USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 38
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
JOHN BARRETT,
son of D. R. and Cyrene Barrett, was born in Manhein, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1827. At the age of live he settled in Edmeston with his parents. As his fati. ; was a farmer, John was reared to habits of inha-try as 1 economy on the farm, which principles he carried with letu
150
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
throughout a successful business life. As soon as he was able to work he was hired out by his father on the farm, in order to aid in paying for his parents' home. He contin- ued at this for several years. He was married to Miss Charissa Deming, of Edmestou, Sept. 19, 1852, by whom one son-Geo. D .- was born Dee. 4, 1864. Mrs. Charissa Barrett was born in Edmeston, July 8, 1832. Soon after marriage he commenced business for himself, and the fine property he accumulated shows the success which attended all his business operations. By his untiring energy and good judgment he became one of the foremost in his chosen occupation. Besides the duties of the farm he was engaged in the flour and lumber business with Edgar Bassett, at Edmeston, and it was not until Oct. 15, 1877, that he sold out his half-interest to his partner, conscious of the fact that his time on earth was short. He built his beau- tiful fine farm residence, in which his widow and son now reside, in 1860, and in that year settled on the home, where he continued to live till he was summoned, Jan. 8, 1878, to occupy a better " mansion" in the "Summer Land of Rest." As a citizen he was honest, trustworthy, respected, and esteemed; as a friend, sineere and true; as a husband and father, kind, faithful, and devoted. He had a very strong attachment for his family, and often did he express a desire that he might live to see his only son-George- grow to manhood's years, and well established in life. He had no apprehension of the future, and was firm in the faith that all would be well.
In polities he affiliated with the Republican party. In business eireles, and as a son and brother, he will be missed. .
A fine view of his residence, and portraits of himself and wife above, may be seen in another part of this work.
CHAPTER XXXIX. TOWN OF EXETER.
Organization -Geographical-Topographical - First Settlers and their Locations-Initial Events-Incidents -- First Town-Meeting -Officers Elected-Supervisors and Town Clerks from 1799 to 1878 -Agricultural and General Statistics-Aren-Assessed and Equal- ized Valuation-Population from 1800 to 1875.
TuIs town was formed from Richfield, March 25, 1799. It is an interior town lying northwest of the centre of the county, and is bounded as follows, viz. : on the north, by Plainfield and Richfield; on the east, by Richfield, Oaks ereek, and Schuyler's Lake, which separate it from the town of Otsego; on the south, by Otsego and Burlington ; and on the west, by Burlington and Plainfield.
The surface is generally hilly, somte of the elevations reaching a height of five hundred feet above the valleys. It is drained by Herkimer and Sutherland ereeks, which flow into Schuyler's Lake, and Butternut and Wharton's creeks, which empty into the Unadilla river. A small stream, called Rockdunder creek, rises in the southwestern part, and is a tributary of Wharton's creek. . The soil of Exeter is a clayey loam mixed with gravel, and is well adapted to grazing.
The permanent settlement of this town was begun in 1789, by Major John Tuunicliff and William Angell.
Major Tunnieliff located near Schuyler's Lake, in the south- castern part of the town, on lands now owned by J. Fern. Ile was a prominent citizen, and did much toward the int- provement of this locality. He-reared a large family. Oue daughter, Mrs. Judd, now about seventy-five years of age, resides at Schuyler's Lake.
William Angell, who settled contemporaneously with Major Tunuicliff, came from Rhode Island, and located on what has subsequently been known as "Angell's Hill," in school district No. 3. His family consisted of six sons and several daugliters. The sons were Caleb, Joshua, Prentiss, Stephen, Robinson, and William G., all of whom were es- tecmed citizens. William G. was an influential man, and represented this district in congress ; Joshua settled on the farm where II. Fay now resides, and Thomas Angell on premises owned by Milton Taylor. David R. and Joseph, sons of Caleb Angell, are residents of the town. The foriner resides on the old homestead, and the latter at Exeter Centre, on the farm formerly owned by Dr. Buck- ingham.
Among the many worthy pioneers who left the " laud of steady habits" and sought homes in what was then con- sidered the " western wilderness," was Jonathan Angell, who located in Burlington in 1806, and a few years later in this town. He settled on the farm now occupied by Marvin T. Matterson. His family consisted of nine chil- dren, only one of whom survives, viz., Jonathan Angell, at the advanced age of seventy-five, who resides at Exeter Centre.
