USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 9
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On February 16th, 1915, the buildings occupied by the Chamberlain Military Institute at Randolph, N. Y., were practi- cally destroyed by fire. Messrs. Templeton & Davidson of the. Silver Lake Hotel Co., who had been conducting the Recreation Inn at Silver Lake, just south of the Assembly grounds, con- ceived the idea that the property would make an ideal location for the school, advantageous to them as a year-'round institu- tion for their property, one that would bring Silver Lake and Perry into greater prominence, and a place where the school could inaugurate and conduct a naval branch as well as its mil- itary institution, and develop into a school of magnitude and importance. Accordingly, they got in touch with the superin- tendent, Col. James E. Dunn, who came and looked over the property, and arrangements were made between him, the Silver Lake Hotel Co. and the Chamber of Commerce of Perry where- by he brought his faculty and student body, numbering about 40 in all, to the lake, and opened the school on April 5th, 1915, following the Easter vacation. The name of the organization
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was changed to the "Silver Lake Military and Naval School of Perry, N. Y.," by permission of the State Board of Regents, and application was made to the Federal Government for a
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naval equipment as authorized by Act of Congress. The school began with bright prospects for substantial growth and indica- tions that it would prove to be a valuable educational factor as well as an attractive advertisement of this locality.
CHAPTER IX
Pioneer Struggles to Establish Church Organizations Representing their Religious Affiliations-Their Development, Growth and Accomplishments.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF PERRY CENTER
The first religious service in the town was held in 1813 at Perry Center by the Rev. Mr. Herrick of the Baptist denom- ination, while on his retreat from Buffalo, following its destruc- tion by the Indians during the war then in progress. In 1814 the little hamlet was visited by Rev. Oliver Ayer and Rev. Silas Hubbard, missionaries sent out by the Home Missionary Society of Connecticut. These men gathered a few parishioners to- gether and, on the 28th of June, 1814, in a log house, the resi- dence of one of the members, they formally organized the first church society in the town of Perry, composed of eight mem- bers. These were: Samuel Howard, Ralph Ward, Mrs. Lorian Ward, Jabez Ward, Miss Catey Ward, Hervey Butler, Mrs. Sally Butler and a Miss Roxa Carpenter, all of them natives of Massachusetts or Connecticut.
Samuel Howard died on April 2d, 1819, aged 66 years, this being the first death among the original members. Ralph Ward' died on October 4th, 1822, at the age of 60 years. His wife, Lorian Ward, survived him about ten years, dying in 1832. Ja- bez Ward, the beloved physician, was elected a deacon at the organization of the church and held the office until his death in 1843. Miss Catey Ward lived to be 73 years of age, dying in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Hervey Butler enjoyed the fellowship of the church but two years, removing from the town in 1816. He was associated with Dr. Ward as a deacon of the church. Miss Roxa Carpenter, the eighth and last of the original mem-
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bers, accompanied the family of Samuel Howard from Connecti- cut to Perry and afterward became the wife of Samuel Howard, Jr., who in 1843 was elected deacon, in which office he was par- ticularly useful to the church until his death in 1863. Mrs. Roxa Carpenter Howard was the last but one of the orig- inal members of the church when she died in 1862, aged 75 years.
The church was organized as a Congregational church, but two years later-in 1816-the members voted that "it is exped- ient for this church to be united with the Geneva Presbytery,
but to retain the Congregational form of government." The same year, therefore, the church became united on the "accom- modation plan" with the Presbytery of Geneva. It remained under that supervision until September, 1831, when the church, after a thorough inquiry into the feelings and judgment of the officers and members, unanimously resolved "that it is exped- ient that the connection between this church and the Presbytery
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be dissolved." Accordingly, it was regularly dismissed from the Presbytery on the 22d of September of that year. Since that time it has remained Congregational in all of its relationships.
Services were first held in the log homes of the settlers; then, as the congregation grew, they were held in Deacon How- ard's barn ; and after that, for a time in the Taylor school house on the first corner west of the Center. This had been built with a view to the needs of the church society, with ascending floor and high backed seats arranged in "slip" form, with two aisles extending to the back seat, reserved for the choir, which led the congregational singing. This was a great improvement up- on the barn in which they had previously worshiped.
