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 94
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
Record lost. 66
Record lost.
1791-99. C. Mckinstry.
1800-8. Samuel Mallery.
1809-11. Ebenezer Soule.
1812. B. Williams.
1813-14. William Tanner.
=
=
1815-16. J. C. Olmstead.
1817. Edward Bagley.
1818-22. Jos. Morehouse.
1823-24. Wm. Jordan, Jr.
1825-27. Jos. Morehouse.
1828. Amos M. Knapp.
1829-30. Jos. Morehouso. 66
1831-32. Henry Loop.
1833-34. Quincy Johnson.
=
1835-36. Samuel Judson.
1837-43. John F. Collin. =
1844-45. A.A.Spiekerman. 1846. Joseph P. Dorr.
66
=
1847.
Thomas K. Baker.
Benson Simpson. Peter O. Beeker.
1849.
John T. Snyder.
1850.
1851.
Edgar M. Knox.
George W. Bushnell. Benson Simpson, Peter M. Beckor. David Bushnell. Peter O. Beeker. Lewis Haywood, Jr.
1852. John 11. Overhiser. 1853. 44 Charles Crow.
1854. Henry A. Collin.
1855. William P. Stiekle. George L. Palmer.
1856. Henry A. Collin. Nicholas C. Tyler.
Albert G. Stillman.
1857. Ralph Judson.
William Foster.
1858. Joseph P. Dorr. 1859.
Wm. P. Mattison. Henry Cornell.
Lorenzo Gilbert. Moses Jones.
1860. Stephen B. Barteau. William H. Jenks.
1861.
George M. Foster. William Foster.
Peter Humphrey. Stephen Sharts.
1863. Austin Morey. A. Frank B. Chace. Chas. W. Hegerman.
1864.
Theoph. Dimmick.
Alexander Snyder. Hiram Winslow.
1865. John H. Overhiser. Heury Cornell.
1866. Martin H. Garner.
William Albert.
1867. Peter B. Hollenbeck. Dewitt N. Rowe.
Henry L. Beeker.
1868. "
Porter A. Beeker.
1869. Henry Cornell.
Grosvenor A. Knox. Benj. Ostrander. 66
llenry Duncan.
1870.
1871. Chas. H. Downing.
William II. Woodin.
=
=
=
1848. Henry A. Collin.
Walter Dorehester.
Cornelius G. Beeker.
1862. "
Photos. by F. Forshew, Hudson.
E. W. Bushwell Catharine Bushnell
ELISHA W. BUSHNELL was born in the town of Hills- dale, Columbia Co., N. Y., Dec. 27, 1818. His grandfather, George Bushnell, was born in Saybrook, Conn., whence he emigrated to Hillsdale at the age of eighteen, and settled on the adjoining farm west of the present Bushnell home- stead. He had six children, among whom was John Bushnell, the second son, who was the father of Elisha W. Bushnell, whose name stands at the head of this article.
John Bushnell was born on the farm where his father first settled, Sept. 26, 1789; married Sept. 26, 1810, to Loxea Lay, of Westbrook, Conn .; was a farmer by occupa- tion, a man of energy and enterprise, and highly esteemed for his excellent character. He had ten children, all of whom reached maturity, and six of whom are now living.
Elisha W. is the fifth child of John Bushnell. He was brought up on the farm, and educated in his boyhood at the common schools. In the fall of 1839 he settled on the place he now occupies, afterwards purchasing the interest of his brother George. On the 18th of September, 1840,
he was married to Emma, daughter of Dr. Benjamin House, of Hillsdale.
Originally a Whig in politics, he became a Republican on the formation of the latter party. In 1854 he was elected to the Legislature, and served the succeeding term with credit.
Mr. Bushnell has been a thoroughgoing and enterprising farmer. He has not only surrounded himself and family with the conveniences and comforts of a most desirable home, but has acquired a competence of this world's goods, and has been liberal in the use of his means for the higher aims and objects of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell have had five children, only two of whom are living, viz .: Sarah E., wife of Mr. A. F. Park, of Otsego county, farmer, now residing in Hillsdale ; and George V. Bushnell, a graduate of Yale College in 1874, and since then engaged chiefly in teaching as an occupation.
Mr. Bushnell has been an active member of the Columbia County Agricultural Society since 1842, and held the office of president of the same from 1850 to 1855.
