History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 75

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 75
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 75

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On Sept. 21, 1852, the vestry resolved to accept the plot of ground offered by Mahlon Vail and David Rockwell, and on the 12th of July, 1854, the corner- stone was laid by Bishop Doane. The church edifice erected at this time was a ueat Gothic structure. It appears from the record that the late rector, Mr. Coe, tendered his resignation Dec. 13, 1858, and resolu- tions are recorded about that time expressive of the regret of the vestry at his leaving, and speaking in terms of high commendation of his untiring efforts to organize and establish Grace Church, and his dis- interested and self-sacrificing labors in its behalf.

Rev. W. W. Sever came for a time in 1859, then Rev. J. Legrand Finney was elected rector, but after a short service of a few months, endeavoring to build up a parish school, he became quite feeble, and for months he was not able to take an active part, and resigned after a short and successful ministry in this parish. Rev. Mr. Dougherty was next called to the rectorship of the parish, which he accepted, but remained only a few weeks, and Rev. R. G. Quennell was elected

rector June 28, 1863. In the records not long after there is a vote of thanks to Miss Lloyd for the mu- nificent Easter gift of a silver communion set in April, 1864. July, 1865, the Rev. Dr. Thrall became rector, and continued to officiate until April, 1868.

About this time, and during the early part of the rectorship of Rev. Dr. Fox, who was instituted June 1, 1868, an effort was made to secure a larger and more commodious edifice in a more central location. The building was erected, and consecrated by Bishop Odenheimer March 21, 1870.

After the resignation of Dr. Fox the Rev. W. W. Holly was called to the parish, but declined, when the present rector, Rev. E. M. Rodman, was chosen, and entered upon his duties Nov 1, 1870. From April to July, 1872, the better to accommodate the inereasing congregation, services were held in the hall at Laing's Hotel. After this the church on the old site was occupied till it was taken down and re- moved in 1876. In September, 1872, the vestry gave consent to the putting up of a memorial window to the memory of the late pastor, Dr. Fox, and also to Miss Taylor to put in one in memory of her parents, the Rev. Thomas H. Taylor, D.D., and his wife. On the 4th of October, 1875, a decision was reached to pur- chase lots ninety-five by three hundred feet on Syca- more Street between Fifth and Sixth, on which the church now stands, and the corner-stone was laid July 12, 1876. The building was removed and rebuilt here, and on the 15th of October following it was once more opened for worship. Since then the congregation has nearly doubled in size. There are nearly a hundred families identified with the parish. The valuation of property is §15,000. Wardens, John B. Dumont and William E. Lowe; Vestrymen, Thomas H. Pillis, Charles Tweedy, Gilford Mayer, E. L. Finch, O. T. Waring, E. N. Erickson, and William R. Cock.

The Central Reformed Dutch Church was organ- ized in 1863. The Rev. John Simmonson, of Somer- ville, became their pastor in 1864-69, and Rev. N. E. Smith, 1869-71. This church after a few years was dissolved.

Trinity Reformed Church was organized in the year 1880 with a few members. They purchased the church on Second Street, which has been put in thor- ough order, repairs and all paid for by the Ladies' Aid Society, which was organized at the commence- ment of the year. This young and vigorous branch of Christ Church in Plainfield felt that there was room for them in this city, and their work has been put forward under the care of the Newark Classis.

The Rev. Andrew Van Vranken Raymond (son of the late Rev. Henry A. Raymond, who died at Cohoes, N. Y., July 18, 1877, in his seventy-third year) was invited to the pastorate of the infant church in the fall of 1880, he being then pastor of the Reformed Church at Paterson, N. J. He accepted and entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1881. During the past year the church membership has grown from seventy-nine

Robert Lowry

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to one hundred and fifty-six, of whom sixteen united on confession of faith. They have paid all current expenses, amounting to over $4500, including $500 of arrears, have made extensive repairs, and have just completed the payment of a debt of $2500 before it was due.

Official members: Elders, Henry Lindsley, 1880- 81; George L. Van Emburgh, 1880-83; Philip P. Van Arsdale, 1881-83 ; Daniel G. Van Winkle, 1881- 82; R. Titsworth, 1882-83; William D. W. Miller, 1882-83.

Deacons, D. O. Kilbourn, 1880-83 ; Joseph Meier, 1881-83; Daniel Van Winkle, 1881-83; J. Renwick Glen, 1882-83.

