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 63
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- Section Flewhans J.l. Stephens
tavern," which he assisted his father in building. IIe was a staunch member of the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for President of the United States for Thomas Jefferson.
He was elected to fill many offices in his town, was town clerk for several terms, and also school commissioner, and in the interest of education was a strong and able advocate, and did much to forward its progress. Although a farmer, he was very fond of hunting and trapping, and it was esti- mated that for thirty years of his life he averaged to kill one hundred deer annually.
His children are Elisha G .. Jedediah II. M., Ebenezer C., Franklin D., and Joshua C., all living, and all residents of Steuben County except the third son, who is a resident of Allegany County.
-the education of the young and good society. Educated in the Democratic party, of which his grandfather was an unswerving member, he has been a somewhat active exponent of its principles. Many years ago he was school inspector of the town, subsequently, about 1850, town superintendent of schools, and has been town clerk and supervisor for several terms. In 1842 he became a member of the Morning Star Lodge, No. 65, Canisteo; his father and grandfather having been among the founders of that lodge. In 1854 he was appointed Eminent Commander of the Edwards Com- mandary, at Hornellsville, now called De Molay Command- ery, No. 22. which position he held for some two years. His connection with Masonry has been continuous since he first became a member, having been called during that time to fill various official positions in the several bodies.
MRS. JOHN CARTER.
JOHN CARTER
RESIDENCE OF JOHN CARTER, CANISTEO, N Y.
229
TOWN OF CATON.
JOHN CARTER
was born in Ithaca, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1821. His father, Anthony Carter, was a native of Vermont, born Oct. 19, 1787 ; married Rachel Teter,-born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1791,-Aug. 19, 1807, and settled in Tompkins Co., N. Y., with his parents about 1816. The family, on account of famine in Vermont, left that State, crossed Lake Champlain on the ice, and with a very small amount of money, as the result of the sale of their property, finally settled in their new home in the far west, and were among the pioneers of Tompkins County.
Iler father, Peter Teter, came from New Jersey, was about the first settler of Lansing, that county, built the first mill, owned a large tract of land, became wealthy, and died where he first settled on coming to the county. Both grandfathers, Anthony Carter and Peter Teter, were soldiers of the Revolutionary war.
Anthony Carter was next youngest of five children of the Carter family, settled in the town of Greenwood, 1830, where the family resided nine years, and came to Canisteo, purchasing, on Bennett Creek, two miles south of the vil- lage, some one thousand and thirty-three aeres of land, most of which still remains in the family.
He followed lumbering for many years of his life prior to, and after coming to, Steuben County ; was an active, enterprising, and thrifty business man. He was a man characterized for his generosity, and did much in the early days of the settlement of Greenwood to assist those more in need of the comforts of life than his own family. He died Dec. 8, 1857. ITis wife died April 7, 1863.
Their children are Peter, Mrs. Uriah Douglass, Mrs. William Langley, Mrs. George Brown, Daniel John, Mrs.
Alvah Davis, Anthony, Calvin, Mrs. Lewis Cornell, Mrs. James Fuller, George W., and Mrs. Hamilton Bartlett.
John Carter remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, and worked on the farm and in the saw-mill. His opportunities for book knowledge were very limited, but his subsequent life has fully demonstrated the fact that education does not all come from books, necessary economy, privation, and self-reliance often laying the foundation for opulence and a wide field of intelligence, reading, and knowledge.
In 1844, October 13, he married Catherine, daughter of Erastus and Mary Stephens, of Canisteo. fler father was grandson of Uriah Stephens, the first settler of the Can- isteo Valley. She was born May 22, 1826.
For twenty-five years after his marriage, Mr. Carter carried on farming and lumbering, on a part of the farm settled by his father in Canisteo, and in 1870 removed to the village, where he has been engaged in ereeting dwelling- houses, some of which are among the most substantial and elegant residences in the village. His life has been one of constant activity, and to such enterprising and resolute m'en as he Canisteo owes its business-like and thrifty appearance. His fine hotel block, the most elegant building in the vil- lage, is shown on another page of this work.
