USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 53
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The first minister who assumed pastoral charge of this church was Rev. Ludovicus Robbins, who remained one year, and who preached to the con- gregation in the school house where the organiza- tion took place. Afterward the meetings were held in the Page school house, one-half mile east of the present church, and were held there for about a year.
The best recollection concerning Mr. Robbins is that he formerly preached at Avon, Conn., but that he came from Union Corners to this place, and afterwards went to Michigan.
Soon after this time, and up to 1844, the funds for church expenses were raised by assessment upon the property of the church and society. Those not consenting to that plan had a subscription taken up among them, and the amount thus raised was subtracted from the whole sum to be raised, and the remainder was raised by assessment.
In April, 1844, that rule was abrogated, but sub- stantially the same rule was afterward resumed. It is not in force now, but there is no record of when the custom was abandoned.
The name of the next pastor, Rev. William P. Kendrick, first appears on the record October 25, 1832. He remained till the close of 1833. It is be- lieved he came to this place from West Bloomfield. From here he went to Grove, Allegany county.
* To Rev. B. S. Foster, a former pastor of this church, now in Spring- ville, N. Y., we are greatly indebted for a full and accurate history of this Society ; he having during his pastorate taken especial pains to glean all that was of historical interest, and which he kindly placed at our disposal.
252
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
In January, 1834. the name of Rev. Asa John- son first appears, who, having preached three months on probation, was installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of Angelica, Febru- ary 26, 1834. His pastorate extended to October, 1837. He was a graduate of Auburn Theological Seminary, and had preached in Richmond, Ontario county, from which place, it is believed, he came to Nunda. At the close of his pastorate here he went to Logansport, Indiana. Under his ministration occurred the first revival in this church in which he was assisted by Rev. Mr. Littlejohn, well known in those days as an Evangelist.
The name of the succeeding pastor, Rev. Wales Tileston, first appears November 5, 1837, as mod- erator. Although there exists no record of his in- stallation as pastor, or of the time when his labors with this society ceased, it is the recollection of those who remember that he was installed. He came to this place from Heath, Mass. Subse- quently he went to Illinois.
He was followed by Rev. Edwards Marsh, whose name first appears in the minutes of June 7, 1840, as moderator of the session. It seems probable, however, that he commenced his labors as stated supply in the spring of 1840. In this capacity he continued to labor until at a meeting of the congre- gation on the ninth of March, 1846, a formal call was made to him to become the settled pastor of the church, and he was so installed. In the following year he tendered his resignation which was accepted March 8, 1847.
He came to this church from Avon, and on retir- ing went to Canton, Illinois.
Rev. William Lusk became the next pastor, a call having been extended to him June 7, 1847. He remained till February 26, 1852, when he re- signed his pastorate. He had formerly preached in Washington county and in Cherry Valley, N. Y. He afterwards preached in Batavia.
Soon after the resignation of Mr. Lusk his suc- cessor, Rev. l'liny F. Sanborne filled the desk as temporary supply, and was engaged as stated sup- ply for one year from December 11, 1852. He was not installed, but continued as stated supply until the spring of 1857. He came to this place from Granby, Connecticut. He afterwards labored nine years at West Bloomfield, Ontario county.
Rev. L. G. Marsh was his successor, beginning his labors in June, 1857. He was not installed, but labored with great acceptance as stated supply until September, 1860. During his pastorate, according to the best recollection, was made the
change in time of church service from afternoon to evening, there having formerly been two services each Sabbath, one in the morning and the other at one and a half o'clock p. M. Mr. Marsh had previously preached in Thomaston, Maine, from which place he came to this charge.
In the fall of 1860 Rev. I. O. Delong began his labors, remaining as stated supply for about three years.
After the retirement of Mr. De Long, Rev. I .. G. Marsh returned and began his second pastorate February 9, 1864, which he retained until Decem- ber, 1871, when he resigned and returned to Ban- gor, Maine.
