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 194
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199
There is a perpendicular fall in the Ramapo of twenty feet, and within half a mile below the stream falls seventy-five feet more. The works have never been rebuilt, and there is but little business at that point, only one train calling each way daily. On this old Augusta tract is the beautiful and renowned Truxedo Lake.
EAGLE VALLEY
is a station upon the Erie Railway, in the extreme southwestern angle of the town, and near the New Jersey line. There is now one store there kept by J. T. Pembleton. The place is about half way from Sloats- burgh to the Stirling Iron-Works.
OTHER LOCALITIES
of special name may he mentioned, as " Wild-Cat Hollow," in the valley of the Indian Kill ; "Parker Cabin Hollow," near Car Pond. The various mines, "Scott Mines," " Cook Mines," "Stirling Mines," " Bradley Mines,"" Forest of Dean Mines," "Dump," "O'Neil Mines," "Mount Basha Mines," "Clove Mine," " Beering Mines," " Redback Mines," " Craw- ford Mines," "Coal Shier Mines," etc.
VI .- SCHOOLS.
But little information is at hand concerning the schools before the Revolutionary war, nor for some years following that period. Under the old law of 1795 the town eleeted school commissioners in 1799, as shown in the records of the first town-meeting al- ready given. In 1800 commissioners were also elected, viz .: James D. Secor, Joseph Stevens, and Adam Belcher. No further town action was taken under this law.
At the town-meeting of 1813, in aeeordance with the provisions of the new school aet of 1813, $200 was appropriated for the support of schools, and commis- sioners were chosen. This system continued until 1843, and during that period of thirty years the fol- lowing persons served one or more years each in the office of school commissioner: Elijah Randolph, Joseph R. Andrews, Samuel Webb, James Cromwell, Benjamin Cunningham, Michael Gough, John Coffey, Lewis H. Roe, Jonas King, Israel Green, George Wilkes, William Vail, Jr., Stephen Griffin, Stephen Coleman, Charles Townsend, John McGarrah, Mat- thew B. Swezey, John Brooks, Jr., David W. MeCul- loeh, Alexander Galloway, Matthias C. Woodruff, Ethan B. Carpenter, Gates W. MeGarrah, John Brooks, Jr., Archibald Campbell, David Mapes, Smith Weygant, John Lamont.
During the same period the following persons served one or more years each as inspectors of common schools : Joseph R. Andrews, Joseph Jefferson, James Cromwell, Jr., Peter Dean, Joseph Howgan, John Coffey, George Wilkes, Elijah Randolph, William Jackson, Elijah, Randall, Timothy Keys, Lewis H. Roe, Michael Gough, Bryant Garrahan, Johu Mc- Garrah, Samnel Van Duzer, Benjamin Cunningham, Israel Green, William Vail, Jr., James Weygant, John Brooks, Jr., John Hazard, Stephen Griffin, Matthew B. Swezey, George W. Gough, Charles Townsend, Richard Murphy, David W. McCulloch, Ethan B. Carpenter, Stephen McDonald, Michael Dickerman, Nathan T. Thorn, Hiram S. Dains, Thomas G. Wilkes, Smith Weygant, Joseph M. Shuit, Charles F. Ford, Joshua T. Cromwell, James B. Smith, Samuel Smith, James B. Smith, John K. Smith, Roe C. Pilgrim, John C. Boyd, Jeremialı H. Thompson.
The system of supervision by four superintendents having succeeded the former method, the following were the incumbents of that offiee in Monroe. Chosen at annual elections : 1843-45, Morgan Shuit; 1846- 47, Archibald Campbell. Chosen at biennial elec- tions : 1848-56, Archibald Campbell. This system was succeeded in June, 1856, by Assembly district commissioners, and management of the schools by the town entirely ceased.
May 27, 1813, the school commissioners divided the town into fourteen school districts.
There is a school report for 1819 in the town clerk's
796
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
office which shows something of the school sixty years ago.