Other early settlers in this vicinity were Seth Tubbs, Ja- eob Goble, and Caleb Clark. At West Exeter the pioneers were Seth Tubbs, Bethel Martin, Amos and Hull Thomas.
On the Angell farm a little mound may now be seen which marks the remains of one of the first log houses built in the town. This primitive domicile was ereeted by Jacob Goble. It seems that Mr. G. forestalled the march of in- ternal improvements, loeating this house before the high- way was surveyed. The survey and laying out of the road left it back about fifty rods.
A few years' occupaney of this building convinced him that he was too far " back in the woods," and in 1806 he erected a frame house on the road, 26 by 30 feet. This building is now standing, and on the chimney may still be seen the figures indicating the date of erection, "1806."
The early settlements in the vicinity of Schuyler's Lake were made by George, Harry, and Abram Herkituer, and William Lickell. On the place subsequently knowu as the " Ilerkimer farm" a small improvement had been made prior to the Revolution.
One of the prominent and early settlers of the town was Levi Beardsley, who came to the " Herkimer farm" with his father in 1790. He remained here one or two years, and then removed to Richfield.
We give the reader a glimpse of those early days, subs ?- quently pictured by Mr. Beardsley. Their advent into this region he thus happily describes :
" We left our eastern home with a cart, one or two wagons, one or two yoke of oxen, three or four horses, and a few cattle, sheep, and hogs. The roads were excessively bad, and we took but little household goods with us. My
151
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
mother was left behind with a sick child. My sister, about two years younger than myself, was, with me, stowed away in the cart or wagon, among the chairs and furniture, and put under the care of a girl brought up by my grandfather."
Some distance this side of Canajoharie they abandoned their vehicles, in consequence of the bad condition of the roads, and proceeded on their journey :
" Some of the party drove the live stock, and went on the best way they could. My father put a saddle on one of the horses, and on another packed a bed and bedding, on which the girl was to ride. I was placed on the horse behind him, on a pillow tied to the saddle, with a strap under my arms buckled around his waist to prevent me from falling off, and carrying my sister before him, we pursued our journey, the girl, Sukey, riding the other horse on the top of the bed and bedding, and a yearly colt tagging after. This consti- tuted the cavalcade so far as my father and his family were concerned."
Their destination was finally reached, and soon after Mr. Beardsley's father returned to the east and brought his wife and sick child to the new country. He says,-
"She rode the horse on a man's saddle, and carried the child, my father in a patriarchal manner walking by her side ; and thus the family were at length reunited in the woods, at the foot of the beautiful lake, and by the side of the fine little stream known as 'Herkimer creek,' then full of fish, particularly the speckled trout."
It may not be uninteresting to the dwellers of to-day, who are favored by mills and railroads, and live in costly homes, surrounded by the comforts and improvements of the nine- teenth century, to glance at an Exeter dwelling of 1790. Mr. Beardsley says,-
" The house that we moved into was a small log cabin, the body laid up, and part, though not the whole, of the roof was covered with black ash and elin-bark, which had been peeled from the trees at the season when. bark is taken off easily. When opened out and put on the roof, and pressed down with poles or small timbers, the rough side exposed to the weather, it makes a good roof, that will last several years and shed the rain quite well. One house was partially covered, and when it rained we had to put our effects .and get ourselves under that part which was sheltered. The floor was made of basswood logs, split and hewed partially on one side, and then spiked down, making a good substantial floor, but ouly about half of ours was laid. We had no fireplace or chimney, and till this was built the cooking must all be done out of doors. A place for the door was eut out so that we could go in, but no door had been made, nor had we any way of fastening the door- way except by barricading. There was, of course, no cham- ber floor, though this was supplied by loose boards subse- ¿quently obtained. A mud-and-stick chimney and fireplace were afterwards added as the weather beenme cool; and to get earth or clay to make mortar to damb the house and take the chimney a hole was dug under the floor, which was our only cellar, in which, in winter, we put a few bushels of potatoes and turnips, and took up one of the flattened logs from the floor whenever we wanted anything from below. I have said there was no door when we moved in. My father, on reaching the house with my mother and
family, suspended a blanket at the doorway to keep out part of the night air."
At this time there were no stores in the vicinity, and the settlers were obliged to journey long distances to a gri -:- mill, the nearest being located at Toddsville, about three miles from Cooperstown.
