History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 121

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 121
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 121

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The officers of the Young People's Missionary Association are elected annually. Those for 1884 were: President, Frank H. Cook ; Vice-President, George H. Denman : Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Mary A. Nafey.

I From data furnished by the pastor.

482

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Church Officers Res J. Lester Walls, pastor. Elders . Joseph B. Pierson, Charles M. Russell, William Turner, A. H. Van Houten. Desrons . James 11. Hinchcliffe, Alfred Steadman, Samuel Voegtlen. Trustees William Turner, lasti, 1 president ; Andrew Line, 1886,1 vice- president : Frederick W. Manger, 1885,1 secretary ; Frederick Tegen, Jr., 1×54. treasurer ; Charles M. Runell, 1885 ;1 Elias Bleier, 1846; 1 Wil- liam Ice 1

Sabbathschool Officers :2 William Turner, superintendent : Painel S. Dennis, assistant superintendent ; Samuel Voegtlen, secretary ; Joshua Brown, assistant secretary ; Frederick W. Manger, treasurer ; Librarians, Frank Angstman, Joseph D. Luke, Paul Hartig, Julius Scharf, Elgar Hamon, Abraham Tive.

Wickliffe Presbyterian Church."-The Wick- liffe Presbyterian Church traces its origin to the City Mission Society, formed by a union of the Presbyter- ian Churches of Newark. In 1849 a Sabbath-school was established in the Sixth Ward by the Rev. E. A. O-born, a missionary of that society, under the superintendence of Aaron Reuck. Originally it was held under the trees, then in a carpenter-shop hired for the purpose, and subsequently in a chapel erected by William Rankin, Sr.

In June, 185G, Mr. Rankin donated to the session of the Third Presbyterian Church a lot seventy-five feet on South Orange Avenue by one hundred and five feet on Wickliffe Street, for religious worship and educational purposes, to be under the direction and control of said session or of a church organization of the same ecclesiastical connection. A brick chapel was built on this lot by voluntary contributions of the Third Presbyterian Church, costing over three thousand five hundred dollars, which, on Jan. 25 1857, was dedicated by their pastor, Rev. E. R. Craven, D.D.

The same day the Sabbath-school referred to, consisting of about one hundred children, was removed to the chapel, and thenceforth it became exclusively the misson-school of the Third Presbyterian Church, and in September, 1857, the session invited the Rev. Samuel Hutchings to become their missionary at the chapel, where he labored until the close of the year 1863, holding religious services on Wednesday eve- nings and on Sabbath afternoon and evening.

On Jan. 1, 1864, Mr. Hutchings was succeeded by Rev. E. E. Rankin, D.D., as missionary at the chapel. In the summer of this year measures were taken to organize a church, and a petition signed by about forty persons was presented to the session with that in view, with the expectation that Dr. Rankin would become their pastor. But before any organization, however, Dr. Rankin tendered his resignation as missionary and declined the proposed relation, but contined to serve at the chapel until the arrival of his successor.

On the last Sabbath of March, 1865, the Rev. Dr. HI. N. Brinsmade, D.D., of Beloit, Wis., former pas- tor of the Third Presbyterian Church of this eity,

commenced his missionary labors at the chapel, at the invitation of the session of the Third Church. It was now resolved to proceed at once to a regular or- ganization, and at a meeting of Presbytery held in Newark on the 10th of May, a committee consisting of Rev. Dr. Craven and Elder J. D. Vermilye was appointed for this purpose. At this meeting Dr. Brinsmade, formerly a member, reunited himself with the Presbytery of Passaic. On Sabbath afternoon, May 14, 1865, the committee proceeded to organize the Wickliffe Church. After a sermon by Dr. Craven, he read the certificates of those members of the Third Presbyterian Church who had requested their dis- mission therefrom for the purpose of joining in this new organization, viz. :

William Rankin, Jr., ruling elder, and Ellen Il., his wife : Thomas C. Davis, ruling elder : Mary A. Rankin , Edwin N. Ball aud Katurah (., his wife ; Lyndon G. Lyman and Jane, his wife : William C. Whitney and Anna In, his wife ; Jonathan E. Huntingdon ; Ellen Cok ; Edward T. Come and Julia A., his wife ; Sophia Come : Abby Hayes ; Margaret, wife of James L. Gurney : Hannah M. Gardner (widow ) ; Elizabeth Murray ( widow) ; William G. Vermilye.

