USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 68
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 68
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Greene Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- The doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church were first introduced iu Trenton about the year 1766 by Capt. Thomas Webb, of the British army.
The doctrines and usages of the Methodists were to some extent innovations among the people at that time, and they encountered opposition, though the labors of Whitefield and the Tennents had prepared the way for the preaching of the early Methodists, and the adaptation of their doctrines to the spiritual wants of the people commended them so strongly to their favor that a society was soon formed. Of this society Conrad Rolls was the first steward, aud Joseph Toy the first class-leader.
There are no records to show where this society worshiped during the first few years of its existence. There is, however, in the possession of Judge William S. Yard a record under the date of Nov. 25, 1772, of a subscription for the erection of a church, the cor- ner-stone of which was laid by Bishop Asbury, April 22, 1773. The dimensions of this church were thirty by thirty-five feet, and it was located on the corner of Greene and Academy Streets.
As an illustration of the customs that were preva- lent at that time it may be stated that this old book records the fact that five gallons of rum and three and three-quarter gallons of "cyder" were paid for by the society "for the workmen" on the church building in March and April, 1773. A credit is also recorded of twelve shillings and sixpence to the account of "a prize lottery ticket," Aug. 24, 1774. Public sentiment has within a century made advances in the right direction.
The earnest and fervently pious character of prim- itive Methodists is illustrated by the following extract from the deed of 1772, which conveyed the ground on which the first church building was erected :
" Provided also that they preach in the said house on every week day erening, erery week, and every morn- ing at five o'clock, and every Sabbath-day at such time as shall be thought proper."
It is recorded by Benjamin Abbot that during the Revolution on visiting Trenton he found this church turned into a stable, and was kindly permitted to i preach in the Presbyterian Church.
In this house the congregation worshiped till 1807, -
when it was removed, and a substantial brick edifice was erected on the same site. This was used till 1837, after which it was sold to the Orthodox Friends.
In 1836 the increase in the membership had come to necessitate larger accommodations, and the project of ereeting a new church was agitated. This was in 1837 carried into effect, and the present church edifice in Greenc Street, below State, was built. This is still in use, and is a representative of the best class of early Methodist architecture. The conservatism of the so- ciety las thus far prevented any change in the exte- rior appearance of the church, but the interior. except the galleries, has been remodeled in accordance with modern style. The walls are frescoed, the pews are semicircular and are tastefully upholstered, and the floor is carpeted.
During the first few years of its existence this soci- ety enjoyed the occasional ministrations of traveling clergymen and missionaries, and from time to time had clergymen who remained during longer or shorter periods. It appears from the old stewards' book that Francis Asbury was paid six shillings May 22, 1772, one pound June 10th, and the same amount July Ist, of the same year. Richard Wright officiated here during the latter half of 1772, and the quarterage during the early part of 1773 was paid to Richard Boardman.
In 1774 there were in New Jersey two hundred and fifty-seven members of Methodist Churches. In 1775 the number had increased to three hundred, but in 1776, by reason of the breaking out of the Revolution- ary war, the number was diminished one-half.
At the first session of the General Conference in 1773 clergymen were appointed to the New Jersey circuit. As time went on and Methodists became more numerous, the territorial limits of conferences, districts, circuits, etc., were changed in accordance with changing circumstances, and Trenton thus came to be included at different times in many different general and subordinate jurisdictions.
