History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 20

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 20
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 20

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).

In his will he devised his property to his wife Elizabeth, his daughters Jemima, Mary, Elizabeth, and his sons, Davie, Joseph, and Job, all of whom survived him.

The executors of his estate were Joseph Peck and David Williams.

Rev. Caleb Smith, installed in 1748, remained pastor of this church until his death, which necurred in October, 1762. Of him we can say no more nor give better expression to his real worth, than the following lines inscribed upon his tombstone in the old church- yard at Orange;

" Benrath this toml the precious reliques lie If one ton great to live, Imt net to die ludued by nature with superior parte

To swim in science and tu man th . arts, Tomar nluft, inflame I with nou red hos To know, mindre, and serve the come alive ; Gifted to sound the thundering law's alarm, The siles of virtne, and the gimpel's charm. A faithfı | watchman, stunlions to derharge The important duties of his weights charge

aged i ..

704

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

To say the whole, and sound the highest fame. He lived a Christian, and he died the same A man so useful, from his je ple rent. His babes, the college, and the church lament "

REV. JEDEDIAH CHAPMAN was born in East llad- dam, Conn., Sept. 27. 1741. He graduated at Yale in 1762, and two years afterward received a license to preach, and preached at Orange as a candidate in the spring of 1766, and was ordained and settled over this church July 22d of that year, being then in his twenty-fifth year.

About the second year of his settlement here he married Miss Blanche Smith, of a family that inter- married with the great Adams family of Massachn- setts, and at once occupied the stone parsonage that had been vacant since the death of his predecessor, in 1762.

In the Revolutionary struggle he espoused very warmly the cause of the colonists, and his boldness in doing so made enemies of those who felt loyal to the king. and more than once were plans laid to capture and convey him to the British camp. British sol- diers were sent to his house, but, fortunately, he was so surrounded by freedom's sentinels and under the shield of Providence that the enemy's plans were frustrated. He was one of the ministerial figures that played a conspicuous part all through that terrible struggle for liberty, and when the strife was ended none rejoiced more on account of its happy termination than did Rev. Jedediah Chapman.

Ilis pastoral relation with the Mountain Society was dissolved Aug. 13, 1800, after a service of thirty- four years, when the tieneral Assembly assigned him to a missionary field in Western New York, where oldest churches in that region-those at tieneva, Romulus, Ovid, Rushville and Trumansburg-were organized by him.

After a service of fifty years in the ministry, he rested from his labors May 22, 1813, in the seventy- third year of his age, leaving to the Presbyterian Church a patriarchal name and works that do follow him.

REV. EDWARD DORR GRIFFIN was the successor of Mr. Chapman, and during his brief ministry in Orange he was a boarder in the family of C'apt. Jona- than Harrison. From a statement drawn up by Mr. Harrison, in June, 1801, and laid before a parish conunittee appointed the December previous, "for the purpose of securing suitable accommodations for Mr. Griffin," it appears that the boarding account was settled by the parish. What further compensation was given, if any, is not known. As he received no salary from his people in New Hartford during his absence, it is probable that he was paid something in addition to his board for his labors here.

His board for twenty-nine weeks and two days amounted to £144 38. 7d., or three hundred and eighty- five dollars. It ineluded, however, besides board at two pounds per week for Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, a charge for two rooms, entirely furnished (twenty

pounds), the service of a hired woman at six shillings per week, and her board at ten shillings, the wages of a nurse for Mrs. Griffin at sixteen shillings a weck and her board at twelve shillings a week, the keeping of a horse at twelve shillings a week, on "one peek of oats a day and the best hay ;" harnessing horse for Mr. Griffin and his visitors, cutting wood, making fires, running errands, etc., £11 128 .; candles for the twenty-nine weeks, £2 108.

Rev. Asa Hillyer was called to this pastorate Det. 20, 1801, the call being signed by the then trustees of the church, viz .: Aaron Munn, Joseph Pierson, Jr., Thomas Williams, Daniel Williams, Samuel Condit, Isaac Pierson; Elders, Joseph Pierson, Jr., Amos Harrison, John Perry, Aaron Munn, Linus Dodd, Henry Osborn, and by Rev. Dr. Bethnel Dodd, mod- erator. Mr. Hillyer accepted the call, and was installed Dec. 16, 1801. Dr. Mae Whorter presided and gave the charge to the minister; James Richards, of Morristown, preached; Aaron Condit " made the address to the people."

