USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 10
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In 1912, the late Robert Stainton wrote an historical sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church Society. Having been affil- iated with the organization for a period of nearly 50 years, he was able to give an exceedingly interesting and accurate review of the past achievements of the society. Mr. Stainton's work is reproduced here, together with such other material as the writer has been able to secure.
The first Methodist inhabitant of Perry of whom we have any knowledge was Henry Wallace, who came in June, 1816. He went on foot to the quarterly meeting of the Caledonia Cir- cuit held near Batavia, and while there requested that a preacher be sent to Perry. Complying with this request, Rev. Robert Minchell was sent and held the first preaching service the same year in Mr. Wallace's home, which stood on Gardeau street, just on the edge of the town of Castile.
A class of six members was formed: Henry Wallace, leader; Sabra Wallace (his wife,) Hannah Wallace (his daugh-
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ter-in-law,) Miles Rhoades and wife, and a Mrs. Dow, who had located a mile or so farther south about the same time that Mr. Wallace came. Of this first class, Hannah Wallace died in 1831; Henry Wallace in 1840, aged 82; and Sabra Wallace in 1844, aged 80. Associated with this first preacher were Rev. Wm. Jones and Thomas McGee. In February of the next year, Rev. Wm. Wiles, a local preacher and ordained Deacon, came to Perry with his two sons and their families, a son-in-law and two daughters. This was a great addition to the infant society, as Mr. Wiles was a man of means. He owned the greater part of Main street and the most valuable water power on the outlet. Thomas Batchelden, an exhorter, settled near Perry about the same time, and in 1818 Thomas Grisewood came. Mr. Wallace, upon becoming deaf, was succeeded as class leader by Storey Wiles, and he by Thomas Grisewood in 1819.
After the arrival of Rev. Mr. Wiles, the preaching place was removed to the Wiles home, which stood just south of the Traver place, about opposite the present Record office. As the congregation grew, the village school house was used for the Sunday services. Under the labors of Rev. Benajah Williams. preacher in charge of the circuit, a great revival occurred in 1818-9 which was probably the first in the town. Among the converts were Wm. Dolbeer and wife, who proved loyal and true throughout a long life as residents of Perry.
The society had now increased to 36 members, and they proceeded to organize according to law, and laid plans for a church building of their own. This meeting was held on Nov. 25th, 1822, at the home of Wm. Wiles. The following named were elected as a Board of Trustees: Samuel Gilman, Thomas Grisewood, Wm. Dolbeer, Samuel Wiles, Thomas Batchelden and Rev. Wm. Wiles. The new church was erected and ready for dedication in the spring of 1824, and the presiding Elder- Rev. Goodwin Stoddard-preached the sermon. The church
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stood on the northerly side of Short street, about half way be- tween Lare and Covington streets, and cost $800. It was the first M. E. Church within the present county. In 1829, the Genesee Conference held its sessions in this church, and Bishop Roberts presided. At this session, action was taken which re- sulted in the founding of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima. In 1831, Perry was made a station. A larger edifice was needed and was erected in 1832. The old building was sold, re- moved and used for several years by the Universalist Society. It was subsequently converted into a boarding house for the accommodation of students of the old Perry Academy. The new church was much larger, with ample galleries, and was built on the Lake street property now owned by T. B. Masten. The church faced east, on a road which at that period connect- ed La e and Covington streets. It cost $4,000, and was dedi- cated by Samuel Luckey, D. D. The Genesee Conference held its annual session in this church in 1837, Bishop Hedding pre- siding. The edifice was destroyed by fire in 1838 with a total loss. as it was uninsured. The society then purchased the re- mainder of the lot through to Covington street and built a session house in which they worshiped until the new church was completed in 1840. This was erected on the Lake street end of the lot and was continuously occupied until the comple- tion of the present beautiful brick and stone church edifice on the corner of Covington and Short streets.
The pastor in charge during the building of the third edi- fice was Rev. J. T. Arnold, noted for that line of work. It was dedicated by Rev. Schuyler Seager, D. D., Principal of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. The church cost $3,000, and the session room $400 additional. In the great fire of 1856, when Main street, south of Lake street, on the west side, was all destroyed the steeple caught fire and was completely wrecked, the church itself being saved only by the most heroic efforts of citizens.
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The late Seymour Sanford and Rev. T. B. Catton were the di- recting minds who saved the church.
