The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 55

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 924

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Galaxy Fab Da Pund!

John Barrow

Galaxy Può. Do Philad.

John 6. Barron JUQ.

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a substantial benefit to the town. It is built of Belleville | Charles A. Campbell, has been covered with handsome brown stone, from designs submitted, in competition, by the buildings. In politics, as in everything else, John Barron was a man of decided opinions. An old-line Whig, he spoke out his views with no uncertain voice, and in warmly contested elections liis influence was always an important factor in the success of the Whig ticket in Middlesex. In the Polk-Tyler campaign he was especially active, his energy having a very considerable influence upon the vote in his section of the State. Being much depressed by the loss of his wife in 1851, his fecble health grew feebler day by day till his death, which occurred October 16th, 1853. well-known architect of New York, J. C. Cady. It is 44 feet square, with a height of 38 feet from the ground-floor to the roof-peak; a tower, abutting from the main front, is surmounted by a steeple, the whole having a height of 81 feet. The interior is divided into a book room 40 by 20 feet ; a reading room, 20 by 23.6; a trustees' room, 13 by 6.8; a hall, 8 by 9, and a vestibule, 8.6 by 8.6; all of the ceilings have a height of 28 feet. The arrangement and fittings of the several rooms are in accordance with the latest improvements in library architecture and furniture, and the collection of books is already large and fairly repre- sentative of the classes of light and solid literature com- monly in demand. Such a creation as this library cannot be too highly valued, for, apart from all consideration of present pleasure and profit, its existence cannot but have a sure and an exalting influence upon the moral tone of the town in all future time. Hlad the solc result of Thomas Barron's life been the foundation of the Barron Library, his life would have been well ended, and his fortune would not have been gathered in vain.

ARRON, JOHN, third son of Joseph and Fanny (Brown) Barron, was born at Woodbridge, in the family homestead, October ISth, 1792. His education was mainly obtained in his native place, being finished by attendance upon lectures in New York whilst passing two years in that city (in 1809-11) learning the trade of cabinet-making. Upon his return to Woodbridge he built a large manufactory, and made preparations for carrying on his trade upon an extensive scale. ITis venture was in advance of the times, and unable to dispose of his wares near at home, he sought a market for them in New Orleans, having some knowledge of this city from his brother Thomas, who had been resi- dent there for several years. Going south by sea, he was fairly successful in his sales, and these being completed he returned to the North by the circuitous stage and post route then existing. The journey was partly one of pleasure, partly one of business, and in both respects was satisfactory in its results. The limited demand in his immediate neighborhood for cabinet ware, and his own failing health, induced him to abandon his manufactory and enter upon a freer, more outdoor life. To this end he purchased a farm on the then outskirts of Woodbridge, and in agricultural pursuits he passed the remainder of his days. Until 1858 the farm remained as when he cultivated it, but since then, in common with other outlying portions of Woodbridge, it has undergone an entire change. Barron avenue divides it, the Congregational church stands upon land that formed a portion of it, and a large section, purchased by the Hon.

ARRON, JOHN C., M. D., New York, son of John and Mary (Conner) Barron, was born in Woodbridge, November 2d, 1837. After receiv- ing preliminary education at a select school in his native town, he entered Burlington College, at Burlington, New Jersey, the institution being at that time under the rectorship of the Rt. Rev. George W. Doane, D. D., bishop of the diocese of New Jersey. In 1858 he passed hence to Yale College, studying in the scientific department, and at the same time attending lectures in the eminent private school of Drs. Jewett, Hooker and Knight. In 1860 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, graduating thence in 1861. In April of that year, immediately upon receiving his degree, he entered the United States Voluntcer Army as an As- sistant Surgeon, being passed by the Board of Army Medi- cal Examiners, sitting at Albany, and assigned to the Mechanics Rifles. This position was declined on account of being tendered the Assistant Surgeoncy of the 69th New York Regiment, then in the field. This regiment was among the foremost to offer their services to the general government early in 1861. Dr. Barron, immediately upon his appointment, with a detachment of the regiment, pro- ceeded to Washington, and was sworn into the service of the United States, going at once to active work with the regiment, then the advance-guard in Virginia, and as stated in the publications of the day, " showing his devotion to the cause by donating one thousand dollars for medical supplies, etc., to the hospital department." The 69th saw much ser- vice, being at Blackburn's Ford, and at the first Bull Run battles, at the latter losing in killed and wounded nearly two hundred men. He held his commission until the fol- lowing August. In June, 1863, he re-entered the army, being assigned Assistant Surgeon of the 7th New York Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., and serving with the reserves called out in 1863 to repel the advance of Lec. In July, 1869, he was promoted to the Surgeoncy. In June, 1871, he resigned from the regiment and was appointed Surgeon- General of the Ist Division, N. G. S. N. Y., with the rank of Colonel, on the staff of Major-General Alexander Shaler. Ile was married, June 23d, 1869, to Harriet M., daughter

