History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 76

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 76

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Joseph McCarrell was one of these volunteers. He hus not only had a taste of military life, but from the ill, about two miles from the city, on which his regi- ment was placed he witnessed the magnificent spec- acle of the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

he was one of those who through the long night watched the garrison flag, and when the morning dawned saw with inexpressible joy the glorious

Soon after his return home he entered Washington College, Washington, Pa., and graduated with high honors in the class of 1815. One of his classmates is an eminent pastor in this county, the Rev. Dr. Snod- grass, of Goshen.

For several years after leaving college he was en- gaged in teaching in Bellefontaine, in Greensburg, and in Carlisle, while he was at the same time pursu- ing the studies that would fit him for the sacred pro- fession to which he was looking forward.

In 1818 he entered the theological seminary of the Associate Reformed Church, then in New York, under the care of that distinguished man, Dr. John M. Mason. He brought to the seminary an amount of attainment in certain branches of learning which very few possess when leaving it, for he had made himself a thorough Hebrew scholar, and had read the whole of the Old Testament in that language. Hav- ing finished the prescribed course of study, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Big Spring, Pa., on the 21st of June, 1821.

For several months he supplied the Associate Re- formed Church in Murray Street, New York (made vacant by the resignation of Dr. Mason), with so much acceptance that not a few of its members wished to call him as their pastor. At the same time he received calls from the churches of Hagerstown, Md., and Shippensburg, Pa., but he was destined to spend his life in another sphere.

Dr. McCarrell went to Newburgh in the autumn of 1822. He was soon afterwards invited to assume the pastoral care of the Associate Reformed Church there, and on the 13th of March, 1823, he was ordained and installed pastor. The edifice, corner of Grand and First Streets, in which he commenced to preach was erected in 1821, and had been dedicated but a few months before Dr. McCarrell arrived in Newburgh: He was consequently at his death the only one who had served the congregation as pastor since it began to worship in that building. His pastorate was nearly twice as long as the united pastorates of his four pre- decessors. The society, though one of the oldest in Newburgh, was by no means large when he became its pastor, but from that time it steadily increased in numbers, and has become the mother of two other congregations.

In 1829 the seminary, which had been suspended for some years, was revived, established at Newburgh, and Dr. McCarrell was chosen professor of theology. Towards the close of that year he entered upon his work of instruction, and from that period until near the end of life he continued to discharge his two- fold duties as pastor and professor. During the last two years it was evident to those who saw him that And . his strength was on the wane. He was able, however,

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to preach until within a few weeks of his decease, and was mercifully spared the endurance of acnte physical pain. His mental strength was unabated, and at last he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.

Dr. McCarrell had lived and labored in Newburgh for so many years that in one sense it might be said everybody knew him. While his manner in the pulpit was quiet rather than demonstrative, his trains of thought were clear and striking, his logic unan- swerable in argumentative directions, and his style forcible and compact. Some of the best legal minds of the country sat for years under his ministry. His students in the theological hall thoroughly loved him. Whilst he was always dignified and learned, and thorough in his instructions, yet his manner was so kindly they were always made to feel at their ease, and if any went from the class-room in ignorance the fault was theirs, and not his. It has been matter of great regret to his friends that so few results of his pen found their way into print. Vigorous, pleasant, and clear-cut as a thinker, he wielded " the pen of a ready writer." Admirable discourses in answer to Dr. Channing, the eloquent Unitarian champion, as also a series of sermons on a phase of the temperance question, and some others on the form of baptism, with an occasional special sermon, were all that have ever been published. Commentaries of great ability were prepared by him on the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Book of Revelation, but for some reason they were never published.

In private life be exhibited a rare combination of Christian graces, so that by all who knew him he was loved with an affection singularly warm and enduring; and all who saw him as he went out and in his own home and those of the community for so many years, knew that they were looking upon " a living epistle of Christ." His death occurred on the 28th of March, 1864, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, having occu- pied the pastorate of the same church for forty-one years.

Dr. McCarrell married in his native village. His wife survived him eleven years. Of eight children, four are living, besides one grandson.

First Reformed Presbyterian Church .- The origin of this congregation may be traced to the self-denying exertions of a few individuals in the communion of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, who settled in the village of Newburgh and vicinity during the early part of the century, among whom were James Clark, O. Gailey, and Robert Johnston. A society for prayer and other devotional services was formed and regu- Harly attended as early as 1816 or 1817, which proved the means of gathering together and combining the efforts of a sufficient number to warrant an applica- tion for occasional preaching. From 1817 until 1824 the society was supplied with preaching by the Rev. J. R. Wilson, D.D., at that time pastor at Colden- ham. Increasing in numbers, and desirous of obtain- ing a fuller supply of ordinances, the members of the

Newburgh branch of the Coldenham congregation, as it came to be called, were, by deed of Presbytery, separated from the Coldenham congregation, and in 1824 organized as a distinct church, of which Samuel Wright and John Lawson were elders, and William M. Wiley and John Crawford deacons. Soon after the organization, Matthew Duke was added to the elders, and William Thompson to the deacons.

