History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 42

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 42

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THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF KEYPORT came into existence in 1840. For some time before its organization the Revs. Stout, of Middletown, Hires, of Hohndel, and Carpenter,

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

of Jacksonville, preached occasionally; Mr. Carpenter finally having a regular appointment, semi-monthly, preaching in a small school-house. There were at that time, however, but few Bap- tists in the place, vet these had prayer-meetings, which were known as Baptist prayer-meetings. It is but due him to say that these meetings were commenced and kept going mainly by Samuel Sproul, who had been recently baptized, and was licensed to preach by the Middletown Church soon after his baptism, and who also preached, from time to time, to the little com- pany at Keyport.

. That which seems to have led to the formation of a church was the coming to the place of Rev. Frederick Ketehum, of Burlington, who held, upon invitation in connection with the Baptists who resided here, a series of meetings, holding them in the afternoon in a grove, and in the evening in a sehool-house, re- sulting in the conversion of a number of per- sons. It was now agreed to ask the mother- chureh to establish a branch at Keyport. This being refused, the brethren were brought to the alternative of either organizing another church or lose much labor and influenee ; and as there were a number ready for baptism, and these, as well as those already members of Baptist Churches residing in the community, were and would be a long distance from church privileges, and as the town had a prospective growth, it was resolved that a eouneil be called to consider the propriety of constituting them into a Baptist Church. The commeil was called and met in a grove in Keyport, August 5, 1840. At that time seven persons presented letters of dismission from Middletown First Church : viz., Samuel Sproul, Abigail Sproul, Lydia Tilton, James Sproul, Rebecea Smith, Elizabeth Sproul aud Caroline Sproul, and two from Second Middle- town (now Holmdel), viz., Stephen P. Van Braekle and Jane Van Brackle; from the Bap- tist Church, Elmira, N. Y., two, viz., Elijah Ferris and Maria Ferris. The couneil exam- ined the letters, approved of them, and com- mended the action of those who desired organi- zation ; and upon the same date-the record is- .the eonneil proceeded to constitute them into a regular Baptist Church. The name by which

they were organized was the Third Church of Middletown. The same day the church was re- organized Mr. Ketchum baptized twelve per- sons. In September of the same year applica- tion was made to the State Convention, not for pecuniary assistance merely, but that a mission- ary might be appointed to labor among them ; and in answer to this request, Rev. Jackson Smith was appointed as such missionary. He remained npon the field but a few months, and went from thence to the pastorate of the eliurch at Lyons Farms. He died April 18, 1850.

In the year of their organization they united with the Central New Jersey Association. In 1843 they changed from the Central to the East, and in 1872 they united with the Trenton. In February, 1841, they again made applica- tion to the Convention for help, and also that Rev. William V. Wilson be requested to accept an appointment from the board as missionary. He did so accept, and at once entered upon his work. He was ordained May 12, 1841. The services were held in the church at Middletown, as the eliureli at Keyport had, as yet, no house of worship. Mr. Wilson entered upon his work and at once set about the erection of a house of worship, which was accomplished during the first year of his pastorate. The ad- ditions to the church, by baptism and letter, were freqnent, and the growth was steady and healthy from the very eommeneement of Mr. Wilson's ministry.

In 1850 the name of the church was changed from the one taken at the time of organization to the First Baptist Church of Keyport. In October, 1853, twenty-three members were granted letters of dismission, to unite in the formation of a chureli at Matawan. In Aug- ust, 1853, Mr. Wilson resigned, and though almost immediately recalled, he did not accept. During his pastorate the church had grown much in numbers and the congregation had beeome too large for the house, so that meas- ures were taken at that time to secure more and better accommodations for the increased congregation.

In March, 1854, a call was extended to Rev. Mr. Bullard, of Brooklyn, to become pastor, but was declined, he, however, consenting to

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supply them for some time. During this time the attention of all seems to have been absorbed in discussing, " shall we build ?" or, " enlarge the house of worship ?" and the question was decided differently at every meeting held. In June of the same year a call was given to Rev. John Q. Adams, of New York, which was accepted, and he at once entered upon his labors. In September, 1855, Mr. Adams resigned aud removed to/ New York, having served but a little over one year. The church was dependent upon supplies for almost a year ; a call being again extended to Mr. Wilson, and declined, and oue to Rev. D. S. Parmelee meeting with the same fate. In July, 1856, Rev. F. A. Slater was invited to become pastor, and soon afterward commenced his work as such.

