History of Morris County, New Jersey, Part 59

Author: Halsey, Edmund Drake, 1840-1896; Aikman, Robert; Axtell, Samuel Beach, 1809-1891; Brewster, James F; Green, R. S. (Rufus Smith), 1848-1925; Howell, Monroe; Kanouse, John L; Megie, Burtis C; Neighbour, James H; Stoddard, E. W. (Elijah Woodward), 1820-1913
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 540

USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 59

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247

THE FIRST CHURCH IN MENDHAM TOWNSHIP.

from ore brought on horseback from Dover. There was little about this first meeting-house, except the glass in the windows, which was not made by some of the con- gregation. The following description of this house is from the pen of Mr. Hastings:

"It was eminently American-simple, severe and prac- tical. It was a wooden structure. Its sides were covered with short cedar shingles. It had no spire nor cupola, for bells were rare things in those days. Its main en- trance was on the south side, where there were two large, heavy, double-batten folding doors; there were also doors on the east and west sides. A broad aisle extended from the south door to the pulpit. The pulpit was on the north side of the church. It was a small box-like structure raised on a single pillar to a dizzy height, with an octag- onal sounding board, extended like an extinguisher over it, threatening to put out the minister. Underneath the pulpit was the deacons' seat, a large square pew in which sat, facing the congregation, the officers of the church and those no less important personages the choristers, one to line the hymn and the other to pitch the tune. A high gallery extended around three sides of the church, containing a few elevated pews which were near the ceil- ing-the highest seats in the synagogue. There was no porch or lobby. The gallery stairs were inside the assembly room. The pews down stairs appear to have been more than usually elaborate in their finish. The backs were precisely perpendicular and very high. Within these pews children could be heard but not seen. The upper part of the backs of the seats was open work, finished with upright spindles. In 1791 it was voted by the congregation 'to git a bell for the meeting-house of four hundred wait.' Mr. John Cary, who had built the house 46 years before, was employed to construct a belfry. It was placed in the center of the church, and the bell-rope hung down in the middle of the main aisle. Here the bell-ringer always stood of a Sabbath morning, until the people were all assembled, and being in so con- spicuous a position he felt himself bound to lay out all his energies upon the bell rope. He would leap high in air, catch the rope and make a triumphant descent, the bell loudly applauding each higher leap. Elisha Beach jr. enjoyed the honor of ringing the new bell for the first year, 'on the Sabbath and lectors and at 9 o'cl. at night.'

April 29th 1794 the congregation "voted Samuel Mc- admired thoroughly educated, scholarly men, and this Curdy to take care of the meeting-house, and to ring the bell night and day for one year, £5 14s." Poor Samuel -to ring a bell of "four hundred wait " night and day for one year ! For a long time the bell was rung every evening at 9 o'clock, and many were the ghosts which the superstitious sextons encountered at that lone place and lonely hour of winter nights.

There was found among the papers of Captain David Thompson, grandfather of Hon. Stephen H. Thompson, the original deed to the ground on which this meeting- house was built. The grant was made not to a sect or society but " unto the Congregation or Inhabitance of people that do or shall frequently meet together to wor- ship God in that plaice." This deed is dated November 25th 1745, and is signed by Edmund Burnett and wit- nessed by Joseph Hurds and Ezra Cary. The deed was obtained after the "hows " was built, for the description of the land reads: " A scairtan pees or parcel of Land on which the Meeting Hows now standeth." This " Meet-

ing Hows" stood seventy-one years, and but for the "lust of the eye and the pride of life " would proba- bly be there to-day-and would be worth all the public buildings in Mendham. It was torn down to make place for a fine church.

An anecdote of preacher and ruling elder in this quaint old meeting-house may round out the picture. It is re- lated of Rev. Mr. Joline that he was fond of giving a course of sermons on some one doctrine, and it is said that he occupied nearly one whole winter with a course of sermons on the doctrine of election. On a certain occasion, in the midst of his discourse, Elder Samuel McIlrath, a tall, thin, dignified Scotchman, wearing a white skull cap to cover his baldness, arose in his seat and exclaimed with great earnestness, "Mr. Joline, that is false doctrine!"