A still more fiery trial awaited the church in the Fall of the same year, when the Genesee Conference held its annual session, lasting 17 days. A time of trouble and bitter dissen- sion, the effects of which are not yet entirely obliterated and forgotten, was the outcome. At this session, Rev. B. T. Roberts and Joseph McCreary were tried and expelled from the Con- ference and the M. E. Church. Bishops Janes and Baker were both present at this Conference and presided, although Bishop Janes was president by assignment. The Perry church had its full share of the strife and bitterness of separation and lost some of its most earnest and trusted members, who later formed the Free Methodist Church Society of Perry.
The church building was occupied from 1840 to 1883, dur- ing which period minor improvements were made. In the lat- ter year the society became dissatisfied with the edifice and de- cided upon a thorough change and remodeling to conform more adequately to modern usages. After considerable discussion it was decided to turn the building half way around, facing Lake street, elevate it and put a basement beneath, with every- thing new inside, modern pews and cushions, stained glass windows, carpets, furnace, etc. The work was begun in the Summer of 1883 and completed in the Spring of 1884. The ยท church was re-dedicated on March 11th, 1884, by Chancellor C. N. Sims of Syracuse University. A new pipe organ was in- stalled in 1893 at a cost of $800.
At the beginning of the twentieth century a spirit of rest- lessness and dissatisfaction manifested itself among the mem- bership, who felt that the church should keep pace with the onward march of progress, and after two or three years of con- sideration and agitation, under the pastorate of Rev. F. M.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
Cole, the present church building was started in the Summer of 1906 and completed in the Fall of 1907 at a total cost of $39,540.95. It was dedicated on Sept. 1st, 1907, Rev. John Krantz, D. D., preaching the sermon and conducting the appeal for financial aid to meet the debt. A splendid pipe organ was installed in 1909 at an expense of $2,500. This sum was outside and independent of the church building fund, and was secured through the quiet and tactful methods of the pastor, Rev. J. Ed- ward Martin.
The society has owned two parsonages. The first was a house bought in 1836, which stood on the corner of Leicester and Hawthorne streets. It was destroyed by fire on April 19th, 1877, during the pastorate of Rev. A. Sutherland. Quite an agitation followed as to where the new parsonage should be lo- cated, and through the generosity of the late Martin P. Andrews and wife, who pledged $700 each conditional upon its erection on the triangle at Lake, Leicester and Center streets, it was built there in 1877.
Regarding the pastors who have had charge of the church the writer has found it extremely difficult to locate them in chronological order, but the list is fairly authentic up to 1850. Since that date they are accurately recorded. While Perry was a circuit beginning in 1816, the organization under Robert Minchell held the first preaching service, as before stated. Then came Wm. Jones, Thomas McGee, Benajah Williams, James Bronson, Cyrus Storey, John Cosart, Chester V. Adgate, Reeder Smith and Wilbur Hoag. The others, previous to its being made a station in 1831, are not definitely known. Since becoming a station, the following named had charge : John B. Alverson, Seth Matteson, F. G. Hibbard, D. D .; J. T. Arnold, 1839-41; John Parker, 1841-3; I. H. Kellogg, 1843-5; Philo Woodworth, 1845-7 ; DeForest Parsons, 1847-9 ; Charles D. Burlingam, 1849- 51; Allen P. Ripley, 1851-53; J. B. Wentworth, 1853-4; Milo
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Scott, 1854-55; H. Ryan Smith, 1855-57; W. S. Tuttle, 1857-59; J. B. Wentworth, 1859-61; Sanford Hunt, 1861-63; E. A. Rice, 1863-65; J. H. Bayliss, 1865-66; James E. Bills, 1866-7; E. L. Newman, 1867-70; L. A. Stevens, 1870-73 ; J. H. Rogers, 1873-6; Andrew Sutherland, 1876-9; John W. Sanborn, 1879-82; Henry Vosburg, 1882-4; Henry Clay Woods, 1884-87 ; Carlos G. Lowell, 1887-93; John T. Canfield, 1893-95; Benjamin Copeland, 1895- 99; Sylvester W. Lloyd, 1899-1901; Frank M. Cole, 1901-7; J. Edward Martin, 1907-12; Wmn. W. Robinson, 1912.
From an early period a Sabbath School has been main- tained Among the first superintendents were Rev. John Stain-
DAVID PAGE STOWELL
Born, June 15, 1818, at Lebanon, N. Y.