Soon after his settlement active measures were adopted looking to the building of a new house of worship, and though much had been done, there was nothing to show substantial progress. By much persistent and patient labor he saw the present commodious house of wor- ship almost complete ere he ceased his pastorate. He resigned in 1862 and removed to Greenport, L. I. In December of the same year Rev. A. P. Graves became pastor. He also pushed forward to completion the new house of wor- ship, and it was dedicated during his admiuis- tration. In August of 1864 he resigned, and closed his labors the following month, serving the church a little over two years.

In June, 1865, Rev. F. T. Cailhopper, of Philadelphia, was called to the pastorate and soon commenced his labors. After about four years' labor he resigned, and subsequently be- came pastor at New Rochelle, N. Y. For a long time the church was without a pastor, de- pending upon supplies, among whom the Rev. R. MeGonegal served them statedly for six months. During this time a new parsonage was erected. In April, 1870, Rev. J. K. Man- ning, then pastor of Calvary Church, Cape May County, N. J., was called to the pastorate. After some delay the call was accepted, and he commenced his labors in October following. His successor was the Rev. S. K. Dexter, who was installed December 4, 1883, and is still the pastor. Following is a list of the

pastors of this church and their terms of ser- vice, viz. :

Rev. William V. Wilson, from March, 1841, to August, 1853 ; Rev. John Q. Adams, from July, 1854, to November 1, 1855; Rev. F. A. Slater, from August 1, 1856, to September, 1862 ; Rev. A. P. Graves, from January, 1863, to September, 1864; Rev. F. T. Cailhopper, from June, 1865, to July, 1869; Rev. J. K. Manning, from October, 1870, to 1883; Rev. S. K. Dexter, from December, 1883, to present time.

THE REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH OF KEY- PORT was organized, with thirteen members, by a committee of the Classis of New Brunswick, on the 28th of April, 1847. On that day Abraham Van Woert and Daniel Sloan, Jr., were ordained elders, and Peter L. Snyder was chosen deacon. At the same time Nathan F. Chapman, a licentiate of the Classis, and an agent of the "Domestic Board," who had occu- pied the ground as such since December, 1846, was ordained to the " work of the ministry " and formally commissioned to take charge of the field.

The original undertaking, however, out of which this small nucleus of a church was gath- ered was begun by Rev. A. C. Millspaugh, of Middletown. For several years prior he had been accustomed to meet, on Sabbath afternoons, in private houses, with a small company of those who were actuated by the principles of a common faith. But early in the year of 1845 he began a more thorough prosecution of the work, by holding religious services in a school-house in the place. This movement was so spontaneous and successful that little more than two years elapsed before a permanent organization was effected as the fruits of his endeavor.

The first meeting of consistory was held at the office of Joseph D. Hoff, justice of the peace, on the 18th of May, 1847, when they subscribed to the customary oath of allegiance required by the laws of the State,-

"We-Abraham Van Woert, Daniel Sloan, Jr., and Peter L. Snyder-do swear that we will support the Constitution of the United States,-SO HELP US GOD. "We do sincerely profess and swear that we will, and do, bear true faith and allegianee to the govern-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ment established in this State, under the authority of the people,-SO HELP US GOD.

"And we do swear that we will faithfully execute the trust reposed in us, as trustees of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Keyport, according to the best of our abilities and understanding,-SO HELP US GOD.

"ABRAHAM VAN WOERT,

"DANIEL SLOAN, JR.,

"PETER L. SNYDER.

"Sworn and subscribed before me this 18th of May, 1847.

" JOSEPH D. HOFF, "Justice of the Peace."

About this time lots were secured, some by purchase, others by donation, and arrangements made for the erection of a house of worship.

The site selected was at the rear of the village, and located on what is known as the Osborne estate, and is bounded, respectively, by Warren and Elizabeth Streets on the north and south and by Osborne and Division Streets on the east and west, presenting a clean front on all sides, and giving to the new organization the space of an entire block. This was a good, though not altogether wise selection. The church would undoubtedly have been more largely at- tended and more prosperous if it had been located in a more central part of the town, and where a lonely walk and dark and muddy roads would not have been so generally required as a sacrifice to the comer's devotion.

But now that the ground had been secured, and a portion of the funds collected or subscribed for the erection of a church edifice, the good people of the new enterprise determined to push forward the work.

