USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 48
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The Congregational Church .- The first pastor of this church was Rev. S. F. Palmer, who remained two years and resigned October 1st 1875. Twenty-five members were added during his ministry. Rev. E. H. Pearce, who succeeded, declining a call, continued as acting pas- tor nearly a year; and twenty-one persons were received into the church in that time. Rev. J. O. Wilson, professor of elocution in Drew Theological Seminary, then served the church as acting pastor for nearly two years, under his ministry fourteen members being added to the church, Mr. Wilson withdrawing from the charge in November 1878. Rev. Rollin S. Stone, of the New York and Brook- lyn Association, was installed pastor of the church April 25th 1879, and he now remains in charge. The growth of the church compelled wider plans, and the people determined to build a church edifice. This important work has been carried through, and on the 9th of .Octo- ber 1881 "Stanley Chapel " was dedicated. The build- ing stands near the center of population, on the corner. of the turnpike and Hillside avenue; it is a most comely and comfortable house of worship and was dedi- cated free of debt.
occasionally an aged man has said to the writer of this
RESIDENCE OF MR,E.V. THEBAUD, MADISON, N.J.
RESIDENCE OF EDW. THEBAUD, MADISON, MORRIS CO.,N.J.
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RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL E. RICHARDS, AFTON, MORRIS CO.,N.J.
RESIDENCE OF G.M.LANNING, AFTON, MORRIS CO., N.J.
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EARLY HISTORY OF MADISON.
sketch, "You are pastor, then, of the old Bottle Hill blem of loyalty above, that of justice below. Some of our aged citizens remember when certain offenders re- ceived their condign stripes at the old post. church." Of the origin of this name several accounts have been given, of which the following is no doubt the correct one: The first tavern in the place, which must The only village store a hundred years ago was kept by Mrs. Horton, the energetic wife of the pastor of the Presbyterian church. It was in a very humble building, about fifteen feet square, put up on the corner of the parsonage lot, and standing on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of J. A. Webb. Azariah Carter, who to make purchases there, and used to say that Mrs. Hor- ton or one of her children always waited on him from behind the counter. The times were hard, and thus this excellent helpmeet eked out her husband's scanty sti- pend. After Mrs. Horton gave up storekeeping the lit- tle building was used for a school; the late Deacon Ichabod Bruen remembered to have gone there in his early childhood. have been a very rude affair, was located on Academy Hill, and on the spot where now stands the residence of the late Miss Lillys Cook. A very uncertain tradition says that it was kept by an Indian. Its sign was a bottle suspended from a corner sign post. It was no doubt an honest sign, indicating the main business done within. died in 1855, remembered having been sent by his mother The frankness of "mine host " in that old day is to be commended, and ought to be imitated in our own times, This debated point, the origin of the old name, seems to be settled by Mr. Tuttle, who in his manuscript notes says: "The first tavern in this place was located on the Cook corner, by the academy, and this was designated by a bottle suspended on a sign post at the corner. Major Miller, who died here about three years since, at the advanced age of 90 years, stated repeatedly that he In the year 1804 the turnpike, or principal . avenue through the village of Madison, was made. About seventy years ago a blacksmith's shop stood on the site of the academy and an old storehouse occupied the site of the Presbyterian lecture room. had himself seen the above sign. This has been corrob- orated to me by Mr. John B. Miller, a son of Major Luke Miller, and other aged inhabitants of this region." So, whatever other more dignified accounts have been given, it is to be feared that the Madisonians must hum- bly submit to the truth of history.
How early that old tavern passed away is not known. The " New Jersey Historical Collections," published in 1844, says that " the first public house in the place was kept by David Brant in a house then standing where now is Mr. Sherrill's garden [that is, the spot at present occupied by the houses and grounds of Caleb Sniffen and Charles C. Force]; and as that went down Ananias Halsey commenced where Mr. Robert Albright now lives." The house of Robert Albright was burned in 1871. It was on the site of the residence of Dr. Calvin Anderson. We have the authority of Mr. Tuttle for say- ing that when the war of the Revolution began "the vil- lage tavern stood where the house of Mr. Robert Albright now stands, and was kept by Daniel Brown." It is very likely that both statements are correct, and that Brown succeeded Halsey in the occupancy of the hotel.
