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 61
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Eden .- This church was received under the care of the Presby-
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tery of Buffalo, Feb. 8th, 1820. In 1825 the number of members was thirty-four ; in 183), sixty-three ; in 1843, ninety-five ; and in 1846, seventy-seven. The following ministers have labored with this church in the capacity of stated supplies, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, viz. Daniel Washburn, George Coan, Samuel Perry, Ludovicus Robbins, Samuel Sessions, J. M. Sadd, Samuel Rawson, and S. Northrop. Several periods of revival have been experienced in this church, the results of which have been the enlargement of the church in some measure.
Boston .- This church was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Buffalo on the accommodating plan, June 28th, 1835. In 1837, it reported forty-six members, having received, on profession, fifteen the year preceding. This is the only rep rt of numbers which the writer has seen. In 1846, the church was not reported by the Presbytery. Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet M. Spencer, Thomp- son S. Harris, Abiel Parmele, William Waith, and Ward Ch Ids, have severally labored here as stated supplies, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. This church has an appropriate house of worship, which was erected in 1836.
Colden .- The name of this church as connected with the Presbytery of Buffalo, is first found in the Presbyterial Report for 1832. It then numbered thirty-one members. In 1843, it had increased to sixty-five. It has never had a regularly installed pastor, but as stated supplies under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. Thompson S. Harris, Rev. Abiel Parmele, Rev. Edmund Ingalls, and Rev. Charles Kenmore, have severally been employed. The church has experienced a gradual increase in the number of its members, but no extended revival has been reported.
Holland .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 13th, 1821. In 1825 it numbered fifteen members ; in 1827, ten ; and in 1833, nineteen. This is the last enumeration which the writer has seen. The church has not been reported by the Presbytery since 1837. Nineteen is the highest number of members ever reported. To some extent, by the assistance of the American Home Missionary Society, the church has enjoyed the ministry of Rev. Messrs. Eliphalet B. Colman, William Bridgeman, Philo Canfield, Edmund Ingalls, and Charles Kenmore.
Concord .- A church by this name was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818, and the Second Church of Concord was received, Feb. 13th, 1821. In the report of the Presbytery to the General Assembly for 1825, the church of Concord is named, but no mention is made of a second church of
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Concord, nor does the writer find any further notice of it. The church of Concord, in 1825, reported twenty-four members; in 1830, fifty-nine ; in 1836, eighty-five ; and in 1843, sixty-five. Pre- vious to 1839, Rev. E. M. Spencer, Rev. S. H. Gridley, Rev. William J. Wilcox, and Rev. Abiel Parmele, had officiated as stated supplies. Rev. Amos P. Hawley was ordained and installed as pastor, Jan. 30th, 1837. He was dismissed from his pastoral charge, July 28th, 1840. In 1843, Rev. Edmund Ingalls was reported as stated supply, and in 1846, the church is reported vacant. In 1833, twenty-one members were reported as having been added by profession the year preceding.
Springville .- This is the name of a considerable village in the southern part of the town of Concord. The church in this place seems to have been identified with the church of Concord, till about the period of 1842. In 1843, it is reported as containing two hundred and forty-six members. Rev. Zechariah Eddy was installed pastor of this church, March 1st, 1842. The church has an appropriate house of worship. The Methodist and Baptist churches have each a house of worship in the village.
Collins .- The author finds no record on the minutes of the Pres- bytery of Buffalo of this church, unless it is the same church which was received Feb. 13th, 1821, as Concord Second Church. It was reported by the Presbytery in 1825, as a vacant church under their care : in 1826, as consisting of thirteen members ; in 1827, of eight- een ; and in 1833, of thirty. This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. In 1836, it was not reported. As missionaries of the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, Rev. Hiram Smith, Rev. Abiel C. Ward, Rev. Samuel Perry, Rev. Hibbard, and Rev. Oren Catlin, have ministered to this church. It has, however, for a large portion of the time been reported vacant. It does not appear that there has ever been any consider- able revival in this church.
Hanover .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 12th, 1822. It was reported by the Presbytery from year to year as vacant, till 1830, when it was re- ported for the last time. Fifteen was the only number of mem- bers ever reported as belonging to it.
