USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Biographical and genealogical history of the city of Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, V. 1 > Part 76
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moval to Newark with the Branford set- tlers, in the fall of 1666.
Mr. Pierson, while at Branford, was dis- tinguished as a zealous and successful min- ister among the New England Indians. The better to carry on the work of Chris- tianizing the "children of the forest" he ac- quired a knowledge of their language, and compiled for their advantage a catechism in the Indian tongue. This work was print- ed in 1660. Mr. Pierson's missionary la- bors were under the auspices of the com- missioners for the New England colonies, organized at New Haven in 1643, in con- junction with a society in England to pro- mote Christianity in New England. The work of his life was mainly accomplished before Newark was settled; the "godly- learned man" did his full measure of work for his Master and his fellowmen during the evening portion of his life in Newark. Mr. Pierson was a man of decided ability as a preacher. It is evident, also, that he was a studious as well as a prudent man. He had a library of four hundred and forty volumes -- an exceedingly large one for his period and place and circumstances of his abode. Mr. Pierson's estate was valued, and at the time of his death it was worth about eight hundred and twenty-two pounds.
As already stated Mr. Pierson was far ad- vanced in years in 1666. Six years later, ac- cording to a vote of the town taken in a meeting held March 4, 1672, it was agreed to call in an assistant pastor, the choice fall- ing on Mr. Abraham Pierson, junior, the pious and talented son of the first pastor. A short time prior to this, the elder Pierson began setting his house in order for the final removal to an abode not made with hands. He made his will August 10, 1671,
and breathed his last just seven years later, lacking one day, on August 9, 1678, leaving behind him "the character of a pious and prudent man, a true child of Abraham, and now safely lodged in Abraham's bosom." The exact place of his sepulchre, like the exact place of his birth, is unknown.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian church of New- ark appears to be the oldest fully organized church of Christ of any denomination with- in the state of New Jersey. There were small Swedish churches on the banks of the Delaware, but these were on the west side of the river, within the boundaries of Delaware and Pennsylvania. "A few Dutch congregations may have existed temporarily in some parts of the state, but except the old First Dutch church in Ber- gen, I cannot learn," says Dr. J. F. Sterns, "that any remnants of them now survive; and though the old First Dutch justly claims priority by a few years over all others by its occupancy of this territory, it had no minister, and of course had but an incom- plete organization until after a lapse of sev- eral generations."
The only organization for divine worship in the English language which can compare at all with this in point of age is the vener- able sister church in Elizabeth. But that can furnish no historical proofs prior to 1682, when the church in Newark had erected and completed its house of worship. It is true that the settlement of Elizabeth- town was commenced earlier than that of Newark. Itmust be remembered that up to the month of August, 1665, only four fam- ilies, if so many-some say only two-had found their residence there, and the next ac-
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cession to their numbers was that of Govern- or Philip Carteret and his thirty English gentlemen and servants, a company not likely, from their antecedents, to readily coalesce with the four other families in forming an establishment of Puritan wor- ship and ordinances. Therefore it is clear that this was the pioneer fully organized and equipped religious organization in the state.
The pioneers of the settlement on the low banks of the "Passayak" were a sturdy, law- loving, God-fearing, church-going people, bringing with them all the traditions of the Puritan fathers, and would no more think of locating without their minister than they would without the common necessaries of life; therefore they brought with them the Rev. Abraham Pierson, who for many years ministered to their spiritual wants.
No sooner had the pioneers planted their standard upon the soil than they began to look around for a place where to erect an altar to the Most High. The first move- ment, however, toward the erection of a house of worship was made September 10, 1668, when the town voted to "build a meeting-house as soon as may be," and, for the better carrying it to an end, made choice of Deacon Ward, Sergeant Harrison and his son John, Sergeant Edward Riggs and Michael Tompkins, "with full power for the management of the building," promis- ing "to lend their best help according to their proportions" whenever due warning should be given, and requiring each man to work at least two days if called out, or give satisfactory reason to the contrary.
Soon after this, a bargain was made with three of the committee, viz., Deacon Ward, Sergeant Harrison and Sergeant Riggs, to build the house for a certain sum, and
build it soon and well, "with some abate- ment in the price if they can afford it." The building was to be of very humble dimensions, thirty-six feet in length, twenty-six feet in breadth, and thirteen feet between the joints, "with a lenter to it all the length, which will make it thirty-six feet square."
