USA > New York > Seneca County > History of Seneca Co., New York, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public building and important manufactories > Part 17
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During 1872 a group of three buildings was commenced upon high ground, fifteen liundred feet in the rear of the main Asylum; these buildings were occu- pied in March, 1873. During the same year, two more buildings were con- structed. This detached group consists of five two-story structures ; the central building is used as a refectory, and has two dining rooms, each accommodating one hundred and twenty-five patients; a kitchen is adjoined to the rear. The remaining four buildings are used as dormitories, and accommodate sixty patients each. Again, in 1875, a second group of five buildings was commenced, in gen- eral featurea similar to the first. This group, nearly completed. is located on the bank of the lake, south of the main building, and will be occupied about the first of June next, by female patients. The propriety of adding a third group of buildings is being considered by the Legislature. From one hundred and forty- two patients received into the Asylum to the close of the year, December 31, 1869, the number has increased, till at the close of this fiscal year it was 1003, which was fully fifty more than the several buildings were designed to accommo- date. In general arrangement and classification, it is intended to place in the main Aaylum the helpless, noisy, and violent, and in the detached buildings the quiet, well-disposed, and working patients. One hall for each sex is appropriated to this latter class in the main building. The land owned by the State comprises the " College Farm," a cemetery lot of thirty acres, and the dock, store-house, and hotel at the steamboat landing. The farm has one hundred and seventy-
50
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
five roda frontage on Seneca Lake. The form of admission is an order of support signed by a Superintendent of the Poor of the county to which the patient is chargeable, and two certificates of insanity by two medical examiners, whoes qualifications are certified to by the County Judge. These certificates, approved by the County Judge, and the order of support together, form the commitment. An annual appropriation for salaries of resident officers is made by the State. The anpport of patients is a charge upon the counties. The rate per week is fixed after determining the actual cost. The rate for 1876 is three dollars per week. Clothing is an additional charge as issued, and will average about seven- tecn dollars yearly. Bills are made out quarterly, placed in the hands of the Treasurer, and by him presented and collected through the County Treasurer. Bills due from the Asylum are paid by the Treasurer of the Asylum, after ap- proval by the auditing committee of the Board of Trustees, Steward, and Super- intendent. The current expenditures for the year were $157,475.88. The total appropriations for land, buildings, furniture, stock, implements, water-works, and new buildings, amount to $1,047,633. With the completion of the structures now nearly finished, the capacity of the Asylum will be increased to 1250. The number of insane in the State and how situated, on December 31, 1871, is thus shown :
In custody of friends ...
762
Females. 820
Total.
In State Asylums ..
439
654
1093
In Private Asylums
121
191
312
In City Asylums and City Almshouses ...
841
1392
2233
In County Poor-houses and Asylums .....
588
731
1319
In Asylums of other States.
86
75
161
In Asylum for Insane Criminals
70
5
75
Total
2907
3868
6775
Officers of the Asylum .- Trustees : Hon. S. G. Hadley, President ; Dr. S. R. Wells, Secretary ; Dr. Wm. A. Swaby, Genet Conger, Gen. George J. Magee, Hon. D. A. Ogden, George W. Jones, and Hon. F. O. Mason ; this last in place of John E. Seely, deceased.
Resident Officers .- John B. Chapin, Superintendent ; James C. Carson, P. M. Wise, Alexander Nellis, Jr., and H. G. Hopkins, Assistant Physicians; M. J. Gilbert, Steward; and Mrs. S. H. Bell, Matron. The Treasurer of the Asylum being Hon. James B. Thomas.
CHAPTER XXIII.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND CHURCH STATISTICS.
