USA > New York > Seneca County > Romulus > Centennial celebration of the official organization of the town of Romulus, Seneca county, New York > Part 10
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Both sides were hasty, some of his warm friends turned against him and lie resigned. After leaving here, he faithfully served the churches of Genoa, Clyde, Junius, and Oaks' Corners. While at Junius he was invited to preach in Elmira and undertook the journey on horseback. On the way he was overtaken by a terrible rain storm and could find no shelter until he reached Ire- landville, near Watkins, where he dried his clothes and spent the night. He contracted a severe cold that developed into pneumo- nia which ended his life in five days ; he died Nov. 5, 1828. None of his family could reach there until after his decease. He was buried near the place of his death. He was a good man, full of Christian zeal, abundant in labors, and his works follow him.
The next year, 1815, Rev. Moses Young, of New Jersey, was ordained and installed pastor. He had studied Theology with Dr. Axtell, of Geneva. For nine years he was the devoted pastor, until his death in 1824. This was his first and only set- tlement. During his ministry 231 united with the church. In 1823 occurred the greatest revival this church ever saw. During his pastorate, communion seasons were regularly appointed. The Sabbath School was instituted, and the social meeting of the church, has ever since been held on Friday evening in honor of his
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memory, his death occuring on that day of the week. Mr. Young had a strong mind and ardent piety. His preaching was plain and pointed. He could reprove sin without giving offense. He was earnest. Wintry winds and drifting snows could not hinder his work.
When the great revival commenced, Mr. Young was getting discouraged in his work, just ready to resign his charge, and just then the cloud, big with mercy drops, burst upon the parish. He died Oct. 15, 1824. Dr. Axtell, of Geneva, preached his funeral sermon from the words, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better."
He rests on yonder hillside. His ministry was short and blessed, and many of the subjects of his christian service have been known to the speaker, and oh what true, loyal saints they have been !
Rev. Morris Barton was ordained and installed Dec. 21, 1825. This was his only pastorate and it continned a little over twenty years. During this period 324 were added to the church, four re- vivals being enjoyed, viz : In 1826, 1831, 1836 and 1842. Their history is interesting but time forbids us to narrate it today. Dur- ing this pastorate the present church edifice was built, being dedi- cated in Feb. 1838.
To secure funds for its erection, Messrs. Jolin Smith, John D. Coe, John Fleming and John Pruden circulated the subscription and John Pruden, John Smith and Joseph Wyckoff constituted the building committee. The total cost reached nearly $6,000. Mr. Barton preached the last sermon in the old church founded upon Habakkuk 2:11. The present church building is better lo- cated than was its predecessor and will ever be a worthy monu- ment to those earnest, noble, godly men, who labored so hard for its erection.
Mr. Barton was a man of strong mind and will, a man of great natural ability, his sermons well rounded, his illustrations striking, his delivery dramatic. He possessed innich oratorical genins, and was a born leader. He resigned in February, 1846, and dwelt in this region until his death Feb, 13, 1857. His re- mains rest in our cemetery.
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Rev. Edward Lord, commenced his labors here, soon after Mr. Barton resigned, and was ordained and installed pastor, Oct. 20. 1847. He labored here about five and one-half years and received fifty-nine into the church. He was a thoroughly good man, pru- dent, earnest, zealous, and the friend of all. One revival occurred in 1849, the interest largely centering about the school house in the Johnson distriot. Elders Daniel D. Johnson and Isaiah W. Smith entered the church during this pastorate. Mr. Lord is still living, though advanced in years.
He was followed by Rev. Peter S. VanNest, D. D., who la- bored three years, and nine then united with the church During this pastorate, the parsonage was built, and he was the first occu- pant. After serving many churches in the West he died Sept. 21, 1893, at Lake Geneva, Wis., being So years of age.
He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Rosenkrans, who minis- tered to the people five years, and admitted forty-eight into the church. Elders Lyman E. Jacobus and Peter Wyckoff came into the church during this period. One precious revival was enjoyed in 1858. He died of cancer at Onondaga Valley, N. Y., soon after his resignation here.
Rev. Charles B. Dey was installed July 1, 1862, and remained two and one-half years and received eleven into the church. He now resides in Springfield, Mass.
Rev. James C. Smith commenced his labors in 1865, and con- tinued until 1869. There were nineteen additions to the church. He was a straight-forward, upright man, a true man of God. He died in Marathon, N. Y., March 24, 1876.
