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 48
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Ithaca .- This town originally constituted the south-eastern part of the military township of Ulysses. Its settlement commenced in 1789. The first settlers were from New England, but at an early period Dutch settlers from New Jersey came in. The commence- ment of the village may have been about the year 1800. The Presbyterian church was organized, Jan. 24th, 1804, by Rev.
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Jedidiah Chapman, a missionary of the General Assembly. The writer supposes that it was organized with twelve members, as Mr. Chapman in his journal speaks of receiving the names of twelve persons, who proposed to unite in church fellowship. The church was denominated " The South Presbyterian Church in Ulysses." It was, however, designated on the reports and minutes of the Presbytery, by the name of " Ulysses Second Church," till it took the name of Ithaca. Soon after its organization, it was received under the care of the Presbytery of Oneida, and, on the organiza- tion of the Presbytery of Geneva, in 1805, was assigned to that body. In August, 1816, the church, on account of convenience of location, was dismissed from its connexion with the Presbytery of Geneva, and in February of the next year was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, and on the erection of the Pres- bytery of Ithaca, was assigned to that body. On the fifth day of November, 1805, Rev. Gerrit Mandeville was installed pastor of this, and the first church of Ulysses, by the Presbytery of Geneva. He was dismissed from his pastoral relation to the church of Ithaca, August 15th, 1816. During Mr. Mandeville's relation to the church, no special revival of religion took place. Ithaca was but an inconsiderable place ; wickedness greatly prevailed, and fre- quently, it is said, not more than fifteen persons, and rarely more than thirty or forty, were found upon the Sabbath attending public worship. The church had made very little increase in numbers, and for a considerable period previous to Mr. Mandeville's dismis- sion, no preaching was enjoyed, he having removed from the place.
In the month of February, 1816, Rev. Wm. Wisner (now Dr. Wis- ner) commenced preaching in the place, being engaged as a stated supply for one year. The church had no suitable place for worship. Mr. Wisner first preached in a small, dilapidated school-house, then in the summer in a barn, from which, after a season, the meetings were removed to the loft of a stable attached to the building, since called the Temperance House. On examining the records of the church, the names of twenty individuals residing in the village or its vicinity, were found and recognised as members of the church. Of these, eight were males and twelve females. Of the males, three were in a very short time excommunicated for heresy or gross immorality, and two of the females were suspended from the communion of the church. Soon after the commencement of Dr. Wisner's ministry, some special seriousness was manifested in the congregation, and a number of hopeful conversions occurred. At the first season of the administration of the Lord's Supper, in the spring of 1816, seventeen members were added to the church by profession, and in August, eleven more were received. These were indeed days of rejoicing to the pious in Ithaca. Still wicked- ness abounded. Sabbath breaking, gambling, uncleanness, and other vices, prevailed. On the fifth day of February, Dr. Wisner
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was installed pastor of the church. In the autumn of 1817, two leading gamblers and horse-racers were hopefully converted, and with about forty more individuals, were united to the church on a profession of faith in Christ. In the spring of 1818, the meetings were removed from the stable-loft to the new church which the congregation had erected, and which in due form was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. In 1825, this edifice was found to be too small for the accommodation of the congregation, and was enlarged by the addition of twenty-six feet to the north end. The congregation had become strong in comparison with what it once was. The church numbered two hundred and sixty-three members. The village had greatly multiplied its inhabitants, and the morals of the place were greatly improved.
But the blessings of the Holy Spirit which had been enjoyed, though great and glorious, were small in comparison with those which were to follow. A manifestation of more than ordinary seriousness appeared in the congregation as early as the month of June, 1826, and continued through the summer. In the beginning of November about sixty-five were indulging a hope, and thirty- eight had united with the church. In the latter part of this month, a new impulse was given to the work. Meetings were held daily for a considerable period. From the last week in September to the last week in January following, it was reckoned that about 300 hopeful conversions had occurred in the Presbyterian congre- gation, and 220 were added to the church.
