USA > New Jersey > The early Germans of New Jersey : their history, churches, and genealogies. > Part 59
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He removed to Newark in 1843, when he became pastor of the First Reformed Dutch Church, which increased to nearly double its number under Dr. Scott. As a preacher Dr. Scott excelled in description. It was a good evidence of the estima- tion in which he was held, that when he preached upon a special subject his church was generally crowded. Everything he undertook, from writing a book to penning a notice, was a thing to be done with all his heart. He was careful to observe the little proprieties of life. He was scrupulously punctual to his engagements, and never in debt. He loved any employment in which he could be of service to others. Although mainly devoted to his pastoral charge, Dr. Scott found some time for literary pursuits. His life of Pollock, upon which he bestowed much labor, gave him a reputation beyond the place of his residence. He contributed an excellent article on Malachi to a splendid gift-hook, edited by Dr. Wainwright, and published by the Appletons a few years since. He formerly wrote a number of fugitive pieces of poetry, which were published in some of the daily journals. He had latterly, however, devoted most of his spare time to writing an epic poem, which he had just completed at the time of his death. A few days before his death, he had said to a number of his family with whom he was conversing on the subject of his probable sudden decease: " If I am to die soon, there could not be a better time than now. My labors have been crowned with success, I have the affections of my people, and I should die amid the regards (f the community." Dr. Abeel writes: "In the death of Dr. Scott, this community have sustained a loss that in some respects cannot be replaced. None can take his place in this city. He came to it at a time when it was but a village, its business just recovering from great depres- sion, and a new, young and enterprising population rushing in. Since then it has grown to its present size and prosperity."
SMITH, BAKER, was born in Princeton, Ill., Aug. 27, 1838. He was the second son of Elijah and Sylvia Smith, both of whom were natives of Conway, Mass., and eminent for christian piety. His early life and childhood was spent upon his father's farm. At fourteen he entered a printing office and served a four years' apprenticeship. At the age of of fifteen he united with the Presbyterian Church, and on leaving the printing office, went to Andover, Mass., to study for the minis-
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try, finishing his theological course in the Chicago Theological Seminary. During his vacation he was employed by the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society, being licensed by the Royalton Congregational Association, and afterwards ordained, having been called to the pastorate of the Congregational Church in Rochester, Vt. He remained in that position over three years, resigning to accep? a chaplaincy in a hospital at Washington, tendered him by President Lincoln, and which he was afterwards obliged to decline, owing to sickness and death in his family. His next pastorate was in Massachusetts, removing from thence to the West, spending twelve years in Home Missionary work in Kansas. For several months he was unable to pursue any kind of labor, from nervous prostration brought on by overwork, and his physicians insisted that his life depended upon a change of climate; he re- turned to the east, and was soon invited to the temporary charge of the Presby- terian Church in Mount Freedom, removing to Lafayette in the spring of 1884, where he labored as pastor of the Presbyterian Church for three years and two months, when he resigned to accept the hearty call from the church in Sparta, where he remained four years and three months, resigning to accept a call from the Presbyterian Church in Flanders, commencing his labors with this church, Oct. 1, 1891, being installed pastor the 11th of December following. Had the title of D. D. conferred upon him by the College of Vermont in 1894. He has been deeply afflicted in the loss of his family, his first wife, who was Miss Cynthia Emma Barnard, of Vermont, dying of consumption, in Massachusetts. By her he had five children, only one of whom survives, and now resides in Newton. He after- wards married Mrs. Abbie Francis Tanner, of Rhode Island, who also died with consumption, soon after his removal to Sparta. In April, 18-9, he married Miss Mary A. Decker, of Beemerville, who is an earnest church worker, and a thorough Bible studeut.
SMITH, G. W., was born at Port Holden, N. J., Sept. 1, 1845; was educated at Pennington Seminary and at the Drew Theological Seminary; from the latter place graduated in May, 1873, and received the degree of Batchelor of Divinity; was ordained a deacon at the session of the Newark Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Hackettstown, N. J., March 1872, by Bishop E. R. Ames; was admitted to the conference March 22, 1873, and was ordained elder April 2, 1876, in Newark, N. J., by Bishop E.S. Janes; served in the following pastorates: Stapleton, Staten Island, from March. 1873 to April, 1874: Montclair, N. J., from April, 1874 to April, 1877: Clinton Street, Newark, N. J., April, 1877 to April, 1879, Roseville, Newark, April, 1879 to April, 1882; West New Brighton, Staten Island, April, 1882 to April, 1884; Westfield, N. J., April, 1884 to April, 1887; Centenary Church, Jersey City, April, 1887 to April, 1889; Hackettstown, N. J., April, 1889 to April, 1893; Grace Church, Paterson, N. J., since April, 1893; on the 26th day of May, 1875, was married to Mary P. Wilde, of Bloomfield, N. J .; have three daugh- ters, whose respec ive names are Mary Edwina, Alice Wilde and Anabel.
