History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 126

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 126

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

511

MOUNT HOPE.

W. Dodge, for seven years, until 1871; Harrison Reed, until Feb. 17, 1879; and the present incum- bent, A. J. Ketcham.

NEW VERNON

is situated upon the north line of the town, and is . partly in Sullivan County.

FINCHVILLE

is a hamlet in the southwest part of the town. It is named in honor of John Finch, the first immigrant of that name to this section of country, and in honor of his descendants, many of whom have been promi- nent citizens in this vicinity. The hamlet is situated at the eastern base of the Shawangunk Mountains. In later years it can hardly be described as a village, as there are no stores there at the present time and no hotel. The neighborhood is somewhat noted as the place to which many persons fled from the Mam- akating Valley during the Indian troubles. The names of Finch and Finchville are very common in the ancient annals.

GUYMARD

is situated on the western slope of the Shawangunk Mountains, and is a station on the Erie Railroad. It also has a post-office. There is much fine scenery in the vicinity, and the place is something of a resort for pienic parties and pleasure excursions, as well as for more permanent summer boarders. The name is the old French form of the family name Gumaer. The post-office was established July 1, 1866. Peter L. the office to the present time (1880). The village owes its existence principally to the discovery of lead on the lands of the Gumaer Brothers, situated on the west side of the Shawangunk Mountains, and near the line of Deerpark. The lead was first found while building a road from the old turnpike to Gumaer's, on the canal. The Erie minc, the most important in this section, being at the immediate site of Guymard, secured a rapid growth to the village, very soon in- cluding stores, hotels, shops, and private residences.

VI .- SCHOOLS.

The town books having been destroyed by fire, it is not possible to give the names of the school commis- sioners and inspectors from 1823 to 1843, during which time the schools were under that method of supervision .* From the records we only have the town superintendents from 1850 to 1856, viz .: 1850, Wm. C. Terry ; 1851, Avery Cook; 1853, Charles B. Halstead; 1855, Nelson Newton.

The office of this last incumbent was terminated by the new law authorizing distriet commissioners, which took effect in June, 1856.

Dr. Cook mentions as other teachers, cotemporary

* In the records of Wallkill and Deerpark, given elsewhere, the names of school officers upon the territory of Mount Hope between 1813 and 1825 will be found.

with himself in that field, John Whiting, Corwin Swezey, Harvey Taylor, and Hiram Shons.

VII .- CHURCHES.

THE OLD-SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW VERNON.

The following sketch of this society was furnished by the late Elder Gilbert Beebe, its pastor for about fifty-five years :

The Old-School Baptist Church at New Vernon, N. Y., was constituted under the ministry of Elder Ebenezer West in 1785. The constituent members, 16 in number, viz. : Elder Ebenezer West, Richard West, Wm. Smith, Jedediah Fuller, Solomon Wheat, Asa Worden, John Harding, David Smith, Wm. Pat- terson, Lydia King, Keziah Jillett, Abigail Smith, Elizabeth Godfrey, Dealia Rogers, Anna King, Rhoda Harding.

Elder Ebenezer West held the pastoral care of this church until his death, which occurred in October, 1793. Soon after the death of Elder West, Elder Benjamin Montanya succeeded him, and held the pas- torate of the church thirty-three years, and until his death, which occurred Dec. 25, 1825. In May follow- ing, viz., 1826, Elder Gilbert Beehe was called to the pastoral care, and he held the position almost fifty- five years.

In about the year 1800 the first church-house was built, and called the Deerpark Baptist Church, lo- cated very near the line which divides Orange and Sullivan Counties, and what is now the towns of Gumaer was appointed postmaster, and has retained | Mount Hope and Mamakating. This was a frame

honse, built in ancient style, with galleries on three sides, and a capacity to seat from 300 to 400 persons.

A new frame house was erected by the church, near the site of the old one, about twenty-five years ago, of about the same capacity. In the rear and east side of this house the church has a large cemetery, in which many of the first settlers of the vicinity are buried. The church now numbers 85 members,-Gil- bert Beebe, pastor; John C. Harding, Samuel Jordan, Samuel B. Beyea, deacons.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI AT WALLKILL AND DEERPARK PATENT

effected a legal organization May 14, 1810. Erastus Mapes and David Corwin signed the proceedings as inspectors of the election. The meeting was held at the school-house in which said church usually met, and the trustees chosen were David Corwin, Selah Mapes, and Jonathan Coleman. This was the old church at the place known as Mapestown. There was a comfortable house of worship, and services were maintained for many years. At a later period it was deemed necessary to file a new certificate, probably because the names Wallkill and Deerpark were no longer applicable to this town. The new incorporation was under the name of "The Congre gational Church of Mount Hope," July 6, 1847. The proceedings were signed by Erastus Mapes and Amzi

512

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Mapes. The trustees chosen were Daniel Mapes, James Bell, and Isaac Davis. Not long after this renewed organization it was deemed best to remove to Howell's, a station upon the Erie Railroad not far away. (See churches of Wallkill.)