His pastoral relation with this church was dissolved Feb. 12, 1833. Hillyer Street, in Orange, was named in his honor.

REV. GEORGE PIERSON .- Mr. Pierson was a native of Orange, and a member of the Mountain Society, and sat for many years under the teaching of Dr. 1Tillyer, and when the weight of years was bearing the old patriarch down, and he needed assistance, the church began a canvass of the merits and demerits of different ones as an associate or assistant for Dr. llillyer, when the choice fell upon George Pierson, who had just finished his education at Princeton. Hle preached here with great acceptability as a licentiate, and finally ordained as co-pastor June 22, 1829, and remained till 1831, when he was dismissed to another field.

REV. EDWIN F. HATFIELD .- Upon the removal of Mr. Pierson, the late Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, who, in 1532, was just entering upon the ministerial work, was assigned to this place, and soon the thoughts of the people turned to him as candidate for co-pastor, but he declined the offer, and was soon settled in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Hatfield was here from March Ist to September 1st, preaching four times weekly in Orange during the whole time and frequently in the towns round about, boarding during the time with the old pastor, Rev. Mr. Hillyer.

REV. WILLIAM C. WHITE, successor of Rev. Dr. Hillyer, accepted a call to this church in October or late in the autumn of 1832, and was installed as pastor of this church Fcb. 13, 1833. Rev. Dr. Weeks preached the sermon, Dr. Hillyer gave the charge to the pastor, and Dr. Fisher to the people. The text was 1 Timothy, iv. 16.

llis relation to this church as pastor ceased on April 18, 1855, at his own request, on account of physical disability. He died in Orange, Feb. 7, 1856, aged fifty-three years.

,65

CITY OF ORANGE.

REV. JAMES Hovr was the ninth pastor of this church and was installed as such Feb. 14, 1856, just a week after the death of his predecessor.

The following clergymen took part in the installa- tion services: Res. John Crowell, of the Second Church, Orange, presided and put the constitutional questions; Rev. James M. Sherwood (of Bloomfield), preached a sermon from Matt. xiii. 33; Rev. Daniel W. Poor and Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D. (of Newark), delivered the respective charges to the pastor and the people :; Rey Robert W. Landis (of Paterson), who was moderator of the Presbytery, offered prayer.

To Mr. Hoyt, more than to any other person, living or dead, does the church and the people of the Oranges owe a debt of gratitude that will probably never be repaid. Shortly after his settlement as pastor of this church he saw himself standing upon historie ground. whose virgin soil had never been turned to the genial rays of the sun, and whose mines of wealth had never been developed by the "crow, pick and spade" of historie research ; and it is not surprising that a man of Mr. Hoyt's mental calibre and literary tastes should add to the labors of pastor of a large congregation those of preserving for all time the landmarks set up by the pioneer white settlers of this classic fiehl, which he did so thoroughly and completely in the publica- tion of his " History of the Mountain Society."

To those who knew him he needs no eulogy, and to those who knew him not we need only say he was a loving husband, a kind parent, a faithful servant of God, a beloved pastor, a model Christian. He died Dec. 16, 1866, leaving a widow and two sons.

Mr. Hoyt's successor was Rev. Eldridge Mix, who was settled as pastor of this church Det. 2, 1867, and dismissed Muy 9, 1881.

REV. HENRY M. STORRS, the present very popular pastor, was settled over this church Nov. 1, 1882.

Central Presbyterian Church.'-About thirty years ago the attractions of this beautiful region had begun rapidly to increase its population by the removal hither of New York and Brooklyn families. A few years later the immigration of Presbyterians had begun to tax the seating capacity of the then existing churches of that order in Orange. Among the more recent comers were a number of families, attending the First and Second Churches, who had been in con- uretion with the Old School branch of the Presbyte- rian body, and who still retained a decided preference for the doctrine and polity of that section of the church. As both the First and Second Churches were in the New School connection, the forming of another organization offered the only way of meeting this preference. It was in this desire mainly, together with the fact already stated that the time had evi- dently come when something should be attempted in the way of church extension, that the Central t'hurch had its origin. The result has demonstrated that the

enlargement of church capacity was needed by the growing Presbyterian population, and that the new enterprise was begun at the right time.

