Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 35

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > New York > Steuben County > Landmarks of Steuben County, New York > Part 35

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and Samuel Cady were later class-leaders. This society was donated the " Gospel lot " by the Pulteney association, being 100 acres of land. The church edifice at the Center was built in 1872. The Methodist members in this town number 108, and in the Sunday-school are ninety attendants. The present paster is Rev. F. H. Rowley.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Dansville was the outgrowth of early meetings on Oak Hill as early as the year 1817. Parker Buell' and James Bronson were the first preachers, and Robert Butler the first class leader. An organization was perfected about the same time and in 1819 the first log church in the town was built. This old building was abandoned for the new church edifice at Rogersville which was dedicated July 19, 1841. In 1862 a new church on Oak Hill was built and dedicated. This is one of the largest churches in the town the members numbering 230. The Sunday-school has 150 attendance. Pastor, A. R. Cheverton.

The First Baptist church of Dansville was organized about the year 1820 with ten members but after a struggling existence of about half a century, during which the society suffered from factional differences, the organization was dissolved.

The Universalist church of Dansville was organized about 1850, chiefly through the efforts of Rev. Asa Upson. The church edifice was built in the village in 1852. This society, like some others in the town, has experienced a life of vicissitudes and for a time no meetings were held. It was revived, however, and placed upon a more substantial basis. Its present pastor is Rev. H. P. Morrell.

The Baptist church of Howard village was organized February 6, 1826, with nine members, and Rev. B. B. Brigham, first pastor. The house of worship was erected in 1835, and substantially repaired in 1877. Present members, eighty-eight ; pastor, Rev. D. J. Allen.

The Baptist church at Towlesville, in the town of Howard, was orga- nized in 1844, and has since had a prosperous existence. The mem- bers number eighty-three, and the society is at present under the pas- toral charge of Rev. Mr. House, successor to Rev. C. Saulsbury.

The Presbyterian church of Howard was organized in 1834, and dur- ing the same year built a comfortable house of worship. The church has a large membership and its services are well attended. The pastor · is Rev. Mr. Webster.

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The Methodist Episcopal church of Howard is among the older re- ligious organizations of the town, dating its history back to the pioneer days. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Piercy.

The Wesleyan Methodist church at Buena Vista is also to be men- tioned among the substantial church organization of the town of How- ard. The pastor is Rev. F. S. Lee.

The Wayne Baptist church was constituted in 1794, and is therefore one of the oldest religious organizations of the region. Rev. Ephraim Todd was the first pastor and served in that capacity for thirty years, until 1823. This church has been a member of several associations, the Chemung, Cayuga, Ontario and Steuben, in succession. The pres- ant members number fifty nine, and the church property is valued at $1,500. Present pastor, Rev. C. Townsend.

St. John's church, Protestant Episcopal, of Wayne, was organized as a parish November 20, 1871, although the mission was established in 1840. Services have been held here frequently, though not regularly. In 1872 the society purchased the Presbyterian church edifice, which was consecrated in September, 1875. St. John's now has twenty-two communicating members.

The Presbyterian church of Wayne was organized December 21, 1809, by Rev. John Lindsley, missionary, under the General Assembly. However, after an existence of about half a century the society was dis- solved in 1869, and the church edifie was sold to St. John's church.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Wayne was formed February 28, 1837, although class meetings had been held in the town at a much earlier date. A church house was provided in 1839.

The Baptist church of Bradford was organized in 1834, having sixty constituent members, and about the same year a church house was erected. In 1835 the church was admitted to membership in the Steu- ben Baptist Association. The present members number 114, and the church property is valued at $3,500.

The South Bradford Baptist church was organized July 29, 1848, and the church edifice was completed and dedicated during the following year. It is a member of the Steuben Association. The present membership is eighty-five.

The First Methodist Episcopal church of South Bradford was organ-

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ized as a class in 1826, on Oak Hill, and the church organization was perfected on February 23, 1847. The original members numbered thirteen ; the present members number 136, with thirty-two probation- ers. However, this number includes the members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bradford, which was formed April 26, 1876. The houses of worship are at Bradford and South Bradford, respectively, and constitute a single charge.

St. Andrew's church, Protestant Episcopal, was formally organized on the 8th of June, 1851, although previous to that time services had been held with some degree of regularity by clergymen from Ham- mondsport and elsewhere. A comfortable church edifice was erected and consecrated in 1866, during the rectorate of Rev. J. T. Cushing. The present rector of St. Andrews is Rev. Henry S. Dennis.

