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 60
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In commencing at the north-eastern section of the territory, we begin with the church of
Newstead .- This town was formerly a part of the town of Clarence. The Presbyterian church of Newstead was set off from the church of Clarence by the Presbytery of Buffalo, September 3d, 1839. In 1840, it reported sixty-one members; and in 1846, forty-two. Rev. Oren Catlin, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, officiated as stated supply one year from June, 1842, and Rev. Eber Child one year from January, 1846. This is all the information that the writer has respecting this church.
Clarence .- The town of Clarence was organized in 1808, and it then included the present towns of Newstead, Alden, Lancaster, Clarence, Amherst, Chictawaga, Buffalo City, Black Rock, and
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Tonawanda. In 1810 it was divided, and the town of Buffalo erected from it, leaving to Clarence the four first-mentioned of the above towns. The first Presbyterian church of Clarence was or- ganized by Rev. James H. Mills, then a missionary from the Evan- gelical Missionary Society of Young Men in the City of New York. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, February 3d, 1818. In 1827, it reported twelve members; the next year, thirty ; in 1837, seventy ; and in 1840, sixty-five. This is the last report which the author has seen. For about two years
after the organization of the church, Mr. Mills continued his labors with them, probably, for a part of the time. From the period of his departure, for several years the congregation was without the regular preaching of the gospel, with the exception of about six months, during which period Rev. Herman Halsey labored with them one half of the time. In January, 1827, Rev. Henry Safford was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society to labor in the place. He continued as stated supply three years, during a part of which he also supplied the church of Cayuga Creek. Since his departure, Rev. Milo N. Miles is found as stated supply ; for how long a period is not known to the writer. After him, Rev. Wm. P. Jackson, under a commission from the American Home Missionary Society, supplied two years. What other minis- terial aid the church has enjoyed is not known to the author. In 1846, it was reported vacant. The church has a house of worship, and a parsonage.
Black Rock .- The Presbyterian church in this village was or- ganized by a committee of the Presbytery of Buffalo in 1831, and was received under the care of the Presbytery, November 10th, of that year. At its organization it consisted of twenty-three mem- bers. In 1833, it numbered thirty-six, and in 1843, thirty-nine. This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. Rev. James D. Moore, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, supplied the church from September, 1840, to April, 1843. In 1846, the church was reported vacant.
Buffalo First Presbyterian Church .- The settlement of the city of Buffalo commenced about the year 1800. John Johnston, John Crowe, Jacob A. Baker, and Amos Calender, were some of the first settlers. The early settlers were mostly from New Eng- land. The first church of any denomination organized in this city is the church now known as the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. It was organized February 2d, 1812, by Rev. Thaddeus Osgood, an itinerant missionary, and well known for his self-denying labors to promote the salvation of his dying fellow-men. The church at its organization consisted of twenty-nine members, of whom eight were males, and twenty-one females. The war with
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Great Britain, and the burning of the village of Buffalo, for a season almost extinguished the church, though it continued to hold occa- sional meetings through most of that period of disaster. In 1815, it was resuscitated, and was received under the care of the Presby- tery of Geneva, February 14th, 1816. On the division of that Presbytery, it was assigned to the Presbytery of Buffalo. In 1825. it numbered 119 members, and by an almost annual increase, in 1846 reported 502 as its number. Till 1815, the church had enjoyed no regular preaching. In the spring or summer of that year, Rev. Miles P. Squier, then a licentiate preacher of the gos- pel, in the service of the Young People's Missionary Society of Western New York, visited the place and spent two weeks, preaching in the village. He soon afterwards returned to New England ; but in the month of November, in accordance with a written invitation of the principal citizens of Buffalo, returned to the village, and was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of Geneva, May 3d, 1816. Mr. Squier continued pastor of the church till September 16th, 1824, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. During the period of his ministry, the population of the place and the number of attendants on the worship of the church were greatly enlarged, and the church in the num- ber of its members in a tenfold proportion. On the day succeeding the dismission of Mr. Squier, Rev. Gilbert Crawford was ordained, and installed pastor of the church. He continued in the station till September 16th, 1828, when he was dismissed. Rev. Sylvester Eaton was the next pastor. He was inducted into the pastorate, April 9th, 1829, and left it September 2d, 1834. He was followed by Rev. Asa T. Hopkins, D.D., whose installation occurred Feb. 17th, 1836. The relation was dissolved by his lamented decease, November 27th, 1847. Under the ministry of its several pastors, this church has enjoyed much prosperity, and several seasons of extensive revival. In the report of the church for 1832, 114 were reported as having been, the preceding year, added to the church by profession. In several other years the number was large. The interest which this church has taken in the benevolent operations of the day is indicative of the tone of pious feeling existing. The aggregate of its contributions for these objects in 1843, was some- what over $14,000. The church has never received aid from any Missionary Society.
