History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 84

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USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Ontario Co., New York > Part 84

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219

HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

was made narrow-gauge, and has been managed by the New York Central Rail- road since. The names of agents are as follows : H. J. Spring, H. N. Crandall, and C. S. Miller. These were agents for companies under the broad-gauge line, and when the present road assumed control, John Crossman was the first appointment. He was succeeded by William B. Ingalls, and he in turn by C. S. Muller, the present agent.

Parts of lots 47 and 58 constitute the West Bloomfield portion of joint district No. 7. Lot Rew, one of the colony who came in with Deacon Adams .in the settlement of East Bloomfield in 1789, moved on the southeast part of No. 47. Here his wife died during 1793, and her death is reputed to have been the first in the town.

District No. 7 lies to the south. Captain Robert Taft, of Worcester county, Massachusetts, came here in 1791, and chose a farm upon lot 52, where he built . log house to which he soon after brought his family. Possessed of means, and confident of the future prosperity of the country, he had an ownership of one- half the town, part of his purchase being in the adjacent town of Lima. Mr. Taft was commissioned captain of militia by Governor Clinton, the first mili- tary appointment made for the town. He served as one of the early officers of the town of Bloomfield, having been elected at the first meeting held in 1796. Like many another of the pioneers of Ontario, he has served his country during the Revolution, and closed his days upon his western farm in 1821, at the age of seventy years. He is represented by a son, Chapin Taft, who was born on the farm in 1797, and yet survives. Two years succeeding the advent of Captain Taft, came Royal Wheelock from the same State. He followed his trade of a blacksmith from the date of his arrival in the settlement for a period of several years, and attained the age of ninety years. A daughter, Mrs. Peck, is a native resident of the town, in her eightieth year. Another daughter, aged eighty-five, and born in Massachusetts, is also a citizen of the town. R. Wheelock, a son, is also a survivor of the family. John Lute settled on the farm which, sold to Josiah Taft, has passed to the ownership of Myron L. Taft, the present owner. Jewett Harvey dwells upon the farm purchased and improved by his grandfather, James Harvey, from Connecticut. Thus rapidly do the generations come and go. The early neighbor of Harvey was Daniel Riley, who sold his farm and moved farther on to Ohio. Noah Cone, father of Deacon Cone, of East Bloomfield, was a later settler and a neighbor to those we have named. The property now owned by Elisha F. Leach was formerly the original purchase of Payne R. Leach, who emi- grated from Connecticut, and passed his life upon the property. William Carri- ger carly settled upon a part of the A. S. Orcutt place. John Alger located upon lot 49, where S. L. Case now lives, upon Gates creek. He put up a saw- and grist-mill, and was well known in that connection to the residents of the neighborhood where he passed his life. George Nichols built and operated a dis- tillery for several years in the vicinity of the mills. The Algers, Samuel and Josinh, were early settlers in the place. The primitive school-house was of the un- hewn timber cast, and stood on the corner near the house of S. W. Dixon. Among the names of former teachers are enumerated those of Mary Hickox, Clara French, Laura French, Otis Thompson, and G. Clark. The old structure became the prey of the devouring element in 1810, at which time Eleaser Knickerbocker was the school-master in charge. A brick house was then put up in its place. Benjamin Alger was an early settler near his brothers.

Upon district No. 4 came Aaron Norton among the early pioneers of the town, and settled upon lot 87. Upon the town records his name occurs as the incum- bent of various offices, which, to some extent, indicate his prominence. Upon lot 58. an early occupant was John Minor, who sold to Elijah Bostwick, and went west. William Paul was an early resident where his grandson, Albert, resides. William Paul, Jr., was early on the lands of the district. David McMaster was an early settler.

District No. 9 closes the record of the settlers in the town. A man named Bent early located upon the southwest part of lot 58. Selling out, he removed to the mineral region of Pennsylvania, and became a miner. Jesse Taft, son of the original purchaser, settled on lot 55, where J. Seymour lives. His death took place in 1870, at the good old age of eighty-seven. A son lives upon the former. lands of Captain Otis Thompson, and where Aaron Plimpton now holds formerly dwelt Job Williams. Lot 60 was settled by Jeremiah Simons, of Lyme, Con- necticut, about the year 1800. His farm was but one hundred acres, and after the brief western experience of four years, he died. Mrs. Chapin, a daughter, now seventy-two years of age, is a resident of the town. No. 57 was occupied by A. M. Beebe at an early period; he was a mechanic in wood-work. L. H. Gillett is now the owner. Arnold Mann was once a farmer where Mr. Johnson lives, on the southwest part of No. 58,-the property at one time of . Mr. Thomp- son. The Plimpton place, occupied previously by Whitley Mann, had known as its early settler the blacksmith, Job Williams, whose shop was an old-time feature of the place. William Daniels, commonly known as "Uncle Bill," years ago