St. James' Episcopal church at Hammondsport was formally organ- ized June 15, 1829, although as early as 1825 the Rev. W. W. Bostwick labored as a missionary in this field. He also became the first rector of the newly organized parish, and continued in that relation until 1842 ; and during his rectorship, in 1832-33, the first church edifice was built, and on August 28 of the latter year the church was consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk. The corner stone of a new church edifice was laid by Bishop Coxe, April 18, 1876, and the consecration services were held June 12, 1877. This latter structure fell a victim to the elements on August 2, 1894, and was at once replaced with the present edifice, a handsome building of Warsaw bluestone. The corner stone was laid June 8, 1895, and the entire cost of the edifice was about $13,000. The first rector, Mr. Bostwick, was succeeded in 1842 by Rev. Philemon E. Coe, a deacon, and he in turn was followed by Rev. Erastus Spaulding, the latter serving from 1843 to 1849. Rev. L. W. Russ came next, 1849-50, followed by Rev. Charles Woodward, 1850-52. Rev. Robert N. Parke was rector from 1853 to 1855, succeeded by Rev. Daniel E. Loveridge, 1855-70. Rev. James Stoddard was rector from 1870 to 1873, and Rev. John T. Cushing during 1875-74. Rev. H. B. Gardner came in 1875 and remained until 1880, then being followed by Rev. John V. Stryker, who died April 6, 1892. The present rector, Rev. Thomas Dirck, came to the parish in June, 1892, and under his pastoral direction the new and beautiful church edifice has been erected. St.

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James' church is one of the most worthy institutions of northern Steuben county. The present communicating members number 116 persons. The wardens are John W. Davis and Charles C. Halsey ; and the ves- trymen, Henry O. Fairchild, Trevor Moore, H. J. Moon, D. C. Bauder, George B. Lyon, H. Y. Rose, Will S. Wood and F. C. Fawcett.

The Presbyterian church of Hammondsport was organized September 14, 1831, and its first pastor was Rev. Mr. Flagler. The original mem- bers were seven in number. A lot was donated, and William Hastings built a church edifice for the society. A second church house was erected in 1847. This building still stands and is in good repair. The present membership in this church is large-about 200-and the Sun- day school has about 110 pupils. The present pastor, Rev. Charles L. Luther, came to Hammondsport in June, 1895.

St. Gabriel's church, Roman Catholic, Hammondsport, dates its his- tory to about the year 1840, when missionary priests said occasional masses in the village. Three years later a parish and church were organ- ized, and in 1847 purchased and occupied the edifice formerly owned by the Presbyterian society. The present St. Gabriel's church was built in 1886, and is certainly a substantial structure. This parish is quite extensive, including parts of several towns-Urbana, Pulteney, Wayne and Bradford. The present priest in charge of the parish is Rev. James O'Shea.

The Baptist church in the town of Urbana includes two separate organizations, the one known as the Urbana Baptist church, formed in 1835, with a present membership of fifty-seven persons, and the South Urbana church, formed in 1891, now having thirty-eight members. Pastor of the latter church, Rev. A. B. McConnell.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Urbana, ever increasing and growing both in strength and influence, comprises two society organi- zations and two charges, and a total membership of 232 and twenty- seven probationers. Two churches are maintained, at Hammondsport and North Urbana, respectively, and the fair value of the church prop- erty is $6,500. Pastor, Rev. John Segwalt.

The Presbyterian church in Wheeler enjoyed its most successful period of history and progress during the first half of the present cen- tury. The early settlers were chiefly Presbyterians and they secured

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the services of a minister who preached for them as early as about the year 1810, although not before 1824 was there any regular organization effected. Among the first ministers were Revs. David Harrower, James Hotchkin and David Higgins. The church itself was organized August 30, 1825, and was at once received by the Presbytery of Bath. How- ever, the after life of the society witnessed many vicissitudes and dis- couragements, although its membership included many of the most in- fluential families of the town. The legal organization was perfected in 1832, under the name of the "First Presbyterian Society of Wheeler " The first church edifice was built in 1832, and the second in 1867, both at the Center.

