History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 36

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703

USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 36

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In the year 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. S. Rushmore, a committee was appointed to ascertain whether sites could be procured at Pearsalls and Rock- ville Centre on which to build new churches. Nothing of importance was done in the matter however until 1870, when Rev. Charles Kelsey was appointed to this charge. He immediately entered upon the execution of a plan to build two new churches, and secured the incorporation of St. Mark's at Rockville Centre, and St. James's at Pearsalls.

The fire department was organized September 25th 1875, by forming a hook and ladder company. November Ist 1875 the following officers were elected: Foreman, John R. Sprague; assistant foreman, B. L. Coffin; sec- In August 1870 the society at Rockville Centre erected retary, C. Noye; treasurer, Jacob F. Cock. During the a temporary building known as the "Tabernacle," and

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METHODIST CHURCHES OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE.

services were held in it until the completion of the pres- ent church. A complete and impartial account of the difficulties which followed will perhaps never be written. Some of the more prominent facts may however be given, which will not be controverted by any. It was the plan of those who inaugurated the movement, and after- ward announced by the presiding elder, that the two new churches were " to substitute the old church," which lat- ter was to be used for burial services and extra meetings.

A very strong feeling of opposition to this plan was excited in certain quarters and great bitterness was shown toward Mr. Kelsey, who was finally excluded from the old church. In 1871 Rev. Charles P. Corner was sent to the three churches, but as the adherents of the old church refused to be connected with the new churches, and had so notified the conference, they refused to recog- nize Mr. Corner as their pastor and endeavored to pre- vent him from occupying the parsonage.

Although unsuccessful in this attempt they afterward gained possession of the parsonage by process of law. The old church then ceased to be a Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. William McGinn was appointed to assist Mr. Corner and the two preached alternately at Rock- ville Centre and Pearsalls.

On the 11th of August 1871 the corner stone of St. Mark's church was laid, and dedication services were held December 17th of the same year. In the following year a new church building was erected and dedicated at Pearsalls, and in 1872 each of these places became a station. Rev. W. J. Robinson was the first pastor of St. Mark's church. During the first year of his pastorate a new parsonage was built on a lot adjoining the church. Mr. Robinson remained two years and was succeeded by Rev. T. C. Hill, who during a successful pastorate of three years was the means of greatly strengthening the society. He was followed in 1878 by Rev. F. Brown, who served the church for two years and was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. C. H. Beale.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

The following facts were collected by the present pas tor, Rev. R. C. Hulsart, during the year 1881, but it will be impossible to give all the facts of interest connected with the history of this church, as it dates back nearly one hundred years.

About 1790 the first church was erected, on the site where the present beautiful temple stands. The land was donated by Isaac Denton, Esq. Land has since been purchased and added to the first, from time to time, until now the church is surrounded by a beautiful ceme- tery, where sleep many of the fathers of early Method- ism. The first church was 20 by 30 feet, and cost about $1,000. It had only one door in front, opening directly into the church; it had rough movable seats, and gallery across the front end; it was built without reference to denomination and all denominations occu- pied it in turn, but the Methodists being in the majority it became a Methodist Episcopal church. At this time there were but two other churches on the island, one at

Newtown and one at Searingtown. Rev. William Phebus, one of the first ministers who preached in it, called it Rehoboth.

In 1817 the church proved too small to accommodate the growing congregation, and a more commodious one was built in its stead; but the galleries were not com- pleted until several years afterward, when Christian Snedeker, one of the trustees, raised about $200 and finished them. In this condition the people worshiped in it until 1836, when it was lathed and plastered.

During the year 1831 a church was built at Far Rock- away, and several others were built at the same time at different points on the island, but all were in one circuit in charge of one preacher.

The society continued to grow and Methodism spread over the island. The circuit was divided and sub- divided, and the time arrived when the people felt the need of a parsonage here. As this church seemed to be the most central, a site was selected at Pearsalls, where in 1841 a parsonage was built at a cost of $800. Rev. Theron Osborn was the first to occupy it, and for about 20 years it was occupied in turn by Rev. Messrs. Hat- field, Mathews, Holmes, Bowton Stearns and H. C. Glover.

In 1849 the church was lengthened by an addition of 15 feet on the front; in 1858 it was reseated and other- wise improved at a cost of $600, which was raised by the ladies of the church.

