History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 41

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798

USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 41

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The succession of pastors has been as follows: 1848-49, Arza J. Phelps; 1850, Byron Alden ; 1851-52, Orlando C. Cole ; 1853, John C. Vandercook, A.M .; 1854, S. C. Woodruff ; 1855-56, L. D. Ferguson, A.M .; 1857, A. J. Phelps ; 1858-59, Otis M. Legate; 1860-6I, J. C. Van- dercook, A.M .; 1862-63, L. D. White; 1864-66, Lewis Meredith ; 1867-69, H. M. Danforth; 1870-71, M. S. Wells; 1872-74, Albert L. Smalley, A.M .; 1875-76, James C. Stewart, A.M. ; 1877, M. Gaylord Bullock, A.M., Ph.D.

During the pastorate of Rev. M. S. Wells a parsonage was purchased-No. 104 East Fourth street-at a cost of three thousand dollars.

The church edifice was remodeled and improved in 1870. Its present value is about seven thousand dollars, and it has a seating capacity of five hundred.

The Sunday-school numbers two hundred and seventy- seven scholars, teachers, and officers. The present mem- bership of the church (September, 1877) is two hundred and fifty-three.

The official roll is as follows: Presiding Elder (Oswego district ), Rev. A. L. York ; Pastor, Rev. Dr. M. G. Bullock ; Local Elder, Rev. Morris Place; Sunday-school Superin- tendent, Geo. Goodier ; Assistant Sunday-school Superin- tendent, S. M. Coon ; Class-Leaders, David B. Blair, Geo. Bassett, John B. Edwards, Mrs. George Goodier ; Stewards, Alex. Cropsey, William McChesney, S. M. Coon, Athelbert Cropsey, Geo. G. Warren, A. K. Gillmore, H. W. Wallace, James P. Tuttle, A. Bartlett ; Trustees, John B. Edwards,

M. F. Carpenter, T. II. Butler, M. J. Wallace, C. II. Wood- ruff, N. Williams, J. J. Van Wagenen, Thos. E. Faulkner.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

St. Mary's church, Roman Catholic, worships in a frame building, on the corner of West Sixth and Cayuga streets. The church edifice is one hundred and ten by fifty-two feet, with a handsome tower one hundred and thirty feet high, bell and clock, side chapel, sacristy, commodious bascment, and a wide stoop in the front, leading to its three doors through a flight of thirteen steps. It was commenced in 1848, completed in 1849, and dedicated in 1850, by his eminence Cardinal McCloskey, then bishop of Albany. Its founder and first pastor was Rev. F. E. Foltier, a native of France, sent here at the request of a number of French and French-Canadian families. But these proved too few and poor to erect a building, therefore Father Foltier so- licited and obtained the aid of American and of Irish Cath- olies, who, just then, were anxious to have a church in the west side, of which they might also have the benefit. Ac- cordingly, when the new church was opened to divine wor- ship, more than half the pews were at once rented by English-speaking people; and when a school was started in the basement, two English-speaking teachers, Misses IIalli- gan and Gilmore, were employed.

St. Mary's church, therefore, had, from its commence- ment, a mixed congregation. In July, 185I, Rev. Father Foltier, being somewhat discouraged, left his charge, and soon became pastor of St. Vincent De Paul, in New Or- leans. Rev. James Keveny, an Irish priest, succeeded him, but he left for St. Peter's, Troy, in 1852, and was succeeded by Rev. F. Guerdet, a native of France. During the administration of the latter, besides many other im- provements, the Sisters of St. Joseph were introduced to teach in the parochial school, and a fine house was pur- chased for them, in Sixth street, to which several additions were afterwards made. To make room for one of these additions, Father Guerdet removed the parsonage, pre- viously built by Father Foltier, from Sixth strect to a lot in the rear of the church, on Cayuga street. This is the present parsonage, now the property of the congregation, who paid three thousand dollars for it to Rev. F. Guerdet.

