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 22
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 22
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7
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, JANUARY, 1889,
CHAPTER XVIII.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The germ of the Episcopal society or church in Pine Plains came with the Ebenezer Dibblee family in 1784. His father, Ebenezer Dibblee, was an Episcopal clergyman (see lineage) and was the founder of the old first Episcopal church in Sharon, Conn. His son Ebenezer settled in business in Sharon, left there in 1781 or '2, moved to Salisbury, Conn., and from thence to Pine Plains in 1784. He settled on the George Clarke property, and lived in the old log house known in recent years as the Boothe house, a short distance west of the present hotel corners. Here nine of the children were born, three having been born before he came to Pine Plains-North East Precinct as it was then-making twelve children in all, and this family became the nucleus of the Episcopal society of Pine Plains.
From 1784 to 1816 is an interim of very little if any Episcopal service in Pine Plains. The Dibblee family was identified with the parish in Shar- on, and for their church service they went thither. In the building of the Union Meeting House in 1815 the Dibblee family, Bostwick families and William Woodin were specially interested as Episcopalians and were liber- al contributors to its erection. The house was ready for occupancy in 1816 and in it in 1817 the Rev. Henry Anthon, D. D., of Red Hook, held the first regular services for a year or more in this town. After him the service was irregular for many years and meanwhile Rev. Mr. Reed, from Salis- bury, held service in this house from time to time and clergymen from Sharon and other places came occasionally. In April, 1822, Mr. Charles B. Bostwick, then one of the firm of Bostwick Brothers, merchants in Pine Plains, married Miss Cornelia Corie, of New York city, and upon her set- tlement at Pine Plains that year she organized a Sabbath school which was the first Sabbath school in Pine Plains. She was an Episcopalian, but the scholars were from all denominations. These events were the beginnings of the Episcopal Society in Pine Plains, and down to 1822. At this period the Dibblee family had been broken by marriage and removal, and its influ- ence as a unity had gone. Two years later, in 1826, Ebenezer Dibblee de- ceased, and his widow moved to Catskill and lived with a daughter. Thus there was not a member of that large family living in Pine Plains after the 'death of Ebenezer Dibblee. About this time Charles B. Bostwick and fam - ily moved to New York. The departure of these two families was a great loss in membership and financially to this society. About ten years later,
224
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
(1833) Rev. William N. Sayre became a settled Presbyterian pastor here, preaching in the "Union Meeting House." and for lack of Episcopal ser- vices the parishioners finally merged with the Presbyterians, and there was very little Episcopal service in this town for thirty years thereafter.
About 1850 Theron Wilber became a permanent resident of this town. He had been a resident of New York from boyhood, had been successful in business there, and was an ardent Episcopalian. On his settlement in the- town he revived the dormant church, adding fresh coals and new fuel. He assisted and co-operated with Rev. Sheklon Davis, a missionary in the county, and by Rev. D. G. Wright, of Poughkeepsie, in the work of hold- ing meetings in this vicinity. This was in the early 50's. Mr. Davis was suc- ceeded by Rev. Homer Wheaton, of St. Peter's church, Lithgow, who held a few services in the Presbyterian church at Pine Plains, until conflicting ap- pointments caused him to remove to the Union Bethel church, about two miles and a half south of the village, where he held regular services until his resignation from St. Peter's church at Lithgow and his retirement from the Episcopal ministry. Four or five years passed without any regular service. In the summer of 1857 the Rev. Frederick Sill, assistant minister of Christ Church, Red Hook, commenced holding services in the Union Bethel church, at first monthly, then semi-monthly, and often on week- day evenings. A deep interest pervaded these meetings, and the member- ship was materially increased. On the evening of July 9, 1858-Mr. Sill then being in charge of the congregation-the Right Rev. Horatio Potter visited this place (Bethel) when three persons received the rite of confirmation, the first act of confirmation in this town. Opposition, active, malicious and bitter, now came to this flourishing society. Jealousy was the only cause. The church door was closed and the Bethel church difficulty be- came the scandal of the time. It was a " Union" church building and the disunionists were in the majority, and succeeded in their disunion. Mr. Sill, however, continued with this society until 1859, when he left his va- rious charges in this county, going to St. Thomas church, New York. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel K. Miller, of St. Peter's church, Lithgow, in this county, who at the Bethel church organized a Parish on the four- teenth day of November, 1859, according to statute, and was recorded in the county clerk's office on December seventh following In Liber 1 of church deeds page 223. The persons present at this meeting authorized by statute to vote for wardens and vestrymen were Samuel Deuel, Horace F. Smythe, Theron Wilber, Lawrence Barrett, Richard Peck, James H. Pitcher, Josiah Johnson, Silas I. Deuel. Theron Wilber and Horace F. Smythe were elect ed wardens The vestrymen were Samuel Deuel, Edw. Hunting, Silas I Deuel, Phenix Bockee, Horace Vibbert, Richard Peck, Lawrence Barrett, James H. Pitcher. The legal title of the church was voted to be "The Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the Church of the Regenera- tion."
