resulted in many valuable additions to the church.
He continued his labors until April, 1864, having
received 81.
After being destitute of a pastor for some time, the
Rev. George Young was called in 1865; he continued
until October, 1867. At the close of his labors the
Rev. Henry Westcot succeeded. In January, 1868,
19 were dismissed to constitute the New Hampton
Baptist Church, and in January, 1872, 25 to form the
Clinton Baptist Church. In April, 1872, Brother
Westcot closed his labors. The church, being much
reduced by dismissions .and other causes, was then
supplied by different ministers until April, 1874,
when J. W. Porter became pastor, and continued
until July, 1875, when he was excluded from fellow-
ship. The church, being greatly depressed, was then
dependent on supplies until April, 1876, when Rev.
T. C. Young was called. During this year the par-
sonage was built. He remained until April, 1878,
when the church called the Rev. A. B. Still, who
continues at this time.
There is a cemetery attached which contains the
remains of, and an obelisk monument to the memory
of, Aaron Van Syckel and his wife. He contributed
largely to all the improvements, and left funds to
keep them up. Also to the memory of his daughter
Alice, late the wife of Robert Killgore, through whose
liberality much has been done to erect a parsonage.
Here lie the remains of Dr. R. M. McLenahan and
his wife Christiana, daughter of Aaron Van Syckel,
and of three other of his daughters, — Mercy, Fanny,
and Emily.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT NORTON.
The church of this religious society was built
in 1828, and rebuilt in 1855, on land donated by
George Garrison, owing at the time much of its suc-
cess to the exertions of a local preacher and former
class-leader, Abraham Housel, who died Oct. 19,
1848, in his forty-ninth year. His remains were in-
terred in the burying-ground attached to this church,
as were also those of John P. Lair, born Feb. 3, 1813,
died Nov. 24, 1871. In 1868-69 he was member of
the General Assembly.
Rev. A. Van Deusen, present minister in charge,
has kindly furnished the following in regard to Union
charge :
"I may not be able to give mueh information as to its early history, as
it stood connected with various circuits at different times. Asbury Cir-
cuit was formed as early as 1806, and occupied a large territory. In 1836
-37 it stood in connection with Flanders Circuit, E. Sanderson and O. S.
Vanclove, preachers; in 1838 it was united with Flomington Circuit,
Eovs. Jacob Hevener and James M. Tuttlo, preachers; had a revival,
and about do were added. In 1843, Clinton Circuit was formed, Wes-
ley Itoborts and J. W. Barrett, preachers: 1844, Edward l'age and
S. E. Post, preachers ; 1845, Manning Force and S. D. Badgley, con-
tinued in 1840; 1848, Clinton Circuit, John Fort and George Banghart;
1811), Quakortown Circuit, T.T. CnnipflcUl and 8. W. Decker; 1858, Union
UNION.
517
wiili Pattonborg, 0. E. Walton, for two yean; 1801, S. M. Stllos; 1802,
J. F. Dodd, superseded in 1869 bj - U I r; 1804,8. J. llnytcr; 1805-
60, David Wultern, connection with CuUkSTille; 1807-08, C. C WlnaDSj
1870, A. Craig; 1871-72, Union and Pattenbnrg, T. T.Campfleld; 1873,
supplied by J. U. Bamsey ; 1874, M. V. Warner j 1870-70, D. Qalleron;
1871 18, J. M.iii ; 1870-80, A. Van Oeusen, present minister in charge."
Tin: METHODIST EPISCOPAL OHtJKCH AT PATTEN-
BURG
\\ : i ^ built in 1S">3, on land donated in 18">- t<> Trustees
John II. Case, Joseph <ian<>, Aaron Strceter, Godfrey
Case, and Jacob P. Apgar. Ministers officiating
there since, John P. McCormick, John N. Crane,
David Craves, Charles E. Walton, Norman L. Hig-
bee, Charles Miller, M. N. Fogg, John F. Dodd,
Jonathan Eward, Thomas ( fempfield, James N. Ram-
say, Daniel Halleron, Joshua Mead, A. Van Dcuscn.
