Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 44

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 44

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Alexander Cropsey, Marcus T. Carpenter, Thomas E. Faulkner, C. H. Woodruff, John Phillips, T. H. Butler, J. H. Bishop, Foster Simpson, and S, M. Coon.

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The pastors since 1882 have been :

Revs. I. D. Peaslee, 1883-4; M. R. Webster, 1885-7; T. B. Shepherd (under whom the church debt was extinguished), 1888-91; J. B. Kenyon, 1892; and Olin B. Coit since 1893.

The society has about 300 members and property valued at $23,000. The present officers are as follows :

Trustees, S. M. Coon, C. W. Sexmith, J. H. Cooper, W. G. Chaffee, H. W. Wallace, Jas. Upcraft, Athelbert Cropsey, W. G. Thrall, and John Phillips ; stewards, John B. Edwards, Benton C. Barnes, Wm. McChesney, Frank S. Thrall, F. E. Sweetland, Alex. R. Penfield, Harry J. Cooper, John E. Cordingley, Horace L. Bonsteel, George D. Smith, John E. McChesney, James M. Archambo, Caleb Bradshaw ; Alex. R. Penfield, district steward ; A. W. Penney, district class leader ; J. E. McChesney, financial secre- tary ; F. E. Sweetland, treasurer; F. S. Thrall, secretary official board.

The Sunday school was organized in 1848 and has been continuously maintained, numbering in 1894 more than 200 scholars. The first superintendent was John B. Edwards, who has been prominently con- nected with the church since its formation and zealous for its welfare. S. M. Coon, the present superintendent, has filled the position about seventeen years.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was founded by Rev. F. E. Fol- tier, a Frenchman by birth, who was sent to Oswego at the request of a number of French and French-Canadians about 1848. During that year and the next a frame edifice was built on the corner of West Sixth and Cayuga streets ; it was consecrated in 1850 by Cardinal McCloskey. When the church was opened for worship the pews were rented by French- Canadians; afterwards they were taken by English speaking Catholics also, making two distinct congregations, each occupying the church at different hours on each Sunday. In July, 1851, Rev. James Keveny, an Irish priest, succeeded the first pastor, but he resigned in 1852 and was followed by Rev. F. Guerdet, a Frenchman. During his administration the Sisters of St. Joseph were introduced as teachers in the new parochial school which he instituted and for which he pur- chased a house on Sixth street, to which additions were afterwards made. Father Guerdet left in 1867 and was succeeded by Rev. Louis Griffa, a native of Italy, who remained until December, 1886, when Rev. M. J. Fournier, the present pastor assumed the charge. In 1870, St. Louis French Catholic Church was organized out of the congrega-

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tion of St. Mary's as hereafter noticed, and since then the latter has been almost entirely composed of English-speaking Catholics of Irish nativity or descent. Many improvements have been made in the church, notably a fine organ, a magnificent altar, and statuary. The congregation of St. Mary's is large and the parochial school well at- tended.

The Church of the Evangelists (Protestant Episcopal) was an offshoot of Christ church and was organized July 28, 1850, with sixty-four com- municants of that parish. The first vestry consisted of Joseph Grant and William Dolloway, wardens; William Schuyler Malcolm, James Brown, D. H. Marsh, Elias Trowbridge, J. B. Colwell, Ira Adkins, P. H. Hard, and Milton Harmon, vestrymen ; James Brown was clerk and treasurer. William Dolloway and James Brown were chosen delegates to the diocesan convention which convened August 1, 1851, when the new parish was formally taken into union with the convention. The first rector was Rev. George W. Horne, who was called November 29, 1850, and during his administration a building fund was started. The corner-stone of the church was laid by Rev. H. W. Lee, D.D., July I, 1851. It is a handsome stone structure on the corner of East Second and Oneida streets In 1851 Rev. Mr. Horne resigned and on January I, 1852, Rev. Mason Gallagher became rector, and about that time O. J. Harmon was elected to the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senior Warden Joseph Grant. The first service was held in the new church December 5, 1852. In March, 1860, Mr. Dolloway died and Henry Adriance was chosen warden in his place. Rev. Mr. Gallagher entered the United States service as chaplain of the 24th Regiment N. Y. V. in 1861, and during his absence the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Joseph Kidder. Eight months later Mr. Gallagher returned, but soon afterward went to New York and Brooklyn and secured contribu- tions amounting to $4,300 for the reduction of the church debt, which was finally extinguished July 18, 1865. The edifice was consecrated by Rt. Rev. A. Cleveland Coxe, July 17, 1865. Daniel H. Marsh was elected warden. Mr. Gallagher resigned February 6, 1866, and since then the rectors have been as follows :

