him to the act, and he went. How little he expected
that it was to be for life, and that he would stand in
that pulpit forty-seven years. Yei bo I tod willed, and
it was so.

In 1854, Dr. Messier traveled extensively in Eng-
land, Scotland, France, ( o-rmany, Switzerland, and
Italy. On his return he wrote and published in the
i '///■/ \IIiiii Tut, //Ii/riir, , a scrii - nf artich - on " 1 1 "II mil,
Belgium, and the Rhine, and the Isle of Wight," ex-
tending to 51! numbers. He had previously publishes
a series on the " Christian Ministry," in oil numbers ;

"The t'out'essi f Faith," ti numbers; "Reformers

before the Reformation," 85 numbers. During five
yean he wrote more than :i00 leading articles in the
Christian [iilr//ii/rnrrr\ also occasional ser ns, me-
morial sermons, and historical notes, "Centennial

History of Somerset County." memorials of Governor
Vroom, with numerous other occasional publications.

On Sept, ii. L876, he and his wife celebrated their

"golden wedding."' All their children ami grand-
children except two were present at dinner, and in
the evening a crowd of their friends in the congrega-
tion came to greet them and unite in the joy of the
occasion. The presents were numerous and valuable.
In 1ST'.', having entered the eightieth year of his
age, and the lift-. i\th I In unci trv he retired 6 mi

active service, and is now living in his ,,\ W1 house in



Somerville. His only living son, T. D. Messier, of
Pittsburgh, Pa., is comptroller and third vice-president

of the Pennsylvania Railroad I lompany, and also holds
the office of president of several of the western roads
controlled and operated by this company.

In a green old age, he is yet comfortable, and able
to give an occasional service with vigor and feeling.

SECOND REFORMED OBTJRCH OF KAIUTAX.*

The Second Reformed Church at Karitan was organ-
ized March 6, 1884. II hief cause of this movement

was the fact that the old edifice in which the First
Reformed < 'hurch at Raritan then worshiped was tOO
small to hold all who crowded there. The original
members were twenty-four persons dismissed from the
First Reformed Church. The first Consistory were
l'eter /.. F.luieinlorf, James Taylor, Brogun I. lirokaw,
and Thomas Talmage, Elders; John A. Staats, Peter
Hodge, Thomas A. Hartwell. and James Bergen,
Deacons. Brogun I. Brokaw was elected president.
Gen. John Frelinghuysen may be regarded as the
originator of this project, for lie proposed and advo-
cated it while in health, and left by will (200 to
further it.

At the end of the first year the Consistory r. ; ■

to the Classis o7 families and 60 members in lull i-

munion. Immediate steps were taken towards tin-
erection of a house of worship, and the corner-stone
was [aid July 80, L884, with appropriate ceremonies,
by Rev. Messrs. Sears, Messier, and Morris. A box
was deposited therein, containing a parchment which
recorded, among other items, that

"On the first Sabbath of June, 1834, the T.vrd's Supper was adminis-
tarad For the ii»t time la the Ghana bj Rot. PhlUp Mill- I
president of Rutgors College, ami that tho service \v;ls held In the court-
house. The building committee of thlfl oharch are Isaac Southard, Peter
Z. Elmondorf, John I. Gaston, Ellas Vance, uid Jamas Taylor; tho
mastcr-cnrponteis, James I'. Goltraand William Klpp; and thi
mason, Cornelius A. I

The congregation was incorporated, under the laws
Of New Jersey. March 28, 1884, with it- present style
and title. The building was dedicated Fdi. I >, | <::,,
in the presence of a large congregation. On the 4th
of March succeeding the dedication seventy-five of the
one hundred pews were sold for $4800,— about the

original cost of this building. A special and -uh-e-

quent subscription provided the mean- for a {•.•\ice

around the church lot.

