USA > New York > Schoharie County > Broome > Historical address, relating to the county of Broome in the state of New York > Part 3
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Dr. Silas West removed to Binghamton in 1823. He devoted his whole attention to the practice of his profession, and followed it for many years. His son, Dr. Henry S. West, who was born and brought up in Binghamton, entered the service of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions as a Missionary physician, and was stationed at Sivas, in Turkey in Asia. Here he distinguished himself as a Surgeon, having per- formed the operation of lithotomy over one hundred and fifty
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times. I am sorry to add that Dr. West died at Sivas on the 1st day of April of this Centennial year. Cotemporary with Dr. West at Binghamton were Dr. G. L. Spencer, at Triangle, and Dr. P. B. Brooks, at Lisle. Dr. Thomas Jackson came to Binghamton a few years later, about the year 1828. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and up to the time of his death, had been a resident of this place for more than thirty years. He was a successful practitioner, and commanded the respect and confidence of the entire community.
These were the early medical men of the County who for any length of time served the people as physicians in their remote and humble dwellings. The rides were long and tedious and could only be performed on horseback, and many times, in order to give the necessary attendance, the physician must be in the saddle for 24 hours or more continuously. The early physicians by their efforts in protecting the health of settlers, surely did their share in developing the country, and changing it from a wilderness to a productive and fertile region.
Neither were the settlements long without "the benefit of clergy." Many of the settlers before emigrating were religious people, and were accustomed to the duties and privileges of the church. But in the depths of the wilderness, among the remote , settlements of the frontier, no such opportunity was had. "The sounding aisles of the wild wood" were the only temples of worship in which the people could assemble, and the voice of God could reach them only in the wind and in the storm. To establish the privileges of religious instruction, and to reclaim the " lost sheep of the House of Israel," was the task of the early pioneer clergymen.
The first clergyman on the ground whose name comes to us was the Rev. Mr. Howe, a Baptist. He came here prior to 1800,
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and commenced the work of collecting the people and organizing a church. His efforts at first were successful, but did not con- tinne so, for after an existence of a very few years his church became extinet.
There was a Rev. Mr. Palmer in this vicinity and in the vi- cinity of Union in the early days of the settlements. He was a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and I think came here from New Jersey. He likewise became discouraged and dis- gusted in consequence of the failure of a church he bad organ- ized, and left the County, as I have been told, uttering anathe- mas against the valley of the Susquehanna and its settlers.
Rev. Seth Williston was in the settlements acting as a mis- sionary to the people as early as 1797. He, I believe, was not permanently settled in any place, but labored wherever his ser- vices appeared to be the most needed. He spent considerable time at Lisle, organized the church in that place, and became its pastor for a number of years. This was about the year 179 ?. and was probably the earliest organization of the kind in this section of the country. His missionary labors extended over a wide region of the State, including that east of this County. I have a dim recollection of his being at my father's house, and of sitting upon his knee and listening to his words as he sought to adapt them to my childish comprehension. Mr. Williston was a good man, and of a high character in his profession.
There was likewise a Rev. Mr. Camp who visited, and I do not know but lived entirely in the settlements during the ear- lier years. He, however, had no charge of any church or society, nor did he have a stated or regular field of labor, but visited and officiated as opportunity offered.
A Congregational Church is reported as having been formed in Windsor in 1793, under the direction of Rev. Mr. Judd, but
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whether it remained a permanent organization I do not know. Religious services were also conducted in 1793 in what is now Colesville, by Rev. Joseph Badger, and in 1799 St. Luke's Church (Episcopal) at Harpursville was organized. A Baptist Church at Upper Lisle is also mentioned as having been formed as early as 1802 ; and the Union Chapel (Methodist Episcopal) Society at East Randolph, in the Town of Windsor, in 1803. A Baptist Church was also organized and located at Harpurs- ville in 1811. These appear to have been the earlier church or- ganizations of the County. They originated sporadically, without any general effort or systematic labor.
