USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 17
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The circumstances of the origin of the German Baptist church of Jamesburg were: Rev. C. A. Schlipf of Newark visited friends there and held monthly meetings in the shade of the yard of his friend, Mr. Buehler. His friend asked him to hold a meeting in Helmetta. He did so. Whereupon, Mr. Helm (proprietor of the town) offered to build a chapel if Mr. Schlipf would continue his mission. He con- sented. On his next visit the materials for the chapel were on the ground. Winter stopped out-door work and the building having neither doors nor windows, a Sunday school and social meetings and preaching
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were begun, although storms of wind, rain and snow swept through the shivering congregation. Calls came to Mr. Schlipf to hold meetings in Jamesburg. A hall was offered for his use. Mr. Schlipf visited and distributed tracts. Cottage meetings were held and four German Baptists were found. Within a year these increased the number to thirteen. They all joined the church at Hightstown and worshipped in a a school house at Jamesburg. These thirteen met on May 18th, 1885 and organized the German Baptist Church at Jamesburg, having been dismissed for that purpose. In the end, the house of worship was built at Jamesburg for both of which, the Hightstown church made generous contributions. In the erection of the church edifice a wind storm nearly tore the structure to pieces. It was rebuilt and in Feb- ruary 1887, was dedicated. Later, adjoining lots were bought and a parsonage built in 1892. Mr. Schlipf resigned in 1894, after ten years of devoted work. This German church is being slowly Americanized as have been other German Baptist churches in New Jersey. The church has increased to quite a numerous body and English services are held in the afternoon of the Lord's Day, begun in 1901 or 2, under the conduct of Pastor F. G. Walter, whose English ministry is very satisfactory. Rev. C. H. Baum followed Mr. Schlipf in 1894 and ministered one year. The next pastor was Rev. E. H. Otto, who settled in 1896. Repairs were made on the house of worship in 1897. The social meetings at Helmetta, that through a misunderstanding had been suspended were renewed. Mr. Otto resigned in Novemeber, 1899 and was succeeded by Rev. F. G. Walter in 1900, who is enjoying the confidence of his brethren as did his predecessors.
CHAPTER XV.
DIVIDING CREEK, TUCKAHOE, MILLVILLE,
NEWPORT AND PORT NORRIS.
A small stream called "Dividing Creek" gave its name to the village on its banks and to the Baptist church located there. Morgan Edwards states of the origin of the Baptist church: "About the year 1749, a colony of members of Cohansie church moved to "Dividing Creek," which involved visits of the pastor, Rev. Robert Kelsay and several residents were converted."
The village being on the way from Cohansie to First Cape May church, other ministers stopped there and preached as was an old time custom. In 1751, Mr. Seth Love gave a large plot of ground on which to build a Baptist meeting house. When built is not known, but the minutes of a council to recognize the church state that "We met the said people in their meeting house," and the house must have been erected before the church was formed.
This building was burned in 1770. Of the colonists to Dividing Creek from Cohansie, four of them were Sheppards and it may have been a family party. Rev. Samuel Heaton and his wife removed from Cape May to Dividing Creek, making the number of Baptists twelve. (Mr. Edwards gives twelve names) and these organized into a Baptist church in May 1761. In that year they bought one hundred acres of land, built on it a dwelling house and other needed buildings (a parsonage) for their pastor, costing several thousand dollars. Indi- cating ample means both to care for the pastor and also a readiness to expend them for Christ. Considering that in these early days incomes were uncertain but necessarily small, especially in the country, a parsonage farm and additional salary to pay wages of men to work the farm, the pastor was relieved of anxiety for his support. We Baptists have reason to be thankful for our ancestry and to be proud of them. Rev. Samuel Heaton, the first pastor, was a constituent of the church and served the church sixteen years till he died in Septem- ber 1777, sixty-six years old. (For the remarkable history of Mr. Heaton and how he became a Baptist, see History of Mount Olive church, Sussex County.) Mr. Heaton's pastorate was most happy. 11
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His ministry was in the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. After his death, Rev. P. P. Van Horn "supplied" the church once in two weeks and in 1779 was called to be pastor continuing till 1783, really being pastor nearly six years. Mr. Van Horn was a devoted pastor till he died at Salem in 1789. His labors at Dividing Creek were eminently useful. Rev. Wiliam Locke became pastor in spring of 1785, but God called him on high the next September. Mr. John Garrison, Jr., a licentiate of the church "supplied" the church until called to be pastor and was ordained in 1787 and died while pastor in 1790. Mr. Garrison is supposed to have been a grandson of A. Garrison, licensed by Cohansie in 1743. He was baptized by Mr. Heaton, whose daughter he married. A vacancy occurred of nearly two years in the pastoral office, when Rev. G. A. Hunt settled as pastor. Mr. Hunt resigned in 1796. "Supplies" again preached till 1801. when Rev. John Rutter entered the pastoral office, remaining two years. Rev. D. Stone followed and served about four years. Supplies again ministered for two years. Then in July, 1810, Rev. David Bateman was pastor. His is a memorable name in New Jer- sey. His charge at Dividing Creek was only two years. They were years of the right hand of the most High. It is believed that Mr. Bateman was born at Cohansie in 1777. Not until four years had gone did Dividing Creek church have another pastor.