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Forrestville .- This is a village in the town of Hanover. The church of Forrestville is first mentioned in the statistical report of the Presbytery for 1830. The author supposes that it was a re- organization of the original church of Hanover, and the church which was by that name received under the care of the Presby- tery of Buffalo, Jan. 26th, 1830, as from that period the church of Forrestville is reported in the annual reports of the Presbytery,
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and no one by the name of Hanover is found. The church, in 1830, consisted of twelve members, and in 1833, of thirty-nine. This is the last time that the number has been reported. In January, 1838, it was declared to have become extinct. Rev. Abiel Parmele, Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley, and Rev. J. A. Emery, labored here for a season as stated supplies, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society.
Silver Creek .- The location of this church is in the town of Hanover. It was organized with thirteen members, by a commit- tee of the Presbytery of Buffalo, and received under the care of the Presbytery, Nov. 10th, 1831. It numbered, in 1832, nineteen members ; in 1837, one hundred and fifteen ; and, in 1843, one hun- dred and sixty-nine. In 1831, Rev. Abiel Parmele was stated sup- ply, previous to the organization of the church. He was followed by Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley, who ministered to the church as stated supply, till Feb. 11th, 1840, at which period he was installed as pastor of the church. The relation was dissolved in 1846. The ministry of Mr. Beardsley seems to have been very prosperous. Very considerable additions were made to the church by profes- sion in several of the years of his ministry. The greatest number reported in any one year was forty-two. This was in 1834. Twenty-one were reported in 1837, and thirty-three in 1843. The American Home Missionary Society aided in the support of Mr. Parmele, and four years in the support of Mr. Beardsley.
Sheridan .- This town was formerly a part of the town of Pom- fret, and the present church of Sheridan was originally known as Pomfret first church. It was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Buffalo, Feb. 3d, 1818. In 1825, it numbered fifty-eight members ; in 1830, eighty-four; and, in 1837, one hun- dred and five. Rev. Elihu Mason was employed as a stated sup- ply to this church three years, from January 8th, 1826. He was suc- ceeded in 1827, by Rev. Blackleach B. Gray, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, May 12th, 1830, and dismissed, Oct. 9th, 1833. Since the dismission of Mr. Gray, no pastor has been regularly installed, but as stated supplies, Rev. Messrs. Z. Eddy, Ebenezer Raymond, and Nathaniel'S. Smith, have been employed. The church has been repeatedly blessed with the reviving influences of the Holy Spirit, and considerable accessions have been made to it as the result. In the year 1836, forty-six members were reported as having been added the preceding year by profession. In the sup- port of all the ministers which have been named, the church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society.
Dunkirk .- This village is situated in the town of Pomfret, on the shore of Lake Erie. The Presbyterian church of Dunkirk, consist-
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ing of ten members, was organized May 22d, 1830, and. was re- ceived under the care of the Presbytery, Sept. 8th, of that year. In 1831 the church numbered twenty-three members; in 1834, seventy ; in 1840, one hundred; and in 1846, sixty-seven. Soon after the organization of the church, Rev. Timothy Stillman, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, was em- ployed as a stated supply. In that capacity he continued till Nov. 23d, 1836, when he was installed pastor of the church, and remained such till Sept. 5th, 1838, when the relation was dissolved. He was succeeded by Rev. James B. Shaw, who was ordained and installed June 26th, 1839, and was dismissed Jan. 26th, 1841. His succes- sor was Rev. C. L. Hequembourgh, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Oct. 27th, 1841, and was dismissed in 1846. In 1833, a pleasing revival was enjoyed, as the result of which, thirty-seven members were added by profession to the church. Another in 1836 brought in twenty-four members. This congre- gation is very circumscribed, being confined almost exclusively to the limits of the village. It has received aid several years from the American Home Missionary Society. The church has been greatly weakened by removals. It has an appropriate house of worship, which was built in 1834. There is a Methodist congregation in the village, which in 1842 occupied the Academy as a place of worship.
