USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 39
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Kirsten, A. G., July 3, 1894, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey.
Knox, John, 1894, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey.
Lund, O. F., 1867, Harvard Medical College.
Laidlaw, A. H., 1861, Pennsylvania Homeopathic Medical College.
Lutkins, A. A., May 15, 1848, New Jersey State Medical Society.
Lampson, M., 1866, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Lochner, Jno., 1871, University of the City of New York.
Lienau, R. B., 1870, University of Wurtzburg, Germany.
Lathrop, C. C., 1875, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Lutkins, W. C., 1876, University of the City of New York. Lynch, H. H., University of the City of New York.
Lingot, A., Feb., 1876, University of the City of New York. Lockwood, H. L., March 12, 1879, New York Homeopathic Medical College.
Limeburner, C. A., Feb., 1879, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Long, H. A., 1881, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
La Rue, Frank, 1881, University of the City of New York.
Loomis, Albert J., 1884, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Lewis, W. C., Jr., 1880, University of Pennsylvania.
La Vence, Geo. W., 1889, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Love, J. W., College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Law, Chas. K., April, 1893, University of the City of New York. Mitchell, H., 1866, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Morris, Theo. F., March 5, 1863, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Morgan, J. F., June 30, 1868, Long Island College Hospital, New York.
McBride, L. A., May, 1871, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
McDowell, J. C., March 10, 1875, University of Maryland.
Miller, M. A., 1863, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. McGill, J. D., 1870, University of Pennsylvania. Murray, D., March 1, 1868, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Moore, C. H., 1873, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. McLoughlin, T. J., College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
McNeil, C. H., Feb. 29, 1872, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Macwithey, E. L., March 1, 1871, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. McNeil, D., 1841, Albany Medical College.
Mackey, W. J., 1875, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Mallaliew, A. W., 1875, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Morris, S. V., Feb. 21, 1877, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
MacMartin, D., March 1, 1877, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. MacBride, J. C., Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. McNaughton, Geo., Feb. 28, 1878, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Moelling, P. A., 1878, University of the City of New York.
Morrow, Benj. R., 1879, University of the City of New York. McDonald, F. C., Jr., Feh. 1880, University of the City of New York.
Mabon, Wm., Ang. 1, 1881, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
McAdoo, R. M., 18SI, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Metcalf, G. R., College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Means, V. C. B., 1881, University of the City of New York.
Moorehouse. E. W., March 7, 1882, University of the City of New York. McDowell, W. J., March 3, 1874, University of Maryland.
Mckenzie, W. V., 1884, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Muzzy, A. T., 1879, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Macmillan, J. W., 1886, New York Homeopathic Medical College.
Muttart, A. C., 1887, University of the City of New York.
McFarlane, A., 1887, Albany Medical College.
Montmarquet, J., 1889, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. McLean, J. J., 1880, Halifax Medical College.
Merrins, Edw. M., 1890, University of the City of New York.
Mitchell, Mary E., May, 1890, Woman's Medical College of New York Infirmary.
Mulvaney, Edw., 1891, University of the City of New York.
Meisgeir, E. B., 1891, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Murphy, F. K.
MeLaughlin, Geo. E., 1891, University of the City of New York. Muttart, G. W., 1892, University of the City of New York.
Morris, A. F., 1893, Bellevne Hospital Medical College, New York.
McCann, H. H. M., July 28, 1892, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey. Masten, H. B., 1893, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Newell, W. H., 1859, University of Pennsylvania.
Noble, F. E.
Nevin, J. L., 1887, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Nevin, J. J., March 6, 1886, University of the City of New York.
Newell, Jennie W., 1887, New York Medical College.
Nelden, A. L., 1887, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Nevin, W. R., New York Homeopathic Medical College.
O'Callaghan, J. C., 1862, University of the City of New York. Opdyke, L. A., New York Homeopathic Medical College. Ouleus, M., 1879, University of the City of New York. O'Grady, J. F., 1880, Long Island Medical College, N. Y.
O'Sullivan, P., March 8, 1887, University of the City of New York.
Opdyke, C. P., April, 1889, New York Homeopathic Medical College.
