USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 61
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The constituent members of the church were 11, viz. : Mansfield Barlow, Esther Barlow, Simmons S. Barnes, Esther Barnes, William T. Hall, Renben Nichols, Auna Nichols, John Newhouse, Esther Ilill, Margaret l'ine, Mary Woodworth.
On the same day that the church was recognized, Mans- field Barlow, a licentiate of the church in Troy, was or-
dained pastor. On the following day Reuben Nichols was ordained deacon .*
In 1832 a house of worship, capable of holding 180 persons, was built on Crown Street.
In February, 1833, 23 members living in Ulsterville (now Saugerties) were constituted a branch church, and in August of the same year 41 members were dismissed to organize the branch as an independent church.
In May, 1834, Pastor Barlow resigned and removed to Rahway, N. J. He was succeeded by Rev. Wur. Hutchin -. son the following July.
In January, 1835, 12 members residing in the town of Wawarsing were made a branch church. In April, Pastor Hutchinson resigned. In May; Rev. William MeCarthy became pastor, and in June, 1836, resigned.
In January. 1837, Bev. David Morris, of Little Falls, became pastor, and served the church for five years and a half, in which time the membership more than doubled. Resigning in June, 1842, Pastor Morris was succeeded by Rev. John T. Hart, in October. During the same mouth 26 members living in Rosendale were dismissed to organize a church there.
In March, 1843, 72 members were dismissed to form an independent church at Lackawack. The same month Pastor Hart resigned. Rev. Daniel Robinson became pastor two months later. In June the church reported to the Associa- tion 102 additions by baptism within the preceding twelve mouths.
In July, 1844, 16 members living in the town of Wood- stock were made a branch church. A year and a half later 19 members were dismissed to organize an independent church in that town.
May, 1847, Pastor Robinson resigned. He was followed, in August of the same year, by Rev. Cyrus Shook, who served the church. just three years, when he was succeeded by Rev. HJ. M. S. Pease, who was pastor for only oue year, resigning September. 1851.
In November, 1851, Rev. James Lillie, lately pastor of the Reformed Dateh Church in Rhinebeck, who had adopted Baptist views, became pastor of the church temporarily. For a period of six months he ministered very acceptably. Rev. S. S. Relyea became pastor in May, 1852.
For some years the conviction had been growing in the church that a more commodious and more eligibly located house of worship was needed, in order for the church to increase in numbers and influence. But want of means had proved an insurmountable barrier. In July, 1855, a eor mittee was appointed to selcet a lot upon which to build Before this committee reported, however, it was deeme inexpedient to prosecute the enterprise at that time.
In May, 1855, Pastor Relyea resigned, and was followed, in July, by Rev. John C. Harrison, D.D., who closed his earthly labors in July, 1859. After Dr. Harrison's death, Rev. Geo. Barnes, a member of the church, who had been ordained October, 1856, supplied the pulpit for a period of nine months.
In July, 1860, Rev. William Sym became pastor of the church, and labored here for four years, when he resigned
# Nirem Stone was the first clerk.
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and removed to Binghamton. During Brother Sym's pas- torate the church withdrew from the Hudson River North Baptist Association. and united with the Hudson River Central Association, recently organized
In September, 1864, Z. Grenell, Jr., a recent graduate of Madison University, became pastor of the church, and was ordained the following November. During the year 1865 the project of building a new church edifice was revived, and a lot was bought. Jannary, 1867, the old house on Crown Street, where the church had worshiped for thirty-five years, was sold, and about the 1st of February, after appro- priate farewell services, the property was vacated. From that time until the completion of the new house -- a period of just twelve months-the Sunday services were held in the court-house, the weck-day evening meetings being held at private houses.
On the 23d of January, 1868, the new house was dedi- cated to divine worship, sermons being preached by Rev. HI. M. Gallaher, of Brooklyn, and C. D'W. Bridgeman, D.D., of Albany. The entire cost of lot, building, and furnishing was something over $32,000, of which sum $12,600 was raised in connection with the services of dedi- cation.
From the first this church has taken active interest in those Christian enterprises which distinguish the present age. A Sunday-school was organized soon after the church was formed, and has been sustained uninterruptedly to the present time. The church has had frequent and valued ae- cessions from the school, and regards it still as one of the most legitimate and necessitous fields for Christian effort, and a most promising source of future strength and growth for the kingdom of our Lord.
