History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 145

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 145

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For several years after this the congregation had no settled minister, but were dependent for their preaching on occasional supplies furnished by the Presbytery of Hudson, and on missionaries from the Presbytery of New York and other traveling preach- ers.

due time accepted, and his ordination and installa- tion were fixed for Oct. 4, 1809.

Measures were now immediately taken for the or- ganization of a church. A meeting of the congrega- tion was held Aug. 22, 1809, at which a committee was appointed to prepare a petition to the Presbytery of Hudson, expressing their desire to have a church organized. This petition was signed by the follow- ing persons, professors of religion, living within the bounds of the congregation, viz. : Daniel C. Hopkins, Jesse Shepard, James Onderdonk, Robert Ferrier, Israel Owen, Nathaniel Roe, William Adams, Su- sanna Burr, Abby Smith, Lydia Rowley, Sally Long- well, Abigail Knapp, Phebe Carpenter, Hannah Smith, Eunice Onderdonk, Aletta Edsall, and Anna Nanny. In compliance with this petition, a meeting of the congregation was called for Sept. 15, 1809, when a church was duly organized by a committee of Presbytery, consisting of Rev. Isaac Lewis, of Goshen, and Rev. Charles Cummins, of Florida.

The new church was composed of the following members: Jesse Shepard, James Onderdonk, Israel Owen, Robert Ferrier, Eunice Onderdonk, Eunice Brown, Susanna Burr, Lydia Rowley, Aletta Edsall, Anna Nanny, Sally Longwell, Nathaniel Roe, Abi- gail Knapp, Phebe Carpenter, Hannah Smith, Phebe A. Coleman. The election of elders was deferred to a future mecting, which was held September 25th,

After Mr. Hopkins' departure from Amity the church remained vacant until June 19, 1819, when Rev. William Timlow, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Hudson, was ordained and installed pastor. This relation continued for the long term of thirty-nine years, when, on account of the failure of his health, Mr. Timlow felt constrained to seck a release from his pastoral labors. In compliance with his request the Presbytery dismissed him from his charge April 21, 1858. After a few months his health was in a measure restored, and he continued for twelve years longer to preach the gospel as he had opportunity, -supplying vacant churches,-and most cheerfully rendering assistance to his ministerial brethren when they sought his aid. After his retirement from the pastorate he continued to reside at Amity, among the people whom he had so long served in the gospel. His last public service was hut three weeks before his

In 1807 the Rev. Benjamin Prime was engaged as a supply for half the time for one year. After the expiration of Mr. Prime's term of service the con- gregation were dependent on occasional supplies until the spring of 1809, when the Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, came among them. The congregation soon gave Mr. Hopkins a call to become their pastor, which he in death, when he officiated at the funeral of an aged

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friend, whom he had baptized and received into the church at the first communion season after his in- stallation as pastor, some fifty years before.

During his pastorate, viz., in the summer of 1828, the second house of worship was built. The size of | Three of the pastors of the church were present, with

this building was 40 feet by 60 feet, and cost about $2000. It was dedicated to the worship of God Dec. 4, 1828, on which occasion a sermon was preached by the pastor from Psalm lxxxiv. 1. Mr. Timlow died at Amity, Dec. 30, 1870, after a week's illness, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. Soon after the resig- nation of Rev. Mr. Timlow the church gave a call to Rev. Edsall Ferrier to become their pastor. Mr. Fer- rier was born within the bonnds of the congregation. His parents were members of the church, and his grandfather had been an elder. He accepted the call, and in a few weeks began his labors among the people. Hle was ordained and installed by the Pres- bytery of Hudson Sept. 28, 1858, Rev. Daniel Hig- bee, then of Washingtonville, preaching the sermon. This relation continued until April 18, 1860, when it was dissolved by the Presbytery in order that Mr. Ferrier might accept a call from the Second Presby- terian Church of Florida, N. Y. Mr. Ferrier is now, and has been for several years, pastor of the Presby- terian Church at Mauch Chunk, Pa.

After Mr. Ferrier's departure the pulpit was filled by temporary supplies until the following October, when Rev. Henry J. Acker, who had been for some time in charge of the Congregational Church at Greenport, L. I., was engaged as stated supply. After a few months the church gave him a call to become their pastor. His installation took place April 3, 1861, Rev. Augustus Seward, of Middletown, preach- ing the sermon. In November, 1863, Mr. Acker hav- ing been drafted, and deelining the offer of friends to furnish him a substitute, entered the army as a chap- lain. His church, hoping that the war would soon close, declined to accept his resignation and gave him leave of absence for a year. At the expiration of the year he again tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and he was released from his charge by the Presbytery Jan. 31, 1865. After a few months he be- came pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Valley, N. Y. He remained there until the autumn of 1872, when he removed to Brainard, N. Y., where he died Jan. 1, 1874, aged forty years.

