History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 146

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 146

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1 By Rev. A. N. Whitmarsh.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

impetus and permanently strengthened them. In 1872 a new and prosperous era dawned upon the church. Encouraged by valuable assurances, which have been more than fulfilled by these new elements, a Sunday-school was organized, and at Long Branch (a long-neglected, though important field) a mission interest was started,-a hall secured, in which the gospel was regularly preached by the newly-settled pastor, W. D. Seigfried; and aid was solicited by Deacon Smith, of Red Bank, and Horace Waters, of New York, for the support of the gospel. The sister churches responded gener- ously. Red Bank contributed over eighty dollars towards a pastor's salary, and thus, hy efforts at home and abroad, nine hundred dollars was pledged to support a pastor.

In June, 1872, the church withdrew from the East New Jersey Association, and, on application, was received into the fellowship of the Trenton Association. In October, 1873, Rev. S. V. Marsh accepted the call of the church and became their pastor. During his ministry one hundred were added to the church. The members living at Long Branch were organized into a branch church, under care of the church at Eatontown. The Rev. Mr. Marsh resigned in 1876, and in October of the : same year the Rev. Jabez Marshall became pastor and continued till September, 1880. He was suc- ceeded, in the November following, by the Rev. A. N. Whitmarsh, who was installed January 11, 1881. He continued to serve the church until 1883, When he was succeeded by the Rev. William S. Russell, the present pastor.

ST. JAMES' MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Eatontown is of recent date as to the organization of the parish, yet it properly dates back more than half a century, to the time when the Rev. Harry Finch, soon after he became pastor of Christ Church in Shrewsbury, in 1830, began to hold Episcopal services in this place, at first in private houses and later in the Masonic Hall. These were held at irregular intervals for many years. In May, 1863, the Rev. Thomas Taylor began stated services in the Baptist Church, which were con- tinued for nearly three years, until, in 1866, a parish was organized, concerning which the fol- lowing, from the minutes of the church, is here given :

"The project of organizing a parish in the village was considered for some time, and the advantages to the cause of trne religion generally discussed, till at length, on the evening of Wednesday, March 7, 1866, a meeting of all those favorable to such an or- ganization was held in the Baptist Meeting-House."

At this meeting it was resolved that the parish be styled "St. James' Memorial Church in Eaton- town." Gabriel West was chosen senior warden and Dr. O. Goodrich junior warden. At this meeting the Rev. Thomas J. Taylor was called to become their rector. It was proposed to build a memorial church to James West and others. A lot was purchased on the 16th of April, 1866, of Peter Lippincott, and the corner-stone of a church building was laid, August 8th the same year, by the Rev. T. M. Riley, of Navesink, and the Rev. George G. Hepburn, of Bricksburg. The church i was built of stone, twenty-four by fifty-two feet, at a cost of six thousand dollars, nearly all of which was contributed by Gabriel West .. A chancel window was placed in the church by Mr. West, in memory of his three children. The bell was the gift of Benjamin D. Sherman, of New York. The church was opened for services July 17, 1867. Bishop William H. Odenheimer made his first visit here November 23, 1867. The church edifice was consecrated June 19, 1868, by Bishop Oden- heimer, assisted by sixteen visiting clergynien.

In 1877, Mr. Gabriel West died, and in his will provided that his residence should be used as a parsonage. He also left about nine thousand dol- lars as a legacy to the church.

The Rev. Thomas Taylor resigned the rectorship March 1, 1867. He has been succeeded by Rev. William R. Earle April 14, 1867, resigned No- vember 29, 1868; Rev. Alfred Goldsborough, Easter Sunday, 1869, resigned December 29, 1870; supplies until May 14, 1870, when Rev. D. C. Loop took charge. He resigned December 1, 1873; Rev. Dr. Anthony Ten Broeck, Septem- ber 6, 1874, died September 22, 1880; Rev. D. C. Loop July 24, 1881, resigned August 23, 1883. The Rev. W. If. Capers began October 21, 1883, and is still rector.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH at Eatontown is a part of the Presbyterian Church of Shrews- bury, and not a separate organization, but under

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the care of that church. Its services had been held in the old school-house for many years, In 1877 it was decided to ereet a house of worship for the members of the Shrewsbury Church living in this locality. The present church lot was pur- chased on Main Street and a church erected at a cost of about five thousand dollars. It was opened for service in 1878. The Rev. Thaddeus Wilson is the present pastor.