The work of the American Baptist Missionary Union, which provides for the sending of the gospel to foreigu lands, and the work of the American Baptist Home Mlis- sion Society, which has a similar mission in the destitute parts of the continent, have enlisted the affections and prayers and contributions of this church, while the nearer mission work of the Association and the Greene and Ulster Baptist Quarterly Conference has received earnest and ef- fective co-operation. The missionary society connected with this church, organized iu 1869, has, by its systematic method of obtaining contributions, addled largely to the amounts before sent out for mission work.
A review of the past, though disclosing many changes .and at times severe struggles for esistence, affords many gratifying reflections. When this body was organized there were bat two Baptist Churches in Ulster County. There are now nine, five of which have been the outgrowth of this church. Baptist views have been disseminated and maintained with pleasing results, moulding to a great ex- tent the opinion and feelings of many who do not yet fully embrace all the distinctive principles.
Pastors .- Mansfield Barlow, August, 1831, to May, 1834; William Hutchinson, July, 1834, to April, 1835; William MeCarthy. May, 1835, to June, 1836; David Morris, January, 1837, to June, 1842; John T. Hart, October, 1842, to March, 1843; Daniel Robinson, May, 1843, to May, 1847; Cyrus Shook, August, 1847, to May, 1850; R. M. S. Pease, November, 1850, to September,
1851; James Lillie, November, 1851, to April, 1852; S. S. Relyea, May, 1852, to May, 1856 ; J. C. Harrison, July, 1856, to July, 1859 ; William Sym, July, 1860, to May, 1864 ; 7. Grenell, Jr., September, 1864, to October. 1873; H. S. Westgate, December, 1873, to September, 1878; HI. O. Hiscox, January, 1879, and remains the present pastor (May, 1SS0).
The present officers (May, 1880) are Andrew Near, Abram Myer, Anthony McClung, Edward W. Styles, Deacons ; E. M. Brigham, Abram Myer, Benaiah Snyder, Andrew Near, John D. Sleight, C. V. Du Bois, Harvey Otis, E. W. Styles, R. R. Martin, * Trustees ; E. G. Law- renee, Clerk ; Andrew Near, Treasurer ; D. C. Overbaugh, Sunday-School Superintendent. Communicants about 200.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RONDOUT.
This society was incorporated by a certificate bearing date May 4, 1835. Thomas Young and Stephen Ooster- houdt presided as inspectors at the meeting, which was held " in the sessiou room of the Presbyterian church." The trustees chosen were Abram Hasbrouck, Wilhelmus Has- brouck, John Ferguson, Maurice Wurts, John D. Middagh, 1
Jacob T. Hendricks.
The following sketch of this church is eondeused from a historical discourse, delivered by the pastor, July 2, 1876 :
Fifty years ago Rondout was but a little hamlet of scarcely more than six or eight dwelling-houses, a mere dependency of the village of Kingston. One or two store-houses were erected on the banks of the creek, and here grain and the various products of the farm were shipped to market. When the canal was opened, then products of another kind-pro- duets prepared and garnered in exhaustless abundance by the hand of the Almighty ages before -- began to be brought from the distant fields of Pennsylvania to this point to be reshipped to opening markets. Then began the growth of the place. New interests began to eentre beneath these hills. Later still it was found that God had made these hills his storehouse of treasures which were to serve the wants of men and help to build more securely the prosper- ities of the place.
I have spoken of Roudout as a dependency of Kingston. It was especially so in respect of church privileges. For more than a century Kingston had been the religious is well as the business centre of the vicinity ; those in Rond- ont who would attend Sabbath services must go to Kingston.
But with the opening of the canal in 1828, and the con- sequent increase in population, came the opportunity and the need of more direct Christian effort at this point. With the need arose those who had a heart for Christian work as well as business enterprise. In the summer of 1829 was established the first Sunday-school in Rondout of which I find any record. The record for August 16, 1829, runs thus : Present-Teachers, 7 male, 6 female; scholars, 16 male, 18 female. The place where the school was held was first in a boarding-house standing on the site of the store on Ferry Street now occupied by Mr. James Van Buren ; then in a stone house known as the " farm-house" of Mr. Abraham Hasbrouck, and standing on the present garden plat of Mr. Jansen Hasbrouck, and then in the school-house
# Deceased.
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
built on the corner of Wurts and Abeel Streets, with refer- ence to religious services, and the sessions of a Sunday- school, as well as the needs of a day school; and then in the basement of the Presbyterian church.
