History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 74

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 74
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 74

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).

1 Rev. J. W. Dally's llist. of Woodbridge.

302

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Congress several months before, having no choice except to do that or be thrown into prison. Elijah Pound did the same thing, and was therefore relieved of his position on the committee just mentioned, being allowed to resign. Under similar circumstances and at the same time, probably, another Quaker living in this section got into difficulty. He says, " Whereas, I, Marmaduke Hunt, was coming home, was taken by a party of light-horse and carried to Morris Town Goal, where I was confined in a nausious room to the injury of my health and deprived of the necessaries of life to that degree that I could procure no more for my support but one meal for seven days. In this distress liberty was offered me on condition of my taking the affirmation of fidelity to the States, which through unwatchfulness I submitted to." John Laing tells the same story. He also was taken to Morristown and locked up for several days in what he describes as a "very loathsome goal," being liberated only on making affirmation of allegiance. Much of the per- sonal property of the Friends was confiscated for taxes and fines at the time when the spirit of resistance to British aggression was overpowering in the colonies.

Their proposition for removal of the meeting-house from John Laing's to the new site in Plainfield dates on the 15th of November, 1789. The dimensions of the new building were to be thirty-four by forty-eight feet. It is now substantially the same as when it was erected about ninety years ago. A recent fire injured the southern part of it, but it was repaired in a style similar to the unburnt portion. May it long remain as a memento of that time long past of which all our dreams are poetic, but which, alas! was a time to many of bitter griefs and scalding tears.

The Hicksite Friends worship on First Day at eleven A.M. First-Day school at ten A.M. Nathan Harper, superintendent.

The Orthodox have built a neat brick meeting- house on Front Street, where they worship on First Day at half-past ten A.M.

Acts were passed in 1870 and 1874 in relation to school funds, authorizing the trustees of Friends' schools at Plainfield, N. J., to appropriate portions of the general school funds for educational purposes.

CHAPTER XLVI.

TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD .- (Continued.)

First Baptist Church .- The history of this church in Plainfield dates from the year 1818. When it was organized it was in a thinly-settled part of Westfield township, said to contain less than 300 inhabitants. The only places of evangelical worship in the vicinty were the Piscataway Church, established in 1689; the Scotch Plains Church, in 1747; and the Samptown Church, in 1792. Many of the Baptist families in this

locality, when not worshiping with either of these churches, used to meet in private dwellings till 1812, when the academy was built. Here a general meet- ing was called in January, 1818, to consider the feasi- bility of starting a new church. About seventy-five persons were present, mostly of the Baptist persuasion, and by them it was deemed expedient to attempt the movement. The amount of $2500 was raised for the erecting of a house of worship. A plot of ground was secured on the main street, the site of the present beau- tiful stone edifice. During the summer of 1818 ground was broken and a frame building erected 42 by 48 feet, covered and inclosed with cedar shingles, at a cost of $3500. The building committee reported the completion of the house in the fall, when the Rev. Jacob Fitz Randolph and a number of members from the Samptown and Piscataway Churches, Nov. 7, 1818, with other members, met and unanimously adopted the articles of faith, and this church was organized with Rev. Jacob Fitz Randolph as pastor, Daniel Fitz Randolph and John Manning, deacons, and Drake Dunn, church clerk. This church was fully organized with thirty-four members, Nov. 25, 1818, and Dec. 14, 1818, the first board of trustees was elected. The Rev. Jacob Fitz Randolph, the first pastor, was born in Middlesex County, N. J., 1756; at an early age united, June 10, 1786, with the Scotch Plains Baptist Church. He served as a pastor with the Mount Bethel Church, where he was ordained in 1791, where he served for two years, and left to take charge of the new church organized in the year 1792 at Samptown, where he served for nearly twenty- five years, and with a number left and became the pastor of the new organization in Plainfield. During his pastorate here until his death, Jan. 18, 1828, he was beloved by the congregation, and a large number were added to the church through his labors.

Rev. Daoiel T. Hill became the next pastor, and during his stay here extensive revivals blessed the church with a largely increased membership; some two hundred and eighty-five were added to the church. In the year 1837 the church was enlarged. He re- signed in the year 1839.

The Rev. Simeon J. Drake accepted a call in July of the same year. During his pastorate (1849) the trustees purchased and beautified a suitable plot of ground for a cemetery. Extensive revivals during Mr. Drake's pastorate added many to the church. The church was repaired at an expense of some $2350, which materially improved its appearance and accommodations, When his labors ceased on the earth, Sunday morning, April 13, 1862, the church was called to part with a wise counselor, a sympa- thizing friend, a zealous pastor, and a devout Chris- tian. With united hearts all cherish the memory of his devoted life and peaceful death as a valuable legacy to the church.