The Methodist Episcopal church of. Wheeler dates its history to about the year 1840, and had its beginning in a small class. But from this germ there has grown a very strong organization, now numbering in the town four separate charges and societies, and four church edifices. They are known, respectively, as the Wheeler Center church; the Wheeler Hill, or First M. E. church of Wheeler; the Hemlock M. E. church, and the Mitchellville M. E. church. The total membership in these churches is large and the societies themselves are increasing in strength and usefulness. The members number more than 150 persons, and all the charges are under the pastoral care of Rev. G. R. Harvey. The Wheeler church was originally built in union with the Presbyterian society, but later the edifice passed into the ownership of the Metho- dists.

The Presbyterian church of Prattsburg had its origin in the religious service held at the house of Jared Pratt in the year 1803, and on the 4th of June, 1804, Timothy Field organized a Church of Christ in the district of Bath, at the house of John Niles. The original members were Joel Pratt, John Niles, Samuel Tuttle, Pomeroy Hull, Salisbury Burton, William P. Curtis, Martha Tuttle, Dorcas Niles, Mary Hull, Hannah Niles, Sarah Curtis, Lydia Beach, Mary Pratt, Olive Burton and Almira Tuttle. In 1806 the society determined to erect a house of worship. for which purpose a site was selected on the public square in the village. Here was built the first Congregational church of Pratts- burg, but as the edifice was soon found to be quite too small, enlarge- ments were subsequently made. On the 16th of November, 1807, the

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church society was regularly and legally organized under the name of the Prattsburg Religious Society. Rev. James H. Hotchkiss was in- stalled pastor August 16, 1809. On October 12, 1812, the society voted to accept the doctrine of the Presbyterian church, and on the 2 Ist of September, 1813, was received into the Presbytery of Geneva. In 1825 a new church edifice was built, on land donated by Judge Porter. Rev. George R. Rudd became pastor in 1830, and two years later the parsonage was erected. This church is undoubtedly the strongest in the town and has a total membership of 200 persons. The pastor is Rev. G. W. Warren.

The first Methodist Episcopal society in Prattsburg was organized in 1829, at which time also a chapel was built. The organizers of the mother church were Dr. Noah Niles, Aaron Bull and Bishop Tuttle, who withdrew their membership from the Prattsburg Religious Society. However, the Methodist organization was dissolved about 1840, and the meeting house was sold for debt, but the class remained, and in 1847, through the efforts of Rev. James Hall, the society was revived, reorganized, and placed upon a substantial basis. A church edifice was built on the south side of the public square in 1847, but was destroyed by fire in 1853. After this the society again declined although occa- sional services were held. A third organization was effected in 1869 and the present M. E. church of the village is its outgrowth. Moreover, Methodism has spread throughout the whole town, and in addition to the mother church, there are now two others, those at Ingleside and Lynn. The members of the village and Lynn churches number 150 and are under the pastoral care of Rev. B. F. Hitchcock. The Ingle- side church is a joint charge with North Cohocton, under the pastorate of Rev. D. C. Nye.

The Baptist church of Prattsburg was organized on West Hill, about the year 1821, and Elder Nehemiah Lamb was its first pastor. A log meeting house was built in 1822, but after its destruction by fire, in 1833, was replaced with a substantial frame edifice and located a mile east of the old site. In 1842 the society divided, the members uniting with four separate organizations. There was formed the First and Second Baptist churches of Prattsburg, also the Prattsburg village Bap-

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tist church. The house of worship of the latter was built in 1845. Its members now number forty-two persons. Pastor, W. A. Huntington.

The Roman Catholic church at Prattsburg has about seventy-five families in the parish. It is attended from Hammondsport by Father O'Shea.

The Christian church at Ingleside is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Carr.

The First Presbyterian church of Bath is one of oldest religious soci- eties in the whole Genesee country, and was organized as early as the year 1806, although previous to that time public worship had been held in the town. In 1802 Rev. Seth Williston conducted services in the old school house at the corner of Pulteney Square. On January 6, 1806, an organization was perfected by Rev. John Niles, and was named " The Bath Religious Society." Still later, January 3, 1808, a modification of the former organization was made, and there was formed " The Church of Christ in Bath, Presbyterian Congregation," and four- teen persons entered into covenant and subscribed the constitution. The church adapted Congregational form of government, and appointed Joseph Inslee and Samuel S. Haight as deacons.' Rev. John Niles was installed pastor on July 7, 1808, and on the 18th of September, 1811, the church completed its presbyterial organization by electing five elders viz .: William Aulls, Elias Hopkins, Samuel S. Haight, Henry A. Townsend and Howell Bull; and at the same time removed its con- nection from the Congregational association and united with the Presby- tery of Geneva. Mr. Niles died September 13, 1812, and was succeeded by Rev. David Higgins in January, 1813. During Mr. Higgins' pas- torate, the first church edifice was erected, and was dedicated March 2, 1825 The third pastor, Rev, Isaac Platt, began his service June 4, 1831, and resigned in 1844. He was followed by Rev. L. Merrill Miller, and the latter by Rev. George D. Stewart in 1851. Still later pastors were Revs. William E. Jones, James M. Harlow (stated supply), James M. Platt, 1869; and M. N. Preston, the present pastor, whose labors began December 1, 1884. The new church edifice on the south side of the " Square " was built during the year 1876, and was first occupied for service on February 22, 1877.