Miss D. E. Sheldon, in a reminiscence written many years ago to the home church and community, said : "The almost uni- versal mode of conveyance for those who could not walk to the services, was the lumber wagon, without spring of box or seat, drawn by oxen, that were chained in long rows to the corners of the rail fence in front of the school house. A board placed across the top of the wagon box sufficed for the more sturdy members of the household, while the feeble and delicate ones were supplied with the old-fashioned straight-backed, splint- seated chairs. These were removed within the school house and arranged in rows around the ample fireplace, and in the cloak room on the north side of it, for the accommodation of the mothers with their little ones, while the fathers took the older ones with them into the hard uncushioned seats, Suspended from the chair pommels were always to be found spacious reti- cules containing the family lunch for the noonday intermission between the two services. In winter the lumber wagon was ex- changed for the log sled, with bundles of straw for seats for the wee ones, who were snugly wrapped in the warm homespun garments of their mothers' manufacture. Once, though at a later date when the traveling was impassible for either wagon
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or sleigh, I knew a stoneboat to be substituted to convey to a Thanksgiving service a large family, whom neither the inclem- ency of the weather nor the horrible condition of the roads could deter from the anticipated reunion feast. When the fam- ily possessions became sufficiently ample to warrant the pur- chase of a horse, the mother, with one child behind and cling- ing to her, and another in her lap, would ride on horseback with the indispensable reticule hanging upon the horn of the saddle, while the father walked by the side of the little group. When the second horse was secured, making a span, our highest ambitions were fully realized; but oh, the joltings which the long-coveted accelerated speed gave to them in those same springless wagons. I sometimes question, Do the worshipers of the present generation, enjoying as they do, the stated min- istration of the Word in their spacious house of worship, with its easy cushioned seats and comfortable modes of conveyance to and from the Sabbath and week day services, measure their efforts and sacrifices by their increased privileges and oppor- tunities ?"
Sarah Ward, daughter of Dr. Jabez Ward, has written an account of the theology of the Perry Center community, and tells also of how carefully the customs of their former New Eng- land homes were maintained. "Some of these customs were the strict 'keeping' of Saturday night as the beginning of holy time; the nightly ringing of the curfew, the tolling of the bell upon the death of anyone in the parish-all of these were punc- tiliously observed."
Deacon Sheldon, Jabez Ward, and Phicol M. Ward would often read sermons in the days when the church had no supply pastor. Rev. Edmund Ingals, Jr., came in 1816 and was the first regular appointed pastor of the church. He was succeed- ed by Rev. Elihu Mason, who was pastor during 1817, and after- ward in 1820. Rev. Edward Andrews was pastor for six months
·
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during 1819, but there was no pastor during the period outside of that time. Then followed Rev. Samuel T. Mills, May 1821, :0 December 1824; Rev. Eli S, Hunter, July 1825-6; Rev. Jona- than Sheldon, 1826-7 ; Rev. Lot B. Sullivan, 1827-8; Rev. Dexter
PHICOL MUNRO WARD
He was the son of Ralph and Lorian Butler Ward, and was born at New Marlboro, Mass., May 14, 1799, and died at Perry Center, December 5th, 1873. He served as Supervisor from this town during the years 1831-32-33, and was for many years a Justice of the Peace.
Clary 1828 and six months in 1829. During the brief ministry of Mr. Clary, a great revival attended his labors and many peo- · ple were added to the church. It was during his ministry, in the Spring of 1828, a movement was made toward building a church edifice. A subscription paper bearing date of April
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20th of that year was circulated ; 100 names were signed to the paper and the total amount subscribed was $2,656.00. Work on the building was begun at once, and when the foundation walls had been laid and the frame was ready for "the raising" and the workmen were on hand, it is an incident worthy of re- cord that all of the children from the surrounding country assem- bled at the invitation of Rev. Mr. Clary, and being arranged in regular order on the sills of the building about to be erected, Mr. Clary standing in their midst, after a few words addressed to those assembled, prayed for God's blessing upon the enter- prise on which they had entered, and especially for the child- ren there assembled.
The house was completed and dedicated on March 4th, 1830, Rev. Julius Steele of Warsaw preaching the dedicatory sermon. In 1856 the building was quite extensively repaired and a lecture room was added. The re-dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J. E. Nassau, also of Warsaw. Minor repairs were made from time to time until in 1900 the building was re- juvenated. The service of re-opening and re-dedication was held on Jan. 13th, 1901; the sermon was given by Rev. H. E. Gurney of Warsaw.
