History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 70

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

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The principal, Mr. Jones, with three assistant teachers, moved his school from Binghamton, with a large addition, and opened with eighty boarders ; he had also a number of day scholars and the good wishes of the community. The school enjoyed

prosperity for about two years, when adversity came. Mr. Jones gave most of his attention to in- struction. He was a thorough teacher, but very poor financier. A relative of his was appointed steward, and he had also the whole charge of the financial department. Each boarder was required to pay one hundred dollars on entering the school. But while the building was full of scholars, indebted- ness accumulated. The mortgage on the property remained unpaid, creditors came with bills for settle- ment; but there was no money to be found in the hands of the treasurer, and Mr. Jones was unable to meet the numerous demands or to furnish secur- ity for their payment. The result was that the creditors took the property; the school was closed in disaster. Mr. Jones, the principal, became dis- couraged, went among his relatives in New York State, and soon died. The steward left, and in a short time opened a large flour and feed-store in West Street, New York City.

The property of the seminary was purchased by B. C. White, but he found it unprofitable and dis- posed of it. In the year 1850, H. F. Spaulding became owner, changed the name to Ocean Institute and opened a day-school, which was well patronized. The building was also used for public entertain- ments, lyceums, lectures, concerts and exhibitions, for which it was admirably calculated. Among the leading speakers in the Lyceum were E. T. Welch, Jacob C. Lawrence, Enoch Pitcher, Escck Wolcott, Charles Brooks and H. F. Spau'ding. The Lyceum had many friends, and always had a full audience.

In the fall of 1852, C. & N. Cothran, two brothers, both graduates of Bowdoin College, Maine, bought the property for the purpose of opening a first-class school to prepare boys for college and business. They niade extensive alter- ations with the interior of the building. Their school was well patronized both by scholars at home and from abroad. It continued in great favor until they determined on a change, and sold to a company,-viz. : Isaac Walton, Janics B. Wright and Howard Wright,-who continued im- provements on the premises, changed the name to Dunbarton House, and rented it for a summer hotel. After a few years Mrs. Margaret Downs bouglit the property for fifteen thousand dollars, spent five thousand dollars more in crecting an

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extension to the main building, and opened a first-class hotel.

Finally, in the year 1875, the property came into the hands of Mr. John Dunbar Wright, a wealthy, benevolent and leading man in the Friends' Mecting, New York, and president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chil- dren, who made it a free gift to the American Female Guardian Society of New York ; also to be a summer home for the society for friendless and cruclly-treated children.

THE AMERICAN FEMALE GUARDIAN SOCIETY had its origin in New York in 1834, and not one of the original members are now living. It was the result of a revival of religion. A few earnest · workers gathered in consultation and worked in harmony for a time in helping the poor, the sick and the needy. As they labored, a wider field opened before them; differences of opinion with regard to management came up in their council, which resulted in the organization of several dif- ferent societies, each having a special field and each working in its own way. This society grew into importance and influence with years and has accomplished a great work.

The first building used for the Home of the Friendless was a rented house on the corner of Second Avenue and First Street, New York. It was occupied from July, 1847, to December, 1849. Lots were selected on Thirtieth Street, between Fourth and Madison Avenues, and on May 5, 1849, the corner-stone was laid of a building which was completed and dedicated December 13th in that year. Since that time others have been added, as occasion demanded.

In 1875 (as before mentioned) John D. Wright donated to the American Female Guardian Soci- ety the property formerly of the Eatontown Sem- inary, embracing four acres of land and the large and commodious building which had been occupied by that and the later schools of Spaulding and the Cothran Brothers, to be used as a Branch Home for Friendless Children, under the auspices and control of the Female Guardian Socicty. It was immediately devoted to that purpose, and has been so used and occupied, summer and winter, from that time to the present. In 1882 a chapel was erected on the grounds, and is named the Bennett Memorial, in honor of Mrs. S. R. I. Bennett, who

was a member of the society from 1835, and an active worker to the time of her death, in April, 1852. One thousand dollars was donated for this purpose by Roswell Smith of The Century, five hundred dollars from Mrs. Bennett, and the same amount from another friend of the society. The chapel is also used as a school-room. The matron in charge of the Branch Home in Eatontown is Mrs. M. Hartaugh. The physician in charge is Dr. W. S. Kimball. The president of the society is Mrs. Charles C. North.