Oestmann, A. W., University of Leipzig, Germany. Pyle, E. W., March, 1873, University of Pennsylvania.
Petrie, J. A., 1866, University of Pennsylvania.
Petrie, R. M., March, 1868, University of Pennsylvania.
Pendergast, J. j., 1868, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Paul, James, 1864, University of Glasgow. Pettigrew, F. W., 1845. M. R. C. I. of England.
Peacock, R. W., University of the City of New York.
Peck, E. E., Feb., 1879, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Parker, W'm. J., Feb., 1879, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Pearson, J. C., June 29, 1875, University of Vermont. Peffer, H., 1883, University of the City of New York.
Putnam, C. E., 1886, New York Homeopathic Medical College.
Pyle, Wm. L., 1887, University of Pennsylvania. Paddock, N. J., 1889, University of the City of New York.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
Potter, G. E., June, 1880, Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Poole, L. E., April, 1890, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Parsons, J. C., University of the City of New York. Pollard, J. E., July, 1894, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey. Pruss, E. E., Jan., 1894, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey. Quimby, I. N., 1858, University of the City of New York. Reich, J., July 23, 1860, University of Pesth, Hungary.
Reive, D. L., 1845, University of the City of New York.
Rugg, G. S., March, 1862, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Rae, Walter, 1876, University of the City of New York.
Rickerts, E. C., March 2, 1876, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Rector, P., May 28, 1863, Albany Medical College. Rachel, G. W., March, 1874, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Rothe, C. G. L., Eclectic Medical College of New York.
Roth, E., Feb. 24, 1880, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Redmond, M. C., June, 1881, University of the City of New York. Rosenkrans, J. H., March, 1883, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Russell, Wm. H., 1877, University of the City of New York.
Rushmore, E. C., 1886, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Radue, W. F. Von, University of the City of New York.
Rechardt, H. J., Feb., 1876, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md. Renwick, A. G., March, 1890, University of the City of New York. Ramsey, M. E., March 7, 1889, Medical College of Ohio.
Rector, J. M., 1893, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Robertson, F. C., July, 1894, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey.
Rowe, S. A., May, 1894, University of the City of New York.
Stout, S. V. W., 1868, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Sherman, O. T., 1866, University of the City of New York.
Shelton, C. S., 1847, Yale Medical College.
Selnow, F., 1861, Goppingen, Germany.
Skellenger, E. B., 1875, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Seward, F. W, 1866, University of Vermont.
Sanderson, L., 1869, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Schmetzer, G., 1877, University of the City of New York.
Seagram, T., 1832, Bartholomew Hospital, London, Eng.
Simmons, H. R., 1877, New York Homeopathic Medical College.
Senderling, P. M., 1856, University of Pennsylvania.
Stephenson, A. L. W., 1865, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Swan, A. T., 1879, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Searle, S. T., Jr., 1880, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Shelton, C. H., March 5, 1880, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Strubel, J., March, 1880, New York Eclectic Medical College.
Straughn, F., 1870, University of Maryland.
Smith, H. M., 1871, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Salter, Jos. E., March, 1881, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Sherwood, H. De L., 1882, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Schulte, C. G. A., May, 1882, S. M. R., N. C.
Sanborn, J. L., 1885, University of the City of New York.
Stegmair, J. A., 1886, University of the City of New York. Steele, G. E., May 13, 1886, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Schierholz, E., March 11, 1882, University of the City of New York. Snyder, C. F., 1887, New York Homeopathie Medical College. Silvers, G. M., March, 1887, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Shain, F., March, 1882, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Small, Edw., 1885, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md. Steffens, Jno., March, 1884, New York Eclectic Medical College. Smith, Hulda, Feb., IS88, New York Eclectic Medical College.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
Smith, M. J., Nov., 1889, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Scofield, R. J., 1890, University of the City of New York. Sexsmith, G. H., 1890, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Shellby, E. P., Jr., 1891, University of the City of New York. Sprague, S. B., April, 1892, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey. Spence, Henry, 1892, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Sprague, E. K., 1890, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Boston, Mass. Somers, E. M., April, 1893, University of the City of New York. Sherrill, Geo., Jr., 1891, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Tibbles, G. A., March, 1867, New York Homeopathic Medical College. Toepfer, A., 1874, University of the City of New York.