*
LITH . BY L. H. EVERTS &CO. PHILA, PA
FARM VIE WAND RESIDENCE OF E. W. BUSHNELL, HILLSDALE, NEW YORK.
371
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Supervisors.
Town Clerks. Collectors.
1872. George M. Bullock. Grosvenor A. Knox. Peter V. Suyder.
1873. Alfred Curtis.
Jolin C. Hubbard.
Peter M. Beeker.
1874. "
James K. Gorsline. John L. Duntz.
1875. Rutsen Ilunt.
Freeland Pulver. M. D. Van Tassel.
Charles Clarson.
1877. Allen Sheldon.
Levi Zeh. =
George W. Becker.
1878.
Napoleon Benediet.
The justices of the peace appointed in Hillsdale from the organization of the town till the law authorizing their election by the people went into effect, in the fall of 1827, were as follows, the dates being the beginning of their first and last terms of continuous service :
1786-1801. Jacob Ford. 1786-98 and 1810-13. J. Bryan. 1786-1808. Benjamin Birdsall. 1792-1801 and 1808. D. Pratt. 1795. Charles MeKinstry.
1795-1808. Ebenezer Soule. 1801-8. Edward Bagley. Judah Lawrence. Bartholomew Williams. 1808 and 1815. Jos. Morehouse. Aaron Reid. 1809 and 1818. S. Richmond. 1810. Oliver Teall.
1810-13. Sanford Tracy. Cyrus Alger.
1824. Stephen Hadley.
1825. Cornelius Van Keuren.
1826. James MeKeon.
The justices of the peace elected by the people since 1827 have been as follows, viz. :
1827. Josiah Knapp, Jr.
1851. Lewis B. Adsit.
Thaddeus Reed.
1852. Eli Richmond.
Jared Winslow.
1853. Andrew Iliggins.
John Richmond.
1854. Philip Beeker.
1828. Richard Gaul.
1855. Lewis B. Adsit.
1829. Jared Winslow.
1856. Eli Richmond.
1830. Thaddeus Reed.
1831. Josiah Knapp, Jr.
1832. Richard Gaul.
1857. Andrew Iliggins. 1858. Philip Becker. 1859. Lewis B. Adsit. 1860. Ira Palmer.
1833. Jared Winslow.
1834. Thaddeus Reed.
1861. Samuel Judson.
1835. Josiah Knapp, Jr.
1862. William Coon.
1836. Richard Gaul. 1863. Lewis B. Adsit. 1837. Jared Winslow. Frederick Pultz. 1864. Willis Dishrow. 1865. Charles Crow.
1866. John Q. Johnson.
1838. Thaddeus Reed. 1839. Samuel Judson.
1867. Hiram Winslow.
1840. Frederick Pultz.
1868. Willis Disbrow.
1841. Jared Winslow.
1869. Charles Crow. 1870. John Q. Johnson.
1843. Samuel Judsoo. 1844. Frederick Pultz.
1845. Jared Winslow.
1846. John 1I. Overhiser.
1847. Rodney Hill.
1848. John H. Overhiser, f. t. Nicholas Tyler, v.
1876. Willis Disbrow.
1849. Andrew Higgins.
1877. William Coop.
1878. Charles Crow.
The town-meetings are held at Hillsdale, but the general elections are held by districts ; the polls being located at Hillsdale, Harlemville, and Green River.
HILLSDALE VILLAGE
is situated on the south line of the town, three miles from the State line; it is a station on the New York and Harlem railroad, and the most important in the county south of Chatham. It is pleasantly located, and possesses a very good class of buildings. There are about sixty dwellings, three stores, two hotels, a marble yard, two churches ( Pres- byterian and Methodist), a tin-shop, blacksmith and wagon- shop, cabinet-shop, and job-printing establishment ; and a population of about three hundred.
HARLEMVILLE
is a little village in the extreme northwest corner of the town, and contains about twenty dwellings, with a popula- tion of about one hundred. It has a hotel, two stores, wagon-shop, shoe-shop, two blacksmith-shops, and a Meth- odist Episcopal church.
GREEN RIVER
is a hamlet in the valley of the Green river, in the north- east corner of the town. It was formerly known as Green River Hollow. It contains a Christian church, a hotel, a school-house, a shoe-shop, a blacksmith-shop, and about a dozen houses, with a population of about fifty.
