History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 84

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 84
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 84

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The domain of the present company, to whom the lands were sold, embraces 15,000 acres in Sussex and Passaic Counties, which abound in valuable mineral ores.

The present furnace, which was completed in 1873, is located a short distance south of the old charcoal- furnace and near the furnace-pond. It was first put in blast in January, 1874, but, owing to the depressed condition of the iron market, remained in operation but four months, when it was blown out. It remained idle until 1879, when it was again blown in, and re- mained in blast one year, when the industry was again suspended from a similar canse. During the year of its activity 22,743 tons of Bessemer pig iron were produced. It was again started in December, ISSO, and is now run to its full capacity.

The company employs 250 men, of whom 200 are engaged in the furnace. Under favorable circum- stances the product of the furnace is 450 gross tons per week. It is fed by ores from Spain, Afrien, New Jersey, and New York, the ores of the latter State coming from the company's mines in Putnam County.

The property embraces the customary buildings, such as machine- and blacksmith-shops, tenement- houses, and a store for the accommodation of the workmen. The iron is shipped to Scranton, l'a.,

where it is converted by the Lackawanna Tron and Coal Company into Bessemer steel rails.

After a litigation of twenty years, involving the rights to certain minerals in Mine Hill and Franklin Furnace, the adverse interests have been consolidated into a new company called "The New Jersey Zine and Iron Company," who now become owners of all the zine and franklinite ores at Mine Hill and a large and valuable vein of zine and franklinite at Sterling IIill, near Ogdensburg, N. J., together with extensive works for the manufacture of zinc oxide spelter and spiegeleisen, near Newark, N. J. The ore is shipped to the company's works, at Newark, and to the Pas- saie Zinc-Works, at Jersey City.

WINDSOR LIMEWORKS.

These works are located near the village of Ham- burg, and are owned by Messrs. Sayre & Vander- hoof. They have two kilns, the first of which was erected in October, 1876, and the second in August, 1877. Both these kilns are constructed with separate fire-chambers, two on the sides of each kiln, and in such a manner that the flame only is in contact with the limestone. They will produce 200 barrels every twenty-four hours, or 100 barrels cach. The lime is burned with wood from white limestone obtained at the quarry of the firm, located at Rudeville, 2} miles from the works. The stone is transported by means of a tram-road built for the purpose. The market is found in Paterson, Newark, Jersey City, New Bruns- wick, Trenton, Camden, Long Branch, and New York.

THE STONE MILL.

The stone mill at Hamburg was built in 1808, and burned and rebuilt about 1840, Mr. George Collver, of Lafayette, millwright, having done the work and fur- nished the castings when rebuilt. It was owned and operated a number of years by the late Thomas D. Edsall, and about 1860 a distillery was erected adjoin- ing by Mr. Edsall, Mr. F. M. Ward, millwright, having superintended its construction. The mill was afterwards operated by Mr. Ward for several years.

About 1857 the property was purchased by John H. Brown, of Franklin, and afterwards sold to the Wall- kill Cement and Lime Company, the distillery having been closed by John H. Brown. Cement-kilns were erected on the property by the Cement and Lime Company, as also a mill having turbine-wheel, and two run of stone were added to the distillery-build- ing by them for grinding cement. A very fine cement was made, but for the present its manufacture has been abandoned.

The cement company also burned a large quantity of lime from white rock limestone, mined at their marry, on the Rude farm, at Rudeville, and were the first to put up lime in air-tight packages for white- washing purposes.

The property is now owned by Alexander Bonnell, of New York, and has been operated for the past three years by W. H1. Ingersoll. The flour-mill has

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four run of stone and does all varieties of grist and custom-work, manufacturing wheat-, rye-, and buck- wheat-flour, and all kinds of feed. Mr. Ingersoll also grinds large quantities of plaster every year, and deals largely in lime and coal. A stone dam was erected in 1879, and during the past year the new and latest improved buckwheat machinery has been added and various other improvements made.

Both the Midland Railroad of New Jersey and the Sussex Railroad pass within 100 yards of the mill, affording fine shipping facilities. A switch from the Midland Railroad has been laid immediately in front of the mill for the special accommodation of the busi- ness, which greatly facilitates the receiving of Western grain and the shipping of coal, plaster, stone, etc. The cement-mills have been recently fitted up for grinding feed, and are powerful and capacious.

