USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 59
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A CARD FROM REV. N W. CADWELL .- I would hereby acknowledge the hearty co-operation of the following named persons, without whose assistance this chapter could not have heen properly written : Luther M. Whitaker, Irving Ross, A. K. Gale, F. R. Baker, Robert French, Ezra Miller, Daniel and Henry Hetfield, Dr. Kinch, C. A. Leveridge, Benjamin Downer, S. W. Reese, Gideon E. Ludlow, A. S. Clark, J. T. Pierson, Wilbur Cory, Ira C. Lambert, Charles Badgley, Benjamin Pierson, Lawrence Clark, J. S. Ferris, Louis Theiss, Martin V. Clark, Charles E. Bussing, the photographer, and many others.
37
CHAPTER XXVIII.
NEW PROVIDENCE.
HIS township was set off from Elizabeth Town February 4, 1793, and annexed to Springfield township. This town- ship lies in the extreme northwest part of Union county, being parts of the Passaic valley and First and Second
mountains. It went under the name of Turkey until, by an act of the legislature, November 8, 1809, when it assumed the title of New Providence. The boundary remained unaltered until the year 1869, when Summit township was taken off from the northeast part, which leaves the town about five miles long and two miles wide. This oblong piece of territory, being part of the First, Second and Third mountain ranges, has beautiful and picturesque valleys, and contains an area of about thirteen square miles. The name of this township was practi- cally changed from Turkey to New Providence in 1778. The cause of this change is worthy of mention. Several years previous to this date the people were assembled in an unfinished house of worship when the beams of the gallery gave way, precipitating the people in the gallery upon those seated below, but without fatal results or serious injury to any one. This was considered a remarkable iuterposition of Provi- dence, and in commemoration of that event the town was named New Providence. This township did not hold an election by ballot until April 13, 1840. Aaron Doty served as moderator at this election. There were polled at this time one hundred and forty votes, of which tlie Whig ticket had seventy-three votes and the Democratic ticket sixty-seven votes. The Whigs carried the election by six majority. Daniel Wood had seventy-two votes, and was elected town clerk. Abraham Lockwood had seventy-one, and was elected judge of election; and Dayton Badgley and Stephen Marshall were elected sur- veyors of highways. The pound-keeper elected was John Wilson. School committee, John Little, John S. Smith and Amasa Denny. The first overseers of the highway elected by ballot were Benjamin Weed, John Little, Jonathan Potter, John Marshall, John Stephenson, Noah Wilcox, John Wilson, John T. Wilcox, William Moore, Israel B. Long, Amos Morehouse, William Littell and Matthias Osborn. The assessor was Jonathan Valentine, and the collector, John S. Smith. The first grand-jurymen elected in this township were Amos Potter and Nathaniel Bonnel; the members of the legislature, John Littell, Jona-
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
than Valentine (who was also surrogate of the county), Stephen Day, Jr., and Daniel H. Noe.
The following is a history of the town of New Providence, by A. M. Cory, M. D .:
In the year 1664, October 28th, the tract of land in which the city of Elizabeth is now located was purchased of the Indians then in possession. The names of the chiefs who signed the indenture on Staten Island, and their marks, are as follows: " Mattano -; Sewak herones, N; Warinaco The consideration was twenty fathom of trading cloth, two made coats, two guns, two kettles, ten bars of lead, twenty handfuls of powder; and further four hundred fathom of white wampum after a year's expiration from the day of the sd John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson entery upon ye said lands." The surveys made in 1699 and 1700 show that the town included the lands where Rahway, Westfield, Plainfield, Scotch Plains. Springfield, New Providence, Summit and other places are built, extending to Union Village and into the Great Swamp, north of Long Hill. The names of the applicants who purchased the lands of the Indians are John Baillies, Daniel Denton, Thomas Benydick, Nathanel Denton, John Foster, Luke Watson.
At the easterly end of the Passaic valley (an Indian name) a hamlet called Turkey was founded at an early day by these English settlers, as the following petition shows: "The freeholders, inhabitants and owners of the land of and belonging to Elizabeth Town, or township, and other lands thereto adjacent, in the province of East New Jersey, in America, in behalf of themselves and many others." After reciting their title they say: "The said purchasers, and those claiming under them, still continue in the possession of the lands by them purchased, and peaceably enjoyed the same, until September, 1693, being nearly thirty years, and during that time, at great labour and expence, built, planted and improved the same; and they humbly conceive they ought according to law, reason and justice, still enjoy the same." This inference is strengthened by the names signed to the petition, which are familiar to this locality, Cory, Clarke, Crane, Osborn, Lyon, Little, Bonnel, Price, Sayre, Brown, among one hundred and twenty signatures. The name Elizabeth Town was given in honor of Lady Elizabeth, wife of Sir George Carteret. Turkey, tradition says, was a name suggested by the abundance of wild turkeys in this locality. Denton writes, 1670, to his friends in England: "Venison, turkeys, geese, heath hens, cranes, swans, ducks, pidgeons, * * * sweetness of the air, * * * if there be any terrestrial Canaan, 'tis surely here, where the land floweth with milk and honey."
