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 42
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Milan .- The village of Milan is situated in the town of Locke. This town originally comprehended all the territory of the present towns of Locke, Summer Hill, and Groton. The settlement of the town commenced about the year 1795, by emigrants mostly from the New England States. A Congregational Church was organized in the west part of the town by Rev. Seth Williston in 1799. This church was small. The author of this work, then a licensed preacher of the gospel, visited it in the autumn of 1808, and preached one sermon. It then consisted of about twelve or thirteen members,
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the most of whom belonged to two families of the names of Bennett and Brown. This church continued for a time in a feeble state, but in consequence of the organization of other churches in the town in more favorable locations, it ere long became extinct. The present church of Milan, originally denominated the First Congregational Church of Locke, and sometimes the West Church of Locke, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, October 15th, 1816. The author supposes that it had then recently been orga- nized. The number of members is not known. September 27th, 1819, Rev. Isaac Eddy was installed as pastor of the church, and continued in that station till April 19th, 1825, when the connexion was dissolved. At this period the church consisted of eighty-six members. The next year it is reported as furnished with a stated supply, and the two succeeding years as vacant. From 1829 to 1833 inclusive, it is reported as statedly supplied. In 1829, Rev. Cyrus Hudson, under the patronage of the American Home Mis- sionary Society, ministered to this church in connexion with that of West Groton. Ile reported that a revival had been enjoyed in Milan, and that more than forty hopeful conversions had taken place with twenty-four additions to the church. Mr. Hudson's labors were continued into the next year. In 1831, Rev. George Taylor is reported as supplying this church in connexion with that of Sempronius. The next year, Rev. William Williams is reported as stated supply for this church, and that of Summer Hill. In 1833, Rev. Seth Smalley is reported as the stated supply. From that period the church is uniformly reported as vacant-an indication that it is not in a very prosperous condition. Its present number of members is not known to the writer. This church has an appro- priate house of worship.
Genoa First Church .- The town of Genoa was formerly deno- minated Milton, and by that name included the present towns of Genoa and Lansing. The name of the town was changed from Milton to Genoa in 1808. The little village where the house of worship stands, is called Northville. John Clark and Ebenezer Hoskins are supposed to have been the first settlers in the town of Milton, and to have come in 1791. About the same time, or very soon afterwards, Perez, Jonathan, and Gilbert Brownell came into that part of the old town of Scipio, which is within the precincts of the Genoa congregation. In the spring of 1793, Perez and Gilbert removed into the present town of Genoa. Jabez and IIeman Bradley came into the same neighborhood in Scipio in the spring of 1793, and removed into Milton in February, 1794. 'William Bradley came in the following May. Nathaniel Walker, John King, Asa Jackson, and Thomas Stoddard, came from the valley of Wyoming to Springport near the Cayuga lake, in the spring of
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1719, and removed their families in 1790. The two first of these came to Genoa in February, 1793. Benjamin Close, John Moe, and Jonathan Mead, came in from Connecticut in 1793. In the spring of that year, there were twelve families in the town, and the next spring there were thirty-four families. Benjamin Close, who was afterwards a deacon in the church, commenced public worship in his own house immediately after bringing in his family, in the autumn of 1793. The church was organized August 13th, 1798, consisting of sixteen members, ten males and six females. The ministers present, and assisting on the occasion, were, Rev. Messrs. Reuben Parmele, Ezra Woodworth, and Jacob Cram. The mem- bers had all been connected with churches in the places from which they had emigrated. Eight of them were from Connecticut. The church was denominated the First Congregational Church in the town of Milton. Its present number of members (1845) is 145. In the year 1804, the church united with the Middle Association, and on the division of that body fell to the Presbytery of Cayuga, with which they have ever since remained. In 1820, they adopted the Presbyterian mode of government, and ruling-elders were elected and duly set apart to office. In 1831, the church expressed a desire to return to their former mode of government, but made no objections to any of the individuals composing the session. All the members of the session tendered their resignations, which were accepted. Since that period the internal affairs of the church have been conducted by the brethren, the church still retaining its depen- dence on the Presbytery.
