Introduction
George Washington Jessup Jr.
GEORGE WASHINGTON JESSUP JR. was born on the family farm at Jessup’s Mills in Gloucester County NJ on December 18, 1849. After completing his education with a two years course at the Bridgeton Academy, he worked in Philadelphia for four years. He married in 1873. A son, Charles G. Jessup was born, but sadly, his wife Abigail passed away in January of 1874. George Jessup moved to York PA for about eighteen months, returning to Philadelphia in 1877, accepting a position as a traveling salesman for C.H. Gardner & Co., a large hat dealer. George Jessup spent eleven years in this position, covering every state in the Union and traveling to Europe twice. During this period he remarried, but again became a widower when his wife passed in 1883. By 1887 he had moved to Camden, making his home at 416 North 5th Street.
George W. Jessup left the hat business in 1890, and went into the real estate business in Camden NJ, with George H. Fairfield. He soon bought Fairfield out, and after bringing his son Charles into the firm on December 1, 1895, renamed his business G.W. Jessup & Son. He also remarried, in June of 1895 to Miss Esther Carr of Trenton NJ.
George W. Jessup was involved in some of the largest real estate transactions in Camden in the 1890s, including the land for the site of the Sixth Regiment Armory, the land for First Methodist Episcopal Church at 6th and Stevens Streets, the Edward N. Cohn and the Markley properties, the George H. Munger property, and the land for the Camden Electric Light and Heating Company.
George W. Jessup was one of the incorporators of the Masonic Building at 415 Market Street, also known as the Temple Theater, where his offices were located. He was made Secretary of the Board of Trade, an early version of the Chamber of Commerce, in 1892. He also served as Director and Vice-President of the Provident Building and Loan Association.
George Jessup was very concerned with fairness in taxation. He spent considerable effort in reducing the tax assessment in Camden, and through his activity in the Board of Trade, took his views state-wide. In September of 1896 he spoke on the subject in Trenton on a meeting of the various Boards of Trade throughout the state. At this meeting he read from a paper where he stated, “A man who owns his own home will never be an anarchist.” At this meeting he urged reform of the poll, school, and personal taxes at the upcoming session of the New Jersey State Legislature, and announced that he had a skeleton bill drafted on the poll tax.
In April of 1901 George W. Jessup arranged for the purchase of 15 farms for H.C. Frick of Pittsburgh in the area lying between Gloucester City and Mount Ephraim.
In April of 1902 he was involved in plans to form a state Board of Trade.
In October of 1903 the Philadelphia Worsted Company, located in Camden was declared insolvent. George W. Jessup was appointed receiver by the court.
In 1905 he founded, with his son and George H.B. Martin, the City and Suburban Realty Company in Camden. He eventually moved the offices of this company to West Collingswood. This company dealt in real estate and building construction. He was very much a part of developing the towns that sprung up along the White Horse Pike in the early part of the 20th Century. On January 9, 1909 George W. Jessup became a director of the Camden Safe Deposit & Trust Company. Also in January of 1909 George Jessup incorporated the Haddon Heights Park Company with his son and Charles A. Reynolds to deal in real estate and as builders and contractors. In March of 1909 he incorporated the Haddon Highlands Company, again with his son and Charles A. Reynolds to deal in real estate.
By 1920 he was living in an apartment at 532 Cooper Street with his wife, Esther. In these years Esther Jessup was a member of the Woman’s Club of Camden, N.J. Also living in this building were banker Burleigh Draper, and businessman T. Yorke Smith. Melbourne F. Middleton Jr. lived next door at 538 Cooper Street. By 1930 he was retired, and living with his wife Esther at 214 Cooper Street. George W. Jessup passed away on March 28, 1932 in Camden.
George W. Jessup was a Mason, a member of Camden Lodge No. 15 A.F.& A.M.; and also was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Masonic Temple Association
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Masonic Temple Association — George Pfeiffer Jr., Cooper B. Hatch, William H. Fredericks, Thomas McDowell, J.R. Eastlack, Alfred Cramer, D.H. Gomersall, E.A. Austermuhl, Isaac Doughten, H.B. Anthony, William S. Casselman, P. Weatherby, Wilbur F. Rose, George W. Jessup
(column excerpt)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
(column excerpt)
Another man of prominence and influence in Camden is George W. Jessup. He is a native Jerseyman, having been born at Jessup's Mills, in Gloucester county. In 1868, when 18 years of age, he moved to Camden, and in 1890 engaged in the real estate business. He is an active member of the Board of Trade and was secretary of that organization for three years.