Revs. Brown, Stiles, Swain, and I ralloway also served.
The present trustees are Johnson Summer, John
Bowlby, Henry Merrill, Sidney Sweery, George Bar-
her, < ! an I in r 1 1 ousel, Charles William-.
There is a beautiful cemetery attached ; ii contains
the grave of Peter Hardy, who died March 8,1861,
aged eighty-one; the remain- ami monument, an
obelisk, of "William Mcllroy, born May 22, 1784, died
Aug. 7, 1860 :
"Ho wan tin' friend and benofactor of thin congregation, and by it ho,
being dead, yet speaketh ;"
John II. Case, horn Nov. 7, 1807, died Aug. 18, 1869.
lie was Brsl town clerk, and bad been eleven years
before the division of the township,
MT8CELLANE0I S in MS.
Old people used to say fifty year- ago that not long
before then the ruins of an old log building and evi-
dences of a graveyard wen- visible a short distance
from there, and Samuel Leigh the elder stated it was
a Baptist institution, but did not know it- history.
There was a burying-ground of some extent on the
farm nine owned by Meshack Hull, but we have no
further knowledge of it.
It is traditional that there was nine an old Baptist
church in that neighborhood. Mrs. Abigail Johnson
stales that when -lie wa- a little girl -lie had often
visited the spot where their baptisms wen- performed;
ii was in her father'.- field, and known in the family
by the name of the " dipping-pool," and close bj Were
the remains of old timber, supposed at that time to
be the ruin- of the church, but she has no kn
Of any graveyard in the immediate vieinity. The
one just mentioned was about 600 yards westward
from the pool, ami there was another in a northerly
direction, on lands since owned bj Tl tas Exton,
Since writing the above my friend and co-laborer.
in this work, l>r. Henry Race, informs me that "in
the year 17::-, K,\. Thoina- I'uni- began a -ettle-
ment on the point of land which Lies in the fork of
Spruce Run ami Smalley Creek, and the next year
removed his family there." In the " Minute- of the
Central New Jersey Baptist association for 1876,"
there is a "Historical Sketch of the Baptist Church
of Kingwood, X. J."
There is just north of Cole's Mill, formerly Beaver's
Mill, and -till earlier Albertson's Mill, on the left-
hand side of the road leading to the Union and on
the left bank of the Monselaughaway, an old grave-
yard containing many graves. The occupants were
probably operatives in the furnace and their families,
as iron plates om with letters on it — were visible not
long aince.* They were used as headstones. Adam
- child was the last one buried there, about
fifty years ago.
We have not been able to ascertain at what time
Allen and Turner, of Philadelphia, purchased their
Union tract, or when the furnace was built. See Dr.
Motfs " First Century of Hunterdon County,'' pp. 23
and 40.
John Clifford, tir-t lieutenant in ('apt. Carhart's
company, Second Regiment) Hunterdon, who lived
many years in this town-hip, on the farm on which
his great-grandson, Joseph Williamson, now resides,
has said that I ten. William Maxwell, during the Rev-
olution, was very frequently at the Union furnace,
and w Inn there any -iek per-, in in want of a little good
tea could get some without paying for it by sending
to him. It was a mystery that none outside could
solve; some not friendly to him thought of accusing
him of disloyalty, but dare not do it.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
The town-hip is so divided that it contains but one
whole school district, that at Cook's Cross-Roads, a
small one. The other districts are fractional. In the
town-hip outside the whole district there are five
other school-houses, — namely I'attcnburg, Norton,
the Eight-square, one at Bethlehem Church, and one
* Sinco penning tbo above 1 havo been Informed that Mrs. Abigail
Johnson (widow of Edward Johnson, and daughter of George Beavers
and his wife, Sarah T.nnning, and granddaughter of Col. Joseph Beavers,
of Bafoluttonary tarn y> bad frequently, with other children, played
there, ami always bad a strong desiro to know what tbo lettering of that
iron plalo was; sho nmde this wish known to a grandnephew, A. S.
