History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 106

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

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the pulpit for over a year, but in 1794 he was so far recovered as to require no further aid. For two years longer he remained the diligent pastor of the congregation, and then the First Church of New Brunswick laid their choice upon him. Manifestly the people were reluctant enough to have him go. Commissioner William Ford and Samuel Wykoff, elders, with John Van Emburg and James Imlay, appeared at Presbytery, April 26, 1796, and stated that it must be disastrous to the interests of the church if Mr. Clark be taken away; and he himself showed an excellent spirit in the transaction. He deferred the case to the will of Presbytery, which, at a fall meeting, voted that he ought to accept the call. He complied, and, removing to New Brunswick, there spent the rest of his days, an honored and faithful minister of Christ. He received the degree of Doetor of Divinity soon after the change, and was moderator of the General Assembly at its Session in Philadelphia, in the year 1800. In 1813 he died. Tradition states that when Mr. Clark left Allentown, he carried the records of the church, at least those of his own ministry, with him. A fire that soon thereafter destroyed his dwelling consumed the documents, and so perished all written data of the Session and himself.

For four years after Mr. Clark's removal the congregation was destined to be without a pastor. What was the cause of this long interregnum does not appear; perhaps it was difficult to find a fit successor to the noble preacher just gone away. At length, in the year 1800, the choice of the people fell on Mr. John Cornell, at this time a licentiate of the Classis of New Brunswick, of the Reformed Dutch Church. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born at Northampton in 1774; he began his classical studies, in which he exeelled, at the famous Log College, Pennsylvania, and studied theology under Livingstone at New Brunswick. He married Maria Frelinghuysen, daughter of General Frederick Frelinghuysen, of Somerset County, a lady of great amiability and eminent piety. She proved an invaluable help to him as long as he lived. Her labors were constant to advance her husband's usefulness, and among a multitude of benefits, Allentown is indebted to her for the first Sabbath-school

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within its bounds. Altogether she was a rare model of a minister's wife.

At a meeting of Presbytery, June 3, 1800, Mr. Cornell, having accepted the eall to Allen- town and Nottingham, arrangements were made for his installation on the 23d of the same month. Pursuant to this, his formal induction took place, Dr. John Woodhull preaching the sermon, and the Rev. Joseph Clark delivering the charge to pastor and people. Of the first nine years of Mr. Cornell's ministry we have no Sessional records, and so are much at a loss to know either the condition of the church or the character of his work for this period of time. By a report to Presbytery, in 1806, the mem- bership seems to have been, in both branches, only sixty-seven. In 1808 there were sixty- nine. The last report, in 1817, gives seventy- five. From all that is written, covering more than ten years, we ean learn that only four per- sons were united with the church, though it must be that the names of some are not recorded. It is stated also that in 1818 the Session resolved to begin prayer-meetings in the con- gregation ; these to be held on the first Monday of each month. In 1820 the pastoral relation was dissolved, and Mr. Cornell went hence to take ebarge of a flourishing classical school, first at Somerville, and later at Millstone, in Somerset County. At the latter place he died, in the year 1835, He was the father of a large family, the graves of some of whom are beneath the shadow of the church, while those who grew to maturity have proved men and women of eminent qualities. Upon the removal of Mr. Cornell the vacancy was, fortunately, brief, for in the fall of 1820 a call was presented to Mr. Henry Perkins, a graduate of Princeton and licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. This, without protracted delay, he accepted, and on December 6th of the same year, after well aequitting himself in the necessary trial, was ordained and installed as pastor. Dr. John WoodhnH presided at the service ; Dr. Samuel Miller preached the sermon ; Revs. David Com- fort and Eli F. Cooly gave the charges to pastor and people. The union thus formed was to be the longest in the annals of the church, and likewise a most fruitful one. The minutes

of his long forty-three years' pastorate show from beginning to end a steady inerease and pros- perity. When he began, the communicants here and at Nottingham were a sum total of seventy-five, of whom forty-eight belonged to Allentown. When he closed his labors in 1864, by reason of failing health, the number was two hundred and forty-nine. He had received to the church five hundred and fifty-eight,-an average of fifteen for each year of his ministry.

