History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 88

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 88

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This society is thoroughily evangelical. It has been very prosperous during the last few years, and is among the most active and useful churches of the city. Connected with the church is a chapel, corner of Court and Stark Streets, in which services are regularly held.

THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Free Methodist Church was organized Aug. 7, 1863, by Rev. D. W. Thurston, with twenty-eight members.

The society after its organization worshiped in Morgan Hall, corner South and West Streets, until the year 1865, when, under the labors of Rev. D. M. Sinclair, then pas- tor, the present church edifice, corner South and Miller Streets, was completed and dedicated .. The present mem- bership, including probationers, is eighty-four. In doctrine they do not differ from the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in practice they do not believe in resorting to worldly policy to sustain the gospel; hence they give no countenance to modern expedients for promoting Christianity, such as selling or renting pews, picnics, Christmas-trees, festivals, lotteries, fairs, and donation-parties, but worship God in the simplicity of primitive Methodism. They have a Sab- bath-school, of which the pastor is superintendent, and George W. Gurley, assistant. The names of about sixty scholars appear upon its roll. Among the clergymen who have been active as pastors of this church the following names appear : Reverends James Matthews, D. M. Sinclair, J. Selby, Z. Osborne, E. Owen, G. W. Anderson, A. F. Curry, J. B. Freeland, B. Winget, A. N. Moore, J. A. Odell, and O. W. Young; the latter being the present pas- tor and entering upon the second year of his ministry.

BETHESDA CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (WELSH) .*

In 1802 the Congregationalists and Baptists held union meetings at their various houses. One evening five of the brethren remained after the meeting, and resolved to build a house of worship. The appeals made for aid were very heartily responded to, and an old paper, bearing date June 16, 1804, has the following : " This day we dedicated our house of worship for the little Welsh congregation. Blessed

# Data furnished by the pastor.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

be God for his mercies to us strangers in a strange land !" Rev. Daniel Morris opened the services with prayer, and Rev. John Roberts preached from Matthew xxii. 11, and Rev. John Stephens from 1st Kings ix. 22. Many of the members lived at a great distance, and were accustomed to walk to Utica in the morning, remain for two sermons, and then return on foot. Rev. Daniel Morris and Rev. John Roberts preached alternately. In 1817 a Sabbath-school was organized. In 1823 Rev. Robert Everett came from Denbigh, Wales, and was settled as pastor over the church, which was known as the Welsh Congregational Church. He was a learned man and a popular preacher, and many were added to the church membership during his ministry. Mr. Everett finally retired to Winfield, and was succeeded by Rev. James Griffiths, of South Wales, who devoted fif- teen years to this field of labor. His successor was Rev. Evan Griffiths, who remained six years, and was followed by Rev. David Price, from Denbigh, Wales. After six years of faithful service he gave place to Rev. Griffith Griffiths, who, after two years, removed to Cincinnati. The present pastor is Rev. R. G. Jones, D.D., a native of Brecknockshire, Wales, and a graduate of Brecon College, who was called in May, 1867.

Under his ministry much harmony has prevailed in the congregation, and a new brick edifiee has been ereeted, at a cost of $22,000, on Washington Street. The membership at present numbers 300, and connected with the church is a flourishing Sabbath-school with 140 names on its roll.

THE REFORMED CHURCH.

The Reformed Protestant (Dutch) Church in Utica grew out of the evangelistic labors of the Revs. Messrs. Spinner and Labaugh, who, as early as 1820, visited this field as missionaries. A few years later, the Rev. John F. Scher- merhorn, a minister of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, came, and, after visiting among the homes of the descendants of the Dutch in this locality, crystallized all previous labors in this direction by calling a meeting in Washington Hall, for the purpose of organizing a church to be known as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Utica. This occurred as early as 1829. Tbe following year, October 26, 1830, the church was fully organized in conformity with the rules and regulations governing the body with which it determined to be in fellowship. The number of members constituting the organization was 29.

On the 1st of November following an invitation was extended to the Rev. George W. Bethune, D.D., to become its pastor. Dr. Bethune accepted, and was installed on the 7th of the same month, and remained its pastor till June 18, 1834, when he resigned.

From this period to the present the following are the names of its pastors, the time of their installation, and also of their resignation :

The Rev. Henry Mandeville, D.D., who succeeded the Rev. Dr. Bethune, was installed on the 12th of October, 1834 ; resigned the 20th of January, 1841.

