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 43
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
Huron .- This town is a part of the original town of Wolcott, which in 1810 was set off from the north end of Junius, and includ- red the present towns of Huron, Wolcott, Butler, and Rose. The town of Huron when first organized as a separate town, was named Port Bay. Afterwards it was changed to Huron. The settlement of the town commenced in 1807, by families from New Marlbo- rough in Massachusetts, and New Hartford in Connecticut. In this wilderness they were soon visited with sickness to such an extent that those who were well were hardly sufficient to take care of the sick, but after a period the sickness abated, and health was restored. Having enjoyed the privileges of the gospel from their earliest years, they soon established religious order, and the observance of the Sabbath as a day of social worship. Missionaries occasionally visited them, but no church was organized till 1813. On the eighteenth day of July of that year, Rev. Henry Axtell, and Rev. Charles Mosher, organized a church consisting of twenty-three members, twenty of whom had previously been members of churches. The church was denominated " the First Presbyterian Church of Wolcott," after the division of the town " Port Bay," and subsequently " Iluron." This church at its organization included the
335
PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
professors of religion of the Presbyterian denomination throughout the original town of Wolcott, and it may be considered as the mo- ther of the present churches of Wolcott first, and second, and Rose. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Sept. 22d. 1813. In 1825 it numbered sixty-three members; in 1845 one hundred and thirty-one. Rev. Daniel S. Butrick, then a licen- tiate, but for many years past a missionary to the Cherokees, under the patronage of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, labored here as a stated supply for about two years. Rev. William Clark was installed pastor of the church, Jan. 31st, 1816, and continued in that station till Sept. 3d, 1823, when he was dis- missed. The labors of these men, and of some who followed them. for short periods were extended over the whole town. After the division of the church, Rev. Nathan Gillett supplied for a period of two years and a half. Rev. Publius V. Bogue was his successor, and after him Rev. Eli F. Adams; Rev. Jesse Townsend succeeded him for a season. Rev. Nathaniel Merrill was the next. He was installed pastor of this church in connexion with that of Wolcott First Church, as has already been stated, in 1835, and continued to officiate about one year and a half, till near the period of his death. After him Rev. Jacob Burbank officiated as stated supply for a sea- son. Rev. Henry S. Redfield was ordained and installed pastor, Sept. 5th, 1839, and dismissed Sept. 3d, 1840. Rev. Edmund F. Waldo was ordained and installed as pastor of the church, Feb. 17th, 1842. He continued in this relation till May 27th, 1845, when he was dismissed. Since that period the church has had sup- plies of preaching, but no regular pastor.
This church has been favored with several seasons of revival. During the period of Mr. Gillett's labors an interesting work of grace was manifested, and twenty-six members were added to the church. The labors of Mr. Adams were much blessed to the building up of the church. Under the ministry of Mr. Burbank, twenty new mem- bers were added to the church, and sixty-eight during the ministry of Mr. Waldo. In the support of several of its ministers the church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. They have a house of worship, which is forty-six feet in length by thirty- eight in breadth. The territory occupied by this church is not large. Other denominations but little prevail, and the greater part of the community are attendants upon the Presbyterian church.
Sodus .- The settlement of the town of Sodus commenced at an early period. At what period public worship was instituted, is not known to the writer. A church of the Congregational order, con- sisting of fifteen members, was organized, Oct. 23d, 1812, by Rev. Messrs. David Tullar and Solomon Allen. Of the members, seven were males, and eight females ; twelve had been previously mem- bers of churches, and three were received on profession. The
366
WESTERN NEW YORK.