The first grist-mill in the town was erected on Herkimer creek by John Hartshorn, on premises now owned by Seth L. Bliss. He also built the first saw-mill, on lands now owned by John Sutherland.
The pioneers were compelled to travel many miles for the necessaries of life, and it was no small acquisition to this new settlement when C. Jones, in 1810, opened a store at Schnyler's Lake.
The first hotel at Schuyler's Lake was kept by Eliphalet Brock way, on the site now occupied by Veber's hotel.
The pioneer merchant at Exeter Centre was Bailey Plumb.
The first tannery was erected near Exeter Centre by Ransom Comstock.
The first survey of roads in Exeter was made by Julgo Peck, of Burlington, and the first frame bridge was built over what is known as the " gulf."
John Philipps was an early settler and pioneer carpenter and joiner. He erected one of the first frame houses in town, now occupied by Deacon Philipps.
Many years after the first settlements were made. each settler attended to his own horseshoeing, but as the popu- lation increased this was abandoned, and the demand for blacksmiths became a pressing necessity. Among the first at Exeter Centre is mentioned the name of Ira Perry, and at Schuyler's Lake, Samuel and Joseph Hartshorn.
One of the first schools in the town was kept by Azubah White, in a log building, in 1806.
Major Tunuicliff built the first distillery, on the Fern farm, soon after his settlement, and Ebin Hartsson erected the first tannery, on the premises now occupied by H. J. Baker.
One of the earliest settlers at Schuyler's Lake was Ien- drick Herkimer, a member of the celebrated Herkiu :. ; family, which occupied such a prominent position dur !!! the border wars. In 1774 a rude cabin was erected on Herkimer creek by a family named Schuyler, who occupied it during the Revolution. This family succeeded in main- taining a strict neutrality during that struggle, and was not molested by the savages, who carried war throughout every other portion of the county where a white settler had >- cured a foothold.
This locality was often visited by sconts from Fort Her- . kimer during the Revolution, and it is related that whet Brant and his dusky legion were prowling in the vicinity of Schuyler Lake, au intrepid scout, named Abram Her- kimer, penetrated the forest as far as Deerlick creek. flere he found a band of the savages engaged in a triumphant war-dance, the woods resounding with their demoni . I .... He immediately returned to the fort, but too late to att is the garrison of the movements of the Indians, and on th . following day the dusky warriors attacked the settlein a at Cherry Valley, where occurred the most inhuman trisst- cre recorded in the annals of our country. Selmuyler's Like
152
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
was a favorite haunt of the savages, and many scouts were sent from time to time to watch their movements. Soon after the adventure of Ilerkimer, one Smith, a seout of considerable notoriety, undertook the perilous task of visit- ing this point. Ile reached the cabins of the Schuyler family mentioned above, where he remained one night, and continued his precarious wanderings. The day follow- ing he came upon two savages, one of whom he killed, and upon returning to the cabin of the Schuylers he was told that a party of warriors were in the vicinity, and if he held his life at a farthing's value he would immediately fly to the fort. Hle rau nearly the entire distance to Fort Herkimer, and died two weeks afterwards from exhaustion.
THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
The first town-ineeting was held in 1799, and the follow- ing officers elected, viz. :
Supervisor .- Thomas Brooks. Town Clerk .- Minerva Cushman.
. Assessors .- Seth Warren, Agur Curtis, John Martin.
Commissioners of Highways .- Joseph Rouud, Caleb Clark, Anderson Beekwith.
Overseers of the Poor .- Thomas Angell, Caleb Clark.
Constables .- Joel Cass, Garshom Palmer, Charles Lewis. Collector .- David Hollister.
The following persons have served the town as super- visors and town clerks from 1799 to 1878, viz. : Thomas Brooks, Humphrey Pahner, Jared Munson, Jeremiah Rob- erson, Thomas Nedger, Ager Curtis, Elijah Babcock, Samuel Beckwith, Cornelius Jones, Seth Hubbard, Jede- diah P. Sill, Allen Lidell, C. Il. Brooks, George G. May, George C. Cushman, D. W. Patrick, D. F. Liddell, Edward Andrews, Martin Austin, B. W. Lidell, J. F. Gray.
Clerks .- Minerva Cushman, Humphrey Palmer, Ander- son Beckwith, Cornelius Jones, Jeuks S. Sprague, Naboth Buckingham, Cyrus Turney, L. Il. Robinson, W. C. Harp, W. P. Jones, D. F. Lidell, John F. Gray, C. F. Thompson, John Chappell, L. O. Veber, E. A. Taylor, Judson Durfy.
