USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Rockaway > Historical manual of the Rockaway Presbyterian Church > Part 2
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The Presbytery of New York ordained and installed Mr. King as pastor of this church, December 27th, 1808. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather and that there was no stove in the
15
church, the exercises were very prolonged and the physical endur- ance of the candidate was noticeably taxed to its utmost. Rev. Dr. John McDowell, of Elizabeth, preached the sermon, Dr. Richards, the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Dr. Perrine, of Bottle Hill, the charge to the people.
After his ordination, the new pastor redoubled his efforts, which were very successful. Faithful and punctilious in his preparation for the pulpit, he was equally faithful in his other duties, visiting the home of every one, however humble, in his immense parish, which was at least ten miles in diameter. He frequently preached at private houses in the various neighborhoods, in the evening, after visiting among the people during the day. In his fortieth anniversary sermon he says, "I had six preaching places which were from four to six miles distant from the church. After two services in the church (on Sunday,) I preached at one of these and once or more on a week day. My object was to be at each of these preaching places at least as often as once in two weeks."
October 24th, 1809, Mr. King was married by Rev. Aaron Con- dict, to Miss Catherine Beach, daughter of Capt. Enoch Beach, of Hanover, an event which added much to his influence as a pas- tor. She often accompanied him on his visits to places of suffering and aided him in his ministrations. She died July 13th, 1821, lamented by the whole congregation, and seldom was there offered such a tribute to the memory of any one as to the memory of this estimable lady, so highly was she regarded by all who knew her. Her sister, Mrs. Electa Jackson, wife of Col. Joseph Jackson, also living at Rockaway, in 1815 started the first Sunday-school in Morris county, in the "Old Red School-house" near the church, which was torn down in 1853. Mrs. Jackson and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Clarissa (Jas.) Jackson, had previously gathered the neigh- boring children for religious instruction in their own homes.
The people began to repair the church soon after Mr. King came, and mention is frequently made in the minutes of the work. November 5th, 1821, it was resolved "that Joseph Jackson have leave to remove the canopy over the pulpit and lower the breast- work in front as low as Mr. King shall direct." " All to be done at his expense." In 1768, a resolution had been adopted "That a stove be allowed and that if it may be found pornitious that then on complaint that it may be so pornitious by any one (sup- posed to be a person of sense-erased) that then, in such case, it may be removed from thence by a future meetg. if proper." In
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Mr. Carle's time a fire-place was attempted, but not until 1820 was any plan for warming the church carried out. A big stove was then bought at Mt. Hope, of McQueen & Co., and set up in the church, the pipe running out a window. In Sept., 1829, it was proposed to raise $350 to repair the meeting-house, but Nov. 1st, 1830, " the building committee" are allowed to use any part of the old for the purpose of building "the new meeting-house." The Winds farm, devised to the church by General Wm. Winds, and so much of the church lot as lies west of the Mt. Hope road, was sold about this time to pay arrears of salary and help in building. This house is the present brick edifice, and was dedica- ted Sept. 6th, 1832, after being about a year in progress of erec- tion. The old church was on the knoll about fifty feet back of the new one.
After the revival of 1808, the membership of the church in- creased slowly, but in the fall of 1817, a revival which had been manifesting itself for some time, beginning in the Sabbath-school, became yet more decided and continued nearly through 1818. In these years one hundred and fifty-one persons were added to the communion of the church. 1831 and 1832 were again specially favored seasons. During this revival, which continued over a year, one hundred and forty-three persons united with the church.
In 1833 the Methodist Church was organized here. In 1834 the Dover Presbyterian Church was set off. And afterwards churches at Boonton and Mount Freedom. In the anniversary sermon before alluded to, delivered Dec. 31st, 1848, Mr. King says " five Presbyterian and five Methodist churches have been formed in our bounds and on our borders." He had then baptized five hundred and forty-seven children, solemnized four hundred and seventeen marriages. attended six hundred and eighty-one fun- erals, preached about twelve thousand times, and during his ministration here, six hundred and eighty had been added to the church.
