History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 109

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 109

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Howell was formed from territory taken from Shrewsbury and erected into a township by the provisions of an act of Assembly passed February 23, 1801, which declares that "All that part of the township of Shrewsbury, in the county of Monmouth, lying within the follow- ing boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the main sea or occan, in the middle of Shark River Inlet, and from thence running up the main stream thereof, up along the several windings, to a place called and known by the name of the Horse Pound; ' and from thence from a certain pine

1 Tradition says this place was so called because here the Indians caught the horses and cattle of the early set-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

tree standing by the edge of the brook in the Horse Pound, lettered I. P., said to be the be- ginning corner of a tract of land surveyed and returned for Joseph Potter (deceased), on a ; which was thrown into Ocean County ; on which straight line to the head-spring of Mingume- account a supplement was passed in 1851, enact- ing that " All that part of the township of Howell, which, by the formation of the town- ship of Brick, became detached from the afore- said township of Howell, and lying on the south side of the township of Brick, be and the same is hereby declared to belong and attached to, and form a part of the township of Dover." hone Branch, at the foot of Manohomy Hill, near the Widow Harvey's house ; and from thence on a straight line to the most southerly corner of a tract of land belonging to the Rev- crend Samuel Pyle, ' called ths Mill Traet ; from thence, along said Pyle's southerly bound lines, till it meets the easterly bound line of the township of Freehold; and from thence along In 1851 Howell was reduced to its present limits by the erection of the township of Wall from that part lying between Shark River and the line of Ocean County. The description of the territory taken from Howell in the forma- tion of Wall is given in the history of the latter township. said line southerly until it meets the northerly bound line of the township of Dover ; and from thence eastwardly along the line of said township until it comes to the main ocean ; and from thence along the same northerly to the place of beginning, shall be, aud the same is hereby, set off from the township of Shrewsbury ; The following is a list of chosen freeholders of Howell township from its formation to the present year, viz. : and the same is hereby established a separate township, to be called by the name of The Township of Howell." The name given to this township was in honor of Richard Howell, 1805. James Allen. 1801-4. David Lewis. then Governor of New Jersey.

The act (passed February 15, 1850) which erected the county of Ocean declared it divided into six townships, viz. : the existing townships of Stafford, Jackson, Plumsted, Union and Dover, and the then erected new township of Brick, which was to be composed of a part of Dover township and of that part of Howell lying south of the county line of Moumouth and Ocean. It appears that by a mistake made in

tlers, which ran at large in the woods, distinguished as 10 their ownership only by certain marks or brands, which were entered in the township and county records. It was said that the Indians built a brush fence in the form of a triangle, the apex of which was at a point where there was a bog or quagmire. From this place the fences diverged until the two were nearly a mile apart. Into this open- ing the horses and cattle were driven, until they came to the bog, where they sunk into the mire, and were then easily taken by the Indians.

1 This should be Rev. Simon Pyle. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and preached during the first part of his life through Virginia, Maryland and South Jersey. He afterwards settled in Monmonth County as a farmer, and was also a local preacher. He was the father of Simon F. Pyle, a well-known surveyor of this county.

the description of the boundaries of Brick town- ship at the time of its erection, it was not made to include all that part of Howell township

1805-15. Samuel I. Forman.

1828-39. Nicholas Van Wickle.

1839-50. Jesse Cowdrick.

1840. Samuel F. Allen.

1841-42. Josiah Wainright.

1843-50. Benjamin Lafetra.

1850-56. James Cooper.

1857-72. Charles Butcher.

1873-75. Austin H. Patterson.

1876. W. Thompson Little.

1877-78. Austin H. Patterson.

1879-81. Charles H. Boud.

1882-84. Austin H. Patterson.

Gordon's "Gazetteer " of 1834 gives the fol- lowing in reference to Howell township: "Mana- squan, Squaukum and Howell Furnace are post- towns in this township. Its population in 1830 was 4141. In 1832 there were in the township about eight hundred taxables, one hundred and two-hundred householders, whose ratables did not exceed thirty dollars and forty-two single men, eleven stores, ten saw-mills, five grist- mills, two fulling-mills, four carding-machines, twenty-six tan-vats, two distilleries, one furnace in operation, three hundred and sixty-five horses and mules, and fourteen hundred neat cattle."

647

HOWELL TOWNSHIP.

FARMINGDALE is the principal village of Howell, lying in the eastern part of the town- ship, north of its centre. It is situated on Mingamahone Brook, and at the crossing of the ; pointed postmaster, and held the position until New Jersey Southern Railroad and the line running from Freehold to Manasynan.