SMYTHE, HUGH, born in the County, Antrim, Ireland, Aug. 5, 1834; graduated Princetou College, 1863; returned to Ireland and studied theology at the Assembly's College at Belfast, at the Oratoire, Geneva, two years, and one year at Londou. dery; licensed, 1866, by the Presbytery of Londonderry; ordained, 1867 by the Presbytery of Belfast; came to this country to attend the Hodge Jubilee; pastor at Broadway Church, Cincinnati, 1873-7; pastor at Elizabeth, 1877-85; went abroad one year ; supply at Schooley's Mountain, 1888 -.
STEELE, JOHN, was born in Somerville, N. J., 1827; graduated at Rutger's Col
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lege, 1845; graduated at New Brunswick, 1848: licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick, 1848; pastor at Lebanon, 1848-53; pastor at Coxsackie Second, 1853- 58; pastor at Union Village, 1858-65; pastor at Paterson of First Church of Totowa, 1865-77; pastor at Greenbush, 1877; made D. D. by Rutger's College, 1873.
STEPHENS, GEORGE H., was installed Oct. 27, 1887, as pastor at Flanders, N. J., dismissed June 17, 1890; pastor at Berwick, Pa., 1890 -.
TRAVERS, CHESTER H., was born iu Township of Clinton, Dutchess Co., New York, June 23, 1848; his ancestors were farmers, and among the Palatinates who came over in 1710 with Rev. Joshua Kochertal, who records that Johanna Niclaus Treber was known to have been a native and resident of Wollstein, Ober Ambt Crutznach, Germany. After leaving the public schools and spending two terms in DeGarmo Institute, he prepared for college at Hartwick Seminary, N. Y., and graduated from Pennsylvania College. Gettysburg, the following year. His first charge was Chatham Village, during which time he marrried Ida E. Jones, of Gettysburg, but January, 1878, be removed to Spruce Run and remained until July, 1885; had four children, all still living; while there, he was co-editor with Revs. Henderson and Doolittle of the Philocrat, which they launched and is now known by the name of The Home Visitor, published at Flemington, N. J. Since July, 1885, he has been pastor of bis ancestor's church, known as St. Peters Lutheran (Stone) Church, Rhinebeck, N. Y.
VAN BENSCHOTEN, WILLIAM B., graduated from Rutgers College, 1861; from the New Brunswick Seminary, 1864; licensed by Classis of New Brunswick, 1864; pastor at Wyckoff, N J., 1865-9; pastor at Lebanon, 1869-72; pastor of Ephratah and Stone Arabia, 1872.
VANDER VOORT, JOHN C., born at Bound Brock, 1798; graduated at Queens College, 1818; graduated at New Brunswick Sem., 1819; lic. classis of New Bruns- wick, 1819; pastor at Presbyterian Church, German Valley and Fox Hill, 1819-26; Basking Ridge, 1826-34; Totowa. First, 1834-7: Kinderhook, 1837-42; Mellenville, 1842-45; New Paltz, 1845-48; Ghent, Second, 1848-51; died June 21, 1551. He was early brought into the church. His habits were eminently devotional, prayer seeming to be bis element. In the social prayer meetings there was fervor, spirituality end unction, which were highly prized and edifying to those who were with him before the throne. He gave himself to his ministerial work with a
steadiness of purpose and an active energy. In most, if not all of his charges, he enjoyed seasons of refreshing from the Lord. Love to the master and compassion the souls of men, were ruling affections of the heart. He aimed at delivering the whole counsel of God. In the delivery of his message, there was an earnestness and vigor which arrested attention. He contented not himself with merely illus- trating truth, but carried his appeals to the conscience and the heart of his hearers. with a pungency and directness which pursued, and a tenderness which melted them. He was a wise, faithful and affectionate pastor. By both constitution and grace he was well fitted for sympathizing with others. He labored much to elevate the tone of piety of the people, and dreaded, as a pestilence, the form of godliness without the power. His last illness was protracted and painful, but he retained his power and exercised filial submission, and had not a doubt to cloud his pros- pects. See Funeral Sermon by Dr. Gosman.
