The first authenticated knowledge that we have of a regular accredited physician located in Phillipsburg, is at what was then known as "Bidleman's"--since, Green's Bridge.  Here, in about the year 1791, was located Dr. John Cooper, who came here from what is known as the "Long Hills," Morris County, N.J.  Here he continued about four years, when he removed to Easton, Pa., and there continued in active practice for more than half a century.  After the departure of Dr. Cooper, Phillipsburg was dependent upon Easton, Pa., and the physicians of the township of Greenwich, for medical attendance, for a period of nearly fifty years.

        Transient physicians occasionally located here in the early portion of the present century, but after a trial of a few weeks or months, they sought other fields of practice.  In the year 1843 Dr. Henry Southard located here and continuing in practice about two years, he removed to Reaville, Hunterdon County, N.J.

        The Phillipsburg Post Office was established January 31, 1854, with Abraham Lommason as the first postmaster, as a fourth class office.  Mr. Lommason was succeeded by L. M. Teel, who was appointed June 5, 1861, and held the office until January 18, 1867, when Charles Sitgreaves, Jr., was appointed postmaster.

        On April 6, 1869, Jacob R. Lovell took charge of the office and held it until February 6, 1882.  During Mr. Lovell's administration the money order business was established and there is now on field at the post office records showing the first money order issued in the the town.

        John I. Blair Reiley followed Mr. Lovell, being postmaster until March 12, 1886, being succeeded by Frank Kneedler, who was postmaster until February 25, 1890, when Mr. Reiley was again appointed to the office, which he held until March 7, 1894.  Samuel B. Mutchler was the next postmaster, and under Mr. Mutchler's administration the City Free Delivery Service was established.  Mr. Mutchler resigned before the expiration of his term and Samuel V. Davis was appointed as his successor, taking charge of the Office October 15, 1897, holding the position two terms, and was succeeded by the present postmaster, Joseph Pierson, who was appointed February 12, 1906, and is now serving his second term.

        The City Delivery Service was established August 1, 1897, with four carriers; there are now employed in the city delivery service seven carriers.  Two rural carriers are also connected with the office.  On August 1, 1905, Post Office Station No. 1, was established at Firth and Heckman streets, with George L. Shillinger as clerk in charge, and on August 1, 1907, Station No. 2 was established at Griffin's Pharmacy.  The present office force consists of the postmaster, assistant postmaster and three clerks.

        On July 1, 1868, the office was advanced to the third class and on July 1, 1896, it was again advanced to the second class, but two years later, July 1, 1898, it was relegated to the third class, and the following year was again placed in the second class, which position it now holds.

        The Phillipsburg Bank, chartered March 19, 1856, by the State of New Jersey.  The first board of directors, Charles Sitgreaves, Henry Sitgreaves, William R. Sharp, Lewis Young, James Stewart, Samuel D. Stryker, John Fulmer, Cornelius Stewart and John Green.  Met at the house of Henry Bowers and organized by electing Charles Sitgreaves president, and at a subsequent meeting of the board Lewis C. Reese was elected cashier.

        A lot 40 feet front, corner of South Main and Church streets, was purchased and a bank building erected thereon; the authorized capital was $200,000--shares $4,000.

        In 1858 the bank changed its location by the purchase of a property in Union Square.

        In the year 1865 the stockholders of the Phillipsburg Bank voted to take out a National charter, and organized as the Phillipsburg National Bank.  Charles Sitgreaves, President, died March 16, 1878, and Samuel Boileau was elected to fill the vacancy.  Mr. Boileau died January 8, 1908, and John A. Bachman was elected his successor.  The present officers are:  John Bachman, president; James L. Lommerson, cashier.

        Was organized in the fall of 1900 with a capital of $100,000.  It opened its doors for business in the Frost building on October 15th of that year.

        Its first officers were:  President, S. C. Smith; Vice President, William O'Neil; Cashier, Aaron McCammon.  Stewart P. Stone was employed as clerk, and later became teller, which position he held at the time of his accidental death in 1902.

        The following year the property at the corner of Market and South Main streets was purchased, and after extensive alterations the bank was moved to its present location.

        Its first official statement made to the comptroller of the currency December 13, 1900, showed:
 

        Its present officers are:  President, S. C. Smith; Vice President, William O'Neill; Cashier, Aaron McCammon; Asst. Cashier, John I. Firth; Teller, Elmer F. Carhart.

        Former Senator James E. Moon and John Saunderson also belong to the active working force of the bank.

        This company was chartered April 9, 1867, and organized 1861.  The capital stock was fixed at $50,000.

        This company was incorporated March the 25th, 1875.  The Phillipsburg Gaslight Company, however, had been incorporated in 1863, but was eventually abandoned.  At the first meeting of the former company, November 16, 1877, S. A. Comstock was elected president, David Mixsell Secretary and Treasurer, and Samuel Trumbore Superintendent.

