleans, La.(Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Volume 29)

*Francs-tireurs was a term for irregular military applied to formations deployed by France during the early stages of the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71)

F. Furgeson and Son - Marine Engines

1899: Mill & Ferguson, owners of the Fox Hill Foundry in Hoboken, N. J., are building a large new brick shop, to replace their old frame one, and it is to be up-to-date in every respect.

1901: William Robinson has accepted the foremanship of the Fox Hill Foundry in Hoboken, N. J.

1901: F. Furgeson & Son, manufacturers of marine engines; employed 50 persons in 1901

1904: Fox Hill foundry - F. Furguson & Sons - Hoboken - Fine Opening grate brass for gass works.

1906: Fox Hill Foundry Marine Castings Propeller Wheels Grate Bars Furnace Work F. Ferguson & Son, Hoboken, N.J.


Hoboken Paper Mill - 809-831 Adams street Hoboken

Hoboken Paper Mill, manufacturers of building and lining paper; employs 23

1884: A rag sorter at the Hoboken Paper Mill found a diamond ring worth about $600 to $1,000 among the rags imported from England.

1895:

Miss Stevens of Hoboken pulled the lever which started the machinery at the opening of the Hoboken Paper Mill on Adams street between 8th and 9th streets on July 23, 1895. the mille was owned by Richard stevns an uncle of the mIss Stevens who pulled the lever and a brother of Colonel E. A. Stevens. The plant was capable fo producing 72,000 pounds of manila and building peper daily. In 1895 there were four paper mills in Hoboken employing about 300 men.

1901:

Hoboken Paper Mill, manufacturers of building and lining paper; employs 23 persons

1906: George von Glahn an employee of the Hoboken Paper Mill on 8th street coughed up large quantities of red flannel fuss for two days. Von Glahn sayid he had inhaled flying particles of fuss in the paper mill.

1910: Monroe street, Hoboken, George Vanglahn 23, peper maker, paper mill, Edna Vanglahn 20, wife, 0 children, Amanda Ogle 54, mother in law, Robert Vonglahn 17, brother, paper maker paper mill

1920: Chauncey street, Brooklyn, George Van Glahn 28, stock keeper brokers, Edna Van Glahn 29, wife, Roy Van Glahn 9, Evelyn Van Glahn 7, Emily Van Glahn 4, Mary Van Glahn 0, [6/12] Amand Ogle 65, mother

1913: Frank Ward a twenty year old helper at the Hoboken Paper Mill was crushed to death when he when caught by a broken piece of paper he was drawn into the fast rolling machine. "A score of terrified and panic stricken working girls looked on"

1900: 1st street Hoboken, Robert M Ward 41, Ireland, carpenter, Mary N Ward 37, Ireland 11 children 4 living, John Ward 14, heater maker, Frank Ward 8, William Ward 7, Mary E Ward 3

1913: Frank J. Ward Birth Date: 1892 Death Date: Apr 1913 Cemetery: Holy Name Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA

1918: Helen Foss a stenographer at the Hoboken Paper company married George B Fielder the brother of James F Fielder, the governor of New Jersey at the time. James F Fielder was the manager of the Carteret branch of the Trust Company of New Jersey in Jersey City. The wedding was "quite". Present were the bride and groom, the bride's parents Mr. and Mrs. Christian Foss, Mrs. George B Fielder, Sr. the grooms's mother. James Fielder was daid to have been a neighbor of the Foss family.

1910: Cottage street, Jersey City, Hans Foss 58, Norway, house painter, Caroline Foss 58, Norway, Christian Foss 28, printer, Anna E Foss 22, manicurist, Helen Foss 14

1930: Emerson place, Glen Rock, NJ, O $15,000, George B Fielder 60, clerk bank, Helen C Fielder 34, born NJ, parents born Norway, Ruth E Fielder 10, George B Fielder 8

1921: Fire August 30 809-832 Adams street

Some paper mills smell of rotten eggs or rotten cabbage.


Henry Hoppe - silversmith

1900: Garden street, Henry Hoppe 39, silversmith, Anna Hoppe 36, 4 children 3l living, William Hoppe 14, Carl Hoppe 11, Herman Hoppe 9

1901: Henry Hoppe & Company, manufacturers of silver novelties; employs 6 persons.

1910: San Francisco: Hoppe, Henry 49, Germany, silversmith, anne wife 47, Germany, William, 24, Conn. Charles, 21, conn. Hermann 18, New Jersey, all working in a jewelry store.

The Met - Henry Hoppe - Date: 1900 - 1908 Geography: Made in Hoboken, New Jersey, United States Culture: American Medium: leather, silver, enamel, paper, [fabric ?silk?] Dimensions: 7 7/16 x 4 13/16 x 1 1/8 in. (18.9 x 12.2 x 2.9 cm) Classification: Silver Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1908 Accession Number:08.11


Edward H. Horwood & Company - Underwear - 1915, 1007 Grand street - E.H. Horwood & Co., Office and Factory 1014 Clinton St., 1949

Edward Henry Horwood, born in Toronto Cananda in 1845, founded E. H. Horwood manufacturing company in 1874. The company made patented women's and children's underwear. Beside the factory the company had offices in New York City. They also had a plant in Canada. Charles L. Horwood joined the company in 1890. He managed the factory while Edward H. continued to manage the office until his death in 1913. Edward H. Horwood married Charlotte Louise skinner at Niagara Falls in 1863. The Horwoods moved to Bridgeport Connecticut for several years and finally came to Hoboken circa 1873. Edward H Horwood founded E. H. Horwood in Hoboken in 1874.

The firm was incorporated after C. H. Horwood's death in 1913.

E.H. Horwood & Co. was a clothing manufacturer founded in 1874 and located in Hoboken since the 1890s. (Hoboken Museum)

1885: Edward H Horwood, 66 Garden Hoboken, Occupation: Waists Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1885

1901: Edward H. Horwood & Company, manufacturers of corset waists; employs 39 persons.

E. H. Horwood Co., manufacturer of brassieres and children's underwaists at 1007 Grand street, Hoboken.

1908: Edward H. Horwood was president of the Hoboken board of trade

Photograph of E. H. Horwood circa 1906

1900: Garden street, Edward Horwood 57, Canada, mfg corsets, Charlotte L Horwood 55, 4 living, Helen L Horwood 36, daughter, Henry A Horwood 19, son student

1900: Garden Street Hoboken, George E Horwood 31 Irene Horwood 26 Florence I Horwood 2 Edward H Horwood 6/12 (wrong page ancestry.com)

1910: Garden street, Edward H Horwood 66, underwear, factory, born Canada Charlotte Horwood 63, 4 children Helen L Horwood 40, Delia Mc Mahon 28

1910: River street, Charles S Harwood 44, born Canada, Manufacturer Underwaists Employer Margaret M Harwood 40, 1 child 1 living, Shirley H Harwood 15

1913: At Hoboken on Wednesday September 17, 1913, Edward Henry Horwood beloved husband of CharlotteLouise Horwood 1001 Garden street.

1913:

DEATH OF EDWARD H. HORWOOD.

THE death of Edward H. Horwood, of E. H. Horwood 8: Co., manufacturers of underwaists and brassieres, came as a distinct shock to the entire trade, for Mr, Horwood has been identified with the industry since its inception and always played a most prominent part in its development. Mr. Horwood was sick but a compraatively short time, and his death directly followed an attack of pneumonia.

Commencing in Hoboken the business of manufacturing underwaists upwards of thirty-five years ago, Mr. Horwood gradually extended his operations until the firm which bears his name ranks to-day as one of the most important in the country. The plant is located at the corner of Tenth and Clinton Streets, Hoboken, and has been repeatedly enlarged during the last few years. In spite of the fact that they recently added upwards of 10,000 feet to their plant, the demand of their increasing business has already made necessary the further expansion of their manufacturing facilities.

Mr. Horwood was for eight years a member of the Hoboken Board of Trade and served two terms as its President. He was president of the Columbia Club, and for several years a delegate to the Annual Convention at the International Peace Conference. Always closely identified with every movement that made for the improvement of his home town, he stood high in the estimation of his townspeople and was generally regraded as one of the most foremost and influential citizens of Hoboken. He is survived by his widow and four children

Corset and Underwear Review

1915/1917/1920: 1007 Grand

1920: 1115 Garden street, Geo E Horwood 50, vice pres., mfg of underwear, Irene Horwood 46, wife, Florence Horwood 22, Edward Horwood 20, clerk steam ship company

1940: Name Age George C Horwood 70, no occupation listed, Irene Horwood 66 Florence Horwood 42, teacher, Edward P Horwood 40, cannot read fuzzy, Ams A Dupland 74, sister in law, Florence Dupland 61, sister in law

Hoboken Museum

1901 M & C. Name Plate Machine Co 1007 Grand Hoboken - 1903, 1905, U. S. Rug and Carpet 1005-1007 Grand street Hoboken - 1902 Paul Manufacturing 1007 Grand street Hoboken


Hotopp (Hotop) Varnish Company - foot of First street (1876 and 1897) and 1st and Marshall (1897) - 112 Marshall st - William Hotopp founder 1854 - spar varnish, Japan dryers

Varnish is a hard, transparent, protective finish for wood and other materials. Generally it is a combination of a drying oil, a resin, a thinner and a solvent. It can be shiny or semi gloss and is almost always transparent with no colorant added. Varnish was known to the ancient Egyptians. Traditionally varnish contained linseed oil, pine resin and turpentine, all highly flammable. Varnish production is a dangerous occupation. Used rags and papers can generalte enough heat for spontaneous combustion. Varnish is/was used on floor and interior woodwork, boats, pianos and cars. Applied to wood it prevents decay and applied to metals it prevents oxidation. Different classes of varnishes were manufactured for different purposes.

Writing in 1908:

Sixty years ago, when there were few shops........... the varnish manufacturer traveled from town to town with horse and wagon, a big copper kettle and a supply of gum. The customer was relied upon to furnish oil and turpentine. A fire was kindled on the premises, the copper kettle set up over it, and the "cooking" done in the open air. Few had use for varnish in those days except the carriage makers, and they were satisfied because there was no better product to be had this side of England. Things are done differently and on a larger scale today. In the first place ...... modern varnish is not an unvarying, commonplace article. There are many kinds, and although their effects may not be distinguishable at first, time and wear will reveal the diflerence. (The Threshermen's Review, Volume 17 By Power farming)
The 1908 article goes on to discribe the varnish making procedure in 1908. The main ingredient was copal, a crystalized resin from pine trees. The copal was shipped in 200 pound cases. After sorting by color and size it was melted in 150 gallon copper kettles over a coke fire with temperatures of 700 to 800 degrees. When it was properly melted linseed oil was added and this mixtures was cooked for a considerable time at about 500 to 600 degrees until it was deemed done by the varnish maker. Then the mixture was pumped through pipes to the mixing tanks where turpentine was added. The turpentine acted as a thinning and drying agent. Next the varnish was placed in aging tanks and was aged much like wine.

"The varnish manufacturer makes a number of different kinds of varnish, japan, etc ., and for each he has a special formula and method of handling. No two varnish makers make the same kind of varnish in exactly the same way." (Gas Industry, Volume 21, 1921)

Fires and explosions were relatively common in varnish factories. In 1897 Insurance tables for the United States indicated 101 fires of unknown cause, 37 due to explosions and 274 from reported causes in White, Lead, Pant and Varnish Factories. This included 42 from spontaneous combustion.

1901: Hotopp Varnish Company, manufacturers of varnish; employs 5 persons.

Hoboken Historical Museum

Hotopp varnish was established in 1854.

1860: Hotopp, William & company varnish, 204 Hudson street h[ome] N. J. New York City Directory

1869: Henry Hotopp Gender: Male Marriage Date: 3 Apr 1869 Marriage Place: Manhattan, New York, USA Spouse: Clara Schedler Certificate Number: 2512

1876: Hotopp Henry, varnishes. 462 Canal , h J. C. Hotopp William, varnishes, 462 Canal, h Va. Hotopp &, Co. varnishes New York City Directory

1876: EXPENSIVE SKYLARKING - John Lutz died at his home at Hoboken Monday in consequence of injuries received by the explosion in Hotopp's varnish factory on 1st street. Lutz was skylarking and neglecting his work. The gas exploded and the factory was laid in ruins, entailing a loss of $10,000.

1880: Jersey City, Henry Hotopp 32, born Hanover, varnish manuf., Clara Hotopp 28, Hermann Hotopp 9, Annie Hotopp 7, Martha Hotopp 5, Otto Hotopp 3, Albert Hotopp 2

1887: Hotop & Co. 1 story brick employing 10 men and 10 women

1890: Hotop & c. Varnish, 10 men

1891: Charles Lemonze of 112 Marshall street Hooken committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a freight train. Lemonze owned considerable property in Hoboken and had talke of suicide frequently.

1892: Hoboken, Hotop Varnish employing 5 men

1897: April 8th New York Herald

STOPPED THE TRACK LAYING

Operations of the Jersey City, Hoboken and Rutherford Company Interrupted.

A force of men in the employ of the Jersey City, Hoboken and Rutherford Electric Railway Company dumped a load of rails and tools in front of Hotopp & Co.'s factory, at the head of First street, Hoboken, yesterday morning, and it soon became evident that the intention was to lay a track across the sidewalk, within two feet of the factory door.

The firm objected and Mr. Hotopp and the foreman of the force of laborers had a war of words, but the track laying was continued. Messrs. Hotopp & Co. then sought legal advice from Messrs. Corbin & Corbin, who obtained from the Chancellor an order restraining the railway company from proceeding with the work until the Chancellor could inquire into the merits of the case.

1897: New York Herald - "Albert" H Hotopp of 26 Sherman Place, Jersey City and Annie Weidman eloped to Brooklyn on January 12. They each went back to their own homes after the marriage. The families did not find out about the wedding until March 1st. Both families had know each other for years and were friends so there was no objection to the marriage. Why did they elope?

1897: A 1897 bill from Hotopp and Co Varnishes gives a location for "Factory & Office, 1st and Marshall Sts. & W.S.R.R.", Hoboken The "trade mark" includes a star of David with an H in the center. Established 1854 [1834?].