Looking over the Sessional record for other matters of interest, we find the following to have been elders at the date of his installation. They were David MeKcan, Robert Vander- beck, Cornelius Vanderbeek, Ebenezer Smith, Samuel Wikoff, Peter Wikoff, Amos Hutehin- son, James Hughes, David Cubberly and Theophilus Forman. In the minutes of 1830 appears a notable resolution. Its purport is that the Session, marking with pain and alarm the spread of intemperance, bind themselves to ab- stain entirely from the use of spirituous liquors, except as a medicine. 1831 mentions the forma- tion of a missionary society to be governed by Session, its object to promote liberality and ex- tend Christ's kingdom in foreign lands. It had an honorable career, procuring generons eontri- butions, but no record of the society is found after 1846.

The house of worship erected in 1756, and having sinee that time served the use of the congregation, was now coming to be felt un- suitable, and in 1837 it was resolved to build a new edifice on the same ground. This marked the passing away of a structure abont which clustered most hallowed and memory-quiekening associations. Its high, closed pulpit, duly equipped with antique sounding-board, had been honored with godly and sainted men. Through four generations of the faithful its almost sky- like roof and walls severely plain had echoed with the teachings of grace, and, at first, with the Psalms of David in the Scottish version. In its straight and high-backed pews, some of them forming a hollow square, had worshiped many of the noblest people of the region. The names of Lawrence, Montgomery, Forman, Polhe- mus, Wikoff and Imlay were among the ear- liest who in them worshiped God and made

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ready for eternity. But the old house, which some yet remember, must give way to the new, and the latter was speedily in process of erec- tion.

In 1840 the long-existing relation between Nottingham and Allentown was severed. This left all of Mr. Perkins' time to Allen- town, which provided scope ample enough for the fullest labor he could perform. In 1842 and thereafter he appears to have been called into conflict with a Mormon invasion. The followers of Joseph Smith, then centered at Nauvoo, Ill., had sent missionaries to this region and also in and beyond the section of Cream Ridge, who were much disturbing the peace and minds of the people. Some two or three had been drawn away from this com- munion, and the excitement was rising when Mr. Perkins felt constrained to put himself in the breach. His fearless, unflinching conduct is remembered, and the result was a powerful blow against the spread of Smith's obuoxious doctrine.

In 1858 the house of worship was enlarged to its present dimensions to meet the wants of the increased congregation. After this nota- ble ministry, some time before the close of which Mr. Perkins received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Princeton, with the highest love and confidence of the people, expressed in fit- ting resolutions, he, in 1864, retired from active labor. Immediately upon his retirement steps were taken to secure a successor.

After a few months the congregation resolved to extend a call to the Rev. K. P. Ketcham, then pastor of the church at Tuckerton, this State, and a graduate of Princeton. As the re- sult, he was duly installed pastor in the fall of the same year. About the time of his coming, the southern section of the congregation, living about Cream Ridge, withdrew to establish a church among themselves, and so Allentown be- came the parent of another and, as it has proven, flourishing congregation. The parsonage farm also was sold by will of the people to Mr. Abel Cafferty, and a parsonage procured within the village. Mr. Ketcham remained some six and a half years, when, in 1871, he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Plainfield, N. J.

In the winter following Mr. Ketcham's re- moval the congregation, by unanimous vote, decided to call as pastor Mr. Lawrence M. Colfelt, then a student in the seminary at Prince- ton. Having regularly finished his studies, he accepted the invitation, and was installed May 9, 1872. His pastorate was destined to cover less than two years. March 9, 1874, the con- gregation met, and after expressions of deep re- gret, resolved to unite with Mr. Colfelt iu ask- ing a dissolution of the pastoral relation. He had accepted a call to the venerable and im- portant charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, to which field he carried the warmest wishes of the people for his success. Mr. Colfelt's removal was followed by a vacancy of about six months, when the Rev. George Swain, then over the Gates Avenue Presbyterian Church, of Brooklyn, became pastor of the church at Allentown, and he still continues in that relation.

