History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 112

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 112

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Charles H. Young, Co. K, 86th Regt .; enl. Aug. 30, 1861. Jolın Phinney, Co. K, 86th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1861.

Charles II. Reynolds, corp., Co. F, 107th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 5, 1862. William S. McCrea, Ist sergt., Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862.

Isaac Ilarrington, corp., Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. George Day, musician, Co. G, 141st Regt. ; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Samuel S. Brink, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Edson L. Burr, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Jacob 11. Cole, Co. G, 141st Regt. ; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Jacob Collins, Co. G, 141st Regt. ; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. John P. Crans, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Franklin E. De Groat, Co. G, 141st Regt. ; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. William Houghtailing, Co. G, 141st Regt. ; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Reuben Jacobs, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. John Jacobs, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. George W. Kimble, Co. G, 141st Regt ; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Edwin R. Nolton, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Amos C. Stewart, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Henry Stewart, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. Lewis Woodsworth, Co. G, 141st Regt .; enl. Sept. 11, 1862. William C. Chamberlain, Co. B, 86th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1861. Samnel Merring, 86th Regt .; killed at Wilderness. Martin Sherman, Co. H, 170th Regt .; enl. Aug. 15, 1864.

Michael Spelling, Co. E, 141st N. Y. Inf. Horner Stevens, Co. A, 107th N. Y. Inf. George F. Cole, Co. G, 50th N. Y. Eng. David Calkins, Co. 11, 161st N. Y. Inf. Orson Burlingame, Co. G, 2d Vet. Cav. William F. Hawley, Co. D, Ist Mtd. Ritles.

Vinson De Groat, Co. B, 107tlı N. Y. Iof. Charles HI. Young, Co. F, 107th Inf. George E. Merring, Co. K, 86th N. Y. Inf. Julins Lattin, Co. 11, 64th N. Y. Inf.

Fred. D. Brown, Co. - , 141st N. Y. Inf. Charles Smith, Co. F, 17th Vet. Res. Corps. James B. Young, 16th Co., 2dl Bat. Vet. Res. Corps. John W. Sanders, Co. A, 10th N. Y. Cav. Uriah P. Blain, 53d Co., 2d Bat. Res. Corps. Reuben Jacobs, 101st Co., Vet. Res. Corps. William II. Case, Co. K, 64th N. Y. Inf. Amander G. Cole, Co. G, 2d Vet. Cav.

Samuel J. Phoenix, Co. F, 107th N. V. Inf. Frederick D. Cooper, Ist N. Y. Vet. Cav. Jacob W. Myers, Co. G, 64th N. Y. Inf. Curtis F. Young, Co. F, 107th N. Y. Inf. Thomas J. Young, Ist sergt., Co. F, 107th N. Y. Inf. Charles W. Titus, Co. F, 107th N. Y. Inf.

Henry A. Smith, Co. G, 141st N. Y. Inf. Frederick W. Young, Co. F, 107th N. Y. Inf.

Henry Young.

Austin Root, Co. F, 107th N. Y. Inf.

James B. Jones, Co. F, 107th N. Y. V. Ira Stevens, Alanson Planchard, Darwin A. Cole. Edson Ripley, 23d N. Y. Inf .; died in service. Israel Washburn, 23d N. Y. Inf. John Boothe, 23d N. Y. Inf.

Eugene Martin, 23d N. Y. Inf. Elijah Monroe, 23d N. Y. Inf.

William H. Warner.

THURSTON.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

THURSTON. formed from Cameron, Feb. 28, 1844, is an interior town, sitnated sontheast of the centre of the county. Its surface consists of high, rolling upland, chiefly, forming the dividing ridge between the Conhocton and Canisteo Rivers. The streams are Stockton Creek, in the northwest part of the town, and Michigan Creek, in the south, flowing in deep, narrow ravines. bordered by steep hill-sides. The soil is chiefly a shaly and gravelly loam.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

In the northwest corner of the town of Thurston rises a high ridge of hills, north of Stocking Creek, and occupying a portion of the town, comprising six square miles, separated from the remainder of the town by a deep, narrow ravine, known as the Gulf. This gulf is impassable, except at a single point at the south, where is a flat of some six aeres, oeeupied by the steam saw-mill of A. E. Fost, and the usual accompanying residences. The Gulf above is narrow and dark, from 300 to 400 feet deep, and filled with the original growth of hemlock and hard timber. The hill is high and quite broken. It was on this high land that Luke Bonny and William Smith made the first settlement in the town, in 1813. Mr. Bonny received much eneour- agement from the land-office, and was awarded the job of cutting a road from Bath south, through the town, erossing Otter Creek at Risingville.