On the 12th of November, 1556, twelve men met at St. Mark's school-house, on the borders of Llewellyn Park, to confer about a new church. This meeting, of which Mr. Francis HI. Abbot was chairman, was followed by another, on the 20th of the same month, at the house of the Rev. David Irving, D.D. ; and this meeting was continued by adjournment on the 27th of the same month, at the house of Mr. A. R. Me- Voy. On this occasion it was resolved to take the steps for the forming of a new congregation. Committees were appointed to wait upon the pastors of the First and Second Churches and duly inform them of the project. In pursuance of this appointment, Dr. I. t. Lowrie waited upon the pastor of the Brick Church, and Mr. L. P. Stone conferred with the pastor of the First Church. Messrs. L. P. Stone and J. II. Hazard we're appointed a committee to select and secure a temporary place of worship, and Mesure, Edward II. Ensign and .1. 11. Hazard were appointed to raise funds.

Subsequent to this action a public hall, known as C'entral Hall, in the third story of a brick block of stores on the north side of Main Street, west of Centre, was leased for the exclusive use of the new church, and suitably fitted up for worship. Nearly two thousand dollars were at once contributed for church expenses.

Public worship was first held on Sunday, the 16th day of December, 1866, when the Rev. W. H. Green, D.D., of the Princeton Theological Seminary, offici- ated. On the Sabbath next following the services were conducted by the Rev. J. T. Duffield, D.D., of the College of New Jersey, and from this time public worship on the Lord's Day was regularly maintained by various clergymen.

At a meeting on Thursday, the 3d of January, 1867, held in Central Hall, with the Rev. W. H. Kirk in the chair, it was unanimously resolved, on motion of the Rev. Dr. Lowrie, "thut, in reliance on the blessing of the Triune God, we will endeavor to establish a church of Christ, to be known as the Central Presbyterian Church, of Orauge, N. L .. and that a committee of two be appointed to make appli- cation to the Presbytery of Passaic for the organiza - tion of this church at as early a day as may be con- venient." Messrs. L. P. Stone and David L. Wallace were appointed as said committee.

The church was finally organized, with thirty-three members, by a committee of the Presbytery of Passnic, on the 20th of January, 1867, the Rev. W. H. Horn- blower, D.D., of Paterson, N. J., and the Rev. Dr. Irving constituting the committee.

The persons who thus formed the nucleus of the organization brought their letters of dismission from the following churches: From the First t'hurch of Orange, N. J., 17; from the Reformed (hutch) Church of Newark, N. J., 4; Presbyterian Church,

Compiled from s Instorical sermon by Hev. Alfred Tevmans, D.D.

760

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Astoria, N. Y., 3; Fifth Avenue and Nineteenth Street Church, N. Y., 2; First Church, N. Y., 2; Rutgers Church, N. Y., 1; Morristown, N. J., 1; Pe- tersburg, Va., 2; and from the Brainard Church, Easton, Pa. About eighteen families, besides some separate individuals, were embraced in the or- ganization at the beginning. It will be seen that the draft upon the Orange churches was by no means heavy, and those who were interested in the move- ment studiously avoided urging any who were not of their own accord thus inclined to go with them in the new church.

The first elders were Francis H. Abbott, L. P. Stone, David L. Wallace, and George W. Thorp: Deacons, Edward H. Ensigu and A. Ramsay Med'oy; Trustees, J. HI. Hazard, S. W. Tichenor, and Austin M. Knight.

The congregation elected as their first pastor the Rev. Edward D. Ycomans, D.D., then minister of St. Peter's Church, Rochester, N. Y., who began his la- bors here on the first Sabbath of May, 1867, and was installed on the 2d of July following, the services he- ing conducted by the Rev. D. M. James, moderator of the Presbytery, the sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Irving, the charge to the pastor being delivered by the Rev. Dr. E. R. C'raven, of Newark, and the charge to the people by the Rev. Dr. W. C. Roberts. of Elizabeth. Dr. Yeomans had been settled in his new charge but little more than a year, when he died suddenly of apoplexy August 26th, 1868. aged thirty- eight years.

