USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, from its earliest traditions to the present together with early town sketches > Part 95
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October 31, 1858, during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. F. DeWV. Ward, a division occurred on the question of "old" and "new school," and a large membership separated from this church to form the "Central Presbyterian Church of Geneseo," (O. S.). The last report made to the Presbytery before the division showed a membership of 234; after the division it had on its roll 130 resident members. March 30, 1880, after a separate existence of a little more than twenty-one years, the churches so desiring were reunited by action of Rochester Presbytery. The united membership at that time was about 460.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GENESEO VILLAGE. Immediately after the reunion funds were raised by subscription to build a suitable church auditorium for these united bodies. This formed an addition to the house of the Central Church, the latter of which now became the Sabbath School room and church parlors of the enlarged building. Work was commenced on the new structure Sep- tember 14, 1880. The corner stone was laid November 8th, that same year. December 8th, 1881, the church was dedicated with special ser- vices, Rev. Dr. Henry Darling, president of Hamilton College, preaching the sermon. It was built from plans furnished by the New York architect, Mr. Lawrence B. Valk.
This edifice was of brick with trimmings of Ohio sandstone, built in Roman-Gothic style with tower. The entire structure was 95x98 feet and its estimated value with site, including its organ, about $40,000. In September, 1887, a new and delightful manse on Center street was secured at an expense of $6,000. The membership of this church rose to 630 in 1889 and at the present date numbers over 700.
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Its average annual outlay for congregational purposes is about $4,000 and its beneficences about $3,000.
A Sabbath School was established in 1820, but it was permanently organized January 22, 1826. Jacob B. Hall, Orlando Hastings, Mr.
Fairchild, Miss Har- riet Wadsworth and Miss Mary Lawrence were the first teachers.
The following have been the successive pastors and stated supplies of thechurch :
Pastors-Rev. Abra- ham Foreman, install- ed July 12, 1817, dis- missed Nov. 17, 1819, and died at Geneseo August 20,1854. Rev. Norris Bull, D. D., I installed June 19, 1822 dismissed July 3, 1832, and died at Lewiston, Dec. 8, 1847. Rev. John C. Lord, D. D., installed July 31, 1834, dismiss- ed Oct. 28, 1835, and died at Buffalo, Janu- ary 21, 1877. Kev. Presbyterian Church. John N. Lewis, A. M., installed Oct. 3, 1838, dismissed April 5, 1841, died at New York, Oct. 5, 1861. Rev. Benja- min B. Stockton, installed Nov. 8, 1843, dismissed Sept. 26, 1848, died at Brooklyn, N. Y., June 10, 1861. Rev. F. DeW. Ward, D. D. installed Sept. 16, 1850, and continued to supply the pulpit until Oct. 31, 1858. Became, Jater, pastor of the Central Church; died in Clarens, Switzer- Jand. Rev. George P. Folsom, D. D., installed Feb. 2, 1859, dis- missed September 20, 1868, died at Mt. Clemons, Mich, November 12,
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1894. Rev. Isaac N. Sprague, D. D., installed February 2, 1869, dis- missed April 10, 1877, died at Poultney, Vt., September 9, 1896. Rev. Josiah E. Kittredge, D. D., the present pastor, who was installed April 18, 1877
Stated Supplies-Rev. Theodore Spencer, in 1836; Rev. Elam H. Walker, in 1836; Rev. Henry Snyder, in 1837-8; Rev. Charles Mor- gan in 1842-3.
The Central Presbyterian church of Geneseo, as we have seen, was formed by the division of the Second Church, and was organized by a commission from the Genesee River Presbytery at Geneseo, Oct. 21, 1858. Rev. F. DeW. Ward, D. D., who severed his connection as pastor with the Second Church, Oct, 21, 1858, was called to the pas- torate of this church Nov. 7, 1858, and sustained that relation ten years. A large and commodious house was at once erected on the corner of Second and Center streets, and was dedicated Jan. 3rd, 1860. Succeeding the cessation of Dr. Ward's labors, Rev. Henry Neil, D. D., supplied the pulpit for about five years ; he died at Phila- delphia, April 21, 1879. Rev. Charles S. Durfee assumed the pastorate September 10, 1874, and continued his labors till che reunion took place. He died in East Bloomfield, Dec. 24, 1887.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF GENESEO was incorporated February 19, 1825, "at the brick academy in the village of Geneseo, where the M. E. Church statedly attend divine worship" and adopted the name of The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the town of Geneseo. Stephen Hoyt, Henry P. North and other members met for the purpose of electing trustees. Stephen Hoyt and Medad Curtis were chosen to preside; and Medad Curtis, Stephen Hoyt and Henry P. North, "being discreet persons of said congregation," were elected to serve as trustees.