Revs. J. H. C. Bonte to June, 1870; E. H. Jewett to April 20, 1873; C. Collard 54

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Adams to November 1, 1874; J. L. Burrows to the fall of 1890; Hubert P. Le F. Grabau to 1893; and A. George E. Jenner since December 31, 1893.

During the rectorship of Rev. Mr. Jewett, Mr. Harmon resigned as warden and Benjamin Doolittle was elected to the vacancy, and upon the death of Mr. Marsh in August, 1876, A. S. Norton was chosen war- den. The latter died July 8, 1890, and Robert Downey was chosen to the position. The present vestry consists of: Robert Downey, junior warden ; G. D. McManus, clerk ; M. P. Neal, William Marsh, Sidney Van Auken, O. S. Osterhout, Nelson Morrow, Charles J. Mattison, and T. R. Collin, vestrymen. On Christmas eve, 1893, fire damaged the interior of the church about $1,900. It was immediately repaired and reopened in March, 1894. The rear part of the parish house adjoining the church was presented to this society by the Board of Supervisors in November, 1857 ; it was formerly the county court house, and was con- secrated to parish purposes October 31, 1858. The front part was added in 1892 at a cost of $2,500. In 1867 St. John's Mission, on the corner of Eleventh and Mitchell streets was established by this church and since then services have been regularly held there either by the pastor or a lay-reader. It has about twenty families and a Sunday school of thirty-five scholars, with Nelson Morrow, superintendent. The mother church has now over 300 communicants. Its Sunday school was organized in 1850 with eighteen scholars under the super- intendency of O. J. Harmon; the rector is the present superintendent. From this school and church sixty members entered the United States service during the war of the Rebellion.

The West Baptist Church was organized in the old City Hall May 3, 1852 It was an offshoot from the First Baptist society and its constitu- ent members were as follows :

Benjamin Austen, Mrs. Catharine Austen, Denison Allen, Mrs. J. S. Ames, Rev. Isaac Butterfield, Mrs. Sarah A. Butterfield, Sobieski Burt, Mrs. Elizabeth Burt, Selden P. Clark, Mrs. Margaret Clark, V. C. Douglass, Mrs. Abigail Dole, Horatio Garlick, Mrs. Marcia Garlick, Miss Hannah E. Garlick, Charles A. Garlick, William H. Gardner, Mrs. Martha S, Gardner, Miss Sylvia Gustin, David Harmon, jr., Mrs. Emily Harmon, Miss Emily M. Harmon, Miss Eliza Ann Harmon, Miss Velonia H. Harmon, Miss Lucy House, Thomas Kingsford, Mrs. Elizabeth Kingsford, Tromson Kingsford, Henry Kingsford, Mrs. Elizabeth Knapp, Elisha H. Mack, Mrs. Emma E. Mack, William W. Mack, Mrs. Laura Jane Mack, Royal L. Mack, Mrs. Mary C. Mack, Mrs. Nancy Mason, Mrs. Electa Mellen, E. A. Potter, Mrs. M. A. Potter, Frank W. Potter, Isaac Perry,

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OSWEGO AS A VILLAGE AND CITY.

Mrs. Sally Perry, Daniel Pond, Mrs. Nancy Rope, Miss Almira E. Tyler, Miss Ann Thomson, Mrs. Mary Vauvilliez.