This continued to be the tavern of the place for many years. The late J. H. Woodruff, of Columbia, in the Jerseyman gives reminiscences of it as late as the war of 1812: "All the drafted men of Morris and Sussex coun- ties were required to assemble at Madison, to be mustered in. The place of meeting was the old Albright tavern. There was a large open space in front of the house, in the rear of which stood the sheds and stables. The men came in farm wagons, and these wagons were to convey the drafted men to Jersey City. At that time every able-bodied man between 18 and 25 was enrolled and obliged to train three times a day."
The village flagstaff, a straight tree cut from the forest, stood opposite the tavern and in front of where the Presbyterian lecture room now stands; and from it floated for many years the English flag, until that was replaced by our own stars and stripes. Near the staff, and under- neath the flag, stood the village whipping post; the em-
As to the change in the name of the village the facts seem to be that the people had long been tired of it and its distasteful associations, so that a change had been determined on early in the present century; and when the academy was built in 1809 it was called the Madison Academy, as now appears on the marble tablet in front. Another proof of this accepted change is seen in that familiar and unique landmark " the hickory tree," stand- ing erect and tall at the junction of four principal roads- In front of the tree, nailed to two uprights, is a board tablet on which may be read as a heading, " South Madi- son "; and under this the words, "This tree was trans- planted in the year 1813; for the inauguration of James Madison, second term, as President of the United States." Then follow directions: "To Stanley and Summit, east; to Madison and Chatham, N. E .; to New Providence, south; to Morristown, west; to Green Village, S. W." But it was not until several years later that the people met and unanimously resolved to drop this odious appela- tion and substitute for it the name of Madison, in honor of the fourth president of the United States. It may be added that a strong sentiment pervaded the commun. ity in behalf of temperance, and this gave zest to the public resolve.
THE OLD BURIAL GROUND.
The most ancient feature of the place then as now was the old burial ground on the hill, the property of the Presbyterian church. Its picturesque situation is a credit to the taste of the early inhabitants of Chatham township, for thither for many years they came fromn all points to bury their dead. The old church stood on the crown of the hill, and the graves of the old parishioners were all around it, according to the old custom, which is slowly passing away, but which will always have so many beautiful and tender associations to commend and per- petuate it.
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
It is impossible to tell when the first interments were made. The inscription upon the tomb of Rev. M. Hor- ton is among the earliest which can be deciphered, but there are stones older than 1777, whose dates cannot be made out, while there are many ancient stones broken or decayed, suggesting but not perpetuating older memories.
Many of these stones are mere fragments of what must have been very rude monuments at first, such as the poverty of those times could only afford. As the town grew, this continuing to be the only cemetery for years, graves. were multiplied, and more stately monuments began to be erected, and in due time the removal of the old church enlarged the area. This city of the dead has become populous in the lapse of nearly two centuries, so that for many years it has been difficult to dig anywhere a grave without running the risk of disturbing ancient bones. Two years ago J. A. Webb and S. W. Burnet purchased the property immediately in front of and lying schools for boys and girls in private houses.
against the old ground, and laid out new grounds, giving to the whole added beauty and convenience.
In the year 1861, at the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Tuttle, the appearance of the cemetery was greatly improved. A new fence was made, a handsome iron gateway put up, a stone-arch bridge over the brook took the place of the ruder wooden bridge, and a massive stone wall was built to protect the slope on the railroad cut. The cost of this improvement was $2,250. It was made under the direction of the parish, but the whole community joined in bearing the expense.
SCHOOLS AT MADISON.
In the year 1809 the old academy in Madison, on the hill, was erected by a joint-stock company, by whom, or their representatives, it is still owned. Within its walls have been taught a very large proportion of all the in- habitants of this immediate region, but it's day is past, and shrinking, in its modest proportions and plain ap- pearance, before its large and well appointed successor, it meekly awaits its demolition.
The first public school-house in the township was on the corner where J. A. Webb lives; and seems to have been the little building which Mrs. Horton had used as a store. Among those who taught school on that spot was Dr. Ashbel Green. Miss Eliza Schenck, grand- daughter of Seth Crowell of Green Village, says that she had often heard her mother tell of attending the school in Bottle Hill kept by Ashbel Green. It was very difficult to keep up a school in the outlying dis- tricts, even for a few months in a year, and few could learn to write. She and some others, determined to learn, used to walk daily three miles from Green Village to Bottle Hill to acquire that accomplishment. She also added that " pins were sometimes so scarce that they used thorns to hold their clothing together instead of pins."