Alter Mr. Drake's death there was an interval of little more than a year when there was no pastor.

303

TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

But for several successive months immediately fol- lowing his death the church enjoyed the gospel preaching of the venerable "Father Webb." Never will this people forget his kind words of comfort and consolation in that time of bereavement, and his prayers of faith and counsels of love from a heart rich with a long life of sweet intimacy with his Master.

Rev. David J. Yerkes accepted a call to this church in 1863. His previous fields of labor had been, first, For a long time they had consulted together upon the subject of building a suitable building for the regular worship on the Sabbath, and after due con- sideration they appointed certain of their members to solicit help from the Presbytery of Elizabethtown, and their wish was granted them to have certain members of that body to preach to them occasionally ; with the church at Hollidaysburg, Pa., in 1849, next with the First Church of Pittsburgh, in 1856, and just before coming to Plainfield, his charge for three years was the First Church of Brooklyn. Shortly after Mr. Yerkes' settlement the old church building, around which clustered so many hallowed memories, became no longer suitable in size or convenience for the in- ; and at the date mentioned in 1825 this church was creasing demands of an enlarged membership and the duly organized with eighteen members by a com- mittee of the Presbytery, and the Lord's Supper was first administered to this little flock under the shade of some large trees by the Rev. Dr. John McDowell. accommodation of a growing community. The old frame meeting-house, still needed for worship until the new edifice was erected, was moved aside far enough to give room for the heavy foundation walls of a large stone structure, the corner-stone of which was laid Oct. 8, 1867. This edifice, 60 by 100 feet, built in the modern Romanesque style, was completed and furnished at a cost of about $75,000 on the 25th day of November, 1869, when the dedication services were held and an appropriate discourse delivered by Rev. George B. Ide, D.D., of Massachusetts. During the pastorate and up to this time nearly one thousand persons have been received into this church, and since the organization of this church, 1818, there have been added nearly seventeen hundred persons.

The church is now almost threescore years old, and has had but four pastors, making the average length of each pastorate about sixteen years.

Deacons who have served the church are Daniel Fitz Randolph, John Manning, Thomas Stead, Drake Dunn, William Supardus, Benjamin Stelle, Manning Stelle, James T. Dunn, Elston Marsh, Oliver Run- yon, Manning Vermeule, Daniel Fitz Randolph, Insley Boice, Peter Balen, Stephen H. Burr, and John S. Baldwin.

Church clerks have been Drake Dunn, Benjamin Stelle, Jefferson R. Dunn, John Wilson, James C. Ayres, Elston Marsh, and Oliver B. Leonard.

Sunday-school superintendents have been Jefferson R. Dunn, Benjamin Stelle, Jacob A. Wood, James C. Ayres, David Lenox, Oliver Runyon, Levi Hatfield, Elston M. Dunn, O. B. Leonard, William White, W. M. Gray, S. H. Burr, and Charles W. Mccutchen.

Trustees, William White, Jeremiah Manning, L. W. Serrell, Nelson W. Gardner, David F. Boice, Alex- ander Gilbert, and George A. Chapman.

Treasurer, Nelson W. Gardner.

Sittings, 1200; membership, 779.

Presbyterian Church .- It was not until the 10th of July, 1825, that this the First Presbyterian Church of Plainfield was organized. Yet it is well under-

stood that there were a few families of this faith settled in and about this section of Westfield township, and that they had connected themselves with the Presby- terian Churches at Bound Brook and Westfield, and they felt no little inconvenience from the distance that they had to go to attend church, therefore occa- sionally came the respective pastors of these churches and held services in the neighboring school-house, or in their private dwellings.

In 1827 the edifice was finished and dedicated to the worship of God. The Rev. Lewis Bond became their pastor in 1825 and remained until April, 1857, a period of thirty-two years. He is still living at his residence a few doors from the church, and is able to enter and worship with the sons and daughters of his former parishioners. During his active ministry nearly five hundred were gathered as members. Of these over two hundred were received on certificate from other churches and nearly three hundred on ex- amination. During that time over two hundred were dismissed to other churches, of whom eighty-six united in forming the Second Presbyterian Church of Plainfield, under the care of the Presbytery of Newark. When Rev. Mr. Bond relinquished the pastorate in 1857 there were but two members whose names were enrolled among the founders of this church, and in his quarter-century sermon preached in 1851 he says, "The memory of our kindred, the low whisper of our departed people, invite us to cast one more lingering look at the silent mansions of the dead. There lie entombed nearly two hundred of our flock. Age, Activity, Youth, and Infancy lie slum- bering togetlier. Others shall be added to their num- ber, and the sigh of the mourner mingle with the clods of the valley, but these shall still sleep sweetly. In another quarter-century how many of us shall have departed ? Who then shall occupy our places ? Who shall then stand in this sacred desk, and to whom shall 'he hold forth the word of lite ?'"

