USA > New York > Tioga County > Owego > Early Owego, N.Y.; some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy and finally Owego > Part 39
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Williams university at Nashville,
Tenn., a college which prepares young colored men for the ministry under control of the Boston home mission society. Before coming to Owego Mr. Guernsey was a teacher in Cook acad- emy at Montour Falls and was later in the railroad business at Elmira. . He prepared himself for the ministry and he and his wife went as missionaries to India. A few years ago the univer -. sity building at Nashville was burned and was not rebuilt. Since that time Mr. Guernsey has been engaged in mission work in New York city.
Rev. Riley A. Vose, the present pas- tor was born at Spencer in this county June 21, 1859. He was graduated from Colgate academy in 1881, from Madi- - son university. in 1885, and from Ham- ilton theological seminary in 1887. His first pastorate was that of the Baptist church at Madison, N. Y., where he remained from Jan. 1, 1888, to June 1, when he was called to the pastorate of the Albany Avenue Bap- tist church at Kingston, N. Y., and. preached there two and one-half years. January 1, 1892, he assumed the pas- torate of the Tabernacle Baptist church at Utica. He remained there nearly four years. In October, 1895, he became pastor of the North Avenue Baptist church at Cambridge, Mass., and preached there until May, 1889, when he resigned on account of ill health and went to Europe to recuper- ate. At a farewell reception given to Mr. and Mrs. Vose the congregation presented to them a purse of $1,500. Upon his return, his health having im- proved, he accepted a call to the Owe- go church and began his duties here in October, 1899.
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A History of St. Paul's Episcopal Church from Its Organization in 1834 to the Present Time, with Some Account of the Church Edi- fices and the Rectors of the Church.
The third church organized at Owe- go was St. Paul's Episcopal church, which was organized Feb. 10, 1834, by Rev. James D. Carder, who came from Ithaca for that purpose. The name of , the organization was "The Rector, Churchwardens, and Vestrymen of St .- Paul's Church in the village of Owe- go."" John Watson and Thomas. Far. rington were chosen wardens and Dr. Jedediah Fay, Col. Sanmiel Rockwood, Charles C. Noble, George Bacon, Har- mon Pumpelly, John Howland, Robert Charles Johnson, and Sheldon Osborne vestrymen. At this time there were only three communicants, Mrs. Gad Worthington, Mrs. Sanmel Rockwood, and Mrs. Hyde. Church services were held at the old Presbyterian session house, or lecture room as it was then called, on the east side of Court street.
In November, 1833, Mr. Carder, who was, rector 'of St. John's church at Ithaca, wrote to Mr. Farrington saying that he expected to have a leisure Sunday after Thanksgiving day and that if it should be the general wish of those . concerned, he would render some service in organizing a parish here during the fall of winter. Mr. Carder came here later and organized the church. .. He preached here every other week a few months,driving over from Ithaca for that purpose. In May, 1834, owing to ill health, he left Ithaca to spend the summer on the Atlantic coast.
Rev. Dr. Carder came to Ithaca in
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1831. When he loft there, in 1834, he went to Connecticut. He was after- ward appointed secretary of the Epis- copal Board of Foreign Missions, and held that position at the time of his death, about the year 1867.
Rev. Ezekiel G. Gear, who succeeded Mr. Carder as rector of St. John's church at Ithaca, held church services at Owego, beginning in March, 1835. Mr. Gear was the second rector of St .- John's church, preaching there from 1823 to 1828, and again from 1834 to 1836. He went from Ithaca .to the west as a pioneer missionary ..
Rev. . John Baily, who was then a deacon, was the first settled clergy- man of St. Paul's church. He first came here in the fall of 1837 and held services every other week at the Pres- byterian session house during the win- ter. He also held services at Candor and Richford. He was regularly called to the pastorate of St. Paul's in March, 1838. Church services were now held at the court house. Mr. Baily was ordained to the priesthood in April. He remained as rector of the church three years. In February, 1841, Mr. Baily, who for a year had been pre- vented by ill health from conducting services, resigned the pastorate, say- ing that on account of his health he could not continue his duties in the ministry. . He afterward lived at Fayetteville, N. Y., where he died a few years ago.
In 1839 the society built its first church. The ground on which it was erected was owned by James Pum- pelly, and was the same land. on the south side of Main street where the rectory now stands. This was a part of the Pumpelly orchard, and was
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. . deeded to the society April 14, 1840. Mr. Pumpelly gave the society the use of the ground so long as it should be occupied for church purposes. The church was consecrated May 17, 1840, by Rt. Rev. Win. H. Delancey, bishop of the diocese of western New York.
