USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Frenchtown > Semi-centennial history of the Frenchtown M.E. Church with a chapter of reminiscences, and brief sketches of the pastors, also, a chapter on the part this church bore in suppressing the rebellion > Part 7
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In all of these charges, and in every year of service, souls have been converted and added to the church, and in some of them remarkable revivals of religion have occurred, notably, Asbury and Bethlehem, New Germantown and Fairmount, where hundreds of souls were saved and added to the church.
Much time and attention in these various charges were given to the payment of church and parsonage debts, the building of new par- sonages, remodeling and enlarging old ones, and the renovating of churches.
In closing this sketch the writer will add, that Brother Decker's three years in Frenchtown were crowded with Christian activities and crowned with the blessing of the Master.
John O. Winner.
John O. Winner, the subject of this sketch came from a good old Methodist family. The writer remembers hearing his honored father preach more than fifty years ago, and it was he that preached the dedicatorial sermon of this church, December 17th, 1845. John O. Winner was a preacher of more than ordinary ability, of a high intellectual order, and the thoughtful heard him gladly, but he did not succeed in attracting and holding the multitude. The writer sat under his ministry for two years, and the preached word to him was always bread and never a stone.
He has served the following appointments, viz :- 1848, Warren circuit ; 1849-'50, Rockland; 1851-'52, Quary street, Newark ; 1853, Dover; 1854-'55, Plainfield; 1856-'57, Elizabeth; 1858-'59, Prospect street, Paterson ; 1860-'61, Hudson City; 1862-'63, Hoboken ; 1864, Trinity, S. I. For the next seven years he was returned as super- numerary. He again took up the active work in 1873, Mt. Zion was the appointment; 1874-'75-'76, Millstone; 1877, Plainfield, with Brother Day; 1878, Hope; 1879-'80, Tranquility; 1881, Tranquility and Johnsonborough ; 1882-'83, Belvidere; 1884, Passaic; 1885-'86-'87, Bloomsbury ; 1888-'89, Frenchtown; 1890-'91-'92.'93, Woodrow, S. I. ;
REV. E. M GRIFFITH. (See Page S7.)
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FRENCHTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
1894, Alpine. At the last session of the Newark Conference held at Tottenville, N. Y., at his request, he was granted a supernumerary relation, and now resides near Pennington, N. J. He has a son in the ministry now stationed at Somerville.
Morris T. Gibbs.
Morris T. Gibbs was born in Warren County, N. J., about forty years ago. He has been in the active work of the ministry fifteen years, two of which were spent in connection with the M. E. Church of Frenchtown. As a child, he was modest and retiring, but diligent in school work, standing among his fellows well up toward the head of his class. He gave his heart to God when quite young, and concluding that religion meant service he immediately set himself to carry out the Divine command, "Go work to-day in my vineyard." His early Christian life was prophetic of what came later. Method and industry were prominent traits of character; not the sky-rocket brilliancy type, but a gentle, even, pushing forward, with zealous determination to secure its object, and seldom failing to do it. Naturally affable and kind, these qualities became polished and beautified by companion- ship with Jesus. In the conference minutes of 1880, under the disciplinary question, who are admitted on trial, occurs the name of the subject of this biography. His first appointment was not St. Paul's, of Newark, or the wealthy Cobb Memorial Church, of Morristown, but a modest little church containing a few earnest Christians on the Dela- ware, a few miles below Milford, called Dingman's Ferry, where he received three hundred and thirty-two dollars in compensation for the first year's service. He remained on this charge for two years, when he left this paradise of summer boarders for the inviting hills of Sussex County, and settled for two years at Branchville. Paterson and Rocka- way are successively favored with his service, each place retaining him for three years. From Rockaway he came to Frenchtown, where the people found in him an earnest Christian worker, full of faith and zeal, a steadfast friend of every good cause. This is his commendation, the people were glad when he came among them, sorry when at the expira- tion of two years he went away. The Frenchtown M. E. Church has had a number of excellent pastors, but none of them have done better work on the charge than the Rev. Morris T. Gibbs.
William McCain.
William McCain was born at Mt. Hermon, Warren County, N. J., August 11th, 1840. He is the son of Jeremiah and Amelia McCain.
