USA > New York > Cattaraugus County > History of Cattaraugus County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 46
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HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
J. Aiken was chosen pastor. Among others than those al- ready mentioned, prominent in the society, were Samuel Bradley and Caleb Smith.
The present church edifice was built in 1856, under the supervision of Mr. Joseph Ditto, Mr. Flemming being con- tractor, at a cost of $6000, the Rev. Sylvester Cowles being pastor at this time, and prominent in effecting the organiza- tion of the church. The dedication service was held March 7, 1857. Prominent among the subscribers were C. V. B. Barse, N. S. Butler, Jacob Coss, Samuel Bradley, Abraham Merritt. The edifice was remodeled and repaired in 1865, under supervision of Jacob Coss, at a cost of $3500, and a parsonage built in 1870, costing $3300.
The following ministers have been engaged in labor by this society : Rev. William Stone, 1822; Reuben Wil- loughby, 1838; Charles Hequemberg, 1839; J. J. Aikens, 1840-42; Nathaniel H. Barnes, 1845-47; John Lane, 1848-50; Sylvester Cowles, D.D., 1850-60; Wm. W. Taylor, 1860-61 ; A. D. Axtel, 1861-62 ; J. B. Beaumont, 1862-66 ; G. R. Alden, 1866-69 ; M. W. Clute, 1869-74. Present pastor, Henry M. Curtis, came Dec. 22, 1874.
The church building has lately (1878) been greatly en- larged, and is one of the most complete and beautiful church edifices in this part of the State, the cost of im- provement being $5000. The work was completed under the supervision of Jacob Coss. The main edifice has a seating capacity of 550. In addition to the audience-room there has been erected a fine chapel and Sunday-school room, with church parlors, dining-room, and kitchen adjoining, all completely furnished.
The church membership is 240. The average attend- ance of the Sabbath-school is 165.
The Session of the church at present consists of F. H. Myrick, Abraham Merritt, James H. Brooks, L. F. Law- ton, Nelson S. Butler, Dr. C. H. Bartlett.
The Board of Trustees is constituted of F. H. Myrick, Charles G. Coss, Mills W. Barse, Edwin M. Bailey, William G. Collins.
Wm. Wilkinson is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. The church has rapidly grown during the last four years. One hundred and four have been added to the membership of the church. The pew-rentals amount to $2400 annually.
Among those who have died as honored officers of this church are Deacons Isaac H. Wands, John P. Osborn, Caleb Smith, and Jacob Coss.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF OLEAN.
The history of Methodism in Olean dates back to 1819, in July of which year Olean Circuit was formed, and a minister, named Reuben A. Ailsworth, was appointed to preach the gospel according to the tenets of the Methodist faith within its limits. The circuit remained as originally constituted until the summer of 1823, when it was united with that of Friendship and called Friendship Circuit. In the following summer it was connected with Rushford Cir- cuit, and was a part of the latter until 1829, when Friend- ship Circuit was re-formed, and Olean again became a part of it. They held their first quarterly mecting at Friend- ship, July 18, 1829.
At the Genesce Conference, held in October, 1834, the
circuit was divided, and Olean held its first quarterly meet- ing at Bolivar, October 26, of that year; the second at Cuba, the third at Hinsdale, and the fourth at Height, now New Hudson. The next year they were again united with Friendship. There were three preachers who traveled both circuits that year, with a claim of $827. Their deficiency was $244. The next year (the fall of 1836), Olean was again set apart as a separate circuit, and has so continued to the present time. It now has three appointments, viz., Olean, Hinsdale, and Allegany. Portville was taken from Olean at the conference held at Lockport, September, 1852.
The class at Olean was formed by A. C. Du Bois, Sept. 25, 1836, with twenty-two members, and this is the date of the regular organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the village, and not in 1819, as has been erroneously stated in previous publications. The first gospel sermon preached by a Methodist minister in the territory now in- cluded in Olean Circuit was on the occasion of the funeral of William Shepard, father of Wm. B. Shepard, Sept. 23, 1809, by Josiah Bullard, a local preacher, who had once belonged to the traveling connection.