THE EATONTOWN AFRICAN METHODIST EPIS- COPAL ZION CHURCH was organized in 1840, under the Rev. Noah Brooks. In 1845, a lot south of Eatontown, on the road to Deal, was purchased of Morris Ryall, and the present church building was ereeted. The Rev. Dempsey Kennedy was then in charge. Among the parties who have preached there are John A. King, Joseph P. Thompson, James Livingston, James Davis, William Pitts, John White, - Palmer, and the present pastor, Elijah Harnett. The church has now forty members.

THE SECOND ADVENT CHURCH was commenced about 1840. Services were held in this locality for about thirty years. In 1869 a church was erected on South Street. The pulpit was filled by supplies until 1872, when the Rev. S. W. Bishop was settled ; he served two years. From that time Esek Woleott. a layman, has filled the pulpit. The church has fifty members.

The first newspaper published in the village of Eatontown was called the Eatontown Republican, having what is known as a patent outside, and the local a reprint of the Tom's River Courier. It was published by George M. Joy, then editor of the Courier. The first issue was September 21, 1871, and it eeased to exist after about a year.

Steen a large part of the facts have been obtained with reference to the early settlers and churches of Eatontown, Shrewsbury and Middletown, for which the writer desires to express his thanks.

Washington Lodge, No. 9, F. and A. M., of Eatontown, is one of the oldest lodges in Mon- mouth County.

There has come down to us but a very meagre history of any Masonic organization in Monmouth County prior to the year 1815. In the year 1769 a warrant was granted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to William Bostwick and others for a new lodge at Middletown. This is all that is known of its history.

In 1787 a dispensation was granted to open a lodge at Freehold, to be known as Trinity Lodge, No. 3, but the warrant was surrendered in 1793. At the session of the Grand Lodge, in 1807, a warrant was granted, and Trinity, No. 20, was organized at Middletown Point, but went into ob- livion before 1813.

There was no lodge in existence, or, at least, at work, in Monmouth County in the year 1815, when John P. Lewis and some others made appli- cation to the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, and obtained a warrant for the organization of Shrews- bury-Washington Lodge, No. 34, to be located in the township of Shrewsbury, in the county of Monmouth.

Some months previous to that event Grand Master Woodruff had granted a dispensation to these same applicants to open a lodge preparatory to their application to the Grand Lodge, but no organization seems to have been effeeted until the 9th day of December of that year, when the first meeting was held at the private residence of Stoffel Longstreet, at the house now occupied by Edward Fiedler, near the village of Eatontown. The township of Shrewsbury at that time cov- ered a great extent of territory, and embraced what is now ineluded in the townships of Shrews- bury, Eatontown, Ocean and part of Atlantie. As the village of Eatontown was the most import- ant town lying within that scope of territory, and the seat of government, as it were, for that district, the lodge natura ly located here for convenience, although the charter makes its location no more definite than in the "township of Shrewsbury."

The Eatontown Advertiser was established by James Steen in January, 1877, and was published as a monthly until June in that year, when George MI. Joy became the editor, and it was from that time published as a weekly. In the fall of 1878 the name of The Monmouth County Jerseyman was added. In February, 1879, Mr. Joy sold his in- terest in the paper, and the Eatontown Advertiser remained with James Steen, its founder, who has sinee that time been also the editor. From Mr. This must account for the appendage of the term 56

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

"Shrewsbury " to the name of the lodge, which, now that the reason has ceased, makes it inappro- priate that the appendage should any longer con- tinue to be recognized.

The first persons initiated by the lodge were Joseph Brindley and Elisha Laird.

The place of meeting was continucd at the resi- dence of Stoffel Longstreet until September, 1817, when the lodge moved to the house of Samuel Harvey. This is the place now owned by F. S. Chanfrau, formerly owned and occupied by Judge Barclay, at the junction of the Eatontown and Sea-Shore turnpike and the Oceanport road. This information was obtained from a respectable old lady, who stated that she remembered the cir- cumstance very well when the men took their suppers there, and Dr. Lewis was the preacher.

After the removal of the lodge-rooms to Samuel Harvey's, the first festival of St. John was cele- brated at the residence of Thomas Little, situated on Tinton Falls road, now the property of Amzi C. McLean, Esq., and in the house recently occu- pied by Daniel Shutts, Esq.