The clergymen who have been appointed to the charges of which Trenton and later the Greene Street Methodist Episcopal Church have constituted a part have been the following : John King, William Wat- ters, 1773; William Watters, 1774; John King, Daniet Ruff, 1775; Robert Lindsay, John Cooper, 1776; Henry Kennedy, Thomas McClure, 1777; Daniel Ruff, 1778; Daniel Ruff, Philip Cox, Joshua Dudley, 1779; William Gill, John James, Richard Garret-on, 1780; Caleb B. Pedicord, Joseph Cromwell, 1781; Joshua Dudley, William Ivy (six months), John Tunnell, William Clendinning ( balance of the year), 1782; Woolman Hickson, John Margery, 1783; John Hagerty, Matthew Greentree, 1784; Robert Cloud, John MeCloskey, Jacob Brush, 1785; Robert Sparks, Robert Cann, 1786; Ezekiel Cooper, Nathamel B. Mills, 1787 ; John Merrick, Thomas Morrell, Jethro Jolinson, 1788; Joseph Cromwell, Richard Swain, 1789; Simon Pile, Aaron Hutchinson, 1790; Robert
728
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Cann, Robert Hutchinson, 1791 ; Gamaliel Bailey, Daniel Freeman, 1792; Robert Sparks, Isaae Robin- son, 1793; John Fountain, Robert MeCoy, 1794; John Ragan, Joslma Taylor, 1795; David Bartine, Roger Benton, 1796; Richard Swain, Ephraim It is a brick building, sixty-nine by one hundred and twenty-five feet, and it has a seating capacity of Chambers, 1797 ; Caleb Kendal, Joseph Lovell, 179S; Solomon Sharpe, Jesse Justice, 1799; Robert Sparks, . eight hundred. Its cost, including site, was between Henry Clarke, 1800; David Bartine, Joseph O-born, forty thousand and fifty thousand dollars. William Brandon, 1801; Anthony Turck, John The pastors of Trinity Church have been Revs. B. S. Sharpe, 1866-68; R. V. Lawrence, 1869-71; A. Lawrence, 1872-74; E. C. Hancock, 1875-77; J. Stiles, 1878-80; and the present pastor, Willis Reeves, 1881. Walker, 1802; William Mills, Gamaliel Barley, 1803; Joseph Totten, George Wooley, 1804; John Bethel, Samuel Budd, 1805 ; William Bishop, Daniel Higbee, 1806; William McClenahan, P. P. Sanford, 1807; Peter Sanford, William Fos, 1808; William Fox, Union Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- This was organized in 1852 for the greater convenience of those members of the Greene Street Church living in that part of the city. Jacob Hevener, 1809; Thomas Stratton. Thomas Neal, 1810; William Mills, 1811; Joseph Totten, William Mills, 1812; Joseph Osborn, John Van Schorek, 1813; John Van Schorck, John Fernon, 1814; John Walker, Thomas Neal, 1815; John Rob- inson, Joseph Rusling, 1816; Manning Force, Daniel Moore, 1817; Alexander MeCairre, 1818; James Smith, Sr., 1819; Solomon Sharpe, 1820-21; Joseph Lybrand, 1822-23; John Potts, 1824-25; William Thatcher, 1826-27 ; Joseph Lybrand, 1828; Joseph Haldich, 1829-30; Solomon Higgins, 1831-32; Rich- ard W. Petheridge (superannuated), 1832; Thomas J. Thompson, 1833-34; James Dandy, 1835-36; An- thony Atwood, 1837-88; Charles Pitman, 1839-40; : Charles H. Whiteear, 1841-12; Daniel P. Ridder, 1843-44; Joseph B. Wakely, 1844-45; James Ayars, 1846-47 ; John S. Porter, 1848-49 ; Franeis A. Morell, 1850-51; George F. Brown, 1852-53; Richard Van- horne, 1854; Joseph B. Dobbins, 1855-57; W. E. Perry, 1858; Elwood H. Stokes, 1859-61 ; S. Y. Mon- roe, 1862-63; J. B. Dobbins, 1864-66; J. W. King, 1867-69; C. S. Vancleve, 1870-72; R. S. Hanlow, D.D., 1873-74; R. Thorn, 1875-77 ; M. Relyea, 1878- 80; George R. Morris, D.D., 1881-82.
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church .-- Front Street Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in . 1846 by some members of the Greene Street Church. The Dutch Reformed Church building in Front Street was purchased in that year, and in 1851 it was en- larged by extending the front to State Street, was beau- tified externally and refitted within.