In September, 1847, Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle was called as col- league pastor with Mr. King. He was the son of Rev. Jacob Tuttle, and was born at Bloomfield, N. J., in 1818. He received his preparatory education at the Academy at Newark, N. J., and Granville, Ohio ; was graduated at Marietta College with the first honors of his class in 1841 and at Lane Theological Seminary in 1844. He was licensed by Marian Presbytery, April 4th, 1844 ;
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was married October 11th, 1845, to Miss Susan King, daughter of Rev. Barnabas King, and was ordained and installed pastor of the Second Church, in Delaware, Ohio, April 21st, 1846. He came to Rockaway, and began to labor here in November, 1847, and April 26th, 1848, was installed colleague pastor by the Presbytery of Rockaway. Rev. Samuel L. Tuttle, (his brother,) of Caldwell, preached the sermon, Rev. Daniel H. Johnson, of Mendham, delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Sylvester Cook, of Wantage, the charge to the people.
From this time, although Dr. King continued to share the bur- den of the ministerial labor, preaching frequently, both in the church and at the out stations, and making frequent parochial visits, the larger part of the labor gradually devolved upon his colleague.
Dr. Tuttle was an indefatigable worker, eloquent in the pulpit, devoted to his church and people, and eminently successful. Though there were no large revivals such as the church enjoyed in 1818 and 1832, yet the lists show a constant and regular in- crease of membership. He attached his people, both old and young, closely to him, and was influential and useful in the Pres- bytery. He refused several very flattering calls, but in 1862 was tendered the presidency of Wabash College, which he felt it his duty to accept-and after fifteen years' labor here he asked to have the relation dissolved. Dr. King at the same time made the same request. The parish meeting to consider these resignations occurred March 20th, 1862, and was largely attended. The people resolved unanimously not to accept Dr. King's resignation, affec- . tionately expressing their will that he should continue their pastor until death should terminate the relation. When the result of the meeting was announced to him, he said, as tears ran down his face, " they have always been a kind people," and probably this was the happiest moment of his long official connection with the church. A few days after, April 10th, Dr. King died at the residence of his son-in-law, and on the 15th, was buried here. His funeral sermon, preached by his late colleague, was printed with the fare- well sermon of Dr. Tuttle, delivered April 27th, 1862.
Perhaps the following facts in the history of Rockaway, which had their influence upon the parish, may not be uninteresting. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Lord Stirling was carrying on the furnace at Hibernia. John Jacob Faesch carried on the fur- nace, &c., at Mount Hope, under a lease from Col. Jacob Ford,
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B
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Sr. Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., had forges at Denmark, Middle Forge and Mt. Pleasant. Stephen Jackson and David Beaman had the forge above the bridge in Rockaway, and a grist-mill on the west bank of the river near the end of the present dam. In 1785 the grist-mill opposite Dr. Jackson's present residence was built. In 1794 Stephen Jackson built the lower forge at Rockaway. In 1821 Joseph and William Jackson built the rolling-mill. In 1815, the Mt. Hope furnace, having been idle over fifteen years, (since the death of Faesch, ) was leased and set at work by Robert McQueen & Co., consisting of Robert McQueen, Abraham Kinney and Eli- phalet Sturtevant. The company continued to operate it until 1827, when the furnace finally blew out.
In 1828 the Morris canal was surveyed, and its building com- menced. It was completed for travel in 1832. In 1848 the Morris and Essex railroad was continued from Morristown to Dover : previous to that time a stage route from Newark, by way of Bloomfield and Parsippany, passed through the village, carrying the mail and passengers.
