History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 58

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 58
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 58

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The "meeting-house" of the Methodist society had been built soon after the organization of the church, directly east of and almost adjoining his own house, on Water Street, a short distance below the Adelphian Academy, that occupied in early days the site of the present spacious market-house. It was a small, un- pretending frame building, adapted to the wants of a feeble congregation. In this humble structure Mr. Morrell took delight, once at least every Sabbath, in

preaching " a free and full salvation" to all who came. At the time of his return to the town Mr. Austin was preaching in the Presbyterian Church. When the congregation voted against continuing him in their service, his friends procured for him the use, during the afternoon and evening of every Sabbath, of the Methodist Church, and at an expense of fifty pounds, obtained by subscription, finished the gallery of the church. The division in the Presbyterian Church brought quite a number of families to attach them- selves to the lively and energetic ministry of Mr. Morrell after Mr. Austin's final removal from the town.

During a period of more than thirty-four years from the time of his locating here Mr. Morrell con- tinned in the faithful discharge of his duties as a Christian minister, rarely failing to preach once every Sabbath until his eighty-seventh year. As " Father Morrell" he was known, revered, and greatly honored by all classes of people in the town, many from the other churches, the young as well as the old, resorting frequently to hear the old soldier discourse of the great salvation. He took an active part in all measures for the improvement of the town, and es- pecially for the advancement of religion. On all patriotic occasions-Fourth of July celebrations and the like-he was sure to be present. During the war of 1812-15 his counsels and other services were freely tendered and were invaluable. So late as July 4, 1828, at fourscore years of age, he delivered an oration in the Presbyterian Church, full of patriotic fire and worthy of the occasion.

After the completion of his fourscore years and ten he wrote, Jan. 1, 1838, in his admirably-kept journal as follows:

" Through the tender mercy of God I have lived to see the beginning of another year, being now ninety years, one month, and nine days old, -a longer period than any of our family have lived. I have many things to be thankful for, my life being prolonged to so advanced an age, having the faculties of my mind in perfect exercise, my health toleralily good, sleep sound, appetite good, my wife in health, my chil- dren all religious and in health, my son successful as a preacher, my soul devoted to God, and everything in plenty of temporal things. Would to Ood I was more thankful. more holy, more heavenly-minded. This morning I have devoted my soul and body to God; and though I anı unable to preach as formerly. yet I am endeavoring by grace to walk with God. The church here is in & low state. Lord, revive thy work in my soul, and in our and the other churches, for Christ's sake ! Amen and Amen."

On the 9th of August, 1838, after a severe illness of six months' duration, he fell asleep in perfect pcace, having lived ninety years, eight months, and seven- teen days, and having been a faithful and honored minister of the gospel more than fifty-two years.

He was a man of marked personal appearance. " He was rather short in stature, but strongly built. His neck was short, his head not large, his eye bright and blue, his lips thin, and his whole appearance in- dicative of much more than ordinary firmness. He always wore a covering on his head, like a smoking- cap, from beneath which his hair fell gracefully on

) Then stetioned at New York City, and the following two years pre- siding vIder of the district.

235

THE CITY OF ELIZABETH.

his neck. For his age his step was quick and his conversation vivacious. He was neat in person, and always appeared as if dressed for company. He wore a long frock-coat, buttoned to his chin, and, without the least ostentation, was a man of the old school. His memory was retentive to the last, and his senses unimpaired by years."

He was thrice married. The name of his first wife, whom he married about Oct. 1, 1769, has not been preserved. She was the mother of two children,- Elizabeth B. (born July 22, 1770, and died Feb. 2, 1799) and Catherine (born Feb. 29, 1772, married Benjamin Wade, and died Nov. 21, 1800, “ rejoicing in the hope of a blissful immortality"). The date of her death has not been ascertained.

He married again (Bishop Asbury officiating) May 24, 1802, Lydia, a daughter of George Frazee, of Westfield. She was born March 20, 1774, and had three children,-Francis Asbury (born June 4, 1804, and died Sept. 11, 1805), Catherine (born Oct. 31, 1805, and married to Rev. William A. Wilmer), and Fran- cis Asbury, second (born July 27, 1807, and married Mary, a daughter of Jonathan Griffith). The latter was a worthy minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.1 Mrs. Lydia Morrell died Oct. 11, 1808.