Fredonia .- This village is situated in the town of Pomfret. Its settlement was commenced about the year 1804, by emigrants from Paris, Oneida county, Sherburne, Chenango county, and Pennsylva- nia. Public worship was set up about the year 1806, by Presby- terians and Baptists. The present church of Fredonia was orga- mized by Rev. John Spencer, Sept. 29th, 1810, and was denominated the church of Pomfret. It consisted of seven males and five fe- males, who had most of them been members of churches in the county of Oneida. The church was organized a Congregational church, and it adopted the Presbyterian form of government Jan. 30th, 1817. The church was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Geneva, Feb. 13th, 1817, and on the organization of the Presbytery of Buffalo, was transferred to that body. In 1825 it numbered forty-two members ; in 1828, one hundred and one ; in 1840, three hundred and forty-eight ; and in 1846, two hundred and four. The church has enjoyed the labors of the following pas- tors : Rev. Samuel Sweezy, installed March 13th, 1817, dismissed July 7th, 1819 ; Rev. William Page, ordained and installed Sept. 10th, 1823, dismissed August 3d, 1826; Rev. William Bradley, ordained and installed Jan. 8th, 1834, and dismissed Nov. 9th, 1837 ; Rev. Sylvester Cowles, installed Feb. 20th, 1839, and dismissed June 2d, 1840 ; and Rev. Augustus Pomeroy. From the organi- zation of the church to the period of Mr. Sweezy's settlement, the
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church received very important ministerial aid from Rev. John Spencer, who resided in the vicinity, and was a standing missionary of the Connecticut Missionary Society. As stated supplies for a period of one year or more, Rev. James W. M'Master, Rev. Abiel Parmele, Rev. David D. Gregory, Rev. George R. Rudd, and Rev. Samuel M. Hopkins, have been employed. Others have served for shorter periods. This church has enjoyed many seasons of refresh- ing from the presence of the Lord. Under the ministry of Mr. Gregory, in 1831 and '32, there was a blessed effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the church and congregation, as the result of which, sixty-eight members were added to the church by profession. In 1834, under the ministry of Mr. Bradley, another season of refresh- ing was enjoyed, and thirty-nine hopeful converts were united to the church. Another in 1837, brought an accession of twenty-nine members to the church ; and another in 1845, under the ministry of Mr. Pomeroy, added to the church twenty-three members. Other seasons of less note have been enjoyed.
This church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society for a period of five or six years. They have a house of worship, erected in 1836. It is constructed of brick, and is sixty- five feet in length, and fifty in breadth. The Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal denominations have each a house of worship in the village, and all the denominations have stated weekly preaching in their respective houses. About one-third of the inhabitants of the village attend the Presbyterian church. Of the other denominations the Baptists are the most numerous. The Methodists and Episco- palians (High Church) are about equal in numbers.
Villaneva .- The name of this church in the Statistical Reports of the Presbytery of Buffalo occurs for the first time in 1829. The next year the number of members reported was fourteen, and this is the only number ever mentioned in the annual reports. It has uniformly been reported from year to year as vacant ; but its name is still continued on the statistical reports of the Presbytery.
Lodi .- This village is situated on Cattaraugus creek, which con- stitutes the dividing line between Cattaraugus and Erie counties. It lies partly in the town of Persia, and partly in the town of Collins. The first settler in this village was Turner Aldrich, who tas a member of the denomination of Friends. He came in in 1810. Public worship was first set up in 1827, by Joseph Plumb, and a few others. The church was organized in April, 1828. The number of male members at that time was thirteen. It was re- ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Sept. 4th, 1827. In 1830, it contained sixteen members ; in 1837, one hun- dred and fifty ; and in 1846, one hundred and fifteen. Rev. Erastus J. Gillet officiated as stated supply one year from May, 1829;
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Rev. Thompson S. Harris, three years from June, 1830; and, Rev. John B. Preston succeeded for three years and a half. Mr. Preston was installed pastor of the church, June 28th, 1836, and was dismissed, June 26th, 1839. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Cochrane for six months, and by Rev. Sylvester Cowles for three years. Rev. Levi A. Skinner commenced as stated supply in December, 1823, and was still officiating in the latter part of 1846. This church has enjoyed two extensive revivals of religion, which added considerably to the numbers and strength of the church. They have been aided by the American Home Missionary Society in the support of most of their ministers. The Society erected a house of worship which was finished in 1835, and consumed by fire, Feb. 13th, 18.12. They have erected another on the same foundation, which is fifty-two feet in length, and forty in breadth, and it was nearly finished in November, 1846. The house of wor- ship stands in the town of Collins, in the county of Erie ; the village post-office in the town of Persia, in the county of Cattaran- gus. The church was considerably weakened some years since by the withdrawal of some of its members, who resided from four to six miles from the village, to form a Congregational church. This church has not prospered. It has no appropriate house of worship, and enjoys the preaching of the gospel but a small part of the time. The Methodist denomination have a house of wor- ship in the village of Lodi. It is estimated that nearly one half of the inhabitants of the village attend worship with the Presbyterian church.
