Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 28

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084

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The Orleans County National Bank was incorporated August 9, 1865, with a capital of $100,000, and with the following officers : Elizur Hart, president ; J. M. Cornell, cashier. Upon the death of Mr. Hart Mr. Cornell became president, and was succeeded at his death in 1890 by Hon. E. Kirke Hart. He died in February, 1893, when his son, Charles E. Hart, became the executive officer and still holds the position. J.

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W. Cornell is cashier and George T. S. Foote is teller. This bank has now a capital stock of $100,000 and a surplus of $80,000, and is re- garded as one of the most substantial financial institutions in Western New York. Its place of business is on the southwest corner of Main and West Bank streets.

Coann's Bank .- October 11, 1870, E. T. Coann commenced business as a private banker. His first place of business was on the north side of Bank street, a few doors east from Main. Thence, in 1875, he re- moved to the Granite block and subsequently to Swan's block. In 1884 the increase of his business had come to require more ample accommo- dations, and he removed to the place that had been occupied by the First National Bank of Albion in the Burrows block, on the east side of Main street, where he has since been located. E. T. Coann is presi- dent and R. T. Coann is cashier, and C. R. Sawyer is teller.

In 1833 Ward, Clark & Rathbun built the stone grist mill where the canal crosses Sandy Creek. They operated it for a time and were suc- ceeded by Alexis Ward. It then became the property of Ward & Wil- son, who were succeeded by Orson Tousley and John B. Lee. James Lee succeeded Mr. Tousley in this firm, and afterward Jerome Lee, son of James, became the sole owner. The property then passed to Hannah Smith, who, in 1885, sold it to its present owner, George Sprague, who refitted it in 1886.

In 1877 John H. Denio built the Central flouring mill. It was a stone structure three stories in height, and it had four runs of stones. It was conducted for a time by Collins & Collins, but it has ceased to be used as a mill, and the building is utilized for a shoe manufactory and for mercantile purposes. It stands on the east side of Main street, between State and Bank streets. R. W. Van Stone has a small frame grist mill on Sandy Creek, in the east part of the village.

About 1845 Hiram Curtis built a foundry on the southeast corner of Main and Orchard streets, north from the canal. In addition to a gen- eral foundry business he engaged in the manufacture of plows, which were long in general use among the farmers of Orleans county. Dur- ing the latter years of his life he also manufactured mowing machines. He died in 1870, and for the period of a year the business was con- ducted by the administrator of his estate. In the spring of 1871 the

John W. South

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Curtis Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $50,000, and they purchased the Curtis property. They engaged in the manu- facture of agricultural implements, including mowers and reapers, and to some extent of general machinery. The works have been twice de- stroyed by fire, but were each time promptly rebuilt. The company failed a year or two ago, and the property has been purchased by Clark & Willyoung, who have since conducted the establishment.

In 1881 H. F. Cady built a dry dock near where the canal crosses the west branch of Sandy Creek. This consists of two slips, each capa- ble of receiving boats of the largest size drawing seven feet of water. At this dock Mr. Cady follows the business of building and repairing boats. He has built eleven here, and has made repairs on an average of 500 each year. From ten to twenty hands are employed. Mr. Cady has built two other hydraulic docks on the Rochester level-one at Lockport and another at Middleport. He is the oldest boat builder on the canal, and since 1846 has constructed a total of 290 canal boats.

Sears Brothers' wagon and carriage manufactory was established in a part of their present building by their father, Henry Sears, in the fall of 1840. The present proprietors assumed sole charge upon the death of the father in February, 1893.

The Rogers evaporator and cider-mill was built in 1886 by L. R. Rogers, on Mckinstry street, in the eastern part of the village. It was at first an evaporator only, but machinery for making cider was added in 1889, and a large business is done in both branches.

