History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 165

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 165

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Duncan, and Morris W. Lee were elected elders of the Westtown congregation. Mr. Depew elosed his labors here April 17, 1838, and Rev. T. C. Holliday supplied the pulpit for a short time. At a meeting of the church and congregation held on Dee. 29, 1838, a portion of the members withdrew, with the moderator and clerk. Those who remained reorgan- ized, and authorized the Session to supply the pulpit.

At a congregational meeting held Sept. 5, 1839, at which William Johnson was appointed moderator, and John E. DuBois secretary, it was decided to ad- here to the General Assembly, Old School. Novem- 14, 1806, the contraet was awarded to Daniel Gale, 'ber 11th, David Christie, William Evans, and George Corwin were elected elders of the Old-School Church, , and were ordained by the Rev. Thomas Holliday. The elders of this church were then Jeremiah Reeves, William Evans, Morris W. Lee, David Christie, George Corwin, and Roswell Mead. In November, 1840, Rev. Ralph Bull began preaching at Westtown, and in January of the next year he was installed pastor of the church. June 11, 1843, John E. Dn Bois and Henry C. Halsey were ordained elders, and William H. Newkirk, M.D., having been ordained as a ruling elder at Unionville, was declared to be one of the members of the Session. Owing to the number of deaths and removals the Session was reduced to one elder, and on May 25, 1865, the con- gregation met and elected Benjamin S. Dolson a ruling elder, and on the following Sabbath he was ordained to that office. During Mr. Bull's pastorate, which closed in September, 1866, 65 persons were re- ceived into the church upon profession of their faith, and 43 by certificate from other churches.

Rev. Duncan C. Niven was installed pastor of the church May 21, 1867. During his connection with the church 90 persons were added upon profession of their faith. The church edifice was also rebuilt and enlarged at a total cost of $10,600. Mr. Niven's resignation was accepted Oct. 1, 1875.

The present pastor, Rev. L. T. Shuler, began his labor here Oct. 1, 1876. Since that time 46 have united with the church upon profession, and 13 by certificate. The total number of communicants is 164; the Sabbath-school membership, 95.

The officers are as follows: Elders, John E. Du- Bois, John Rutan, George S. Sayer, Albert A. Seymour, M.D .; Superintendent of Suuday-school, Thomas S. IFulse; Assistant Superintendent of Sun- day-school, Jonathan Sayer ; Librarian, Charles Lain ; Secretary, William H. Halsey.

There is a Ladies' Home and Foreign Missionary .

Society connected with the church, of which Mrs. M. L. Evans is president, and Miss Mary Louise King, secretary. Its meetings are held monthly. The regular church prayer-meeting, a young men's meeting, and a ladies' prayer-meeting constitute the regular week-day services. The parsonage and lot, which was donated in 1866 by the family of the late William Evans, is now valued at $1200.

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MINISINK.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF UNION- VILLE

effected a legal organization March 20, 1803. The proceedings were signed by Thomas Grier and Her- man Herrick. The meeting was held at "the common school-room of Unionville," and the trustees chosen were Richard Whitaker, Samuel Van Fleet, and James Clark. The sketch given below from the pas- tor of the church dates the organization from 1831, but the above record shows that in a legal sense movements for a separate organization from that of Westtown were much earlier. In 1853 there is also recorded a certificate under the title of the New-School Presbyterian Church of Unionville, containing the names of Benjamin Van Fleet, Peter C. Hanford, Henry D. Elmer, Marcus S. Hayne, and Asa Smith.

