History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 24

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 24

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In 1829, Robert H. Wooley purebased two acres of land for one hundred and fifty dollars, on the eorner of what is now Front and Broad Streets. Frightened at his purehase, he urged a friend to take half of it, but the offer was not accepted. He built a frame building (on the site of Spinning & Patterson's store), which was opened as a store by T. & J. W. Morford, who remained there until 1843. Upon the other land Robert H. Wooley and Isaae P. White opened a lumber-yard, which was kept there for many years. It was opposite the present lumber-yard on the north side of Broad Street.

The bridge across the river (over three hun- dred feet in lengthi) was built before 1834. In that year Asher S. Parker, a native of the township, began business in Red Bank as a clerk for Shepherd Collett. In 1840 he went into the employ of Charles G. Allen. In 1847 he, with Francis Chadwick, began business on their own account and continued until 1878.

On the 19th of February, 1852, the Red Bank Steamboat Company was incorporated with a capital of fifty thousand dollars and the following-named corporators : Anthony II. Haggerty, John R. Conover, Edmund T. Wil-

liams, William Haight, William Applegate, David C. Conover, Pierson Hendrickson, Daniel Conover, Joseph Shepherd and John McBriar. On the 26th of February following the ineor- poration of this company the Middletown and Shrewsbury Transportation Company was incorporated, with capital of thirty thou- sand dollars and the following-named corpora- tors: James Cooper, Richard Lufburrow, George Cooper, Robert Allen, James W. Bor- den, John E. Johnson and Charles G. Allen.

These two Companies each built steamboats; the Red Bank Company built first the "Thomas Hunt," and later the " Thomas Haight" and the " Alice Priee." The Middletown and Shrewsbury Transportation Company built the "Golden Gate," and later the "Oeean Wave." These companies, with their steamboats, did a thriving business for about four years, when each had sunk its capital. Their debts were all paid and they retired from business.

William Remsen, soon after his settlement at Red Bank, in 1845, built two sehooners,-the " Henry Remsen " of one hundred and forty tons, and the "Sarah Elizabetli," of eighty tons. These schooners were run in connection with his store and mill business. In July, 1837, James P. Allaire began running the steamboat "Isis " from Red Bank to New York, and soon after added the steamner " Osiris," and in June, 1841, a line of stages was established to run in connection with these boats from Mana- squan River to Red Bank.

The first physician who settled at Red Bank was Dr. John R. Conover, who came to this place in 1837, and remained until 1857, when he was elected surrogate and removed to Free- hold. He is more fully mentioned in the history of the Monmouth Medieal Society in this volume.

Dr. R. R. Conover, brother of Dr. John Conover, came to Red Bank in 1859, and prac- tieed until his death, in 1884.

Dr. William H. IInbbard, a son of Elias Hubbard and nephew of Dr. Jacobus Hubbard, Sr., of Tinton Falls, studied with Dr. Jacobus Hubbard, Jr., began practice at Tinton Falls in 1834, and in 1856 went to Long Island. In 1862 he removed to Red Bank, and is still in practice there.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Dr. William A. Betts came to Red Bank in 1860, and is still in practice. The physicians who are now at Red Bank other than as men- tioned are Drs. T. E. Ridgway, Edwin Fields, J. E. Sayre, George Marsden and A. T. Traf- ford.

The post-office was established at Red Bank May 11, 1833, with Jacob McClane (who is still living) as postmaster. The office was kept in his store, which was on what is now the John Stout property. McClane was succeeded, in the winter of 1841-42, by Dr. John R. Conover, who continued until 1852. Forman Borden acted as his deputy. George E. Finch was appointed postmaster in 1852, and served until his death. Ile was succeeded by his widow, Mrs. Finch, who kept the office until about 1870, and was followed by Jacob Corlies. The present postmaster, William Applegate, was appointed June 17, 1880.

The Globe Hotel was built as a dwelling by Robert Hart, in 1840. In 1844, it was bought by Tobias Hendrickson, who enlarged and opened it as a hotel. It was bought in 1849 by his sons, Samuel T. and J. H. Hendrickson, who kept it many years, and still own it. E. C. Richardson is now the lessee of the house.