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of Rev. Albert Williams, of San Francisco, California. | He was licensed to preach the gospel in October, 1832, by After spending a year in Europe, including an extended tour of the eastern countries and a trip of seven hundred miles up the river Nile, he returned and settled in New York city, where he now resides.

ILLIAMS, REV. ALBERT, Minister in the Pres- byterian Church. Among the earliest settlers of New England, in 1629, was Robert Williams, "the ancestor of the Williams family in America," and one of the founders of the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Thence a branch of the family removed to Connecticut, and from that colony came to New Jersey, as one of the first settlers of the town of Newark, the ancestor of the subject of the present sketch. Of the suc- ceeding generation, his great-grandfather, Samuel Williams, was born in 1714, in that part of Newark now the city of Orange. After his marriage to Mary Harrison, of the same place, he entered upon lands in what is now West Orange, securing the titles of the aborigines and New Jersey pro- prietors. In the course of time he became possessed of a large landed estate, embracing some hundreds of acres. His death occurred, April 2d, 1812, in the ninety-ninth year of his age. In a memorial published at the time, in the Newark Sentinel of Freedom, among other personal notices, honorable testimony to his worth was borne in the following tribute : " IIe retained in a remarkable degree the use of his mental faculties to the last. In the relations of husband, parent and neighbor, he discharged his duty with great fidelity. Throughout his life he uniformly ex- pressed a high respect for the institutions of our holy re- ligion, and was always a cheerful and generous supporter of the gospel. As long as any live who knew him he will be affectionately remembered." In the line of descent now traced was his son Jonathan, who inherited a goodly por- tion of the estate adjoining the homestead, whose only son, Nathan, as the chief heir, succeeded to him in his landed possessions. Upon these paternal acres members of this venerable family are now living, represented in the sixth generation. The worth of good citizenship and the virtues of quiet rural life, with an almost exceptional feature of longevity, are special traits and distinctions belonging to the successive generations of this family. Albert, the subject of the present memoir, the son of Nathan and Cath- arine Wade Williams, was horn, April 29th, 1809. Early intended for a liberal education, his preparatory instruction was shaped to that end, his final elementary studies being pursued in the grammar school of Mr. Calvin S. Crane, Caldwell, and in the Bloomfield Academy, presided over by the Rev. Amzi Armstrong, D. D., and the Rev. Albert Pierson. Entering Princeton College, he was graduated in that institution in the class of 1829. His professional train- ing was obtained in the Theological Seminary of Princeton.

