History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 93

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 93
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 93

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Mosea Faitout, 1848-50. Jonathan Winana, 1849. John C. Mooney, 1851.

Samuel R. Winans, 1861.

David Ball, 1852-54.

Daniel Burnet, 1852-53.

Aaron W. Buruet, 1852, 1855, 1862, 1867. William S. Williama,. 1854, 1859-60, 1869-71.

John Crane, 1855-56, 1872.

George Maxwell, 1855-58, 1866, 1868, 1873-74. Ogden Brawu, 1856-58.

William E. Day, 1859.

Ezekiel B. Woodruff, 1860.

Jahn Boyleton, 1861-64.

Caleb Jeffreys, 1848.

ABron W. Burnet, 1855-58. Lewie II. Wade, 1859-60.

JOHN S. HEADLEY.

The grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch was Cary Headley, whose birth occurred in Union township in 1756, where he during his life- time followed farming pursuits, was a man of much enterprise, and highly estecmed by his fellow towns- men .. Ile was married to Phebe Stiles, to whom were born children,-Mary (Mrs. Ezekiel Ball), I'hebe (Mrs. William Gardner), William S., Susan (Mrs. Thomas Baker), Timothy, David C., John S., and Sarah (Mrs. David Townley). The death of Mr. Headley occurred in 1824. His son William S. was born in Union township in 1792, where his life was spent as a successful agriculturist. He married Hannah, daughter of Davis Headley, and had chil- dren,-Joanna (Mrs. William S. Burnett, deccased), Phebe (Mrs. Silas C. Burnett), Caroline (Mrs. Wil- liam Courter), John S., Jane (Mrs. George R. Baker), and Wickliff. The death of William S. Headley took place at his home during the year 1850. Ilis son John S., a brief review of whose life is here given, was born March 11, 1824, in the township of Union, Union Co., N. J., on the family estate, where the years of his boyhood were spent. After acquiring a practical education be repaired to Brooklyn, N. Y., and was apprenticed to Davis M. Afflick, with whom he acquired the craft of a mason. During the year 1846 he embarked in business as a builder, and con-

tinued with success until 1856, when being attracted by the varicd advantages of the spot upon which his birth occurred, he returned again to Union township, and located upon a portion of the property of his ancestor, Cary Headley. To this he succeeded partly by inheritance and partly by purchase. Since that date the energies of Mr. Headley have been concen- trated wholly upon the cultivation and improvement of his farm.

Ile was, Feb. 13, 1849, married to Miss Sarah, daughter of John E. and Elizabeth Cook Courter, to whom were born children,-William C., whose birth occurred June 25, 1853, and who was admitted as counselor-at-law in 1878; Lizzie II. (Mrs. William S. Wade), residing in Springfield; and Jennie L. Mr. Headley is in his political convictions a Demo- crat. The excitements attending political life offer no charins to him, and his daily avocations afford but little time for pursuits other than those connected with his routine of duties. Hence he leaves to others both the honors and rewards of official life. Though not a member of any church, Mr. Ileadley and his family are worshipers at and supporters of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Springfield. He is a man of unassuming manner, but possessing many traits of character which are the exponents of success in life, and which command the respect of the community.

Jonathan Himans Im

The grandparents of Mr. Winans were Jonathan and Rachel Thompson Winans, who located on the land now occupied by the subject of this biography as early as the year 1760, and soon after crected the homestead which is the present family residence. Here Mr. Winans died Jan. 16, 1816, and his wife in April, 1808, both at an advanced age.

Nathaniel, their son, was born Jan. 1, 1764, at the ancestral home in Union township, where his life was spent as an agriculturist. He was married Dec. 24, 1804, to Miss Sarah Green, to whom were born two children,-Jonathan, Jr., and Rachel. The death of Mr. Winans occurred June 22, 1826. He was a supporter of the Lyons Farms Baptist Church, a Democrat in his political views, and bore a reputa- tion for integrity and honor questioned by nonc. The death of Mrs. Winans took place Aug. 22, 1855. Jonathan, Jr., was born April 19, 1808, near the homestead in Union township, where his early life was passed. On the death of his father he succeeded by inheritance to the property which has since been his home. He was married to Miss Eliza, daughter of Joseph Haines, of Elizabeth, whose birth occurred April 14, 1808, who became the parent of five chil-

dren,-Nathaniel F., born Nov. 29, 1828; Joseph H., whose birth took place Sept. 20, 1830 ; Jonathan D., born Nov. 12, 1832, and who died Sept. 22, 1837; Phebe E., born Feb. 17, 1839, now Mrs. A. S. Hensley ; and Jonathan D., whose birth occurred Oct. 14, 1845.