Freneh's Central Hotel is on the site of the former residence of the Rev. R. T. Middle- ditch, which, abont 1870, came into the posses- sion of Peter R. Smock, who opened it as the Central Hotel ; after his death it was continued for a time by his widow, until it was burned. The present hotel was built on its site in 1882, and is now kept by C. G. French.

The favorable location of Red Bank at the head of navigation on the river, and the fine agricultural country nearly surrounding it, to- gether with its railway facilities in the later years, have all contributed largely to its growth, causing it to become what it is to-day,-the lead- ing business town of Monmonth County. It has, like many other towns, been retarded by the occurrence of disastrous fires, of which may be mentioned those of January 1, 1880; July 18, 1881, December 3, 1881, and November 5, 1882, the last and most notable of which broke out on Sunday evening. The fire was discovered in the loft of Joseph W. Chills'

stable, in the rear of his bakery, on Broad Strect. The fire extended south from Spinning & Patterson's store to the second lot below the First National Bank, destroying about twenty business-places and several dwellings, including the bank, First Methodist Church and the office of the New Jersey Standard newspaper.

Red Bank became an incorporated town in 1870 by the operation of " An Act for the Im- provement of the Town of Red Bank, in the County of Monmouth," approved March 17th of that year, and which provides and declares :

" That the limits of the town of Red Bank, in the county of Monmouth, for the purposes of this aet, shall be as follows: Beginning at a point where the middle of the publie road leading from Red Bank to Shrews- bury intersects the middle of Irving Street ; thenee westerly on a line with the middle of Irving Street continued straight to the North Shrewsbury River; thence northwardly and eastwardly along the said river to the northeast corner of the land of the heirs of Edmund Throekmorton, deceased; thienee south- wardly to a point where the middle of the public road leading from Red Bank to Port Washington intersects the middle of the road leading from the last-mentioned road to Parkerville, by lands of David N. Byram and William L. Borden ; thence southwardly along the middle of said Parkerville road to a point where the line of the middle of Irving Street continued east- wardly intersects the middle of the last-nanied -road ; thence westwardly to the place of beginning."

The commissioners are designated by the act as " The Board of Commissioners of Red Bank." The list of chief commissioners of the town from the time of its incorporation to the present is as follows: 1870-71, Samnel T. Hendriek- son ; 1871-72, John S. Applegate ; 1872-73, James S. Throckmorton ; 1873-74, William T. Corlies; 1874-78, Robert Allen, Jr. ; 1878-80, Samuel Morford; 1880-84, John Sutton.

The elerks of the Board of Commissioners have been : 1870-72, Thomas H. Applegate ; 1872-74, Larue N. White ; 1874-83, Edmund T. Allen ; 1883-84, R. Van Dyke Reed. Treas- urers: 1870-72, J. Trafford Allen; 1872-74, Larue N. White; 1874-75, John Sutton ; 1875-81, Thomas H. Applegate ; 1881-84, William P. Corlies ; 1884, Asher S. Parker.

In the winter of 1878-79 an application was made to the Legislature of 1878-79 to change

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THE TOWN OF RED BANK.

the name of Red Bank to "Shrewsbury City." An act supplementary to the original aet of 1870 granting the application was passed and approved February 14, 1879,1 notwithstanding which, the name remains as before.

The Fire Department of Red Bank was or- ganized in 1879, with C.W. Thompson as chief. At that time there was but one organized eom- pany (Navesink Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1), which was chartered in 1872, with C. W. Thompson as foreman, who served until the organization of the Fire Department under the borough eharter in 1879. In that year the Relief Fire Company, the Independent Fire Company, and the Relief and Liberty Hose Companies were organized. The Fire Depart- ment embraces these companies. The engines and apparatus are owned by the town, and under the care of companies as follows :

Navesink Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1, has sixty-three members, with C. B. Hender- son as foreman. In addition to its hooks and ladders, it has charge of the " Little Giant," a four-wheel chemical engine, and five hundred feet of hose.