The Rev. John P. Knox, D.D., was installed on the 6th of October, 1841; resigned Feb. 16, 1844.

The Rev. Charles Wiley, D.D., was installed in June, 1845 ; resigned May 1, 1854.

The Rev. George H. Fisher, D.D., was installed Jan. 1, 1855; resigned July 13, 1859.

The Rev. Charles E. Knox, D.D., installed July 29, 1860; resigned Aug. 4, 1862.

The Rev. Ashbel Vermilye, D.D., installed May 14, 1863 ; resigned July 31, 1871.

The present pastor, the Rev. Isaae S. Hartley, D.D., was installed Nov. 16, 1871.

The first edifice in which the congregation worshiped was erected on the corner of John and Broad Streets, in 1830, and was occupied till 1867, when the property was sold. The same year a lot was purchased on the corner of Genesee and Cornelia Streets, upon which a beautiful brick church, with stone trimmings, was built, capable of seating 700 persons, at the cost of about $60,000. The new church was formally dedicated on the 8th of September, 1868.

In government and doctrine the Reformed Church is the same as the Presbyterian denomination; nor is there any- thing of an earthly nature of which the Dutch Church is more proud than its descent from the " Church under the Cross," or the Holland Chureli, whose faith and con- servatism it would honor and perpetuate.

The interest which this church has manifested in re- ligious and benevolent institutions is worthy of special note. During the past fifteen years, including the munificent bequests of Mr. and Mrs. Silas D. Childs and Mr. N. F. Vedder, it has contributed a half-million of dollars to these objects.

If distinguished names in a community form any true index of the character and influence of a church, very few churches, with such a brief history, have upon their records names more honored, and representing every position in life. Aside from its always having a learned and devoted ministry, Joseph P. Kirkland, Joshua A. Spencer, Thomas E. Clark, Judges Savage, Gridley, Charles A. Mann, and W. J. Bacon, John G. Floyd, Abram Varick, Charles C. Brodhead, Dr. Brigham, William Wolcott, Samuel Stocking, Kellog Hul- burt, Silas D. Childs, and George S. Dana, with their de- voted wives, are a few wbo have been asssociated with it, and who have liberally contributed to its prosperity.

At present its membership numbers about 225; and a flourishing Sabbath-school in connection with it shows its interest in the spiritual welfare of the young. The larger number of the churches of the Reformed denomination are to be found along the banks of the Hudson and in the State of New Jersey, where it has both a college (Rutgers) and a theological seminary.

CHURCH OF THE RECONCILIATION (UNIVERSALIST).

On November 21, 1825, a meeting was held in Utica for the purpose of organizing a Universalist society. An organization was effected, and Rev. John Thompson and others preached to the new congregation in the court-house until a church on Devereux Street was built in 1828- 30, and Rev. Dolphus Skinner, D.D., became, in 1830, its first settled pastor. In course of time the society became involved in financial difficulties, and to satisfy ereditors the church was finally sold. For some years nothing was done towards reviving the society ; but in 1848

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

regular services were recommenced in Mechanics' Hall, and a new society was organized, under the name of the Central Universalist Society. The present pleasant and commo- dious edifice on Seneca Street, near its junction with Genesee Street, was completed in 1851, Rev. Mr. Francis being pastor. He resigned his charge in 1853, and was succeeded in October of the same year by Rev. Theophilus Fisk. The Rev. C. C. Gordon became pastor in 1857, and resigned his pastoral charge in August, 1859. The Rev. T. D. Cook, who had been one of the earlier pastors of the old church, began a new pastorate in Utica in 1860, and closed his labors with the parish in 1864. The Rev. D. Ballou succeeded him in October of the same year, and resigned in 1869. In August, 1870, the Rev. A. J. Can- field was called and continued his labors until May, 1873. In December of the same year the Rev. Charles F. Lce, the present pastor, began his ministrations. The records of the earlier organization having been destroyed by fire, we are able only to give the history of the Central Uni- versalist parish, or of the Church of the Reconciliation, as it is generally known. In 1877 the church was quite ex- tensively renovated, and is now, with the chapel adjoining, built some years ago, one of the most pleasant and com- modious lionses of worship in the city. The parish is in a healthful condition, and is gradually growing in numbers. From first to last the Universalist Church in Utica has numbered among its members some of the most prominent citizens. The present organization is as follows : Board of Trustees, M. S. Laird, Willis Sawens, P. S. Curtiss, Lyman Oatley, Hiram Gilmore, C. D. Falkner, H. C. Case ; Clerk of Parish, G. L. Bradford ; Clerk of Church, Lyman Oat- ley ; Deacons, Grove Penny, Lyman Oatley, J. G. Jones, A. Gage.

