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 64
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In 1833 the public square was sold to supply the means for rebuilding the dam, which had been washed away. It was divided into village lots, which soon began to be occupied; as a conse- quence the society found the location of the church to be inconvenient, and removed it about twenty rods to the south, upon State street, a little west of the present site of the Free Methodist Church. At this time the building was lengthened making it 84 by 44 feet ; a session house, 40 by 24 feet, erected just east of the church ; and sheds built in its rear. These improvements were completed in 1841, and the house was re-dedicated, the sermon being preached by Dr. Lord, then of Geneseo. This structure, with the session house and sheds, were all swept away by fire during the night of Sept. 29, 1852, this being the first very large fire that had occurred in the village. Before the fire was entirely extinguished measures were instituted for rebuilding, which resulted in the erection of the present edifice, located on the northwest corner of State and Stanley streets, on land donated by John R. Murray, Jr. It was dedicated Feb. 1, 1855, Rev. Darwin Chichester preaching the sermon.
* There was a log school house prior to this time on the site of the Wallace House.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
The entire cost was about $10,000. For a time after the fire the congregation worshipped in the Methodist and Baptist churches. Temporary ac- commodations were soon provided however in a large room on the south side of Chapel street, where Mr. Barnhart's market is now located. This they occupied until the church was completed. The lecture room, located a few feet west of the church, was built in 1860, and dedicated Nov. 14th of that year. It cost, including furniture, not far from $600.
The organ now in use was purchased in June, 1864, at a cost of $1, 100. The first beli was pur- chased in Albany in December. 1834. It weighed 810 pounds and cost $324. It was placed in the tower of the old church before its removal to State street. This bell proving defective another weigh- 1,209} pounds was substituted in its place about November. 1839, at an additional cost of $224. This also failing a third one, weighing 1,525 pounds, was procured in November, 1844, at an additional cost of $200. The latter was destroyed when the church was burned, together with the town eloek which for a number of years had been attached to it. The present bell, weighing about 1,400 pounds, was purchased on the completion of the church.
The Rev. Mr. MeMaster was soon succeeded by Rev. Calvin Bushnell, of the Oneida Presbytery. He preached several months to the general accept- ance of the community and was called to the pas- torate. but for reasons which do not appear this relation was never consummated. His name last appears on the records Feb. 12, 1831. Rev. James B. Wilcox commenced his labors within a few weeks after the above date and acted as stated supply for one year. He was followed by Rev. George W. Elliott, who supplied the pulpit for two years, till the spring of 1834. The next minister was Rev. Clark B. Goodrich, who commenced his labors August, 1, 1834, and continued them four years. He was installed Jan. 9, 1837. Rev. John Van Buren soon followed Mr. Goodrich, supplying the pulpit till the fall of 1839. During the ten years terminating with this period 296 were added to the membership.
lu 1837 occurred the disruption of the Presby- terian General Assembly, which deeply agitated the churches in this section. This church, though many times among the breakers, was saved from actual division.
Oet. 31, 1830, Moses Marvin and Ann his wife, Harriet Speas, Fanny Roland and Anna Sharp
were dismissed in order to unite with others in the formation of the Second Presbyterian church of Mt. Morris. This church united with a school district in the erection of a house, which for a number of years was used for both church and school purposes. It was located on the west side of the State road, about five miles south of this village. The church was organized by a commit- tee of the Presbytery in 1830, and received under their care in January, 1831. It was disbanded about 1839, there having been a Dutch Reformed Church * established in the same locality about the same time with which a portion of the mem- bers connected themselves. Rev. Elam Walker was the first minister of the Second Church, and is remembered as a very foreible preacher. He was followed by Rev. Messrs. Hall, Ward and Lindley. The greatest membership was about fifty. Moses Marvin, Sylvester Roland and Clark Mather were elders and the two first named acted as deacons. The church maintained a prayer meeting ; also a Sunday school, of which S. Roland and J. MeCrary were Superintendents.
