1870 New Jersey, Passaic County, 6th Ward of Paterson, page 5, stamped page 543, film M593-885 (taken 27 June 1870)
dwelling 21, family 43
Zeluff, John P., age 50, male, white, hotel keeper, real estate $12000, personal $3000, born New Jersey
--------, Sarah J., age 46, female, white, keeps house, born New Jersey
--------, John B., age 20, male, white, hotel keeper, New Jersey
--------, Mary J., age 21, female, white, at home, born New Jersey
--------, Eliza, age 48, female, white, at home, born New Jersey
--------, Daniel, age 42, male, white, brick mason, born New Jersey
Garside, Irad L., age 28, male, white, clerk in bookbinding, born New York, parents foreign born
---------, Priscilla, age 27, female, white, boarding, born New Jersey
---------, Lawton B., age 6, male white, at home, born New Jersey
Reed, Charles D., age 41, male, white, tinsmith, born Massachusetts
------, Mary, age 24, female, white, boarding, born Massachusetts

-----------------------deceased

The New York Times, 7 January 1878, p.8
City and Suburban News
New Jersey
John Zeluff, aged about 30, a son of ex-Assemblyman Zeluff, was driving a pair of spirited horses on Main street in Paterson, yesterday afternoon, when the pole broke and the horses began to run furiously up the street. Zeluff, being unable to check the terrified animals, jumped out of the wagon, fracturing his skull. He died from his injuries half an hour later.

The New York Times, 11 January 1878, p.8
City and Suburban News
New Jersey
The Coroner’s jury to inquire into the case of John B. Zeluff, who was killed in Paterson Sunday last by being thrown from a buggy, the horses having run away owing to fright caused by the breaking of a spliced wagon-pole, which had been secured by two small screws, yesterday afternoon brought in a verdict censuring William Bushman for selling the pole to Mr. Zeluff as a sound one; also Bernard Murray and John Schneider, the workmen who spliced it, for their unworkmanlike job.

Paterson Daily Press, 7 January 1878, viewed online at google.com
Fatal Accident to a Well-Known Patersonian
Yesterday afternoon, between 2:30 and 2:45 o’clock, John B. Zeluff, son of the proprietor of the Passaic Hotel, and Thomas Cruise, hostler of the stables attached thereto, drove from the stable years with a pair of horses consisting of a fine four-year-old colt, well broken, and a staid horse of nature years, for an exercise to Little Falls. The team was attached to a one-seated top buggy, which had a pole attached, bought some months since, but not much used. This pole, or rather the infamous scoundrel who had at some time spliced the same while it had been broken – about 3 feet from the end – was the cause of a fatal accident. The pair had but just turned into Main street from Bank, when the pole parted at the place where it had been spliced, it being secured by but two small screws, one of which drew out, the horses of course became unmanageable and started in full career up toward Broadway. Cruise immediately jumped out, though he caught his feet in the robes and reins and was somewhat obstructed thereby. He however received but slightly sprained ankle being the extent of his injuries, though he was dragged half a block by the reins in which he was caught. When he could gather himself up he saw young Zeluff falling just at the corner of Broadway and Main street, in front of Feder’s clothing store. He fell directly on his back, head slightly inclined downward, and so heavily that, though at a considerable distance, Cruise could hear the “thud” distinctly, and knew that he must be very badly hurt. The team started up Main street then at a great speed dragging the vehicle the portions of the pole remaining attached being splintered and broken to kindling wood very soon. Cruise followed the team which were caught up on Green street and were returned to the stables not much the worse for their runaway; the old horse, Billy, had a cut on his held, and that was all.

Meantime a crowd gathered around young Zeluff who was at once conveyed unconscious to Dr. Moss’s egg store, hard by, and Dr. Blundell soon came, also Drs. Myers and Hengler, but all their efforts to recover the injured man were of no avail. He was unconscious and speechless from the moment when he struck the hard roadway. Not a particle of skin was broken, nor did any injury appear to the eye, and ever this morning it was a problem unsolved by the medical men – though each doubtless held to his own theory – whether the shock had superinduced death through heart disease, lurking about the system awaiting development, or if his neck were frozen by the fall, or if the fatal result might be attributed to concussion of the brain. It would appear from the symptoms that the latter theory were the correct one, as the injured man endeavored to vomit while lying at Dr. Moss’s office. His tongue, too, fell back continually in his throat so that it was necessary to bring it forward that he might breathe. All this time, while the attendants were doing all in their power to revive the vital spark, he never seemed conscious of his condition. After about three-quarters of an hour of unavailing effort he was removed to his home on a stretcher where he breathed his last about twenty minutes later – or about one hour after the fall – without uttering one word or recognizing any who were present. The unfortunate young man was aged about 28 years, and was married, his wife having formerly been a Miss Calvin, whose father, a well known citizen, kept a furniture and undertaking establishment here for many years. Not long since Mr. Zeluff had lost his only child, a bright boy, which was a sad blow for the parents, and now the wife is called upon to endure this further and still heavier affliction, in which she will have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community. It is a sad, sad case, and it was the topic in every circle yesterday and to-day, the people not being able to forget this sudden and unexpected inroad that death has made, and the interest and sympathy of all are more than usually excited, owing to the peculiarity of the circumstances and the swift and tragic result. All unite in condemning the person who attempted to splice the carriage pole, whoever he may be, leaving it in a condition that he must have known would endanger the lives of any who used it. There was not even a particle of glue used – nothing but the two insignificant screws to hold a splice about eight inches long, after which it was cunningly painted over and varnished so that none might detect its condition and thus avert the danger arising from its use. We would not card to be the man who, by his criminal neglect to do his work in a proper manner, is to-day responsible for the untimely taking off of a fellow being.

There will be no inquest held, it not being considered necessary. The funeral will take place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday; the remains to be taken to Cedar Lawn for interment. We learn that it was but the middle of last month that the little boy, the only child referred to, was buried.