USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 30
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The first pastor of this church was Rev. David Jones, of Revolutionary memory and fame. He was the son of Morgan and Eleanor Jones, born in the State of Delaware, May 12, 1736, and was baptized May 6, 1758, by Rev. .David Davis. He soon after placed himself
under the tuition of Rev. Isaac Eaton, at Hope- well, and subsequently studied theology with Rev. Abel Morgan, at Middletown. Being at that time a member and licentiate of the church, he preached occasionally at Monmouth Court- House, Cranbury and Crosswicks. He was one of the constituent members of the Upper Freehold Church, and was ordained its pastor December 12, 1766, and continued in that ca- pacity until 1775. During his pastorate twen- ty-two members were added to the church by baptism.
Some two years after the resignation of Mr. Jones, Rev. William J. Pitman, " a promising young man," was settled, and served as pastor some three years, and then resigning, he lived in Allentown one year (preaching to the desti- tute), and thenee removed to Philadelphia. About fifteen were added to the church during his pastorate. He died at Seekonk, R. I., July 24, 1822, in his seventy-second year.
Rev. Jolin Blackwell was the third pastor. He remained about five years, to general satisfac- tion, baptizing into the fellowship of the church, thirty-one members.
Rev. Joseph Stephens was the next pastor. He came from North Carolina, and took the pastoral charge here in 1789, and held it until 1793, receiving into the church on profession thirty-eiglit members. The last learned of him he was under discipline for heretical doctrine, and avowed himself an out and out Universalist.
Rev. David Laborrow then succeeded to the pastorate, for one year. He was followed by Rev. Andrew Harpending, who came from the Methodist denomination ; was received into and licensed to preach the gospel by the Swamptown Baptist Church. Thence he came to Upper Freehold, followed by evil reports ; remained about three years, baptized fourteen persons, and left under some charges of immorality. In the ycar 1802 the church appears to liave been sup- plied by Rev. Jolin Morgan, and eleven are re- ported as received by baptism. From 1803 to 1808 the church was destitute of a pastor, but within that period there was an accession by baptism of thirty-two members. For one or two years from 1808 the pulpit was occupied by Rev. S. B. Harris. Rev. John Cooper suc-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
ceeded Mr. Harris in 1813; served as pastor some eight years, and baptized seventeen candi- dates. The Rev. James M. Challis came to the pastorate in his carly manhood. He was or- dained December 7, 1822, by Revs. Joseph Shepherd and John Segur, and for a period of sixteen years he labored assiduously, receiving into the church on profession two hundred and thirty-eight converts.
Rev. Levi G. Beck took the oversight of the church April 1, 1838, which he held for five years. He baptized on profession forty-seven converts. He was succeeded in the spring of 1843 by Rev. William A. Ray, a young man of fine talents, but of feeble bodily health. He continued here less than three years, and bap- tized eight candidates. He subsequently became pastor of the Baptist Church at Charlottesville, Va., where he died in 1849.
Rev. Andrew Armstrong, a licentiate of the Baptist Church at Woodstown, was ordained to the pastorate here in 1846. He remained five years, baptizing on profession sixty converts.
Rev. William J. Nice was the pastor for three years from 1852, during which time only three were baptized. In the fall of 1855, Rev. Samuel Sproul took the oversight of this church, and resigned at the end of two years. While he was pastor a good church edifice was erected at Imlaystown, and thirty members were added to the church on profession.
In the spring of 1858 the church called and settled as pastor Rev. Charles M. Deitz, which position he held eight years, having added to the church by baptism sixty-nine members. . During his pastorate (in 1864) the church edi- fice at Imlaystown was enlarged to its present size. The bell on it is the gift of L. M. Challis, of New York, son of Rev. James M. Challis, former pastor of this church.
The Rev. William D. Hires entered upon his pastorate April 1, 1867, and resigned in the fall . of 1878. He was succeeded, in May, 1879, by the Rev. Edward Lonx, who remained as pas- tor until the winter of 1881-82. In May, 1882, the Rev. David Silver was installed, and re- mained in service until his death, December 22, 1884. The present (Jan. 1885) membership of ` the church is two hundred and twenty-four.
The following is a list of the deacons of the church to the year 1869: William Vaughn, Thomas Farr, Thomas Cox, Peter Sexton, Asher Cox, Job Emmons, William Holman, Samuel Barcalow, William Shumar, James Cunning- ham, Peter Clayton, Hartson Thompson, Wil- liam Perrine, Enoch Cheesman, David Perrine, Reuben Norris, Lewis Robbins, William Combs, John Goldy, George Taylor, Sidney Williams, and Joseph Holmes. The Rev. Charles L. Williams, son of Deacon Sidney Williams of this church, is a graduate of Prince- ton and of Crozer Theological Seminary. He is now pastor of the Upland Baptist Church, in Delaware County, Pa., having been installed there in August, 1884. It is his first charge.
