History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

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 70
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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Lovell Printing and Publishing Company was es- tablished at Rouse's Point in August, 1874, and 150 per- sons were employed. In June, 1877, the business was transferred to Montreal. A portion of the immense build- ing is now occupied by a sewing-machine company.

COOPERSVILLE is a hamlet in the southeastern part of the town, at the junction of the Big Chazy River and Cor-

beau Creek, and is also a station on the New York and Canada Railroad.

In 1805, Gen. Benj. Moore built a saw- and grist-mill at this point, and it was known as " Moore's Mills." The first post-office was established in 1841, with Horaee Hay- ford as postmaster.

PERRY's MILLS settlement was made in this part of the town at an early date, and for some time it was simply a mill station, known as "Seheifelin's Mills." The Schei- felin mill-privilege subsequently eame into the possession of George Perry and Silas Hubbell. In 1819, Mr. Perry pur- ehased Mr. Hubbell's interest, and became a resident of the place, and it has sinee been known as Perry's Mills. A post- offiee was established here in 1831, with Lucien Perry as postmaster.

CEMETERIES.

The land for the first burying-ground in this town was given by Judge. Pliny Moore, and is the old ground on Moore Street, in the village of Champlain. It was laid out prior to the beginning of the present eentury, and the first burial was that of Amasa Corbin, who died April 16, 1799. His grave-stone bears the following inseription :

" Vain world, farewell to you, Heaven is my native air ; I bid my friends a short adieu, Impatient to be there."

Glenwood Cemetery was laid out in 1859, and the first burial was a child of A. Hitchcock. The first trustees of the association-which was formed Dee. 19, 1859-were John H. Whiteside, George V. Hoyle, W. F. Cook, Timo- thy Hoyle, Hiram Dudley, Freeman Nye, James Averill, David Finley, and William Dodds. The grounds were dedieated Aug. 3, 1860.

Maple Hill Cemetery was laid out in 1859, and the first one buried in it was Hannah Stearns. The old burying- ground at Rouse's Point was given and laid out by Ezra Thurbur, in 1823, and the first one buried in it was Elisha Smith. Of the two cemeteries at Perry's Mills, the oldest was laid out in 1810, and the other in 1840. In the latter, the first one buried was Thankful Patterson. There are several other small burying-grounds throughout the town, making in all about 25 aeres of land devoted to the dead,

St. Patrick's Church has a very pleasant cemetery at- taehed to the church, consisting of 1 aere. On the hill between Champlain and the old Bostwick plaee lies the cemetery of St. Mary's, being several acres of land, more or less adorned, high up, and finely situated. The eeme- tery of St. Joseph's was laid out as early as 1815 or 1816. It is very full ; is situated on the river-bank. The first human thing ever buried in it was a lower limb belonging to Franeis Bleau, which had been amputated. The oldest stone bears the name of Bartime Nevouex, 1821.

MASONIC.

The Masonie fraternity held meetings in town previous to 1810, and among the early members of the order were Benj. Tyler, Daniel T. Taylor, Isaae Wilsie, John Wallace, Wm. Wallace, the Mannings of Roxham, and the Odells, of Odelltown, C. E. Whether a lodge was formed in town at this early date, or whether lodges formed in Odelltown

# Ilo had twenty-six children (Taylor).

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and Alburgh simply held stated meetings here, it is impos- sible to state with any degree of certainty.

Champlain Lodge, No. 237, was organized Sept. 5, 1851, with the following charter members : A. J. Woodworth, Daniel T. Taylor, D. S. Holcomb, John Hungerford, Ed- ward Springer, Benj. C. Webster, Orrin Hough, E. Ran- som, N. Nichols, R. R. Rood, S. Cole, Epaphras Ransom, Jabez Fitch, Isaac Stone, J. C. Fitch, H. Carter, Ichabod Fitch, and Daniel Newell. The lodge was installed Dec. 27, 1857. The present officers are as follows: John C. Biglow, M. ; Lewis Brassarel, Jr., S. W .; Wm. A. Blow, J. W .; Chas. Deal, Trcas. ; Chas. E. Everest, Sec .; Bart- lett Nye, S. D .; Emerson J. Lord, J. D .; John R. La- fountain, S. M. C .; Nathan L. Smith, J. M. C .; George Cookman, Tyler ; Henry W. Clark, Marshal ; Charles E. Everest, Charles Dcal, and Bartlett Nyc, Trustees.

