History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 82

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 82
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 82

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Mr. Woodruff's ministry here was a long and happy one. The attachment between the people and their pastor was mutual. He received many calls to other places, but always refused, saying that he never in- tended to remove until from earthly cares and labors to heavenly joys. He was heard to say he never in- tended to outlive his usefulness. He also expressed a desire to die on the Sabbath. And so it was. He preached on the Sabbath before his death, and on the next Sabbath morning before the hour of public ser- vice arrived he departed this life. His sickness was short, and so little was his death expected that many of the people knew not that he was sick until they came to the sanctuary on Sabbath morning and found their pastor gone and the pulpit hung in mourning. The day was one of solemnity and general grief. Rev. Dr. McWhorter, of Newark, preached the sermon from 1st Cor. xv. 56, and the body of the much be- loved pastor was buried out of the sight of his people at the head of the broad aisle in the second frame church, which had just been finished for worship. Over his tomh they laid a marble tablet with the fol- lowing inscription, containing a just tribute of respect to his worthy character, and deserving a place in this historical sketch of the parish, as it was then called :

"Sacred to the memory of The Rev. Benjamin Woodruff, A.M., who departed this life, April 3, 1803, Aged 70 years.

The dnet lies here of a venerable man, formed from early yonth in learning-human and divine-passing his collegiate etudire with repn- tation-soon entered the holy ministry-was settled near 44 years pastor of this church.

An excellent preacher-zealous, pathetic, faithful, prudent, and suc- cessful.

In controversies-moderate and calm. Among ministers, huebands, fathers, brothers, friends, few his equals.

Piety, hospitality, friendship, humility, benevolence, and modesty formed his character.

Hie voice it cries my people quickly come To Jesus your eternal rest and home."

The inhabitants increasing, many coming from Long Island, they in 1735 vacated their log meeting- During Mr. Woodruff's ministry three hundred and ninety-eight persons made a profession of religion, about eleven hundred were baptized, and seven hun- dred and fifty-two couples were married. The last of these was Mr. William Woodruff, son of Aaron Wood- ruff, to Miss Phebe Ludlum. house for the frame church. At first it had no steeple, but one was added in 1758, and we find that Rev. John Grant is their minister in 1750, remaining until 1753, and in 1759 the Rev. Benjamin Woodruff was called. The first board of trustees under act of in- corporation, Jan. 16, 1788, were Thomas Woodruff, I have followed the account of the old church up to the Rev. Thomas Picton's installation, which took place Oct. 14, 1805. The church and its historical associations with the people it was of the greatest importance should be followed to the above date, and moderator ; John Scudder, clerk; Ephraim Marsh, Jesse Clark, Andrew Hetfield, Ephraim Scudder, and John Crane. About 1760 they first procured their bell, and had the name of the parish cast upon it. One instance of the kind and liberal feelings of the I at some future time I will again refer to it and its

Squier Person

337

TOWNSHIP OF WESTFIELD.

official members. The record has been very minute in many particulars. It belongs to the historical events of the Revolutionary war. The last sermon preached by the Rev. E. B. Edgar, then pastor, through whose efforts the present church was built, Jan. 26, 1862, was from Deut. xxxii. 7: “ Remember the days of old, consider the years of many genera- tions : ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy el- ders, and they will tell thee," was most interest- ing and the keystone of the past. I remember as I sat in the old house and all the citizens for miles around were assembled on so important a day (many present on that occasion have passed away), looking around upon the congregation now assembled for the last time in pews which they had occupied for so many years, to be occupied no more forever.

After the present edifice was completed, April 3, 1862, the remains of Rev. Mr. Woodruff and wife were buried under the tower of the new church, and the tablet placed on the wall of the vestibule, " Remem- ber the days of old."

