USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 40
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reviewing my sermon and came toward the conclusion, in which I had introduced from St. James the passage, "Finally, my brethren, farewell," I bethought my- self of Mr. A., and seemed to hear him blurt out his vigorous "Amen." The explanation was satisfactory. After amusing themselves over it together, the conversation turned, and not long after the two took their way to the chapel. The sermon was delivered with becoming unction, and, drawing to an end, was closed with the words, 'Finally, my brethren, farewell.' At once there fol- lowed an echoing 'Amen.' The preacher dropped to his seat, covered his face with his hands and bowed it behind the desk. The audience were touched by this proof of tenderness from their retiring minister, and some were moved to tears of sympathy. For some time they waited in suspense for him to rise and continue the service, which as he delayed to do, they were more and more overcome. The embarrassment was getting painful, when the minister's host, who alone divined the true state of affairs, rose and moved toward the door, at the same time beckoning to the audience to do the same. The hint was taken, and all sorrowfully retired but the stricken pastor. He, perchance, would have sooner recovered himself but for the incident of the morning, the anticipation he had related and its exact fulfillment. It was the assurance, as he afterward said, of meeting the eye of his host, and thus renewing the cause of his mirth, which kept him chained to his seat."
It is said that the work of the Methodist church in Utica began as early as 1792, by Rev. Freeborn Garretson of Rhinebeck. In 1799 the minutes of the Methodist church show that Oneida was added to the list of circuits, with 26 members. William McLenahan was presiding elder. At first the member- ship that was resident in Utica were attached to a class that met on the New Hartford road, as has been before stated. In 1802 Rev. William Colbert was appointed presiding elder on the Albany district, and Oneida and Mohawk cir- cuits were included in this district. In 1804 a new arrangement of conferences and districts gave this district the name of Genesee, and included it in the Philadelphia conference. In 1808 the territory was transferred to the New York conference, and Peter VanNess was appointed its presiding elder. The name of the district was then changed to Cayuga. In this year Solomon Bron- son, a man of means and an influential citizen in the community was con- verted, and, being zealous and earnest, came to Utica frequently and held meetings in the schoolhouse on Genesee street, just above the junction of Genesee and Broad streets. In 1812 the name of "Utica" appears on the minutes, and was probably the name of a new circuit. Seth Mattison was preacher in charge. The next year Jabez Treadwell joined him as preacher, and in 1814 Abner Chase and Zenas Jones were preachers in this vicinity. In 1815 Utica was made a station, and Benjamin G. Paddock was appointed preacher in charge. The old church was then sold to L. Thomas for 70,000 brick, and with these and additional brick bought, a new house was built. This church was dedicated August 16, 1816, and is the same as is referred to above as the first Methodist society located in Utica. During the year 1816 and the following year George Garey was preacher; in 1818 William Barlow was preacher; 1819, Elias Brown; 1820, Elijah King; 1821, B. G. Paddock; 1822-23, George Peck; 1824, George Harmon ; in 1825 Paris and Utica were united in one charge, with Z. Paddock
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and Ephraim Hall as preachers. In 1816 Z. Paddock was returned and the Bleecker Street church was built, and dedicated in the early spring of 1827; in that year Fitch Reed was pastor, and in 1829, Elias Brown; 1830, George Peck. In 1832, a class having existed in West Utica for some time previous, steps were taken to build a church. The class had been considered as a part of the Bleecker Street society, and, although a house was built, it was after- ward sold. In 1847 a new society was formed in West Utica by members of the Bleecker Street society, and this became the State Street Methodist church. February 3, 1867, this church was burned, and at that time the Bleecker street building was very much out of repair and was not well located. It was, there- fore decided to combine the two elements, and form the First Methodist Episcopal church of Utica. A building was erected on the corner of Court and Cornelia streets, and, as the outgrowth of this church, several others have originated and started upon their prosperous careers in and about Utica. The pastors of this church have been: William Reddy; R. C. Houghton; Eli C. Bruce; L. D. White; T. Kelley ; J. H. Humphrey; Samuel Call; J. D. Phelps; F. H. Beck; Gordon Moore; Addis Albro; M. T. Bovard; William Marsh; C. E. Miller; A. H. Zimmerman and Edgar H. Brown.