The officers for 1877 are as follows: Supervisor .- John F. Gray.
Town Clerk .- Judson Durfey.
Justice .- W. P. Jones.
Commissioner of Highicays .- J. Pope.
Assessor .- Milton P. West. Collector .- Wm. A. Johnson.
Overscer of the Poor .- B. Rose.
Town Auditors .- Daniel Veber, N. H. Southworth, and A. P. Watson.
Constables .- Wm. A. Johnson, Win. McGarity, J. Allen, Cifas. Palmer.
Excise Commissioner .- Geo. D. Bowers.
AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL STATISTICS, 1865.
Aeres of improved land, 14,547 ; cash value of farms, 8721,320; acres of plowed land, 1604; acres of pasture, 6936; acres of meadow, 4941 ; tous of hay, 5220 ; bushels of spring wheat harvested, 211 ; bushels of winter wheat, 130 ; bushels of oats ( 1864), 15.596 ; bushels of barley, 462; bushels of buck wheat, 1373 ; bu-hels of Indian corn, 6264; bushels of potatoes, 12,936 ; bushels of peas, 286; bushels
of beans, 29; bushels of turnips, 465; pounds of hops, 103,628 ; pounds of maple sugar, 22, 432 ; pounds of honey. 2027 ; pounds of butter, 53,781 ; pounds of cheese, 359,950.
Exeter has an area of 18,895 acres, and its assessed val- uation is 8305,939, and its equalized valuation is 8347, 668.
Agricultural Statistics, 1875 .- Aeres plowed, 1860 ; in pasture, 7947 ; tons of hay produced, 7349; bushels bar- ley, 536; buckwheat, 2431; eorn, 13,176; oats, 27,894; rye, 30; spring wheat, 73; winter wheat, 206; peas, 110; pounds of hops, 36,582 ; potatoes, 22,478 ; barrels of cider, 428 ; butter made, 66,310 pounds; cheese, 21,590 ; pork made ou farms, 88,451.
POPULATION.
1800 ..
712 : 1845 1487
1810
1418
1850
1526
1814
1421
1855
1340
1820
I430
1860
15.0
1825
1588
1$65
1445
1830.
1690 |1870
1256
1835
I462
1875 1524
1840
1423
CHAPTER XL.
TOWN OF EXETER-Continued.
Congregational Church, Exeter-Methodist Episcopal Church, Exc- ter-Baptist Church, Exeter-Methodist Episcopal, of West Exe- ter-Free-Will Baptist Church, Schuyler's Lake-Richfield Lodge, No. 162, F. & A. M.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EXETER
was formed July 11, 1806, by the Rev. Wmn. Graves, mis- sionary from the State of Connecticut. The first members were as follows : Asahel Williams, Samuel Seymour, Hope Hollister, Priscilla Cushman, David Bryan, Mary Plumb, Elknah Higgins, Wm. Abeel, Irena May, John Philipps. Elias Higgins, Azubah White, E. Dailey, Anna Cranwell, Hannah Morse, Nancy Child, David Hollister, Minerva Cushman, and Mahitable Philipps. The first officers were Ashael Williams, deacon, and Sammel Seymour, clerk. A church building was erected in about the year 1817. and rebuilt in 1859. The present organization is Presbyterian, and its officers are Alonzo Curtis and HI. N. Wood, deacons. The last officiating pastor of the church was Frank W. Townsend.
THIE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT EXETER CENTRE was organized Nov. 19, 1821, as the " Methodist Episcopal church in Otsego and Cooperstown." The following-named persons were chosen first trustees: Elijah Babcock, Calvin Huntley, P. Angell, Thomas D. Mitchell, and Elisha Shep- herd. The first services of this society were held in a barn built by Thomas Angell, on the premises now owned by" David Angell, on " Angell Ilill." Among the first pastors were Revs. Geo. Gary, Chas. Giles, and a Mr. Chase. The present trustees are David R. Augell and John W. Ball : Oscar E. Angell, clerk. The present pastor is Rev. Tru- man F. Hall. Membership, 36.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WEST EXETER was organized in about the year 1830, and for many year- was connected with the Exeter Centre charge of the Meth-
£
153
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
.....: Episcopal church. In the year 1873 it was annexed to Oh .. Elmeston charge, and remained two years, when it was attached to Exeter and Sehuyler's Lake, and is at present known as the Exeter charge. Among the first members are to ationed the names of Calvin Huntley, Olive Huntley, Martha Huntley, Mr. Huntley (father of Calvin Huntley), J .. In Harrington, Samantha Harrington, Noel Ifarrington, Hannah Harrington, E. Taylor and wife. The first church building erected was a frame structure 32 by 45 feet, and ont about $1500. It was built in 1839. This building was destroyed by fire March 31, 1872, and rebuilt during the suunver of 1873. It was dedicated Nov. 20, 1873. the dedicatory sermon being delivered by Rev. H. II. Wheeler. The new building is 32 by 45 feet, and was erected at a out of about $3700.