The church was in size 58 by 38 feet, including the vestibule. The roof in front projected from the building and was sustained by four large square pillars. " A square bell tower was on the peak of the roof at the front. A bell was not placed in the tower until 1855. It was purchased by ladies of the church and their friends and weighed about 1,200 pounds. The church lot was enlarged on the south and west sides by gift from George J: Pumpelly April 6, 1850, making the lot 58 feet wide in front and 100 feet deep. The church was enlarged in the summer of 1850. "The rear of the edifice was cut off and a section of several feet in length inserted. The. number of pews was increased. A Sunday school room was fitted up in the basement, but this basement was damp and was not much used. The changes cost about $1,000. While the improvements were in progress church services were held at Fay's hall in Front street.
Further enlargement and improve- ments were made in November and December, 1856, by builders Ferguson and Ebenezer Tucker after plans by architect Charles Babcock, of New York city. The altar was at the south end of the church. There was a long reading desk, from which the services were conducted, and back of that a high pulpit, from which the rector preached his sermons. These were
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removed when the church was en- larged in 1856, and more modern ones placed in an extension made for the purpose at the rear of the church. Transepts were built on each side of the church in front of the altar rail, making the edifice of a cruciform shape, in which transepts additional pews were placed. The partition which separated the auditorium from the vestibule under the gallery at the north end of the church was removed . and the gallery was torn down. In the space where the vestibule had been twelve new pews were placed. The organ and choir were placed ou a platform about four feet high be- tween the doors at the entrance of the church. Stained glass windows were . put in place of the old ones. The whole whole interior of the edifice was improved and beautified and it was re- opened for public worship Jan. 11, 1857. While the church was undergo- ing these improvements services were held at the village hall in Main street. Other improvements were made to the church in the fall of 1863 and the fall of 1865.
In the spring of 1873 Richard H. Sackett, who had purchased the John H. Avery property in east Front street, which consisted of the ground - on which the houses of Dr. E. D. Downs and Joel C. Kenyon now stand, to- gether with all the property of equal width on the south side of that street offered the property as a gift to St .- Paul's church, with the condition that the society should erect a church on the north side of the street within four years,to cost not less than $15,000, the lot on the south side of the street
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to be used as a site for a parsonage. Between $10,000 and $11,000 were raised by subscription, but the balance could not be obtained.
In the spring of 1891 the question of building a new church edifice was agitated. The heirs of Geo. J. Puni- pelly, through gift and purchase, had given their interest in the church low to the society: A member of the so- ciety offered to pay for additional land at the west of and .adjoining the church lot and give it to the society, but nothing was done in the matter. A year later, in Aprit, 1892, the lot at the northwest corner of Main and Liberty streets was purchased of Mrs. S. J. Ogden for $2,500. . The church was built jn 1893 with money raised by the ladies' guild of the church. The architect was William Halsey Wood, of Newark, N. J.
The church was built by contract by John T. Corchran, of this village. The cornerstone was laid Oct. 31 by the rector, Rev. James H. Kidder, acting as bishop's deputy, assisted by nine elergymen from other churches. The · consécration services were held Jan. 25, 1894, Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, bishop of the diocese of Central New York, officiating, assisted by bishop Wil. A. Leonard, of Ohio, the rector, Rev. J. H. Kidder, and seventeen other clergymen, The church is built of blue stone and is 90 by 75 feet in size .. The inner walls are of cream-colored brick; the floors of Georgia pine wood, and the pews of oak. The total cost was $12,800, exclusive of the seats, the heating apparatus, and the furnishing. The furniture, etc., were the gifts of various persons as memorials to de- parted relatives.
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ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
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The old church was sold to Jeremiaft Towsand, who sold the pews and tore down the building, which he used in building a house in McMaster street.
The first rectory of St. Paul's church was built on land sold to the church by Mrs. Eliza M. Clizbe for $500 March .9, . 1846. The lot was on the west side of Academy street. The house was of Gothic ar- chitecture with a very high sloping roof above the first story and with a · basement. It was sold in October, 1861, to James P. Lovejoy, and after his death it was again sold in Febru- ary, 1866, to Dr. E. A. Mayor. Mr .. Mayor removed the roof and in its place built a second story to the house and surmounted it with a Mansard roof.
In February, 1897, the society pur- chased of Thomas C. Platt for $1,600 a. house, which stood east of and adjoin- ing the old church, which was occu- pied as a rectory. This house had been rented as a rectory after the sale of the property in Academy. street. It was occupied as a rectory until a. . new.one was built in 1902, when it was sold to Charles G. Carter, who re- moved it to his lot on the west side of Central avenue. ! "
The present rectory was built in the sunumer of 1902 on the ground where the old church and rectory had stood. The architects were Bragdon & Hill- man, of Rochester, and it was built at a cost of $2,785 by John T. Corchran.
