USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 59
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up, bencath whose branches, hundreds, nay thousands, have sat and been refreshed with the dews of Heaven. This is properly the parent church of four separate ecclesiastical or- ganizations around it, which number in the aggregate several hundred communicants. Thus the parent tree has been an- nually scattering its foliage and sowing its seed, to make glad the wilderness and cause the desert to rejoice. Thus it is with the handful of corn, and thus it is with the Gospel seed sown in God's moral vineyard. About 1000 are connected with the branches of this church. They are for the most part furnished with spacious and commodious houses of wor- ship.
" We cannot but admire the spirit of self-denial and noble- hearted benevolence of the pioneers of Whitestown. and that of their children upon whom their mantles have fallen. For God's providential care let us make suitable expressions of gratitude. From the history of the past, may we not. after the expiration of fifty years, set up our Ebenezer, a half-cen- tury memorial of the watchful guardianship of a kind Pro- vidence, and inscribe apon it, . Hitherto has the Lord helped it.'"
The five pastors alluded to were Bethuel Dodd. James Carnahan, John Frost, Ira Pettibone. David S. Ogden.
The Rev. Bethuel Dodd came to Whitestown and preached in the public house of Col. Daniel C. White, August 20th. 1794. His text was Aets x, 29, " I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?" He was ordained by the Presbytery of Albany in an arbor formed near where the court house now stands, upon which occasion the Rev. Mr. McDonald preached. Mr. Dodd died April 12th, 1804. The Rev. James Carnahan was next called, and was or- dained January 2d, 1805. On account of ill health, and by the united request of himself and society he was dismissed.
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October 25th, 1812. The Rev. Mr. Carnahan is now presi- dent of Nassau Hall, New Jersey. Rev. John Frost was called November 4th, 1812, and was ordained March 17th. 1813, and was dismissed on account of having been appointed general agent for the Oneida Institute, February 5th, 1833. Mr. Frost afterwards was settled at Waterville, and died in Whitesboro. December 16th, 1833, a call was given the Rev. Ira Pettibone, who was ordained February 4th, 1834, and was dismissed at his own request, February 3d, 1836. The Rev. David S. Ogden received a call and was installed December 28, 1836, dismissed on his own request October 3d, 1841. The Rev. Walter R. Long, the present pastor, was installed February 20th, 1845. The first meeting house was erected in 1803, and dedicated in 1804. The text of the dedication sermon was Psalms cxlvii, 20, " the Lord hath not dealt so with any nation." The house was sixty by for- ty-five feet, and cost $ 4,508,45. The present brick church was erected in 1834, and dedicated in the fall of the same year, Rev. Mr. Aiken, of Utica, preaching upon the occasion. Cost $ 5,105.
The four churches that have been formed from this church are the following: February 3d, 1813, the church was divi- ded, and fifty-seven members set off to the Utica church. March 18th, 1830, forty-four members were dismissed to form a church at New York Mills. The church at New York Mills now numbers 342 communicants. In 1832, the church at Oriskany was formed, taking fifty members front this body. December 26th, 1837, fifty-nine persons with- drew, and formed a Congregational Church in Whitesboro. It is believed, that the subject of slavery had much to do with this last secession. Mr. Long, in his half century ser- mon, says, " of this secession he would record as little as pos- sible. The historian, who shall preach a centennial discourse
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a half century hence, will be able to give a more impartial account of the whole matter, when the parties acting in in. shall have been saved by grace." The Congregational socio- ty have erected a small but convenient house of worship.
" Abolitionism has more troubled this Presbyterian church and society than any other in the county." If the following resolution passed by the session, December 11th, 1835, hat been adhered to, much trouble might have been saved.
" Resolved, That light and love, free remonstrance, and frequent supplication to God, are the weapons of our warfar. against slavery. We believe it our duty, perseveringly to use such weapons while a vestige of it is left, and these wo believe will be mighty through God, to the demolishing its strong-holds. We do, therefore, earnestly recommend to the brethren of this church, to treat this subject in such a man- ner as shall convince men that in all their measures they are prompted by pure benevolence, a regard for the best inter- ests of master and slave, and that their reliance is upon Him who heareth prayer, and who regards the rights of the poor."