It is proper to mention in this connection that in 1837 this church

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was divided by the dissensions in the Presbyterian church at large, and the result, locally, was the withdrawal of certain members and the or- ganization of "The Presbyterian Church of Bath (Congregational)." In 1841 the new society erected a house of worship on Liberty street, where now stands the Purdy Opera House. The building was burned in 1871. During its separate existence, the pastors of the church were Revs. William Strong, Orris Fraser, Hiram Gregg, Samuel Potter, Sabin Mckinney, Loren W. Russ, George Hood, Edwin Benedict, H. E. Johnson, C. H. Delong and William Dewey.

St. Thomas' Protestant Episcopal church at Bath was organized as a parish at a meeting held April 19, 1826, yet for several years previous to that time stated services were held by Rev. Caleb Hopkins, he being persuaded to visit this missionary field through the good offices and in- tercession of Mrs. Elizabeth Hull Townsend: This worthy woman has ever been regarded as the founder of the church in the village and its vicinity. The early services of the church were held in the court-house, but in 1836 a lot was secured on the southeast of Pulteney Square, and here a church edifice was built. The first regularly appointed clergy- man in the parish was Rev. William W. Bostwick, who conducted his first services here May 23, 1825, and who continued the pastoral relation until 1840, when he resigned. Rev. Phineas L. Whipple became rector soon afterward, but an untimely death cut short his career of useful- ness in 1844. The succeeding rectors have been Revs. Wm. D. Wil- son, Levi H. Corson, Almon Gregory, Oran Reed Howard, Abner Platt Brush and Benjamin S. Sanderson, the latter the present rector, who assumed his duties on the Ist of May, 1890. During Mr. Whipple's rectorship the "church plot" in the cemetery was secured, and during Mr. Gregory's term many improvements were made to the church prop- erty. The parsonage was provided in 1852. In 1854, and again in 1859, the church edifice was materially improved, and in 1869 the new and beautiful edifice at the southeast corner of Washington Square was erected.

The first society of the Methodist Episcopal church in Bath was formed on the 3d of October, 1822, and on September 4 following the articles of incorporation were filed in the county clerk's office, naming John Whiting, Simpson Ellas, George Wheeler, Jeremiah Baker and

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Darius Reed as the first board of trustees. The frame of a church home was put up in 1823, and although not completed until 1826, this was the first church edifice projected in Bath, and was used by the Protestant Episcopal and Baptist societies. In 1865 it was found neces- sary to enlarge or rebuild the church, and the officers resolved upon the latter course. Prompt action was taken and on May 16, 1866, the corner stone was laid for the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church, by which name it has ever since been known. In 1835 Bath was made a separate charge, and Rev. J. G. Gulick was appointed pastor. The subsequent pastors, in succession, were Revs. Chandler Wheeler, Wm. Hosmer, E. Dowd, Daniel B. Lawton, Philander Powers, David Ferris, Earl B. Fuller, S. W. Alden, J. K. Tuttle, Augustus C. George, E. G. Townsend, Nathan Fellows, Andrew Sutherland, C. M. Gardiner, M. N. Beers, George E. Havens, W. C. Mattison, Wm. Manning, A. F. Morey, J. T. Brownell, S. McGerald, E. T. Green, R. D. Munger, George Stratton, James Moss, E. E. Chambers, D.D., K. P. Jervis, T. E. Bell, E. G. Piper, and M. C. Dean, the latter the present pastor.