Nothing decisive had thus far been done about the erection of a house of worship. The services were still held in Central Ilall. A Sabbath-school was also begun at the same place, having been organized with forty scholars, and Mr. D. L. Wallace as super- intendent. Delay in building was at first occasioned by some difference of opinion respecting the best lo- eation for the new church. As several of the orig- inal families resided in Llewellyn Park, a lot on the southwest corner of Park Avenue and High Street was favorably thought of, and was offered by the owner at a very low price, with the view of adding to the value of property adjoining. A lot just opposite the pres- ent loention on Main Street, and another on Main Street, near Park. also had their advocates. The Bap- tist congregation, who had a few years before erected their lecture-room on its present site, and were wait- ing to gather strength for the building of their main edifice, had some thought of changing their location and removing farther West, and an offer was made of their property, but at so high a figure that the negotiation was not prosecuted.

Meantime, the present pastor, Rev. Alfred Yeomans, D. D., was called from the church in Bellefonte, Pa., and began his ministrations on the third Sabbath of January, 1869. Arrangements for building, which had been interrupted by the vacancy in the pulpit. were resumed in the early spring of the same year.

The location of the church on the corner of Main and Prince Streets was finally agreed upon, the park fami- lies not only generously yielding their preference for a site nearer the mountain, but contributing with a noble liberality towards the expense of building so far away from their own doors. The lot eventually purchased was bought at full price as real estate was then selling. It would now be called a very high figure. Two dwelling-houses occupied the ground, the one being the old Pierson homestead of Revolu- tionary age, which was torn down when the prepara- tions for building were completed; the other being the present parsonage, which originally stood upon the corner now occupied by the church. The price paid for the whole property was twenty-one thousand five hundred dollars.

Ground was at once broken for the erection of the rear extension of this church as it now stands, a two- story building for lecture-room and Sunday-school room, at a cost of about seventeen thousand dollars. The Sabbath services wore transferred from Central Hall to the lecture-room as soon as the latter was ready for use, Dec. 19, 1869, and continued to be held there for about two years and a half. An organ, the gift of Mr. Austin M. Knight, was placed in this room, and subsequently removed into the main build- ing, where it is still used in the services of the church.

In the spring of 1871 the congregation, which had been steadily gaining strength, set about the work of rearing their main edifice. The sum of forty thousand dollars was subscribed, payable in three years, in semi-annual installments, and ground was broken in August of that year. A lot was purchased for the parsonage on the west side of Prince Street, at a cost of two thousand dollars, and the building was removed thither, and subsequently enlarged by the addition of a wing for the pastor's study, at an expense ot twelve hundred dollars,-the work of the ladies of the congregation. The corner-stone of the church was laid September HIth, the address on that occasion being delivered by the Rev. J. II. M.Hvaine, D.D., of Newark, N. J. ; and the building was finished and dedicated July 14, 1872, the sermon at the dedication being preached by the Rev. W. C. Roberts, D. D., of Elizabeth, N. J. The plans for the buikling were furnished and the work was superintended by Mr. T. A. Roberts, architect, of Newark.

A large proportion of the cost of the church lot, and the whole of the parsonage lot, had been allowed to stand upon a mortgage; and as the cost of the church, with the furniture, overran the amount sub- scribed, the church was left with a mortgage debt of twenty-seven thousand dollars when the work of building was completed. For five years and a half the interest on this debt was provided for by a special sub- scription, and Jan. 19, 1878, the congregation rejoiced in deliverance from this debt. At a congregational meeting held on the third Sabbath of January, 1878, in connection with the usual morning service, with Ekler

767

CITY OF ORANGE.

David 1 .. Wallace in the chair, the whole amount of the debt was pledged on the spot, with interest upon the subscriptions until the amounts promised should be paid. Five years' time was allowed for the pay- ments, in quarterly installments; but in less than one year the sum offifteen thousand dollars had already been paid, instead of five thousand four hundred dollars, which the pledges called for. This made, in round num- bers, about ninety thousand dollars which our people had given for building purposes alone within ten years after the organization of the church, or an average of nine thousand dollars a year, exclusive of the amounts contributed for congregational expenses and benevo- lence. The total amount raised by this church for congregational purposes for the first twelve years of its existence was, one hundred and fifty-six thousand dollars, or an average of thirteen thousand dollars a vear.