Died December 28, 1901
ton, Gilbert Mitchell, Prof. M. R. Atkins, A. B. Cooley and David P. Stowell.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
During the nine years from 1906-15 the society raised the remarkably large sum of $75,719.51. Of this amount, $45,023.51 represented expenditures for building, interest, pipe organ, etc., and the balance for current expenses and benevolences. The final payment on the church property was made on Jan. 15th, 1915, at which time the mortgages were burned at a praise ser- vice, at which Revs. F. M. Cole and J. E. Martin were present to rejoice with the pastor and people.
The present membership of the church society is about 450.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
During the nine years from 1906-15 the society raised the remarkably large sum of $75,719.51. Of this amount, $45,023.51 represented expenditures for building, interest, pipe organ, ete., and the balance for current expenses and benevolenees. The final payment on the church property was made on Jan. 15th, 1915, at which time the mortgages were burned at a praise ser- viee, at which Revs. F. M. Cole and J. E. Martin were present to rejoice with the pastor and people.
The present membership of the church society is about 450.
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Upper left, old Catholic Church; upper right, old Presbyterian Church; center, old. Perry Union School; lower left, old Baptist Church; lower right, old Methodist Episcopal Church. All are now replaced by new buildings.
-From pictures taken in 1894
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The early history of the Congregational Church of Perry Center is also the early history of the Presbyterian Society of Perry, as the two organizations were affiliated from the time of the establishment of the first named up to the year 1834, with the exception of the period from 1822 to 1831.
On July 22d, 1822, five of the members of the Congrega- tional Church withdrew and established a Presbyterian Society in the village. Rev. Samuel T. Mills of Moscow and Rev. Nor- ris Bull of Geneseo were present at the organization. This first society did not make much progress, never numbered more than 27, and while they had occasional preaching, they. did not have a settled pastor. On August 30th, 1831, the little society disbanded and its members returned to the mother church shortly after the erection of the Congregational house of wor- ship.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
Rev. Samuel Gridley, pastor of the Perry Center church, was active in the second church organization, which consisted of 23 members, and which was organized on Sept. 13th, 1834, with the following named as trustees : Merrick Hongh, Dr. Otis Higgins, James R. Webster, Harvey Homan, Edmund Birdsall, and Orris Gardner. The congregation used the little building on Covington street, now occupied as a second-hand store, as a place of worship. A reorganization took place at a meeting held on the 14th of July, 1835, when the present Presbyterian Society was constituted by the Presbytery of Genesee. Messrs. Orris Gardner, Ebenezer Higgins and Joseph E. Lambright were elected Ruling Elders, and Dr. Otis Higgins and Edmund Birds- all were chosen Deacons.
Rev. Samuel Gridley supplied the congregation with preaching during the first two years. In 1837 he was succeeded by Rev. Selden Haynes, who served as supply for 18 months, during which time it was decided to erect a new house of wor- ship. On Jan 1st, 1839, the building was completed and dedi- cated with appropriate ceremonies, Revs. Erastus Gillett of Ba- tavia, Joseph Ladd and W. Stratton assisting Rev. Mr. Haynes in the dedicatory services. The brick used in the construction of the building was manufactured at West Perry. Temporary repairs were made on the edifice from time to time. In 1852 a chapel was added at a cost of $1.300. During the same year, Mr. E. P. Clark, a local hardware dealer, presented the society with the bell which is now in use. In 1856 the pulpit was remodeled and re-decorated through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Durkee. Repairs were made in 1860 at an expend- iture of about $700. In 1875, extensive improvements were made through a building committee composed of German B. Olin, Henry N. Page, R. T. Tuttle and Mrs. C. A. Cleveland. The auditorium was enlarged by removing the gallery in front and enclosing the porch. The windows were narrowed and re-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
placed with stained glass; the walls were frescoed, the audience room was re-seated, and the present pipe organ was purchased at that time. The expense incurred by these improvements amounted to about $6,700. The church was re-dedicated on Dec. 28th, 1875, Rev. Joseph R. Page, a former pastor of the society, preaching a sermon on "The Influences of the Sanctuary."
REV. JOSEPH R. PAGE Photograph by Crocker.