MURRAY'S CORNERS
is a small collection of houses, a mile and a quarter east of Hillsdale, and contains, among other buildings, a foundry, wagon-shop, blacksmith-shop, and a store.
NORTH IHILLSDALE, OR IHILLSDALE CENTRE,
is a straggling settlement in the east centre of the town, and has a store and two churches, Baptist and Methodist. Here is also located the North Hillsdale iron mine, which is the only one now being worked in Hillsdale. This bed of hematite ore was first discovered in the spring of 1864. While drawing stone across the field at the foot of the high hill baek of the present shaft, the wheels cut deeply into the soft ground, and turned up a curious, brownish-colored earth, which, upon examination, proved to be an excellent quality of iron ore. The owner, Rutsen Hunt, sold a min- eral lease of the premises to some parties in New York, who worked it to some extent. In 1867 the lease was transferred to the present proprietor, Edward T. Haight, of New York. At first the mine was worked from the surface by the mode known as " open-cut mining," but this was soon changed for the method of shaft and gallery mining. The mine is apparently inexhaustible, and, though not worked to its full capacity, has already furnished many thousand tons of ore that have been shipped to Albany and other points.
Recently a very fine and various-colored kind of mineral paint has been discovered in close contact with the veins of iron ore, and promises to be a valuable discovery. At pres- ent the mine furnishes employment to a force of eight miners.
Iron ore has also been mined at two other points in the southeastern part of the town. These deposits of ore were discovered by Calvin Prescott about forty-five years ago. The northernmost bed is on the farm of George Brady. It
1842. Thaddeus Reed.
1871. Hiram Wioslow.
1872. William T. Holsapple. 1873. Charles Crow, f. t. Willis Disbrow, v. 1874. John Q. Johnson. 1875. Hiram Winslow.
1850. Quiney Johnson, f. t. Lewis B. Adsit, v.
1813. Joel Pieree. Isaae Ford. Story Gott.
William Niles. 1815-18. Henry Loop.
1815-24. Jared Winslow. 1815. David Leonard. Timothy Reed. Joseph Rodman. Jonathan C. Olmstead. 1817-24. George Squier. 1817. Erastus Pratt. 1821. Salmon Wey. 1821-24. Richard Gaul.
1810 and 1815. Jesse Ford. 1812-15. Maurice Birdsall. 1813. John Pixley.
1876. John Q. Johnson.
372
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
was worked for a time by the Hillsdale Iron Mining Com- pany. Since 1874 it has lain idle. It is now owned by J. B. Ireland, of New York.
The second and southernmost bed is on the lands of Samuel and Stephen Mitchell. It was first opened about 1800, but has not been worked for several years.
CEMETERIES.
In early times the dead were buried in private or family burying-grounds, of which there were over forty in this town. Some of these, being conveniently located, grew to considerable size, but most of them have been neglected, obliterated, and forgotten as the years rolled on.
Among the older cemeteries now in existence are the ones at North Hillsdale and at Green River. The latter is situated on the south bank of the brook that empties into the Green river at that place. It is called the Hatch burying- ground, and has been somewhat eneroachcd upon by a change in the course of the stream. The oldest stones containing any inscription are slabs of slate rudely carved, and many of them much broken and defaced. The oldest inscriptions now to be found read as follows, viz .:
" Mrs. Isabel, wife of Mr. Elisha Hatch, died July 23d, 1767, in her 43d year."
"Mr. Elisha Hatch, died April 15th, 1770."
" Mary, wife of Mr. James Steveson, died Jan. 1st, 1783."
"Lieut. Willard Shepard, died March 2d, 1784."
The North Hillsdale cemetery was originally one acre of ground, set apart by the patroon Van Rensselaer for a bury- ing-ground for his tenants. It has been enlarged by three successive purchases until it now contains about four acres of ground, pleasantly situated on a sloping, rolling side-hill, with a southeastern exposure. It is well fenced and shaded. Among the oldest stones bearing inscriptions we find the following, viz. : Robert, Archibald, and Phoebe Lamont, buried respectively in 1789, 1795, and 1799 ; three Tealls, the Christian names undecipherable, one dated 1769 and another 1795.
" Lieut. Robert, son to Mr. William and Mrs. Ilope Orr, died Feb. 1780."