Rev. Daniel O. Timlow, a son of Rev. William Tim- low, succeeded Mr. Acker as pastor at Amity. He was installed by the Presbytery of Hudson June 6, 1865. The relation then constituted still continues.

During the summer and autumn of 1868 the pres-

ing is 40 by 70 feet, and its cost, together with the furnishing, was about $12,000. Mr. Thomas E. Fer- rier, of Catskill, N. Y., formerly an elder, and a brother of a former pastor, presented the congrega- tion with a sweet-toned bell, weighing over one thou- sand pounds.

The dedication took place Jan. 28, 1869. The fol- lowing is a brief extract from an account published at | the time in the New York Evangelist : " At the service of dedication a crowded audience filled the house. many of the neighboring clergymen. The sermon was preached by Rev. Henry J. Acker, from Psalm lxxxv. 5: 'Of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her, and the Highest himself shall establish her .? ""

A form of dedication was read by the pastor, and the prayer made by his aged father, not, however, till the people, by bringing in their offerings, could give the house to God entirely free of debt.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH IN WARWICK (EPISCOPAL) was incorporated by a certificate executed April 6, 1804. Timothy DeKay and Richard Welling were chosen wardens; Elisha Du Bois, Thomas Welling, Belden Burt, John Welling, William Holland, Wil- liam Johnson, Charles Thompson, and Joseph Miller vestrymen. The above legal paper shows an attempt to establish an Episcopal Church in Warwick early in this century, and it doubtless embodies most of the names of those favorable to the enterprise. It is understood that the effort was not continued to any extent, nor is there any memorandum among the records of the present church concerning this early movement. At a much later period another attempt is shown by the following certificate incorporating

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WAR- WICK

Sept. 30, 1853. The proceedings were signed by W. II. Carter, Abraham L. Reynolds, and James D. Roe. The wardens chosen were Dr. A. L. Reynolds and Wil- liam H. Hoyt; the vestrymen, Milton MeEwen, Ezra Sanford, John Wheeler, Amherst Wisner, James Roe, John S. Pelser, Charles Morehouse, and William H. Demerest. The meeting was held at the Methodist church, in which the Episcopalians were then worship- ing. Before this date, and for a time subsequently, Episcopal services were regularly held in the Meth- odist church. A lot was purchased and trenches dug for the foundation of a church edifice. By the re- moval to other places of the principal men favoring the formation of a parish the movement was aban- doned, and nothing more was done until about the time mentioned in the following certificate.

CHRIST CHURCH OF WARWICK (EPISCOPAL)

executed a certificate of incorporation Dec. 1, 1862. The paper was signed by Rev. George T. Gray, rector, were Horace Porter and J. M. MeJimsey ; the vestry- men were John Bradner, Grinnell Bnrt, John Cowdrey, J. II. Houston, William H. Hoyt, Isaac Reeve, J. D. Roe, and Samuel C. Welling. At a subsequent meet- ing, December 6th, James D. Roe was chosen secre- tary and Horace Porter treasurer. The next entry in

ent church edifice was erected. The size of this build- ' Horace Porter, and Isaac Reeve. The wardens chosen

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the book shows that a committee was appointed Sept. 19, 1863, to select a suitable site on which to build a house of worship. The committee were Joseph M. MeJimsey, Grinnell Burt, and Samuel C. Welling. The rectorship of Rev. Mr. Gray continued for about a year and a half. His successor, Rev. N. T. Ludlum, was chosen rector July 23, 1864. During his pastorate further steps were taken towards the erection of a church, and either because of some supposed defect in the previous proceedings, or to make the title to the property about to be secured more certain and definite, another certificate of in- corporation was filed under date of Sept. 23, 1865. The paper was signed by Rev. Nicholas F. Lud- lum, rector, and by J. M. MeJimsey and Isaac Reeve. The last two were named as wardens and the follow- ing vestrymen were chosen : John M. Bradner, Grin- nell Burt, John Cowdrey, Henry C. Weir, John D. Miller, William H. Chardevoyne, Samuel H. Arnout, and William D. Irwin. The meeting was held at the Methodist church, the use of which was liberally granted by that society.

The Episcopal house of worship was erected in 1865 and 1866, as the records show a meeting of April 3, 1866, in the Methodist church, and one of Sept. 22, 1866, in the "church building." Its cost was about $7000, and it occupies a handsome site on the corner of South and Second Streets; a very fine and com- manding elevation. The pews were first rented from Jan. 1, 1867, the lessees being 36 in number.