Tyler, L, March, 1876, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Titus, G. E., Feb., 1877, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Treskatis, G., Medical College of Albany, N. Y.
Taylor, C. O., March, 1879, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Treskow, H., June, 1879, University of Medicine and Surgery, Philadelphia, Pa. Thomson, J. W., 1875, Hahnemann Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Thomas, J. P., 1887, University of Georgia.
Varick, Theo. R., 1846, University of the City of New York.
Van Saun, J. D., 1873, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Viers, C. O., 1867, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Vondy, J. H., 1851, University of the City of New York.
Van Houten, J. W., 1870, University of Pennsylvania.
Van Vorst, John, March, 1874, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Varick, W. W., June, 1876, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Van Horne, J. P., March, 1877, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York.
Van Tine, M. H., Jan., 1878, New York Eclectic Medical College.
Vreeland, H., 1885, University of the City of New York.
Van De Venter, J., 1881, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Van Horn, A. F., 1884, University of Pennsylvania.
Valentine, E. J. G., 1894, State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jersey.
Watson, B. A., March, 1861, University of the City of New York.
Wolfe, Theo. F., March, 1868, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Wilkinson, James, Nov., 1858, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Whittemore, F. H., Feb., 1874, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Waldmeyer, J. R., May, 1865, S. M. R., N. C.
Wright, W. P., 1875, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Watson, W. P., 1878, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Warner, W. B., 1882, University of the City of New York.
Wilkinson, George, March, 1882, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Ware, W. P., March, 1883, New York Eclectic Medical College.
Winges, C., May, 1883, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
Wolfson, Joseph, March, 1883, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Weeks, James, 1885, University of the City of New York.
Willis, Mary A., March, 1886, New York Eclectic Medical College.
Wilson, W. S., March, 1861, Jefferson Medical College, Pa.
Warwick, H. S., Oet., 1886, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Whalley, T., 1855, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, England. Williams, T. D., May, 1885, University of Pennsylvania.
West, J. E., March, 1867, Medical College of Ohio. Walter, A. P., March, 1884, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md. Wilkinson, W., Oct., 1889, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. White, Wallace, 1894, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. Yerrington, C. H., 1870, University of the City of New York.
Young, C. A., 1874, Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. Youlin, J. J., 1854, Homeopathie Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio. Zabriskie, G. A., 1881, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
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CHAPTER XXX.
THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE CITY CHURCHES-HOW THE LEADING ORGANIZATIONS WERE STARTED AND HOW THEY GREW.
THE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH OF BERGEN .*
HE earliest settlers of Hudson County were from the Netherlands. They found good farming lands where New York Bay washes the Jersey shore at Communipaw, and then climbed the hill to establish a town at Bergen. Bergen Square was the centre of the original village, which was laid out in four blocks-bounded by Newkirk and Vroom streets, Tuers and Van Reypen avenues. This was probably stockaded for defense against Indians, and the townfolk congregated within the lines for mutual protection. Out- side of the enclosure each citizen had allotted to him a farm, and a wood lot, so that the agricultural pursuits of fatherland might be continued in the adopted home. The church was not forgotten in the distribution. There was not room for a church site within the stockade. but on the corner of Vroom and Bergen avenues a lot large enough, as it was then thought, for a burial plot as well, was set aside for the future edifice. At the same time four acres, including the site of the present church, were allotted to the future minister for a parsonage, while a meadow lot in South Bergen and a wood lot in North Hudson were further set apart to free the dominie incumbent from worldly care.
Just when the church was organized is not certainly known.
The oldest record in possession of the corporation is a list of members dated 1664. It is not a contemporaneous record, but a copy in the handwriting of Dominie Selyn, of the church in New York City, made some 30 years after the first mentioned date. The record of members who subsequently united with the church is complete down to the present year, with the exception of a hiatus covering the few years of confusion resulting from the American Revolution.
The records of baptisms are, with the same exceptions, complete from 1666, and the marriage records begin in 1665.