The Blanchard Vinegar Company was organized in the autumn of 1889 by seven citizens of Albion, with a paid-up capital of $16,000, which has since been increased to $25,000, all paid up. The company pur- chased a plant which Kirk S. Blanchard had established in the preced- ing summer. The business of this company is the manufacture of cider and pure cider vinegar, and the evaporation of fruit. The works have a capacity for producing daily 300 barrels of cider and three tons of evaporated fruit. Eighty hands are employed during the working sea- son. The officers of the company are William Hallock, president; Kirk D. Sheldon, vice-president ; Webster D. Hatch, secretary, and E. L. Wage, treasurer.

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September 1, 1888, the Albion Shoe Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $10,000. William G. Swan was president until December, 1890, when D. W. Blood and George W. Potter pur- chased the business. December 7, 1892, Mr. Blood became sole owner, and has since conducted it. Children's and infants' shoes are made ex- clusively.

In 1881 E. D. Skinner erected a warehouse opposite the depot. This was burned in 1885, and the present structure was built on the same site, and to it a feed-mill was added in 1890. Mr. Skinner carries on business as a wholesale dealer in produce and as a retail dealer in coal, wood and feed.

The Albion Mineral King Spring was opened on the old Bailey farm by its present owner, John H. Denio, in 1889. The water from this spring compares favorably with the celebrated " steel water " and "iron springs " of Pyrmont and Wiesbaden in Germany, and is not dissimilar as a drink to the Apollinaris water of that country. A confirmed anal- ysis of this water presents the following medicinal character : Water Alkaline and Chalybeate. One gallon of the same contains the min- eral substances named and the quantity of each and all as specified :

Sulphate of Iron 7.75

Sulphate of Magnesia .. 2.50

Carbonate of Calcium 2

Sulphate of Sodium 5.25

Phosphate of Allumina 2

Chloride of Stanus 1.25

Organic Matter 2,55

Potassium Arseniate traces

Carbonic Acid Gas. . fair quantity

Grains 23.00

The water is bottled and used for medicinal and table purposes.

C. M. Mallory started a factory for the manufacture of the " Victor " carpet stretcher in January, 1889. He also makes cabinets and tables, and occupies a building 36 by 100 feet, an engine house 22x25, and a storage 20x50, and when in full operation employs fifteen to twenty men. Mr. Mallory is also lessee of the Albion Mineral King Spring.

In 1887 B. Frank Morgan succeeded Warner & Sheldon as proprie- tor of a warehouse near the depot, and in 1891 he admitted Lyman S.

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Linson under the firm name of Morgan & Linson. Mr. Morgan built their present elevator in 1888. The firm are extensive dealers in coal, mason's supplies, and produce, and handle large quantities of beans each season.

The First Presbyterian Church of Albion .- The First Congregational Society. of Barre was organized at the house of Joseph Hart on the 5th of November, 1816. Some of the members of this church preferred Presbyterian form of government, and the village of Newport had begun to give promise of future importance. It was therefore resolved to form a Presbyterian Church here, which was done on the 22d of July, 1824, and the place of worship of the Congregational Society was changed to "Benton's Corners," two miles south. The constituent members of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion were : Jedediah Phelps and Deborah, his wife; Joseph Hart and Lucy, his wife; Ebe- nezer Rogers and Elizabeth, his wife; Harvey Goodrich and Lucy, his wife; Franklin Cowdry and Amanda, his wife; James Smith and wife, Artemas Thayer, Fay Clark, Lavina Bassett, and Miss Betsey Phelps In 1849 Mr. Phelps, in whose house the church was organized, died at the age of ninety years. One week after the organization of this church Jedediah Phelps, Joseph Hart, and Harvey Goodrich were chosen elders, and Joseph Hart deacon. On that occasion Alpheus Barrett, the first person received into the church on profession of faith, was admitted. Mr. and Mrs. Milton W. Hopkins were received by let- ter, and their infant daughter (Flora Ann) was baptized -- the first in- fant baptism. At the close of 1824, or six months after the organiza- tion of the church, the number of members was twenty-two. The place of worship was then a school house standing on the west side of Main street, a few rods north of the railroad. Subsequently it was at times held in a barn till 1827, when an arrangement was made for the use of the court house. In 1826 the society connected with this church was first organized. Sixty-six persons subscribed their names, agreeing to become supporters of public worship in connection with this church. Of these none are living. In 1830 the first move was made in the direction of building a house of worship. In February of that year, at a meeting held for the purpose, it was resolved to erect a brick church edifice, the cost of which should be within $4,000. The corner