Congregational Church .- This church was or- ganized Sept. 30, 1879. For a few months previous the congregation had assembled for religious worship, and part of the time had occupied the Reformed (Dutch) Church on Second Street. They are en- couraged by a liberal donation of land on the corner of Madison Avenue and Seventh Street, where they contemplate building a suitable church edifice at no very distant day. Rev. William Manchee is the pres- ent pastor. Deacons, A. J. Clarkson, J. S. Powelson, J. S. Lamson, J. R. France. Trustees, S. G. Roney, Jacob Kirknex, G. W. Rockfellow, P. M. Demarest. Executive Committee, E. Curtis, A. Willett, J. N. Randolph. B. W. Force, church clerk. Sunday- school superintendent, G. W. Rockfellow. Number of communicants, one hundred and twelve.

Park Avenue Baptist Church was organized March 18, 1876, with one hundred and twenty mem- bers. The movement was intended to meet the wants of a new and growing portion of the city. The Seventh-Day Church edifice was hired for Sunday services. Robert Lowry, D.D., who had been pro- fessor of belles-lettres in Lewisburg University, Penn- sylvania, for six years, and who was sojourning in Plainfield for rest, was induced to assume the pastoral charge. A Sunday-school was organized under the leadership of the pastor.

An eligible lot, two hundred and fifty feet front by two hundred and fifty feet deep, on the corner of Prospect and Park Avenues, was given by James Martine, Esq., and on this commanding site the pres- ent church edifice was erected at a cost of forty thou- sand dollars.

In external appearance and internal arrangement this church edifice is a departure from the usual forms of ecclesiastical architecture. Of no defined type, it impresses the eye with its novelty. The material is pressed brick, terra-cotta trimmings and slate roof. The spire rises to the height of one hundred and forty feet, and is conspicuous in every direction. A Me- neeley bell hangs in the tower. The windows are of stained glass. The main entrance is in the tower, and there are three others, making ample and easy egress for a large audience.

parts of the audience-rooms are so related to each other that the entire floor space of church and chapel may be thrown into one grand audience-room, seating one thousand persons. The main audience-room measures sixty-five by fifty-eight feet. The floor in- clines from three sides towards the pulpit. There are no pews in the church, but five hundred opera-chairs are arranged in concentrically curved lines, each one provided with a book-rack, hat-safe, and foot-rest. The extreme height of the ceiling is forty-five feet. The floor is laid in hard wood. The organ-loft is on one side of the pulpit. In the rear is the entrance to the pastor's study, choir-gallery, dressing-rooms, etc.

The chapel is built in right angles with the church, and consists of two stories. The lower floor measures seventy by thirty-eight feet. It is divided for Sunday- school purposes into three apartments, separated by glass doors. The ceiling is twenty-eight feet high. When all the glass doors are removed there is an avail- able floor space of one hundred and three by seventy feet.

The upper story of the chapel is reached by the tower entrance and the chapel vestibule. It is di- vided into a church parlor, ladies' parlor, kitchen, pantry, china closet, store-room, and committee rooms. The walls on both floors are covered with fine engravings and Scripture mottoes. Everything needed for religions or social purposes is provided. The ground plan covers one hundred and fifty-three feet by seventy feet. The entire building is heated by steam. Charles H. Smith is the architect.

ROBERT LOWRY, D.D., was born in Philadelphia, March 12, 1826. After receiving a common school education he engaged in secular business in his native city. In 1848 he entered the university in Lewisburg, Pa., as a ministerial student, and was graduated in 1854, receiving valedictory honors. In the same year he was ordained and accepted a call to the First Bap- tist Church, West Chester, Pa. Here 'he remained four years, during which time a new church edifice was built. In 1858 he assumed the pastorate of the Bloomingdale Baptist Church, New York City. In 1861 he was called to the Hanson Place Baptist Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., where he labored over eight years. During this pastorate about four hundred members were added to the church. In 1869 he was induced to accept the professorship of belles-lettres in the university at Lewisburg and the pastorate of the Baptist Church. After performing this double work for six years he retired with the honorary title of D.D. to Plainfield, N. J. He was subsequently elected chancellor of the university. Shortly after reaching Plainfield a new church was organized, which called him to its pastorship. This movement led to the erection of the Park Avenue Church, at a cost of forty thousand dollars. Multitudes know him as a composer of sacred song rather than as a preacher. His melodies are sung in every English-speaking

The arrangements within are unique. The different | land. Some of his hymns have been translated into

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

foreign tongues. Music and hymnology are favorite studies with him. His library consists largely of literary works. In 1880 he spent four months in Europe, and participated in the Robert Raikes een- tennial in London. llis oldest son is a pastor in Colorado.