Rev. William A. Simkins succeeded and continued here two years and three months. During the time twenty-eight united with the church. A man of great ability, a fine scholar and ora- tor. He had many warm friends. He is now supposed to be living in Salina, Kansas.
The tenth pastor, Rev. J. Wilford Jacks, commenced liis services here May 1, 1872, and was ordained and installed August 27 of the same year. During this pastorate three hundred and thirty have been received into the church. During the same pe-
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riod many improvements have been made to the church property, its interior has been remodelled, furnaces introduced, walks and grounds improved, and a neat and commodious chapel has been erected and furnished.
Notice, that the pulpit of this church has never been long va- cant, and during the entire period of its existence, over ninety-two years, it has only had ten pastors and six of them were ordained and commenced their ministry here. To summarize, this church has had ten pastors, forty-one elders, fourteen deacons, ninety- four trustees, and over twelve hundred members.
This church has had much to do with the history of this town, and when you remember the strong men who have constituted its eldership, you can see it has a record of which it need not be ashamed. The names of the Flemings, the Marvins, Whitehead, Doremus, Conkling, Garrigus, Baldridge, Wade, Pruden, Smith, Gurnee, Brown, Pinkerton, Ogden, Covert, Smalley, Swezy and Hunt, would be a credit to any church in the land, and many other names that appear in the Congregational antials will not perish.
Future historians will deal justly with the strong, faithful men of the present, who to-day are exerting so potent an influence not only in the church, but also in public affairs.
Look about to-day and you cannot find a single one who partici- pated in the organization of this church. In 1854 the last of these noble souls passed from earth. Ninety-two years of service, the books of heaven alone can tell, how great has been the influence of this church, in the organization of society and in the prosperity of the town. Their interests from the outset have been closely intertwined; and had it not been for its churches and for Cliristian- ity itself, we believe this town would not occupy the high rank it cioes. Yea, without Christianity and the christian's God, this fair region would still be a wilderness, roamed over only by savages.
.God has been gracious to us, both as a town and a church. "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." May our progress ever ascend, and our efforts ever be exerted, to build up and sustain the
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church, which is as dear to its great Head as is the apple of His Eye. Then shall the achievements, the blessings of the next cen- tury, be even greater than those of the past, then shall our true golden age lie before rather than behind us, and the prayers and the efforts of our godly ancestry will not have been offered in vain.
The officers of the church to-day are : Elders, Daniel D. Johnson, Isaiah W. Smith, Peter Wyckoff, Lyman E. Jacobus, William A. Warne, John V. R. Clark, Andrew S. Long, Luther S. Vail, Frank S. Adair. Deacons, David R. Ambrose, Clinton A. Warne. Trustees, Andrew S. Long, Amos P. Miller, Henry C. Lisk, Esq., Clarkson Warne, Luther S. Vail, John V. R. Clark. Chorister, Pierson Jacobus. Organist, Mrs. L. E. Jaco- bus. Sexton, Joseph H. Snook.
This church has furnished many ministers of the gospel. Rev. Messrs. William Bridgman, Elihu Marvin, Charles C. Carr, Samuel S. Fleming, Francis Hendricks, Peter W. Emens, Isaac Jacobus, H. Bradley Sayre, and Rev. Walter S. Peterson was also here ordained.
The present membership of the church is about 270 commu- nicants. This church has furnished elders for many other Pres- byterian churches. John Vorhees, Pontiac, Mich .; Josiah Jaco- bus, Bellona, N. Y .; Cyrus Brockway, Wolcott, N. Y .; Charles Mosher Fleming, Pine River, Mich .; Dr. Mather Marvin, Lodi, Mich .; Ebenezer Conkling, Horseheads, N. Y .; John Fleming, Albion, Mich .; Jarvis Fleming, Adrian, Mich .; Fleming Mc- Math, Dover, Mich .; David Garrigus, Adrian, Mich .; Thomas Sample, John Mead, Tunis L. Dey, George Merkel, West Fay- ette, N. Y. ; John H. Dey, Pelham Manor, N. Y. ; John G. Crane, Ypsilanti, Mich .; Albert V. B. Dey, Waukesha, Wis .; Robert G. Smith, Waterloo, N. Y .; Rathbun J. Hunt, Trumansburg, N. Y .: Charles R. King, Esq., Rochester, N. Y., (Third Church); Edward P. Salyer, Dunkirk, N. Y .; Edmund Doughty, Aurora, N. Y.