At the next meeting of consistory, held on the 31st of May, 1847, a committee, consisting of Cornelius Ackerson, David Warner and Daniel Sloan, Jr., was appointed to select a plan and superintend the erection of a church. Early in 1848 the corner-stone of the edifice was laid and in May, 1851, the building was finally completed.

The dedication was next in order, and the Rev. Dr. Bethnne, so eloquent and so popular in his day, was invited to preside and preach the sermon. The record says,-" The church was dedicated to the service of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, on the 27th day

of June, 1851, by the Rev. George W. Bethune, before a numerous audience, in a most solemn manner."

The church has received, since her organiza- tion, at divers times and for different periods, the services of five pastors, exclusive of the present incumbent, Rev. E. Mead.

That of the Rev. Nathan F. Chapman ex- tended from April, 1847, to April, 1850; that of Rev. John Minor from January, 1851, to Oc- tober of the same year ; that of Rev. Jeremiah Searle from December, 1851, to November, 1853; that of Rev. Dr. Lockwood from the spring of 1854 to April, 1869 ; that of Rev. A. A. Zabris- kie from December 1, 1869, to March, 1873 ; that of the present pastor began in October, 1873.

During these successive pastorates the church has been reinforced by constant supplies of fresh recruits. During the five previous pastor- ates no less than ninety-eight have been en- rolled on the books of the church, -sixty-one by certificate and thirty-seven on profession of faith. And in addition to these, there have been gath- ered into the "fold of the good Shepherd," in the course of the present pastorate, one hundred and three new members,-twenty-six by letter and seventy-seven on profession of faith,-making, in all, a total of two hundred and one accessions, exclusive of the thirteen original members.

From the beginning, up to the second year of the present pastorate, the church has re- ceived assistance from the Domestic Missionary Board to the extent of from one hundred to four hundred dollars a year. But subsequently she has undertaken the work solely upon her own resources, and results have so completely justified the effort that there seems little reason to fear she will ever again become a pen- sioner on the bounty of others. She now raises, for congregational and benevolent purposes, the annual sum of about one thousand dollars.

The church is surrounded by a beautiful grove of cultivated and native forest-trees. A neat and commodious parsonage, with suitable ont-buildings and barn, were erected some years ago. Prominent among the promoters of this enterprise appear the names of Captain Emson, P. P. Conover and D. L. F. Schenek. A neat

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walk, paved with brick, and leading from the street up to the church-doors, may also remind " Zion's travelers" of the bounty of Captain Emson's purse. Two years ago the ornamental paper which had been laid upon the walls dur- ing the term of Rev. A. A. Zabriskie was re- moved to make way for more permanent and elaborate decorations in oil and colors ; and the neat and pretty designs on ceiling and side walls may remiud the " dwellers in Zion " of another bountiful friend of the church, the late Peter Hulst, who, at the same time, contributed in a very generous way to make extensive improve- ments and repairs in the fences, buildings, etc., . of the church.

There are at present about one hundred mem- bers. The consistory is composed of the follow- ing brethren : Deacons, H. A. Crawford, J. W. Schultz and B. Decker, Jr. ; elders, David P. Van Brackle, Peter P. Conover and G. S. Luyster,-all excellent men, and endowed, as we trust, with the Spirit of the Lord.

ST. MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Keyport bad for its first house of worship the old Bap- tist Church edifice, which they purchased about 1864, and which was burned in the great fire of September 21, 1877. The corner-stone of the present church was laid by Bishop Scarborough, April 26, 1878, and the edifice was first used for divine service July 1, 1878

The first rector was the Rev. T. M. Riley, who was succeeded by Rev. - Siebt. After him came Rev. Telfair Hodgson, who resigned in February, 1869, and went abroad. He was recalled, and in October, 1870, again became rector. He preached his farewell sermon Sep- tember 10, 1871. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. D. Moore, Rev. Dr. Parkman, S. H. S. Gallaudet, - Thomson and the Rev. J. W. Norwood, the present rector, who assumed charge November 1, 1884.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at Keyport was organized on the 10th of October, 1878. The first regular pastor was the Rev. James C. Elliot, who preached his first sermon May 8, 1880, and was installed pastor July 29th the same year. He resigned May 1, 1882, and was .

immediately succeeded by the Rev. John Han- cock, who has served the church to the present time. The corner-stone of the present church edifice was laid on the 16th of October, 1879. The church was completed the next year, and was dedicated June 10, 1880. The church now has thirty-three members.

ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CONGREGATION was organized before 1854. Two acres of land were purchased between Mata- wan and Keyport, and a brick church thirty by forty feet in size was erected, to which additions were made at different times. On June 27, 1879, the corner-stone of the present brick church was laid. The church was completed in the summer and fall of 1880, and dedicated November 1st in that year. The cost of the structure was $22,000. The old brick church now stands in the rear of the new one, and con- nected with it. It is used as a parochial school. The parish contains eight hundred communi- cants and twelve hundred souls. A brick par- sonage was erected in 1877. In 1882 sixteen acres of land were purchased of Captain Cornel- ius Brittan for a burial-ground connected with the church.

Father John Kelly, now of South Amboy, was the priest in charge for over twenty years. He was succeeded by Father McGovern, July 8, 1876, who remained but one year, and was suc- ceeded by Father Garret A. Spierings, who still has charge.

THE RARITAN CEMETERY is located south of Keyport, but adjoining the corporate limits, on the south side of Chingarora Creek. A burial-ground containing about four acres of the farm of William Van Dine had been in use many years prior to 1867. On the 2d of April, in that year, the Raritan Cemetery Com- pany was incorporated, with power to enlarge the ground to an area of teu acres. The act of incorporatiou named as trustees Cornelius Brit- tan, Theodore Aumack and Alfred Walling, Jr. The additional land was purchased, laid out in the modern style, and is now in use as one of the cemeteries of Keyport. The other one, called Green Grove Cemetery, is located on Green Grove Street, in the southeastern part of Keyport, within the corporation limits.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

KEYPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 49, em- braces the territory of the town. The first school-house within it was built in 1832 by the citizens of the place on a lot situated on Church Street, donated for the purpose by the Keyport Company. The house was used until 1856, when the Methodist Church on the lot adjoin- ing was purchased by the district and was used as a school-house until the erection of the pres- ent school-house, in 1871.

In 1870 the increase of the village demanded greater facilities for schools, and it was voted to erect a new and more commodious house, and establish a graded school. Keyport was formed into District No. 49 by act of April 4, 1871. A lot was purchased on the corner of Broad Street and Mott Avenue; the corner-stone of the school-house was laid August 3, 1871, and the building was completed in the spring of 1872. It was dedicated March 28th in that year with great ceremony. A procession of children marehed through the streets to the school-house, headed by the Keyport Band and the Raritan Guards, Rufus Ogden and George W. Holmes aeting as marshals. The dedicatory address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Lockwood, county superintendent. The keys were deliv- ered by the town commissioners to the princi- pal, Mr. Carson.

The building is in the form of a cross ; the transepts are each thirty-six feet wide and sixty- nine feet long. The building is three stories in height; the upper story is a large hall for lec- tures. The school-rooms have a capacity of ac- commodating one thousand pupils. The cost of grounds, buildings and furniture was twenty-six thousand dollars. Professor S. V. Arrowsmith is the present principal. The distriet has now eight hundred and seven children of school age.

Wheeler's Academy, in Keyport, was opened in the year 1843 by Uriah E. Wheeler. It was located on Broad Street, and was continued until 1862.

Holmes' Academy was opened in 1857 by George W. Holmes, who for several years taught in the public schools. He, with his daughter, still continues the academy in the building at the corner of Front and Church streets, where it was opened by him twenty-seven years ago.

The school has an average of seventy-five pupils.

Cæsarea Lodge, No. 64, F. and A. M., was chartered January 18, 1865, and was instituted with twenty-three members and the following- named officers, viz. : Samuel Lockwood, W. M .; Brewster H. Porter, S. W .; Holmes C. Crawford, J. W.

Prior to the formation of this lodge a warrant of dispensation had been granted (June 22, 1864), by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, to fourteen persons to organize the Alpha Lodge in Keyport. Under that dispensation the lodge was organized and continued until January 4, 1865, when the warrant was surrendered and application made by most of the members of Alpha Lodge for a charter of Caesarea Lodge, which was granted, and the lodge organized as above mentioned.

Meetings of Caesarea Lodge were held in the Holmes Academy, corner of Front and Church Streets, until January 1, 1883, when they moved to rooms fitted up for their use over Mckinney's drug-store, corner of Broad and Front Streets. The lodge has now a membership of forty-six. The following is a list of Past Mas- ters : Joseph K. Lewis, John Brittan, Benjamin B. Pearce, A. B. Stoney, David Warner, Benja- jamin Deeker, Jr., George W. Holmes, Benja- min B. Luffburrow, James H. Johnson, Marcus B. Taylor.

