History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 86

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 648

USA > New York > Columbia County > History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 86

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This edifice was erected by the two societies in 1816, and was consecrated in the spring of 1817. It was an attractively proportioned frame building, forty-five by fifty- five feet, with a shapely spire, surmounted by an angel blowing a trumpet. The cost, including a good bell, was $4550. A board of trustees was elected by the Dutch congregation, March 3, 1817, to control its interests in the building. This was composed of Jacob Harder, John C.

Hogeboom, Edward Holmes, Philip Dunspaugh, Teunis Soyder, and John Holsapple.

The congregation was now more regularly supplied with preaching, and in 1819 ninety-six persons united in a petition to the classis of Rensselaer, asking for the forma- tion of a separate church. The prayer being granted, a special meeting was held to perfect the organization and install a consistory.

This first consistory of the Reformed Dutch church at Ghent were William P. Link and Teunis G. Snyder, elders; John Jacobie, Jr., and George A. Shufelt, deacons. In 1820, in addition to the before-mentioned persons, the fol- lowing were ordained elders and deacons, viz .: Jacob Stupplebeem and John H. Ryfenbergh, elders; Adam Gaul and Zechariah Link, deacons. And June 10 of that year these eight persons formed themselves and their successors into a body corporate, under the statute providing "for the incorporation of religious societies." The corporate name adopted was the " Consistory of Christ's Church in the town of Ghent." It may be well to remark that this corporate title was subsequently (April 29, 1824) changed to " The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Ghent," the certifi- cation of which, as filed in the county clerk's office, bears the names of P. S. Wynkoop, minister ; Conrad Gaul, Jacob C. Miller, Barent Van Buren, elders; Wilh's Os- trander, William Kisselburgh, Tunis Isbister, John Harder, deacons. This is yet the corporate name of the church. Thus, as far as ecclesiastical and civil law could go, the church was completely organized. Its only further lack was a constituency that would enable it to support the or- dinances of the gospel. This could only be secured through the consent of the churches of Kinderhook and Claverack ; for, of the ninety-six persons who signed the petition to classis, nearly all were members of either the one parent church or the other, and the heads of families were pledged to the support of the pastors of those churches. So long as the new organization were satisfied with what services these pastors could render, and were willing to be a mere out-station of these churches, no opposition arose; but when, in order to call a pastor of their own, application was made for the dismissal of those members who resided more con- venient to the church of Ghent, and their release from their subscriptions to the pastor's salary, both Claverack and Kiu- derhook refused to grant the application. At length, on the 23d of September, 1822, the bounds of the new church were determined, and a call to the pastorate was extended to Rev. Peter S. Wynkoop immediately after.

Mr. Wynkoop arrived and began his ministry in Ghent Dec. 10, 1822. He was installed Jan. 9, 1823, Revs. Andrew Kittle, Isaiah Y. Johnson, James Romeyn, and Richard Sluyter participating in the services. Immediately steps were taken as to the constitution of the membership. Those who had been received by verbal recommendation were required to bring certificates, and others presented theirs, and still others came forward on confession; and on Feb. 14 the revised list of members was made up as fol- lows (copying the register of the clerk) : "5 members heretofore admitted by certificate; 11 do. by confession ; 60 this day from Kinderhook by certificate ; 36 do. from Claverack; 1 do. from Hyde Park; 1 do. from Hudson;

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2 do. from Germantown ; 3 do. from old church of Squam- pamock ; 17 by confession,-136 total number of commu- nicants Feb. 14, 1823." Seven of this number; viz., Henry T. Snyder and wife, Jacob Rivenburgh, Mrs. Wm. P. Vos- burgh, Miss Ann Vredenburgh, Mrs. William Jones, and Mrs. Samuel Andress, survive, and are still in the commu- nion of the church. Rev. Mr. Wynkoop at the time of his settlement was in the vigor of his manhood, being in his thirty-sixth year, having had already ten years of min- isterial experience. He was a faithful, earnest, and evan- gelical preacher, but above all of deep personal piety, culti- vated by prayerful heart-searchings and communion with God. At noon, as well as morning and evening, he gath- ered his family about the altar of worship. He was strictly conscientious in the discharge of his duty, and to the neglect often of his private interests, and at every personal sacrifice fulfilled his appointments and watched over the spiritual interests of his flock. His pastorate extended over the period of twenty years, and besides the fruit that was gathered year by year, was marked by several seasons of special ingathering. Such were the years 1831, 1832, and 1838, in which last year forty-one were received on con- fession. During the twenty years one hundred and twenty by confession and forty-one by certificate were added to the church. The highest number of communicants reported in any one year was two hundred and twenty-five, in 1839.