This old church was struck by lightning on the Sab- bath day May 16th 1813, and Mrs. John Drake was in- stantly killed and several of the congregation were severely injured. It was taken down in 1816 and a new one built on the same site. This house was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1835. A new church built in 1835 was burnt in 1859. The present church was dedicated February tst 1860.

Rev. John Pierson, the second pastor of this church, was installed in 1753. His grandfather Abraham Pier- son graduated at Cambridge, England, in 1632, was or- dained in the Episcopal church, preached a short time at Newark, England, emigrated to the New World, was settled at Branford, in Connecticut, and came in 1666, with almost his entire congregation, to Milford on the Passaic in New Jersey. The place was afterward called Newark in his honor. His son Abraham graduated at Cambridge and was the father of the second pastor of Mendham church. John Pierson was born in Newark, N. J., in 1689; graduated at Yale in 1711 and was pastor here ten years. These facts are related with some par- ticularity as they show that the Mendham people in those early days sought out able men to be their teachers; they proves that they themselves were not altogether deficient in scholarly attainments. It is, in fact, probable that there has been more ripe scholarship developed in Mend- ham than in any other village of its size in New Jersey.

The third pastor was Rev. Francis Peppard, a native of Ireland and a graduate of Nassau Hall in 1762. He was ordained here in 1764. During his ministry Watts's psalms and hymns were first introduced, and this gave great offense to the older members of the congregation. Old Elder Cummins among others would leave the house during singing. The first record extant relating to this church and congregation is an old trustee's book bound in parchment. On the inside of the cover is this in- scription: " Mendom Congregation Book, Bought Aug. 2Ist 1766, Price Six shillings York." On November 20th 1766 there is this minute, which is the second one on record:

"The Congregation mett & chose Jno Cary Moderator. " Preposed whether the Rev. Mr. Francis Pepard sh'd

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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.

be continued where he Now lives & Build on that place voted in the affirmative.

" Preposed to find Three tun of Good hea for Mr. Pe- pard yearly until the congregation can provide other ways voted in the affirmative.

"Preposed to chose three men and afterwards chose two more to project and carry on the Building of Mr. Pepards House.

(Thomas Husy ) James Jonston

" Elected { Jno. Cary Zebulon Riggs [Benj. Pitney

Committeemen."

In 1767 Rev. Mr. Peppard asked to be dismissed, and John Cary, Elizabeth Beach, Ezra Cary, Zebulon Riggs and David Thompson were elected a committee to go to presbytery with Mr. Peppard.

About this time Demas Lindley, Jacob Cook and Lu- ther Axtell-son of Henry the blacksmith-removed to Washington county, Pa. There were many other Mend- ham families who went then and subsequently to that part of Pennsylvania, and some of these afterward into Ohio. Two of the daughters of Elder Samuel Mc'Ilrath were of this emigration. Sarah married an Englishman by the name of Shaw and Isabella married a Mr. Wood- ruff, of Mendham.

We find from the church records that on the 15th of August 1781, at Ten Mile, Pa., a church was organized in the open air near the foot of the mountain; and Demas Lindley, Jacob Cook, Joseph Cook and Daniel Axtell were ordained elders. This little Mendham colony suf- fered much from Indians, and it was not till 1783, on the 3d of May, that the Lord's Supper was first administered, in Daniel Axtell's barn. Truly these were heroic souls and life to them had deepest meanings. To this church, so established as a branch from the vine in Mend- ham, Rev. Thaddeus Dod ministered. He was born in Mendham, graduated at Princeton in 1773, and settled in the ministry at Ten Mile or Amity, Washington county, Pa. He married Phebe Baldwin, of Mendham, and was the second Presbyterian minister west of the Alleghanies. He died at Ten Mile in 1793. Many of the descendants of Luther Axtell and these Mendham families still reside in Washington county.

