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 56
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social, intellectual, and religious state of society in that village and its surroundings."
Sylvester Cowles was born in Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 28, 1804. He was the son of Amos and Dolly (Ford) Cowles. He re- ceived his preliminary education at the Homer Academy, and in 1825 entered Hamilton College, from which he was graduated with the degree of A.B., in 1828. In September of that year he com- menced his theological studies at Auburn Theological Seminary, and Sept. 5, 1831, was regularly ordained by the Onondaga Presbytery. Immediately thereafter he removed to Napoli, where he preached one-half of the time in the old Congregational church, organized there by the venerable Father Spencer. In 1835 he removed to Ellicottville, as before stated, and included in his circuit West Otto, East Otto, Ashford, and Great Valley. He married his first wife in Clinton, Aug. 25, 1831. She died, after a life of peculiar usefulness, Jan. 8, 1846. He married for his second wife Frances W. Wood, of New Haven, Conn., who was a granddaughter of Chief-Justice Ells- worth, on the 17th of September, 1846. She died from the effects of a railroad accident received on the Northwestern Railroad, in Illinois, Jan. 8, 1873,-dying the 29th of March following. On the 4th of August, 1878, he married Sophia M. Phillips, who was a missionary among the Indians on the Allegany Reservation when he became acquainted with her. Of eight children, only one-Mary V .- survives. She resides at home, and is a lady of intelligence and culture. Dr. Cowles has been peculiarly fortunate in the choice of his wives, and, as he reverently says, "they were all gifts from the Lord."
One of the chief characteristics of Dr. Cowles is bis benevolence and desire for the development and progress of education. He was largely instrumental in the founding of the old Olean Academy in 1852. He obtained subscriptions to the enterprise amounting to $2360.50, all of which he collected, and holds the receipts of Jobn Fobes, then treasurer of the academy, for the same. He spent more than eight years of hard work in the interests of that institution. By practical economy, extending over many years, he accumulated enough to purchase two perpetual scholarships of Hamilton College, which he keeps filled by worthy young men.
He takes a great interest in general scientific research, particularly in geology. He has a well-selected and valuable cabinet of geological specimens.
His alma mater,-old Hamilton College,-recognizing the worth and scholarly attainments of her child, conferred the degree of D.D. upon him in the summer of 1874.
As early as July 4, 1831, Dr. Cowles preached for temperance, and has been an earnest and consistent advocate of the cause ever since. He was also one of the first to espouse the principles of abolition in this county, and fought carnestly and well for the maintenance of the same.
His long and eminently useful life in the ministry, and in the cause of education, intelligence, and morality, though receiving but & meagre remuneration here, will be plenteously rewarded in the Heavenly kingdom, whither at the close of his carthly career he will gain a triumphant admission there to rest from his labors, and after which his works will follow him forever. Amen.
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Asahel Crowley ; Executive Committee, J. V. Goodwill, R. R. Crowley, and W. H. Henderson.
The officers of the Western New York Ladies' Society are Mrs. Wm. H. Henderson, President ; Mrs. Julia M. Chase, Cor. Secretary ; Miss Mary Cowles, Rec. Secretary ; Mrs. L. H. Carter, Treasurer; Mrs. C. Strong, Matron. Board of Managers, Mrs. J. T. Edwards, Mrs. Wm. Brown, Mrs. R. Carson, Mrs. A. Wentworth, Mrs. O. S. Martin, Mrs. H. O. Burt, Mrs. S. W. Thompson, Mrs. L. Jeffords, and Miss Emma Thompson.