The first year of his pastorate, Dominie Wynkoop resided in the house now occupied by Dr. P. W. Mull. The fol- lowing year a parsonage was purchased with eight acres of land, which was occupied by the pastor during the remain- ing years of his settlement. It yet stands, and is the home of Mr. Jacob Rivenburgh. The labors of Mr. Wynkoop were, by arrangement to that effect, shared by the Hillsdale or Krum church, until it was merged in the church of Mellenville, in 1840, and with the latter church until 1843, when he resigned his charge. Service was held every Sab- bath in the Ghent church, one Sabbath in the morning and the next in the afternoon (every other Sabbath morning the church being occupied by the Lutherans), and every fourth Sabbath, A.M., he preached at Ilillsdale. The Ghent church, as we have seen, in these twenty years had grown in numbers and strength very greatly, and for years the church had been filled with attentive worshipers. In 1840 the work of colonizing began, and several families and members were dismissed to help constitute the second church of Claverack (Mellenville). A year or two later a mission was begun at Chatham Four Corners, which soon grew into a church; and in constituting it Ghent again sent forth some of her children. Finally, the members in the western portion of the town agitated the securing a church in their own vicinity, an effort which resulted in the organization, in 1843, of the Second Reformed church of Ghent, and the withdrawal from the old church of nearly one-half of its families and members. These changes so weakened the financial strength of the parent church, that when Mellenville wished a pastor for itself, it felt itself unable to keep its obligation to Mr. Wynkoop. He too seems to have been despondent of the future, and accord- ingly resigned his call, after a pastorate of more than twenty years.

Though shorn of its members the Ghent church, after the lapse of several months, addressed itself to the work of securing a pastor. In the spring of 1845 their choice fell on Rev. John De Witt, son of an honored professor in the Theological Seminary, and who is now filling with acceptance and efficiency the chair of Biblical Literature in the same institution. An effort was made to secure a sufficient subscription to settle him, which seems to have met with such success as to warrant a call, which was made upon him April 3, 1845. The salary offered was $400. Mr. De Witt accepted, and gave four years of his early ministry to the service of this church. It was a critical period in its history. Families had fallen from one hun- dred to forty-five, and communicants from over two hundred to eighty-five, and it seemed doubtful whether the old church had not been so weakened as to presage extinction. However, the new pastor, despite discouragements, addressed himself to the strengthening of the things that remained. His work was largely one of adjusting the affairs of the church to its new condition. Two important measures were successfully carried through looking to this end. The first was to secure the title and exclusive possession of the church edifice. For forty-five years the Reformed and Lutheran societies had now been joint occupants of the same house of worship. So long as their pastors alternated their labors with other parishes the arrangement worked well, but now the Reformed church had a minister wholly to themselves, and only a half interest in the church. Hence they inaug- urated measures for dissolving the existing copartnership. The proposal was made to the Lutheran society to buy or sell for $1100,-a proposition that was met by them with an offer to sell for that sum. The Reformed consistory, in order to make the purchase, sold their parsonage, and on April 2, 1846, received a deed for the Lutheran interest. Having thus gained full possession of the old church, the second measure of importance inaugurated was a change in the method of providing for the support of the church,-a change effected in March, 1847, by an order of consistory to have an annual sale of the pews to the highest bidder. Thus the plan of a subscription list, with its unavoidable losses and inconveniences, was doue away with,-superseded by a better if not a perfect system.

In September, 1848, the connection of Rev. Mr. De Witt with the Ghent church was dissolved to enable him to ac- cept a call to the church of Canajoharie. During his min- istry eight had been added to the church, two by confession and six by certificate. During a portion, if not all the time, of his pastorate the church had to depend on the Board of Domestic Missions for aid in supporting its pastor, -a dependence that was to continue up to 1855. The vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Rev. Mr. De Witt lasted scarcely a month, for Sept. 24, 1848, the consistory made a call upon Rev. John Gray, for many years settled at Schodack, but then of Cohoes. They were fortunate in securing his speedy acceptance. He assumed the duties of his office the first Sabbath in October, and for exactly seven years faithfully and earnestly labored to serve the Master and the church. Full of experience, gathered through years of missionary labor, alike in the foreign and do- mestic fields, and fifteen years of the pastorate in this

PHOTO BY J A ALUS, CHATHAM VILLAGE

GEO T POWELL.

