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 68
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bers of the church was much increased. This church has an ap- propriate house of worship.
Farmersville .- This church was received under the care of the - Presbytery of Angelica, February 23d, 1830. The next year it reported seven members ; in 1836, thirty ; and in 1840, fifteen. From its locality or other causes it appears to have been a feeble church, and by an act of the Presbytery, July 9th, 1844, it was attached to the church of Franklinville.
Black Creek .- The location of this church was in the present town of New Hudson. The settlement of the town commenced in 1821, by Messrs. Davidson, Lyon, Eastwood, Burlingham, and M'Keen. Public worship was soon after set up. The church was organized by Rev. Robert Hubbard, in the year 1822. It was com- posed of six individuals, most or all of whom had been members of a church in the State of New Hampshire. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, September 11th, 1822, and on the organization of the Presbytery of Angelica, became connected with that body. In 1825, it consisted of eleven members. In 1833, it numbered forty-five : this is the highest number ever reported. It was amalgamated with the church of Haight, August 29th, 1837, and the united church took the name of New Hudson. The church in its original state was generally reported vacant. It was, how- ever, to some extent, supplied by Rev. Reuben Hurd.
There is another church now existing, called the church of Black Creek, which was formed of sixteen members seceding from the church of New Hudson. It is connected with the Presbytery of Buffalo City (Old School). In 1846, it numbered thirty-five mem- bers, and enjoyed the labors of Rev. Abel Caldwell as stated supply.
Haight .- The present town of New Hudson was formerly named Haight. The church of that name was formed in 1828, by a divi- sion of the church of Black Creek with the aid of Rev. Moses Hunter. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, February 28th, 1832. At that period it numbered thirty- seven members; in 1834, seventy-nine; and in 1837, sixty-four. It has generally been reported vacant. In the years 1822, '33, and '34, considerable additions were made to the church by profession, indicating the presence of the Holy Spirit in his converting influ- ences. This church was united with that of Black Creek, August 29th, 1837, and in their united capacity were called the church of New Hudson.
New Hudson .- This church, formed by the union of the churches
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of Black Creek and Haight, was reported in 1840 as consisting of ninety-two members; in 1843, of fifty-six ; and in 1846, of sixty- four. In 1837, Rev. Asa S. Allen labored here as stated supply under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. He continued about one year. Rev. Royal Twitchell, under the same patronage, supplied one half of the time from March, 1841, for three years. What ministerial aid the church has enjoyed since the departure of Mr. Twitchell is not known to the writer. The church has received accessions by profession to its numbers ; but it does not appear that any great effusion of the Holy Spirit has been experienced. The church has an appropriate house of worship. The spirit of emigration has much diminished its numbers. Its members live intermixed with those of the old school church of Black Creek, also with Baptists, Methodists, and other denominations.
Belfast .-- This church was organized with eleven members, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 23d, 1830. In 1831, it was reported by the Presbytery as vacant, and consisting of eleven members. It was never reported by the Presbytery after this date. Whether the church has become extinct, or has seceded from the Presbytery, is not known to the writer.
Angelica .- Of the settlement of this place mention has been made in a preceding chapter. The first settlers were from differ- ent parts of Europe and the United States. Hence there was little similarity of character between the different members of the com- munity. A Reformed Dutch church was organized in Alfred, to which some individuals in Angelica attached themselves, but it soon became extinct. As early as 1810, perhaps more early, Rev. Samuel Parker, a missionary from the Missionary Society of Mas- sachusetts, visited this place repeatedly, and labored to some ex- tent. Rev. Robert Hubbard in the same capacity visited the place in 1811, and spent some time with the inhabitants, who manifested a wish for his continuance. A Presbyterian church consisting of eleven members, was organized, May 6th, 1812, by Rev. John Niles of Bath. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 19th, 1812. On the division of that body it was assigned to the Presbytery of Bath, and subsequently to the Presbytery of Angelica. In 1825, it numbered thirty-three members ; in 1829, ninety-two; in 1836, one hundred and eighty- five ; and in 1846, sixty-one. Rev. Robert Hubbard was ordained and installed pastor of the church, August 20th, 1812. He was at the same time installed pastor of the church of Alfred (now Almond). He continued with the church of Angelica till Oct. 4th, 1826, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses Hunter, who was inducted into the pastorate, Nov. 15th,
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1827, and continued till August 27th, 1833, when he received a dismission. The next pastor in succession was Rev. Leverett Hull, who was installed, Sept. 30th, 1835. He continued about two years, and was dismissed, August 30th, 1837. During the interval between the dismission of Mr. Hunter and the settlement of Mr. Hull, the pulpit was temporarily supplied by Rev. Samuel W. May. Since the dismission of Mr. Hull no pastor has been settled ; but different ministers have officiated from time to time as stated sup- plies For some time past Rev. Horace Fraser has been the stated supply. Soon after the organization of the church there was a re- vival under the ministry of Mr. Hubbard, which added nine mem- bers to the church by profession. Under the ministry of Mr. Hunter two very considerable periods of revival were enjoyed, and another under the ministry of Mr. Hull, which greatly enlarged the number of the members of the church. Since that period the num- ber has greatly diminished. This church has been aided in the support of its ministers a number of years, both by the General Assembly's Board of Missions, and the American Home Missionary Society. It has a house of worship, which is fifty feet in length, and forty in breadth, erected in 1828 or '29. The Episcopalians, Baptists, and Methodists, have places of worship in the village. The Presbyterian congregation is the largest. The Methodist next in number, and the Episcopal next. But a small proportion of the population of the town attend worship anywhere.
