History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 43

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

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" In the rear of Abraham Morris' butcher-shop is a vacant room, whose outside door hung loose upon one. hinge. In this room William H. Madden, who lived next door, says he first saw the fire. There were four rooms over the butelier-shop, occupied by Mrs. Ann Riley and Mary McGerry. Mr. Morris left the butcher- shop at nine o'clock, and all was then right. He ques- tioned Mrs. Riley as to when and how she first saw the fire. Mrs. Riley told Mr. Morris that she was. awakened from sleep by a crackling noise, and got up to ascertain the cause of it. She passed out of her

718

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

room to a rear room, just above the one in which Mr. Madden saw the fire, and upon looking out of the side window the flames and smoke from without puffed up in her face. Between this building and the adjoining one, occupied and owned by Mr. Charles Miller, there was about one foot of space, and there were no windows on the side of Mr. Miller's house adjoining to Mr. Morris' building.

"From Abraham Morris' building the fire extended north, taking first Mary J. Hill's dwelling-house, oc- cupied by William H. Madden, and then the adjoin- ing building, a shoe and tobacco-store owned and oc- cupied by Hughey Daugherty. This was the last "building ou the uorth side of Broad Street standing south of the yards belonging to the livery stable. The wind was blowing from the uorthwest, a fresh, brisk breeze, which did not lull till after two o'clock. The space between Daugherty's store and the stables broke the flames from extending further north, and as the wind was coming from the northwest the greatest peril was looked for ahead. Every moment the danger increased, for the flames were becoming less and less controllable as they spread along these wooden struc- tures, and swept oue and another down to the ground, Almost at the same time that Morris' building was burning the fire extended southward, fanued into activity and intensity by the brisk wind that was blowing. It soon caught David Warner's cigar-store, owned by Charles Miller, and from thence extended till it took Charles Miller's barber-shop and house, upon the rear part of the same lot.

"The mass of burning matter being then so large, the sparks and even flames were spreading in almost every direction. It was very apparent then that nothing could stay its onward course ou the west side of Broad Street. Accordingly, the greatest scene of confusion ensued, wherein, as before in a measure, people buckled to and tried their utmost to save the goods in the various houses and stores. Families living in the second stories were almost frenzied. Cries, shouts and screams came from the women and chil- dren, and the greatest turmoil and confusion followed. Goods were carried out as fast as possible by willing hands, but the flames rolled on in their terrific fury so fast that people had to run for their lives and let their goods and chattels be consumed.

"The Pavilion Hotel, owned by C. D. Emson and Cyrenius Van Mater, caught fire several times and was somewhat damaged, but by almost superhuman exertions was saved. The trees in front of the Pavil- ion were thought to have stayed the flames some. Adam Huylar's grocery-store, owned by William W. Conover and Samuel T. Hendrickson, of Red Bank, narrowly eseaped burning. The building was fire- proof, but it came near succumbing to the flames.

Upon the other side of the street, after Warner's cigar-store and Miller's barber-shop and house fell as vietims, Joseph Maurer's lager beer saloon and dwell- `ing were the next to fall. Then followed Walcott &

Matthews' confectionery store and dwelling, and his bake-shop in the rear, and all out-buildings. While these were burning, the Mansion House, owned by Messrs. Jolin S. Sproul and Necourseli Johnson, at the northeast corner of Broad and Front streets, caught fire from the sparks so speedily winged from the opposite side of the street. While the Mansion House was burning the fire was the hottest, and the flames sped away across to St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Rev. Mr. Love, rector), all of which was consumed almost in a twinkling.

"From the church it spread to Dr. MeKinney's house, at the south wing of the drug-store, which was soon enveloped in the onward-marching flames. Ad- joining his house was Dr. McKinuey's drug-store and the Western Union Telegraph office on the first floor, and the law and insurance office of Mr. Alfred Wall- ing and surveyor's office of Mr. George Cooper, on the second floor, all of which business centres shared the same sad fate. Upon the opposite side of the street, next to the corner, Andrew Campbell's ' Rail- road Hotel,' owned and occupied by Mr. Campbell and his family, was going through the fiery furnace. At the northwest corner of Broad and Front Streets stood an unoeeupied grocery-store and dwelling-house com- bined, owned by Asher Holmes, which was the next building laid in ashes by the attack of the flames. Van Arsdale and Ellisou's butcher-shop, around the corner, was next swept away. Theodore M. Ander- son's cigar manufactory, owned by Asher Holmes, next gave way before the flaines like a tinder-box. The fire then communieated with Cyrenius Waite's cigar-store, owned by Asher Holmes, and down it went among the other ruins.

