USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 51
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"PIONEERING IN WENONAH."
[Prepared for and read at the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church at Wenonah, Thursday Evening, September 29, 1898, By Andrew W. Carey.]
A ready talker, and one possessed of good memory, might present at this time many things to interest you with the early history of Wenonah; but I can lay no claim to the first qualification, and the second is in my case much at fault, but can doubtless be atoned for by what my friend, Dr.
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Bailey, may be able to recall for your edification, as we both are lined off under the head of "Pioneering in Wenonah."
Pioneeering was not an entirely new thing to me when I found myself domiciled in Wenonah, having in the early "fifties" done some pioneer work in California, in the North West Territories and in British Columbia.
In those experiences our greatest vigilance was to guard against. a sur- prise or attack from either the unfriendly Indians or grizzly bears; whilst here in Wenonah were no wild beasts to devour one, nor savages to run away with your scalp; but there was here at that time an enemy to peace and comfort, sometimes hidden in the grass, sometimes confronting one in solid column, that I dreaded more than I ever did a surprise from either an Indian or a grizzly bear, and that enemy to the comfort of our early settlers here was the sand-burr.
Whilst in the early days in San Francisco, I, like hundreds of others, have gone to church on a Sabbath with a six-shooter belted around the waist, here one only needed a good knife blade to shave off the sand-burrs before entering a neighbor's house or our early place of worship. The first year of my residence here, we had no sidewalks laid, and the sand-burrs were so profuse between our fence lines and the present curb line, that one was compelled to take the middle of the road to elude so far as possible our common enemy. However, we braved it, we survived it, and to-day we can with pride claim that Wenonah is as beautiful as her name.
In the limited time allotted, it would be folly to undertake to relate the many things connected with the early history of this church. Ours is some- what out of the ordinary experience, as in this case, the church is the child of the Sabbath-school, and to our friend, Dr. George W. Bailey, more than any other belongs the credit for having started a Sabbath-school which was the parent of this church. This was twenty-six years ago, our first gather- ing in that capacity being in September, 1872, in the room now occupied as Sithen's store. Interest in the Sabbath-school being fully established, the same energetic leader secured the services of a local Methodist preacher in our neighborhood to give us a sermon in the same room on a Sunday evening. That Methodist brother is well-known to many of you as William Cattell, and he it was who preached the first sermon in Wenonah, and we all felt grateful to him and nearer to each other. This was followed at irregular intervals, sometimes in the afternoon following the Sunday-school exercises, and sometimes of an evening, just as arrangements could be made; but most of these services were conducted in the waiting-room of the old West Jersey Railroad station, as we had been obliged to vacate our first quarters to permit its occupancy by Dr. Garrison, the owner, who had kindly
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given us its use until he was ready to fit it up as a drug store. Before we left the old corner, however, we had several afternoon preaching services. One of these occasions I well remember, as an unusual downpour of rain made it seem very doubtful about securing attendance upon the Sunday- school, and we felt particularly disappointed, because Dr. Bailey had en- gaged the services of Mr. Brace of Blackwoodtown to preach to us after school, but we were highly gratified to find a good attendance at the school, and after its dismissal we began to rearrange the chairs, etc., in case Mr. Brace should come. The rain ceased falling, but the roads were in bad shape, yet a few of us lingered awhile, taking an occasional look up the road. I finally said: "Well, I think we might as well make our way home, for there'll be no preaching here this day; it has been too stormy for Mr. Brace to get here." "Now don't you settle down to any such idea as that," said Dr. Bailey, "for I believe he'll come yet; it's a hard pull; but I know the man too well to give him up yet;" and, sure enough, in a little while, along came our true and tried friend Mr. Brace. Upon other after school occasions, the late Mr. Harris, then pastor of the Woodbury church, and others favored us with a service. Our first organist in the Sunday-school was a girl in my class, Miss Fanny Clark, now Mrs. Howard Hendrickson, and the lady we had to depend upon to play the organ at our evening preaching services was Mrs. Carey (my wife), who did her level best, just as we all did what we were called upon to perform. She could lead off the tune with her right hand quite well, and tumble in a pretty good home- made harmony with her left, and we all sung with gladness in our hearts.