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HISTORY OF THE M. E. CHURCH,
In his father's family there were six children, four sons and two daugh- ters. The death of his mother in her seventy-sixth year was the first to break the family circle. At this writing, his father in his eightieth year, in good health, resides on the farm, where he was born, and where all of his children were brought up. The subject of this sketch was converted in his thirteenth year, immediately after a brief season of severe sickness. At this period his mind was turned to the reading of the Bible and religious books, contributing by way of preparation to his future calling. As he approached manhood, worldliness and busi- ness interests interfered in degree at least with the Divine plan.
In his twenty-fourth year he openly gave himself anew to God, and received by way of renewal the clear and joyful witness of the Spirit. At different times following this he was further led into the glorious experience of Scriptural Holiness or perfect love. Soon after his renewal in Christ, or conversion, he was clearly called to preach the Gospel. This call he resisted for several years, and it was only at the eleventh hour in order to secure peace of mind and save his own soul that he yielded to the Divine command. His studies, beyond a common school education were largely secured in a private way in the home, with the exception of a brief period at Pennington Seminary. The conference course of study laid down in the discipline was all carefully gone over with notes before entering the ministry.
The appointments he has filled in the Newark Conference are as follows : Libertyville and Coleville, 1872-'73 ; Branchville and Frank- ford Plains, 1874-'75-'76 ; Milford, Pa., 1877-'78-'79 ; Andover, 1880- '81-'82; Lafayette, 1883; Little Falls, 1884-'85-'86 ; Succasunna, 1887-'88-'89; Rockaway, 1890-'91; Frenchtown, 1892-'93-'94; Clinton, 1895. In this latter appointment he is now laboring, exceedingly happy that God ever counted him faithful by putting him in the ministry. He was united in marriage, January 31st, 1877, to Elizabeth J. Dimon, daughter of J. N. V. and Julia Dimon, of Branchville, N. J. The children born to them are Julia B., Maggie A., and Willie H. Maggie A. was early called to her heavenly home.
E. H. Conklin.
The present pastor of the church, the Rev. Elkanah H. Conklin, was born in the State of New York, Huntington, Long Island, October 1st, 1846. He has no recollection of his father, as he died when he was quite young. His mother, with three brothers, two sisters and their father, came to this country from England in the early years of the present century. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, and
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REV. JAMES H. RUNYAN.
(See Page 92.)
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FRENCHTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
earnestly desired that all her children should be confirmed in the same faith ; with reference to our subject, however, she died without having her wish gratified ; but her prayers were not in vain for he was con- verted to God and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1865, at the age of nineteen. These years were filled with mystery, sorrow and sin. A prolonged battle with three giants, Ignorance, Poverty and Evil. From the dawn of consciousness his was a wilderness experience. His boyhood seems, as he looks back upon it, a troubled dream, and he has never had any sympathy with the commonly expressed desire, "I would I were a boy again." His conversion was a double exodus ; a going out of himself and his native land; a veritable passage of the Jordan, with Egypt and the wilderness left behind forever, and the Land of Promise pressed by angel feet and rendered heavenly by angelic songs, and sanctified by the Holy Prophets and the Divine Christ, henceforth became his abiding place. He was led to Christ by the personal solicitation of a fellow workman whose simple words ; "Don't you think you ought to be a Christian ?" went to his heart like an arrow.
In 1867, he united with St. Paul's Church, Jersey City, where he became associated with an earnest band of young Christians, among whom he found a field for the operation of all his youthful enthusiasm. Here he first received the impression from which he could never rid himself, that he ought to devote his life to the work of the ministry. This call to preach the Gospel found him with a double impoverishment of intellect and pocket, and while he felt deeply that he ought to preach, he felt no less deeply the need of mental preparation for the work. The one conviction was no stronger than the other He had obtained salvation without money and without price, but education could not be obtained without dollars and plenty of hard work. The way to the Cross had been easy, but the way to the school was filled with hindrances that made it as impenetrable as the walls of Jericho, but it will be remembered that the walls of this ancient city fell flat before the march of prayer and faith, and so this spiritual force opened the way to six consecutive years of school training. There seemed to be only one person who could render this needed assistance. His name was Henry Halsey, a shipping merchant, an uncle by marriage on his mother's side. He was a worldly man and could hardly be expected to aid a young man preparing for the ministry. After a season of prayer in his behalf, he paid him a visit, told his religious experience, and was about to solicit a loan, when to his surprise the uncle said: " And now you want to attend school to prepare for the ministry, and
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HISTORY OF THE M. E. CHURCH,
want me to help you, do you ? Very well, go ahead, send me the bills, I will pay them," and this he continued to do for two years when he suddenly died. During the next four years his school expenses were met by teaching, preaching and canvassing for books during the sum- mer vacation. He graduated from Pennington Seminary in 1870, and from Dickinson College in 1874. The same year he united with the Newark Conference at its annual session in Paterson, N. J.
