USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. > Part 42
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3. For a period of over seven years the church had no pastor. At length the former pastor, Rev. Mr. Griswold, was engaged as stated supply, and served the church in this capacity for five years. The church owes much to this good man, who gave them some twelve years of the best part of his life, who commenced and fostered the enterprise, and under whose able ministrations it attained an enviable prosperity. Mr.'Griswold died in this village December 27, 1841, and his remains are interred in Greenridge cemetery.
4. The third pastor was Rev. Dr. Albert T. Chester, who was installed Dec. 3, 1839, and resigned his call Dec. 4, 1849.
5. Rev. Dr. John Woodbridge was installed pastor Jan. 21, 1851, and resigned Oct. 10, 1871.
6. Rev. Frederick W. Newman was installed July, 1872, and resigned early in the year 1875.
7. Rev. Dr. Peter Stryker, the present pastor, was in- stalled July 9, 1876.
Church Edifices .- This church has had three sanctuaries. The first was a frame building, and is still standing on the corner of Church and Matilda streets, and is now known as the Commercial Hotel. This house was consecrated Dec. 6, 1820. It cost about $4500.
The second building was a brick edifice, located on the corner of Broadway and Carolina street. This was com- menced early in the year 1848, and was dedicated some time in the year 1842. It cost $8000.
The large and elegant brick building, situated on North
Broadway, just above the town-hall, is the third sanctuary. This was finished and first occupied July 26, 1857. The debt incurred in its erection being subscribed, the house was dedicated at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the church, Dec. 8, 1867. The cost of the lot and edi- fice was about $30,000.
Members and Church Work .-. This church was organized with nine members. It has on the church roll as admitted by letter and profession eleven hundred and ninety-five persons. The number of persons now present and in full communion is two hundred and seventy-six. Many con- nected with this church were or are persous of distinction : ministers, doctors, lawyers, judges, statesmen. Among them may be specified Rev. Wm. W. Eddy, D.D., at pres- ent a missionary in Beirut, Syria, and the late Reuben II. Walworth, chancellor of the State of New York, and the late Judge Wm. L. F. Warren.
The officers of this church at present are as follows :
Session .- Rev. Peter Stryker, D.D., moderator; Paoli Durkee, clerk ; Philip McOmber, N. Bedortha, M.D., Silas P. Briggs, Wm. B. Taylor, H. Dwight Williams.
Trustees .- Judge Chas. S. Lester, president ; James II. Wright, treasurer ; A. S. Hays, A. A. Patterson, Edward R. Stevens.
Deucons .- Samuel Freeburn, Charles C. Lester, Charles W. Fuller.
Choir .- C. C. Lester, leader ; Miss Florence Eddy, organist.
Sexton .- Tracey A. Record.
Sabbath-School .- This is as old as the church. It was organized in 1816, and Mr. John D. Mann was the first superintendent. The school now numbers three hundred persons, and is in fine working order. The officers are : Judge C. S. Lester, superintendent ; Edward R. Stevens, secretary and treasurer; Willard Lester, librarian; C. C. Lester, chorister ; Miss Sarah Pond, organist ; Miss Carrie Walbridge, superintendent of primary department.
Industrial School .- This is held on Saturday afternoons. Connected with it are about one hundred teachers and scholars. Mrs. C. Il. Stryker, the wife of the pastor, is the superintendent.
Young People's Association .- This is composed of a large number of the young people of the congregation, who make themselves very useful in a variety of ways. The president is Willard Lester, and the secretary Walter Fuller.
There is a Women's Foreign Missionary Society in this church, connected with the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the synod of Albany. Also a Women's Home Missionary Society. Of the former, Mrs. Peter Stryker is president ; of the latter, Mrs. Alexander Proudfit.
The benevolent contributions of this church are obtained by (1) collections in the Sabbath-school ; (2) subscriptions and collections for the poor fund ; (3) subscriptions to the women's board ; (4) subscriptions to general benevolence, solicited and collected each month by a committee of the Young People's Association, and disbursed by the session.
Colonies .- 1. Congregational church of Saratoga, Rev. W. R. Terrett, pastor ; organized 1845. 2. Second Presby- terian church, Rev. Giles P. Hawley, pastor ; organized Aug. 8, 1871.