The superintendents were : first, Benjamin J. Seward, brother of the Hon. William H. Seward ; second, George W. Endicott ; third, Alexander Suyder; fourth, Richard Bolton ; fifth. Thomas Young. Walter B. Crane suc- ceeded Mr. Young as superintendent in 1842, and from that time, a period of thirty-eight years, has been the faith- ful and efficient head of the school, and must be to-day the veteran superintendent of all this region.
It will thus be seen that the Rondout Presbyterian Sun- day-school in a two-fold way stands in the line of succes. sion from the Sunday-school established in 1829. Rather the Rondout Presbyterian Sunday-school is that little Sun- day-school of 1829 grown large and strong, while mean- time it has become the mother of Sunday-schools which to-day are blessings to this community.
Side by side with these Sunday-school labors, though with uneven pace, went the more formal religious services in the place. There was occasional preaching by the Dutch Reformed and the Methodist Episcopal pastors of Kingston, first in the ball of the Mansion House, then in the new school-house. It is related that when the new school build- ing was opened the first service was conducted by the Meth- odist Episcopal minister, and was made a dedicatory service. The next Sabbath the Dutch Reformed minister preached, and made the service also a dedicatory service. So devout were the people that they could not bear to worship in anything less than a doubly-dedicated school-house.
It was not long before there began to be a growing desire for a church organization and a church building. The desire soon shaped itself into a plan.
On the third Sabbath of June, 1833. Rev. John Mason, of New York, commenced preaching in the school-house, and was immediately invited, with great nnanimity, by the people to continue with thent and organize them into a religious society. This invitation he accepted.
At a meeting of the subscribers and friends to the erce- tion of a new church edifice in Rondout, hell in the school- house July 9, 1533, Maurice Wurts, Sr., Abraham Has- brouck, John Fargeson, George W. Endicott, Elwin H. Bolton, Alexan ler Snyder, and Walter B. Crane were ap- pointed to act as trustees and building counnittee of the proposed church.
Angust 12, 1333, articles of agreement were made and concluded between these trustees and Paoli Brooks for the erection of a suitable building for a Presbyterian church, to be " 36 feet in length by 40 feet in width, and 25-feet posts."
The work was at once begun, and on the 8th day of Oe- tober following the corner-stone was laid. June 19, 1834, the church edifice was dedicated to the worship of the Triune Gol, Rev. Cyrus Mason, of New York, preaching the ser- mon, and the Rev. Dr. Gosmain, of Kingston, offering the delicatory prayer. The cost of the building, without the tower, which was afterwards added, was about 85000.
For the site of the church and the site of the parsonage the congregation was indebted to the favor of the Dela-
ware and Hud-on Canal Company, which favor, and like favors to other churches, were largely prompted and di- rected by Mr. Maurice Wurts, a noble and generous Chris- tian man, whose memory is still fragrant in this com- munity. Meantime,-i.e., Nov. 1, 1833,-a church was organized under the Presbyterian form of government, with 16 members, and Thomas Young and Phineas Terry as elders.
The names of the members who united in the organiza- tion of the new church I am not able to give. Rev. Cyrus Mason, of New York, preached on the occasion.
November 13th of the same year, Rev. John Mason was ordained and installed as pastor of the new church, Rev. Ichabod S. Spencer preaching the sermon, Rev. Jolin M. Krebhs giving the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Cyrus Mason giving the charge to the people.
Thus the church was fairly launched upon its career. For some years it was the only church in Rondout, the Baptist Church being organized in February, 1842, and the Methodist Episcopal at a little earlier date.
For nine years the church received aid from the Home Mission Board, until, with the coming of a new pastor, Rev. Mr. Carle, came energy for self-support. The church was always Presbyterian in doctrine and polity. Oct. 23, 1834, it was received under the care of the Presbytery of Hudson, and remained in connection with the Presbytery till the disruption.
After the lamentable disruption of the Presbyterian Church in 1837, and the formation of a New School Gen- cral Assembly in 1838, this church was for a time in con- Deation with the New School Presbytery of the North River.
In 1842 the church changed its connection to the Old School Presbytery of the North River, and, now that the distinctions and antagonisms of the Old School and New School are done away, it is still in connection with the Presbytery of the North River. It is also in connection with the Synod of New York and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
For twenty years the church and congregation steadily increased until their house was too strait for them. In 1853 the building was enlarged and improved at a cost of 83000. Nearly another serre of years passed, and again the congregation found themselves straitened for room, and were constrained to arise and build.
