USA > New York > A history of the purchase and settlement of western New York : and of the rise, progress and present state of the Presbyterian Church in that section > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
346
WESTERN NEW YORK.
mation of a second Presbyterian Society, are, " that it would, under present circumstances, conduce to the advancement of the Presby- terian interests, and to the promotion of real and genuine religion ; and that in consequence of dissatisfaction that had arisen among many on account of certain measures adopted to promote revivals of religion, a new and separate organization would be desirable." The members expressed the hope " that all occasion of collision and crimination would thus be removed, and that the only strife should be which shall best exemplify the religion we profess, and most advance the kingdom of our Redeemer, and the salvation of our fellow-men."
On the same day in which the church was organized, Mr. Daniel C. Axtell, a graduate of Princeton College, and of the Auburn The- ological Seminary, was ordained and installed as pastor of the church. In this station he continued till Jan. 19th, 1836, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. On the 29th of August, of the same year, Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, then pastor of the Congre- gational church of Salisbury (Conn.), received a call to become the pastor of the church, which was accepted, and in December follow- ing he was installed pastor of this church, in which relation he has continued to the present time. This church has participated in the revivals which have been experienced in the place since its organi- zation. The number of persons received into this church since its organization to the beginning of the year 1847, is five hundred and ten. Owing to a changing and unstable population, as is extensively the case throughout this whole region, the number of the church and congregation has been variable. The church at the period of its last report numbered two hundred and twenty-six members. Pecuniary embarrassments which have befallen the community since 1837, have considerably affected this congregation ; yet not- withstanding these circumstances, they have raised annually about $2000 during that time, including their own current expenses, and what has been raised for different objects of benevolence.
They have a spacious and beautiful house of worship, with a fine organ. A correspondent says, " This church, according to the original design, has aimed to exert a conservative influence in re- gard to the ultraisms of the day, and has been firm and tenacious in its adherence to order and sound doctrine. Its ministry has been decidedly evangelical, and one of the prominent ends attain- ed by the existence of this church has been, the influence which it has exerted in general, in restoring and preserving habits of reli- gious order and decorum in the community."
The population of the city of Auburn is more than six thousand souls, including about six hundred convicts in the State Prison. For these convicts stated preaching of the Gospel upon the Sab- bath, with Sabbath schools and some other means of religious in- struction, is provided. The churches, besides the two Presbyte-
347
PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA.
rian churches, are, a Baptist, a Methodist, and an Episcopal church. The largest congregation is the First Presbyterian ; the others are respectable in numbers and ability. There is also a Universalist church and a Roman Catholic.
F Cayuga Village .- The village of Cayuga is situated in the town of Aurelius at the east end of the Cayuga Bridge. The place be- gan to be settled at an early date. For a number of years the few professors of religion of the Presbyterian order in the village and its vicinity, were connected with the original church of Aurelius. Some time, probably in the year 1818, or the beginning of the next year, the privilege of passing and repassing, free of toll, the Cayuga Bridge, in going to and returning from public worship, was obtained. This laid the foundation for the organization of a church, composed of members from both sides of the lake. Such a church was formed on the Presbyterian platform, and became attached to the Presbytery of Geneva, June 29th, 1819. Of what number of members the church at its organization was composed, the writer is not informed. It was small, and the church were unable by themselves to support a pastor. For this purpose the church unit- ed with the church of Seneca Falls, in settling a pastor, and, on the same day in which the church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Rev. William Bacon was installed pastor of the united churches. The pastoral relation was dissolved, Feb. 6th, 1821 ; but during the period of his ministry, the Presbytery, under date of February, 1820, speak of a revival in the congrega- tion, as having commenced, and being in a state of progress, seven members having been added to the church. In March, 1821, the church was dismissed from its connexion with the Presbytery of Geneva, and in July of the same year was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga. The church is now united with the church of Aurelius in the settlement of a pastor, and on the eighth day of August, 1821, Mr. Medad Pomeroy, a licentiate, was or- dained and installed pastor of the united churches. He was dismiss- ed from his pastoral relation to the church of Aurelius, Jan. 16, 1827! but is reported as pastor of the church of Cayuga till 1833. Du- ring his ministry several revivals of religion appear to have been experienced. In 1827, the church is reported as consisting of seventy-seven members, thirty-one having been added the previous year. In the report of 1829, nineteen members are reported as having been added, by profession, the preceding year ; in 1832, seventy-nine. These additions indicate revivals as having preced- ed. Rev. Henry Snyder was installed pastor of the church, April 30th, 1834, and dismissed, April 15th, 1835. Rev. Erastus H. Adams ministered as stated supply for a season ; how long is not known to the writer. In 1836, the number of members reported is two hundred and forty-five, which is seventy-six more than were
348
WESTERN NEW YORK.