Lfter having twice been unsuccessful, a third effort

was made to procure a pa-tor. and May 2, L886, Rev,

Charles Whitehead, of Hopewell. \. y., was called.
He accepted, and settled as the first pastor on the last
Sundaj of May, L885. Hewas installed by the t
of New Brunswick, Sept. 2, 1885. Il>- remained in

charge nearly four year-, when a seven- and prol I

attack of bronchitis 1,-d toa dissolution of the pastoral
relation. March 27, 1889, by mutual consent R •.



" From an historical sermon delivered on tho fortieth anniversary,
Siind.iy. Much 8, 1874, bj ' ' . pastor, with ad-

■ i 1".,.



672



SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.



Talbot TV. Chambers was called Sept. 4, 1839. He
commenced bis labors in October following, and was
ordained and installed in January, 1840. In 1848 this
congregation and its pastor experienced a sore trial
in the organization of the Third Reformed Church at
Raritan, which took away, at one time, 30 families and
33 members. Dr. Chambers accepted the call of the
Collegiate Church, and removed, Nov. 3, 1849, to New
York. The next pastor was Rev. Elijah R. Craven,
who was called Jan. 9, 1850, and entered on his duties
March following. The present commodious and pleas-
ant parsonage was first occupied by the new pastor.
Dr. Craven accepted the call of the Third Presby-
terian Church of Newark, and resigned his office
Oct. 21, 1854.

The Rev. John F. Mesick, a graduate of the insti-
tutions at New Brunswick, but settled over the Ger-
man Reformed Church of Harrisburg, Pa., was elected
pastor Jan. 22, 1855.

The enlargement of the edifice was completed Dec.
2, 1863. The far-seeing founders of this church had
included that improvement in their plans, for the
staunch frame was capable of this addition.

The records are incomplete in reference to the first
three pastorates, but we find in the book containing
the record of contributions to religious and benevo-
lent purposes the following summary : During Dr.
Whitehead's ministry, $482.81 ; Dr. Chambers' min-
istry, $1505.99; Dr. Craven's ministry, $37.80; Dr.
Mesick's ministry, $30,973.40.

Before Dr. Whitehead came there were 60 members
in full communion. Under his ministry there were
received on confession, 57 ; by certificate from other
churches, 69. He left it with 93 families and 107
communicants. Under Dr. Chambers' ministry were
added on confession, 164; by certificate, 126. At his
resignation there were 100 families and 252 communi-
cant members. During Dr. Craven's pastorate there
were brought in on confession, 61 ; by certificate, 88,
and at his removal there were 112 families and 275
communicants. Within the existing pastorate (25
years) there have been received on confession, 423 ;
by certificate, 465 ; total, 888.

The following ministers of the gospel have been
called from the ranks of the members of this church :
Rev. Elbert S. Porter, D.D., Rev. John Beekman,
Rev. Peter Q. Wilson, Rev. Andrew J. Hageman,
Rev. Goyn Talmage, D.D., Rev. J. H. Frazee, Rev.
Frederick Wilson, Rev. William H. Vroom. The
Sunday-school has at present 300 pupils, with a li-
brary of about 800 volumes. The officers are Sering
P. Dunham, Superintendent; P. N. Mitchell, Assist-
ant Superintendent; Cornelius V. D. Smith, Secre-
tary and Treasurer; James Gaston, Librarian.

TH1B FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH*

It is difficult to ascertain just who first conceived
the idea of establishing a Baptist Church at this



' By IJenry P. Muaon.



place, where for many years the field had been almost
entirely occupied by the Dutch Reformed, there being
two large influential churches In the town, while
within a radius of seven miles there were six others
of the same denomination. But we find that Pethuel
Mason and Samuel B. Tunison were both actively
engaged in the preliminary arangements, as well as
in sustaining the cause after its organization. Mr.
Mason was baptized by Rev. Spencer H. Cone, and
united with the First Baptist Church of New York
City in October, 1842 ; Mr. Tunison was baptized by
Mr. Barker at Somerville, June 25, 1843, and united
with the Samptown Church.

