USA > New York > Dutchess County > Pine Plains > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 18
USA > New York > Dutchess County > North East > History of Little Nine Partners of North East precinct, and Pine Plains, New York, Duchess county, Vol. I > Part 18
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THE CHURCHES.
Isaiah Dibble who lived two miles south of the village on the Dibble-Tan- ner farm. He preached at Smithfield at the same time alternately. From this time to 1815 irregular Presbyterian service was held by Revs. Mr. Crane, Mr. Cuyler, Dutch Reformed, Pokeepsie, Rev. Eliphlet Price of Fishkill, Rev Eli Hyde of Smithfield, and Rev. John Clark of Pleasant Valley. To Mr. Clark more than any one must be awarded the praise of keeping alive and increasing the interest in this denomination during 1815 and '16. He was chosen to dedicate the church, which was a compliment to his ability and popularity. Thus the society had a legal existence, the building completed and dedicated and ready for services. March 11, 1816, one week after this society had organized under the law, a meeting was called and passed this resolution:
Resolved, that the ministers hereafter to be employed to preach in this meeting house shall be selected either from the Presbyterian Society, from the Dutch Reformed church, from the German Lutheran church, or from the Episcopal church, and no other.
This was the first action of the church in regard to its ministers, and Mr. Clark,_of_Pleasant Valley, seems to have been succeeded by Rev. Mr. Blair in the Presbyterian denomination. He preached here about six months. This resolution shut out the Universalists and created discussion and some ill feeling, so about a year after, the society had a meeting, March 4, 1817, notice of which had been given from the pulpit by Rev. Mr. Gale, a Lutheran, who was then preaching once a month under the quar ter time plan. At this meeting it was "Resolved, that ministers of the Gospel of all or any Christian denomination have the privilege to preach in the Pine Plains meeting house on week days or Sabbaths, if with the approbation of the Trustees or a major part of them, and if the pulpit is not occupied by ministers hired by the society." This opened the door again to the Universalists which a year ago they had closed against them. At this same meeting this resolution was passed:
Resolved, that the Episcopalians and German Lutherans shall be enti- tled to one half of the money at eight dollars the Sabbath for each and ev- ery Sabbath they shall respectively have preached in this house.
In addition to the two above resolutions five others were passed at this meeting referring principally to raising money on the pews, and specify- ing the sum of $8 a Sabbath as compensation. Moreover, at the beginning they adopted the method of raising money to pay the ministers by taxing the pews. This system was cumbersome by the sale and transfer of pews, changes by death and removal, and the fractional interests in a pew by one quarter, one-third or one-half ownership. It was complicated and mixed, and caused that careful and exact man, Aaron E. Winchell, the clerk and treasurer, a deal of trouble. Besides it was deemed unjust, as it compelled one denomination to pay for the preaching of some other. Four denominations claimed rights there, the Lutherans, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians and Episcopalians, each having a Sabbath in a month, and
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whenever a month had five Sabbaths it was occupied by a Universalist or whoever should come. Henry Hoffman, Esq., strenuously opposed the plan of taxing the pews, on the ground that he as a Lutheran occupied the church only one Sabbath in four, or one quarter of the time, and therefore should not be compelled to pay for the preaching of the other three Sab- baths. He argued that it was unjust, and proposed that each denomina- tion pay for its own preaching. It was in this discussion he said to Fyler Dibblee, an Episcopalian, "Mr. Dibblee, you pay for your minister and I will pay for mine." The justice of his position was admitted, and in the main whatever pay the ministers received was by denominational subscrip- tion.
Significant and pertinent to this is a paper drawn and circulated by Isaac Huntting, one of the leading men in this society as a Presbyterian. The paper is dated "Northeast, March 12, 1818," and reads:
"We the subscribers residing in the vicinity of the Pine Plains meeting house society, wishing to have preaching of the Presbyterian order in said meeting house on Sundays one half of the ensuing year, or as near one half of the time as the funds raised will admit of, do for that purpose agree to pay to the trustees or the treasurer of the Pine Plains Meeting house society the sum set opposite our names on or before the first day of January next, thereby enabling and requiring said Trustees to engage the Reverend Mr. Price to preach in said Meeting house one-half of the time on Sundays the ensuing year. And in case that Mr. Price cannot be obtained that the Trustees procure preaching of the same order in said Meeting house as above stated, and that the Trustees provide a place for the boarding and convenience of the minister while he remains in this society to be paid out of the fund hereby raised, and that the Trustees attend to the collection of this subscription in due time and pay the same to the minister according to their engagement with him. That in case preaching of the above order should not be procured by said Trustees in said Meeting house the ensuing year, this subscription is void and not collectable."