        The capital stock was fixed at $25,000.

        The original plant of the Warren Foundry & Machine Company was built in the summer and fall of the year 1856 on a site purchased from the old Phillipsburg Land Co., containing six and one-half acres of land, between Stockton and McKeen streets.  Five buildings were erected, being a foundry building, engine house, machine shop, blacksmith shop and pattern shop.

        It was early in 1857 that the first pipe work was undertaken, the first pipe being of small size, made in green sand, cast on inclined banks as the custom in those days.

        During the period from 1866 to 1874 many improvements were made, the original plant rebuilt along original lines; until 1894, no further changes were made; in that year the old Nut and Bolt Works was bought and a new foundry erected there; the land was bought from Stockton street to Center street as we now see it.  In 1900 work was started to modernize the plant and it was put in the shape we now see it.  Largest number of hands employed, about 100.

        The first board of directors was elected February 9, 1857, and consisted of:  James McKeen, John L. Riegel, Russell Chidsey, Alexander Wilson, C. F. Randolph, Daniel Runkle and John Lander.

        Excepting Mr. Wilson and Mr. Riegel, those directors all served until they died.  Mr. Daniel Runkle was president until his death and was succeeded by his son, William Runkle, the present President.

        The popular and attractive Canwood Canisters as manufactured and sold by The Canister Company have been manufactured continuously in the present factory, situated on Broad street, this city, since December 1, 1899.

        The original factory has been enlarged and improved, and there have also been large additions to the original machine equipment--all making up the present modern and well equipped plant.  The location is an ideal one for manufacturing purposes, as it provides the most economical methods of handling all stock and materials received, as well as the outgoing shipments over the company's three switches connecting the plant directly with the P. R. R.

        The power is supplied both from our own boilers and engine, as well as auxiliary power and light by the Easton Gas and Electric Company, which makes a combination giving the best and most efficient service at low cost.

        The Canwood Canister has won for itself a high standing on its merits as a perfect food container, especially adapted for teas, coffees, spices, cocoa, also tobaccos, and dry chemical products, etc., and presents one of the most convenient and serviceable containers now being sold to the consumer.  It numbers among its customers some of the largest, best and most particular packing houses in the country and Canada.

        Starting with a new patented article, the trade has been built up to its present successful condition, with shipments extending from Maine to Texas, Florida, California, Washington, and also the Provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and with its promising outlook and steady growth the future is bright for a large addition to the present factory and equipment.  Its employees average at this time about 150 in all.

        The Standard Silk Company started work in Phillipsburg, N.J., May 3rd, 1886, as a branch of a company with the same name in Paterson, N.J.  On June 15th the engine was set in motion and the winding and warping of soft silk begun, and in the week ending July 24th the first woven goods were taken from the loom.  From that date the company has steadily grown and enlarged its plant, until it is now one of the largest and most modern silk mills in the state, employing about 1,500 hands in producing a wide variety of silk piece goods.  Every process from the raw material to the finished article is handled in the mill.  Not only does this industry furnish steady employment for this large number of operatives with a pay roll of more than $600,000 per annum, but it is also providing for the general welfare of its employees.  There has been recently completed and is now occupied a splendid building for the use of the Y. W. C. A., formed among the female help of the mill, and for outdoor exercise in the beautiful park which is part of the mill property there are tennis courts for the female help and a large baseball field for the men.  This park has been planned by an expert in landscape gardening, and will soon not only be of great benefit to the employees of the mill, but a decided ornament to the town.

        In looking over some of the earliest pay rolls we find that Messrs. A. T. Tallman, M. J. Marnell, J. Soler, and Misses J. Laughland, J. O'Hara and J. Riddle are still connected with the mill, and there is a long list of present employees who have been at work for the company from ten to twenty-five years.

        Mr. Henry Anner is the superintendent, and Mr. A. T. Tallman the agent, and among the heads of departments are a number of Phillipsburg's most respected citizens.  This company has also an annex at Chadwicks, N.Y., where it operates a large throwing and weaving plant, the final processes of which product are handled here.

        The Trenton Iron Company was incorporated 1847 and erected 1848.  Ore was received from the Morris Canal, coal from the Lehigh Canal, and the pig iron was shipped to Trenton.  The property was sold to the Andover Iron Company in 1867 and the name changed from Cooper's Furnace to the Andover Furnace.  The furnaces were run by Dr. Palmer, their builder, for a few years after the first blast in 1849, and then turned over to J. C. Kent, who remained in charge until 1894.

