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 52
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
The church generally is spoken of as the church of Horse Heads on the Minutes of the Presbytery, and in the Reports of the Gene- ral Assembly. The next spring after the organization, the church is reported as consisting of one hundred and two members, forty since the organization having been received on profession, and forty- two by letter. Those received by letter are supposed to have previously constituted the church of Veteran, which about this period was dissolved, its members generally uniting with the church of Horse Heads. In 1846, the church reported one hundred and twenty members. April 3d, 1833, Rev. Ethan Pratt was installed pastor of the church. He continued between two and three years, and was dismissed Nov. 3d, 1835.
After Mr. Pratt's dismissal the church was vacant for a season, and was then supplied by Rev. William M. Adams for a time. Rev. Oren Catlin was installed Feb. 7th, 1838. He was dismissed Feb. 2d, 1841, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles C. Carr, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church June 29th, 1841. He remains the present pastor of the church. This church has enjoyed repeated seasons of revival, and has been a prosperous church. It has always supported its pastor without foreign aid, excepting one or two years in which it had the aid of the American Home Missionary Society in the support of Mr. Pratt. It has an appropriate house of worship erected several years since. The Methodist denomination have also a house of worship in the village.
Elmira .- The name of this town and village was formerly New- town. It was changed to Elmira in 1808. Of the settlement of this town, and the organization of a Presbyterian church by Rev. Daniel Thatcher in the summer of 1795, we have spoken in a for- mer part of this work. The church was denominated " The Pres- byterian Church of Newtown and Chemung." It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva at the first meeting of that body, Sept. 17th, 1805, and was represented at that meeting by a ruling elder, Mr. Abiel Fry. Oct. 31st, 1810, a committee of the Presbytery appointed to inquire into its circumstances reported that it had become extinct. Immediately after the organization of the church, Dr. Amos Parkes, a practising physician and preacher licensed by the Morris County Associated Presbytery in New Jersey, preached for a season in the village. After him a Mr. Brown, a Unitarian from Massachusetts, preached for a season, and after him Rev. John Smith, from Dighton (Mass.), was em- ployed for a season. It is believed that all these were employed by the inhabitants of the village, rather than by the church, though the members of the church attended on their ministry. About the commencement of the year 1805, Rev. Simeon R. Jones, a member of the Morris County Associated Presbytery, on an invitation from
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some individuals of the village, came here and was employed by the inhabitants to preach. Mr. Jones was a man of an ardent temperament, and strongly attached to independency in church government. Under Mr. Jones's preaching a number of individuals were awakened and hopefully converted to God. From a part of the members of the existing church and the new converts Mr. Jones organized a church on the principles of Congregational independ- ency. Most of the members of the old church acquiesced, and that church ceased to exist. This new organization took place in 1805. Mr. Jones continued to preach and preside over the church the greater part of the time for several years, though he was never installed pastor. Members were added to the church from time to time in considerable numbers. But dissensions prevailed, and the state of the church was unhappy. The church felt their need of counsel, and on the tenth day of January, 1810, became connected with the Ontario Association, and, after the dissolution of that body, was, on the twenty-first day of September, 1814, received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, from which it was transferred to the Presbytery of Bath, and eventually to the Presbytery of Chemung, on the organization of those bodies.