CIVIL HISTORY.

Champlain was formed upon the organization of Clinton County, March 7, 1778, and its bounds are thus described in the " Laws of New York for 1789," vol. ii. p. 331 :

" All that part of the county of Clinton lying to the northward of the town of Plattsburgh, south of the boundaries of this State, west of the east bounds of the county of Clinton, and east of the county of Montgomery, shall be and hereby is erected into a town by the name of Champlain."

In addition to its present territory its boundaries em- braced the present towns of Chazy, Altona, Mooers, Ellen- burgh, and Clinton in this county, and the town of Cha- teaugay in Franklin County.

The records of this town from its organization to 1793 are lost, hence we are unable to give the civil list for that period.

The following is a list of the supervisors and town clerks from 1793 to the present time :

SUPERVISORS.

1793-1802, William Beaumont; 1803, no record; 1804-5, Samuel Hicks; 1806-12, Abijah North; 1813, George B. Depuyster; 1814-15, Benj. Moore; 1816, Thomas J. Whiteside; 1817-20, Abijah North ; 1821, Ezra Thurbur; 1822, Thomas J. Whiteside; 1822-31, Abijah North; 1832, Royal C. Moore; 1833, Abijah North; 1834, Benjamin Fassett; 1835-37, George Parry ; 1838- . 39, Benjamin Fassett; 1840, A. Albee; 1841, William B. Under- hill; 1842-43, A. Albee ; 1844, Jas. M. Burrows; 1845-47, Henry C. Dickinson ; 1848, Georgo V. Hoyle; 1849-50, Chauncey Smith; 1851-52, James M. Burrows; 1853-55, William S. Daggett; 1856, John H. Whiteside; 1857, William T. Crook ; 1858, Charles E. Everest ; 1859, Daniel D. T. Moore; 1860-63, George E. Dunning ; 1864-66, Thomas H. Slingsbley ; 1867-71, George H. Burroughs; 1872, Wm. V. B. Stetson ; 1873, P. 11. Myres ; 1874-75, Hiram L. Doolittle ; 1876, Lyndhurst C. Dodge ; 1877-79, Jas. Averill, Jr.

TOWN CLERKS.

1793-98, Samuel Ashman ; 1799, Amasa Corbin," Benjamin Moore; 1800-1, Benjamin Moore; 1802, Charles L. Saillie; 1803, Silas Hubbell; 1804-5, Samuel Ashman; 1806-10, Samuel Beaumont; 1811-15, Silas Hubbell ; 1816-22, Allen R. Moore; 1823, William B. Underhill; 1824-39, Joel Savage; 1840, Charles S. Moore and Horatio G. Robbins; 1841, Horatio G. Robbins; 1842-51, Joel Savage; 1852, David Finley ; 1853-59, George E. Dunning ; 1860, Benjamin C. Moore; 1861-65, Pliny F. Dunning; 1866, Julius C. Moore; 1867-71, John F. Gilbert; 1872, Charles Deal ; 1873-79, Ransom W. Graves.

CHAPTER LI.

CHAMPLAIN-(Continued).

Ecclesiastical History-Methodist Episcopal-Baptist-Presbyterian -Roman Catholic-Protestant Episcopal.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

THE itinerant Methodist, although not the pioneer preacher, was yet early on the ground of old Champlain. We must certainly fix the date of his advent here in the past century.

M'Lanc, Chichester, Hedding, Ryan, Pearse, Bates, Cook, Draper, Whiting, the Smiths, McKain, Bussey, and all the old pioneers of Methodism in Northern New York, are remembered by the first settlers as having many if not all of them preached in Champlain, organized classes, and held quarterly meetings. In the south part of the town, in what is now Chazy, Rev. William Anson, from Grand Isle, held frequent meetings for divine service as early as 1803-4, and many persons were converted to Christ.