February 2, 1842, John Redman Coxe, M. D., of Philadelphia, proprie- tor of the tract of land south of the Susquehanna river in the towns of Owego and Nichols, known as Coxe's patent, deeded to the rector, wardens,
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and vestry of St. Paul's church a part of lot No. 190 in this tract, containing a little more than 52 acres, in trust, the income to be applied to the main- tenance of St. Paul's church so long as it should be a church.
The rectors of St. Paul's church since its organization have been as follows:
Rev. John Baily, May, 1838-May, 1840.
Rev. Isaac Swart, July 26, 1840- March 21, 1841.
Rev. Alfred Louderback, Aug. 29, 1841-April 15, 1844.
Rev. George Watson, Oct. 5, 1844- Oct. 1, 1854.
Rev. James Rankine, Oct. 1, 1854- April 7, 1861.
Rev. Morelle Fowler, April 14, 1861- . April, 1863.
Rev. George D. Johnson, April. 6, 1863-April 3, 1866.
Rev. Thomas W. Street, Dec. 27, 1866-July 1, 1868.
Rev. James H. Kidder, Aug. 1, 1868-
Rev. George Watson was an Eng- lishman. 'He resigned the rectorate of St. Paul's church in July, 1854, to take . effect on the first of the following October, having accepted a call to St .- Paul's church at Norwalk, Ohio. . He died at Norwalk, Nov. 15, 1870, aged 68 years.
Rev. James Rankine, who succeeded Mr. Watson, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Nov. 5, 1827. He came with his parents to the United States in 1835, the family settling at Canan- daigua, N. Y. He was graduated from Union college in 1846. He pursued the preparatory studies for holy or- ders under Dr. Williams, the rector of St. George's church at Schenectady, · and when Dr. Williams was called to the presidency of Trinity college in 1849 Mr. Rankine accompanied him .
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there, where .he was at first a tutor and afterward assistant professor of mathematics. June 11, 1850, he was ordained deacon. Hle resigned : his position in Trinity college to become rector of St. Paul's church in Septen- ber, 1854. He remained at Owego six years. In April, 1861, he was, ap. pointed head of the senior department of the diocesan training school (now known as the : Delancey divinity school) and rector of St. Peter's chapel at Geneva, N. Y. In 1868 he assumed the presidency of Hobart col- lege. He served two years when his health failed, and he resigned the presidency and returned to his old position in the divinity school and St .- Peter's pufish, where he remained un ti his death on Dec. 16, 1896.
Rev. Morelle Fowler, who succeeded Mr. Rankine as rector of St. Paul's, assumed his duties April 14, 1861. He was a graduate of Berkely divinity school at Middletown, Conn. He came after his graduation to Owego. He re- mained here two years. He resigned in April, 1863, having accepted a call to the Episcopal church at Batavia, N. .Y. He remained' there until the sum- mer. of 1870 when he resigned on ac- count of it health and went to Salt Lake City to assume the pastorate of a church there. In February, 1871, he returned east, to accompany his family from New London, Conn., to Salt Lake · City. While on their way to Utah he and his wife with their three children were all killed in a terrible railroad accident, which happened Feb. 6 on Le Hudson River railroad, eight miles below Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in which twenty-one persons were killed. The axle of an oil train broke, throwing
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the wreckage against a drawbridge in face of the express train, which crashed into it, the whole catching. firc.
Rev. George D. Johnson was born at Stratford, Conn., in June, 1834 .. He was a great grandson of Jonathan Ed- wards, the first president of Princeton college, and of Samuel Johnson, the first president of Kings college .. He was graduated from Trinity college in 1851. He came to Owego from Darien, Conn., in April, 1863, and was rector of St. Paul's two years. In April, 1865, he went to New Rochelle, N. Y., where he lived until March, 1867, when he accepted a call to a church in Boston, Mass. He became rector of Christ church at New Brighton, N. Y., in 1875. At the time of his death on August 28, 1906, he was pastor emeri- tus of that church and archdeacon.
Rev. Thomas. W. Street came to Owego from New Brunswick, N. J., where he was curate of St. Andrews's church, and became pastor of St .- Paul's in June, 1866. He resigned in the summer of 1868.