The hill on which he settled still bears his name. In 1823 bis widow was living in the valley below, where he had previously died.

Anderson Carpenter, brother of Timothy Carpenter, settled near the Methodist Episcopal church, in the north- west corner of the town, in 1813, and he, too, died almost alone in the wilderness. He was killed by the fall of a tree, in 1817.

Amos Dickinson, whose sons, David, Samuel, and Amos Dickinson, are well-known residents of the town, settled near Anderson Carpenter, in 1814, moving from Bath to that place. Joseph Fluent joined them in 181", and the next year (181S) was married to Fanny Dickinson. These were the first persons married in Thurston.

David Smith, brother of William, and father of Mrs. Gay, came in 1822.

In 1826, Harvey Halliday. Jacob Parker, John and Boanerges Fluent, and John Stocking had joined the settlement on Bonny Hill.

The first school was taught by Caroline Vinan, in 1818, near the present school-house. A school-meeting was called in 1828, and $100 were appropriated to build a frame school-house, 20 by 24 feet in size. In December, at a special meeting which was called to buy a stove, it was

" voted that all hardness and quarreling in this district shall eease from this date. and we shall live in peace, as neighbors onght to do." This frame school-house was the old red school-house, still standing near the church, in which the early meetings were held, and which was re- paired and painted red in 1848.

Harlow Smith, for many years a prominent and highly- respected citizen of Thurston, came from Heetor in 1826 and settled on Bonny Hill. His son, Pitt M. Smith, the only remaining member of the family, still lives in the town, near the old Bonny place.

Moses D. Depue, father of John S. Depne and A. R. Depue, now of Bath, but for many years leading citizens of Thurston, settled on Bonny Hill in 1830.

Stephen Aldrich, with his sons, Warner M., Thomas S., Stephen, and George,-one of whom, Warner, was mar- ried,-came from Rhode Island and located in the south part of the town in 1822. Thomas Aldrich still occupies the old homestead between Risingville and the little sheet of water known as Friends' Poud, so called from the fact that these early settlers were of the Society of Friends. Rev. Mr. Tripp used to come from the East to preach with them at the settlement The older members of the family are still respected members of the Society of Friends and leading citizens. Leonard Aldrich, who was elected asso- ciate judge in 187-, is a son of Warner M. Aldrich.

Stephenson Pugsley settled half a mile southwest of Ste- phen Aldrich. From this high rolling land may be seen the cleared hills beyond Merchantville and Risingville, and the still higher lands of Bonny Hill, to the northwest.

William and James Jack. from Cecil Co., Md., were also early settlers near the Friends. William Jaek still lives on the farm where he first cleared an acre of land in 1822, and returned to Maryland for his family, moving with slow- going oxen and camping at Campbelltown while he eut a road to his farm. James N. Jaek, the veteran school- teacher of the town, and Christie A. Jaek, who occupies the old homestead, are his sons.

Samuel Fisk, who came in the same year, occupied the joining lot towards the east. Amos, Ethias, and Boralis Fisk lived at Merchantville, Ethias building his house where Deacon Wm. Merchant lives, next to the old store, and the two others below.

There was no one living south between the Friends' Set- Ilement and the river. Seth Cook and Arnold Payne, both natives of Rhode Island, were early settlers near Thomas Aldrich.

The Goodhue Pond, near this settlement,-which was called New Michigan, -is a deep body of pure water, 1200 yards in length and half as wide, and lying in the southern part of Thurston, northeast corner of Cameron,

386

387

TOWN OF THURSTON.

and northwest corner of Addison, and is well stocked with a variety of fish. It has always been a favorite resort. Early settlers came from the north of the town to catch fish in this pond, and pickerel weighing upwards of 100 pounds have been taken from it. It is fed by a subterra- nean spring, and is surrounded by steep hills, upon which are fine farming-lands. This lake was stocked with bass by the fish commission in 1873.

