History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 157

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140

USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 157
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 157

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There is in the village at present one church (Meth- odist Episcopal), a small, old, octagon stone school- house, a tavern by a Mr. Lisk, who is also the village postmaster.

VI .- SCHOOLS.

There are in this township eight school districts, named and numbered as follows : Water Gap, No. 85; Hainesburg, No. 86; Polkville, No. 87 ; Mount Pleas-

ant, No. 88; Walnut Corner, No. 89; Columbia, No. 90; Chapel Hill, No. 91; and Delaware Station, No. 92. The statistics of these districts for the school year ending Aug. 31, 1879, are as follows :

DISTRICT.

Total amount money re-

ceived from all sources.

Value of school property.

No. of children of school

age in the district.

Nu. of children enrolled

on the school register

during the year.

Average attendance.

Number of children the

school will seat.

Number of teachers.

Number 85.

$331.00

$100

337.50

600

322.60

350

310.50

200

336.00

400

64.

327.50

1200

342.50

1600

$2337.50

$4750

441

380

174

435

The above does not include District No. 87, for which no report was received in 1879.

VII .- CIIURCIIES. ST. JAMES' PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church is located at Delaware Station, in School District No. 92, in the southwest part of the township. Just when or where the pioneer Episco- pal services were held we are unable, for want of proper data, to state positively, but probably at the house of Robert Allison, who was one of the pioneers and a devotee of this branch of the great Christian family. There have been three church edifices, in- cluding the present one, belonging to this society. The pioneer was built in 1784, at the point of rocks near the Delaware River, helow Delaware Station.

The lot upon which the old church stood, also the school-house lot, and a lot for burial purposes, all ad- joining, were the donation of Robert Allison, who also was a liberal contributor towards the building of the house of worship. The old church was taken down, and rebuilt in 1841, of stone, near where the old one stood. This second church was dedicated March 13, 1842, by Rev. George Washington Doane, D.D., bishop of the diocese of New Jersey.

This church was of rather more modern architec- ture thau the first one, having Gothic windows and door, all painted red, yet the inside was never defiled by the painter's brush. This building was burned on Wednesday, June 27, 1866. The fire was caused by sparks from a passing engine on the Delaware, Lack- awanna and Western Railroad, the fire catching in the belfry. The present church edifice was built in 1869, and is located between the Belvidere road and Railroad Avenue, in Delaware Station. It is of wood, 32 by 60 feet, with basement for lecture-room, Sunday- school, etc., and cost $6000. It was dedicated May 23, 1870, by Rev. W. H. Odenheimer, D.D., bishop of the diocese of New Jersey. This church was first opened

631

KNOWLTON.

for divine service on Sunday morning, Dec. 12, 1869. of Derrick Albertson, with an average attendance of The record of its organization is as follows: 25 scholars.

" In accordance with an act of the Legislature of New Jersey, the cou- gregation met at the church on Monday, April 13, 1789, when a sermon wan preached by Rev. John Frederick Ernst, who was niso chosen mod- erator, and did then and there chiuse the following trustees : Nicholas Al- bertson, president of the board, George Morduunt, Sr., Peter Appleman, I'nul Engle, Sr., Joseph Cummings, sr., Joseph Coats, and John Teople; Wardens, Robert Allison and Peter Applewan ; Clerk, John Teeple ; Ves- tryman, Jacob Lernon, George Morduunt, Sr., Joseph Coats, Paul Engle, Sr., Nicholas Albertson, Matthias Commings, Jacob Cummings, Sr., Ben- juin Goodwin, Richard Goodwin, Jr., Thomas Bowman, John Barnes, and Jucol Cummings, Jr.

" At this meetlug the trustees adopted the name of ' Protestant Epis- topal Church of St. James In Knowlton, county of Sussex, nud State of New Jersey."

On June 9, 1789, the trustees met at the house of Peter Appleman and took the required oath of office, administered by John McMurtrie, Esq., one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Sussex County. Aug. 8, 1789, the following-named persons were duly elected a committee of accounts : Cornelius Albertson, Benjamin Goodwin, Peter Bellis, and Thomas Parry. April 5, 1790, divine service was con- ducted by Mr. Caleb Hopkins, May 25, 1790, Rev. Uzal Ogden preached, and Caleb Hopkins was ap- pointed to represent this society in a convention of Protestant Episcopal clergy, to be held in Trenton on Wednesday, June 2, 1790.

