USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Ontario Co., New York > Part 24
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61
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the doctrine. Ministers, thinking to utilize the idea, gave it their support, and there ensued a wild, universal excitement injurious to the church,-a warning for all coming time.
Up to 1865, there had been in the district, since 1805, twenty presiding elders. There had been eighty-one different ministers on one charge, for periods of a year or so each. The strength of the Methodist churches in 1875 is given as follows:
Towns.
No. Churches.
Value of Churches
Valuation of
Seating Capaolty.
Average Attendance.
Members.
Salary of
Clergy men.
Manchester
1
$10,000
$1,400
350
175
110
$700
Naples ..
1
4,000
6,500
350
250
267
800
Richmond
1
3,100
2,500
200
150
600
Sences.
1
3,500 |
1.800
300
100
96
400
Victor
1
22,000
5,000·
500
300
130
1,200
West Bloomfield
1
2,000
200
130
85
500
Manchester
1
2,000
300
125
80
600
Manchester
1
16,000
3,000
450
300
150
1,100
Bristol.
1
4,000
800
250
70
54
600
Canandaigua .. ..
1
25,000
5,000
650
500
300
1,500
East Bloomfield
1
7,000
2,000
600
200
70
800
Gorbam
5,000
1,200
300
200
95
1,000
Gorham
1
20,000
12,000
800
400
250
1,500
Genera
1
20,000
8,000
750
400
340
1,200
Hopewell, Chapinville
2,750
3,000
200
160
22
300
Hopewell
5,000
2,000
350
150
70
500
Hopewell
4,000
250
200
120
500
Total.
18
$157,350
$55,450
7,050
3,950
2,362
$13,400
THE WESLEYAN METHODIST
denomination was formed in May, 1843, from the Methodist Episcopal church. This organisation differs from others by rejecting the official classification of min- isters as bishops, elders, and descons. The church at Farmington reports the value of church, $2000; real estate, $1000; seats, 200; attendance, 50; members, 26; salary, $200.
In localities where sparse population and remoteness prevents strict denomina- tional societies, Union churches were formed. Two of these at present exist; one in Phelps, the other in Canandaigua at Academy. The statistics will be found in the summary.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
had their origin in the ephemeral but still primal organisation effected by Rev. John Smith, about 1792, at Canandaigua. The Lord's Supper was celebrated, and the little society of pioneers, called from remote clearings and unacquainted, probably never met again. The church in East Bloomfield, organized in 1796, and again in 1799, became the source from which those of Victor, North Bristol, and West Bloomfield had origin. The name of Jedediah Chapman is given as that of the first Presbyterian minister resident of western New York. He settled at Geneva in 1800, and alternated in church and missionary work until his death, in 1813. The Congregationalist, of one heart, and nearly of one mind, cordially united with the Presbyterian, and their early history is closely com- mingled. The presbytery of Albany, in 1802, was divided into three presby- teries, and in 1803 was constituted the synod of Albany. In 1805, one of the presbyteries, that of Oneida, was divided and the Geneva presbytery was organ- ised, and then embraced the entire State west of Oneida and Chenango counties. The ministers were Rev. J. Chapman, Geneva; John Lindsley, Ovid; Samuel Leacock, of Gorham, and J. Chadwick, of Milton. There were, at the time, eight churches in the new presbytery, of which Geneva and Gorham were two. Twelve years rolled away, and the church had grown to twenty-nine ministers, seven licentiates, and forty-five churches. A meeting was held February, 1817, and the presbytery of Geneva was divided into four presbyteries, named Bath, Niag- ara, Geneva, and Ontario. The church greatly prospered after this division. A large number of settlers were coming in, and members, churches, and ministern were greatly increased. In 1819, Niagara presbytery had grown from seven to thirty-two churches, and from three to ten ministers. Ontario, from thirteen had twenty-three churches, and her nine ministers had increased to twenty. Geneva, from seventeen had increased to twenty-three churches, and its ministers ten to seventeen. The year 1799 was characterized as that of the great revival. Bris- tol, Victor, Bloomfield, and other parts of Ontario were swept by the holy in- fluences ; people crowded to hear preaching, and four hundred persons congre- gated at one place. Each of the years from 1822 to 1827 were marked by revivals under circumstances the most memorable. In 1831, an extensive and powerful revival swept through the United States; the presbytery of western New