It is a noticeable fact that in all the Mendham parish meetings for twenty years from 1766, with but three or four exceptions, John Cary was chosen moderator. October 3d 1768 the congregation " preposed " and voted to call Rev. Thomas Lewis, and " preposed " to give him one hundred pounds salary, "light money, the use of the parsonage and his firewood at the door." Mr. Lewis was a graduate of Yale, of the class of 1741. The next pastor was Rev. John Joline, 1778-95. Mr. Hastings says: " During the pastorate of Rev. John Joline two young men began to appear in active life who have especial claim upon our attention. I refer to Rev. Henry Axtell, D. D., and Rev. Henry Cook, two honored sons of this church." Dr. Axtell was a grandson of Henry the

blacksmith, who came to Mendham in 1739. He mar- ried Hannah Cook, sister of Rev. Henry and daughter of Daniel Cook. He built the house opposite the present parsonage and taught one of the best schools Mendham ever had, in a building that was erected for him near the site of the present academy. He removed to Geneva, Ontario county, N. Y., and died there in 1829. Mr. Hastings says of Dr. Axtell: "He was in every respect a very superior man, and must hold very high rank among the sons of Mendham church." Rev. Henry Cook was a very worthy pastor, and was settled over the Presbyterian church at Metuchen, N. J.

The next pastor was Rev. Amzi Armstrong, who was installed in 1796 and remained with the church twenty years. He was not only a very distinguished man but had the faculty of impressing his peculiar views more distinctly upon his people than any other of the long line of able and distinguished clergymen who have ministered to this church. Mr. Armstrong is loved and revered to this day by the Mendham people. After him came Samuel H. Cox, in 1817; Philip C. Hay, 1821; John Vanlieu, 1824; Daniel H. Johnson, 1826; Thomas S. Hastings, 1852 ;== Theodore F. White, 1856; David McGee, Sanford H Smith and the Rev. Mr. Cochran.

EDUCATIONAL.

The schools of Mendham have been exceptionally good. The first academy, as we have seen, was estab- lished by Rev. Henry Axtell, D. D., about 1795. Since that day Mendham has never been without good schools. Ezra Fairchild, a graduate of Amherst, Mass., son of Deacon Ebenezer (" Boss") Fairchild, of Brookside, and grandson of Caleb, of Morristown, had a very successful private academy, known as Hill Top, and William Rankin is also very pleasantly remembered as a good man and faithful educator. Under these and other worthy men Mendham fitted many of her sons for college. The fol- lowing named men, sons of Mendham parentage and who were fitted for college in Mendham, may be men- tioned: Rev. Henry Axtell, D. D., and his three sons, Daniel, Henry and Charles; Silas, Henry and Samuel Beach Axtell; Rev. Albert B. Dod, of Princeton; Rev. William Armstrong Dod, and Revs. Thaddeus, Cephas, Charles, Lebbeus and Luther, descendants of Stephen Dod of Mendham; Rev. Ephraim Dod Saunders and Josephus Saunders; Rev. Elias Riggs; Rev. W. J. Arm- strong, D. D., son of Dr. Amzi Armstrong; and Revs. Frederick Knighton, Elias Fairchild, Joseph Vance, Elijah Fairchild, William Babbitt, Walter Nicholas, Aaron Wolfe and Stephen Thompson.

The number of children of suitable age to attend school, between 5 and 18, in 1880 was 504, distributed as follows: Ralstonville, 41; Union, 120; Mendham, 132; Mountain, 47; Brookside, 109; Washington Corners, 55. The total value of school property in the township is $7,700. Average number of months the schools have kept open, 972. Average male teachers' wages, $35; women's, $23.

MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP.

BY HON. JOHN L. KANOUSE.