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MOUNT HOPE #

had its origin in the last century. On March 25, 1770, Oliver Delancy, Esq., of the city of New York, executed a deed or perpetual lease, conveying to Messrs. W. Gillett, David Smith, and Simeon Marsh fifty acres of land lying in the town of Deerpark, to be held in trust for the use of a Protestant min- ister, "who must be elected and eliosen by the tenants and freeholders for the time being residing in said town, to do divine service and preach the word of God among them." March 2, 1771, David John- ston, Esq., also of New York, executed a deed, con- veying to the same persons in trust, for the same purpose and on the same terms, twenty-five acres of land lying next to the previous lot. This land lay near the locality long known as Otis' Factory. There was at that time no regular Presbyterian Church in the town of Deerpark. Two congregations, however, assembled regularly for religious worship. One was of the Baptist communion, and was served by Rev. Eleazer West. The other held services and had occasional preaching at the house of Elijah Reeve, a large stone house near Otis' Factory, re- cently removed. After the close of the war of the Revolution a law was passed by the Legislature of New York, April 20, 1784, enabling congregations to incorporate. In accordance with this, Feb. 9, 1785, the congregation worshiping at the house of Elijah Reeve met, and were regularly incorporated by the election of the following six trustees, viz. : David Smith, Sr., Joshua Corwin, Sr., Joseph Smith, John Keteham, William Shaw, William Rose. They as- sumed the corporate name of "The Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in Deerpark." Steps were at once taken to secure possession of the land con- veyed by the deeds of Messrs. Delancy and Johnston. It was occupied by Mr. West. But as the Baptists had failed to secure an organization, after some arbi- tration and the payment to Mr. West of ten pounds as remuneration for improvements made by him, the land was yielded to the trustees of the organized body. A portion of it was used for a time as a place of burial, but no building was erected thereon. After this, upon application by Messrs. Thomas White and Wm. Shaw, Lewis A. Scott, Esq., of New York, gave the promise of a deed for five acres of land on " The Plains," near the present village of Otisville, for the erection of a house of worship and other church pur- poses. The deed for this land was given ten years afterwards, in March, 1795, by the executors of Mr. Scott, and conveyed a clear title to the trustees of the

* By Rev. Luther Littell.

church. A portion of the lot had in the mean time been fenced in and used as a place for burial, and the whole of it is now used for that purpose, and known as the " Mount Hope Cemetery."

It was not, however, till 1791 that a house of wor- ship was erected on this land. It was built under a subscription-paper headed "For a Presbyterian Con- gregational Meeting-house." The house was not finished for several years. This building was a very plain structure, about fifty feet square, with lofty pulpit and high-backed seats, and without paint. It was used for purposes of worship more than forty years, until about 1835, when it was removed from the ground and put to other uses.

In the mean time there had been a large removal of Presbyterians to Mount Hope, mostly from Long Island. Rev. Mr. Kerr, of Goshen, preached occa- sionally for the congregation. The church as yet, so far as is known, had only a civil existence. Just when its first board of elders was elected is not known, as the first book of records of Session cannot be found. The question of the ecclesiastical connection of the church was settled Sept. 3, 1792, when by a large majority of votes the congregation resolved to join the Presbytery of New York. A considerable portion of the people had a strong preference for Morristown Presbytery or Platform, the latter body being an as- sociation chiefly of Congregationalists. It is prob- able that about this time the first elders were elected, William Shaw, William Rose. These matters dis- posed of, the congregation, April 1, 1793, made a "call" upon Rev. Jonathan Freeman, then of Hope- well, to become their pastor for one-third of his time. Mr. Freeman accepted, and was installed the first pastor of the church, Aug. 29, 1793, by a committee of the Presbytery of New York, consisting of Revs. ' Kerr, Close, and King, and Elder Reuben Hopkins. His pastorate was not successful. Contending ele- ments existed in the church. The Congregationalists had become a well-defined party and claimed the property. Appeal was made to the courts, which confirmed the title in the trustees of the Presbyterian Church, after which the Congregational element drew off and formed the church now worshiping at How- ell's.t The pastoral relation of Mr. Freeman was dissolved by Presbytery April 19, 1797.