next year the church adopted the Presbyterian form of organiza- tion, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, April 21st, 1813. In 1825, the church reported fifty-nine mem- bers ; in 1829, one hundred and twenty-nine, and, in 1846, it con- sisted of one hundred and seventy-six members. What amount of ministerial aid the church enjoyed previous to 1827, is not known to the writer. In January of that year, Rev. Jesse Townsend commenced laboring with them as a stated supply, and continued four years. His ministry was attended by the power of the Holy Spirit, and an enlargement of the church. During the year 1828, more than forty members were added to the church by profession. Rev. Joseph Merrill officiated as stated supply for a season, and others have been employed at different times. In 1833, Rev. Con- way P. Wing was ordained and installed pastor of the church, but was dismissed the following year. Rev. Charles Merwin was or- dained and installed pastor, Feb. 17, 1842. He was dismissed Sept. 4th, 1844. Rev. IIosea Kittridge commenced laboring as a stated supply in May, 1844, and still remains in that capacity. This church has never since its organization been long at a time without the stated preaching of the gospel. In 1831-2 this church enjoyed a season of divine influence, which resulted in the addi- tion of more than forty members to the church. They have re- ceived aid from the American Home Missionary Society, in the support of Messrs. Townsend, Wing, and Kittredge. They have an appropriate house of worship, forty-eight feet in length, and thirty-eight in width. The Methodists and Episcopalians have each a house of worship in the village. There are also in the town many Close Commuion Baptists, Free Will Baptists, German Lutherans, and German Methodists. The Episcopal Methodists are the most numerous denomination.
Wayne .- This church has its place of worship in the town of Sodus. Its members reside, some in the town of Sodus, and some in the town of Arcadia. It may be considered as occupying num- ber 13 in the first range of townships in Phelps and Gorham's Pur- chase. This township began to be settled about the year 1806, but till 1845 no church of the Presbyterian denomination existed. The members of that denomination in the township were connected with the church of Sodus, or that of Arcadia. On the eighteenth day of March, 1845, a Presbyterian church. consisting of eighteen members, was constituted by a committee of the Presbytery of Geneva. Eleven of the members were taken from the church of Sodus, and five from the church of Newark, in the town of Arca- dia, so that the church may be said to have been formed from those two churches. At the time of the organization of the church, and for a few weeks previous, Rev. James HI. Hotchkin preached in the settlement, and assisted in the organization of the church.
367
PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
Soon afterwards he was engaged for two thirds of the time for one year, and fulfilled his engagement. Since Mr. Hotchkin left, Rev. George L. Haskins, residing in Marion, has supplied a part of the time, and some additions have been made to the church. But it remains small and feeble. Its house of worship is a large school- house, not occupied by other denominations. The members of the church live intermixed with members of the Reformed Dutch, German Lutheran, German Methodist, Methodist Episcopal, Bap- tist, and Free Will Baptist churches. The Methodists are by far the most numerous denomination.
Williamson .- Respecting the settlement of this town, the writer has no definite information, nor does he know at what period the church was organized. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, February 3d, 1818. In 1825, it reported forty-one members belonging to the church. In 1832, it reported 112, having received on profession the year previous, sixty-nine. This is the last report found on record. Rev. Samuel White was ordained and installed pastor, February 21th, 1818, and was dis- missed February 7th, 1828. Since the dismission of Mr. White they have never enjoyed the labors of a regularly settled pastor, and for a large portion of the time have been reported as a vacant church. As stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. Jacob Burbank, Daniel Washburn, John F. Bliss, James M.Masters. H. B. Taylor, and Lyman Manly, have labored at different periods. In the support of several of these the church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. They have a house of worship which was built about the year 1828. The name of this church is not found in the reports of the Presbytery since 1837. The writer supposes that it has left its connexion with the Presbytery, and joined some Congregational body, or stands in an independent state.
Pulteneyville .- This village is situated on the shore of Lake Ontario, in the town of Williamson. Its settlement began at a pretty early period. In 1832-33. a church was here organized consisting of fifty-one members, of whom forty-eight were taken, as the writer supposes, from the church of Williamson. It was taken the same year under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. Its name is found from year to year on the reports of the Presbytery, and it is uniformly reported as vacant. No report of the number of members is given. Though the church has been reported vacant it has not always been so; Rev. Messrs. Jolm F. Bliss, Jacob Burbank, and Alfred C. Lathrop, have officiated as stated supplies under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. But the church has never been prosperous, and as a separate church has become extinct, and is merged in the church of Williamson.
368
WESTERN NEW YORK.