" __ Spalding, died June -, 1782, in ye 56 year of his age." g, son to Jeremiah aud Abigail Shaw, - June 20th, 1779."
" Thomas, son of Eosign Joshua and Mrs. Hannah Whitney, died March 20th, 1771."
The oldest and most ornate of all is still in a good state of preservation, and was evidently in its day considered a very pretentious piece of workmanship. It reads,-
" In memory of Lientenant Thomas Whitney, who died June 26th, 1767, in his 38th year."
This cemetery was incorporated Nov. 27, 1865, with the following officers : President, Nathaniel House ; Vice-Pres- ident, Orville MeAlpine ; Secretary, Major M. Bullock ; Treasurer, Cyrenus F. Tyler ; Superintendent, Egbert House ; Trustees, Jackson Palmer, Nathaniel House, George M. Bullock, Orville McAlpine, Cyrenus F. Tyler, Richard Bartlett, Ambrose L. Overhiser, Grosvenor A. Knox, Egbert House.
The present officers are Major M. Bullock, president ;
Thomas S. Hayes, vice-president ; Ambrose L. Overhiser, secretary ; Austin Morey, treasurer and superintendent ; Allen B. Downing, Egbert House, Grosvenor F. Stickles, John White, Orville McAlpine, Austin Morey, George M. Bullock, A. L. Overhiser, Grosvenor A. Knox, trustees.
Near Hillsdale there were two small burial-grounds, com- menced a little before 1800, which became so full that it necessitated the providing of another cemetery, and on Nov. 28, 1865, a meeting was held at the Methodist Episcopal church in Hillsdale, and the " Hillsdale Rural Cemetery Association" was organized, and incorporated with the fol- lowing board of trustees : Quincy Johnson, John F. Collin, Morris M. Brainard, Quincy Collin, John Q. Johnson, Henry Burton, Horace G. Westlake, A. Frank B. Chaec, Edward L. Snyder.
The first officers were Morris M. Brainard, president ; Henry Burton, vice-president ; Walter B. Ten Broeck, sec- retary ; George Sornborger, treasurer. The cemetery lot consists of about five and one-fourth acres, and was pur- chased of Dr. Henry Cornell for $1200. It lies in a pleasant location about one-half mile northeast of Hillsdale village, and is well fenced and graded, and a good supply of shade-trees have been set out. The ground is divided into four hundred and forty-four plots, and numerous fine monuments and headstones have been placed in them. The association owns a fine hearse, which was the gift of Mrs. Eveline Johnson. There is a hearse-house and a receiving- vault in the cemetery grounds.
The present officers are John Q. Johnson, president ; Peter J. Becker, vice-president; Walter B. Ten Broeck, secretary ; Owen Bixby, treasurer ; John Q. Johnson, Peter J. Becker, Walter B. Ten Broeck, Henry Cornell, Cortse Shutts, Philip Becker, George Sornborger, P. B. Hollen- beck, Quincy Johnson,* trustees.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HILLSDALE.
This church was organized August 16, 1831, by Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Green River, assisted by Rev. Gardner Hayden, of Egremont, and Rev. Leonard B. Van- dyke, missionary. It was then composed of fourteen mem- bers, whose names were Jehiel Anable, Laban J. Ayles- worth, Bethia Nooney, Lydia Bristol, Cornelia Kenneda, Nancy Knapp, Sylvia Vosburgh, Eliza Van Deusen, Mary Aylesworth, Nancy M. Knapp, Nancy M. Nooney, Cynthia Van Deusen, Susannah M. Van Deusen, Charlotte Wil- liams. The eight first named joined on profession of faith, while the others presented letters from the churches of which they were formerly members.
Jehicl Anable and L. J. Aylesworth were chosen as the first elders, and also to perform the duties of deacons.
The first house of worship was erected on the present site in 1832. It was a frame building, whose dimensions were thirty-six by forty-eight feet, and cost $2000. In 1850 it was repaired and remodeled, at a cost of $1800, and in 1877 it was thoroughly repaired and refitted, at an expense of nearly $1700. The parsonage was built in 1857, on lands purchased of Theodore Nash. It was built under contract by Philip Becker, and cost $1600. This
* Deceased.
( PHOTO BY J R ALLIS, CHATHAMA VILLAGE
JOHN F. COLLIN
LITH BY L. H. EVERTS & CO. PHILA PA
RESIDENCE OF J.F. COLLIN, HILLSDALE, COLUMBIA CO, N. Y.