This parish was reorganized in accordance with an act of the State Legislature, passed Feb. 17, 1829, in which the office of trustee was abolished, and under the same act the parish was incorporated. The fol- lowing-named persons were elected under the new organization: Wardens, Henry Hartung and John llay; Vestrymen, Henry Albertson, George W. Rib- hle, Joseph Hay, Francis C. Stine, John Albertson, Henry Hartung, Jr., and William F. Albertson; Sec- retary, Henry Hartung, Jr. ; Treasurer, Henry Albert-

The following officers were elected March 29, 1880 : Wardens, David Shannon and William F. Albertson ; Vestrymen, Derrick Albertson, Charles Hartung, Henry Albertson, Matthias Cummings, Philip II. Al- bertson, Archibald Shannon, William JI. Hartung, and Alfred Silverthorn ; Treasurer and Secretary, Matthias Cummings.

Mr. Cummings has been treasurer of this church since 18.t1.

By the will of the late Jacob Cummings (deceased ) St. James' Church was endowed with a fund of $1000, the interest of which was to be and is applied on the rector's salary. By a provision of that will, the in- terest accruing at periods when the church was with- out a rector should be applied to the principal, thus increasing both principal and interest.

The present membership of St. James' is 35; value of church property, $6000. This parish is under the pastoral care of Rev. Charles Douglas, who is also | charge. The Presbytery granted his request. Thus rector of the Belvidere parish.

The parish Sunday-school is under the supervision

KNOWLTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.“

This church is one of the oldest in the Presbytery of Newton. A book was lately found among the pa- pers of the late JJoseph R. Diltz, that contains a record of baptisms extending over a period of forty-four years from Jan. 8, 1776, to Oct. 26, 1810. This book is written almost entirely in the German language. It contains a list of more than six hundred baptisms. The record contains the name of the child, the date of its birth, the date of the baptism, the names of the parents, and the names of the sponsors or god-parents, and in most cases the name of the minister by whom the sacrament was administered. There are twelve such records for the year 1766. About one hundred and twenty-five such entries occur in the first ten years. Twenty-one are given for the year 1776, thus showing that the people even in the midst of political strife and impending war remembered the God of their fathers and devoted themselves and their off- spring to His service.

Many of the names given are the names of the an- cestors of those living in and about here at the pres- ent time. Knowlton was first a German-English church, and organized under the title of " First Eng- lish and German Congregation in Knowlton." The first record that can be found of the Knowlton Presby- terian Church is taken from the minutes of a meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, held at Free- hold, April 22, 1775:

" A nuniler of people in Knowlton, Sussex County, being collected into u Christian society, desire to be under the care of this Presbytery and supplicate for supplies."

The following answer was given :

" The Presbytery do most cordially receive them under their caro und order the following supplies, viz. : Rev. Mr. Peppard, one Sabbath, Mr. Hverborough one, and Mr. Hanna one."

Rev. Francis Peppard was received from the P'res- bytery of New York, April 27, 1773, and labored some forty years in this general region of country.

Rev. John Roseborough was a man of rare elo- quence and undoubted patriotism. For further men- tion see histories of the township of Greenwich and borough of Washington. Knowlton was supplied six Sabbaths during the year 1775, and eight Sabbaths during the year 1776.

From Oct. 14, 1777, until October, 1780, Rev. Mr. Stockton supplied this church in connection with those of Oxford and Mansfield-Woodhouse.

lle was ordained Ang. 11, 1778. At a meeting of the Presbytery, in Basking Ridge, Oct. 17, 1780, Mr. Stockton petitioned the Presbytery that, on account of the divided and broken state of the Knowlton congregation, he be liberated from that part of his

* By the pastor, Rev. D. Deurullo.

632

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

the first pastorate only continued two years and two months. During the next eleven years Knowl- ton was supplied from time to time by different per- sons.

On April 26, 1791, application was made by the congregation of Knowlton for supplies for the ad- ministration of the Lord's Supper, and to have some person set apart to the office of elders. The Rev. Mr. Wilson was appointed to ordain the elders the third Sabbath in May, 1791, Rev. Mr. Condit to administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper the first Sabbath in July.

Application was made April 26, 1796, for one-third of Rev. Mr. Peppard's time, one year, which was granted. Sept. 22, 1802, Rev. Ebenezer Grant was appointed to supply the church at his discretion ; he was also to inquire into the state of the congregation and to find out if they considered themselves under the care of the Presbytery. The congregation having been for a long time without a regular pastor, it had become greatly divided and scattered. In many of the old records the name is spelled in different ways; for instance, "Nolton," "Knowltown," "Knolton," and frequently, as at present, "Knowlton."