The bereaved husband then married, at Belleville, N. J., Oct. 4, 1809, Eunice, the widow of Theodorus James Hamilton, a well-known merchant of this town. She was the daughter of Mr. Uzal Woodruff and Elizabeth, the daughter of Samuel Ogden and Hannah Hatfield. Their only child, Eunice Theodo- sia (born Dec. 13, 1811), became, April 12, 1838, the second wife of the Hon. Apollos Morrell Elmer, of this town, a grandson of Rev. Jonathan Elmer. Mrs. Morrell outlived her husband about twelve years.2

First Baptist Church, Elizabeth.3-In 1844, El- kanah Drake, a thorough Baptist, and a member of the church at Mount Bethel, came to Elizabeth. Being zealous for the cause, but few months elapsed before he established a Baptist meeting in the "Select School" room in Union Street. Rev. John Wivell, pastor at Scotch Plains, is said to have preached the first sermon to seven or eight persons. Then supplies were ob- tained for a time and preached to congregations vary- ing from twelve to eighteen. Then came a young Brother Seeley, a licentiate and student, who spent some time endeavoring to develop and concentrate the little Baptist strength of the community.

On June 5, 1842, delegates from eight Baptist Churches of the vicinity convened in the "Select School" roomn as a council, and fifteen persons having presented letters from the Baptist Churches of Rah-

way, Mount Bethel, and Scotch Plains, it was resolved "That we proceed to recognize this body as a Gospel Church." The names of the fifteen were as follows : Isaac Ball, Sarah Ball, Mary E. M. Ball, John W. Boyleston, Catharine Boyleston, Elkanah Drake, Sarah Drake, Elizabeth Faitoute, David S. Higgins, Margaret Higgins, Rebecca Higgins, Caleb Jeffrey, Julia Jeffrey, Rachel Ketcham, and Martha Williams. Of these, Margaret Higgins and Sarah Drake are still members of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Boyleston and Mrs. Ketcham have removed from town. The rest have gone to their reward.

Recognition services were held in the afternoon of the day on which the council met. Rev. E. M. Bar- ker, of Samptown, preached the sermon ; Rev. John Wivell gave the hand of fellowship; and Rev. D. T. Hill, of Plainfield, addressed the church. The same day David S. Higgins was chosen deacon and Elkanah Drake clerk of the church.

June 7th the church was received into the East New Jersey Baptist Association, and was also prom- ised by the Board of the State Convention one dollar for every Sabbath they should have preaching. The board continued to aid the church for twelve years, the amount of the appropriations varying according to the necessities of the case. In a little while the church began to contribute to the treasury of the Con- vention, though still receiving aid themselves. The total amount received from the Convention was $1111.83. One of the first requisites for the new church was a place of worship. This was secured by the purchase and remodeling of the select school room. So promptly did they act that the building was dedicated Nov. 16, 1843, Rev. S. H. Cone, D.D., preaching the sermon from 2 Cor. viii. 9. This build- ing was occupied about fourteen years. The title was first held by individual brethren, but on Feb. 15, 1845, the Society of the First Baptist Church was organized, and has since, by its official representatives, conducted the financial affairs of the church. The society was incorporated April 25, 1848.

Sept. 20, 1843, Charles Cox was called as the first pastor. He was ordained Jan. 23, 1844; the next Lord's Day the first baptism in the history of the church took place. The pastor's wife and Miss Ann Holton were baptized in Elizabeth Creek ; a large concourse gathered to witness the ordinance, and many of the residents of this stronghold of Pedo- baptists saw a scriptural baptism for the first time. During the brief but faithful ministry of Mr. Cox the church increased to thirty-one members, and a Sunday-school was organized in the latter part of 1844.

Rev. Edward Conover was the next pastor. A se- ries of meetings in the winter resulted in quite a number of conversions; but the doctrines preached by Mr. Conover being objectionable to many he soon closed his labors.

The next experience of the church was sadly un-

1 Died at Long Branch, N. J., Dec. 12, 1881, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Ilis remains were interred st Elizabeth, N. J., December 15th. 2 Sprague's Annals, vil. 145-50. Wakeley's Lost Chapters of Ameri- can Methodism, 397-401, etc. N. J. Journal, Nos. 892, 1142, 1144, 1354. N. J. Conference Memorial, pp. 9-22. MS. Letters of Rev. F. A. Morrell and Mr. F. King. Littell's Passaic Valley, p. 150.

