USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 28
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On September 8, 1834, the Mount Olive Presbyterian Church was or- ganized, forty-eight members of the church at Chester joining by letter. The church has a good house of worship and parsonage; it also in 1870 erected a union chapel at Budd Lake, two miles from Mount Olive, to be jointly used by Baptists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians.
The Baptist Church of Mount Olive, the second church in the town-
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ship, is designated the "Schooley's Mountain Baptist Church." It was or- ganized in 1753 with twelve members, one of these being Samuel Heaton, the early iron manufacturer. After the log church, another was built in 1810, 32 x 40 feet, owned by four denominations. In 1842 the Baptists and Presbyterians, who alone occupied it, made repairs and newly seated it. They were joint owners but both outgrew the building. In 1854 the Pres- byterians built a new church and under a new agreement the old house was sold and the proceeds divided. The Baptists then erected a new stone edifice on the old foundation, and which was dedicated February 27, 1856. Many ministers preached for this congregation during all these years, but there seems to have been only occasional preaching until 1832, when Elder Michael Quinn was appointed missionary for the field by the New Jersey Baptist State Convention. In 1834 Rev. John Teasdale took charge of this church, preaching once in four weeks. He continued one year but in June, 1842, returned and continued nine years. In the meantime, an old and devoted Baptist, Samuel Cazad, died, after having been a member sixty years. He was devoted to Schooley's Mountain Baptist Church and in his will left that church a farm of eighty acres with a good house and other buildings, for a parsonage. Besides this he left another farm, one-third of the proceeds to go to the American and Foreign Bible Society, two-thirds to the support of this church. In 1874 a new parsonage was built one- eighth of a mile from the church, costing $3,000, and in that year twenty- eight members received letters to form a new church at Drakeville. The church and congregation have ever continued prosperous and helpful to the community.
The first known resident Methodist was Mrs. Mary Bell, born in New York City, October 25, 1753, there joining the church. During the Revolu- tion she was robbed of her property and for safety fled from the city finally locating in Flanders, about 1783, residing there nearly forty years and earnestly laboring for the church of her choice. She died in Easton, Penn- sylvania, August 19, 1836. Another devoted, useful Methodist was David Moore, of Morristown, born there November 25, 1749. At the age of nine- teen he joined the Presbyterian church, continuing a member fifteen years. He resided in Flanders when the itinerant Methodist preachers began visit- ing the village; he opened his doors to them, had preaching in his house and when a class was formed became a member and afterwards the leader, filling that position fifteen years. In 1786 Flanders is first named as a circuit and it is supposed the Methodists had a chapel there. Rev. John Tunnell was presiding elder and the first church was in use every two weeks for some years without walls or doors. Mr. Moore moved six miles from the church, yet so interested was he that for seven years he was never absent from service. Miss Jemima Baxter, born in 1756, was also one of the early and most devoted of Methodists. She became the wife of Judge Wil- liam Monroe and for fifty years the home of Judge Monroe was a stopping place for ministers. The judge, several years after his marriage, also became a member of the Flanders church. He died April 27, 1854, his wife died December 28, 1832.
The first church building remained unimproved till the pastorate of Rev. Elijah Woolley, then in 1857 was removed, after having sheltered the little band of devoted men and women for three-quarters of a century. In 1857 a new church was erected and in 1858 a parsonage was secured, and later Draketown was joined with the Flanders church. In 1805 the name of the circuit was changed to "Asbury," but in 1842 the name Flanders
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was restored. Since 1857 Flanders has been in the Newark conference, but has been changed to various districts. The present charge is Flanders and Draketown, the minister in charge, Rev. Andrew Henry. The church prop- erty is valued at $9,000; the membership of the church, 162; Sunday school enrollment, 150.
Flanders Presbyterian Church was organized February 18, 1852, by the Presbytery of Elizabeth. Rev. Dr. Ogden preached in the Methodist church, completing the organization with twenty-seven members. Rev. John Husted was installed the first pastor, June 30, 1853, a new church edifice being completed that year.
