USA > New York > Suffolk County > Hauppauge > A history of Hauppauge, Long Island, N. Y., together with genealogies of the following families: Wheeler, Smith, Bull Smith, Blydenburgh, Wood, Rolph, Hubbs, Price, McCrone > Part 3
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Nathaniel Bunce
1.00
Geo. Wheeler
1.00
Elias Smith
1.00
Samuel Hartt
1.00
Jeremiah Nbae 1.00
Jeffrey A. Newkirk 1.00
Charles Hallock 1.00
Joel Rayner
.50
Geo. Davis
1.00
John Newton
3.00
Thomas Hallock
1.00
John Wicks
5.00
Isaac Mills
1.00
Ebenezer Jayne 2.00
Barnabas Wheeler
1.00
Daniel Jones 2.00
Benjamin Homan .50
Joseph Ward
.50
Samuel Brush .50
Samuel Smith
.56
John Darling, Jr.
.25
Gamaliel Taylor
.50
Benj. W. Smith
.50
George Hallock
.50
Woodhull Smith
.50
Wm. Smith .75
Isaac Smith .50
.50
John Hallock
Wm. Tooker .50
Ira Ketchum .50
51
John Bedell .25
Foster Nubran .50
Nehemiah Hyelur .25
Eliphalet Mowbray .25
Stephen Thurber .25
John Douglass .25
Samuel Shing .50
James Smith .50
Joseph Blydenburgh .50
James Mapes, Jr. .25
James Benjamin® .50
Gabriel Jayne
.50
Whitman West .25
Aaron Ward .25
Richard Geburlu
.50
Jessie Smith .25
Daniel Willits .50
Medad Ryers
.50
Thomas Wheeler, Jr. .25
Joseph Gornes
.50
Amos Hiebur
.25
Selah Wicks
.25
David W. Smith
.25
Charles Adams
.25
David Smith .50
John Carll .25
William Woodhull .50
Saml. Smith .25
John M. Williams
.25
Nathaniel Buffet .25
"March 19, 1816, at a meeting held for the pur-
52
pose of improving the comforts of the Church, now having been enclosed and occupied with benches made of slabs of boards, on which the congrega- tion have sat for the last ten years, from Sabbath to Sabbath listening to the invitation to the Gospel as presented from the pulpit (composed of rough boards) by the pioneers of the M. E. Church, such as Rev. Joseph Crawford, Carpenter, Richmond, Canfield, Bushnell, Presiding Elder Freeborn, Garretson, Ward, Schofield, Renolds, Elder Sam- uel Merwin, Northup and Stewart."
It was at this meeting they determined to put up a decent pulpit, and seat comfortably the lower part of the Church, leaving the upper part to finish in the Autumn.
Subscriptions were as follows :
Jacob Wheeler $13.00
Elkanah Wheeler 7.00
Richard Wheeler 12.00
Samuel Brush 5.50
Wickham Wheeler 4.00
Caleb Smith 10.00
James Payne 5.00
Daniel Smith 4.00
Jacob Wheeler, Jr. 7.00
Timothy Wheeler
6.00
Joshua Smith
6.00
William Smith 5.00
10.00
Geo. Wheeler
James Smith .50
Wood Smith
2.50
53
·
Henry Conkling 2.50
Chas. H. Harris 1.50
Paul Nichols 1.00
David Nichols
1.00
Gamaliel Taylor .50
Oliver Smith 3.00
Geo. Wheeler, Jr. 3.00
Moses Brush
5.00
John Vail 1.00
Jonathan Brush .50
Epenetus Oakley
2.00
Samuel Brown
.50
Geo. Miller .75
Curtis Rogers
2.00
Eliphalet Whitman
3.00
Mills Phillips 1.00
Thomas W. Wood
5.00
Isaac Blydenburgh
2.00
John Newton 3.00
Thomas Wheeler 4.00
Tho. W. Jayne
.50
Tho. Brush .50
Ebenezer Jayne 4.00
Peter Darling 1.00
Thomas Hallock 3.00
Charles A. Floyd
1.00
Epenetus Smith 2.50
Richard O. Taylor 1.00
Henry Blydenburgh 1.00
Elias Smith
5.00
Peter M. E. Gurney 1.00
Jacob Nichols
2.00
54
Benjamin Jarrard 1.00
Leonard Smith .50
Samuel W. Smith 1.00
Friend
2.00
Daniel Hubbs
3.00
"Early in June the Church was finished so far as the pulpit, and seats were contemplated by this last effort, and the recorder of this recollects when in June, Wm. Jewett, and Fitch Reed, occupied the pulpit on their way to the Quarterly meeting at held June, 1817."