By the 12th of March following the tim- ber was cut and hewn and the frame of the house ready to be raised and Thomas Lud- dington and Thomas Johnson were con- tracted with for five pounds to accomplish that part of the work, with the town's help. Then a supply of nails must be provided "for the closing-in of the meeting-house," and this was determined to be done by joint contributions, each man being required to say how many he would undertake to fur- nish. The whole business was now put into the hands of the "townsmen," but it was not till more than a year and a half later that the house was ready to receive a per- manent floor, and even then it seems to have been but partially completed.
This quaint old edifice stood on the west side of Broad street, for that was the prin- cipal street then, as now, nearly opposite what is now Mechanic street, or in the cor- ner of what is known as the old town bury- ing-ground, in rear of the Hook and Lad- der house. There it stood, with the gable ends to the north and south, and the broad- side "nigh pointing on a square with the street," in the precise spot which Mr. Pier- son, the elder, Deacon Ward and Mr. Treat had assigned for it. It was Newark's first church edifice, and first place of general business,-the theater of all important transactions, religious, civil or military, during the first half century of its existence. There the townsmen "after lecture" held
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their stated meetings, and there, on any alarm, the brave soldiers of the little com- munity assembled with their arms at the beat of the drum, to defend their homes and altars, their wives and their little ones.
There were two rudely constructed ap- pendages at two corners of the sacred edi- fice, called "flankers," made with palisades, or sharpened sticks driven in the ground near together, and so placed that the sol- diers sheltered behind them might com- mand the sides of the house in every direc- tion. These "flankers" were constructed in 1675, when Philip's war was raging in New England, and the terror of Indian butcher- ies so alarmed this settlement that precau- tionary measures were taken. The house it- self was fitted up for defense; for at the same period the town gave orders to have it lathed, and the walls "filled up with thin stone and mortar as high as the girts," a work on which all the men of the town above sixteen years of age, in companies of twelve, each day wrought in their turn, car- rying their arms with them. That was not only the house of God, but the house of refuge, where the people were to assemble at the beat of the drum.
We have seen when and how the first house of worship was built, and for what purposes it was occupied. It was indeed a "house of refuge" in every sense of the word. For many decades the old frame building answered the purpose for which it was erected. It stood also for many years as a monument to the Christian and patri- otic fidelity of its founders and builders, and as one by one the old pioneers of Newark passed away to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," it finally became old and incapacitated to the necessities of a growing community, and,
slowly and reluctantly as it were, gave place to another structure of more modern pre- tensions and conveniences.
HENRY DECKER,
a florist of Orange, who has built up a good business and is a recognized leader in his line, was born in the province of Wies- baden, Germany, on the 12th of April, 1845, and is a son of Nicholas and Theresa (Wil- helm) Decker. On both the paternal and maternal side he is descended from ancestry long connected with the fatherland. The grandmother Decker was a woman of un- usual stature, being six feet, six inches in height, and she lived to the age of one hun- dred and six years. She was the mother of five children, Nicholas and Peter being the first two. Paul, the next, emigrated to America about 1853 and was at one time engaged in the hotel business. In his na- tive land he was a keeper of a club house be- longing to some of the nobility, and his wife was the nurse of the grand duke of Baden. Philip spent his entire life in his native land, where he was a prominent mason and builder. A daughter completed this family.
Nicholas Decker, the father of our sub- ject, spent his entire life in his native land, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-six. He was an architect and civil engineer and for about fifty years was in the service of the German government as architect and superintendent. He married Theresa Wilhelm, who was born October 13, 1801, and died December 26, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. They were the parents of six children: Theresa, widow of Peter Joseph Hill; Apollonia, wife of John Jageman; Kathrine, who died
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at the age of twelve years; Henry; Carl, and Philip, all of whom are still in the fatherland with the exception of our sub- ject.
Henry Decker attended the public schools near his home for two years, and for six years subsequently was a student in a preparatory school for college. He then en- tered a horticultural college and studied botany for two years, and for a similar pe- riod continued his studies in the botanical gardens in Carlsruhe. Entering upon his business career as a florist he has since fol- lowed that pursuit and has attained a high degree of perfection in this calling. After spending one year in Spain, he left his native land for America in 1866, crossing the briny deep to New York, where he arrived on the 26th of June, 1866. He at once proceeded to Orange and for thirty-one years has been a continuous and honored resident of this city, while for twenty-three years he has been engaged in business on his own account here. He has most beautiful gardens, hot-houses and conservatories, containing the greatest variety of plants, and the beauty of his blos- soms is far-famed. His business has stead- ily increased until his trade has now as- sumed extensive proportions, and as the re- sult of his industrious and honorable effort he now enjoys a good income from his enterprise.
