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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01854 0853
GC 974.702 C16ST
1807-1907
Historical sketch of the
First Presbyterian Church Canton, Rew Dork
ano Soutenir
of the
Centennial
Celebration
April 21.28
1907
NY
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoffirstpr00stub
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HISTORY
OF THE
First Presbyterian Church CANTON, NEW YORK
COMPILED BY REV. W. H. STUBBLEBINE, Ph.D. 1907
80
SESSION
DEAN D. DELANCE WM. H. TALLMAN H. S. WHITMARSH
Jos. F. BROWN E. D. NORTH WM. E. DUNN
ORGANIZATION --- 1907
SESSION
WILLIAM E. DUNN
W. H. TALLMAN
JOSEPH F. BROWN
DEAN D. DELANCE
H. S. WHITMARSH
E. D. NORTH
TRUSTEES
S. D. KIMBALL, Pres.
GEORGE W. JACK
JAMES MCELROY
A. Z. SQUIRES, Sec.
JOSEPH F. BROWN
JOHN ALEXANDER
DEACONS
HIRAM SANDERSON
DAVID G. GRISWOLD WILLIARD SANDERSON
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
H. S. WHITMARSH
TREASURER
GEORGE W. DUNN
:
REV. W. H. STUBBLEBINE, PH. D.
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
PREFATORY
To perpetuate in permanent form the history of a church extending over a period of one hundred years is a task of no small proportions. At the very outset we are confronted with the absence of any record of the first twenty years of the church's history. The earliest records extant begin with 1826 and for years the only matter seeming to call for action by the society was the annual election of trustees. That there were other transactions of vital interest to the society is true but they have not been committed to writing.
We are fortunate in having discovered a document which came into the hands of M. D. Packard with refer- ence to the building of the first church. This is very interesting and as there is no record of it upon the books we publish it in full in this volume.
In 1876 Rev. James Gardner preached an historical ser- mon which contained considerable important data which we have used in preparing this sketch.
Some of the good women of the congregation have acquired the clipping habit and to them we are indebted for much valuable information. While we have availed ourselves of much information current among us today, we have at the same time compared it with records which give reasonable accuracy to it. We lament that some periods of the church's history are not as full as they might be, but as data is not available we preferred to leave the gap rather than to fill it with doubtful material. Our first aim has been accuracy.
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
That discrepancies in dates and minor details may appear is inevitable but there will not be enough differ- ence to impair the authenticity of the sketch. If any such errors are found kindly advise the author and suit- able record of the same will be made.
We are sure that the pictorial features of the history will be appreciated. We are fortunate in having the photos of all the pastors but one, that of Rev. Johnson. We also include the pictures of many noble men who filled the important offices in the church and whose memory still lives among us.
We beg to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mrs. G. B. Manley, Potsdam, N. Y .; Mrs. Francis Whitmyer, Sche- nectady; Mrs. Jane R. Judd, Chicago; Miss Cahoon, Mrs. Susan Lasell, Miss C. Conkey, Miss Martha Noble, Robert Sackrider, Worth Chamberlain, H. S. Whitmarsh, Miss H. Sanderson and others for their liberal financial support which has assured the success of this undertaking. Special appreciation is recorded of the unusual courtesy of Messrs. Copeland and Kip, photographers, in furnishing without cost many photos of the officers of the several societies of the church. Mr. A. J. Runions also kindly furnished several photos.
To the author, the compilation of this history has been a labor of love. His personal knowledge of scenes and incidents in the history of the church is confined to the last few years, but as he has read through the several vol- umes of ancient records and listened to the recital of in- teresting episodes, he has, in his own mind, lived through them himself and shared the glow of enthusiasm which thrilled the heart of the reciter.
If this book will tend to increase our love for our church and quicken our zeal for her future prosperity he will feel at least that it has not been "Love's labor lost."
OLD STONE CHURCH
7
First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
INTRODUCTION
Reverence for sacred places is as old as the religious instinct in man. The devout heart loves to cherish the associations which cluster about the places hallowed by some divine manifestation or where the soul, in an extacy of joy, has had intercourse with God.