When the church was organized is not known, as no record of the fact has been preserved. But very early Geneseo was a preaching station of the Genesee Conference, formed in 1810.
The Church continued to worship in the "brick academy" until 1826, when their house of worship, a small brick structure, was erected. A new church seems to have been built in 1851 in which year and in 1852 Rev. Robert Hogaboom was the preacher in charge, for in the minutes of the trustees' meetings it is recorded that the annual meet-
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ing of 1852 was held "at the session-house of the new Methodist church," Feb. 13th of that year, and adjourned to the house of the pastor. Previously the meetings were held in the "brick chapel." At the annual meeting of the trustees in February 1867 the "St. James (M. E.) Church of Geneseo" is first mentioned.
In 1886 extensive repairs were made in the church edifice, trans- forming its general architectural character, at an expense of about $7,000. The old Athenaeum library building adjoining had been purchased some years previously and converted into a parsonage.
The preachers who have served this church since 1872 are as follows in the order of succession :
1872-1875 L. F. Congdon, D. D. ; 1875-1878 Rev. Mr. Brownell; 1878-1881 O. S. Chamberlayne; 1881-1884 S. Milward; 1884-1887 C. E. Millspaugh; 1887-1890 Lorren Stiles; 1890-1895 E. C. Dodge; 1895-1897 Ira T Walker, D. D .; 1897-1902; E. M. Snodgrass, D. D .; 1902-1904 Benjamin Copeland; Rev. F. C. Thompson, Ph. D. became pastor in 1904.
ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, GENESEO.
The first services of the Episcopal Church in this village were prob- ably held by the Rev. Alanson W. Welton, missionary in Ontario and adjacent counties, in the sum- mer of 1819. In October of that year he reports to the Diocesan Con- vention, then being held in Albany, that he had given half of the day for several Sundays "to Geneseo where a church to be known by the name and style of St. Michael's Church, Geneseo, has with excellent prospects been recently organized; " and among the official records of that - convention is the following, "certi- ficates were produced and read of the incorporation," among others, "of St. Michael's Church, Geneseo, Ontario county." The work thus begun was continued as a mission
Old Episcopal Church, Geneseo.
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station with occasional visits from the missionary until May 17, 1823, when a parish organization was effected with a complete vestry and the privilege of calling a settled pastor. The original vestry consisted of William Fitzhugh and Daniel Warner, wardens; and Samuel W. Spencer, Calvin H. Bryan, Eli Hill, David Shepard, Daniel Fitzhugh, David A. Miller, Chauncey Morse and Marcenus Willet, vestrymen ; men of character and influence in the community, and from that day to this the parish has commanded the services of the same class of men who have devoted themselves loyally to its interests. To these and others like Judge Carroll, Philo C. Fuller, Horatio Jones, David Pif- fard, Samuel Lewis, H. P. North, Allen Ayrault, Dr. Bissell, Gen. Wadsworth, Gov. Young, Lyman Turner, Gurdon Nowlen, Gen. Wood, John C. Prout, Edward P. Fuller, Charles Jones, B. F. Angel, J. F. Bishop, C. H. Young and John M. Milne it is largely indebted for its present efficiency.
Services were held in the Court House until the erection of the first church, which was consecrat- ed by Bishop Hobart, who was bishop of the whole state, where now there are five bishops in the same territory, and whose certifi- cate of consecration, signed by
Episcopal Church and Rectory.
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himself, hangs in the sacristy as a document highly prized by the members of the present generation. This church was of the old type of church buildings with vestibule, west gallery and belfry and served its purpose well for nearly forty years. In 1866 the corner stone of the new church was laid, and it was consecrated two years later by Bishop Coxe, services in the meantime being again held in the Court House. This church occupies the same site as the old one, is of brick, as was also the first, and is surmounted by a graceful stone spire. Thirty years later the Parish House and Chapel were added. The corner stone was laid in 1896 and the buildings dedicated on St. Michael's Day, 1898, by Bishop Walker, the chapel being a memorial to "Rita," daughter of Nannie Wadsworth Rogers, who died April 14, 1892. Altogether the church, parish house, chapel and rectory, sit- uated on the Main street and beautified with vines and shrubs, form one of the most attractive groups of buildings in the state.