the Presbytery of Newark; and in October, 1834, was or- dained to the gospel ministry by the same presbytery, being sent under the appointment of the American Seamen's Friend Society, as a Chaplain to seamen in the port of Mobile. Four years were spent in this service, during the first year of which period he caused the formation of the Mobile Port Society, thus relieving the parent society of the expense of the chaplaincy. On the 6th of September, 1837, Mr. Wil- liams was married to Mary Parker Havens, daughter of Henry B. Havens, Esq., of Sag Harbor, New York. Three children, Henry Wade, Harriet Mulford and Albert, were born to them. In November, 1838, Mr. Williams was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church of Clin- ton, Hunterdon county, New Jersey. At that time the congregation was small, but under his ministry many fam- ilies were attracted to it, and from being a recipient of missionary aid it became self-supporting and prosperous. Having completed a period of ten years in this relation, he tendered his resignation and obtained his release. About this time the movement to California, consequent upon the gold discovery, commenced. More from the solicitation of others than his own original promptings, under the im- pression that where the world goes the church should go, Mr. Williams decided to throw himself into the new field of Christian enterprise then opening up in California. Accordingly, on the 5th of February, 1849, as one of the second company of pioneers, via the new steamship mail route across the Isthmus of Panama, he sailed from New York in the steamer "Crescent City," for Chagres, New Grenada. Spending four weeks in Panama, waiting for the arrival of the steamer " Oregon," from New York via Cape Horn, on the 13th of March he sailed on board that ship for San Francisco, where he arrived on the Ist day of April. He found in San Francisco a population, transient and more or less permanent, of between 3,000 and 4,000. In that city, as throughout California, the theme, excitement and business were centred in the acquisition of gold. The government of the country was still of the old Mexican régime, as stipulated in the treaty of Guadaloupe-Hidalgo. No church or other social organization had been formed to emhody the ideas of American civilization. Religious ser- vices had been held, but no formal church organization of the Protestant order had heen effected. Among the fellow- passengers of Mr. Williams in the " Oregon " were a num- ber of gentlemen, between whom and himself a warm and attached friendship was formed. Before their arrival at San Francisco the organization of a church in that city was projected. With the encouragement and co-operation of these gentlemen, and others who had been longer in the city, Mr. Williams, hindered by unavoidable delays from an earlier beginning, on the second Sunday of May com- menced holding a religious service in the public school house, and on the following Sunday, May 20th, he organ- ized the First Presbyterian Church of San Francisco, the

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first Protestant church of that city, and at the present time the oldest in California. Singularly fortunate in the excel- lent character of the membership of his church and congre- gation, he was also greatly aided by their prominent social position in its subsequent growth and prosperity. Having the advantage of being the first in the order of time, it is only due to fact to say, that owing to this circumstance and other favorable influences the First Presbyterian Church of San Francisco, mother of Presbyterian churches in that city and its vicinity, continued to be for years the leading Protestant religious society ; and although not the first to erect a church edifice, yet it was the first to build one pos- sessing a characteristic and imposing ecclesiastical archi- tecture. While bestowing a careful attention upon the interests of his immediate pastoral charge, he was not con- tent to confine his influence within that sphere. Accord- ingly he assisted, and in not a few instances led, in the various measures for either relief or amelioration in the body politic. Not as a politician, but as a friend of good order and social improvement, he gave freely his advice to those who in '49 were shaping the formation of the muni- cipal and State governments, and especially in behalf of the interests of public education. In the more direct line of benevolence, he was prominent in the formation, in '49, of the Bible, Tract, Temperance, Benevolent, and Seamen's Friend Societies, which thus early were brought into effi- cient operation. It is to the First Presbyterian Church, through its pastor and the ladies of his congregation, that the establishment, in February, 1851, of the noble institu- tion of the Ladies' Protestant Orphan Asylum, of San Fran- cisco, is chiefly due. In 1852 the pastor, together with W. WV. Caldwell, Esq., senior ruling elder of the First Presby- terian Church, by correspondence, induced the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions to establish the Presbyterian Chinese Mission of San Francisco, the First Church con- tributing largely to the erection of its mission house. In a similar exercise of public spirit Mr. Williams was ever gratified, when his friends and parishioners bestowed their charities upon worthy objects for the general good, and particularly in church building and church extension. Not to say in general, in those early days there was a series of public movements which enlisted more or less his interest ; there were also at intervals special events involving a more intense agitation, in reference to which he could not remain indifferent. Such were the exciting scenes of the " Hounds'"" outrages in 1849, the afflictive visitation of cholera in 1850 and 1851, and the irruption of crime, calling for the inter- position of the Vigilance Committee of 1851. What with the ordinary routine of pastoral duties, these extra occasions imposed a burden of severe and exhausting labor, too great

