History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 165

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 165
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 165

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663

HOPE.

The first store at this place was opened by Jefferson Loller in 1878, and he is also the pioneer shoemaker of Mount Hermon. The first blacksmith at this place was Charles Becbe, who located here in 1879. The pioneer carpenters were George Flummerfelt and Thomas Aten, who are both dead. John Flummerfelt is the present carpenter and builder of Mount HIer- mon, while John Letson is the village stone-mason. In the early part of this century there were two or three distilleries in this vicinity, which have all gone to decay. There are at present at this place one church, school-house, store, post-office, blacksmith- shop, and about a dozen dwellings, mostly new.

TOWNSBUAY.

This is a small hamlet in the south part of the township, in the Pequest valley and on the line of the Lehigh and Hudson Railroad. It derives its name from a former landowner.

This part of the township is on the Coxe tract, and that portion on which Townsbury is situated was pur- chased of Coxe by a man named Meng, who built a mill on the site of the old grist-mill at this place, and for many years this place was known as "Meng's Mill." March 4, 1783, John Meng, John Town, Wil- liam Goodwin, and John Henderson sold the Towns- bury traet to William Shepley. William Shepley and Margaret, his wife, conveyed it (April 7, 1787) to Benjamin Town. The last named was hopelessly in debt to Jolin Field and Curtis Clay, of Philadel- phia, and finally was compelled to convey his prop- erty to them. [Deed of 930 acres in Oxford, dated Feb. 4, 1788, from Benjamin Town and Abigail, his wife, to John Field and Curtis Clay]. At the same time, and in the same deed, Town conveyed property in Philadelphia, Northumberland Co., Pa., and in Virginia, which is evidence that he was a large land- owner. According to the best information now obtain- able the Townsbury property about 1820 passed into the bands of Jacob Johnston, and from him to John Drake and R. D. Hulick, and in 1840 it was owned by Lewis J. Youngblood, and in 1854 the property was purchased by Nelson Vliet, who subsequently sold a part of the property to Adam and Andrew V. Stiff. T. P. Frome and Jacob S. Henry then owned the Townsbury property. The property was then owned by John Green, who soll to David Anderson.

The old grist-mill is over one hundred years oldl. The water-power at Townsbury is one of the best mill-sites on the Pequest.

VI .- SCHOOLS.

There are in this township six school districts, as follows :

Hlupo District, No. GI, is in the north half of the township. Total amount received for school purposes, $12.67; value of school property, $1000 ; whole number of children between bro and eighteen years, 108; months taught, 8; number of children enrolled on school register, 78; average attendance, 50; number of children a bool-house will seut, 100.

The history of the public school at Hope is as fol- lows :*

The first school of Hope was organized 1807, In nu old shop at tho sonth ead of what is now the Methodist Episcopal parsonage. The furniture consisted of an unplaned onk board nailed to the wall for a desk, and a few onk slub benches for sents. This school was taught by a Yankee named Solomon Bolton. Next came George Thompson, from Watitago, Sussex Co. Ile was an excellent teacher, and taught longer lo Hope than any other person. le came here under the assumed nammo of Gil- christ Thorn, but revealed his true nume before leaving. Hle taught in the present Cuion Hotel. Ils also taught in that low, rakish-looking stone bullding still standing in the north sidoof the village, opposite tho residence uf A. Grover. The first good teacher after Thompson was Charles Barkley, who taught in the northeast room of the stone hutiso now occupied by Gideon L .. Howell. John Stuart, afterward cashler of the Belvidere Bank, taught a school in the stone house opposite the Methodist Episcopal church. Then came Dryal Hopkins, who taoght in un old log house where the residence of Min E. Turner now stands. Ilop- kins also taught ou the third floor of the Union Hotel. James Dewitt taught In an old house where the Episcopal parsonage now standa. Then came Rodgers, Gardner, John Ryan, Harvey Wycof, Cornelius Wessel, and others, who taught in various places about the village. Still later, Peter W. Blair taught in a room of the house now occupied by D. C. lingar. Blair bad among his scholars Daniel Hull, Esq., now of Belvidere, George Barnes, John Mcl'ain, Israel und Jucob Swayze, and Joho I. Blair, the railroad king, with others who have attained more or less celebrity.