Mr. Jessups organized the Real Estate Owners' and Agents' Protective Association for the mutual protection of landlords and tenants and is its secretary.
Another man of prominence and influence in Camden is George W. Jessup. He is a native Jerseyman, having been born at Jessup’s Mills, in Gloucester county. In 1868, when 18 years of age, he moved to Camden, and in 1890 engaged in the real estate business. He is an active member of the Board of Trade and was secretary of that organization for three years.
Mr. Jessups organized the Real Estate Owners’ and Agents’ Protective Association for the mutual protection of landlords and tenants and is its secretary.
George W. Jessup
Biographical Review — 1897
GEORGE W. JESSUP, one of the foremost citizens of Camden, N.J., where he does a large business as conveyancer and real estate dealer, was born at Jessup’s Mills, Gloucester County, N.J., December 18, 1849, son of George W. and Beulah (Hilliman) Jessup. Both his father, George W., Sr., and his paternal grandfather, James Jessup, were natives of Gloucester County. The last named, who was a farmer by occupation, resided in that section all his life. His wife, Abigail Fisher, lived to the age of eighty-five.
Their son, George W. Jessup, Sr., was brought up to farming, and in due time came into possession of the old homestead. Most of his life was devoted to agricultural work, but for a short time he was the landlord of the Woodbury Hotel. He died at the early age of thirty-six years. His wife, Beulah, was a daughter of Theophilus Hilliman, an old settler in Gloucester County, whose family numbered six children. She is still living, being now sixty-seven years old, and resides with her son, George W., who was her only child. She is a member of the Episcopal church at Clarksburg, as also was her husband.
George W. Jessup, the direct subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood at home, and after the usual elementary studies took a two years’ course at Bridgeton Academy. He began his business career as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Philadelphia, where he remained two years. His next employment was with Smedley Brothers, hatters of the same city, with whom he stayed for a like period. About this time he married; and shortly afterward he went to York, Pa., where he remained for a year and a half, following the same occupation. In 1877 he returned to Philadelphia and accepted a position as travelling agent for C. H. Gardner & Co., large hat dealers there. He was “on the road” eleven years, during which time he canvassed every State in the Union, besides making two trips to Europe. He then resigned, and in 1890 went into the real estate business in this city, in company with George H. Fairfield. Subsequently purchasing Mr. Fairfield’s interest, he took his son, Charles G., into partnership, December 1, 1895; and the firm has since been known under the name of G. W. Jessup & Son.
Mr. Jessup has been interested in some of the largest real estate transactions in Camden in recent years. He was one of the incorporators of the Masonic Temple on Market Street, in which he has his office, and of which he was Secretary three years. Among the many large and important sales made by him were the land for the site of the Sixth Regiment Armory and that for the new First Methodist Church, the E. N. Cohn and the Markley property, the George H. Munger property, and the property for the Camden Electric Light and Heating Company. Mr. Jessup has been Secretary of the Board of Trade since 1892, and he is also a Director and Vice-President of the Provident Building and Loan Association. In politics a Republican, he has taken an active part in public affairs; and with a watchful eye for the interests of the people he was among those who were instrumental in effecting a reduction of the city tax assessments from thirty-three million dollars to twenty-five million dollars, which latter figure has obtained for the last three years.
Mr. Jessup was first married in 1873 to Abigail M. Bishop, by whom he had one son, Charles G., who is now in business with him. His first wife dying in January, 1874, at the early age of twenty-four, he married for his second wife Lizzie M. Hogan, of Mount Holly, who died in 1883, aged twenty-seven years. On June 11, 1895, Mr. Jessup married his present wife, who was before marriage Miss Esther A. Carr. She is a native of Trenton and daughter of the late Charles Carr. Her father was a prominent citizen of Trenton, where at the time of his death he was proprietor of the Phoenix Iron Works.