lived upon the north part of No. 59, upon the present property of the heirs of A. H. Ward. A man named Chapman was the first settler near the creek. C. Allen, living on the south end of No. 55, is the later owner of a furm once the property of Watrous Peck, a Lyme, Connecticut, emigrant. The days of cheap lands were not unfrequently let slip by unimproved, and when the labor of a day was an equivalent for an acre of ground, there were still those who were com- paratively landless. A broom-maker, named Daniel Daniels, became the owner in those times of a half-dozen sores, obtained some employment at his trade, and lived obscurely. It is undeniable that while our record dwells upon the New Englander as a sober, industrious, intelligent man, and the vast majority of early families have their descendents upon the old farms, maintaining an excellent char- acter for sterling qualities, there also existed a loose, immoral, and irreligious class who ranged the woods for game, did an occasional job of chopping, and were most at home in the excitement of a town-meeting, muster, or raising. Their presence was a mingled benefit and injury, and their axes in winter, and sickles in summer, contributed to assist the regular settler in his clearing and harvesting. The bounty upon a wolf's head was a potent stimulus, and in the unrelenting warfare of man upon the beast, extermination was rapidly effected. Characters there were handy at a raising, lively at a frolic, and ring-leaders in many a fracas originating in a too liberal potation of strong drink. While a review of the town directs the attention to agricultural advances, and interest in the intellect and heart, it is well to note the existence of the scum which has ever been known to float upon the current, and be dashed upon the farthest frontiers. Men, then as now, hesitated at no obstacle to ill-got guin, and the purity and security of society is no slight guerdon of the pioneer and his successors to the present.

A gas-well in the southern part of West Bloomfield has presented such matters of interest as calls for a notice here in the language of Charles M. Hendee, an occupant of the town : " Fifty years ago, some of the early settlers living near what is now called Beebe's brook conceived that there was coal or some other valuable mineral in a locality near the brook, and, accordingly, sunk a shaft to test the matter. After getting down some thirty feet, they perceived indications of foul air, and fired a bundle of straw to test the matter, and threw it down the shaft. It instantly ignited, and burned high above the surface, causing a retreat on the double-quick, with entire loss of material. The blaze soon expired, but the experiment induced an abandonment of further investigation. In later years, parties fishing in the brook by torchlight could, by touching the surface of still water, ignite it at pleasure, when it would burn a short time, and expire."

These facts being well known when the "oil fever" was at its height, parties decided to bore for oil. A company was formed, an engine and the necessary tools procured, and boring commenced. After boring about one hundred feet, they struck a crevice which emitted a strong volume of gas. This gave renewed courage, and they bored on for months until they reached a depth of five hundred feet, when courage and capital alike gave way, and the project was abandoned as a failure.

The old well and the building remained as they had been left, until one summer day a citizen, showing them to a visiting friend, concluded to try an experiment. A lead pipe was attached to the curbing-tube to conduct it outside the building, and a lighted match was applied. The pipe melted, the flame followed up, the building was reached and soon lay a mass of ruins. For a time the fires burned constantly. The iron tubing rises fifteen feet above the surface, and illuminated the vicinity as light as day. The place has been a resort for pleasure parties, and the young folks have parodied an old song as follows:

"Oh, meet me by gaslight alone, And then I will tell thee s tale, In the grove near by the oil well Whose flame does not flicker or fail."

Elsewhere will be learned of efforts to utilize this gas, a knowledge of whose origin would have saved the original company their time and means.

The first town meeting after the formation of West Bloomfield was held at the house of Elisha Eggleston, then a tavern stand.