About 1835, Joseph C. Righter built his foundry on Berry's Brook, and further up on the same stream a manufactory still standing west of the church-lot. In 1845 James Fuller and Mahlon Hoagland built the foundry which was burned in 1851, and rebuilt by Freeman Wood. In 1855 the Rockaway Manufacturing Com- pany was chartered. It rebuilt and enlarged the rolling-mill, put- ting in steam-power, &c., but soon failed.
In 1856 the Iron Bank was organized and started here as a State bank, but was shortly afterwards carried to Morristown.
The pastoral relation between Dr. Joseph F. Tuttle and the church was dissolved by the presbytery of Rockaway in April, 1862, and on April 27th following he preached his farewell sermon.
On the 5th of May, 1862, the Session and Trustees voted to invite Mr. S. P. Halsey, a student in Union Theological Seminary, to supply the pulpit for two months. Mr. Halsey accepted the in- vitation, and preached his first sermon May 11th. His preaching was so acceptable that at a parish meeting, June 12th, Rev. B. C. Magie, presiding, a unanimous call was extended to him to become pastor at a salary of $600 per annum.
On the 8th day of July, 1862, Mr. Halsey, having accepted the call, was ordained and installed pastor of the church.
Rev. Samuel P. Halsey was born at Avon, N. Y., August 11th, 1834, and on his mother's side was descended from Deacon Ross,
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one of the founders of the church. He prepared for college at a classical school at Rochester, N. Y., and at Lodi, Mich., and entered Michigan University in 1855. On leaving that institution he began the study of law, and was admitted in the city of Brooklyn, Feb- ruary 12th, 1858. Becoming converted in the spring of that year, he felt it to be his duty to preach the gospel, and accordingly entered Union Theological Seminary in the fall of 1859, and grad- uated from that institution in May, 1862. In 1863 he was mar- ried to Miss Margaret P. Bowers, of Brooklyn. In September, 1862, his salary was raised to $700, and in September, 1864, it was further raised to $1000.
Receiving a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Stam- ford, Conn., December 25th, 1864, Mr. Halsey concluded to accept it, and at his request the parish united with him, January 12th, 1865, in asking Presbytery to dissolve the relation, which was done at a meeting of Presbytery in Rockway, January 17th following.
The ministry of Mr. Halsey lay wholly within the time of the war, and religion in the hearts of pastor and people often assumed the form of patriotism. The church grew in numbers, and a powerful revival was experienced in the winter of 1863-4, in which many, especially from the Sunday-school, were converted. During his ministry, twenty-nine were received into the church by profes- sion, and nine by letter-thirty-eight in all. After two years' service at Stamford, Mr. Halsey resigned his charge there on ac- count of ill health, and since November 3d, 1869, has been pastor of what is now the Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn.
Dr. George Jones, a Methodist minister, practicing medicine in Rockaway, frequently supplied the pulpit after Mr. Halsey's de- parture, and his sermon upon the death of Mr. Lincoln will be remembered as one occasion of many in which he served the church in an emergency.
At a meeting of the Session and Trustees, April 11th, 1865, it was resolved to employ Rev. Wm. E. Honeyman, a graduate of Princeton, Class of 1861, as stated supply for three month, at the rate of $800 a year. Before the expiration of this time, at an adjourned parish meeting, May 29th, a call was extended to Mr. Honeyman. There being some want of unanimity in the congregation, he was not installed, but the Presbytery meeting at Rockaway, August 23d, he was ordained as an evangelist, and continued to preach as stated supply until April 1st, 1866, when he preached for the last
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time, owing to some disagreement between him and the Trustees. On the next Sabbath, Dr. Thornton Mills occupied the pulpit, and at the close of the morning service read a letter from Mr. Honey- man, declining to act any longer as supply.
During the year 1865 the cemetery was put in such shape that deeds could be given for lots, and a system organized for its care in the future. The work was begun in 1860, under the direction of Mr. J. B. Bassinger, who employed a civil engineer, Mr. Henry L. Southard, to survey the church property and plot the graveyard.
