USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 43
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ST. PETER'S (ROME)-The Rev. William Beecham was appointed first pastor of St. Peter's church, Rome, in the spring of 1837, by Bishop Dubois of New York. At that time the city, then a small village, was called Lynchville. Father Beecham was born in Queens county, Ireland, in 1805. At the time of his birth his parents belonged to the English Protestant church, but when young Beecham was about sixteen years of age the whole family embraced the Catholic faith.
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church
Zion Episcopal Church
Baptist Church
Presbyterian Church
GROUP OF ROME CHURCHES
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Having finished, with marked distinction, a course of philosophy and theology in Carlow College, he started out, like many of his young countrymen, for the broad fields of the western world. He was ordained priest by Bishop Dubois in 1836, in the old St. Patrick's Cathedral of New York. Soon after his ordina- tion the young priest was sent out to central New York to pursue his missionary labors. He selected Rome for his permanent residence. From this center, for many years, he attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholic people, at that time sparsely scattered over Lewis, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison and parts of Onondaga and Chenango counties. To the ordinary man the obstacles to be encountered and the sacrifices to be undergone would seem almost insuperable, but Father Beecham was a man of indomitable courage and perseverance, who would allow no difficulties to stand in the way of his duties. He was much be- loved and respected by the early settlers of all denominations, who esteemed it a great honor to have him in their midst. About 1840 Father Beecham pro- cured a site on the corner of Floyd and St. Peter's avenues, on which he erected a handsome brick church, which he had dedicated under the patronage of St. Peter, and which was dedicated by Bishop Hughes in 1845. The church would seat about five hundred people, and was thought by some too large, but Father Beecham lived to see it overflowing with devout worshipers. After forty years of most zealous labor Father Beecham died on the 10th of March, 1876, being then in his seventy-first year. His obsequies will long be remembered in Rome. The whole city turned out that day to do honor to the memory of him whom all had learned to love and esteem.
St. Peter's first pastor was succeeded by the Rev. Aloysius Murphy, M. R. It may be stated here, as worthy of note, that in seventy years St. Peter's church of Rome had but two pastors. The newly appointed pastor soon came to the con- clusion that the old St. Peter's was too small to accommodate his people, and at once set about enlarging and renovating it. This was begun in 1878 and was completed the following year. In 1881 the present parochial residence, which is considered one of the finest in the diocese, was built. In 1893 it was decided that more and better school accommodations were needed. To meet this re- quirement the pastor and his people determined on building a new church, that, in all future time, would fully meet the wants of the constantly increasing con- gregation, and fit up the old church for school purposes. A lot was secured on the corner of East Park and North James streets, one of the most desirable loca- tions in the city. Work was begun in the summer of 1893, and the building completed in the fall of 1897. On the 24th of October the same year, the church, being entirely free of debt, was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, Bishop of Syracuse. The Most Rev. Archbishop Martinelli, Papal Delegate, now Cardinal, pontificated, the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Conaty, rector of the Catholic University at Washington, now Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, preached in the morning, and the late Rt. Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, Bishop of Rochester, preached at the vesper service. St. Peter's, so far as we can learn was the first parochial church in America consecrated immediately on being completed. The church is built of Medina brown stone, will seat 1,200 people, and cost $175,000. Father Murphy died at Rome April 6, 1906. He had been assistant pastor of St. John's church in Utica, but he came to Rome direct from a mis-
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sion in the Catskill mountains. During the fall of 1876 and winter of 1877 he thoroughly organized his congregation and got them working well together. In the spring of 1877 he secured a leave of absence and visited his mother and brothers in Ireland, also visiting Italy and other foreign countries. Father Mur- phy was always an ardent supporter and advocate of the schools connected with the church, and after awhile it was determined to build a new schoolhouse near the center of the city. For this purpose a collection was taken up on the first Sunday of each month to create a fund, and it accumulated very fast. As the time approached to think of commencing work on the new schoolhouse, numerous members of his congregation began to suggest to him the idea of a new church, allowing the school to be taken care of afterward. A meeting of the congregation was called and the church was crowded. Views were exchanged, and when the question was put as to which it should be it was unanimously de- cided in favor of the church. The pastor said: "You have decided your course, I am heart and soul with you. It is your work, but I will shoulder my share." On the 21st day of May, 1895, the cornerstone was laid. Father Lynch of St. John's church, Utica, was the speaker of the occasion. The ceremony was con- ducted by Very Rev. J. J. Kennedy of Syracuse, vicar general and administrator of the diocese in the absence of the bishop. Father Murphy acted as his own inspector on the work, and his entire time during the construction of the church was devoted to this. In all his work he had the welfare and interest of his people at heart. It was for them he was laboring, day and night, ever and al- ways. He always had implicit confidence in his people and they in him. Noth- ing was done without consultation with his congregation, who always realized that he was working for their interest, and consequently every undertaking brought success. In this respect the many friends of Father Murphy and his congregation both Catholic and non-Catholic were not forgotten. Many of them aided nobly, and received the most sincere thanks of pastor and people.