The political convictions of Mr. Winans lead him to esponse the principles of the Democracy. Thongh not ambitious for official distinction, he has served as president of the township committee of Union. He has been since 1831 a member of the Lyons Farms Baptist Church, and one of its deacons for more than forty years. He possesses a liberal fund of strong common sense and excellent judgment, qualities which have made his counsel much to be desired in the community.

'The Winans homestead, which is intimately asso- ciated with Revolutionary fame, was during that period entered by Hessians and a portion of the household furniture destroyed. This dwelling is still occupied by the fifth generation of the family in the person of Walter J., son of Jonathan D. and Mary Etta Winans, and grandson of the subject of this sketeh.

381

UNION TOWNSHIP.

had the charge of it a little over a year. After she left George Foot came from Newton, Conn., and remained until Miss Ellen Tichenor was appointed in 1840. A few years ago the old building was removed and a more commodious one erected, now known as the Hill- side Academy. Mr. Tichenor came in 1870, Miss Elizabeth Woodruff, 1872, and the present teacher is Mr. Deboise. The school is in an excellent location, on high ground, and has every convenience desirable to make it a first-class school. The number of schol- ars is eighty-seven. Girls, forty-four; boys, forty- three.

The hamlet contains about sixty dwellings ; many of them still show the age that they were built, with shingled sides, large stone and brick chimneys, small windows, and the halved doors. Benjamin Lyons carried on a large shoe business in 1793. David Lyons was at an early date one of the magistrates, and had the office until 1815. Moses Thompson, in 1780, was the first blacksmith, and afterwards his son, Isaac Thompson, engaged in the business, and Thomas Thompson, one other son, as wheel- wright.

The cemetery. The first burial was in the year 1828, but prior to this many of the early settlers were interred at the Connecticut Farms and Elizabethtown churchyards. The Baptist and Presbyterian Churches are just a short distance from this hamlet, in Clinton township, Essex County, and were built at an early date.

There are many fine villas with well laid out grounds, the residents of many doing business in the adjacent cities, having always been noted for being a healthy location, and desirable for those de- siring a quiet country neighborhood. There are many small settlements in this township that at an early date took the name of the first settler. It generally comprised a dozen or so of houses, and perhaps a school- honse. Leonard Headley had surveyed for him Oct. 14, 1678, "in the right of himself and his wife, 150 acres," and from this branch a large number of the name have sprung, and " Headley-town" is now well known on the road to Springfield.

Magietown was first settled by John Magie (McGie) in 1699-1700. He was a blacksmith, and came over from Scotland during the period of persecution, 1685- 87. He purchased land just west of the " town plot" (Elizabeth), which in great part his descendants have occupied until now.

Wade's Farms .- Benjamin Wade was a clothier. He settled in this township in the year 1675, and probably much earlier. He died about 1698. The family is still living in this township, and many of the branches have settled in the West.

Connecticut Farms contains the Presbyterian Church, a neat school-house (academy), two stores, wheelwright- and blacksmith-shops, butcher, post- office, tavern, and some forty or fifty dwellings. The village was settled by many from Connecticut in 1687-

70, and has the appearance of a New England settle- ment. Many of the dwellings are neat, and with much taste and order the surroundings are laid out. It is a quiet village, about three miles from the depot at Roselle, on the New Jersey Central Railroad.

Roselle is comparatively a new place, having a Methodist Episcopal Church, a fine academy, stores, and is part of Roselle proper, in Linden township, being known as West Roselle. Contains some sixty dwellings, generally occupied by merchants and others doing business in the city daily.

Presbyterian Church .- In a letter from Rev. Rob- ert Street, now pastor of Connecticut Farms Church, we are informed that the 'early records of the town and church were burnt during the Revolutionary war, June 8, 1780, when the first church and parsonage were destroyed, and the wife and child of Rev. Mr. Caldwell were brutally shot by an English soldier.

