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 56
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 56
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 56
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Ground was broken and work commenced June Ist, and on the Ith of July, 1851, the corner-stone of the new edifice was laid by the pastor with appropri- ate ceremony. Rev. Dr. J. Dowling, of Philadelphia, made the address. Rev. Mr. Hopkins, a former pas- tor, and others assisted.
Rev. W. E. Cornwell, Jr., son of the pastor, was licensed to preach Sept. 12, 1857. Mr. Cornwell closed his labors July 12, 1856, having baptized sixty- three persons, and leaving a total membership of three hundred and twenty -- ix.
Ruth Golden.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Rev. J. Spencer Kennard became pastor Jan. 1, the Pearl Street Church. A brick dwelling-house for 1857. A lot in the rear of the new meeting-house, the use of the sexton was erected, through the gou- erosity of a member of the church, Miss Anna M. Mulford, on the rear of the church lot fronting on Orange Street, at a cost of sixteen hundred and fitty dollars, and presented to the church April 9, 1573. The semi-centennial of the organization of the chure !! was celebrated an. 31, ISTS, but the incessant -form throughout the day interfered greatly with its sweet- In the fall of 1881 the arrangement of the basement rooms was changed, and the whole greatly improved. at a cost of over one thousand dollars. In November, ISS1, the church came to the nid of the Pearl Street Church in raising their heavy debt, contributing eighteen hundred and sixty-one dollars towards that fronting on Orange Street, was bought May 5, 1857, for the accommodation of horses and carriages. for twelve hundred and fifty dollars, which, by the sale' of some buildings upon it, was reduced to about nine hundred dollars. The main audience-room of the church being finished, dedication services were held Sept. 23, 1857. It was the finest audience-room in the city, having a handsome stucco-work eciling, pul- pit recess, and gallery in the front end of the church. Mr. Kennard's ministry was very successful. Ile re- igned Sept. 11, 1859, having baptized seventy-three. and leaving the church with three hundred and sixty- eight members.
Rev. James F. Brown became the eighth pastor . object. In March, 1882, a handsome pipe organ wa-
June 1, 1800, During his pastorate, in the spring of 1863, the debt of six thousand six hundred dollars was paid off. By act of the Legislature of Feb. IS, 186-4, the name of the church was changed to " First Baptist Church of Bridgeton." In 1806 the base- ment of the church was completed and furnished. On July 17th, of that year, the Pearl Street Church was constituted with sixty-nine members, sixty-six of whom were dismissed from this church. Hle closed his labor- in March, 1868, having baptized ninety- five, and leaving the church with a membership of two hundred and ninety-one.
In the sununer of Isos the spire to the church was erected, and a bell, weighing over two thousand one hundred pounds, was placed in the belfry, thus com- pleting the church according to the original plan, Jan. 1, 1869. Rev. William Wilder entered upon the pastoral office. In May, succeeding the arrival of Mr. Wilder, the attractive house on Atlantic Street was bought at a cost of five thousand one hundred dollars for a parsonage.
A mission-school in the south part of the city was established Nov. 10, 1869. There was, however, no suitable place for them to meet until two sisters, members of the church, erected a chapel, both con- venient and attractive, for the use of the school. It was begun in the fall of 1869, and opened March, 1870, costing, including bell, nineteen hundred and fifty dollars, exclusive of the lot. During 1871 a brick chapel was erected on the east side of Fayette Street, south of Vine, and was dedicated in February, 1872. Mr. Wilder resigned July 30, 1871, having baptized twenty, and leaving a total of two hundred and sixty- eight members.
Rev. Ethan B. Palmer became the present pastor March 1, 1872. During the summer of that year the church was upholstered anew, frescoed, and other- wise improved, at a eust of three thousand one hun- dred dollars, and was reopened for service September 220. During the spring of 1873 ninety-two persons were baptized and united with the church, the result of a series of meetings held by Rev. Ii. G. DeWitt, an evangelist. About twenty-five also united with
placed in the main audience-room, costing two thou- sand four hundred dollars, together with a water- motor, costing one hundred and fifty dollars, furnish- ing power to the organ. During this pastorate two hundred and forty-eight have been baptized, and the membership is four hundred and forty-five. The history of the church has been one of great useful- ness and prosperity, and it occupies an important position in the community. The present officers are : Pastor, Rev. E. B. Palmer, D.D. ; Deaeons, Horatio J. Mulford, William Hancock, I-aae W. Mulford. William G. Brooks, Azel Pierson, Jonathan D. Ayres, William B. Gilman; Trustees, Eliner H. Mixner, William Dare, Benjamin Hancock, James H. Flana- gan, Horace E. Orden ; Clerk, John F. Watson.