225
THE CHURCHES.
In May, 1860, subscriptions were first solicited for the church building and property at Pine Plains. The church lot, an acre or more, cost $430. Charles Babcock, of Red Hook, was the architect and drew the specifica- tions for the building. The contract was signed August 14, 1860, by Sam- uel Deuel, Richard Peck, and Theron Wilber, the building committee, and Philip H. Decker, of Taghkanic, Columbia County, the carpenter and builder. The church was to be completed by December 15, 1860, at a con- tract price of $1,845. The main building is 28x52, and the chancel and robing room about 16x18. The contract did not include the chancel and robing room.
The corner stone was placed September 5, 1860, and the church paper deposited therein was prepared by Theron Wilber. A copy of this has been preserved. After the historical part of the church the paper ends as follows;
"And now on this 5th day of September, 1860, by kind assistance from the convocation of the clergy and laity of the county, with other individu- al generosity and effort, there is a resident missionary at this place, Rev. Eugene C. Pattison, the which adds great joy to the household of faith. This day's evidence, the laying of the corner stone of this church now about to be erected, conclusively shows that neither pastor nor people have been slumbering at their posts, and still they labor on in faith, praying that God will bless the work by setting forth His own glory in the salva tion of immortal souls.
"At the time of the laying of this corner stone James Buchanan is president of the United States of America and Edwin D. Morgan is gov- ernor of the state of New York. The Right Rev. Thomas Church Brow- nell, D. D., LL. D., is the presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U. S. of America; the Right Rev. Benjamin Tredwell On- derdonk, D. D., is bishop of the diocese of New York, and the Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., LL. D .. is provisional bishop of the same.
"The Rev. Eugene C. Pattison, presbyter, is missionary in Pine Plains and parts adjacent, and minister in charge of the Church of the Regenera- tion, and the officers of said church are as follows: Horace F. Smythe, Sen . ior Warden, Theron Wilber, Junior Warden, and Samuel Deuel, Silas I. Deuel, Phenix Bockee, Edward Huntting, Richard Peck, Horace Vibbert, James H. Pitcher, Lawrence Barrett, vestrymen. Into the box within this stone are deposited a copy of the Holy Bible, a copy of the Book of Com- mon Prayer, a journal of the general convention of the Protestant Episco- pal Church of the United States of America, for the year of our Lord 1859, a journal of the convention of the diocese of New York for the same year, a copy of the church almanac for 1859."
The house was completed in the spring of 1861. The Rev. Eugene C. Pattison was the resident missionary here in 1860, '61, '62 and '63, and on
226
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS
Thursday after Trinity, May 26, 1864, the church was consecrated by Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., of New York City. For several years there- after service was conducted by presbyters and lay readers when such could be obtained, and until April 22, 1887, when Rev. F. E. Shober was ap- pointed Rector, and continued such until November 22, 1889, when he re- signed and Rev. Geo. Bremner was elected his successor. Mr. Shober was assisted in the services here by Mr. (now Rev.) D. Stuart Hamilton and oth- er lay readers. Mr. Bremner continued Rector until his decease in March, 1891. For some months previous to his death Mr. Bremner was unable to take charge of the services, and was assisted by other clergymen and lay readers. In May, 1891, Rev. Henry L. Ziegenfuss, S. T. D., of Po'keepsie, was elected Rector, and appointed Rev. S. A. Weikert assistant to conduct services. Rev. Dr. Ziegenfuss died Feb. 8, 1894. For a time after his death the parish was without a Rector, and services were conducted by Brother Gilbert, superior of the order of the Brothers of Nazareth. May 6, 1894, Rev. W. C. Grubbe became Rector and is now there.
RICHARD PECK. [See Lineage.]
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الا علامت :.
CHAPTER XIX.
BETHEL CHURCH.