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stone was laid in August of that year ; the basement was used for serv- ice in October; and the house was dedicated in the autumn of 1831. It stood on the west side of Main, between State and Park streets, and in 1845 it was sold to the Episcopalians, who still occupy it. In 1845- 46 the society erected their second church building. It stands on the north side of State street, opposite the court house, and has been con- verted into a chapel, a large Sunday school room, and a suite of parlors. The expense of erecting this building was $9, 160, and among its fur- nishings were an organ and bell costing $1,950. East from this, on the corner of State and Platt streets, stands the parsonage ; west. and adjoining the brick church building, stands the large stone church on the corner of State and Main streets. It was built in 1872, at a total cost of $80,000. B. C. Deane, of Buffalo, was the contractor, and A. J. Warner, of Rochester, the architect. The erection of this magnifi- cent edifice was largely due to the munificence of Elizur Hart, who, in his will, bequeathed to the society the sum of $50,000 for this purpose, and an additional $5,000 as a permanent fund for the Sunday-school. The church edifice is of Medina sandstone quarried from the immediate vicinity, and is surmounted by a symmetrical spire. It is of the but- tressed Gothic style of architecture, and stands on a lot purchased by the society for $10,000. The interior is tastefully decorated and fur- nished and supplied with a powerful pipe organ. The old brick par- sonage was replaced by the present structure in 1893 at a cost of $20, - 000, a large part of which was subscribed by E. Kirk Hart and John W. Hart. It is one of the finest parsonages in Western New York. E. Kirk Hart, John W. Hart, and Jane E. Luther comprised the building committee.

The pastors of this church have been ·

Revs. William Johnson, Lewis Cheeseman, B. J. Lane, Luke Lyon, Gilbert Crawford, F. D. Ward, E. R. Beadle, John Keep, John Buckridge, D. D .; W. H. McHarg, A. L. Brooks, J. T. Coit, B. R. Welch, H. E. Niles, Lyell T. Adams, Samuel F. Bacon, Anson G. Chester, E. B. Walsworth, D. D., and George F. Cain. Mr. Cain died in the pulpit September 21, 1890. Rev. Edward Huntting Rudd has been pastor since April, 1891. The ruling elders are G. H. Sickels, William H. Pendry, C. J. Day, Alexander Cary, Henry Bingham, D. S. Beckwith, and Veder Cole. The constituent members of this church at its formation numbered sixteen ; the present membership is about 400.

Elitu Hach

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The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Albion .- The first Methodist preaching in the district embracing Albion was in 1816, by Revs. D. Sheppardson and W. Locke; and in 1818 a class of twenty members was formed in what was known as the Brown district. In 1826 Rev. John Copeland preached in the village school house, and three years later, through the efforts of Hon. Gideon Hard, the court house was secured as a place of worship. The first class and society, consisting of eleven members, was soon 'afterward organized, and the result of a revival at about that time was the conversion of about 100 persons. The first quarterly meeting in the village was held by Rev. Asa Abell P. E., of Buffalo, in 1830. Measures were soon afterward adopted for the erection of a church building, and a sufficient sum was subscribed to warrant the undertaking. Nehemiah Ingersoll donated for the purpose a lot on the corner of State and Market (now Platt) streets, and the house was completed and dedicated in 1832. In 1833 Albion became a station under the pastorate of Rev. Philo Wood- worth, and in 1844 it was part of the Niagara district. In 1845 a parsonage on State street was purchased. The membership was 192 in 1852, but in 1854 discord entered the society, and in 1859 a large num- ber seceded. In 1860 61 the church was rebuilt at an expense of $6,000, and in the latter year the Genesee Conference held its session in Albion. In 1865 the old parsonage was exchanged for a lot on State street, adjoining the church, and on this a parsonage was erected at a cost of $3.500. In 1873 the Western New York Conference held its session here. In 1876 there was a large addition to the membership, which then came to number more than 300. This increase necessitated larger accommodations, and in 1877 78 the church building was en- larged and refurnished at an expense of $8,000. It was dedicated as enlarged April IIth of the latter year. The present membership is about 350. The following pastors have served this society since 1832 :

