USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 63
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
settlers, and lay out land at Nianticut, for the settlers, as an equivalent for the land taken at Pequot.
John Clark was a representative of the general court at Hartford for many years, and held other positions of trust and responsibility. Subse- quently he moved to Milford, Connecticut, where he was ordained ruling elder, and died in the year 1674.
John Clark, Jr., born in England, about 1630, the eldest son, was a large land-owner in Connecticut, and was killed by the overturning of a cart, in 1677. His eldest son, John Clark, 3d, was born November 17, 1655, being the third generation of that name in this country. The family records are full of allusions to his activities, among which are lieutenant's commission of the fort in Saybrook, from Robert Treat, governor, dated February 9, 1693-4; lieutenant's commission of Train Band of Saybrook, from John Winthrop, governor, dated May 16, 1699 ; captain's commission of Saybrook Fort, from John Winthrop, governor, dated May 26, 1702 ; order appointing him to be major of militia in the county of New London, by the general assembly of Hartford, and that he be commissioned by the governor accordingly, dated May 12, 1709 ; order from G. Saltonstall, as governor, to protect the library of Yale College (it was then a collegiate school) in its removal from Saybrook to New Haven.
History mentions that Samuel and John Clark, legatees of Joshua Sachem, signed an instrument, with other legatees, to "give unto the trustees of ye collegiate school in Connecticut for ye 11se of said school the quantity of two thousand acres right in ye lands given by said Joshua if the house should be erected at Saybrook for Yale College;" dated February 10, 1712.
The next descendant in line was Nathaniel Clark, born July 19, 1694. Then follows Christopher Clark, born in 1736, followed by Christopher Clark, Jr., born February 9, 1782, who was a sea captain, commanding a ship between New York and Cuba for many years, and subsequently settling on a farın in the western part of New York state, where he died, at Holly, in 1843. His son, Austin Griswold, was born in Saybrook, in 1804. He was married in 1826 to Sarah Ann How, of Darien, Connecticut. He resided in Stamford, a highly esteemed citizen, and died there in 1880.
Frederick C. Clark removed to New York in 1848, where, in 1855, he was married to Josephine Waterbury, the daughter of Selleck and Cornelia Waterbury. Her parents, formerly residents of Stamford, were connections of the Waterbury family long prominent in Con- necticut.
Prior to his removal to Summit, in 1895, Mr. Clark had resided in Brooklyn, New York, for thirty-nine years, and was identified with the Episcopal churches in that city, being a member of Christ church, in the eastern district, also of the parishes of St. Peter's and St James's.
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His membership on the board of inanagers of the Church Charity Foundation, of Long Island, extended over a long period, and for several years he represented St. James's parish in the diocesan conven- tion, at Garden City.
Mr. Clark's connection with the wholesale-grocery business in New York dates back to 1849, when he entered the employ of Burdick & Martin, on Front street, continuing his connection with that firm and its successors till 1860, when he was admitted to a partnership in the reorganization of the house, under the name of Sheffield & Company, on January Ist, of that year. Subsequent succeeding firms have been Bailey & Clark; Bailey, Clark & Chapin; Clark, Chapin & Holly; Clark, Holly & Ketchum; and Clark, Chapin & Bushnell, of the last named of which Mr. Clark is the senior member, being located at 177 and 179 Duane street. Mr. Clark's connection with the wholesale- grocery trade of New York, for more than forty-eight years, is a record which has few, if any, parallels. His firm was one of the original members of the Wholesale Grocers' Association of New York, and Mr. Clark has been on its executive committee from its organization.
EDWARD B. KELLY,
a resident of Summit, has acquired prominence in both the business and official circles of that city, and is one of the best known men in Union county, where he has resided for a period of forty years. Born in Summit, on the 26th of March, 1857, the boyhood of Mr. Kelly was spent in the city of his nativity, and he acquired his mental training in the public schools there and in Madison, and subsequently engaged as clerk in the Park House, Summit, for ten years. He then embarked in the grocery trade, in which he prospered, conducting a first-class store for four years.
In his political affiliations Mr. Kelly is a stanch Democrat, giving the party the benefit of his active support. He has held several local offices of a responsible nature, among them being that of chief of police, which position he occupied for twelve years ; state detective, acting as such for twelve years; township collector ; local agent for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and for eleven years he has been justice of the peace, having, in 1897, been re-elected for a term of five years. Mr. Kelly is a representative citizen of Summit, and has discharged the duties of the various offices of trust to which he has been chosen, and is also correspondent for the New York World and Newark Evening News, with signal ability and intelligence, and he has ever been ready and willing to promote any enterprise that liad for its object the advancement of the city's welfare.
