USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Paper read before the historical society of Hudson County. 1908 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Owing to the difficulty of securing a competent and regu- larly ordained minister, the churches of Bergen and Staten Is- land had waited long for pastors. When his preceptor thought Jackson competent to preach, he advised him to accept the united call from Bergen and Staten Island, which stipulated that he should go to Holland, continue a term of years at the university, and receive his ordination from the Classis of Am- sterdam. The churches united in the payment of bills for the support of the young student, who finally returned and was installed pastor of the Bergen church in the year 1757. The congregation built a parsonage on the site which had been held for more than a century for this purpose. The old stone house stood on the site of the porch of the present edifice, corner of Bergen and Highland Avenues. The church at that time stood in the middle of the cemetery, on the corner of Vroom Street and Bergen Avenue. After a service of about thirty years, Jackson began to show signs of an aberration of mind. He was wont to use unseemly language in the pulpit, and his dis- courses were voted too long, even for the generous discourses of that day. He was in his day an evangelistic preacher, and compared with Whitefield. He preached one Sunday at Somer- ville, when the throng was so great that he made his pulpit at the door, so that the congregation seated in the pews, and those standing around the church, might both listen to his discourse.
6
He had a beautiful voice and was a finished orator. When his preaching days were over, the congregation of Bergen settled on him the use of his parsonage for life, and for twenty-four years he and his goodwife lived together under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, whose descendants are still worshipping with the congregation of Bergen.
When I became pastor of Bergen, an old lady used to tell me how as a little girl in her father's house, she shared in the ministrations to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. They are entombed in the old cemetery, corner Bergen Avenue and Vroom Street. Their only surviving son, Rev. John Frelinghuysen Jackson, was afterwards pastor of the church of Harlem. A memorial window in the Bergen church was the gift of William Jackson's great granddaughters. On the retirement of Mr. Jackson, the union with Staten Island was severed.
A new church had been organized at English Neighbor- hood (now Englewood and vicinity), and the Rev. John Cor- nelison was called to be pastor of this new congregation as well as of that of Bergen. In 1793 the homestead of Cornelius Sip on the n. w. corner of Bergen Avenue and the Square was pur- chased for the church parsonage, and was used as such until the erection of a new parsonage on the corner of the Square and Academy Street. After a few years he relinquished his charge in English Neighborhood and gave himself entirely to the service of the church of Bergen. He was greatly beloved by all his people and by his colleagues in the ministry. He was especially devoted to the colored people of his charge and admitted many of the descendants of the slaves, who were ser- vants in the old families, into the communion of the church.
The first Sunday School was held in the parsonage, where Mrs. Cornelison gathered the little girls of the neighborhood to study the Bible. One of the members of this class survived until a good old age, and I have frequently heard her tell the story of her love for Mrs. Cornelison.
During the later years of Mr. Cornelison's ministry other churches were organized and other ministers came in to share with him the responsibility of the county. A primitive Metho- dist church was organized near the Five Corners, but we have no records of its ministry. This was the predecessor of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, which is still prosperous and has through all these years exerted a wide influence on the
7
spiritual life of our community. A small settlement was also effected around the ferry at Paulus Hook, now lower Jersey City, and ever alert to preach the Gospel, the Episcopalians entered this new and hopeful field.
On August 21, 1808, the Rev. Edmond D. Barry, D. D., conducted services in the upper room of the Town Hall, and from 1809 to 1816. He then re- moved to Baltimore, where he re- mained eight years, during which time the little church dwindled away. In 1824, at the request of the Bishop of the Diocese, he was induced to enter upon the charge anew, and persevered in his un- dertaking until a congregation was again collected. A corner stone was laid and a substantial church erected and dedicated, known as St. Matthew's. In June, 1844, Rev. REV. EDMOND D. BARRY A. C. Patterson became assistant and continued until the Spring of 1847, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Aldis, who resigned in 1849, and Rev. James Bowden was called to supply the vacancy and entered upon his duties July of the same year.
Meanwhile in the year 1807 the first attempt was made to establish a church of the Reformed Dutch persuasion there. Rev. John M. Cornelison of Bergen, and Peter Stryker of Belle- ville, informed the Classis of Bergen, that the inhabitants of Jersey City desired a congregation to be formed under the jurisdiction of that body; that the Associates of Jersey had offered them a grant of land on the south side of Grand Street provided they would build a church of certain dimensions thereon, within two years. A committee was appointed by the Classis to further the object, and ministerial supplies were provided for several Sabbaths.
