USA > New York > Columbia County > Hillsdale > A history of Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York : a memorabilia of persons and things of interest, passed and passing > Part 7
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Jehiel Anable and L. J. Aylesworth were chosen as the first elders, and also to perform the duties of deacons.
The first house of worship was erected on the present site in 1832. It was a frame building, whose dimensions were thirty-six by forty-eight feet, and cost $2,000. In 1850 it was repaired and remodeled, at a cost of $1,800, and in 1877 it was thoroughly repaired and refitted, at an expense of nearly $1,700. The parsonage was built in 1857, on lands purchased of Theodore Nash. It was built under contract by Philip Becker, and cost $1,600. This was exclusive of the site and some work done on the foun- dations before the lot was purchased. The present valu- ation of the church and parsonage is respectively estima- ted at $3000 for the church and $2000 for the parsonage ; total, $5000.
The pastors in the order of their ministrations have been Revs. Amos W. Seeley, George R. Entler, Winthrop H. Phelps, Joseph N. McGifert. The pulpit has also been supplied for longer or shorter periods by Revs. Mr. Os- born, John S. Himrod, Robert W. Landis, J. W. Lari- more, L. M. Gates, Joshua Collins, -- Millard, J. H. Michell, J. F. Grimes, and James A. Clark, who has been connected with the church since June 1877.
The church has had much to contend against, and has maintained its existence throughout in the face of many discouraging and unfavorable circumstances. It has, however, steadily increased in numbers, and (what few of
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our modern churches can boast) is practically free from debt. The membership at present is seven males and forty-one females ; total, forty-eight.
The present officers are as follows, viz : Trustees, Wal- ter B. Ten Broeck, Elisha W. Bushnell, John E. McAl- pine, Edward Best, Henry L. Coon ; Elders (who also act as deacons), Walter B. Ten Broeck, Levi Coon.
There has been a Sabbath-school at times during the entire existence of the church. For the last three years it has been continnous. The membership is now about seventy-five. Levi Coon is the present superintendent ; Walter B. Ten Broeck, assistant superintendent ; Thomas S. Hayes, secretary ; Arthur Wagoner, librarian ; Claudius Lambert, assistant librarian. The library contains two hundred and twenty-four volumes.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HILLSDALE.
This church, known more generally at the present time as the "East Baptist Church," was organized May 28, 1787, by Revs. John and Stephen Gano. There were fourteen persons who entered into covenant and consti- tuted the society. They were James and Phoebe Martin; Caleb, Jr., and Anna Woodward ; William, Jr. and Rosan- nah West; Ambrose and Joanna Latting; Griffin and Anna Wilde ; Ruth Jordan, Esther Terry, Lucy Loop, Sarah Martin.
The first church-meeting was held June 23, 1787, and James Martin was elected deacon and Ambrose Latting church clerk. The first church was built on the three corners, near the present residence of G. F. Stickle, by Ambrose Latting, who agreed to finish it on the outside and wait on the church till they were able to pay for it. This was done, and the church was finally finished off in 1798. Its entire cost is supposed to have been about $800. The work of finishing was done by Albert Foster, for £65. A church was also built in the west part of the
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town, on the site of the present West church, and this be- came the property of the second church in 1803, when a division occurred, and the West church was formed. This building was erected some time between 1792 and 1802, but the date and cost are not now known. At a later date the church united with the Methodists in the erec- tion of a house of worship, in the northwest part of the town, near the Downing place, which was sold about 1841 -42. The second house of worship in the central part of the town was a Union church, owned in connection with the Methodists. This was torn down, and the present edifice erected in the summer and fall of 1839. The ded- ication occurred on the 27th of November of that year. This building cost $5000. A parsonage was built in 1835, and this having been disposed of, in 1844 another one was procured. The present valuation of the entire church property is $4000.