There are also the Hamburg Lime Company, under the management of J. E. Sheldon, and the Hamburg Paper-Mills, both located in the vicinity of Hamburg village.

XI .- CHURCHES. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

A historical sermon was delivered by Rev. A. A. Haines, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Ham- burg, in July, 1879, which is so rich with historical facts as to make its presence in this history invalu- able. The historian therefore avails himself of its contents, and gives copious extracts from its pages :

"It is interesting to note how great religious movements in many dis- tant conotries had their bearing upon the first settlement of this region. Thus, the revival of the Moravian Church in Bohemia, the expulsion of the Huguenots from France, and the quickening of religious life in Hol- land and Great Britain sent our ancestors across the ocean and brought them to seek new homes in the wilderness. For causes unknown to us the Indian population had greatly decreased, and the warlike spirit of the savage tribes had departed. They were once numerous, as we learn from their sepulchres, which we frequently invade wherever there are excavations, as in the repairing of roads and the construction of our rail- roads. We have some account of the massacre of families and the tor- ture and murder of defenseless whites, but they are not common.

" Previous to 1700, families of Ingnedots driven from France and ex- iled from Holland had settled on the Hudson at the mouth of the Wall- kill. By penetrating into the country they reached the mouth of the Neversink, where another settlement was formed. From Kingston, fol- lowing up the Wallkill, families of Huguenots and Hollanders strayed into this region, where they established settlements. The French and Dutch names still linger here, and in somowhat corrupted form are borne by some of our families. Then the pious Moravians who settled Goshen, Ilope, and Bethlehem passed through on the road of communication be- tween these towns. Between 1730 and 1750, families of English descent began to arrive. Some of these came from Massachusetts Buy colony, and from Connecticut and Long Island, by way of Amboy and Elizabeth- town.

" Proprietors of New Jersey favored this immigration, nud ninde grants of land for small sums to settlers. I cannot now mention muuy names, it Joseph Walling, Sr., built his house where Sherill' Edsall's house now stands, about 1750. This was enlarged, and was the Ryerson house,-a landmark of this village (Hamburg) for over a century, till it was con- eumed by fire. The house which Joseph Walling, Jr., built, and where he died, is still standing ns the Samuel Riggs house. The first English ecttlers were Presbyterians, and some members of the Church of England. In 1770 soveral families came from Rhode Island and settled in tho vi- cinity of this village. They were Baptists, and formed the first society of Baptists In the county, of which the Papakating church is the suc- cessor. A house of worship free to all denominations luvt been built on the hill above Mr. Lawrence's. This, as far as I know, was the second

church edifice erected within the county limits, the Frankford church, at Angusta, being prior. In 1782 this house of worship was taken down aod rebuilt on the site of the present Papaknting church. I suppose some of the old timbers may form part of the frame of the existing edi- fice. The Hardyston Presbyterian church was built at the head of the Wallkill near the close of the Revolutionary war, and still remains the church at Sparta. A grant of 65 acres of land was given for a glebe by the proprietors of East Jersey.

"The inhabitants of Northern Hardyston complained at the location, and proposed building a church of their own. They applied to the pro- prietors, aod a second grant of 65 acres wns made to the township. The land given is n part of the farm of Asn Munson, and still known in the record deeds as ' the parsonage lot.' The church, however, was not built there.

"Grants of land were made by the proprietors of East Jersey to the leading denominations of each town. In Newton the farm was given to the Episcopalians, they being the most numerous. In Hardyston the Presbyterians enjoyed n similar grant. Col. Cury, of Hardyston, had much influence, aod insisted that the church should be built on a hill near bis house that had been already used for a burial-ground. He carried his point, and the North Church of Hardyston was built, and called the North Church to distinguish it from the North Church at the head of the Wallkill, now Sparta. This was very generally known as the Cary meeting-house. It had a substantial frame, but otherwise was a mere shell of e building. It was long before it was floored and plastered. In 1815 it was taken down, and rebuilt oo the site of the present North Church. This honse was burned by n negro incendinry, instigated by n man imprisoned for debt in Newton jail, in 1830. The new church, built of stone, was dedicated May 6, 1831, and is the house of worship now standing.

" This village was for a time known as Sharpsboro', from the Sharps, who owned much land in the vicinity and called the place after their own name. In 1792 the Hamburg forge was built, and the post-office established luter derived its name from that source.

