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 51
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This church has always supported its ministers without foreign aid, and for a number of years past, has contributed annually from seven to eight hundred dollars for benevolent purposes. Their house of worship was erected of wood in 1819, and was originally fifty feet in length by forty in breadth, but by two several enlarge- ments, it is now sixty-six feet in length and sixty in breadth. The congregation attending worship on the Sabbath, varies from three hundred to five hundred hearers. It may at times amount to six hundred. It is the largest congregation in the village. Two
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churches have been formed from this, the Presbyterian Church of Castle Creek, and the Congregational Church in the village.
Binghamton Congregational Church .- This church was orga- nized of members taken from the Presbyterian church in 1836. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga in April, 1839. In 1843, it consisted of twenty-nine members. It now numbers about seventy-five. Before the installation of a pastor, Rev. Mr. Starkweather and Rev. Arthur Burtis officiat- ed as stated supplies for a season. Rev. Samuel W. Bush was installed pastor, Dec. 24th, 1839. He remained with the church till Feb. 20th, 1844, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. Rev. Samuel W. Brace then officiated as stated supply two or three years. Rev. Dennis Platt succeeded him, and was installed pas- tor of the church, Oct. 20th, 1847. This church, though small, seems not to have received the aid of any Missionary Society in the support of its ministers. The church possesses considerable wealth, and has a beautiful house of worship.
Besides the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, the Episcopal Methodists, the Episcopalians, the Baptists, the Protest- ant Methodists, and two colored Societies of Methodists, have churches in the village. The Universalists, in 1846, had an edi- fice for public worship in course of being erected, but no stated preaching. The Roman Catholics have a mass-house, and the services of a priest a part of the time. They have a Female Seminary in the village, in which the daughters of Protestant parents are instructed.
Castle Creek .- This village is situated in the town of Chenango. The part of the town in which it was situated was settled in 1813 by Lyman King, Thomas West, Josiah West, Benjamin West, Daniel Bishop, and Foster Lilly. A Presbyterian church, consist- ing of twenty-three members taken from the church of Bingham- ton, was organized, Dec. 3d, 1833, by Rev. Messrs. Lewis D. Howell and Nahum Gould, acting as a Committee of the Tioga Presbytery. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery, April 16th, 1834. In 1846, it consisted of fifty-nine members. The church has always been small and feeble. It has never had a regularly installed pastor, but generally has been sup- plied with ministerial aid, at least a part of the time. Rev. Peter Lockwood and Rev. Francis Janes supplied one year each, for half of the time. Rev. Seth Burt followed them for eighteen months the whole of the time. Rev. Henry Ford then supplied a part of the time till 1840. Rev. Samuel W. Leonard com- menced laboring here in Oct. 1840, and continued till the spring of 1843. Rev. Joseph Davidson succeeded him, and labored the whole of the time for one year. In the autumn of 1844, Mr.
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Leonard resumed his labors, and still continues as stated supply. Under the labors of these ministers several refreshing seasons of revival have been enjoyed, but none of special note. The church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society several years in the support of Messrs. Burt, Leonard, and Davidson. It does not appear to have received any aid since 1843. A house of worship forty feet in length and thirty in breadth, with a gallery and belfry, was erected in 1839, and finished the next year.
There is a Baptist church in the place, which was organized in 1817, and numbers nearly one hundred members. Rev. Caleb Hays has ministered to this church about twenty-eight years. There is also a Methodist Society, which in number is about equal to the Presbyterian church. These denominations have each a house of worship.