For a long time the settlers traveled four or five miles every Sabbath-day and back again to worship with their fathers in the church at Elizabeth Town, where Harriman and Dickinson proclaimed the doc- trines of the cross. About the year 1730, possibly a few years earlier, it is thought they organized into a separate religions society. That was a dark day for the little village on which eight or ten dwelling- houses, besides stores, shops, and ont-houses, and their frame church was burnt, and their early history and records perished in the disastrous conflagration kindled by the torch of the ruthless invader. Among the dwel- lings thus destroyed were those east of the church, belonging to Benjamin Thompson, Moses Thompson, John Wade, and Robert Wade, and the house belong- ing to Caleb Wade at the foot of the hill south of the church. The body of Mrs. Caldwell was conveyed to the house nearly opposite belonging to Capt. Henry Wade.

The circumstances of this painful tragedy are va- riously related. The following, from Brown's " Life of Finley," is probably very nearly correct :

"When the alarm was given in the morning of the approaching enemy, Rev. Mr. Cauldwell valoly endeavored to induce his wife to seek with him and the children a place of greater security, but she concluded to remain in the parsonage, thinking that she would be safe. The maid who remained with her and had charge of the children, looking out of the window, observed that a redcoat soldier had jumped over the fence and was coming up to the window with a gun. ller youngest 800 (Elias Bondinot), nearly two years old, called out, ' Let que see ! Let me see !' and ran towards the window. Mrs. Caldwell rose from sitting on a bed very near, aud at that moment the soldier fired his omsket at her through the window. Two balls passed through her body, and she in- stantly expired.

" The news of this wanton act of cruelty soon spread far and near, and aroused a more determined purpose to rid the country of her nier- ciless enemies."

At the close of the war the second church and par- sonage, which is now standing, was commenced, and in a few years both were ready for use. The love of the people for the house of God and the ordinances of religion, and their self-denying efforts for the honor of God and to perpetuate the blessings of the gospel

382

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

to their posterity, is highly creditable to the fathers of this church, and worthy of the imitation of their descendants. They were poor, some of them without a home. Their little savings had been ravaged by the ruthless invader. Dwellings, barns, fences, lands needed immediate attention. They had contributed liberally, both of men and means, to their country's service. And just as soon as the storm that had des- olated their earthly prospects began to abate they were seen busily engaged, the fathers with their sons, in removing the rubbish and charred timbers of the old church and gathering materials for the new. Nor did they rest until they secured a house for their God and a home for their minister. They were reluctant to ask for outside assistance, and it was not until they had exhausted all their resources that they were driven to the necessity of applying to the Presbytery for help to complete their building. At a meeting of the Presbytery in Morristown, May 7, 1783, the fol- lowing record was made :

" A petition from the congregation of Connecticut Farms for the as- sistance of Presbytery in building a meeting-honse was brought in and read. The Presbytery advise that congregation to send proper persons to their respective congregations under their care to solicit benefactions for the above purpose, and recommend to the ministers and elders of each of the congregations to take such methods as they shall think proper to promote this benevolent design."

Thus was the second church finished, and now oc- cupied for the past one hundred years, as generation after generation with their pastors have passed away, and at the present.

eighth pastor of this church was Rev. Stephen Thompson, a native of Mendham, N. J., in 1802. He continued his labors for thirty-three years, and dis- mi-sed in 1834, removed to Indiana, and where he remained until his death, May 31, 1856, in his eighty- first year. The present pastor, Rev. Robert Street, was called to this church in May, 1835, and who still preaches to this congregation, although those fathers and brethren who composed the session-Steplien Headley, Samuel Headley, William B. Potter, James W. Wade, and Thomas C. Allen, and to whom in the following September Elias Crane and John C. Lum, Jr., were added-have all passed away, while a large number of the parish whom he had counseled and prayed, and of the ninety -seven members of the church when he commenced his ministry, but ten remain, nearly all of whom are far advanced in life.

It was necessary that the historical part of this church should be remembered, as it was the love and life of the generation now passed away. It is their history. Passing through this beautiful section, dotted here aud there with comfortable farm-houses, well-cultivated fields, their fine orchards, long known as raisers of fruits of the choicest, and its being his- toric ground, makes it with the Westfield frontier, as it were, part and parcel with this wilderness two hun- dred years ago. Still many of the same names, same homes, and lands in the possession of their descend- ants.

" Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations." (Deut. xxxvii. 7.)

The succession of pastors in this church has been Rev. Simon Horton, 1735, eleven years ; Rev. James Davenport, 1748; Rev. Daniel Thorne, 1750, seven years; Rev. John Darby, 1758; Rev. Benjamin Haight, 1765, fourteen years ; Rev. Peter Fish, 1789, ten years; Rev. Samuel Smith, 1800; Rev. Stephen Thompson, 1802, thirty-two years; and followed by the present pastor, Rev. Robert Street, D.D., who was ordained and installed July 21, 1835, and has conse- quently been pastor for forty-seven consecutive years. The church was organized in 1730, rebuilt of stone in 1783.