The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Jas. R. Johnston, who was ordained and installed in 1825. His connection with it was dissolved in 1829. June 8, 1830, the Rev. Moses Rooney became his successor, and served with great acceptance until 1848, when he was compelled to resign on account of failing health. Nov. 14, 1849, the present pastor, the Rev. Samuel Carlisle, was installed.

The society held its first public services in the academy. Arrangements were made for the erection of a church edifice in 1818, which was completed the following year and is still occupied by the congrega- tion. In 1852 it was rebuilt, during which time the public services of the congregation were held in the court-house. In 1876, it was remodeled and a brick front added, on Grand Street, of fair architectural appearance.

Second Reformed Presbyterian Church .- The Second Reformed Presbyterian Church of Newburgh was or- ganized by a commission of the New York Presby- tery, Dec. 12, 1854. The original membership was composed of William Thompson, James Frazier, and William Johnston, elders; John Lawson and James Hilton, deacons, and 26 private members.

In accordance with a call made by the congrega- tion, the Rev. J. Renwick Thompson, the present pas- tor, was installed Dec. 19, 1855.

The public services of the church were first held in the court-house. Arrangements for the erection of a church edifice, however, were made soon after the organization, and the building was completed in . November, 1855, and dedicated on the 25th of that month. The morning services were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Christy, of New York, who delivered an able lecture on the 12th chapter of Isaiah. In the afternoon the discourse was by the pastor of the church, from Gen. xxviii. 17; and the evening ser- vices were conducted by Dr. Christy. The church building, originally without much architectural char- acter, was improved by the addition of a tower, etc., in 1872, at a cost of $3400. It is of brick, and has accommodations for 600 persons.

First United Presbyterian Church .- On May 25, 1858, a union, with reference to which negotiations had long been pending, was consummated at Pittsburgh, Pa., between the two branches of the Presbyterian family known as the " Associate" and the " Associate Re- formed" Churches, under the title of the " United Presbyterian Church of North America." The two Associate Reformed congregations of Newburgh de- clined to enter this union. The friends of the united

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hurch in these congregations believing that the nion was right, and an important step towards the nity of the church, petitioned (Nov. 9, 1859) the New York Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church for the constitution of a congregation to be nown as the "First United Presbyterian Church of Newburgh." This petition having been granted, Rev. alexander McWilliams was appointed by the Pres- ytery to organize the church, which then embraced 6 members. George Gearns, George Lendrum, John leddes, Sr., and Dr. Matthew Stevenson were elected uling elders, and Andrew Johnston, B. W. Cham- ers. Thomas M. MeCann, Jas. S. Strachan, Robert Iyndman, George Lendrum, George Gearns, John leddes, Sr., and John Brown were chosen as trustees, nd the society organized Dec. 6, 1859. On Decem- er 31st the trustees purchased the edifice then occu- ied by the Baptist Church, situated on Montgomery Street (corner of Fourth), where the congregation as since held public worship. It was enlarged and mproved during the summer of 1871 at a cost of bout $1800. The first pastor of the church was Rey. Robert Armstrong, formerly of Philadelphia, Pa. Ie was installed March 12, 1861, and continued in he office until Oct. 21, 1868, when he was released rom the charge. The present pastor, Rev. J. G. D. Findley, was ordained and installed Oct. 14, 1869. On April 21, 1862, Messrs. George Guy, Thomas M. IcCann, and Andrew Johnston were ordained and nstalled as ruling elders in the congregation.

American Reformed Church .- The history of this hurch dates from October, 1834, when the Rev. Wm. Cruiekshank, on the application of some of the men- ers of the Reformed Dutch Church in the city of New York, was induced to visit Newburgh and undertake he establishment of a church. His efforts were suc- essful, and on Feb. 24th following the church was ormally organized by the Classis of Orange, at which ime Isaac Belknap, Thomas G. Stansborough, Isaac 1. Knevels, and John W. Knevels were ordained lders; and Cornelius Bogardus, Thos. Jessup, Daniel Corwin, and Albert Wells, deacons. Eighteen per- ons were then received into its communion by cer- iticate.