" After the removal of the Lawrence Church to Pnpakating, the Pres- byterians used n large school-house with a chimney nt each end, whichi stood near the iron bridge of the Sussex Railroad and the site How covered by the bank. When Joseph Sharp came to live here, without authority he tore down the large school-house and Imilt a smaller one. Dr. Samuel Fowler lived at Hamburg in 1809, and, though not a church- member, was very active in the Presbyterian congregation.

" About 1814 the First Presbyterinu Church of Hamburg was organ- ized and the Hamburg church built. It was built for n Presbyterian meeting-house, but other denominations contributed, nnd had a right to its use. The deed for the ground was finally given by Martin Ryerson to the Presbyterian and Auabaptist Societies of Hamburg, and in their name the title still stands. The burial-hill hnd been used for interments from the very enrliest settlement. The location of a child's grave was fixed by the flight of n dove, and other graves were placed around it.

"The Presbyterian congregation existed io Hardystoo after the Haut- burg Church was formed, the First Hardyston congregation having two places of worship, the Sparta Church and the North Church. The same pastor supplied two, and sometimes nll three. Among other ministers who supplied them was Rev. Joseph L. Shafer, who became the licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1812 (afterwards Dr. Shafer, of Newton), and gave one-fourth of his time. by agreement, to the North Church.

" The churches of Hamburg and North HInrdyston had now grown suf- ficiently to be separated from Sparta. On the 15th of May, 1819, the North Church was organized as a separate society with 62 members, 11 of them being received on profession of faith. In June of that year Rev. Edward Allen became the minister of the North Church. He continued one year and n half, and during his ministry 28 were received to the communion. I have no record of what he accomplished at Hamburg.

" The Rev. Barr Baldwin came in July, 1821. He was given one-half of his pastorn] time, and received one-half of hie salary in produce. He had preached here previously and accomplished much good. Once ho entered the Hardyston school-house and addressed the children and led in proyer. A man afterwards declared he owed his salvation to thut visit of Mr. Baldwin. While hero the Hamburg Church became incor- porated with the North Church, and the two became one congregation.

" After a ministry of three years, in which 21 members were added to the church, Mr. Baldwin was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Conkling, who remained four years, giving one-lmnlf of his services, during which 39 were mulded to the church roll. He wne succeeded by Rev. Elias R. Fairchild, who served the church exclusively for nine years, and whose uctivity und enruestness was rewarded by largo accessions; 190 were

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added during his ministry,-an average of 21 per year. When the North Church was burned, the congregation was greatly disheartened, hut with great faith and antiring energy he declared the burning of the edi- fico would result In good, Atrl called upon the congregation to rise and wild. He circulated the subscription-paper at home and in other places. He obtained donntions of materiala, and when money falled he induced the farmers to give days' work and their own sons and teams.

" Stated worship under the trees in the orchard was continued so long is the wouther permitted. The new house was dedicated on Friday, Moy 6, 1831, fourteen months after the fire, the Rev. Peter KAHouse preaching a solemn and impressive sermon on the occasion. The period immediately succeding this was one of great religious interest, 60 hav- ing united with the church in the year 1831. In 1835, Mr. Fuirchild's health required n year's vacation, und Rev. Stephen Thompson filled the nterval. In 1836 the pastor returned, and the year following his labors losud.

" Rev. Joel Campbell began his ministry in 1838, and continued during long pastorate of eighteen years. David C. Mecker became pastor April, 1867, and remained two years, and during his labors the new par- wingo was orerted. Rov. Goodloo Ht. Bell succeeded him. in October, 859, aud continued five years. The present pustor began his labors the int Sabbath of July, 1865, and has continued there to the present time, ut one pastorate, that of Rev. Mr. Campbell, having been longer. These vurteen years hove had their sunshine ond shadows, their disappoint- nesta and successes. I have had the privilege of laboring in my native loce,-n thing uncommon in the ministry.

" In 1865 the church had been very much reduced In numbers and trength. Instead of a membership of 200, with which Mr. Campbell egon his ministry, Mr. Bell left a revised roll with only 40 members. Theso constituted the membership at the close of the war. But it is al- nost a new church now. Of this number but 16 how remain, some hav- ng removed and others been dismissed to other churches.

