USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 60
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HENRY FERDINAND. BARRELL.
The ancient family name of Barrell dates its origin back to the sixteenth century in Herefordshire, England, the first person bearing that cognomen to emigrate to America being George Barrell, the rec- ords of whom show that he died, a freeman of Boston, on the 4th of September, 1643. John Barrell (Ist), son of George, was born in 1618, and died on the 29th of August, 1658. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, of Boston. John Bar- rell, the second, was the sixth child, born in 1656, and he died in 1742. In 1686 he was Captain John Barrell, mariner of Boston, and master of a barque sailing for the West Indies. He utilized his wealth in fitting out ships for religiously persecuted persons of Eng- land. He was buried in the Granary burying grounds, Boston Com- mons. His son, also named John, was the second child, and was born in Boston on the 20th of August, 1707, his death occurring in England in 1781. He was a wealthy inerchant of Boston. Joseph, the son of John (3d), was born in Boston, February 28, 1739, and died October 13, 1804. He married Sarah Webb, of Wethersfield, Connecticut. He was a prosperous and well known merchant of Boston, and an earnest and unrelenting supporter of the Revolution, who liad the distinction of entertaining Generals Washington and Lafayette on their visits to
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Boston. In 1779-80 lie was engaged with Colonel Samuel B. Webb in fitting out privateers for the purpose of waging war against Great Britain's merchant marine, and in 1787 he, in conjunction with several others, built and sent out the ships Columbia and Washington to cir- cumnavigate the globe, and on the IIth of February, 1792, a river was discovered by the Columbia, and was given that name. George Bar- rell, son of Joseph, was born on the 5th of February, 1788, and married Miss Eliza Leaycraft, daughter of Captain George Leaycraft, who served during the Revolutionary war as captain in Colonel Lamb's First Artillery of New York state. He was lost at sea in his own vessel. George and Eliza (Leaycraft) Barrell were the parents of our subject. The father was a prominent broker in rice and dye woods, in New York city, where he established his business in 1821, continuing in the same for a period of forty years.
Henry F. Barrell was born in New York on the 3d of October, 1833, and there passed liis youth, attending the public schools, adding to the knowledge thus acquired by a course at the Mount Pleasant Military Academy, in Sing Sing, New York, from which he was graduated in 1848, at the early age of fifteen years. As a boy Mr. Barrell evinced a great dislike for city life and a corresponding fond- ness for the country, and he spent his summers in Orange, New Jersey, reveling in the delights of nature in her variegated forins. In 1850 he went to Orange county, New York, to reside, and in 1853 he purchased a farm in Warwick township, bordering on Wickham's Pond, which he retained until 1864, when he disposed of it and bought another at New Providence, New Jersey, taking possession of the same on the 18th of July, in the same year, and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred on the 28th of October, 1895, at the age of sixty- two. His great admiration and love for nature remained undiminished till the last, and during the latter years of his life he made many valu- able collections of insects, birds and minerals, during which time he was a liberal contributor to the division of ornithology in the agricul- tural department at Washington, District of Columbia, of full reports on the subject of bird migration.
In his political views Mr. Barrell had always been identified with the Republican party, and in 1875 he held his first position of a public nature, at New Providence, when he was elected to the office of school trustee, at which time the public school was in a primitive condition. For twenty years, or up to the time of his demnise, he continued as a trustee, and during the last nineteen years he filled the office of district clerk. As a result of his earnest efforts the school rapidly advanced until for many years it has ranked among the foremost in the county as regards all the advantages to be furnished the scholars, and through his energy and enterprise an excellent library was supplied, New Providence being one of the first towns to take advantage of the state
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aid in helping forward this worthy object. During the different periods of liis life Mr. Barrell held at New Providence the office of town committeeman, was for a number of years, and until his death, the township clerk, and in 1895 he was elected justice of the peace.
Both of Mr. Barrell's parents were members of St. Thomas' Epis- copal church, in New York, and in that faith he was reared, but in the latter part of his life he attended the Presbyterian church of New Providence.
On the 15th of April, 1858, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Barrell, in the town of Warwick, Orange county, New York, to Miss Elizabeth Wisner, daughter of the late Henry B. Wisner, and the issue of this union included the following children : Henry Ferdinand, Charles Wisner, deceased; Elizabeth, Robert Webb, Joseph, William Colburn, deceased; Ruth, Dorothy and Ethel.