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ADDENDA .- In the history of this town, the able compiler has referred to the many eminent clergymen, physicians, lawyers, and business men, who have found their birth place in this town, but we regard it a privilege to add the name of one who has at- tained a leading place in journalism, being at the head of one of the prominent religious papers of the Presbyterian church. Mr. John H. Dey, was born June 28, 1826, on Military Lot No. 50, in the western part of the present town of Varick. His parents, Peter L. Dey and Mrs. Rebecca (Steele) Dey, were both members of the Presbyterian church in this place, until the organization of the church at West Fayette, and their son, John H. Dey, was baptized in the old church of Romulus. His mother died in 1832. At fourteen years of age the son went to live with the late Ira Merrill, of Geneva, at that time the publisher of the Courier. Be- fore he had spent ten years in that village, he had become editor and joint proprietor of that paper. Two years, he then spent in the printing department of Derby and Miller, Auburn. In 1853 he became publisher and at times editor of the Genesee Evangelist, at Rochester until in 1857, that paper was consolidated with the American Presbyterian, Philadelphia. A little later this paper was purchased by the New York Evangelist, and Mr. Dey has been connected with the latter paper ever since, more than thirty-six years. Faithful in little, much has been entrusted to his never wearying hands.
Rev. Jedediah Chapman, the founder of this church, was the father of Presbyterianism in this region. Born in Connecticut, educated at Vale College, he came from New Jersey to Geneva in 1800, being commissioned by the General Assembly as a mission- ary on the northwestern frontier. He lived largely in the saddle and in the homes of the people, looking up and gathering into folds the scattered sheep of the wilderness. Beside all other duties his home was a training school in which young men were educa- ted for the ministry. In 1813 he entered into rest and his remains found sepulture in the Pultney street cemetery of Geneva. His best monument is the Presbyterian Church in Western New York.
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"THE WATERLOO LIBRARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY."
Responded to by Hon. Samuel R .. Welles, its president, as . follows :
MR. PRESIDENT :-
The Waterloo Historical Society instructed me, to congratu- late the town of Romulus, upon its reaching its centennial, and I wish to add my personal congratulations, that the citizens of the town are so successfully and gloriously celebrating the event.
Citizens of Romulus : One hundred years ago the resident of the town of Romulus, was a citizen of Onondaga county. Prior to that year, the occupants of the same soil owed allegiance to Al- bany, Tryon or Herkimer county. In 1799, a change in county lines gave the town to Cayuga ; in 1800 Romulus surrendered a portion of her territory to form the new town of Fayette ; in 1804, when Seneca county was created from Cayuga, Romulus came within the limits of the new county; in 1830, she was again di- vided to make the new town of Varick. Formed into towns the same year, Romulus and her sister town of Ovid, are well entitled to a celebration of their 100th birthday, and like the Roman matron can point with pride to their children and say, "these are my jewels," for not only the eight remaining towns in the county, but several in the counties of Wayne, Tompkins and Schuyler, were taken from Romulus or Ovid. Well may Romulus call home her scattered children and at the old hearthstone fan from the embers the memories of "auld lang syne"-live for a day in the past, and shutting out disturbing care, and resting from weary toil, enjoy for a brief space, the soothing quiet of pleasant retro- spection and live over again school boy days and boyhood life.
The date of your centennial is propitious, and the sentiment it invokes, accords with the spirit of the times. It comes in the last decade of the nineteenth century, when the common thoughit of humanity turns to the past, and at Time's Mile Stone, looks back over the paths traversed during the one hundred years, scans the landmarks, estimates the distances, and wisely gathers up the experiences of the past. This and similar Centennial Commemo- rations, have the effect to draw out and mass together for preser-
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vation, important historical facts and data, and such observances cannot fail to keep alive an interest in, and love for, home and State and country, forming, nourishing and perfecting the strong- est and purest patriotism, the State's best reliance in time of need.