1897: Hotopp 8: Co., varnish manufacturers. Hoboken, N. J., extensive alterations and additions to factory.

1898: Hoboken, Hotop Varnish employing 10 men

1900: Jersey City Henry Hotopp 63, varnish dealer, Clara Hotopp 48, 11 children 8 living, Anna Hotopp 25, Otto Hotopp 24, day laborer, Walter Hotopp 18, broker, Edwin Hotopp 15, errand boy, Carl Hotopp 13, Minnie Hotopp 9

1903: Hotopp Varnish established 1854 Hoboken Hotopp Henry, v Pres Hotopp Varnish Co 26 Sherman pla

1903: Henry Hotopp Hoboken, New Jersey, USA Vice President Hotopp Varnish, Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1903

1906: a 1906 Map of Hoboken shows the Hotopp Varnish company abutting a lumber Yard!!!!

1910: Sherman Place, Henry Hotopp 73, varnish, manufacturer, Clara Hotopp 52 Walter Hotopp 28, salesman gas co., Edwin Hotopp 24, salesman hardware, Minnie Hotopp 19 Hazel Smith 15

1910: Jersey city, Alfred H Hotopp 32, varnish manufacturer, Anna Hotopp 32 Alfred H Hotopp 12 Clarence S Hotopp 9

1911: Died HOTOPP, Henry, 26 Sherman Place, Jersey City, Sept. 4.

The Hotopp Varnish Company 112 Marshall Street seen in the background in 1910 photo of the Public Service Railway from the W. S. Rail Road (WSRR) track (Rutherford Line) Hoboken Museum.

1912/1915/1920: Hotopp Varnish Co 112 Marshall st Hoboken (The Industrial Directory of New Jersey)

1920: Charles Street, Jersey City, Alfred H Hotopp 42, painter signs, Anna Hotopp 41, Alfred H Hotopp 22, electrical engineer telephone co., Clarence S Hotopp 18

1920: Sherman place, Jersey city, Herman Hotopp 48, manager varnish fact. Mary Hotopp 48 Marion Hotopp 19

1920: Sanford Place, Jersey City, Clara Hotopp 68 Walter Hotopp 37, single, salesman varnish factory

1920: Otto Hotopp was a machinist, wage earner in a factory, married with a child


Kuhlen, Fred - Knit Wear - 506 First st

1901: Kuhlen Fred - 506 First street, Cardigan, Jackets, Sweaters and German Cardigan Jackets 4 knitting machines sell direct.

1899: Kulen Birth Date: abt 1899 Death Date: 14 Sep 1899 Death Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey Death Age: 1 day Gender: Male Residence: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey Father Name: Fred Kulen Father Birth Place: Germany Mother Name: Clara Mother Birth Place: Germany Comments: stillborn FHL Film Number: 589080

1900: Hoobken, Fred Kuhlen 37, knit goods mfg., born Germany, Clara Kuhlen 33, born Germany, 1 child 1 living, Fred Kuhlen 9, born Denmark

1905: Fred Kuhlen Hoboken listed in A Directory of the Textile Establishments in the United States and Canada

1906: Official American textile directory; containing reports of all the textile manufacturing establishments in the United States and Canada, together with the yarn trade index ... Comp. annually by the Textile world journal Published July 1906 - Kuhlen, Fred; 315 First street, Cardigan Jackets,Sweaters, Stockings, Rowing Suits, etc 5 hand knitting machines; sell direct.

1910: Clinton street, Frederick Kuhlen 44, knitter own account, Clara Kuhlen 44, 5 children 1 living, Frederick Kuhlen Jr. 19 1940: Clara Kuhlen age 75 widowed Hoboken

Frederick Kuhlen, Jr from Hoboken graduated Stevens 1915.


Keuffel & Esser Company - surveying instruments -

In 1901 Keuffel & Esser Company, manufacturers of surveyors' instruments; employed 232

1887: Keuffel, Esser & Co. surveying instruments, 4 story brick- employed 100 men 100 - 94 men - 6 females and 6 under age 16

1890: Keuffel Esser & Co. employed 91 [94?] men 6 women and 10 under age 16

1892: Keuffel, Esser and Co. surveying instruments, employed 100 men, 5 women and 15 children under 16.

1898: Keuffel, Esser & co. surveying instruments, employed 100 men, 10 women and 25 children under 16.

Keuffel and Esser


John Blanck's K& E photo ID.

John Blanck was born in Hoboken July 4, 1915. He said he started working at K&E as a teenager. He was working for them as an "asst. manager" when he married in 1941. He worked for them until the 1970s

His employee number was "94". In the 1940s employees had numbers in the 3000s.

John Blanck

Hoboken Museum


Lehman & Clark - later Lehman & Raudnitz - leather pocketbooks - Willow and Ferry

1901: Lehman & Raudnitz, manufacturers of pocketbooks, etc.; employ 310 persons.

1887: Lehman & Clark pocket books, 5 story brick employed 100, 65 men, 35 women and 10 children under 16

1890: Lehman & Clark pocketbooks 75 men, 50 women and 15 children under 16

1892: Lehman & Clark pocketbooks employed 125 men, 75 women and 25 under age 16

1898: Lehman & Raudnitz pocketbooks 150 men, 50 women 30 under age 16, formerly Lehman & Clark

Factory of Lehman & Raudnitz Company, Willow Avenue & Ferry Street (Observer Highway) Hoboken, NJ 1892

1897: The American Stationer - Volume 41 - Page 259 - 1897 - Stationery trade Lehman & Raudnitz, whose large factory is at Hoboken, N. J., but whose salesroom is at 496 Broadway, New York, have on exhibition at the latter place their new spring line of fancy leather goods, pocketbooks, purses, silk and leather belts, shopping bags and music rolls, as well as sterling silver trimmed goods. This firm is the patentee of the celebrated "Boston Bag."

1900: E 64th street, Manhattan New York, Adolph Raudnitz 54, leather merchant, Augusta Raudnitz 42, 6 children 4 living, Meta Raudnitz 23, daughter, Norman Raudnitz 14, son, Arnold Raudnitz 12, son Mary Creegan 40, servant, Mary Martin 15, servant

1903: Lightning struck a wire close to Lehmann's Pocket Book Factory on Ferry street and Willow aven setting fire to the building. The fire was extinguished before much damage was done.

1908:

The most important event of recent years in the leather goods industry is the liquidation of the Adolph Raudnitz Co. which is now in progress, and the retirement of Mr. Raudnitz, who has been a prominent factor in the trade for many years.

Although the present company has been in existence only a few years. Mr. Raudnitz's connection with the trade as manufacturer dates back to 1888, when he became a partner in the firm of Lehman & Clark who were making pocketbooks at 88 White street. Mr. Raudnitz was formerly in the basket and willow ware business, having been for eighteen years connected with Charles Zinn & C0. who are still in business on Grand street. He left them to sell goods for Silverman 82 Echt but when the firm of Lehman & Clark started business he went with them and nine months later was admitted to partnership, he and Mr. Lehman purchasing Mr. Clark's interest. The style of the firm changed to Lehman 8: Raudnitz. They moved the salesroom to 496 Broadway and built a factory in Hoboken. The salesroom was subsequently removed to 524 and again to 52! Broadway.

Lehman & Raudnitz dissolved partnership about eight years ago, Mr. Raudnitz withdrawing. He organized the firm of Raudnitz & Pollitz which continued for five years. At expiration, three years ago, the Adolph Raudnitz Co. was incorporated with $250,000 capital stock and with A. Raudnitz, president and L. Devide, vice-president.

This company owns and operates one of the most modern and complete factories of its kind in the country, and employs about 300 hands. The building is 100x125 feet, five stories high and well lighted with windows on all sides. There are 4,460 square feet of floor space. The plant will be sold or leased.

No definite date is set for closing out but it is expected that the New York salesroom will be given up in a month or two, as soon as the stock of goods is disposed of.

Robert P. H. Doye, the popular leather goods salesman is now with Herman Schcuer, of Broadway and Twelfth street. This is Mr. Doye's first change in nineteen years. He went with Lehman & Clark, the predecessors of the present house of A. Raudnitz Co., in January, 1889, and has been connected with this business continuously ever since. He entered upon his new duties April 1 and will cover his usual territory.

1909:
The employes of the Adolph Raudnitz Company,2 Hoboken, N. J., have a sick benefit association membership which is limited to men and women employed at the works. The object of the society is to relieve those of the membership who may be incapable of working through either sickness or accident.

At present it pays a weekly benefit of five dollars for a period of twenty-six consecutive weeks, after which payments are optional on the part of the society, but they are always continued in greater or less amounts according to the necessities of the member as long as disability continues.

The dues per member are ten cents per week. The firm takes an interest in the beneficial society and helps its work along financially, although the management of its affairs is entirely in the hands of employees.

The Adolph Raudnitz Co., Hoboken, N. J. Manufacturers Fancy Leather Goods. Organized December 29, 1906. Number Employes, 185.

(Social Engineering: A Record of Things Done by American Industrialists ... By William Howe Tolman)

1915: Adolph Raudnitz, Birth Year: abt 1844, Age: 71, Death Date: 1 Jan 1915, Death Place: Manhattan, New York, USA, Recorded Death Year: 1916, Certificate Number: 199

Factory of Lehman & Raudnitz Company, Willow Avenue & Ferry Street (Observer Highway) Hoboken, NJ 1892


Robert Mayer (Meyer) & Company - Inks - 1024-1032 Clinton street Hoboken

1901: Robert Mayer & Company, manufacturers of inks; employs 14 persons.

1887: Robt. "Meyer" Ink- 2 story brick - employed 10 men

1890: Robt. Meyer ink 10 men

1892: Robert Meyer INks employed 10 men

1898: Meyer, Robert - Ink - 12 men

1911:

The advertisement of Robert Mayer & Co., manufacturers of lithographic inks and varnishes, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, which is running in The Printing Art, calls attention to their bronzing machines. These machines embody in their construction every essential for speed, durability, strength, ease of operation, and every labor-saving device necessary for profitable returns. They are intended either for printers or lithographers, and are made in seven sizes, taking sheets from 14 x 25 inches in size to 64 x 64. The factory at Hoboken, N. J., is equipped for the perfect production of these machines, as well as litho handpresses, embossing machines, reducing machines, ruling machines, stone-grinding machines, and other equipment for lithographers and printers. The bronze powder, gold and silver size, and bronze liquid carried by this house are all equal in quality to any printing and lithographic inks manufactured, and those in the trade can depend upon conscientious treatment at the hands of this firm.(The Printing Art, Volume 17)
1918: The American Lead Pencil Company recently purchased the two-story factory building formerly occupied by Robert Mayer & Company, Hoboken.

1918: Robert Mayer & Company, Clinton street, manufacturer lithographic inks, etc., has acquired the property of the Prana Carbonic Syphon Company

1921: Mr. Louis Hengstler, owner of the Robert Mayer & Company plant in Hoboken, called in for a pleasant chat recently. He is a hustler and is doing a large business

1921: Robert Mayer Manufacturers of FINEST and BEST BLACK and COLORED LITHOGRAP INKS established 1855.

Mayer, Robert, & Co 1024-1032 Clinton St Hoboken

Louis Hengstler: Louis V Hengstler was born in Stuttgard, Germany November 4, 1844. He immigrated from Bremen on August 5/10 1854. He was listed in the 1903 directory in Hoboken.

1910: Bloomfield street, Louis Hengstler 34, Manufacturer Lithograph's Supplies Eva Hengstler 29 Louis V Hengstler 5, son, Regna Larsen 25, servant, Elizabeth Thomason 70, mother in law

1920: Louis Hengstler 43, Littographing Co Eva Hengstler 37, Victor Hengstler 15, Elizabeth Thomason 78, mother in law


Majestic Velvet Mills - Max Meyerburg (Meyenberg) - 618-622 Clinton streets

1887: "Meyenberg" Silk Co., Silk - 5 story brick - employed 200 75 men 125 women

1890: "Meyenberg" Silk 125 men, 75 women and 10 children under age 16

1892: "Meyenberg" & Co. silks 25 men, 25 wome and 5 under age 16

1898: "Meyenberg" Bros., silks, 30 men, 20 women 10 under age 16.

1899: Textile Colorist - Volume 21 - Page 250 1899 The Majestic Velvet Mills, of Hoboken, N. J., is a new corporation of $50,000 capital, and running 30 looms on black and colored velvet. Max Meyerberg president.

1902: Majestic Velvet Mills 618-622 Clinton, $50,000, Max Meyenburg, pre and supt. Silk velvets 40 looms gas Abegg & Rush N Y s agts. Max Meyenburg buyer

1903:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, October 21, 1902.

SIR: On the exportation of silk velvets in the piece, of various brands or qualities, commercially known as"Majestic," "Imperial," and "Martha Washington," manufactured by the Majestic Velvet Mills, of Hoboken, N. J ., in the manufacture of which have been used in relative fixed proportions wholly imported cotton yarns for the warp and filling, and for the silk pile, Schappe silk yarn also wholly imported, a drawback will be allowed equal in amount to the duties paid on the imported materials so used, less the legal deduction of 1 per cent.

The preliminary entry must show the marks and numbers of the shipping cases and the contents of each case, stating the width, the number of pieces of velvet of each brand or quality, and the length of each piece, together with the aggregate length and net weight of each brand or quality of velvet contained in each case and in the entire shipment.

The drawback entry must show the total number of lineal yards of velvet of each brand or quality exported, their respective net weights, and the actual weight as imported Of the cotton and Schappe silk yarns consumed in the manufacture of the same, respectively, and in the aggregate.

The said entry must further show, in addition to the usual averments, that the exported velvets of the several brand or quality designations were manufactured of materials and in the manner set forth in the manufacturer's sworn statement dated August 15, 1902.

In liquidation, the quantities of the several imported materials which may be taken as bases for allowance of drawback may equal the quantities consumed, as declared in the drawback entry, after official verification of the declared exported quantities and qualities, provided that in no case shall they exceed by proportion, for each kind of material and for a given brand or quality of velvet exported the quantities consumed per lineal yard for the corresponding brand or quality, as shown in the manufacturer's sworn statement hereinbefore mentioned.