Mr. Jessup is a Mason in good standing, being a member of Camden Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 15, of Camden; and he also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In religion he is an Episcopalian, being a communicant of St. Paul’s Church of Camden.
In the Whirl of Camden Politics
Philadelphia Inquirer —
May Be Opposition to Ex-Sheriff Barrett’s Mayoralty Candidacy
CHAMBERS HESITATES
Thompsonites Hope to Coax Him Into Taking Their Nomination. Printing Registry Lists
Former Sheriff George Barrett, who is looked upon as the probable nominee of the Camden Republicans for Mayor, is likely to have opposition in the convention. He has stated that he will not accept the nomination unless it is tendered him unanimously. Delegates to the convention will be elected to-morrow night. The Fifth ward delegates will probably favor the nomination of Harry F. Wolfe, Director of the Board of Freeholders, for Mayor. Isaac Toone may be the choice of the Ninth ward delegation, while Lawyer John H. Fort is likely to have a few delegates. To insure Barrett’s acceptance of the nomination it will be necessary to overcome this opposition, but the leaders say this will be easy.
There are plenty of candidates for the City Recordership nomination. Among those who would like to preside in the police court are: Justices Philip Schmitz, O. Glen Stackhouse, Charles Baldwin, George R. Thompson and Frederick B. Kauffman. Recorder Benjamin M. Braker is also seeking renomination.
COAXING CHAMBERS.
The Thompson Democrats are working hard to induce David M. Chambers to reconsider his declination to stand as their candidate for mayor, despite the fact that Mr. Chambers has contributed to the funds of the Committee of One Hundred, has voted the “One Hundred” ticket, and is now a member of the Executive Committee of the reformers’ organization. Mr. Chambers has promised to withhold his formal declination until to-morrow morning. He told an Inquirer reporter last night that he had not receded from his determination to decline the nomination. He said he was getting along in years and had interests that would seriously interfere with his official duties if he was elected, to say nothing of the fact that his health compelled him to spend every summer out of the city.
If Mr. Chambers cannot be coaxed into accepting the nomination the Committee on Vacancies may select former Chief of Police W. H. Davis or Dr. J. W. Donges to head the ticket. Postmaster Harry B. Paul’s name is also mentioned.
The County Democracy has decided to save the expense of having ballots printed and distributed bearing their party caption. As they will indorse the Committee of One Hundred nominations they will use the committee’s tickets.
LISTS TO BE PRINTED.
For the first time in sixteen years the City Clerk will not order the registry lists printed. Lack of funds in the printing appropriation is given as the excuse. The Committee of One Hundred has ordered the lists printed at its own expense. Next Tuesday is the last registry day, and voters must appear in person to be registered.
Sheriff Baird, who went South with City Clerk Varney about two weeks ago, will return in a few days.
George W. Jessup, the Committee of One Hundred Councilmanic nominee in the Second ward, by order of his physician started yesterday on a ten-days’ trip through the South for his health.
Camden’s Council Guarded by Police
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Court Commissioner Joline to-day, relative to the assault upon City Clerk Varrey last Friday, and the failure to obey the Supreme Court’s writ of certiorari. About thirty witnesses have been subpenaed by the Republicans.
City Clerk Varney got out of bed yesterday, but his physician states that he may not be able to leave his room for a week. Assistant City Clerk Young is improving rapidly and was about his home yesterday, but several days must elapse before he can resume his duties.
City Clerk Kramer will pay off all election officers to-morrow.
The papers in City Clerk Varney’s quo warranto proceedings against Harry C. Kramer were filed in the Supreme Court at Trenton yesterday.
“L” Bubble Bursts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Prospectors of the Chestnut Street Railroad Scheme Withdrew Their Ordinance
BOW TO PUBLIC OPINION
City Councils Overrides Comptroller Huffy—Street Commissioner Mohrman Attacks the Committee
That public sentiment was opposed to an elevated railroad on Chestnut street, South Camden, was so strongly expressed at the hearing before City Council on Monday evening last that the four Philadelphia promoters of the scheme sent a communication to Council last evening withdrawing their application for a franchise. The request was granted, and that ends the matter.
