USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester Presbytery from the earliest settlement of the country, embracing original records of Ontario Association, and the presbyteries of Ontario, Rochester (former), Tennessee River, and Rochester City > Part 11
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From 1844 to 1848 Rev. R. Man was the pastor, of whose ministry no particulars are to be found in the church records.
The next pastor was the Rev. James Fenner, who was installed February 15, 1849. His ministerial labors extended through a period of eleven years.
From 1860 to 1866 the pulpit was successively occupied by Rev. C. E. Furman, Rev. J. H. Phelps, Rev. Mr. Southworth and Rev. R. Man, of whose labors nothing of marked importance is recorded.
In 1866 and 1867 extensive alterations and repairs were made in the house of worship, at an expense of about $1,600. Further repairs were made in 1874 and 1876, costing $450.
From 1868 down to the present time, this church has had a succession of temporary supplies and short pastorates.
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Rev. J. D. Lane served during the year 1868; Rev. H. N. Short from 1869 to 1871; Rev. Mr. Hicks during 1872; Rev. James Robertson during 1873; Rev. George Craig from 1874 to 1877 ; Rev. Wm. L. Milliken from 1878 to 1882; Rev. John Mitchell from 1883 to 1884; Rev. T. M. Hodgman and others in 1885 ; Rev. T. D. Hunt from 1886 to 1888, and, latterly, students from Rochester Theological Seminary.
There has been a Sabbath school in connection with this church since the year 1821. A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor also was organized a few years since. But this church has not retained its former strength and standing, and its future is not promising. Deaths and removals have greatly reduced the number of its members. The springing up of other churches- Methodist and Baptist-in the immediate neighborhood has also contributed to its decline.
Present elders are J. Allen Andrews and Benjamin F. Bowen.
Present trustees-George Sheldon, Herbert Short and B. F. Bowen.
CHURCHVILLE.
A commission, duly appointed by the Presbytery of Rochester, consisting of Rev. Joseph Penny, D. D., Rev. Ralph Clapp, and Elders Ayel Ensworth and Moses Hume, inet at Churchville on the 10th day of July, 1832, for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church at that place.
The commission having been duly constituted for the performance of this duty, there appeared before them 36 persons, who presented letters of dismission
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and recommendation from several different churches-some from the Presbyterian church of Riga, some from the Con- gregational church of Ogden, and some from the Dutch Reformed church of Schuylerville. These persons presented their letters for the purpose and with the request that they be organized into a new and separate church ; and this was done after the usual manner, Hubbard Hall, Daniel Hall and George Redfield being elected as ruling elders.
The first minister of this church was Rev. W. Wright, whose labors extended through about two years, during which there were added to its communion about 35 persons. He was followed, for longer or shorter periods. by Messrs. Rev. G. W. Ellicott, Richard DeForest, David Slee, Josiah Pierson, L. Brooks, S. Carver, R. W. West, Charles Kenmore, E. W. Kellog, - Thompson and H. L. Stanley, the united ministries of whom covered a period of eighteen years, and bring down the history of the church to the year 1850. Thus it will be seen that the average stay of her ministers did not exceed a year and a half ; yet during the ministry of nearly all of these more or less additions were made. The highest number ever attained was 80 members.
The records left by this church are scanty and defective ; but two facts, which are scattered through them, may serve to indicate its condition and strength as it advanced through the years of its brief history, namely, the number of its members and the amount of its benevolent contributions to the Bible, tract and missionary causes. These were as follows :
Number of members-In 1833, 57; in 1837, 67; in 1841, 80 ; in 1843, 73 ; in 1845, 76; in 1847, 55.
Contributions - In 1833, $50.68; in 1842, $55.05 ; in 1843, $47.00 ; in 1844, $42 00; in 1845, $51.60 ; in 1846, $65.43.
The volume containing the records of this church is
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largely occupied with complaints and charges against mem- bers, and with the conduct of vexatious trials and processes of discipline on the part of the session-a condition of things which could not but prove detrimental to the spirit- ual welfare of the church.