Almond .- This town was formerly a part of the town of Alfred. Of its early settlement, and the organization of a church of the Re- formed Dutch order, we have spoken in a former chapter. The existing church was organized on the Presbyterian platform, May 5th, 1812, by Rev. John Niles of Bath. It consisted of twenty-one members, residing in Alfred and what is now Hornellsville, and was denominated the church of Alfred, which name was changed for that of Almond on the division of the town. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 19th, 1812, and on the division of the Presbytery was transferred to the Presbytery of Bath, and subsequently to the Presbytery of Angeli- ca. In 1825, it numbered forty-one members; in 1833, one hun- dred and ten ; and in 1846, two hundred and ninety-eight. Rev. Robert Hubbard was ordained and installed pastor of this church and that of Angelica, August 20th, 1812. His connexion with the church of Almond continued till Feb. 25th, 1829, when it was dis- solved. For three years after the dismission of Mr. Hubbard the church was without a pastor, but was supplied most of the time by Rev. James Cahoon and Rev. Lewis Cheeseman. Rev. Moses Hunter was installed as pastor, Sept. 18th, 1833, and sustained that relation till Feb. 26th, 1839, when he was dismissed. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Abiel Parmele, who, as stated supply, continued
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with the church about five years. In September, 1844, Rev. Joel Wakeman, then a licentiate, was employed as a candidate for settle- ment. He was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Jan. 14th, 1846, and is its present pastor. This church has been blessed with five general revivals. The first was in 1831, in connexion with the labors of Mr. Cahoon. Nearly one hundred members were added to the church as the fruits of this revival. The second was in 1834, under the ministry of Mr. Hunter. About thirty were added to the church. Again in 1837, under the ministry of Mr. Hunter, the Spirit was poured out, and as the result, forty-eight members were added to the church. The next revival was in 1843, under the ministry of Mr. Palmele, which resulted in the addition of twenty-seven members to the church. The latest revival was in 1845, under the labors of Mr. Wakeman ; twenty-six members were added to the church as its fruits.
This church has always supported its ministers without foreign aid. A temporary house of worship was built at an early period, during the ministry of Mr. Hubbard, which was replaced by a new and commodious one, erected in 1834, at an expense of $3000. It is sixty feet in length, and forty in breadth. The average congre- gation upon the Sabbath is about three hundred. There is a Metho- dist congregation in the village, but it is small and weak, and has no appropriate house of worship. There is also a Baptist church, which has a good house of worship, but is barely able to support a pastor. A large proportion of the inhabitants attend no place of worship.
Amity .- The settlement of this place commenced in the year 1806. There is a village in the town, located on the Genesee river, and on the line of the New York and Erie railroad, called Philips- burgh, or Philipsville. The latter is the name given to it in Dis- turnell's Gazetteer of New York. The house of worship belonging to the Presbyterian church is located in this village. The church is therefore sometimes called the church of Philipsburgh or Philips- ville, and at other times the church of Amity. Public worship was set up by the Baptists at an early period, and a church of that order was organized in 1809. The Presbyterian church, consisting of sixteen members, was organized by Rev. Moses Hunter, in 1832, and was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 28th, of that year. In 1834, the church reported forty-three members; in 1840, seventy-two ; and in 1846, fifty-seven. As stated supplies for different periods, Rev. Messrs. Jabez Spicer, Samuel W. May, O. S. Powell, Benjamin Russell, and Edward Rey- nolds, have officiated, the last three under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. Rev. Nathaniel Hammond is the officiating supply at the present time. Considerable additions to the church were reported in 1834, '40, and '43, indicating that
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the Spirit had been poured out in his converting influences upon the community. The church has an appropriate house of worship, forty feet in length, and thirty-six in breadth, which was erected in 1840. Wesleyan, and Episcopal Methodists, and some Episcopalians, are intermixed with the Presbyterians, but the great mass of the com- munity are of no denomination, and attend no place of worship.