There exists abundant proof that the formation of the lodge and its material prosperity was due in a great measure to Dr. John P. Lewis. He was the leading spirit of it all. His punctual attend- ance at every meeting, and that, too, while en" gaged in the practice of his profession, which was extensive and laborious ; the great amount of Masonic labor that he performed and Masonic in- formation that he gave; his frequent appearance at the regular and emergent communications of the Grand Lodge, are confirmations strong of in- dustry, zeal and ability. As early as 1816 the lodge, appreciating his services, caused to be en- tered on the minutes "their warm acknowledg- ments for his assiduous attentions to the duties of the chair, the propriety of his deportment, and his exertions generally." His labors never ceased, his zeal never abated, and his influence in Masonry was conspicuous up to the hour of his death. About this time his efforts were faithfully aided by such men as Jonathan Morris, Alexander Mc- Gregor, Samuel Harvey, Thomas Little, Tucker Cook, Stoffel Longstreet, Joseph McKnight, Joseph Brinley and others.

In 1821 the membership had increased to such an extent that measures were taken looking to-

wards the erection of a Masonic Hall in the village of Eatontown. The movement assumed shape in July, 1821, when John P. Lewis submitted plans for the building, and himself, Jacob Knott and Jonathan Holmes were appointed a committee to superintend the building of the hall, agreeably to the plan proposed.

The building was erected by voluntary contribu- tions of labor by members of the lodge, and the materials were furnished in the same way. Each member furnished what he could, most conve- niently. A few, who could render no service nor supply any building material, contributed money. Those who were in arrears for lodge dnes had credited to their account whatever of labor or ma- terial they had furnished. Thus the work went on and the building was completed in 1822.

On the 28th day of September of that year, at the hour of five in the afternoon, twenty-five mem- b rs and visitors, having first assembled at the house of Samuel Harvey, marched in procession to their new hall to perform the ceremonies of a formal dedication of the edifice to Masonic use and purposes.

The land upon which the hall stands was do- nated by John P. Lewis. Subsequently he gave the lodge a free and absolute title to the premises ; the only restriction rests npon the disposition of the money, provided it is ever sold. It is provided that the money arising from the sale shall be di- vided among the members in good standing at the time, but shall not be used to build any other lodge-room outside of the village of Eatontown.

The building remained in its original form and structure until 1866, when, in order to keep pace with the steady march of improvement in the community, and to better accommodate the neces- sities of the order, it was renovated and remodeled under the supervision of Past Master George W. Brown. It is now a neat, substantial, two-story frame building, containing a large and commodious assembly-room, connected with a suitable reception- room and all other appropriate apartments, and comfortably furnished. It is a valuable property, an ornament to the town, and a credit to the frater- nity. There is not a cloud upon the title, and not one dollar of debt resting upon it. The lower floor is used as a private school, and yields a reve- nue to the lodge. Formerly, as there were no

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churches in the village, it was used by various de- nominations for th- purposes of religious worship. Mizpah Lodge, I. O. of O. F., are permitted to hold their meetings in the assembly-rooms, but by a resolution no other organization, secular or re- ligious, can meet within its doors.

About the year 1826 began the anti-Masonic movement in this country, which raged with excite- ment for a number of years. The excitement spread from State to State. Efforts were made to incorporate it into the Presidential question. Active members of a lodge were marked men in a community. It was unpopular, and in some localities unsafe, to be a Mason. In this commu- nity the excitement ran high, and the controversy became bitter. At this period the lodge began to experience those difficulties that came so near destroying its existence. The number of candi- dates for admission diminished. The resources of the lodge were so crippled by the non-payment of dues that the greatest difficulty was experienced in raising funds to pay the necessary expenses. The arrears of dues to the Grand Lodge increased every year. Representations to the Grand Lodge became less frequent, and ceased altogether in 1831. The last representatives to the Grand Lodge were John P Lewis, Joseph Barclay and James Lloyd, at which time only seven lodges in the State sent representatives. In the year 1834 only four lodges were represented at the Grand Lodge.

Soon Washington Lodge found debts accumu- lating, with no present means of liquidating them Finance committees were appointed to devise ways and means, but they found everything on the wrong side of the ledger. A few members met occasionally, but did no work for want of a requi- site Masonic number, and at last, in 1833, they ceased to go through the formality of a meeting. From this time no other communication was held by the lodge until December, 1836, when, the term of the officers having expired, a new election was held, resulting in the election of John P. Lewis, W. M .; William W. Croxon, S. W .; Joseph Bar- clay, J. W.

