Goble and Thomas (Newark, N.J.)

Luther Goble was born on May 22, 1777 in Morris County, New Jersey. By 1791 he had started his own shoemaking business in Newark, New Jersey, and with a well-made and reliable product, he was soon hiring extra workers to the meet the increasing demand. He also took advantage of growing shipping opportunities, eventually transporting his manufactures to New York, Philadelphia, and Savannah, Georgia. His business became very successful and near the time of his death in 1833, he was one of the richest men in Newark. Luther Goble married first, Sarah Gwinnup (ca. 1775-1817) with whom he had five children and after her death, married Phebe Roberts Halsted (b.1781), the widow of David Canfield, with whom he had one daughter. Luther and Sarah Goble's daughter, Mary, married Frederick S. Thomas. Thomas probably went into business with his father-in-law, creating the firm Goble and Thomas. Goble and Thomas seemed to specialize in the manufacture and selling of shoes and boots, but also sold such things as butter, molasses, muslin, and calico.