It was not until about 1815, and during the fifteen years suc- ceeding, that any thing like a general movement was instituted by the settlers to provide religious privileges and opportunities for themselves and their children. By this time the religious element had become greatly augmented, and the importance of public worship and the restraints of religions influences were acknowledged. In organizing church associations the various denominational differences were duly maintained. The people of the sparsely inhabited hamlets could not assemble together and collectively worship God. The different tenets of the Church of England, of Roger Williams, of John Wesley, or of John Calvin, were regarded by the partisans of each as of equal im- portance, or rather as constituting an essential portion of true religion. Consequently Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Presby- terian and Congregational societies were organized in different directions, oftentimes two or more in the same neighborhood or settlement. These differences of opinion in matters of faith were not always the most harmonious element among the people : they sometimes excited a spirit of rivalry and intolerance, and often engendered sentiments very far from those of Christian charity or of brotherly love. In this, the one hundredth year of
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onr National existence, it is proper to record the fact that much of the sectarian asperity of former years no longer exists.
In Binghamton in 1810 an Episcopal society was organized under the title of St. Ann's Church ; but whether from in- difference to the honor on the part of the patron saint, or from want of influence we cannot tell, but the society was soon dis- solved. In 1816 it was re-organized under the name of Christ Church, and was the commencement of the present large and influential Episcopal society. The early rectors of Christ Church were Rev. James Keeler, Rev. F. H. Cumming, Rev. Mr. Gear, Nathaniel Huse, Rev. Hiram Adams and Rev. Mr. Shimeall. These gentlemen occupied the situation but a short time each. In 1836 Rev. Edward Andrews, D. D., became the rector and continued so for many years. He was an able. scholarly man, an eloquent preacher, and was largely instru- mental in the prosperity of his parish. Dr. Andrews died a few years since. One of his successors, Rev. Chas. H. Platt, has followed him-dying here at his post. in the midst of his labors.
The present Presbyterian Church of Binghamton was organ- ized in 1817, and the Rev. Mr. Niles was ordained and installed pastor of it in 1818. Mr. Niles remained in charge of the church until July, 1828, when he died. He was immediately succeeded by Rev. Peter Lockwood, who continued his pastoral relation until 1833. Following Mr. Lockwood came the Rev. John A. Nash, and in 1838, Rev. David D. Gregory became the pastor. He continued his labors for ten years-an earnest, sincere man. It is less than two years since his remains were deposited in Spring Forest Cemetery. Rev. John Humphrey sneceeded Mr. Gregory and at his death, Rev. Wm. H. Good- rich of New Haven was called to the pastorate. He remained in charge a few years when he removed to Cleveland, Ohio. His health, however, becoming impaired, he finally went 5
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abroad and died in Europe, I think upon the same day that Mr. Gregory died in Binghamton. The Presbyterians and Congregationalists had some men of more than ordinary strength in other parts of the County during this period. I may mention the names of Rev. Mr. Ward, of Union, Rev. Henry Ford, of Lisle, and afterwards of Maine, and Rev. Mr. Woodruff, of Chenango Forks. Mr. Ford was a man of signal ability and of a strong logical mind. His favorite themes were what are termed the "doctrines " of the Bible, and in tenacity of belief and in firmness in enforcing his views he must have been equal to Calvin himself. More than 35 years ago I listened to a discourse from him, directed to a church whose soundness on the "doctrines " had begun to be distrusted. His text was, " Whom He will He hardeneth." Every proposition advanced was sustained by copious quotations from the Scriptures, and at the close of every argument he would remark, "if you think these are 'hard sayings,' my brethren, I can only reply that they are found in the Bible ; the words are not mine." Of all the clergymen whose names I have mentioned in connection with the Presbyterian Church in this County none are living except Rev. Mr. Lockwood. He still survives-the sun of his life setting tranquilly, a beloved and venerated father in his church.
We have already seen that the Baptists were early in the field, and that prior to 1815 they had societies in operation at Upper Lisle and at Harpursville. The Baptist Church at Bingham- ton was not organized until 1829-the Rev. Michael Frederick being its first pastor. The following are the next succeeding pastors of the Binghamton Baptist Church down to abont the year 1836, viz : Revs. Jason Corwin, Henry Robertson, William Storrs, and J. M. Coley. The growth of this society through all the years since its organization has been continuous and un- interrupted.