Early settlers assert the presence here of Rev. Joseph Mitchel and Rev. Elijah Hedding as carly as 1799. Mit- chel came first. The first quarterly meeting was held at what is now Perry's Mills, in the barn of John Lain, in 1799. John Mathews and wife, Alice C., were on the ground in 1793, Phineas Fox in 1797, William Lewis in 1798. They either brought their Methodism with them from England, or were early converts to the faith after their removal to the town. Joseph Mitchel was distinctly remembered as a man of great spiritual power. Such is the testimony of William Fox, grandson of Phineas, whose memory eighteen years ago vividly ran into the past cen- tury. The ministers came on horseback through vast forests on a ride of two hundred miles, passing down on one side the lake and up on the other, consuming some four weeks in traversing the circuit, and preaching once, often twice, a day. Pulpits there were none, pay was scanty indced, and people lived few and far between. In 1800 there were only about 100 families in all Champlain.

There exists no satisfactory record of any organization until 1810. But at this date William Lewis, 'already named, was licensed as an exhorter. He resided at what is now called Perry's Mills, then called " Scheifelin's Mills." He frequently held religious meetings and led a class. It is not known, however, at what date the first class was formed. It is known that Phineas Fox, on the ground in 1797, was the first class-leader, and Thomas Fox was the next. Wil- liam Fox was certainly leader of a Methodist class previous to 1810, for in that year John Mathews led the class. The Foxes lived on the flat in the village, and afterwards on the " Odelltown Road."

The little class of 1810 was composed of John Mathews, Alice C. Mathews, Phineas Fox, Thomas Fox, Margaret Fox, Mrs. Pangman, Joseph Pratt, Lucy Pratt, Lois Lewis, Margaret Johnson, and Louisa Squires. The year that fol- lowed saw Dwight C. Hitchcock, Sophia Hitchcock, Rachel Mathews, and Leah Mathews, with others, enrolled as members.

Regular preaching at stated times was established by 1810, unbroken now for a period of sixty-six years. The

# He died in April, and Dr. Benj. Moore was chosen April 30th.

Photos, by Bigelow, Plattsburgh.

MRS. LEVI R. WATERS.

LEVI R. WATERS.

Among the early pioneer families of Champlain may be mentioned the Waters family. They are of English and Irish extraction. John Waters, only son of an English sea-captain by the name of John Waters, was born at Provi- dence, R. I., Aug. 20, 1777. His mother was an Irish lady by the name of Hannah Newland. His father was lost at sea, henee nothing is known of him; and his wife married for her second husband C. Burgess, who was killed by the falling of a limb from a tree ; and she married for her third husband a Mr. Diekinson.

John Waters was a farmer by occupation. He left Provi- dence when about fifteen years of age, and settled in Deer- field, Mass., and remained there until he married Huldah Robbins, a native of Deerfield, Mass., about 1798 or 1799. Miss Huldah Robbins was born in March, 1772. She was the daughter of John and Hannah Robbins, and was one of a large and intelligent family. Of the union of John and . Huldah Waters four children were born, viz. : John, born in Deerfield, Mass .; Asa, died while young; Levi R., who was born in Champlain, N. Y., May 16, 1806; and Huldah.

John Waters settled in Champlain in 1802, in the southern part of the town. He was regarded a good farmer. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and re- eeived land warrants for his services. He was a Democrat in polities, and held some minor town offiees.

He died in April, 1863, and was buried in the Waters' Cemetery. Mrs. Waters was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady of social influence. She died in July, 1846, and was buried by the side of her husband.

Levi R. Waters was reared as a farmer, and has eon- tinued to follow it ever sinee. He taught sehool several terms when a young man. He was a faithful son, and worked for his father until he was twenty-one. He mar- ried Polly Loomis, daughter of Alexander and Eunice Loomis, Oct. 14, 1829. Mrs. Waters was born in Corn- wall, Addison Co., Vt., June 25, 1806, and settled in Chazy with her parents when a child.

By the alliance of Mr. and Mrs. Waters nine children have been born, six of whom are living, viz .: Cyrus, an influential farmer and surveyor of Champlain; Horatio G. R., farmer and cattle-dealer, and is on the old home; Hiram, a soldier in the Rebellion, of the 5th Iowa Cavalry, served during the war, held various military positions from private to 1st lieutenant, and is now an orange grower in Florida ; Alexander L., deceased ; Polly, a retired sehool-teacher, and now lives with her parents ; Harry and Harriet, twins ; Harry is a farmer in the town of Mooers, and Harriet died while young ; and Eunice, married Ira Baxter, and resides in Champlain.

