History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 101

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The first literary society was originated in the school taught by Caleb Aber- nathy, a Scottish school-master of reputable attainments. There J. W. Hinckley, J. B. Parrish, and others laid the foundation for later success. Masonic organiza- tion has no known date, but on June 24, 1825, a grand installation was held in the meeting-house then lately completed. The occasion was marked by the attendance in regalia of five visiting lodges, and the procession, headed by music, made one of the grandest pageants known to the early days of Naples. Asahel Stone was senior warden, and Abner P. Lyon junior warden, of the Naples lodge.

The temperance cause for half a century has been upheld by the best citizens of the town. The first efforts were bitterly opposed, but the influence became dominant and controlled elections. In 1826, six ladies formed a female temperance society, with Mrs. Polly Clark, mother of Hon. Myron H. Clark, as president. From 1831 till now, church and hall have opened their doors for the cause. Music has uttered her most winsome strains, and eloquence has expressed the grandest truths to inspire a love for its healthful teachings. The first agricultural society was formed August 21, 1857. John Danton was elected president, J. B. John- son, vice-president ; S. H. Sutton, secretary ; and H. Maxfield, treasurer. Fairs have been held annually, interest has increased, and the show of fruits has the merit of excellence within the limits not of Naples alone, but of Ontario County.

A horticultural society was organized in 1856, with a large membership. John B. Johnson was the first president; M. B. Reed, vice-president; S. H. Sutton, secretary; and A. Stoddard, treasurer. The object of the society was to promote the cultivation of small fruits and flowers. The result has been taste in home surroundings, better selections of root and shrub, and a better culture of the soil.

The Good Templars had a large society to reclaim from intemperance the err- ing, and many have been benefited by the influence of the order.

A Lyceum society, for the education and advancement of young men having aspirations for knowledge, honor, and fame, has had enduring and profitable exist- ence. For over fifty years this institution has awakened and stimulated intellectual effort.

The Webster club was formed in 1874, and has a large membership. The village is honored by its institutions.

RELIGION IN NAPLES.

In 1792, the Rev. Zadoc Hunn, from Bristol, preached the first sermon in what is now Naples. The services were held in a log barn, and attended by every per- son in the place. A missionary, named Williston, preached the second sermon. The early settlers were strict in Sabbath observance, and when not provided with s minister a sermon was read by one of their number. The service was an- nounced by Captain Nathan Watkins blowing a sea conch-shell on or before time for meeting, and again when people had assembled. During the first revival Jedediah Bushnell was the preacher. The missionary, Rev. Samuel Fuller, or- ganized a church on February 1, 1800, composed of the following members, vis. : Nathan Watkins, Sarah Watkins, Edward and May Kibbe, Timothy Madden, Mary Clark, Mrs. Parrish, Samuel and Susanna, Mark and Lydia Watkins, Lemuel Barber, and Martha Cleveland. The church was of the " Congregational" order, and the Rev. Mr. Fish officiated until the installment of Rev. Solomon Allen, on December 15, 1803. Rev. Silas Hubbard served the society, and then Rev. Ly- man Barrett was installed June 26, 1815, and took his dismissal October 4, 1826. John C. Morgan, commencing his labors in the church in 1827, organized a Sabbath-school of about fifty scholars in May of the year. The first temperance society was organized, as stated, in 1826, and July 4, 1832, the church tem- perance society and the older organization merged in one, with Mr. Morgan pres- ident, and Waldo Curtis secretary. Mr. Morgan was installed August 27, 1829, and was succeeded by Rev. John Burbank. The next pastor was Rev. Mr. White, who served until Morgan's return in 1834. Mr. Morgan then officiated until 1839, and was followed by Henry Morgan. Rev. Mr. Everett next occu- pied the pulpit, and was succeeded by G. T. Everest. The Rev. Mr. Roulette, from Chicago, preached for a time, and gave place to F. S. Gaylord, who preached the last sermon in the old church in December, 1850. The Rev. B. T. Millard officiated the most of the time until Rev. Miles B. Gelston preached his first ser- mon in the new church on March 15, 1855, and he has remained until the pres- ent pastor of the church. The highest number of members reported in the early day was eighty-five. It received aid for twelve years from the American Home Missionary Society. A subscription for building their first meeting-house