In 18330 the first school building was erected. On the 27th of August, in that year, Gideon Leade, Peter W. Blair, Joseph W. Dey, Jonah Tur- ner, George W. Drake, John Binir. Jr., James Dewitt, John Shiner, James K. Swayze, William Hibler, Edward II. Swayze, and others, having, by net of incorporation, " associated themselves together for the promotion of learning," resolved to build a school-house. In accordance with that resolution, a stone building 25 by 18 feet was built by Jumes Dewitt for $300. The first board of trustees were Jonah Turner, Peter W. Blair, John Hluir, Jr., Joseph W. Dey, George W. Drako, Gideon Leeds, and Thomas Darling. Of the incorporatory aud trustees but two uro living,-viz., JHow's K. Swayze, of Hope, and Edward II. Swayze, now living in Illinois. Alvin Lyons taught in 1832 ; Edward Colton, an Eng- lishan, taught in 1833-34; Joseph B. Dyche, an old sea-captain, ro- membered as a tyrant in the school-room, taught in 1835-36. From this tiene I could accurately numo all the succeeding teachers,-and their name was legion,-but it is unimportant and would be uninteresting. Suffice to say that S. B. Ransom, now lawyer in Jersey City, taught the school in 1839-40; E. H. Jones, now a physician in New York ('ity, taught In 1×13-44; Joseph McCord taught in 1846, and Sheppard in 1856. From this time, 185G, matters pertaining to school Interests were at a very low ebb. A little money would accumulate in the treasury, some adven- turer cumie along und go through the formality of teaching for a time, and then leave.

Meanwhile, the old school-house having become a disgrace, the ques- tion of building a new one wiw ngitated. In 1858, by special act of tho Legislature, the inhabitants of Hope school district were authorized to tax themselves "for the purpose of erecting n new school building." Under this net an museosment was minde and part of the money collected, but the official having the funds in hand absconded. Taking advantage of this, the opponents of the act secured its repeal. The next attempt to erect a new school building was made after the passage of the present school luw. The first school-meeting was held July 3, 1867. Other meet- ings followed, but, owing to strong adverse influence, nothing practical was accomplished until at a meeting held Oct. 5, 1868, it was docldenl, by the requisito two-thirds vote, to " raise by tax $3000 for the purpose of erecting a school-house." This money was assessed in the fall of 1869. In January, 1870, a lot was purchased, and in March the contract for a new school-butlding was given to Messrs. E. and G. Bulgin. of Vienna.

This building having been completed, school was opened Jan. 16, 1871, with Joseph L. Terwilliger teacher, and the following trustees : Jacob P. Angle, Levi B. Gibbs, John 11. Angle. Dimensiona of building, 32 by 60 feet. The main school-room is light, cheerful, and comolo- dlous. It is furnished with the Bancroft desk, and will seat 100 scholars comfortably. The walls have a blackboard surface of 250 square feet. Tha play-ground contains one and a half acres, and is included with sub- stantial picket-fence. The school property is valued at Skou, The teachers havo been successivoly Joseph L. Terwilliger, W. A. Prouty, and E. S. P. Hline, now teaching his second year with us. Indeed, the

· By John HI. Angle.

664

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

people of Hope have great reason to feel proud of their school, Orig- inally one of the poorest, it now ranks as one of the best schools in the county.

The status of the other school districts is as fol- lows :

Hoagland District, No. 65, is on the east side of the township. Total amount received for school purposes, $300; present value of school prop- erty, $350; whole number of children between five and eighteen years, 81; months taught, 9; number of children enrolled, 65 ; average attend- ance, 22; number of pupils school-house will seat, 45.

Free Union District, No. 66, is on the south part of the township. Total amount received for school purposes, $300; value of school prop- erty, §400; total number of children between five and eighteen yems of age, 68; months tanght, 9 : total number of children enrolled, 65; aver- age attendance, 23; number the school-house will sent, 40.

Towasbury District, No. 67, is io the southeast corner.of the township. Total amount received for school purposes, $300; value of school prop- erty, $1000; number of children between five and eighteen years of age, 62; number enrolled, 53; average attendance, 28; number the school- house will sent, 40.

Hazen's District, No. 68, is in the southwest part of the township. Total amount received for school purposes, $300; value of school prop- erty, $1000; total number of children in district between five and eighteen years of age, 45 ; months taught, 10.2; number of children enrolled, 39; average attendance, 9; number the school-house will seat, 60; female teachers employed, 1.

Mount Hermon District, No. 69, is in the northwest corner of the township. Total amount received for school purposes, $112.36; value of school property, $1500; total number of children between five and eighteen years of age, 40; months tanght, 9; number of children enrolled, 32 ; average attendance, 19; number school-house will seat, 50.

