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 16
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Succession of pastors and stated supplies of these organizations up to the time of the organization of the O. S. church in 1848 : Elihu Mason, 1819-22; John Lindsley, 1822-28 ; Abel Caldwell, 1829-37; Leonard Rogers, 1837-40 ; Abram C. DuBois, 1840-41; Abel Caldwell, 1841-42; Lewis Hamilton, 1843-44 ; John M. Bear, 1845-47.
Succession of pastors and stated supplies in the O. S. church in Oakland, up to the time of union with the First church in Nunda, 1871 : Richard Kay, 1848-52; Isaac Oakes, 1852-57; Wm. Hall, 1857-58 ; H. B. Thayer, 1858-60 ; Pliny Twitchell, 1861-64 ; E. W. Kellogg, 1864-68 ; R. W. McCormick, 1868-69; L. G. Marsh, 1870-71.
The elders in the church of Oakland at the time of organization, 1848 : G. Wing, David W. Thayer, Silas Olmstead, E. S. Olmstead, J. Preston, J. B. Hewitt.
Deacons, W. T. Totten, Tracy Ensworth.
During the fifty years of their existence there were about 450 names on their records.
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OGDEN.
The early records of this church are scanty and defective, and all that can be gathered and offered from them is a bare outline of its history.
The First Presbyterian Church of Ogden was organized, by whom or in what manner is not recorded, in the year 1811, with ten members, namely, Samuel Davis, Daniel Arnold, James Ferrington, Josiah Mather, Jabes Busley, Phebe Finch, Lydia Mitchell, Betsey Nichols, and two names not given.
The first deacons were Samuel Davis and Josiah Mather ; and the first ruling elders were Sylvanus Willey, Diodati Lord, Charles Church, Austin Spencer, H. D. Vroom and A. Norton.
Of those who served this church as its ministers during the first seven years of its existence we have no record ; but from that date forward the following were the successive occupants of its pulpit, either as pastors or stated supplies :
Rev. Ebenezer Everett, pastor, from 1819-22.
Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick, pastor, from 1824-33.
Rev. John Carle, stated supply, during 1833 and 1834.
Rev. Conway P. Wing, pastor, from 1835-38.
Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick, pastor, from 1838-49.
Rev. Charles Jerome, stated supply, part of 1849.
Rev. Darwin Chichester, stated supply, in 1850.
Rev. Edward Perkin, stated supply, in 1850.
Rev. Mr. Ely, stated supply, in 1851.
Rev. William A. Fox, pastor, from 1851-65.
Rev. Alexander McA. Thorburn, pastor, from 1865-82.
Rev. A. S. Hoyt, pastor, from 1883-88.
Rev. Glenroie McQueen, is the present incumbent of the pulpit.
This church has been favored with many precious revivals, the most notable of which occurred in the following years,
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resulting in the number of converts set opposite thereto respectively :
Revival of 1827, converted 63 ; revival of 1831, converted 131 ; revival of 1834, converted 14; revival of 1836, con- verted 44; revival of 1838, converted 17; revival of 1840, converted 59; revival of 1843, converted 33; revival of 1853, converted 69 ; revival of 1858, converted 25 ; revival of 1866, converted 28; revival of 1869, converted 30; revival of 1874, converted 47 ; revival of 1878, converted 21.
Of the members of this church, four have become minis- ters of the gospel, namely, Nelson E. Spencer, Ephraim Strong, Francis W. Lord and John Q. Adams.
The Sabbath school of the Church of Ogden was organized in the year 1819; and those who have been received as members to communion with the church, during the last thirty five years, have been largely from those who have been taught the Word of God therein.
A " Woman's Missionary Society," was organized in this church in September, 1872, which at first was connected with the Philadelphia Board, but in March, 1885, was trans- ferred to that of New York.