The Relief Engine Company has seventy members, with Thomas Warwiek foreman. Its apparatus is a Button hand-engine, seven hun-

1 The following was published in the New York World. at the time of the passage of the bill :

" EXIT RED BANK.

" The bill to change the name of Red Bank, N. J., to Shrewsbury City was yesterday passed by the Senate. The town of Red Bank is nearly forty years old and has a population approaching four thousand. It is situated at the navigable head of the Shrewsbury River, on the New Jersey Southern and the New York and Long Branch Rail- roads, and is the terminus of a steamboat line. It is twenty-five miles distant from this eity and eight miles from Long Branch. It is beantified by many attractive cottages, which are occupied by wealthy residents, among these being Anthony Reckless, president of the New York and Long Branch Railroad; W. S. Sneden, manager of the New Jersey Southern Railroad : Robert Allen and W. W. Conover. It is a favorite residence of many New York people during the summer months. The town was named after the red banks of the Shrewsbury River, but its peo- ple were never satisfied with the name,-hence the change to Shrewsbury City. The town is incorporated, paved and lighted, and has two newspapers. It is the metropo- lis of Montuouth County."

dred and fifty feet of hose, and Little Giant, No. 2, four-wheel chemieal engine, with one hundred and fifty feet of hose. It also has the hose of the Relief Hose Company, which was . disbanded.

The Independent Engine Company numbers twenty-eight members, under Samuel Huglies, foreman, and has the charge of one Button hand-engine.

The Liberty Hose Company contains twenty- seven members and has seven hundred and fifty feet of hose, with the Independent engine

The department was under charge of Chief C. W. Thompson from 1879 till 1881, when he was succeeded by Dr. Edwin Fields, who served one year. James Walsh was then appointed and also served one year, and in March, 1883, the present chief, Samuel Saques, was appointed.

THE RED BANK WATER-WORKS have been built by the town under authority of a general law passed by the Legislature at the session of 1884. Under this act, the town authorities, in May, 1884, appointed Anthony Reekless, Jolin S. Applegate and William S. Sneden water commissioners, to devise the best method of supplying the town with pure and wholesome water, and to have the works constructed by contract awarded to the lowest bidder.

After mueh examination and discussion, it was decided to test the recommendations of Professor Cook, the State geologist, who was confident that an abundant supply of pure water existed under the Lower Marl Bed, which, in this loeality, is from sixty to eighty feet below the surface.

Three artesian wells were bored to the water- bearing 'sand, which was reached at a depth of nearly seventy feet, and the water rose in the pipes to within ten feet of the surface. After thoroughly testing the flow by steam-pumping, it was deeided by the engineers employed by the commissioners (Messrs. Wilson Brothers, of Philadelphia) to sink an open well fifteen feet in diameter to a point within ten feet of the bottom of the marl stratum, which was thirty- five feet thick, and from thenee to put down

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

five east-iron pipes of three feet diameter, reach- ing through the marl and into the sand. This was accomplished with considerable difficulty, and a concrete floor put in around the top of the pipes, extending under the curb of the main well.

A pulsometer capable of discharging five hundred gallons per minute was kept constantly at work during the sinking of the well and the pipes. When the work was finished the water flowed up through the cast-iron pipes at the rate of two hundred and fifty thousand gallons in twenty-four hours. Its quality, as analyzed under Professor Cook's direction, is shown to be un'exceptionable, very soft and pure, suitable for domestic purposes and steam boilers.

A reservoir has been constructed on the hill near the eastern side of the town of a capacity of nine hundred thousand gallons, and about three miles of mains laid in the principal streets, connecting the well and the reservoir. The elevation of the latter is one hundred and ten feet above the general level of the town.

The pumping apparatus at this writing (April, 1885) is not entirely completed, but is to consist of two duplex compound engines, of Worthington's make, acting vertically, the water-cylinders to be placed near the bottom of the well, so that the maximum flow can be secured.

