USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 58
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The Old Point Ferry property was now owned conjointly by Ogden and Thomas Gibbons. The latter was a wealthy planter of Savannah, Geo., who had a handsome country seat
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
in town, on the Philadelphia turnpike road. Here he spent his summers and autumns. Ogden had leased of Gibbons his interest in the Point property, for a term of years which had nearly expired. Gibbons refused to renew the lease, but proposed to run the ferry in partnership. They differed about the terms. Gibbons determined to start an opposition line. He fitted up another landing at the mouth of the Creek, procured the steamers "Stowdinger " and " Bellona," and established a new ferry. Of the latter vessel the well- known millionaire, Cornelius Vanderbilt, was then Captain. This, it is thought, was the beginning of his great fortune.
Gov. Ogden, thereupon, purchased, May 5, 1815, of the Livingstons, for a period of ten years, the exclusive right of steam navigation between the Point and New York, and so became himself a monopolist. The "Sea Horse " was an- nounced, April 3, 1815, to run directly to New York.
Gibbons, taking advantage of a licensed ferry from the Quarantine station on Staten Island to New York, ran in connection with that ferry, exchanging passengers in the bay, at the mouth of "the Kills." Subsequently he purchased of Daniel D. Tompkins and Noah Brown certain rights, which emboldened him to run his boats directly to New York.
Gov. Ogden, who, in March 1817, had put the new steamer " Atalanta " on the route, obtained, from the Chancellor of New York, an injunction against Gibbons. A motion to dis- solve the injunction was denied. An appeal was taken to the Court of Errors, but was not sustained. Gibbons then carried the case to the Supreme Court of the United States, when, at the February term in 1824, the Acts of the N. Y. Legislature, granting a monopoly of the right of steam navi- gation, in the waters of said State, were declared to be re- pugnant to the Constitution of the United States, and there- fore null and void. The injunction was dissolved, and Steam Navigation opened to the competition of all the world-an event of untold and incalculable importance to the commerce and prosperity of the United States. The town, whose rival citizens were thus bringing to a final issue a question of such
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momentous consequence, was greatly interested in the con- test, siding with the one or the other, as interest or convic- tion determined, and thus forming themselves into opposing parties throughout the contest .*
DANIEL DOD, the partner of Gov. Ogden, had been bred a clock and watchmaker. He was born, Sept. 8, 1778, and was a descendant of Daniel Dod, of Branford, Ct., whose son, Daniel, was one of the early colonists of Newark, N. J. The name of Daniel, the son of Daniel, Jr., frequently ap- pears attached, as surveyor, to the old records from 1730 to 1740. The E. Town Daniel was a descendant of Stephen, of Guilford, 3d son of Daniel, of Branford. His father was Lebbeus, brother of Rev. Thaddeus of W. Pennsylvania. Mr. Dod, after his removal to this town, became celebrated for the manufactory of machinery, especially for steamers. He furnished engines for boats at Kingston, Can., Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., Philadelphia, Norfolk, Va., Mobile and New Orleans; also, for the "Savannah," the first steamer that crossed the ocean to England. "He was morover a sort of universal genius,-was a profound and accurate theologian, wrote poetry, and could scarcely turn his hand to anything in which he was not quickly at home."
Gov. Ogden failed, involving him and others in the finan- cial ruin, and compelling Mr. Dod's removal to N. Y., in 1820. He was killed by the bursting of the boiler of the "Patent," on the East River, N. Y., May 9, 1823. His son, the Rev. Albert Baldwin Dod, D.D., was Prof. of Mathe- matics in the College of N. J. +
In common with all other portions of the land, this town was deeply agitated by the occurrences and measures that led to the War of 1812. The same political differences of opinion as to the wisdom and necessity of those measures prevailed here as elsewhere. The N. J. Journal, having early espoused the views and doctrines of the Republican, or
* N. J. Journal, No. 2886. Proceedings of N. J. His. Soc., IX. 118-134. Gov. Ogden died, at Jersey City, April 19, 1839, æt. 83, and his remains were buried here, with civic and mili- tary honors, on Monday, 22d. He was honored, in 1816, by his Alma Mater, with the degree of LL. D.
+ N. J. Hist. Soc. Proc., IX , 184. Genealogy of the Dod Family. Sprague's Annals, IV. 787.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY
Anti-Federalist, party, had ever sympathized with the Galli- can, in opposition to the Anglican, theories of government. The Federalists, from having been the great majority, had become a minority of the town, reckoning, however, as their adherents, the greater part of the families of consideration. These last greatly deprecated the war, as did, also, the pas- tors of the two principal churches, Rev. Messrs. McDowell and Rudd. Troops were quartered here in barracks, and quite a number of the young men of the town entered the army and the navy, some of whom distinguished themselves in the service of their country. But the people held them- selves, for the most part, aloof, prosecuting their accustomed avocations as usual.
