History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 101

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 101

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THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL BETHEL CHURCH was organized in this place about 1860, and built a chapel. In 1882 the congregation were assisted in building by Gen- eral Clinton B. Fiske, who, at a cost of three thousand dollars, erected the Fiske Chapel, at the west side of the village. It was dedicated August 20, 1882. The Rev. J. T. Rex was then pastor. In the same year, and adjoining the Fiske Chapel, a school-house for colored children was built, and dedicated November 18, 1882.

An Episcopal Church was commenced just west of the village in 1884, the corner-stone being laid on Monday, November 3d, of that year. It is under the care of St. George Epis- copal Church of Rumson Neck.

The township of Shrewsbury embraces seven school districts, which contain eighteen hundred and sixteen registered scholars, and have school property valued at forty-one thousand six hun- dred dollars.

In what is now Oceanic District, No. 72, the first school-house was built about 1849. It was

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SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP.

in the woods near the residence of Dr. E. Parm- ' the township were taught. The Friends, Pres- ley, and was used until the present frame two- : byterians and Episcopalians all had churches in story house was built, in 1880. The district the village before 1720. As was the case in now contains two hundred and ten children of those days, the school was an adjunct of the school age.

church, and the different denominations each had their schools.1

In Fair Haven District, No. 73, the present frame two-story school-house was built in 1878. It is known that in 1793-94 a school was taught in the old Presbyterian Church by a Mr. McGregory, and later by - Dunleavy. In 1810, Jacob Holmes, Robert White, Benjamin The first house in this locality stood on the Rumson road, where it is now joined by Buena Vista Avenue, and near the old Presbyterian graveyard. It was used as the school-house for . White and Dr. Samuel Tenbrook erected a the people of the Neck, and was discontinued ; school-house, by permission, upon the northeast many years ago. J. H. Chandler, of Fair | corner of the Christ Church lot. Among the Haven, attended school there in 1821. John S. teachers from 1820 were Samuel Crain (from Borden, Nathaniel Clark, Samuel Crane and Vermont), Joseph Wardell, Seth Lippincott (in Joseph Wardell were teachers in this old house. . 1827, '28, '29 and several years later in his own

In 1841 a school-house was erected in Fair house). The school-house was bought by the Haven, and Forman Smith was the first teacher. It was used until the present school-house was built. The district now contains two hundred and sixty-eight children of school age.

Parkerville District, No. 74, now embraces what was formerly two districts, which were united in 1882. About 1848, Mrs. Blanche, a teacher at the " Phalanx," moved to Little Sil- ver, where Dr. John Hall now resides, and built on her own land a school-house, in which she taught school several years. In 1852 a school- house was ereeted on the corner opposite Cap- tain Mulliner's residence, which was used until the districts were united, in 1882, when the house was sold.

The old school-house mentioned in Fair Haven District was the school-place of the children of this locality until after 1828, soon after which a school was kept in the house of Michael Parker ; was taught by his son Wil- liam and his daughter Jane. About 1840 the residents united in erecting a school-house on the site of the present church, which stood until 1865, when it was sold and the present frame two-story house was built. The district now contains one hundred and fifty-eight children of school age.

Red Bank District, No. 75, is mentioned more fully in the history of the town of Red Bank.

Shrewsbury District, No. 77, includes the old village of Shrewsbury, where the first schools in

Rev. Harry Finch, who taught a school there for several years, and also used it for a Sunday- school. He had as assistant, George H. Sickles, now of Middletown. Upon the erection of a district, many years ago, the Rev. Harry Finch, Dr. John P. Lewis and Dr. Edward W. Allen were the first trustees. A house was rented for several years which now stands on the estate of Delafield Smith. A school-house was built abont 1837-38 by several persons (mostly Pres- byterians), and kept by Mr. George Woodward as a private school ten or twelve years. The building was then rented by the district for several years. About 1876, Mr. Edward Cor-

I The earliest positive knowledge on the subject is gained from the journal of the Rev. Thomas Thompson, who was a missionary to this county between the years 1745 and 1750. After a visit to Manasquan, he says,-

" As people were desirous of having a schoolmaster, and spoke of making up among themselves a competency for one, I proposed it to Mr. Christopher Robert Reynolds, the society's schoolmaster at Shrewsbury ; and those parts being within that township, it was not inconsistent with his appointment. He was willing to go and set up school there, and accordingly went down and tanght a year, em- ploying his diligence to good effect.