Following is given a list of pastors, ruling elders and trustees of this church, viz. :

Pastors.

Eleazar Wales, installed 1730 ; dismissed September 19, 1734; died 1749.

Charles MeKnight, installed July 18, 1744; dis- missed October, 1766 ; died January 1, 1778.

William Schenck, installed 1774; dismissed 1778; died 1823.

George Faitoute, installed 1779; dismissed 1781. Joseph Clark, installed June, 1788 ; dismissed April 26, 1796; died 1813.

John Cornell, installed June 23, 1800; dismissed February, 1820; died 1835.

Henry Perkins, D.D., installed December 6, 1820 ; dismissed April, 1864.

K. P. Ketcham, installed September. 1864; dis- inissed April, 1871.

Lawrence M. Colfelt, installed June, 1872; dis- missed March, 1874.

George Swain, installed November, 1874. Still pas- tor (November, 1884).

Ruling Elders.

Mr. Inglis, elected in 1734.

Mr. Chambers, elected in 1744.

l'eter Covenhoven, elected in 1784.

Henry Harper, elected in 1784.

John Imlay, elected in 1784.

Samuel Wikoff, elected in 1784.

John Silvers, elected in 1784.

James Jackson, elected in 1793.

Peter Wikoff, elected in 1793.

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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.

William Foord, elected in 1809.

Jacob Fisher, elected in 1809.

Robert Wilson, elected in 1809.

Samuel Wikoff, elected in 1809. Aaron Hutchinson, eleeted in 1809. James Hughes, eleeted in 1809.

Theophilus Forman, elected in 1809.

Samuel S. Wikoff, Jr., elected in 1810.

David McKean, elected in 1810. Ebenezer Smith, elected in 1817. Robert Vanderbeck, elected in 1817.

Cornelius Vanderbeek, elected in 1817. David Cubberly, elected in 1818. George Sinclair, elected in 1827.

Christopher Van Nest, elected in 1827.

William Imlay, elected in 1832.

Samuel Hutchinson, elected in 1832. John Cubberly, elected in 1832.

Samuel W. Croxson, elected in 1846.

David M. Cubberly, elected in 1846.

A. A. Howell, M.D., elected in 1859.

John Robbins, elected in 1864.

Samuel F. Fowler, elected in 1868.

Henry R. Taylor, elected in 1868.

John G. Vanderbeek, elected in 1871.

Trustees.

1787 .- Henry Harper, Abraham Hendricks, Tobias Hendrickson, James Bruere, John Imlay, Samuel Quay.

1793 .- James Imlay, Garrett Wikoff, Robert Wilson, Jacob Hendrickson, Abraham Montgomery.

1796 .- John Van Emburgh and John Painter.

1797 .- Jacob Hendrickson.

1805 .- David Hay, Jacob Fisher.

1807 .- Robert Montgomery.

1810 .- David MeKean, William Blackwell.

1814 .- Robert Vanderbeek, Ebenezer Smith.

1815 .- Jeremiah Woolsey, George Holcombe.

1816 .- Cornelius Vanderbeck.

1820 .- Price Bruere.

1823 .- John F. Thompson, William Davis.

1831 .- Peter H. Wikoff, George Sinclair.

1842 .- Garrett R. Wikoff, John Bruere.

1848 .- James J. Conover.

1862 .- Albert A. Taylor, Charles Meirs, Benjamin Fowler.

1864 .- A. A. Howell, George H. Vanderbeek, E. T. Hendrickson.

1868 .- John J. Beatty.