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NEW PROVIDENCE.
These sturdy yeoman, desiring freedom to worship God, were devoted and faithful observers of the Lord's day, traveling on foot and horseback to Elizabeth to attend meeting. In 1737 a log church was erected in Turkey. In 1739 this was replaced by a new frame building. This structure covered on the sides, as well as roof, with cypress shingles, served until 1834, and was then superseded by the present building. The lot, containing nineteen acres, was given by John Blanchard, the deed being dated October 30, 1738. The first authentic record of New Providence having been substituted for the name Turkey is in the deed by Samuel Johnson for the parsonage property, dated February 7, 1759. The consideration named in the deed is sixty pounds ten shillings. The parsonage, a beautiful place, is still retained. The purchase of a parsonage was resolved upon in 1748, eleven years before the deed was executed; and the scheme of a lottery was resorted to for raising the money, {152-5-0, the drawing to take place at the house of Benjamin Pettit, Esquire, Turkey, if filled by that time, under the care and management of Messrs. Benjamin Pettit, David Day, Elnathan Cory, John Badgley, Nathaniel Davis and Josiah Broadwell, on or before the first Tuesday in November, 1748.
In 1769 it was " agreed that the meeting house be enlarged on the north side sixteen feet ; and sealed overhead and sides and ends." In 1781, " voted that it be plastered, both sides ends and overhead." William Parsons was paid for "underpinning " it in
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1783. The lottery was used for ways and means in building and improving the meeting house.
From 1739 to 1783, a period of forty-four years, these devoted people worshiped in discomfort, without fires, excepting a few embers carried in foot stoves by the women. In 1769, "at a public lecture it was voted that the seats on the men's side of the galleries should be rebuilt, and that pews over each stare way should be built. Cost £30-4-10." Tradition says the name New Providence was substituted for Turkey because of the fall of the galleries, and the new name having been used in 1759, it must have been eleven years before the repairs were made. The society was incorporated March 20, 1793, and Mr. Elmer dismissed. Springfield was set off May 27, 1793, the line run- ning by New Providence meeting honse to Passaic river. February 4, 1794, the westerly line was extended to Somerset county line. In 1809, November 8th, New Providence was erected into a township. Sixty years later, 1869, Summit township was formed from Springfield and New Providence.
The following is a list of the pastors of the church from the time of its organization : John Cleverly, 1737-39; Azarialı Horton, 1740-41; Joseph Lamb, 1742-43; Timothy Symmes, 1746-50; Timothy Allen, 1753-56; Johathan Elmer, 1757-93; William Jackson, 1794; John Richards, 1795; James G. Force, 1796-1802; Elias Riggs, 1806-25; James B. Hyndshaw, 1825-32; William H. Burroughs, 1833-34; Thomas Cochran, 1834-46; John T. M. Davie, 1846-47; Elbridge Bradbury, 1847-51; Charles Milne, 1852-55; James McDong- all, 1855-56, stated supply; John A. Baldwin, 1857-63; William L. Moore, 1864-70; Elias R. Fairchild, D. D., 1870-75; Henry M. Grant, 1877-79; Albert King, 1879, stated supply; D. M. Seward, D. D., 1880-81; W. A. Hooper, 1882.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN NEW PROVIDENCE.
The first Methodist preacher in America, Philip Embury, preached in his own house in New York in 1766. Under his ministry Mrs. Jonathan Morrell became a convert. The family afterward moved to Elizabethtown, 1772. Soon after the war traveling preachers visited the place. "September 6, 1785, Bishop Asbury preached in the unfinished Presbyterian church, Elizabethtown, by invitation."
