History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers., Part 79

Author: Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, 1825-1894
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 780


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 79


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Gideon Hawley, of Connecticut, settled in Charlton long before the close of the last century. His son, Gideon, was appointed as the first superintendent of common schools of the State of New York, in 1813. He was a graduate of


316


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Union College, and a lawyer by profession. He showed great adaptability for the responsible duties of the office to which he was called, and an earnest, almost enthusiastic in- terest in the cause of education. He removed to Albany, and continued to reside there till his death. He held the office of superintendent till Feb. 24, 1821, when the office was abolished and its duties devolved upon the Secretary of State. Deputy Superintendent S. S. Randall, in his " Digest of the Common-School System," published in 1844, pays this deserved tribute to Mr. Hawley's worth and efficiency : " To no individual in the State are the friends of common- school education more deeply indebted for the impetus given to the cause of elementary instruction in its infancy than to Gideon Hawley. At a period when everything depended upon organization, upon supervision, upon practical acquaint- ance with the most minute details, and upon a patient, per- severing, laborious process of exposition, Mr. Hawley united in himself all the requisites for the efficient discharge of the high functions devolved upon him by the Legislature. From a state of anarchy and confusion, and complete disorganiza- tion, within a period of less than eight years arose a beau- tiful and stately fabric, based upon the most impregnable foundations, sustained by an enlightened public sentiment, fortified by the best and most enduring affections of the people, and cherished as the safeguard of the State, the true palladium of its greatness and prosperity. The foun- dations of a permanent and noble system of popular educa- tion were strongly and securely laid by him, and we are now witnessing the magnificent superstructure which, in the progress of a quarter of a century, has been gradually upbuilt on these foundations." Mr. Ilawley lived to see the fruit of his labors in the present admirable free-school system, and died in Albany. Another son, Roswell Haw- ley, is still living in Charlton.


In the year 1794 two Scotch families came from their homes among the Scottish hills, and settled about a quarter of a mile east of West Charlton, on adjoining farms. There was a singular coincidence in the names of the heads of these families. They were respectively Robert and Alison Bunyan and Robert and Alison Hume. Both fam- ilies bore the names of distinguished men, but did not claim any kinship with them. To unite the two families still more strongly, William, the eldest son of the Bunyan family, married Isabel Hume. They lived on the Bunyan homestead till their deaths. Robert Bunyan was a promi- nent member of the Freehold church, and going to church one Sabbath when the going was bad, he caught cold sitting in the unwarmed church, and died of' inflammation of the lungs in 1799. William Bunyan died in 1837. Robert Hume lived to the great age of one hundred and one years, and died in 1839. John and William Bunyan and Mrs. Margaret Alexander are grandchildren of Robert Bunyan and Robert Hume, still living in Charlton. John Bunyan lives on the homestead. Other grandchildren moved to the State of Ohio many years ago, and some are still living there.


James Low was an carly settler near the centre of the town, and the Low family have been quite prominent in public affairs. John Low was for many years supervisor of the town, and Thomas Low officiated as county sheriff.


The first white grave-stone erected in the town was to mark the grave of Mrs. Abigail Low, who died April 11, 1797, and was buried in the church-yard. James Low died in 1827, at the age of seventy-nine.


Two brothers named Chauncey and Samuel Belding came to Charlton,-the first arriving in the town about 1790 and the other two or three years later,-and embarked in the mercantile business in 1794. They succeeded Davis & Bostwick, who started the first store in Charlton, about 1785-87, and who failed in business about the time that Chauncey Belding came to Charlton. The Beldings were quite prominent men. Chauncey was a member of Assembly in 1807-S, and Samnel held the same office in 1823.


Captain Kenneth Gordon was a minute-man in the Revo- lution. During the war he came to Charlton, and settled on the farm now occupied by John S. De Ridder. His title was attained in the militia. His son Joseph, the youngest of six children, is now living in Ballston Spa, at the age of eighty.


Other early settlers in the town were John Angle, Nich- olas Angle, Amos Sherwood, Aaron Schermerhorn, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Chapman, James Valentine, Samuel Parent, Ahasuerus Wendell, Mr. Arrowsmith, Jeremiah Smith, Jacob Deremer, John Hays, Dr. Wm. Mead, the first physi- cian in town, Henry Corl, Eli Northrup, James Taylor, and Nathan Ilinman.