York received thousands of hopeful conversions. Many of those converted wero of persous old and young, attending Bible-class and Sunday-school. To secure interest, no questionable expedients were employed; the name " protracted meet- ings" was given to exercises-consisting of preaching, with pointed, severe appli- cation, exhortation, and prayer. Preachers most qualified for revival work were called evangelista; conversion of sinners was their one object. The first of this class in western New York was Rev. Chas. G. Finney, about 1826, and again in 1831; Rev. Jedediah Burchard was such a preacher in 1833-34 ; Augustus Lit- tlejohn was famous among the people, and meetings attended by many. He was deposed March 18, 1841, and excommunicated for acts opposed to Christian con- duct. The Genesee Missionary Society had its origin during January of the year 1810, at where now Phelps village is located. The first suggestions were received from Deacon Abiel Lindsley, of Prattsburg, to Rev. James N. Hotchkin, at the semi-annual meeting of the Ontario association, relative to raising funds for the distribution of Bibles and tracts to the destitute. A society was formed, a constitu- tion adopted, and officers were elected. Rev. Chapman, of the Geneva presbytery, was elected president of the society, which was, later, legally incorporated.
Among other organizations having their origin in the necessities of the people and the cause of religion was that of the Western Education Society at Utica, in 1817. It was confined to no one church, but the Presbyterians were ita principal supporters. Its object was the education of indigent young men for the ministry. Rev. A. G. Baldwin and Colonel Robt. Troup, of Geneva, were vice-presidenta. During 1817, Rev. Henry Smith was made agent for solicitation of funds. He obtained from Ontario three thousand two hundred and thirty-seven dollars and eighty-nine cents. Sabbath-schools have been early instituted and maintained with interest. A Sabbath-school Union was formed at Rochester in 1827, and comprised thirteen counties. In the next year a county union was formed. Most ministers of the Presbyterian church early became supporters of the temperance cause.
As an evidence of the growth and present prosperity of the Presbyterian church within the limits of Ontario, we present the following statistics, derived from the census of 1875 :
-
TowNs.
No. Churches.
Value of
Lota
Value of
Seating Capacity.
Attendance
Averaged
alar
Salary of
Naples.
1
$16,000
...
1
5,000
$1,000
250
200 100
82
500
Seneca, Pres. of Castleton
1
6,000
4,000 2,500
400
200 150
80
1,000
Canandaigua Village ....
1
40,000
800
400 200
280 96
1,100
Genova, North Presbyt'n Ch .. t
1
1,000
....
....
......
....
1
25,000
800
200
1,500
lot Presbyt'n Church.
40,000
1,000
400
2,500
North Presbyt'n Ch ..
6,000
10,000 12,000
800
250
2,500
Total
10
$144,000
$31,000
4,515
2,100
1,339
$18,250
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES
were the first established societies in the county. Rev. Zadoo Hunn organised a church of this order in East Bloomfield during the year 1796. Elisha Wade instituted public service in West Bloomfield during the same year, but died before the organization of the church, three years afterwards. In December, 1796, John Rolph and Rev. Hunn formed a church at South Bristol. The church in Richmond dates 1801, and prior to this, in 1799, three churches had origin,- Victor, Canandaigua, and North Bristol. In 1800, Middletown, now Naples, was formed, and Augusta (Rushville) in 1802.
The church at Bristol was the first house erected for worship in the Geneseo country. It was of round logs, and had a gallery. The society became the largest and most promising in western New York. Accessions of population brought a percentage of professors of religion, and those of Congregational faith harmonized and labored with the Presbyterians, making their early history synonymous. The Ontario association was the oldest ecclesiastical body in western New York. In 1804 its ministers were Joseph Grover, John Rolph, Reuben Parmele, Timothy Field, Eleaser Fairbanks, James H. Hotchken, and Abijab Warren. The asso- ciation was composed of ten churches.
