Literary Vineland, Its Authors and Writers

By Frank D. Andrews

(SIXTH PAPER)

In a study of Vineland's authors and writers there will be found a great diversity of talent as well as a variety of subjects treated. One person's writing, being of a purely literary character, whose thoughts and fancies, as well as poetic diction charm and delight the reader; another with less imagination, perhaps, touches the highest and best in human life through his individual experience, while yet another writer with a command of words leaves but a passing impression upon his readers mind. The scientist, however, whose writings may not be classed as literature, presents the result of his investigation in a plain unvarnished manner, that appeals to the student and patient worker in solving Nature's problems.

Vineland was once honored by the presence of a scientist who by diligent and unremitting study and investigation made himself master, as far as it is possible for man to understand, of the process of formation, growth and development of the earth upon which we live. I refer to Prof. J. W. Pike, who with his family removed from northern Ohio in 1873 to be in touch with the great libraries and museums of the East. While he was absent a greater part of each year delivering courses of lectures on Geology and kindred topics, his home was in Vineland and among Vineland people who knew his worth.

Unpretentious and unassuming he came and went for fifteen years, each year adding to his store of knowledge, not only along scientific lines, but in the realm of philosophy and religion as well.

Prof. Pike was no theorist but eminently practical. What he had of intellectual superiority, of profound wisdom and judgment, he had acquired by hard and persistant labor. Of material wealth he had little, he was, however, rich in those qualities of mind and heart which are beyond price.

He spent four years of his life during the early fifties in the California gold fields, and in the Civil War he was a soldier in the 171st Ohio Regiment.

In 1888, his health having failed, he left Vineland for his former home in his native state, where he devoted a portion of his time to literary work. Engaged in writing a history of the Christian religion, he visited Washington, where a married daughter resided, to avail himself of the wealth of material to be found in the Library of Congress. Here in the Capitol City, before he could begin his research, he was taken with pneumonia and after a short sickness died, December 21st, 1898.

Rev. Adolph Roeder, now one of the prominent clergymen of the Swedenborgian denomination, was for many years a resident of Vineland. Under his ministry the New Church became one of the progressive societies of the place, attracting serious and thoughtful audiences to the morning services and larger numbers to his evening meetings and lectures.

Mr. Roeder was not only a minister to his congregation but interested himself in the affairs of the town, taking an active part in the effort to promote good government in municipal affairs and improvements in schools. He was a volumnious writer and for awhile he edited and published a magazine called "Kosmos."

He was a close thinker and exhibited great ability and skill in all his undertakings. He made a host of friends and when called to a larger field of labor at Orange, N. J., they were loath to part with him.

Mr. Roeder is now in his sixty-eighth year and still active in church and literary work.

Another clergyman of bookish tendencies was Rev. R. Braden Moore, D. D., a retired Presbyterian minister.

Vineland has seldom, if ever, been favored by having among its residents one so universally liked, even beloved, as was Dr. Moore. He was always ready to give of his time to the service of those who needed it, indeed financial aid was not wanting where the necessity existed. Best of all was his sympathetic kindliness, aid and counsel. He built at an expense of $10,000 an attractive home for an afflicted son, on the grounds of the New Jersey Training School which is also a home for others similarly afflicted. He also built, at his own expense, the Italian Mission Church and parsonage on South Seventh Street.

Dr. Moore preached, lectured and talked upon subjects vital to the interests of the people. He was an earnest worker in the temperance cause and took a deep interest in Municipal Government. He wrote and published three or four books of an historical and religious character. Dr. Moore died in 1906 and his remains lie among the illustrious dead in Siloam Cemetery.

No doubt Vineland's reputation as a health resort, as well as the home of an industrious and intelligent people induced many persons about to retire from an active life, to locate here. Some of these remained temporarily, others, benefitted by the change became permanent residents. Among the former was Raymond St. John Perrin, a native of New York, who at work on a forthcoming book chose Vineland as a quiet restful community in which to continue his labors. Although engaged in a commercial enterprise, his thought, and much of his time, was devoted to the study of philosophy. He was a lecturer of ability and a delightful conversationalist. He made friends among the literary people of the place, and was the pleasant gentleman to all. His book, issued soon after leaving Vineland, is a volume of over three-hundred pages and entitled "Evolutions of Knowledge, A Review of Philosophy."

Another author who loved books, loved to write and had something to say, both practical and speculative, was John Lord Peck. In a volume of nearly five-hundred pages entitled "The Kingdom of the Unselfish; a Review of Philosophy" he has embodied the result of years of thought,-a book well worth reading.

Henry Clay Work, author of "Marching Through Georgia," and a hundred other songs, was a resident of Vineland for about two years. He at first tried farming, then with his family moved into town.

While living here he wrote a sero-comic poem called the "Upshot Family." In this he touches upon the dress reformers who wore pants, and voices his detestation of dried apple pies, which evidently appeared upon the table too frequently.

Mr. Work was born in Middletown, Conn., in 1832 and was about thirty-five years old when he made Vineland his home. He died in Hartford, Conn., in 1884. Both cities have honored him by erecting monuments to his memory.

A. E. Newton, a former editor and preacher with his accomplished wife, were Vineland residents, occupying the William Paul homestead on the Boulevard. Mr. Newton's health was impaired from close attention to his labors, and an out of door life on a farm was thought best for recuperation. Farming, however healthful it may be, is not always an agreeable occupation for a literary worker, and in this case proved too strenuous to continue, therefore with somewhat improved health he re-entered the literary field. To those who were privileged to enter their circle of friends and listen to reminiscences of experience at home and abroad it was a treat not to be forgotten.

During the "Greenback craze" which had its run a number of years ago, Thomas H. Proctor, a shoe manufacturer, was one of its most earnest advocates. When the free coinage of silver was an issue, Mr. Proctor was thoroughly aroused and with pen in hand wrote a romantic account of the disaster to the country that, as he believed, would follow the adoption of a gold standard. This book he called "The Banker's Dream, an Argument for the Free Coinage of Silver." The success was so great as to induce him to put forth another volume with the title "The Banker Hypnotized, Sequel to the Banker's Dream." The books were read by those interested as a prophesy of coming events, but are now forgotten, sharing the fate of so many transitory works.

Thomas B. Street called himself "the acrostic poet," a title well earned judging from the number he wrote in that form. An autobiographical sketch of his life is in the possession of the Historical Society.

Other writers of verse not previously mentioned are Mrs. Acelia C. Fenton, a contributor to many publications, Mrs. Mary A. Hall who made the Bible Psalms lyrical with adapted music, John H. Weaver of South Vineland, a writer of short poems and prose and a newspaper correspondent; Ben P. Keith, who spent his boyhood days and young manhood here, now a resident of New York City, is the author of a recent volume bearing the unique title of "Spoons of Silver, Spoons of Tin and Other Poems."

Dr. T. B. Welch published a magazine in the interest of his profession-dentistry.

David W. Allen wrote a genealogy of a branch of the Thatcher family. Now a very rare book. Mrs. A. S. Edget wrote many poems; Mrs. Bridges also penned published verses.

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