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Episcopal Parish House and Chapel.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
The parish has been fortunate in its list of rectors. In earlier years the rectorships were short, as was generally the case throughout the country, but more recently they have been of longer duration, show- ing a more settled condition among both clergy and people, the last but one ministering here for fifteen years and the present incumbent being now in his sixteenth year. The list follows with the date at which each assumed the rectorship :- Richard Salmon 1824, L. P. Bayard 1827, R. B. Croes 1831, W. P. Page 1834, Lloyd Windsor, D. D. 1838, Edward Ingersoll, D. D. 1842, H. B. Bartow 1844, W. J. Bakewell 1845, Thomas Mallaby 1850, J. W. Birchmore 1853, R. O. Page 1859, W. N. Irish 1863, George S. Teller 1868, Charles DeL. Allen 1871, William A. Coale 1875, Charles H. Boynton, B. D., Ph. D. 1890.
As a parish St. Michael's has not confined its efforts to local minis- trations but has taken its due part in Archdeaconry and Diocesan affairs and has been represented in the General Convention of the Church.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GENESEO was organ- ized Dec. 31, 1872, at a meeting held in the vestry room of the Metho- dist church in the village of Geneseo. Rev. Walter Holt was chosen chairman and H. G. Baker clerk. Rev. Reuben A. Waterbury, a pro- fessor in the Geneseo Normal School, visited those in the vicinity who held to Baptist doctrines, and awakened a desire among them for the formation of such a church. At the meeting in question, Prof. Water- bury read the New Hampshire Confession of Faith, to which the fol- lowing persons subscribed and became the constituent members of the church :- R. A. Waterbury, H. G. Baker, Alanson Ranger, N. A. Gearhart, Asahel Norton, Niles L. Norton, Levi Jones, Horace Kelsey, Daniel Young, Fanny Ranger, Mary VanMiddlesworth, Mary E. Norton, Philena Young, Mary Young, Phebe Dean, Clara L. Curtiss, Eunice L. Jones, Amy H. Baker, Rhodilla Kelsey, Sylvia J. Berry and F. A. Waterbury.
From its organization until Dec. 1, 1875, the church enjoyed the ministration, of Prof. Waterbury, who still performed his professional duties in the Normal School. He was succeeded at the latter date by Rev. J. J. White, who continued his labors until April, 1877. He was followed by Rev. S. W. Culver, who commenced his labors the same month and year.
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The Church first worshiped for a few weeks in Concert Hall. Ror- bach's Hall was soon after secured for that purpose. February 2, 1878, the Church and Society perfected a legal organization by the election of N. A. Gearhart, G. I. Dean and H. G. Baker, trustees. The Sabbath-school was organized April 6, 1873 with N. A. Gearhart Superintendent.
At the close of Mr. Culver's pastorate the Rev. Mr. Batson was called as his successor. From here on the records of the church for a number of years are not to be found. A lot was purchased on the southeast corner of Bank and Wadsworth streets and a modern church structure, brick veneer, was erected in 1882. For lack of means the work was stopped for a time after the building was enclosed.
In 1885 the church called the Rev. C. B. Parsons of Knowlesville, N. Y., as its minister : means were soon furnished by friends both in- side and outside the church membership, the church was completed, thoroughly furnished and dedicated free of debt July 27, 1886. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. S. M. S. Haynes of Bingham- ton, N. Y. Rev. Parsons remained with the church seven years, closing his work here in 1892.
Henry Wyse Jones, a recent graduate of the Rochester Theological Seminary, was called as pastor early in 1893 and ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry, May 16, 1893. For three years Rev. Jones had a prosperous pastorate. He resigned April 26, 1896, having accepted a call to the Baptist church in Canandaigua, N. Y.
Three months later, July 12, 1896, the Rev. Howard A. Pease, M. D., of Portageville, N. Y., was unanimously chosen as the next minis- ter. Rev. Pease remained three years, when he accepted the call to the First Baptist Church of Perry, N. Y. August 6, of the same year, the church elected Rev. Mr. Miller of Meridian to be its pastor. Rev. Miller remained as pastor but fifteen months, when he was called elsewhere. For the next four years the church was supplied by stu- dents from the Rochester Theological Seminary. In December, 1903, a unanimous call was given to the Rev. J. F. Stilwell of Elba, N. Y., and he began his pastorate Jan. 17th 1904, and closed it July 1st., 1905.
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Geneseo. Little is known of the history of the Catholic church in Geneseo previous to the year 1854. Mass was said at irregular intervals by priests from
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
the neighboring towns of Lima, Avon and Mount Morris. There was no settled meeting place and religious services were held in Concert Hall, in the Court House and, at times, in the homes of some of the people. The saintly Bishop of Buffalo, the Rt. Rev. John Timon, D. D., visited the village occasionally administering Confirmation, visiting the people, preaching and encouraging them.