Revs. P. Woodworth, S. P. Keyes, W. J. Kent, E. B. Fuller, D. F, Parsons, C. S. Davis, A. M. Fillmore, D. Nutting, J. F. Arnold, H. N. Seaver, P. E. Brown, A. D. Wilbur, J. M. Fuller, C. D. Burlingame, P. Woodworth, W. C. Kendall, B. T. Roberts, Loren Stiles, G. De La Matyr, Schuyler Seager, S. Hunt, G. G. Lyon, Allen Steele, H. R. Smith, E. C. Rice, A. D. Wilbur, R. E. Brownlee, S. McGerald, E. E. Chambers, E. H. Latimer, J. W. Sanborn, Thomas Cardus, and Charles E. Millspaugh, the present in- cumbent. L. H. Beach is superintendent of the Sunday- school.

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The Baptist Church of Albion .- The first church of any denomina- tion organized in Orleans county was a Baptist Church, organized in Gaines in 1820. From this grew the Baptist Church of Albion, and by the church at Albion it was finally absorbed. In 1824 the Baptists and Congregationalists of the county united in building a house of worship in Gaines. Gaines, at that time located on the Ridge road, the main thoroughfare then between the east and west, was the chief center of population and influence in the county. After the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, the center of population and influence began to change, and Albion soon became the more important point. A few Baptists were living there. Rev. Arah Irons, pastor at Gaines, came occasion- ally to Albion and conducted worship in the school house, that then stood on the west side of Main street (then Batavia street), a little north of where the railroad now crosses.

Desiring more regular services the Baptists living in Albion proposed to the church at Gaines to join with them in the support of a pastor, whose time and labor should be divided between the two points. The spirit of rivalry then prevailing between the two villages, and the de- sire of the Gaines church to have the undivided services of a pastor, caused them to decline the proposition. Measures were then taken to organize a separate church in Albion. The first meeting toward such organization was a conference of resident Baptists held on April 2, 1830, at the residence of Alderman Butts, on Main street near the school house. After the appointment of a committee to request letters of dis- mission from the Gaines church, the meeting adjourned to meet in the court house on April 17. The church at Gaines acceded to the re- quest, and in the Orleans county court house, on April 17, 1830, the organization of the First Baptist Church at Albion was effected. Eddy B. Paine was elected clerk and Phinehas Briggs and Barnuel Farr were elected deacons, and a formal call was extended to Rev. Arah Irons to become pastor of the new organization, he having at that time been succeeded in the pastorate at Gaines by the Rev. Hervey Blood. At the same meeting an ecclesiastical council was called for the formal recognition of the newly organized church. The council met in the court house May 6. Rev. Zenas Case, jr., was moderator ; Rev. Calvin Bateman, clerk. Rev. Jirah D. Cole preached from Ps. 20, 5 : "In

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the name of our Lord we will set up our banners." The First Baptist Church of Albion was duly recognized. The following twenty-six persons were the constituent members :

Rev. Arah Irons, pastor ; Phinehas Briggs and Barnuel Farr, deacons ; Eddy B. Paine, church clerk ; Alderman Butts, Lydia Butts, Hannah Farr, Sally Paine, Isaac F. Leland, Rachael Leland, Veluria Leland, William Irons, Jesse Mason, Hannah B. Mason, Unice L. Mason, Jesse Bumpus, Sarah Bumpus, Alpheus French, Nancy French, David Dun - ham, Sarah Dunham, Robert Beaver, Eleazer Risley, Lydia Loomis, Matilda Loveland, Phoebe Loveland,

