USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > A history of the town of Queensbury, in the state of New York : with biographical sketches of many of its distinguished men, and some account of the aborigines of northern New York > Part 23
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At the age of eighteen, he taught a district school in Marlborough, Vt., where he afterwards officiated as its minister, studying meanwhile, and fitting for college, under the supervision of Rev. Alvan Tobey of Wilmington, Vt. He entered the freshman class of Middlebury college, 6th of October, 1806, and graduated 16th of August, 1810. During his junior year, he made a profession of religion, and with about one hundred others, in April, 1810, he united with the Congregational church at Middlebury. Preparing for the ministry, he entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass., in the month of November following, and completed his studies in September, 1813. He was licensed to preach by the Haverhill, Massachusetts, Association of Congregational ministers, on the 14th of April pre- ceding. In October of the same year, he commenced preaching at Marlborough, Vt., and on the 14th of March, 1814, he was ordained and installed pastor of the Con- gregational church of that place. In 1815, he married Huldah, eldest daughter of Maj. Gen. Timothy F. Chipman of Shoreham, Vt., and, for nearly twenty years was not only the minister but the guide and teacher of the people of the rude and poor mountain-town of Marlborough. His next pastoral labors were performed at Glen's Falls, as recorded in the text. During his pastorate here one hundred and seventy-two members were added to the church. In the same time, also, he esta-
1 For the material of this sketch I am chiefly indebted to his son, John M. Newton of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
In 1834 a powerful revival occurred, resulting in the addition of large numbers to the church.
On the sixth of August, 1836, Mr. Newton tendered his resig- nation to the session, " in consequence of the embarrassed state of their funds in his support, and the prospect of his usefulness being thereby impaired." On the 25th of August he was dis- missed by the Presbytery from his pastoral charge.
The names next occurring on the sessional records as tem- porarily officiating here, are the Rev. Amos C. Tuttle, Rev. Mr. Willoughby, and Rev. J. H. Noble, the latter supplying the pulpit for several months. In addition to these, the records bear the names of the Rev. Courtney Smith, and the Rev. P. F. Phelps.
The name of the Rev. J. F. Scoville first appears as presiding over a meeting of the session on the 10th of August, 1837. For a period of five years he remained in charge of the church, during which time it was exceedingly prospered, two extensive revivals contributing largely to an increase of membership
blished a very prosperous select school, which was conducted a portion of the time in the second story of a framed building a little south of Threehouse's hotel, and at another time over the old Post office adjoining the Long row. He removed from this place to Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., where he was installed as pastor over the Presbyterian church in November, 1836. He continued at this latter place until August, 1843, during which period eighty-three persons were added to the church. Following this, he served five years as principal of the Cambridge Academy. His wife died in November, 1853. His tastes inclined him largely to the pursuit of the natural sciences, and he attained a wide and well earned repute as a mineralogist and geologist. There is little doubt but he would have found his mission more fully developed as a professor and teacher of these recondite spheres of learning. Of crystals, mineralogical, lithological and fossiliferous specimens, he had a highly interesting and valuable collection, num- bering upwards of ten thousand, which he afterwards presented to the seminary at Andover, and for which a building was expressly erected. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the college at Middlebury, and in turn, at the close of his life, presented that institution with his library numbering about one thousand volumes. In 1860, he returned to his old home at Marlborough, Vt., and finding that place very much run down and its church destitute of a minister he resolved to renew his pastoral relations, and with all the zeal and ardor of youth threw himself into the work. Two years later, during the fierce struggle of the rebellion, he was chosen without his knowledge to the legislature, and in view of the urgent necessity of having true and patriotic men in power he finally accepted the trust, and discharged its duties with fidelity. In 1863-4 he was acting as pastor at Wilmington, Vt. He died, after his return from a visit to his children and friends at the west, at the residence of his son-in-law, John M. Ste- venson, of Cambridge, N. Y., on the 6th of October, 1864. It could be said of him emphatically, that his ruling desire was to be of use to his fellow men ; a puritan in appearance, in practice and belief.
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THE CHURCHES.
during his ministry. It was during this pastorate that the di- vision occurred in the Presbyterian church which for a long series of years rent it asunder into two bodies known as the old and new schools. This church at first strove to be neutral 1 but finally identified itself with the new school branch.