Then commenced the efforts of these two men for
a Baptist Church at Somerville. During that summer
(1843) they arranged to have preaching in the court-
house every two weeks by Mr. Barker and Rev. S. J.
Drake, of Plainfield, alternately, and several Baptists
were collected together. About September 1, Jesse
B. Saxton came to Somerville and devoted himself to
the work of preaching the gospel. During this same
month Rev. Mr. Leach, pastor of the Baptist Church
at Hamilton, while on a visit to Somerville, baptized
Levi H. Shattuck.

The church was constituted Oct. 31, 1843, with the
following eleven members : Jesse B. Saxton, Pethuel
Mason, Samuel B. Tunison, Jas. G. Coleman, Jr.,
Samuel Pangborn, Levi H. Shattuck, Charity Tuni-
son, Elizabeth S. Coleman, Ann Pangborn, Ursula
Kelley, Mary Opie. The council of recognition was
composed of delegates from the First New Brunswick,
Piscataway, First and Second Plainfield, Baptisttown,
and Wearts Corner Churches. At the organization
P. Mason was chosen deacon, Jas. G. Coleman, Jr.,
church clerk, and S. B. Tunison was soon after elected
treasurer.

Early the next spring a lot on the north side of
Main Street was secured and a house commenced. It
was built of brick, upon a foundation of stone, 40 by
50 feet. There were 50 pews on the main floor with
a seating capacity for 250 persons, and a gallery in
one end capable of seating 50 more. The house (in-
cluding lot, etc.) cost about $4000. Mr. Saxton re-
mained at Somerville about one year.

In October, 1844, Henry C. Fish, a licentiate of the
First Baptist Church at New York, was secured as a
supply, the meeting-house being opened for worship
Jan. 31, 1845. He served the church for six years
and three months. There were 18 members when he
commenced his labors. During his pastorate 102
were received and 34 dismissed, leaving a member-
ship of 86 at the time of his removal. While he was
with them they not only became self-sustaining, but
contributed $811.91 to objects of benevolence. Through
his efforts a handsome tower was erected on the meet-
ing-house, and a bell and a town-clock placed therein.
He resigned Jan. 1, 1851.

The second pastor was George P. Nice, of Phila-
delphia. He commenced his labors April 1, 1851,



BRIDGEWATER.



673



and his ordination took place on May 2!>th follow-
ing.

During this same year the church liquidated the

remaining <lrht, amounting I" ahoul si (oil. Tlie ordi-
nance of baptism was generally administered in the
Raritan River until 1850, when a baptistery was

placed under the pulpit platform. In July, 1850', this
Church granted to Win. A. Smith :i license to preach.

Mr, Smith was converted during the year 1846, and
united with the church March 12,1848. On Sunday
evening, Jan. 18, lsr.7, the ordinance of haptism was
administered in the meeting-house, during which a
terrible storm prevailed. About three o'clock the
next morning nearly one-third of the roof was blown
oil, carried 70 or 80 feet, and lodged in the roof of P.
Mason's residence. Part of the gable-end fell in, and
the baptistery and pews were filled with brick, snow,
and rubbish. Had this occurred during the evening
previous many lives must have been lost.

Rev. J. N. Folwcll, of Honesdale, Pa., accepted a
call to become pastor of the church in June, 1858.
lie continued about one year and six months, when
he resigned.

In April, I860, Rev. B. C. Morse, of Philadelphia,
became pastor, He remained with the church about
five and a half years.* For about fifteen months after
Mr. Morse resigned the church was supplied by Rev.
H. C. Putnam, of Sornerville, Dr. Devan, of New
Brunswick, and others. In the fall of 1866 it with-
drew from the East Xew Jersey liaptM Association,
with which it had been connected since organization,
and united with the Central New Jersey Association.

In 1867, Rev. H. D. Doolittle became pastor. One
of his first efforts was to provide a parsonage; the
result of his efforts was the purchase of a house and
lot on Main Street, of Joshua Doughty, for the sum
of $4000, all but $1460 of which was raised by sub-
scription and paid. ['< thuel Mason, one id' the foun-
ders of the church, died of paralysis, Feb. '■',, 1X72,
after an illness of about one year. Mr. Doolittle re-
signed in October, lS72.f During his pastorate 57
were received. The church then numbered 99 mem-
bers. They had raised $1119.14 for benevolence.