BRANCHBURG is a village in the southeast part of Eatontown township. The first settler at this place was Alexander McGregor, who, about 1807, purchased a small tract of land and erected a dwelling, in part of which he opened a store. He donated a lot (about 1809) for school and church purposes, and on which a school-house and church were soon after built. He continued at this place until 1834, when he sold to John Hopper, and the place became known as Hoppertown. A few dwellings were built around the store, church and school-house, and the place also took the name of Mechanicsville.

" THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH at Long Branch," notwithstanding its name and title, is located in Eatontown township, at Branchburg.

Methodist preaching began to be had in Mon- mouth County as early as 1785, in which year the Rev. Francis Asbury passed through this region on a preaching tour. He did the same occasionally for many years afterwards, and his journal of those tours contains the following extracts having reference to Methodist worship in the cast part of the county :

"Monday, September 5th, 1791 .- I rode through much rain to Monmouth, N. J. [Freehold], where I preached to a considerable congregation on 'The just shall live by faith ; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.' There is some stir among the people; at Long Branch, within eighteen months, as I am informed, nearly fifty sonls have professed conversion.

"October 28th, 1795 .- We came to Monmouth ; we would have gone to Shrewsbury, but time and our horses failed us. I learn that the ancient spirit of faith is taking place below. We rode twenty miles to Eniley's church, where the great revival of religion

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

was some years ago. I felt a little of the old good spirit there still.

"Sunday, September, 30th, 1809 .- At Long Branch my subject was Acts 3-26. It was given me to speak in strong words, words of God and from God. At three o'clock I preached in the Episcopal church, at Shrewsbury. I came home with John Throckmor- ton."

This last-mentioned service was held in the old Free Church, the new one at what is now Branch- burg not being then completed.

In the year 1790 the Rev. Zenas Conger came to this people, and by his turbulent spirit created a division among them, by reason of which the Methodist Independent Church came into exist- ence.

About 1790 a mecting-house was built on the road between Ocean Mills and Branchburg, in which all denominations worshiped. Peter Parker, of Long Branch, says he heard Bishop Asbury preach in this church. In March, 1809, the church was incorporated as the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Long Branch, with the follow- ing-named trustees: Elihu Chadwick, Joseph Parker, John Martin, Peter Slocum, John Lippin- cott and Michael Maps. They accepted the lot offered by Alexander McGregor, at what is now Branchburg, and in that year erected the present Methodist Church.

At that time Joseph Totten was the presiding elder. Samuch Budd was the preacher in charge in 1808-9. Under the presiding elder at this time there was a camp-meeting held in Brewer's Woods, at Squankum, at which there was a great revival. This meeting was attended by members in Free- hold Circuit, which embraced the territory from Trenton to the sea-shore. The spirit of the revival extended through its bounds, and many were added to the churches. The new church was a two-story structure, the second story of which was for a time only to be reached by means of a ladder. The scats werc of rough boards. The church was enlarged in 1843. It was remodeled in 1856, and dedicated July 20th in that year.

Joseph Totten succeeded Budd as preacher. The first Quarterly Meeting was held in the church before it was finished, in the year 1810. After Totten's sermon was finished the presiding elder, Michacl Coates, called on him to close, but he took

a text and preached another sermon The girls of the neighborhood, by picking berrics, were enabled to dress very well, and Mr. Totten preached a scrmon against it, which annoyed the young men, and they resolved to give him a whipping when he come outside. Totten learned of this, and taking his whip, he stepped outside and cracked it, chal- lenging them by his manner to the conflict, but his stalwart form and determined air intimi- dated them, and he was not molested

Totten was succeeded by the Rev. William Mills, of which the following account is by the Rev. George A. Raybold, author of " Methodism in New Jersey :"