The last minister employed by this church as their preacher was Rev. H. L. Stanley, and the last item of his ministry entered in the records is dated October 6, 1850. After this we have no account of the doings or condition of this congregation. But some twenty years after this date, we find appended to the records of the session the following memorandum, penned, apparently, to account to the genera- tions to come for the end and extinction of the Presbyterian church at Churchville :
" N. B .- Master Stanley was the last minister employed by the church. The church became feeble and unable to support preaching, and withdrew in due form by letter, and united with a new organization in Churchville, just formed by general consent, made up in part by all the old members. This new organization is called the ' Union Congregational Church of Churchville.' They built a new meeting-house, and have prospered unto this day, and made a wise and good arrangement for themselves and children, and for the cause of Christ in this village. So ends this Book of Records of the Presbyterian church of Churchville.
" Attest, LEMUEL BROOKS, " Minister and Clerk,
"Churchville, January 3, 1871."
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CLARKSON.
The church of Clarkson was organized on the first day of April, 1816, by a council, under the Congregational form of government, and under the name and title of "The First Congregational Society of the Town of Murray." The original members numbered sixteen, of whom four only were males. The first board of Trustees was composed of the following persons, namely, Nathaniel Rowell, Joshua Field, Witter Steward, Abel Baldwin, Moody Freeman and John H. Bushnel.
The church was received under the care of the Presby- tery of Ontario, February 10, 1819; and on the next day, Rev. John F. Bliss was installed as its first pastor.
At a meeting duly called, and held on the 6th of May, 1823, the name of the church was changed, and it was now called "The First Congregational Church of Clarkson," part of the Town of Murray having been formed into a separate township under this name.
In the year 1825, the church engaged the Rev. William James as their minister. The next year we find Rev. Stephen V. R. Barnes in charge of the congregation. During the ministry of the latter, namely, in 1826, the soci- ety built them a comfortable house of worship.
This church, at a certain date, which the writer of this narrative cannot give, withdrew from all connection with the Presbytery, and for several years acted as a strictly Congregational body. In 1868, however, it changed its polity to that of pure Presbyterianism, by a vote of 15 to 5 ; and the following members were elected to be its ruling elders, namely, Chauncy Allan, Hugh Johnston, Jonathan Wadhams, Henry E. Lawrence, Luther H. Johnston and Joseph Tozier.
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In addition to the ministers already named, this church has been served, either as pastors or stated supplies, by the following : Rev. Charles E. Furman, who was installed in February, 1831, and continued his services until 1836. Mr. Furman was succeeded by Rev. Norris Bull, D. D., who was installed in June, 1837. Then followed, for longer or shorter periods, Rev. Charles McCarg, Rev. R. S. Goodman, Rev. Ebenezer M. Toof, Rev. J. McNulty, Rev. Corlis B. Gardner, Rev. Francis Rae, Rev. N. Marcellus Clute, Rev. Charles E. Furman (a second term), Rev. Alfred A. Graoley, Rev. Elijah H. Bonney, Rev. Nathan B. Knapp, Rev. J. Q. Collen and Rev. John Reid, the present occupant of the pulpit. Of all these three only were installed pastors.
This church has been favored with several very precious outpourings of the Holy Spirit. Revivals of pure and undefiled religion were had during the ministries of Messrs. Lane, Furman, Bull, McNulty, Toof, Goodman and Graoley. Other but less notable seasons of refreshing from the pres- ence of the Lord have been enjoyed. The church continued to grow till its roll of communicants numbered 176, which was the highest number it ever attained.
The church of Clarkson organized a Sabbath school at an early day, and has kept it up through its whole history. This has generally been flourishing, and in the course of its existence has accomplished much good. The present attend- ance is 85, teachers and scholars included.
This church, sad to state, is not now what it once was ; its present number of members is reduced to 55, of whom only 12 are males. Several causes have contributed to bring about this decline, among which may be named, the construction of the railroads and the canal, which have diverted trade to order points ; and the coming into the town of a new class of inhabitants, largely foreigners, who are of a very differ- ent religious faith and practice, or of no religion at all. But for all this, to its credit be it said, the church still sup-
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ports its minister without any aid from the Home Mission- ary Board. .
The congregation now owns a comfortable parsonage, and also a house of worship valued at about $6,000. More- over, the society is free from debt.
The eldership has been and still is perpetuated on the rotary or term system ; those acting at present are Chauncy Allan, Edward P. Corlett, Thomas Breckenridge and William B. Steele.
DANSVILLE FIRST.
