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George
Reeser Prowell published the following in 1886 about the silver
platers in business in Camden in his HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY,
NEW JERSEY:
Silver Platers- The carriage factories gave
employment to many silver-platers, some working
for the manufacturers and others carrying on business for themselves, and giving employment to
others. Gordon states that there was a gold and
silver-plater here in 1835, but the first establishment of which there is authentic record was that
of Gibson & Morgan — Henry Gibson and John
Morgan — the latter mayor in 1876-77. Their works,
started in 1841, were over the wagon-sheds built
by Jacob Ridgway, in 1832, at Second and Arch.
Gibson left the firm, and in 1845 Morgan removed
the factory to a stable, fitted up for the purpose,
on the rear end of a lot on Fourth Street, above
Market, afterwards erecting a large brick building
on the line of Fourth Street, since converted into
dwellings.
Among his workmen were his brother, George
Morgan, now in the business at 52 North Second;
Edward Fitzer, now in the same trade in Philadelphia; George Welden, Charles Newmayer and
others. The work was for volantes, used in Cuba,
and the trade was exclusively with that island.
As the correspondence was in Spanish, Newmayer,
who from journeyman became manager and then
partner, learned the language, to avoid the need
of an interpreter. The firm employed as many
as thirty at one time, and the employees testify
that there was never a murmur about wages, even
the apprentices receiving full pay for overwork,
and the payments were not only prompt, but made
in the best currency. The Rebellion (The Civil
War -PMC)
put a stop to
the trade, and the firm, dividing a competency,
dissolved.
Edward Fitzer and George Morgan joined in
business in the "fifties," with their establishment
on Market Street, the site of Heibst's Hotel, but
in a few years separated.
The
1870 Census shows that George Morgan was single and living with
his parents and siblings in Camden's North Ward. He was working
as a silver plater, for his father, at the time of the
census.
On
April 20, 1872 George Morgan was appointed to the Camden Fire
Department, as an extra man with the Hook and
Ladder Company, known in modern times as Ladder Company
1, replacing James
Cassidy, who had resigned. David B. Sparks was appointed to
the same unit that same day, replacing William
C. Lee, who had also resigned. George Morgan appears to have
resigned on September 8, 1872 and did not return to service with
the Camden Fire Department. George Morgan was working as a
silver plater, and was living at 106 North 2nd Street during his
time with the department.
George
Morgan married around 1876. The 1880 Census shows George and
Elizabeth Morgan, with no children, living at 124 Arch
Street.
He was still working as a silver plater. In December of 1882 a
son, Charles A. Morgan, was born.
On
May 20, 1897 George Morgan's father passed away. He had been
living at 52 North 2nd Street.
The
1900 Census shows George H. Morgan and family at 728 Carman
Street. He
was by then working as a machinist. The Morgan's do not appear
in the 1910 Census, but are listed in the 1910 City Directory at
626 Vine
Street, and in the 1914 City Directory at 336 Friends
Avenue. He was still working as a machinist in 1914.
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