In April, 1830, thirty-one members were dismissed on their re- quest to form the present Reformed Dutch Church in the village. In the autumn of this year the spirit of God was again poured out upon the south hill, from whence it spread with great rapidity throughout the boundaries of the congregation. As the fruits of this revival, during the month of January, 1831, 224 members were added to the church, making the church to consist of more than 800 members, united in sentiment and in heart to one another. On the 14th day of April, 1831, Dr. Wisner was, at his own request, dismissed from his pastoral relation to the church, and removed his family from the place.
Dr. Wisner was succeeded by Rev. William Page as stated supply for about one year. His labors were to some extent blessed to the conversion of sinners, and increase of the church. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Alfred E. Campbell, who was installed pastor of the church, August 8th, 1832. His labors as pastor were continued to October 16th, 1834, when he was dismissed from his charge. He was succeeded by Rev. John W. Mccullough, who was installed pastor of the church and congregation, November 12th, 1834. He was dismissed, April 10th, 1838, having embraced the sentiments of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Soon afterwards he received orders in the Episcopal Church from the Bishop of Pennsylvania.
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A short time previous to the dismission of Mr. Mccullough, Dr. Wisner, the first pastor, returned with his family, and took up his residence in the village. He was requested again to supply the pulpit, and his health being sufficiently restored, on the call of the church and congregation, he was again installed their pastor, July 10th, 1838. Since Dr. Wisner's resumption of pastoral labors with this church, there have been two special seasons of revival, viz. in the latter part of the years 1838 and 1839. In these seasons of divine influence, it is reckoned that as many as 160 souls were born of God. During the period of Dr. Wisner's ministry, and in- cluding the ministry of Messrs. Page, Campbell, and Mccullough, down to the year 1842, there had been received into the church 1,349 members, of whom 460 had removed or been dismissed to other churches ; forty-nine had been cut off by discipline ; and 175 had gone to their final rest. The contributions of the church and congregation to promote the benevolent operations of the day, have amounted annually for several years to about $1500. There are in the village, besides the Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch, an Episcopal, a Methodist, a Baptist, and an African Church.
Varna .- This is a village situated in the town of Dryden near its western line. It began to be settled at a pretty early period by emigrants from different places, particularly from New Jersey. The village in former times has been noted for intemperance, gan- bling, horse-racing, and Sabbath desecrations. Religious meetings were few and thinly attended. The Methodists have had circuit preaching in the village for more than twenty years. The Pres- byterians have had only occasional preaching, until the summer of 1842. Since that period they have had it statedly every Lord's Day. Rev. George Spalding was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society, in August, 1842, to labor in this place, and has continued under the patronage of the Society to the pre- sent time. The church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Ithaca, September 22d, 1842, consisting of twenty- seven members, a part of whom were received on letters of dismis- sion from the church of Ithaca, and the remainder on a profession of faith in Christ. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery, September 27th, 1842. Mr. Spalding officiated as stated supply about two years, and was then installed as pastor of the church, September 5th, 1844. Early in the Spring of 1843, this infant church was blessed with a precious and extensive re- vival of religion, in which a considerable number of heads of fami- lies were hopefully converted. More than sixty individuals pro- fessed a hope in Christ, but did not all unite with the Presbyterian Church. Since that time several seasons of refreshing, in which the people of God have been quickened, and some sinners converted, have been enjoyed, but no general out-pouring of the Spirit has
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taken place. The church has increased in the number of its mem- bers to more than one hundred, and, as it respects the state of morals, a great and pleasing change has taken place. The church has a neat and commodious house of worship, sixty feet in length and forty in breadth, which was erected in 1843. They have received one hundred dollars annually from the American Home Missionary Society, in aid for the support of their pastor, which has been generously donated by Mr. Timothy S. Williams, of Ithaca. The congregation live intermixed with Methodists and Baptists of different kinds; but the Presbyterian congregation is thought to be the largest in number. As many as three-fourths of the population, it is estimated, are ordinarily attendants on public worship in some one of the churches.