The origin of the church named above is well defined in the following extract from the sessional record bearing date March 25th, 1825. "At a meeting holden this day pursu- ant to notice given, at the new school house in the village of Dansville, N. Y., for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church, there were present the following per- sons, viz : James H. Hotchkin, Robert Hubbard and Stal- ham Clary, ministers, members of the Presbytery of Bath, and Rev. Silas Pratt, member of the Ontario Presbytery ; the meeting was opened with prayer. An application from Willis F. Clark, Calvin E. Clark and Samuel Shannon, members of the church in Sparta, and residing in this village, to the Presbytery of Ontario, in behalf of them- selves and others, for leave to be organized into a Presbyte_ rian church to be known by the name of the Presbyterian Church of Dansville Village, was read, together with the act of said Presbytery granting this petition ; whereupon the following persons, members of the church of Sparta, N. Y., viz: Willis F. Clark and Charity his wife ; Samuel Shan- non and Sarah his wife ; Calvin E. Clark and Harriet his wife, Mrs. Mary Rowley, Mrs. Elizabeth Pickell, Nancy
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Pickell, together with Stephen Franklin and Sarah his wife, members of the -- Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N. Y., presented themselves to unite in church fellowship, and having agreed to adopt the Presbyterian form of govern- ment and discipline, and having made solemn profession of their faith, and entered into covenant with God, and each other, were after prayer, declared to be a church of Christ by the ministers present."
The society thus organized immediately entered upon the duties and privileges of church membership under the ministry of Rev. Robert Hubbard, who continued to hold office, as stated supply, to this church, from March, 1825, to April, 1834, a period of nine years.
The first board of ruling elders, elected to serve this church, comprised the following persons : Stephen Frank- lin, Willis F. Clark, who were ordained to this office by Rev. Mr. Hubbard on Sunday March 27th, 1825. Samuel Shannon was elected clerk of session. During the admin- istration of Rev. Mr. Hubbard the church seems to have enjoyed constant growth and prosperity. From the charter members of eleven in 1825, the number enrolled as com- municants increased to over two hundred in 1834, with a net gain of something over a hundred. Accessions to the church were made from year to year, the most noteworthy of these occurring during the years 1831-2, when there were received into communion 109 persons, of whom 104 were upon profession of faith. Regarding the period covered by Mr. Hubbard's ministry the following extract is taken from the History of the Presbyterian Church of Dansville, pre- pared by the pastor, Rev. George K. Ward, in the year 1876.
Additions were made to this feeble church (charter members eleven), during its connection with the Bath Presbytery, until the summer of 1827, when the church dis- solved its relation to that body, and united with the Pres-
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bytery of Ontario, Synod of Genesee. At this time they num- bered forty-six members ; they had no place of worship except an old school house, which stood on the west side of Main street, on the vacant lot south of the Clinton house. Upon the completion of the new school house (on the site now occupied by the Episcopal Church) they had for a time, quite a convenient place of worship, but this soon became inadequate to the accommodation of their increased num- bers. At this time Mr. Joshua Shepard, a leading merchant of the village, very kindly donated a lot on Main street and $1,000.00 to erect a church, which offer was accepted by the society, and a building was erected at a cost of $3,500.00, opened and dedicated to divine service in the year 1831. In 1832, the first protracted meeting was held in the new church, under the direction of Rev. Wm. Curry. As a result of this effort between 60 and 70 persons united with the church. In the summer of 1834, the Rev. Robert Hub- bard resigned his charge, and was settled over a church in Fowlerville, where he died in 1840. The Rev. Elam H. Walker who had been employed as a missionary among the Choctaw Indians in the South, left that field of labor, on account of poor health, accepted a call and was installed pastor of the Dansville Church by the Presbytery of Ontario in September, 1834. Seventy additions were made at differ- ent communion seasons during his pastorate up to 1840, when, through disaffection growing out of circumstances attending a protracted meeting conducted by Rev. Augustus Littlejohn, an unfortunate division of the congregation occurred. Fifty-six communicants adhered to Mr. Walker 'and the old church. Sixty-six left the fold and organized a new society.
The old church continued to carry out its functions under the ministry of Mr. Walker until his death, which occurred in the year 1849, after intense and protracted sufferings from disease and surgical operations, which he bore with
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Christian patience and resignation. Succeeding Rev. Mr. Walker were the following ministers who labored as stated supplies over the church for brief periods until 1855, viz : Rev. Wm. Powell, 1849-50.
Rev. Jno. Parker, 1850-52.
Rev. John W. Ray, 1852-53.
Rev. Chas. L. Hequemburg, 1853-55.