After mature deliberation, it was decided to abandon the site of the old church, and to occupy the lot bounded ou three sides by Abeel, Wurtz, and Union Streets. A sub- scription of 825,026 was secured. A building committee was appointed, namely : Edward Tompkins, Chairman ; David B. Abbey, Secretary ; Charles Bray, Treasurer ; Walter B. Crane, Abel A. Crosby, Roland Otis, James MeCausland, Rev. Edward D. Ledyard. Lawrence B. Valk, of New York, was employed as architect. The contractors were Henry W. Otis, mason, and Henry W. Palen, carpenter, both of Kingston.
June 4, 1873, the corner-stone of the new church was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Rev. E. D. Ledyard, pastor, Rev. Dr. F. B. Wheeler, of Poughkeepsie, flou.
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23S
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Jaques G. Lindsley, mayor of the city, Rev. James O. Denniston, of Kingston, Rev. William Irwin, of Troy, taking part in the exercises.
On the first Sabbath of April, 1874. the completed church was occupied by the congregation for the first time for Divine worship. The estimated cost of the building was $44,000; the actual cost, owing to some change in the plan, was $51,280.
In furnishing the church the ladies have done their part nobly. They have paid for the organ, built by Ilook & Hastings, of Boston, and costing $3100. For carpets, cushions, and furniture they have paid $5121.40 ; in all, $$221.40. What they have done is a sufficient pledge for the future.
Rov. John Mason, the first pastor, was ordained and installed Nov. 13, 1833. Dismissed Nov. 10, 1835.
Rev. William Reiley, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and pastor of the church in Harley, served this church as stated supply from August, 1836, to April, 1839.
Rev. James M. Sayre was ordained and installed Sept. 18, 1839, and dismissed in the month of April, 1842.
Rev. John IT. Carle, installed May 5, 1842. Dismissed April 20, 1847.
Rev. Benjamin T. Philips, installed Nov. 30, 1847. Dismissed April. 1861.
Rev. William Irvin was ordained and installed Feb. 18, 1802, and dismissed in the month of May, 1867.
Rev. Edward D. Ledyard was ordained and installed Aug. 29, 1867, and dismissed Jan. 13, 1574.
Rev. Isaac Clark, the present pastor, was installed Oct. 13, 1874.
At the close of the last pastorate the church, during the forty years, two months, and twelve days of its existence, had been served thirty-four years, five months, and twenty days by pastors; two years and eight months by a stated supply ; three years, twenty-two days by irregular supphes and pastors clect.
For the same time the average length of pastorate was five years, seven months. and thirteen days.
Four of the six pastors were ordained as well as installed here, and found with this church their first field of pastoral labor.
The following persons have served or are serving the church as ruling elders : Thomas Young. ordained October, 1833; Phineas Terry, October, 1833; Stephen Oster houdt, August, 1834; Walter B. Crane, Jan. 8, 1842; Peter M. G. Decker, Jan. S, 1842; Tyler H. Abbey, Jan. S, 1842; Gideon Ostrander, Sept. 7, 1847 ; William H. De Groff, June 20, 1850 ; John P. Hill, June 20, 1850 ; George Du Bois, June 20, 1850; John McCausland, April 11, 1858; - Heory W. Couplin, April 11, 1855 ; Francis Powley. Sept. 20, 1868; Jefferson MeCausland, Sept. 20, 1565; David F. More, Jr., Sept. 20, 1868; David Brainerd Abbey, July 2, 1871; John H. Deyo, July 2, 1871; Augustus W. Brodhead, May 7, 1876.
The present officers of the church ate: Pastor, Rev. Isaac Clark ; Ruling Elders, Walter B. Crane, William H. De Groff, Francis Powley, Jefferson MeCausland, David Brainerd Abbey, Augustus W. Brodhead.
I tiud on the roll of members 445 names. Whether
this is a perfect list I am unable to state. Of these 350 are now members of the church.
Our Sunday-school has 300 scholars enrolled, and has an average attendance of 210.
It has a corps of 30 teachers and 5 officers.
An item of great interest would be the amount of money expended by this church since its organization for religious purposes. The records are not complete enough to furnish. such an item. The records for the last year, considering the times, casts a favorable light upon the past, and makes it probable that the church, though not coming up to the measure of its duty, and of its privilege in the years gone by, has not been without the grace of Christian benevolence. From premiums and Sabbath contributions there were re- ceived last year 86131.49. Of this amount $100 were given to the various boards of the Presbyterian Church. The rest was used to meet our own expenses. Meantime, the Sunday-school gave $90 to the Home and Foreign Mis- sions, and the Ladies' Aid Society raised and disbursed 81069.42, making the sun total $7290.91 for the year.