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The Methodist denomination has by no means acted an insig- nifieant part in the religious movements which have been insti- tuted in the County. Their itinerant ministers followed close upon the coming of the early settlers, and they penetrated every hamlet. We have already seen that a society was organized at East Randolph as early as 1803. Now, at the present day, their small white churches are to be seen in every direction, and are easily accessible to every neighborhood.
The first Methodist society in Binghamton was organized in 1817, and was generally known as the Henry Street M. E. Church. After a series of events continuing for many years, which it is not worth while to attempt to trace or to detail, this organiza- tion now finds itself possessed of the beautiful church edifice on Court street, which they built some years since, and which they have named the "Centenary M. E. Church," so called in com- memoration of the introduction of Methodism in America, one hundred years before the year in which their church was erected, viz : 1869. Their membership and congregation are large. On account of the peculiar policy of this denomination in changing their preachers every two years, I am unable from want of space and time to give the names of those who have had this people in charge. One of the veteran preachers of this denomination, long a resident of Binghamton, and one of its early settlers, I may, however, mention. I refer to the late Rev. Solon Stocking, whose memory will be readily recalled by those who knew him in his life time, and who still survive him.
In 1835 Edward White, Esq., removed to Binghamton with his family, consisting of his wife, his wife's sister, Miss Griffin, and three daughters. They were all natives of Ireland, educa- ted and refined. The Misses White and Griffin opened a board- ing school for young ladies, which for many years was conduct- ed successfully. This family were Roman Catholic in their re-
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ligion, and it is believed was the first Roman Catholic family in the County. They set up the altar of their church. and com- meneed the worship of God according to its forms and ceremo- nies. This was the commencement of a Catholie mission. as it is termed. and has resulted in the large and widely diffused Catholic element throughout the County.
At first the mission was visited only at intervals by clergymen of the Roman Catholic faith, among whom was the late Father O'Reilly. then of Silver Lake, Pa. In 1843 or 1844 Bishop Hughes gave the Binghamton mission in charge to the Rev. A. Doyle, who was succeeded the following year by the Rev. John Sheridan. and, owing to his removal to Owego. the Rev. James Hourigan, the present pastor. was appointed in July. 1847. The work of Father Hourigan was to visit. become acquainted with and bring under the influences of the church all the scat- tered members of its faith within a territory extending. in some directions a distance of 50 miles. For the last 29 years he has thus been engaged, and a most indefatigable worker he has proved. In addition to the public ministration of the word, and the common or ordinary parochial duties of a clergyman. the Roman Church requires its priests to attend, if not utterly impossible. whenever summoned to visit a dying member, for the purpose of administering the last rites appointed for such oc- casions. This duty necessarily imposes a greatly increased amount of labor upon the priest. for no inclemency of weather. nor darkness of night. nor distance even. nor all combined. can excuse him if he should not make every effort to attend. Pos- sessed of a vigorous frame, and earnestly devoted to his work. Father Hourigan has rarely failed to perform his whole duty. There is not an hour of the day or night that I have not seen him, at some period during the last twenty-five years, by the bed side of some one of his people, to administer to them the con- solations of their faith.
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The Catholic congregation in this place is large. Three sev- eral masses are said on every Sunday morning during each of which the spacious church is crowded with a different set of worshipers.
The foregoing reference to the churches in Binghamton em- braces all of the original or primary religious organizations of the place.
The Congregational Church was formed in 1836 by the pro- cess of reproduction described by naturalists as fission or fissi- parous generation. The parent body divides, a new organism is produced, which becomes possessed of individual life and capable of a separate existence. The original members of the Congregational Church were all members of the Presbyterian Church, and separated from it to organize and form what has since proved to be a most efficient and independent living body.
The process has been repeated twice since in the parent body. and within a few years, giving origin to the North Presbyterian Church and later to the West Presbyterian Church.
The same has also taken place in the parent Methodist Church, and the Main Street Tabernacle and the High Street M. E. Churches are the products.
Christ Church, in Binghamton, has likewise given to the world in this manner the Church and the House of the Good Shepherd, situate in the Fifth Ward.