reported in 1834, indicating that a shower of spiritual blessings had descended in the interval. Oct. 30th, 1838, Mr. Thomas R. Towns- end, a licentiate, was ordained and installed pastor of the church, and was dismissed, July 1st, 1840. In that year twenty members are reported as having been added to the church the preceding year, yet the whole number had been lessened by one hundred and nine, in the space of three years. In the year 1843, Rev. Medad Pomeroy is reported as stated supply to the church. In this capa- city he is laboring at the present time. The number of members last reported is one hundred and fifty-nine. This was in 1843. This church has an appropriate house of worship, and has always, without aid from a Missionary Society, supported its own minis- ters.
Aurelius .- The present church of Aurelius is of recent forma- tion. It is to be considered as an emanation from the church of Auburn, but the precise period of its organization is not known to the writer, nor the number of members who united in its organiza- tion. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 18th, 1842. In 1843, it is reported as furnished with a stated ' supply. Again, in 1846, it is reported as consisting of ninety-eight members, and having a stated supply.
Springport .- The church which is now denominated the church of Springport is the continuation of the original church of Aurelius, which, in consequence of repeated subdivisions, has entirely changed its location and assumed a different name. It is known in the statistical tables of the minutes of the General Assembly as the church of Aurelius till 1834, and, from that period to the present time, as the church of Springport. Its present location is in the town of Springport, which was originally included in the town of Aurelius. At what time the church was first organized is not cer- tainly known to the writer. It was, probably, as early as 1798 or 1799. The author has found no statement of the number of its members till 1831, when it contained sixty-seven members. The church was originally a Congregational church. It was one of the churches which united in forming the Middle Association, and on the dissolution of that body became an integral part of the Presby- tery of Cayuga. It has already been stated, in the history of the first church of Auburn, that Rev. David Higgins was installed pastor of this church, Oct. 6th, 1802, and that the relation was dis- solved Jan. 8th, 1811. During his ministry the church extended over the whole town of Aurelius, and the meetings for public wor- ship on the Sabbath were held alternately in four different parts of the town. Mr. Higgins' installation was the first instance of such an occurrence on the Military Tract. By the division of the church in the organization of the church of Auburn, it was greatly
349
PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA.
weakened, and its history is not known to the writer down to the year 1821. On the eighth day of August of that year, Rev. Medad Pomeroy was ordained and installed pastor of this church in con- nexion with the church of Cayuga village. His relation to the church of Aurelius was dissolved, Jan. 16th, 1827. The church for that year is reported, on the minutes of the General Assembly, as vacant. In subsequent years, down to 1813, with the exception of 1837, it is reported as statedly supplied, but by whom for most of the time does not appear. From May Ist, 1828, Rev. Lewis D. Howell was stated supply for one year, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. In 1836, Rev. James H. Rice appears to have been its stated supply. Rev. Samuel W. Raymond, under the patronage of the A. H. M. Society, supplied one year from March Ist, 1840. On the twenty-third day of Janu- ary, 1844, Mr. Elisha Barber, a licentiate, was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the church. In 1846, the church numbered ninety- one members, thirteen having been received the preceding year on profession. The church has an appropriate house of worship located in the village of Union Springs, in the town of Springport The church is sometimes called the church of Union Springs.