Carbart, who visited the pniveyard and mado a drawing of tho iron
headstone, a copy of which is here presented: —
n
76)
MAP L I M I A -r
$ fLOHkSAOH
'" A NDo V£R, T
Thl* Is tlic last (ombfftODt standing, who
burled.
> many people hare been
518
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
at Maxwell's, all supplied in part with scholars from
other adjoining townships, and in return send their
scholars to Clinton, Franklin, and Alexandria.
School money has heen raised as follows : 1853, $2
per scholar; 1854, $2.50; 1855-60, none; 1861, $1;
1862-66, none; 1867-68, $2; 1869, none; 1870, $2;
1871-73, no vote ; 1874-75, none.
The first school-houses in this township were built of
logs. One, at the foot of the hill east of the Hickory
tavern, was worn out in the service; for most of the
time John Head taught in it. It gave place to a frame
at Pattenburg in 1804, which yielded to a stone one on
the same spot, enlarged and rebuilt in 1868. It is 22
by 34 feet, and will seat 60 scholars.
At Norton a log house stood east of the road ; it
served its day and went down, and Hensfoot took its
place (a long time occupied by John Head as teacher),
but, becoming worn out, was closed for several years.
It was succeeded by one at Sever's, about 1830 ; here
Jeremiah Daily, William Loder, Sr., Asher S. Housel,
John Wheeler, John Wilson, and others officiated as
teachers.
One near the Union was succeeded in 1837, or about
that time, by the Eight-square, the present house,
which is 24 feet square. It stands on a lot deeded by
Hugh Exton to Daniel H. Anderson, Charles Bon-
nell, and Wesley Bird ; it was thoroughly repaired in
1873. Its seating capacity is 44 pupils. The first
teacher in this house was a Mr. Carr, of Easton, Pa.
The trustees now serving (1880) are Lewis Exton
(clerk), Lambert Smith, Michael Banghart.
The one at Bellis' succeeded a log house over in
Alexandria in 1833. Of a later date (1836) was a
stone house on the road near Joseph Carhart's, still
standing, but not used as a school-house; and the
basement of the union church at Norton was for some
time used as a school-room, but was abandoned, it
was alleged, on account of being unhealthy. They
have a good house there now, built in 1872. These
different structures in their several times gave accom-
modations to the teachers and pupils and turned out
scholars who would do credit to circles of greater
opportunities. The first board of trustees (1833) were
Peter Mechlin, William Maxwell, and William Stout;
Peter M. Mechlin is now teacher, and for several
years has taught the school very acceptably to the
district; trustees, Hiram Stout (clerk), Peter M.
Taylor, Edward Cooley.
In 1847 the Hensfoot was rebuilt, and for seven
years was under the charge and care of ten different
instructors, — Miss A. E. Lesher, Joseph Collier, 1848;
A. J. Opdycke, 1848; Mr. Ellicott, 1849; Eichard
Barker, 1850 ; John Hackett, 1851 ; George Cook,
1852; A. Craig, a graduate of Union College, Schen-
ectady, Miss M. Fine, 1853; M. Abel, 1854. During
the latter part of this term some vandals broke the
windows and so damaged the house that it was given
up as a school-house.
In 1855-56, Oliver II. Huffman, a graduate of. Rut-
gers College, taught a select school in the house of
Dr. John Blane. In 1858, John C. Bergner com-
menced in the same place a class in music, which he
continued four years.
The present trustees of the Norton school (1880)
are Godfrey Lott (clerk), Conrad Creager, and Dr. N.
B. Boileau, and the officiating teacher, Servis.
The first trustees of the Pattenburg school were Tunis
Stires, George Gano, and Benjamin Egbert, and John
Head, the first teacher, remaining for many years.
Present trustees (1880), J. Smith Hummer (clerk),
John R. Williamson, and Johnson J. Martin, and
teacher, Lewis Streeter.