In 1816, Rev Thomas Brooks became pastor and for twenty years until 1836, held the office, serving most acceptably. When seventy- five years old, Mr. Brooks resigned. In early life, he had been a sailor. During the American Revolution, he was taken prisoner by the English and suffered the horrible treatment they usually imposed upon their American prisoners, especially sailors. He and others were shut in the hold of a ship and starved till their hair fell out and they had the alternative of joining the British or of "walking the plank." Finally they were taken to England and shut up in prison for two years and starved. They even caught and eat dogs that came with visitors allowed to see them.
Rev. William Bacon, M. D. followed Mr. Brooks. The salary was insufficinet for his support and he supplemented it with his medical practice. Dr. Bacon was pre-eminently a good man. His purity of life won him friends in all circles of society. His domestic life was most trying to a man of chastity. For eleven years he served the church. The Doctor's unaffected piety gave him great power with men, the more so, because of his noble Christian patience with the infidelities of his home. At last, in 1868, he had rest in death.
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In 1850, Rev. Daniel Kelsay, son of Pastor Kelsay of Cohansie, entered the pastorate and ministered to the church four years till 1853. Mr. Kelsay had many of the excellent qualities of his prede- cessor, unassuming, intelligent and good. The church and the com- munity could not but be bettered by his relation to it. A young man succeeded Mr. Kelsay in June 1854. Rev. U. Cauffman soon winning the hearts of the people, an unclouded sunshine filled the future. These however, were all disappointed. In ten months he died on April 17th, 1855, twenty-eight years old. Rev. George Sleeper settled as pastor the next June and after three years, resigned in 1858.
In the following forty-two years, fifteen pastors have ministered to the church. They are, H. W. Webber, 1859-61; A. H. Folwell, 1861-63; Benjamin Jones, 1863-65; E. V. King, 1865-66; L. W. Wheeler, 1866-68; J. H. Hyatt, 1869-70. E. W. Stager, 1870-73; H. B. Raybold, 1874-77.
At this the time the church resolved: "That it is not our interest as a church to change pastors every year or two." A lesson of ex- perience. Initiatory steps were taken at this time, to erect a house of worship at Point Norris. C. P. DeCamp, 1877-78; M. M. Finch, 1879-84. The church edifice at Point Norris was built in this term and sixty-three members were dismissed to constitute a church there. W. Cattell, 1885-88; J. W. Evans, 1889-93; A. L. Williamson, 1894-97; E. Thompson, 1897- 1900. The resolution that short pastorates were not helpful seems to have been a vain effort to reform. These frequent changes were not due to any difficulties. The pastors were invariably spoken of with commendation, with one exception. Most likely the isolation of the church in a rural district; an uncommercial people limiting growth and the small salary to be made out of a farm, excited the pastors to prefer a change of field, more, "in the world" and in touch with outside life, which pastors called to inspire others to activity, need more than other men.
The Dividing Creek church, even though isolated, has done much for the denomination in the state. Its pastors have included some of our foremost men. They number in all, twenty-eight. Five have finished their work in death. Of these men, the first filled the office sixteen years. Another more than twenty years. A third, eleven years. These early Baptists from Cohansie, were of the original stamp and believed it and were ready to die for it. They built a meeting house and bought a parsonage farm and put buildings on it before the church was organized. Expansion was characteristic of them. Three churches were colonized from Dividing Creek, Tuckahoe, 1771; Newport, 1855, where a house of worship had been built pre-
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viously to the organization of the church, having fifty-one constituents from Dividing Creek church; Port Norris, with sixty-three constituents from the mother church. Tuckahoe has given life to three churches, West Creek, Pt. Elizabeth and First Millville and the last to North Millville. Ten hundred and fifty-six converts have been baptized into the church.