SOUTH STREET METHODIST CHURCH, (Utica) was organized in September, 1852, with 82 members, the most prominent of whom were S. A. Alden, T. J. Francis, W. R. Denison, Francis D. Fish, W. R. Frederick, C. B. Manning, George R. Potter and William Goodenow. This church was perfected in the spring of 1853, and at that time Rev. John Inskip was in charge. The pastors of the church have been : E. Hoag, 1854-56; J. L. Wells, 1856-58; W. H. Olin, 1858-60; S. P. Gray, 1860-62; Thomas Harroun, 1862-64; E. C. Curtis, 1864-66; L. Hart- sough, 1866-68; Theron Cooper, 1867-71; W. F. Markham, 1871-74; A. J. Cowles, 1874-77; W. D. Chase, 1877-80; W. F. Hemenway, 1880-81; A. Bramley, 1881-84 ; W. E. Reynolds, 1884-85; H. W. Bennet, 1885-88; H. E. Waugh, 1888-92; W. F. Brown, 1892-94; A. P. Palmer, 1894-99 ; J. B. Hammond, 1899-02; S. W. Brown, 1902-09; W. J. Hart, 1909-12.
DRYER MEMORIAL CHURCH (Utica) was built and dedicated almost imme- diately after the burning of the State street church, being at that time a chapel. In 1887 steps were taken to organize a church, and Rev. F. W. Merrick was assigned as pastor. The name was selected in honor of Rev. H. N. Dryer, prom- inent Methodist minister, who for many years was steward at the State Hospital, and had a high standing in the community. This church has been served by F. W. Merrick, 1887-8; F. D. Leete, 1888-91; F. D. Torrey, 1891-94; A. F. Pennock, 1894-96; J. W. Simpson, 1896-1900; S. Call, 1900-02; R. H. Ferguson, 1902-08 ; C. H. Walton 1908 to the present time.
CENTENARY METHODIST CHURCH (Utica) originated in 1880, and services were held in 1882 in a hall on the corner of Albany and South streets. In 1884 the church was organized with Rev. L. D. White as pastor. Since that time other pastors have been : Samuel Call, J. G. Benson, G. W. Adams, J. V. Ferguson, W. G. Wilmshurst, W. Dempster Chase and T. F. Alexander.
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GRACE METHODIST CHURCH in the city of Utica, within the last month ceased to exist, because of the lack of financial support, and the members have been dismissed to other churches.
There are a few churches in the county, notably one at Prospect, where a portion of the communicants reside out of the county, but this is about offset by those places within the county where communicants attend church located in another county. An instance of this kind is at Hinckley, in the town of Russia, Herkimer county, where a large portion of the communicants of the church live in Oneida county just across the West Canada Creek, which is the dividing line between the two counties.
The Methodist people have for many years held annually what is called a "Camp Meeting." In former years it was held at different places, but more than twenty years since an organization was effected, Camp Meeting Grounds, about a mile south of Trenton Falls in the town of Trenton, were purchased, and permanent buildings erected. Annually they hold an immense Camp Meeting for something more than a week, which is conducted with great de- corum; the whole surroundings are most orderly and free from that which, in former years, had sometimes given rise to criticism.
In 1911 Methodist churches in the county of Oneida and the number of communicants are as follows: Ava and West Leyden, 80; Boonville, 324; Cam- den, 412; Clayville, 73; Florence, 45; Floyd and Stittville, 120; Forestport, 64; Knoxboro, 104; Lee Center, 151; Lowell, 75; McConnellsville, 100; New Hart- ford, 270; New London, 88; North Bay, 57; North Western, 144; New York Mills, 244; Oriskany Falls, 130; Prospect, 87; Remsen, 140; Rome, First, 859; Rome, Liberty street, 292; Sauquoit, 131; Steuben, 145; Taberg, 117; Trenton, 103; Utica, Centenary, 304; Utica, Coke Memorial, 62; Utica, Dryer Memorial, 275; Utica, First and Italian Mission, 400; Utica, Grace, 128; Utica, South street, 378; Vernon, 103; Vernon Center, 100; Verona, 97; Waterville, 109; Westdale, 43; Westmoreland, 160; Whitesboro and Maynard, 177. The total number of communicants is 7,024.
METHODIST PROTESTANT-There was organized in the county a Methodist Protestant church at Hawkinsville about 1860. Also Wesleyan Methodist at Camden and Remsen, in which services were conducted in the Welsh language. Also Calvinistic Methodist churches at Remsen, Trenton, Utica and Rome. Also churches that were denominated Methodist organized at Augusta Center, Floyd Corners, Marcy, Holland Patent, South Trenton, Verona, New London, Big Brook, Utica and Rome. Some of these were known as Free Methodist churches. One of the churches at Marcy was Welsh, one German, and both in the town of Trenton were Welsh. There was also a German Methodist church in Utica in 1851, and a Free Methodist church in Camden in 1887.