The Rev. Thomas Picton resigned in 1818, after serving the church for fourteen years, and was followed soon after by the much-loved Rev. Alexander C. Fra- ser, who was ordained and installed June 20, 1819. During his pastorate two hundred and fifty-three mem- bers were added. Of the deaths and baptisms no record has been found. He remained for seven years, when, in 1827, Rev. Edwin Holt was called, who supplied for some two years with acceptability. A letter be- fore me records the fact that Mr. Holt removed to the West, and became pastor of a church at Madison, Ind., when by ill health he resigned. He died at Evansville, Ind., July 2, 1854, after a short and severe illness. He was a native of New London, Conn. The seventh pastor, the Rev. James M. Huntting, was settled in 1832, and resigned his charge in 1849. Since then he has been a successful teacher of a select clas- sical school at Jamaica, L. I. His untiring activity and Christian devotedness in the cause of religion and the prosperity of this church are worthy of a grateful remembrance in the annals of this parish. He still lives. From a letter from him a few days since it is evident that he still, in his declining years, feels a deep interest in the welfare of Westfield, and speaks of many by name, desiring to be remembered. During his pastorate of over seventeen years nearly

live and form a large part of the present membership. The Rev. Edward B. Edgar was called April 23, 1850, as their pastor, and resigned in 1873. Some two hundred were added, a large number baptized, and the interest of the temporal as well as the spiritual affairs were zealously cared for during this . ministry. The old church, which had stood as a sort of moral light-house for nearly seventy years, and which had been the spiritual birthplace of so many, was finally demolished. Mr. Edgar's deep interest in the beauti- ful church now built, and dedicated March 26, 1862,

has been referred to. Rev. George Potts, D.D., preached the sermon on the occasion. Many who assisted Mr. Edgar in his efforts have passed to their reward. I may mention the names of a few : Gid- eon Ross, Clark Scudder, Squire Pierson, William Clark, Isaac French, Ephraim Clark. They have left a lasting remembrance for their love of the church of their fathers. I find in the closing part of the sermon preached in the old church on the last Sab- bath of its occupation the following beautiful and pathetic reminder of the conflict that we were pass- ing through at that time in our country's history, as follows : " The smiles of God upon the new church enterprise must not be forgotten. God has been with us. We recognize him in the time when we laid the foundations and committed ourselves to the work. | We recognize him in the safety of all who have la- bored for us. We recognize him in our united coun- sels and harmonious action. We recognize him in the mind the people have had for the work. We recognize him in atfording us the means to carry it on during this year of national distress. In this recogni- tion of God's presence and mercy we lay at his feet our tribute of gratitude and praise."

Rev. Alexander McKelvey, after a pastorate of a little over two years (he following Rev. Mr. Edgar), resigned in the fall of 1876, and is now pastor of the Canal Street Presbyterian Church, New York City. Under his administration 106 persons were added to the roll of membership, 81 on examination and 25 by letter. Through his instrumentality the fine Jardine organ, worth $3000, was procured for the church at an actual cost of $2200.

The present pastor, Rev. William H. Gill, began his official duties on the second Sabbath of January, 1878, and was duly installed on the 25th of the same month. The following statistics, as reported to the General Assembly, show the results of church work during these two years: sittings, 800; membership,. 250; Sunday-school scholars, 350 ; amount raised for salary, repairs, rent, parsonage, Sunday-school ex- penses, etc., since the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Gill is nearly $10,000; of this amonnt Mrs. Kate B. High gives $650 to a church in Illinois.

The officiary of this church are, May, 1880 : Ruling Elders, Evert M. Pierson, Levi Cory, Charles Pier- son, James T. Pierson, E. W. Boyden, Hiram L. Fink, four hundred became members, many of whom still . William W. Baker; Deacon, Henry Baker; Trustees, Edward Harrison, Samuel E. Young, Jacob S. Ring, Daniel G. Fink, Alexander S. Clark, Levin H. Dun- kin; Sexton, David Crouch.