The following persons have acted as trustees of the church to 1869, viz. : John Lawrence, Richard Cox, Thomas Cox, Richard Kinman, Forman Mount, William Lloyd, Rev. John Blackwell, John Lloyd, William Parent, James Clayton, Edward Clayton, John Shumar, Wil- liam Holman, Ezekiel Davison, Samuel Barca- low, Peter Billieu, John Thompson, Thomas Cox, Jr., Adda Mount, William Shumar, James S. Lawrence, James Ivins, Charles Potts, Fur- man Hendrickson, Thomas Meirs, George Taylor, George Applegate, Samuel Henderson, Lewis Robbins, William Combs, T. T. Tunis, George Cox, John Goldy, John R. Longstreet, John M. Billieu, Joseph. Holmes, James S. Giberson, Richard Ridgeway and Job Polhe- mus.
Within the territory formerly occupied by this church there are now four other churches, either of which (except oue) is larger and stronger than this. The church at Jacobstown was constituted in 1785 by thirty-two members dismissed from Upper Freehold. The Bordentown Church, constituted in 1821, was an offshoot of this, though there is no record of the names of mem- bers dismissed to constitute it. In 1834 this church dismissed ninety members to constitute the church at Freehold.
The meeting-houses at first used by all of the above-named churches were formerly imder the supervision of the mother-church; be- sides which she has owned four honses of wor- ship, viz. : the yellow meeting-house, a part of
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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.
which was built, more than a hundred years ago, on land donated by Richard Salter, Jr., who was buried in the old graveyard of the church ; another house, built on Cream Ridge, in 1844; and a small house erected a few years later at Imlaystown, for prayer-meeting and Sunday-school. In 1855 the house on the ridge was removed to Imlaystown, and subse- quently (1864)enlarged to its present dimensions, about forty by seventy feet. This last and the first-named are the only meeting-houses now owned by the church; besides which the church owns a parsonage house and lot adjoin- ing the churchyard at Imlaystown.
This church united with the Philadelphia Baptist Association in 1766, and retained that connection until 1813,-a period of forty-seven years. It then became a member of the New Jersey Baptist Association, and so remained until 1868,-a period of fifty-five years.
THE IMLAY'S HILL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH dates back nearly a century. In the year 1790 a few Methodists desirous of having a meeting-house in the vicinity of Inlay's Hill met at the house of Samuel Imlay and elected the following-named persons trustees : Jonathan Coward, Joseph Page, Thomas Sill, Samuel Imlay, Joseph James, John Kein, John Gregory, Jonathan Page and John Page. At the same time Samuel Imlay conveyed to the trus- tees in trust one acre of land for church purposes. On this lot a church edifice was erected in 1790. It was destroyed by fire in 1807, and being rebuilt, was used until 1855, when it was replaced by the present church, which was dedicated December 25th in that year. A chapel was erected at Imlaystown in 1866, and dedicated January 30, 1867, under charge of J. P. Connelly.
The trustees elected in 1790 served until February 10, 1816, when an election was held at " Emlay's Meeting-House," with the follow- ing result : Ezekiel Robins, Joseph Rouzee, Richard C. Robbins, Thomas Throp, Cornelius Hance, John Allensmark and Andrew Nelson. The following-named preachers have served the church during the past seventy years :
1816. Peter Van Nest, Thomas Neal.
1817. John Finley, James Akins.
1818. John Finley, Walter Burrowes.
1819. John Wooley, Daniel Fidler.
1820. James Akins, John Price.
1821. David Best, Bartholomew Weed.
1822. Bartholomew Weed, Eliphalet Reed.
1823. John Walker, William Lumis.
1824. John Walker, Burrowes Jones.
1825. Jolin Finley, James Moore.
1826. John Finley, James MeLaurin.
1827. James McLaurin, Levi Prettyman.
1828. R. W. Petherbridge, William Granville.
1829. William Granville, James Moore.
1830. Henry Boehm, T. Steward.
1831. Henry Boehm, J. Canfield.
1832. W. Williams, C. Ford.
1833. W. Williams, - Robold.
1834. Henry Boehm.
1835. Edward Page.
1836. Edward Page.
1837. T. Steward.
1838. T. Steward, T. Lyon.
1839. J. Spear, N. Edwards.
1840. J. Spear, J. Mather.
1841. J. Long, D. Graves.
1842. J. Long, J. Fort.
1843. N. Chew, - Griffin.
1844. N. Chew, J. Somerill.
1845. J. Sleeper, S. Van Zant.
1846. J. Sleeper, W. W. Christine.
1847. S. Jaequett, William Tunison.
1848. William Rogers, F. Robbins.
1849. C. Downs, J. Camp.
1850. C. Downs, - Scran.
1851. S. Deeker, J. Mathews.
1852. Henry Beegle, - Primrose.
1853. Henry Beegle, E. H. Durell.
1854. - - Palmer, - Cosea.
