USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 35
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December 27th 1864 a parish meeting was held to con- sider the question of enlarging the church building. At an adjourned meeting, held January 5th 1865, the follow- ing were appointed a building committee: Dr. E. B. Woodruff, Messrs. Gordon Burnham, Matthew Mitchell, H. O. Marsh and S. S. Halsey. The original dimensions of the church were 46 feet front by 72 feet deep. They extended it 26 feet and 8 inches, added a wing and en- larged the tower. Silas Norris was the contractor for the woodwork, and John Thatcher did the painting. These improvements cost $11,032.83. A debt of $5,000 remained on the work, which was paid off the following year.
Mr. Mitchell was called from here to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Ill., where he remained until last year, when he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, Ohio. In June 1861 the church was transferred from the Presbytery of Passaic, and received under the care of the Presbytery of Newark, under the name of "The South Street Church of Morristown."
Rev. Albert Erdman, D. D., the fourth and present pastor, was installed in May 1869. During his pastorate, up to September Ist 1881, there were added to the church by letter 202, and on profession 244; total 446; making in all 1,260 persons who have been members of the church since its organization.
In June 1872, by vote of the church, the plan of the limited term of eldership was adopted, with a session of nine elders arranged in three classes, the full term of ser- vice being three years. The year previous a bench of six deacons was chosen on the basis of the same plan.
On . Wednesday January roth 1877 the church edifice was totally consumed by fire. The cause was supposed to be a defective chimney, although some thought it the work of an incendiary-an attempt of this sort having been made a few months before. On Sunday January 14th services were held in the public school chapel, when an appropriate sermon was preached by the pastor. The First church offered the use of its chapel for the Wednes- day evening meeting, which offer was accepted. At the completion of Lyceum Hall, May Ist 1877, the church moved into it, and continued to hold its services there until the dedication of its new edifice.
Steps were immediately taken to build. The building committee consisted of J. W. Roberts, William L. King, Hampton O. Marsh, George H. Danforth, Dr. P. C. Barker, E. A. Graves and Matthew Mitchell. The com- mittee adopted the plans of J. C. Cady, of New York, and commenced work on the 21st of June, when ground was broken.
The total cost of the building was $45,600, toward
congregation. The result is a building unsurpassed in beauty by any church edifice in the State. Being built at a time when materials and labor were at the lowest point, it could scarcely be duplicated at the present time for $100,000.
The style of the building may be described as late Byzantine. The auditorium will seat about 1,000 per- sons, and is without galleries. In the rear are the Sun- day-school rooms and pastor's study. The church was dedicated July 12th 1878, the sermon being preached in the afternoon of that day by Rev. Dr. Hoge, of Rich- mond, Va., from Psalm xxvi. 8.
In the evening of the same day congratulatory addres- ses were made by the pastor, Rev. R. S. Green, Rev. Robert Aikman, D. D., Rev. I. W. Cochran, Rev. Theo- dore F. White, D. D., Rev. Thomas Carter and J. C. Cady.
The following persons have served the church as ruling elders: Jabez Mills, John W. Poineer, William B. John- son, Absalom Woodruff, M. D., Amos Prudden, Ezra J. Cooper, Amzi Cary, Edwin Graves, Isaac R. Noyes, Ed- ward J. Danforth, Heman Mead, J. W. Roberts, Charles G. Hazeltine, M. C. G. Witte.
The present officers are: Pastor-Rev. Albert Erdman, D. D .; ruling elders, Matthew Mitchell, John C. Hines, P. H. Hoffman, F. G. Burnham, E. A. Graves, W. L. R. Haven, S. L. Young, Joseph F. Randolph; deacons- Wm. S. Babbitt, Theodore Ayres, F. W. Owen, Chas. W. Ford, F. H. Fairchild, A. G. Hazletine; trustees-E. A. Graves, president; P. C. Barker, M. D., George H. Dan- forth, P. H. Hoffman, Wm. L. King, H. O. Marsh, and J. W. Roberts; Sunday-school superintendent, Joseph F. Randolph; sexton, James Paul.
The present membership of the church is 543; of the Sunday-school, 400; congregational expenses for year, $6,900; benevolent contributions, $7,121. -
A. M. E. CHURCH.
The colored people have a church of their own. They first organized in December 1843, and built a small church on Spring street, in which they worshiped until 1874, when the present place of worship was built. It is a neat frame building, with a basement, which is occupied by the colored school. There are 51 communicant members. Rev. A. H. Newton is the present pastor; George Yates is superintendent of the Sunday-school.
CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION.
The first Catholic church in Morristown was built in 1847; it was a small wooden building capable of seating about 300 people, and is now used by the parish school. At that time there was but one Catholic church in the the county-at Madison-to which people used to go, on foot, from distances as great as 20 miles. The congre- gation was at first too poor to support a pastor, and was supplied from Madison for several years. A priest was finally stationed here, but had charge of churches which
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
had been established at Mendham and Basking Ridge also; this continued until 1871, when the congregation here had grown so large as to require all the time of the priest, and the other places were accordingly dropped from this charge. The increase in the congregation made a new and larger church necessary, and the present edifice was erected in 1772. It is of the best red brick, 122 feet long by 52 wide. In front the appearance is very handsome, the roof rising to a sharp point, sur- mounted by a fine stone cross. There is a tower on the left hand, or Madison street corner, which reaches an elevation of 125 feet, capped by a spire. This tower is 14 feet square at the base, and, like the building, is of brick with stone facings. The church proper has two side wings; the outer edges of the roof of which are twenty feet from the ground, while the inner edges are six feet from the lower sides of the roof of the main building. The roof is covered with slate in ornamental colored bands. The windows are of stained glass. Inside the church is finished in yellow pine oiled; handsome carved drop pillars support the roof. The main altar is in the center; on the right is one dedicated to St. Joseph, and on the left one to the Virgin Mary. Over the entrance is an organ and choir gallery. The pews of the church will seat nearly a thou- sand persons. The cost of the building was about $40,000. The congregation numbers one thousand. There is a parish school, with three departments, supported by the church.
Father James Sheeran was priest from 1871 until his death, April 3d 1881. He was succeeded in June of the same year by Father Joseph M. Flynn.
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER.
The idea of forming a second Episcopal congregation in Morristown took shape in the year 1852. The origi- nators of the movement were Lieut. C. P. R. Rodgers, U. S. A .; Alfred Vail, Samuel P. Hull, E. T. Lyon, John Hone, W. A. Duer and Henry S. Hoyt. These, together with others not mentioned, met on the 17th of June to take the initiatory steps toward the formal organization of a parish, to be known under the name of The Church of the Redeemer. The vestry chosen on this occasion consisted of W. A. Duer and Alfred Vail, wardens; and Samuel P. Hull, Edward T. Lyon, Henry S. Hoyt, John Hone and C. P. R. Rodgers, vestrymen. Subsequently Dr. John. P. Schermerhorn was elected a member of this body. Meanwhile the necessary measures were adopted which resulted in securing the incorporation of the new parish in accordance with the requirements of the canons of the discese and the laws of the State. August 7th the Morristown Academy was secured for the purpose, and regular services begun, a lay-reader serving in the absence of any ordained minister. Some four weeks later the Rev. James H. Tyng, a presbyter of New Jersey, but re- siding in the city of New York, was requested to officiate. He accepted the invitation, and on the first Sunday in September preached and administered the holy com- munion. The next Saturday, at a meeting of the vestry,
| he was unanimously elected rector, and immediately as- sumed the duties of that position. At this time the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church came forward with the kindly offer of their session room as a temporary place of worship for the new organization. The hospi- tality thus considerately extended was gratefully received. In accordance with it the congregation removed from the academy to the above building, and continued to worship there so long as the necessities of their case required.
Immediate effort, however, was begun to secure a more permanent home. During the winter plans were obtained, and a lot for a church edifice. The site se- lected was the one now occupied by the Church of the Redeemer, but the building itself has since then under- gone some alteration, an organ chamber being added to the west transept in 1879 and again in the present year, 1881. Early in the spring of 1853 the actual work of erecting the structure determined upon was undertaken. By September 4th sufficient progress had been made to warrant occupation. Accordingly on this Sunday the first service was held in the almost-completed church. Somewhere about this date, it would seem, Mrs. Peter Stuyvesant presented to the parish a communion service. It is still in the church's possession though not now in use. Prayer books etc. for the chancel were donated by Mrs. August Belmont. The organ and other furniture were the gift of several ladies of the congregation. The edifice itself was completed in 1854, and on the 14th of October was visited for the first time by Bishop Doane and consecrated. The rectory which now stands in the rear of the church was placed upon the property so late as 1871, during the incumbency of the Rev. W. G. Sumner, now professor of political economy at Yale College.