Rev. Mr. Ludlum resigned the pastorate Jnly 1, 1868. A call was tendered to Rev. Charles E. McIl- vaine, Nov. 6, 1868, which was declined. May 1, 1869, Rev. Peter A. Jay was called to the rectorship, and commenced his labors soon after. His pastorate continued until March 20, 1872, when he resigned. A call was immediately tendered to Rev. William S. Early, which he accepted, and commenced his labors in Warwick soon after. He remained abont a year. Under date of May 9, 1873, a call was sent to Rev. Alfred Goldsborough, which was duly accepted. He removed to this place and began his parochial labors immediately. Ile resigned in 1880, his closing ser- vices being held on Easter Sabbath. His ministerial brethren of other denominations speak in warm com- mendation of his piety and his faithful presentation of the truth during his seven years' residence here.

The officers of the parish chosen in 1879, and whose successors have not been named, are H. C. Weir, S. B. Dolsen, wardens; Grinnell Burt, J. D. Miller, J. N. Houston, John Cowdrey, J. Carson, W. H. Char- devoyne, vestrymen; John Cowdrey, treasurer; W. . H. Chardevoyne, secretary.

The pulpit is now vacant, and services are sus- pended (October, 1880).

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, FLORIDA.

In the year 1831, at the solicitation of Justus Dill and others, the preachers of the New York Annual

Conference commenced preaching in the village of Florida, occupying the wagon-making shop of Justus Dill as a place of worship, April 15, 1832. P. Rice, preacher in charge of the circuit, anthorized H. Wing, his colleague, to form a class, which was com- posed of ten members,-Abram Odell and wife, M. G. Lewis and wife, James H. Wood, Justus and Eliza Dill, Walter Wood and wife Sarah, Oscar F. Whit- ney. Walter Wood acted as leader. The Presby- terians, who had been the sole occupants of the ground, opposed the work to some extent; but at the close of the year the class had increased to a member- ship of twenty.

Cyrus Silliman and Noble W. Thomas then ap- peared on the circnit, and held service every fortnight. The prayer-meetings were well attended, and finally compelled them to seek a permanent place. Accord- ingly the academy was secured, and for some time occupied as a place for preaching and prayer services.

In 1835, James Cover, Jr., Nathan Rice, and Thomas Edwards were the preachers on the circuit, followed the ensuing year by Thomas Newman, William Mil- ler, and S. S. Strong. This was a year of great pros- perity to the church. At the first Quarterly Meeting held at Edenville, in August, seven from Florida were converted.

A protracted meeting at the academy followed, and twenty more were received. Isaac Millspaugh and his brother, John H. Millspaugh, Sarah Goble, Han- nah Vanbrunt, Abram P. Miller, E. P. Seward, and Susan and Elizabeth Woodruff were among the number.

Rev. T. Newman, encouraged by the continued growth of the membership, proposed the building of an edifice. This met with hearty concurrence from the people, and on Jan. 16, 1837, legal notice having been given, the congregation elected as trustees for a Methodist Episcopal Church in Florida the following : Justus Dill, Jonathan Davy, Walter Wood, Edwin P. Seward, and Marenius G. Lewis. In spite of op- position and the dullness of the times, pledges were received to the amount of nearly $2000. A lot 100 feet front by 105 feet back, owned by John Curtis, was purchased by the trustees, and contracts were made with Justus Dill to build a church 40 by 50, with basement.

While the work was in progress the Sugar-Loaf Cir- cuit was newly organized, and contained the following appointments: Washingtonville, Monroe, Highland Mills, Sugar-Loaf, Florida, Edenville, Bellvale, Ox- ford, Little Pond, Mount Eve, Greenville, Long Pond, and Monroe Works. William Miller and Seymour Landon were assigned to this work. Wil- liam Miller resided in the place. The edifice was completed, and August 31st, was dedicated.

Rev. John Kennedy, of Newburgh, preached the dedicatory sermon. A series of extra meetings was held, and many added to the church.