1855. - Palmer, - Parvin.
1856. J. White.
1857. W. B. Osborn.
1858-59. E. H. Durell.
1860. George H. Neal.
1861-62. N. Edwards.
1863-64. R. B. Sutcliffe.
1865-66. J. P. Connolly.
1867-69. M. Shimp.
1870. W. C. Chattin.
1871. R. B. Steverson.
1872. D. McCurdy. 1873-75. Joseph E. Willey.
1876. T. D. Sleeper.
1877-79. E. Waters.
1880-82. J. E. Sawn.
1883-84. L. A. Bearmore.
NEW SHARON hamlet lies on the line between Upper Freehold and Mercer County. A Method-
. 1815. David Bartine, Charles Reed.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
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ist Church and school-house are both on the Mercer side. In 1807, William Story estab- lished the manufacture of hats at this place, employing from twenty-five to thirty men. It was continued many years by him, and later by his sons, John and William Story. In 1820, Jedediah Middleton built a tannery, which afterwards passed to David Bowman, and was discontinued about 1840, under Alfred Conover. In 1820, Isaac Wilson built a mill, which, after a few years, was changed into a store. A post- office was established at the place several years ago. Upon the completion of the Pemberton and Hightstown Railroad, the office was re- moved to the railway station.
CANTON, or (as it is better known) Cabbage- town, lies on the line between Upper Freehold and Mercer County. Gordon's "Gazetteer" of 1834 says of Cabbagetown : " It contains half a dozen dwellings, a wheelwright, smith and joiner-shop." It has not been much changed since that time.
PROSPERTOWN lies on the line between Upper Frechold and Ocean County. It contains a post-office, which was established in June, 1881, with Mrs. Sarah Johnson postmistress. She was succeeded, in April, 1882, by Howell Imlay. A school-house is on the Ocean County side. The district contains eighty-five children of school age. Before 1800 a fulling-mill was built on a branch of Lahaway Creek in Jackson township, which, about 1800, was moved to the site of the present mill by Moses Ivins and changed into a grist-mill. It remained in the Ivins family until 1880, when E. P. Empson, the present owner and proprietor, purchased it.
The township of Upper Freehold contains ten school districts and nine hundred and four children of school age. The school property is valued at sixteen thousand three hundred dol- lars. The history of the different schools in the township, as far as can be ascertained is as follows :
Allentown District, No. 14 .- The early schools in Allentown were private and connected with · the church (as mentioned in the history of the
village) until abont 1834, when the old academy was rebuilt, rented to the school trustees, and used for the public school until the erection of the present school building in 1876. The district at present contains two hundred and thirty cliil- dren of school age, and the property is valued at six thousand dollars.
Centre District, No. 15 .- The first school- house in this locality was erected at Pullens- town in 1839-40, and used until the present frame building was erected, in 1869. The dis- triet contains sixty-five children of school age.
East Branch District, No. 16 .- The Friends established a meeting and erected a meeting- house in this locality in 1739, and soon after erected the school-house that stood prior to 1819 between the present residences of J. West and E. T. Hendrickson. The road formerly passed between these two farms, and the old house was on a corner. In 1819, Ezekiel Combs donated the present lot, and the octagonal brick house was erected. It is about twenty feet in diameter; a door covered by a porch occupies one side ; each of the other sides contains a small window. The roof is a steep pitch and shin- gled. The interior is lathed and plastered to the peak, which is surmounted by a chimney. The stove stands in the centre of the roomn. This unique structure is still used and in good preservation. The district contains eighty-five scholars of school agc.
A school-house was erected about 1825 on the farm of Samuel Wright, which was used about twelve years and abandoned. J. Calla- han was a teacher in this house.
Imlaystown District, No. 17 .- The first school-house of which anything is known in this district stood about three-fourths of a mile south from the village, and was used over sev- enty-five years ago. With some repairs, it was continued until the present two-story frame house was erected in the village, in 1866. The district now contains one hundred and five chil- dren of school age.