Some two miles of additional pipes are being laid this spring. The whole cost of the works, with the town thoroughly piped, will come con- siderably within the limit authorized by the Legislature, which was sixty thousand dollars. It is confidently believed that no town in the State will be supplied with more pure and wholesome water than these works will furnish to Red Bank.

The Red Bank Gas-Light Company was or- ganized under an act of Legislature passed February 18, 1862. The corporators were James II. Peters,, John W. Stout, S. T. Hen- dricksou, Henry S. Little, John R. Bergen and Anthony Reckless. Nothing was done until 1870. A supplement to the original aet was passed in February, 1869, authorizing the con- pany to lay pipes to Shrewsbury and Eatontown.

Contract was made with James M. Lawry, in 1870, to build the works and lay mains, for the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. The works were completed, and gas was first used in Red Bank in the fall of 1871. Asher S. Parker was president of the company and Anthony Reckless secretary. The company have at present about five miles of pipe laid. The present offieers are Jolin S. Applegate, presi- dent, and Henry S. Schroeder, secretary.

THE FORUM CONGREGATION OF RED BANK was a society of men who organized themselves into a debating society, and were incorporated June 27, 1835. They erected a building, thirty by forty feet, on the site of the Globe Hotel, which was called the Forum. At that time there was no church edifice in the place, and the Forum was used for all public gatherings, civil or religious. After the establishment of churches and societies the building was used for other purposes.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHREWS- BURY, at Red Bank, was constituted August 7, 1844, the council being called by Sidney T. Smith, William MeLane, John M. Smith, Joseph Carhart, Sarah J. Smith, Mary A. Mc- Lane, Ann Mount, Catharine Allen, Margaret Tilton, Mary Wallace, Deborah and Charlotte Carhart, who lived at Red Bank. The call was for a council to meet at Red Bank, July 17, 1844, and examine the merits of the request. The council met as requested, and after exami- nation decided to constitute those who requested into a regular Baptist Church, on August 7, 1844. Upon the day appointed the council met and constituted the church with sixteen members, ten of whom were from the First Baptist Church of Middletown, five from the Second Baptist Church of Middletown and one from Tabernacle Baptist Church, New York City. On the 10th of August following, Joseph M. Smith and Sidney T. Smith were elected deacons; on the 21st of the same month, Thomas S. Griffithis, one of the constituent members, was ordained as pastor.

The church was incorporated July 1, 1845, and trustees elected March 8th. On the 8th of May following the trustees were author-

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THE TOWN OF RED BANK.

ized to select a lot on which to erect a house of worship. On December 13th it was resolved to build. The corner-stone was laid October 15, 1846; the Rev. John Dowling, D.D., of New York, preached upon the occasion. The church was not finished until 1849, and was dedieated July 17th in that year. It is still in use, hav- ing been enlarged during the pastorate of the Rev. R. T. Middleditel.

The Rev. Thomas S. Griffith resigned his pastorate in February, 1850. The Rev. Robert T. Middleditch began preaching August 3d in that year, and was called to be pastor Deeem- ber 1, 1851. He remained in charge until July 31, 1867, he having sent in his letter of resigna- tion April 14th previous. The Rev. C. W. Clark was called September 22, 1867, accepted October 20th, in the same year, and resigned October 30, 1870. The Rev. E. J. Foote suc- ceeded him February 26, 1871, and resigned in August, 1875. The Rev. Benjamin F. Leips- ner began preaching September 1, 1875, and received a call to become their pastor October 5th following. He resigned December 1, 1882, to take effect January 1, 1883. He was she- ceeded by the present pastor, the Rev. J. M. Manning, who began his labors. April 1st in that year. The church has a membership of three hundred and fifty-six.

THE RED BANK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized, in 1844, under the charge of the Rev. William E. Perry.