The True Friend is an able monthly periodical, published in the interests of the Home. The first issue bore date January, 1878. The editors are the Rev. C. Strong and Miss Della Strong.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
From the data at hand, we conclude that the first society in town was organized by the Baptists. A preliminary meeting for this purpose was held in June, 1825, at the house of Otis Hitchcock, over which Darius Bowen pre- sided. On the 15th of July, 1825,
THE PARTICULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF RANDOLPH
was formally constituted at the house of Solomon Nichols. The members entering into covenant were as follows : Timothy Torrance, Ralph Williams, Darius Bowen, Otis Hitchcock, Solomon Nichols, J. Brenninsthol, Stephen J. Davis, Josiah Nichols, Josiah Gilbert, Nancy McCapes, Lucy Ann Nichols, Zurina Torrance, Almira Bowen, Han- nah Cook, Sally Williams, Matilda Hartman, Arevilla Russell, Amelia Nichols, Almira McNull, Katy Bush, Phebe Davis, Anna Davis, and Eliza Booth.
To this number were added other members at an early day, among them being Elmore G. Terry, John Shango, Calvin, Oliver, and Elmore Draper, Ira Case, Joseph A. Hamilton, Isaac Gifford, Joel Doolittle, Seymour Torrance, John Cook, Jonathan Follett, Alanson Marcy, Esek S. Gorsline, and Levi Howard.
The ministers present when the church was formed were Revs. E. Viney and Jonathan Blake, the latter becoming the first pastor of the church. Joseph Brenninsthol was appointed the first deacon and clerk. The office of deacon has also been filled by Darius Bowen, H. H. Hull, and George McCapes.
May 9, 1834, a meeting was held at the house of Elmore Draper to form a society to attend to the temporal affairs of the church. Trustees were chosen as follows : Ralph Wil- liams, Samuel Price, Marvin Scudder, Oliver Draper, and Solomon Nichols. The propriety of building a meeting- house was now strongly urged, but no decisive action was taken until ten years later. In 1845 the present house of .worship was erected, and consecrated in the fall of that year by the Revs. B. C. Willoughby, W. R. Brooks, and Fred- erick Glenville. It is a frame, 36 by 54 feet, and cost about $2000. It was remodeled and beautified in 1874, and is now estimated worth $3000. The controlling board of trustees is composed of Franklin Nichols, J. L. Sowle, Geo. McCapes, George Rogers, and H. H. Hull.
The church was very flourishing soon after its organiza- tion, but has also had seasons of declining interest, resulting
mainly from the many changes in the pastoral office. The clergy have been the Revs. Allen Smith, Levi Howard, Alonzo Frink, Benjamin Oviatt, B. C. Willoughby, J. Howard, B. Brahman, A. Handy, D. F. Lockwood, J. Trowbridge, H. A. Conrad, G. W. Devoll, and C. H. Woods. In early times E. Terry and Solomon Nichols sometimes filled the pulpit. There are at present 104 members. A flourishing Sabbath-school, organized after 1840, is maintained. It has nearly 100 members.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF RANDOLPH was organized Jan. 7, 1836, by the Rev. Sylvester Cowles, at the house of Dr. Luther P. Cowles. The members were the fifteen following :
Abel C. Ward, Justin C. Marsh, Levi Steel, Harry Marsh, Louis A. Marsh, William Ramson, Polly Ramson, Joseph Hamilton, Sanford Holbrook, Luther P. Cowles, Sarah W. Draper, Zebediah Pierce, Martha Pierce, Samuel Wadsworth, and Louis A. Hatfield. Three years later the names of Demarius Sheldon, Minerva Holbrook, Minerva Wadsworth, Louis A. Taylor, Mrs. Isaiah Cross, Esther Cook, Corintha Wadsworth, and Mary Jane Wilcox were added to the list of members.
The church has had an aggregate membership of 250, and at present has 46 male and 60 female members, 35 of whom are non-residents. The families connected with the church number 56, and are under the ministerial direction of the Rev. Charles W. Pitcher, ordained Jan. 26, 1876. Others who were pastors of the church, from the time it was formed till the above period, were as follows :
The Revs. Justin Marsh, 'Zachariah Eddy, E. Taylor, Sylvester Cowles, O. D. Hibbard, E. P. Clisbie, and Charles Strong.