Three meeting-houses have been built for Dividing Creek church The first built before 1761, burned in 1770. The second built after the first was burned in 1771 and was burned in 1821. A third was dedicated in 1823 and was enlarged and improved in 1860. Three parsonages have been in use. The first before 1761, which was sold and one built in 1850 and a better one in 1892. Such are the known fruits of the six men and six women who planted Dividing Creek church, which has yielded a glorious harvest. Had they been men and women without convictions of Bible truth and who dared maintain them with life, could such results have come from their works?
Two Baptist churches in New Jersey have been named Tuckahoe, one in 1771. Originally all of the country east of Dividing Creek was included in the field of the Dividing Creek church. The Baptists at Tuckahoe were members of Dividing Creek church. Morgan Edwards states that "James Hubbard gave the ground on which the first house was built. His deed is dated May 15th, 1750, The house of worship was built in 1751. In 1790, the people, on account of disrepair, were planning to build a new one. Alderman Benezet promised to "give them land, timber, glass and nails." The house was built. The church, also, used an old vacant meeting house at May's Landing, twelve miles distant." Mr. Edwards adds: "When the Gospel began to be preached at Dividing Creek by Nathaniel Jenkins, several from these parts repaired there and received serious impressions. Mr. Jenkins was invited to preach among them. He did so, notwithstanding his age and Maurice river stood in his way. He baptized some.
Mr. Sheppard of Salem visited them and baptized others. Mr. Kelsay of Cohansie preached there and baptized and a church was organized in 1771. They had a large parsonage farm and dwelling on it. Their pastors were, James Sutton, he was a constituent of the church and ministered from 1771-2; Mr. Lock was bred a Presbyterian, but was ordained a Baptist minister in July 1773 and resigned in 1779. In August, 1792, twenty-nine members were dismissed to constitute the West Creek Baptist church. The old Tuckahoe church never recovered from this depletion. It was disbanded in 1834. The West Creek church of 1792 died from a like cause.
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This clipping is from an old newspaper:
"Some time ago, Mr. Springer, Sr., when upon a trip to Tuckahoe, sent me the names of these two pastors of the church, data which he collected from the old graveyard in Tuckahoe. There lie buried the Rev. Isaac Bonnell, who died July 25th, 1794, aged 64 years, as well as the Rev. Peter Groom, who departed this life January 16th, 1807, aged 56 years. The next pastor, says Mr. Springer, was the Rev. Thomas Brooks, and then the Rev. Mr. Jayne, father of the celebrated Dr. David Jayne, of Philadelphia, and grandfather of Dr. Horace Jayne, dean of the University of Pennsylvania. (Collegiate department). Revs. Jayne and Brooks both died and were buried in the Baptist cemetery at Dividing Creek, where the latter was pastor for 23 years."
Two Baptist churches in South Jersey have been named "West Creek." The oldest of these was located in Cumberland county, near the northwest boundary of Cape May county. Dr. T. T. Price, of Tuckerton writes of the church constituted in 1792: "The meeting house of the church stood in the woods two or three miles from West Creek, adding Port Elizabeth in Cumberland county or "Dennisville," would," I think, "have better accommodated the community than the West Creek church edifice." Knowing the location of their house of worship it is a wonder that the church survived so long.
Tuckahoe church was its origin. Eight pastors served the old church and forty-six were baptized into its fellowship. Rev. I. Bon- nell, pastor of Tuckahoe was also pastor at West Creek till near his last illness and death in 1794. Rev. P. Groom followed and was pastor till 1805, eleven years. Mr. Brooks was ordained in 1809 and served seven years. Mr. E. Jayne succeeded and was ordained pastor serving four years. Also, J. P. Thompson and Rev. Mr. Pollard served the church. Eliel Joslin was pastor and a bad man. He did his utmost to destroy the church. Rev. I. M. Church came next. Mr. Church was a man of positive ideas and had opposition; was locked out of the meeting house. Under his wise and equable administration, the trouble ceased and those who had warred on him, returned to the church and were his best friends. Pastor Church resigned in 1841, and removed to Northfield. In 1810, Pastor Brooks and some of the efficient members were dismissed and constituted the Port Elizabeth church. Finally the West Creek church disbanded in 1857. (West New Jersey Association, page 9, item 53; 1857). But it lives in its progeny; Millville first and North.