District No. I then had 80 children between five and sixteen, and received of public money $1661; No. 2, 82 children and $1515; No. 4, 84 children and $1552; No. 6, 104 children and $1917 ; No. 7, 137 children and $2530; No. 8, 83 children and $1533; No. 9, 82 children and $1515; No. 10, 45 children and $813; No. 12, 45 children and $880; No. 11, 62 children and $1147.
There is a classical school near Central Valley known as Cornell Institute. It is a boarding- and day-school for young ladies and gentlemen, David Cornell, principal.
VII .- CHURCHES. THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF SMITHI CLOVE
was incorporated by a certificate executed Oct. 9, 1788. The paper was signed by Archibald Cunning- ham and William Miller, Jr., deacons of the congre- gation, and the trustees named in the instrument were Archibald Cunningham, William Miller, Jr., George Brown, Timothy Smith, Aaron Miller, and Morris Pilgrim.
We are indebted to the courtesy of the pastor, D. N. Freeland, for the following sketch of this church :
Provision was made for religious worship in this vicinity by the proprietors of the Chesekook Patent as early as 1735, when the lands conveyed by said patent were surveyed by Charles Clinton, Esq. He entered lot 24 of 150 acres as "a choice, good lot" suitable for a parsonage. This is the land now occu- pied by Peter Bush. As the whole region was stony and less inviting than some other portions of the county, population was slow in entering and taking up the land, and when they entered they were poor and unable to set up any institution beyond those of the home. It was as late as 1783 before we read of any minister of Christ turning his attention to this region, and then Silas Constant, a licentiate under the care of Morris Presbytery, came to Blooming- Grove, and April 20th preached his first sermon at Blooming-Grove. He was ordained May 29, 1784. In his journal he mentions Smith's Clove, or Monroe, as one of his preaching-stations. Probably as early as 1783 he visited the Clove. The first sermon he delivered here was in the presence of a congregation assembled in an orchard belonging to the Fowler farm, and under an apple-tree which is still standing and brings forth fruit in old age. The apple is large and delicious, and is called the Presbyterian apple. Thus it can be said of the church whose nucleus was gathered there, "I raised thee up under the apple- tree : there thy mother brought thee forth." It was not long after the attention of the people was called to the subject of religion they rose up to build. They felt the need of a place of worship, and took steps towards the rearing of a house of God. The land
was given by Daniel Miller, consisting of two acres, situated in what was afterwards called Seamanville, near the mill he owned there. Here a house of wor- ship was erected in the midst of a grove of forest- trees. It is a tradition well verified that the church was raised the day that Elizabeth Clark, afterwards wife of Stephen Bull, was born. The family Bible records that "she was born 5th month, 28th day, 1783."
After the frame was raised and the building inclosed the sturdy yeomen arrested their work, their funds probably having failed them, and for many years the congregation sat upon the sills and girders while the minister preached from the carpenter's bench. Still there was no regularly organized congregation. In 1784 the Legislature passed an act granting liberty of worship and regulating the organization of congrega- tions. Under this act, on May 17, 1784, persons de- siring to be incorporated into a church met at the house of Mr. Bell, in the Bakertown neighborhood. The ministers officiating were Rev. Silas Constant and Rev. Amzi Lewis, the latter pastor of the church of Florida. It is recorded in Mr. Constant's journal ; " After prayer and the necessary examination, and the particular personal professions of union and Chris- tian fellowship, proceeded to lead them into visible covenant with each other in the presence of God and before the world, and solemnly pronounce them a vis- ible church of Christ. The church then took into con- sideration the choice of deacons, and after solemn exhortation and prayer, made choice of Archibald Cunningham and William Miller, Jr., to fill that office. They accepted. The church then agreed to have a stated meeting monthly for business, conversa- tion, and prayer." The names of some of the per- sons who first composed the church are the following : Archibald Cunningham and wife, William Miller, Jr., and wife, John Miller and wife, Thos. Davenport and wife, Samuel Hall and wife, James Lewis and wife, Jane Bell, the wife of Timothy Smith, and the wife of Alexander Archer. It was called the First Pres- byterian Congregation of Cheesecocks."
The records of the congregation are very meagre in its early periods of existence, and the history has to be constructed from fragments and traditions received from varied sources.