Pearl Street Baptist Church .- In the spring of 13GG the subject of organizing a second Baptist Church in Bridgeton was taken into consideration by the First Church, and a committee appointed to re- port on the subject. It resulted in letters of dismi -- sion being grauted to sixty-six members, who were duly constituted a regular Baptist Church July Io. 1866. The mother-church decded to the new inter- est the old house of worship and the fine lot on which it stands, at the northeast corner of Pearl and Marion Streets, from the location of which the name of the church was taken. Rev. William R. MeNeil became their first pastor at the time of their organization. Jan. 1, 1867, they bought the convenient dwelling. house on the southwest corner of Bank and Marina Street: for a parsonage, for the sum of four thousand dollars. During 1868 the old meeting-house was eu- larged and improved. Additions were built to i! both in front and rear, and a tower was erected in the centre of the front, with a steeple about one hundred and twenty feet high. A neat and convenient chapel was erceted, fronting on Marion Street, and joining on the main church at the rear, for Sunday-school purposes. The windows, galleries, and the whole in- terior of the old church were remodeled. A fine be !! , weighing over eighteen hundred pounds, was placed in the belfry. The total cost of the improvement- was eighteen thousand one hundred dollars, of which
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CITY OF BRIDGETON.
about six thousand dollars were paid at once, leaving a debt of about twelve thousand five hundred dollars. During his ministry a large number of persons united with the church, and when he resigned, Feb. 1, 1572, the church had three hundred and twenty-nine mem- bers.
Rev. B. S. Morse became the second pastor April 1, 1872. In the summer of that year subscriptions were made towards the payment of the debt of twelve thou- sand five hundred dollars, and at the meeting of the West New Jersey Baptist Association, in September, they reported that the debt was all provided for ; but through a defective plan of payment, and erroneous management of the financial affairs of the church, the larger part of it remained to cripple them for over nine years. Mr. Morse resigned in the spring of 1874.
The church was without a pastor for over a year, when Rev. A. B. McGowan became the third one, July 25, 1875, and continued until Nov. 25, 1877, when he resigned. During his pastorate the mem- bership was reduced to two hundred and eighty. Rev. John E. Chesshire, D.D., began his labors May 1, 1878. In the carly fall of that year they crected a handsome iron fence around their church property. On the morning of Oct. 23, 1878, the steeple of the church was blown off; carrying the bell with it, and damaging the front end of the building in other re- spects. A severe storm of rain and wind had set in the preceding night, which increased in violence until morning. Money was raised at once and the bell-room rebuilt of briek and temporarily roofed over, and the bell, which was found to be uninjured, was replaced. The steeple has not yet been re-erected. Dr. Ches- shire resigned in October, 1879. He was followed by Rev. Samuel C. Dare, the present pastor, who began his labors July 1, 1880. The debt upon the church had long crippled its energies, and had become such as to seriously threaten the loss of their church prop- erty, the financial resources of the church having be- come reduced through removals and the altered con- dition of many of the members; owing to the finan- cial distress which had been prevalent throughout the country. On Sunday, Nov. 6, 1881, Edward Kin- ball, noted for his success in raising church debt-, spent the day with them, and over six thousand dol- lars were subscribed toward the debt, and in the next few weeks enough money was subscribed to cover the whole indebtedness, which was nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-four dollars and seventy-eight cents. The debt upon the meeting-house property has been paid in full since then. The church now numbers three hundred and six members.
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Commerce Street Methodist Episcopal Church. -Bishop Asbury was the first regular Methodist min- ister of the gospel that ever preached in Bridgeton. This was in September, 1783, and the fact is recorded in his journal. In 1788 all the lower part of the State was called Salem Circuit. In 1802 Salem was divided . Smith the following year.
into Salem and Cape May Circuits. In 1803, which wat- the end of the third decade of Methodism in New Jersey, eight hundred and sixty-six members were reported from Salem Circuit. Thomas Ware was ap- *pointed elder, and John Walker and John Durbin preachers. In 1804 Methodism seemed to have gained sufficient strength in Bridgeton to warrant its followers in uniting themselves together, and Mr. Walker formed them into a class, appointing William Brooks its Icader. The class of fourteen members met at Mr. Brooks' house, which stood, until a few years since, on the southeast corner of Broad and At- lantie Streets. Jle kept a tan-yard, was in comfort- able circumstances, and generally entertained the circuit preachers when they came to town. Rev. Jonathan Brooks, whom many remember, was a local preacher and a true representative of primitive Meth- cdism, and was one of the original fourteen members. lle was an carnest exhorter, and, maintaining a char- acter above suspicion, he exercised a great and deserved influence not only in his own society, but among the Christian people of other denominations, Previous to this time classes had been formed in this county at Port Elizabeth, Swing's Meeting- House (New England Town), Newport, and Vanaman's ( Heisler- ville). Meeting-houses are known to have been erected at the first three places.