In 1801 the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, for many years the pastor of the church at Scotchtown, served the Mount Hope Church a part of his time. June 10, 1803, Rev. Benjamin Prime became pastor of the church, preach- ing three-fourths of his time. After several years the relation was dissolved. Mr. Prime resided in the community until his death, June 25, 1823.

During this period the church languished, having only 17 members. Three persons were now elected to the eldership, who served the church long and faith-

+ This conflicts somewhat with the account of the Howell's Church, which is drawn direct from their ancient book. We leave both that the facts may appear by comparison.

513

MOUNT HOPE.

fully in that office. They were Alexander Bodle, Marshal Stigney, and John Boyd. But a brighter day was now to dawn upon the hitherto struggling church. Oct. 2, 1816, Rev. William Blain was in- stalled its pastor. Ile preached also a part of his time at Ridgebury. Mr. Blain was the first student who entered the theological seminary at Princeton. Un- der his effective ministry the church enjoyed its first revival of religion, resulting in large additions to the membership. After six years of successful labor, in 1822, Mr. Blain accepted a call to the church at Mid- dletown. When he left the Mount Hope Church it was united and strong, with a membership of 117. Four elders were added to the Session during his pas- torate, viz .: Joshua Penny, William S. Little, David Swezey, and Abijah Norris. Mr. Blain was a man of high character as a preacher and pastor, and after leaving Middletown was for many years pastor of the ancient church of Goodwill. During the two years following Mr. Blain's removal, Rev. Thomas Grier, of Westtown, acted as stated supply for one-half his time.

In 1824, Rev. Edwin Downer, a young man from in which time there were 17 additions to the church. Failing health compelled him to relinquish the charge Oct. 22, 1828. He continued to reside many years in the bounds of the congregation, but at length removed to Westfield, N. J., his native place. He died May 31, 1868, in the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church of that place, just as he was commencing service. Fol- lowing him, for a short time, Rev. James Russel acted as stated supply, but declined to become the pastor.

In 1829, Rev. Sylvester Swezey became stated sup- ply of the church. By his efforts the Congregational Church, which years since had gone out from the con- gregation, were induced to unite with them in the sup- port of one pastor. The two congregations worshiped together, as Mr. Swezey preached alternately in the church on the "Plains" and the building of the Con- gregationalists, long known as the " Yellow Church," near the village of Mount Hope. The union seems to have been a happy one, and during this time the church enjoyed its second revival of religion, resulting in the addition of 57 persons to its communion. This union ceased when Mr. Swezey left, in the spring of 1833. He was soon succeeded by Rev. Andrew Thompson, who had been serving the churches of Ny- ack and Greenbush, in Rockland County. As early as 1811 the tract of 75 acres deeded to the church by Messrs. Delancy and Johnson was sold, under an order granted by the chancellor of the State, and the money placed at interest. With these funds a par- sonage was purchased in the spring of 1833, consisting of a comfortable house and 25 acres of land, lying near the village of Monnt Hope. This was first ocenpied by Mr. Thompson. With his coming the subject of the erection of a new house of worship was discussed. The village of Mount Hope had now grown to be a thriving place of considerable business importance,

and here the congregation decided, not without strong opposition, to erect its new building. It was a neat edifice, 70 by 45 feet, with spire, and sittings for over 400 people, built at a cost of $4000. The building was the exact counterpart of the then new house of worship at Montgomery, in this county. It was finished and dedicated early in 1835, when the old church ou the Plains was abandoned. After a successful pas- torate of five years Mr. Thompson died, Feb. 27, 1838, and was buried upon the Plains. He was a man of thorough culture and high character as a preacher, and left his impress upon both the church and the community. He was the father of A. P. Thompson, now of Port Jervis.

He was succeeded by Rev. W. G. Johnston, a Scotchman, who was installed pastor in 1839. He remained about two years. For two years following there was no pastor, until May 3, 1842, when Rev. Edward B. Edgar, who had accepted a call, was in- stalled. Under his labors the church assumed a higher position. Regular contributions to the great missionary enterprises were commenced; the inter- New Jersey, became pastor. Heremained four years, , ests of the Sabbath-school were advanced; the church grew stronger in piety and influence. Thirty- six persons were added to the membership during his pastorate of eight years. Amid the general regrets of the people, Mr. Edgar left early in 1850 to become pastor of the church in Westfield, N. J., where for twenty-two years he labored successfully. He is now living without charge at Plainfield, N. J.