Rev. James Holwell Kidder came to Owego from Unadilla, N. Y., hav- ing been called to the rectorate of St. Paul's parish Aug. 1, 1868. Mr. Kidder was born at Portland, Maine. He was graduated from the gen- eral theological seminary in New York city , in 1860; ordained deacon at St. Luke's church, Port- land, the same year, and priest at Eastport, Maine, in June 1861. He was in charge of St. Thomas's church at Camden, Me., until November, 1860, and afterward of Christ church at Eastport about three years. Then he entered on the rectorship of St. Mat-
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thew's church at Unadilla, N. Y., July 1, 1863. Five years later, on Aug. 1, 1868, he became rector of St. Paul's church . at Owego. Mr. Kidder has been now: (1909) forty-one. years rector of St. Paul's and has not been . an hour out of the active ministry . since. he was ordained.
REV. JAMES H. KIDDER.
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Some Account of St. Patrick's Catho- lic Church, Its Property, and Its Pastors from about the Year 1842 to the Present Time.
There were no Roman Catholics at Owego for several years after the first settlement of the village. About the year 1842, when the New York & Erie railroad was projected, laborers on the road, mostly Catholics from Ireland, came here to assist in the work of driving the piles, on which it was in- tended to lay the tracks. These piles were not used, but gradually decayed and within a few years after the road had been constructed to Owego on a solid. gravel ben in 1849 they had all gradually decayed and. disappeared.
The first missionary through here was James F. Hourigan, who came on horseback. Rev. James V. O'Reilly, who was pastor of the church at Friendsville, Pa., and had spiritual charge of several missions in Pennsyl- vania and New York, afterward came here about four times a year and cele- brated high mass.
August 17, 1842, Charles Pumpelly deeded as a gift to Right-Rev. John Hughes and his successors in the ministry, in trust for the Catholic con- gregation of Owego, a part of village lot No. 29, containing half an acre of land, This lot, which is mentioned in the deed as "the Catholic church lot," is east of the road which extends north from Erie street and turns west up on the hill to Prospect street. This lot, for several years and until St .- Joseph's cemetery in the town of Ti- oga was laid out, was the Catholic cemetery.
In the deed given by Mr. Pumpelly the land conveyed is described as that
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"npon which is now being erected the Catholic church, for a site for which said : land is granted, to be used for that purpose, and a burying ground and for no other purpose whatever." This reference to a church is the only knowledge any one of the present das has of any church having ever been built on the lot, and its existence is beyond the recollection of the oldest inhabitants: It was, probably, a small building and must have been removed or tom down soon afterward. There is a story that the first Catholic ser- vices were held in a small frame building, which stood on the site, of the present church in east Main street. This is an error.
The first regular church services of which . anything is now positively known were held at the home of David Connelly in Paige street. Mr. Con- nelly was a tailor, a man who was held in respect by the people of the village, and a leading man in church affairs. His house was on the east side of Paige street, the second house south of East Temple street, and is still standing there. Mr. Connelly lived there with his wife, his son, and three daughters. He bought the property in . March, 1838, of Michael Conklin. He built a second story to the back part, of this house, to be used as a place to hold religious services, access to which was obtained by a stairway, which he built outside. the house. Here Father O'Reilly held services, and afterward Rev. Andrew Doyle, who was appointed pastor of St. Pat- rick's church. at Binghamton in. 1843 by Bishop John Hughes, came here occasionally until May 1, 1844, when he was called to assist the pastor of
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St. James's church in New York city. Rey. John Sheridan came in 1814, and he was the first resident pastor here. He was also in charge of the missions at Ithaca and Watkins. Father Sheridan remained here six years, and during his sojourn here, and mainly through his efforts, a new church was built.
The New York and. Erie railroad was completed to Owego in 1849. While the road was building many Catholics came here as laborers, and after the road .was in operation many others came as eniployes of the road and became permanent residents of Owego. The congregation of the church, was thereby increased to such an extent that it was decided to build a church. The ground on which St .- Patrick's church how stands on the south side of east Main street was owned by Thomas Farrington, who sold it on a contract to Father Sheri- chai in 1848, and a wooden church was immediately erected thereon. Oct. 9, 1849, the fot, which contained 64 square rods of land was deeded by judge Farrington for $545.50 to Father Sheridan.
Father Sheridan was succeeded in August, 1850, by Rev. Michael Cree- don, who in 1851 was succeeded by Rev. P. Mallon, who officiated until January, 1852, when Rev. James T. MeManus came. Rev. Nicholas Byrne came in December, 1858, and remained here two years. In 1859, during his pastorate the parochial school house was built in the rear of the church.