The lodge convened only three times in 1837. After Juue in that year the sound of the gavel was not heard in the lodge again until February 11, 1843, when it was attempted to resume work .

In 1842 the eight lodges that had kept up their organizations, and two others, including Washing- ton Lodge, No. 34, were renumbered by the Grand Lodge, and in the distribution this lodge was numbered 9, which number it has ever since retained. Why Washington Lodge, which had been stricken off, should have been included among the working lodges and renumbered can not now be accounted for, there being no record of any application for such proceeding.

This lodge, however, did not attempt to com- plete its organization and begin work until 1843. In February of that year Grand Master Bowen, of the Grand Lodge, granted a dispensation to John P. Lewis and fourteen others to reopen and resuscitate the lodge. At the regular Grand Lodge communication, in November, 1843, a war- rant was granted them.

At this time John P. Lewis, William Croxson and John V. Conover made numerous attempts to open and revive the lodge, but so few attended them, and so little interest seemed to manifest itself among the members, that they began to despair. They were rewarded with some success, however, in 1846. On June 1st of that year, for the first time since 1835, the Washington Lodge opened in due form. At that meeting Dunbar Sansbury made application for membership, was elected, and in due time admitted. From this time on, and without intermission, the lodge held regular communications, and grew in numbers and influence, and maintained its respectability. At this time the date of the regular communica- tions were fixed on the Monday on or before the full moon, and has remained so up to this time. Previous to that time the meetings were held on Saturdays, often as early as three o'clock in the afternoon.

The old lodge, No. 34, having ceased to exist, and a new charter having been granted to certain members of that same lodge for the formation of another lodge, to be known as No. 9, the members generally of No 34 were not recognized as mem- bers of the new, but were readmitted without charge after being balloted for and found to be still worthy. This was the subject of official action in 1844, when a resolution was passed enabling the old members to affiliate with No. 9, under certain conditions, but without expense.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Consequently, a number of the old lodge never affiliated with the new lodge, No. 9, nor with any other ; yet they are received and welcomed as visiting brethren, aud are almost regarded as members.

Since the reorganization of this lodge a num- ber of other lodges in Monmouth and Ocean Counties have been established, in all cases with the consent and under the patronage of No. 9. Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, of Freehold, was the first that left the parental roof, and established a home and posterity of its own. It was organized in 1848, and now few lodges in the State can boast of as much intelligence, respectability and solid Masonic material. Harmony Lodge, of Tom's River, Ocean County, was organized the same year by members of Washington, No. 9. Next in order comes Navesink, of Red Bank, afterwards changed to Mystic Brotherhood, on account of some confusion arising from another secret organi- zation in the same place bearing the same name. This is an offspring from No. 9.

In 1865 some of the members living in and about Squan village obtained permission to apply for a charter, which they did, and Wall Lodge was established, and grew to a position second to none in influence and proficiency. Long Branch Lodge made its debut in 1870, the consent of Wash- ington, No. 9, having been first had and obtained. Asbury Park Lodge was instituted in 1875, and although not one of the original children of No. 9, she certainly bears the relation of grandchild, be- ing an offspring of Long Branch Lodge.

John P. Lewis was elected Grand Master in the State in 1848, and continued to occupy that posi- tion during the succeeding year. From 1843 to the date of his voluntary retirement from the East, in 1849, he occupied a responsible position in the Grand Lodge. He was Grand Senior Warden during 1843 and 1844. During the years 1845 and 1846 he was Deputy Grand Master. Henry Finch received the appointment of Grand Chap- lain in 1847, and continued to officiate up to and including the year 1852.

William W. Croxson filled the office of Grand Junior Deacon in 1847. Jacob W. Morris was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1852, and held the position three years. George A. Tator was appointed Grand Steward in 1857, and held it one

year. Daniel A. Holmes received the appoint- ment of Grand Steward in 1862. In 1877, William H. Bennett was called to the position of Junior Grand Steward.

James H. Patterson was elected to fill the posi- tion of Junior Grand Warden in 1870.