When the Church was first built the sides and roof were covered with three-foot shingles, and the pulpit was level with the gallery.
In 1828, it was decided to plaster the Church and have new seats. About 1833 a parsonage was built, which was first occupied by John Lovejoy in 1833.
It was used as a parsonage until 1848, when Stony Brook and Port Jefferson were taken from the circuit.
Francis C. Hill was the last to occupy it. It was then sold and has been known ever since as the "Adriance place."
In 1861 the shingles were replaced by clapboard siding and the window frames were extended to cover both lower and upper windows, and blinds were added.
In 1866 J. H. Stansbury was on the circuit, and during his pastorate most of the churches in his charge were remodelled. In the Hauppauge
55
Church the pulpit was lowered, and the seats were changed so that the long ones were in the middle of the building, instead of under the galleries. When the church was finished this time, a small organ, its first musical instrument, was put in the gallery, and the two sexes ventured to break away from the old custom and sit in the same seat with each other.
In 1895 the steeple and bell were added. The primitive tastes of its founders have disappeared in the soul's quest for the beautiful.
Editor's Note-In 1906, the centennial year of the church, an historical pamphlet entitled, "One Hundred Years of Methodism at Hauppauge, L. I.," was published by the con- gregation. The work was compiled by Wesley J. Wheeler of Islip, a son of Fletcher E. Wheeler of Hauppauge.
56
THE METHODIST PREACHERS
That have preached in Hauppauge, will be found in the following chronology of preachers who have preached on the Island :
1769-The first Methodist Society was organized at Newtown by Thomas Webb, a retired officer of the British army. He resided in Jamaica.
1770-Joseph Pilmoor was pastor in New York and visited Newtown at intervals of a month until the close of the Revolution- ary War.
1772 to 1784-The following preachers visited and preached on Long Island: Robert Wil- liams, Richard Boardman, Richard Wright, Thomas Rankin, James Demp- ster and Daniel Ruff.
1784-John Dickens, founder of the Methodist Book Concern, was the New York preacher.
1785-Phillip Cox was the first preacher appointed to Long Island.
1786-Phillip Cox and Ezekiel Cooper, who suc- ceeded John Dickens as head of the "Book Concern."
57
1787-Thomas Ware, Peter Mority and Robert Cloud. Freeborn Garretson, Presiding Elder.
1789-William Phebus and John Lee.
1790-David Kendall and Aaron Hunt.
1791-William Phebus and Benjamin Abbott. 1792 to 1794-In the itinerancy were John Ragan, James Boyd, Joseph Totten, George Stre- back, Robert and Sylvester Hutchinson, Lawrence McCloud, Jacob Rickhow, Tim- othy Dewey, Peter Jayne, David Buck, Andrew Nichols, Billy Hibbard, Jimmy Horton, Peter Cartwright and probably Lorenzo Dow.
1795-Wilson Lee, John Clark, Sylvester Hutchin- son and Joseph Totten.
1796-John Clark, Jacob Rickhow, David Buck, Timothy Dewey and William Phebus. Freeborn Garretson, Presiding Elder. 1797-Joseph Totten, Andrew McNichols and Eb- enezer McLane. Sylvester Hutchinson and Freeborn Garretson, Presiding El- ders.
1798-David Brown and John Wilson.
1799-James Campbell and John Wilson.
1800-James Campbell and Samuel Merwin. Free- born Garretson, Presiding Elder.
1801-Peter Jayne and Billy Hibbard.
1802-David Buck and John Finnegan.
1803-Francis Ward, Sylvester Foster and John Finnegan.
1804-Francis Ward, Henry Eames and Henry
58
Redstone. William Thatcher, Presiding Elder.
1805-Henry Eames, John Finnegan and Henry Redstone.
1806-James Coleman and Mitchell B. Bull.
1807-Luman Andrus and John Kline. Joseph Crawford, Presiding Elder.
1808-Nathan Emory and Nehemiah W. Tomp- kins.
1809-Francis Ward and William Phebus.
1810-Long Island circuit was divided; Jamaica on the west and Suffolk on the east.
1810-Henry Redstone, Coles Carpenter and Ste- phen Redstone.
1811-Ezekiel Canfield and Samuel Bushnell. Free- born Garretson, Presiding Elder.
1812-Samuel Bushnell, with local preachers.
1813-Francis Ward and David Wright.