to be borne. Without cessation, without relaxation, with-

out any vacation to break the force of oppressive cares,

which may he safely regarded as fourfold, it is not strange that the pastor's health gave way in a serious indisposition. This failure of health began to show itself in 1853. And

still he continued at his post and in the discharge of his constantly recurring duties until the autumn of 1854, when, by his own convictions and medical advice as well, he sought and obtained relief by the resignation of his pastor- ate, which had continued through a period of five and a half years, on October 8th, 1854. The sympathy and re- spect for the retiring pioneer pastor, not only of his congre- gation, but also of the community in general, were shown in numerous notices and letters, called forth by this change of relation. A committee of the congregation, addressing him by letter, said : . . " In acceding to your request for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, the parish had no fear that their action, under the circumstances, would be misconstrued to indicate any want of respect and affection- ate regard for you, or any forgetfulness of your long, ardu- ous, faithful and successful efforts in behalf of their church, and of Christian education in the city. They knew that, as the first and only pastor of the early established and first Protestant church in San Francisco, your consistent Chris- tian character, your devotion to your high and responsible office, your zeal, energy, and successful labor were too widely known and well appreciated to allow, either in the parish or out of it, a thought that your attachment to the church with which you had so long been identified had grown cold, or that the church had lost its affectionate re- gard for you. But with this the parish was not satisfied : they were unwilling that the pastoral relation should be dissolved without a direct communication of the kind and friendly feelings entertained towards you by them; of their sense of obligation to you, under Providence, for the cstab- lishment of their church, and its continuance during all the vicissitudes and embarrassments of our city, and without a hearty assurance of their respect and earnest good wishes for the future. . . . Though you cease to be the pastor

of the First Presbyterian Church of San Francisco, it will never be forgotten that you were its founder, and for more than five years its faithful guide; that you have labored in season and out of season for its prosperity ; and that under your zealous but prudent supervision the church, and the

great doctrines of which it is the exponent, have been com-

the conviction that your labors with us have not been in Wherever life may lead you in the future, bear with you mended to the people of San Francisco and the State.

vain; that your name will ever be associated with our church ; and that those who have known you here will re- taken : " We have great comfort and satisfaction in looking monial of the ruling elders of the church a brief extract is member you with grateful rccollections." From the testi-

back over the five years and upwards in which you have, with the most unremitting diligence, watched over the in-

welfare and progress, both spiritual and temporal; and terests of the church and society, in all that concerned their

have great pleasure in bearing testimony to your fidelity and constant devotion to the best interests of the church and congregation. The sick have been visited-and those who