Friendship .-- This town, formerly an integral part of the town of Caneadea, was erected into a separate town with its present name in 1815. The settlement was commenced in 1805, by Samuel Wardell, Esq., upon a lot which now composes the west- ern part of the village of Friendship. He cut the road by which he arrived at his lot. Messrs. Zebulon and John Gates, with their families, came in soon after. In 1806, Messrs. Elisha Strong, John Harrison, John Higgins, and George Higgins, arrived, and settled on Van Campen's Creek, two miles east of the village. From this period the settlement was more rapid. In the early settlement of the town, when the number of inhabitants was small, it was com- mon for the ladies to turn out and assist in raising their log-houses. The first frame building in the town was a barn, erected by Esq. Wardell, which is still standing. Occasional public worship was held here by Rev. Robert Hubbard, of Angelica, and Rev. Mr. Braman, of the Baptist Church. A few members of the Presbyterian order were connected with the church of Angelica, or constituted a branch of that church. The church as it now exists was organized by the Presbytery of Angelica, and received under the care of that body, August 26th, 1835. It consisted of sixty-one members, and it is a Congregational church, connected with the Presbytery on the accommodating plan. In 1843, it num- bered ninety members, and in 1846, one hundred and three. Rev. Messrs. Reuben Hurd, William Bridgman, John F. Bliss, Sylvester Cory, and Calvin Gray, have severally officiated in this place as stated supplies. In the early part of the year 1841, Rev. Charles Crocker, then a licentiate, commenced labor with the church, and was ordained and installed pastor, Feb. 9th, 1842. He still con- tinues in the pastorate. The church has enjoyed two general revivals of religion, the effects of which have been salutary and lasting. One of these was in 1839 : the other in 1843. The church has been aided in the support of almost all its ministers by the American Home Missionary Society. It has an appropriate house of worship, forty-five feet in length and thirty in breadth, which was erected in 1836. The Methodists, Seventh-day Baptists, and First-day Baptists, have churches in the town, all of which are of longer standing than the Presbyterian church. The First-day Bap- tist church is much the largest as to its number of members, while it about equals the Presbyterian in the number of attendants on its worship. Though there are many of the inhabitants of the town
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who do not attend worship anywhere, still there is a greater pro- portion of them who are regular attendants at the house of God, than in former times.
Cuba .- The settlement of this town commenced in 1815, by a few families from the northern and eastern part of the State. They are said to have been loose in principle and practice. They were followed by others in 1819 and 1820, some of whom were pious. Some meetings upon the Sabbath were held about this time, and Rev. Robert Hubbard, of Angelica, visited the place, and preached the first sermon ever delivered in the town. As characteristic of the man, it is said that he came with his portmanteau filled with crackers and other comfortables for a sick woman, a disciple of Jesus, at the house where he preached. Methodist and Baptist preachers followed, and occasionally preached in the place. But irreligion greatly prevailed, and regular public worship was not established till 1827. A Presbyterian church, consisting of ten members, five males and five females, was organized by Rev. Reu- ben Hurd, July 19th, 1827. A few others soon united with them. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of An- gelica, Feb. 24th, 1829. For several years the church was des- titute of stated preaching. Rev. Reuben Hurd and Rev. Moses Hunter occasionally preached, and otherwise assisted them, and some additions were made to the church. In 1832, it numbered thirty-two members ; in 1834, one hundred and forty ; in 1843, two hundred and two ; and in 1846, one hundred and eighty. In 1835, forty-eight members received a dismission to form the church of Friendship. Near the commencement of the year 1833, Rev. Samuel W. May was employed as stated supply for one year, to preach half of the time in Friendship. Rev. William Bridgeman was employed for one year from the early part of 1835, to divide the time between Cuba and Friendship. From the close of Mr. Bridgeman's labors for more than a year, the church was without preaching, and in a broken condition. In April, 1837, Rev. Asa S. Allen came to reside in the place, and was employed as a stated supply to this church, and that of New Hudson. His labors were continued about nine years. In 1817, Rev. N. Leighton was or- dained and installed pastor of the church. Under the ministry of Mr. May there was a revival, as the result of which eighty-nine persons were added to the church. In 1838, the church was favored with another revival, and about fifty members were re- ceived to the communion of the church. The beginning of the next year was signalized by a display of the grace of God, and thirty or forty hopeful conversions took place. Two considerable revivals have since occurred, making goodly additions to the church. The church has been aided several years in the support of its ministers by the American Home Missionary Society. It has a
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house of worship, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in breadth, which was completed and dedicated in 1838. The Baptist de- nomination have a house of worship and a respectable church, for- merly prosperous, but latterly divided and distracted by Miller- ism, about one third of the church having seceded and set up worship by themselves. The Methodist church is small, and destitute of an appropriate house of worship. The Universalists have preaching a part of the time, but their congregation is small. The congregation uniting with the Presbyterian church includes about half who attend on any meeting for worship.