The circuit preachers following Rev. Reuben A. Ails- worth have been as follows: Jasper Bennett, Richard Wright, James Hazen, James B. Roach, John Arnold, J. S. Lent, John Hill, Warren Bannister, Elijah Boardman, Jacob Sanborn, Sheldon Doolittle, Jonathan Ramson, Wil- liam Gordon, Samuel W. Wooster, R. L. Waite, Marshall St. John, John Cozart, E. B. Hill, William Buck, Alvin T. Waller, William Mckinstry, Abram C. Du Bois, Francis String, Samuel Pitt, Horatio N. Seaver, Orin F. Comfort, J. D. B. Hoyt, Hugh Ely, Loomis Benjamin, , Carlton Fuller, Thomas B. Hudson, Milo Scott, Joseph W. Thins, John Rennard, Gilbert De Lamater (now a member of Congress from the West), Schuyler Parker, B. F. McNeal, E. M. Buck, C. P. Clark, A. F. Curry, J. W. Ready (4 years), W. Terry, W. C. Willing, Lambert Newman, M. W. Ripley (4 years), D. B. Worthington (died in Olean, Sept. 25, 1865), G. G. Lyon (4 years), S. B. Dickinson, C. B. Burlingham (3 years), L. A. Stevens, E. B. Williams, present incumbent, appointed 1877.
The first church edifice was erected in the spring of 1852, and dedicated by a local preacher, who held some position on the Erie Railroad, then recently completed at this point, and who had made a liberal donation towards the new edifice.
The present trustees are Reuben A. Brooks, William P. Myrick, George Baker, George Chamberlain, Charles Gil- lingham, David P. Godfrey, and J. W. Hoyt. Stewards, Charles Gillingham, George Baker, George Chamberlain, Charles Smith, Reuben A. Brooks, Moses Drake, M. C. Follett, W. P. Myrick (Recording Steward), and A. Sprea- ter. The present membership is probatures, 5; full mem- bers, 165; number of teachers in Sabbath-school, 22; number of scholars, 160; Superintendent, Charles Gilling- ham. The church and Sabbath-school are both reported in a flourishing condition.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF OLEAN
was originally organized as a conference class about 1830, by Rev. Eliab Going, who was pastor of the church at
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Hinsdale, who preached at Olean every alternate Sunday. It was about 1839 that the Rev. Mr. Tillinghast, a grad- uate of Hamilton Theological Seminary, was appointed the first resident pastor, in which capacity he remained until the early part of 1841, when the Rev. Benjamin Thomas succeeded him, and continued in the pastoral relation over the church up to the time of the disbanding of the society, which occurred in 1843. During his pastorate the mem- bership numbered about 50. In 1846 the society was re- organized by Rev. D. W. Titus, now in charge of a Baptist Church in Detroit, Mich. There were about 20 members included in the reorganization, a few of whom, notably Deacon S. W. Warren, Dr. Lambert Whitney, and Eph- raim Simmons, were among the constituent members of the original society. These have continued active and zealous members through the entire existence of the church at Olean, and are now among its honored and influential mem- bers. Rev. Titus remained in charge about five years, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Fisher. There were three pastors who remained but a year or two each, among them Rev. William Tilly, in 1856, during whose ministrations the largest revival in the history of the church occurred. In 1860, Rev. L. S. Stowell was pastor, and following him the Revs. Farr, A. N. Tower, W. Mudge, L. W. Olney, and the present incumbent, Rev. D. D. Brown.
