History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922

USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 57
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 57

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" In 1824, Mr. Ebenezer Mott, from Crown Point, was invited to settle with the church. He was decidedly pious, and though not a great he was a good preacher. He was ordained in the 'yellow school-house,' March 2, 1826. The Rev. Samuel Churchill, of Elizabethtown, preached the sermon; Rev. Ephraim Smith, of Chateaugay, offered the consecrating prayer ; Rev. Jeremy H. Dwyer, of Westport, gave the charge ; Rev. Stephen Wise, of Jay, gave the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Mott closed his labors in this place Jan. 27, 1827. During his ministry of two years and three months, 24 were added to the church,-11 by bap- tism, 13 by letter; 3 were dismised ; 4 excluded ; net gain, 17. Of a naturally feeble constitution, he subsequently died of consumption.

" The First Meeting-House .- In 1824 the congregations on the Sabbath having become too large to be accommo- dated in the school-house, the subject was started of build- ing a meeting-house. It was to belong to proprietors, and to be for the use of that denomination whose members should contribute the most for the object. Mr. Mott was appointed by the church, Aug. 28, 1824, to circulate a subscription-paper among the brethren. Having given the largest sum, the Baptists obtained the house. It was ded- icated October, 1826. The Rev. John A. Dodge, then of Ferrisburgh, preached the sermon on the occasion. It was a day of cxultation and joy. Of all situations in the village the hill was thought the most desirable for the purpose. The structure was ample, commodious, and tasteful. Com- pared with their former places of worship, it was indeed a temple. Its erection cost much self-denial and sacrifice. Great credit is due to Deacon William Taylor, who traveled to obtain funds to pay for it. It was then generally believed that the adjacent fields would cre long be covered with dwell- ings. What would have been said had our fathers been told that in twenty-five years the building would be abandoned because of its unfavorable site ?

" For twenty-one months after the dismission of Mr.

Mott the church was destitute of a pastor. Attempts were made to supply the deficiency, but in vain until October, 1828, when Mr. Conant Sawyer-then a young man only twenty-two years of age-commenced preaching among them. His labors were very acceptable. He was ordained as an evangelist, by his own request, Dec. 30, 1829. Rev. John A Dodge, of Ferrisburgh, Vt., preached the sermon ; Rev. Isaac Sawyer, of Westport, father of the candidate, offered the prayer; Rev. Jeremy H. Dwyer, of Moriah, gave the charge ; Rev. Samuel H. Story, of Plattsburgh, gave the right hand of fellowship. In the following year there was a powerful revival of religion. Mr. Sawyer ad- ministered the ordinance of baptism every month for twelve consecutive months. In the midst of this glorious work of grace the anti-Masonic difficulty raged, speedily terminating a connection which promised to be both long and useful. He closed his labors Oct. 30, 1830. During the two years of his ministry 41 were baptized, 20 received by letter, 2 dismissed, 3 excluded,-net gain, 56.

" In May, 1831, Robert Bryant, an Englishman, and a member of the Fifth Baptist Church, Philadelphia, by the invitation of Deacon William Taylor, who was begging funds at that time in that city to liquidate the debt on the meeting-house, visited Keeseville. On the 11th of June, Mr. Bryant was elected pastor of this church. On his re- turn home he was ordained in Philadelphia, by the request of his brethren in this place, and entered upon his duties here early in July. In this and the following year pro- tracted meetings were held, each of which were followed by a revival of religion, the first being much the most power- ful. He was a sound though not a brilliant preacher. At the expiration of a year and eight months he resigned his charge. His ministry, considering its brevity, was the most successful of all that preceded, and of all that have as yet succeeded it, 57 having been baptized, 10 received by letter, 19 dismissed, and 4 excluded, showing a net gain of 54.

" In November, 1833, the church gave Mr. Robert C. Brisbane, of Fabius, N. Y., an invitation to settle with them. Though not a systematic preacher, he was a fluent and captivating speaker. In July, 1834, a council sat to ordain him ; but on examining him they refused to proceed to the work for which they had been called.

" In consequence of difficulties growing out of the anti- Masonic movement in 1829 and 1830, and the attempt to settle Mr. Brisbane, the church in March, 1835, invited Rev. Henry Green, of Cornwall, Vt., to spend the ensuing summer with them. He was an able preacher and a great peace-maker. He immediately commenced his labors, and such was his success that harmony was soon restored. Being an old gentleman, neither he nor the brethren ex- pected he would become pastor. Having finished his work, he left in the fall. I understand he has died within a year in Parishville, St. Lawrence County.

