USA > New York > Chenango County > Smyrna > Early years in Smyrna and our first Old home week > Part 13
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In 1841 the Plymouth Baptist Church was formed from this church, and thirty-four members were dismissed for that pur- pose. Rev. A. B. Earle, later a noted evangelist, was pastor in 1842 and 1843, and during the time he was pastor, there were forty-five additions to the church. Commencing with the year 1835 there was a continuous revival spirit up to 1843, and dur- ing that time there were about two hundred additions, some- thing remarkable in a single church located in a rural commu- nity. At about this time it was one of the largest and most in- fluential societies in this vicinity, numbering among its members some three hundred persons, From 1844 to 1850, a large num- ber were dismissed by letter on account of their removal to other localities, and a number of exclusions from 1850 to 1860. There was no regular preaching service from 1861 to 1869, and the other services of the church were not kept up, this condition being caused by the depletion of membership by removal and exclusions before mentioned and the decease of many of the leading and aggressive members. In 1869 Rev. H. S. Jones commenced his record pastorate which continued until 1878 and regular services were resumed, the Sunday School being held at twelve o'clock and the preaching service at half-past one, which
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arrangement was continued until the coming of Rev. Frank Bar rett in 1886, when the services were held as at present; preachi ing at half-past ten o'clock and Sunday School at twelve. For the first time in the history of the church it commenced to hold Sunday evening preaching service. sdi
The church was repaired, re-decorated and refurnished in- side in 1885, at a cost of about $1,800, and the re-dedication took place on the 18th day of November, 1885, with public ser vices in the afternoon and evening. Rev. Dr. D. G. Corey, pastor of the church forty-eight years previous, preached at the afternoon service, and in the evening Rev. G. R. Burnside of Buffalo, also a former pastor preached the sermon. The indebt- edness incurred for repairs was all provided for with the excep! tion of about $30, which was paid within a few days. A bap- tistry was added to the church in 1891, through the efforts"of Rev. J. R. Church, who was then pastor, and in 1895 the first bell was installed, the result of personal work by Rev. Walter Vassar. Since the coming of Rev. Frank Barrett in 1886 the church has been supplied with its pastors from students in Col- gate University at Hamilton, and its membership has increased until now it numbers fifty-one bona-fide members. Six ministers have been ordained by the church, viz: Comfort Record, R. L. Wariner, H. S. Jones, Ebenezer Holroid, H. B. Dixon and E. B. Buchanan. As auxiliary organizations it has at the present time a Sunday School, Women's Foreign Missionary Society, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Ladies' Aid So- 191 eiety, a Children's Band and Cradle Roll.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
The Friends Society of which we have not been able to find any full or complete record, was organized in 1810, and a church built near the present home of Walter Sexton. A part of the small wood-colored building near the railroad, not far from the old burial ground is a portion of the old edifice. The church became divided between the Hicksite and Orthodox branches
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and another church was built nearer the village. It is still stand- ing on the farm of Charles S. Billings, and in this old building for many years the old line members attended First Day, (Sun- day) and Fifth Day, (Thursday) services and no inclemency of the weather kept them at home. Many times they waited in deep solemnity for the Spirit to move, and at other times waxed eloquent as the Spirit directed. As the older members fell out, passing on to their final reward, and the new ones took their places, new ideas were prevalent and the old time service would not suffice for the younger generation, and the day came when the old building with all its sacred associations was deserted and a new church built at Smyrna Village, where services were held for a number of years; but finally to enable it to do a better work, it was removed to Upperville, as has been before stated, and it is now doing an excellent work in that part of the town.
The days of broad-brim hats and poke bonnets have long since passed away, but the memory of those sainted men and women will ever remain bright to those who knew them, for they were among the noblest models of true manhood and womanhood whose presence ever graced our town.
As has also been before stated, William Stover built a church on his own farm near Dark Hollow at an early day, known as the "Reform Methodist Church," but generally mentioned as the Stover "Meeting House." The site of the church is still pointed out by the older inhabitant but no vestige of the building now remains.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The carly history of Congregationalism in Smyrna was in- terwoven with that of Sherburne. The pioneers of both towns came largely of New England Congregational stock, from Con- necticut and Rhode Island. "The fathers assembled for public worship the second Sabbath after their arrival in 1793, and the First Congregational Church and Society of Sherburne was or- ganized July 6, 1794." (Hatch's History of Sherburne.)
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Though they had no settled pastor or meeting house yet they met regularly and had preaching for a number of years in each other's log cabins or in the open forest, and worshipped God often under great difficulties.
