1
TTTTTT^j^
GeP
IJY PI
3 1833 02343 095 9
Gc 974.902 V75.sn
Andrews, Frank D.
The beginning of t h e
temperance movement i n
V i n e 1 a n d
The Beginning
of the
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
IN
VINELAND
COMPILED BY
FRANK D. ANDREWS
VINELAND N. J.
I 9 I I
The Beginning
of the
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
IN
VINELAND
CompiIe(Z h)f
FRANK D. ANDREWS
Sec'y Vineland Histoincal (h Antiquarian Society
Vineland New Jersey
I 9 I I
W«8
St
,1^
PREFACE.
Early in its history Vinelaud became widely
known through its temperance policy, the decisive
action of the settlers in preventing the sale ot
intoxicating liquors and the annual vote against
license keeping the town free from the demorali-
zing influence of the saloon and legalized liquor
traffic. Through this effort on the part of
its citizens, Vineland acquired a reputation for
sobriety, industry and intelligence, which it has
maintained for the half century of its existence:
This has not been accomplished without per-
sistent work by those who had the best interest of
the community at heart, attempts having been
made to establish the saloon in Vineland against
the will of the people.
While many of the earnest workers in the cause
of temperance have passed from this field of ac-
tion there still remain others who will continue
the work so successfully maintained.
With the ever growing public sentiment against
the liquor traffic the present inhabitants or Vine-
land cannot allow the labors of the faithful men
and women to be undone or the moral standard
lowered. All citizens without regard to per.'-onal
prejudice should unite in upholding the temper-
ance policy established in June 1863.
THE BEGINNING
OF THE
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
IN
VINELAND.
One of the important questions the earlj' set-
tlers were soon called upon to decide, was,
whether liquor should be sold in Vineland, as
it was then in every town and city in the state,
or, should its sale be prohibited in the new set-
tlement.
This was a momentious question and one on
which the future prosperty of Vineland depend-
ed, Let liquor in and the character of the set-
tlement would change; the bright hopes of the
founder would be obscured by such a calamity,
and a majority of the settlers being in favor of
temperance would not care to remain in a com-
munity where such principles did not prevail.
A number of the men employed in chopping
wood and making roads were accustomed to the
use of liquor, so also were a few of the settlers.
For the convenience of this small minority and
with a view to the profits arising therefrom, one
of the grocers, Rollins by name, added ale, beer
and porter to his stock of goods.
The sale of malt liquors was believed to be but
a starting point, if there was no opposition to
his venture doubtless stronger liquors would fol-
low, hence the importance of immediate action.
4
Mr. lyandis, who felt the success of the settle-
ment was at stake remonstrated with the offend
er, telling him it was against the wishes of the
majority of the inhabitants that liquor should be
sold in Vineland. This had little influence with
Mr. Rollins, who believing he had the right, con-
tinued to supply customers with beer.
As it became generally known liquor was be-
ing sold notwithstanding Mr. Landis remon
strance, it was decided among those most inter
ested to hold a public meeting. A call for such
a meeting met with a ready response fifty- five
signatures being readily obtained, as follows:
NOTICE
We the undersigned, settlers of Vineland, re-
spectfully request all persons who are interested
in the good order, and the continuance of the
same, in Vineland, to meet at the School House,
on Wednesday the lo inst. at 7, O'Clock P. M.
for the purpose of considering the propriety of
forming a League for the purpose of mutual pro-
tection against ,a traffic, corrupting to morals,
injurious to health, and in violation of Law.
Vineland June 2d 1863
Alex Cole Landon Taylor
George B Swain C W Cutting
B Swain Jr David Landis
Winslow L Fish E P. Morehouse
W. W. S. Holbrook. Wm O. H. Gwynnetli
Geo. W Houdlett A S Hall
Wm F, Bassett A F Barcus
Wm W. Gifford B D Stewart
E R King J. H. Allen
Wm A. Morgan Chas. F. Jones.
5
John Wescott
H J Barnes
Chester P. Davis
Walter Davis
B Lang
P Gifford
Wm Webster
Thomas Dennery
J V Faunce
S Loom is
D. G. Whitcar
E W. Reaser
I Reaser
S Ganse
Wm W. Cone.
