History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 69

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 69
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 69

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During the pastorate of Brother Tolan there were received into the church by baptism seventy-three, by letter thirty-three; the total membership increased from one hundred and fifty-four to one hundred and ninety-two.

The same week that the above-mentioned council was called, a former pastor of the church, Rev. Wil- liam Rollinson, landed in New York on his return from California, having spent the six years of his ab- sence from them in labors at the West. The minds

of the church at once turned to him, and on the day the council met the church being then assembled gave him a unanimous call to resume the pastoral relation. After a few weeks of deliberation the call was accepted, and July 1, 1856, Brother Rollinson entered on a pastorate which continued for the eight and a half years that followed. The house of wor- ship was at once remodeled and improved at a cost of two thousand dollars, and with restored union in their ranks the church engaged with fresh ardor in the service of their Lord.

The records show the seven years which followed to have been the most prosperous period in the his- tory of the church. Brother Thomas W. Conway, afterwards ordained as pastor of the West Baptist Church, Staten Island, was employed by the church as missionary colporteur in the destitute neighbor- hoods about ; two Sunday-schools were maintained, one a mission school, which became the nucleus of the Bethany, now Irving Street, Baptist Church ; fre- quent prayer and other meetings held at out-stations extended the influence and usefulness of the church, while the work at the centre was not neglected. The results were shown in the increase of the church, which during this pastorate reached its greatest numerical strength.

In the midst of their prosperity the late civil war occurred. The extensive manufactories of Rahway, nearly all of which depended on Southern trade, were prostrated. In their letter to the Association in 1862 trial ; the business of many of our members has been for the time destroyed." It proved to be not only " for the time," but for all time; many in the church and more in the community were financially ruined. Still God's blessing rested on the united labors of pastor and people, and for another year they struggled on together, unwilling to sunder a relation which had 1 strengthened with each passing year; but finally, compelled by the increasing financial pressure, in November, 1863, Brother Rollinson resigned, and sub- sequently accepted the position of post chaplain at Fort Schuyler, where he continued till after the war had closed.

During this pastorate seventy-three were baptized, fifty-eight added by letter, and two restored; the membership increased from one hundred aud ninety- two to two hundred and thirty-five.

During two years, owing chiefly to the embarrass- ments of that stormy period of civil strife, the church remained without a pastor, yet the pulpit was regu- larly supplied, and the ordinary church life kept up. Sept. 10, 1865, a unanimous call was given to Rev. E. Everett Jones, by his acceptance of which the church was again blessed with an under-shepherd in whom all hearts were united. Brother Jones pre- ferred that his ordination should take place in the Spring Garden Baptist Church, Philadelphia, where his membership was held, and the church appointed

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Deacons White and Crane to represent them at the stalled as pastor of the Rahway Church with appro- priate services Oet. 5, 1865. gathered a return in their warm personal regard, the council. After the ordination Brother Jones was in- loss, if any, being in the lessened power of the pulpit. Still the church continued prosperous till, in the win- ter of 1873, the pastor's health became so impaired by a severe bronchial difficulty as to render it necessary for him to temporarily suspend his duties. The church cordially assented to his request for a leave of absence for three months, at the same time providing the means to enable him to spend the time in the milder climate of Florida.

The young pastor entered with whole-hearted en- ergy on the work before him, and under his leadership the church relieved itself of the debt which had ac- cumulated during the two preceding years, and at the same time extended its facilities for prosecuting the work of the gospel. It was not long before God's Spirit revisited the church, and the baptismal waters were often stirred. As during the business disasters many had removed or had gone into the army without taking their letters, a revision of the church register was ordered, and the names of all of whom no satis- factory account could be had were dropped from the record.

Nov. 18, 1866, letters of dismission were granted to seventeen members to unite in the organization of a Second Baptist Church, who, with a few from other churches, were subsequently recognized as a Baptist Church, now the Irving Street Church, Rahway, con- nected with the Central New Jersey Association.

Brother Jones continued with the church, enjoying many tokens of the divine favor in his ministry, till Oct. 1, 1868, when he resigned to take charge of the Bridgeport Baptist Church, Pa., from which he sub- sequently returned to this State, and is now the es- teemed pastor of the New Market Church in this Association. During his pastorate at Rahway there were added to the church by baptism thirty-six, by letter twenty-five, and by restoration two ; total mem- bership at its elose, one hundred and thirty-nine.