April 13, 1835, the Consistory invited the Rev. Villiam Cruickshank to become their pastor, and he call having been approved by the Classis of Orange, he was installed as the first pastor of the church on October 22d of the same year. In Decem- er, 1837, Mr. Cruickshank resigned, and on June 3, 1838, a call was addressed to the Rev. Isaac M. Fisher, which was accepted, and he was installed in July. He remained pastor only until October 5th of he same year, when he resigned on account of fail- ng health. May 17, 1839, the Rev. F. 11. Vander- reer was ealled, and continued the pastor of the church until Aug. 19, 1842, when he resigned. Sept. 3, 1842, a call was made upon the Rev. A. B. Van Zandt, and he was installed by a deputation of the

Classis of Orange on December 14th following. Hle resigned in June, 1849, and was succeeded by the Rev. Malcolm N. Mclaren, who was installed Nov. 12, 1850. He resigned the charge Feb. 5, 1859, and on June 14th a call was made upon the Rev. G. H. Man- deville, of Flushing, L. I., who entered upon the duties of pastor August 21st of the same year. He resigned Nov. 1, 1869. Rev. W. H. Gleason, the present pastor, was called on April 9th, and installed in May, 1870. He was succeeded by Rev. J. Halsted Caroll, the present pastor, in October, 1876.

The church was organized in the First Associate Reformed Church edifice, and its subsequent meet- ings, until the completion of the building now occu- pied by it, were held in the academy. Mr. Cruick- shank, the first pastor, devoted all his energies to the interests of the infant church, and its early success was due, in a great measure, to his indefatigable ex- ertions. He obtained from his congregation, and from New York, a handsome subscription for the erection of a church edifice, the site for which was selected on the corner of Grand and Third Streets. The building was commenced about Oct. 1, 1835; the corner-stone was laid October 22d. Mr. Warren, of New York, was the architect, and Gerard & Halsey, masons, and A. Whitmarsh, carpenter, were the eon- tractors. Service was first held in the basement on Sunday, Nov. 13, 1837, and on December 7th, following, the edifice was dedicated. The financial difficulties of 1837 seriously affected the temporal interests of the church, and the Consistory were compelled to submit to a sale of the church property (April, 1839), which was purchased by Mr. Daniel Farrington, on behalf of the creditors, for the sum of $10,053. An arrangement, however, was soon after effected by which Matthew V. B. Fowler became the purchaser of the property in trust for the church. The debt was greatly reduced, and in 1849 the Consistory was enabled to resume the title.

The church edifice is of Grecian architecture. It is built of stone stuccoed, and was originally 50 by 80 feet with a portico of 20 feet, making a total depth of 100 feet; the roof was surmounted by a massive dome, which formed a prominent feature in the land- scape. The style of architecture was continued in the interior, and gave to the auditorium a cold, mas- sive grandeur. The first cost, including lot, etc., was about $20,000. The dome proved troublesome and was removed ; the acoustics of the auditorium were bad, and led to a recessed pulpit. During the year 1851 the parsonage was built on the east side of the lot on Third Street at a cost of $3277. It has since been enlarged and improved at a cost of abont $5000. The church edifice was enlarged in the fall and winter of 1867-68 by the addition of a transept in the rear 15 by 22 feet on each side and 20 feet high, giving an audience-room 100 feet in depth and 82 feet in width at transept. The improvements were from plans by J. E. Harney, architect, and including

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freseoing, grading, ett., involved an expenditure of about $20,000. It was reopened for service April 19, 1868. Its seating capacity (including gallery) is now about 1000.