"Mr. Mills was a native of Monmouth, of Quaker descent. The fire of patriotic feeling induced him, Quaker as he was, in 1776, to enter the American army, in which he became an officer. He was taken prisoner by the British, and was sent, after being changed from one vessel to another, to the West In- dies. At length he was carried to Europe, from whence, at the close of the war, he returned home and again settled in New Jersey. About the year 1792 the Methodist preachers came into the region of country where he resided. His wife solicited him to hear them; but he resisted, stating his belief that he had been so wicked his day of grace was past. By a remarkable dream he was at length convinced that there was mercy for him. He then attended the means of grace, until, as he sought the Lord with all his heart, he soon found mercy and peace through faith in Jesus. He became a member of the first class formed in the vicinity of Shrewsbury, in Mon- mouth. Soon after he found the Lord he began to exhort others, and was appointed class-leader, and in the spring of 1799 he was received into the traveling connection. His labors as an itinerant began on Mil- ford Circuit, Delaware, from whence he was sent to various places and finally returned to Jersey. In 1813 he was sent to Freehold, the place of his nativity and the first field of his Christian efforts. The soldier who had faced death at the cannon's mouth on the land and on the sea, now, as his end approached in reality, felt no fear. He had a presentiment of his death, and told his wife that ' death seemed to follow him everywhere.' His zcal for God and labors for the salvation of souls increased. The last time he left home he gave his wife sundry directions and advices in case he should die. He started as well as usual, and filled all his appointments, preaching most fer- vently until a short time before his death. On the 4th of December he left Long Branch, met class, and then returned to Mr. Lippencott's, at the Branch. On Sunday morning he went into a room in Mr. Lippen- cott's to prepare for the service in the church, which

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was to commence at half-past ten o'clock. The eon- gregation was then collecting, and the family, think- ing he stayed too long in the chamber, sent in to know the cause, and found him fallen into a fit of apo- plexy, almost deprived of sense. After a time he revived a little, and on being asked if they should send for medieal aid, he replied, 'The Lord is the best physician.' At about twelve o'clock the stupor and other unfavorable symptoms returned. He lin- gered until about six the next morning, and then peacefully departed for a world of rest. Thus sud- denly fell into the arms of death another faithful minister of the gospel; a zealous, faithful and aeeept- able preacher; an Israelite, indeed, in whom there was no guile. Long, however, has he lived in the affectionate remembranee of the people of West Jer- sey, who knew him well.

"In the year 1812, the year previous to Mr. Mills being sent to preach in Freehold Cireuit, the number of members embraced in the charge was seven hun- dred and thirty-six."

The ministers who followed those mentioned above, for several years, were David Bartine, John Woolson, William Smith, James Moore, Charles Pitman, 1831; Thomas Stewart, 1832; John K. Shaw, 1835; J. L. Lenhart, 1836; J. H. Dandy, 1838 ; R. E. Morrison, 1840; - Ayers, 1842.

In January, 1843, a great revival sprang up in this section, by which, on the 22d of January in that year, one hundred and ten members were added to the church. The preachers from 1859 have been Francis A. Morrell, 1859-60; E. Green, 1861-62; W. Franklin, 1865-66; S. F. Wheeler, 1869-70 ; G: Reed, 1874-75; W. E. Boyle, 1876- 77; W. Chamberlain, 1878-79; R. J. Andrews, 1880-81; W. S. Barnart, 1882-84.

THE INDEPENDENT METHODISTS of the vicinity of Branchburg worshiped in a church edifice that stood south of the village, on the road to Oceanville.

About the year 1790, Zenas Conger came to the Methodists in this section and began labor as pastor. He was somewhat irregular in his habits, and complaints were made against him Many of the congregation sympathized with him, and instead of waiting for a trial on the charges brought against him, he gathered his adherents about him and es- tablished another church, which he styled the Meth- odist Independents, but by others was called Con- gerites. From his habits he was unable to command the respect of the people, and many of the meetings were quite disorderly. The people in this section, being largely of Quaker descent, disapproved of a

hireling ministry, and were willing to hear local preachers and exhorters. The movement spread and good men joined it, and such men as Matthias Barkalow, of Blue Ball, J. Saplin Newman, of Shark River, Ralph Thomson, of Long Branch, and others became local preachers.

Zenas Conger, with others, established churches in other parts of the county about 1809. One was at Colt's Neck, where a church building was erected. Near where " Our House " tavern now stands a lot was purchased and a house commenced, but not finished. A lot was purchased at what is now Hopeville, in October, 1813, and a church erected. On January 23, 1813, the members of the society at this place (Branchburg) were incorporated and elected the following trustees : Stephen Cook, Rich- ard Taber, James Edwards, Ralph Thomson, Thomas Brown, Abram Lane and John Emmons. The old Free Church, built about 1790, between Ocean Mills and what is now Branchburg, was used by them and the property was deeded to them. The local preachers mentioned above, served the people many years. The lot was used as a ceme- tery, and the society having become weak and the house unused, it was sold by Stephen Cook in 1846, he being the sole surviving trustee. It was then moved across the street, where the frame was used in a barn.