For a few months the church had supplies from abroad, and in the year 1861 a unanimous call was made to Rev. Joseph B. Myers, D.D., which he ac- cepted, and remained for two years, or until the sum- mer of 1861. It being his desire to establish a col- lege in the State of Florida, he immediately went thither. He was an excellent preacher, and highly esteemed by the congregation and the community.

304

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

In the fall of 1861 the church invited the Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford as their pastor, and he was in- stalled in November of that year. During his pas- torate of two years a number were received into the church. He is now the pastor of the Second Pres- byterian Church in Trenton, N. J.

The Rev. Daniel V. McClean, D.D., came in 1864, and remained but a few months, and was followed by the Rev. Benjamin Cory, who came from Perth Am- boy in 1865, and remained for five or six years, when he resigned ; during his term many were added to the membership, the church property improved, and the church was in a prosperous condition.

During the fall of 1870, Rev. Henry L. Teller, a young, eloquent preacher, became the pastor of this church. He resigned to go to Amsterdam, N. Y., after a few months' labor here. The present pastor, Rev. Kneeland P. Ketcham, received a unanimous call to this church in 1871. He came from Allen- town, Monmouth Co., N. J. Since his pastorate here the church has increased in membership. He has the love and esteem of this community, and a neat church and excellent congregation.

The following are the names of the elders from the organization : Robert Anderson, 1825; John Lay- ton, 1825; Jarvis B. Ayres, 1833; Lucas B. Hoag- land, 1841; Ephraim Coriell, 1847 ; Job Squire, 1847 ; Andrew A. Cadinns, Tunnison T. Soper, David Gor- den, Peter Hoagland, E. Dean Dow, Ellis Potter, Samuel Milliken, Jr., and Isaac L. Miller, 1881. Communicants, 220; sittings, 450.

Second Baptist Church .- The Second Baptist Church was constituted in the meeting-house of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church, Sept. 1, 1842. The fol- lowing were the constituent members : John Runyon, Esther Runyon, Ansel Denison, Sarah H. Denison, David Thickston, Mary Thickston, William Sutton, Charlotte Sutton, Samuel Webster, Jr., Mary Web- ster, William Estel, Mary T. Extel, Asa T. Waters, Mylo Waters, James W. Vail, Olive M. Vail, Isaac S. Manning, Mary Manning, Sarah Ann Manning, Eliza Kinsey, Jeptha Clawson, Thomas H. Force, William Terry, Firman Walker, Caleb Garret, Sarah A. Garret, Elizabeth Shreve, Margaret Ann Compton, Catherine Compton, Reune Runyon, Nathaniel F. R. Compton, Esther Shreve, Rebecca Lyon, Eliza Lyon, Christian Lyon, Eliza Borden, Nancy Holton, Cla- rinda Putnam, Catherine F. R. Compton, Samuel Webster, Martha Webster, Hannah Webster, Susan T. Parker, Martha Estel, Jannet Martin, Abby Mar- tin, Jerome Pack, Samuel E. Pangborn, Jane Maria Randolph, Eliza F. Randolph, John C. Boice, Abra- ham Runyon, Jr., Sarah Flatt, Martha Randolph, Sarah A. Boice, Abraham Parker, Jacob Drake, Peter Runyon, Joseph Perine, Sarah Perine, Ezra D. Prudden, Rachel Prudden, John Chandler, Peter Moore, James C. Ayres, Bersheba Manning.

Many of the above had been members of the First Church who withdrew to form this the Second Church.

Rev. William Wood, Rev. J. Wyvell supplied the pulpit for a few Sabbaths. John Runyon was the first church clerk ; David Thickston was made deacon.