" In November, 1835, the Rev. Hiram Safford, of Cov- ington, removed to Keeseville. He was a free, social, prac- tical man, a fair preacher, and an excellent pastor. Under his ministry of nearly five years, the longest of any previous or since, the church was very prosperous. There were two revivals of religion, each of which was preceded by a pro- tracted meeting,-the one in 1836, the other in 1839.

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While he labored among them, 74 werc baptized, 37 added by letter, 27 dismissed, 9 excluded, 9 restored, -- net gain, 84. He left in August, 1840. Many parted with him with the greatest reluctance. He died in Burlington, Vt., in July, 1844. His memory is blessed.

" In September, 1840, the Rev. Conant Sawyer again became pastor of the church. In this office he continued three years and seven months. In 1842 another protracted meeting was held, which was followed by a revival of re- ligion. Soon after, the anti-slavery movement commenced, which led Mr. Sawyer to resign his office in 1844. During his ministry 40 were baptized, 36 received by letter, 57 dismissed, 14 excluded, 5 restored, -- net gain, 10.

" Their next pastor was Rev. Charles Nichols. He com- menced his ministry March, 1845, which continued a little more than two years. It was a dark, stormy, disastrous period in the history of the church. The unhappy effects of the contention, previously commenced, then developed themselves. Let it be remembered only as a warning against the evils of strife, no matter how good the motive or the object that leads to it. Mr. Nichols left in April, 1847. While he preached in this place, 1 was baptized, 18 received by letter, 33 dismissed, 13 excluded,-net loss, 27.

"In October, 1847, the Rev. L. Fletcher became pastor of the church. He sustained this relation not quite one year, during which time 1 was baptized, 2 received by letter, 2 dismissed, 2 restored ; net gain, 3.

" In September, 1849, the Rev. Washington Kingsley entered upon his labors as pastor of the church, which rela- tion he sustained only about seven months. During this brief period 3 were baptized, 5 received by letter, 6 dis- missed, 1 excluded,-net gain, 1."

This closes Mr. Eaton's sketch.

Recent History .- Distracted by the anti-Masonic and anti- slavery agitation, discommoded by the inconvenient location of the church, and embarrassed from other causes, follow- ing the removal of Mr. Kingsley there came a scason of discouragement and the church saw the darkest.days of its history,-for some time without a pastor or even a Sabbath- school.

In 1850, Mr. Alfred Baber, a member of the Oliver St. Baptist Church in New York City, came to Keescville, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. The energy which he carried into business he also took with him into his Chris- tian life. From New York he brought a supply of Bibles, hymn and Sunday-school books. The first Sabbath he was with the church he saw their necd, and, like a man of busi- ness who brings all things to practical account, he proceeded to talk things up, told them they must have a Sabbath- school, that they must have a minister, and making the cause of the church identical with his own interests, he encouraged and helped the brethren to go forward.

Attention was soon directed to Rev. J. W. Eaton, a pas- tor of fine qualities. The record of the call extended to J. W. Eaton bears date March 23, 1851. His reply of acceptance is dated April 18th, and the services of recogni- tion took place on the 6th of August, following. The church meanwhile had taken micasures for the erection of a new house of worship, the one on the " hill" being inconve- niently located.

On Front Street a desirable location was secured. An architect in New York who was interested in the Baptist cause gave them drafts and plans, which being followed, resulted in the construction of a plain but almost perfect church edifice. Its acoustic properties are all that any speaker can desire. The fresco is in good taste, and in those neutral tints so pleasing and restful to the eyc. The vestry in the rear of the main audience-room is as perfect for its use as is the large room. With the new church was introduced the modern improvement,-the baptistery,-an arrangement under the desk, the existence of which would not be known from external appearances. The desk, carpets, and furniture are readily removed when occasion requires.

A valuable present was made the church by Mr. Joseph Pilling, consisting of an organ, then valued at $1000, but if new it would now be well worth $2000. It is a superior instrument.

Towards the building of this house the church and soci- ety all assisted nobly. But we would make especial men- tion of the labor and self-sacrifice of those two well-known business men, Edmund and Jacob Kingsland. Though not members of the church, so long as there is a Baptist Church in Kecseville will these two men be remembered with affection and esteem for their devotion to its interest, and especially their devotion to the work of giving the church a proper house of worship.