Councilman Sayrs, leader of the Republican minority, was able to attend the Council meeting last evening after a prolonged illness.
City Comptroller Hufty returned to Council the bill of $156.72 for costs in certiorari proceedings in the contest over the street paving contract. He said that half of the amount should be paid by Aaron Ward & Company, the contractors, as they were co-defendants in the suit, and had paid but $24.80. Council ordered the Comptroller to approve a warrant for the full amount.
Tax Receiver Burdsall reported that since June last the tax receipts had amounted to $519,135.76, of which $47,581 was for delinquent taxes. He said there was still $83,173 of this year’s taxes unpaid.
City Comptroller Hufty sent in a communication disapproving a bill of City Clerk Kramer for $333.32 for the time he acted as city clerk, when T. P. Varney was the legal city clerk, but was kept out of office by the reformers. The bill was ordered paid by a vote of 17 to 1. Mr. Jessup voted against it.
There was a lively tilt between Street Commissioner Mohrman and Councilman Jessup when the Street Committee’s report was presented. Mr. Mohrman was granted the privilege of the floor, and severely criticised the Street Committee for holding private meetings and changing the disposal of the city garbage without consulting with him. He said the city contractor was being paid $5 a day to cart garbage outside of the city limits, and in five months this would cost $650, while the expenses of burning the garbage in the city crematory would be but $277.44. He said the crematory could be put in excellent condition for much less than $1000.
Mr. Jessup accused the Street Commissioner of neglecting to cut down the sewer, paving and grading corps when ordered to do so by the Street Committee. Mr. Mohrman hotly declared this to be false, and said that the committee made changes in the street department without consulting him.
By a vote of 10 to 8 the crematory was ordered repaired. In the meantime the garbage is to be carted out of the city by a Pensauken township farmer for $6 a week.
The Fire Commissioners reported that they had accepted the resignation of Fireman Wright Cox and had appointed Logan Bates to fill the vacancy, but had afterward reconsidered their action and laid the appointment over for two weeks.
Council adjourned until December 8 when some action regarding the new water plant may be taken.
Camden Commissioners of Deeds
Philadelphia Inquirer —
County Clerk Patterson in Camden yesterday received the thirty-two commissions for as many Commissioners of Deeds as follows: F. Joseph Rouh, Elias E. Truax, E. T. McGill, Howard L. Merrick, William Schmid, Benjamin E. Mellor, Thomas J. Peterson, George W. Jessup, John Campbell, Jr., Philip Schmitz, Robert L. Knight, Edward F. McGill, Howard L. Miller, Joseph F. Hoey, Chester D. Vanduyn, Thomas I. Dunlap, Charles G. Jessup, Washington W. Irvin, George W. Reson, Henry Haltman, Thomas W. Smith, William J. Hoyt, Howard E. Truax, Charles H. Laird, John Furey, Edward Glass, Edward Wesley, Oscar Boardman, W. F. Ezdell and W. Taylor Wright.
Greater Camden the Slogan at Board of Trade Banquet
Philadelphia Inquirer —
…furniture house, whose products reach the Philippines; banks and trust companies whose resources are not affected by panics; artesian water that can be taken without adding anything.”
The committee in charge of the occasion included John T. Dorrance, chairman; Edwin G. C. Bleakly, Harry C. Kramer, David A. Henderson and Samuel W. Sparks.
Among the Guests
Among the participants were Congressman Henry C. Loudenslager, Francis Howell, Walter Wood, Elmer E. Long, George W. Jessup, former Judge Joseph Gaskill, Volney G. Bennett, Wilbur F. Rose, Alexander C. Wood, George A. Frey, Charles A. Reynolds, Vice Chancellor E. B. Leaming, Heulings Lippincott, Charles K. Haddon, Fithian S. Simmons, Joseph B. Van Sciver, David Jester, Frank B. Sitley, Alpheus McCracken, Thomas S. Nekervis, DeCourcy May, Watson Depuy, Lionel C. Simpson, John M. Kelly, G. George Browning, William J. Browning, Isaac Ferris, John C. Danenhower, John R. McFeeley, Elias Davis, Anthony Kobus, Captain John B. Adams.