St. Mary's (Catholic) Church .-- In the year 1849 a few Catholic families living in this part of the county of Union and having no church nearer than Stony Hill or New Brunswick importuned the Rev. Arch- bishop Hughes, then living in New York, to come and give them occasional services. In 1853, the Rev. James S. McDonough was sent as their regular pastor. Services were held in a room of a private house, still standing on Somerset Street. This little flock in- creased, and soon it was found necessary to procure a place much larger than where they were, and a building that bad been used as a barn was neatly fitted up. The doors opened into a little green orchard, and in this lonely spot, in the stillness of a calm American summer's morning, the great sacri- fice of Calvary was repeated for the salvation of man.

After a few months a private school-room was rented, then a hall where all could attend. It had now been thought best that an attempt should be made to raise funds for building a neat church. In 1854, Rev. William McDonough was removed, and a young priest, Rev. Daniel J. Fisher, appointed pastor. He remained pastor until 1856, when he was appointed president of Seton Hall College, then located at Madison, N. J.

In the summer of 1856 the Rev. Terrence Kieran became the third pastor, and remained as such up to bis sudden death in November, 1869, when the Rev. John J. Connolly was appointed to succeed him. This young gentleman's health was very poor when he came to this city, and remained but a few months before he died, in 1870, much lamented by his parish- ioners.

The present pastor, Rev. J. P. Morris, came a few weeks prior to Father Connolly's death in 1870, and is still the esteemed and zealous pastor.

They have built a substantial briek church on the corner of Sixth Street and Liberty Street, at an ex- pense of about thirty-five thousand dollars. They have a large number of families in the parish.

The German Reformed Church was organized in the year 1873. They have secured eligible lots on the corner of Washington and Fifth Streets, where they have built a neat chapel. There are a large number of German citizens in this city who attend the regular services. They intend soon to build a substantial church edifice. The Rev. F. E. Schlieder is pastor.

The Church of the Heavenly Rest was organized in 1879 as a mission in Evona, the pastors of the Protestant Episcopal Churches of Plainfield having ; occasionally assisted in the services. They are about finishing a neat chapel at a cost of two thousand five

hundred dollars, with sittings to accommodate some two hundred and fifty persons. The following gen- tlemen have given material aid to this enterprise : Charles S. Lewis, John O. Stevins, George Brown, and Frederick Chamberlin.

The Business of Plainfield .- The following is a list of the principal business interests of this city : Groceries, 18; meat-shops, 14; dry-goods stores, 7; flour, feed, and grain dealer», 7; lumber dealers, 4; bakers and confectioners, 7; confectioners, 6; baled hay, 4; national banks, 2; savings-bank, 1; barber- shops, 11; billiard-saloons, 5; blacksmiths, 9; book- sellers and stationers, 3; boot and shoe dealers, 10; brick manufactories, 3; cabinet-makers, 3; carpet- weavers, 3; carpenters and builders, 14; masons and builders, 7; builders, 4; carriage manufactories, 5; stair-builders, 2; ready-made elothing, 5; merchant tailors, 5; clothing manufactory, 1; coal and wood dealers, 7; crockery- and glassware-stores, 2; drug- stores, 5; millinery- and fancy-goods stores, 11; expresses, 6; fish and oyster dealers, 5; florists, 8; furniture dealers, 4; hardware, cutlery, farming implements, and builders' supply stores, 3; harness- oil and boot-blaeking manufactory, 1; hat manufac- tories, 2; harness-shops, 4; hats, caps, furs, trunks, etc., 2; stores, hotels, 8; ice dealers, 3; insurance agencies, 8; iron- and brass-foundry, 1; steam-laun- dry, 1; livery-stables, 7; looking-glass, pictures, frames, and artists' materials, 2; stores, machine-shops, 3; oil-cloth factory, 1; marble-works, 1; dealers in masons' materials, 6; newsdealers, 2; job-printers, 2, and several amateurs ; weekly newspapers, 3; daily, 1; paint-shops, 5; photograph-rooms, 3; dealers in pianos and organs, 3; planing- and moulding-mills, 2; printing-press works, 1; saloons and bar-rooms, 14; schools, 7; sewing-machine-dealers, 3; bluestone yards, 2; dealers in stoves and tinware, 6; cigar deal- ers, 10; upholsterers, 6; undertakers, 3; watch and jewelry dealers, 7; plumbing and gas-fitting shops, 3; real estate agents, 13; beer-bottlers, 2; mineral water manufactory, 1; flour-mills, 4; saw-mills, 2; wood-turning shop, 1; dealers in hides and sheep- pelts, 1; soap manufactory, 1; intelligence offices, 2; sulphur baths, 1; kindling-wood factories, 3; gas- works, 1.