A "Christian Endeavor Society " also was organized in December, 1886. This now numbers 50 active and some 25 associate members ; these hold general meetings weekly, and consecration meetings monthly. This society has already been the means of great good among the young in the congregation ; twelve of its associate members have united with the church during the past year.
The first house of worship owned by this congregation was built in 1823 ; its dimensions being 40 feet by 50 feet. This served them until the year 1849, when it was enlarged and improved at an expense of $2,723. This house was again thoroughly repaired in 1868, and a Sabbath school and lecture room added to it, costing altogether $3,343. In 1887, the church and lecture room were once more thor-
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oughly repaired and refurnished at an expenditure of $1,206.
The present ruling elders are : James N. Arnold, W. W. Nichols, George Comstock, Horace Rann, William Lowery.
The present Board of Trustees are : Lewis Corser, Henry Vannest, John Kincaid, Henry S. Dyer, Horace Rann, and Charles Smith.
OSSIAN.
The Presbyterian Church of Ossian was organized by Rev. Robert Hubbard in 1818, with the following members : James Haynes, Mary Haynes, Thomas Lemon, Jane Lemon, Minerva Faulkner, Mrs. Rhoda Clendenin, Timothy Osborne and wife, and Addison Sill, and probably a few others whose names cannot be positively given.
The first elders were James Haynes and Addison Sill.
The Rev. Robert Hubbard supplied the pulpit from the time the church was organized until 1830. Other ministers succeeded him as follows :
Rev. Ludovicus Robins for one year.
Rev. William P. Kendrick for two years.
Rev. David Cushing for two years.
Rev. Jacob H. Endress for two years.
Rev. Dwight Twitchell for three years.
Rev. John A. Littlejohn for one year.
Rev. - Darling for two years.
Rev. Nathan Hammond for six years.
Rev. - - Richardson for one year.
Rev. - Hard for one year.
Rev. Willis Clark Gaylord for one year.
Rev. Calkins for three months.
Rev. - Boyd for three months.
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Rev. James HI. Board for six years.
Rev. James L. Box for three years.
Rev. George W. Craig for two years.
Rev. William C. Brass for two years.
The Sabbath school was organized soon after the organi- zation of the church, and has been sustained the most of the time since.
The present superintendent is Isaac Hampton, who has been superintendent most of the time for the last twenty- five years.
There have been special revivals as follows : In 1840, about forty were received ; 1855, ten ; 1875, eight ; and in 1878, twenty-two.
The church edifice was erected in 1835, its dimensions being 30 by 42, and costing $300. In 1878 it was enlarged by an addition of twelve feet to its length, and the building was renovated at an expense of $1,500, at which time it was re-dedicated, the Rev. Levi Parsons, of Mount Morris, N. Y., preaching the sermon.
The present elders are Jacob Clendenin, David McCurdy, and Matthias Rolison.
The first trustees were Jacob Clendenin, Timothy Osborne and Thomas Lemon.
The present trustees are Freeman Court, Mansfield More, Edward Burrill, John Scott and Lemuel Price.
Present number of members, 42.
This church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, June 10, 1868.
Mr. Hotchkin, referring to this church, says : "For many years the church was small and feeble, and enjoyed very little ministerial aid, except an occasional service from Rev. Robert Hubbard, who had the charge of two extended congregations. The church is uniformly with one exception reported vacant until 1837. On the 13th of September, of that year, Rev. Ashbel Otis was ordained and installed
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pastor of the church. On account of the failure of his health he was dismissed February 26, 1839. The church has since been reported as having a stated supply, but the name is not given. In 1832, twenty-five members were reported as having the preceding year united with the church by pro- fession. These were the fruits of a revival enjoyed by the church. The years 1837 and 1840 were also years of revival.
" In looking at the reports of the American Home Mis- sionary Society. the author finds the names of Rev. Messrs. Ludovicus Robbins, William P. Kendrick, Robert Hubbard, Ashbel Otis and A. C. Dubois, as missionaries appointed to labor on this field at different periods."
PARMA CENTER.