1871 .- Charles Bruere, Charles Blake.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Allentown has a history extending back three- fourths of a century. " The first sermon preached in this vicinity (by a Methodist) was delivered by David M. Bartine, father of Rev. D. W. Bartine, of Newark Conference. The sermon

was preached in a dwelling that stood on the ground now occupied by the building of Mr. George Buzby. It was the residenee of Mr. Frederick Miller, grandfather of Robert W. Miller, Esq., of Upper Frechold. It was a - regular preaching-place for a time,-between 1790-95. Susan Robbins (afterwards Mrs. Schuyler) heard the sermon ; she was then a small girl. Her father, who was a Friend, per- mitted her to go, but gave her the following instructions : 'Susan, if thee goes to the meeting, thee must do just as they do,' and faithfully did she follow the programme. She stood up with them when they sang, kneeled down when they prayed, and when the preacher arose to preach she stood up also. Methodist preachers afterwards occupied the Episcopal Church, which stood near where Mr. Middleton's tan- yard now is. Preaching was irregular up to the time of the organization of the eharch. Two brothers, Robert and Sylvester Hutchinson, used to travel extensively. They owned farms in this vicinity, and used to leave with an outfit and a hundred dollars, and go till clothing, sad- dle and horse were worn out and money gone; they would then return to recruit. While in this seetion they preached extensively. Their father was a Baptist, but was always willing to fit them out for the work. They finally mar- ried and settled upon their farms. In 1810, John Dickson, John Imlay, Jr., Samuel Lan- ning, Anthony Borden, Edward Page and Samuel Robbins were formed into an organiza- tion according to law. About that time a church was built on the lot where the African Methodist Episcopal Church now stands, after which there was regular preaching." 1

About 1832 the church was removed from its first site to where the present house stands, and enlarged. In 1869 it was removed to make room for the present edifice, which was erected in that year. The pastors who have served the church are here given as far as ean be ascer- tained, viz. : 1810, Charles Pitman ; 1813, Joseph Totten ; 1816, John Robertson; 1821, Sylvester G. Hill ; 1828, Thomas Davis; 1832,

1 The above was published in the Allentown Industry, May 20, 1880.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Thomas Neal ; 1848, Walter Burrowes; 1858- 59, Daniel L. Adams; 1860-61, L. Herr; 1865- 66, G. C. Maddock; 1870-71, G. C. Stanger ; 1873-74, H. G. Williams ; 1875, W. T. Ab- bott ; 1876-77-78, J. L. Souder; 1879-80, G. H. Tullis; 1881-82-83, E. Green; 1884, P. Provost.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALLENTOWN dates back only a few years. The first Baptist ministers who held services in the village were the Rev. A. Armstrong and Rev. W. E. Wat- kinson, who preached in the Methodist Episo- pal Church, in Rogers' Hall and in a grove near the village. After this the Rev. W. W. Case, of Hamilton Square, preached a number of times, and finally, after Mr. Case had held a series of religious meetings and quite an interest had been awakened, it was proposed to organize a church. On the 7th of December, 1873, the first immersion took place, eleven persons being baptized by Rev. W. W. Case. March 23, 1874, the Baptists of Allentown and vicinity were organ- ized as the First Baptist Church of Allen- town, which was on that day publicly recog- mized by a council of ministers called for that purpose. The first pastor called to serve the church was Rev. W. E. Watkinson, then of Nicetown, Pa., but on account of ill health at the time, Mr. Watkinson was released from serving the church. The Rev. Warreu Lin- coln was settled as pastor October 12, 1874. This gentleman was highly esteemed by the community and beloved by the church. He died while pastor of this people, on the 3d of April, 1877. On the 27th of May following, Rev. James W. Grant entered on his duties as pastor. He remained, however, but one year, closing his pastorate in May, 1878. In June of that year Rev. W. H. Burlew became pastor. Soon after this the church took active measures to build a meeting-house and parsonage, and on the 8th of May, 1879, the corner-stone was laid. The house of worship was finished for occupancy December 23, 1879. The church and parsonage are situated on an eligible lot in the heart of the town. They are excel- lent buildings, though they cost but four thou-

sand six hundred and fifty dollars. The build- ers were E. B. & B. Rogers.