Conklin .- The name of this church is first found in the Annual Report of the Presbytery of Susquehannah for 1826. On the or- ganization of the Presbytery of Montrose it was transferred to that Presbytery, from which it was, in April, 1842, transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga. In 1827, it was reported as consisting of thirteen members. In 1836, it numbered forty-seven ; and in 1846, thirty-six. Till 1829 it was uniformly reported as vacant. In August of that year, Rev. J. M. Babbitt received a commission from the American Home Missionary Society to labor here one fourth of the time for one year, which labor he fulfilled. In 1835, under the same patronage, Rev. A. M.Reynolds supplied one year, and in 1838, Rev. A. R. Raymond was commissioned for one year to supply two congregations. In October, 1842, Rev. John G. Lowe was commissioned by the Society to supply this church. He was installed as pastor, July 20th, 1843, but was dismissed and left the church, April 9th, 1844. Rev. H. O. Howland, in Septem- ber, 1845, received a commission to labor here as stated supply one year. He reported a revival as having been enjoyed, and sixteen hopeful conversions as the result. This is all the informa- tion which the writer possesses.
East Owego .- This church was received on its organization under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, in September, 1838. This is all the information which the writer has respecting it, ex- cept, that in September, 1839, Rev. Eleazar Luce received a com- mission under the American Home Missionary Society to labor there for one year.
Owego .- Of the early settlement of this place we have spoken in a former chapter. It was nearly twenty years after the settlement of the place commenced, before stated public worship was estab- lished. Owego long sustained the character of an irreligious place,
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in which the fear of God had little influence. An occasional sermon from an itinerating missionary, or a short visit from some minister, constituted the whole amount of public worship. The re- ligious interests of the community were neglected. A venerated correspondent observes, "They appeared quite early to have a praying Hannah" (referring to Mrs. Pixley, of whom mention was made in a former chapter), " but it was a long time before they had any Jacob, any man to interest himself in their religious con- cerns, and take a lead in their meetings. At length Deacon Jones, a man educated under Dr. West, of Stockbridge (Mass.), moved into the place, though not into the village. He carried on religious meetings on the Sabbath with regularity before they settled a minister, unless they had sometimes a minister to preach to them." During a considerable part of this long period, Rev. Dr. Williston, in the capacity of a missionary, occasionally visited them and labored. In the summer of 1804, and probably the preceding winter, Rev. William Clark was employed to preach in the village. But no church was organized till July 24th, 1817. On that day a Con- gregational church, consisting of eleven members, was constituted by Rev. Messrs. Hezekiah May, Jeremiah Osborn, and William Wisner. In July, 1831, the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government in full, and elected ruling elders. The church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Cayuga, August 20th, 1817, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Tioga on the orga- nization of that body. In 1826, it numbered seventy members ; in 1830, one hundred and thirty-seven ; and in 1843, two hundred and ninety-one. Between the time of Mr. Clark's leaving the place and 1810, Rev. Messrs. Adams and Burbank were severally employed to preach for a season. From August, 1810, to December, 1812, Rev. Daniel Loring was employed to preach to the congregation. Rev. Hezekiah May preached a part of the years 1817 and 1818. Rev. Horatio J. Lombard was ordained and installed pastor of the church, October 28th, 1818, and continued to sustain that relation till August 21st, 1827, when he was dismissed 'from his charge. Rev. Aaron Putnam was his successor. He was installed, Dec. 6th, 1827, and released by death, Dec. 28th, 1831. Rev. Charles White, the present Dr. White, President of Wabash College (Ind.), was installed pastor of the church, April 19th, 1832, and dismissed May 25th, 1841. Rev. Samuel C. Wilcox was installed pastor, May 24th, 1832, and was dismissed, April 30th, 1846. After his dismis- sion Rev. Seth Williston, D.D., was employed as a stated supply six months. Rev. Philip C. Hay, D.D., was installed the pastor of the church, April 15th, 1847. Under the labors of these pastors the church has been greatly blessed, and the character of the vil- lage entirely changed. Revivals of religion have been enjoyed in 1827, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1837, and 1838. Some of these were of great power, and brought large accessions to the church of those
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who were born again. The church has never been aided in the support of its ministers by any Missionary Society. It has an ap- propriate house of worship erected in 1820. It was originally fifty- three feet in length and forty-four in breadth. In 1831, an addition of twenty feet was made to the length. It is thought that one-sixth of the population of the village and vicinity are in the habit of attending worship with the church. The other denominations in the village which have regular organizations, are, the Baptists, the Methodists, and the Episcopalians. Each of these has an appro- priate house of worship. The Baptists and Methodists are each as numerous as the Presbyterians. The Episcopalians are less nume- rous than either of the others.