In 1848 the first church building was erected. It was formerly used as a store, and donated to the Baptist society by Dr. Andrew Mead, one of its old active members. This building served the requirements of the congregation until 1860, when the present edifice was erected, during the pas- torate of Rev. L. S. Stowell. An addition of 20 feet has recently been made to the main building, intended for the organ, the choir, and church parlors. The building will now seat about 500 persons, and is with the organ and fur- niture valued at $12,000. A fine new organ has just been purchased at a cost of $1500, of which amount Dr. Lam- bert Whitney subscribed $500 as a memorial to the choir, of which his daughter, Miss Frances Sarah Whitney (familiarly known to her acquaintances and friends as Frankie), was a member from her early girlhood, and for the twelve years preceding her decease its talented organ- ist. Miss Whitney departed this life in the summer of 1878, to join the celestial choir, and among its angelic voices to sing her Saviour's praise, whom she loved on earth and delighted to devote her peculiar talents to his honor and glory.
The present officers of the church are S. W. Warren, John Gray, and D. L. Simmons, Deacons, and S. K. Hale, Clerk. The Trustees are John Williams, George E. Ram- sey, and John Pratt, and Dr. Lambert Whitney, Clerk of the Society.
The present membership is 200; number of teachers and scholars in the sunday-school, 200; Superintendent, D. L. Smith. The church and Sunday-school are both prospering.
ST. STEPHEN'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
at Olean was organized Feb. 22, 1830. Rev. William W. Bostwick, missionary at Bath, Steuben County, and ad- jacent parts, was called to the chair; Horatio Orton and Ebenezer Lockwood were elected wardens; Sylvanus
Russell, William W. Penfield, David Day, David Bockes, William Low, Nathaniel Goodspeed, Henry Stephens, and Horatio L. Osborn, were chosen vestrymen. At this, the first meeting of the society, it was decided that Monday in Easter week should be the day for annual meetings for the election of church officers.
The first rector was Rev. Thomas Morris, who was rector of the church at Ellicottville from 1836 to 1840. His suc- cessors to the rectory have been Revs. Humphrey Hollis, M. E. Wilbour, Charles E. Beardsley, G. W. Dunbar, Henry H. Loring, John A. Staunton, C. T. Seibt, C. J. Machin, B. D. Borom, M. B. Benton, and John J. Andrew, the present incumbent.
The church edifice (the first erected in the village) was commenced in 1836, and completed Jan. 21, 1839, at a cost of $3882. It was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Wm. H. De Lancy, bishop of the diocese of Western New York, on the 17th of September, of the above year.
The present church officers are Ansel Adams, senior warden ; M. A. Blakeslee, junior warden ; C. P. Moulton, Judge D. H. Bolles, H. C. Blakeslee, B. P. Crosby, John Hill, Oscar W. Hamilton, and S. T. Brickell, vestrymen.
The present communicant membership is about 100; the number of teachers and scholars in the Sunday-school, 125; the Superintendent of Sunday-school, Rev. John J. Andrew, the rector.
The church and Sunday-school are prosperous.
EMANUEL CHURCH (LUTHERAN)
was organized on the 2d of January, 1857, by Rev. Adam Ernst, the first pastor. The successors in the pastorate since Rev. Adam Ernst have been as follows: Revs. F. H. Doer- mann, C. Engelder, and J. Bernreuther, the present incum- bent. The first church officers were F. G. Lang, president ; J. Seefried, secretary ; C. Gross and H. Stumpf, church wardens.
The church edifice was erected in 1857, at a cost of $2100; its present value is $3000; its seating capacity, 200. The first trustees were J. H. Knehl, G. Stinz, and H. Stumpf; present trustees, M. Scheiterly, P. Mueller, and C. Alles. The acting church officers are J. Bernreuther, president ; G. J. Rotschky, secretary ; M. Scheiterly and G. J. Rotschky, church wardens. The present voting membership is 20; communicants, 87; number of teachers and scholars in Sunday-school, 35; Superintendent of Sun- day-school and secular schoolmaster, Rev. J. Bernreuther.
SAINT MARY OF ANGELS' CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC).