The successor to Rev. Silas Constant was Rev. David Baldwin, who served the church four years. His wife died Sept. 16, 1800, in the fifty-sixth year of her age. When his pastorate began and ended we are unable to ascertain.
Dec. 25, 1801, the church was formally incorporated. The first trustees were Samuel Gregory, Gilbert King, Charles Webb, George Fowler, James Smith, and Isaac Bull.
The third minister in the succession was probably
* Frequently so written in the records. The correct orthography is Chesekook.
t 1
797
MONROE.
Simeon R. Jones, who served this church, jointly with that of Chester, from 1800 to 1804. He died March 13, 1857.
The fourth minister was Rev. Howell Powell, a Welshman. While he labored here the trustees met for the purpose of procuring a convenient and com- modious house and place for him to live in, and then agreed to lease lot 24, of 150 acres, in Cheesecocks Patent, to A. Gates White, said lease to be as durable as wood grows and water runs, for the sum of one- tenth part of a cent yearly if demanded; the said White to convey unto the said trustees by a warranty deed the place he now lives on and occupies on the east side of the stage road, containing about 58 acres of land, and also to give to the said trustees £200 one year without interest, then interest annually until paid. This was the farm afterwards owned by John Brooks where stands the Granite House.
The fifth minister who served this congregation was Rev. Mr. Porter, of whom we have no records or tra- dition except that he served them eighteen months.
The sixth was Rev. J. H. Thomas. He was or- dained and installed at Chester, Oct. 12, 1814, where he was engaged for three-quarters of his time. For the remainder he served this congregation at least two years. A few fragmentary minutes now come to hand. They bear date of 1814 and 1815. One of these rc- cords a resolution that S. Hutchins be their second deacon. Samuel Gregory was the first.
The seventh minister in order was Rev. Hosca Ball. He was born at Townsend, Mass., studied theology with Rev. Silas Constant, taken under care of West- chester Presbytery, and came to Monroe, Oct. 20, 1818. He was licensed April 11, 1821, and ordained the same year. During Mr. Ball's labors the church was con- siderably revived and increased in membership.
-
In 1819 a Sabbath-school was organized. About this time the church lost its incorporation. Its charter was renewed Jan. 23, 1822. William Vail, Jr., Sam- uel Gregory, Andrew Vanraler, Samuel Webh, Lewis H. Roe, and John McGarrah were chosen trustees. Just previous to this time the church building was made more comfortable by introducing square pews, pulpit, and gallery.
Rev. John White succeeded Mr. Ball, who ceased his labors here in 1823; but returned to reside liere till 1876, when he died aged eighty-four years. Mr. White seems to have succeeded in harmonizing the people, laboring with them till Sept. 22, 1824, when he returned to England.
About this time the glebe on the stage road was exchanged for another piece of land containing some 35 acres, with a house situate east-northeast of the present village, and was occupied by Rev. Mr. White and other ministers.
Rev. John Boyd succeeded him, coming to Monroe Ang. 26, 1826. June 2, 1828, the congregation re- solved to transfer their ecclesiastical relation from the Associated Presbytery of Westchester to the Presby-
tery of Hudson. This having been effected, the ses- sion consisted of Elders Andrew Van Valu, Benjamin C. Smith. In 1831, George Milton Newman and Sam- uel V. Carpenter were elected elders. Rev. Mr- Boyd served the church as their stated supply some eight or nine years, when increasing infirmities laid him aside from active labors. He died Jan. 14, 1842, aged eighty.
Rev. John Jay Thompson was his successor. IIis first official record is dated Dec. 24, 1836. During his ministry a new manse was erected, and numerous accessions were gathered to the church. IIe closed his labors in this field in 1847, and died at Blooming- burgh, N. Y., June 12, 1849. He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel M. Freeland, a licentiate of the Presby- tery of Philadelphia. He was invited to entertain a call Nov. 16, 1847, and was ordained and installed March 7, 1848.