Ontario .- The settlement of this town was probably coeval with that of the adjoining towns. A church of the Congregational order was organized, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, March 25th, 1817. It is supposed that it consisted of a small number of members, as in 1825 it consisted of seventeen only. Since that period its number has not been reported to the Presby- tery. Its name is found on the annual reports of the Presbytery for the last time in 1831. The church has never been large, but its number of members is not known to the writer. It has never had a regularly installed pastor. As stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. John F. Bliss, Alfred Eddy, Jacob Burbank, and Lyman Manly, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, have at different periods officiated. During the year in which Mr. Eddy officiated, in 1838-9, the Spirit of God was poured out, and the church more than doubled the number of its members. For several years past, Rev. Lyman Manly has regularly supplied the congre- gation. They have a small but very neat house of worship, built of stone, and coated with pebbles from the lake shore. It was erected in 1841. Whether the church is independent, or connected with some Congregational judicatory, is not known to the writer.
Walworth .- The settlement of this town commenced about the year 1800, by emigrants mostly from Connecticut. For a number of years stated public worship was not enjoyed. A passing mis- sionary occasionally preached a sermon or spent a Sabbath. About 1812, a Baptist clergyman by the name of Irons established stated preaching for a season. In the summer of 1817, Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks assisted in organizing a Congregational Church at the place now called " Walworth Corners." It consisted of about twenty members. The church, however, did not flourish. By deaths and removals its ranks were thinned, and the church became nearly extinct. In the month of November, 1832, a Presbyterian Church consisting of six members, was organized by Rev. Samuel W. Whelpley, Rev. Joseph K. Ware, and Rev. Daniel Johnson. This church was styled " The First Presbyterian Church of Wal- worth." Soon after this, the church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva. No accessions were made to the „church till June, 1834; but the church lay in almost a dormant state. About the time of this last named period, Rev. Joseph K. Ware became their stated supply and continued in this capacity for a period of three years. The church became fully organized by the election and designation to office as ruling elders of the church of John Stevens and Samuel Curtis. During the period of Mr. Ware's ministry forty members were added to the church, and they still worshipped in a school-house at Walworth Corners. In the month of October, 1837, Rev. Royal West took the spiritual oversight of the church as stated supply, and continued his ministry
369
PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
'among them for four years. Mr. West's ministry was attended with spiritual blessings. During the year 1839, twenty-five mem- bers were added to the church ; in 1840, thirty-one, and in 1841, nine, making the church in October, 1841, to consist of seventy-six members. In November of that year; Rev. Francis E. Lord, then a licentiate preacher, commenced preaching to the congregation, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 28th, 1812. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, August 12th, 18.15, and was succeeded in November of that year by Rev. J. W. Fox as stated supply. During Mr. Lord's ministry nineteen mem- bers were added to the church by profession, and nine by letter. The church in 1845 numbered seventy-two members. In the sup- port of Messrs. Ware, West, and Lord, the church was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. They now contribute to the treasury of that Society, and support their own minister. They have an appropriate house of worship, which was completed, and, on the thirtieth day of June, 1840, dedicated to the honor and worship of the triune God.
Marion .- This town, formerly a part of Williamson, began to be settled about the year 1800, by families from Connecticut and Pennsylvania. A church of the Congregational order, consisting of five men and three women, was organized, Nov. Ist, 1808, by Rev. Messrs. Oliver Ayer and James H. Hotchkin. With the organization of the church stated public worship commenced. The church at its organization, and for some time afterwards, was known as the Congregational church of Williamson. It became connected with the Ontario Association, June 13th, 1809, and con- tinned in that connexion till the dissolution of the Association. In 1831 or 1832, the church made application to be received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, but the question of their reception was postponed on the ground that the church had adopted a new Confession of Faith, which, in the estimation of the Presby- tery, was materially defective: The application was never prose- cuted any further. Whether the church stands independent, or is connected with some Congregational body, is not known to the writer. The church has been furnished, from time to time, with ministerial aid. Rev. Howell R. Powell ministered for some time ; Rev. Jacob Burbank four years, from the commencement of 1826; Rev. James Boyle two years ; Rev. Messrs. Bronson, Merritt, Lee, and Mann ; Rev. George L. Haskins in 1845 and 1846. An in- teresting revival of religion was enjoyed in 1826 and '7, under the labors of Mr. Burbank ; also in 1839, under the ministry of Mr. Merritt, and in 1843, under the ministry of Mr. West. In 1830 and '31, under the ministry of Mr. Boyle, a high religious state of feeling was produced, a season of great excitement, and one hundred individuals said to be converted. It is believed, however,
24
370
WESTERN NEW YORK.
that many of these conversions proved in the issue to be spurious, though, no doubt, some of them were genuine. These revivals added considerable numbers to the church, which in 1846 consisted of one hundred and fourteen members. They have been aided by the American Home Missionary Society several times in the sup- port of their ministers. They have an appropriate house of wor- ship, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in breadth, erected in 1831. The congregation are intermixed with Baptists and Christians, each of which has a house of worship, and the three denominations are nearly equal in numbers and pecuniary ability.