In 1840 the church became connected with the Associa- tion of Western New York, and yet remains a member of that body. In June, 1848, Harry Marsh and James Calhoun were ordained to the office of deacon, and in June, 1867, A. G. Dow and T. A. C. Everett. The first clerk of the church was L. P. Cowles ; the present is L. C. Rundell.
" The First Congregational Society of the town of Ran- dolph" was formed " at the school-house on the flats," Jan. 23, 1836, and had as its first trustees Abram Kierstead, Sanford Holbrook, and David Benson ; the present trustees are L. C. Rundell, Joel B. Torrance, and Edwin Jaynes.
The first house of worship, which is the present church edifice in the village of Randolph, was begun in 1847, but was not completed until 1849. In 1867 it was thoroughly repaired, and renovated in 1877. It is now an attractive church, and will comfortably seat 300 persons.
THE RANDOLPH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodist meetings were held in the town as early as 1823, at the houses of Thomas Harvey and others in that locality ; but the names of the members composing the class cannot be learned. The work flourished, and promised so well for the future that a legal society was formed, Dec. 16, 1830, for the purpose of building a church. Cornelius Kier- stead, Squire Powell, and Richard Salisbury were chosen trustees. A few years later a plain frame meeting-house, 30 by 40 feet, was put up on what is now known as the Fifth
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Avenue, but was not immediately finished. In this condi- tion it was used until after 1840, when it was removed to a point nearly opposite its present site on Main Street. In 1858 it was placed on the foundation it now occupies, and enlarged by the addition of a chancel, vestibule, and tower, and made to present an inviting appearance. It has accommodations for 300 persons, and is valued at $3000. A parsonage on Centre Street was erected in 1872. It is a comfortable home, worth about $2000.
The present official members of the church are : Trustees, E. McManus, E. J. Boyle, C. F. Hedman, F. C. Bates, and H. K. Van Rensselaer ; Local Preachers, C. J. Brown and J. T. Edwards ; Stewards, E. S. Ingersoll, H. K. Van Rens- selaer, J. T. Edwards, F. C. Bates, and E. J. Boyle; and Class-leaders, F. C. Bates and Rufus Davenport.
The church has at present (1878) 121 members, and sup- ports a Sunday-school having an attendance of 100 scholars. The school was organized in 1837 by Dr. Van Rensselaer, and is at present superintended by C. J. Brown. The pastor of the church since 1877 has been the Rev. B. F. Wade.
In 1845, Randolph became a circuit, and has had since that period the following ministerial appointments : 1845, Revs. J. Uncles, J. N. Henry ; 1846-47, Rev. J. O. Rich ; 1848, Rev. A. Burgess ; 1849, Rev. H. H. Moore; 1850- 51, Revs. J. E. Chapin, B. D. Himebaugh ; 1852, Revs. A. Burgess, N. W. Jones; 1853-54, Rev. George Ches- brough ; 1855, Rev. John Robinson ; 1856-57, Rev. M. Stever; 1858-59, Rev. O. L. Mead; 1860, Rev. L. W. Day ; 1861-62, Rev. R. W. Scott; 1863-65, Rev. J. G. Hawkins; 1864-66, Rev. A. S. Dobbs ; 1867-68, Rev. R. N. Stubbs ; 1869, Rev. G. W. Staples; 1870-71, Rev. W. N. Reno ; 1872-73, Rev. A. H. Dorner ; 1874-75, Rev. R. S. Borland ; 1876, Rev. William Martin; 1877- 78, Rev. B. F. Wade.
Before 1845 the preachers who served the church were the same as those named in the sketch of the East Ran- dolph Church, in the town of Connewango. The preachers, prior to 1830, were Revs. Wm. Fowler, John W. Hill, Job Wilson, John P. Kent, Joseph S. Barris, Zachariah Ragan, David Preston, and William Butts.
THE FIRST FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST RAN- DOLPH.