In 1796, the Rev. Stephen Parsons, a Baptist Minister of Middletown, Connecticut, having many acquaintances and some relatives in the "Whitestown country " visited the place. During this visit he baptised five persons. In June of the same year he revisited the place, and the five individuals whom he had baptised during his first visit, with two others, met at the house of Caleb Douglass, on the 18th of June. 1796, and after spending a part of the day in prayer and conversation, entered into covenant with each other to walk together as a church of Christ. Elder Parsons being pres- ent gave them the hand of fellowship as a Christian church. The transaction was one of great simplicity, and was very much in accordance with primitive usage. Elder Parsons, having been instrumental in organizing the church, was so-
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licited by many persons to remove, and settle in the place as a minister, and in September of the same year he arrived with his family. In the December following, the church cx- tended him an invitation to become their pastor, which was accepted. This was the first Baptist Church organized in the county of Oneida, and Elder Parsons the first Baptist minister. Among the number first baptised, was Caleh Douglass, an excellent man, and the church clected him their clerk, and their first deacon. During several years the church increased in numbers and influence, gradually and slowly. Whitesboro was at this time the centre of influence to a wide extent of country, and this church was for several years the spiritual home of Baptist members, living in many towns around. Beginning with seven members, it had at the end of five years increased to forty-nine. This brings us to a period when other churches began to be formed in the new and sparse settlements of the surrounding country. In 1801. six members were dismissed, to join with others in forming a church in the town of Steuben, and in October of this year a council fellowshipped a church there of sixteen members.
In these early days the churches, in the language of the times, "kept open doors " for the improvement of the gifts of their members, and they were accustomed to exhort one an- other, and those who met with them to seek " the pearl of great price." Deacon Douglass, as he was then known, was frequently amid the destitution of that early day, called upon to conduct public worship, and was finally approved by the church as a minister of the gospel. He was publicly ordained January 7th, 1802, by a council called from the first and second churches in Hamilton, first and second in Litchfield. and the churches in Paris, Sangerfield, Steuben and Schuy- ler. In December following, Elder Parsons resigned his pastoral charge, and on the 14th of January, 1803, Elder
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Douglass was invited to the pastorate thus made vacant, and the invitation was accepted in May following. In March, 1803, six members were dismissed to unite in forming a church in Westmoreland. In May, of the latter year, Elder Parsons took a letter of dismission and removed to Mexico, in what was then called the " Black River Country." It must be horne in mind that the town of Mexico at this time covered a large portion of Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego Counties, and a considerable section of Oneida.
Elder Parsons was a laborious and useful minister in the new settlements upon the Black River until 1820, when. from the effects of a fall in his barn, he died. He was pastor of this church six years.
The first mention of any method for the support of the . Gospel is in June, 1814. A committee was then appointed to draw up and circulate a subscription for that purpose. The late Dr. Charles Babcock, of New Hartford. was a member of that committee.
In May, 1815, Elder Elon Galusha was with the church for the first time.
The first Lord's-day in September is mentioned as a pecu. liarly interesting day, Elders Galusha and John Peck and ninety members being present at the communion.
In May. 1816, Elder Douglass requested to be released from the responsibilities of the pastoral office. He had been pastor thirteen years, in which seventy-one persons had united with the church by baptism. Upon the first Lord's- day, in March preceding, Elder Galusha had been received as a member of the church, and in May he became its pastor.
The years 1815, '16 and '17 were years of much religious interest, during which sixty-five were admitted by baptism : and in 1820. it is inferred that a powerful revival was expe- rienced. as seventy-three persons were admitted by that ordi-
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nance. This is the largest number ever received into the church in one year, with the exception of 1838.
In December, 1817, a council was called to recognize the church in Rome, as a regularly organized Baptist Church. Another was called in 1818, to organize a church in the north part of Westmoreland.
In the years 1825, '26 and '27 there were large additions by baptisms.
In August, 1827, Elder Douglass and family were dis- missed from the church. and removed to Gorham. Ontario County.
In the spring of 1831, Elder Galusha resigned the pastoral charge, which he had held for fifteen years. His ministry had been successful, and the church had become a leading one, and exerted a wide influence. Elder Galusha was suc- needed immediately by the Rev. A. L. Covill, who was a successful and laborious pastor and minister. He was the son of the Rev. Lemuel Covill, who died on the field of his labors as a missionary in Canada. Elder A. L. Covill was pastor nearly six years, when he suddenly terminated this relation, and removed to Albany, and became the pastor of the first church in that city. After laboring in that church a few years, his earthly stewardship was closed. and he called to receive the reward of a faithful minister.