A new church was erected and dedicated Feb. 15, 1853. The glebe was sold in 1867, and a new lot pur- chased in the village and a manse erected upon it, which was occupied in November, 1867. In May, 1873, a bell was presented to the church by Lewis H. Roe, son of Genest M. Roe, M.D., an elder of this church, and was hung in the belfry. The pastoral relation between Mr. Freeland and the congregation was dissolved by mutual consent Sept. 16, 1873, and on the 18th of October a call was renewed for his pastoral services, and May 15, 1874, he was rein- stalled. During this pastorate the following have filled the office of ruling elder, namely : Andrew Van Valu, Genest M. Roe, Jolın K. Roe, David Smith, John Taylor, J. Warren Helm, Joseph W. Youngs, Samuel C. Van Vliet, Jr. Of these the first has held the office nearly seventy-five years, and has reached his ninety-fourth year. Messrs. Taylor, Youngs, and Van Vliet are the present acting Ses- sion. The present trustees are Messrs. G. T. Smith, Isaac Thompson, Horace B. Swezey, Joseph W. Youngs, S. C. Van Vliet, Jr. Chauncey B. Knight, the chairman, has recently been removed by death. At the beginning of this pastorate there were 54 members, and during thirty-two years of labor the additions have been 131, but removals and deaths keep the membership at about 100. Through these years of vicissitudes the congregation has been en- abled to improve its buildings without incurring a debt for any length of time, to decide important issues without serious disagreement, to sustain the institutions of the gospel, and aid by its contributions many benevolent enterprises of the day.
FRIENDS' MEETINGS.
Joshua T. Cromwell furnishes the following items : The Society of Friends have a meeting-house in Corn- wall, built before 1788, and it was the only meeting- house or church in the town till about 1825. Friends' meeting-house in the town of Newburgh was built in 1795; the meeting-house at Smith's Clove, near Higli-
798
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
land Mills, in Monroe, was built in 1799; and the one near Monroe, in the town of Blooming-Grove, was built in 1815.
After the separation of the society in 1828, part of the society built a meeting-house north of the village of Canterbury, in Cornwall, and also a meeting-house one and a half miles easterly of Highland Mills, in Monroe. These are all now occupied by the society, and are all the houses they have in the county. Among the Friends at Cornwall in 1788-90, the more prominent names were David Sands, Gardiner Earle, William Titus, Nicholas Townsend, and Langford Thoru.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.S
The first Methodist Episcopal Church in Monroe was organized and duly incorporated May 2, 1829. The article of incorporation was executed by E. L. Pelham and Francis Weygant. The first church edifice was erected soon after at Highland Mills, and the first board of trustees consisted of Rev. Franeis Weygant, Rev. Nathaniel Sackett, John D. Conklin, Henry Wisner, Isaac Still, Benjamin Delamater, Elias Fancher, Jabez Atwood, Andrew Shorter. Ten years after, in 1839, a new society was organized in the vil- lage of Monroe, and a certificate of incorporation ex- ecnted by Thomas Newman and E. B. Carpenter. The trustees chosen were Samuel Smith, Peter Ball, Stephen Post, Jeremiah Knight, Isaac Coupton, John King, Thomas D. Tannery. The church was erected in 1841, during the pastorate of Revs. Eli Denniston and Sylvester S. Strong.
The two churches until 1866 were united in one charge, and were successively served by the following ministers : Revs. John G. Smith, David Buck, A. C. Fields, T. Newman, J. H. Hawkshurst, Jeremiah Millard, David B. Turner, William Blake, Joel Croft, M. M. Curtis, Uriah Messiter. In 1866 the charge was divided, and Highland Mills and Monroe village each became separate pastorates. Since then the ministers appointed successively to the two charges respectively have been as follows: Monroe village, Revs. D. D. Gillespie, J. W. B. Wood, R. M. Roberts. During the latter's pastorate a new church was erccted at Turner's, costing $4000, and added to the Monroe charge. Mr. Roberts was succeeded by Rev. D. McCartney, during whose incumbency the church at Monroe was enlarged and entirely refurnished, lecture- and class-rooms and tower built, and a bell purchased, the whole costing over $5000. At the close of Mr. McCartney's term of three years, Rev. Z. N. Lewis was appointed to succeed him. He remained two years, and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. G. Hearn.