These were dismissed for the purpose from the present church on the east side of the river, and of the number only Mrs. Emily Harmon and Thomson Kingsford are still members of this society. The first offi- cers were : David Harmon, E. H. Mack, and Sobieski Burt, deacons ; Denison Allen, clerk ; Thomas Kingsford, treasurer. The church was formally recognized by Council August 30, 1853. The first pastor was Rev. Isaac Butterfield, who increased the membership to III and was succeeded in November, 1855, by Rev. S W. Titus, who remained until May, 1857, when Rev. A. G. Bowles became pastor. In April, 1868, he was succeeded by Rev. E. W. Bliss, who remained three years. Revs. Forey and Chapell then served as supplies until October, 1862, when Rev. H. M. Richardson assumed the charge. In May, 1866, he was followed by Rev. D. C. Hughes. Services were at first held in the court room in the old city hall, in Doolittle Hall, and in the old Tabernacle on the site of the Vulcan Iron Works. The present edifice, which is one of the most substantial church buildings in the city, was erected during the year 1866 at a cost of $70,000. It was dedicated April 18, 1867, and stands on the corner of West Third and Mohawk streets. Rev. Mr. Hughes resigned in June, 1869, and since then the pastors have been : Revs. Isaac Butterfield, 1869-75; C. H. Watson, 1875-81 ; M. A. Wilcox, 1881-87 ; E. H. Lovett, 1887-92 ; Lewis Halsey, since September, 1892. The society has 465 members and the largest Y. P. S. C. E. in the county. The trustees for 1894 are O. M. Bond, T. P. Kingsford, Thomson Kingsford, W. D. Gardner, A. B. Cogswell, J. H. Keeney ; treasurer, A. B. Cogswell; clerk, J. D. Sprague. The Sunday school was organized in 1853 with 125 mem- bers and David Harmon, superintendent. There are now about 360 scholars and forty officers, under the superintendency of C. W. Rich- ards. The church in 1867 organized a mission school called Hope Chapel, and in 1868 erected a small frame building on West Bridge street. This mission has been discontinued. The entire church prop- erty is now valued at $50,000.

St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized about 1857 through the labors of Revs. Stahlschmidt and Fischer, mission-

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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

aries; prominent among the constituent members were Lawrence Kirshner, Louis Kiehm, Paul Scherman, John Kline, and Joseph Schuler. Services were first held in the hall over Hart's dry goods store. The first stationed pastor was Rev. Jacob Post, who remained nine years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Severinghaus, under whom the present parsonage was erected. In 1859 a church edifice was built on the corner of East Sixth and Lawrence streets. Rev. Mr. Severing- haus was followed by Rev. F. A. Conradi, who was succeeded four years later by Rev. P. Rizer, who also served four years. The next pastor was Rev. O. F. Ebert, who remained five years and under whose pastorate the church was raised and a basement built at a cost of $3,000. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Reinhold Kessler, under whom, in 1889, the old frame church was demolished to the basement and the present brick edifice erected thereon at an ex- pense of $7,000. In 1893 the corner lot opposite the church was pur- chased as a site for a German-English parochial school .. The parish has a communicant membership of 425, with five societies. The Sunday school, of which the pastor is superintendent, with George Kirshner assistant, has an average attendance of 175. The church property is valued at $15,000.

The Congregation of Berith Sholen (Hebrew) was organized January 6, 1858, with these officers: President, A. S. Garson; vice-president, M. Rypinsky ; treasurer, S. Goldberg; secretary, M. I. Garson. On May 5, 1863, the society was legally incorporated. The first rabbi was Rev. Mr. Weiland. Services were maintained regularly for several years, but no house of worship was built, and the organization ceased active operations.