"But his employers living so far asunder that they could not send their children to school all at. one place, he was obliged to be often shifting and to go from one bonse to another, which was such a fatigue and labor to him, being in years and an infirm man, that he was not able to con- tinue it, and returned to Shrewsbury, his former station."

It is evident from this statement that Mr. Robert Rey- nolds was then teaching in connection with Christ Church Society.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

lies bought out the stockholders and sold the house. The directors of the district then pur- chased a lot west of the railroad depot, and erected the present frame school-house, thirty by forty feet in size. It has lately been fitted with modern school furniture.

Tinton Falls District, No. 78, contains one hundred and twenty-two children of school age. A lot was donated, in 1810, by Mr. Throck- morton for school purposes ; the consideration was that the donor should have the ashes made in the house. A building was erceted upon the lot and used until 1872, when the citizens voted two thousand five hundred dollars for a new school-house. The lot being considered unde- sirable, the trustees purchased a lot near the Methodist Church, on which they built the present house, which was opened January 16, 1873.

Woodlands Distriet, No. 79, embraces terri- tory in both the townships of Shrewsbury and Ocean. The house was built in 1856 on the township line in Shrewsbury. The district now contains fifty-two children of school age.

THE TOWN OF RED BANK.

Red Bank, the most important town in the county of Monmouth, is situated at the head of navigation of the Navesink (otherwise known as Shrewsbury) River, on the south shore of the stream, within the limits of Shrewsbury town- ship. The name of the town was given to it because of the red color of the soil of the river banks at that place.

The lands which now form the site of the town of Red Bank were, in the year 1808, em- braced in the farm of Barnes Smock, who at that time kept a tavern on the point just north of where J. M. Atkins' Union Hotel now stands. The old tavern site is now a part of the Union Hotel property. In 1809 one Boyd kept a store east of Smock's tavern. About three hundred yards cast of this store, and a few years later, Wainwright Brothers had a store on the old dock in front of John A. Worthley's

property. This store was kept from 1818 to 1821 by Robert Hart, and in the latter year wasowned by Martin Chandler, who kept it until about 1830, when he sold to Joseph Parker.

A dock was built on the site of the present steamboat dock before 1809. The sloop " Fair Trader," owned by Esek White and others, ran from that dock to New York, carrying mar- ket produce. The Smock farm property came into possession of E-ek White about 1820. In 1829, Joseph Parker opened a tavern on the hill baek of the old dock. The store, tavern and dock were sold, about 1837, to Abram Springsteen, who, about 1845, sold to William Remsen, who built a grist-mill about fifty feet east of the dock. In later years the mill was discontinued and taken down. About 1855, D. W. Hendrickson built a grist-mill on the site of the Merchants' Steamboat Company's wharf. This mill was burned in 1857.

About 1833, Captain John Pintard ran the passenger sloop "Atlas " to the upper doek, where the coal-yards now are. Captain Joseph Parker ran the sloop " Benjamin Stevens" to the lower dock. The sloop " President " had run to the lower dock before the " Benjamin Stevens."

In 1829, Rice Hatsell came here from Rice- ville (now Navesink village), and erected the first store on the hill. It stood on the site of French's liquor-store. At that time an old store-house which had stood on Smock's Point had been moved in front of the old Smock tavern, and in this store building Thomas C. White and Jacob Corlies kept store several years after 1829. An old house, owned by Garret Morford, stood in the rear of the site of Worthley's new brick building, and it is still standing.

