History: Edward Farry & Co, Matawan (1891)

The above advertisement for Edward Farry and Company, Main Street, Matawan, successor to Farry Brothers, appeared in the 21 Nov 1891 edition of The Matawan Journal. Edward Farry was a wholesale and retail dealer in the following:

• Hardware, Coal, Wood, Hay, Grain, Feed, Lime, Cement, and general Building Materials.
• Wheels, Hubs, Spokes, Shafts, Rims, Poles, Etc, Etc.
• Norway and Refined Iron,
• Spring, Scroll and Tool Steel of all dimensions.
• Phoenix and Perkin Horse Shoes,
• Steel and Iron Axles, all sizes.
• Seeds for Farm and Garden.
• Agents for Victor Safety Bicycle Co.

The Rhode Island Perkins Horse Shoe Company was based in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, according to a real estate liquidation sale in the 28 Oct 1918 edition of The Milwaukee Sentinel.

Norway was a major supplier of iron in the late 19th century. The Moss ironworks is producing the smoke behind the big house on right. (Wikimedia)

This 1909 post card from an Oregon business was an advertisement for Phoenix horse shoes. The caption says that the horse is bucking because the carriage driver didn't get him Phoenix horse shoes. (Card Cow)

Victor Safety Bicycles catalog.

The 2 Jan 1892 edition of The Matawan Journal showed another ad for Edward Farry and Co. That ad included a number of additional services and items for sale.

Farry Bros, successor to John O Conover, advertised in The Matawan Journal in the Oct 1890 - Jan 1892 period. The ad below appeared in the 22 Nov 1890 edition.

Edward Farry was born 11 Feb 1868 and died 21 Sep 1936. He was the son of John Haggerty Farry (1830 - 1895) and Delia Jane Haywood. Edward was living in Matawan in the 1900 Federal Census with his wife Louise, son Edward (2) and infant daughter Louise. Edward was occupied as a brick manufacturer at the time. The 1880 Federal Census showed Edward as son of John H Farry (50, New York), hotel proprietor in Matawan. Edward had a younger brother, John H Farry, Jr, age 7, and three sisters.. The 1870 Federal Census said his father was a hotel keeper and that his real property was worth $50,000 and personal property was valued at $15,000. Perhaps John Sr retired circa 1890 and the hotel business or the proceeds therefrom passed briefly to the sons?

There's a mention of John H Farry, Jr in the 16 Feb 1895 edition of The Matawan Journal. There had been a great snow storm that marooned John at his sister's house in Wickatunk. He tried to cut a way down the road but was upset in a snowbank and had to walk back to his sister's house. His sister was Mrs Charles Conover.

The Matawan Township Committee paid Farry Brothers $52.34, according to the committee's minutes dated 13 Jun 1891.