The Kirby homestead deserves mention in this work, as being one of the oldest and most noted places in the town. It is the property of Colonel Frank D. Curtis. It was settled and cleared up by Seth Kirby, in 1785. The Kirbys are descended from two brothers who were obliged to flee from England on the downfall of Oliver Cromwell, whose ad- herents and supporters they were. They were part of the council which condemned Charles the First to death. Major Thomas Kirby, son of Seth Kirby, served as ensign in the War of 1812, for which he was a volunteer. Colonel Curtis married his second daughter, Elizabeth. His only son, John F. Kirby, is a lawyer, and resides at South Bend, Indiana. An Indian family lived on the Kirby place when it was first settled, and continued to live there afterwards till they all died, and were buried near their mansion.


The first frame house erected in Charlton is yet standing on the homestead, being used for a barn. The frame, of black ash, is as sound as when first erected. Four huge locust-trees, which were set out in the year 1803, are still standing in the yard. The Dows homestead is situated on the same street, and was settled by Eleazer Dows at the same time. Mr. Dows raised a large family. David Dows, a prominent merchant in New York city, is the youngest son. Mr. Ammi Down, for many years a merchant in New York city, retired to the old homestead, where he died in 1875.


IV .- ORGANIZATION.


The town of Charlton was erected from the town of Ballston, March 17, 1792. It was named in honor of a distinguished New York physician, Dr. Charlton. Previ- ously it had been called " Freehold," or "New Freehold," by the settlers, who were mostly emigrants from Freehold, N. J., and who desired to perpetuate the name of their former home by conferring it on this settlement in the wilderness.


317


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Like many other towns, Charlton has failed to keep its records in a proper shape to be valuable for reference. The books of record of town-meetings previous to 1858 have been lost or destroyed, and a large amount of interesting historieal material is thus placed beyond the reach of those who should be much interested in its preservation. The migratory character usually attached to the town clerk's office is a blot upon our reputation for wisdom and common sense. Under it, it is impossible to keep the records in proper shape and preserve them for future use and reference.


The first supervisor of the town was John Boyd, Jr., who served but one year. The first town clerk of whom we have any record was Alexander Ferguson, who was serv- ing in 1799 and continued in office till, in 1802, he was succeeded by Samuel Belding. Mr. Belding served eleven consecutive years, and, again re-elected in 1818, served twenty-one years, making in all an official life, as town elerk, of thirty-two years.


LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS .*


Year. Supervisors.


Town Clerks.


Collectors.


1792. John Boyd, Jr.


1793. Alex. Gilchrist.


1794. John Taylor.


1795. John Munro.


1796. Alex. Gilchrist.


1797. Henry Carl, Jr.


1869.


.6


66


Wm. M. Teller.


1798. John Taylor.


1799. Alex. Gilchrist.


Alex. Ferguson.


: =


1872.


16


66


Joel A. McCouchic.


1873. Benj. II. Knapp.


66


George C. Valentine.


1875. Wm. B. Consalns. =


..


Jonas Sanders.


1876. John A. Sweetman.


John T. Cavert.


1877.


George Chondly.


Chas. B. Alexander.


1878. Peter Van Guysling. David F. Wieks.


Humphrey Young.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.


1831. Record lost.


1856. Henry Ostrom.


1832,


1857. Alexander Davidson.


1833.


..


1858. Isaac Raymond.


1834.


1859. Robert Crothers.


1835.


1860. Robert Hallowell.


1836.


1861. Alexander Davidson.


1837.


1862. Alfred II. Hayes.


1838.


1863. James C. Bell.


I839.


1864. Elbert A. Wilkie.


1840.


1865. Alexander Davidson.


1841.


1866. Jesse Conde.


IS12.


1867. James C. Dell.


18 13.


1868. Elbert A. Wilkie.


1811.


=


1869. Benjamin II. Knapp.


1824.


..


1825.


16


46


1826.


4 4


1827.


4€


1828.


1829.


John Callaghan.


1830.


John A. Parent.


1831.


Jonas Crane.


1932.


1833. Daniel Ostrom.


1834.


1835.


1836.


..


..


1837. Thomas Brown.


IS38.


..