The church was legally incorporated as a religious society on De- cember 22, 1830, with Alderman Butts, Lewis Warner, Barnuel Farr, Roswell S Burrows and Sydney Barrell as the first Board of Trustees. The first Sunday school was held in January, 1831, with Barnuel Farr as superintendent. For several months after the organization all ser- vices were held in the school house. After that the court house was used until the first house of worship was dedicated in 1832. The first Baptist meeting house of Albion stood on the west side of Main street, on the lot next north of the Burrows mansion. The church worshiped in this edifice twenty-eight years, until 1860, when under the pastorate of Rev. A. C. Barrell the present fine edifice was dedicated.

The following tabulated statement shows the purchases by the church of real estate and chief improvements :

First church lot, bought of Sidney Barrell March 30, 1831. $ 400

First church edifice on said lot, 1832 ; first cost.

7,000

First parsonage, State Street, bought of M. L. Warner October 8, 1850. 2,625 Present church lot, Park street, bought of Presbyterian Church August 4, 1858 3,000 Present church edifice, built 1860 ; first cost 22,167

Present parsonage, Park street, bought of O. Nichoson, 1865. 4,500

4,200 Organ built by House, 1883.

Chapel, Sunday school room, parlors, etc. , built 1887. 9,800

The present church edifice with chapel, organ and furniture, cost about $40,000. Since the organization of the church to July, 1894, there have been received into its membership as communicants 2,239 persons. The present number of communicants is 537. The church has been greatly favored with a succession of able devoted and success- ful pastors. The following have filled the pastoral office during the time and for the terms given ,

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Arah Irons, May 1, 1830, to May 1, 1833; Whitman Metcalf, May 1, 1833, to January 1, 1838; John E. Maxwell, August 1, 1838, to May 1, 1839 ; Eleazar Savage, May 1, 1839, to May 1, 1840; Aaron Jackson, May 1, 1840, to May 1, 1844; John Smitzer, January 1, 1845, to January 1, 1846; John N. Murdock, January 1, 1846, to September 1, 1848 ; Silas Ilsley, July 1, 1849, to January 1, 1854 ; Almond C. Barrel, January 1, 1855, to January 1, 1863; John B. Jackson, May 1, 1863, to January 1, 1867 ; Everett R. Sawyer, June 1, 1867, to December 1, 1869; J. W. B. Clark, April 27, 1870, to April 28, 1879; William H. Sloan, October 1, 1879, to October 1, 1884; Abraham C. Osborne, January 1, 1885, present incumbent.

Those who have served the church as deacons are the following with the date of their election to the office :

Phinehas Brigg, April 17, 1830; Barnuel Farr, April 17, 1830; Rufus Reed, April 15, 1840; Archibald L. Daniels, October 26, 1842; Samuel Williams, October 26, 1842 ; Lemuel C. Paine, October 26 1842; Justus Barber, October 26, 1842; Ambrose Wood, April 5, 1848; Paul Pratt, February 2, 1856; William P. Morgan, February 2, 1856 ; James H. Getty, March 5, 1864; Nelson W. Butts, March 5, 1864; Solmon L. Farr, February 1, 1873; W. H. Dorrance, February 9, 1873; J. Madison Barker, February 1, 1873 ; Nelson J. Hale, April 30, 1881; Andrew J. Robinson, April 30, 1881 ; Eldredge S. Chester, March 3, 1883; Franklin Goodnow, March 3, 1883; Vinton Walworth, March 3, 1883; George R. Williams, July 3, 1886; George W. Barrell, June 3, 1891 ; B. Franklin Morgan, January 3, 1894.

Of the above the following are at present time (July, 1894) in office :

James H. Getty, Solmon L. Farr, Nelson J. Hale, Eldredge S. Chester, George R. Williams, George W. Barrell, B. Franklin Morgan.