On the 29th of October, 1881, Rev. Mr. Burlew presented his resignation, and became pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Cham- bersburg, N. J. The church was, after this, without a pastor several months, but was sup- plied by different ministers till they called to the pastorate the Rev. S. L. Cox, of Port Jef- ferson, L. I. Mr. Cox accepted the call, was settled here March 1, 1882, and still holds that position. The deacons are four in number : Simon Dilatash, James M. Yard, Benjamin Rogers and Randall B. Totten. Joseph Dar- nell is treasurer, and Samuel Flock clerk. At the present time the church numbers about one hundred and twenty-five members.

ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH was organ- ized in April, 1869, and soon after purchased the old Episcopal Church edifice. It was then enlarged and refitted and is now occupied by the congregation. In 1872 the house and lot on Main Street was purchased for a parsonage. In 1874 a tract of eight acres, a short distance south of the village, was purchased for a ceme- tery. The first services were held by Rev. Patrick Leonard, of Bordentown. The first regular pastor was the Rev. James Burgazi. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. S. Danielou. The congregation numbers one hundred and fifty families.

THE UNION AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCO- PAL CHURCH was organized in 1835 and built a church on the present site. It was enlarged in 1850 and rebuilt in 1878. The Rev. John Raccoe is the present pastor. He was preceded by the Rev. John Whittaker and the Rev. J. Peirce. The church has now about fifty members.

The Allentown Academy was the successor of a school which had been taught many years under the care of the Presbyterian Church. The academy building stood where the Presby- terian Chapel now stands, and was used until it was torn down, about 1834, and a new build- ing erected, which was rented to the school trustees. The principals of the old academy

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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.

were generally students of Princeton. Among them were the Rev. George II. Burrowes, D.D., of California, and the Rev. Abram De Witt.

In 1820 and for several years thereafter, Miss Mary Taylor taught school in a one-story build- ing owned by Dr. George Holeombe. Later, Miss Mary and Catharine Beatty taught a school in a brick building now occupied by T. C. Hutchinson.

A Union School-House was built in 1834, and on April 12th in that year the inhabitants met "at the new Union School-House " and elected as trustees Joseph Sinelair, John Bowen, Jr., Charles Beatty, James Burlingame, William J. Brown, William V. Robbins and Daniel Bills.

A school was held in the lower room of Odd- Fellows' Hall from 1844 to 1863. It was known as Madison Hall School.

The Allentown post-office was established January 1, 1796, and Samuel Quay was ap- pointed postmaster. He was suceceded, April 1, 1798, by Samuel Rogers. The following- named persons have held the office since that time: Richard L. Beatty (appointed July 1, 1801), James Imlay (July 1, 1804), James B. Stafford (April 1, 1805), William Imlay (1820), A. A. Howell (1857), D. W. Bills (1860), John C. Vanderbeek (1861).

The Hope Fire Company was organized about 1850. A hand-engine was purchased and the present engine-house was ereeted opposite the mill. John C. Vanderbeck, Elisha Robbins and Abel Cafferty were aetive in the organiza- tion of the company. It has at present bnt three active members.

Madison Lodge, No. 23, I. O. of O. F., was instituted about 1841, and held its meetings in the house of John Osmond. In 1844 a two- story building was ereeted on Church Street, the lower part of which was used for a school- room and the upper part was fitted up for the lodge-room. The lodge remained in existenee until 1863, when it disbanded and the building was sold to Samuel Fidler.