VERMILYE, ROBERT GEORGE, was born in the city of New York on the 3d of March, 1813. His father was William W. Vermilye, of Huguenot ancestry. With
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thorough preparation Robert entered the sophomore class in Columbia College, New York. and was graduated at the commencement in 1831, maintaining one of the highest places in his class. His success as teacher in the College Grammar School was so satisfactory that in December, 1537, when twenty-four years of age, he was appointed Adjunct Professor with Dr. Anthon of the Greek and Latin languages in the college. All his spare time was given to the study of Hebrew under a Jewish Rabbi in the city, and to a systematic and extensive course of theological reading under the advice and suggestions of his pastor and clerical friends. He was licensed to preach in 1838. For a winter be supplied the pulpit of the Duane Street Presbyterian Church, where he had been brought up, and where was one of the most intellgent congregations in the city. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church of German Valley, in July, 1843. From German Valley, after three years, Mr. Vermilye was called to a new. and in some respects, a difficult field of pastoral labor in the Congregational Church at Clinton, N. Y. His installati n took place June 10, 1846. In 1851, when thirty-six years old, he received the honorary degree of D. D. from Columbia College. He was forty-four years of age when he was elected prof. of theol., Hartford, Conn His voice was full, harmonious and flexible; his sermons logical and well considered, possibly lacking somewhat in the imaginative quality, yet often pathetic and tender, for he could awaken strong emotion and draw tears; they were well written and in a high degree, iustructive and edifying to an intelligent audience, and for man- ner, delivered with ease and unction, at times with impassioned earnestness and power. He died in June, 1873. (See Memorial Discourse by Rev. Thomas Vermilye, D. D., brother of Dr. Robert G.)
VOORHEES, HENRY MARTIN, was born in Hunterdou Co., N. Y., 1840; gradu- ated from Rutgers College, 1859; from New Brunswick Seminary, 1863; licensed by the Classis Raritan, 1863; pastor at Port Jackson, 1863-65; pastor of the Bethle- hem First Church, 1865-71; pastor of North and South Hampton, 1871-77; Port Jervis, 1877-8; pastor of German Valley, 1882-86; pastor of Guilderland Centre, 1886-1889 (?); Reformed Church, High Bridge, 1889-1891 (7); removed to California for his health, where he is now preaching.
WACK, CHARLES P, was a grandson of Rev. Casper Wack; graduated at the New Brunswick Seminary, 1829: pastor Caroline, 1823-31; pastor at Bellona, 1831-35; pastor at Lebanon, 1835-40; pastor of Trenton First, 1841-44; in the German Reformed Church, 1845-52; died, 1866.
WOOD, CHARLES, was born at Salem, N. J., Sept. 15, 1818; grad. at Lafayette College, 1846; at Theological Seminary, 1849; ordained as evangelist by Presbytery, Philadelphia, May 20, 1849; stated supply First Church, Hustou, Texas, 1849; stated supply, Washington, 1849-50; pastor of Fox Hill, N. J., 1851-56; missionary Philadelphia, Pa., 1857-59; stated supply at Absecon and Leeds Point, N. J., 1861- 64; pastor Blackwoodtown, 1864-67; city missionary of the City Park Chapel, Brooklyn, N. Y., 1867-88; missionary, Brooklyn, 1889-92; assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1892 -; residence, Brooklyn, N. Y
APPENDIX III.
MOUNT OLIVE CHURCHES.
MOUNT OLIVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
MOUNT OLIVE CHURCH is really a daughter of the Chester Presbyterian. Its history therefore properly follows that of the lattar. The following is in substance the historical address delivered by Rev. David James on the 6th of January, 1884.
There are two family names which are closely connected with the original set- tlement of this place: Richard Stephens and Captain Peter Salmon, and most of the residents here, who bear these names, are the descendants of these families.
RICHARD STEPHENS Was of English descent. He was a millwright, and married the daughter of Daniel Landon, of Hackettstown. It is claimed that Daniel Lan- don was among the first settlers in Hackettstown valley, that he cleared the land and built a mill on the Musconetcong, near the bridge which crosses the stream where the brick mill now stands. He had a daughter named Dolly, and the tradi- tion is that he employed Richard Stephens to assist him in the erection of his mill, when they formed an acquaintance. Be this as it may, Richard Stephens and Dolly Landon were married on tha 18th of February, 1762, 121 years ago, and removed to this place and lived in a log house which stood about half a mile from this church, midway down the lane nearly opposite the old Baptist parsonage, now called the old house field. They were the parents of nina children, the order of their names being as follows : Samuel. Dorothy, Mary, Mercy, Daniel, Priscilla, Richard, Jr., Joshua and Ebenezer.