All that remains to tell the story of ancient peoples is the ruins of some temple or altar of sacrifice. Even among pagan nations, that which was associated with their religious rites and ceremonies has been best preserved. "While their thrones, their capitols, their laws, their pageantry of state, have, to a certain extent vanished, so that their places are scarcely known, their temples, their altars, their gods, their religious doctrines, services and songs have been fully preserved and transmitted amid ruinous changes which time has wrought, through many hoary centuries."
What is true of pagan nations is pre-eminently true of the Jewish, where the religious idea was developed to the highest degree. While the religious instinct is inherent in all peoples, and men, even in darkness, grope after God, if happily they may find Him, the Jews have always had first hand knowledge of God. To them God revealed him- self as he did not to any other people. They were the chosen, the peculiar treasure of God. Through them was to be transmitted the system of divine truth. In visions and dreams, did God reveal himself unto patriarch, priest and prophet. At many places did God reveal himself in power to vindicate the cause of his people and at such
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
places the people builded their altars and around them, in time, grew up cities. With an ardor and holy enthusiasm never excelled by any other nation did the Jew sacrifice of time and labor and treasure to build and adorn the place where God's honor was to dwell, where they ex- pected to get a vision of his glory. The Jew might be taken captive and carried away to strange lands, to dwell among an idolatrous people, but his longing heart yearned for the Holy City and the temple of his fathers. When the rising sun shed his glory o'er all the earth, to the east would turn the eyes of the Jew and his prayer was for the peace of Jerusalem. When the setting sun would gild the earth with a halo of glory again would his thoughts traverse plain and desert, overleap ocean and mountain and he imagine himself standing amid places and scenes hallowed by religious associations. "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." When the time came for them to take down their harps from the willows and tune them to hallelujahs it was a time of never to be forgotten joy.
Do we not, at this time especially, find a similar senti- ment in our hearts for God's temple? This beautiful house reared by our sires and transmitted to us ought to be a priceless heritage. The materialistic tendencies of today have baleful effect upon our attitude toward religious things. Anything which smacks of sentiment is decried. Men school themselves to hardness and laugh at the sight of the flowing tear. The sterner virtues are cultivated, and the marts of trade and the field of battle appeal strongly to the male mind. That sentiment which draws to the church and enlists in her service is delegated to devout women and children. Thank God our fathers ap-
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
preciated their faith and did all in their power to transmit to their posterity their zeal and love for God's house. Can we, dare we forget the past; dare we neglect the church of our fathers and slight the privileges she invites to; shall we give no thought to the places where rest the ashes of those who have stood as beacons amid the world's sin and through whose labors of love and sacri- fice, we have come into such a heritage. Bastards, and not sons and daughters would we be if there be not found burning upon the altars of our heart an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, that the lines have fallen unto us in such goodly places.
The things of the present seem more important than the things of the past. We live today and plan for tomor- row. But it is because the past was what it was that the present is what it is and the future will be what we make it. What a flood of memory sweeps the soul of many of God's people who have worshipped in this temple for so many years. For their sakes, who are steadily marching on to take their places in the Church Triumphant; for the sake of the memory of those who have wrought so well and who now have ceased from their labors and entered into their rest; for the sake of those who live that we may incite to deeper love for and interest in the church of Christ; for sakes of those who will come after us that they may know us by our love and zeal for the cause of Jesus, do we celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the church and committ to permanent form the history of the church.
Why should we not venerate the church and prize her history. Some of the most precious incidents of our lives are associated with it. It was before her altars that we stood as man and woman plighting our troth and the minister pronounced the banns that made us husband and
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
wife. In due time we returned to the same altar and laid upon it the child God had given us. Again, when "the appointed time" came and some loved one was called hence, it was from the same source that we drew comfort and blessing and strength. So whether in hours of joy or moments of anguish, we have found no place so blessed and comforting as this building, a refuge, a covert for the soul.
"Lest we forget" and our children and children's chil- dree forget and forsake the beaten paths which lead to the Hill of Zion we call for a renewal of consecration and greater activity in the work of the Lord as we enter upon the second century of our history.