There were many experiences had then that could not be re-enacted. Sometimes we chipped in with the Presbyterian church of Glassboro, en- gaged a minister from Philadelphia, who would go down on Saturday night to Glassboro to preach for them in the morning, and one of their members who was a section boss on the railroad would gather up a crew and run the minister up to Wenonah on a hand-car to preach for us in the afternoon or evening. I think our first pastor, Mr. O'Brian, enjoyed that novelty once. I distinctly remember that on one of those occasions, the minister who was the victim for that experience upon a very windy day, made his appearance among us minus a hat, as it had been whipped off by the wind from his head and carried beyond recovery.
There was one whose memory I recall in connection with our early days as a great helper who enjoyed a part in our primitive work when he would come down from the city to visit his children. He was a leader, an earnest Christian, who long since entered upon the heavenly rest. I allude to Mr. Eldridge, Mrs. Synott's father. His earnest exhortations were always stimu-
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lating and elevating, because his heart was warm in the work for the Master.
I will add but one little incident that has been recalled to me, that when the excavation for this church building had been sufficiently completed for starting upon the foundation walls, my son James, then a little tot still in frocks, was enjoying himself about the work with his little wheel-barrow, when the idea suggested itself to the mind of one of the men engaged on the work to have the little fellow wheel the first stone into the cellar to be placed in the walls. That man I believe was George Dilks, who placed the stone on the barrow and started the little fellow on his way with the first stone to be laid in this structure. Jim was then just about the age that his son Allen now is, "just about such a lark."
These recollections could be extended to cover many incidents connected with the early days of our efforts to establish a permanent church here; but I fully realize that I have already exceeded the time allotted me, and will be glad with you to hear from our organizer, Dr. Bailey.
REMINISCENCES AND REFLECTIONS.
BY ANDREW W. CAREY, ESQ.
[ Prepared For and Read at the Twenty-first Anniversary of the Sunday-School of the First Presbyterian Church, Wenonah, New Jersey, October 8, 1893.]
I well remember with what pleasure we celebrated the first anniversary of this Sabbath-School. It was in this chapel, in September, 1873. Be- ginning with a few persons, first gathered chiefly, if not entirely, through the instrumentality of Dr. Geo. W. Bailey, in September, 1872, twenty-one years ago, to a meeting held in the store-room of the house now occupied by Mr. Fisler, where with the presence and aid of several of the Wenonah House guests, the first Sabbath-school service in Wenonah was enjoyed, conducted chiefly by Mr. Stephen McHenry, a sojourner at the Wenonah House and subsequently for some time a resident of this place. During the week following this first Sabbath service, a meeting was held at the house of Dr. Bailey to enter upon a permanent organization of the Sunday-school. This meeting was composed of Dr. Bailey, Mr. Synott and myself. Dr. Bailey was called upon to preside. After some informal talk upon the subject it was unanimously decided that our school should be a Presbyterian Sunday- school. That matter having been decided, the next thing in order was to furnish the school with the requisite officers to conduct and maintain it.
Here was a perplexing condition to be met and overcome by three modest gentlemen; but duty was paramount to choice, and so making the best of the
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situation, without wasting time in caucus, we nominated and elected each other to fill the necessary offices. The result was as follows: Superintendent, Dr. Geo. W. Bailey; secretary, A. W. Carey; treasurer, Thos. W. Synnott; treasurer of Missionary Fund, A. W. Carey; and librarian, Thos. W. Synnott.
These officers were elected without a dissenting voice, and continued to fill their respective offices for several years; in fact, I believe in the case of the librarian, Mr. Synnott has held that position from the beginning up to the present time. So much for the organization of our school.
