Ocean County , NJ History

New Jersey Mirror 14 Jul 1905 Charles Wischnewske, an aged Polish laborer on the farm of his stepdaughter, Mrs. Robert Hewitt, near Bridgeboro, committed suicide on Wednesday morning by shooting himself through the heart while in a bedroom of the house. Mrs. Hewitt was in the barn at the time she heard the fatal pistol shot. When she arrived upon the scene of the tragedy under the aged suicide was on the floor scene, and the revolver he had used, his arm. Help soon arrived on the but it was too late, as the old man had made death sure and almost instantaneous by piercing his heart with the well directed shot from a 32-calibre revolver. Coroner Grobler, of Moorestown, viewed the body and gave a death certificate. People of Bridgeboro and vicinity were greatly shocked upon hearing of the tragedy. The victim had lived there for several years and was highly respected. Despondency is the only cause known for Wischnewake's rash act.

from the New Jersey Courier 28 Sep 1870 Alexander Conklin has presented a silver communion service of five pieces to the Methodist Church at Bricksburg. Rev. Mr. Ogborn preached at the Methodist Church, Toms River, Sunday night and received a collection of $21 for the aid of the M.E. Church at Bricksburg. Lewis, Blackman, and Co. have sold their extensive business to F.M. Marston Kelsey and Blackman have purchased the lumber yard of Fuller and Noble, at Bricksburg. A December 11th article describes their business: "Mr. B informed us that he had got through with middle men and was purchasing quite largely direct of the Manufacturers of Canadian lumber at Burlington, VT. By so doing he was saving quite largely and giving his customer the benefit thereof." Perkins and Townsend have sold out their hardware store to a party who design to open a crockery and hardware store. Moses Bachrach has got a splendid stock of Fall and Winter dry goods in his store The Bricksburg Manu...

Frank Horner, of Bridgeboro, who was committed to jail on June 15 when he failed to furnish $1,000 bail after he had been charged with bigamy, was the first called. Through his counsel, Aaron E. Burr, he entered a plea of non vult contendere. The admission of the charge practically ended the case so far as the hearing was concerned, but Mr. Burr believed that there were "extenuating circumstances," that should be made known to the Court, and he was permitted to proceed. The complainant in the case was Mrs. Horner No. 1, who was Miss Laura A. Edwards, of Delanco, and she was called to the stand. She stated that she married Horner on November 12, 1901. Her testimony showed that from the time of their union until their final separation they lived a rather strenuous life, as the final was their fourth separation. Various causes were assigned for their troubles. When she heard of her husband's second matrimonial venture, which took place at the Riverside Lutheran church on Jun...

This story comes to us from the New Jersey Courier on 2 Aug 1929 BEACH HAVEN AXE MURDERER FOUND INSANE BY JURY Sam Conklin, Who Battered John Carlson's Head With Axe, Called Insane By Dr. Cotton A jury of seven men and five women, taken from the regular petit jury panel of the December term, on Wednesday pronounced Samuel T. Conklin, Beach Haven, as insane and unfit to stand trial for the murder of John Carlson. Conklin had previously, since his arrest, admitted the killing of Carlson on his (Conklin's) houseboat near Beach Haven, on Sunday night, December 16 last in a drunken brawl. Carlson's body was found next morning along the main road to Beach Haven, his head smashed in with an axe, and his face battered. A wide trail showed that the body had been dragged from Conklin's houseboat on the bay shore. Conklin said that they had a quarrel over a sick dog and he had killed Carlson, or the other man would have killed him. Conklin was indicted for murder. Before t...

from the New Jersey Mirror 24 Jul 1889 Samuel L. Little, of Bridgeboro finally succeeded in committing suicide Friday by hanging himself up to a rafter in his blacksmith shop, where he was found by Smith Loyd and William Meeks early in the morning dead. Mr. Litle who has for some time shown signs of derangement and who has been in confinement once, but was deemed sufficiently recovered to be released, was a sufferer from nervous dyspepsia, and had gotten the idea into his head that his place was going to ruin, hence the deed which he attempted once before about Easter. The deceased did a good day's work on Thursday and went to bed apparently all right, but was missed by his wife about five o'clock in the morning. He had cut one of the ropes from the hammock and going to his blacksmith shop, near the house, tied it around his neck, then taking a chair he fastened the other end to a rafter and kicked the chair away. When found his feet touched the ground but he was dead.