The church became incorporated in 1838. The first trustees were elected previously, in 1835, and were Thomas Palmer, John Tyler, Amos Knox, William Knox. Commencing with fourteen members, the church grew in numbers until, in 1817, there were one hundred and nine- ty-two members, which is the highest number yet attain- ed. The largest increase in any one year was sixty-six, in 1817. In the fall of 1837 there was an extensive work of grace, by which forty-three were added to the church; and again, in November, 1842, over thirty were baptized and received into fellowship.
At different times the church has licensed some of its members to preach the gospel. Among them were Chas. Truesdell, Lyman Palmer, Rodney Gilbert, and Albert Knox. One of these, Lyman Palmer, was ordained to the work of the ministry on the 20th of February, 1845. The ordination was an interesting occassion, and. the meeting lasted two days; The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. John E. La Grange, from 2d Corinthians iv. 7 : 12
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"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Revs. H. L. Gros, M. L. Fuller, Stephen Jones, H. Corn- well, B. C. Crandall, S. Hatch, L. Selick, J. W. Stark- weather also participated in the ceremonies of the occa- sion.
The deacons have been James Martin, Ambrose Lat- ting, Squire Sherwood, William West, Samuel West, Oli- ver Teall, Martin Spencer, John Tyler, Thomas Palmer, Matthew Palmer, Major M. Bullock, Hiram S. Brown, Warren G. Wiley, Nathaniel House, Orville McAlpine. Major M. Bullock and Orville McAlpine are the present deacons.
The ministers who have sustained pastoral relations with the church are Revs. Stephen Gano, Abel Brown, Samuel S. Mallory, John D. Hart, Enos Marshall, Samuel Wood, Philip Roberts, Horace Spencer, Peter Prink, John E. La Grange, Stephen Jones, O. H. Capron, Eli W. Brownell, Samuel Pomeroy, Ethan Palmer, Henry F. Cochrane, Edwin Beardsley, C. F. Duganne. Revs. Bates, - Ferris, and Lyman Palmer also preached for the church at different times. At present the church is not supplied with a pastor. The present trustees are George M. Bullock, Grosvenor A. Knox, and D. C. Pal- mer. Ezra J. Beardsley is the church clerk.
In the ninety years of its existence the church has in- scribed upon its rolls the names of seven hundred and two individuals, of whom one hundred and forty-three have been removed by death, and three hundred and fifty-six have been dismissed by letter. The present membership is about forty-five.
In June, 1803, a division occurred, growing out of a difference of opinion in a case of discipline, and thirty- five members withdrew and formed the "West Church." In 1806 the society in the northwest part of the town, known as the Second Baptist Church of Hillsdale, aban-
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doned their separate organization, and in a body-twenty six in number-united with this church.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH OF HILLSDALE.
In the year 1803 the Baptist church of Hillsdale sepa- rated, and thirty-five of its members formed the "West Church." Their names were Samuel, Elizabeth, and Hannah West, Squire and Olive Sherwood, Nathaniel and Esther Terry, William West, Sr., James B. Roe, Richard, Abigail, and Mary Kinyon, Jacob and Lucretia Van De Boe, John and Sarah Talmadge, James, John, Catharine, Jemima, and Christina Van Deusen, John Hatch, Benjamin Twiss, Ezra Brockway, Ruth and Sally Jordan, Ruth Fer- ris, Sr., Elizabeth Orr, Hannah Sering, Elizabeth Beebe, Jemima Curtis, Prudence Bullis, Sally Thorne, Catharine Simpson, and Barsheba Clement. They were constituted a church on the first Friday in June, by a council com- posed of Revs. Jeduthan Gray, Samuel Wood, - Barnes, -Pettit, -- Smith, - Ferris, - Lee, - Leland, and - Hull, associated with lay brethren from their respective churches.
The first house of worship was erected before the begin- ning of the present century, by the church as it existed before the division. The deed of the site on which it stands was dated 1792. The present church building- dimensions thirty-six by thirty-six feet-is said to have been erected by Refine Latting, and is yet in good condi- tion, though it needs repairing. The society was incor- porated June 1, 1833.