373
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
was exclusive of the site and some work done on the foun- dations before the lot was purchased. The present valu- ation of the church and parsonage is respectively estimated at $3000 for the church and $2000 for the parsonage ; total, $5000.
The pastors in the order of their ministrations have been Revs. Amos W. Seeley, George R. Entler, Winthrop H. Phelps, Joseph N. McGifert. The pulpit has also been supplied for longer or shorter periods by Revs. Mr. Osborn, John S. Himrod, Robert W. Landis, J. W. Larimore, L. M. Gates, Joshua Collins, - Millard, J. H. Mitchell, J. F. Grimes, and James A. Clark, who has been connected with the church since June, 1877.
The church has had much to contend against, and has maintained its existence throughout in the face of many discouraging and unfavorable circumstances. It has, how- ever, steadily increased in numbers, and (what few of our modern churches can boast) is practically free from debt. The membership at present is seven males and forty-one females ; total, forty-eight.
The present officers are as follows, viz. : Trustees, Walter B. Ten Broeck, Elisha W. Bushnell, John E. McAlpine, Edward Best, Henry L. Coon; Elders (who also act as deacons), Walter B. Ten Broeck, Levi Coon.
There has been a Sabbath-school at times during the entire existence of the church. For the last three years it has been continuons. The membership is now about seventy-five. Levi Coon is the present superintendent ; Walter B. Ten Broeck, assistant superintendent ; Thomas S. Hayes, secretary ; Arthur Wagoner, librarian ; Walter Lambert, assistant librarian. The library contains two hundred and twenty-four volumes.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HILLSDALE.
This church, known more generally at the present time as the "East Baptist Church," was organized May 28, 1787, by Revs. John and Stephen Gano. There were fourteen persons who entered into covenant and constituted the society. They were James and Phoebe Martin ; Caleb, Jr., and Anna Woodward ; William, Jr., and Rosannah West; Ambrose and Joanna Latting; Griffin and Auna Wilde; Ruth Jordan, Esther Terry, Lucy Loop, Sarah Martin.
The first church-meeting was held June 23, 1787, and James Martin was elected deacon and Ambrose Latting church clerk. The first church was built on the three corners, near the present residence of G. F. Stickle, by Ambrose Latting, who agreed to finish it on the outside and wait on the church till they were able to pay for it. This was done, and the church was finally finished off in 1798. Its entire cost is supposed to have been about $800. The work of finishing was done by Albert Foster, for £65. A church was also built in the west part of the town, on the site of the present West church, and this became the property of the second church in 1803, when a division occurred, and the West church was formed. This building was erected some time between 1792 and 1802, but the date and cost are not now known. At a later date the church united with the Methodists in the erection of a house of worship, in the northwest part of the town, near
the Downing place, which was sold about 1841-42. The second house of worship in the central part of the town was a Union church, owned in connection with the Meth- odists. This was torn down, and the present edifice erected in the summer and fall of 1839. The dedication occurred on the 27th of November of that year. This building cost $5000. A parsonage was built in 1835, and this having been disposed of, in 1844 another one was procured. The present valuation of the entire church property is $4000.
The church became incorporated in 1838. The first trustees were elected previously, in 1835, and were Thomas Palmer, John Tyler, Amos Knox, William Knox. Com- mencing with fourteen members, the church grew in num- bers until, in 1817, there were one hundred and ninety-two members, which is the highest number yet attained. The largest increase in any one year was sixty-six, in 1817. In the fall of 1837 there was an extensive work of grace, by which forty-three were added to the church; and again, in November, 1842, over thirty werc baptized and received into fellowship.
At different times the church has licensed some of its members to preach the gospel. Among them were Charles Truesdell, Lyman Palmer, Rodney Gilbert, and Albert Knox. One of these, Lyman Palmer, was ordained to the work of the ministry on the 20th of February, 1845. The ordination was an interesting occasion, and the meeting lasted two days. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. John E. La Grange, from 2d Corinthians iv. 7 : " But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Revs. H. L. Gros, M. L. Fuller, Stephen Jones, H. Cornwell, B. C. Crandall, S. Hatch, L. Sellick, J. W. Stark weather also participated in the ceremonies of the occasion.
