History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 131

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 131

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The lecture-room is a wing built on to the campanile, and is designed for the use of the Snudsy-school and prayer-meeting. It is a very hand- some room, beautifully frescoed overhead, sud lisving very tasty win- dows, and trefvil dormer-windows. This room will sest sbout 200 per- sons. The campanile is a tower about 70 feet high, standing between the main edifice and the wing, and serves admirably to harmonize' and add to the effect of the front or side view of the whole structure.

At the rear of the main body of the church there are two turrets with louvre windows, and over the large triplet window is a circular window. With the foregoing description and the following table of measurements, a pretty fair idea of the size and style of the edifice may be formed : Extreme frontage, 114 feet; depth, 105 feet; width, 62 feet; height of main gable, 63 feet ; area of campanile, 15 by 15; lecture-room, 46 by 30; height of lecture-room gable, 34 feet; windows, 21 by 6 feet; 149 pews on main floor ; 48 pews in gallery; 46 pews in lecture-room ; 4000 cubic yards of masonry ; there were 16,070 days' work done here, besides considerable which was done abroad.

The architect was Daniel T. Atwood, of New York City.

The dedicatory services were held Nov. 22, 1871. The sermon on the occasion, by Dr. Snodgrass, was from the text, " Aud I saw no temple therein."

This beautiful edifice, thus completed and dedi- cated, has had an unfortunate history in one respect. The handsome tower, which was of neat and grace- ful proportions, proved defective, and in a few years it was found necessary to take it down rather thau incur the danger of its fall. This was done, and its rnins lie upon and disfigure the otherwise fine grounds.

A movement to rebuild the tower has been made the present year. The sum of $9000 has been sub- scribed, materials are being drawn (December, 1880),

and the work will doubtless be completed early in the ensuing year.

The present organization (1880) consists of the fol- lowing officers : Rev. Wm. D. Snodgrass, pastor; Rev. Arthur Newman, assistant pastor ; A. H. Sinsabaugh, George Crans, Adam Crans, John Valentine, Dr. H. H. Robinson, Daniel Carpenter, James Gabby, Charles G. Elliott, elders; Stephen Smith, Nathaniel Tuthill, N. C. Sanford, Charles E. Millspaugh, J. W. Corwin, N. J. Kelsey, B. R. Champion, R. C. Coleman, John Wallace, trustees.

GOSHEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

It is said that the first Sabbath-school in Orange County was held in the old Female Seminary at Goshen. It was intended for the improvement of slave ehildren, and besides reciting Bible and cate- chism lessons, reading and writing were taught. The school prospered, and finally white children attended it, and the school was removed to the Presbyterian church. This was in the early days of the Rev. Dr. Fisk's preaching.

REV. BENJAMIN SNODGRASS ( father of Rev. W. D. Snodgrass) was born in Doylestown, Pa .; gradua- ted at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and studied divinity under Rev. Dr. Sproat, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. He settled in West Hanover, Dauphin Co., Pa., in 1784,

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

where he remained pastor of the church until his death, which occurred in 1846.

His wife, Martha Davis, of Philadelphia (the mother of Rev. W. D. Snodgrass), was a successful helpmeet of her husband in matters pertaining. to his pastoral work. She had six children who survived the period of infancy. One of the daughters became the wife of a clergyman, and another became the mother of three ministers, one of whom was the Rev. Ashbel Green Simonton, who went as missionary to Brazil, was the founder of the first Presbyterian Church in Rio Janeiro, and died in early life, greatly lamented by the church generally.

The subject of this sketch was the youngest but one of the six children, and was born on June 30, 1796. His parents bestowed upon him much care and solic- itude in regard to his mental training, and as a result he resolved to devote himself to the service of Christ in the work of the gospel ministry. With this view he remained in his father's family, attending a select school in the neighborhood, where the usual branches of an English education were taught. At the age of fourteen he began the study of Greek and Latin, un- der the tuition of the Rev. James Sharon, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Derry, Dauphin Co., Pa.

In the fall of 1812 he entered the sophomore class in Washington College, Pa., graduated in 1815, receiv- ing the first honors of his class ; studied Hebrew under the tuition of Rev. James R. Wilson, then of Philadelphia ; entered the theological seminary at Princeton in the summer of 1816, passing through the entire course of study, and in the fall of 1818 ap- peared before the Presbytery of Carlisle, and entered on the usual trials for licensure to preach the gospel. After leaving the seminary he filled an appointment from the Young Men's Missionary Society of New York for the period of six months, in the section of country lying south of the James River, and between Norfolk and Petersburg, Va.