His immediate successor was the present pastor, Rev. Luther Littell, who came to the congregation a young man, direct from the theological seminary at Princeton. He was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of Hudson, Sept. 25, 1850. During the thirty years of this pastorate there have been five seasons of special religions interest, resulting in additions to the church varying from 10 to 60 persons. The Sabbath-school grew to more than double its former number, and the yearly con- tributions to religious and benevolent objects were much increased. In these years, at various times, the congregation has expended over $1500 in renovating their house of worship. On May 2, 1864, by act of the Legislature, the corporate name of the church was changed from the "First Presbyterian Church of Deerpark" to the "First Presbyterian Church of Mount Hope." Such change seemed desirable, as, by changes in the towns, the church had long been miles away from the boundaries of the town of Deerpark. Also, in the spring of 1867, by order of the court, the recent parsonage premises were sold, and a more con- venient and spacious house, with four acres of land, lying near the church in the village, was purchased at an additional cost to the congregation of $1000. During this period of thirty years there have been 229 additions to the church. But, as in all our rural churches during these years, there has been a heavy drain upon the membership of this church by death

514

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and removal of families to railway villages, so that the membership of 160 a few years since has now de- clined to 120. During the last two pastorates the fol- lowing persons were chosen to the eldership, viz .: John K. Davis, Barna Horton, Robert Thorn, Joshua Corwin, Daniel T. Boyd, A. W. Mapes, J. W. Can- field. Some of these persons are deceased, others have removed to other churches. At present the officers are as follows: Pastor, Rev. Luther Littell ; Elders, John K. Davis, Daniel T. Boyd, Alsop W. Mapes ; Trustees, Charles Mapes, John Borland, Danl. T. Boyd, Theodore Moore, Isaac E. Keteham .*

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CIIURCH OF OTIS- VILLE

executed a certificate of incorporation Aug. 7, 1848. The proceedings were signed by Richard Van Horn and Ferdinand Seybolt. The trustees chosen were Ferdinand Seybolt, Russel R. Smith, John K. Sey- bolt, Algernon S. Dodge, and Samuel K. Wheat. The meeting was at the house of Ferdinand Seybolt, there being then no house of worship. The society subsequently erected a comfortable church edifice, and has maintained services steadily since that time.

The more active founders of the church were Jo- seph Ketcham, Mrs. Dr. Cook, Mrs. Sidney Dodge, Mrs. Smith Loomis, William A. Brown, Elisha Hol- sapple, and others. Early ministers, preaching here before the house was built, were Rev. Mr. Reed and Rey. Mr. Vandewater. Rev. Fletcher Loomis was here when the house was erected. The present organization (November, 1880) consists of Rev. R. B. Lockwood, pastor; W. F. Dewitt, local preacher and class-leader ; O. B. Tyrrell, Wm. Wood, Harrison King, J. Vanduser, Samuel K. Wheat; Trustees, Charles T. Wheat, James Cranse, O. B. Tyrrell, John D. King, Wm. Wood. Mr. Dewitt has been in the ministry about forty years, and has resided here twenty-five years, doing a large amount of Christian work in connection with this church.

THE FINCIIVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was duly incorporated July 3, 1850. The certificate was signed by Walter Chamberlain and Samuel S. Ketcham. The trustees named therein were Fer- dinand Seybolt, Samuel S. Ketcham, Jasper N. Writer, Joseph Ketcham, Channcey L. Ketcham. This church was located in the south part of the town, and maintained services for some years. After the congregation became too small to support a

society at that point it was dissolved, the property sold, and the members mostly attend at Otisville.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OTISVILLE

effected a legal organization June 27, 1855. The pro- ceedings were signed by Daniel G. Beyea and Ben- jamin W. Dunning. The trustees named in the cer- tificate were William A. Gerow, A. Sidney Dodge, Dr. Avery Cook, John Mulock, James McBride, Daniel G. Beyea, and John N. Dunning.