Tioga .- This church was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Tioga in April, 1844. In 1836, it numbered fifty-six members. In May, 1844, Rev. Samuel Scott was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to labor here one half of the time for one year. In October, 1845, Rev. John Gibbs re- ceived a similar commission. The author has no further informa- tion respecting this church.
Nichols .- This church was organized a Presbyterian church, and received under the care of the Presbytery of Tioga, Nov. 13th, 1833. In 1834, the church consisted of thirty-nine members. In 1836, it numbered fifty-one. This is the last account which the writer has seen. Rev. Ira Smith was installed pastor of the church, Dec. 10th, 1833, and through the aid of the American Home Missionary Society continued till April 14th, 1836, when he was dismissed. From that period the church seems to have been vacant till Oct., 1844, when, under the patronage of the Home Mis- sionary Society, Rev. John Gibbs became their stated supply. His commission was renewed the next year, and his field enlarged so as to embrace also the church of Tioga. Mr. Smith left the field at the close of the year. What is the present state of the church is not known to the writer.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
Presbytery of Chemung :- Reading, Havanna, Catlin, Mead's Creek, Campbell, Horn- by, Millport, Fairport, Elmira, Elmira Congregational, Chemung, Athens, South- port, Big Flats, Corning, Painted Post First Church, Painted Post Second Church, Painted Post Village, Erwin, Addison, Thurston, Woodhull, Troupsburgh, Green- wood.
WE shall next proceed to narrate the history of the churches connected with
THE PRESBYTERY OF CHIEMUNG.
Reading .- The village of Jefferson, where this church has its location, is situated at the head of the Seneca lake, partly in the town of Reading, in the county of Steuben, partly in the town of Dix, in the county of Chemung, and partly in the town of Hector, in the county of Tompkins. The town of Dix was formerly a part of the town of Catharines. The organization of the church was prior to the existence of anything which might be denominated a village, at the head of the lake, and as the members resided, some in the town of Reading and others in the town of Catharines, the church was denominated the Church of Reading and Catharines. At a subsequent period, it was denominated in the reports of the Presbytery, Reading Second, but since 1827, simply, Reading. It might, perhaps, with more propriety be denominated, " The Church of Jefferson." The church was organized in 1818, as the writer believes, by Rev. David Higgins, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 26th, 1819. By an act of the Synod, October, 1846, it was transferred to the Presbytery of Chemung. In 1825, this church consisted of twenty-three members. In 1833, it numbered fifty-two ; in 1834, eighty-two; and in 1836, eighty-seven members. In 1843, it reported only thirty-four. This is the last report that the writer finds. Its place of worship for a number of years was at a small village in the town of Reading, called Irelandville. For a number of years past, it has been at the village of Jefferson, where an appropriate house of worship was erected in the northern part of the village, about the year 1833 or '34, which has since been relinquished, and a better one erected on the flat, in a better location. The church has never had a regularly settled pastor ; but as stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. Daniel Wash- burn, Richard Williams, David Harrowar, Samuel White, Egbert Roosa, Royal West, Samuel Scott, and Isaac T. Stryker, have
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officiated at different times for longer or shorter periods. In the support of the five last named, the church was aided by the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society. In the year 1833, twenty-one members, in the year following, twenty, and in the year 1836, sixteen are reported as having been added to the church by profes- sion, indicating that those years were, to some extent, years of revival.