In April, 1808, the Committee reported the impractibility of continuing the organization, owing to the insufficient num- ber of male members to form a Consistory. Another effort was made for the same object, resulting as before, in conse- quence of the limited number of inhabitants and their inability
8
to sustain it. In 1828 the Associates deeded the land referred to above, to the First Presbyterian Church of Jersey City for the purpose of erecting a church edifice thereon, to be occupied as a place of worship by the congregation then worshipping in the old Town Hall under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr Olcott. (At this time, 1828, Rev. Dr. Yates, the former pastor of Re- formed Church in this city having just completed his theo- logical studies in the seminary at New Brunswick, was invited by the Presbyterian congregation to preach to them in the old Town Hall and there delivered his second sermon )
On the 31st of January, 1830, the people then constituting the First Presbyterian Church, the pulpit of which had become vacant by the removal of the Rev. Mr. Olcott, submitted through the trustees and session to the congregation, the propriety of becoming a Reformed Dutch Church under the care of the Classis of Bergen. By an almost unanimous vote the congregation decided to unite with said Classis, and a petition signed by forty-eight heads of families and thirty-eight communicants, was presented to the Classis on the 15th of Feb- ruary same year. It was favorably acted upon and a consistory elected and ordained, the church duly constituted, and the Rev. Mr. Meeker of Bushwick, L. I., installed as pastor May 9, 1830. On the 20th of October following, the connection was dissolved at his own request, and February 8th, 1831, Rev. J. R. Tal- madge was called, who continued until January, 1833, when he resigned. November 19th, 1833, Rev. Matthias Lusk was in- stalled as pastor, and continued until October 26th, 1848, when lie requested a release, which was granted, and Rev. John Austin Yates, D.D., of Schenectady, was called as pastor. The call was approved by the Classis of Bergen and the 3d Sabbath of September, 1849, appointed for his installation, but his sudden death occurred August 26th, 1849. His successor was Rev. Daniel Lord of Piermont, N. Y., who was installed June, 1850.
These three churches, -the primitive Methodist Church north of the Five Corners,-St. Matthew's-and the little Pres- byterian Church of Jersey City, were the only religious organ- izations existing in the year 1828.
On the death of Rev. John M. Cornelison, the Rev. Benj. amin C. Taylor was called from the church of Acquackanonck to
9
the church of Bergen, and was in active service forty-four years. As a pastor he was wel- comed in every home from Bergen Point to Bergen Woods, and mem- bers of his congregation were found even in Hoboken, Harsimus and Communipaw.
From all these widely scatter. ed hamlets, men and women crowd- ed the old church which had been erected during the ministry of Jackson. It was necessary about 1840 to erect the present spacious edifice. Dr. Taylor was pre-emin- ently a man of affairs. His counsel REV. BENJAMIN C. TAYLOR was sought by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, whose headquarters were in Boston. He witnessed the Charter of old Jersey City with its west boundary at Grove St., rejoiced in its growth when the township of Van Vorst was added, and also lived through the years of organiza - tion of the independent cities of Bayonne, Bergen, Hudson City and Hoboken. He lived to see Jersey City stretch out her enfolding arms and take to herself the villages of Lafayette and Greenville, with the cities of Bergen and Hudson City.
He was at one time superintendent of the public schools of old Bergen. He was a true bishop among the churches, assisting at the organization of every Reformed church in Hud- son County, and many of those in Essex. He retained an alert mind until within a few days of his departure, but his physical infirmity made it necessary for him to resign the active pastor ate and become Pastor Emeritus in 1871. He lived ten years longer, frequently taking part at the public services of the church, until he finally won his crown of rejoicing after an en - ergetic and most useful career.
Before indulging in my personal reminiscences with con- temporaries with whom I have had the privilege of working for the last thirty-nine years, a few names may be mentioned of faithful men who labored in the several parts of our county previous to the year 1876.