Samples may be taken or sworn samples furnished, as ordered by the collector, for required determinations. As a means of verifying quantities, declared net weights of exported velvets may be compared proportionately with the weights of corresponding qualities, as shown in the tables attached to and forming a part of the manufacturer's sworn statement.

Respectfully, O. L. SPAULDING, (3959 1.) Acting Secretary. COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS, New York, N. Y.

1903: Max Meyerberg 123 North 7th Newark, New Jersey, USA Occupation: Velvets Publication Title: Newark, New Jersey, City Directory, 1903

1900: MEYENBERG, MAX - Silk Manufacturer, Hoboken, N. J.; residence 111 West 84th street, New York City. Born in Alexandria, Va., Oct. 6, 1859. (Single.) President Majestic Velvet Mills, N. J. Member Collectors' Club, National Philatelical Society and Masonic bodies.

1906: Official American textile directory; containing reports of all the textile manufacturing establishments in the United States and Canada, together with the yarn trade index ... Comp. annually by the Textile world journal Published July 1906 - Majestic Velvet Mills (Out of business)

Meinecke Cork Company

1880: Jersey city, John F.C. Meinecke 54, ret grocer, Johanna Meinecke 46, wife, Arnold D. Meinecke 23, clerk in grocery, William Meinecke 22, bookkeeper, born Georgia, Agnes Meinecke 19 Minnie Meinecke 14 Emma Meinecke 11 Henry Meinecke 5

1896:

The large and growing demand for their Popular Prescription Corks, the Gold Seal Brand and Silver Seal Brand, has induced Meinecke & Company, of No. 255 and No. 257 Greenwich street, New York, to organize a new Cork Company for the manufacture of high grade corks for druggists' use.

The new company, named the Meinecke Cork Company, with an authoized capital of $50,000.00, has purchased a large factory plant at Nos. 118 and 120 Madison street, Hoboken, New Jersey, as illustrated above, and intends to produce the finest Prescription Corks in the world.

The main structure, a three-story brick building, fuliy 95 feet deep, is equipped with the most improved cork machinery, the greater part of which being the special invention of their factory superintendent, Mr. Cyrus B. Stanton, who possesses fully thirty years' practical experience in this line.

For the production of the fine Prescription Corks, only the choicest pieces of cork wood are available, and this company is buying the most expensive cork wood to be had in this market, but on account of the scarcity of choice wood at the present time, the Meinecke Cork Company has recently made special arrangements to procure direct from the corks forests of Portugal and in the foreign markets, some of the choicest bales of cork wood.

There are many druggists who want a good cork at a price somewhat lower than the Gold Seal Brand, to to them the new Daisy Brand Extra Long Presc. Corks are recommended. The Daisy Brand is a special selection, with sixty and twenty per cent, discount from the price List, which will be sent upon application, and it is claimed for this brand that every cork is a good, solid Presc. Cork. Facsimile of the Daisy Brand Label is shown herewith, and on account of its low price this brand is rapidly becoming a popular brand with druggists who want a good Presc. Cork at a reasonable price. Price Lists will be sent upon application, and the Corks can be obtained from any of the New York wholesale drug houses, or orders may be sent direct to the factory at Hoboken, New Jersey, or to Meinecke & Company, at Nos. 225 and 257 Greenwich street, New York.

The Pharmaceutical Era, Volume 16

1900: Jersey City, Sherman Place, John L C Memecke 74, head, Johanna Memecke 64, wife, William Memecke 48, son widowed, 2 children 2 living, druggist, Annie Memecke 7, granddaughter, Agnes Memecke 37, daughter

Arnold, age 43, salesman born Georgia and his family are nest door.

1901: "Meincke" Cork Company, manufacturers of cork; employs 45 persons.

1903: "Meinecke" Cork Co office and factory, 118 and 120 Madison, H. C. William Meinecke, pres., John M Doremus v Pres, W. D Fox manager. C William Meinecke pre Meinecke Cork 21 Sherman pla. Johanna widow John same address.


Meinecke Cork Co, Hoboken


F. W. Mills Mfg. Company - Automatic Operating Company"

1901: F. W. Mills Mfg. Company, manufacturers of automatic machines; employs 33

1901: New York Times April 5, 1901. Brothers F. W. and H. S. Mills slot machine manufacturers cornered the market on peanuts in the country. F. W. Mills not yet thirty three years old, running the Mills Novelty Company and living at 1217 Washington street bought bought 4 million pounds of shelled peanuts or about 125 carloads. They initially wer looking for peanuts for a slot machine which they had recently patented. Drop a penny in the machine and you got a handful of peanuts. The machines were very popular in saloons. "The Mills Brothers put 600 men to work making 15,000 machines. The machines used about two pounds a peanuts each per day. They figured that they would need 30,000 pound of peanuts to feed their machines. They started to buy peanuts. They soon discovered that their mega purchases of peanuts wer having an effect on the market driving the rice from 70 cents to 80 cents a busshel. They then got the bright idea of cornering the market. The price of peanuts eventually reached 90 per bushel. Peanuts were sold twice a year in December and May/June. "The May and June buyers are usually confectioners, who buy for the Christmas candy. Mr. Mills thinks there will be little peanut candy next Christmas.

1900: Frank Mills 31, novelty mfr., born Iowa, Belle Mills 24

1946: Billboard Magazine. circa 1902 F. W. Mills and his brother the late H. S. Mills of Hoboken, N. J., operated a Penny aArcade which featured an automatic photograph machine that took pictures for 2-10 cents a shot.

1908: Automatic Operating Company, Hoboken manufacture automatic machines Capital $1000,000. Incorporated F. W. Mills, H. M. Browne, and E. I Forham 154 Nassau st NYC

Mills Novelty co.

HISTORICAL INTERLUDE: THE HISTORY OF COIN-OP PART 2, FROM SLOT MACHINES TO SPORTLANDS


National Casket Company

1901: National Casket Company, manufacturers of caskets and coffins; employs 115 persons.

Burial caskets, coffins and fixtures.

1907: The National Casket company 48 Great Jones street, NYC planned to erect a plant in Jersey City to replace the factory in Hoboken.

1904: The National Casket Company had plants in Nashville, New Haven, Alleghany, Rochester, Chicago, Indianapolis, Hoboken, and Baltimore.

1905:

"The National Casket Company has four 1 ton electric delivery wagons, or light trucks, which are stabled and kept in order under the care of a capable electrician at the company's factory in Hoboken." (the Horseless Age vol 15.)

1908: The cedar is cut into slabs and shipped to the factory at Hoboken, N. J.

1909:

"The uptown plant of the National Casket Company, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, suffered a $20,000 fire loss July 11, fully covered by insurance. The fire was no hindrance to business as the company has its big Hoboken plant running full time pending the rebuilding uptown."
1912: Drivers of the National Casket co. of Hoboken were on strike. Coach driver refused to drive carriages if the deceased was in a National Casket co coffin. One such was the funeral of the Rev. Emil Meury of Jersey City Heights. The reverents body was transferred to a coffin manufactured by another company.

1913:

March 8 - Six drivers employed by the National Casket Co., at Hoboken, went on strike to secure an increase of wages and also to bring about the restoration to work of one of their number who had been discharged by the superintendent for insubordination. The drivers were being paid $10 a week and wanted $12. An express wagon sent to carry a casket from the factory to New York, was stoned on its way to the ferry, and a coal truck driver, approaching the works with a load of fuel, was warned against attempting to make a delivery under threats of having his harness destroyed. The strike had continued little more than one day when the superintendent of the company agreed to the demands of the men in the matter of wages, and the reinstatement of the man he had discharged.

On March 12, the same men quit again on being informed by the manager that the settlement previously made had not received the approval of the board of directors of the company, and that wages would be the same as formerly, from $7 to $10 per week. Other men were employed at an agency in New York to take the drivers' places. One of these, while driving from Hoboken to Jersey City, was attacked by a crowd of over two hundred strike sympathizers, and escaped severe violence only through the efforts of his police guards. In the course of the melee the driver fled and the casket was destroyed. Several undertakers in Hoboken and Jersey City who were in sympathy with the strikers, refused to accept caskets from the company until it had made a satisfactory settlement with its drivers. There being more or less violence each succeeding day, the company threatened to close its factory at Hoboken permanently if proper protection was not extended to its drivers by the police. One of the strikers was caught in the act of throwing- a stone at a new driver, and was arrested. Two men driving a wagon containing a load of caskets were attacked by a mob of strike sympathizers when near Jersey City and driven from their charge. Taking refuge in a moving trolley car, they were pursued, overtaken, and severly beaten by the mob.

The progress of the strike from commencement to its final close on April 16, was marked by steadily recurring disturbances of the public peace, and the police of Hoboken, and to some extent also of Jersey City, were kept busy in the endeavor to protect the wagons and trucks of the Casket Company and its new drivers from attack by strikers and their sympathizers.

The strike was declared off, when the company agreed to reemploy all its old drivers at $12 per week, and an allowance of $2 extra for Sunday work, which each man would be expected to perform every two weeks. The company refused to reemploy the man whose discharge for insubordination had led to the strike in the first place, but other employment having been secured by him, the subject of his reinstatement did not come up for discussion in the final settlement. The strike was decidedly successful, and the wage loss of those directly concerned in it, was $260.

Annual Report By New Jersey. Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries

1918:
The Shaffer Color & Varnish Company, 280 Madison Avenue, New York, has recently completed negotiations for the purchase of the plant of the National Casket Company, Hoboken, N. J. The structure is four stories and comprises an aggregate floor space of about 120,000 square feet. It is planned to equip the plant at once for the production of colors and paints.

Drug and Chemical Markets, Volume 5


R. Neuman (Neumann) & Company - Leather - 300 Observation Highway (Ferry Street)

300 Observer Highway - Willow ave and Observer Highway founded in 1863.

1887: R. Neuman & Co., Leather- 4 story brick - 70 men

1890: R. Neuman 75 men

1892:Not listed

1898 "Newman" R & Co., leather 53 men

1897: A naphta tank kept is a wooden annex at R. Newmann & Co. willow ave and Ferry street exploded. The explosion set fire to the building causing about $100 damage. James Hunterbrink who had been submerging hides in the naphta to remove grease from them was thrown through the doorway and badly burned about the arms and head.

1900: President of R. Neumann was Clemens Heitemeyer.

1901: R. Neuman & Company, manufacturers of leather; employs 150 persons.

Newmann Leather

1913: Robert T Heitmeyer was head of the R Neumann leather company when he was involved in a customs dispute over a $700 diamond and sapphire pendant that was not declared by a Mrs. Edan Maer Alexander. Mrs. Alexander and Mr. Heitmeyer had both returned from Europe on the France. Mrs Alexander claimed that Mr. Heitmeyer had given her the jewel. A hearing was held and after about an hour Mr. Heitmeyer and Mrs. Alexander left together in an automobile.

1941: "Richard Bernheim has recently been made president of R. Neumann 8: Co., leather manufacturers, in Hoboken, N.J., and reports that he is currenlly very busy tanning leather for the army. Princeton Weekely"

1880: ?? Park Ave. Gotlieb Newmann 70, born Prussia, shoemaker, Joanna Newmann 71

See GUSTAV (1845-1909) and GEORGE B BERNHEIM (c 1881-1968) and Theodore Clemens Heitemeyer (owner of R. Neumanss in 1901)

German Americans in Hoboken


New York Switch and Crossing Company/ New Jersey Switch and Crossing

1896: Real Estate Transfers The New York Switch and Crossing co. HobokenW. H. Furman and J Lawrence Nevin switch works, machinery stock and fixtures $24,000 - Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, Volume 57

1897: Electrical Age - Volumes 19-20 - Page 82 - ... the appreciation of capable judges regarding this automatic switch - W. C. Wood, Esq., Pres. New York Switch & Crossing Company, Hoboken, N. J.

"The New York Switch & Crossing Company has made a number of additions to its works at Hoboken, N. J. during the past year and is now better able than ever to supply all classes of special work. among the new tools installed by the company is a lare 16 ft. planer with a range of 36 ins x18 ins, used for paning switches, a new cold saw for cutting the deepest girder rails, several radical drills and smaller planers, a punch for punching a 1 1/2 in hol through 1 inch iron, and electic jib crane etc."

..............

"The New York Switch & Crossing Company has also turned out a large amount of steam railroad and construction railroad parts notably for the J. P. McDonald Company and for the United States Government railroads in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Indian Head Proving Grounds. The company has also supplied a large amount of special work for export mostly of the T rail type."

1898: "New Jersey" Switch and Crossing company - railroad switches, 38 males

1899:

The New York Switch & Crossing Company, of Hoboken, N. J., is doing a good business in the manufacture of special work, and recently completed an elaborate installation at the corner of Smith and Ninth Streets, Brooklyn. This is a double track crossing with double track curve. It has hardened steel centers and is bound together with cast iron. The company is also having excellent success with its automatic electric track switch which has been described in previous issues. This is a tongue switch which is operated from the platform of the car without the employment on the platform of any auxiliary apparatus whatever and is extremely simple and reliable. The switch has been in successful operation for more than two years on the North Hudson County Railway, of Hoboken, N. J., on whose system seven of these switches are now in use. The Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company has also seven of these switches, the Brooklyn City & Newtown Railroad Company has three of these switches, and others have been installed elsewhere. A good idea of the merits of the switch can be obtained from a letter recently received by W. C.Wood, president of the New York Switch & Crossing Company, from John N. Partridge, president of the Brooklyn City & Newtown Railroad Company. Mr. Partridge says: "In reply to your inquiry about the electric switches you furnished us, the first one was put in in October, 1896, at a point where about 700 cars pass over it daily. We have had no trouble with it at all. It has worked equally well when there were heavy falls of snow. All that we had to do was to keep the snow clear from it with brooms or salt or both. It is because we were so well pleased with it that we ordered a second one at a similar point this spring." (The Street Railway Journal, Volume 13)
1900: Nathanial W Boyd inventer, manufacturer, newspaper man, and superintendent of the New York Switch and Crossing Works at Hoboken, NJ died in February 1900.

1901: New York Switch and Crossing Company, manufacturers of switches, frogs and crossings; employs 80 persons.