The old white church on the hill was sold to the French Catholics.

Mr. Eaton's pastorate was a prosperous one; the material interests of the church were improved and its spiritual wel- fare was promoted. He was permitted to baptize a large number. His labors were continued until June 18, 1855, at which time his resignation was accepted.

It was but a short vacancy of the pastoral office which now succeeded, for on the 26th of September, 1855, a call was extended to Rev. John E. Chesshire, of Wickford, R. I., who entered upon his labors immediately. During this pastorate, also, covering as it did the period of the great awakening of 1857 and 1858, the church received numerous additions. Brother Chesshire resigned his pastoral connec- tion March 30, 1859.

November, 1859, Rev. J. F. Bigelow, D.D., having been invited to visit the church, commenced his labors among then.

The labors of Dr. Bigelow extended over a period of about five years, when he accepted a call from the Baptist Church in St. Albans, Vt.

Then there came more dark days ; for three years they were without a pastor, much of the time the house was closed, and there was no Sabbath-school. .

Business revived, and in February of 1868 a call was extended to Rev. S. D. Moxley to become their pastor. He began his labors the second week in March of that year, and remained with them until 1876.

In the summer of 1874, Deacon Daniel Dodge and Mr. Edmund Kingsland became so impressed with the need of a suitable house for the pastor that they built jointly for the pastor, on Liberty Street, a handsome two-story house, warmed with a furnace and fitted with other modern con- veniences.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Concerning the Sunday-school, we are not able to give a complete history, or even a list of superintendents.

At the present time the school is in a flourishing condi- tion, under the efficient superintendency of Hon. N. C. Boynton.

This church has sent out several ministers from its mem- bership. We have the names of Mr. Ambler, Justice Taylor, Stephen Taylor, C. H. Fuller, Rcuel Arnold, now pastor of the Baptist Church of Ripon, Wis .; W. C. Mc- Allister, now pastor of the Baptist Church of Moriah ; and B. G. Boardman, at present pursuing a course of study at Madison University.

DEACONS.

Within the century the church has appointed ten deacons. Uriah Palmer was elected March 6, 1806; Mr. Taylor, Oct. 4, 1810 ; Milo Fuller and Luther Rowe, April, 1830 ; Pascal P. Spear and James Hinds, December, 1840 ; Hum- phrey Taylor and John Tennant, September, 1845; Levi S. Scribner and Daniel Dodge, August, 1861.

CLERKS.

The church has had in all 10 clerks,-Noble Avery, chosen 1791; Eben Conant, 1804; Uriah Palmer, 1807 ; William Taylor, 1812 ; Silas M. Taylor, 1830 ; Humphrey Taylor, 1844; Levi S. Scribner, 1855; Daniel Dodge, 1857 ; C. Rowe, and the present clerk, Luther Rowe.

Nine associational sessions have been held with this church, viz. : in 1805, 1814, 1821, 1827, 1841, 1847, 1854, and 1862. In 1805 the assembly was convened in Eben Conant's barn, one mile from Peru. "The Friday evening prayer-meeting" was instituted fifty-six years ago, and was regularly observed until 1872, since which time the meetings have been held on Wednesday evenings.

The present pastor is Rev. John Matthews, who assumed the position about three years ago.

The membership of the church is 90 ; average attend- ance upon Sabbath-school, 75 ; library, about 200 volumes. The church officers are, Deacons, James Hinds and Daniel Dodge; Clerk, Luther Rowe. The society officers are, Trustees, E. Kingsland, James Hinds, Daniel Dodge, Edmund K. Baber, N. C. Boynton, C. W. Rowe; Presi- dent, E. Kingsland ; Secretary, N. C. Boynton ; Treasurer, E. K. Baber.

The following is a copy of the original record of the or- ganization of the church as filed in the clerk's office of Clinton County :

"We, William Taylor and Ebenezer Mott, do hereby certify that at a meeting of the male persons of full age of the Baptist Church or Society of the Town of Peru, held pursuant to Public notice (as re- quired by the statute for the purpose of organizing an incorporation under the statute) at the school-house, in the village of Kceseville (the stated place of worship of said society), on the sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, We, William Taylor and Ebenezer Mott, being mem- bers of said church, in the absence of Elders and Church Wardens, were chosen to preside at the elections for trustees of said church, receive the votes of the election, and be the judges of the Qualifica- tions of the electors to the Offices; to return the names of the persons who were chosen trustees. In pursuance whereof, we, the said William Taylor and Ebenezer Mott, do hereby certify and declare that we pre- sided at such election, and that at such election William Taylor, Richard Keese, Horace Beach, Isaac Lake, Nathan Wardner, and Rodman Brown were duly chosen and elected by plurality of voices

to serve as trustees for the Keeseville Baptist Society, by which name and title the said trustees or their successors are forever hereafter to be called and known.