PEAR ORCHARD

PEACH ORCHARD.

THE RESIDENCE

RESIDENCE & FRUIT FARM OF TOWNSEND POWELL, GHENT, COLUMBIA CO.,NY

LITH BY L H EVERTS & CO PHILA, PA

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IIISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

country, with a heart on fire with love for souls, a ready and pithy preacher, under him the church grad- ually strengthened, and the prospect became more hopeful. A parsonage was purchased for him by a number of mem- bers of the congregation, who retained the title, but gave the use of it to the pastor. It is now the residence of Mr. Seth Winn.

During his pastorate the Rev. Mr. Gray received thirty- two into communion of the church, nineteen of whom were on confession. Twenty-six-thirteen by confession and thirteen by certificate-were received during the last year of his settlement. Shortly preceding and attending the resignation of Mr. Gray, there was an unfortunate breach of the long-prevailing harmony of the church, and which, costing the church its pastor and its parsonage, threatened its disruption. Mr. Gray on leaving, for a short time as- sumed a pastorate in western New York, but in a year or two returned here and took up his residence among his old people, in the house now occupied by his widow. He still did efficient service with his pen, and died among us, hon- ored and mourned, in 1865. By earnest effort the church was able, independent of the Board of Missions, to call a pastor for the old-time salary, and their choice fell upon Rev. W. W. Letson, a recent graduate of the seminary. His call bears date Feb. 18, 1856. He assumed charge shortly after, and continued to serve the church faithfully and acceptably for eight years. He resigned his call in January, 1864. During his pastorate considerable prog- ress was made, the people became united, a parsonage was secured, and a good degree of prosperity enjoyed. The accessions to the church were twenty-one by confession and six by certificate.

The present pastor was installed Aug. 9, 1864. In these fourteen years the church has passed through many trials,-has had its days of discouragement and darkness,- but the Lord has not allowed his cause to suffer or his church to perish. Indeed, as we look over this period, we can thankfully praise him for what he has wrought, and gather a lesson of confidence and trust for the future. In 1864 the church numbered forty-two families and sixty-two members. It now numbers sixty-five families and one hun- dred and fifteen members. Eighty members have been received into the communion (fifty-eight by confession), of whom seventy-five yet remain with us. The Sabbath-school has grown from less than thirty scholars in 1864 to nearly one hundred and ten in 1878. Just when the old church had been refitted, at an expense of about $1500, on the night of Dec. 23, 1868, it was burned. It seemed for a moment as if the history of the Ghent church was ended, but the little band rallied and addressed themselves zeal- ously to the work of rebuilding. The present tasteful and convenient edifice, on its new and eligible site, was erected at an expense of nearly $15,000, and on June 28, 1870, was dedicated and opened for worship. Having paid for it, in the summer of 1872 the old parsonage was sold, and the present spacious and substantial residence adjoining the church was built, at a cost of about $4500. In all the needful appointments of a church we have now nothing to desire ; and withal the Lord has not failed to add his spirit- ual blessing and largely revive his work. Surely, on the

review of the century, and particularly the last decade, we have every reason to thank God and take courage. It shows conspicuously that God is mindful of his people, and ever watches over and cares for his church.

The present officers of the church are : Pastor, Rev. J. B. Drury ; Elders, Philip Mesick, William Jones, Aaron C. Garner, Samuel Adams; Deacons. Aurelius M. Tracy, Charles Van Deusen, William W. Vosburgh, Richard Philip.

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF GHENT .*

The early records of this body are vagne and unsatisfac- tory, aud, prior to 1825, consist mainly of the record of the baptism of two hundred and twenty-nine infants, many of whose names cannot be deciphered. But from contem- porary memoranda, it appears that prior to 1775 several Lutheran families resided in this vicinity who had occa- sional preaching by ministers from Rhinebeck and German- town. In consequence the organization of a church fol- lowed, without, however, having their own house of worship prior to 1801. That year, in consideration of repairs made by the Lutherans, a half-interest was obtained in the Dutch Reformed meeting-house in Squampamock, the transfer of which was dated Dec. 5, 180I, aud signed by John C. Lawrence, Johannes and Bartholemew Hogeboom, Daniel Pultz, and John Tator. This joint ownership of the church property was continued more than forty years.