The pastors were Revs. Clark Polley, 1846-47 ; James Tuttle, 1843-49; Rodney Winans, 1850; James O. Rodgers, 1851-52 ; C. S. Vancleve, 1853-54; A. R. Street, 1855-66; George Huglies, C. S. Downs, 1857; P. Cline, 1858-59; Charles E. Hill, 1860-61; Isaac Winner, D.D., 1862; J. Vannote, 1863-64; E. H. Durell, 1865.
In 1866 the house in Front Street was sold to St. Francis' (Catholic) Church, and the Front Street Churel took the name of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. It worshiped first in Fitzgeorge's Hall, then in Temperance Hall, then in a plank church that was ereeted in Academy Street, between Greene and Mont- gomery. In 1868 a lot was purchased in Perry Street,
near Greene, and the present church edifice was eom- menced. The session-room was first used in 1869, and the audience-room was completed and occupied in 1871.
The first place of worship was a building in Don- nelly's Alley that had been used as a Sunday-school and class-room. During the year 1852 a house of worship was erected on the site of the present church , building, in Union Street below Ferry. It was of brick, forty-five by sixty-three feet. A faulty founda- tion necessitated the rebuilding of this church in 1858, when it was made forty-five by seventy-five. During 1870 the vestibule was changed to two class- rooms, and in 1881 the gallery was converted into a sunday-school room. The cost of this church was about eight thousand dollars.
The pastors have been Revs. John S. Heisler, 1852; J. D. King, 1853 ; William Franklin, 1854; C. Miller, 1855; J. R. Burr, 1857; S. Townsend, 1858; W. W. Christine, 1859; J. T. Tucker, 1862; D. S. Zane, 1864; G. Dobbins, Galway, Nicholson. 1865; A. J. Gregory, 1866; J. B. Turpin, 1867 ; C. C. Eastbaek, 1868; A. M. North, 1870; G. Hitchens, 1873; G. D. Collins, 1875; W. S. McCowan, 1878; M. J. Wright, 1880; S. E. Post, 1881 ; James R. Mace, 1882.
Warren Street Chapel of the Methodist Episco- pal Church .- About the year 1847 a Sunday-school was established by some members of the Greene Street Church in a building on the Pennington road. Such was the success of this enterprise that ten years later it was deemed necessary to provide a house of worship in that part of the eity, and the Warren Street Cliapel was erected. It was dedicated May 8, 1859. It was a frame structure, twenty-five by fifty feet, and it stood at the junction of Pennington, Brunswick, and Princeton Avenues.
A society was organized here Feb. 22, 1860, com- posed of thirty-four of the members of the Greene Street Church.
Dr. E. Hance took charge till the session of the Conference, when Rev. Charles Hartranft was ap- pointed in 1860 ; followed by Revs. D. Moore, 1861; A. M. North, 1862; Henry Belting, 1864; J. P. Tur- pin, 1865; J. S. Hei-ler, 1866 ; W. F. Randolph, 1860 ; R. B. Suteliff, 1867; Joseph Atwood, 1863; J. R. Westwood, 1869; C. W. IFeisley, 1871; G. E. Han-
723
CITY OF TRENTON.
cock, 1872; Jolin Wilson, 1874; William H. Hoag, 1877; John L. Souder, 1879; John De Witt Miller, 1881.
In 1876 the old chapel was taken down and a new structure erected on its site. It is of pressed brick, with brownstone trimmings, thirty by sixty-five and fifty feet high, including the basement. The cost was about seven thousand dollars.
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State Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- This society was formed almost wholly by members of Greene Street Church. It was organized early in 1859, and its first place of worship was Temperance Hall. The church edifice, on the corner of State and Stockton Streets, was completed in 1860, and dedi- eated in the summer of that year. It is a brown- stone structure, sixty-four by eighty feet, with a chapel in the rear thirty by sixty-nine. The audi- torium has a seating capacity of six hundred. The cost of the church was about thirty-five thousand dol- lars, including site. In 1866 a parsonage was erected, adjoining the church, at a cost of ten thousand dol- lars.