Local preachers from the Long Branch Church had, for many years, oeeasionally visited this seetion,1 and, in 1802, John Bethel, a native of Rumson Neck, was admitted to a traveling connection, and labored in this vicinity till 1810, when he located at a distance. William Mills, George Wooley, Benjamin Abbott and many others preached at private houses in this locality (from 1803) many years. Mrs. Sarah King, who left the neighborhood of what is now Red Bank in 1806, states that before that year much agi- tation had been made in reference to building a Methodist Church. Several locations had been

discussed; a lot belonging to Michael Hulett was surveyed and the cedars grubbed away; arrangements were made to build on the Scuffle- town road, which leads to Rumson. Stone for the foundation of a church was delivered on a tongue of land where the old road turned to go across the side of the hill leading to Rumson. Divided councils caused delay, years went by, and, in 1820, regular services began to be hield at Rumson (now Little Silver), and, in 1822, a church was built there, and agitation ceased in this locality nntil 1844, when Rumson became a separate charge, and the Rev. William E. Perry, being on the charge, urged the Method- ists of Red Bank to organize a church, which was done, as before mentioned.

Trustees were elected, September 8, 1845, as follows: Joseph W. Borden, Amos Tilton and Jeremiah Borden. The certificate of incorpo- ration was filed October 1st following. A lot was purchased on Broad Street, north of the First National Bank. The corner-stone of a house of worship was laid October 8, 1845, the Rev. James Ayres, of New Brunswick, offici- ating. The building was completed the next year, and dedicated August 15, 1846. The church was used without change until 1866, when the old building was moved to the rear, made into a lecture-room and opened for service May 1, 1867.

A new and commodious edifice was begun in June, 1867. The church was completed and dedieated by Bishop Simpson, November 28th in the same year. The edifice cost fifteen thou- sand dollars, and was used until destroyed by fire, November 5, 1882. The society then pur- chased the present lot, at the corner of Main and Monmouth Streets, and laid the corner- stone of the present church August 1, 1883. It is of briek, seventy-five by one hundred feet in size, with an audience-room sixty feet square, and cost nineteen thousand five hundred dollars. It was dedicated March 9, 1884. Among the pastors sinee the organization have been Revs. R. S. Harris, John Scarlett, A. Ballard, George Hitchins, JJ. Lewis, I. D. King, R. A. Chalker, Charles E. Hill, S. E. Post, J. Stiles, C. W. Heisley, W. M. White and Henry Belting, who is the present pastor.

1 The Rev. I. D. King, during his pastorate from 1865 to 1867, gathered facts in reference to Methodism in this · section, from which the facts here given are obtained.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH following year, and dedicated August 13, 1856. was organized May 31, 1880, with forty-five It has since been repaired and remodeled. members. A lot was purchased on Broad Street, and a church edifice, thirty-two by fifty- six feet in size, was ereeted, and dedicated May 8, 1881. The pastors have been the Revs. J. D Norton, W. Wythe and J. R. Mace.

THE TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Red Bank originated in the establishment here of a mission from Christ Church of Shrewsbury, in 1851, at which time a small ehapel was built, which, having been enlarged and improved at different times, is still used.

. The parish was organized as Trinity parish of Red Bank, in January, 1859. The first rector was the Rev. W. N. Dunnell, who served until 1871, preaching his farewell sermon Oeto- ber 22d, in that year. He was sueceeded by the Rev. A. Sydney Dealey, who closed his ree- torship in December, 1875. The Rev. S. F. Hotelkin began his rectorship February 15, 1876, and resigned in Deeember, 1877. He was succeeded, in March, 1878, by the Rev. C. A. Tibbals, who continued until March, 1881. The Rev. J. Gibson Gantt served as a supply a short time, and on the 18th of April, 1882, the pres- ent rector, the Rev. Joseph F. Jowitt, assumed the reetorship. The ehureh has one hundred and twenty-five communicants and one hundred and thirty-nine families.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RED BANK was organized by the Presbytery of New Bruns- wiek in June, 1852, being constituted of twenty-seven members, all from Shrewsbury Church. Mr. F. Reck Harbangh, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, was or- dained and installed pastor October 23, 1853, and resigned October 23, 1854. He has been followed by William Scribner, February 7, 1855, to February 2, 1858 ; D. Dubois Sahler, July 20, 1858, to July 23, 1863 ; Daniel V. McLean, D.D., March 9, 1864, to November 23; 1869 ; Jolin R. Hamilton, June 7, 1870, to October 2, 1873 ; F. Reek Harbaugh, the pres- ent pastor, May 18, 1874.