After Father Murphy's death Rev. James J. Carson, who had been assistant at St. Peter's since 1896, was appointed permanent rector. During Father Carson's administration the parish has acquired a valuable property in the business section of the city, which has been so remodeled that the upper floors are used for meeting rooms and a club for the church societies.
Catholic schools were established in connection with St. Peter's parish in 1850. At first lay teachers were employed, but about 1855 Franciscan Sisters took charge, and they were replaced in 1865 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, who have since taught most successfully. Some 350 children are in attendance. The grades run from the first to the twelfth, inclusive.
St. Joseph's church, Lee, Oneida county, is attended from St. Peter's.
ST. MARY'S OF THE ASSUMPTION (GERMAN)-The records of the church show that missionary priests visited the German Catholics in Rome from the year 1845. During the year 1847 the first steps were taken to have a house of worship of their own, and in 1848 a humble wooden structure on the corner of James and Depey- ster streets was ready for divine service. A resident priest was appointed in the person of Rev. Florian Schwenninger. Twenty-two priests succeeded him until, on September 15, 1870, the Rev. P. J. Schmitt was assigned the charge of this
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congregation. The church was in a dilapidated condition, and in 1871 a new church was built on West Liberty street. September 22, 1872, the new church was dedicated by the late Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny of Albany. In 1893 a new brick schoolhouse was auspiciously opened. The parochial school has been in charge of the Sisters of Christian Charity since 1876. At present about 275 children, divided in seven grades, attend this school. In 1895 the Rev. P. J. Schmitt resigned, and in 1896 was succeeded by the Rev. Michael Rieger, who successfully continued the work of his predecessor. The congregation em- braces nearly 300 families. The church property includes a beautiful brick church, a convenient schoolhouse, a parsonage and Sisters' Convent.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST (ITALIAN)-The Italian Catholic parish of Rome was organized at a meeting of sixty representative men of that nationality held at Duly Hall on Saturday, July 26, 1909, and was incorporated August 5, under the title of St. John the Baptist (Italian) church.
DEERFIELD-A Catholic mission was conducted in Deerfield from 1808 till 1847, and a church was built on Deerfield Hill, but was abandoned in 1867 or 1868. At the beginning of 1872 some of the German and Irish Catholics decided to have a church near Deerfield-Four-Corners. Services were held in the new church on November 1, 1872, although the building was not then finished. The church now owns a brick dwelling for the priest and a frame church, with small sacristy.
FLORENCE-The Catholics held services at Florence about 1838, and after a while a church was organized, an edifice was built in 1855, and the society in- corporated. The decrease of population in the town has rendered it difficult to keep the church up to the standard that it held in years past, but during 1902 substantial improvements were made upon the building. Two marble side altars -were erected, the sanctuary enlarged, and later new stations of the cross and several handsome statues were placed. The population of this town has de- creased from 1860, when it was 2,802, to 936.
ANNSVILLE-A Catholic church known as St. Ann's was organized at Anns- ville about 1848, although services had been conducted there for several years prior to that time. Rev. Robert Kelliher was the first pastor. Afterward a ques- tion arose as to the location of a new church, and it was decided that the new church should be built at Taberg. The site, therefore, was changed, the first services being held in the new church in the year 1876.