Mr. Waters is one of the substantial old native-born citi- zens of Champlain,-a man respeeted by all, and one who has by economy and perseverance accumulated a fine property. Mrs. Waters is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been for fifty years. Mr. Waters is a Republican in polities ; has held few minor offiees in the town.

Mr. and Mrs. Waters are now in their seventy-fourth year. Age is making its marks upon them, but they have lived to see those who started life with them pass away, and their children grow to manhood and womanhood, and settled in life, and are among the respeetable citizens of the county.

١٠٠٠٠٪

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TOWN OF CHAMPLAIN.

next year the Champlain district was organized, continuing until 1828, when another division was formed, and what is still called the Plattsburgh district was set off and organized.

During the war of 1812-14 the peace of the frontiers was much disturbed, the ministers came irregularly, and all religious interests suffered. Champlain lay in the path of invading armies, and its inhabitants were in constant dis- quiet. Meetings were held in the old stone mill at Cham- plain, which was built for a clothing-mill and dwelling-house. The building was owned by Judge Moore, and is still stand- ing at the west end of the iron bridge. Samuel Hicks having in 1799 put up a house expressly for a tavern on the spot where now stands the Champlain House, his largest rooms were opened for preaching by the Methodist itinerants. The dwelling-house of Mr. Pratt, which stood on the site now occupied by the Methodist Episcopal church, also the Masonic Hall and other places, were made Bethels for gathering and worship. The believers were simple in dress, humble in spirit, and accessions were from time to time made to their number.

The First Class at Perry's Mills .- A class was formed at Perry's Mills in 1816, with James Patterson for its leader. One was also organized at Rouse's Point in 1826, and John Pettenger appointed to lead it. These classes and leaders are the first known to have existed in the villages named.

From 1811 and on to 1828 the preachers were Jacob Beeman and Heman Garlic in 1811; Heman Garlic and Elisha P. Jacob in 1812; Nicholas White and Timothy Miner in 1813 ; Nicholas White and William Ross in 1814; John B. Stratton and - Eighmey in 1815; E. Barret and Buel Goodsell in 1816; A. Dunbar and J. Byington, also M. Amedon, in 1817 ; Gilbert Lyon and Harvey de Woolf in 1818; Gilbert Lyon and Phineas Doane in 1819; Buel Goodsell in 1820 and 1821; Seymour Landon and Elijah Crane in 1822; Seymour Landon and William Todd in 1823; James Quinlan and William Todd in 1824; James Quinlan and Asa Bushnell in 1825 ; Roswell Kelley and Orville Kimpton in 1826 ; Roswell Kelley and Charles P. Clark in 1827 ; and Daniel Brayton and Charles P. Clark in 1828.

We have very few particulars of the progress and history of Methodisin in town during the larger part of this period. A brick school-house was built at Champlain in 1816, and a stone one at Rouse's Point in 1824, that were used by the various denominations for places of divine worship.

Dec. 10, 1822, a subscription was commenced to erect a church edifice. The site was on the State road, one and a half mile south of the village of Champlain, on the Toby lot. The building was located on this spot for the purpose of having it stand in the centre of the town for the better accommodation. of all, and was completed in 1823. The trustees of this first house of worship were Jesse Toby, Dwight C. Hitchcock, Hiram W. Hitchcock, William Junior Churchill, and William Pettenger.

In this place the believers assembled for seven years, when in 1830 the edifice was found inconvenient in loca- tion, and was moved into the village, upon the spot where the present church stands. Here it remained until 1846, when it was sold and removed across the street to near the foot of the hill, where it was occupied as a dwelling-house

until 1860, when it was purchased by the Roman Catholics, refitted as a house of worship, and is still used by them for this purpose.

A season of revival occurred under pastors Brayton and Goodrich in 1829-30, and Benjamin Marvin in 1833.

The first camp-meeting ever held in town by the denomi- nation was on land owned by Hiram Dudley, between the foundry and the gulley on the east where now the iron horse speeds away. It occurred in the summer of 1835. Not a few still remember the divine unction then mani- fested, and the pathos and eloquence of Rev. John Haslem, the Irish wit and powerful preacher, who held the people bound in the spell of his consecrated magnetismn. When on the last night the roll of the converted was called, the number reported was one hundred. Two other camp meetings were held in after-years, no others being held by the Methodists until 1875.