After an interval of sixteen months a call was ex- tended to Rev. C. G. Gurr, then pastor of Samptown, which he accepted, and at once assumed the duties of the position. The records of the church during this pastorate are too meagre to give much information as to its condition. There appear to have been no bap- tisms, and several troublesome eases of discipline, arising from a departure from the faith on the part of certain members, occupy most of the recorded pro- eeedings. April 29, 1870, Brother Gurr resigned for the purpose of visiting Great Britain. The church re- quested him to remain with them, but he persisting in his determination, on the 31st of July his resigna- tion was accepted. During this pastorate fourteen were added to the church by letter; the membership at its close numbered one hundred and thirty-six.

In January of the following year the church called Rev. E. A. Wheeler, who in response to their call commenced his labors Feb. 1, 1871. Soon a revived interest in spiritual things was experienced, followed hy aecessions to the church through baptism; these continued at brief intervals through the year, greatly encouraging the church.

Brother Wheeler's social disposition led him to de- vote his time largely to purely pastoral duties ; he was a frequent visitor in the homes of his people, and he

Brother Wheeler's earnest efforts during the second year of his pastorate were given to secure a new church edifice, the original building, erected more than forty years before, having become so worn and in many respects uncomfortable that both church and pastor felt it essential to their progress that better accommodations should be provided. Money was raised, and a lot of ground in what was deemed an eligible position was purchased, on which $1300 was paid, but the great commercial crisis which shortly followed, prostrating the business of the entire coun- try, together with the failure of their pastor's health, discouraged the church from proceeding.

In the spring of 1874 Brother Wheeler returned to Rahway with recruited health, and for a few months continued with the church, when he offered his resig- nation, to take effect August 1st. During his pas- torate thirty-five were baptized, thirty-seven received by letter, and four restored. The membership in- creased from one hundred and thirty-six to one hun- dred and seventy.

From Aug. 1, 1874, till June 1, 1875, the church was without a pastor, though much of the time the pulpit was regularly supplied by Rev. A. C. Lyon, whose kind spirit and wise counsels did much to cheer and animate the church under the difficulties occasioned by the severe pressure of the times and the discour- agements of their position. As the Irving Street Church was affected similarly by the difficulties com- mon at that period, there was in both churches a feel- ing that it might be wise to consolidate the two inter- ests in a single organization, and a proposal of that nature was made, committees of conference were ap- pointed by the two churches, who united on a plan of union, but which finally failed between the churches owing to their inability to agree in some details of the plan proposed.

At this juncture the church once more recalled their old pastor, Rev. William Rollinson, at that time set- tled in Newark, pledging their earnest co-operation in all measures necessary to secure the prosperity of the church. The call was accepted, and before the pastor had entered on his work among them a subscription of $5000, which was subsequently nearly doubled, was made towards the erection of a new house of wor- ship.

The following winter the church shared in a pow- erful revival of religion which extended to all the evangelical churches of the city. In the autumn of

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1876 work was commenced on the new building, which by the close of the year was sufficiently advanced to allow the church to hold its services in the lecture- room, and in June following the completed house was dedicated. It is a handsome structure of brick, ninety-one by fifty-two feet in extreme outside dimen- sions, tastefully finished, and complete in all its ap- pointments, and will long remain a monument of the zeal and devotion displayed by the church during the severest pressure of the trying period in which it was erected.

Of the period of this pastorate, which still continues, it is sufficient to add that the church has worked in perfect harmony with its pastor and with each other, and that they look hopefully towards a future which they regard as being bright with promise, yet leaving all, sunshine or shadow, to the control of Him whose faithfulness has never failed them. During this last pastorate there have been baptized twenty-one, added by letter thirty-eight, and by restoration one. The membership has increased from one hundred and seventy to one hundred and ninety. Since then the membership has increased to two hundred and ten.

Summary .- During the entire history of the church there have been baptized 511; received by letter, 315; restored, 12; making the total additions 830. There have been dismissed 328; died, 102; excluded, 86 ; making a total of 516. The number unaccounted for are those who, from unexplained absence, have been " dropped" at the different revisions of the church register.

