History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 118

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 118
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 118

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Neighbor ; 1868, Wesley G. Henry, David Crampton, Robert Cralg, l'eter M. Felniley, Nathan T. Apgar ; 1×69, Wesley G. Henry, An- drew Vousickle, John Rinehart, l'eter MI. Felmley, Nathan T. Apgar ; 1870, Wesley G. Henry, Juhn Rtuchart, Poter M. Felniley, John Nelghbor, Henry Crampton : 1871, Matthias Dilley, Henry Cramp- ton, Robert Craig, l'eter M. Felmley, Abraham Apgar ; 1872-73, Matthias Dilley, Henry Crampton, Robert Craig. Peter Mi. Felmley, George S. Bravers; 1874-75, lieury ('. Hoffman, Frederick Il Eick, Charles W. Hoffman, Asn Alpaugh, Samuel Clark ; I>76-77, Robert Craig, Peter M. Folinley, George E. Sulter, Isanc Alpaugh, Nathan T. Apgar; 1878, John P. S. Miller, Peter MI. Felinley, Isnac Alpmugh, Nathon T. Apgar, Benjamin Van Doren ; 1879, John P. S. Miller, Philip P. Hoffman, Isninh Wise; 18:0, Philip P. Hoffman, Irninh Wise, Henry C. Hoffman.

The town-meetings were held at New Germantown until 1858, originally in the school-house (probably the academy); in 1859-60, at Mountainville; 1861- 65, in New Germantown ; 1866-76, at Mountainville ; 1877-79, in New Germantown; 1880, at Mountain- ville.

VILLAGES.

NEW GERMANTOWN was begun about 1700,* and was first called Smithfiehl, from Ralph Smith, the founder. It was called New Germantown about 1753,f when the Germans had gained the ascendancy.

The first street was called "Smith's lane,"-the one running east and west through the village. It was afterwards known as the " Potterstown road," and in the survey of Edward Wilmot, in 1755, was called King Street. In the survey of James Honeyman, in 1818, it was called Church Street.

James Cole owned the lot southeast corner of Church and Main Streets, having bought it from Ralph Smith in 1761. Michael Hendershot owned the next lot east; he bought it in 1753. Edward Kreiter owned the next lot, and Andrew Shandler the fourth one, having bought it in 1759. The fifth was owned by Godfrey Rinehart, he having bought it from Jonathan Toms. The sixth contained a one-story stone house, now gone. All these, unless it be the fifth, came afterwards into possession of Zion Church.

The first store after Smithfield became New Ger- mantown was kept by Godfrey Rinehart. The town received quite an impetus with the building of the turnpike, soon after 1811, but the financial collapse after the war of 1812-15 prostrated everything and destroyed its prosperity. Land which had cost $100 an aere soll after the war for $12. New streets had been opened, however, and built upon at that time. It had at one time a distillery. It now consists of a mill, a tannery, three carriage-shops, a blacksmith- shop, two harness-shops, three stores, two churches, a school-house, and about fifty dwellings. Its popu- lation is 249, by the census of 1880. There was prob- ably a post-otlice as early as 1739 or 1740,

POTTERSVILLE was first called Lamington Falls, and afterwards Potter's Mills. The name was given when the post-office was established there, about 1540. The mills are very ancient. The grist-mill was burned in

· Cul. R R Honeyman in " Our Home," 11 ;.

t Dr. Mutt's History of Hunterdon County. p. 11.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

1820, and rebuilt. In 1840 it was remodeled, and again rebuilt in 1878. The feed-mill was first a fac- tory, carding wool and weaving blankets. It was turned into its present use about thirty years ago.

The village consists of a store, with a post-office, flouring-mill, feed-mill, blacksmith-shop, machine- shop and foundry, shoe-shop, and fifteen dwellings. It was named after its principal citizen, Sering Potter.