During the intense anti-slavery agitation between 1820 and 1830 an attempt was made to blow up the church in Mt. Morris with powder when the people were gathered in it to hear an abolition lec- turer named Storrs. A quantity of powder was placed under the building and the slow match lighted, when happily it was discovered and ex- tinguished.
Rev. Cyrus Hudson, after supplying the desk for about a year, was, on the 10th of September. 1840, installed pastor of the church. He continued his labors till Jan. 5, 1847. Rev. C. H. A. Bulkley soon succeeded Mr. Hudson, and was installed pastor Oct. 21, 1847. He remained nearly four years, being dismissed at his own request, and contrary to the wishes of the congregation gener- ally, Jan. 7, 1851. He was succeeded in the spring of 1851 by Rev. Darwin Chichester, who remained as stated supply till the summer of 1855. Levi Parsons commenced his labors as a licentiate of the Presbytery of Cayuga, the first Sabbath in February, 1856, and was ordained and installed pastor July 10, 1856. His pastorate continues to the present time, covering nearly a quarter of a century of the church's history.
* " It is not often that a religious society becomes dwindled down to one trustee and only one surviving member, and both of these in the same person. But such an instance has occurred in Mt. Morris. Jacob Van Wagner, the sole surviving trustee of the True Keformed Dutch Church has applied for an order to dissolve the corporation and sell the prop- erty." (Nunda News.) The Union and Constitution, Mt. Morris, April 22, 1880.
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VILLAGE OF MOUNT MORRIS-CHURCHES.
The first ruling elders were Jesse Stanley, Abra- ham Camp and Jonathan Beach. Subsequently there have been added to the sessions :- James Coe and Luther Parker, 1818; Asa Woodford and Oliver Stanley, 1820; John Pratt and James Conkey, 1829; George Kemp, Jr., and George Hastings, 1831; Harry H. Evarts and James H. Rogers, 1834; Reuben Weeks, Reuben Sleeper and Charles W. King, 1836; Marsena Allen, 1842; Henry Sheldon, Charles Holmes and Levi God- dard, 1844; Samuel J. Mills, Loren J. Ames, Milo H. Maltbie and Stillwell Burroughs, 1853; Loren Coy and Pomeroy Sheldon, 1857; Jonathan E. Robinson, Samuel L. Rockfellow and Justine Smith, 1862; Elijah N. Bacon, Frederick E. Hast- ings, Ziba A. Colburn and Jay E. Lee, 1871 ; Reuben S. Weeks and Wilder Silver, 1875. In 1875 the church adopted the plan of limited elder- ship.
Jesse Stanley and Jonathan Beach were the original deacons. Subsequently there were elected to this office :- Asa Woodford, Wm. Marvin and Abraham C. Camp, 1831 ; James Conkey and Marsena Allen, 1834; Robert E. Weeks, 1861; Esek M. Winegar, 1862 ; James Beggs and Milo H. Maltbie, 1871 ; and Wilder Silver, 1879.