1814-John Clark, Arnold Schofield and Charles W. Carpenter.
1815-John Renolds, Olive Sykes and James Boyd.
1816-Beardsly Northup and Zalmon Stewart.
1817-William Jewett and Fitch Reed.
1818-William Jewett and John M. Smith.
1819-Samuel Cochran and Ebenezer Brown.
1820-Reuben Harris and S. D. Ferguson. Sanford, Presiding Elder.
P. P.
1821-Reuben Harris and Eli Dennison.
1822-Jacob Hall, Humphry Humphries and Rob- ert Francis.
1823-Jacob Hall and William M. Willit.
59
1824-Henry Hatfield and Horace Bartlett. Laban Clark, Presiding Elder.
1825-Horace Bartlett and John W. LeFevre.
1826-Noble W. Thomas and John W. LeFevre. 1827-Noble W. Thomas, Cyrus D. Foss and Oli- ver B. Amerman.
1828-Richard Seaman, O. B. Amerman, C. W. Carpenter, with Christopher R. Morris, supply.
1829-Josiah Bowen and Samuel Drake.
1830-Josiah Bowen and Edward Olden.
1831-Reuben Harris and Edward Olden.
1832-Reuben Harris and Abram S. Francis. Sam- uel Merwin, Presiding Elder.
1833-Smithtown Circuit: The Great Pond*, Com- mack, Hauppauge, The Landing and The Branch. John Lovejoy was the first preacher in the parsonage at Hauppauge. *Lake Ronkonkoma .- Editor.
1834-William R. Stopford and John B. Merwin.
1836-Bezilell Howe and James Rawson.
1838-John Nixon and Charles D. Pelton.
1839-John Nixon and Theron Osborne.
1840-Theron Osborne and Samuel King. Stephen Martindale, Presiding Elder.
1841-Samuel W. King and Timothy C. Young.
1842-Elbert Osborn and Timothy C. Young.
1843-Elbert Osborn and Nathan Rice. John J. Mathias, Presiding Elder.
1844-Nathan Rice and Marvin Lent.
1845-George Hollis, Marvin Lent, with Samuel M. Hammond and Justis O. Worth, asso- ciates.
60
1847-Ezra Jagger and Francis C. Hill. 1848-Ezra Jagger. Port Jefferson and Stony Brook taken from the circuit. Laban Clark, Presiding Elder.
1849-Eben S. Hibbard.
1850-William Gothard. Elder.
S. Langdon, Presiding
1854-Joseph Wildey. Buell Goodsell, Presiding Elder.
1855-Robert Codling.
1857-Daniel Jones.
1859-Eben S. Hibbard.
1861-William Wake. William H. Norris, Presid- ing Elder.
1863-E. K. Fanning.
1866-J. H. Stansbury. Hart M. Pease, Presiding Elder.
1869-Daniel Jones. Heman Bangs, Presiding El- der.
1871-Charles Sterns. H. M. Pease, Presiding El- der.
1875-Thomas M. Terry. C. B. Sing, Presiding Elder.
1876-Benjamin Redford, died and succeeded by William Lawrence. John L. Peck, Pre- siding Elder.
1877-Seigfried Kristella.
· 1879-Lake Grove Circuit : Hauppauge, St. James and Lake Grove. Smith A. Sands. John W. Beech, Elder.
1881-John T. Langlois.
61
1883-Sylvester Smith. Thomas H. Beech, Pre- siding Elder.
1885-John F. Duenkerke. Benj. M. Adams, Pre- siding Elder.
1888-John S. Haugh. 1889-E. J. Curtis. W. H. Wardell, Presiding El- der. 1892-J. N. Crane.
1895-Central Islip Circuit: Hauppauge and Cen- tral Islip. T. B. Cornell. Geo. VanAls- tine, Presiding Elder.
1896-William N. Taft.
1898-Fred Gunton.
1899-William N. Taft.
1900-H. E. Marsland. siding Elder.
James Montgomery, Pre-
1902-Fred Buckwalter. C. S. Wing, Presiding Elder.
1904-Ralph Waldo Thompson. J. S. Chadwick, Presiding Elder. 1907 -- E. S. Wright.
In 1838, when John Nixon and Charles D. Pelton were its ministers, the Church must have had the largest class in its history. To show who attended church at that time the following is a copy of the names taken from a class book of that year.