A subscription list bearing date 1662, whether for salary or a church building is a disputed point, is in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany. Some of the fathers drew the infer- ence that if a subscription list was circulated in '62, there must have been an organization at least two years earlier. Hence the assumption of the birth-date, 1660, which has ever since been prominently displayed on the walls of Zion.
The truth is, in all probability, that from the first Sabbath of the colony religious gather- ings were held, and thus, to all intents and purposes, a church was founded. This must have been prior to 1660, for the colony had so far advanced in 1661 as to receive a village charter from the governor or council of New Netherlands. The list of 1664 embraces nine male members and eighteen females. It is headed by Nicholas Vertoet, the private secretary of Governor Stuyvesant.
It is probable that the congregation worshipped at first in the school-honse. Education as well as religion was highly prized by the colonial fathers, and the school was located in the centre of the village, the site now being occupied by No. 11 of the Jersey City school system. Under the humble conditions of the colony, one building could easily serve a double purpose.
Some of our antiquarians claim that a log structure was erected for religious services exclusively as early as 1661; but the best authorities find no trace of such a building.
Certain is it that a stone building was dedicated early in 1681. Whether it stood on the corner of Bergen and Vroom streets, or Vroom Street opposite Tuers, is a mooted question. The stone which was set over the door, bearing the inscription "W. DAY, 1680," is built into the
*Prepared by Rev. Cornelius Brett.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
side of the present sanctuary on Bergen Avenue. The Rev. Caspar Van Turen, from Long Island, preached the dedicatory sermon May 23, 1681. This building was octagonal in shape and built of the red sandstone boulders for many years common on the heights above Jersey City.
This edifice served the purpose of the congregation for ninety-two years, when the Second Church, built of the same kind of stone, was erected on the corner of Bergen Avenue and Vroom Street. This stood from 1773 to 1841, the gathering place of thousands of christian households through the generations. The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid in 1841, and it was dedicated in 1842. Many of the very stones from the structure of 1680 have been wrought into both of these subsequent temples, and a few bear the rudely carved initials of the fathers who carted or cut them into shape.
In the early days of the Reformed Dutch church the pioneers deeply felt the want of a gospel ministry. The pastors of the Netherlands were not so numerous as to permit their emigration in large num- bers, nor were the rewards offered by the infant colo- nies sufficient to tempt from their snug livings any save the most enter- prising and consecrated of men. It was essential that the dominie should preach in Dutch, or his ministra- tions would be worthless; and, further, the High church theories of the Re- formed church recognized no orders save those ob- tained through the Classis of Amsterdam.
For ninety years the church of Bergen lived without a pastor.
During the whole of this time religious services were continued under charge of the Voorlezer- literally foresinger. He was at one and the same time chorister, clerk, school teacher and lay-reader. Every Lord's Day the con- gregation assembled to BERGEN REFORMED CHURCH. pray and sing psalms, while they listened to homilies of godly divines of the fatherland, read from printed copies. . Is occasion required ministers from New York or Long Island were ferried across the river to the landing stage at Panlus Hook and driven to the church, where marriages were solemnized and the children baptized.
The names of the voorlezers should not be forgotten. Reynier Van Geisen, Adrian Ver- mulen, P. Van Benthuyzen, Abraham Sickels and John Collard carry the succession beyond the settlement of the first pastor, after which the office lost much of its importance. . \ call was made in 1750 on the Rev. Peter De Wint, and he seems to have preached for about a year, both in Bergen and Staten Island, but was never installed.
On June 22, 1753, a call was formally made on William Jackson, a young man of Scotch descent, who had studied theology with one of the Dutch dominies, on condition that he sul for Holland to be examined and ordained by the Classis of Amsterdam, and then return to
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
reside at Bergen, and preach both at Bergen and Staten Island. After an absence of four years Mr. Jackson fulfilled his part of the agreement, and continued to serve both churches as stipulated until 1789. when he was laid aside by mental derangement. The Classis declared him emeritus, and the Consistory secured to him a home in the parsonage during his life. He lived until 1813, and was buried near the church in which he had so faithfully ministered.