But the troubles of the church were not ended by their connexion with the Ontario Association. The majority of the church became alienated from Mr. Jones, who continued to preach in the village or its vicinity, while a minority of the church continued strongly attached to him. Rev. Ambrose Porter, a member of the Morris County Associated Presbytery, was employed for one year to preach in the village. The majority of the church adhered to him, while the minority adhered to Mr. Jones. Happily, however, after one year's continuance Mr. Porter left the place, and removed from this part of the country. Peace was, in a measure, restored to the church. Some time in 1815 Mr. Hezekiah Woodruff, a licensed preacher of the gospel, was employed to preach among them, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 16th, 1816. From this period the church became more harmonious. Mr. Woodruff was dismissed Jan. 26th, 1820. In May, 1820, Rev. Henry Ford commenced laboring as a stated supply with this church, and continued his ministrations with them till some time in the beginning of the year 1827. At the suggestion of Mr. Ford, in the spring of 1824, the church, with the exception of one vote, unanimously agreed to adopt in full the Presbyterian form of government, and elected ruling elders, since which period the affairs of the church have been transacted with much greater order and harmony. Rev. Eleazar Lathrop commenced ministerial labor with the church soon after Mr. Ford's departure, and was installed pastor Oct. 20th, 1830. His continuance as pastor was for a short time. On account ofill-health he was dismissed August 31st, 1831. He was succeeded
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
by Rev. Marshal L. Farnsworth, who was installed Feb. 1st, 1832. He continued in the pastorate till Oct. 31st, 1834, when he was dismissed. Rev. John Frost was his successor, who was installed Nov. 4th, 1835. He was dismissed Feb. 5th, 1839. On the fourth day of December of the same year, Rev. Philemon H. Fowler, the present pastor of the church, was installed.
This church has been blessed with repeated seasons of the out- pouring of the Holy Spirit, and has experienced an almost continual increase in the number of its members. In 1828, it reported thirty- four members as having been added by profession within the year preceding ; in 1833, sixty-six ; in 1837, fifty-five ; and in 1843, fifty- seven. In the last mentioned year, the whole number of members was three hundred and fifty-seven, the largest number ever reported. The church has ever supported its own pastor without missionary aid, except one year during the ministry of Mr. Ford. In the period of his ministry a house of worship was built and dedicated, which has since been removed, and replaced by a new and elegant one, constructed of brick, eighty feet in length and fifty in breadth. It was built in 1836-7. Previous to the organization of a second church, it was estimated that one fourth of the inhabitants of the village attended worship with the Presbyterian church. Besides these two churches, the Methodists, Baptists, and Episcopalians, have each a church in the village. The Methodists are about as numerous as the Presbyterians, but have not equal pecuniary strength. The Baptists rank next in number, and the Episcopa- lians last.
Elmira Congregational Church .- This church was organized within four years past, by members dismissed from the Presbyterian Church for the purpose. Of what number of members it is com- posed, the author is not informed. It stands unconnected with any ecclesiastical judicatory. Its pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Graves, a member of the Presbytery of Chemung, was installed into the office by that Presbytery, Feb. 19th, 1846.
Chemung .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Chemung, Feb. 4th, 1840. It had at that time been recently organized, and consisted of thirty members. Rev. Ethan Pratt labored here as stated supply from the period of the organi- zation of the church till the spring of 1845. The last two years, the church was aided in his support by the American Home Mis- sionary Society. The writer supposes that previous to this, only one half of his time was appropriated to this church. Feb. 25th, 1845, Rev. Benjamin M. Goldsmith was ordained and installed pastor of this church in connexion with the church of Southport, and still continues in this relation. In 1843, this church enjoyed a . season of revival, but to what extent is not known to the writer.
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PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG.
Athens .- This church has its location in the State of Pennsylva- nia ; but as it is under the care of the Presbytery of Chemung, we shall notice its history. The village was formerly known by the name of Tioga Point, being situated at the confluence of the Tioga river with the Susquehannah. Of its first settlement we have spoken in another place. For many years it was noted for the prevalence of Universalism and immorality, and no stated public worship was maintained. If a travelling missionary spent a Sabbath here, he found a very small congregation. At what period the church was organized, the writer is not able to state. It was some time prior to 1816, perhaps as early as 1813 or '14. Rev. William Wisner, then a member of the Morris County Associated Presbytery, was engaged to preach in the village. The Spirit of the Lord attended the word, and souls were converted. As the consequence, a church on the Congregational plan of government was organized. This church, as the writer believes, was connected with the Lu- zerne Association, and with that Association became merged in the Presbytery of Susquehannah, retaining the right of managing its internal affairs on Congregational principles. In 1823, it is report- ed as under the care of that Presbytery. In 1825, it reported sixty-two members ; in 1832, ninety-nine, thirty-eight having been added by profession the preceding year ; in 1834, one hundred and eight, and in 1836, one hundred. From 1827 to 1832, inclu- sive, the church is reported as having a stated supply. A part, and, perhaps, the whole of this period, Rev. Isaac W. Platt was the supply. In 1837, Rev. Charles C. Corss was stated supply, but how long he had labored in that capacity is not known to the writer. This year the Exscinding Act of the General Assembly was passed, and the Presbytery of Susquehannah called upon the churches under its care who were not fully Presbyterian in form, to adopt the Presbyterian form of government in full as a condition of future connexion with the Presbytery. When the subject came to be agitated in a meeting of the church, different sentiments were found to exist. Mr. Corss and a part of the members were in favor of adopting the Presbyterian form of government in full, and con- tinuing their connexion with the Presbytery of Susquehannah, and the Old School General Assembly, and a part was in favor of re- taining their present mode of organization, and giving up their connexion with the Presbytery of Susquehannah. Under these circumstances the church divided, and became two organizations. The New School employed Rev. Ethan Pratt as stated supply, and the house of worship was occupied alternate Sabbaths by each church. How long this order continued the author is not informed. The church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Che- mung, Sept. 23d, 1840. How long Mr. Pratt continued his labors as stated supply is not known to the writer. Rev. Curtis Thurston was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Feb. 24th, 1841,
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WESTERN NEW YORK.
