HISTORY OF SOUTH HARRISON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Information located at http://nj.searchroots.com/Gloucesterco/ On a web site about Gloucester County, New Jersey, maintained by Janice Brown; text transcribed by Janice Brown from the source noted below. From: "History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Citizens," by Thomas Cushing, M.D., and Charles E. Sheppard, Esq.; Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1883; Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co. Page 280-282 CHAPTER XLVII TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH HARRISON This is one of the southwest border towns in the county, and the youngest of the thirteen, having been organized in March, 1883. GEOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL-The township is bounded on the east by Clayton township, on the south by Salem County, on the west by Woolwich, and on the north by Harrison township, from which this township was organized. The surface of the township is gently undulating, sufficiently so for proper drainage, while the soil produces crops equal to that of any other locality in this or adjoining counties. The township is watered by the head-waters of the south branch of the Raccoon Creek, which forms a part of the north boundary line, and affluents of Oldman's Creek which forms the south boundary line of the township. For early settlers, SEE HARRISON TOWNSHIP. The following is a complete list of the first township officers and appropriations ordered: Town Clerk, Alfred W. Madara; Assessor, Thomas Borton; Collector, Jno. Wriggins; Chosen Freeholders, Charles String, Stacy W. Hazleton; Township Committee: Asa Engle, George Horner, Samuel Moore; Surveyors of Highways, Alfred French, Nathan Wilkinson; Overseers of Roads, Samuel S. Madara, Charles Stearns, Robert Crawford; Commissioners of Appeals, Wm. S. Mattmots, Chas. Steward, Joseph Horner; Judge of Election, Amos T. Eastlack; Inspectors of Elections, Peter K. Eldridge, Henry Moncrief; Justice of the Peace, John W. Bates; Constable (for three years) Samuel R. Devault; Overseer of Poor, Samuel R. Devault; Pound-Keepers, Jos. C. Horner, Patrick Connelly, Jobs B. Porch. Appropriations for roads, $900; for poor, $100, for incidentals, $300. HARRISONVILLE-This village is located on the southwest border of the township, about four miles from Mullica Hill, and named in honor of General William H. Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe. The place was formerly called Coletown, and in 1844 assumed the present name, by which it is known at the post-office department. In 1835 there were only nine dwellings within the present limits of the village. These were the houses of Martha Cole, Samuel Cole, John Howey, William Mounce, Thomas Cole, Susan Pimm, John Fogg, Nathan Gaunt, and Israel Kirby. Andrew Knisel, John Davis, John Howey, Isaac Ridway, Joseph Cheadle, and George Horner were other old settlers here. The grist- and saw-mills were built in 1810 by Thomas Cole, and now owned by Parker D. Lippincott. The pioneer store of the town was kept by John Fogg, and the second store, at what is now Harrisonville, was opened for business in 1848 by James Saunders, in the building now occupied by Halderman & Hazelton. Isaac Lock also had a store on the corner now occupied by Riggin. Lock commenced here in 1855. Several other parties have kept store here, and at different times. The store of Lydia Lippincott, now Lydia Haines, was converted into a dwelling, and is now occupied by Dr. Stanger. The pioneer wheelwright of Harrisonville was Nathan Gaunt, who was succeeded by Asa Cole. The business is now carried on at the same place by William Ladow, who is also engaged in the general blacksmithing business. The pioneer blacksmith at this place was the late Samuel Pimm, who has been succeeded at the old place by William and Samuel Pimm. The pioneer harness-maker in this town was Amos M. Jones; and the present one is Andrew Knisel. - Mounce was the early shoemaker; but since 1850 or 1851 Lewis Amy has attended to the pedal appendages of his neighbors. The first resident physician at this place was Dr. Miller, now of Paulsboro. Samuel Stanger is the present physician. The old Cole property in the village is now owned by William Matson, who came here in 1846, and for several years was engaged as a dealer in live-stock and in the butchering business, and now engaged in farming. There are at present in Harrisonville two general stores, Halderman & Hazelton and Riggins Brothers; three wheelwright- and blacksmith-shops, William Ladow, Amos Eastlack, and the Pimm brothers; Methodist Episcopal Church, and school-house. FAIRVIEW is a small hamlet in the south part of the township, where there is a Methodist Episcopal Church, school-house, cemetery, and half a dozen dwellings. The land-owners at this place are James Lafferty, Jacob Armstrong, Joseph Abbott, Aaron Simpkins, William McGown, William Lafferty, Charles Shugard, Joel Chord, John Osrus, Mary Bates, Wade Mulford, --- Nelson, and one or two others. The new school-house at this place was built in 1873 or 1874, and John V. Becket was the first teacher in this school building, and taught here for four or five years. James Lafferty had a