In 1867, Father Guerdet was promoted to St. John's church, of Syracuse, and the Rev. Louis Griffa, a native of Italy, was appointed to his place in Oswego. His first care was to complete another addition to the school-house com- menced by his predecessor. This house is now a very fine and commodious building, three stories high, serving for sisters' convent and for orphan asylum, and having six large class-rooms, capable of accommodating four hundred and fifty scholars. No orphans are now kept by the sisters, for want of means.

The congregation of St. Mary's had now become exceed- ingly large, owing both to the immigration of French- Canadians and to the rapid growth of the Irish population. The new church of St. John's was therefore erected in the Fifth ward, through the exertions of Rev. F. Lowery, a clever and zealous American priest, who thus took away from St. Mary's about half of its English-speaking people. But the French, who in 1867 had dwindled down to fifty-

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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

four names on the pew-book, had now swelled up to about four hundred. The idea therefore arose of forming them into a separate congregation. In 1870, Father Griffa ob- tained the appointment of Rev. F. X. Pelletier, of Quebec, to undertake this task. The understanding was that he should temporarily hold special services for the French in St. Mary's, and afterwards procure for them, with the help, of course, of the rest, a separate church in another locality.

Difficulties, however, arose which caused a delay of eighteen months in the execution of the projected separa- tion. At last the trustees of St. Mary's accepted the terms proposed by the trustecs of the newly-formed French cor- poration, and purchased for them Mead's hall, on the east side, at a cost of seven thousand dollars, adding five hun- dred dollars cash to help them fit it up as a church. The French finally left St. Mary's church in December, 1871, for what is now called St. Louis' church. The congrega- tion of St. Mary's has since been composed exclusively of English-speaking Roman Catholics, mostly Irish or of Irish descent, and comprises about one hundred and fifty families. Sinee that time many other improvements have been intro- duced in the church edifice, among which are a fine new organ of thirty-two stops, and a magnificent altar, brilliantly illuminated and beautifully decorated with statuary.

CHURCH OF THE EVANGELISTS.

This church was organized July 29, 1850, by sixty-four communicants of Christ church, who withdrew from that body in consequence of dissatisfaction with the teachings of the rector. The first wardens were Joseph Grant and William Dolloway; the vestry was composed of William Schuyler Malcom, James Brown, D. H. Marsh, Elias Trowbridge, J. B. Colwell, Ira Adkin, P. H. Hard, and Milton Harmon. James Brown was chosen clerk and treasurer, and William Dolloway and James Brown dele- gates to the diocesan convention, held August 1, 1851, at which time the parish was taken into union with the con- vention.

On the 29th of November, 1850, Rev. George W. Horne was called to the rectorship. During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Horne a fund was started for the erection of a suitable house of worship, and on the 1st of July, 1851, the corner-stone of the proposed edifice was laid, an address being delivered by H. W. Lee, D.D., tbe present bishop of Iowa. During this year ill health caused the withdrawal of the rector, and he subsequently went as a missionary to Africa, where he died. Rev. Mason Gallagher beeame rector of the church January I, 1852. About this time - Joseph Grant resigned his position as senior warden, and O. J. Harmon was elected to fill the vacancy. The build- ing was finally completed, and, through the efforts of the ladies of the parish, was furnished with a fine organ. The first service was held in the new structure December 5, 1852. William Dolloway, the senior warden, died in March, 1860, and Henry Adriance was elected in his place.

In 1861 the rector, Rev. Mr. Gallagher, entered the United States service as chaplain of the Twenty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers. During his absence the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Joseph Kidder. At the ex- piration of eight mouths Mr. Gallagher returned, and find-

ing the church still under a heavy debt, went to New York, where he succeeded in securing contributions for the society amounting to the sum of three thousand dollars, making a total of four thousand three hundred dollars, which he had obtained for the church from the cities of New York and Brooklyn.