Isaac Huntting the year before was a trustee with Cornelius Allerton in the same class, and their terms expired March 11, 1818, the day the an- nual meeting for the election of trustees was held. They were with Es- quire Hoffman against raising money by taxing the pews pro rata on the sales. They resigned. William Stevenson and Henry I. Hiserodt, Jr., were elected trustees in their places, and when at this same meeting it was moved to raise two hundred dollars by taxing the pews it was voted down yeas 13, noes 19. This indexed the feeling, and so failing to raise money to pay for preaching at this meeting. Mr. Huntting the next day started out with the above subscription paper to pay for Presbyterian preaching. In this re- gard the subscribers' names are significant. They are Israel Reynolds $10, Isaac Huntting $15, A. E. Winchel $10, Niles Hartwell $5, Silas Harris $5. Jno. Couch $3, Justus Booth $10, Leonard Husted $5, Morse Couch $3, Jas. Lillie $2, William A. Stickle $5, John N. Stickle $5, Philip Pulver $3, Gurdon Picher $1, Benjamin Knickerbocker $2, Elisha Kenyon $1, John A. Turck $5, Pe- ter B. Knickerbocker $4, Nicholas Pulver $10,. William Righter, Jr., $5,
ISAAC HUNTTING. [From a Portrait-1820-See Lineage.]
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
Isaiah Dibble $12, Josiah Winans $3, William Winans $2, William Steven- son $5, Wm. W. Pulver $10, David Winans $3, Elijah Northrop $5, James G. Husted $3, Samuel Huntting $5, Peter Loux $5, William VanAlstyne $3, Robert Hoag $1, William H. Conklin $3, Peter W. Pulver $10, Walter Husted $1.50, Jacob Bockee $5, Jesse Thompson $5, Francis Conor $1.
The amount of subscription is $191.50, and the number and standing of the names indicate a good degree of interest in Presbyterian preaching at that time. The Rev. Eliphalet Price, Rev. Mr. Ford, Rev. Mr. Timlow and Rev. Robert G. Armstrong, each Presbyterian, Rev. Mr. Teal, Mr. Hendrick and Mr. Gale, Lutheran, Rev. Mr. Anthon, Episcopalian, and Rev. Mr. Buttolph, Baptist, each preached occasionally in 1817, '18 and '19, and prob- ably later. March 11, 1819, Rev. Robert G. Armstrong became the perma- nent Presbyterian minister. This was the next spring after the above sub- scription paper was circulated in September previous. Mr. Armstrong was ordained the following winter. Gurdon Pitcher led the singing at his or- dination service, for which and other services in that line he was paid by Mr. A. E. Winchell & Co., Feb. 1820, four dollars. Mr. Armstrong organ- ized a church of Presbyterian denomination at this time, and several men- bers were added during his ministry. "A. E. Winchell & Co." represent- ed a firm doing business at this time on the Charles Morgan corner. This firm received and paid out the church money, Mr. Winchell having per- sonal charge. There was a balance of salary due Mr. Armstrong at the end of his first year, March 11, 1820, of $47.69, which A. E. Winchell & Co. paid, the committee becoming responsible for this amount Mr. Arm- strong remained here three years, his third year expiring March 11, 1822, when the amount due him on salary was $49.00 which A. E. Winchell & Co. advanced. In addition to this amount other bills and expenses had been paid by A. E. Winchell & Co. during 1821 and '22, amounting in all to $60, the amount due A. E. Winchell & Co. at the end of the three years ministry of Rev. Mr. Armstrong. While here Mr Armstrong conducted a school in the basement of the brick Wilson house, now Mr. W. T. Meyer's. Among other patrons Isaiah Dibble and Isaac Huntting each sent children, and Robert Ham, now living about two miles west of the village, attended school there and probably is the only pupil now living who went to his school.
Under the system adopted of taxing the pews, the society fund for the first two years was very small, not much over $190 a year-probably less- not enough to pay for preaching every Sabbath. The respective ministers received eight dollars a Sabbath, and if no church fund it was paid by indi- vidual donation. In 1817 Rev. Mr. Anthon, the Episcopal clergyman, held more services than all the others combined, and he was paid principally by the Ebenezer Dibblee family, except what they may have received from the Episcopal Church missionary fund. Henry Hoffman, Esquire, also with commendable zeal, was foremost to have a Lutheran minister and to see
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THE CHURCHES.
that he was paid, which was done largely from his pocket and generous hospitality. Further, the denominational subscription paper of Isaac Huntting in 1818 paved the way for the three years' preaching of Rev. Rob- ert G. Armstrong from 1819 to 1822. This in substance was the ecclesias- tical status pertaining to this church and community from 1816 to 1822. The legal status of the society was mean while preserved by the annual elec- tion of trustees, the original "Association Committee" beoming obsolete at the 'legal incorporation March 4, 1816. March 11, 1824, an annual meeting was held at the meeting house, when this resolution was passed :
"That the balance (yet unpaid) of all rents heretofore levied by the so- 'ciety on the pews or seats of the Meeting House be relinquished by the so- ciety, the same having been due over six years, and consequently by limit- ation of statute not now collectible-i. e., outlawed."