The death of Mr. Barrell was sincerely mourned, not only by his family, but by a large circle of friends, to whom his many excellent qualities of character warinly endeared him. A man of strong char- acter, yet gentle and loving in his disposition, a kind friend, and an affectionate and tender husband and father, his loss to the com- munity was irreparable.
CHAPTER XXIX.
SUMMIT.
S UMMIT township was formed from Springfield and New Providence, by act of the legislature, in the year 1869. It is situated in Union county, and is bounded on the north by Millburn township, Essex county, on the east by Spring- field, Fanwood and New Providence, and on the west by New Provi- dence and the Passaic river. The Passaic is also the dividing line between Union and Morris counties.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
We find many of the early homes in this township still standing, and a few of them are occupied by the descendants of the pioneers. Here and there, where the early homes have disappeared, some memento can be traced,-a few fruit trees, planted by the first settlers, are yet standing. Many of these trees were raised from seeds brought by the pioneers when they came and settled in these hills. We notice that some of the foundation stones of these farm houses were carefully squared and shaped before being placed, the mortar being now as liard as the stone. The following is a record of some of the first settlers: Isaac Sayre came from New England, between 1700 and 1720, and settled between the mountains southwest of Springfield. He married Jane, daughter of Matthias Swaine. We find the former home of Mr. Benjamin Weed, who came and settled upon the westerly side of Second mountain in the year 1730. William Robinson, the "Father of Meth- odism," settled on Stony Hill about 1720. The original home is still standing, but had an addition made a few years ago. At his house, in 1786, was organized the first Methodist society of this valley. The church was built in New Providence, in 1801, and Mr. Robinson was appointed class-leader. He married his cousin, Betsey Robinson, on the 2d of December, 1772.
Major Jotham Potter, son of John, son of John, son of Joseph Potter. The New Providence branch is from Samuel Potter. The ancestor of the Potter family in this section of the country came from Wales. He settled on a tract of land, four hundred and fourteen and one-half acres, at the foot of the Second mountain, by the side of an old mine, and on the east side of Green river (Green brook), which was laid out for him February 26, 1733. He was a justice of the peace.
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Major Potter married Rebecca Crane, of Westfield township. Major Potter was quite prominent in military affairs, and for many years had charge of the inilitia, acting as a major. He was prominent in inany enterprises, and was for many years an elder of the Presbyterian church.
There was also a Major Jotham Potter, the second child of Amos Potter, Esq. He also was a major in the militia and a justice of the peace. He married Phebe Pettit, and had eight children. His son was the Rev. Ludlow Day Potter, a Presbyterian preacher in Indiana, and another son, Amos, who was born in 1820, is now an elder in the Presbyterian church, in New Providence. Peter Parrot married Sally Crane, daughter of Norris Crane. Daniel Seely Clark (son of Samuel Clark), born on 12th of August, 1773. On the 28th of February, 1796, he married Sally Wilcox, daughter of John, and died February 22, 1843, nearly seventy years of age. Daniel, like his father, was a mer- chant, and a justice of the peace. He lived on his father's farm, and kept the same store his father did before him. Mr. Clark had nine children.
Moses Reeves, son of Watts Reeves, of Springfield township, lived in the valley between the First and Second mountains, next to Dayton Badgley's. Benjamin Sturgis' lands lay just on the southerly part of this township. He was a carpet-weaver as well as farmer. He inarried Hetty Badgley, daughter of Anthony Badgley. They had no children. They lived to be quite old. Samuel Badgley lived between the First and Second inountains. He married Polly Frazee, and had nine children. Isaac Bryant was a relative of Captain William Bryant ; they lived for a time in or near Elizabethtown, but Isaac moved to Stony Hill. Joseph Doty came from the east end of Long Island, and owned part of lot No. 39 of the Elizabethtown lots in Stony Hill valley, just on the borders of New Providence township. He married Sarah Badgley, sister of John and James Badgley.