The Cranberry or Friends' Pond, to the west, near the south line of the town, is a bottomless spring, half a mile aeross. It is located ou the top of the dividing ridge, a mile or more from the Canisteo River and five hundred and fifty feet above the river-valley, and is surrounded by rolling lands, which are now well-improved farms. It is filled with pickerel and perch-which are the natural fish of the pond -and is remarkable for the coolness of its waters. The early settlers resorted here to gather erauberries, which grew in great abundance upon the soft, boggy lands sur- rounding it.

M. O. Keithi, who came from Massachusetts in 1834 and settled a mile south of Risingville, near Mr. Jack, was the father of Albert W. Keith, the proprietor of the Merchant- ville mill and a prominent citizen of the town.

John Vanderwarker and Henry Forburg made a elearing between Risingville and Merchantville in 1820, and planted an orehard, which was abandoned, and, growing up to pines, was forgotten. In 1876 lumbermen, cutting this second growth of heavy timber, discovered a part of the apple- trees standing at regular distances from each other.

William Hawley settled on the Phillips place, near Mer- chantville, in 1820.

Fenner Eddy came from Rhode Island, and in 1832 opened a custom-tannery a short distance below, on the place now occupied by his son, Jeremiah F. Eddy. In 1836, Stephen Aldrich and Fenner Eddy were mentioned often on the town clerk's books as receiving wolf-bounty certificates.

The first saw-mill was built by Paris Wheelock, on Otter Creek, near the east line.

Lifus Fish was an early settler in the northeast, on a branch of the Conhocton. John Corbett settled on North Hill, near him, and was for years well known throughout the town.

Many marshes, or bodies of level, wet land, were found upon the hill-tops in the southern part of the town, some of which still exist, while most of those eleared have been drained, and are rich bodies of land, though small in extent. The lands furnished a variety of timber. The early settlers chose that covered with hemlock, beech, and maple, avoiding the pine lands until lumbermen came in and bought the lands they had rejected, because of the stumps, which never rotted. When these lands were found to be valuable, they were already taken up.

Going to Bath to buy goods, or make payments and con- traets with the land-office ; to Erwin's mill to trade, and to Cameron Corners to attend election and town business; or training at Troupsburgh, were the only pleasure excursions of fifty years ago; but a variety of occupation was to be had at home,-hunting, fishing, and elearing new land, or searching the deep woods for stray cattle.

Edwin Merchant came from Herkimer County, in 1841, and purchasing at the land-office the site of the present village, opened a blacksmith- and wagon-shop in the woods between Wm. IIawley's farm and Fenner Eddy's tannery. In 1845 he built the saw-mill. The opening of the Jum- bering settlement at Risingville increased the business of this place, and in 1854, Alvali Carpenter and O. P. Alder- man purchased the store of Harley Sears, who moved from Risingville the year before.

From that time Merchantville has been a trading-point and business centre. A daily mail is received from Camp- bell, continuing through to Risingville, three miles above, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. There are here four stores, a saw- and shingle-mill, two blacksmith-shops, a wagon- and a paint-shop ; Methodist Episcopal church and parsonage, Christian church, school-house, and twenty- six dwellings. It is located along the north bank of Otter Creek, and is an old-looking village, though neat in appear- ance. To the south, a quarter of a mile distant, a steep hill, extending past the village, rises to the height of one hundred and fifty feet, covered with the debris of fallen timber from which the valuable portion has long since been removed. The surrounding country, though rough and broken, affords a liberal support to the business of the place.

In the year 1852, Josephus Turbell, of Goshen, Orange Co., and Charles Osborne, of Corning, bought a large tract of heavy pine timber in the eastern part of the town, aud ereeted a large mill in the valley of Risingville. At this time there was a elearing of some 15 aeres in the valley, upon which were two houses, one of which was occupied by Noble H. Rising, and an old seedling apple-orchard, which for the inferiority of its fruit was unrivaled. Campbell-a store, tavern, and platform beside the Buffalo and Corning Railway, seven miles distant-was the outlet. Three miles towards Campbell, in the eastern part of Thurs- ton, was Merchantville, where was a saw-mill, the Eddy tannery, Mr. Merchant's wagon-shop, half a dozen houses, and a school-house, in which meetings were held. The Risingville mill was a leading institution of its kind. Two 40-horse power engines furnished the power. An old- fashioned gate, with a single saw, cut all dimensions of lum- ber to order ; a second cut the sides of the log into boards, leaving the flat body to be turned down and run through the 30 saws of the " gang," which left it a pile of finished boards, ready to be stored in the mill-yard, or hauled on wagons to Campbelltown for shipment. A shingle-mill, a picket-saw, a wood-saw, and an "edger" completed the equipment. Some thirty hands were required in and about the mill. A blacksmith-shop was a necessary adjunet. A large boarding-house was built near the mill for the single hands, and dwellings were erected along the road for the families of the married ones.