ALL knowledge is progressive. Persecution for religious conviction in the Old World paved the way for perfect liberty of conscience in the New. The Consti- tution provides for a free exercise of religion. A law was passed in this State, April, 1804, authorizing all religious denominations to appoint trustees to super- intend the temporal affairs of their congregations. By this act they became a body corporate, capable of legal transactions. All denominations support their own ministry, and maintain such order of worship as they find most agreeable. Free toleration has resulted in numerous sects, differing in name, but little in tenets, and living together in the utmost harmony. The middle class of New Jersey and Pennsylvania later blended with the New England element, brought to Seneca their regard for religion, and, as we have earlier indicated, organized societies, held meetings, built up churches, and, growing stronger by the influx of new settlera, branching out from the original society, and establishing at various points the nucleus of the numerous and powerful organizations of this date. To the history of the towns belongs the record of their religious growth, while here is sketched a general outline of primary society, its branch formations, their growth, and a summary of their present churches, values, and membership by denominations, compiled from the cenaus returna of 1875.
Presbyterian Churches .- Of this denomination there are seven churches within the bounds of Seneca County, viz., First Presbyterian Church of Romulus, First Presbyterian Church of Ovid, Second Presbyterian Church of Fayette, at Canoga, First Presbyterian Church of Fayette, Presbyterian Church of Waterloo, First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls, and the Presbyterian Church of Junius. At a meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1805, the Presbytery of Geneva was erccted. It was composed of four ministers : the Reverends Jedediah Chapman, of Geneva; John Lindsley, of Ovid; Samuel Leacock, of Gorham, now Hopewell; and Jabez Chadwick, of Milton, now Geneva. The first named of these is known to have preached at Romulus, August 20,
1803, and that church was probably organized by him prior to the date given. On September 17, 1805, it was received under the care of the Presbytery of Gen- eva, and has been favored by several revivals and frequent accessions. Their first church was long since abandoned and a better one erected upon a more suitable location.
The First Presbyterian Church of Ovid claims priority over all others, having been known as a mission in 1800, in which year the Reverend John Lindsey was sent to the town of Ovid for a term of four months as a missionary. From that pioneer church originated the First Presbyterian Church of Ovid. It was organ -. ized with twenty members of the original church, by Rev. Mr. Chapman, on July 10, 1803, and then denominated the " Seneca Church." In 1817 it adopted the present title. Many revivals have taken place and strengthened the society. During the pastorship of Rev. Stephen Porter, commencing September 10, 1816, a church was built which was in advance of any other in that region. This church became time-worn, and, in 1847, a finer structure in a commanding Joca -. tion was erected to keep pace with the progress of the times.
The Fayette Second Church is located in the village of Canoga, near Cayuga Lake. It was organized about 1825, and in 1828 reported thirty-five members. Reverends Richard Williams, Charles N. Mattoon, and Chauncey W. Cherry have been preachers to this congregation. The Fayette First Church was organized about 1824. A year later, Rev. Isaac Flagler became its pastor. . In the support of its ministers, it has been aided by the American Home Missionary Society. The Waterloo Presbyterian Church was organized in Waterloo village in 1817, from former members of the church at Seneca Falls. In 1825 it num- bered one hundred and ten members. Rev. Aaron D. Lane was ordained and installed its pastor on March 21, 1821. The Rev. S. H. Gridley was his successor. The society has always been self-supporting. The First Presby- terian Church of Seneca Falls, earlier known as the First Presbyterian Church of Junius, has ever been a prosperous organization. From 1805 its growth has been constant, while other societies have been formed at other points with a small body of its members. In the year 1833, a number of its members withdrawing, formed the Congregational Church in the village, whose career has resulted in a fine congregation and a beautiful, commodious, and valuable church edifice. The Presbyterian Church of Junius was formed very early. A frame building, crected in 1812, is still in use. A church formerly existed in Tyre, and, in 1837, con- sisted of thirty-one members, but is not now reported. In this connection ia observed the great care taken to exclude from the ministry of this church all other than pious, orthodox men. A qualification for church membership was visible piety. Theology was distinguished as evangelical and Calvinistic. The revival of 1816 arose and spread far and wide over thia region, strengthening the churches by accessions, and awakening zeal in the cause. An auxiliary Bible Society was formed in Seneca in 1816, and at the close of 1817 the Western Education Society was organized at Utica, to aid "indigent and pious young men to obtain the education required for admission to the ministry." To this latter society the Presbyterians of Seneca County of that year contributed $1534.25. The Presbyterian Church was divided in 1837 into "Old" and "New" schools,- distinct organizations, alike in faith, differing in views of discipline. The fol- Jowing is a statement of the condition of the Church in this County in 1875:
Towns.