Fleming .- This church was formed of members from the church of Auburn. probably in 1823, as it was received under the care of the Presbytery, July first of that year. Of how many members it was composed the writer is not informed ; the number, however, was small. The church, as a distinct church, continued but about two years, when it was amalgamated with others, and became the second church of Scipio.
Scipio Second Presbyterian Church .- This church was organ- ized in the year 1825, by Rev. M. L. R. Perrine, D.D., one of the professors of the Auburn Theological Seminary. It was com- posed of the members of the church of Fleming, with a few individuals from the first church of Scipio, in the whole amounting to thirty-five or forty members. Perhaps instead of calling it a new organization, it may more properly be considered as a re- modelling of the church of Fleming, by adding to its number, and changing its name and locality. It would seem that this was the position in which it was viewed by the Presbytery. In their re- ports to the General Assembly, they report the church of Fleming till 1826, and after that period, Scipio second church. On no one report are both names to be found. No mention on their records is made of the reception of Scipio second church, from which it is evident that they considered it as the church of Fleming with a new name. Messrs. Elisha Cowles and Herman Norton, students of the Theological Seminary, and, as the writer supposes, licensed preachers, supplied this church with preaching in its infancy : Mr.
1
350
WESTERN NEW YORK.
Cowles for six months, Mr. Norton nearly two years. Under the labors of those men, an extensive revival was enjoyed, and, soon after the organization of the church, from seventy to eighty mem- bers were added to it by profession. Mr. George R. Rudd was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Feb. 21st, 1827, and ministered to them till June 16th, 1829, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. The third day of February following, Rev. John Clark was installed pastor of the church, and received his dismis- sion June 20th, 1832. The church, it is said, flourished under the labors of these two pastors. In the report of 1831, eleven are reported to have been added by profession, and the next year, twenty-seven. Rev. Charles E. Avery was installed pastor of the church, March 6th, 1833, and continued to occupy the post till Nov. 15th, 1842. At the commencement of his labors a blessed outpouring of the Holy Spirit was vouchsafed, and the work of grace continued about fifteen months. As the result, about fifty united with the church. Rev. Joseph D. Barker commenced preach- ing as a stated supply to this congregation in the autumn of 1844, and his labors are still continued. The church in 1834 reported one hundred and eighty-three members ; it now numbers about one hundred. It has always supported its own minister without missionary aid. It has a very good house of worship, fifty-five feet in length by thirty-five in width, which was erected in 1825. Not more than one half of the population in the immediate vicinity are in the habit of attending worship with this church. About an equal portion of Baptists, Methodists, and Quakers, also Univer- salists, are intermixed with the congregation.
Scipio First Presbyterian Church .- The town of Scipio included originally the present towns of Scipio, Venice, and Ledyard. The part which is now Scipio began to be settled about the year 1795 or '96. The first inhabitants were generally emigrants from the Eastern States, with some families of Germans from Pennsyl- vania. Public worship in a stated manner was established by the people from New England, in 1799. The German population had, at an early period, occasional preaching in the German language, by ministers of their own order from Pennsylvania, who had to travel from sixty to a hundred miles once or twice a year for this purpose. The other portion of the community enjoyed the occa- sional labors of missionaries from the Eastern States, and from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. In particular, the labors of Rev. Seth Williston were blessed to the conversion of some souls, and a church was gathered and organized by him in 1800. This church was constituted according to the Congrega- tional platform, and embraced the members of that denomination throughout the town. Of how many members it consisted the writer is not informed. It became connected with the Middle As-
351
PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA.