Rev. T. Dwight Hunt was the succeeding pastor. to whom a call was extended in February, 1872, and who was soon after installed. He remained until September, 1875, when his pastoral relation was dissolved. He had previously been a mission- ary to the Sandwich Islands ; had also labored in San Francisco.
He was succeeded by Rev. B. S. Foster, who was installed March Ist, 1876, and whose pastorate extended to the first of June, 1879.
After the expiration of his pastorate, the church was unsupplied some eight or nine months, his successor, the present pastor, Rev. N. H. Bell, commencing his labors in February, 1880. He came from Arcade, Wyoming county.
During the pastorates of the two latter ministers the church has suffered much from deaths.
The succession of elders and deacons, after those elected in the first years of the organization, were Erastus Buck, 1838; William R. Duryee, May 21, 1839; C. W. King, June 23, 1840; Joseph Waldo, Dec. 31, 1841 ; Charles V. Craven, Stephen Bald- win, and Earl J. Paine, Jan. 10, 1846; Alfred Bell, John Gilmore and George H. Bayley, March 5, 1864; Jacob Brinkerhoff, Charles T. Metcalf, Dec. 31, 1870; Adam Potts, George Arnold and J. M. Mc- Nair, July 6, 1872 ; John T. Van Ness, May 6, 1876.
Deacons-William R. Duryee, July 2, 1836 ; Zaddock Herrick, Sept. 4, 1837 ; Chauncy Ladd, May 21, 1839; John Briggs, Dec. 31, 1841 ; Charles V. Craven and Erastus Buck, Jan. 10, 1846 ; George H. Bagley and Andrew B. Lock- wood, March 6, 1864; C. T. Metcalf, April 8, 1871.
The rapid increase in members and in attendance upon the services soon required a more commodi- ous place of meeting than the school house in which the meetings were held, and the society erected their first church edifice in 1833. It stood
253
VILLAGE OF NUNDA-CHURCHES.
on the east part of the present church lot. No records can be found respecting its erection. It is learned, however, that Samuel Swain, Nathaniel Chandler and Gulielmus Wing were prominent in originating and furthering the enterprise. The cost of this building was about $2,200. Upon the completion of this place of worship there were two services regularly every Sabbath, the services pre- viously having been held every alternate Sabbath, the minister in charge having been obliged to de- vote half of his time to another field.
After a lapse of thirteen years the still increasing membership and attendance made it necessary to build a larger church, and in 1846 the erection of the present edifice was begun, and in June of 1847 was dedicated by Rev. Edwards Marsh, in the interval between his resignation and the arrival of Rev. William Lusk, his successor.
To Mr. Alfred Bell is accredited an especial in- fluence in originating and aiding the work of con- structing this second and commodious house of worship.
- The trustees when the church was built were Alfred Bell, William M. Marsh, Nathaniel Chand- ler, Russell Barnes and A. H. Prescott.
The cost of this building was about $6,000. The former house was sold to the Methodist Epis- copal society previous to the erection of this. The size of this church is 50 by So feet, with a seating capacity, including galleries, of 650. Early in the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Tileston-probably some time in 1838-a session house was built on the present site of the parsonage, the cost of which was $800. It was divided into two stories, the upper one being for many years devoted to school purposes. In 1872 this session house was sold for $600 and re- moved. The proceeds of the sale were devoted to the erection of the parsonage which occupies the site where the session house stood. The par- sonage cost $3,000, less the amount received for the session house.
The present membership is about 120, and the aggregate membership since the organization 854.
The church property is situated on the north- west corner of Church and East streets, the par- sonage being on the former street.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Nunda .- The next people to form into an organization for the worship of God were the Methodists, a considera- ble number of whom had become by this time located in the township.