Hiram R King
Avery Y. Gates
T Hoyt
Geo W Nabb
Danforth Clark
Joseph Beaumont
Wm Bridges
Wm S Raubenols
Wm W Gifford Jr
Joseph Rollins
Wm D Martin
H E Thayer
W. S Smith
Isaac Wilson
Geo W Pryor
James H Amsdem
J. B Drew
Levi B Drew
R H Hodgdon
Justin H Loomis
The school house where the meeting was held
stood on the lot where the Grove House now
stands. Mr. Landis had built it for the accom-
.modation of the people, and it served as Vine-
land's first public hall until the depot was erected
in 1864, when the second story, known as Union
Hall, was used for public gatherings. The
school house was used for school purposes during
the day, and by various organizations and socie-
ties in the evening.
I can find no record of the attendence at this
first temperance meeting on Wednesday evening,
June 10, but we may believe the importance of
the movement filled the room.
Alexander Cole called the meeting to order,
John H. Allen was cho.'^en chairman and Timo-
othy Hoyt, secretary. The chairman reuuested
Mr. Cole to address the meeting. Mr. Cole on
taking the floor, read the following resolutions:
"Vineland, June loth 1863.
Whereas: Ale, Beer^ and Porter, together with
with other spiritous and drugged liquors, are
kept, drank, sold and trafficked in by persons be-
ing in Vineland, to the disturbance of good order.
I. — Therefore be it resolved as the sen.-e of
this meeting. Thiit the trafific in such malt and
spiritous liquors is deemed by use to be destruct-
ive to the peace & happiness of the community,
detrimental to the prosperity and future progress
of the settlement, injurious to the health, cor-
rupting to the morals, of those directly engaged
therein.
2. — That we will use all proper moral means
to suppress this scourge of our race, and to this
end, will shun, and in ever}'^ possible way, dis
countenance those who persistently continue to be
engaged in the sale, or iti any way, or under any
pretence, give their money, influence, or support,
in sustaining the unholy traffic.
3. — Tnat if measures mild in their character,
shall fail to put down this abominable nuisance,
we will avail ourselves of such other, and harsh-
er means, as may be found in the statues of New
Jersey, and in the Internal Revenue Laws of the
U. S.
4 — That whoever sells intoxicating drinks
under the cover of a license, is no less the object
of our just indignation and scorn.
5. — That we individually and collectively a-
gree, pledge, and promise, to, and with each
other, that we will not, use as a beverage, trafTu-
in, or in any way, encourage others in the use, or
deal in, of such liquors, and that we will, to the
best of our several abilities, discourage, help to
banish, and forever keep out of Vineland, this
unmitigated evil.
6. — That we do hereby pledge ourselves, one
and all, to withdraw our custom or patronage
from any store that may sell alcoholic or malt li-
quors either by the Quart or by the smaller quan
tity, or any alcoholic tonics, bitters, or medi-
cines, or any name under which it may be desig-
nated unless by the written prescription of some
practicing physician."
These resolutions were emphatically endorsed
by the people present.
A committee was then appointed to canvass the
settlement and obtain a full expression of the
people, for, or against, the traffic in, and use of
liquors.
The committee consisted of Alexander Cole,
John H. Allen and Rev. Samuel Loomis, who
circulated papers headed as follows:
"We the undersigned, residents of Vineland.
desirous of making our infant settlement for
ourselves, our children, and those who come after
us to the latest generation, the home of sobriety
of virtue, of good order, of good morals, and of
temporal prosperity, hereby express our sincere
judgement and our hearty desire, with regard to
the sale of intoxicating drinks, as a beverage,
of whatever form and under whatever name,
within the bounds of this community."
Vineland, New Jersey, June nth 1863.
Names of those who exclude the sule of all in-
toxicating drinks in Vineland, and pledge iheni
selves not to patronize any establishment where
intoxicating drinks as a beverage are sold.
John H. Allen
Samuel Loomis
Chas K Landis
Geo. W. Houdlette
Lizzie C. Bassett
Mira A Houdlette
Hattie E Drew
Alex Cole
Lizzie C. Swain.
Clara B Cole
B Swain Jr
Eliza Swain
George B Swain
Wiuslow L Fish
Eveline M Fish
Angeline Cole
Wesley Simmons
Lydia B Brown
Geo. B. Manchester.
Herbert Cole
Wm. W. Cone
H. S. Ames
Climena P. Allen
J. B. Drew
Orin Packard
Daniel Striekles
J. H. Biddle
E. P. Morehouse
Mary E Morehouse
Rhoda Lombard
Elizabeth A Barker
John McMahan
Mrs Jane McMahan
Mrs Elizabeth D McMahan
Polly McMahan
Eliza A McMahan
James H McMahan
D W Barker
Elizabeth A Barker
Mary L Barker
Wm R McMahan
Sarah McMahan
Albert D. Manchester J Clark McMahan
Warren J Spencer R A McMahan
L G Spencer
Wm O. H. Gwynneth
W M Gwynneth
L. S Gwynneth
Wm W. Gifford.