He has served the following churches: Midland Park, Otisville, Metuchen, Millbrook, St. Paul's, Newark ; Rockaway, Blairstown, Deckertown, Englewood, Calvary Church, Paterson ; Somerville, and is now serving his first year at Frenchtown.
David Curtis.
Brother Curtis was born near Baptistown, Hunterdon County, N. J., in 1823, and died in Holland Township, near Milford, December 10th, 1887. A widow and eight children survive him.
He was converted in early life, at Lambertville, under the ministry of Rev. A. E. Ballard, and connected himself with the M. E. Church at that place; but at the time of his death was connected with the Frenchtown M. E. Church. He received a local preacher's license from the Frenchtown Quarterly Conference, August 22d, 1884, and in 1887 was sent by the Presiding Elder as junior preacher to Sergeantsville and Stockton circuit to fill out part of a year.
Brother Curtis did not have the advantages of a college education, but was well versed in general literature, and was a man of good natural ability. At the time of his death he was a member of Orion Lodge, F. and A. M., Manhattan Tribe, I. O. R. M., and of the Odd Fellows, also of the Delaware Encampment, of Patriarchs, No. 11.
As a preacher he was well received, and while not brilliant, yet it may be said of him as it was of Stephen, " He was full of faith and the Holy Ghost."
Lewis J. Gordon.
Lewis J. Gordon was born in Milford, Hunterdon County, N. J., February 17th, 1859. He is engaged in business in Frenchtown, where he now resides.
He was converted at the age of twelve, under the pastorate of Bro. John B. Taylor, in the Methodist Church at Frenchtown, and united with the same in 1871. Like many others of his age he forgot to " watch and pray," but was reclaimed during the pastorate of Rev.
REV. THOMAS E. GORDON. (See Page 96.)
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FRENCHTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
Thomas E. Gordon, and received a special blessing of Christian liberty under the pastorate of Rev. I. N. Vansant.
He received a local preacher's license at the third quarterly confer- ence of the Frenchtown M. E. Church, February 10th, 1888. He is an acceptable preacher and an efficient worker in the evangelistic field of labor, and has successfully conducted meetings in Delaware, Pennsyl- vania and New York.
8*
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HISTORY OF THE M. E. CHURCH.
CHAPTER VII.
THE PART THE FRENCHTOWN M. E. CHURCH BORE IN SUPPRESSING THE REBELLION.
BY WILLIAM T. SROPE.
"I 'T is no fault in others that the Methodist Church sends more soldiers to the field, more nurses to the hospitals, and more prayers to Heaven than any other. God bless the Methodist Church ! Bless all the churches, and blessed be God, who in this our great trial, giveth us the churches. ABRAHAM LINCOLN."
In response to a call made by the government at Washington for more soldiers to put down the Rebellion, a public meeting was held at Frenchtown, July 22d, 1862, to render all assistance possible to sup- press treason and secession, and restore the union of the States.
William H. Slater, a prominent merchant and hardware dealer of the town, was present at this meeting and stated that he had enlisted in the service of his country, and called upon all patriots present to come forward and do likewise.
Many responded, and Mr. Slater was chosen Captain of Company G, Fifteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and was duly com- missioned as such, August 15th, 1862.
Many members of this, and other companies were then, or have been since, either directly connected with the M. E. Church of French- town, or among its supporters and contributors; and it is of these persons, heroes we may say, that we purpose now to allude briefly to in this chapter.
How well do we remember when the " boys" left for the tented field and the hardships of war! We recall those sad parting scenes as vividly now as when they happened. We can hear the choked fa: ewell, the sob, the sigh, as wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and sweet- hearts were embraced in many instances for the last time! One young man, with tears in his eyes, said to us as he stepped aboard the train, "my hardest battle was parting with my wife!" But we shall not dwell upon scenes of this character, but rather upon the brief individ- ual sketches which we have been asked to produce.
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REV. I. N. VANSANT.
(See Page 96.)
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FRENCHTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
The service of Captain Slater was of short duration. At the first battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862, he was so badly wounded in the right leg, that amputation was absolutely necessary. Yet despite the awful suffering he underwent in the loss of so important a member as a leg, he is alive to-day and resides in Washington City.