In 1851 General James S. Wadsworth deeded to Bishop Timon the land for a church edifice. On this the first church building was erected in 1854 by Rev. Father McGuire, who was then minis- tering to the parish ; this building, situated on the south side of North street, is yet standing and belongs to the society. In 1903 it was repaired and adapted to use as a parish hall. About the year 1880 the land on which the present church stands was pur- chased; a further pur- chase of land adjoining the church property St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and Rectory. and to the east was made in 1900, and upon this was erected in the fall of that year a suitable number of sheds for horses.
There was no resident priest in Geneseo prior to 1882. There is no record of the duration of Father McGuire's pastorate; the following priests succeeded him in the order named: Rev. John Ryan; Rev. Bernard McCool; Rev. John Vahay; Rev. Richard J. Story; Rev.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Daniel Moore; Father Edward McGowan; Rev. David O'Brien ; Rev. Michael M. Meagher; Rev. John J. Donnelly. In 1882 the Rev. Matthias D. Mussmaecher was appointed the first priest to dwell in Geneseo. He lived opposite the old Church on the land which after- wards became the site for the new church. Father Mussmaecher labored for nearly six years, during which time he did very good work in building up the parish. When he moved from Geneseo in the spring of 1888, he left about $4,000 in the treasury toward the build- ing of the new church. He was of a delicate constitution, and after- ward went South for his health. He died in St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, September 8, 1890.
In the Spring of 1888 the Rev. James A. Hickey was promoted from the mission of Spencerport to Geneseo. The first work of Father Hickey was to prepare for the erection of the beautiful new church. This was erected during the year 1889. The corner-stone was laid April 21, 1889 and it was dedicated on the 1st of December in the same year. The new church is built of brick with Medina stone foundation and trimmings. It is about 60x125 feet in size. Its architecture is plain Gothic. It is surmounted by a graceful tower and steeple on the southwest, while a smaller turret adorns the north- west. 3 The building cost $20,000.00. It is located on the Avon road on the corner of North Street. It looks out upon the Court House square and commands a view of the most beautiful part of the Genesee valley. Its location is beyond doubt the finest Church site in the town of Geneseo. It is a grand monument to the zeal of Father Hickey and the faithful co-operation of the people. When the Church was built many non-Catholics contributed generously to its erection. Ten years, to the very month, after Father Hickey came to Geneseo, the entire debt was liquidated. In April, 1898, the last of the $20,000 debt was paid.
In the year 1900, Father Hickey received a well-earned promotion to a city parish. The first of August marked the beginning of his pastorate in the Holy Apostles' Church, Lyell Ave., Rochester.
On the Sth of August, 1900, the Rev. Arthur A. Hughes was ap- pointed to the Geneseo parish. Father Hughes had been assistant in the Cathedral at Rochester for six years. He came to Geneseo at the age of thirty, to accept the responsible position of Rector of the parish.
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After a resident priest was located in Geneseo, missions were established in Fowlerville and Piffard. Father Mussmaecher opened a small church, All Saints, in Fowlerville in the year 1884. The Church of St. Raphael's, in Piffard, was dedicated December 8, 1887. Both of these places were attended from Geneseo. In 1901 the Bishop attached Fowlerville to the Caledonia mission, as it was about three miles nearer the latter place. There were only five or six families there.
Piffard is still under the care of the Geneseo priest. It consists of about sixteen families of Americans and several hundred Italian people.
SPARTA.
The town of Sparta originally extended from Livonia south to the Allegany county line, and west from Naples, Ontario county, to the Genesee river, embracing what are now the towns of Sparta, West Sparta, Groveland, North Dansville and a portion of Springwater. Groveland was formed in 1812; a part of Springwater was cut off from Sparta in 1816; a part of Groveland was annexed in 1816. The other towns were formed many years later. Sparta is now bounded north by Conesus, east by Springwater, south by North Dansville, and west by West Sparta. Area 17,423 acres. Population in 1900, 1189.
Canaseraga creek is the western boundary line, and lofty hills extend from its valley eastward, rising in places nearly a thousand feet. On the flats the soil is a sandy or gravelly loam with a mixture of clay, and it is mostly of a similar character on the hills. High up on the hillsides above the valley extends the Lackawanna railroad, which was constructed through to Buffalo in the early eighties. The inlet to Conesus lake rises near the center of the town, and flows northward to the lake.
Scottsburg is the one small village of Sparta, with between 200 and 300 inhabitants and mills, stores and churches. It is in the northern part of the town, and takes its name from two early settlers, Matthew and William Scott.
