History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > New York > Steuben County > History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 105

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" Who in this beneficial effort is entitled to the greatest share of praise would prove an invidious task to name. Judge Porter was the largest subscriber; Dr. Niles was a liberal contributor and the most active agent ; and it is but just to say that the money that was raised at that time was more the result of his untiring energy and vigilance than of any other one cause. The friends of this institution, and the community which have experienced so largely its benefits, owe to the memory of Dr. Niles a lasting debt of gratitude."

The effort that built the academy was a general and united one, and the good resulting therefrom has been like the flowing of a gentle stream.

The regents' charter of Franklin Academy bears date Feb. 23, 1824. Early in that year the building was so nearly completed as to admit of occupancy, and the first academic term commenced under the direction of Wil- liam Beardsley. Since that time more than half a century has passed away. These years have not been years of un- interrupted prosperity in the fortunes of Franklin Academy, for, like all else, the institution has had its days of darkness. These, however, have been comparatively few : its career has been generally prosperous ; and probably from that day to this there has not been a moment's regret, or even a dis- appointed anticipation, in the minds of any of its founders.

In 1827 the fortune of this institution was deemed ade- quate, and its future success seemed to demand a separate female department. That year witnessed this beneficial change.

Upon the application of Hon. Grattan Il. Wheeler, the Legislature, in 1828, made an appropriation of $2000 for the purpose of founding an academic library, which has been of great benefit to the institution and to the community.

In 1868 the academy was merged in the Franklin Acad- emy and Union Free School, and has since been conducted under the provisions of the Union Free School law. It still maintains a high order of scholarship.

PRINCIPALS.

The following are the principals of Franklin Academy from the establishment of the institution :

Exitus.

Election.

1824 .- Rev. William Beardsley, A.M .. 1828.

1828 .- Eli Eddy, A.M. 1829.

1829 .-- Seymour Gookins, A.M. 1831.

1834.

1834 .- Rev. Samuel Schaffer, A.M

1835,

1835 .- Rev. Jobn Humphrey, A.M

1836.

1836 .- Rev. Horace Woodruff, A.M.

1839.

1839 .- Rev. Flavel S. Gaylord, A.M.

1845.

1845 .- Curtis C. Baldwin, A.M.

18-16.

1846 .- Hon. Seth B. Cole, A.M

1854.

1854 .- Charles L. Porter 1855.

1855 .- William II. Jackson, A.M March, 1858.

1858, March .- Wm. S. Scarles, A.M July, 1858.

1858, July .- Wm. Kreutzer, A.M

1859.

1831 .- Rev. Oliver S. Taylor, A.M., M.D.

360

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Election.

Exitus.

1859, July .- W. D. Taylor, A.B. .July, 1860.

1860, “ Sherril E. Smith, A.B. Mareb, 1866.

1866, March .- N. W. Ayer, A.M. July, 1867.

1867 .- J. C. Whiting. 1868.

1868 .- G. E. MeMaster .. 1869.

1869, August .- J. Wesley Eddy. December, 1869.

1869, December .- S. F. Bagg 1871.

1871, July .- E. Wilmot Cummings

November, 1871.

1871, December .- Paul C. Howe.

Mareh, 1872.

1872, March .- II. A. Smith.

July, 1872.

1872, August .- A. J. Osborn. 1874.

1874 .- James A. Christie 1877.

1877 .- W. F. Gelston

1878.

1878 .- Frank E. Wells #

ORGANIZATION.

Prattsburgh was formed from Pulteney, April 12, 1813, and contained at that time half of the town of Wheeler. Subsequently half of the township adjoining on the west was added to it. The half-township taken from this to form Wheeler was detached in 1820, and since then the boundaries of the town have remained unchanged. The first town-meeting was held on the 1st day of March, 1814, at which Joel Pratt, Jr., was elected supervisor.

CIVIL LIST.