At the request of Dr. Alexander, visited the Pres- byterian Church at Fayetteville, N. C., afterwards re- ceiving a call to be its pastor; was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry ; installed pastor by the Presbytery of Fayetteville July 30, 1819.

During the winter of 1822 received a call to the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Ga. (Rev. Dr. Kollock's, deceased.) Filled this pulpit until the summer of 1823, when he received a call from the Session of the Murray Street Church, New York (Rev. Dr. Mason). Arrived in New York Au- gust, 1823, and was installed pastor by the Presbytery of New York the same year.

Married, Dec. 9, 1823, to Miss Charlotte H. Moder- well, of Lancaster, Pa., a niece of William Kirkpat- rick, of the same place, who was an elder of the Pres- byterian Church, who had superintended her educa- tion in the seminary under the care of Mr. Judson, in Philadelphia, and who was an active and liberal friend to all Christian institutions and interests.

The above pastorate continued for about ten years, during which time (in the year 1826) the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Colnm- bia College. After leaving the Murray Street Church, he was elected and served as assistant secretary of the Board of Domestic Missions for the period of about two years, the field of labor being in the States of New York and New Jersey ; after which was called to the pastorate of the Second Street Presbyterian Church, in Troy, and installed as its pastor Oct. 3, 1834, for the period of abont ten years. In the spring of 1844 called to found the new church built by Mr. James Lennox, in Fifteenth Street between Irving Place and Third Avenue; installed its pastor March 15, 1845, laboring in building up this (then) waste place for tive years, besides serving as a member of the Exec- utive Committee of the Board of Foreign Missions.

Received a call in the summer of 1849 to the Pres- byterian Church in Goshen, N. Y., made vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Robert McCartee, D.D .; pastoral relation with the church in New York dis- solved by Presbytery Oct. 8, 1849; installed by the Presbytery of Hudson on the 7th day of November, 1849, preaching his inauguration sermon on the en- suing Sabbath. From the date of the beginning of this pastorate up to the present time has faithfully fulfilled all of its requirements, passing through scenes of the Spirit's quickening power, dedicating a new church, celebrating his golden wedding, witness- ing the leveling and raising of the church steeple, and at a green old age of eighty-five fulfilling ac- ceptably with an assistant all the duties and require- ments of a full pastorate, and patiently waiting for that last summons to "go up higher."

His grandfather, James Snodgrass, whose parents came from the north of Ireland about 1700, settled in Doylestown, Bucks Co., Pa. There his father, James Snodgrass, was born in 1761.

ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF GOSHEN

effected a legal organization March 27, 1801. Rev. Frederick Van Horne, rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew's, presided at the meeting, and the fol- lowing officers were chosen, whose names appear in the certificate: William Wiekham and William Thomp- son, wardens; Christian Hurtin, Anthony Dobbin, Jacobus DeKay, Joseph Drake, George D. Wick- ham, Thomas DeKay, William M. Thompson, Dr. John Gale, vestrymen. In the absence of any statis- tics from the officers, we have obtained the following items from Mrs. Charles T. Jackson. The succession of pastors includes the names of Rev. Messrs. Smith, Cadle, Hubbard, Kingsbury, John F. Clark, James Mallaby, Jesse H. Spencer, Wm. Page, John T. Cush- ing, Stephen Thrall, Jolin Robinson, Albert Wood, Edmond S. Rowland, and the present pastor, Rev. Wm. Delancey Grannis.

The first house of worship was a plain wooden building, erected soon after the formation of the

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church. It stood upon the site occupied by the hand- some edifice in which the society now worship. The latter was erected in 1852-53, and Rev. Mr. Cushing, the pastor under whose leadership the work was com- pleted, preached the dedicatory sermon. The contrac- tor was Mr. Brown, of Florida, and it is understood that the expense was about $15,000. A few years since a chapel was added to the church, conveniently arranged for Sunday-school and for miscellaneous purposes. The church also have a rectory, consti- tuting a handsome and convenient residence for the pastor, which cost nearly $7000.

The interior of the church is handsomely furnished. A new organ has recently been placed in it, and all the appointments are in keeping with the sacredness of the place and the ritual of the church. Upon the walls there is a very handsome tablet to the memory of Mr. George D. Wickham, for a long time warden of the church, and one to his wife, Bridget Wickham, erected hy their nephew and heir, Charles B. Hoffman, son of Ogden Hoffman, Esq. There is also a tablet to the memory of Henry B. Wisner, who was for many years a warden of the church. The rich com- munion set of solid silver was presented by Martha, daughter of Henry B. Wisner, as a memorial of her sister, Alma Wisner.