The old Rising House was turned into a boarding-house for the teamsters and choppers in the woods, and large barns were built for the accommodation of their teams. A store, the first in the town, was opened near the mill by Harley Sears. Nineteen houses were erected in the settle- ment, and men began to buy farms and improve them in the immediate surrounding country. A school was cstab-

388

HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

lished, and meetings were regularly held by the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and occasionally by Rev. O. P. Alderman. A Sunday-school was also opened with a large attendance. A Masonic lodge was established, E. P. Mulford being the first Worshipful Master. Good Templars held their sessions in the same hall, which was in the upper story of the boarding-house, and the " Know Nothings," who were traced to the bushes under the large apple-tree in the front yard, were said to have also held their meetings there. A post-office was opened in 1853, and Noble H. Rising was made postmaster.

The white-pine edgings, which accumulated rapidly at the mill, were run out on an elevated railway and thrown upon the ground, until the pile was high enough to extend the temporary track upon its top. When a mound had been formed some 40 feet in diameter, the railway was removed and the pile was fired, to destroy the encumbrance of so much wood. While it was building, the whole settle- ment supplied their fires with fuel from this pile.

The business of the town centred at Risingville for several years, through the influence of lumbering, and the yellow paper money of the Bank of Goshen, familiarly called " butter money," with which the hands were paid, became well known throughout the town.

Turbell & Co. had some 2000 acres of heavy pine lands, which were gradually made into small farms after the lum- bering ceased. The settlement was finally abandoned, and the old buildings have been removed or fallen into decay. The old mill was destroyed by fire, and has since been replaced by a small grist-mill, the first in the town, which was erected by Eber Fisk, in 1874.

The principal occupant and present owner of the valley which comprised this settlement is James Jerry, a native of Berthier, Montreal, Canada, who came to the settlement as a sawyer in the mill, but is now one of the most influ- ential citizens and a leading dairy farmer of the town. His residence, on the site of the old house where the log teamsters boarded and held their boisterous carnivals, is one of the finest in Thurston. The family of Thomas Spencer, who came from Springwater in 1853, occupies the Noble Rising place, and a neat little church has been added to the settlement, which also contains a school-house, two stores, and five other residences. Mr. Carty Wright, a farmer, a short distance below the grist-mill, and William and James Hanrihan, who settled in the southwest corner of the town, first came to work in the Turbell mill.

John Richtmyer settled a mile north of Risingville, in 1848. Ilis son, William Riehtmyer, is a prominent farmer, and has been supervisor of the town. H. G. Willard was one of the earliest settlers on the hill to the cast.

There are two cheese-factories in the town, one on Bonny Hill, and another opened in 1875, by John Adamson, in the southwest.

Leonard Aldrich and Lyman H. Phillips, residents of Merchantville, have both filled the office of justice of ses- sions.

ORGANIZATION.

This town was named in honor of William B. Thurston, a member of the Society of Friends or " Quakers," and one of the principal land-owners of the town.

At the first annual election of the town of Thurston, held in the house of Joseph Cross, on the present Beaton place, on North Hill, April 2, 1844, the following officers were elected : Joseph Cross, Supervisor ; Noble H. Rising, Town Clerk ; John S. De Puc, Henry Briggs, Peter D. Edsell, Arnold Payne, Justices of the Peace; Henry Rising, James L. Ostrander, Fenner Eddy, Assessors; William Jack, · Amos Fluent, Jared Goodsell, Commissioners of Highways ; Stephen Wakeman, Abijah Youmans, Overseers of the Poor ; John S. Eddy, Collector ; Oliver Stewart, Oliver Baker, James A. Booth, Jefferson Moore, Nathan Stephens, Constables ; Warner A. Aldrich, Samuel R. Creveling, Aaron R. De Pue, Inspectors of Election.

LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.

Supervisors.

Town Clerks.

Collectors.

1844. Joseph Cross.

Noble II. Rising. 6€

Joha S. Eddy. Eliphas Fish.