Methodism, probably by the aid of the itinerants, found its way to New Providence, and in 1798 a class was formed here. The circuit preachers in Elizabethtown that year were James Tolleson, Samuel Thomas and Thomas Morrell. Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke were the bishops. The circuit was in the Philadelphia conference, New Jersey district. Johnnie Robertson, or Robinson, was appointed the first leader of the class. The meeting was held at the house of Charles Mooney. Chief among the families were the Woods, Clarks, Corys, Days, Elmers, Cranes and Dickinsons. Mr. Mooney lived where the late Mr. John Walsh lived,-on the highest ground on the left, before reaching the mountain on the road leading south from West Summit station-now, 1894, Division avenue.
From a deed, dated in 1803, and still in a good state of preservation, we learn that a site for a Methodist church and burying ground was given by George Cory and Rachel (Price) his wife. It contained one acre, and is yet a burial place, having been enlarged by an addition on the south side. The church was built on the northeast corner of the lot. It was a plain frame structure without tower or steeple, of good dimensions, with gable facing the stage road leading from Elizabethtown to Basking Ridge. Galleries were constructed on the sides and front end. There was no vestibule. A stairway leads from each of the two doors opening from the street, meeting on a landing and converg- ing into one flight of steps above. The pulpit as first constructed was of the antique Episcopal style, consisting of a deep octagonal box, about four feet in width, highly elevated on posts and covered with a canopy or sounding-board. The backs of the seats were nearly perpendicular, and as high as the shoulders or neck; they tended to promote seclusion, but not comfort ; penance, but not joy. A letter written from a resident to a friend in the west, in 1807, tells us that passing teams were then on the way "to Peapack to get lime to plaster the meeting house."
Mr. S. S. Day writes, November, 1894 : " I have no list of contributors to the build-
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
ing of the old church. Prominent members of the society at that time were Daniel S. Wood, Daniel Seely Clark, Levi Wilcox and Daniel Valentine. I have no knowledge of its cost. The carpenter work was done by Charles Mooney. The corner-stone was laid in April, 1803. The sermons at the dedication were preached by Joseph Totten and William Mills. Mr. Mooney put in the pews, and built one for the accommodation of himself and family. Later he was expelled from the society, but he insisted upon occupy- ing his pew property. According to my notes the building was completed and permanent seats put in in 1811."
From an old register, dated on the title page 1802, we learn that the first board of trustees was organized 1802: "At an Election held at the house of Waters Burrows in New Providence, on the - Day of March, 1802, and The following Persons were duly Elected Trustees of The Methodist Episcopal church in the Township of Springfield, County of Essex and State of New Jersey (New Providence township was set off from Elizabethtown and Springfield A. D. 1809.) Branard Dickinson, Joshua Ward, Isaac Sarle (Searle) Daniel S. Wood, Waters Burrows, John Willcocks, Ezra Williams. Branard Dickinson Elected President of the Trusties, the above is recorded according to Law in the Clerk's office of sd County." "At an Election held at the house of Waters Burrows on the 30 Day of April, 1803 for the purpose of Electing two Trusties to fill the places of Joshua Ward and Daniel S. Wood who have resigned, and the following persons were duly Elected, viz., Smith Miller, Henry Mooney."
"After advertising Ten days according to Law, there was an Election held at The Methodist Meeting house in Newprovidence on the 30 Day, of March 1809 to fill the places of henry mooney Waters Burrows John Willcocks & Ezra Williams and the following persons were duly Elected Stephen Day Joseph Crane, John Crane Thos Parrott Stephen Day was Chosen President of Trusties Daniel S. Clark Sec'y." These records of meet- ings to this date are in the handwriting of Daniel S. Clark.
There is no record, excepting that of the ministerial, from this date until 1815, March 5, when an "account with the Treasurer and Trustees of the Methodis Episcopal Church New Providence " was opened. This is a complete and accurate account in detail of the "Penny Collections" received and the disbursements, extending over a period of forty-one years, to June 15, 1856, when " Wm. E. Samson was Elected Treasurer." John Crane was treasurer from March 5, 1815, to July 18, 1843, when he was called to render up his account and rest from his labors at the age of seventy-nine. He was a quiet, faithful and honest worker.
The next items of special importance in this connection, taken from the register above referred to, are several quarterly-conference minutes made in 1832. "At a quarterly Conference held at the Methodist Chapel in New Providence on the 16th of June, 1832, for New Providence Circuit. Amos Willcox Cl'k. Rev. George Brown Presided, three Stewards was then Elected viz D. S. Clark, Thomas O. Scudder & John Briant Sd D. S. Clark appointed recording Steward.
"The application of John Newell for License to Preach the Gospell was submitted to the judgment of the Rev. George Brown untill the next quarterly meeting Conference.