St. Peter's German Roman Catholic Church had its nucleus in a Mission held in St. Mary's Church in 1856 by the Redemptorist .Father Joseph Wissel, the first German priest to labor among his countrymen in Oswego. In 1859 the Franciscan Fathers from Syracuse visited this city and held services for the German Catholics in St. Mary's church, and on September 16, 1860, the St. Boniface Society was organized for the purpose of raising funds for the erection of an edifice, the members obligating themselves to pay a certain sum quarterly for two years. Prominent among the first members, who numbered sixty-three, were

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OSWEGO AS A VILLAGE AND CITY.

Andrew Baltes, Lewis Brosemer, Joseph Hoover, and others. A lot was purchased from P. Lappin for $900, on the corner of East Albany and Seventh streets, and in 1862 the corner stone of a church was laid by Rev. Father Leopold, O. M. C .; it was a frame structure, and was dedicated December 6, 1863. A successful mission was immediately conducted by Father Leopold Moczygemba, O. M. C., and his assistants. The Franciscan Fathers remained in charge of the mission and Rev. Father Oderic Vogt became the first pastor. On February 14, 1864, the Stations of the Holy Cross were erected and in the same year an organ was placed in the church. June 10, 1865, the dwelling and lot of Joseph Baltes were purchased for $1,400, and adapted for a parsonage. This place was subsequently sold and the present building erected at a cost of about $2,000. In July, 1865, the main altar, donated by the German Catholics of Syracuse, was erected, and a small bell, taken by a German resident of Syracuse from a City Hall in South Carolina, was presented to the church. In October, 1865, Father Vogt was succeeded by Father Leopold Moczygemba, and in April, 1866, a frame school house was built on the lot between the church and the parsonage, costing $2,861. In September of that year it was placed in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis. St. Joseph's Society was organized September 23, 1866, with George Koch, president ; Lewis Brosemer, treasurer, and Peter Endres, secretary. Father Leopold went to Rome in May, 1868, and for a year the church was in charge of fathers from Syracuse, when Father Vogt again assumed the charge. In November, 1870, the mission was turned over to the first secular priest, Rev. Joseph Ottenhues, who on February 28, 1871, was succeeded by Rev. Charles Zucker. October 18, 1874, the latter was followed by Rev. J. Herman Wibbe, who was superseded about 1883 by Rev. Stephen A. Preisser. In August, 1893, Rev. Adolph Geyer became pastor and remained until July, 1894, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Ernest D. Stark. In 1876 three new bells were purchased and on May 9 were blessed by Bishop McNierney. The parish now has about 130 families. The school, attended by ninety children, is in charge of four Sisters of St. Francis, with Rev. Father Stark principal. The property is valued at $17,000. Connected with the parish is St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery Association, an incorporated organization of which

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Louis Wiegand is president. The cemetery is situated about one and a half miles from the City Hall on the east bank of the river.

The Church of St. John the Evangelist (Roman Catholic) dates its organization from the year 1869, when Bishop Conroy appointed Rev. J. F. Lowrey pastor of a new parish to be formed in the southwest part of the city. He purchased a lot of F. T. Carrington and there built a frame structure for temporary use ; this was subsequently converted into a parochial school house. In the spring of 1870 a brick church was be- gun on the corner of West Erie and Third streets. The corner stone was laid on July 10 of that year and on November 12, 1871, was fin- ished ; the dedication took place July 14, 1872, by Rt. Rev. J. J. Conroy. The principal contributors towards the erection of the build- ing were Delos De Wolf, Thomas S. Mott, Bart Lynch, Michael Cum- mings, Aaron Colnon, and James Hennessy. Rev. Father Lowrey in- troduced four Sisters of St. Joseph, of Carondelet, Mo., who taught parochial school during three years from September, 1872, the attend- ance being about 300. In 1875 the school house was burned and the school discontinued. A few years later it was revived by the Sisters of St. Joseph, who continued until about 1883, when the building was again destroyed by fire, and the school has not since been taught. Rev. Father Lowrey was succeeded on April 25, 1875, by Rev. Daniel O'Connell, who was followed by Rev. Martin J. Hughes, under whose pastorate in 1887 St. John's Hall was built of brick, at a cost of about $15,000. August 4, 1892, the present pastor, Rev. William F. Dwyer, assumed the charge. The parish has about 3,000 members, and prop- erty valued at $75,000.