The pastors have been Revs. George W. Bachelor, appointed 1859; C. H. Whitecar. 1861; William H. Jeffries, 1863 ; Thomas Hanlon, 1865; D. W. Bar- tine, D.D., 1867 ; W. II. Pearne, 1870; Samuel Van Zant, 1873; Leander Soy, 1876; J. S. Chadwick, 1878; S. Van Benschoten, 1879; and the present pastor, John Y. Dobbins, 1882.
The pastors of this church have been Revs. E. H. Stokes, appointed 1865; William E. Perry, 1867; Richard Thorne, Jr., 1869; David Schoek, 1872; William Walton, 1875; John Phelps, 1878; and the present pastor, J. R. Westwood, 1881.
In 1876 the result of a great revival was a large accession to the membership of the church, and within two years about ten thousand dollars of the church debt was discharged.
African Methodist Episcopal Churches .- The colored Methodists in Trenton have two churches, but of their history but little could be learned. Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church in Perry Street was built in 1819, and rebuilt in 1858. The present pastor is Rev. James Arnold MeGilvary Jolins.
St. Paul's Colored African Methodist Episcopal Church worship in Willow Street, near Pennington Avenue. Rev. Thomas Johnson is the pastor.
Friends. - The first settlers at Trenton were Friends, although theirs was not the first religious society that was formed here. Their meeting-house was, however, the first place of worship that was erected within the limits of the city of Trenton. It was built in 1739, on the corner of Hanover and Montgomery Streets, where it has ever since been in use. It has undergone repairs, however, though it retains in a great measure its primitive simplicity. The date of its erection was formerly on the building, but it was covered in rough-casting the house in 1838.
When the society became divided in 1828 the branch denominated Hicksite were left in possession of this house, where they have since worshiped.
An Orthodox branch of the society purchased from the Methodists their church on the northeast corner of Greene and Academy Streets, about 1838, and wor- shiped in it till 1858, when they built their place of worship in Mercer Street, near Livingston. In the quiet; unostentatious pursuit of the even tenor of their way, these people leave but little history.
Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation .- The Mount Sinai Cemetery Association was organized in 1857. Ground was purchased aud a cemetery established about a mile from the city, in the borough of Cham- bersburg.
The congregation was incorporated under its pres- ent name in 1360. The corporators were Simon Kalınweiler, Isaac Wyman, Henry Shoninger, Her- man Rosenbaum, Marcus Aron, L. Rahnweiler, and David Manko.
Central Methodist Episcopal Church .- This was organized in 1864 by members from Front Street and Union Street Methodist Episcopal Churches. Its first The first place of meeting was a room in South Warren Street. Afterward the congregation met in the Chaneery building, corner of State and Chancery Streets. place of worship was Temperance Hall, then, during more than a year, the court-house. In 1865 the so- ciety took possession of the basement of their new church building, which was then in process of erec- In 1872 the present synagogue in Montgomery Street, near Academy, was purchased and refitted for theran Chapel. tion, on the corner of Broad and Market Streets. This house was completed and dedieated in 1868. a house of worship. It had previously been a Lu- It is a brick structure, and its cost was about fifty thousand dollars.
A school is maintained by this congregation for in- struction in the German and Hebrew languages.
German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church. -Early iu 1851, Rev. A. J. Geissenhaimer, of New York, commenced labor here among the Germans, preaching to them in their own language. Services were first held in a publie hall. Mr. Geissenhaimer soon removed to this city, and with his own means purchased a lot on Broad Street, and erected thereon a brick church thirty-three by sixty feet, capable of seating two hundred and seventy persons. It was dedicated in October, 1852. A small school-house was ereeted in the rear of this in the following spring.
The growth of the German population neces-itated the organization of a separate German congregation, and in 1856 this was incorporated under its present title, and Rev. G. F. Gardner became pastor. In the spring of 1857 the congregation purchased from MIr. Geissenhaimer at cost-five thousand five hundred dol- lars -- the church property.