Although located at English Neighborhood, because of his
IO
labors in the northern part of Hudson County, Rev. Philip Duryee may, with justice, be claimed as among our early min- isters. A number of his parish- ioners at English Neighborhood ... .. lived at and about New Durham, and Dominie Duryee, as he was af- fectionately called, conceived the idea that a Dutch church should be organized in that part of the county. Accordingly he travelled from English Neighborhood to the little school house that stood at that time at the foot of Church Lane on the Hackensack Plank Road, and gathered the people to- REV. PHILIP DURYEE gether for Divine Service. Their number increased to such an extent that the propriety of organ- izing a church was suggested, but it was not until four years later, in the year 1839, that the Reformed Church of New Durham was organized. Dr. Duryee was continued as tempo- rary pastor for one year, until a regular pastor could be secur- ed. He was a man of earnest purpose and won the love and affection of all with whom he came in contact.
A Roman Catholic church, St. Peter's, was on the north side of Grand Street, Jersey City. The new church was finally built on the corner of Grand and Van Vorst Streets, and the old building used for St. Aloysius Academy and college.
In 1844 Rev. John Kelly came to Jersey City and assumed charge of the existing parish. He was a man of indefatigable energy and may be considered the real pioneer of the Catholic religion in Hudson County. His love for the people and care for the children endeared him to all of whatever denomina- tion. During the draft riots of REV. JOHN KELLY 1863 he brought order out of chaos by a simple priestly word.
1 I
To meet the growing demands of his persuasion he founded new parishes and built churches in all parts of the county. During the construction of the Erie tunnel he saw the oppor- tunity for a new organization in that section of the county and determined to form a church. He secured a small frame build- ing on Hopkins Avenue, and Rev. Aloysius Venuta was ap- pointed in charge.
Father Venuta came from Sicily. He had become involv- ed in political disturbances there and was obliged to flee the country. On his arrival here he officiated in several different places until his appointment at St. Joseph's. He was possessed of great personal magnetism and soon drew together a large congrega- tion. He found it necessary to procure a new site and provide a larger church, and the present flourishing organization located on Baldwin Avenne is the outcome of his labors. During the construc- tion of the Erie tunnel numerous labor disturbances occurred, and Father Venuta was often instru- REV. LUIGI VENUTA mental in not only quelling them, but preventing more serious ontbreaks. He also started the parish of St. Patrick's and built a small frame church near Library Hall, which was placed under the charge of Rev. Patrick Hennessy. Father Venuta died January 22, 1876.
Because of the changing character of the population in lower Jersey City, the original congregations have been oblig- ed to abandon their houses of worship and transfer them to other nationalities. A Polish Roman Catholic church occupies St. Matthew's, the old First Reformed is occupied by a Greek organization, and old Trinity by a Polish Catholic church.
Dr. Barry's family remained after his decease and took a deep interest in the philanthropic work of the county. Miss Barry will long be remembered as the organizer of the Daisy Ward of Christ Hospital, and as the editor of the little paper still printed and named by her as "The Daisy", in which she sought from month to month to interest the children of our
1 2
State, the sick children lying first in the Daisy bed and after- wards in the Daisy Ward of that magnificent hospital.
The early years of the Grand St. Reformed church was a period of continuous struggle and pastors followed each other in quick succession.
In April, 1857, Rev. David H Riddle was duly installed and entered upon the duties of his pastorate. At the same time the new church building was dedicat- ed. Dr. Riddle entered upon his work with great enthusiasm, and the growth and increasing interest of his congregation gave abundant evidence of his earnest labors.
Henry Martyn Scudder was the son of the pioneer missionary first in Ceylon, then in Arcot, India, whose descendants have become beacon lights in that great conti- nent. He was born on missionary
REV. DAVID H. RIDDLE
ground and returned to America with broken health, and yet with a continued desire for service in the ministry. Some of you may remember that magnificent series of lectures on "The Religions of India" which were his contribution to the historical religious thought. He was an eloquent preacher, and during his ministry the church of Grand Street was crowded to the doors. He left Jersey City for San Francisco because a larger field REV. HENRY MARTYN SCUDDER was promised, and an opportunity to minister to the oriental church and population was likewise afforded.
Another pastor of the Grand St. church was the Rev. George Peek. He was unusually tall, and he and his brother Alonzo became known as the "Peeks of Teneriffe." He. was
1
13
afterwards succeeded by the Rev. Wm. W. Halloway, Jr., who was pastor from 1871 to 1876 and after- wards found his life work in the Presbyterian church at Dover.
