USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Portland > Historical sketches of the town of Portland : comprising also the pioneer history of Chautauqua County, with biographical sketches of the early settlers > Part 10
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JOHN RICE: Taught in the log house on lot 55. T. 5. (See No. 13) also in District No. 4, in Judson District. The date is not remembered. He came from Westfield. where his father lived.
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NATHANIEL LOWRY: Taught in Distriet No. 4, "Judsons," but the year is not remembered. Ile was the son of Win. Lowry; came from Pennsylvania and lived in Westfield.
BETSEY THAYER: Taught for a term in town quite early, but the date and the district are not remembered. She was a sister of Mrs. Renben B. Patch.
AUSTIN STONE : Taught in the "old frame house " on the " Bowdish farm," but the date has passed from memory. He was a son of Deacon Stone and a brother of Lester Stone of Westfield.
JULIA ANN TOWER : Daughter of John Tower. taught in the "old frame house" on the "Bowdish farm " in the summer of 1824 or 1825.
WATERMAN DALEE : Son of J. W. Dalee, taught in No. 4. Judson's district, probably in 1826 or '27. or both. He was a brother of Mrs. T. Judson.
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY : Tanght half of a term in the log house on lot 55. T. 4. [sce No. 13] and half a term in the old frame house" on the Bowdish farm, the last school taught in that house, in the winter of 1827-28. He was a son of Deacon James Montgomery of Westfickl. He became a clergyman and died some years later.
PELEG WILITTERIDGE : Taught in distriet No. 4 in the winter of 1820-21.
Most of the teachers above noted did not belong to the town of Portland, but came here for the purpose of teaching and when relieved left town. There were several others who taught within the time included in the above but very little is remembered of them.
The late Dr. Squire White of Fredonia, is said by his biographer to have taught the first school in the county of Chautauqua in the winter of 1808-9. This isundoubtedly a mistake. A school was taught tor two or three months at the ancient crossroads in the summer of 1806 by a young lady whose name it is to be regretted cannot now be called to
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mind, and one also in the summer of 1807 at the same place by Anna Eaton, a sister of the late David Eaton, Esq .. of Portland.
Early Library Association .- After due notice a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Portland was held at the school house in south district No. 3, standing on lands now owned by Daniel Britcher, Nov. 9. 1824. to consider the propriety of forming a Library Association. David Eaton was called to the chair, when the following resolutions were presented, duly discussed and unanimously adopted :
That we proceed to organize ourselves into a society agreeably to the provisions of an act entitled "An act to incorporate such persons as may associate for the purpose of procuring and erecting public libraries in this state .. " passed April 1. 1796.
That the society shall be known by the name of " Portland Library."
The following persons then signed the act, viz .: Robert K. Barnes. Frederick Baile. Elisha Fay. John R. Coney. Joseph Taylor, Walter Mumford, Luther Crosby, John Potter, Joshua S. West. David Dunn. Horace Clough, Ahira Hall, David Carpenter. Reuben W. Tower, David Eaton, Cephas Brainard. Nathaniel Fay. Calvin Barnes. William Dunn. Elisha Arnold, Samuel Anderson, jr .. Parsons Taylor, Erastus Price. Ebenezer Harris. Justin Taylor. Reuben Taylor, jr., and Jesse Baldwin.
One hundred dollars was then subscribed for the purchase of books.
The following were elected as trustees of the association- viz .: Cephas Brainard, Nathaniel Fay, Jesse Baldwin. Parsons Taylor. John R. Coney, Ebenezer Harris. David Eaton.
This act was acknowledged November 10. 1824. before Isaac Harmon. one of the judges of the county. and recorded in the county clerk's office December 28. 1824. by Jolm Dexter. county clerk.
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CHAPTER XXII.
Churches-First Religious Meeting-Subsequent Meetings-Congregational Church When Formed, by whom and where, where meet-Second Church formed, its "Officers, Preachers, &c .- Houses built-Societies formed, &c.
The first public religious meeting held in town was at the tavern of Capt. James Dunn. on the well known Dunn farm, now owned and occupied by John Dudley. part of lot 30. T. 5. some time in 1810. The preacher. Rev. Jolm Spencer, discoursed from the text: "For my yoke is easy and my burden light." Not over half a dozen were present besides the family of Mr. Dunn. Previous to this for a year some two or three were in the habit of meeting for prayer in some of the very few shanties then in town.