Assembled according to legal notice on the first Tuesday in April, 1833, the following persons were chosen as officers: for supervisor, Reynold Peck ; town clerk, H. B. Hall ; assessors, Stephen Blake, David Paul, and Wheeler Griffin ; collector, Isaac W. Phillips; overseers of the poor, Stephen Hendee and Sylves- ter Kellogg; justices of the peace, Sidney Huntington, Enoch A. Hall, and Elias D. Wright; commissioners of highways, Jasper C. Peck, John L. Loyd, and William Paul; commissioners of schools, B. C. Taft, Melancton Gates, and Wil- liam Arnold, Jr .; inspectors of common schools, Baley Ayer, Ebeneser B. Saddler, and H. B. Hall; constables, Isaac W. Phillips and Griffin Goodrich.

THE CHURCHES OF WEST BLOOMFIELD.

The CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of West Bloomfield was early entitled "The Society of Bloomfield," and has a history second to none in antiquity and im- portance.

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

In the year 1796, Elisha Wade, a member of the Church of Christ in' Lyme, Connecticut, removed to this town with his family, and soon set up worship on the Sabbath day. The meetings announced by him were the first in the town. Mr. Wade lived but a year in the country, but while able continued to hold regu- lar meetings, which were gladly attended, and which resulted in the conversion of three persons,-Samuel Handy and wife, and Mary, wife of Philemon Hall. These united with the East Bloomfield church. Mr. Handy held meetings after the death of Mr. Wade. Missionaries from the east visited the society, among whom were Rev. Joseph Avery, of the Berkshire Missionary Society, and Rev. Jedediah Bushnell, of the Counecticut Mission. Reverends Zadoc Hunn, of East Bloomfield, and Reuben Parmele, of Victor, were occasional preachers.

The organization of a church took place August 16, 1799, with the following- named members: Ebenezer Curtis, a member of the Second Church of Christ in Granville, Massachusetts; Samuel and Sarah Handy ; Mary, wife of Philemon Hall ; Dan Canfield; Rachael, wife of Joseph Gilbert; Elizabeth, wife of Martin Miner, a member at Lyme, Connecticut; Elizabeth, wife of Griffing Downs, of Guilford, Connecticut, and the following who had never previously professed religion : Peregrine Gardiner; Griffing Downs; Nathaniel Butler and Sebra, his wife; Reuben Lee and Louisa, his wife; Hannah, wife of Daniel Curtis; Rhoda, wife of Ebenezer Curtis; Phoebe, wife of Amos Hall; widow Comfort Marvin, and Phoebe, wife of Robert Richmond. Eighteen in all. Shortly following the organization, five more were united with the church, namely : Hannah, wife of P. Gardner; Sarah, wife of David Fairchild; Elizabeth, wife of John Mack ; Fry- phene, wife of John H. Hewitt, and Sibyl, wife of Dan Canfield.

Daniel Handy was elected first deacon, and continued as such until January 10, 1828. This little band had no stated pastor for some time.

In October, 1801, James H. Hotchkin, of the Northern Associated Presbytery of New York, came in and was employed to preach every second Sabbath until August 9, 1802, when the church voted him a unanimous call to become their pastor, and offered a salary for the year of three hundred dollars.

The call was accepted December 16, 1802, and on May 19, 1803, he was formally installed in the presence of seven ministers of the denomination. Rev. Hotohkin remained till March 23, 1809, and at other points became favorably known. He has conferred a lasting obligation upon the inhabitants of western New York by his history of the early Presbyterian and Congregational churches of this region, showing the disposition of settlers, the formation of churches, and the fraternal spirit of the denominations.

The society at West Bloomfield was now without a pastor. David Fuller was stated supply for two or three years.

In the summer of 1815, Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D.D., president of Williams College, Massachusetts, received a call from the society, and accepted. He was installed November 29, 1815, and dismissed August 28, 1827. His successor was Rev. Silas C. Brown, installed April 28, 1828. . A formidable opposition accom- panied the installation, and this so increased as to cause a dissolution of the pas- toral relation on April 29, 1830.

Mr. Brown had a large number of warm friends who were resolved to hold him, irrespective of the society, which held the property of the corporation. Accord- ingly members to the number of forty were dismissed at their own request, and were constituted by the presbytery a separate church, and on January 24, 1831, Rev. Brown was re-installed in the new connection, and continued until July 8, 1835. Rev. Daniel Gibbs was the next pastor, installed September 10, 1839, and dismissed September 17, 1840. The following officiated as stated supplies for the next few years : Reverends E. A. Platt, Silas C. Brown, W. Beardsley, and George C. Hoskins.