The following preachers have filled the appoint-

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ment up to 1869, at which time the church was thor- this discussion. The church thus rent in twain in onghly repaired at an outlay of over $600. At the Florida was the united church of their fathers; the reunion W. P. Abbott preached,-Eli Denniston, Wil- church whose services once celebrated in the rudely- built meeting-house of primitive times had come down to them sacred with the precious memories of three generations. It was the church under whose teachings they had each formed their own strong opinions,-opinions of which Presbyterians have ever been stout defenders. liam M. Furguson, George C. Bancroft, John Rey- nolds, Matthew Vandusen, Isaac J. Divine, Edwin Oldren, Charles H. Dibble, J. P. Hermance, Henry Wright, Ira Ferris, William N. Nelson, M. Carrier ; Humphrey Humphreys, C. S. Brown, J. Millard, A. C. Fields, Benjamin Genung, A. W. Blakely, William H. Bloomer, George Dykeman, C. F. Pelton, James 11. Hawxhurst, Richard S. Amerman, Joel Croft, J. W. Jones, N. H. Bangs, Joseph Elliott, Uriah Messiter, R. S. Shurter, M. M. Curtis, P. C. Oakley, and Joseph H. Wood.

In 1870 pulpit supplied by Alexander Burriss ; 1871- Cummins, moderator, and Elders Daniel Poppino,

72, F. D. Abrams was appointed, and the church greatly prospered,-fifty-two uniting with the church ; 1873, F. Mason North followed with marked success, the debt being canceled this year; 1874, David H. Hanaburgh ; 1875, J. T. Hargraves; 1876, William H. Peters; 1877, Edward H. Royce ; 1878-79, P. P. Harrower; 1880, Frank T. Rogers.

Present Organization .- Rev. Frank T. Rogers, pastor; Trustees, Isaac Millspaugh, L. D. Adams, Harvey Green, Samuel Green, Oscar Roseneranse, William Fletcher, Charles Smith ; Stewards, Isaac Mills- paugh, Mrs. Mary M. Adams, Mrs. J. W. Bertholf; Chorister, Mr. M. Mapes ; Organist, Carrie E. Rosen- erans; Sexton, James Cronk. The pastor is the class-leader and Sunday-school superintendent.

Church membership, 54; Sunday-school, 1; mem- bership, 60; average attendance, 50; 12 officers and teachers ; church valued at $2000.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF FLORIDA executed a certificate of incorporation Feb. 6, 1844. The proceedings were signed by William Smith and William W. Taylor, elders. The trustees chosen were John J. Poppino, William Houston, Amzi A. Jessup, Daniel P. Onderdonk, Jonas Seely, Zebulon W. Smith. This was what, for convenience, became known as the Second Presbyterian Church, of which the following account is given :

The formation of a second Presbyterian Church in Florida was due in the first place to the general dis- ruption of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, resulting from the sharp theological discussions of the period 1830 to 1837. When two General As- semblies were formed out of the one previons organi- zation, the "excluded synods" fell naturally and withont much trouble into the New-School organiza- tion. In some quarters there arose, however, strong debate as to which body the allegiance of individual churches should be given. A majority of the then ex- isting church at Florida decided to adhere to the New- School Assembly. This compelled those who deemed it their duty to sustain the Old-School Assembly to form a new organization. This no doubt cost a strug- gle of feeling in the minds of those on both sides of

The second church was organized in 1839. Its first sessional records are dated in September of that year. William Smith was appointed a delegate to Presbytery. Under date of September 23d, at a meet- ing of Session, there were present Rev. Charles William Smith. Four additional elders were chosen about that time, namely, John Fox, William Taylor, Renald House, Amzi A. Jessup.

The records do not show what members then con- stituted the second church. Rev. Mr. Cummins, with Elders Poppino and Smith, joined the second or- ganization, and as they claimed to some extent to be the regular succession of the original church, they undoubtedly claimed nominally that the roll of church- members as it existed prior to the division all be- longed to them, acknowledging only as an existing fact that certain members were actually adhering to the first church. However this may be, the book of records does not give the names of the members who formed the second church in 1839.

The pastors of this church were as follows : Rev. Charles Cummins, who was the pastor from the or- ganization until 1849; Rev. W. A. Westcott, who ministered to the church from 1849 to February, 1860; Rev. Edsall Ferrier, whose services began May, · 1860, and continued until the fall of 1865; Rev. H. A. Harlow, who began his labors in the fall of 1866, and continued until the spring of 1872; Rev. Elijah Bur- nett, who preached from February, 1873, to the win- ter or spring of 1875; Rev. David McLeod, whose labors commenced in July, 1875.