The church has a vested fund of about $4000, donated by the will of Mr. Wickham, the interest of which is used towards the support of the rector.

The present organization (December, 1880) con- sists of Rev. W. D. Grannis, pastor; George C. Mil- ler, warden (the senior warden, Mr. John J. Smith, has recently died, and the vacancy has not been filled ); J. F. Matthews, Wm. T. Russell, William M. Sayer, Henry C. Duryea, David F. Gedney, A. S. Murray, Herbert Gedney, vestrymen; J. W. Gott, Sunday- school superintendent.

The church has no debt, owning its valuable prop- erty free of all incumbrance.

Mr. Charles T. Jackson was very active in support of this church, a heavy and regular contributor, and a warden for over thirty years.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF GOSHEN.

In 1776 there was but one church in the town of Goshen, worshiping in a small, unfinished building, without steeple, standing near the location of the present court-house, and occupied, according to a former grant of lands for that purpose. The majority being Presbyterians, the service was conducted ac- cording to their forms and by the officers of their de- nomination. Their pastor at this date was the Rev. Nathan Kerr, who lived two miles northeast of the village, where he owned a house and seven acres of land, and had the use of the church lands, consisting

gave some offense in administering discipline, or in general management, and the Episcopalians formed a parish of their own. About this time William Sey- mour (a slave) was converted under the preaching of Rev. John Robertson, of the New Windsor Circuit, and joined a class at Craigville, where he attended preaching, prayer- and class-meetings. He was a zealous worker, full of the Holy Spirit, and was after- wards licensed to preach. He died in Oxford, Octo- ber, 1846, leaving a good record of a useful life. About 1810 James Cunningham bought a house in Goshen village, on what is now Greenwich Street, and here, in company with Mr. Seymour and a few others, kept up regular prayer- and class-meetings for a few years, when Mr. Cunningham sold out and left the place.

In 1811, William Goldsmith, from the old Bethel Methodist Church, built a house two miles north of Goshen village, and as soon as it was inclosed invited the ministers of New Windsor Circuit to make it a regular appointment, which they did for some years. In the absence of a minister, Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Sey- mour, Isaac Denton, of Ridgebury, Smith Benedict and James Manny, of Phillipsburgh, and some others, kept up interesting prayer- and class-meetings. In the mean time Rev. Isaac Lewis left the Goshen Church, and Rev. Ezra Fisk succeeded. There were converts from time to time, through the etforts of the Methodist ministers and other workers. These for some years united with the old church of Goshen.

In 1822, Mr. Goldsmith seeing no prospect of estab- lishing a Methodist Church, applied for and received admission into the Goshen Church. He was accepted, not on a certificate nor on confession of faith, but as a Methodist. He there maintained an excellent stand- ing for a half-century under the Presbyterian minis- ters Fisk, J. R. Johnson, Robert McCartee, and for a quarter of a century under the preaching of his es- teemed friend, Rev. William D. Snodgrass. He died Feb. 14, 1877, aged ninety years. In 1823, Rev. John Kennedy, a Methodist minister, preached regularly in the school-house of the Goldsmith district. He, and others succeeding him, occasionally preached in the old stone court-house at the village during the next fifteen years, down to 1838, when Revs. Seymour Landon and Thomas Newman preached regularly Sunday evenings at the same place.

After the old court-house was taken down there was no convenient place for meetings. In 1844 some one hired the ball-room in the old Orange County Hotel, and preachers from Sugar Loaf Circuit-Rev. Messrs. Runnels, Van Duzen, and Blakesley-preached there. The room was uncomfortable, and meetings had to be discontinued at the approach of cold weather.

Permission was, however, obtained to use an unoceu- pied building in the churchyard, known as the Goshen Female Academy. Here services were maintained

In 1845 application was made for the use of the of about 160 acres. A parsonage was commenced for | old Farmers' Hall Academy, but it was not granted. him in this village about 1802, in which he died two years later, 1804. The Rev. Isaac Lewis was his suc- cessor. During his pastorate the officers of the church

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

by Rev. Edward Oldren, C. H. Dibble, and John P. mentioned as occurring in 1873. There have been Hermance regularly each Sunday evening.

