Abel Austin Bozarth

I have heard it said that there was an Abel Austin Bozarth that worked at the mill at Batsto in the late 19th century. I have never seen this fellow on any of the censuses for Washington Township, although he could have lived outside of Batsto and just worked there. The man mentioned above lived in Mullica Township, right outside of Batsto, as late as 1860, but by 1880 he was in Trenton. An article from the Batsto Citizen's Gazzette places an Abel Austin Bozarth at Batsto in 1883, however. (The Batsto Citizens Gazette Vol XXVIII, No. 1 - Winter/Spring 1994). This article only cites "letters", presumably in the collection of Wharton papers at Batsto.. All it says about Bozarth is the following:

In 1883, every effort was being made to increase the production of wood products at Batsto. The recent employment, by owner Joseph Wharton, of George Wright as manager at Batsto was meant to raise production and hence profits. Wright, who was apparently not knowledgeable about lumbering or sawmills, quickly began to improve the sawmill operation, leaning heavily on Batsto sawyer Abel Austin Bozarth for advice. Bozarth, a Millwright, earned the respect of Wright with his valuable advice on much needed new machinery for the sawmill.

The article goes on to say:
"As quickly as possible, Wright and Bozarth upgraded the sawmill. They were looking for a joiner and a planer to improve the products fo the mill and were also in the market looking for a new butting saw, another shingle saw, and a new edging saw. Letters indicate that Bozarth was not satisfied with the first planer, as it was "too slow for our purpose". Another planer was found and installed but correspondence notes that the machine was taken "on trial" and would not be paid for unless it proved more satisfactory than the first one installed at the Batsto mill."

It is noteworthy that the article refers to George Wright several times, although it also refers to him as Elias as well. To my knowledge the manager of Batsto under Joseph Wharton was an Elias, not a George Wright. Small detail, I know, but it does make one doubt the writer's fact checking. However, it does seem likely that there was a Bozarth involved in sawing at the Batsto mill at that time; whether or not he is the same as the man above it still uncertain.