Before the burning of the village, the church held their meetings in a school-house in Pearl street. Their first assemblage, after three years of dispersion, was in the dwelling-house of Deacon Callender ; afterwards in a part of the building now known as the Mansion House ; then at the Inn, corner of Main and Huron streets ; next in a barn opposite the last-named place ; subsequent- ly in the long room of the Eagle tavern ; afterwards in the Court- House ; again, in a District School-House. From this the meetings
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were moved to a small Lecture Room, built by the Society on the site of the present church edifice, which site was a donation of the Holland Land Company. The brick edifice, now occupied by the congregation, is a splendid building, which was erected in 1823, at an expense of $17,500.
Buffalo Free Congregational Church .- This church was or- ganized by Rev. Sylvester Eaton, in 1832, consisting of twenty- four members. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 10th, 1832. In 1833, it reported eighty-three members, and in 1837, two hundred and thirty-seven. Rev. Job H. Martyn was installed pastor of this church, Oct. 31st, 1832. He was dismissed, Jan. 28th, 1835. Rev. George R. Rudd suc- ceeded him as stated supply. How, long he continued is not re- collected by the writer. During the period of Mr. Martyn's minis- try large accessions were made to the church. In 1834, one hundred and fifty members were reported as having been added by profession the year preceding. The author finds no report of this church subsequent to 1837. Whether the church has with- drawn from its connexion with the Presbytery to form some other connexion, or is broken up and merged in other churches, is not known to him.
Buffalo Pearl Street. Church,-This church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Nov. 13th, 1835, and was received under the care of the Presbytery, Jan. 26th, 1836. In 1837, it numbered one hundred and seventy members ; and in 1846, four hundred and six. Soon after the organization of the church, Rev. John C. Lord (now Dr. Lord) was employed as a candidate for settlement, and was installed pastor of the church, Feb. Ist, 1837, a relation which he still retains. Under his minis- try the church has greatly increased in numbers, whether as the result of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, or from other causes, is not known to the writer. This church with its pastor some years since seceded from the Presbytery of Buffalo, and connected them- selves with the Presbytery of Wyoming (Old School). On the division of that Presbytery, they became a part of the Presbytery of Buffalo City, which is connected with the Synod of Buffalo (Old School).
Buffalo Park .- This church was organized and received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, April 16th, 1839. In 1840, it was reported as consisting of sixty members ; and in 1843, of two hundred and twenty-one. In 1846, its name is not found on the Statistical Report. Rev. Luther HI. Angier was ordained and installed its pastor, March 4th, 1840.
Buffalo La Fayette Street Church .- The name of this church
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'is first found in the Statistical Tables for 1846. It was then re- ported as under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, composed of thirty members, and having Rev. Grosvenor W. Heacock for its pastor.
Buffalo German Evangelical Church .- This church was organ- ized in 1832, by Rev. Asa Lyman. The writer supposes that it was constituted principally, if not wholly, of immigrants directly from Germany. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo. Its present connexion is with the Presbytery of Buf- falo City. In 1833, it consisted of seventy-one members ; in 1834, of ninety. Since that period the author has seen no enumeration. Rev. Joseph M. Gumbell officiated as stated supply, under the pa- tronage of the American Home Missionary Society, from August, 1832, till August, 1836. Under the same patronage, Rev. Frederick Launer officiated one or two years. In June, 1840, Mr. Gumbell returned, and for two years ministered to the church as stated supply, under a commission from the American Home Missionary . Society. What is the present state of the church is not known to the writer. During the first period of Mr. Gumbell's ministry, more than two hundred members were added to the church on a profession of faith in Christ, and more than two hundred children of German emigrants taught to read in the English language. The church has an appropriate house of worship. In 1846, it was reported as having a stated supply.