Mr. Carter has given his life strictly to business, never accepting the honors of office or its emoluments. Ile is interested in the education of the rising generation, and a liberal supporter of that and kindred interests. Ile is a member of the Republican party, and encourages all enter- prises of reform and local improvement in the village and town. Their children are William T., Erastus A., Addie A., Eva, and Mary L.
CATON.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
CATON was formed from Painted Post, under the name of " Wormly," on the 28th of March, 1829. On the 3d of April, 1840, it was changed to its present name. It is the southeast corner town of the county. Its surface is elevated, quite level, and less broken by deep valleys than any other town of the county, there being but a few small streams, flowing northward. The extensive forests of this town have afforded large quantities of lumber. Upon some of the highest hills is found a coarse, silicious conglomerate, which forms the bed of the coal measures. The soil is chiefly a elayey and shaly loam.
SETTLEMENT.
Joseph and Charles Wolcott made a temporary settlement in this town in 1814; but Isaac Rowley, from Bradford Co., Pa., who located here in 1819, seems to have been the first permanent settler. Stephen and Simeon Hurd settled
in the town in 1821, Solomon Tarbox in 1822, and E. P. Babeoek, Edward Robbins, and Henry Miner in 1823; Ab- ner Gilbert, E. Robbins, and Elias P. Babcock purchasing 4000 aeres in the southeast part of the town, and Mr. Gil- bert erecting a saw-mill at the outlet of the marsh the same year.
In 1824 a few men from the more eastern counties- among whom were Ephraim Hill, Levi and Willis Gridley- came, with their families, into the heavy-timbered hills of Ca- ton, and located themselves among all the wild surroundings of a baek woods life, taking at random their future farms, where now their sons and grandsons are living the posses- sors of well-tilled aeres and surrounded with the homes of industrious neighbors. The rough roads by which they came have been changed to good, broad highways, leading past the modern farm-houses which have replaced the log house of the pioneer. The descendants of Mr. Hill are now widely known as among the leading men of the town,
230
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and are intimately connected with its history. The arrival of Amos Hamlin on the south border, near Lindley, in 1826, and Colonel Isaac Thompson, in 1827, opened a set- tlement in the beautiful little valley of Cram's Creek. These old men have long since passed away, but their sons still inherit the lands as well as energy of their fathers, John Thompson having made of the old Thompson home- stead one of the best and most productive farms in the town. His residence is surrounded by a beautiful grove of maples, and commodious farm-buildings please the eye. Ira C. Hamlin, son of Amos Hamlin, is one of the most energetic business men of Lawrenceville, Pa., though still living upon the okl homestead. On the southeast hill, near the centre of the town, live Orlando Emerson and the sons of Stephen L. Gregory, in modern farm-houses overlooking the quiet little village of Caton Centre, ou the land their father, Dr. Gregory, settled upon when in 1825 he came from Chenango County to the " West" of that day, looking for a new home in which to develop his restrained ambition. Elias P. Babcock, one of the purchasers of the 4000-acre tract in the southeast part of the town in 1822, has passed away. His son, Henry L., a man of wealth and enterprise, still owns the old farm into which Caton Centre has crowded half its houses, and his grandson, Julien Babcock, conducts the store in which, in 1819, W. D. Gilbert sold the first goods in a village of two houses and a thinly-settled farm- ing community as a doubtful venture. Mr. Gilbert retired from business several years ago, but is still a moving spirit, though venerable with age. From the old families of Caton are descended many of the leading business men of Corn- ing and the surrounding villages, whose success speaks well for their early training.
George Bucher and Benoni Johnson were here as early as 1823, and Rufus Howe. Ephraim Hill planted the first fruit-trees, bringing with him some plum-trees in an old churn.
In 1820, Eli Gridley, Amos Bonham, George Thurber, and Amos Lewis-who said he lived in " No. I, in the brier-patch !"-came. Mr. Lewis was a great bee-hunter, and, as bee-trees were plenty in the woods, made himself known and welcomed.
-
In 1827, Col. Isaac Thompson settled in the southeast, near the Lindley line.
In 1835, Rev. Arthur Wescott and his brother Itorace came from Chenango County, and located for themselves and their brother George; but when he came, two years after, with his family, Mr. Herrick had had the smallpox in his cabin, and he refused to occupy the place.