Waln, V. G. ; Alfred D. Waln, Treas .; Wil- liam E. Miller, See. Meetings were first held in a room over John C. Vanderbeek's store, and about 1877 the present rooms over llan- kins & Bunting's store were fitted up and oe- cupied. The present officers are: N. G., P. H. White; V. G., H. G. Norton ; Rec. See., J. H. Clayton; Per. See., F. P. Wetherill ; Treas., William Hankins. The lodge has about sixty members. The Past Grands have been as fol- lows : Gilbert H. Worden, R. C. Waln, Wil- liam E. Miller, A. L. Waln, F. P. Wetherill, E. B. Rogers, Robert Tusting, James H. Gil- lam, F. W. King, Smith H. Eldridge, James Holmes, J. H. Clayton, William Hutchinson, Garret B. Borden, S. E. Pollen, J. C. Vander- beck, Morgan Hall, G. M. D. Hendrickson, Hammond Gitsinger, Job Carr, E. B. Rogers, Joseph E. Stephenson, William O. Jacoby, Charles Davis, William Hutchinson, William H. Killey, E. H. Dilatush and P. H. White.

Allentown Eneampment, No. 53, I. O. of O. F., was chartered with eleven members June 1, 1872. It meets in the rooms of Allentown Lodge and now has about forty-five members. The present officers are W. A. Parker, C. P .; E. B. Rogers, H. P. ; Benjamin Rogers, Sen. W .; Job> Carr, Jun. W .; F. P. Wetherill, Scribe ; J. C. Robbins, Treas.

The Monmouth Manufacturing Company was started at Allentown in 1814. On the 6th of June in that year Ebenezer Smith sold to the company about twenty-six aeres of land on Indian Run. The company was composed of Dr. George Holcomb, Richard L. Beatty and Samuel C. Newell. A cotton-factory was built under the superintendenee of James Burlingame, a native of New England. It was operated as a eutton-factory until 1836, when it was changed into a factory for the manufacture of wood-type, under charge of Ebenezer R. Webb. It stood idle for a time, and finally was changed into a woolen-mill by John Simpson. It came into possession of Joseph Darnell, by whom it was changed into a grist-mill, and is now operated as sneh.

Allentown Lodge, No. 146, I. O. of O. F., worked under a dispensation, and was instituted Angnst 8, 1870. Its eharter was granted No- The Allentown Creamery Association was formed in 1881, with Josiah Robbins as presi- vember 16th in the same year. The first officers were Gilbert H. Worden, N. G. ; Richard C. I dent, Charles Cafferty secretary and A. A. Tay-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Jor treasurer and superintendent. A three-story frame building, thirty-two by sixty-four, was erected and fitted with all modern improved ap- pliances. They have a capacity of using five hundred barrels of milk per day.

A tannery was established at Allentown in 1839 by George Middleton, who still contin- les the business. The buildings cover nearly an aere of ground. The tannery has a capacity of tanning three thousand five hundred hides per year.

A carriage-factory was established in Allen- town about 1855 by William Cafferty, who was succeeded in 1872 by the present proprietor, Anthony Maps.

ARNEYTOWN VILLAGE, or hamlet, lies on the Jine between Burlington and Monmonth Counties. It was first settled by Friends. The land is a part of the William Dockwra tract. On the 26th of April, 1705, John Arney purchased the land of Benjamin Borden. On May 3, 1739, Joseph Arney and others petitioned the Chester- field Monthly Meeting, at Crosswicks, asking "liberty to keep a meeting every first-day at the house of Joseph Arney." On the same day the meeting granted the request as follows: "Isaac Forman, Joseph Arney and several in- habitants near these requested liberty of this meeting to keep a meeting every first-day at a house of Joseph Arney's, and this meeting gives consent that they have liberty to keep a meet- ing one year."

The meetings were evidently continued be- yond that year. In 1749, for some reason not stated, Joseph Arney was "declared out of nnity with the meeting." William Lawrie was one of a committee to visit him. A spot of ground containing about an acre and a half was purchased, and a meeting-house erected, for which, in 1756, Joseph Arney gave a deed "for ye land belonging to upper freehold meeting, a deed of trust for ye same to Peeter harison & others." Meetings have not been held regularly in the house for several years, and are now held only by appointment.

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 106

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