Agustus Cronce
Was born in the Township of Clinton, Hunterdon County, N. J., March 5th, 1834.
He learned the trade of cabinetmaker with Henry Bachman, of Frenchtown.
He was a member of Company G, Fifteenth Regiment, enlisting August 14th, 1862. On June 4th, 1864, he was struck in the arın by a bullet fired by a rebel picket, shattering the member so badly that the surgeon was compelled to amputate it. The same bullet passed through the cap of Samuel Hoff, now residing at Everittstown, who stood less than three feet from Mr. Cronce. It then passed so closely to the neck of William H. Cawley, now of Somerville, that a mark was made upon the skin.
Mr. Cronce was discharged from service, May 1st, 1865, and since the close of the war has lived retired in Frenchtown.
Horace A. Wambaugh,
A son of Mahlon and Elizabeth Wambaugh, was enrolled in Company D, Thirtieth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, September 3d, 1862, and was discharged for disability, February 23d, 1863.
He was a farmer by occupation, and resided several years on the farm now owned by Catharine Rittenhouse, on the road leading from Frenchtown to Baptisttown. He now resides at Trenton with his son.
Simon A. Eisenhart
Was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, May 13th. 1838, and was married to Wilhemima Vanluvance, May 30th, 1867, and has one son and two daughters.
He was enrolled in Company M, Colonel Coman's Mounted Rifle Rangers, afterwards known as the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, September 28th, 1861.
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HISTORY OF THE M. E. CHURCH,
He was in several battles, and was wounded in the right foot, June 24th, 1864, which was amputated.
He was discharged from the service September 28th, 1864.
He is a shoemaker by trade, but is now following the business of florist, at Erwinna, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Demerest Gordon,
A son of William Gordon and Henrietta Volk, was born October 2d, 1844.
He was enrolled in Company D, Thirtieth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, September 3d, 1862, as musician, and was discharged June 27th, 1863.
He married Mary Jane, daughter of Alfred R. Taylor and Larony Sinclair, January 13th, 1864; she died February 12th, 1867, aged twenty-one years and four months. He married for his second wife, Anna M., daughter of Charles Ecklin, December 28th, 1872.
He now resides at Harrington, Delaware, and is engaged in the manufacture of spokes.
Fletcher Bray,
A son of ex-sheriff Wilson and Mary Bray, and grandson of General Daniel Bray, was born in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County, N. J., December 8th, 1820.
He spent his youthful days on his father's farm, and married Lavinna L., daughter of John L. Larason and Sarah Dean, September 5th, 1849.
He enrolled in Company H, Thirty-Eighth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and was discharged at the end of his enlistment.
He died in Frenchtown, April 26th, 1877. His wife was born December 7th, 1825, and died in Frenchtown, April 1st, 1895. His two sons reside in Philadelphia.
Alonzo Butler,
Son of William Butler and Mahalah Bellis, was born in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, March 5th, 1841. He was married to Ann, daughter of Andrew Fleming, of Somerset County, N. J., October 23d, 1869.
He was enrolled in Company D, Eighth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, August 29th, 1861, and participated in all the skirmishes
REV S. D DICKER. (See Page 99.)
FRENCHTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
and battles in which that regiment was engaged, and was discharged September 22d, 1864.
He has followed the occupation of farming since his discharge, and is a prosperous husbandman. He now resides on the road leading from Frenchtown to Everittstown.
Morris Maxwell
Was born in Frenchtown, July 30th, 1824. He was a son of David Maxwell and Lucy Housel. Shortly after his birth his parents moved to Philadelphia, and, his father engaging in the metal working busi- ness, he served his apprenticeship with him.
In 1841, he went to sea, and after sailing for seven years to the various parts of the globe, returned to the United States and enlisted in the naval service to do duty on the U. S. Frigate, "Constitution," familiarly known as " Ironsides," and was promoted for meritorious conduct from an ordinary seaman to the position of under keeper.
In 1851, the vessel returned to the United States, and obtaining leave of absence for six weeks, he came to Frenchtown on a visit. While here he resolved to change his manner of living, and having secured a position as tinsmith, he resigned his position in the naval service. He resided in Frenchtown the remainder of his life, following his trade as tinsmith.
He married Delilah A., daughter of William Snyder and Hannah Horner, May 5th, 1853; she died May 6th, 1864, aged thirty-three years, two months and two days.
He married for his second wife, Sarah R., youngest daughter of ex- Judge Isaac R. Srope and Sarah Roelofson, May 29th, 1866.