In 1832, Frederick Barnard and Gershom Wilcox came, with their families, and erected a fratue honse, near the Corning line, in twenty days, and Mr. Barnard erected a saw-mill at once. In a letter written back, Oct. 23, 1832, he says he has working for him Samuel Gorton, James Gor- ton, Dick Clark, two Dills, J. Wood, Rowe, Hurd, Gregory, and Gilbert, and speaks of them as " a noisy set of' fellows."
John Rowe opened the farm near the old Baptist church at a very early day.
Shepard Hurd was the first child born in town. Oliver Woodworth and Elizabeth Hurd were the first couple mar- ried. Joseph Toby was an carly settler.
Samuel Wormly kept the first tavern and post-office, ou the Neals place, where were formerly the four corners.
W. D. Gilbert opened the first store, in 1849, when there were but two houses in the " Centre." He said, " They all went to bed as soon as it became dark, and he had no night trade."
Several years after the mill was built ague became preva- lent, and the people, believing the cause to be damming the marsh,-which was a level bed of swamp a quarter of a mile in width and extending south some three miles, and covered with a forest of balsam and white ash,-complained until the dam was opened. As the clearings became older and more developed, the ague ceased to exist.
Orchards were planted early, Mr. Hill putting out 100 apple-trees the year after his arrival, 1825, and others following his example.
In 1824 there were but three spans of horses in the town. A trip to Corning-seven miles-had to be made over the hills, consuming a full day to go and return.
But few residents were scattered about the town, and farming was hard work. Game was a necessity rather than a luxury, and what was raised was well earned. The first corn raised was backed to the old " pound-mill" at Painted Post. Often children would sit up waiting for the return and a supper of new corn, or the eldest boys would sally forth with rifle to meet father and keep off the wolves, which were numerous long after the settlement began, but were vigorously hunted for the $40 bounty.
James Davisou was an early settler. Charles, his son, a resolute farmer, is remembered by the old settlers as the champion wolf-slayer, he continuing to follow them, with unerring aim, until they disappeared, -he at one time kill- ing six, and at another following a single wolf until he had run it down.
The early settlers came poor, working on the river for corn and provisions; then for themselves, clearing while their supplies lasted; holding logging-bees, in which all joined, until a few acres were cleared for each.
The vicinity of Caton Centre was originally covered with a variety of hard timber, the hill west being a dense growth of tall, straight beeches, covering the ground with nuts in autumn. Maple-sugar was, and still is, an impor- tant source of revenue to the farmers of Caton. Shingle- making was extensively carried on with profit, if the maker did not suffer loss in rafting to market. Then the travel- ing "shingle weaver," with his axe, froe, saw, and riffe, would steal his way into some secluded cluster of pines, erect a roof against some upturned tree, and with his solitary companion spend the season shaving shingles, living on the proceeds of his rifle. When done, he would knock the prop from his roof, and set the pile of shavings and the woods on fire to blacken the stumps and destroy the proof of his clandestine labors.
Flax was raised in those days, and every daughter taught to spin and weave. Cows and oxen ran at large in the woods, subsisting through the season on mosses and twigs. A few years before the settlement, say the " old men," worms in large numbers killed the hemlocks on the highlands, and the woods soon became filled with dead trees, which con- tinued falling as they rotted or were blown over.
PHOTOS GY EVANS
PHILIP HUBBARD.
*
MRS PHILIP HUBBARD
RESIDENCE OF PHILIP HUBBARD, CATON, STEUBEN CO., N. Y
231
TOWN OF CATON.
The first grist-mill was built by A. B. Breese, previous to 1832.
Christopher Deyo came from Greene County to Caton in 1847. His only living son, Alonzo Deyo, a prominent citizen and wealthy farmer, who has done mmuch to advance the interests of his town, occupies a fine residence overlook- ing Caton Centre and the valley below.
Dr. Gregory came from Chenango County in 1826, and settled on the Robbins tract, with his sons, conducting an ashery for several years, making pot and pearl ashes, and supplying the surrounding country with sakeratus, or its equivalent. Stephen G. Gregory was one of the early post- masters.
In 1842, Dexter Davis, from Orange, Mass., brought the first steam-engine into the town, building a saw-mill and pail-factory in the heavy pines just above the Barnard settlement, employing some thirty hands, and conducting for some years the heaviest manufacturing business in the vicinity of Corning.