CALIFON is a station on the High Bridge Railroad, and, although the mills have been in existence many years, the town is of recent growth. It was first called California, from Jacob Neighbor's enthusiasm in the milling business about the time the California gold-fever broke out. He bought corncobs and oats chaff to grind up with his feed, and was making a gold miue of his mills. There are now two stores, a hotel, two grist-mills, two saw-mills, two blacksmith- shops, two wheelwright-shops, two shoe-shops, a har- ness-shop, a distillery, a depot, and thirty-one dwell- ings. Of these a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a harness- shop, a wheelwright-shop, a blacksmith-shop, the depot, and nineteen dwellings are on the High Bridge side of the South Branch. The post-office is only three years old.

COKESBURG is a very old place, a furnace having been built there in 1754 .* The name, it is claimed, came from the church, still earlier. It is said to be composed of the names of the two bishops, Coke and Asbury, and Cokesbury to have become Cokesburg when the post-office was established there by a mis- spelling of the word by the Postmaster-General. There are a hotel, store, blacksmith-shop, wheel- wright-shop, two churches, and fourteen dwellings.

MOUNTAINVILLE has been so called since the school-house was built, forty or forty-five years ago. It has a store, blacksmith-shop, wheelwright-shop, shoe-shop, hotel, school-house, still-house, saw-mill, two flouring-mills, and twenty-three dwellings.

FARMERSVILLE once had a blacksmith-shop, but now a school-house and eight dwellings are all the town consists of.

FAIRMOUNT has two stores, a blacksmith-shop, shoe- shop, grist-mill, saw-mill, tannery, distillery, school- house, and twenty-three scattered dwellings. There are two churches a mile or more above. The water- powers on the branch of the Rockaway give it im- portance. The tannery of Oliver Vescelius is the largest in the county. The post-office was established in 1850. Peter D. Emmons was postmaster two or three years, and John Vescelius has continued since.

SCHOOLS.

School District No. 62 centres at Fairmount. The first school held there was in an old log house in the orchard below Fairmount. In 1812 a school-house was first built, and in 1830 a new stone one at a cost of $153. It was rebuilt in 1870, and cost $1500.

Frederick P. Hoffman, Jesse Gray, Capt. and Richard Sutton were the first trustees.

District No. 63 includes Farmersville and vicinity. A school was originally taught, about the beginning of the century, by a Mr. Rodgers, in a log house, in which he also lived, at a fee of $1 to $1.50 per quarter. A log school-house was built about 1810 near where Adam Hoffman now lives; John Schuyler taught in it. When the township was struck off into districts a school-house was built at the turn of the road. The present house was built about forty-five years ago, and cost $300. George Hoffman donated the site.

District No. 64 embraces Mountainville and the adjacent region. The first school-house stood near the Rockaway, on a lot leased by Jacob C. Apgar. It cost $100. Andrew Schuyler, Jacob Philhower, and Daniel Porter took the first action towards a school in Mountainville in 1830 or 1840, and William Grant was the first teacher. He afterwards kept the Yellow Tavern at Bound Brook. The new school-house was built on the present site in 1857 or 1858. Nathan Schuyler, Jacob B. Saunders, and William P. Al- paugh were the building committee.

District No. 65, known as Cokesburg, has school property valued at $600, with 158 children of school age, of whom 111 were enrolled in the school register for 1879. The school-house will comfortably seat 90 pupils.

CHURCHES. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH,+

in New Germantown, is one of the oldest in the town- ship. The earliest records go back no farther than 1767, but we learn from a "History of the Lutheran Church in America," by Rev. Dr. Hazelius, that the Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg visited and preached at New Germantown as early as 1745. In 1748 the Rev. John Christopher Hartwick, founder of Hartwick Seminary, New York, took charge of the congregation, but remained only a short time, when he received a call to New York City. He was followed in 1749 by the Rev. John Albert Wygandt. According to Dr. Hazelius, Mr. Wygandt was suc- ceeded by Mr. Schenk, of whose labors here we have no further information. It seems that from this time to 1760, Father Muhlenberg exercised a sort of " pre- siding eldership" over the infant congregation. The next settled pastor was Rev. Paul Bryzelius, who came in the fall of 1760. A Lutheran house of wor- ship having been erected about this date at " Bed- minster Town" (Pluckamin), Somerset Co., it is prob- able that Mr. Bryzelius served both congregations.