Following is a list of Worshipful Masters of the lodge from its formation to the present time : John P. Lewis, 1815; Alexander McGregor, 1820 ; John P. Lewis, 1821 ; Joseph Barclay, 1826; John P. Lewis, 1827, 1833, 1836, 1843 ; William W. Crox- son, 1846; William Hanaford, 1847; Harry Finch, 1848; Robert Laird, 1849; Jacob W. Morris, 1850; John P. Lewis, 1852; George A. Tator, 1853; Francis Corlies, 1856 ; Daniel A. Holmes, 1857; A. Wilson, 1859; Daniel A. Holmes, 1860; George W. Brown, 1861; Thomas G. Chattle, 1863; Thomas Cook, 1866; William H. Bennett, 1869; William H. Horner, 1871; William II. Bennett, 1872; I. S. Lane, 1873; Henry G. Clayton, 1874; Arthur Wilson, 1875; Augustus Thomas, 1877; Isaiah S. Lane, 1878 to 1884.

The Shrewsbury Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany was incorporated February 27, 1838, under an act of Legislature which provides and declares : " That George A. Corlies, Gabriel West, Edmund West, John P. Lewis, Henry W. Wolcott, Thomas Thomas, Joseph E. White, Esek T. White and others, their associates, successors and assigns, shall be and are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be a body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of 'The Shrews- bury Mutual Fire Insurance Company ;' the office thereof to be located in the township of Shrews- bury." The following were mentioned in the act as directors : George A. Corlies, Edmund W. Allen, Gabriel West, John P. Lewis, John P. Cor- lies, Edmund West, Joseph E. White, George A White, Jacob Dennis, Tunis Vanderveer and Thomas Thomas.

At the first meeting of the directors, Joseph E. White was elected president, Edmund T. Wil- liams secretary, and Benjamin C. White treasurer. Of these officers, the president, Mr. Joseph E. White was succeeded by Joseph Barclay, Henry Corlies, and David F. Wolcott. The latter, having been elected in January, 1879, is the present pres-

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ident. Edmund T. Williams is still the secretary. | arrived at Eatontown in the latter part of August Benjamin C. White was treasurer until 1866, when he was succeeded by David F. Wolcott, who served until 1873, when W. R. Stevens, the present treasurer, was elected.

The business of the company began May 12, having held the office from the organization to the 1838, at the house of Richard Snediker, at Eaton- town. It has been uniformly successful. The premiums have paid all the losses in the forty-six years of its existence. Every policy-holder gives The Eatontown Manufacturing Company was organized in 1854 by about twenty citizens of Eatontown, and in March in that year they erected a large building near the intersection of the Shrew- bury and Tinton Falls roads. The object of the company was to manufacture wall-paper. Among those interested in the enterprise were Dr. John P. Lewis, E. A. Fay, Gabriel West, Robert Wardell, Joseph E White, Benjamin C. White, Thomas Curtis and John C. Edwards. The buildings were completed and manufacturing began and continued a bond, which is liable to assessment, but not a bond has been taxed, and dividends were declared in 1867, 1871, 1876 and 1881. January 1, 1845, the company reported that they had effected insur- ance to the amount of $629,742.32. In 1877 the company had $2,174,601.66 in outstanding risks, which represented fourteen hundred and three policy-holders. In 1883 the risks were $1,867,707, which represented thirteen huudred and fifty-nine policy-holders.

On March 17, 1852, a supplement to the act of for a few years, but was not successful, and the 1838 was passed, which provided that the office of buildings and machinery, and finally the land, were the company be permanently located at Eaton- sold. town.

The present officers are : President, David F. In the preceding winter Dr. Pierce came to Eaton- Wolcott; Secretary, Edmund T. Williams ; and Treasurer, W. R. Stevens. Directors: David F. Wolcott, Edmund T. Williams; Joseph A. La- Fetra, Benjamin W. Spinning, Arthur Wilson, John E. Johnson (deceased ), John Statesir, Pierson Hendrickson, William H. Slocum, David F. Wol- | soon after discontinued. The building was rented cott, Henry Corlies and W. R. Stevens. Loan manager, Joseph Barclay.

The Perseverance Fire Company of Eatontown was formed June 15, 1881, chiefly in consequence of the feeling of insecurity which was awakened among the citizens by a disastrous fire which had then recently occurred in the village, at which time it was without means of protection, except such as were fur- nished by the unwieldy hook-and-ladder apparatus of the Shrewsbury Mutual Fire Company. Soon after the organization of the Perseverance Com- pany a second fire occurred, which aroused the people anew to a sense of danger. On the 5th of August in the same year the Perseverance Com- pany was incorporated with twenty-two corpora- tors, and purchase was made of a steam fire-engine and hose carriage which had been used by the Del- aware Fire Company, of Trenton, N. J., and which

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 146

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