The church. after a satisfactory trial. settled as its next pas- tor the Rev. Clessen P. Sheldon. He was young, and this was his first settlement. He commenced his labors in 1837, and ended them in 1843. During his ministry large addi- tions were made to the church upon profession of faith. In 1338, eighty-two persons were received by baptism, the lar- gest number ever received in any year. In September. 1843, Mr. Sheldon resigned his connection with the church as pas- tor. During his labors here he acquired the reputation of a
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good man, conscientiously aud ardently devoted to the service of Christ. He afterwards became pastor of a church in Han- ilton, and at this time is pastor of a flourishing church in Buf- falo. Immediately upon his resignation, the Rev. Jireh D. Cole received and accepted a call from the church to become its pastor. He continued his labors until May, 1848, when he resigned. In 1849, Elder Samuel R. Shotwell was pas- tor, but in 1850 and '51, no pastor was reported, the church having been supplied by several preachers. Since the most of this work was printed, Elder William Clark of Cazenovia has accepted a call to become pastor of this church, and will enter upon his duties in October of this year (1851). From the organization of the church in 1796 until July 1846, a period of fifty years, 752 members had been received into its fellowship by baptism, and 431 by letter, making a total of 1183 members. Of this number, 626 had been dismissed to other churches. According to the minutes of the annual session of the Oneida Baptist Association, held in September. 1846, this church then had 260 members. Within the suc- ceeding five years, up to September, 1851, the church has re- ceived forty-nine by baptism, and dismissed 123, by letter. to other churches, many of the latter having united with the newly formed church at Walesville. Present number of communicants 154.
The church during the first half century of its existence had six pastors, viz: Elders Parsons, Douglass, Galusha, Co- vill, Sheldon and Cole. They were all good men, with rep- utations unblemished, and of exemplary lives. Three of thent. have completed their labors upon earth, viz : Elders Parsons. Douglass and Covill, while the remaining three are yet ac- tively engaged in the ministry. The church has been great- ly blessed in her pastors. It has had also, for short periods. the services of Elijah F. Willey, Eleazar Savage, Calvin Gi.
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Carpenter, Demas Robinson and some others. The church has received by baptism the following persons, who have en- tered the ministry, viz : Elders Douglass, Lathrop, Howard, Carpenter, Bronson, Curtiss, Kingsley and Gross. Rev. Miles Bronson, a member of this church, has been for many years past a missionary in Burmah. Probably there are few churches which have enjoyed more uninterrupted pros- perity for fifty years ; few that have enjoyed more " refresh- ings from the presence of the Lord ;" few that have been as free from unhappy divisions and discord. It has sent out into the world a large representation, (626 having been dis- missed by letter), a goodly number who have gone to aid in the formation of other churches, and to labor for the promo- tion of the kingdom of the Redcemer. Of fifty years, there were but seven in which the church was not enlarged by ac- cessions upon profession of faith and baptism.
The house of worship now occupied by the church and su- ciety is the third erected upon the same ground. The first was removed and converted into a dwelling, because too large ; the second was removed and formed into a store, because too small; the third now occupied is a neat and comfortable house of worship, sufficiently large for the necessities of the society. Of a truth the site is a place where prayer has been wont to be made from the beginning.
In view of the history of the church its friends may well say with adoring gratitude, "what hath God wrought."
St. Peter's (Episcopal) Church, Oriskany .- The Rev. Wil- liam A. Matson, missionary. There are forty families con- nected with this church, and thirty five communicants. The date of its formation has not been ascertained, still it is known to be among the oldest and influential societies of the denom- ination in the county.
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St. John's (Episcopal ) Church, Whitestown, has also the services of the Rev. William A. Matson, missionary. This body is comparatively in its infancy, having been organized but about ten years. It has a congregation of twenty-five families, and numbers twenty-two communicants.
Walesville Baptist Church-Within the year 1350, a Baptist church was constituted at Walesville, in Whitestown, and Peckville (in Westmoreland). It has erected a small but neat house for public worship, equi-distant between those two villages. It stands on the east side of the Oriskany Creek, within the limits of Whitestown. In September, 1851, this church reported Elder John M Shotwell as its pastor, and forty-nine communicants.