The accompanying list gives the number in the learned professions, trades, and callings represented in the city :

Clergymen, 10; physicians, 19; lawyers, 18; artists, 3 ; architects, 4; dentists, 7 ; mining engineer, 1; civil engineers, 2; carpenters, 109; eigar-makers, 11; car- riage-makers, 8; cattle-brokers, 3; coachmen, 24; compositors, 17 ; confectioners, 9; cabinet-makers, 6; clerks, 107; contractors, 3; cutters, 8; barbers, 16; brick-makers, 9; blacksmiths, 21; butchers, 29; ba- kers, 20; dyers, 2; dress-makers, 27; hatters, 45; harness-makers, 9; hotel-keepers, 8; laboring men, 180; machinists, 5; masons, 40; millers, 9; milliners, 5; painters, 56; plumbers and gas-fitters, 11; shoe-

RESIDENCE OF WM. M.D. CORIELL, EVONA, N. J.

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TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

makers, 24; tailors, 43; teachers, 27. Besides these we have a sprinkling of auctioneers, chemists, cor- respondents, editors, reporters, students, packers, chairmakers, drivers, surveyors, book-keepers, white- washers, taxidermists, scroll-sawyers, stone-cutters, spike-makers, rustic-workers, shirt-makers, well-dri- vers and diggers, gunsmiths, deliverers, expressmen, watch·makers, engravers, carpet-weavers, sash-makers, tinsmiths, musicians, marble-cutters, building-movers, veterinary surgeons, telegraph-operators, slaters, trim- mers, lathers, sextons, boarding-house-keepers, tan- ners, wheelwrights, boiler-cleaners, die-sinkers, mining engineers, organist, and milkmen, hucksters, mission- aries, gentlemen of leisure, generals, colonels, majors, captains, and so on ad libitum.

As early as the closing years of the last century there were one or two hat-factories established here on a small scale, which were managed by Theodore Pound and Piatt Williamson, and in a few years after John Wilson appears carrying on quite an extensive business. His place was where the clothing-house of Messrs. Schepflin, Baldwin, & Tweedy is located, and here he did (for those days) a large business. He was succeeded by his son, Joel Wilson, and hat manufac- turing became a leading industry, with which many names well known to the city were identified. Among these we may mention Joseph Shotwell, James Leon- ard, James I. Compton, Martin Runyon, Elisha Runyon, Ira Randolph, Randolph Runyon, John H. Coward, James C. Ayers, l'eter Brokaw, Daniel C. Shotwell, Jonah Vail, John Simpson, Manning Ver- meule, and William McD. Coriell. There may have been some others not now remembered. It is impos- sible to ascertain the extent of the business at any stage in the development of this manufacturing inter- est. But it is discovered that large numbers of work- men were kept employed, that a ready market was found for the products in New York and Philadel- phia, and that there was great activity and large returns.1 It is worthy of note in this connection that there were no railroad facilities, but goods were trans- ported largely by wagons both to and from New York and Philadelphia, though the distance by this method of transportation was shortened by shipping stock to and from Elizabeth and Trenton.

The introduction of silk hats was the first cause, so far as can be ascertained, of the decline of this indus- try, which was so long the life of the town. Then it became customary for the large city dealers to make contracts and furnish the manufacturer with his ma- terial, which greatly limited the profits of the latter. These reasons, together with the application of ma- chinery to the making of hat bodies, are accounted Compton has been the sole wholesale manufacturer the principal ones for the almost total extinction of this industry where it once had a chief place.

Up to within a few years the manufacture of clothes flourished to quite a large extent. At one time there

were several firms engaged in this business, such as Webster & Marsh, Titsworth & Dunn, Henry Cory, and J. S. Dunham. These were well-known firms, and did a large business; they gave employment to multitudes in the town and vicinity, and were in so far the means of developing the industrial and commercial life of the place. While a marked change has taken place in the character of the business, there is, proba- bly, a larger sum represented in the business now than formerly, on account of the presence here of the large house of Schepflin & Co., whose sales, as far as we are able to ascertain, crowd closely upon a million of dollars annually. A few others who manufacture in a small way complete the list of those engaged in the clothing business.