On the 12th of October, 1841, the meeting of Synod was held with this society, an occasion made memorable by the eloquence of Rev. E. N. Kirk, N. S. S. Beman and other great lights of the church.
The last record of Rev. J. F. Scoville's services in connection with the church occurred on the 27th of June, 1842.2 In the interregnum which followed, the names of Rev. Daniel C. Frost, and Abijah Crane appear as occasionally officiating. About this time, at the suggestion of the Rev. N. S. S. Beman of Troy, the Rev. John W. Ray, then but recently graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of New York city, visited the place and gave two or three trial sermons, and as many lectures. These were followed by a formal call, which was forwarded to him at New York city, and on the 27th of August following, he commenced his ministry of three years in the pulpit of this church during which time the congregation sustained the ser- vices with untiring zeal, and unfailing interest. At Mr. Ray's instance, and in a great degree through his instrumentality, a session room was erected, which for several years, in addition to its more specific uses, served the community as a lyceum and lecture room. It was a substantial, well finished, and com- modious structure of brick and was built on the east corner of the church lot. This building, together with the church, was utterly destroyed in the great fire of 1864.
During Mr. Ray's pastorate, the membership of the church was increased from one hundred and sixty, to two hundred and fifty communicants. In addition to this, an increased attend- ance added to the material resources of the church, so soon to
1 " Resolved, That the circumstances of this church are such, that we do not feel willing to send a delegate to the meeting of Synod, on the 9th inst., to convene at Hudson, but intend to continue our neutrality for the present in relation to the division that has taken place in the Presbyterian church."- Records of Session, Oct. 8th, 1838.
A delegate to attend the Presbytery at Lansingburgh, was chosen Aug. 26th, 1839.
2 The Rev. J. F. Scoville was subsequently degraded from the ministry for im- moral and unbecoming conduct.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
be required and drawn upon in the erection of two costly churches.
In consequence of ill health, resulting from an over taxed constitution, Mr. Ray, twice in the fall of 1845, tendered his resignation. This was finally accepted, accompanied by some complimentary resolutions testifying the regard and good will of the session. His farewell sermon, preached to a large and sympathizing congregation, was elaborated from the following significant text : "Therefore watch and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one, night and day with tears. And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sancti- fied." (a)
After a short interval, the vacancy occasioned by this removal was supplied for a period of nine months by the Rev. John Gray,
(a) The Rev. JOHN W. RAY was a native of Norwich, N. Y. He graduated at Amherst College, Mass., in 1839 ; and at the Union Theological Seminary, in New York city, in 1842, where he took his junior and senior years ; his middle year having been taken at the Auburn Seminary. He was licensed April 8th, 1842, by the third Presbytery of New York city.
Soon afterward he visited the city of Troy, contemplating a missionary work in that vicinity ; but at the suggestion of Rev. Doctor Beman, he went up to Glen's Falls as a candidate for the vacant pulpit.
When he preached his first sermon in the Old White, as the church was then called, he found a man awaiting him in the porch, who was once a member of his Sunday school class in Auburn State Prison. This man at once interested himself in Mr. Ray's settlement, offering to contribute five dollars towards his salary ; and insisting with great earnestness that Mr. Ray "knew the Bible from one end to the other, and that he could tell everything that was in it." Returning to New York, he received a call to supply the first Presbyterian church at New Bruns- wick, N. J., but previous to deciding, an invitation was received from this church, which, after due deliberation, was accepted. During the first winter of his engage- ment here, a revival occurred, by which about fifty members were added to the communion.
After leaving Glen's Falls, Mr. Ray officiated at Avon Springs, and Perry. Here, becoming an Episcopalian in sentiment, he resigned his charge and ministry, and removed to the state of Missouri, where he was confirmed by Bishop Hawkes, and where he at first studied, and afterwards practiced law.
Subsequently he removed to Illinois, where, for two years, he was occupied with the editorial management of a newspaper, which was the first one in the whole country to propose the name of the late lamented Lincoln for the presidency. During his first presidential term, Mr. Ray had charge for a while of a division in the department of Indian affairs at Washington.
He was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal church, by Bishop Whitehouse at Chicago, Ill., in 1865 ; and the same year received priest's orders at the hands of the Rt. Rev. Samuel Allen McCoskry, of Michigan. For a number of years he has been the rector of St. Peter's church at Westfield, Chautauguay co., N. Y., where he now resides.