Cowart District, No. 18 .- The first school- house in this locality was erected before the Emlay's Hill meeting-house was built, in 1791, on the Daniel Hendrickson farm, between the present honse and Skunktown. It was torn
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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.
down in 1858, and the present honse erected on the same farm. This was rebuilt in 1880 and is now used. The district contains seventy children of school age.
Cream Ridge District, No. 19 .- The chil- dren in this vicinity for many years attended school near Hornerstown. The present brick house was built over sixty years ago. A small school-house was erected on the Presbyterian Church lot many years ago, and a private school was taught in it until 1880, when it was aban- doned. The district contains fifty-eight schol- ars of school age.
Pleasant Ridge District, No. 20 .- In 1838 William Forsyth donated a lot of land for school purposes, and the citizens united and erected the school-honse in that year. It has been used from that time to the present, having been repaired in 1883. The district contains forty scholars of school age.
. Ellisdale District, No. 21 .- The school-house now in use was moved in May, 1867, to its present location, on land donated by George Tilton. It originally stood back on the Tilton farm, and was used both as a school-house and Friends' Meeting house. It was erected before 1812. Mrs. Theodosia Craig, a number of years ago, left by will four hundred dollars each to this school and Hornerstown. The district now contains fifty children of school age.
Marl Ridge District No. 22 .- The first school-house in this district was about three- quarters of a mile from the village, on the Monmouth road. The teachers were James B. Stafford and Samuel C. Rodney. The house was afterwards nsed as a dwelling house. The next school building was on the New Egypt road. It was a dwelling-house owned by Robert Woodward, by whom it was given for the purpose of a school, and it was removed to the present site, where it was refitted. It was eighteen by twenty-four feet, with a ceiling five feet six inches in height, which, in after years, was raised eighteen inches. The school was opened in 1820, and was taught by James Callahan until 1824. It is stated that John M. -Horner, now or recently a millionaire of San Francisco, but a native of this place, made the desk and seat in the old house in which he was
both pupil and teacher. The present two-story school building was erected in 1871, and opened with ceremonies December 15th, in that year, at which time Superintendent Samuel Lockwood delivered an address containing the facts given above. The district at present contains one hundred and nine children of school age. The following is a list of teachers from 1824 to tlie present time :
1824-27. Israel J. Woodward.
1828. Mary Taylor and Mary G. Taylor
1829. Edward Tolett.
1832. John Downy.
1834. Benjamin Sweet.
1836. James B. Woodward.
1837. John I .. Fuller.
1838. Thomas E. Antrim.
1840. John M. Horner.
1840. Elizabeth Moore.
1841. Ann Chamberlain.
1846. John Kerland.
1850. Henry Cooke.
1851. John L. Hayes.
1852. William Errickson.
1854. John Beazley.
1856. Joseph Balcom.
1856. Aaron West.
1857. Daniel C. Warren.
1859. Thomas C. Harrison.
1861. Charles L. Lamb.
1863. Amos Atkinson.
1867. Charles Booth.
1869. John M. Nutt and John M. Harker.
1870-71. Kate Walter.
1872. Charles Harker.
1873. David Waldon.
1874. Ella Wilson.
1875-84. George H. Johnson.
Arneytown District, No. 23, embracing a part of the adjoining township in Burlington County, was organized in 1874, in which year the school-house was erected. It is used also for religious worship. The distriet contains ninety-two children of school age.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
COLLEN B. MEIRS .- The Meirs family are of Scotch lineage, the great-great-grandfather of Collen B. having been Christopher Meirs, born in 1700, whose children were David, Jolin, Job and Joseph.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
David Meirs, whose birth occurred in 1740, married Martha Swaim, and had one son, Apollo, and daughters,-Keturah, who married Joel Cook ; and Elizabeth, who mar- ried Anthony Emley. Apollo Meirs, born in 1765, married Unity Shinn, whose children were Martha, married to Abraham Tilton ; Jolin, married to Lneretia Gaskill ; Thomas, married to Rebecca H. Conover ; and David. He mar- ried, a sceond time, Ann Burtis, whose children were Sarah, married to Daniel Tilton ; William, married to Mary Stewart; Unity, married to John Bruere; and Charles, married, first, to Sarah Ann Cox, and, second, to Anna E. Rob- bins.
Thomas Meirs, born in 1798, and his wife, Rebecca H. Conover, born in 1805, had ehil- dren,-Martha Ann, married to Joseph Holmes; Mary L., married to John R. Longstreet ; John, who died in youth ; and Collen B. Mrs. Thomas Meirs, is the daughter of Garret and Alice Hendrickson Conover, and the grand- daughter of Jacob and Mary Schanek Conover, or Covenhoven (German lineage,).