" A petition signed by sixty-seven members of the Presbyterian Church in Westtown, N. Y., requesting to be set off from said church with a view of being organized into a Presbyterian Church at Unionville, N. Y., was presented to the Presbytery of Iludson by Joseph A. Bonnell, Sept. 14, 1831. Whereupon Pres- bytery granted said petition, and appointed a com- mittee consisting of Rev. Messrs. Timlow, Cummins, and Wood, who organized a church at Unionville Sept. 20. 1831, composed of the following persons : Samuel Van Fleet, Sarah Van Fleet, Richard Whit- aker, Jane Van Fleet, James Van Fleet, Mary Van Fleet, Hannah Pierson, Berny Middaugh, Sarah Mid- daugh, Leonard Middaugh, Moses D. Rogers, Mary Clark, Susan Whitaker, Deborah Smith, Phebe M. Smith, Jacob Whitaker, Martha Whitaker, Samuel V. Myers, Stephen G. Smith, Daniel Myers, Julia Myers, Hannah Myers, Catherine Myers, William O. Smith, Isaialı Clark, Samuel Van Fleet, Jr., Belinda Van Fleet, Jane V. Pierson, Elizabeth M. Pierson, Elizabeth Pierson, Joseph A. Bonnell, Joanna Bon- nell, Timothy Scidmore, Alfred Bullock, Hannah Bullock, Theophilus H. Pierson, Mary Austin, Elijah Middaugh, Anna Scidmore, Nancy Watkins, Eliza- beth Kimber, Caty Kimber, Jane Shepherd, Eliza Jane Shepherd, Lewis Whitaker, Phebe Whitaker, John Whitaker, Samuel Clark, James Clark, Catha- rine Clark, Abraham Clark, Frances D. Clark, Jane Miller, John C. Wisner, Sally Conger, Jane R. Clark, Joanna Smith, Harminda Smith, James W. Dekay, Thomas Miller, Abigail Miller, Mary Carr, Lydia Fuller, Hannah Clark, Jonathan Clark, Abraham Irwin, Mary Irwin, Caty Middaugh.

supply, from April, 1846, to September, 1846 ; Rev. Augustus Seward, pastor, from April, 1847, until September, 1849; Rev. Nathaniel Pierson, pastor, from October, 1850, until November, 1857 ; Rev. H. F. Wadsworth, pastor, from December, 1858, and still continued in charge, 1880.

"The following is the list of elders : Samuel Van Fleet, Moses D. Rogers, Samuel Van Fleet, Jr., Alfred Bullock, Lewis Whitaker, Joseph Chandler, Ben- jamin Moffat, Benjamin Newkirk, Peter C. Hanford, Benjamin Haynes, John Smith, Benjamin Van Fleet, Marcus S. Haynes, Levi Truex, Jesse Owen, Gamaliel Russell, Isaac Swift, Asa Smith, Samuel Hartwell, Jonathan L. Whitaker, James H. Hanford.

" The Sabbath-school has been in successful opera- tion since the organization of the church, and is now in a prosperous condition. The present officers of the church are H. F. Wadsworth, pastor ; Isaac Swift, Marcus S. Haynes, Asa Smith, Samuel S. Hartwell, Jonathan L. Whitaker, James H. Hanford, elders ; Asa Smith, Dennis Clark, Jonathan L. Whitaker, James 1]. Hanford, Ezra Smith, trustees."

THE ORANGE BAPTIST CHURCH OF UNIONVILLE effected a legal organization Feb. 21, 1855. The pro- ceedings were signed by William Tuthill and Richard A. Lain. The pastor of the church was Rev. J. T. Grimley. The trustees chosen were David Lain, Wil- liam Tuthill, and Elijah Bennett. This legal paper represents a church of much older date, as shown in the following sketch furnished by the pastor:

" The Orange Baptist Church of Unionville was or- ganized in the fall of 1822. It was composed of 125 members, all of whom brought letters of dismission from churches in the vicinity round about. One hun- dred came from the Second Baptist Church of Wan- tage, N. J., 7 from the First Baptist Church of Wan- tage, and 18 from the Baptist Church of Brookfield (now Slate Hill), N. Y.

"Its first and only house of worship put up for its own use was built in the spring and summer of 1822, and was ready for occupancy when the church was organized. It stood about a mile and a half southeast of what is now the village of Unionville. About thirty years after it was built it was removed to Unionville and remodeled. It was a plain wooden structure, 52 by 34. Subsequently a lecture-room, 30 by 26, was joined to it at the rear end, which cost about $1800.

