USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 41
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The following named persons were employed : Staff,-F. A. Pope, assistant postmaster and superintendent of carriers ; John H. Whitenack, registry and stamp clerk ; George C. Godown, money-order clerk ; Joel D. Hedden, mailing clerk. Carriers,-John A. Neighbor, R. H. Loughlin, Peter V. Weaver, Charles B. Stephens, William Demarest, J. W. H. Bauersachs, Edward T. Hann, Edward T. Dunn, Edward T. Van Winkle.
On May II, 1894, John M. Hetfield was appointed as the fourteenth postmaster, by President Cleveland, and is still acting. The post office has been removed from the Clarkson building to the Babcock building, and refitted, being a well arranged office in all of its furnishings, and having two hundred rented call boxes, and two hundred and fifty of the lock boxes. Seventeen new street boxes have been added, making sixty- five in all, with three large boxes for papers and packages, as the conveniences that now exist for the public in the matter of mailing facilities. Two sub-stations have been established for the further convenience of the people, one at Clinton avenue, and the other at Netherwood, and a second vehicle added to the delivery system. George
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C. Godown, superintendent of carriers, died December 8, 1895. The service given is not surpassed by any post office in a city of the population of Plainfield, which has been true for the last decade.
NETHERWOOD HEIGHTS.
Netherwood is a suburb of the city of Plainfield, in the woods. The residents are for the most part wealthy people from the city. Their villas represent the finest in the state. The drives and rambles about the Heights are charming, and the view from this upland is magnificent. A new railroad station, of stone and brick, stands in the centre of an ideal park. A famous hostelry is the Netherwood, overlooking the city. Of this specific mention is made on another page. Newmarket lake, and Washington Rock, five hundred and thirty-nine feet above the sea level, are not far distant, and from this place the Brooklyn bridge can be seen.
THE DAILY PRESS AND WEEKLY CONSTITUTIONALIST.
Albert L. Force, editor and proprietor of the Plainfield Daily Press and Weekly Constitutionalist, was born in that city in 1846, and has been closely identified with its growth and improvement from a small country town to one of the leading cities of New Jersey, He was the youngest of a family of four boys and two girls. He received only a common-school education, and in 1858 entered the Somerset and Union Gazette office as "devil." For four years he performed all the duties of the printing office imp, - from sweeping out to setting type. He afterward worked in the Plainfield Union office as pressman, and in 1863 went to New York.
A year later lie set type for John A. Gray & Green, the Frankfort street printers, and at the close of the civil war returned to Plainfield and again secured work in the Union office. In 1867 Mr. Force and his brother, W. L. Force, started a job-printing establishment. The Constitutionalist, under the editorship of the two brothers, made its appearance in 1868 as a Democratic weekly, and has been issued continually since that time as a stanch Democratic journal, and to-day has a large rural constituency, among whom it wields much influence. The publication of the Daily Press was commenced by them May 10, 1887, independent in politics and largely devoted to local interests. In July, 1893, W. L. Force, the senior partner, died, and the subject of this sketch purchased the half interest of his brother's widow and became sole proprietor of both papers.
The success and popularity of the Daily Press is best evidenced in the fact that it is to-day a six-column folio, just double the size of what it was when started eight years ago. The Press each day devotes from nine to twelve columns to local news, which, considering the fact that Plainfield has only eighteen thousand population, is a piece of enter- prise equaled by the papers of no other New Jersey city.
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Thoughi laboring zealously through the Constitutionalist for the success of the Democratic party at all elections, Mr. Force has never sought political preferment, and has, in fact, always avoided it at the different times he has been solicited to accept nomination for public office,-ranging from borough councilman to member of assembly,-by his fellow Democrats, but has steadfastly refused to enter public life, preferring to remain in quietude of private life. When not at his office he can always be found at his home, which has far greater attractions and pleasures for him than public affairs.
CHURCH HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
Quakers first settled in the southeasterly parts of this township and in Raritan in 1728, and about the year 1735 many settled on the line of Green brook, just under the " Blue Hills," as that portion of the First mountain was often called. The following names are among those of the early settlers : Nathan Vail, Ralph Shotwell, Isaac Vail, Amos Vail, Edward Vail, Joel Vail, Daniel Shotwell, John Shotwell, Elijah Shotwell, Isaac Webster, Joseph Shotwell, Samuel Shotwell, Smith Shotwell, Zachariah Shotwell, Ephraim Vail, James Vail, A. Vail, Abram Vail, Jonah Vail, Webster Thorn, Hugh Thorn, John Thorn, Hugh Townsend, Jothan Townsend, and Elijah Pound. These are the names of the first families, aud many of the descendants of most of them are still living,- some in the immediate vicinity, and some scattered widely over the country.