There is a Free Methodist Church of Binghamton, organized in 1862, its place of worship being the corner of Court and Car- roll streets. Two Colored Churches also exist in Binghamton. viz : the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, organized in 1836, and the African Methodist Episcopal Bethel Church. organized in 1838.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
In the Town of Binglanton, at Hawleyton. there are two Charles, a Methodist Episcopal and a Presbyterian : and in the vicinity of the Assim there exists a Reformed Protestant Episcopal Society.
In. Barker there are three churches-a Congregational at Chenango Forks, the Adams Street Methodist Episcopal Church. and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Barker.
Chenenge has the First Methodist Episcopal Society at Che- mango Forks a Baptist Church at Castle Creek. a Methodist Episcopal Church at Castle Creck, and at Kattleville and at Glen Castle.
In Colesville there are St. Luke's (Episcopal) Church. the First Baptist Church, and the Meth dist Episcopal Church at Harpursville. the First Methodist Episcopal Church at New Ohio. the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church at Nineveh. the Baptist Carch at West Colesville, the Methodist Epiist pal Church at On,nagi. the Free Church at Odle'- Hill and the Methodist Episcopal Church at Oshorn Holw.
In Conklin there are three churches-First Baptist Church. sitnote on the river. near the center of the town : the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. on Little Snake ( reck. and the Presby- terian Church at Conklin Station. or Milburn.
Fenton has three churches-a Baptist Church and a Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Port Crane. and a Methodist Episco- Dal Church at North Fenton.
Kirkwood has two churches-a Methodist Episcopal Church at Kirkwood Village, and a Christian Church. two m'les down the river.
In Lisle there are a Methodist Episcopal Church and a Con-
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gregational Church at Lisle Village, and a Baptist Church and Methodist Episcopal Church at Killawog.
In the town of Maine there are seven churches-a Methodist Episcopal Church at Union Center ; a Congregational Church, a Baptist Church and a Methodist Episcopal Church at Maine Village ; a Methodist Episcopal Church at North Maine, a Presbyterian Church at East Maine, and the Abbott Methodist Episcopal Church.
Nanticoke has four churches-a Methodist Episcopal Church and a Christian Church at Glen Aubrey, and a Baptist Church and a Methodist Episcopal Church at Lamb's Corners.
Sanford has three religious societies-a Baptist Church in the north part of the town, a Free Will Baptist Church and a Meth- odist Episcopal Church in another direction.
It is but just to remark here that the religious character of the citizens of our County who live at Deposit, ought not to be reflected upon or suffer in any way because no churches or church organizations have been mentioned as existing there. There are, as is well known, several churches and church edifices at Deposit, and that the citizens of that place are regular in their attendance on public worship. But it so happens that the line between this County and Delaware County passes through the center of the village, and that all the church buildings are on the other side of the line. Consequently they are without the limits of Broome, and could not properly be included in this sketch. Our citizens residing at Deposit have their homes and transact their secular business in their own County, but their devotions and their religious acts are all performed in the County of Delaware.
Triangle numbers thirteen churches, viz : The First Baptist Church and the Universalist Church at Upper Lisle ; Baptist
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Church and Methodist Episcopal Church at Triangle ; Meth- odist Episcopal Church, Baptist Church, First Congregational Church, Grace Church, and the Catholic Mission, at Whitney's Point : First Baptist Church at Hazard's Corners, and Congre- gational Church at Triangle.
Union has four churches-a Presbyterian Church, a Meth- odist Episcopal Church and a Protestant Episcopal Church at the village. and a Congregational Church at Union Center.
Vestal has five churches-a Methodist Episcopal Church at Vestal ; a Baptist Church at Vestal Center ; a Methodist Epis- copal Church and two Reformed Methodist Churches at Tracy Creek.
Windsor has eight churches-the Union Chapel at East Ran- dolph, Methodist Episcopal Church at East Windsor, Baptist Church at Randolph Center, Christian Advent Church at Wil- mot Settlement, First Wesleyan Church at Hazardville, Wes- leyan Methodist Episcopal Church at East Randolph. Zion Episcopal Church at Windsor, and First Free Methodist Epis- copal Church at Windsor Village.