" The church also built a house of worship in 1827, at Mount Salem, Wantage township, N. J., for the better accommodation of some of its members who resided in that place. Those members, to the number of 100, afterwards took letters of dismission and organized themselves into a separate church.

"The Presbyterian church was built in 1825, at a cost of $2500; size, 46 by 36 feet. The building was subsequently remodeled and enlarged, and, more re- cently, a lecture-room was added. A parsonage was purchased in 1850. The pastors and stated supplies have been Rev. Theron C. Depew, supply, from " The names of the first deacons of the Orange Bap- tist Church were David Lain, Joseph Smith, James November, 1832, until October, 1834; Rev. Peter Hanouse, supply, from June, 1837, until November, "Rosecrance, and Peter Roloson. Mr. Lain was a well- 1839; Rev. A. O. Peloubet, pastor, from September, to-do, thriving farmer, who lived on what is generally known as the Lower Road. For a time he was the 1840, until January, 1845; Rev. T. S. Ward, stated

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

largest tax-payer in the town. He was a pillar of the church, both financially and spiritually. He reared a large family of children, who became prominent and worthy members of society. Seven of them, at this date, are residing in their native town.

"At an early period of its history the church or- ganized a Sunday-school, and has kept it up with varying degrees of interest and success during the summer months until now.

" Recently a parsonage has been purchased in the village. The house is a two-story Gothic building, 38 by 32, with a one-story attachment in the rear, 20 by 16, for kitchen and wood-house. The property with some necessary improvements cost $1300.

"Ten men have served the church as regular settled pastors. Their names and terms of service were as follows : Zelotes Grenell, eleven years ; Samuel White, one and a half years; Samuel Grenell, five years; Samuel L. Barrett, five years; C. Cox, two years ; David Bennett, two years ; Joseph I. Grimley, twelve years; Wm. H. Runyon, seven years; Levi Morse, four years ; J. N. Adams (present pastor), five years, and the sixth begun.

"The present board of deacons is composed of R. A. Lain, George McBride, and E. Inman Case. A va- cancy has lately been caused in the board by the death of Jeremiah Sergeant, who had served the church faithfully for seven years. Mr. J. Anson McBride is the elerk of the church and the superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. The present trustees (1880) are Messrs. Win. Elston, Edward Wilson, Walter Van Sickle, J. A. McBride, and Justus Clark.

"The church has always been in comparatively easy circumstances financially ; never much in debt ; never much weakened by intestine troubles; has always sustained missionary and other benevolent causes, and has been frequently favored with religious re- vivals, which have resulted in the conversion of many ity. It has a present membership of 175, and is es- pecially associated with that denomination of Ameri- can Christians commonly called Strict Communion Baptists."

Theold church wassold, according to previous notice, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1874, to Jehial Gregory, for the sum of $205, who purchased it in the interest of the inhabitants of Johnson's Station. This old church has its history, and few have a better record. Located in the town of Minisink, on the cross-roads leading from Westtown to Middletown, and from Johnson's to Millsburgh, it has kept company with the distriet school-house since 1835. From the old deeds I copy the following faets concerning its early history.

On April 18, 1835, Nathaniel Knapp and Sophia, his wife, executed to John Edwards, Daniel Brown, Isaac Denton, Hulet Clark, Lewis Finch, and John

G. DeBow, trustees, in trust, the land on which to erect a house of religious worship under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The deed was drawn, and acknowledgment taken by Roswell Mead, the commissioner of deeds for the old town of Mini- sink, and recorded May 30, 1835, by L. L. Vail, elerk of Orange County. Of the persons whose names appear on this old document, either as trustees or clerical, all have passed away save one, John G. De Bow, now residing in Newark. Work was com- menced ou the building early in the season of 1835, and in November the house was dedicated to the wor- ship of God. Manning Force, one of the pioneers of Methodism in Northern New Jersey, was presiding elder, and Rev. Joseph Chattle was preacher in charge. The entire cost when finished and ready for worship was $1000, and paid for at completion ; so no official record stains its modest reputation with the modern mortgage embellishment. At the time of its completion there was no Methodist church nearer than the Wantage church near Deckertown, none at Port Jervis, Otisville, Middletown, or Goshen. After having been in service up to the year 1870, an attempt was made to remove it to Centreville by a portion of the congregation, and being resisted by the balance, it became the subject of litigation.