..


Garrett S. Cavert.


# The record of collectors from 1792 to 1828 has been lost.


Year. Supervisors. Town Clerks.


1839. Archibald Smith. 1810. Lawrence Gardiner.


1841.


=


46


1812.


1813. =


1844. John A. Gilchrist.


1845. Lawrence Gardiner.


Alex. F. Alexander.


1846. Alex. Gilchrist.


Colin F. Brown.


1847. Henry Ostrom.


Alex. F. Alexander.


1848. James Richey.


M. B. Callaghan.


1849.


1850. John A. Sweetman. James Richey.


1851. John Low.


James HI. Marvin.


1852. John A. Sweetman.


John Consalus.


1853. James N. Budd.


1854.


1855. Nathan H. Brown.


16


1856.


44


Hiram Belding.


N. II. Sherman.


1857.


1858.


1859. John Consalus.


..


L. Thomp'n Heaton.


1861. Horatio S. Brown.


1862.


1863.


William II. Ely.


John M. Gilchrist. Davis Millard.


1865.


1866.


Iliram Belding. 44


And. Y. Van Vorst.


1868. Frederick Curtis.


Norman Smith.


John Davidson, Jr.


1870.


1871. James N. Budd.


James W. Sherman.


1800. Chauncey Belding.


1801.


1802. Caleb Holmes.


Samuel Belding.


1803. Nathan Hinman.


"


1804. John Anderson.


1805. Caleb Holmes.


1806. Joseph Brown.


..


"


=


..


64


=


1810. =


1811.


1812. Daniel Ostrom.


1813. Samuel Belding.


N. S. Hollister.


1814. John Low.


1×15.


*


1816. "


N. D. Conde.


1817.


1818.


1819.


"


1820. Alvin Isbell.


=


1821. John Low.


1822. ..


1823. ..


1815.


1870. William II. Couns.


1846.


1871. Samson T. Mason.


1847.


..


1872. Elbert A. Wilkie.


1848.


44


1873. Cornell M. Noxon.


1849.


1850.


16


John A. Chambers.


1852.


1876. Elbert A. Wilkic.


1853. 46


1877. Cornell M. Noxon.


1878. John A. Chambers.


1855. Robert Crutbers.


V .- VILLAGES.


CHARLTON VILLAGE is about three miles southwest of the northeast corner of the town. It contains about forty dwelling-houses. The Charlton Academy is located there,


Collectors.


David Putnam. Garrett S. Cavert. Francis H. Skinner. =


William L. Taylor. Colin F. Brown.


Cornelius Groot.


Pierson Crane.


Benj. 11. Knapp. ..


John Batt. Isaac Raymond.


John A. Chambers. Alfred H. Hlayes.


Jos. 11. Alexander. Frank Morehouse.


1864.


=


66


L. Thomp'n Heaton. Richard Pearse.


Rufus Youngs.


64


Vrooman DeGraff.


1874.


1507. John Rogers, Jr.


1sos. Joseph Brown.


1809. Somers Hiller.


.4


46


1854. Marvin E. Myers.


1874. William II. Coons.


1875. Joseph I. Alexander.


1851.


16


Jesse Conle.


=


Jonas Crane.


Iliratu Belling.


Henry M. Hulst. James Richey. 6.


William Il. Ely.


..


16


1860. ..


1867. George Bell.


=


4.


Samuel Belding.


318


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


and two stores, two hotels, several mechanics' shops, and three churches together make up one of the pleasantest country villages in the county. It is situated in a fine farming region. Well-cultivated farms surround it on every side, showing the thrift and industry of the inhabitants.


LITTLE TROY .- About the years 1820 to 1830 quite a promising business place was started at the corners, a mile and a half southeast of Charlton. It was called Little Troy, and boasted of a blacksmith-shop, a fulling- mill, and carding-machine, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a store, a tavern, and three distilleries. Of these several institutions not one is left to tell the tale, and the hopes that clustered so fondly around the prospective future of " Little Troy" have been untimely blasted by the cold winds of adversity.


WEST CHARLTON is a small village four miles north- west from Charlton. There are about twenty dwellings, a blacksmith- and wagon-shop, one church, and the district school-house. All parts of the town are too near Schenec- tady to permit the growth of any large villages for trade and general business, and the water-power of the town is not sufficient to develop any.


