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 60
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June 2, 1840, he married Miss Harriet, daughter of Dr. Henry Saunders and Sally Edwards, of the town of Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Her father was a native of Salem, N. H., as also was her grandfather, and of Seoteh descent. Her maternal grand- father and grandmother were natives of East Hampton, L. I. She was fourth child in the family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, she being born Aug. 10, 1821.
Soon after their marriage, Mr. Huntington and his wife came to Onconta, Otsego Co., N. Y., where he, the next year, bought a farm adjoining the village, and the same year, 1841, built a stone store on Main street and opened a general trade with goods to suit the village and country. This business, together with his farming,
he carried on until about the year 1856, a part of the time having his brother, C. P. Huntington, as a partner. To his first purchase of 60 aeres of land he has since added some 1700 aeres, located in this and other counties, and some in other States. Mr Hunting- ton, for a time, while carrying on mercantile business in Oneonta, also with his brother, C. P. Huntington, carried on mercantile operations in Sacramento City, Cal.
He has contributed to the village several buildings, and for some ten years carried on the carriage business. Sinee 1860, aside from his earriage interest, his time has been devoted mostly to building and improving upon his lots located on his first purchase, which hus now largely became a part of the village corporation.
Mr. Huntington's life has been one of constant activity and self- relianec, und that indefatigable perseverance and will to do, coupled with consideration, judicious management in all his busi- ness relations, and a far-seeing sagacity, has placed him in the fore- most rank of the business men of Otsego County.
He has led a quiet life so far as politics ure a part of his career. Was first identified with the Democratic party, but upon the formation of the Republican party, being opposed to the princi- ples of slavery and the extension of it in free territory, became a member of that party, always regarding the right of suffrage a boon conferred upon every American citizen.
While Mr. Huntington has been prosperous and snecessful in business relations, he has remembered and been a contributor to the local interests of church and school in his vicinity, and all en- terprises for the advancement of good society.
Mrs. Huntington, at or about the time of her marriage, united with the Presbyterian ehureh, and has sinee remained a steadfast member of the same.
To Mr. and Mrs. Huntington have been born seven children,- Mary Leonora, wife of Bradley W. Foster, of Huntington, W. Va .; Howard Saunders (decensed) ; George D. (deceased) ; Henry Edwards, Oneonta ; Harriet (deceased) ; Willard V., now resid- ing in San Francisco, Cal. ; and Carrie D. Henry Edwards Huntington married, Nov. 17, 1878, Miss Mary A. Prentice, of Sacramento, Cal.
£
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
hint p of twenty in good standing,-the same number as
& relief fund was established Dee. 20, 1872, for the re- hard .4 sick and disabled soldiers. The amount of money mested into the relief fund up to the present time aggre- rw 8229.42, of which $101.76 Iras been expended for wanty, leaving a balance on hand of $127.66.
The faut hold meetings every Tuesday evening, at their 9.7 in the Blend block, on Main street. Decoration day hw teen observed every year since organization. Through the eforts of this post, $50 was raised towards the fund for the new Soldiers' Home, at Bath.
CHAPTER LVI. ONEONTA-Continued.
Treobsterian Church - Methodist Episcopal - Baptist -St. James' 2. piscopal)-Free-Will Baptist-Baptist, West Onconta-Free Baptist Church, West Onconta-Union School, Onconta.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE first religious organization in this village was of the I'rosbyterian order and faith, and was formed in the year 1 ;- 6.' By whom it was organized, who composed its mer- Warhip, who ministered to it, where it held its meetings, how long it existed, what it accomplished, and what was the cause of its dissolution, no one, probably, this side of the eternal world, knows. Its history has perished with these who were identified with it.