Dr. Bailey was not slow in gathering scholars and arranging classes and in pushing into the work any and all who had any capacity to act as teachers. As a result we very soon had an interesting Sunday-school, well attended. and it was a pleasure all the week to look ahead to Sunday. A little later on, when the then owner of that building, Dr. Garrison, was ready to occupy it as a drug store and residence, our school was removed to the W. J. R. R. station, where it was continued until this building was ready for use.
How I love to recall those early days; how when we had secured some one to preach for us in the evening, the announcement was carried out from the Sunday-school and the neighbors gathered for service; and how we used to tramp to the place of meeting, taking the middle of the road, for we had no sidewalks then, and the middle of the road was the only place free from sand-burrs. Dr. Bailey would carry from his house a lamp or two, Mr. Synnott another, myself another, and our large family bible for the use of the preacher.
Now you can not imagine how much we enjoyed those times. And why? Because we were building; we were looking forward hopefully and feeling assured of a brighter future, believing we should some time gain what we now all enjoy, an inviting pleasant place of worship, a regular min- istry and a flourishing, happy and useful church and Sabbath-school.
Notwithstanding our efforts were crowned with success from the begin- ning, it was step by step. Our first improvised pulpit was composed of an empty soap-box which I sawed down at a suitable angle and placed on a small table, hiding the roughness of construction with a small organ cover; and we all thought we had something quite nice, and I know we all richly enjoyed the clear gospel truths which came to us from over the old soap-box. Some of those who are still in the school will doubtless remember how we used to pen off the little folks behind a few home-made screens in this corner.
Now see what a cozy little room they have to themselves. The first preaching service we enjoyed here was before the building was entirely closed in; the roof was oneand the floor laid, and my recollection is not quite clear as to whether the building was sided in or not, but I think only
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partly so. However, Mr. Brace, of Blackwoodtown, was to preach for us on Sunday afternoon, and there was something to be done in getting ready for it, so we started in on Saturday afternoon to clear out the rubbish, and with rough boards we rigged up seats in regular camp meeting style ready for the following day.
I never enjoyed a service more than that one. However, there have been many I have enjoyed perhaps equally well, and to-day I am glad to meet with you upon this anniversary occasion. We have been highly favored and kindly dealt with, and it is fitting that we give expression to our thanks in these annual services. The older ones of us look back with pleasure as we trace the growth and development of many of the young men and women of to-day who were once numbered among the little folks in this Sabbath-school, but who are to-day in the front rank as workers, some in this, and some in other communities, but all I guarantee looking back with pleasure upon this as their early "Sabbath Home."
I recollect that once in talking to this school I told a story of a little boy who said to his mother: "I see pictures with my eyes closed," and from his saying I drew a picture, the desirable side of which has been since realized in more than one instance from among our scholars.
The saying of the little boy to his mother was after they had been travel- ing, and as he sat with his eyes closed, thinking over their journeyings, every- thing seemed to pass in review, so he had in his mind's eye a grand picture of all they had seen. So I often see pictures with my eyes closed. I look upon you now with your bright eyes and cheerful faces full of hope and promise. I will close my eyes and see what the picture is. Now in imagin- ation I behold these boys grown to manhood. Some of them bloated, be- sotted and profane; one engaged in a drunken brawl; another a burglar; another a murderer on the gallows; another occupying a solitary convict cell. And so with the little girls grown to women engaged in vices of various forms and filling dens of infamy. What a fearful picture! I open my eyes, and how glad I am to see you as you are.
I close my eyes again and another picture passes before me. Now I see these boys become men of sterling worth, filling honorable and re- sponsible positions in society. Some of them laboring for their Master in the Sabbath-school. One has turned his attention to law and is pleading the cause of the downtrodden and oppressed; another is a doctor of medicine and is ministering to the sick; another has become a minister of the gospel, a herald of the cross, proclaiming salvation in the name of Jesus Christ.
I also see these girls, now grown to be lovely women, making their homes the dearest spots on earth, scattering love and joy about them
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wherever they go, and making every one better for having been with them, and when I open my eyes and look upon you, how glad I am to know that this last picture, may be the true one with you. Which one shall it be? It is for you to choose. These kind officers and teachers to help you, but you are to decide.