sociation, as the author believes, at the period of the organization of that body, and on the dissolution of the body became united to the Cayuga Presbytery. In the early years of its existence this church was considered as one of the most able and promising churches in Western New York. As early as 1804 or '05, Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff was installed pastor of this church, the author believes by an ecclesiastical council. The incidents of his ministry are unknown to the author. He was dismissed June 22d, 1813. Subsequent to this event a second church was organized, which was received under the care of the Presbytery, Feb. 20th, 1816. This church, it is supposed, was composed mostly of mem- bers detached from the first church. In the year 1818, another part of the church was detached to form the church of Aurora. These detachments must have greatly weakened the original church. In addition to these circumstances, an Associate Reform- ed Church existed, the members of which were intermixed in location with the members of the two churches of Scipio. Over this church Rev. William Johnson was pastor. This church with its pastor was received on their request by the Presbytery of Cayuga, July 2d, 1822. This circumstance seems to have paved the way for a new arrangement, and on the thirtieth of July, 1823, it was announced to the Presbytery that the three churches of Scipio were by agreement consolidated into one church, under the pastoral care of Mr. Johnson. It would seem, however, that the whole united formed but a comparatively feeble church, for in 1831, the church is reported as consisting of only thirty-three members. This church was denominated the First Presbyterian Church of Scipio. The church supported Mr. Johnson as pastor till June 16th, 1829, at which period the pastoral relation was dis- solved. They have never since had a settled pastor. From 1831 to 1834, inclusive, they are reported as having a stated supply, and in 1831, the church is reported as consisting of eighty-one mem- bers, having received the preceding year forty-eight by profession, a circumstance indicating that they had experienced a gracious visitation of the Holy Spirit. Rev. Seth Smalley labored with them two years, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. In years subsequent to 1834, this church is reported as vacant, the number of members not reported, till on the list for 1846 the name of the church is not found. What has become of it is unknown to the writer.
Aurora .- The village of Aurora is situated on the east bank of the Cayuga lake, in the town of Ledyard, which was formerly a part of Scipio. Its settlement is of the same date with that of Scipio. The Presbyterians in this place formerly were connected with the church of Scipio. Rev. Mr. Woodruff, while pastor of the church of Scipio, resided in the village of Aurora, and public
352
WESTERN NEW YORK.
worship was held alternately at the village and on the Ridge. In the year 1818, the church of Scipio was divided, and the church of Aurora was organized as a separate church, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, September 22d, 1818, and the next day Mr. James G. Oglevie, a licensed preacher, was ordained and installed pastor of the church. His continuance was only for a short period. He was dismissed, February 17th, 1820. Of what number of members the church was composed at its organization is not known to the writer. In the year 1825, the number is reported as sixty-seven. From the time of the dismission of Mr. Oglevie till 1829, the church is reported as vacant, and the number of members reduced to fifty-four. In 1829 and 1830, this church is reported as having a stated supply. On one of those years it would seem that Rev. Erastus S. Nichols was officiating as sup- ply. August 30th, 1831, Mr. Henry R. Hoisington was ordained and installed pastor of the church. It appears that at the com- mencement of his ministry a revival of religion was enjoyed. Thirty members are reported as added by profession, in the report for 1832, and sixteen the next year. Mr. Hoisington was dismissed, March 6th, 1833, for the purpose of going as a foreign missionary to Ceylon. On the 23d day of January ensuing, Rev. Chauncey Cook was installed pastor of the church, and continued in that station till January 13th, 1837, when the pastoral relation was dis- solved. During Mr. Cook's ministry it appears that the converting influences of the Holy Spirit were enjoyed in a measure, increas- ing the number of its members to eighty-three-a larger number than had ever before been reported. On the 18th of July follow- ing the dismission of Mr. Cook, Mr. James Richards, jun., a licen- tiate, was ordained and installed pastor of the church. He was dismissed April 20th, 1841, having received a call from the congre-
gation of Pennyan. Rev. Charles N. Mattoon succeeded Mr. Richards as a stated supply, and is yet continued. Since Mr. Mattoon commenced his labors the church has been much enlarged. Nearly 100 members are reported as having been added. The whole number of members reported in 1846, was 156. This church has a house of worship which is large and commodious. The Episcopalians and Methodists have each a house of worship in the village.