CLINTON-Catholic services were held in Clinton as early as 1851 and a lot was purchased for a church the next year. The church was built in 1852-4, and was dedicated on the 25th day of October, 1854. It was known as St. Mary's church. A new church was erected in 1911, which is far more commodious and an ornament to the beautiful village of Clinton.
WATERVILLE-Prior to 1846 services were held in Waterville, and were con- ducted for some time by Rev. Patrick Carahar, assistant at St. John's church in
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Utica. He undertook the building of a church at Waterville, which was fin- ished in 1853. At that time Rev. William C. Coghlan was pastor. It was dedi- cated October 26, 1854, as St. Bernard's church, is still in a flourishing condi- tion, and Paris Hill is attended from this church.
CAMDEN-In August, 1852, a mission was organized at Camden, and in 1876 it was erected into a parish with the outlying missions of Williamstown, Sand Bank, Pulaski and Sandy Creek. The first pastor was Rev. Patrick H. Beecham. A fire occurred in the church in 1889, and it was then decided to build a new church, which was completed in February, 1890, as St. John's church. In 1897 a parish rectory was purchased, and in July, 1902, at a golden jubilee, the church was presented with a set of chimes by Judge L. J. Conlan of New York City, also with a pipe organ by Alfred Costello, son of Hon. P. H. Costello, formerly of Camden.
DURHAMVILLE-St. Francis' church was built at Durhamville in 1859-60, although services had been held there prior to that time. A school was also established there, which was conducted until 1890, when, by order of the bishop, it was discontinued. In 1899 the church was improved, but in consequence of discontinuing the manufacturing of glass at Durhamville the congregation be- came materially reduced, and this church was attended as a mission from Oneida, but in 1908 it was established as a parish church.
CLAYVILLE-St. Patrick's church was organized in 1863. A church building was erected in 1864, and was made an independent parish in 1874, Rev. Edward F. O'Connor being appointed as a resident pastor. The abandoning of the large manufactories in Clayville reduced the population materially, and this affected the attendance of the church, as many of the Catholic residents of Clayville were obliged to move to other parts to find employment.
WILLOWVALE-A church was built at Willowvale in 1908, known as St. An- thony of Padua, and the cornerstone was laid July 19, 1903, by Bishop Ludden.
ORISKANY FALLS-St. Joseph's church was erected in 1873, and Rev. Simon J. Cannane was its first pastor.
VERNON CENTER-Rev. Father Cannane first held services in St. Agnes' church April 13, 1884. This is a small church, and services are held about once every three weeks.
BOONVILLE-This place was occupied as a mission for several years before any attempt was made to establish a church there. In 1878 the cornerstone of St. Joseph's was laid, and the following year it was completed. This was ac- complished by Rev. Thomas Harty, who won the respect of the citizens of Boon- ville, and it is said of him "he was kind-hearted, brilliant and true, and is still piously remembered in the parish."
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FORESTPORT-Some time before 1850 a church was built on the road between Hawkinsville and Forestport, but this was given up in consequence of the clos- ing of the large tanneries at Hawkinsville, and in 1882 the locality was changed, and St. Patrick's was established in the village of Forestport.
HAWKINSVILLE-Before the erection of St. John Chrysostom's church in Hawkinsville, the Catholics in this locality attended the church at Irish Settle- ment. This mission was attended originally from Constableville, and since 1875 from Boonville.
WHITESBORO The first services of the Catholic church in Whitesboro were held in the Town Hall April 22, 1882. In 1885 the cornerstone of St. Paul's was laid, and the church was dedicated October 12, 1886. Rev. John F. Mullany was the first pastor. In 1893 the rectory was burned, but a new one was imme- diately built. Whitesboro has two missions, St. Leo's, Holland Patent, and St. Ann's, Hinckley, and besides these the villages of Floyd, Stittville, Trenton Falls, New York Mills, Yorkville and Oriskany are included in the parish proper.
NEW HARTFORD-On Sunday, October 21, 1883, the cornerstone of St. John the Evangelist's church was laid, and the church was dedicated May 21, 1885. The first resident pastor was Rev. William H. Griffin. The rectory of this church was formerly the residence of Vice President James S. Sherman.