The church being too weak to support a pastor of its own, the pulpit was supplied at stated times by the Revs. Frederick Quitman, of Rhinebeck, Augustus Wackerhagen, of Germantown, and Rev. Uhl, of Churchtown.

Their ministry was attended by many additions to the membership of the church, and the baptism of a large number of infants. The names of many of these are yet recognized in the families of the present citizenship of Ghent, though somewhat modified by the changes of time. The early services of the church, as well as the intercourse among the people, was in the German, and were continued as late as 1825 in that language.

Oct. 12, 1815, a joint meeting of the Lutheran and Dutch Reformed church was held to devise measures to erect a new house of worship. Having determined to build, the contract was awarded to Ephraim Baldwin, who began work in the spring of 1816. The house was reared on the site of the old building, on the southeast corner of the present Union cemetery, in spite of a determined effort to secure its erection in the western part of the town. It was a frame, forty-five by fifty-five fect, and cost $4550. The dedicatory services were performed in the spring of 1817, by the Rev. Dr. Quitman, of Rhinebeck. On the 7th of November, 1818, the church was incorporated, under the laws of the State, with the following council: Trustees, Henry Shufelt, David Cookingham, and John Rossman ; Elders, Jonathan Traver and John Y. Tator ; Deacons, John M. Pultz, Frederick Traver, Henry Tator.

The congregation continued to be supplied with preach- ing by other churches until Oct. 5, 1826, when the Rev. Jacob Berger was installed as the first settled pastor by

# From a sketch by the pastor, Rev. S. A. Weikert.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Dr. Wackerhagen, president of the synod of New York. Rev. Berger was a graduate of Union College, a profound theologian, eloquent to an unusual degree, and possessed of deep personal piety. He was a power in the pulpit and out of it. He served this church, in connection with those of Churchtown and Valatie, during his entire minis- terial life, extending over a period of more than seventeen years. He died in his field of labor, March 11, 1842, aged forty-five years, and was interred at Churchtown. His pastorate was very prosperous : one hundred and seventy- three were added to the church,-one hundred and forty- two by confirmation,-and four hundred and twenty-five children were baptized. The largest number of communi- cants reported was in 1841,-one hundred and twenty. Of the eighty who celebrated the Lord's Supper the first time after his settlement, Mrs. Hannah Groat, now eighty- seven years old, is the only survivor.

About 1827 a parsonage was built conjointly by the Ghent and Churchtown societies at Mellenville, which yet remains as the property of William Thompson.

A vacancy of ten months followed Mr. Berger's decease, when the Rev. E. Deyoe became the pastor. During his three years' ministerial connection the church passed through one of the most remarkable epochs of its history,- the separation from the Dutch Reformed church, and the building of a house of worship owned solely by itself. This step was necessitated by the rapidly-increasing mem- bership of both churches, which demanded more frequent worship than before, each requiring the exclusive use of a house. By the terms agreed upon, the Lutherans sold their interest in the house, with a stipulation which per- mitted them to use it until June 1, 1845. A committee was accordingly appointed to select a site for the new church, which reported Oct. 4, 1845; and of the five places suggested, it was decided to build on the lot offered by Dr. Pugsley, and which is now occupied by the meeting- house. In consequence of this determination, twenty families living in the southern part of the town withdrew from the church, but subsequently most of them reunited. Jacobus Harder, Michael I. Waltermire, George W. Den- niger, George D. Pultz, and Jacobus Van Hoesen were appointed a building committee, under whose supervision the house was commenced in the fall of 1845. It was completed the following summer, at a cost of $5000, and was consecrated by the Rev. Dr. Pohlman, of Albany, with the corporate name of " Christ's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghent."

Rev. E. Deyoe closed his pastorate in 1846, to accept a call in New Jersey. He was an earnest, practical preacher and a faithful pastor, whose connection with the church was promotive of its good. Sixty-six were added to the membership, forty-seven by confirmation. From 1846 to 1866 the church had a gradual growth, and nothing worthy of note occurred except the pastoral changes. These were Rev. Geo. W. Lewis, from March, 1847, to 1850, who was deposed from the ministerial office for irregularity of conduct ; Rev. John Rugan, from Sept. 18, 1850, to Dec. 1, 1852; Rev. J. D. English, from Feb. 1, 1853, to June, 1854; Rev. N. H. Cornell, from July, 1854, to February, 1861 ; . Rev. Peter Felts, from Sept. 1, 1861, to 1870.