A weekly meeting was held at the house of John Laing, near "Tow Town," about the year 1723, and October 16, 1725, they applied to the Friends at Woodbridge meeting for the privilege of holding their meetings nearer their homes, on account of distance and bad roads, as it was a long distance to ride every First Day. Their request was granted, but on the 21st of September, 1728, the day of the Plainfield meeting was changed from the first to the fourth day, and the residence of the Laings was still the place appointed for service, although John, the promoter of it, was dead. He bequeathed to the Friends a plot of ground on which to build a meeting house, and on the 27th of March, 1731, the Woodbridge monthly meeting gave them permission for its construction, directing that it should not exceed in its dimensions twenty-four feet square and fourteen feet " between joynts." It was completed and all accounts settled by the latter part of the year 1736. In 1744 a "hors stable " was built adjoining the new meeting house, towards which, as well as towards the building of the meeting house itself, the Woodbridge Friends liberally subscribed. Here in their burial ground the first of these families were buried " near the meeting house," and here their meetings were held for many years.
At their quarterly meeting held in 1786, the question was agitated as to the propriety of removing the meeting house "at John Laing's,
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deceased, to the settlement at the Plains," and for some months the matter was spoken of, until, in 1788, a decided step was taken, and a plot of land was purchased, near the depot in the city of Plainfield, and the present building (which is "shingled on the side ") was built. It is still kept in excellent condition, and the surrounding grounds " well fenced and free from brambles." The old meeting house was removed to this site, and for a time used. They have built substantial horse sheds, and in the rear of them is their place of interment. As usual, but few stones or inscriptions can be found in the yard here. Here rest the dead of one hundred years ago.
The rise and progress of the Society of Friends here has been slow, many having moved to different states and formed colonies, and many of their descendants are still found faithful to the principles of their belief.
Within a few years the second ineeting house has been built, of brick. It is neat in appearance, and the upper part is used for a Friends' school. This building is pleasantly situated on the main street.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PLAINFIELD
was organized November 25, 1818. The society was formed by thirty- four persons from the Baptist churches of Piscataway and Samptown. A plot of ground was secured on Main street, the site being occupied by the present beautiful stone edifice. The church building was enlarged in 1842. The present building was erected in 1869, at a cost of seventy- five thousand dollars.
On November 7, 1818, articles of faith were adopted, and on December 14th, the first board of trustees was elected.
Jacob Fitz Randolph, the first pastor, was born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, 1756; June 10, 1786, he united with the Scotch Plains Baptist church. He became pastor of the Mount Bethel church, where he was ordained, in 1791, and where he served for two years, when he left to take charge of the new church, organized in the year 1792, at Samp- town. There lie served for nearly twenty-five years, when he left and became the pastor of the new organization in Plainfield. During his pastorate here, until his death, January 18, 1828, many members were added to the church.
Rev. Daniel T. Hill, father of Dr. David Hill, president of Rochester University, became the next pastor, remaining in charge from 1828 to 1839. During his stay extensive revivals occurred, and two hundred and eighty-five were added to the church.
Rev. Simon J. Drake filled the pulpit from 1839 to 1863. During his ministry the trustees, in 1849, purchased and beautified a suitable plot of ground for a cemetery. Great revivals also occurred under his pastorate. He was a wise counselor, a sympathizing friend, a zealous
L
REV. DAVID J. YERKES, D. D.
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pastor and a devout Christian. He died Sunday morning, April 13, 1862. The Rev. David J. Yerkes accepted a call to this church in 1863.