Previous to the organization of the church, and during its infan- cy, some preaching by missionaries and others was enjoyed. Most of the missionaries who came into the region, visited the congrega- tion, and tarried a short time. Rev. Ezra Woodworth came in June, 1798, and preached one third of the time for five or six months. Rev. Mr. Scott supplied some Sabbaths, and received a call to settle, in February, 1799, but the settlement did not take place. Rev. Dr. Seth Williston also received a call for settlement, in March, 1800, but declined it. Rev. Jabez Chadwick commenced preaching to the congregation, it is believed, in 1803, and continued about two years. Rev. William Clark was ordained and- in- stalled pastor of the church, June 18th, 1806, and the pastoral re- lation was dissolved Feb. 24th, 1808. Subsequently to this, Rev. Samuel Fuller preached to the congregation for a season, and re- ceived a call for settlement, which he ultimately declined. Rev. Seth Smith was settled Jan. 24th, 1810, and still remains the pas- tor of the church, having sustained that relation for a longer period than any other minister in Western New York has had connexion with a single church. About the year 1805, in consequence of a differ- ence of opinion respecting a site for a house of worship, a number
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of individuals united in building a house for meeting in what is now the town of Lansing, and a portion of the church received letters of dismission, to be organized into a distinct church in that place.
This church has been favored with repeated seasons of refresh- ing from the presence of the Lord, adding to its numbers and graces. Of these some notice has been already taken. Such a season was enjoyed in the fall of 1799, and the winter following. By means of this revival about twenty members were added to the church. 'Another revival was experienced in the year 1817, com- mencing in the summer, and extending into the fall and part of the winter. It was confined to one portion of the congregation. Thirty or more were added to the church as the result. In 1820, some measure of divine influence was enjoyed, and some were ad- ded to the church. God was pleased again to visit the church in much mercy in 1826. This visitation was prolonged nearly a year, and between forty and fifty were added to the church as its fruits. The year 1831 was also distinguished as a year of the right band of the Most High. All classes and descriptions of persons seemed to be affected, and more than fifty were added to the church. Again, in the summer of 1832, there was another season of revival, as the result of which from twenty-five to thirty united with the church : and another season of refreshing in the winter of 1812-3, when fifteen or more were added to the church.
This church has always supported its own pastor without any foreign aid, and has ever been distinguished for its correct order, regular discipline, and adherence to sound doctrine. In 1809 the congregation erected a log meeting-house in which they continued to worship till the summer of 1805, when they had completed a new frame building, about sixty feet by forty-six in dimensions. It was not, however, a very commodious building, and has lately been taken down, and a new, neat, and commodious building has been erected, which was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, July 8th, 1817. As to the proportion of the community who at- tend worship with this church, if the boundaries of the congrega- tion are considered as extended so as to embrace all who worship with them, but a small proportion of the inhabitants can be said to worship with the church. Some few families belong to the Society of Friends ; some are Baptists ; many are Methodists ; and very many habitually neglect to worship with any church.
Genoa Second Church, or Genoa East .- This church was re- ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Ang. 20th, 1817. The author supposes that it was at that period of recent formation, and that it was organized by members taken from one or two neighboring churches. The original number of members is not known. Feb. 6th, 1822, Mr. Urbane Palmer, a licensed preacher of the gospel, was ordained and installed over the church. His
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dismission took place July 6th, 1824. The next year the church is reported as vacant, and consisting of forty-six members. Feb. 14th, 1826, Mr. John Smith was ordained and installed as pastor of the church ; but his continuance was for a short period. He was dismissed on the fifth of October of the same year. In 1828, the church is reported as enjoying the labors of a stated supply. It then numbered one hundred and three members, having received on profession, the previous year, fifty-six. July 8th, 1829, Mr. Nathaniel E. Johnson was ordained and installed pastor of the church, and continued in that relation somewhat more than two years. He was dismissed Oct. 4th, 1831. The next year the church is reported as furnished with a stated supply, and as having received thirty-three members by profession, making the whole number of members one hundred and twenty-seven. Two years afterwards the church is reported as vacant, yet consisting of one hundred and thirty-two members, having received, by profession, the previous year, thirty. This is the greatest number of members ever reported. Rev. William Toby was installed as pastor, Dec. 29th, 1835, and was dismissed from his pastoral charge Nov. 22d, 1836, having sustained the office hardly one year. Rev. David Malin was ordained and installed over this church, April 25th, 1838, and was dismissed Oct. 6th, 1840, having been called to take the place of an agent for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Whitman Peck, who was ordained and installed Oct. 23d, 1844, and still remains. The number of members reported in 1846 was seventy. The church have an appropriate house of worship. They have been aided by the American Home Missionary Society, in the support of several of their pastors.