The Rev. Daniel T. Hill received a call to the church, which he accepted, being their first regular pastor, and remained for about eleven years. Rev. Calvin C. Williams came in 1854, and after a useful service was dismissed in 1857. The church then ex- tended a call to Rev. Horace J. Mason, who accepted and remained until the fall of 1859, when he resigned. For some months the church remained without a reg- ular pastor, desiring to sell the edifice on the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street, which being accomplished they erected the building now occupied by Trinity Reformed Church at a cost of about nine thousand dollars. It is capable of seating about eight hundred persons. Rev. John Dace was invited to be- come their pastor in 1862 ; he accepted and remained for nearly six years; many were added to the church during his pastorate, and he left with the great regret of all his congregation. Rev. Charles E. Young be- came the pastor in 1869, remaining until the last Sab- bath in December, 1870. In March, 1871, a unani- mous call was made to Rev. S. R. Howlett, who accepted and assumed the pastoral charge on the second Sabbath in April, 1871. He remained until the fall of 1876, when this church dissolved its rela- tions to the East New Jersey Baptist Association and became extinct. During its continuance for the space of thirty-four years there had been seven pastors and nearly eight hundred members. At the present time a number of the members of this church are con- nected with the Park Avenue Baptist Church.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The history of this church properly begins with the year 1820. In this year there lived in Plainfield a Methodist lady by the name of Martin and also a family by the name of Spiby, who had been Methodists in England. In this latter family in the same year the Rev. Father Hancock, in passing through the place from Mad- ison, N. J., led the evening devotions. This is he- lieved to have been the first services of this denomi- nation. The first regular Methodist meeting was at the house of Mr. Guion, who had recently moved. from Long Island, and lived opposite Laing's Hotel in Front Street. John Briant led the meeting; there were six persons present. Rev. Mr. Gearhart, from New Providence, preached in 1822, and until 1825 Plainfield was made part of the very large circuit. Rev. Messrs. Wiggins and Best also preached during this time, using Mr. Guion's dwelling as their church. At the end of that year they had gathered about twenty members. During the year 1825 a lot was bought on Second Street, then called Barn Street, because the only building on the whole street was a barn. For a while the movement seemed promising, but as they were about ready to commence the crection of a house of worship a financial crisis came on, and for a while the work was abandoned.

101

RESIDENCE OF SEYMOUR HAIT, PLAINFIELD, N. J.

305

TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

About the year 1830-31, Mr. John Briant established prayer-meetings in his house, a three-story house, nearly opposite Laing's Hall. In this house for about a year occasional sermons were preached. Rev. Father Bartine, Revs. Genung and Day, Charles Pitman and others assisted, giving the young church occasional services. In the year 1832 efforts were put forth for a church 30 by 40, with an end gallery. The building committee were John Briant, David Cod- dington, John W. Morrison, Daniel Osman, and Wesley Roll, and in the following summer it was completed. In the spring of 1853 it was made a sta- tion with seventeen members. Rev. John H. McFar- land became the first regular pastor. The following have since officiated : Rev. Edwin L. Janes, 1834; Rev. George S. Wharton, 1835; Rev. Benjamin Ben- son, 1836; Rev. Edward Sanders, 1837; Rev. Vincent Shepard, 1838-39; Rev. George F. Brown, 1840; Rev. Alexander Gilmore, 1841; Rev. Benjamin Kelley, 1842-43; 1 Rev. R. B. Westbrook, 1844; Rev. L. R. Dunn, 1845-46; Rev. James O. Rogers, 1847-48 ; ? Rev. W. E. Perry came in 1849-50; Rev. Thomas H. McCarroll, 1851; Rev. Robert Given, 1852-53; Rev. John O. Winne, 1854-55; Rev. S. W. Hilliard, 1856- 57; Rev. George Winsor, 1858-59; Rev. John Atkin- son, 1860-61; Rev. S. Armstrong served the church for about nine months, when he was removed by death, and the Rev. Mr. Coyle was sent to fill the year ; Rev. E. O. Day, 1863; Rev. A. M. Palmer, a revival that brought to the church over two hundred mem- bers, 1864-65; Rev. G. H. Whitney, 1866-67; Rev. William Day, 1867-68; Rev. J. R. Bryn, 1870-73; Rev. I. L. Hurlburt, 1875-77 ; Rev. William Day, 1878-80; Rev. Thomas H. Stockton, 1881-82; Rev. J. M. Meeker, 1881. Value of church property, $50,000. Sittings, twelve hundred; membership, six hundred and seven.

Seventh-Day Baptist Church .- This church, whose members had long and unitedly worshiped at New Market, some four miles from Plainfield, met and organized in the latter village in the year 1838. They built a neat frame building, at that time large enough to contain all that would attend. But as the membership increased with the growing village, ave- nues and streets were laid out, and it became an in- corporated city of some thousands of inhabitants, the line of the Central Railroad coming near the church property, they immediately took steps to build a more commodious edifice, which was accomplished in 1868, thirty years from the date of organization. The pastors have been Revs. Lucius Crandell, Samuel Davison, James H. Cochran, James Bailey, A. R. Cornwall, Thomas R. Williams, Darwin E. Maxson. Present pastor, Rev. A. H. Lewis, D.D .; Deacons, Ran- dolph Dunham, Isaac D. Titsworth, A. D. Titsworth, Isaac S. Dunn, Randolph Dunn, Clark Rogers ;

present deacons, Daniel B. Rogers, B. D. Randolph, Thomas H. Tomlinson, Thomas T. Randolph, J. D. Spicer; Clerks, Thomas S. Alberti (twenty-nine years) ; present clerk, J. D. Spicer (fifteen years to 1882). Number of sittings, four hundred ; members, one hundred and ninety; value of property, five thousand dollars.