Camden Safe Deposit and Trust Company
Bank Directory —
|
Camden Safe Deposit and Trust Company ALEXANDER C. WOOD, President Directors: |
|
| Alexander C. Wood | Joseph W. Cooper |
| George Reynolds | Ephraim Tomlinson |
| Joseph H. Gaskill | George W. Jessup |
| Edward L. Farr | William Joyce Sewell, Jr. |
| Edmund E. Reed, Jr. | J. Dayton Voorhees |
| William J. Bradley | Albert C. Middleton |
| George J. Bergen | |
| Report of Condition — The Bank’s Balance Sheet | |
Wm. P. Hallinger Board President
Camden Post-Telegram —
Much Important Business Transacted at Real Estate Men’s Annual Meeting.
A-SHAPED SIGNS ARE IN DISFAVOR
At the annual meeting of the Camden Real Estate Board at the Hotel Ridgeway these officers were elected: President, William P. Hallinger; vice president, Raymond L. Warren; treasurer, Joseph H. Forsythe; secretary, Robert D. Clow, Jr.; trustees, three years, George W. Kirkbride and Meyer Baker.
President Hallinger appointed the committees for the ensuing year as follows:
Legislative committee—Howard A. Walton, chairman; George W. Jessup, Raymond L. Warren, William B. Hambleton, John A. Ackley.
Arbitration committee—Frank Burr, chairman; R.A. Rockhill, Maurice B. Rudderow, Ralph D. Baker, Edgar A. Freeman.
Membership committee—William Schmidt, chairman; Charles S. Ackley, Meyer Baker, Charles G. Jessup, Clinton I. Evans.
Auditing committee—Anthony J. Oberst, chairman; Leon E. Todd, William Derham.
Ways and means committee—George W. Kirkbride, chairman; T. Yorke Smith, Eldred I. Hibbs, Henry Budney, Carl Evered.
The board passed a resolution asking City Council to pass an ordinance prohibiting A- or V-shaped signs being placed on properties in Camden, either for rent or sale. This is one of the many actions that have been taken by the Real Estate Board with a view toward protecting the property owner’s interest. It is the feeling of the members that the extension sign, known as A- or V-shaped signs, are a detriment to properties and also to the appearance of the city.
It is considered that properties will rent just as well by the advertising in the newspapers, and from the personal work by the office organizations as by having them defaced with signs.
The following were elected to membership as follows: T. Yorke Smith, Leon E. Todd, Howard C. Walton, Francis C. Ely, of Camden, and John A. Ackley, of Vineland.
Practically all of the real estate men of Camden and the suburbs who do any business are affiliated with the Camden Board, and it is hoped that within the next few months all of the active real estate men of Camden county will be members of this wide-awake organization. The membership committee, of which William Schmidt is chairman, expects to call in the near future on the real estate agents who have not yet become associated with the board.
It was reported at this meeting by a number of the members that since the April meeting, at which time the minimum rate of commission for selling properties up to $10,000 was raised from two per cent. to three per cent., that no objections were made by the owners, as the latter appreciate that the Real Estate offices are under great expense, and also due in part to the fact that they not only receive the service from one office, with whom they place exclusive agency of their property, but from every member of the Board.
The Camden Real Estate Board was started in 1916 by a few agents who saw a future for real estate men, by uniting for the purpose of standardizing the business. A. Freeman was elected president and through his hard and earnest efforts the Board grew to a membership of thirty men in 1917. Geo. W. Jessup succeeded Mr. Freeman as president, and the past year has shown such marked improvement that the agents now appreciate the fact that by co-operating better results are obtained in handling of client’s properties. The more progressive agents are beginning to realize it, for by listing their property with one agent who is a member of the Board any member can and will sell said property.
It is hoped that all of the members who will be known as “Realtors” will place on all new signs, in addition to his name the words, “or by any member of the Camden Real Estate Board.”
It is hoped that the property owners will back up the agents in this movement, and in listing properties for sale to list same with only one agent or “Realtor,” thereby availing himself of the services of every member of the Camden Real Estate Board.