BAPTIST-The first Baptist church organized within the county was the Welsh Baptist church of Utica. This was formed in 1801, and it claims to have been the first church organized in that portion of the county which is now the city of Utica. So far as its church organization is concerned this is correct, but it was preceded, so far as religious services were concerned, by that which be-
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came the First Presbyterian church. On the 12th of September, 1801, twenty- two persons of this people, who were Baptists, met at the log house of John Williams, upon the road opposite the State Hospital, and formed a church. Some of them lived probably without the village, or if resident in it were so for a short time only. The church they formed is the first, exclusively of Utica, whose organization has been continuous and services unbroken to the present time. It is known as the First (Welsh) Baptist and is the parent of the Broad Street (now Tabernacle) church. This congregation erected in 1806 a church edifice near where the canal now intersects Hotel street. It was moved when the canal was opened to the site of the present church on Broadway a little north of Liberty. Among the twenty-two who united in its organization were Elder John Stevens and Elder James Harris, who officiated as ministers, Elder Abraham Williams, Joseph Harris, David Reed, Simon Johns, Nathaniel Davis, Samuel George, James Phillips, Daniel Richards, David Thomas. The first dea- cons were Joseph Haines and David Reed.
Elder John W. Stevens was the first minister. He preached alternately in English and in Welsh. In five or six years he removed to New York, but re- turned about 1814, and a second time became the head of the church. Elder Abraham Williams was their second pastor. He afterward removed to Rome and died October 25, 1839. On the 23d of September, 1819, seventeen members were dismissed from the Welsh church to form the Broad street (English) church, now the Tabernacle. On June 23, 1806, the first trustees were elected; they were Daniel James and John Adams. Four men acted as pastors alter- nately and for irregular periods until 1837. They were Rev. Richard Roberts, Elders D. Griffiths, Richards and Stephens. Rev. William H. Thomas became pastor July 1, 1837. The membership was then 135. Rev. William F. Phillips succeeded Mr. Thomas in the fall of 1840. David J. Phillips succeeded to the pastorate in 1846. Rev. David Jenkins became pastor in 1851 and Rev. Morris J. Williams followed him in 1854. During this period the church was at the height of its prosperity. The church records show a membership of 283. Rev. John Edred Jones became pastor in 1858. Rev. Joshua T. Morgans succeeded him in January, 1869. Eight years later Rev. Owen Griffiths became pastor for one year. In 1878, Rev. John Edred Jones again assumed the charge. Rev. William M. Evans became pastor in 1883, and was succeeded by Rev. John D. Roberts in 1885. Rev. Thomas Morris became pastor in 1887 and continued as such until April 1, 1890. Since that time the pulpit has been supplied by licentiates. The church has decreased in membership because the American born Welsh cannot understand the Welsh language, in which the sermons are preached, and Welsh emigration to Utica has practically ceased.
PARK BAPTIST CHURCH-Perhaps the Baptist church which had the greatest influence was that over which Dr. Daniel G. Corey presided for fifty years. This was known as the Bleecker Street Baptist church, the building being situ- ated upon the southwest corner of Bleecker and Charlotte streets, Utica. This building was sold, and a new church was erected upon the corner of Rutger and West streets, the name being changed to the Park Baptist in the year 1888. The Bleecker street church was the largest audience room in the city for sev-
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eral years, and was utilized frequently for large public assemblies. It was in this church that the world famed Jenny Lind sang in 1851. On that occasion tickets were sold for five dollars each, which was considered an enormous price, and the church was totally inadequate to admit those who desired to hear the famous singer. The streets were filled with people, and buildings were covered with those, who, from the open windows of the church could hear her marvelous voice.
Following is the programme of the Jenny Lind concert. It bears date May 12, 1851, but as a matter of fact the concert occurred on July 14, 1851, and it is evident that the programme was the same as had been used in former con- certs, and the date had not been changed :
"PROGRAM OF M'LLE JENNY LIND'S CONCERT.