That was the headline of 12 Oct 1917 in the New Jersey Courier When Samuel Chattin of Pasadena yesterday noon saw smoke rolling up from the big Brooks Brae plant at that place, he and his son rushed to the plant, and peering through the window into the fiery furnace within, he saw the body ofhis own twelve year old daughter, Hannah, lying uon a cot beside that of a man. The interior of the room was flame and smoke, and the roof was tumbling in, so they dared not enter. With the aid of neighbors they got pieces of timber through the window and worked the cot nearly to the window, when the cot overturned and the bodies rolled off. Later the little girl's body was taken from the ruins, just the trunk and part of the head; that of the man was also found, with arms, legs and head missing. It was an Austrian, Gildo Plazziano, who was watchman at the brick plant. The big brick plant said to have cost from ten to twenty thousand dollars to build, was wiped out by the flames. Prosecuto...

A Burlington county tragedy of 14 years ago, when a 16-year-old boy plotted the death of a man living with his mother, was brought to light in Burley, Idaho, on Friday when Charles W. Quigley, formerly of Moorestown, told authorities how his murder plan had miscarried and his mother was killed. The murder plot had been placed in records as an accident, when Mrs. Worthy Quigley was burned to death while lighting a fire with kerosene on the Arthur Collins farm, on April 29, 1925. Quigley told Idaho police that his mother had parted from his father who lived at 55 Elmer street, Bridgeton, a few months before the tragedy in 1925. She had taken up residence with William H. McIntosh, who passed away two years ago at the Lakeland sanitarium, unaware that he had been marked for death. On the Moorestown farm the woman posed as McIntosh's wife, and the boy, smarting under the shame and hating his "foster father," had plotted his death. Quigley said that he had emptied the tank of...

On the 1880 Federal Census for Bordentown Township, Burlington County, there are a handful of households that the census enumerator has indicated were on "Beddles Island". If anyone knows anything more about this place, please send us an e-mail. The households listed in Beddles Island in 1880 were those of : Joseph Fox William Beatty E. Thomas Beatty George Armstrong James Wright

New Jersey Courier 20 Apr 1917 Friday Judge Jeffrey received the plea of a number of prisoners, and fixed bail. Joseph P. Johnson of West Point Pleasant, charged with beating up his wife, and the mother of his children, Bessie Johnson, pleaded not guilty. Trial was set for April 30. Having no one to go his bail, but owning real estate, he was allowed to go on his recognizance, and Arthur P. Gallagher of Lakewood, was assigned to defend him.

The following grim story appeared in the New Jersey Courier on 22 Sep 1939: "A heart rending tragedy touched Ocean County homes Tuesday when Albert J. King, aged 36, and father of 3 small children, and Marie Pirozzi, aged 26, of Bergen avenue, Lakewood, were found dead in the rear seat of King's car in the woods near Lacey Road, about five miles West of Forked River. The man and woman were evidently victims of a suicide pact, as the police and Coroner J. Anderson have found no evidence of violence. The terrible discovery was made by William Cranmer of Forked River, who noticed the car in the woods as he drove along Lacey Road Tuesday afternoon. When he returned about 6:3w0 he again saw the machine and investigated. He found King's body sitting on the side of the rear seat of the car, and Mrs. Pirozzi's body was lying across the seat with her head nestled in his lap. A hose had been taped to the exhaust pipe of the car and pushed through a crack in the floor so as to...