During the summer of 1861, through the personal appeals of Dr. Tuttle, the people turned out with teams and very greatly im- proved the cemetery-putting it very much in its present shape. The work was completed in 1865, and a committee of three of the Trustees, called the Cemetery Committee, has since that time had the management of this part of the church property.
In 1865, at the suggestion of Mr. Honeyman, the singing was improved by the introduction of the "Songs of the Sanctuary." Up to that time, " Watts and Select Hymns " had been used, the choir selecting the tunes according to their own judgment.
In the spring of 1866, a slate roof was put upon the church at an expense of $698, and during the summer the work of improve- ment was continued by painting the inside of the church, lowering the galleries, reseating the auditorium, &c. June 17th, 1866, Rev. O. H. Perry Deyo preached his first sermon in the church, and continued to supply the pulpit thereafter. Sept. 19th, 1866, at a parish meeting, the officers of the church were instructed to em- ploy Mr. Deyo as stated supply, at a salary of $1000 per annum, till further action could be taken. October 2d, 1866, they invited him to supply the pulpit for six months, and he accepted.
From October 21st, 1866 to March 14th, 1867, the congregation worshipped in the school-house, owing to the repairs then being made on the church. On the latter date the repainted and refit- ted church was rededicated to Almighty God, and a debt of $2050 raised-making the whole amount expended on the church $5000- a sum equal to its entire first cost.
While the congregation was worshipping in the school-house, a revival occurred, exceeding in intensity and power anything exper- ienced in many years. The pastor was indefatigable in his labors and the church was blessed in an unusual degree.
On the 7th of March, 1867, at a parish meeting held in the school-house, it was unanimously voted to extend a call to Mr.
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Deyo to become pastor of the church, at a salary $1200 per annum. The call was accepted, and on the 30th of April, he was regularly installed by the Presbytery.
Rev. O. H. Perry Deyo, thus installed seventh pastor of the church, was born in 1817, at Highlands, opposite Fishkill, on the Hudson, in New York. He united with the church at twenty years of age, and studied for the ministry, principally with Rev. Mr. Wilde. He was licensed as an evangelist by the North River Presbytery, at Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1855, where he labored for about a year. He had declined to be installed a pastor till he accepted the invitation of this church. His ministry here was very successful, and resulted in gathering into the church eighty-four by profession and fourteen by letter, and in quickening and ele- vating the piety of the people.
In 1868, the location of the church lines was accurately deter- mined, and a map and survey signed by the Trustees and adjoin- ing owners was recorded in the Registry of Deeds in the County Clerk's office, Book H 7, page 109.
In 1871, the road in front of the church was thrown out to its present place instead of winding up near the church. From March 20th, 1871 to May 29th, the sum of $837 was expended on the work of building the wall and filling and grading the road, under the supervision of Mr. Deyo, but the present grade was not established until the front fence was built in 1874.
At the parish meeting, September 21st, 1870, Elder Samuel B. Halsey expressed a desire to see some steps taken to secure a par- sonage while he was yet living, and offered a lot and a sum of money, provided $4000 should be raised, including his subscrip- tion, within a year thereafter. Mr. Halsey died in September, 1871, but his administrators, manifesting a desire to carry out his purpose, the Board of Trustees, February 19th, 1872, resolved to proceed with the work.
On March 11th following, $4175 had been subscribed by twen- ty-six individuals, and a building committee consisting of Dr. Columbus Beach, Mahlon Hoagland and Charles C. De Hart, was appointed, under whose supervision the building was prosecuted during the summer of 1872 and the following winter and summer, till its completion. The whole cost was reported December 1st, 1873, to be $5340 ; but the deficiency of $1100 was provided for in two notes of $700 and $400, the former of which was paid next year by the congregation, and the latter by the Cemetery Commit-
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tee, out of their funds, in 1879. The whole cost of the parsonage to the present date-exclusive of the lot, the fence, the grading, and the barn built in 1877-was $5600.