1845. Fenner Eddy.

1846.

Sare'l R. Creveling. Stephen Wakeman. "

1847.

1848.

1849. John S. De Pue.

Noble H. Rising.

1850.

1851. Noble H. Rising.

Thomas S. Aldrich.

1853.

Sam'l R. Creveling. Lewis Sears.

1854. John Royee.

Sch'yl'r D. Johnson. John A. Steeking.

1855. 6

Edwin Merehant.

1856. John S. De Pue.

Clark Babeeck.

1857.

William Merchant.

1858. 16

1859. 66 66

Edwin Merebant.

1860.

1861.

1862. .

1863.

1864.

1865.

Andrew Shauger.

1866. Oliver P. Alderman.

1867. Alva Carpenter.

Harmon Stevens. James Medowell.

1868. James Jerry.ª

Edwin Merchant.

Andrew Shanger.

1869. Alva Carpenter.

O. F. Corwin. Smy'r A. Whitcomb.

Seward Aldrieh.

1872. Lewis Masters.

llen. Kniekerbeeker.

1873. "

1874. Lyman H. Phillips.

1876. 6

Ezra M. Royce.

1877. William Richtmyer. 4

John A. Filkins.

1878. =

Orlando F. Corwin. Josiah R. J. Johnsen.

B. F. Stamp.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1844. John S. De Pue.

1851. B. B. Banereft.

Henry Briggs. 1852. J. S. De Pue.

Peter D. Edsell. 1853. Eleazer P. Mulford.

Arnold Payne. 1854. If. P. Clark.

1845. Edwin Merehaet. 1855. R. B. Bancroft.

Warner M. Aldrich.

1856. Jerrad H. Goodsell.

1846. Jeseph Cross. Abijah Youmans. Peter D. Edsell.

Henry Briggs.

1847. Benjamin B. Bancroft. John S. De Pue.

1858. H. P. Clark.

1848. John S. De Pne. Henry Briggs.

J. S. De Pue.

1849. llenry Briggs.

1859. 1Ienry Briggs.

1850. Warner M. Aldrich.

James N. Jaek.

Oliver Stewart.

Jehn Royee.

1852. Cornelius Ronton.

1870. ..

IS71.

1875. James Jerry.

Orlande F. Cerwio.

1857. Sehuyler D. Johnsen.

John Conner.

At the regular cleetion Alva Carpenter and Leonard Aldrich, can- didates for supervisor, received a tie vote; and James Jerry was eleeted at a special eleetien.

389

TOWN OF THURSTON.

1860. John S. De Pue.

1868. Charles E. Richtmyer.

1861. John Richtmyer.

1869. Lyman Phillips.

1862. Leonard Aldrich.

1870. Leonard Aldrich.

1863. Orson D. Davis.

1871. Z. S. Helm.

1864. John S. De Pue.

1872. Charles E. Richtmyer.

Orson D. Davis.

1873. Lyman HI. Phillips.

1865. Andrew Shauger.

1874. Leonard Aldrich.

1866. Lyman Phillips.

1875. Zachariah S. Helm.

Leonard Aldrich.

1876. Charles E. Richtmyer.

1867. Orson D. Davis.

1877. Lyman H. Phillips.

Hervey Halliday.

1878. Henry Morrison.

CHURCHIES.

METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Rev. Buel Parker is said to have preached in Thurston in 1814. Meetings were held on Bonny Hill in the old Jog school-house, and in the school-house which stands near the church, soon after its ercetion in 1826. Harlow Smith, Amos Dickinson, and their families, were among the early members. Joseph Marrow was the first class-leader. Mrs. Gay, daughter of David Smith, one of the first settlers on the hill, is the only original member living. The organization was a part of that of Bath for many years. Rev. Charles Brun- dage came from Allegany County in 1842, and through his exertions the church was erected, and made a free church for all Christian denominations. This church was built by Moses Dudley and IIarlow Smith, trustees, on land donated by Rev. Mr. Brundage, and dedicated by Rev. - Bab- cock, presiding elder, in February, 1843. Rev. Mr. Brun- dage delivered an anti-slavery lecture in the church soon after its erection, making himself somewhat unpopular thereby, and causing much local confusion and discussion, which extended to the meeting of the next annual con- ference.