The total amount for Hope township from all sources for school purposes, $1635.03.

HONEYWELL ACADEMY.

The Honeywell Academy, located at Mount Her- mon, was founded in 1798, and the buildings erected with money left for that purpose by the late Jolm Honeywell, as specified in his last will and testament. The following sketch of the academy was presented to the board of trustees of the Philadelphia Baptist Association at their annual meeting held in October, 1857, by Horatio Gates Jones, Esq., of Leverington, Pa. :

" John Honeywell, the founder of this school, was a resident of Knowl- ton township, Sussex Co. (now Hope, Warren Co ), N. J., and died at ' Green's Chapel,' or ' Mount Vernon,' as it is now called, about the year 1780. It will be observed that Mr. Honeywell was religiously a Baptist. His will is dated Muy 11, 1779, and is recorded in the old Sussex County records.

" After providing for the support of his wife, Rebecca Honeywell, and giving several small legacies to his relatives, he directed the whole of his real estate to be sold, the proceeds to be invested, and the annual income to be used for the establishment and support of a school or schools to he kept at the cross-roade leading from the Moravian Mills (llope) to Dela- ware River, near Peter Wolf's, in Knowlton township, or 'near the northwest corder of the land where I now live.' He then ndds, 'My desire is now that the master that is to receive his pay ont of my estate may be a man of civil conduct, and able to teach the boys and youth to read, write, and cipher, etc .; and the mistreas likewise to be of chiaste behavior, able also to teach the small girls to read, and the bigger to knit and sew, and the like, so as to be a help to owners and children.'

" Ile then appointed Rev. Samuel Jones, of Ponnepack, Rev. Benjamin Miller, of Scotch Plains, and Rev. Isaac Steele, of Piscataway, in con- junction with the l'hiladolphin Association, trustees to carry out his in- tentions. This, however, was found to be no easy matter; for, as Dr. Jones remarks, the will of Mr. Honeywell was written by one of our ministers, who, it is hoped, was a better preacher than he was a writer of wills, for it was worded in ao miserable a manner that when a copy of it was read to the Association, it was a doubt amongst us whether we had anything to do with it or not.

"In 1782, Dr. Jones, one of the trustees named in the will, called ou the Widow Honeywell, but found nothing done towards settling the es- tate. Thus matters rested for several years, when another visit was made by the doctor, when he found the widow had married a worthless fellow, and that she was dead and her husband claimed the estate, and also that one of the executors was dead. Daniel Pridmore and Gabriel Ogden were appointed trustees to fill vacancies, an act of the State Legislature passed, clothing the trustees with necessary power in this particular case, and Buon, something better than £1000 recovered, while those previously in possession of the property are charged with the loss of £500.

" However, the land had advanced in value within the time, perhaps equal to what had been wasted.

" Dr. Jones says in his report, ' Be that as it may, we have more than we know what to do with, for it nets abunt £70 a year, whilst the poor of the neighborhood do not take ahove £30 or £35 a year of it. We have built a sung school-house, and the Rev. Jenkin David is now our master. He takes as many children of the rich as he can get, and both afford him a good living. It is true we can add the overplus to the principal, but it will be of but little service, since it is too large already.'

" In 1832 the school-house was enlarged, and in 1834 a dwelling-house was built for the use of the teacher, the house costing about $700. These improvements were done under the direction of Abraham Newman, the agent of the trustees, and who died in 1832, having held the office of agent for twenty-five years.

"In 1845, Mr. Barrass, the teacher, reported sixty- five scholars for the first quarter, forty for the second, sixty-two for the third, and sixty- eight for the fourth. The branches taught were reading, writing, arith- metic, grammar, geography, knitting, sewing, and other needlework.

" In April, 1849, during the administration of Mr. Clancey, the name of the school was changed by the young lady pupils to that of Mount Hermon, the present name of the post-office at this place.

"The trustees of the Honeywell fund iu 1857 were Rev. Jolin S. Jen- kins, Rev. Levi G. Beck, and Horatio G. Jones, Esq. In 1858 the old school-house was taken down and a new one built at a cost of $1400, thus reducing the fund at that time to $2656. The new school-house contains two rooms, each 20 by 24 feet, and so arranged that they can be thrown into one. At the time of the dedication of the new building the name ' Iloneywell Academy' was given to it.

