USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 41
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in 1823-25. In 1827 he became pastor of a Dutch Reformed church in Rhine- beck, N. Y. He was afterwards settled in Utica, and still later in Philadelphia. In 1851 he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and 1859 to New York as associate pastor of the Twenty-first street church. He was a distinguished orator and most lov- able man, a poet and a wit. He published an edition of Walton's Complete Angler (N. Y., 1846) ; A Commentary on the 130th Psalm (1847) ; and Lays of Love and Faith (1847). Several of his hymns are widely used. In 1861 he went to Europe for the benefit of his health, but died at Florence, April 27, 1862. The second pastor was Rev. Henry Mandeville, who was pastor of the church from 1834 to 1841, when he became the professor of belles-lettres in Hamilton College. He was author of the Mandeville system of elocution, which placed Hamilton College in the front rank among colleges for its excellence in public speaking. Dr. Mandeville was also a brilliant orator, and ranked high as a preacher. Other pastors of the church were all notable men, and were Rev. John P. Knox, D. D., (1841-1844) ; Rev. Charles Wiley, D. D., (1845-1854) ; Rev. George H. Fisher, D. D., (1855-1860) ; Rev. Charles E. Knox, D. D .; (1860- 1862) ; Rev. Ashbel G. Vermilye, D. D., May, 1863; Rev. Isaac S. Hartley, D. D., who was called in 1871. Rev. Oren Root, D. D., succeeded Dr. Hartley in 1889; Rev. Peter Crispell succeeded Dr. Root June 7, 1894, and Rev. Louis H. Holden Ph. D., was installed October 6, 1904. This is the only Reformed church within the county, and it has 168 communicants.
UNIVERALIST-The Universalists of Utica and neighborhood were requested to meet at the court house on Monday evening, November 21, 1825, for the pur- pose of organizing a society. Accordingly "a number of persons believing in the doctrine of God's impartial and universal love" met at the time and place ap- pointed and organized the "First Universalist Society of Utica." The follow- ing persons were appointed trustees : Andrew S. Pond, Daniel James, John R. Ludlow, John H. Hickox, Roswell Woodruff; and the following were appointed deacons : Ezra S. Barnum and William Stevens. Forty-two persons signed the constitution. Rev. John S. Thompson, the chairman of the meeting, remained only a short time as the pastor, and the society was supplied with occasional preach- ers among whom was the father of the late T. Starr King. A church was erected in 1828-30 on Devereux street, and in the latter year Rev. Dolphas Skinner, D. D., became the first settled pastor. The church became involved in financial dif- ficulties and was subsequently sold. In 1848 services were recommenced in Mechanics Hall, and a new society was organized under the name of the Central Universalist Society, commonly known as the Church of the Reconciliation. A brick church was erected on Seneca street near Genesee and completed in 1851. It cost $12,500 and had a seating capacity of 480. Rev. Mr. Francis was the first pastor. He resigned his charge in 1853, and was succeeded in October by Rev. Theophilus Fisk. Rev. C. C. Gordon became pastor in 1857, and resigned his charge in August, 1859. Rev. T. D. Cook, who had been one of the earlier pas- tors of the old church, began a new pastorate in 1860, and spent four years in the work here. He was succeeded by Rev. D. Ballou in October, 1864, who re- mained five years. In August, 1870, Rev. A. J. Canfield was called and con- tinued his labors until May, 1873. In December of that year Rev. Charles F.
ADOLPHUS SKINNER, D. D.
JAMES CARNAHAN, D. D.
GEORGE W. BETHUNE, D. D.
BISHOP W. X. NINDE
RT. REV. CHARLES T. OLMSTED Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Central New York
JAMES H. TAYLOR, D. D.
-
EDWARD M. VAN DEUSEN, D. D.
ANDREW WETZEL, D. D.
SAMUEL P. SPRECHER, D. D.