West Otto .- The settlement of this town was commenced by Joseph Adams, from Madison connty, in 1810. The first Presby- terian minister that ever preached a sermon in this town was a Mr. Dunning (the author supposes Rev. Ira Dunning). Public worship was first set up in a stated manner in 1828, and the church, consisting of eleven members, was organized by Rev. William J. Willcox, Oct. 18th, 1828. The members were emigrants from dif- ferent places. The number of members has very gradually in- creased, so that in 1846 it amounted to forty-six. Rev. William J. Willcox was stated supply for one half of the time, for more than one year from April, 1833, and was standing moderator, in the absence of stated supplies, from the time of its organization till 1835. ITis labors with the church were very useful. Rev. Daniel T. Conde, now a missionary at the Sandwich Islands, was stated supply to this church, and that of East Otto, one year from Octo- ber, 1835. He was succeeded by Rev. Sylvester Cowles, who supplied till 1839. Rev. Miles Doolittle was his successor, and supplied the two churches three years. His successor was Rev. Aaron Van Wormer, who supplied both churches one year. Rev. Miles Doolittle returned in 1845, and supplied a part of the time
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for a period of between one and two years. In 1834, twelve mem- bers were reported as having been added the preceding year by profession. This is the greatest number ever reported as having been added in any one year.
East Otto .- This church was organized with nineteen members, in February, 1834, by Rev. Messrs. Willcox and Parmele. It was organized a Congregational church, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, on the accommodating plan, Sept. 2d, 1834. In 1846, it contained forty-two members. It has generally been connected with West Otto in the enjoyment of the labors of a minister, and in their united capacity they have been dependent on the aid of the American Home Missionary Society.
Ashford .- This church was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Buffalo, September 4th, 1832. It had then recently been organized. The next spring it was reported as consisting of four- teen members, and no report of numbers has been made since that period. It has uniformly been reported vacant.
Franklinville .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, February 23d, 1830, and by an act of the Synod of Geneva was transferred to the Presbytery of Buffalo, October 9th, 1838. In 1831, it consisted of thirty-one members ; in 1834, of one hundred ; and in 1843, of two hundred and sixty-six. This is the last enumeration that the author has seen. Rev. John T. Baldwin labored in this place and Olean, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society in 1828 and 1829, dur- ing which period the church of Franklinville was organized, con- sisting of between twenty and thirty members. After a short interval Mr. Baldwin again commenced his labors with this church, and supplied one half of the time till May, 1836. He was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Houden, who supplied one year. In 1839, Rev. Cornelius W. Gillam was ordained and installed pastor of the ยท church. He appears to have left the church in 1842, though the writer finds no record of his dismission. By whom the church has been supplied since his departure is not known to the author. In the support of all the ministers who have been named the church has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. This church has enjoyed several seasons of enlargement, but the most remarkable was in 1843, when one hundred and twenty-four mem- bers were reported as having been added to the church by profes- sion. This church has an appropriate house of worship.