NORTH BAY-The Church of SS. Peter and Paul was erected in 1843, in what was then the diocese of New York. The first service in this church was conducted by Father Beecham, who was succeeded by several others until 1873, when Father Birmingham was pastor. He took up his residence at Black Creek (Cleveland), with North Bay as his charge.
SYLVAN BEACH-It is claimed that St. Mary's of the Lake was erected on the identical spot where Father Jogues, who was murdered by the Indians, had conducted services between 1654 and 1684. September 11, 1899, the corner- stone of the church was laid, and it was dedicated Sunday, July 1, 1900.
A mission exists at Vienna, which is attended from the other Catholic churches in the vicinity.
The scope of this work does not permit giving the history of each individual church in the county, but to give an account of the establishing of each de- nomination within the county, and then, in a general way, the progress of the denomination. This rule has been adhered to in the preparation of the history, so far as the religious denominations of the county are concerned. It must be said, also that it is difficult to obtain authentic information in regard to many churches which were formed, flourished, and became extinct.
Vol. 1-38
CHAPTER XXV.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The first educational work ever done in the Mohawk Valley was by the Jesuit Fathers, but in consequence of persecution even unto death this work was given up by them, and not until Rev. Samuel Kirkland took up missionary and educational work among the Oneidas in 1776, did educational work in the territory which is now Oneida county become permanent. The work of Mr. Kirkland finally took form in the establishment of an institution which after- wards became Hamilton College.
Hamilton College was chartered May 26, 1812, and opened its doors to stu- dents October 22 of the same year. But Hamilton was not founded upon wholly new ground, untouched by experiment or tradition. Back of the charter of Hamilton lies fruitful years of preparation which furnished the college a leg- acy of men, stanch friends, reputation and educational perspective. If the custom established by some of our American colleges were followed, Hamilton would have celebrated her centennial nearly a score of years ago. Hamilton- Oneida Academy was the foundation on which Hamilton College built, and its short but eventful history was incorporated into the institution that has now reached the threshold of its first century.
Hamilton's predecessor, Hamilton-Oneida Academy, had come into being as a missionary school, planned to educate and Christianize the Oneida Indians in particular and the Six Nations in general. Savage and civilized men were here to meet on a common ground, and learn the lessons of one common hu- manity's law. Here the territory of the white man and the redskin joined at the Property Line of 1768, which separated primitive America from the vast west- ern lands. Clinton had been founded in 1786, and the Indians had long had their village of wigwams at Oneida Castle. The region was known as Whites- town, and the county was Herkimer. A fusion of the races was here thought possible, and a school for both seemed the natural element in which the miracle should be performed.
Rev. Samuel Kirkland, while a student in Dr. Wheelock's school in New England, had met some of the Indian students of the Six Nations in that institu- tion, and mastered some of the difficulties of their language. His mind was early turned to the evangelization of the Iroquois, and, nearly thirty years be- fore he founded his school, he had penetrated into the deep forests as far as Oneida Castle, and there spent his years mastering the Indian dialect, winning the confidence and securing the loyal support of the Indian leader. Kirkland's efforts were rewarded. He received from the Iroquois a large grant of land just west of the Property Line, including land where Hamilton College now stands. The state of New York was not a silent witness to gifts that exhibited the grat-
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SAMUEL KIRKLAND, D. D.
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itude of the whites for the loyalty of Kirkland's Indian friends during the trying times of our early history. Indian and American recognized the potency of Kirkland's services, and his reputation in the land was the chief asset in the educational project that offered opportunity to the Indian and challenged the deepest liberality of the white man.
Kirkland's Indian-White school, Hamilton-Oneida Academy, was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York at a meet- ing held in the senate chamber in the city of New York on the 28th of Janu- ary, 1793, application for charter having been made November 12, 1792. The Journal of the Board of Regents for this date runs:
"The respective applications of Samuel Kirkland and of seven other per- sons praying that Alexander Hamilton and fifteen others for that purpose nom- inated, may be incorporated by the name and stile of the Trustees of Hamilton- Oneida Academy at Whitestown in the County of Herkimer; and of several others, were severally read and Committed to the Vice-Chancellor General Clarkson and Mr. Verplank.