During the time this congregation was under this heavy tax for building and current expenses they did not suspend their offerings for the benevolent work of the church. Thus far through the life of this church the columns of the General Assembly's minutes do not show, after the first year, a single blank space against its name, indicating a failure to give to each of the causes on its list, excepting only that of " sustentation." which may be considered so closely identified with home missions as not to call for a sepa- rate contribution. The total annual amount of con- tributions to benevolence started the first year with the sum of $1565, and has steadily increased until, in 1876, it reached the sum of $6329 for the year, from which, however, the total has declined somewhat for the past two years, the figures for 1875 being $4242. For some years the totals for benevolence ran along about evenly with those for current congregational expenses, and sometimes exceeded them.

The whole amount given to the various causes for the twelve years, estimating the current year to date by the figures of last year, is as follows: To domes- tie missions, $12,671 ; foreign missions, $15,725; edu- cation, $15,818; publication, 804; church erection, $1734 ; ministerial relief, $1405, freedmen's commit- tre. 8913 ; miscellaneous, $3518. These totals foot up $52,685, or an average of $4330 each year. Add- ing the totals for home expenses and benevolence, we have the sunt of $208,688 as the whole amount contrib- uted by this church in the first twelve years, or a yearly average of $17,390.

Passing now to the spiritual history of the church, we may see in this also enough of the loving-kindness of our God to call for gratitude. The church began with thirty-three members.

The growth of the communion-roll has not been rapid or phenomenal. The largest number added on profession of faith at any one time was at the com- munion in March, 1876. The whole number added that year on profession was fifty-two; and the total by letter and profession, sixty-eight. This was the

nearest the church ever came to what might be called a revival. But the growth, if not rapid, has been regu- lar. The whole number received into the church up to the present time is four hundred and twenty-six. Of these, one hundred and ninety were received on pro- fession, and two hundred and thirty-six by letter. Baptism has been administered to twenty-four adults and one hundred and fourteen infants,

The losses number one hundred and four. Of these, twenty-one were removed by death, and eighty -three by letter of dismission. The names now upon the roll number three hundred and twenty-two. Of the original thirty-three members, twenty-seven retain connection, four having been removed by death and two by diemission.

Yet, if the loss in numbers has been light, it has heen heavy, indeed, in other ways. The Session has Jost by death two of its most valuable members, who were among the original founders of the church. These were theorge W. Thorp, who died on the 230 of May, 1872, aged forty-seven, and Francis H1. Abbott, who died May 12, 1574, aged seventy-seven. To take their places in the eldership, A. R. McCoy and R. L. S. Paton were elected, and installed in their offices June 7, 1574. At the same time Charles 11. Jones, George A. Newman and William V. Ruton were elected and installed as deacons.

The Sunday-school has been greatly prospered. There has been no change from the beginning in the office of superintendent. Every year a good propor- tion of those who have joined the communion have come from its classes. Beginning with forty scholars, it reported to the Presbytery last spring a roll of three hundred and fifty-two officers, teachers and scholars. 1 teachers' meeting has been maintained, without interruption, almost from the date of the organization of the church ; and the school has never been better equipped for effective work, or more earnest in doing its work, than at the present time.

In the fall of 1873 a Young People's Association was formed for benevolent and missionary work and social improvement. This has been a most excellent train- ing-school for such of our young members ns have taken a hand in its labors. Experience in missionary work has thus been gained which will be invalua- ble in after-life, to say nothing of the direct results for good accomplished through the monthly visiting of the various committees, the distribution of relig- ious reading, the Woman's Sewing t'lass, which meets every week throughout the winter in the Sunday- school room, and the cottage prayer-meetings, held each Monday evening in different quarters of the town. The small sums contributed weekly by the members of the society have in some years exceeded a thousand dollars, and the money has been expended for the material relief and spiritual benefit of the pour. The secret of the continued thrift of the asso- ciation is to be found in the fact that its main object was not the mere pleasure of the members, but the

768

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

promotion of the Gospel cause among the more neglected portions of the population.

The Ladies' Sewing Society and the Woman's For- eign Missionary Society-the one organized at the beginning of the church, and the other in about 1873 -have carried on the work belonging to such associa- tions with good success. The latter society is sup- porting in the foreign field Mrs. McGilvary, mission- ary among the Laos, in Siam. Its receipts are about five hundred dollars a year.

The church debt was completely extinguished in May, 1553. Total cost of property, in round num- bers, one hundred thousand dollars. Membership of the church in January, 1884, was three hundred and fifty-seven.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 20

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830