At the parish meeting, September 18th, 1872, a resolution was carried to fix the minister's salary at $1000 instead of $1200-in view of the financial burdens of the parish. Mr. Deyo feeling aggrieved that this action should have been taken without con- sulting him, tendered his resignation through Rev. B. C. Magie, who occupied the pulpit the ensuing Sabbath, September 29th. At a parish meeting October 2d, the people refused to assent to Mr. Deyo's request for them to unite in asking Presbytery to dis- solve his pastoral relation with them. Presbytery being at a loss how to act, sent Rev. Dr. Ogden, of Chatham, and Mr. Jeremiah Baker, of Madison, as a committee of investigation. This com- mittee met the Session and Trustees, October 7th, and after con- ference with them reported to Presbytery, whereupon the relation was dissolved, and the pulpit, by direction of Presbytery, declared vacant by the Rev. Daniel Magie, of Boonton, October 20th, 1872.
After Mr. Deyo's departure, the Rev. O. S. St. John, who was on the editorial staff of the "New York Witness," was employed as stated supply until July, 1873 ; such candidates as the church desired to hear, having the pulpit as occasion required.
From this time till the end of the year, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Pearce Rogers, of Mine Hill, excepting on particular Sab- baths when candidates or visiting ministers were heard.
At the annual parish meeting, September 17th, 1873, the Ceme- tery Committee were authorized to purchase adjoining lands from Abraham W. Shawger, which was done, and some three acres added to the cemetery. The price of lots was then raised from six to ten cents per superficial foot.
March 15th and 22d, 1874, Mr. David E. Platter, a student in Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, occupied the pulpit, and on Sunday, April 19th, after morning service, a parish meet- ing was held, at which a unanimous call was extended to him with a salary of $1200 and the parsonage. A subscription was taken up at once, which amounted to the sum fixed. On Sunday, April 14th, Mr. Platter's acceptance was laid before the officers of the" church, to take effect June 14th, 1874. On the 7th of June, Mr. Rogers, who had so long and faithfully served as supply that he had come to be considered as almost a settled pastor, preached his farewell sermon. As the fruit of a deep rehgious interest
·
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manifest during his ministry, fourteen persons were admitted into the church on the first day of Mr. Platter's ministry.
Rev. David Edwin Platter, the eighth and present pastor of the church, was born near Locust Grove, in Adams county, Ohio, Jan. 25th, 1849. He prepared for college at Salem Academy, South Salem, Ohio, and entering the freshman class at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1867, graduated in 1871. In the fall of that year he entered Lane Seminary, at Cincinnati, Ohio. During the vaca- tion of 1872, he supplied the Presbyterian Church of Mt. Leigh, Ohio, and during the vacation of 1873, the Presbyterian Church of Eckmansville, in the same State. Graduating from the semin- ary in the spring of 1874, and having already accepted the call to Rockaway, he immediately took charge of the church, preaching his first sermon, June 14th. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Portsmouth, in the spring of 1873, and ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Morris and Orange, July 22d, 1874. He was married to Miss Susan Hutchings, of Bermuda, December 18th, 1877. Since his installation, including the fourteen already men- tioned, one hundred and twenty persons have united with the church.
Of his own ministry it becometh him not to speak, other than to thank God for putting him into this ministry.
At a parish meeting held Thursday evening, May 13th, 1880, it was resolved to build a session-house, and $2300 was pledged for that purpose by the persons present. The following Sunday morn- ing this subscription was increased, and soon after the work was begun. Messrs. Dr. Columbus Beach, Mahlon Hoagland and James H. Bruen, were appointed a Building Committee, and under their hands the building is fast approaching completion.
Dated September 27th, 1880.
FAC-SIMILES OF FIRST PARISH RECORDS
OF THE
Presbyterian Church of Rockaway.
March 2d 1758.