For a number of years the church owned no parsonage. In 1863, the place known as the "Moss place," now owned and occupied by D. J. Powell, was purchased, and for 13 years was used as the manse. In 1876 this property was sold, a portion of the lot being retained, and a new parsonage and barn were built, which have since served the purpose.
The growth of the church seems to have been steady. To the eight persons who were the charter members, 732 have been added. In 1825, the membership numbered 35; in 1834, about 125; in 1868, there were 96; in 1889, at the 75th anniversary, they numbered about 100, and at the present time 189.
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The Sabbath School numbers about 150, has a live Home Department and several organized classes. In 1914, four for- eign students were being supported by these classes and several other worthy objects were being helped by its gifts. A Bible class was formed by Deacon H. Sheldon in about the year 1829. The Ladies' Benevolent Society, which is believed to be the oldest organization of its kind in the State, was formed in 1824, and has had a continuous existence ever since. When the Wo- man's Home Missionary Union of the State was organized, this society became an auxiliary without changing its constitu- tion under which it had worked for so many years.
In 1822, a number of the members of this church withdrew and organized the Presbyterian Church of Perry, but after a few years, little progress having been made, they returned to the mother church. In 1834, however, a second effort was made, which soon developed into a strong church society.
The others who have been pastors of the Congregational Church since Rev. Mr. Clary are : Revs. Wm. P. Jackson, three months in 1829 ; Samuel H. Gridley, D. D., 1830-6 ; Orrin Brown, 1836; Caleb Burge, M. D., 1837-8; George W. Newcomb, 1838- 40; John Scott, 1840-1; George W. Gridley, 1842; Wales Tiles- ton, 1843-4; Philo Canfield, 1845-8; Mason Mear Smith, three months in 1848; Thomas M. Hodgman, 1848-58; George J. Means, 1859-63; Isaac N. Ely, July to December, 1863; Claudius B. Lord, 1864-66 ; James P. Root, 1866-76; W. C. Sexton, 1876- 78; Edgar Perkins, 1878-80; E. H. Martin, 1880-85; J. W. Grush, 1885-93; J. C. Bergmann, 1893-4; J. J. Shingler, 1895-7; D. A. Blose, 1897-99; F. E. Dark, 1899-1902; F. A. Kimberly, Nov. 1902, and since that time.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Baptist Church, Perry,
Among the early settlers of the Town of Perry were a number of families and individuals known as belonging to the Baptist denomination, but not in sufficient numbers, in their estimation, to warrant their assuming the responsibilities of a
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distinct church. A few of them united with the Middlebury church at Wyoming, which, at this period, was the nearest church of the Baptist denomination. Others worshiped with the Presbyterian society at Perry Center. Thus they continued to worship until September, 1816, when the Baptists of the com- munity united in a Conference to be known as "The First Bap- tist Society of Perry," in which organization they continued until November 5th, 1818, when they were publicly recognized as a Church of Christ.
During the existence of the Conference-from September, 1816, to November 5th, 1818-the members met regularly for worship on the Sabbath and for Conference on the last Satur- day of each month. They had occasional preaching by elders Hartwell, Kelsey, Brown and Wisner, through whose efforts five were added to the little number by baptism, the first of whom was David Carlisle by Elder Kelsey. A few were also received by letter from other churches.
On the 25th of October, 1818, the following named people met according to previous notice and adopted articles of faith and practice, also a church covenant, and proceeded to organize themselves into a regular Baptist Church : Solomon Squires, John Bowen, Beriah Bowers, David Carlisle, Thomas E. Par- merly, Peter Clark, Samuel Waldo, Martha Bartlett, Hannah Finch, Betsey Leonard, Anna Squires, Sarah Parmerly, Clar- inda Bowers and Nancy Bowers. Out of the 14 original mem- bers, Mr. Waldo remained active in the work of this church un- til the formation of the Leicester Street Baptist Society in 1879, at which time he withdrew and joined that organization, re- maining an active member until his death in July, 1883. Mr. Waldo and his wife arrived in Perry on May 3d, 1816, after a three weeks journey from their former home in Vermont, and it is said, upon his arrival his possessions comprised a wife, a horse, an axe, and $9 in money. Prior to leaving Vermont, Mr.
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and Mrs. Waldo had affiliated with the Baptist society there. They brought their church letters with them, and soon after their arrival, joined the Middlebury church at Wyoming, re- maining members of that society until the formation of the local organization.