First Baptist Church .- The first Baptist Church in Newburgh was a colony from the Baptist Church of : nesday in March following a committee was appointed Pleasant Valley, who were set off by themselves April 24, 1790, and formally organized as the church at Newburgh on the 2d of June following. This church continued in existence until 1817. In the mean time (1803) Elder Luke Davis, a Baptist mis- sionary, raised a small congregation at Fostertown, which was incorporated with the original society. William Brundage served as pastor from 1790 to 1795; Levi Hall from 1796 to 1799, holding service one- third of the time; Jethro Johnson from 1799 to 1803; Luke Davis from 1803 to 1811; William C. Thomp- son, a licensed preacher, but not an ordained minister, from 1812 to 1815, and John Ellis from 1815 to 1817, whose time was equally divided between the New- From 1828 until 1834 there was no Baptist Church organization in the village. Dec. 23, 1834, however, a meeting was held "in the briek meeting-house, then owned by the Methodists, for the purpose of organ- izing a church. There were fonr ministers present, viz. : Parkinson, Bernard, Martin, and David James. : Having resolved to constitute a church, it was agreed that Elder Parkinson preach the sermon. Elder Mar- tin was appointed elerk. Elder Bernard gave the charge, and Elder Parkinson the right hand of fel- lowship. Elder David James was the first pastor of this church, it having been formed under his charge. The number of members at the time of its constitu- tion is said to have been 13. At the first church meeting, held January 10th, there were present three brethren and seven sisters. The three brethren were David James, the pastor ; William Mitchell, deacon ; and Joseph Chase, clerk." burgh and the Pleasant Valley Church. Nov. 18, 1817, the two churches were united under the title of the Union Church of Pleasant Valley and New- burgh, and continued in existence down to Dec. 5, 1840, when the last entry is made in the minutes. From 1817 to 1832 meetings were held alternately at Pleasant Valley, where a church edifice had been erected in 1786, and in the "Stone Meeting-house," as it was called, in Newburgh. After 1832 meetings were held at Pleasant Valley only, and practically the Newburgh branch of the society closed its exist- ence. The stone meeting-house which it occupied and its burial-ground were on the farm late of John Rodman, near Luptondale, on the Newburgh and Shawangunk plank-road. The building was about 30 feet square with walls about 20 feet high, 10 feet of which were stone, and covered by what is called a barrack roof, rising to about 25 feet in the centre. It was erected about the year 1806, and abandoned in 1832. The pulpit was on the west, the entrance on the east. In the adjoining burying-ground head- stones mark the resting-place of many of the founders and supporters of the church, among others of Deaeon Joseph Cauldwell and of Deacon William Winterton. A parsonage-house was also a part of the property, and Orange Lake was the baptismal font.

No effort appears to have been made to organize a church in the village of Newburgh until 1821. Bap- tist missionaries, however, frequently visited the place, and among others the Rev. Mr. Price, Charles Mais, and Thomas Powell, the latter afterwards or at that time (1820) pastor of the church at Cornwall. In 1817 the Hudson River Baptist Association made ar- rangements to supply the village with missionaries for one year. The Rev. Rufus Leonard held the first ser- viee under this arrangement in the academy on De- cember 14th. From the records of the present church it appears that on Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, 1821, a meeting was held at the residence of Lydia Ann

Hill, for the purpose of consulting in reference to the organization of the church. " As the result of this meeting, an invitation was sent to Elder Daniel C. Stears to visit the brethren and give them such coun- sel as circumstances required. On the fourth Wed- to draft articles of faith and covenant, which were pre- sented and adopted at a meeting held on April 11th. On May 16th the church was formally organized, William Pierce acting as moderator, and Lewis Leon- ard as clerk. There were fourteen members at the time of its constitution, five of whom were brethren. This church survived, with all the attending diffi- eulties usual to weak churches, until July 12, 1828. During its existence forty persons united with it, of whom only four were by baptism. The members at- tached to the church at the time of its dissolution re- moved their membership, and gradually all trace of it vanished."

Mr. James continued to serve as pastor until Jan- uary, 1838, when he resigned. The church does not appear to have gained mueh, in point of numbers, during his ministry. In April, 1838, Elder Spencer accepted a call to the pastorate, and served in that capacity until August following, when he resigned. The pulpit was temporarily supplied by Elder James until December, when Elder Van Gilder took the charge. He served until July, 1839, when Elder Daniel T. Hill accepted an invitation to supply the pulpit every Sabbath morning. This arrangement continued for only a few months. In July, 1840, Elder George Phippen accepted the pastorate, and remained in the charge until Nov. 1, 1842, when he resigned. During his ministry the condition of the society considerably improved. "Some old difficulties were removed, some prejudices which had long existed were broken down, and, as a denomination, some progress was made in gaining a more favorable opin- ion on the part of the community."

The Rev. C. A. Raymond succeeded Mr. Phippen, and entered upon his duties on the first Sabbath in

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November, 1842. He was a young man of superior talent and great energy, and under his ministry the church rapidly increased in membership. He re- signed the charge in 1844. The Rev. W. S. Clapp and the Rev. Thomas Applegate served the church as supplies until April, 1847. In November of that year a call was extended to the Rev. James Scott, who en- tered upon the duties of the pastorate in December, and held the station until Sept. 11, 1855, when he was removed by death. On May 4, 1856, the Rev. J. H. Castle accepted the vacant pastorate, and served until March, 1859. His successor, Rev. Isaac Wescott, en- tered upon the charge May 1, 1859, and continued pastor until Sept. 13, 1861. He was succeeded by Rev. G. W. Lasher, who became pastor in March, 1862, and resigned April 25, 1864. In October of the same year Rev. Lyman Wright entered upon the pas- toral work, continuing in the office until Dec. 31, 1868. His successor was Rev. E. W. Bliss, who ac- cepted the pastoral office April 1, 1869, and resigned April 1, 1872. Rev. John Quincy Adams entered upon the pastorate April 1, 1873, and resigned in 1877. The present pastor, Rev. Arthur Jones, became Mr. Adams' successor in 1879.