In May, 1767, the Rev. Henry M. Muhlenberg, who lived at Philadelphia, was called as rector of "the united churches of Zion and St. Paul." It was under his direction and by his influence that these churches obtained a charter of incorporation from Governor William Franklin, dated June 29, 1767. In the ac-

* Mott's " First Century of Hunterdon County," p. 22.

t Condensed from a sketch prepared by John C. Honeyman.

NATHAN SCHUYLER.

Nathan Schuyler was born in Tewksbury, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Ang. 10, 1822, and was a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Philhower) Schuyler.

His great-grandfather, Philip Schuyler, came from Germany, and settled in German Valley, N. J., before the Revolutionary war. He had sons Peter and John, the latter of whom married Elizabeth Sutton and had sons, John, Andrew, and Peter, and three daughters. Andrew, the father of onr subject, settled at Mountainville, N. J., on the Philhower farm, in 1818. He was the founder of the first common school at Mountainville, and aided in establishing the first Sunday-school, of which he was superintendent. An Old-Line Whig in politics, he took an active part in local affairs, holding various township offices, and being highly respected as a citizen. He died in 1874.

The children of Andrew and Elizabeth Schny- ler were the following named: Rachel, wife of Peter R. Teats ; Jesse, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob B. Apgar; Richard, a farmer, residing in Tewksbury; Nathan, the subject of this sketch; Dorothea, wife of David Lindabury; Susan, wife of John R. Apgar; Aaron, deceased; Fanny, wife of David Tiger.

ANDREW SCHUYLER.

Nathan Schuyler married Elizabeth Tiger, Oet. 28, 1847, and had children : Elizabeth and Amos (twins); the former married Charles B. Alpangh, the latter Jemima Hoffman; Rachel Ann, wife of Peter Robinson ; Noah S., removed West; Fanny and Jacob T. (twins); the former married Peter Philhower, the latter died in infancy; Euphema Jane, single and living at home.

His first wife died in February, 1869. June 24, 1871, he married his present wife, Sarah II. Mahoney, who was formerly well known as a school-teacher in a number of districts in this section of the country.

Mr. Schuyler has devoted his life to farming, and at present is managing two adjoining farms in Tewksbury, near Mountainville. He is a Re- publican in polities, yet was elected justice of the peace by the Democrats in 1873, and now holds the office. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a class-leader for twenty-seven years, and superin- tendent of the Sunday-school twenty-two years; has held the office of steward, and is at present secretary of the board of trustees; and treasurer of the Cokesburg Cemetery Association, of which he was one of the founders.

481

TEWKSBURY.

ceptance of the charter by the rector, church-wardens, and vestrymen, the two churches were styled " the United Zion and St. Paul's Churches and Congrega- tions, in the counties of IInnterdon, Somerset, and Morris, of the Province of New Jersey."

In the spring of 1768, Rev. Peter Gabriel Muhlen- berg, the eldest son of the rector,-the afterward dis- tinguished Gen. Muhlenberg of the Revolution,-was called as assistant minister. It was not, however, until February of the next year that he came to settle and live among them. In June, 1770, it was agreed by the vestries that St. Paul's Church, which had had service every third Sunday, should thereafter have it only every fourth Sunday, so that the mem- bers of Zion's Church living in Roxbury, or "Ger- man Valley," might have preaching every fourth Sunday. The pastorate of Peter Muhlenberg con- tinued about three years, or until the spring of 1772, when, having received a call to a parish in Virginia, he resigned his charge.