Ellicottville .- This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, September 10th, 1822. From 1831 to 1837 inclusive, it is reported as under the care of the Presbytery of An-
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gelica ; but since that period it is again reported as under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo. In 1825, it contained twenty-one members ; in 1827, only thirteen ; in 1830, fifteen ; in 1836, seventy- five ; in 1843, one hundred and sixty-eight ; and in 1846, one hun- dred and sixteen. Till 1831 it was uniformly reported vacant. From that period Rev. John T. Baldwin was stated supply one half of the time for two years. Near the close of 1834, Rev. Syl- vester Cowles commenced laboring as a stated supply, and con- tinued about four years, spending a part of the time with the church of Waverley. Rev Mead Holmes was ordained and installed pastor of the church, June 23d, 1841, and sustained that relation till Sept. 6th, 1843, when the relation was dissolved. At the commencement of 1844, Rev. S. Cowles again was employed as a stated supply, and continued in that capacity at the last information. In the sup- port of all these ministers the church has been aided by the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society. It has an appropriate house of worship.
Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church .- This church, recently organized, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buf- falo, Sept. 6th, 1842. The next spring it was reported as consist- ing of twenty-three members. In 1845, it had increased to one hundred and forty members. Rev. William Waith was employed as stated supply, under the patronage of the American Home Mis- sionary Society, in 1844. He reported that the church had com- pleted a house of worship, 'and did not need the further aid of the Society. Whether the great increase of the church was the result of an effusion of the Holy Spirit, or of other causes, the writer is not informed.
Charlotte .- This church, consisting of thirty members, was or- ganized, July 22d, 1831, and received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Buffalo, Sept. 6th of the same year. In 1832, it reported thirty-four members ; and in 1840, seventy. Since that date the name of the church is not found in the Statistical Reports of the Presby- tery. In 1832, Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley officiated as stated supply under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. During his ministry he reported a revival of religion, and about thirty hopeful converts. He was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Emery for two years. The church then appears to have been vacant for several years. Rev. Charles Danforth officiated as stated supply to this church in connexion with Stockton in 1840 and '41, and was succeeded by Rev. Edwin Hoyt in August, 1841. He continued one year. This is the latest information which the writer has obtained.
Stockton .-- The author supposes that this is the church that was
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received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, Feb. 13th, 1821, by the name of Gerry and Chautauque, and which afterwards was reported by the name of Stockton and Gerry till 1833, at which period it took the name of Stockton, and by that name was report- ed till 1840, since which period its name has been omitted in the Statistical Reports of the Presbytery. In 1827, it numbered twen- ty-eight members ; in 1832, forty ; and in 1841, forty-nine. This is the highest number ever reported. Rev. Hugh Wallis. officiated as stated supply one year from April, 1827. Rev. Obadiah C. Beardsley supplied one year from April, 1831. Rev. Zenas Bliss, Rev. J. B. Wilson, Rev. Charles Danforth, and Rev. Edwin Hoyt have severally officiated as stated supplies, and acted under com- missions from the American Home Missionary Society. Whether the church has seceded from the Presbyterian connexion, or has become extinct, the author is not informed.
Chautauque .- A church by this name was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1825, it con- sisted of eighteen members. The year 1826 is the last in which the name is found in the Statistical Reports of the Presbytery.
Portland .- The town of Portland originally comprised the north-western part of the county of Chautauque, embracing what are now the towns of Portland, Westfield, and Ripley. The set- tlement of the present town of Portland was commenced in 1805 by James Dunn. He was followed the next year by Nathan Fay, Elisha Fay, Nathaniel Fay, and Peter Kane, and in 1806, by John Price and others. Rev. John Spencer preached the first sermon ever delivered in the town in 1806. After his removal into the town of Sheridan, he visited Portland as a missionary, and preach- ed several times annually till 1824. A Congregational church was organized in 1817, consisting of fifteen or twenty members, some of whom resided in that part of the town which is now Westfield. This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Buffalo, July 7th, 1818. In 1825, the church numbered thirty-eight members. In 1820 and '21, Rev. Phinehas Camp, of Westfield, preached in Portland one third part of the time. With this excep- tion very little ministerial aid for a number of years, besides what was afforded by Mr. Spencer, was enjoyed. Some of the members of the church who lived contiguous to Westfield, attended worship with the church in that town. The church of Portland declined, and finally became extinct.
In 1833, an effort was made to resuscitate the church, and the present Congregational church of Portland was organized, March 10th of that year, by Rev. David D. Gregory and Rev. Timothy Stillman, a committee of the Presbytery. This church consisted of sixteen members, of whom seven were taken from the church of
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