Havanna .- This village is located in the town of Catharines on the Chemung canal, about three miles south of the head of Seneca lake. The plat of the village was laid out in 1827 for George Mills, who had lived on the ground since 1790, and David Lee. On this plat, Hiram Jackson, Esq., erected the first house. The region around had been settled many years. David Ayres came on in 1828, and made a new plan of part of the village. From the commencement of the settlement of the village, public worship was set up by the Methodist denomination. The Presbyterian Church, consisting of twenty-two members, was organized, Feb. 18th, 1829, by Rev. Samuel White and Rev. Eleazar Lathrop, a committee of the Presbytery of Bath. Of the members of the church, seventeen were received by letter, and five by profession. Its present number is about one hundred members. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 31st, 1830, and on the division of that Presbytery, was assigned to the Presbytery of Chemung. For a number of years the church was either vacant, or had a new minister almost every year. As stated supplies for brief periods, Rev. Messrs. Jabez Chadwick, James Boyle, Samuel White, Charles Goodrich, Elijah Buck, Henry Boynton, and Peter L. De St. Croix, officiated successively. Rev. Henry Clark was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Nov. 9th, 1841. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Sept. '6th, 1842. The present pastor, Rev. Morrison Huggins, commenced preaching to the congregation in September, 1842, and was ordained and installed, June 14th, 1803. This church has enjoyed one or two precious seasons of revival in former times ; one during the ministry of Mr. White, as the result of which about twenty members were added to the church. Again, in 1843-4, the Lord was pleased to revive his work. The work was still, and continued for several months, and additions were made to the church at almost every communion season for more than two years. During this season of refreshing, the church doubled its number of members. The means employed were the faithful presentation of divine truth from the pulpit, and personal conversation with individuals from house to house and in the pastor's study. A great reformation with regard to light amusement and sinful practices was a result of the revival. The church has been aided in support of its ministers by the American . Home Missionary Society till 1846.
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A beautiful house of worship, well furnished, was completed in the spring of 1845. Its dimensions are about fifty-five by forty feet. A large proportion of the population of the village attend public worship somewhere. The Methodist denomination com- menced before the Presbyterian. They have a house of worship and regular ministrations, but are not equal to the Presbyterians, either in numbers or pecuniary strength. There is an Episcopal service once on each Sabbath, and a resident minister, but no or- ganized society.
Catlin .- This church was organized. by a committee of the Presbytery of Bath, and was received under the care of the Pres- bytery, August 26th, 1834. On the organization of the Presbytery of Chemung, it was transferred to that Presbytery. Its place of meeting is in the town of Dix, which, at the period of the organiza- tion of the church, was a part of the town of Catlin. The church is still named in the reports of the Presbytery, the church of Cat- lin. The church has never reported a higher number than forty-five members. Rev. John Gray was installed pastor of the church, Sept. 14th, 1836, and was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Feb. 5th, 1839. In his support the church was aided by the American Home Mis- sionary Society. The history of the church since Mr. Gray's dis- mission, is unknown to the writer.
Mead's Creek .- The little village denominated Mead's Creek is in the town of Orange. A Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. Joseph Crawford, which was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Sept. 1st, 1824. On the organization of the Presbytery of Chemung, it was transferred to that body. At its organization it consisted of about twenty members. It very gradually increased from year to year, till in 1836 it reported sixty- nine members. Since that year it has declined, and in 1840 re- ported but fifty-four. The church has never had a pastor, and has at times been without preaching. Different individuals have been employed as stated supplies, generally in connexion with some other church. As such, Rev. Messrs. Joseph Crawford, Charles Goodrich, John Gray, Ebenezer Everett, and licentiates, John S. Reasoner and D. A. Abbey, have officiated. In the support of some of these the church has been aided by the American Home Mis- sionary Society. They have an appropriate house of worship, which was erected some years since. In 1846, the church was re- ported as being in a progressive state. The Methodist and Bap- tist denominations are considerably numerous in the town.