We append a list of the successive rectors of the par- ish, prefixing to each name the date when the call was extended: September 1852, Rev. J. H. Tyng; September 1858, Rev. S. F. Cornell; November 1861, Rev. J. Bolton; December 1863, Rev. John G. Ames; April 1866, Rev. T. G. Clemson; October 1868, Rev. Charles C. Fiske; Septem- ber 1870, Rev. W. G. Sumner; February 1873, Rev. Samuel Hall; July 1880, Rev. George H. Chadwell.
The parish now numbers 53 families and 114 com- municants. The present officers are: Rev. George H. Chadwell, rector; John Hone, senior warden; John E. Taylor, junior warden; vestrymen-George W. Colles, C. A. Edwards, J. J. Derry, J. Smith Dodge, Charles E. King, E. C. Lord, V. B. King, S. H. Little, James Maury; treasurer, John E. Taylor; clerk, George W. Colles; organist, C. A. Muir; sexton, Theodore Egbert; Sunday-school superintendent, J. E. Taylor; librarians, James Maury, Lemuel E. Miller.
Officers of the Woman's Parochial Aid and Missionary Society: President, Miss Benson; vice president, Mrs. Chadwell; secretary, Miss J. E. Dodge; treasurer, Mrs. S. H. Little.
MORRIS PLAINS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
People upon " the Plains " attended until recently
145
CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES OF MORRISTOWN.
upon the services of the churches in town. A Sunday- school was early organized here, and taught almost ex- clusively by women. A few years ago Rev. Dr. Oliver Crane began to preach gratuitously to the people with good results. May 10th 1874 a Presbyterian church was organized, and the Rev. R. S. Feagles was invited to labor in it as a stated supply. He remained with it nearly a year. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Gardner, who remained from May 1875 to June 1876. On the ist of October 1876 Rev. James W. Hillman was or- dained and installed as pastor of the church. Mr. Hill- man resigned his pastorate in the fall of 1878.
Rev. R. S. Feagles was invited to take charge of the church for the second time,and began his labors December Ist 1878. He resigned in August 1881, and the church is at present without a pastor. It has but two elders, Nehe- miah H. Johnson, and - Colman.
A neat and commodious edifice has been, built free of debt. It was dedicated Dec. 21st 1877.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
was organized May 18th 1880, with 33 members, 21 with letters from the Methodist Episcopal church and 12 on profession of faith.
The church was dependent upon supplies until the Ist of May 1881, when a call, which was accepted, was issued to Rev. C. H. H. Pannell of Brooklyn, N. Y.
The clerk is S.F. Beach. The superintendent of the Sun- day-school is D. L. Pierson. The present membership of the church is 38, that of the Sunday-school 75. The church meets in a hall on Market street.
CEMETERIES.
Previous to 1855 the Presbyterians interred their dead in the graveyard in the rear of the First church, the Baptists theirs in the rear of their church, the Episco- palians in the graveyard of St. Peter's church, and the Methodists in a graveyard on the Basking Ridge road. A list of burials in the two yards first named was kept between the years 1768 and 1806, and published in a quaint old book called the " Bill of Mortality," of which the following is the title page:
BILL OF MORTALITY.
1
Being a Register of all the Deaths which have occurred in the Presbyterian and Baptist congregations of Morris- Town, New-Jersey, for Thirty-Eight Years past .- Con- taining (with but few exceptions) the cause of every de- cease .- This register, for the first twenty-two years, was kept by the Rev. Doctor Johnes, since which time by William Cherry, the present Sexton of the Presbyterian Church at Morris-Town .- " Time brushes off our lives with sweeping wings."-Hervey. Morris-Town, Printed by Jacob Mann, 1806.
NOTE .- Those marked thus*were Church Members- thust Baptists-thus*+ Baptist Church Members.
A supplement was afterward added bringing the list down to 1812.
After the formation of the Evergreen Cemetery Asso-
ciation burials in the Baptist and Methodist yards were discontinued. The other two are still used. The "Bill of Mortality " contains a mournful list of 1,675 burials between the years 1768 and 1806.
The Catholics have until recently buried their dead in a graveyard near their church, but in the fall of 1875 they secured fifteen acres of land on the Whippany road, a mile and a half from town, and had it dedicated as a cem- etery.
FIRST CHURCH YARD.
The oldest of our cemeteries is that in the rear of the First Presbyterian Church. The pastor of that church has an incomplete list of over 4,000 burials in it. Large numbers of soldiers were buried in it during the Revo- lutionary war, of whom he has no knowledge. Large trenches were dug, and the dead laid in them in rows. Old military buttons have been dug up in quantities. The same is true of the Baptist yard.
