USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 55
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 55
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 55
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EAST LAKE WOOLEN MANI FACHI RING COMPANY. -In 1811, Jeremiah Buck erected a cotton- and woolen-factory on the south side of Commerce Street, The canning-factory of Benjamin S. Ayars is on Water Street, below Vinc. He employs over one hundred hands, and puts up over three hundred thousand cans of goods. Mesers. William Laning and Franklin C. Probasen have created canning- works on Water Street during the present year. between his grist- and saw-mill. The business was carried on by Enoch H. More and Ephraim Holmes, but in the name of Mr. More alone. In the great food of Feb. 20, 1822, the mill-dam broke, and the woolen- mill was undermined by the water and carried away. Dr. William Elmer, then the owner of the property, Isaac W. Mulford & Son have created a large paper- mill on Water Street, near the foot of Hampton Street, and fronting on the Cohansey, which was put in oper- ation during the fall of 1583. They manufacture for the present the coarser grades of paper. crected a new and larger mill on the north side of the road, where the present brick mill stands, which was finished the same year. Mr. More again commenced lmsiness, and carried it on until his death, in 1846, being at the time the State Senator In addition to these, the tanning establishment of Jacob Kienzle, one of our foremost German citizens. who has been located here over twenty-five years ; the pottery of William J. Surith; the ship-builling and marine railway yard of Rice & Brother; the cigar-manufactories of Jacob Mengel, Betchner & Bohl. Philip Bauer, Henry Maier, Mead & Brother, and Elmer & Davis; the West Jersey Soap- and Can- dk-Works, also belonging to Jacob Kienzle; the brick-yaris of Isaac W. Mulford and Benjamin Lap- ton ; the steam planing and door, sach, and blind from this county. The business was then carried on by William S. Dubois & Son until 1550, when the firm became William S. & R. Dubois, and after the death of William S., in 1852, his two sons carried it on under the name of R. & J. Dubois. They bought the woolen-mill and water-privilege of Jonathan Elmer, Jan. 19, 1863, and Dec. 23, 1864, they also bought the saw mill and other property adjoining. In 1863 they removed the old frame mill to the north- ward of its former site, on which they erected a handsome three-story brick structure, which has since , manufactories of D. B. & W. C. Whitekar and Nor-
600
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
ton L. Paullin ; the shirt-manufactory of llindermyer and the roof put on by December, when the money & Tresk ; the carriage-manufactories of Charles C. was all expended. In 1793 a law of the State wa- Londenslager, Robert M. Rocap, and Ira Allen; and obtained, authorizing the trustees to raise two they- numerous lesser manufactories of various kinds,-all . sand dollars by means of a lottery, in accordance give employment to a large number of hands, and con- stitute important items in the manufacturing life of Bridgeton. with a practice then very common. By means of the money thus secured the church was finished sulli- ciently so that on Sunday, May 17, 1795, it was dedi. ECCLESIASTICAL. ! cated to the worship of God by the Rev. John Davenport.
First Presbyterian Church .- Bridgeton remained without any organized church, or any place of wor- ship but the court-house, forty-five years after it be- came the county town. The Presbyterians residing there or in the vicinity belonged at the old Cohansey Church, at New England Town, or the church at Greenwich ; the Baptists, to the old Cohansey Bap- tist Church, in Lower Hopewell. In 1774 subscrip- tions were made to build a Presbyterian Church in Bridgeton, and a lot was selectedl on the east side of the river, situate on the north side of Commerce Street, a little above Pearl. But, owing to the oppo- sition of those residing on the west side of the river, at that time the most numerous and influential, the design was abandoned. In 1791, Mark Miller, who was a member of the Society of Friends, was induced to deed a lot. containing two acres, " to be used. occu- pied, and enjoyed by the inhabitants of Bridgeton forever, for the purpose of a burying-ground for all said inhabitants generally, and for erecting thercon a house for the public worship of Almighty God." To this lat large additions have been made by subse- quent purchases.