The society. now made a herculean effort to free the church from debt, and succeeded; and, on the 18th of July, 1865, it was duly consecrated by the Right Rev. A. Cleveland Coxe, the bishop of western New York. On the 17th of July, 1865, Daniel H. Marsh was chosen warden. Rev. Mason Gallagher resigned February 6, 1866. The following persons have officiated as rectors of the church from that time to the present, viz. : Rev. J. H. C. Boute, from June 1, 1866, to June 10, 1870; Rev. E. H. Jewett, from August 1, 1870, to April 30, 1873; Rev. C. Collard Adams, from June 9, 1873, to November 1, 1874; and the Rev. J. L. Burrows, the present pastor, since January 11, 1875.

During Mr. Jewett's administration, Benjamin Doolittle was chosen warden, vice Harmon resigned. Mr. Marsh died in August, 1876, and A. S. Norton was chosen warden in his place.

The present officers of the church are as follows, viz. : Wardens, Benjamin Doolittle and A. S. Norton ; Vestrymen, M. P. Neal, R. T. Morrow, H. A. Cozzens, H. R. Bond, John Smith (2d), Charles Doolittle, Thomas Moore, and Max B. Richardson.

There is a flourishing mission, called St. John's, in con- neetion with this church, which was founded in 1867. It is located on the corner of Tenth and Mitchell streets, and services are held there every Sunday afternoon by either the rector of the parent church or a lay reader. There are twenty-five communicants and seventy-five members of the chapel Sunday-school.

At the first meeting after the withdrawal from Christ church a Sunday-school was organized, with eighteen scholars, under the superintendency of Hon. O. J. Harmon. It rapidly increased in numbers, and at one time numbered six hundred members. It is now in a highly prosperous con- dition under the superintendency of R. T. Morrow. Sixty members from this school and church entered the service of the United States during the late Rebellion.

The parish is in a flourishing condition, and is annually extending its range of usefulness. The last annual report exhibits a membership of two hundred and fifty-two. The church edifice is pleasantly located on the corner of East Second and Oneida streets, and is a commodious and sub- stantial structure.

THE WEST BAPTIST CHURCH.

The West Baptist church was organized in the old city hall May 3, 1852, by forty-two Baptist believers (twenty males and twenty-two females), all of whom had been dis- missed for this purpose from the parent church on the cast side of the river. The following are their names : Rev. Isaae Butterfield, Isaac Perry, Thomas Kingsford, Henry Kingsford, Benjamin Austin, Sobieski Burt, David Har- mon, Jr., E. H. Mack, Denison Allen, Seldin Clark, Wil- liam H. Gardner, E. A. Potter, Daniel Pond, Frank W.

RESIDENCE OF E . G. JONES, 252 SYRACUSE AVE, OSWEGO, N.Y.

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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Potter, W. W. Mack, R. L. Maek, V. C. Douglass, Horace Garlick, Charles A. Garlick, Sarah A. Butterfield, Nancy Mason, Sally Perry, Elizabeth Kingsford, Aun Thompson, Catherine Austin, Elizabeth Burt, Electa Mellen, Emily Ilarmon, Ann Eliza IIarmon, Velonia Harmon, Sylvia Girstin, Emma E. Mack, Margrette Clark, Almira E. Tyler, Luey House, Martha L. Gardner, M. A. Potter, J. S. Ames, Mary C. Mack, Susan J. Mack.

Their first place of meeting was the supreme court room, in the old city hall on Water street, their first pastor being the Rev. Isaac Butterfield. Subsequent places of meeting were the Doolittle hall and the " Old Tabernaele," on West Second street, between Bridge and Oneida streets, until the present edifice was completed on the corner of West Third and Mohawk streets. David Harmon, E. HI. Maek, and Sobieski Burt became the first deacons, D. Allen the first clerk, Thomas Kingsford the first treasurer.

In August, 1853, a council, representing several Baptist churches in the county, convened in the old Presbyterian church, and recognized this body as a regular Baptist church. The pastors, from the time of organization to the present, have been as follows: Isaac Butterfield, 1853- 55; S. W. Titus, 1855-57; A. G. Bowles, 1857-58; E. W. Bliss, 1858-61. Then followed an interregnum of eighteen months, during which the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Messrs. Forey and Chapell. Subsequent pastors were H. M. Richardson, 1862-64; M. B. Comfort, 1864-66; D. C. Hughes, 1866-69; Isaae Butterfield, 1869-75; Charles H. Watson, 1875, present incumbent.