At Highland Mills the pastors successively ap- pointed since 1866 are Revs. R. L. Shurter, R. L. Roberts, J. W. B. Wood, J. H. Champion, E. E. Pinney, W. Ostrander, the last being the present
pastor. The official members of the two churches during the time included in the above statement have been as follows : David Bull, Hiram Tuthill, Matthew B. Swezey, Nathan Strong, Smith Weygaut, B. G. Tuthill, Peter Ball, John A. Boyce, John T. Brown, Valentine Seaman, Dr. S. W. Esray, Samuel Cooley, Walter Roberts, Charles T. Ford, Sr., Josiah Stevens, H. H. Lawrence, Franklin Bull, Charles T. Ford, Jr., and Elisha Stevens, each of whom have filled one or more of the offices of local preacher, ex- horter, steward, class-leader, or Sunday-school super- intendent, and many of them have died after having served the church with great fidelity for many years.
In 1848 the Southfield Methodist Episcopal Church at Monroe Works was organized and duly incorporated by John P. Hermance and Robert Ashman. A church edifice was crected the same year. The board of trus- tees consisted of Robert Ashman, Hudson MeFarlan, Peter Townsend, Jr., Peter B. Bush, Charles T. Ford, Michael Shultz, and Robert Ketchum. The church has never been pastorally connected with the Monroe charge, but has had ministers of its own successively appointed down to the present time. It is at present a part of the Sloatsburgh charge, of which Rev. Nelson Brusie is pastor.
June 23, 1855, a Methodist Protestant society was or- ganized at Salem, near the Little Long Pond, in the town of Monroe. The proceedings were signed by Rev. Joshua Burch and William Fitzgerald, a building was erected, and the following trustees chosen : Albert Roe, Charles Fitzgerald, Daniel Stevens, and Sylvanus Roberts. The church is at present supplied by Rev. Mr. Wetzel, and a flourishing union Sabbath-school is connected with it.
The present estimated value of church property, including parsonages, is as follows : Monroe village and Turner's, $7000; Highland Mills, $5000; South- field (no parsonage), $1000. Membership : Monroe village and Turner's, 225; Highland Mills, 140; Southfield, 50.
The present officers of the several churches are as follows :
Monroe .- Trustees, Walter Roberts, John S. Bull, H. H. Lawrence, John S. Gregory, James Smith, Charles S. Strong, William Ball; Stewards, B. G. Tuthill, F. Bull, H. H. Lawrence, Lester Gregory, William Ball, T. B. Millspaugh, W. Roberts; Leaders, B. G. Tuthill, F. Bull, W. Roberts; Sabbath-school Superintendent, Frankliu Bull.
Turner's .- Trustees, J. T. Brown, C. T. Ford, Jr., T. R. Earle, Peter B. Bush, Sanford S. Lewis, J. G. Rider, Alfred Cooper; Stewards, C. T. Ford, Jr., Sanford S. Lewis; Leader, C. T. Ford, Jr. ; Sabbath- school Superintendent, Archibald Millspaugh.
Southfield .- Trustees, Peter Townsend, J. S. Ford, William MeElroy, H. Fletcher, Gilhert Horton ; Stewards, William McElroy, Gilbert Horton ; Leader, Gilbert Horton ; Sunday-school Superintendent, Gil- bert Horton.
* Prepared by the pastor of Monroe Church, Rev. G. Hearn.
P
For
We
Jian
fi
T.
Ta
799
MONROE.
Highland Mills .- Trustees, Henry Hall, Sr., Charles T. Ford, Sr., Henry Thorn, Stephen Dickens, Wil- liam Birdsall, William Taylor, H. N. Green, Theodore Weygant, J. H. Weygant; Stewards, Charles T. Ford, Sr., Benjamin Ford, Henry Thorn, William Taylor, James W. Campbell, H. N. Green, Theodore Weygant, N. C. Earle, George W. Green ; Sunday- school Superintendent, James W. Campbell.