In 1815, Mrs. Oliver Stanley first made an effort to establish a Sunday school, before there were any such schools in this section. She was assisted in her efforts by Emily, daughter of Luman Stanley. They met with many discouragements, and it was not until 1817 that anything like a permanent or- ganization was effected. Of this there is no record, and no hint as to who was Superintendent. In 1818, Allen Ayrault was the Superintendent. Deacon Woodford is thought to have succeeded him, and for many years he ably discharged the duties of the office. At an early period some In- dian girls were among the pupils. The present Superintendent is Joshua Weeks. Loren Coy acted as chorister of this church from 1846 to 1879. The membership of the church April 1, 1880, was 273; the attendance at Sabbath school, 242.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Mt. Morris. The Methodists, if not the first, were among the first to cultivate this religious field, though the Presbyterians were the first to do so systematically. The first religious services in the town, however, were conducted by a Baptist, Rev. Samuel J. Mills, before referred to. The first Methodist preacher who visited this locality was, it is supposed, Rev. J. H. Hudson, familiarly known as Father Hudson, who came here in 1804 from Friendship, in Alle-
gany county, guided by Indian trails and follow- ing the course of the Genesee to Gardeau having, he said, for the last thirty-five miles, " traveled over a country where not a white inhabitant had yet broken ground," where "all was forest, wilderness and river." He proceeded down the river to Squakie Hill, and thence to Allen's Hill. He found a few "who called themselves Methodists " living on the flats and preached to them. From that time Mt. Morris became a stated appointment on the circuit whose head was at Canisteo, and ex- tended thence to the mouth of Genesee river, and thence east to Seneca lake. Rev. A. Owen, then presiding elder, sent Hudson a colleague in the person of Sela Paine, a young man, says Hudson, full of Holy Spirit and life. At the conference of 1805, Paine was taken away and Frederick Stiars and Timothy Lee sent as additional help. In 1806, J. B. Hudson, Gerard Morgan and John Richards were assigned to this extensive field. Hudson, speaking of the moral character of Mt. Morris at that time says :- " It was notorious for its whiskey and Sabbath desecration," "a charac- ter," adds Rev. T. Cardus, from whose Historical Discourse we quote,* "which seems to have clung to the place during all the years of its existence." These pioneer preachers held services in the log school house which occupied the site of the Wallace House. A class, it is supposed, was formed among the few Methodists first met by Mr. Hudson on the flats, and "a constant attendant at this Methodist ordinance," says Mr. Cardus, " was the wife of Gen. Mills, her only path to and fro being an Indian trail."
Mr. Hudson attended to the interests of the so- ciety here until 1814. In 1815, Rev. Mr. Parker preached here.
In 1816, a new circuit was formed, containing the following appointments :- Geneseo, Mt. Mor- ris, Nunda, Groveland, and parts of the towns of Livonia and Conesus. By request, Rev. Mr. Hud- son took its charge, receiving for his faithfully performed labors for the year, $100. In spite of all privations men of good ability found their way to this locality. Among these was Rev. Mr. Hoag, in 1820. In 1824, Lonisa Kinney, Ebenezer Da- mon, Elizabeth Damon, Elizabeth Holtslander and Rebecca McNair were members. There were, doubtless, others, but none others are recorded.
In 1827, Mt. Morris was still in the Geneseo circuit, of which Revs. B. Williams and M. Doud
* History of the M. E. Church, Mt. Morris, by the pastor, Rev. T. Cardus, July 2, 1876,-Union and Constitution, Mt. Morris, July 13, 1876.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
were the preachers. They stayed, it is believed, two years. Two classes were then in existence, with forty members, Chester Grover and Benjamin F. Robinson being leaders, and the preaching was held in a frame school-house which stood near Father Arnold's. In 1829, Revs. Haywood and St. John became the preachers, and regular preach- ing was then held in the village, in a small school- house which stood on the corner of the lot where Mr. Moss now lives.
In 1830, Mt. Morris was transferred from the Geneseo to the Angelica circuit. The preachers appointed were :- Revs. Jonathan Benson and Merrit Ferguson. "There was a revival all the year." The leaders were Ezra Kinney and Levi Keyes, the class of the former containing sixty members, and that of the latter, twenty-four. In 1831, Rev. J. Lent became the preacher, and the place of meeting was changed from the white to the long school-house. During Mr. Lent's minis- try, steps were taken to secure a church edifice. A site was selected on the lot where Dr. Joslyn now resides, and March 5, 1832, the contract for building the church was let to Benjamin Dodge, of Castile, who, in presenting his bill of costs amount- ing to $1,622. 16 said :- " The house has cost me the above bill, besides all chorin' and runnin' about, and without anny prophit except on the frame and chargin' day wages." It was finished in January, 1833, and dedicated on the 4th of that month, Dr. Lackey, of Lima, preaching the dedi- catory sermon. The first trustees, at the building of the church, were :- Ebenezer Damon, Ezra Kinney, Leonard Hoskins and George W. Barney.
