History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 138

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 138

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Previous to 1800 there was a potash-factory near the present pottery, and a brickyard was in operation here before 1825 upon the property of the late G. P. Conover. There was a grist-mill at the lower end of the town, upon or near the site of the store-house of Fountain Horner & Company, which was burned during the war. Another building was erected in 1809 and used as a mill, afterwards converted into a store-house. The store, which was occupied by Mr. Ness, and which was burned in 1852, was built in 1800 by Colonel James Conover, who occupied it a short time, then by John Quay. Quay, in addition to store business, built a packing-house and bought and packed pork ; also a smoke-house for smoking the same. Quay, besides keeping store, sailed a packet to New York called the "Republican." This property and business afterwards was conducted by Lewis

Conover and his brothers, Joseph and John; again, in 1812, it became the business of Messrs. Little.

"The early mercantile history of the place prior to 1812 I could learn but little about. A store was kept previous to that time by a Mr. Quay on the corner of Forman Street, or the street leading to the wharf. And since that time Messrs. Robert and William Little, Van Mater and Hartshorne, and, later, Messrs. Fountain and others, who successfully added to the interests and prosperity of the town, and also, by strict attention to business, added to their peeuniary affairs.

"From 1812 the slooping or freighting interests were carried on very successfully, and continued to be until steamboating superseded sloops. The sloops were the only mode of conveying people to New York City, and many amusing stories are told of the trials, fatigues and detentions the people underwent during the three or four days' journey to New York. This slooping business deserves more than a passing notice. In the early part of the century a regular weekly line of sloops or packets carried all the produce

"I have been told," says Mr. Spader, " there was a school-house standing on the spot where Mrs. Holt now lives" It is possible the school-house mentioned in the road record of March, 1768, was the one remembered by some of the old residents. In 1807, at the time when war was expected to result from the "Chesapeake" outrage, Captain Philip Holmes and Captain Mathias Van Vrackle, of Middletown Point, each offered the services of their company to the government. William Little, in 1815, was carrying on business alone. In that year Garret P. Conover went into the store as clerk, and in 1822 became a partner with him. Two years later Mr. Conover built a new store and carried it on many years. Mr. Little con- tinued business for a short time at the store which stood on the corner opposite the Methodist Church. William Ness succeeded him, and in 1837, James Little opened a store at the old stand. Mr. Wil- liam Little retired from the mercantile business and became cashier of the bank in 1821, besides being interested in the Navigation Company. Asher Fountain began business in 1822 with

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

James Frost. They opened a dry-goods and grocery-store where the building now occupied by the office of Rens. W. Dayton stands. Mr. Frost retired, and Benjamin Briggs, Jr., became a part- ner, and later William S. Horner also became a partner.

Of Middletown Point (now Matawan,) in 1834, Gordon's " Gazetteer," published in that year, says : " It lies on a bank elevated about fifty feet above the stream, fronting a marsh on the opposite side ; contains a Presbyterian Church, from seventy-five to one hundred dwellings, many of which are very good buildings, eight or ten stores, four taverns and a grist-mill. This is the market of an exten- sive country, and large quantities of pork, rye, corn, cord-wood and garden truck are thence sent to New York."

In 1834 a meeting was held, May 20th, at the hotel of Tunis J. Ten Eyck, for the purpose of pro- curing a steamboat for the trade with New York. The firm of Fountain, Horner & Co. were running sloops to the city, but the increased busi- ness required greater facilities for transportation. The packet sloop " Monmouth " ran regularly be- tween Middletown Point and Washington Market, New York, William S. Ilorner, master. In 1839, J. W. Fountain was master. The steamboat com- pany was formed in 1834 ;1 but did not succeed in getting a steamboat until 1837, when the following advertisement of the line was issued :

"Capt. G. Hiers states that 'the new low-pressure steamboat ' Monmouth' will run during the months of April and May from the foot of Robinson street, New York, to Middletown Point, touching at Se- guine's Dock, Staten Island and Key Port. Fare to and from Middletown Point, 50 cents. On the arrival of the boat at Middletown Point a stage will leave for Monmouth Court-Honse.' Stages also ran from Long Branch, Red Bank and Shrewsbury in connection with this boat."

The officers of the company were Samuel Mairs president ; William Little, Thomas I. Bedle and G. S. Crawford, directors ; and Francis P. Simpson, secretary.