Certificates were also read, dismissing

John Connery and Hulda D., his wife; David D. Dixon and Rachel A., his wife ; and Mrs. Cathrine A. Smith, from the Central Presbyterian Church, Newark ; Sarah M. Corwith and Cecilia Jeannette d'orwith, from the Second Presbyterian Church, Newark ; Mas. Sarah N. Tucker, from the First Presbyterian Church, Newark ; Auron Ronck, from the High Street Presbyterian Church, Newark : Alexander Rennie and Ann, his wife, from the ( lintou street I'nited Presbyterian Church, Newark : Bule- ert C. Morehouse, from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Gerard, Ill .; Mrs. Oliver E. Bailey, from the Presbyterian Church, Springfield, N. J .; Sarah, widow of William G. Huff, from the Reformed Dutch Church, Peekskill, N. Y .; Emily W., wife of Rev. E. E. Rankin, from the Forty second Street Presbyterian Church, New York City ; Lydia G. Lee, from the First Methodist Protestant Church, Newark ;

all for the like purpose of uniting in this new church organization.

The above-named persons (thirty-six) being present, were requested to proceed to the election of ruling elders, when Willian Rankin, Jr., and Thomas C. Davis, ruling elders in the Third Presbyterian Church, and Jonathan E. Huntington were nomi- nated and unanimously chosen to this office. Mr. Huntington, requesting time to consider the question of duty in regard to his taking the office, the re- maining two were then installed as ruling elders by the Rev. Dr. Craven, and the church thus became regularly constituted under the name of the Wickliffe Presbyterian Church of Newark, in connection with the Presbytery of Passaic.

On the 2d day of June, 1865, Mr. John Connery, at a regularly-ealled meeting of the church, was chosen additional ruling elder, and Aaron Reuck, William G. Vermilye, and Lyndon G. Lyman, deacons, who, on the following Sabbath, with Eller Huntington, were regularly set apart to those offices respectively.

In June, 1867, a board of trustees was elected, who filed the proper certificate in the other of the clerk of the county, and thus effected the incorporation of the church under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

1 Term expires.

: The Sabbath-school numbers over one thousand members, and the officers are elected annually.

$ From a sketch by William Hankin, Em1.

183

RELIGIOES INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

In March, 1865, a parsonage was bought and fitted up, and on the 1st day of January, las, a mortgage of one thousand dollars, the only remaining ineum- brance upon it, was cancelled.

Dr. Brinsmade continued to serve the church as its stated supply for two years. On the Both of April, 1867, at a meeting of the congregation regularly called for that purpose, and presided over by the Rev. Dr. W. Il. Hornblower, of Paterson, he was unanimously chosen to be their pastor, and at a meeting of the Presbytery of Passaic, held on the 25th of the same month, he was duly installed in that office. Rev. Dr. E. E. Rankin, of Fairfield, Conn., preached the ser- mon; Rev. Dr. Ogden, of Chatham, and Rey. Dr. Craven, of this city delivered the usual charges. The people felt now, more than ever, the duty and priv- ilege of providing for themselves and their own house- hold,-of becoming self-sustaining,-and a plan of voluntary and systematic contributions by the con- gregation for that purpose was inaugurated. All willing so to do pledged themselves to contribute a fixed amount each Sabbath, as God had prospered them, or as much as they felt inclined to devote to that object. The sutu promised by each one was known only to the trustees, and no attempt was made to influence any person, but cach subscribed much or little with perfect freedom. The result of this volun- tary plan has been all that the church could expect, or even desire. Though realizing no great surplus over the amount actually needed to carry on the work, it has furnished enough to meet current expenses, and enable it, with rare exceptions, to avoid appealing to its members for special aid.