This church was built on the old Round Top church property. (See deed under the head of Round Top church.) There is a tradition that the road as it is now at that church was established after the deed was given in 1769. The deed is evidence to the contrary in saying, "Beginning at a Stake and heap of stones on the East Side of the Road thirty-three links north of Johan Tice Smith's north line." The north line of Johan Tice Smith was then as now the boundary line between Lot 12 and Lot 30, in the Little Nines. Lot 12 embraced the Phenix Deuel, Samuel Tanner and Edward Hunting farms, each originally one-third. James Alexander owned one third of Lot 30, north of Lot 12, and he commences the bounda- ry of the church lot thirty-three links one rod and a third north of the line between the two lots. This accounts for the small strip on the Charles Hoag farm between the old cemetery and Mr. Deuel. On the east side of the road directly opposite, the burying ground was extended just that much south to the line between 30, and 12. The original boundary of the church lot west of the road seems never to have been disturbed, but that part east of the road was narrowed in some way by the possession of ad- joining owners, and the exchange made with Mr. Deuel (soon noticed) very nearly restored the original boundary on the east side of the road.
In passing, a significant thing in the Round Top deed is the " Verbal promise to the People of the Lutheran persuasion, and for the worship of Almighty God as practiced by the Lutheran Evangelic Churches." This makes the old church distinctively Lutheran, and all brought about by the perseverance and labor of Johan Tice Smith and Michael Rowe, the pioneers and founders of the Lutheran church in this town, the very first church in the town except the Moravian mission, and that did not precede it five years. It was this express condition in the deed (that it should be Luther- an) that caused the withdrawal of the German Reformed to build the church near Mr. Pulver's about 1772. The church property belonged to the Lutherans both by promise and in its fulfillment, so there was naught to provoke an unfriendly spirit. They separated in peace.
In 1829, about two years after the Round Top church was taken down, some of the Rowe families, principally descendants of Michael Rowe, one of the grantees in the deed-Johan Tice Smith having deceased-were desirous of making a burial ground for themselves and their descendants on the east side of the road. To this end these families through their representa- tives, Andrew Rowe and John P. Rowe, and they also on behalf of the church property, exchange adjoining lands with Samuel Deuel, then pro-
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THE CHURCHES.
prietor of the Samuel Deuel farm, according to the following agreement, written by Stephen Eno, a lawyer at Pine Plains: "Memorandum of an agreement bargain and exchange of one small piece of land for an- other small piece of land made this 5th day of December. 1829, be- tween Andrew Row and John P. Row, for themselves as heirs of Michael Row, deceased and as trustees for all the other heirs of said Michael Rowe. deceased, of the first part: and Samuel Deuel of the second part: Whereas a certain piece of land estimated to be one acre, situate in the town of Pine Plains in Dutchess County, has for some time past been occupied as a burying ground: This lot of land was con- veyed by Peter Van Brugh Livingston to John Tice Smith and Michael Raugh by a deed dated May 15, 1769, to hold the same for the purpose of a burying ground as may appear from said deed; and whereas the said party of the second part owns land adjoining the said burying ground and hath built a small house thereon near thesame, and the said party of the first part have lately partly fenced in their said lot of a burying ground and they de- sire to have a small strip of land from the west side of the said Deuel land added to their lot, and the said Deuel is desirous to have them convey and relinquish all their claim to a small piece of land adjoining the said house on the west side thereof, to be taken from the northeast part of said lot, which they the said party of the first part do agree to do in exchange for the other small strip of land above mentioned. The strip of land is butted and bounded as the new fence now runs, and the other piece of land in front of the said house the said parties have this day designated and marked out. And it is agreed by and between the said parties that he the said Deuel, nor any person claiming under him will at no time hereafter enclose or shut np the said piece of land so conveyed to him any further than the fence now stands but that the same shall always remain open as a common. And the said parties do by these presents mutually release and quit claim to each other all their estate right and title to the said pieces of land respectively. And the said party of the first part covenant and agree to and with the said Deuell that neither they nor any other of the heirs of the said Michael Raugh deceased will ever claim any right to or molest the said Deuell or his heirs or assigns in the quiet possession and enjoyment of the said piece of land so granted as aforesaid. In witness whereof the par- ties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals the 5th day of December in the year 1829.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Bradford Darling, Smith Slater.
SAMUEL DEUEL, ANDREW ROW, JOHN P. ROWE.
Michael Rowe, and later on his heirs, had ever been tenacious of their right to that part of the church property east of the road, and after the old
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ـام صيد
BETHEL CHURCH, 1896.