This body was organized by the Rev. Hiram Whitcher, in 1831, at the Morrill school-house, in the town of Napoli, and its history, from its organization until its removal to East Randolph, June 10, 1848, is noted in that town.
The church edifice at East Randolph was erected by a society formed according to the laws of the State, and which had as its first trustees Alvin Lyman, Eastman Prescott, and Enoch Jenkins. It was first occupied for worship Feb. 10, 1849, and was thereafter used regularly by the denom- ination for several years. But owing to removals and other causes, the membership became so feeble that the services were held, first irregularly, and finally altogether suspended. The house was occasionally used by other denominations, but in 1865 it was so much injured by a flood that it was altogether abandoned. In this dilapidated condition it lay until the fall of 1874, when steps were taken to place it in
repair. For this purpose a board of trustees was elected September 9, having as members Jonathan C. Hurd, Frank C. Hovey, Aaron B. Fox, David Huntington, and Jerome Higbee. Funds were collected among the citizens of the place, and about $1000 was expended in external repairs and inside adornment. It now presents a handsome appear- ance, and has comfortable accommodations for 300 persons. The property is worth about $2500, and is controlled by the foregoing trustees, who have opened the doors of the church to all classes and creeds. Among other sects which . have availed themselves of this hospitality are the Advent- ists, Universalists, and the United Brethren, but none of them have become an organic body in town. The Free-Will Baptists also hold meetings occasionally in this house, but do not keep up an organization.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC)
was organized in 1854, by Father McKanna, with about 30 members. A plain church, capacitated to seat 300 persons, was built in the eastern part of the village of Randolph, and was used as a place of worship until the fall of 1876, when the new edifice near the railway depot was occupied. It is a neat frame, 40 by 70 feet, and stands on a lot donated by John Carroll. It cost $2200, and has sittings for 500 persons. The members number about 400, and belong to the parish of Jamestown. They have been under the spir- itual tutelage of Fathers Byrnes, Baxter, and Doyle.
RANDOLPH FREE METHODIST CHURCH.
In December, 1877, the Rev. E. P. Hart, General Su- perintendent of Missions, held a series of revival meetings in the Baptist Church at Randolph village, which resulted in the formation of a society of Free Methodists, numbering twelve persons, which had Miss Ella Hapgood as the class- leader. Preaching was held by the minister from James- town until September, 1878. Since that date the appoint- ment is served with Steamburg and Salamanca, and has Rev. J. G. McGary as preacher. A house belonging to Lora Waters has been fitted up for the use of the society.
SECRET ORDERS.
Connewango Lodge, No. 340, I. O. of O. F., was insti- tuted at East Randolph, July 11, 1850, with the following charter members : Benjamin Chamberlain, Erastus Hall, C. T. Tinnerman, Edward McNeil, E. B. Barrows, E. Hol- dridge, Freedom Jeffords, Clark McCollister, Horace Hall, C. Van Vlack, N. G. Otis, and Joseph Nyc.
N. G. Otis was elected to the office of Noble Grand, and also held this office when the meetings of the lodge were discontinued, Dec. 24, 1855. This action was caused by an excessive drain on the finances of the lodge.
Odd-Fellow work was revived at this point Aug. 8, 1871, when " Connewango Lodge, No. 282," was instituted, with Clark McCollister, Cyrus Faulkner, F. C. Hovey, L. L. Hall, N. G. Otis, C. F. Harding, William Foy, Erastus Hall, A. J. Dixon, Jonathan Ericks, and Zalmon Smith, as charter members.
The Noble Grands of this lodge, in the order of their election, have been as follows : Clark McCollister, F. C. Hovey, Zalmon Smith, L. L. Hall, D. C. Hewitt, M. E.
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Nutting, S. A. Beckwith, C. W. Mount, Cyrus Faulkner, Charles W. Terry, D. H. Helmes, H. Hall, Jr., M. R. Hall, and W. J. Marsh.