At a meeting of the congregations in May, 1772, it was "resolved that the rector, still living in Philadel- phia, should send some assistant minister to visit the two churches by turns until he could come himself and live on the glebe or find another in his place." This request seems not to have been complied with, for we find it recorded in April, 1773, that the united cor- porations "resolved that the rector should be desired and requested to substitute one of his sons for his assistant minister, who would live on the glebe, now mended and repaired." The rector agreed to try and do according to their request. The first mention, however, of an assistant minister to succeed Rev. Peter Muhlenberg appears in the church-book under date of May, 1774, when Henry Muhlenberg, Jr., was present at the election of vestrymen. The congrega- tions inquired of him if he could or would officiate any longer. He said that he had received and ac- cepted a call from the corporation in Philadelphia to be minister of the Lutheran Zion and St. Michael's Churches, but that he was willing to remain among them if they would give him a call to succeed the present rector, and would secure him from preaching any other language than the German, and if it could be done by consent of Zion and St. Michael's corpor- ations. The vestrymen agreed to this, and a com- mittee was appointed to visit and obtain the consent of the churches in Philadelphia. At a subsequent meeting the committee reported the failure of their mission. We believe, however, that the junior Muh- lenberg continued occasionally to preach for the peo- ple as a "supply." Thereafter the name of Muhlen- berg disappears from the records of the churches.

In 1775, Rev. William Graaf accepted a call. Of his early history no other information is left than that in the inscription on his monument.

The war for independence coming on, the churches had a difficult time to sustain themselves, and the newly-elected pastor received but au indifferent sup-

port. The fever of emigration, too, had seized upon the community, so that after 1800 we hear but little of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at "Bedminster Town."

In 1801 the Lutheran brethren at Spruce Run, having the previous year joined with the German Reformed people in erecting a new house of worship, petitioned for a share in the Sunday service allotted to New Germantown. This was agreed to, and every fourth Sunday falling to Zion's church was given to them.

The pastorate of "Father Graaf" continued until his death in 1809, and during the same year a call was extended to the Rev. Ernest Hazelius, a former teacher in the Moravian seminary at Nazareth, Pa., but at this time residing in Philadelphia. Besides preaching to three congregations, from ten to sixteen miles apart, he successfully conducted a classical academy. In 1815 he was elected professor of Chris- tian theology and principal of the classical depart- ment of Hartwick Seminary, New York, and he im- mediately entered upon the work assigned him.

After the departure of Mr. Hazelius, the associate churches united in ealling Rev. David Hendricks, of Saddle River, N. J. He came among them in 1816, and remained till 1822. Not an item of information is obtainable regarding his work in this charge. His successor was Rev. Henry Newman Pohlman, who remained twenty-one years. In 1828 the Spruce Run Church withdrew from the ecclesiastical union. In the winter of 1839-40 a remarkable revival oceurred. Over 200 were hopefully converted, of whom 140 joined the associate churches. In 1843, Rev. James R. Keiser succeeded the Rev. Mr. Pohlman, the lat- ter having accepted a call to a charge at Albany. In 1846 a friendly separation took place between the old mother-church and her now flourishing daughter in German Valley. Mr. Keiser remained nearly seven years, and then removed to Schioharie village, N. Y. His successor, in 1850, was Rev. George S. Collins, who was followed in 1853 by Rev. Jacob C. Duy. In 1872, Rev. J. F. Diener accepted a unanimous call, and was succeeded in 1879 by the present incumbent, Rev. J. F. Kreechting.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF NEW GERMANTOWN.

The disaffection which culminated in the formation of this church oceurred in 1782, when a Methodist missionary who came to labor in New Germantown was entertained by Mr. Tunis Melick, one of the church-wardens, and made some converts. Mr. Henry Miller, indignant at his wife's change of views, brought the matter to the rector's notice in a paper which he had prepared, and from which the rector warned the people against him in terms which brought Mr. Tunis Melick to his feet and Maj. Godfrey Rinehart, crea- ting a great uproar in the church, and resulting in the disciplining of these vestrymen and their disappear- ance from the church records as officers.