231
THE CHURCHES.
church was taken down in 1827 these heirs built an enclosure fence around it setting it where they claimed the line should be. This was the "new fence " mentioned in the above agreement. It caused disagreement be- tween the heirs and the adjoining land owners, and seemed likely to lead to trouble. So tosettle this matter and avoid future difficulty this agreement was written and subscribed to by the respective parties and all claims set- tled. It was a peaceful solution on both sides, honorable and friendly and worthy of commendation. The boundary then agreed upon is the present one, and the present Bethel Church stands very near the site of the "small house " mentioned in the above agreement.
In the spring of 1838 the first tangible effort was made for building the Bethel Church. Three subscription papers were circulated with the following heading:
" Subscription for erecting a church near the burying ground south of the Friends meeting house to be called Pine Plains Union church free for every Christian denomination. Seats free. To be commenced the ensu- ing winter and completed during the year 1839. We the subscribers prom- ise to pay Edward Huntting, John P. Rowe, George Smith or Abraham Dibble the several sums annexed to our names for the uses and purposes above mentioned. Pine Plains, April 25, 1838."
The subscribers and amounts were Samuel Deuel $100, Betsey Sheldon $100, Andrew (Andrus) Row $75, Henry Sheldon $100, Michael M. Row $25, Philip M. Row $25, Elijah Row $25, Henry Hoffman $40, John M. Row $50, Morris T. Gray $25, Edward Huntting $25, Benjamin S. Wilber $20, Abra- ham Dibble $50, Jonathan Deuel $5 Nathaniel Reynolds $10, Lewis Kiefer $5, Josiah Johnson $5, Wm. VanAlstyne $15, Isaac Hawkins $5, Peter Hi- dorn $8, George Smith $15, Samuel S. Tanner $10, John Thompson $5, An- drew Case $5, Richard Hermans $5, Mrs. A. Hoffman $15, John Bartlett $10, William Tanner $10, James Briggs $25. Andrew Smith $10, Tibbels Rowe $5, Clark Dean $2, Philip E. Rowe $10, Robert Rowe $5. Win. Wood. in $5, Robert Gray $5, Abner Case $5, James Case $10, Matthias Rowe $15, John A. Thompson $5, Eli Collins $5 Abram Smith $5, Jacob Keefer $5, Jonathan Case $4, Margaret Case $3, Sam'l B. Fairchild $5, Cynthia Smith $5, Betsey Husted $5, Philip R. Rowe $1, Philip A. Rowe $1, Bradford Dar- ling $5, Retsey Rowe $25, James W. Smith $10, Walter Reynolds $5, Joshua Culver $25, Allen Thompson $10, George Thomas $5, Chas. P. Davis $10, Ez- ra B. Hoag $10, Benj'n F. Hoag $5, Phineas K. Sackett $10, Doct. Jaceb I. H. Davis $5, Stephen G. Guernsey $5, Henry Kiefer $5, Wm. H. Pulver $5. The amount so subscribed was $1,069, and bearing in mind the fact that many of the subscribers were specially interested in either the Presbyteri- an, Methodist or Baptist churches in Pine Plains, it is quite a remarkable showing of interest in this church building. The respect and reverence and associations of the old Round Top had not passed away. Of those sixty five subscribers, Robert Rowe, Abner Case and Richard Hermans are now living.
232
HISTORY OF PINE PLAINS.
Mr. Carman Cornelius, a carpenter, built the church for the subscrip- tions as put down, making his collections, the lumber and other materials to be delivered on the ground. He commenced the building in the sum- mer of 1839, and finished it the following winter. It is twenty-six by thirty-six, eighteen feet posts, with a square tower, and the whole having a plain substantial finish oustide and inside. The desk is opposite the en- trance, and a gallery in the end opposite the desk. Mr. Cornelius had noth- ing to do with the furnishing of stoves and lamps. For these a special pa- per was circulated, and small amounts subscribed, amounting to sixty dol- lars, sufficient to make the purchases. Hall & Dutton furnished the stoves and Russia pipe for $45. The columns for the pipes to rest upon cost $10.44. The lamps were put in and by March, 1840, the church was ready for dedication. Although undenominational in design, it was by general consent deemed appropriate in commemoration of the old church, to have the new church dedicated by a Lutheran minister, and to this end Captain Henry Strever, of a Pine Plains family. wrote to Rev. Jacob Berger and received this reply :
MELLENVILLE, March 8, 1840.