A.J. trump
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+
since deceased. There is nothing of record or any memorable . events to commemorate his connection with this church. The last session over which he presided was held July 3d, 1846.
In the month of October following, a call was extended to the present incumbent, the Rev. A. J. Fennel, (a) who, very shortly afterward, entered upon the discharge of his duties, and who, for the long series of years which have since elapsed has re- tained, in an eminent degree, the respect, good will, and confi- dence of his church members, and congregation, a large pro- portion of whom, have been gathered into his fold, during his long pastorate.
By special act of legislature in 1848, the name of the corpora- tion was changed, and the temporalities of the society were vested in The First Presbyterian Church of Glen's Falls. The · same year, the Old White was torn down, and a handsome · brick structure erected on its site. This work was placed in the hands of a very efficient building committee, consisting of Messrs. Bethuel Peck, Albert N. Cheney, and George G. Hawley. The church was completed at a cost of about nine thousand dollars, and was dedicated in March, 1850, by Rev. Mr. Fennel, who selected as his theme on that occasion, " the true use of a Christian temple." This edifice was utterly de- stroyed in the great fire of May 31st, 1864.
The present church structure was commenced the following year, and was completed in 1867. During this interval, the wor- ship of the congregation was conducted in the Baptist church. The first sermon preached in the new building was a historical discourse, delivered by the pastor on the afternoon of June 16th, 1867, in which the rise, progress and present condition of the church were exemplified. In this discourse (afterwards pub-
(a) Rev. ANDREW JACKSON FENNEL was born in the town of Ira, Rutland Co., Vermont, on the 21st of June, 1815. A portion of his boyhood was passed at the village of Castleton, Vt. In the seminary at that place he received his preparatory education. His ministerial studies were pursued at the Theological Seminary in Auburn, N. Y., where he graduated in 1843. For three years following, he preached in the Congregational church at Groton, Tompkins co., N. Y. He was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church in Glen's Falls, in October, 1846. His long service in the ministry here, is sufficient evidence of his acceptability, and the high regard, and esteem in which he is held by his people. During his ministry he has been twice sent away by his people for the recovery of his health ; once to the island of Cuba, and once on a tour to the southern states. In 1843, he was married at Little Falls, Herkimer co., N. Y., to Priscilla A. Hackley, a descendant of the Wolcott and Griswold families of Connecticut. The fruit of this union has been five children, of whom three sons are now living.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
lished) he says : " And now behold a church and furniture cost- ing already $25,000, and no debt. Great credit is due to our trustees, S. L. Goodman, Henry Crandell, Jerome Lapham, A. C. Tearse, Daniel Peck, for their wise and earnest efficiency in the enterprise, and their personal liberality." (a)
Since then, a fine and powerful organ has been added to the church, at a cost of nearly three thousand dollars. The church
(a) HENRY M. PARSONS. This account of the Presbyterian church, as well as the history of Glen's Falls, would be incomplete without some mention of the gifted and accomplished scholar, the eloquent, and impassioned orator, the grace- ful writer, whose name heads this article. He was the son of Elnathan Parsons, and was born at Glen's Falls, N. Y., 27th of July, 1813. He was baptized Sunday, the 13th of February, 1814, by the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, D.D., of Lansingburgh. He was admitted to membership, under the pastorate of the Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers in his native place in August, 1825, thus, at the tender age of twelve, tak- ing upon himself the vows of allegiance and service to his Divine Master. He early exhibited a great aptitude for study, giving bright promise of the brilliant intellect, of which his maturer years, notwithstanding ill health and a frail, delicate constitution, gave some fruitage. In 1827 he attended the academy, East Hampton, L. I. The following year he entered the academy, then under the charge of N. S. Prime, D.D., at Cambridge, N. Y., where he went though a pre- paratory course of study to fit himself for college. In the winter of 1829, he taught school on Luzerne mountain, continuing his studies the ensuing season, under the supervision of William Hicks, a somewhat noted teacher, who then had charge of the old academy, of which some account is given elsewhere.