Mr. Decker was married in Brooklyn, New York, on the 21st of March, 1868, to Miss Augusta Miller, who was born in Friedland, Germany, on the 16th of Decem- ber, 1851. Their union was blessed with a family of twelve children, of whom four died in infancy, and Susan died at the age of nineteen years and six months. The fol- lowing are the surviving members of the family: Emil; Annie, wife of George
W. Abbot, of Passaic; Elizabeth; Louis; Henry; Minnie, and Madaline. The family is widely and favorably known in Orange, and the circle of their friends is very ex- tensive. In his political views Mr. Decker is a stanch Republican, and he and his fam- ily attend the First Presbyterian church. He needs never to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for here he has won success, his efforts being crowned with a high degree of prosperity. He is deeply attached to his adopted country and is re- garded as one of the valued citizens of Orange.
STEPHEN M. PECK,
deceased, was born in East Orange, New Jersey, on the 2d of April, 1801, a son of John and Phoebe (Matthews) Peck, his grandfather being Judge Peck, who was one of the founders of East Orange. Ste- phen M. was reared to farm life and re- ceived a common-school education, subse- quently engaging in the dairy business for several years. He carried on farming in East Orange until the spring of 1865, when hẹ disposed of his interests and came to Livingston, purchasing the farm on which his family now reside. This contains sev- enty-five acres and has been improved and cultivated until it has become one of the most attractive places in the township.
In 1825 Mr. Peck was united in mar- riage to Miss Martha Baldwin, and these children were born to them: Louisa, who became the wife of William Williams, of Orange; Elizabeth, single; Theodore M., now deceased, who married Susan Howell, of Madison, New Jersey; Mary, at home; and Sarah, who married William Jefferys, died July 3, 1878. Mr. Peck's second
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marriage was solemnized in 1842, when he was united to Miss Margaret Pierce, a native of Fairfield, Essex county, and a daughter of George and Rachel (Riggs) Pierce. Her father came from England with a brother, Edward, and settled in Essex county. The paternal grandfather was a native of Scot- land and married a Miss Spear, a member of one of the early families. Mr. and Mrs. Peck became the parents of five children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, Henry C., departed this life at the age of eighteen years. Martha is the widow of Rev. Benjamin F. Simpson, who enlisted in the Eighth New Jersey Volunteer Infan- try and later was made chaplain of the For- tieth New York Infantry, serving as such until the close of the war. He was a na- tive of York, Maine, and a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, occupying a pulpit in Essex county for many years and also one at Rockland Lake, New York, and at Rockaway, New Jersey. To him and his wife were born two children : Willis H., of Orange; Lyman F., of Elizabeth, New Jer- sey. Emma, the youngest daughter of Mr. Peck, married William Jefferys, of East Orange. The death of Mr. Simpson oc- curred in 1871.
Mr. and Mrs. Peck adopted a son, Ed- ward, who is a prominent physician now practicing at Caldwell, New Jersey. Mr. Peck departed this life on the 2d of July, 1887, his demise being mourned by a large number of friends, who deeply regretted the loss to the community.
WILLIAM LUFF,
a jeweler of East Orange, New Jersey, has been a resident of this place for thirty years and for some years past has been
classed with the representative business men of the town.
Mr. Luff is a native of New York city. He was born January 16, 1837, and is a son of William P. and Elizabeth W. (Ed- wards) Luff, the former now a resident of Newark; the latter died in New York in 1845. The Luffs are of Holland Dutch descent and the Edwards family trace their origin to England. John V. Luff, the grandfather of our subject, was the first of the Luffs to come to America, the date of his arrival here being prior to the Revolu- tionary war, in which war he took a promi- nent part on the Colonial side. He lo- cated in New York city, and there passed the rest of his life and died. Prominent in Masonic circles, he was a member of the same lodge to which General Washington belonged.