A congregational meeting was held, and the fol- lowing letter, the original of which was not long since in the possession of Rev. Dr. Hall, of Trenton, N. J., was addressed to the Philadelphia Presbytery :
" To the R.ed. Pr. d.ytery of Philad Ip.hi-s.
" GENTLEMEN,-The Inhabitants of Bridgetown & its vicinity have bilherto experienced great Inconvenience in having no House of Public Worship In or near the Town. It is a county Town, central in its sito- alion, e contains near 300 Inhabitants, who are raj Idly increasing in number.
" After repeated ellatte, wo have now a fair prospect of succeedling io building a Church in the Town. It is already nearly coclosed, & will probably le completed the cosning scaron.
" Our next object is to prepare for the start of preaching of the Gospel In it. Having a predilection for the Doctrino & Discipline of the Pres- byterian Church in America, we wish to become an acknowledged moor- ber of that Chauch. We have, therefore, dermed it the most orderly mode of procedure to make kuown our partientar case & circumstances to the liere Prest ylery within whose bounds we are situated, and to solicit their approbation & nosistance in the measure.
" We have appointed the learer hereof, Jonathan Elmer, Esquire, our Commissioner for that purpose. He will lay before you the application agreed upon by us, & wait for the result of your determination on the subject.
" We are, Hevd Geotlenico, " Yours, &c., " Signed by order and in behalf of the meeting, "DAYIn PUTTER, Chairman.
" BRIDGE Tows, Comberlaud County, & State of New Jersey, October the 134, 1792."
About sixteen hundred dollars were subscribed, and the foundation-stone was laid and the building commenced July 26, 1722. The house was inclosed
Previous to this time supplies were ordered by the Presbytery, and public worship was held in the court- house until the new church building was opened and! dedicated. 1n 1794 a call was unanimously agreed upon, in conjunction with the Greenwich congrega- tion, for the Rev. William Clarkson, of Philadelphia, which was accepted, and he was ordained and in- stalled as pastor of the two congregations in the church at Greenwich on the 20th of October, 1794.
On Sunday, Dec. 13, 1793, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time by the Rev. Mr. Clarkson.
In April, 1796, Nathaniel Harris, Zachariah Law- rence, and John Lupton were elected and ordained the first ruling ellers of the Bridgeton congregation.
In 1891, Mr. Clarkson accepted a call to Schenec- tady, N. Y., and resigned his charge. The congrega- tion depended on supplies until 1805, when the Rev. Jonathan Freeman, of Orange County, N. Y., was called by the two churches, and was installed on the 16th of October of that year. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Freeman were accustomed to preach in the morning at Greenwich and the afternoon at Bridgeton, and resided several years on the parsonage farm, near Bowentown. After 1810, wheu Mr. Freeman removed to Bridgeton, he generally preached on the evenings of Sunday and Wednesday in the court-house. He died in 1822. A sketch of his life and ministry will be found in this volume.
In 1824 the onion with the Greenwich Church was terminated, and the congregation of Bridgeton called the Rev. Brogan Hoff as their separate pastor. Ile was installed June 10, 1824, and continued his min- istrations until 1833, when he resigned.
During 1826 a session house for lectures, evening meetings, and Sunday-school purposes was erected on the northeast corner of Commerce and' Pearl Street-, and was in use at that place until 1863, when the lot was sold for business purposes, and the building was removed to the church lot, facing Pearl Street, and much improved, continuing to be used by the church for the same purpose outil 1883.
In 1834 the Rev. John Kennedy became the pastor, and was installed on the 8th day of May. In 1835 the congregation resolved to build a new church on the cast side of the river, in a more central and con- venient location.
A lot was purchased running from Laurel to Pearl Street, just above Commerce, and the present place of worship. since much enlarged and improved, was
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CITY OF BRIDGETON.