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was started May 1, 1823. Liberal subscriptions were made in "cash, grain, stock, lumber, and labor, to the amount of $3500." Each subscriber was credited in the meeting-house journal for lumber, five dollars per thousand feet; common boards, eight dollars; house lumber, ten dollars, clear, and one dollar per thousand for warranted shingles ; one dollar and twenty-five cents a day for team, and fifty centa a day for common labor. The best mechanics received one dollar a day, from sun to sun. Good cows were taken on subscription at from ten to fourteen dollars each ; beef at four cents, and butter at eight cents per pound. The con- tract was let to Lyman Cummings, who completed the work substantially and elaborately. The heavy frame was raised June 17, 1824. Many of the best raisers came from adjoining towns, and three days were occupied at the task. Two adventurous men, Henry Chafee and Anson Parrish, ascended the steeple, and stood with a foot upon the top of the spire. The dedication took place in De- cember, 1825, and the sermon upon the occasion was preached by Rev. James H. Hotchkin, of Prattsburg.

The METHODIST CHURCH was represented in 1826 by two itinerant preachers, who came to Middletown and found no welcome. Their dress was plain and their seal great. Captain Cleveland was the first to open his house for them, and there they began to hold meetings. Finally a small church was organized in the year, named by Rev. Mr. Gilmore as the Methodist Episcopal church. The suo- comsive changes of ministers has made a long and yet lengthening list, from which the following are taken : Rev. Messrs. Dobson, Roberts, Story, Pieraall, Mo- Kinney, Brown, Pindar, McElhenny, Pendry, Ashworth, Bibbins, Jones, Tuttle, Brownell, J. T. Wisner, Parker, Clark, Wheeler, Requa, and Hitchcock. A church was erected in 1851, on the corner of Vine and Main streets. The society have, in connection, an elegant parsonage. Early converts were E. Cleveland, Billings, Clark and Luther Goodrich, Clara Parrish, Lena Wiley, M. Tenny, Chas. Lee, Amanda and Electra Holcomb, Samuel Wing, Ann Holcomb, Dennis Lee, Phineas P. Lee, Mrs. Warren Clark, Angeline Lyon, Harriet Hinckly, and Hester Ann Grinnell.

In 1850 the PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY at Naples erected a church edifice, in extent forty-four by sixty-six feet, upon the east side of Main street, near the centre of the village. The cost of the structure was six thousand dollars. It was burned by accident during March, 1874, and the society immediately rebuilt with brick, and put up a handsome and substantial house. The value of church property is estimated at six thousand dollars.

The CHRISTIAN CHURCH dates from 1820, when Rev. David Millard, Joseph Badger, James MoGregor, and Dayid Bussel of this order came to Naples and held meetings in barns and school-houses. A society was formed at West Hollow in 1826. The early members of this church were Mrs. Jemima Sutton, Mrs. Judith Sutton, Mrs. Ruth Porter, Mr. Stephen Sayles, Mr. Abraham Sutton, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Pettibone, Mrs. Betsey Sutton, Mrs. Desdemona Porter, John Porter, and Mrs. Eben Covel. The society afterwards merged into one which sprang up in Naples village, and rapidly increasing, was organized in 1842. The Rev. J. J. Brown was ordained, and was the first to preach to an organized church in the place. He was followed by 8. N. Summerbell, J. C. Bargdurf, Rev. H. Burnham, Rev. Fuller, Ira Doyo, Rev. M. Worden, O. P. Sellon, Jabez Chadwick, Rev. Geo. F. Searles, W. B. Beach, Rev. M. Letta, the present in- cumbent. The society built a good house, thirty-five by fifty feet, in 1845. Subscriptions were made by citisens in general. S. H. Sutton had supervision of the work. The house was raised, October 25, 1845, on a foundation built for school purposes. The church building and hall complete cost five thousand dollars. In 1875, the church edifice was removed to Lyon street and remodeled, and a fine parsonage erected on the site of the church.