Port Elizabeth to which West Creek church gave life and its life was constituted in 1810. The town is on Maurice river, a short dis- tance below Millville. In West New Jersey Association, 1843, page 13,
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digest, the church says: "They have united with others to form Mill- ville church." disbanding in 1843. An item of interest is: that Deacon Wynn, grandfather of Pastor Wynn of first church, Camden, was a deacon of West Creek church; a constituent and deacon of Port Elizabeth church; if living when First Millville was constituted, was constituent of that church. Deacon Isaac Wynn, was thus a deacon of West Creek, a constituent of Port Elizabeth and a deacon of the church; a constituent and deacon of First Millville. He died in 1849. His wife was Rebecca Price, daughter of Dr. Price's great grandfather, Capt. William Price, a constituent of Pt. Elizabteh. Rev. I. C. Wynn was a grandson of Deacon Isaac Wynn of West Creek, Pt. Elizabeth and Millville.
In the minutes of the New Jersey Baptist Association for 1837, page 2, item 21, the report of the committee on the letters from the churches says: "Relative to the inquiry of the Port Elizabeth church, Cumberland county, as to changing its name; "There can be no objection to altering its name to that of Millville church." Port Elizabeth church did not alter its name, but lived as it was until December 29th, 1842, when it disbanded and Millville appeared in the list of the churches reporting to the association in 1843. On page 13, minutes of 1843, digest of Port Elizabeth says: "That being very small they have united with others forming the Baptist church of Millville. How many constituents Millville had is quite uncertain. If fourteen, ten were from Port Elizabeth and four from Cedarville. "By request of Port Elizabeth church, a council met in a school room in Millville, December 29th, 1842, to consider the propriety of constituting the Baptists there as the first Baptist church at Millville."
Deacon Isaac Wynn, grandfather of Rev. I. C. Wynn, for years pastor of the first Baptist church of Camden, "in behalf of Port Eliza- beth church requested for himself and twelve others to be constituted into a new church of Millville. This was the action of the Port Elizabeth church, taken upon the suggestion of the Association in 1837. The four members from Cedarville concurred in this action.
In June 1843, Rev. H. Wescott was called to preach to the new church for six months. He remained one year. Within this time the house of worship was built and dedicated. It was a good thing for Millville to have had Mr. Wescott. His family was an "old family and had financial substance. He was followed by Ephraim Sheppard, a brother-in-law, also of an "old family" and who had ample financial resources. He settled as pastor in December 1844. Mr. Sheppard was ordained in April 1845, and remained until January 1847. Rev. William Maul succeeded immediately being pastor from January 1st,
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CEDARVILLE, MILLVILLE AND NEWPORT
1847, to 52. In connection with Cedarville, Rev. J. Todd "supplied" for nine months. Rev. William Smith ministered as pastor from 1854 to 58. J. Curran called for one year, in 1858, stayed until 1860. H. W. Webber was pastor 1862-64. William Humpstone was pastor 1865-67. Others were D. H. Burdock, 1869-70. The meeting house was rebuilt at a large cost in 1871. H. Wheat was pastor 1871-73; E. L. Stager, 1873-78; H. C. Applegarth, 1878-79. At this time a parsonage was built. C. A. Mott, 1880-85. In this term the church edifice was greatly improved. H. G. James, 1885-87; E. B. Morris, 1888-90; G. H. Button, 1890-95.
Mr. Button baptized one hundred and sixty-six in less than five years. H. W. Barrass, 1895-6; A. H. Sembower, 1896-1900. First Millville has had eighteen pastors. Two were joint pastors with Cedarville. One member has been licensed to preach. In 1896, forty-seven members, including the pastor, constituted the North Baptist church of Millville. The town had grown to be a large one and there was ample room for a second church. With the coming of Pastor Sembower, the old meeting house often repaired, gave place to one larger and better suited in conveniences and appliances to the various departments of church life and work.
On the tenth day of March 1896, forty-seven members of the first Baptist church of Millville were dismissed to organize the North Millville Baptist church. Port Elizabeth and Millville are both on the Maurice river, not far apart. Port Ellzabeth being south of Mill- ville. For the convenience of its worshippers, the church edifice of the first church was located at the nearer access to their homes in the southern part of the town, explaining why the younger body is desig- nated, North Millville. The pastor of the first church went with the colony. Mr. Barrass is now (1900) pastor of the North Millville Baptist church. Millville is grown to be a large town and there is ample room for the two churches and for their growth into influential bodies. A house of worship was begun to be built immediately and was com- pleted and occupied. The concord and enterprise of Millville Baptists justify the assurance that the churches will be a continuous blessing to the community in the Divine hand to accomplish its mission of salvation to perishing men.