" In 1867 the Old-School Baptist church was leased for a term of ten .cars, and nearly 81000 expended on repairs. The prospect of future growth at Franklin was such as to warrant this entlay, and our people willingly contributed towards the amount. We soon had 30 communi- 'ants living at Franklin. But the chango of ownership of the works, und othor circumstances, caused the removal of most of these members, ind the little remuant wore recently dismissed to unite with the Re- ormed Church then organized.

" To September, 1869, the first stone of this chapel was luid. The first ishbuth of December it was solemnly dedicated, without debt, to the vorship of God. The Sunday-school was organized and the Wednesday light prayer-meeting established. These, with preaching on every ond's day, have been continued ever since.

" The first Sunday-school was organized at the North Church In 1818. t was started in the winter, and when the church was too cold wus held n Widow Susan Beardslee's kitchen.

" Another Sunday-school was begun at Hamburg two or three years uter. Some years Inter aoother was organized among the charcoal-pits mpon the mountain, which was attended by full-grown men and women w well as children, who learned their letters and read the Testamont ; ho teachers went on horseback from Hamburg. Some of the children ind grandchildren of the scholars attending this school have belonged to he Log Chapel Sunday-school, located three miles further west.

" During my ministry the Sunday-schools have beon the most pleasing 'cature of the congregational work. Several hundred have been schol- irs, and somo have been brought into the church. Many have removed n the frequent changes taking place, and more have become for this enson members of other churches than our own.

" In contributions of bonovolence this church has an honorable record. It gavo very largely to foreign missions during the ministry of Dr. Fair- ·bild, and also for a time paid the expenses of a student for the ministry luring his theologienl course. It has maintained its character in this regard to the present time."

BAPTIST CHURCH AT HAMBURG.

This church was first organized within the limits of the present township of Vernon, which was then embraced in the township of Hardyston, the date of its formation being 1798. It was probably formed under the labors of Rev. Thomas Teasdale, who be- Pame its first pastor and continued his labors until 1827. During 1811 a church was formed in Hamburg,

under the guidance of the same pastor, who was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Teasdale, whose ministry ex- tended over a period of four years. A brief interval was tilled by Rev. C. Park, and Rev. Elias Frost was also the officiating clergyman for one year. In April, 1838, Rev. William H. Spencer was called to the charge, and remained until December, 1845, when Rev. Thomas Davis was settled, and remained one year. In 1846, Rev. John Davis came, and devoted three years to labor in the field, closing his work in 1849. In 1850, Rev. J. M. Hope became pastor, and during 1852 the pulpit was again supplied by Rev. Thomas Davis, who officiated on cach alternate Sab- bath afternoon. Rev. John S. C'ristine came in April, 1853, and remained until 1855. From this date for a period of ten years the records are deficient in facts, but it is remembered that Rev. J. M. Hope conducted the services for a series of years.

On Jan. 1, 1865, the Rev. David Silver began his ministry, which continued until 1879, and was the longest in the history of the church. Since that time the congregation has been without a settled pastor.

The present officers of the church are Deacons William Rude, T. D. Riggs, William Simonson, S. B. Edsall. The board of trustees embraces Il. J. Ilar- den, William Rude, T. D. Riggs, S. P. Rude, William Simonson, Jacob Bellen, and S. B. Edsall. The church clerk is Samuel B. Edsall.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

A Methodist Episcopal organization has existed in the township for some years. Services were con- ducted in the house of worship belonging to the Bap- tist denomination until a building for the use of the society was erected at Hamburg.

CHURCH AT FRANKLIN.

A society under the auspices of the Baptist denon- ination was organized in 1823, under the following covenant :

" We whose names are here recorded were constituted Into a gospel church on the 11th day of December, 1823, by Elders Trott, Grenell, and Gilbert, Brethren Doland, Betts, Sayre, and Rorick. Elder Scutt preached the sermon from Samuel, 220 chapter, Ist and 2dl verses. Elder Gillett gave the right hand of fellowship, and Ehler firenell gave the charge. Zelotes Grenell moderator, and P. D. Gillett clerk.

"The names of members are Lucy Rorick, Michael Rorick, Noah Hammond, Catharine Hammond, Catharine Clay, ("larissa Sharp, Han- nah Van Wart, Mury Hammond, Spencer Scott, Fanny Rull."