The ministry of this church has been composed of the following, viz : Revs. John Gano, Calvin Philo, John D. Hart,- Orchard, Samuel Pomeroy, Milo Tremaine, Samuel S. Mallory, Peter Prink, John W. Van Horn, J. W. Starkweather, Martin L. Fuller, Daniel Robinson, William Garnett, John E. La Grange, John H. Kent, Sol- omon Gale, William I. Loomis, James A. Metz, James W.
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Grant, and Daniel W. Sherwood, the present pastor.
In 1854 a new church was built at Martindale Depot, and the services of the pastor are now divided between the two places.
A notable revival occurred in the winter of 1841-42, by which seventy-one persons were added to the church.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN (ST. IMMANUEL'S) CHURCH.
In the year 1870 the congregation of the church of St. John, in the town of Ghent, was divided, and the part of it located in the vicinity of Harlemville formed a new society, under the name of "St. Immanuel's," and built a frame church, thirty by forty feet, costing $1852. This church was completed in 1873, and dedicated in the sum- · mer, by Rev. Mr. Haeger, of Pittsfield, Mass. It stands near the fourth three corners, east from Harlemville, on the road to Green River. The society was incorporated June 10, 1871, at a meeting presided over by Jacob Gear- ing and Philip Steitz. The first trustees were Valentine Steitz, Carl Steurwald, and Jacob Christman. The pres- ent officers are Philip Steitz, John Krick, Carl Steurwald, Conrad Usner, Valentine Steitz, and Werner Spengler.
The ministers who have preached at this point are Revs. P. Seuel, Carl J. Renz, Fr. Leddin, U. Berne, and C. A. Stoepel, the present pastor, who has ministered to this people since 1876, The present membership is about twenty-two, and the Sunday-school has a membership of about forty.
HILLSDALE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Owing to the fact that this church was one of the earl- iest of this denomination in the county its history pos- sesses an added interest, and indicates some of the trials, hardships, and stubborn opposition which marked the infancy of Methodism in America. Other denominations either were coldly indifferent or in open opposition, and the way seemed hedged about with impassible barriers
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and obstructions that could not be removed or overcome. But through all the church has passed successfully, and achieved a prominent rank among other denominations.
The first meeting in this vicinity was held by Rev. William Swayze, in the house of Mr. Isaiah Esmond, a short distance south of Hillsdale village, in the present town of Copake. This was in the year 1807. This first meeting was followed by two others, at which Rev. D. Ostrander and Rev. W. Fradenburg preached, but seemed to produce no effect upon the people, but a few of whom came to attend the service.
From the published "Narrative" of William Swayze, which he prepared and published in 1839, we make the following extract, which gives his account of the subse- quent meetings which resulted in the formation of a church. He says :"I made a second trial, when the enemy arrayed in formidable phalanx around the house. We were suddenly attacked by a volley of stones dashing against the house. One of the company stood at the win- dow near me hallooing, repeating, 'You are a liar!' How- ever unpleasant at the time, I considered it as a favora- ble symptom. I therefore gave out another appointment, which was attended by a large, respectable congregation from the neighborhood of the Hudson turnpike. I named as a text, 'And the door was shut', Matt. xxv, 10. All was deep attention. I closed, dismissed, and took my seat. Having no directions to leave an appointment for my colleague, and being rather at a loss to know my own duty, having abundant work elsewhere, I sat a few min- utes thinking this matter over, when I discovered the congregation remained on their seats. I named to them my hesitancies, and concluded by saying I would come again if there was a prospect of doing good ; and I knew of no better way to test this matter than for such as felt desirous to seek religion to come forward and give me their names, and I would pray for them. A Colonel Peak- 12*
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sly's lady then came through the crowd, and said, 'Sir, will you take my name?' She then addressed the con- gregation, and said, 'Come, my neighbors, it is high time we changed our manner of living ; not a professor among us, raising families without the fear of God. Let us set an example. You are only waiting one for another. Let us now set out together.' These statements were in a style of native eloquence which would seem self-sufficient to wake up the sympathy of angels, when her daughter and sister, with some eight or ten of her most respecta- ble neighbors, came forward and gave me their names. In conclusion I gave out another appointment. On my ar- rival I found six of the number happily converted. I re- mained with them, preaching every night, about ten days, and organized a class of thirty members."