In 1869 it was found necessary to increase the accommodations for the Sabbath-school, which had become too large for the rooms then occupied, and an extension, thirty feet square, was erected in the rear of the church, containing an infant class room capable of accommodating two hundred and fifty children, and also enlarging the upper room to nearly double its former capacity, additional ground for that purpose having been donated by Mr. Rankin. The cost of this extension, and of a furnace which was put in at the same time, was nearly five thousand dollars. This was all paid in thirteen months from the time the work was commenced. The Sabbath-school has grown in interest and numbers. until it now has over four hundred on its roll, with an average attendance of about three hundred and twenty-five.

In conclusion, and as a summary of the foregoing sketch, the Wickliffe Church has a pastor greatly beloved; a membership of one hundred and forty persons ; a chapel, containing an audience-room and rooms for the Sabbath-school and infant class, both well filled ; a lot for the building of a church, when the proper time comes for such a step ; and a parsonage, all without the encumbrance of a permanent debt. As a result of the reunion of the two great Presbyterian

bodies in the United States the Presbytery of Passaic has been dissolved, and the Wickliffe Church, in common with the Third and all the Presbyterian Churches in the city, is now in connection with the Presbytery of Newark.

But good was the work and very pleasant are the memories of the Presbytery of Passaic.

On the 14th day of December, 1869, at the regular Tuesday evening prayer-meeting, Mr. William Ran- kin, Sr., whose name as benefactor is so identi- tied with the chapel, was present, though a member of another church. While the pastor was leading the devotions of the people, he, with his head bowed down, before the prayer ended, quietly and unobserved yielded up his spirit to God in the presence of his fellow-worshipers.

" The memory of the just is blramsent. "

From 1865 to 1867 the church was under the con- trol of the trustees of the Third Presbyterian Church, the property being held by that church.

The pastors of the church have been Rev. Dr. H. N. Brinsmade, who served eight years ; Rev. I. M. Lee, seven years ; Rev. James M. Barkley, three years; Rev. Charles D. ( rane, eight months; and Rev. John A. Trimmer, the present pastor.

The elders in 1844 were Thomas K. Mcclelland, William Lomackalb, E. W. Ball, Dr. C. W. Stickney ; Deacons, Charles Raff and William Ketcham, Jr .; Trustees, Charles Raff, Thomas K. McClelland, William Sonnekalb, W. S. Ketcham, Jr., Anthony J. Fletcher, Edward P. Sayre and Edward MeCone, Value of church property, fourteen thousand dollars.

Calvary Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized June 21, Esos, by the Presbytery of Passaic, in the church chapel, located on the corner of Gillett Place and Pennsylvania Avenue. On the same day the chapel was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Craven, pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church. Among the orig- inal members were Halsted C. Burnet, C'. W. Wheeler, 1. 1 .. Nichols, William L. Douglass, Mrs. Emeline B. Clegg, Miss Lizzie Coe, Miss Abbie Coe, Charles D). Northrop, Mrs. L. Louisa Northrop, William M. Berry and wife, and others, to the number of thir- ty-seven.

The first elders of this church were Charles D. Northrop and Halsted (. Burnet.

The chapel and Sunday-school building is of brick while the church edifice was built of stone, and dedi- ented June 22, 1854.

The pastors of this church have been Rev. Walter Condiet, Rev. George Brayton and the present pastor, Rev. Isaiah B. Hopwood. The membership in July, 1881, was two hundred and fifty. Value of church property, thirty-five thousand dollars.

Elders ; Halsted (. Burnet, Falwin F. Dorrance, William Jinkins, Wit- Ilamu M. Berry, David F Nichols, J W Johnmin.