While he was pastor, in the summer of 1866, the meet- ing-house was enlarged from its original dimensions, forty by fifty feet, to its present capacious size, and otherwise improved, at a cost of $2700. It is now a very neat and attractive structure, and reflects credit upon the committee charged with making the alterations. This was composed of Cyrus Groat, Michael I. Waltermire, and Wm. Stup- plebeem.

Mr. Felts' successful pastorate was closed March 1, 1870, and from that period until Jan. 1, 1871, the pastoral office was vacant. Then the Rev. A. S. Hartman came and filled it two years. A year's vacancy followed, when the Rev. J. A. Tomlinson became the spiritual guide of the church for a period of thirteen months. The present pastor, the Rev. S. A. Weikert, assumed charge July 11, 1875. During his three years' pastorate the membership of the church has been increased by the addition of 50 persons, 36 of whom were received as a result of the revival in the winter of 1876. The church at present (1878) numbers 75 families, 165 communicants, and is in a prosperous condition.

Substantial improvements have lately been made on the church property and parsonage, putting them in excellent condition. The official board is composed of: Trustees : Jere- miah Kittle, Albert S. Winn, and William Geary; Elders, Sylvester Melius, Cyrus Groat, and Henry Shults ; Deacons, Charles Arnold, Levi Laik, and Martin Stupplebcem.

A Sunday-school was organized by the Rev. Berger in the early part of his pastorate, which, excepting a few years, has always been superintended by Sylvester Melius. It now numbers 115 members.

THE SECOND REFORMED PROTESTANT (DUTCH) CHURCH OF GHENT*

was organized on the 15th day of May, 1843. The act of organization was granted by the classis of Rensselaer, at a meeting held in the Reformed church of Claverack the 18th day of April of the same year, at which time a peti- tion was presented by certain individuals residing in the western part of the town of Ghent praying for the forma- tion of a church in their vicinity. After deliberation the classis resolved to grant the prayer, and appointed a com- mittee to organize said church. In pursuance of this ap- pointment, the Rev. Dr. Gosman, of Hudson, on the 18th day of May, appeared and presided at an election of officers, held at the school-house, in district No. 5, near the pro- posed place of building. The following were then chosen to serve as the first consistory of the new enterprise: Con- rade Smith, Peter Philip, Jr., Wilhelmus H. Link, Mat- thias A. Emerick, as elders, and John T. Van Alstyne, James 1. Leggett, William E. New, Abraham Van Aleu, as deacons.

They were ordained by Dr. Gosman on the 11th of June. The corner-stone of the church was laid on the 14th day of June, by Dr. Gosman, and on the day following the cer- tificate of organization was acknowledged before Darius Peck, judge of the court of common pleas of the county of Columbia, and filed and recorded in the clerk's office on the same day.

# By Rev. Jacob W. Schenck.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The building of the church was pushed rapidly forward ; and on the 9th of September, 1843, it was dedicated to the worship of God, the sermon on the occasion being preached by the Rev. Dr. I. N. Wyckoff, of Albany.

The size of the edifice, which still remains the same ex- ternally as at its erection, is fifty feet in length by forty in width.

Immediately upon their ordination the consistory tendered a call to the Rev. Theodore F. Wyckoff to become their pastor for one year, who, accepting the overture, was or- dained to the gospel ministry and installed pastor of the church July 12, 1843. The ordination sermon was preached by his father, Dr. I. N. Wyckoff ; the charge to the pastor was delivered by Dr. Gosman, and the charge to the people by Rev. E. S. Porter, of Chatham.

At the first communion, held on the second Sabbath of October, seventy-six persons were reccived into the fellow- ship of the church, nearly all by certificate from the sur- rounding churches. Of this number, more than one-half were dismissed from the First Reformed church of Ghent.

The last sermon of Rev. T. S. Wyckoff was preached Aug. 4, 1844. Shortly after a call was made upon the Rev. George R. Williamson, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church Oct. 16, 1844. The sermon was preached by Rev. George H. Fisher, New York, from 1 Peter, i. 3-5 ; the charge to the pastor was given by Rev. I. C. Boyce, of Claverack, and that to the people by Rev. B. Vanzandt, of Kinderhook. Mr. Williamson remained pastor of the church until 1848, when he was called to the church of Amity, New York. He perished in the explo- sion of the "Reindeer," on the Hudson river, September, 1852.

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History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 86

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 648

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 648