" Resolved that there be General Class meeting once every month in said Circuit.
"Resolved there be a Campmeeting at Plainfield the ensuing season.
(Financial.)
Ezra Drake, leader, Paid to Stewards $4.43
Union Village Society Paid to Stewards . 8.74
Plainfield Society Paid to Stewards 8.50
Collection on Sabbath 17th June in New Providence 6.29
$27.96
"The above was Paid to Rev. George Brown, except five Dollars made Present to Brother Janes (afterward Bishop Janes. )
"D. S. CLARK, Recording Steward.
"At a quarterly Conference for New Providence Circuit held at the Camp Meeting near Plainfield on the 30th of August 1832 the following Members were present: Charles
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
Pitman, P. E. George Brown, Jno. N. Crane, Preachers. Stephen Day, L. D. (Local Deacon ). L. Rood, L. P. (Local Preacher). Leaders S. Day Jun, Ezra Drake, T. O. Scudder, John Briant. Stewards D. S. Clark, T. O. Scudder, John Briant, Stephen Day, E. B. Townley. Exorter David Codington. The P. Elder asked the following questions
. Are there any complaints, None 2d are there any appeals none 3d is there any unfinished Business, none 4th is there any applications for License to Preach, the Case of Brother John Newell was brought Before the Conference who was regularly Recommended by his Class to receive license to Preach After a due and Satisfactory Examination he was licensed to Preach the Gospel.
"The next quarterly meeting is to be held at Plainfield 27-28, October, 1832." In 1833 this place, with Union Village, was made a station, and John K. Shaw was appointed preacher in charge. In 1834 New Providence circuit was made, by union with Spring- field, Chatham and Genung Town, including Bottle Hill, uow Madison. It was restored to a station in 1836.
Mrs. Elizabeth Day, widow of Rev. Stephen Day, born in 1787, became a member of the first class formed, in 1797, and continued in the activities and joys of a Christian life until called to her heavenly home, June 5, 1884. As the years passed, the old church was the scene of hundreds of conversions, the large ingathering in 1842-3 under the ministry of Rev. Mulford Day, having been in this regard a notable one. The present neat and commodious church was dedicated July 29, 1857, by Bishop Scott, his text being a sermon in itself: Psalm 137, 5-6. The Uniou Village church was erected in IS24-5, largely through the efforts of Elam Genuug, a local preacher, who afterward re- moved to the west, and it has been a dear and sacred place to many a soul.
ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, MURRAY HILL.
In the summer of 1889 the Rev. W. Maxwell Reilly, rector of the Protestant Epis- copal church at Scotch Plains, New Jersey, commenced holding religious services in the public-school building in the village of New Providence. Being unable to obtain the permanent use of the building, Mr. Dauiel Pike made application and secured the use of the railroad station at Murray Hill for the continuance of the services, which were held as a mission work by persons of different deuominations.
On Sunday, July 22, 1889, after religious services, a meeting was held at the resi- dence of Dr. Samuel H. Bassinger, in accordance with a notice which had previously been given. There were present Colonel and Mrs. E. H. Ropes, Mr. and Mrs. Kramm, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Hood, Miss Amy McElligott and Dr. S. H. Bassinger. Colonel E. H. Ropes was called to the chair, and Dr. Bassinger was appointed secretary.
After a full discussion of the subject, Colonel E. H. Ropes, Mr. Ephraim Krammı and Dr. S. H. Bassinger were chosen a conimittee to take necessary steps to perpetuate religious services at Murray Hill regularly each Sabbath. Dr. Bassinger was elected treasurer, and instructed to collect funds for the support of the mission. At a subsequent meeting, held November 28, 1889, at the house of Dr. Bassinger, there being present Messrs. Barbour, Krammı, Hood, J. M. Wilcox, Bisbee, Bowen, A. Miller and Dr. Bassin- ger, Dr. Bassinger was called to the chair, and Mr. J. M. Wilcox was chosen secretary.
A motion having been made to that effect, it was decided to increase the general committee to five, and Messrs. Hood, Barbour and J. M. Wilcox were added to the com- mittee. Mr. Bowen was elected superintendent of the Murray Hill mission Sunday school. Dr. S. H. Bassinger was re-elected treasurer. Services were continued from that time with varying encouragement, being held each Sunday afternoon in the rail- road station at Murray Hill, until some difficulty arose in regard to the authority of the Rev. Mr. Reilly, when the attendance upon the services, and, consequently the offer- ings were so greatly diminished, growing less and less each Sunday, that the Rev. Mr. Reilly, together with some of those counected with the mission, decided to move the services to the village of New Providence, which they did on the 8th of November, 1890.