482

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

After that Methodist preachers held services in the houses of sympathizers. Bishop Asbury preached at the residence of Mindurt Farley, and others at various places, till, in 1824, a society was incor- porated and Wesleyan Chapel built, on James Street, where the cemetery now is. Archibald Kennedy, Nicholas E. Melick, John Melick, James Melick, John Fine, Mindurt Farley, George Bunn, Jacob Blain, and Anthony Farley were the trustees of Wes- leyan Chapel, and to them this land was conveyed by Andrew Griffith and James Honeyman .* The church was rebuilt in 1865, when P. W. Melick, W. J. Melick, George G. Alpaugh, Nicholas E. Melick, William Iliff, and Herbert Murphy were trustees.

FAIRMOUNT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

originally called "Fox Hill Church," is one of the oldest in all the region around. Before 1746 there was a church building there, an old log house, at the foot of the hill, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Katie Sutton.+ Michael Schlatter speaks of preach- ing in the Fox Hill church in 1746, which was doubt- less in this house.

A new house was erected previous to 1760, on the site of the present one, which was then called Foxen- burg, from John Fox, a large landowner in the neighborhood. It was also called Parkersville, or Parker's village, from James Parker, another exten- sive proprietor, who gave the site on which the church was built. This church was already standing in 1760.

In 1816 the building was torn down, and a new one, of stone, put up in its place, at a cost of $2850. It was smaller than the former, but had galleries on three sides. Jacob Schuyler, Jacob Miller, and George A. Vescelius were the trustees. The next year the church was legally incorporated, and a board of trustees elected, under the corporate name of "The President and Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Parker's Village or Fox Hill." Henry Miller was president.

This building was demolished and the present one erected, also of stone, in 1851, at a cost of $3800. It was larger, but had but one gallery. The trustees were David Crater, George Salter, and Frederick Ap- gar. It was dedicated July 25, 1852, a bell having been previously placed in the tower,-the first in the neighborhood, except that at Chester. In 1869 the name of the church was changed, by act of the Leg- islature, to the First Presbyterian Church of Fair- mount. In 1870 the church was repaired. It has a parsonage at Fairmount.

Ecclesiastically, this church was originally German Reformed, though the services held there previous to 1768 were frequently conducted by Rev. Mr. Graaf, pastor of the Lutheran Church at New Germantown.

In that year it was united with German Valley, Rock- away, and Alexandria, under the pastorate of Rev. Frederick Dalliker, whose ministry continued from 1768 to 1782, when Rev. Caspar Wack became pastor of the churches of Lebanon, German Valley, and Fox Hill. Preaching had been entirely in German till his time, but he gave an occasional sermon in English, and towards the close of his ministry alter- nated,-English in the morning and German in the afternoon. His ministry continued from 1782 till 1809.

Oct. 6, 1813, the church was connected with the Presbytery of New Brunswick. Previous to 1835 it had passed from this Presbytery to that of Raritan. In 1841 it was transferred to that of Newton. In 1861 it was restored to that of Raritan, and after the reunion it became connected with the Presbytery of Morris and Orange. Its pastors since Mr. Wack have been Jacob Castner, 1813-17; John C. Van Der- voort, 1819-25 ; Mancius S. Hutton, 1828-34; James Scott, 1835-43 ; Isaac S. Davison, 1843-47 ; Charles M. Oakley, 1847-50; Charles Wood, 1851-55; Na- thaniel B. Klink, 1855-59; John R. Wilcox, 1861- 73; Frank P. Tompkins, 1873-74; William O. Rus- ton, 1875.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF FAIRMOUNT.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Fairmount or Fox Hill was built in 1837. The trustees were Rev. George Fisher, Silas Walters, John Fisher, Christian Fisher, and George Bunn. Revs. Joseph Chattle and Joseph C. Nelson were the pastors. Previous to that preaching had been in private houses. It had belonged about 1800 to a large circuit, including Trenton, New Brunswick, Fox Hill, Flanders, Bel- videre, Newton, Easton, Frenchtown, etc. ; each place had service only once in six weeks. There was a church organization previous to 1837, and services every two weeks. Among those who preached were Bishop Asbury, Manning Force, Edward Sanders, Ralph Arndt, Benjamin Kelly, and others. When first erected it was called Parkersville Church, but the name was changed to Fairmount when the present honse was built, in 1868. The trustees then were Silas Walters, Joseph Beavers, George Fisher, Conrad P. C. Apgar, John V. Welsh. The building committee were Rev. J. B. Howard, George B. Linaberry, and Silas Walters.