Cook's Cross-Roads, a new site, has a frame build-
ing, erected in 1852, which will seat 40 pupils; its
first board of trustees were Jacob Cook, Cornelius B.
Sheets, and Isaac H. Demot; present trustees, Al-
fred Cook (clerk), Sylvester Hyde, Thomas Stires.
The present teacher is George L. Albright.
The first school-house at the Bethlehem Presbyterian
Church is said to have been of logs, which no doubt
it was, and to have stood in the southwest corner of
the graveyard. When it was erected is not known.
Its successor, which stood northeast at the then grave-
yard, was erected in 1813. The trustees at that time
were Peter Young, Gideon Chamberlin, and Thomas
Foster. Francis Finigan was the first teacher, fol-
lowed by David B. Huffman and Stephen Albrough
in succession. This house was in use until 1838-39,
when an octagonal stone building, on the opposite or
east side of the road, took its place. The lease was
given by the trustees of the Bethlehem Presbyterian
Church to the trustees of the district school, and
bears date Sept. 1, 1838. The school trustees at that
time were Joseph Boss, John Butler, and Daniel
Carhart; Elwood S. Alpaugh was teacher in 1876.
Since then the old octagonal stone building has given
way to a more modern wooden structure, built on the
same ground, which will comfortably seat 40 scholars,
and is more in keeping with the surroundings than
the old one. The present trustees are Martin Frace,
clerk, AVesley Melick, Henry De Mott ; the present
teacher, Miss Clara Bonham.
The value of school property in the township (1880)
is $3850. Number of teachers employed, males, 4;
females, 2 ; annual amount expended on schools, about
$2000 ; number of children of school age in the town-
ship, a little less than 400.
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.
Jacob Anderson, lieutenant (afterwards captain) in
the militia.
Abraham Bonnell, lieutenant-colonel in the Second
Regiment Hunterdon County. His land is still occu-
pied by his descendants.
John Clifford, first lieutenant in Capt. Carhart's
company, Second Regiment Hunterdon County. His
land is now in the possession of the fifth and sixth
generations of his descendants.
?.
o_ .
UNION.
519
William Hackett went into the battle at Monmouth,
an<l lias never since been heard of.
Richard Mills, member of Capt. Bowman's com-
pany, Continental army. He wa> an Englishman by
birth, anil was said to be very skillful in doctoring all
kinds of domestic animals, by which and the proceeds
of a cake-and-beer saloon kept by Mrs. Sally Mills
they made a living. He received a pension, which
was in part extended to his widow. Some of their
descendants are living in adjacent neighborhoods.
He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and was
buried at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Alexan-
dria; nothing but memory marks the spot where he
lies. It is said there are several other old patriots
lying in the same row.
Amu-. Smith was a soldier in the devolution, and
the captain of a company sent by New Jersey in sup-
port of the government in the insurrection in Penn-
sylvania in 1708 commonly called the Whisky In-
surrection.
Samuel Leigh was a soldier in the Revolution. He
moved into this township from near Princeton.
Leonard Martin was a soldier in the same, and re-
ceived a pension.
Christopher Srope was engaged in the army some
time.
Jacob Johnson, a soldier of the Revolution, at that
time of Middlesex < lounty, bul moved here and raised
,a large family, many of whose descendants arc in this
and adjacent neighborhoods, lie ami his wife both
lived to be very old. lie received a pension and
back-pay in bis later days.
( 'apt. ( 'arhart imanded a i pany in the Second
Regiment 1 Eunterdon I lounty, commanded by Lieut.-
Col. Abraham Bonnell, but it does not appear that he
lived in the town-hip. hut in Mansfield, then Busses
County.*
Matthias Abel, notable in his day as a vendue-
cryer, was a soldier of the [[evolutionary war. He
was a native of Union township, then Bethlehem, in
the county of Hunterdon. He died in 1887, aged
eighty-three. lie entered the army a- a private in
1 7 7 "> ; was in the battle of Long Island; was with
Washington in his retreat over the Jerseys in the
summer and fall of 1776. His enlisl nt expired the
day before the battle Of Monmouth; was out with a
b ting-party all night before the battle; lay in sight
of the battle during the day with his company, but
was not in it. A iter the war he lived in Union town-
ship until his death.