601
erected, and was dedicated March 31, 1836, Mr. Ken- Julius L. Bartlett, of South Carolina, who resigned his nedy resigned in 1838, and the same year the Rev. charge Jan. 1, 1842. Samuel Beach Jones was called, and was installed Jan. 26, 1-42, the chinren ealled and settled Rev. William A. Mfandell, of Massachusetts, who resigned as pastor May 9. 1839. He resigned in 1802. The church was enlarged and beautifully frescoed during ; his charge in 1844. the latter part of his ministration.
Immediately after that, Rev. Heury J. Vandyke, of Philadelphia, was invited to preach as a stated supply for six months. He was called, ordained, and installed pastor over the church June 17, 1845, and resigned his charge, on account of ill health, April 18. 1846, after which the congregation depended upon supplies for about eighteen months, about ten months of which time the Rev. Julius L. Bartlett, of South Carolina, served the church.
Oct. 17, 1847, Rev. Henry J. Vandyke's health being restored, he was again called by the congrega- tion, and was installed pastor Nov. 10, 1848. Sept. 11, 1850, he asked to have the pastoral relation now existing dissolved, on account of desiring to connect himself with the Presbytery of West Jersey, which was agreed to by the congregation. A pro re note meeting of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia being called on the evening of July 9, 1550, the pas- toral relation was dissolved and the pulpit placed in charge of the Session.
July 23, 1850. the Session invited Rev. Henry J. Vandyke to supply the pulpit for three months.
Sept. 1, 1550, at a meeting of the congregation beld in the church, the following resolutions were adopted :
" Resolved, That this congregation unite with the West Jersey Pushy- tery, and that two commissioners be appointed to present the application to the next stated invoting of sald Presbytery.
" Kesolred. That while we consider that it will be an advantage to the cause of Christ as well as for the glory of God to be connected with the West Jersey Presbytery, we still entertain, and trust we ever shall, the kindliest feelings towards the Presbytery we leave att those minister- whose laters for us have been frequent, self-denying, and highly ac- coptalle."
At the stated meeting of the Presbytery of West Jersey, held Oct. 8, 1850, the church was received under the care of said Presbytery.
The Session invited Rev. Henry J. Vandyke to sup-
At a congregational meeting held in the church, -, 1850, Rev. Henry .I. Vandyke was again elected pastor, and was installed by the Presbytery of West Jersey, - 1850.
April 19, 1852, on account of ill health he again resigned his charge.
At a congregational meeting held in the lecture- room of the church, Feb. 8, 1853, Rev. William E. Baker, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., was nominated and unan- imously elected pastor, but resigned his pastorate Nov. 19, 1855.
July 8, 1856, Rev. Peter B. Heroy was called, and remained pastor until May 5, 1857. Mr. Heroy was followed by Rev. Joseph W. Hubbard, who was in- stalled Ang. 5, 1857, and resigned April, 1865.
June 20, 1866, Rev. Heber II. Beadle was installed. .
July 15, 18-19, the church called and settled Rev. pastor, who has remained until now.
1
The Rev. Casper R. Gregory, from Oneida, N. Y., was installed May 12, 1864. The congregation hay- ing increased, and the interests of Presbyterianism seeming to demand a church on the west side of the l'ohansey, on March 16, 1869, one hundred and thir- teen members of the First Church took letters of dis- mission, together with four members from the Second Church, and were organized into the West Pre-by- verian Church. Mr. Gregory's pastoral relations were dissolved at a meeting of the Presbytery, October 7, 1873. In that year, during his ministry, a new and larger organ was purchased, and it is now in use.
Jan. 26, 1874, Rev. J. Allen Maxwell. of Orange, N. J., was elected pastor, and on March 29th he en- tered upon his duties as such. Feb. 13, 1881, his pas- toral relations were dissolved.
March 15, 1861, Rev. Augustus Brodhead, D.D .. was elected pastor, installed by the Presbytery May 4th, and entered upon his duties May 8th following.