Genoa Third Church .- This was a Congregational church, organized in the sonthern part of the town of Genoa, about the year 1805. It was attached to the Middle Association, and, on the division of that body, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cayuga. It was never flourishing. The society with which the church was connected broke down in attempting to build a house of worship. The materials for their house were sold at constable's sale, and the society was dissolved. Feb. 16th, 1813, a committee of the Pres- bytery reported that they had dissolved the church, and recom- mended its members to other churches as was convenient.
Lansing .- The town of Lansing was formerly the southern part of the town of Genoa (originally Milton). The church of Lansing was formed principally, if not wholly, of members from the First Church of Genoa, and was organized a Presbyterian church. This occurred in the year 1804, or near that time. The occasion of its organization was, a disagreement in the first church respecting a
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site for a house of worship, and a preference, on the part of a number, of the Presbyterian mode of church government. This church, at first, was denominated the Presbyterian Church of Mil- ton, and the Second Church of Milton. In the neighborhood it was spoken of as the Tetertown Church. On the change of the name of the town to Genoa, that name was substituted in the place of the former, and on the organization of the town of Lansing, its place of worship being within the limits of that town, it was after that period denominated " the Church of Lansing." It was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Jan. 28th, 1806, and on the erection of the Presbytery of Cayuga, it was assigned to that body. Rev. Jabez Chadwick organized the church, and minis- tered to it, and on the twenty-sixth day of February, 1806, was installed its pastor. He continued in the pastorate till March 14th, 1810, when the relation was dissolved. Rev. John Bascom was installed pastor of this church, May 27th, 1818, and continued in this relation till his death, in 1828. He was highly esteemed as a good and faithful minister of Jesus Christ. The year of his death the church is reported as consisting of ninety-one members, twen- ty-one having been added the preceding year by profession. Rev. Jabez Chadwick, their first pastor, succeeded Mr. Bascom, in the capacity of a stated supply, and acted in that capacity till about the commencement of the year 1831. He had changed his views on the subject of baptism a second time, and had renounced the baptism of infants, though he denied the necessity of immersion in baptism, and the invalidity of the baptism of those who had been baptized in their infancy. In consequence of this change of views in Mr. Chadwick, the Presbytery were unwilling to give him coun- tenance as a minister in good standing in the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Chadwick sent them a communication, declaring " that he did deliberately, solemnly, and publicly secede or withdraw from the Presbytery, and declare himself independent of their jurisdic- tion and authority." In consequence of this state of affairs, the church of Lansing became divided. A part of the members left the church, as the writer is informed, without regular dismissions, and were formed by Mr. Chadwick into a new church, with a con- fession of faith tolerating his peculiar views. This transaction took place in 1830, or near the commencement of 1831. This division, as to number, probably about equally divided the church. In 1830, they reported ninety-one members ; in 1832, forty-five. But the church, though weakened, were not disposed to give up the ordi- nances of God's house. Rev. Alexander M. Cowan officiated as stated supply during the years 1834, '5, and '6. But the church continued feeble, and after some further attempts to support the gospel, and finding themselves unable, they formed a union with the Free Congregational Church of Genoa, "leaving," as a cor- respondent observes, "one of the largest and best finished houses
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of worship in the county wholly unoccupied and useless, except as a monument of the glaring absurdity of erecting large and expensive churches in country places, where the population is either too sparse, or so distributed among the various denominations as to render large houses of worship unnecessary."