3 By J. C. Allen, pastor.

236

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

fortunate. A licentiate, Mr. Tibbals, was settled as pastor, but soon developed strong Antinomian doc- trines and was obliged to leave; but so strong was his influence that the church was forced to exclude several who held his views.

After a period in which Rev. Joseph Perry supplied the pulpit, Rev. William H. Yuston was called to the pastorate. The work before him was largely recupera- tive, and faithfully did he perform that work. During his pastorate a debt of eight hundred dollars was paid, and he left the church in a much better condition every way.

Again Mr. Perry supplied the church for a season, and then Rev. J. H. Waterbury became pastor. He was an earnest, prayerful, faithful minister, and his labors told for God and for souls.

The church also began to plan greater things for God and the truth, and some steps were taken towards securing a more eligible site and building a new house of worship. With the advice of the Convention Board and aid of several prominent Baptists of the State, a lot was purchased at Jersey Street, and the pastor was commissioned to raise money to build the house. This work was but half done when he was prostrated by disease which resulted in his death. This defeated the building enterprise.

Through some misunderstanding the church and the Convention now became estranged, and the board of the Convention feeling that Elizabeth was a dis- couraging field for Baptists withdrew the aid which from the lowness of the treasury it could scarcely give under any circumstances.

The small and struggling church now united with the Lyons Farms Church in supporting a pastor and sharing his labors. Under this arrangement Rev. T. S. Rogers served as pastor two years. But the church was not harmonious, financial difficulties increased, and the church-life reached a very low ebb in all respects. Even disbanding was seriously proposed.

But in June, 1857, Rev. I. N. Hill was secured as pastor, and the drooping interests began to revive. He served nearly two years, during which time the church became united, and a lecture-room was built in Jersey Street at a cost of over three thousand dol- lars. Sept. 28, 1858, Rev. Rufus Babcock, D.D., preached the dedication sermon, and the baptistery was used on the following Sabbath.

Rev. George W. Clark next assumed charge as pas- tor. The church had thus far been afflicted with most of the evils and few of the advantages of an itinerancy in the pastorate. But happily a change was now in- angurated, the wisdom of which is fully sustained by the subsequent history of the church. Under the wise direction of Brother Clark the church increased in numbers and in real efficiency. While previously some slight attention had been given to benevolent objects, now a " Missionary Concert" was regularly maintained, and in 1864 a plan for systematic benevo- lence was inaugurated for the first time in the history

of the church. In 1865 a debt of two thousand seven hundred dollars was paid, and the church was enabled to enter more fully into spiritnal work. The fruit was the first really extended revival enjoyed, and during the year 1866 a large number were baptized. The church, so small and feeble before, was still by no means large, yet the same year witnessed the with- drawal of forty-eight members to constitute a new interest, now known as the Central Baptist of Eliza- beth. The following ycar Brother Clark resigned and was succeeded to the ninth pastorate by Rev. Theodore A. K. Gessler. He brought youthful vigor and con- secrated talent to his work, and with a band of help- ers, much improved by the judicious training of Dr. Clark, went on to dare and do in Zion. It soon became evident that a larger and more tasteful edifice was needed if the church would realize the highest effi- ciency, and to this work both pastor and people ad- dressed themselves. It had been intended to erect a building in front of the chapel so long occupied in Jersey Street, but other counsels prevailed. The result was the sale of the old property and the erec- tion of the fine and commodious structure now ocen- pied by the church on the corner of Union Avenue and Prince Street. The entire cost, including lot, was in round numbers sixty-four thousand dollars, of which nearly thirty thousand was left unprovided for, to become in time a source of serious trouble. It is at present an open question whether the property will be saved to the church or not, but the trustees are hopeful and all are determined to " Hold the Fort" if possible.

The dedication services were held Jan. 3, 1872. Sermons were preached by Rev. Drs. H. M. Gallagher and P. S. Henson. Addresses were made by several others, and the prayer of dedication was offered by the pastor.

In 1871 thirteen members were dismissed to organ- ize a new church at Elizabethport.

In 1874 the Lord poured out his Spirit upon the people most graciously, and as a result sixty-three were baptized. Brother Gessler continued his labors, receiving additions to the church from time to time, until Jan. 1, 1880, when he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y. He left a united people, whose cordial esteem he carried with him, and whose warm hearts were ready to welcome his successor to the tenth pastorate.

Feb. 22, 1880, Rev. J. C. Allen entered upon the pastoral charge. What the result of this union will be is known only to the Great Head of the church.