The present number of members of the church is about three hundred and thirty, and the number of Sunday-school scholars the same. An elegant and commodious chapel, with rooms for Sunday-school, is now being erected, on the site of the old session house, in the Norman or Queen Anne style of archi- lecture, at a cost of upwards of seven thousand dol- lars.
Officers of the Church .- The present elders are Henry B. Luptou, Nathaniel Fish, Joseph Reeves, Alfred Holmes, Theophilus Trenchard, Edgar J. Riley, James .1. Reeves, Isaac Laning. The trustees are Jonathan Elmer, Charles S. Fithian, Robert MI. Seeley, W. H. H. Woodruff, John MI. Laning.
Second Presbyterian Church .- This church-was organized Oct. 11. 1838, by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, with eleven male and six female mem- . ply the pulpit for one year from Oet. 8, 1850.
hers. They rented the old Methodist Church at the corner of Bank and Washington Streets as a place of worship until they could build.
Their church was built of granite, on Pearl Street between Commerce and Washington Streets, in the years 1839-40. It was dedicated Nov. 7, 1840; ser- mon by Rev. John Patton, of Philadelphia. Length of the building, including tower, seventy-seven fect ; whole cost of church, eight thousand and ninety- nine dollars and thirty cents; architect, William Strickland, of Philadelphia; built by David J. F. Randolph and Lawrence Shiner. The bell weighs three hundred and forty-nine pounds, and cost, in- eluding freight, clapper, etc., one hundred dollar ..
Nov. 18, 1838, Rev. James Stratton was invited to preach as stated supply for six months.
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602
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
The church was enlarged in 1869 to accommodate the demands of a growing congregation, and was re- paired in 1853, and largely improved. It has con- neeted with it a flourishing Sunday-school, two young ladies' missionary societies, two church prayer meet- ings, one ladies'and one young people's prayer meet- ing each week. besides a regular teachers' meeting. The church membership is about three hundred.
West Presbyterian Church .- The West Pre-by- terian Church was organized March 16, 1869, by one hundred and thirteen members of the First Church, who took letters of dismission, together with four members from the Second Church, and shortly after a dozen more from the First Church were added. The congregation worshiped for awhile in the old Pre-by- terian Church on Broad Street, and upon its comple- tion in the chapel which adjoins the church. This building is of light gray Chester stone, with Trenton brownstone facings. It is divided by means of glass partitions, consisting of a series of windows, into two apartments, used by senior department and infant class of the Sabbath-school. Naturally, the building i- of the same order of architecture as the main edi- fice. The interior presents an air of roziness and neatness, and the stained window-sla-s is the only bright object visible.
The church proper is of the Gothic erder of archi- tecture, constructed of like material. The front and buttresses are pointed off, and the rest laid natural face, all broken range. The main building is one hundred by fifty-three feet wide, having a semi-ciren- lar recess at rear end measuring twenty-two by twelve. Between the chapel and main building is a vestibule: leading to the lecture-room, infant school. pastor's study, and main audience-room. The walls are painted in bright colors and artistic design. The stained-glass windows are in pattern and color very beautiful. The pews, pulpit, wainsenting, and doors are of solid oak, with neat chasing and carving. The chancel, with fine rose window, presents a very bril- liant effect. The warming is from steam-pipes which run under the feet of the occupants of the pews. The artificial light of the house is obtained from standards of modern and elegant design, which ex- tend in rows lengthwise of the building. The edifice seats about six hundred people, and is without doubt the most elegant building of the kind in the section
of New Jersey south of Camden. The interior is of September they " met on the lot and staked out . exceedingly. beautiful, combining as it does evidences of true art in the architectural design and true taste in the carrying out of every detail.