The town records having been destroyed by fire and those in Bath being deficient, we have been unable to get a com- plete list of the town officers from its organization. We give below all that we have been able with the utmost dili- gence to find. The early rolls of those who took oaths of office at Bath are for the most part lists of names and dates, with no mention of the town attached to them.

We find that Stephen Prentiss was supervisor, and Isaac Ainsworth collector, in 1824. Mr. Ainsworth was also collector in 1823. Then there is a blank, so far as Pratts- burgh is concerned, till 1827, after which the list is as follows :

Supervisors.

Justices.

1827. Robert Porter.

(No record.)

Collectors. Sylvester Alderman. =

1828. Burrage Riee.

1829.

Jacob Wilson.

I830.

1831.

1832.

1833.

1834.

1835. Daniel Burroughs.

(No record.)

1836.

S. A. Johnson.

E. B. Woodworth, Jr.

1837. Aaron Pinney.

(No reeord.)

Mareus T. C. Higby.

1838.

W. Van Valkenburgh.

IS39, 4.

Thomas W. Bailey.

1840. J. H. Hotehkin, Jr. (No record.)

1841. John L. Higby.

1842. =

1843.

SAMUEL TUTTLE, MARY HULL,

POMEROY HULL, HANNAH NILES,

SALISBURY BURTON,

SARAH CURTISS,

1846. John C. Higby.

Abner P. Lyon.

1847.

Isaac Vermilya.

1848.

J. F. Williams. (No record.)

1850.

1851. Joseph Lewis.

1852. John Anderson.

Josiah Allis.

1853. John F. Williams.

JI. B. Eddy.

Jerry Allis.

1854. Joseph Lewis.

J. F. Williams.

# All the above, with three exceptions, are college graduates ; but we are not able to give the proper titles of the last eleven.

Justices,

Collectors.

Henry Neff.

1856. 4

J. K. Fenton.

David Smith.

Iliram Wygant. J. W. Williams. Erastus B. Miller. ..

John W. Williams. 16

E. C. Eddy.

John W. Williams.

1869,

1870. ]I. B. Williams.

1871. D. W. Baldwin.

Ephraim Kidder.

(No record.)

Daniel D. Waldo.

(No record.)

Jas. A. Middleton.

1875. ..

James Bennett.

John A. Bonney.

1876. Henry A. Hopkins.

Charles Shults.

A. E. Green.

1877.

Elijah Allis.

Charles 11. Briglin.

1878. Martin Pinney.

Daniel D. Waldo.

Garrett Winnie.

CHURCHIES.

TIIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI OF PRATTSBURGH.

The first religious service ever held in the town was by Rev. John Niles, at the house of Jared Pratt, in the year 1803. Mr. Niles became a resident of the town in the autumn of that year, and held his first religious service on the Sunday following his arrival. From that day to the present the people have never been without the preaching of the gospel. The barn creeted by Jared Pratt in 1804, and which was the first frame building in the town, was used as a place of public worship until the ercetion of the first meeting-house.

The following is the record of the organization of the first church :

" BATH, June 26, 1804. "On this day and year of our Lord 1, Timothy Field, Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Canandaigua, organized a Church of Christ in the district of Bath, at the house of Mr. John Niles. " TIMOTHY FIELD."

The conclusion of the articles of organization of the church reads :

" In testimony of our assent to the above Confession of Faith and Covenant, we have hereunto subseribed our names, at Bath, this twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four.

" JOEL PRATT,

MARTHA TUTTLE, DORCAS NILES,

1844.

1845. John F. Williams.

John Smith.

Jerry Allis.

WILLIAM P. CURTISS.

" The following persons not being able to attend when the church was constituted, subscribed the Confession of Faith and Covenant a few days afterward :

" LYDIA BEACH, MARY PRATT,

OLIVE BURTON, ALMIRA TDTTLE."

1859. =

D. N. Aldrich.

IS60.

J. C. Clark.

1861. =

Harvey Weld.