Rev. Joseph Butler was pastor from 1860 to August, 1862. He established the society known as the "Sodality of the Living Rosary," the object being to
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supply the altar with candles and flowers. In 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. Francis Clark, the society of "The Sacred Heart of Jesus" was or- ganized, and in 1870 the "Children .of. Mercy." : During Father Clark's .so- journ here, from 1863 to. 1871, many improvements were made. He caused' the church to be enlarged in the sum- nier of 1863. A new steeple was added to the edifice and a bell placed there- in. The convent of the Sisters of Mercy was instituted in 1865, the name of which was changed to St .- Joseph's Orphan Asylum in April, 1870, during Father Clark's pastorate.
In the summer of 1875 about $3,000 were spent in repairing, repainting, . and otherwise improving the church edifice. In November, 1855, the house . and lot west of and adjoining the church were purchased of Thomas Evans by the Catholic society. This was occupied as the parochial resi- dence until 1869. Aug. 30 in this year Richard H. Sackett sold to John Hard- man the house and . lot west of the . parochial residence, which Mr. Hard- man on Oct. 1 transferred to the so- ciety. This property is now occupied as the pastor's residence and the building betwen it and the church by the Sisters of Mercy.
The cemetery lot in Goodrich settle- ment in the town of Tioga, containing four and eight-tenths acres of land and known as St. Joseph's cemetery, was purchased of Henry W. Camp Feb. 1, 1868, for $1,000, and the old cemetery in this village was abandoned as a burial place.
The old wooden church proving inadequate to the needs of an increas- ing congregation, a new brick church
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ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
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was built in 1890. Subscriptions to a fund for building the new church were begun by Rev. James Rogers about the year 1876. He collected about $4,000. to which in 1887, Rev. F. D. Johnson had added about $6,000 more. The church was dedicated Sunday, Dec. 7, 1890, by Rt. Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, of Buffalo, assisted by twelve priests from other churches. The bishop preached the dedication ser- mon. The new church cost about $30,000. It was built by James Sulli- van. It is 129 by 58 feet in size, con- structed of brick and cut stone, and surmounted by à steeple 131 feet high. When Rev. John J. Sheridan assumed the pastorate of this church in June, 1899, there was an indebtedness of about $11,000 on the property. In the summer of 1908, through his efforts, the entire debt was paid.
The following is a list of the resi- dent pastors of St. Patrick's church- since its organization:
- Rev, John Sheridan, May 1, 1844- Angust, 1850.
Rev. Michael Creedon, August, 1850- 1851.
Rev. P. Mallon, 1851-January, 1852.
Rev. James T. McManus, January, 1852-December, 1858. Rev. . Nicholas Byrne, December, 1858-1860.
Rev. Joseph Butler, 1860-August, 1862.
Rev. S. Bonaventure Corney, August, 1862-April, 1863.
Rev. Francis Clark, June, 1863-Jan- nary, 1871. - Rev. James Rogers, January, 1871- April, 1877.
Rev. John O'Mara, April, 1877-Octo- ber, 1883.
Rev. Thomas D. Johnson, November, 1883-September, 1893.
Rev. Martin Ryan, October, 1893- May, 1895.
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Rev. Jolm J. Sheridan, June, 1899- July, 1909.
Rev. George .V. Burns; July, 1909-
Rev. James T. McManus was born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1821 and studied for the priesthood at Cavan college. He came to America in 1848 and graduated from the Catholic semi- nary at Fordham, N. Y., in 1851. His Arst pastorate was a church in Buffalo He came to Owego as pastor of St .- Patrick's church in 1851, and also had charge of the parishes at Waverly and Ithaca. He was here eight years until December, 1858, when he was trans- ferred to the church of St. Francis de- Sales at Geneva, N. Y. Thence in April, 1862, he was transferred to the . church of St. Mary's at Rochester, N. Y. Seven months later. he was again transferred to Geneva, where he remained until his death on June 29, 1890, a period of thirty-one years. In 1886 he succeeded Rov. James M. Early as Vicar-General of the diocese. Dec. 18, 1889, he received the honorary title of Monseigneur from Bishop Mc- Quade hy order of the. Pope, making him a member of the papal household.
Rev. Joseph Butler came here. in 1860. "From Owego he was transferred to Troy in August, 1862.
Rev. Francis Clark came to Owego in January, 1863. Under his ministry the church was enlarged, a school and convent were established, a new ceme- tery was laid out, and a parochial resi- dence purchased. He leftOwegoin Jan- nary, 1871, to become parish priest of the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Elmira and rural dean. He was later, at his own request, transferred to St .- Ann's church at Hornell. While in charge of that parish he fell from a
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