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But not withstanding the failure of this church enter- prise the people were not discouraged in their attempts to supply themselves with the means of grace, nor could they Ing rest content to be deprived of the privileges of the ! reached gospel. So, uniting with the people of the ad- joining town of Sehenevus, they made application to the das-is of Albany, a judicatory of the Dutch Reformed church, for the ministry of the word among them. In re- .jonse to this application the Rev. Abraham Von Horne, with Mr. Nicholas Quaekeuboss, elder, proceeded to Sche- Derus on Saturday, Jan. 24, 1800, and preached his intro- duetory sermon from Acts xvi. 9, " And a vision appeared 1., Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, al prayed lint, saying, Come over into Macedonia and i .. Ip ns." And on the next day, the Sabbath, the 25th, he preached two sermons at the house of Mr. Frederick Brown, of this place, after which he proceeded to organize a church in due form, ordaining as elders John Honghtaling, Henry S.f:ulin, John Van De Werke, James Deitz, and as deacons, William Mereness, David Seramlin, Aaron Barnes, and James Quackenboss. About 1805, preparations were undle for the erection of a house of worship. A large part ·! the timber necessary for the frame-work of the building " is delivered near the spot where the present edifice stands, ist through the inability of the church to go on with the work which had been so auspiciously begun, the enterprise failed, and the entire bill of timber rotted on the ground. In the mean time services were held in the barn of Mr. Frederick Brown, who lived npon the premises now occu- fied by Mrs. Harriet Ford, and who afterwards-in the
year 1821, Jan. 16-deeded to the trustees of the church, to be used for church and burial purposes, all that portion of land embraced within the old cemetery and the present church-grounds. In 1815 material for a church building was again collected, and in the following year this house of God, in its original form, was raised and inclosed, and in it, as it was in its unfinished state, with a work-bench for a platform and rough boards for seats, the people worshiped until such time as their means enabled them to complete it (which was not until some seven or eight years later), and to-day it stands as a monument of the sacrifices and Christian zeal of that resolute and sturdy people. This second organ- ized churelt of Presbyterian order, extending over a period of more than twenty years, has left behind it no written record beside tlre bare fact of its organization, two or three changes in its board of elders and deacons in the years 1802 and 1804, and a list of its infant baptisms, together with the names of some of the ministers by whom the rite was per- formed. The first official act of Rev. Abraham Van Horne in connection with this church, and which occurred the day after its organization, was the baptism of Maria, infant daughter of George and Elizabeth Shellman; and during the first seventeen years of the church's existence no less than 290 children were publicly given to God by baptism. upwards of 150 of whom were baptized previous to the year 1808, and all these 150 children were born within the pale of the church and congregation within a period of eight years. Those were days that would have encouraged the hearts of Sabbath-school superintendents, and days when this sacrament of the church was better observed than at the present time, and when even the world's people desired the seal of God to be set upon their children.
This record of baptisms, with the names of some of the officiating ministers, gives us the only clue we have of the men who served as pastors of the church, and in this list we find, during the first six years after the organization of the church, the names of Rev. Abraham Van Horne. G. Mandeville, Thomas Kirkham, W. Prafle, John Toll, and Cornelius Schemerhorn. To these may be added the name of Rev. Alexander Conkey, who is the only other minister known to have been set over the church.
For reasons at present unknown, this society, after some twenty years' existence, became broken, disorganized, and enjoyed no regular administration of gospel ordinances. . 1 remnant, however, was left, who, in conjunction with others who had never been connected with any Christian body. de- sired to organize a new church. An invitation to a meet- ing of conference on the subject was accordingly sent to Rev. William Fisher, who lived and preached at Meredith Square.' The meeting was held and the subject discussc.d. Rev. Wm. Fisher and Rev. Abel Caldwell were present. Nothing definite, however, was arrived at, but the expressed desire of a number to be formed into a church whose mem- bership should consist of those, and those only, who had been made savingly acquainted with Christ, and could give a reason of the hope that was in them. There is perhaps presumptive evidence in this expressed desire of those fiss Christians that many had been received into the old church who had never met with a change of heart, and that it was this irreligious element in the church that proved its ruin.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
However this may be, a second meeting was held at the house of Frederick Brown, Dec. 21, 1822, at which were present Rev. John Merse and Rev. Wm. Fisher, and, after the examination of a number of persons respecting their ex- perimental and doetrinal knowledge of religion, the meeting adjourned, to be held at the same place Jan. 1S, 1823. On that day (Jan. 18, 1823) the following fourteen persons, viz., James Deitz, Lawrence Swartz, John Youngs, Henry Couse, Joseph Youngs, Anna Swartz, Margaret Youngs, Elizabeth Van Whort, Lany Van Whort, Mary Marene,s, Catharine Brown, Catharine Brewer, Elizabeth Youngs, and Polly Mareness, having been examined relative to their experi- mental and doctrinal knowledge of religion, and having adopted the confession of faith and covenant drawn up by the Northern Associated presbytery, were constituted a Christian church by the name of the Second Presbyterian church of Milford .* Rev. Wm. Fisher and Rev. Abel Caldwell were present, and effected the organization.