"The Keyport post-office and harness-shop, in the rear, owned by Rufus Ogden, joined its neighbors, and although a receptacle for governmental matter, yet it too gave way before greater powers. Two other build- ings, Wolcott and Matthews' dwelling-house, occupied by Sauds Selleck and Benjamin Decker's shoe-shop and house combined, were destroyed, the latter being torn down, on the north side of Front Street, before the flames could be stayed.

"At this point, Washington Engine, forty-five men strong, came from Matawan with its active foremau, Jesse Siekles, and assistaut, Henry Wyckoff, being summoned to the scene of the conflagration by a horseman, who had been previously dispatched to Matawan. The firemen fought nobly to check the flames at this point, and succeeded iu preventing their spreading further on that side of the street. The wind, however, carried the flames across the street to the south side of Front Street, and although a des- perate effort was made to save the handsome building across the street, all efforts proved futile.

" The Atlantic Hotel aud out-buildings, owned by Jolin S. Sproul, of Keyport, John J. Hopping, of Middletown, and George Schenck, of Holmdel, was the first vietim. Then came Morritz Naftal's cigar

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THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

manufactory, and A. Salz's building, occupied by F. Eckehardt for a barber-shop. A. Block's clothing- store, a splendid three-story brick building, an orna- ment to any town, owned by the heirs of William Walling, deccased, next succumbed to the all-devour- ing element, and fell a mass of smouldering ruins, with nothing to mark its former fine, substantial ap- pearance but the charred and burnt brick walls, tow- ering high above the mass of ashes that represents what once was the wooden structures belonging to Keyport's citizens. Down Broad Street the flames swept, taking first Bedle & Thomas' stone and marble- store and then attacking and conquering a dwelling occupied by William E. Storms, owned by the Wall- ing estate, and sweeping the last two structures on that side of the street before reaching four vacant lots, namely, a two-story double house, occupied by Jacob and Edward Brown, and owned by the Walling estate, and Fred. Hoffman's saloon, occupied by the same. The stables in the rear were saved. Then came four vacant lots between the burnt district and the northwest corner of Broad and Cross Streets, which served to stay the flames from progressing far- ther south.

" Nearly opposite the brick building owned by the Walling estate stood the structure occupied by the Keyport Weekly. Between this building and the drug- store was a vacant space, which served to break the progress of the flames in a measure, and with favoring wind and hard and determined struggles of Mr. Wil- liam F. Leroy and his band of printers, who were pronounced exceedingly plucky, the building and contents were saved.

" Besides the Weekly building, William Bedle's three-story brick house, with undertaker's shop in the basement, owned and occupied by Mr. Bedle, and a double frame house adjoining, occupied by Asbury Bedle, and owned by Alfred Walling, Jr., were saved. The most vigorous efforts were made by the citizens to stay the flames at this point, but the wind shifted a little, so that the two-story framne house belonging to John Van Woert, of Long Branch, caught fire and burned very rapidly. Flames then communicated with James Brown's two-story frame double house, both of which were soon consumed. At this point the flames were controlled by several active, venturesome young men, who plied their energies and used water very freely in their efforts to save the carpenter-shop, barn and dwelling owned by Asher Holmes, which stood just beyond Maurer's house, a yard only inter- vening. Here, then, we have at last found the extent of the fire in each direction, stayed at the points des- ignated by heroic battling or by fortuitous circumn- stances."

In this great eonflagration, which swept the central part of the town of Keyport, there were destroyed two hotels, one church and twenty-

five other buildings, including dwellings and business plaecs. Thirty families were made homeless by the fire, and the total loss was stated to be two hundred thousand dollars.