From a time before the Revolution down to 1815, or later, this place was known as " Marsh's Bog," and afterwards as Upper Squankum, which latter was the name given to the post- office when it was established there in 1819.1 The name of the office was changed to Farming- dale April 1, 1854.

During the Revolution, Thomas Borden kept a tavern, which stood nearly opposite the store of Jacob Lutz. In this old tavern the bar- room ceiling was pierced by bayonets, said to and on the 5th of September in that year they be those of British soldiers, but it is much more ' elected trustees. The parsonage was described likely it was done by men of the Monmouth as being "in the village of Upper Squankum, militia, who were posted there from time to in the township of Howell." In 1848 a lot time during the war. Soon after the death of Thomas Borden his widow married James Parker, who continued the tavern. Hugh Boud married a daughter of Thomas Borden, and he afterwards kept the tavern, and was the last landlord. It was closed abont 1838. Charles G. Boud, of Farmingdale, is a son of Hugh Boud.

About 1815, William Little built a tavern at the turn of the road that leads to Frechold, and kept it until about 1855. He also had a black- smith-shop at the Corners. The first store was kept by Henry Remsen, and later by H. Wain- wright, whose successors in the business have' been Joseph Goodenough, William Goodenough and Jacob Lutz. The American Hotel, now kept by C. W. Brower, was built upon the church has a membership of two hundred. opening of the railroad in 1868.

In 1864, William H. Vann erected a foun- dry, which he carried on until 1870, when it was sold to Lafetra & Van Note. It is now owned and operated by Grandin Van Note.

The post-office was established at Upper

Squankum (now Farmingdale) March 25, 1819, upon the opening of a mail route from Free- hold to Tuckerton. James Parker was ap-

August 9, 1826, when he was sneceeded by HIalsted H. Wainwright. He was succeeded, about 1850, by Joseph Goodenough. In 1858, William Goodenough was appointed, and held it until 1883, when Mrs. S. W. Hankins, the present postmaster, was appointed.

THE METHODIST CHURCH OF FARMING- DALE has a history covering about forty years. In 1844, though the Methodists in this section had no church edifice, yet they had bought a parsonage house for the preacher of the circuit,

was purchased of Catharine Wainwright, and the corner-stone of a church edifice was laid in 1849. The building was finished and dedicated in 1850, remodeled in 1866 and reopened January 1, 1867. The Revs. W. E. Barrett and W. C. Stockton were ministers in charge in 1850. They were succceded by the follow- ing-named ministers: William Franklin and Josiah Canfield, 1853-54; Mordecai C. Stokes, 1858; John L. Sonder, 1859; S. Jaquett, 1860-61 ; G. H. Tullis, 1862-63; William E. Boyle, 1864-65; William B. Osborn, 1870-71 ; S. C. Chattin, 1872-74; T. S. Wilson, 1875; S. W. Lake, 1876; G. G. Graw, 1877-78; S. W. Lake, 1879-80; T. C. Carman, 1881-82; E. Gifford, 1883; W. F. Herr, 1884. The

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at Farming- dale was organized December 29, 1870, by the Monmouth Presbytery. The church, at its or- ganization, consisted of Gilbert Davison and ten ladies, who were members of various churches. A call was extended, in July, 1871, to the Rev. Daniel W. Teller, which was not accepted. The Rev. E. J. Pierce, who had lately returned from a missionary field of labor on the Gaboon River, in Africa, came to this place and supplied the church from August 1873

1 The name, however, clung to the place after the estab- lishment of the post-office. Gor lon's "Gazetteer" of 1834 mentions its as " Marsh's Bog," situate in Howell town- ship, nine miles southeast of Freehold, and says, " It contains two taverns, two stores and ten or twelve dwell- ings.

648

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

until October, when he was installed pastor, and he is still in charge.

Meetings were beld for worship in the school- honse. On the 1st of October, 1872, a con- tract was made with George C. Hulett to ereet a church building, thirty-six by fifty-five feet, for three thousand dollars. The edifice was dedicated August 21, 1873, and is still occupied by the church.

For some time the society inereased rapidly in numbers but by reason of removals to the coast in late years, it now numbers only about sixty members.

Mingamahone Lodge, No. 162, I.O. of O.F., was instituted in 1874, with the following per- sons as charter members : J. Mount Smith, J. Monroe Wainwright, Henry W. Lake, Charles E. Bartow and Edwin C. Barkalow. The pres- ent officers are J. J. Lippincott, N. G. ; B. M. Disbrow, V. G. ; C. H. Bond, Ree. See. ; Joseph Morton, Per. See. ; Edwin Miller, Treas. The lodge now has about thirty-five members.