Their first pastor was Rev. Simeon Horton, who was installed in the year 1734, who continued for twelve years. After a vacancy of two years, Rev. James Davenport came in 1748, who remained for a few years, when Rev. Daniel Thane, a native of Scot- land, was appointed over this church, and remained until 1757. The fourth pastor was Rev. John Darby, who was a descendant of one of the old settlers at Elizabethtown (1758), who remained for a few years. He died December, 1805, at the advanced age of ninety years. How the pulpit was supplied the next five or six years there is no account given, but in the winter of 1765 the Rev. Benjamin Hait (Hoyt) became The elders at the present time are John Crane, Clark Faitoute, William Earle, G. L. Headley ; trus- tees, John Leonard, E. B. Woodruff, Clark Faitoute, John Crane, I. Courter, I. Burnet, L. H. Williams; deacons, John Crane, Clark Faitoute ; superintendent of the Sabbath-school, James M. Burnet; sittings, 450; communicants, 150; Sunday-school scholars, 80. their pastor. He was a native of Norwalk, Connecti- cut, and a graduate of the College of New Jersey. His ministry here from the beginning was in trouble- some times, terminated by his death June 27, 1779. The church was without a pastor for eight years. We find after the death, by the ruthless hand of the enemy, of Rev. Mr. Caldwell and his wife, a Mr. REV. ROBERT STREET was born at Germantown, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, June 12, 1806. His father, Robert Street, was of English stock; his mother, Rachel Sims, was a native of New Jersey. They were both members of the Society of Friends. Robert was the eighth of ten children. When sixteen or seventeen years of age he became interested in the subject of personal religion, and soon after made a Noble Everett supplied for a year the scattered congregation, when the Rev. Peter Fish, of New- town, L. I., was called, who served for ten years, or until 1799, when Rev. Mr. Samuel Smith was installed. He was a graduate of Columbia College. He died of bilious fever one year and three days after his settlement, Oet. 10, 1801, at the age of thirty-three years. His immediate successor and the | profession of religion under the ministry of Rev. Dr.

I'm Ecrl

John Earl, the great-grandfather of Wil- liam, was of Holland extraction, and born June 3, 1722. His death occurred April 24, 1799. To his wife, Joanna Howard, were born children, among whom was Edward, whose birth occurred June 19, 1760, at Mid- dleville, Essex Co., and who married Miss Phebe Gardner. His death took place Oct. 13, 1817. Their son Robert C. was born Feb. 27, 1791, and died May 15, 1848. He was first married to Miss Margaret Townley, who was the mother of William Earl, the sub- ject of this brief sketch, and later contracted a second marriage with Miss Phebe C. Thompson. His son William was born Nov. 3, 1820, in what was then known as Essex County, but is now Union township, of Union County. He remained at home and assisted his father in the cultivation of his land until 1844, when he removed to Scotch Plains and rented a farm. At the expiration of two years he purchased the property which is his present residence.

Here, in connection with his farming pursuits, he is an extensive manufacturer of cider. This product is handled largely both at wholesale and retail, the principal markets being found in New York, Newark, and Elizabeth.

Mr. Earl was married Nov. 6, 1842, to Miss Phebe, daughter of Jesse C. and Elizabeth Thompson Baker, of Scotch Plains, whose birth occurred March 6, 1822. Their children are Margaret T., wife of W. E. Gardner; Eliza- beth T., who is married to Stockton H. Attridge; Mary R., wife of George C. Haines ; Phebe, who died in infancy ; Ella W. (Mrs. John Turner); and William B. Mr. Earl manifests a reason- able degree of interest in public affairs, and has been for some years inspector of election of his township. He affiliates with the Republican party in politics, and devotes his influence to its success and the furtherance of its principles. He has been since 1837 a member of the Presby- terian Church at Connecticut Farms, in which he has for three years held the position of elder.

John Brance

The great-grandfather of Mr. Crane was John, who was born April 20, 1723, and mar- ried to Huldah Grant. His death occurred Sept. 12, 1807. Among his children was John, born June 17, 1755, and whose death took place May 14, 1837. He was married to Phebe Ross, and became the father of Elias Crane, born April 24, 1789, who was united in marriage to Esther Maxwell, Dec. 15, 1812, whose death occurred March 27, 1880, and that of her husband July 19, 1869.