The first society formed in Bridgeton owes its ori- gin largely to the labors of a Mr. John Murphy and his son-in-law, Mr. Michael Swing, In 1790, Mr. Swing, with his wife, removed from Pittsgrove, Salem Co., to Cumberland County, and purchased property at New England Town and settled on it. Mr. Mur- phy, who had been a local preacher for several years, accompanied his daughter and her husband. He was a zealous, good, and useful man. Through his influence and exertions a Methodist society had been formed at what is known as Friendship, three miles north of Elmer, and at present a part of that pastoral charge. In 1791, and chiefly at his owu expense, MIr. Swing huilt a church on his own farm. These two zealous men extended their labors as far as Bridgeton, and, excepting Bishop Asbury, were the first Meth- odist preachers to preach and hold religious services in Bridgeton. Mr. Murphy was buried in the Com- meree Street Methodist Episcopal Church cemetery. There is no monument, as it is fitting there should be, to his memory.
In the year 1805 the society was represented for the first time at the quarterly meeting of the circuit, and inade its first contribution towards the support of the gospel. With a membership of not less than fifteen, ยท only the mcagre contribution of eighty-seven cents is reported. In 1805 Salem and Cape May were again made one circuit under the forioer name, and John Walker and Nathan Swain were appointed preachers. In 1806, William Mills and Caleb Kendall were the appointed preachers, and William Mills and William
606
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
In the latter part of the year 1807 a lot was donated by Jeremiah Buck, and a plain frame building, thirty by thirty-six feet, was erected, just west of where the present brick one on Commerce Street stands.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. . Joseph Totten, presiding elder. The quarterly meet- ing of September was the first one held in Bridgeton, in the accounts of which it is noted that fifteen dol- lars and fifty cents was paid William Brooks, the leader of the class, as a donation for the meeting- house at Bridgeton. The church for a number of years remained unfinished, was not even plastered, nor did they employ a regular sexton. The leading members, in turn, filled the position a month cach, bringing a pound of candles with them when they assumed the duties of the office. The congregations at this time were small, did not exceed twenty-five or thirty persons.
Near the present church is a tomb, bearing date corresponding to that of the deed given for the church site, erected to the memory of James Smith, and represents the first one interred in that burial- place, where so many rest from their labors.
During the next sixteen years the following preach- ers were appointed to the circuit, and preached in Bridgeton in the order herein given: John Stevens and Nathan Swain, in 1808; James. Moore and Wil- liam S. Fisher, in 1800; William Fox and Joseph Bennett, in 1510; William Smith and Daniel Ireland, in 1811; Daniel Ireland and William Leonard, in 1$12; Samuel Budd and John Fox, in 1813; William S. Fisher aud Amos C. Moore, in 1814; l'eter Van- nest and George Wooley, in 1815.
Methodism had now become thoroughly established throughout the hounds of the circuit. Mr. Vanuest had the qualifications to give him great power with the people, and he was eminently successful as a minister.
George Wooley and John Creamer were appointed in 1816; John Walker and John Creamer, in 1817 ; John Walker and Edward l'age, in 1818. John Wal- ker's first colleague, in 1804, on the circuit, John P. Durbin, lived to become one of the most eminent ministers in his day of any denomination.
Thomas Neal and Edward Page were the preachers in 1819, Thomas Ware and Thomas Neal in 1820, Thomas Ware and Samuel J. Fox in 1821, Alward White and James Aikins in 1822. Thomas Ware was a native of Greenwich, Cumberland Co., N. J., and a man of remarkable ability in many directions.
Io 1823, New Jersey was again divided into two districts, and Jacob Moore was appointed presiding elder of West Jersey, and for the first time Bridgeton was made a station, to whichi Charles Pitman was ap- pointed, just half a century from the time the first Methodist Conference was held in America, Under Mr. Pitman's ministry the whole town was stirred, and Methodism, which had been struggling hard eighteen long years for an existence in the place, was well established.
In 1826, when just thirty years of age, and ouly eight in the ministry, Pitman was appointed pre-iding elder of West Jersey District. He preached with re- markable power, and conversions were numerous.