The congregation of this church commenced worshiping in 1851, with about sixteen members. Father Doran, the first priest, said mass for these in different shanties about the town, and only six times yearly. Father McGiver fol- lowed the same plan a few years, when Father J. McKenna bought a lot from Dr. Lambert Whitney, and built upon it a small structure, which was temporarily used in worship. Bishop Timon appointed Father Pamphelo, O. S. F., pastor; . who built a frame church 40 by 60 feet, in 1857, and at- tended it monthly. As the congregation increased, services were held semi-monthly, then weekly. From 1857 to 1876 the church was attended regularly by Franciscan Friars, who
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resided in Allegany. In 1876, Bishop Ryan appointed Father J. Hamel the first resident pastor of the congrega- tion, under whose charge the church has been enlarged and improved. The congregation, which numbered sixteen families in 1851, now (1878) numbers over two hundred families. The church as it now stands, 110 long by 40 feet wide. The transept is 64 by 31 } feet. Seating capacity, including gallery, 800.
The religious societies of Olean are unusually well sup- ported. The pulpits of the various churches are filled by earnest and eloquent preachers, who very generally receive the hearty and earnest co-operation of the laity in the prosecution of religious duties. A prosperity rarely met with is enjoyed by each denomination, which results in much good to the moral welfare of the village.
EDUCATIONAL AND LITERARY.
Paramount in importance with the pioneers of Olean was the education of their youth, hence is found in its earliest annals the establishment of schools and the main- tenance of a regular system of instruction. The early settlers of this section of country evidently realized the vast and beneficial results that have characterized the American system of education, and the fact that in its public common schools is presented the highest triumph of democracy and self-government. Education had been do- mesticated among the people in the Eastern States for years, and those who for the betterment of their mate- rial positions emigrated to what was then, as it were, the ultima thule of civilization brought with them the knowledge of systematic general education ; and no sooner did they effect a permanent settlement than schools were in- augurated, and as soon as practicable the excellent common- school polity was established, and ever after sustained.
Fresh from the eastern schools, young men and women devoted the first years of their matured activity to teach in these primitive schools of the past. They fulfilled their tasks with the unshaken confidence of youth in its energies, and thus not only exercised their intellectual functions in a noble calling, but disciplined their own minds for the rigorous avocations of life in the new country. In the galaxy of the names of those who honored the position of village school-teachers here in the early years of its history that the kindly remembrances of past scholars bring forth from the memories of the " long ago," are Henry L. Kings- bury, Anna Carpenter, Lewis Seymour, John K. Faulkner, Rollin Pratt, all save the latter having passed away. Mr. Pratt survives, a model of old-time chivalry and innate courtesy. He is a man withal, who rightly prides himself on the purity of his language and the dignity of his de- portment. When he does an act of kindness he charac- terizes it with a politeness and suavity that would reflect honor upon Chesterfield himself; and his every action carries the indelible impress of the suaviter in modo. As an example, we quote from one who knows him well the following incident :
A young lady named Sheffield had been out horse-back riding, and returning, found Mr. Pratt just leaving the place where she was about to alight. With a polished bow, stepping forward to assist her, he said, "Miss Sheffield, I
hope you do not experience any accession of fatigue from the protracted length of your equestrian excursion ?" Dur- ing the tornado that visited Olean in 1834, an incident occurred that called forth a grandiloquent display from the worthy dominie, which, from the same reason that debarred him from rendering much-needed assistance, we are com- pelled to omit.
The public schools sufficed for the purposes of education in the village until 1851, when it was deemed expedient to establish an academy, which was done in the fall of that year. Prefacing a lengthy report on the subject, appears the following note to the editor of the Republican from Rev. S. Cowles, one of the prime movers of the under- taking :
"SIR,-I am directed by a vote of the citizens in Olean, who feel an interest in establishing an academy in this place, to forward you for publication an abstract of the report presented by a committee to a public meeting on that subject, on the evening of the 30th ultimo. " Ever yours,
"S. COWLES."
Then follows the report, which contains several pertinent reasons why an academy should be established at Olean.