From the summary of church organizations now given, it is evident how great an advance has been made in all that pertains to the religious culture and improvement of the people of this Connty during the first century of our national existence. The numerous church organizations which on all sides are to be met with, indicate that amidst all the excitements and the engross- ing cares of life. there is yet a strong element in the human character which impels man to make preparation for the life that is to come.
For a period of sixty years next succeeding the first settle- ments, the leading interest and the staple production of the County was its lumber. In almost every section and especially
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along the several streams were extensive tracts, thickly covered with pine timber. As this was the only product that could be taken to a market, and as it usually commanded a ready sale, the manufacture of lumber became the leading business of the County, and the timber lands were first sought after and taken up. There seemed to be no other way to obtain money but by the sale of pine boards. Hence in every section saw mills were in active operation, the clearing up of the forests was in a meas- ure suspended, and every energy was directed to the manufacture of lumber. It was marketed by floating it down the river ; whenever by reason of rains, or the melting of the snow in the spring, the river had sufficient water to float the lumber when made into rafts. During the fall and winter the pine trees were fallen, cut into the proper length, and drawn to the mills. Such mills as had sufficient water to run the entire year, were stocked with a quantity enough to keep them in operation all the time. The lumber sawed into boards was piled upon the bank of the river in some convenient place. Of course when manufactured at mills remote from the river it had to be drawn there by teams. All these operations kept a good many men in employment. The lumberman was a person sui generis. To him, the sun rose and set solely to enable him to work a pine tree into boards. As a species of the human race, the lumber- man has in this vicinity become extinet, as have also the pine trees themselves.
But the great carnival of the lumberman, the season of the most absorbing interest of all others, was the rafting season ; when everything else was laid aside, and all hands were turned to, to construct the rafts and to prepare for the trip down the river. The trip down the river sometimes extend- ed south as far as Norfolk. Va., and was an excursion which every young man must of necessity make. These trips
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abounded in adventure, the narration of which relieved the monotony of the remaining portion of the year. The perils of running the various dams, the Towanda, the Nanticoke and the Shemokin chutes, and likewise the Connawaug Falls, were rehearsed in the most glowing styles to ready and imag- inative listeners.
This class of people were a hardy and enduring set of men. but more or less irregular in their course of life, and seldom lay- ing up or saving property. Among all of the early lumbermen, very few at the expiration of 20 years of hard work, were any better off, or had much of property left.
It was the practice to anticipate the avails of their yearly la- bor. Some merchant under an arrangement made, would ad- vance to and supply the manufacturer of lumber, with all the necessary means of subsistence for the family and teams, also the wages of the laborers out of the store, all to paid for from the receipts of the lumber when sold. Many of the merchants likewise bought smaller lots of lumber, paying for it ont of the store, and in this way became largely engaged in the trade.
The disadvantages of such a system of doing business, are apparent. The merchant must necessarily impose a greater profit upon his goods, thereby increasing the cost to the con- sumer, while the uncertainty as to when returns would be re- ceived, and the not unfrequent failure of men engaged in the business, entailed losses that quite often more than counteracted the increased profits. But it was the way, and perhaps the only way that business could be conducted. Every business arrangement was to be consummated. every note was payable, when the " rafts got back." Land was cheap, and was bought up in tracts of considerable size, which subsequently became the source of great wealth to the proprietors.
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I have already remarked that the lumberman constituted a species of the genus man, sui generis. This species can now only be seen in the northern part of Michigan and in the pineries of the upper Mississippi. They had a vocabulary peculiarly their own, and were one of them to return here at the present day, there would be a generation entirely ignorant of his lan- guage, and would be as surprised and confounded at hearing the terms of "panel," "common," "culls," "sample culls," "oar stems," "oar blades," "grubs," "platforms," "stiffening poles," &c., &c., as was Rip Van Winkle when, returning from his protracted repose in the Catskills, he first heard of "Bunker Hill," "Spirit of '76," "Geo. Washington." "the Continental Congress," &e., which to him seemed an unintelligible jargon.
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