" In March, 1869, the authorized trustees of the Honeywell Academy granted the use of it for the keeping of a public school therein, and re- signed the control of the building into the hands of the district school trustees for that purpose, with the provision that a liceused teacher should be employed, and also holding the district for any injury to the building. Since then it has been under the control of the district trns- tees and used for a public school, receiving its share of the State school- fund appropriations."

Honeywell Fund .- The state of the fund in 1803 was given by Dr. Jones in general terms as £1000. In 1816 it was $3227.91. This had increased in 1854 to $4056.

" The diminution in principal was caused by the purchase of more land and improvements. The fund at present (1881) amounts to $6000, with Samuel Reed, of Mount Vernon, as agent of the Honeywell Fund. The present trustees are Hon. Iloratio Gates Jones, James S. Swarts, and Rev. J. C. Walker, all of Philadelphia, Pa.

" The first teachor was Rev. Jenkin David, employed in 1803. Rev. Edward Barrass and wife were teachers from 1833 to 1848; Thomas F. Clancy and wife from 1849 to 1853."

VIJ .-- CHURCHES.

MORAVIAN, OR UNITED BRETIIREN.

This was the pioneer religious organization in Hope. The Moravians located in what is now the village of Hope in 1769, founded a settlement, and in 1781 built the most substantial church edifice ever erected in this part of the State. They used it for church purposes while the body of Moravians re- mained in Hope .*

" In 1828 the building was sold to William Hibler, who converted it into a hotel.

665

HOPE.

It is two and a half stories high. The lower story was divided originally into rooms, as at present, and occupied as a parsonage and parochial school, while the second story was divided into a small room at cach end of the building, less the stairway at cach end, and the large room in the centre was the audi- once-room, now cut up into sleeping-rooms. The original doors and locks are still in use in all the out- side doors

The United Brethren, or Moravians, derive their origin from the Greek Church, in the ninth century. The society as at present organized was placed on a permanent foundation in 1722 by Count Zinzendorf, a German nobleman.

He was subsequently consecrated one of their bishops, and from thenceforward devoted his life to their cause, for which he was pre-eminently fitted. He is represented to have been one of the most extra- ordinary divines that have appeared since the Refor- mation, a man of fervent piety, powerful imagination, original genins, and extensive acquirements, and a sound, though perhaps eccentric, theologian. When here he traveled much among the Indians, generally on horseback, but not unfrequently on foot, and once or twice he narrowly escaped being slain by them.

William W. Race, Charity Race, William E. Mattison, Fanny Mattison, Sarah Dill, Daniel F. Shrekagast, Susanna Bescherrer, Sering Wade, Bubama Wade, Hourletta Halsey, and Eveline Shrekagust.

William W. Race and William E. Mattison were cleeted ruling elders.

The church society built their present house of worship in 1855, which was dedicated Feb. 12, 1856. The pulpit has been supplied by the following preachers :

Rev. R. H. Reoves from Feb. 33, 1856, until March, 1865; then a vacancy occurred illl July 10, 1809, when Rev. P. H. Brooks' namne ap- pran upon the roconla, How long he remained is not kuown. Rov. D. F. Lockerby supplied tho pulpit from June 10, 1872, until Dec. 22, 1872, following which was another vacancy of two and a half years.

A call from the church, Juno 9, 1875, was then accepted by Rev. Dan- tel Deruelle, who was installed as pastor Sept. 5, 1875, and remained till May 1, 1879, when he resigned the pastorate of Hope Presbyterina Church, He was succeeded by Rev. R. J. Burtt, who is also pastor of the Markshoro' Presbyterian Church, the two fields having been put un- ter his care.

The church property at Hope is valned at $5000. The Sunday-school connected with this church is kept open only during the summer months.

UNION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.

When the beautiful valley at the foot of Jenny Jump Mountain, in which is located the Union Methodist Episcopal church, was yet a dense wilder- ness, with but here and there a pioneer cabin, the old itinerant preacher, on horseback, with his port-

manteau fastened to the saddle, visited this region and laid the foundation of Methodism in Hope. The Union Methodist Episcopal society in Hope town- ship was organized as early as 1785 or 1790, but in the absence of records we have to rely wholly upon traditionary evidence for whatever we have of this church. It is an established fact, however, that the first church edifice at this place was created in 1810, on the site of the present church. The oldl church was taken down in 1855, and in 1856 the present church was dedicated by the late Bishop E. L. Janes, at a cost of about $2000.