The Friendship Rebekah Lodge, No. 37, I. O. of O. F., of Farmingdale, was instituted November 14, 1873, with ten female and seven- teen male charter members. The lodge soon ceased to exist.

Squankum Tribe, No. 39, Improved Order of Red Men, was instituted May 7, 1873, with twenty-four members. It now has twenty-two members. The present offieers are James M. Lippineott, Sachem ; Jacob Lutz, Senior Saga- more ; S. C. Burdge, Junior Sagamore ; W. W. Brower, Chief of Records; B. M. Disbrow, Prophet ; C. W. Brower, Keeper of Wampum.

LOWER SQUANKUM lies in the southeast part of the township, on the Manasquan. In 1820 one Lloyd was the owner of a grist-mill at this place. In 1834 there where here two taverns, one store, a Friends' Meeting-house, a grist-mill and fulling-mill and twelve or fifteen dwellings. In that year the " Free Meeting-House" was built here. William Clayton, William K. Van Note, Ephraim B. Wainwright, George G. John- son and John Woodmansie were elected trus- tees. The house has been occupied mostly (though not regularly) by Methodist ministers,

but has been free to, and been used by, other de- nominations, as ministers eould be obtained.

The Friends' Meeting-house was built on a lot of three-fourths of an aere of land, which was sold for that purpose February 21, 1778, by Patterson Cook to George Parker, Obadiah Wil- liams, Obadiah Tilton, Britton White, Benjamin Corlies and l'eter Corlies, trustees of the Friends' Meeting. The old building stood on the oppo- site side of the stream from the mill. The old burial-place still remains. The meeting-house has long since gone down. A school-house was built here in 1839. In 1856 the mill was sold by R. T. Stout to Nesbit Brothers, and by them to Charles B. Hulett, who, in 1872, sold to W. A. Priekett, who is now the owner and is also postmaster, having succeeded John Stokey, who had been postmaster many years, until 1879.

WEST FARMS, formerly known as New Bar- gaintown, is located near the centre of the town- ship. A mill was built at this place about 1830, and it was in building the dam aeross the river that marl was discovered in this locality, which resulted in the formation of the Squankum Marl Company (incorporated March 26, 1863 ; capital, thirty thousand dollars), who operated largely in this section.1

1 A writer, in 1860, said of this marl region,-

" Squankum marl took its name from the village of Squan- kum, which lies on the northern extremity of the marl district. Marl was first discovered about 1830, in sinking a mud sill in building a dam across the head of Squan River, at New Bargain Mills, and for the last twenty years immense and increasing quantities have been used yearly. It is safe to say that it has made what was once a very poor section of Monmouth County one of the most fertile districts of the State. It has raised the price of land in many places from five dollars to one buudred dollars per acre, and has placed land-owners-of whom it was said the more land they owned the poorer they were -in very affinent circumstances. The marl district be- gins on the stream which forms the head of Squan River, a little above New Bargain Mills, and on both banks of the stream, for a distance of six miles, good marl is fouud convenient of access. On the Miugamahone Brook good marl is found from Upper Squakum to the conjunction of said brook with the New Bargain stream, a distance of four and a half miles, and there is so little top soil on this stream above the marl that in many places, for a half- mile back on either side, marl can conveniently be got out anywhere ; in fact, the whole land can be dug up. On the

649

HOWELL TOWNSHIP.

Gordon's " Gazetteer " of 1834 says of New Bargaintown, upon Manasquan River: "It contains a grist-mill and some half-dozen dwell- ings, surrounded by a pine forest." The mill is now owned by Henry Layton. On the same stream, farther up, is a grist-mill now ealled Fairfield Mills, owned by C. R. and James O. Mathews, formerly known as Pipe Longstreth's mill, and still carlier as "ye Leonard's mill," there being several "Leonard's mills " in the country before 1730. Still farther up the stream, and south from Blue Ball, are the Barkalow or Barraelo Mills, which have been in the family over one hundred and fifty years.

BLUE BALL is a small village or settlement on the western line of Howell township, adjoin- ing Freehold, and about three and a half miles south of the court-house. A short distance north of the hamlet is Shumar's Mill, which, in the time of the Revolution, was known as Richmond's Mill. It was there that Colonel Daniel Morgan lay with his famous corps of riflemen during the whole of the day of June 28, 1778, impatiently waiting for orders to move up and take part in the battle of Mon- mouth.

This settlement as it was in 1834 is described briefly in the "Gazetteer" of that year as follows: " It contains a tavern and store, ten or twelve dwellings, one Presbyterian and one Methodist Church." The Presbyterian Church here re- ferred to stood on the site of the Fairfield Baptist Church. The Methodist Church men- tioned was built here nearly a century ago, as will be noticed in the history of that church.