After the steamboats began running, a road was built down to the line between Esek White, Martin Chandler and along the line to the Remsen dock. The establishment of steamer lines brought to the place a number of persons, and town-lots were sold rapidly.

In 1829, Charles G. Allen settled at New- man's Springs and built a store and wharf. In 1832 he built the schooner "Catharine Allen," of thirty tons; in 1835 he built the

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THE TOWN OF RED BANK.

"Mary Emma," of seventy tons ; and in 1837, liams, William Haight, William Applegate, the "Margaret Klotz," of forty-five tons. In David C. Conover, Pierson Hendrickson, Daniel 1840 he removed to Red Bank and built a Conover, Joseph Shepherd and John MeBriar. store on the site of Weaver's elothing-store, and On the 26th of February following the incor- kept it till 1846. He also built a dock for sloops poration of this company the Middletown and Shrewsbury Transportation Company was incorporated, with capital of thirty thon- sand dollars and the following-named corpora- tors : James Cooper, Richard Lnfburrow, George Cooper, Robert Allen, James W. Bor- and steamers. Thomas Hunt built the steam- boat "Confidence," which ran to this dock until 1850. In 1843, Benjamin Laird kept the okdl Smoek tavern, then ealled the Steamboat Hotel. He was succeeded in that house by Lewis Speneer, John Magee, William Frazer | den, John E. Johnson and Charles G. Allen. and others.

These two Companies each built steamboats; Hunt," and later the " Thomas Haight" and the " Alice Price." The Middletown and

In November, 1834, Thomas E. Combs, the Red Bank Company built first the " Thomas formerly of West Freeholl, who had been in business in Coenties Ship, New York, bought out the store of Rice Hatsell, and, with his Shrewsbury Transportation Company built the brother, Aaron R. Combs, began business. "Golden Gate," and later the "Ocean Wave." These companies, with their steamboats, did a thriving business for about four years, when each had sunk its capital. Their debts were all paid and they retired from business. Aaron soon after retired, and Thomas E. con- tinned business until January 12, 1837, when Henry H. Conover was admitted to partnership with him. On the Ist of January, the next year, Combs retired, and moved to Tinton Falls, where he kept a store many years.

William Remsen, soon after his settlement at Red Bank, in 1845, built two sehooners,-the " Henry Remsen " of one hundred and forty

In 1829, Robert H. Wooley purchased two aeres of land for one hundred and fifty dollars, tons, and the "Sarah Elizabeth," of eighty

on the corner of what is now Front and Broad Streets. Frightened at his purchase, he urged a friend to take half of it, but the offer was not

tons. These schooners were run in connection with his store and mill business. In July, 1837, James P. Allaire began running the steamboat accepted. He built a frame building (on the , " Isis" from Red Bank to New York, and site of Spinning & Patterson's store), which was soon after added the steamer " Osiris," and in opened as a store by T. & J. W. Morford, who June, 1841, a line of stages was established to run in connection with these boats from Mana- sqnan River to Red Bank.

remained there until 1843. Upon the other land Robert H. Wooley and Isaac P. White opened a lumber-yard, which was kept there for many years. It was opposite the present lumber-yard on the north side of Broad Street.

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

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

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

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

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

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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THE TOWN OF RED BANK.

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

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

Navesink Hook-and-Ladder Company, No.

THE RED BANK WATER-WORKS have 1, has sixty-three members, with C. B. Hender- been built by the town under authority of a son as foreman. In addition to its hooks and ladders, it has charge of the " Little Giant," a four-wheel chemical engine, and five hundred feet of hose.

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

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

" EXIT RED BANK.

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

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

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

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

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

general law passed by the Legislature at the session of 1884. Under this act, the town authorities, in May, 1884, appointed Anthony Reckless, John S. Applegate and William S. Sneden water commissioners, to devise the best method of supplying the town with pure and wholesome water, and to have the works constructed by contract awarded to the lowest bidder.

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

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

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 101

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148