We have now mentioned the two chief manufac- turing interests which have flourished in Plainfield. In addition to these are several of minor importance in comparison. At the head of these is the flour in- terests. Beyond the time to which the memory of any now living extends there have been flouring-mills at different points, but they were only used as grist-mills to grind the grain consumed in the immediate vicinity. Two of these original mills have an unbroken history to the present day. The one now for many years conducted by Phineas Fitz Randolph was owned by his father before him, hy George Wells, also by Na- thaniel Drake, the brother of Daniel Drake, and also by his father, which carries the proprietorship back nearly to the days of the colonies and the beginning of our existence as a nation. The other mill is that now owned by Phineas M. French, which was orig- inally located near the dam of the pond that feeds it. From an ordinary grist-mill this has for many years. been manufacturing flour and other products, until it now does a business much larger than all the mills in this vicinity combined, amounting to about $100,000 per annum. Mr. French's two sons carry on the business at the present time.

Next to this may be mentioned the manufacture of bread and cake, which, however, is entirely limited to home consumption. Six of these bakeries are or- ganized to supply the wants of this city. Formerly this business had a wider range under the enterprising management of Mr. Jackson Pound, who made a reputation throughout the State by some of his pro- ducts. He competed with Newark, New Brunswick, and Trenton, sending out his wagons loaded with material in every direction. But that glory has de- parted, and Plainfield must look to something besides crackers to make her famous. The manufacture of candy is carried on to some extent in the city. Mr. until recently, when other firms have commenced its manufacture. There is something done in the harness- making and also in carriage-making. The Potter Press Works, which have but lately been established near Evona, and also the oil-cloth works of Newhall & Wright, of New York, which within a few months

1 W. J. Leonard's account.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

have been at work, are important industries ; also the sash- and blind-factory. The putting up of canned fruits has been tried here with some success, and may be a growing enterprise. Formerly the manufacture of boots and shoes would have deserved mention in this connection, but now but little is done in that line. The mannfacture of inks and blacking is now carried on by two firms quite extensively, and is having a large sale. An effort should be made to encourage manufacturers to locate here, for there are certain patent reasons why this would be a benefit both to the manufacturers and to the city. The latter is sup- plied with abundant water-power, plenty of coal brought to the door from the mines, and also a large gas-house for lighting buildings for factory purposes where light is needed. In short, there is every possible advantage to be gained by encouraging the growth of manufactures in this city and vicinity.

There are three weekly newspapers and one daily,- the Central New Jersey Times, the Constitutionalist, and Daily and Weekly Bulletin. There are three public halls,-Van Deventer Hall, with a seating capacity of seven hundred, Assembly Hall, seating five hun- dred, and Laing's Hall, which seats some three hun- dred. There are two national banks, one savings- bank, and three fire insurance companies. The fire department is under control of a board of managers in the city, and is well equipped with men and steam fire-engines. The hotels and boarding-houses are first class, affording excellent accommodations. The educational advantages of this city are of an excellent order, and furnish first-class instruction to both sexes. 'This city is not deficient in its religious and charitable institutions, having four Baptist, two Presbyterian, two Episcopal, one Methodist Episcopal, one Congre- gational, one Reformed (Dutch) Church, two Friends' Meetings, and one Roman Catholic Church. Some of the church edifices may claim considerable archi- teetnral pretension. Two of the largest buildings are of stone, having a seating capacity of one thousand each, are costly in their construction, and provided with every convenience.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organ- ized in 1867. They have a fine reading-room and a library of some two thousand volumes. The Relief Association is thoroughly organized for the benefit of the needy, and furnishes help through an employ- ment bureau to those who are able to work; it also dispenses clothing, food, medicine, etc., through a scrutinizing executive board of self-denying ladies, -Mrs. G. W. Ferry, president; Mrs. C. E. Ryder, vice-president. The Children's Home is organized for the care and support of little ones,-orphans, half- orphans, or those whose parents are incompetent to provide for their necessary wants. The Holly Tree Inn is a place where the youth of the city can find a welcome, an abundance of reading matter, and a simple lunch without any evil temptation. And last we may gratefully mention the Muhlenberg Hos-

pital. The building has been lately completed, and is now in operation. It was incorporated in the spring of 1877, and is located on an eligible lot, the gitt of the late mayor, Job Male, Esq., of this city. The corner-stone was laid in May, 1881, and the building was completed in the autumn.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 75

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