St. Louis French Catholic Church was organized as a separate parish in December, 1870. It had its beginning, however, in the year 1867, at which time the congregation of St. Mary's had become too large for their accommodation. In 1870 Rev. John F. X. Pelletier, of Quebec, was appointed to the task of establishing the new parish. Eighteen months elapsed before the separation was fully effected, the French meanwhile holding services in St. Mary's church. The trustees of St. Mary's finally purchased Mead's Hall, on the east side of the river, cor- ner of Fourth and Bridge streets, for $7,000, for the new congregation, and expended $500 in refitting it. In December, 1871, the French

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OSWEGO AS A VILLAGE AND CITY.

members permanently left the parent society. The parish at this time comprised about 400 families. A brick building was soon afterward erected on the property for a convent, or Sisters' House. at a cost of $6,000. The pastors succeeding Father Pelletier have been : Rev. Arthur Sicard de Carufel, September, 1876, to June, 1878; Rev. J. Forget to October, 1879; Rev. Joseph Charette to November, 1883; Rev. T. R. Chaput to February, 1884; and Rev. Joseph Julian Auger to the present time. During the pastorate of the latter nearly 1,000 children have been baptized ; 200 couples have been married and about 280 burials have been made. The church has been extensively repaired and the property is now valued at $20,000. The parsonage was pur- chased in 1886 for $4,000. There are 400 families now in the parish. The school is in charge of nine Sisters of St. Ann's Convent, of Lachine, Ca., and has an average attendance of 275 pupils, who are taught both English and French.

Grace Presbyterian Church .- The records of this church date back to March 18, 1872, when twelve gentlemen, William H. Herrick, J. Wells Pitkin, Joseph Owen, Charles Rhodes, William H. Herrick, jr., Edwin Allen, John C. Churchill, F. B. Lathrop, Albertus Perry, Gilbert Molli- son, John N. Collins and W. D. Smith, met at the house of J. Wells Pitkin and resolved to form a new society. The idea of another Pres- byterian church in the city originated from twelve to fifteen years before this. Several persons believed, as early as 1858, that the time had come for a new society on the west side of the river. Their opinion never changed. This conviction was based upon the fact that not a pew, and hardly a sitting, could be had at the time in the old edifice.

This first service was held March 24, in Grace Mission Chapel, still standing south of the D. L. & W. R. R., on Fifth street, at which time thirty- seven persons united with each other in a notice that the organ- ization of the church would be perfected on the next Sabbath and that on the 9th of April the society would meet and elect trustees. Accord- ingly, on March 31, 1872, the organization of the church was perfected and the following elders elected : William F. Allen, George Seeley, Gilbert Mollison, Frederick B. Lathrop, John C. Churchill, and Warren D. Smith. On April 9 the organization of the society was completed. The first trustees were : O. H. Hastings, Joseph Owen, William H.

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Herrick, Edwin Allen, M. M. Wheeler, J. N. Collins, George B. Powell, J. H. Woodruff, and S. B. Johnson. The church at its organization consisted of sixty four members, all but one of whom were dismissed from the First Presbyterian church of Oswego.

The first session meeting was held at the house of W. D. Smith, at the close of the services when the church was organized. Rev. E. G. Thurber, acted as moderator. At this meeting Mr. and Mrs. Melross and Edgar, their son, were received by letter from the First Pyresby- terian church, of Los Angeles, California. Elder John C. Churchill was appointed the first delegate to Presbytery. The first communion was celebrated May 5, at which time eleven were added by certificate and three on confession. Of this number, Mrs. Anna Page, who died Sep- tember 22, 1872, ninety years of age, was their first loss by death or otherwise. The first child baptized was Lilly Mather, daughter of F. B. Lathrop, April 28, 1872, at the residence of Mr. Lathrop. The first public baptisms in the chapel, May 5, were Mary Grace, daughter of Joseph Owen, and Gilbert Mollison, son of W. H. Herrick, jr. Services were at first held in Grace Mission chapel. Their own chapel was be- gun in July, 1872, and occupied March 9, 1873, at which time . there were ninety-one members on the church roll. The corner stone of the church, corner of West Oneida and Fifth streets, was laid May 2, 1873, and the edifice was finished and occupied on Sunday, July 19, 1874. It cost $65,000, seats 800 persons and is one of the finest ecclesiastical structures in Western New York. Upon its completion the trustees issued the following notice :