Elkanah Wheeler (leader), Mary Wheeler, Isaac Wheeler, Sr .; Richard Wheeler, Phoebe Wheeler, Catherine Wheeler, Fletcher E. Wheeler, Wesley Wheeler, Margaret Wheeler, Elizabeth Wheeler,
62
Betsy Wheeler, Mary Jane Wheeler, George Wheeler, Sr .; Benjamin Wheeler, Elouisa Wheel- er, Geo. Wheeler, Jr .; Elizabeth Wheeler, Free- love Hubbs, Henry Blydenburgh, Clarissa Blyden- burgh, Tabatha Bunce, Mary Smith, Charles Price, Phoebe Price, Sidney Price, Susan Price, Polly Smith, Deborah A. Smith, Sarah Smith, Cloe Tillot- son, Daniel Thompson, Triphene Thompson, Mary Brish, Juliana Blydenburgh, Ruth A. Hubbs, Eliza- beth Blydenburgh, Hannah Smith, Rebecca Smith, Moses R. Smith, Hannah Walker, Wessels Smith, Theodorus Brush, Sarah Brush, Isaac Wheeler, Jr .; Nathaniel H. Wheeler, Moses Blydenburgh. Mary A. Tillotson, Paul Nichols, Elizabeth A. Wheeler, Hannah A. Brush, Sarah E. Payne, La- vina Tucker, Edward F. Smith, Henry C. Wheeler, Jonas Hubbs, Isaac Blydenburgh, Egbert Soper, Phoebe Blydenburgh, Sarah Smalling, Sarah E. Wheeler, Mary E. Smith, Clarissa E. Wheeler, Henry M. Tooker, William Olmstead, William J. Wheeler, Adaline Smith, Joshua Wheeler, Alfred Wiggins, Charles Nichols, Samuel P. Soper.
Here in a class of 73, 27 of them were Wheelers. In 1840 there were but 11 Wheelers in a class of 34, and in 1865, with a class of 38, but 4 were Wheelers.
Elkanah was class leader for many years, then his son, Fletcher, followed by William Jewett, who was the last of the name to hold the position.
When the Society was organized, Richard Wheeler was chosen clerk for the Trustees and held the office for twenty-one consecutive years. He was followed by Fletcher, Wesley and Richard
63
B. Wheeler, who held it thirty-one years longer. The name of Wheeler so often recorded in the book has dwindled away until 1891 the last one was en- tered.
It was Richard Bartlett Wheeler, elected Trus- tee.
The Wheelers have passed away.
When that dread disease consumption had claimed Francis Ward as its victim, he had a long- ing to preach his last sermon in the Hauppauge Church. Not able to stand alone, it was the Wheeler brothers, Fletcher and Wesley, who en- abled him to fulfill his dying wish.
Standing there in the presence of the fell de- stroyer, with youth on either side, that mind sum- moned before its Creator and Judge, presented a picture in the primitive pulpit of one hundred years ago that was not soon forgotten. Looking like a spirit held a little longer to earth by loving mortal hands, that like Jacob's craved a blessing, he preached one of the most impressive and eloquent sermons ever heard in the Church.
In the churchyard directly back of the pulpit, and near the Church, there is a marble slab erected by Caleb Smith (who was a friend of the preach- er's) that marks the resting place of Francis Ward, where he was buried at his own request.
Besides being a friend of the preacher's, Caleb Smith had political honors. He was a Senator at Albany when he influenced Samuel Merwin, chap- lain of the Senate, to come to Long Island, where for several years he was Presiding Elder.
64
HAVENS WHEELER
In this delusive world, the truth Is hard to find, by what we say; The heart deceives, but then, forsooth, It's what we do gives thought away.
If words found us the gates of Paradise, what a saint many a poor, deluded mortal would be. Most people are judged in this world by their deeds, and the probabilities are that they will be in the next.
"Blowing the Gospel Trumpet" was Havens Wheeler's idea of a holy life. To bring up his son in the way he should go, made him sit Sundays with the Bible on his knees. It was said of him that he would come home at night and feel in the hogs' trough, and if it was dry, he would "jaw" his wife for not giving them enough, and if it was wet, she would get the scolding just the same for giving them too much.
To the woods he then would go and blow his Gospel Trumpet, where the silence echoed with his prayers and their consolation soothed his cares.
He thought he had a "call" to Missouri to waken the sinners there with his Gospel hobby, so the ladies, kind-hearted creatures, aided him in his mis- sion to "The West," thinking that would be the last of Havens. He did not stay long; he found that
65
Missouri was a place where one must be up and doing, not blowing.