In 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth Bates purchased a building at Central Valley, made the necessary alterations to fit it for a place of worship, and donated it to the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is included in the pastorate of Highland Mills. Its officers are as fol- lows :
Trustees, R. F. Weygant, F. S. Weygant, I. L. Noxon, James W. Campbell, George W. Green, Alfred Cooper, Milton Pembleton ; Sunday-school Superin- tendent, George W. Green.
ST. JOHN'S FREE CHURCH (EPISCOPAL), GREEN- WOOD,
executed a certificate of incorporation July 13, 1863. It was signed by the associated incorporators, viz. : Robert P. Parrott, Peter P. Parrott, John Campbell, John G. Davison, Robert M. F. Cole, William H. Wilson, Charles Babcock. The pastor, Rev. Samuel Moran, furnishes the following notes :
Church services were first held at Greenwood in 1852, and from that time until 1862 missionaries held regular worship. In November, 1862, the Rev. Charles Babcock began to hold regular Sunday ser- vices. In March, 1863, Greenwood was made a mis- sionary station by the missionary committee of the diocese, and the Rev. Mr. Babcock was appointed missionary. July 7, 1863, the corner-stone of the church building was laid by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., LL.D., bishop of the diocese of New York. During the summer and fall of 1866 the parish school building was erected. The parish school was opened Oct. 25, 1866. Mr. Babcock re- signed the rectorship of the parish Oct. 11, 1871. He was succeeded by the Rev. John F. Potter, who min- istered here until Sept. 1, 1874. On Nov. 22, 1874, the Rev. Samuel Moran took charge of the parish, but was not elected as rector until March 29, 1875; and on the same day was elected trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Potter. Mr. Moran resigned the rectorship in February, 1876. Services were continued regularly by the Rev. Mr. Whipple and others. Mr. Moran was called in April, 1879, to the position of officiating minister, and at the present time of writing is in charge of the parish. Our Sun- day services are very well attended, especially in the summer-time. We have a Sunday-school numbering 50 scholars and 5 teachers. God has blessed the work of the missionaries in these mountains, and many people have been brought into the fold of Christ by their faithful ministrations. At present the number of communicants is about 60.
GRACE CHURCH.S
This church was incorporated under the free church law, March 6, 1871, the incorporators being Charles Babcock, Henry A. Dows, John G. Davison, N. D. Woodhull, Charles Ford, and L. G. Tillotson.
The services of the Protestant Episcopal Church were first held regularly in Monroe in the summer of 1868. The names of the original members of this parish are John G. Davison, Mrs. Sarah A. Davison, Miss Dora A. Davison, William G. Parks, Miss Mary C. Parks, Miss Sarah Parks, Francis C. Conklin, Mrs. Martha J. Conklin, Mrs. Mary Stockweather, Mrs. Helen A. Clark, Miss Phebe A. Lewis, Charles Ford, Mrs. Mary C. Ford, Daniel Hawkins, Mrs. Louisa Hawkins, Mrs. Catharine Beach, Mrs. Rebecca Eg- linger, and John Beeres.
The church building was erected at the cost of about $1600 in 1868 and 1869, and services have been held in it from the latter year up to the present time. It has sittings for about sixty persons, and there is sufficient land attached to it to allow for the future growth of the parish. In 1871 a tower was built, and a bell was put in place.
This parish owes its existence to the faithful efforts of the Rev. Charles Babcock, formerly rector of St. John's Church, Greenwood Iron-Works, now professor of architecture in Cornell University. In the spring of 1871, Mr. Babcock was succeeded in the charge of the church at Monroe by the Rev. Henry A. Dows. Mr. Dows was succeeded by the Rev. George A. Chambers (at that time a candidate for holy orders) in the fall of 1872, but resumed the rectorship on the 1st of October, 1874, continuing in charge up to the present time.
There are two Sunday-schools in the parish, the one holding its sessions in the church on Sunday afternoons, and the other assembling on Sunday mornings in the school-house at Satterlytown, about two miles north of Monroe. The former Sunday- school has been in existence since the early days of the church, the latter for between three and four years. The names of 46 children are on the rolls of the two schools, with S teachers. Services have been held nearly every summer during the last nine years in the Seven Springs Mountain House, near Monroe.
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.