In the mean time a church having been built at Centreville, and the litigating parties mutually agree- ing among themselves upon terms of settlement, which were that the old church should be sold at publie auction, and the proceeds given to the Church Extension Society ; the sale just made is for the pur- pose of carrying into effect those terms of settlement.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WESTTOWN.

This church was organized in 1863 from a portion of the membership of the church near Millsburgh, known as the "Old Rome church," which had been to Christ, and in its own encouragement and prosper- the chief centre of Methodism in this part of the county since 1835. The building in which the society worships was originally built as a house of worship by the New-School Presbyterians. And upou the reunion of the New- and Old-School Presbyterians, "OLD ROME CHURCH."" the building was purchased by the Methodists, and has siuce been used by the denomination as a place of worship. The present membership is 150. Ser- vices held Sabbath mornings and evenings. The following is a list of the pastors and supplies who have served the church since its organization: 1863- 64, James H. Runyan ; 1865-66, C. E. Wambaugh ; 1867, W. W. Vorhees; 1868-69, S. H. Switzer; 1870, H. C. McBride; 1871-72, C. E. Walton ; 1873-74, T. R. Stratton; 1875, A. J. Fritz (supply) ; 1876-78, J. A. Gutteridge; 1879-80, E. V. King.

The church has a flourishing Sabbath-school, and an out-appointment at Gardnerville. The present official record (1880) is as follows: Pastor, Rev. E. V. King; Trustees, Jeremiah Bennett, Dallas Clark, George C. Lee, W. H. Clark, J. L. Davis, H. B. Allen,

* Written by Mr. W. H. Clark in 1874.

671

MINISINK.

Caleb Clark, Benjamin Durland, Ira L. Decker; Stewards, J. Bennett, George C. Lee, William H. Lee, Lewis Halstead ; Sabbath-school Superintendent, Rev. E. V. King.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF DROWNED LANDS, PRECINCT OF GOSHEN,

was incorporated by a certificate executed Oct. 2, 1787. The meeting was held at the house of Benjamin Smith. Joshua Davis and John Bradner were the inspectors of election, and the trustees named in the instrument were Joshua Davis, Benjamin Smith, and John Monell. The same society it appears made a re-incorporation in 1799, under the name of "The Presbyterian Con- gregation west of Drowned Lands in the town of Minisink." The names contained in the instrument were James Steward, Sr., and James Steward, Jr., Israel Hallock, Jr., John Neely, Silas Steward, and John Knapp. The two sets of names are, however, entirely different, as perhaps they naturally would be at a distance of thirteen years. These are evidently some of the preliminary movements which led to the establishment of the Presbyterian Church at Ridge- berry,* thongh from a comparison of the names it may be inferred there was an intention at first to locate the church farther south.

THE UNIONVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH exeented a certificate of incorporation July 21, 1868. The paper was signed by James Buchanan and Wil- liam H. Foster. The trustees chosen were Bowdewine Van Sickle, Jacob Wilson, James A. Bulkley, James Buchanan, Eber L. Brown, Jeremiah Bennett, and Isaac E. Foland. The same society made a re-incorpo- ration two years later by a certificate bearing date Oct. 17, 1870, which contained the names of Thomas J. Ritch, W. H. McBride, Bowdewine Van Sickle, James Buckley, Sanford Hough, Jacob Wilson, S. D. Cad- mus, G. C. Hutchison, David P. Clark, Isaac E. Foland, Thomas W. Benjamin. With the numerous organizations of the Methodist Church at points com- paratively near to Unionville, it has been difficult to sustain the enterprise at Unionville. Services have been somewhat irregularly maintained, but are now (August, 1880) at least temporarily suspended.

MEADVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

made a legal organization at the house of Ebenezer Mead Dec. 30, 1815. The proceedings were signed by John Myers and Jacob Bockoven, deacons. The trns- tees chosen "to superintend the building of a meet- ing-house on the lands of Ebenezer Mead" were Israel Lee, John Myers, Sr., John Myers, Jr., Samnel Master- son, and Ebenezer Mead. This was the foundation of a church now located at Mount Salem, N. J. The building at Meadville was never finished.

UNION MEETING-HOUSE.

There is standing, about a quarter of a mile sonth of Waterloo Mills, a dilapidated building, now a mere

wreck, that was originally bnilt for a union house of worship. It was occupied by the Christian or Unita- rian denomination for a time; by the Primitive or Old-School Baptists ; by the Methodists ; by the Pres- byterians,- each and all claiming it by virtue of their original aid in building the same, or by reason of its avowed union character. When first built it was a neat rural chapel, and was dedicated some years pre- vious to 1840. It has now been unoccupied for a long time.

VIII .- BURIAL-PLACES. THE MINISINK CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

was incorporated Sept. 27, 1862. The meeting for organization was held at the burying-ground, and Ralph Bull was called to the chair, J. P. Snook chosen secretary. The trustees named in the cer- tificate were Joseph Davis, Samuel Christie, George D. Wilson, Jonathan D. Sayre, Jonathan S. Christie, William A. Sayre. This association was formed to care for and enlarge the old Minisink graveyard, south of Westtown, that dates back to the earliest settlement. The ground is surrounded by a substan- tial wall and is in neat preservation. It is a specimen of what some reasonable care with no very heavy ex- pense will do for even an old cemetery. The citizens may well take pride in their attempt to preserve in- stead of destroying (as in too many other places) the graves of their ancestors. In the absence of all early dates, but little history can be gleaned from this in- closure. Mr. H. B. Allen speaks of having seen one date of 1765, or about that, but the initials were illegi- ble. That of Dr. Rosecrans, as reported by Mr. Han- ford, is mentioned elsewhere.

Other burial-places may be catalogued as follows : one in the Brown school district, mostly a family lot, of considerable age ; a cemetery at Unionville fitted up with modern taste; an old one beyond Waterloo Mills, near the line of Greenville; old Rome Ceme- tery, on the road south of the Rome neighborhood; another one at old Rome, mostly the Halstead family ; and there are doubtless still others.

IX .- LODGES,+ SOCIETIES, LIBRARIES, Etc. THE WESTTOWN LIBRARY

was founded by an association formed Feb. 14, 1826. The trustees named in the papers were David Slau- son, Daniel Mead, William H. Newkirk, Charles Monell, Caleb Howell, Howell Reeve, and Enos G. Gridley. This institution existed for some years. There was a valuable collection of books, and the in- fluence upon the community was of an excellent char- acter. Many who are now in middle life or in ad- vanced age acquired much valuable education from

t There was a Masonic lodge in town in old times, chartered Dec. 7, 1803. It was located at Westtown. One of the latest members was the well-known Isaac Decker. The lodge met in what is now known as the Westtown Academy. (See General History, Benevolent Societies.)

* See Wawayanda.

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

this early library. More who then studied the history of their own county and of other counties through the substantial books placed within their reach may well sigh over the present age, when so many young men can be found who have never read even a history of the United States, but are perfectly familiar with the latest "dime novel." The library was finally seat- tered, the books being divided among the stockholders.

THE WESTTOWN CIRCULATING LIBRARY ASSOCIA- TION

executed a certificate of incorporation May 2, 1877. The meeting to organize was held at the academy, and Thomas S, Hulse appointed chairman, A. J. Jessup, secretary. The trustees chosen were Thomas S. Hulse, Lawrence T. Shuler, Charles W. Horton, Andrew J. Jessup, Jonathan Sayre, Miss Mary J. Sayre, and Miss Belle Lee.