Blue Ball derived its name from the tavern which was erected here about 1800, and was kept by David Conover till 1826. At that time Aaron Brower became the landlord and kept it many years. It is now kept by J. B. Titus. About 1827, John Hall and Ebenezer Scott started a small store; the latter kept it until 1853 and sold to Aaron Combs, who con- tinued several years. The store is now kept by Mrs. E. E. Hall. In 1850, D. C. Perrine

main branch of Shark River marl is found from Shaftoe's saw mill down to the river, a distance of about five miles "

built a store building and established a branch store at this place (his main business being in Frechold). This was kept until 1856, when he sold to John S. Forman, who continued a few years and sold to Francis Patterson, who, in 1868, admitted to partnership his brother, George W. Patterson. The store was afterwards burned, but was rebuilt, and is now owned by Charles H. Brower.

The post-office was established after 1834. John Hall was the first postmaster. He was suceecded by John S. Barton, John L. Corlies, George L. Britton, John C. Patterson, Dr. Isaac N. Beegle and Mrs. E. E. Hall, who still holds the office.

Dr. Richard T. Stoutenburgh, a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, located here in 1846 and practiced a few years, then retired. De Witt W. Barclay set- tled at this place as a physician in 1847, prac- ticed a number of years and retired to a farm, but after a few years returned to practice and continued till his death, in 1867. Dr. Joseph B. Goodenough came here about 1850 and re- mained till his removal to Long Branch. Dr. Isaac N. Beegle also settled here. He is now at Ocean Grove. Dr. Harry Neafie recently in practice here, is now located at Freehold.

Adelphia Lodge, No. 65, K. of P., was in- stituted at Farmingdale, January 15, 1872, and removed to Turkey (Blue Ball), AApril 15, 1878. Meetings were held for a year in Emmons' wheelwright-shop, and upon the completion of Adelphia Hall, in 1879, the lodge moved to that buikling. The membership is now about sixty.

THE BETHESDA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Blue Ball is the most ancient of the churches of that denomination in Mon- mouth County, dating back more than a cen- tury. Being located within about three miles of the village of Monmonth (now Freehold), and being the only Methodist Church in that vicinity (the Freehold Church not being formed until a half-century later), it was for many years known as " the Methodist Church of Monmouth." The Rev. John Atkinson, in his " Memorials of Methodism," says of it,-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

"The Methodist Society at Monmouth must have been formed at an early period, probably about 1780, as in that year Job Throckmorton, of Freehold, was converted under the ministry of the Rev. Richard Garretson, and became a member of the society. He was one of the first members in that region. The Methodists were much persecuted there at that time. His house was a home for preachers, and very likely Bishop Asbury was entertained at his dwelling during his visits to Freehold. Everitt, Freeborn Garretson, Ezeziel Cooper, Ware and others were accustomed to stop at his house. He was accustomed to relate inci- dents of Rev. Benjamin Abbott's powerful ministry, one of which is as follows : ' On one occasion meeting was held in the woods, and after Freeborn Garretson had preached, Abbott arose and looked around over the congregation very significantly, and exclaimed, " Lord, begin the work; Lord, begin the work now ; Lord, begin the work just there !" pointing at the same time towards a man who was standing beside a tree and the man fell as suddenly as if lie had been shot and cried for mercy.'"

Of Methodism in Monmouth one hundred years ago (says Major Yard1) the records are of the most meagre character. Previous to 1774 the whole State was included in one circuit, sup- plied by two preachers. That year it was divided into two circuits,-Trenton and Green- wich,-but still there were but two preachers assigned to the State, - William Watters to Trenton Circuit, and Philip Ebert to Greenwich, exchanging at the end of six months with Daniel Ruff and Joseph Yearby, from Chester (Pa.) Circuit. Watters was the first native-born Methodist itinerant in America. Richard Owings, also native-born, was a local preacher before Watters entered the work, but he did not join the traveling connection until after Watters. Freeborn Garretson visited New Jersey in 1779, and doubtless traveled through the State. Greenwich and Trenton Circuits disappear from the Conference Minutes in 1776, and New Jersey and Philadelphia appear as separate circuits until 1779, when they appear that year as one circuit, with Philip Cox, Joshua Dudley and Daniel Ruff as preachers.

The Methodists of this region in 1779 must have been few in number, as there were but one hundred and forty reported in the State. They perhaps formed a society-or a " class,"

as we would now call it-which counted its members scattered through a wide district. Blue Ball may have been a centre for its meet- ings, and Freehold on its borders. This is probable, for while Methodist meetings were frequently held at the court-house, there was no society in Freehold until about 1833, and the members previous to that time were connected with the society at Blue Ball.