The church edifice is probably the most substantial in the city, and is complete in all of its appointments. It is of briek, with limestone trimmings, Romanesque in style, and in size sixty-two by one hundred and fourteen feet. The tower is one hundred and twenty-seven feet in height. It was dedicated with appropriate serviees April 18, 1867, Rev. Drs. Thomas Armitage, of New York, V. R. Hotch- kiss, of Buffalo, and A. S. Patton, of Utica, participating. The cost of the edifice was seventy thousand dollars.

The Sabbath-school was organized in 1853, with a mem- bership of one hundred and twenty-five, the first superin- tendent being David Harmon. The present membership is four hundred and fifty ; present superintendent, W. II. Kenyon. The Sunday-school library is one of the largest in the country, containing three thousand six hundred and seventy-seven volumes. The church owns and sustains a flourishing mission-school,-" Hope chapel," West Bridge street,-which was organized in 1867. The chapel was erected in 1868. The present membership of the chapel is two hundred, the superintendent being Prof. C. W. Richards. The value of the chapel property is eighteen thousand dollars.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

On the 20th day of February, 1857, a meeting of those interested in forming a Congregational society was held in the church formerly belonging to the Second Presbyterian society, that body having been dissolved and the real estate given to the new enterprise. At this meeting the following persons were elected the first board of trustees, viz., D. A. Braman, Charles North, C. P. Kellogg, E. A. Sheldon,

Franklin Everts, Solon Allen, John Staats, and E. J. Ilamilton.

On the 20th of July, 1857, a public organization of a Congregational church in union with the society took place at Doolittle hall. Rev. M. E. Strieby, of Syracuse, was elected moderator, and Rev. Henry Fowler, of Rochester, was chosen scribe. On this occasion twenty-eight persons connected themselves with the church. Within a month after, twenty-eight additional persons were received into membership, making a total of fifty-six.

The publie services of laying the corner-stone of a new church edifice for the society took place on the 2d day of September, 1857. The ceremonies comprised reading of Scriptures and prayer by Rev. A. J. Phelps, of Oswego, and an appropriate address by Rev. II. G. Ludlow, of Poughkeepsie, who deposited in the corner-stone a tin box containing the Holy Bible, Confession of Faith and Cove- nant adopted by this church, the manual of the church, and six daily newspapers.

In the spring of 1858 the society had so far progressed in the erection of their new edifice, located on the corner of East Fourth and Oneida streets, as to be able to hold their meetings in the commodious lecture-room. Rev. Henry G. Ludlow, of Poughkeepsie, accepted a call from the church and society, and entered upon his pastoral labors in Sep- tember of that year.

The church edifice being completed on the 13th of April, 1859, both dedicatory and installation services were held in it. Rev. Henry G. Ludlow was installed pastor by an ecclesiastical eouneil, of which the Rev. Ray Palmer, D.D., of Albany, was moderator. The dedicatory services took place in the evening, and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. R. W. Condit, D.D., of Oswego, and the Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr., D.D., of Brooklyn, who preached the dedicatory sermon.

The church building is of brick, sixty by ninety-six feet, with one hundred and twenty-five pews, seating six hundred, and has eost, with organ and furniture, thirty-five thousand dollars.

In May, 1865, on account of failing health, Mr. Ludlow resigned his pastorate. Rev. S. S. N. Greeley became acting pastor in January, 1866. He was succeeded in 1874 by Rev. William Smith, who, after supplying the pulpit for one year, was installed as pastor September 22, 1875. The congregation numbers about one hundred families. The membership of the church is two hundred and seventy- seven. The Sabbath-school connected with this church numbers three hundred and thirty-six, with a library of five hundred volumes. II. M. Harman was the first super- intendent. He was succeeded in 1858 by Professor E. J. Hamilton, who has held the office until the present time.