On the 31st day of March, 1854, the church edifice was destroyed by fire, which deprived them of their beautiful house of worship. Services were continued, however, at Canaseraga Hall and at the English Lutheran Church until 1855, when Rev. Mr. Hequemburg's ministry over the church came to a close. From that time until 1861, there was no regular pastor or stated worship. In June of that year, by mutual consent of the two branches of the old society, known respectively as the First and Second Pres- byterian Churches of Dansville, they were consolidated by the Presbytery of Ontario under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Jessup.
DANSVILLE SECOND.
The Second Presbyterian Church of Dansville owed its formation to a division of sentiment among the members of the First Church which led to a separation in the year. 1840. In that year sixty-six members of the old church seceded therefrom, and formed the nucleus of what was afterward known as the Second Presbyterian Church. This organization, having no church edifice, occupied for a time an upper room in the Stevens block upon Main street. In 1842 a house of worship was erected at a cost of about $4,000.
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This church was ministered to by the following pastors and stated supplies :
Rev. Jno. N. Hubbard, S. S., 1840.
Rev. Leveret Hull, S. S., 1840-1842.
Rev. D. N. Merritt, Pastor, 1842-1844.
Rev. Joel Wakeman, S. S., 1844.
Rev. W. F. Curry, Pastor, 1844-1849.
Rev. Chas. L. Hequemburg, Pastor, 1849-1853.
Rev. John N. Hubbard, S. S., 1853-1857.
Rev. S. M. Campbell, D. D., S. S., 1858.
Rev. Dr. Seager, S. S., 1859.
Rev. Mr. Ford, S. S., 1860.
Rev. Samuel Jessup, Pastor, 1861 :
This Second Church enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity during the twenty years of its existence, the number of its members having nearly doubled during that period. Periods of special religious awakening occurred under the ministry of Rev. Leveret Hull in the year 1840, when 102 persons were received into the church at the four seasons of com- munion. During the succeeding pastorate of Rev. D. N. Merritt, in the year 1843, about forty more names were added to the roll. In addition to the sixty-six members constituting the original number, there were added by certificate and upon profession of faith, 300 persons from 1840 to 1860.
This church was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Angelica, July 15, 1840, soon after its organization, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Ontario, Feb. 13, 1855.
DANSVILLE. (CONSOLIDATED.)
Extract from the Minutes of the Presbytery of Ontario at its session in Dansville, June 4th, 1861 :
" The committee appointed to inquire into the condition of the First Presbyterian Church in Dansville, and whether any action of Presbytery is called for in regard to it,
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reported as follows : That they have had an interview with the First Presbyterian Church in Dansville, and finding them destitute of the means of grace, and of a house in which to worship, and with no prospect of being able to support an independent organization, recommend that the First and Second Churches of Dansville be consolidated under the name of the Presbyterian Church of Dansville ; that the pastor and officers of the Second Church be the pastor and officers of the consolidated church. This report was accepted and adopted, and the Rev. Samuel Jessup was appointed to communicate this act to the two churches.
" (Signed) J. BARNARD, " Stated Clerk."
This action was ratified by both churches, and the forty- four remaining members of the First Church became thereby a part of the Consolidated Church. At this time Rev. Samuel Jessup was pastor, having entered upon his duties in the fall of the year, 1860. The board of elders consisted of the following persons : Willis F. Clark, Dr. Wm. H. Reynale, Samuel Lemen, Calvin E. Clark, Wm. Perine, Edward S. Palmes.
Mr. Jessup's pastorate continued for eleven years and was in every way successful. The church edifice was enlarged, a neat, commodious chapel was built, the services were well sustained and there were additions to the church to the number of 222, forty-four of these coming in a body under the act of consolidation. During the winter and spring of 1866, there was a special religious awakening following upon daily union meetings of the four Protestant churches. From the beginning to the close of that year there were over sixty additions to the church, chiefly upon profession of faith in Christ. Mr. Jessup's administration closed in the year 1872. Following his resignation, the church was supplied for a year by the following ministers of the gospel : Rev. Messrs. Geo. K Ward, John Jones, D. D., and Jno. H. Brodt.
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In the spring of 1873 Rev. Mr. Ward was called to the pastorate of this church, over which he was ordained and installed June 4th, 1873.
Under Mr. Ward's administration the society has in- creased to nearly four hundred members. The chapel has been enlarged and connected with the church, and the fol- lowing auxiliary societies have been organized : Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Ward Home Missionary Soci. ety, Willing Workers, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. The Sabbath school is large and prosperous. A parsonage has been purchased in which the pastor has resided for the last ten years.