Soon after the first lodge at East Randolph went down, a lodge of Odd-Fellows was formed at Randolph, and is yet there continued. An application for data respecting this lodge failed to elicit the desired information, and no particulars can here be given in consequence.
In 1852 a lodge of Freemasons was established at the east village, bearing the name of Elm Creek Lodge, No. 359. Its charter members were Samuel Barrows, Benja- min Chamberlain, David Ward, Rufus Davenport, A. B. Parsons, Edwin McManus, and Isaac L. Ostrom.
Edwin McManus was elected Master ; Samuel Barrows, Senior Warden ; David Ward, Junior Warden.
In 1864 the lodge was transferred to Randolph village, where it was successfully continued until 1874, when the hall and all its contents were destroyed by fire.
Since December, 1874, the present hall, erected and fur- nished at a cost of nearly $3000, has been occupied. The main room is 24 by 45 feet, the remainder of the 85 feet of the building being used for the reception and committee rooms of the lodge. The hall forms the third story of the Park block, and is one of the most elegant in the county.
In 1875 the name of the lodge was changed to " Ran- dolph," the number remaining the same. It has 130 mem- bers, and is in a flourishing condition. The present officers are Alexander Wentworth, M .; O. H. Willard, S. W .; A. B. . Wells, J. W .; George E. Seager, Sec. ; Charles N. Dow, Treas. ; Hiram Fosdick, S. D .; D. T. Smith, J. D.
Randolph Chapter, No. 267, R. A. M., was instituted in June, 1872, with about 10 members, A. D. Sample, H. P., and J. H. Chaffee, K. It was very prosperous until the fire in 1874, having at that time 30 members. The chapter was not revived after the loss of all its records and property, and Arch Masons here are now connected with the Jamestown and Salamanca Chapters.
Oasis Lodge, No. 154, A. O. U. W., instituted May 9, 1878, with 28 members, had, December 5, 38 members. The first officers were the following: Clark J. Brown, P. M. W .; Charles C. Sheldon, M. W .; Frank S. Thorp, F .; David T. Smith, O .; O. H. Willard, R. Sec .; John E. Leach, F .; Thomas Smith, R. ; E. L. Weeden, G. ; Charles Kautz, I. W .; Emmet Pierce, O. W.
The meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall, in Randolph village. There have been in the town other secret orders, mainly temperance societies, but nothing more definite than the statement of their having been in successful operation for short periods can here be given.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JUDGE WILLIAM H. HENDERSON.
Among the most eminent and successful members of the Cattaraugus County bar, none have attained a more elevated position, deservedly so, than has Judge Henderson. For more than a quarter of a century he has adorned the pro- fession by his scholarly attainments and judicial knowledge,
and by close and unremitting application to the duties of the profession has long ago secured an extensive and varied practice in the highest courts of the State, and a seat upon the bench of its most important court.
William H. Henderson is the son of John and Mary (Hunt) Henderson, and was born at Tully, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 4, 1828. In 1840 he removed with his parents from Onondaga to Cattaraugus County. He received his literary education at the Fredonia Academy, which was then one of the best educational institutions in this part of the State, at that time under the management of the dis- tinguished and talented educator, F. A. Reddington. Young Henderson remained at Fredonia for about three years, leaving there in the spring of 1847, to enter the State Normal School, at Albany, then recently founded by Legis- lative enactment as a school for the preparation and educa- tion of teachers. During his attendance at the school it was under the superintendency of David P. Page, the first principal of the institution, and a man of fine educational ability. In the spring of 1848 he (Henderson) was hon- orably graduated, and soon thereafter became a resident of Randolph, where he engaged in teaching as required by the rules of the school, remaining thus engaged for almost two years. He then turned his attention to the study of law, entering the office of the late Hon. Alexander Sheldon, at Randolph, and finishing his office studies with Joseph E. Weeden, the veteran lawyer of that place. On the 27th of April, 1852, Mr. Henderson was admitted to prac- tice as an attorney and counselor-at-law in all the courts of the State, at a general term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, held at Buffalo by Justices Taggart, Marvin, Hoyt, and Mullett, and has since practiced his profession at Randolph, where he still resides.