There is a large and respectable society of Episcopal Mock- odists in the village of New York Mills. They Have a com modious house for public worship, and have exerted a wide- spread and healthful influence ever since the commencement of the flourishing village where the society is located.
There is a smaller society of Methodists with a house for worship, located in the westerly part of the town, near Co ?- man's Mills. It is a part of the charge of the elergymen lo- cated at Westmoreland.
As will be seen, by reference to the introductory chapter, in 1784, at the time of the arrival of Judge White, Mout gomery County included all of this State west of Albany Co ; and that by the law of 1788, dividing the town of German Flats, and forming Whitestown as one of the towns of Mont gomery County. this town was bounded on the east by a line crossing the Mohawk River, "at the fording place near, and
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the east side of the house of William Cunningham," and run- ning north and south to the north and south bounds of the State, and including all of the State west of that line. Wil- liam Cunningham's house stood nearly upon the site of the store of Stephen Comstock, upon the west side of Genesee / St, and about equi-distant from Whitesboro and Water Sts. It can not at this time be ascertained with precision how many white inhabitants were within the town at the time of its organization, but the number has generally been estima- ted at less than 200. The obituary notice of Judge White, published in Spafford's Gazetteer of New York for 1813. says, "Whitestown then (178S) contained less than 200 in- habitants," a territory, which " according to the census of 1910. now contains 280,319 inhabitants."
In the winter of the year previously (1787), there were but seven houses within the present limits of Whitestown, five at Rome, three at Oriskany. three at Utica and three in West- moreland, all log cabins, small and cheaply constructed. Neither can the population of the original territory of Whites- town, when formed, be ascertained from the census of 1850, as the before mentioned east line intersects several counties, and a portion even of the present territory of Oneida County lies Past of it-but the author believes his estimate within bounds when he places it at 1,400,000. This is rather a formidable population of a township cf but about sixty years' growth. In the first years of its settlement its location was any thing but inviting. and none but Yankees would have sought here quiet homes for themselves and families. In the common language of those in New England who had children or friends settled here "they had gone way up among the Indians, in the Whitestown country," and but a few years later the Dutch and the " dimocrats" of York State were bugbears, almost as formidable and equally as wicked as the "heathen ingins."
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The author well knew a good woman (for she was his mother), who, after a residence of several years in this section, returned to her native place in Connecticut, to visit her aged mother. The aged woman, among other objections to a residence in this state, stated to the daughter that there were, as she was told, " many democrats up in York State, and she did'nt see how a democrat could ever go to heaven."
The first town meeting in Whitestown was held at the barn of Needham Maynard, Esq., upon the road leading from Whitesboro to Middle Settlement.
The castern limits of Whitestown remained the same until the formation of Oneida County, in 1798, when they were ex- tended eastwardly some two miles to the present eastern boun- dary of the city of Utica, upon the Herkimer County line.
Whitestown has been a half-shire town of Oneida County since May, 1802, the county courts having previously been held at Rome. During 1802, they were held at Whitestown. and subsequently the terms ( three in each year, in May, Sep- tember and December), were held alternately at the two places. beginning at Whitestown in May, 1803. In the minutes of the December term of the common pleas for 1801, it appears that the court were then informed by C. C. Brodhead, Esq .. sheriff, that the jail in Whitestown had been completed, and that the prisoners from this county had been removed from the Herkimer jail to the new jail, and an order was accor- dingly entered that the next term of the court be held " at the school house near the jail in Whitestown." By an act passed April 2, 1806, the board of supervisors was author- ized to raise $4,000, to build two court houses, one at Rome and one at Whitesboro, and they were soon afterwards erect- ed. As previously stated, the first term of a court of record ever held within the limits of the county, was held in the meeting house in New Hartford (then Whitestown), on the
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third Tuesday (21st) of January, 1794. Present, Henry Staring, Jedediah Sanger, Wm. Fecter and Amos Wetmore, judges and justices. William Colbrath, sheriff.
Judge Staring continued in office until after the erection of Oneida County, but soon after resigned.