The same sentiment which has brought about this day's event, actuated those who took the first measures toward the for- mation of the Waterloo Historical Society. The few who organ- ized the effort, became more interested as the work progressed, and interested others. Soon friends appeared and material aid began to be offered. The result is pretty well known. The so- ciety has the cordial support of an interested and generous public, an elegant library and building, a bright prospect for increasing and lasting usefulness. I speak of the Waterloo Historical Soci- ety, to bring me to the expression of the belief, that if you perse- vere in the work you have initiated, continue your historical re- searches, gather and preserve local records, note passing events, interest will increase, accessions will be rapidly made to your numbers, and you will soon have a Historical Society, which will be a source of increasing pleasure and satisfaction to all the residents of your grand old town.
"WILLARD STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE."
Responded to by Hon. Francis O. Mason, of Geneva, as follows :
MR. PRESIDENT AND CITIZENS :
It is, I am sure, a matter for mutual regret, that Judge Had- ley, the honored President of the Willard State Hospital Board, is not present to speak for the Institution he has so faithfully pre- sided over these many years.
Having been, for over twenty years, associated with him in service upon this board, I am glad, since he is not here, to supply as well as I can, his place, by some words to commemorate this noble charity of the State of New York.
I confess, that when I first saw this sentiment upon your pro- gramme to-day, I was a little puzzled to understand how Willard
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State Hospital could be logically associated with an observance of the Romulus Centennial. It is sometimes said that the courts reach after jurisdiction. This occurs, where it seems as if some- thing ought to be done, and nobody else has authority to do it. And, if it seems a little like reaching after jurisdiction, for Romu- lus to claim something more than a geographical interest in Wil- lard State Hospital, it may be due to the feeling that something ought to be said on behalf of this great philanthropy, and it be- hooves Romulus to move in the matter. There is certainly, as I now see, an appropriateness in this, since Romulus shares with her sister town of Ovid, the honor of having this Hospital located within her boundry. The theme is a noble one, as all that is hu- mane, and helpful to the friendless, is noble. It is full of a sad, a pathetic interest.
Until within the present century, there has probably been 110 unfortunate condition of mankind less relieved by the wisdom, or more aggravated by the ignorance of mankind, than that of the insane.
For hundreds, aye, thousands of years, insanity was not known as a disease, but as the result of demoniacal possession. Its victims were therefore, treated not as unfortunate, but as vic_ ious, and devilish. They were subjected to neglect, torture, bound in chains, whipped, and subjected to almost every form of mal- treatment that the ingenuity of man could invent. If there be a page of human history over which mankind ought to weep, over its ignorance, it is surely this.
At last, the lamp of science illumined this dark abode of igno- rance and superstition, the theory of incarnate devilship was abandoned, philanthropy took the place of cruelty, and the insane came gradually to be considered entitled to more considerate treat- inent.
In 1865, the State of New York had but one Asylum for the insane, maintained by the State. This was full. It was deemed more important to have insanity in its first stage treated here, and as those cases arrived, those who had been insane for a year or more, were returned to the only place there had yet been provided for them, the poor-houses of the counties.
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For years, the medical profession, as well as philanthropic men outside that profession, had been urging upon the Legis- lature a better provision for the insane poor.
Dr. Sylvester D. Willard, then Secretary of the State Medical Society, was appointed by the Legislature in 1864, to visit the various poor-houses in the State, and ascertain the condition in which this class was found. His report was made to the Legisla- ture in 1865.
The horrible condition in which the insane poor of the State was found by this investigation impelled the Legislature to pass the aet for the creation of the Willard Asylum for the Insane. It was not designed for the acute insane, they were still to be cared for by their friends, or by the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. Its particular purpose was to provide for the care of the insane poor, those who had been lingering in filth for years in the poor-houses of the State. Before this time, the well-to-do insane had been taken care of by their friends, or in the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. The poor insane had been treated like other poor, and confined in the poor houses.
Here these wretched people were, having for attendants other paupers, sane perhaps, but in many instances depraved by vice, cold, sordid, selfish from poverty, utterly incapable of taking care of themselves, employed to oversee and apply moral and physical means of restraint for the insane poor.
The purpose of the Willard Asylum for the insane, was to provide for this wretched class, a place where they could be prop- erly treated with reference to their comfort and if possible, also their recovery. At the date of this report, there were of this class in the poor houses over 1300.
It was an experiment, its underlying idea was that the insane poor should no longer be left to the county authorities to care for, but that they should be regarded and treated as the wards of the State. Humane as was this object, it has not been pursued without opposition. For years, large numbers of our people failed to ap- preciate their duties toward this wretched class, and allowed an unsympathetic and paltry economy to interfere with, and obstruct
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the progress of this humane reform. But gradually the great ob- ject lesson taught at Willard, began to be persuasive with the people. The Asylum at Binghamton for the same class followed in 1879, and in the year 1890, the Legislation of the State pro- vided for the care of all insane poor in State Hospitals.