Moravia .- The town of Moravia, in which the village of Moravia is situated, was formerly part of the town of Sempronius. The Presbyterian Church of Moravia was originally the church of Sem- pronius, and by that name is known in the statistical tables of the minutes of the General Assembly till 1846. It is supposed that it included the members of this denomination throughout the original town of Sempronius. At what time the church was organized is not known to the writer. It was at an early period. It was origi-
353
PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA.
nally a Congregational Church, and was connected with the Middle Association. On the division of that body it fell under the care of the Cayuga Presbytery, where it still remains. Rev. Royal Phelps was its first pastor, and the only one who has been regularly installed by ecclesiastical sanction. At what period he was installed in that office, is not known to the writer. Ile was pastor previous to the dissolution of the Association, and the pas- toral relation was dissolved by the Presbytery, February 20th, 1816. In 1825, the church is reported as consisting of eighty-three mem- bers, and as vacant. This is the first report of the number of mem- bers that is found. Whether the church had been favored with stated preaching any part of the time, during the interval between the dismission of Mr. Phelps and the year 1826, is not known to the author. In the year last mentioned, Rev. George Taylor was engaged as a stated supply ; and, though he was never installed, his ministry with the church was continued to the period of his death, which took place June 30th, 1842. In the support of Mr. Taylor the church was aided by the United Domestic Missionary Society, and on the dissolution of that Society it was taken under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, and aided in the support of Mr. Taylor for five years. In the report of the church for 1842, one hundred and four members are reported, thirty having been added the preceding year. This circumstance indi- cates that an outpouring of the Spirit had been experienced. What privileges, as it respects the preaching of the gospel, and the admi- nistration of its sacraments, have been enjoyed since the decease of Mr. Taylor, is not known to the writer. In 1842, the church is reported as consisting of ninety-eight members, and enjoying the ministry of a stated supply. They have a house of worship in the village of Moravia. The Episcopalians also have a house of wor- ship in the village.
Summer Hill .- This town is the north-eastern quarter of what was formerly the town of Locke. Its settlement was commenced about the year 1790, by emigrants from New England, and the eastern part of New York. The professors of religion of the Pres- byterian Order were connected with the church in Groton for several years, and as early as 1817, the meetings were held half of the time at Summer Hill. A separate church, composed of ten members, four males and six females, taken from the church of Groton, was organized, February 21, 1827, by a committee of the Presbytery of Cayuga, consisting of Rev. Seth Smith, Rev. Abner Benedict, Rev. George Taylor, and Messrs. John Stoyell and Dan Bradley. Previous to the first communion, fifteen others were re- ceived as members, of whom eleven were from the church of Locke. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery, June 19th, 1827. Rev. Charles Johnston commenced laboring as a
23
354
WESTERN NEW YORK.
stated supply to this church a short time after its organization, and continued something more than four years ; and, after an intermission of five years, he was their stated supply three years longer. Rev. Wm. Williams supplied half the time for one year, from the autumn of 1831. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Scott for two years, and he by Rev. Wm. Goodale for about the same period. Rev. W. W. Col- lins was stated supply two years and a half, from the autumn of 1842, and was succeeded by Rev. S. P. M. Hastings, who was installed pastor of the church in June, 1846. The church at its organization, and for a number of years afterwards, was denominated the East Congregational Church of Locke. In 1832, it numbered seventy-one members, and in 1847, one hundred and thirteen. The second year after the church was organized there was a precious revival of religion under the ministry of Mr. Johnstone. As the result of this nearly thirty, more than half of whom were heads of families, were added to the church, giving it sub- stantial aid and strength. Under the ministry of Mr. Scott there was another general revival, which resulted in the addition to the church of more than twenty members. Other seasons of interest have been enjoyed, but not to amount to a general revival. The church has had difficulties to struggle with, but has been preserved from ultraism, and is now in a healthful state. At different times it has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society to the amount in the whole of about $500.
Their first house of worship was erected in 1826, by great ex- ertions on the part of the congregation, and involving them in a considerable debt, a part of which remained uncancelled, when in January, 1840, the church was consumed by fire. But the church looking to God for aid, immediately commenced rebuilding their beloved sanctuary, and erected a house sixty feet in length by forty in breadth, on the former foundation, and by the blessing of the Almighty, and the liberal aid of friends, it was completed and dedi- cated within the year. There is a small Baptist Church and also a small Methodist Society in the town, but the attendance and strength of the Congregational Church is equal to that of both the others. About one sixth of the population of the place are regular attendants on the church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.