This resolution is a photograph of the financial condition of the society forsix years, or since 1817, when they voted "no" on taxing the pews. The trustees in office at the close of this meeting were first-class, Elijah B. Nor throp, Jno. A. Turk ; second class, Jas. G. Husted, Henry Hoffman, Esq. ; third class, Henry I. Hiserodt, Henry Husted. The above meeting adjourned "to the eleventh day of March next," and here commences a gap of five years in the record, and Mr. Winchell being clerk meanwhile, there is strong presumption the adjourned meeting never met.
The church matters and even its legal status seem to have been left to float, subject to the conflicting elements of personal and public opinion. The pew tax system, dead in spirit years since, the last annual meeting of March 11, 1824, had disposed of, not leaving even the semblance or form thereof. A minister of any denomination could preach in this house, but the preached-to must pay the preacher. Rev. Mr. Armstrong, for lack of pecuniary support and where he could have a larger field had gone to the new church at Smithfield, nearly all the members of his church organiza- tion here living in the south part of this town going with him to that church. In this five years gap of unrecorded time, preached Mr. Grear and Mr. Buttolph, Presbyterians; Mr. Kettle, Reformed Dutch: Mr. Morgan, Universalist; Rev. Stephen Beach, who in 1823 was the first rector of the Episcopal church at Salisbury, and later Mr. Reed, Episcopal clergyman from Salisbury, and probably other ministers and clergymen. The diaries of each would be very interesting as to time and date of service. These are not at hand and I pass on to the next record of Mr. Winchell. Five years had passed without an election for trustees, and they were in danger of losing the church property by default thereof. There were no trustees, as the terms of the three grades had all expired. April 25, 1829, notices were posted for a meeting at the church Saturday, May 16, 1829, at "4 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of reincorporating said society according to the directions of said act."
The meeting was held according to appointment, and the proceedings were certified to by William H. Bostwick, commissioner, and recorded by
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HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
the county clerk in book No. 1 of church incorporations, pages 96 and 97, the whole proceedings having the same formality as at the first incorpora- tion, March 4, 1816. The trustees were, first class, Henry Hoffman, Silas Harris; second class, Adam Strever, Aaron E. Winchell; third class, Reu- ben W. Bostwick, Cornelins Allerton, and the church was again on its legal feet. Trustees were elected annually thereafter to 1836. At the annual meeting, May 16, of that year, Mr. Winchell offered his resignation as trustee and as clerk, and Epaphroditus Taylor was elected to both offices in his place.
In 1835 or '6, the first repairs were made on the church. The high pul- pit was lowered, and the stove pipes conducted to a drum in front of and above the pulpit and then to the chimney. The old foot stove, with a cup of live coals in it, replenished from the church stove and taken into the pew to keep the feet warm during the long sermon, had been and still was an indispensable requisite for comfort. The change of the stove pipes from out the windows to the drum inside the church was for the better in heat- ing the church, especially the galleries. At this time Edmund Reynolds do- nated the church bell now used. It was a novel thing then to "hear the bell." It was rung on all occasions of celebration and tolled at every decease and funeral besides the call to church services. It was the first church bell brought to Pine Plains. About ten years later other repairs and changes were made at an expense of about $800. The pew doors were taken off among other improvements at this time and the building painted inside and outside. At or near this time the present gallery organ was purchased, which I notice in passing. The organ was a No. 4 of Mr. Erben, 172 Center Street, New York, price $100, and purchased by Henry Sheldon, of New York, as agent. It is technically described, "one set of keys from CC to F alto, case to be 8 feet 6 inches high, 5 feet 6 inches wide, 3 feet 6 inches deep, and to have six stops, to wit: 1 open diapason from tenor F; 2, stop diapason from tenor F; 3, stop diapason bass; 4, fifteenth stop all through; 5, principal treble; 6, principal bass ; a pedal to take off principal and fifteenth. The swell to operate upon all the stops in the entire compass of the organ. Case to be imitation rosewood, mahogany, black walnut, or any other color, also gilt front pipes." These were the original six stops, and an effort was made to add a trumpet stop at an additional expense of fifty dollars. Failing to raise this additional amount the "principal bass" No. 6 was left out and the trumpet substituted in place thereof. The sub- scription paper has this heading :
"We the subscribers agree to pay the money opposite our names for the purchase of the above described organ. The money to be collected on condition that a sufficient amount be subscribed or otherwise raised."