Campbell .- This town was originally a part of the town of Painted Post. It began to be settled about the year 1800. Among the early settlers were Mr. Robert Campbell, who had once been a
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clergyman of the Congregational order, Capt. Solomon Campbell, Mr. Joseph Stevens, and Mr. Nute. When a church was organized in Painted Post, it included a few individuals in Camp- bell, and when the church enjoyed the labors of a minister, the preaching was held a proportion of the time at the Campbell settlement. To some extent the settlement enjoyed the labors of itinerating missionaries. In 1831, a Presbyterian church, consist- ing of seven members from the church of Painted Post, was orga- nized by a Committee of the Bath Presbytery. It was received under the care of the Presbytery, June 21st, 1831, and transferred to the Presbytery of Chemung, on the organization of that Pres- bytery. At the time of the organization, Rev. Benjamin B. Smith was laboring as a stated supply in the place. His ministry with the church continued three years. He was followed by Rev. Charles Goodrich, who labored one year, dividing the time with the church of Mead's Creek. Rev. James H. Hotchkin succeeded for two years, from April, 1836. Rev. Elijah D. Wells labored one year from September, 1841. Rev. Lewis Hamilton supplied one year from April, 1842. In the support of all these ministers the church was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. Rev. Noah Cressy and Rey. Ebenezer Everett supplied, each for a season, dividing their labors with another church. On the twelfth day of February, 1846, Rev. Lewis Hamilton was installed pastor of the church, and continues under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. Under the labors of these ministers several seasons of revival were enjoyed. The church formed in 1831 with seven members, reported the next spring thirty-three, twenty-seven having been added by profession. Other seasons of revival have been enjoyed, but none which have added large num- bers to the church in a short period. The last report of the num- ber of members in the possession of the author is for 1843. The church then numbered seventy-nine members. They have a com- modious house of worship. The congregation is almost wholly composed of the inhabitants residing on the river flats, and the Methodists and Baptists each engross a considerable share, and, perhaps, are as numerous as the Presbyterians.
Hornby .- This town was originally a part of the town of Paint- ed Post, but was settled at a period later than the part lying on the river. A few individuals were members of the church of Painted Post till 1830 or '31, when a Presbyterian church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Bath. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 31st, 1832, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Chemung at the erection of that body. The organization of the church was the result of a revival of religion enjoyed in the town. Of the original members of the church, a few of them had been members of the church of Painted Post, but
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most of them were received on a profession of faith. The next spring the church reported their number of members as thirty-three, of whom eight had been admitted by letter, and twenty-five on their profession of faith. Till 1838 the church has uniformly been reported as vacant, although during the period it is known that they enjoyed the benefit of ministerial labor in some measure. Mr. John S. Reasoner, a licentiate, preached, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, a part of the time, for one or two years, soon after the organization of the church. Rev. Daniel B. Butts, under the same patronage, expended some labor here in 1833 and '34. In 1840, '43, and '46, the church is reported as supplied, but by whom is not known to the writer, nor has he any further information respecting the state of this church.
Millport .- This village is in the town of Veteran, on the line of the Chemung canal, and is of recent origin. The Presbyterian church was received under the care of the Chemung Presbytery, Jan. 11th, 1837, and is supposed by the writer to have been then recently formed. In 1840, it reported forty-three members, and in 1843, sixty-eight. Rev. William P. Jackson was stated supply here during 1837 and '38. Rev. Joseph Underwood was installed pastor, March 3d, 1841. He continued between two and three years, and was dismissed, Dec. 12th, 1843. He was succeeded by Rev. S. B. Shearer as stated supply to this church in connexion with Catlin. All these ministers were under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. The church has an ap- propriate house of worship, which was finished in 1842. The Methodist denomination have also a house of worship in the village.
Fairport .- This village is in the town of Elmira, and is situated on the Chemung canal at the junction of the feeder. It was for- merly called Horse Heads. Gen. Sullivan, on his return from his expedition into the Indian country during the war of the Revolu- tion, on this spot killed a large number of his pack-horses to pre- vent their falling into the hands of the Indians. When the first settlers of the country moved in after the war, the carcases of the horses, and many of the bones, were consumed or dispersed. but the bones of the heads remained entire, and being a very conspi- cuous object, the place obtained the name of Horse Heads. In the early period of its religious history, the Presbyterian part of the community were connected with Elmira, and formed a consider- able proportion of that church and congregation. In 1832, a sepa- rate church, consisting of twenty-four members, was organized in this village, which was then growing into some importance. The church was Presbyterian in its organization, and was received ยท under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, August 28th, 1832, and transferred to Chemung on the organization of that Presbytery.
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