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The formal organization of Bethesda church in Saratoga Springs was at a meeting of the congregation worshiping in a chapel on the northeast corner of Congress and Put- nam streets, in the village of Saratoga Springs, on the 4th day of October, 1830. For many years prior to this or- ganization, and, in fact, for many years subsequent thereto, the town of Saratoga Springs was missionary ground under the voluntarily assumed charge of the Rev. Edward Davis, of Ballston, and the Rev. Deodatus Babcock, of Ballston Spa. At the time of this organization the Rev. Edward Davis was the missionary and rector in charge of this sta- tion, and he attended this meeting in the character of rector. At this meeting Henry Walton and Wallace Craw- ford were elected wardens; John II. Steel, John Clarke, Daniel D. Benedict, Esek Cowen, Rockwell Putnam, Joel Clement, Jonathan Williams, and Daniel Wait, vestrymen. A certificate of incorporation, in accordance with the pro- visions of " an act to provide for the incorporation of re- ligious societies," was drawn up, certified by the seals of Edward Davis, rector, Rockwell Putnam, and Henry Wal- ton, witnessed by William II. Walton and Sheldon Clarke, and acknowledged before Hon. John H. Steel, judge of Saratoga County common pleas. This certificate was after- wards duly recorded in the office of the county elerk.
For nearly eleven years from the date of this organiza- tion the parish remained practically missionary ground, and the little band who met in the chapel kindly furnished by Dr. John Clarke, at the corner of Congress and Putnam streets, was carefully looked after and ministered to by the Rev. Messrs. Davis and Babcock, who lovingly and perse- veringly held together the growing flock until it gained strength to stand alone. On the 29th of May, 1841, a meeting of the church-wardens and vestrymen was held, pursuant to notice, at Bethesda chapel, permanent rules and by-laws of the incorporation adopted, and a special commit- tec appointed to make inquiry as to grounds suitable as a site for a church edifice, and the terms on which it might be obtained. John Clarke, Sidney J. Cowen, and Samuel Freeman were appointed such special committee. They re- ported at an adjourned meeting, held June 5, 1841, three several offers of lots for a church edifice : one by Judge llenry Walton, in the grove on the east side of Broad street, north of Covent Garden ; one by Rockwell Putnam, on the south side of Washington street, and one by Dr. John Clarke, in the grove on the west side of Circular street, north of and near Congress street, known as Temple hill. The lot offered by Rockwell Putnam was finally chosen, and measures at once takeu to erect upon it a church edifice.
Starting out with a debt of some $3500 for the lot selected, and no funds beyond the voluntary contributions of comparatively few in number, the work of erecting the church edifice and building up the church was slow. For near thirty years the mortgage given on the purchase of the lot hung like a nightmare over the faithful struggling band, who labored in season and out of season to sustain the enterprise, and to clear the church, grown dear to them by labor and self-sacrifice, from incumbrance.
The plan of the building, drawn by R. Upjohn, archi-
tect, of New York, for the projected edifice on Temple hill, was, with some modifications, adopted for the new location. The building on Washington street was commenced in 1842, and was first occupied, in an unfinished condition, during 1844. The building, as first modeled, was in the form of the Latin cross,-the nave and transepts occupied by the congregation, and the head of the cross by the chancel. In 1859, to increase the seating capacity of the building, the walls of the .nave between the towers and transepts were moved out on a line with the outer walls of the transepts. The towers, according to the original plan, were never carried up and finished.
The first rector of the parish after the long-continued missionary labors of the Rev. Drs. Davis and Babcock was the Rev. William Frederick Walker, formerly of Christ church, Troy, N. Y. Mr. Walker had occupied the place for a time in a missionary capacity, and on the 19th of June was called to the rectorship of the parish. Mr. Walker was succeeded, Sept. 2, 1843, by the Rev. Samuel Hansom Cox, then in his diaconate as minister.
March 28, 1845, the Rev. John Henry Hobart was called as rector. He was succeeded, June 9, 1846, by the Rev. Philip E. Milledoler, M.D., who continued as rector until his death, June 19, 1850. For some months prior to his decease the Rev. Dr. Milledoler was unable to attend to his duties, and at his request the Rev. B. H. Whicher was employed as officiating minister.
Sept. 13, 1850, Rev. S. F. Wiley was called as rector. Hle remained until November, 1852, when, on account of the continued illness of his wife, he was compelled to re- sign and remove. From this time for a few months Rev. Dr. Babcock, of Ballston Spa, again officiated by request.
Feb. 28, 1852, the Rev. John Steinfort Kidney was called as rector. He continued until April, 1858, when, on account of the health of some members of his family, he accepted a call to a church in the south.
May 10, 1858, the Rev. Robert C. Rogers was called as rector. He continued until July, 1861.
July 5, 1861, the Rev. Edmund Rowland Deacon, of Hartford, Conn., was employed as minister, and on March 12, 1862, he was called as rector. He continued as rector till October, 1863.