With the opening of the nineteenth century it was proposed to build a permanent place of worship. The question as to its location proved a vexing and discordant one, and the outcome was two churches, one on Sherburne West Hill, the other near Sherburne village. The site of the former was selected to ac- commodate the people of Smyrna, and this church was com- posed largely of Smyrna people during its history of twenty-two years, 1802-1824. During this time the hearts of some of the West Hill members, especially that of Mrs. Chester Hammond, were filled with a fresh zeal for God by reading the memoirs of Mrs. Harriet Newell, one of that band of heroic missionaries, and as a result religious meetings were begun in the school house in Smyrna village in the year 1812, and there was a powerful revival of religion in connection with the same.
The First Congregational Church of Smyrna was organized June 26, 1824, with thirty-one members, twenty-one of them at least uniting by letter from the Sherburne West Hill Church. Services continued to be held in the school house for two years, which was enlarged for this purpose. The frame for a new church was raised in August, 1826, and the house completed the following year. Its first service was a funeral service, held in December, 1827, at the death of John Munson, who had been active in building the new edifice for worship. The church was dedicated January 20, 1828, Rev. Lyman Rexford of Sherburne preaching the sermon on that occasion. In its exterior architect- ure it has never been much changed, and it is adorned by one of the few colonial towers still extant. The bell, one of excellent tone, was mounted about 1840, and it was the old custom to toll the same when a death occurred in the town. This was known as the "passing bell." At first the bell was rung for a short time, then it was struck five for a woman or child
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and seven for a man, and then the age was tolled by tens till completed. At the close of a funeral the bell was also tolled till the interment was completed. The two-faced clock was subse- quently purchased by general subscription, and has always heen designated as the "Town Clock." The interior of the original church was of colonial type, the pulpit standing high between the two front doors, which was ascended by a flight of stairs and enclosed by a door. A gallery, supported by posts, was erected nearly around the church except the pulpit end, the choir occupying that portion on the south end directly facing the min- işter. Each pew was secured by a door, by which the father or the head of the family usually sat. The interior of the church was remodeled into its present form in 1868, under the pastorate of Rev. Seneca M. Keeler, the choir raising $500 of the amount nec- essary to remodel the same by giving a series of Old Folks' Concerts under the direction of Deacon L. B. Collins.
[!]] The following deacons of the church often passed the ele- ments to their worshiping brethren and in turn have passed on to drink of the Fruit of the Vine, new with Christ, in his Father's Kingdom: Chester Hammond, Marsena Allen, Isaac Foote, Jr., William J. Chapman, Julius Wood, Gardner J. Kinyon, Levi B. Collins, Nathaniel T. Ferris, Ervin H. Sprague, Frank W. Avery, Henry H. Hall.
if The records of the church display a succession of very effi- cient clerkships, and in this capacity are found George Ham- mond, Charles W. Chapman, Loren C. Kinyon, Rev. D. F. Judson, James H. Kinyon, Rev. M. C. Bronson, Herbert M. Dixon, Mortimer C. Dixon.
-10 The following ministers of the gospel have served in pas- toral relation to the church: 1824-25, Ezra Woodstock; '26- 28, Luther Clark; '28-29, Charles E. Avery; '31-32, Samuel Manning; '32-34, Elias Childs; '34-39, Sidney Mills; '39-52, Lemuel Pomeroy; '53-57, D. F. Judson; '58-60, M. C. Bron- son; '60-61, Andrew Huntington; '61-62, Charles Barstow, (became army chaplain 157 Reg't N. Y. S. V .; ) '62-63, Archi-
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bald Crawford; '63-63, Augustus C. Shaw; '63-66, John H. Nason; '66-70, Seneca M. Keeler; '70-71, Henry M. Grant; '72-73, Henry Carpenter; '74-84, Charles C. Johnson; '85-86, Quincy J. Collin; '86-88, Clarence F. Swift; '88-92, Lewis F. Buell; '92-96, B. F. Staffard; 96-97, William H. Hunter; '97- 98, Henry W. Dowding; '98-99, Mailler O. Van Keuren; 1900- '02, James Chambers; '03-03, T. A. Waltrip; '04, William D. Eddy.