and still continues in that relation. Mr. Thurston preaches a part of the time at the village of Factoryville in the town of Barton, N. Y. The church has been aided in his support by the American Home Missionary Society.
Southport .- This town was formerly a part of Elmira. Its early settlement has been noticed in a former chapter. Its early reli- gious history is involved in that of Elmira. Whoever ministered to that church considered this people as a part of his charge, and preached here a part of the time. As early as 1814 or '15, a reli- gious society, organized according to civil law, was formed, and a house of worship was built, which, when not used by the Presby- terians, was frequently occupied by other denominations. £ A church on the Congregational plan, consisting of fifteen members, six males and nine females, was organized by Rev. David Higgins and Rev. James H. Hotchkin, Oct. 31st, 1821. The church was denominated the Second Church of Elmira, and was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 29th, 1822. Six of the original members were from the church of Elmira. In 1829, the church adopted the Presbyterian mode of government, and elected ruling elders. It is now denominated the Presbyterian Church of Southport, and is connected with the Presbytery of Chemung, and numbers about one hundred members.
For a brief period after the organization of the church, Rev. Henry Ford supplied the pulpit one half of the time, and performed other ministerial services. He was followed by Rev. Simeon R. Jones, as stated supply for two years or more. In April, 1826, the services of Rev. Richard Williams were secured for half of the time. This arrangement continued two years. He was succeeded in 1828 by Rev. David Harrowar, who labored here half of the time for two years. After this the pulpit was vacant for a season. As early, however, as June, 1831, Rev. B. Foster Pratt commenced laboring here, and was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 2d, 1832. Mr. Pratt continued in this field till April 15th, 1834, when he was dismissed from his charge. Rev. John Gray immediately succeeded Mr. Pratt, and, as stated supply, remained until February, 1836. Rev. George Spalding commenced laboring here the ensu- ing summer, and was installed into the pastoral office, Jan. 11th, 1837. This connexion continued till Oct. 5th, 1842, when it was dissolved. The same month Rev. Benjamin M. Goldsmith, then a licentiate, was employed to supply the pulpit, and officiated as stated supply till Feb. 25th, 1845, at which period he was ordain- ed and installed pastor of this church, and the adjoining one of Chemung. This relation still subsists.
The church has been several times visited with the reviving in- fluences of the Spirit of grace. The most distinguished season was in 1831, under the labors of Mr. Pratt. In that year the
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church had an accession of forty-eight members, on a profession of faith in Christ. The congregation has a neat and commodious house of worship, measuring forty-six feet by forty, which was built in 1832, the old edifice having been burned in the early part of that year. They have always supported their own minister without foreign aid. There is a Methodist congregation in the near vicinity, and a respectable number of Baptists, who are con- nected with the Baptist church in the village of Elmira, and go there to worship. As to pecuniary strength, the Presbyterian so- ciety hold the priority.