The following brethren have served the church as deacons : David S. Higgins, Hull Holton, Isaac F. Littell, David Richardson, Benjamin Winans, J. J. Coyne, J. M. Lathrop, George C. Stone, Jonathan Ives, C. H. Rollinson, James Noxon, W. H. Pooler.

The following have acted as clerks of the church : Elkanah Drake, John Brittin, David Richardson, Eugene Suyder, B. J. Spaulding, John Tetlow, J. A. Wolverton, James Sloan, A. W. Dimock, W. W.

237

THE CITY OF ELIZABETH.

Weaver, James Randell, George Peters, E. S. New- berry, T. J. Runyon, A. J. Bicknell.

The present officers of the church are : Pastor, J. C. Allen ; Deacons, Jonathan Ives, James Noxon, C. H. Rollinson, W. H. Pooler ; Clerk, John Brittin ; Superintendent of Sunday-schools, William B. Da- land; Treasurer, E. C. Jewett.

The church is sound in the faith and united in heart. Its comparative progress is shown in the following :

TABULAR VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

June 5, 1843, number of constituent members, 15.

The pastoral office has been filled as follows, and with the additions annexed respectively to each name :

LETTER.

BAPTISM.

RESTORED.

| TOTAL.

Rev. Charles Cox, Jan., 1844, to April. 1845.

....

Edward Conover, July, 1845, to Dec., 1846.

12 ....

E. Tibbals, -, 1847, -

Wni. H. Turton, Feb., 1848, to Sept., 1850.

J. H. Waterbury, March, 1851, to Jan., 1855

T. S. Rogers, April, 1855, to April, 1857 ..

1. N. Hill, June, 1857, to April, 1859 ..

117

11 209

Theo. A. K. Gessler, Aug., 1868, to Dec., 1879

144 148

11 303

J. C. Allen, Feb., 1880 ....

Increase during periods not covered by any pastorate ... 6 14

Total increase.

338 286 32 656

Total number of persons having been connected with the church, 671. Present membership, 279.

Broad Street Baptist Church .- A church under this name was organized in August, 1866, and wor- shiped at first in the large hall of the court-honse. The corner-stone of a church edifice on East Jersey Street was laid April 23, 1868. In June, 1867, Rev. D. Henry Miller, D.D., of Trenton, N. J., was chosen pastor. He entered upon his work in November, and was installed Dec. 19, 1867. He was succeeded by Rev. H. M. Gallagher, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who was the last pastor.

The church got heavily in debt and broke up, the property being sold in 1866 upon foreclosure of a mortgage of twenty-five thousand dollars. It was bought in by Joseph Battin, and held some time in hopes that the church would be able to redeem it. But this not being done it was finally exchanged with on East Jersey Street and one on Elizabeth Avenue. The Broad Street Baptist Church edifice is now occu- pied by St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Central Baptist Church of Elizabeth was organized in 1877 with sixty members; George W. Kiersted, J. Madison Watson, Thomas O. Conant, deacons. The first trustees were Frederick Foster, Adam D. Coykendall, J. Madison Watson.

Rev. John Mckinney, the present and only pastor, is a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1874, and of Rochester Theological Seminary in the class of 1877. He was ordained and installed Oct. 19,

1877, on which day the church was formally recog- nized as a regular Baptist Church. At present they worship in a rented church building, corner of Jeffer- son and East Jersey Streets. The membership of the church is one hundred and forty-one; Sunday-school, one hundred and fifty.

Fourth Baptist Church .- In the year 1873 a few colored members of the Baptist Church desired to have services and a regular pastor. A hall was hired, and since then they have met regularly in the Library Hall on Broad Street. Their membership is about forty. Rev. C. Miller is their present pastor.

East Baptist Church, situated on corner of First Avenue and Fulton Street. This church was organ- ized in 1878. The membership is small, abont thirty. Rev. H. W. Jones supplied them for a few months, when Rev. W. H. Marshall came, and remained until the present pastor, Rev. Adam Chambers, came, in 1880. They have the prospect of increasing, having a good congregation and quite a large Sabbath-school.