Rev. Mr. Lent was removed in 1832, and was succeeded by Revs. Asa Story, Daniel Anderson and Wm. Gage Anderson, who remained on the circuit two years. After the dedication of the church, Mt. Morris was severed from Angelica and became the head of a circuit, with Anderson as sole pastor. The members at that time, with pos- sibly a few omissions, were :- Ezra Kinney, who was for twenty-six years a class leader, Louisa Kinney, Aylmer Keith, Eliza Keith, Eleanor Begole, Chester Grover, Martha Aldrich, Ebenezer Damon, Elizabeth Damon, Henry Lake, Clarinda Lake, John Hartsock, Jacob Chilson, Jr., Lucy Ann Chilson, Jonas Bellows, Charles Seymour, Peggy Miller, Wm. S. Parsons, Mary Parsons, Diadama Parsons, Asahel Parsons, Esther Parsons, Sally Parker, Gordon Williams, Hiram H. Gladding, Julia Daboll, (afterwards Mrs. Green,) Gilbert G. Townsend, Rachel Townsend, George Eaton,
Josiah Eaton, Noah Chapman, Daniel Miller, Sally Washburn, Lucy Cooper, John T. Keith, Satterlee Holland, G. W. Barney, Mary Barney, Daniel Cothreil. At this time Mt. Morris was in the Rochester district.
Mr. Anderson was succeeded in the pastorate in 1834 by Revs. Loren Grant and J. Robinson. J. H. Wallace was sent to this charge in 1835, and stayed two years. His colleague the first year was Rev. Mr. Benjamin, and the second, Mr. Atchison Wallace. Rev. S. W. Wooster was stationed here in 1837, but in a short time was removed to Perry. Rev. Mr. Hudson supplied the pulpit the remain- der of the year. Rev. Mr. Church was the pastor in 1836 and Rev. Mr. Hall in 1839-40. During Mr. Hall's pastorate, Rev. Mr. Farrell came on the circuit and labored a year and nine months. In 1842, Mt. Morris was placed in the Dansville district. Asa Abell was the preacher in charge. He stayed two years.
In 1844 Rev. J. G. Gulick, a man of more than ordinary pulpit talent, became the pastor. The pulpit was supplied the succeeding year by Rev. S. Reed Cook. He was succeeded in 1846 by Rev. Alexander Farrell. Rev. John Parker was sent to this charge by the East Genesee conference in 1848 and remained two years.
In 1850 Mt. Morris was placed on the Lima district and Rev. Zyna J. Buck stationed here. He stayed two years, adding during the first year, by means of a revival, 43 probationers. In 1852 Mt. Morris was in the West Rochester district and Rev. E. Latimer was the preacher in charge. He was succeeded by Rev. Ralph Clapp, who also re- mained a year. In 1854 Rev. Wesley Cochrane became the pastor. In February, 1855, it pur- chased the Episcopal church and the house which now forms the Methodist parsonage, giving in ex- change the old church and $500. This old church was sold to Geo. H. Summers in 1856, and removed from its location on Chapel street about 1865 to the south side of the Wallace House, on Main street. It is now known as Concert Hall, and is owned by the proprietor of the Wallace House. It was vacated by the Methodists in 1855, and the one received in exchange-the one now in use- occupied. Mr. Cochrane was succeeded after a year by Rev. Jonathan Benson, who had minis- tered to this people twenty-five years previously. In 1856 "the beloved Edson " became the pastor. He was succeeded in 1858 by Rev. H. T. Giles. Rev. R. Harrington took charge in 1859. In 1860 Rev. O. Trowbridge took the field, and after an
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MARY BARNEY. GEORGE W. BARNEY.
GEORGE W. BARNEY.