NAPLES BAPTIST CHURCH .- The initial movement that resulted in the estab- lishment of a Baptist church in Naples dates to 1823. The Rev. Eli Haskell being invited by some of the citizens of Bristol to preach to them as opportunity should be given him, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. Fox, and Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham were induced to place themselves under the care of No. 9 Baptist church of Canandaigua. Next came the Second Baptist church of Bristol, at Shotwell Powell's barn. Elder Cole, an aged Baptist minister, began preaching at the town school-house, about one mile west of the village of Naples, and ef- footing a partial organization, drew to the village the Baptists of Naples. In the fall of 1843, the present organisation of the Baptist church and society of Naples was effected. They met in the Congregational house, located on Main street, a short distance below the present site of the Baptist church, and permanently or- ganised. They soon after bought the Congregational church, and called to the pastorate Rev. David Olney, who served two prosperous years. The congregation was large, and the members increased to fifty. Rev. M. Tuttle followed for a year, and E. A. Hadley had a like term. There were no baptisms during these pastorates. Rev. H. Ingraham appears on the minutes as the next pastor, and through the labors of Rev. Amos Chase three persons were baptized. A new era

dawned upon the church with the pastorate of Rev. Edward Toser, beginning June, 1840, and closing same month, 1855. As a condition of settlement, the present church lot was purchased at a cost of three hundred and thirty dollars, and the house of worship removed hither and neatly repaired. A precious revival in 1858, at the Tenny school house out-station, resulted in two baptisms and twelve accessions by letter the same year, bringing the membership from forty- seven in 1840 to one hundred and eight in 1852. The increased attendance necessitated the erection of a larger house of worship. The present house was erected in 1850, at an expense of five thousand dollars, involving the church thirteen hundred dollars, which, after years of effort, was canceled, in the brief space of an eight months' second pastorate in 1861. In 1855, Bro. Toser suspended pastoral labor, yet supplying the pulpit for the two following years. In 1857, Rev. W. F. Purington, of Prattaburg, accepted a call, and served three years. In 1861, Rev. Edward Toser served the church again for the time noted. In 1862, Rev. R. H. Toser served one year, and baptized four persons. In 1864, Rev. S. J. Douglass succeeding served two years, and baptized three persons. In 1867, Rev. M. H. Dowitt was called, and served three years, baptizing seven persons. In January, 1871, Rev. L. Q. Galpin became pastor, and served several years. Some two hundred and fifty have been connected with the church since its or- ganization in 1843. Of these, from 1847, seventy-seven have been added by baptism.