The officials of the township for 1913: Freeholder, Mahlon K. Tharp; clerk, Charles N. Drake; assessor, Hezekiah Smith; collector, Richard H. Stephens ; treasurer, Hiram E. Dilley ; township committee-George H. Dor- land, Elmer Lozier, Hiram E. Dilley, Lewis E. Clark, Willis H. Dutton; surveyors of highways-George I. Mitchell, Winfield H. Sharp; con- stables-John B. Stephens, George M. Pool; overseer of the poor, Richard H. Stephens; justices of the peace-Stewart M. Rorick, Jacob F. Force ; commissioners of deeds-Joseph Hamley, Abraham D. Budd, Richard H. Stephens, Fred W. Salmon, Stewart M. Rorick; president of the board of education, J. W. Lindabury.
DENVILLE TOWNSHIP
The latest addition to the political divisions of Morris county is Den- ville township, created by an Act of Legislature approved April 14, 1913. The township comprises what was formerly known as the southern district of Rockaway township, Denville being set off entirely from that township. The boundaries of the new township as set forth in the act, and the cor- porate name thereof, are thus set forth in the act creating the township:
I. All that part of the present township of Rockaway, in the county of Morris, lying within the boundaries next hereinafter mentioned, that is to say: Beginning at the most southerly corner of the said township of Rockaway, being also corner of the townships of Morris, Hanover and Randolph on the top of Trowbridge moun- tain, and running thence northerly along the line dividing said township of Rocka- way from the township of Randolph in said county to the point where the said line intersects the center line of the road leading from Dover to Franklin, near the mouth of Dell's brook; thence northerly, in a straight line to the corner in the boundary line of the borough of Rockaway where the center of the Morris and Essex railroad intersects the center of the public road leading from Franklin to Rockaway; thence along the line of said borough of Rockaway (being the center line of said railroad track), northeasterly nineteen hundred and eighty feet to a point in the center of said railroad track being another corner of said borough of Rockaway; thence along another line of the said borough easterly two thousand nine hundred and seventy feet to another corner of the same; thence along another line of the same northerly three hundred and ninety-six feet to another corner of the same in the center of the overhead bridge spanning the Morris and Essex railroad in the road leading from Denville to Rockaway; thence in another line of said borough of Rockaway northwesterly four thousand one hundred and thirty-eight feet to another corner of the same where the center of the Hibernia Mine railroad intersects the center line of the road leading from Rockaway to the former residence of J. Ford Kitchel; thence along the center line of said road northeasterly to the point where the same intersects the middle of Beaver brook; thence northerly along the middle of Beaver brook to the point where the same intersects the center line of the road leading from Beach Glen to Rockaway Valley; thence along the center line of said road in an easterly direction to the point where the same is intersected by the westerly line of now, or formerly, the Rockaway Valley school district num- ber eighteen; thence running in a general southwesterly direction and along the westerly, northwesterly and southerly lines of said school district to the intersection of the southwesterly line of said school district with the line dividing the township
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of Hanover from the township of Rockaway; thence southwesterly along said line to the point or place of beginning, is hereby set off from the said township of Rocka- way, and shall from and after the passage of this act, constitute and be known as "The Township of Denville, in the County of Morris;" and the inhabitants of the said township of Denville are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate and shall be governed by the same general laws as other townships in said county of Morris .- ( Session Laws of 1913, chap. 352, p. 769.)
These boundaries form a triangle, the southern point being the meeting place of four townships-Denville, Randolph, Hanover and Morris, with Mendham's northeast corner not far away.
The early history of the township will be found in connection with Rockaway township, of which it was a part from the erection of that township in 1844, until the passage of the act of 1913, erecting Denville township.
The principal village is Denville, which reported in 1910 a population of 610. This village is a station on the D., L. & W. railroad at the junction of the M. & E. and Boonton divisions, and is also the junction of the Boon- ton branch of the Morris County Traction Company with the main line. The Wayside Inn is here located, on the site of the old inn where a licensed house has existed since 1773. Denville is a beautiful village, abounding in rural delights, situated thirty-three miles from New York, five miles from Dover, and seven miles from Morristown.
The history of its church, the oldest Methodist church in the township, is fully given in the Rockaway township narrative. There are two public schools in the township: Union-grammar, Everett C. Brainard; primary, Emma B. Parker; Denville-grammar, Charles I. Curtis; primary, Edith E. Duquette.