The first meeting for the organization of this society was held in the house of Samuel Record, in
the village of Nunda, some time in the year 1837. No records of this or of meetings immediately fol- lowing can be discovered. According to the re- collection of Mr. Record, who still resides in the village, the only members present at that meeting were Jacob H. Osgoodby and wife, Mrs. Stivers, and Mr. Record and his wife, who constituted the original membership.
The society was at first organized as Indepen- dent Methodist, but afterward, the society under that name becoming to a great extent inoperative. it was joined to the Methodist Episcopal Confer- ence, but in what year is not known.
It would appear that the pastors who first labored with this society were Revs. Mr. Hard and Bron- son, about the year 1840. In its early days the church passed through many trials and vicissitudes, and the pioneers in this movement were obliged to struggle against much discouraging opposition. Their meetings for years were held in private houses, school houses, and in barns, but being composed of energetic and determined men and women, the society grew in strength, in zeal, and in means, and in 1846 succeeded in procuring a church of their own.
The Presbyterian society in this year beginning the erection of a new church, the Methodists pur- chased of that society the edifice about to be va- cated, and removed it from the Presbyterian ground to its present location on the northeast corner of Church and East streets, repairing, improving, and dedicating it in 1849. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. A. S. Baker, who was the pastor at that time.
After the pastorates of Revs. Hard and Bronson, it would seem that preaching had been conducted by Revs. Church and Wheeler, but in what order of succession, and at what dates, is unknown. The first trace that can be discovered of any settled pastor is in 1840, when Revs. Amos Hard and Ira Bronson are mentioned in conjunction. In 1841 Rev. Mr. Doolittle is mentioned as having officiated. In 1842 and '43, the name of Rev. Carlos Gould is mentioned. Thereafter, the succession of pas- tors was as follows :-
Rev. D. B. Lawton, 1844-46 ; Rev. Robert Par- ker, 1847-48; Rev. A. S. Baker and colleague, Rev. Thos. Tousey, 1848 *- 49 ; Rev. I. J. Mecham, Rev. J. L. Edson, 1850; Rev. Mr. Laman, 1851-52; Rev. Albert Plumley, 1852-54; Rev. Mr. Latimer, 1855 ; Rev. Wesley Cochrane, 1855-
* The Methodist Conference year began in October, and a pastor com- ing, for instance, in October, 1848, would be put down for that year, though his first year would not occur till the next October.
254
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
1856 ; Rev. R. Harrington, 1856-58; Rev. L. L. Rogers, 1859-60; Rev. Charles S. Fox, 1861-62; Rev. B. F. Bradford, 1863 ; Rev. E. P. Hunting- ton, 1864-65; Rev. Elijah Wood, 1866 ; Rev. J. 1 .. Edson, 1867; Rev. J. C. Hitchcock, 1868-69; Rev. L. D. Chase, 1870-72; Rev. William Brad- ley, 1873-75; Rev. J. B. Countryman, 1876-78; Rev. A. Southerland, 1879-80.
The present membership in the church is one hundred and twenty-two.
First Universalist Church of Nunda .-- The first meeting for the organization of the Universa- list congregation was held in a district school-house in the village of Nunda, September 12th, 1840. The officers at that meeting were Elijah Horton, Moderator, and L. S. Church, Clerk.
The deacons chosen were Granville Sherwood and Joseph Root. The names of the persons en- rolling themselves as members were :-
Richard Church, Elijah Horton, Abram Merrick, Joseph H. Root, Charles Stillson, Granville Sher- wood, Joshua Fuller, George Townsend, Lawrence S. Church, Lyman Smith, Amman Smith, Leonard Church, Nathan Sherwood, Jonathan Hay, Sarah Horton, Elvira Starkweather, Malvina J. Church, Esther Merrick, Abigail Gould, Harriet Horton, Mercy Fuller, Maria Sherwood.
On the 23d of January, 1841, the Universalist society was formed, R. Church, presiding as chair- man, and Elijah Horton, as secretary of the meet- ing. The following trustees were elected-David Grover, Richard Church, David Babcock, Gran- ville Sherwood, Hiram Merrick, Elijah Horton, Joshua Fuller, William Huggins, Silas Grover. A committee on building was appointed at this meeting, and the church was built in that same ycar.