Mr. Spencer preached in town occasionally for some years after this, sometimes on the Sabbath but usually on a week day evening. These services with an occasional evening lecture by some traveling minister were the ouly public services for some three or four years. The first regular meetings for religious Sabbath worship were instituted at the log tavern house of Peter Ingersoll on the Mckenzie farm, on the opposite side of the road from the present dwelling on lot 41, T. 5, in 1814. They were usually conducted by Mr. Amasa West, then a teacher at the ancient eross roads. now Westfield. who afterward became a preacher and labored in the south part of the county. and afterward in the west. "Some one would read a printed sermon, and a small choir of singers would perform that part of the service in real Billings style of music : and sang such good old tunes as Ocean, Lenox. Bridgewater.
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and others of the same stamp. These meetings were usually well attended, and conducted with order and decency." They were continued with some interruption until 18:8, and were the germ from which sprung the Congregational church in Portland, which was instituted in that year. Many are the amusing anecdotes related of the mistakes and blunders of some of those taking part in these early meetings, some of which it might suit our purpose to report had we space to spare.
As above stated the first Congregational church in Portland was formed in 1818. This was accomplished on January 31st of that year, by Rev. John Spencer, at the house of John Churchill, a log house standing immediately in front of the present residence of Dea. A. L. Blowers, on lot 38, T. 5. This house was removed and the present one built by Dea. Dana Churchill in 1855. The names presented of those to become original members, were John Ilouse, Wm. Couch, Augustine Klumph, Jabez Hulburt, David Eaton, John Churchill, Sylvester Churchill, Zachariah HI. Price, Joanna House, Abigail Couch, Wilson Andrews, Andrew Kelsey, Frederick Couch, Mary Eaton, Lovisa Hulburt, Mercy Eaton, Keziah Andrews, Nancy Mcclintock. Eighteen in all. For sometime 10 stated preaching was had, but about once a year Mr. Spencer came to the settlements and preached and admin istered the sacrament. For one or two years, or about 1820, Rev. Phineas Camp, then preaching at the cross roads, preached once in three or four weeks. Rev. Mr. Oaks some years later preached at Westfield and divided his time with the Portland church as Mr. Camp had done. There were several additions to the church during the first years of its existence, the number being thirty-eight in 1823, and fifty-two at a later period; but from causes not easy to define or express, it was not a prosperous church, but after eight or ten years and after experi- encing many trials and passing through troubles of
18
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various character, to all intents and purposes as a church it ceased to exist : some of the members uniting with the Westfield church, and others losing their standing entirely as members of any church.
A society was formed in connection with this church at the house of John Churchill, and the art of incorpo- ration bears date June 24th. 1822, and is recorded in the county clerk's office and attested by John Dexter, clerk. two days after its excention. The act is signed and sealed by Wm. Couch and Wm. A. Stetson. and witnessed by David Eaton and Erastus Price. The acknowledgment was taken by Hon. John Crane of Fredonia. The society was known as "The first Congregational society of the town of Portland." trustees were Frederick Couch. Wilson Andrews and Wilder Emerson.
No decided effort was made to reorganize the church until the year 1833. The moral element during these intermediate years compared favorably with that of any community under like circumstances. The population had increased rapidly. and the christian element fully kept pace with this influx. In dne time the propriety of a reorgan- ization was entertained, and according to notice and previous arrangement a meeting was held for that purpose at the "stone school house" in school district No. 3, March 16th, 1833. Rev. D. D. Gregory of Fredonia, and Rev. Timothy Stillman of Dunkirk, had been appointed a committee by Buffalo Presbytery. for the purpose of such organization. which was to be effected upon the accommodation plan "-a Congregational church under care of Presbytery. Rev. T. Stillman was apppointed moderator and Clark Gould clerk of the present meeting. After a sermon by the moderator from Philemon, first clause of the twentieth verse. the following persons presented themselves for men- bership and were duly organized into a couch by the usual ceremonies, under the name of "The first Congre gational church of Portland." Timothy Judson. Samme
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Ilall, Abigail Thompson and Phebe Mathewson with letters from the Presbyterian church at Fredonia ; Clark Gould, Elisha Cook, Clarinda Cook, Alvin Cook, Catharine Cook, Eliza Cook and Anson Driggs with letters from the Pres- byterian church at Westfield: Nathan G. Jones and Mary Eaton, members of the church formed by Mr. Spencer in 1818; and Samuel Walker, Dana Churchill and Minerva Churchill, formerly members of churches at a distance, who united on profession. Dana Churchill and Alvin Cook were chosen deacons and were set apart to that office. Clark Gould was chosen clerk. Maria Churchill was received on profession, and was the first accession. A resolution was then passed placing the church under the care of the Buffalo Presbytery. Of the sixteen original members but two remain : Mrs. Eliza Cook of Girard, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Minerva Churchill, still living in Portland. Some have emigrated. but most have gone to their rest.