As would have been more appropriately stated upon the preceding page in the history of the Presbyterian Church, the settlement of Whitesboro had become so well established, that in 1786, the inhabitants had formed a religious society. This was in accordance with the sentiments and usages of the pilgrims. This society employed the Rev. Dr. Hillyer of Orange, New Jersey, as its pastor and spiritual guide.
Very soon in the history of Whitestown and the other por- tions of the county settled by emigrants from New England, these ambitious, energetic and persevering Yankees began to exert an influence and acquire a controlling power over the less active inhabitants residing lower down the Mohawk. The author has not learned, that these Yankees held any of the prominent offices while Whitestown was a part of Mont- gomery County, but as soon as Herkimer County was organ- ized, they seem to have claimed, and in some way taken the " lion's share," and this is not here mentioned boastingly or approvingly, but as historic truth. The few scattered set- tlers liable were warned to " appear armed and equipped as the law directs for military duty " at Herkimer, and for two or three years, and those only, were they kept by the Dutch- men at the left of the company. Soon, however, they claim- ed and took, whether in the minority or majority, the right. of the company and regiment, and with it a good share of the offices. This illustrates the spirit which characterized the first settlers of Oneida County, and also the difference between them and their seniors upon the Mohawk. And if the Yankees took the lead of the Dutch, the settlers of
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Whitestown took the lead of their brethren in Paris, West- moreland, Rome, Floyd, Sangerfield and Steuben, and in this their talents, wealth and circumstances favored them. Upon the organization of Herkimer County in 1791, Jonas Platt of Whitestown, was appointed elerk, and soon after, Judge White was appointed county judge, and previously to 1794. Jedediah Sanger was appointed a judge. In 1794 (and may be carlier), Arthur Breese was deputy clerk, and to most in- 'ents and purposes, the clerk's office was kept in Whitesboro instead of Herkimer. In 1794 and '95, Jedediah Sanger was sole member of Assembly from Herkimer County. In 1796, Jedediah Sanger, and in 1798, Thomas R. Gold, were elected senators for four years, and in 1797, Messrs. Isaac Brayton, Arthur Breese and Henry MeNiel were members of Assembly. In the winter of 1798, before Oneida County was organized, Jedediah Sanger and Hugh White were judges ; Jonas Platt, clerk; William Colbrath, sheriff; and Henry MeNiel und Nathan Smith, members of Assembly. of Herkimer County. In 1794, Amos Wetmore, Needham Maynard and Elizur Moseley of Whitestown ; Alexander Parkman and Ephraim Blackmer, of Westmoreland; Moses Foot and David Ostrom, of Paris; Ebenezer Wright and Jedediah Phelps, of Steuben; and Edward Paine, Seth Phelps, Samuel Sizer and probably some others within the present limits of Oneida County, were assistant justices and justices of the peace. There were doubtless other offices held by Yankees, while this section was in Herkimer County.
Upon the organization of Oneida County in 1798, Jededi- ah Sanger, Hugh White and David Ostrom were appointed judges ; William Colbrath, sheriff ; Jonas Platt, Clerk ; Thomas R. Gold, district attorney; Arthur Breese, surro- gate ; Messrs. Sanger and Gold were senators; David Ostrom and Henry MeNiel, were elected members of Assembly ; all
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of whom resided in Whitestown ; while James Dean of West- moreland and George Huntington of Rome, judges, and Abel French, member of Assembly, were the only recipients of the spoils in other sections of the county. Many of these retain- ed their offices for considerable periods (vide lists of judges, clerks, attorneys, etc). James Cochran (mentioned in his- tory of Utica) was member of Congress, from this district in 1798; Col. Benjamin Walker, in 1800 ; Thomas R. Gold, 1904; Wm. Kirkpatrick, 1806; Nathan Williams, 1808 ; Thomas R. Gold, 1810, '12 ; Morris S. Miller, 1814 ; Henry R. Stoors, 1816, '18 and '24; Joseph Kirkland, 1822. Judge Sanger was elected senator from this distriet in 1800 ; Henry Huntington, in 1804; Win. Floyd, 1807; Francis A. Bloodgood, in 1808, '12; Jonas Platt, in 1809; Henry Sey- mour, in 1815 ; Ephraim Hart, in 1816 and 1820; besides from one to half a dozen others in each year as vacancies occurred, from other sections of this, then the great western senate district. In 1800, T. R. Gold was chosen a member of the Council of Appointment.
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