Previous to the Civil War the ministers of Jersey City were pre eminently conservative. They were especially reticent concern ing African slavery. This condi- tion of affairs led to the organiza- tion in 1858 of the First Congre- gational church. The spacious Tabernacle, as it was called, on
1
REV. WM. W. HALLOWAY
the corner of York and Henderson Streets, was erected, and nearly all the families of New England origin were gathered into their congregation. The platform of this church became an open forum for the discussion of civil affairs, and the building was made avail- able for concerts, lectures, and commencements. The first pastor who died in its service was the Rev. John Milton Holmes, who is
REV. JOHN MILTON HOLMES
everywhere mentioned as a man of highest culture, and with a noble enthusiasm for the rights of man.
The Rev. Ira C. Boice, who was pastor of Bergen Neck, now the First Church of Bayonne, is still remembered by a few of the very old people, who revered and loved him.
Rev. Chas. H. Stitt, D D, be- longed to an old New York family and was a graduate of our institu-
REV IRA C. BOICE
14
tions at New Brunswick. He served the First Reformed church of Bayonne from 1874 until his death, which occurred in April, 1881.
The Park Reformed church of Jersey City also had its succession of noted preachers who gave their best services to this district. The Rev. Wm. J. Romeyn Taylor was the son of the venerable pastor of the Bergen church. He served both in Wayne Street and the Park church, and for a time was secre- tary of the American Bible Socie- ty. He was for many years after- wards pastor of the Clinton Ave- nue church of Newark He gave three sons to the ministry who are
REV. WM. J. ROMEYN TAYLOR all serving influential churches.
The Rev. Cornelius Wells, D. D, son of the Rev. Dr. Rainsford Wells, pastor of the First church of Newark, was the Park Re- formed church pastor for a little while. He was one of the most active ministers the Reformed church had ever known. An earn-
REV. J. ROMEYN BERRY
REV. CORNELIUS WELLS est practical man in every way, His life work was given to the church of Flatbush, L. I.
Rev. J. Romeyn Berry was an - other descendant of that famous Romeyn family of Hackensack; was also in the succession of the ministers of the Park Reformed church.
15
In February, 1844, Rev. John Johnstone, then pastor of the Jane Street Presbyterian church, New York City, was in- vited to preach on Sabbath evenings in the Lyceum located on Grand Street, Jersey City, and the following April the First Presbyterian church was regularly organized.
It was erected on the corner of Sussex and Washington Streets. The building was originally located on Wall Street, New York City, but was taken down stone by stone, and ferried across the Hudson on barges, and was erected like a child's toy house. Rev. John Johnstone was installed as reg- ular pastor May 20th, 1844, and remained until May, 1850, when he resigned and on June 12th of that year Rev. David King was installed.
Methodism was originated in old Paulus Hook, or what was then legally known as the City of Jersey, through the in- strumentality of some members of the Methodist church of New York City. The first meeting was held in a private house in Morris Street, between Greene and Washington. In 1829 a small frame church was erected on the south side of York Street on four lots given by the Jersey Associates, but it was not until 1835 that Jersey City became a separate station, and the Rev. John McClintock appointed to the charge. The congre- gation greatly increasing, the brick building still standing, was erected on the old site, and was dedicated in 1843. This build- ing has since been known as Trinity church. Among the
Methodist pastors who served in old Trinity, the people of old Jer- sey City remember the Rev. Dr. Dashiel with peculiar affection. He was a man of the people and in the days of the old Volunteer Fire Department, when the fire house was the Young Men's Club, he was the self- appointed chaplain of the department and made fre- quent visits during the evening hours to obtain a personal in- fluence over the "boys".
Another pastor of Trinity in the days of Old Jersey City was
REV. R. L. DASHIEL
16
the Rev. Mr. Corbett. He was a noted figure of his time, of commanding presence, swarthy complexion, high cheek bones and long straight hair; he possessed all the characteristics of the American Indian. He was a powerful preacher, although somewhat eccentric, and his reproofs from the pulpit to the ir- reverent were stinging and effective.