Rev. Joseph R. Page, D. D., began his ministry with the church in February 1840, and continued until October, 1841, when he returned to Auburn Theological Seminary to complete his studies. Dr. Page came back to Perry and was installed as pastor on Oct. 4th, 1843, and continued until December, 1856, when he became pastor of the Congregational Church at Strat-
REV. CASSIUS H. DIBBLE
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
ford, Conn. Three years later he was recalled to this church and continued to preach here until the close of 1867. During the absences of Dr. Page, already referred to, Rev. J. W. Ray, Rev. Mr. Tileston and Rev. Mr. Pattengill supplied the church. In 1868, Dr. Page was succeeded by Rev. H. M. Hazeltine, who served as stated supply for a period of about two years. On Oct. 27th, 1870, Rev. H. B. Gardner became pastor and con- tinued his ministry for two years. Rev. Cassius H. Dibble be- gan his labors in this church in December, 1872, as stated supply, and was installed on Sept. 26th, 1876, as its regular pastor. During the continuous period from 1872 to 1902, a span of 30 years, he was the faithful spiritual guide and be- loved pastor of the congregation, being prominently identified with every movement for civic betterment and maintaining cordial and harmonious relations with the clergy and people of other denominations. During his term as pastor there were nearly 500 accessions to the church membership, of whom about 150 are still identified with the society. Upon Mr. Dibble's retirement from active ministry the congregation voted to him a life lease of the old manse which had been his home for many years, and erected a new manse at a cost of about $5,000 for the use of succeeding pastors.
Rev. Joseph Addison Jones, who was a student at Auburn Theological Seminary, became pastor in 1903, leaving in No- vember, 1905, to become pastor of the Madison Avenue Reform- ed Church in Albany, which he continues to ably serve at the present time. The present pastor, Rev. Wm. V. TeWinkel, came to Perry on March 1st, 1906, and has been the faithful pastor of the church since that time.
The project of erecting a new house of worship was pre- sented to the congregation by the pastor at the request of the church officials, in a sermon delivered on Sept. 13th, 1908, a date that marked the 74th anniversary of the organization of
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
"The Brick Church Society." Ten days later a congregational meeting was held to consider the matter, and committees were appointed to canvass the members. At another meeting held in February, 1909, the report showed such a gratifying re- sponse that it was decided to proceed with the erection of a new church without unnecessary delay. In due time the prepara- tions for building were completed and the last services held in the old edifice occurred on July 18th, 1909. The corner stone of the new building was laid on Sunday, Nov. 14th, of that year. For two years the congregation worshiped pleasantly and harmoniously with the First Baptist Society until Sept. 3d, 1911, when the new church was ready for occupancy. The dedication, which had been deferred until all indebtedness up- on the building had been provided for, took place on Sunday, Oct. 11th, 1914. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. C. H. Dibble, Pastor Emeritus, from the text "Receivers of the Fullness of Christ." Rev. W. V. TeWinkel, the pastor, gave the prayer of consecration. The cost of the building was about $43,000.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
REV.CLARA E.MORGAN, FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, PERRY, N.Y. :
PASTOR
Many of the early settlers of Perry, including the families of Josiah Williams, Amos Otis, Dan Dickerson and the At- woods, were followers of the Universalist faith, and services were frequently held at the homes of these pioneers, although it appears that no effort was then made to establish a society. As the town grew, many of the new comers were found to be of the Universalist denomination, and at a meeting called on Oct. 8th, 1831, a constitution and profession of faith were adopt- ed, to which the following named subscribed as constituent members : Dan Dickerson, Titus Howe, Robert Mattison, Hiram Austin, Arvin Olin, Talmon T. Carver, Moses Wooley, Eliakim Botsford, Noah Bacon, Josiah Williams, J. H. Bolton, Amos Otis, John Griffith, Isaiah T. Gore, Jonas Wood, William Tripp, Homer Bingham, Nathan Chichester, Oliver Goodspeed, Samuel Marsh, Joseph Wilson, James Calkins, Jacob Ashdin, Rodney Atwood, Stephen B. Tabor, Mary Collins, Nancy Wood, Ann
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
Dickerson, Betsey Ayers, Betsey Olin, Dolly Botsford, Densa Burnham, Margaret Bacon, Lovina Otis, Deborah Waterman, Mary Patchin, Sally Tripp, Polly Bingham, Laura Goodspeed, Harriet Collins, and Lucy Ann Collins.
J. H. Bolton, Josiah Williams and Dan Dickerson were elected trustees at this meeting. The regular church organiza- tion was effected on the 18th of June, 1843.
Up to the year 1833, the society had no regular place in which to hold their meetings, services being held at the homes of the parishioners. During that year, however, it was voted to purchase the old Methodist Church, and the trustees were ac- cordingly instructed. This was used as a house of worship until the erection of the present building. It was then sold and converted into a dwelling house and was subsequently destroy- ed by fire. The present church edifice was completed in the Summer of 1852 at a cost of approximately $4,000 and was dedicated on Feb. 9th, of the following year, Rev. A. Skinner of Utica preaching the dedicatory sermon. Extensive repairs were made on the building in 1886, and it was rededicated on April 7th of that year, Rev. W. E. Gibbs delivering the address of the day. The pipe organ was installed a number of years ago at a cost of $800.