Benjamin Egbert, son of Abraham Egbert and his
wife, Elizabeth Garrison, was born on Btaten bland,
N. Y., Aug. _â– "'. 170X. At the u-ual age he was ap-
• An account of tho Cnrhnrt family In Hoi . -m.1 puitlc
uliiil.v in Union township, «lll !•<■found In B well-written will Tory in-
Bttaloml) l Tlioma*
Ctirlmrt, of Cornwall, KnglM>d,coD hudprfrnta
pnnusorlpti, with u nppondlx ol aoti Bj Hnrj ]
lie \. ' I, i Ukowj i hiinlmin tanUy, m l:ii u any of th.ir deffcen*
diuila urc nl tula lime tlvlnj in tho lo« Dtllln.
prenticed to his uncle, Nicholas Egbert, to learn the
trade of tanner and currier, with the accompanying
branches. Having served his time, he married Re-
becca CarkhufT and settled in the then township of
Bethlehem (now I rnion in 1800. His ancestors emi-
grated from England in about 1060 and settled in
Staten Island ; he was brought up in the Episcopal
Church. He was for many years a judge of the
County Court, and a justice of the peace at the same
time, and was noted for decision and soundness of
judgment. It was remarked by a member of the
Hunterdon County bar I Col. X. Saxton) that his
judgments were seldom appealed from, and the ap-
peals still more seldom sustained. He was a man of
independent mind and sterling integrity.
Of State and county officers we have had judges:
Benjamin Egbert and William Egbert. State Senator:
Aaron Van Syckel, Sr., John Blane, and Frederick A.
Potts. Assemblymen: Enoch Clifford, John Blane,
Joseph Ezton, John H. Case, Cornelius B. Sheets,
and John 1'. Lair. Sheriff: Aamn Van Syckel, Sr. ;
he officiated at the execution of the colored man
l'.rom. Jacob Anderson is said to have been sheriff,
but no record could be found as to the time.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
FKEDERIC A. POTTS.
Frederic A. Potts was bom at Pottsville, Pa., in
April, 1830, during the temporary residence of his
parents in thai city. Soon after his birth his father
returned to his former home at Pitteton, Hunterdon
Co., and there the subject of this -ketch grew to man-
hood, and there he still resides. His ancestry was Rev-
olutionary, and his Quaker great-grandfather served
with distinction in the Continental Congress, after-
wards devoting himself to the improvement of a vast
tract of land in New Jersey, on part of which the
residence of Frederic A. Potts now stands. A son of
bis ancestor served in the war of 1812, and the father
of Mr. Potta is still living and in active business life
as president of the Park National Bank of New York
City.
Frederic A. Potts entered business life at an early
age as a clerk with Audenreid >\ Co., wholesale COal
mi n hants in New York. With a cool head, remark-
able business energy, executive ability, and honesty,
he soon occupied a prominent position, and in time
succeeded his employer- in the business. His manage-
ment has l»eii so sue — fid that he isknown at
one of the largest individual dealers in the trade.
In |s;i Mr. Potts was pressed to a pt the nomi-
nation for State senator in the county of Hunterdon,
and. acquiescing to the wishes of bis friends, was
elected against heavy Democratic odds by a majority
Of two hundred and eight> -i\. During his term of
520
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
service he was chairman of the committee on finance,
sinking fund, and revision of the constitution, and a
number of other important committees. He intro-
duced the bill on the equalization of taxes, which
would have much relieved certain sections of the un-
just taxes now imposed on them, and especially dis-
tinguished himself for his independence of action,
freedom from cliques, devotion to the benevolent in-
stitutions of the State, and active participation in all
measures for bettering and reforming State affairs.