This church was organized March 4, 1829, by a commission of the Presbytery of Rochester, consisting of three ministers, Rev. Joseph Penny, D. D., Rev. Chauncey Cook and Rev. Abelyn Sedgwick, and two lay delegates, Mr. John Arnold, and Mr. John Granger.
The original members, all of whom presented letters from different churches, were the following : Daniel Clark, Daniel Clark, Jr., Emilia Clark, Orpha Clark, Clarissa Patterson, Harriet VanSise, Nicholas Kipp, Nancy Kipp, Jane Post, Isabel VanTuyl, Hannah Pulis, Phebe Gager, Lucius Peck, Abby Peck.
Of these, Daniel Clark, Nicholas Kipp and Lucius Peck were elected and ordained as ruling elders; while the first two were also named to discharge the special duties of deacons. The organization services were had in the Atcheson school-house.
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The first house of worship owned by this church was erected in 1831, which for some time served both as a church and a town house. The ground on which this edifice stood was donated to the congregation by Mr. Roswell Atcheson. .
At first the pulpit was occupied by such chance supplies as could be obtained. In 1832, Rev. Silas Pratt is named in the records as being their stated preacher, and the number of members is said to have been 73. During the year 1833, Rev. Samuel Griswold and the Rev. Richard De Forest each preached for a few months. Toward the close of this year, Rev. Chandler Bates was engaged to preach, whose ministery extended through a period of some three years. In 1837, the church secured the services of Rev. Beaufort Ladd, who remained with them about two years. In 1840, Rev. William P. Kendrick was called to occupy the pulpit, whose ministry was also limited to a term of two years.
The Rev. Chandler Bates, a former pastor, continued a resident in the town and gratuitously served the church at various intervals, to the end of his life. And Mrs. Bates, like her faithful consort, whom she survived, loved the church to the last, leaving it a handsome legacy when she followed him and went to her rest and reward.
In the spring of 1842, Rev. Shubael Carver became the minister of Parma Church. He was an Oberlin man, and held the doctrine of Christian perfection, and by his way of presenting this, created a division in the church, when he had been its preacher but a few weeks. At this time the members numbered 61, of whom 24 became his avowed adherents, and managed to get and keep possession of the building. Shortly after this rupture, these formed them- selves into a Congregational church, which, however, survived only three years.
During the continuance of these troubles, those who
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remained firm Presbyterians worshipped in different school houses until 1844, when a substantial house of worship was built, which still remains and is in fact the one now occupied by the congregation. This was erected by great sacrifice and self-denial. The site was donated by the Rev. Mr. Bates, and the building was put up almost entirely by the joint labors of the members. While the male members hewed the timbers, quarried the stone and drew the materials to the spot, the female members came together to knit and sew, to win what funds they could, and those outside the pale of the church, catching the general spirit of activity and co-operation which prevailed. came forward and helped on the work. Thus, by the fall, the house was completed without a dollar of debt. The erection of the church was accomplished during the ministry of Rev. Daniel Johnson, which extended over a period of four years. This worthy man was succeeded by the Rev. George Freeman, who served the church about six years.
In 1850, the church had on its roll 59 members ; but ten years later we find that it had declined to 55.
In 1856, the pulpit was occupied by Rev. H. G. Miles ; and from 1858 to 1861, by Rev. J. H. Phelps. Early in 1862, Rev. Edwin Allen became the minister, who con- tinued his labors nearly five years, and under his preaching 36 members were added to the church. From 1867 to 1870, Rev. A. G. Wilcox was the preacher ; in 1870 and 1871, Rev. Joshua D. Lane ; in 1872, Mr. Lewis H. Morey and Mr. George Smith, both students ; in 1873, Rev. E. W. Kellogg.