In 1871, the Church of the Redeemer was erected, a large and beautiful structure standing on East street.
The first pastor mentioned in the records is Rev. A. Kelsey, who officiated four years. After his ministration the following is the succession of pas- tors as near as can be ascertained :-
Rev. (). F. Brayton.
1852.
A. J. Aspinwall. 1856-1860.
C. C. Gordon 1861-1862.
E. Tomlinson 1863.
A. C. DeLong
1864-1865.
C. V. Craven 1 866.
E. Reynolds 1866.
F. S. Bacon. 1867-1869.
66 G. F. Jenk 1870.
A. L. Rice ..
1870.
66 J. A. Dobson 1871-1873.
Rev. Mr. McLean 1874.
Mr. Kelsey. 1874.
66
H. Jewell. 1875.
66 Mr. Shepherd
18-6.
Mr. Snell.
1876.
66 Mr. Aldrich :876.
66 S. J. Aldrich
1877-1879.
Since the first of April, 1879, there has been no settled pastor.
Grace Church (Episcopal) .- Services were com- menced with a view to forming a parish in 1845, and were conducted by Rev. Gershom P. Waldo with as much frequency as a place for such services could be had and other circumstances would permit.
The society was incorporated March 28, 1847, and the following officers were chosen :- Warden, C. Remington; Vestrymen, J. Y. Turner, R. H. Spencer, N. Chittenden, John Guittram, Samuel Swain, Sr., David T. Swain, Henry Chalker, R. Bennett.
On the 7th day of April, 1847, the formation of the parish was accomplished. There being no resident rector, the services were conducted by Rev. Mason Gallagher, Rector of St. Peter's, Dansville. Services were afterward conducted at different periods by Rev. Gershom P'. Waldo, Rev. Lucius Carter, and Rev. Asa Griswold.
On the first of December, 1849, Rev. Andrew D. Benedict assumed the pastoral charge in con- nection with that of St. Mark's, at Hunt's Hollow, resigning the charge May ist, 1852.
The corner stone of Grace church was laid May 23, 1848, at which ceremony the Rev. Mason Gal- lagher and Rev. Gershom P. Waldo were present as clergy, the sermon being preached by Rev. Mr. Gallagher. During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Benedict the church was in process of construc- tion, and nearly ready for consecration ; Trinity church in New York giving very generously four hundred dollars in aid of the project.
On the fifth of May, 1853, the church was duly consecrated by Rt. Rev. Dr. William H. DeLan- cey. The clergy attending this ceremony were : Rev. Lucius Carter, Rev. Andrew D). Benedict, Rev. I. A. Robinson, Rev. Mr. Wilson, Rev. Mr. IToward, and Rev. H. W. Lee, of St. Luke's, Rochester, afterward Bishop of Iowa.
In 1853, May ist, Rev. James A. Robinson took the pastoral charge, resigning in the spring of 1854.
HIe was succeeded by Rev. James O. Stokes, who was appointed missionary in charge, coming in 1854 and leaving in 1855.
255
NUNDA STATION.
His successor was Rev. Gershom P. Waldo, who was appointed missionary to Nunda with full stipend July 1, 1856, and who in April, 1857, resigned the stipend , in favor of Rev. Henry Gardner, who then took this charge and that of St. Mark's, Hunt's Hollow, resigning in April of 1860.
In June, 1863, Rev. Fayette Royce took charge in connection with Brook's Grove Mission and Trinity church, Canaseraga, retaining the pastorate until February, 1866. After the departure of Rev. Mr. Royce, Rev. G. P. Waldo assumed temporary charge till the parish was supplied by the coming of Rev. Hiram Adams, whose pastorate dates from January Ist, 1867.