In 1850 all the Independent Methodist societies in the county were merged into the Method- ist Protestant Church, and the different church properties decded to them.

TURTLE MILL is situated on a small stream which is one of the head-waters of Pleasure Bay, and is also on the road from Eatontown to Long Branch. At this place a mill was in operation as carly as 1730. In 1775 it was owned by John Williams, who died before the close of the Revolu- tion. He was an adherent of the British, and his estate was confiscated and sold. It was bought in by his widow, Deborah Williams, who kept it many years. Slic sold one-quarter interest to Wil- liam Sloeum, a miller, who attended to the mill. A portion was afterwards sold to John West, and the remainder to John Williams, a son. About 1824 it passed to Stephen Blades, and later to Jacob W. Morris, and is now owned by William Hendrickson. It was known as Slocum's Mill for many years.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

In the early part of the Revolution, while this mill was in the possession of John Williams, Thomas Barclay (son-in-law of Williams, and father of Judge Joseph Barelay, now of Eaton- town), belonging to the light-horse, was at home on a furlough, and while starting out from the mill to mount his horse, heard a rustling in the bushes, and stooped low, when several bullets passed over his head, through the open door and lodged in a post in the mill, where the lioles are still to be seen. The firing was by a party of Tory Refugees.

OCEANPORT is a village located in Eatontown township, east of Monmouth Park and at the head of South Shrewsbury River. The population in 1839 was forty-seven, and in 1879 four hundred The land on which this village is located was in 1760 the property of the Edwards family, and later, portions of it passed to the Pemberton, Corlies and Fields families. The old Edwards family mansion stood on a lot now owned by E. T. Weleh, near Monmouth Park. In 1820 the point was known as Peggy's Point, and at the time was owned by Margaret Edwards. It was at the head of navigation of South Shrewsbury River. For some years prior to 1820 it began to be used as a depot for storing charcoal, which was burned in the lower townships of Monmouth County and from thence shipped to New York. The first vessel that began to ply regularly from here was the sloop "Sowbug," owned by Pontus Chandler.

The first store of Oceanport was opened by Henry W. Wolcott and John P. Corlies, in 1833. They also carried on a lumber business Their store building was destroyed by fire in 1865, it being then the property of Jacob W. Woolley. Soon after this store was started by Wolcott & Corlies the place became known as Eatontown Dock.

On the 2d of February, 1844, an act was passed incorporating the Eatontown Steamboat Company, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. This act recites that in April, 1843, a company was formed and a steamboat built, which was then running. The corporators were John P. Lewis, Ethan A. Fay, George A. Corlies, Edwin Lewis, William Kelly, John Howland, Benjamin Wooley, ' Deborah and Leah Parker, Robert C. White,

John P. Corlies, Cornelius P. Hulick, Peter Casler, Joseph H. Woolley, John T. Phillips, James Mount and John D. Hurley.

Docks and wharves were built and the stean- boat " Edwin Lewis" ran regularly to New York. Streets were laid out, corner-lots ran up to fabulous prices and many dwellings were erected. Drummond, Wolcott & Co. soon built a store building opposite Griscom's store, and opened also a lumber-yard. Augustus Lewis opened a store where the store of William R. Haynes now stands.

The building of the dock and steamboat and the opening of a route to New York brought trade to this port, and the little steamer " Edwin Lewis," with Captain William Haynes as com- mander, was taxed to its utmost. James S. Allaire, of the Allaire Iron-Works, in Howell township, erected a large stone building, fifty feet square, four stories in height, where George H. Maps now lives, in which were stored pots, kettles and all kinds of ironware from the works. Another steamboat was added, and fifteen or twenty sailing-vessels were used to carry the freight that was brought in here from all sections. Teams were often waiting in line from the dock to the residence of William M. Longstreet.

On March 5, 1855, the Oceanport Steamboat Company was incorporated with an authorized capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The corporators were Peter Casler, Samuel S. Wyckoff and Jacob C. Lawrence. After much difficulty twenty thousand dollars was subscribed, and the steamboat " James Cristopher " was built, and be- gan running in the season of 1855, and continued until 1858, when it was taken to Red Bank.