Owing to the suspension of specie payments consequent upon the war, an ordinance was passed by the Corporation, Sep. 13, 1814,
To raise the sum of twenty five hundred dollars in corporation tickets for small change viz. any number not exceeding 2000 of 25 cents each, 4000 of 122 cents, 2250 of 9 cents, 8000 of 6 cents, 16000 of 3 cents and 16375 of two cents each-under the direction, inspection and manage- ment of Mr. Lane, Mr. Ballard and Doctr. Morse a committee for that purpose .*
Thus the era of "shinplasters " was introduced by law, as it had been previously introduced by individuals on their private responsibility. At a later date, Nov. 26, 1818,-
The Committee appointed to redeem count & destroy the corporation tickets-made report That they have attended to the business and have counted and destroyed to the amount of two thousand two hundred & sixty seven 17% Dollars for which they have given the chamberlain re- ceipts at sundry dates.t
Nowhere was the announcement of Peace hailed with more delight than here. The people were heartily tired of the war, federals and democrats alike. The British sloop-of- war, Favorite, reached the city of New York, under a flag of truce, Feb. 11, 1815, with the glad tidings of the conclu- sion of a Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain.
* Corporation Book. t Ibid.
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Tidings of the happy event reached the town on Sunday, 12th, just after the morning service. In the P. M. it was announced from the pulpits of the churches, and thanks- givings offered by a grateful people to Almighty God. The sanctity of the day forbade any noisy out-door demonstrations. These were reserved for the final ratification by Congress. This was effected without delay. The treaty was received at Washington on Thursday, and unanimously ratified on Friday, the 17th. The N. J. Journal of Tuesday, the 21st, thus speaks :-
Yesterday, at eleven o'clock the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Great Britain, was received in this town-at two o'clock the citizens assembled in the Presbyterian Church, and united in offering thanks to a kind Providence for this joyful event. A short ad- dress was delivered by the Rev. John McDowell-at 3 o'clock a federal salute of 18 guns was fired-after which, the bells were rung for an hour. In the evening there was a splendid illumination. Several of the houses particularly were illuminated with taste, and exhibited transpar- encies, emblematical of the joyful occasion, which, considering the short notice, did great credit to their owners.
Among those who had passed away during the war men- tion should be named of
GEN. WILLIAM CRANE.
He was the son of the Hon. Stephen Crane, a sterling pa- triot of the Revolution. The father was the son of Daniel, and grandson of Stephen Crane, the planter, both of this town.
William was born in 1748, and, being in the full vigor of his early manhood at the beginning of the revolutionary war, at once espoused his country's cause, and, in common with several of his townsmen, attached himself, as Lieuten- ant of an Artillery Company, to the Canada Expedition, un- der Montgomery. At the time that his commander fell be- fore Quebec, Dec. 31, 1775, Crane received a bomb-shell wound in one of his ankles, from which he suffered until his death, nearly 40 years afterwards. As Major of Militia, the story of his capture, Mar. 3, 1783, of the armed ship Eagle and the sloop Katy, within pistol-shot of the battery of New
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
York, has been told on page 512. For these acts of bravery, he was promoted, after the war, to a brigadier-ship of militia. He was appointed, in 1807, Deputy Mayor of the Borough, and was a Trustee of the Presb. church from 1807, until his death.
The N. J. Journal, of July 12, 1814, has this notice :-
Died, on Saturday last [9th], Gen. William Crane, in the 67th year of his age. In the year of 1775, Gen. Crane entered the Continental Ser -. vice-and at the reduction of St. John's or Montreal, received a wound in his leg, which never was cured; and for some years past he suffered much from it. About seventeen months since, his leg was amputated with flattering prospects-but that last resort had been too long deferred, and he fell a victim to the incurable wound. Gen. Crane's character as a soldier and citizen stood preeminent-and he lived beloved, and died lamented. His funeral was attended, on Sunday, by a vast concourse of people from this and the neighboring parishes, who testified his worth as a MAN.
At the close of the war, the distinguished military chief- tain
L .- GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT,
whose wife, Maria Mayo, was connected with several of the principal families of this town, took up his residence here, in the well-known mansion that was then known as the Mayo place, but previously had been the residence of Dr. Wm. Barnet. During a great part of his subsequent life, when not in active service in the field, he found here a quiet and pleasant home, greatly honored of his fellow-citizens. The particulars of his eventful life have been too minutely given in current histories, and are too widely known, to need more than this passing notice.