II. B. Eddy.

Jasper Partridge.

1864. William B. Pratt.

JS65.

George MeLean. Daniel D. Waldo.

1866. 4 .

George MeLean.

1867.

Ephraim Kidder.

1868.

Daniel D. Waldo.

George MeLean.

Benj. B. Austin.

Edwin Wilson.

Charles F. Grenell.

William Cook. 44 46

1873.

1874.

(No reeord.)

1872. Martin Pinney.

Supervisors.

1855. G. Denniston.

Jolin Smith.

1857.

C. J. Clark.

H. B. Eddy.

1858. John F. Williams.

1862.

1863.

1849. Aaron Pinney.

Asa Hopkins. Wm. E. S. Noble.

Orris Briggs.

JOHN NILES,

Ezra Chapin. Seth Miner.

Aaron Pinney.

S. A. Johnson. Harry Clark.

C. J. Clark.

John Niles and Capt. Joel Pratt were chosen to attend the Association of Churches of Ontario at Middlesex, June 10, 1806, and unite with that association. In the years 1806 and 1807 a large number of settlers came, most of the

Joseph &Sturdevant

JOSEPH GROVER STURDEVANT was born nt Caldwell, N. J., Feb. 25, 1807. lle was a descendant of John Sturdevant, son of a London silversmith, who in colonial times emigrated from England to Con- Decticut. The line of desecot is Ist, John ; 2d. James ; 3d, John ; 4th, Joseph G. The great-grandfather aud grandfather were both fariners. The former died in Connecticut ; the latter, in Pennsylvania. John, father of Joseph G., was born in Norfolk, Conn., April 12, 1776. lle was the seventh son in his father's family of twelve ehil- dren. Physically he was more delicate than his brothers, yet possessed of patient, quiet industry and perseverance. That, joined with his poetical tastes and love for intellectual pursuits, enabled bim, despite unfavorable circumstances, to obtain a very good education.

This he turned to successful account as teacher from time to time during his varied and eventful life.

llis wife, formerly Mrs. Crane, daughter of Joseph Grover, a Pres- byterian clergy man and missionary in Western New York, was horn in Parsippany, N. J., Jan. 2, 1777. Their three children were also born in that State,-Harriet (now Mrs. Eleazer Hliler, of Michigan), in 1804; Joseph G., in 1807; and Miss Abby Sophia, of Prattsburgh, In 1815.

John Sturdevant served in the war of 1812-14 as a colonel of the United States troops quartered at New York, in which city he was for several years a merchant, also a marsbal, and keeper of a State prison.

Ile removed to Virginia; afterwards to Bristol, N. Y .; and from thenee, two years later, to Prattsburgh, where he purchased a saw- mill and seventeen acres of land. To this himself and son made additions from time to time until his death, which occurred Sept. 22, 1854. His wife died in Ohio, at the residence of her son, Zenas Crane, March 22, 1862.

Joseph G. Sturdevant failed to receive the more liberal education of a college course, which, providentially denied to the father, the father most naturally eraved to enjoy in his son.

The lad of seventeen, when his father settled in the wilderness of pines then bordering Prattsburgh Creek, was, like many unother son, not the exact type of his father's desires, yet none the less a real and creditable type, and the headstrong, mehanical genius of a boy who slighted college tators proved himself a ready and apt popil of life's finest masters,-experience, observation, energy, und conscientious- ness. llis nature was at home among the hills and pipes and invig- orating hardships of a pioneer life, none of which he feared or shunned. Socially fond of questions and argument, he was well known in all the local debating schools of the period, and, as his sister often told him, would " always be on the opposite side, anyhow."

Later he became a constant reader not only of the current news of the day, but also of universal history, and much of the best literature, past and present. Few are blessed with a better memory, or more clear, general intelligence, which he could at will bring to bear with much humor and force.