Soon after their organization the society began the erection of a house of wor- ship, which was completed in 1831. It was a neat frame, costing two thousand two hundred dollars, built by Jacob Hovey, and sold in 1866 to the Catholic so- ciety, by whom it is in present use.

The original society continued to worship in the old edifice, and employed. Rev. William P. Kendrick a year as stated supply from the date of their division, August 25, 1830. Rev. Julius Steele was employed for seven years ; Rev. George Clark and Rev. George Bassett a year each, and Rev. C. R. Clark for two years ending 1843.

On the 5th of April, the year last named was marked by a union of the two churches as an Independent Congregational church. Timothy Stowe was em- ployed as pastor for the year, and was succeeded by C. E. Fisher, who remained eight years.

In the spring of 1855 Rev. George C. Oberhiser was engaged, and after two years was succeeded by Rev. P. F. Sanborn, who continued with them for twelve years.

The Rev. John Patchen became pastor April 1, 1870, and served until recently, 'when the pastoral relation was dissolved, and no successor has yet been appointed.

The interest of the people in spiritual concerns has been strikingly manifested at intervals. In instances the entire population seemed to have turned out to attend meetings, and even the work of the week-day was readily dropped to attend an appointment. Many stable conversions followed ministration, and long lives passed in faithful practice of Christian teachings attested the power of the Spirit.

This church, like most pioneer societies, began with few members, held meetings in houses, barns, and school-houses, till the increase of numbers and the accumu- lation of means would justify the erection of a church.

Meetings were held in the school-house in 1799, and in March, 1804, the so- ciety determined to build an addition to the school-house, as the cheapest way to secure increased and essential accommodations.

Objections were at once raised by parties outside the society and connected with school affairs; therefore, on April 19, a meeting was held and there it was resolved to erect a brick meeting-house, to stand " on the corner where the four roads meet, adjacent to the school-house." The several sums subscribed were "payable one- third in money, and two-thirds in wheat, pork, or neat cattle." Various attempts were doomed to failure in reaching the object desired; but finally, on January 13, 1806, a contract was made with Robert Power to build a house fifty-five by forty feet, to be " a frame put up and then the wall composed of brick, so that out- wardly it shall appear to be a brick building." The committee on building were Amos Hall and the Pecks, Thomas and Clark. It was not entirely finished for years, and was the first church edifice in the town. The steeple, becoming dan- gerous, was taken down in 1818, and a cupola erected in its stead. Here they worshiped till 1846, when a new brick church, with stone basement, was con- structed at a cost of five thousand dollars. A bell, costing three hundred dollars, was procured, and is in present use. C. E. Fisher was pastor when the house was built.

A new church, the third one, was begun in 1873. The old one began to be dilapidated, and to need extensive and costly repairs. The matter of a repair of the old or the building of a new structure was canvassed by the members, and the latter movement developed considerable strength, but no definite action was taken until the winter of 1874-75, when a meeting was held at L. W. Smith's, and the discovery made that a sufficient sum could be raised to build a fine house. On Friday evening, February 12, 1875, a meeting was held, and R. M. Peck, B. C. Hopkins, and George M. Shepard appointed to circulate subscription papers. On Saturday, April 24, fifteen thousand dollars had been subscribed. A large assembly of both sexes took place on June 5, 1875, and determined to erect a church edifice on the general plan of having a main building with cross-sections, cost not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars. The building committee was Stephen H. Ainsworth, Myron L. Hall, Curtis C. Gates, Reynold M. Peck, and Matthew J. Peck. L. W. Smith was chosen treasurer. In response to notices for build- ing proposals, published July 17, seventeen bids were entered, ranging from thir- teen thousand four hundred and thirty to twenty-three thousand dollars. The bids were opened August 4, and the contract awarded at thirteen thousand four hundred and thirty dollars to Thomas S. Lynn. The old building was removed, and on October 14, 1875, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Services were held in the town hall. An address was delivered by Rev. Corliss, of Lima. Various articles were placed in the stone relative to church history and various societies. The chapel was finished, and the monthly church meeting held therein on February 5, 1876, and on the next day it was occupied by the Sabbath-school, and commemorative exercises held. The dimensions of the church are seventy-six by forty-five feet; height of walls, twenty-five feet. The main tower, on the northeast corner, is one hundred and thirty-eight feet high ; there is a small tower between the centre and west corner. A lecture-room, twenty-five by fifty-two feet, projects ten feet east of the building. The main room is twenty-four by sixty-eight feet. The bell of the former church is retained. The work is artistic, and the material of modern use, the roof being slated with three eighth pitch, outside walls penciled, seats of chestnut and pine, except moulding, arms and top-rails of black walnut. A parsonage connected with the property of the society is valued at two thousand dollars. The number of mem- bers is one hundred and twenty-nine, comprised in seventy-five families. The primary movement for a Sabbath school began by the appointment in June, 1819, of a committee consisting of Deacons Handy, Wells, and Jason Canfield to take charge of a Sabbath-school. A formal organization was had in June, 1820. A flourishing school of over two hundred scholars now exists, and they have a library of near four hundred volumes. The present superintendent is Charles R. Case, assisted by eighteen teachers.

The ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH was organized in 1866. The number of persons then in the locality was about one hundred and forty ; they have been increased to two hundred and forty, and show a healthy progress. As previously stated, the land and old church of the Congregationalists was purchased by the society for six hundred and fifty dollars. The Rev. William Hughes, of East Bloomfield, has been the pastor since organization.

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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The CHRISTIAN CHURCH of West Bloomfield was organized in October, 1818, by Rev. David Millard. It numbered sixteen members, among whom were James Harvey, wife, and daughter Sarah, Mrs. Field, A. Everts, Ezra Wilcox, and Elisabeth Briggs. The primary meeting was held at the school-house in No. 10. Services were held here at No. 9, and during the summer season in barns for some time. In 1825, a house of worship was built on the corner of lot 65, less than a mile south of the village. The house was a comfortable framed structure about thirty-six by forty-six feet, and having a steeple. The cost was one thou- sand six hundred dollars. About 1848 it was removed to the village and located as seen. A highly accomplished minister, Rev. Mr. Millard, was their preacher. His services were very much appreciated, and attracted large assemblies. Within a few months succeeding organization the church had increased to fifty members. Rev. Millard continued to preach for the society, at intervals, till 1868, when be moved to Michigan, where his death occurred on August 7, 1873, at Jackson. Half a century he had labored here, and it was eminently consistent that his re- mains should rest in the grounds of a community whom he gave a life-time to benefit, and who continue to cherish his memory as of a good, faithful servant of the Redeemer. An opportunity was given Mr. Millard to visit Palestine, and during his absence Rev. Isaac C. Goff preached for the society. Other preachers have been Revs. Havens, Sibley, and David E. Millard, son of the first minister. The organization has now no regular existence, and their church was sold to the town, and is now in use as a town hall.

The METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of West Bloomfield, as an organized society, is comparatively of recent origin, as indicated by the following official abstract : " In accordance with a notice previously given, according to the statute of this State, the inhabitants of district No. 13, in the the town of Bloomfield, in the county of Ontario, having met to organize a religious society and opened the meeting, the Rev. Philo Woodworth and Daniel Anderson were duly elected presidents, and John B. Mason secretary. It was voted that five trustees be ap- pointed, wherefore the following persons were duly elected by ballot : Ransom Sage, James Tucker, Silas Miller, Charles Strong, and Benjamin Wager. . . . Organized this 7th of February, A.D. 1831." Catharine Barrett, Lewis Barnum and wife, and Silas Crowell were pioneer members. Meetings were first held in West Bloomfield village; meetings were held in Mr. Miller's barn, and then in the school-house. A framed house of worship was erected in 1832 on the north- east corner of Charles Webb's farm; but the members being more numerous at the Miller's Corners settlement, they disbanded and reorganized at the latter place. Their building was moved into the village, and served for a time as a town hall. In 1840, the present church was erected, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. It was dedicated during the fall of the year named, Rev. Micah Seager officiating. The builder was Hubbell Gregory, of Yates county. He later became prominent as a builder at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Following the two years' term of Rev. Seager came Rev. Ira Fairbanks. The following named were of those who have at various periods served this church : Revs. John Robinson, Atchinson, John Raines, and Trowbridge; also, Hudson, John Copeland, William Manderville, John Benson, John Armitage, Tooker, Hutchinson, Woods, Tiffany, and Herman. The present pastor is Rev. Duncan, of Lima. There is a flourishing Sunday- school in connection with the church, and a good interest is manifested.

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History of Ontario Co., New York, Part 84

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

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Number of Pages: 391