The health of. Naples compares favorably with that of other towns in the county. The temperature is higher in summer and milder in the valleys than upon the hills, yet the cool mountain breezes are refreshing and the air is pure and bracing in the uplands. Everywhere are found pure springs of water, and the scenery is varied, romantic, grand. The physical aspect of the town is a suo- cession of hill and valley. The highest hill measures about one thousand foot above the level at its base. The town is known by several sectional names, given during the period of early settlement. These are Hunt Hollow, Garling House, West Hollow, West of Naples Flats, and Naples Flats, near the centre, a mile wide and about four and a half miles long, and containing Naples village. ' The flats contain about three thousand acres of alluvial deposit, through which runs the lake inlet. The village is about two and a half miles long. The main street bears east, with parallel streets on each side, and crossed by several streets at nearly right angles. South End lies adjoining the Steuben county line, and resembles an amphitheatre, with an exposure opening to the northeast, in which direction streams run. There are several smaller neighborhoods, as Eel Pot and Hickory Bottom. High Point and Hatch Hill are well-known and familiar landmarks. The inlet of Honeoye lake runs northwest through Hunt Hollow, and this and Canandaigua inlet originate in several springs a mile west of the town's centre. The soil is varied; in the flats is alluvial, on the side hills is shale or decom- posed rock. The uplands are clay, loam, and gravel. It is adapted to grain, grass, and fruit raising, with eastern and protective exposure from the cold winds of the north and west. At an early day timber was abundant and the .brooks were filled with trout. Naples contains sixteen thousand six hundred sores of improved land. Upon the hills is a scattered growth of oak, pine, and chestnut, and in some localities the primal forest-trees yet stand. The hay crop of Naples in 1865 was five thousand one hundred and ninety-two tons. The attention is largely directed to fruit-growing, which has proved profitable. Trees and vines grow with vigor. Full five hundred acres are planted in grapes which are in full bearing, and as many more acres in apples, peaches, and pears. The grape crop of 1875 is safely estimated at one hundred and twenty tons, which found ready sale, or was used in the manufacture of wine. Grain-growing is a second pursuit, and stock-rais- ing is no inconsiderable business. The hills, standing as battlements against the northern winds, are so many exhaustless magazines for constant replenishment of soil, and years to come, when the farmers elsewhere will be taxed to renew their land, the farms and vineyards of Naples will have known no change. The county celebrates its centennial of independence, and a few aged men survive in Naples to tell the story of early hardship and courageous endurance. To the researches of S. H. Sutton, Esq., we are indebted for the basis of this our history of a healthful land and an intelligent people.

NAPLES IN THE REBELLION.

Few towns sent more troops to fight for the Union than Naples. Her record shows over two hundred names enrolled. All met the dangers encountered on the battle-field, and many lost their lives in defense of their country. We give below as complete a record of them as can be obtained from the military record of the town.

Thirteenth Infantry, Company G .- Lyman L. Dedrick, enlisted as private October 3, 1861 ; promoted corporal October, 1861 ; sergeant, January, 1862; died at Fortress Monroe April 13, 1862, of typhoid fever.

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Seymour L. G. Smith, enlisted October 3, 1861 ; promoted bugler November, 1861; discharged for disability, Georgetown, D. C., April 16, 1862.

Freeman French, Company K, enlisted October 7, 1861 ; corporal ; discharged for disability March 10, 1862.

James B. Benjamin, enlisted October 3, 1861; in battles of Fair Oaks, Gaines' Hill, Malvern Hill; killed at Manassas, August 30, 1862.

John Wilson, enlisted October 3, 1861; in battles of Fair Oaks, and several others; discharged at expiration of term ; re-enlisted September 1, 1864, in the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Regiment, and accredited to Richmond town- ship ; discharged with regiment.

John M. Hyland, corporal, enlisted October 7,-1861 ; died February 21, 1862. Ichabod Connel, enlisted October, 1861 ; served term of enlistment.

Joseph P. Stewart, enlisted October 3, 1861 ; in battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Days' battle, Gaines' Hill, Malvern Hill; killed at Manassas, August 30, 1862.

Twenty-seventh Infantry, Company G .- John R. Briggs, enlisted as sergeant May 2, 1861 ; promoted second lieutenant April 24, 1862 ; first lieutenant, Com- pany F, January 18, 1863; at Bull Run first and second, Seven Days' battle before Richmond, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and several others; mustered out May 31, 1863.

Tyler I. Briggs, enlisted May 2, 1861 ; promoted sergeant from corporal ; cap- tured at Bull Run, July 21, 1861; taken to Libby ; released January, 1862; in all of the battles of the Twenty-seventh, until mustered out with regiment at ex- piration of term, May 31, 1864.

William G. Agard, enlisted May 2, 1861 ; promoted sergeant ; captured at Bull Run, July 21, 1861 ; exchanged from New Orleans, June, 1862; discharged at expiration of term, May 31, 1863; in many severe battles; re-enlisted January 2, 1864; assigned to New York city; wounded October 27, at Fort Harrison ; again at Black water.