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were in prison are witnesses of your counsel, warning and | tributed a series of descriptive letters to the Presbyterian, admonition-the poor and friendless have been objects of of Philadelphia. In the spring of 1855 he returned, via San Francisco and Panama, to the east, and for the four years following made his residence in Princeton, New Jersey, during which time his eldest son passed through the academic course at Nassau Hall. Such was the degree of his nervous prostration that the whole of that period of rest was necessary to bring back his impaired health. Though resting he was not inactive, but by writing for the press and occasional preaching he sought to be useful. While the social revolution was in progress in San Fran- cisco, in 1856, although away from the State, Mr. Williams took a deep interest in the movement, and wrote for one of the eastern papers an article on the subject, which was acknowledged to have had a marked effect in creating a correct public sentiment concerning the action of the Vigi- lance Committee of that year, and was particularly referred to by a leading periodical in San Francisco in the following appreciative terms : "Our citizens are indebted to the Rev. Albert Williams, late pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, for a timely letter published at the East, in relation to our local difficulties. His intimacy with our affairs gave weight to his opinion among those with whom he is familiar, or to whom he is known in eastern circles." In the summer of 1859 he made a second removal to Cali- fornia. At this time it was his desire to engage in cfforts for the promotion of higher education in the State. But influences which he could not control prevented the gratifi- cation of that wish, and again he entered into the special work of the ministry, and for another five years and more served gratuitously a mission church in San Francisco. And again, while retaining his connection with San Fran- cisco, he had a home for his family in Princeton, during which time his younger son passed through college. Thus he has, by frequent repassing, either alone or with members of his family, had a double home in California and New Jersey. For the past six years it has been his special work, among other things, as one of the Trustees of the California Prison Commission and as Chairman of its Visiting Com- mittee, to preach gratuitously each alternate Sunday, during the greater part of that time, to the prisoners in the State Penitentiary at San Quentin. The experience gained in his observations and intercourse among the prisoners en- abled him to render valuable aid in carrying through the Legislature of 1875-76 very important reforms in the gov- ernment of the State Prison. One of these enactments removes the immediate management of the prison beyond the sphere of politics. Another provides that prisoners shall receive one-tenth of their earnings, one-half of the amount payable, and, if they so desire, to be received by them weekly, and the other half to be retained for them until the time of their discharge. Mr. Williams early be- came a member of the Society of California Pioneers, was for many years its Chaplain, and, as a special compliment, has been constituted one of its few Honorary Life Mem- your care and solicitude-the afflicted have been comforted in their distress and anguish of mind, and the dying have been directed to the ' Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.' In all the relations you have sustained in the church and congregation, your bearing has been honorable, manly and independent, and characterized by meekness, charity and a Christian spirit. When we have, as a community, been passing through scenes of unusual violence and bloodshed, you - have remained at your post, unmoved by popular tumult and disorder, faithfully declar- ing ' all the counsel of God.' . . . . We beg also to assure you of our high respect for your uniform courtesy, kindness and counsel in the relation, you have sustained to us as members of your session, in which unity and the most entire harmony has prevailed. Feeling sure that should you leave us, you will carry with you the best and kindest sympathies not only of the church and congregation, but of the com- munity among whom you have moved and mingled in this city, we affectionately commend you and your family to the Great Head of the church, praying that he will richly re- ward your labors of love among us, and do for you and them 'exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.'" One of the many friendly published expressions of regard for Mr. Williams paid him the following tribute : "Among others leaving us is the Rev. Albert Williams-a man who for five years past has been with us; been inter- ested for us; and has fulfilled in our midst a high and holy calling. During that time many are the young and loving pairs he has united in the sacred bonds of wedlock ; he has sprinkled the brow of infancy with the token of love and mercy, and pressed the seal of pardon and acceptance on the heads of repentant sinners; he has prayed by the bed- side of the dying, and wept with the bereaved at the graves of the dead; he has week after week raised his voice against crime, violence and oppression in the land, and in clear, emphatic language shown the way of duty and of safety. Nor is it by precept alone that he has taught; for he has lived the lessons he has inculcated, and set a beauti- ful example of Christian consistency; unostentatious, meek and benevolent, like the Master he professes to serve, he has gone about doing good; and now, with enfeebled health, but a good conscience, he returns to his early home for that quiet and repose which he so really needs." And from another source this also : "The Rev. A. Williams has been for five and a half years one of the most prudent, though zealous, 'soldiers of the cross' that ever visited California, and his departure, as well as the cause therefor, has occasioned his congregation and friends profound re- gret. As he was beloved and reverenced by all with whom he came in contact, even so will he be long remembered as the founder of the Presbyterian church in this city." Mr. Williams, with his family, spent the winter of 1854-55 in the Sandwich Islands. He visited all the group, and con-

L'alazy Può. La Pinlad" .

Abrilliams

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bers. In this outline sketch it remains to add, and may be | life. His career at the bar and on the bench was a distin- noted as one of the features of this active life, that it has ever been a habit of Mr. Williams to pursue a general course of reading, with a special taste and preference for subjects of a practical and at the same time philosophical character. In later, no less than earlier, years it has been his constant aim to gather that he may impart. Thus, neither is his leisure idleness, nor his rest inactivity. His retirement, if such it may be styled, is filled with busy labors. And, as a fitting close of this brief sketch, it is proper to subjoin a sentence forming part of a personal item in a late San Francisco journal : "Although he (the Rev. A. Williams) may not be technically a pastor, yet as long as his life is continued he will be found employed in essays of utility and benevolence."

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The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century, Part 55

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company Number of Pages: 924

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, publisher
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 924