The historical records of the church show that it has ever been a potent factor in shaping the high standard of morals that has prevailed in the community. Born of missionary enthusiasm it has never been wanting in the zeal for both home and foreign missions. For sixty years the Sunday School has been organ- ized into a Missionary Society and all its contributions go for missionary purposes. An Annual Missionary meeting is regu- larly held and all six of the Congregational benevolent societies are sustained. The musical talent of this church has an unusual record and for fifty-nine years that splendid leader, Deacon L. B. Collins, taught the young people the art of singing, and led the congregation in their worship of song. The Dixon-Collins Quartette, three Dixon brothers, Herbert M., Almenzo K., and Mortimer C., and Deacon L. B. Collins, made the hills of Che- nango County ring with their gospel melodies. In ministerial, educational, legal and commercial sons, the church has also had an excellent record. Among the list may be named: Judge Isaac Foote, first Judge of the Court of Appeals, and first Member of the Legislature from this vicinity; Rev. Orson Allen, and Mar- tha, a daughter of Judge Foote, Missionaries; Rev. Henry Ham- mond an eminent clergyman who organized the First Congrega- tional Church of Detroit, Mich., now the strongest Congrega- tional church in that city; Col. Charles Hammond, Railroad Magnate and Founder of the Hammond Library of Chicago, Illi- nois; Rev. William Collins, a preacher of the gospel in the State of Michigan; Frank W. Avery, Missionary to the Congo country in Africa; Prof. Devolson Wood, a noted educator, and Hudson Wood, a brother, also an educator.
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During the four-score years of its history there have been periods of unusual activity, and from 1832 to 1843 there were one hundred and eighty-nine persons received into membership, and in 1848 twenty-seven were received, the list that year in- cluding the names of Myron T. Kinyon, Emily Northup Mann, Rachel Northup Barber, and Genora Collins Willcox, all of whom still survive, the last named now the senior member of the church. In 1860 the Mallory brothers held a large revival which not a few will recall as a notable one, which greatly strengthened the church; but perhaps the most powerful local revival in the church was conducted by the evangelist Rev. A. B. Earle in the winter of 1877, when more than forty joined this church alone. It is probable that about this time the church reached its zenith of prosperity, having not far from three hundred members, several of whom were laymen widely distinguished for their piety and business ability. The aggregate membership of the church to date is eight hundred and two, with a present enrollment of one hundred and twenty-seven. Besides these there are a goodly number who are regular wor- shipers and faithful supporters of the church but who have not so far become active members.
The following auxiliary societies each have a worthy history in connection with the church:
Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, organized 1888. Present membership, thirty-five.
Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, organized 1879. Present membership, twelve.
Young Ladies Mission Circle, organized 1886. Present mem- bership, twenty-three.
The "Path Finders" organized 1904. Present membership, eighteen.
The Church Officers for 1905, are: Pastor, Rev. William D. Eddy; Deacons, William D. Hopkins, Robert H. Knowles, Christopher C. Clapper and Leonard S. Enos; Trustees, Edwin
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FIRST METHODIST CHURCH.
Our First Old Home Week
S. Billings, Dwight L. Sweet, Robert H. Knowles, Loren R. Col- lins and Gardner N. Willcox; Clerk, Miss Anne Martin; Treas- urer, Murray Boyden; Assistant Treasurer, Miss Martha Northup; Superintendent of Sunday School, Leland L. Ferris; Superin- tendent of Primary Department, Mrs. Laura G. Eddy.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In the year 1816 a Methodist Class was organized at the Tobey farm on Smyrna Hill in a building now used as a horse barn, on the opposite side of the road from the house. It was composed of eight members, as follows: Joseph and Elizabeth Tobey, Lillibridge and Anna Willcox, Huge Cagwin and wife, and a brother named Sebry and his wife, both of whom after- wards joined the Mormons. Its. first minister was Rev. George Densmore, and the charge was on the Lebanon Circuit, and later on the Hamilton Circuit, until the Smyrna Circuit was formed in 1836.
At a meeting held on April 8, 1836, at which Rev. H. Hal- stead presided and Stephen Leonard was clerk, the Society was in- corporated as the "First Methodist Episcopal Society of Smyrna," and its first trustees were Thomas R. Tracy, John Tobey and Eber Dimmick. This meeting was held in the village school house where the Society then steadily worshipped, but prior to these meetings services were held in private houses. On Novem- ber 9, 1839, John Strew and Maranda, his wife, conveyed to the Society a lot containing one rood and seventeen perches of land on which an old hotel was standing, known as the Mansion House, receiving therefor $450, and the same was fitted up for a place of worship, and used for five or six years, but was torn down in the spring of 1843, and a new church erected costing $1,600. It is stated that when the school house was made use of, and before the church was built, the older organizations ex- tended to the new comers a most cordial welcome, the Congre- gational Church being especially obliging and helpful. The church grew and waxed strong in the faith as the years advanced,
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its facilities falling short of its requirements and additions becom- ing necessary.