Then follows an equivalent clause :
"And it is further understood that the said organ so purchased shall belong to the purchasers thereof, their heirs and assigns, and be controlled by a majority of the money invested."
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The subscribers were Hiram Wilson $30, A. & J. A. Thompson $30, C. Burnap $30, Wm. Eno $30, R. W. Bostwick $20, Levi Best $20, Backus Culver $10, H. C. Meyers $10, E. Huntting $10, A. Dibble $10, W. Pulver $16, Ju- lia Reynolds $20, S. Deuel $11, Wm. VanAlstyne $7, Egbert Smith $10, Ez- ra Hoag $15. L. D. Hedges $10, A. A. Strever $10, Benjamin Carpenter $5, Julia Dibble $3, Catharine Hoffman $1, Anthony Hoffman $15, Margaret Snyder $1, Sarah Nye $1, Rachel Taylor $2, F. T. Ham $2, Fanny Strever $1, Richard Ham $1, Eliza Hungerford $2, Talmadge W. Germond $3, Jno. Teter $5, Arby Platt $2, Win. Hoffman $1, Mrs. Isaac Smith $2.50, Mary Ann Knickerbocker $1, John Righter $1, Joel Miller $1, Emott Woodin $1, Asel R. Herrick $1, Catharine Lasher $2, Catharine Snyder $3. Reuben Best $5, Doct. H. F.Smythe $2, Philip Stickle $2, Jav Denel $3, Reuben Stocking $1, John P. White $1, Dugal Thompson $2, Samuel Huntting $2, Mary Smith $1, Henry Strever $5. Total $334.50. This was the amount "paid" on the subscription, and twenty-eight dollars was unpaid. Reuben W. Bostwick paid the organ bill by advancing $83.00, about forty dollars of which came from his own pocket, never refunded, in addition to his twenty dollars sub- scribed. Cornelius Hoysradt paid his subscription by bringing the organ and man from the River. The organ is now (1896) used, having done ser- vice a half century.
The building lot of the church as originally purchased left no room for a shed, the necessary adjunct of a country church. Church sheds are necessities for it shows practical unbelief in Christian charity and Christian economy-economy enters into the creed of the Christian-to leave horses and harness. wagons and whips and robes in the shivering cold and storm in winter, while the owners thereof are inside the comfortably heated church with warm hearts, and again in the summer, cool and comfortable with a fan breeze, while the horses and other equipments are ont in the scorch- ingsun which checks the buggy paint and harness, and frets the horses. This - is expensive, and not Christian economy. Moreover the residents on the street in front of whose dwellings the horses were hitched to a post, were annoyed by the stamping and dust and flies. So the ladies too want- ed a shed, for be it said they were not lacking in Christian econo- my and charity for the suffering horses, manifest later on. Mr. Ed- ward Huntting and Mr. Backus Culver interested themselves especially in this enterprise in the fall of 1850. The land ad joining the church lot on the north was deemed accessible and convenient. Doctor Cornelius Allerton, eminent for ability in his profession, and noted for marked personal pecu- liarity, was the owner. Mr. Huntting and Mr. Culver were his patrons professionally, and on this account had reason to hope for favor above oth- er men. The doctor prized his land. Mr. Huntting approached him and made known his business. The doctor was silent about a minute, then ad- dressing the enquirer said: "Sir, I don't know about that. I have no spe- cial regard for that church, sir." After a friendly talk the doctor gave his
POLLY SMITH, WIFE OF PETER HUSTED. [See Lineage.]