ZION GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

" The United Evangelical Lutheran and German Re- formed Congregation of the City of Utica" was organized on the 15th of May, 1842, at its place of meeting, the " Old Bethel," on Fayette Street, West Utica. It was formed of 56 communicant members, all natives of Ger- many, and its services have always been conducted in the German language. Its first officers were Charles A. Wolf, Sr., and Michael Breitenstein, Elders ; and John M. Hahn, Daniel Becker, and John G. Hoerlein, Trustees.

Their first house of worship was erected upon the south side of Columbia Street, upon the eastern side of the site of St. Patrick's Church, at a cost of about $2000, and was dedicated Sept. 28, 1844, and, with other buildings, was destroyed by the hand of the incendiary on the night of Feb. 28, 1851.

Immediately after the destruction of their old church the members of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, having bought the adjoining building lot, corner of Colum- bia and Huntington Streets, purchased of the congregation their property on Columbia Street. They then erected a house of worship on the corner of Cooper and Fay Streets, at a cost of about $4000, and removed there.

The present pastor, Rev. A. Wetzel, has devoted his time and talents to the welfare of this church ever since its formation.

With the church is connected a flourishing Sunday- school, numbering about 300 scholars, and also a week-day school, in which the children receive instruction in both the German and English languages from an efficient teacher.

The present number of communicants is about 250.

HOUSE OF JACOB (JEWISH).

The first Hebrew congregation was organized in the year 1848, the body worshiping on Hotel Street, with Rabbi Ellsner, now of Syracuse, as their leader.

A few years later another congregation organized, and built a synagogue on Bleceker Street, with Rabbi Rosen- thal as pastor. From 1855 to 1870 the congregation be- came scattered, and had no place of worship. In 1870 they built the present synagogue on Whitesboro' Street, and chartered it under the name of the House of Jacob. Rabbi Sapero then officiated, and his successor was Rev. L. Eisen- berg, who is at present officiating as pastor.

THIE GERMAN MORAVIAN CHURCH.

Bishop Shultz, of Bethlehem, bishop of the Moravians, may be regarded as the founder and parent of this church in Utica. He came to the city in 1856, and finding a few devoted followers, caused an edifice to be purchased. The first settled pastor was Rev. John Detterer, who settled in August of the same year. He was succeeded by Rev. John Pranger, and he by the present pastor, Rev. Julins Wuenshe. The church, which is located on the corner of Cooper and Cornelia Streets, underwent a thorough re- modeling in 1876, and is now a very neat and commodious structure. The present clders are John Beisiegel and Charles Simon. The Sunday-school is in a very prosperons condi- tion.

CEMETERIES.

A piece of ground for burial purposes must have been occupied in Utica previous to 1800. The first recorded transaction concerning one was in 1806, when a deed was obtained of the old ground on Water Street, from Stephen Potter, who in parting with it made the curious reservation of the right to pasture his sheep and calves therein. This ground includes about two acres of land, and was long since pretty thoroughly filled up. There are very few monuments now standing which date beyond 1816 .* It is mostly given up for burial purposes, and presents altogether an untidy and dilapidated appearance.t

St. Joseph's Cemetery, a small burial-ground occupied by the German Catholics, is located a short distance west of the old ground, on St. Joseph Street, and contains about an acre of land. It is closely packed with graves and headstones, and is not very much used for new interments. It is attached to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and is called the German Cemetery.

FOREST HILL CEMETERY.

This beautiful home of the dead-worthy to be named with Mount Auburn and Greenwood and Laurel Hill-

# One stone dates to 1797.

t This ground originally covered a larger aroa than at present, in- elnding a tract on the south side of Water Street and some to the west.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

dates its origin back nearly thirty years. It was organized, under the general act authorizing rural cemetery asso- ciations, on the 26th of April, 1849. The first board of trustees was constituted of the following persons : Thomas R. Walker, Edmund A. Wetmore, William Tracy, Horatio Seymour, Thomas Hopper, Wm. J. Bacon, Julius A. Spen- cer, Silas D. Childs, Charles A. Mann, J. Watson Williams, Elisha M. Gilbert, M. M. Bagg.