Possessed of much constructive ability, he enjoyed nothing better than a rush of business, with a generous force of men at his command, and whose confidence and affection be always won. Most stubborn when driven, but gentle when led. He also had a keen relish for, and judgment ot most of the fine arts, of which he was an excellent eritie.

Hle was married in Ohio, Aug. 29, 1833, to Rebecca, daughter of Robert and Esther (Carlin) Mahan, born in Washingtoo, Pa., Nov. 15, 1811. For many years they lived on their farm, orecting fine buildings, and gradually hitting it for agricultural purposes, though his main business was manufacturing lumber from the pines. In early times he often obtained but five dollars per thousand for best lumber. This had to be hauled by the wagon load over rough roads, mostly to Canandaigua and Geneva ; later it was shipped by way of Kenka Lake and Erie Canal to Waterloo and Soncea Falls.

Their children were seven in number : Mrs. W. A. Farris, of Cin- einnati, Ohio; Robert Austin, of Prattsburgh, in possession of the homestead and mill; John; Harlan P., of Bluff Point, who served for three and a half years as a Union soldier in the late Rebellion, passed unwounded through many severe battles, and was honorably discharged after being a prisoner at Libby and Millan, and having sev- eral months of experience with the terrors of Andersonville; Milton G., who died June 11, 1876; Ella II., wife of Mortimer Blood (de- ceased), of Italy ; Miss Samantha, of Prattsburgh ; and Celia D., a lovely child, who died at eight years of age.

In politics Joseph G. Sturdevant was a Democrat, and earnest sup- porter of the Union. Though often nominated for a leading office in his town, he never consented to serve more than one term. Hle was modest and unostentatious in all his ways, and many remain who could testify to his high sense of justice, his persisteney in what he considered right, his striet integrity and unselfishness in all business transactions.

In religion, though nominally a Baptist, his simple, yet brond Christian faith made him remarkably tree from all sectarian preju- dices ; he seemed rather possessed with a feeling of brotherhood, good-will, and benevolence towards all branches, and every good en- terprise of the great Christian Church.

A few months before his death he purchased and fitted up a house and lot in Prattsburgh village for a home of retirement in declining years. This he deeden to his well-beloved wife who survives him, and where, with her daughter and his sister, she continues to reside. There, in the stillness, linked about by long arms of ancient apple-trees, life's evening shadows gathered very soon.

As an old tree cannot always endure transplanting, so to him the relief and removal from life-long seenes of labor and care filled his heart with homesickness, which he was too brave to admit but which, doubtless, in part indneed the prostrating fever that ended his life. Aug. 25, 1872, his waiting spirit calmly returned to God who gave it and the home prepared beyond.

361

TOWN OF PRATTSBURGH.

heads of families being members of the Congregational Church, drawn thither by the expectation of a good re- ligious and civil society, and forming a homogeneous popu- lation. I have but to mention a few of them that you may sce that they gave shape and tone to the future of the church and town: Robert Porter, Abiel Linsley, Jesse Waldo, Sanı- nel llayes, Elias Hopkins, John Hopkins, Gamaliel Loomis, Elam Bridges, Aaron Cook, James F. Judson, Ebenezer Rice. The names of Burton, Hubbard, Prentiss, Johnson, and others also now appear in the roll of the church. The first of these, Robert Porter, probably did more for the church and town than any other man, excepting Capt. Pratt. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1795, and studied for the ministry, and from 1803 to 1806 was prin- cipal of Hamilton Academy (afterwards Hamilton College), Clinton, N. Y. His brother was the celebrated Dr. Noah Porter, of Farmington, Conn.

The others were originally from Connecticut, of the best Puritan stock. "There were giants in those days."

" As might have been expected from such people as the pioneers of Prattsburgh, they early set about erecting a house for their public worship. So they resolved in 1806.