ANECDOTES CONCERNING JUDGE SMITH'S SERVANTS
In those good old times the villagers were neigh- bors. The people next door were not strangers. Everybody knew everyone in his own village, and most of the folks in the country for miles around.
They were the days before telegraphs, tele- phones, lodges, leagues, yellow journals and all such news sources were plentiful. They were the days when the neighbors "went out to tea," and, of course, the news was discussed on these occasions.
On one of these gatherings at the "Judge's," (he employed more help than anyone in the neighbor- hood to till the acres that comprised the "Judge's Neck") they had a little darkey that helped about the kitchen. Then quince and sugar, pound for pound, was the recipe that tickled the palate at the expense of the stomach, and one of the perquisites of his position was to have what was left of the "sweetmeats" after the company were through.
This time the guests tarried long at the table and the impatient little fellow's head kept bobbing in the door until he could stand the agony no longer. He rushed out to his mistress, exclaiming, "Mis'
66
Mith, Mis' 'Mith, the qual'ty is eatin' all the crince !"
"Black Dick" was another darkey that worked for the Judge and lamb was his favorite repast. Out hunting one day, he came across a flock of sheep. With temptation before him, he trained his gun on a lamb. Just then someone happened along. Fairly caught in the act of shooting. the surprised darkey stammered out, "T-t-care quail!"
67
ELLEN S. MOWBRAY AND HER OFT- QUOTED POEM ON HAUPPAUGE
In youth we dream of the happiness that await, us in the drama of life and go forth to wrestle with its burdens and cares, till, wearied with disappoint- ment and sorrow, the future loses its enchantment. memory takes the fancies' place, and the mind fondly dwells on what it now realizes were "child- hood's happy days."
A longing for the old associations inspired these verses from a former resident of this place.
HAUPPAUGE (The Land of Sweet Waters)
Keep evermore the Indian name So long ago possessed, that tongue And time, which gave alike, are gone, Their history never told or sung. I could not change, I love the sound Associate from infancy
With home and friends, and scenes which grew Through passing years more dear to me.
Of other races than ours, with wants Of human nature still the same, We may not doubt that He Who gave It first, in blessing breathed the name. But whether choosing here his home, Or pausing weary from the chase, Or savage combat, first he drank With gladness, we can never trace.
68
Hauppauge, thy old significance Has never failed. The waters sweet Still rise in homestead well and spring And flow across the quiet street. In brooks that sing their pleasant song To pebbles underneath, and flowers Which grow beside, and skies that smile Above them in the summer hours.
Still hide they where the grand old trees Stand reaching upward to the sky; In marshy dells, where wild flowers greet With odors soft the passer-by. And beauty, water nursed, gleams forth To catch the eye and thrill the heart With sudden sense of all the joy Of earth, in which it holds a part.
How cool and sweet the draught he takes The mower knows, when shines the sun Upon him with its fiercest heat And only half his day is done. And the children know who leave their play Ere into school again they hie To seek the springs whose crystal depths Unfailingly their wants supply.
How often in the days long gone From berry-huntings in the wood, Or briery fields as night drew on We came, and by the wellside stood To drink, upon our homeward way, Refreshment from its waters deep, Ere on we passed with quickened step, Lest darkness o'er our path should creep.
Dear old home! From thee my thought Climbed early to that Home above Where change comes not, and never death Can still from us the voice of love. How sweet and full our draught shall be From life's bright river, flowing there; The life of rest untouched by pain, Of joy, undimmed by fear or care. ELLEN S. MOWBRAY, Bayshore. 1878.
69
THE OAK TREES
Our history would be incomplete without refer- ence to the oak trees standing along the highway west of the Church.
When the Church was built, Joshua Smith, do- nator of the land for its site, realizing that a place was needed for the horses to stand during the ser- vices, moved the fence back from the line of the highway, leaving a place in the "oak trees' shade" for the animals' comfort.
Then, to make certain that they should always stand for that purpose, when he sold the adjoining land, he reserved the strip where the trees stand, and for eighty years they were the only sheds the church-goers' faithful animals had.
Although no longer used for that purpose, they still stand an emblem of the Graces that hover 'round this consecrated spot, to cheer the travailer in the cares and temptations of life.
Their roots represent our hope anchored in time's uncertain sands; their branches, that faith which reaches outward and upward from our toil and care, while the leaves, their crowning glory, is that sweet charity without which all other graces fail.
Many a tree has become famous by one event,
70
but who can estimate the number of events that have occurred under these silent oaks that tell no tales, standing on the borders of romance and re- ligion, when after that momentous question, "May I see you home?" the youthful swain would put the precepts of his church in practice by endeavoring to "love his neighbor as himself."