On April 1, 1854, in consideration of the sum of $325 Susan Shepard, a member of the church, deeded the Society its first parsonage, now the home of Marion Chapin. In the spring of 1866 the same was sold and the present property on South street was purchased by the church, although a portion of the land has since been sold. For many years the noon class was held in the church and the Sunday school in Lawson's (Fagan's) Hall, near the church, both of which were usually nearly full. In the year 1865 a chapel was erected in the rear of the church at an expense of $400, and in the year 1871 during the pastor- ate of Rev. Samuel Moore, now of Norwich, the church edifice was rebuilt and remodeled at an expense of $5,000, over $3,000 of which was raised on the day of dedication, December 27, 1871, at which time Bishop Jesse T. Peck, then well known here, preached the sermon from Exodus, 25th chapter and 8th verse, "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them."
Following this there was a large revival and many members added to the church, then the strongest in the community. Those were prosperous days for Methodism in Smyrna, in fact the most flourishing of any period in the history of the local church. The large and handsome bell placed in the belfrey at the time of its enlargement was made at the Meneeley Bell Foundry at Troy, N. Y., and presented to the church by Elizur Goodrich and his sister, Mrs. E. B. G. Lincoln Coombs, both prominent members of the church at the time. Some twenty- five years later the bell became broken, and a new one has taken its place, made at Cincinnati, Ohio, a fine, sweet-toned bell, purchased by several of the young men of the church and society. It was rung for the first time for the Christmas services on Christmas Eve, 1897. In the summer of 1895, through the efforts of Rev. S. H. Wood and several members, the seating was changed and the platform removed to the west side of the church, where it has since remained.
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The following pastors have been stationed at Smyrna, many of whom will be remembered by the present generation: George W. Densmore, 1817; Daniel Barnes and Russel Down- ing, '18; Wyatt and Chamberlin, '19: Ezra Doolittle and Ira Bronson, '20; E. Jones, '21; William Cameron and Joseph At- wood, '22; Isaac Grant and Ezra Doolittle, '23; O. Doolittle and H. C. Warner, '24; William Cameron, '26; E. N. Flint, '27; William Rounds and S. Beach, '30; William Rounds and F. Colson, '31; A. Peck and H. Erckenbrach, '32; B. G. Pad- dock, '33; D. Davis and William Rand, '34; H. Hallstead, '35; C. Starr and A. Brown, '36-37; A. Peck and L. H. Stanley, '38; L. H. Stanley and J. Crawford, '39; J. Dennison and D. Rose, '40-41; Shank, '42; (Plymouth was with Smyrna from '38 to '41); L. Beach, '43-44; William H. Miller, '45; L. Beach, '46; William G. Queal, '47-48; M. M. Tuke, '49-50; E. C. Brown and A. Brown, '51; R. S. Southworth, '53; J. Davis, '54; Lewis Hartshorn, '55-56; J. W. Mitchelll, '57-58; Wesley 'Peck, 59; J. Lord, '60; T. M. Williams, '62; William Burnside, '64-65; John H. Hall, '66-67; A. M. Colgrove, '68-69; Samuel Moore, '70-72; A. F. Brown, '73-74; Herbert Fox, '75-76; James L. Race, '77-79; O. L. Severson, '79-81; J. L. Wells, '82; L. B. Weeks, '83-85; J. F. Williams, '86-88; A. D. Alexander, '89- 90; G. F. Ace, '91-92; S. H. Wood, '93-95; H. C. Blair, '96; J. W. Davis, '97-99; A. J. Neff, 1900 to September 15, '01; C. D. Skinner, September 15, '01, to April 1,'03; G. W. Crosby, April 1, '03, to October 30, '04; John F. Jones, October 30, '04, to April 1, '05. Rev. E. B. Quimby is the pastor now located here by the Wyoming Conference.