MECHANICSVILLE is a small village at the southeast corner of Keyport, forming, in fact, a part of the corporation. In 1843 there was but one dwelling-house standing where now is the village ealled Mcehaniesville, now a part of Keyport. In the next year Thomas Carhart, a carriage-bnilder, ereeted a shop at the corner where now stand the carriage-shops of Theodorc W. Anmaek. The name of the place was de- rived from the fact that a number of meehanies were employed there. In 1850, Thomas Car- hart sold his interest to Samuel Carhart, whose son Timothy conducted the business for ten years and sold to John Herbert, who leased it, after a year or two, to Theodore W. Aumaek, who now earries on the business. Thomas Car- hart, after the sale of his business, ereeted a shop where B. H. Harvey now occupies. The briek shop which Mr. Carhart ereeted in 1856, two stores, a carriage-shop, blaeksmith-shop, St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church and a few dwellings constitute the village at present.

ST. JOHN'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Mechaniesville is the suceessor of the old Bethany Church Society (Methodist), which was organized not far from the year 1800 at the plaee known as Bethany, in the south part of, and near the Holmdel line. The first members were of the families of Murphy, Carhart, Bedle, Hoff, Polin and others. Meetings were first held in 'Squire Thomas Murphy's honse. In 1822 a lot of land was purchased for fifteen dollars of John Dorset, containing onc-quarter of an aere, on which was erceted the Bethany Church. The carly ministers were Bartholo- mew Wced, Betts, Walker, Moore, Lang, Stuart, Mclaughlin and others. From this Chureli sprang the churches of Keyport, Mata- wan, Clifford, Granville, Harmony and others. It was sometimes ealled Dorsettown Church. In 1870 the building was removed to Mechan- iesville and placed on a lot donated by Andrew Polin. It was dedicated January 1, 1871.

720

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Father Bartholomew Weed, who was present at the dedication of the old church in 1822, took part in the dedication of the present church.

The pastors who have served this church since its removal to Mechaniesville are O. Eller- son, E. Livingston, Allen J. H. Bennett, J. S. Parker, E. W. Woodward and the present pas- tor, G. G. Senser.

Rufus Ogden has in his possession a roll of the scholars of Bethany Sunday-school in 1828.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THOMAS S. R. BROWN .- Mr. Brown is of Scotch ancestry, and descended from a family who first settled in Browntown, Middlesex County. His grandfather, Lewis Brown, a na- tive and continnous resident of the above place, married, first, a Miss Blue, and, second, Rebecca Owen. Among the children of the first mar- riage was Benjamin L. Brown, born in Brown- town, where he learned and successfully fol-

That S. R. Brown

It contains the names of one hundred and twenty-eight pupils, of whom are now living the Rev. James O. Rodgers, Eusebius Walling, of Freehold, Peter Stout, of Holmdel, Timothy Murphy, of Keyport (who became a teacher the next year and afterwards superintendent), G. W. Walling (now superintendent of police of New York City) and Taylor W. Walling, of Keyport. William I. Brown, now of Oecan County, was teacher in that year.

lowed the trade of a carpenter. He married Susan, daughter of Daniel Brown, whose ten children are Thomas S. R., Richard, Charles M., Cor- nelius H., Amos, Adelia (Mrs. Stephen Arose), Margaret (Mrs. Richard P'. Burlew), Jane (Mirs. James Bowne), Sophia (Mrs. John Bloodgood) and Eliza (Mrs. Benjamin F. Ely).

Thomas S. R. Brown was born on the 8th of September, 1823, in South Amboy township. (then Madison), Middlesex County, N. J., on

THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

721

the farm of his father, where, until seventeen years of age, he continued to reside, alternating between the sessions of the neighboring school and the labor of the fields. He then became an ap- prentice to the trade of a mason and builder, and in 1846 settled in Keyport, where he conducted for twenty years an extensive business, taking large contracts and becoming interested in much of the building in that portion of the county. He subsequently abandoned his trade and engaged in oyster-planting. In 1866, Mr. Brown em-

township, including that of freeholder. He was, for 1866 and 1867, as a Democrat, elected to the State Legislature, and identified with various influential committees, on one or more of which he was chairman. Though a supporter of all evangelical denominations, he was more closely allied to St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church of Keyport. Mr. Brown was, on the 15th of Jan- uary, 1846, married to Margaret, danghter of David Lamberson, of Middlesex County, whose only surviving child is Caroline, wife of Wil-