1908: Manufacturers of Railroad Crossings, Frogs, Switches, Switch Stands, Rail Braces And Special Work of all kinds for Steam and Street Railroads New York Switch and Crossing

1908: Bits for a railway crossing at Fort duPont - The New York Switch and Crossing Company of Hoboken, NJ.

1910: 1253 Garden street, William C Wood 57, manufacturer switch crossings, born New York, Clara B Wood 55, 0 children, Tura Anderson 19, servant

1913: New York Switch and Crossing 15th and Madison, frogs, switches, and crossings for steam and electric railroads.

1913: William Clark Wood age 61, president of the New York Switch and Crossing Company of Hoboken died heart failure in Catskill, NY in October 1913. Director of the Hoboken Trust, member of the Board of Trade, "largely intersted in the development of the street railway properties in Catskill, NY. Member of the Hoffmann Lodger, Middletown, NY and the Salaam Temple Newark, NJ. Survived by his widow. Buried Hillside Cemetery Middletown, NY.

"William Clark Wood is dead. Mr. Wood was president of the New York Switch & Crossing Company, Hoboken, N. J., a director of the Hoboken Trust Company, a member of the Board of Trade of that city, and interested in the development of the street railway properties in Catskill, N. Y. At his works at Hoboken Mr. Wood manufactured a great deal of track material for electric railways. Previous to his establishment of the New York Switch & Crossing Company, some twenty years ago, Mr. Wood was connected with the Lewis & Fowler Girder Rail Company, formerly of Brooklyn. (Transit Journal ..., Volume 42)
1913: New York Switch & Crossing Company, Hoboken, N. J., at a recent meeting of its directors, elected Howard R. Sherman president to fill the vacancy caused by death of William C Wood.

1920: New York Switch and Crossing Works Hoboken, NJ


New York Wire and Spring Company - 71-75 Park Ave Hoboken

1901: New York Wire and Spring Company, manufacturers of wire springs; employs 25

1905: Houston street, Manhattan, Charles T Church 31, spring manufacturer, Josephine C Church 25, wife, Mary Foreman 29, sister in law, Alfred Richmond 30, boarder, James Seaman 50, boarder

1906: Princeton Class of 1896 Ralph Brown Smith - RALPH BROWN SMITH. Blairsvllle, Pa. Member of firm of Smith & Turner, Bituminous Coal, Blairsville, Pa.; II. Secertary and Treasurer Dalliba Coal Co., Blairsville, Pa.; III. Secretary and Treasurer McKean Coal Co., Blairsville, Pa.; IV. President of New York Wire & Spring Co., Hoboken. N. J.; V. Vice- President of Eclipse Oil Co., Blairsville, Pa. (1896-8) With Golden Gate Wire and Spring Co., of Chicago, 1ll.; Treasurer of New York Department, 436 Canal Street, New York City; (1899) Secretary and Treasurer, New York Wire & Spring Co., 71 Park Avenue, Hoboken, N. J. MARRIED Laura Miller Graff, September 14th, 1905, Blairsville, Pa.

1906:

71-75 Park avenue, Hoboken, N. J., is making a general line of springs for all purposes. Among large customers of the company are agricultural implement, machinery and automobile manufacturers, springs for whom are usually made from specifications, samples or blue prints. A full line of upholstering springs and springs for bed manufacturers is also made. The company has practically rebuilt its plant within the past 18 months, installing new and improved machinery, including two automatic spring machines built under patent owned by the company. Iron Age, Volume 78
1907:
"Bull Dog" Steel Wire Belts

New York Wire & Spring Co., 71-75 Park Avenue, Hoboken, N. J. are now manufacturing steel wire belts for driving pumps, fans etc. These belts, called the "Bull Dog" are made of the best grade piano wire and have a one piece screw connection fitting the threads on the inner circumference. These belts are easily adjusted by simply cutting off the excess length and backing up the coil a few turns, the spring of the belt always keeping the coupling in place." Automobile Trade Journal, Volume 12

1909/1910: New York Wire and Spring Company, 71-75 Park ave, Hoboken

1909: New York Wire & Spring 71-75 Park Ave. Hoboken Mfrs. seat springs, auto belts, for fans and oilers, all kinds of spiral springs Est 1898. Cap $250,000, R. B. Smith, Pres. Charles T Church, Secry and Treas.

1910: Manhattan, Charles T Church 38, tres manager, manfr sp'gs, Josephine F Church 34, married 10 years no children, Mary E Foreman 35, sister in law, Julia Thompson 22, servant

1913: Charles T Church, secretary and treasurer of the New York Wire & Spring co. 586-588 Washington street, New York died suddenly January 6, 1913 (Iron Age vol 91)

Charles T Church Birth Year: abt 1873 Age: 40 Death Date: 6 Jan 1913 Death Place: Manhattan, New York, USA Certificate Number: 907

1915: Ralph Brown Smith died in 1915 according to Princeton alumni news.

Ralph B Smith Gender: Male Race: White Age: 43 Birth Date: 8 Jan 1872 Birth Place: Blairsville, Pennsylvania Death Date: 29 Dec 1915 Death Place: Burrell, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA Father: Robert Smith Mother: Jane Bratten Brown Certificate Number: 113165, occupation coal operator, cause of death acute meningitis - pneumonia

1922: New York Wire & Spring Co., P. O. Box 43, Uptown Station. Hoboken. N. J.


Charles Paul - C. G. Paul Mfg. Company - Paul Manufacturing - 10th and Grand - 1007 Grand

1892: Gallagher & Paul, Brushes - employed 10 men, 15 women and 2 under the age of 16

1898 Gallagher & Paul - brushes, employing 25 men, 15 women and 18 "under the age of 16"

1899: Wanted - Brush finishers and polishers C. G. Paul mfg Co 10th and Grand st, Hoboken

1899: Wanted Frazers 7 sandpapers on lathe, also wood finishers C. G. Paul Mfg co. 1007 Grand street Hoboken

1899: Wanted - Finishers polishers and frazers* on hair brushes C. G. Paul Mfg co 1007 Grand st Hoboken

* Fraze is the unevenness caused by rough edges or burs. A Frazer is presumably someone who smooths out those rough edges.

1900: Park ave, Charles Paul 38, mfg toiler articles, Emma Paul 39, 2 children 2 living, Clarence Paul 16 Cora Paul 13

1901 December 5, NY Sun

TWO ELECTRICIANS SCALDED.

Hurled Escaping Into a Hole Made by Steam Pipe Bursts.

George Draper of Brooklyn and George Ulrich of West Hoboken, N. J., electricians employed by the Westinghouse Company were placing new dynamos yesterday in the Paul Manufacturing Company's building, at 1007 Grand street, Hoboken, when a large steam pipe burst and tore a hole in the ground which quickly filled with scalding water. The men were thrown by the force of the explosion into the hole. Draper was hurled into the water but was rescued at once. Urlich landed on his feet and was badly scalded up to his knees.

1901: C. G. Paul Mfg. Company, 10th and Garden - manufacturers of toilet articles; employs 26 persons.

1902/1904/1905: C. G. Paul Mfg. Company State Board of Assessors

1910: Spring street, West Hoboken, Charles G Paul 49, electrician Emma Paul 49 Clarence Paul 27, electrician shop Cora Paul 23, Edward Weichert 18, adopted son, helper artist


Pinney, Casse & Lackey Company -

The Pinney, Casse Lackey Company manufacturers of window shades was formed in New York in 1880 by Dwight Pinney, Alfred J Casse and William J Lackey.

1891: Alfred J. Casse and Wm. J. Lackey, composing the firm of Casse, Lackey & Co., manufacturers of window shades at 275 Canal, NY.

1894 Growth of a Century As Illustrated in the History of Jefferson County NY - Captain Alfred J Casse Civil War veteran C Battery 1st Light Artillery enlisted summer 1861 - fought at Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg - returned home in 1863 to regain health - mustered out of the Army in August 1865 - established the firm of Pinney, Casse and Lackey in 1880 manufacturers, and importers of widow shades - married in 1882 and had one son, Jaime. More info and Photo

1895: Pinney, Casse Lackey shades, 273 Canal & 31 Howard NYC

1898: 273 Canal NYC - Pinney Casse & Lackey - widow shade manufacturers and Scotch Holland importers.

1898: Importers were waiting for the results a case concerning duties of 3 cents per square yard on Scotch Hollands (a coarse cotton cloth). It was stated that the cloth was not filled or coated but simply starched. Samples were taken by a government analyst and found that the cloth was 77 percent cotton and 19 to 20 percent starch with a small percentage of other matter such as colorants. The decision was that the duty rate should remain.

1900: Dwight C Pinney manufacturer of window shades residence 196 Leffers Brooklyn, president and director of Pinney, Casse and Lackey.

1903: American Carpet and Upholstery Journal, Volume 21

April - RETIREMENT OF D. C. PINNEY FROM THE COLUMBIA SHADE CLOTH COMPANY. In another page of this issue, an interesting announcement appears from the Columbia Shade-Cloth Company, of New York City, relative to the retirement of D. C. Pinney, of that corporation. Mr. Pinney has been an active and important factor in the shade-cloth business for many years past, and in his letter to the trade, reproduced in the advertisement of the company elsewhere in this issue, he carefully outlines his reasons for his retirement from the company and thus becomes the subject of congratulations on his ability to withdraw from active mercantile work and rest from a lifelong and continuous activity. In withdrawing from the company, Mr. Pinney takes occasion to express his appreciation of the pleasant character of his relations with the other officers of the Columbia Company and to thank them for their uniform show of courtesy to him.

Mr. Pinney’s withdrawal from the shade-cloth business closes the career of one of the best-known and most respected of the big factors who have been active in the trade for some years past. He was the president of the Pinney, Casse & Lackey Company, who held forth at 273 Canal Street, up to a year or two since.

1903: The Pinney, Casse and Lackey was building a new facility on Colden Street, near grand in Jersey City. The main building was to be 200 x 50 feet, with wings of 35x45 feet - four story high brick - with an expected output of 1,000 yard per day.

1901: Hoboken Pinney, Casse & Lackey Company, manufacturers of cloth for windowshades; employs 27 persons.

1905: Who's who in New York City and State, Issue 2 - McCHESNEY, Thomas D.: President and director of The Quaker Shade Roller Co., and The Quaker Co.; vice-president and director Queen City Window Shade Co., Pinney, Casse and Lackey Co., Opaque Shade Cloth Co. and The Chicago Bleaching Co.; secretary and director Columbia Shade Cloth Co.; director Hels, Macfarlane and Co. Residence, 338 W. 86th St.; office, 41 Union Square West, N. T. City.

1907:

Columbia Shade company's New Home

The columbia Mills Building is rated one of the handsomest structures of its kind in the vicinity of Madison Square. It has a frontage of 100 feet on West Twenty-fourth Street, is 100 deep and 11 stories high and the location is all that could be desired for the convenience of not only visitors but the trade in general. The furnishings of the first floor are exceedingly handsome, the woodwork throughout being of mahogany, and the arrangement of both salesrooms and private oflices, with the mahogany finished partitions, gives a most imposing effect. President T. D. McChesney has located his offices in the rear of the ground floor where he is insured privacy, while his lieutenant, Mr. Hees, is located in the front oflice near the main entrance. There are separate show rooms provided for mounted shades, shade rollers, shade accessories and the product of the Wyoming Valley Lace Mills which the Columbia Company own and and operate. In the window shade field the Columbia Company are in control of the Opaque Shade Cloth Company; the two plants of the Quaker Shade Roller Company; Hees, McFarland Company; The Meriden Curtain Fixture Company; W. E. Daniels Company, and Pinney, Cass & Lackey Company.

1909: Window Shade Cloth Pinney, Casse and Lackey co Colden and Fremont streets Jersey City

1900: Kings, Dwight Pinney 48, shade manufact., Jeanie Pinney 43 Grace Pinney 17 Sophie Koehler 24, servant, Lena Heidel 29, servant

1916: Dwight C Pinney, age 64 died, survived by his widow and a daughter.

1916: Pinney, Casse and Lackey advertised for shade painters

1920: Shade cloth - Pinney, Casse & Lackey Co - 51 Fremont St Jersey City

1922: Hees, William R., Business President and General Manager, of 225 Fifth Avenue, New York, City; and a member of the Union League, the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, The Blind Brook Club, and the Seaview Golf Club. He was born in 1887 in Oswego, N. Y. Since 1899 he has been connected with the Columbia Mills, of which corporation he is president. He is president of the Northern New York Power Corporation, the Wyoming Valley Lace Mills, and of the Pinney, Casse and Lackey Company; and is also a director of George H. Hees Son and Company. In 1891 he married Miss Cora J. Reed; and they have a family of one son and one daughter, and reside at 875 Park Avenue, New York City.


Frank S Pownall & Bros. - paper - 8th and Jefferson street, Hoboken

1895: Three paper manufacturers listed in Hoboken, F. S. Pownall, Franklin Paper Mills and Hoboken Paper Mills. (The American Stationer vol 38)

1898:

Hoboken, N. J., Oct. 8. "John" Kehoe, a 14 year old boy, tried to sell a diamond worth $65 to E. C. Rogg, jeweler, 314 Washington St., yesterday. Mr. Rogg reported the case to the police and Kehoe was arrested. When questioned by Recorder Stanton yesterday as to how he obtained the stone Kehoe told a remarkable story. He said:

"I found that diamond, and I have found about ten of them. Lots of other boys have found them, too, back of the Pownall paper mills, at 8th and Jefferson Sts. We go up there and dig in the black slush that comes out at the back of the mills, and that's where we find them. We find lots of things there - pieces of gold watches and rings and other things." He gave the names of other boys who he said had found precious stones. Huge bundles of paper are received at the mills from many sources. They are generally dumped into the boiling vats. Whatever is left is carried in the form of a black slime which escapes through a sewer in the meadows at the back of the mills. The boys dig in this, and frequently, as Kehoe says, gems and other valuables are found.

Mamie Quinn, a girl, found several stones, including two small diamonds and several rubies. The engineer of the paper mills recovered two diamonds in the refuse three weeks ago. Most of the paper comes from jewelry and other stores in New York.