The remaining members of the mission, thinking there was no need for such a mission at New Providence, as there were already two churches there, acting under the direction of the majority of the general committee, continued holding services during the winter at the residence of Dr. Bassinger. The services were conducted by ministers of
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CARL H. SCHULTZ
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
different evangelical denominations, among whom were Rev. Mr. Lockwood, of tlie Methodist Episcopal church; Rev. W. A. Hooper and Dr. White, of the Presbyterian church; the Rev. Mr. Hoor, of the Baptist church, the Revs. Gallagher, Huntington, Windeger, Dennis and Walters, of the Reformed Episcopal church, and the Rev. A. F. Lyle, of the Presbyterian church, Newark, the last mentioned preaching for nineteen consecutive Sundays.
During the ministration of Rev. Mr. Lyle a special meeting was held, May 10, 1891, Mr. Lyle presiding as chairman. The following resolution was offered and unanimously adopted: " Resolved, That two delegates be elected to represent this mission, and ask the synod of New York and Philadelphia, of the Reformed Episcopal church, to receive us as a new parish, and grant us pecuniary aid in sustaining the preaching of the gospel."
Dr. S. H. Bassinger and Mr. T. W. Hood were elected delegates, and attended the meeting of the synod, and upon their representation the parish was formally received into connection with the Reformed Episcopal church. The Rev. A. F. Lyle continued his ministrations very acceptably until the end of July, 1891, at which time the Rev. W. A. L. Jett, of Virginia, was invited to preach during the month of August, and at the expiration of that time a call was extended to him to become the permanent pastor of the church, which he accepted, and took charge October 18, 1891, and was duly installed as such, on the 12th of the following month, by Bishop William R. Nicholson, the bishop in charge of the synod. The church edifice was dedicated at the same time, Bishop Nicholson preaching the dedication sermon, and Rev. Alexander Thompson, D. D., of the Dutch Reformed church, delivering the installation address to the newly elected pastor. When Mr. Jett took charge of the parish he found only four communicants, and eight children in the Sunday school. The communicant list has increased to fifteen, notwithstanding the loss of four hy death and other causes, and there are now thirty- three names upon the roll of the Sunday school. During the three years of Mr. Jett's pastorate he has baptized twenty-seven, presented six for confirmation, officiated at three marriages and six burials.
CARL H. SCHULTZ,
for more than thirty-five years a well known business man in the city of New York, died at his home in Murray Hill, New Jersey, May 29, 1897. He died from pneumonia, and had been ill only a few days. He was sixty-nine years old.
Mr. Schultz, who was born in Germany, on October 2, 1827, gradu- ated from the University of Breslau, in 1849, with the highest honors, and came to this country in 1853 to act as assistant to Professor Silliman in charge of the chemical exhibit of the World's Exposition. In that way he became acquainted with prominent scientists, and later was made assistant to Dr. John Torrey, in the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
When the United States assay office was established, in 1854, Mr. Schultz was appointed assistant to Dr. Torrey, the chief assayer. In 1867 Mr. Schultz was sent abroad by the government to investigate the coinage system of the European nations, on which he subsequently made a report, regarded at the time as being of much value.
Mr. Schultz became interested in mineral waters before the war, and established a manufactory in New York in 1862. Some years later he took full charge of this business, and a dozen years ago founded the settlement of Murray Hill, New Jersey, where he introduced the macad- amized roads and expended much money in this direction. He erected
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
a country seat here, which is possibly the finest in Union county, and to which he was very much attached. He also built houses for all of his married daughters here.
Mr. Schultz leaves a widow, seven daughters and three sons,-two of whom graduated fromn Yale College in June, 1897, one having taken the Sheffield course and the other the academic course. The third, a lad of eighteen, is now attending St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire.
Mr. Schultz devoted much time and means to charitable and scientific work, and was connected with the German Hospital, Post- Graduate Medical School and other charitable institutions. He was a member of the New York Academy of Science, the American Chemical Society, the College of Pharmacy, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and several clubs.
Mr. Schultz employed in his mammoth establishinent some two hundred and fifty men, all of whom held their generous and beloved employer in the highest esteem ; he was gentle, kind and just to all, and was looked upon more as a father than an employer. The heads of the several departments are men who have been thirty odd years in the employ, and were selected and trained with great care by Mr. Schultz for their various positions. These inen, with the widow, will conduct the business as heretofore.
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