The first officers were Hon. T. R. Walker, President ; Julius A. Spencer, Vice-President ; M. M. Bagg, Secretary. A tract of land containing about 37 acres was immediately purchased on the newly-opened Bridgewater Plank-Road, a mile south of the city limits, in the town of New Hartford. It was covered with forest-trees, but presented such advan- tages of soil and variety of location that it was considered the most eligible spot within suitable distance of the city for the purposes of a great rural cemetery. A fund of about $7500 was raised by subscription, out of which the purchase-money was paid, and with the remainder improve- ments were rapidly carried forward. The grounds were placed under the management of Almeron Hotchkiss, an experienced landscape-engineer, then employed in Green- wood Cemetery, Brooklyn. A main avenue about oue and a half miles in length was constructed, a Gothic lodge and bell-tower erected at the entrance, and a receiving-vault built in the north slope of the grounds. Near the main entrance, and beside a small artificial pond, was placed the celebrated sacred stone of the Oneida Indians, which had been brought from Stockbridge Hill, in Madison County, by permission of the tribe, and placed in perpetual possession of the cemetery association, who guaranteed to the Oncidas the privilege of sepulture within the cemetery.

The formal ceremony of opening the cemetery took place on the 14th of June, 1850, and was attended by a very large concourse of people, including a delegation of about 150 Indians of the Oneida and Onondaga nations. A procession was formed at the entrance, headed by the Utica Band, and followed by the school-children of the city, the clergy, officers of the association, visitors, and citizens, which marched to the music of the Portuguese Hymn, along the main avenue to the glen below the bridge, where a platform had been arranged for the speakers and seats for the audience. A dirge was played by the band, a prayer offered by Rev. Charles Wiley, D.D., and an ode sung by the children of the common schools, after which William Tracy, Esq., delivered a most appropriate and interesting ad- dress, following which a hymn was sung and the benediction pronounced by Rev. Oliver Wetmore. Upon the conclusion of these ceremonies the Indians present assembled around their sacred stone, and addresses were made in their own tongue by Ono-neo-gon, head chief of the Oneidas, and Duo-dwu-ga-neo-neo, head chief of the Onondugas, which were interpreted to the assemblage by To-wat-sun-kus, who had been for thirty years the chief interpreter of the Onei- das. In these addresses the Indians gave their consent to this final disposition of the altar of their fathers.

The grounds have been steadily improved from the first, and now present one of the most beautiful and tastefully arranged rural cemeteries in the Uuion. By a rule of the association all fences, of whatever description, are forbidden,

and the grading and preparation of the grounds are in the hands of the trustees, to the end that uniformity may be preserved throughout.

For several years the work of improvement was managed principally by an executive committee ; the only salaried person being a lodge-keeper, who also performed the duties of sexton. Conspicuous among the earnest workers of the board of trustees were Messrs. Thomas R. Walker, William Tracy, and Julius A. Spencer, two of whom subsequently removed from the city.

At length the necessity of employing a superintendent began to appear, and in 1857 A. G. Howard, a florist of much taste and skill, was appointed as superintendent upon a salary sufficient to justify him in employing one-half his time in a general supervision of the cemetery. Mr. How- ard occupied this position until about the year 1870, when Mr. Egbert Bagg, a civil engineer of some celebrity, was appointed to the position made vacant by his resignation.

The financial condition of the association has always been satisfactory, the income being ample for all purposes. The average annual income from 1867 to 1872 was something over $5200. The income from all sources for the year 1877 was $17,551.23, and the expenditure $13,008.63.

In 1865 a farm of 65 acres was purchased at a cost of $9000, and added to the grounds, making the present area about 105 acres, of which about 60 acres are laid out and improved.

A beautiful mortuary chapel, built of sandstone and in the Gothic style, at a total cost of $16,000, was presented to the association, as a free gift, by Mrs. Roxana Parker Childs, widow of the late Silas Dickinson Childs, the sole condition being that it should be for " free and common use forever." It is a combination of chapel and receiving-vault, the tombs (140 in number) being built into the sides of the chapel. The arrangement is found to be an exceedingly convenient one for winter use. The chapel is beautifully finished, and frescoed in appropriate colors, and contains two very elegant stained-glass windows, with rich memorial groupings. The architect of the building was Mr. Hotch- kiss, superintendent of the Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis. The windows were manufactured by H. W. Lewis & Co., of Utica. A fine memorial tablet in recognition of the munificent gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Childs is erected in the chapel .*

Another ornament to the grounds is the conservatory, erected in 1874. It stands near the main entrance, and is in the form of a Latin cross. Here is a vast collection of plants and flowers, both indigenous and exotic, the gera- niums alone numbering 20,000. A fine specimen of the cabbage - palm of Florida, commonly called the palmetto- tree, is in the east wing, growing amid a group of tropical plants. The total cost of the conservatory, including plants and flowers, has been about $20,000.