71
THE SCHOOL-HOUSE
The ancient school-house, a little building 13x16 feet, wherein the Church Society was organized, stood on what is now the lawn, between Donald- son's house and store.
Directly across the road in front of the school was one of those old-fashioned wood-piles, belong- ing to Thomas Wheeler, that stood against a pole laid in forked posts. The pile was so long and high that one of the teachers complained that it kept the air and sunshine from the school-room.
There was another teacher in this historic build- ing that evidently had original ideas in school man- agement, as he devised something "new under the sun" in way of punishment for a refractory pupil. He clasped the fire-tongs about her neck and led her by them around the school-room.
In after years, he atoned for the indignity by marrying the subject of his discipline, and at this date their children are prominent citizens of Cen- tral Islip.
When the new school-house was built, about 1840, T. W. Conkling, who inherited Thomas Wheeler's estate, bought the old house and moved it across the road in front of his residence and used it for a carpenter shop.
72
Although still standing, but few remember the classic features of the old building that played such an important part in the founding of the Church.
Board siding replaced its weather-worn shingles years ago, and its present owners use it for a wood- house.
The following are the names of a few of the managers of this ancient shooting gallery where "the young idea" was taught truer, higher aims in the marksmanship of life: Samuel A. Smith, George K. Hubbs, Samuel Hammons, Luther Bly- denburgh, Jonas Beecher Blydenburgh, Wesley Wheeler, Ruth Wheeler, Triphena Rolph and Mary H. Wood.
The Trustee's report for the year 1834 showed that there were 58 children of school age, 5 to 16, in the district. School was taught six and one- third months, 71 scholars were taught, and $63.54 with the public money, $22.46-a total of $86.00, paid all expenses.
The families that had children of school age were: Charles LaHommedieu, 2; Thomas W. Wood, 4; George Wheeler, Jr., 1; Isaac Wheeler, 1; Thomas Burns, 2; Selah Tillitson, 3; James Petty, Jr., 1; Charles Burns, 4; Patrick Burns, 1; Daniel Thompson, 2; Henry C. Wheeler, 2; Joshua Smith, 1; Richard Wheeler, 1; Alexander Conckling, 1; Joshua Brotherton, 2; Henry Jayne, 2; Henry Blydenburgh, 1; Elkanah Wheeler, 1; Wesley Wheeler, 1; Isaac Wheeler, 2; Fletcher E. Wheeler, 1; Samuel Payne, 2; Daniel Smith, 1; Jacob Wheeler, 2; Joshua Wheeler, 3; Mary
73
Payne, 2; Samuel Nichols, 4; Thomas W. Conk- ling, 1; Zephaniah Smith, 3; Alexander Smith, 1; Francis Ward, 1.
-
The Trustees that signed the foregoing report were Thomas W. Wood, Fletcher E. Wheeler and Thomas W. Conkling.
Those were the days when teachers boarded round and school was kept every other Saturday.
At the school meeting it was resolved to raise $4.00 for contingent expenses and fuel, so the teacher had what was left for his services, $82.00.
It was at the old Thomas Wheeler homestead that the Hauppauge Post Office was established in 1855, and Thomas Wheeler Conkling, great- grandson of Thomas Wheeler, the first settler, was the first postmaster.
74
THE CENTENNIAL OF THE CHURCH
Now on the century's mark we stand In thoughtful, restrospective mood, Where the rude forefathers of our land In simple faith communed with God.
Childlike their zeal, with souls sincere They met, and told the "old, old story," While folly dropped the repentant tear, And hallelujahs shouted glory.
Nearly 170 years have elapsed since the first house was built in Hauppauge, and 100 years since the foundation of the Church was laid.
From the retrospect, conditions have changed. We see in the dim vista of the past those vast con- gregations where the people came from near and far to the Quarterly Meetings, the strongholds of Methodism; and as fancy hears their prayers, their testimonies, the amens, the hallelujahs, and the soul-reviving songs that are still the light of Wes- ley's path, can we wonder that those whose zeal was inspired by the stirring faith of the old Circuit riders, think that "the good old times" were better than the passive new?
In May, 1906, a series of meetings were held to celebrate the founding of the Church Society.
A few of those that had preached here were pres- ent, but the great majority were placed in the list headed, "IN MEMORIAM." Among them were:
75
Francis Ward, died 1814, age 39, buried at Haup- pauge.
Ezra Jagger, died 1850, age 44, buried at West Hampton.
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