" All of which we do hereby certify. In Witness Whereof, we have herewith set our hands and seals this sixteenth day of February, A.D. 1826," etc.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF KEESEVILLE .*

It is doubtless due to the fact that so many of the early settlers of this village came from New England that a Con- gregational Church was early established within the limits of that region of which Keeseville afterwards became the centre. The simple modes of worship, the Calvinistic creed, the intense devotion to the principle of individual liberty which characterized that church were such as to cling to the beliefs and habits of those whose early life had received them. Unbelievers in either a king for the state or a bishop for the church, trained both in civil and political matters to express their opinion and give their vote as they pleased, it is no wonder that they took thesc elements into their religious life, and gave their adhesion to that form of church government in which the idea of individual liberty is most largely cxpressed. And trained, also, to rigorous habits of thought, accustomed to large and thorough ideas of duty and conscience and law, it is no wonder the Cal- vinistic system of doctrine appealed to their intellect, and fixed their creed upon such a firm foundation that no matter where they went to find their homes they should take with them the church of their early faith to be their own church so long as they should live.

I wish it were possible to go back with somewhat of imaginary power to that day when the eleven founders of this church met at the dwelling-house of Samuel Whitney, then and there to pledge mutual fidelity to each other and eternal loyalty to Jesus Christ, their master. In the quaint language of the record they caused to be made we read something of the earnest purpose and reverent faith with which they laid the foundation of this church.

" Let it be remembered," they say, "and the glory be the Lord's, that on the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, according to a previous appointment made for the purpose, the follow- ing persons, namely, Matthew Adgate, Erastus Strong, David Wright, Samuel Whitney, Martha Strong, Eunice Adgate, Hannah Adgate, Nabby W. Strong, Anna Adgate, Theo- docia Arthur, and Ruhamah Leavitt, together with the Rev. Jno. Hovey, pastor of the Church of Christ in Water- bury, Vt., and the Rev. Jno. Hovey, Jr., pastor of the Church of Christ at Weybridge, Vt., both of the State of Vermont, did meet at the dwelling-house of Samuel Whit- ney, in Chesterfield, with a view and for the purpose of forming a visible Church of Christ in the said town of Chesterfield. That after a joint supplication to the throne of grace for light and divine guidance, the said Matthew Adgate, Erastus Strong, David Wright, Samuel Whitney, Martha Strong, Eunice Adgate, Hannah Adgate, Nabby W. Strong, Anna Adgate, Theodocia Arthur, and Ruhamah Leavitt did severally for themselves and publicly agree and sign in the presence of each other a confession of their faith and belief of the Christian Doctrine and scheme of

* From a sketch by Rev. Henry E. Butler, pastor.

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TOWN OF AUSABLE.

Salvation, as contained in the Old and New Testaments or Saered Scriptures of truth, and did likewise at the same time and place, and in the presence of each other, and said Rev. Jonathan Hovey, and the Rev. Jonathan Hovey, Jr., agree and sign a covenant to regulate their lives, watch, and care of each other, as a visible Church of Christ in the world."

Those early settlers could not be long content at their new home until the church of their first love was regularly established. Indeed, it was only four years after the town of Chesterfield was incorporated, and only a very few years after the first permanent settlement was begun.

About the year 1792, Matthew Adgate having had a large tract of land granted him for services during the Revolutionary war, came to what is now ealled Birmingham and located. Settlements were begun about this time or a little later on the hill overlooking the lake near Port Doug- lass. Keeseville-not with its present name, however- came into notiee a little later, the first bridge across Ausa- ble and the first saw-mill being built in 1802, the same year the town of Chesterfield was separated from Willsboro'. Until that time the whole territory now comprising Essex and Clinton Counties was divided into four towns, and in 1785 only contained 624 legal voters.