Buffalo French Protestant Church .- The author supposes that this church is composed of foreign immigrants who speak the French language. It was received under the care of the Presby- tery of Buffalo, Sept. 3d, 1811. In 1846, it was reported as having a stated supply. The author has seen no report of its numbers at any period.
In the city of Buffalo, in the year 1842, the houses of worship then existing, were, three Presbyterian, two Episcopal, one Bap- tist, one Methodist, one Bethel, three German Protestant, two African, one Unitarian, one Universalist, and two Roman Catholic.
Indian Stations .- In the sale of their lands on the western side of the Genesee river to Robert Morris, the Indians made several considerable Reservations for their own occupancy. The Tusca- rora Reservation was in the town of Lewiston, where in 1812 about 300 Indians still had their habitation. The Sencca Reservation adjoined the city of Buffalo, and included parts of the towns of Black Rock, Checktowaga, Lancaster, Alden, Wales, Aurora, and Hamburgh. Here in 1842 were about 1000 Indians. The Catta- raugus Creek Reservation is situated on the southern part of Erie County, extending into Cattaraugus County. Here were in 1842
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about 600 Indians, occupying a settlement lying partly in the town of Brandt, and partly in the town of Collins. The Alleghany Re- servation, consisting of forty-two square miles, was situated on the Alleghany river, in the county of Cattaraugus. The first of these Reservations is within the boundaries of the Presbytery of Niagara, the others within those of the Presbytery of Buffalo. In cach of these settlements, missions for the civilization and Christianization of the Indians have been established. These missions were com- menced about the commencement of the present century by the New York Missionary Society. They were given up to the Unit- ed Foreign Mission Society on the organization of that body in 1821 ; and from that Society passed under the care of the Ameri- can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission in 1826, when the . United Foreign Mission Society was dissolved.
The mission at the Tuscarora village was commenced in 1800 or 1801. The missionaries who have labored at this station, besides assistants, as far as known to the writer, are Rev. Messrs. Elkanah Holmes, James C. Crane, David M. Smith, Joseph Lane, John El- liot, Joel Wood, William Williams, and Gilbert Rockwood. At what period a church was organized is not known to the writer. In 1826, it was reported as including seventeen members, native Indians, ; in 1832, fifty-nine ; in 1835, sixty-one ; and in 1844, fifty- six. This is the last enumeration that the author has seen.
The mission at the Seneca Station near Buffalo was commenced in 1811. The missionaries who have labored at this station, be- sides assistants, are Rev. Thompson S. Harris and Rev. Asher Wright. In 1826 there were four native Indians members of the church ; in 1828, forty-nine; in 1833, sixty, and in 1842, twenty- eight. In 1843, this Reservation was sold, and the Indians have left it and gone elsewhere.
The mission at the Cattaraugus Station was commenced in 1822. Rev. Asher Bliss has been the missionary. A church consisting of fourteen native members, was organized in 1827, and it was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 6th of that year. In 1828 it consisted of twenty-three members ; in 1822, of forty- one ; in 1837, of fifty-six ; and in 1842, of fifty.