Rose .- The town of Rose, it has already been stated, was for- merly a part of the original town of Wolcott, and its early re- ligious history is involved in that of Huron. The present town of Rose began to be settled about the year 1800, by emigrants from Connecticut and Massachusetts. A Presbyterian church, composed of eight members from the original church of Wolcott, was organ- ized, Feb. 17th, 1825, by Rev. Messrs. Francis Pomeroy and Benjamin B. Stockton. The church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, probably in 1826, as in the spring of 1827, it is named in the report of the Presbytery, and then con- sisted of twenty-eight members. In 1832, it reported forty mem- bers, seventeen having been added by profession the preceding year. In 1846, seventy-six members were reported. The church has never had a regularly installed pastor. As stated supplies the following-named ministers have officiated :- Rev. Jonathan Hovey, one third part of the time from February, 1825, till his death, which occurred the following August-(he was aged seventy- two years) ; Rev. Nathan Gillett, one third of the time for two years from March, 1827; Rev. William Clark, a part of the time for near six years from June, 1829; Rev. Jesse Townsend, ten months in 1835 and '36; Rev. Daniel Waldo, for two years from April, 1837 ; and Rev. Beaufort Ladd, from April, 1840, to the present time. Several periods of revival have been enjoyed, but not extensive. In the support of Mr. Ladd, the church have been aided by the American Home Missionary Society in six years to the amount of $428, and in the same period they have contributed to the treasury of that Society $128.
In 1846, some of the members of the church being dissatisfied with the government of ruling elders, the church adopted the Congregational form of government, still retaining their connexion with the Presbytery. The church has an appropriate house of worship, forty feet in length and thirty-two in width, which was erected in 1833. For several years past the subject of abolition has to some extent agitated this church, and a number of the members have disorderly withdrawn from its fellowship, and or- ganized themselves into an independent church, because the church
371
PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
would not adopt all their measures. The other religious denomi- nations intermixed with the church are, the Baptist, Episcopal Methodist, Protestant Methodist, and True Wesleyan Methodist. The Methodists are the most numerous denomination, and possess the most wealth.
Savannah .- Of the settlement of this town the writer has no information. Respecting the church, its name is found in the re- ports of the Presbytery of Geneva for the years 1836, 1837, and 1840. Nothing is reported respecting it, except it was vacant in each instance. September 2d, 1841, the church gave notice of their withdrawal from the Presbytery. The reasons for this step are not known to the writer.
Clyde .- This is a very respectable village situated on the Clyde river and Erie canal in the town of Galen. The place in the early period of the settlement was known by the appellation of " The Block House." It derived the name from a block house erected on the spot, during the war of the Revolution, by some Tories and smugglers, for the purpose of bringing goods and provisions from Canada, to trade with the Indians. This house was burned near the close of the war, and the place where it stood became over- grown with underbrush and trees. The first dwelling that was erected after the war of the Revolution, was a miserable shantee, erected by Jonathan Melvin, junr., on the northern bank of the river, about a mile west of the lock on the canal. This was in 1808.
The next year Mr. Melvin built a good substantial log-house on the south side of the river, on the site of the present village of Clyde. This was the first house erected in the village. Sodus Bay, at this period, was becoming a place of some notoriety, and. large expectations were formed respecting its future importance in a commercial point of view. A considerable settlement was already formed at the Bay. A road from Seneca fort to Sodus Bay be- came an object of high importance to the community, and especially to the settlers in the town of Junius, which then included the pre- sent towns of Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Junius, Tyre, Savannah, Galen, Rose, Butler, Wolcott, and Huron. Accordingly, by the exertions of Willhelmus Mynderse, Jesse Southwick, and Jona- than Melvin, a road was constructed, and a bridge built across the river at the village of Clyde. This was effected in the year 1809, and it greatly facilitated the settlement of the village and its vicinity. The settlers were partly of Dutch origin, and partly emigrants from New England.