The board of trustees consisted of Messrs. Lambert Whitney, M.D., Henry Dusenbury, James H. Brooks, Olcott P. Boardman, Judge Frederick S. Martin, John Fohes, Abraham Merritt, and Rev. Sylvester Cowles. The first principal was Prof. J. A. Woodruff. The trustees erected a commodious building, similar to the present one occupied by the public schools, in which educational mat- ters flourished until April 1, 1857, when the building was accidentally burned to the ground. The present structure was immediately erected, and the institution conducted with varied success until Oct. 3, 1868, when it was merged into a union public school, with an academic department, and the building purchased by the school district in which it is located. It is now under the control of the village board of education, which consists of Messrs. R. W. Evans, Presi- dent; John L. Eddy, Olcott P. Boardman, H. F. Morris, H. W. Moore, Fred. Eaton, M. C. Follett, R. M. Whitney, and C. H. Emerson, Secretary.
THE OLEAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
was organized in the spring of 1871 by about twenty prominent citizens, subscribing five years, at $1.50 per year, each in advance. Messrs. Jewett & Keating sub- scribed $100, and several others smaller amounts. The first officers elected were Miles R. Bull, President ; W. H. Mandeville, Secretary ; W. F. Burlingham, Librarian. Those occupying the position of president of the associa- tion to the present have been as follows : M. R. Bull, 1871; W. P. Culver, 1872; W. H. Mandeville, 1873; C. P. Moulton, 1874; W. H. Mandeville, 1875; Prof. W. H. Truesdell, 1876; W. H. Mandeville, 1877-78.
The present (1878) officers are W. H. Mandeville, Presi- dent ; Mrs. D. H. Bolles, Vice-President ; Fred. B. Coss, Secretary ; Charles Gillingham, Treasurer; Miss Anna Hazlett, Librarian. The managers are Charles H. Emer- son, M. A. Blakeslee, and Mrs. Dr. Wilcox. The present number of volumes is 1500. The library is located in the store of J. P. Hastings. The general rules of the institu-
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tion are, that books can be kept three weeks, and on those retained longer than that a fine of ten cents per week, or fraction thereof, is imposed. The yearly membership-fee is $1.50, payable in advance.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
The organization and maintenance of ancient and honor- able secret and benevolent societies constitutes quite an important factor in the history of a community, and one which, despite occasional sectarian opposition, invariably flourish, equally with religious or business enterprises. The village of Olean is admirably well supplied with asso- ciations of this character, all of which are in a generally prosperous condition. The societies here represented are Olean Lodge, No. 252, F. and A. M .; Olean Chapter, R. A. M., No. 150; St. John's Commandery, K. T., No. 24; Crescent Lodge, No. 60, A. O. U. W .; Olean Lodge, No. 417, I. O. O. F .; and a lodge of I. O. G. T. Sub- joined we give a brief historical sketch of each of these organizations, as forming a portion of the social history of the village.
OLEAN LODGE, NO. 252, F. AND A. M.,
was instituted by dispensation, in March, 1852, and received its charter from the Grand Lodge in June of the same year. The first chief officers were Andrew Mead, W. M .; David Bockes, S. W .; Edwin B. Andrews, J. W .; Aaron J. Allen, Treas .; David Day, Sec. The present principal officers of the lodge are M. Southeron, W. M .; John L. Eddy, S. W .; L. M. Crake, J. W .; William B. Pierce, Treas. ; L. F. More, Sec. The lodge now numbers 90 members, has regular communications every first and third Tuesday in each month, and is in a generally flourish- ing condition.
OLEAN CHAPTER, R. A. M., NO. 150,
was organized March 26, 1855, with John Jakin, H. P .; Russel Martin, K. ; David Day, S .; Samuel R. Homer, Treas. ; and H. S. Shular, Sec. Those occupying the chief offices in the chapter at present (1878) are Milton B. Fobes, H. P .; L. Durkee, K. ; George Van Campen, Jr., S. ; William B. Pierce, Treas. ; and L. F. More, Sec. The present membership numbers 75. Regular convocation every second and fourth Friday in each month.