Champlain was separated from Mooers as a circuit in 1840, although the quarterly meetings were held as one until 1850. From 1840 till 1845 the church experienced vicissitudes and was much agitated. The anti-slavery movement caused the secession of some to a new organiza- tion, the True Wesleyans. The Adventists appeared in town in 1842. There was much division in feeling. Three official members and seventeen others left the classes to ally themselves with the new order. With this loss there was still a degree of gain. Rev. Isaac Adrian, the Adventist evangelist, held meetings in March, 1842, in tlie then un- finished stone church at Rouse's Point. The resident pastor refusing to co-operate with him and his colleagues, Rev. J. W. Belknap, of Chazy, came and continued the meetings for a month, the result being the conversion of a hundred souls, and an accession to the Methodist classes of nearly seventy members, some of whom are prominent ones to-day.

On the 2d of August, 1846, a contract was made with Artemas Moses to build a new brick church edifice on the site of the old one, sold to the Romanists. The names of the trustees were Hiram Dudley, D. C. Hitchcock, John Johnson, and James Honsinger, Rev. N. B. Wood being the pastor in charge. The building, 46 by 34 fect in size, was completed in December, 1848, at a cost of $2115, and was dedicated by D. Starks, the then presiding elder.

In the autumn of 1855 the house was enlarged under the direction of Perrin W. Converse, William Dodds, and William Allison, who had been chosen a committee for this purpose. The edifice was reopened on Jan. 16, 1856, and rededicated under the supervision of William Griffin, the elder then presiding. The expenses of enlargement (in- cluding a bell which cost $343) reached the sum of $2200, making the total cost $4315.

Revivals are reported under pastors Hagar, in 1851, and Merrill, in 1855.

In 1856, Rouse's Point was first set off from Champlain as a separate station. Continuing our list of the names of the ministers, together with the years of their service in town, we present : Daniel Brayton and James R. Goodrich in 1829 ; Hiram Mecker, Alexander Hulin, and J. R. Goodrich, 1830; Hiram Mecker and Cyrus Meeker, 1831; J. W. B. Wood and William Richards, 1832; Benjamin

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Marvin, 1833 ; C. R. Morris and J. D. White, 1834; C. R. Morris and William Frazier, 1835 ; John Graves and H. Dunn, 1836; John Graves and Orrin Gregg, 1837; J. D. Burnham and Orrin Gregg, 1838 ; J. D. Burnham and M. Townsend, 1839 ; J. D. White and John Chase, 1840 ; J. D. White and George S. Gold, 1841 ; Benjamin Marvin, 1842 ; William Hurd, 1843; Oliver E. Spieer, 1844-45 ; Newton B. Wood, 1846-47; Josiah F. Chamn- berlain, 1848-49 ; Charles L. Hagar, 1850 ; C. L. Hagar and W. H. Meeker, 1851; Aaron Hall and John Kernan, 1852 ; Charles C. Gilbert, 1853-54; S. M. Merrill, 1855 ; William Bedell, 1856-57 ; Charles L. Hagar, 1858-59; Thomas A. Griffin, 1860-61; J. D. White, 1862-64 ; Andrew Witherspoon, 1865; M. A. Wieker, 1866-67 ; John Vrooman, 1868-69 ; A. S. Bigelow, 1870-72; S. D. Elkins, 1873-75; M. White, 1876-77; Oren Gregg, 1878, present ineumbent.

At Rouse's Point, upon its becoming a station, we name S. M. Merrill, 1856 ; C. R. Ford, 1857 ; Adolphus Canoll, 1858-59 ; C. L. Hagar, 1860; C. C. Gilbert, 1861.

Previous to 1831 none of the preachers were residents of the town. That year Cyrus Meeker lived at Rouse's Point.

In the midst of a religious awakening an attempt was made to ereet in that village a denominational house; an incorporation was formed, $1270 was raised by subserip- tion, and in Oetober of that year the edifiee, construeted of stone, was eommeneed. The first trustees were Joseph King, Emerson B. Lewis, John Walker, Rufus Norton, John W. Bailey, Clark Stearns, and John Angell. The land, one aere, was purchased of E. B. Lewis and Horaee M. White. The enterprise failing for laek of funds, the building was sold, and a union was formed with other de- nominations for the purpose of completing it.