At the meeting of the Presbytery held at Princeton, April, 1803, Rev. Ebenezer Grant made the following report in regard to the people of Knowlton :

" That so far as he had been able to learn there is no regular organized congregation in the township of Knowlton, nor any house of worship be- longing exclusively to the Presbyterians, the officers and members of the society with which the Rev. Philip Stockton was formerly connected hav- ing almost all died or removed, and that the Presbyterians, who were the most numerous, and a considerable number of High Dutch Calvinists, to- gether with a small body of Episcopalians, all worshiped in a stone church which had been erected many years since, near the banks of the Delaware River, into which the clergy and people of all denominations were re- ciprocally admitted. But this house being situated on one side of the township rendered it inconvenient for the great body of the people to at- tend public worship, and that therefore the three congregations before mentioned had subscribed liberally towards erecting a large and conve- nient building for public worship, in a pleasant spot and nearly in the centre of the township."

This was the first church building erected on the present site of the Knowlton frame church.

The union church, "built of stone," near the banks of the Delaware, in all probability stood a short distance below where Delaware Station is tow located.

The first Presbyterian church building erected on the present site of the Knowlton church was built during the summer of 1802 and 1803, through the liberal subscriptions of the " High Dutch Calvinists," Epis- copaliane, and Presbyterians. The building was large and convenient, and located in a pleasant spot neatly in the centre of the township. At this time the Presbyterians, although many had died, and some families removed, were still the most numerous denomination in the township.

At a meeting of the I'resbytery held in Trenton, April 20, 1803, Mr. Jolın Linn, an elder from Knowlton, was present. This is the first time the name of an elder from Knowlton appears upon the records of Presbytery. Mr. Lion asked for supplies. Five were appointed. In October, at the meeting of the Presbytery, two elders were present from " Nolton,"-Hugh Forsman from the old church, and J. Linn from the new. Rev. Dr. S. S. Smith was appointed to administer the communion and catechise the people the third Sabbath in November. This is, in all probability, the first time the sacrament was administered in the new church.

At the advice of Presbytery, Rev. David Barclay accepted calls from Lower Mount Bethel, Oxford, and " Nolton." June 19, 1805, Mr. Barclay

was installed into the pastoral charge of the three churches. Each of the churches was to give two hundred dollars toward the pastor's salary.

At a meeting of the Presbytery held in Newton, in the year 1811, cer- tain charges were preferred against Mr. Barclay by members of the Knowlton congregation, which occupied the attention of the Presbytery and even the Synod for the space of four years, at the conclusion of which the pastoral relation between Rev. Mr. Barclay and the Knowlton congregation was dissolved.

Oct. 3, 1815, Mr. Joshua Swayze represented Knowlton in the Presby- tery. Supplies were appointed for this and a part of the following year. Ju the year 1817 the Knowlton and Hardwick Churches called Mr. Jehiel Talmage, a licentiate, to become their regular pastor. The call was accepted, and June 19, 1817, he was installed.

In the year 1817, Rev. Mr. Talmage and others were set off, and be- came the Presbytery of Newton, under whose care this church still con- times. Mr. Talmage continued to be pastor of this church until some time during the year 1839, when the pastoral relation was dissolved and he went to Ohio. During this pastorate of twenty-two years, 57 were added to the church on examination and 4 by certificate, making in all G1, of which 9 are still living and connected with the church.

Rev. T. B. Condit served the church as a supply a part of the years 1839-40. In 1841 he became the settled pastor, but continued as such only a few months.

Rev. David Longmore served the church as enpply from December, 1841, to April, 1843, he having declined to accept a call made to him. He was a native of Ireland,-n man of great power, although very peculiar in his personal babits.

The Presbyterian Church at Blairstown was organized in 1840, largely from members of the Knowlton Church. Rev. Mr. Longmore supplied both churches, and it is said he, being a poor horseman, was accustomed to walk from Blairstown to meet his appointments at Knowlton.

Atan adjourned meeting of the Presbytery, held Oct. 16, 1843, Rev. John M. Lowrie was ordained and installed pastor of the churches of Blairstown and Knowlton. He continued to serve these churches until August, 1845, when failing health caused him to resign his charge. He died at Fort Wayne, Ind., in the year 1857.