During the years 1862 and 1863 the parsonage was sold, and a new one was built near the church at a cost of $1,600. Methodism seemed to grow rapidly, as well it might with such men as Revs. Nathan Bangs, S. Clark, P. P. Sanford, Rice, Holmes, Divine, Hunt, Oldrin and Law as leaders.

The list of preachers would not be complete without the name of Mordecai Smith, whose house was always a home for the preachers. He was a local preacher many years, but traveled far and near; if at any time a preach- er failed to meet his appointment it was well filled by Mr. Smith. His remains lie near the church, the spot marked by a plain white marble slab. To his son Hew- lett Smith we are indebted for much of the information here given.

In 1862 and 1863 the old pulpit was cut down and remodeled to a more modern style. It has been occupied by Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop of Ameri- ca; it was also honored by the presence of Lorenzo Dow and other heroes of old time Methodism.

From 1858 to 1870 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Messrs. Glover, Booth, Rushmore and Kelsey. During Mr. Kelsey's administration the church was divided and built a chapel at Pearsalls and one at Rockville Centre.

In 1871 the society secured the services of Rev. R. S. Hulsart, the present pastor. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant conference, and the church has connected itself with the same conference.

In 1874 a new and commodious house of worship was erected, at a cost of $15,000

During the winter of 1879 and ISSo about two hundred

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

professed to be converted. There were in 1881 390 members and 25 probationers.

THE " SOUTH SIDE OBSERVER."

The South Side Observer, published at Rockville Centre, was founded there in June 1865, by John H. Reed, as a six-column quarto. In 1870 Mr. Reed sold out to George Wallace, who enlarged the paper and changed its name to South Side Observer, the first number being issued No- vember 4th of that year. In 1873 Charles I .. Wallace, a younger brother, was admitted to partnership in the bus- iness, which has since been in the firm name of Wallace Brothers, publishers. In 1874 George Wallace relin- quished possession of the editorial chair, since which time Charles L. has been the editor.

The paper has been recently enlarged to a 9-column quarto, and does a very flourishing business.

It is the only paper in Hempstead to discard the old- fashioned hand press, and has for years been printed on a cylinder press. It is Republican in politics, but its chief characteristic is that of a local newspaper. In its early years it had a severe struggle for existence, but made steady progress after 1870, and has made rapid progress of late years. It occupies a two;story building specially built for the purpose, and has one of the largest and best fitted printing establishments outside of the cities.

PEARSALLS.

For more than a hundred years the site of Pearsalls has been in possession of persons by the name of Pear- sall, two distinct families of the same name having owned a large portion. Henry Pearsall sen. and family resided here many years, keeping a small store in an old-fashion- ed house on the most prominent corner, where five roads meet, known as " Pearsall's Corners." The houses were few and scattering and but little improvement was made.

In 1853 Wright Pearsall, the present owner of the site (who is not related to the former owners, though of the same name), and his father, Samuel Pearsall, purchased fifty acres and removed here from Near Rockaway. The old house was moved, and the present building erected and store opened the following year. Two lines of stages passed the door-one daily from Freeport waiting here to be met by one from Near Rockaway, and another every day from Amityville.

In 1857 the water works for supplying the city of Brooklyn with water were commenced, and the aqueduct was built through this place, making a great deal of stir and activity.

In 1867 the Southside Railroad was commenced, and with frequent communication with New York, but 18 miles distant, Pearsalls began rapidly to improve. Wright Pearsall had his land surveyed and laid out in building lots, many of which found ready sale. He had a number of houses built, and gave the land for the railroad depot. He donated the lot (100 by 200 feet)

for the Methodist Episcopal church, and has done much toward building up and developing the place. Hamilton W. Pearsall, his son, the present proprietor of the store (the former store having been torn down and a new store and house built on the opposite corner, is the present postmaster (1881), and has assisted in the development of the place. A post-office was established here in 1873, mainly through the instrumentality of D. K. Elmendorf, who was the first postmaster. The citizens decided to drop "Corners " from the name and call the place simply Pearsalls.

Henry Pearsall, a much respected citizen, resided here all his life and was justice of the peace twenty-one con. secutive years. Doctor Julius Auerbach lived here a number of years; also D. K. Elmendorf, who promoted the interests of the place.