But we cannot go back along the pathway of the past for forty years without coming to many a grave. We can- not trace the history of this church for forty years without finding where one and another, and another, of the actors have fallen, or have left to make place and record for them- selves elsewhere.
Of the first trustees only one is left. Wurts, Hasbrouck, Ferguson, Endicott, Bolton, Snyder, and Hendricks, who moved their appointment, all are gone. Mr. Walter B. Crane is still spared to the church, which for so many years he has served in varied capacities, but with unvarying interest and fidelity.
Of the pastors, Mason, a man of brilliant though un- balanced powers, most attractive in the pulpit, on the platform, and in society, after leaving this place ran a varied career, turned from the ministry to the profession of the law, and died suddenly in the prime of active life.
Reiley, who served this church as " stated supply," is still in the active ministry, serving the Church aud Him who is the Head of the Church.
Sayre, broken in health, was compelled to lay down the burden of his ministry here, and, though still living, has never been in the pastorate since leaving this church.
Carle years ago entered into his rest and his reward.
Phillips, after serving this church through a longer pas- torate than that of any other, served his country as a chaplain in the time of her emergency and peril; with the return of peace found a field of labor among the " Lit- the Wanderers" of New York ; then a like field among a like class in Philadelphia; then entered the pastorate in Windham, Greene Co., of this State; and is now labor- ing in Manchester, N. J.
Irvin, called to the Second Presbyterian Church in Troy, is still its efficient pastor.
Ledyard, called to Cincinnati, Ohio, is now the esteemed pastor of the Mount Aubarn Church in that city.
Of Young and Terry, the first elders of this church, it is recorded, " Dead, but the time of their death unknown," -- unknowu to us, but not to Him who notes the sparrow's fall, and in whose sight the death of his saints is precious.
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
They who served this charch in its infaney, we doubt not, have been welcomed to the Church triumphant.
Elder Decker, after serving this church in the eldership for twenty-two years, fell asleep in Jesus, July 22, 1864.
Scarcely a month passed and the church was called to mourn the death of another elder. Elder Stephen Oster- houdt, living five miles away, was for thirty years an ex- ample to all of constancy in service. Faithful in all things, at last he received the plaudit, and the welcome, " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
Four years later, and within one week of each other, two more of the elders of this church were stricken dowu,- Elder George Du Bois, July 16, 1868, Elder John Me- Causland, July 20, 1868. The former of Huguenot de- seent and cherishing the faith of his fathers, the latter of Scotch-Irish descent and trained to firm convictions and purposes in the Church of the Covenanters, they found in this church place for common service and fellowship, and ahuost hand in hand passed into the realm of higher ser- vice and sweeter fellowship above.
Elders Tyler II. Abbey, John P. Hill, Gideon Ostran- - der, Henry W. Couplin, David F. More, and Johu H. Deyo have found in cther and widely-scattered churches their homes and fields of labor.
Ninety-six names are starred on the roll of membership. The names of many others, who have died elsewhere, are doubtless starred on other lists. Nourished and trained and developed in this and other churches, we trust that they are now part of that great company who shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars forever and ever. In old age, in middle life, in early manhood or womanhood, they have died, one after another, but the church has lived on.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH (CATHOLIC), RONDOUT.
In the year 1835 the then bishop of New York, Rt. Rev. John Du Bois, appointed Rev. Philip O'Reilly, pastor of the congregations on the Hudson River, Rondout among the number. The opening of the Erie, Delaware, and Hudson Canals a short time before caused quite a change in these legious. A short time sufficed to found new towns and change former hamlets to villages and cities. Roudout and the entire country, for a radius of ten miles, found theu- selves in the march of progress, a number of Catholic fauni- lies having no small share in their development.
Father O'Reilly found about sixty Catholic families in the parish, large as it then was in area, and from them he collected 832.02, with which to build a church. He was succeeded by Rev. John Smith, during whose administra- tion, Jan. 9, 1837, a lot for a church was purchased in Wilbur .* For some reason this lot was never used, al- though it remained in the possession of St. Mary's Church till June, 1875, when it was disposed of for the benefit of the church. Where the divine mysteries were celebrated in the mean time the writer is not well informed, but it is almost certain that many private houses were honored by
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