Genoa First Free Congregational Church .- This is the church mentioned above, as organized by Mr. Chadwick, in 1830 or '31. It was composed chiefly, if not wholly, of members from the church of Lansing, and has its location at a place denominated " The Five Corners." There was undoubtedly an irregularity in its organization. The period was at a time of irregularities, when a recklessness in religious, as well as in other affairs, was not unfre- quent. Mr. Chadwick ministered to them for a season. Messrs. Myrick, Warren, and others of that stamp, ministered to them. Many of the members became Perfectionists, and some of them were cut off from the church, and after a while, others of them withdrew, and thus the church was left, few in number, but evangelical and orthodox in their views. In this state of affairs, it became desirable that a union should take place between them and the Lansing church. To effect this their confession of faith was remodelled, and arrangements entered into satisfactory to all, and the union was consummated by dissolution of the church of Lansing, and the reception of its members into the other church. This union was consummated in 1812, or, perhaps, 1843. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, in November, 1843. Rev. William S. Franklin was installed pas- tor of this church in January, 1844. The church, in 1816, reported ninety-three members.
East Grolon .- The town of Groton was formerly the southern half of the Military town of Locke. Its settlement commenced about the year 1795, by Messrs. Bouker, Hardin, and Rose. The early settlers were nearly all from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Many of them were from the town of Lee, and yet remember Dr. Alvan Hyde, their former pastor, with great veneration. Public worship was first set up in 1802. During the same year, " The First Congregational Society" was organized according to law. A church was organized, by a committee of the Middle Association, June 19th, 1805, consisting of eleven members, of whom six were males and five females. The Committee consisted of Rev. Messrs. Darrow and Chadwick, Deacon Peter Hitchcock, and Benjamin Close. The church was originally denominated the East Congre- gational church of Locke, and is known on the minutes of the Presbytery as the church of Locke. The church was in the first place connected with the Middle Association, and on the division of that body, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cayuga, with
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which it continued in connexion till February, 1831, when it with- drew on account of the strong Congregational predilections of its members. Since that period it has remained independent of any ecclesiastical connexion. There have been connected with the church about one hundred and fifty different members. The pre- sent number of communicants (1846) is about two hundred and thirty.
As supplies for short periods previous to the settlement of a pastor, may be named Rev. Messrs. Alvan Sanderson, Jabez Chadwick, Azariah Clark, and Seth Smith. July 12th, 1809, Rev. Joshua Lane was ordained and installed pastor of the church, by the Middle Association. He continued in the pastoral office till March 2d, 1813, when he was dismissed from his charge. Hc was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Joshua Dean, who was ordained and installed pastor, Nov. 30th, 1811. He was greatly beloved by his people, and continued 'their pastor till his death, which occurred Nov. 30th, 1824. He was succeeded by Rev. Oren Catlin, as stated supply for about two years, and was follow- ed by Rev. Marcus Harrison, who, after having labored about two years, was installed pastor, July 9th, 1828. He was dismissed June 16th, 1830. After Mr. Harrison's dismission, Rev. Messrs. Edwin Bronson, James B. McCreary, and Samuel Shaffer, sup- plied, each for a short season. Rev. Edwards A. Beach was installed pastor. April 8th, 1835, by a council convened for the purpose, and continued about five years. Rev. Ezra Scovill was installed pastor, by a council, July 7th, 1811, and continued about two years and a half. Rev. Andrew J. Fennel commenced labor- ing as stated supply in August, 1843, and at the commencement of 1846, his labors were still continued.
This church has from time to time been blessed with refreshings from the presence of the Lord. In the winter of 1805-'6, there was something of a revival. In 1816 and '17 there was the most re- markable revival ever witnessed in the place. As the results of it, about one hundred members were added to the church on their profession of faith. In 1826 and '27 there was something of a re- vival, and about thirty were added to the church. In 1831 and '32 the Spirit was poured out, and a number added to the church. In 1838 fifty-six were added at one time to the church, by profession. The Society have a very good house of worship, sixty feet in length by fifty in breadth, which was dedicated in January, 1821. On the same territory from which the congregation on the Sabbath comes, there are six other churches, viz. three Methodist, two Baptist, and one Episcopal. There is also a Universalist Society, but neither of the denominations possesses more pecuniary strength than the Congregational.