We find the following pastors who have labored in this church : Rev. Nathaniel Hubbel, 1730, resigned 1745; Rev. John Grant, 1750, died 1753; Rev. Ben- jamin Woodruff, 1759, died 1803; Rev. Thomas Pic- ton, 1805, resigned 1818 ; Rev. Alex. Fraser, 1819, re- signed 1826; Rev. Edwin Holt, 1827, resigned 1830; Rev. James M. Huntting, 1832, resigned 1849; Rev. Edward B. Edgar, 1850, resigned 1873.

338

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Thus it appears that this old church has had eight pastors to the above date, besides many supplies prior to the settlement of the parish, 1730. The following have filled offices as elders and deacons prior to 1761 : John Davis, John Woodruff, John Cory, Samuel Hinds, Zebulon Jennings, John Crane, Jr., Samuel Yeomans; aud since the year 1768, John Meeker, Andrew Hetfield, William Pierson, Sr., Matthias Het- field, Joseph Acken, John Miller, Caleb Maxfield, Jacob Davis, Ezekiel Ross, John Dunham, William Pierson, Jr., Charles Clark, George Frazee; and Sept. 10, 1820, William Baker, Samuel Cory, Charles C. Williams, Samuel Downer, Andrew H. Clark, Ben- jamin Cory, John High, Jr., Amos Laing, James Ryno; from June 3, 1832, Edward Frazee, Squire Pierson, Henry Baker, Jacob Baker, William Clark, Jr., Ebenezer Connet, Isaac H. Pierson ; from July 12, 1846, Isaac French, Ephraim Clark, Jotham Wil- liams; from Dec. 24, 1854, Joseph Cory, Charles Pier- son, Francis R. Baker, Everet Pierson.

The landed property of this parish was once exten- sive and valuable, being three hundred acres, pre- sented by nine men, viz. : John Crane, William Miller, Jonathan Marsh, John Scudder, and it is supposed James Badgley, John Davis, Isaac Frazee, Joseph Mills, and Daniel Ross. These lands were given about the year 1802. I find that many legacies were left in the wills of the early settlers to this church. It is always desirable that others should remember their fathers in the same acts of love, the interest to be used annually for the support of the gospel.

I find many interesting incidents connected with this historical church of the Revolutionary war, but I must close with an extract from Rev. James M. Huntting's sermou, preached Jan. 1, 1839, of which but few copies can now be found :

"Since your ancestors came to this place four generations of men have been numbered with the dead. Not only have the Indiens who .then roamed through the forest here all sunk away among the dead, but so have all those who purchased and enbdned their lande. And now & fifth generation linger here and there at great distancee from each other, ' who rather sigh and groan than live,' while all between them have fallen. On some of our roade they have to look each way for miles to find only a few of the companions of their youth. Several thousand have died here since the place was settled. Do we ask where are the fathers of this church and congregation? Where are the pastors and the people whin preached and heard the gospel here, and planted gospel ordinances where the tomahawk sod scalping-knife were wielded, and where the wild beasts of the forest grazed or preyed on each other? The answer is all, ell are covered by the clods of the valley, and we are quickly following them. Where are the men who would go on foot to Elizabethtown from Sabbath fo Sabbath to hear the gospel if they could not hear it nearer ? Do they exist here at present ?

"' Not but the human fabric from the birth Imbibes the flavor of its parent earth ; Aa various tracta enforce a varione toil, The manners speak the idiom of their suil. An iron race the mountain cliffs maintain, Foes to the gentler genius of the plain.'"

Methodist Episcopal Church .- In the year 1849 a few families residing in this township by the name of Benjamin Marsh, Elihu Mott, Benjamin Willcox, C. A. Leveridge, Nathaniel R. Day, and David M.