The lady here mentioned was Anna, wife of Colonel John Pixley, not Peaksley.
From this extract we learn some of the circumstances surrounding the introduction of Methodism among the rough and somewhat lawless people who then inhabited this region. After the class was formed it continued to worship in private houses till the summer of 1811, when the first church was built, on lands donated by Parla Fos- ter. It was a frame building, unfinished on the inside, and supplied with seats formed of slabs laid with their ends resting upon logs laid upon the floor. This church stood upon the hill back of and a little northwest of the present school-house. In this rude structure the voices of the pioneer itinerants resounded among the uncovered rafters, and woke the slumbering echoes, as well as the con- science of many a hardened sinner into activity and life. This continued until 1845, when the present church was built, under contract, at a cost of $3000, exclusive of the site and foundations. The site was donated by Seymour Foster. It has been repaired once at a moderate expense. In 1836, Parla Foster gave a lot on the corner of South
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and Cold Water streets as a site for a parsonage, and a commodious house was erected thereon, by the gift of the members of the church. In 1842 this house was burned, and another erected in its stead. This building remained in use until a year or two since, when the new one, ad- joining the church lot on the south, was built and pre- sented to the society by Miss Flavia Bristol, she taking in exchange the old parsonage. The cost of the new one was about $4000, and included the furnishing of the entire house. The present valuation of the entire church property is placed at $10,000.
Among the prominent members in the first years of the church's existence may be mentioned Parla Foster, Phoebe Foster. Ruth Collin, Quincy Johnson, Jolin Jones, Mrs. John Jones, Duncan Thompson, Mrs. Duncan Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Eighmy.
The great revival connected with the history of the church occurred in 1832. It was sweeping in its nature, and reached every class of the community. About fifty were converted.
The pastors of the church, as near as can now be as- certained, in the order of their service, were, commencing with the year 1832, Revs. Elbert Osborne, Richard Hay- ter, Edward S. Stout, S. L. Stillman, D. B. Ostrander, J. Carley, W. Lull, Richard Wymond, Oliver V. Amerman, Thomas Edwards, Charles C. Keyes, Thomas Bainbridge, W. W. Brewer, Jolm A. Sillick, David L. Marks, Lucius H. King, William Ostrander, Alexander H. Ferguson, Henry Cox, Marvin R. Lent, H. B. Mead, James N. Shaf- fer, Charles S. Brown, L. W. Walsworth, Oliver V. Amer- man, Henry H. Birkins, William S. Bouton, Abraham Davis, Alfred Coons, and W. E. Clark, the present pastor, who is now commencing the third year of his pastoral labors in connection with this church. Previous to 1832, the pulpit was supplied by the preachers on the Salisbury circuit, except the years 1830 -- 31, when it was an apoint-
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ment on the Ghent circuit. The preachers from 1821 to 1831, inclusive, were Revs. Coles Carpenter, Lucius Bal- dwin, Timothy Benedict, Parmelee Chamberlain, David Miller, John Lovejoy, Samuel Eighmey, Phineus Cook, Billy Hibbard, Noah Bigelow, Q. Stewart, Arnold Schole- field, Elbert Osborn, and John Alley.
The present membership is about one hundred and twenty.
The officers are as follows, viz : Trustees, H. G. West- lake, Leonard Johnson, Owen Bixby, William Coon, Geo. Burton ; Stewards, H. G. Westlake, William Coon, Alan- son D. Apley, Winthrop Tipple, John Williams, Henry Loring, Frank Johnson, A. F. Park ; Exhorter, Philip Becker.