730
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
In 1865 the capacity of the church was inereased by the addition of galleries and pews to five hundred, and the next year a large two-story briek school- house was ereeted in the rear on Cooper Street.
1
On the 1st of January, 1873. Mr. Gardner left the congregation, and the present pastor, Rev. Jacob Zent- ner, succeeded him. As the congregation became larger the church was found too small, and the eree- tion of a new one in its place was resolved on. This was done, and the new edifice was dedicated May 13, 1877. It is a brick structure with basement and gal- leries, and it has a seating capacity of one thousand. Its cost was twenty thousand dollars. The congrega- tion now numbers four hundred families.
A parochial school is still condueted in the build- ing on Cooper Street, in the rear of the church.
Evangelical Lutheran Christ Church .- During the year 1868 services were held in Trenton, princi- pally by students from the seminary of the Pennsyl- vania Synod at Philadelphia. On the 1st of July, 1869, the above-named church was organized with Jacob Miller, Thomas Pennington, John Keller, Henry H. Lantz, Henry Mohrfield, Louisa Mohr- field. Ellen Gettler, Abbie Kafer, and Amos H. Bar- tholomew as constituent members. They first wor- shiped in the German Lutheran Church, then in the Sunday-school room connected with that church, and afterward in the Mercer County court-house.
In 1872 a Protestant Episcopal Church building on Clay Street was purchased, but it was burned soou after the society eame in possession of it. A lot on the corner of Taylor and Jackson Streets was then purchased, and a stone chapel was ereeted there for a temporary place of worship. This was completed in 1873, and the congregation still worship in it.
Rev. Amos H. Bartholomew was installed as pastor of this church Oct. 10, 1869. He resigned Jan. 1, 1873, and was succeeded by Rev. E. L. Reed, who resigned Dee. 31, 1874. During six months the soci- ety was without a pastor. In this interval the congre- gation transferred its connection from the General Council to the General Synod, and called Rev. J. C. Baum, who entered on his duties in July, 1875, and served till November, 1881. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. J. HI. Harpster, Jau. 1, 1882. The society is quite prosperous.
Messiah's Church.1-This church takes its denom- inational name. It was organized by the first pastor, Rev. D. I. Robinson, Feb. 9, 1854.
They commeneed worship in a hall, but before No- vember, 1864, had a small but commodions church erected on the corner of Market and Clay Streets.
Rev. Robinson remained until April, 1865, when Rev. Daniel Elwell became the second pastor. The church prospered under his ministry, and it was deemed best to have a larger edifice, which was eree- ted on the corner of Front and Montgomery Streets,
and dedicated June 1, 1873, where they worship at ; present. Owing to failing health, Rev. Elwell was obliged to resign his pastorate in December, 1873. He died in the spring of 1875, universally beloved and lamented by those who knew him.
Rev. Fred. Gunner became the third pastor of this church in January, 1874. and continued until June, 1875. Rev. M. L. Jackson was called and became their fourth pastor, October, 1875, and resigned June 30, 1876.
Rev. Dr. I. R. Gates, of Philadelphia, supplied the pulpit from this time nntil their fifth pastor, Rev. S. F. Grady, entered upon his duties, Nov. 1, 1877. He labored with the church until May, 1881, when he re- signed, against the wishes of the majority.
The pulpit was again supplied until March, 1882, when Rev. M. Peabody, the present pastor, was called to administer to their spiritual necessities.
Riverview Cemetery .- This was ineorporated by an aet of the Legislature in 1858. In the same year a lot of thirty aeres was purchased on the Delaware River below Salor Street, and in 1859 this was laid out and burials were first made. The grounds have been tastefully arranged and beautifully ornamented with shrubbery, etc., aud it is a very popular cemetery. The association has never ineurred a dollar of indebt- edness.
The first president was Jacob MI. Taylor. At his death, in 1875, the present presiding officer, Jonathan Steward, was chosen.
The remains of many of the best citizens of Tren- ton are entombed in this cemetery.