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consent, saying, "I will sell you all you want." "What will you charge us, doctor, for half an acre?" "Stake out your ground, sirs, " said the doctor, "I will then set the price." Mr. Culver and Mr. Huntting set stakes for the boundaries of the shed lot and informed the doctor. With cane in hand he looked at the enclosure. "Well, doctor," said Mr. Huntting, "what are you going to charge us?" "Two hundred and fifty dollars, sir." "When do you want your money?" "Next April will do." "Will you take my check and Backus Culver's for the amount ?" "I will sir." "Make out the deed, doctor," said Mr. Huntting. The deed is dated Nov. 4th, 1850. Back - us Culver and Edward Huntting are the parties of the second part, the con- sideration $250, and the doctor received the individual checks-half each- for the amount, and the site was secured. Not resting here Mr. Culver suggest- ed a Fourth of July celebration to pay for the shed lot, and preparations were made accordingly. The day came and a large attendance. It was held on the grounds of the present school house lot. The maids, wivesand widows of the society made manifest their love and affection for the suffering horse, buggy and harness, if nothing more. Edward W. Simmons, Esq., of Mil- lerton, orated. The celebrators lunched heartily, and the day's doings footed $170, which went into the hands of Mr. Huntting and Mr. Culver re- spectively, half each, and this was all they ever received for the shed lot. A few years later a cheap shed was built on the lot. and when the snow fell upon the roof increasing in depth and weight, a large portion of the frame and the roof fell in. It was rebuilt with better supports which have thus far (1896) withstood the elements, This being done the interests of Mr. Huntt- ing and Mr. Culver were conveyed to the trustees, Mr. Culver meantime having conveyed his interest to Cyrus Burnap and moved to Amenia. Thus it came to pass that the church has one hundred feet of substantial and comfortable shed. In 1894 it was again covered witha shingle roof.
The church, after the last repairs in '40s, already noticed, stood substantial- ły the same in all respects until 1879, a full generation of over thirty years, when it was rebuilt. The last service in the old church was held Sunday, July 6. 1879. There were mingled feelings of regret and joy. The old time worshippers suppressed their tears at the coming destruction of its antique in- ternal architecture and all therein by the vandal carpenters, to say nothing of the crowded mental reminiscences of scenes sad and joyful which time and time again had there occurred, while the younger worshippers not yet in the brown and yellow leaf of autumn, rejoiced at the tearing down of the "horrid thing " and something "modern" in convenience and architec- ture erected in its place.
The services were conducted by Rev. William N. Sayre, its time- honored pastor. On the platform on either side of the desk were two large vases of white lilies. After the invocation the psalm commencing "How amiable are Thy tabernacles" was read by the pastor. The prayer was fervent and impressive with a special petition that "no accident may be-
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fall or interrupt the laborers and the glory of the latter house exceed the glory of the former." The first two hymns were sung by the choir and congregation to Peterboro and Pleyel's Hymn respectively. "Influence after death" was the theme of the discourse from Heb. xi, 4: "He being dead yet speaketh." The last hymn was sung to Uxbridge, closing with the doxology to Old Hundred, the benediction followed and the last ser- vice in the "Pine Plains meeting house" had ended.
The week following, repairs were commenced by Hezekiah Andrews, of Hillsdale, Columbia County, the contracting carpenter. Sixteen feet were added to the north end, same width and height as the main building, mak- ing the main church 36 x 66. Adjoining this on the north was a lecture room 28x 36, an entire new building. The galleries and eighteen columns and pews were taken out of the old church and a "horseshoe" gallery at the south or entrance end built in place of the old end and side galle- ries. Long windows of stained glass were put in the sides and the old bel- fry and steeple taken down and a new one erected By October of the same year the building had sufficiently advaneed to be comfortable for a "fair," the work of the ladies to raise a fund for the furnishings of the new church and lecture room, cushions, carpets, settees, lamps, &c., an estimated ex- pense of $800. The fair was duly noticed and held Wednesday and Thurs- day, October 8th and 9th, 1879. The receipts were $450, expenses $70. This, added to the amount previously raised, allby the ladies, was sufficient to put the church in readiness for dedication.
By December the church was ready for the dedicatory services, which were held December 9, 1879, at 2 p. m. An hour before the time the church, having a seating for two hundred and eighty below and forty above besides the organ and choir, was filled. At two the service commenced by singing the doxology "Praise God," to "Old Hundred." Invocation by Mr. Gil- man, scripture reading by Mr. Westervelt, of Millerton, and prayer by Mr. Thomas, of Amenia. Rev. L. D Bevan, D. D., of New York city, preached the dedicatory sermon from I. Timothy, iii. 15: 'The House of God which is the church of the living God." The leading thought in his introduction was that the various forms of church government and shades of belief in the different denominations were essential and necessary to the building of a complete and perfect church. This he illustrated by the ani- mal kingdom in its great variety of form and habit, and of the vegetable kingdom in its variety of trees and flowers. "Were the world full of roses" said he, "man would long to escape by suicide." Variety in all was essen- tial to perfection. Then touching the special occasion he dwelt largely on Presbyterianism-first its order in all things especially in its form of gov- ernment-second its doctrines and belief. He believed in Presbyterian- ism, it was his choice, and in his discourse dealt some slashes and sarcasms at other denominations, which, he asserted in his introduction were all do- ing a good work, and as he illustrated in figure. were essential for a com-
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