Nov. 12, 1863, the Rev. Francis C. Wainwright was called as rector. Ile continued until May, 1865.
The Rev. G. C. V. Eastman was employed as officiating clergyman from the resignation of Mr. Wainwright until the call, April 20, 1866, of the Rev. John Breckenridge Gibson. Mr. Gibson continued as rector until his accept- ance of a call from St. John's school, Sing Sing, N. Y.
The successor of Dr. Gibson was the Rev. Dr. Norman W. Camp, who became the rector in 1869, and continued till the year 1873, when, on account of failing health, he resigned his charge. The Rev. Joseph Carey, the present rector, has had charge of the parish since Advent Sunday, 1873. The present officers (1878) are H. W. Burhans and A. B. Olmstead, wardens ; James M. Marvin, Wm. M. Searing, Wm. Bennett, P. Porter Wiggins, R. C. McEwen, Wm. H. Hall, F. G. Vaughn, J. W. Ehninger, vestrymen.
Home of the Good Shepherd .- Connected with this church is a charitable institution called the Home of the
173
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Good Shepherd. It is incorporated under the laws of the State, and owns commodious buildings, containing a chapel on Catherine street, well adapted to the purposes of the insti- tution, the relief of the indigent aged and others needing temporary assistance. A flourishing mission Sunday-school is carried on in connection with it under the direction of the rector of the parish, aided by a superintendent and corps of teachers.
Parish Sunday-School .- A large and flourishing Sun- day-school is held at the parish church, under the care of the rector and a superintendent, the particulars of which have not come to hand as we go to press.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Rev. Orin Foote, now residing in Nebraska City, in a letter to J. B. Felshaw, Esq., says that when he came to Saratoga Springs, in the year 1829, there were but two Methodists in the village, viz., John Morrill and his wife, Diana Morrill. Rev. Mr. Stebbins, then one of the preachers on this circuit, occasionally had an appointment here. He was followed by Dr. Samuel Luckey on the circuit in 1830 and '31, and the new church on North Broadway was regu- larly supplied.
The oldest class-paper to be found bears date June 26, 1831, and contains the following names : Orin Foote, Mary Foote, John Morrill, Diana Morrill, John Holman, Ammira Holman, John Hodges, Mary Hodges, Catharine Milligan, Esther Ketcham, Harriet Bell, Elizabeth Hudson, Catha- rine Day, J. D. Moriarity, Aun Moriarity, Mary Ann Mo- riarity, Caroline Moriarity, in all seventeen members, --- five males and twelve females.
J. B. Felshaw, Esq., first came to Saratoga Springs in 1835, and, as I have already mentioned, was one of the building committee of this church. He also held the official relation of leader and trustee for a number of years. To him 1 am indebted for a large share of the facts and incidents, including names and dates, contained in this paper, having penned them down from his own lips. His memory is still very vigorous, and remarkably clear touching the early his- tory and struggles of Methodism here and hereabouts. He says that in 1835 there were about forty members in the society, a large number of whose names he distinctly recol- lects and can readily repeat, only four of whom are still members, viz., Tacy Eighmy, Mary Ann lodges, Mary Ann Crawford, and Rebecca Jane Young. Sixty was about an average attendance of the congregation then worshiping in the old church on North Broadway. These were gath- ered in from Greenfield, Wilton, Malta Ridge, and the sparsely-settled region roundabout.
Up to the time of holding the annual conference in the spring of 1835, Saratoga Springs was one of the appoint- ments on what was then called Stillwater Circuit, -Green- field, Wilton, Schuylerville, Malta Ridge, Clifton Park, and Stillwater being the other appointments on the circuit. For some three or four years previous to this time, Rev. J. D. Moriarty, who came to this village in 1831, was the preacher in charge of this appointment, being allowed whatever could be collected for his services, which was never more than a mere pittance. Ephraim Goss was, however, the preacher in charge of the circuit.
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At the conference in June, 1835, Rev. John Harwood and Oliver Emerson were appointed to this circuit, and this place was then and thereafter regularly supplied by the circuit preachers.