The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review, Volume 37

1998:
DIAMIND MINE IN HOBOKEN

Many Precious Stones Found by Children in Paper Mill Tailings. E. C. Bogge. jeweller, of 314 Washington street Hoboken went to Police Justice Stanton yesterday with a diamond he said was worth in the trade about $65 which had been offered in sale to him by a boy. Detective Quinn learned that the boy. "James" Kehoe of 102 Fifth street had found the stone in the refuse dump at the Pownall Paper Mills at Eighth and Jefferson streets. Kehoe said he had found a good many other stones in tho dump, one ot which he had sold to Jeweller Heiner for $5. Helner said later it was worth $125. Other boys. Kehoe said, had found stones also; among them George Koenis of 700 Park avenue. Al Bussell of 204 Seventh street and George Cuneo ot 700 Willow avenue. About twelve diamonds were found on last Thursday by the boys. The engineer of the mill also found a diamond some weeks ago among some paper that came from Tiffany's, he says. The dump where tho stones are found receives the refuse from tho pulp collector to which the macerated paper goes direct from tho choppers. It is a watery mass, and very dirty. The mill receives old paper in large bales which come directly from several large stores In this city, including three or four jewelers. Detective Quinnsald that his own daughter Mamie bad found some of the stones. (New York Sun)

The story was carried widely across the US.

1900: There were several Kehoe families in Hoboken with sons named James and/or John.

1901: Frank S. Pownall & Bro., manufacturers of wrapping and lining paper; employ 29

1904: Frank Seaman Pownall Death Date: 22 Jan 1904 Death Place: Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA Cemetery: Woodlawn Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA Spouse: Sarah Adelaide Pownall Father: William Mettler Pownall Mother: Catherine Elizabeth Pownall

Cause of death pneumonia address 1963 7th ave age 55 per NYC death index -Frank S Pownall Birth Year: abt 1849 Age: 55 Death Date: 22 Jan 1904 Death Place: Manhattan, New York, USA Certificate Number: 2766

1906: Litigation over the debts of Frank S Pownall & Borother involving Wright D Pownall and Sarah A. Pownall. Sarah A was the wife (widow) of Frank S.

Wright D Pownall born 1854 died 1932.

1920: Wright D Pownall single age 64 salesman lock company Wright D Pownall, widower, Age: 77 Birth Date: 17 May 1854 Birth Place: New York Death Date: 17 Apr 1932 Death Place: York, York, Pennsylvania, USA Father: Wm M Pownall Certificate Number: 384, occupation York Safe and Lock, salesman, cardiac dilatation, buried Woodlawn, NYC


Rock Plaster Company - 1 Newark street - Hoboken

Rock Plaster was said to be impervious to germs, making it the sanitary choice for hospitals. It was also said to be fire proof and water proof. And the cost was only a little more than ordinary plaster. If rock plaster was used there would be no trouble form falling ceilings, defaced walls, cockroaches or other vermin, rats or mice (who cannot chew through it.)

1901: Rock Plaster Company of New York and New Jersey, manufacturers of rock wall plaster; employs 36 persons.

1891: Incorporated - merged Rock Plaster of New York and New Jersey in 1893.

1892:

The Rock Plaster Company has been organized in Hoboken, and a factory has been built. The officers of the company are: President, C. Albert Sterns; vice-president, E. O. Schuyler; secretary and treasurer, Robert L. Stevens; general manager, D. L. Haigh. The new plaster is intended to revolutionize the building trade. A section of lathing, after being covered with a scratch coat of new plaster, can retain the browing immediately after thus a building can be completely plastered within two or three days. It is claimed that nails can be drawn into the plaster as if it were wood. It will not split or scale off." Stone; an Illustrated Magazine, Volume 4

1893: Rock Plaster company of New York - Hoboken merged into the Rock Plaster Company of New York and New Jersey July 13, 1893 Also Rock Wall Plaster company of Brooklyn and New Jersey - Newark agent J. W. Rufus Besson (Corporations of New Jersey: List of Certificates Filed in the Department of ... By New Jersey. Dept. of State, 1914)

1895: Rock Plaster Company office foot ot 7th street, Hoboken - Telephone book

1895:

Scientific American: Supplement, Volume 39

Rock Plaster Company, Hoboken, N. J. The plaster is composed of plaster of Paris, clay, cattle hair, lime, sand, asbestos and a retarding agent which prevents the material when mixed from drying too quickly. The sand is brown in color and comes from Princes Bay, Staten Island. The clay comes from Perth Amboy, N. J., already washed and free of gravel. The sand, before being mixed with the other ingredients, passes through a drying and screening process. A certain quantity is then weighed out and placed with the other parts into a machine which thoroughly mixes the material together. The plaster is then passed into bags ready for the market." .....more with images of the machinery

Some machinery included: sand weigher, sand conveyer, elevators to move the sand to dryers, sand screening machine, milling machins, clay grinder, and dyers .

1895: December 19 FALL OF A WALL

A Coal Office Crashed and One Man Injured - Warning Not Heeded.

The south wall of the large two-story frame building used as a storage house by the Rock Wall Plaster Company at Seventh and River streets. Hoboken fell ou- at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon and crushed the small office of the Pocahontas Coal Company, which stood but a few yards from the building. The building was filled with 3.500 tons ot rock plaster.

Just before the wall fell Charles Schott, aged 25 [?] years, a tallyman employed by the coal company had been in the coal office, but be heard the breaking of the timbers of the storehouse and rushed out. He was just outside the door when the crash came, and he was buried in the ruins. He was dragged from the debris, and an ambulance took him to St. Mary's Hospital. His head was badly cut and he was injured internally. He is not expected to live. The building is directly on the river front. All day yesterday until the accident happened, workmen were engaged in unloading the schooner Susan P. Therlow. loaded with rock plaster from Hillsboro. N. B. [?] As the cargo was being placed in the building the south wall began to crack. The building was already half filled with rock plaster before the schooner's cargo was placed in it. She carried 600 tons. About 500 tons of this had been unloaded when the wall fell.

The cracking ot the wall was noticed, but the men did not stop their work.

Bookkeeper Charles Tenney of the coal company had been in the coal office with Schott, but as it happened he left the office a few minutes before the crash. After he got outside he noticed that the wall of tbe storehouse was bulging, and he called to Schott to come out, but the latter did not think there was any danger. Nevertheless, the warning probably saved his life, because when he heard the wall cracking he knew just what the matter was and made a hasty flight." (NY Sun)

1895:

December 24, A Hoboken Firm Centured by a Coroner's Jury

A Coroner's inquest into the case of Charles Schott, who was killed last Wednesday by a falling wall of the Rock Wall Plaster Company storehouse in Hoboken was held last night. The jury found that the Rock Wall Company is at fault through negligence of its employees in piling the rock platter in the building without retard to safety. (New York Sun)

1895: Cha'S Schott Birth Date: abt 1870 Birth Place: United States Death Date: 19 Dec 1895 Death Place: Hoboken, Hudson, New Jersey Death Age: 25 years Occupation: Laborer Race: White Marital Status: Married Gender: Male Residence: New Jersey Father Birth Place: Germany Mother Birth Place: Germany FHL Film Number: 589802

1896: July - For a wager of $2 Louis Brunk of 322 Garden Street Hoboken dove 75 feet from the top of the Rock Wall Plaster Company into the river (the four story building was located at the river at the foot of 7th street). He dove head first for most of the fall then flipped and entered the water feet first. Although the water was only 5 feet deep Brunk was not hurt. The bet was placed with a Rock Wall Plaster company employee named Hassbrouck.

1899: Annual Financial Report, State of New York - Rock Plaster of New York and New Jersey

1901: Annual Financial Report, State of New York - Rock Plaster of New York and New Jersey

1901: Rock Plaster Co. of N. Y. ft N. J. (N. J.) (Robert L. Stevens. Pres.; De Lagnel Haigh, Sec. Capital, $200.000. Directors: Robert L. & C. Albert Stevens, E. L. Price, Edwards O. Schuyler, De Lagnel & Douglas D. Halgh, James R. Connor) 11 B'way (The Trow (formerly Wilson's) Copartnership and Corporation ..., Volume 49)

1903: A Ruggles-Coles Dryer with an outer cylinder of wrought iron, and cast iron tires on 8 cast iron wheels was used by the Rock Wall Plaster, Co. of Hoboken NJ.

1904: Annual Financial Report, State of New York - Rock Plaster of New York and New Jersey

Rufus Besson (1871-1936)

In 1893 Rock Plaster company of New York - Hoboken merged into the Rock Plaster Company of New York and New Jersey July 13, 1893 Also Rock Wall Plaster company of Brooklyn and New Jersey - Newark agent J. W. Rufus Besson (Corporations of New Jersey: List of Certificates Filed in the Department of ... By New Jersey. Dept. of State, 1914)

1913: Rufus Beeson was a judge in Hoboken

1880: John C. Besson 40, lawyer, Hazeltine Besson 30, Leonidas Besson 10, John W. Besson 9 and a servant

1910: Hudson street, Hasseltine J Besson 61, 2 children 2 living, John W R Besson 39, lawyer, single

1930: Rufus J W Beason 59, lawyer, general practice, Irene S Beason 47, Barbara Beason 11, Abella Aaoros 22, servant, Karin Lindtvit 36, servant, George E Nules 36, boarder, marine steamship, Adelina H Nules 38, boarder, Margaret C Sheehy 58, mother in law, Cathleen M Sheehy 29, daughter, stenographer, Edward J Sheehy 27, son

Rufus Besson born 6 January 1871 in Hoboken to John Case Besson and Hasseltine J Bessen (nee Nice). He attended Miss Hall's Primary School, the Hoboken Academy, Stevens High School, and Princetone University. John William Rufus Besson graduated with a B. A. from Princeton in 1892. He graduated New York Law School with and LL.B. in June 1895. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1898 as a counsellor. He was a member of the firm of Lewis, Besson & Stevens - afterwards Besson, Alexander & Stevens.

He was an Assemblyman form Hudson County in 1903 and 1904. He was a member of the German Club of Hoboken, the Princeton Club of New York, the University club of New York, the Sons of the Revolution of New Jersey, and more. His hobbies were golf and tennis.

J. W. Rufus Besson age 65 a member of an old New Jersey family died at his home January 12, 1936. He was a past president of the Hoboken chapter of the Sons of the Revolution."

Charles Albert Stevens

1900: STEVENS, CHARLES ALBERT Wine Importer, 63 Pine street, New York City; residence Roslyn, L. I. Educated at Columbia. Member of the firm of Raoul- Duval, Stevens & Hall. Director Rock Plaster Co. of New York and New Jersey. Member Knickerbocker, St. Anthony, Racquet and Tennis. New York Yacht and Meadow Brook Hunt Clubs, American Geographi- cal Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Colum- bia University Alumni Association.

Wm Schimper & Company - Ferry Street

1890: State factory report, Wm. "Schremper" brass goods, 175 males, 25 females, and 10 underage 16.

1892: State Factory Report - "Schrimper" & co., brass goods, 100 males, 75 females and 25 under 16.

1898: State Factory report - "Schrimper" & Co., brass goods, 75 males, 40 females, 30 under age 16 "1-23-97, 15, "failed to attend night school"

1901: Wm. Schimper & Company, manufacturers of metal novelties; employs 220

William Schimper & Company Youtube video of the history of the Schimper family - well told.


Standard Fashion Company - 10th and Clinton

In 1887 Frank Koewing resigned his position as as manager of Western branch of the Butterick Company and started the Standard Fashion company. By 1897 they had branches in Chicago and St. Louis. In addition to direct wage earners in the company indirect wage earners benefited from the business - printers, paper makers, electrotypers and lithographers were involved in the pattern making business.

1897: Plans in progress for Standard Fashion co to build a 5 story factory 75 ft x 100 ft to cost $20,000

1898: State factory inspection - Standard Fashion Co. The - designers of fashions - 100 males, 65 females 5 under age 16 notation "Designate toilet room and erect fire escape"

1900: The Standard Fashion company at 10th and Clinton had plans to enlarge their factory.

1901: Standard Fashion Company, Hoboken, manufacturers of paper patterns; employs 231

1902: Twentyeight cutters went on stike at Standar Fashion in Hoboken demanding that the forman stopped using profanities. There were other complaints but that was the most grievous. The cutters cut 95,000 patterns a week. The company was pushing for 100,000 patterns a week. The men told the superintendent, John Graffe, it was impossible to cut that many patterns. About 400 women were employed in the factory as folders. The cutters complained that every order was accompanied by oaths and swearing making them extremely nervous.

1904:

Simeon H. Rollinson, "a member of one of New Jersey's oldest families, proposed for membership in the Essex County Country Club a neighbor, Frank Koewing of Northfield Road. The applicant was rejected. Mr. Rollinson remonstrated and asked for an explanation, but Mr. Koewing did not become a member of the club." Subsequently Mr. Koewing purchased four acres of land that "had been on the market for a long time". Part of the property had been used by golfers of the Essex county Club. Koewing fenced in his newly purchased property so the golfers could not longer access it. Some members of the club criticized him, but Koewing denied he had put up the fence for spite. Koewing owned other property in the area.

New York Times

" Members of the Essex County Country Club, an exclusive organization in Orange, N. J., are greatly disturbed at the loss of an important section of the club's golf course. The links extended over property recently bought by Frank Koewing, a wealthy resident of Northfield road who had it fenced in." New York Sun. It was suggested in the papers that "race" may have been a factor in the blackballing of Koewing by the club. Some club members apparently said they had been informed that Mr. Koewing who was of Germany descent was a Jew.

1905: Standard Fashion Company 12-14-16 Vandam street, New York. patterns 210 cents - ladies, misses, girls, boys, children and infants.

1903: "The cutters of the Standard Fashion Company's pattern factory at Hoboken struck to secure a reduction in the quantity of work per week required from each." The company conceded and the strikers retuned to work.

1904: The Standard Fashion company Hoboken makers of dress patterns planned to move to New York in January 1904 to be closer to the dress trade.

1905: Frank Koewing 50, retired, Jessie Koewing 40, Estelle Koewing 20, Jessie Koewing 13, Francis Koewing 10, Fannie M Smith 45, sister in law, Emma Eggert 30

1910: Northfield road, West Orange, Frank Koewing 53, own income, Jessie Koewing 45, 5 children 3 living, Jessie E Koewing 18 Francis Koewing 15 Fannie Smith 55, sister in law, Regina Cibidson 20, servant Fallan Michael 38

1930: own $80,000, Roewiwng Place west Orange, Frank Koewing 74, born Germany, no occupation, Jessie Koening 68 Louise Fisher 20, servant

1933: Frank Koewing form dress pattern manufacturer died at age 79 in West Orange.