The first settler of the present town of Sparta was James Collar, who came from Pennsylvania in 1794, and built a log house on the site of Scottsburg, which is the later name, the hamlet for many years being called Collartown from this first comer. He was soon followed by other Pennsylvanians, among whom are recorded Darling Havens, John Niblack, Asa Simons, Robert Wilson, Thomas Hovey and Alexander Fullerton, all of whom came previous to 1796. The last was the father of General William S. Fullerton, long and prominently identified with the New York State militia. Havens kept the first tavern in the town, located at the edge of the valley at the point known for many years as Haven's Corners. He afterward had a tavern at Scottsburg. Philip Gilman and John Carpenter came from Penn-
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
sylvania about 1802. Both were Revolutionary soldiers. The names of other earliest settlers are James McCurdy, 1795; James Scott, wife and ten children, 1804 to 1806; and about this time the Hamshers, Kuhns, Samples, Artlips, Steffys, Litchards, Mckays, Hammonds and Driesbachs.
James Collar's sufficient distinction among the early settlers is that he was the first, and that Scottsburg was long called Collartown, after his name.
James McCurdy's arrival was the next year, 1795, when he pur- chased a farm and worked it with enterprising industry. He raised grain, vegetables and stock, and sold them as he could to the settlers, and went as far as Bath with products to find a better market.
Before James Scott's advent he lived in Mt. Bethel and Northum- betland, Pennsylvania, having come to that state with his Scotch parents from Ireland in 1773. He came to Sparta on horseback with his wife-then a difficult journey of five days through the roadless forest. Having located lands for a home they returned to Northum- berland, and sent two of their sons to build a log house and otherwise prepare for the family's permanent settlement, which was effected in 1806, the parents and ten children making a considerable addition to the then sparse population of the region. James Scott was a respected resident of Sparta for thirty-four years, dying in 1840 at the age of eighty-four. One of his sons was William Scott, who became promi- nent in local affairs. He was sixteen years old when he came with his father to Sparta. The next year, 1807, he went to Dansville and worked there in Samuel Culbertson's cloth-dressing mill three years. In 1811 he became a partner of Carson Rochester in the same business in Dansville, and the partnership lasted three years. In 1813 he and his brother built a grist mill in Scottsburg, and in 1814 he became foreman in Benjamin Hungerford's cloth-dressing mill on the west side of the valley. Under him was Millard Fillmore, afterward Presi- dent of the United States, and a lasting friendship was formed be- tween them. William Scott held the office of justice of the peace in his town for twelve years, became justice of sessions, and was twice elected member of assembly-in 1836 and 1837. He died in 1876 aged eighty-six.
About the year 1806 the Rev. Andrew Gray moved from Allegany ·county to Sparta. He had immigrated to America from Ireland in
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1757, and at the age of seventeen became a soldier in the war of the- Revolution. He was taken prisoner by the Hessians in the battle of Long Island, and after much cruel treatment and many severe suffer- ings escaped to the American lines. Afterward he participated in several battles, and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war. Then he studied for the ministry, and preached his first sermon in 1793. In 1795 he moved to Allegany county, accompanied by Major VanCampen, the famous scout, purchased a large tract of land, and moved his family there. He lost his land through a defec- tive title, and devoted himself to ministerial work, preaching in An- gelica, Almond and Dansville. After he moved to Sparta he preached awhile to congregations in Sparta. In December 1807, by authority of the New York Missionary Society, he went to the village of the Tuscarora Indians, consulted with their chiefs, was accepted by them as a missionary, settled among them, and through his influence many of them became Christians. When Lewiston was burned by the Brit- ish in 1814 he was obliged to flee, thereby losing his household proper- ty and library. Again he made Sparta his home, and lived there until his death in 1839, the most of the time as a regular preacher. He was much beloved, and his funeral was largely attended.
Jacob G. Roberts of Tecumseh, Mich., has furnished the Living- ston County Historical Society with a sketch, from which are gath- ered the following facts: His father and uncle came from Penn- sylvania to the flats near "Squakie Ilill" in 1798, bringing with them a few tools and a rifle, the object being to prepare the way for their father and his family to settle there, which they did the same year in August, bringing with them a span of horses, a yoke of oxen and five COWS. Much of the way they had to chop a passage through the woods. Horatio Jones, the government agent then living close by, aided them, and they completed a log house the same fall. Soon afterward an Indian woman set fire to the flats, out of revenge against other Indians, who, for some offense, would not permit her to join in one of their powwows. It was a dry time, and the fire spread rapidly, burning up a great deal of hay. Mr. Jones, in trying to save some of his stock, barely escaped being burned to death. Hle afterward held back ninety-one dollars of the money for the Indians, and paid it to the new settlers to compensate them for the loss of their hay, where- upon the Indians tied the offending squaw to a stake and burnt her to
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