HIS township was formed in 1867, from terri- tory set off from Pequannock. It is bounded north by Pequannock township, east by Pe- quannock township and the Passaic River, south by the Rockaway River and west by the Rockaway River and Boonton township. It is about four miles in width, and nine miles long; in area it is twice as large as Boonton township, and not quite half as large as Pequannock; in proportion to its area it has more tillable land than either Boon- ton or Pequannock. The extreme southern part peninsular in form, being nearly surrounded by the Rock- away and Passaic Rivers, consists of what is called the Pine Brook flats, and is a level tract with soil of sandy loam free from stone, which, when properly cultivated, is productive. This part of the township is about thir- teen miles from Newark, with which it is connected by a good road, which for three-quarters of the distance consists of a Telford pavement. The soil in the rest of this township consists mainly of loam on clay bottom, and is generally productive in grass, grain, vegetables and fruit. The farmers in the southern part are engaged largely in the production of milk to supply the Newark market, and in the more central parts considerable quan- tities of butter, eggs, poultry, pork, beef, hay and straw are produced for market. For some years past consider- able attention has been given to planting choice fruit trees, and some are beginning to reap the benefits in apples and pears, which generally yield a good return.

The land in this township is chiefly rolling; the northern part is principally rough, mountainous woodland; the highest points in the northeastern part are the Waughan Mountains and Turkey Mountain. In the southeastern part is the Hook Mountain range; between this and the Passaic River is a fertile strip of farming land with a southeastern exposure and sloping to the river, called Passaic Valley. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and the Morris Canal pass cen- trally from west to east through the township. A small stream called Stony Brook passes through the north- western part, and empties into the Rockaway River above Powerville; another brook, rising near Turkey Mountain, flows through the village of Montville and down the val- 1

ley, emptying into the Rockaway River about half a mile below the Dutch Reformed church. This latter stream at Montville village affords some water power, which is about the only power afforded by any stream in the township, excepting that furnished by the Rockaway River for a short distance on the western boundary.

In Passaic Valley, near the line of Pequannock town- ship, is a quarry of red sandstone, belonging to John H. Vreeland, a descendant of Hartman Vreeland, who was one of the first settlers in this region. This quarry is remarkable for rocks found there, containing apparently the tracks of a bird as large as the ostrich; some fine specimens have been obtained, and one may be seen in the State geological museum at Trenton. In the northern part of this township, near Turkey Mountain, is a quarry from which quantities of limestone have been taken. to supply the furnaces at Boonton, and for making lime for agricultural and other purposes. The majority of this stone is quite white. Asbestos and also some very hand- some specimens of serpentine stone are found here; this is the only deposit of limestone known anywhere in this vicinity.

The population of this township in 1870 was 1,353 white and 50 colored, total 1,403; in 1875 it was 1,412 white and 31 colored, total 1,443; in 1880 the total pop- ulation was 1,269, showing a decrease in five years of 174; this decrease no doubt is accounted for in part by the stoppage of the Boonton iron works in 1876, as some of the employes at those works lived at Montville. The as- sesors' figures for 1881 were as follows: Acres, 11,302; valuation of real estate, $459,226; personal property, $118,989; debt, $36,665; polls, 304; State school tax, $1,378.57; county tax, $1,288.69; bounty tax, $1,403.78; road tax, $1,200.

The brook that runs through what is now known as Up- per Montville and down the valley, emptying into the Rockaway River below the Dutch Reformed church, was known among the early settlers by the name of "Owl Kill." It is a tortuous stream and often overflows much of the adjoining land, rendering it rich natural meadow. Along the banks of this stream stood many large trees, which in olden times were a favorite resort for owls; these birds feed principally upon mice, and doubtless were at-

250

HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.

tracted to this place by the large number of mice that burrowed in the soft grounds of the adjoining meadows. Hence this stream, about two miles in length, came to be called "Owl Kill;" from the peculiar pronunciation of the Dutch this was changed to "Uylekill," and the valley as well as the brook was known by that name. This account of the matter is corroborated by Levi Stiles, now 85 years old, who was born and has al- ways lived in this vicinity. We find this view further confirmed by documentary evidence, which is more relia- ble than mere memory. Humphry Davenport, one of the first settlers in this vicinity, came here in 1714, a granddaughter of his was on January Ist 1754 married |his brother Bethuel, who sold his share to Martin Van to Jacob Bovie, and she is recorded as born in " Uyle- kill." This is taken from a certified copy of the church record at Aquackanock.