The deacons of the church have been B. B. Moore, William S. Pangborn, S. E. Gibbs, Arbor Hoff, M. Decker, D. B. Coles, E. M. Noe, R. M. Crane, J. H. Wyckoff, E. Richardson, A. White, J. Pierson, L. I became the pastor. During his second year (1857) Hoff, A. W. Williams, Eli Pierce, A. C. Watson, L. J. Runyon, D. F. Coles, G. Marsh, Henry Watson, Joel Osborn.

The clerks of the church have been William Ross, i River, and bounded on the northwest by Lambertville

R. B. Moore, A. E. Brown, H. Holton, E. Noe, M. Decker, I. M. Clark, William Runyon, D. B. Coles, J. Pierson, W. W. Timmons, A. A. Rice, 1 .. Hoff, D. F. Coles, James A. Wilson, and George White.

The following persons have been licensed to preach the gospel : B. C. Morse, J. C. Brittell, D. T. Morrell, Ferris Scott, David Haynes, and J. T. Tingley.

The first board of trustees consisted of Charles Cox, Lewis Drake, M.D., Joel Clarkson, E. W. Frazee, William Marsh, and Thomas Ball. The present board is composed of J. L. Brown, William Mershon, Joel Osborn, D. F. Coles, T. Thorn, J. A. Wilson, and A. He was succeeded in the pastorate in 1864 by Rev. S. P. Barber.

Second Methodist Episcopal Church .- In the spring of 1849 thirty-two members were dismissed from the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Rah- way for the purpose of forming a second church in the lower part of the city. The new organization took the corporate name of "The Second M. E. Church of Rahway, N. J." The society enjoyed the gratuitous

services of a number of ministers, local and itinerant, until the presiding elder, Rev. Mr. Winner, appointed as a regular supply Rev. Frank Bottome, who had a short time previously arrived from England, and who has since attained distinction as a member of the New York Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Services were regularly held by the new society in the old Athenian Hall, since burned down, which stood on Main Street near the site of the Second Pres- byterian Church. About seventy persons were added to the church during the first year under the labors of the young pastor, and such was the interest manifested that a subscription was started for the erection of a church building by William M. Esler (still living and a member of the church), Henry Miller, and Daniel Wood, trustees.

At the session of the New Jersey Conference of 1850, Rev. A. L. Brice was appointed to the charge and re- mained two years. During his first year the church edifice was built upon the corner of Milton and Rail- road Avenues and Broad Street. It is of brick and cost about six thousand dollars, a sum which at that day meant no small sacrifice and faith on the part of the congregation. During Mr. Brice's second year the church was visited by an earnest revival.

In 1852, Rev. Fletcher Lummis was appointed pas- tor. He remained but one year. Although a South- erner by birth, he was a pronounced anti-slavery man and an uncompromising advocate of temperance. Rev. Henry M. Brown was appointed as his successor in 1853 and remained two years, his pastorate being memorable for one of the greatest revivals in the his- tory of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Wil- liam E. Perry in 1855, and in 1856 Rev. R. S. Arndt

the New Jersey Conference was divided into the New Jersey and Newark Conferences, the former embracing all that portion of the State south of the Raritan on the Delaware River, and the latter all the northern part of New Jersey, with small portions of Pennsyl- vania and New York States.

In 1858-59, Rev. John Scarlett was pastor of the church, and during his ministry the parsonage adjoin- ing the church on Broad Street was built at a cost of about three thousand dollars. In 1860-61, Rev. Thomas Walters was appointed to the charge. He was suc- ceeded in 1862-63 by Rev. B. O. Parvin, during the last year of whose ministry much religious interest was manifested. Mr. Parvin is still a resident of Rahway. H. Opdyke. J. Wesley Young became pastor in 1865, and remained two years. Much religious interest was felt both in the church and Sunday school, and special efforts were made in behalf of missions.

Rev. John S. Porter, D.D., was the pastor in 1867, '68, and '69, the pastoral term having been extended to three years as its maximum. During Mr. Porter's pastorate the entrance to the church was changed.

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Originally the entrance was made from what is now the basement, which is now several feet below the sidewalk, but was then several feet above it. But the improvements by the railroad company from year to year, and the great improvements in grading, etc., by the corporation necessitated the change of entrance. The present sightly front was constructed, the interior was remodeled and frescoed, and the lecture-room beantified. At the reopening Bishop James presided in the morning, and Rev. William Corbitt in the evening.