In 1793 Rev. John Cornelison was installed as pastor. He continued in service until 1828, when he died after a short illness. His successor was Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, who was called from the church of Aquackanock, now Passaie, N. J. Dr. Taylor was a leader in the most important era of church life in Bergen. He saw the rural life change into the suburban, and then grew upon him the busy hum of the city. He was zealous and faithful through all, and his ministry was exceedingly fruitful.
In 1871, after a ministry of forty-four years, he was declared pastor emeritus, but continued to reside among his people for ten years longer.
Three tablets to the memory of these three honored ministers now adorn the walls of the Bergen church.
Rev. James L. Amerman, D. D., was installed in 1871, but in 1876 resigned to assume charge of theological education in Japan. He was succeeded after a few months by Rev. Cor- nelius Brett, D. D., who continues as the fifth pastor of a church more than two hundred and thirty years old.
During his pastorate a Sunday-school building has been erected, and the interior of the church remodeled. In June, 1893, the church reported : Families, 285 ; Members, 564; Sunday- school enrollment, 800 ; Money raised for all purposes, $11,231.
Cornelius Brett is a son of Rev. Philip M. Brett, of the Reformed church. He was born in New York City, December 25, 1842. He was fitted for college at the Collegiate and Poly- technic Institute of Brooklyn. He graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1862, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1865. He was ordained in June, 1865, and installed as pastor of the Reformed Church of Flatlands, L. I. In 1870 he removed to Newark, N. J., becoming pastor of the Second Reformed Church of that city. In July, 1873, he removed to Montgomery, Orange County, N. Y., becoming pastor of the church there. In August, 1876, he was installed pastor of the Bergen Reformed Church in Jersey City, a posi- tion he still fills.
In October, 1865, he married Miss Helen Runyon, of New Brunswick, N. J. They have two children, a son and a daughter. He received the degree of D. D. from the College of Pennsylvania. He is a member of Highland Council, A. L. of H., the Cosmos Club and Phi Beta Kappa.
*THE WAYNE STREET REFORMED CHURCH was organized as the First Reformed Dutch Church, in the township of Van Vorst. When this church was planted the corporate limits of Jersey City extended to Grove Street on the west. The region beyond was known as Harsimus and Pavonia, but was legally the township of Van Vorst, so named after an ancient family, one branch of which was represented by Cornelius Van Vorst, whose homestead stood on Wayne above Barrow Street. Few streets had as yet been opened beyond the city limits. Vegetable gardens and a few sandhills gave variety to the landscape. The finest residences in Jersey City were on Essex Street, fronting the water, and corresponding to the Battery in New York. Its population was about ten thousand. It was comparatively destitute of the conveniences and comforts which belong to a city. There was no gas, no water supply, no sewerage, no regular omnibus service. There was one public school and a tract society organized as early as 1837, and doing much good. The supply of churches was meagre. There was one Presbyterian, one Episcopalian, one Reformed (Dutch), one Methodist. the fragments of three Baptist churches just erystalizing into the Union Baptist, a Congregational church, which soon became extinct, and one Roman Catholic church. Above Grove Street the field was unoccupied.
On the 28th of January, 1846, a special meeting of the Classis of Bergen was held at the house of Stephen Garretson "to take into consideration a petition for the organization of a Reformed Dutch church in Harsimus." This petition was signed by twenty-two heads of families and twenty-five communieants in the Reformed Dutch churches of Bergen and Jersey
* Prepared by Rev. P. D. Van Cleef.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
City, and of other christian churches uniting with them. The church was organized and the Classis appointed Rev. Matthias Lusk to superintend the election of elders and deacons, and Rev. B. C. Taylor, D. D., to preach and ordain them when chosen.
The first Consistory was composed of four Elders, Barzillai W. Ryder, Earl B. Sipple, Stephen Garretson and John Garretson, and two deacons, John Berry and Benjamin Bell. The church was incorporated under the name of the "First Reformed Dutch Church in the Town- ship of Van Vorst." It has since been designated for many years as the Second Reformed Church of Jersey City, but is now commonly known as the Wayne Street Reformed Church, although its corporate title remains unchanged.
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