He was born in Bremen, Germany, and came to this country as a boy, obtaining employment with the Butterick Publishing Company. He subsequently formed his own firm, the Standard Fashion Publishing Company and then sold out to his former employers for $750,000. He retired form business at the age of 45." New York Sun


Stenken & Sons

1872: Arrend Stenken Palisade av c Waverley H C Jersey City, New Jersey, USA Occupation: Soap Publication Title: Jersey City, New Jersey, City Directory, 1872

1880: Jersey City, Aread Stennken 50, soap manufacturer, born Oldenburg, Kevena L. Stennken 50,born Oldenburg, Hannah C. Stennken 23, Emma L. Stennken 21, Charles A. Stennken 19, Louise Stennken 15, children born New York, except Louise born New Jersey

1890: "Steneck" & Co. soap 10 men no women or children

1892: Steneck & Co. soap 10 men

1898: Steneck & Co. soap 8 men

1895: Stenken and Brau 241 Newark Heights, Jersey City, Soap and Candle manufacturers

1896: Arend Stenken wealthy Hoboken soap manufacture had a bad accident in Orange when the wheel of the carriage he was driving came off. The carriage collapsed and Arend and his two children were thrown form the vehicle. The children were badly brused. Mr. Stenken was knocked unconscious with a large gash in his head and a fractured skull.

1901: Stenken & Sons, manufacturers of soap; employ 6 persons.

1903: Stenken & sons (Arend and Charles A.) soap manufacturers 611 Newark street Hoboken home West Orange

1905: Stenken & sons Hoboken

1909: Stenken & Son 611-615 Newark St Hoboken Hudson

1910: Benvenue ave., West Orange, rent, Arend Stenken 78, none, widowed, Hanna Stenken 39 Emma Stenken 37 Louise Stenken 30 Alma Turakainen 17, servant

1911: Arend Stenken sold to August Derge Nos. 746 and 747 Newark Ave and Nos 2984, 1986 and 2988 Boulevard, Jersey city, five frame houses on a plot 75x100>

1923: Died suddenly Dec 1923, Hannah C. daughter of the late Arend Stenken of West Orange.

1912: Hoboken Stenken, A & sons, soap employing 8 persons.


Strauss Mfg Company - 138-42 West 14th street, New York - toys and mucsical instruments

1898: The Strauss Manufacturing Co. whose principal office was at Fifteenth and Madison streets*, Hoboken, N. J., was incorporated on Wednesday last October 12.

1900: Strauss Mfg. Co, 369 B'way, New York advertised first class Zobo instruments for forming a Zobo band. "A Real Novelty for Entertainments & Outings" "Only solid brass instrument everybody can play. No Instruction, no musical knowledge required." "If you can hum a tune, you can play a Zobo. ... "Sing into the mouth piece the Zobo does the rest". There were a number of advertisements in the Christian Advocate in 1901.

Strauss also made an instrument called a Doraphone, looked like an harmonica with a speaker attached.

1901: Hoboken, Strauss Mfg. Company, manufacturers of musical instruments; employs 15

1901: Strauss Mfg. co. 349 and 351 Palisade ave, Jersey City.

1902: ZOBO BANDS. The Strauss Manufacturing Company, makers of the Zobo musical instruments, have placed a contract for extensive advertising in the magazines and illustrated weeklies through the Kaufman Advertising Agency.

Also in 1902 listed for patent application Strauss Manufacturing Company, Jersey City sounding toys.

1904: Polks New York Directory Strauss Mfg. Co. (N. J.) (Ferdinand Strauss, Pres.; further inf. refused) 138 W. 14th

1914: Strauss Manufacturing Co. - 512 Washington St., Hoboken

*15th and Madison was the address of New York Switch and Crossing company>

Flickr

Zobo History

Strauss also manufactured other metal toys like the climbing Monkey, dancing windup toys, ring toss games..

Ferdinand Strauss, toy merchant, was born November 27, 1865 in Gilheim-Bavaria Germany son of Moritz. He immigrated to the US from bremen on May 14, 1884. He was naturalized in New York in 1890. Address in 1925 146 Central Park West.

1910: Ferdinand Strauss 45, inspector novelties, Juliett Strauss 39,, Madeline Strauss 9

1920: Ferdinand Strauss 52, president toy company, Juliet M Strauss 50, Madeline I Strauss 21

There are a ton of Ferdinand Strauss mechanical tin toys on the Internet.also a ton on sale on ebay.


Tietjen & Lang

Founded 1870. Todd Yards after 1916.

1903: John Edholm a ship carpenter at Tietjen and Lang fell through a hatchway and broke his soulder.

University Libraires Digital Collection


Truslow & Fulle 110 - 114 River, Hoboken - Cork for druggists

1859: Trow's New York City Directory Truslow, James L corks 209 Pearl h Bedford ave n Division ave B'klyn

Charles Fulle and family lived in Manhattan and Montclair.

1906: Yale class of 1886 - FREDERICK C. TRUSLOW 866 Prospect Place, Brooklyn; summer residence, Great River, New York. After travelling in Europe during 1886 and 1887, Truslow engaged in business with Truslow & Co., of Brooklyn, manufacturers of corks and whiting, entered the partnership in a short time, and has continued in that business ever since. On May 7, 1889, he married Annie Gate, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Babcock of Brooklyn.

1896::

Truslow & Fulle have recently established themselves at 110, 112 and 114 River street, Hoboken, N. J., with a complete plant containing the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of corks and cork specialties. Both members of the firm have been identified with the trade for a number of years, and one of their specialties will be high-grade prescription corks. The new firm is entirely independent of all other manufacturers.

Truslow's "Prescription Brand" Corks are made for those critical pharmacists who require perfection in every detail of their dispensing work. Every cork in every bag will bear the most critical inspection.

The Pharmaceutical Era, Volume 16

1897: Production of American made corks had fallen off by 25 percent compared to 1893 and the improtation of European corks had increased. This was partly due to the Europeans installing American style cork making machinery.

1898: Truslow & Fulle corks 35 males, 20 females 4 under age 16 notations " brick building, three stories. Guard one belt. Danger cards at hatch openings. Since complied"

1900: Manhattan Charles A Fulle 33, manufacturer cork goods, Elsie B Fulle 22 Charles A Fulle 5/12 Amelia Ullrich 22

1903: National Wholesale Druggust Attendees Fulle, Chas. A Truslow & Fulle Hoboken and Fulle, J. H. of same.

1905: Truslow and Fulle, Jersey City - Chas. A Fulle President, J. Henry Fulle vice pres., and Henry F Stowe secr. and treas.

Truslow & Fulle also had a plant in Brooklyn by 1919.

1901: Truslow & Fulle, manufacturers of cork; employ 100 persons.

1909: "Charles Albert Fulle, of Truslow & Fulle, the cork manufacturers, sailed Wednesday, August 4, on the Mauretania for a three months trip to Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Spain and Portugal." While abroad Mr. Fulle planned to make a through study of the cork industry on the Iberian Peninsula.

1910: Fire at Truslow & Fulle, cork manufacturers, Steuben and Washington street, Jersey city.

JERSEY'S BIG BLLAZE

Night Fire Causes $500,000 Loss - Outside Aid Needed - Window Protection Saved Large Warehouse.

Practically all of the manufacturing plants in the block bounded by Washington, Steuben, Warren and Morgan streets, Jersey City, N. J., were destroyed in a conflagration on Wednesday evening, August 17, with a total loss of about $500,000. The entire Jersey City department fought the flames and was assisted by the departments of New York City and Hoboken.

The principal losers and the amount of insurance carried are: Truslow and Fulle, cork specialties, 310-325 Washington street and 91-93 Morgan street: Insurance, buildings, $35,000: stock, $50,500; machinery, $18,000: use and occupancy, $50,000.

Tartar Chemical Company: Insurance, buildings, $60,000; machinery, $25,5O0. Independent Baking Powder Compony: Insurance, stock and machinery, $--,500. W. Ames & Co., iron works: Insurance, general form, $30,500.

Some damage was sustained by Butler Brothers and by the Riegal Sack Company, whose plants are across the street from the block that was destroyed. The Butler Brothers' merchandise warehouse is one of the largest insurance risks in Jersey City, the line amounting to about $1,500,000, one-half of which is carried by the stock companies and the other half by the junior New England mutuals.

STORY OF THE FIRE

The fire started at about 8 p. m. in the engine room of the cork specialty factory of Truslow & Fulle, a 4-story brick building, and was discovered by the engineer after it hail mnde some headway. One alarm was followed by another, until the entire department was on the ground and was taken charge of by Fire Commissioner Morris in the absence of Chief Conway, who was on a vacation.

In response to an appeal for help, Chief Croker of the New York department sent four engine companies (about fifty firemen including surgeons) under Chief of Battalion Norton, and the Hoboken department sent all the apparatus and men that could be spared. About twenty-four engine companies, in all were in service at the fire.

The fire reached the further end of the block from the starling point during the first hour. From the beginning, overhead electric wires hampered the firemen, poles catching and wires breaking and falling to the street. A fireman who came in contact with a live wire was so badly shocked that he died after being removed to the hospital. About six other firemen were injured by being caught under a falling wall.

VALUE OP WINDOW PROTECTION

The rapid spreading of the fire was due to familiar causes: Poor building construction and unprotected openings in walls.

Across the street from the ruined block the buildings of Butler Brothers and the Riegal Sack Company presented an interesting contrast after the fire. All window openings in the former building are protected by wireglass in metal frames and sash. This window protection undoubtedly saved the risk from the same fate as its neighbors. In the case of the sack factory, every window frame and sash in the wall toward the burned block of buildings was burned away, and the wooden trestle supporting a water tank on the roof and the tank itself also caught fire.

As soon as the fire was discovered, Butler Brothers' emergency crew, composed of trustworthy employes, were called from their homes by telegraph (through a standing arrangement with the local company with whom a list of the names and addresses of the crew had been filed) and immediately manned the private standpipc equipment in the warehouse. The side toward the burning block was kept wet down until about midnight. The building is protected by automatic sprinklers, but none of them had a chance to operate. The first employe to know of the fire promptly got into communication with the firm's own telephone central operator and with the vice president, who resides in New York City.

The Insurance Press, Volume 31

1920:
The White Metal Manufacturing Co. has been incorporated in New Jersey with an authorized capital of $500,000 to take over the business conducted under a similar firm style by Charles A. Fulle of Truslow & Fulle, cork manufacturers, Brooklyn, N. Y. January 28, 1919, Mr. Fulle purchased this business from the Alien Property Custodian at a government sale. Before the government took charge, the business was owned by a German corporation known as the White Metal Manufacturing Co., Limited, whose owners were at Carlsruhe, Germany, but the new corporation is entirely American.

The officers in the new company are Charles A. Fulle, president; F. E. Rueckert, vice-president; S. M. Rumbaugh, vice-president and treasurer; H. Richter, secretary.

Plans have been prepared for a new modern plant to be built in Hoboken and when ready will be equipped partly with machinery from the two old plants in Hoboken and North Bergen, and substantial additional new equipment will be installed in the plant.

The American Perfumer and Essential Oil Review, Volume 14


F. A. Verdon - Frederick A. Verdon - machine engines - 45-47 14th street

1880: Jersey City, Frederick Verdon 25, machinist, parents born Ireland, Cathrine Verdon 25

1894: Mills for Sale, Verdon, F. A. - The elysian Machine and Boiler Co. buildings, machinery, tools, office furniture, $22,500

1897:

The Hoboken, N. J., Land & Improvement Company is under contract to build two large factory buildings in the near future. One of these will be a four-story brick building, 50 by 135, which will be constructed on the south side of Fourteenth street ferry, east of Hudson street, with an L on Hudson street, for Frederick A. Verdon, as a machine shop. American Machinist

1897: Death - Verdon at Hoboken November 21, 1897 Frederick Verdon age 64 address 64 14th street funeral St. Lawrence church

Fred'K Verdon. Birth Date: abt 1833. Birth Place: Ireland. Death Date: 21 Nov 1897. Death Place: Hoboken, Hudson, New Jersey. Death Age: 64 years. Occupation: Machinist. Marital Status: Widowed. Residence: New Jersey. Father Birth Place: Ireland, Mother Birth Place: Ireland, FHL Film Number: 589808

1897: U. S. Marshalls Notice arrested the stm. yatcht Lottie, libeled by Fredk. A. Verdon Co. for repairs $754.77. Process returnable and cause to be heard December 2m 1897

1898: UNITED STATUS DISTRICT COURT. EASTERN District of New York. Notice: I have arrested the schr. yacht Una. libeled by Fredk. A. Verdon et al. for salvage. Process returnable Oct. 19, 1898, at 10:TO A. M. In said Court, Post Office Building. Brooklyn, N. Y. City. All persons interested must then present their claims or be defaulted, and the said vessel condemned and ordered sold.

1899: Sale Passenger Steamer Hudson, Apply Fred'k A. Verdon 14th street Hoboken

1900: Garden street, Frederick A Verden 44, born Ireland, machinist, Theresa K Verden 44, 0 children, born Ireland, Matthew R Kelly 20, nephew, Elizabeth Kelly 19, niece

Next to them Verdun, William age 30, born Ireland, station keeper, Matilda, Catherine age 4 Frederick age 3 William age 4 months and a servant

1900: Two factory floors to rent near 14th street ferry Hoboken apply F. A. Verdon Co. Hoboken.

1901:

Alledged Election Frauds in Hoboken

The Fusion Party of Hoboken, whose candidate for Mayor, Frederick Verdon, was defeated in the recent election, has employed detectives to investigate the registry lists. These detectives have made affidavits that thus far they have found 300 names illegally registered. The evidence will be submitted to Prosecutor James S. Erwin, Chief of Police Charles A. Donovan of Hoboken said that in his opinion the detectives had merely found a mare's nest. "With the aid of the best officers on the force," said he,"I went carefully over the registry lists, and not even the semblance of fraud was discovered.