On January 10, 1810, Canandaigua church seceded and became independent. In 1812 the association discussed the subject of a union with the presbytery of Geneva, and on May 25, at Prattsburg, formally dissolved and connected them- selves with that body.
· Old, $1000.
+ Vacant.
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106
900
Manchester, Shortsville.
1
4,500
300
2,450
Gorham Village ...
1
500
1,500
265
Reformed Church .....
....
1
1
Churches and
Pal Tatate.
400
145
$800
Canadice
1
3,000
250
250
150
50
400
1
1
1
1
and Lota.
Real Estate.
200 400
M
Phelps.
62
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
For a number of years no Congregational organization of churches or ministers existed in the State west of the east line of the military tract. About 1817, Rev. John Taylor located at Mendon, then in Ontario. He was a talented and influential man, and a rigid Congregationalist. By his efforts Congregationalism resumed its individuality, and the Genesee consociation was organized in 1818. The churches of this religious order in Ontario are partly unassociated; others belong to the Ontario association. The following statistics exhibit present strength :
ORGANIZED.
NAME
Valuation of
Churches.
Valuation of Real Estate.
Beating Capacity.
Attendance.
Members.
Salary of
Benevolent
for 1875.
Nov., 1854 ...... March 4, 1843.
First Cong., Honeoye
$7,500
300
250
95
$1,000
Reed's Corners.
3,000
296
100
30
300
Victor
15,000
$5,000
400
150
160
1,200
April 5, 1843 ...
West Bloomfield
15,000
1,400
300
175
120
1,000
$35
Bristol
3,000
2,000
600
100
50
700
Canandaigua.
40,000
6,000
700
500
339
1,520
East Bloomfield
10,000
4,000
450
250
180
2,000 1,500
Total ..
$93,500
$18,400
2,946
1,525
974
$7,700
1,555
THE FRIENDS,
or Quakers, have, since 1827, been separated into two distinct branches, known generally as Hicksite and Orthodox. The former have a general meeting for the Republic and for Canada. This is divided into yearly, quarterly, and monthly meetings. New York State is embraced within the New York and Genesee yearly meetings. In New York there are seven quarterly and thirty-one monthly meetings, and of the Genesee two quarterly and eight monthly meetings. The Orthodox branch in New York have one half-yearly, fifteen quarterly, and forty- three monthly meetings. The quarterly meetings in Farmington, this county, were established in 1810, and the number of monthly meetings is five. The first meeting within New York was established in 1656 at Oyster Bay, by Richard Smith and others, who had been banished from Boston. The pioneer Friends were primarily disowned, but received back in 1794, organized a meeting which was long the only one west of Utica, and erected a meeting-house. The Hicksites' church property is valued at four thousand three hundred dollars. Seating ca- pacity of one building, two thousand five hundred; of the smaller, two hundred. The attendance is about one-third the membership, which is about one hundred and sixty. The Orthodox branch have a house valued at three thousand dollars, seats for four hundred, and a membership of one hundred and forty-five. The Friends are proverbially peaceful and temperate, and the county has no class whose lives better illustrate their practical faith.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
develop a growth late but vigorous. The societies have had harmonious co-opera- tion and constant progression. The student of history has been attracted by the migration upon the same lines of the population westward. The void left by the removal of families has been filled by those from farther east, and with these changes has come in a class faithful to the Catholic church. The order has grown in numbers and, as will be seen, holds a strong position in regard to wealth :
NAME.
Value of Churches.
Beating
Members.
Salary of
men.
St. Mary's, Richmond ...
$2,300
200
100 170
$400
St. Patrick's, Victor ...
10,000
300
250
207
400
St. Mary's, Canandaigua ..
23,000
650
1,300
600
St. Bridget's, East Bloomfield
1,600
500
400
600
Geneva.