To the church thus organized, Mr. Fisher, the first min- ister, who continued to live at Meredith Square, preached once in four weeks. During that same year sixteen more were added to its communion, making in all a membership of thirty at the end of the first year. Ou the 30th of August, Lawrence Swartz, Nicholas Sigsbec, James Deitz, and Joseph Youngs were ordained as elders, and the two latter were also set apart to the office of deacons.
Mr. Fisher remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Augustus Littlejohn, an evangelist, the result of whose labors was an extended revival. Prominent among the fruits of this revival were two names well known to the people of Oneonta. The one, that of Timothy Sabin, who united with the church Ang. 4, 1833, was made an elder two years later, has ever since been a pillar, first in that organization, then in this, and who is still spared, though at an advanced age. This venerable patriarchi is held in high esteem by all who know him, and his long and active career has ever been marked by a truly Christian spirit. The other, that of Eliakim R. Ford, who identified himself with the Baptist church, and who to the day of his death did noble and generous service for the Master there; whose precious memory is still fresh in the minds of a large circle of friends and relatives; whose children not only, but the chil- dren of multitudes of others, rise up and call him blessed.
From this date until 1849 the following served the church as pastors : Rev. William Clark, Charles Gilbert, Joseph W. Paddock, Gains M. Blodgett.
On Feb. 24, 1819, the present church organization was effected, consisting of the following persons, viz. : Hezekiah, Hannah, and Louisa Watkins, Cornelius and Laura Brown, Timothy and Harriet Sabin, John and Rebecca Dilling- ham, Frederick Derby, Luman S. Osborn, John Cutshaw, Lydia Fritts, Cynthia Mann, Sophia Avery, Eunice and Elizabeth Bronson. Of these four only still remain with us,-Timothy Sabin, Luman S. Osborn, John Cutshaw, and Lydia Fritts. Hezekiah Watkins, John Dillingham, and Inman S. Osborn were chosen and ordained elders. Hezekiah Watkins, L. S. Osborn, and Tunis Swart were
chosen trustees for the term of one, two, and three year. respectively, and the society became incorporated as tl ... First Presbyterian society of Oneonta.
A second meeting was held on Saturday, March 17. .. t which the church received four more accessions, two of whom were Timothy Watkins and Mrs. Harriet Hunt- ington.
The following have served this church as pastors and supplies from its organization to the present time, viz . Rev. Eliphalet M. Spencer, William B. Christopher, Joba B. King, William Baldwin, Geo. O. Phelps, E. Vine Wale -. and Horace HI. Allen, the present incumbent of the pa- toral office, who commenced his labors in November, 1869.
The church edifice was enlarged and beautified in 196s. and on April 23, 1869, was rededicated. In 1868 the society was the recipient of a gift of $1000 from Collis P. Huntington, Esq., of New York, with which was purcha -- 1 an organ. The church is now in a prosperous condition, and annually extends its sphere of usefulness.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1830 by Rev. George Hannor, who was the preacher in charge of the circuit which included Oneonta Plains, who at the solicitation of David T. Evans, of Onconta, came to this place and formed a class, of which David T. Evans and David T. Clarke were leaders. Among the members of this class were Elias Brewer, D. T. Evans and wife, D. T. Clarke and wife, Jacob Deitz, Esq., and wife, and Caleb Potter and wife.
The first preacher who officiated for the new church was Rev. George Hannor, and his assistant, Rev. George Elliott, was the pastor in charge when the first house of worship was erected in 1844. This building was erected at a cost of $1500.
The first settled pastor was Rev. W. C. McDonald. Rer. Edwin Dennison was pastor in 1849 and 1850. Under the pastoral charge of Charles Rohinson, in 1854, a gra- cious and extensive revival prevailed, which was the begin- niug of a new era of prosperity. He was succeeded by W. G. Queal, since the close of whose pastorate the ful- lowing have served the charge, in the order named, viz., S. M. Stone, D. L. Pendell, G. Parsons, P. T. Hustor, Mr. Van Dusen, R. W. Peebles, A. Griffin, I. N. Pardee, and W. B. Westlake, the present incumbent.
During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Van Dusen, in 1865 or 1866, a movement was started for the erection of a new church building, which resulted in the ercetion of the pres- ent substantial edifice, which cost, together with the lot. the sum of $10,000. The building was erected in 1-15 and 1869, during the pastorate of Rev. R. W. Peebles. The building committee consisted of George Reynolds, J. P. Van West, and D. J. Wager. The church was dedi- canted to the worship of Almighty God, June 3, 1869. by the Rev. W. N. Cobb, the services being nnder the direc- tion of that energetic worker, Rev. B. I. Ives.