1901: F. A. Verdon Company, manufacturers of marine engines; employs 75 persons.

1901: F. A. Verdon Co., 45 and 47 Fourteenth St., Hoboken Hudson.

1901: Hoboken, January 16th, 1901. The F. A. Verdon Machine Company, of Hoboken, shop in Fourteenth and Hudson streets, has completed plans for the erection of a large new machine shop. "The present quarters are not large enough to satisfy the greatly increasing requirements of trade."

1901: A new International time recorder, clock and racks complete; will be sold at a low figure. Address F. A. Verdon Co., 45 & 47 14th st., Hoboken, N. J.

1901: A new stye air pump for steam vessels pumps were manufactured by the F. A. Verdon Co., Fourteenth and Hudson streets, Hoboken, N. J.

1902: On account of removal a number of Gas Engines will be sold at a sacrifice. - Inquire F. A. VERDON CO.. Hoboken. N. J.

1903: F. A. Verdon Company moved their machine works from Hoboken to Staten Island

1903: Jos. F. A. Verdon, spoke against the Hawkes plan and caused some laughter with his remarks Mr. Verdon had run for Mayor of Hoboken.

1904: HOBOKEN, N. J. - Chas. Fall, Arch., 410 Washington St., has plans for a four-story brick factory, at Adams and 15th St., for Frederick Verdon.

1908: Frederick a. Verdon os Staten Island was sold to Waters, Gildersleeve and Colver.

"In 1886, Mr. Verdon established his business as marine engineer and machinist in Jersey City, later removing to Hoboken, and six years ago to the north shore of Staten Island, there to obtain larger facilities for ship-building and repairing, marine engineering and machinist work, as well as dry-docking." The Master, Mate and Pilot, Volume 1
1908: Cornelius O. Kolff sold for Edward Bement to the F. A. Verdon Company the water front property facing on tne Kill von Kull, between Bement avenue and Elm court, West New Brighton, Staten Island. The property, which has hereto-fore been under lease by the Verdon Company, has a frontage of more than five hundred feet, and has been extensively improved by the erection of large machine shops, a dry dock and other improvements.


Vilar Cork Company - 76 Madison

1875: Vilar, Jose and co., 26 Willow, (Jose, Pedro and Jayme)

1880: Park ave., Josie Villar 29, cork, mfg, spain, Annie Villar 29, Ireland Josie Villar 4 Peter Villar 2 Sarah Eagen 24, sister in law, Ireland

1886 Death: James Vilar Birth Date: abt 1811 Birth Place: Spain Death Date: 18 Oct 1886 Death Place: Hoboken, Hudson, New Jersey Death Age: 75 years Race: Spanish Marital Status: Married Gender: Male Residence: Hoboken, Hudson, New Jersey Comments: Resident of this state 5 yrs FHL Film Number: 589308

1887: Villar & Co. corks 2 story wood 16 employees, 7 men 9 women and 3 under the age of 16.

1890: Villar Brothers cork 10 males 10 females and 4 under the age of 16

1892: J Villar corks 2 men 8 women no children under 16.

1898: Villar J corks, 5 males, 9 females 2 under the age of 16.

1901: Vilar Cork Company, manufacturers of corks; employs 32 persons.

1903: April - Vilar Cork company of "Newark" was in receivership in April 1901 the company's liabilities were $11,000 with assets of $7,000. 1903: Vilar cork company tax and interst October 13, $25.75 - Annual Report, Treasurer of the State of New Jersey - Tax and interest for 1902 $28.75

1887: "Vilar & Co., Manufacturers of Machine-Cut Corks, No. 76 Madison Street. A prominent house in Hoboken engaged in the manufacture of machine-cut corks is that of Messrs. Vilar & Co. This business was established by the present proprietor, Mr. Joseph Vilar, in 1869, under the firm name of Vilar & Co. The premises occupied comprise a commodious twostory building 50x200 feet in dimensions, and is fully equipped with every facility as regards machinery and modern labor-saving appliances. Between fifty and seventy-five experienced operatives are employed, and the machinery is driven by a forty-horse power steam engine. Mr. Vilar manufactures all kinds of machine-cut corks, such as tapered, short, straight long corks, also beer, brewers' specie, and vial corks. For the convenience of wholesale dealers they are packed in five-gross bags, and the trade of the house extends throughout the United States. Mr. Vilar has had twenty-six years' experience in the trade, and is thoroughly acquainted with every detail of this useful industry. All orders are promptly and carefully filled at the lowest possible prices. Mr. Vilar was born in Spain, but has resided in the United States the greater part of his life. His machine-cut corks are unrivaled for quality, finish, and excellence, and have no superiors in this or any other market.

Quarter-century's Progress of New Jersey's Leading Manufacturing Centres ...

1900: Willow ave., Joseph Vilar 48, Spain, cork manufacturer, Annie Vilar 46 Joseph Vilar 24, clerk -- house, Peter Vilar 22, cork mft., William Vilar 17, cork mft, Edward Vilar 16, Grace Vilar 14, Annita Vilar 12

1910: 11th street, Joseph Villar 57, superintendent, cork factory, Annie Villar 56, 6 children 5 living, William M Villar 28, book keeper cork factory, Edward L Villar 26, surveyor tunnel construction, Grace G Villar 23 teacher public school

1910: Peter Vilar 32, cork factory machine operator, wage earner, Frances Vilar 26, wife

1916: Anita Vilar Birth Date: Abt 1889 Birth Place: Hoboken, New Jersey Gender: Female Age: 26 Spouse: Francis Joseph Kelly Child: Vilar Kelly FHL Film Number: 1288370 cook county birth Certificates.

1920: River street, Frances Kelly 34, executive Jones and Baker [?], Anita Kelly 30, Vilar Kelly 4 [4 5/12] , born Illinois William Vilar 37, brother in law, clerk, Grace Vilar 33, sister in law, teacher, P. S.


Weber & co., Cooperage Company - Ravine ave

1894: Charles Weber of Weber cooperage complained to the mayor of Hoboken of stench coming from a broken sewer near the cooperage on Ravine Road. Weber Cooperage was adjacent to the tracks of the New Jersey Junction Railroad. Wever Cooperage Company was on Ravine Road and New York Avenue. (Hoboken Musuem)

1895: National Telephone Directory, Hoboken Weber Cooperage Co - Coopers - head of Ferry.

1899: Nail kegs and Syrup Kegs, Weber Cooperage, Hoboken NJ

1901: Weber Cooperage Company, manufacturers of barrels and kegs; employs 105 persons.

1901: Name change from Weber cooperage to Fessenden co.

1902: Fessenden Cooperage Co head ferry, H. A. N Fessenden pres Edward Hachman sec and treas. a;so Fessedden alfred, pres. Fessenden Coopergae co. Twonsend Mass.

Fessenden, Townsend, Mass

1904: Fessenden cooperage all kinds of soft wood barrels.


Weber Cooperage Co., West Shore Railroad & Ravine Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 1892 - Rucore


Wright Health Underware Company - 624 to 632 Clinton street

1894: Wright's Underwear company Aetna mills was established in 1894.

1897: Iron Age, Volume 60

The American Blower Company, Detroit are enjoying excellent business. Among the important orders booked within the past fortnight are heating apparatus for the Chicago Ship Building Company, Chicago; Wayne Knitting Mills, Fort Wayne. Ind.; High School, Louisville. Ky.; Marsden Company, Owensboro, Ky; Wright's Health Underwear Company, Hoboken. N. J. and Hyatt Roller Bearing Company, Harrison. N. J.
1900/1901: Wright & Co., 632 Clinton street Hoboken was offering the "Fairy Bust Form" made from the finest shirred Mechlin net - non-irritating, cool and comfortable during months of constant wear - could be worn with high or low busted corset. 50 censt for sample pair, 75 Cents, silk covered $1.00, silk embroidered with lace insertions $1.50. Sent in a plain package. In other words, breast enhancement padding known as falsies.

1901: Hoboken, Wright Health Underwear Company, manufacturers of knit underwear; employs 160 persons.

1900: Wollen Manufacturers New York Wright's Health Underwear Co. Aetna Mills. Cap. 1120,000. S. Wright, Pres. and Supt.; S. Wright, Jr., (N. Y.) Treas.; W. D. Wright, Sec. (C,W,Wd and Silk.) Underwear. 9 Sets Cards. 2,800 Sp. 40 Knitting, 80 Sewing Machines. 4 Boilers. Buy Yarn. Employ 250. Sell Direct. 950 River St., 75 Franklin St., N. Y. (Also Hoboken, N. J., and Pownall Vt.)

1900: Wright, Wilkinson De Forest underwear manufacturer 75 Franklin Street, NY. Wright's' Health Underwear.

Secretary and director Wright's Health Underwear Co. Member New York Athletic and Delta Kappa Epsilon Clubs and Sons of the American Revolution.

1901: Wright's Health Underwear for men and women was advertised as "comfortable and kind". It was not scratchy. Made of pure wool in worsted and/or coton blends. Knitted with a patented loop stitch which makes the underwear absorbent. They body was kept dry and warm. "WINTER WINDS have no terrors for the man who wears Wright's Health Underwear."

1904: Fifteen girls went on strike at the Wright's underwear factory to protest a forelady that they did not like. The forelady left the company and most of the strikers positions were filled by others.

1906: Wright's Health Underwear Co., 628 Clinton St Hoboken

1906: WRIGHT'S HEALTH UNDERWEAR 628 Clinton st, W. D. Wright mgr.; Fleece lined and Ribbed Underwear for Men, Ladies and Children; 10 spring needle knitting and 125 sewing machines; steam; sell direct, 75 Franklin St. N. Y.; W. D. Wright byer; buy combed and carded Egyptian and Peeler Cotton. (Also at Cohoes and Troy, N. Y.)

Official American textile directory; containing reports of all the textile manufacturing establishments in the United States and Canada, together with the yarn trade index ... Comp. annually by the Textile world journal Published July 1906

1909: Offices 86 Franklin street, New York City

1910:

THE RIGHT UNDERWEAR IS WRIGHT UNDERWEAR

Wright's health underwear has been before the public twenty~three years, so many years that it needs no special commendation from us. Wearing this underwear has a tendency to prevent the closing of the pores, which causes cold: and congestion in difierent parts of the body. The underwear is made of selected high-grade wool and also of lines of Egyptian cotton and is the best in the market. Wright's underwear is knit on patented improved spring needle machines and the fabric produced his wonderful elastic properties. Dealers thruout the country have on sale Wright's heath underwear. An interesting booklet, entitled "Dressing for Health," will be sent free to subscribers of THE INDEPENDENT by addressing Wright's Health Underwear Company, 75 Franklin street, New York.

1915: Progressive Silk Finishing co was at 622-632 Clinton Street in Hoboken. They were incorporated in 1912.

1918: It would appear that the Wright's Underwear Company provided the US Army with underwear dring WWI.

Wilkinson D. Wright and family

SOLOMON WRIGHT

HOOSAC VALLEY KNITTING MILLS, POWNAL, VT. Solomon Wright, son of Pliny and Finette Wright, was born at Pownal, Vermont, September 7, 1837. He was fitted for college at the Pittsfield High School, took the full course, and graduated with the Commencement theme " Labor."

After graduation he entered into the manufacturing business in his native town, and has all these years continued in the different lines and with the varied fortunes of the cotton and woolen trade. He has served his place and generation as justice of the peace, trustee of the Baptist church, and representative in the Vermont Legislature.

FAMILY - Solomon Wright and Mary A. Brimmer were married at North Pownal, Vermont, May 16, 1860. Solomon L. Wright was born October 24, 1864; Wilkinson D. Wright was born June 30, 1872. The oldest son has just finished Freshman year at Williams. The youngest is at school in Pownal.

Four Years in College and Twenty-five Years Out of College, 1884.

Solomon Wright Sr. died April 2, 1912 in Troy New York.

1900: 'Deephaven', the Wilkinson de Forest Wright Sr. estate designed by James Brite c. 1900.

1910: North Hempstead, Wilkenson Wright 37, manufacturer underwear, Emily Wright 32, Wilkenson Wright 7, Emily W Wright 5, Jane Wright 0, [3] Bertha Graper 21, Gisela Sartori 31, Amelia Suess 28

1901:

Be it known that I, EMILY H. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Bust-Form, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bust-form which is simple and durable in construction, easily attached to a corset, and arranged to readily maintain its form and to give the outer garment a proper hang, the bust-form having sufficient dexibility to readily conform to the motions of the body without discomfort to the wearer.

Patent

1915: North Hempstead, Wilkinson D Wright 42 Emiley H Wright 36 W D Wright 12 Emily W Wright 10 Jeanet Wright 5 Akel Johnson 35 Lucy Swet 26 Alice Frost 29 Iva Rushkey 36

1920: Park Ave., Wilkins Wright 47, manufacturer wunderwear, Emily H Wright 41, Wilkins H Wright 17, Emily W Wright 15, Janet Wright 9, Delia Stanton 25, Elsa Osterlund 26, Francis Fitzpatrick 32

1930: Wilkinson Wright 58, divorced, Park Ave, renting, born Vermont proprietor woolen mill

1930: Park ave, Emily W Wright 52, divorced, Janet Wright 20, Evelyn Higinbotham 54, sister


Patent application of Emily Wright, 1901

Emily E Wright also applied for a Canadian patent for a corset cover in 1902.


State Inspection of Factories 1887

The New Jersey State Factory Inspection report listed 28 establishments in Hoboken in 1887. Information in this inspection included the name of the company, the goods manufactured, the number of male and female employees, the number of employees under age 16 (not designated by sex), and a description of the building.

The report indicated: 3 one story brick, 5 two story brick, 1 three story brick, 4 four story brick, 2 five story brick, 4 one story wood, 5 two story wood, 3 three story wood and a stone yard.

Employed: 1,156 males, 414 females, and 37 children under 16.

The biggest employer was the American Lead Pencil company who employed 100 males, 200 females and 16 under 16 years.

Other large employers of women were: Myenberg Silk who employed 125 women and Leyman & Clark pocketbooks who employed 35 women.