The Sunday school superintendents have been :

Barnuel Farr, Sidney Burrell, Ambrose Wood, William D. West, Hiram S. Goff, Joseph M. Cornell, Henry L. Achilles, Oliver Morehouse, Franklin S. Lyon, John G. Sawyer, George W. Barrell, Edwin L. Wage, B. Franklin Morgan, Lyman S. Linson, Gurdon W. Fitch.

The present Board of Trustees (July, 1894) are William G. Swan, chairman, E. L. Wage, W. E. Barker, A. Loveland, B. F. Morgan. The clerk of the board and also clerk of the church is George W. Barrell.

Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal) of Albion .- In June, 1844, Rev. Orrin Miller and Rev. Samuel Bowles, the latter rector of St. James's Church, Batavia, visited Albion with a view of estab- lishing an Episcopal church. They at first found but two church people and the outlook was not encouraging. Nevertheless, they resolved to make the effort. Mr. Miller removed his family to Al-

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bion and engaged earnestly in the work of seeking out church fami- lies and others who favored the organization of a church. On the 16th of June service was held in the assembly room of the gentlemen's academy, but for some reason now difficult to appreciate an opposition to the formation of a society was developed among other denominations, and the trustees of the academy "unceremoniously shut the building against the service of the church without giving previous notice of their intention." The congregation met on the common and retired to a pri- vate house (the residence of the late Charles A. Harrington, then resid- ing on Bank street), where services were held. This act aroused public sympathy, and the friends of the church rallied, rented a room, filled it with seats, railing, altar, pulpit, etc. At the meeting held to organize the parish July 29, 1844, the following named gentlemen were elected wardens and vestrymen :

Senior warden, Marsena Ballard; junior warden, William Walker; vestrymen, Thomas S. Clark, Joshua Rathbone, John Mattinson, Edwin Wilbur, Charles A. Har- rington, George W. Bedell, Hercules Reed and Charles Thurston.

At this meeting there were present, beside those elected officers, Henry C. Woolford, Andrew Wall, Miles Sill, W. D. Gale, Thomas Lar- wood and Zephaniah Clark, Charles A. Harrington being appointed sec- retary. At the diocesan convention which met that year on the 3Ist of August, the parish was admitted into union with the diocese. So efficiently did the vestrymen and friends of the parish work that within four months a lot was purchased and preparations were made to build a church. At that time the Presbyterian society had grown too large for its house of worship and they proposed to exchange their "meeting house" for the lot and materials which Christ Church had procured. The exchange was made, the building on Main street was remodeled to accord with the requirements and tastes of its purchasers, and it is still the place of worship of Christ Church.

"August 18. Baptism was administered to three infants." A list of thirty-three communicants "admitted and received at this time, most of whom were present," as given by the Rev. Mr. Miller, is as fol- lows :

Males : Marsena Ballard, Ebenezer Lockwood, Thomas S. Duning, William Walker, John Mattinson, Hercules Reed, Romuel Rawdon. Females: Mrs. Lavinia Ballard,

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Mrs. Mary Louisa Wilbur, Mrs. Sophia E. Wall, Mrs. Nancy A. Benjamin, Mrs. Caroline Hardin, Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, Miss Margaret Walker, Mrs. Hannah Harrington, Miss Angeline St. Clair, Mrs. Joanna Larwood, Mrs. Lucinda Reed, Mrs. Hardin, Mrs. Sarah Sill, Mrs. Margaret Walker, Mrs. Ann Mary Woolford, Mrs. Eunice Lockwood, Mrs. Matilda Bingham, Mrs. Mary Mattinson, Miss Hannah Mattinson, Mrs. Mary Jane Benton, Mrs. Patience St. Clair, Mrs. Sarah Rathbone, Mrs. Ann Miller, Mrs. Mary Rawdon, Mrs. Elizabeth Dochery, Miss Jane Bird.

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Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 28

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084