Benjamin Spinning was probably one of the first settlers in this township. It is supposed that he was a descendant of Humphrey Spin- ning, who died about 1700. They lived in the borough of Elizabeth- town. Mr. Humphrey Spinning inarried Abigail Hubbard, daughter of George Hubbard, of Guilford, Connecticut, in 1657, and came to this state about this time. In the records of the court in old Essex county is mentioned a Benjamin Spinning, a constable in 1714. John Noe (Nue). This family were Huguenot refugees. The name was originally, it is thought, " Nean." Elias Nean was one of the founders of the French church in New York, and emigrated as a catechist of the Propagation Society. "That good man," Peter Noe, was admitted as an associate in 1695, with a third-lot right. His son John, in 1694, was a subscriber to Rev. Mr. Harriman's support, but resided in Woodbridge, Middlesex county. One record makes him the son of Daniel Noe. He married
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Mary Ayres, of Woodbridge. He died April 26, 1828, aged seventy-one years. His wife, Mary, died October 31, 1823, aged sixty-four years. They had seven children.
Jabesh Shipman married Agnes Rogers, and owned lands next west froin where Thomas Squires lived. Benoni Trembly (Tranbles) may have been a descendant of John Trembly, a Huguenot refugee ; he married Mary Noe, daughter of Peter Noe, about the year 1694. Peter Trembly is mentioned in or about Westfield, perhaps on the First mountain. Benoni Trembly lived on lot No. 61 of the Elizabethtown lots south of Aaron M. Ludlow's house. He was a wagon-maker, was an elder in the New Providence church (Summit had no church so early), and had four children : Benjamin, Jonathan, Abraham and Becca. He died in October, 1788.
Andrew Hyslip (Hislip) came from Scotland and settled on the John Robison place. He was an extensive raiser of fine fruit. Mr. Hyslip married Ann Matthews, from England, and had three children. William Littell, Esq., son of John and Mary Littell, was born October 10, 1813, and on the 26th of October, 1836, married Mehetabel Bonnel, daughter of Jonathan C. Bonnel, and by this marriage they had four children,- William Henry, born May 2, 1840; Theodore, born May 14, 1844 ; Frederick ; Rose, born April 12, 1847 ; and Julia Smith, born April 3, 1851.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
An act to create a new township in the county of Union, to be called the township of Summit, was passed on the 17th day of March, 1869. The people of this new township are very greatly indebted to Augustus J. Thebaud for his untiring efforts, which were crowned with success, by the passage of the act by an alinost unanimous vote.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
The town of Summit includes the whole of the center and inain road called Springfield avenue, leading from the village of New Provi- dence. The outskirts are surrounded with fine country-seats,-the home of retired as well as business men from the adjacent cities of Newark and New York.
West Summit is on the extreme border of the township, and has many fine residences and well cultivated farms. The depot of the Passaic & Delaware River Railroad is here convenient for all needed transit. The roads are kept in excellent order. The Baptist church is here located, as well as various business enterprises.
East Summit, or Deantown, as originally called, from the settlement of families by name of Dean, is to the extreine eastern border of the township. District school, No. 20, is here located ; also the hub factory of Houtem & Brother. This part of the township is growing rapidly,
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with neat comfortable homes. Good roads are found here, as well as in nearly the whole of the township. Huntly is a small hamlet, having a mail, and is included in East Summit boundary.
The following historical sketch is taken from the Summit Herald of December 19, 1896 :
As its name indicates, Summit is situated upou the top of a mountain, at a mean altitude of four hundred and fifty feet, the highest point being five hundred and forty feet above tide water. From Overlook, Hill Crest and other vantage places, views may be obtained that are unsurpassed in the state. The landscape is diversified. Toward the east the picture is that of a level expanse of land, with the cities of Newark, Elizabeth and the metropolis of the nation filling in the horizon; to the north the view stretches a distance of forty miles to the Blue Ridge, "woods and templed hills" filling in the pauorama, making it a scene of beauty as well as of grandeur. Not only does Summit afford far reaching vistas of beauty, but it is the center of a cluster of gems that nature has wrought in a setting of wondrous picturesqueness. Within or near its own limits the town possesses a varied scenery that excites the admiration of all lovers of nature. The laying out of roads and the building of many residences in recent years have, with the aid of the landscape gardeners, only enhanced the work of nature.
Its altitude and hygienic surroundings have made of Summit a great health resort, especially to those affected with throat and lung troubles. The purest of artesian-well water and an effectively operated sewerage system insure a contiunance of the town's health-giving qualities.