The marriage of Mr. Kelly was solemnized on the 10th of July, 1895, when he was united to Mrs. Ella M. Verser, of Washington, D. C.,
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a daughter of Jacob and Geneva L. (Goddard) Von der Lehr. Mr. Kelly has a daughter, Julia, by a former marriage, his first wife being Miss Mary McLaughlin, a child of James and Julia (Cream) McLaugh- lin. In his religious faith our subject is a devout adherent of the Catholic church.
In his social relations Mr. Kelly is a prominent and useful member of the Newark Press Club, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, No. 289, of Elizabeth, and he is a member of the Summit fire depart- ment, and of the New Jersey State Detective Bureau.
JOSEPH ORAM CHRYSTAL,
a well known and highly respected citizen of Summit, New Jersey, was born in Dover, Morris county, this state, on the 22d of October, 1868, and he is a son of George and Lovedy (Oram) Chrystal. He is of Irish-English extraction, his paterual grandparents being Patrick Chrystal and Martha (Weir) Chrystal, while his maternal grandparents were Thomas and Ann (Gundry) Oram. Joseph O. Chrystal passed the early part of his life in the city of his nativity, acquiring his literary education in the public schools, after leaving which he began to learn the trade of plumbing and gas fitting, serving an apprenticeship at Dover. In the following year he engaged in business in that city, and then moved to Grand River, Kentucky, following his vocation there for a period of some two years, at the conclusion of the same removing to Summit, and for the past four years he has been conducting a pros- perous and successful plumbing, steam and gas-fitting establishment, under the name of M. Chrystal, and is one of the progressive, energetic merchants of his home city, where, by his industry, honorable methods and intrinsic worth, he has gained the confidence of his fellow citizens and richly merits the distinct regard in which he is held.
In 1892 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Chrystal to Miss Martha Baker, a daughter of Andrew A. and Mary (Kanouse) Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Chrystal are well and favorably known in Summit, where they enjoy the kind regard and high esteem of a large number of friends.
GEORGE WELLINGTON DILLINGHAM,
the well known publisher, was born in 1841, in Bangor, Maine, where his father, Nathaniel H. Dillingham, still lives. He died at his home in Summit, New Jersey, on Friday evening, December 27, 1896, aged fifty-four years.
In the fall of 1858, he went to Boston, and became clerk in the store of Crosby, Nichols & Company, afterward Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company, at that time one of the leading firms in New England. In
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1861 he entered the employ of A. K. Loring, then at 319 Washington street, Boston, with whom he remained until 1864, when he entered the publishing house of G. W. Carleton. On Mr. Carlton's retirement, in 1886, Mr. Dillingham became sole proprietor, and added to the business prosperity which had followed the firm from the time of its establishment by Rudd & Carleton, in 1857.
Mr. Dillingham married, in 1867, Miss Helena W. Ayer, of Bangor, Maine, whose father is president of the Second National Bank, of that place. His wife, a son, and two daughters survive him.
Frank Ayer Dillingham, the son, was born in New York city, December 31, 1869. He received his preliminary education at Dr. Collisen's school, New York city, and when thirteen years of age came with his parents to Summit, New Jersey, where he now resides. In 1887 he entered Yale College and was graduated from that institution in 1891, with the degree of A. B., and in 1894 he was graduated from Columbia Law School, with the degree of LL. B. After his graduation he continued the study of law in the office of Cravath & Houston, New York city, and in 1895 formed a partnership with Ralph S. Rounds, of the New York bar, with offices at No. 96 Broadway, New York city.
On January 23, 1896, Mr. Dillingham was married to Louise G. Bukley, daughter of Charles E. Bukley of Summit, New Jersey.
NEWTON WOODRUFF,
a well known resident of Summit, New Jersey, was born in Westfield township, on the 15th of August, 1858, and is a son of James Marsh and Margaret Cleveland (Darby) Woodruff. His paternal grandparents were David C. and Sarah (Marsh) Woodruff, of Springfield, New Jersey, while his maternal grandparents were Captain John Darby and Hannah (Hand) Darby, of Scotch Plains.