On the 12th of November, 1840, the steamboat " Hope," Captain Green, commeneed to run from

Middletown Point to New York, and June 9, 1842, the steamboat " Rockland " also was in the line. Fountain, Horner & Co. continued their business running steamers and sloops. The sloop " Banner" was the first one this firm put on. Later they added the sloop " Oregon," Captain William S. Horner, and the " William S. Horner," Captain Aaron H. Hopkins. On the 1st of April, 1841, Mr. Griggs retired from the firm and Daniel S. Stillwell be- came a partner. About 1842 the firm built the brick store now occupied by Smith Brothers. Mr. Fountain remained in active business until 1876, when he retired.

In 1834, Francis P. Simpson & Co. opened a lumber-yard. In 1853, Mr. Simpson built a new brick store, two stories in height, with a large room in the second story, thirty by sixty feet, and sev- enteen feet in height, for public uses. This was called Washington Hall, and is still in use.

Thomas 1. Bedle came to Middletown Point in 1827, and opened a shoe-store. In 1835 he went into the mercantile business, which he continued until 1871, when he retired. Governor Joseph D. Bedle was born in this village, in the old Woodhull house.

The first hotel at Middletown Point, in the memory of those now living, was the one afterwards known as the Union, and was kept by Derrick Whitlock. It stood about fifty yards west of the Matawan llotel. It was owned by William Little and was kept by Tunis J. Ten Eyck, John Campbell, Benjamin Crook and others. It was abandoned as a hotel about 1874. The Matawan Hotel yas built for a dwelling-house and rebuilt as a hotel by Tunis J. Ten Eyck.

The post-office was established in 1815, when Cornelius P. Vanderhoof was appointed post mas- ter. He was succeeded by William Little, who held the office from 1820 to 1853. His successors have been George W. Bell, 1853-60; Jacob R. Schenck, 1860-62; Rens. W. Dayton, 1862 to the present time.

The Middletown Point Navigation Company was organized in 1837, for the purpose of improv- ing the navigation of the river. William Little, Garret P. Conover and Simeon Arrowsmith were appointed commissioners to receive subscrip- tions. The books were opened for that purpose May 6, 1837, "at the house of Benjamin Crook,

1 The first steamboat running to Middletown Point was put on in 1831, by Captain Bent. She ran only about six months.

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Inn-keeper, at the Village of Middletown Point." , Charles McKnight Its condition was nearly the The channel was cleared under the operations of same as the Shrewsbury Church for many years, this company, but the business of the place, which each being without even a supply, yet keeping their organization. had for many years been an important shipping point, was destined to go down. The younger all, and now Middletown Point as a landing-place has little left but the name, which is fast passing into disuse.

Of this church, Mr. Spader, in his address rival, Keyport, gradually, but surely, absorbed it delivered July 4, 1876, says: "There was at Mount Pleasant a building used as a church, upon a ground donated by a Mr. Wyckoff. It was situated upon a beautiful green, covered by large trees, and was a sort of a rallying-point at the The earliest physician of this vicinity, of whom any information has been obtained, was Dr. Peter Le Conte, who was located at Middletown Point as early as 1734, and was one of the officers of the old Presbyterian Church at that place. He was a native of this country, but of Norman parentage. In 1735 he married Mary Pintard, who died in the same year, and he soon after married Valeria, danghter of John Eaton. He died in 1768, aged sixty-six years, and was buried in the old ground at Mount Pleasant. commencement of the Revolution, in case of alarm, and to discuss matters pertaining to their situation. In the year 1778 the building was burned and was not rebuilt until 1798, when a church was again built, partly by lottery and partly by gifts of timber, etc., from farmers. It was intended by the donors as a place of worship for all denomina- tions ; but in time it became the property of the Presbyterians, who sold the same, and in 1841 built the present church. Rev. Eli F. Cooly became the pastor in 1820, and it is evident from Dr. Charles Mcknight was a physician of this locality in 1777, in which year he was taken pris- oner at the time the old Presbyterian Church was burned by the British and Refugees. manuscripts left by him that there was a Presby- terian organization in this place before the war, as the church was under the care of the Rev. Charles McKnight, who was in prison during the war, and Dr. William G. Reynolds came to this place about 1815, and remained in practice about ten years ; then removed to New York. died soon after his release." Mr. Cooley served three years and retired in April, 1823. The church was supplied until 1828, when the Rev.