We the subscribers do by these mannefest It to be our desier to Joyn with porsipaney to call and settel a minnester to have the one half of the preachen at porsipaney, and the other half at rock- away and each part to be eakwel in payen a minnester.
JOB ALLEN
HENEREY STAG
SETH MEHURAN
JOHN HARRIMAN
DAVID BEMAN
JONAH AUSTEN
GILBARD HEDY
SAMUEL BURWELL
ANDREU MORRESON,
JOHN GOBBEL
ISAK OGDEN
ABRAHAM JOHNSON
JOHN PIPES
JOHN COGSWELL
SAMUEL SHIPMAN
JOHN HUNTINGTON
JOHN MINTON
GERSHOM GARD
SAMUEL WHITHED JUN
JOHN KENT
JOSEPH BURREL
AMOS KILBURN
WILYAM WINES
WILLAM DANELS
NETHANEL MICHEL
SAMUEL MOORE.
JOSIAH BEMAN
JAMES LOSEY
ABRAHAM MASACRA
25
March 2d 1758.
We the Inhabitenc of rockaway, pigenhil and upper inhabitenc at the colonals forges and places agesant being met together In order to consult together about a place to set a meting hous and being all well agread that the most sutable place for the hol setel- ments Is upon the small plain a letel above bemans forg which is below the first small brok upon that rode up to Samuel Johnson. and we the subscribers a blig ourselves to pay toward building a house at that place the sums to our names afixed.
Job Allen £5 0 0
Gilbert Heden
5
0 0
Andrew Moreson
5
0
0
David Beman
5
0
0
Isaac Ogden 1 10 0
John Pipes
1
0 0
Samuel Shipman
2 10
0
Seth Mehuren
2 10
0
John Minthorn
2 10 0
Samuel Whithed Jun
2 10
0
Joseph Burwell
0
10
0
William Winds
3
0
0
Nathaniel Mitchel
1
10 0
Josiah Beman
2
0
0
James losey
10
0
Abraham Masacra
7
0
henery stag
15
0
John Harriman
3
0
0
John Johnson
3
0
0
Samuel burrel
10 0
Jonah Huston
4
0
0
John Gobel
0
10
0
abraham Johnson
5
0
0
John Cogswell
1
0
0
John Huntington
2
0
0
Gershom Gard
1
0
0
John Kent
1
0
0
Amos Kilburn
2
0
0
henery tuttel
0
5
0
Joseph Beach
0
5 0
John stag
0
15
0
William Danels
1
10
10
Samuel Moore
1
5
0
Jacob Garrigues
1
0
0
James Milege
1
10 0
bil walton
0
3
6
Jacob W. thorp
0
6
6
Obadiah Lum
2
0
0
Benjamin Corey
0
4
0
PASTORS.
REV. JAMES TUTTLE.
Joint pastor of Rockaway and Parsippany. Ordained and installed at Parsippany, April, 1768. Died December 25th, 1770.
REV. DAVID BALDWIN.
Installed April, 1784. Dismissed May 14th, 1792.
REV. JOHN J. CARLE. Installed January, 1793. Dismissed 1801.
REV. BARNABAS KING.
Ordained and installed December 27th, 1808, having preached as supply since October, 1807. Died April 10th, 1862.
REV. JOSEPH F. TUTTLE. Installed as co-pastor with Mr. King April 26th, 1848. Dismissed April, 1862.
REV. SAMUEL PIERSON HALSEY. Installed July 8th, 1862. Dismissed January 17th, 1865.
REV. OLIVER H. PERRY DEYO.
Installed April 30th, 1867, after having preached nearly one year as supply. Dismissed October 20th, 1872.
REV. DAVID E. PLATTER. Ordained and installed July 22d, 1874. greve 6, 1891 avenil enjoyed aferici anderson Reaper
peach for one year. such thay
1905
Lewis a strait 1901
1906 2. A. Bnul ELDERS.
Ordained. 1758
Died.
Resigned.
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