Among the most useful and honored of the citizens of this town, whose death occurred during the period now under re- view, was
JEREMIAH BALLARD, ESQ.
He was born in 1748, and became, at an early period of his life, a resident of this town. In the later years of the revolutionary war, he was a Captain in the Third New Jer- sey Regiment. In 1796, he was chosen Recorder of the Borough, and, in 1801, Deputy Mayor. In 1788, he
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became a member of the First Presbyterian church, and, in 1807, one of its Trustees, of whom he was chosen President in 1813. He was the Vice President of the Cincinnati of New Jersey, and a leading member of various other institutions in the town. At the time of his decease, he was also the Mayor of the Borough. He died on Wednes day, Sept. 4, 1823, æt. 75. All classes of the community · gathered, in large numbers, on the following day, to attend his funeral, in the Presb. church, when a sermon was preached by his pastor, Rev. Dr. McDowell, from Acts xi. 24; " For he was a good man." At a meeting of the Cor- poration, the day after, the following testimonial to his emi- nent worth was put on record :
While the Members of this Corporation, in common with their fellow- Citizens of this Borough deeply lament the death of their late worthy chief Magistrate, Jeremiah Ballard, Esq", they think it due to his mem- ory to express their sentiments of his public character & private worth.
To detail the particulars of a long and useful life, they do not feel themselves called upon, but they believe they give a faithful though brief summary of it when they say-
As a Soldier, he was brave, humane and generous ;
As a Magistrate, he was upright, intelligent and faithful ;
As a Citizen, he was public-spirited and highly useful ;
As Presiding officer of this Corporation he was courteous dignified & impartial ;
As a Christian, he was Charitable & zealous, but unostentatious.
He displayed the graces of the religion he professed in life, & he felt its support and consolation in death.
Thus lived and died the worthy Chief Magistrate of our Borough, who ranked (if not among the greatest) yet among the best of men. .
Therefore, Resolved, that the members of this corporation feel & sincerely deplore his loss, and as a mark of respect to his memory, they will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days .*
Among the pall-bearers on the occasion of Judge Ballard's funeral, and one who, not long after, followed him to the world of spirits, was the
HON. JONATHAN DAYTON, LL. D.
He was the son of Gen. Elias Dayton, and was born, in this town, Oct. 16, 1760. He graduated at the College of . # Ms. Diary of Elder Isaac Crane. Borough Records.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
New Jersey in 1776 ; entered the Army in 1778, as a Pay- master ; accompanied, in 1779, Gen. Sullivan, on his Western Expedition ; and, in 1780, was a Captain in his father's regiment. After the Peace, he was chosen to the Legisla- ture of New Jersey, of which he was Speaker in 1790. He represented his native State in the Convention (1787) for the formation of the Federal Constitution, and, in 1791, was elected to Congress. Thrice he was reelected, serving four terms in the House, of which he was Speaker from 1795 to 1799. He was chosen Senator of the United States and served from 1799 to 1805. He was appointed, by Pres. Adams, a Brig .- General, with the privilege of retaining his seat in the Senate.
He became largely interested with Symmes and others in the purchase and settlement of western military lands, the town of Dayton, in Ohio, being named in compliment to him. His early intimacy, in boyhood, with Aaron Burr, and his later association with him in the Senate of the U. S., led him to look, with more favor than prudence would have dictated, upon the schemes of that aspiring and crafty politician ; so that, by advancing money to aid Burr in his adventures, he became compromised with him in the charge of treason. The indictment, however, was not tried, and Mr. Dayton's bail was released. This unhappy affair, and the breaking up of the federal party, of which he was a leader, put an end to Mr. Dayton's political aspirations. He was subsequently elected repeatedly to the Council of the N. J. Legislature, and held several important offices in his native town. He received, in 1798, from his Alma Mater, the Honorary De- gree of Doctor of Laws. His later days were passed at home, in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence, respected and venerated by his townsmen, and honored by all who knew him. He died, Oct. 9, 1824 .*
To these must be added the name of the
HON. ISAAC HALSTED WILLIAMSON, LL. D.
He was the youngest son of General Matthias Williamson -
* Appleton's Am. Cyclopedia. Allen's Am. Blog. Dict.
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and Susannah Halsted. His grandfather, William, the first of the name in this town, died, January 10, 1734 ; and his widow, Margaret, a daughter of Capt. Matthias De Hart, was married subsequently to Wm. Chetwood, Esq .; and, at his death, to a Mr. Johnston. Gen. Matthias had five sons, William, Matthias, Jacob, Benjamin, and Isaac H. The last was born, Sept. 27, 1768. His childhood and youth were passed amid the exciting scenes of the Revolution. He studied law with his elder brother Matthias, and was admitted to the bar, as an attorney, in 1791, and as a counselor in 1796, opening his office in his native town, where he continued his residence until his death.