Under his pastorate a movement to unite the two churches took place. The distinction between Old School and New having been done away in the general church, and the two Assemblies in the United States become one some years before, it was perhaps natural that an effort should be made to unite individual churches in places where two existed and the popu- lation did not seem to require two organizations of the same faith and order. The result proved that the movement was premature in Florida, but neverthe- less it was made. The formal union was consum- mated May 15, 1878, the petition to Presbytery having been presented April 16th. The effort proved unsat. isfactory, and it was soon discovered that the two so- cieties should each have gone on with their work as individual churches. To retrace these later steps was a work of difficulty. It was, however, done; the second church was again formed Sept. 29, 1879. Of this or-

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ganization Rev. S. D. Noyes became the acting pastor at the time of the reorganization, and remains in-that position at the present time (October, 1880). The elders are Walter Sayer, William L. Vail, George Fox, William T. Goble, Charles Jessup, and John Houston. The trustees are twelve in number; Wil- liam L. Vail is president of the board, Thomas J. Taylor clerk, and Samuel H. Thompson treasurer. Charles Jessup, superintendent of the Sunday-school. There is a library of 200 volumes. The society have a large and convenient house of worship, erected soon after the division of 1839. They also have a manse situated on Main Street near Conkling Avenue. In its present organization the society is but a little more than a year old, yet it has evidently entered upon its work with vigor and efficiency.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WAR- WICK VILLAGE

executed a certificate of incorporation June 4, 1849. The paper was signed by Jonathan S. Wood and James Green. The trustees chosen were Jonathan S. Wood, James Green, and Samuel Wilson.

This was the legal organization of a society that had existed for some years before that date. From 1830 to 1840 the Methodist preachers held occasional services in Warwick village. These early mectings were in private houses. In 1840 they held a series of revival meetings in a tent pitched near the ground where the Catholic church now stands. Many con- versions took place, and a strong impulse was given to Methodist work at that time. They were able im- mediately to erect a house of worship, which they thereafter occupied until 1867, when it was sold to the Catholics, and the new Methodist church was erected in another part of the village.

For a correct history of the early introduction of Methodism in Warwick, reference must be made to the General History (p. 134) in this volume, from which it appears that the first service was at the house of Col. David McCamley, in 1786. A class was organ- ized at Sugar-Loaf, at the house of Samnel Ketcham, in 1789. Henry Wisner was its leader in 1809, at which time there was also a class in Warwick, Cor- nelius Jones, leader, and one in Amity, James Ben- jamin, leader .* It was not until 1839, however, that a society was formally established. The pioneer of this later organization is said to have been Mr. John Ketchum, who came here about 1837. He lived in the house, still standing, opposite the site of the old Methodist church. About that time Rev. Seymour Landon opened new appointments in town. In War- wick village meetings were held in the tavern of Mr. Thomas Ward, in the old store-house that stood on or near the present site of J. H. Van Duzer's store.

The Ward tavern was on the site of the present Wa- wayanda House. The tent-meetings, already men- tioned, commenced on the 6th of September, 1840, and were conducted by Daniel Ostrander, presiding elder, and Eli Denniston, the preacher in charge, with his colleague, Sylvester S. Strong. They were continued until October 8th. A class was formed, of which Mr. Oscar B. Welling was appointed leader. There were only three in full membership,-Mr. Wel- ling and his wife, and Mary Case; with them were eighteen on probation. July 13, 1841, a meeting was held to take steps for building. Trustees were chosen and a resolution to procure incorporation adopted. It does not seem to have been recorded until 1849, as given at the beginning of this notice. The contract to build the house of worship was signed Jan. 29, 1842, the contractor being Warren S. Rumsey ; the price for the completed house being $1675. The buikling was known as the Wesleyan Chapel of War- wick, and was dedicated Dec. I, 1842, Rev. E. E. Gris- wold preaching the sermon. Thus the Methodist Church of Warwick was fairly established, and it has continued steadily on its appropriate work to the present time.

In 1864 the Sugar-Loaf Circuit was divided, and Warwick with Edenville constituted one charge, the Rev. D. D. Gillespie being the first preacher under the new arrangement. His successor was Rev. D. W. C. Van Gaasbeck, who came to Warwick in the spring of 1866. Under his pastorate the new church edifice on Main Street was built, at a cost of $18,000. It was dedicated March 5, 1869, sermons being. preached by Rev. R. L. Dashiell and Rev. C. D. Foss. About this time also the Edenville Church erected a new edifice at an expense of $5000, and it was dedicated March 10, 1870, Rev. J. B. Wakely and Rev. H. H. Birkins preaching on the occasion. At Warwick, the present parsonage on South Street was purchased a few years since for $4000, an earlier house having been sold for $1900. Camp-meetings in this vicinity have been held near "Aunt Fanny Lewis' spring," so called, on the Henry Benedict farm, and also near the "Houston Spring." A debt re- maining from all the various enterprises of about $5000 was raised in 1878, by a single day's work, a series of meetings being held at different houses. Well might a local writer say " this was a red-letter day in the history of this church." The present organization (October, 1880) comprises the following officers :

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 145

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