CAPTAIN PETER SALMON came from Long Island, N. Y., married a Miss Stark and settled upon the hill above Flanders. He was an extensive land ownar, having in his possession the tract of land now covered by several farms, upon which Joshua Salmon, John Drake's family, William Tharp, Nelson Caskey, George Sal- mon and others now reside. Captain Salmon was the father of three sons and four daughters, William, Aaron, Peter, Jr., Elisabeth, Sarah Ann and Margaret. Nothing could be more natural, in so sparsaly a settled community, than for Capt. Salmon's sons and daughters to become acquainted with the young family of Richard Stephens living only about ona mile west of them.
William Salmon, the oldest son, married Dolly the oldest daughter of Richard Stephens.
Peter Salmon, Jr , married Priscilla Stephens, the sixth child of Richard. She was born in 1774 and died on Sabbath, February 16th. 1862, in har 87th year. I recall one story she used to relate with delight. When she was abont four years old her father, Richard Stephens, entered the army of Washington, then quartered at Morristown. He laft his wife and seven little children in that log house, and
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MOUNT OLIVE.
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MOUNT OLIVE CHURCHES.
joined the troops. One morning, it must have been in the winter of 1779, her mother was standing on the stone step in front of the house, when she heard the dying echoes of the roar of a cannon over the hills. The tears dropped from her eyes and as she wiped them away with her apron, the little children came about her and inquired why she was crying. She replied, "your father will never come home again," supposing that he would fall in the battle. But he did return alive and well, and lived many years to enjoy the blessings of that liberty which he fought to obtain.
Some time before the American Revolution a number of settlers around Mount Olive, belonging to different denominations, and not able to maintain separate pas- tors, united in building a log church on the corner where the Baptist church has been erected. James Heaton and wife deeded land to Jacob Corsart, Richard Stephens and Job Corsart, as the trustees, for the use of four denominations, namely: Anabaptists, the Church of England, the Congregationalists and Presby- terian, "To build meeting-houses and school-houses and to bury their dead and for nothing else."
This deed bears date March 15th, 1764. These families continued to worship together for about forty years or until 1808, when an effort was made to build a new and better place of worship on the same place where the log church stood. The subscription is dated April 1st, 1808. "The subscribers being desirous to build a new meeting-house in Roxbury where the log meeting-house now stands, do promise to pay the sums annexed to our names to any person or persons that shall be duly appointed to superintend the building of said house." This second church was raised in 1809, but after it was iuclosed it remained unfinished until the 25th of April, 1818.
The church was held in union by the Baptist and Presbyterian denominations until 1853, when the relation was mutually dissolved, and the Presbyterian congre- gation erected this house, and the Baptists soon after built their house, which is the third church on the same ground.
Among the first ministers who preached in the log house for the
BAPTISTS.
was the REV. MR. REUNE RUNION, who served some of the time during the Rev- olutionary war. It is related of him that on a certain Sabbath, in the winter of 1777, there was a meeting in the log church, when he preached, being favorably disposed toward the British, and as they had been successful in most of the recent battles, he took occasion in his prayer to thank the Lord that the Americans had been overcome and that an end of the war would soon follow. This was very pleasing to those who agreed with him, but very displeasing to many who did not. During the intermission (for it was the custoin then to have an intermission of forty or fifty minutes, and then a second service), those who favored the sentiment expressed in the prayer were rejoicing over it, when Dolly Stephens, the wife of Richard, who was in the army, remarked, "there is great rejoicing among the Tories to-day, but I trust in the Lord, that their tune will be turned before this day week." And true it was, for that week the battle of Princeton was fought, Jan. 3, 1777, and the British were routed.
After Mr. Runion the REV. DAVID JAYNE served the church for a time. He was a shoemaker, and like Paul, worked with his own hands, and proved his own work. It was the usage of the families, in that time, to purchase their own materials, and employ a shoemaker to come to their homes and manufacture what
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was necessary for the family. Mr. Jayne was a workman that needed not be ashamed for he was careful that the saints should be shod from the soles of their feet to the souls of their bodies, "with the preparation of the gospel of peace," He was the father of Dr. David Jayne, the patent medicine proprietor, who was once a school boy and attended in the log house with many of your fathers. After Mr. Jayne, other pastors followed whose records I have not been able to obtain.
The first Presbyterian minister who is known to have preached for any con- tinuous time in the log church, was the REV. LEMUEL FORDHAM, who came from Long Island about 1785, and was pastor of Black River church or Chester Hill. About once a month he would come and minister to this outpost of his flock, As before related, the second church building commenced in 1809, was not finished until 1818 ; during this period of nine years, the minister preached from the car- penter's work bench. Mr. Fordham's last sermon, preached about 1815, from this bench, was a review of former years and is reported to have been three hours long.