Rev. Noble Palmer, M. A., succeeded him in November, 1868, having in charge the parishes of Nunda, Hunt's Hollow, and the Brook's Grove Mission, which he retained two years.
In 1872, Rev. Charles Woodward assumed the pastoral charge after the parish had been without a settled clergyman for two years. He also officiated at St. Mark's, Hunt's Hollow. He resigned July 1, 1876.
In 1877, Rev. Stephen H. Battin took charge for a limited period, he then being rector at Can- aseraga. Since that time the church has been without a settled rector, having had but occasional services from different clergymen.
In the early period of this church's history and growth it was largely aided and encouraged by subscriptions and offerings from General Micah Brooks and members of his family, which in- cluded the rectory and a solid silver communion service.
The means to build the church were in great part obtained through the persevering efforts of Miss Laura A. Brooks, who visited New York, Albany and Boston to procure aid in furtherance of the project.
A beautiful Italian marble font was presented by a number of the parishioners; and a bell, an organ, and other necessary improvements were given by the united efforts of members of the con- gregation and early sustainers of the church. The church has suffered much in these years by the death and removal of valued and useful members. Among the deaths are included Gen. Brooks, Miss Catherine Brooks and Leonidas Nichols.
The present membership is, families, 26, indi- viduals, 68, communicants, 41.
The value of the church edifice is $2,500. The rectory is valued at $800.
NUNDA STATION.
Nunda Station (Dalton P. O.) lies in the south- western part of the town on the line of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railway. It has a population of between four and five hundred, and is the prin- cipal shipping point of the town for all products.
The first settler here was Maxam Smith who was owner of nearly all of the property in that vicinity.
The first store was kept by Lyman Ayrault, who is still in business there. The post office was established in 1856, and the first postmaster was James Douglass, at which time Lyman Ayrault was deputy postmaster. Mr. Ayrault is the pres- ent postmaster, having held the office, with the exception of one year, since 1860.
The present physicians are Drs. J. C. Durgan and Hugh Hill. W. S. Orcutt is the only lawyer residing there. The place has one school house, six stores devoted to dry goods and general mer- chandise, two harness shops, two drug stores and one hotel, the Parker House, built in 1873, and kept by Sanford Parker, who was one of the first settlers.
The place has but one church, the Methodist Episcopal, built in 1858 or '59. The society was formed at the meeting of the M. E. Conference at Corning in 1858, from parts of Nunda and Granger charges. The church edifice is pleasantly situated in a commanding part of the village, and is a large and substantial building, free from all encumbrances. The society also owns a neat parsonage in connection with the church, which is also free from debt. The church is valued at $1,500 and the parsonage at $1,200. The church at its formation had a membership of forty-five. The first class leader was H. Mirethew. The present membership is 134, all of Nunda Station. The first pastor was Rev. Woodruff Post, who officiated one year followed by
Rev. De Puy. .. 1859-1860.
Rev. John Spinks. 1860-1862.
Rev. John J. Turton 862-1864.
Rev. Elijah Wood presided for a short time when there was a vacancy till the pastorate of Rev. A. Maker who presided in 1867, when another vacancy occurred till the coming of Rev. C. G. Lowell in 1869, who was followed by
Rev. T. W. Chandler .1870-1872.
Rev. T. L. King. 1872-1874.
Rev. G. B. Richardson 1875-1877.
Rev. C. Dillenbeck 1877-1878.
Rev. E. T. Cook . 1878-1881.
256
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
WAR RECORD .- No town was more patriotic, or evinced its patriotism in a more tangible way in the war of the Rebellion, than Nunda." On the afternoon of Friday, April 19, 1861, a telegram was received by Mr. G. M. Osgoodby asking if Nunda could furnish a company of men under the call of the President for 75,000 volunteers. A meeting was held that same evening, and so great was the enthusiasm, and so ready was the response, that twenty-eight men immediately stepped forward and entered their names on the enlistment roll.