In the full of 1845, Rev. John A. Reiley became pastor of the two churches. This arrangement continued until 1854, when Blairstown be- came s-If-sustaining, and called Mr. Reiley for all his time. Mr. Reiley is still living, although not actively engaged in pastoral labor. His home is in Louisiana.

A church was organized at Hope with 11 members, June 11, 1854.

Rev. R.H. Reeves was ordaiced and installed by the Presbytery as pastor of the churches of Knowlton and Hope, at Knowlton, Nov. 21, 1854. He remained with the Knowlton Church until Oct. 2, 1867, and died nt Franklin, Ind .. May 7, 1875, in the fifty-first year of his age.

The Rev. Peter II. Brooks was called to this pastorate in the fall of 1868, and entered upon his duties in the spring of 1869. During the pastorate of Mr. Brooks the present parsonage property was purchased and nearly paid for. The church building was repaired, the pews were reversed, and the pulpit placed in a recess.

In October, 1871, at a meeting of the Presbytery, the pastoral relation of the Rev. Mr. Brooks was dissolved in order that he might accept a call from the Presbyterian Church at Susquehanna Depot, where he still re- sides.

In the spring of 1872, Rev. D. F. Lockerby became pastor of the three churches. This pastorate continued just one year, and was unfor- tunate in every respect.

During 1872, Rev. Andrew Tully acted as stated supply, but no per- manent settlement was effected. During the yeurs 1873 and 1874 occu- sionally supplies were enjoyed and many candidates were heard, but one cause and another prevented the settlement of a pastor.

A call was made out April 17, 1875, from the churches of Knowltoe, Hope, and Delaware, for the present pastor, Rev. Daniel Deurelle, then of the l'rosbytery of Lehigh. The call was accepted, and he was in- stalled Jone 9, 1875. During the past winter the rotary system of elder- ships was adopted.

The recorde show that at least 360 persons have boen connected as members with this church. Knowlton is also a mother of churches, Blairstown, Hope, and Delaware ull being her daughters, while slie has contributed members to many other churches. There have been four ecasons of special revival in the history of this church. In the year 1832, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Talmage, 26 were added on oxumina- tion ; in 1843, with the Rev. David Longmore as pastor, 21 were gathered in ; in 1851, 27 were received on profession of their faith : Rev. John A. Reiley was pastor at that time; and lastly, in the year 1875, 23 were received on examination.

€33

KNOWLTON.

How many changes since Jan. 8, 1766! It is recorded that preaching was occasionally done in a log building standing in what is now the cemetery, and that the services were conducted in the German Inoguage, but of this there enn be no definite records found, except the book above referred to. As Knowlton was first organized as a German. English church, this was probably before the alliance had been formed between the Presbyterians and the German Reformed Societies. How many hal- Towed memories Hager oronud this old church site! Sonie of the logs from the old log structure can still be seen in a building near the church. The church building that was erected In the year 1802 is now naed as n barn, having been removed a short distance from its original site. The present church edifice was dedicated in October, 181, during the pas- torate of Rev. John M. Lowrie, and Is a neat frame building, painted white, with neither belfry nor basement. The pews are free, and, as in days of old, large congregations are present each Sabbath. Services are held uvery Sabbath morning, and a congregational prayer-meeting is held on Sabbath evenings.

The following-named persons were the elders and trustees in 1881: Ruling elders, William O. Ward, David B. Low, I. W. Smith, Jebiel Harris, John Swartswelder; trustees, Harrison Blair, David A. Brands, I. W. Smith, Jchiel Harris, Alfred M. Smith, Charles Smith, Jr.

The present value of church property, including parsonage, is $5000; the membership, Jan. 27, 1881, was 60 ; Sunday-school superintendent, Jehiel Harris ; total number of scholars, 80; average attendance, 35.

A society known as the "Sunday-school Temper- ance Alliance of the Presbyterian Church of Knowl- ton" is connected with this church, and was organ- ized in 1878, and numbers 148 members. Its officers are Rev. David Deurelle, President ; William S. l'erry, William O. Ward, and Jehiel Harris, Vice- l'residents; W. S. Anderson, Secretary ; M. L. Deu- relle, Treasurer.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELAWARE STATION.