Dryden .- The settlement of this town commenced about the year 1800. At what period the church was organized, or by whom, is not known to the writer. It was connected with the Middle Association, and, on the division of that body in 1810, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cayuga. In 1829, in the division of that Presbytery, it was assigned to the Presbytery of Tioga, and on the erection of the Presbytery of Ithaca became attached to that body. The writer has no information respecting its number of members till 1827. It then consisted of eighty-nine members, thirty-seven having been received the year preceding. From this period there was a small annual increase to 1832. That year the church re- ported one hundred and eighty-six members, seventy-one having been received on profession the year previous. In 1836, the num- ber reported was two hundred and thirty-one, thirty-five having been received the preceding year by profession. In 1843, the whole number reported was two hundred and forty-seven, sixty having been received on profession in three years next preceding. From the time of the organization of the church till 1821, the writer is not informed respecting its enjoyment of ministerial aid. In July of that year Rev. Reuben Hurd was installed pastor of the church. He was dismissed July 1st, 1823. After an interval of a little more than two years, Rev. Samuel Robertson was, November 16th, 1825, installed pastor of the churches of Dryden and Virgil. In what proportion his ministrations were divided between the two churches, is not known to the writer. He continued in charge of the two churches four or five years, when his relation to the church of Virgil was discontinued. He remained pastor of the church of Dryden till July 5th, 1834, when the connexion was dissolved. He was succeeded by Rev. Luther Clark, who was installed as pastor, June 9th, 1835, and held this relation until it was dissolved by his death in the spring of 1845. In 1846, the church was reported as having a stated supply. The church seems to have been, through the good providence of God, a prosperous church, and to have
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enjoyed precious seasons of divine visitation by the Holy Spirit, in his converting influences. They were assisted in the support of Mr. Robertson one or two years by the American Home Missionary Society. With this exception they have always supported their own minister without foreign aid. They have an appropriate house of worship, and there is another in the village belonging to the Methodist denomination.
Caroline .- The history of this town is altogether unknown to the writer. The church was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Cayuga, Jan. 25th, 1820. It had, at that time, been recently organized. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga, and from that to the Presbytery of Ithaca, on the organization of those bodies. In 1825, it consisted of twenty-nine members. In 1832, it reported forty-five, but in 1847, only thirty-six. It has never had a pastor, and for a considerable part of the time has been reported as vacant. As stated supplies, we find the names of Rev. Messrs. Zenas Riggs, Henry Ford, Moses Jewell, Samuel Scott, Peleg R. Kinne, and Joel Jewell. Most of these minis- tered to another church at the same time, and all of them, except Mr. Riggs, received a part of their salary from the funds of the American Home Missionary Society. The last of those above named received his commission, Nov. Ist, 1846, and is supposed to be now laboring on that field, including also the church of Newark.
Danby .- The general settlement of this town was of a some- what later date than that of some other places in the vicinity. A portion of the settlers were from Connecticut. These instituted public worship upon the Sabbath, and a Congregational Church was organized as early, perhaps, as 1812. Rev. Samuel Parker was installed as pastor, as the writer believes, by an ecclesiastical council some time previous to 1815. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Feb. 21st, 1815. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga, and from that to Ithaca, in the same manner as the two churches last mentioned. It num- bered in 1825, seventy-three members; in 1830, 175; and in 1840, 155. Mr. Parker continued as pastor till July 27th, 1826. The church then remained without a pastor about five years. In the interval, we find the names of Rev. Solomon Stephens and Rev. Marshal L. Farnsworth as stated supplies. Rev. Solomon Stephens was installed as pastor, June 21st, 1831. He continued till Jan. Ist, 1833, when he was dismissed. He was succeeded by Rev. William Clark, whose installation took place June 10th, 1835. He continued in the pastorate nearly five years, and was dismissed May 14th, 1840. Mr. Clark was succeeded by Rev. Stephen Voorheis as stated supply, whose labors are still continued.
This church has been repeatedly visited by the gracious influences
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of the Holy Spirit. This was the case during the ministry of Mr. Parker. In 1826, the work was most powerful, and the hopeful subjects of it amounted to near 200. Again in 1839, a blessed season of divine influences was enjoyed, and about sixty were added to the church. Other seasons, which the writer is unable to parti- cularize, have been enjoyed. This church has always suppor ed its own minister without foreign aid. It has an appropriate house of worship, and there is another in the village belonging to the Methodist denomination.