Timothy Hoyt.
Emma L. Hoyt
James McMahan
Anna M. Spaulding
Mary B. McMalian
Augusta Davis
R. S. Barns
F. C. Cranmer
Louiza M Beacham
Enos Worzt
C. M.Wildes
Charles H. Clark
E. H. Impsou
M. A. Impson
Eliza J. Loomis
Mary E. Bowers
Ann Ludham
John B. Robbius
Cynthia S Robbius
John Gibson
Mayiet Gibson
John H. Hasvvell
Anna S. Hasvvell
Henry Bishop
J. W. Day
Lucy Jane Day
Maryette Perrigo
S. A. Bradford
Lydia A. Ulich
John C. Ulich
Sarah Johnson
Charles H. Hathaway
Andrew B. Hathaway
John R. Johnson
S. B. Spear
Isaac Willson
Mrs. E. G. Willson
Henry Willson
Elizabeth H. Willson
George W. Rifenburg
Rnby A. Rifenburg
Justin H. Loomis
James M. Loomis
Wm. Bridges
H. M. Holbrook
W. W. S. Holbrook
Wm. D. Martin
James H. Amsden
Lucy Amsden
Pardon GifTord
H. W. Webster
A, J. Hamilton
C. S. Hamilton
Mrs. L. Demmon
Willard A.White
Maria H. Richardson
Mrs. Sarah W. Gifford
Mrs. Maria H. Gifford
C. J. Rice
Mrs. L. J. Rice
Mrs. Mary Rice
John Rice
W. D. Martin
Myra S. Martin
J. E. Hitsell
Wm. E. Carney
R. F. Lombard
Alfred Noyes
Mrs. L Noyes
Mrs. Phebe F. Larrabee
M Jane Larrabee
Ellen Larrabee
Edward F. Larrabee
Chas. W. Cutting
J. S. Kuhns
W. E. Roberts
P. Roberts
lo
F. A. Roberts
Rufus Sanders
Albert Crowell
Mrs. W. R. Reede
Amelia M. Adams
Sylvanus Gardner
James Williams
John W. Chace
J. C. Howe
S. E. Howe
Luella Richardson
Chr. Wenz
lyouisa W. Wenz
Harriet B. Sanders
Hannah A. Howland
Wm. A. Morgan
Samantha Morgan
Hiram R. King
Amandia M. King
Abby Corlies
Mrs. G. D. Corlies
G. D. Corlies
H. H. Bigelow
Ivory Dame
Lydia Dame
George Dame
Brown Emerson
Catharine B, Emerson
Carrie M. Stratton
Amy Boynton
Mrs. C. A. Boynton
James Stuart
John Dennery
Thomas Dennery
Mrs. J. C. Stafford
Mile Hammond
Mrs. H. U. Hammond
H Z.Ellis
Mrs. H. Z. Ellis
Rufus Hadgdon
Wm. P. Anthony
Frank E. Anthony
B. Ball
Chas. Ives
James Bean
Pardon R. Francis
D. C. Jenkins
Mrs. Albert S. Hall
A. S. Hall
George Pearson
Henry K. Brandrifl
Kate L. Brandrifl
Richard Vanman
Isaac Carlton
George M. Carlton
Landon Taylor
James Beacham
Loiza M. Beacham
Stephen Hoyt
Louisa F. Sykes
Robert C. Sykes
Geo. W. Pryor
T. W. Collins
H. Collins
D. E. Collins
Go. Moody
Chevine Moody
Charles Moody
1 1
Mrs. C. Moody Susan Harvt y
John Koffman Sarah T.H. Pearson
Catherine Koffman Margaret Pryor
Mrs. J. C Stafford Charles F. Jones
Geo. L. Post J. Lauterback
Geo. M. Post J. C. Fuller
Elizabeth M. Post Mrs. J. C. Fuller
Sarah Maria Holbrook G. H. Smith
C. h. Holbrook Wm. H. Bo wen
Thomas Bates Wm. F. Basset
Mary Bates A G. Warner
George Lee H. McMahan
William Gould Arthur McGliney
Geo. Pryor, aged 84 years
Annie T. Harvey
Names of those who desire the sale of intoxi-
cating drinks for medical purposes, or for other
purposes under restrictions.
Benjamin B. Boweu
William Hilton
Names of those who are unwilling to express
their opinion. Names written by the committee.