In 1874, a call was given to the Rev. George C. Jewel, who was ordained and installed. and continued the pastor for four years. He was succeeded by Rev. D. W. Marvin, who remained two years. Then followed a number of transient supplies. In 1880, Rev. G. L. Hamilton became the preacher, whose labors extended through a period of one year. Then the Rev. William G. Hubbard was called,
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who, Nov. 3, 1881, was installed, and held the office of pastor for a term of two years and a half. From the time of his departure, Rev. Theodore B. Williams, who was settled at Charlotte, engaged to preach to them on Sabbath afternoons, which he continued to do down to June, 1885. For the next succeeding eight months the pulpit was supplied by a student from the Rochester Theological Seminary.
In November of 1886, Rev. G. L. Hamilton, for the second time, became the preacher, and though residing in Rochester, continues to be the stated supply down to the present time.
The membership is now reduced to 27, but the congre- gation owns a parsonage and owes no debts.
PENFIELD.
The First Presbyterian Church of Penfield (originally Northfield, embracing the present towns of Perrinton, Pitts_ ford, Henrietta, Brighton, Irondequoit, Penfield, Webster, and that part of the City of Rochester lying east of the Genesee River,) was organized by Rev. Reuben Parmele, pastor of the Victor church, on February 7, 1806, and was received into connection with the Ontario Association, June 10, 1806, and continued such connection until the dissolu- tion of that body. It was organized a Congregational church, with fifteen members: Elisha Sheldon, Sarah Sheldon, Huldah White, Abraham Bronson, Mary Bronson, Thomas Brooks, Esther Brooks, William Spears, Love Spears, Daniel Wilson, Esther Wilson, Josiah Kellogg, Rachel Perrin and John Stroger. It is claimed that prior to the above date a Congregational church had been gathered which continued until merged in this new organization.
Josiah Kellogg and Thomas Brooks were elected the first deacons of this new organization.
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In the beginning of the year 1814, the church adopted the Presbyterian form of government, and was received into the Presbytery of Geneva, April 19, 1814. From this Presbytery it was transferred to the Presbytery of Ontario, and subsequently to the Presbytery of Rochester, on the erection of those Presbyteries. February 13, 1850, the church joined the Buffalo Presbytery. It was set off to the Rochester Presbytery, Oct. 7, 1851, and received by that body June 2, 1857.
During the two years succeeding the organization, twenty-nine members were added to the church. Under Mr. Carpenter's ministry in 1818, a precious season of revival added twenty-one to its membership. In 1825 it reported fifty eight as the whole number of members. In 1831, thirty-nine were added, and the whole number, 107; in 1837, 100 members. During its existence of more than seventy years the church was blest with many revivals. At one communion season forty-one were received ; at another, fifty-two. From its organization until 1816, there were no regular stated administrations of gospel ordinances ; the preaching of the gospel and administration of sacra- ments, was only occasional, but the church maintained regular stated worship upon the Sabbath. Its Sunday school was at one time large and flourishing ; in 1836 it numbered 150 ; and in 1838, 156.
In 1814, the first elders elected and ordained were Thomas Brooks, Josiah J. Kellogg, Levi Warren, Isaac Barnum and Gersham Dunham.
The following named ministers have been in charge of the pulpit ; Rev. Asa Carpenter, 1816-25; Rev. Garret Hallenback, 1825-27; Rev. Eber Child, 1828; Rev. Lemuel Brooks, Dec., 1828, and was ordained and installed March 18, 1829, and dismissed Oct. 19, 1830. After the dismission of Mr. Brooks, Rev. Elijah Buck, Rev. Simeon Peck, Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, and Rev. Moses Ordway were severally
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employed as stated supplies for one year, or about that period." They were succeeded by Rev. Albert G. Hall, then a licentiate, in May, 1835, who was ordained and installed pastor of the church, Feb. 24, 1836. Dr. Hall was dismissed Feb. 5, 1840. During the pastorate of Dr. Hall the church enjoyed its season of greatest prosperity. Its membership ranged from 107 to 160, its congregation filling the church. " The church was aided by the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society in the support of Mr. Hall."