The present building is a beautiful structure, 45 by 80 feet, with a spire 132 feet high, and a seating capacity of 600. It cost $13,000.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI OF POTTERSVILLE

is in Somerset County, and the parsonage in Hunter- don County. It was begun in 1865. The first meeting towards organizing a church was held Ang. 12, 1865. The corner-stone was laid May 22, 1866, and the building dedicated Dec. 26, 1866. The church is 44 by 62 feet; spire, 122} feet high. The cost was

* Col. R. R. Honeyman in " Our Home," pp. 126, 129.

t This is mainly gathered from the sermon of Rev. W. Otis Ruston, 1876.

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TEWKSBURY.

$8264.58; furnishing, $2881, including gifts. The total cost was about $10,000. The building committee were Sering Potter, Sr., Jonathan Potter, Simon W. Vliet, Philip J. Philhower, and Peter Miller. The pastors were Thomas W. Jones, 1867-71; Vernon B. Carroll, 1871-73; John Davis, November, 1873- December, 1877 ; William II. Hoffman, Jan. 10, 1878, present pastor. The parsonage was a gift from Sering Potter, about 1872, and was worth $3000.

A Presbyterian church is in process of erection at Cokesburg. The corner-stone was laid Oct. 14, 1880. The trustees are George M. Rinehart, Stephen Ap- gar, and John Hope.

There is an old Methodist Episcopal church at Cokesburg, but it is not in the township.

CEMETERIES.

The oldest cemetery is the Lutheran, at New Ger- mantown, which is in the churchyard, and is prob- ably as old as the church. The oldest date on its headstones now decipherable is that of Charity Pickel, which reads as follows :

" Hero lies the Body of CHARITY, the wife of Baltes Pickel fever who Departod this lifo December the 4th, 1761, in the 77th year of her Age. My Glass is Run, My grave yon see ; Prepare for Death And follow mo."

The new cemetery dates from 1857.

There is an old private burying-ground on the es- tate of Dr. Barnet, now in possession of Peter W. Melick, where lie the remains of Dr. Barnet and his wife, her widowed sister, Mrs. Ilaines, Dr. William Barnet, Dr. Oliver W. Ogden, and his wife and sister. It is a beautiful spot, 26 by 30 feet, inclosed with a wall, now going to ruin, the iron gate being entirely gone. A substantial słab of good marble, lying on the ground, without reference to grave or situation, with several pieces broken off, informs us that it is

" In memory of DR. OLIVER BARNET, ESQ., Who departed this life in the 66th year of his age."

The Methodist Episcopal cemetery at New Ger- mantown was established in 1824. The oldl Methodist Episcopal cemetery in Cokesburg is as old as the church. There is a new one now.

The Presbyterian cemetery at Fairmount is very old. There was an old cemetery at one time where Vescelius' store now stands, in Fairmount. It was free, and in the memory of the oldest inhabitants was used for negroes and poor people, It is entirely ob- literated.

The new cemetery of the Presbyterian Church was made in 1878. Three acres were given by George E. Salter, and two were purchased to add to it. . A stone wall incloses it.

The Methodist Episcopal cemetery of Fairmount was begun in 1837. George Fisher gave the ground, and the church was built on one corner of it. About 1866 it was enlarged from half an acre to its present size. The grave of Rev. George Fisher is a promi- nent one. His epitaph reads as follows :

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 118

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170