Collin B. Meirs was born September 7, 1833, in the township of Upper Freehold, on the home- stead farm, which has been in the Meirs family four generations. Since childhood this has been his home. His earliest educational advantages were received under the direction of Rev. Samuel Aaron, at Treemount Seminary, Norris- town, Pa., with whom he spent four years, sub- sequently graduating at the Freehold Institute, N. J. Returning to his father's house, he at onee became interested in the varied employ- ments of the farm, and was, December 13, 1855, married to Louisa Butterworth, granddaughter of William and Rachel Butterworth, and daughter of John Butterworth, born in 1800, and his wife, Ketural Stockton, of Burlington County, N. J.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Meirs are Rebecca C. (wife of William H. Davis), Thomas and Helen. On the decease of his father, Col- len B. became by inheritance the owner of the farm, and has since that date been interested in the pursuits of an agriculturist. Whilst well informed on all matters pertaining to his · calling, and ranking among the most enlight-
ened and successful farmers of his township, he has given much attention to the raising of superior stock, being among the first to intro- duee the Holstein-Fresian cattle in the county. In 1881 he, with a few others, established the Cream Ridge Creamery, filling for a period the office of president, and subsequently becoming its superintendent, which office he now holds. The sueeess attending this institution is in a great measure attributed to his judicious man- agement.
On the organization of the First National Bank of Hightstown, N. J., he was made a director, and now fills the position of president. In 1864 he was named as one of the eorpora- tors of the Pemberton and Hightstown Rail- road Company ; subsequently he was made a director and its treasurer, which positions he now oceupies. He has been among the most public-spirited citizens of the county, and iden- tified with many enterprises which have inured to the welfare of its citizens.
His judgment, integrity and ability have caused him often to be ehosen for such impor- tant offices as executor and trustee, and made his counsel valuable in matters of publie and private significanee. Mr. Meirs is a strong and working Republican in polities. He served for eleven consecutive years on the Board of Free- holders, and was, in 1874, elected county auditor, which office he held for seven years. He was, in 1871, nominated for the State Sen- ate, and came within four hundred and ten votes of carrying the strong Democratic county of Monmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Meirs are both members of the Upper Freehold Baptist Church, of which the former is a trustee.
REV. HENRY PERKINS, D.D .- Henry Per- kins, the son of Eliphaz and Lydia (Fitch) Perkins, was born in Vergennes, Vt. Feb- ruary 9, 1796. His father, a graduate of Yale College, was a practicing physician. His mother was a sister of the Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Fitch, president of Williams College, Massa- chusetts. Both his parents were natives of Connecticut and both were exemplary Chris- tians, as were all his ancestors as far as known. In 1798, Dr. E. Perkins removed West with
Collen G. Mers
Henry Parlino
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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.
his family. After a brief sojourn in Marietta, where his wife died, lie settled in Athens, Ohio. Here the Ohio University is located. Dr. E. Perkins was for many years a trus- tee of that young university, since known as the Alma Mater of not a few distinguished men. Here it was that his son, the subject of this brief record, received his academic and collegi- ate education, and was graduated with the degree of A.B. He received his theological education in the seminary at Princeton, N. J. On leaving the seminary, in 1820, he was ordained and installed pastor of the churches of Allentown and Nottingham Square. These churches, small at his coming, under his minis- try grew in numbers and strength. New
chureh edifices were erected in both eongrega- tions, and eachi desired to secure the whole time of their pastor. He decided to remain at Allen- town, and to the church there, his only pastorate, he ministered for forty-three years. During that time he received into the church between five and six hundred, of whom between four and five hundred on the profession of their faith in Christ. Several revivals of relig- ion blessed his ministry. His manner in the pulpit was solemn and impressive. He seemed never to forget that he was the Lord's ambas- sador, and on a mission of all the most momen- tous. He was faithful and affectionate as a pastor, ever seeking the highest good of his people. His mode of address was what is called extempore, but was not without careful preparation. His voice-heavy, clear, far- reaching-was well adapted to publie speaking. His delight was to unfold the unsearchable riehes of the gospel of Christ, and he was per- haps never more happy in this than on Sabbath afternoons in the school-houses of his some- what widely extended parish, when the people would gather for miles around till the place was often too " strait " for them,
Two new churches were erected in the vicin- ity of these school-houses. As years advaneed he considered his strength inadequate to the charge of so large a congregation, and at his request, in the year 1864, the pastoral relation was dissolved. He continued to live among his former people, and for' several years to
preach as strength and opportunity permitted, often in his old pulpit and always with accept- ance.
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