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Lee became pastor and continued until January 1, 1879. Rev. Marion Crosley was the next pastor, officiating from January, 1880, to July, 1882. He was succeeded by Rev. O. A. Rounds, who came in the following September, and continued as pastor until September, 1887. Rev. Clarence E. Rice came to the work December 1, 1887, in which year the church was extensively repaired and a new chapel was built. The church building near the corner of Genesee and Columbia streets, but fronting upon Seneca street was sold and became the Citi- zens Trust Company in 1909 and a new church building was erected on the corner of Genesee and Tracy streets. There was also a church of this denomina- tion organized in 1834 at Bridgewater, but services were discontinued about 1878. In 1821 a church was organized at Clinton; also at Lee Center in the early his- tory of the county, and this was reorganized later as an "Ecclesiastical church," later as a "Union Society," and later still it was used by the Universalists. The church of this denomination at Forge Hollow ceased to exist about 1878. A Universalist church was organized in 1805 at New Hartford, and the building stood on the corner of Genesee street, or the New Hartford road, and what is known as the Capron road, but about 1880 it fell into decay, was torn down, the lot has since been vacant, and the church, as a society, ceased to exist. The first Universalist church in Rome was organized in 1836, and is still in existence. A second Universalist church was organized in Utica, and the building was located on the southerly side of Bleecker street, but it did not receive sufficient support to be successful, and the building was finally sold and became the East Utica Baptist church. The active parishes in the county at present and the member- ship are as follows: Bridgewater, 32; Rome, 35; Trenton Falls, 30; Utica, 142.
LUTHERAN-A Lutheran church was organized by the Germans in Utica in 1842, called the Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, at its place of meeting-the "Old Bethel," on Fayette street in West Utica. There were fifty-six charter members, all natives of Germany, in which language the services have always been conducted. The first elders of the church were Charles A. Wolf, Sr., and Michael Breitenstein. The first house of worship was erected upon the south side of Columbia street near St. Patrick's church at a cost of about $2,000, and was dedicated September 28, 1844. It was destroyed by fire February 28, 1851. The site was then sold to the Catholics, and the present church building was erected on the corner of Cooper and Fay streets at a cost of $4,000; its seating capacity is 550. In 1868 the edifice was lengthened by an addition of twenty feet. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Andrew Wetzel, the pioneer clergy- man of the Lutheran church in Oneida, Lewis and Jefferson counties, who was born in Weilimdorf, Germany, January 27, 1808. His parents were Andrew and Augusta Agatha Wetzel. To them were born four sons and one daughter. The daughter died in infancy. Andrew was the oldest of the four sons. While he was still a lad his mother died. Under the tutorship of the clergyman of the parish he began the study of Latin, Greek and other branches, until at the age of twelve he entered the "Latin school" at Esslingere, then an important town in Wurtemberg. Here he remained for two and one half years, continuing the study of Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Then he became a student in the "Gym- nasium" at Stuttgart. After a three years' course of studies here he was ma-
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triculated in the University of Turbingen as a student of philosophy and the- ology, graduating three years later with high honor. When, with the consent of his father, he left home to visit America, his intention was to proceed at once to Ohio and there engage in teaching Latin, Greek and Hebrew for two or three years, and then to return to his native land and enter the University. He reached Philadelphia, Pa., in the autumn of the year 1831, after a long and tedious journey. There, he met Rev. F. Meyer, D. D., with whom he discussed his proposed journey to Ohio, and his intention of teaching for a few years be- fore again returning to Germany. The reverend doctor, however, did not coin- cide with him in this plan. He pointed out to him the fact that there were lo- cated in central and northern New York a goodly number of German settle- ments where the gospel of Christ must be preached, and that it was his duty, as a young minister of the gospel, to abandon the plan of going to Ohio, and, in- stead, to go to New York state and preach the gospel there. When it was shown that duty called him to New York state and not to Ohio, it is easily compre- hended that the Rev. Meyer had no great difficulty in persuading him to abandon his original plan; since during his long and busy ministry he never failed to obey the summons of duty. Accordingly he went from Philadelphia to Albany, N. Y., and from there continued his journey to Lewis county, mostly on foot. Here he began his work among the Germans in this part of the state at once, preaching the gospel in the several settlements of the counties of Lewis, Jefferson and Oneida, wherever there were any number of his countrymen. The services were held in the home of one of their number in each settlement. He prosecuted this work with great zeal and fidelity, traveling from place to place on foot. There soon sprang up such an attachment between his little congregations and himself that he was easily persuaded to remain with them and abandon the idea of returning to his home in Germany to enter the ministry there. In 1832 he was married to Elizabeth Maurer, a daughter of one of his parishioners in West Leyden, N. Y. After their marriage the young couple made their home in Verona, where he had organized a German Lutheran church. He served this congregation as their pastor, at the same time preaching regularly at six other stations, viz : Utica, Rome, Boonville, Constableville, West Leyden and Con- rad's Settlement. Each of these places he visited at least once every four weeks, holding services in the home of one of the members of each little flock. The compensation he received for his services was indeed very meager, yet, with the help of his good, thrifty wife, and what assistance came to him from his father in Germany, he maintained a comfortable little home, and was finally enabled to purchase a horse and saddle. This made it much easier to get about among his parishioners and to visit the several stations more regularly and oftener. In 1845 the congregation in Utica, as well as the city itself, had steadily increased in numbers. Both on this account and on account of better school ad- vantages for his children he moved his home from Verona to Utica, which then had a population of about 12,000. Though many of the German inhabitants were immigrants, who remained only long enough to accumulate sufficient money to enable them to continue their journey to the then "far West," the congrega- tion built a small church and he, in addition to his other duties, opened and maintained there a day school in which the children were taught both German
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and English and also received religious instruction. This school was continued for many years under his personal supervision.