Trustees It F. Lord, president , Sbratom Jordlemon, Treasurer ; WII- Ham I. Douglas, ercretary ; Charles Nichola, S. D. Lines, Edwin Wool- ley, Samuel W. Thoneun.

F81

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Sabluth-School : Superintendent, J. W. Johnson ; Assistant superin- tendent, David F Nichols ; Librarian, C. E. Woodruff.

Young People's Christian Union . President. William R. Morehrad ; Vice-President, Edwin Woolley ; Secretary and Treasurer, William M Berry, Jr. ; Directresses, Mrs. R H. Connett, Miss Minnie L. Umbach.

Ladies' Missionary Society : President, Mrs. S. C. Dorrance ; Vice- President, Mrs. P. B. Hopwood : Secretary, Mrs. Mary A. Wheeler : Treasurer, Mrs. Anna Pierson.

Collectors of Mite Fund. Miss Bessie Pierson, Miss Adu Wakefield, Miss Lulu Sutphen, Miss Aggie J. Marsh, Mus Nellie S. Devausney, Mrs. Alma E. Gilder.

First German Presbyterian Church .- The first meeting preliminary to the organization of this church was held April 15, 1849, and the church fully organized July 8, 1851, with the following-named persons as original members : Frederick Hagney, A. Henne, P. Ileeb, H. Lang, P'. Wilde, A. Honeboaler, A. Wangarten, H. Klien, A. Langes, M. Schnadel, G. Balse, B. Weingakres, M. Lanier, E. Stegnes, S. A. Lauses, J. C. Schnadel and J. J. Schnadel.

The first church building was a frame structure, thirty by thirty-four feet, and the present church edifice is of stone. The corner-stone was laid April 18, 1860, and the edifice dedicated September 16th of the same year. The first officers of the church were Frederick Hagney, Henri Klien and J. Wilde.

The pastors of this church have been Rev. William Winness, who served the first five years, and Rev. J. U. Gunther, who succeeded Mr. Winness, and is the present pastor. Present membership, four hun- dred and fifty. Value of church property, thirty thousand dollars. The eklers in 1844 were Frederick Hexamer, M. Walker, A. Eckerd and Jacob Law.

From this church has grown the tiermin Theo- logical Seminary at Bloomfield, the present pastor, Mr. Gunther, having served as professor in that institution for four years. The first German-English day-school in Newark was established by the present pastor of this church, in 1854. Counected with this church is a day-school and Kindergarten, with three male and three female teachers, and nearly three hundred pupils. The Sabbath-school connected with this church has on its rolls over seven hundred scholars. This is the mother-church of all the Ger- man Presbyterian organizations in the East.

Second German Presbyterian Church .- The pre- Jiminary meetings of this church were inaugurated in 1860, and the church fully organized Nov. 4, 1865 with the following-named persons as constituent members: Charles Theberath, Frederick Baumann, Kinzman L. Baumann, S. Kocher, -- Petre, Jacob Schafer, - Helfer, Anna Lachrie, Katharine Zweidinger, E. Gerber, -- Arnold, H. G. Dietz, J. Sauneroberger, - Schaefer.

The first church building was a frame structure, built by the Presbyterian fity Mission, and was lo- cated ou what is now Eighth Avenue. The pioneer elders were Philip Kinzmann and Frederick Bau- mann; Trustees, G. Schaefer, S. Kocher, L. Baumann, J. Arnold, - Helfer and Charles Theberath.

The corner-stone of the present brick church edifice

was laid Sept. 19, 1866, by Rev. Mr. Yost, assisted by Rev. J. U. Gunther, Rev. Dr. Poor and Rev. Dr. Few Smith.

The pastors of this church have been Rev. Bielfield, from 1860 to 1864; Rev. A. Krahn, from: 1864 to 1865; Rev. F. Brunow, 1866 to 1869; Rev. G. Neff, 1869 to 1870; Rev. W. Strobel, 1870 to 1872; Rev. William A. Nordt, from 1874 to present time.

Present membership, one hundred and fifty. Sun- day-school numbers two hundred teachers and scholars. Value of church property in 1884, thirty thousand dollars.