Possessing these mauy natural attractions, the marvelous growth of Summit during the past few years has been the result solely of its merits in this direction, and its rapid development is by no meaus the consequence of any real-estate boom. This is the highest praise to be said of a growing town, and indicates the abiding character of its five thousand and three hundred inhabitants, who have made their homes here because they are able to appreciate the true worth of the place. Summit has but to be seen to be admired. Many who have come to this overlook town for a brief summer stay have been so captivated by the charms of the village that they have located here permanently. The fame of Summit as a summer resort has been the means of introducing the claims of the place to city residents more than any other way. They have been attracted to this place for the heated season not less by nature's ample provision of pure air and beautiful scenery than hy the sumptuous equipments of its palatial hotels aud many large boarding houses.
Summit is essentially a place of homes. Its suburban character and easy access to the city, with thirty-two trains daily in each direction, has appealed to the business men who desire to escape the noise and turmoil of city life when the day's work is done and wish their homes to be located where quiet reigns and among people of like cultivated tastes. In municipal improvements Summit exceeds most towns of like population. Many miles of well kept macadam roads, lighted by electricity; au abuudaut water supply, gas, a sewerage system, a well graded primary and high school, are among the things upon which its claim for superiority is based. Au efficient police force and well equipped fire department add to the security enjoyed by the inhabitants.
A free library, several literary societies aud five private schools: St. George's Hall, Kent Place School, Summit Academy, Miss Potwin's School for Girls, and the Summit School of Music, are indications of the intellectual stauding of the community. The resident streets of Summit present many handsome and attractive homes and there are many mansions here which can successfully vie with Fifth avenue houses in the beauty and richness of their interiors. There are also many pleasaut smaller houses of beautiful exteriors and homelike interiors which are owned by the home-lovers of moderate means. The business structures are of an imposing nature, there being no less than eight brick blocks, including the Van Cise building with Howard and Willard halls, the Wulff block and the Taylor building, both having offices aud lodge rooms, and the Kenny block. The Town Hall was erected in 1893, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars,
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and contains, besides the hall and township committee rooms, a police-justice court room and the house of Summit Hose and Hook and Ladder Companies, No. 1.
The manufacturing industries number but two, -a silk mill and tack factory,- which together employ two hundred and seventy-five hands.
SOCIAL AND ATHLETIC CLUBS.
The Fortnightly Club is an organization of ladies who have banded together for intellectual improvement. Their meetings are literary in character and the subject being studied this year is Russia: its history, social life, literature and art. The officers of the club are: President, Mrs. Lemuel Skidmore; first vice-president, Miss E. A. Means; second vice-president, Mrs. F. L. Crawford; treasurer, Miss Harriette Brewster; secretary, Miss Clara B. Potwin.
The Highland Club is a gentleman's club. It was organized last month (Novem- ber, 1896) and rents a building which has been fitted up for the purpose of a club house. The officers are: President, William H. Risk, M. D .; vice-president, Charles E. Kimball ; secretary, Thomas B. Adams; treasurer, J. Frank Haas.
The Summit Field Club was formed for the purpose of encouraging outdoor sports, and although in its infancy, the organization promises to have a brilliant future. The spacious grounds on Summit avenne are adequate for all the sports to be promoted by the club. W. C. L. Rubsamen is president of the club, and the other officers are: vice- president, Dr. J. Boyd Risk; secretary and treasurer, A. W. Hicks.
The Summit Wheelmen is a club composed of riders of the silent steed, and was organized in August of this year (1896) the officers being Seaman Wright, Jr., president; John W. Clift, vice-president; Harry L. Card, secretary, and George V. Muchmore, treasurer.
The fraternal societies of Summit are: Summit Council, No. 1042, Royal Arcanum; Overlook Lodge, No. 163, F. and A. M .; U. S. Grant Post, G. A. R .; Overlook Council, No. 211, Jr. O. U. A. M., and the Summit T. A. B. Society.
CHURCHES.
In no feature of Summit's marvelous growth has there been such conspicuous transformation in the past decade as in hier church edifices and organizations.
Fifty years ago there were no churches in Summit. Union meetings were held by the Presbyterians and Methodists in the red school house, on Morris avenue, at the junction of the Feltville road, an old building that was erected in 1795. For many years the few members of the various denominations worshiped at New Providence, Millburn, Springfield or Madison. The town is now graced with five handsome church buildings that are a great attraction to the place.