Burton .- The name of this church was originally Great Valley. It was changed to Burton in 1834. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, Feb. 23d, 1830. In 1831 it con- sisted of seven members. In 1836 it reported twenty-eight mem- bers. This is the largest number ever reported. In 1843 it was united with Olean. While in its separate existence it was generally reported vacant, and appears to have been in a very feeble condi- tion.
Olean .- This town in 1813 comprehended the whole county of Cattaraugus. The settlement at Olean was commenced in 1803, by Major Adam Hoops, when the only access to the place was by an indifferent and circuitous road from the county of Steuben to King's settlement in Pennsylvania. The settlement did not pro- gress very rapidly. A Presbyterian church was organized, and re- ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Sept. 11th, 1822, and was assigned to the Presbytery of Angelica on the formation of that body. In 1825, it consisted of eight members ; and in 1840, of twenty-eight. This is the last enumeration which the author has seen. It has never flourished, and has generally been reported as vacant, and, as has been before stated, was in 1843 united with Burton. What has been the condition of the united church is not known to the writer. In the Statistical Reports of the Presbytery the name of neither church is found since 1840. It has a house of worship in the village of Olean, and there is another belonging to the Episcopal denomination.
Scio .- A Presbyterian church was organized in the village of Wellsville in this town, by a committee of the Presbytery of Ange- lica, July 6th, 1841. In 1843 it reported twenty-two members ; and in 1846, eighteen. The church has enjoyed the preaching of the gospel but a small part of the time, and is in a very feeble con- dition.
Andover .- The settlement of this town was commenced in 1808, by four brothers from Poultney (Vt.), of the name of Baker. Soon
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afterwards Joseph Woodruff, from the same State, moved in. He was a member of a Congregational church, and the first professor of religion that settled in the town. Those who preceded him were supporters of religious order, but not members of any church. The son of Mr. Woodruff, three grand-children, and two great-grand- children, were members of the church in 1846. For a number of years very little preaching was enjoyed, but meetings were held on the Sabbath, and in the absence of a preacher sermons were read, and devotional exercises observed. In 1823 Deacon Asa S. Allen, now a minister of the gospel, moved into the place, and the next year, on the fourteenth day of July, a Congregational church, con- sisting of six members, of whom three were males, and three females, was organized by Rev. Robert Hubbard. This church, on the ac- commodating plan, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Bath, Jan. 30th, 1827. It was transferred to the Presbytery of Angelica when that body was organized. In 1827 it consisted of twenty-seven members; in 1832, seventy-six ; and in 1846, fifty- two. The church has never had a regularly installed pastor. As stated supply. Rev. Silas Hubbard labored here one year half of the time. Rev. Jabez Spicer supplied this church, in connexion with Independence, under the patronage of the General Assembly's Board of Missions, three or four years, from February, 1830. Rev. Benjamin Russell supplied the two churches, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, two or three years. Rev. James Conly took the charge of the two churches, as stated supply, at the commencement of the year 1845, and still continues. He, too, has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. The largest number of members reported as received on profession in any one year, is sixteen. This was in 1846, and the result of a revival enjoyed. The church has a comfortable house of worship, forty feet in length, by thirty in breadth. They have also one hun- dred acres of wild land, a donation from the agent of the Pulteney estate, on which a parsonage has been erected. The Methodist denomination has a house of worship in the village, of about equal value with the Presbyterian house. The close communion Bap- tists have a church in the village, which meets for worship in a school-house. Each of these churches has preaching half of the time. There is no other denomination in the village.
Independence .- The history of this church is in a great measure identified with that of Andover. The few professors of religion of the Presbyterian denomination in the town of Independence, were connected with the church of Andover. On the sixth day of Janu- ary, 1833, nine members of the church of Andover received letters of dismission for the purpose of being organized as a Presbyterian church in Independence. These, with some others, were soon after organized as a church, which was received under the care of the
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Presbytery of Angelica, Sept. 18th, of the same year. In the enjoy- ment of ministerial labor this church has always been connected with Andover, the same minister dividing his time equally between the two churches. In 1833 the number of members reported was fourteen ; in 1843, twenty-nine; and in 1846, twenty-six. This church has a lot of wild land of one hundred acres, but no appro- priate house of worship. The members of the church are dispersed throughout the town, and their meetings for worship are held in different places. The three prominent denominations of professing Christians in Independence, are the Methodists, close communion Baptists, and seventh day Baptists. Each of these denominations has an appropriate house of worship, and a well established con- gregation.
THE END.
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