In April, 1831, he entered the freshman class at Williams College, Williams- town, Mass., having for a room mate, a young man also fitting for the ministry, afterward the Rev. Theodore Sayre. In consequence of the growth and early development of that pulmonary trouble which eventuated in his death, he left college on account of ill health and spent the summer at the sea shore. The two succeeding years he spent in teaching at such intervals as his health would admit. In 1835 he went south, partly, and principally on account of his health, and taught at Augusta, Georgia. In the winter of 1836 he was rector of Appling Institute. In June, 1837, he was taken ill and forced to retire from his educational pursuits. In March following he returned home to the north where he remained chiefly at home, and on the sick list for the next two years. In July, 1839, he embarked on the Roanoke for a whaling voyage with a view to the improvement of his health, and was absent eleven months. He derived so much benefit from this trip, that in August, 1840, he set sail in the same vessel, but was left at the island of Fayal sick, and returned home in November of the same year. During the weeks of his convalescence he published over the signature of The Wanderer, in the Glen's Falls Gazette, a series of very interesting articles, descriptive of his voyages and adventures. He engaged for a brief period in 1841 in mercantile pursuits in the city of New York. In 1842 and'3 he was assistant editor of the Christian Family Magazine. In 1845, he taught in Greenport, and in 1846 in Southampton, L. I. He studied theology with Dr. H. N. Wilson. He was installed over the church in Moriches, October 8th, 1847. This pastoral relation was dissolved in June, 1852. He was installed as pastor of the Warren Run church, Pa., October 13th, 1852. His health again failing, he was obliged to give up his ministerial labors in 1854. He returned to Glen's Falls where he remained an invalid for the two
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THE CHURCHES.
was dedicated on the 19th of June, 1867, by the Rev. Dr. Hickok then president of Union College. The interior decoration of the building is rich and costly, the pews being finished up with different colored wood work, the windows of stained glass with life sized delineations of the Savior; the wall and ceilings artist- ically ornamented with colored panel work; and in the tower
following years. The winter of 1857 he spent again at the south. The following autumn he located at Southampton, Long Island, where he remained until the time of his death, which occurred on the 10th of August, 1859.
Notwithstanding his life long struggle with a frail constitution against continu- ally recurring attacks of sickness, his record reflects honor upon the place of his nativity. An easy, accomplished writer, a graceful, impassioned and fluent orator, a sincere, devout and exemplary Christian, his name will always be precious in the memory of the many who knew and loved him.
The author assumes an author's privilege, in this connection to append the fol- lowing communication from George R. Howell, assistant librarian of the State Library at Albany, he having been a student under Mr. Parsons, and well in- formed, and competent to bear testimony to his ability and worth.
Rev. Henry M. Parsons, while on a visit to his uncle residing at Southampton, L. I., was engaged to take charge of the academy at that place in the summer of 1846 (or "7). While there he won the love and respect of his pupils and was held in high esteem by the whole community. Soon after the completion of the sum- mer term he studied theology with the Rev. Hugh N. Wilson, D.D., pastor of the Presbyterian church in Southampton, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Long Island. He received a call to the Presbyterian church at Moriches on Long Island and having accepted it, at once was installed and began his labors. This church at that time was a feeble one, but soon after his installation Provi- dence blessed his labors with an abundant revival whereby many were added to the church. He labored here with entire acceptance to the people of his charge until his failing health compelled him to resign the work of the ministry, Although he had other calls to more extended and remunerative fields of labor, yet such was the attachment between pastor and people that they were all declined. He was a brilliant and polished orator, but self was never thrust forward at the ex- pense of his theme. Elocution, gesture and delivery were perfect, and his rare gracefulness never failed to win the hearts of his audience or his clear logical arguments their conviction. An oration delivered on a fourth of July at Sag Harbor is even yet remembered and spoken of by those who listened to it as one of the finest efforts of oratory ever witnessed in that village.
His early death, with so much promise of usefulness before him, has always been one of those mysteries of Divine Providence which baffle our comprehension in this life.
About the year 1848 he married Miss Maria R. Brown, on her mother's side descended from one of the oldest and most respected families of Southampton. Her father was a native of New Jersey where the family resided, but died before the writer of this was old enough to know of these events personally. Mrs. Brown returned to her native place with her family and here they were educated. Mrs. Parsons was a lady of rare loveliness of character and possessed what the New. Englanders call faculty, or tact, to an eminent degree. They had but one child, a son who was drowned while bathing in Southampton about the year 1858.
GEO. R. HOWELL.
State Library, Albany, April 1st, 1874.