REV. DAVID JOHN YERKES, D. D.,
pastor of the First Baptist church, of Plainfield, New Jersey, is a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1825, being the son of Joseph B. and Hannah (John) Yerkes, and a descendant of one of the original white settlers of Pennsylvania, in which state the ancestors of the Yerkes family purchased lands from William Penn's agents, in both Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. His father was a farmer, and one of a family of four children. His only brother, W. H., at the time of his death (1885), was a judge of the court of common pleas of Philadelphia, and was an officer in the late war of the Rebellion. Dr. Stephen Yerkes, of the Danville Theological Seminary, Danville, Kentucky, and father of the Hon. John W. Yerkes, of that state, was a near relative. The John and Vaughan families, or the mother's ancestors, became noted on account of the part taken by them in the Revolutionary war.
Dr. Yerkes, the subject of this sketch, was prepared for college in his native town, and entered Columbia University, at Washington, District of Columbia, from which institution he was graduated in 1848, and from which he received the degree of D. D. He then commenced his theological studies in Philadelphia, and was ordained a minister of the gospel in 1849. He commenced his first pastoral work as a minister at Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, where he labored for seven years. He next became pastor of the First Baptist church, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for four years, when he was called to the First Baptist church, of Brooklyn, New York, In 1863 he accepted a call from the First Baptist church of Plainfield, where he has since labored and where he is very highly esteeined. His church in Plainfield has grown from a membership of two hundred and fifty to eight hundred and forty, and is now one of the strongest in the city. Dr. Yerkes exerts a wide influence for good, and is still in vigorous physical and mental activity. He is the oldest pastor in Plainfield, and is widely known throughout the country as an able theologian. In 1850 Dr. Yerkes was married to Miss Sarah E. Taylor, of Saratoga, New York, a neice of J. Washington Taylor, formerly speaker of the house of representatives at Washington, District of Columbia. They have six children now living: Clara, wife of Charles H. Smith, of Plainfield; Ida K .; Joseph B .; Alice, wife of Walter McGee, of Plainfield; Hannah, wife of W. N. Flanders, of Greenville, North Carolina; and Grace S.
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
in Plainfield was formed September 1, 1842. John Runyon was the first church clerk; David Thickston was made deacon. The Rev.
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Daniel F. Hill, the first pastor, remained about eleven years. The Rev. Colvin C. Williams came in 1854, and after three years of efficient service, was dismissed. Subsequently came Rev. Horace J. Mason, 1857-9 ; Rev. John Dace, 1862-8; Rev. Charles E. Young, 1869-70 ; Rev. S. R. Howlett, 1871-6, when the church was dissolved. During its existence of nearly thirty-four years this church had seven pastors and nearly eight hundred members.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
of Plainfield was organized July 10, 1825, with eighteen members, by a committee of the presbytery, and the Lord's Supper was first administered to this little flock, under the sliade of some large trees, by the Rev. Dr. McDowell. The Rev. Lewis Bond became their first pastor, in 1825, and remained until April, 1857. During his active ministry nearly five hundred were gathered as members, and during that time, also, over two hundred were dismissed to other churches, of whom eighty-six united in forming the Second Presbyterian church of Plainfield. Rev. J. H. Myers was pastor of the church from 1857 to 1859, when he left to form a college in Florida. In 1861 the Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford was called, and, in 1864, he was followed by the Rev. Daniel V. McClean, D. D., and a few months afterwards the Rev. Benjamin Cory, of Perth Amboy, succeeded him and remained from 1865 to 1868. Rev. Henry L. Teller was pastor from 1868 to 1871, when Rev. K. P. Ketcham took charge of the flock until 1892, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles E. Herring, the present pastor.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodism had recognition in Plainfield as early as the year 1821. At that time Rev. Mr. Hancock was accustomed to hold services in the place. The Martins, Guions, Spibys and some others then constituted the Methodist fraternity. At first Plainfield belonged to a very large circuit. The services were held originally in the house of Mr. Guion, his dwelling being used as a church for Rev. Mr. Gearhart, from New Providence, who preached here from 1822 to 1825. Rev. Mr. Wiggins and Rev. Mr. Best also preached in Mr. Guion's dwelling house during this time.
Plainfield was set off as a station, in 1833, with James H. McFarland as pastor. The first church edifice was built in 1832 ; the second in 1848, and was burned down in 1869; the third in 1869, and subsequently mucli improved. The lot for the first church was bought in 1825. It stood on Second street, then called Barn street, because the only building then on the street was a barn. Vincent chapel was erected in 1888, at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars. The Monroe avenue chapel was dedicated in 1891, having been erected at a cost of six thousand dollars. Park Place, now Grace church, was dedicated in 1892. It has a membership
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of six hundred. The church property is entirely free from debt. The pastoral charge has been in turn assigned to L. R. Dunn, J. O. Winner, J. Atkinson, A. M. Palmer and William Day Still, members of the Newark conference.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
THE TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD-CONTINUED.