For years Caton was known only as " Number One," that being its designation in the old survey ; but after Samuel Wormley's tavern was opened, it became known as Wormley, that name being held after the first town election. The name of Caton was derived from that of Richard Caton, who, with Edward Carroll, of Carrollton, Md., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was one of its original land-owners.
The only settlement of note in Caton is Caton Centre, near the centre of the town, and seven miles from Corning. It contains three stores, post-office, shoe- and wagon-shop, jewelry-store, Grange Hall, two churches, two blacksmith- shops, a saw-mill, and over fifty residences. Barnard's Mill settlement consists of the usual cluster of eight or ten residences, and necessary shops about the mill.
ORGANIZATION.
At the first annual town-meeting of the town of Worm- ley (now Caton), held at the house of Russell Stanton on the 11th day of February, 1840, the following persons were elected : Supervisor, Amos Lewis; Town Clerk, Or- lando Gregory ; Assessors, John Gillett, Russell Stanton, Zimri B. Robbins; Commissioners of Highways, Amos Bonham, Joseph P. Brooks, Horace Wescott ; Commis- sioners of Common Schools, Abram D. Kinney, Amzi English, Joshua Russell; Inspectors of Schools, Naboth C. Babcock, Henry L. Babcock, Henry Stanton ; Poormasters, John Griswold, John Spencer; Collector, Thomas Brooks ; Constables, Smith Spencer, Josiah B. Bailey, Harvey C. Howe; Justices, Israel Woodworth, Jacob Robbins, George Wescott, Naboth C. Babcock.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
Supervisors.
Town Clerks. Collectors.
1840. Amos Lewis.
Orlando Gregory.
Thomas Brooks.
1841. John Gillett.
James L. Whitney.
1842. Naboth C. Babeock.
Henry L. Babcock.
1843. John Gillett.
..
Josiah B. Riley.
1844. James L. Whitney.
1815.
64
..
1846. Amzi English.
1847. Orlando Gregory.
Abram Sawyer.
William Boyer. J. B. Riley.
Town Clerks.
Romeo Reed. Orlando Gregory. Wm. D. Gilbert.
1852. .. 1853. II. D. Smith.
.. ..
John E. Wolcott. William II. Brace.
1854. C. Minier.
S. C. Skinner.
1855. D. Clinton Westcott. Win. D. Gilbert. 1856. George Sage, Jr. 1857. P. H. Brown. W. D. Gilbert.
1858. William D. Gilbert. T. S. Wolcott.
1859. ..
L. G. Johnson.
1860. C. Minier.
II. E. Gilbert.
1861. " 16
1862. **
1863. W. D. Gilbert.
Geo. W. Brown.
1864. P. II. Brown.
..
1865. **
1866. C. Minier.
Albert Gridley.
1867. William D. Gilbert. Osceola Gilbert.
John B. Rathbun.
1868. C. J. Minier.
Dubois Schutt.
Harrison Jlowe.
1869. J. B. Rathbun.
G. W. Brown.
Vietor Keunan. Lewis Wolcott.
1871. 4 6.
Harrison Ilowe.
William M. Wolcott. Farnsworth Gorton.
1872. Levi Force.
Wm. D. Gilbert.
..
Burtis B. Reed. Joseph N. Thurber.
1875. Alonzo Deyo.
George W. Brown.
S. G. Vezie.
1876.
Julian Babcock.
E. G. Woodward.
1877. =
..
Wm. P. Howe (3d). ..
1878. Abram J. Whitney. W. O. Matteson. Eli L. Gridley.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840. Israel Woodworth.
1859. William A. Brown.
Jacob Robbins.
1860. Able Rose.
George Wescott. 1861. W. D. Gilbert.
Naboth C. Babeock.
1862. Pierce IJerrick. Daniel Davis.
1841. Jacob Robbins.
Naboth C. Babcock.
1863. Levi Force.
1842. Naboth C. Babcock.
1864. Daniel Davis.
1843. Amos Bonham.
1865. Wm. D. Gilbert. C. Minier.
1844. George Wescott.
1845. Benoui Johnson.
1866. Jesse Buchanan.
1867. Alonzo Deyo.
1847. John Gillett.
IS48. Christian Minier.