ST. JAMES'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was built in 1873, at a cost of about $8,000. The chapel was built in 1870, at a cost of $2,500. Rev. C. Kelsey was the first pastor of the society, which was organized in 1870. He was followed in 1871 by Rev. C. P. Corner, who was assisted the first year by Rev. W. W. McGuire and the second year by Rev. E. H. Dutcher. In 1873 Rev. Mansfield French becaine pastor. He died, greatly lamented, at the close of his three years pastorate. He was followed in 1876 by Rev. William Platts, and he after two years by Rev. C. W. Fordham. A parsonage was built in 1874. The Sunday-school was organized October 9th 1870, with 74 members; it has now a mem- bership of 200. Its first superintendent was D. K. El- mendorf; he was followed by R. H. Young and he by Hamilton W. Pearsall.

SCHOOLS.

The first school-house was built in 1855. Shortly after the district was organized a plot of ground was bought for $roo, and a house was built thereon for $600. This, at the commencement of the last decade, was found too small to accommodate the increasing necessities of the district, and about 1874, at a cost of $2,250 for building and furniture, a school-house with two rooms for as many departments was built. Before that a school- house was kept by Jeremiah Foster in an old building (since torn down) belonging to Charles Abrams (since de- ceased), on Union avenue. After the building of the school-house the following persons successively taught for periods of three months or more: David Tyson, Alvah Cummings, Thomas H. Wheeler, Clinton F. Combs, George W. Dickinson, William F. Dickinson, Thomas D. Smith, Hattie Ketcham, Orson H. Pettit, Miss Sayres, Jeremiah Foster, and John H. Reed, the present incum- bent. About 1874 the school was divided into two departments, the primary being taught by Marietta Fos- ter and subsequently by Julia E. Fowler, who still con- tinues. The most extended service was performed by Jeremiah Foster, who officiated about seven years. This school, with the other schools of the town, is in part sup- ported by what is known as the " Plain " or "Stewart "

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PEARSALLS AND FREEPORT.

fund. Since the last school-house was built, in 1874, the district has not raised any money by tax on its property, except to pay for that building, the income from the State and town being sufficient to support the school and pay current expenses.

On the 30th of September 1879 there were 215 persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years residing in the district; and on the 30th of September 1880 there were 226.

MISCELLANEOUS.

In 1875 Charles L. Sherman, machinist, started a man- ufactory of sheet and cast métal goods, toys, etc., remov- ing from Brooklyn. He employs on an average eighteen men, and ships goods to all parts of the country.

In.1879 a fire company was organized, having seven- teen charter members. Their house is on Main street, and meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month. The following are the officers of Rescue Hook and Lad- der Company No. I: Foreman, C. C. Van Dusen; assist- ant foreman, J. W. Dredges; secretaries, Henry A. Graef and Samuel Thompson; treasurer, H. W. Pearsall; trus- tees-G. A. Mott, G. W. Strickland, H. A. Graef. No fires of importance have occurred.

James A. Hutcheson, M. D., has been the practicing physician of Pearsalls for the last seven years. He is a graduate of the Long Island College, Brooklyn, and is a son of Robert Hutcheson, of East Rockaway. Dr. Hutcheson holds the position of county physician, visit- ing the county-house at Barnum's Island twice each week, and as much oftener as circumstances demand.

M. L. Mount, wheelwright and blacksmith, has built up a business in the manufacture of ships' goods which is a credit to the village and the proprietor.

At present this village contains some five or six hun- dred inhabitants. There are two hotels, both near the depot, one recently rebuilt and conducted by Elbert Abrams, and the Furman House, conducted by S. Fur- man, in the upper part of which is a court-room. There this town for half a century, and of course have been ac- are six stores, the hot-houses of Sealey Brothers, sash and blind makers, wheelwright, blacksmith and car- riage shops, meat markets, barber shops, etc., and rail- road and telegraph communications.

A large quantity of oysters is shipped from this point to New York, and many gentlemen doing business in the city find here a pleasant suburban home.

MINOR VILLAGES.

FREEPORT. .

South, or Raynorville) is one of the oldest of the town. It is on the Southern Railroad, about twenty-three miles from Long Island City, and, like Baldwins, borders on the bay. It is a great oyster depot, some of the residents being the first to inaugurate the business on the south side of the island. Aside from the depot and school building there are two churches, Presbyterian and Meth-

odist; two large hotels, the bakery of Mead & Wright, Golder's drug store, the grist, flouring and saw mill of Isaac Horsfall, the dry goods and grocery store of Nel- son H. Smith and Franklin P. Smith, the boot and shoe store of William Raynor, the harness shop of J. H. Smith, the barber shop and store of Frederick Blankerhorn, etc. The hotels are managed by B. T. Smith and George D. Smith. Both hotels are first-class. The streets of Free- port are well laid out and cared for, and a general air of thrift is apparent.