Woodruff desiring to have the services of the Metho- dist preacher at Plainfield to come on a Sabbath afternoon and hold services at the residence of C. A. Leveridge, Esq., the Rev. William E. Perry con- sented to supply, which he did during the summer and fall of 1849. The following year Westfield and Springfield were joined together, when the Rev. T. T. Campfield was appointed in charge, and organized the first class of eleven members. In the fall of 1850, Rev. William H. Nelson was sent, and two rooms at the residence of John M. Clark, Esq., were fitted up for regular services. The congregation increasing arrangements were made for building a church, when a fine lot of ground was offered by the late Matthias Clark, Esq., and accepted, and arrangements were made to build a frame church thirty-six by fifty feet. In the spring of the following year Rev. T. T. Camp- field was returned by the Conference, and efforts were put forth and the church was completed and dedicated. The late Bishop Edwin J. Janes preached the dedicatory sermon. The whole cost of church and improving the grounds was three thousand five hundred dollars. The membership had increased up to this time to twenty-seven. The Rev. T. T. Camp- field remained on the charge until the following spring, when the Rev. James Harris, who was a transfer to New Jersey Conference from Atlanta, Ga. In the spring of 1857 Rev. B. O. Parvin came, and remained for two years. The following have been sent by the Conference (at this time its mem- bership had increased to seventy-two members) : Rev. J. Kowins, Jacob F. Dodd, Joseph H. James, Theo- dore D. Frazee, Garritt R. Vanhorne, Thomas E. Everitt, John Davis, R. B. Collins, C. S. Ryman, Elihu Grant, Henry M. Simpson. John I. Boswell, Alexander Craig, Thomas H. Smith, and Warren L. Hoagland, the present pastor. In the year 1863 a fine Sabbath-school room was built in the rear of the church, twenty-four by forty-six feet, for their in- creasing school. Mr. James R. Ferris has held the position of superintendent for nearly all the time since the organization of this Sabbath-school, and the church had increased in membership of about ninety, when in the year 1873 it was decided to build a larger church. A meeting was called and plans were exhibited for adoption. Benjamin Ham and James R. Ferris were appointed upon the building committee. It was decided to occupy the same ground ; money was raised, and a beautiful church edifice was erected, with an audience-room to accom- modate some five hundred persons, having lecture- and class-rooms, parlor, and pastor's study on the first floor, a fine cellar for heating apparatus, making the whole comfortable in extreme weather. The whole cost was twenty thousand dollars, and is free from debt. The present membership is one hundred and eighty, with a Sabbath-school of two hundred and four.

In the year 1869 a double lot was secured in the rear of the church, and a comfortable parsonage was

Oliver M Pierson

339

TOWNSHIP OF WESTFIELD.

erected. The oldest member of the church at the present is Josiah Ferris, in his ninety-second year, who has held responsible official relation to the church for years as trustee, class-leader, and steward.

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was organized with thirty members in the fall of the year 1879, John Williams and Henry Nelson and a few others interesting themselves in collecting the : Sabbath-school teachers, 13; scholars, 125. colored people of Westfield together. They seem to be a prosperous society. The Rev. Valentine Buck, a Methodist clergyman of the New York East Con- ference, has assisted them in their efforts to establish regular services on the Sabbath. Rev. Thomas Har- ris, presiding elder, has the supervision of this society.

Grace Protestant Episcopal Church .- This so- ciety was organized July 2, 1867, at the homestead residence of Rev. Philemon E. Coe, who fitted up his large hall with temporary altar, organ, and other requisites for the use of a congregation, and here the society worshiped for some years. The festivals of Christmas and Easter were duly observed, the rector (Rev. Mr. Coe) sparing no pains to provide attractive music and all needed accessories. After a few years of this voluntary service Mr. Coe died of malignant smallpox, contracted while kindly visiting and pray- ing with a neighbor dying of this disease.