The present officers of the church are Pitt M. Smith, Recording Steward ; Joseph Marr, Fred. Keyser, Benja- min Van Gelder, Stewards; F. Keyser, P. M. Smith, Henry Sprague, John Adams, D. II. Dickinson, Trustees. Revs. Buel Parker, Wm. Henry, Asa Story, Cyrus Story, - McElheny, - Hoag, - Parker, and - Ev- erett were early preachers in this part of the town. Present pastor, Rev. M. Davison.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI OF RISINGVILLE.

Meetings were held on the hill near Risingville in the old red school-house, previous to 1841, the pastor supply- ing the congregation alternately with that at some other school-house. There are no reords of a class having been regularly organized previous to 1850. A three days' quar- terly-meeting was held in the Turbell mill, in the summer of 1855, and was largely attended. Services were held in the old Sears store, and in the Aldrich school-house, a mile south, until the mill settlement was partially aban- doned. Afterwards, as the country around became more improved, a permanent organization was effected by the farming community, and in 1864 a fine church building was erected by Alex. Sutton, Thomas Spencer, MeCarty Wright, James A. Booth, A. Shanger, C. W. Martin, and Wm. R. Richtmyer, trustees. Rev. D. W. T. Huntington preached the dedicatory sermon.

The following pastors have preached to this class : Wm. Arnold, Cyrus Story ; 1852, Wm. E. Pindar ; 1853, -

Day ; 1854, A. F. Morey ; 1855, C. Gould ; 1856, Sey- mour G. Ryenvault ; 1865, W. Woalgemath ; 1866, E. S. Grandon ; 1868, D. W. Gates; 1878, J. Knapp; 1879, John Stevens.

Class-Leaders : 1850, John Richtmyer; 1858, Thomas Spencer, and MeCarty Wright, present leader. Stewards : 1853, E. P. Mulford, John Richtmyer ; 1878, Charles II. Martin, who is also clerk. The present Trustees are Au- gustus Tompkins, David Wright, Robert Heekman, Isaac Warrick, Wm. White, McCarty Wright, and Oscar W. Sutton.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF MERCHIANTVILLE.

A Methodist Episcopal class was organized at Merchant- ville, previous to 1850, by Rev. Wm. Arnold, and consisted of 11 members, among whom were Anthony Collson and wife, John W. Collson, Emma Collson, Clark Babcock and wife, William Merchant and wife, and Annette Terry. A church was built in 1861, during the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Brown, and dedicated by Rev. Mr. Congdon, Presiding Elder. The first Trustees were John Brock, Anthony Collson, H. G. Willard, Eber Fisk, and John W. Collson. Anthony Collson was first class-leader and steward.

The pastors have been Revs. Wm. Arnold, Charles Bush, Merritt, - Countryman, John Knapp, W. W. Mandeville, L. L. Grandon, Bronson Covey, - Cook, John Knapp, John Stevens.

The present officers of the church are Albert W. Keith, Recording Steward; Lewis Curtis, Class-Leader ; J. W. Collson. N. Sterling, L. H. Curtis, A. W. Keith, Trustees. There are 20 members in good standing on the church roll.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF THURSTON.

This church was first organized at Smith's school-house, in the town of Bath, March 26, 1836, by Rev. G. A. Hen- drick. Afterwards the increase of membership from the south caused a change from Bath to West Hill, in the ecn- tral part of Thurston, which occurred March 20, 1842, during the pastorate of Elder E. Fleming. Among the first members were Robert Colyer and wife, Jared Goodsell and wife, Fanny Folsom, Mahetibal Havens, Adaline Gris- wold, Lydia J. Goodsell, and Harley Sears and wife. While Elder Hendrick labored with this church, 44 were baptized and 50 admitted to membership. During this re- vival, Chester D. Kinney and William D. Rutherford were converted. Afterwards they were ordained and became eminent ministers of the Christian Church. Attempts were made to have the place of worship at Bath, on the division of the school district in 1844, which deprived them of a place of worship. In that year Rev. Oliver P. Alderman, who had become a resident of Merchantville, awakened a new interest in the church, making many addi- tions to its membership. The fellowship meetings were then changed to the Aldrich Settlement, then known as "New Michigan." In the winter of 18-16-47, Elders Kinney and Rutherford held meetings at Merchantville, then called Otter Creek, converting large numbers, and making that the centre of the church in Thurston.

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History of Steuben county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 112

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