Newport is in Cumberland county. It was an out station of Dividing Creek church long before the constitution of the Newport Baptist church. A gift of ground for a meeting house by Brother Seth Page in 1854, led to its erection in that year. Early in 1855, Rev. U. Coffman, pastor of Dividing Creek church began special meetings in the new house at Newport. Many converts were added to
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the church and in March 1855, fifty-one were dismissed from Dividing Creek church, to establish a Baptist church at Newport. Rev. G. Sleeper had aided Pastor Coffman in his special meetings and Mr. Coffman, having died, Mr. Sleeper was called to be pastor of both churches. The labors of Mr. Sleeper were prosperous, continuing four years. Rev. H. W. Webber followed from 1859 to 1862. Scores were added to the church by baptism. His ministry was a harvest of continuous blessing.
In the third year, however, of his pastoral care, Mr. Webber limited himself to Newport as pastor. Again, under the pastorate of Rev. B. Jones, the churches united under one pastor. The Civil War was in progress and the thoughts of the people were absorbed in the national strife. Pastor Jones resigned at the end of the year. A vacancy in the pastorate occurred for two years. Rev. L. W. Wheeler was called and began his charge of both churches in May 1866, resigning in 1869. Other pastors were, J. H. Hyatt, 1869; D. M. Young, ordained 1871. H. B. Raybold, 1874-76, to both churches, afterward only to Dividing Creek. 1876, W. A. Durfee held a joint pastorate of Newport and Cedarville. but continued at Newport until 1878. M. M. Finch, 1879-84, pastor of Dividing Creek and Newport. W. Cattell at both churches, 1884-86; Newport in 1889 called F. S. S. Boothe and he was ordained in February 1890. Within some time, a parsonage had been bought at Newport and that church was less dependent upon Dividing Creek. Mr. Boothe closed his pastorate in March 1891. A. Cauldwell, 1892; Mr. Paul Weithass who was ordained 1893-95; G. I. Meredith, 1895-1900; C. F. Hahn then settled. There have been fifteen pastors. Eight have been joint pastors with Dividing Creek or other nearby churches. It is doubtful if the increase of weak churches is wise. With a Sunday school, devotional meetings and the maternal care of the mother church of its stations, it is judged that the Kingdom of God would be enlarged more rapidly.
Many Baptists lived at and near Port Norris, long before a Baptist church was formed there. For years a Sunday school house had been maintained by them in a village near to where Port Norris sprang up. A building for the Sunday school had been built and was dedicated to religious uses on January 1st, 1857, twenty-four years before a Baptist church was constituted. Soon after, Rev. George Sleeper, pastor of Dividing Creek Baptist church held a series of meetings in the house at Port Norris and many converts were baptized into the church of which he was pastor. Deacon Richard Robbins of Dividing
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PORT NORRIS
Creek church was for the first seven years superintendent. Deacon George Robbins, said to have been an "emergency man," was twice later superintendent.
A house of worship became a neccessity. One was built. Soon after its completion it was destroyed by fire. Within three years of the beginning of the first, another was dedicated as the former had been, free of debt. The Bible was the only lesson book in the Sunday School and the "Pralmist" used in the church service, the only hymn book Dividing Creek church pastors often preached in the church houses of worship at Port Norris and weekly social meetings were held there. Port Norris Baptist church was constituted with sixty-three members dismissed from Dividing Creek church in April 1881. The succession of pastors has been, M. M. Finch, 1881-83; A. W. H. Hodder, 1883-84; L. G. Appleby, 1885-86; J. M. Scott, 1887-88; A. B. McCurdy, 1888-89; C. F. Hahn, 1890-91; W. H. Humphries, 1891-94; C. P. P. Fox, 1894-97; W. W. Bullock, 1897-1900.
Mr. Hodder was a student and returned to his studies at the end of a year. Mr. Appleby's pastorate was signalized by a special work of grace and an addition by baptism of nearly three score converts. His resignation was accepted despite the choice of the church for him to remain. In the interval of the pastorates of Mr. Scott and of Mr. McCurdy, a parsonage was built and the meeting house improved. In the charge of Mr. Humphries, the debt incurred for the parsonage was paid and many were baptized. While Mr. Fox was pastor, the meeting house was virtually rebuilt. Pastor Bullock has had prosperity in all church lines of work and life. Port Norris has had nine pastors. Three houses of worship have been in use, two of which were burned. The courage of the people and their readiness to respond to the needs of the cause of God is shown in the building of their church edifice and the parsonage and paying them promptly.
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