A616 Elesbrook

barked in the hardware business and the sale of | liam C. Bedle. He was a second time married, coal and lumber, which he still conduets in con- to Sarah, sister of his first wife. By his union to Mary, daughter of John M. Beers, was born a son, Arthur M., and his children Richard R., George W. and Susan are the issue of his last marriage, to Maria L. Hunt. nection with his interest in the oyster-beds. He has been largely influential in the development of the town which is his home, and of all its impor- tant enterprises. He was one of the incorpora- tors of the First National Bank of Keyport, and is president of the Middletown Point and Key- port Gas Company. His public spirit has led to his identification with polities in the county and his acceptance of various offices in the 46

HENRY H. SEABROOK. - Mary, widow of James Seabrook, in 1676, married Thomas Whitlock, and removed from Westchester County, N. Y., to Shoal Harbor, (now Port

722

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Monmouthi), in Monmouth County. Her son James settled on the Whitlock property, at tlie latter point, having married Mary Grover. Their son Daniel, who succeeded to the estate, married Mary, daughter of Nieliolas Brown, whose son, Major Thomas Seabrook, married Martha, daughter of Dr. Stephen Tallman. A son by this marriage, Thomas by name, married Anna, daughter of Aaron Longstreet, of Pleasant Valley, Monmouth County. Their children were Aaron, who died in infancy; Mary; Aaron, married to Euphemia C. Wilson; Elea- nor, wife of William Applegate; Lydia, mar- ried to Rev. W. V. Wilson; Thomas; Martha, wife of Rev. W. V. Wilson; and Henry H. The last named and youngest of these children was born September 10, 1813, on the homestead at Shoal Harbor, where his childhood was spent, his edueation having been received at New York and New Brunswick. His first mercantile experience was acquired in a whole- sale dry-goods store in New York, after which, on returning to his native county, he purchased the interest of his father in a store at Middle- town, the business being conducted under the firm-name of Aaron Seabrook & Co. His next venture was in connection with Charles J. Hen- driekson, after which he removed to Keyport in the spring of 1839, and engaged in various commercial undertakings, becoming identified with steamboat, turnpike, railroad and other prominent interests of the place. In 1841 he succeeded Leonard Walling as postmaster and was for twelve years the incumbent of the office. He was the principal manager of the Middle- town Point Steamboat Company, which built, under his direction, the steamer "Chingarora," plying between New York and Keyport, after- wards sold in New Orleans, the steamer " Key- port," later sold at Washington, the "Matawan" and three others, also disposed of advantageously by him. Mr. Seabrook was, in 1852, married to Therese, daugliter of Leonard Walling, the only one of the eight original proprietors of Keyport who settled on his purchase. He laid out the town, built two sloops and the dock, the hotel, and, aside from his extensive mercantile interests, was the leading spirit of the new and growing · hamlet. He was the son of Daniel Walling

and Helena Hoff, the grandson of John and Elizabeth Roberts Walling and the great-grand- son of Thomas Walling. The children of Henry and Therese Seabrook are, Annie L., wife of William L. Conover ; Thomas L., who married Maud L. Barney; Henry, deceased; Helena, deceased; Harry, a physician in New York City ; and Martha Washington. Mr. Seabrook manifested little interest beyond the casting of his ballot in the political movements of the day, and invariably declined office, his influence and time, apart from that required by his varied business interests, having been given to those moral and philanthropic sehemes which had for their purpose the upbuilding and elevation of the community. In this good work Mrs. Seabrook has proved his earnest suceessor. He united in 1852 with the Baptist Church of Keyport, in which he was deacon, as also first correspond- ing secretary of the New Jersey Sabbath-School Union, which office he held until his death, in March,. 1872.

REV. ELIAS MEAD is a native of Al- bany County, N. Y. He was married, May, 1881, to the young and interesting granddaughter of Captain Peter Hulst, Keyport, N. J .; was the fifth son in a family of thirteen ehil- dren, five of whom are living. Two perished during the late civil war in the Union army. Peter died at Fairfax Court-House; Lucius fell on the bloody field of Gettysburg. A braver man never faced the foe. Hon. John Sanders, in a eulogy on the heroes of Selieneetady, pro- nouneed him " one of Nature's noblemen."

The ancestors of Mr. Mead were all patriotie men. Both grandsires were identified with the country in her early struggles for freedom and right. Peter Cole, his maternal grandfather, was a musician in the American army in the War of 1812. Jeremiah Mead, the father of his father, served in the army of Washington during the War of the Revolution. In that important time that "tried men's souls" he gave all,-laid upon the altar of his country both life and fortune, demanding no higher honor than victory, and no sweeter reward than the vindieation of his country's rights.