The present cancers are as follows: William Johnson, Delevan Huntley, and Calvin Huntley, trustees, and Del- evan Huntley and John C. Jones, stewards. Present pas- tor, Rev. Truman F. Hall. Membership, 34.
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF SCHUYLER'S LAKE was organized as a Free Communion society in 1821 by Elder William Hunt. This organization was effected in the old Tunnicliff house, about three miles below Schuyler's Lake, and consisted of the following persons, viz. : Chaun- cey Judd and wife, Amelia Judd, Henry E. Firman and wife, Henry J. Herkimer and wife, Harrison Underwood and wife, Mr. Mott and wife, Mr. Robinson, Patience Rose, Amelia Burk. The meetings of the society were held at the Tunnicliff place until the ereetion of the union church at Schuyler's Lake in 1838. This church is of stone, and was ereeted by George Herkimer. The first sermon was preached by Bishop A. Russell. He was followed by the present pastor, Rev. S. Darrow. The following are the present officers: Henry E. Firman, Norman C. Judd, and Daniel Horton, trustees; A. C. Smith and Amos Under- wood, committee ; N. C. Judd, church elerk.
UNION CHURCH, SCHUYLER'S LAKE.
The Free Baptist church was organized Sept. 2, 1830, by P. W. Lake and Wm. Hunt, elders in said denomination, at the old Tunnicliff house, about two and a half miles south of the village of Schuyler's Lake, in the ball-room, which place was used by the church as their place of wor- ship until the union church was built.
The council was composed of the following delegates : Elder P. W. Lake, moderator; Henry Fitch, clerk ; Elder W'm. Hunt and Deaeon Crumb, from Plainfield; Deacon McCoon, fromu Burlington; 'Henry Fitch, from Columbia; Deacon Henry Lake and Deacon Gates, from Oneonta. After consultation they decided in favor of organizing a church, to be known as the First Free Baptist church of Exeter. Chauncey Judd and Heury G. Herkimer were or- dained deacons, and Eller Win. Hunt was chosen as pastor of said church. The first member's whose names appear on the church record are as follows : Wm. Chappell. Nathaniel Mott and Abigail Mott, Ezekiel Robinson and Betsy Rob- in-on, Chauncey Judd and Amelia Judd, John Rider and wife, Henry E. Firman and Rhoda Firman, Stafford Coats and wife, William Herkimer, and -Freclove Rose.
Elder Wm. Ifunt preached to the church for two years, and then Elder Robert Hunt succeeded him, and remained nine years. The next pastor was Ransom Hunt, for two years, and at the time of the building of the union church Elder B. A. Russell was pastor.
The first meeting of the union society for the erection of the church was held Dee. 17, 1838, and a constitution adopted. The second meeting was held March 4, 1833, and Calvin Underwood, J. Tunnicliff, Amos Fitch, N. Mott, and George Herkimer were elected as the building committee. The house was dedicated March 5, 1840, and the following officers were chosen : N. Mott, C. Judd, and H. Firman for the Free Baptists; David Steward and John Chappell. for the Methodists ; C. Underwood and Alvin Barrus, for the Universalists. The dedication sermons were preached by Wm. Hunt, for the Baptists; Elder Job Potter, for the Universalists ; and Elder Wright, for the Methodists. The time of occupation of the house was deeided upon in the following manner : The Universalists to hold the frst Sunday, the Free Baptists the second and fourth, the Epis- eopal Methodists the third Sunday, and the Christian order the fifth Sabbath, when one occurred.
The building is of stone, 32 by 46 feet, and cost about $4000.