In 1795, he became, and for many years continued, a mem- ber of the Borough Corporation. Gradually he rose to oc- cupy one of the first places at the bar of his native State. In 1816, he was chosen to the Assembly, and, while serving in that capacity, he was chosen, Feb. 1817, Governor and Chan- cellor of the State, continuing to hold these high offices, by successive annual elections, until 1829, when he returned to the bar. In 1831, and 1832, he was a member of the State Council. For four years, 1830-3, he served as Mayor of the Borough, after which, though solicited to accept again the governorship, he declined all public office, except in the last year of his life. Being elected to the Constitutional Conven- tion, that met, May 14, 1844, at Trenton, he was unanimously chosen their presiding officer. After an illness of eighteen months, borne with the utmost resignation and cheerfulness, he departed this life, on Wednesday, July 10, 1844, univer- sally lamented, as he had been universally honored and be- loved. His remains were buried in the ancestral vault, with distinguished respect.
The N. Jersey bar said of him,
-
The State mourns his loss. In all the relations of life, public and pri- vate, he has bequeathed to his countrymen an illustrious example. As a friend he was faithful and sincere; as a statesman, enlightened and patri- otic ; as a judge profoundly learned, incorruptibly pure, inflexibly just. The inimitable simplicity of his character, the artlessness of his life, the warmth and purity of his affections endeared him to the circle of his
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
friends ; his high and varied attainments command the respect of his as- sociates. His long and eminent public services, his dignified and enlight- ened and impartial administration of justice demand the gratitude of his fellow-citizens and of posterity.
Similar testimonials were passed by the Wardens and Ves- try of St. John's Church, of which, from early life, he had been an exemplary member, and for many years the Senior Warden.
He married, Aug. 6, 1808, Anne Crossdale, a daughter of Rev. Cavalier Jouet (by his second wife, Mary Hampton), and had two sons,-the Hon. Benjamin (Ex-Chancellor), and Isaac Halsted, Esq .*
* O. S. Halsted's commemorative Address. Corporation Records. Parish Register & Records of St. John's. Now Jersey Journal.
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CHAPTER XXXI.
A. D. 1804-1868.
ECCLESIASTICAL - First Presb. Chh .- Rev. John McDowell, D.D. - Rev. Nicho- las Murray, D.D. - Rev. E. Kempshall -Second Presb. Chh. - Rev. David Magie, D.D. - Rev. Wm. C. Roberts -Third Presb. Chh. - Rev. Robert Aikman - Fourth Pres. Chh., Elizabethport -Rev. Abm. Brown - Rev. Oliver S. St. John -Rev. Edwin H. Reinhart - Westminster Presb. Chh. - Siloam Presb. Chh. - Rev. John C. Rudd, D.D. - Rev. Smith Pyne - Rev. Birdseye G. Noble-Rev. Richd. C. Moore -Rev. Samuel A. Clark -New St. John's - Chapel - Grace Chh. - Rev. David Clarkson -Rev. Clarkson Dunn -Christ Chh. - Rev. Eugene A. Hoffman, D.D. - Rev. Stevens Parker -Trinity Chh. - Rev. Daniel F. Warren, D.D. - First Baptist Chh. - Rev. George W. Clark - Broad St. Baptist Chh. - Rev. D. Henry Miller, D.D. - Congregational Chh. - Rev. John M. Wolcott -Rom. Cath. Chhs. - Mora- vian Chh. - Rev. Christian Neu - Lutheran Chh. - Swedenborgians.
AFTER the removal of Mr. Kollock, in December, 1803, the First Presbyterian church remained without a pastor for several months. The pulpit was supplied, as already related, until April, by Mr. Austin, and, afterwards, until July, by occasional supplies. On the 29th of July, 1804, the congre- gation voted a unanimous call to the
REV. JOHN McDOWELL,
a Licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. The call was presented, Aug. 21, and he was duly installed, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1804, at 11 o'clock A. M. ; on which occasion, the Rev. Dr. Mcwhorter, of Newark, presided, offered the ordaining prayer, and gave the charge to the min- ister ; the Rev. Amzi Armstrong, of Mendham, preached from Titus i. 5 ; and the Rev. Edward D. Griffin, of Newark, gave the exhortation to the people .*
$ Records of Presb. of N. Y.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
He was the son of Matthew, whose father, Ephraim Mc- Dowell, migrated from the North of Ireland, about 1746, where his ancestors, fleeing from persecution in Scotland, during the previous century, had found an asylum. Ephraim purchased a tract of 400 acres of wild land on the western borders of Somerset Co., N. J., in what has since been known as the village of Lamington, about 10 miles N. W. of Som- erville. Here Matthew McDowell was born, in 1748, and bred a farmer. He married Elizabeth Anderson, whose parents, also, were from the North of Ireland. Both were exemplary members of the Presbyterian church of Laming- ton. Their son, John, was born, Sept. 10, 1780, and brought up on the paternal farm.