Newfield .- This town was formerly a part of the town of Cayuta, and was first settled in 1807 or 1808, by families from the town of Lansing, originally from Connecticut and New Jersey. Deacon Ebenezer Patchin, from Connecticut, was one of the first settlers, and from the commencement of his residence in the place opened his habitation on the Sabbath for religious worship, and with little aid from others maintained stated public worship till a church was organized, a period of ten years. The organization of the church was accomplished, October 24th, 1817, by Rev. John Bascom, who was laboring as a missionary in the vicinity, and appropriating one fourth of the time to this people. The gathering of a church was the result of a revival connected with the labors of Mr. Bascom. The number of members at the organization of the church was eleven. The author supposes that this is the church which was received under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, Jan. 28th, 1818, and denominated the church of Cayuta. It has passed through the same changes, as to its Presbyterial connexion, as the three next preceding churches which have been mentioned. The church, in 1825, consisted of twenty-six members. The highest number ever on the list at one time, is one hundred and seventy. The number at the last report was one hundred and forty-four. Mr. Bascom closed his labors soon after the organization of the church, and was succeeded by Rev. Stephen Crosby, under a missionary appoint- ment, who appropriated a portion of his time to this church for a season, and under whose ministry about thirty were added to the church. Rev. Samuel Parker, under the direction of the Massa- chusetts Missionary Society, labored here a small portion of the time for several years. During most of the years 1829 and '30, Rev. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth labored here as a stated supply under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. Rev. Joseph R. Johnson was stated supply in 1833 and 1834. After him Rev. Alvah Lilly commenced labor, and was installed pastor on the 11th day of June, 1835. His dismission took place, September 11th, 1839. He was succeeded by Rev. Octavius Fitch, who supplied from the winter of 1839 till April, 1842. He was immediately succeeded by Rev. Zenas Riggs, whose labors are still continued. In the support of Mr. Lilly the church were aided by
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the American Home Missionary Society, as also in the support of Mr. Riggs since April, 1846.
The first season of revival which was connected with the forma- tion of the church has been noticed. Another connected with a protracted meeting, and resulting in the addition of about forty members to the church, was enjoyed in 1831. A third, in 1840, added about twenty-five members to the church. The church has been greatly agitated by conflicting views respecting those subjects and measures by which so many churches have within a few years past been rent asunder ; but these difficulties have in a good mea- sure subsided, and the circumstances of the church are more favor- able. They have an excellent house of worship, fifty feet by forty in dimensions, which was erected in 1829, and dedicated in 1831. The great mass of the population are not yet gathered in assem- blies for religious worship. The Methodists and Baptists have each a house of worship with stated preaching on the Sabbath ; the former about equal to the Presbyterians in numerical and pecuniary strength ; the latter fewer and less able.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
Presbytery of Cortland :- De Ruyter, Lincklaen, Truxton, Preble, Preble Corners, Scott, Homer, Cortlandville, M' Grawville, Solon, Pitcher, Cincinnatus and Solon, Freetown, Virgil, Virgil Second Church, Harford, Marathon, Lisle.
As next in local order, we proceed with the history of the churches of the
PRESBYTERY OF CORTLAND.