        J. T. Baker Chemical Company, situated at the north end of Broad street, was built in 1904 and occupies 3 acres of land.  The officers are:  President, J. T. Baker; Treasurer, Charles M. Davis; Secretary, H. H. Garis, and Chief Chemist, W. P. Fitzgerald.  The plant employs about 75 persons, and manufactures high grade chemical reagents used in chemical investigations and analytical work.

        In February 1869, Jacob Tippett came from Reading to Phillipsburg to work for Seiders & Kent, and about September of the same year bought Mr. Seiders' interest and the firm name became Tippett & Kent.  Shortly afterwards, Mr. Tippett went to Harrisburg to take charge of the Tippett Boiler Works at that place owned by his brother, Robert Tippett, and during his absence Mr. Kent conducted the business in Phillipsburg.  Some time in 1871 Mr. Tippett returned and Mr. Kent receiving a flattering offer to go to Raleigh, Mr. Kent sold his interest to Mr. Tippett and moved west with his family.

        In 1873 Mr. J. W. Wood purchased an interest in the business and the firm name since then has been Tippett  Wood.  After Mr. Tippett's death in October, 1868, the business continued for a short time with his nephew, Charles Tippett, representing the Tippett interest.  In 1887 Charles Tippett sold his interest to Mr. J. W. Wood, the firm name remaining Tippett & Wood.

        In 1891 the business was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey with the following officers:  J. W. Wood, President and Treasurer; W. A. Brunner, Superintendent; Henry Bercaw, Secretary, those named being the members of the corporation.  In 1901 F. Raymond Wood, son of J. W. Wood, and S. Taylor Wilson were admitted to the corporation.  On the death of Mr. Bercaw in 1903 F. Raymond Wood was made Secretary, and in the same year S. Taylor Wilson succeeded J. W. Wood as President.

        On March 7th, 1895, a meeting of the Board of Trade was held in Phillipsburg.  the object of the meeting was to act on the proposition of a new industry.  Philip S. Dyer, now Vice President and Treasurer of the American Horseshoe Co., addressed the Board.  The necessary bonds were subscribed, and the new industry started.  Phillipsburg knows the rest.

        We started to build a mill to accommodate sixty broad silk looms in May, 1908.  Plant was enlarged May, 1909, to accommodate total of 200 looms, employing 200 people.

        Incorporated May 31, 1902, and re-incorporated as the Northampton-Easton and Washington Traction Company October 21, 1910.  Total length of line 18 miles.

        The Phillipsburg Manufacturing Company, consisting of John Poulson, Harry Hitzel, Clarence M. Smith and Platt O. Werst, was formed for the manufacture of grinding mills, and in 1905 Mr. Rowland Firth bought an interest; in 1906 Charles S. Firth, with his father, bought up all the stock and formed the company, Rowland Firth & Son.  At the present time a modern steel casting foundry is being constructed with a capacity of ten tons daily.  The business of this company is largely supplying castings and machine work to the many cement mills in this locality.

        Tolmie Post was instituted and chartered February 11, 1881, with Joseph H. Brensinger Commander and Marcus M. Fisk Adjutant.  The post was named after John G. Tolmie, Jr., Sergeant, who enlisted in Company E, 7th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, September 7, 1861, and died May 7, 1862.

        The Belvidere Delaware Railroad was completed from Trenton to Phillipsburg in 1854.  The Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1852.  The Easton and Amboy Railroad, now the Lehigh Valley, 1855.  The Morris and Essex Division of the D., L. & W. R. R. was built in 1866.  The Lehigh and Hudson River Railway Company was commenced in 1881 and trackage contract was entered into with the Pennsylvania Railroad for the use of its tracks from Belvidere to Phillipsburg, in February, 1889, and the bridge across the Delaware was built soon after.

        The People's Water Company was organized on July 14, 1885, and at the first stockholders' meeting held August 15, 1885, the following directors were elected:  J. C. Kent, President; John A. Bachman, Treasurer; Jacob S. Stewart, Secretary; B. C. Frost, D. I. Seifert, Samuel Thomas, John Franks, Moses Bush, George E. Fuller, Howard Mellick, T. L. Titus.

        The present officers of the company are:  G. G. Stryker, President and Superintendent; John A. Bachman, Treasurer; John O. Carpenter, Secretary.

        The Company has recently constructed a filtering chamber which is yielding a very satisfactory quantity and quality of pure water.  A new pump house with larger pumps and reservoir is being constructed to provide for the increasing demand which the growing town of Phillipsburg makes necessary.

        The first interment in this cemetery was made in 1844, when a colored child, which had fallen in the sand pit, died of its injuries and was buried in Mr. Roseberry's wheat field.  In the spring of 1845 the body of a man found floating in the Delaware was also buried in Mr. Roseberry's field and was thereafter known as the burying ground back on the hill.  Later Major Sitgreaves began selling lots for the owner and subsequently the Phillipsburg Cemetery Company was formed.