The church was formed in a log house which stood near the house now occupied by Mrs. Conger. Undedicated by formal rites, it became a true temple of God's praise. Without pomp or vain show of authority never possessed by any, it became a spiritual temple in which living hearts have served on earth, and out of which they have gone to the rewards above. For many years they depended on their own resourees to maintain regular worship. For they believed, as do their descendants after them, that it is the church that makes the minister, and not the minister the church, and hence their own voice in calling Judge Matthew Adgate to preside at their meetings, or along with Deacon Samuel Whitney to lead in a religious service, was valid and regular, though neither had been specially ordained. Oc- easionally a missionary from the Vermont Domestie Mission- ary Society would venture into the New York wilderness, and gather the people, whenever convenient, for religious worship. Among those thus laboring were the Rev. Cyrus Comstoek, Rev. Chester Armstrong, and Rev. James Gil- bert. The first of those namncd was a man of no ordinary attainments. He was born in the year 1765, in Connecti- eut, and apprenticed, according to the eustoms of the times, to learn a trade, and that trade was shocmaking. But he had a call to go higher. He studied, taught school, and finally entered the ministry as an evangelist, and continued in this from choice until age had made him too feeble for the duties demanded. One* who knew him as a teacher speaks of his sleeping in the rude log cabins of the moun- tain region where it was his delight to labor, and finding in the morning his bed whitened by the snow which the wintry wind had driven through the ereviccs.

One simple rule of conduct was his guide. It was to follow the will of God as expressed in the Bible and in His providence. Onet who knew him in his old age says, "I

could not fail to be impressed with the simplieity and purity alike of his life, his thoughts, and his language, the abso- luteness of his faith, and the essential saintliness of his character." During the last years of his life he resided on a farnı in the town of Lewis, and died there on the 8th of January, 1853. Upon a plain marble tablet which marks his grave are these words, "He was the father of the Congregational churches in this county, most of which were gathered by him as a missionary. A faithful minister, he exemplified all the Christian graces in a long and useful life. He has gone to his reward."

The Rev. James Gilbert labored here but a little while, and lived afterwards at Fairhaven, Vt., where it is sup- posed he died.

Meetings were held by these ministers in the house of Deacon Whitney, in the school-house at Port Douglass, the school-house south, on what was then called Norton's Hill, and in School District No. 3, near the present residenee of J. W. Davis. And sometimes in the summer, when the house was too small for those who came together, Deacon Whitney's barn became the tabernacle whence ascended as true a sacrifice to God as was ever offered by worshiping hearts.

The earliest record of the church, in the handwriting of Matthew Adgate, dates back to the year 1809.

We sometimes fear that the present has vastly degener- ated from the virtues of those days.

It is very evident from those old records that irregulari- ties of Christian conduct were not unknown in the early life of the church, but it is also evident that whenever it did occur there were bold men who felt it their duty to expose the wrong and rebuke the offender. There seems to have been a special temptation to violate the Sabbath. But the old Pilgrim regard for the holy day had not ceased, and the violator was quite sure in due time to find Deacon Adgate, or Whitney, or Barnes knocking at his door with an " admonition," or a " citation" from his breth- ren of the church.

During this missionary period, this tent life of the church, Samuel Whitney, Matthew Adgate, and after 1811, Marcus Barnes, officiated as deacons.

It was at first doubtful where the village interests would cluster. Birmingham possessed some advantages, and seemed for a time to vie with Keeseville in its attractions. But Keeseville continued to gain in importanee, and in 1828 the place of stated meeting of the Congregational Church was moved to the " Old Yellow School-House" in this village.

In the year 1829 the Rev. Solomon Lyman became the pastor of the church, and continued as such until 1834, five years. His ministry was fruitful in good works, and in 1830-32 and '33, series of " protracted mectings" were held which resulted in large additions to the church. It was during his ministry, in the year 1830, that the church, having been carrying their tabernacle from place to place during twenty-four years, determined to arise and build. It was on Saturday, the 15th of July, 1830, that the corner-stone was laid.

The Keescville Herald (first printed in 1825), of the date of July 18, 1830, gives account of the event as follows :

# Prof. Taylor Lewis, LL.D.

+ Hon. Robert S. Ilale.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" On Saturday last the corner-stone was laid of the First Congregational Church in this village. The building is to be of the Gothic order, of stone, 50 by 70 feet. An ad- dress was delivered by Rev. Mr. Lyman, which he has consented to put into our hands for publication." In that address Mr. Lyman says, " It is but a few years that this place was regarded by the passing traveler as too forbid- ding in appearance to be selected for human residence. But now a numerous population call for those means, civil, literary, and religious, which adorn and bless society else- where."

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 922

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922