BLUE CORNERS is a hamlet near the line of Mont- gomery county. It has the school-house of district No. 1, and an Episcopal church.


VI .- SCHIOOLS.


Regarding the early schools but little is known. From a letter of Rev. Joseph Sweetman to a friend, in which he commented upon the difficulties of the situation of the pioneers, we take the following reference made to the " schools." Ele says, " The first five years passed without a school in the place. And afterwards, through several years, nothing more was attempted than to maintain a com- mon school three months in the winter season in some little log house, under the supervision of one illy qualified to teach, and the instruction was confined to reading, writing, and arithmetic."


The Charlton Academy was started as a private school by Rev. James N. Crocker about the year 1858. It was then kept in the session-room of the Freehold church, and was placed under the care of the presbytery of Albany, who appointed a board of trustees and a board of examiners to look after the interests of the school. The present school building was built with money obtained through a subscrip- tion-list, and was erected about the year 1860 and placed in the hands of the trustees appointed by the presbytery. Rev. Mr. Crocker remained as principal till 1867. Ile was followed by Mr. L. S. Packard, who remained two years ; Mr. - Dodge, who remained one year ; Mr. - Kingsbury, who remained four years; Rev. John R. San- som, who remained one year ; and in the fall of 1875 the present principal, Professor J. E. Weld, took charge of the school. The school curriculum embraces all the studies usually taught in the academies or preparatory schools. The school was successful under the management of Mr. Crocker, but the frequent changes of teachers had detracted from its success until Mr. Weld assumed control, since which time it has improved. The attendance averages about forty scholars.


A " Teachers' Association" was formed in Charlton in


1836, which is believed to have been the first organization of the kind in the State. Its object was " mutual improve- ment." It was formed January 5, with Augustus P. Smith, Jonathan Canfield, David H. Crittenden, Michael P. Cavert, Isaac Stackpole, William N. Angle, Henry Choudy, New- ton M. Curtis, and James Underhill as members. A. P. Smith was the first president, and M. P. Cavert the first secretary of the association. Of these Cavert and Crit- tenden graduated at Union College afterwards, and entered upon the teacher's profession. Curtis died at an early age, but not before he had obtained quite a reputation as a novelist of' no mean power. His " Bride of the Northern Wilds" and " Black-phumed Riffemen" won for him many encomiums from a large circle of readers. The association met once in two weeks, and their discussions were confined to questions pertaining to schools and teaching.


COMMISSIONERS' APPPORTIONMENT, MARCH, 1868.


District.


between the Ages


of Five and Twenty-


Equal Quota of Public


Public Money Accord.


ing to the Number


of Children.


Public Money Accord-


ing to Average At-


tendance.


Library Money.


Total Public Money.


No. 1


38


852.14 |


$26.14


$26.11


$1.27


$105.66


55


52.14


37.83


25.37


1.83


117.17


=


39


52,14


26.82


92.82


1.30


103.08


60


4


50


52.14


34.39


47.04


1.67


135.24


5 ...


44


52.14


30.26


29.24


1,47


I13.11


G


40


52.11


27.51


40,13


1.33


121.11


7.


41


52.13


28.20


47.96


1.37


129.67


S


77


52.14


52.96


51.67


2.57


159.34


9


62


52.14


42.64


39.20


2.07


136.05


446


$469.26


$706.75


$329.54


$14.88


$1120.43


VII .- CHURCHES.


ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.


On the 10th day of December, A.D. 1803, a meeting of the members of the Episcopal church was held, for the purpose of organizing a society of that denomination in Charlton. James Sherwood was elected chairman of the meeting, and Eleazer Dows and Joseph Van Kirk were secretaries. At that meeting a society was formed in accor- dance with the existing laws, and incorporated. Among the first members were Elind Davis, Eleazer Dows, Jonathan R. Spencer, William Lendrum, Robert Benedict, Jr., Thomas Dows, Frederick Valentine, Ezra Benedict, Joseph Van Kirk, David Hubbell, Jesse Dows, John Hays, Peter Hays, Isaac Valentine, Ezekiel IIorton, Amos Sherwood, Samuel Hays, William Ely, James Valentine, Joseph La Rue, and James Richey.