The corner-stone of the main structure was laid with appropriate ceremonies on Saturday, July 3, 1869, and on the next day, Sunday, July 4th, the chapel was dedicated to the worship of God, Rev. Dr. Moffat delivering the dedicatory sermon.
charge to the people was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Proudfit, the charge to the paster by the Rey. Dr. Smith, of Baltimore, Ald., and the sermon by the Rev. C. R. Gregory.
The church was dedicated on Thursday, April 11. 1878, after ten years of hope, prayer, and energetic effort. The sermon was preached by Rev. L. MI. Colfelt. of Philadelphia. The dedication prayer wa- read by the pastor of the church, Rev. Leonida- E. Coyle. The services throughout were very intere-t- ing to the large and attentive audience assembled. It should be observed that a costly and fine-toned organ ha- recently been placed in the church.
The number of members of the West Presbyterian Church is one hundred and seventy ; Sabbath-school members, two hundred and fifty-two.
First Baptist Church .- This church owes its origin to the Cohausey Baptist Church at Roadstown. The first sermon by a Baptist minister, as far as known. wa> preached by the Rev. Robert Kelsey, who served the old mother-church from 1756 to 1789. Ebenezer Elmer records in his journal that he preached at the court-house on Oct. 29, 1775, and also on December 31 of the same year. Ile probably continued his services in the succeeding year :. His successor, Rev. llenry Smalley, about 1797 began preaching every Sunday afternoon in the court-house at Bridgeton. and as the number of Baptists in the vicinity in- creased the need of a meeting-house at Bridgeton became more apparent, and the Cohansey Church approving the matter, a committee was appointed to purchase the lot already selected, then belonging to Daniel Elmer. July 16, 1812, he conveyed to trus- tees, for the sum of one hundred and fifty-tive dul- lars, the lot so long occupied by the church, bound- ing on Pearl, Marion, and Bank Streets, the same where their cemetery now is, and where the Pearl Street Baptist Church now stands, containing two aeres, upon condition that a house of worship be built thereon within three years, and a street three rod- wide be kept open between this lot and Mr. Elmer's other lands adjoining.
On July 12, 1812, a committee was appointed to procure materials and superintend the buikling of the meeting-house, consisting of Moses Harris, I-aac Mulford, and Moses Platts. The chief share of the responsibility rested on MIr. Mulford. On the 1St!
the ground for a brick-kiln near where the house was to stand," and on October 22d and 23d the kiln was set. Ninety thousand bricks were also bought. May 17, IS19, workmen commenced digging for the foun- dation, and the carpenters also began their work. May 31st the first foundation stone was laid, and the building was raised by August 5th. But as a result of the magnitude of the enterprise for those inter- the building was not completed until the latter part of the year 1816, and was dedicated on December
Thursday evening, April 28, 1879, Rev. L. E. Coyle ' ested in it, and the high prices incident to the war, was installed as pastor. The services were conducted in the chapel, Rev. H. JI. Bedle presiding. The
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CITY OF BRIDGETON.
16th of that year. The services, which had been held in the court-house, were transferred to the new building, and Mr. Smalley continued his regular ser- vices there as an out-station of the Cohansey Church.
The first meeting with reference to a separate or- ganization was held on Feb. 1, 1827, and as a result application was made to the mother-church for let- ters of dismission so as to form a new organization, and that church voted to grant their request, when they obtained a minister. In September Rev. George Spratt, M.D., accepted their call, and removed to Bridgeton Nov. 24, 1827. Jan. 5, 1828, the Cohansey Church granted letters of dismission to thirty-eight members, who, with Dr. Spratt and his wife, forty in all, were publicly constituted a separate church Jan. 31,1828.
The names of the constituent members were its follows :
Hev. George Spratt.
Mrs. Rachel Bacon.
Mra. Elizabeth Spratt.
" Clarissa Ilarker.
John Sibly.
Ietceca Gilman.
Maunah Harris.
Curtis Ogden. Noah Ayars. Kous Hacen.
= Judith Comer-ey.
Tansson Fithian. ..
lewis l'aullin.
