- Thomas B. Peddie, a thrifty, energetic and most industrious Scotchman, who settled here some time before Newark became a city. He began business in 1834. In the directory for 1830 his name appears as "trunk manufacturer, base 355, h. 393 Br...oad."
Thomas B. Peddie reared out of his Broad Street basement in Newark a business which employs a small army of workers, occupies two four-storv brickeleven days. Additional to the saddlery and harness manufacturers already named, there have been established hereTheo. Dufford, E. F. Beck, Butler & Wards, E. A. Crossman, Jr., J. Clements & Bro., Manning & Lyon, John Houck, George Roubaud, Robert C. Winters and The Harness-Makers' Co-Operative Union.
Trunk and Traveling-Bag Manufactories.—The manufacture of trunks and traveling-bags is another highly important branch of industry in Newark, and of long establishment here. With it, in the first part of the present century, are creditably associated the names of John Hedden, Pruden Ailing, Ralph Morgan, Peter Jacobus, Richard M. Crane and Smith
buildings, each four hundred feet long, at Market and Halsey Streets, uses in a year more than two million feet of lumber, and every month eats up ten tons of sheet-iron and more than fifteen thousand dollars' worth of leather. Early in his career (in 1847) Mr. Peddie had associated with him an admirable business man,—John Morrison. In 1861, Mr. Morrison died. After continuing business alone for several years, Mr. Peddie took as a partner George B. Jenkinson, the firm-title being T. B. Peddie & Co. It is not extravagant to say that this firm, in common with others in Newark, eclipses the world in the utility, finish and beauty of the goods manufactured. These goods find
a market all over the Union and in foreign countries. The factory is probably the largest in the world. The number of employes varies from four to five hundred.
Thomas B. Peddie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the native place also of his father, who was engaged in business in that city, and who was highly respected for his integrity and the interest which he took in matters of religion. Under the influence of parents who had a solicitous regard for his welfare, young Peddie grew up instructed in the rudiments of learning and trained to habits of industry and sobriety. He was taught that throughout life he would be obliged to depend mainly upon his own exertions, and with the parental injunctions constantly before him; he labored with such diligence that, before reaching his majority, he was in circumstances which enabled him to look about and choose the most suitable field in which to exercise his talents and make for himself a home and a name. The knowledge obtained by inquiry and reading begat in him a desire to see the world, and a spirit of enterprise finally led him to the conclusion that the United States was the country in which fortune and the realization of his dreams awaited him. Full of hope and of brave determination, he bade good-by to his native laud, and in 1833 landed in America. With the sagacity which has always characterized him, he first resolved to look well around him before fixing upon a place of settlement, and it was only after a great deal of deliberation that he decided upon Newark, N. J. True to the purpose with which he left his home, he sought a place where he could exercise his abilities, and without much difficulty obtained a situation in the great saddlery establishment of Smith & Wright, the latter of whom became subsequently a United States Senator. With this firm he remained for two years, when he commenced on his own account the manufacture of leather trunks and traveling-bags. It was a very small beginning iudeed, but it has grown to be one of the most important manufacturing establishments in the city of Newark, and even in the whole country. In 1846 he took into partnership Mr. John Morrison, with whom he continued to be associated until 1861, when Mr. Morrison died. In 1872, Mr. George B. Jenkinson, who had for several years been connected with the firm, became a partner, and from that time the business of the establishment was carried on under the style of T. B. Peddie & Co., and is at present so conducted. To the management of this great manufactory, which sends its products to every part of the world, Mr. Peddie still gives his personal attention. But notwithstanding the great amount of time and labor requisite to the supervision of his private business, he has not stood idle or indifferent when the public good could be promoted by his services. Besides being a director in many of the financial institutions of the city of Newark, he has taken a lively interest in almost every important public move
ment. In the discussions of the Board of Trade, of which he was at one time president, he has always taken a prominent part. On his return from a visit to Europe a few years since he delivered an address before that body full of valuable information concerning trade and the industrial pursuits, both mechanical and agricultural, of the different countries which he had visited, and concluded his remarks by earnestly advocating a new department at Washington, that of trade and commerce, as an adjunct to that «>f agriculture.
Mr. Peddie is and always has been a stanch Republican. In 1803 and 1864 he served as a member of the State General Assembly, in which position he took an active part in support of the general government during the war of the Rebellion, and by means of his influence, as well as his purse, did good service in behalf of the Union. In 1866, '67, '68 and'69 he was mayor of Newark, an office which he filled with credit to himself and to the city. In 1876 he was elected to represent the Sixth Congressional District of New Jersey in the Forty-fifth Congress, and on the expiration of his term of office declined a further nomination. Although no seeker after political office, Mr. Peddie takes a deep interest in the party which he has so faithfully served, and his advice and influence are always sought in matters affecting it. In his religious views he is a Baptist, and is connected with the First Baptist Church of Newark, in which he takes a great interest, and to the maintenance of which he has not only contributed generously, but is ever ready to respond whenever called upon for aid. His name was bestowed upon the Peddie Institute, at Hightstowu, N. J., as a mark of regard for his interest in the education of the young. Of the Newark City Home, the Newark City Hospital and various other public institutions he has repeatedly acted as a trustee, or director. All benevolent enterprises find in him a liberal supporter, and he is always ready to contribute of his means, as well as of his personal services, to whatever may advance the welfare of his adopted city.
George 15. Jenkinson, of the firm of«T. B. Peddie & Co., manufacturers, Newark, N. J., was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, Aug. 18, 1827, his parents being among the worthy and highly-respected Protestant families of that section of the country. His father, somewhat embarrassed in his business affairs by the financial troubles of 1846 and 1847, determined to emigrate to America, and, setting sail accordingly reached Montreal in March, 1847, and settled at once in that city.See More - Dave Teddie PeddieSomething more on Thomas B. Peddie from my website
http://www.curious.org.uk/peddie/pedfacts.htm#thomas baldwinpeddie
Born February 11 (12th?), 1808 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Thomas, who was a saddlemaker when he emigrated from Scotland to Newa...rk NJ, and became a manufacturer of trunks, suitcases and the like in that city. He was a member of the United States congress and a mayor of New Jersey's largest city Newark (1866-69). He had one son, name unknown, by his first wife. He died in 1889 and is buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, N.J.
Thomas was the financial benefactor of THE PEDDIE SCHOOL, who renamed their institution after him. A history of The Peddie School can be found in the book, "The Peddie School's first century: A history of the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, from its founding in 1864 to the end of its first hundred years in 1964" by Carl Geiger, which should normally be available from Amazon.
His second wife, Sarah Ogden Peddie, in 1891, became a member of the school's Board of Corporators and served until her death in 1893. His adopted daughter, Elsie Peddie, who married Tonzo Sauvage of Welsh descent-in Newark, NJ., graduated from the Peddie School in 1885, was elected to the board in 1893 and served until her own death in 1936. By her wish, her ashes were strewn by plane over the campus that she and her parents had loved so well.
Also the First Baptist Peddie Memorial Church (Broad and Fulton Streets), Newark, a Byzantine granite structure inspired by the Baths of Pisa in Italy, was built through gifts from Thomas during his time as Mayor of Newark, New Jersey (1866-1869). The church was erected in 1890. It features an unusual use of interior spaces, rich paneling, 200 doors, 173 windows-most of which are stained glass, and a dome 80 feet above the main auditorium. For more see Newark Web Site (Thanks to Finn C. for this)
There is a good entry in Wikipedia for Thomas atSee More
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