Connected with its congregation and membership were such prominent men of their day as Daniel Penfield, Hon. Henry Fellows, Richard Ely, Isaac Raymond, Alexander Canada, Ralph Camp, John Weaver, Jacob B. Bryan, John Cole, Julius Warren, Leonard Adams, Edmond Parmenter, Thomas Myers, Ami Carpenter, Moses Wisner, Levi Dun- can, Daniel Lewis, Jacob Hallenback, Henry Ward, Isaac Chichester, Horace Bush, Samuel Scovil and others. Dr Hall was succeeded by Rev. Edward Ray, who, in 1842, . was followed by Rev. George Delevan, and he, in 1843, by Rev. Ralph S. Crampton, and he, in 1845, by Rev. John H. Young, and, also Rev. Thomas Bellamy, 1849-53 ; Rev. Allen McFarland, 1853-57; Rev. Alvan Ingersol, 1857-58; Rev. Royal Mann, 1858-60 ; Rev. Jeremialı Woodruff, 1860-66 : Rev. Win. W. Collins, 1866-67 ; Rev. C. H. Wheeler, 1867-75 ; Rev. Elisha B. Sherwood, tem- porarily ; Rev. Levi G. Marsh, 1876.
In 1828, dismissions by letter to form churches in Brighton, Perrinton, Webster, Pittsford and Henrietta, reduced the membership to forty-six. It is remarkable that in so short a time this church should have given birth to so many new enterprises, which, in the main live, while the mother church has become extinct, a memory to be cherished.
The officers of the society in 1876 were :
Elders : William Fellows, Doctor Thomas A. Brown, Charles Leonard.
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Trustees : William Fellows, James Harris, Horace P. Lewis, George R. Leonard, George W. Raymond.
The ground upon which the church stands was donated by Daniel Penfield, one of the first settlers in the town. The deed of the conveyance of this piece of ground is dated April 7, 1820. The building was erected in 1823, and dedicated in 1825. It was a brick edifice capable of seating from six to eight hundred persons. In 1864 it was repaired at considerable expense. July 26, 1831, the prop- erty was sold by virtue of a Fi-Fa, for $390 and costs. September 19, 1832, it was redeemed by Laura M. Ely, a judgment creditor, and Dec. 1, 1832, was sold by her to Leonard Adams, Elias D. Brooks, Levi Warren, and Ralph Camp, for $2,000, with the special provision in the deed of conveyance, that they covenant and agree that it shall not be disposed of for any other purpose, or con- verted to any other use than a Presbyterian meeting-house so long as there should be a Presbyterian society in Penfield holding stated meetings and supporting stated preaching. It is stated that the decline of the church is largely due to isolation from canal and railroad facilities. While the church lived it had been a means of good, and it died full of years and honor. In its declining years it received financial help from the Board of Home Missions. Finally, being unable to support public services, the house was closed and the chapel of the church was sold, Feb. 11, 1884, for sixty-five dollars and removed from the ground. The bell was donated to the North Church in Rochester. April 14, 1884, and the church with its lot was deeded to Charles N. Leonard, on 12 December, 1884, for five hundred dollars, to be used by a German Lutheran Church. The proceeds of the sales, with interest on them, was, by vote of Presbytery, paid on 15th April, 1886, one-third to each Board, the Home Missions, Foreign Missions, and Church Erection, $194.98.
The above sketch is compiled from an historical address by Hon. C. M. Hawley, delivered by request, July 2, 1876, and from the history by Rev. James Hotchkin, and from the records of the church, on file with the clerk of Presbytery.
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PIFFARD.