Armenus M. Hunt, enlisted May 2, 1861 ; captured at first Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and taken to Richmond, Libby prison, where he died September 14, 1861.

Sixty-seventh Infantry, Company D .- Edwin C. Yan, enlisted May 17, 1861 ; sergeant-major ; promoted October 19, 1862 ; first lieutenant, December 25, 1862 ; in sixteen engagements; among them Fair Oaks, first and second Fredericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg, Chantilly ; taken prisoner at Wilderness, May 1, 1864 ; ex- changed March 1, 1864; discharged March 12, 1864.

Company H .- Joel E. Yan, corporal, enlisted May 17, 1861 ; severely wounded at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps on account of disability ; discharged May, 1864.

Robert J. Toby, enlisted May 17, 1861; served till after Gettysburg battle, when he entered another regiment, and was discharged with it.

Joseph J. Gill, enlisted May 17, 1861 -; in battles Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg, Chantilly, Antietam, Gettysburg, surrender of Lee; mustered out July 19, 1865.

Charles Benjamin, enlisted May 27, 1861 ; promoted corporal June 1, 1862; re-enlisted December 24, 1863; wounded in battle of Wilderness, May 6, 1864; detached May 24, 1864, as orderly at brigade headquarters; discharged July 12, 1865.

Ambrose Harris, enlisted May 27, 1861; wounded in battle of Wilderness, May 6, 1864; taken prisoner May 8, 1864; confined at Andersonville, Georgia ; exchanged March 25, 1865 ; discharged March 26, 1865.

Levi Harris, enlisted May 27, 1861 ; re-enlisted December 25, 1863; in twenty engagements; discharged with regiment, July 19, 1865.

James L. Terry, enlisted May 17, 1861; killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. Benjamin F. Simons, corporal, enlisted May 17, 1861 ; promoted sergeant, June, 1862; first sergeant, December 25, 1862; wounded at Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862 ; rejoined regiment, July, 1862; at Gettysburg, Antietam, first and second Fred- ericksburg; captured in Wilderness, May 7, 1864; taken to Andersonville and Florence; exchanged, and subsequently died at Wilmington, from starvation.

George Hopper, enlisted May 17, 1861 ; promoted corporal; re-enlisted Decem- ber 24, 1863; killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864.

Warren C. Hulburt, enlisted May 17, 1861; in battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Days before Richmond, South Mountain, Antietam, first Fredericksburg; wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, July, 1863; discharged July 3, 1864,-term expired.

William S. Archibald, enlisted August 30, 1864, in Sixty-ninth Infantry, Com- pany F; substitute for Stephen McLaffee; captured on picket, October 30, 1864; taken to Richmond; then to Salisbury ; exchanged on parole, March 9, 1865 ; dis- charged July 13, 1865.

Eighty-fifth Infantry, Company B .- William W. Clark, enlisted August 26, 1861, as captain ; promoted lieutenant-colonel, May 1, 1863; at siege of York- town, Fair Oaks, Seven Days' battle before Richmond ; commanded in several raids made into interior of North Carolina from seaboard; discharged with regi- ment, July 17, 1865.

Thomas W. Porter, enlisted August 26, 1861 ; in most of the battles in which. his regiment took part ; promoted corporal, September 1, 1863; re-enlisted Jan- uary 1, 1864; taken prisoner at Plymouth, North Carolina, April 20, 1864; taken to Andersonville, Georgia; then to Charleston, South Carolina, where he died, October 3, 1864.

Thomas W. Such, enlisted September 25, 1861 ; re-enlisted January 1, 1864 ; captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, April 20, 1864; taken to Andersonville; then to Charleston, South Carolina, where he died of starvation, September 22, 1864.