Kingston .- This church is not in Western New York, but in
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Canada West. The author believes that it was organized abou the year 1825, and was composed of emigrants from the United States. It was denominated the Union Presbyterian Church of Kingston, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, July 5th, 1825. On the first day of September of the same year, Rev. Horatio Foot was ordained and installed pastor of the church, by the Presbytery, meeting in Kingston for the purpose. Mr. Foot was dismissed from his charge, Feb. 7th, 1828, and the church was dismissed to put itself under the care of the Presbytery of Watertown, as more convenient to its location, Jan. 19th. 1830. While it was connected with the Presbytery of Cayuga its number of members was never reported. After it was connected with the Presbytery of Watertown its name is found on the annual reports of that Presbytery to the General Assembly till 1833, after which it is seen no more. Its number of members that year was forty- two. What has become of this church is not known to the writer.
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CHAPTER XXV.
Presbytery of Geneva :- Wolcott Second Church, Wolcott, Huron, Sodus, Wayne, Wil- liamson, Polieneyville, Ontario, Walworth, Marion, Rose, Savannah, Clyde, Lyons. Newark, Port Gibson, East Palmyra, Palmyra, Farmington, Vienna, Phelps, Junius, Tvre, Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Canoga, Fayette, Geneva, Castleton, Hopewell, Chapinsville, Rushville, Gorham, Romulus, Ovid, West Dresden. Bellona, Pennyan. Branchport, Pontiac, Canandaigua.
IN our progress westward, we now come to the mother of all the Presbyteries west of the Cayuga lake, and the oldest of all the Presbyteries in Western New York,
THE PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
Beginning at the north-eastern extremity of the territory em- braced by this Presbytery, we meet with
Wolcott Second Church .- The time of the organization of this church is not known to the writer. It is found on the report of the Presbytery to the General Assembly for 1825. The writer supposes that this was soon after its organization It was then denominated Wolcott Third Church. It is often spoken of as the church of Red Creek, its location being in a small village known by that name. In 1826, it consisted of twenty-five members ; in 1832 it reported forty-nine, sixteen having been received the year previous. In 1813, it reported eighty-four members. Till 1836, it was uniformly reported as vacant. Since that period Rev. Messrs. James T. Hough, William Clarke, Henry Boynton, and Alanson Scofield, have successively officiated as stated supplies for different terms of time. Mr. Scofield is supplying at the present time. The church has been aided in the support of its minsters by the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society. While Mr. Boynton was officiat- ing, a blessed revival was enjoyed, as the result of which the church more than doubled the number of its members. It has an appropriate house of worship. Its members are greatly intermixed with those of other denominations.
Wolcott .- The history of this church is involved with that of Huron, which was the original church of Wolcott, till its organi- zation as a separate church. The author's correspondent says this was in 1827 ; but the records of the Presbytery of Geneva state, that it was received under the care of that Presbytery, September
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Ist. 1818. It was organized as a Presbyterian Church by a com- inittee of the Presbytery, and consisted of twelve members taken from the original church of Wolcott. For a number of years it was known as the Second Presbyterian Church of Wolcott, but after the original church took the name of Port Bay, this church was denominated the First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott. In 1825, this church reported twenty-nine members ; in 1834, fifty-one ; and in 1846, one hundred and forty-three. For a period of about eight years, Rev. Messrs. Chittenden, Powell, Chapin, Bogue, Clark, and Hopkins, officiated some part of the time as stated sup- plies. Rev. Nathaniel Merrill was installed as pastor of this church and that of Huron, in 1835, and sustained the relation till about the time of his death in 1839. Rev. Thomas Wright commenced preaching here, October, 1839, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church in August of the same year ; he still retains the station. This church has been favored with several seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. One in 1833, when Mr. Hopkins was stated supply ; another in 1838, while Mr. Merrill was pastor ; and another in 1841, since the installation of Mr. Wright. They have erected an appropriate house of worship, fifty-six feet in length and forty-six in breadth. They have received aid from the American Home Missionary Society, to the amount of about $200. There are intermingled 'with this church respectable churches of the Baptist and Methodist denominations, with appro- priate houses of worship. There is also a small Society of Universalists.
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