A vast number of native forest-trees, decidnous and evergreen, adorns the grounds, and especially that portion located on the northwestern slope. Several fine ponds and running streams add variety and picturesqueness to the

# John F. Seymour, Esq., was chairman of the building committee, and contributed in a great degree to the crection of this fine edifice.

Quin Onie

OWEN O'NEIL.

OWEN O'NEIL, the son of an Irish farmer, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1798. The sarly death of his father devolved the care of three children upon his mother. An older brother of the deceased emigrated to America and died. Owen served for some years as a clerk in a store in Dublin, and having acquired soms knowledge of business, he made his way to the United States in 1816 and settled in Oneida county. After a short stay in Rome he removed to Utica, where, with the exception of two years spent at Nor- fork, Virginia, he has ever since resided. He apprenticed himself to James Devlin, from whom he learned the trade of coppersmith and acquired & general knowledge of the hard- ware business. His industry and skill won the favor of his employer, who remitted a year from the term of his apprentice- ship and made him a substantial present. He formed a part- nership with Robert Disney, and conducted business for a time on Liberty street. Those who remember him in that day speak of him as a quiet, industrious, faithful worker, who won the respect of all who had occasion to employ him. A larger store was subsequently rented, and after six years' devotion to business the firm was enabled to purchase the establishment of Mr. Devlin. Mr. O'Neil then associated himself with John Martin, and the firm of O'Neil & Martin purchased the property on which the store of O'Neil & Co. now stands. Mr. Martin abandoned the business for the legal profession and removed to Illinois, where he gained distinction, and died while holding a judgeship. John Carton, who served hie apprenticeship under Owen O'Neil, subsequently became hie partner, and continued with him until 1847, when he eetab- fished the house which now bears his name. Of late Mr. O'Neil has been known as the senior member of the firm of O'Neil, Son & Co., the associate partner being Francie X. Manahan, his brother-in-law.

Owen O'Neil fairly represented a class of the mercantile community which unfortunately ie wellnigh extinct. He was never in haste to be rich. The dazzling stories of enormous fortunes to be made by rash speculatione had no charm for hie ear. Hs knew of only one road which led to success. Hon- esty guarded the entrance to that road, and industry was the only guide that traveled therein. He rose from poverty to affluence, but the simple tastes and frugal habits of hie earlier days exerted their beneficent influence over his life to the last.

He was a devout communicant of the Catholic church. In

the numerous charitable enterprises with which that church is associated he worked zealously and contributed freely. He took the pledge of total abstinence from the hands of the ven- erated Father Mathew, and kept it unbroken to the end. Hie health was remarkably sound until he was attacked by pleurisy. His vigorous constitution enabled him to battle so manfully with the disease that he afterward rose from his bed, and with the aid of a nurse dressed himself and walked across his room. Then weakness overtook him, and his fluttering pulse foretold his doom. He met his death as he had met all the joys and sorrows of life-calmly and manfully. Resting in the arms of his eldest surviving son, and enjoying the consolation which abiding faith afforde, he passed peacefully through the shadow of death and into the light of immortality, July 29, 1875.

The character of Owen O'Neil is one which would with- stand successfully the most severe analysis. He was devoted to business, but he always found time to cultivate the gentler amenities of life. He used wisely, discreetly, and well the ample fortune which he honorably accumulated. In his social intercourse he was cheerful, instructive, and happy. His knowledge of men and events, particularly those pertaining to our local history, was full and accurate. He accepted the privileges of citizenship with a comprehensive idea of the duties which they involved. He was an old-time Whig, and after the dissolution of the Whig party he became a Democrat. He refused to accept political preferment, but always exercised the right of suffrage with discrimination. He lived a useful and blamelees life, and dying ripe in years hie memory will be tenderly cherished by all who honor purity, truth, and honesty, for these were the broad foundatione on which his life was built.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 88

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920