1869. L. B. Smith.
1849. Benoni Johnson.
1870. Daniel Hitt.
1850. James L. Whitney.
1871. A. Deyo.
Wm. D. Gilbert.
1852. C. Minier.
1872. Daniel Davis.
1853. Benoni Johnson.
1873. Wm. D. Gilbert.
1854. John Gillett.
1874. Daniel Hitt.
1855. James L. Whitney.
1875. Alonzo Deyo.
1856. S. II. Smith.
1876. Alonzo Day.
1857. E. W. Fuller.
1877. W. O. Matteson.
1858. R. B. Cole.
1878. Osceola Gilbert.
1859. C. Minier.
CHURCHES.
The first church in this town was the Presbyterian, they holding service and organizing a Sunday-school in 1824. They continued to hold the meetings in Gilbert's mill and H. D Smith's barn several seasons, until 1833, when their church was completed. Rufus Howe, his son William, and Stephen L. Gregory, built the church. Rev. Benjamin Harron was the first settled pastor. In the absence of a preacher Deacons Ephraim Hill or Edward Robbins would read a sermon. Rev. David Harrower, Rev. Mr. Higgins, Rev. Dr. Joshua B. Graves, and Rev. Mr. Jones were pastors. Levi Gridley was also one of the first deacons. Titus Smith and wife, Mrs. Ephraim Hill, son and daugh-
Collectors. John W. Sawyer. Jonas Johnson.
John W. Sawyer. Harry N. Howe. .. John E. Wolcott. .. Julius M. Lewis. Hiram Sanday.
Chas. N. Wolcott. E. Deyo Niver. ..
G. W. Hill. Alonzo Deyo. George W. Brown. E. C. English.
1870.
Wm. D. Gilbert.
1873. Edwin C. English.
1874.
S. G. Veasie.
1846. James L. Whitney.
1868. Daniel Davis.
1851. N. C. Babcock.
=
Harry C. Howe.
1848. ..
Supervisors. 1849. Henry D. Smith. 1850. Christian Minier. 1851. James Lawrey.
232
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK.
ter, and Mrs. Benoni Johnson were among the first mem- bers. The organization ceased to exist about 1854.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
William and Martha Hubbard, who came to Caton in 1831, were the first Methodists in the town. Thomas Wheat, a local preacher, formed the first class, in the year 1833, in the old East school-house (now No. 4), where the first meetings were held. The first members were William and Martha Hubbard, Elizabeth Hubbard, Lewis Gridley, Julia Griffin, Priscilla Darrow (colored). Afterwards, Amos Bonham, James Davison, Elias Babcock, Enos Smith and wife, Amzi English and wife, William and Jesse Harrison became members. In 1838 their meetings were held in the North school-house, on the corner of Salter Steele's (now Philip Hubbard's) farm, Rev. Chandler Wheeler preaching Wednesday evenings once in two weeks. Afterwards, meetings were held in Elias Babcock's wagon- house. In 1839 meetings were held in the Presbyterian ehurch.
After a powerful revival under Chandler Wheeler, in 1838, the old Methodist Episcopal church was commenced. It was occupied as a place of worship in 1840, but was not dedicated until 1842, O. Trowbridge, pastor. Enos Smith, Amzi English, and Lewis Gridley were the building com- mittee, who, with Amos Bonham, secured subscriptions. Levi Toby gave the church land.
The new church was dedicated Jan. 16, 1868, Rev. Henry Harpst, pastor. It cost $6100.
Since the first class was organized, in 1833, thirty-four preachers, with their assistants, have successively proclaimed the gospel here. Six years of pioneer work in school-houses, one year in the old Presbyterian church, twenty-eight in the old Methodist Episcopal church, and nine in the new, make up the forty-four years of our history.
Pastors from 1832 to 1878 .- Joseph Pearsall, 1832; Joseph Chatman, 1833; Wm. Ilosmer, 1835; Nathan Fellows, 1835; Marshall St. Johns, 1835; Ira Bronson, 1836; Noble Palmeter, 1836; Ira Bronson, 1837 ; S. M. Gorton, 1837. Place of meeting, the old East school- house, now No. 4.
Chandler Wheeler, 1838; Chas. Davis, 1838. North school-house. First church begun.