After its reorganization in 1834 the church held services in the old McIntosh house (formerly in use by St. George's), and from thence it removed to the old Methodist church on Liberty Street, which was purchased by the society. This building was sold in the spring of 1842 for $925, and on the third Sabbath in May of the same year the church commenced worship in Washington Hall. In 1849 an edifice was erected on the corner of Montgomery and Third Streets (now occupied by the First United Presbyterian society), and opened for public worship in the spring of 1850. In the fall of 1859 the society purchased a site on South Street and commenced the erection of the edifice which it now occupies. It is 52 by 90 feet, and is in the Roman style of architecture. The tower and spire are 175 feet high ; audience-room, 50 by 72 feet in the clear ; height of ceiling, 32 feet. The audience-room has 156 pews, and will seat about 800. The lecture-room in the basement is 50 by 55 feet, and has 100 pews; it was renovated in 1875. The cost of the building and lot was about $19,500. It is supplied with a baptistery and other modern appointments. It was dedicated on Wednesday, Ang. 15, 1860, on which occasion Dr. Hague, of New York, preached in the morning from Eph. iii. 19, and Dr. Gillette in the evening from Luke ii. 49.

Second Baptist Church .- In the summer of 1860 (Aug. 12th) Mr. John Hagan, Jr., opened a Sunday- school in what was known as the Crystal Palace build- ing, on the north side of Washington Street, and im- mediately thereafter a lot was procured on the oppo- site side of the street, and a small frame building erected at a cost of 8700. This building was opened Sept. 1, 1860, under the name of the " Scott Mission School." In the fall of 1867 a larger building of brick

was erected at a cost of $5000, and was opened for service on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1868. Missionaries were employed by the First Baptist Church to labor in con- nection with this mission until June 10, 1871, when 41 members were, at their own request, dismissed for the purpose of forming the Second Baptist Church, and on Sept. 6, 1871, that body was formally recog- mized by a Council as an independent church. Rev. John Gray, who had acted as a missionary, was soon after called and ordained to the pastorate, which office he filled up to the destruction of the building by fire, when the organization ceased.

Methodist Episcopal Churches .- Methodism was in- troduced in Newburgh by Rev. Ezekiel Cooper in 1786 .* In 1788 there were seven " classes," or infor- mal societies, in the town, viz. : Samuel Fowler's at Middlehope, Elnathan Foster's at Newburgh Village, Munson Ward's at Fostertown, George Stanton's at Gardnertown, Daniel Holmes' at Middlehope, and Luff Smith's near Marlborough. In 1808 the "New- burgh," or "Elnathan Foster's class," as it was orig- inally called, was organized into a church under the title of the "Methodist Episcopal Church in the Parish of Newburgh." Its trustees were Morgan Cole, Lewis Carter, William Baker, Joseph Cole, and George Westlake. It continued to be supplied by circuit preachers until 1820, when Rev. Samuel Fowler, its first located pastor, was appointed to the charge. Since that time the following ministers have held the station, viz. : 1820, Samuel Fowler ; 1821-22, Tobias Spicer; 1823, William Jewett; 1824-25, John D. Moriarty ; 1826-27, Thomas Mason ; 1828-29, Rob- ert Seney ; 1830-31, Stephen L. Stillman ; 1832-33, James Covell ; 1834, William Thatcher ; 1835-36, Seymour Landon ; 1837-38, John Kennedy ; 1839-40, Robert Seney ; 1841-42, Edmund E. Griswold ; 1843, Friend W. Smith ; 1844-45, Davis Stocking ; 1846-47, Zephaniah N. Lewis ; 1848-49, John L. Gilder ; 1850- 51, Abiathar M. Osbon ; 1852-53, Charles B. Sing ; 1854-55, Luther W. Peck ; 1856-57, Edwin R. Keyes ; 1858-59, John W. Beach ; 1860-61, Charles Shelling ; November, 1861, to April, 1862, John Parker; 1862, one year, M. D. C. Crawford ; 1863-66, GeorgeS. Hare ; 1866-69, John Miley; 1869-72, William P. Abbott ; 1872-75, Andrew Longacre; 1875, George S. Harc; 1878-79, DeLos Lull.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 76

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