Big Flats .- This place was settled at an early period, but its inhabitants were not characterized by a regard for the gospel and its institutions. A few professors of religion of different denomi- nations were to be found, but not a sufficient number of Presbyterians to organize a church till 1827. On the twenty-seventh day of Septem- ber of that year, a Presbyterian church was constituted, which was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 29th, 1828, and sub- sequently, on the division of the Presbytery, transferred to the Presby- teryofChemung. The church, in 1828, consisted ofeighteen members. In 1837, it reported seventy-five. Since that year the writer finds no report of the number. In November, 1829, Rev. Merit Har- mon was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to labor here as a stated supply. He continued three or four years. He was succeeded by Rev. David Higgins for about one year, and afterwards by Rev. David I. Perry, who was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 2d, 1836. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, Sept. 18th, 1838. Rev. Francis L. Whiting supplied for a season, and was succeeded by Rev. George W. Seaman, who seems to have continued two years, and was followed, in 1845, by Rev. Sidney Mills, the present supply. In the support of these ministers, Mr. Whiting excepted, the church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. Revivals to some extent have been enjoyed by this church. As the result of one of these seasons of divine influence, twelve members, in 1831, were report- ed as added to the church by profession, and fifteen the next year. Again, in 1837, seventeen were reported as having been added by profession of faith in Christ. The church has an appropriate house of worship, built in 1829. There is also an Episcopal house of worship, erected a number of years since, but it has been unoc- cupied for several years.
Corning .- This village is situated in the town of Painted Post. The town began to be settled at an early period, as has been no- ticed in a former part of this work ; but the principal settlement of the village of Corning is of recent date. The Presbyterian Church, now denominated the church of Corning, was originally the church
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of Painted Post, and its place of worship was on the opposite or north side of the river. Although small, it originally included the members of the Presbyterian Church in all parts of the town, which then included the present towns of Hornby, Campbell, Erwin, Painted Post, Caton, and Lindsley. The first inhabitants generally were distinguished for their irreligious character, and neglect of God's worship and ordinances. It is not known to the writer that any stated public worship was maintained here for a number of years after the settlement of the place. A passing missionary occasionally preached a sermon, and perhaps spent a Sabbath ; but in general, the Sabbath was to nearly all the community a day of business, pastime, or idleness. Some time in the year 1810, Rev. Clement Hickman, then a preacher in the Methodist denomination, came to Painted Post, and was employed by the inhabitants to preach to them. Mr. Hickman gathered a congregation who manifested a wish to have his labor continued with them. He had in a measure separated himself from the Methodist denomination, being dissatisfied with their doctrine and discipline. In this state of feeling he applied to the Presbytery of Geneva for licensure, and having passed through the usual course of trial to the satisfaction of the Presbytery, was duly licensed to preach the gospel, April 18th, 1811. Soon after this event, a Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. John Niles of Bath. The church consisted of a small number of members, dispersed over an extensive territory, and the meetings were held in different places to accommodate a larger number. The church was received under the care of the Presby- tery of Geneva, August 19th, 1812, and on the 25th day of the same month, Mr. Hickman was ordained and installed its pastor. This church was transferred to the Presbytery of Bath, and from that to the Presbytery of Chemung, on the organization of those bodies. Mr. Hickman was dismissed from his pastoral charge, September 10th, 1816. During Mr. Hickman's ministry, the church made some increase in the number of its members, but not large. In 1825, it numbered fifty members ; in 1830, it was reduced to thirty-four; in 1832, it reported sixty-one, having received by pro- fession thirty-two the year preceding ; in 1834, 100 were reported, twenty-one having been added by profession. A similar addition of sixty-four was made in the year preceding the report for 1843, the whole number of members at that period being 169.