Ira N. Deyo, enlisted September 25, 1861 ; promoted corporal, September 1, 1862; re-enlisted January 1, 1864 ; at Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Seven Days before Richmond; captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, April 20, 1864; in four rebel prisons; exchanged March 1, 1865; discharged June 9, 1865.

Napoleon B. Carpenter, enlisted August 26, 1861 ; re-enlisted January 1, 1864 ; captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, April 20, 1864; died in Andersonville prison, July 23, 1864, of starvation.

Joseph L. Cummings, enlisted August 26, 1861 ; sergeant; with McClellan on the Peninsula in 1862; re-enlisted January 1, 1864; captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, April 20, 1864; taken to Andersonville, Charleston, and Flor- ence; exchanged March 1, 1865; discharged June 9, 1865.

William L. Richardson, enlisted August 26, 1861; re-enlisted January 1, 1864; in battle of Fair Oaks; Seven Days before Richmond; captured at Ply- mouth, North Carolina, April 20, 1864; exchanged March 1, 1865; discharged June 9, 1865.

Company A .- Edward M. Drohan, enlisted November 23, 1861 ; in battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Days before Richmond, Kinston (first and second), and many others ; joined Sherman's army at Goldsboro', March, 1865 ; discharged with the regiment, July 17, 1865.

Charles Green, enlisted August 24, 1864; discharged July 16, 1865.

William E. Porter, enlisted March 19, 1864; discharged by general order 16, war department, June 5, 1865.

Lansing H. Rose, enlisted September 4, 1864; wounded in raid into interior of North Carolina, December 4, 1864; discharged May 31, 1865, in consequence of wound.

Martin Tenney, enlisted September 6, 1864; discharged with regiment, July 16, 1865.

Harmson Agard, enlisted August 24, 1864; joined the Eighty-fifth at Roanoke Island, October, 1864; in battle at Wiser's Forks, March 8, 1865; discharged with regiment, July 16, 1865.

Augustus L. Northup, enlisted September 3, 1864; served with his regiment till mustered out, July 16, 1865; lost his voice while in service.

John Holden, enlisted April, 1864; in battle of Wiser's Forks; discharged with regiment.

Andrew J. Hyland, enlisted in One Hundredth Infantry, July 28, 1863; wounded severely, May 11, 1864, at Drury's Bluff; taken prisoner ; sent to Richmond; exchanged November 25, 1864; discharged by general order No. 16, war department, June 12, 1865.

One Hundred and Second Infantry, Company D .- Charles T. Briggs, enlisted November, 1861 ; severely hurt on the retreat from Cedar Mountain, September 9, 1862; taken to Fort McHenry, where he was discharged in consequence of his injury, November, 1862.

James E. Jones, enlisted November 26, 1861; at South Mountain, Antietam, Chantilly, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, finally serving as detective in the west; re-enlisted December 30, 1863; discharged August 23, 1865.

James Northup, enlisted November 26, 1861 ; captured at Frederick City, Sep- tember, 1862; exchanged December; in battles at Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain; discharged at expiration of term, December, 1864.

One Hundred and Fourth Infantry, Company G .- Daniel T. Cole, enlisted February 20, 1862; in battles Cedar Mountain, South Mountain, Antietam, first and second Fredericksburg, second Bull Run, Gettysburg; captured at Weldon Railroad, August 19, 1864; at Belle Isle thirty-one days; exchanged October 9, 1864; at Lee's surrender ; re-enlisted April, 1865; discharged with regiment July 28, 1865.

Andrew Christy (Company D), enlisted February 20, 1862; after a few months' service he died at Smoketown hospital, Maryland, October, 1862.

Elisha G. Washburn, Jr., enlisted February 7, 1862; in battles of South Moun- tain, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, first and second Fredericksburg, and others; wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps on account of wound; discharged February 7, 1865.

George E. Washburn, enlisted February 7, 1862; in fourteen battles; twice a prisoner ; discharged in the spring of 1865.

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 101

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 391

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 391