Those names above assume the title of " The First Particular Baptist Church of Hardyston."

The church building was erected in 1832, much in- terest having been felt, which caused the congregation to subscribe liberally towards the enterprise. Bap- tist services were maintained until 1853 with a greater or less degree of regularity, when they were suddenly abandoned, and for several years the church remained closed. It was reopened for Presbyterian service at a later date, and under the auspices of this congrega- tion the edifice was remodeled and made more in- viting. After a period of prosperity the church was

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again without a pastor, and was in 1877 reopened under the auspices of the Reformed (Dutch) Church, the members of which are the present worshipers, though without a settled pastor.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Roman Catholic church of Hardyston is loca- ted at Franklin Furnace on the high-road to Ogdens- burg, about one-quarter of a mile from the furnace. It is pleasantly situated between two low and parallel ranges of hills, both of which are offshoots of the Hamburg Mountains. The edifice is 70 by 30 feet in dimensions, and built of brick in a plain and sub- stantiał manner. It is one of the many church edi- fices that are indebted for their erection to the un- remitting labors of Rev. Edward McCosker, who continued its pastor from its completion, in 1863, until 1880, when, much to the regret of his congrega- tion, he was transferred to another field of labor. He was succeeded by Rev. George Corrigan, brother of the present archbishop of New York, under whose care the parish is in a prosperous condition.

The congregation is partially composed of wor- shipers from the adjoining village of Ogdeusburg, and numbers 600, including the children of the parish. Services are held on alternate Sabbaths, the pastor dividing his labors between this field and the one at Newton, his residence. The temporal concerns of the church are intrusted to a board of trustees, two of whom, William Newman and David McCarthy, at present officiate.

CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

The first Episcopal service in Hamburg was held on Sunday, Feb. 14, 1869, by Rev. William Welles Hol- ley, rector of Christ Church, Newton. A small Sun- day-school had been organized in 1868, and under Mr. Holley's care the name of "The Good Shepherd Missson" was assumed. In 1871 the convocation of Newark resolved to take charge of the mission work in Sussex and Warren Counties, and Rev. H. B. Stuart Martin was sent, July 2, 1871, to Vernon and Hamburg.

In 1872 a lot was offered by the heirs of R. F. Linn, and an effort made to obtain funds for the building of a church. An offer of $500 from convocation, pro- vided $1000 could be raised in the place, was ac- cepted, and the amount readily promised. The cor- ner-stone was laid June 24, 1872, but the work was delayed by a decision to have a stone building instead of a frame one. It was completed in 1874, and the first service held June 3d, of which an account is given in the Church Journal (June 18 and 25, 1874). Mr. Martin resigned his position March, 1878, and was succeeded by Rev. Levi Johnston.

The debt remaining on the church was paid Easter day, March 28, 1880, and the church consecrated June 24, 1880, by Rt. Rev. T. A. Starkey, of Northern New Jersey, assisted by Rt. Rev. Dr. Quintard, bishop of Tennessee, and a large number of the clergy. The

work is still in the care of the bishop and convocation of Newark. Services are held by their missionary every fortnight.

XII .- BURIAL-PLACES.

There is no information obtainable regarding the earliest burials in the cemeteries of the township. The one adjacent to the North church, and known as the "North Church Cemetery," is doubtless more than a century old, though few of the memorial stones bear that early date. It is now in general use among the older families of the township, and is by them maintained with much care. Many inviting shade-trees ornament the iuclosure, which is sur- rounded by a substantial stone wall. The monu- ments and tablets are of much beauty, and not a few of them imposing in their proportions. Among the inscriptions are the following :

"Sacred to the memory of Isaac Cary, Esq., who died January 18th, A.D. 1791, aged 48 years and 11 months."

"Sacred to the memory of Benjamin Northrop, who died September, 1774, aged thirty-five years.

" Also Leonora, wife of the above, who died March, 1811, aged seventy- two years. Their son Joseph, from a sentiment of filial duty, had this stone erected."

"In memory of Jonathan Hopkins, who died March 4th, 1849, aged sixty-eight years and seven months. Funeral sermon by James Camp- bell, from Isaiah 32. 2.

" Whoever reads my endden call, Prepare ! you may as sudden fall.

I io old age was called away ; Deatlı's summons we must all obey."

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 84

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