There was a Sabbath-school established in 1828-29, with the following officers : Rev. Noah Bigelow, presi- dent ; Adonijah Bidwell, vice-president; Harry Truesdell, secretary ; Parla Foster, treasurer ; and three managers. It is now in a flourishing condition, having a membership of one hundred scholars, and twenty-two officers and teachers. It has a fine library of choice and well-selected books, numbering about three hundred volumes. The present officers are Noyes Bristol, superintendent ; Wil- liam Coon, assistant superintendent ; Flavia Bristol, tem- porary superintendent; Frank Johnson, secretary ; George Johnson, treasurer : Alden Williams, librarian ; Thomas Miller, assistant librarian.
NORTH HILLSDALE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This class is supposed to have been formed about 1810 -11, though it is possible it may not have been earlier than 1815. It consisted of about ten members, among whom were Richard Bartlett, M. D., Abraham Overhiser, Aaron Shaw, Mr. Burtis, and Peggy Pierce.
The first church building was erected in company with the Baptist society, and stood on the site of the Baptist church. In 1837 it was decided to erect a separate house
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of worship. The site was chosen near the North Hills- dale cemetery, and the present church building erected. It was dedicated late in the fall of 1838, Rev. Benjamin Griffin, presiding elder, preaching the discourse. The work was done by Philip Becker, and the cost was about $3500. In 1859 it was repaired and enlarged by the ad- dition of a porch and tower, at a cost of about $1500. The present valuation is $4000. The society was incor- porated under the general statute, Jan. 22, 1838, as the "Wesleyan Chapel of North Hillsdale." The first trus- tees were Nicholas C. Tyler, Barnett Overhiser, Allen Gildersleeve. Barnett Burtiss, and Levi Pierce. In 1859 the church passed through a wonderful period of refresh- ing, in the course of which upwards of eighty persons professed conversion, and the membership of the church was largely increased. The present membership is about fifty or sixty.
The pastors since 1839 are known, but previous to that time cannot be ascertained. The following is as perfect a list as we have been able to obtain, viz: Revs. Albert Nash, George Brown, William McK. Bangs, Charles C. Keys, Thomas Bainbridge, W. W. Brewer, John A. Sil- lick, David L. Marks, Lucius H. King, William Ostran- der, Alexander H. Ferguson, Henry Cox, John W. Jones, Marvin R. Lent, Josiah L. Dickerson, W. L. Winans, E. B. Shurter, Henry H. Birkins, W. J. Ives, David B. Tur- ner, Edward Ashton, Nathan Hubbell, J. H. Champion, William Hall, E. H. Roys, J. H. Lane, O. P. Crandall.
The present officers of the church are Peter B. Hollen- beck, Jackson Palmer, John S. White, Henry W. Down- ing, David A. Nichols, Austin Morey, John S. Shutts, Allen B. Downing, Homer Trafford, trustees ; David A. Nichols, Austin Morey, Jackson Palmer, John S. White, Homer Trafford, stewards ; Homer Trafford, class-leader and clerk.
For a number of years a Sabbath-school has been main- 13
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tained, with an average attendance of about twenty-five. The present officers are Homer Trafford, superintendent ; John S. Shutts, assistant superintendent ; Frank Down- ing, secretary : Dorr Mitchell, librarian and treasurer.
WEST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HILLSDALE.
Previous to the organization of a class there was occa- sional preaching in the west part of the town by preachers from Hudson, Hillsdale, and other places.
These early meetings were held at different places, among others at Knapp school-house and the residences of Augustus Reed and Thomas Haywood.
The class was a small one, and was formed about 1835. It was an outgrowth of the church at Hillsdale village. Among the prominent members were Joseph Morehouse, Benjamin Snyder, William Higgins, John Higgins, Josiah Knapp, Titus Simpson, D. Higgins, Joseph D. Goodsell, and Andrew Higgins, who was the first class-leader, and held that office from 1835 till his death, in 1875.