The minutes of the first meeting were properly recorded in the county clerk's office, and the organization and incor- poration thus completed.


The first officers were elected at this meeting, and were as follows, viz .: Wardens, Jeremiah Smith and James Sherwood ; Vestrymen, Robert Benedict, James Bradley, John Lendrum, Elcazer Dows, Elind Davis, Matthew La Rue, Joseph Vau Kirk, and Patrick Callahan.


Soon afterwards-March 17, 1804-a church-lot contain-


Number of Children


one.


Money.


319


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


ing thirty square rods of ground was purchased of Joseph Brown, who " granted, bargained, sold, delivered, remised, released, conveyed, assured, enfeoffed, and confirmed" it to them for the sum of $50, which amount, considering the binding and irrevocable character of the transaction, was not at all exorbitant.


On this lot a church building was erected in 1804. The work was doue by contract, by Elcazer Dows, who received the sum of $1200 to build a chapel thirty feet wide by forty-two feet long. In the year 1836 this building was repaired, and alterations were made in the chancel and the arrangement of the pews. With these changes the build- ing is still standing, having been used for purposes of pub- lie worship for seventy-three years.


On the 14th of November, 1804, about the time of the completion of the church, a glebe lot of about one hundred acres was purchased of Chauncey Belding, at a cost of $1100. This was rented to various persons, and finally sold about 1840.


The church property is valued at $6000, and the glebe fund now amounts to about $800.


The first rector was Rev. Frederick Van Horn, who was canonically inducted into office, August 9, 1805, by Rev. Mr. Butler, who preached a discourse suited to the occasion, and Rev. Mr. Stebbings, of Seheneetady, read prayers. His salary was £60 per year. The rectors in charge since that time have been Rev. David Huntington, 1812; Rev. James Bowers, 1817 ; Rev. Amos G. Baldwin, 1825; Rev. Ed- ward Davis, 1827; Rev. Theodore Babcock, 1849; Rev. Nicholas J. Seeley, 1853; Rev. John H. Betts, 1857 ; Rev. Elias Weil, 1869 ; Rev. James H. Tyng, 1870 ; Rev. Francis C. Wainwright, 1870; Rev. Reginald H. Barnes, 1871. Mr. Barnes resigned the rectorship of this church in March, 1877, since which time the pulpit has been vacant.


Sinee 1857 the church has been connected with the society of Calvary church, Burut Hills, one rector having charge of both churches.


Miss Elizabeth M. Callaghan, who died December 25, 1853, bequeathed $63 to the church, of which she was a devout member.


The first baptism after the church was organized was that of William Ferris Benedict, June 7, 1805.


The first marriage recorded was celebrated by Rev. Frederick Van Horn, Feb. 13, 1805, between Benjamin Watson and Mary Lendrum.


The first death recorded was that of Lucy Dows, aged eleven years, who died Feb. 4, 1806.


The present vestry is composed as follows, viz. : Matthew 1 .. R. Valentine, Robert O. Davis, wardens ; Robert J. Wandell, John Hays, Joseph R. Valentine, William O. Smith, William L. Taylor, Joseph L. R. Valentine, vestry- men ; William Taylor, clerk ; William T. Birdsall, collector and treasurer.


There has been a Sunday-school connected with the church for about thirty-five or forty years, usually well attended. At present the average attendance is from twenty-five to thirty. The school has a library of about three hundred volumes. William T. Birdsall is superinten- dent.


THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FREEHOLD, IN


CHARLTON.


The early settlers of the eastern part of the town of Charlton were mostly from the town of Freehold, in Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, and intended to name their new homes in the wilderness after their former homes near the sea. Consequently, as the town of Charlton was not erected till 1792, and the church was organized in 1786, the name of "The Freehold church" obtained, and has never been dropped.


The history of the church is an interesting one, and shows the guiding hand of God throughout every period of its existence. Never having been subject to the ups and downs, the vicissitudes and changes, that mark the history of some churches, it has steadily maintained a healthy state of growth and prosperity, and wielded a healthful in- fluence in the community.


January 3, 1786, a meeting was held and the church, incorporated according to the laws of the State, was or- ganized, and placed itself under the jurisdiction of the presbytery of New York. No record of this meeting, or of the members who formed the society, is now extant.