It would be interesting to trace the membership from the organization to the present. but such a research would require more time than we have at command. The whole membership the first of November 1869, was eighty- males twenty eight, females fifty-two. The greatest mem- bership at any one time was eighty-eight.
For some years after its organization the church was feeble and the members few. Meetings were held with occasional preaching in the brick schoolhouse. some years since removed. in school district No. 8. sometimes in the schoolhouse standing on the comer of John Fleming's land on lot 30. opposite the present residence of Thomas Quigley. now removed and occupied by Mrs. Delia Gator as a dwelling ; and for some time in a store building on the southeast corner at the Center, opposite the tavern building of R. D. Fuller, and now occupied by the family of Mr. Asahel Peck as a dwelling: and for a time in the M. E. Church by permission. The following clergy men labored with the church for the terms specified: Rev.
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A. W. Gray half the time for one year, from October 1833 to October 1834; Calvin Gray from February to June 1838; W. J. Wilcox from June 1838 to February 1839; A. W. Gray from spring of 1841 to July 1, 1845; N. H. Barnes one year, or to July 1846; L. F. Laine from July 5th, 1846, to June 1860; I. I. St. John for three years. or to spring of 1864; Courtney Smith from May 1st, 1865, to May 1st, 1869. The labors of these pastors were in the main acceptable.
The society formed in connection with the church was reorganized on the 30th day of April 1833, about six weeks after the organization of the church, under the name of "The first Congregational society in the town of Port land," agreeably to the act for the incorporation of religious societies, passed April 5th, 1813. The act. of incorpora- tion bears date as above, and was recorded in the county clerk's office on the 31st of December following, in Liber 2 of Miscellaneous Records, at page 259. It was organized at the schoolhouse in district No. - in the west portion of Centerville, the deacons of the church, Alvin Cook and Dana Churchill, presiding. The first trustees were Samuel Hall, Asa Andrews, Timothy Judson, Win. Curtis, Clark Gould and Anson Driggs. The act was witnessed by David Eaton, and the acknowledgment taken by Hon. Thomas B. Campbell.
Up to 1840 the church and society had held meetings at various places as before stated, and much to their dis- advantage. During that year the project of the erection of a house of worship was agitated and a subscription was circulated for the purpose of raising funds for that object. Although the church and society were poor, such was the success of those having the matter in charge. that they were authorized to enter into contract with James Quigley to erect the house so long since occupied by the church and society, for the sum of $1,600. About two-thirds of this sum was to be paid in lumber and
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material for building, the rest in cash. A portion of that old subscription is here given as a relic of hard times with the society: Timothy Judson $100, one half in material and labor ; Hubbard S. Wells, $100; Thomas Quigley, $100, half in labor and material; James Quigley, $100; Dana Churchill, $100, one-fourth in lumber and one fourth in labor; Anson Driggs, $50, one-fourth in labor, one-fourth in stone, one-fourth timber, one-fourth lumber; John Churchill, $60; Luther Clark, $50, one-half in lumber and labor; Henry Reynolds, $40; Alfred W. Gray, $100; J. H. Hulburt, $5; Chauncey Hulburt, $5 in lumber; David Hul- burt. $5 in lumber; J. M. Brown, $15 in painting ; Wm. Clark, $30 in pine lumber; Christopher Brown, $10; Mar- tin Quigley, $30 in joiner work; S. M. Granger, $1 in work; Daniel P. Bowdish, $1; Abram Bowdish, $10 in Inmber; John Tower, $3 in work laying stone; D. B. Granger, $2.50 in lumber; Orson Reynolds, $3; Daniel Tabor; $1; Wm. Cary, $15 in labor and lumber ; James Pratt, $5 in carpenter work; Samuel Hall, $20, half in lumber; Samuel Brown, $10 in lumber; Isaac Mills, $3 in labor and lumber; R K. Barnes, $20 in leather and shoemaking; John R. Coney, $30 in boarding and lumber; John Wilber, $2.50; H. G. Crossmond, $3; Simeon Whit- comb, $30 in labor and lumber; Abner B. Bebee, $15 in lumber and timber; R. S. Morrison, $5; - Kelley, $5 in blacksmithing ; Persons Taylor, $10; Almor Taylor, $3; B. F. Pecor, $15 in lumber; and for bell $10; Austin D. Haines, $50; W. W. Condar, $10; Hiram A. Haight, $50.