The shares were made five dollars each, to be paid down, and one dollar to be paid annually upon each share. This library, recently established, is now in circulation, and an excellent class of books have been purchased.

THE WESTTOWN LITERARY SOCIETY,

Rev. E. V. King, president, is an association for liter- ary improvement, and well maintained.

This with the library above named and other im- provements indicate a degree of culture and a taste for the higher and nobler pursuits of life which reflect much credit upon the people of this pleasant rural village and upon the surrounding community.

X .- PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.

A very old homestead in Minisink is a part of the present hotel at Westtown, now kept by Mrs. Sarah J. Fiske. It is supposed to have been built more than one hundred years ago.

A very noted affair of early times was the spurious "Chechung Bank," for the manufacture of counter- feit coin. Its theatre of operations was near West- town. "Chechung" is said to mean "I-chuck-you-in," and was first applied to a small creek where an Indian was said to have drowned a man. The place where the counterfeiters operated is still pointed out in a retired swamp on the farm now owned by Harry McBride. The end of the affair was State's prison for some, flight for others.

In the Revolution there stood on the banks of Rut- ger's Creek, near the present residence of Archibald McBride, an early dwelling of the Horton family. In one of the frequent alarms (perhaps it was at the battle of Minisink) Mr. Horton went away to assist in the defense of his neighbors. The family were left alone. Evidences of attack or a vivid imagination alarmed them. They suffered untold horrors. One daughter was taken with fits through fright. The water rose around the house, and after two days they fled,-a daughter-in-law and two children on horse- back, the mother walking by the side of the horse.

XI .- INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

The present farming of the town is an active and prosperous business. Its character has been consid- erably changed, as in other sections, by the opening of the railroads, and the opportunity of selling milk direct to New York. There are some who believe that the process is not, on the whole, likely to de- velop more wealth than when dairy products were manufactured at home. It is a proverb somewhat in use, " He who sells milk has nothing else to sell."

XII .- MILITARY.

The carly Indian wars, the struggles of the Revo- lutionary period, all involved the entire Minisink re- gion in the dangers and horrors of border warfare. With reference to the people then living upon the ter- ritory now constituting the town of Minisink we have only the traditions, the anecdotes, the wild tales of blood and danger which have floated down the line of the generations. The main facts connected with those stormy periods are recounted in this volume in the chapters devoted to the general Revolutionary an- nals of Orange County, or in the special story of the battle of Minisink. As everywhere else, there are prevalent many stories of that bloody affair. Mr. H. B. Allen, of Westtown, is a very good witness for de- termining the truth of some of these stories of border warfare. Three of the survivors of the Minisink bat- tle lived to within his time, viz. : Mr. Harding, Daniel Myers, and Moses DeWitt; and Mr. Allen conversed with them upon the subject.

WAR OF 1861-65.

This town furnished volunteers as follows :

At the outbreak of the war, 3

Prior to July, 1862. 14

Under call of July, 1862 .. 43 From July, 1863, to July, 1864 28

Under the enrollment in 1863 the town had 131 in the first class and 63 in the second; of this number 31 were drawn, 15 of whom were held to service and paid commutation. Enlisted after the draft, one,- Charles Colden, colored.

By voluntary subscriptions in 1862 the sum of $1083 was raised to promote enlistments. The Pres- byterian Church at Westtown sent stores to hospitals valued at $70.

At a special town-meeting held Feb. 25, 1864, it was voted to authorize the payment of a town bounty of $100.

Another special meeting was held March 31, 1864, at which the above offer of $100 was again adopted, but by a singularly small vote,-18 for and 2 against.

Aug. 11, 1864, a tax of $25,000 for the payment of bounties was approved, and the amount of bounty to each left to the discretion of the town board. Bonds were directed to be issued payable in eight equal annual installments, on the 1st of February, 1865, and each year to 1872 inclusive. Of the sum author- ized, $22,500 was expended.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 165

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