Dr. David English came to Matawan in 1824, ' Clifford S. Ames commenced to labor with them, went into partnership with Dr. Reynolds and suc- and continued until 1832. On March 5th, the ceeded to the full practice when the latter removed to New York, in 1825. He continued a-few years till his health failed, when he retired from prac- tice.

Dr. Alfred B. Dayton came to this place in 1835, and remained in practice here until his death, in 1870.

Dr. Judson G. Shackleford was in practice here many years. He died in 1883.

The present physicians of Matawan are Drs. A. T. Jackson and Dr. Knecht.

next year, the Rev. George S. Woodhull was installed, and continued till his death, December 25, 1834. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph L. Shafer as a stated supply until November 6, 1838, when the Rev. Charles Webster was installed as regular pastor, and continued until April 24, 1849. The Rev. John M. Rogers was soon after called, and was installed February 20, 1850. His labors continued until July 7, 1867, when he resigned. He was succeeded, January 27, 1869, by the Rev. James O. Denniston, who resigned, after two years' service, on the 3d of January, 1871. He was fol- lowed, October 13th in the same year, by the Rev. J. Henry Kaufman, who continued till his death, October 27, 1873. His successor, the Rev. J. M. Anderson, was installed June 30, 1874. He re- maincd until December 13, 1881, and resigned. The Rev. W. H. Ford accepted a call in April,

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MATAWAN is very ancient. The Rev. Elihu Spencer, who was pastor of the Shrewsbury Presbyterian Church from 1761 to 1764, mentioned preaching at Mid- dletown Point (now Matawan), where there was a congregation at that time, and which, in 1766, united with Shrewsbury in calling the Rev. 1882, and began his labors June 1st in that year. 53

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He resigned in April, 1883, and was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Robert Kent, who was installed December 11, 1883.

The church building, erected in 1841, as already mentioned, has since been enlarged and materially improved. Lecture and Sunday-school rooms were added in 1877. The membership of the church is now two hundred.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MATAWAN,1 as an organization, is less than thirty five years old ; but the history of the Baptist cause in Mata- wan antedates the origin of the church by some twenty or more years. As early as 1830, and per- haps a year or two previous to that, Father Rob- erts, then pastor of the church at Middletown, occasionally visited this village, and preached at the residence of Mrs. Rachel Bent. Meetings also were held sometimes at the residence of Mr. John Disbrow, grandfather of Marshal John N. Dis- brow.

At a later period the Rev. James Goble, pastor of the old church at Jacksonville, occasionally preached at the tavern of Mr. James Lockerman, at the lower end of the village. After this the Rev. J. M. Carpenter, while pastor of the church at Jacksonville, resided for two years in the village of Middletown Point, and, as opportunity afforded, met the people at different places to counsel and instruct, as well as preach the gospel to them. About these days Father Elliot, an aged and somewhat infirm Baptist minister, was in the habit of making occasional visits to this community, and was always willing and ready to preach to the people as long as they were willing to hear him.

These occasional and irregular meetings of the Baptists of Middletown Point and vicinity were continued till after the organization of the church at Keyport, and the settlement of the Rev. William V. Wilson as its pastor. Immediately upon his entering upon his labors there, Matawan was made one of his out-stations. He preached regu- larly once a month at the Mount school-house, and perhaps as often at the Morgan school- house, which was three miles above, on the Free- hold road. On the occasions of his preaching at

these out-stations, he had to perform a Sabbath day's journey of nearly thirty miles, in addition to the preaching of three sermons. After awhile, there being at and around these out-stations a considerable number of members, principally connected with the churches at Keyport and Jacksonville, a desire was felt that they might enjoy the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in connection with their regular meetings for worship. This desire was complied with, and the Rev. William V. Wilson adminis- tered the ordinance regularly in the Mount school-house for some years before the church was formed. Thus the way was thoroughly pre- pared for an independent church organization.

In 1849 the Baptist interest and element in this community had so increased that the Rev. William V. Wilson encouraged the erection of a meeting-house in the village. In December of that year a lot was purchased of Thomas I. Bedle, Esq., above the stone bridge, for which the sum of two hun- dred dollars was paid, and immediately steps were taken to build. During the following year, 1850, a very neat and commodious house of worship was completed and dedicated to the worship of God. The Rev. Dr. Somers, of the South Baptist Church, New York, preached the dedication sermon. Among those not immediately connected with the Baptist denomination, who manifested great interest in the erection of this house, and rendered constant and untiring services, and who, after the organization of the church, served for many years as most valu- able and efficient members of the board of trus- tees, were Thomas I. Bedle, Esq., and Edward Blaek.