After the dismission of Mr. Hickman, the church declined. Mr. Ansel M.Call, the most active and efficient elder, had deceased ; another had removed to the Western States, and the few remain- ing male members lived at a distance from the village and from each other. For a season public worship upon the Sabbath was suspended, and no meetings of the church were maintained. How long this state of things continued, the writer cannot decide. He
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believes that two or three years elapsed before regular public wor- ship was restored. It is somewhat remarkable, that during this low state of the church, a few pious females maintained a continued prayer-meeting with individuals of their own sex on the Lord's day, and supported one of the most flourishing Sabbath schools in the whole region. Nor were their prayers in vain; God heard their requests and granted his aid. William Steele, Esq., from New Jersey. moved into the place. He was a member and elder in the Presbyterian church, an educated man, and possessed of talent. Through his instrumentality the meetings for public worship were resuscitated. Mr. Thomas Lounsbury, then a licentiate (now Dr. Lounsbury of Ovid), was employed to preach. His field of labor, as the writer believes, extended from Big Flats to Campbell, and the services of the Sabbath were divided between three or four set- tlements. Whether Mr. Lounsbury continued one or two years, the author cannot say : he left in the spring of 1823.
Soon after Mr. Lounsbury's departure, a preacher of the Metho- dist denomination was employed by the community, but not by the church, to preach for them, and continued to be so employed for at least two years. He was not acceptable to the church generally, nor did they consider him as their minister. But his ministrations interrupted their meetings, and the Presbyterian Church was depressed rather than edified. In 1826 and '27, Mr. Reuben San- born, a licentiate, preached here at least one year. Rev. David Harrowar succeeded him, and spent one year dividing his labors between this church and that of Southport. In October, 1831, Rev. David Higgins commenced laboring here, and continued one year, during which, in connexion with a protracted meeting, God was pleased to pour out his Spirit in its converting influences, and as the result, about thirty were added to the church. Mr. Higgins left the church united and prosperous. Mr. Higgins was succeeded by Rev. John Barton, under whose labors the church was very considerably enlarged. He continued two or three years, and was followed by Rev. John Smith, who ministered to the church one or two years. The next in succession was Rev. Samuel M. Hopkins, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Sept. 23d, 1840. He continued only till May 6th, 1841, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. Rev. Joshua B. Graves was employed for a season as stated supply, and on the twelfth day of February, 1846, was installed pastor of the church. He has since been dis- missed. In the support of Messrs. Sanborn and Higgins the church received aid from the American Home Missionary Society. A house of worship was built many years since on the north side of the river, but since the village of Corning on the other side of the river has become populous, the church have removed their location to that village, where an elegant house of worship has been erected.
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The church has lost its original name, and is now known as the Church of Corning. There are also in this village a Methodist and an Episcopalian church.
Painted Post First Church .- This church is composed of mem- bers of the original church of Painted Post, residing on the north side of the river, who were unwilling to go to Corning, when the church moved its place of meeting. They were, to the number of forty-nine, organized as a separate Presbyterian church, and received under the care of the Presbytery of Chemung, Feb. 4th, 1846. They have an appropriate house of worship, which was built some years since by the original church, and abandoned for the new one in Corning.
Painted Post Second Church .- The location of this church is in the town of Caton, which was formerly included in the town of Painted Post. This church is a shoot from the original First Church of Painted Post. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 27th, 1830, being then a newly organized church. At the constitution of the Presbytery of Chemung, it was trans- ferred to the care of that body. It has always been a small and feeble church, and has but a small part of the time enjoyed the regular preaching of the gospel. In 1832, it numbered only four- teen members ; in 1833, twenty-six, having received the preceding year ten by profession. This is the highest number ever reported. They have a respectable house of worship, but are without a minister.
Painted Post Village .- This village is in the town of Erwin, which was formerly a part of the town of Painted Post. It was in this village that the painted post stood which gave name to the original town and the present village. When white men first came to this place they found standing here an oaken post, painted after the Indian manner. It is said that this post was of ancient date, a monument to mark the place of the burial of a celebrated war chief of the Indians. As often as it has decayed it has been renewed, and so continues to the present time. This place was settled at an early period. The family of Erwin, if not the first, were among the early settlers, and owned a large share of the land. In ecclesi- astical concerns, so far as the Presbyterian denomination is con- cerned, it was till late years connected with the church of Painted Post, at what is now called Knoxville. When the population of the village commenced some persons were desirous of a separate church organization. With reference to the accomplishment of this object Rev. John Smith was employed to preach here for a season. The church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Chemung, March 16th, 1841, and was received by the Presbytery
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