The present officers are Mareus B. Taylor, W. M .; Charles Miller, S. W .; G. Morris Brit- tan, J. W .; D. Warner, See .; B. Decker, Sr., Treas.

Delta Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., was insti- tuted October 5, 1865, under John C. G. Rob- ertson, G. H. P. The constituent members of this chapter were from Hiram Chapter, No. 1, now at Red Bank. The first officers were Samuel Lockwood, M. E. H. P .; Joseph Van Cleaf, E. K .; and Brewster H. Porter, E. S. The eliapter meets in Caesarea Lodge-room, and has now seventeen members.

Chingarora Lodge, No. 110, I. O. of O. F., was instituted with twenty-eight members March 17, 1853, and continued in existence until Jan- ary 21, 1856. Its meetings were first held in

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THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

Storm's Hall, but the lodge afterward united with the Rechabites and Order of United Americans, and fitted up rooms in Chingarora Hall, where they met until they disbanded.

Bayside Lodge, No. 193, I. O. of O. F., was instituted August 23, 1883, with fifteen mem- bers. A room was fitted up in Odd-Fellows' Hall, in the Salz Block. The lodge has now a membership of thirty-three. The present officers are P. G., D. E. Roberts, M.D .; N. G., O. C. Bogardus ; V. G., John R. Dufour ; Rec. Sec., John R. Farout ; Per. See., S. P. Dye ; Treas., W. E. Warne.

Keyport Division, No. 7, S. of T., was estab- lished December 10, 1860. It meets in Wood- ruff's building, and has a present membership of forty.

THE RARITAN GUARD is a military com- pany which was formed at Keyport in the fall of 1861, with twenty-two members and the following-named commissioned officers: Thomas Robinson, captain ; William Warner, first lieu- tenant ; George W. Taylor, seeond lieutenant. The company having filled its ranks, most of the members volunteered for service in the War of the Rebellion, and formed the nucleus of Company B, Twenty-ninth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. On their departure for the army, Rufus Ogden was elected temporary cap- tain over the remnant of the company during the absence of the majority at the front. On their return, June 24, 1863, a public reeep- tion was given them by the citizens, and Captain Ogden turned over his men to the proper officers.

In the railroad riots of 1877 the company was called out and proceeded to Phillipsburg, N. J., where they remained until the restoration of order among the railroad employés. On the return of the company the members held a meeting and each man donated his pay to form a fund to build an armory. The fund was raised by subscription to three thousand dollars, and one thousand dollars in timber was given by the farmers of the vicinity, which was cut and hauled to the mills during the winter months of 1877-78. The armory was built on a lot . purchased of Uriah HI. Dudley, located on

Front Street. The building was completed at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, and was opened in 1879. It is fifty-two by one hun- dred feet in size ; the drill-room is fifty-two by eighty-six feet and eighteen feet in height. The captains of the Guard have been Thomas Robinson, Rufus Ogden (temporary), William Warner, Alfred Walling, Jr. (now judge), James W. Hill, Benjamin A. Lee (uow major of Third Regiment), Thomas L. Seabrook, Os- car F. Stanhope. The company has now about fifty members. Rufus Ogden and John S. Halstead have been members from the forma- tion of the company, Halstead having filled the office of orderly sergeant for seventeen years.

KEYPORT HOOK-AND-LADDER COMPANY, No. 1, was incorporated February 27, 1878. The members of the company at that time were H. J. McCabe, E. Maynard, Jr., F. D. Woodruff, Elias H. Force, A. Van Nostrand, A. Salz, W. L. Conover, John F. Runyon, Ru- fus Ogden and George Cooper. This company, with its apparatus, is the entire Fire Department of Keyport.

On Friday, the 21st of September, 1877, at a little after eleven o'clock P.M., there broke out in Keyport a fire which proved to be the most ex- tensive and disastrous one that ever visited the plaee. The fire originated in the building of Abraham Morris (occupied by him as a butcher- shop), from which it spread rapidly and with little or no check until the arrival of a fire-en- gine and company from Matawan, Keyport being destitute of fire apparatus at that time. The origin, progress and extent of the great conflagration were narrated in a communication to the Monmouth Inquirer of the next week, as follows :

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 42

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