Monday, May 12, 1851 PART I
Overture-'La chasse du Jenne Henri' Mehul
Durt-'Se inclinassi a preuder moglie' Rossini
Signori Salvi and Belletti
Cavatina-'Una voce poca fa' (Il Barbiere). Rossini
M'lle Jenny Lind
Romanza-'Ciel che feci' (Uberto) . . Verdi
Signor Salvi
Aria-Madamina (Don Giovanni) Mozart
Signor Belletti
Scena-Ah non credea
Aria-Ah non giunge (La Sanambula) Bellini
M'lle Jenny Lind
PART II
Overture (Jubilee)
.Weber
Trio-Ti parli l'amore (Othello). Rossini
M'lle Jenny Lind Signori Salvi and Belletti
Fantasia on the Violin
Arlet
Ballad-'Take the Lute' Herr Griepel
M'lle Jenny Lind Benedict
Cavatina-'Vi ravisso' (La Sonambula) Bellini
Signor Belletti
Irish Ballad-'The Last Rose of Summer' M'lle Jenny Lind
The Herdsman Song, commonly called the Echo Song M'lle Jenny Lind
The Wedding March (Midsummers Night's Dream)
Mendelssohn Conductor, M. Benedict."
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
Dr. Corey, the renowned preacher, filled a unique place in the Baptist church. He was of humble origin, born in Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y., August 21, 1814, had a common school education, and also attended the academy which is now Colgate University, where he studied the higher branches and theology ; but he was a man of marvelous power, six feet and two or three inches in height, angular and not graceful in his manner. He did not persuade-he overwhelmed his audience. Perhaps no minister of the Baptist church in the country had a greater reputation for pulpit oratory than Dr. Corey. It was his custom to preach an annual sermon to young people, and these services were attended by a great number of the young people of the city, his influence on the young being wonderful. After serving the church for fifty years he ten- dered his resignation, which was regretfully accepted, with the feeling among his parishioners that his place could never be filled in the church. He died in Utica, February 20, 1890.
A second Universalist church was organized in Utica and a building was constructed on the southerly side of Bleecker street, where services were held for some time; but it did not receive sufficient support, and the building was sold to the Baptists, a church known as the East Utica Baptist being organized, which has occupied the building since.
The First Baptist church of Rome was organized at Wright Settlement in October, 1817, Elder Dyer Starks being the first pastor. The first church was built in 1826. The present church building on the corner of George and Em- bargo streets was built in 1872. Some pastors of this church have been Rev. John Gibbs, Rev. Emerson Andrews, Rev. H. C. Vogell, Rev. J. M. Harris, and Rev. H. H. Peabody, D.D. Dr. Peabody was succeeded by Rev. Alfred E. Al- ton, who resigned in 1911 to accept a professorship in Colgate University, and Rev. Royal N. Jessup has recently accepted a call to the pulpit. The most eminent of the pastors of this church is Dr. Peabody. He was born in Melrose, Mass., September 16, 1842; graduated from Colgate University in 1865, and from Hamilton Theological Seminary two years later. He was pastor in Brattle- boro, Vt., for little more than a year, and then for the same length of time sup- plied the pulpit of the Washington Street Baptist church of Buffalo, N. Y. In March of 1870 he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist church of Rome, N. Y., and April 1st of that year began his work with this church. His resignation was given April 28, 1905, from a pastorate that covered a period of thirty-four years. The present church edifice was begun during the second year of his term of service. He was early recognized as one of the foremost preachers in the denomination, and has frequently been called upon to deliver addresses on unusual occasions. These addresses were models of English, and were received everywhere with great favor. Since his retirement he continues to reside in Rome, and is pastor emeritus of the church.
Baptist churches have been organized throughout the county, some of which have ceased to exist, but the denomination is still thoroughly alive, and has some of the most effective churches within the county. In 1850 a church was organized at Taberg. In Augusta a church was organized in the early history of the county, but disbanded within a few years. In 1910 Baptist churches within the county and the number of communicants were as follows: Bartlett,
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
111; Berean (Marcy), 38; Boonville, 214; Camden, 49; Cassville, 114; Clinton 98; Durhamville, 67; Maple Flats, 37; New Hartford, 180; North Bay, none given; Remsen, First, 66; Second, 24; Rome, 409; Taberg, 102; Trenton, First, 77; South, 34; Utica, Calvary, 107; Utica, East, 102; Utica, Immanuel, 164; Utica, Park, 414; Utica, Tabernacle, 935; Vernon, 66; Walesville, 50; Waterville, 91; Whitesboro, 228. From the minutes of the nineteenth anniversary of the Oneida Baptist Association held in October, 1910, it appears that there are at present 3,793 communicants of the Baptist church in Oneida county.
FREE WILL BAPTISTS-A Free Will Baptist church was organized at Pros- pect in 1857. In connection with a church at Grant, in Herkimer county, a pas- tor was engaged, who officiated alternately at Prospect and Grant, and this ar- rangement still continues.