Commencing at the north-eastern section we begin with the church of
De Ruyter .- This church was organized as a Congregational Church by Dr. Williston, in 1804 or 1805, and was received as a constituent member of the Union Association, September 8th, 1811. After the dissolution of that body it became connected with the Presbytery of Onondaga, and, on the division of the Presbytery in 1825, was assigned to the Presbytery of Cortland. It has always been a small and feeble church. In 1825, it numbered twenty-four members ; in 1837, fifty, but in 1846, reported but thirty. A large proportion of the time since its connexion with the Presbytery, it has been reported as vacant. From May, 1826, Rev. Mathew Harrison supplied one half of the time for two years, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. Under the same patronage, and in a similar manner, Rev. Nathaniel Latham supplied from May, 1833, at least one year. Rev. Robert Brown also supplied one year from November, 1835, under the patronage of the Society. What ministerial aid the church enjoyed previous to Mr. Harrison's appointment as a missionary, is unknown to the writer. Rev. Joseph R. Johnson, in 1840, is reported as pastor of the church. He received a commission from the American Home Missionary Society to labor here, October 1st, 1839, and resigned his commission, October 1st, 1842. The author supposes that Mr. Johnson was dismissed from his pastoral charge of the church, about the time that he resigned his missionary commission, and that his pastorate continued about three years. Rev. Ezekiel D. Taylor was commissioned to labor here by the Missionary Society, Jan. 1st, 1845, and his commission was renewed the succeeding year. In his report to the Society he expresses his fear that the church would become extinct. The church has a house of worship in
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the village. The Baptist denomination have also a house of worship.
Linklaen -- The town of Linklaen was formerly a part of German, and the Presbyterian Church in the town was originally denomi- nated German Second Church. Of its history the writer has little knowledge. It is noted on the statistical tables of the General Assembly's minutes for 1818, as connected with the Presbytery of Onondaga, from which it was transferred to the Presbytery of Cort- land on the organization of that Presbytery. In 1825, the church is reported as consisting of forty-five members, and the highest number reported at any time is fifty. The church seems never to have been in a flourishing state. It has at times enjoyed the labors of a stated supply for a share of the time with the aid of the Ame- rican Home Missionary Society, but for the most part of the time it has been reported as vacant. On the minutes of the General Assembly for 1846, its name is not found. There is a Congrega- tional Church in the town of Linklaen ; but respecting its history and character the author is not informed.
Truxton .- The town of Truxton comprises the south half of the military town of Fabius. Its settlement commenced in 1791, a sin- gle family of the name of Benedict breaking ground here. From that year to 1800, accessions were made by families, mostly from New England, bearing the names of Whitney, Steward, Trow- bridge, M'Knight, Jeffrey, Stiles, and Miller. Public worship was first commenced in 1801, by Rev. Hugh Wallis, by whom the in- habitants were supplied to some extent with ministerial services previous to the organization of a church. In 1811, a Congrega- tional Church, consisting of twenty-one members, was organized by Rev. Wm. J. Wilcox, assisted by Rev. John Davenport, and Rev. Joseph Avery, a missionary from Massachusetts. At the time of the organization of the church or soon after, Rev. Mr. Jew- ell commenced laboring with the church as a stated supply, and continued for some time. He was succeeded by Rev. Oliver Hitchcock in 1813, and he, by Rev. Mathew Harrison in 1814. How long Mr. Harrison continued with the church is not known to the author.
In 1819, Rev. Ezra Woodworth supplied, and was succeeded the next year by Rev. Caleb Clark, then a licentiate preacher. On the fifth day of June, 1833, Mr. Clark was ordained and installed pastor of the church, which station he held till April 15th, 1830, when he was dismissed. Since this period, Rev. Charles E. Ave- ry, Rev. John N. Lewis, and Rev. Huntington Lyman, have seve- rally been employed as stated supplies. These were succeeded by Rev. William T. Doubleday, the present stated supply, who has now (1848) ministered to that congregation between two and three
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years. In 1813, the church became connected with the Presbyte- ry of Onondaga, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Cortland on the erection of that body. The church enjoyed a precious sea- son of revival in 1820, as the result of which sixty-seven were added to its number. The year 1831 was also a season of refresh- ing. In 1825, the church consisted of one hundred and six mem- bers; in 1837, it reported one hundred and eighty-eight, and in 1846, one hundred and four. It has always supported its ministers without foreign aid. It has a good house of worship, sixty-two by forty-four feet in its dimensions, which was erected in 1820. The average attendance on public worship is about one hundred and seventy-five persons. The members of the congregation live inter- mixed with Baptists, Methodists, and Universalists. The Baptists are the most numerous denomination, and their church was orga- nized several years before the Congregational church.
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