40,000
1,200
1,200
1,000
Total ..
$87,300
3,370
3,377
$3,000
In addition to their values, the denomination have school property of value not less than twenty thousand dollars, and the future has much of promise.
THE BAPTIST CHURCHES
of Ontario County have an origin not as early as some others, but their record is honorable, and deserving of full expression. The earliest records, dating towards the commencement of the century, embrace the result of councils convened for purposes of organization. So far as has been learned, the leading pioneer minister of the order was Elder Daniel Irish, whose presence is invariably noted in the
assemblies for church formation. As soon as the " two or three were met to- gether," and services had been held, the advisability of constituting a society was mooted. The council was held, and the project received sanction. The church of Bloomfield, organized June 13, 1796, with seventeen members, has priority. A church was built in 1803. The church of Bristol was organized February 7, 1805, with Solomon Goodale, elder; and a second church of Bristol originated in 1821. At the re-establishment of the First Baptist church in Phelps, during 1808, references are made which confirm the impression that a society there had been formed among the first. The society lived up to the religious spirit of the age, and kindly reproof was invariably bestowed upon the erring. The earliest and most interesting history of the society is lost in obscurity : that period which indicates trial and effort, the attempts to build houses of worship, and the succes- sion of ministers. Gradually, as time went by, these difficulties have been met, the seed has taken root, and the growth has been a permanence. The fifty- first annual report of the Baptist Missionary Convention, of date October, 1858, gives the date of organization of the denomination in Ontario at 1814. The church is then credited in this county with nineteen societies, as many min- isters, and one thousand five hundred and forty-four members. The statistics of 1875 are as follows :
NAME OF LOCATION.
Value of
Churches.
Value of Real
Beating
Capacity.
Attendance.
Members.
Salary of
Naples, Naples Village Manchester, Manchester
6,000
$1,200
400
250
165
Phelps, Clifton Springs ..
4,000
1,000
200
150
86
750
Bristol, Bristol.
2,000
500
400
100
50
Canandaigua Village.
10,000
500
300
250
none. 1,500
Free Will Union Society
5,000
300
150
250
Gorham, Gorham
5,000
1,500
400
200
77
850
Gorham, Reed's Corners
3,500
800
300
150
50
400
Geneva Village ...
5,000
400
170
200
1,200
Total
$46,500
$5,000
3,250
1,545
948
$6,300
THE UNIVERSALISTS have several societies in Ontario County. The statistics of the denomination are thus shown :
NAME
Vanle of Churches
Valuation of
Real Estate.
Seating Capacity.
Attendance.
Members.
Salary of
Victor, First Universalist Society ...! Manchester, First Universalist, Clif- ton Springs
$10,000
$4,000
250
100
120
$1,200
Bristol, First Universalist Society .. Geneva Universalist
4,500
2,500
260 300 600
115 150
47 40
1,000
6,000
150
600
Total
$28,500
$6,500
1,410
515
207
$3,700
There is a Christian church located at Naples, whose church property has a valuation of four thousand two hundred dollars; a seating capacity of two hundred, with forty members. Minister's salary, four hundred dollars.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
early effected a lodgment, and not without the trying experiences of other de- nominations. The Rev. Davenport Phelps located at Geneva at a primitive period of settlement, and was the first clergyman at that point. The history of Hobart College and the excellent records kept by the churches require no further mention in this connection than the tabular statement given :
LOCATION AND NAME.
Churches.
Value of Real
Beating
Capacity.
Attendance.
Macabers.
Salary of
Phelps, St. Paul's, Mission.
$3,200
200
75
40
Richmond, St. Paul's ..
5,500
300
50
$400
Victor, Mission Church.
4,000
150
50
25
Manchester, St. John's.
4,000
3,650
150
100
74
Canandaigua, St. John's.
50,000
5,000
580
300
250
1,200
East Bloomfield, St. Peter's
5,000
500
200
100
50
900
Geneva, St. Peter's ....