HE following historical review is reproduced from the handsome brochure, "Plainfield, Illustrated," issued by the Plainfield Daily Press, in 1895. The interesting sketch is a portion of the article contributed for said work by Rev. A. H. Lewis, D. D. The biographical sketches incorporated are not a portion of the original article.
SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
The preliminary steps toward organizing this church were taken early in 1836. The first house for worship was erected in 1838, and the organization formed the same year with fifty-seven members, who had been dismissed from the church at New Market. The second church building was dedicated in March, 1867. The present house of worship, which, architecturally and otherwise, is equal in beauty and permanency to any in the city, was dedicated January 13, 1894. It is of stone and terra cotta with tiled roof. It has seating capacity for eight hundred. This church has had eight pastors. A. H. Lewis, D. D., took charge in 1880. Present membership one hundred and ninety-five.
ABRAM HERBERT LEWIS, A. M., D. D.,
only son of Datus Ensign and Tacy Maxson Lewis, was born at Scott, New York, November 17, 1836. His parents were of genuine New England stock. In 1846 the family emigrated to the territory of Wiscon- sin and settled on the border, at a place which became the present city of Berlin. Doctor Lewis studied at Ripon and Milton Colleges, in Wisconsin, and later at Alfred University and Union Theological Seminary, in New York. His first pastorate was at Westerly, Rhode Island, 1864-7. Between that time and 1880 he was pastor in New York city, Shiloh, New Jersey, and Alfred, New York. He was also professor of church history, resident and non-resident, at Alfred University for more than twenty years. In 1880 he became pastor of the Seventh-day Baptist church at Plainfield, and continued as such until October, 1896.
From the time he left college Doctor Lewis was a prolific writer, especially on historic subjects. During his pastorate in Plainfield he visited Europe twice,-in 1889 especially for literary investigation in London, and in Germany. He is the author of several books, among
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which are the following : "Biblical Teachings Concerning the Sabbatlı and the Sunday," " A Critical History of the Sabbath and the Sunday in the Christian Church," "Critical History of Sunday Legislation," and " Paganism Surviving in Christianity."
Doctor Lewis was chosen to present a paper on the Sabbath question before the World's Congress of Religions, at Chicago, in 1893. He has a national reputation as a representative of the Seventh-day Baptists, who believe that the decay of Sunday observance will compel the Christian world to return to the observance of the Seventh day, accord- ing to the Bible, the example of Christ and the earliest Christians. Doctor Lewis is a reformer by nature and training; he is well known as a writer and speaker on social-purity reform. His resignation from the pastorate of the Plainfield church, in 1896, was that he might become the corresponding secretary of the American Sabbath Tract Society, thus giving his whole time to the work of Sabbath reform in the United States. In this relation he continues both literary and field work.
His wife was Augusta Melissa Johnson, a native of Rhode Island. They have a family of five daughters and one son; the latter, Edwin Herbert Lewis, Ph. D., is a professor in the University of Chicago.
During the pastorate of Dr. Lewis the Plainfield church erected its present house of worship, of stone and terra cotta, which is, in several respects, the finest church building in the state of New Jersey. On the paternal side Dr. Lewis comes from several generations of soldiers,- Lewises and Greenes,-his great-grandfather, for whom he is named, was Captain Abraham Lewis of the Revolution. On the maternal side he comes from a line of writers and theologians,-Maxsons and Blisses, of Newport, Rhode Island.
CRESCENT AVENUE CHURCH.