The railroad was finished through here in 1861, and from that time Oceanport began to decline from the large business which for several years had been done. In 1854 the business firms of the place were Haynes & Drummond, lumber, brick and coal; Thomas T. Williams, lumber and coal ; Haynes & Wolcott, Williams & Law- rence and C. N. Golden, general stores ; J. C. Lawrence, clothing-store; E. T. Welch, stoves and tinware; C. T. Fleming, boots and shoes. The schooners running from this port were the " B. Drummond," " Ann Davison," " Enterprise," " Four Sisters," " Agno" and " Old Jackson ;"

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and the sloops, " Almira Shepherd," "Splendid," " Merchant " and " Eineline."

About 1839 an old house, where the John Pemberton house now stands, was opened as a hotel and kept first by Morris Longstreet, later by Joseph Kirby. In 1846 Deborah and Leah Parker built the present hotel, now owned and oceupied by D. W. White and W. Doig. An old school house was used until 1870, when the district was merged into the present one and the children now attend the Wolf Hill school.

In 1849 a post-office was established here and Dr. John P. Lewis was appointed postmaster with William Haynes as deputy. He was ap- pointed postmaster in 1864, and served until his death, in 1874. His son, William R. Haynes, served as deputy postmaster until 1876, when Zadock M. Briggs succeeded and served until March, 1883. Edwin Corlies was then appointed and is now postmaster. The office is in Griscom's store.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH edifice was built in Oceanport in 1868. The congregation was under charge of Eatontown for several years, and later, under the Little Silver Church. Since 1870 the pastors who have served are as follows : W. F. Abbott, 1870; F. F. Mundy, 1874; L. M. Atkinson, 1875; S. F. Gaskell, 1876-77; T. D. Sleeper, 1878-80; W. H. Pearne, 1881-82; T. S. Wilson, 1883-84. The church has at present about fifty members.

Mizpah Lodge, No. 61, I. O. of O. F., was insti- tuted at Eatontown many years ago. It was active for a short time and was then dormant for twelve years. On February 4, 1869, it was revived with five old members and seventeen initiates. In the spring of 1880 it was removed to Oceanport, where it remains. Albert Smith is the present Noble Grand.

SCHOOLS .- The township of Eatontown contains five publie schools and the Eatontown Academy. The township contains six hundred and thirty-two children of school age, and the public school prop- erty is valued at ten thousand four hundred dol- lars.

Loenst Grove District, No. . 82, has eighty-five scholars. About the year 1800 a school-house was

on the site of Edmond A. Wolcott's house, about three-quarters of a mile from Eatontown village. William Herbert was a teacher in its early days. The last teacher was Elisha Little. The house was abandoned about 1825. In November, 1846, the school district bought of William Lafetra the present lot and erected a school-house, which was used until 1870, when it was moved off and is now used as a lodge-room by the colored people. In the latter year the present house was erected.

Eatontown District, No. 83, embraces the village of Eatontown. The first school of which anything is known as having existed in or near Eatontown was the Pleasant Hill Academy. It was built in 1806, on a slight elevation a little north of the vil- lage (known as Academy Hill), by the Friends of Shrewsbury Meeting. One of the early teachers was Seth Lippincott, who lived there, and, in addi- tion to his day scholars, had some from a distance who boarded at the house. It was abandoned by the Friends before 1825, but was rented to others, who kept the school for many years. Among the teachers since 1829 were Larza Merchant, Wil- liam Ely and (about 1840) Obadiah Thayer. It was entirely abandoned before 1860. The prop- erty now belongs to the estate of Benjamin C. White.

About 1810 a school-house was erected on land now owned by Thomas White, about one-quarter of a mile from the village of Eatontown. Joseph Wardell was a teacher there in early years. It closed about 1825. In 1824 Masonic Hall was erected on the main street in Eatontown, and in the lower part a school was opened. The first teacher was John Kyle. He was succeeded by Obadiah Lang, Charles White and Mrs. James McGregor. In 1841, Jacob Little taught an English and clas- sical school there ; later, Miss Reeve, Rev. Dr A. Ten Broeck and daughters, Miss Hatfield, and at present Professor James M. Clagget. It is known as the Eatontown Academy. Between the years 1825 and 1830 a private school was taught in a small house that stood on the lot where Dr. W. S. Kimball now resides.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 70

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