At the age of eleven years, he experienced religion, and, at fifteen, he entered upon a course of study for the minis- try, under the instructions of Rev. William Boyd, then teaching in the neighborhood. In 1799, he entered the junior class of the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, graduating, with honor, in 1801, in the same class with Nicholas Biddle, afterwards the distinguished financier. He studied theology under the direction, first, of the Rev. Hol- loway W. Hunt, of Newton, N. J., and then of the Rev. John Woodhull, D.D., of Freehold, N. J. At the latter place he professed religion, in September, 1802. He was licensed, Ap. 25, 1804, by the Presbytery of Brunswick, at
their meeting in Baskingridge. He was providentially . directed to this town, and preached his first sermon here on the first Sabbath of July. A few weeks after his installation, he married, Feb. 5, 1805, Henrietta, daughter of Shepard Kollock, and sister of his predecessor in the pastoral office.
In the faithful and laborious discharge of the duties of his office, as pastor of the First Presb. church of this town, he continued, for a period of twenty-eight and a half years, greatly favored of God and honored of man. The attend- ance on his ministrations steadily increased until it reached the full capacity of the church edifice ; so that in February, 1820, measures were adopted for the gathering of a Second Presb. church. The number added to his church, during
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his ministry, on profession of faith, was 921, and, on certifi- cate, 223 ; in all, 1144. The baptisms numbered 1498, of whom 282 were adults. This marked success in his work was brought about by repeated outpourings of the Holy Spirit upon the congregation. The most remarkable of these seasons were the years 1807-8, 1813, 1817, and 1826. In 1808, the additions to the church, by profession, were 111; in 1813, the year of hostility, 100; in 1817, 167; and, in 1826, 138. Other seasons of refreshing, but not so general, were enjoyed, adding to the church, on profession, in 1820, 59 ; and, in 1831, 44. The number of communicants, in 1804, was 207; in 1820, 660.
In the year 1818, the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the University of North Carolina, and by Union College. He was in high repute, both as a preacher and an author. As a Trustee of the College of New Jersey, and as a Director of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, he rendered the most important services to the cause of Education and of Religion. Calls were extended to him, at different times, during his ministry in this town, from the Collegiate R. D. church, and the Wall street Pres- byterian church, both of the City of New York, and from the Presb. church of Princeton, N. J. Overtures were made to him, also, from other quarters, but were not entertained. He was chosen a Professor in the Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa., and in the Union Theological Seminary of Virginia. He was, also, appointed Secretary of the Board of Missions.
In pastoral labors he ranked among the most useful minis- ters of the Church. Every portion of his extensive charge was regularly visited at set seasons, every year; Bible-class- es, embracing a very large proportion of the youth in his congregration, were regularly taught. Sunday Schools were introduced in 1814-16, and vigorously conducted; while all the benevolent operations of the Church found in him an earnest and powerful advocate. In consequence mainly of his strenuous opposition, repeated attempts at Sabbath-profana- tion, and horse-racing were effectually frustrated. His in-
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
fluence was felt all over the town, in all its interests, and only for good.
As the Memoir of this eminent servant of God has been given to the world by an accomplished author, and is to be found in the hands of many of the citizens of the town, further detail of his singularly-practical and useful life, is not needed. A call was extended to him, in April, 1833, by the Central Presb. church of Philadelphia, which he accepted, and being released, by the Presbytery, from his pastoral charge, he bade his people farewell, May 12, and, June 6th, he was duly installed at Philadelphia. His death occurred, Feb. 13, 1863, nearly 30 years after his removal from this town, the whole interval having been filled with faithful, laborious and effective service in his Master's vineyard. In the churches to which he so happily ministered, in the be- nevolent and educational Boards of which he was a member, in the Presbytery, the Synod, and the General Assembly (of the last of which he was for eleven years Permanent Clerk, and four years Stated Clerk), his memory is precious. Few men in this or any other community have left behind them a more grateful savor ; and to none with more propriety could the Master say at the last-" Well done, thou good and faith- ful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy lord." *
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