George W. Barney was born in the town of Newport, Herkimer county, Sept. 18, 1808. IIe is a son of Reuben and Sarah (Pierce) Barney, natives of Rhode Island. The former was born March 28, 1774, in the town of Swan- zey, and the latter in the same town in 1777. They were farmers by occupation and moved from Rhode Island to Herkimer county in 1801, and resided there until they died, the father March 31, 1855, and the mother May 25, 1844. They had twelve children, eleven of whom grew up and married.
Their names were as folows: Pardon, (dead, ) Davelia Lorean, (dead, ) Sarah, (dead,) Sophia, Mathilda, (dead, ) Temperance, (dead, ) George W., Angeline, Reuben, Louisa and Daniel. George W. lived at home, working on the farm and attending the district school until he was seventeen years of age. These were the only advantages he ever enjoyed for an education. On leaving home he was apprenticed to Wm. Talcott, of Little Falls, to learn the hatter's trade. Here he applied himself industriously and perseveringly to the acquisition of a thorough knowl- edge of the trade he had adopted for a livelihood. At the expiration of his termi of service he went to Fairfield, N. Y., and worked one winter. From thence he went to Albany. From the last named place he went to Suffield and Hartford, Conn., and worked at his trade about six months. Thus life opened before him its rugged path and bade him rely upon his own energies in surmounting its obstacles and achieving success. In 1828 Mr. Barney removed to Mt. Morris, where he found a wider field for the exercise of his maturing judgement and his untiring energies.
Here Mr. Barney commenced his long, useful, and hon- orable career. He was engaged by Mr. Peter Peterson, who was carrying on business quite extensively here at that time, in the manufacture of hats, and dealer in hats, caps, furs and clothing. In 1830 Mr. Barney bought out Mr. Peter- son and carried on the business abont thirty-two years. In 1860 Mr. B. elosed out his business and from that time for many years his energies and capacity were devoted to the discharge of the duties of the various offices of trust and responsibility that had been hestowed upon him, either by election or appointment. He was poor- master seven years, County Supt. of the Poor from 1868 to January 1, 1880; was deputy sheriff of Livingston county six years. During the war of the rebellion he was U. S. detective four years and now holds the office of deputy sheriff. During Abraham Lincoln's administra- tion he was post-master at Mt. Morris. July 12th, 1865, he was appointed to the same office by Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, and re-appointed by Johnson June 18, 1866. Owing to his refusal to sup- port the policy of Johnson's administration Mr. Barney was soon thereafter removed and Norman Seymour, Estt.,
was appointed to succeed him. In politics Mr. Barney was formerly a Whig; but upon the formation of the Republican party he united with that and has always been an active and zealous supporter of its principles and measures.
In the cause of Christ Mr. Barney has, since 1832, (at which time he experienced religion, ) heen an ardent and faithful laborer. In 1847, at the 38th session of Genesee Conference, he was ordained Deacon of the Methodist Episcopal church by Bishop Hamlin, at Geneva, N. Y. In 1873 he was ordained Elder in the Free Methodist church by Superintendent Rev. B. T. Roberts, at Perry, N. Y. He traveled as a cirenit preacher eight years, while carrying on his business in Mt. Morris, In his support of the church he has always been liberal, He gave largely of his means in aid of the construction of the first M. E. church and parsonage ever built in Mt. Morris-has always been ready and willing to give liber- ally when the demands of the church were made upon him. His honse was the home of the circuit preachers for many years. Mr. B. remembers when as many as twelve were gathered under his roof at one time. In 1829, Jan- nary 29, Mr. B. was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Garret C. and Rebecca ( Babcock) Peterson, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, Feb. 25, 1777, and died Nov. 1, 1843. The latter was born Janu- ary 25, 1782, and died March 8, 1840. They had eleven children, viz .: Jessie, born September 24, 1802; Sarah, born January 22, 1804, bed Jannary 22, 1838: Peter, born July 27, 1806; William, born November 26, 1808; John, born January 26, 1810, died November 26, 1831 ; Mary, born February 28, 1813 : Jane, born April 20, 1814 ; Rebecca, born July 29, 1817 ; Caroline, born Jan- uary 28, 1822 ; Gilbert, born August 5, 1824, and Harriet, born May 16, 1827, all of whom are now living, except Sarah and John. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barney eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Their names are as follows : Sarah, (dead. ) Richard W., Mary, (dead, ) George W., Alice M., and Charles W. The latter, a graduate from the Normal school at Geneseo, N. Y., is now in the Custom House, New York. Richard W. was a member of the 136th New York Infantry during the late war, and George W. enlisted in the 27th New York Infantry, and afterwards in the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, and in both organizations was a drummer.