In 1870, Rev. B. O. Parvin entered upon his second pastorate of the church. Unnsnal religious interest was manifested during a portion of his third year (1872). During several months of this year also the pastor was not able to conduct religious services, and was assisted by George W. Smith, then of the Drew Theological Seminary, but now a member of the Newark Conference.

Under Rev. R. B. Lockwood, pastor in 1873, an ex- tensive revival prevailed and many were added to the church. During the three years, 1874, '75, and '76, of Rev. T. H. Landon's pastorate "the interest of the church was well sustained and meetings profitable." In 1877, Rev. J. W. Seran was appointed pastor ; he remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. D. Halleron, 1879, '80, and '81. During these years an effort has been made to discharge the debt npon the church, and considerable progress has been made in that direction, although it has not been entirely liqui- dated. One of the methods adopted has been a course of public lectures, which has yielded a fair profit to the society.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church .- This parish was organized in the year 1843, and the beautiful brick edifice erected on corner of Irving and Elm Streets. They have also a commodions chapel and rectory be- longing to the church. The valuation of the prop- erty is estimated about $30,000; sittings, 600; mem- bership, 160. The following have been the rectors: Revs. A. E. Ford, 1843; F. Ogilbey, 1844; Dr. Ed- mund W. Peet, 1844-55; Horace Hills, 1857; J. E. Homans, 1861-61 ; R. M. Abercrombie, 1863-74; R. G. Buenel, a few months; William H. Van Antwerp, 1874-81; Levi W. Norton, A.M., 1882. Senior War- den, Lewis Drake, M.D .; Junior Warden, John M. Tnff's.1

Church of the Holy Comforter .- This Episcopal parish was organized in the year 1873. A few meill- bers residing in the upper part of Rahway, desir- ing to have services regularly, built a neat edifice, naming it the Church of the Holy Comforter, on the corner of St. George's Avenue and Seminary Street. The parish is large, including Clark township, and the prospect in a few years of a large congregation. Communicants, thirty ; sittings, two hundred and fifty. Their first pastor was Rev. Mr. Broadwell, who

remained a few months. The present pastor, Rev. Evelyn Bartow, 1882.

Christ's Reformed Episcopal Church. -- This church was incorporated in 1875 by a few of the members withdrawing from St. Paul's Church. They have a neat edifice valued at $3500, with a member- ship of 50. The wardens are George W. Savage and Jonathan E. Hill. The following have been their pastors : Revs. Mason Gallagher, 1875; Edward Wil- son, 1876; George Howel, 1877 ; J. S. Harrison, 1880.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was organ- ized in 1858. They first worshiped in a hall until their frame edifice was erccted. It cost some $7000, with 175 pews, capable of holding 600 persons. It is situated in the centre of the city, npon Central Avenue and Campbell Street. The following have been the pastors: Revs. Father Mccarthy, 1858-60; Father Quin: Father Smith, D.D., 1873; and the present priest, Rev. Father McCosker, 1880.

Bethel Methodist Church, situated on Central Avenue, was built by colored Methodists in 1862. Their society is small, with a membership of about fifty. Revs. Joseph Palard, J. J. Tinman, - Howe, John Kamish, - Mills, and others, have been the pastors.

Zion Methodist Church was built for the col- ored people in 1871. They have a membership of twenty. Their edifice, which is neat, is located on Main Street. The Rev. Thomas Kelsey and Samnel J. Berry have been the ministers. There is a pros- pect of the two churches being united as one society.

Free Methodist Church .- This church was es- tablished about the year 1874. The Rev. Mr. Roberts, John T. Hanland, and others have supplied this church with occasional preaching. The membership is small. The church, which is of brick, was formerly used by the Universalist society, which has become ex- tinct ; sittings, two hundred and fifty ; valne of build- ing, three thousand five hundred dollars.

CHAPTER XLIII.

CITY OF RAHWAY .- ( Continued.)

Cemeteries .- The oldest memorial stone in Rah- way is that in the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church on St. George's Avenue, which bears the following inscription :

"IN THE YEAR 1724 JOHN FRAZEE

DEPARTED THIS LIFE, BEING FORTY-NINE."