Roman Catholic .- ST. MARY'S CHURCH.1-Al- though the borough of Elizabeth is one of the oldest settlements in New Jersey, still the Catholic Church cannot boast of having made any progress within her borders until comparatively late years. The Catholic missionary in search of the scattered sheep of the fold would pass her by, unable to discover within her limits the object of his search. In the year 1829 three Catholics were known to reside in this town, who, when their religious principles were discovered, were obliged to leave, as no employment would be given them. The first influx of Catholicity was cansed by the construction of the New Jersey Rail- road in the year 1833; and by this means the inhabit- ants, instead of being disabused of their prejudices, became scandalized at the inebriety and other vices and excesses of the laborers who professed themselves Catholics, and thus their antipathy to religion in- creased. The construction of this work aroused the dormant energies of the neighborhood. An impetus was given to agricultural, manufacturing, and com- mercial pursuits. Laborers were in demand. Necessity and interest overcame proscriptive intolerance. The proscribed race was received into employ, in the hopes that it would be enlightened. Those who were weak enough to deny their faith were indulged in their ex-

in numerous cases permanently existing ; but those whose sense of rectitude withstood the tempting offer endured as long as necessity or interest compelled them the taunts of their persecutors, and then left their places to those whose indigence compelled them to accept any situation that offered. During the time of the construction of the New Jersey Railroad, and also of the Central Railroad, the sick-calls were at- tended to by the late Rev. P. Moran, then the only

1 The principal part of this church history is substantially that pre- pared by the firet pastor, Rev. Isaac P. Howell, and published in 1866.

George W. Clark, June, 1859, to March, 1867.

the Methodists for two other church buildings, one | cesses, and evidences that they did are unfortunately

238

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

priest in Newark. In the year 1842 Rev. Yldephon- sus Medrano, then stationed on Staten Island, visited the few scattered Catholics in this neighborhood. He celebrated for them occasionally the rites of religion ; but unfortunately the only place he could procure for the purpose was a low tavern on the outskirts of the town, and his visitations were attended by the most un- favorable circumstances, not only to his own personal interest, but also to the most vital interests of religion. A few pious Catholics wept over the degraded condi- tion to which religion was reduced, their most stren- uous efforts to elevate it having proved ineffectual. In the fall of 1843 several of the most zealous visited the Bishop of New York, the late lamented Arch- bishop Hughes; he encouraged them by promising them that he would in the spring send them a priest. In the spring of 1844 he ordained and sent to them their present pastor, Rev. Isaac P. Howell, with in- structions to visit that section of the country and report on the possibility of establishing a mission at Elizabethtown and another at Rahway. After con- siderable difficulty a small room in a house near the town was procured in which to celebrate mass. On Palm Sunday, 1844, a congregation of twenty-five assembled to greet their pastor and assist at the ; cants, two thousand. sacred rites of religion.

During the year 1844 there was somewhat of an increase in the congregation, and a collection was commenced in the fall to purchase a lot on which to build a church. In April, 1845, the basement wall of St. Mary's of the Assumption was laid, and by the first Sunday of the next Advent a substantial brick church, fifty feet square, was sufficiently completed to accommodate the congregation, which by this time had increased to about one hundred. The funds for the purchase of the lot were contributed by the con- gregation, but those for the construction of the build- ing were the charitable offerings of the faithful in New York, and of the different congregations in East New Jersey, and particularly from the laborers on the Morris Canal, solicited by the untiring exertions of the pastor. No sooner was the sign of our salvation erected on the new edifice than the Catholic popula- tion began to increase, and in a few years the church became too small. In the year 1847 the German por- tion of the congregation erected an edifice for them- selves, and in a short time were blessed with a pas or of their own. In the year 1851 a substantial brick school-house, two stories high, was erected alongside of St. Mary's Church. In the year 1858 collections were commenced for the enlargement and remodel- ing of the church and the erection of a pastoral resi- dence in the rear, fronting on Race Street. The spring of 1862 found the work completed, and now a beautiful church, one hundred and thirty-three feet long by sixty-six feet wide, and a spacious pastoral residence evince the zeal and charity of the congre- gation. In the meanwhile the eastern portion of the eity was not idle. The Catholics at the Port deter-

mined to have a church of their own; and soon, under the untiring exertions of their pastor, Rev. M. M. Wirzfeld, and the liberality of the flock, a spacious i church, school-house, and pastoral residence arose as if by magic. In 1844 the entire population of Eliza- bethtown was about five thousand, the Catholic pop- ulation only twenty-five. In the year 1866 the entire population of the city of Elizabeth was about fifteen thousand, and the Catholic population about four thousand. Probably the increase has been in about the same proportion to the present date.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 58

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224