EARLY RESIDENTS AND ENTERPRISES.

The settlement at what is known as Upper Montville was made at a very early date, and there is some reason to believe that the first grist-mill in this vicinity was erected there. The records of Pequannock show that on October 2nd 1745 a road was laid out " from the corner at Cornelius Doremus's to the corner at Nicholas Hyler's, and then along the line between Hyler and Peter Fred- ericks to a white oak tree, and thence across the brook, and thence as the path goeth to Michael Cook's mill." This shows that a grist-mill was at Montville prior to 1745, and that it belonged to Michael Cook; and it appears that Michael Cook was then an old resident, and was elected to a town office as early as 1749. There is reason, therefore, to believe that he had built a mill there some time before that date, or that his immediate prede- cessor built it, perhaps as early as 1720. About 1787 we find that this mill and a saw-mill were owned by John Pierson and Elijah Dod, the latter a son of Caleb Dod who lived at Horse Neck, in Caldwell township, Essex county, at a point now called Clinton. Elijah Dod came there when a young man, and soon afterward erected a dwelling, the same that is now the residence of the widow of Frederick W. Cook. The last named was a son of Silas Cook, who bought the property after the death of Elijah Dod, which occurred February 3d 1807. Elijah Dod left four daughters; the eldest married William Scott, the next married Joseph Scott jr. (brother of William), the third became the wife of John G. Kanouse, and the youngest married Lewis King; the two latter are still living, one aged 80 and the other 77.

Silas Cook came to Montville about 1795. His first wife was a daughter of Martin Morrison, who resided near Lower Montville. By this marriage he had two daughters, one of whom married Cornelius Van Orden and the other Swain A. Condit. His second wife was a daughter of John Salter, who lived in that vicinity. His first purchase of property at Montville was one-quarter of the cider-mill and distillery belonging to Zadoc Baldwin, a resident of Caldwell, Essex county. This he bought June 8th 1798. The following year Baldwin sold another quarter to Cook, who soon became the sole owner of the

distillery, and after the death of Elijah Dod became the owner of the grist-mill and also of a part of the saw-mill. When Zadoc Baldwin sold to Cook a part of the distillery he made a reserve of sufficient ground in the rear of the cider-mill to erect a tannery. His plans as to a tannery here were not carried out, but two years after that his son, Elijah Baldwin, bought a site from Thomas Fred- ericks, about a quarter of a mile distant, and there built a bark mill and tannery. Considerable bark was pur- chased and ground here and sold to tanners in Newark, besides what was used on the premises in tanning. Elijah Baldwin sold half of his bark-mill and tannery to Duyne. The latter purchased for his two sons Cornelius M. and John M. Van Duyne. Quite a large business in bark and tanning was carried on here for many years, but since the death of Elijah Baldwin comparatively little has been done. The mill and tannery are still used by Moses A. Baldwin, a younger son of Elijah Baldwin.

In the cider-mill of Silas Cook apples in large quanti- ties were ground in the old-fashioned way, being crushed by a heavy wooden wheel passing over them in a circu- lar trough, and for many years a large business in cider- making and distilling was done here. Whiskey was pre- pared in various forms; by the addition of little scorched sugar a color was given to it, and then it was called cider brandy and sold for 25 per cent. more. In those days they made what was called "cherry;" this was made by putting a quantity of black cherries and wild cherries into a barrel of whiskey, which imparted a deep red color and a cherry flavor to the liquor. After steeping for a time the liquor was drawn off and the cherries thrown out. In those days it was the general practice to allow swine to run at large upon the public streets; although it is said a hog will not drink whiskey, these cherries thrown out appeared to attract them, and after they had eaten of the highly seasoned fruit it was amusing to notice them as they would begin to jump about, stagger, squeal, and grunt, and then lie in the gutters, the result being quite illustrative of the effects of whiskey upon human beings.