Businesses included: silk, surveying instruments, lead pencils, paper, pocketbooks, leather, planing mills, laundry, cork, paste, chemicals, iron railings, ink, coffins, oil cloths, window shades, cigars, stair maker, varnish, iron buckets, machinery, tallow, and a stone yard.


State Inspection of Factories 1890

The New Jersey State Factory Inspection report listed 37 establishments in Hoboken in 1890. Information in this inspection included the name of the company, the goods manufactured, the number of male and female employees, the number of employees under age 16 (not designated by sex).

Employed listed: 1,972 males, 421 females and 81 under age 16. 1 child under 6 was discharged.

American Lead Pencil was one of the major employers with 125 men, 200 women and 30 under age 16.

Meyenberg silk employed 125 men, 75 women and 10 under age 16. In 1887 they had employed 75 men and 125 women. Why the change?

The biggest employer was Fletcher & Co with 350 male employees, no women or children.

Businesses included many of those listed in 1887. New companies included the biggest employer, Fletcher & Co. machinery, a soap manufacturer who employed 10 men,, a brass goods manufacturer who employed 175 men and 25 women and other small companies

Big employers of women were: American Lead Pencil (200), Meyenberg's silk (75), Lehman & Clark pocketbooks (50) and William Schremper Brass goods (25).

Big employers of persons under age 16 were: American Leas Pencil (50), Lehman & clark (15) and Keuffel, Esser & Co., Meyenberg and Willimam Schremper with 10 each.


State Inspection of Factories 1892

Information in this inspection included the name of the company, the goods manufactured, the number of male and female employees, the number of employees under age 16 (not designated by sex).

Employed listed: 2,041 males, 784 females and 206 under age 16, one child was discharged

The biggest employers were: American Lead Pencil (150 males, 125 females 50 under 16), Fletcher & Co (300 males). Mp> Meyenberg silk company only employed 25 males 25 females and 5 under 16.

Big employers of women were: American Lead Pencil (125), Schrimper Brass (75), Lehman & Clark Pocketbooks (75), American Casket Company (75), Alex Altgo straw hats (100), Davis Powder (75)>

Big employers of persons under the age of 16 were: American Lead Pencil (50), Schrimper & Co. (25), Lehman & Clark (25), american Casket (20), Davis Powder (15) and Keuffel, Esser & Co (15).


Hoboken Firms in 1908

HOBOKEN BUSINESS FIRMS 1908 - Documents of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, Volume 136, Part 6 - listing name, product and number of employees:

  1. American Lead Pencil-Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . J Graphite products . 1,255

  2. American Mutoscope & Biograph C0...... Moving picture films.... 134.

  3. Atkinson, Wm..H. Co. . . . . . . . .. Machinery. . .100

  4. Autographic Register Co. . . . . . . . . . . .. Autographic registers . ....100

  5. Automatic Hook & Eye Co . . . . . . Spec. machinery & placket fasteners. . . . . 30

  6. Ayvad Mfg. Co., The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Water wings for swimmers... 20

  7. Baker, Wm. C., Heating & Supply Co ..... Hot water heaters . . . . . . . . 9

  8. Balas Freres, Ltd. . . . . . . . . Silk broad and ribbon... 111

  9. Bantz Bros. . . . . . . . . . . . Brush handles . . . . . . . . . . .. 12

  10. Barr, Thaw & Fraser Co., Inc.. .. ..Cut stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24

  11. Beck Bros. . . . . . . . Silk goods . . . . . . . I2

  12. Buchholtz, C., Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Fireplace trimmings . . . . . . 45

  13. Cabot Mfg Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Millwork. . . . . . . . . 30

  14. Century Machine Co., The . . . . . . . . . . . . Machinery. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3

  15. Chapman Trim Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Doors, sashes & blinds... 20

  16. Consolidated Iron Works . . . . . . . . . . .. Wheelbarrows, boilers and engines.. .............. 30

  17. Cooper Hewitt Electric Co.......Electric lamps . .. .. .. .. . . . 150

  18. Courtade, Joseph N. . . . . .. Piano cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

  19. Cravenette Co., U. S. A.... Waterproofing wool and silk fabrics.... 36

  20. Davis, R. B., Co . . . . . . . . . .. Baking powder and corn starch.................. 150

  21. Dorsett, T. W., Co. . . . . . . . . .. Sheet metal cornices . . . . .. 20

  22. Emerson-Remsen Co., Paper.................... 84

  23. Ferguson Bros. Mfg. C0.. .. Screens & furniture novel.....350

  24. Ferguson, F., & Son . . . . . . . Machinery castings . .. .. .. 60

  25. Finlay, E. & W. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Ladies' neckwear . . . . . . . .. 35

  26. Fisher, S. & Co . . . . . . . Confectionery. . . 125

  27. Fletcher, W. & A . . . . . . . . .. Marine engines & boilers.. 550

  28. Focht, George, Sons . . . . .. Hoisting buckets, iron castings,etc. 150

  29. Geissler, R., Inc. . . . Church furniture & furnishings.... # of employees not recorded

  30. Grove Straw Hat Mfg Co . . . . . . . . . . .. Straw hats . .. .. . . . .. .. . . 200

  31. Hall, Perry E. . . . . . . . . . .. Sashes, doors & blinds... 25

  32. Hoboken Brass Foundry .. Brass castings . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

  33. Hoboken Paper Mill Co. .. Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 65

  34. Hoboken Ribbon Co. .. Silk ribbons . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 186

  35. Horwood, E. H. 82: Co . . . . .. Children's underwaists.... 150

  36. Hotopp Varnish Co., The . . . . . . . . . . . .. Varnish. . . . . ........ .. . .. 7

  37. Kemmet, G. & F. Jrs.. .. Paper boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21

  38. Keuffel & Esser Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Surveying & nautical instruments.............. 750

  39. Knoburn Company . . . . . . .. Sheet metal work, fireproof doors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75

  40. Kostelecky, Joseph . . . . . Carriages and wagons. . . . . 5

  41. Lehman & Co. . . . . . . . . .Leather goods . . . .. .. .. . 200

  42. Lutz. Alois M. . . . . . . . Lighting fixtures . . . .. .. .. . 20

  43. Machine Mfg. Co. . . . . . . Machinery. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . 20

  44. Mayer, Robert & Co . . . . . . . . Lithographing inks and varnishes.................. 17

  45. McCleery Button C0. . . . . . . . . Buttons, covered tacks and nails.......... 60

  46. Moller, Henry . . . . . .Castings brass and bronze ...... 6

  47. Murray, Leslie & Matheson....... Granite trimmings . . . . . . .. 16

  48. National Casket C0. . . . . . . . .Caskets and coffins . . . . .. 130

  49. Neumann, R., & Co . . . . . . . . .. Leather goods . . . . . . . . . . .. 225

  50. N. Y. Silicate Bookslate Co.. .. .. Bookslates, silicate . . . . . . .. 15

  51. N. Y. Switch & Crossing Co..... .. Railroad equipment, frogs, rails,etc...... 100

  52. Nilson-Miller Co. . . . . . . .Gas engines, auto parts, etc..... 25

  53. Oriental Metal Bed Co . . . . . . . Brass and iron bedsteads.. 150

  54. Owens & Traeger . . . . . . . . . . . . Paper boxes . . . . . . . . . . . .. 250

  55. Pflugh, Albert, & Co . . . . . . . . . . .Paints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

  56. Quackenbush, George . . . . . . . Silk - broad and ribbon... 30

  57. Reedy Elevator Co. . . . . . . . . . .Elevators, freight and passenger. . . . . . 100

  58. Robinson, John J., Co . . . . . . . . . .Millinery novelties and specialties.............. 75

  59. Schimper, Wm., & Co . . . . . . . . . . . . Silver and plated novelties..... 225

  60. Schrenk & Co. . . . . . . . Mirrors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 70

  61. Schwarzwalder, J., & Sons . . . . . . Cooperage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 150

  62. Shult's Bread Co. . . . . . . . Bread. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 250

  63. Stanley, J. & W . . . . . . . . . . Cooperage. . . . 14

  64. Stenken, A. &Son . . . . . . . . . Soap..................... 8

  65. Tidewater Iron Works . . . . . . . .Plate, sheet & forged work .....16

  66. Tietjen & Lang Dry Dock Co . . . . .Shipbuilding & repairing.. 900

  67. Union Iron Works . . . . . . . . . Sheet steel & plate Work.. 50

  68. United Cork Co. . . . . . . . . . .Cork products . . . . . . . . . . .. 25

  69. United States Rattan Co . . . . . . . Rattan furniture specialties . . . . 35

  70. Willow Mfg. Co. . . . . . . .T Silk winding & quilling... 85

  71. Woodman, Joel H . . . . . . . . . Veneer seatings . .. . . . . . 100


Child Labor

1880: Anne Byer 40, Mary Byer 17, works in silk factory, John Byer 15, works in silk factory, Lena Byer 12, works in silk factory, Maggie Byer 9
JESSE ANDREW DAVIS

Jesse Andrew Davis, second vice-president of R. C. Hoffman & Company, Incorporated, and known in all circles of mechanical engineering, traces the origin of his family to Wales. In that country the name was originally used as a family name in its Biblical form, which gradually became changed to Davies or Daves, and when it passed across the border into England it was changed in the majority of cases to Davis, its present form in this country also. There are many of the name to be found at the present day in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and America, but all have had this common origin. Mr. Davis is an alert and enterprising business man, but he does not believe in the concentration of effort on business affairs to the entire exclusion of outside interests, and he has a just appreciation of the social amenities of private life.

Andrew Jackson Davis, father of Jesse Andrew Davis, was a man of strong character, prompt action and a decided determination. For many years he served as assistant superintendent of steamboat service of the Erie Railroad at the Weehawken terminal in New Jersey. He married Amanda Woodhull Houston.

Jesse Andrew Davis was born in South Amboy, New Jersey, December 6, 1870. His early education was acquired in the public schools of his native village and under private tuition, and he then entered Hoboken High School. He was fourteen years of age when he accepted the position of office boy with the American Lead Pencil Company, at Hoboken, New Jersey, and, by means of continuing his studies under private tuition in his spare time and attending the New York Evening High School, he was enabled to pass the entrance examination to Stevens Institute at the age of sixteen years, having the same standing as boys who had continued their studies without the encroachment of a business occupation. The determined character of the youth was shown in this admirable standing, as were many of the other excellent traits which were his by inheritance. As a student at the Stevens Institute of Hoboken he was always among the foremost in his studies and was graduated from this institution in 1891 as a mechanical engineer. Since that time he has been steadily engaged in earnest labor and has been devoted to his lifework. His first position after his graduation was under the superintendent of motive power for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, George B. Hazlehurst, with whom he was engaged for a period of two years, reporting to the mechanical engineer of the road from the draughting room; he was then inspector for the engineer of tests for two years; and for three years was engaged in locomotive experimental work and inspection of cars which were being built by the Michigan Peninsula Car Company, and inspector of locomotives which were being built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He severed his connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company in 1897, and spent the next three years in the United States Navy Department as an expert steel inspector. The work of these three years was arranged as follows: A part of the time he was detailed to the Midvale Steel Company to inspect the machinery forgings for the battleships Kearsarge and Kentucky, which were being manufactured by this company; thence to the inspection of the seamless steel tubes for torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers, which were being manufactured by the Shelby Tube Company; and, finally, to the Pennsylvania Steel Company and the Central Iron and Steel Company, which were manufacturing the material for a floating steel drydock to be erected at Algiers, Louisiana. The next business connection of Mr. Davis was with the sales department of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, Maryland Steel Company, and Central Iron and Steel Company, and the outcome of these connections was his present position as second vice-president of R. C. Hoffman & Company, Incorporated, who are the southern sales agents of the above-mentioned companies. The rise of Mr. Davis in his business career can only be attributed to his natural sagacity, his executive ability and keen powers of observation. In comparing his humble beginning with his present standing in the business world one can but be struck with the commanding force of energetic perseverance in the business operations in which he has been engaged. Mr. Davis is the same unpretentious, earnest man that he was at the beginning of his career, but in the meantime he has abundantly verified the good opinions of his many friends. He takes no active part in the political affairs of his city, but votes consistently with the Republican party. He has never lost his early fondness for outdoor forms of amusement, and finds great pleasure at the present time in golf and yachting. His fraternal affiliations are with the Harrisburg Club, Baltimore Country Club, Baltimore Yacht Club, of which he is at present secretary and treasurer, Baltimore Athletic Club, and the Merchants' Club.

Mr. Davis married, November 4, 1907, Lucy Chilton Kloman, of Warrenton, Virginia, and they have one daughter. Mrs. Davis is the daughter of Edward F. and Agnes Pickett (Helm) Kloman; granddaughter of Erasmus and Virginia (Aisquith) Helm; great-granddaughter of Captain William and Agnes (Pickett) Helm. All of these ancestors, whether in a direct line or by intermarriage, are of distinguished families. Virginia (Aisquith) Helm was the daughter of Captain E. A. Aisquith, granddaughter of William E. Aisquith, and is of the same branch of the family as the present prime minister of Great Britain.

Baltimore: Biography


If you have any suggestions, corrections, information, copies of documents, or photos that you would like to share with this page, please contact me at maggie@maggieblanck.com

New York City and Brooklyn also had German enclaves. See New York City Images

Germans in America

CHURCHES WAYS TO THE HEIGHTS HUDSON STREET
NEWARK STREET CHURCHES PARKS
JUNE 30, 1900 FIRE PHOTOS OF THE FIRE THE PIERS
PUBLIC BUILDINGS TRAIN STATION STEVENS INSTITUTE
TUNNEL WASHINGTON STREET
German Americans in Hoboken

Story of the Hoboken Pier Fire, June 1900

Images of the Hoboken Pier Fire, June 1900


Blanck, Erxmeyer, Kettler, Land, and Petermann addresses in Hoboken

Photos of Meta Petermann Land, Annie Petermann Wulpern, Tina (Katherine) Bunger Heuer, Mildred Rost Benedix, Ella Olsen Fuller - five young women from Hoboken

For information and images of the old buildings and signs as seen today go to Forgotten Street Scenes

For more old Hoboken images go to New Jersey Digital Highway

Please feel free to link to this web page.


©Maggie Land Blanck - Page created 2016 - Latest update, March 2016