A small frame church, seated with benches, was built in the summer of 1786, on a church-lot, purchased of a man named Clark. The lot contained one aere, and subsequently a half-acre was purchased, on which sheds were erected. This church was used till 1802, when a larger and more commodious church was built. This one then served the congregation for a place of worship till the summer of 1853, when the present church was erected, at a cost of about $4500. It is still in good condition, and with care- ful usage will still serve many years as a temple of the Most Iligh God. It is forty feet wide by sixty feet long, and will comfortably seat three hundred persons. In the church-yard lot, in imitation of the customs of their fathers, the pioneers interred the remains of those of their number who passed from life through death to immortality. There are a few graves on the northeast corner of the church still to be seen. The stones marking the resting-places of the dead are of brown-stone and marble. The earliest burial was that of Jesse Conde, aged nine years, a son of Jesse and Parthenia Coude, who died July 2, 1787. In this yard are buried John Holmes, John Taylor, and James Low, who were among the earliest settlers of the town.


The church property is now valued at $5000.


About 1854 the society purchased a parsonage adjoining the church, at a cost of $1000.


Soon after the erection of the first meeting-house, Rev. William Schenck, pastor of a church at Ballston, was en- gaged to preach here one-third of the time, as a stated supply. This arrangement continued until Aug. 7, 1789. From that time for nearly four years the pulpit was sup- plied by presbytery. Then, June 21, 1793, the first pastor of the church, Rev. Samuel Sturges, was installed in office. This pastorate terminated April 17, 1797. The pulpit was then supplied by presbytery till Sept. 17, 1800, when Rev. Joseph Sweetman, elsewhere mentioned, accepted a call and became pastor. For seventeen years he continued to serve in this capacity with rare success. The perfect hai- mony that existed between biur and and his people was


4


320


HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


marked to a high degree, and had a powerful influence on the community. At the commencement of his ministry the church numbered about sixty members, and at the close of his labors the number had increased to two hundred and twenty. Oet. 8, 1817, he was forced to resign his pastoral duties by failing health. Since that time the church has been served by the following pastors in the order given, viz. : Rev. Isaac Watts Platt, from July 11, 1820, to Feb. 20, 1825 ; Rev. John Clancy, from Aug. 31, 1825, to May 21, 1845; Rev. Richard II. Steele, from Feb. 16, 1848, to May 13, 1850; Rev. George I. Taylor, from Feb. 1, 1853, to June, 1854; Rev. James N. Crocker, from July 11, 1855, to Aug. 11, 1867 ; Rev. John R. Sanson, from Oct., 1869, to Sept. 6, 1875 ; Rev. Clarence W. Backus, since October, 1876.


The first baptism recorded is that of Roswell Holmes, in 1801. The first marriage was performed by Rev. Joseph Sweetman, February 24, 1801. The contracting parties were John Keachie and Isabel Mckinley. The first officers of the church were elected April 26, 1787. They were, Deacons, Thomas Brown and Eli Northrup; and Elders, John Holmes, John Rogers, and Joel Smith. No other deacons were ever chosen. The following persons have subsequently been elected and ordained ruling elders, viz. : John Tappan, William Clark, Thaddeus Northrup, John Holmes, Jr., James Taylor, Elisha Jenne, Samuel Baklwin, Otis Bartlett, John Chamberlain, John Brown, David Wicks, Roswell Hawley, William Taylor, Isaac Wilkinson, Joseph Brown, Timothy Capen, John Cook, Seth Kirby, John McKnight, John W. Cavert, John B. Packer, Thomas Kirby, Amos Hewitt, Sherman Sanders, John M. Cavert, John A. Sweetman, John Holmes, David A. Smith, Thomas Wieks, Isaac C. Groot, Thomas H. Cunningham, and Charles T. Wicks. The five last named constitute the present session. John Holmes, one of the first elders, has been followed in the eldership by a son and a grandson, each bearing the same name. The present membership of the church is about one hundred and fifty. The board of trustces is composed of Thomas H. Cunningham, Alexander Crane. David F. Wicks, Hiram Morchouse, William Dere- mer, Charles T. Wicks, Martin II. Smith, and Isaac C. Groot. Alexander Crane is clerk of the board, and Charles T. Wicks is clerk of sessions.




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