A special season of revival occurred in the year 1884, when fifty-one were received into the church.
At the communion season of March, the present year (1889) twenty-four were received.
The church is in good working order, and pastor and peo- ple are united. A monthly paper, The Presbyterian Church Herald, commenced its issue in April, 1889. The present elders are : David D. McNair, Geo. W. DeLong, Geo. W. Shepherd, Wm. T. Spinning, James M. McCurdy, Alexander Edwards.
FOWLERVILLE.
On the 16th of November, 1832, at their own request, the following persons were set off from the Presbyterian Church of York to form a church at Fowlerville : Amos Skinner, Olive Skinner, Ezekiel Morely, Sally Fowler, Joseph Tosier, Alfred Collins, Nancy Weller, Elizabeth McKnight, Clarissa Janes, Mary Eastman, Lavinia Roberts, Mary S. Eastman.
Rev. John Eastman acted as moderator, and Rev. John B. Whittlesey preached the sermon from Cant. VI: 10.
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The Rev. John Eastman was the first minister, who, as stated supply, remained until 1832 or 1833, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Mr. Walker for a short time. Rev. Robert Hubbard was reported as stated supply in 1834, who, was followed by Rev. Messrs. Powell, Hezekiah B. Pierpont, Jacob Burbank, Orange Lyman, Mr. Slie, and E. H. Stratton.
Rev. John P. Foster was ordained and installed pastor by the Presbytery of Ontario, Sept. 21, 1842, which relation was dissolved Jan. 30, 1844. He was followed by Rev. Messrs. Robert Laird, Bridgeman,
Chapin, Henry Snyder, Timothy Darling, Thomas A. Wadsworth, Moses Powell, Yeomans and W. M. Modesit. During the ministries of Pierpont, Laird and Wadsworth there were quite extensive revivals.
During the ministry of Rev. Thomas A. Wadsworth in the year 1856, the church withdrew from the care of the Ontario Presbytery and became distinctively Congre- gational, it having before this been connected with Presby- tery since Aug. 25, 1829, on the " Accommodation Plan," as the Second Presbyterian Church of York.
In the year 1878, this Congregational Church having become very weak, the Presbytery of Rochester in response to an overture to that effect, reorganized the same by set- ting off from the First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia sixteen members, who, uniting with twenty-three of said Congregational Church, three from the United Presbyter- ian Church of Caledonia, four from the United Presbyter- ian Church of York, two from the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and four on profession of faith, fifty-two, in all, were constituted, April 22nd, 1878, the First Presbyter- ian Church of Fowlerville, by Rev. Samuel M. Campbell, D. D., of Rochester.
Of the church thus organized the Rev. Eugene G. Cheese- man acted as stated supply for one year ; Rev. Frederick
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1
D. Seward as stated supply from April 1, 1879, to Oct., 1881, and Rev. Sybrant Nelson as stated supply from April 9, 1882, to April 9, 1886. Then followed brief supplies for a year when, May 25, 1887, Rev. Bevard D. Sinclair was ordained and installed pastor, which relation was dis- solved April 21, 1889.
The pastorate of Mr. Sinclair was blessed with a revival. In seven months thirty-five were received on profession of faith, twenty-two of whom were received at one commun- ion. The following persons were deacons while the church was Congregational, viz : Amos Skinner, Ezekiel Morely,
Merrill, Eastman, Israel Casoey,
and Sackett.
The Sunday-school superintendents during the same
period were : Joseph Tosier, Merrill, Miss Polly Hubbell, James Fowler, John P. Casey, B. F. Dow, F. F. Dow.
There have been the following elders since the reorgani- zation in 1878 : William Fraser, Gerrit S. Casey, F. F. Dow, Theodore Freeman, Matthew Ralph, and Hugh B Agar.
, A Total Abstinence Society in connection with the church existed as early as 1837.
A Woman's Missionary Society, both Home and Foreign, has existed since 1879.
A Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized by Rev. B. D. Sinclair in 1887, which still con- tinues in vigorous operation.
A Young Ladies' Mission Band was organized in 1885, which is in full vigor at present.
The present board of trustees is composed of Robert Vallance, John W. Horn, George McPherson, Leroy Bud- long and John Hunter. The first church building was erected about the year 1833, on the public park, and was destroyed by fire April 13, 1836, supposed to be the work
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER PRESBYTERY.
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