40,000
5,000
500
800
165
700
Geneva, Trinity ..
50,000
7,000
600
350
454
2,000
Total.
$161,700
$21,150
2,680
1,305
. 1,108
$6,100
Digitized by
-
- - -
Ministers.
$6,000
350
75
80
$600 750
and Lots.
Ministers.
8,000
900
West Bloomfield.
2,500
St. Agnes', Manchester
7,400
270
Capacity.
Clergy-
Ministers.
Value of
Tatate.
Estate.
Clergymen.
Contributions
June, 1836 ...... Feb. 25, 1799 .. Nov. 15, 1796 ..
63
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
for Ontario churches in 1865 gave as follows: The number of churches of all sects, 75 ; value of churches and lots, $382,150; other real estate, $32,870; seat- ing capacity, 29,078; number attending, 13,480; number of members, 9,152; salaries of clergymen, including use of real estate, $36,780. We give the sum- mary of 1875 :
No. Churches.
DENOMINATION.
Value of Churches
Other Real Estate.
Beating Capacity.
Attendance.
Members.
Salary of
Ministers.
10
Presbyterian.
$144,000
$31,000
4,515
2.100 3,950
1,339 2,362
$13,250 13,400
7
Catholic
81,900
35,400
3,970
3,040
2,177
3,000
7
Congregational.
97,500
22,200
2,946
1,525
985
7.600
O
46,500
5,000
3,250
1,545
948
6,300
8
Baptist .... Episcopal
161,700
21,150
2,680
1,305
1,108
6,100
A
Universalist
28,500
6,500
1,410
515
207
3,700
Friends.
7,300
300
800
200
303
Union ..
2,700
450
85
12
125
Christian ..
3,000
1,200
200
40
40
400
1
Wesleyan.
2,000
1,000
250
50
26
70
Total
$732,450
$179,200
27,521
14,355
9,507
$53,875
THE COUNTY SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION,
which held its session at Victor, on June 20, 1876, proved conclusively the co- operative and powerful feeling of interest in this department of religious culture. The report of the corresponding secretary gives 65 schools, 943 teachers, 5067 scholars, and 1834 in adult Bible-classes, making a total of 7844; conversions, 250; volumes in library, 14,000; amount of money raised for all purposes, $5101. A retrospective view of the exclusive and hostile spirit of early times, compared with present concord and sympathy, must be cheering to the minds of all true Christians, as indicative of a progress towards perfect union.
CHAPTER XXVI.
LITERARY AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS.
THE principle of strength in unity and mutual benefit, by act of association, has long been of full acknowledgment, but incomplete practice. The history of every notable enterprise which has engaged the attention of Ontario citizens has brought into prominence, uniformly, a certain class to which present prosperity is greatly to be ascribed. Whether in the formation of associations to secure canals or railways, banks and public buildings, academies and colleges, support of the needy, or help to the orphan, the sick, or the deranged, the forethought of the citizen has resulted in the establishment of such institutions under such guidance as are efficient to the object sought. The files of old-time papers are filled with notices of a multitude of organizations, short-lived, many of them, but subserving some degree of good, and teaching by their failure the method of a future pros- perity and stability.
Agriculture, in all its branches, has had its representative element. Religion early originated its Bible and missionary societies. Temperance has had its un- compromising advocates, and fraternity the anciently-derived rules for its conduct and enjoyment. The change of climate, and the destitution of remedial agents, the exhalations of miasma from the soil, opened to the direct evaporative influences of a sun, whose beams had been heretofore arrested by forest growth, and the sick- ness resultant, made the presence of the doctor greatly desired.