Mr. Maxwell died in Frenchtown, December 27th, 1892, and his widow, Sarah R., two sons and one daughter survive him.
Mr. Maxwell was a member of the United States Christian Com- mission, at Washington, D. C., in 1862, and was assigned to duty in the field hospital, and performed his duty faithfully and well.
He was elected collector of Frenchtown in 1884; was a candidate for Mayor in 1881. He was a member of the Common Council in 1871- '74-'77-'78, and when a licence petition was presented to the Common Council to sell liquor, he among others addressed that body in opposi- tion to granting it. It might be truthfully said of him as it was of and by Henry Clay, he would rather be right, than President.
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HISTORY OF THE M. E. CHURCH,
Samuel Hoff,*
Son of Thomas Hoff and Ann, daughter of James Dalrymple, was born in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, N. J., August 14th, 1843.
He was enrolled in Company G, Fifteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, August 14th, 1862, and was discharged, June 27th, 1865.
He first married Sarah C., daughter of Emley Hyde and Thisby Dalrymple, September 22d, 1866; she died, January 27th, 1870.
He married for his second wife, Sarah C., daughter of James C. Martin, of Little York, December 13th, 1871.
When he enlisted in the army, he was learning the blacksmith trade, and since his discharge from service has followed the same occupation at Everittstown.
Jacob F. Thatcher
Was a son of Jonas Thatcher, who at one time was a merchant in Frenchtown.
He was enrolled in Company G, Fifteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, August 14th, 1862, and died in the service of his country from wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness, aged 22 years. His remains are interred at Arlington, Virginia.
Jacob J. Lair
Was a son of Philip D. Lair and Mary Snyder. He was one of a family of five brothers and seven sisters. He learned the trade of tin- smith in Frenchtown, being employed by Gabriel H. Slater and Samuel B. Hudnit. He enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, July 28th, 1862, and was wounded in the service.
After the close of the war, locating at Lambertville, he married Victoria, daughter of Cornelius Arnett, September 2d, 1868, who is now deceased. He served as a member of Common Council in Lam- bertville, and was engaged in the store and tinsmith business at the time of his decease, March 4th, 1885. His age was 48 years.
In 1863, from Brandy Station, Virginia, Mr. Lair wrote to the pastor of the Frenchtown M. E. Church, asking if he could be of assistance in
*Mr. Hoff is a member of the Everittstown Church. We have taken the liberty to use his name, from the fact, that he with J. J. Lair, made this church a liberal offering while in the army.
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REV. MORRIS T. GIBBS. (See Page 103.)
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collecting funds for the advancement of the church ; and receiving an affirmative reply, he collected from the members of Company G, Fifteenth Regiment about seventy-five dollars, and forwarded it to the pastor.
Arthur W. Lundy
Was born in what is now Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, February 6th, 1816.
When a young man, he taught for a number of years in the public schools, but finally learned the trade of watchmaker. When the gold fever broke out in California, in 1848, he with many others from this county went to that State in search of gold. Shortly after returning home he married Theodosia S., daughter of John Reading, of Delaware Township. He has two sons and one daughter.
Mr. Lundy came to Frenchtown in 1851, and has since resided here, following his trade. He did not enter the service of his country, but was a strong advocate of the Union cause. During the war the writer frequently saw him when the newspapers arrived in the morning mails, standing upon an elevation, often on the front porch of the harness shop of Samuel B. Hudnit, reading aloud to the people war news; he might, in fact have been called the public reader.
In 1861, a meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church in French- town, which was attended by the citizens of the place and vicinity, without distinction of party, sect, or creed, and over thirteen hundred dollars were subscribed for the benefit of the families of those who might enlist in the army, and Henry Lott, Newberry D. Williams, Charles A. Slack, Authur W. Lundy and Samuel B. Hudit, were appointed a committee to distribute the same.
In 1865, when the evacuation of Richmond and its occupancy by our army became known, the church bells of the town were rung for thirty minutes, and a large audience assembled at the station, where patriotic speeches were made by a number of citizens, among whom was Authur W. Lundy. Although now one of our most aged citizens, he enjoys good health and has the esteem and respect of the community.
Gershom L. Everitt,
Son of Benjamin Everitt and Rebecca Rockafellow, was born in the Township of Delaware, Hunterdon County, N. J., December 24th, 1840. He enlisted in Company F, Thirty-Eighth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, September 3d, 1862, and was mustered out June 24th, 1863.
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