Ocean County NJ Archives News.....Jersey Boy in Washington January 31, 1908
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  S Faycik oceancogenweb@gmail.com and Doris Semon  April 30, 2006, 3:50 pm
  
  New Egypt Press January 31, 1908
  New Egypt Press - 31 Jan 1908
  
  Jersey Boy in Washington.
  
  Lived Near Jobstown, Often Went to Brown's Mills With Grandfather.
  
  Kennewich, Wash., Jan 14, '08
  
  To Editor Press: -
  
  In my correspondence with W. Clement Moore, Editor New Egypt Press, I received 
  a post card with a picture of Brown's Mill Park.  This interested me at once, 
  as I own a town lot there, which I bought 14 years ago.  I did not think much 
  about it, but when I saw that picture the thought came to me to look it up.
  
  Years ago my grand parents and also my parents used to go to Browns Mills, 
  often to have sport; pick huckleberries and hold their picnics.  Gracious what 
  fun we had in those olden times! In those days there were the old mills, and 
  the mill pond; the run with cedar water.
  
  Forty years ago, my father was a merchant at Jobstown and there I commenced to 
  go to school.  I remember the first time.  Old Ike Hall owned a band of geese, 
  and when I went to go past, the Ganders arrayed for battle and charged at the 
  little boy, who of course ran home.
  
  My father, John W. Lodge, was for a long time the storekeeper, with whom the 
  old timers were well acquainted.  My mother, Mersa A. (Gauntt) Lodge was raised 
  on the old homestead near Jobstown, and I remember very well my noble 
  grandfather, Samuel J. Gauntt, and the old homestead where I used to be.  There 
  were great uncles Elisha, Benny, Jefferson and their families, all the members 
  of which the present generation is scattered.  There was also great uncle Nebo 
  Gaunt who went west to Ohio when it was a new country.  From this parentage has 
  come three generations.  I recently found two of these cousins here in 
  Washington. Newton C. Gaunt, of North Yokima, Wash., and Ernest D. Gaunt of 
  Wenatchie, Wash.
  
  There was Uncle Tommy and aunt Rebecca Richardson, Adam Atkinson, George 
  Smith, the Moores and many others who are gone.  I remember George Smith's farm 
  where we once lived, and the Giberson boys came and shot tame pigeons in the 
  yard. Yes, and old Scrabbletown too, where Uncle John Gaunt kept tavern.  The 
  fields have changed they say, and the Old Burlington turn pike I would not 
  know.
  
      Oh! The old time place in the Jersey town,
  
      Is very far, yes far away;
  
      The pine woods green upon the sand,
  
      Are made into gardens, they say,
  
      I wish I could see that land again
  
      Where I lived when a little boy;
  
      The familiar faces over there,
  
      Where the school boy laughed with joy.
  
  My grandparents were Quakers.  Don't remember the Friends, I guess yes.  Here we 
  have a certificate, John W. Lodge and Mersa A. Gaunt were married at the 
  bride's parents, December 25, 1842.  Witnesses, John and Ruth Gauntt, Sarah 
  Gauntt, Elizabeth Shinn, Elizabeth Richardson, George Smith, Wm. McKay and 
  others.  What a happy day that was.  Brown's Mills, Jobestown, Moorestown, 
  Bordentown, were represented.  New Egypt seem to be new enough to make me 
  think.  There was no railroad except the Camden and Amboy.  Old Burlington 
  county has been remembered after many long years in the wild and wooly west, 
  far across the main.  All the way from Jersey to Washington, the evergreen 
  state, progressive, full of resources, and wonderful to see.  The northwest is 
  fast developing into a great commonwealth.  The town of Kennewick here, which I 
  have chosen, has a bright future.  Situated on the Columbia river, with Pasco 
  just across and a railroad division.  Railroads and river transportation.  A 
  nice town of 1,200, country developing for miles a natural point, beautiful 
  scenery with snow capped peaks of everlasting snow in the distance.
  
  S.B. Lodge.
  
  
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