Mount Olive Baptist Church .- This organization of the colored residents of Plainfield was for some months in agitation while they were holding services in different places, and in 1870 they took the name of Mount Olive Baptist Church. The Rev. John Cary was called to assist them in their endeavor to estab- lish a church, and he became their regular pastor in that year. Very soon lots were secured, not only for a church but also for the parsonage, which since then has been completed, on the corner of Liberty and Third Avenue. The church is of good size, with a tower, and capable of holding over two hundred. Rev. John D. Bagwell was called to assist Mr. Cary in raising the necessary funds and to help in the services, which he did acceptably until he was succeeded by Rev. William Burch in the spring of 1875. The latter re- mained until 1877, witnessing a large number of ad- ditions to the church. In 1877, Rev. Robert Newton Fairfax was called and accepted the pastoral charge, which he still retains. The present membership is one hundred and fifteen; value of church and par- sonage, five thousand dollars.

The Second Presbyterian Church .- In 1844 the Second Presbyterian Church, Plainfield, was organ- ized, and the year following their house of worship was completed and dedicated. The Rev. William Whitta- ker was called to this new organization, and in a short time accepted the pastorate, and received by certificate from the First Church some eighty-six members, who had withdrawn for the purpose of forming this new church, under the care of the Presbytery of Newark. Mr. Whittaker remained here until the year 1855, having during the eleven years of his ministry re- ceived a large number into the church. He left with much regret on the part of the church, and for a time they were without a pastor. Rev. Theodore S. Brown became the pastor in the fall of 1855; he served the church in this capacity about eight years. The present pastor, Rev. John Collins Bliss, D.D., was settled in the pastorate in November, 1867. For a number of years the church was situated on Front Street, rather out of the growing part of the city. In the year 1870 more eligible lots were secured on the corner of Crescent Avenue and Broadway, and the present beautiful edifice was erected. It is of Ohio stone, with a fine spire, and is capable of hold- ing over one thousand persons. It was completed and the grounds surrounding the church graded and made neat and planted with shade-trees, at a cost of one hundred and four thousand dollars. It was dedi- cated in September, 1872, free from incumbrance. The beautiful parsonage on Front Street cost some

1 Up to this time the increase was ninety members.

2 During his pastorate was erected the beautiful brick church edifice, with Townsend town clock, at a cost of $13,000.

306

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

twelve thousand dollars. The membership of this church is four hundred and seventy-five; the Sab- bath-school contains nearly five hundred members. The ruling elders are as follows : William M. Conell, William B. Ostrom, Theodore Perry, Edmund V. Shotwell, Peter J. Smith, Israel C. Pierson, Henry C. Squires, William H. Sampson, and John R. Van Arsdale ; Deacons, S. R. Struthers, Henry O. New- man, and Philip Swain. The present trustees are E. L. Brown, I. T. Closson, E. H. Bouton, O. B. Mat- thews, Charles Place, Lawrence Myers, and E. L. Wale. This church is now known as " The Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church of Plainfield."

Grace Church .- In the minute-book of the vestry of this parish it is recorded that the first services of the church were celebrated in the village school-house (Plainfield) on the 11th of January, 1852. This building is still standing, and is now a private dwell- ing-house on Church near the corner of Second Street. The Rev. Philemon E. Coe, of Westfield, N. J., officiated. There were about thirty persons present. Rev. Mr. Coe continued his services without any salary for six years, coming every Sabbath some six miles irrespective of inclement weather, and also loaned them money when they were ready to build a church, and afterwards canceled most of the indebt- edness in behalf of the parish.

After Feb. 8, 1852, services were regularly held every Sunday morning. On Easter-day, 1852, the holy communion was celebrated, and nine persons communed. On June 9th a public meeting was held to consider the propriety of organizing a parish. Mr. Coe presided; Mr. Richard Brantingham was ap- pointed secretary. The organization was effected by the election of James Oliver and Jasper Cadmus as wardens; Hugh Pattison, Elias Lynch, Dr. William II. Shodgate, Jacob Wiggins, Richard Brantingham, and George Windle, vestrymen.

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 74

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