When that little building was disused a school-house was built on the lot nearly opposite the Catholic church, where stood the house of Mrs. Hunting, which was burned to the ground a few months ago. That building was
moved over to the corner occupied then by Christian Weiss, and it stands there to-day, occupied by Simon Miller. From thence the school was removed to the academy building in 1809.
There are three district schools, with excellent school buildings, one of which, near the center of the village, was erected a year ago, at a cost of about $17,000, and is in every way a complete and admirable building. All these schools are well managed, and all have well selected district libraries connected with them. There is a well appointed select school for young ladies, with a new and convenient school-house, recently enlarged, and with' ground inclosed. It is popular, and successfully man- aged, and, in addition to the usual English studies, teaches Latin and French, with drawing and painting. There is also a recently organized kindergarten, which bids fair to be popular; and there are other smaller
THE FRENCH ELEMENT.
In the year 1793 there came hither a French gentle- man, who, followed by others in subsequent years, and by his own descendants, became a most welcome addi- tion to our population. Mr. Vincent Boisaubin was an officer in the body-guard of Louis XVI. Not being in sympathy with the changes then threatening the institu- tions of France, he obtained leave of absence, and went to the Isle of Guadaloupe. There he married, and bid- ding France adieu he came with his wife to America and found his home here. The families of Boisaubin and Beaupland now here are his descendents; his own imme- diate family numbering nine sons and daughters. The memory of Vincent Boisaubin is gratefully and pleas- antly cherished among all the older people. He was a man of fine cultivation, of most urbane and courteous bearing, and of unbounded benevolence. He was the original in the following story, which has appeared in sev- eral shapes: When a group of neighbors were sympathiz- ing with a poor man on the sudden death of his cow, Mr. Boisaubin, putting his hand into his pocket, said, "I am sorry for him five dollars;" and at once the poor man's loss was made up. The writer recently was mentioning his name to one of the oldest citizens, who said with earn- estness, "Old Vincent Boisaubin! He was one of the best men in the whole country;" and went on to tell of the way in which this French gentleman of the old time had given him generous aid in his early business life, loaning money and refusing interest; with many similar acts of kindness to others. Mr. Tuttle says: "For many years previous to the erection of the Catholic church here both he and his family, with other French families, owned seats and were frequent worshipers in the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Boisaubin purchased and resided on what is now the Tredwell property, owning also large tracts of land additional. He died in 1834; his wife died before him, and they lie side by side in the old burial ground of the First Presbyterian Church in Morristown.
The French families who once resided in this town-
RESIDENCE OF JAMES A: WEBB, MADISON, MORRIS CO, N . J.
RESIDENCE OF MRS J. D. EVANS, CHESTER, MORRIS CON.J .
MADISON'S FRENCH CITIZENS-FORMER SLAVES-DREW SEMINARY.
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ship formed for a while an important element in its social life. Laville Duberceau lived where E. V. Thebaud lately resided; Dureste Blanchet in the house now owned by Rev. Mr. Windeyer ; Louis Paubel, father-in-law of Mr. Blanchet, on the opposite corner, now owned by Mr. Calmyer; Mrs. Sargent and after- ward Mr. Leclere where Mr. Webb now resides; Mr. Souillard and afterward Mr. Le Berton where Mr. Selmser now lives; Eugene Dupuy lived next to the Presbyterian church, on a part of what is now the prop- erty of Mr. Thebaud. A French family by the name of Roche lived where Dr. Albright now resides and Mr. Cipriault where C. T. B. Keep resides. Madame Boisau- bin, the second wife and widow of Beusant Boisaubin, lived in the house owned, and until recently occupied, by J. S. Paulmier; this lady was the mother of Laville Duberceau. Other French families there were; but most of these thus named returned at different times to France, or the isles of Gaudaloupe or Martinique.
THE NEGRO POPULATION.