On the 5th of November, 1818, the following named mem- bers of the churches of Leicester, Warsaw and Gainesville, viz : Rev. Daniel McBride, Deacons Wmn. Wiseman and Joseph Por- ter, Enoch Weller, Josiah Waite, John Reddish and Charles Tallman met in council at the home of John Bowers and pub- licly recognized the church by extending to it the hand of fel- lowship by Rev. Mr. McBride. Samuel Waldo was appointed Clerk of the church at this meeting, and during the next year, John Bowers was appoined the first deacon. Rev. Mr. Wisner, the first pastor of the church, continued his labors about one year, receiving for his services such donations as his parishioners in their poverty were able to bestow. He was succeeded by Rev. Jesse Brown on June 3d, 1820, who also labored with the church one year, after which it was supplied occasionally by Rev. Joshua Bradley and others, until August 25th, 1822, when it be- came a branch of the First Baptist Church of Middlebury.
During the first five years of the church history, there were seven additions by baptism, the first of whom was Sarah Bentley, who was baptized by Rev. Mr. Wisner on August 8th, 1819. Five were received by letter and one was excluded. The connection with the Middlebury church as a branch continued from August 25th, 1822, to October 1st, 1825. The members, however, continued to hold their meetings and had occasional preaching by the pastor of the Middlebury church, Rev. Mr. Tuttle, and others.
On the 1st of October, 1825, the church was reorganized and recognized as an independent Baptist Church at a council
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convened at Perry, at which the churches at Middlebury, Cov- ington, Warsaw, Gainesville and Nunda were represented. Rev. David Bernard preached the sermon. The following named were the members of the church under the reorganization; Joshua Calkins, Silas Rawson, Philip Sparling, John Hollen- beck, Beriah Bowers, Daniel Calkins, Joshua Calkins, Jr., Sam- uel Waldo, Willard J. Chapin, Abram Wiles, Alva Stockwell, Orlan Griffis, Elizabeth Calkins, Bethena Rawson, Sparling, Jemima Hollenbeck, Maria Olin, Amanda Edgerly. Virtue Kelsey, Sarah Phoenix, Martha Bartlett, Tabitha Cal- Fins, Selina White, Sally Wiles, Cynthia Sanford, Mercy Cal- kins, Susan Stillwell, Catherine Sparling, Sally Hall, Anna Bowers, Samantha Stockwell, Dorcas Calkins, Abigail Irish, a total of 33. Upon the reorganization, Willard J. Chapin was appointed clerk and held the office until his death in 1852.
In 1826, Rev. Richard H. Benedict became pastor, and the real growth of the church began. During the two years of his pastorate, 84 members were added to the church. In February, 1828, he was succeeded by Rev. Noah Barrell. In the early part of his pastorate the subject of Free Masonry caused consider- able agitation in the church, it being ascertained that several of the members were also members of the Masonic fraternity. In order to allay all excitement and satisfy the ones who were not members of the order, the following renunciation was drawn up at the convenant meeting on March 1st, 1828, and signed by the members who had formed a connection with the Masonic order : "We, the undersigned members of the Baptist Church in Perry, having been members of the Masonic institu- tion, and having some time since voluntarily withdrawn from the same, do hereby renounce our connection with the Masonic institution and fraternity, and are determined never to uphold or support Free Masonry." Signed by John Calkins, Matthew Burroughs, Samuel F. Phoenix, Willard J. Chapin, Wm. A.
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Bartlett, Joshua Calkins, Jr., Samuel Waldo, Daniel Calkins and Thomas Parkinson. A resolution was soon adopted, refus- ing fellowship to Masons. In July, 1844, this measure was broadened, and it was voted to have no fellowship with mem- bers of any secret society. In 1879, after a controversy of over a year's standing, it was voted not to require further tests as to society fellowship. This action dissatisfied a portion of the members, who withdrew and formed what became known as "The Leicester Street Baptist Society of Perry, N. Y."
On September 6th, 1828, the church formed itself into a Missionary Society, auxiliary to the New York Baptist State Convention, and voted to contribute for the object of the convention what would amount to 1834 cents for each of its members. The church has been a missionary body since that time, contributing according to its ability for the various ob- jects of benevolence.