In his will Rev. Mr. Coe donated to the society the plot of ground upon which the present church edifice stands. It is a beautiful elevation, centrally located upon the main thoroughfare, Broad Street. The corner-stone was laid July 3, 1874. It is a pretty Gothic frame building, forty by sixty feet, containing two hundred and fifty sittings. The successive rec- tors have been Rev. Harris C. Rush and the present incumbent, Rev. Thomas Drum, M.D. The congre- gation now comprises forty families, forty-three com- municants, and is zealous, and hopeful for the future.

Congregational Church .- This is a new church organization of the Congregational Church of Christ, and was organized June, 1880. They were supplied with regular services, which are held in the Æolian Hall, until the Rev. Henry Neill became their stated pastor a few months ago.

They are expecting to build a frame church in the Queen Anne style of architecture, and to cost between six thousand and eight thousand dollars. They have secured lots eligibly situated in the centre of the village on Elmer Street near Broad Street. The church will have audience-room, parlor, and school-room so ar- ranged that they can be all opened in one, making for extra occasions a well-ventilated audience-room.

Membership, 70; sittings, 275; teachers in Sab- bath-school, 12; Sabbath-school scholars, 75.

Baptist Church .- This church is situated on Elm Street, about the centre of the village ; organized in 1866. They have had a number of pastors. Rev. Charles A. Haris served them for a few years, until by broken health resigned in the fall of 1879, and for a few months they were supplied. The Rev. A.

Graves, who has resided here for many years, has done much for this feeble church from its first start, laboring for its extension, and holding meeting with considerable success. The present pastor, Rev. E. H. Bronson, came in May, 1880, from Aurora, Ill. The building, a frame, costing about six thousand five hundred dollars; sittings, 350; membership, 117;

Holy Trinity Church .- This church was organ- ised in 1870 by a few Roman Catholic families who resided in the township. The Rev. Mr. Kinnard held mass for a time in a building fitted up for the purpose, and soon lots were secured in the sontherly part of the town of Westfield, on lands originally belonging to the estate of Theophilus Pierson, and soon a neat frame structure was erected with belfry at a cost of about four thousand five hundred dollars. The fol- lowing pastors have been in here: Father Kinnard, Father Connerly, Father Morris, now of Plainfield, Father Mitchell, Father Daniels, Father Buerghman, Father Weighert, and the present pastor, the Rev. Father Berghman. There are two memorial win- dows in the church commemorating the deaths of John Stityard and Patrick Bahn. Sittings, three hun- dred ; families in parish, thirty-five. The first trus- tees were John Fealy and Daniel Conners, and the present acting trustee is Patrick English.

The Westfield Monitor .- On the 23d of Decem- ber, 1880, the first issue of a regular weekly paper by Sydney Genung, formerly of East Madison, N. J., editor and publisher ; terms, two dollars per annum. In his salutatory he says,-

"To-day we launch the Westfield Monitor on what we trust may be a career of usefulness to our fellow-citizens and of at least moderate pros- perity to its publishers. We shall treaf all of whom we may have occa- sion to speak with judicial fairness, applauding virtue and condemning vice in public places wherever and whenever found. . . . We propose this shall be a journal for all the people, and believing that free and open discussion is the surest way of arriving at the truth, we extend to all our readers without regard to party or sect to use our columns, as far as our time and space will permit, to express their views on all subjects of public interest."

Burial-Places .- The oldest cemetery in this town- ship is the Presbyterian, and it is as old as the first log church, which was built about 1720. The oldest date on a headstone appears to be in memory of

" Noah, the son of Wm. & Hannah Miller, died A.D. 1730, aged 6 weeks."

" In memory of Baltis Roll

who was murdered Feb. 22, 1830,

in the 62 year of his age. Ye friends that weep around my grave, Compose your minds to rest, Prepar» with me for sudden death, And live forever blest."

340

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

The graves of two persons are remarked here who died at the unusual age of one hundred and one years, viz. :

" Sarah Collins, Died June 18,

" Samuel Downer, Died Oct. 22,

1868,

1824,

Aged 101 yrs. 3 ms."

Aged 101 yrs."