In the spring of 1872 it was resolved to put up a
new building. \ larger lol 1 180 by 800 feet, on High

Street I was purchased, on which the new meeting-
house and parsonage were creeled. The old lot was
sold to Peter Struve for $4200, and the parsonage to
Robert Thornhill for S450O. The last sermon was
preached in the old house on Sunday, Aug. l\ 1*72,

l>\ Mr. Doolittle, and the next day the builders com-
menced taking down the old house, the material of
which was used in the construction of the new one.

The corner-stone was laid Sept. 12, 1872. Meetings
were held in the court-house until the basement of
the new building was finished.



• Dlod in Hulboro', N. .!., A,

t Dio.1 Juno 17, 1S80, nl Cllntou, N.J.



Rev. < I. W. ( 'lark, D.D., the sixth pastor, was called
in May, 1873. In November a handsome silver com-
munion-service was presented by Mrs. William Lee.
The meeting-house was dedicated Dec. 4, 1873. The
building is 40 by 70 feet, with a projection in front
and rear. It is of brick, surmounted with a tower,
in which are the bell and town-clock used in the old
house. The windows are of beautiful stained glass,
and the ceiling and walls handsomely frescoed. The
seating capacity of the audience-room, including the
gallery, is about 500. There is a lecture- and Sunday-
school room in the basement. During the winter of
1873-74 a parsonage was erected on the same lot with
the meeting-house. The cost of the lot and buildings
was about $20,000.

Dr. Clark resigned the pastorate May 1, 1877. He
was licit! in very high esteem by his congregation,
who made him a donation of $8 88 just before he re-
signed. He is now in the employ of the American
Baptist Publication Society, and resides at Sorner-
ville.

In December, 1877, a call was extended to the pres-
ent pastor, Rev. J. B. Mulford, of Sewieklcy, l'a..
who commenced his labors Jan. 1, 1878.

Only four of the constituent members are nan
living, and of these only S. B. Tunison and wife and
Mrs. Mary Opie are members of this church. Since
its organization there have been 570 persons con-
nected with the church. The present membership
is 212.

Up to the present date (September, 1880i this
church has raised and paid out for pastors' salaries,
donation visits, home expenses, and on church prop-
erty the sum of $60,809.84. They have also raised
for benevolence the following: Foreign missions,
$1855.68; home missions, $881.33; Baptist Educa-
tion Society, $801.72; Baptist Publication Society,
si I 1.7-1; ISaptist State Convention. SillUi. 07 ; Bible So-
ciety, $828.89 J other objects, $1141.88; total, $5251.31.

The present officers are Rev. J. B. Mulford, Pastor;

L. M. Codington, Clerk; II. 1'. Mason, Treasurer;
William X. Adair, A. 1'. Cooper, S.piier Frazee, L.
M.Codington, Deacons; W.N.Adair, C.W.Clark,
\-a I!. Dills, S.piier Frazee, II. I'. Mason, Trustees.
For several years during the early hi-tory of the

church two Sunday-schools wen sustained, -one at
Sornerville and one at Raritan, for the benefit of the

members living at that place. They were afterwards
merged into one school and held at Sornerville. This
school has always taken an into r, Si in mi — ion work,
and at different times has sustained Karen mission-
aries and educated native preachers. The number of
pupils enrolled is 90, with on average attendance
of 60.

ST. JOHN'S ,ui BOB.

Services of the Episcopal Church had been occa-
sionally given at Sornerville bythe Rev. Alfred Stubbe,
of New Brunswick, previous to I860, but do clergy-
man bad undertaken to form a parish and to build a



674



SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.



church in the place before the summer of that year.
In July, the Rev. John Rowland, having been recently
ordained by the bishop of the diocese, was sent as a
missionary of the church. The use of the court-house
was granted, and divine services were regularly held
every Sunday. July 31, 1851, the parish was incor-
porated by the name of " the Rector, Wardens, and
Vestrymen of St. John's Church in Somerville," the
minister being John Rowland ; the wardens, Richard
B. Duyckinck and Joshua Doughty ; the vestrymen,
Isaac R. Cornell, William Thomson, Albert Cam-
mann, E. R. Codwise, and Edward Perry.