During the time when the church remained unfinished, Mr. Daniel Stephens housed his sleigh in the building through the summer, and I have heard his son, William Stephens, the Elder, say, that when a boy, he was accustomed to sit in the sleigh during service, and that he had heard inany sermons from that pew.
Mr. Fordham was succeeded by REV. MR. MILLER, and he by REV. ABRAHAM WILLIAMSON. During the early part of Mr. Williamson's ministry, the mountain was more densely wooded than it is at present, and black bears were often seen.
Here it may be remarked that the house of Colonel John Budd and those who have descended from it, have always welcomed the ministers of the gospel. Col. John Budd married Miss Dickinson, of Chester, and settled on the Lake in 1785, to which lie gave the name of Budd's Lake, and his descendants have continued in the homestead until now his grandsons, G. S. and A. D. Budd occupied the land.
The Presbyterian families residing on this mountain were connected with the Black River or Hill church. That was the first Presbyterian church in this region and the Rev Mr. Harker was the first minister, who came about 1752. The house was erected on a lot now occupied as the Pleasant Hill cemetery. At that time ard for nearly sixty-four years the communion was celebrated there. It was also the place of stated worship for all the Presbyterians in the vicinity.
Mt. Olive was an outpost for services once or twice a month until 1837, when the families had increased to such an extent as to petition for an organization. The members assembled in the old frame building (the second erected) ou the 8th of September, 1834, fifty years ago the 8th of next September, when you should cel- ebrate your semi-centennial. The following is the Presbyterial record :
At a meeting held according to previous notice for the purpose of organizing a church, the following persons presented certificates of dismission from the church of Chester and expressed their desire to be organized into a separate church, to be called the Presbyterian Church of Mount Olive :
Samuel Stephens, William Stephens, Abraham D. Budd, Archer Stephens, John S. Salmon, Simeon D. Salmon, Robert Caskey, Mahlon Kennan, John Van Fleet, Augustus Wolf, Jonathan Dean, Gershom M. Nicholas, Aaron Salmon, Jr., Wmn. Caskey, Jonathan Elley, Jacob Skinner, Robert Danley, Aaron Salmon, John Van Dyke, Jane Salmon, Jane Frazer, Dolly Stephens, Hosea Fancher, Priscilla Salmon, Sarah Salmon, Nancy Salmon, Mary Slaught, Clarissa Wolfe, Polly Howell, Clarissa Stephens, Elizabeth Caskey, Phœbe Durland, Margaret Landon, Elizabeth
REV. JOHN H. SCOFIELD.
REV. DAVID M. JAMES.
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Skinner, Elizabeth Fancher, Lydia Wolfe, Ann Kinnan, Dorothy Salmon, Julia A. Budd, Sarah Salmon. Elizabeth Salmon, Hannah Stephens, Caroline Salmon, Mary Dickerson, Hannah Rightmire, Sarah Kinnan, Rachel Caskey.
These forty-seven members were duly organized, and were the original mem- bers of this church. The following persons were the same day chosen Ruling Elders : William Stephens, John VanDyke, Archer Stephens, Augustus Wolfe, Abraham D. Budd, Aaron Salmon, Jr., and John Salmon.
Elders. "Mr. Aaron Salmon died Friday, April 4th, 1851, for nearly seventeen years a Ruling Elder in this church. He was a man of deep and ardent piety. Nor was his warmth of feeling momentary and impulsive, but regular and constant, resulting chiefly from inward contemplation of himself as a sinner, in the sight of God, and having found favor of him through the merits of a crucified Redeemer. To him the sinner out of Christ was in the same pitiable condition that he himself once was, and consequently, the subject of his daily prayers. None felt more anxious for the outpouring of God's spirit on the hearts of the careless and impen- itent than he did, and none rejoiced more when such a grac'ous work took place. either in his own neighborhood or elsewhere. The immortal interests of his soul he made paramount to all others ; for this he labored and prayed."-New York Observer.
Elder John VanDyke died June 19th, 1862. He was a faithful, unassuming and consistent christiao man.
Elder William Stephens died suddenly, March 1st, 1865. Universally esteemed as an upright, honorable man. A man of few words but prompt actions. A judicious leader in this community and a pillar in the church. Twice he has been honored with a seat in the New Jersey Legislature, and twice with a commission to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and being dead yet speaketh.
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