His preliminary education was received in the private schools of Summit, which was further added to by a course of study in the Peddie Institute, at Hightstown, New Jersey. Upon leaving school he took up the vocation of journalism, and in 1883 established the Summit Record, at Suminit, conducting the same until 1885. In 1886 he inoved to Chicago, and there continued in the newspaper business until 1893. Returning to Summit, the subject of this review was, in March, 1896, elected justice of the peace for the county of Union, and has con- tinued to fill that office to the satisfaction of his constituents.
His marriage took place on April 26, 1882, when he was united to Miss Lyda May Smith, a daughter of Thaddeus C. and Elizabeth C. (McKirgan) Smith. The two children of this union are: Ilka Eloise, born at Summit on March 27, 1885, and Ralph DeWitt, born on Feb- ruary 26, 1892, at Chicago, Illinois.
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CHAPTER XXX.
FANWOOD TOWNSHIP.
HIS township was set off from Westfield in 1887. The first election took place in 1878, and the officers chosen were as follows: Town clerks,-Thomas J. Nicholl, 1878-9; J. A. Baker, 1880-82. Chosen freeholders,-C. W. L. Martine, 1878, 1880-82 ; Stites M. Parse, 1879. Assessors,-John L. Darby, 1878, 1881 ; Samuel M. Ball, 1877; Tappan Townsend, appointed in 1879, in Ball's place ; John Robison, 1880-82. Collectors,-Joseph Clark, 1878; C. A. Smith, 1872 ; George R. Nicholl, 1880. Inspectors of election, -- Benjamin Connett, 1878-80; William Thorn, 1878; Daniel H. Terry, 1879-81 ; Charles H. French, 1881-2; Edward Miller, 1882. Town Committee,-Levi Darby, 1878; Jacob D. French, 1878; Joseph A. Patterson, 1878 ; Isaac Lambert, 1878; Lewis W. Miller, 1879-81 ; Stites M. Parse, 1878; Henry C. Randolph, 1879-80 ; John J. Marslı, 1879-81 ; Daniel S. Scudder, 1882 ; William C. Stanbery ; John L. Darby, 1880. Judges of election,-Richard H. Nodyne, 1878; W. D. Jolinston, 1879-80; George R. Nicholl, 1881-2.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The name of Scotch Plains is derived from the nationality of its original settlers. In the year 1684 a number of Scotch emigrants, chiefly persons of education and distinction at home, landed at Amboy, and went into the wilderness to select a suitable location for a new settlement. Arriving at the foot of the First mountain, they proceeded to take possession of the tract of land including the whole of what is now occupied by Scotch Plains and Plainfield. Some of these pioneers, among whom we find the names of Barclay, Gordon, Forbes and Fullerton, were interested as proprietors of the province, and became afterward well known as officers connected with the government. Attracted by the inviting character of both soil and climate, the associates of Elizabethtown, on the east, and the residents of Piscataway, on the south, began, before many years, to push out their settlement in this direction. In or about the year 1689 came the families of Williamn Darby, Recompense Stanbery, John Lambert, John Dennis, John Stanbery, Henry Crosby, Michael Parse or Pierce, Jolin Sutton, Jr., Isaac Manning, Mary Brodwell, Sarah DeCamp, Samuel Doty or Doughty, Joseph Drake, Jeames Miller, Abraham Hampton, John
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
Blackford, Joseph Randolph, William Cole, Peter Willcoxsie or Willcox, and a few others who came afterward, and whose names are now known in this township at the present time, are Mash or Marsh, Dolbear, Terry, Terrill, Squires, Hunter, Miller, Pearson, Roll, Frazer or Frazee, and Maxwell.
William Cole, or " Master Cole," was a surveyor and schoolmaster. He organized one of the first schools in the township and taught for a number of years. His school was in Scotch Plains. The Jackson school, on the Terral road, and the Willow Grove school, in the neighborhood of Lambert's Mills, established in 1814, were among the earlier schools of the town.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first movement on record for the dissemination of Baptist views was made in 1742. A subscription paper for the building of a "First-Day Baptist Meeting House" on the east side of Green river, bearing date 4th day of August in that year, is still in possession of the church. This movement originated with members of the Piscata- way church living at Scotch Plains, and the next year the first church edifice was erected. The first members appear to have been John Dennis, William Darby, John Lambert, Recompense Stanbery, John Stanbery, John Sutton, Jr., Henry Crosby, Isaac Manning, Mary Brodwell, Mary Dennis, Tibiah Sutton, Mary Green, Catharine Man- ning, Sarah DeCamp and Sarah Perce or Pierce.