The mission at the Alleghany Station is of later date. In 1832 there was a church composed of fifteen native members. The next year the number was twenty-six; in 1835, about forty- five ; and in 1842, sixty. At the four stations there were, in 1834, two hundred and eight native communicants ; in 1836, one hun- dred and eighty-eight; in 1845, two hundred and sixty-five ; and in 1848, three hundred and six. The mission at the Seneca Sta- tion has been broken up, and the Indians have left the Reservation and have gone to the Cattaraugus Reservation, or elsewhere. On this Reservation another church has been formed, or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say that the Seneca church has been
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transferred to this Reservation. There are six schools at these Stations, on which about one hundred and sixty-five persons at- tend. At each Station there is an appropriate house of worship, and a printing press is connected with the mission, at which 47,600 pages in the Seneca language had been printed previous to the close of the year 1847. The Indians who adopted the Christian religion almost immediately adopted the dress and habits of civi- lized life. As early as 1825, a clergyman passing through the Indian settlement of Cattaraugus, found improved farms well fenced, and embracing large fields of wheat and corn. He was in- clined to forget that he was wandering among "the savages of the wilderness," as the Indians have been called, and to think himself among the husbandmen of a civilized country. He found some of the Indians in the field raking and binding wheat, some with their implements of agriculture passing along to the place of labor, and some with horses and wagons were drawing in their hay, and a number were engaged in constructing a dam for a saw-mill. In the Survey of the Missions of the Board for 1847, it is said, " There are now more striking marks of industry, good husbandry, and skill in the common arts of civilized life, than have ever before been seen in the houses or on the farms of this people." Revivals of religion have repeatedly occurred at all the Stations, and the Gos- pel has had the same efficacy among the Indians as among their white neighbors. The churches at Seneca and Cattaraugus have been connected with the Presbytery of Buffalo, though they have not been reported, since 1837. The Baptist denomination have had missions at Tuscarora and Tonawanda, but respecting their condi- tion the author is not informed. In 1844, the number of Indians of the Five Nations remaining in the State of New York was :- Oneidas, 210 ;- Cayugas on the Cattaraugus Reservation, 197 ;- Onondagas, 368 ;- Tuscaroras near Lewiston, 283 ;- Senecas on four Reservations, 2,383, making a total of 3,441. A large pro- portion of them still adhere to their pagan practices and modes of thinking.
Lancaster .- This church was formerly known by the name of Cayuga creek, and by that name was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 9th, 1819, and by that name was reported till 1834, when it received the name of Lancaster. In 1826, it numbered twenty-five members ; in 1832, ninety-three; in 1834, one hundred and fifteen ; and in 1846, seventy-six. Rev. Henry Safford supplied this church in connexion with Clarence during the year 1827. Rev. James Remington succeeded him in January, 1828, and supplied nine months, when ill health obliged him to desist. He again commenced in June, 1829, and supplied this church in connexion with that of Alden for several years. The church was aided in the support of these ministers by the
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American Home Missionary Society, and a part of the time in the support of Mr. Remington by the Assembly's Board of Missions. Rev. Isaac Oaks was installed pastor of the church, June 24th, 1834, and was dismissed, Sept. 4th, 1839. Since that period Mr. Remington has again been reported as a stated supply, but for how long a time is not known to the writer. In 1846, the church was reported as having a stated supply. The years 1831 and '33 ap- pear to have been years of revival with this church. In the former forty-four, and in the latter, thirty-five members were added to the church by profession. The church has an appropriate house of worship.
There is a church of Lancaster connected with the Presbytery of Buffalo City (Old School), which the writer supposes was formed by a secession from the original church, but of its number and con- dition he is not informed. There is a Methodist house of worship in the village of Lancaster ; also one belonging to the Lutherans, and the Roman Catholics have a building appropriated to their forms of worship.
Alden .- The town of Alden was formerly a part of the town of Clarence, and the present church of Alden was originally denomi- nated the church of Clarence, or Clarence Union. It was formed, as the author supposes, a Congregational church, and was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 1st, 1817. The name was changed to Alden, 1826. In 1827, it was reported as consisting of eight members; in 1832, of forty ; and in 1834, of one hundred and nine. This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. Under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. Frye B. Reed supplied this church one- third of the time for one year from September, 1827, and Rev. James Remington a part of the time for one year from May, 1829. Rev. Simeon Peck, Rev. Hugh Wallis, Rev. James W. Woodward, and Rev. James Remington, were severally appointed by the Assembly's Board of Missions to minister to this church. In Sep- tember, 1838, Rev. George Coan was commissioned by the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society to labor in this place. He continued two years, during which period he reported an interesting revival, and seventy hopeful conversions. Rev. Hervey Chapin, under a similar commission, followed in July, 1842, and continued his labors for three years. By whom the church has been supplied since, is not known to the writer. In 1832, twenty, and in 1834, forty-nine members were reported as having been added to the church by profession the preceding years, indicating that an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit had been granted. This church has an appropri- ate house of worship.
Wales .- This church was received under the care of the Pres-
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bytery of Buffalo, Feb. 8th, 1820. In 1825 the number of mem- bers was nine. 'In 1837 it was twenty-three, the highest number ever reported. It has uniformly been reported as vacant till 1843, when it was reported as having a stated supply. In 1846 its name was omitted in the Presbytery's report. Whether it has withdrawn from the Presbytery, or has become extinct, or was omitted by mistake in the Presbytery's report, is not known to the writer.