The church building was erected in the summer of 1854, and was finished in 1855. It is forty-two feet long by thirty feet wide, and the posts are twenty feet high. It was built by Robert L. Burdick, who received as his remuneration the sum of $1495. The bell cost about $260, and the furniture about $50. The total cost of the structure was nearly $2100. The site, consisting of one acre of land, was given by Milo and Amanda Bissell, and the lot was surveyed by Hezekiah Van Deusen, May 7, 1853. The deed bears date May 31, 1853.
The society became incorporated April 3, 1855, and elected Jos. D. Goodsell, Moses Becker, Milo Bissell, trustees. Alanson D. Apley and Joseph D. Goodsell presided at the meeting, and Andrew Higgins acted as secretary. Rev. Daniel Wager, of Ghent, a local preacher, was one of the earliest preachers ; also Rev. Timothy Ben- edict. Since 1850 it has been supplied in connection with
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the Methodist Episcopal church in Hillsdale village until 1875, since which time it has been connected with the North Hillsdale church. The pastors since 1850 have been Revs. Lucius H. King, William Ostrander, Alexan- der H. Ferguson, Henry Cox, Marvin R. Lent, H. B. Mead, James N. Shaffer, Charles S. Brown, L. W. Wals- worth, Oliver V. Amerman, Henry H. Birkins, William S. Bouton, Abram Davis, Alfred Coons, E. H. Roys, J. H. Lane, O. P. Crandall.
HARLEMVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Previous to the year 1822 stated religious meetings were held in the vicinity of Harlemville in barns, school- houses, and private dwellings. About 1822 a class was formed, among whom we find were Zedick Knapp, Eben Mallery, Eben Soule, William Sawyer, Abraham Winn, Daniel Downing, David Downing, Elias Downing, John Richmond, Peleg Richmond, Perez Richmond, George Richmond, Harry Richmond, Martin Spencer, Martin Terry, and Thomas Palmer.
The funeral of Presiding Elder Moriatty, who died very suddenly on Friday morning previous to an appointed quarterly meeting, was held in the barn of Daniel Down- ing, one of the oldest Methodists of this vicinity.
In the year 1822 the first church was built, on lands donated for the purpose by Stephen Richmond. It was built by Alexander Rowley, and stood about two miles east of Harlemville. It was a Union church, owned in part by the Baptists, and was called the "Downing Church." It was a frame building, thirty-six by forty feet, and cost about $1000. The dedication was held in the fall of 1822, the ceremonies being conducted by Rev. George Coles.
The society became incorporated Jan. 4, 1854, at a meeting presided over by Aaron Hunt, Jr., and Joseph Richards. The first board of trustees elected at that
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meeting consisted of Messrs. Ebenezer Goodsell, George W. Richmond, Philip Wiltsie, Joseph P. Downing, Riley S. Palmer, Ira Palmer, and William D. Mercer.
During the following summer a Methodist Episcopal church was built in Harlemville. It was thirty-two by forty-six feet, cost about $2500, and was dedicated in the fall of 1854, by Rev. Lucius H. King. The building com- mittee was Messrs. Fayette M. Blunt, Riley S. Palmer, William D. Mercer. Richard Simmons was the builder. This church is still in use by the society.
From a diligent search of the records, and from the recollection of members of the society, we are able to give the following list of ministers who have acted as pastors of this church. They were Revs. Lewis McK. Pease, D. Starks, Arnold Scholefield, Phineas Rice, -- Griffin, Edward S. Stout, Adee Vail, George C. Bancroft, John Campbell, Denton Keeler, John Davies, David Hervy, Jr., . Aaron Hunt, Jr., David Lyman, James Y. Bates, De Loss. Lull, Amos N. Mulnix, Oscar Haviland, Edward Ashton, D. Gibson, J. O. Kern, J. H. Lane, and E. B. Pierce.
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