The elders of this church for 1884 were John Dorer, Frederick Baumann, F. Jaeger and William Fewer- herm; Trustees, Carl Baumann, A. Bohrle, 11. Korster, Carl Stochel, H. Donbush, J. Klaess and M. Staeglich,

Third German Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized in 1862, and a house of wor- ship built on the corner of Madison and Ferry Streets. The first pastor was Rev. G. C. Seibert, D.D., who commenced his labors in 1862, and remained nine years as pastor. He was a man of great learning and eloquence. He was succeeded by Rev. O. Kraft, who, in 1875, seceded and founded an independent organi- zation. From 1878 to 1884 the church has been in charge of Rev. Julius H. Wolff. In 18SI the elders were S. R. Sessing, P. Mentzer, J. Burkhardt; Trus- tees, W. Spuhler, F. Roiszler, J. Hartung, W. Ham- mel, J. Jaeger, H. Rabke and F. Schultz. Communi- cants, one hundred.

Memorial Presbyterian Church. This society was organized in 1877, and built a church edifice on South Orange Avenue ind 879. The church officers in 1881 consisted of an executive committee, composed of C. W. Dowden, W. W. Quigley and W. II. Brokaw. The pastors have been Rev. L. B. Ballwin, Rev. C. A. Brewster and the present pastor, Rev. Albert F. Lyle.

There is also a Presbyterian chapel at Woodside, in the city limits, of which no information could be gained.

United Presbyterians .- There are two churches of this branch of the Christian family in Newark. The First United Presbyterian, at No. 30 Clinton Street, and the Associato Presbyterian, at No. 481 Broad Street, neither of which proper data could be obtained.

First Baptist Church .- This church was organ- ized June 6, 1806, by five brethren and four sisters, seven of whom were members of the Lyons Farms Baptist Church. The pioneer meetings were held in a school-house, and but thinly attended. After strug- gling along for five years they built a meeting-house, a frame structure, thirty-five by forty-five feet, on the corner of Academy und Halsey Streets. This build- ing was subsequently removed, and a larger one, forty- eight by sixty-five feet, erected on the ohl site. This, in 1841, was repaired at a cost of three thousand dol-

485

RELEHOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

lars, and subsequently sold, and is now occupied as a names of fallen heroes. Now there can be seen filing sash and blind factory.

For more than thirty years the history of this church was one of discouragements. The little battles; some with empty sleeves, showing where Hock were often without a pastor, and at one time for a period of some years, Often in the darkest days of their tribulation they compared their situation with that of Roger Williams, thanked God and took cour- age, and for half a century this was the only Ameri- can Baptist Church in Newark.

Religious revivals have been marked characteristics in the history of this church, and more especially the one that occurred in 1857-58, when two hundred and thirty-tive were baptized, half of whom were heads of families. This rapid increase in the membership and congregation made it necessary that more com- modious quarters be provided for the congregation, then under the pastoral care of the late Rev. Dr. Fish, father of the present Hon. Frederick S. Fish. The first meeting looking towards the erection of a new house of worship was held AApril 26, 1858, at which D. M. Wilson presided and Isaiah Peckham acted as secretary. It was unanimously decided to build a new edifice, and for that purpose ten thousand dollars was subscribed, which, with the proceeds of the sale of the old church, was thought sufficient to pay for the new lot.

The new church edifice, built during the early period of the war of 1861-65, is located on Academy Street, near Broad, and has a history that will live through coming generations. Its front is of brown stone, in the Romanesque style. The depth of the church, from front to rear, is one hundred and seven feet, and supports two turrets, each one hundred and twelve feet high. The first floor is divided into a lecture-room, two social rooms, or church parlors, and an in- fant class and library room, all of which can be thrown into one. The second floor, or auditorium, is large and elegant, and capable of seating fourteen hundred persons. It is one of the largest Baptist Churches in the State, and cost, including lot, build- ing and furniture, about fifty thousand dollars.