Let me tell you how to do it. Did you ever think how an icicle is formed? First, one little drop of water comes trickling down under the snow on the roof until it reaches the edge; it is not quite heavy enough to drop down at once, so it remains hanging there, out of the direct rays of the sun, and so instead of dropping off it freezes. The warm sun above brings down another drop on this frozen one and it also freezes, and so it keeps on, drop by drop, until a beautiful long and large crystal is formed that next morning when the sun shines on it it glistens and glows in beauty, throwing out beautiful colors like the rainbow. You have often seen them hanging down from the eaves of your house or barn. Now did you ever think why these were so beautiful and pure? I will tell you why it is. This icicle was formed on the edge of a clean roof; no soot or dirt had been thrown on the snow, but it was just as pure and white as it came down, from the clouds above.
Now if some one had smeared the roof with mud or thrown dirt and soot among the snow, you don't suppose you would have found this clear, sparkling crystal hanging there, do you? No, of course you do not, but in- stead there would have been an ugly, dirty, ill-formed thing, so offensive to your eyes that you would want to knock it down and break it to pieces to get it out of sight.
Now you are forming every day, just like the icicle as it were; every im- pression made is the drop of water trickling down to the eave, received through the ear or the eye, and makes its lodgment on the heart. Every thought, every word spoken, each adds a drop. Every good act makes a pure drop for the crystal. Every time you make some one else happy by doing good, starts a pure drop running down. Every time you ask the Saviour to help you to be good, he will warm the snow and start the drops going down, until growing hour by hour and day by day, you shall enlarge into the full beauty of Christian perfection, reflecting rays from the sun of righteousness to gladden all who look upon you.
Now if you would crystallize into such completeness, you must keep a clean roof over you. Be careful you allow no mud or dirt to remain to be covered in the winter of your life.
In other words, shun evil; go not in the way of bad people; brush away
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every evil word spoken, and if you find your little friends allowing their roof to grow dirty, help them clean it.
That will be doing good, and will add a pure drop to your own crystal.
GEORGE B. LANGLEY.
The business interests of Millville have a worthy representative in George B. Langley, who is prominently connected with the industrial and com- mercial affairs of the city as the proprietor of a large flouring-mill and also of a flour and feed store. The energy and close application which have char- acterized his business affairs have made him very successful in his chosen calling, and he is to-day the possessor of a very comfortable income which has come to him as the reward of his own efforts. His entire life has been passed in southern New Jersey, for he was born in Salem county, on the 20th of October, 1842. The family is of English descent and of Quaker stock. John Langley, the direct ancestor of the subject of this review, took up his abode in Cumberland county, at what is now known as Langley Fields, on the road between Millville and Bridgeton. He cleared and de- veloped that property and subsequently removed to a farm near Centerton, where he had extensive realty holdings. He was very successful in his business ventures and left to his family a small estate. In the neighborhood he was accounted one of the most prominent and influential citizens, and his name was interwoven with many events of public importance. He had a large family. Richard Langley, the second son of John Langley, became the father of our subject. The grandfather of our subject died at the age of sixty-eight years, and the grandmother passed away in 1849, at the age of seventy-two years.
Richard Langley, the father of our subject, was born at Langley Fields, Cumberland county, in 1815, and acquired a district-school education. In early life he engaged in farming near Centerton, Salem county, upon the old family homestead, and in that neighborhood he continued to make his home until called to his final rest. During the latter part of his business career he engaged in the operation of a flouring-mill at Willow Grove, where his death occurred. He was also the owner of three farms and in his busi- ness affairs was very successful, so that he was enabled to retire to private life eight years prior to his demise. His political support was given to the Democracy, and he was a stanch advocate of temperance principles and be- longed to the organization known as the Sons of Temperance. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church in Willow Grove and was
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a local preacher of that denomination. He married Keturah Garrison, and his death occurred in 1887, at the age of seventy-two years, but his widow is still living, having now attained the advanced age of eighty-three years. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children: George R., of this sketch; Hannah Jane, the wife of David Hitchner, a farmer of Salem county; Joel, who married Sarah Cramer, by whom he had five children: Albert, Russell, Lena, Achsah and George; Sarah, the wife of Mulford Haines, of Saratoga, Wyoming, the proprietor of large sheep ranches in the west; Mary, the wife of Robert Christy, a miller; Rebecca, the wife of Ephraim Harris, a dairyman; and Jemimah, the wife of John Collins.