This Revolutionary soldier was blessed with

Mead

723

THE TOWN OF KEYPORT.

a patriarchal family. He had four sons and ten daughters. All reached maturity except two, who were accidentally taken ont of the world. The sons, following the bent of their father, became farmers. One, however, having a taste for letters, qualified himself for more important service, and rose by his personal attainments to the occupancy of a seat on the judicial bench of his native county at Albany. Like Nimrod of old, " he was a mighty hunter," also a successful farmer, a keen lawyer and an able judge.

Jasper, the third son, inherited the paternal establishment at Chesterville, Albany County, N. Y. There the subject of this sketch was born. In 1848, however, and during the child- hood of Mr. Mead, his father removed to Schenectady County and settled on a farmi in the Mohawk Valley. Here he was brought up, receiving such educational advantages as the district school afforded. In the spring aud summer of 1862 he attended the academy at Charlton, Saratoga County, where he studied the languages and prepared himself for a classi- cal course in college. But cash was not very plentiful, and he was compelled to resort to a variety of methods in order to get along. At one time he boarded at home and walked seven miles and a half to recitations; at another he did chores for his bread, and built fires and swept the academy for his tuition; at others he taught school, and so acquired the means for prosecuting his studies. But when lie was about to enter college he was sent by his father with a power of attorney to settle the estate of a deceased brother in California. He returned in 1865 and entered, in the fall of that year, the sophomore class in Union College. The next year, having determiucd to enter the Christian ministry, he was transferred to the junior class of Rutgers, at New Brunswick. Here he re- mained until 1867, and by crowding the labors of two years into one, finished his academic course three terms in advance of his classmates.

Mr. Mead entered the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1867, and graduated in 1870. His first charge was in the Reformed Church at Coeymans, on the Hudson. He found . the church in a feeble condition, incomplete in

its organization and scarecly able to sustain a prayer-meeting. The first year of his ministry was spent in " healing the breaches," reconciling persons at variance and "holding forth the word of life." The close of that year witnessed an ingathering of some twenty souls, mostly people in advanced life. The results of the following year were alike precious, for the close of that witnessed an ingathering of upwards of fifty, mostly young people, and the church that had been without a prayer-meeting was blessed with two,-a church prayer-meeting and a young people's prayer-meeting,-which were productive of much good. The following year the num- ber of accessions was not so large, but the time was spent in organizing and consolidation, and the precious materials which had recently entered found employment in this important work ; and when, a few months later, he was called away from that field, he left a strong and efficient church, thoroughly organized and equipped.

About this time overtures were made from the Reformed Church of Keyport. Persons desirous for her growth commended this weak church to the attention of the young and suc- cessful pastor at Coeymans. With profound reluctance and after much persuasion, he was finally induced to take hold of the work, under the representation that the soil was very fertile and the " field white to the harvest."

He came, and the good Spirit came with him, and before the year closed twenty-two souls had been added to the church,-three by letter and nineteen on profession of faith. But the show- ers of divine grace continued to fall on the thirsty soil of Keyport, and fourteen were ad- ded the following year, and twenty the year after that. But while the good work was yet in progress a conspiracy was formed : secret meetings were held and charges of a most ri- diculous character were made against the pastor, and presented to Classis. At the same time the daily press was utilized to give publicity to the most damaging and unfounded statements. Inmoral and vicious circulars were also printed and, in the dead hour of night, strewed about the streets, thrown into yards and thrust under the doors of the inhabitants, and the powers of hell were invoked to crush the man who had

724

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

imperiled his life to save souls. All this Mr. Mead endured in heroic silence and without re- taliation, in the strong belief that God would vindicate the right. The reports were, however, discredited ; the eliarges, in every material point, were disproved ; while blessings continued to de- scend on the field of his labors. That same year witnessed a precious work of grace in the church, and eigliteen more were added to the fold, so that when those who had been innocently

DANIEL W. HOLMES .- Asher Holmes, the father of the subject of this biographieal sketelı, who resided in Raritan township, married Lydia Walling, and had children,-Catharine, John, James, Abby, Lydia, Asher, Daniel W., Mary, Azelia, and others who died in early life. The birth of Daniel W. occurred October 18, 1814, on the homestead, in Raritan township, where modest educational opportunities were enjoyed ; after whieli, at the age of fourteen, he entered a

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 43

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