Their son John, whose life is here briefly reviewed, was born Nov. 15, 1815, in Union township, and his boyhood spent at the home of his parents. The public school of the neigh- borhood offered opportunities for the acquire- ment of the rudiments of knowledge, and with a considerable stock of sound common sense, and good judgment added to these, Mr. Crane has fought the battle of life thus far suc- cessfully.

He was in 1837 married to Miss Sarah Cutter, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., to whom seven children were born,-Mary H., Ann Amelia, Sarah C., Esther, John M., Frederick, and David. Mrs. Crane's death took place Sept. 4, 1854. He married a second time, Miss Hannah Cutter, a sister of the first wife, who became the mother of one son,-William.

Mr. Crane is in politics a Democrat, and has, with a single exception, cast his vote each year since he attained his majority. He has, among other positions of trust in the township, held the offices of superintendent of public instruc- tion and commissioner of highways. He is a Presbyterian in his religious views and a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian Church of Con- nectient Farms, in which he has for years been an esteemed elder. Mr. Crane is a man of excellent judgment, and is estecmed not less for his judicious counsels than for his many virtues.

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

Janeway, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.

His attention having been drawn to the ministry as a profession, his preparation for preaching was pursued first at the academy at Williamstown, Mass., then at Williams College, and finally at the theological seminary at Princeton, N. J.

Robert Street-

In May, 1835, he received an invitation to preach for the First Presbyterian Church of Connecticut Farms, in the town of Union, Union Co., N. J., and in a few weeks received a unanimous call to the pastorate, and July 21, 1835, was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of Elizabethtown.

Mr. Street has two children, a son and a daughter, having buried four sons, one of whom was by a former marriage.

Mr. Street is still the pastor of the church, to which he was called in 1835, in the enjoyment of the confi- dence and affection of the people, and of bodily health and mental activity.

Methodist Episcopal Church, West Roselle .- A few families in the year 1871 desired to have ser- vices in this township under the care and auspices of the Methodist Church, and arrangements were made that supplies from Cranford and Elizabeth should hold regular meetings in the school-house; and finding that the building was too small, the few members of the church were organized into a society, and Revs. L. R. Dunn, D.D., Ralph Arntt, James Fitzgerald, D.D., James W. Marshall, Jonathan T. Crane, D.D., and others kindly aided them by their ministrations.

A meeting was held for the purpose of arranging the building of a Methodist Episcopal Church, when a board of trustees were elected, consisting of Messrs. A. Warren, J. A. Elwell, Wm. M. Crane, P. H. Bu- chanan, Alexander Cummings, E. S. Earl, and Charles O. Andrus. Land was donated by Jeremiah Eigh- mie, consisting of two fine lots, one hundred by two hundred feet, the one hundred feet fronting on Chest- nut Street and two hundred feet on Grand Avenue. Plans were adopted, and in 1872 this beautiful chapel was completed, at a cost of four thousand dollars, and large enough to accommodate some two hundred worshipers. The membership is about seventy. The following names are of the pastors who have served the usual time, according to the itinerant plans of the Methodist Church : Rev. G. W. Terbush, E. N. Crusto, Wmn. Buckalew, E. C. Dutcher, and Joseph P. An- drews, the present pastor. The Sabbath-school num- bers eighteen officers and teachers and ninety-six scholars. The present board of trustees are Messrs. John B. Smith, R. W. Wheeler, E. C. Hamblin, P. H. Buchanan, Alexander Cummings, E. S. Earl, and Charles O. Andrus. They have it in contemplation of building a larger building to accommodate their congregation.

St. Luke's Episcopal Mission .- Services had been held in the new St. Luke's Episcopal Church for some years at East Roselle, but a few families had settled in the upper part of Union township, who de- sired to have services held in their neighborhood, in what was called the Washington School District, and in the old school building; and finding an interest was being made by a number of families, St. Luke's Church decided to arrange for an Episcopal mission ; and as a fine school-house had been built at Connec- ticut Farms, and also another at West Roselle, the Washington school-house was offered for sale, which, through the liberality of Richard Kiplin, Esq., and others, was purchased and made larger, with stained- glass windows and turret for bell, grounds laid out neatly, and in 1880 Bishop Odenheimer consecrated the chapel for religious services according to the Epis- copal form of worship.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 93

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