store here from 1876 to 1880. LINCOLN-This is a small hamlet in the southeast part of the township, formerly known as Stringtown. Here a grist- and saw-mill and a few houses. Just when or by whom the mills were built is a mystery, yet in 1828 the grist-mill property was purchased by James Jessup, father of the now venerable Joseph Jessup, of this township. In 1833, Joseph Jessup purchased the saw-mill property and rebuilt the mill, which he still owns. Having subsequently come in possession of the grist-mill, he sold it, in 1853 or 1854, to Paul Avis, the present owner. Mr. Avis has improved the mill by the addition of more runs of stone (four French burrs) and increased its capacity for business to five hundred bushels of grain per day, until it is now a first class mill, manufacturing the highest grades of flours. In the pioneer days of Stringtown there was considerable business done at this place, and at present there is only the grist-mill, saw-mill and a blacksmith-shop, with Bartley Stiles as blacksmith. SAINT JOHN'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-This society is located in Harrisonville, and is an outgrowth of the old Bethel Church, near Hurfville, and was organized into a separate society in 1848, with Samuel Cole as the pioneer leader. Mr. Cole at this time lived where William S. Matron now lives, in the village of Harrisonville. He was one of those old-fashioned Methodists, ever ready to sacrifice time and money for the good of a cause. He did not keep a tavern by any means, but kept what in some sections was known as a "Methodist tavern," where Methodist preachers were always welcome, and not only preachers, but all who wore the old-fashioned imprint of Methodism,-- a straight coat with rolling collar, and broad-brim hat. Abraham Gearhart was the preacher in charge at the organization of this society and Edmund Layton was another leader. Soon after the class or classes were formed the building of a house of worship seemed to be the next thing necessary to be done, and in 1848 the present church edifice, located in the village of Harrisonville, was built, at a cost of two thousand four hundred dollars. Rev. John K. Shaw, then presiding elder on this district, preached the dedicatory sermon. The building committee were Israel Kirby, John Davis, and Samuel H. Weatherby, who were also elected first trustees. In 1875 the present parsonage was built. This is a modern frame building, standing on the lot adjoining the church. Among the preachers who have served this people since the days of Gearhart we are enabled-through the kindness of Mrs. William Matson, to whom we are indebted for all of these items-to present the following list: Revs. James Long, Caleb Fleming, James Bryan, Joseph Ashbrook, John T. Fort, David Duffield, Isaac Hugg, Samuel Parker, William Stockton, Joseph Somerell, Edwin Waters, John Warthman, Matthias Shimp, Daniel Harris, and William Abbott, the present preacher in charge. Two present stewards (1882) are Samuel Pimm, Michael Swagart, Thomas Turner, William Pimm, Lippincott Cassady, Christopher Harbison; Trustees, William Matson, Amos Eastlack, Joseph Dare, Clarkson Lippincott; Sunday-school Superintendent, Samuel Pimm, with nineteen teachers and an average attendance of eighty-five scholars. Value of church property, five thousand dollars. Membership in 1882 was one hundred and eighty-two. FAIRVIEW METHODIST EPISOCOPAL CHURCH-This church is located in the hamlet of Fairview, southeast part of the township. Previous to 1840 or 1842 the meetings were held in private houses, barns, or grove, upon the Old Fairview camp-ground. During one of those years, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Edwards, the present church building was erected, for the double purpose of church and school, and was jointly occupied till 1873, when the new schoolhouse was built, since which time the Methodists have continued to worship in the old building. As near as can be ascertained, the pioneer class-leader at this point was Samuel Bates, with the following-named persons forming the larger portion of his class: Maschal Bates and wife, Thomas Lacy and wife, Sarah Moore, Hannah Lafferty, Stacy Cassady and wife, John Heaton and wife, Wade B. Mulford and wife, Joseph Nelson and wife, James Nelson and wife, Jacob Schatt and wife, Hannah Becket, and Charlotte Molica. The first trustees of the church property were Wade B. Mulford, John Heaton, and Maschal Bates. The following are among the preachers who have served this church and congregation, and is probably nearly a correct list: Revs. Noah Edwards, the first preacher in charge, Joseph Atwood, --- Gearhart, Samuel Hugg, --- McDougal, Joseph Ashbrook, Joseph Pierson, William Stockton, Matthias Shimp, Levi Herr, ---- Waters, Jno. Warthman, D.B. Harris, and William Abbott, the present preacher of this circuit. The trustees of the church for 1882 were Jacob Armstrong, Abram Morgan, John C. Nelson, Edward P. Roske, and James Nelson. The present steward is James Nelson; local preacher, Rev. John V. Becket; membership, forty; value of church property, five hundred dollars. The Sunday-school connected with this church is under the supervision of John C. Nelson, with an average attendance of forth pupils. (end)