Mr. and Mrs. David L. Haight, of New York, whose daughter, Mrs. David Piffard, had settled in the Genesee Valley, Livingston County, in 1824, became, in consequence of frequent visits to Western New York, greatly interested in the welfare of the people in the near neighborhood of her daughter's home. Feeling a deep religious sympathy with those about them, and bending with noble energy every power to the work, they succeeded in establishing a church of their own denomination-Protestant Dutch Reformed. On the 13th of July, 1843, it was duly constituted the Dutch Reformed Church of Piffard. On the second Saturday of September, 1843, the corner-stone was laid, with appropriate ceremonies by the Rev. Dr. Gustavus Abeel, of Geneva, N. Y. The basement was soon afterward completed and the Rev. J. Hammond, of Mt. Morris, was engaged to supply the pulpit, which he did every Sabbath until the spring of 1846. In May of 1846 the church edifice was completed. It was solemnly dedicated to the service of the Triune God, on Saturday, August 1, 1846. The Rev. Dr. Wycoff preached a most interesting and appropriate sermon from Isaiah, 60th chapter, 13th verse, " And I will make the place of my feet glorious." The act of dedication was then performed by the Rev. J. C. Van Liew, the minister in charge. Services were then held in the church. Dr. Abeel preached the sermon, the text taken from 1st Timothy, 3rd chapter, last clause of the 15th verse : " Which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Following the sermon the elders and deacons were ordained in their respective offices. At a meeting after the services the following wardens were elected : David Piffard, Edwin Breckridge and B. C. Nichols.
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Elders : The first elders were Thomas Boyd and Chauncey Van Vliet.
Deacons : Jacob N. Clute and George Sinclair.
Present Elders : T. N. Shattuck and W. A. Sackett.
Trustees : Nina H. Piffard, T. N. Shattuck and W. A. Sackett.
The Rev. J. Hammond, of Mt. Morris, supplied the pulpit from October 1, 1843, until the spring of 1846. The Rev. J. C. Van Liew, from the middle of May, 1846, until October, 1847.
The Rev. James M. Compton, through application to the Classis of Cayuga, entered soon afterwards on his charge as missionary pastor, but later on, aid which had been promised being withdrawn, he resigned the 16th of November, 1850.
In June, 1853, the Rev. Charles Ray. Presbyterian pastor, took the charge, and under his influence and that of others, it became a "Society" connected with the Presby- tery of Wyoming, and took the name "The First Presby- terian Congregation of Piffard." He continued in charge for several years.
Subsequent to the removal of the Rev. Charles Ray, who resigned to take the principalship of the Geneseo Academy, the Rev. F. De W. Ward, D. D., succeeded, and labored faith- fully for twenty-five years. He resigned to go as chaplain in the 104th New York Volunteers during the late war (ad interim), resuming the pastorate on his return.
Following a period of quiescence which succeeded Dr. Ward's leaving, mission services were held nearly every Sabbath during the summer months for several years, the clergymen in the vicinity contributing most kindly their services, Mr. Slack taking the pulpit for the winter months during the interval years. Again a period of inaction suc- ceeded. During the early spring and summer of 1884, a number of the members of Dr. Kittredge's congregation [Presbyterian Church] in Geneseo, held weekly meetings in
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Piffard with such success that out of the new life instilled through their labors, the church started afresh with every sign of enduring success.
During that summer the following trustees were elected : Nina Haight Piffard, T. N. Shattuck and Robert M. Ferris. Subsequently, in the place of Mr. Ferris, resigned, Mrs. Charles F. Wadsworth was elected. Later Mrs. Wadsworth resigned and W. A. Sackett was elected to fill the vacancy. In the autumn of 1884, the Rev. Fisher Gutelius, of Moscow, N. Y., began to hold regular services, increasing and strengthening the newly grown interest, until a resident minister could be secured, which was done during the fall of 1885.
On the 1st of September, 1885, the Rev. John M. Wol- cott, of New Haven, Conn., was called and accepted, and he remained until the 1st of July, 1887. During his pastorate was regularly organized, November 16, 1885, the " First Presbyterian Church of Piffard," with twenty members. On the 17th of July, 1887, the Rev. Fisher Gutelius was again called and accepted, taking the parish as before, in connection with his own church in Moscow.
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