No. of Churches.
Value of Churches
Value of Real
Number Capable
of boing Sented.
Usual Namber Attending.
Mem-
Regular hers.
Salary of Clergy.
Varick
1
$8,000
$1,800
500
225
200
$900
Ovid
1
10,000
500
500
250
205
1,200
Fayette.
2
5,000
3,500
800
200
147
800
Waterloo ..
1
30,000
800
500
300
1,800
Senecn Falls
1
40,000
2,500
800
300
200
1,500
Junius
1
2,500
1,500
500
60
55
500
Total,
7
95,500
9,800
3,900
1,535
1,107
6,900
Methodist Churches .- The history of this organization exhibits a wonderful growth in its various branches. In the year 1766 was formed the first Methodist. society in America, by Philip Embury. His congregation consisted of four per- aons besides himself, and was assembled in his own house by Mrs. Barbara Hick, "an elect" from Ireland. Preachers were sent over by Wesley, and the denomi- nation spread southward. The first conference held, organizing it as the Metho- dist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, dates from 1784. The church has separated into nine different societies, and, crossing the Alleghenica, spread over the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, and following on the track of its tireless and heroic missionaries, planted the banner of the Cross in every
and Lots.
Estate.
1582
Males.
PLATE
~W. H. BURTON.
RES. OF W. H. BURTON , MAIN ST., WATERLOO N. Y.
WATERLOO
YEAST COMPANY.
TWIN BROTHERS YEAST
WATERLOO
YEAST COMPANY,
COR. MAIN & STARK STS., . .
WATERLOO, N. Y.
WILLARD
to
UTIONONDAGA
WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE IN
ARD, SENECA LAKE, NEW YORK.
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, OVID.
First Presbyterian Church, Ovid. Built 1856
51
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
part of the known world. The Evangelical Association originated in 1800. The Reformed Methodists organized in 1814, in Vermont. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in 1820, as was the Congregational Methodists, who seceded from the Methodist Episcopal Church at that date. The Methodist Protestant was formed in 1830. The Wesleyan Methodist was formed of seceders from the Methodist Episcopal Church in May, 1843. The main church was divided in 1844, on the question of slavery, into "North" and "Sonth," and there exists, also, a church known as the Primitive Methodist.
Singly and in couples the missionaries traversed this region, and not till about 1812 were any classes formed, and it was some years later before churches were built. From the brevity of their stay, the list of Methodist pastors may be counted by seores. First the school-houses and homes, the barns and court-houses, then the log and frame, and finally, the brick church, mark the growth and prosperity of the sect. There was rare eloquence among those pioneer preachers, and soul- awakening power among the singers of early-day choirs. In 1818, at a quarterly meeting held in Thomas Osborn's barn, two men, Robert and James MeDuffie, sang the Methodist hymns in such spirit that their vibrations have never ceased to thrill the heart in the memories of the hearers, though half a century has elapsed, and other generations risen. And such men as Fowler and Matteson, with speech akin to inspiration, swayed the hearts of their audience, and seemed to bear them upward. There are fourteen churches belonging to the Methodist organization in Seneca County ; two in Romulus; the Centenary, of Ovid; the Townsend- ville and the Lodi, of Lodi; the Methodist, of Covert; the Methodist Episcopal, of Fayette; the Methodist and the Methodist Episcopal Churches, of Waterloo; the First Methodist Episcopal and the Wesleyan Methodist Churches, of Seneca Falls ; the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Tyre, and two Methodist Episcopal Churches in Junius. In respect to number, valuation, attendance, membership, and all that constitutes the evidence of outward prosperity, the last decade shows a gratifying exhibit, as follows :
Tonys.