In 1836, Rev. E. Andrews and William H. Backus were the circuit preachers; in 1838, Seymour Coleman and William H. Backus. The health of Mr. Backus failed during the second term of his appointment, and he was employed as a teacher at the Troy Conference Academy. In 1838, Seymour Coleman and James Quinlan were the preachers. In 1839, Joshua Poor, James Quinlan, and John Foster. This was then a six weeks' circuit, and called Saratoga circuit. At the conference in June, 1840, Saratoga Springs was made a missionary station, and Ephraim Goss was appointed the preacher in charge. His salary was fixed at $500, one-half of which was paid by a missionary appropriation. The membership was not far from one hundred at the time the church was dedicated, in 1841, the second year of Mr. Goss's ministry, sixteen of whom are now members of the society. Their names are as follows: Martha S. Felshaw, Gertrude Paige, Tacy Eighmy, Charles Pierson, Rebecca Jane Young, Mary Ann Hodges, Mary Ann Crawford, Adaline Young, Proculla Webster Carpenter, Nathan Phelps, William W. Baldwin, Sarah Ann Baldwin, A. S. Piper, Charlotte W. Piper, Samuel D. Fisher, Mary F. Fisher,-five males and eleven females.
In 1844-45, Stephen D. Brown was preacher in charge ; in 1846-47, Stephen Parks; in 1848-49, J. E. Bowen ; in 1850, Wm. M. Chipp; in 1851, Luman A Sanford ; in 1852-53, J. T. Arnold; in 1854-55, Dr. Bostwick Haw- ley ; in 1856-57, Barnes M. Hall; in 1858-59, R. H. Robinson ; in 1860-61, Samuel MeKean ; in 1862-63, E. G. Spaulding; in 1864-65, C. F. Burdick ; in 1866-68, S. McChesney ; in 1869-70, H. C. Sexton.
Sherman Miner, Charles Sherman, John M. Weaver, Ephraim Goss, Desavigna Starks, Sanford Washburn, Tru- man Seymour, Lewis Potter, Samuel Meredith, and Elisha Watson have successively been the presiding elders on this district since 1835.
If the statement of Rev. Orin Foote be correct, and we have no reason to question it, that there were but two Methodists in this village when he came here, in 1829, we can show very conclusively that that single Methodist fam- ily has proved to be a remarkably fruitful vine, whose vig- orous branches have continued to spread from year to year, to bud and blossom, and to bear and ripen its fruits for the heavenly garner for more than thirty years.
The following figures briefly show the remarkable słow but steady growth of this vine: In 1829, 2 members; in 1831, 17; in 1835, 40; in 1841, 100; in 1851, 290; in 1861, 320; in 1870, 420; in 1878, 662.
The Sabbath-School .- It is very difficult to determine, in the absence of records, in what precise year the Sabbath- school connected with this society was established. Very soon, however, after Mr. Moriarty came here, in 1831, he organized and kept up a Sabbath-school, he being the only superintendent 'for several years. Mr. J. B. Felshaw dis- tinetly recollects the names of the following persons who were teachers in the Sunday-school when he came here in
174
HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
1835, viz. : Catharine Milligan, Harriet Bell, Nancy Hen- driek, Mary Phoenix, Betsey Ellsworth, Amanda Carpenter, Mary Milligan, Nathan S. King, and Rev. John Hodges. Two of these ladies, Naney Hendrick and Mary Milligan, were members of the Presbyterian church.
At that time the only books for the use of the school consisted of twenty-four small hymn-books, a few small Testaments, and a few question-books, which each teacher provided for his own class. In March, 1837, some forty or fifty small library-books were procured for the use of the school. Mr. Felshaw had the charge of the library, and continued to serve the school in that capacity for nearly ten years, when his failing health compelled him to resign. Mrs. Felshaw was for many years the teacher of the infant department, and was the immediate predecessor of Miss Carrie Carpenter. The school in those early days numbered from forty to sixty scholars. The superintend- ents have been as follows : Rev. J. D. Moriarty, the organi- zer of the school, Myron White, Elijah K. Bangs, Andrew J. Parker, W. S. Balch, R. H. Benedict, and others.
Church Edifices .- The first Methodist Episcopal church in the village of Saratoga Springs was ereeted in the year 1830, and the building is now standing near the corner of Broadway and Greenfield avenue. It is now used as a boarding-house, and known by the name of Oak Hall. At the time of its erection it was regarded as a large and spa- cions building for a church, though it was a plain, unpre- . tending wood structure and quite away from the centre of the village. In the spring of 1839 it was abandoned as a church and sold to E. K. Bangs for an academic school building for the sum of $1000.
During the following summer the congregation occupied the old theatre or lyceum building, then standing where the Catholic church now stands, on South Broadway. During the ensuing winter they worshiped in the old Episcopal church standing on the lot, now vacant, corner of East Congress and Putnam streets, the corner next east of Con- gress Spring Bottling House, now Morrissey's club-house. In the spring of 1840 the congregation removed to a build- ing in what was then known as " Walton row," on the cor- ner of Broadway and Caroline street.
