History: J P Geran & Co, Carriage Manufacturer, Matawan (1872)

J P Geran and Co advertised its carriage business on page 4 of the 21 Dec 1872 edition of The Matawan Journal. The ad reads as follows:

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EIGHT gentlemen having associated themselves under the name of J P GERAN & Co, have commenced the Carriage Manufacturing business, in all its branches, at the old CARRIAGE FACTORY, Matawan.

The business will be under the supervision of Mr JACOB TRUAX, a practical and experienced workman, and the --s are prepared to furnish to order.

COACHES, CARRIAGES, BUGGIES, CARRY ALLS, FARM AND MARKET WAGONS, CARTS, SLEIGHS, SLEDS, and everything else in their line.

Repairing promptly attended to, and general jobbing done.

Mr Edward Dayton will attend to the accounts of the firm.

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J P Geran was a prominent Matawan dentist named Josiah P Geran. He appeared in the 1870 and 1880 Federal Censuses in Matawan. He and his business are described in my blog article about professionals and businessmen listed on the front page of a Matawan Journal in 1880.

Edward Dayton, age 46 NY, was a bookkeeper enumerated in the 1870 Census in the Marion House at the corner of East Broadway and Catharine Street in New York City.

Jacob Truax was born on 17 May 1832, the son of John Truax and Allice "Elsie" Rose. Jacob's father died in October 1834. Jacob lived in Matawan, according to the 1870 Federal Census. He was a 38 year old blacksmith born in New Jersey with $800 in personal property. His household included his wife Lenora (36 NJ), son William (15), daughter Emma L (13), daughter Lorra (Laura) (10), son Garret (7), and daughter Minnie (5/12). He was a widower living in Minden, Montgomery County, NY in the 1880 Federal Census. He was still a blacksmith. Emma, Laura, Garret and Minnie were living in the same household.