No. of Churches.
Value of Church
and Lots,
Valuation of Reni
Seating Capacity.
Average Number
of Attendants.
Regular Member-
Salary uf Clergy.
liomulus
$5,000
525
300
240
S532
Ovid ..
1
15,000
$1,000 5.000
400
250
100
1,400
l'overt ..
1
3,000
800
500
100
80
200
Fayette
1
3,500
1,000
300
100
45
266
Waterloo M.
600
700
250
50
400
Waterloo M. E ..
10,"00
2,500
500
400
230
1,000
First M. E., Scocca Falls
35,000
3.000
700
300
240
1,200
Seneca Wesleyan.
1
15,000
450
750
800
Tyre ...
1
11,000
1,800
275
150
100
600
Junios ..
4,000
1,900
800
140
90
550
Totals ...
14 ($110,100
$17,000
6,000
3,190
1,541
$7,748
Baptist Churches .- The history of this church dates back to nearly the com- meneement of this century; hand-in-hand the early members planted the old log school-house wherein the day-school teacher gave instruction to their children, and where, too, on Sabbath day, those who, in former homes, had enjoyed the comforts of religious iutereourse, renewed their allegiance, awakened interest, and received, by immersion's rites, new converts to their faith. The pioneer Baptist church was formed in Ovid, now Covert, and organized as the " Baptist Church of' Ovid and Heetor," upon the sixteenth day of February, 1803. The number of' members at that date was twenty-nine. Their first pastor is recalled in the name of Minor Thomas, under whose ministrations a small frame church was partially completed. then removed to a more advantageous site, and fiuished. It stood three miles north of Trumansburg, in what was called the Thomas Settle- ment, and is closely connected with the most interesting of early-day history. Cheerfully and patiently the churches of this faith bore with losses and discour- agements, erected new shrines of worship, contributed of their means for benevo- lent and missionary effort, and were, from time to time, encouraged by additions to their ranks, as the tides of revival swept through them. There are nine Baptist churches in the County of Seneca, known respectively as the Union Baptist, of Farmers' Village; the First Baptist, of Covert; the Junius Gospel ; the Baptist, of Lodi, Ovid Village; the Baptist churches of Waterloo, Ovid Centre, Tyre, and Seneca Falls. The church at Ovid Village is composed of but nineteen members. The last pastor in charge was Rev. John MeLalleu.
The Union Baptist Church of Farmers' Village dates its organization from November 22, 1819. Its first pastor was Elder John Lewis, others were Elders E. Winans and L. Johnston. Beginning with thirty-eight members, the present number is one hundred and forty-seven. Lewis Halsey is pastor. The first edi-
fice was erected in 1823, at a cost of full $3000. There was organized in con- neetion with this church, in February, 1875, an auxiliary to the Woman's Baptist Missionary Society. with fifty members. President, Mrs. Andrew Miller ; Treasurer, Louisa Boorom ; and Secretary, Mrs. T. N. Rappleye. The Sunday- school, under the superintendence of B. E. Bassette, had, in October, 1875, eleven teachers, one hundred and thirty scholars, and four hundred and twenty- five volumes in their library. The church of Lodi is active, and increasing at this time, under the eare of C. Wardner. A good Sunday-school exists in connection. The Ovid Baptist Church, at Ovid Centre, was organized with nineteen members, in 1828. The Rev. Edward W. ITodge was the earliest pastor, who was supported in the church government by Deacons Abram Bloomer and H. Ward. They erected a church in 1830, at a cost of $2000; later, it was repaired, and much increased in value and appearance. The Baptist Church at Waterloo was organized as a church in 1824. Their first preacher was John Gough, and in the year following Elder Thomas Brown was wont to address them npon the Sabbath in the court-house. Their original number consisted