At the meeting of the New York Conference of 1847, Rev. Charles Isham was appointed to take charge of the work at Goshen. A church organiza- tion was completed July 26, 1847. The trustees chosen were Matthew Koons, Oliver B. Tuthill, Wil- liam McCoy, Sr., Samuel Beyea, Charles W. Reevs. William McCoy, Sr., was made chairman, O. B. Tut- hill treasurer, and C. Il, Reevs elerk.

The site for a house of worship was purchased of the widow of George D. Wickham, Nov. 22, 1847, I chosen were George W. Ilarding, Robert Thorne, and Ebenezer Green.

90 by 100 feet, for $100. The editice cost $2769.14. At the dedication a balance of $254.57 which was unprovided for was promptly raised, and the society began its labors in the new house out of debt. The dedication was Aug. 30, 1848. The money for the erection of the church was quite largely raised in small sums, there being about two hundred subserip- tions of one dollar or less. There were a few sub- scriptions of large amount,-O. B. Tuthill, $135; Asa D. Jansen, $35; M. Koons, $51; A. S. Murray, $25.

The early members of the church are shown by the class record of 18-48,-Oliver B. Tuthill,* leader; El- mira Tuthill, William O'Neal, Asenath O'Neal,* John Conklin, Phebe M. Conklin, Hannah Case,* Samuel J. Purdy,* Simeon Goldsmith,* Matthew Koons, Jane Koons, James McCoy, Lydia J. Meafoy,* David E. Case,* Cynthia Caldwell,* Sarah Beyea, William L. Langrege," Mary Langrege, Nicholas Messenger,* Martha Odell, Mary Fullerton, Catha- rine Little.

The successive ministers have been as follows, the appointments being for the spring of each year named :

1848, Rev. Charles Isham ; 1849-50, Rev. Henry Lonnsbury; 1851-52, Rev. O. V. Ammerninn; 1853-54, Rev. Peter C. Oakley ; 1855, Rev. George E. Kerr; 1856-57, Rev. Wm. Blake; 1858-59, Rev. Thomas B. Smith ; 1860-61, Rev. Wm. Ostrander ; 1862, Rev. Matthew Van Duzen ; 1863-64, Rev. Thomas W. Currey; 1865-66, Rev. Elias E. Osborn; 1867-68, Rev. J. W. B. Wood; 1869, Rev. J. Chester Hoyt; 1870-72, Rev. Z. N. Lewis; 1873-75, Rev. Ezru Tinker; 1876-77, Rev. D. H. Hannalmurgh ; 1878-80, Rev. J. W. Selleck.

The present oflieers (December, 1880) are : Pastor, Rev. J. W. Selleck ; Leaders, Oliver B. Tuthill, Henry B. Montanye; Stewards, Wm. A. McCoy, C. E. Wright, Wm. H. Snyder, J. W. Dayton, Wm. V. Ray, S. F. Barnes, T. T. Hetfield, N. C. Coleman, M. (. Lewis ; Trustees, F. II. Reevs, Wm. V. Ray, J. A. ITolbert, George MeEwen, O. B. Tuthill, T. T. Het- field, T. L. Kyte; Sunday-school superintendent, John W. Dayton; Assistant, Coe L. Reevs.

A noted revival may be mentioned as occurring in 1850, meetings being held from January 19th to the latter part of March. The movement was very ex- tensive, about 600 having been understood to obtain a hope, but many of them united with several surround- ing churches. Another very noted revival may be

several other years when considerable religious inter- est was manifested, and several new members were added to the church.

THE SEPARATE METHODIST CHURCH OF GOSHEN.

This body executed a certificate of incorporation June 29, 1849. The meeting was held at the old brick academy, so called, then being used as a district school-house. The proceedings were signed by George W. Harding and John W. Green. The trustees

The church was organized Dec. 20, 1847. At that time, or previous to that time, the colored people of Goshen had no church of their own, or no religious society of any kind. There were a few persons there at that time who were members of a white Methodist Church,-some three or four,-and there were about the same number belonging to the Presbyterian Church, but the remainder, numbering 150 or more, were not church-members or church-goers. Peter W. Brister, a member of the Colored Separate Methodist Congre- gational Church of Philadelphia, Pa., came to Goshen in the spring of 1847. He was a traveling missionary of the church mentioned above, and seeing the de- plorable condition that the colored people were in, and being aware that they had no church organiza- tion of their own, concluded to consult the ministers of the different white churches on the subject of call- ing the colored people together and establishing a Separate Methodist Congregational Church, He was advised by them to do so, they promising to use their influence and to do what they could to forward the enterprise. The names of these men are here men- tioned, so that it may be seen that the interest that they took in the welfare of the colored people in Goshen was not in vain, nor have their good deeds been forgotten. They were the Rev. Dr. McCartce, of the Presbyterian Church ; the Rev. J. T. Cnshen, of the St. James' Episcopal Church ; and the Rev. Chas. Isham, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Being thus encouraged, Brother Brister began to preach in the old briek academy on Greenwich Street, a little above where the post-office now is, and in December of the same year he organized a society of eight or nine members.