It would be unjust to hundreds of philanthropic men and women in this State, to claim that the credit for this consumma- . tion should be wholly given to Willard State Hospital. But that here, the attempt to work out this problem was begun; here, un- der the able management of Dr Jolin B. Chapin, and his success- ors, it was made successful, so that its success became the unans- werable argument with philanthropists, for the provision by the State, for the care of all its insane poor. Here the friends of hu- manity from distant states, came to witness this success, and catch inspiration for repeating it in their own. Here the practicability of the problem was worked out, and from here has gone forth all influence: and here been found an example, by which the people of this great State have been educated in their duties to this unfor- tunate class, and led to provide for their care, as becomes a people pretending to a Christian civilization.
When we contrast the condition of the insane poor, as it was in the poor-houses at the time the Willard Asylum Act was passed, and behold them now comfortably housed, given wholesome food, clean beds, good air, well lighted apartments, kind attendants, good medical service, and hundreds of them contentedly em- ployed on the farm, and in various mechanical industries, and those too weak for that, daily given a pleasant walk in the open air, cared for by suitable attendants; see a gratifying percentage of them every year recovering their reason, and clothed in their right mind, returning to their homes and families; surely this great philanthropy must command with the people of Romulus, their heartiest sympathy and good will.
Mr. President, we are living in an age of great mental activ- ity. Commercial activities, industrial activities, political activities, educational activities, are organized as they have never been be- fore. We have accomplished so much by organization, that we have come to believe that almost everything can be run by ma- chinery.
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The movements of those having charge of the insane cannot be well directed by machinery. The methods, cannot be machine methods: they must have the element of human sympathy and personal discretion, which cannot be manufactured.
Let us all remember, that it it is not enough to found these institutions, and pay our taxes for their support. We must not relax our interest, in the way they are administered. Let us at all times, make sure that this unfortunate class has ample opportu- nity to communicate with friends : that men of high charac- ter and kindly feeling are selected as the more immediate governors of these institutions ; that through them the inmates shall have abundant avenues of making their wants and con- plaints known to their friends : and if without friends, then to the world ; that officialism shall not by machinery eliminate the ele- ment of human sympathy from their administration; that the humane purpose that caused them to be built, may cou- tinue to dominate their management, and make them what they were designed to be, Hospitals for the relief and cure of insanity, where kindness shall take the place of cruelty, care the place of neglect, hope the place of despair, and comfort the place of suffering.
The people of Romulus can feel none other than an honest pride in this noble institution, situated in their midst. To them it means a variety of material advantages. From them, it has the right to expect the most hearty co-operation for its continued use- fulness. Will they not always feel it a paramount duty, to see to it, that nothing shall be permitted in the administration of their municipal affairs, calculated to interfere with the discipline, which ought to be there maintained, or to impair the efficiency of its Immane administration ?
"THE PRESS."
Responded to by Charles T. Andrews, Esq., editor of the Courier, Seneca Falls, N. Y.
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"THE CLERGY."
Response by Rev. Edwin H. Dickinson of Seneca Falls. The address having been extemporaneous, and no copy thereof having been secured, the following extract therefrom, is ap- pendend from the Geneva News Letter:
"The reverend gentleman said he voiced the congratulations of the clergy, to this beautiful town. Its progress in the one hun- dred years past, was largely aided by the clergy, who had in return been aided by the people. The relations of the people to the clergy and of the clergy to the people, were likened to the rain and the forest. 'Little rain, little forest ; little forest, little or no rain.' He referred to two pastors of Romulus, whose services were in- valuable to the town. Dr. Willers, father of the historical orator of to-day, who preached for sixty-two years in Bearytown. He was a man of marvelous memory and indefatigable earnestness. He has left his impress for good, permanently on the town. The Chairman of the Executive Committee (Rev. Mr. Jacks), was re- ferred to as another, whose popularity was not bounded by this district. He was the stated clerk of the Geneva Presbytery and one of the two stated clerks of the great New York Synod. He was an ecclesiastical lawyer of rare ability, who helps his less ex- perienced clerical friends in ecclesiastical lore."
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