The township officers are : Elmer Dickerson, freeholder ; Samuel R. Van Orden, clerk; Joseph Ellsworth, assessor; George D. Van Orden, col- lector ; Elmer S. Baldwin, treasurer; Fred E. Parks, Elbert S. Baldwin, Walter Shawger, township committee; Edgar W. Beam, constable; Harry Hussa, overseer of the poor; Rodman B. Carr, justice of the peace; Joseph Ellsworth, commissioner of deeds. Board of education-Calvin Lawrence, president ; F. A. Sofield, district clerk ; George D. Van Orden, custodian.
In 1914 the assessed valuation of real estate was $562,495; personal property, $23,600; value of school property, $3200; value of church prop- erty, $4500.
CHAPTER XI.
THE BOROUGHS
MADISON-CHATHAM-BUTLER-ROCKAWAY-WHARTON-MOUNT ARLINGTON-MENDHAM-FLORHAM PARK-NETCONG.
BOROUGH OF MADISON
Madison was long known as Bottle Hill to the early settlers, the first old tavern, a rude affair indicating its business by a bottle suspended from a sign post, and suggesting the name, which clung to it until 1809, when the New Academy was built, that institution taking the name Madison Acad- emy. But it was not until several years later that the name Bottle Hill was dropped, and Madison officially substituted. The rude settlement soon be- came a village, with stores, and in 1747 a Presbyterian church was organ- ized, and when in 1837 the Morris & Essex railroad was built and Madison was made a station on that line, its future was forever assured. Population increased, property rose in value, and in the midst of beautiful country sur- roundings the village began a wonderful career of prosperity. In 1889 the village took on the dignity of a borough, being incorporated March 9 of that year. The population as reported in 1910 was 4,658, a gain of 904 over the census of 1900, and 2,189 over that of 1890. The assessed value of real estate in the borough in 1912 was $3,385,850, the largest valuation of any borough in the county, and exceeding that of any other municipality in the county except Morristown and Dover, only falling a little below the latter. Personal property was assessed at $392,150, an amount also exceeded only by Morristown and Dover.
Madison is a community of homes, there being little manufacturing, and in addition to its rural beauty, affords all the conveniences and comforts of larger communities. Banks of solidity, good modernly conducted stores, electric power for all purposes, a pure water system, churches, advanced educational institutions, an excellent public school system, and an efficient borough government-all combine to render it a favorite residential com- munity. Communication with New York and Newark is constant, and there is no hour of day or night that either train or trolley car is not at the service of travelers.
Churches-The earliest church organization was a body separated from the Whippany Presbyterian Church, that after agitating the matter for a year, withdrew and in 1747 organized as the Presbyterian Church of South Hanover. In 1817 this church changed its name to the First Presbyterian Church of the Township of Chatham, and in 1846 to its present title, the Presbyterian Church of Madison. For nearly two years the little congre- gation worshipped in private houses, barns, and in the open air, beginning a church edifice in 1749, that they were financially unable to finish. Later, inspired by Luke Carter, a rally was made, the building rudely seated, and for fifteen years was used in an uncompleted state. In 1765 better seating accommodations were furnished, and the old building continued the religious center of the town until 1825, when a new building was dedicated.
For several years the society had no settled minister, the first regular preacher, Rev. Nathaniel Greenman, a young licentiate, not being in-
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THE OLD MADISON HOUSE STILL STANDING, WHERE WASHINGTON AND LAFAYETTE STOPPED
Webb Memorial Chapel:
Grace Episcopal
St. Vincents Roman Catholic
CHURCHES IN MADISON
First Presbyterian
Christ Methodist
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stalled. The first regularly ordained and installed minister, Rev. Azariah Horton, began his pastorate in 1751, and served the church until 1776. He was a man of influence and power, who in the early years of his ministry labored as a missionary among the Indians of Long Island, his birthplace. He was one of the organizers of the Synod of New York, and a strong friend of the newly organized College of New Jersey. He was an earnest patriot, and a friend of "the fighting parson," Caldwell, who often preached from under the old sounding board in the old church. That old meeting house and its pioneer minister did not a little to prepare those who dwelt here, for the honors as well as the trials Divine Providence had in store for them. Rev. Horton's good wife helped her husband in his pastoral work, kept a store, and purchased a farm. One of their sons was killed in the Revolutionary army. This honored couple are buried in the old cemetery that enclosed the church, the brown slab that covers their grave bearing this inscription : "In memory of Rev. Azariah Horton, for twenty-five years pastor of this church. Died March 27, 1777, aged 62 years. Also Eunice, his wife, who died August 14, 1778, aged 56 years." This monument stands on the crown of the hill, just at the rear of the old foundation walls, and but a few feet from where stood the pulpit from which the old pastor preached.