of seventeen persons. A reorganization took place in 1836, with sixteen members, in the court-house. A church edifice was erected in South Waterloo, in 1839. We find them in 1863 unchanged in numbers. During February, 1875, their meeting-house was burnt to the ground; they rallied, purchased, and built upon a fine lot a good parsonage, and now, in 1876, have erected a building for lecture-room, at an expense of 83000. We have spoken thus fully of this con- gregation to illustrate their faith and unfaltering perseverance. The Baptist Society of Seneca Falls was organized on June 5, 1828, with ten members. On June 28, Orsamus Allen was received as a member; he was a licentiate from Hamilton Theological Seminary, and, being ordained on October 8, became the first pastor, the installation being held at the Presbyterian church. In July, 1830, a church edifice was finished. About 1844, a schism occurred in this church. A pastor named Pinney began to preach the doctrine of a Second Advent, and a large portion of his congregation went with him, and a church, which had numbered its two hundred and twenty-five members, became reduced, in October, 1873, to sixty-five, but is now onee more gaining strength. The Baptist Church of Tyre and Junius dates back in its organization to the year 1807. At that time Elder Samuel Messenger formed the pioneer society, with twelve members. The first frame building, erected after the destruction of the school-house by fire in 1812, was removed to Magee's Corners in 1837. Here, in 1838, a good house was built, and its dedication was made by Elder Nathan Baker. Conversions have lately attended the ministry of Rev. P. E. Smith, son of the old veteran soldier and pioneer, Jason Smith. Reports from all these churches show them determined upon making an increased effort during this Centennial of the nation's existence. The obvious inaccuracies existing in the census returns warrant our substituting in their stead the reports made to the Ontario and Seneca Baptist Associations :
TowNs.
No. of Churches.
Valne of Churches
Value of Real Es-
Seating Capacity.
Average Attend-
Regular Conimu- nicants.
Salary of Minis-
Sunday Schools.
No. of Teachers
and Scholars.
Volumes in 1,1- Inary
Covert.
$20,000
$2,000
350
250
147
$1,000
11-130
425
Covert.
1
6,000
1.200
350
950
189
10
500
...
Ovid Centre
3,000
1,500
150
120
GOU
11-109
140
Lodi ..
1
1.000
1,000
250
200
100
9- 06
100
Waterloo
1
6,000
5,000
250
133
800
7- 90
100
Waterloo Village t.
3,000
1.500
301
12
200
10-123
5
1
18,000
2,000
350
250
117
450
18-135
Tyre ..
1
1,600
500
300
200
103
350
7- 79
....
Totals
9
$63,600
$16,200
3,330
1.705
1,026
$5,000
81-829
820
e No pastor.
t A lecture room.
+ Itave a Mission School.
....
Ovid Village
1
5,000
1,500
300
30
Ludi
8.000
850
450
280
1
1
and Lots.
tate.
unco.
ters.
S- 95
1
Seneca Falls +
Roman Catholic Churches .- Of these there are five in the County. From the ereetion of their first church in Seneca Falls, in 1839, the progress of this denomination has been sure and fast. Sinee 1865, the number of church edifices has been doubled, their value increased in the same proportion, and their commu- nicants augmented in number. On June 4, 1874. the Right Reverend Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester, consecrated the new Catholic cemetery at Trumansburg, and thence, proceeding to Farmer's Village, in Covert, arrayed in full pontifical robes, and assisted by five priests, performed the ceremony of blessing the corner- stone of the new church, according to the rubrie of the Roman ritual. It waa there remarked by the bishop. that two centuries had elapsed since a little chapel had been built by Catholic ludians, on the shore of the outlet of St. Joseph's Lake, now called Cayuga. Well might the bishop recall the past, the inde-
2
Estute.