ST. PAUL'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Under the labors of Revs. Stahlschmidt and Fischer, a small band of German Lutherans was organized into a con- gregation about the year 1857. Among the prominent members of this organization who took a principal part in gathering up the German element into a mission of the general synod of the Lutheran church of America were

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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Lawrence Kirschner, Louis Kiehm, Paul Scherman, John Kline.

The first place of meeting was in the hall above Hart's dry goods store.

About the year 1859 a church was built on the corner of East Sixth and Lawrence streets. The first stationed pastor was Rev. Jacob Post, who labored here eleven years, and was followed by Rev. J. D. Severinghans. He labored here three years and eight months. Under his adminis- tration a parsonage was built. He was succeeded by Rev. F. A. Conradi, the present pastor, who has labored here four years.

Professor Poucher, of the Normal school, was the first Sunday-school superintendent, and still holds that position. The number of Sunday-school pupils is about a hundred and fifty. The church property is valned at seven thousand dollars.

THE CONGREGATION BERITH SHOLEM (HEBREW).

This congregation was organized January 6, 1858, with the following officers : President, A. S. Garson ; Vice-Presi- dent, M. Rypinsky ; Treasurer, S. Goldberg ; Secretary, M. I. Garson. It has held regular services during a large part of the time since its organization, its first rabbi being the Rev. Mr. Weiland, and the last the Rev. Mr. Rehfelt. The latter, however, left about a year since, and his place has not yet been filled. It was legally incorporated May 5, 1863.

The following are the present officers of the congrega- tion : President, Garson Meyer; Vice-President, R. Eliken ; Secretary, Jacob David ; Treasurer, A. Freundlich.

ST. PETER'S CHURCH.

The first German priest who worked here among his countrymen was the Redemptorist Father Joseph Wissel, on the occasion of a mission in St. Mary's church in 1856. The Franciscan fathers from Syracuse began to visit the German Catholics in 1859, holding service for them in St. Mary's church. On the 16th of September, 1860, the St. Boniface society was organized for raising money towards erecting a new church, the members obligating themselves to pay a certain sum every three months for two years. These first members were Keidon Altman, Andrew Baltes, Andrew Baltes, Jr., Joseph Baltes, J. Adam Benzing, John Braun, Math. Braunschweig, Lewis Brose- mer, Edward Damm, Conrad Dehm, Leopold Dehm, Wen- del Dehm, George Ebert, Peter Endres, John Englert, Aloys Fahrenshon, Henry Fleischmann, John Forster, John Hanselmann, Felix Hartmann, Wilh. Heidinger, Peter Heinsdorf, John Herberger, Mich. Hiermer, Panir. Himp- ler, Andrew Hirschbolz, Joseph Hirschbolz, Frani Hofman, Joseph Hover, Michael Hut, Joseph Hamberger, Henry Jaikel, John Kern, Conrad Koeh, Frani Koch, George Koch, Aloys Koenig, Franc. Likl, Bern. Leim, Joseph Meyer, Xaver Moosbrugger, Frani Morschhaeuser, Peter Nenmann, Aloys Pfeiffer, George Ridl, John Roesch, Joseph Roesch, Joseph Rohrmüller, J. Philip Schaefer, Conrad Schil- ling, J. George Schilling, Adam Schickling, Hath. Schneider, Chas. Speck, Anthony Streidl, George Wafter, Joseph Walter, Mich. Weidmann, Sebastian Weigelt, Wilh. Wei- gelt, Fred. Wieding, Peter Ziegler, and John Zimmer.

Among these And. Baltes, Lewis Brosemer, and Joseph Hover took especial interest in the work above mentioned.

With the approbation of the Right Rev. John McCloskey, bishop of Albany, the corner-stone of St. Peter's church was laid by Rev. Father Leopold, O.M.C., in 1862, on the corner lot of East Albany and Seventh streets, purchased for nine hundred dollars from P. Lippin. The building, a frame, is forty-three by seventy-four feet, with a steeple seven by thirteen, John O'Hanlon being the builder. The church was dedicated by the same father the 6th of De- cember, 1863, the dedication being followed by a successful mission conducted by the Fathers Anthony Gerber, O.M.C., and Bonaventura Corney, O.M.C.