The oldest stone in the cemetery has the following inscription: "Her Lyes ye Body of Martha Wife of Abraham Parson Aged About 23 Years Decd Janry 2d 1731." Other epitaphs worthy of preservation abound, of which we note a few :-
"SACRED To the memory of JOHN DOUGHTY, Captain of Artillery in the American Revolutionary Army. He died September 16th 1826, Aged 75 years." "IN Memory of PETER DICKERSON, Member of the first Provincial Congress of New Jersey in 1775, afterwards captain of the 2nd company 3d Regiment of the Jersey Brigade of the Revolutionary Army of 1776. He was born at Southold, on Long Island, in the year 1724; removed to Morris County, New Jersey, with his three brothers-Thomas, Joshua and Daniel-and one sister, Elizabeth, about the year 1745; and died on the roth day of May 1780, in the 56th year of his age."
"Sacred to the memory of Colonel Jacob Ford Jun., son of Colonel Jacob Ford Sen. He was born 19 Feb- ruary anno Domini 1738, and departed this life 10 Janu- ary A. D. 1777; and, being then in the service of his country, was interred with military honors."
"This tomb is dedicated to the memory of our beloved brother Richard Brinkerhoff Faesch. He was second son of John Jacob and Elizabeth Faesch; was born 19th of July 1778, and departed this life 25th of October 1820."
" Ici reposent les restes d' Elizabeth Madelaine Siette de la Rousseliere, epouse de Louis Paubel; nee a St. Benoit, Isle de Bourbon, le 6me Aout 1763, et decedee a Bottle Hill, Nouveau Jersey, le 12me Mars 1818. Sa grande piete et sa resignation a la volonte de Dieu font la consolation de son mari et de ses enfants, qui ne cesseront de la pleurer."
As usual in such 'places, the poetrie muse was by no means neglected. On one stone appears the following pathetic exhortation:
"Come see ye place where I do ly As you are now so once was I As I be now soon you will be Prepare for death and follow me."
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
Here is another:
"O my dear wife, do think of me Although we'm from each other parted, O do prepare to follow me Where we shall love forever.
Farewell, my children and my love, Till we do meet again above; But when in this yard my grave you see O, my dear friends, do think of me. My time was short, no warning given, And I hope to meet you all in Heaven."
THE EVERGREEN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
was organized in May 1855, under the "act authorizing the incorporation of rural cemetery associations." Hon. George T. Cobb presented the association twenty acres of land about a mile north of Morristown on the Horse Hill road, now called Water street. Twenty-five acres more have since been added. The spot was happily chosen; the scenery presented to view from Landscape, Fountain and other avenues is highly picturesque, em- bracing a large portion of Morristown, the position of the churches, the court-house, the stately headquarters and many beautiful private residences. The Whippany river flows in the windings near the base of the grounds. Mount Washington or the Kimball Mountain, with its historic interest, and varied undulations, can be seen as far as New Vernon. The Loantica hills, the Orange, Shongum and Watnong mountains in the distance fill up the background, and present to the visitor a scene of landscapes varied in interest and of extraordinary beauty. The natural beauties of the spot are enhanced by the good judgment used in artificial embellishments. There are many handsome monuments, among them that of Morristown's benefactor George T: Cobb.
The cemetery is controlled by nine trustees, three of whom are chosen annually by the lot-owners. The pres- ent officers are as follows : President, E. B. Woodruff, M. D .; vice-president, Theodore Ayers; treasurer, By- ram C. Guerin; secretary, John B. Ayers; superintendent, Samuel Muddell. The number of interments to July 16th 1881 was 1,923.
HOTELS.
The first knowledge which we have of hotels in the town is derived from the records of the court. In 1738, at the May court of Hunterdon county, which then em- braced all the territory from Trenton (where the court- house was) to Port Jervis, we find that the petitions of Jacob Ford and Abraham Hathaway to renew their licenses to keep public houses in " New Hanover " for the ensuing year were granted, showing that the place was large enough at that time for two hotels, however it might be for one church.
We have already spoken of two taverns which came into prominence during the war of the Revolution. One of these was owned and kept by Colonel Jacob Arnold, who, as commander of a squadron of light horse during the war, did efficient service. This hotel was the head- quarters of General Washington during the time of his first encampment here, in the winter of 1777. The
other caterer to the wants of the public was George O'Hara, at whose tavern were held the famous "assembly balls," already described, of the army during Washing- ton's second encampment here, in the winter of 1779-80.