" This church has been erected with the money and the enterprise, mostly, of those who constitute this Presbyterian organization ; but now that it is finished, its doors are to be opened for public Christian worship. It is meant to be a place where, ignoring sectarian differences and all social distinctions, the men and women of this city, not already provided for, may worship the one God and Heavenly Father of us all. No person need feel himself or herself excluded because of inability to pay 'pew rent.' The sittings are not to be rented, they are not to be sold, nor is there to be any bidding for choice. Any one can have all the room he wishes by asking for it, and that, regardless of whether he pays much, or little, or anything, towards the support of the church."

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OSWEGO AS A VILLAGE AND CITY.

At this time there were 110 members in the society. The church is supported by volunteer contributions and is in a flourishing condition, the present membership being 513. During a year and nine months Rev. J. B. Condit, D.D., brother of the beloved pastor of the First Pres- byterian church, supplied the pulpit. The first settled pastor, Rev. Henry H. Stebbins, was installed January 8, 1874. He was succeeded by Rev. Judson Swift, who was followed in May, 1894, by Rev. David Willis, jr. The ruling elders for 1894 are John C. Churchill, Edwin Allen, Stephen G. Howe, Gilbert Mollison, Robert G. Post, Fred M. Williams, Dr. P. M. Dowd, U. Z. Maltby, and Joseph B. Lathrop (clerk). The Sunday school was organized April 9, 1872, with about 100 schol- ars and twenty-three teachers, with Gilbert Mollison superintendent. The school has now an attendance of 410, under superintendency of J. B. Lathrop.

The Free Methodist Church was organized February 27, 1877, by Rev. B. T. Roberts, general superintendent. Until recently this society formed a part of the Oswego and Thompson school house circuit; about 1892 it became a separate charge and now has about forty members. The first pastor was Rev. W. H. Clark, and his successors have been Revs. L. H. Robinson, Zenas Osborne, J. A. Odell, Orville Frink, Charles Hudson, P. C. Givens, William Crossman, Zenas Osborne, Or- ville Frink, Thomas Whiffen, incumbent. The society has a small frame church on West Bridge street, the pastor residing in a part of the building.

The Church of our Father (Universalist), was organized as the First Universalist Church of Oswego on December 28, 1882, and adopted its present name on the 14th of July, 1884. The original church of this denomination in the city had a brief existence many years ago, and an edifice was erected which was burned about thirty-five years since, after which the society disbanded. The first board of trustees of the present organization consisted of Edward Sayer, James Lake and James G. Has- lop. F. E. Sayer was the first treasurer and W. J. Towsley, first secretary. The first settled pastor was Rev. G. Foster Barnes, who was installed in August, 1884, and remained until October, 1885. His successors have been Revs. Elmer R. Earle to November, 1886; Irving Towsley from April, 1888, to April, 1890; W. Ezra Leavitt to May, 1893 ; O. R.

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Beardsley to the present time. Their neat brick church is on West Second street, was erected in 1883-84 at a cost of $13,500, and was dedicated September 16, 1884. The society has fifty- seven members. The present trustees are Edward Sayer, Reuben Hamilton, Israel Tal- cott, W. R. McConnell, Mrs. I. I. Rasmussen, and H. H. Watson. The Sunday school has an average attendance of fifty scholars, with F. E. Sayer, superintendent.

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 44

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410