Ocean County , NJ History

New Jersey Courier 25 May 1905

Brookville Residents, 1930 This is, or was, a small community in Ocean Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, near Waretown I don't know much about the place or its history, but below I have transcribed the 1930 Census along with notes on the families who lived there at that time. In 1930, there were only fifteen occupied residences in Brookville. About 44 people made up the entire village. (Compare this with 1920: there were 14 homes, and 45 people). According to the 1930 census, only two of the families (Joseph Spiska and Charles Gynakovic) did not own a radio set at the time. Federal Census For Brookville, 1930 "Main Road" - the streets apparently were not named in Brookville in 1930. BACHMAN FAMILY I can't make out the first name of the head of house for this home, but the last name definitely looks like "Bachman". It's hard to be sure though, as the writing is very sloppy on this entry. At any rate, this house had five residents in ...

DEATHS Woodward-March 28, 1900, near New Egypt, Robert E. Woodward Estlow-at Manahawkin, March 28, Mrs. Hezekiah Estlow. Manion--at Lakehurst, April 1, 1900, John Manion, aged 67 years. Cowan--at Lakehurst, April 3, 1900, Samuel D. Cowan, aged 65 years.

From the New Jersey Courier 28 Sep 1905 Mr. Crabbe made a trip to New York this week. Mr. Porter has returned to this place. Dr. Jones gave us a call last Monday. Howard Lee was over to Toms River on Saturday last. Bennie Havens has been on the sick list but is slowly recovering. Samuel Estlow and family are visiting relatives in Waretown. Mr. Richmond of Forked River was here Friday, with a load of fruit and vegetables. Mrs. Crabbe and family drove from Toms River on Wednesday. Messrs. Crabbe and Porter are continually making improvements in their Double Trouble property. Quite an exciting time here last Tuesday night when one of the iron gray horses deliberately walked out of the barn and gave the men quite a long chase before he would allow them to catch him. N. Herbert spent Saturday evening in Toms River.

From the New Jersey Courier 25 May 1905 Out little town looks very pretty in its spring dress of green. John Newman and family spent Sunday with Mrs. Havens. Job Doxsey spent a few days in Merchantville and Camden this week. Mrs. Estlow and daughter are visiting relatives in Waretown. Willis Saulsman and Ralph Shaw spent Sunday in Forked River. Mrs. Doxsey spent Monday in Toms River. J.L. Madison spent sunday at Forked River with his mother. E. Foster went to Toms River Tuesday last.

Here are a few mentions of residents of Brookville, according to the newspapers, who I have not been able to locate on the Federal census : The 9 Aug 1929 issue of the New Jersey Courier mentions that I. Cranmer of Brookville has been doing some work for John Mansfield this week. Neither of those men appear on the 1930 census, however. The 9 Aug 1929 issue of the New Jersey Courier mentions that Fred Nissen of Brookville was a recent caller in Barnegat. Tilden Estlow The 9 Aug 1929 issue of the New Jersey Courier makes numerous references to Tilden Estlow of Brookville, though he does not appear on the 1930 census there.

DEBORAH A. ESTLOW Deborah lived by herself, a 72 year old widow, in 1930. She definitely does not appear on the Brookville census in 1920, although there was another Estlow family (that of Francis T., who also appears here in 1930). However, she does show up in 1910: she was married at that time to Jesse S. Estlow, age 69 (i.e., fifteen years her senior). They lived next door to, or perhaps across from, Hiram Parker (see his entry below). The 9 Aug 1929 issue of the New Jersey Courier contains news items from Brookville, and it mentions that Deborah had been 'on the sick list.' It also mentions that she was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Gaskill and son Wallace, and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Nippens of Riverside. The Gaskills spent the weekend with her.