The deacons have been James Martin, Ambrose Latting, Squire Sherwood, William West, Samuel West, Oliver Teall, Martin Spencer, John Tyler, Thomas Palmer, Matthew Palmer, Major M. Bullock, Hiram S. Brown, Warren G. Wiley, Nathaniel House, Orville McAlpine. Major M. Bullock and Orville McAlpine are the present deacons.
The ministers who have sustained pastoral relations with the church are Revs. Stephen Gano, Abel Brown, Samuel S. Mallory, John D. Hart, Enos Marshall, Samuel Wood, Philip Roberts, Horace Spencer, Peter Prink, John E. La Grange, Stephen Jones, O. H. Capron, Eli W. Brownell, Samuel Pomeroy, Ethan Palmer, Henry F. Cochrane, Edwin Beardsley, C. F. Duganne. Revs. - Bates, - Ferris, and Lyman Palmer also preached for the church at different times. At present the church is not supplied with a pastor. The present trustees are George M. Bullock, Grosvenor A. Knox, and D. C. Palmer. Ezra J. Beardsley is the church clerk.
In the ninety years of its existence the church has in- scribed upon its rolls the names of seven hundred and two individuals, of whom one hundred and forty-three have been removed by death, and three hundred and fifty-six have been dismissed by letter. The present membership is about forty-five.
In June, 1803, a division occurred, growing out of a difference of opinion in a case of discipline, and thirty-five members withdrew and formed the " West Church." In
-
374
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
1806 the society in the northwest part of the town, known as the Second Baptist church of Hillsdale, abandoned their separate organization, and in a body-twenty-six in number -united with this church.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH OF HILLSDALE.
In the year 1803 the Baptist church of Hillsdale sepa- rated, and thirty-five of its members formed the " West Church." Their names were Samuel, Elizabeth, and Han- nah West, Squire and Olive Sherwood, Nathaniel and Esther Terry, William West, Sr., James B. Roe, Richard, Abigail, and Mary Kinyon, Jacob and Lucretia Van De Boe, John and Sarah Talmadge, James, John, Catharine, Jemima, and Christina Van Dusen, John Hatch, Benjamin Twiss, Ezra Brockway, Ruth and Sally Jordan, Ruth Ferris, Sr., Elizabeth Orr, Hannah Sering, Elizabeth Beebe, Jemima Curtis, Prudence Bullis, Sally Thorne, Catharine Simpson, and Barsheba Clement. They were constituted a church on the first Friday in June, by a council composed of Revs. Jeduthan Gray, Samuel Wood, - Barnes, Pettit, - Smith, - Ferris, - Lee, - Leland, and - Hull, associated with lay brethren from their respective churches.
The first house of worship was erected before the begin- ning of the present century, by the church as it existed before the division. The deed of the site on which it stands was dated 1792. The present church building- dimensions thirty-six by thirty-six feet-is said to have been erected by Refine Latting, and is yet in good condi- tion, though it needs repairing. The society was incorpo- rated June 1, 1833.
The ministry of this church has been composed of the following, viz., Revs. John Gano, Calvin Philo, John D. Hart,- Orehard, Samuel Pomeroy, Milo Tremaine, Samuel S. Mallory, Peter Prink, John W. Van Horn, J. W. Starkweather, Martin L. Fuller, Daniel Robinson, William Garnett, John E. La Grange, John H. Kent, Sol- omon Gale, William I. Loomis, James A. Metz, James W. Grant, and Daniel W. Sherwood, the present pastor.
In 1854 a new church was built at Martindale Depot, and the services of the pastor are now divided between the two places.
A notable revival occurred in the winter of 1841-42, by which seventy-one persons were added to the church. A further description of this organization will be found in the history of the town of Claverack.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN (ST. IMMANUEL's) CHURCH.
In the year 1870 the congregation of the church of St. John, in the town of Ghent, was divided, and the part of it located in the vicinity of Harlemville formed a new soei- ety, under the name of "St. Immanuel's," and built a frame church, thirty by forty feet, costing $1852. This church was completed in 1873, and dedicated in the sum- mer, by Rev. Mr. Hacger, of Pittsfield, Mass. It stands near the fourth three corners, cast from Harlemville, on the road to Green River. The society was incorporated June 10, 1871, at a meeting presided over by Jacob Gearing and Philip Steitz. The first trustees were Valentine Steitz,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.