In 1786 Trenton Circuit included Trenton, Pemberton, Mount Holly, Burlington and Mon- month. Revs. Robert Sparks and Robert Cann, preachers. In 1787 the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper and Rev. Nathaniel B. Mills were the preachers. In 1788, Revs. John Merrick, Thomas Morrell and Jetters Johnson, preachers.

The first mention of Freehold Circuit is in the Conference Minutes of 1793, when James Wilson and John Fountain were appointed to the charge. In 1793 Trenton Circuit reported five hundred and six members, while in 1794, after Freehold Circuit was cut off, it reported only one hundred and seventy-four, while Free- hold reported four hundred and seventy-seven. This probably included all the Methodists in this section of the State east of Trenton.

In 1782, 1785 and in several later years Bishop Franeis Asbury passed through this section, and preached here, being entertained at the houses of Job Throckmorton and Simon Pyle, and perhaps others of the vicinity. The following are extracts from his journals of those tours :

"September 14th, 1782 .- I came to New Mills [Pemberton]. I passed through Monmouth in Upper and Lower Freehold. Here lived that old saint of God, William Tennent, who went to his reward a few years ago.

"Friday, Sept. 9th, 1785 .- Heard Mr. Woodhull preach a funeral discourse on 'Lord, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth.' In my judgment, he spoke well.

"Saturday, September 10, 1785 .- I had liberty in preaching to the people of Monmouth on Joshua 24: 17, and felt much for the souls present." No doubt Freehold village is here meant, as it was then called Monmouth Court-House, and often simply Mon- mouth.

" Friday, September 22d, 1786 .- We dined at Am- boy and reached Monmouth at night.

" Monday, September 5th, 1791 .- I rode through much rain to Monmouth, N. J., where I preached to

1 Major James S. Yard, in an address delivered at the centennial of the Bethesda Church, September 4, 1879.

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HOWELL TOWNSHIP.

a considerable congregation on 'The just shall live by faith ; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.'

"October 28th, 1795 .- We came to Monmonth ; we would have gone to Shrewsbury, but time and our horses failed us. I learn that the ancient spirit of faith and prayer is taking place below. . We rode twenty miles to Emley's Church, where the great revival of religion was some years ago. 1 felt a little of the good old spirit there still.

" May 30th, 1806 .- I preached at Lower Freehold. I came home with Simon Pyle. Ah! what a death there is in the Leonard family."

In 1812 the number of members in the Free- hold Cirenit was seven hundred and thirty-six. In 1813 the Rev. William Mills was sent here as a preacher. Mr. Mills was born in Free- hold about 1758; entered the Revolutionary army in 1776; was taken prisoner and sent to England; returned, and in 1799 became a Methodist preacher. He died at the house of Mr. Lippincott, at Long Branch, December 6, 1813.

The exact date of the building of the old church edifice at Blue Ball is not known. A tradition, remembered and related by Mr. John I. Cottrell, runs, that the society here held their first meetings in a barn on the farm adjoining this church, now owned by Jonathan Croxson. This was about one hundred and ten years ago. The timbers that are in the barn now standing on the premises are the same timbers that were in the old barn; it has simply had new siding and a new roof.

Judge Joseph Murphy, of Freehold, born in 1797, remembered that the only building in this section for public worship owned by the Methodists was the one at Blue Ball. The Methodists of Freehold and all the country around, from Keyport and Bethany and Cheese- quakes on the east to Bennett's Mills on the south, came here to worship. Among the preachers in early times, he remembered Major Thomas Morrell (an officer of the Continental army, who was wounded at Germantown and Long Island), Thomas Neal, David Bartine, Thomas Stewart, James Long, Joseph Holdich, Isaac Winner, John K. Shaw, Daniel Fidler, Edward Page, Joseph Lybrand, Charles Pit- man and Anthony Atwood. The Quarterly Meetings were were always held here, and were

great gatherings. This was the only Methodist Church organization in the county when he first recollected it. The next society was formed at Long Branch. They built a church at what is now known as Mechanicsville. The third Methodist society was organized at Chapel Hill, in Middletown. From that place it was the custom for the circuit preachers to come to his father's house, at Bethany, on Fridays, and preach. The seats in the church at Blue Ball had no backs and the walls were unplastered. The pulpit was built high up on the wall. The building was very much out of repair. It would seat about one hundred and fifty people, but on Quarterly Meeting occasions a great many more could be crowded in. He remem- bered that Joseph Goodenough was a leading member of the church when he first knew it.

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 109

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