Ambrose Abbott, 1839. In Presbyterian church.
Chas. S. Davis, 1840 (old church occupied) ; A. Hard, 1841; C. L. Brown, 1841; O. Trowbridge, 1842 (old church dedicated) ; I. V. Mapes, 1843; E. B. Fuller, 1844; E. E. Chambers, 18-46; Chas. Nash, 1846; T. B. Hudson, 1847 ; John Wiley, 1847 ; Alva Jones, 1848 (Caton a station) ; Job Golden, 1849; A. H. Shurtleff, 1850; Curtis Graham, 1851 (first parsonage bought) ; Levi Wood, 1852; J. Jerolamon, 1854; Stephen Merritt, 1856; J. Everett, 1857; Chas. Bush, 1859; Il. Wisner, 1861; J. Robinson, 1863 ; J. H. Anstin, 1864; H. Row- land, 1866 ; H. Harpst, 1867 (present parsonage bought); S. H. Auldridge, 1869; J. Jerolamon, 1872; M. F. De Witt, 1873; Wm. W. Hunt, 1875; J. B. Bradbury, 1876-78.
The earliest preachers are spoken of as valiant, earnest men, and were warmly welcomed in their semi-monthly
visits. They then had large circuits, much travel and labor, with little salary. The local interests were carried forward by the class-leader, who was then the real pastor, while the preacher hurried from place to place, scattering the gospel seed as he went. There are six classes formed in various parts of the town, under separate leaders. Pres- ent membership, about 200.
Class-Leaders .- N. D. Davis, Henry Farran, E. Ilill, Arad Hunt, L. R. Wheeler, R. Emory.
Stewards .- Henry Russell, H. Davenport, Jas. Gilbert, B. L. Gregory, Earl Hill, Frank Howe, Jonas Johnson, Arad Hunt, Jas. Marcy.
District Steward .- Bruce L. Gregory.
Recording Steward .- Jonas Johnson.
Trustees .- N. D. Davis, Geo. Brown, T. Rhodes, E. Hill,
11. Davenport.
President of the Board .- N. D. Davis.
Clerk .- Geo. Brown.
Treasurer .- Thomas S. Rhodes.
Rev. Arthur Wescott was a missionary worker ready to go anywhere, and in his earnest, vigorous way drawing large audiences, and leaving a name never to be forgotten. He preached in Caton from 1835 until his death in 1870.
THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH
has a class of some 15 members, at Barnard's Mill, which was organized in 1865, and is supplied from Lindley and Gibson. Class-Leader, Justus Reed ; Stewards, Mrs. John Ilavens, Lewis Wood.
THIE CATON BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized at the house of Nelsen Wol- cott, Aug. 23, 1832, as the First Baptist Church of Painted Post. Among the first members were Thomas, Ebenezer A., Betsey, and Betsey Ann Miller, Nelson, Charles, and Mrs. Elizabeth Wolcott, Russell and Eunice Stanton, Syl- vester and Ada Martin, Philo Rowley, W. E. Brace, Anna Champlin, Catherine Butcher, Lois Babcock, Lucy Berry, Abigail J. Brown, and Sarah Babcock. First Trustees, Elias R. Babcock, Charles Wolcott, Ebenezer A. Miller. The pastors were supplied from other charges for a number of years. Among the regular pastors are for 1841, Rev. W. A. Brown ; 1843-47, 1. Woodworth ; 1849, N. Prince ; 1853, W. Jones; 1854, D. T. Lockwood; 1856, N. Prince ; 1857-63, S. M. Brookman ; 1864, J. H. Miles ; 1867-70, S. D. Merrick ; 1872-73, A. Dickinson. William Sharp, the present pastor, settled in 1874. Present Trus- tees, William B. Miller, James Davison, John Ford. Deacons, William B. Miller, Orrin Gridley, Dubois Schutt, Edmond Strouse. Present membership, 86. Mrs. Wolcott, aged eighty-seven, is the only one of the original members now living. In 1842 the church was made a separate charge. The first church was located on the brow of the hill west, overlooking the village, its location being still marked by the old cemetery where many of its earlier members have been gathered to rest. The present building was erected in 1852, and is valued at $4000.
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