The Bath Village Baptist church was organized March 16, 1842, at a meeting held in the Methodist meeting house, together with an ecclesiastical council. The constituent members numbered thirty-one persons. The first pastor was Rev. M. Rowley, who remained from 1842 to 1845. The later pastors have been as follows: Revs. H. Spencer, B. F. Balcom, B. R. Swick, J. Parker, E. C. Brown, P. Col- grove, E. F. Crane, D. B. Olney, E J. Scott, J. D. Barnes, E. Savage, H. H. Cochrane, J. W. Taylor, I. W. Emery, J. C. Cubberly, P. S. Vreeland. The present pastor, Rev. V. P. Mather, settled with the church in 1890. The first edifice of this church was erected in 1844, and was enlarged in 1859. Extensive repairs were made in 1870. It was destroyed by fire in 1887, and rebuilt the same year at an expense of $12,000.

St. Mary's church, Roman Catholic, at Bath, dates its history to about the year 1846, when Rev. Thomas McEvoy visited Bath and found about ten Catholic families in the vicinity. In the following year Father Sheridan was placed in charge of the Catholic families along the Conhocton as far west as Dansville. In 1850 Father O'Flaherty added Bath to his charge. The early services were usually held at the

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house of James Manley, but in 1850 Bartholomew Wilks erected a building suitable for a church. In 1861 the parochial residence was built. In 1862 a Catholic school was established in the basement of the church, and was continued about five years, until the school building was completed. In August, 1886, the property adjoining the school estate at Bath was purchased by W. B. Ruggles, for $3,300, and on this site in the years 1891-2 and '93 an elegant church structure was erected. The corner stone was laid May 8, 1892, and on St. Patrick's day, 1893, the first services were celebrated within its walls. The suc- cession of pastors in charge of St. Mary's parish and church has been as follows: Thomas McEvoy, Father Sheridan, Edward O'Flaherty, Charles Tierney, John Donnelly, Joseph McKenna, T. Cunningham, Patrick Burns, John Castaldi, Michael Steger, J. M. McGlew, P. Mazu- ret, L. Vanderpool, M Darcey, J. J. Baxter and J. J. Gleason. On the 24th of February, 1889, Father Baxter was transferred to Buffalo, and Father Gleason was appointed to the Bath church. Father Gleason died during the spring of 1895, and the parish is now (June, 1895) without a priest.

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion church of Bath was organized about the year 1838 or '39, by Rev. John Tapkin, whose custom it was to walk to Bath from Canandaigua, Elmira, Owego and Binghamton. Among the early pastors who preached to the colored people in Bath were Revs. J. A. Logan, J. P. Thompson, John Thomas, M. H. Ross and C. A. Smith. The present pastor, Rev. B. W. Swain, came to Bath in June, 1890, and found the affairs of the church in an unfortunate condition, but succeeded, after much labor, in re-establishing and build- ing up the society and placing it upon a secure and permanent basis. A large new church edifice is now in process of erection.

The First Presbyterian church of Addison was organized in Septem- ber, 1832, by a committee of the Bath Presbytery, comprising Revs. A. Donaldson and E. D. Wills. There were seven original members, and Porter Phelps and Elihu Wittenhall were elected ruling elders. Meetings were held in the Curtis school house previous to the erection of the first church edifice, in 1838. The first pastor, as the records dis- close, was Rev. Daniel B. Butts, who served in that capacity from 1835 to 1839, and was followed by Revs. Lewis Hamilton, Darius A. Will-

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iams, A. H. Parmalee and others, in the order named. The new church home of this society was built during 1881 and '82, and was dedicated in April of the year last mentioned. The present members number about one hundred and sixty-five. The pastor is Rev. David Mackay.

The Church of the Redeemer, Protestant Episcopal, of Addison vil- lage, dates back in its history to about the year 1847, when Rev. Gardner M. Skinner came as missionary to the region. He was fol - lowed by other zealous laborers, among them Robert N. Parke, and he succeeded in organizing the parish in April, 1854. From this time the history of the church has been a record of continued success and growth, and the present healthful church is its outgrowth. A church edifice was completed, paid for in full, and consecrated by Bishop De Lancey on the 5th of April, 1860. In this parish are about sixty- five Episcopal families. The present rector is Rev. W. H. Hawkin.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Addison dates its origin back to the early history of the town, and when organization took place two societies were formed, the one in 1835 and the other in 1841. In the latter year a church home was provided, the earlier services being held in the Presbyterian church edifice which the M. E. society aided in erecting. By a disastrous fire the M. E. church was destroyed, and was replaced with the comfortable structure now occupied by the soci- ety. It was dedicated in 1876. The Methodist members in Addison number 284, with twenty-five probationers in addition. The present pastor is Rev. A. W. Decker.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 35

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Hakes, Harlo, 1823- ed; Aldrich, Lewis Cass. cn
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1180