All records of the church were lost or destroyed in 1795, a loss that will ever be regretted, as with them perished not only the history of the church for nearly half a century, but family history and affairs in general with which the church records teemed in the early days, were lost forever.
Rev. Asa Hillyer served as pastor in 1789, continuing for twelve years, the Tuesday evening prayer meeting being established during his pastorate, about the year 1790. Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine next occupied the pulpit for ten years, Rev. John G. Bergen then serving for sixteen years. In 1817 the first Sunday school was established, Elder William Thompson being the first superintendent, the first teachers all being women-Amelia Bruen, Lucinda Bruen, Lilly S. Cook, Priscilla Sayre and Nancy Cook. After nearly seventy years of patient discomfort, and after " a formal and well considered vote of the parish, the first stove was introduced into the sanctuary." This was in 1819, and four discreet men were appointed a com- mittee to attend to its installation. The old church saw many deep manifes- tations of religious awakening, the revival of 1822 giving the impulse to the movement that resulted in a new church, Dr. Bergen then being pastor. The cornerstone was laid May 18, 1824, and the completed building was dedicated May 18, 1825.
Rev. Clifford S. Arms became pastor in 1832, closing his fruitful min- istry in 1851. Rev. Samuel L. Tuttle succeeded him in 1854, and to him is due the credit of preserving so much of the history of Chatham township. He was deeply interested in the general welfare of the village, and at his suggestion some of the most important improvements of that day were made. Extensive alterations were made in the church and in the old cemetery dur- ing his pastorate, while his purchase of property on the hill and the erection of a cottage, led to great changes and improvements in that portion of the town. He resigned in 1862 to become assistant secretary of the American Bible Society, and died April 16, 1866. He is buried in the old cemetery, with Rev. Azariah Horton and Rev. Clifford S. Arms, in the midst of the graves of the generations with whom they labored.
He was succeeded by Rev. Albert Mandell, October 1, 1862 ; he by Rev. Robert Aikman, who was installed June 2, 1869, and under whose ministry
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the church reached a membership of 300. The church has since pursued a most successful career, prospering both spiritually and materially. The pres- ent church and chapel are valued at $45,000, the manse at $5,000. The present pastor is Rev. Edwin A. McAlpin, Jr. The old manse of the parish dates from 1763, when the congregation in its poverty voted to purchase "a piece of parsonage land for the use of the minister of the parish." The land was purchased with a dwelling of some kind upon it, which "was put into a state of repair for the minister." It must be remembered that in 1804 Madison, still called Bottle Hill, consisted of not more than twenty houses. Rev. Mr. Horton and his successors resided in the old house until 1810, when the pastor, Rev. Matthew L. Perrine, built a house for himself, the old manse was sold, and the parish was without a parsonage of its own for the next forty-four years.
The most ancient feature of the Madison of to-day is the old burial ground on the hill, the property of the Presbyterian church. The old church stood on the crown of the hill, and soon the graves of the old parishioners began to appear, until it was surrounded by evidences that "Mortality's Bill" was being paid. There are many old stones in the yard, with the dates obliter- ated, but there are many older than 1777. This was the only burial place in the town for many years, and it became too thickly populated, so that in 1881 grounds adjacent were purchased and added to its area, during Dr. Tuttle's pastorate ; and in 1861, a new fence was erected, a handsome iron gateway put up, a stone arch bridge over the brook substituted for the wooden one, and a stone wall built to protect the slope.
St. Vincent's Roman Catholic Church-This church, in point of age, is the second in Madison. The first mass said in the village was celebrated in 1810, in the old Duberceau house on the Convent road. The priest officiating was Father Viennet, then stationed at St. Peter's Church, on Barclay street, New York. Father Viennet remained several days in Madison, visiting Mr. Bamon, at that time the owner of the Duberceau house.
