Gloucester County Democrat., 1893-03-09

notwithstanding that very large and
respectable minority of the citizens were
bitterly opposed to its adoption. The resi-
dents outside the Borough limits also made
some considerable objections, and opposi-
tion, but these were finally overcome by
some concessions which now appear in the
act of incorporation as adopted.
The act of incorporation was passed In
both branches of the Legislature on March
18th, 1870. Samuel Hopkins, Esq, was
then Senato or from this county, and Nimrod
| Woolery and Leonard F. Harding were
Members of the House of Assembly, all of
whom gave loyal aid to the Committee
having the matter il charge in securing
the speedy passage of the bills. The late
James Moore, Esq, also did valiant service
in re-engrossing the entire bill after it had
been suspiciously mislaid by the Chairman
of Committee on Municipal Corporations,
a Senator from Hudson county. Senator
Hopkins deserves the everlasting gratitude
of all our citizens for his unwayering snp-
port of the passage of our act of incorpora-
| tion. The annual Borough charter election
occurred the next day, and to show how
closely our citizens were then divided on
the subject, and how small the total vote
was then as compared with what is cast
now, the result of that election is given
herewith:
| CITY TICKET, ANTI-C1TY TICKET.
James H. Pierson, 1as. VIM D. Scott, LOG.
John H. Bradway, 127, West Jessup, 119.
| Thomas B. Joslin, 121, Geo. w. Dr1yer, 1l5.
| Adon w. Cattell, 122, ]. w. Patterson, 1OS.
J. Palmer fullerton. 13O, James Dilks, 112.
| VIM. s. Vandervere, 1l9, John Rachor, 1O2.
Jacob B. Glover, 1876, Wm E. Hopkins, 104.
| CITY CLERK.
Geo. Z. Pierson, 1872. John L. G. Tatum. 101.
COLLECTOR; -,
''p'nA AD'0''' TREASURER. apo - - .'''
John NJ. Saunders s5Isssop lI$s William Scott, 1s1.
- - --'-->'S- MARSHALL. = ' -
Com. OF APPEAL
Edward M ar ". Clayton, iss, A. 6. johnson, Ill
The election was warmly contested. and
a strong effort made by both sides to get
out the full vote of the town. Notwith-
standing this fact, it will be noticed that
the total vote was then only 235. What a
striking contrast when compared with our
present number, over 900. This shows in
very marked manner the growth of our
City in population in a little oyer 20 years.
This Council was organized March 23d,
! 1870, to whom the Committee appointed to
prepare revised charter for the govern
ment of the Borough reported that they
had prepared the same had it printed and
submitted to the people for their consid-
Grafton, and at a larger meeting of the
citizens were instructed to present it to the
| Legislature which had been done, and said
act was unanimously passed by both
branches of the Legislature, and it was
therefore law, to take effect on the first
day of January next, 1871. The report of
| the Committee was accepted.
| The first election under the new charter
was held March 18th, 1871. The following
Councilman and other officers were elected,
after very exciting contest, by very de-
cided majority
Mayor-Alexander Wentz
ColtnciL-John H. Rradway, j. Palmer Fuller
ton, Thomas B. sJoslin, Charles W. Starr, Benja-
min W. Cloud, Samuel W. Stokes, Daniel J.
Packer, John NJ. Henderson. George E. Harris
GssessoT@James Il. PiersonS
Collector and IfeGSufer-Adon w. Cattell.
Freeholders-John M. Saunders, John /. Esten
| MdrshdLJ-William Watkins
OF this number of men, all are now liv-
| ing except two-Mayor Wentz and Geo.
E. Harris, who died before he completed
his term of Office as Councilman. l may be
pardoned if digress for moment to speak
| tenderly of his memory. He was the man
who was chiefly instrumental in organic
ing the Woodbury. Real Estate Mutual
Loan Association, and to him feel deeply
| indebted for such success and reputation as
may have come to me from my connection
with it. He was an active and energetic
man, and faithful friend. His death was
deeply regretted, and was public loss.
J ''His pen is rust.
| His hands are dust,
His soul is with
The saints, trust.
Under provision of the City Charter,
! the members elect were required to draw
! lots as to the length OF term each should
first serve, for one, two and three years, so
| that at each annual election thereafter, only
three Councilme n should be elected every
year. Messrs. Broadway, Starr and Fuller
ton drew the term of one year Messrs
Joslin, Cloud and Stokes, 2 years and
Messrs. Henderson, Packer and Harris
three years.
Thomas Brooke Joslin was unanimously
elected the first President of Council, and
was reelected continuously during his en-
| tire term of service of five years,
| Our new local legislative body at once
commenced the arduous duties required of
them by the act of incorporation. Their
meetings during the year were very fire.
quent, and their attention to their several
duties were faithfully performed. Many
needed Improvements were inaugurated,
and their acts were SO generally acceptable
| that the issue of corporation or anti-cor-
| poration has never been agitated since.
| Their public course secured for them this
endorsement from our then leading local
paper, the C0nstit
During the past year measures have
been instituted having for their object the
| rmanent improvement and dvancement of
our town. The expenditures have been iu-
diciously made-nothing exorbitantly paid
for. As the wishes OF our people have
been made known, they haye been re-
spected. Prudence, economy, straight
| forwardness and integrity have guided
the present members of Council in the dis
/ charge of their duties. Now what is the
clear duty of our citizens in the approach
/ ing election? 1t is question which af-
I fects our town in more respects than one.
1t is due to the outgoing members that
their course should be approved it is due
to the present and future interests of the
town that they should be reelected We
have plain word to our people. 1t is this
Il Let nothing detain you from coming to the
polls and voting. You become participants
in any wrong committed, if you fail to full
fill this your known duty. 1t is entrusted
to each man to see that our town receives
no detriment and he who neglacts to dis
charge this obligation is cens,Table for any
subsequent misgovernment OK violation OF
the will of the people. There Sra no ex-