May the light which shines forth from this temple exert a sanctifying influence to heal and to bless; that the Gos- pel she declares be that of the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ, the divine Saviour through whom and through whom alone the world shall be redeemed from sin and brought into loving fellowship with the Father.
I love Thy Kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.
For her my tears shall fall;
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
SILAS WRIGHT, JR.
JOSEPH BARNES
HEMAN P. MATTHEWS
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First Fresbyterian Church, Canton, New York
THE CHURCH HISTORY
The history of the First Presbyterian Church of Canton is co- existent with the history of the town. Not infrequently the mis- sionary of the cross has blazed the way for the onward march of progress and civilization. A century ago this whole northern sec- tion of the state was a vast wilderness whose solitudes were broken only by the screech of the catamount or the whoop of the red man. The bear roamed unmolested and the deer stalked by the rude cabins of the settlers. These were days that tried men's souls and showed the stuff of which they were made. No weakling would have dared essay to settle in such a primeval forest. Nature must be subdued and the fierce denizens of the forest must be cowed or driven forth to other haunts. The pioneers who came in those days possessed rugged bodies and an indomitable spirit and gave battle royal to the innumerable obstacles which menaced their onward march. These men had come with a purpose, "to dress and to keep" the land and in some distant time to make it a Garden of the Lord.
The first actual settlement that was made here was in 1800 by one Daniel Harrington. His residence, however, was very brief. The first permanent settler was Stillman Foote, who became one of the charter members of the church.
These men and women, though occupied with the sterner duties of life were not unmindful of the needs of the soul. Presbyterian- ism had penetrated this section as early as 1802 or 1804, when the Rev. A. Proudfoot, a Scotch Presbyterian minister preached in Lis- bon Centre. About the same time a Presbyterian Church was or- ganized in Ogdensburg. A year later it is reported that a Presby- terian minister preached in Russell.
It was left, however, to the Congregationalists to begin religious services in the village of Canton. On March 6, 1907, the Rev. Amos Pettingill, of the New Hampshire Missionary Society, and Rev. Ebenezer Hibbard, of the Missionary Society of Vermont, organ- ized a Congregational Church. There were seven charter mem- bers, George Foot, John Richardson, Mrs. Wealtha Foot, Mrs.
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
Betsy Donegly, Mrs. Milicent Conkey, Mrs. Jane Ross and Mrs. Phila Richardson. The little congregation had no House of Wor- ship and it is presumed that they held services at the homes of the several members.
For a number of years the population of the village was stationary and hence there were no additions to the membership of the church. There was no regular pastor, but the people enjoyed the ministra- tions of any of God's servants who might come this way.
In 1806 the school house, which stood on Hodskin Street, afforded a shelter for the congregation where they continued to meet until a church had been built.
In 1821 the congregation decided to become Presbyterian. This was accordingly done and a charter was granted by the state. The following persons are named as the incorporators: Elias Page, Silas Wright, Jr., Joseph Barnes, Henry Foot, William Richardson and Edwin Ray.
In 1823 the Rev. H. S. Johnson, who had been ministering to a Congregational Church, was called to the pastorate of the church. He was installed on March 5, 1823. The church was then numer- cially weak, having less than thirty members. During the entire pastorate of Rev. Johnson the growth in membership was very slow. Life, then, was neither so strenuous or complex as it is in this, our day, and in consequence people had time for the consider- ation of the things that make for character. Men did not esteem lightly the vows and obligations of the Christian life. Joining the church was something more than a mere form. There were duties imposed and the member was expected to adorn the Christian life with all the graces and virtues of Him who became their example. Absence from the services of the church was not tolerated and dis- cipline was often resorted to in order to keep the church from criti- cism by the unbelieving world.
Even in these early days the demon of strong drink had pen- etrated to this distant place. And "Satan came also." The pas- tor of the church then set an example which has been followed by all his successors in battling for temperance. Men then showed their colors and the roll of members of the first temperance society seems to have embraced the whole population.