This church, located in the village of Delaware Station, is an offshoot of the Knowlton Church, and with that church shares the support of a pastor, he living at Delaware Station, preaching there in the morning and evening, and at the Knowlton Church, five miles distant, in the afternoon. When the vil- present size, it was found that there were several Pres- byterian families among the inhabitants, and the dis- tance from the Knowlton church, together with bad roads a great portion of the year, rendered church- going by the villagers quite unpleasant ; therefore we find that

" At the spring version of the Newton Presbytery, hold at Phillipe burg In April, 1871, a committee, consisting of Rev. David Tully, Rev. Thomas A. Saumon, Rev. Poter Brooks, and Elder Charles E. Vail, were appointed to visit Delaware Station and ascertain the views and desires of tho peuple, and If the way be clear to organize a church there."

The following persons, having received certificates of dismission from the Knowlton Church, presented them to the committee, thus becoming the constituent members of this organization,-viz., Ellers William Il. Hemingway and John Burd, Mrs. W. Il. Heming- way, Mrs. John Burd, William F. Hutchinson, L. C. Osman and wife, Jeremy Osmun and wife, A. J. Hutchinson and wife, Mrs. Joseph G. Angle, Miss

Ann E. Angle, Miss Sarah C. Angle, Mrs. Philip llartung, Mrs. Mary E. James, the latter present- ing a certificate from the Presbyterian Church at Bel- videre.

The following ruling elders were then chosen : William H. Hemingway and John Burd. The pro- veedings thus far were signed by Peter H. Brooks, who became pastor of this church, in connection with that of Knowlton, of which he was already the pastor.

The first board of trustees ot the Delaware Pres- byterian Church were elected June 7, 1871, as fol- lows : William F. Hutchinson, president of the board, for three years; C. T. James, for two years; and James I'rall, for one year.

The present frame edifice, 38 by 60 feet, with base- ment for lecture-room, Sunday-schools, etc., was built in 1875, and dedicated August 10th of that year by Rev. George W. Smith, D.D.

The church edifice is of modern architectural de- sign, surmounted with a slated spire in which hangs a very fine-toned bell costing $300. At the dediea- tion services Ilon. John I. Blair presided, when he gave an exhibition of his usual liberality upon such occasions by presenting to this infant organization the lot upon which the church stands, also the par- sonage house and lot now occupied by the pastor, to- gether with money enough to make his donation $4000, which was just one-third of the total cost of church, parsonage, and grounds, thereby dedicating the church without any debt upon it. The audito- rium will comfortably seat 250 persons. The orches- tra or choir is supplied with a fine church organ.

The pastors of this church have been Rev. Peter 1I. Brooks, from date of organization until Aug. 29, 1871, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. D. F. Lockerby, from Sept. 14, 1872, until Feb. ? , 1873. Rev. David Deurelle, the present pastor, was installed July 15, 1875.

The membership at the dedication of the church lage of Delaware Station had attained to nearly its | edifice was one less than at the organization. The membership in January, 1881, was 48; value of the church property, $8000. Ruling elders, William H. Hemingway, John Burd, Dr. L. C. Osmun, Jeremy Osmun ; trustees, A. Ammerman, William F. Hutch- inson, James Prall, Dr. L. C. Osmun, William Il. Hemingway, John Burd.

The Sunday-school superintendent is William H. Hemingway. Total membership, 75; average at- tendance, 55.

There is connected with this church a society known as " The Sunday-school Temperance Alliance of the Presbyterian Church of Delaware." It was organized in 1879, and numbers 85 members. Its officers are : President, Rev. D. Deurelle; Vice-Presidents, W. Il. Hemingway, Jennie E. Lynes, and Annie Bellis; Se- rotary, Miss Lizzie Hutchinson. The regular meet- ings are held on the Tuesday evening on or before the full of the moon in each month, in the parlors of the Presbyterian church.

634

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HAINESBURG.

Just when the Methodist class and society was formed at this place we are unable to state for want of data upon which to place reliance. However, Hainesburg was one of the preaching appointments as early as 1825 or 1830, when this place was yet con- nected with a large circuit and had Methodist preach- ing only once in four weeks.

In 1840 the society had attained that numerical and financial strength that warranted it in agitating the subject of church building, as thus far the accommo- dations were only such as were afforded by a private house or the old district school-house.

In 1842 it was decided by the society and congre- gation to build, when the site upon which the church edifice stands was selected, which, together with $100, was donated by Andrew Smith. He also took the contract for building for $1100, and used the tim- ber for the church frame that he had just got ready for a barn of the same size, and thus, without delay, the church was built and dedicated that year. The parsonage connected with the church was built in 1849. Present value of church property is $2000; present membership 35, with Rev. Sylvanus Harris as pastor. This place is connected with Columbia, which is also under charge of Rev. Harris.

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 157

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140