From the reports to the society from time to time by the trustees, it is seen that notwithstanding the appar- ently liberal subscription, there was a sufficiently trouble- some finale to the financial concerns of the enterprise.
The land upon which the church stands was purchased of James Quigley for the sum of $100. Mr. Quigley com- menced the house in the spring of 1841 and completed
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it in September of the same year. It was dedicated the same fall.
The society were the better able to build their house through the munificence of the Holland Land Company. who granted one hundred acres of land to the first relig- ious society organized in each town on the Purchase. This grant was made by Mr. Paul Busti, the general agent of the Company at Philadelphia, while on a visit to the land office at Batavia, N. Y. in the fall of 1820. This grant however was so modified afterward that the land was divided in most instances. between the several religious societies in town. The Congregational society in Portland received 333 acres, part of lot 11. T. 5. which was afterward sold to Chauncey Hill for $176. This sum with in- terest from the time of sale to 1841, amounted to $217-at that time quite an item considering the stringency of the times and the poverty of the society. The 663 acres was divided between the Methodist and Baptist societies then organized.
The sheds in the rear of the church edifice were crected in the fall of 1841 by private enterprise. and as private property. The trustees at this time were Luther Clark. Henry Reynolds and Timothy Judson.
The church and society were never strong-never attained to a vigorons growth, vet maintained a healthy existence up to the summer of 1868. the last year of the pastorate of Rev. C. Smith, when an unfortunate differ- ence of opinion resulted in a division. For some years previous a quiet yet earnest discussion had been going on among many of the members with reference to the propriety of a change of church polity. from that of the Congregational to that of the Presbyterian-a change of the government of the church from that of a purely democratic to a representative form. without in any way affecting the doctrines. sacrament, or forms of worship.
After due notice. at a meeting of the church on the
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11th of November. 1868, a change was effected by a decisive vote of 33 to 22. A portion of the church, how. over, dissented and refused to acknowledge the validity of the change: hence the separation. It is a matter of sincere regret, that, after passing through so many trials and hardships as a church. and after laboring so many years and expending so much toil and treasure in estab- lishing a branch of Zion. it should become divided from so trivial a cause. and its usefulness impaired and nearly destroyed.
1
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CHAPTER XXIII.
Rev. John Spencer.
Rev. John Spencer was in some respects a remarkable man, and as he was the founder of the first church formed in Portland, and the pioneer missionary to the Holland Purchase, it is proposed to devote a brief space to a notice of his life and services. He was born at Spencertown in the town of Austerlitz, Columbia county in this state, in 1758. "The first settlers in that region came from southern Massachusetts and northern Connect- icut. Among them the Spencers were prominent, and gave their name to the principal settlement, where a flourishing Congregational church was formed, over whielt several doctors of divinity have presided. It is now a Presbyterian church. Mr. Spencer was of the same family with Hon. Ambrose Spencer, and more nearly related to the late Joshua A. Spencer and Dr. Ichabod S. Spencer. His early education was only that of the common school. He arrived at manhood in the stirring times of the revo- lution, and was a participant in the events of that period. He served early and long in our armies, first in the troops of Massachusetts and afterward in those of his native state. He entered a private, rose to be an officer, and served some time as the aid of the gallant Col. Willetts. He used to say when interrogated about his education, that he was educated in the continental army. Although his education was so limited, he wrote and spoke
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English with great accuracy. He had much intellectual acuteness, and was noted for the keenness of his wit."