Mr. and Mrs. Barney celebrated their golden wedding Jan. 29, 1879. Like many other men who were and are now the hone and sinew of the country, he lives in his seven- ty-third year, one of the few old living landmarks of our country's pioneers, having led a life of integrity and uprightness of character, honored by all who know him, and at the writing of this brief sketch bids fair for more years of usefulness to his friends.
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VILLAGE OF MOUNT MORRIS-CHURCHES.
unhappy ministry of one year went to another sphere of labor. Mt. Morris was dissociated from the church at Ridge, with which it had been con- nected, and reported a reduced membership of 73. Rev. John Shaw next served a pastorate of one year.
In 1862 Rev. J. L. Edson returned and remained three years. In 1865 Rev. A. N. Filmore came with his genial disposition. The church became too small and March 4, 1867, it was resolved that it should be remodeled and enlarged. This work was accomplished at a cost of about $4,500. Mr. Filmore remained two years till the fall of 1867, when Rev. C. M. Gardner entered upon a three years' ministry. The alterations to the church were finished during the first year of his pastorate, and it was re-dedicated by Dr. Mattison.
In 1870 the Ridge was again annexed to Mt. Morris, under the charge of Rev. William Bradley, who continued his labors for three years, increasing the membership from 88 to 110. During the second year of his ministry Mt. Morris was con- nected with the Western New York conference and again returned to the Lima district. Rev. T. Cardus became the pastor in 1873 and added thirty-six to the membership during the first year of his labors here. The present pastor, Rev. James Hill, entered upon his labors in October, 1877. The present membership (September, 1880,) is 130; the average attendance at Sunday school, 100. The church is valued at $7,000 ; the parsonage at $3,000. The first Sunday school superintendent was Ezra Kinney, and Jennie Jas- per was the first teacher of the Bible class.
The Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church, four miles south of Mt. Morris, has a membership of about fifteen. The church was built by the Bap- tists and bought of them many years ago. It is one of the oldest churches in this section of the country.
St. John's Church, (Episcopal,) of Mt. Morris, was organized on Easter Wednesday, 1833. Rev. Thomas Meacham, rector, presided, and David A. Miller was secretary of the meeting at which the or- ganization was effected. Jellis Clute and Nehemiah Barlow were elected wardens and David A. Miller, John W. Montross, Walker M. Hinman, Phineas Canfield, Stephen Summers, Charles B. Stout, James S. F. Heald and Hiram Hunt, vestrymen. Hiram Hunt was elected clerk of the vestry. Ser- vices were previously held here occasionally by Rev. Mr. Croes, who was located at Geneseo, and were conducted in the school house on the
west side of what was then the public square, which was bounded by Chapel, Main, Clinton and the second street north of Clinton, running parallel with it. In 1833, when Mr. Meacham commenced his labors, the services were transferred to a private school house belonging to David A. Miller, where they were continued until the church was built. Dec. 27, 1833, an invitation was extended to Mr. Meacham, who was then ministering to the church at Hunt's Hollow, to become the minister half the time at a salary of $250, including the missionary stipend-a salary like to that he had previously received.
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