George B. Langley obtained his education in the public schools of Mill- ville, where he pursued his studies until sixteen years of age, during which time he became somewhat familiar with the milling business, for his father was carrying on that industry, and after putting aside his text-books he be- came his father's assistant and at a later date began milling on his own account. When he was twenty-one years of age he succeeded to the owner- ship of the flour mills at Millville, and when they were destroyed by fire in 1870 he replaced them with a well-equipped plant at the corner of Sharp and Canal streets. His present mill is supplied with all the latest improved machinery and has a capacity of one hundred barrels of flour per day, and two hundred barrels of meal. He does considerable grinding for the local trade and also ships his products extensively throughout the southern portion of the state. In this way he consumes one hundred and fifty thous- and bushels of grain annually, doing the largest milling business south of Camden. His shipments are not only made by steam transportation, for five wagons carry his products through the surrounding country, where he has an extensive patronage. He also supplies the local demand through a flour and feed store, which he conducts on Main street in Millville.
In all his business undertakings Mr. Langley has been very successful and his efforts have extended to many lines where his counsels and labors have been very effective in securing profitable returns on investments. He is a member of the board of trade, is the vice-president of the Cumberland Trust Company, of Bridgeton, the president of the Millville Stock Building Association, a director of the Millville National Bank, which is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, a director of the Ocean City Association, and treasurer of the Niagara Mining and Smelting Company at Salt Lake City, Utah, with offices at Philadelphia. These varied interests indicate his marked business ability and add materially to his income.
During the civil war Mr. Langley manifested his loyalty to the govern- ment by enlisting in the Twenty-fourth New Jersey Infantry, in 1863, for II-EE
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nine months. The regiment was marched to Maryland and he was taken sick at Fredericksburg, which caused him to be sent home. Soon afterward he married Jane A., daughter of Hiram Studams, a sea captain of Maurice- town, New Jersey, his marriage taking place on the 27th of January, 1864, and they now have two children,-Edgar and Jennie Bertha. Mr. Langley and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he strongly endorses the temperance work and all movements and measures which tend to benefit mankind. In 1874 he represented his district in the legis- lature, has been a member of the board of freeholders and was the president of the council for sixteen years. In the discharge of his public duties he has manifested the utmost loyalty to principle, and his efforts have been productive of advancement along many lines of reform and progress. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to both lodge and encampment, and his life is consistent with his belief and support of all that is true and right. His reliability is above question, and his suc- cess has resulted from honorable dealing as well as from indefatigable energy, and he is worthy of the unqualified regard of his fellow men.
JOHN PIERSON.
In Swedesboro not to know John Pierson is to argue oneself unknown. He is the oldest living resident of the city and his acquaintance embraces nearly the entire population of the place. Almost a century has passed since he opened his eyes to the light of day, a century fraught with mighty achievements and wonderful results.
He was born November 13, 1805, in what is now South Swedesboro, then called Battontown, a son of John and Margaret (Thompson) Pierson. The father also was a native of the same place and was a son of Zebulon Pierson, of South Swedesboro. The three generations mentioned all fol- lowed blacksmithing in the town. The subject of this review has lived in his present home since 1837, a period of more than six decades. There is not a householder in the town that owned property here when he came into possession of his present home, and his property is the only piece that has not changed hands throughout this long period with the exception of the Episcopal church. Mr. Pierson conducted a blacksmithing shop until 1852, when he began building bridges and for some time was thus connected with the industrial interests of this section of the state. For many years he figured conspicuously in connection with public affairs and held a number of public offices. In 1844 he was elected a freeholder for a five years' term,
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