The church was organized March 24, 1855, by a committee of the Presbytery of Hudson, consisting of Messrs. Daniel T. Wood, pastor of the Presbyte- rian Church in Middletown; O. M. Johnston, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Denton ; and Augus- tus Seward, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Port Jervis, together with George M. Newman and Moses Sawyer, elders in the Denton Church. The following persons united with the church at its organization, namely : Mrs. Pamela Cook, wife of Dr. Cook; Mrs. Sarah Ann Dodge, wife of A. S. Dodge, Esq .; Mrs. Kezia Dunning, wife of B. W. Dunning, Esq .; Mrs. Sophia Gerow, wife of Wm. A. Gerow, Esq .; Mrs. Esther E. McBride, wife of James McBride, Esq. ; Mrs. Frances Loomis, wife of Ephraim S. Loomis, Esq .; Mrs. Charlotte Beyea, wife of Daniel G. Beyea, | Esq., who presented letters of their membership in good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church of the place, together with Benjamin W. Dunning, who made profession of faith. These eight persons con- stituted the First Presbyterian Church in Otisville.

The first elder elected was Benjamin W. Dunning. On April 18th following the church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Hudson.

A suitable house of worship was erected at a cost of over $5000, on a lot given for the purpose by Eph- raim S. Loomis, Esq., on the west corner of Orchard and Main Streets. The building was completed, and Sept. 24, 1856, was dedicated to God for public wor- ship.

The congregation had much to contend with during the first years of its history. A heavy debt rested upon it, the membership was small, it had no pastor to feed the flock, yet it increased steadily, and bravely met every discouragement until March, 1858, when Rev. Moses H. Wilder was invited to supply the pul- pit for one year. During the next twelve months the Rev. Wm. W. Page supplied the pulpit also with ability. In December, 1862, the Rev. Wm. R. S. Betts accepted a call to become the pastor of the church ; this office he discharged faithfully for three years, resigning April 18, 1865. Two years afterwards Rev. F. W. Farries was invited to preach as a supply for one year, at the end of which time he was called to be the pastor, which relationship continued until Feb. 1, 1871, when the pastoral relation was dissolved amid much regret of the congregation. Rev. R. H. Craig was then called to the pastorate of the church, May 1, 1871, which relationship is still maintained

* Upon the church history given above it should be remarked that the pastor appears to trace the same church organization that is given in part in the account ot Howell's Congregational Church. (See Wallkill.) It seems that both claim the same origin, and that each is the legitimate successor of the one church of 1782. The old book, still preserved at Howell's, bears unmistakable evidence that the organization was Congre- gational at the outset, though it might have been somewhat Presbyte- rianized at a later period. There seems no better way than to let the two accounts stand as they are prepared. If they are in any respect con- flicting, that very fact may lead both to the exact truth in the case.

515

MOUNT HOPE.

by an affectionate people and a devoted pastor. A debt of $1500 resting on the church building was liquidated Jan. I, 1870, and in 1874 the laudable en- terprise of erecting a parsonage was entered upon with much zeal by the congregation. It was com- pleted at a cost of $3000, and occupied in the follow- ing year, but with a debt of $1200 remaining. At the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church this debt was all paid, the entire congregation subscribing liberally, even the children of the Sab- bath-school being glad to take a part in the work.

Among the good friends of the church who have passed away stood the late Ephraim S. Loomis, Wm. A. Gerow, and S. A. Dodge.

The elders of the church at present are J. K. Aus- tin, D. G. Beyea, A. L. Corwin, H. Willis, G. Beebe, and S. N. Gerow.

Two revivals of religion have taken place during the history of the church, one under the pastorate of Rev. F. W. Farries, in connection with the efforts of the evangelist, Mr. Parker, when about thirty persons united, chiefly on profession of faith ; and the other in 1876, when the present pastor, Rev. R. H. Craig, received thirty-nine, nearly all on profession of faith.

A prosperous Sabbath-school is maintained in the church, taught by devoted teachers; the society is free of debt; the people are united ; and altogether there is much to be hoped for in regard to the Presby- terian Church of Otisville.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF OTISVILLE,

a fine brick edifice, plain but substantial, was erected a few years since. It is not, however, an independent charge, but is connected to that of Mid- dletown, and the priests from that congregation offi- ciate at Otisville. The society, with wise forethought, secured a spacious lot just beyond the village, and have devoted a part of it to burial purposes. Quite a number of fine monuments have been erected. With their usual energy, the Catholic pastors will doubtless continue to improve these grounds and render them worthy of the sacred objects to which they are de- voted. Father Brennan, of Port Jervis, began the work here, and the church was built about 1867. It will seat about 400. Fathers Riley, Gorman, and Claney, of Middletown, have officiated here. A large Sunday-school has been steadily maintained. James Shields is an active layman, steadily looking after the interests of the church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 126

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336