Soon after the organization of this church, Benjamin Miller, a licentiate, was called to the pastorate, and ordained February 13, 1748. Mr. Miller was born in the neighborhood of Piscataway, about the year 1715, and during his connection with this church nearly three hundred members were added. His pastorate extended over thirty-four years, and ended only with his life. He died November 14, 1781, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. A plain brown-stone tablet, a few feet north of where the old church stood, covers his remains. The inscrip- tion on the stone is as follows:
In Memory of Rev. Bemjamin Miller, Died Nov. 14, 1781, After a pastorate of thirty-four years of this church. If grace and worth and usefulness Could mortals screen from death's arrest, Miller had never lain in dust, Though characters inferior must.
The next pastor, Rev. William Van Horne, came November 7, 1784, but it was not until December 15, 1785, that he entered fully upon his labors, his salary being fixed at two hundred and fifty dollars,
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with firewood and the use of parsonage and lot of fifteen acres. He remained until September, 1807,-uearly twenty-two years,-resigning on account of failing health.
July 1, 1808, Rev. Thomas Brown took charge of the church. He remained its pastor for more than twenty years, and during this time, as a testimony to his faithfulness, nearly two hundred were added to its number of members. He died January 17, 1831.
The Rev. Jolin Rogers succeeded to the vacant charge about the middle of August, 1829. He was a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1783. He remained until June, 1841, when he resigned to take charge of the feeble church at Perth Amboy. The church regretted his removal, as he had been an excellent pastor, nearly two hundred having been baptized into the fellowship of this church during his ministry. The fifth pastor was the Rev. John Wivel, who was born in England, and came to New York in 1840. He assumed the pastorate in March, 1842, and remained about a year and a half, within which time the membership rose to two hundred.
May 2, 1844, Rev. William E. Locke became the pastor. He remained at Scotch Plains until September 1, 1849, when lie accepted a call and removed to Amenia, New York, and after- ward joined the Presbyterian denomination. In 1844 this church withdrew from the New York Association and united with the East New Jersey Association, where it has since remained. In 1850 the Rev. Joshua E. Rue, from Sandy Ridge, New Jersey, removed to Scotch Plains. He continued as pastor of this church four years, and was very successful in his work. The number of members in 1854 was one hundred and forty-six. Rev. James F. Brown, D. D., was the next pastor. He was born in Scotch Plains, July 4, 1819, and in April, 1854, became pastor of this church. He was in charge six years, and during his stay continuous revivals added many to the church.
Rev. William Luke, a graduate of Rochester University, in 1854, came to Scotch Plains in December, 1860. During his pastorate the Westfield Baptist Society was organized and a number were dismissed to that infant church. Mr. Luke's pastorate was a successful one. He retired from this church in 1867, and died at Wappingers Falls, New York, May 16, 1869. His last words were: "The victory is mine." The Rev. Joseph C. Buchanan, D. D., entered upon his work in Scotch Plains, July 1, 1867. During his active, earnest pastorate many were baptized, and the erection of the new church was commenced and completed. He resigned September 1, 1878, to accept the call of the Pemberton Baptist church, where he still remains.
Upon the completion of this brick church edifice, in 1871, the old church was sold, a portico was added and the building internally altered to meet the requirements of the district public school, a view of which
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as such is here given. Subsequently a handsome and commodious brick school building was erected by the district, and the old church passed, by purchase, into the possession of Dr. J. Ackerman Coles, a grandson of Dennis Coles, Esq., who was one of its original trustees and a liberal contributor toward its erection, in 1817. Dr. Coles, whose father, Dr. Abraham Coles, was largely instrumental in the erection of the present church edifice, has had the old building thoroughly repaired for the benefit of the Young Men's Christian Association of Scotch Plains. The Scotch Plains Baptist church seems to have been a pioneer in the cause of temperance, as well as foreign and home inissionary work. The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of this mother of the first Baptist church
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OLD SCOTCH PLAINS BAPTIST CHURCH
in New York and of other churches, was appropriately celebrated on the 5th of August, 1897.
Rev. Uriah B. Guiscard was called to the pastorate of this church April 29, 1879, and accepted the position early in August of the same year. During his pastorate the church lost by death three tried and honored deacons, viz .: Jared S. Stout, Henry Hetfield and L. H. K. Smalley. He resigned his charge March 26, 1882. During his admin- istration a fine-toned bell was placed in the tower of the church, mainly by his efforts. The cemetery also was surrounded with a neat iron fence. Rev. James H. Parks, D. D., was born in the city of New York, July 13, 1829. He settled with the Scotch Plains church the second
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week in January of the year 1883, and resigned the pastorate December 31, in the year 1893.