.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
are placed a heavy, fine toned bell, and a town clock of superior workmanship. The entire cost of the church, with its fixtures and furniture complete, is estimated at upwards of thirty thou- sand dollars.
The present roll of membership embraces the names of be- tween two hundred and fifty and three hundred communicants. Appended hereto, may be found a list of the ruling elders, and trustees, from the first organization of the church, to the pre- sent time.
Ruling Elders.
Elected.
Elected.
1808. John Folsom,
1834. Albert Blakesly,
Died, 1839.
1838. Sheldon Benedict,
John Moss jr., Dismissed, 1822.
Linus B. Barnes,
1809. Jonathan Harris,
Matthew Scott,
1851. Orville Cronkhite,
66 Joseph Caldwell,
66 John J. Miller,
1819. Solomon P. Goodrich, Died, 1831.
William T. Norris, Fell in action 2d Bull Run, 1862.
1827. Charles G. Jones,
1857. Linus B. Barnes,
Dismissed, 1829,
66 Orville Cronkhite,
66 Gridley H. Packard, Dismissed, 1830.
1870. Linus B. Barnes,
1830. Levi Hamilton, Dismissed, 1833.
60 Sheldon Benedict,
66 Henry Wing,
John J. Miller,
Samuel S. Tallmadge, Dismissed, 1848.
66 William Hotchkiss,
1831. Sidney Berry, (a)
66 Frederic A. Johnson jr.,
Died, 1839,
Joseph Fowler.
Elias Hawley, Dismissed, 1833.
(a) SIDNEY BERRY was the youngest son of a numerous family, the children of Sidney Berry, of Northumberland, Saratoga county, N. Y. The latter was the neighbor and intimate friend of the late Dr. Billy J. Clark, and was one of the signers of the first temperance pledge of which we have record.
The intellectual advantages of the younger Berry were limited ; his only edu- cation being that derived from a country district school, and the hard attrition of a farm life, which, while it may help to knock the nonsense out of a young man certainly did in those days very little towards a young man's intellectual culture or polish.
He commenced business for himself as soon as he was of age, following for a number of years, the somewhat diverse pursuits of farming and lumbering, which
Miron Osborn, Died, 1850.
1855. Henry Wing,
66 Samuel Cranston, Dismissed, 1832.
66 Sheldon Benedict,
THE CHURCHES.
Trustees.
Elected.
1807. William Robards,
John A. Ferriss,
Daniel Peck,
66 William Hay,
66 John Folsom,
66 John Folsom,
John Thomas,
Micajah Pettit,
1817. Solomon P. Goodrich,
1811. Uzziel Stevens,
Hezekiah Leavens,
William Robards,
1818. Elias Hawley,
66
John Folsom, John A. Ferriss,
66 John Thomas,
66 Royal Leavens,
66 Edmund Peck,
1820. J. Lyman Arms,
66 William Wing,
Solomon P. Goodrich,
1812. John A. Ferriss,
John Thomas,
Uzziel Stevens,
B. F. Butler,
1813. John Thomas,
1821. Horatio Buell,
Elias Hawley,
I814. Asahel Clark,
1822. J. Lyman Arms,
Elnathan Parsons,
Solomon P. Goodrich,
were continued until about the year 1834, in the vicinity of his early home. He then abandoned his farm pursuits, and removed to Glen's Falls, where he bought of Mr. Alpheus Hawley, the residence which then had been but recently built by a Mr. Jonathan Beach, on the old Gen. Warren Ferriss lot. This, he greatly im- proved and embellished, and during the remainder of his life it continued to be the home of himself and family.
Through all the later years of his life he was known as Captain Berry, having in his early manhood been the commandant of a company of light horse, which was raised in the upper districts of Saratoga county.
In 1825 he became the subject of conversion in a religious revival which occurred in his neighborhood, and joined the Presbyterian church, of which religious body he was ever afterward a zealous and earnest member, renewing his fealty on his removal to Glen's Falls, and becoming in turn, as will be seen by the record, a trustee and elder of the church whose history is here recorded. It is stated on good authority that he offered, (and it is believed that those most interested were not slow in availing themselves of the opportunity), to pay as long as he lived, one- fifth of all the expenses of the church, adding in his quaint way, that if they worked it right, they might get a little more, which their necessities often con- strained them to do.
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