The author is not able to say at what time Mr. Spencer became a professor of religion, but it is probable that it was not until he was past twenty-five years of age. For many years thereafter he was in the "habit of assisting in public worship by leading in prayer and reading ser- mons. There were but few ministers in that region, and it was believed by his friends that he would be useful as a preacher of the gospel. Such was his love for the work of his Master. the proposition was at once enter- tained, and with great promptness he set about preparation for the arduous duties of the position. He was living at that time in that part of the, town of Worcester, Otsego county, which is now Maryland, then a new settle- ment. After spending a little time in theological studies with the Rev. Dr. David Porter, then pastor of the church at Spencertown, he presented himself for license to the Northern Associated Presbytery, and was licensed by that body on the 29th of October, 1800. His certificate of license is still in existence, signed by Dr. Porter. He was ordained by the same body at Stillwater in October, 1801. Although uniting with the Presbytery, Mr. Spencer was a decided Congregationalist, and for some time before coming to this county in 1807, he was a member of the Oneida Association; but at the formation of the Niagara Presbytery he, became a member of that body, considering the plan of union adopted by the General Association of Connectient and the Presbyterian General Assembly for the care of churches in the new and sparsely settled regions of the west. binding on him as a missionary from Connecticut. Most of the churches founded by him, and all in Chautauqua county, became connected with that body. retaining, however, their own forms of government and modes of procedure." Mr. Spencer was forty-two years of age when he was licensed to preach. Some years
19
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after his licensure he accepted a commission from the Missionary Association of Connecticut, and removed with his family to this county in 1807, and settled in the now town of Sheridan. He at once commenced the duties of his missionary life. He was not above the medium size, but very strong and muscular and capable of great endur- ance. His "continental", education no doubt fitted him for the service he performed in this wilderness. He was plain and simple in all his habits, and could readily adapt himself to all circumstances. During his missionary life he uniformly wore a black coat and brown corduroy small clothes. His coat was strong but rather coarse material, and always of the same cut. Soon after he began to travel in this county, he visited Olean, then a small place and far removed from any other white settle- ment, and preached there. Some ten years after he again visited the place and preached. At the close of the service a man partially deranged accosted him: "Mr. Minister,"
said he, "you preached here ten years ago," naming the time and place. "I think I was here about that time," said Mr. Spencer. "I knew you was," said the man, "and you wore the very same coat and breeches you have on now."
"As a preacher he was remarkably clear and logical, always making himself distinctly understood. He used to preach a sermon on the Divine sovereignty, which was a very compact and logical argument. A gentleman who heard it, said to him, "Mr. Spencer, I heard your sermon : it is very able: I cannot answer it, but I do not believe a word of it." "I am sorry to hear you say so," said ~ Mr. Spencer, "very little of it is mine: nearly all of it was taken from the Bible." It was in fact a skillful arrangement of texts bearing upon the subject with apt illustrations from scripture history. At times he was quite impressive and appeared to feel deeply. I shall always remember the impressive manner in which he administered the Lord's Supper, and the last public prayer
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I heard him offer. I had supposed him rather formal in prayer, but on that occasion he was exceedingly solemn and his utterances peculiarly appropriate and felicitous. A minister present remarked to me. Father Spencer is a giant.'"
David Eaton. Esq., one of the first settlers of Portland, thus writes in regard to him: "At first his labors were confined to the main road from Batavia to Buffalo, and thence to Westfield. As new settlements were formed off' the main road. he was sure to penetrate there and preach an evening lecture, and preach on the Sabbath wherever that day overtook him. He was very formal in his devotional exercises, in words but not in manner. Ilis prayers were uttered with a great deal of earnestness and unction. He dressed in the antique style of Revolutionary days, wore short breeches, with knee buckles, long stock ings and boots quite up to the knees. His dress being so peculiar. everybody knew him. but after many years his short clothes being pretty well worn. he found it necessary to refit and concluded to dress as others did. and when he came around he was as a stranger amongst his friends. He was very fond of social intercourse, loved a good joke and was full of anecdotes in conversation but not in his sermons. I have heard many people say that they never heard him relate the same anecdote more than once. In such a wide field of labor, there can be no doubt but he preached the same sermon many times, yet I never heard a person say they had heard that sermon before. He traveled on horseback, was indefatigable in penetrating every new settlement. and if any missionary ever earned his wages. he was the one. His salary was three hundred dollars a year. He preached the first sermon ever delivered in the present town of Port- land. His text was. "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Ile formed the first church in town in 1818. He continued his labors as a missionary until 1824 but the
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