East Aurora .- The town of Aurora is a part of the territory which formerly constituted the town of Willink, which name is now lost except as it is applied to a post-office in the town of Aurora. The two churches in the town under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo were originally called by the name of Willink, afterwards Aurora. The church of East Aurora was received under the care of the Presbytery, July 7th, 1818. In 1825 and '26, the two churches having the same pastor were reported conjointly. The number of members in the two churches reported was, for 1825, thirty-two, and for 1826, eighty-eight. In 1827, the number reported for East Aurora was thirty-one ; in 1832, eighty-six ; and in 1836, ninety-four. This is the last report that the author has seen. Rev. Edmund Ingalls was ordained and installed pastor of this church in conjunction with that of West Aurora, Feb. 12th, 1819. The relation was dissolved, Sept. 14th, 1824. Rev. Matthew Dutton succeeded him in the pastorate of both churches, Nov. 15th, 1825. He was dismissed from East Aurora, Feb. 1st, 1827.ª Since that period no pastor has been installed. As stated supplies under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. John T. Baldwin, Rev. Eliphalet M. Spencer, Rev. N. S. Smith, Rev. Levi A. Skinner, Rev. Calvin Gray, and Rev. Samuel A. Rawson, have officiated at different times, most of them ministering at the same time to another church. In 1832, forty- three members were reported as having been added by profession to the church the preceding year. This is the only year in which any large addition has been reported.
West Aurora .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 9th, 1819. In 1828 it numbered seventy-five members; in 1832, one hundred and twenty-six; in 1836, one hundred and forty-eight ; and in 1846, one hundred and twenty. The installation of Mr. Ingalls as pastor of this church in connexion with that of East Aurora and his dismission have been already mentioned, as also the installation of Mr. Dutton. His dismissal from the pastoral charge of this church took place, Sept. 6th, 1827. After the dismission of Mr. Dutton, for several years the church was reported vacant. Rev. Peter Kimball was installed as pastor, Feb. 18th, 1835, and was dismissed, Sept. Ist, the same year. As stated supplies at different periods, Rev. George Coan,
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Rev. Justin Marsh, Rev. Roswell G. Murray, Rev. Levi A. Skin- ner, and, probably, others have officiated. In several years con- siderable numbers have been reported as added to the church by a profession of faith in Christ. These additions, it is believed, were the result of outpourings of the Holy Spirit in his converting influ- ences on the congregation. In the support of Messrs. Coan and Marsh the church was aided by the American Home Missionary Society.
Hamburgh .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, Feb. 12th, 1817, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Buffalo on the organization of that body. In 1825, it numbered sixteen members ; in 1832, forty-two ; in 1836, ninety- eight ; and in 1843, fifty-nine. This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. The church has never had a regularly installed pastor. As stated supplies under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet M. Spencer, John T. Baldwin, Lemuel Hall, Samuel Sessions, Patrick W. Gray, and John Scott, have officiated at different times. In 1836, fifty-one members were reported as having been received the preceding year by profession, the result of a blessed revival enjoyed in the place. Since that period the church has been much diminished in consequence of emigration.
Evans .- The author supposes that this church, by the name of Eden, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1825 it was reported as consisting of fifty- eight members ; in 1832, one hundred and twenty ; and in 1834, one hundred and thirty-three. Since the last-named year the name of this church is not found in the Presbyterial reports. The writer supposes that it is not now in connexion with the Presbytery. Rev. Samuel Leonard was installed pastor of this church, Sept. 11th, 1823, and continued to officiate in that capacity till Jan. 27th, 1830, when the relation was dissolved. Rev. William Beardsley, Rev. Abiel Parmele, and Rev. Seymour Thompson, have been reported as stated supplies to this church, at different times. From 1825 to 1831, this church appears to have made no increase in numbers. In that year a revival was enjoyed, as the result of which fifty-five members on profession were added to the church. In 1834, twenty- four were reported as thus added the preceding year. On the reports of the American Home Missionary Society, the author finds that churches named Evans, East Evans, and Evans Central Con- gregational Church, have been aided by that Society. Whether these are three distinct churches or otherwise, he has not ascer- tained.
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