"The Vice-Chancellor from the Committee to which the above applications were referred reported that it appeared to the said Committee by due proof on oath that the subscribers to the said applications are contributors and benefactors for more than half in value of the real and personal estate collected or appro- priated for the use and benefit of the said Academies respectively and that the said Committee are of opinion that the said Academies should be severally in- corporated, the first by the Stile of 'The Trustees of Hamilton-Oneida Acad- emy.' . The Board resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole to take the above report into consideration and after some time spent thereon The Chan- cellor reassumed the chair and General Schuyler from the said Committee re- ported that they had agreed to the report of the Sub-Committee. Whereupon, Resolved, that the Board agree to the said report. Ordered that the Secretary prepare instruments in the usual form for incorporating the said Alexander Hamilton and the fifteen other persons for the purpose named and that the Chancellor affix the seal of the University to the said Instruments."
The collecting of funds and the building of suitable quarters for this school for and among the Indians tested the full strength of the founders and the loy- alty and charity of the citizens of the community. Several years elapsed before the Academy building was entirely finished. The critical and pessimistic some- times referred to the Academy as "Kirkland's Folly." But time has proven that Kirkland's vision was clear and his purpose too intelligent to fail. He understood the situation and adapted himself to it. Kirkland was a natural leader of men. The Indians believed in him, and he never betrayed their con- fidence. He likewise appealed irresistibly to his white brethren, and enlarged the circle of his friends till he had the great and influential of his time allied with him in the great cause he had espoused. Not only Washington, but Alex- ander Hamilton responded to his call for moral and financial support, and made possible the great educational institution that then began its career within the. limits of the future County of Oneida. Skenandoah, the greatest of Indian leaders and the Christian chief, pinned his faith to Kirkland, and in death would not be separated from his beloved spiritual father. Such supporters as these are
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testimonials to the ability, the wisdom and sterling character of the founder of the first important educational experiment that was to test the adapability of the New England ideals and methods in the primitive forests of America.
Kirkland gave liberally of his own substance to the support and endowment of the new institution. The land where the academy was erected, and which forms part of the campus of Hamilton College, was given by Kirkland with the provision that it should be inalienable. The deed of twelve acres of land states in its preamble the motives that induced him to make the gift. "A serious consideration of the importance of education, and an early improvement and cultivation of the human mind, together with the situation of the frontier settle- ment of the part of the state, though extensive and flourishing, yet destitute of any well regulated seminary of learning, has induced and determined me to con- tribute of the ability wherewith my Heavenly Benefactor hath blessed me, to- wards laying the foundation and support of a school, or academy, in the town of Whitestown, County of Herkimer, contiguous to the Oneida nation of In- dians, for the mutual benefit of the young and flourishing settlement in said county, and the various tribes of confederated Indians, earnestly wishing the Institution may grow and flourish, that the advantages of it may be extensive and lasting, and that under the smiles of the God of wisdom and goodness, it may prove an eminent means of diffusing useful knowledge, enlarging the bounds of human happiness, aiding the reign of virtue and the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer."
Samuel Kirkland died February 28, 1808, and was buried near his own home in Clinton. On the 31st of October, 1856, the remains of Mr. Kirkland and those of the Indian chief, Skenandoah, were removed from their first resting place and interred in the college cemetery.
The school founded and endowed by Kirkland flourished till it merged into a college. Names noted for broad scholarship and high character were connected with the faculty of the academy, and its reputation grew rapidly and attracted a large number of students from far and near. Fairfield, in Herkimer county, had an institution that was in a flourishing condition also, and entertained some positive ideas about becoming a college. The old Franklin Institute, sit- uated at Prattsburg, Steuben county, had disturbing ambitions in the same di- rection. These became sharp competitors for a charter that would make them each a college. Hamilton-Oneida Academy was in the race, and exhibited su- perior political intelligence and knowledge of procedure in such cases, thus se- curing the charter that made it a college May 26, 1812, and it opened its doors to students October 22, adopting a course of study of classic mold formulated by John Sturm and perpetuated by the educators of New England.
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