" The site selected, and afterwards built upon, was upon the public square, and near the southeast corner of it. At first they determined that this house should be constructed of hewn logs, a plan particularly displeasing to Capt. Pratt. At his suggestion the constituents of what was afterwards the Prattsburgh Religious Society met to review their pre- vious decision, but after interchanging their own views, they came to the same conclusion. Mr. Pratt retorted upon this embryo society the anathema pronounced against those who dwelt in ceiled houses, while the temple of the Lord laid waste. Then this people met for a third time, and for the third time agreed to build a log church. Capt. Pratt cut short the proceedings of this meeting by seating himself at a table and drafting a paper, in form as follows :

"' BATH, Feb. 23, 1807.

"'We, the subscribers, being desirous of erecting a house for the purpose of accommodating the society for public worship, do promise to pay untu Capt. Joel Pratt the sum opposite to our names ; to be paid on the completion of said house, in case there can be a sufficient sum subscribed. Said house to he 32 by 22 feet.

" To this he added his name, and the sum of $20, and before twenty-four hours had run round, he presented the paper, and had actually obtained a subseription in a greater or less sum from the head of every family within the town- ship, when the aggregate sum of $220 was found to have been subscribed, which was considered adequate, and which built the first Congregational church of Prattsburgh. Two years later this house was found too small to accommodate the congregation assembled each Sabbath; then it was lengthened by adding 18 feet to its east end, making its proportions 22 feet by 50 feet, with upright timbers possibly 9 feet in height.

" This church was never, either in its exterior or interior appointments, much of a feast to the lover of fair architec- tural proportions. Painting never adorned it. It had an entrance at each end, by what was at first centre doors, but afterwards they were pushed to one side ; entering from the west end, one passed about one-third the length of that

50 fect aisle, when he would reach the space occupied by the pulpit, which was then stuck to the northern wall like a bird's nest ; nor was this church ever in one stead for a great length of time. In 1820 it was sawn asunder from the ridge of the roof, and the one half of the building was moved 11 feet north, and the intervening space built up anew ; so it remained till 1828, when it was superseded by the completion of the present church edifice."

The religious society was not organized properly till Nov. 16, 1807.

The following is the article of incorporation :

" To all to whom it may concern, be it known that after legal noti- fication had been given for the purpose of forming a religious society in the sixth townsbip, third range, in Steuben County and State of New York, the inhabitants of said township met at their place of publie worship on Monday, the 16th day of November, 1807.

" By the unanimous voice of the meeting, Deacon Enoch Niles and Deacon Abiel Linsley were chosen Inspectors.

" Voted, secondly, that the society be called Prattsburgh, and that six trustees be chosen, who are ever after to be known hy the name of the Trustees of the Prattsburgh Religious Society. And, fourtbly, that Enoch Niles, Win. P. Curtiss, John Hopkins, Jesse Waldo, Josiah Allis, and Joel Pratt, Jr., be the trustees of said society.

" Be it known that we, the inspectors of the election above recited, do certify that the above is a true statement of the proceedings of the meeting. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and scals.

" ABIEL LINSLEY, " ENOCH NILES."

Theu follows the permission of Judge James Faulkner for the recording of the above articles, dated April 18, 1808, and the certificate of the county clerk.

The record continues: " The trustees of Prattsburgh Religious Society met the 18th day of May, 1808, at Ira Pratt's house, and considering it necessary for the welfare of the society that a regular system of proceedings be ob- served in all affairs relative to the society, have instituted the following articles as their guide : Article I. Whenever any person shall make application for uniting with the society, he shall be accepted by paying into the society's fund a sum that the trustees shall consider proportionate to his property and privileges. Articles 2, 3, and 4 refer to the fund notes. Article 5 reads, ' The money arising from the use of the fund shall be appropriated only for the support of the gospel ministry of the Presbyterian or Con- gregational order.'"

It will be seen from this that either of the above forms of church government were included in the original plan of the founders of the church, the Presbyterian being named first.

The following resolution brings to light the fact that the fathers kept Saturday night :

" Voted, Oct. 11, ISOS, that the members of the church will not attend raisings, or other similar associations, on Saturday in the afternoon."