In time the school house became inadequate for the needs of the congregation and serious consideration was given to the building of a suitable house of worship. This was a task of stupenduous proportions. The congregation was weak numerically and finan-
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
cially. In 1826 the society met to discuss the question and take such action as might be deemed best. It was decided to build and the following articles of agreement were drawn up:
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT CONCERNING BUILDING OF FIRST CHURCH.
Articles of agreement entered into by the subscribers to build a house for religious worship and also to regulate the use of said house after it is built.
ARTICLE 1.
We the subscribers agree to build a house for religious worship in the town of Canton on the plot of ground known by the name of the public square and lying in the village of Canton, and the said house shall be built and regulated according to the following articles of agreement entered into by us this twenty-sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.
ARTICLE 2.
This house shall be known by the name of the First Presbyterian Church in the town of Canton.
ARTICLE 3.
This house shall be owned by the First Presbyterian Church and congregation in the town of Canton and it shall be used by them.
ARTICLE 4.
This house shall be built of stone, if practicable, it shall be not less than forty feet by fifty feet on the ground and not larger than forty-eight feet by sixty-four feet on the ground. It shall be two stories high; it shall be ornamented with a suitable steeple and it shall in every way be built and finished in a good and workman- like manner.
ARTICLE 5.
When one thousand dollars shall be subscribed toward building the house public notice shall be given to the subscribers to meet on a specified day and hour, then according to said notice the sub- scribers shall meet and appoint one man who shall superintend the building of said house and on being appointed he shall immediately go forward in procuring materials this winter and he shall com- mence to build as early as practicable after the opening of the en-
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
suing spring and at the said meeting of the subscribers there shall be appointed a committee of two who shall audit the accounts of the superintendent and from time to time make reports to the subscrib- ers of the progress of the building and also of the state of the funds for the building.
ARTICLE 6.
Should the office of superintendent or the office of either one or both of the committeemen be at any time vacated then public notice shall be given to the subscribers of such vacation and the subscribers shall be notified to meet in the same manner as they were notified for their first meeting and they shall accordingly meet and supply the vacancy which may have taken place.
ARTICLE 7.
Public notice given at the close of public worship on the Sabbath in the First Presbyterian Church shall be sufficient to assemble the subscribers to this said building, provided always that the sub- ers shall not be notified to meet unless six men who are subscribers to the building of this house shall present to the minister or in case of his absence to one of the elders of the church a written request to notify a meeting of the subscribers but such written request shall not be necessary in order to have notice given for the first meeting of the subscribers.
ARTICLE 8.
When this house shall be finished or at such previous time as may be thought suitable by the committee they shall appraise the pews of this house so as to mark them at the cost of building said house and after this appraisal the pews shall be sold to the highest bidder but no pew shall be struck off without the bidder shall be responsible for what may be due on his bid nor shall any pew be sold at a lower price than it has been appraised by the said com- mittee. When the pews are sold whatever has then been paid by any subscriber shall be considered as already paid by him towards what he bids.
ARTICLE 9.
Any person owning a pew or any share in a pew in this house shall have a right to sell it and a writing from the owner to that effect shall entitle the purchaser to all the privileges of the original owner.
O.
FORMER PASTORS
JOHN WAUGH ROLLA G. BUGBEE
ROSWELL PETTIBONE AVERY S. WALKER, D.D
FRANK W. TOWNSEND
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
ARTICLE 10.
Those who subscribe and pay on the subscription written on the 16th and 17th pages of this book shall be entitled in proportion to the amount they pay to the same privileges in the house to be erected with those who subscribe to the articles of agreement con- tained in the first pages of this book.
ARTICLE 11.
There shall be two columns in the subscription, the sums in the first or left hand column shall be paid in grain the first of March next for the purpose of procuring materials so far as at least to be- gin the said building and the sums in the second or right hand column shall be paid one half in cattle the first of October next to be delivered on the public square where this house is to be erected and the other half in grain to be delivered at such place in the vil- lage of Canton as the superintendent shall direct in the month of February next following the above named October.
ARTICLE 12.