=
Jaue Bowen
Mre. Ruth B. Ogden.
a Saralı Ayarı.
" Sarah Sibley.
Ano Paullin.
Maria O'llarrough.
Sarah Bacon.
..
Lydia Jarman.
Sarah Sink.
= Jane shaw.
Sarah Woodruff.
Sarah l'lerson.
Aun Plastis.
I.ydin Whealon.
=
Margaret Til-worth.
Phebe Manl.
Johu Ihookfield.
Miss Ruth S. Davis.
Rebecca Pare.
Mrs. Elizabeth Morris.
Elizabeth Pierson.
Rachel Perry.
..
Ann Barrett.
Wilhelmina Brooks.
F Mary hithian.
January 17th, Curtis Ogden and John Sibley were elected deacons, and Mr. Ogden was also elected clerk. On the second Sabbath in February the Lord's Supper was observed, and on the Sth of March Mrs. Priscilla Sheppard and Mrs. Maria Harris were received on their experience and baptized, the first persons admitted by this ordinance to the newly con- stituted chureb.
The church took the name of "The Second Cohan- sey Baptist Church at Bridgeton," and was incorpo- rated Sept. 29, 1828, the first trustees being Smith Bowen, Daniel Pierson, and Garrison Maul. Un- settled accounts for the building of the meeting- house, in 1816, caused great trouble, but they were all settled at last; but on account of them Dr. Spratt removed from Bridgeton, Oct. 20, 1830.
In February, 1831, Rev. J. C. Harrison became pastor, and continued until March 27, 1831, when he resigned, after a successful pastorate.
In December, 1834, Rev. Michael Frederick en- tered upon his ministry here. The church here was in more or less of a revival state during the entire Period of Mr. Frederick's labors. Some time in the winter of 1836 he began to hold meetings at Cedar- ville. The awakening there continued through the
summer, until. on the 6th of September, 1866, under the advice of a council, the Baptist Church at Cedar- ville was constituted. In this movement thirty-one members were dismissed from this church. March 11, 1837. Mr. Frederick took the church with eighty- seven membership, baptized one hundred and fifteen, and left it with one hundred and sixty-six, making a net gain of seventy-nine, notwithstanding the number dismissed to form the new church. He died Nov. 13, 1837, beloved by his people and respected by the entire community.
Galleries and a vestibule were put into the meeting- house in 1885, greatly increasing its accommoda- tions.
Rev. Charles J. Hopkins entered on the pastorate Nov. 25, 1838, and continued until Sept. 25, 1843. This was a period of prosperity. There were baptized into the church seventy-four, and the church mem- bership rose from one hundred and fifty-six to two hundred and thirty-seven, making a net gain of eighty- seven. Rev. W. A. Roy was licensed to preach. The lecture-room on Atlantic Street was erected for social meetings and Sunday-school purposes, and was dedicated Jan. 11, 1840. Mr. Hopkins was a man of great social power, endearing himself to those who formed his acquaintance.
Rev. Charles E. Wilson was the next pastor, and entered upon his duties April 7, 1844, continuing to labor until May 1, 1852, a little over eight years, the , longest pastorate the church has ever had excepting the present. Eighty-nine were baptized, and there was a net increase of the membership of sixty, leaving it with three hundred and four on the register.
Rev. William E. Cornwell became pastor July 4, 1852. Soon after his arrival the building of a new meeting-house was agitated, and a lot was bought on the south side of Commerce Street, between Pearl and Orange, Oct. 3, 1853, for thirteen hundred dollars, and a plan adopted for a building, fifty by eighty-eight feet, with a projection for tower in front of six feet, and a recess of seven feet at the rear for the pulpit, with a basement story for Sunday-school and evening meetings, and the main audience-room above. The basement is of stone, and the remainder is brick, the whole rough-coated and painted, with a tower in the centre of the front, surmounted with a steeple rising to the height of about one hundred and forty feet from the ground.
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