Walter Burroughs succeeded Pitman, and remained one year.
In 1826-27, John Potts was stationed in Bridgeton. His preaching was intellectual, logical, interesting, and powerful.
In 1827. Mr. Phebe Sayre, member of the church. willed a house to be used as a parsonage, and it wa- so used until the present one was built. This house (brick) is still standing and in good repair.
In 1828, James Smith was the pastor, and remained one year. Ile was succeeded by Robert Gerry. He was followed by William A. Wiggins.
In 1833-34, Bartholomew Weed was pastor, and under his pastorate a new church became a necessity. The old one was removed and located on the corner of Bank and Washington Streets, and fitted up as a chapel for Sunday-sebool purposes, class- and prayer- meetings. The trustees of the church, when the pres- ent building was erected, were Henry Nordyke, John Cheesman, Sr., W. R. Fithian, Richard Ross, Samuel Bowen, N. Tomlinson, Ephraim McGee, Peter Slee -- man, and William Bateman.
In 1835-36, Thomas MeCarrall was pastor; in 1837. Abraham Owen.
Mr. Owen was succceded by Thomas Sovereign, who served the church successfully two years.
Mr. Sovereign was appointed presiding eller on Bridgeton District in 1852, and resided in this place four successive years.
During the first year of his pasterate (1838) the Annual Conference met, for the first time, in Bridge- ton, Bishop Hedding presiding. Mr. Sovereign was succeeded by J. D. Denhart, who remained two years. lle was an able and successful minister, but he will be especially remembered as having met his death while chaplain in the United States navy, aboard the fated frigate "Cumberland," which went down in that his- torie engagement between the " Monitor" and " Mer- rimac."
In 1842 -- 13, J. H. Dandy was appointed to Bridge- ton.
In 1814-15, Jefferson Lewis was pastor.
In 1816-17, William HI. Hanley was pastor.
In 1848-49, Bartholomew Weed was for the second , time appointed pastor. With unity and peace came great prosperity.
Mr. Wecd was succeeded by A. C. Vandewater. The present parsonage, on Commerce Street, was built during the first year of his ministry.
In 1852-53, John S. Swain was pastor.
April 13, 1853, the Annual Conference met for the second time in Bridgeton, and at the Commerce Street Church. Bishop Morris presided.
Jn 1851-55, N. Vansant served the church as pastor. I Philip Cline succeeded for two years.
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CITY OF BRIDGETON.
In 1858-59, C. E. Hill was the appointed pastor. Through his energy and enterprise the South Pearl Street Chapel was built, where a flourishing Sabbath- school has met ever since.
In 1858-59, Rev.'S. Y. Monroe, presiding elder of Bridgeton District, resided in Bridgeton.
In 1860-61, J. B. Dobbins was the appointed pastor.
In 1862, C. H. Whitecar was pastor, and the fol- lowing year was appointed presiding elder, and he . continued a resident of the city during the time he filled this office in the church.
In 1803-64, John Hickman was pastor. In March, 1801, the Annual Conference met for the third time in Bridgeton, and in the Commerce Street Church. the new pastor preached his first sermon, Sabbath Bishop Simpson presided.
In 1865-06, A. E. Ballard was the appointed pastor. The chapel on Bauk Street was enlarged and im- proved, and the numerical strength of Methodi-m in Bridgeton made a third church organization neces- sary,-the Central, on Bank Street. At the elose of Mr. Ballard's terin in the pastorate, he was appointed presiding elder, and continued to reside in Bridgeton the four years he filled that office.
In 1867-69, F. A. Morrell was pastor.
In 1870-72, Isaiah D. King, A.J., was the pastor.
In 1871, W. E. Perry was appointed presiding ekler on the Bridgeton District, and made Bridgeton his residence.
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In 1873-74, C. S. Vancle was pastor.
In 1873 the semi-centennial celebration of the pas- ' building committee was appointed, consisting of torate of the Commerce Street Church, dating from the time it became a separate pastoral charge, took place.
In 1874-77, John S. Heisler wus presiding elder on Bridgeton District, and resided in Bridgeton.
In 1875-77, C. E. Ilill for the second time became pastor of the church. In 1878 he was appointed to the office of presiding elder on Bridgeton District, and continued a resident of the place.
In 1878-80, William Walton was pastor, and in 1881 was made presiding elder of the district, which he continues to hold.
In 1881, Jesse Stiles was made pastor, which posi- tion he now holds.