I. H. Garry
Nelson Stevens
Haskell B. Merrill
M G. Fisk
A meeting was held June 22, 1863, when, after
the preliminary exercises, the chairman of the
committee to canvass the settlement was called
upon to give a report of their labors which was
given, as above, and accepted.
12
Rev. Samuel Loomis was then called upon to
report his articles preliminary to a Temperance
Organization, which were presented and adopted
with an amendment by C. K. Landis.
Nominations were then made for President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, a vote
was then taken and carried to postpone the
election of said officers until Monday evening,
June 29. The meeting then adjourned.
CONSTITUTION.
Article i. This Society shall be known as the
Temperance Society of Vineland.
Article 2. Its object shall be to promote and
perpetuate a public sentiment in favor of Tem-
perance Principles, to guard our infant settle-
ment from the evils of the grog shop, and of
drunkenness, and by such continued vigilance
and such timely efforts as circumstances may re-
quire to prevent forever the sale of intoxicating
drinks on the soil of Vineland.
Article 3. The officers of this Society .shall be
a President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer.
Article 4. There shall be a regular meeting
of the Society, the ist Mondays of January,
April, July and October in each year, and it
shall be the duty of the officers of the Society by
securing lecturers, and presenting subjects
for discussion to give to the meetings interest
and attraction and secure (so far as they may) a
general attendence.
14
Article 5. Every person who shall become a
member of the Society — [unfinished.]
Article 6. The oflScers of the Society shall be
elected at the annual meeting, the first Monday
in January and shall hold office for one year.
With a very large proportion of the settlers
opposed to the sale of intoxicating liquors, it
was proposed to take measures to stop its sale in
Vineland. A public meeting in the school house
was announced to which all were invited. The
farmer left his plow and hoe, the carpenter his
saw and plane, the mason his trowel, while the
women of the settlement duly recognizing the
danger which threatened the peace and comfort
of the family and home were also present under
the leadership of Mrs. Sarah T. H. Pearson.
At this meeting Mr. Rollins was given an op-
portunity to defend his position. In his speech,
in which it is said he was quite eloquent, he re-
fered to the liberty which the laws of the coun-
try gave him and closed by defying any one to
interfere in his business which was carried on
under a license from the United States Gov-
ernment.
Mr Landis, in reply, entered at once upon
the subject in question: "Should liquor be allow-
ed to be sold in Vineland, or should Vineland
become thoronghly a temperance town, a refuge
for the tempted, and an example for others, un-
til the great destroyer should be banished from
ever city and town.'' His speech aroused great
enthusiasm and a request was made to Mr. Rol-
lins that he stop selling liquor. This he re-
fused to and leaving the building went home.
15
As soon as the meeting adjourned it was again
called together in front of the school house by
some of the leaders, a procession formed, and
soon the assembled citizens, men. women and
children were marching down Landis Avenue to
the south-west corner of West Boulevard, where
Mr. Rollin's store was located. Here he was
again requested to stop selling intoxicating
drinks. It is reported he had received the advice
of some friends who had seen the temper of the
people, and acting upon their council, gave the
required promise.
Finding he had lost the patronage as well as
the respect of a majority of the inhabitants he
made preparations to leave Vineland, George
Pearson purchased the lot and buildings thereon,
afterwards improving the place and residing
there.
This attempt to sell liquor in \'ineland so a-
roused public sentiment that when an act to es-
tablish a new towtiship in the county of Cumber-
land to be called the "Township of Landis" was
formed, article 19, read as follows: "And be it
enacted. That it shall be unlawful for any person
to sell any ale, porter, beer or other malt liquor
as a beverage within the said township, except it
be at a regularly licensed inner tavern.
Article 20. And be it enacted. That it shall
be submitted to the ptople annually at their
regular town meetings, to decide whether they
shall appl)- for a license to the court for an inn
and tavern licensed to sell intoxicating liquors a
a beverage in said township, and that no licen.'^e
shall be granted to any person or persons for
16
that purpose, unless a majority of the votes thus
cast shall be in favor of the same."
This act was approved and became a law
March 7th 1864.
On the eighth of August the present year
Vineland will have attained its first half-century ;
during that time it has been kept free from li-
censed tavern or saloon. May the descendants
of the early settlers who oppossed liquor selling,
and the temperance people who have since made
their home here, consider it their sacred duty to
keep Vineland forever free from the legalized
traffic in intoxicating liquors.
i?
HECKMAN
BINDERY INC.
AUG 94
Bound -To -Pleasl> N.MANCHESTER.
INDIANA 46962