In 1837, Alexander Stearns was, by the union trustees, employed to finish the structure, which was aecomplished in January, 1844, and it was then sold to the pew-holders. Three clergymen assisted at its dedication, viz., Rev. Conant Sawyer, Baptist, in the forenoon ; Rev. A. M. Brinkerhoof, Presbyterian, in the afternoon ; and Rev. William Hurd, Methodist, in the evening. The building is 65 by 40 feet, and there are sittings for 300 persons. A bell, weighing 800 pounds and eosting $300, was put up in July, 1845. The eost to the union trustees was $2925 ; its present esti- mated value is $4000. It is still held in trust, but the other denominations have long sinee abandoned its use, and its ownership has probably reverted to the Methodists, who have constantly oeeupied it for a period of thirty-two years.

May 6, 1873, was a dark day in the history of the Meth- dist Episcopal Church in Champlain. A destruetive fire oeeurred, and the holy and beautiful house where the fathers worshiped was eonsumed with flames, and all her pleasant things laid waste. The parsonage, situated adjacent, was also laid in ruins, and a total finaneial loss of $6000 was entailed, with no insurance upon anything. Only the fur- niture of the parsonage and a few movable things in the church were saved.

The retiring pastor, A. S. Bigelow, was about removing ; the new pastor, S. D. Elkins, found the house of worship and the minister's home in ashes, the Sunday-sehool seat-

tered, and the floek disheartened. Undaunted by disaster, the incoming pastor was found equal to sueh a dire emer- geney. The Presbyterians kindly tendered the use of their vestry, which was oeeupied by the unfortunate people until February, 1875. On the 18th the ehureh resolved to build anew, and May 24th saw the workers in order. Messrs. Elkins, Dodds, and Pettenger were chosen a building eom- mittee. In a short time $1800 were pledged to the enter- prise. The edifiee, a neat one built of briek, with arched windows of stained glass, a spire 120 feet in height, rose steadily from the site where the former lay in ashes. The main building is 50 by 36 feet, the transept or chapel, 48 by 28 feet ; the latter will seat 200, and the main audienee- room some 375 persons. The bell, presented by P. W. Con- verse, of Troy, weighs 1030 pounds. Many warm hearts and friendly hands of other denominational bodies aided the builders. On Feb. 17, 1875, the chapel was dedicated un- der the supervision of the presiding elder, Rev. T. A. Griffin. Mainly to the self-saerifiee, devotion, and untiring labors of the intrepid pastor, S. D. Elkins, is due its speedy erection. The entire property is worth $6000.

The present offieers (1879) are as follows : Wm. Dodds, Russel Moore, Joseph Pettanger, Austin C. Leonard, Loyal Cross, Henry Oliver, Eugene S. Gilbert, John T. Stewart, and Arthur A. Hiteheoek ; Trustees, William Dodds, James Palmer, Wilson Graves, Loyal Cross, and George Earle.

THE OLD BAPTIST CHURCH.

The preachers of this faith were here as early as 1793. That year Elder Nathaniel Colver, Sr., and his wife; Ruth Colver, removed to this town from Speneertown, N. Y., settling upon land on the right bank of the river, first elearing and oceupying the lot and ereeting thereon a log dwelling. The location is said to be opposite the so-ealled "Sweet Farm," onee owned by the Colvers. They had four sons, named Nathaniel, David, Orandatus, and Charles. David is reported as having been a Universalist preaeher, while Nathaniel, Jr., inherited the faith of his father, be- eame a minister of the Baptist order as early as 1795, and held religious meetings in the town. Whether the senior Colver performed professional labor among the early settlers after his eoming hither or not, we have been unable to as- eertain. But Nathaniel, Jr., held meetings in private houses and barns for several years prior to the advent of any other denominational elergyman of whom we have any knowledge. "I find him," says Rev. D. T. Taylor, "oeeu- pying, with his wife Esther, the lot No. 70, Smith and Graves patent, in 1795, rearing sons who subsequently be- came celebrated ministers among the Baptists. I refer to Phineas and Nathaniel, the last named dying some six years sinee, while of the former eame Hon. E. D. Colver, well known to many as a gifted publie man."

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

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