The Franciscan fathers of Syracuse retained the charge of the mission, Father Oderic Vogt being first pastor.

On the 14th of February, 1864, the stations of the holy cross were erected. In the same year the new pipe- organ was bought.

On the 10th of June, 1865, the house of Mr. Jos. Builtes, with lot, was bought for fourteen hundred dollars, and greatly improved for a parsonage.

Ou the 16th of July the main altar, given by the Ger- man Catholics of Syracuse, was erected. A small bell, taken in 1863, by the permission of their commander, by a German regiment of Syracuse, from a city hall in South Carolina, and subsequently used in Syracuse, was also given to the church.

In October Father Oderic was succeeded by Father Leopold Moczygemba, commissary-general of the Francis- cans.

In April, 1866, a frame school-house, thirty-six feet by fifty-one, was built for twenty-eight hundred and sixty-one dollars, on the spacious lot between the church and the parsonage. The 17th of September, it was dedicated to the honor of St. Therese by the pastor, and given in charge of three sisters of St. Francis,-Mother Mary Anne Kop, Sister H. Agnes Spang, and Sister M. Hildegardis Knaus, who resided in the school-house. September 23, the St. Joseph's aid society was organized, and Mr. Peter Schill- ing made first president ; George Koch, vice-president ; L. Brosemer, treasurer ; Peter Endres, secretary.

In May, 1868, Father Leopold was called to Rome, Italy, and several fathers from the convent of Syracuse took charge of the parish until, in May, 1869, Father Oderic became permanent pastor again.

In November, 1870, the charge of the mission, hitherto so faithfully cared for, was given into the hands of the first secular priest, Rev. Joseph Ottenhues. He removed to Troy, New York, and was succeeded on the 25th of Feb- ruary, 1871, by Rev. Chas. Zucker, who remained until the 18th of October, 1874, when Rev. J. Herman Wibbe was appointed pastor.

The Centennial year was celebrated by buying three new bells, weighing thirty-five hundred and fifty-nine pounds, which were solemnly blessed in the evening of May 9, by the Right Rev. Bishop MeNierney, administrator of the diocese of Albany, assisted by the clergy of the city and others. Great improvements were also made in the church by placing statuary, etc., and the grounds around were greatly improved.

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HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The congregation at the present time numbers about one hundred and twenty families; the school is in charge of five sisters, teaching nearly one hundred and fifty children. There are four societies connected with the church. The valuation of the real estate is twelve thousand five hundred dollars.

CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST (CATHOLIC).

In 1869, the Right Rev. J. J. Conroy, bishop of Albany, appointed the Rev. J. F. Lowery pastor of a new congrega- tion to be formed in the south west part of the city of Oswego. He immediately set about the work intrusted to his charge. Ile purchased a site from T. Carrington, and procured the erection of a frame building, which answered for a temporary place of worship.

A brick church was begun in the spring of 1870, the corner-stone being laid by the Rev. pastor on the 10th of July of the same year. The new church was ready for use on the 12th of November, 1871. The Right Rev. J. J. Conroy dedicated the new church on the 14th day of July, 1872, in the presence of an immense congregation and of reverend clergymen.

The Rev. Daniel O'Connell, the present pastor, received his appointment on the 25th of April, 1875, from the Right Rev. F. MeNeirney, coadjutor-bishop and adminis- trator of the diocese of Albany. The principal contribu- tors towards the erection of the new church were Delos De Wolf, Thomas S. Mott, Bart. Lynch, Michael Cum- mings, Aaron Colnon, James Hennessey.

The Rev. Father Lowery introdneed the Sisters of St. Joseph, of Carondelet, who taught a school for boys and girls for a period of three years, beginning in the year 1872; but they were obliged to leave in consequence of the destruction of the school-house by fire.

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History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 41

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798