Occasional preaching by travelling missionaries and others was enjoyed from an early period, but no regular stated public worship until about the period of the organization of the church, which took place July 8th, 1814. The church in Presbyterian order was orga-
372
WESTERN NEW YORK.
nized by Rev. Francis Pomeroy and Rev. Hippocrates Rowe, and it consisted of eight members, five of whom were males. It was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 9th, 1815, and was known as the church of Galen, on the reports of the Pres- bytery till 1840. It is now known as the church of Clyde. Though the church was small in the beginning, it has been a growing, pros- perous church. In 1825, it reported fifty-four members ; the next year one hundred and eight, having received sixty-one during the previous year ; in 1832, two hundred and thirty-eight, seventy-five having been admitted by profession the year previous. Since that time the number has been less ; but in January, 1846, it was one hundred and eighty-five. In 1819, Rev. Charles Mosher com- menced preaching to the congregation. He was installed pastor July 13th, 1820, and dismissed December 12th, 1822. He was succeeded by Rev. Jabez Spicer, as stated supply, who continued two years. Rev. B. Foster Pratt commenced preaching in October 1825, was installed pastor in December following, and continued about four years. He was followed by Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, who labored as stated supply two years, from October, 1830. About this time Rev. James Boyle preached and held meeting, more or less, for about three months. Rev. Maltby Gelston com- menced labor in March, 1833, was installed pastor in the same vear, and dismissed in February, 1836. Rev Josiah Fisher com- menced preaching in February, 1836, was installed in September of the same year, and dismissed in April, 1840. Rev. John Gray and Rev. James Byrney officiated as stated supplies for short periods. Rev. Samuel J. M. Beebe commenced preaching in January, 1842, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church on the 9th day of November of the same year, and still retains his station.
A precious season of revival was enjoyed in 1825, adding to the church more than sixty members. In 1831-2, about one hundred members were added to the church by profession, mostly as the result of the meetings conducted by Mr. Boyle. This, however. it is thought, was more an increase of members than of strength to the church. Also, under the labors of the present pastor, in 1842-3, a precious season of divine influence has been enjoyed, as the re- sult of which thirty-three were added to the church on their pro- fession of faith in Christ.
In the support of Mr. Spicer and Mr. Pratt, the church was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. They have a com- modious house of worship, sixty feet in length, and forty-five in width, erected in 1829. The other denominations in the village and its vicinity are, Episcopal Methodists, Protestant Methodists, New School Baptists, Old School Baptists, Episcopalians, and Ger- mans. There are also some Quakers, some Campbellites, and some Universalists. The Episcopal Methodists and the New
373
PRESBYTERY OF GENEVA.
School Baptists have flourishing churches, numbering more than one hundred members each. These, with the Episcopalians, have neat and commodious houses of worship.
Lyons .- The present town of Lyons was incorporated in 1811. Previous to this period it was a part of the town of Sodus. The permanent settlement of what is now the town of Lyons commenced about 1794, by immigrants from New Jersey and the south-castern part of New York. The descendants of these and immigrants from New England and Germany constitute the present population of the town. The earliest public religious worship in the town was held by the Episcopal Methodists, and was commenced as early as 1797. Public worship was first set up by Presbyterians, in what is now the village of Lyons, in 1798. The first Presby- terian preaching was only occasional, and at irregular intervals, by itinerant missionaries. The Presbyterian church, consisting of twenty members, eleven males and nine females, was organized by Rev. John Lindsley, missionary, in 1809. It was called the " First Presbyterian Church of Sodus in the village of Lyons." It is now called the "First Presbyterian Church of Lyons," and is the only Presbyterian church in the town. It was composed of individuals who had been members of churches in the places from which they had emigrated. The church has remained unaltered in its ecclesi- astical polity to the present time. It has increased in number con- tinually till, in 1846, there were belonging to it three hundred and seventy members, about forty of whom were absent.
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.