Supplementing the small salary which he received from his congregation by teaching, he was able to support and educate his family. Many of the Americans studied German with him, and Germans were taught English. He was professor of German in Miss Kelley's Ladies' Seminary, at that time one of the most prominent schools for girls in the country. Later, while one of the school com- missioners of the city, through his effort and influence, the study of German was added to the curriculum of the Utica Free Academy, and he was made the first teacher of that language there. In that position he continued until about three years before his death. His work, in the way of teaching, was all done in addition to his duties as pastor. For sixteen years he was a member of the board of school commissioners, and was also for years a trustee of Hartwick's Seminary in Otsego county, at that time a prominent institution of learning of the Lutheran church. Pastor Wetzel was an indefatigable worker, and no mat- ter how arduous, and at times irksome, his duties were, they were always faith- fully performed. Twice every Sunday, morning and evening, he preached in his own church, and, after the mission in the southern part of the city (now St. Paul's Lutheran church) was undertaken, he preached there also every Sunday afternoon. These three services were held every Sunday for a number of years until the mission grew in size and sufficient in strength to maintain a pastor of its own. It was in his church, the first Lutheran church in Utica, and under his own care and supervision that the first Christmas tree at a Sunday School Christmas celebration was lighted in Utica, and for many years the Christmas tree, lighted at the Christmas celebration of the Sunday school, was the only one in the city that brought happiness and delight to the children, and parents, as well, on that greatest of anniversaries.
In 1851 the little church, which the congregation had built, was destroyed by fire. It was located on Columbia street near Huntington street, now the site of the parochial residence of St. Patrick's church. The fire which destroyed it, together with Water's Tavern, on the corner of Columbia and Huntington streets, was of incendiary origin, and was one of many which occurred at that time, when incendiarism ran riot for awhile in the city. This was a terrible blow to the pastor and congregation. Staggered, as they were, by this catas- trophe, they decided, however, to build a new church. For the purpose of ob- taining financial assistance for the project, Pastor Wetzel visited the Lutheran churches of this state and also those in Philadelphia, Pa., and with the aid thus obtained the building of a new church was undertaken. The site on Columbia street was disposed of, and a new one on the corner of Fay and Cooper streets was secured. Here the new church was erected at a cost of about $5,000. It was a perfectly plain brick building, which left much to be desired.
During the Civil war, many of the Germans from this city serving in the Union army, irrespective of religion or creed showed their confidence in Pastor Wetzel by sending him their pay to be handed to their families or deposited for them in the Savings Bank of Utica. Before there existed a Board of Vital Sta- tistics it was the methodical record of his official acts that helped many a poor widow to procure the pension due her from the government, and in many cases Vol. I-22
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served as evidence in suits at law. His records date back as far as 1835, and give accurate account of his official acts.
On August 16, 1880, Rev. Andrew Wetzel died, and was laid to rest in beau- tiful Forest Hill Cemetery. Of him truly can be said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"
He was succeeded by Rev. John P. Lichtenberg, who labored in the pastor- ate until May, 1889, when Rev. A. Oscar Gallenkamp came to the charge. A day school building was erected in 1870 on Columbia street near Varick at a cost of $8,000.
EVANGELICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER-In the month of June, 1877, seven members of the Evangelican Lutheran Zion church started a movement which resulted in a meeting at the dwelling of John C. Hie- ber, corner of Cottage and Hart streets, July 10, and the forming of an organization that should be known as the "English Lutheran Church As- sociation of Utica," the object being to establish a church of that faith. A method of systematic giving for church expenses was inaugurated October 16, 1878, a call was extended to Rev. Theodore B. Roth, of Philadelphia, and he began his labors November 24. The M. E. chapel, corner of Court and Stark streets, was rented for one year and services were held regularly, morning and evening. The following Sunday a Sabbath school was organized. December 27, 1878, a church organization was effected under the name of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. March 30, 1879, the constitution was adopted and the following deacons elected: Henry Martin, John C. Hieber, Louis F. Leo, Adam Martin, John Reichart, John G. Hoerlein, Anton Dougne and John R. Bucher. During the summer of 1881 a building lot known as the "old malt-house," fronting 119 feet on Columbia street, was purchased for $6,- 850, and thereon a stone chapel was erected; it was occupied on December 25, 1883, and the church proper on May 17, 1885, the buildings having cost up- wards of $30,000. This church called Rev. G. A. Bierdemann to mission work in the city, and through his efforts the Church of the Holy Communion was or- ganized. Rev. Mr. Roth had repeated calls to other fields, and finally accepted the call to the presidency of Thiel College, Pennsylvania.
Lutheran churches have since been organized in Boonville, Hawkinsville, New London and Rome. At present there are five in Utica, two in Rome, and no records are at hand to show whether there are any others in the county or not.
MORAVIAN-The Moravians organized a church in Utica in 1856, and it is still in existence and in a prosperous condition. The church edifice is located on the corner of Cooper and Cornelia streets, and it has 283 communicants. It also sustains a mission at the intersection of Leeds and South streets. The pres- ent pastor is Rev. Allen E. Abel, with Rev. George E. Runner as assistant pas- tor. This is the only Moravian church within the county of Oneida.
QUAKER-At one time there were several churches among the Quakers in different parts of the county, but, so far as the writer knows, there are none in existence at the present time.
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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE-Christian Science was introduced into the county about twenty-one years ago by Miss Marie M. Adams, C. S. D. These letters indicate a degree given to the students of Mary Baker G. Eddy, the founder of Chris- tian Science. The churches of this character are but sub-organizations of the Mother Church founded by Mrs. Eddy. There are no pastors in the sense that other churches have pastors. The pastor of the Christian Science church is the book published by Mrs. Eddy and called Science and Health, and the Bible. No sermon is preached at the services, but there are readings instead. These are conducted by what are known as First and Second Readers, the First Reader reading from Science and Health, and the Second Reader from the Bible, which is done alternately, but without comment. There are Christian Science churches in Utica, Rome, Clinton, Boonville and Deansboro.
HEBREWS-There are within the county two synagogues among the He- brews, both located in the city of Utica. One, known as the House of Israel, is located on the corner of Washington and Whitesboro streets; the other, known as the House of Jacob, is now located at 11 Seneca street. The writer has not been able to procure any statistics in regard to the number of worshipers of this faith within the county.
ROMAN CATHOLIC-The facts concerning the history of the Catholic church in Oneida county are taken principally from the history of the diocese of Syracuse, edited by William P. H. Hewitt and published in 1909.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, Utica, claims the distinction of being the oldest church in the diocese of Syracuse, and the fourth Catholic church erected in the state of New York. Of course this does not include the churches built by the French missionaries among the Indians, more than a century previous. There is no record of where the first mass was said in Utica, but it was very probably in the home of John C. Devereux who lived in those days at the corner of Broad and Second streets.
Rev. Paul M. McQuade was the pastor of St. Mary's church, Albany, from 1813 to 1815. Utica at that time was a mission attended from time to time from Albany. John C. Devereux was a member of the board of trustees of St. Mary's church, Albany.
In the traditions of the parish it has been handed down that Father Mc- Quade said mass frequetly in Mr. Devereux's house and there is little doubt that the very first mass was said by the same priest and in the same place.
