The Jackson & Perkins Co. of Newark, widely known nurserymen, has issued an illustrated booklet to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the organization of the business.
Beginning in a modest way in 1873, the business has grown until it is one of the principle industries of the community and one of
the most widely known nursery firms in America.
The book is illustrated with views from the nursery farms to greenhouses, and contains pictures of Charles H. Perkins, Albert E. Jackson, George C. Perkins, E. Alvin Miller, Abram J. Fremouw, Jacob Cattoo, Peter Finewood, R. DeWilde, Charles H. Perkins II, Paul V. Fortmiller, Clarence G. Perkins, Ralph E. Perkins, Eugene S. Boerner, and Mrs. Mabel Merriam, all of whom are members of or employed by the firm.
Charles H. Perkins, the senior member of the firm, was one of the founders. Mr. Perkins now lives in southern California where he has a splendid orange grove and a poultry ranch of some 3,000 hens.
Albert E. Jackson was the father-in-law and partner of Charles H. Perkins, and one of the founders. He died in 1895.
George C. Perkins is the president and treasurer of the company. He has seen the business grow from sales that amounted to about $10,000 a year to nearly a $1,000,000, and from an acreage of 30 to over 100 acres.
Charles H. Perkins II, the vice-president, is a nephew of Charles H. Perkins I. Mr. Perkins has contributed much to the growth of business during the past decade.
Paul V. Fortmiller, the secretary, devotes his attention to office management and to sales correspondence. Clarence G. Perkins is one of the traveling representatives of the firm, and his sales alone during the season of 1922-23 totalled as much as the annual business ten years ago. Ralph E. Perkins, brother to Charles II and Clarence, is also one of the traveling salesman.
Eugene Boerner has been the assistant superintendent of greenhouses since 1920 and is now one of the traveling representatives. R. DeWilde is one of the superintendents of the branch nursery at Bridgeton, New Jersey. He is a very successful propagator and has an excellent showing of azaleas, rhododendrons, and so on. To Alvin Miller is due the honor of having originated and introduced the Dorothy Perkins rose, considered by many the best pink climbing rose blooming in clusters.
Abram J. Freemouw is in charge of shipping and storage and has been with the firm for 36 years, or nine years of age. He is a native of this village and has grown up with the company. He is responsible for the storage and shipping of millions of pieces of nursery stock every year.
Jacob Cattoo is in charge of greenhouses and the propagating department, having worked with J & P for 51 years. The superintendent of farms is Peter Finewood, an employee for over 30 years. The company controls over 1,000 acres and frequently in the blooming season, autoists travel miles to see the beautiful flowers and shrubbery. Mrs. Mabel Merriam is the efficient shipping clerk and keeper of stock records, and is a 20 year employee.
top of page
return to history index
Copyright
© 1999
Newark Courier-Gazette
All Rights Reserved