A church of the same denomination was organized at Washington Mills in 1860, and a church existed in connection with Whitestown Seminary, but which ceased to exist when the seminary was dissolved by action of the attorney gen- eral of the state.
The denomination is making little progress in the county, and it is prob- able that there are less communicants now than in the first years of the or- ganization of the churches within the county. The regular Baptist church at Prospect ceased to exist, and most of the adherents of that faith joined the Free Will Baptists.
SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS-At one time there were churches of this denomina- tion within the county, but at present, so far as statistics at hand show, there is but one remaining in existence, and that is at Rome.
OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST-A church of this denomination was organized in Westmoreland in 1836, and at one time there was one in Utica, but they have ceased to exist.
UNITARIAN-The United Protestant Religious Society was formed September 19, 1803, at Oldenbarneveld. The organizers of this society were men of prom- inence, among whom were Francis van der Kemp, A. G. Mappa, Luther Guiteau, John Mappa, J. J. van der Kemp and others. The organizers were not all of the same religious belief, and it has been claimed that of the first trustees elected two were Presbyterians and one a Unitarian. Whatever may have been the pre- vailing religious opinion of the organizers, the fact remains that the church be- came Unitarian. The first pastor was Rev. John Sherman, who was a notable character, the grandson of Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1792, and had been pastor of the First Church in Mansfield, Ct., until his religious views were not acceptable to that church, and for that reason he severed his connection with that society. Mr. Sherman remained in charge for five years, and was followed, after an interregnum, by Rev. I. B. Peirce. The church was more or less in con- troversy for many years over its form of worship, its doctrine, and during what was known as the Finney Revival a bitter religious controversy occurred between
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what was known as the Orthodox or Trinitarians and the Unitarians. It is claimed by the Unitarians that Mr. Finney and his adherents were very abusive in their treatment of the Unitarians. Ephraim Perkins published two pamphlets against the Trinitarians, who were not slow in making reply to the assaults upon them. Mr. Peirce tendered his resignation April 14, 1842, which was accepted, and soon after Rev. Edward Buckingham became pastor of the church. Services were held alternately at Trenton village and Holland Patent. Mr. Buckingham left the church in August, 1852, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas W. Brown. Then followed several ministers, who remained only a short time. In 1865 a statement of the belief of the church was put into formal shape and unanimously adopted : but it does not appear that the requirements of membership were such as that a person was obliged to subscribe even to the form of belief that the church had adopted. They held that each person had the right to his own belief, and that liberty of conscience should be preserved inviolate. Every member should be maintained in his right of free inquiry into the doctrines of the scripture, in publishing what he believes the scriptures to contain. Rev. William Silsbee was called to the pastorate in 1867, and he remained pastor for twenty years. During his pastorate the church was reincorporated, because of the fact that as it was originally incorporated it was called "United Protestant Religious Society," while the church formed within the society was called "The Reformed Christian Church." Pastors who have since filled the pulpit have only remained for a short time. Under the pastorate of Mr. Beers, in 1899, a meeting of the church was held for the purpose of adopting a declaration of union, which was as follows :
"In the love of truth and in the spirit of Jesus, we unite for the worship of God and the service of man.
"Our doctrinal beliefs we hold always open to restatement as growing thought and purer life reveal new truth.
"We welcome to our fellowship any who, though differing from us in belief, are in sympathy with our practical aims and desire to promote truth, righteous- ness, and love in the world. We who here subscribe our names do by this act enter into a convenant of love and service and right endeavor with each other."
THE REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH-The Reformed church in Utica was the outcome of domestic missions. In 1826 Rev. Mr. Labagh, representing the domes- tic board, visited this section. The result of his labors, supplemented by those of the Rev. John F. Schermerhorn, was the erection of the first edifice on the southeast corner of Broad and John streets. Five months after the completion of the structure the congregation was able to dispense with aid from the board, and on the 26th of October, 1830, the local church was organized with 39 mem- bers. The last services in the old church occurred October 14, 1866, and the new church on the corner of Genesee and Cornelia streets was opened May 3, 1868. This beautiful structure was destroyed by fire February 6, 1881, and the pres- ent church was located upon the same lot and was first occupied December 31, 1882. The first pastor of this church was Rev. George Washington Bethune, D. D., divine and poet; born in the city of New York March 18, 1805; graduated at Dickinson College in 1823, and studied at the Princeton Theological Seminary
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