52
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
fatigable Jesuit, enduring and devoted, and the gradnal permanent growth of that ancient church in America. Again, on Sunday, October 10, 1875, the bishop laid the corner-stone of the new Catholic school, in South Seneca Falls. Assist- ing at the ceremony were the Reverend Fathers S. Lambert, of Waterloo; J. O'Connor, of Ovid, and B. McCool, of Seneca Falls. Not hostility to the free schools, but a conscious need of religions and moral, as well as intellectnal, edu- cation, has led to the founding of this school. Connected with the church are the twin temperance organizations, the Father Mathew's and St. Patrick's So- cieties, and with these is the Society St. Vincent de Paul, whose mission is the relief of suffering humanity. The following tabular statement shows the abun- dant prosperity of the denomination.
No. of Churches.
Value of Churches
Value of Real
Number capable
of being seated.
Average Number
Ment-
Salary of Clergy.
Sunday Schools.
and Scholars,
Volumes In Li-
brury.
Church of Holy Cross ..
1
$5.000 3,000
$400 300
300
#OG
200
GOD
St. Mary's, of Waterloo ...... 1
10,000
5,000
500
600
500
600
St. Patrick's, Seneca Falls .. 1
15,000
11,000
610
1,400
1,100
600
90-500
450
Totals.
4
$33,000
816,700
2,010
2,800
2,300 ;82,400 ; 90-500
450
Lutheran Churches .- The early settlers emigrating from New Jersey and Peon- sylvania were of Germanic and Low Dutch origin ; they continued in the religion of the fatherland, and their generations have followed a worthy precedent. Their organizationa are old and numerous. We chronicle here but a brief record of the pioneer church, which bears the name of " Reformed Church of Lodi." An offshoot from the First Presbyterian, it was organized as the First Reformed of Ovid upon April 15, 1809. On January 9, 1823, a new consistory was chosen, composed of four elders and four deacons. The names of churches are: True Reformed, at McNeil's, in Ovid; The Reformed of Lodi; The Reformed Church, N. A., of Covert; Evangelical Lutheran ; Evangelical Association and Reformed Lutheran of Fayette; Zion Reformed of Seneca Falls ; and Reformed of America io Tyre,-in all eight churches, showing the following statistical standing:
TOWNS.
No. of Churches.
Value of Churches
Value of Real Es-
tate.
Seating Capacity.
Average Attend- ance.
Regniar Commu-
nicants.
men.
Ovid
1
$1,500
$250
300
100
Lodi
1
20,000
1,800
500
400
175
81,200
Covert
1
7,000
2,500
350
200
120
1,200
Fayette
3
9,000
2,100
1,050
355
230
1,650
Seneca Falls
1
200
2,000
300
.... 150
611
600
Totale.
S
841,800
88,650
2,500
1,203
594
$4,650
There is but one Universalist church in Seneca County. This society is located at Farmers' Village. It is of comparatively recent formation, having heen or- ganized on February 10, 1850. Two years later a church edifice was erected at a cost of $3500. The first pastor in charge was Harvey Boughton. A reor- ganization took place on Jnve 25, 1858, at which time there were thirty mem- hers enrolled. The statistics are withheld as unreliable und of slight value.
Episcopal Churches .- There are three Episcopal churches in the County. Of these the oldest is known as the " St. Paul's Church, Parish of Waterloo." Its organization took place on November 17, 1817, in a school-house in the village of Waterloo. The Rev. Orrin Clark, rector, was in the chair. Two wardens and eight vestrymen were chosen. On March 13, 1820, at a meeting at which Charles Stewart was chairman, it was resolved " to erect a house of public wor- ship." Previous to the erection of this building, services were held in the school- house and court-house by Reverends Orrin Clark, Dr. McDonald, Norton, and Davis. An organ was bought on August 2, 1827, of a Mr. Cutler for $150, and the church was consecrated September 16, 1826. A parsonage was purchased in 1855. On February 5, 1863, it was resolved to build a new church, and a con- tract was later made to build for $13,375. The corner-stone was laid on June 9, 1863, and the church duly consecrated May 4, 1865. On September 25 the corner-stone of St. John's Memorial Chapel was laid with appropriate cere- moniea, and the first service held therein on February 14, 1875.
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