William P. Luff, the father of William, was born in New York city, June 7, 1810, and made that place his home until 1863, when he removed to Newark, where he has since resided and where he is now living retired. In early life he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed for many years. Like his father before him, he is identified with the Masonic order and takes a deep interest therein. Politically, he was for- merly a Whig; gave his support to the Re- publican party at its organization and has ever since been in accord with the prin- ciples advocated by it. He has been mar- ried four times. By his first wife, nee Eliza- beth W. Edwards, he became the father of five children, one of whom died in infancy, those surviving being as follows: Mrs. Margaret Winfield, a widow; Phoebe E., wife of Wallace Long; Abbie E., widow of William Edwards; and William, the sub- ject of this review. By his second wife,
-
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nee Frances Louise Farrington, he had four sons, all still living: Thomas F., Fran- cis Louis, Oscar H. and Charles S. There were no children by the last two marriages.
William Luff spent his early life in New York city, receiving his education in the public schools, and after leaving school learned the trade of jeweler. He located in East Orange in 1867, and since 1889 he has been in business here for himself.
Mr. Luff was married in New York, January 15, 1861, to Mary F. Reeve, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Reeve; and their only child, William H., a promising young man, died at the age of twenty-three years.
Mr. Luff is identified with the East Or- ange Social Club, the A. P. A., and the Republican party. He and his wife attend the Baptist church.
JOSIAH OGDEN.
Colonel Josiah Ogden was a leading member of the community, a pillar of the First church. He was a man of energy, wealth and influence. His father was David Ogden, who came from Elizabeth- town and settled in Newark about the year 1676. The Colonel's mother was the noted Elizabeth Swaine, whose first husband, the gallant Josiah Ward, died soon after the settlement of the town, leaving her a comely widow. From 1716 to 1721 the Colonel represented the town in the gen- eral assembly. He appears to have been a man of strong individuality, holding posi- tive and decided views regarding things spiritual as well as things temporal. On a certain Sunday in the fall of some year close to 1733, Colonel Ogden, contrary to a rule of the First church, went into his field and saved his wheat, which was exposed to
serious loss from long-continued rains. En passant, it may be remarked that Col- onel Josiah seems to have been, like many truly good and worthy Christian people of the present day, a firm believer in the new dispensation which says the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. For his daring conduct he was subjected to the discipline of the church, accused of hav- ing violated the sanctity of the Lord's day, and was publicly censured. The Presby- tery reversed the decision of the church, righteously deeming the act of Colonel Og- den one of imperative necessity, and tried to pour oil on the troubled waters. It was too late. Around Colonel Ogden rallied a considerable body, who openly began to declare themselves dissatisfied with the Presbyterian form of church government. A bitter controversy ensued. Colonel Og- den carried the matter to the Philadelphia synod. For several years an animated cor- respondence took place. Jonathan Dick- inson, the distinguished Presbyterian di- vine, was called to the pulpit to controvert certain strong points in Episcopacy, and controversial pamphlets passed between him and Rev. John Beach, a Connecticut Episcopalian.
"Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." Out of this trivial matter sprang the Episcopal church in Newark, and a con- flagration of local feeling which it took nearly half a century to entirely extinguish. "This separation," says Dr. McWhorter, "was the origin of the greatest animosity and alienation between friends, townsmen, Christians, neighbors and relatives that the town ever beheld. The storm of religious separation and rigor wrought tumultuous- ly. The openly declared Episcopalians were few in comparison with the Presbyterians;
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yet there were two leaders. one on each side, who were pretty equally poised in point of abilities, wealth, connections and ambition. "This religious brand," adds the doctor, "kindled a flame which was not extinguished till the conclusion of the late war" (the Revolutionary war).
Colonel Ogden, the founder of Trinity church, died in 1763, at a ripe old age. He was buried somewhere in the old burying ground. In emulation of Azariah Crane and his bequest to the First church, Colonel Ogden said, in his will: "I give to the rec- tor, church wardens and vestry of Trinity church, in Newark, my silver cup or por- ringer with two handles to the same, for and to the only use of said church." His tombstone, which still preserves itself in the old burying-ground pile of such memorials, despite the vandals, bears the following simple inscription :
"Here Lyes interred ye body of COL. JOSIAH OGDEN Who died May 17th, 1763, In the 84th year of his age."