DEAR SIR: Your name has come before me in connexion with a re- quest that I should, at a time convenient for myself, attend the dedication of a new church in the town of Pine Plains, three miles from the village. I have resolved God willing to comply with the request, and appointed Thursday the 9th of April for the solemnity. The above will authorize you to make the necessary arrangements. Yours respectfully,
Capt. Henry Strever, P. Plains."
He came on the day appointed. It was a beautiful spring day and the house was more than crowded. He read for his text in Genesis, 28th chap- ter, from sixteenth to 19th verses, and chose the first half of the 19th for his special text. "And he called the name of that place Bethel." It was an able and interesting sermon. Rev. Augustus Wackerhagen, an old and respected Lutheran minister, well known in this vicinity, was present, and at the close of the sermon made brief and earnest remarks saying among other things, "this is a most interesting occasion. We stand on interest- ing ground. The Providences of God are sometime mysterious. It is a singular fact that a hundred years ago a church was erected to the worship of Almighty God on this spot, and to-day, after a century has passed, we have dedicated another to His Most Holy name." He was deeply touched, and spoke with more than his usual nervous earnest manner. It was from this sermon that it was called Bethel church and applied to the hamlet, and to the railroad station near by. The Rev. Jacob Berger was a distin- guished Lutheran minister, and the first native-born pastor that ministered. in the Lutheran churches in Columbia County, and the first Lutheran that preached in English, as very little was attempted by the earlier ministers. He was a native of Schoharie County and the first installed pastor of Christ's
J. BERGER.
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THE CHURCHES.
Evangelical Lutheran church at Ghent. This was in 1826, and in the same year he organized a Lutheran church at Valatie. In 1834 he became pas- tor of St. Thomas Lutheran church at Churchtown and held the pastorate of these three churches until his death in 1842, two years after the dedica- tion of the Bethel church. He was buried in the cemetery of the St. Thomas Lutheran church at Churchtown.
A general interest was taken in the church after the dedication. Meet- ings were held nearly every Sabbath, principally by the ministers of the Pine Plains churches. The community were proud of their Bethel church. In 1844 or '5 Mr. Chittenden, pastor of the Methodist church at Pine Plains, held a series of "revival meetings" assisted by the members of that church. The house was filled at each meeting and it was said great good had been accomplished. Thus matters went on smoothly until 1857. In May of that year a subscription was circulated to raise funds "for the pur- pose of repairing the Bethel church." The subscribers were principally from the neighborhood and of the original subscribers. George Smith $10, Samuel Deuel $10, Philip M. Rowe $10, Clinton Rowe $10, Edward Huntt- ing $10, Jane E. Dibble $8, Phebe Huntting $5, Tibbels Row $5, Robert Rowe $5, Samuel Tanner $5, John Case $5. These were the highest sums, and the whole amount was about $120. Soon after commenced the war of the Bethel church sectarian rebellion, and the proverbial tenacity and fol- ly engendered in a church disagreement followed, and all for the lack of a little charity. Then was manifest as had been before and has been since, not only there but the wide world over, the evils of a " Union church." The less said about it the better. The estranged families have become changed or are gone, and the actors too, yet the iniquity affected even the church building. It was left alone, spiritless, dying by inches, without a friend, and stones cast at it and through the windows into it in derision and scorn. Blessings had been turned into curses. However, the church was kept fairly comfortable, and services held there from time to time for twenty years after the quarrel, when repairs were again needed to preserve the building, the roof in particular becoming leaky. In the fall of 1881 a paper was circulated to raise funds for these repairs. Tibbels Rowe sub- scribed $10, Michael Row, of Millerton, $10, Samuel Tanner $8, Chauncey Rowe $5, Edward Huntting $5, John Case $5, William Wilber $6. John Rowe $5 and others of less amounts, amounting with the old roof shingles sold to $82.50. A new roof was put on and repairs on the tower and other matters amounting to $83.03. In 1886 repairs were again made by puttying and painting the windows, and putting in about 60 window lights and again in 1890 blind window shutters were put on, leaving the church in its present condition. For several years past Mrs. Phenix Deuel has conducted Sabbath school there every Sabbath afternoon. This and for funerals is about the only service in the church. By-laws for the care and regulation of the church and property were agreed upon at its erec- tion and are still in force. Trustees are elected and business meetings are recorded in the church book.
CHAPTER XX.
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