Rev. Michael O'Gorman became pastor of St. Mary's church, Albany, in 1817, and attended Utica regularly until 1819. He founded St. John's church, Janu- ary 25, 1819, where at a meeting, held under his direction, of all the Catholics of Utica and vicinity, it was decided to erect a church for Central and Western New York. As there were but few Catholics at that time between Albany and Buffalo, it was determined to build one church to supply the needs of all, and Utica was selected as the place of its erection. A corporation was duly formed, under the name of the "Trustees of the First Catholic Church in the Western District of New York." The first trustees of the church were John C. Devereux and Nicholas Devereux of Utica, John O'Connor of Auburn, Morris Hogan of
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New Hartford, Oliver Weston of Johnstown, Thomas Mccarthy of Syracuse, John McGuire of Rochester, and Charles Carroll of Genesee River. Judge Mor- ris S. Miller, one of the pioneers of Utica, donated the site. The original deed dated May 13, 1819, is still in the archives of the church.
Rev. John Farnan was appointed the first resident pastor of St. John's church. He said mass in Utica for the first time Sunday, March 21, 1819, in the Academy. Father Farnan went to work with great earnestness to erect the new house of worship. After two years the little church was enclosed and fit for use, although it was two more years before it was entirely finished. It was a pretty Gothic structure, 45 by 60 feet, surmounted by a low spire, and painted white. It was dedicated by Bishop Connolly August 19, 1821. This event was something remarkable in those days, as it was the first time that a Catholic bishop had been seen in this part of the world. Father Farnan was succeeded by Rev. Richard Bulger, who was pastor from February 1, 1823, until July 6, 1824. Rev. Charles Brennan was pastor from December 1, 1824, till August 31, 1825.
Rev. John Shanahan was by far the most distinguished pastor of the earlier days. His pastorate dating from August 31, 1825, marks a new epoch in the history of the parish. Father Shanahan opened the first baptismal and mar- riage register, August 31, 1825, and the old book is still in a splendid state of preservation. Father Shanahan enjoyed the unique distinction of being the only priest ever attached to the parish who lived long enough to be able to see the first, second and third churches erected on the same site.
Rev. Luke Berry was pastor from November 1, 1827, to December 19, 1828. A strange accident happened during his pastorate which made it necessary to postpone the beautiful ceremony of confirmation, which was about to take place for the first time in Utica. Good Bishop Dubois had forgotten to bring the Sacred Chrism, and the sacrament could not be administered.
Rev. Hatton Walsh was pastor from December 19, 1828, till November 24, 1829. During his pastorate the sacrament of confirmation was administered for the first time in Central and Western New York. The class consisted of about a dozen boys and a dozen girls. The ceremony took place in the summer of 1829.
Rev. Phillip J. M. O'Reilly of the Dominican Order was pastor from August 14, 1829, till November 30, 1830. It was during the pastorate of Father O'Reilly that the first Catholic cemetery was laid out in Utica, which was located in Elm Grove between Elm and Steuben streets, and consisted of a little less than an acre.
Rev. Michael Cummins was pastor from December 1, 1830, till March 25, 1832. Rev. James McCahill was pastor from May 8, 1831 till May 11, 1833. It was during the pastorate of Father McCahill that Utica was visited by the Asiatic cholera, which swept over the country in 1832. Father McCahill's la- bors during that fearful scourge, attending the unfortunate victims day and night, in the improvised hospitals in the court house opposite the church, have been handed down in the traditions of the parish. There is preserved in the archives of the church in his own hand writing a list containing the names of fourteen of his little flock who died within three weeks during that dreadful
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TABLET IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. UTICA
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epidemic, which carried off about seventy of the inhabitants of Utica. Rev. Francis O'Donogue assisted Father McCahill from July 1 to August 15, 1832. Father McCahill never recovered from the fatigues incident to the cholera visi- tation. He returned to Ireland in May, 1833, where he died before the end of the year.
Rev. Walter J. Quarter closes the roll of pastors of the first church. He brought to Utica the Sisters of Charity, through the munificent generosity of John C. Devereux and his brother Nicholas, each of whom contributed $5,000 for their maintenance. They arrived in Utica from Emmitsburg, May 1, 1834. They opened simultaneously an Orphan asylum and a Girls' school, and they have ever since continued this twofold work in the parish. Rev. Patrick Brad- ley was assistant priest to Father Quarter for a time in the first church, his term extending from February 1, 1835, till May 4, 1836. The little old church which had served its purpose for upwards of fifteen years was removed across the street in the summer of 1835. It is still standing, though somewhat altered in appearance, on the northwest corner of Bleecker and John streets. It has ever since been devoted to commercial purposes.
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