Deacon Loomis was diligent in prosecuting all who traveled on Sunday in the township. For many years the religious aspect of the town formed its most distinguishing feature.

" Previous to the organization of the church, Mr. Niles led in the public worship. After its organization he was elected its standing moderator, and more frequently preached. His

362

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

health became in a great measure re-established, and he re- ceived ordination June 11, 1806, from the Ontario Asso- ciation. He was employed as a stated supply for one-half of the time at Prattsburgh and the other half at Bath, till the spring of 1808, when he received a call to settle at Bath, and removed there with his family. From this time until the next April the church was mostly without preach- ing, when Rev. James II. Hotchkin visited them by re- quest, and received an unanimous call for settlement, and was installed pastor Aug. 16, 1809. The membership of the church now reached 61,-52 having been received by letter and 9 on profession of faith.

With the installation of Mr. Hotchkin began a new era in the church. A pastoral relation which continued thirty years and nine months is an uncommon event, and brings with it a long train of blessings. I should judge from the minutes that Mr. Hotehkin was a very prudent man and an organizer as well as an able preacher of the gospel. His formative influence may be seen down to the present time.

Oct. 2, 1812, " It was voted that in view of the church it is expedient that the ministers and churches in this county become connected with the Presbyterian Church of the United States, provided the churches may be allowed to transact discipline in the congregational way ;" and at a meeting of the church, April 12, 1813, the delegate to the association was authorized to vote for the dissolution of the association, with a view to a connection with presbytery, and provided this was done, to request Geneva Presbytery to take this church under its care. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Geneva in April, 1813, the following minute was adopted :

" The presbytery are of the opinion that a union with the ministers and churches of the Ontario Association is highly important, as it will combine their influence in pro- moting the great interests of the Redeemer's kingdom ; and they cordially invite the said ministers and churches to unite with the presbytery by adopting the confession of faith and form of government of the Presbyterian Church. But should any of the said churches find it most for edifi- cation to continue the practice of receiving and rejecting members by vote of the brethren of church generally, in- stead of a session of ruling elders, the presbytery do not consider that any bar to the contemplated union, and are willing they should continue the practice as long as they shall deem it expedient."

On the 25th of May, 1813, the association met in Pratts- burgh and adopted the following resolutions :

" Whereas, It appears from the Iloly Scriptures of immense im- portanee that all who love our Lord Jesus Christ should be united in the strietest bonds of Christian fellowship, that they may with one heart and voice unite in opposing error and in disseminating the knowledge of divine truth, aud whereas, in the view of this associa- tion there is no reason why these professing Christians, usually called Presbyterian and Congregationalist, should not receive each other as brethren and be united as Que body in the strictest sense, aud whereas there exists in this country a presbytery connected with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church ; therefore,

- --

"Resolved, That it is desirable that this association become united with the Presbytery of Genera.

"Resolved, That as a means of fortuing the union this association Le dissolved." Thus it appears that the famous Accommodating Plan which had so much te du with the future ecclesiastical history of

this land was formed in this place. On the 21st of September, 1813, this church was received inte the Presbytery of Geneva.

The Presbytery of Bath was organized in 1817. When Mr. Hotchkin commeneed his ministry here there were but three ministers and four churches on this territory of the above denominations. He says, " The inhabitants were comparatively few, scattered in groups distant from each other, and experiencing the privations and hardships inci- dent to a new settlement. The roads, where they existed, were in a most unimproved state, and traveling in any form was fatiguing. The inhabitants enjoyed few oppor- tunities of attending publie worship, and the work of the ministry was an arduous employment. The writer has been called a distance of forty miles to preach a funeral sermon, being the nearest clergyman of the Presbyterian denomina- tion to be obtained. He has not unfrequently traveled forty or fifty miles to assist in the organization of a new church, to afford a Sabbath's preaching, and to administer the sacraments to a destitute church."

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 826