Among the original or early members we find the following names :

Nicholas Albertson and wife, Levi Howell, Isaiah Bennett, Abram New- man, Johu Howell and wife, Richard Howell and wife, John Harris nud wife, Henry Cook and wife, Abraham McMurtrie and wife, Mary G. Strickland, Margaret Strickland, Alexander Batn and wife, George Blles and wife, Cornelius Flummerfelt and wife, und Joseph Merrill and wife.

The pioneer preaching was done in John Albert- son's barn, near where the present church stands. Soon after this John Howell's house was used as a preaching-place, as well as a dwelling. This was when the weather was so cold that the barn became uncomfortable. In 1810 the pioneer society had grown to such dimensions that a meeting-house was HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. thought to be necessary, and was accordingly built. The articles of incorporation of this church were fore a justice of the peace, July 1, 1854, when the following-named persons became the constituent mem- bers thereof: The first sermon preached in it was upon the occasion acknowledged according to the laws of the State be- , of the funeral of Mrs. John Albertson. This was be- fore the church was completed. The land upon which the church stands, and the burying-ground adjoining, were given to the society by Levi Howell and John Albertson.

This is supposed, and claimed, to be the mother- church of quite a number of others in this section of country, and from this society have sprung the John- sonburg and Ebenezer Churches, in Frelinghuysen, the Blairstown and llope Methodist Episcopal Churches, and some others.

Among the pioncer preachers whom the venerable Mis, Howell remembers are the names of George Banghart, Manning Force, and Benjamin Abbott, who preached in barns and houses. She heard Ab- bott preach in her father's (John Howell) house when she was a small girl. This was before the first church was built. Then followed David Bartyne, Jacob Hevenor, James Moon, Thomas Neals, John l'otts, Peter Vanness, Isaac Winner, James Long, James Quick, - Thompson, Abraham Gearhart. James Quick died at John Howell's house, while he was preaching on this circuit. Others have come and gone of whom we have no record. Rev. Richard Thomas is the present pastor, preaching here once in two weeks. Ile also preaches nt Hope and Ebenezer Churches.

GREEN'S CHAPEL., METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MOUNT HERMON.

Through the labors of some of the early Metho- dist itinerant preachers a society was formed, and on

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666

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Friday evening, Feb. 8, 1811, a sermon was preached by Rev. John Vanscoit to the congregation assem- bled at the house of William Honeywell, in what was then Knowlton township, Sussex Co. After : the religious services the following gentlemen were elected trustees : Abram Newman, William Honey- well, John Hodge, Herbert Henry, and Jacob Rice. Thomas Green, Esq., was elected manager and treas- urer, who also gave the ground for the erection of a house of worship, subject to the rules and regulations of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church forever.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, 1811, the above trustees met at the house of Andrew Flummerfelt to organize them- selves into a body corporate, agreeably to the act of the Legislature, and assumed the name of the " Meth- odist Church in Knowlton." Abram Newman was unanimously chosen president of the board. On the 1st day of March following a deed was given for three-fourths of an acre of land by Thomas Green and wife, money was raised, the building begun, and the church dedicated the same year.

From that time the traveling preachers occupied the pulpit as a regular appointment in their large cir- cuits until 1848, when the old house was taken down and rebuilt, and thereafter known as "Green's Chapel," and dedicated free from debt by Bishop E. S. Janes. In February, 1831, a great revival and large increase of the membership was experienced under the labors of Revs. J. Hevenor and C. A. Lip- pincott. Some of the oldest members were gathered into the church at that time, having now (1881) been connected with the church here for fifty years.

In 1876 the church edifice was somewhat remodeled and renovated, making it one of the most comfortable and inviting country churches. With good congrega- tions and a membership able and willing to support their pastors well, the prospect is hopeful.

The society, in connection with the congregation of " Zion Chapel," now forming the present pastoral charge called Mount Hermon, have a commodious parsonage, erected at a cost of some $4000. William W. Voorhees is the present pastor.

FREE UNION CHURCH.

This church is located in the south part of the township, near the centre of School District No. 66, and was built abont the year 1865 by the combined efforts of those of all denominations, as well as those not owning allegiance to any church organization, solely for the convenience of those living in that lo- cality. It has in turn been occupied by most all de- nominations, and, as its name implies, is a " free-for- all" church. Its pulpit is now supplied mostly by the Methodist preachers, and is placed in the appoint- ments with the Vienna charge.

CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.

This organization is located in and near the village of Hope, and was formed July 23, 1842, at the house

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 165

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