The corner-stone of the church was laid Sept. 4,
1851, by George Washington Doane, D.D., LL.D.,
bishop of the diocese. The building was completed
in May, 1852, and was consecrated by the bishop of
the diocese on the 28th of the same month. The
edifice was erected by E. B. Goltra, of Somerville,
and cost $3280. The lot on which it stands was given
by Joshua Doughty, who also contributed towards the
expense of the building. Isaac R. Cornell, of Wis-
ton, Richard B. Duyckinck, William Thomson, Al-
bert Cammann, E. S. Doughty, E. R. Codwise, Ber-
tram Howell, and Mrs. Donan also contributed largely.
Com. R. F. Stockton gave $300 as his own gift and $200
for the potters of Princeton. The baptismal font was
presented by the Rev. Dr. Creighton, of Tarrytown,
who forty years previously, when a boy, attended
school at Somerville. The organ is the gift of the
two sisters, Mrs. S. V. Hoffman and Mrs. R. J. Liv-
ingston, of New Brunswick. The communion-plate
was presented through the Rev. Eugene A. Hoffman,
and by one of the Hoffman family. The Oxford folio
Bible and the four octavo Prayer Books were given
by the Rev. Dr. Hoffman, who was greatly instru-
mental in inducing the bishop to send the missionary
to Somerville. The surplices were ordered from Eng-
land, and were presented to the parish by the ladies
of the congregation. In 1854, Prof. McVickar, of
Columbia College, gave 100 volumes to the Sunday-
school.

In October, 1854, the Rev. John Rowland resigned,
and after an absence of thirteen years in Louisiana he
was called to the rectorship of St. John's, Somerville,
in August, 1867, and is now in the thirteenth year of
the second term of his ministry.

It appears from the parish register that the Rev.
Mr. Black became rector in 1854 and remained in
charge for a few years. After him Mr. Thomson
served for several years. Upon his retirement there
was a vacancy for some time, when a Mr. Badger took
charge, under whom the church was much reduced
from a variety of causes. In August, 1867, when the
Rev. Mr. Rowland entered upon Ids second term, the
prospect of the church was rather gloomy. But
shortly afterwards several influential Episcopalian
families moved to Somerville from New York ; these
gave tone and strength to the congregation. Neces-
sarily, the Episcopalians in Somerville are few, be-



cause the population is chiefly composed of the de-
scendants of Hollanders.

The church at present is self-sustaining and flour-
ishing. The congregation numbers some 30 families.
The church will seat 150; the present number of
communicants is about 55.

The church wardens are W. U. Onderdonk and C.
W. Castner ; the vestrymen, Joshua Doughty,- George
H. Potts, Edward Baker, H. M. Gaston, William H.
Hoppock, I. H. Lord, and William J. Morgan.

The Sunday-school is composed partly of children
of church members, and partly of children of Ger-
man parents in the town who have no connection with
church organization. There are some 60 scholars,
with 12 teachers. The rector has supervision of the
school.

THE FOURTH GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH OF RARITAN.

This church was organized by the Classis of Rari-
tan, Aug. 18, 1879, consisting of nineteen members,
by the ordination of a Consistory composed of Elders
Conrad Stein, Conrad Bachr ; Deacons William Koeh-
ler, Herman Gooert. Number of families in 1880, 18 ;
number of members in 1880, 23.

A house of worship was erected at a cost of $1000.
A call was extended and accepted by the Rev. Fred-
erick E. Schleider, who is the present pastor.

THE CHURCHES OF BOUND BROOK.

Presbyterian Church of Somerset and Middlesex Coun-
ties. — Dr. R. K. Rogers, who during his long pastorate
made diligent inquiry respecting the early history of
this church, says, —



5 began to locate on the Raritan as
from Amboy, Woodbridge, and vi-



" English and Scotch Fresby te
early as 16S3, the first ones con
cinity."