In the spring of 1848 the Rev. David James, of Philadelphia, came to Goshen, having previously preached and established several societies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. During his preaching in 1848 and 1849 nearly 40 persons were added to the society, and it was about this time he came to the conclusion that it was best to purchase a lot and build a church, and for this purpose the congregation was duly called together in the summer of 1849, a board of trustees chosen, and a lot purchased with a build- ing on it, on what is now called High Street, for the sum of $300. Subscriptions were made out, and col-

* Still living.

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lectors appointed to raise the funds in the surround- ing neighborhood to purchase the house and ground. Those clergymen of the white churches previously mentioned each signed their names to the subscrip-, cent years, the striking of human remains the present tion. Among those who were appointed to collect year in the excavations near the county clerk's office, and many other incidents, all tell a story of lost graves, lost names, and lost dates. for that purpose were Rev. J. W. Green, G. W. Har- den, Joshna Swartout, Sylvester Jervis, and others. By this means the house and lot were soon purchased, and dedicated to the service of Christ in the spring of SLATE HILL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION 1850. Such was the beginning of the Separate Meth- odist Congregational Church in Goshen.

Rev. J. W. Green is the present pastor (December, 1880). Services have been steadily maintained from the date of organization to the present time.

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCHI OF GOSHEN

was organized a few years subsequent to the Separate Methodist Church. They erected a house of worship on West Main Street, and maintain regular services. Rev. Mr. Prime is now the minister in charge.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF GOSHEN.

This church has been in existence in Goshen for many years, and is understood to be doing a vigor- ous work. It has a comfortable house of worship, in which a large congregation gather for the services of the Sabbath. The pastoral residence is a handsome and costly edifice, standing on one of the finest streets in Goshen, and from which most delightful views ex- tend in every direction. The pastor is fortunate in the possession of this pleasant dwelling. Other charges have from time to time been connected with Goshen, and the village has been the centre from which much Catholic influence has extended to other parts of the county. The present pastor, Father Keoghan, is in the prime of active life, devoted to his calling, and administers the affairs of the parish with great ability and success. For some reason which we do not understand, there is an apparent reluctance to furnish information by pastors of this denomination, a fact which will sufficiently account for the absence of more extended histories in this as well as in other instances.

VIII .- BURIAL-PLACES.

The earliest burial-place in Goshen was doubtless upon what are now the public grounds around the Presbyterian church, the clerk's office of the county, and the Minisink monument.

There may have been sufficient reasons for the ob- literation of this old historic graveyard, but they hardly satisfy the descendants of those whose remains were buried there, and whose monuments, even if they were rude, bore undoubtedly some dates and names that were inevitably lost in the wholesale destruction. It is sometimes claimed that all the stones with names were removed to Slate Hill or otherwise saved, but this can hardly be possible, when three or four still

lie around the church, and none are at Slate Hill of such age as must have stood in this yard, laid out in 1721. The finding of a Townsend monument in re-

was incorporated Oct. 8, 1861. The chairman of the meeting held to organize was Simon Bradley, and the secretary Samuel S. Wickham. The trustees named in the certificate were James F. Dolsen, Benjamin W. Bradley, Alva Bennett, Daniel Reeve, Theophilus Dolsen, William M. Dolsen. Owing to some alleged informality in the proceedings of 1861, or for other reasons, a new organization took place at a meeting held in the Presbyterian church, April 19, 1867. John S. Crane was appointed chairman and George M. Grier secretary. The trustees named were Thomas Edsall, G. M. Grier, Ellis A. Post, Henry Merriam, John J. Ileard, S. L. H. Jackson. The proceedings were verified by the officers before Charles J. Everett, notary public, April 27th, and recorded the same day. This was simply organizing under the modern law for the control and manage- ment of the Slate Hill burial-ground, which had been in use from about the year 1795. The older portion is on the higher ground at the further end from the road. The newer portions, down the hill and next the street, are laid out with some view to landscape adornment, though but little attention is given to mowing and trimming the lots. It is evident that there are also very many unmarked graves. In some parts the rows of mounds lie thick, with neither name nor date.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 131

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