This church was organized March 21, 1844, by eighty-six persons, meeting in the house now numbered 229 East Front street. It was enrolled in the presbytery of Newark (new school). The first church was built in 1845, on the site now occupied by the City National Bank. The present edifice was dedicated September 26, 1872. The Sunday- school rooms were partly destroyed by fire November 23, 1888. The chapel was rebuilt and enlarged in 1890. Pastors : William Whittaker, 1844-1854 ; Theodore S. Brown, 1855-1867 ; John C. Bliss, 1867-1883 ; William R. Richards, 1884 to date. Chapels : Bethel, organized in 1884, present building dedicated in 1887, pastor since 1890, William A. Alexander ; Warren mission, organized thirty years ago as a Union Sunday school, adopted in 1893, at the request of the mission itself, present pastor J. O. McKilvey ; Hope chapel Sunday school, now the largest in the county, organized in 1888, pastor since 1890, S. Kennedy Newell. In June, 1894, the Sunday-school membership of the three chapels was eleven hundred and sixty-seven, while the number of
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communicants was two hundred and seventy-five. At that date the total active membership of the church, including the three chapels, was ten hundred and sixty-nine.
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1851. The present neat brick church was dedicated in 1886. Present membership ninety. Pastors: Revs. Oerter, Neef, Wolf, Tchabhorn, Switzer, Schnellendressler, Vait, Schmitzer, Schlider, and Koechli. G. Hanser, the present pastor, took charge in July, 1894. Mr. Hanser is a native of Germany and was educated in Germany and the United States. The services are conducted in German.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
Prior to 1851 a few scattered Catholics attended a little church in Stony Hill, about four miles from Plainfield. As the result of an appeal to Archbishop Hughes, of New York, to which see this portion of the state belonged, Rev. James McDonough took up his residence in Raritan and attended to the congregation in Plainfield every second Sunday. Mass was celebrated in a room of James Voorhis' house, on what is now Somerset street. As the congregation increased it moved to the barn, thence to a private school house on Church street, and later to a hall on Front street. A small frame church was finally built on Fourth street, to which three additions were made in the course of a few years. The parish then extended from Raritan to Westfield. In 1854 D. J. Fisher became resident pastor in Plainfield, and was succeeded, in 1856, by Terrence Kiernan, who died in 1869. During his pastorate the church was enlarged and a rectory built. P. I. Connelly, a very promising young priest, was his successor, but died in less than a year. In 1870 I. P. Morris was appointed pastor. He built the present handsome church and rectory. In 1881 North Plainfield and Dunellen were cut off from St. Mary's and made independent parishes. In 1882, H. De Burgh became pastor and was succeeded in 1883 by P. E. Smyth, the present pastor. In 1888 St. Mary's parochial school was erected, and a little later the Catholic Young Men's Lyceum and a convent for the Sisters of Charity. Present membership, two thousand.
REV. PATRICK EDWARD SMYTH,
pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church, was born in Ireland, in 1842. He received his education in the seminary at Cavan and in the Royal College at Maynooth, near Dublin. After his ordination he was appointed administrator of the bishop's parish at Cavan, where he remained six years. He came to America in 1873, and located at Washington, New Jersey. In 1883 he came to Plainfield where he has remained in charge of St. Mary's church since that time.
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When Rev. Mr. Smyth came to Plainfield his church was in debt, but that burden was lifted, and, in addition, he built the parochial school, now attended by four hundred pupils. He also bought a home for sisters,-eight Sisters of Charity, whom he brought from the mother house, at Madison, Morris county, New Jersey, where he was in charge of St. Vincent's church several years ago. He has built the young men's lyceum since he has been in Plainfield, and has also secured sites for churches,-one in East Plainfield and one at Fanwood, -both of which will be built soon. When Mr. Smyth came to Plainfield there were about twelve hundred members in the church ; there are now twenty-five hundred. The Rev. F. J. Murphy, assistant priest, has been associated with the pastor during the past three years.
GRACE CHURCH, EPISCOPAL.
This parish was organized June 9, 1852. The first church edifice was consecrated in March, 1870. In 1876 it was removed from Front street to Sixth street. The present commodious stone building, on Seventh street, was completed at Easter, 1892. It has seven hundred and fifty sittings. Present membership, eight hundred, with three hundred and forty-five communicants. Archdeacon E. M. Rodman has had charge of the church since October, 1870.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS.
This is an Episcopal church. The building was erected by the Rev. Edmund Embury at his personal expense, and cost nineteen thousand dollars. He gave it to the parish free of incumbrance, except the provision that the seats were to be always free. The church was dedicated June 13, 1869. The parish building was added to the property in 1876. Rectors: Edmund Embury, Alfred Goldsborough, Charles W. Ward, C. W. Camp, Henry E. Duncan, Charles C. Fisk, and the present incumbent, Rev. T. Logan Murphy.
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