The present (1877) officers of the church are as follows : Trustees .- George Reynolds, Henry Wickham. Ezra McDougal, M.D., M. H. Bissell, and Reuben Reynolds.
Class Leaders .- George Reynolds, M. II. Bissell, and Joseph Masset.
2 The town of Oneonta was organized about seven years later, April 17, 1:30.
233
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Stewards .- George Reynokls, T. K. Musier, William Edwards, Randall Richards, C. C. Stewart, John Young- man, and Henry Nash.
Sunday-School Superintendents .- T. O. Adams and E. R. Waldo.
The church is now in a prosperous condition, and has a membership of two hundred and ninety-six persons.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ONEONTA, N. Y.
Much of the early history of the church cannot be writ- ten. Many an interesting incident has gone down to the grave with those who were participants. The seanty and meagre records that were kept of the doings of the carly years of the church hardly afford anything of value to the historian. The immediate influences that led to the or- ganization, the anxiety consequent, and also the gladness of " the little flock," are among the records, written only on hearts that have ceased to beat. .
The church was organized on April 24, 1833, by a coun- cil consisting of delegates from the following churches : Milford, Huntsville (now Otego), West Meredith, Frank- lin, and Laurens. On that occasion the Rev. Alexander Smith, of Frauklin, was moderator, and Rev. Mr. Kings- ley clerk.
The church was constituted with a membership of eighteen, of whom, as far as is known, only two are living, viz., James Slade and Nathaniel Edmonds. The first officers of the church were : Deacons, James Slade, David Yager, and Hiram McCall; and the first clerk was Ira Babeock. Rev. D. B. Crane was the first pastor.
Names of the constituent members are as follows : James Slade, David Yager, John S. Yager, Jacob Yager, Peter Yager, Solomon Yager, Henry L. Miller, Nathaniel Ed- monds, Ira Babcock, Polly Yager, Samantha Slade, Sally Yager, Emily Yager, Catharine Miller, Catharine Miller (2d), Phoebe Babcock, Maria Miller, Catharine Yager.
The first church building was erected during the year of 1834. It was built upon the location now occupied by the church, and though remodeled, has never been entirely rebuilt. The cost of the building is not now known, neither does the record show what services were held, nor who participated when the church was dedicated.
Previous to the building of the church religious services were held in what was known as the " okl red school-house," which stood on what is now the corner of Broad and Main streets.
The different pastors, and the time served by each, arc as follows : Rev. D. B. Crane, who was pastor about two years ; Rev. John Smith, who became pastor December, 1835, and served the church until March, 1848, having remained something more than twelve years ; in June, 1848, Rev. Homer Clark became pastor of the church, and served the church for less than a year, being dismissed March 11, 1849. From March until the middle of August the church was without a pastor. On Angust 18, 1849, the Rev. A. B. Earl became pastor, and served in that connection for nearly four years, or until March 27, 1853. From March, 1853, until January, 1854, the church was again without a pastor. January 7, 1854, Rev. Erastus Westcott became pastor, and so served until July 12, 1857.
From July until February, 1858, the church was supplied by the Rev. C. M. Pattengill. Rev. John Smith became pastor of the church for the second time Feb. 13, 1858, and so remained until March 11, 1865. Rev. A. Reynolds became pastor June 11, 1865, and served the church until Sept. 25, 1870. After the resignation of Rev. A. Reynolds, the church was supplied by Rev. Mr. Dorwood, Rogers, and others. Nov. 1, 1871, Rev. G. R. Burnside became pastor, and served until April 12, 1874. April 19, 1874, H. Brotherton becaue pastor, and remains so up to date.
During the existence of the church there have been, among other seasons of much special interest, four quite ex- tensive revivals of religion. In 1834, Rev. Lewis Raymond assisted the pastor in a series of nicetings, and, as the result, twenty-nine were added to the church. In 1841, Rev. John Smith, pastor, Rev. Chancellor Hartshorn, assisting, quite an extensive revival occurred, and, as the result, forty- nine joined the church. In 1849, during the first year of Rev. A. B. Earl's pastorate with the church, another exten- sive revival took place, and sixty-seven joined the church. In 1865, Rev. A. Reynolds, pastor, eighty-eight joiued the church.