The present offieers are N. C. Judd, Henry Firman, Amos Underwood, for the Baptists ; and Daniel W. Clark. J. H. Vebber, for the Universalists; and C. Watson and I. L. Vebber, for the Methodists ; and John F. Gray, society elerk. The present ministers are Elder S. Darrow. for the Free Baptist ; Rev. S. R. Ward, for the Universalist; Rev. Mr. Hall, for the Methodist. The present number of the Free Baptists is nineteen ; the Methodists, about fifty ; the Universalists, about ten.
The church building was remodeled at an expense of about $1200, and was dedieated by the respective societies and funds pledged to pay all arrears; at the same time a subscription was circulated, and an organ purchased. cust- ing $200. The church building is a neat and substantial edifice, and reflects great credit upon the enterprise of the denominations interested.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF EXETER
was organized in the early part of the present eentury. The exact date is unknown, but it was probably in about the year 1805 or 1806. The first pastor of whom we learn anything was Elder Haskell. He was followed by Elder Pahver, then Israel Hodge. The last was Elder Brazila King. Brethren Angell and Mattison are remembered as deaeons of that church. In 1820 the Otsego association met with the church, and one of our present members. John Durfy, came as a delegate from the Whitesinpo' church, which was then included in the Otsego auxin- tion. The question of dividing the association was pre- sented at this meeting, and the formation of the Ca :2. association resulted. The church above mentioned ze -: have disbanded about 1823.
In 1825 forty-five persons, most of whom had h -- : members of previous church, signed the confession of ft th and the covenant of practice of the Burlington atl El- meston churches, and on December 24 held a merthis, ...
154
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
which they resolved to ask their brethren of Burlington and Edmeston to consider the propriety of setting apart the brethren and sisters at the Lake into a church, and also of setting apart to the work of the gospel ministry Brother John Sawin. The result was a couneil inet in the Baptist meeting-house, at Exeter, Feb. 8, 1826, composed of twenty-seven delegates from ten neighboring churches. The result of the council was the. reorganization of the church, and the ordination of John Sawin, in the following order of exercises : sermon, by Elder Washington Windsor ; band of fellowship to the church, by Elder Benj. Sawin ; ordaining prayer, by Elder Seth Gregory ; Eller John Bostwick gave the charge; Eller Eben Loomis gave the hand of fellowship to the candidate; Elder Benj. Sawin addressed the church ; Elder Jacob Knapp offered the con- cluding prayer. Elder John Bostwick was moderator, and Eben Loomis clerk. The first church meeting was held Feb. 17, 1826. Jonathan Babcock was moderator, and Gil- bert Palmer clerk. The first covenant meeting convened February 25, at which two brethren-C. Pahner and L. Mott -- were chosen deacons, and G. Palmer clerk, by the members approaching the clerk of the meeting one by one, and personally communicating to him their choice. At the same meeting a committee was appointed to look into the temporal concerns of Brother Sawin, but their doings were never recorded, and Elder Sawin removed from the church in November of that year. During the first year of its existence four were added to the church by baptism and one by letter. From November, 1826, to May, 1829, the church seems to have been without a pastor. During the year 1827 three were added by letter. In 1829, Elder Stephen Hutchins became pastor of the church, and during the year fourteen were baptized and two added by letter. In 1830 seventeen were baptized, and four received by ex- perience, and three by letter. Aug. 14, 1830, is the first record of the doings of the church after Oct. 25, 1826, at which time it was voted that the Whitesboro' resolutions on Freemasonry be adopted. C. Turney was appointed superintendent of the Sunday-school, which, doubtless, was the first Sunday-school in the town. In 1831 twenty seven were baptized, two added by letter, and two by experience. In March of this year the church voted to hold a four- days' meeting, immediately after which baptisms occurred every month, and sometimes oftener, during the year. This was also a year of discipline, showing that the pruning process tends to increase the fruit. Among other labors there was regular monthly distribution of tracts. During the year Elders Gregory and Curtis were called to sit in council with the church upon a difficult case of discipline ; on April 4, in the following year (1832), a council consist- ing of N. Kendrick, S. Gregory, B. Sawin, W. Burch, and W. B. Curtis, convened to adjust a difficulty between the church and J. Hartson,-an assemblage of superior talent to put out a great fire kindled by a little matter. In No- vember of this year Eller Stephen Hutchins was released from the pastorate to go to Mexico. During the year three were baptized and nine added by letter. In February, 1833, the church voted to adopt the plan of cireuit preach- ing, as explained to them by Elder Curtis; raised $30 by assessing eighteen brethren, the largest amount ($12) being
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.