A large number of memorial stones of early date show that the remains of many members of the Frazee family have been interred here. It is known that the Frazee family were among the original proprietors of land on the Rahway River in this vicinity. It is

1 After diligent application, the writer failed to obtain any records of this church.

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probable that they followed the example of many of the early settlers in this community in burying their dead on their own estate. As the interment of the remains of John Frazee occurred eighteen years he- fore the building of the church in 1742, the presump- tion is that this was the Frazee family burying-ground before it became the principal burying-place of the neighborhood. The Frazee family, in its several branches, may have donated the same and adjoin- ing space to the Presbyterian society when about to build, or the land was purchased from the family by the society for church and burial purposes.

There have been at least nine different purchases of land by the church added to the original plot, making an area, according to the city records, of thirteen and one-tenth acres. The names of persons making deeds to the trustees for these additions, with dates of in- denture and record, are as follows :

Oct. 9, 1824. John Y. Vantuyl made a deed to the trustees of the church for one acre of land he had pur- chased of Dr. David S. Craig and Joseph Shotwell, executors of the estate of John Anderson, deceased, for $200. Deed recorded Jan. 11, 1832, in Book I. 3 of Deeds for Essex County, pages 495-96.

July 17, 1844. Samuel Oliver and wife made a deed for two acres and forty-four one-hundredths for $366.50. Deed recorded May 2, 1845, in Book H. 6 of Deeds for Essex County, pages 24-25.

July 14, 1847. Samuel Oliver and wife made a deed for one acre and sixty five hundredths for $300. Deed recorded July 23, 1847, in Book Q. 6 of Deeds for Essex County, pages 529-30.

Feb. 26, 1848. Archer Miller and wife made a deed for lots Nos. 27 and 28, as described on map made for John High, Jr., and George H. Webb, each 25 feet front by 120 feet deep, for $170. Deed recorded Feb. 26, 1848, in Book U. 6 of Deeds for Essex County, pages 39-40.

June 2, 1853. Washington B. Oliver, executor for the estate of Samuel Oliver, deceased, made a deed to the trustees for three acres for $600. Deed re- corded Oct. 6, 1853, in Book R. 8 of Deeds for Essex County, pages 344-45.

March 31, 1854. Randolph De Camp and wife for lot No. 245, 25 by 120 feet, on High and Webb map, for $50. Deed recorded April 18, 1854, in Book X. 8 of Deeds, pages 406-8.

Sept. 15, 1855. Moses T. Crane and wife made a deed for lot No. 80, 25 by 150 feet, on High and Webb map, for $89. Deed recorded Sept. 5, 1855, in Book 213 of Deeds for Essex County, pages 181-83.

Sept. 1, 1862. Archer Miller and wife made a deed for lots Nos. 249 and 251 on High and Webh map, for $800. Deed recorded in clerk's office of Union County, N. J., Sept. 23, 1862, in Book 10 of Deeds, pages 414-15.

The land on which the present church aud parson- age are built, together with land continuing north to the Rahway River, making in all seventeen acres, was

purchased Nov. 18, 1830, from John Morris by Sam- uel Oliver and Job Squier for $1800, and by them sold to the trustees of the church for the same they gave for it. Deed made by John Morris, recorded Dec. 3, 1830, in Book E. 3 of Deeds for the county of Essex, pages 460-61.

It seems to have been a question of the past as to whether this place of burial could not be more effi- ciently managed by private individuals or corporate company than by the trustees of the church. In 1836 certain parties purchased several acres of land con- tiguous to the church burial-ground on the west, and offered lots in the same for sale. This enterprise was not successful, and the land reverted to Samuel Oliver, from whom it had been purchased. This tract with the several lots that had been sold in it was subse- quently purchased by the trustees. At a special parish meeting held April 25, 1860, "the trustees were authorized to dispose of all their rights in the cemetery belonging to the church to any company who will purchase the same and continue to use it as a cemetery, and bind themselves to expend in beau- tifying and improving it all the profits derived from the sales of lots for interment." This overture for negotiations, after having been open for four years, was rescinded at a parish meeting April 13, 1864.

During the year 1876 a neat cottage, constructed of material taken from the side galleries removed from the church, was erected in the cemetery, containing an office and waiting-room, also a room for storing all the implements of the sexton. In April, 1866, it was resolved to build the receiving-vault located on the new ground, facing the entrance from High Street.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 69

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