We the following subscribers do agree to pay to the man who shall be appointed the superintendent of this building the sums set opposite to each of our names agreeably to the tenor of the fore- going articles.
We whose names are hereunto subjoined are subscribers to the foregoing articles and the figures in each column stand for as many dollars as they express numbers.
Sartwell Prentice
$ 50.00
$100.00
Elijah Baker
50.00
100.00
Silas Wright, Jr.
10.00
30.00
Thos. Baldwin, Jr
5.00
10.00
Stillman Foote
300.00
Elias Page
30.00
70.00
Owen Strong
5.00
5.00
Wm. Noble.
50.00
Isaac K. Drury
15.00
John L. Barnes
10.00
30.00
Mason Foote
5.00
10.00
N. S. Prentice
25.00
25.00
Medad Moody
50.00
Orlena Storley
6.00
6.00
Cooper Brooks.
6,00
6.00
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
Ransom Tuttle
$ 3.00
$ 3.00
Wm. F. Cahoon
15.00
Wm. Richardson
10.00
40.00
Moses Sanderson
20.00
Dan Judd.
10.00
Joseph Stephen
2.00
3.00
Augustus Clark
20.00
30.00
Charles F. Eldridge
5.00
5.00
Joseph Barnes
20.00
50.00
Benjamin Walker
50.00
Moses Whitcomb.
25.00
At a meeting of the subscribers of the First Presbyterian Church of the town of Canton the following resolution was adopted as an additional article to the constitution for the building of said church.
Every person paying twelve dollars and fifty cents shall be en- titled to one vote and for every additional twenty-five dollars one vote, on all questions concerning said house in Canton.
Mr. Joseph Barnes was elected Superintendent and was succeeded by Mr. Stillman Foote in 1832.
How primitive this seems. How like those of ancient times who brought the products of field and barn to supply the necessary means to build the House of the Lord. Money was not the flush article it is today. Business was transacted by barter and trade. But these people were in earnest. They felt that they had spent sufficient time in wanderings, like the Israelites of old, and wanted a permanent place wherein God's honor might dwell.
Overtures were made by the Universalist Society to the Presby- terians to build a union church, but with wise judgment this was declined. This child of Presbyterianism must stand alone.
The first duty was the securing of a suitable plot of ground upon which to build the church. Mr. Joseph Barnes and Silas Wright, jr., who were tenants in common on that plot of ground now included in the public park and the church property, with the exception of that section on the corner of the Park extending from a point near the Universalist Church to a point near the public library which was donated by Messrs. Nathaniel S., Ezra P., and John H. Prentice, for park purposes, was given to the trustees of the church, a certain specified portion to be used for church pur- poses and the remainder to be held in trust as a Public Commons. There were about two and one-half acres in the entire plot, the deeds for which was conveyed to the trustees of the church on
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First Presbyterian Church, Canton, New York
October 29, 1827, and November 12, 1827. (These facts have been gathered from maps and deeds recorded in the Clerk's Office and may be accepted as authentic). This plot of ground at that time was little more than a swampy marsh, covered with stumps of trees and undergrowth. All this has since been transformed and today the church property faces a beautiful park in the centre of which is a large fountain. The W. C. T. U. has placed a drinking fountain at one corner and the H. T. Martyn Post, G. A. R. has erected a fine granite statute to the memory of their departed comrades. For a number of years this whole property was in the care of the Trustees of the church, but as the park was altogether a public institution it was finally turned over to the village officers for man- agement. About the same time that the building site was given to the church, a Mr. Van Rensselear conveyed to the trustees of the church the village burial ground, commonly known today as the Silas Wright, Jr. Cemetery.
The work of building the church proceeded slowly. At times work ceased entirely but after persistent effort the church was finally completed in 1830. Some time during the year 1831 the church was dedicated. It is a matter of great regret that there are no records about the dedication of this old church. It must have been a time of great rejoicings as the people witnessed the com- pletion of their task. The corner stone of this first church is still in existence. Upon it is enscribed the following: First Presby- terian church, planned and superintended by Rev. H. S. Johnson, pastor, A.D. 1828. Commenced in the name and for the worship of God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.
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