The Methodist society had existed in Bridgeton some twenty-one years before, as a denomination, it made provision for a Sunday-school. Properly speak- ing the Sunday-school of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgeton takes the date of its organiza- tion from the pastorate of Rev. John Potts, in 1827.
The third superintendent, or the one at this time acting, was John Salkeld, and the following-named persons have occupied the place, more or less, to the present time : Samuel S. Sibley, Nathan Tomlinson, John R. Cory, George Howell, Henry K. Foster, 1). B. Thompson, William Fisher, Franklin Ferguson, Morton Mills, Henry Neff, J. W. Tonkins, George V. Garwood, Walter Simkins, Wesley Stiles, Elmer Ware, Benjamin Garwood.
Commerce Street Church has never lost the true spirit of her mission. She has continued to be a re- vival church, increasing in later years rather than decreasing.
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Bridge- ton .- This church was organized April 11, 1849. The society first numbered thirty-six members, with Daniel Hanthorn, leader. The first meeting was held in an old shoemaker-shop belonging to James MI. Riley, and located on Fayette Street, east side, be- tween Broad and Vine Streets. Rev. Samuel Parker was first pastor. Being refused by several parties ac- commodations, the Baptist lecture-room on Atlantic Street was finally obtained at a nominal rent. Here morning, May 13th, to a congregation of about thirty persons. They continued for some time to hold class- and prayer-meetings in the old shoemaker-shop.
The first Quarterly Conference was held June 11, 1849. Rev. George F. Brown, presiding elder, pre- sided at this Conference, whose members represented a new and feeble church. The same month a board of trustees was elected, consisting of James M. Riley, Alfred Hann, William Rice, Benjamin O. White, and David Warren. At the close of the year the society numbered forty-seven members.
In 1850, William H. Jeffreys was the pastor, and the lot on which the church and parsonage now stand was purchased and action had looking to the erection of a church edifice. In June of the same year a
William Rice, Sr., James MI. Riley, and the pastor. On the 4th of July the corner-stone was laid, Dr. C. HJ. Whitecar preaching an appropriate sermon. A f church edifice was erected forty by sixty feet. The lecture room was dedicated Feb. 9, 1851, and soon after a Sabbath-school was organized, Franklin Tyler, superintendent.
In 1851, D. Graves was the pastor. In 1852-53, Samuel Hudson was pastor. In 1854, A. L. Brice was pastor. In 1855, Samuel Vansant was appointed, but to accommodate him a change was made, and W. H. Bakewell, a Wesleyan minister of marked ability, was appointed as a supply. In 1856-57, HI. M. Brown was pastor, and was very successful. R. S. Harri, fol- lowed, and remained one year. In 1859-60, I. D. King was pastor. In 1861, J. B. Graw was appointed, but entered the United States army as chaplain before the year expired, and R. J. Andrews supplied the place. In 1862-63, W. G. Margerum was pastor, and during these years promiscuous sittings and instrumental music were introduced. In 1864-65, R. Thorn served as pastor. In 1866-67, J. If. Stockton ministered. In 1868-70, George C. Maddock served. In 1871-73, W. W. Moffett was pastor. The church edifice in this period was enlarged, newly furnished, and bean- tified at a cost of eight thousand five hundred dollars. In 1873 the Annual Conference met in this church. Bishop Scott presided. In 1874, J. G. Crate was pas-
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
tor. He was followed by C. K. Fleming, who served as pastor three years. In 1878-80, George L. Dobbins was pastor. In 1881, W. S. Zane was appointed pas- tor, and is now serving as such. The membership of the church is about three hundred and fifty.
Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Bridgeton. -In February, 1864, a meeting was called by C. H. Whitecar, presiding elder, to ascertain who were will- ing to assume the responsibilities and make the sae- rifiees necessary to insure success in building a third | self gave to the church on the west side of North church. It was first proposed to abandon the old Commerce Street Church, and build one in a central part of the city sufficiently commodious to meet the present demand. The meeting was held, and seventy- seven names were given, which number was finally increased to one hundred and twenty. The presiding elder was then notified that they were ready for or- ganization, and desired a pastor appointed at the en- suing Conference. Their desire was granted, and Henry Baker was appointed. In April a permanent organization was effected. For a short time this so- ciety worshiped in the chapel corner of Bank and Washington Streets. . Needing a larger place, as the chapel was then only half its present size, Grosscup's Hall was secured for public service.
In the autumn a location for a new church edifice was selected, and the purchase was made at a cost of five thousand dollars. Subsequently a portion of it was disposed of at two thousand dollars, still leaving a lot, eighty by one hundred and fifty feet, for church purposes.
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