Rev. Mr. Barrell closed his labors as pastor of the church on the 16th of December, 1829. From that time until the August following, the church was without a pastor, but was supplied by Revs. Mr. Justin, Freeman and others. At the co- venant meeting held in August, 1830, the church invited Rev. Daniel Eldridge to become its pastor, The invitation was ac- cepted and he entered immediately upon his duties. The church had just completed its meeting house, the first Baptist meeting house in the town, erected at a cost of $3,000. It was dedicated at the time Rev. Mr. Eldridge became pastor and added much to their comfort and convenience. In those days, after the com- pletion of a house of worship, it was the custom to auction off the seats or pews to the highest bidders. The purchaser, or his heirs or assigns, was supposed to be privileged to retain owner- ship forever. The writer was permitted to examine one of the deeds given by the Baptist Society to Edmund C. Bills, dated Jan. 31st, 1831, at which time Mr. Bills purchased seat No. 36
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for the sum of $74. The deed was signed by Rufus H. Smith., Willard J. Chapin, E. Lacy, Samuel Phoenix and Samuel Waldo, who constituted the Board of Trustees of the Society at that time. In 1849, the church building was enlarged to double its original capacity, and in 1900 it was moved to the side and rear of the present church edifice, where it is still used as a Sunday School room and annex. When the Baptist Society was first organized, the services were held at the homes of the members. As the membership grew, the meeting place was changed to the village school house, which served them as a place of worship until the church erected in 1830 was com- pleted.
During the term of Rev. Mr. Eldridge as pastor of the church a great revival was held and 112 people were added to the church by baptism. In January, 1833, he was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Absolom Miner, but owing to ill health, Mr. Miner served the church only about six months and resigned on the 24th of August following. He was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Arthur, father of the late President, Chester A. Arthur, who at that time was a boy of about four years of age. In the April following the arrival of Rev. Mr. Arthur, the church purchased a parsonage on North Main street at a cost of $800. This house was afterward removed to what is now Elm street, to furnish the site for the residence of W. T. Olin, and now stands in the rear of Mr: Olin's home, having undergone some alterations after its removal to its new site. Having sold the property, the church society purchased a house and lot on Leicester street for its parsonage, the place owned by Mrs. J. M. Boughton. This was used until 1882.
Rev. Mr. Arthur resigned in September, 1837, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Elon Galusha. It was during the ministry of Mr. Galusha that the church took positive ground with refer- ence to American slavery. Her influence had long before been
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exerted in opposition to the great sin, through the early labors of Samuel Phoenix, the tanner, and afterward by Josiah And- rews and others; but as the iniquity steadily worked its way into every avenue of the Christian church, the members resolved that as a Church of Christ, they could not fellowship slave- holders or their apologists, a position from which the church never receded.
REV. WALTER R. BROOKS Photo by Crocker Afterwards President of Hamilton College
Other pastors who followed Rev. Mr. Galusha were : Daniel Eldridge, second term, 1841-3; J. W. Spoor, 1843-6; F. Glan- ville, 1846-9; Walter R. Brooks, 1849-57; Chauncey W. Ward- ener, 1857-9; Roswell Cheney, 1859-75; Charles Ayer, 1875-77; J. W. Harris, 1877-81; B. S. Terry, 1881-83; J. W. Duffy, 1884-
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5; G. E. Farr, 1885-87; V. A. Sage, 1887-89; Joseph Sullivan, 1889-90; M. B. Comfort, 1890-93; J. H. Hollingsworth, 1893-99 ; H. A. Pease, 1899-1904; T. G. Eiswald, 1904-08; H. A. Waite, began in March, 1909.
In 1886 the present parsonage was constructed adjoining the church, at a cost of $1900, and in 1887-during the pastor- ate of V. A. Sage-the pipe organ now in use was purchased at a cost of $1250. The present church edifice was begun in the Summer of 1900, during the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Pease. The corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on Sept. 25th of that year, Rev. John Mason of Batavia delivering the address of the day. It was completed at a cost of $15,000, and was dedicated on July 23d, 1901, Rev. C. A. Barbour, D. D., of Rochester, preaching the dedicatory sermon. In 1914 the con- gregation witnessed the burning of the last mortgage on the property and is now free from any indebtedness, being in a flourishing condition. The present membership is about 650; that of the Sunday School, 375. Mr. George Morse has served the Sunday School as its superintendent for a consecutive period of 20 years.
In 1913, expensive repairs were made upon the church edi- fice, hardwood floors being laid in the auditorium, the walls were re-decorated and the pipe organ was rebuilt. The expense of these improvements amounted to about $2,000. The society is creating a fund for the re-building of the original structure in the rear, now used as Sunday School rooms.
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