From the New Jersey Mirror Jan 14 1920 Found lying unconscious along the road-side near Georgetown,on Saturday night, John Wormwood, a jitney driver, of Trenton, 54 years old, was taken in an army car to the hospital at Camp Dix where he revived sufficiently to tell how he had been attacked by three men dressed in soldiers' uniforms, whom he had taken in as passengers. He described the men and said that when a lonely spot hed been reached one of them, a shory stocky soldier, wearing an overseas cap, had beaten him over the head with a heavy army revolver. When attacked Wormwood said that he had $300 in money in his clothes. A search by the hospital authorities failed to find the money, which the highwaymen are supposed to have taken after beating the jitney driver into insensibility. He was able to give a partial description of his assailants and tell how they had beaten and shot him and thrown him out along the roadside while they drove off in the jitney man's car. The ca...

the following appeared in the New Jersey Mirror on 1 Jun 1865: A man calling himself John Deacon, was committed to Jail in this town (Mount Holly), on the 23d ult., charged with an atrocious assault upon Charles Mount, a colored man, living in Burlington, thereby causing his death. The circumstances of the case are as follows: On the 15th instant, Mount had a difficulty with a man named Samuel Wilson, which resulted in a fight between them. While the struggle was going on, and when Mount was upon the ground, Deacon deliberately went up and kicked him severely in the neck. The injury at the moment, was not thought to be serious, but shortly after Wilson and Mount were separated, it was found that the neck of the latter commenced swelling, and he continued to grow worse from the effects of the wound, and died on Thursday evening the 18th. An Inquest was summoned by the Coroner, J. Kingdon, and after a long and careful investigation, a verdict was rendered that Mount came to his deat...

New Jersey Courier 20 Sep 1918 An adjourned meeting of the council was held on Saturday evening. Ordinances covering the building of commercial buildings, regulating the building of outhouses and for the making of the R.R. crossing of the Penna. R.R. at Atlantic Boulevard were up for first reading; all ordinances were approved and ordered published. Each of these ordinances will be a big asset to Beachwood and should have the approval of all Beachwoodites. F. Fay of new York City is currently occupying Miss Gant's cottage on Capstan Avenue for a few weeks. W.Warrow has left for New York City to secure a position. Mrs. Warrow and the two kiddies will join Billy in a few days. The clubhouse will seem rather deserted without "Little Billy" as he certainly helped to make things lively this summer. Dry wells seem to be in order, and it is rather an expensive job to have the wells put down a few feet further. Mr. Smith has moved to his new house on Beachwood Boulevard. ...

from the New Jersey Mirror 6 Aug 1863 The man killed at Florence, on Monday of last week, was named John Quinn. His death should be a warning to all Philadelphia rowdies who visit our pleasant river towns, during the summer months, for a grand frolic. In this instance, a large number came up in the "Edwin Forrest," to Florence, on a pic-nic(sic.). Many of them got quite drunk and were constantly insulting the citizens and acting in a disorderly and disreputable manner. Justice Stewart gave several of them to understand that they must behave themselves or it would be necessary to arrest them. This, however, had no effect, and they continued their riotous proceedings until a short time before the boat was to leave, when they assailed the store and dwelling of Mr. Stewart, which they pelted with stones, breaking his windows, &c.; they also assailed Mr. Stewart and his wife with the same missiles, inflicting wounds on them both; and, against every remonstrance of Mr. Stewar...

from the New Jersey Mirror 2 May 1861 Considerable excitement prevailed in Crosswicks, on Monday of last week, in consequence of an attempted murder and suicide. A German shoemaker, named Matthews Blitzer, have some suspicion of his wife's faithfulness to him, determined to kill her, but fortunately, failed in his purpose. He attacked her while she had a young child in her arms, and tried to stab her with a shoemaker's knife--but its bluntness and the thickness of her clothing, prevented the accomplishment of the deed. He then drew the knife across her throat and down her breast, making fearful wounds. Holding her infant in one arm, she applied her apron to her throat to stop the flow of blood, and ran to the nearest neighbor for assistance. Blitzer, immediately after inflicting the wounds upon his wife, cut his own throat, and started across the street, with his hand upon the wound, the blood streaming frightfully down his body. As he was about entering a house opposite his o...