ST. JOHN'S COMMANDERY, K. T., NO. 24,
received its dispensation Jan. 5, 1854, and worked under the same until Feb. 8, 1856, when it was granted a charter. The first officers were Hiram Turk, E. C .; C. S. Farnham, Gen .; James S. Mott, C. G .; H. H. Nye, S. W .; W. A. Baldwin, J. W .; D. D. Gardner, Treas ; S. P. Swift, Rec. Present officers, M. B. Fobes, E. C .; H. O. Wait, Gen .; M. W. Barse, C. G .; E. M. Johnson, S. W .; G. W. Dickinson, J. W .; C. V. B. Barse, Treas. ; C. S. Stowell, Rec. There are 121 sir knights, and their regular con- clave is every third Thursday in each month.
There was a Masonic organization in Olean prior to 1819, but the records of its existence have been destroyed, hence no reliable information concerning it can be obtained.
The Odd Fellows had an organization in Olean as early
as 1851. We learn from one of the original members of the old lodge that Caleb Jewett was its N. G .; J. K. Com- stock, V. G .; and T. A. E. Lyman, P. G. It had a good working membership, numbering upwards of 100. The records, regalia, etc., were destroyed in the great fire, and the lodge was allowed to suspend until Aug. 14, 1878, when
OLEAN LODGE, NO. 417, I. O. O. F.,
was organized by A. Pringle, D. D. G. M., assisted by Brother Norton. The present chief officers of the lodge are A. I. Cotton, N. G .; W. C. Winsor, V. G .; W. Smith, Sec. ; George Brickell, Treas .; Dr. Lambert Whit- ney, George Brickell, and George S. McIntosh, Trustees. The present membership is about 30. Meeting in the hall over Merritt's store, corner Union and State Streets, every Wednesday evening.
CRESCENT LODGE, NO. 60, A. O. U. W.,
was organized Feb. 3, 1877. The first principal officers were William D. Chamberlain, M. W .; George E. Rum- sey, P. M. W .; Myron A. Dodge, F .; H. W. Eaton, O .; E. C. Blighton, Rec. The present chief officers are William D. Chamberlain, M. W .; George E. Rumsey, P. M. W .; D. W. Godfrey, F .; H. W. Eaton, O .; A. H. Morris, Rec. Present membership, 40.
PLEASANT RIVER LODGE, NO. 483, I. O. OF G. T.,
was organized with 54 charter members, on the evening of Oct. 2, 1878. The officers elected at the first meeting of the lodge were F. W. Marsh, L. D. W. C. T .; Rev. E. B. Williams, P. W. C. T .; R. A. Rapp, W. C. T .; Mrs. W. J. Wise, W. V. T .; W. H. Burroughs, W. S .; L. A. Washburn, W. F. S .; Mrs. L. A. Washburn, W. T .; Rev. D. D. Brown, W. C .; William L. Myrick, W. M .; Mrs. Shumway, W. J. G. ; W. J. Wise, W. O. G. The present number of members is 65.
OLEAN CEMETERY.
In 1807 Robert Hoops donated three acres of land, the present site of the Olean Cemetery, for burial purposes, for which it has ever since been used. The first inter- ment in it was that of James G. Johnson, in April, 1811. Among the old and prominent settlers whose remains re- pose within the hallowed precincts of the old grave-yard are Deacon Anson King and wife, the latter the mother of James G. Johnson, Robert Hoops, Sylvanus Russell and wife, Cornelius Brooks and wife, Judge Timothy H. Porter and wife, Judge Frederick S. Martin, Pardon Thrall and wife, Jehiel Boardman and wife, Zachariah Oosterhoudt and wife, James Brooks and wife, Dr. Bennett, Jeremiah Osborn, and young Kibbey (the three recovered bodies of the four persons drowned in 1820), Ebenezer Reed, David Day, Col. Luke Goodspeed and wife, David Bockes, Dr. Edward Finn and wife, and others.
The grounds are now inclosed within a neat white fence, the graves are tenderly cared for and tastefully decorated with flowers and shrubs, those emblems of per- petual remembrance and ever-recurring change. Here and there, dotted amid humbler graves, are handsome monuments, erected to the memory of dear departed ones
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