On the 22d day of October, 1850, thirty-two persons, having met in the new meeting house for that purpose, organized themselves into the First Baptist Church of Middletown Point. Twenty of these had letters from the church at Keyport ; four from the church at Holmdel ; one from the church at Middletown ; two from the Amity Street Church, New York ; three from the church at Old Bridge; and two from the South Church, New York. These thirty-two adopted what is known as the New Hampshire Declaration of Faith and Covenant, and at once-i. e., before their first meet- ing as a church was dismissed-elected the Rev. Job Gaskill to be their pastor, and John Van Bracle and Rynear Suydam deacons. Mr. Gas-

1 The history of this church is furnished by the pastor, the Rev. F. A. Slater.

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kill had been laboring in and around Middletown Point for six or eight weeks previous, as mission- ary of the State Convention.

On the 23d of October a council, which had been called for that purpose, met in the new meet- ing-house to consider the propriety of giving the newly-organized church denomination recognition. The council was composed of the Rey. D. B. Stout, of Middletown; Rev. William Nice, of Holmdel; Rev. Joseph Beldon, of Freehold ; Rev. L. F. Stelle, of Old Bridge; Rev. William V. Wilson and Deacon James Sproul, of Keyport ; Rev. J. M. Carpenter, of Perth Amboy ; Rev. R. T. Middleditch and Deacons Joseph and William Smith, of Red Bank ; and Rev. . I. R. Stone and Deacons Martin and Ulzat, of the Berean Church of New York. The Rev. D. B. Stout was moder- ator of the council, and Rev. William V. Wilson was clerk. The services of recognition were in the following order : Reading of the Scripture, Rev. Joseph Beldon ; Sermon, Rev. J. R. Stone ; Charge to the Church, Rev. William V. Wilson ; Hand of Fellowship, Rev. D. B. Stout, and Prayer by Rev. J. M. Carpenter.

The untiring labors of the pastor, the Rev. Job Gaskill, so impaired his health that he was com- pelled, after but four and a half months of labor, to resign his office and leave the field. On the 1st of March, 1851, the Rev. D. F. Twiss, at that time connected with the churches at Little Washington and Herbertsville, was called to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal of Mr. Gaskill. In commencing his labors, Mr. Twiss gave particular attention to the financial interests of the church and the claims of the benevolent societies and de- nominational enterprises, but he did not neglect in any manner or degree the spiritual interests of the church and congregation. His labors were very acceptable, and he won a large place in the confi- dence and affections of the church and people of the town. Mr. Twiss was greatly afflicted in his family and person, yet he toiled in every possible way to promote the interests of the church. Death invaded his home and took from them their four remaining children ; disease preyed upon his wife, and finally, after two years and seven months' labor, bleeding of the lungs and entire prostration of physical strength compelled him to resign his pastorate, October 23, 1853. Mr. Twiss continued Rynear Suydam, who for a season gave up his own

his residence at Middletown Point and his mem- bership with the church for three or four years after resigning the pastorate, and, by his wise counsels and ever-ready co-operation, did excellent service for the church.

On the 1st of June, 1854, the church having been without a pastor for seven months, the Rev. J. W. Crumb, of Clifton Park, N. Y., was called to serve the church, and at once entered upon the duties of a pastor. He continued with the church four years, during which time a great deal of ardu- ous and successful work was done. Mr. Crumb interested himself in every department of church- work, and regarded nothing too hard or too much for him to undertake.

On Sunday, the 14th of February, 1858, the meeting-house was totally destroyed by fire. This occurred just as the congregation began to assemble for worship. The calamity was greatly enhanced by an oversight or negligence, which had allowed the policy of insurance to expire some time before and failed to have it renewed. So every- thing was swept away, except the ground on which the house stood. The pastor had signified his intention to close his lahors with the coming May ; the church had no house in which to meet for worship, and other circumstances conspired to render their condition peculiarly discouraging.