We are aware that our venerable friend and Home Week visitor, James R. Tracy, of Toledo, Ohio, now deceased, made a partial claim as to priority in the organization of the church, claiming the same was effected at his old home, now that of Frank Hills, on the Plymouth road, but he was not positively sure he was correct, and from letters received from many old members of the church we are inclined to believe the old gen- tleman was in error and the organization perfected at the Tobey
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farm as at first stated. It matters not when or where the old church was organized, it is a fact that some of our best people have been its members, and it has exerted a powerful influence for good in the town and community. The old time revivals, the old sermons, the hymns and songs have left lasting impres- sions upon the many who have listened to them in the days gone by. Though Mr. Tracy's version may not be fully correct, we will give a portion of the same a place in our pages, as it will be of much interest not only to the present members of the church, but to all others who read it.
"Methodism found a home and a name in the town of Smyrna in a very early day. The exact date is not known, but very soon after my father's settlement in the early summer of 1816, regular preaching by the "circuit rider" was established, and a Methodist Class formed at William Stover's house, and there was also another class formed at the residence of John Tobey, on Smyrna Hill, but which was the prior organization 1 cannot tell. My father's house was for many years the regular meeting place for the preachers upon the circuit which met regu- larly once in four or six weeks, as the circuit chanced to have two or three preachers, for consultation regarding the general in- terests of the circuit. About the year 183 4 the organization of the Methodist church at the village was effected by the union of the two classes named. Barney Leonard of the Tobey class was appointed leader of the new organization, and John Tobey was one of the stewards. Eber Dimmick was also an active mem- ber and steward and there were three preachers upon the circuit at the time. In order of seniority they were Lyman Beach, Jesse Halstead and William Rounds. 1 well remember the quar- terly meeting held in the village in the fall of 1836, when the Congregational Church was cordially tendered for Sabbath ser- vices, and their minister, Rev. Sidney Mills, cheerfully assisted in the services, especially in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Uncle Doctor Grant and his good wife, Hannah, were present on the occasion, and he voiced the sentiment of all when he said, 'I never expected to witness such a scene, and the Millenium
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certainly must be drawing near, for my eyes have certainly seen the coming of His Glory.' Such were the beginnings of Methodism in Smyrna."
The present officers of the church are as follows: Trustees, Abel Comstock, John C. Abbott, James P. Willcox, Frank Hills, Clark A. Tinker, Edmund P. Tobey; Stewards, James T. Com- stock, John C. Abbott, Ziba L. Tuttle and Arthur L. Harris; Stewardesses, Mrs. William H. Comstock, Mrs. Frank Hills, Mrs. Lucy Tobey; Clerk, Ziba L. Tuttle.
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Free Will Baptist Church of West Smyrna, was organ- ized in June, 1819, at Lebanon, but removed to its present site in 1851. It has been exceedingly prosperous, its members be- ing among the very best people of the town, and a source of much benefit to the whole township. It has had an honored list of worthy pastors, its present pastor, Rev. H. H. Baker, who is also a veteran of the civil war, being equally if not more highly esteemed and respected than any among them all. The following is a list of all the ministers who have been called to preach at this church: Caleb Easterbrook, 1819-25; Levi Gard- ner, '25-34; Joseph Willcox, '34-43; William C. Byers, '43-46; Eli Card, '46-50; S. D. Gardner, '50-51; Benjamin Rowland '51-54;F. H. Hill, '54-57; John Crandall, '57-63; J. W. Brown, '63-64; S. S. Cady, '64-65, and '81-86; John Wedge, '86-87; Alfred Eastman,'87-89; William Warner, '92-93, (six months); S. S. Mead, '93-97; C. H. Hook, '97-98; George Blackford, '98-99; H. H. Baker, '89-92, '99-05.
The first framed church was built in 1848, and the new one in 1873. The present membership of the church is one hundred and twenty-five. There was no preaching in the church from 1865 to 1867.
It is unnecessary for us to say that during the past twenty- five years all country churches have suffered seriously by reason
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of many of the older members passing away, and many of the younger part of the community moving to the larger towns and cities, and we are compelled to say many of those remain- ing showing a great lack of interest in the cause so strenuously labored for by the fathers and mothers long since departed. What may be said of our own town may be also said of others, but we can truly say that thirty years ago Smyrna was the ban- ner Sunday School town in Chenango county.
We sincerely hope the sound of the church bells will never cease to be heard over our hills and through our valleys, and none of our churches ever be closed, for we firmly and truly be- lieve that their hearty maintenance will ever be for the lasting benefit of the town and its people.
With our history of the churches we draw our labors to a close and leave our work in the hands of our friends, and in re- viewing the same we are most forcibly reminded of the fleet- ness of time and its constant changes, and that we also are passing away, and that our places will soon be filled by the on- coming generations, for it has been said "Our life is a dream, our days like a stream, glide swiftly away."
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