In 1851, Mr. Henderson was nominated by the Demo- cratic County Convention for the office of county treasurer, but was defeated by the Whig candidate, Hon. John P. Darling, now of Cattaraugus. Although never seeking official position, he has been several times honored with nominations for important offices by the Democratic party, but owing to the large majority of the Republicans in the county it has been impossible to elect the regular Demo- cratic nominees, although Judge Henderson has succeeded in materially reducing that majority.
On the death of Judge S. S. Spring, Mr. Henderson was appointed by Governor Samuel J. Tilden to complete the unexpired term of the county judgeship, his commis- sion bearing date Aug. 18, 1875. The duties of this position were discharged by him to the satisfaction alike of the bar and of the people.
The most important recognition of Judge Henderson's legal ability and general worth was his nomination by Gov. Tilden, and unanimous confirmation by the Senate, as a justice of the Supreme Court for the eighth judicial dis- trict of the State of New York, in place of George D. La- mont (deceased), which honor was conferred upon him by a commission dated March 21, 1876. His ripe experience in all the various contested litigations into which a busy practice extending over a period of twenty-four years had thrown him, had eminently fitted him for his new and re- sponsible position. This fitness was fully recognized and
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commented upon by the press and by his friends before the convention which nominated him for election to the same position on the completion of the term for which he was appointed. He carried to the bench the same habits of careful study and of painstaking research which had characterized him at the bar. His opinions soon began to attract attention. They were logical, learned, and exhaus- tive, critical in analysis, and comprehensive in reasoning. He shirked no labor, slighted no cause. Kind and cour- teous to all, yet ever fearless and unswerving in following his convictions, he became known and honored as an im- partial and upright judge. His brief administration was universally satisfactory and successful. The young men of the bar found in him a judge who heard them patiently and respectfully, and from whose presence they went away satisfied that, whatever might be the fate of their cases, they had a fair and respectful hearing, and would have an honest, intelligent decision. His entire service disarmed criticism and won universal commendation.
In speaking of Judge Henderson during his candidature for the position he had, for the balance of an unexpired term, so ably filled, the Buffalo Courier says :
" The candidate opposed to Mr. Haight is Judge Wil- liam H. Henderson, the present incumbent of the office to be filled. Our inquiries into the facts of Judge Hender- son's life, his standing at the bar, and the general estima- tion in which he is held, have been such as to entitle us to make the plainest statement.
"It need scarcely be said that his integrity is without blur; he stands among men upright and clean-handed. His whole manhood before he was placed on the bench was spent in the diligent pursuit of his profession. For nearly twenty-five years he worked steadily in his office and in the courts. His abilities and his zeal won for him a large and complex practice. He was widely known among men by his achievements as a broad-minded, capable lawyer. His life has been one of incessant contact with the problems which the lawyer has to study and solve. . . . He became a law- yer with an established reputation based on solid grounds, the proof of which lies in his success."
To those unacquainted with Judge Henderson the above would seem peculiarly the language of eulogy, but to his acquaintances and friends it will be recognized as a plain statement of fact.
In the affairs conducive to the development and prosper- ity of Randolph, Judge Henderson has always exercised a leading influence. He ever evinces a desire to promote the welfare of philanthropic and educational institutions. He is now president of the board of trustees of the Chamberlain Institute and Female College, and was for many years attor- ney and adviser of the founder of that admirable establish- ment. He is also president of the board of trustees of the Western New York Home for Homeless and Dependent Children. He was largely instrumental in the organization and incorporation of the State Bank of Randolph, and has been its president since the death of the late Hon. Thomas J. Wheeler, the first incumbent to that office, who died in February, 1875.
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