A number of colored families came here with these French immigrants as servants, and some of their de- scendants are living here now, intermarried with the other colored population. Among the people of this part of New Jersey the colored population has always formed a pretty distinct class. Bancroft says: "Of the two Jerseys, slavery had struck deeper root in East, from the original policy of its proprietors; the humane spirit of the Society of Friends ruled opinion in West Jersey." In proof, however, that the type of slavery must always have been mild here, and the negro regarded as not unworthy of trust, we may recall his free enlistment in the army of the Revolution-at least among northern soldiers. Speaking of the famous battle of Monmouth, Bancroft says: "Nor may history omit to record that of the Revolutionary patriots who on that day periled life for their country more than seven hundred black Americans fought side by side with the white." Since many men from Chatham township fought on that field it is quite probable that some of the seven hundred blacks were from here. Slavery being gradually abolished, many not being freed until reaching twenty-one years, the relics of the old days linger even yet. Of the aged black people now living here nearly all were born in slavery; and it is pleasant to the writer to say that, having several of these old slaves among his parishioners, and having conversed at times with most of the others yet living, he has almost uniformly heard them speak in terms of affection and respect of their old masters and mistresses. These old servants are usually in comfort- able though humble circumstances, can generally read and are very apt to be members of the churches. Their descendants have free access to the public schools and libraries, and with freer openings to the various indus- tries could uplift themselves to the planes of life occupied by their white fellow citizens.
DREW THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
In the year 1833 William Gibbons of Elizabethtown.
purchased the large tract of upland lying on the road to Morristown and called "The Forest," He soon after began to build, and in the year 1836 occupied the spa- cious and noble mansion which was his home for the next eighteen years. Its massive appearance and generous proportions, with its large surroundings of ground, fitted it for the abode of wealth, but even more for the wider purposes to which in divine providence it was destined.
In the year 1852 Mr. Gibbons died, leaving this par- ticular property to his son of the same name, by whom it was sold in the year 1867 to the late Daniel Drew. The subsequent history of this property is now given under the head of the Drew Theological Seminary.
This institution is one of the chief educational results of the great centenary movement in the Methodist Epis- copal Church in 1866. Daniel Drew, who had long been thinking of making an offering to the church, then an- nounced his intention of founding a theological school. For this purpose he devoted half a million of dollars, one half of which was to be expended upon ground, buildings, etc., while the other was to constitute a per- manent endowment. The school is located on the prop- erty known as "The Forest." The mansion, known as Mead Hall, 150 feet long and 100 feet wide, contains the chapel, library, reading room and the offices and lecture rooms of the professors. Asbury Hall is devoted as a dormitory to the students, each room being tastefully fitted up, and supplied with every necessity for the com- fort of the occupant. Embury Hall contains the society room, dining hall, residence of matron, and a number of additional rooms for students. Mr. Drew caused four houses to be erected for the use of the professors, at a cost of $20,000 each. The school was formally opened in November 1867, with the Rev. J. McClintock, D. D., as president and professor of practical theology, and the Rev. D. H. Nadal, D. D., as professor of historical theol- ogy. Shortly afterward the other professorial chairs were filled; that of systematic theology by R. S. Foster, D. D .; of exegetical theology by James Strong, S. T. D .; of New Testament exegesis by H. A. Buttz, D. D. Early in the year 1870 Dr. McClintock died, and was suc- ceeded in the presidency by R. S. Foster, D. D., and in the chair of practical theology by D. P. Kidder, D. D. J. F. Hurst, D. D., was elected to fill the chair made va- cant by the death of Dr. Nadal. Dr. Foster having been elected bishop in 1872, Dr. Hurst was chosen president, and John Miley, D.D., was elected to the vacant chair of systematic theology. In May 1880 Dr. Hurst was elected bishop, and his chair is now filled by G. H. Crooks, D. D. Dr. Kidder resigned his position in the faculty in the early part of 1881, and S. F. Upham, D. D., was elected to fill his place. At the same time Dr. Buttz was made president.
In 1876 Daniel Drew failed, and being unable to meet the interest on $250,000, the endowment being held by himself, the institution was without any income. The trustees resolved to appeal to the church for an endow- ment fund, and Dr. Hurst was requested to take charge of subscriptions. Through his efforts, and the co-opera-
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
tion of his colleagues, not only has the original amount been secured, but subscriptions have been received for hundred volumes. It has done much good. upward of $300,000,
The number of students whose names are found in the first catalogue is 18, while in that for 1880-81 there are 84. The total number of graduates, from 1869 to 1881, is 258, and they are found in nearly all the conferences in the United States, while many others are doing effi- cient work in foreign mission fields.