On Saturday February 25th 1837 a committee of gen- tlemen from New York met Captain Raynor Rock Smith, of Freeport, at the hotel of Oliver Conklin, in Hemp- stead, and in behalf of citizens of the fifth ward of New York presented him with a cup, in recognition of his at- tempt at rescuing the passengers of the bark "Mexico," stranded on the beach. The cup, now in possession of the family, is described as follows: "On one side a de- vice of the ship 'Mexico' imbedded in the sand, with the waves breaking over her. Her helpless crew are seen stretching out their imploring hands. A boat is making its way to them. A few figures stand upon the beach, surrounded by masses of ice, which show the severity of the season and the peril of the undertaking." The re- verse side bears the following inscription : " Reward of Merit, Presented to Raynor R. Smith, of Hempstead South, L. I., by a number of his fellow citizens of the fifth ward, as a token of regard for his noble daring, per- formed at the peril of his life, in saving the eight persons from the wreck of the fated ship 'Mexico,' on the morn- ing of Jan. 2nd 1837." Raynor R. Smith was born Feb- ruary 27th 1785.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized about 1849. From a communication from J. Davidson, M. D., of Hempstead, read at the memorial services held at Freeport, at the close of the twenty-fifth year of its or- ganization, December 29th 1874, is taken the following extract in regard to the early history: "I have lived in

quainted with every part of it, and I do not know that in any other part of the town there was so much indiffer- ence to the Sabbath, and to the subject of religion gen- erally, as in Raynor South, as we then called it. * * * At this time we had in this village [Hempstead] .for our pastor Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge jr. I saw he was the very man for this work, and at the proper time I broach- ed the subject to him. Ile gladly fell in with my wishes, and told me that if I could get a place to preach in he would gladly preach. I succeeded in getting the old school-house that stood in the point of the crossing of the road. Every Sabbath afternoon I went down with

This beautiful village (former known as Hempstead him. He preached and I led the singing. The house could not hold one-half that came. ** Not long * after the people moved in the matter, and a church was built."

The first house of worship in the village (since turned into a private dwelling) stood nearly east of the present church. The corner stone of the present edifice was laid July 20th 1859. The building committee were Samuel

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

S. Carman, Valentine Smith and G. B. Banks. The building and lot cost $5,500. The first Sabbath bell in Freeport was heard on the 13th of May 1860. In 1875 Mrs. Susan Bergen donated to the trustees a lot imine- diately south of the church and erected a chapel 28 by 45 feet, which is used for social meetings and Sabbath- school room. By action of the trustees it was named the "Elizabeth Carman Memorial Chapel." The follow- ing have been pastors: Rev. Franklin Merrill, 1847; Rev. H. B. Burr; Rev. James M. McDougall, 1856.63; Rev. R. G. Hinsdale, 1863, 1864; Rev. Charles F. Boyn- ton, pastor in 1881.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- While there is no record of the first class formed in Freeport, it is known that Rev. Jonathan Lyon preached in 1813 at Willett Raynor's farm house (now owned by Mr. Graffing). Rev. Thomas Birdsall, in 1881 a local preacher at East Mead- ows, was converted at that meeting. At that time a class was led by Parker Baldwin, at Raynortown. In 1827 Thomas Seaman was leader of a class of eighteen. Services were held at Willett Raynor's, William B. Ray, nor's and Isaac Post's until 1833, when a small store near the residence of William B. Raynor was purchased and fitted for religious purposes. It was dedicated by Rev. N. Bigelow, of Hempstead circuit. From this time for a number of years circuit and local preachers from Hempstead conducted services, with the exception of a short time while under the jurisdiction of the Amityville circuit. A Sunday-school was organized, with William B. Raynor as superintendent, a position which he filled until the time of his death, in 1867. He was also a class leader. The little society struggled for existence until the conversion of John C. Raynor, when it was decided to build a church in the center of the village. The cor- ner stone was placed in position in 1858. The church was dedicated in February 1859 by Rev. B. Pillsbury, of Hempstead. Rev. S. N. Snedeker, a local preacher of Hempstead, supplied the pulpit until July of that year, when the Rev. S. M. Hammond took charge of the Free- port and Baldwins circuit. In 1872 the two villages were supplied with different preachers. In 1873 more land was bought and a parsonage was built. The church was enlarged, and was rededicated by Bishop Simpson Janu- ary 16th 1878. The following are the names of the min- isters since 1859: Rev. S. M. Hammond, 1859, 1860; Rev. E. Miner, 1861; Rev. A. Booth, 1862, 1863; Rev. R. Wake, 1864, 1865 (Freeport only); Rev. C. P. Corner, 1866, 1867; Rev. F. W. Ware, 1868, 1869; Rev. W. W. Clark, 1870, 1871; Rev. S. M. Hammond, 1872-74 (Free- port only); Rev. E. S. Hebberd, 1875, 1876; Rev. W. R. Webster, 1877, 1878; Rev. D. S. Stevens, 1879-81. Of W. B. Raynor Rev. S. M. Hammond says, " He may be called the father of the modern church in Freeport." He was born in 1801, converted in 1823 and was married to Mary Ann Valentine in 1826, and until the time of his death, in 1867, served the church in various capacities. Revivals occurred in 1865, 1872, 1873, 1874 and 1877. The church property is valued at $4,000, the parsonage at $3,000. The Sunday-school numbers 240 scholars.