THOMAS MORITZ,
postmaster and station agent at Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is one of America's citi- zens of foreign birth who, coming to the New World, have adapted themselves to the changed conditions and customs, and utilizing the opportunities that have sur- rounded them have achieved success and won the respect of their fellow citizens by earnest application and straightforward methods. Mr. Moritz came to the United States from the fatherland, where he was born, in Bavaria, a son of Thomas and Anna (Fischer) Moritz. His grandfather
also bore the name of Thomas, which name has been handed down in the family from father to son for many generations. The parents of our subject spent their entire lives in Germany. He obtained his educa- tion in its public schools, and in 1860 crossed the Atlantic to America, landing in New York. Soon afterward he went to Brooklyn, but later returned, to New York city, whence he removed to Newark, New Jersey. In 1872 he came to Glen Ridge and secured the appointment of station agent, which position he has held up to the present time, in the employ of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad.
In 1883 Mr. Moritz was appointed by President Arthur to the office of postmas- ter of Glen Ridge, and under each suc- ceeding administration has continued in that position, discharging his duties with a promptness and fidelity which win him the commendation of all concerned. The of- fice is located in the depot building, thus enabling him to perform the work of both positions without neglect of either. He is assisted by his son, Thomas J. Moritz, in the postoffice and the railroad station, and both have found favor with the traveling public by their uniform courtesy and con- sideration.
Mr. Moritz was married in 1863 to Miss Johanna Brand, and their only child is Thomas J., who has studied telegraphy and follows that profession in connection with the duties previously mentioned. Mr. Moritz has a comfortable home at No. 226 Ridgewood avenue. He has never had occasion to regret his emigration to Amer- ica, for here he has made a good living, se- cured a pleasant home and gained many true friends, who esteem him highly for his sterling qualities.
THOMAS MORITZ
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ESSEX COUNTY.
SETH BOYDEN.
During all the important years of New- ark's industrial growth, there was, among its noblest sons of toil, one brain, more than all others, that teemed with inventive genius, and of a character as singularly varied as it was marvelously active; one body that rested from severe labor, mental and physical, only when nature command- ed. That restless, ever-busy brain, that vigorous, tireless physical organization, be- longed to Seth Boyden. Born at Foxbor- ough, Massachusetts, November 17, 1798, Boyden removed to Newark in 1815. On a farm his earliest years of toil were spent, but soon his quick and active mind and nature yearned for wider fields of development. He abandoned farming, and at the age of fifteen turned his attention to the repairing of watches. Half a dozen years later he invented a machine for making wrought nails. Soon after that, in 1813, machines for cutting files sprang from his imagina- tion. Then came his inventions for cutting brads and machines for cutting and head- ing tacks. About the latter part of the year 1818 a piece of patent leather of German manufacture-a military cap-front, it is said .- came into Mr. Boyden's possession. From this sample he produced the first side of patent leather ever manufactured in this country. He was engaged in its manu- facture for several years, his first year's sales being $4,521, and his sales for 1824 being $9.703.06.
To give a list of the many branches of industry which Mr. Boyden brought to per- fection would occupy a larger space than can be afforded in this work. He was the pioneer in producing in this country brads for joiners, patent leather, malleable iron
(his first success in this being upon the 4th of July, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of American independence), daguerreotypes, and locomotives and steam machinery. He also greatly aided Professor Morse in his perfection of the electric telegraph. His later years were devoted to horticulture at his home at Middleville, Irvington, the strawberry being particularly the subject of his wondrously improving attention; size- and he brought the rich fruit to enormous growths-being entirely secondary to flavor. He died March 31, 1870, aged eighty-two years, and was interred at Mount Pleasant cemetery. His funeral, which took place on Sunday, April 3d, from the Fair Street Universalist church, was an exceedingly imposing demonstration, and an impressive tribute to the memory of the dead inventor. It was no exaggeration for his funeral eulogist, Rev. A. A. Thayer, to say, in the course of his eulogy: "The memory of Seth Boyden belongs to the American people. Nearly every family throughout the land have had their labors lightened by his inventions. It would be difficult to find a cunning workman in brass or iron whose toil has not been made light- er by Boyden's discoveries. The iron horses and chariots, with their thousands of trav- elers, which follow the iron threads from the Atlantic to the Pacific, feel the touch of his genius, at every vibration. As a man and a citizen, his praise was on every lip. He was absolutely without avarice, as he was without wealth." "His grand ideas," wrote another at the time of his death, "were scarcely perfected before they were applied, frequently with profit, to others. His was a quiet, natural life, without great trouble or sorrow. He was respected by every one that knew him, his kindly nature
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