Within a few years a specialty has been made of the cultivation of flowers, particularly of roses, for which the communicated by recitations and lectures, which are held soil and climate here are said to be especially favorable. A number of gardens have been established, which send to New York immense numbers of flowers, bringing large returns of money. That of T. J. Slaughter is probably the most extensive and complete in the whole county.
The course of study embraces the five departments indicated by the above professorships, and corresponds to that of other Protestant theological seminaries of this country. It occupies three years, and is adapted to the literary status of college graduates. The instruction is on four days of the week, Saturday, Sunday and Mon- day being left free to enable the students to engage in preaching and other evangelical work in the vicinity. The yearly term of study is from the third Thursday in September to the third Thursday in May, with a fort- night's recess at the Christmas holidays. Tuition and the use of the rooms and of the library are free to all students intending the ministry; and pecuniary assist- ance, in the form of a loan, not exceeding $100 a year to any individual, is offered to meritorious students who depend upon their own exertions for an education. The students board together in a club managed by them- selves, one of their number being appointed commissary. The cost has averaged about $2.50 per week.
ASSOCIATIONS.
Madison Lodge F. and A. M. was organized (under dispensation) July 9th 1868. It was regularly chartered as No. 93, February 4th 1869. There were seven char- ter members. The first officers were as follows: James W. Tuttle, W. M .; A. H. Tuttle, S. W .; George H. Hancock, J. W .; Rev. James M. Tuttle, treasurer; Wil- bur F. Morrow, secretary; William H. Gardiner, S. D .; John Simpson, J. D .; Peter J. Hiltmann, tyler.
The following named persons have since served as W. M .: James H. Bunting, Richard H. Travis, Nick. M. Goble, Charles L. Chovy (2 years), Henry C. Ohlen, William H. Byram (2 years), Charles B. Frost, Samuel Brant and Stephen V. Ohlen.
The present officers of the lodge are as follows; Charles A. Hoyt, W. M .; Charles Yeager, S. W ; James Heim, J. W .; Horace S. Van Wagner, treasuer; James A. Post, secretary; W. H. Byram, P. M., S. D .; Charles B. Gee, J. D .; Charles E. Garrison, chaplain; Samuel II. Cook, S. M. of C .; Benjamin F. Knapp, J. M. of C .; John Wilson, tyler.
The present membership is sixty-three. The regular meetings of the lodge are on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
A Young Men's Christian Association was established by members of several of the churches in the year 1873. It has been sustained with vigor during the years. which have followed. It rents a large and commodious room for its public and prayer meetings, and also a very
convenient reading room, and has a library of several
THE BUSINESS OF THE PLACE
has been steadily growing. The mechanical trades are well represented. Carriage and wagon making, black- smithing and iron work of other kinds and tin work are carried on, and there are masons and carpenters of excellent repute, and other mechanics. The stores are well stocked with dry goods and millinery, groceries, feed, hardware and shoes, and there are two well ap- pointed drug stores, bakeries, etc.
The increase of capital and the needs of trade have recently created a bank. The First National Bank. of Madison was organized in August and went into opera- tion September Ist 1881. It has a capital of $50,000, all taken up. Its president is Jacob S. Paulmier, and cashier W. F. Morrow, with a well known and substan- tial board of directors.
There has also been established here a weekly news- paper, the Madison Journal, a convenient vehicle of local news and advertising, and now in the fifth year of its existence.
There is a roomy and well kept hotel, the Madison House, within a stone's throw of the depot, and a large and popular boarding-house-the Ridgedale-with a number of private boarding-houses in the village and its outskirts, all which are in demand for summer boarders.
THE MADISON CHURCHES.
PRESBYTERIAN.
The first church organized in what is now Chatham township was the present Presbyterian church of Madi- son. It began its existence in troublous circumstances, in opposition to the judgment of the Presbytery of New- ark, within whose ecclesiastical bounds it lay, and against the wishes of Rev. Jacob Green, the pastor of the old Whippanong church, who did all in his power to arrest the new movement, and from whose congregation the new church was formed. Doubtless the poor shep- herd could ill spare any part of his flock in that day of small things; and then, but a few years before, those members of the old church who resided in West Hano- ver (as Morristown was then called) had withdrawn and formed their feeble church against the same strenuous opposition-although, indeed, Mr. Green was not con- cerned in this, not having yet come to Whippanong. The distances were long, many of the people being obliged to travel six, eight and even ten miles to attend church.
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