CALVARY CHURCH, PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.
The first church organization in Summit was that of the Protestant Episcopal, in 1840, when the Calvary church organization was formed as a mission, and met in a small building erected on lands given by William Littell, and Rev. Dr. R. Riley became the first rector. The church was duly organized in 1862, and in 1872 a stone building was erected on the corner of Springfield avenue and Keithock place, in which they worshiped until it was destroyed by fire, in 1892. The present magificent building was erected on the beautiful site selected on Woodland avenue, in 1895, and dedicated Easter, 1896. The Rev. J. F. Butterworth, was the beloved rector from 1875 until 1893, when he was succeeded by the present popular rector, the Rev. Walker Gwynne. The present build- ing cost sixty-one thousand dollars, has a seating capacity of seven hundred and fifty, and the parish house, adjoining, was erected in 1894, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars, which with the land purchased, and the site of their old church, which they still retain, makes its possessions worth about one hundred thousand dollars.
ST. TERESA'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Teresa's Catholic was built in 1862, upon a beautiful elevation on Morris avenue, by several charitable men residing in Summit, Madison and Whippany, and services
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were conducted twice a month. In 1874, Rev. W. M. Wigger, D. D., bishop of Newark, was appointed the first rector. During his pastorate a residence and school were erected. The Rev. G. A. Vassallo, was placed in charge in 1876, under whose efficient care the church has made great progress. The present frame structure was added to the original stone church, which serves as an altar and vestry, in 1886, at a cost of twelve thousand three hundred dollars. Additions and improvements have been made several times since, and yet the present seating capacity is insufficient. This organization also own a fine cemetery property along the River road, which cost about three thousand six hundred dollars, and have recently purchased and fitted up a fine parochial-school building on Morris avenue, adjoining their church property.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Summit was organized July 17, 1867, with thirty-seven members. The first board of trustees were : Benjamin S. Dean, John Denman, William B. Coggeshall, D. W. Day, and James Pitts. The first church build- ing, with seating capacity for one' hundred and fifty, was erected, on the corner of Morris and Summit avenues, in 1867, on land donated by Mrs. Mary Sayre, and was dedicated July, 1868. The pulpit was supplied by preachers from Drew Theological Seminary, until 1869, when Rev. R. B. Collins was stationed here as the first pastor. A parsonage was erected, adjoining the church, in 1875, and the entire cost of property and furniture was less than ten thousand dollars. In 1889 the present desirable site was purchased, at a cost of seven thousand dollars, and the liandsome stone structure, on the corner of the Boulevard and De Forest avenue, was built, the corner stone being laid October 23, 1889, by Bishop Foss, and the building dedicated November 23, 1890, by Bishop Foster, under the pastorate of Rev. E. M. Garton, and cost about thirty-five thousand dollars. The parsonage, adjoining, was built under the pastorate of Rev. D. B. F. Randolph, at a cost of eight thousand dollars. The present membership is two hundred and sixty-five, and the seating capacity, including the gallery and Sunday- school room is six hundred. The Sunday school numbers about one hundred and fifty, and the church also has a thriving young people's organization. The present pastor is Rev. C. S. Ryman, D. D.
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The history of this church only dates back to 1870, when a few people met in Littell's hall (now occupied by the Summit Herald), and organized with twenty members. Rev. J. DeHart Bruen, was installed the first pastor, in 1871. The present church building, which is most conveniently situated, was dedicated in 1872, at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars, and the manse was erected in 1876, and cost six thousand dollars. The chapel was built in 1882, and cost six thousand six hundred dollars. The many improvements rendered necessary by the increased attendance have materially enhanced the appearance as well as the usefulness of the church. Rev. Dr. White was installed as pastor in 1883, when the membership was one hundred and seventy-three; at the present time it numbers three hundred and thirty members,-and the average attendance is between five and six hundred,-and the seating capacity is frequently taxed to the utmost. The first alterations were made in 1889, by the addition of large transepts on both the north and south ends of the church, and in 1890 it was found necessary to enlarge the chapel by the addition of two rooms, for bible and infant-class work. In 1893 another addition was required to the church, to accommodate the increased attendance, and at the same time the magnificent grand organ was built in the extension to the east end of the building. Rev. Theodore F. White is pastor.
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