The citizens generously received volunteers into their homes and provided for them while perfect- ing themselves in drill.
The enthusiasm extended even to the women of Nunda, who began immediately to manufacture various articles for the comfort of the soldiers dur- ing the career on which they were about to enter. There was also raised a fund for the relief and support of such families as this enlistment might leave dependent.
On the 6th day of May, 1861, less than a month from the receipt of the telegram asking for sucli a company, this band of brave men was mustered, and James McNair elected Captain, George T. Hamilton, First Lieutenant, and Henry G. King, Second Lieutenant.
The company numbered fifty-six men, and they entered the 33d Regiment of New York Volun- teers as Company F. Of this number and of those who afterward joined the company :---
Morton Bardwell, who enlisted May 13, 1861, was killed at the battle of Fredricksburgh, May 4, 1863.
Elias Smith was killed in battle at Antietam, September 17, 1862.
Whitfield Whitney, died of fever at Yorktown, Va., June 1, 1862.
Henry Swartz died of fever, May 10, 1862.
William John Nolan was wounded and taken prisoner at Spottsylvania, May 10, 1864, and sup- posed to have died in the hands of the enemy.
Lycurgus Twining died from wounds received in action, but at what date is unknown.
Michael Clark, killed in the battle of the Wilder- ness, May 10, 1864.
Howard B. Doty was transferred from the 33d to the 49th New York, and died October 20, 1864, from wounds received at battle of Cedar Creek.
Gardner Bacon died Oct. 3, 1861, of sunstroke at Fort Ethan Allen.
John DeLong died at Hagerstown, Md., Dec. 4, 1862.
Augustus L. Damon died Nov. 11, 1862, at the Soldiers' Home in Washington.
Daniel Chilson died of fever at Alexandria, March, 1862.
Jonathan Greenwood was taken prisoner in the latter part of June, 1862, during Mcclellan's re- treat from before Richmond, and died a prisoner at Bell Island.
James Kiley, after two years' service, contracted lung disease, was honorably discharged, came home and died June 2, 1863.
Ervin VanBrunt died at Fort Ethan Allen, Oct. 16, 1861.
George H. Prentice died of typhoid fever at Camp Griffin, Va., Feb. 28, 1861 or 1862, and was buried in Nunda.
Charles R. Lowe died on the 19th of April, 1862, of typhoid fever at Newport News, Va., and was buried at Nunda.
Thaddeus Maynard died of fever at Philadel- phia, Aug. 6, 1862.
William James Casnett was killed at Chancellors- ville May 3, 1863. A more extended notice of this patriotic man may not be out of place. Mr. Cas- nett was attending Hamilton College at the break- ing out of the war, preparing for the ministerial service. While spending the summer vacation of 1862 at his home he deemed it his duty to go to the defense of his flag, and so he enlisted in the 33d Regiment as a private in the ranks, leaving at home a sister and a widowed mother.
He reached his regiment at Hagerstown, Md., soon after the desperate battle of Antietam, where he lay sick of fever at Clear Spring long after the army had crossed the Potomac. He joined his regiment, however, in time to be engaged in the first battle of Fredericksburg.
During the four months while the army lay in winter quarters he improved his leisure moments in study and in defense of the religion which he professed. On the 28th day of April, 1863, the army broke camp and immediately moved upon the enemy's works. Casnett's regiment was compelled to lie flat on the ground for several hours in the midst of falling shot and shells. He seemed sin- gularly anxious for action, and was heard to say re- peatedly : "Why don't we charge? The only way to take this fort is to march up there and fight !"
At last the assault came. In the tempest of fire and smoke, of shot and shell, he was lost sight of, nor was he seen again till the battle ended and
* To Dr. William B. Alley, who has manifested great interest in sta- tistics relating to the soldiers from Nunda, we are in great part indebted for the war record of this town. The major portion of this account is from his records, changed only in the order of its original appearance to admit facts gleaned from other sources.
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