In 1878 Mr. Potts accepted the Republican nomi-
tion for Congress in the Fourth New Jersey District,
and was defeated by fifteen hundred votes, a gain of
four thousand five hundred over the Republican vote
of 1876, when Mr. Tilden had over six thousand major-
ity in the district. For several years the Republican
party made use of his distinguished executive ability
as chairman of the State executive committee. On
Aug. 18, 1880, Mr. Potts received the Republican nom-
ination for Governor by acclamation, at one of the
largest and most enthusiastic Republican conventions
ever held. The nomination was as spontaneous as it
was unsought, and was as popular with Republicans
as disheartening to Democrats. After a most excited
campaign Mr. Potts was defeated only by the exer-
tions of a powerful corporation which, on the Satur-
day before the election, instructed their employees to
vote for the Democratic nominee. • His defeat, how-
ever, was tantamount to a victory, as he was beaten
by about six hundred votes only, and this in a Dem-
ocratic State in. a presidential year, when party lines
are most strictly drawn. Mr. Potts as candidate for
Governor, it is universally conceded, was the cause of
great help to the electoral ticket in New Jersey, and
by his personal popularity he reduced the Democratic
majority from thirteen thousand given to Gen. Mc-
Clellan to six hundred for Mr. Ludlow.
Mr. Potts' great business capacity, intelligence, and
foresight cause him to be most eagerly sought for to
fill positions of trust and responsibility. He is pres-
ident of the West End Iron Company, director in the
Central and Midland Railroad Companies of New
Jersey, the Jersey City and Albany Railway Com-
pany, the Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad Com-
pany, the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, the
Connellsville Coke and Iron Company, the Carbon
and Iron Pipe Company, the Tide- Water Pipe Com-
pany, the National Park Bank of New York, and the
Clinton Bank in New Jersey, and prominently iden-
tified with many charitable and religious institutions.
Personally Mr. Potts is a man of magnificent
physique and splendid presence, and his manner is
most courteous and pleasing. In short, none of Hun-
terdon's sons does greater honor to the State of his
ancestry and adoption than the Hon. Frederic A.
Potts.
WILLIAM EGBERT.
The original ancestor of the Egbert family in this
country was Govert Egbert, who came over in the
ship " Spotted Cow," in the year 1660. His descend-
ants mostly settled on Staten Island, N. Y.
Abraham Egbert, a descendant, married Elizabeth
Garison, and had children, among whom was Benja-
min, the father of our subject, born Aug. 25, 1768.
He lived with his parents, assisting on the farm, until
he had attained the age of about fifteen, when he
left Staten Island and went to Readington, Hunter-
don Co., N. J., and was bound an apprentice to his
uncle, Nicholas Egbert, to learn the different trades
of tanning, currying, and shoemaking. After serving
his term of apprenticeship, he married Rebecca Cark-
huff, and settled in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon
Co., N. J., where he pursued the different branches
of his trade, together with farming, until the weight
of years warned him that it was time to lay aside the
active duties of a busy life. He died March 28, 1848.
His widow survived him, and died Oct. 14, 1860, aged
eighty-eight years, four months, and one day.
Benjamin Egbert was truly a representative man.
Embracing Democratic principles, he advocated them
to the best of his abilities, and held various offices
and positions of trust. In religious faith he was an
Episcopalian.
IN I ()N.
r.i'l
William Egbert, the Bubjecl of this brief aotice,
was born in the township of Bethlehem I now I
county of Hunterdon, \. .1.. May 5, 1802. Be re-
ceived a good common-school education, in addition
to which In' had the benefit of one term at writing-
school. Being studious, fond of reading, and of rather
a literary turn, he added much to hi- original stock
of learning. He has held various positions of trust,
both military and civil. At the age of eighteen he
was appointed paymaster "f the First Battalion,
Second Regiment of the Hunterdon Brigade. In 1836
he was appointed major in the same battalion. He
Was appointed justice of the peace, and erved fivi
different terms, thus holding the ollice twenty-live
years. He was ;i judge in the < 'ourt of ( 'oininon Pleas