About 1809 Conrad Estler bought a lot from Henry I. Vanness and opened a small store at Montville, the first store kept there; he carried on business here for a num- ber of years, dealing considerably in hooppoles. On the first of April 1812 Benjamin L. and Stephen Condit bought 23.60 acres of land of Daniel T. Peer at Mont- ville, and proceeded to erect a bark mill and tannery. On the 15th of April 1813 they sold to their brothers Nathaniel O. and Timothy D. Condit, who came from Orange, Essex county, and carried on here the bark and tanning business for several years. About 1827, when the Morris Canal was being built, N. O. Condit took out a license for a tavern. The building first occupied by him, a long one-story structure, stood on the site of the present tavern-house, which was built by N. O. Condit; he continued to keep a public house here for about thirty years. After the setting off of Rockaway township, in 1844, this was the place for holding town meetings and elections in Pequannock to 1867; since that time it

'& ICE HOUSES

VARM BUILDINGS AND BRIDGE OVER PASSAIC RIVER

RESIDENCE AND SURROUNDINGS OF J P. COLE , , MONTVILLE , MORRIS CO, N., J.

RESIDENCE & FLOURING MILL OF A.J.B ZABRISKIE, MONTVILLE, MORRIS CON J

251

INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF MONTVILLE.

has been the place for transacting the public business of Montville township.

From 1800 to 1820 Montville village was a hamlet con- taining about sixteen dwellings, two bark-mills and tan- neries, three saw-mills, one grist-mill, a cider-mill and distillery, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter and wheelwright shop, and one small store, which tended to make the place a business center for a circuit of several miles. Since that time one tannery and bark. mill and two saw- mills have gone down and disappeared. In the place of one saw-mill has recently been erected a large brick building occupied as a rubber factory, at which steam and water power are used; and near the site of another saw-mill a small grist-mill has been erected. The village now contains about forty dwellings, one saw-mill, two grist-mills, one bark-mill and tannery, one rubber factory, two blacksmith shops, two taverns, and two small stores. The great distillery was discontinued in 1825, when the building of the Morris Canal was commenced. This canal passes through the village, and in half a mile descends 150 feet by two inclined planes; the lower plane passes over part of the ground where the old dis- tillery stood. Although this hamlet is not so great a business center as formerly for the surrounding country, yet the increase in the number of dwellings, their im- proved condition, and the generally neat appearance of their surroundings, indicate a greater degree of thrift and comfort.

The town records show that in October 1749 a road was laid out, beginning at Michael Cook's mill, and fun- ning across and along lands of Nicholas Hyler, Martin Van Duyne, Conrad Fredericks and John Miller to the river, and down the river, in the words of the record, " as the 'path runs to the bridge near John Davenport's.". No mention being made of a grist-mill where Zabriskie's mill now stands, it is probable no mill was there at that time. The words of the description warrant the inference that this whole region was then mostly a wilderness; paths leading to and from the mill, which could only be traversed by horses carrying the grist in bags on their backs. The John Davenport mentioned was a son of Humphrey Davenport, who settled in this vicinity in 1714. John Davenport at the time lived near the brook where the road turns in to Starkey's woolen factory. Zabriskie's grist-mill stands at the beginning corner of the tract of 750 acres purchased by Humphrey Daven- port in 1714; the exact date of the erection of a mill here we are unable to determine. For many years this mill was known as Duryea's mill. Daniel Duryea, who came from Harrington, Bergen county, on the 7th of July 1785, purchased from Albert Alyea 120 acres of land,

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