The war record of this church is nobly grand. The edifice having been completed during the early days of the Rebellion, the whole edifice was almost turned into a camp. Its "war minister," as the pastor was called, the late Henry Clay Fish, D.D., was none the less a patriot than a preacher of the Gospel. His voire was never silent, and his pen never idle while yet a traitor remained to defy the old Hag. He was a pleasant and forcible speaker, bold, consistent, and unswerving in what he thought to be right. It was through his influence that the " Gallant One Hundred and Seventy" went forth, mostly members of this church, to the scenes of con- flirt and carnage. There was something grandly sublime in the spirit that animated these men, ns they marched to usher in the " glad days so long fore- told." The records of the church abound with the

through the aisles scarred veterans, going not to war, but to worship, who bore a gallant part in many they stood in the fight.

From the small beginning, fourscore year- ago, this church has come to be one of the strongest, both financially and numerically, in Newark, In 1834 its contributions for benevolent objects was only eleven dollars. In 1868 it contributed the sum of twelve thousand and six hundred dollars, and has kept well up to these figures from that time to the present.

The pastors of this church have toen Ress. C. Lahatt, P Thurston, D, sharp, J Lamb, D. Jones, D. Putmem, E. Loomis, C. F. Frey, P. L. Platt, D. Dodge, W Sym, H Y. Jones, E. E. Cumunnga, 11. C. Fish, Thomas Rambant and Rev. E. G. Taylor, D.1. the present pastor.

Dencons In 1994, E. O. Harvey, & B Boyton, D. C. Runyon, I. Peck- hai, Francis Storhuck, George D. Cornish and! A. Judson V'lurk; Trustees, Samuel S Sargent, Willsam Ward, J. N. Arbuckle, Stephen 1. Phim, Jr., 6. 8 Titsworth, Hon. F. S. Fish and E. S. Dean.

Communicants, twelve hundred; church property valued at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

HENRY OLAY FISH was born in Halitax, Vt., Jan. 27, 1820, and was the son of Res. Samuel Fish, who outlived him. His father was a man of great activity of mind and of more than ordinary ability as a preacher, and his mother was a woman noted for her piety and her rare intellectual endow- ments. It is not strange that under such influences young Henry should have grown up to manhood filled with pious sentiments and governed by lofty purposes. He manifested at a very early age a desire to obtain a thorough education, and the father, while encouraging the desire, was obliged to tell him, with a sigh, that he had not the means to gratify his wishes, but would gladly see him make an effort to educate himself. Thus set at liberty, the lad made applica- tion for admission to an academy at no great distance from his home, and by dint of laboring during the hours when out of school, he managed to pay for both his board and his tuition. In this manner, from the age of sixteen until he was graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of New York, in 1845, he was indebted to his own personal efforts for his mainten- ance and his education. It was at times a difficult struggle, but nevertheless bravely and cheerfully sus- tained. On the day following his graduation he was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church at Somerville, N. J., and a month afterwards was married to Miss Clara M. Jones, of Shelburne, Mass. His connec- tion with the church at Somerville continued until January, 1851, when he entered upon the pas- torate of the First Baptist Church of Newark, N. J., which at that time had a membership of three hun- dred and thirty-nine, and which at the close of his ministration had increased to eleven hundred and ninety-eight. Such success attended his labors that the small frame building in which his congrega- tion assembled soon proved to be too small for the

486

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

erowds who sought an entrance, and the necessity of a more spacious edifice became imperative. A suit- able building of brown chiseled stone was accordingly erected and made ready for occupation in May, 1860. It is an ornament to Newark and a monument to the fidelity of this zealous and highly-gifted clergyman, whose labors have not only endeared him to his pro- ple, but were winning for him respect and admiration everywhere. Two years prior to this event the l'ni- versity of Rochester had conferred upon him the de- grec of D.D., and though at that time but thirty-eight years of age, he was deemed well worthy of the honor.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 121

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840