FAR ROCKAWAY.

Historians in speaking of Far Rockaway say that the Rockaway tribe of Indians were scattered over the southern part of the town of Hempstead, which, with a part of Jamaica and the whole of Newtown, formed the extent of their claim. It is believed, however, that a greater part of the population was at Near Rockaway and as far west as the old Marine Pavilion. There was a like settlement on Barnum's Island.

The beach at Far Rockaway and for many miles east and west is undergoing frequent local changes. Many times the surf washes away several rods in width during a single storm, and perhaps the next storm adds more than has been removed by the preceding one. The sea often makes inlets to the bays and marshes and as often fills up others, and for this reason if for no other it is impossible to correctly give a geographical history of this section.

Of the original settlers the conclusion has been reached that in 1676 this tract was purchased of the Rockaway tribe by one Cornwell, said to be a younger son of Lord Cornwall. The right of such sale was subse- quently disputed by the town of Hempstead. Later re- searches go to prove that the Cornwell family resided in this section for a number of years. According to an article recently prepared for publication by Mrs. William J. Kavanagh, Benjamin Cornwell was the first to con- ceive the idea of making sea bathing here remunerative, and to that end he opened a place of entertainment on the site now known as the old Pavilion grounds. Men- tion is made of one John Carnagay. His property was subsequently sold to one of the Mott brothers, of whom there were six, who in turn sold it to the Healy family. The house is on Jamaica Bay, and is now in the posses- sion of Judge Healy. Another interesting old residence is the Mott homestead at the junction of the old turn- pike road and Mott avenue. The house, although over one hundred years old, is still in an excellent state of preservation. Its original owner was 'Squire John Mott. Among other old buildings is Rock Hall, built by the Hon. Joseph Martin, now in possession of the Hewlett family. The building is a large and imposing structure. The Morton mansion, now the country seat of Edward N. Dickerson, is situated within the limits of Wave Crest Park.

During the last half century Far Rockaway has been a fashionable summer resort and to-day it is a large vil- lage, mainly composed of fine hotels and boarding houses. Mention has already been made of the Marine Pavilion, one of the early resorts; here it probably was that the following lines were indited by George P. Morris:

On old Long Island's seagirt shore Many an hour I've whiled away, List'ning to the breakers' roar That wash the beach of Rockaway. Transfixed I've stood while Nature's lyre In one harmonious concert broke,

And, catching its Promethean fire, My inmost soul to rapture woke.

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FAR ROCKAWAY AND NEW BRIDGE.

Oh, how delightful 'tis to stroll Where murm'ring winds and waters mect, Marking the billows as they roll And break resistless at your feet ;

To watch young Iris, as she dips Her mantle in the sparkling dew,

And, chas'd by Sol, away she trips O'er the horizon's quiv'ring blue.

To hear the startling night-winds sigh, As dreamy twilight lulls to sleep ; While the pale moon reflects from high Her image in the mighty deep ; Majestic scene where Nature dwells, Profound in everlasting love, While her unmeasured inusic swells, The vaulted firmament above.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 36

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co. Number of Pages: 703

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703