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The labors of pioneer physicians were extremely arduous, and universal testi- mony is corroborative of their ability and humanity. In accordance with an act passed by the Legislature, of date April 4, 1806, to incorporate medical societies in the State, and regulate the practice of physic and surgery, a meeting of the physicians of Ontario was held at the court-house in Canandaigua, on July 1 of the same year, to form such society for this county, and, at that time, Dr. Moses Atwater was chosen president, Dr. Jacob Dyer, vice-president, Dr. Daniel Goodwin, treas- urer, and Dr. Richard Wells, secretary. The State society was formed Feb- ruary 5, 1807, and Reuben Hart was selected to represent the county society at Albany. The time for holding annual meetings was set for July, and the fol- lowing were constituted the first censors : Drs. Dyer, Hart, Wells, and James Car-
ter. The society met on July 12, 1814, and elected Dr. Nathaniel Jacobs, presi- dent, the second executive officer of the society. At the same time, Dr. Charles Little was chosen vice-president, Dr. Jeremiah Atwater, treasurer, and Dr. R. Wells, secretary. The censors at this time were Drs. Stephen Aldrich, Gain Robinson, James White, Isaac Smith, and Daniel Brainard, Jr. The numbers of the society were augmented by the admission to membership of Drs. Joseph Lor- mer, Joseph Mallory, Samuel B. Bradley, Philetus and David Sprague, and Wyllis F. Clark. A revision of by-laws, as presented by a committee to that duty as- signed, and consisting of Drs. Wilcox, Jacobs, and Wells, was adopted in full. Dudley Marvin, of Canandaigua, and Nathan Parke, of Geneva, were selected as attorneys for the society. The organisation met annually to transact business, and to take counsel upon matters of professional interest, and we will merely record the oficials elected on July 8, 1817. For President, Gain Robinson ; Vice-President, Charles Bingham ; Secretary, Richard Wells; Treasurer, Jeremiah Atwater; and for Censors, Drs. N. Jacob, 2d, Augustus Torrey, Charles Bingham, Erastus B. Woodworth, and Benjamin Loomis.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
was introduced into the United States from England, and the first regular lodge opened at Baltimore, in 1819. A reference to the different town histories pre- sents the origin and success of this noble order. Eloquently and truthfully its three pillars, " Friendship, Love, and Truth," are portrayed by an expounder of the principles held. " At creation's dawn," says he, "before Nature had fixed the trembling land, or gathered the swelling fioods ; before the vesper dew had been flung from her golden urn, Friendship had woven her silken bonds. Before the glimmering stars were hung around the sky, or the sun had marked the circling hours; before the first intelligences had strung their golden harps to sing the mighty cause whence their existence sprung, Love had breathed forth her strains of mutual sympathy and confiding tenderness. Ere light had shone to brighten the pathway of faltering footsteps seeking right, Truth all around had shone efful- gent, pure, unsullied as the ways that emanate from the throne of God." Mem- bers associate as brothers, and labor for philanthropic objects. Ar indicated, the order is strong in numbers in Canandaigua, Geneva, and other localities, and growing rapidly.
THE FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
established their first lodge within the State of New York in 1757, and to it was given the title of St. John's, No. 1. The Grand Lodge of the State dates from 1785, when Robert R. Livingston was elected Grand Master. The order in 1826 numbered in the State 360 lodges and 22,000 members. Ten years later, and the lodges were but 75, and the members but 4000; yet again has the order entered upon a new growth, and its progress has been uninterrupted.
ONTARIO LODGE, NO. 23,
the pioneer lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Ontario County, had its origin in a petition made for a charter by nine brethren of Canandaigua to the Grand Lodge of the State of New York .. Application was made October 31, 1791, by Timothy Hosmer, Samuel Mellish, Judah Colt, Otho J. Taylor, John Chapin, Jr., Benjamin Wells, Seth Meed, William Adams, and Thomas Morris. The petition was recommended by Wooster Lodge, No. 15, Colchester, New London county, Connecticut. The prayer of the petition was granted, and Timothy Hosmer was made Master of Ontario Lodge, No. 23, whose warrant was received October 12, 1792. In June, 1800, the Grand Lodge, desiring to amend the constitution, sent copies of the changes proposed to every lodge, desiring its assent by resolution of the lodge. If ratified by two-thirds of the several lodges, the rules and regulations " should be considered as the constitution of the Grand Lodge."
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