Rev. Julius A. Bungeroth was the first duly ordained minister of "St. Matthew's German Evangel- ical Lutheran church of Jersey City." The church was organized in 1861 and at first occupied the building erected by "The Particu- lar Baptist church of Jersey City and Harsimus", on Barrow Street near Newark Avenue, but in 1863 secured the building of "The Be- thesda Baptist Church", located on the south side of South 4th (now 5th) REV. JULIUS A. BUNGEROTH Street. Rev. Bungeroth was earn- est in his work and a popular preacher among our German citi- zens. He officiated from 1862 until the time of his death, 1866. He was succeeded by the Rev. Geo. Ewh, who was installed in 1866 and continued in charge until his death April 7, 1881.
Rev. Hiram E. Eddy was installed as pastor of the S. cond Presbyterian church of Jersey City, May 1875, and con inued his pastorate there until 1875. He was a powerful and acceptable preacher, and under his care the church grew and prospered. He was a man of impressive appear- ance, tall, and his large head was covered with a copious growth of grey hair. After he ceased to be pastor of the Second Presbyterian church he continued his labors in Jersey City for several years as pastor of a mission on Erie Street.
Since 1876 every pastor in Hud- son County has been my personal
REV. HIRAM E. EDDY
17
friend, and the closing part of this paper will take the form of reminiscense.
I do not believe that any city of its size has ever been served with so faithful and efficient a body of clergy as Jersey City.
During the years when lower Jersey City was still a delightful place of residence and a social center, the Rev. Dr. Abercrombie was rector of St. Matthew's church. He was a man of fine physical pro- portion and magnificent presence. St. Matthew's under his adminis- tration became a mother of churches in different parts of the REV. R. ABERCROMBIE county, and by his energy Christ Hospital was founded and endowed.
Rev. Dr. Imbrie was pastor for forty years of the First Presbyterian church. He was a graduate of Princeton Univer- sity and a typical old-fashioned Presbyterian minister, an in- structive and beloved preacher. He believed in the personal and imminent coming of the Lord, and believed that it was impossible to do more than tone up the world a little by the ministry of the church, until Christ should come to judg- ment, with authority to break down every evil and reign in right- eousness. When the removal of members of his congregation to the Bergen section made it impos- sible to continue the organization REV. WM. E. IMBRIE of the First Presbyterian church, the property was sold, and the proceeds expended in enlarging the First Presbyterian church of Bergen, on Emory Street, which received the remnant of the membership and took the title of the older organization, the First Presbyterian Church
18
of Jersey City. Dr. Wm. E. Imbrie was made pastor emeritus and worshipped in the new church home until his death.
The Rev. Wheelock H. Parm- ly, D. D., pastor of the First Bap tist church, served the church and city for a period of more than for- ty years. His resemblance to Henry Ward Beecher was marked, and his eloquence in the pulpit far-famed. He continued after his retirement for several years as pastor emeritus, and after his death the church assumed the title, the Parmly Memorial church. The old building has been recently sold and a new and beautiful edi- REV. WHEELOCK H. PARMLY fice erected by the congregation on the corner of Fairmount Avenue and Boulevard.
In the Wayne Street church Rev. Paul D Van Cleef serv- ed as pastor and pastor emeritus for more than fifty years. When he was installed, the church was outside the boundaries of Jersey City, which at that time extended only to Grove Street. The corporate name of the church is the First Church of Van Vorst. The township of Van Vorst ex- tended from Grove Street to the foot of the Hill, and to the Erie ferry on the north, and was named after the family who had purchas- ed it in early days. Cornelius Van Vorst, the father of the family, was the factor of Michael Pauw, who was the patentee of the whole REV. PAUL D. VAN CLEEF water front extending from Wee- hanken to Perth Amboy, and named by him after himself, Pa- vonia Dr. Van Cleef was a graduate of Rutgers College and the Theological Seminary of New Brunswick. He was an elo- quent and practical preacher, genial in his manners and greatly beloved by his parishioners. His last sermon was exceedingly
dramatic. It was preached in the Grand Street church on the eve of dissolution. He was strick- en with apoplexy while preaching and for several weeks hung be- tween life and death. Although he lived for several years, he never was able to preach again.
In the Second Presbyterian church the Rev. Alexander Mc- Kelvey, D.D , ministered most ef- ficiently when there were large congregations still attending the down town churches. He was one of the most eloquent preachers Jersey City has ever known.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.