The fact of there being many Scotch Presbyterians
in this vicinity indicates the probability that religious
services were held here before 1700 which resulted in
the formation of the Presbyterian Church. There has
been no time as far back as tradition extends when
there was no Presbyterian Church in existence at
Bound Brook. It is generally accepted that the
church was organized in 1725, although Dr. Rogers
says in his historical sermon that it was organized in
1700. The Presbyterian Church at Basking Ridge
was formed in 1732, and Dr. Rogers used to relate
that there was a" tradition that James and Sarah M.
Coy, who died in 1744 and 1747 and were buried in
the old burying-ground, and others who lived in that
neighborhood, were constant worshipers at this church
of Bound Brook, regularly attending Sunday services.

This tradition tends to show that this church is
older than that of Basking Ridge.

At the organization, in 1725, discussion was held in
reference to building a house of worship and its loca-
tion. A building was erected, the site of which is
now included in the present church-grounds. It was
a low one-story building, and also used in late years
as a school-house, and finally torn down. In 1760 a



i:i;iik;i:\vati;i;.



G75



cliurch was erected on (lie present church property,
enlarged in 1787, rebuilt in 1829, and enlarged in
1851. At what time the property now occupied by
the church and burying-ground was purchased is nol

known. A deed now in pn-.-i - i.in of John I). V -

llees, treasurer o I' I lie I .can I ■ .1" I HI -tee-, i In I I'd \1 lll-eli

24, 1790, relates that Oct. 22, 1765, John Webster,
Charles Ford, and Jeremiah Field held an absolute
right in fee-simple to their lots of land, held in trust
for the use of the Presbyterian ( 'ongregalion of limiml

Brook. The first lot, 20| acres, was purchased of
Benjamin Field, June 1. L749; the second, •'!,',, acre3,
of Jeremiah field at the same date ; and the third,
containing one-quarter of an acre, of Maurice Green-
ville, April s, 17UI, mi. I j. lined tin- u n ■■ ■( inu-linn-e
property, indicating that the church was standing at
that time. A charter was obtained in 1 7S 1, and the
above property was conveyed to the trustees in 1790.
March l'4, 179n, Tuni- Ten Eyek sold to the trustees
for '_' loo a lot i-"'-'. by :ii! rods i commencing where the
Middlebrook road joins the Raritan mad, running
down and north of it, for a parsonage lot. Mm L6,
1816, Daniel Bush sold to the trustees (for $1500)
9 ,',,":, acres between Bound Brook and Middlebrook,
the present parsonage lot. Dec. 25, 1821, the prop-
erty (9 ■',"„ a. iv- described a- being near the school
lot ami Peres Boiiney's residence was sold to the
Rev. John Hoggs. It »n~ again purchased by the
trustees Oct. I. 1828, and is still in the possession of
the church. The present lecture-room lot was pur-
chased. .March I I, 1849, of John D. Voorhees, and
the lecture-room soon after built. The church has
owned considerable property, pari of which has been
sold, of which no mention is made.

In the organization of the Presbytery of New
Brunswick, Aug. 8, 1738, the church of Bound Brook,
with others, hail been set oil' from the Presbytery of
New York to form it, and at a meeting held at Phil-
adelphia, May 19, 1745, application was made for a
minister for this church. It was ordered that the
Kev. Joseph Lamb, then pastor at Basking Ridge,
and the Rev. James Met 'na, pastor at I.amington,
in Bedminster, should supply the church four Sab-
baths. The latter filled the pulpit until Dec. 6,1749.

In 1748 a Call was made to Mr. Israel load, a candi-
date under the car.- o f the Presbytery of New York.
lie was received by the Presle, ten of New Brunswick,
Dec. 6, 1749, and March 8, 1750,1788 formally in-
stalled pastor over the church. Thus commenced a pas-
torate of forty-three years' duration. The Presbytery

of New Brunswick, Oct. 30, 1759, received a petition

from the people in and about Millstone asking for his

services one-fourth of the time; this was granted, and