THE ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH at Red Bank was organized by Rev. James Col- lan, who, in 1854, erected a church, twenty-nine by seventy-two feet, on the present site at the corner of Pearl and Wall Streets. It was re- modeled in 1873 by Father J. F. Saloan, and St. James' Hall, adjoining the ehnrch, was built in 1879. It is of brick, thirty-five by eighty feet in size, and two stories in height, the upper room being used for a hall and the lower for a parish sehool. The congregation numbers one thousand souls. The Rev. John Kelly suc- eeeded Father Collan, and served this church and St. Joseph, at Keyport, from 1854 to 1862. Thomas M. Killeen became pastor in April, 1863, and served until 1867. Under his pas- torate the present parsonage was built. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. T. Saloan, who re- mained nntil 1876, and on July Ist in that year the present pastor, the Rev. M. E. Kane, was appointed. Under him a debt of three thousand five hundred dollars was paid (one-half of which was donated by Mrs. Ellen Dykers de Navarro), and St. James' Hall was also ereeted by him.

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH, now of Red Bank, was organized many years ago at Fair Haven, where a church was ereeted and used until it was burned, when the society ereeted the present elinreh, which was dedieated December 25, 1873.

RED BANK SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 75, con- tains two school-houses and has within its limits eight hundred and sixty-three children of school age. The first school taught in this locality was kept by George Morford, in 1816, in a little school-honse cast of J. Trafford Allen's humber-yard, and in which house he lived. About 1830, Esek White donated a lot of ground now on Mechanie Street, and which is the present seliool-lot. On this lot a school- house was built and used. until 1870. It was sometimes called the Academy. John D. Den- nison kept there many years. Abont 1848, Miss Hartshorne kept a private school, and was

The corner-stone of a church edifice was laid June 12, 1855. The church was completed the | succeeded by Miss Hatfieldl.

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THE TOWN OF RED BANK.

As the town increased in population the de- time of opening the new school-house, in 1871, mand for school accommodations also increased, was one hundred and seventy-two; the year following, the umber reached an average with- in four of being double that number ; and in 1876 the average was abont five hundred. The demand for greater accommodation required another school-house. A lot was purchased on Oakland Street, and a brick building, about forty feet square and two stories in height, was erected in 1877, and was first used in the fol- lowing winter. and on June 6, 1860, a meeting of the citizens was held to decide on the building a new school- house. Nothing was done to accomplish the work at this time, and several years passed be- fore the subject was again agitated. In the winter of 1866-67 a number of citizens, desir- ous of having better facilities for education, presented a bill to the Legislature for the incor- poration of an academy. The bill was passed March 14, 1867. The institution was styled The principals of the school from 1871 have been Albert Clark, 1871-72; William Hub- bard, 1872-73; A. B. Guilford, 1873-79 ; Rich- ard Case, 1879 to the present time. Charles D. Warner has been district clerk from the organization of the district, in 1871, to the pres- ent, except a short time. "Orient Academy." The corporators were Anthony Reckless, James H. Peters, Ashier S. Parker, Thomas Morford, Joseph C. Fisher, John S. Applegate, Francis Chadwick, John R. Bergen, John W. Parker, Rev. D. V. McLean, D.D., and the Rev. Robert T. Middleditch, D.D. Nothing was accomplished by this eor- poration exeept an organization. On the 2d of June, 1868, a meeting of citizens was again held, and it was resolved to build a school-house at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. This project also failed. In the year 1869 there were four schools kept in the town,-two in the old building on Mechanic Street and two in a rented house on the south side of Front Street.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 24

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 994

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994