The Rev. Mr. Crumb closed his labors with the month of May. In the meantime Washington HIall had been secured for holding the meetings of the church. The pulpit committee engaged the services of the Rev. A. H. Bliss as a supply for two or three months. After him the pastor of the church at Keyport, Rev. F. A. Slater, supplied them with an afternoon service until the settlement of the Rev. J. E. Barnes as pastor. The date of his settlement was November 1, 1859. Mr. Barnes continued with the church only two years. but during that time a vast amount of work was performed, the chief of which, aside from regular pastoral labor, was the building of the present comfortable and inviting house of worship. Mr. Barnes excelled as a preacher, and conducted the enterprise of building the new house to a successful issue, at an expense of about three thousand three hundred dollars. In this he was sustained by the membership of the church, and especially by Deacon

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

business and devoted himself wholly to raising funds and otherwise advancing the important work. Mr. Barnes closed his pastorate January 30, 1862.

On the 6th of July following, Mr. R. G. Farley, a recent graduate of Rochester University, was called to the pastoral office, and soon after or- dained by a council called by the church for that purpose. His pastorate continued three years and a half, during which time the church paid off a debt of about fourteen hundred dollars. Mr. Far- ley devoted himself with untiring energy and purpose until the debt was entirely removed.

On the 1st of October, 1866, the present pastor, tbe Rev. F. A. Slater, undertook the oversight of the church. At that time it was greatly reduced, both in membership and financial strength. At one time in its previous history its membership numbered nearly a hundred, but less than fifty could be found when he entered upon his pastorate. And its pecuniary strength was so reduced that they hardly dare attempt to raise three hundred dollars towards helping support the pastor. Dur- ing Mr. Slater's pastorate of more than eighteen years nearly as much has been expended in repairs and improvements upon the meeting-house as it cost in the beginning ; and the present member- ship of the church is one hundred and seventy-six.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF MAT- AWAN has now had an existence of fifty-eight years,-dating its real beginning from the first for- mation of a class here in 1826. Methodist preach- ing, however, had been held here fully forty years before that time, the first of which there is any account being by regular appointments, at the house of a Mrs. Frances, who was then the only Methodist in the place, and whose house stood on or very near the site of the present bank building. Thomas Morrell, Aaron Hutchinson and Joseph Cromwell, ministers well-known in Methodist his- tory, preached in that house while this part of New Jersey was yet included in the Philadelphia Conference, and about five years before the Free- hold Circuit was formed. The circuit is supposed to have covered all the territory from New Bruns- wick round to Tuckerton, and is not mentioned in the Conference Minutes until 1793, at which time the presiding elder was Rev. William Merrick.

The Rev. John Fountain was a native of Mary- land, of French descent. His parents were Epis- copalian, and when he joined the Methodists, he, in consequence, was obliged to leave his father's house and seek another home. Nothing further is known of his early days or subsequent history, save that he became a minister, and was a member of the Philadelphia Conference, and as such trav- eled and preached through a large section of this State and throughout this region. An injury re- ceived through his horse taking fright and throw- ing him from the wagon necessitated him to locate, which he did about 1797, and settled in the neigh- borhood of what is now Jacksonville, then and long after known as Cheesequakes. He was well known throughout a large section of country surrounding, and so frequently and generally was he called upon to officiate in his ministerial capacity at funerals and weddings that it appears the people for miles surrounding depended on him for the services- necessary on such occasions. A record of mar- riages, in his own handwriting, extending from 1797 to 1835, shows that no less than four hundred and six marriage services were performed by him.

The number of members on the entire circuit was four hundred and fifty-three. During the in- terval between 1793 and 1807 there is no account of any preaching in this vicinity. But from 1807 to 1822 there was a regular appointment at the house of the father of Rev. Francis Murphy, in the Bethany neighborhood.

In 1822 the church at Bethany was built, and became the centre of Methodism in this section for some years. But from the date first mentioned, 1788, up to the year 1826, no other account of any other preaching at or near Middletown Point could be obtained than that the Rev. John Foun- tain preached occasionally in the old church that formerly stood by or in the graveyard, near which the Mount school-house now stands. That church was built (it is said by lottery) on the site of one that was burned during the Revolution. It was built by the public for the use of all denomina- tions, and was used by the Presbyterians, Method- ists and Baptists alternately, but eventually came to be occupied by the Presbyterians only, and was sold to pay arrearages of salary due Rev. Mr. Shafer, when it became a barn on the farm where Mr. Peter V. Hier now lives, and finally was

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 138

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