The present St. Vincent's Church was begun in 1838, and dedicated in 1839 by Bishop DuBois, of New York, under the invocation of St. Vincent, Martyr. The first pastor was Father Richard Newell, who remained until near the close of the year 1842. Rev. Dr. Monahan succeeded him early in 1842, remaining until about 1844. In August of the latter year, Rev. P. Kenny came to the church, but ill health drove him south the following year. Father Senez succeeded him, remaining until April, 1848, when Rev. B. J. McQuaid (later Bishop), then Father Senez's assistant, succeeded him as pastor. Father McQuaid was in charge of the parish until October, 1853, when he was succeeded by the good Father Madden, who was pastor for fifteen years, and was long remembered by all for his genial, kindly disposi- tion. He died of apoplexy, May 17, 1868, and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. D'Arcy, who died April 24, 1869, and was succeeded by Rev. (later Bishop) W. M. Wigger, until May 29, 1873. Rev. P. E. Smith was in charge of the parish until January 10, 1876, when Father Wigger returned to the charge. In the same year an addition was built to the church, and in 1878 the old parochial house was sold and the present one erected. The land on which this old parochial house stood was bought from John Miller by a French gentleman, LaChapelle, of the then numerous French colony in Madison, and afterward sold by him to six persons who bought it as a residence for the priest and for a chapel. For some time the minister occupied the upper floor, the parlor and sitting room being used as the chapel. This antedated the building of St. Vincent's Church, and when the erection of a church was
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decided upon, four of the original purchasers transferred their rights to Amedie Boisaubin and V. S. K. Beaupland, as trustees. These two gentle- men agreed each with the other to build the church, sharing equally in the expense beyond such amounts as were collected from others.
A parochial school was established in the basement of St. Vincent's Church in 1846, under the direction of Father Senez. In 1866 a tract was purchased on the Convent road, and a handsome brick school house erected. The present rector is Rev. John E. Lambert.
The early support given the Catholic church in Madison was mainly from the French colony that began coming to that village in 1793. The first comer was Vincent Boisaubin, who had been an officer in the bodyguard of Louis XVI. Political changes caused him to go to the Isle of Guadaloupe, where he married, and came to the United States. He was a man of culti- vated tastes, courteous and benevolent, and was long remembered for his many kindnesses. He was the head of a family of nine sons and daughters, descendants yet living in the town. He died in 1834, and is buried with his wife in the old Presbyterian burial ground. Other French families came- Duberceau, Thebaud, Blanchet, Paubel, Leclerc, Dupuy, Roche, Cipriault, and others, most of them returning at different times to France, Martinique or Guadaloupe. They were a welcome and important addition to the social life of the village, and according to Rev. Mr. Tuttle, owned seats and wor- shipped in the Presbyterian church previous to the erection of the Catholic church.
Methodist Episcopal Church-The first Methodist church in Madison was built in 1845. The first regular service, however, was held in a long two-story house on the corner of Railroad avenue and Prospect street, then used by Henry Keep as a straw hat and umbrella factory. Mr. Keep was an Englishman, and an influential member of the Presbyterian church, but freely opened the large room for the Methodist service, cleaning it out every Saturday evening and putting it in order. Many of the itinerant ministers preached in this room, including Rev. John Hancock, whose influence was very great in the early Methodist church of the township.
The first Methodist church building, 36 by 50 feet, was built on the northeast side of Depot Square, (or Waverly Place), and dedicated Febru- ary 20, 1845. There services were held for twenty-six years, the property then being sold for $7,600. Among the ministers who were stationed there during this period was Rev. Charles Stewart Downs, who died in 1870, husband of Sarah J. C. Downs ("Mother Downs"), so well known as president of the New Jersey Woman's Christian Temperance Union for the ten years pre- ceding her death in 1891. His eldest son, Samuel Simpson Downs, was born during his pastorate at Madison. In 1870 a lot adjacent to Drew Theo- logical Seminary was given to the church by Daniel Drew, upon which was erected, as a cost of $25,000, the present Methodist church, which was dedi- cated May 20, 1871. The parsonage built in 1853 was enlarged in 1879, and has been preserved in keeping with the handsome church, being valued at $6,000. The present membership of the church is 310; the Sunday school numbers 178 scholars, 23 teachers and officers. The present pastor, Rev. Addison W. Hayes, was assigned to the charge in 1913.
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