The present officers of the church are as follows : Jaunes Slack, Samuel Derby, D. W. Ford, aud A. A. Whitcomb, deacons; D. W. Ford, clerk; Sylvester Ford, treasurer. The church is in a prosperous condition, and has a mem- bership of two hundred and eleven.
ST. JAMES' CHURCHI.
The first Episcopal serviecs in this village were held by Rev. Andrew Hull, then in deacon's orders, in the year 1839, under a missionary appointment to Oneonta and Otego. These services were held ou alternate Sundays in the village school-house of Oneonta, until a chapel was built by the liberality of Mr. R. J. Emmons and other members of the congregation, aided, no doubt, in its need, as the congre- gation has ever since been, by the ready gifts of their fel- low-citizens. The chapel was of small size, and so planned as to be conveniently altered for a rectory as soon as a church could be built on the vacant part of the lot. A few months from this time, however, the mission became vacant by the resignation of Mr. Hull, and the chapel, which was private property, passed out of the hands of the congrega- tion, and was used for other purposes. It was in 1870 the property of Mr. E. R. Ford, and occupied part of the site of the Central Hotel, fronting the street leading to the depot of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad.
Bishop Wainwright, of the diocese of New York, visited the mission in 1853, and also in 1854, but no confirma- tions, if any took place, are recorded. In 1855 the Rev. Stephens Parker officiated for a few months. Ten years later the Rev. Daniel S. Tuttle, rector of Zion church. Mor- ris, and now missionary bishop of Montana, Idaho, and Utah, held occasional services for two consecutive years- 1864 and 1865. In the latter year Oneonta was included in the Otsego County mission, in charge of the Rev. E. N. Goddard, who otheintedl for one year. In 1860 and 1867 the Rev. Mr. Foote officiated, in connection with Otero, and in the same year the Rev. Mr. Ferguson held services. The four last clergymen mostly officiated in the house of
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
worship kindly. lent to them by the Free- Will Baptist eon- gregation.
On Friday, March 5, the bishop of Albany made his first visitation to the mission, and confirmed three persons.
The congregation was organized as a mission, under the canons of the diocese of Albany, by the name of St. James' church, on the 7th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1870, the bishop's consent having been previously given, and the following officers appointed by him to serve one year : Mr. John Cope to be warden, Dr. Meigs Case to be treasurer, and Mr. James Cope to be clerk.
The Rev. Mr. Lighthipe was missionary in charge from April 3 to December 31, 1870, and on the last-named day the bishop of Albany inade his second visitation, and con- firmed one person. The Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald, deacon, had charge of the parish, after its incorporation, from July, 1873, to February, 1874, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Goddard, archdeacon of the Susquehanna, who took it under his own care after the following Easter. The Rev. James II. Smith then became the resident missionary, and .continued his services until August 1, 1874, when the charge was again resumed by the Rev. Mr. Goddard, who resigned December 31 of the same year, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald, who continued in charge until a short time before the eall of the present rector.
In April, 1871, the congregation was incorporated into a parish, according to the laws of the State of New York, by the name and title of " The Rector, Church-Wardens, and Vestrymen of St. James' Church," and was received into union with the convention of the diocese of Albany, on the 4th day of January of the present year.
The number of confirmations on record by various bishops is as follows : In 1839, presented by the Rev. Mr. Hull, 3; in 1865, by the Rev. Mr. Goddard, 4; in 1868, by the Rev. Mr. Ferguson, 5; in 1866, by the same, 3; in 1870, by the Rev. Mr. Lighthipe, 1 ; in 1871, by the Rev. Mr. Washbon, 10; by the Rev. Mr. Joy, 1; in 1874, by the Rev. Mr. Smith, 2; and at the last visitation of the bishop, by the present rector, 4; the whole number being 35, of whom 32 were presented since 1864, and but three during the thirteen previous years.
The rate of increase in communicants during most of these years can now be accurately known only from the files of the annual conventional journals of the diocese of New York, or the private registers, if they have been preserved, of the clergymen who have had the mission in charge.
In the journal of the diocese of Albany of 1875, 39 were reported by the Rev. Mr. Goddard ; in 1876, by the . present rector, 48 ; and 58 at the end of the last conven- tional year, showing a steady increase.
The Rev. Robert Washbon was the first rector of the parish. He resigned Feb. 16, 1873, and to him and the clergy of Otsego County mission the erection of the pres- ent church edifice is chiefly duc.
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