Nothing further under this head needs special mention until about the middle of the present century. By this time Morristown had become widely celebrated for its healthfulness, and had begun to be a favorite resort for invalids. The numbers became so great and the accom- modations so inadequate that the late William Gibbons, then of Madison, was solicited by gentlemen in New York to erect a suitable public boarding-house and hotel with modern improvements. After mature deliberation Mr. Gibbons acceded to the proposition, and during the years 1842 and 1843 he erected a splendid large brick and brown stone hotel on the south side of the public square, and called it the " Morris County House," after- ward changed to the "New Jersey Hotel," which was destroyed by fire in 1845. This was a magnificent struct- ure, and an ornament to the town, covering an area about equal to A. T. Stewart's up-town store in New York. It, together with the stables, etc. (all of which were built of brick, in the most substantial manner), cost its owner about $200,000, on which there was no insurance, and all of which was a total loss, except the stables. When this building burned the loss to Morristown was several times greater than to Mr. Gibbons. It was over twenty years before possession could be had of the ground to rebuild upon. At the time of the fire there were a large number of guests in the house, all of whom were saved but one (a Mr. Bailey), who was burned to death.
On the 8th of December 1881 a similar fire oc- curred, of which one of the New York papers of the 9th gave substantially the following account:
The only fire that has been attended with loss of life in forty years at Morristown, N. J., occurred yesterday morning. A large frame building in South street, near Elm, belonging to the Wood estate, rented for the past ten years by the Misses Hunter, and kept by them as a boarding-house, was totally destroyed, and two of the in- mates were burned to death. The alarm was given at 6 o'clock by several of the servants, who had been to early mass and, on returning, found the flames under full headway. The rest of the large family were still in their beds, unconscious of danger. Lizzie Ketch, one of the servants, ran from room to room, as far as she could, alarming the inmates, many of whom were saved through . her exertions. The brave girl sacrificed her own life in this thoughtfulness for others. She was lost in the con- fusion. It is supposed that she was blinded by the smoke and flame and suffocated on her way out. The other victim was Mrs. Walsh, 40 years of age, the widow of a captain in the United States navy, and daughter of George Wood, of Fifth avenue in this city. Her escape was cut off by the fire, and while hesitating to jump from a win- dow she is supposed to have fainted and been overtaken by the flames.
A partial list of present hotels and boarding-houses is appended:
Mansion House; United States Hotel, Park place, A. E. Voorhees; Park House, Park place, S. W. Luse; Far- mers' Hotel, Market street, George Hedden; City Hotel,
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MORRISTOWN HOTELS-EARLY FIRE COMPANIES.
Sweedwell avenue, John H. Halsted; Avenue House, Mendham avenue, Mrs. Nellie Duncan; Duncan House, Morris street, Mrs. J. C. Lindsley; Losey House, Mt. Kemble avenue, Mrs. Ogden; there are a number of others. During the summer months Morristown has in its various hotels, boarding-houses and private residen- ces ubout 1,500 transient residents.
THE MANSION HOUSE, MORRISTOWN.
The Mansion House, situated on Washington street near the court-house, is probably one of the oldest hotel properties in the county. B. C. Guerin bought it in 1864, built new stables, sheds and carriage houses, and rebuilt and refitted the old house. He kept it until 1878. Then, in response to a desire of the citizens for a better hotel, Mr. Guerin undertook the construction of the present Mansion House. It accommodates from 80 to 100 guests. It is of pressed brick, with hard wood floors, heated with steam, lighted with gas, and has electric bells connected with each room, a bath room on each floor and all other modern improvements. Mr. Guerin opened the old house December 11th 1864, and the new one December 11th 1878. He has always kept a large livery stable in connection with the house. This property was considerably run down when he bought it. Since then it has done a large business.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first fire association of Morristown was organized July 26th 1797. Its officers were: Samuel Tuthill, mod- erator ; Joseph Lewis, clerk; Alexander Carmichael, Caleb Russell, Colonel Benoni Hathaway, Moses Estey, Captain David Ford, and Dr. William Campfield, execu- tive committee. How efficient this association proved and how long it continued we are unable to state.
William Beach ; directors, Daniel Phoenix, William Dixon, Charles Carmichael, David Mills, Andrew Meek- er, Benjamin Lindsley, William Campfield, Mahlon Ford, and James Willis.
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