The two rough stones that stand close to the fence are of the Cranes :

"A. C.

1759."

" S. C. 1749."

Stephen Crane, died 1794, was the son of Stephen Crane, and he married Annie Williams; died 1759 ; had three children.

" Gideon Ro88, Born Jan. 7, 1794. Died Dec. 22, 1861."

" Capt. John Sendder, deceased ye 26 Feb. A.D., 1777, 77 year."

" This Stone is erected to the memory of Doctor Joseph Quimby, who departed this Life March 26, 1833, in his 66 year."

FAIRVIEW CEMETERY,-The organization of the Fairview Cemetery Association was perfected on the 13th of January, 1868, pursuant to the provisions of a general statute of this State, and a certificate was duly filed with the county clerk constituting the asso- ciation a legally corporate body. The following were elected the first board of trustees : Chauncey B. Rip- ley, F. A. Kinch, M.D., Matthias Clark, Moses T. Crane, A. A. Drake, J. M. C. Marsh, Squire Pier- son, J. Q. Dudley, William Stitt, Rev. Philemon E. Coe, Joshna Brown, and Joseph Moffett.

The cemetery grounds are located on the public road leading from Westfield to Springfield, about one and a half miles from the station of the Central Rail- road, in Westfield, and about the same distance from Cranford station, convenient for each village, and at the same time not too far for the accommodation of Springfield.

The cemetery embraces an elevation of land for- merly owned by Mr. John R. Miller, containing more than seventeen acres, and long known as Mount Pleasant, commanding a view of the surrounding country for many miles distant in every direction.

On the 24th of September, 1868, the cemetery grounds were solemnly dedicated.

The following gentlemen compose the board of trustees: Evert M. Pierson, president; Effingham Emery, treasurer ; Edgar Pearsal, secretary ; James R. Ferris, William Wood, James T. Pearson, Gideon Ludlow, Moses T. Crane, E. H. Bronson, Daniel G.

Fink, - Atwater, and William W. Connerly, su- perintendent of the grounds and outlays.

The private burial-ground of Mr. Jacob Miller, deceased, is on the road from Branch Mills to Cran- ford, adjoining Mr. G. W. Pierson's farms. The whole plot has been laid out and a number of inter- ments made, including Mr. Jacob Miller.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN MILLER.

Mr. Miller was of English stock, his grandfather having been Enoch Miller, who resided in Westfield township, married and had fifteen children, among whom was a son Enoch, who also resided in the township, where he was united in marriage to Miss Ross, of the same locality. Their children were Anna, David, Rebecca, John, Hannah, Jacob, Enoch (1st), Enoch (2d), Keziah, Moses, Stites, Abner, Eli- jah, Eliza, and Josiah. John of this number was born March 22, 1790, in Westfield, where his boy- hood was spent. His early years were devoted to attendance at the neighboring public school, after which he engaged in agricultural employments. His attention was specially directed to the cultiva- tion of peppermint, the oil from which was distilled by him. He meanwhile acquired the farm which is the present residence of his widow and son, and made many improvements on the land. Mr. Miller was the first cultivator of peppermint in central and western New York, large fields of the herb having been raised and utilized by him in the immediate vicinity of Lyons, N. Y. He married Miss Betsey Ross, of Westfield, and had children,-John R., Charlotte, Keziah, David, and James H. Mrs. Miller having died Sept. 7, 1848, he was again married to Peninah W., daughter of Jonas and Eliza Smith, of Orange, N. J. Their only son is Jonas S. Miller, who now resides upon the farm. Mr. Miller was a firm Dem- ocrat in politics, but in no manner identified with the politics of the county or township. He was a Pres- byterian in religion and a member of the church in Westfield. His death occurred Sept. 14, 1867, in his seventy-seventh year. He was a man of genial tem- per, of much industry, and of profound judgment in all matters of public or private interest. His life was essentially one of usefulness, and his death a source of genuine sorrow.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 82

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