NEW JERSEY MIRROR DEC 29 1859 On Tuesday last, the Warren County Courts commenced, and it was expected that the case of Jacob S. Harden, for the murder of his wife, would be the first taken up. --The trial promises to be long and tedious.-- Over one hundred and twenty-five witnesses have already been subpoenaed, and more will doubtless be summoned before the close of the trial. The prosecution will be conducted by Attorney-General Dayton and Prosecuting Attorney Vleit. Harden will be defended by Ex-Chancellor Williamson, J. G. Shipman and David A. Depue. In advance of the trial, the Warren Journal gives the following sketch of Mr. Harden and his late wife, which is not only interesting in itself, but essential to a correct understanding of the merits of the issue, about to be determined Jacob Snover Harden is the son of Mr. John Harden, a respectable and worthy farmer of some means, residing on the Paulin's Kill, near Blairstown in Warren County. At about the age of ten or twe...

29 Mar 1860, from the New Jersey Mirror On Friday morning last(March 23, 1860), Philip Lynch, convicted at the December term of the Court, of the murder of George Coulter, suffered the extreme penalty of the law, in the yard of the County Jail, in this town(Mount Holly.) The murder of Coulter was one of peculiar atrocity. A brief review of the facts in the case, may not be unacceptable. On the night of the 23d of September last(1859), Coulter and Lynch met at a house in Bordentown, where there was quite a gathering of persons and a raffle going on. After remaining there a short time, Lynch, according to the testimony of Coulter's little boy, who was with him, invited Coulter to go to his (Lynch's) house, which he did. They sat down and commenced drinking. Lynch, shortly after they entered the house, brought a gun from up stairs and showed it to Coulter, remarking that he was "not afraid of anybody while he had that." Soon after, one Peter Conlin came in, and joi...

All of these indictments were handed down by the grand jury in late September 1936: Kenneth Martingale(sic), of New York, for involuntary homicide, by automobile, of William Chase in Bass River township on June 27th. Martindale's car struck Chase and the latter died from his injuries. Arthur Rachor is charged with embezzlement of $1,500 from the State of New Jersey while he was employed at Four Mile Colony. Stacy Wilkins, Evesham, seduction under promise to marry Doris Day, under 21 years of age. Otto Dush, Florence, uttering(sic) worthless ceck(sic) for $200 to Alexander Dasakl. William Gross, Moorestown, assault and battery on Lulu Gross; also desertion and neglect. Harry W. Gifford, Pemberton township, assault and battery on Thomas F. Duff. William Wheeler, Florence, assault and battery on May Wheeler. Earl Schwed, Burlington, malicious mischief, consisting of throwing eggs at gas pump and building of Clarence Curlis. Dennis Hill, Jack Smith, Stanley Kedzierski, Walter ...

In the August 31st, 1854, issue of the New Jersey Mirror, a rather strange story was related from Washington Township. It seems that sometime in 1853, two men worked for William H. Sooy. They were apparently Germans, as Sooy had many Germans working for him and was unsure of the names when asked a year later about the men. At any rate, it appears that John Meyer was accused by another worker, a man named Mulheiser, of mistreating his wife. Mulheiser evidently intervened to prevent what he deemed inappropriate behavior on Meyer's part. The story relates that Meyer sought revenge on Mulheiser, and went to his cabin with a gun and a knife. Mulheiser evidently fled out the window, and immediately obtained a warrant for Meyer and had him arrested. The other workers intervened at that point, and apparently smoothed everything out. Both men soon left Sooy's, and Sooy believed Meyer ended up working at the Jackson glassworks. At any rate, a man named John Muller seems to have hear...

All I know about this place right now is that it is in Bass River Township, and at one point in time was known as Bass River Neck. It is located between Route 9 and Hammonton Road running down to the Mullica River. It was at this place that the first Quaker and Methodist Churches were built in the area of Hillside Cemetery. When the Methodist Church moved to it's present location on Route 9, the old church building was moved across Hillside Lane and converted into the Frogtown Schoolhouse. (This information kindly provided by Peter H. Stemmer and is taken from an article he wrote for the Bass River Gazzette in Oct 1998. Used with his permission.) There are a few items in a couple of issues of the New Jersey Mirror which mention Frogtown, though it's not clear if this is the same place or not: 4 Nov 1818: Sale of 30 acres of woodland near Ong's Hat, adjoining lands of William Hilyard and others. The land is covered with pine, chestnut, and white oak. Also a house an...