JOHN K. SMITH, one of the oldest residents of the city of Trenton, was born in Salem, N. J., Sept. 6, 1800, and is now nearly eighty-two years of age. His maternal grandfather, Edward Keasbey, married the daughter of Anthony Quinton, an early settler at Quinton's Bridge, Salem Co., N. J., about the begin- ning of the eighteenth century, and was one of the Governor's Council during the Revolutionary war. His father, Judge Jolin Smith, born in 1749, was of Quaker parentage, was adjutant of the militia at home during the war for independence, judge of the Court of Commou Pleas, sheriff of Salem County, and died in 1810. Temperance Keasbey, wife of Judge John Smith, born in 1766, died in 1826. Of their children, John K., subjeet of this sketch, is the only surviving one. Ile learned surveying and navigation at the ages of thirteen and fourteen, was a clerk in a store in Philadelphia for three years, and in 1818 came to Trenton, where he was a elerk in a store for 1. 'e years. Hle was subsequently surveyor for several years, and superintendent and eashier for eleven years of the Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad, and Coal Com- pany, which positions he resigned in 1846, and for five years he carried on a foundry and machine busi- ness at the same place, Tamagna, Pa., in 1851.
After purchasing a coal tract near Mauch Chunk, Pa., he settled in Philadelphia, where he resided
1 By the pastor.
731
CITY OF TRENTON.
until 1854, and in the mean time purchased a wood- land tract in Centre County, Pa., and started the lum- ber business. In that year he returned to Trenton. In 1858 he laid out Riverview Cemetery, of which he was a faithful superintendent until May, 1881, when sickness compelled him to resign. He was a director of the First National Bank of Trenton for fourteen years, vice-president of the People's Fire Insurance Company, superintendent and president of the Tren- ton Institute, secretary of the Trenton City Bridge Company, one of the managers of the Children's Home, and he was named by the State Legislature one of a committee of three to select a site for the Soldiers' Children's Home, and was identified with its erection. Mr. Smith superintended unloading from ship "Philadelphia" two locomotives, built by Ed- ward Berry, Liverpool, and setting up for the Little Schuylkill Railroad, in February, 1833, the second used for railroading in America.
Mr. Smith married in May, 1824, Ann, daughter of Benjamin and Edith Weatherby, of Gloucester County, N. J., who died Dec. 27, 1866, leaving no issue.
Mercer Cemetery at Trenton .- This was incorpo- rated by an act of the Legislature, Feb. 23, 1843. The first managers were Joseph C. Potts, Charles C. Yard, Alexander HI. Armour. David Witherup, and Joseph A. Yard. A purchase was made of about fifteen acres of ground, fronting on Clinton Avenue, and lying be- tween Park Street and Assanpink Creek. This ground was tastefully laid out and ornamented with shade- trees and shrubbery, and it has since been used as a burial-place by the citizens of Trenton and the sur- rounding country. It is a stock company, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. The present of- ficers are William S. Hutchinson, president, and Alex- ander C. Yard, secretary and treasurer.
Prominent Men not elsewhere Noticed .- JOHN FITCH is a historical name in the world of science and invention. He was a native of Connecticut, where it is said his father was a "most strenuous Presbyterian." In 1760 he came to Trenton, and Matthew Clunn, a tinman, employed him to make brass buttons. He also picked up some knowledge of the watchmaker's business. He became a silver- smith. He took large contracts to repair American arms in the Revolution, and the British soldiers on that account burnt his valuable shop and tools and all his visible property. He was lieutenant in the first military company that was formed at Trenton, and was stationed at Valley Forge. He was made armorer for the Committee of Safety, and was expelled from the Methodist Society for working at that business on Sunday. It was while walking from church when ;
lame that he conceived the idea of "gaining a force by steam." He was regarded as the first inventor of steam navigation. The Legislature granted him the exclusive privilege of navigation on this side of the Delaware for fourteen years. His boat " Persever- ance" made several trips between Trenton and Phila- delphia in the year 1790. He died in 1798, in Ken- tucky.1
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