The church records do not give the names of the pastors previous to the church organization. The following named are known, however, to have preached before that time: Sampson Skeele, W. T. Reese, Alfred Peck, -Moreton, John Flagler, Benjamin Luther, L. L. Saddler, T. P. Abell, Seth Barnes, Jacob Chase, Orrin Roberts, Alanson Kelsey, B. G. Bennett. The pas- tors since the organization was effected were: Daniel Ackley, Stephen Miles, J. S. Brown, Eben Francis, A. B. Grosh, D. C. Tomlinson ; Stephen Crane, 1866-73; W. B. Randolph, 1873-77; George Adams, 1877-78; W. Sisson, 1878-80; John Clarence
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
Lee, 1880-83; John F. Gates, 1883-86 ; J. E. June, 1886-89 ; S. A. Whitcomb, 1889-90; J. F. Gates, 1890-91; H. C. Munson, 1891- 92; Asa Countryman, 1892-94; Charles Palmatier, 1894-1903; John Evans, 1903-'06 ; Clara E. Morgan came April 1st, 1906.
A lot on Center street was given to the society by the late Geo. Tomlinson, and in 1888 the present parsonage was built, Rev. J. E. June being the first to occupy it.
During the '70's, and in some of the years before and after, the annual harvest festival of the Universalist society was the social event of the season and always was looked for with pleas- urable anticipation. A bountiful supper was an important feature, together with a dramatic performance, followed by games and dancing, making an evening of particular pleasure for the young folks. In those days, dancing was frowned upon if not forbidden by a number of church organizations, and the occasion was one of the few opportunities afforded to enjoy the pastime under proper surroundings.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
.
The Rev. Thomas MeEvoy was the first priest to visit the few Catholics living in Perry. He came in the year 1848 to the home of Dennis Kennedy on Watrous street, and there cele- brated mass for the first time in the history of the town. After- wards, mass was celebrated at irregular intervals by Fathers
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
Lawton, Ryan and McEvoy in the homes of James McKrink, John Whalen, James O'Connor and Mr. Kennedy. Other early Catholic families were those of Bernard Smith, James Malone and Thomas Farrell.
About the year 1859, a few Catholics of the town purchas- ed a building on Covington street, which had been used as a private school and for the session room of the Presbyterian society, from E. P. Clark for $300. . This served them as a meet- ing place until 1873, when it was abandoned for the building erected in that year and dedicated on June 17th, under the direction of Rev. John Fitzpatrick. The building cost approxi- mately $5,000. -..
The society was conducted as a Mission until 1879, and was attended by Fathers McConnell, Purcell, McGuiness, Gregg, Cook, FitzPatrick and O'Duyer. In March, 1879, Perry and Silver Springs (then called East Gainesville) were formed into an independent parish with the Rev. Peter Berkery as resi- dent pastor. There was no parochial residence for him, and he boarded with members of the congregation until the rectory was built. Father Berkery was succeeded in April, 1882, by Father Herrick, who remained until January, 1884, when he was succeeded by Rev. Francis Sullivan, who built the present attractive rectory and for 13 years labored successfully among the people. Upon his promotion to Albion, N. Y., Rev. Wm. T. Wilber was appointed to take charge, and was pastor from 1897 to 1904. On June 4th, 1904, the Rt. Rev. Chas. H. Colton, Bishop of Buffalo, appointed Rev. Thomas J. Caraher pastor at Perry and instructed him to build a needed new church. Some things had to be done before the work could be begun, viz: The renovation of the old property, and the re- moval of the old church with vestry and barn to other locations to make room on the Leicester street site for the new edifice. The old church was removed to a site north of the rectory and
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
refitted for use as an amusement and dining hall.
During the Fall of the year 1905, after the Bishop had per- sonally inspected the grounds and given instructions as to the requirements, the excavation work was begun for the new church, and during the month of October the foundation was built, but on account of the unfavorable weather which set in, work was discontinued for the winter. It was resumed in the following spring, and on Oet. 14th, 1906, the corner-stone was laid by. Bishop Colton, assisted by Rev. Thomas Walsh and many priests of the Diocese. Father MeKenna, O. P., of New York City, preached the sermon on that occasion. The building was completed in November, 1908, and has been occupied since Dec. 6th of that year.
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