On the 23d day of April, 1836, the lot on which the present church stands was purchased for $1000 of Dr. John Clarke, the former proprietor of Congress spring, who then resided in the first house next west of the church, now known as the Fish house, and recently pur- chased by us. The small house now standing in the rear of the church, and used for years as a sexton's house, was standing, at the time of the purchase, on the front part of the lot, and was occupied by the Andrews family, now living in the Fish honse, who paid an annual rent of $70, which was strictly applied to the payment of the interest on the purchase price of the lot. In the fall of the year 1839 the house was removed to the rear part of the lot, and was used for several years as the parsonage of the church.
Rev. Wmn. 11. Backus, Seymour Coleman, Joshua Poor, Ephraim Goss, and Dr. John Frasier, each- in the order of their names, occupied that house as a parsonage.
From several reliable sources we learn that Rev. J. D.
Moriarity was the prime mover in the enterprise of build- ing this church. In the summer of 1838 Father Mori- arity called together, in his own parlor, a number of prominent Methodists, who were at the time guests in his house, and laid before them the project of ereeting a new church, showing them the importance of a more central and a more inviting place of worship.
Among those present on that occasion were such men as Revs. Dr. Nathan Bangs, Dr. John Kennedy, Dr. II. B. Bascom, Dr. Abel Stevens, Rev. Wm. H. Guilder, and Mr. Sukely, a prominent and wealthy layman from New York. These noble men readily and heartily coneurred with Mr. Moriarity in his views and plans, and after mature deliberation, they promised to aid in raising funds, in the cities, to the amount of $6000, provided $2000 should be raised here and hereabouts. Only a small part of this amount, however, was ever realized from the efforts of these strangers. Such were the encouragements, however, at the time, that the society soon determined to build. The corner-stone was laid in July, 1840, and early in the " winter following the building was up and fully inclosed. The building committee was Rev. J. D. Moriarity, Rev. Ephraim Goss, and J. B. Felshaw, Esq. ; Rev. Orin Foote, B. H. Bartlett, Jeremiah Hart, Charles Kendall, Charles F. Goss, and Rev. Edward Hodges, were trustees.
Early in the spring of 1841 the basement was com)- pleted and occupied by the congregation, which had wor- shiped in " Walton row" one entire year.
On the 23d of July following (1841) the church was dedicated by Dr. John Kennedy, of Philadelphia, and Dr. Noah Levings, of New York ; and Rev. Stephen Remington, of Schenectady, preached on the occasion.
The entire cost of the church and lot was $8143. The lot was paid for in 1839 with the $1000 received of E. K. Bangs for the old church on North Broadway. But there remained upon the church on the day of dedication a debt of $5147. In 1846 the debt had increased to $6948.45. In 1847 it was diminished to $4105.45. And so the society struggled on, for a number of years, under a heavy and an almost crushing debt.
In the year 1853, under the ministry of Rev. J. T. Arnold, and by his almost herculean efforts, a sufficient amount was raised on subscription to cancel the debt, but a large percentage of that subseription was never collected. And it is very doubtful whether all of the original debt was ever paid until the year 1865, when, under the admin- istrative push of Rev. C. F. Burdick, the entire indebted- ness against the church was finally and fully paid.
In the year 1855, Rev. Dr. Hawley then being the preacher in charge, the church edifice being found too small for the growing congregation, it was enlarged by the addition of eighteen feet to the front of the building, making the structure, as it is at present, forty-two by eighty-four fect.
In the original corner-stone were deposited a single copy each of a Bible, Hymn-Book, Discipline, Christian Adro- cute, and some other valuable documents touching the early history of the society; it will be found on the west side eighteen feet from the present south west corner of the cdifice. It is but justice to one whose memory is still cherished
Yours Chuly H. M.Wilson
PROF. HIRAM A. WILSON, A.M.
Hiram A. Wilson, son of Abijah Wilson, was born in the town of Winchester, Conn., Dec. 19, 1812. His mother's name was Lucy Wright. By the death of both his parents he was left an orphan at a tender age, and was reared by his brother till the age of fourteen. He then went to Low- ville, Lewis Co., N. Y., and spent one year at the academy in that place. After this he spent two years at Huron, Ohio, and upon his return to his native State engaged in teaching.
By his own exertions he fitted himself for college, and entered Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., where he graduated in 1838. Within one month after his gradua- tion, by the appointment of the missionary board of the Methodist Episcopal church, he sailed for Buenos Ayres, where he established the first missionary school in that city, which he conducted most successfully for over two years. He returned home, and married Hannah Bosworth, of West Hartland, Conn., on the 12th of May, 1841.
It was his intention to return to his school, but during his absence its prospects were suddenly blasted by one of those periodic revolutions common to South America.
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