In the year 1888 Matthias Frazee L'ee, an old member of the church, died, and by liis will made her the residuary legatee of an estate estimated to be worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars or more. This will was drawn up by Mr. Lee's legal adviser, and was made and executed absolutely without the knowledge of the church or any of its members, except only the testator himself. He was a bachelor, and had no one dependent upon him. He was under no obligation to any of his relatives, but, notwithstanding this fact, his will was contested, and the small portion of the original estate which finally came to the church, enabled the trustees to obey the first condition of the legacy, by paying the debt of the church. The balance of the fund is held by the terms of the will "to be used by said church in spreading the gospel."
Another event which marked the pastorate of Dr. Parks, and seemed to characterize it as the era of legacies, was that of the death of James C. Lyon, which took place July 7, 1890. He was a former member of the church, and he made the church the residuary legatee under his last will; and so, in due season, and in conformity with the will of the testator, his executor turned over to the church the residue of the estate, valued at about ten thousand dollars. This legacy came as a free gift, untrammeled by any restrictions or limitations.
The present pastor, Rev. James S. Braker, entered upon his pastor- ate in 1894. He was born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1863, and was educated at Bucknell University and Crozer Theological Seminary. He accepted the call of this church in April, 1894. By hearty coopera- tion and helpful generosity, the beneficences of the church under his pastorate liave materially increased. The benevolences of the anniver- sary year have been the largest in its history.
The present membership of the Scotch Plains church is one hundred and sixty-eight. One year ago a Christian Endeavor Society was formed, with one hundred and one members. The Sunday school is in a flourishing condition.
The present officers of the church are as follows: Pastor, Rev. J. S. Braker; deacons, William Archbold, Dr. J. Ackerman Coles, David Hand; church clerk, George L. Dunn; treasurer, George E. Hall; trustees, James D. Cleaver, president; Dr. F. W. Westcott, Norman Dunn, Alfred D. Beeken, W. T. Banks, J. P. Bornman and F. W. Happle.
The first house of worship was erected in 1743, its site being the same as that of the second edifice. The congregation having increased rapidly under Mr. Miller's preaching, it was soon found necessary to secure minore ample accommodations. Accordingly, in the early part of 1759, the house was much enlarged, and the roof and sides covered with
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cedar shingles, and other improvements made. The seats were sold to pay the cost of these repairs. This house stood without further import- ant alteration until the winter of 1816-17, when it was totally destroyed by fire. Subscription papers were at once circulated, most of the neces- sary funds were easily secured, and a contract signed for the building of a new house, to be finished by December Ist of that year. This house was built in the best manner, is thirty-nine feet by forty-eight feet in size, with galleries on three sides; roof and sides, like the former building,
THE SCOTCH PLAINS BAPTIST CHURCH
covered with cedar shingles, and cost two thousand four hundred and ninety-two dollars. Some twenty years ago the large windows on either side of the pulpit were closed up and a vestibule cut off from the main room in front. In 1866 a belfry and bell were added.
The growing wants of the congregation called for the renovation of the old house or the building of a new one. Several attempts were made in that direction, but, owing to the war and other causes, nothing was accomplished until a number of years had passed. In 1870 it was
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decided to build anew. In 1871 the present beautiful house was erected. The house stands on a fine corner near the old one, is Gothic in style, with clear story and transept, and corner tower and spire. The size is fifty feet by one hundred and ten feet, including the lecture room in the rear, the main room fifty feet by seventy feet, with recess pulpit; spire, one hundred and twenty feet in height; seating capacity, five hundred. The material is pressed brick, with Ohio stone and white-brick trim- mings, slated roof and spire. The cost, including furniture and organ, exclusive of grounds, was about thirty thousand dollars. Opposite the church is the old brown-stone manse, one hundred and eleven years old, intact as it was when first built.
BURIAL GROUND.
There are a few private plots, but these have, for a number of years, been closed, no more burials being made in them. The public burying ground surrounding the Baptist church was opened at an early day. Here rests generation after generation. Here lies the dust of the pioneers who cut the timber and cleared the land in this beautiful valley. The ground comprises some three acres. Many of the graves are without headstones, and they may be those of the first laid away. A few of the stones are broken, and the inscriptions on the earliest cannot now be copied. The following inscriptions are from some of the old stones :
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